OFF: Ok, you are all doing a great job. I'm wrapping up this 
mission, and we will start the next by the 1st of May.

ON: {Captain's readyroom, USS Excalibur}

::Captain McCloud is in his readyroom checking over report updates 
from the engineering crew. As he reads, he gets a communacation from 
command.::

Tolbin: =^= Captain, message comming in from Command.=^=

McCloud: =^= Pipe it in here Number One. =^=

Tolbin: =^= Aye sir.=^=

::McCloud looks at his terminal, the Starfleet emblem is replaced by 
the face of Admiral Star.::

Star: =^= Mac, how goes the refit?=^=

McCloud: =^= Good Admiral. Why? What's up?=^=

Star: =^= Well your not going to believe this, but we have picked up 
what looks like the same reading you got from that vortex near the 
Ocalma Nebula, and since you have dealt with these creatures before, 
we want you to go out there and check it out. How soon can you leave?
=^=

McCloud: =^= They are just finishing up with the warp core. Once we 
get the engines restarted, we should be good to go.=^=

Star: =^= Good Mac. Get going as soon as you can. Star out.=^=

:: McCloud gets up and heads for the Bridge. ::

Tolbin: "Trouble Mac?"

McCloud: "Looks like the Gor'gons are not done yet. Command wants us 
to go to the Ocalma Nebula to check it out. How soon can we be ready 
to leave?"

Tolbin: "I don't know. I'll talk to Lt. Myhon."

McCloud: "You do that and I'll recall the crew that are on the 
Starbase."

:: They each get things going. Two hours later, they are ready to 
leave. The ship heads to the Ocalma Nebula at maximum warp.::

Redroi: "We are approaching the Nebuls sir."

McCloud: "Take us out of warp, Lt. Sensors at maximum."

Redroi: "Aye sir." 

Tolbin: "The readings are the same as the Vortex we encountered with 
the Gor'Gons Sir."

McCloud: "Stay on your toes people." 

Koptuka: "Sir something is coming out of the Nebula"

Tolbin: "It's a small ship. It's two small ships. The second is 
foring on the first."

Montgomery: "Sir, we're being hailed, audio only. It's the first 
ship."

McCloud: "Let's hear it Ensign."

First ship: "Excalibur? Is that you Captain McCloud?"

Mccloud: "This _is_ McCloud. Who are you and how do you know who we 
are?"

First ship: "Sir it's me. Commander Ford."

::The crew is somewhat shocked. They can't believe it.::

McCloud: "Commander? ..."

Ford: "Sir I really need your help. Systems failing...."

McCloud: "Tolbin target the second ship. Redroi, open a channel to 
that ship."

Redroi/Tolbin: "Aye sir."

Mccloud: =^= This is Captain Steven McCloud, Stop firing on that 
ship or we will be forced to fire on you.=^=

:: There is no reply and the second ship continues it's attack on 
Commander Ford's ship.::

McCloud: "Number One, target that ship's weapons and fire."

Tolbin: "Firing."

::The small ship flares up and explodes even before the Excalibur's 
phaser beams hit it.::

Tolbin: "Guess they would rather destroy themselves than be disabled 
by us."

McCloud: "Myhon, get a tractor beam on Commander Ford's ship and 
bring it aboard."

Myhon: "Aye sir, I'm bring it to shuttle bay #2."

McCloud: =^=Dr Fredricks, meet me in shuttle bay2. It's Commander 
Ford and he may need mediccal attention.=^=

Dr. Fredricks: =^=On my way Captain.=^=

McCloud: "Tolbin, you have the bridge"

OFF: Well we got Commander Ford back. Can't wait to hear his story.

Captain Steven McCloud
Commanding Officer 
USS Excalibur NCC-2997