Chapter One Embarkations
Disclaimer The following story is a fan fiction it is just for fun... This is a multiple crossover. Characters you recognize from other TV shows, books and films will belong to their respective creators. Any characters you do not recognize are figments of my own warped imagination, and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead. Since I make some reference to a previous fan fiction of mine Chicago Convergence ( a more fast moving story )as part of this work I am including all reference in both works in this disclaimer.
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A Voyage of Convergence
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Chapter One Embarkations
For I am a Pirate King!
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King! Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance
Bitter-sweet was their parting as the man she loved returned to his ship. From behind her came a voice. "It was another who held his post for the last ten years so you could have this day. But you be mortal and he not quite. You were the tools of my vengeance and my freedom. I cannot let my tools lose their edge. I will not have our Captain go mad quite so soon. Come girl, we have much to do," said Calypso.
"Am I to trust you? Asked Mrs. William Turner.
"Only that moods do change and that I am in a pleasant one now," replied the Oceanid. She smiled and teased, "You must learn to read my moods you King of the Pirates. "Come now we must go," she said pulling Elizabeth by the arm.
"No I must wait on this Island for Will," insisted Elizabeth.
"No! you must be here for him ten years hence," but best you not be ten years older. I have a cousin who can help" The goddess paused reassessing then continued, But first you will have a baby to deliver.
The news shocked Elizabeth to silence.
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Out of Ithaca
Krytolandros the youngest son of Telemachus and Nausicaa with eleven bold companions set forth across a wine dark sea. He sought his own adventures following in the footsteps of his grandfather.
Nausicaa turned to her husband "He has your father's courage but not his wisdom I worry for him."
Telemachus stood silent on the shore thinking his oldest son Perseptolis had taken advantage of his younger brother...Could Krytolandros make it as a trader when he could not see the motives of his older sibling. The sea and the small round ship gave no answers as a fare wind carried it over the horizon.
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Let Us Go A-Viking
Not long after the first breath of spring from shores Vineland a bold explorer did send his long boat south. Many a Viking set out seeking trade or plunder. But Halldór the Cold had a greater goal, warmer winters. And so it was with twenty bold companions he sailed off into obscurity.
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The Eight Voyage of Sinbad
A ship leaves Basra at its helm stands Sinbad the Porter. What you were expecting Sinbad the sailor. Well at least this guy knows the wealthy old guy of those seven voyages. Only two years ago the young porter paused to rest on a bench just outside the of a rich merchant's house. He sat and complained to Allah about the injustice of the world. What was it that allows the rich to live in ease while no matter how he toiled he still remained poor. The owner of the house overheard him and sent for him. It turned out both shared the same name Sinbad. The rich Sinbad told of how he became wealthy "by Fortune and Fate." The old merchant told his tale of his first voyage in great detail and gave Sinbad the porter a gift of a hundred pieces gold and, bid him to return the next day to hear more. Have more money from the day then he would earn in a year. Sinbad the porter naturally returned. The rewards the merchant gave on the next six days were not of a monetary nature the old man set him up with contacts and an apprenticeship with a ships captain. Only two years later Sinbad was now a captain in command of a ship of his own. Actually the Chimera was owned by the older Sinbad but the former porter had been given the command of the ship to execute a daring charter. Sinbad would map the entire route around Africa from Basra to Alexandria. And so with prayers to Allah and a spirit of adventure the ship set sail.
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Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation;
Take another station;
Let's vary piracee
With a little burglaree! Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penza
Somewhere east of Gilder and south of Florin a ship some what sleeker than your standard high-boarded cog plows the waves. The Dread Pirate Roberts at its helm a man that once sought only of revenge now sails to make a profit. The man in black drills his crew without mercy his men are quick to obey his order all fear the scourge of the seas. The bearer of a secret legacy plots his course in search of plunder.
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Wade in the water (children)
Wade in the water
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water A slave song
Setting off from Tortuga Captain Jack Sparrow boldly pilots a small skiff. After one day at sea come across a small merchant man seemingly adrift. He maneuvered his small craft alongside the small two masted ship. Tentatively he hailed the ship. He was answered by a groan. He came closer the ship smelled of death and decay. The ship was a slaver. The crew and human cargo lay dead or dyeing on the deck. Sparrow did what he could. He brought the ship to anchor. He cleared the deck of corpses and began nursing the living. Over the next three days he lost three more. In the end there were only four living men aboard the ship besides himself. On the southern coast of Cuba they made a stop to hunt fresh water and provisions. As they healed the Captain (despite more than few major language difficulties) worked the three ex-slaves and one ex-slaver into a crew. The Reta was the ships name well a Captain can always change that but for now sparrow had other things on his mind.
Three days out of Cuba Munanire saw the masts of a ship, he called to the Captain. Jack Sparrow brought his telescope to bear on the familiar ship waiting for him at anchor.
"She is a Pirate!" warned Peter Woodland the one trained seaman in his small crew
"Of course she is that is the Black Pearl run up this flag and single to parley" Ordered Sparrow as he handed his first mate a black cloth.
