From: tlb2665@usl.edu (Burleigh Thomas L)
Subject: ST:USS Cavalier, Chapter 05, "Roller Coaster"
Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 03:28:33 GMT


(C) Copywrite 1992 by Thomas L. Burleigh. The following are the property
of Paramount Pictures, Inc: the characters of William T. Riker, Jean-Luc
Picard, D'Tan, and Spock; the Borg, Romulan, and Vulcan races; the
StarFleet organization; and, the USS Enterprise. This story is an original
work of fiction base on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a registered
trademark of Paramount. All rights reserved.

                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 5
                            "Roller Coaster"


   Then stars came into view. As Riker glanced at the stars, he began to
recognize the local Romulan constellations. Then, thin lines of blue
formed far aound him and took the shape of an outline of the USS Cavalier -
scaled to perspective size with Riker sitting at the appropiate position of
the ship.
   "Captain Riker, sir," said Chief Engineer Shaw, in a suspiciously formal
voice, "I present to you the Captain's Holoview System."
   (So THAT'S what Thompson and Shaw were being so covert about!) Riker
thought with amusement. He help off on smiling until he was sure on just
one thing....
   "Okay, I can't see any of you - can any of you see me?"
   "No, Sir." replied Thompson. "All of us share the same view here on the
Brige - except we have view of our stations, just as you have view of your
command chair."
   Riker glanced around to ensure that he could see the controls on his
seat. He then allowed himself to smile.
   "This is all very nice and well," said Riker, "but why start this up
now?"
   "Well, sir," jumped in Shaw, "we're jumping through Rom space and will
be swinging by some astronomical features in their space. Good chance for
some visual reconaissance, even on flybys. But, more importantly, you
should feel in you bones what exactly a magnetic drive jump is like - and
what better way than THIS?"
   "Very well, Shaw, you're forgiven!" Riker exclaimed roughly. But, before
letting Shaw build up his indignation, Riker asked, "Are you ready to get
us under way?"
   "Yes, sir. Awaiting you command."
   "Very good." Riker said, re-squaring his shoulders on the command chair,
"Engage."
   "Firing impluse engines..." Riker looked back to where the outline of
the impulse engines were and saw that their outline changed from blue to
red.
   "Engaging drive." He looked around and saw the outlining ring of the 
Cavalier change to red also just as the starfield started swooping away.
From looks alone, they were moving at the equivalent of Warp 9.
   Yet they still kept moving faster and faster.  As their apparent 
acceleration continued to climb, the ship passed near various points of
interest. They speeded over, under, and flanked various nebulae, stars,
and interstellar clouds.
  ("Visual recon" my ass!) thought Riker (this is a god-damn roller-coaster
ride!)
  Just as Riker was getting ready to verbally tear into Thompson, the ride
ended and they were near a yellow star, obviously in a solar system - their
desination.
  (Save it for later.) he thought to himself. Then addressed the Bridge, 
"Impressive. But for now, I'd like to see my Bridge. Holoview off." And,
the Bridge came back into view. Thompson and Shaw were looking rather
contrite as they say apparent displeasure in Riker's face. Well, let them
have a chance to save face...
  "Helm, take us into standard orbit, equatorial inclination 45 degress.
Mr. Shaw, maintain sensor scans on the planet and system. Mr. Thompson,
deploy the away teams simultaneously."
  "Aye, Sir." everyone chorused as they set about their duties.

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