Up the Creek "
By: M'Ressha Mikaht, Fighter pilot , [RNPC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.15 1300

Wright watched as the big Catian entered the holodeck. He had not had much experience with Catians so he was not sure what to expect. " Hello Lieutenant," he said, "How are you?"

Blitzer stopped and saluted, "I'm fine. Its an honor to assist you sir!"

The two of them turned and watched as the doctor entered the holodeck.

Blitzer stepped back and stood at attention.

"Hello doctor, are you ready for your flight lesson," asked Wright.

Teilani nervously wiped her hands on her trousers, swallowed a little lump in her throat. "I'm ready to give it a try Sir," she replied.

Wright turned to Blitzer, "This is Lieutenant Mikaht. Have you met?"

"Please, call me Blitzer," he added extending his paw.

She nodded, "Yes we have met, hello Blitzer.How is the tail?" He smiled because the doctor had remembered him. "Just fine Ma'am," he said with a slight bow.

"He will be your flight trainer. We will start with a simulation, and work you into real flight situations," said Wright. He turned to Blitzer,"Ready?"

"Yes Sir!"

Wright looked at the Catain, "Lieutenant, at ease. Let's give the doctor a good lesson."

Blitzer nodded, "Yes Sir!" he replied enthusiastically.

Wright cleared his throat, "Computer, begin Maquis Flight instruction level 1."

The room shimmered and the black and yellow grid was replaced by the inside of a shuttle bay. Several technicians hovered about a small shuttle getting it ready for flight.

"Doctor, your chariot awaits," said Wright, gesturing towards the shuttle.

Teilani grinned. "Seems I am missing the white horses Sir." She entered the shuttle craft and walked to the front.

"So what is what?" Teilani was a bit overwhelmed with the controls. Ok she had seen them before but now to go and actually learn to fly with it was a scary thought.

Blitzer sat down in the co-pilot seat, it looked like Dane was an eager student. "First we have to turn the shuttle on." said Blitzer talking in simple terms. Here are the control sequences for initializing the warp engine and sustainer field coils." He nodded for her to activate the display button.

Teilani sat in the pilot seat and carefully pressed the button Blitzer had indicated.

The shuttle lit up more and other displays came to life on the LCARS.

"It takes several minutes for the warp core to energize. You can initialize the impulse engines next," he said gesturing at the next set of display buttons.

"Ok so initializing warp engines and sustain field coils, then initialize impulse engines," Teilani mumbled as she pressed the next buttons. "You know I hope that this is written down somewhere."

Blitzer glanced back at the Commander, hoping he hadn't heard that. He wasn't sure if she was kidding or not.

"Here is the automated preflight check," he said pointing at another display button."

Teilani carefully pressed the button again. Again she noticed the shuttle making automatic checks and some lights turned on and off.

"When you are done, protocol requires you to clear with flight control."

He nodded for her to do so.

"You know, Teilani whispered. "I feel really stupid but do I have to ask if it is ok to fly?"

"Yessss." said Blitzer, politely pointing to a display button, the com center is here. Do you know how to use a standard com panel?" he asked with a suspicious squint.

Teilani rolled her eyes. "Of course I do, I just wanted to make sure. "Flight control this is training shuttle 1, request permission to depart."

"Shuttle 1 this is Flight control, you are cleared for departure."

Take off and landing is the most difficult process, we'll learn that later. For now, you can activate the automatic computer controlled launch sequence...here," he said pointing.

"Ah so only the preflight is manual and then you can tell the computer to do the rest?"

Blitzer smirked and nodded, "for now it will suffice, yes."

Teilani sat back a little and let the computer finish the launch sequence.

"You know this is so different from sickbay, but so far as I can see it seems rather easy." She shrugged and looked at Blitzer and Wright.

Wright watched as Blitzer patiently explained the operations of the shuttle to Dane. He silently wondered how attached Blitzer was to the Marine Corps. Perhaps he could steal the Caitian away from Madriani.

