From: Anton_Sanderfoot@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (Anton Sanderfoot)
Subject: STORY: Wisdom of the Ancients 2
Followup-To: alt.startrek.creative
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 22:28:13 GMT


Again: Send any critiques/comments, don't mail for missing parts, all will
likely be reposted later.

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Wisdom of the Ancients, part 2

Open in Guinans room on Diego Marta, she is rearranging the carnations on
a table near her window. Her communicator beeps.

Riker: [vo] Guinan, we have a message coming in from Star Fleet. Please
join us in Mr. Worfs room.

Guinan leaves through side door into the adjacent room. Inside a portable
subspace communications station has been set up, the message is about to
start.

duJour: Captain Riker, I see you are situated. I have what could be
considered good news. The telemetry and visual data from an satellite
orbiting ZetaOmega have provided us with some data about the lost station.
It appears the station has been obliterated by orbital bombardment.

Riker: That would be very unlike the Borgs usual pattern.

duJour: Yes, and we also have a visual account of the attackers...

duJour is replaced by a picture of a huge vessel which has the appearance
of 3 large vessels melded together. The edges of the vessel are smoothed,
yet weapons bristle from many places along the length of the vessel.

Guinan: Its incredible, the size of a small moon!

duJour: Our data suggests that the Gregarious could easily park in the
shuttle bay of this vessel. It appears we are no longer dealing with the
Borg, yet the danger appears to be as great. I understand you will be
delayed in arrival at ZetaOmega, but I would ask you to proceed with all
due haste. The more we know of this vessel and its occupants, the better we
may be able to face it. Your orders will change slightly. You are to do
your best not to engage this vessel, instead, you are to gather as much
information as possible and return with that data so that a proper defense
can be arranged. Understood, Captain.

Riker: Yes, Sir.

duJour: Excellent. duJour out.

Riker: Mr. Worf, what is the ETA of the Gregarious?

Worf: It is scheduled to arrive at 1300 hours tomorrow.

Riker: Lets get some rest. Well meet tomorrow at 0800. Mr. Worf, help me
to secure the station.

Guinan leaves for her own room. Upon entering she wanders over to the
window. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices the flowers in the vase.
The carnations have been replaced by a single black rose.

Guinan: [shocked, hitting communicator] Riker! Emergency!...uh! Red Alert!!

Riker: [vo] Guinan? What?...

A crash is heard over the channel, followed by phaser fire. Guinan heads
for Worfs room grabbing her phaser from a table. She tries the adjoining
door, but finds it jammed. She exits through the door to the hall. A man is
fleeing from Worfs room as she exits, Guinan fires and stuns him, then
rushes into Worfs room. Inside she finds Riker & Worf standing over a
downed man. The communication equipment has been knocked over and is
blocking the door to Guinans room.

Guinan: What happened?

Worf: Two men rushed into the room. If not for your warning, we would have
been in grave danger.

Riker: How did you know?

Guinan: [haltingly] Um...[smiling] I guess its just womens intuition....
His friend is out in the hall.

Riker nods towards the door, and Worf exits to retrieve the second
criminal.

Riker: [looking at communications equipment] I dont suppose your womens
intuition could repair the subspace communicator.

Worf returns, dropping the second criminal onto the floor next to the
first.

Worf: Shall I take these criminals to the authorities?

Guinan: I think we should all stick together, something is up around here.

Riker: [examining communication equipment] I agree, we should all go. This
equipment is useless, with any luck, theyll have some communication lines
we can use. We need to stay in contact.

Guinan: We should probably wait until morning...

Worf: I disagree. On this world, we are just as likely to be ambushed in
daylight. At night, we have the advantage of darkness.

Riker: Im not sure I share your assessment of our advantage, but it is
essential that we get in touch with Star Fleet and report our situation.
Collect anything important, we move as soon as they regain consciousness.

Later. Riker is examining the door to the lift which has been blown open.
Worf and Guinan are approaching down the hall, preceded by the two
criminals.

Worf: They still refuse to talk.

Riker: No matter, Im sure the local authorities will be able to get
something out of them. I hear theyve been cracking down lately. Whats the
plan, Mr. Worf?

Worf: We go down the stairs and out the back. The nearest precinct is less
than a kilometer to the East. They will precede us, I will cover the rear.

Riker: Excellent, lets move...

The six leave by the stairs, and exit into an alley at the rear. They move
through various alleys, with Worf reading his tricorder to determine the
way. Suddenly, a phaser shot hits Worf from behind. Riker spins to fire but
is hit also. Both slump to the ground. Guinan turns to see a partially lit
man who carries a carnation in one hand. Guinan raises her phaser, but is
hit before she can fire. The two criminals turn to the man who has walked
into the light, where the back of his head can now be seen. With shocked
expressions they run from the alley. The camera pans around to see  Riker,
Worf and Guinan sprawled on the ground at the feet of the man. The
carnation drops to the ground...

END PART TWO