"Inge, Norman - The Complexity of the Situation" - читать интересную книгу автора (Inge Norman)

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\par \pard\qc\plain\f4\fs28\i The Complexity of the Situation\plain\f4\fs20
\par \plain\f4\fs28 by Norman Inge, , Jr.\plain\f4\fs20
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\par \tab The calmness of space was breached by the force wave moving through it. With such power, the unidentified wave careened through the unwary starfield with no such destination on its mind. Even the orgins of the mysterious phenomenon gave it the errie feeling that it was unstoppable.
\par \tab The bluish wave, formed of plasma and a collaboration of chemicals, had already tore through three starships on a course that would possibly take it to or near the Omincron Theta colony. Thousands were sure to die if the wave could not be stopped, thousands more would perish when the wave moved on.
\par \tab It appeared to at first be a normal plasma wave begun with the explosion of a ship but this was not to be true. No ship had detonated in the immediate area, and no star had gone supernova. But then what caused it? Was it man made? Was it some sort of weapon that the enemies of the Federation had developed and let loose upon the unsuspecting citizens?
\par \tab All these questions ran through Captain Jean-Luc Picard's mind as he stood aboard the U.S.S Stargazer, looking out into the star streaked space before him. The wave had been spotted coming towards them, E.T.A. giving them 26 minutes. Something had to be done.
\par \tab All attempts to move away from the wave were thwarted. When the Stargazer moved to port, the wave did as well. If she moved to starboard, the wave followed, each time increasing its speed. It almost seemed as if the wave was changing its course to strike at them, almost as if the wave.....
\par \tab Picard struck the thought down. How inconceivable to think that a natural force such as this would have a mind to think? But was it natural? Neither of the questions had any bearing on his tired mind, neither could stand up and speak for the other. The question still remained of what the next course of action would be.
\par \tab "Captain!" shouted a voice from behind, "the wave has increased speed significantly and is on a collision course with us!" The fear in the young ensign's voice was evident, but fear was not an option.
\par \tab Picard turned to speak to the ensign but found that none of his crew were standing behind him. Upon turning around, thinking that maybe they had moved forward , he found that the bridge was empty. Not a soul rested upon the bridge of the U.S.S. Stargazer! Where was everyone?
\par \tab Trying not to panic he called out, "Computer, where is my bridge crew?"
\par \tab "There is no record of a bridge crew," the metallic voice spit back.
\par \tab "No bridge crew? Thats ridiculous! How many crew members aboard this vessel?"
\par \tab "One," replied the automated voice, "Captain Jean-Luc Picard."
\par \tab Picard's jaw dropped at the preposterous idea that he was alone aboard his starship when he had just had his bridge crew here minutes ago! Where had they gone?
\par \tab Again Captain Picard asked the computer and again it replied that he was the only being left aboard the ship. Stunned and in shock to this discovery, he forgot about he wave until it was too late.
\par \tab Suddenly the ship rocked as the wave slammed into its hull, ripping its metal skin off into tiny shavings. Bolts flew off as the titanium steel hulls buckled under the pressure of the massive force wave. Alarms flared to life in the background as the Stargazer was stripped of her skin. Piece by piece the hull disintegrated under the extreme pressure extorted by the wave of unknown orgin. So far its inner shields were holding, but for how much longer?
\par \tab Plasma fire lit the belly of the Stargazer as she listed to port and then to starboard. Once its hull was breached it would implode in on itself and Omicron Theta would be the wave's next target.
\par \tab Picard managed to pick himself off of the bridge floor only to be thrown down again by the sheer weight of the wave surrounding the ship. Computer terminals flared to life with sparks of fire and then died out as their circuits overloaded. The main viewer burst into flames setting the bridge afire scattering debris all to the side. Alarms died as power began to drain out into the darkness of space, looking like fire flies trying to find shelter from a storm.
\par \tab Jean-Luc pulled himself up to his command chair when he heard the voice from behind.
\par \tab "So Jean-Luc, we meet again. Tell me how do you feel at this particular moment when your miserable, insignificant human life is about to end?" mocked the voice.
