The Star Trek Crossover Saga Chapter One - The Learning Curve Chapter Two - The Learning Curve, Continued Chapter Three - Past Honor Bound Chapter Four - End of an Era (The title "The Learning Curve" was suggested by "Einstein.") _________________________________________________________________ Short Summary of Chapter One: While the Enterprise D investigated the mysterious dissapearances of several Roschylan ships, Picard was asked by Nitsnye, an ambassador with unusually high intelligence for a Pakled, to have Dr. Crusher help develop a radical medical procedure that would affect the future of the Pakled race. When Picard refused, Crusher, Riker, and Troi were abducted by the Pakled's allies, the Aurens. Picard developed a brilliant plan for rescuing them, which would involve help from the former Borg Hugh, but never got around to telling anyone what the plan was. The Aurens, whose ulterior motives involved far more than helping Pakleds, killed Troi and Riker and replaced them with imposters from the future. Years later, Riker and Troi were ressurrected by Q, only to learn that during their absence the Aurens had overthrown the Federation and the Borg had overthrown the Aurens. Now the Dominion was plotting to overthrow the Borg. However, Q kept hinting to Picard, who was now commanding the Enterprise E, that something was wrong with this timeline. When the Enterprise attempted to reach Deep Space Nine, they found that the entire station had been destroyed. Jem Hadar beamed aboard the Enterprise E and took control of the ship. Chapter One - The Learning Curve Captain's log: Star Date 47603. The Enterprise is in orbit around Roschyl, the largest moon of Theseus 4. Commander Riker is leading a small away team to the moon's surface to discuss with their Prime Minister the recent dissapearance of two Roschylan ships in the Theseus asteroid belt. Meanwhile, I look forward to carrying on a conversation with Nitsnye, a Pakled diplomat of sorts who has requested passage on the Enterprise to another world we are scheduled to reach within the week. "My people are in bondage, Captain." Nitsnye's penetrating sincerity caught the Captain off guard. "We are not in physical chains, but without the mental capacities of other species, we are in bondage nonetheless. When one of my people is sick, trapped, or emotionally unstable, we do not have the ability to help ourselves. The intelligence-enhancing procedure that the Aurens will provide can change that, and with the assistance of your Doctor Crusher, we can assure that the the procedure will be perfected enough for use on my people." Picard shook his head. Somehow, when he was younger, he always thought that decisions would be easier when sitting behind the Captain's desk. "I feel for your plight, but what you ask violates the Prime Directive. If your people and the Aurens agree on this practice, I cannot interfere, but I also cannot order a Starfleet officer such as Doctor Crusher to take part." "Starfleet won't allow it? Not even if we request their assistence? As a representative of my people, I guarantee that we would welcome this form of interference. . . ." "But can you really represent your people? I've encountered Pakleds before. A crew of them tried to abduct our Chief Engineer once, yet none of them could speak a complete sentence without difficulty. But, even without this enhancement procedure, you can speak eloquently and understand abstract concepts. For a Pakled, you're an Einstein." *** 200 million kilometers away, lacking alternatives, a Roschylan freighter had to enter the asteroid belt. There was no suitable alternate route. The ship's pilot trembled. "Something's going to go wrong," he said. --Argus Skyhawk The people on the Roschylan fraighter had greatly been reduced from ten to three, although it would become two soon. They were freightened and the fact that one of them has become sick does not help them. They look out their tiny view screen and wonder what has them trapped. "What is it that prevents us from moving, Gwion?" says a small atractive Roschylan, maybe around the age of 27 in human years. she is answered by, "Ceri, if I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn't be here. I would be back home being worshipped as a wise man. But I know that if we are to live, we need to get free and to accomplise that we're going to need help." Gwion is also very young and has long wanted to take Ceri in his arms and get joined in "matrimony". *** "Well, Captain, we're not getting anywhere here. I keep asking questions and they don't have answers. The Prime Minister just keeps saying that we have to find them." Captain Picard sits down in his chair in his ready room. "Number one, I seem to have a perplexing problem. How do you tell a pakled diplomat that starfleet does not allow us to offer assistance to them? He also wants to use Beverly." "Captain, I have to go. The Prime Minister has, surprisingly, found someone we can get answers from." Picard starts to fiddle with a puzzle he has left on his desk. His door chirps. "Come in." The door opens and closes with a hiss. Dr. Crusher stands there."Jean-Luc, please tellthat Pakled diplomat to leave me alone. He just came up to sickbay and saidhe needed help. I asked him what he needed help with and he replied that I needed to go with him to help him with medical treatments for his species." "I told him that he would have to ask starfleet and he kept repeating his statement. I was lucky to even get here." Picard sighs. "I'll see what I can do." --Ceri herself "Sir here are the weapons reports," reported ensign Hendlet handing the data padd over to his section head. Worf quickly scanned the padd. It was as he had suspected. Over the last three weeks the phaser prefire chamber had been constantly overheating, Geordi had work teams going around the clock to try and keep the problem in check but every time they fixed the problem, it would start to overheat again. The Enterprise would have to leave it's current assignment and put in to drydock to repair the damage that had occoured to the ships internal systems due to the continued malfunction of the part. All of the evidence he had gathered at the Captain's request pointed to one thing, they had a