"She is riding a bit high in the water not carrying much" said Joshamee Gibbs.
"Probably not a prize worth taking," Commented Captain Hector Barbossa. "Prepare to get underway Master Gibbs he should not tarry here much longer." ordered Barbossa.
"Wait sir, those colors, it is Captain Sparrow!" exclaimed Gibbs.
A short time later in the captain's cabin of the Black Pearl Barbossa and Sparrow conversed over a pint of rum. "I have a simple solution to these little problems of Captaincy we keep having" Jack announced.
"And what would that be!" snapped Barbossa.
"Why simply you Captain the Pearl, Gibbs Captain the Reta and you both declare me Admiral of our fleet," Pronounced Sparrow.
"I suppose you want the Pearl as Flagship and the Rita is short crew," mused Barbossa.
"Well I think you can spare a few men and I would assume my flag captain would like to keep a close eye on his admiral,' offered Sparrow.
A short wile later Admiral Jack Sparrow briefed Gibbs on his new command. "One last thing Captain Gibbs. A few of your crewmen are under the impression we on a course for the continent of Africa, please genteelly inform them we are not on the most direct root," whispered the Admiral into Gibbs' ear in parting.
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I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
In his octopus' garden in the shade The Beatles
Somewhere off the coast of Bermuda a 70 meter long cigar shape craft glides through clear warm waters. A wreck is sited and divers are dispatched. From his observation port Captain Nemo watches his men's activities. The wreck is fairly fresh the ship a victim of a storm only a week ago. The operation takes over two hours. His men report the new is good they recovered something more precious than gold the contents of a watertight compartment filled with coffee. Fully caffeinated the Nautilus resumed her trek beneath the waves.
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There are some who are in darkness
And the others are in light
And you see the ones in brightness
Those in darkness drop from sight From Mack the Knife
composed by Kurt Weill
with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht f
As an old tramp steamer headed south well-off the Grand banks of Caroline Captain William Krane had time to reflect. This was looking to be a profitable run. True he had to pick both his cargo and passengers up at sea. True he just offloaded his last cargo onto small boats but Fine Irish was a cargo frowned upon in the now temperate United States. True revolutionaries he was delivering his load of guns to would also require some offshore freight expediting. True his passengers were a well dressed rouges ally. But all in all it looked that this would be a profitable and hopefully not too exciting run.
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I have heard people rant and rave and bellow
That we're done and we might as well be dead,
But I'm only a cockeyed optimist
And I can't get it into my head. South Pacific the musical
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Slipping quietly from a secluded cove the USS Kiwi sails on the evening tide. The 70-year-old wooden twin-masted schooner has just finished a resupply mission to a cost watcher well behind Japanese lines. Lieutenant Riddle directed his crew to run up the sails. He was pleasantly suspired by their proper execution of his orders two months ago most of his men had never set foot on a sailing ship one member of his crew had never seen the ocean. Now he enough confidence in them that he believed he might survive the year. As they hit open water he handed the helm to Chief Miller and asked him how the work on the engines was going.
"Sir they are ready for use but we will need some parts soon," reported the Chief.
"OK steady as she goes, I am going below to talk with Major Butcher," Riddle told the Chief.
Major Simon Butcher sat in the small cabin a sealed dated envelop sat before him. As Lieutenant Riddle entered the room he handed the envelope to Riddle, "We are at sea so you get to do the honors," said Butcher.
"OK, well here goes nothing," said Riddle as he opened the sealed orders. He read the orders slowly somewhat enjoying keeping his Army counterpart in suspense. Satisfied that he had moved Butcher to the edge of his seat he said, "Rendezvous with USS. Sea Tiger for re-supply and receive further orders."
Major Butcher nodded and said, "great we are running low on everything especially coffee and toilet paper."
Riddle agreed and began plotting the course.
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Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day, of day.
Through our last night on shore, Drink to the foam:
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home! "Anchors Aweigh"
song of the United States Navy,
composed by Charles A. Zimmerman
lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles.
On the island of Taratupa an important strategic planning meeting was underway. Mister. Parker had just returned with orders from the main island. Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale called his men to some semblance of order. "All right you pirates we got orders and a job to do."
"Tonight did old Leadbottom come up with this just to disrupt the blackjack tournament," asked Gruber.
"No, this one is direct from Admiral Reynolds," said McHale.
"So what do we have to do," asks Harrison "Tinker" Bell.
"Just a nice quite little moonlit cruise to a small Island that barely appears on the charts, we are going to pick up some flyboy who a problem with his fuel tanks," said McHale.
With that said the true planning began.
As the sun set PT 73 skimmed the waves on it's mission of mercy.
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Love, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We're expecting you
Love, life's sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.
The Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance. "The Love Boat"
by Paul Williams and Charles Fox
The Pacific Princess sat proudly illuminating the dockside. Aboard the ship Captain Merrill Stubing assembles his crew for a briefing.
