The Runaway

FOREIGN RELATIONS


USS PALADIN – SECONDARY HULL

oardoard the secondary hull, the situation was changing rapidly. In engineering, Newman stopped working and was now standing casually by the warp core. “He’s trying to deteriorate the magnetic constrictors. If that antimatter comes in contact with matter…” From outside the protective fields, no computer terminals were working. There was nothing the Engineer could do. All of the sudden, everything came back on. The lights returned to normal, and the force fields dropped. [Sulek to engineering. You should have power and computer access now…]
As soon as the security teams noticed the fields drop, they opened fire on Newman. The beams hit him, but he seemed to be unaffected. Then Judy Li understood. “Computer, end hologram program.”
Newman vanishedd hid his phaser dropped to the floor. Everyone stood still for a half second. Kelso shouted, “Ok! Engineering personnel, back to your stations on the double!” He began working to get the warp core functional again. “If that was a hologram, then where’s the real Newman?” the security lieutenant asked Li.

USS PALADIN - PRIMARY HULL

On the maridgridge of the Paladin, Roberts was making some fast decisions. [Yes sir,] said Sulek. [Total access has been regained throughout the ship. Apparently, Mr. Newman was not in engineering, but rather it was a holographic image of him. We have not been able to locate him on board. I would suggest you search that part of the ship.]
“Very well. Good work Mr. Sulek. While the ship is separated, I want you to take command and coordinate the hunt for the Romulan with the team on the ground. We’re going to focus our efforts here on finding and detaining Mr. Newman.”
[Aye sir]

BRUSSELS – BELGIUM

The Romulan scout craft finally had zeroed in on their lost captain. Th sub-commander had simply followed the Federation team on the ground and waited until they found him. “Bring him up. Directly to the bridge!” he ordered.
A moment later the Romulan captain stood back at his command. The bridge crew saluted him, and the sub-commander noticed that he was quite disheveled and injured. “It is good to have you back, sir”
“Dispense with the pleasantries,el. el. Helm, take us back into orbit immediately. And re-engage cloak.”
The captain sat in his command chair while the scout craft zipped though the upper atmosphere.
“There is much to be done. I have found our target.” He brought up a map on the main screen. “ is is the human city below us. This complex of buildings here,” a red circle appeared over the map, “is the headquarters of an alliance of nation states. I know a bit of human history, Tarel. It is wise to know your enemies. This planet now is polarized into two factions. Destroying the headquarters of one, and then respond with another hit on their enemy with a simulated fission weapons will precipitate a global war.”
Tarel looked at his captain. “Sir, it is a good plan. But what happened on the surface? We have lost contact hours ago.”
The Romulan frowned. “I was…ambushed. The Federation was close to finding me, so I planted my communicator on a local human. Then, later, several humans advanced on me. But I was able to kill them all.” He wouldn’t dare tell his subordinate that one human had been able to draw blood from him. Especially when it was he who had planned to ambush. “Never mind that now. We have our target. Then we will try and escape the Federation vessel, and then we look for a way home.”
Tarel smiled a bit and said, “We needn’t fear the Federation sir, Their ship was completely disabled. I was hoping that after we brought you back, we could destroy them. I think the crew would enjoy that.”

USS PALADIN – PRIMARY HULL

Doctor Floyd was on his way to the bridge. Casualties had been minor, a few rattled civilians. When he entered the turbolift someone suddenly rushed him from behind. The man slammed him against the back of the lift and then placing his arm around his neck, the man held something to his head. “Don’t move,” he said. Floyd suddenly realized who it was. “Mr. Lincoln, this is not presidential behavior,” he said calmly.
Newman spun him around to face him, still pointing the phaser to him. Newman gave him a quick punch to the head, which was more painful the Floyd realized. “Don’t play games with me Doctor. Listen very closely. I’m getting out of here and you going to help me. Refuse, and believe me. This elevator will be the last thing you ever see.”
“You can be assured that no one wants you off this ship more that I do, Mr. Newman. But you don’t need a phaser for that. Trust me. Before you started all this nonsense, you were small potatoes. If you were to give yourself up and undo the damage, you can be home before dinner time,” said Floyd.
“I’m sorry Doctor, but I am really just not in the habit of trusting people anymore. It hasn’t worked for me in the past.”