As the shuttle glided out the bay it began to drift in space.

"Okay," said Blitzer shifting in his seat, "Here are your starboard and port thrust attenuators. The controls for the repulsor system are here."

He pointed out of the view port and said, "Okay, see if you can navigate between each pair of those beacons."

"Ok," Teilani responded, her hands were moist and she rubbed them on her trousers again. Carefully she manipulated the port thusters to make the shuttle turn, but it was more difficult than it seemed and the shuttle hit one of the becons.

"Sorry," she mumbled and tried to make the shuttle go straight forward again, to the next set. Passing those went better but only with the back of the shuttle they hit the one of the beacons.

"How come that the shuttle is drifting a bit to the left?" she asked. "Do you need to compensate with both thrusters?"

"Nope," said Blitzer, "When you see the shuttle drifting you have to compensate but reducing the thruster on the side it is drifting and increasing it on the opposite side. Go ahead and try again."

Teilani tapped the controls and the shuttle glided to the right and neatly passed the two pylons. She got a bit confident and increased the speed a little, passing 2 next beacons. "Hey this is fun," she said to Blitzer.

Blitzer sat back and watch as Dane successfully navigated several beacons. "You are getting the hang of it," he said, "now, increase your speed to 1-quarter impulse." Blitzer pointed to the main thrust control.

"Ok," she tapped the designated button and the shuttle increased its speed.

The shuttle accelerated to twice the speed and everything was going along smoothly. Blitzer covered his eyes with his paws as the shuttle plowed head long into a beacon. The shuttle rocked slightly. He looked at Dane and smiled, "Its alright, you are doing great for your first lesson."

"oops that was not intended Sir," Teilani apologized to the big Cait.

"Its alright, you tried to use the thrusters to steer away from them, but they have a slow response time. See this system here? this is the repulsor system which moves the nose of the shuttle. It lets you turn more rapidly if the need arises. Go ahead and try it again."

She nodded and again she made the approach to the beacons, the speed was fast and Teilani had a hard time keeping her eye on all the lights and buttons.

This time as the shuttle approached the pylons Dane used the repulsor system but, the shuttle began to spin wildly out of control, Blitzer held on to his chair, "p-p-push the auto-correct button, th-th-there.."

Teilani was happy that she was properly strapped in and managed to reach for the display. Having tapped it the shuttle regained its calm course again.

Teilani grinned. "Heck that was even better then a rollercoaster, but not very well done."

Blitzer covered his snout with his paw to conceal his smile. "Just use smaller increments, its really sensitive."

Teilani sat up straight and re-did the maneuver again, this time the little shuttle listened to her commands and glided smoothly with sharp turns passed the beacons.

"You know I actually believe I m going to get the hang of this." She said to Blitzer

"You are a natural," said Blitzer with an encouraging tone of voice.

He watched as she continued to maneuver. After about 10 minutes he said, "That's very good. Now lets take a look at the warp system." For now we'll only worry about computer selected navigational inputs.

Here are the warp systems, warp envelop control and warp speed settings. Normally, you don't change the configuration of the envelop. Plot your course here on the navigational computer and then engage the drive. Ok, see if you can set a course for 180 mark 0.

"Right, so lets see....... so I lay in a course like this," Teilani tapped the console.... then speed... I think I got it." She looked at Blitzer

He nodded assuringly, "That's right."

The shuttle turned resumed the requested heading. "You know its not that difficult," Teilani stated. "Would you also be able to ask the computer to set a course? Without doing it manually?"

"Of course," replied Blitzer.

"So what is the best way?"

"Of course having the computer do it is the easiest way, but the Visual Flight Procedures are required knowledge so you have to eventually learn it both ways." He brushed the whiskers on his face as he pondered, "Besides, sometimes you can't always rely on the computer. Especially in areas of intense gravimetrical distortion or combat. You have to be able to pilot by instinct."

She nodded. "That correct."

