STAR TREK – THE NEXT GENERATION
by Soledad
EP#5: THE CRYSTAL SKULL
Disclaimer: All Star Trek belongs to Gene Roddenberry and Viacom or whoever owns the rights at this moment. I don't make any profit out of this – I wish I would, but I don't, so suing me would be pointless. This particular story is based on the similarly-titled story idea of Patrick Barry.
The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition are genuine items. I took them from the actual episodes and from the DS9 relaunch book "The Worlds of DS9 – Ferenginar", respectively. Details about the battle bridge are taken from "The Next Generation Technical Manual".
Timeframe: early season 5, in the year 2368, after the episode "Darmok" but before "Ensign Ro".
Summary: The Enterprise is bringing surprises to an archaeological expedition lead by an old friend of Captain Picard's on Bolaxnu 7. Since the Ferengi are interested in the planet, too, things take unexpected turns. And then Riker begins to change…
CHAPTER 09 – DIVIDED LOYALTIES, Part 2
Picard, Data and Dr Boudreau rode the main escalators from Solna Centre to T-centralen, relying on her superior knowledge of the city's layout and possible shortcuts. To their great relief, they found the upper dispatch centre empty.
"One more transfer," Dr Boudreau said, "And the Enterprise can beam us up – assuming your Mr Crusher manages to outsmart Commander Riker. He sounded awfully young."
"He is; but he's also very resourceful," Picard replied. "And he has help."
"Can you set the Faran transporter to delayed activation, Doctor?" Data asked. "Perhaps it would be the best if I operated it. I can join you on the platform within 2.6 seconds."
"That won't be necessary," she replied. "The system works automatically in both directions. We'll stand together on that slab of metal there, and moments later we'll be on the surface. Come!"
They joined her on the wide metal slab… platform… whatever and waited. For a moment nothing happened. Then, without warning, Picard felt slight disorientation, and in the next moment he found himself on the planet surface, standing between the two enormous monoliths, vaguely nauseous from the unused method of transportation and from the heat of the Bolaxnu sun that made the dry air sizzle around them.
Unfortunately, they weren't alone. A group of Ferengi, wearing black leather with a white trim and with the infamous neural whips hanging from their belts were surrounding them, aiming oversized disruptor pistols right at their heads.
They were larger and almost twice as board as any Ferengi Picard had seen previously, with only one big forehead bulb instead of two, bat-like ears and sharp canines large enough that the points protruded even with their mouths closed. A bit further away stood the one that had to be their leader, based on his similarly designed but much richer outfit.
He looked a lot like DaiMon Zaeb, actually, save for his different colouring, so Picard assumed that he, too, had to be a late progeny of the Faran people. Whether that was good for them or not remained to be seen.
"Captain Picard, I presume," he said in a deep, mellow voice. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. I am Luug, executive officer of the Izuru and a distant cousin of DaiMon Zaeb, who is eager to meet you at last. Your Commander Riker has been most unreasonable; we hope that your presence on the Izuru will make him reconsider his position."
"I doubt it," Picard replied dryly. "But if you let me speak to him I'll try to calm him down."
Luug tilted his large head to the side in mocking pretense of thinking about the human's suggestion.
"No, I don't believe I will. There's a better method to persuade people; I think you hew-mans call it 'show, not tell'. A remarkable concept," he touched a tiny metallic sphere embedded in his earlobe – it looked like an ornament but was most likely some kind of communications device. "Live feed established, DaiMon," he said. "Ready to connect to the Federation vessel."
He waited for a moment, clearly listening to a message from the Izuru, and then turned back to Picard with a predatory grin.
"Your people can see you, Captain. They know that you'll be taken to the Izuru and transported to the rim of the Bolaxnu system, where they can have you back – assuming they leave this area of space without delay and don't come back."
"Commander Riker won't give in to your ridiculous demands," Picard said.
Luug raised a bushy eyebrow. "You should pray to your gods that he would, hew-man. The alternative wouldn't be pleasant for you… for either of you," he touched the device in his ear again. "Luug to Izuru. You can beam up the hew-man and the android now."
He was still speaking when Picard felt the gentle buzz of a transporter beam catching him. In the next moment he rematerialized – but not on the Ferengi ship. He was standing in a Starfleet-issue transporter room, and behind the operator's console Beverly and Wesley were staring at him anxiously.