BRIDGE

On the bridge, Sokolov was back at his station no more than a minute when he spotted the Romulan ship near the surface. “It vanished again sir, and I lost it against the surface clutter. However, I may be able to get a lock if they get near us, now that I know where to look.”
[Lyson to Roberts]
“Go ahead commander.”
[Captain, we’ve beamed aboard the secondary hull and recalled the shuttlecraft. The Romulan scout ship appeared right in front of us, and I think they have their man.]
“Affirmative Number One. We saw the ship momentarily, then it vanished,” Roberts said.
[Captain, I think I may know what the Romulans may be after sir. The headquarters for NATO, the 20th century alliance of nations, is in the city. If they target that with a nuclear weapon, it could intensify hostilities on the planet. They may be even planning to hit other placed as well,] said Lyson.
“Understood Number One. Take command from Sulek, and have him transfer here,” he said. [Captain, Sulek here. I have been formulating a plan for our return home, but it would require capturing the Romulan vessel.]
“Explain.”
[Romulan ships use quantum singularities to power their engines. Essentially they are powered by artificial black holes. If we could use their warp core and direct the precise flow of gravitons, we may be able to return to our own time. Theoretically.]
“Then stay there. Work out the details with Mr. Kelso and report back to me,” said Roberts.
“Mr. Sokolov, open a channel.”
“Channel open, sir,” said Sokolov.
“Romulan vessel. This is Captain Hiram Roberts of the Federation starship Paladin. We know what you are planning to do. I can assure you that your plan will fail. We have a plan to return to our own time, but we need to cooperate. We wish to discuss a truce.”
There was silence. Sokolov said, “They don’t seem to be responding sir.”
Roberts thought for a moment. He didn’t like it, but it was worth a try.

ROMULAN SHIP

“You were saying something about a disabled ship Tarel?” the Romulan captain said. “Now there are two Federation ships there, and they apparently know what we are doing.” Ahead, they could see the Paladin, now split in two, and they were heading for intercept courses.
[Romulan vessel, any attack on the Earth will be considered an act of war. If you attack, we will respond in kind by attacking the plant Romulus.]
Tarel looked at his captain.
[I doubt that Romulans of this time can match a the firepower of a Federation starship. But there is no need for bloodshed.]
“Sir? Should we respond?” asked Tarel.
“If we transmit, Tarel, they can trace our signal,’” the captain. He was getting annoyed with his sub-commander. If they de-cloak to fire, the Federation ship would destroy them. Perhaps subterfuge would suffice. “I’ve changed my mind. Bring our course to face the starship.”

BELGUIM

General Morris was at his wits end. For over three years he had been wracked with guild about Brian Newman being imprisoned by the Russians, and then later on fearful about retribution. There were hisponsponsibilities to the government, and to Newman. After Newman’s escape, he thought things couldn’t get any worse. After seeing the giant green aircraft hovering above him, he started to lose touch. The stranger in the odd uniform had called his men together, and they had told their friends elsewhere that their man had been taken aboard the green ship. Then they vanished right in front of him. His other men saw it too, but it didn’t make Morris feel any better. Later that evening, he stayed in a hotel. He requested a room facing west, and he stood admiring the sunset. It was odd, but it was the first time in his life he had witnessed a sunrise and a sunset in the same day. It made him feel complete somehow, seeing the days beginning and end. “It’s enough,” he said. Newman was gone. He knew he wasn’t coming back. His career was over too. Somehow, he felt peaceful for the first time in a long while. Looking at the top of the sun disappear over the horizon, he raised his pistol to his head and fired.

EARTH ORBIT

The Romulan scout ship de-cloaked in front of the primary hull of the Paladin. The secondary hull, now under Lyson’s command, took up a position drifting slightly behind the Romulan. The captain appeared on the Paladin’s viewscreen. [Greetings Captain Roberts. I am Captain Letek of the Romulan vessel Red Hornet. I believe you mentioned something about an act of war. I would advise you to speak softly Captain. I have done nothing wrong.]
“I disagree,” said Roberts. “You are in violation of treaty. Your vessel has crossed the neutral zone without permission. So let’s not insult each other’s intelligence.”