Blitzer's console beeped. He starred at it for a moment in disbelief, then laughed with a bit of a snort. He covered his snout, embarrassed by his breach of professionalism.

"What is it Lieutenant," asked Wright

"I'm very sorry Sir," apologized Blitzer, "Its just an anomaly in the program."

"Explain," said Wright.

"Well, scanners are detecting a large fish off the starboard side. Specifically a...shark."

Wright was stunned, he could not believe this Marine would be so petty, Is that supposed to be some kind of a joke," demanded Wright, "Because if-"

Suddenly the shuttle controls shimmered and in the blink of an eye they had changed. Dane and Blitzer were now sitting at the helm of an ancient fishing boat. The long scanner turned into a simple green radar screen.

Wright look around him, it was Silvio's fishing program. The color drained from his face. Absently, he began to rub his formerly severed arm. Wright sat down, "Oh no," he said in disbelief.

Blitzer turned and looked at Wright, "Sir? I'm sure it is just a minor malfunction," he said as he stood up. "Computer! Arch!" commanded Blitzer.

Several moments passed, he restated his request, "Arch!"

"It won't do you any good Lieutenant, "said Wright, "We are stuck in here, and if I am not mistaken, we are in for a big storm."

Teilani tapped her combadge. "Dane to transporter room, get us out of here acknowledge!!!" There is no response Sirs, we have been cut off.

Blitzer sat back down in the chair. As the boat rocked gently Blitzer pawed across all the controls, "I can't find the inertial dampening controls, Sir, they seem to be offline."

Before Wright could respond, the scent of the ocean reached his nostrils. "What kind of vessel is this Sir?"

"It's a fishing boat Blitzer," said Wright, "We are on the wide open sea."

Blitzer's eyes snapped up to looked out into the darkness beyond the window, he could see small white-capped waves in the endless darkness. "W-w-water?" said Blitzer with a gulp.

Wright nodded, "and one hungry shark." Wright looked out into the dark ocean. The waves were already starting to swell. At least this time he had both hands, he thought. "We need to develop a plan, and quick. There is a big storm coming."

Blitzer looked down at the Radar screen, "I think that is what this is Sir." he said tapping his claw on salt-etched glass above a blight green blur. "Do you want me to turn this vessel around?" asked Blitzer

"There is no place to go," said Wright," but if it will make you feel better go ahead."

Blitzer didn't answer, he looked down at the lever labelled "Throttle" and pushed it forward all the way. The boat's engines thundered to life churning the water behind it. He took hold of the wheel and turned it starboard. "Fishing boat, huh..." he muttered.

He spotted a compass on the instrumentation turning as the boat changed course. When it had come about 180 degrees he straightened the wheel. The operation of the vessel seemed fairly intuitive.

"Have you been in this SIM before Sir?"

"This is Birkoff's program. It is the one he trapped Silvio and I in. The one where I lost my arm," Wright involuntarily flexed his arm.

Blitzer turned and looked at Commander Wright. He could see he was visibly shaken. His tail thumped nervously on the wooden deck.

"Commander, you have in this program before and you got out, what did you and Silvio do to accomplish this?" Teilani said softly.

"Based on my last time here I would guess we have a two or three hours before the storm is full fury.," said Wright.

Blitzer turned back and faced forward, holding the wheel steady as she went. He familiarized himself with the the various gages, lights and switches. Some had labels like, temp, rpms, amps, oil and fuel. As the thought about it, he came up with a pretty good idea what they represented. There were other switches and lights he didn't have a clue about.

Wright stood up and looked at the sea, "He said he was going to batten down the hatches."

"Sir? what do you mean batten down the hatches?"

"Commander, I know it is difficult, but close your eyes and go back to that day. You had fun, and the storm approached. Water was probably running over the deck. What was the first thing you and Silvio did?

"I had fun," said Wright with a frosty tone in his voice, "I most certainly did not have fun that day.