"Why the late night boarding asked," Julie McCoy the ship perky Cruise Director.
"Our next voyage is a corporate charter for the firm of Mindbender & Jag. The client has requested a certain level of discretion. Julie, please note the instructions on the passenger list," instructed Stubing.
"It says, Confidential Wedding Guest List Do Not Remove from Ship, Burn at end of voyage," Read Julie.
"Well that is definitely not your normal guest list," Doctor. Adam Bricker.
"These aren't your re normal wedding guests most are veterans of the Chicago Incursion two years ago," Said Stubing.
"The people who stopped the alien invasion?" asked Burl "Gopher" Smith, the ships Yeoman Purser
"Yes, and many on the guest list are United Nations Task Force for Inter Species Cooperation (UNTFISC) agents. That is the reason for the tightened security and late night boarding. Julie, you Gopher should get ready to greet our security details they are do to arrive in about twenty minutes" Said Stubing.
The customs and security in the boarding area was far more professional than normal TSA personnel. Four men and two women securitized the process as they went through it themselves. "Why did they pull us off our normal mission to play nurse maid to a cruise ship," asked Maureen Bowers.
"Ship load of VIPs, need for descretion, and they told me they wanted the best, most of the people here are law inforcement and military types, also there is the issue of most of the pasengers will be allowed to keep their weapons onboard," stated Andre McBride
"That is insane," said Riley Jensen.
"Would you travel any other way," said Jane Vasco retreaving her weapons from a man in a TSA uniform.
"Not I,"concured Connor King .
"Thank you Connor, for helping me make my point," quiped Riley.
The group put on their game faces as they boarded the ship.
"Good evening and welcome aboard the Pacific Princess," said the cheerful Cruise Director. Julie looked over the dower looking six members of the security team. It was defanitly a study in contrasts: One of the guys looked more like he was here to mug the ship then protect it, another was dark handsome clean cut and professional, the third was short skinny and possibly unacquainted with personal hygiene. The oldest of the men seamed to anchor the group he seamed very intense. The two women were kind of tall looked more like fashion models then cops. The Intense guy was the first to speak. Clearly in charge he quickly introduced the rest of his group. McBride requested to be taken to see the captain while his people took a tour of the ship. Gopher took McBride to see Captain Stubing while Julie gave the others a tour.
An hour later Gopher and McBride brought a squad of marines aboard. At eleven PM the first of the guests arrived.
It was not quite the normal boarding with the two marine guards and Jane Vasco screening the guests but Julie did her best to carry on as if this was a normal cruise.
With a final check of the guests ID and invatation the young marine in dress blue uniform anounced "Mr. Alexander LaVelle Harris"
A square jawed young man with a patch over one eye in casual atire that flagrently disregarded any sense of color boarded the ship. "Good evening Mr Harris I am Julie your Cruise Director welcome aboard the Pacific Princess." smiled Julie.
"Thank you Julie I have always wanted a Cruise Director," teased Xander.
Julie told him were to find his cabin.
Three women were next Phoebe Halliwell, Piper Halliwell, and Paige Matthews. They exchanged pleasenties with juli e and moved on to find their cabins.
The next party of four was a bit odd three good looking men and a pitite young women. Two of the men had one word names Spike and Angel Julie thought thay were some sort of code names. Julie greeted them and asked if ther was some mistake in the cabin asignment, cabins C7, C8 and C9 were well below the water line and the ship was not full they were usally used for crew. The others two were a bit odd as well the black man seemed to be recovering from an injury and the women seamed to sometimes forget her name. At least Charles Gunn got a good cabin. Poor Miss Burkle was also below the water line. For some reason they reasisted the offer of a better cabin.
Next aboard were the guests of honor Ian Matheson and Randi Wallace the couple had been instrumental in negotiating the end of the Chicago Incursion. This cruise was to be both wedding and honeymoon. Julie welcomed them and had Gopher escort them to their suite.
Frank Parker and Olga Vukavitch were an interesting couple they could not seem to decide if they were flirting or fighting. Olga said that they were work associates but Julie could tell there was a bit more than that. Julie gave them directions to their cabins just as they were about to leave the reception area McBride returned. Parker recognized McBride.
"You old SOB what are you doing here," asked Parker.
"It's been a long time Parker last I heard you were in the nut house." replied McBride.
"They let me out on bad behavior", quipped Parker.
"Are you with the bride or the Groom?" asked Olga.
"Ships security," answered McBride.
Parker looked surprised. "Never figured you for working for a cruise line," said Parker.
"One time only favor for a few old company friends," McBride supplied.
"OK, talk later," saying that, Parker turned back to Julie and asked, "One last question, where's the bar?"
Jane Vasco was still museing about her boss and Parker when she got the oddest felling something about the next two seemed to scream at her.
Duncan Macleod and Amanda Smith felt it as soon as they entered the boarding area. They both turned to see a tall blond starring at them. They silently communicated to each other that this one was unknown to either of them.
