Star Trek Civil War:
Episode II
The Temporal Gateway
Chapter: Nine
Location: Sol System. Klingon Starship
Stardate 2293.284
(Present Day)
The fantastic story they had been told resonated threw them all, of course it was similar to what they had in mind before the Defiant followed the Excelsior back, the mission of Excelsior was to locate Enterprise and kill both Hikaru Sulu and Jon Walker, however if this was all the fault of Ryan's tampering with the time line they all knew what must be done.
"So how do you intend on repairing this mistake?"
"Simple Mia, I take the Defiant to a planet known only as 'Gateway'"
Scotty's eyes rolled up into the top of his head as he knew exactly what Ryan was talking about, although the rest of the group did not.
"Walker, what the hell is Gateway?"
"Classified here too I see Scotty? In 2267 the Federation Starship Enterprise followed what appeared to be ripples in space and time, they followed the ripples to it's location. On a planet was a large device capable of sending a person or persons back to any point in time on any planet. The only problem is Mia, the planet is deep in enemy space"
She shook her head as she looked at him.
"I won't authorise that, we don't have enough ships for one thing. I think I know what planet you're talking about… do you realise that planet is heavily fortified, a massive research station is in orbit of that planet, no ship can get close enough to beam down before they intercept, I know, the Romulans once tried"
"I don't need one of your ships, Defiant is all I need"
With a nod he to her he tapped the communicator on his collar and spoke clearly.
"Ryan to Defiant, Report"
"Colonel, thank god, we got Starfleet Security beating down the doors to get aboard… I've had to make some excuse about the transporters off line"
"Juliana, Calm down… set course for the far side of the moon, I'll meet you there. I'm aboard a cloaked Klingon vessel"
"A What?"
"Barrett… has anyone left the Defiant?"
"We're down to fifteen crew, I got back just in time"
"Damn it"
Location: Sol System.
Stardate 2293.284
Starship: USS Defiant NX-2954
(Present Day)
With few of the Defiant crew still on board it was just a young crewmember at the helm as the orders came threw to depart, screams from the dock master ordered Defiant to hold position as Commander Barrett ignored the calls, swiftly the Defiant slipped around the moon and found the Klingon vessel.
"Got you Ryan, beaming you on-board"
"Thanks Barrett… Three to beam directly to the bridge"
"Ryan three?"
"My self and two of the resistance… you'll know them when you see them"
Slowly three forms materialised on the bridge as Barrett looked in shock.
"Ryan that's…"
"Yup!"
"And You're…"
"Yup! Guys take a seat, and don't touch anything. Order the Klingon ship to stay in formation and set course for the following coordinates"
The two resistance fighters sat behind the command chair as Barrett slipped back into the helm and Defiant made a fast warp out of the Sol System, it didn't take long before the two ships where quickly pursued by Federation Starships.
"Ryan, two ships on our tail, the Constitution and Arizona"
"Alright, raise the cloak… tap into the Arizona's sensors and relay sensor ghosts all over the system… they won't know what hit them"
Mia stood and walked towards him, shocked at what he had just said.
"Cloak?"
"A gift from some friends. Mia you need to start trusting me… I know it's difficult. But trust me, I'm not he person you think I am"
Four Hours Later…
Mia, Scotty, Barrett and Walker sat in the mess hall enjoying a cup of coffee and discussing the next move against the Federation as a call came threw over the intercom, following the directions of the bridge, Ryan activated the small veiwscreen on the rear wall. Slowly the Image of the Federation President appeared.
"Great, what does this asshole want now?"
Mia said quickly.
"Attention please. A short time ago I signed a warrant for the arrest of Captain Ryan Walker and his crew… as four hours ago the crew are responsible for the theft of Federation property, assault on Starfleet personnel and disobeying direct orders from superior officers.
This has come as a shock to all of us as Colonel Walker and his crew where once considered Heroes of the Federation… now it with a heavy heart I order their arrest. Considered armed and extremely dangerous any Federation personnel who encounter them or their ship should contact Starfleet command immediately. Do not, repeat do NOT approach and attempt to detain. For further information I hand you over to Fleet Admiral Jonathon Walker… Admiral?"
Slamming his hands on the desk Ryan looked up and yelled 'viewer off' as the screen fell blank they looked at him awaiting his next move.
"Well, that's that I guess. Everyone knows about us now"
Slowly he tapped the communicator on his collar and spoke.
"Bridge, set course for Gateway… maximum…"
"Walker, that's Nuts… Every Starfleet vessel will now be looking for you… you had to go an punch the Admiral"
"Mia, had to do it, he pissed me off, besides… what the worst that can happen?"
Six Weeks Later…
Personal Log, USS Defiant… No Stardate…
For about six weeks we've been in this timeline, the Federation is a bitter dark and twisted version of it's self lead by a mad man and a psychotic maniac hell bent on galactic domination. Since we liberated the Defiant from Earth orbit we've been put on the most wanted list. However the most troubling part is that the president has begun re-organising the Federation into some form of Empire with himself at the head… something I believed he wanted to do from day one.
