Futures, Part One

Is this the end of the road for Number One?

Summary
The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) arrives at Starbase 45 for repairs following a battle with the Chakuun, the Tholian's shock troops. Engineer Grace, standing on the ship's saucer section reports that although the damage is significant (requiring much more than a standard overhaul) the vessel can be repaired. Captain Pike, after discussing casualty reports and shore leave with Dr. Boyce, is informed by Boyce that Number One has been summoned to the planet by Commodore Strickland, the base comander.

Number One is offered command of the Nelson, but hesitates citing that she is still "learning." She agrees to have her answer by nightfall.

While on shore leave, Mia Colt and José Tyler explore the ten thousand year ruins of the City of Ithanulan... which, according to myth, once held the "Well of Tomorrows," an oracle of sorts. After some minor flirting, Tyler finds a sphere which Colt identifies as a "keepsake." According to a guidebook, a keepsake was said to contain some of the mystical waters that allowed persons to glimpse their future. As the two scoff at the idea, Tyler sees an aged image of himself, dressed as a Captain in the uniforms worn in the late-2270s and early 2280s sitting in a command chair on a bridge from that time. Visibly shaken, Colt questions Tyler about seeing visions... Tyler dismisses it as an overactive imagination. Colt attempts produce a vision, but fails. Tyler jokes that she "has no future," the two walk off into the sunset.

Back shipside, Lieutenant Mohindas and Nano continue repairs. Nano mentions that he heard Spock say that Number One had been offered command of a starship, which prompts Mohindas to bang her head on the panel. Nano states that it would bring benefits to Mohindas since the ship would require a first officer and she would be ideal. Number One asks Dr. Boyce for his advice; he states that Starfleet needs more female Captains, which she agrees. She confides in Boyce her trepidations on taking command; filling "dead men's shoes," betraying Pike and breaking up a close-knit family. Boyce indicates she will make the correct decision and the two toast a drink to "the future." In a severely damaged engineering, Pike and Grace discuss Number One's future until Grace notices an unfamiliar face among his staff. The fellow, who had been working on an overloading backup system, identifies himself as Shane Samson, former assistant chief engineer on the Achilles who has now been transferred by Commodore Strickland to the Enterprise to serve the same role. Grace seems less than happy with this decision.

Pike receives encrypted priority orders and, after viewing them in his quarters, calls for Spock and Boyce.

Number One arrives on the bridge seeking Pike, Mohindas informs her that he is in transporter room three and congratulates Number One on her recent promotion and command. Somewhat irritated by the rumors, she informs a stunned Mohindas that she will be staying and proceeds to the transport room. There she informs Pike that she will be staying. Pike approves in light of the fact that he will be on an away mission and wants to leave the Enterprise in capable hands. Pike also indicates that Starfleet wants a Senior Officer aboard the Enterprise to supervise the operations; however Number One will be in command of the Enterprise.

Just then, Admiral Robert April arrives, he will serve as the Supervisor.

Colt and Tyler study the artifact that Colt took from the ruins, Tyler jokes that the act was less than ethical... having taken it from an archeological site. Colt continues to examine it noting it is registering a faint tachyon emission. Tyler speculates that Colt is wasting her time, however, she goes forth citing that it "creeped her out" that he saw something and she did not. Colt agitates the particles with an amplified active scan and the keepsake begins to glow. Colt is then thrown into the future, disappearing and prompting Tyler to sound an emergency alert to the bridge.

Colt, unconscious, comes to only to find her room darkened. She is hailed by security men clad in the red duty tunics holding pistol phasers who inform her that she is in a restricted area and is subsequently under arrest.

Memorable Quotes
"Yeah. Imagine... 'Well of tomor–"

"Joe! (pause) Joe! (now yelling) JOE! Are you OKAY?  Did you see anything?"

"I... don't know. I saw something?"
 * - Jose Tyler and Colt, in reaction to Tyler's vision of the future

"I... I... suppose you'll have to find a new nickname now."

"Pardon?"

"Well, You can't be a captain and be called Number One. You have to start using that elusive first name of yours."

"If we could harness the speed gossip travels around this ship it would beat warp drive."
 * - Mohindas and Number One, after Number One declined a promotion to Captain

Background Information

 * The "future" vision Jose Tyler has while looking at the "keepsake" suggests that Tyler may command a starship in this future, holding the rank of Captain, as seen by the shoulder insignia on his uniform. Crew members of this ship are shown to be a dark skinned Vulcan as the navigator, a female Human as the helmsman and a bald Andorian manning a station behind him.  The Vulcan appears similar to Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager.
 * The two security guards that place Colt under arrest are wearing officer's duty tunics of the TOS movie era, however, they have no rank on their shoulder strap. Also, they are holding the type of phaser seen in.
 * Colt and Tyler wear the field jackets seen in . Additionally, all engineering personnel are shown wearing the "jump suits" with the "United Earth Emblem" similar to those worn by Dr. Boyce during "The Cage".

Creators

 * Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry
 * Writers:
 * Ian Edginton
 * Dan Abnett
 * Artists:
 * Michael Collins (pencil art - interior and cover)
 * Greg Adams (ink art - interior and cover)
 * Marie Javins (color art)
 * Janice Chiang (letter art)
 * Editors:
 * Bobbie Chase
 * Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Characters

 * Christopher Pike : Enterprise captain.
 * Number One :Enterprise exec.
 * Spock :Enterprise science officer.
 * Philip Boyce : Enterprise CMO.
 * Moves-With-Burning-Grace : Enterprise chief engineer.
 * Sita Mohindas : Enterprise helmsman.
 * Nano : Enterprise communications officer.
 * José Tyler : Enterprise navigator.
 * Mia Colt : Enterprise captain's yeoman.
 * Gabrielle Carlotti : Enterprise nurse.
 * Robert April : Starfleet admiral.
 * Strickland : Starfleet commodore.
 * Shane Samson : USS Achilles engineer reassigned to Enterprise.
 * Van Hansen : Deceased Enterprise second engineer.
 * Chakuun cohort general
 * Tuvok : In an alternate timeline viewed through one of the Algol keepsakes, Tuvok appears serving on the bridge of Captain Tyler.
 * 2290s security officers