An expert people watcher Julie noticed something odd about Jane's reaction to the two guests. While Julie was talking the dark haired man, Miss Smith introduced herself to Vasco. While Duncan received the information on cabins, Amanda gathered the more important information.
As they moved deeper into the ship Amanda whispered to Duncan "I think she is new, untrained in the game, and a bit confused."
Dr. Pablo Cruz and Rupert Giles were the next to check in the English men and the Latin were discussing something about jaguar cults as they worked into the reception area. Dr. Cruz was carrying something that looked like a bait bucket with a note attached. He handed it to Julie. It had a diplomatic seal on it (the note and the bait bucket). The note was addressed to the Captain and Crew of the Pacific Princess. All Cruz sad by way of explanation was "Babel fish you are going to need them."
Julie used the ships intercom to page gopher, and greeted the next guests three girls in there twenties and one in here teens. "Faith Lehane, Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers" read the marine doing his best to remain professional as Faith tried to flirt with him. "Oh, I get the old on duty thing I'll catch you later," said Faith.
After the Cruise Director had given them their welcome and directions Faith asked "Will stud-muffins be coming along."
"His squad of marines has been added as reinforcements to the ships security," supplied Vasco.
"I feel safer already," said the slayer.
"Just what Faith needs a Cruise with a smorgasbord," commented Willow.
Despite his somber military bearing the marine corporal's face was starting to match the red stripe on his trousers.
Dawn turned to Buffy and asked, "With you and Dawn here who is minding the store"?
"I am trying to teach the girls to be a bit more self-reliant, besides the biggest missions we have going on right now evolve newspapers and baby sitting," replied Buffy.
As another group came along the marine announced: "Kate Benson, Boras, Carl, Kevin Brown, John Doggit, James Edwards, Fox Mulder, Nick O'Malley, Sean Radmon, Monica Reyes, Dana Scully."
All eleven including the two Gnomes wore the black suite that had become the uniform for agents of the United Nations Task Force for Inter Species Cooperation (UNTFISC).
The group moved through the reception area until the next guest J.B. Fletcher
was announced and Doggit's head wiped around to stare at the elderly woman.
Shortly after that Riley Jensen ran up to Vasco and handed her an annotated guest list. Jane quickly scanned the annotations Cops, Doctors (mostly coroners), scientists, vampires, aliens, demons, links, vigilantes, blogers, Journalists, lawyers, politicians, and diplomats. Just as the marine announced Ambassador Bexare, Gopher handed her a Babel fish and Riley supplied her with two aspirin.
While Jane was placing the fish in her ear and the aspirin in her mouth a meter tall teddy bear in a tuxedo walked up to the Cruise Director. As the Ambassador went off to find his quarters Jane hoped things would not get any weirder. They did the ship still left in time. Two hours out of port two late arrivals joined the trip a harpy and a flying monkey named LoBo.
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Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship. Gilligan's Island Theme
On a hot August afternoon a plane arrived at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. A small group of people gathered together as they debarked the plane. A middle aged man carried a toddler and a middle aged woman carried a baby. The group also included blond young man and an Asian woman, two other young men and a teenage boy. The older women headed them to the baggage claim area with the air of a drill sergeant. Hal Wilkerson said to her "I can't believe you won a free cruise and family reunion.
"Well I was employee of the month three time last year and it was a drawing from all the employees of the month company wide in a six month period" said Lois.
"It is still Lucky Aide we are talking about, I am still suspicious," commented a .
"It is Florida in August, big deal they are doing it a little on the cheap," said Francis.
After they gathered their bags together Dewey discovered a man holding a sign that read Wilkerson family. The man welcomed them and led them to a most impressive white hummer limousine. The vehicle comfortably accommodated all nine of them plus their luggage. Things were looking up. This did not last long however as the driver seemed to be lost (this despite rather extensive uses of a rather expensive looking GPS in his dash board). After passing the same 7-Eleven five times Dewey made a request to use the facilities Lois seconded the idea.
A sort time latter the family returned to the vehicle with Slurpees and directions. The road to the marina was at the time in the middle of a construction site. The only way in at present was by cutting through the back lot of a bait shop. As the hummer rounded the bait shop a forest of masts appeared and the limousine ground to a halt at sign that said pier 3. "These aren't cruise ships," observed Lois.
"No Mrs. Wilkerson they are yachts"
Two ships were docked at the pier their names could be easily read as the family disembarked from the hummer the Minnow was a seventy-five foot long motor yacht and the Adventure Galley a one-hundred-five foot long Trimaran sailing yacht. Almost in unison the Wilkersons realized the horror of what was about to befall them, this would be a week long cruise, alone with each other.
From behind them, what looked to be an unshaven one eyed bum approached them. He asked them "Is one of you Lois Wilkerson?"
Lois turned to dirty unshaven man with the eye path and admitted with some trepidation "I am Lois Wilkerson."
Finding a rag to wipe the grease of his hands he offered went to shake her hand and said, Congratulations on winning the Lucky Aide family cruise, I am Captain Ron."
