A Visitor in the Dark

"Excuse me a moment, Uhura," the captain said. He punched the button and replied, "Kirk here, Mr. Spock."

Pardon the intrusion, Captain, but long-range sensors have picked up a vessel, bearing 1-5-3 mark 8, closing directly for us at approxiamtely warp 4.

"Identification?" Kirk snapped.

It is of a configuration not currently listed in our databanks, the first officer replied, in the same unruffled tones one might use to report that you were out of milk. Further, it has thus far refused to answer any hails from us. There was a slight pause, then Spock added, The unidentified vessel has just raised shields, Captain.

"Noted," Kirk said crisply. "Go to yellow alert. Battle stations, all hands. We're on our way." A strident alarm began sounding as Kirk turned to Fred. "Sorry, Lieutenant, we'll have to continue this later. We're needed, so let's go."

"Aye, sire - uh, sir!" Fred responded, marvelling that the compassionate and helpful friend she'd been talking to was now submerged beneath a seasoned warrior with fire in his eyes and steel in his spine. Automatically, Fred followed Kirk from the briefing room, just as Uhura would, and headed for the lift to the bridge.

Moments later, Fred found herself seated back at Uhura's post. Unwilling to place this ship and its crew in extra danger because of her somewhat unique situation, Fred allowed Uhura's training and skills to come to the fore and work the comm board. "Unidentified vessel, this is the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise. Please respond and state your intentions." She slid through the message over several different frequencies and languages, but received no response.

"Ship now within visual range, Captain," Spock reported.

"On screen."

The main viewscreen switched to show the approaching vessel. It was a large black disk, with a dome on top, and a set of small engines grouped in the back."

"Any idea, Spock?"

"Negative, captain. It is not listed in any registries, either Human or Vulcan, and visual inspection yeilds no further information."

Fred listened idly to Kirk and Spock as she worked the comm board. She was so involved in the interplay between the two obvious old companions that she almost missed the signal. "Sir!" she blurted out, "We're receiving a response!"

Kirk swiveled in his chair to look at her. "A message?"

"Yes sir. It's visual, buyt highly encrypted. I should have it for you in just a - there!" The view of the ship on the main screen suddenly blurred and shifted to the interior of the mystery ship:

1. It was a lone human, in a Starfleet Admiral's uniform. "Captain Kirk, prepare to beam aboard this vessel for new orders at once. Priority Code Beta Zeta 9-2-0!"
2. It was Ambassador Sarek. "Greetings, Captain. I must needs speak with you and my son at once on a matter of some urgency."
3. It was a Klingon female. "Kirk! I am B'elbaza, of the Klingon Military Command! We must speak - now!"
4. It was a rather large Gamma Omegan man. "I am Stra'a, and I have come to claim my mate and child - surrender them to me!"
5. It was a ship full of an unknown, reptilian species. "Enterprisssse shhhip! You tresssspassss! Sssssurender, or be desssstroyed!"
6. All gasped as Lt. Uhura's face filled the screen. "Captain! The Uhura on board your ship is an imposter! Stop her!"

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