"We did it, Mom!" the young man crowed triumphantly and pumped his fist in the air. "We actually did it!"
"Yes, but we don't have time to waste," his mother answered. Then she turned to Picard. "Jean-Luc, you must go to the bridge right away. Deanna is trying to keep Will under control, but I don't know how long she can keep doing so."
Picard nodded. "I see. Mr Crusher, can you transport me and Commander Data directly to the bridge from here?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Make it so, then. Beverly, take Dr Boudreau to sickbay and check her heart. She was hit by a phaser set to heavy stun. I gave her a heavy dosis of Tri-Ox to get her out of there in the first place, but I don't know what it did to her system."
"Of course, Jean-Luc," Beverly smiled at the older woman. "Come with me, please."
The two of them headed towards the turbolift. Picard could hear Beverly contact sickbay on her way out, asking Nurse Ogawa to wait for them in the examination room.
He and Data returned to the transporter platforms. Wesley needed a moment to adjust the settings – site-to-site transport within a starship still wasn't entirely without risk – and then looked at them expectantly.
"Ready when you are, Captain."
"Energizing," Picard ordered, and seconds later the transporter beam engulfed him and Data and carried them off of Transporter Room Four.
Rematerializing in the centre of the main bridge, they were greeted by a clearly relieved Deanna Troi.
"It's good to have you back, Captain," she said. „I was getting desperate here on my own. I'm not an officer with command training, and neither is Geordi."
"It's good to be back," Picard sat down in the command chair. "Report," he then ordered in the clipped tone he always used in the middle of a crisis.
That in itself told the bridge crew how serious the situation was; not that they wouldn't have a clue already.
"Commander Riker seems to be under the influence of an alien artefact, possibly originating from Bolaxnu 7," Troi told him, carefully avoiding to name the artefact for what it was. "He appears to be determined to destroy the underground city, just to prevent it from falling into Ferengi hands. He also voiced the opinion that you, Dr Boudreau and Data have been cloned by the Ferengi before they killed you, and smuggled on board to take over the Enterprise for them."
"Curious," Data commented. "The commander knows that I have no organic components and thus cannot be cloned."
"Well, yes, he isn't exactly at his best right now," Troi confessed.
"Where is he now?" Picard asked.
"Gone to the battle bridge," LaForge replied. "With Worf."
"Which is not good," Troi supplied. "The situation between the Enterprise and the Ferengi vessel has been heating up ever since the three of you went down to the planet; the commander had several… arguments with DaiMon Zaeb, giving each other mutual ultimatums; the talks didn't lead anywhere."
"And Lieutenant Worf is still supporting him?" Picard frowned.
"He's a Klingon," Troi reminded him with a shrug. "They live for battle. I haven't felt such excitement from Worf since the Klingon civil war. Haven't felt him to be so… so alive."
"While that's certainly nice for Mr Worf, I'm afraid we still can't allow Commander Riker to start a war with the Ferengi," Picard said dryly and looked at the tactical officer on duty. "Ensign Baila, put together a security detail. Choose people who are experienced in hand-to-hand combat and strong enough to face a Klingon if they have to. We must prevent Commander Riker to take over the ship from the battle bridge – by any means necessary."
"That might not be as easy as you think, sir," Chief Gillespie said unhappily, consulting his readouts. "It seems that the commander and Worf have cut off all power to the turbolift."
"Why would they do that?" Ensign Tess Allenby asked in confusion. "That way they'd be essentially stranding themselves on the battle bridge."
"Yeah; and keeping everyone else out," LaForge said grimly.
Picard nodded. "My instinct tells me that Commander Riker is going to separate the saucer section from the rest of the ship before setting off on his chose path of battle and destruction. Mr Data, can we cut him off the main computer, so that they won't be able to perform a saucer separation?"
"Negative, sir," the android leaned over Ensign Kenny Lin's shoulder to check the readouts of the operations station. "In fact, Commander Riker has already rerouted the command functions to the battle bridge. Or rather Worf, I believe; he has more experience with emergency overrides."
"That's bad," Picard murmured. "We must get to them before they'd initiate saucer separation," he stepped up to the communications station. "Picard to Transporter Room Three."