After a few seconds of awkward silence Lois began introducing the rest of the family.
While shaking hands with the friendly but smelly captain, Malcolm asked him in whispered tones, "lowest bidder?"
In an equally hushed tone Captain Ron confessed, "no, brother-in-law is on the board of Lucky Aide.
Finished with the introductions Captain Ron welcomed them aboard the Adventure Galley and showed them their quarters. "My crew is out gathering provisions" said the Captain as he brought Lois' bags to her cabin he lingered there waiting for something.
Hal was about to tip him when Lois realized what he was after and rallied the boys to bring in the rest of the luggage.
A short time later a beat up old VW micro-bus pulled up to the dock three young women got out and began hauling groceries onto the yacht. "Uncle Ron we got the food," yelled the cute brunette as she and the slightly older blond twins came to the boarding plank. Dewey, Malcolm, and Reese required little in the way of invitation to begin helping the girls move the large amount of groceries. By the time the provisions were stowed the boys had made the boys had introduced them selves to the crew. Still Captain Ron did formally introduce his crew nieces Elaine, Pamela and Sue to his passengers. For Dewey, Malcolm, and Reese now seamed to be looking forward to the voyage. As Lois and Hal worried Captain Ron ordered the girls to make ready. They would have probably launched sooner if it was not for the boys trying to help and receiving a sailing 101 course from Sue.
As the ship cleared the inlet Captain Ron gave the orders to raise sail. As the Adventure Galley took the wind the engines went quite. The wind the and sea and the ship were their entire world on that blue sunlit afternoon as the hotel spangled coast faded behind them. It so seemed the start of a lovely voyage.
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Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go
Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone Danger Zone Lyrics
Kenny Loggins
It was business as usual on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as the F-18 left nearly forty year old leviathan. She and the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) were steaming to New York City for a July 4th celebration. Captain Harry Blake coordinated with his opposite on the amphibious assault ship. This was a much needed change from their recently completed tour of the Persian Gulf. Air operations between the two ships were going remarkable smoothly the two ships had developed a close working relation on over the last year. Captain Barry Evans of the Richard had come aboard the Nimitz along with commanders of several other ships of the joint task force to plan their next mission, liberty during fleet week in the Big Apple, The meeting lasted two hours after which helicopters ferried the precipitants back to their ships.
As the Commanders departed Lieutenant Grady Halibut the ships single officer greeted him with a printout. "Sir, I believe you will find these papers in good order," said the Lieutenant. The Captain looked at the two E-Tickets Halibut had handed him and said "very good Mr. Halibut, Mrs. Blake has been looking forward to seeing that play." As the ship steamed on little did the Captain know that he would never get to use those tickets.
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Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me.
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me. The Ballad of Serenity
by Sonny Rhodes - Firefly Lyrics
It had been thirty saddle sore hours, leading half a dozen saddle bums and three dogs to the hidden site. It is not the easiest thing to try to rescue a flock of pedigree sheep from the middle of a range war, but someone was paying some big bucks to get it done. That is why Malcolm Reynolds and Jayne Cobb had spent the last two days with this motley group of shepherds and hired guns.
The men and dogs worked the herd into the small box canyon a wire fence was quickly drawn across the cannon entrance. It still took over two hours to get all the sheep into the ships hold. As River Tam brought the last lamb aboard the Captain Reynolds fell asleep doing the inventory. Zoe Washburne made the final arrangements with the drovers while Kaylee and Simon loaded the exhausted Captain into his quarters. As River ran the preflight Cobb stumbled bowlegged into the galley where he fell asleep in a bowl of chilly. With River at the helm Serenity rose into the night sky.
Two days out from the planet Serenity's captain rested and cleaned made a course correction. The trip was uneventful a definite blessing. Their luck still held as they delivered the cargo got paid and took on new supplies. Kaylee even found a farmer that paid for a load of fertilizer. They took on a cargo of packaged noodles to take to a mining station. Simon and Kaylee found a rather useful junk yard that had several useful replacement parts. For them it amounted to an incredible run of luck. It was just to good to be true. As the Serenity lifted in search of lo mein munching Miners the pendulum of luck was about to be cut lose. Partner I mean not just swing back and fourth but head off way yonder in some other totally loco direction. Yes, grasshopper the crew was headed for some interesting times.
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Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines. U.S. Marine Corps Hymn third verse
Captain Nathan West had a very busy six months, busy was good it didn't give you time to dwell on the things that if you thought to long about would have you crawling into a tight little ball in your rack and, and, were best not to think about. So what he and 1st Lt. Cooper Hawkes did think about was the new TO&E and the ten newbies that they had to make into a unit. The new Hammerheads were faster more maneuverable and better armed then their predecessor. The new armored drop ships were driving the maintenance crews nuts. With only thirty days before the 58th was do for deployment West new he had to push these kids hard. When did they start looking so young, he was what five years older then the youngest, dam another one of things not to think about. Practice in the simulates and in the birds. Then their was the two squads of dedicated infantry, how old school 1st LT Goldstein was coming along nicely with them but they needed more joint practice. Those dam drop ships were costing them valuable training time.