However I have allied the Defiant and it's crew with the growing separatist movement lead by former Enterprise Engineer Montgomery Scott, Klingon General Kor and a person friend of mine Mia Carpenter. With the help of the Separatist fleet we've enjoyed some success in moving Starfleet vessels to where we need them… all that follows next is a straight run threw heavily occupied enemy space to planet Gateway… What happens next is in the hands of the gods"
After recording his log entry Ryan sat back on his bunk and relaxed, he knew the next morning would either bring them life or death, they could either reset the timeline or die trying. As he lay back on his bunk he closed his eyes and began to fall asleep as the door chimed, quickly he sat up and bumped his head on the vacant top bunk and swore out loud as he rubbed his head and called for who ever was out side to enter.
His cabin door slide open as his first officer stood in the doorway.
"May I come in?"
"You've never asked before, you've always just barged in"
"This is different, I have a problem"
"As do we all… Come in, Coffee?"
Slowly she entered and sat on the bottom bunk next to him as she shook her head as he reached for the pot of coffee in the dispenser next to him, slowly he poured out himself a cup and took a sip as she spoke.
"I haven't felt so good in the last few days, so I popped into sickbay… Paul ran some tests"
"Juliana are you okay?"
"No… far from it. I'm pregnant"
Ryan almost choked on his coffee as he took a sip, shocked by what he had just been told he looked at her as she sat with her face in her hands.
"What am I going to do? My husband will know…"
"I assume it's not his… from your reaction I mean"
"No… You're going to laugh real hard when you hear this"
Nodding softly he placed his hand on her shoulder and pulled her too him as she spoke softly.
"Jim Kirk… Right?"
"Yeah… Ryan, you owe me, Right?"
"My life yes"
His mind ran back to the time she saved his life five months ago on an away mission… now it was time to collect the debt.
"Tell no one, please…"
"I give you my word. For what it's worth… Congratulations"
"Thanks. How are you holding up? With having her onboard I mean"
Slowly he placed his cup on the floor and looked into her eyes.
"Tough… real tough, you know she hates me, Kor wants to kill me. The only person around here talking to me is Scotty, aside from the crew I mean"
"I got the same feeling, you'd better watch your back around here… I hear that Kor has a dagger with your name on it…"
Slowly she stood and made her way towards the door.
"…literally. Thanks Ryan, have a good night"
"You too, don't worry… I'll keep it sealed…"
As she left his cabin he turned off the light and lay back in his bunk as he continued.
"… Pity you didn't"
Slowly Barrett walked back too her quarters, the ship seemed different bigger, quieter then what she was used too, with being down too a crew of just fifteen they could barely manage to operate the vessel safely, however the only good news was the old engineer Mister Scott had decided to stay onboard as ship's engineer, although most of his engineering knowledge was 30 years out of date, he was of major help in keeping the vessel operating safely.
As she turned the last corner she came face to face with the one person she was not expecting.
"Commander… I've been looking for you"
"Really? well you've found me"
"You don't like me do you Barrett?"
"I guess it would be fare too say I like the Mia the I know. You're just a pain in the ass"
"With no due respect… Barrett, I didn't ask to be here. But your… Colonel Walker insisted that I stay"
Slowly Barrett stepped closer to the echo of Ryan's partner and laughed with disgust.
"You can leave at any time miss, as a matter of fact we'll pass by a class M planet soon… or I can push you out of an airlock, your choice. Listen to me, Walker has given everything to this cause. We left almost twenty crewmembers back on earth… they're probably dead by now. Walker knows that, yet he's still carrying on"
"I didn't know that. About the crew I mean"
"Do you want to know something even darker?"
"Why not"
"He also knows how to fix the timeline, but to do it… he'll have to do something that will haunt him for the rest of his life. listen, I've only been assigned to Defiant for six months, but I know him… he puts out a tough exterior, but inside he's as fragile as anyone… maybe more so. Talk too him Mia, you might like what he has too say"
Quickly Mia ran her fingers threw her short hair as she replied.
"I don't know Commander, I swore I would kill him if I ever got this close"
"He is not THAT guy. you may not know this, but he loves you. I've just spoken too him… before I you. It's killing him that your on board and you won't even let him close with out your Klingon bodyguard. You know he's even started taking stimulants? he's exhausted, short tempered and loosing his mind, You're the only person alive he will listen too. Help me Mia, please"
Softly she nodded, yet in the back of her eyes was still the hatred for Walker, Barrett and this ship, the ship that destroyed her home world and her father.
Once more his sleep was broken by the sound of the door chime, he was almost at the point of punching who ever was on the other side of the door he sat up and laughed slightly as reached for the small hypo-spray on his side desk and injected himself with another dose of stimulants, rubbing his wrist he stood up and walked to the door.
A huge smile rang over his face as he stepped back to allow his visitor entrance to his cabin.
"Mia… glad you stopped by"
"We need to talk Colonel"
"Call me Ryan… you always do"
"No, Colonel is fine… Your first officer is a most persistent woman"
"So I've been told, I want to apologise for anything I have done in the past… Being the 'go to guy' for Sulu and his fleet is bad enough, but having you hate me for something I did not do kills me Mia. You know I love you, always will. even if you can't even stand to be on the same ship as me… I love you"
Tears welled in her eyes as she stood and listened to the one of most hated men in the galaxy, slowly he reached out to brush her hair from her face as she jumped back and raised her hands.
"Don't touch me… I swear I'll kill you!"
"Mia please… hear me out. You know I can prove everything I say, give me a chance?"
Softly she nodded as she sat on the corner of his bunk while he sat in a chair facing her and began to tell her everything that had happened in the last six months upto the discovery that the timeline had been altered.