sabateur onboard, someone who was able to evade all of their scrutiny. --Daryus Aden Picard told the Pakled ambassador that he would reconsider, but would have to think it over and contact Starfleet Command. He had a bad feeling he knew their answer already. A large alien craft decloaked directly ahead of the Enterprise. The Red Alert on the Enterprise was immediately activated. "Sir, sensors indicate that the ship is 50 times the size of the Enterprise. Their weapon systems are locking on. They are firing," said Data. "Worf, return fire, all weapons. Data, get us out of here," Picard said. "Brace for impact!" he yelled into the comm system. With one shot, the shields of the Enterpise fell. "Shields are gone, Captain!" Worf replied. "Someone's being beamed off the ship....it's Troi....Riker... and Doctor Crusher!" --Lee Jamilkowski The huge alien ship recloaked. The crew on the bridge began to stand up, one by one, and look at each other. "What happened?" they asked each other with their looks. "What's going to happen?" Suddenly, the Pakled captain reappeared on the viewscreen. "Captain Picard," he said, "as you can see, we don't take this matter lightly." "What have you done with my crew memebers? Return them now, or I will consider it an act of war against the Federation!" "War?" asked Nitsnye. "Captain, I don't think you want to fight a war with the Pakleds. Not while we have the Aurens on our side." Starfleet didn't know much about the Aurens, but no one had guessed that they had ships of such magnitude. Picard thought quickly. "Alright, Nitsnye. You win. What do you want?" "Captain, I have what I want. The Aurens are here. Your doctor is here. Soon my people will no longer have to resort ot common thievery to obtain knowledge. We will be allowed finally to think for ourselves, to make things go... I mean, build our own ships, and... explore the galaxy without... without, uh... help form others! We..." Picard looked at Nitsnye. He seemed puzzled, grasping for the words to express his ideas, and angry at himself for showing he couldn't find them. "Are you alright, Nitsnye? Is there some sort of... problem?" "No!" He almost yelled it. "I-I'm fine. Just... just a slight illness. Nothing of concern." "Well. I'm glad you're okay. Now, can we get back to the matter at hand? Why do you need any of my officers besides Doctor Crusher?" Picard wasn't sure what the Pakleds were capable of, and he didn't want to risk Riker and Troi's safety any longer than necesary. "Incentive, Captain. I wouldn't want you running off to the Federation for help. You might be willing to leave one officer behind, but three? Including the ship's executive officer? I doubt it." "What are you going to do to them?" "Oh, they will be treated well. I only want to keep them here; I have no intention of harming them. Once Doctor Crusher helps the Aurens perfect their procedure, you will all be free to go. "Now, enough of this! I must supervise the doctor's assistance of the Aurens. I will signal you when it is done." The screen went back to a view of the Pakled ship and the massive, invisible Auren ship beside it. Data turned to Picard. "You have a plan, sir, do you not?" "Of course I do, Mr. Data. I'm just not sure if it will work." --Tim Nix (aka TSN) "Stardate 47603.1. The Enterprise has returned to Starbase 69 at the edge of the system. We are havign all defenses upgraded should we be forced into a confrontation with the Aurens. I have contacted Gowron of the Klingon High Council for help, but reinforcements are 5 days away. The second nearest outpost is starbase Deep Space Nine in the Bajoran system, but they are busy in delicate negotiations with certain member races of the Dominion of the Gamma Quadrant. The runabout Rio Grande with 5 Starfleet Security, 5 Bajoran Security officers and Lt. George Primmin are en route with us. I am still going over my plan.... the risks appear too great to justify using it....I am not sure whether I should even bringit up to the crew. We are still recovering from the loss of Ensign Sito Jaxa that occured a few weeks ago." Worf calls from tactical, "A transwarp gateway has formed by the others ships. A Borg Scout Vessl has emerged." "Borg?" Picard replies. "Yes, sir. They are broadcasting a greeting message---from their leader, Hugh. It says a Borg probe under their control broadcasted the recent events, and they are here to help." In Picard's mind, he thought that this new variable in the equation might help get his plan rolling after all. "By all means, Worf.... invite our new allies aboard. Have them brought to the conference lounge." "Is that wise, sir?" Worf responded. "Hugh saved us earlier this year...we need to rely upon him if he wishes to assist us." --Lee Jamilkowski "Understood," replied Worf. He hated having so many different species on board at one time, and this impromptu alliance with the Borg was not reassuring. "Sir, might I suggest we increase security for the safety of the delegates as well as the Enterprise crew." Picard could see that the inclusion of the Borg troubled his chief of security. "Very well, Mr. Worf, but make the preparations quickly. Time is our enemy now." Turning to leave he ordered, "Mr Data, you have the conn." "Sir," Worf's voice had a hint of irratation in it. "When will you inform us of your plan?" "All in due time Lieutenant." And then the doors to Picard's ready room closed. *** Aboard the Pakled vessel, Riker and Troi were being held in behind force fields, in separate cells. Dr. Crusher was talking with one of the Pakleds, and she wasn't very happy. "... I don't care if you are the Medical expert on board. Our kidnapping is a futile act of terrorist agression, and Captain Picard will NOT heed your demands." "But we have no demands," said the Pakled called Calgash. "You are a doctor. You have sworn to help all those in need of aid." "But I am also a Starfleet officer and am sworn to obey my Captain and Starfleet Command. I can't just disregard those ..." Beverly's voice trailed off as the door opened and a massive alien entered the medical facility. The Auren being was well over 2 meters tall and draped in orange and brown robes. The clothing completely covered the alien and added to it's mystery. Crusher