USS PALADIN – TRANPORTER ROOM

In the transporter room, Newman and the Doctor had rushed in and Newman told the operator on duty to lie on the floor. “Now Doctor, you’ll soon be rid of me. I haven’t had time to figure out how to set coordinates, so you’d better bee toe to.”
Floyd looked at him and said, “They don’t teach transporter techniques to doctors,” he said. Brian hit him again in the head, and Floyd saw stars form in front of his eyes. “Doctor, I am out of patience,” Newman said angrily. “Do it!”
A security team came into the room and immediately took up positions to fire. At the instant the door started to open, he took Doctor Floyd in front of him and pointed the phaser to his head. “Back out of the room! Now!” Newman said. The standoff froze. Neither side wanting to make the first move. Newman knew that unless he could convince someone to let him go, he was finished. Doctor Floyd was groggy, but he managed to speak. “I don’t make a good target. You better shoot me.”
“Shut up!”
“Aim for the temple. A stun blast there would be quite effective.”
Judy Li had requested to join the search efforts for Newman. She came into the room when the stalemate had occurred. “Brian, please. We don’t want to…”
“WILL EVERYONE QUIT TELLING ME HOW THEY DON’T WANT TO HURT ME PLEASE?” he said.
“Brian,” said Judy. “There’s no reason for you to do this.”

Newman hated being cornered. He knew there was only one thing he could do. He released the Doctor, and lowered his phaser. “OK,” he said. “I’ll some quietly as long as there’s no tricks.”
There were four security men, Judy Li and the Doctor in the small transporter room. As one of the guards came towards him, Brian looked over their shoulders and said, “Hey! I said no tricks!”
By reflex, almost everyone looked behind them for a split second. It was all Newman needed. He grabbed the phaser rifle of the closest guard and kicked another one out of the hands of a second guard. He fired once at a third, then threw down the rifle, put his hands in the air and said, “Don’t shoot! Don’t…” Again, the three guards hesitated, and Newman grabbed the rifle from the remaining guard with both hands. He twisted himself around so his back was to the armed guard, and fired the rifle at the two unarmed men. Thenan san shot his right elbow into the face of the last guard standing. He loosened his grip on the rifle, and Newman took him down. The whole battle took less than twenty seconds. He was surprised that they didn’t send more people, but then again, they weren’t familiar with his background. The Doctor had run out of the transporter room the second Newman flinched, and grabbed Li with him. “C’mon, Judy. We’re getting help,” he said.
“No,” she said, and wrenched free of him. “Brian Newman needs help.”
“He needs a goddamn stun blast!” said Floyd. “Now let security deal with him.”
Newman had emerged from the room, phaser rifle in hand, and one slung on his back. He hardly looked out of breath. He noticed Floyd and Li, and simply smiled at them. “Stay out of my way, ok?” he said.
He turned and ran down the corridor. Floyd called for more security, and before he could stop her, Judy ran after Newman.

Newman’s plans were ruined. He calculated the odds of escape, and figured he had about a 20% chance.
But it was still a chance. These people wouldn’t keep underestimating him forever. He figured that security would be in every possible exit point on the ship, and since hiding was not an option, and he had used all of his ‘clever’ ideas, there was really only one option left. Along the way, Newman had run into a security team going to the transporter room. After a brief fight, with some tricks thrown in, they were taken care of.

He entered rbolrbolift and said “Bridge.” The lift would not engage. Typical, he thought. He opened the access hatch and started to climb up.

ROMULAN SHIP RED HORNET

While speaking with the Federation captain, Letek had silently ordered his men to prepare to fire high-yield torpedoes.
“What is your proposal Captain? I trust you don’t expect me to surrender?”
[Your quantum singularity drive would make it possible to return home. However, it would mean having to eject your engine core and hold it in space between us.]
“Effectively disabling us. Captain, you’ll have to try much harder than that,” said Letek.
Then, he saw the most amazing thing. Another crewman had burst through a hatch on the floor, and started firing at other crewmen on the bridge. He ran to Captain Roberts and held him at gunpoint. Was this some kind of trickery?

USS PALADIN

“Captain, I am Brian Newman. Glad to make your acquaintance,” he said, holding the rifle at Robert’s head.
“Back off, or he dies!” he told other crewmen creeping towards him. He saw the giant viewscreen and the blank stare of the man displayed on it.
“Mr. Newman, you have no idea what’s happening here. I can assure you that..” Roberts was cut off.
“Yeah, yeah! No one wants to hurt me,” Newman finished. “I wish you people would come up with something original. So tell me. How did I do?”
“What?”
“In this little scenario. pe Ipe I scored well. I don’t know what this is all about, or what my part is in it, but I think someone must be keeping score,” Newman said. “I guess it’s my fault. I could probably be home by now, but I wanted to see how far things would progress.”
[Captain Roberts, I have no idea if this is genuine, or a show for my amusement, but let me assure you, I am most amused,] said Letek, now smiling on the screen.
[Captain, what’s you status?] Lyson interrupted from the other half of Paladin. “Your Captain is indisposed right now. Who is this?” said Newman.

