A Surprise for Fred

Fred naturally pricks up her ears at this. As far as she knew, even on her home world only her immediate family had borne that name. It seems a remarkable coincidence that someone in this universe should be called d'Honaire.

She listens to the rest of the message: "She's on a disabled shuttlecraft. Just how a shuttlecraft could be out here so far from anywhere, I can't understand. Anyway, their engines are out, and they have one crew member severely injured - burns and possibly a fractured skull. We're heading for their position, and we'll use the tractor beam to bring them into the shuttle bay. Would you go to the shuttle bay to see to the injured person, please."

"Of course, Karen." (Fred notes that the mutineers, although keeping a command structure, seem to prefer to use first names rather than rank and surname.) "Are they an all female crew?"

"We aren't sure yet. The injured person was the pilot, but the woman said nothing to indicate whether the pilot is male or female. She did say that the remaining people aboard were called Annafrid, Andrea and Joan - whom I assume are all female - Jarlath and Synizn. I'm not familiar with those last two names, so can't tell whether they are male or female. With names like those, they could well be aliens."

Whilst Connors is talking, Chapel is packing the items she might need, and arranging for a couple of orderlies to take a stretcher to the shuttle bay. "I'll deal with you later," she tells Fred, who is securely strapped to the examination table, and she walks out of sickbay.

Meanwhile, back on the shuttlecraft, the Enterprise comes into view on the forward viewscreen. There is a gasp of astonishment as it draws closer. The ship they had contacted had said, rather improbably, that its name was the "New Woman".

1. But this looks like the Enterprise (for most of them recognise the clearly visible "NCC-1701" designation from having seen "Star Trek" videos).

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