looked up into what she assumed was the being's face, but the hood was without holes or openings and it's voice seemed to come from somewhere in the torso. --Einstein (aka Dave Hayward) The Auren approached the cells. It called them telepathically. "Take off your uniforms...," it thought to them. "Pardon me?" Riker asked. "Take off your uniforms now, William and Deanna." "Why?" "I don't have time for this, William." A blue energy field came from the mouth of the Auren, which was revealed when the robes opened a hole in the torso. It passed through the field and left a hole. It knocked Riker and Troi out. --Lee Jamilkowski Upon seeing this, Dr. Crusher raced toward them, but another blue energy bolt knocked her back. "Let them be," said the Auren. "What happens to them is of no consequence to your duties. I've summoned Nitsnye to escourt you to your new permanent quarters." "If you hurt them I swear I'll..." "No you won't." A cold sensation entered Beverly's mind and then washed through her body, leaving her fearfully trembling. Without words, the Auren had made her know that if she did not cooperate, she would die. For awhile, she had strength to do nothing but stand and stare at the robed demon. "I'm sorry, doctor." A voice behind Beverly startled her, and she turned to see that Nitsnye had entered quietly. "Please come with me," he said, appearing ashamed of the words. She followed him out the door and into the hallway. As soon as they had walked out of the Auren's earshot, she dug her nails into Nitsnye's shoulder and growled into his ear, "You lying weasel. You came to Picard and me spouting off noble speeches about how you just wanted to do what was best for your fellow poor, innocent Pakleds and how those nice Auren friends of yours just wanted to help out. Now we're seeing your real tactics, aren't we? I don't know what you're getting out of this, but that thing in the robes back there has something planned for my crewmates that doesn't involve making your people smarter, does it?" "Please, Doctor, I'm honestly not getting anything for this. I thought they just wanted to help us. It wasn't until just now that started to suspect anything different." "You're not too quick, are you?" "Remember, I am a Pakled. I deeply apologize for..." Nitsnye gasped and fell against the wall. Crusher reached to steady him, but he brushed her away, stood back up, and continued down the hall in silence. He stopped at the door of a small room furnished with only a cot. Pointing, he indicated to Crusher that she was to stay there. She stepped slowly in and sat on the cot. A force field went up across the door, incarcerating her. She waited in solitude for hours, and contemplated the Auren's ominous statement that these quarters were to be permanent. Much later, Nitsnye escorted two more inmates to Crusher's room: a young Roschylan woman and a Pakled of regular Pakled intelligence. The Roschylan, calling herself Ceri, explained that her ship had become trapped in space and her crew had mysteriously died off until only she and her lover Gwion were left. Then, without her understanding why, she had been beamed onto the Auren ship. The Pakled mostly was quiet but would occasionally say, "I'm sad," or "Where are my friends?" --Argus Skyhawk Riker and Troi came to and found themselves in Starfleet uniforms that looked different. The Auren was still standing there. "How long have we been unconcious?" Troi asked. "Two days," the Auren replied. "What is with this getup?" Riker asked, pointing to the uniforms. "Here is a story... You, Deanna, Beverly, and the rest of the Enterprise crew are Auren/Packled sympathizers by the Earth year 2373. Your replacements only a month ago stopped the Borg from assimilating Earth... but never mind that. We have called your future selves here to replace you. They will inflitrate the Enterprise, give us all possible Starfleet command codes, and get us command of the Starfleet. We will eventually take over the Federation and bring fairness and equality, which you all falsly promise now, to every planet. And we will not be defeated. You're crew will be unaware of the change.... which makes you dispensable." Before Riker and Deanna could say a word, they found themselves transported by the telekinetic powers of the Auren out into space, where they suffocated and died. The future Riker and Troi, dressed in 2370 Starfleet uniforms, found themselves on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D. --Lee Jamilkowski Riker looked carefully around the dimly lit room as a bald-headed man raced towards him.He tried to get up, but the man pushed him down. "Please, Commander, lie down. I will inform you of everything that has been going on since you were left for dead in what used to be the Cardassian DMZ." "Yes," Riker said, "I remember. I was aboard the Auren ship, I was beamed into space, and then I woke up here." "Very briefly, Commander, you are the first one to recover from Q's 'treatment'." "Q" "Yes, Commander. Q apparently revived you from death and then plopped you right here.In the abscence of Dr. Crusher I have been caring for you and Counselor Troi. Dr. Crusher is apparently still with the Auren. Captain Picard has taken the liberty of killing your imposters." *** "Red Alert! All power to the shields!" Picard sat down in the command chair as the Enterprise-E was rocked by the Auren disruptor blast. "Captain," Data said calmly, "Shields are holding." "Return fire. Aft torpedoes, full spread." The mix of twenty-six photon and quantum torpedoes sped aft towards the Auren ship. The quantum torpedoes impacted first, taking out the weakened shields of the Auren ship. The photon torpedoes were next, all targeted at the main warp drive.The ship exploded in a gigantic fireball, hurling shrapnel which bounced off of the Enterprise's shields. "Target destroyed, Captain." "Probably from fighting with the Borg," Picard muttered. The Borg, with the entire Alpha and Beta Quadrants under Auren rule, had deemed these two Quadrants ripe for the plucking. First, the remnants of the Romulan Empire, then the Klingons, followed by the Cardassians. The tattered remains of the Federation had united against the Auren, and were heading towards the fringes of the