Starting Back To Where It All Started

The wire outline of a starship spun round on the screen in the office. As it went around, it started to fill itself in with little pieces flying in from off screen and settling in the right spots. Soon, a completed Starfleet vessel was revolving on the screen and the smaller monitors on the desk for people to look more closely.

"That is one huge vessel" said a red haired woman.

"Well you built her, Naomi" replied a slightly older woman.

"True, Mezoti…" Naomi Wildman looked back from the screen at her beloved wife. "And now she is ready for her first trials" she added.

Since the Earth Civil War had ended, the group had moved on to other things other the years. The twins returned to their design and consulting business which grew from strength to strength as planets used them to construct planetary defences so they would not suffer the same fate as Proxima III. They had eventually found two women who could not care less about them being formerly part of the Borg Collective, and the wedding was planned to take place on Risa.

Naomi and Mezoti took a year of absence from Starfleet and spent it living on Bajor with Saghi. They took a long time getting over the death of Icheb, and they still expected him to call them at any time. When they returned to Starfleet, the group got together and planned something huge and a tribute to their fallen comrade and friend.

#

Three Years Earlier

"Ladies, Gentlemen, invited Transgendered persons and Saghi…" Naomi winked at her friend as a ripple of laughter went around the room, "Some time ago, I was involved in the final battle against Section 31. A lot of good people lost their lives during those months, and my good friend Captain Icheb was among those who gave up their lives. Since then, Starfleet has been making do with what ships we have. We are gathered here today to witness the welding together of the first frames of what will be the newest Starship in the fleet. I invite you to watch as the history of the USS Icheb begins" and they watched as Azan and Rebi, fittingly enough, welded the first two beams together which would create a starship.

#

Present Time

Three Weeks Later

"Docking complete" said the helm officer.

"Send the list of details to my office on the dock" Naomi said.

"Aye Captain" the Operations manager said. Within an hour, the skeleton crew had disembarked from the Icheb. The ship was the first in its class. A mighty starship that was half as big as a Sovereign class, the Icheb was designed to go in where other Starships feared to tread. The remaining members of the 'Voyager Six' had worked long and hard on the design. She would feature the latest in computer hardware, sport both warp and transwarp drive, field Plasma Torpedoes in addition to the standard Photons and Quantums, fire phasers and disrupters. Her average cruising speed was Warp 8.8, and her top speed at normal warp was 9.99. She had three impulse engines mounted on the after of her saucer and her neck. Only the two saucer ones would be active under normal circumstances – the one on her neck was behind an armoured door. It had been designed so that they still had impulse if the outer engines were disabled. Her hull was given two layers of ablative armour. Very small phaser cannons were mounted near the nacelles, impulse manifolds and other vital parts of the exterior to help take out incoming torpedoes. With the agreement of the now Admiral Terrik, the Icheb also carried a top of the range Romulan cloaking device. That had been tested by Naomi having the ship decloaking inside the shield grid of Starbase 375 with all weapons on standby. There was then a delay of thirty minutes while three station staff were treated for heart attacks.

"You have four messages waiting" the computer said as they walked into their quarters.

"Begin playback" Mezoti said, flinging her bags inside the bedroom. The first two messages were nothing more then replies to questions asked about the Voyager Museum. They would soon be getting the Delta Flyer II for addition to their displays, and also for use as to give quick rides around the solar system. An identical looking shuttle was just being finished with a top speed of Warp 8.9, and secondary shielding for when in use as a fast attack ship. Another message was from the Bajoran government asking for the attendance of the group on Bajor for a rededication of Deep Space Nine. The final message was from Admiral Hochi of Starfleet Operations, so Naomi called that up a reply to that one first.

"Captain Wildman" the Japanese man looked over the video link. "How soon can you be ready to go on a mission?"

"We've only just put in after testing the Icheb" Naomi told him. "I've got a bit of leave time which I'm spending on Bajor with Mezoti" she added.

"Captain, is this a secured link?"

"It is now" Mezoti said, pressing a key on the small console.

"Three days ago, we picked up a number of warp core detonations from the Delta Quadrant – with Starfleet signatures. Our probe relays triangulated the positioning to a remote part of what is known as the D'kona ystem" Hochi explained in detail the situation. "You and your wife are the only members of Starfleet that have been in the Delta Quadrant. Your orders are to travel to the D'kona system and investigate what happened. Nobody should be using Warp Drives with Starfleet signatures, so one other part of the mission is to either recover all Starfleet technology or destroy it"

"What ship are we taking?" asked Mezoti.

"We're looking around for one now" Hochi replied. "But a lot of our ships capable of the trip are otherwise engaged on vital work"

"Admiral, we've only just put in from the trials. The ship is due for defect repairs and commissioning. If I can get a number of key people, then I can get going in the Icheb in three days" Naomi said.