"O'Brien here, Captain," the cheerful voice of the Irishman replied immediately.
"Mr O'Brien, can you beam me onto the battle bridge?" Picard asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot, sir," O'Brien said apologetically. "It seems somebody has erected a force field around the battle bridge. One that would repel all attempts to beam in."
"I see. Thank you, Mr O'Brien. Remain on standby, in case we can find a breach in that force field. We might need your skills yet."
"Aye, sir. O'Brien out."
"What now?" Troi asked in concern.
Picard shrugged. "I'll try to reason with Will."
"He won't listen to you," Troi warned him.
Picard nodded. "I know. But Worf might. And we'll win some time."
"Afraid not," sir," Chief Gillespie said. "They've already initiated the saucer separation protocols."
"Merde!" Picard muttered angrily. "Open a channel anyway, Chief Pendleton; perhaps it's not too late to stop them yet."
The battle bridge of the Enterprise was the separate command and control centre of the stardrive section, from which operations could be conducted when in separated flight mode. In other words, one could fly the ship from here when the saucer section had been removed for the safety of the crew.
While duplicating most of the functions op the main bridge, it concentrated on dedicated piloting, support and defensive stations. It also maintained an aft equipment bay housing computer optical subprocessors as well as power, environmental and optical data network trunk connects. Additional computer subprocessors were located in smaller port and starboard equipment bays as well as in the armoured forward bay enclosing the main viewer.
In emergency situations only the station for the ship's captain, the flight controller, the operations manager and the tactical officer had to be manned. Other dedicated battle bridge stations – like defence communications, technology assessment, defence systems engineering or engagement damage intelligence – were configured and occupied according to scenario requirement.
In any case, a minimum of four highly trained people was required to operate the battle bridge safely, and Worf was understandably worried that there were just the two of them.
"Commander, if you want me at the flight controls, we'll need another tactical officer in here," he emphasized. "And an operations manager. And at least one engineer, just in case any technical problem should emerge."
The thought of Riker flying the stardrive section didn't even occur. The commander managed to fly a shuttle on his own just fine. He knew – in theory – how the flight controls of a Galaxy-class starship worked, and he could orchestrate a saucer separation manoeuvre by giving the right orders at the right time. But allowing him to try his hands on said controls in an emergency situation would have been suicidal.
Flying a starship of this magnitude required more than just theoretical knowledge, and Worf was the one who had spent hours upon hours in the flight simulator with LaForge and Wesley Crusher to learn how to do it safely, not Riker. And even he couldn't come close to LaForge's skills. Or Wesley's for that matter. Some people were just gifted in that area.
"No," Riker said brusquely. "We'll have to make do between the two of us. The crew can't be trusted; you've seen on the bridge how they reacted. You're the only one of whom I know for certain that isn't a traitor. I need you, Lieutenant. Can I count on you?"
"Of course, sir," Worf's broad chest was swelling with pride. "What are your orders?"
"I want you to separate from the saucer section, open fire on the city and prepare to engage the Ferengi vessel," Riker summarized bluntly.
The Klingon looked at him a little doubtfully.
"Are you sure that we have to risk the saucer separation, Commander? It would be a risky manoeuvre to try with just the two of us."
Riker gave him a disapproving look. "You'd rather put the saucer section at risk, with all the civilians and the families on board, when we engage the Ferengi?"
"Of course not, sir," the Klingon replied indignantly. "But do you really want to go to battle with them without the knowledge and the support of Starfleet Command? I agree with you that they're vermin and deserve what they get; but is it necessary to endanger your own career over this… disagreement with them?"
Riker merely smiled at that, caressing his leather bag for a moment.
"Don't worry, Mr Worf. I've got my contacts among the brass. This is a day that will seal our destinies and will, no doubt, result in both of us receiving our own command."
"If you think so, sir," the Klingon muttered, still not entirely convinced.
"I know so," Riker tapped a control on the right hand panel of the command chair and spoke with a slightly raised voice as he made the official log entry.
"Acting Captain William T. Riker's log
Stardate: 45057.3
At this moment, I am transferring command to the battle bridge. Authorization: Riker Omega Three."
