Artoo's Encounter, Chapter Three (standard:Fan Fiction, 2103 words) [4/7] show all parts
Author: Tanada	Added: Dec 17 2002	Views/Reads: 3200/2097	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Data surprises Luke, the R2's surprise Shelby.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


"Over there is the entrance that the Romulans caved in. I suggest that
tractor beams would be sufficient to clear the rubble for a Shuttle to 
enter." Commander Data added. 

"Number one? I thought you said that the gravimetric shear was too
strong for safe shuttle operations?" 

"Having studied the readings we took aboard the Enterprise in great
detail Captain, I believe I could pilot a shuttle safely to the 
Pegasus. Once I reach the Pegasus I would be able to link the escape 
transporter on the Shuttle to the Galaxy and the remainder of the 
transfers could take place via Transporter." 

"Have all the transporters been set to recognize the R2 units as quantum
resolution targets?" 

"Yes sir, and I have asked for 17 of the 59 R2 units to volunteer for
transfer to the Pegasus. All 59 volunteered so I selected 17 at random 
and uploaded the complete specifications for the Pegasus into their 
memory databases." 

"Volunteer's Data?" Captain Shelby asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Yes Captain. These R2 androids are at least as sophisticated as I am,
they all express emotional attitude's and I have demonstrated that they 
work most efficiently if they are treated as crew members instead of 
'just androids'." 

"I see, and this is part of the integration protocol you have come up
with?" 

"Yes Captain, I highly recommend you follow the protocol as outlined in
my report. The R2 units will follow orders irreguardless, but when 
treated as crew they develop an emotional bond with the ship and crew 
they are assigned to." 

"Understood. I would certainly rather have them as enthusiastic crew
members than as 'just androids' Commander Data, I remember our service 
together well and these last two weeks have only convinced me further 
that you are a wise council and an excellent officer." 

"Thank you Captain Shelby. Shall I carry out my plan as outlined Captain
McDonnell?" 

"On the condition that Commander Skywalker accompanies you and that both
of you maintain a transporter lock at all times." 

"As you know Captain McDonnell, Commander Skywalker has an ethical
objection to using the Transporter. It would violate the Prime 
Directive to force him to use the Transporter." 

"I hadn't forgotten Number One, the only way he will be able to get to
the Pegasus until we free it will be on a shuttle and I don't plan on 
risking multiple flights. On top of that offending our military Liaison 
and representative from the Alliance wouldn't be a smart move. This 
compromise should suit him, he is a hot pilot himself." 

"As you say Captain. With your permission I will proceed to Shuttle Bay
1 and prepare a shuttle for myself, Commander Skywalker and the 
Astromech droids transferring to the Pegasus." 

"Very Well Commander Data proceed, we will have the entrance stabilized
by the time you launch." 

"Yes sir." 

A little over 20 minutes later Commander Skywalker, Commander Data and
17 Astromech droids departed the Galaxy and flew uneventfully to the 
Pegasus, deep inside the asteroid. 

"You fly very well Commander Data, have you ever considered a fighter
piloting career?" 

"No Commander Skywalker, until very recently Star Fleet did not produce
fighter spacecraft. The Dominion war has forced a change in that policy 
but considering the attrition rate among fighter pilots I believe I was 
wiser to remain at my post as Second Officer on the Enterprise." 

"Apparently my arrival has caused even that aspect of your plans to
change." 

"Yes it did Commander Skywalker, but to quote a much used earth saying
'I would not have missed it for the World.' " 

"I'm certainly pleased that my arrival has benefited you Commander
Data." 

"Thank you Commander Skywalker, approaching the Pegasus now." 

"What! That ship is fused into the cavern wall!" Luke exclaimed. 

"Yes Commander, an experimental device for passing through solid objects
failed and the ship reformed half inside and half outside the rock. 
Scanning the Pegasus now." 

"R2 units, sensors indicate that the Auxiliary Fusion Reactors on Deck 4
are both undamaged but have run out of fuel. Your first task will be to 
check the Reactors and fuel feeds to them from the reserve Deuterium 
fuel tanks on Deck 4. Once they are tested deuterium fuel will be 
transferred into the tanks via transporter and you will restart the 
reactors to provide auxiliary power to the Pegasus." Data explained. 

"Beep boop Blahpp Blahpp" 

"Yes you should all work on these systems first, once the power is on
you can begin repairs of hull breaches and restore environmental 
control so that the remaining crew can be beamed over." 

