Sherman, set the Way-Back Machine...

[Atragon9 0]

::Sitting in the Command Chair, he presses a button on the arm of the chair::

 

Computer, open personal log, Admiral Atragon-9, Commanding Officer, USS Manticore, NCC-5852, password *********, Stardate... uhmmm, stardate will be entered later.

 

[whirr, click]

 

It's never simple is it? We were just out here to examine a black hole when it shifted right on top of us. Pulling away, we skirted too close to the event horizon and got pulled through a temporal fold. Now, if we can trust our internal chronometers, we have gone back in time something in the neighborhood of 5,000 years.

 

I've instructed Jami to set a course for Earth as that will be one of our few points of reference from which we can attempt to verify the actual era. At the same time, we are avoiding all known system of habitation to avoid getting seen or noticed. One thing I don't want it to become part of some local legend of gods-from-the-sky.

 

If we are truly back in time 5,000 years we not only have to figure a way to return, but we must avoid making any changes to the Universe, beyond our current presence. It's bad enough that we are here and possibly upsetting some natural balance, but if we change anything, even something small, back here, it could have terrible ramifications for our society as we know... knew it. I recall that old story from the 20th Century by Bradbury, "A sound of Thunder," I think it was called. It was a bit naive, but really did capture the paradox and problems inherent in time travel.

 

For once we aren't just saving the Universe, we're shaping it! There are times like this when I wish I wasn't in command. Every decision I have to make could affect tens of millions of lives. They clearly don't pay me enough.

 

Computer, EOM, EOT

 

[whirr, click]