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NOVEL
Present Tense
Attribution

Introduction (blurb)

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is exploring the seemingly peaceful and uninhabited world of M-3107 when a bizarre and inexplicable transporter accident causes both Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy to vanish completely. Transporter records suggest that the two men were transported somewhere, but their ultimate destination remains a mystery.

Now in command of the Enterprise, Spock dispatches a search-and-rescue team -- consisting of Security Chief Giotto, Transporter Technician John Kyle, and Chief Helmsman Hikaru Sulu -- on an urgent mission to recover the missing officers.

But then the rescue team disappears as well!

Summary

Chapter 1

After barely escaping from Psi 2000 the Enterprise is caught in a time warp following a cold-restart of the warp engines by Lt. Commander Scott. When Lt. Sulu reveals that the ship's chronometer is running backwards, Kirk orders a full stop and they find that they have travelled back in time 71 hours.

As Kirk orders the Enterprise to proceed to the rendezvous with the USS Antares, Spock stops him and reminds him that because the Enterprise has travelled back in time, there are now two Enterprises', one with no idea of the existence of the other. Not wanting to lay waiting in space for three days, Kirk decides to proceed to Tlaoli IV to collect the survey teams they left on the planet before the mission to Psi 2000.

On arrival in orbit, the Enterprise is contacted by Geological Technician Fisher, who informs them that they have lost contact with one of the teams assigned to survey the cave regions of the planet. When Kirk demands to known why their assigned survey areas of changed, Fisher describes to Kirk the remains of the starships that they have found on the surface. Believing that the Enterprise could be at risk, Fisher changed the assignments.

Chapter 2

Characters

Regular

James T. Kirk • Spock • Leonard McCoy • Montgomery Scott • Hikaru Sulu • Nyota Uhura • Pavel Chekov

Others

Robert D'Amato • Davis • Edward Fisher • Barry Giotto • Karl Jaeger • Ed Leslie • Angela Martine • Carolyn Palamas • Palmer • Janice Rand • Kevin Riley • John Russ • Zap Sanner • Singh • Yuki Smith • John Stiles • Robert Tomlinson • Diana Wright

Referenced

Samuel Boma • Kelowitz • Kulessa • Rogers-Kline • Roth

References

Starships

• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) - Constitution-class
• USS Antares
• Edwin Drake

Locations

• Milky Way Galaxy
  • Beta Carinae
  • Earth
    • Bermuda Triangle
    • Moscow
    • Tibet
  • Psi 2000
  • Sector Alpha 19
    • Tlaoli system
      • Tlaoli
      • Tlaoli IV
  • Sigma Draconis
  • Vulcan

Species

• Human
• Vulcan

States and Organisations

• Starfleet
  • Starfleet Command

Others

Information

Related Stories

• "The Naked Time" (TOS episode)
• Future Imperfect (TOS novel)
• Past Prologue (TOS novel)
• "Charlie X" (TOS episode)

Reviews

External Links

• Present Tense article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.