Changes
A/N: This is a Picard/Crusher story that I penned 13 years ago and has been collecting cyber dust for the past decade as it lay unfinished and dormant. I decided to go ahead and post this, hoping that someone will enjoy. I have done some cursory updates regarding grammar and verbiage across the story, and most importantly am in the process of adding an ending. So, take heart, there will be an ending to this wild adventure of a ride. As always, Paramount owns Star Trek and its characters, I'm just borrowing them for a minute adventure.
Prologue
The stars that drift by the hull of the Enterprise seem untouched by the passage of time. They sit and listen to the wondrous universe around them, and then try and relay the message to others. They speak of times long forgotten and of the wondrous things yet to come. They sing loud enough for everyone, but no one hears their beautiful songs. For them each day comes and goes as though it was non-existent. They have nothing to worry about, and hardly watch what happens at each instant in the vast universe. Occasionally, however, something important is about to unfold, and they try to pull a little closer to the event about to transpire. The stars have waited since the dawn of time for this incident to occur. Now that the time has come, they hope things will come out better than it was foretold. Otherwise, many of the star wanderers will cease to glide across the cosmos. Then the stars, themselves, would be enslaved by a savage, brutal race. Many wouldn't see their freedom for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Chapter 1
Commander Riker took a deep breathe and let it out slowly. Today was going to be a long day, he thought sourly. Why couldn't Admiral Taylor have waited one more day to call a meeting with Captain Picard? Then I wouldn't have to oversee the final stages of this refitting. Instead, I would still be on my shore leave, basking in the warm sun and letting the cool breeze bring the scent of mid-summer flowers and the salty ocean.
A smile touched the edge of his lips, I joined Starfleet to visit new and enchanting places not to be a permanent fixture on a planet. Oh-well, he thought, I am allowed to dream of the warm breeze along with...
"Commander Riker," a voice pulled him out of his drifting reflections. He looked over to see Geordi rapidly heading in his direction.
"Is something wrong, Geordi?"
The chief engineer's face twisted a little, "Yeah, we've got a problem with the warp reactors."
Riker didn't like the sound of what he hearing. "Are they going to be on line at sixteen hundred hours as scheduled?"
LaForge knew the first officer wasn't going to like his answer. "No, I'm afraid the earliest we could possibly have them on line is by twenty-one hundred hours."
Great, the Captain is not going to be happy at all. "Try to have them on line by nineteen hundred hours, Geordi. Those medical supplies are already two days late, and I don't want to be responsible for them being any later. I'd like Starfleet to take the heat on this one."
"I have three teams working on the reactors now. There isn't much else I can do, except hope that nothing else goes wrong."
Riker nodded in agreement, "I'll be hoping on my end, just make sure those reactors go back on line."
"It's a deal."
Riker turned and headed towards the turbolift. I hope Beverly is in a cheerful mood, so when I tell her the bad news. Riker's thought ended as the turbolift doors opened and Beverly stepped out.
"Will, can I see you for a moment?" Her voice was quiet, while her words were precise and sharp.
Commander Riker tried to keep his smile on his face, "Sure." They both headed towards the ready room. So much for cheerful, Will thought as the door slide open. This is one instance when he desperately wished Captain Picard was here. Riker disliked having one of his friends being upset over something he had no control over.
"Will, in order for this medicine to work effectively, we must be in orbit around Kreiss within the next twelve hours."
"I know, but Geordi said that it would be at least thirteen hours before the reactors would be back on line."
Beverly flopped down in one of the chairs, and let out a sigh. "Is there another ship within the area that could take our shipment to Kreiss?"
"The Excelsior is only an hour away, but I haven't been able to get through to Starfleet Command for the okay."
"What about Captain Picard? Can you reach him? He's talking to Admiral Taylor, and Taylor can give the authorization." Her voice holding a tendril of hope.
Riker paused as he thought through her idea. It held real merit, Admiral Taylor could authorize the transfer, and then Geordi wouldn't have to kill himself trying to get the reactors on time. His eyes squinted involuntarily, "We'll see." Strictly out of habit, Riker looked up to the ceiling as he spoke, "Computer, please, patch me into Admiral Taylor."
"Do you think this will work?" Beverly looked tired, and for her sake he hoped it did. She needed some time off, but he doubted that she would take any until an official shore leave. Riker would talk with the Captain, and see if Picard could give her the shore leave that was long overdue.
The screen on the captain's desk lit up to reveal the handsomely aging man, Admiral Taylor. "What is the problem Commander Riker?" From the tenor in his voice, Riker knew that Taylor didn't want to be bothered.
"Admiral Taylor, we have a shipment of medical supplies that needs to be delivered to Kreiss within the next eleven hours. We are incapable of doing so, due to a problem with the warp reactors. We had to take them off line, and they will not be prepared in time to deliver the medical supplies."
"And you would like to know if the Excelsior could deliver the shipment in time. Yes, I'll authorize it."
"Thank you sir."
"Anything else?"
"No, sir."
"Taylor out." Admiral Brad Taylor picked up his glass of amber liquid that had been set on his desk when speaking with Commander Riker. He turned back to his long time friend, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Picard had an outstanding career in Starfleet, and Taylor was happy for his friend. What he wasn't feeling to keen about was the upcoming news that he had to depart upon Jean-Luc.
"So," Jean-Luc cut into Taylor's thoughts, "Why have I been summoned here?"
"You always do cut straight to the point, don't you?" Taylor smiled, but Picard noticed that it was far from the man's eyes. Picard had a strange feeling that he wasn't going to like the Enterprise's new mission.
Taylor stood up and began to pace away from Picard, "The Enterprise is going to Oniaka system for diplomatic purposes. There is war that is about to break out between Oniaka III and Regeav IV, they are asking for mediation to try and prevent the war." Taylor stopped suddenly and spun around. His face was set and jaw locked, "You, on the other hand, are being relieved of duty as soon as you brief Riker on the Enterprise's next mission."
A/N: Will try to post updates weekly.