After rattling down his authorization code, he gestured to Worf. "Make the signal, Lieutenant"
Worf touched a control lightly, and the traditional budge call "Beat to Quarters" rang all over the ship, repeating over and over as the Klingon moved over to the flight control station.
"Preparing for battle configurations," he said crisply. "On your command, sir."
He made a mental note of the moves he would need to make in quick progression as soon as the separation sequence was initiated. The disengagement of the discus section, even if the ship was moving with the help of the manoeuvring thrusters only and the battle bridge was fully manned, could prove a risky manoeuvre; with only the two of them, it became a true challenge.
Fortunately, they had enough distance from the Ferengi ship so they could turn and face it while the saucer made away with the rest of the crew and the civilians they had evacuated from Bolaxnu 7. It was also fortunate that Worf was good at multitasking. He knew he would sorely need it in the next few minutes.
He activated the conn and scanned the panel. "Ferengi vessel is still keeping its distance, sir," he reported.
"Good," Riker said grimly. "You were already on board when the Enterprise encountered Q for the first time, weren't you, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir."
"Then you know what we're going to do now. I want a full spread of photon torpedoes aimed to detonate close enough to the Ferengi to blind their sensors at the moment we separate. Stand by to fire on my mark."
The Klingon nodded. "Understood, sir. It was a useful tactic then; it might work again."
"Let's hope so," Riker tapped his comm badge. "Commander LaForge, this is the acting captain. I assume you're in command of the main bridge at the moment, so listen to me carefully. We'll begin the countdown to separation now. At the same time we'll reduce power just enough to get the saucer section out ahead and clear of us. I suggest you go to full impulse and seek cover behind the planet while we engage the Ferengi."
He waited for a moment for LaForge to acknowledge his orders. Instead, the image of the Ferengi ship vanished from the main viewer and was replaced with that of Picard, who looked like somebody who'd had to dig himself out of a collapsed tunnel – which was what had actually happened.
"Commander… Will," he said, with just a hint of despair in his voice. "You don't have to endanger the crew with such a reckless action."
"Oh yes, I have," Riker answered grimly. "Especially if the Ferengi have already managed to get all you impostors aboard the Enterprise. I'll deal with them; then I'll turn back and deal with you. But I'm not risking the entire crew in battle. Mr Worf, cut of communications. We don't have time for this nonsense. Show me the enemy vessel."
The Klingon did as he was ordered, and the Ferengi ship reappeared on the main screen. Riker paused, watching it for a moment.
"Begin countdown," he then said, "and fire torpedoes. Mark."
Worf turned around his chair to Tactical to reach the weapons controls; his fingers flew over them.
"Photon torpedoes away," he reported, watching the readouts with narrowing eyes.
He was a highly skilled and experienced weapons officer, but the timing Riker required depended largely on the assumption that the Ferengi ship would continue orbiting the planet at the same speed as they were. If it was not – if it would suddenly increase its velocity to intercept them – then the torpedoes would very likely detonate behind it, losing the advantage the saucer section needed to get away.
Riker was still confident that it would work; just as it had worked at that first encounter with Q, during the Enterprise's maiden voyage to Farpoint Station. He was also counting on the greed of the Ferengi and their unwillingness to risk the skull.
"On the count," Worf growled. "Six-five-four-three-two-one – separation."
At the rear of the discus section, where it joined the swan neck of the secondary hull, a crack appeared. The massive retention assemblies unlocked and pulled back into their housings. Jets of vapour hissed into vacuum as connections were pulled free.
"Acting captain's log, supplemental. Moment of separation: Stardate 14057.3," Riker dictated into the communications panel, with one eye on the small security screen to watch the progress of the primary hull. "We are now free to face the Ferengi threat."
The great saucer angled up and away from the cobra-shaped stardrive section. As they couldn't have done anything to override the separation sequence, the only possible action for the crew on the main bridge was to move away and out of harm's way. As they cleared, the locking mechanisms completed their rotation and fully retreated into their housings with a thump that was unheard in space, of course, but was – Riker knew it from first-hand experience – felt in the entire primary hull.
In the next moment the saucer went to full impulse power, aiming for the protection of the planet between them and the Ferengi, and sending out a distress signal for the nearest Starfleet ships – and yet not making a run for Federation space, which surprised Worf a little.
"Separation is successful, sir," he repeated. "But the Enterprise is not leaving the system."
