The Folded World by Jeff Mariotte

ahead. Kirk thought another was also a Starfleet ship, though of a class not manufactured for many years. Some of the ships were decaying, seemingly rusted through despite the lack of an atmosphere, and jammed so close together that they seemed to have melted into one another, making identification impossible. He thought he saw a Romulan bird-of-prey, an Andorian cruiser, something that might have been Tholian.
    The big ship in the middle, though, was of no genesis Kirk could determine. “Mister Spock, canyou determine the planet of origin of that huge ship?”
    â€œNo, Captain. I see no familiar markings or technology. In fact, there are no visible markings of any kind.”
    That was strange in itself. Kirk couldn’t recall an example of a completely unmarked starship. This one had scorch stains down its long central section, and visible decay, so it was possible that the markings had simply been worn away by time and the difficulties of its journey. “Anybody have an idea?” he asked.
    He heard only negative responses.
    â€œ Captain, ” Scotty’s voice boomed over the speakers, almost as loud as if he had been in the shuttle with them. “ The second shuttle’s reported in. They had a rough go of it for a while, but they’re on course and under power. ”
    â€œThat’s good to hear,” Kirk said.
    â€œ They’re fifteen minutes behind you. ”
    â€œUnderstood,” Kirk said.
    â€œ I’m reversing the tractor beam that’s pushing you, to slow your momentum. ”
    Kirk felt the difference as soon as the engineer made the transition; a stuttering hesitation in their forward motion, then an easy glide.
    â€œThat worked. We’re about to dock, Scotty,” he said. “We’ll keep you updated as we’re able. Kirk out.”
    The McRaven loomed ahead of them, larger with every passing second. “Engines on, Mister Bunker.”
    â€œAye, Captain. Engines on.”
    â€œDo we dare, Jim?” McCoy asked as the faint rumble of the engines came on. “We don’t know how—”
    â€œYou’re right, we don’t,” Kirk said. “But if we’re going to reach the McRaven ’s hangar deck, we need thrusters.”
    They were approaching the McRaven on its port side. As the most recent addition to the clustered mass, it was on the outside, some distance from the huge vessel in the center. To reach the hangar deck, they had to get to the rear of the ship, and hope the doors would open.
    â€œBring us in, Mister Bunker,” Kirk said.
    Bunker was already concentrating on edging the shuttle into position. “Aye.”
    The shuttle responded appropriately to Bunker’s efforts. Kirk dared to hope that Spock had been right, and the effects of the dimensional fold were concentrated at its edges. If they had already seen the worst of it, then it would be more than possible to send other shuttles in to carry survivors back to the Enterprise .
    If there were survivors.
    There were, he knew, a lot of ifs in that plan.
    Still, there was a chance.
    He would take it.
    The shuttle moved easily around the McRaven . In a few minutes, they were approaching the hangar deck, in the engineering section.
    The doors were closed.
    â€œHail the ship,” Kirk instructed.
    â€œShuttlecraft Galileo Two calling U.S.S. McRaven, ” Bunker called. “Come in, McRaven .”
    Only silence greeted them.
    â€œCome in, McRaven . This is shuttlecraft Galileo Two, from the U.S.S. Enterprise .”
    No answer.
    â€œTry opening the hangar doors remotely,” Kirk said.
    â€œBut—”
    â€œShe’s a Federation starship,” Kirk pointed out. “There’s no guarantee that the ship will recognize us, but there’s no guarantee that it won’t.”
    Bunker pressed some buttons on his control panel. “No response,” he said.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œCaptain,