galaxy, hoping to find a more powerful race to ally themselves with. "Stand down Red Alert." Captain's Log, Stardate 56051.8 I cannot bare to live with this hell anymore.We recieved news from U.S.S. Voyager yesterday that Earth had recently been assimlated.The rebellion has been going on for five years now, and we have made no gains, no advances, and have lost far more than we could ever realize. Q hinted to me that things were not all that they seem. I hope that he is right. --juul@earthlink.net "Founder, what is your wish?" asked the Vorta. "We will wait and observe" replied the founder. Things were going well. They had secured several Borg weapons systems, the scientists had reported that they would crack the systems within days. The infiltrators within the collective had gained masses of information. Soon with the Dominion's new knowledge of the Universe, and their new fleets of vessels they would come pouring through the wormhole and crush all of them. Order would be brought to the universe. Once they were finished with this galaxy, they would eliminate others. --Daryus Aden The Enterprise-E dropped out of warp as it approached what was once the space station Deep Space Nine. All that remained now was splintered duranium, shattered tritanium, and a soup of blood, floating in space. Worf had been killed trying to defend the station from the Auren back when they were supreme. But that was then. "Mr. Data, any sign of Borg activity?" "No, Captain." "Just to be safe, shields up." There was a flash of light on the viewscreen, and a purplish mouth opened up with light pouring out of the center. Small black dots steamed out of the center of the wormhole. "Captain, large numbers of ships appear to coming out of the wormhole. Species is unknown." "Speculate, Data," Picard snapped. "Indications of Borg technology, Captain." Another flash of light appeared. This one was so bright that it temporarily blinded the bridge crew. Picard shielded his eyes as the light died down. "Q! What the hell do you want?" "Jean-Luc, you do know how to greet me, don't you." Q's face turned somber. "This is the beginning, Captain, perhaps you know how to use them, perhaps you don't. No matter what happens, though I'll always be here." Q flashed away, and Picard knew what he meant. "Use the ships? But how? Number One, any suggestions?" "I honestly don't know, but perhaps we should talk to them." "Good idea. Data, open a channel to the unknown ship." The channel was opened, and Picard saw the smooth face of a Founder. "Greetings, This is Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise." "Greetings, Captain. I am a Founder of the Dominion. Your ship's warp drive has been used excessively in the last few months. May we be of assistance?" "As a matter of fact you can..." With those words, Picard opened the door for a powerful alliance against the Borg. --juul@earthlink.net End of Chapter One Chapter Two - The Learning Curve, Continued The founder watched as the sheilds of the Federation ship lowered, it had been too easy. The odd creature who had visited the link had been correct, the Federation was lost. 'Begin to beam the Jem'hadar over to the Federation ship, I want it secured, but keep the crew alive' ordered the founder. Without a word the Jem'hadar obeyed. Twelve minutes later the ship was secured. The Founder turned to one of the Jem'hadar. 'Transmit a message ordering all of the first fleet to come through' ordered the founder. The First fleet, five thousand ships. The battle would be over quickly. They would set up thier facilities, then strike at the Borg. Everything was ready, victory would go to the Dominion with ease. But then that was how the founder liked it. --Daryus Aden Shortly the first wave of Dominion ships began to move through the wormhole and take up orbit around what remained of Bajor. When DS9 fell, the Aurans quickly occupied the planet, crushing the inevitable rebellion with savage efficiency. Several attempts by the Federation/Klingon alliance to repatriate the planet failed, only adding to the desruction. Hundreds of millions of Bajorans died in the ten years of occupation, until the Borg arrived. Assimilation took less than 21 hours, and except for a handful serving in Starfleet, effectively ended the Bajoran race. Two days later, every remaining ship the Federation/Klingon/Auran command could muster struck at Bajor. The system was too valuable to let it fall into Borg control, simply because it was an escape route. If the Borg couldn't be stopped, travel could be made throught the wormhole, and collapse it behind. 1000 ships struck at the newly assimilated world, and burned it down to the bedrock. 370 ships were completely destroyed, and 200 were severely damaged in the attack. When the survivors made their way back to base, they learned that Betazed and Vulcan had been assimilated, along with the last remnants of the Romulan empire. Bajor had been a diversion, proving that the Borg were adapting to this quadrant very quickly. Of course, the Founder knew nothing of this system's history, which might have changed his mind about using it as a jump off point. Instead, he made his way to the Federation ship, intent on interrogating the crew for information on the Borg in the area. On board the ship, the Founder and his assistant Waynill met with the Captain. "I demand to know why my ship has been seized!" growled Picard "We made a good faith offer to you, and instead you attack my ship and injure my crew." "Captain, you aren't in the position to demand anything of us. Instead we demand information on our mutual enemy in this sector." Waynill moved behind Picard and studied him further. These beings would make fine additions to the Dominion, if their strong wills didn't get in the way. "Let my crew go, and I will stay with you as a guide to this sector. Just let my crew get back to our space and I will cooperate without question." "Do you think we are foolish Captain Picard? Should I just send out a transmission to all concerned to let them know we have arrived? Your ship and crew will remain in our control, you will hand over all information on the Borg in this sector, and you will offer us no resistance. We could simply rip the information from