"Very well" Hochi said. "As of now, you are in Emergency Launch Mode. Transmit a list of personnel that you want as crew, and we'll try to get as many as possible. Hochi out"

"Who knew I was going home so soon…" said Mezoti lightly.

"Not my idea of another honeymoon, but you get what you are given I suppose" Naomi replied with a smile. "Wildman to drydock control"

"Control"

"By order of Admiral Hochi, this dock is under Emergency Launch Protocols. You are ordered to load a full magazine of torpedoes. If you don't have enough in your stores, then steal them from other ships to make it up. Get as many crews as possible working on the defects list. We are launching in three days time. Wildman out"

"You have a message" the computer said.

"Open a channel"

"Captain Wildman. Commander Wildman. I'm Captain Hancock of the Starfleet Science Directorate" a human male was on the screen. "Admiral Hochi has asked me to brief you in person with what little information we have. I shall arrive at Utopia in just under half an hour"

"We'll be waiting for you" Naomi said. "Better come directly to our quarters" she added, and Hancock nodded and closed the link.

"Half an hour…?" questioned Mezoti.

"We can do half an hour…" and Naomi dragged her wife to the bedroom.

#

"Commander, Security reports screams coming from the Wildman quarters"

"No need to worry" said Azan. The Commander looked at him in confusion before realising what Azan had not said.

"I guess they should be starting wormhole penetration by now" she blushed.

"Commander?" the enlisted man called again. "Screams are getting much louder"

"You're not married are you, Crewman?" Rebi was trying to hold in a laugh – and failed.

"No, Sir" the crewman replied.

"Then I suggest that you increase the SIF to that section, and evacuate and close it off until the screaming has stopped" Azan and Rebi spoke at the same time.

# # # # #

Naomi's list of people for department heads included the Doctor as Chief Medical Officer. Given the fact that she had placed the twins on the list as department heads for Engineering and Tactical, they were recruited into Starfleet and given the rank of Commander. With a matter of hours to go, they had a full compliment of crew aboard the Icheb and left drydock for the orbit of Jupiter.

"We have dropped out of Warp" Mezoti said to Naomi as she stepped onto the bridge. As soon as they had cleared the drydock, Naomi had appointed her First Officer of the ship.

"Very well" Naomi said. "Helm, orientate the ship so that we have a bow on approach to the beacon"

"Aye, Aye, Captain" came the answering reply.

"Attention all hands, this is the Captain" Naomi used the shipwide channel. "We are now at rest relative to the beacon marking the loss of the USS Honour lost this day five years ago under the command of this ship's namesake, Captain Icheb. This ship will now observe a minute's silence in respect to his memory" and at the end of the minute, a soft tone played over the speakers. "With the Admiral's permission, we will begin the commissioning ceremony in one hour in the main shuttle bay. Captain out"

"Dress uniforms?" Azan asked.

"Dress uniforms I'm afraid" Naomi confirmed.

"I swear that every computer in Starfleet hates me. Everytime I get a dress uniform from it, the bloody thing always replicates a collar size too small for me" Mezoti grumbled.

# # # # #

Once the Admiral and the rest of the commissioning delegates had disembarked, the crew did some checks of the Icheb's systems. The three week shakedown had indicated a number of problems that needed to be sorted out. The plan was for a month in drydock before sending her out for more trials, but now she would be sent out with very little work done on her. What needed to be done was going to have to take place enroute.

"Captain on the bridge!"

"As you were" Naomi said. She walked out onto the bridge with Mezoti by her side, walked around the rail and sat in the Captain's seat. It looked odd compared to the modern bridge as it was the actual Captain's chair from Voyager. "Status report" she ordered.

"Standing by to get under weigh" Azan said. Despite both him and his twin being engaged to be married, both of them had elected to remain onboard for the mission to the Delta Quadrant. Their fiancées had understood that it was a sense of the deepest friendship which tasked them to go with Naomi and Mezoti. Naomi had also decided that this might very well be her final mission on active service, and so, if it was, then they would see the final mission completed together.

"Set course for Bajor" Mezoti said. "Warp 8" and the helm officer turned round to face the senior staff.

"Commander?" she questioned.

"You heard the order, Miss Lost" Naomi said.

"Aye, Captain" Lost was only an Ensign, and was therefore not qualified to question her Captain's change of plans. "Course plotted and laid in"

"Engage" and Icheb jumped to warp. "Rebi, send a message to Deep Space Nine. Inform them that we will be arriving early for the rededication because of our mission"

"I will comply" the man smiled at his friend before tapping at the console.

"Open a private channel to Saghi, and let me know when she replies" Naomi said.

"Understood" Rebi added to the list of things he needed to do.

"Engineering to bridge"

"This is the bridge" Azan said.

"Commander, we're picking up some odd readings from the warp core" said the Engineer – a Bolian named Brex.

"What kind of odd readings, Mr Brex?" asked Naomi.