"Boop Beep Beep." 

"Beginning transporter sequence." Data said and the R2's rolled into the
emergency transport's scanner one by one, being transported to 17 
locations in the fuel storage, transfer and delivery system, the 
Auxiliary Fusion Reactors, the EPS power conduit's and the 
Environmental control systems. A little over an hour later the Pegasus 
was ready. 

"Captain Shelby, we are ready to transfer fuel and initialize the
Auxiliary Reactors on Deck 4." 

"Understood Data, that's fast work! Proceed as planned." 

"Yes sir, transporter room 18, begin Deuterium transport sequence as
planned." 

"Aye Aye Commander Data, first of 50 sequential transports of 4 cubic
meter's commencing." 

The typical transporter sparkle appeared in the Aldrins escape
transporter, where it was immediately captured and rebeamed by 
Commander Data to the port auxiliary reactor fuel tank. The second fuel 
load arrived precisely 120 seconds later and was sent to the starboard 
auxiliary reactor fuel tank. One hour and 20 minutes later the fuel 
transfer was complete, but the best news was that by the time the third 
load had been received the R2's had initialized both reactors and power 
was once again flowing through the EPS power distribution system of the 
Pegasus. The handy Astromech droids immediately started the 
Environmental subsystems, then the Structural Integrity Field, Inertial 
Damping field and associated main computer subsystems. By the time 
Captain Shelby transferred through from the Galaxy at 10:30 hours 
standard ship time along with her chief engineer Nikola Scott the 
Pegasus was warm and full of good air and water. 

"Computer?" 

"Working." 

"Computer, by order of Star Fleet Command, I, Captain Alexandra Shelby
assume command of the USS Pegasus, authorization Shelby Baker Delta 
Zed." 

"Confirmed Captain Shelby is now commanding USS Pegasus." 

"Computer, ships status?" 

"Pegasus internal sensors are off-line aft of frame 103 Baker. In the
portion of the primary hull accessible environmental systems on line 
and hull breaches in three compartments are being contained by 
emergency forcefeilds. Unidentified machines are repairing all three 
hull breaches and other systems are being reinitialized and brought on 
line one at a time. Please identify repair machinery." 

"Computer those machines are Astromech droids, 17 have been assigned to
help crew Pegasus, they are to be treated as crew members, all have 
volunteered to serve on Pegasus and act as damage control and repair 
specialists." 

"Database updated." 

"Computer are any of the Transporter's functional?" 

"Diagnostics indicate that Transporter room Three is fully operational
at this time." 

"Excellent." tapping her communicator Shelby continued, "Galaxy this is
Pegasus, transporter room Three is functional, please begin beaming the 
remainder of my crew directly aboard to that location." 

"Acknowledged Pegasus, shifting transport coordinates now." 

And so it went, with crew reporting aboard and the Computer assigning
quarters in the accessible portion of the ship. Commander Skywalker and 
Commander Data transferred aboard through a hard dock gangway at High 
noon ship time. 

"Permission to come aboard?" Data asked in the traditional greeting of a
non crew member entering any vessel. 

"Granted Commander and welcome aboard, both of you." 

"Thank you Captain." 

"How are things progressing Captain?" Luke asked. 

"So far the R2's have gotten nearly every accessible portion of the ship
up and running. The hard part is going to be getting her loose from the 
Asteroid, once we are free to navigate we can always get a tow back to 
Spacedock if need be." 

Meanwhile back at Spacedock 

"Admiral Gingerbeard, request permission to get underway on our
shakedown cruise." 

"Do you have your 26 Astromech's aboard?" 

"Yes Admiral, and they are working beautifully. Thanks to these new crew
members we are ready for our Shakedown almost a week ahead of 
schedule." 

"Excellent Captain Picard, the protocol's from Commander Data have made
it possible for every ship here, not to mention Spacedock itself, to 
benefit tremendously from the addition of these Astromech droids." 

"Yes Admiral, and if these Hyperdrive motivator's work as advertised I
would like to volunteer the Enterprise for a search and rescue mission, 
to track down and bring home the Voyager and her crew." 

"Granted Captain, if the Hyperdrive gets you to the border without any
sign of malfunction you have permission to proceed with the SAR." 

"Thank you Admiral. The information Voyager has collected will be
invaluable to the Federation." 

End Chapter Three Artoo's Encounter


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