your ships computers Captain, but we prefer to have you cooperate with us. This situation requires us to act in this manner Captain Picard, we can brook no delays. Now, provide us with what we have asked for and no one else shall be harmed." Picard mulled over the situation, racking his brain for an option, some way he could stall these beings and allow Data the time to retake the ship. He had ordered the android into a Jeffery's Tube when it was evident the ship was overrun, and had given him express orders to formulate a plan to retake the ship or destroy her if necessary. His concentration was disrupted when another creature like Waynill walked into the room and spoke to the one they called a Founder. From the aggitation in his voice, Picard knew it was bad news of some sort. "What kind of activity?" queried the Founder. "That planet was scanned and shown to be a dead rock. What possible activity could there be?" The other Vorta cringed at the questions, for the scanner reading had been inconclusive at best. "Strange energy spikes as best we could tell honored Founder. We shall continue with the scans until we can verify what their origin is." "No, cease the scans and put the fleet on alert. I do not trust dead planets which suddenly emit energy spikes. Have the fleet rendevouz at new coordinates on the outer edge..." "Founder!" Another Vorta raced into the room. "It's the Borg! The entire planet is a Borg sphere!" "Impossible! Put the planet on screen!" The screen showed the planet coming apart, with large chunks of its crust breaking open and moving off into space. Inside the largest Borg vehicle anyone had ever seen began to emerge from the ruined planets shell. It began to release hundreds of Borg cubes, spheres and other vehicles no one had seen before. "It's a trap! Order the fleet to attack! Strike at them now!" The founder was so upset, and so caught up in the moment that he momentarily lost shape of his extremities. Picard caught the lapse, shocked at the revalation, and wondered if perhaps there were more of these beings onboard that he didn't know about. He couldn't afford to worry about that now, with the Borg rearing their head in Bajoran space again. He needed to retake the Enterprise and get her back to the Federation now. Around what used to be the planet Bajor, the battle was comenced in full. Borg vessels flew erratically through the Dominion fleet, firing with almost chaotic abandon. Dominion dreadnoughts moved towards the Borg planet sphere seeking to engage the massive vehicle from the cover of the planets crust. Disruptors and the debris from their impacts pervaded the space around the both fleets, and chaos reigned supreme. A chaos that found the USS Enterprise caught in the middle. Captain Maximillian Franks stared at the ensuing battle from the bridge of the USS Excelsior-A. Modified from the old Galaxy class, she was the most destructive ship in Starfleets arsenal. "If we had 20 of these ships when the war with the Auran's broke out, it would have ended before it started." was one of Frank's favorite sayings. With 15 type 12 phaser banks, and 25 quantam/tri-cobalt torpedo launchers, she made the old Defiant class look toothless. Add to that exotic sheilding made possible by reverse engineering Borg technology(at the cost of 2 billion Federation lives) advanced interfaces, and phased cloaking devices. The end result was a ship which could take on a Borg cube one on one and defeat it handily. Unfortunatly, it was too little too late. Remaining Federation facilities couldn't hope to produce enough of the ships, or refit existing ones to make a difference in the battle now. Evacuation was the buzz word in Starfleet Command nowadays, along with the order for each ship capable of carrying personell to begin transporting them through the wormhole. "Ensign, bring us along side of the Enterprise. Tactical prepare weapons lock on the surrounding ships, prepare to drop cloak and fire on my mark. Attack pattern vega." "Aye sir!" The Excelsior-A moved in swiftly, and without detection until she was 1000 meters off the Enterprise's stern. "Send a coded transmission to the Enterprise, I'm betting that Jean-Luc is still attempting to regain her." --MHal9000 A Founder entered the cargo bay and stated, "Unless you submit to help us, we will not hesitate to kill the crew of this vessel. Open the cargo bay doors, but keep the shields up until I give the order." Suddenly, there was a bright flash in front of the Enterprise. A bright blue swirling pattern with a yellow glowing center appeared. "Sir," Data said, looking at this apparent savior. "The Bajoran wormhole has somehow reopened itself." The ship suddenly started violently shaking. The new security chief, a Klingon named Martok, said, "Shields are gone.... today is a bad day to die." Picard nodded. "I concur, Mr. Martok. Take us into the wormhole." Geordi called from engineering. "The warp core has been severly damaged. A breach is in progress." "This is not how it can end," Picard thought. The Enterprise exploded as it entered the Bajoran Wormhole. Picard suddenly felt as though he was still alive. He opened his eyes, looked around, and saw a pure white color as far as the eye could see. "Q, is that you? Did you save me again?" Voices called out, one at a time, "As the Sisko would say" "It has been the will of the Prophets" 'You are alive" ''Q does not exist here and" "Now as the Sisko says." Picard started to spin around in a circle, but halfway through, he saw a Cardassian, Ambassador Spock in a captain's uniform, and James Kirk in a captain's uniform. --Lee Jamilkowski Chapter Three - Past Honor Bound (The title "Past Honor Bound" was suggested by Lee Jamilkowski.) Kirk, Spock, and Chekov materialized less than two meters from the cliff's edge. "Good thing Scotty's hands don't shake," Kirk mumbled. He took a step forward and peered down. _Far_ down. Chekov looked too, and whispered a Russian expletive, followed by, "I feel as though we are about to fall off the world." Spock joined them. "Fascinating." Several eons back, an asteroid had punched a hole in the Charen moon five thousand kilometers wide and three thousand deep, blasting away one fifth of the world's mass. In the distance below