One month later the Wildcards joined the newly refitted Saratoga. 1st Lt. Cooper Hawkes was running the morning briefing. "Alright listen up people. Chig operation in this area have been limited to light harassment and delaying raids. Expect small gunships and we believe a squadron of fighters has been operating out of a base somewhere in this system's rather heavy asteroid field. Be on the look out for AI operations in the area we believe the AIs are running supplies to the base. We believe the Chigs in this area are out of communication for the most part. There is extensive asteroid mining in the area so be careful who you shoot at there are lots of civilians in this system. We have three separate mining operations in the area plus a few wildcats all known IDs have been loaded to your HUD computers. We made also be called upon to keep the miners from shooting each other over claims. Most of the humans in system speak either English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or Arabic. The 9th Carrier group consists of the Saratoga and its escorts, the 17 Fighter Group will be conducting CAP and fleet security. Our mission is customs inspection we will be stopping and inspecting random civilians for contraband while trying to find the Chig base. Please reference unit SOP page 25. Please note that asteroids 127, 511, 1142 are alternate landing sites if you cannot make it back to Saratoga. Assignments: Barnes and Młynarczyk will fly high cover, Charles and O'Brien will fly low Cover, French and Smith will fly point, Chen and Weber will fly trail, Lamont an I will cover Goldstein in Dropship one, The Old man and Zook will cover Lewis in Dropship two. Any Questions?"
2lt William French asked, "Sir, how much separation do you want between elements?"
"One standard unit in open space and about a third of that in the asteroids," answered Hawkes.
Ten minutes of questions later Hawkes wished them good hunting and they were off.
Two hours later the Squadron was picking its way through the asteroid field in search of suspicious activity what they found was something they never expected.
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God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr
Success has it's price wealth and power come with responsibility. Over the years you learn that the more you control the more people are affected by your actions. In his youth Lando Calrissian had the opportunity to see the consequences of his actions magnified by the power of his leadership. Ben Skywalker had more responsibility thrown at him earlier than any man he knew except maybe his father. Luke could not communicate to his son that fatherly advice on how to deal with all the pressure. So somehow the Jedi Master had talked Lando into taking a long trip with Ben to give him that fatherly advice that he would not listen to coming from his father. The mission to Zambonee four did not require a retired General and a Jedi. The conversation did require time and threading through a system of nebulas out on the rim would take a lot of time, time to talk, time to think, and time to rest from the weight of the Galaxy.
Lando and Ben prepared for the first Jump. The Century Eagle was a nostalgic indulgence, a rich man's toy it started as a stock Corellian YT1300 but was lovingly redone as a decoy for the Millennium Falcon without the budget constraints. The jump coordinates were quickly set R8U248 concurred and the ship jumped into hyperspace.
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No battle plan survives contact with the enemy
Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke
The raid on the enemy listening post went flawlessly; the tin cans never knew what hit them. Theirs was third and most difficult of eight separate simultaneous raids. The strategy was simply hit the enemy in so many places at once they could not respond to all of them and create enough confusion that the fleet could slip safely through the area.
Starbuck, Apollo, and Sheba in their vipers were flying cover for Boomer in a shuttle with the raiding team the mission now was to get home without giving away the fleets position. To do this they would need to go quite and coast for a considerable distance. They maneuvered into position and cut engines and began the long quite wait watching passive sensors. They were almost home free when Starbuck spotted a Cylon patrol. Using a tight beam he warned he others. For a few tense centons they waited hoping not to be spotted. Disappointment turned to action as the Cylons began to maneuver for a closer look. "I count nine hostels," said Boomer. Starbuck, Apollo, and Sheba in the Vipers moved to intercept Boomer maneuvered to but distance between the shuttle and the Cylons. With a head on pass the vipers eliminated three foes then the dogfight began in earnest as Starbuck and Apollo turned into the Cylons while Sheba sprinted to guard the shuttle. Another Cylon fell to Apollo while Starbuck maneuvered to get two Cylons off his tail. Sheba blew away one of the two Cylons that was heading for the shuttle . One Cylon broke off allowing Apollo to aid his wingman. With the numbers now even the vipers made quick work of the three remaining raiders. As they formed backup on the shuttle Apollo ordered, we have been spotted, and one got away, execute evasion plan Delta, move to alternate rendezvous site three. The circuitous route home would become more so.
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Living well is the best revenge George Herbert
For Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd the inconvenient interventions of James T. Kirk had always been most vexing. Kirk's sadistic comic sense of justice cost Mudd a lot and yet somehow fate and time were on Mudd's side. Who would have thought Stella was a marketing genius, That wile he was in rehab the women would take a pocket full of smuggled Klingon coffee beans and his shady reputation and create the raktajino empire. His role these days was to make public appearances playing the charming rough. To aid him these endeavors Stella had acquired a salvaged Klingon ship from the bottom of San Francisco Bay and had it restored. She had not really rehabilitated him and still drove him crazy but things had mellowed to an "understanding." The HMS Bounty had a very interesting Crew an Orion (male) navigator, a Klingon (male) security officer, an Andorian (male) Public relations manager, and a Vulcan(female) engineer (Stella had final say on all hiring). Still the irony of having one of Kirks old ships custom fitted as his own luxury yacht was almost worth putting up with his wife. As a sly smile lifted the corner of his mustache Captain mud ordered the warp to engage as he departed on a five system book tour.
