AN: This is a Zootopia AU that's entirely inspired by Star Trek. Having just finished watching the first six movies, I wondered what it would be like to have Judy aboard a starship like those in Star Trek. I was actually amazed to realize how close some characters where to the original cast of the show, though I did have to use some of my own characters to fill out some roles.
The song implied near the end is Faith of the Heart by Russel Watson, which was the theme for the TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.
Among The Stars
After years at the academy, it was finally here; the day that Judy Hopps would step onto the bridge of a starship as a commanding officer. She was proud that she was the top of her class, and was even offered the chance that everyone envied: to serve under the greatest captain in the fleet.
She had heard of his numerous exploits, the captain of the USS McCloud was easily the most famous character in the fleet this past century. The bunny couldn't help but skip happily as she made her way through the halls of the ship, eager to finally meet the mammal in-person.
As she stepped onto the bridge, Judy immediately noticed that the captain hadn't arrived yet, his chair being empty. This didn't deter her mood though, as most of the crew was there to greet her, all of which she had met at the welcoming party the night before.
Benjamin Clawhauser, the communications officer, waved to her as he snuck a donut into his mouth. The portly cheetah was always sneaking some treats whenever Judy found him.
Mandy Lauter, the science officer, gave the bunny a big smile as she was talking with another crewmember over the intercom. The sea otter always seemed to have a comment for anything.
Finnick, the helmsmammal, only gave a cursory glance to Judy as she took her seat next to him. She didn't mind the fennec's attitude, her other crewmates had said that he was always like that.
This left Judy as the navigator of the ship; she caressed the console in front of her with glee as she let it sink in.
As the doors to the bridge opened, Judy jumped out of her seat, eager to meet the captain.
"Captain Wilde on the bridge," the yeoman called out, as the fox walked in.
Wilde looked around at his crew and then focused his gaze on the bunny.
"So I hear we have a new navigator," he casually said as he walked over to Judy.
"Lieutenant Hopps, sir, reporting for duty," she replied, saluting him.
"At ease, Carrots," the captain said as he took his seat.
"Carrots?" the bunny mumbled under her breath as she sat back down.
"He likes giving nicknames," Finnick commented, having heard her confusion.
"Spots, are we clear to exit?" the captain called out.
"Command has given the go-ahead, Captain," Clawhauser confirmed.
"Good," Wilde replied before paging the intercom. "Drifner, how's the ship doing?"
"The engine's humming wonderfully, Captain. The sound is beautiful," a voice rang back.
Judy assumed this was Sean Drifner, the chief engineer, the one member Judy hadn't had the chance to meet. Mandy had mentioned that he had had repairs to do, during the party.
"We're going to be leaving dock in a moment, so be at the ready," Wilde finished his call before turning to Finnick. "Okay, Big Guy. Why don't you let Carrots take us out this time, I want to see how she flies."
The fennec snorted as he got out of his seat and let Judy take his place; he, in turn, took hers as navigator. Judy felt a little nervous at this point. She had expected to just point where to go, not actually fly them there. She took a short breather to calm herself; she had been the top of her class, she can take a starship out of port.
"Alright Carrots, take us out. One-quarter impulse power," the captain ordered.
Judy stopped what she was doing and turned to the fox.
"Sir, regulations state that starships in port should only run on thrusters," she pointed out.
The bridge went silent. Judy saw Clawhauser cover his mouth, appalled, just as she heard Finnick make an audible facepaw. The captain stared at the bunny for a moment before looking to Lauter.
"Miss Genius, is she correct on that?" He asked her in a rhetorical tone.
"Yes, she is correct," the otter confirmed.
"But would it also be correct to say that while the captain is on the bridge, his orders are to be carried out without question?" He asked.
"Yes," she replied, looking at Judy.
"Well then, Carrots," the fox said as he turned back to the bunny. "Take us out. One-quarter impulse power."
"Yes, sir," she replied as she turned back to the controls.
As the McCloud finally breached the doors of the space-dock, everyone let out a sigh of relief; they were finally free of their bounds by Starfleet, and ready to carry out their mission in the vast expanse of the universe.
"Nicely done, Carrots," Wilde commented as the bunny relinquished the controls back to Finnick.
"Well, not to brag, but I was the top of my class," Judy boasted.
"Oh, you were, were you? I was quite remarkable myself back at the academy, I even set a record on the Kobayashi Maru," the fox reminisced.
Judy smirked at this remark.
"Well sorry to burst you're bubble, Captain," she said. "But I believe I may have broken that record."
"Oh really now," he replied, intrigued by her claim.
"Yep. The instructors said that I was the only mammal to come the closest to actually beating the test," the bunny proudly stated, puffing her chest as she did so.
The fox gave Judy a frown in response.
"And here I thought you had managed to beat it," he voiced in disappointment.
"Sir, the test is unbeatable by default," Judy stated. "It's a no-win scenario."
"And yet I managed to beat it," Wilde responded.
Judy was taken aback by the claim. She knew that Captain Wilde had done many absurd things, but beating the Kobayashi Maru test? It was impossible.
"How did-"
"He cheated," Lauter cut in before Judy could finish her question.
"What?" The bunny voiced as she tried to process the information.
"The captain went and changed the program to make it beatable for his test," the otter elaborated.
"I'd like to think that I changed the rules of engagement," Wilde defended.
"You cheated!" Judy flared.
"I don't believe in a no-win scenario," the fox replied coolly.
"Do you cheat through everything?" the bunny accused.
"Not everything," Wilde admitted.
Judy turned away from the captain, fuming in her seat. She could hardly accept that an idol like him actually cheated on the most important test at the academy.
Feeling unease on the bridge, Captain Wilde called up Sean Drifner over the intercom.
"What can I do you for, Captain?" The engineer asked.
"I think it's time that we show our new members how we on the McCloud fly," Wilde expressed.
"The engines are running great, shields are ready to deploy at any moment and the weapons are at the ready, Captain. What more do you need?"
"Music, if you please."
"With pleasure captain, any requests?"
"Something thematic."
"Aye aye, Captain."
Judy's ears perked up as the bridge was filled with a song she had never heard before. It didn't have the familiarity of the popular music she listened to herself or even heard over the public comms.
"Our chief engineer is an avid fan of classical music," the captain explained over the song. "It helps to lighten the mood sometimes."
"Or to get us riled up," Finnick added, bobbing his head to the tune.
Judy smiled as she listened, the song felt heartwarming and uplifting. No matter what the future might hold, she knew she had to accept it. This would be her family and home for the next few years, might as well make the best of it.
