Im going to name you... Jeff

Posted on Sun Jan 19th, 2025 @ 5:53am by Commander Thomas Johnson & Captain Taiga Aisaka

2,058 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Nursery
Location: Unknown
Timeline: Current

Thomas groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, laying on a bed, or a flat surface, one would say, he shuffled. His uniform was removed, in its place was a greyish jumpsuit. Looking around, the surroundings were alien. Nothing he had seen before, thinking back... the last thing he remembered was being fired upon by a romulan. Who stood alongside the Elachi. He had been unconscious before, but this time it was different. This time he knew something... it happened. Why he was brought back he didn't know.

He tried shifting, surprisingly he wasn't restrained, and was able to sit upright. "Well toto, we ain't in kansas anymore."

A strange circular door opened on the otherside of the room and a strange looking alien made its way into the room. It's skin was a faded purple, and it had six green and yellow eyes in two rows on its face. The alien had no hair and was a good eight feet tall. It wore some sort of black robes and armour plates over the joints of its long legs and arms. In one hand it carried a staff like device which was black and purple, a strange floating ball of energy and mist at its end. Several spiked armour pieces eminated from its back, but were not directly joined to its clothing.

It was almost as if this strange and intimidating alien didn't even walk across the floor. It seemed to float across like some strange sort of phantom. It moved closer and closer to Thomas stopping at the side of the bed to lok down on the Starfleet Commander, its six eyes scanning his body.

"So I take it you are the all knowing wizard of OZ." Thomas inquired his tone was genuine curiousity. "In which case I would like some red ruby slippers to go home please."

The Alien's attention turned to look directly at Thomas's face. "You do not fear us Human?"

"I've been more afraid of my wife if we run out of chocolate ice cream. this I can handle."

"Then you are a fool Commander Thomas Johnson. You should fear us." The Alien said. It retreated as the bed began to tilt, finally coming to a standing position, however keeping Thomas still attached to it. "You are the Executive Officer of the Federation Starship Tokyo are you not?"

"I never got to be the First Officer of the Tokyo, by succumbing to fear." Thomas replied as he looked over to the Alien. "My name is Commander Thomas Johnson of the federation starship USS Tokyo... People call me Tom... I prefer Tom... mind if I call you Jeff."

"What you call me is irrelevant." The alien said. "For I am the Herald of L'Miren." the Herald told him, its voice seemingly coming from no where as its mouth never moved. "Tell me. Why is your Starship currently engaged with our servitude race? What interest do the Elachi have for you?"

"You really don't know..." Thomas inquired, "The Elachi's main way of reproducing is abducting other races and transforming them into more of them, against their will. Our intel has shown their attacks and abductions were increased, therefore when we heard that they were working for... another people... we thought it was under their order. We fight them because they abduct our people. Indiscriminately. We are trying to protect our people. That is all. Attempts have been made to communicate but they refuse."

"They shall not communicate." The herald said simply. "Our masters forbid it. However. I have been authorised to speak in order to gather intelligence from you." It moved away for a moment and then turned to face Thomas once more. "How many ships do you have?"

"Personally... I have one... about thirty centimetres long, in a glass bottle. Took me six months to complete... its a replica of the Canadian racing schooner of our early 20th century. I was thinking of doing the Bluenose II next. But I can't seem to find it. Would you have any suggestions on what I should do next? Jeff. Maybe you can come over, and we can work on it together... Might have to make it a guys night out... Unsure if my wife would allow as it can get very messy with all the parts sprawled out along the floor."

"You do not amuse me Human." The Herald said. "I have ways of making you talk. So tell me. How many ships does your 'Starfleet' have?"

"Come on Jeff... you really think I am going to tell you that... Starfleet has ten ships..." Thomas replied as he looked around the ship... "You know... we have done our study of the Iconian gateway... our first thought was a warrior race that conquered... then we realized you were a more peaceful race... the more we dug... This... goes against what we have discovered about you guys."

"Your knowledge is irrelevant." The Herald said. "Your Starfleet will fall to our superior power." It stated simply. Once again it seemed to move a little closer this time it reached out and a long sharply pointed finger pushed a button close to Thomas's head. Several devices spurng out and attached themselves to Thomas's forehead.

"You Humans have been allowed to spread for too long." It said simply as it turned away as if to leave.

"Come on Jeff... Give and take, you give me info I can use, I give info you can use... this... Im starting to think you don't like me."

"You wish to trade?" The Herald said as it slowly turned as it floated on the spot. It then hovered over back to Thomas and stopped just in front of him. "You Humans are fascinating creatures. Our Masters are correct in that you are dangerous."

"If being curious is dangerous..." Thomas replied as he leaned his head back, a headache began. "You asked your question. Now its my turn."

The Herald tightened its grip on its staff. "Proceed Human. But be warned. I have no reason not to extinguish you should I deem it necessary."