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'Democracy is the worst form of government,
with the exception of all others. Winston Churchill.
With the Systems Commonwealth rebuilt and Tarn-Vedra restored you might think that Captain Dylan Hunt might be doing the happily ever after, but to think that would be very naïve one would be totally ignoring the very dynamic nature of intelligent living species, the nature of politics, and the nature of one most singular High Guard officer. Keeping the various elements of the Systems Commonwealth was only part of the problem as competing interests and ambitions pulled the fledgling democracy one way and then another. Due to a strong lobby by several ship yards the High Guard was rapidly developing the problem of more ships than crews and Dylan had some doubts as to the quality of the new ships. With the scores of committee meetings, hearings, and affairs of state Dylan jumped at the chance to leave the Capital to investigate several incidences of plain old piracy. With his still short handed crew he departed Tarn-Vedra to one of the newer members of the Commonwealth. It was not long after they exited slipstream that Trance Gemini with the uncharacteristic cry of, "uht-oh" informed them that this would be far from the start forward mission Dylan had hoped for.
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That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
Neil Armstrong
D'Argo Sun Crichton circles a small round end table in one of Moya's larger cabins. His parents call to him with outstretched arms. The child circles the table again carefully holding on to the table for balance as a DRD records the action. Noticing the small Diagnostic Repair Drones the child gives chase forgetting the fact that he has never tried bipedal locomotion without using secondary support. As the DRD beats a hasty retreat the child takes his first steps. Hearing the commotion in the only currently occupied cabin Moya alerts Pilot who inquires, "is everything all right?"
"Better than all right" replied the proud father.
The last few months had been like a pleasant dream for John and Aeryn as they leisurely traveled about the galaxy running freight and acting as mediators on various minor disputes. Only two weeks after D'Argo's first steps catching the very mobile young man was becoming a major challenge for the Crichton's. Avoiding D'Argo was becoming a major challenge for the DRDs. Three weeks later Chiana tired of Rygel and Rygel's court returned to the ship. It was however a bit unfortunate that the second thing she heard after the hugs and hellos was Pilot complaining, "D'Argo is attacking the DRD's again."
There was an awkward silence as the ghostly words penetrated Chiana's sole. Aeryn realized those old words had a whole new meaning. Her son was awake and had found out a way to get out of his cabin. Aeryn sprinted out of the hanger bay to give chase to the toddler. John's mind worked a little slower about two seconds latter John exclaimed, "the baby!" and ran out.
Chiana followed the panicked parents in time to see the keystone cop chase as the two parents pursued the toddler. As the child moved in and out of places to small for his pursuers a DRD attempted to follow the DVD reemerged with the toddler hot pursuit. As the concerned parents intercepted the child while the DRD made it's excape through John's legs, Chiana for the first time in months laughed.
As Chiana settled in Pilot announced they Moya was ready for star burst and so with Chiana and a load of seed grain they headed off to the next leg of their trade root.
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"An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country."
Henry Wotton
It was a simple diplomatic mission in answer to a request from the Ventuki Conglomerate only one Whitestar was sent but it contained some of the ISA's most senior diplomats. One the bridge of the Whitestar Delenn, G'Kar, Zack and Lyta speculated on the Vree's cryptic summons. Zack reread the communication:
"Please send diplomatic and scientific aid have intercepted communication from ancient and dangerous probe"
"What is it with the Vree and probes?" asked Zack
"I prefer not to dwell on that. What is more important is why the Vree would ask for outside help," commented Lyta.
"I concur" said G'Kar
"Unfortunately we will find out very little more until we get their.
In another cabin of the craft Dr. Franklin was entertaining the three ISA scientist they could get together on short notice T'Nrath a narn, Dr. Gerald Hagar, and a Minbari called Tulann. As the conversation changed from the current mission to an obscure form of mathematics Franklin decided it was time to freshen his coffee. Seconds later the ship entered hyperspace.
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Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lord's Prayer
The workstation was finally ready, assembled from the Asgard instructions from the Odyssey, the computer was ready to hold a copy of the Asgard data. Colonel Samantha Carter initiated three days later the download was complete. Carter began the diagnostic routine to verify the integrity of the download. The next day was for celebration the priceless information had been transferred. Just as Dr. Daniel Jackson was about to propose a toast he was interrupted by a Thor hologram.
"Please check the dynamic sensor array interface and call Colonel Carter," the holographic Asgard insisted.