"Blitzer, batten down the hatches means to shut all the compartment doors and seal them so that water does not run in," said Wright. "Silvio did most of the work since I only had one hand. Come on let's get started."

"There is one more thing we will need," said Wright, "I will be right back. Blitzer steady as she goes. Doctor you are with me.

Wright ran down the deck and into the living area of the ship. There he found an equipment locker. In it were several rain slickers, saftey harneses, and Silvio's first aid kit. He handed the Doctor a yellow rain slicker and the saftey strap, "Put these on," he said as he did the same.

Teilani calmly put on the coat and strapped the harness on.

Next, Wright picked up the med kit, "Silvio programmed this to look like a old first aid kit but he did not kow what should go inside it so he made it into a standard issue kit, complete with a tricorder. We might be able to use that. Wright opened the kit only to find that Birkoff had fixed Silvio's med kit. There was no tricorder in it, only bandages and ointment. Wright signed, "I guess Birkoff thought about that already," he said.

Wright and the doctor made there way back to Blitzer, where Wright handed him the slicker and safety belt. I am not sure how these will fit you Blitzer but do the best you can.

"The safetly straps work like that," said Wright as he demonstrated how the straps clipped to the side of the ship. "You will want to use these when the waves get big. It will keep you from getting tossed overboard."

"Blitzer, when the seas get rough you will need to strap yourself to these posts," he said patting the posts by the wheel, "unless you want me to take the wheel." Wright did not see much point in that, however, since he knew just about as much as Blitzer did about controlling this boat.

Blitzer turned the small knob he had discovered on the steering mechanism. It appeared to make the wheel immobile, apparently a primitive autopilot. He was pleased he was able to figure out most of the controls of this primitive craft.

"Sir, what you said before, about your hand? Does that mean the safety protocols are off?"

"I think it is safe to assume that they are off," said Wright, "I do not want to be the one to test them."

Blitzer swallowed his fear with a gulp and proceeded to step into the harness. He adjusted it to fit with little difficulty and then donned the slicker.

"Doctor, let's you and me start battening down the hatches," said Wright, "We will also need to remember to turn the pumps on in the engine room."

"Aye Sir," Teilani said and she followed Wright down below. For the next 1/2 hour they made sure that all the doors were locked, gear that was laying loose around stowed away so that it would not fly around and harm them.

"Sir?" Teilani asked. "I wonder, if Birkhoff fixed the med kit, did he also fixed the exit? I mean perhaps we should ride out the storm?"

"I hope not Doctor," replied Wright.

Blitzer watched the little compass as he paced back and forth. For now the boat was holding its course. He studied the instrumentation There was a switch that said bilge pump. He turned it on and could hear a new motor sound coming from the engine compartment at the back of the boat. "Must be the engine pumps." He noticed the lights dimmed as well.

Blitzer surveyed the control panel of the ship. He concerned with some of the gages which had changed. Some of the indicators had gone down, the one labeled barometer had dropped from 30 to 26. The other gages that had dropped were fuel, oil volts and amps. He switched the bilge pumps off. The Amps and Volt meter returned to their original position as did the lights. As he expected, the fuel and oil did not.

Some of the gages had gone up. The anemometer had gone from 10 to 35 and the temp gage had gone from 180 to 210.

He loosened the wheel knob and corrected the course. The rocking had increased. He had still not found any controls for dampening field or anything that seemed to serve as a stabilizer.

On the radar screen, the green blob had drawn another tick closer. There were still 6 ticks between it and the center. He looked at the ancient chronometer, at that rate, it would overtake them in 2.5 hours.

Blitzer examined the dark glass display next to the radar. It was labeled sonar. It was switched off. He flipped the switch on. The primative cathode ray device began to glow similar to the radar.

This displayed a triangle shaped pattern, inside of which was a small cigar shaped object that moved around rapidly. A dial on the the side of the display said 50 feet. For the life of him he couldn't remember how many meters that was.