them, clouds swirled above the cliff's base looking only slightly closer than they did from orbit. The sound of tumbling stones interrupted their thoughts. Spock grabbed his tricorder and scanned the area. "Captain, we are being approached by the life form we detected before beaming down." "Where?" cried Chekov. "I don't see anything!" A moment later, he saw it. --Argus Skyhawk Coming into view was obviously a humanoid. Struggling somewhat, it was apparently female and injured. "Kirk, you will pay dearly for this!" shrieked the approaching Klingon. Kirk and Spock looked at each other for confirmation of her identity, but were unable to do so. "Mara?" Chekov strared intently at this incredible turn of events. Realization came to Kirk,"Mara what happened? Where's Kang?" --bobandanka@aol.com Mara said, "Albino," before she collapsed at Kirk's feet. Kirk flipped open his communicator and said, "Uhura...patch me through to Dr. McCoy." "Aye, sir." "Bones?" Kirk asked. "Yes, Jim?" "The life form we detected was Mara." "You mean THE Mara?" McCoy responded incredulously. "Yep. And she appears severely injured. She said 'Albino' and she went unconcious after I asked her where Kang was. Prepare to treat her." "O.k., Jim." "Transporter room," Kirk said. "Emergency beam up. Energize." --Lee Jamilkowsi "Albino?" Kirk mused,"What could she be trying to tell us,Spock?" "Unknown, Captain," Spock replied. "There is insufficient information to formulate a theory." "Mr Chekov, I want you to organize a landing party. I want a detailed analysis of the damage caused by the asteroid." Kirk paused in thought as if reliving the past encounter with Kang and his crew. "Mr Spock? Let's see if..." Spock's communicator beeped. "Spock here." Mr Sulu's voice seemed distorted. "Mr Spock, I've completed the long range scan of the asteroid belt. It seems that we've detected an unusual..." The message ended abruptly. --bobandanka@aol.com The ship rocked violently back and forth. Kirk and Spock rushed to the bridge. "What is going on...?" Kirk stated angrily. Spock checked the sensor readings on his terminal. "It is a temporal vortex." "Where did it come from?" "It wasn't there a second ago, sir," Uhura replied. "We are entering it... there is a Federation ship on the other side," Sulu said. "Which one?" Kirk demanded. "Highly advanced.... it is the NCC-1701-E.... the Enterprise?" Spock stated. "Sir, we are experiencing a power loss to all systems," Scotty said. "I am working on it, but..." Crew members started passing out. "Spock, where are we?" "I detect duranium and tritanium... it looks like it was a space station of unknown design... there is blood." Spock and Kirk fainted from the lack of life support. --Lee Jamilkowski "Ohhh..." Kirk's first thought upon swimming up into wakefulness was never to overindulge in Saurian brandy again as long as he lived... which, at the moment, he hoped wasn't too long. His head throbbed, his stomach protested, and his eyes had pincers of fire tormenting them. "Are you fully conscious, Captain?" came the familiar voice of his first officer. Kirk opened his eyes, beginning to remember... oxygen deprivation, bad as any hangover. But he could breathe, was breathing. Looking around, he caught his breath at what he saw, or rather what he didn't see. "The ship... my crew..." There was nothing around him but whiteness. "Fascinating," said Spock, imperturbable as ever. Kirk could tell he was straining his superior Vulcan senses, including what humans would call the extrasensory, without result. "We are in a place... and yet, no place at all." There was indeed nothing, yet their bodies rested on solidity, their lungs took in air. Spock was feeling with one hand the support beneath them. "Solidity without form or color," he mused. "An atmosphere without apparent origin. Space without definition. Nothing but..." "White," Kirk finished for him. He was up now, looking around, walking a bit, testing this unknown and unbelievable environment. "Assessment, Mr. Spock." "Insufficient data, Captain," came the even reply as Spock too rose to his feet. "Everything to support life--our life forms, at any rate. But..." "Mara," Kirk whispered. "Captain?" "Mara, just before she collapsed," he said. "The only thing she said, the one word."

"Albino," Spock said. "A being, presumably humanoid, without pigment." "Without color," Kirk said. "But is it logical to presume she was referring to a humanoid? Might she have been trying to tell us about--a place?" "A fascinating leap of conjecture, Captain. But for the moment, we must accept only the evidence of our senses." Kirk grinned. "Meaning, Mr. Spock?" "This is no--place--at all." One moment it wasn't there, then at Spock's feet there winked into existence a standard issue tricorder. --Tom Gabriel Spock picked up the tricorder from the whiteness. "Well?" Kirk asked impatiently. "I am scanning non-coporeal lifeforms surrounding us," Spock responded. "Hello!" Kirk called out. In their minds and in their ears the Enterprise executive officers heard, "You are not supposed to be here. You will bring the knowledge back. You are not the Sisko. The Sisko is of Bajor; you are not." A Borg ship entered the Bajoran system and fired on the Bajoran wormhole. It collapsed and all life in the wormhole was terminated. --Anonymous "All life?" Spock questions, eyebrow raised, "But you are here and my tricorder shows you to be alive?" "Alive?" the voice sounded female, "One cannot call this alive. We can't touch or taste." Another interrupts, "Or cry." The white was full of unseen forms brushing about them like whispers. "Human," loudly. "We can't even die here." --whisper Kirk turned around to see an alien he had never seen before. It was what had spoken, when another voice called out, "Captain Kirk?" Spock walked up to the second stranger, a bald man. The bald man said, "I am Captain Picard." "Starfleet, I presume?" Kirk stated after looking at Picard's uniform. "Yes, sir, but approximately 100 years after your time. Might I ask how you got here?" "Sure," Kirk responded. "It's a long story, but..." "How the hell did I get here," the alien asked. Picard said, "Captain Kirk, this is a Cardassian. The Federation won't make first contact with them