"If it wasn't necessary, I doubt I would have been brought back. You want something from me... or rather your masters do." Thomas replied. "It seems that you have the advantage here, in a locked room, I'm unarmed... and that staff can probably kill me with little effort. How about you let me off here, might make me a little more willing to give some information up."

"Your desire to be free is known to us." The Herald said. It waved its arm lazily and the restraints binding Thomas to the table disappeared as if they had never existed. "You will not be permitted to leave this room."

"Thank you," Thomas replied as he stretched his back. "Man... what ever your medical tech did, we need some of that... Just like I wasn't shot in the back and killed." He did a squat stretched. "Even the issue with me knee is gone." Turning to Jeff. "I guess my main question is... why... why come after the federation. Open a dialogue. None of this hiding."

"How puny of you to think thats its just your 'Federation' that our masters have plans for." The Herald said. "Our masters have spent thousands of years watching, observing, planning to initate their revenge on your 'Milky Way'."

"Revenge?" Thomas replied. "So there was something that drove you out. But it wasn't humans... hell we only became space worthy less than 400 years. Federation has been around less. The Romulans and Klingons have been spaceworthy for longer but not the length of time you are talking about."

"Our masters are the rightful rulers of your galaxy. Be warned Commander Thomas Johnson. For our masters will return and they will take their place as they have been destined to for thousands of years." The Herald continued proudly. "It does not matter whom stands in our way, for you shall all succumb to my masters."

"Consider me warned Jeff." Thomas replied, "I thank you for that information. Now, I will answer your question you have asked me, and the answer is, the direct number I cannot say, we to have thousands of ships, some being built at all times, at numerous locations in various ship yards, in military times, like the Dominion war... we do form military alliances with other powers like the Klingons, and the Romulans."

The Herald did not seem phased by the number. "We have information on all species in your galaxy." It said simply. "However there is one that poses as the only threat to our Masters rule of your galaxy. We have determined that your 'Starfleet' is the most knowledgeable about this species."

"The Borg?" Thomas inquired after thinking about it. "They aren't really a threat anymore...."

"They still pose a bigger threat than your 'Starfleet'." The Herald continued. "Explain how they operate. Do so and you may be spared when the time comes."

"I would gladly give you the information you desire without hesitation. The information that we gather, we share with everyone, even if they are foes. The borg are a strong foe... but starfleet and their allies and at times foes, work together to defeat them each time they try to assimilate us." Thomas replied "They are similar to the Elachi... they take... they transform us into them. Unlike the Elachi, there are those that can be liberated from and return to their former lives for the most part."

"We are aware of their 'assimilation' process. A crude and ineffective way of enforcing control" The Herald said. "Our Intelligence of The Borg show a weapon used by one of your Starships. A 'Transphasic Torpedo'. Do all of your Starfleet Vessels carry these weapons?"

"I believe its my turn for a question Jeff." He replied as he walked over to the wall opposite to the door. "Would there be a chance to get the Elachi to stop their attacks and their abductions. They work for you. Would you be able to put a stop to their attacks?"

"We do not directly command the Elachi," The Herald said. "Our masters give them only basic direction. Their actions are their own."

"I guess your masters aren't all powerful after all." Thomas replied, "They can't even control the Elachi..."

"Our masters have full control. However they have no interest in the daily affairs of the Elachi." The Herald said simply in response. "Now, you shall answer my question regarding those weapons."

"Transphasic torpedoes, is our latest weapon we use against the borg, however given the nature of the torpedoes they are built when needed, every ship is capable of making them when the need arises" Thomas leaned against the wall. "The borg isn't what you are worried about, its those torpedoes."

"Do they use Chroniton Energy?" The Herald asked simply.

"You know... I believe its my turn for a question." Thomas replied as he looked around. "Whens dinner... I am famished. Yes that is my question."

"Nutrients will be dispensed when I have finished." The Herald said. "Our masters have ordered us to keep you alive. You may provide... useful."

"Oh good. Ill have the beef burger and fries, none of that replicated shit. Large Coke. Wait make it a diet... trying to limit my sugar intake, my wife says its not healthy for me." Thomas replied. "Im only useful on a full stomach."

The Herald simply ignored his 'order'. "Do the Tranphasic Torpedoes use Chroniton Energy or Chroniton Particles?" The Herald demanded.

Thomas took note of Jeffs attitude... something with the torpedoes. It must be something that they were weak against, or not something they were prepared for. "Honestly. I don't know." He lied.

The Herland simply turned away from him and began floating off towards the door. "You shall not be permitted to leave this room. Nutrients will be available to you shortly." With that said the door seemed to fade open, then just as the Herald floated through it faded back into something solid.

A small bowl appeared near Thomas. It was full of something sticky and grey that resembled some sort of porridge at best.

"Exactly what the doctor ordered." He looked around. "Hey Jeff... you forgot the spoon."

TAG

Posting by:

Commander Thomas Johnson
Executive Officer
USS Tokyo

Herald of L'Miren
Herald

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