For a minute, Letek, Lyson, Newman and Captain Roberts all looked at each other. The situation was indeed unusual. No one was sure how to proceed.

The turbolift doors opened on the Bridge, and Judy Li stepped out, alone. “Brian, what are you planning now?” she asked. She didn’t sound caring or helpful anymore.
“I told you to stay out of my way,” said Newman, still looking directly at Roberts.
“Just go,” she said.
“What?”
“Yout tot to leave, don’t you? The only obstacle to your leaving has been yourself,” said Li. “I know you’ve been putting on an act for my benefit. I’m not stupid, Brian. You’re not supposed to be here, and you’re not wanted. So leave.”
“I don’t think…” Newman was interrupted by Letek, who vanished from the screen. The image was replaced by the Romulan scout drifting away from the Paladin and heading towards Earth, engaging the cloak as it went.
“Mr. Newman. I don’t have time to explain everything, but that ship intends to start a war on the Earth. In a moment, they’ll launch weapons from orbit, decimating several key targets. You have my permission to leave, but my crew must stop them,” said Roberts.
Newman was thinking. The more he thought about it, the more he didn’t want to admit he was responsible. “I…I can’t. This…situation. I have trouble believing this,”
Judy said, “I know trust is foreign to you. But compared to that, so are your violent actions foreign to us. Oh, Brian. I wish you could see our time. We don’t resort to violence on the onset of a problem. Think about it. Have any of your actions truly settled any conflicts? Or have things just escalated? The Romulan is about to exploit that same kind of escalation, and the result may be the end of humanity.”
Newman tried to think clearly. It might all be propaganda. But truth was, he was tired of all the games.
“I’m tired of prisons,” he said as he lowered the rifle.
Roberts took command. “All hands to battle stations. Number one?”
[Yes sir]
“Begin sweep for the Romulan. We’re going to higher orbit to try and intercept any weapons fired, but I want you to go in close and try to flush him out.”
[Aye sir]
[Captain, Sulek here. I may remind you sir that it is important not to destroy the Romulan ship.]
“I remember, Mr. Sulek, but we have a responsibility. The safety of the planet comes first. Roberts out. Helm, take us into firing position.”

Newman left the bridge with Li. They didn’t speak in the lift. Newman was very tired. The past events were almost mind blowing, but he had managed to keep a level head. What would he do now? He had been asked that question ever since his release from the Russians. He didn’t know where to go. Brian wanted answers. He wanted to know why he was different, and now, he wanted to know about all of this. Humans and aliens from the future? It all sounded so absurd. He knew he had oore ore thing to do. It might be the last thing he ever did, but at least it would accomplish something good. “Take me to the shuttle bay,” he said. “Why?” asked Judy.
He looked at her with tired eyes. He still had the phaser rifles, but didn’t threaten her. “Please,” he said.
“I want to leave.”

“Captain,” Sokolov said, “A shuttle has left bay number one.” *What now? * Roberts thought.
[Captain, Counselor Li here. I’m taking Mr. Newman home in a shuttlecraft. Sorry for the short notice, but we’ll stay out of the way.]
“This is highly unusual, Counselor. Are you being coerced in any way?” asked the Captain.
[No sir. Brian is just a passenger. I’ll be back shortly.]

The shuttle sped closer to the Earth. “Where do you want to go?” asked Li. “Wherever it is, I hope you get some help. You don’t need to be ashamed of talking to someone.”
“Maybe later,” he said. Newman was in the rear of the shuttle checking the phaser rifle. He didn’t sound so tired anymore. In fact, Newman sounded rather regenerated. Judy was wary that this might be a trap, but she had to trust him. They had gone straight to the shuttle bay, and Newman had taken the rifles with him.
“How many Romulans would be on that ship, do you think?” Brian asked.
“I don’t know, 20 or so. You didn’t tell me where you wanted to go,” said Li.
“Can you broadcast a message, so that the Romulan ship will hear?”
“Let’s leave that te Cae Captain, alright?” said Li. “I don’t think…”
“C’mon. Just this once. You want to find him, don’t you?”