for a few years after... the present from which you came. He turned to address the Cardassian. "What is your name?" The Cardassian officer responded by saying, "Damar..." Spock interrupted by asking, "Captain Picard, would you know what the Prophets are?" Picard responded with, "That's another long story. But, we have the time." Suddenly, another Starfleet officer, a female, appeared... in yet another variation of the uniform that Picard wore, Kirk noted. This one was black, with a colored neck area, and a gray shirt underneath. And it was vert tattered, as if she had been away from the resoruces with which to fix it. "Where am I?" the woman asked. Picard recognized her instantly. "Captains Kirk and Spock, Damar, may I introduce you to Captain Kathryn Janeway." Picard pulled Janeway to the side and asked, "How is the war with the Borg going? How did you get here?" Janeway asked, "What war with the Borg? We helepd defeat Species 8472 with the Borg's help a few months ago, but we were transported out of their space." "What?" Picard asked. --Lee Jamilkowski Chapter Four - End of an Era Janeway looked at Picard and whispered, "The last thing I remember was being on Voyager's bridge when it collided with the Krenim vessel." Picard responded with, "The Krenim? I've never heard of them." Kathryn Janeway stated, "I'm not surprised. They are a race from the Delta Quadrant... where we've been stuck for almost three years." --Anonymous As Capt Janeway said that Picard's jaw hit the floor and said, "Three years! I can't believe that." Janeway then said, "yes it has been three long years! Some time when I get the time I'll tell you about the Delta Quadrent and its lifeforms." "I hope to hear about soon Captain." Picard replied --Cindy K. Krouse "Unfortunately, Captain Picard, I'm afraid we won't have time until much later in the future." said Janeway. "And why is that?"asked Captain Picard. "Because..." Janeway never finished her answer. *BOOM!* "What was that!" they both exclaimed. --Ceri (FCBB89C@hotmail.com) Everyone turned toward the sound, and saw what appeared to be a dark hole that had opened in the surrounding white space. Through it stepped a stocky humanoid in drab brown attire. He approached Picard and, with a hesitant tone indicating deep shame he said, "Captain, I regret the inconvenience of bringing you here, but with your help I can repair damage caused years ago." Grim recognition turned Picard's expression sour. "You're ambassador Nytsnye. I can't say I'm pleased to see you. The last time we met you helped the Aurens kidnap three of my officers, one of whom was never heard from again." "Until now," came the voice of a woman as she followed Nytsnye through the opening. To Picard's astonishment, he realized it was Beverly Crusher, who he had not seen since her Auren abduction years earlier. Picard was speechless with joy. "Don't blame Nytsnye, Captain," Crusher said. "The Aurens were simply using him, and he's here to help." Damar yelled, "Can anyone here explain what is going on?" In a flash of light even whiter than their surroundings, Q appeared. "I would be happy to." Turning to Picard, Q said, "You will remember that after the good doctor's abduction, the Aurens replaced your Counselor and First Officer with impostors from the future. It seems that the Aurens were not as skilled at time travel as they believed. When Troi's and Riker's replacements were brought back, it damaged the space-time continuum and created an alternate timeline which should never have existed. I've visited the correct timeline and I can testify that you would prefer it. There, the Federation was never overpowered by the Aurens or the Borg. There you had only one other run-in with the Borg in which you traveled back to the 21st Century to prevent them from destroying Zephram Cochrane's warp ship." "I'm still confused," Damar grumbled. "I've wanted for awhile to help restore the timeline for you," Q continued. "But the Q Continuum won't allow me to fix everything by myself. Therefore I went to Nytsnye, who has been imprisoned for the past five years with Doctor Crusher on an Auren penal colony world, and worked with him in creating device which can move objects from any point in time or space to any other. He used it to bring you all here and to create this opening through which he has brought Doctor Crusher. I believe that with your help the device can also be altered to correct the timeline." Janeway glanced at Kirk, Spock, and Damar before asking Q, "Why are the rest of us here?" "All four of you have knowledge which can help. I should mention that you, Kirk, and Spock are also from incorrect timelines." --Argus Skyhawk Q said, "And just to get you a little extra help, I have a gift." Q snapped his fingers and in a flash, Captain Benjamin Sisko was standing there, in one of the old mostly black colored Starfleet jumpsuits. He was apparently frozen in place. "Benny here has been stuck in subspace for almost 70 years at this point..." Q told the captains. Picard looked like he was going to demand that Q explain himself. Q stated, "And no, he will not remember any of this when you are done. In fact, this will have never even happened, aside from the fact one timeline, if you are successful, we be avoided. None of you will remember this. To quote an archaic human 'blessing', 'Are you ready to ruumbblleee?'" With that, Q disappeared in a flash and Ben Sisko came to life. --Anonymous For seconds Ben just stared at the crowd around him, wondering what they were about to say and do with him. Thinking "Oh no, not another one of thier phycological games. I'm not in the mood for a silly puzzle right now. I just want to see, Jake. I want him to be here." refering to the prophets. "Why have you brought me here. Why didn't you just let me go with my son, my crew my... family?" "We are not responsible for your abduction," Janeway said. "You should know by now that you can't snowball me. This is the setting, YOU ARE THE PROPHETS! What mission, what game do you have for me to play?" "There are no games. We are, who we really are. Some slightly more parallel than others. But never the less, we are who we are." Picard said. "Well someone has to be behind this, unless you've beamed me onto some