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"It seems that we have come to an impasse.", Reed observed. "We can neither prove or disprove your story this far into space, but we will find the truth here, Lieutenant."
"Ah reckon you will, sir", Schrader replied, "but while y'all are lookin' for the truth, ya' think ya' might be able to find me some grub? I'm starvin'."
The gathered crewmen shared a laugh at the Lieutenant's boldly honest request.
Reed smiled at the young pilot, "I'll see what we can do, Hound Dog, but first I think you should see Dr. Egan."
Schrader's eyebrows lifted noticeably, "Dr. Egan? THE Dr. Egan?"
"Er, yes...the Dr. Egan.", Reed said, confused.
Schrader stared at Commander Reed, an expectant grin on his face, as though waiting for a dumb child to get a joke.
"You know, the ole' boy who discovered the secret to", he stopped, "Ya'll ain't got any idea what I'm talkin' about, do ya?"
"What exactly are you talking about, Lieutenant?", Reed queried.
"Well, ya' see", Schrader began, "it was a guy named Egan, a medical doctor, who figured out how to travel through time. That was way back near the beginnin' of the third millenium."
"This is the beginning of the third millenium.", Lt. Scott observed.
After pondering this new information briefly, Reed again addressed Lt. Schrader. "That would mean", Reed began, "that we have travelled into the future."
"I reckon it would", Schrader agreed, "and that would mean that your Commander Mark Reed", he added thoughtfully.
"Yes, I am.", Reed replied with caution.
But Schrader was moving to quickly to hear him. "And you gotta be Lt. Scott...and your Mr. Proteau", he exclaimed as he shook their hands with child like energy.
"Well, I'll be dipped in molasses.", Schrader said smiling, "Y'all are about the most famous people in the history of Space Fleet."
The officers stood looking at one another with a new sense of pride.
Schrader's excitement seemed to fade all at once, "It's just too bad y'all got kilt like that."