Near the back of the bridge he spotted what looked like a storage locker. He checked is course and then opened up the lazerrette. He pulled out a device that looked like a primitive weapon. It had a pistol grip, some large springs and a point at the end of a shaft. He laid it on the console. Next to it was a box which he pried open. It contained another pistol looking object and a box of cartridges labeled "Flares."

Next he pulled out a pair of walkie talkies but he had no idea what they were. Perhaps the commander would.

There was a canvas sack in there but nothing else that appeared interesting.

He returned to his chair and check his course. The gages were all about the same.

About that time the Commander and the Doctor returned. "Sir I found some interesting things." He showed the commander the items. He also reported the status of the gages.

Wright hefted the harpoon, "This might come in handy," he said thinking about his encounter with the shark, "It is a harpoon. This barbed speer will fire from this gun."

Next he picked up the walkie talkies, "I am not 100% sure, but I think this is a early communication device." Wright turned one of them on and pressed the button. Nothing happened. He flipped it over and found a small compartment in the back, inside was a red and black wire with a connecting device. "It looks like there is no power source."

Wright picked up the box containing the flare gun and read the documentation on the box. "This is called flare gun, it says that you use it to let other know you need help. Wright shurgged and loaded the gun. Stepping out on to the open deck he pointed it in the air. He said to Dane who followed him, "I guess we need help," and pulled the trigger.

The flare burst from the gun and exploded brightly in the night sky, "Interesting concept," said Wright.

"Can I help you," said a mocking voice behind Wright. Turning Wright saw the unforgettable image of Birkoff. "Yes, you can end this program."

Birkoff laughed, "Request denied," he said still laughing, "This is too much fun."

"How is it that you managed to take over this holodeck," demanded Wright.

Birkoff laughed some more, "I am buried so deep in your systems you will never get rid of me," he taunted.

Teilani steadied herself on the railing as she tried to maintain standing. It was good that she had not eaten that much, she felt her stomach being upset by the movement of the ship.

"Sir, why cant we just say abort program, there must be some protocol which he has forgotten about.."

The image of Birkoff replied, "And who have we here?" it shimmered and momentarily appeared translucent. "Doctor Teilani Dane, Chief Medical officer, USS Zion." The image of Birkoff put his hands behind his back in a confident, arrogant gesture and began to walk around Dane as if inspecting her, "...born on Mars, in the year 2050, your parents are divorced. You entered Star Fleet academy to be a pilot and left a doctor. How quaint."

Birkoff seemed to shimmer and flicker again, "you recently performed restoration surgery on..." Birkoff stopped, and looked at Wright, "...Commander Wright, to repair his severed limb."

"It is only fitting that you can die with him this time. I assure you Doctor, I am a fully contained AI, I have patched the previous errors in the code and have waited patiently for the Commander to returned. There are no interrupt protocols I have overlooked. Once I have confirmation of your demise, I will reinfect the ship and destroy it."

“Why you arrogant, self-centred, pompous piece of targ poo,� Teilani bursted out in anger. “I am not planning on dying anytime soon and certainly not here. You seem to forget how resilient people are when their lifes are at stack and believe me we will get out of here.

"That was not a nice response," admonished the hologram. "Had you knelt down and begged for your life, I would have considered it. Now, you leave me no choice."

The image Birkoff shimmered away as if he were beaming out. Suddenly it began to rain.

"Well Commander, he might than be some sort of highly advanced AI, but I am not going to let myself be intimidated by just a hologram." Teilani snarled. “Oh go away Birkhoff you annoy me!

Wright and Dane took cover back inside the boat's cabin.

Blitzer turned and greeted them, "Uhm, I have more bad news Sir, suddenly the storm advanced 4 ticks and another shark appeared on the sonar. Furthermore, the fuel gage suddenly dropped to almost empty.

Blitzer looked around as Birkoff's insane laughter mingled in chorus with the rumble of thunder. "What was that?"

continued.....