\par \tab Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the U.S.S. Stargazer, turned to find a Starfleet officer. Black hair, gleaming eyes that told a story all their own, and a sardonic grin that gave you the impression that this was a man so full of himself. He may be wearing an admiral's uniform but he looks nothing like an officer to me, Picard thought to himself. Besides how did he just appear on the bridge? And why wasn't he frightened of the destruction coming down all around him?
\par \tab "Who are you?" Picard blurted out as blood inched down his forehead. He had hit his head when the wave first struck, maybe he was dreaming the figure.
\par \tab "Lets just say that I am a friend of your's although you have not had the pleasure of officially meeting me...yet."
\par \tab "What are you speaking of?"
\par \tab "My my, my old friend. When will you humans ever understand the true complexitiy of the situation? Anyways my name does not matter, just remember who and what you are."
\par \tab Picard began to reply but the other held up his finger and shook it side to side in a gesture while mouthing "no no"
\par \tab "No words," the stranger in the Starfleet uniform began again, "Just remember who and what you are, and who and what you will be. So long Admiral Picard, till we meet on judgement day."
\par \tab A tube exploaded above where the other stood letting out gaseous flames across the bridge. Surely he did not survive, Picard thought, but no body lay in the rubble. He had vanished, just as quickly as he had appeared. Who was that and why was he wearing an admiral's uniform?
\par \tab Hadn't he called Jean-Luc "Admiral Picard"? And what was the business about "remember who and what you are, and who and what you will be"? Questions. More questions, and yet so little time.
\par \tab A crashing sound echoed down the corridors of the Stargazer as the hull breached on decks 5 through 10. In a matter of seconds the ship imploded on itself setting the warp core into a tremondous explosion.
\par \tab Fire raced toward where Jean-Luc Picard stood. He closed his eyes and waited for the unknown journey that awaited him.....
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\par \tab Picard awoke in a cold sweat, chilled to the bone by the coolness of the habitation temperature of his quarters. He scanned the room for anyone, anything, as he normally did when the dreams ended. And once again he was alone in his quarters with the unspoken reality that the dreams all stood for something. Something he had not yet encountered.
\par \tab For the past two weeks he had been plagued with the dreams of the destruction of the Stargazer. Each one growing more with stature, each becoming more complex with....\plain\f4\fs20\i When will you humans ever understand the true complexitiy of the situation? \plain\f4\fs20 Complexity. The figure had spoke of it in his dream. The words echoed throughout his mind. What did they mean? And who was the speaker?
\par \tab The man he saw, dressed in the admiral's uniform, did not seem familiar yet there was something striking about him that Picard could not place a finger on.\plain\f4\fs20\i \plain\f4\fs20 Maybe it was the gleam in his eyes or the dramatic tone of his voice or maybe it was just another one of his strange dreams that had no basis. Througout all of them to date, he had never seen the man before nor had he heard his voice.
\par \tab But what then did the figure mean?
\par \tab The comm system beeped, a voice coming over. "Captain, you are needed on the bridge."
\par \tab Without answering, Jean-Luc crawled out of his bed, dressed, and walked out of his quarters towards the bridge.
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\par \tab "What's our status?" Picard asked as he came out of the turbolift onto the bridge of the U.S.S. Stargazer. The bridge crew looked up to him as a child would their mother. They were young, and in some cases not ready for the harshness of space exploration, but they were a good group and would surely give their life for their captain if need be.
\par \tab "We intercepted a distress call from the U.S.S. Buran, a Challenger class starship. Their warp coils had fused together rendering them inoperative," the first lieutenant stopped to clear his throat and then continued, "an undentified ship attacked the Buran setting off the Buran's cargo. We are on an intercept course now sir."
\par \tab "You said the unidentified ship set off the Buran's cargo, what was she carrying?" Picard inquired.
\par \tab "Dilithium crystals, weapons, and supplies," responded the lieutenant.
\par \tab "And where was she when she was attacked?" the captain pressed. Answers were needed here, facts and only facts.