sort of holodeck as a sick joke! I've never liked you much, Picard! And this sick prank isn't doing anything to score any points!" "This is not a simulation. It's Q." Janeway said. "He brought you here. He saved your life." "Why didn't he save, Jake? Odo? Dax?" "Because they obviously hold no purpose here. We are all jokes. Victims of a screwed up timeline. It is our job to mend it. Once it's fixed, everything will be back the way it was. Jake will be once more. But we have to get through this," Picard said. "I just hope you're right, Captain. I just hope you're right." "I'd hate to tell you this, but Captain Sisko is right. This is a holodeck. We are on board a timeship called The Navarone. A timeship personally handcrafted by the Q continuum. You are not the only ones we've brought here. Our device only allows us to abduct a few people at a time. This is our transporter room so to speak. We have a large diverse crew all ready forming on this ship. Many from parallel times, universes etc. All on the same mission. To save time from the Krenam and the Aurens. All though you may not of thought it from your last encounter, Captain." Refering to Janeway. "The Aurens and the Krenam are in kahoots. They will stop at nothing until time has been completely been re-written. Your small crisis is only the beginning." "Oh my God," said Picard. "You said it. And you'll be totally shocked at who the Captain of this vessel is." --T.W.Foley ''Captain Braxton?'' Picard said ''I'm afraid I've never met him.'' Janweway explained. ''He's a time machine pilot from the 29th Century. During our travels through the Delta Quadrant we had a little, well, encounter with Braxton. I won't go into the details. Suffice to say, we parted on good terms. Q suddenly reappeared. ''Captain Braxton was something of an uninvited guest aboard the Navarone. He was sent on board it when 29th century Starfleet detected us moving through the space/time continuum. Still, he has the best grasp of temporal mechanics of any human I've encountered, and he's determined to restore the timeline to it's original state.'' Sisko broke in. ''I think it's time we met the gentleman in question.'' ''Agreed'' said Q. He snapped his fingers, and Captain Braxton appeared, wearing an unusual, but vaguely Starfleet-like uniform. He smiled when he saw the gathered contingent. ''So,'' he said. ''We've finally managed to get you all together.'' His eyes moved from Kirk, to Spock, then Picard, Sisko, Damar and finally Janeway. Q spoke again. ''Well, I'll leave you to it!'' he said with a smirk, snapped his fingers and disappeared once again. Braxton beckoned them towards an opening that had gradually formed in the sheer whiteness of the place. ''Come,'' he said. ''We have a lot of work to do.'' * * * Several 'days' later... Captain Braxton, personal log, Stardate... um, stardate unknown. With the help of the personell the Q have plucked from the timeline, I am almost ready to reconstruct the timeline to it's original state using the Navarane's technology. This is a day I have been looking forward to for... a... a very long time. End log entry. Captain Braxton worked furiously at the Navarane's main temporal systems control console. The console, and indeed the entire bridge, were a mock-up created by the Q, so as Braxton and the others could interface with the Navarane's incomprehensible technology. Finally, it was ready. Braxton was now prepared for the final temporal reconstruction. ''Gentlemen,'' he said beckoning to the Humans, the Cardasssian and the Vulcan with him on the bridge. ''It is time.'' They stood, proud and ready. Kirk, always ready to do his bit to save the Galaxy. Spock, who, despite his best efforts, deep inside felt sorrow and grief for the trillions who had died in the alternate timeline. He also felt a great satisfaction that logical action had been taken and the chaos could be ended, so that logic and order would prevail. Picard, his ship destroyed at the mouth of the Bajoran wormhole. He was grim and stone-faced, not letting the others see his utter joy at knowing that the indescribeable horrors he had witnessed over the past few years while fighting the Borg and the Aurens would now be forever erased from history. And that he would not remember any of it. Sisko, always one to see the lighter side, smirked to himself at how petty the Dominion War was compared to this. He almost laughed when he realised that when the timeline was restored, the war would once again become the dominating factor in his life. Janeway, determined to get back to Voyager and continue her journey home. And Damar, still a little confused, but knowing he would soon be serving Cardassia again. Captain Braxton moved his finger and touched the control. It began and ended within a millisecond. -End of Chapter Four- ======================================== E P I L O G U E ======================================== ''Captain's Log, Stardate 8879.5 The Enterpise has delivered the Klingon Mara, the wife of Kang, back to the Klingon Empire, after we rescued her on the surface of Pluto's moon, Charon. It appears she was abducted and stranded there by an old adversary of Kang's. Kang has vowed revenge, but I personally hope to forget this matter, as the Enterprise is now heading for Starbase 5, where I and the rest of the crew will get some well deserved rest. End log entry'' ''Captains Log, Stardate 51296.3 The Enterprise has docked at Deep Space Nine, to become the new flagship of the Fourth Fleet. I have received a temporary promotion to Rear Admiral, for the duration of the war. A war which I hope that, and am confident, will soon be over. End log entry'' ''Station Log, Stardate 51296.3 The new flagship of the Fourth Fleet, the Enterprise has arrived at Deep Space Nine. The Federation/Klingon alliance is beginning to gain the upper hand in this war, and I, for one, hope that it will conclude soon. End log entry'' ''Captain's Log, Stardate 51296.3 After completing a trading mission with the friendly Zoldurians, Voyager has resumed a course back to the Alpha Quadrant. Neelix has arranged a talent night tonight, so I have a lot of practicing to do if my performance is going to be appreciated. End log entry'' --Stephen Errity _The End_