Riker waved impatiently. "Never mind. We'll deal with them later. Where are the Ferengi?"
Worf tapped his controls, and the viewscreen showed the gleaming horseshoe shape of the Izuru in its centre again. The multiple flashes of photon torpedo explosions were still glistening around it, reflected by the shields. Riker clenched his fist and hit his own knee in triumph, madness glittering in his eyes.
"Good timing, Mr Worf! All stop. Reverse course and take on stationary orbit above the underground city. Once in position, lock onto target and open fire."
"Aye, sir," the Klingon acknowledged.
The stardrive section of the Enterprise swung around to return to its previous position above Izul, coming to face their adversaries head on in the process. On the huge forward viewer Riker could see that the photon torpedoes apparently had very little effect on the Marauder. Despite several near-direct hits, its shields held. Accelerating to impulse speed, it drove towards the Enterprise, racing towards them on collision course.
Riker studied the viewscreen a moment longer, and then said, with a predatory grin. "Hold position. We'll destroy the city first. Then we'll deal with the Ferengi."
Worf mirrored his grin with a full-toothed one of his own which, frankly, was a disturbing sight. "Aye, sir. Photon torpedoes locked on target and ready."
But before Riker could have given the order to fire, suddenly the gleaming disk of the Enterprise's saucer section emerged from behind the planet and established stationary orbit between them and Bolaxnu 7, extending her shields to maximum to protect the city.
In the next moment Picard's voice came through the ship-to-ship communication channel. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that, Commander."
"That was unexpected," DaiMon Zaeb commented in surprise.
He and his executive officer had been following the events on the viewscreen of the bridge of the Izuru. Luug nodded in agreement.
"To say the least. But why would the hew-man risk their own safety for the city? What is Izul for him?"
Zaeb shrugged. "It's said that he's an amateur archaeologist; you know how sentimental hew-mans can get about old junk, regardless of its financial value… or the complete lack of it."
"Not all of them," Luug reminded him. "There was that female, what was her name again…"
"Vash," Zaeb supplied. "Buts he was an exception. Besides, Picard commands Starfleet's flagship; he must, at least, pretend to follow proper protocol. Especially with the blue bug on board. Diplomacy, pah!"
"Andorians are almost as bad as Vulcans," Luug agreed. "At least when the servitude to their government is concerned. Where is the profit in that?"
"Nowhere," Zaeb said. "Which is why we don't work for the government. Not for the current one anyway. They are a bunch of petty thieves; no lobes at all. Small wonder, seeing who's been in charge since our ancestors were driven out."
"You could afford your own ship without your government – if it weren't for your government," Luug quoted the 49th Rule, grinning.
Zaeb nodded. "Exactly. Fortunately for us, very few hew-mans have ever embraced the true spirit of this Rule; or else the competition were much worse. They can be remarkably ruthless if they put their minds to it."
"True," Luug agreed. "Well, what are we doing now?"
"Nothing," Zaeb replied with a shrug. We'll open a bottle of Eelwasser and let them fight out their differences. If Picard emerges victorious, which is statistically more likely, I'll declare my willingness to sit down with him and negotiate shared research rights on Izul."
"You would?" Luug asked in surprise.
"Of course," Zaeb said. "You do remember what the 76th Rule says, don't you?"
"Every once a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies," Luug prompted.
"Exactly," Zaeb grinned. "Besides, it's still better to come to an agreement with them than with that idiot government of the Alliance."
"But will he be willing to negotiate?" Luug voiced his doubts.
"Oh, he won't like it," Zaeb allowed. But he is a reasonable man as hew-mans go; and he has to play by the rules – the Federation rules. Rules that are made for fools, based on lofty ideals and high morale… as they understand it. We, on the other hand, know that morality is always defined by those in power."
"Rule Number 38," Luug murmured. "But what if Riker wins their petty little power struggle?"
Zaeb shrugged indifferently. "There'll still be time to destroy him… and hi ship."
"You've called in reinforcements?" Luug asked in surprise.
"No," Zaeb said. "They have, remember? And any Starfleet ship arriving hot-footed to the battle scene would come to the conclusion that they were the aggressors, as soon as they'd checked the log entries. In either case, we win."
~TBC~
