Christmas on an Alternate Past Earth
The Baffin entered into orbit over the far side of the Moon. Lieutenant Daniela Hernandez sighed in relief. The ship would not have been detected by anyone on Earth. The approach from warp was from behind the Moon. She knew that observing a mid to late 20th Century Earth wouldn't help them in their dilemma, but the crew had to do something.
“Prepare to launch the probes,” Commander Emmerson ordered.
“Aye, Commander,” Hernandez said.
The Baffin launched the probes, disguised as sattelites typical of the era.
Three probes stayed in orbit around the Moon, to act as relay stations.
“Report,” Commander Emmerson said an hour later.
“So far, Earth seems to be identical. We would have do a deeper scan,” Hernandez reported.
“Then you know what to do.”
“Aye commander.”
Half an hour later. “It's not identical. Many of the suburban layouts are different in the United Kingdom and the rest of the Commonwealth. Some settlements in the United States are in slightly different locations.”
“But nothing else unusual?” Emmerson asked.
“Nothing,” Hernandez said. But then an alert came up. “Wait! A strange energy signature, somewhere in Oxford.”
“That is something to investigate, wouldn't you think?” Emmerson asked.
“Commanders Log, supplemental. Indications of anachronistic technology have been detected in the United Kingdom. An Away Team has been sent in a shuttle to investigate.”
“We're clearing the Moon now, Lieutenant,” Albert reported.
Hernandez looked at Earth as it rose above the Lunar limb. “A sight for sore eyes,” she breathed.
“Absolutely,” Lawson said.
“It is nearly sunset in the United Kingdom,” Albert reported. An image of the North Sea and the surrounding land areas appeared on the monitor. The terminator was approaching East Anglia.
“Right,” Hernandez decided. “Set us down near the Thames to the south of Oxford, just after sunset. Keep out of the flightpaths of any airliners that may be going to and from Heathrow.”
“Aye,” Albert said.
The Toronto landed on a deserted stretch of river bank. Hernandez emerged first and began to scan. “The energy reading is located at the University.”
“It's going to be difficult to get in there at this hour,” Lawson stated.
“We're going to try anyway,” Hernandez said.
They grabbed their supplies and headed towards the University. “You're from Oxford, right?” Albert asked.
“Windsor actually,” Hernandez clarified. “But I did do a degree at Oxford before going to Starfleet Academy.”
“So, Oxford will be familiar?” Lawson asked.
“In some ways,” Hernadez answered. “But there would be a lot of differences between the 20th and 24th Century versions. Exactly four hundred years...”
“Exactly?” Albert asked.
“Yes. I graduated in 2375, and was in the Academy's Class of 2379.”
“Post War...” Lawson murmured.
“I wanted to do a degree before joining Starfleet. The War didn't influence my choice to delay going to the Academy.”
“I didn't say that,” Lawson said.
Back on the Baffin, Emmerson looked over the sensor data from the probes. More minor differences in settlement patterns were picked up in Europe, the Middle East, India and China. “Where are we on the broadcasts?” he asked.
“So far the broadcasts are 95% identical to those at this time in our universe,” Lu reported. “For example, there are advertisements for airings of It's a Wonderful Life on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.”
“What about the 5%?”
“Of those, 4/5ths have no equivalent in our universe. The remaining 1/5th is anachronistic by comparison, having been developed up to 25 years early,” Lu answered.
“That's an interesting divergence,” Emmerson mused.
“However, the news reports are identical,” Lu added.
“So far,” Emmerson said.
Forty minutes after they landed, the Away Team approached the southernmost of the University's buildings.
“We're within the University as it exists at home,” Hernandez said.
“Of course,” Albert said.
“The reading is still further north,” Lawson reported.
Hernandez consulted her Tricorder. “Strange...” she commented.
“Another strange thing?” Lawson asked.
“It seems to be below the Bodelian. But that would mean there are differences in the development of the University.”
“Another difference between universes?” Albert asked.
“Yes,” Hernandez answered.
In another fifteen minutes they approached the Bodelian Library. The old building looked as it would during Hernandez's studies at an alternate Oxford nearly four hundred years in the future.
“The main door is locked, but there may be another way in,” Hernandez said, after scanning it with her tricorder. She widened the scan radius again. “Strange...” she commented.
“What's strange?” Albert asked.
“There's a secret entrance on the western side, that leads to the first basement level,” Hernandez answered.
“Wouldn't that be locked?” Lawson asked.
“Someone may have been remise,” Hernandez pointed out.
“Not that likely,” Albert pointed out.
A few minutes later, they came to that entrance. “It looks like someone may have forced their way in,” Hernandez said. The door was intact, but the door jamb wasn't.
“We probably need to report in first,” Lawson said. “In case we interuppt a crime in progress.”
“And that may constitute a violation of the Prime Directive.” Hernandez pointed out. “Good point.”
“We're receiving a message from the Away Team,” Lu reported.
“Put it through,” Emmerson ordered.
“Hernandez here, Sir. The energy reading is coming from beneath the Bodelian Library. There is also evidence of a very recent break and enter. We may not be alone there.”
“Procede with caution, Lieutenant,” Emmerson ordered.
“Aye, sir.”
The trio entered the subterranian passageway. It was dimly lit with naked incandescent bulbs placed every four meters along the ceiling. Whoever had entered before them hadn't switched them off. Hernandez lead point with Lawson bringing up the rear. Half a minute later, they came to the end of the passageway. The door was closed, but Hernandez could see that it didn't have a lock. She gave a shush motion with her finger over her lips before placing her ear on the door. 'Nothing,' she thought as she backed up and turned the handle.
There was another passageway, perpendicular to the one they had just come along. She looked in both directions and then back at her tricorder. “The energy reading is coming from the north, and down another level,” she said.
“I'm reading three lifesigns on this level, and two on the lower level,” Lawson reported.
“Then we'll continue slowly,” Hernandez said as she drew her phaser.
Both Lawson and Albert nodded. They then turned left and walked slowly up the corridor. They found stairs leading down to the lower level. The door to the stairwell had evidence of its lock being picked. Hernandez glanced down the stairs, and saw that there were at least three levels below the one they were going down to. 'That makes five levels below the Bodelian,' she thought. She was certain the Bodelian in their universe didn't have such modifications. 'What has made this Oxford this different to ours?' she wondered.
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