"According to the readouts, we don't have one installed aboard ship" Brex said. "I have no idea what to do. This has never happened so far as I know"

"Look very carefully at the centre of Engineering" Naomi said. "You should see a large tube glowing blue and making a slightly loud humming noise. Can you see it?" she asked

"Yes, Captain"

"That is the core, and it is therefore installed on the ship. Reset the core monitoring program. Bridge out" Naomi shook her head. "Voyager was never this bad…" she said, referring to the many times they had had to lay over in some system for repairs to the ship on its way home.

"Message coming in from Deep Space Nine" Rebi said. "They say that everything will be ready for the rededication of the station on time. Saghi is on the line" he added.

"On screen" Naomi ordered, and the group's long time friend came on the main viewer.

"Hello, Naomi. Hello Mezoti, Azan, Rebi. I see you managed to get out of spacedock"

"On a wing and a prayer" Naomi replied. "We're heading to Deep Space Nine for the rededication of the station. Should be there in about three days if all goes well"

"I'll see about getting passage to the station" Saghi said. "I wouldn't mind seeing you all again, and maybe get a quick luck around the Icheb" she added.

"Actually, I was wondering what you had planned for the next year or so" Naomi said.

"Working on the farm, selling at the market… you know the sort of thing" Saghi frowned. "Why do you ask?"

"Would you fancy coming with us to the Delta Quadrant?" Naomi grinned as Saghi's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Are you being serious?" the Bajoran woman asked.

"You can easily arrange for somebody to look after the farm for a year or so" Naomi said. "It'll be just like old times…" she grinned. "We've got some secret work to do involving some strange sensors readings taken by some of our probes, and we've been sent out to investigate the readings and take whatever action is needed. Care to come with us?"

"Yes, I'll be there as quick as I can get to Deep Space Nine" Saghi said. They spoke a few more minutes before Saghi closed the channel to start making arrangements.

"Captain, I must protest" said the tactical officer. "Our mission is classified, and you have just divulged it to a civilian. I must inform you that I will have to contact Starfleet about this breach of regulations"

"Communications are offline" Azan said.

"Captain, I will be reporting this the moment we dock at Deep Space Nine. I request that I be relieved of duty until then"

"Request denied" Naomi said. "However, you may finish your shift now and return to your quarters" the tactical officer secured his console before leaving the bridge.

"Kids…" Rebi muttered thickly.

# # # # #

"We have arrived at the outer edge of the Bajoran system" the shift's helm reported.

"Very well" Azan said, and opened a link to Naomi's com badge. "Naomi, we are at the outer edge of the Bajoran system"

"Understood. Set course for Deep Space Nine, and lay in at full impulse. Contact Saghi on the station and route the reply to my quarters"

"Aye, Captain" Azan looked at his twin and nodded.

"Set course for Deep Space Nine" they said at the same time. "All engines full reverse" and they had been going for several minutes before the helm officer realised he had been duped.

#

Once they had docked, a number of supplies were loaded aboard the Icheb whilst Naomi, Mezoti, Azan and Rebi went on the station for the rededication ceremony. Sitting in the front row, one place was left empty to symbolise Icheb's absence from the event. Deep Space Nine seemed different from the last time the group had been onboard. Colonel Kira was, by now, a General and had been given command of all of the Militia forces. Quark had retired to Risa after handing over the business to Jake Sisko and his nephew Nog. The ever dependable Odo still walked the promenade though, and Morn was still propping up the bar in his normal seat. After paying a courtesy visit to the station Commander, they re-boarded the Icheb and checked in on the ship before having a few drinks in a holographic simulation of Sandrine's. The following morning, and with a number of headaches all around, they went to the bridge for the departure. Whilst they had been docked, work crews quickly finished the Icheb's final fitting out. She had left spacedock with many of her compartments incomplete, and she would need them before going into the Delta Quadrant.

"All lines secured" said the Operations officer. "Airlocks have been cleared"

"Very well" Mezoti said.

"Release docking clamps" Naomi instructed. "Aft thrusters at one half. Port and starboard at station keeping" and very gently, Icheb eased back from Upper Pylon 2 and cleared the station.

"Undocking complete" helm reported. "We are clear and free to navigate"

"Secure the thrusters" Azan ordered.

"Not so loud" hissed Naomi quietly.

"Bring us about to 118 mark 25" Mezoti said. Icheb swung round to starboard and powered away from the station.

"Incoming message from Deep Space Nine" Rebi said as the console alerted him. "'Don't forget the milk'"

"Reply with 'Will one bottle be enough?'. That should take care of them" Naomi said. "Helm, access the Delta Quadrant maps and plot a course for the Tintara System"

"Course plotted"

"Engage at Warp 9" and the ship jumped to Warp towards the Delta Quadrant.

"Bringing Transwarp Drive online" Azan said. "Now available at your command"

"Helm, engage the transwarp drive, and continue in power until you get to 50% of total output" Naomi leaned back in her chair. "Alrighty then! Lets see how this baby can fly…"