Twenty rechecks later the Thor simulation was willing to accept the information from the sensor array was correct. "Colonel Carter we are picking up a signal that is most unexpected. It is from a probe we Asgard sent out over four thousand years ago." Said the hologram. "We had hoped this information would not be needed we locked it away from ourselves, however this communication has triggered an emergency protocol please study files "Forbidden Knowledge 7811, Secret Treaties 110, Practical Demonology, and selected reading on inter-dimensional travel. I will be available for discussion as soon as you are ready." The hologram completed and disappeared.
What the hell was that about?" Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell asked.
"I am not sure but it doses not sound good" stated Daniel Jackson.
"Is it me or did Thor seem embarrassed" asked Vala Mal Doran.
Sam just read the files. Daniel joined her. Mitchell realized it would be a while before he would have any answers to his questions.
Five days later
Major General Hank Landry convened the meeting the SG1 team was there along with several other scientists, technicians and the commanders of three other SGC teams. Landry began, "ladies and gentleman please make yourselves comfortable this is going to be a long meeting. Two weeks ago we assembled an Asgard computer system and sensor array to both preserve the Asgard information and provide Earth a more effective early warning system. This system was part of the final legacy gift from the Asgard. Six days ago that system started receiving a transmission that triggered a hidden protocol in the Asgard system revealing hidden files in the Asgard gift. Mr. Jackson will you continue," said Landry as he ceded the floor to Jackson.
"From what we determined from the Asgard legacy files by accepting said legacy we gained in addition to a vast amount of technical knowledge a responsibility to honor a few treaty commitments the Asgard had previously made. This week we discovered that the Asgard knowledge base has a vast number of emergency protocols that keep information encrypted until a situation arises that the AI routine determines requires a need to know. The transmission we received met the criteria for several such emergency protocols." Jackson stated. "Colonel Carter will now brief you on the nature of this emergency." finished Jackson.
"Most of you have a passing familiarity extra dimensional devises such as the ZPM, hyper drives, Merlin's out of phase cloaking device, and the Quantum Mirror. The Asgard made many experiments in extra dimensional physics their initial experiments were extremely power consuming. The Asgard sent out a significant number of probes to explore other dimensions they harnessed the forces of a collapsed universe to meet the power needs of these probes. They later found out that there brute force method caused many unpleasant side effects in the universes they entered. They made contact with several displeased ancient extra dimensional races. In order to save themselves and the surrounding galaxies the Asgard negotiated a treaty with seven of these races. In accordance with these treaties the Asgard limited their extra-dimensional enterprises to a tight band of dimensions for a period of twenty five hundred years. In addition to this, the Asgard agreed to recover the probes, close the holes they left behind and do what they could to limit damages. All but one probe was recovered," lectured Carter. "Before I answer any of your questions I would like to turn the briefing over to the Thor AI," Carter finished.
The hologram of the deceased Asgard appeared and began, "By this time a few of you have realized the unintended cost of our legacy. Believe me when I say this was not believed to be a pressing concern for us in a long time. We for the most part forgot about the probe. It was a bit of a cultural embarrassment for us. I fear however it is a problem that will come home to roust if not handled aggressively. I have released encrypted data that we have been withholding even from ourselves so you may close the rips in the Multiverse. The probe in question was exploring multiple universes in a quest to find a solution for the problem of corporeal immortality, it was programmed to explore and catalog a section of each dimension it traveled through. In the event it found something capable of meeting it's AIs criteria it left behind it a network of nano-probes. These nano-probes were capable of opening up a chain of dimensional gate ways that would allow the probe to communicate and permit an expedition to follow. Unfortunately Loki programmed the gates to only close from the opposite side to force our hand in sending an expedition. To compound the problem the gates are unstable and if not closed in a timely manor get larger and larger until they become so large they grow beyond the nano-probes ability to close. Any Questions" The Thor AI concluded.
"What will happen if we fail to close the gates," asked Major General Hank Landry.
"They will get bigger ad bigger in time devouring hole galaxies and causing a collapse of space time in two universes," calmly answered the AI.
"What dimensions were effected?" asked Major Ramon Vargas of SG15.
"I have analyzed the data from the Joint mission of SG15, SG31, and SG 45 and cannot correlate their inter-dimensional coordinate system with our own, other than to say they had encountered extra-dimensional travelers more sophisticated than my race," the Thor AI stated.
The meeting continued for several hours by the end of that time the SGC had a workable plan. Three very special shuttle craft were readied these craft would travel the path of gates to it's end point the probes had an as yet untried device that the Asgard data said should get them home plus a transmission that would allow them to close the gate from the other side. All three craft were recent productions being pressed into service as they came out of assembly. They were dubbed the Nina, the Pinta. And the Santa Maria though all the ships were the same size. The Nina would carry SG15 led by Major Ramon Vargas USMC. The Pinta would carry SG31 led by Major Pamela Russo US Army. The flagship would be the Santa Maria carrying SG1 led Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell who would also command the mission.
Lieutenant. Commander William Kidd and SG45 would pursue an alternate lead for help