Star Trek: New Generations – Series Premiere

Space…The Final Frontier…These are the Voyages of the Starship Enterprise…

Its Continuing Mission…To Seek Out New Worlds and New Civilizations…

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before!

Captain Theston: Stardate 56312.4, USS Enterprise, Captain William Theston commanding…

This is my first command of a Sovereign class starship, so I hope I don’t mess up too badly. Everything’s new to me…the ship…the crew…even the bulkheads in my quarters seem relatively new. When Admiral Thompson gave me my new assignment aboard this ship, I was so nervous about taking command that he decided to give us some leeway in what we could do for the next couple of weeks…so I’ve set a course towards an uninhabited star system yet traversed by any other Federation starship in the hopes of discovering some new planetoid or civilization.

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Sir, we’re picking up a priority message on subspace from Admiral Thompson.”

Captain Theston: “On screen.”

Captain Theston: “Admiral! I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon.”

Admiral Thompson: “Likewise. Captain, there’s been a devastating attack on Regula II. Since you’re the closest Federation ship to the colony, we at Starfleet Command want you to proceed to the planet as fast as possible and figure out what’s going on.”

Captain Theston: “Who’s responsible?”

Admiral Thompson: “We’re not sure, however, we did manage to obtain an image of the attack on the planet.”

Captain Theston: “What the… Any idea on who did this, Admiral?”

Admiral Thompson: “I’m afraid not. You’ll just have to go there and find out for yourselves. Thompson out.”

Captain Theston: “Lieutenant Hodgkins, set a course for the Regula System – Warp 9!”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Course set and plotted, Captain.”

Captain Theston: “Engage!”

“Borders”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Now entering the Regula System sir. Dropping out of warp.”

Captain Theston: “Can we get a picture of Regula II up on the main view-screen?”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Main view-screen now centered on Regula II.”

Commander Gregory: “Doesn’t look that badly damaged to me…”

Captain Theston: “Helm, put us in high equatorial orbit above the planet.”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Scans show no life-signs whatsoever on the planet.”

Captain Theston: “Scan the Regula II colony. Full sensor-sweep!”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Still nothing, sir. The planet is barren of all humanoid life.”

Captain Theston: “That’s impossible! There were 250 Federation colonists living on that planet!”

Commander Gregory: “Whoever caused that massive explosion must’ve wiped out the entire civilization on the planet, whether intentional or not.”

Captain Theston: “All the more reason why we need to find out who did this and why, Commander. Helm, break orbit and prepare to resume our previous course to the Ederson star system. Meanwhile, I have a very difficult message I have to deliver to Admiral Thompson. Commander, I’ll be in my ready room if you’ll need me.”

Commander Gregory: “Yes sir.”

***Captain Theston enters his ready room and uses his computer to contact Admiral Thompson at Starfleet Headquarters***

Admiral Thompson: “Report.”

Captain Theston: “Admiral, I have some troubling news. There were no survivors following the attack on Regula II.”

Admiral Thompson: “No survivors? I just had the medical transport USS Cheyenne set course to rendezvous with you to pick up casualties. Who’s responsible for this heinous act?”

Captain Theston: “We don’t know, sir. Our scans of the planet didn’t pick up anything unusual.”

Admiral Thompson: “Very well…You may return on your previous heading. I’ll have the –”

Captain Theston: “Admiral, I’m losing communications contact with you – Admiral!”

***Commander Gregory: “Gregory to Captain Theston!”***

Captain Theston: *Taps his Comm Badge* “Theston here.”

Commander Gregory: “Captain, may I ask that you join us on the bridge? We’re suddenly receiving subspace interference from an unknown source in this sector. It’s cut off all outside communications.”

Captain Theston: “I’ll be right there.”

***Captain Theston leaves his ready room and re-enters the bridge***

Captain Theston: “Report!”

Lieutenant-Commander Levers: “Sir, our outside transmissions are currently being blocked.”

Captain Theston: “Can you trace the source?”

Lieutenant-Commander Levers: “Attempting to do so now, Captain.”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Sir, I’m picking up extreme subspace distortions off the port bow.”

Captain Theston: “Localize them!”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “It appears as though there’s a cloaked vessel directly — CAPTAIN! Romulan Warbird de-cloaking dead ahead!”

Commander Gregory: “RED ALERT! Shields up! Load forward and aft torpedo bays! Ready all phasers!”

Captain Theston: “Open hailing frequencies.”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “Hailing frequencies open, Captain.”

Captain Theston: “Romulan Warbird, this is Captain Theston of the Federation starship USS Enterprise. You are in violation of the border treaty between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Empire! State your intentions at once!”

Romulan Sub-Commander: “I am Romulan Sub-Commander T’Vek of the Warbird Son’ja. What is a Sovereign class vessel doing this far out in Federation space?”

Captain Theston: “We were investigating an explosion that took place on Regula II. And you still didn’t answer my question, Sub-Commander.”

Commander Gregory: “Yes, Sub-Commander, you wouldn’t know of anyone who might’ve been capable of causing that explosion, would you?”

Romulan Sub-Commander: “I have a better explanation as to why you’re here. Perhaps the mighty Federation was preparing to set up one of their long range sensor arrays to spy on the Romulan Empire.”

Captain Theston: “Sub-Commander, I can assure you that –”

Romulan Sub-Commander: “Enough of your lies! Either leave this space at once or we will open fire!”

Commander Gregory: “You have no jurisdictions within this sector –”

Captain Theston: “Is that intended as a threat, Sub-Commander?”

Romulan Sub-Commander: “Merely a friendly warning from your Romulan neighbors.”

Captain Theston: “Well I don’t care what it is. The Enterprise isn’t leaving until we’ve found those responsible for attacking Regula II and its colony.”

Romulan Sub-Commander: “It’s too bad really. A Sovereign is an expensive starship to re-build.”

Lieutenant Hodgkins: “They’ve cut communications with us, sir.”

Commander Gregory: “You think they had something to do with that explosion?”

Captain Theston: “A cloaked Romulan Warbird in Federation territory kilometers away from the planet that had just been attacked. Seems unlikely that they wouldn’t be involved.”

Lieutenant-Commander Levers: “Captain, the Romulan Warbird has raised shields and is powering up its forward disruptor array.”

Commander Gregory: “They wouldn’t dare attack a Federation starship, would they? Doing so would be considered an act of war!”

Captain Theston: “I don’t think the Romulans really care about the repercussions of their actions, Commander. Remember when they were involved in the destruction of Unity Starbase? The only thing they understand is force…and I intend to show them that…”

Lieutenant-Commander Levers: “Your orders, Captain?”

Captain Theston: “All hands, this is the Captain! BATTLESTATIONS!”

Meanwhile, back at Starfleet Headquarters on Earth…

Admiral Thompson: “I want to know why I was cut off from communications with the Enterprise!”

Rear Admiral Harris: “Uh, Admiral, I think we have a bigger problem than that right now. Reports indicate that two Romulan Warbirds appear to have de-cloaked near the edge of the Neutral Zone in Sector 413. The Challenger, Washington and Denmark appear to have been ambushed! Either side could commence firing at any moment.”

Admiral Thompson: “Can we get it up on the main screen?”

Rear Admiral Harris: “Yes, sir.”

Admiral Thompson: “My God! It looks as if they really do want war after all. I’m putting the entire fleet on a general battle-ready status. If they want a war, we’ll give them one they’ll NEVER forget!”

TO BE CONTINUED…