TRTSS7: The Hidden Trek Voyage! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: SPOILER ALERT! This chapter begins the direct tie-in to the movie "Star Trek". Although the movie has been out for a while, this announcement is courtesy to those readers who have not seen the film. C&C are welcomed.
Part 35
2333 CE (Earth Era): Deep Space.
With the threat of the Nercomongers taken care of, thanks to two of Starfleet former commissioned officers Ranma Saotome and Usagi Tsukino-Saotome, the USS Kelvin was heading back to Earth. The United Federation of Planets were glad that the two were on hand, in spite of the fact that they had a lot to answer for, for actions ranging from violating involvement with Weylan-Yutani's Xenomorph to Project to breach of the Prime Directive involving "Avatars" and Saiyans to helping a wanted criminal that ended up supreme leader to a militaristic race that is a potential threat to the galaxy. Still, at least the Necromongers will no longer threaten the Federation's inner worlds any time soon…
"For now, you are our guests, Captains," said Starfleet's Captain Richard Pierre Robau (bald, swarthy, rugged), the commanding officer of the USS "Kelvin".
"Feh, I'm surprised that you haven't put us in the Brig, after what we've been up to for the past fifty years," Ranma said with a scoff.
"Oh, Ranma, behave," Usagi said, as she leaned on her husband. She then turns towards Robau.
"However, we do wonder about Starfleet's 'good will' in this matter."
"That has crossed my mind," Robau said. "However, I figure that these matters are best sorted behind closed doors. Now, if you can excuse me, I will leave you two to your quarters. If you need anything, my 'first officer', Commander George Kirk, will tend to your needs. Good day…"
Once Robau leaves the Saotomes' guest quarters, Ranma turns towards his wife.
"You think Setsuna pulled some strings?" Ranma asked, thinking that he and Usagi time in the Fugitive Retrieval Program, working as Federation Marshals, will soon be over regardless of the outcome of any impending hearing. After all, the Federation Marshal Service (FMS) wouldn't want to renegades on staff…
"Probably," Usagi said, as she looks into the mirror that was hanging on the wall. She still carried the marks—which consists of using a hot, eyeliner to darken the eyes—as her role as the Majestrix of the Necromongers. It was the equivalent of a Prime Minister or Chancellor. Technically, she was on an extended leave from her duties until further notice.
"Or probably because if something happens to ME, Riddick will come after those responsible…along with an army."
"I bet you would love that, huh?"
"No, not really," Usagi said, as she turns and saunters towards her husband. "The only one I want protecting ME is my Prince…"
As the couple embraced and kissed, they both fall on a nearby bed.
FWOOMP!
Giggling, Usagi began to remove her garments, while Ranma removed his.
"So, you're sure the Necromonger process cured you of the acidic blood?" Ranma said, as he began to strip down.
"Yep," Usagi said. "At least, that what Bulma said, when I relayed the information."
Usagi then places a hand on Ranma's.
"Ranma, I want to have a baby," Usagi said. "We've been fighting and traveling for too long…nearly thirty years as a married couple, in fact. I don't want to be too old and not be able to start a family."
"Usagi, I want that too," Ranma said. "But we don't know if we can have a child together…safely."
"Oh…"
"But…I'm willing to take that chance."
Usagi doesn't say anything, but she smiles nevertheless.
"I love you, Ranma," Usagi said, as she moves to kiss Ranma…
Suddenly, both Usagi and Ranma look up and towards a single direction within the bowels of the ship.
"Wait," Usagi said, as she tilts her head. "I'm…sensing a major disturbance…"
"I do, too," Ranma replied, as he extends his senses. "The fabric of the space-time continuum is being torn-
WOOOOBBBBLLE…
Usagi and Ranma shake their heads, as they attempt to get their bearings straight. Something did not feel right…
"Usagi, are you okay?" Ranma asked.
"I…I guess so-" Usagi said, as she looks around. "Wait, where's everyone, and why are we wearing these…uniforms-?"
THOOM!
"Red alert!" came an unfamiliar voice. "Red alert! Unidentified vessel has discharged weapons upon the Kelvin. Battle-stations-!"
The Kelvin takes on several hits before all is calm. Not that it matters, since Ranma and Usagi were presently distracted…
"Ranma," Usagi said, as she held her head. "The timeline…it's being shredded, re-woven…acts remembered and not…mashing-!"
"Arrgh!" Ranma said, as his mind begins to recall events. He remembers the USS "Kelvin", which was ordered to pick him and Usagi up from the edge of known space. Trip…turns out to be uneventful, save for their first attempt at being parents, which, unfortunately, leads to a miscarriage…
"TWO timelines!" Ranma yells, as he begins to get control of himself using meditative techniques to clear his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Usagi begins to scream. As a child of Order, her mind had to be geared towards a clockwork Universe. Because of the conflict of having two sets of memories, her mind was crashing to a halt.
"Usagi!" Ranma said, as he held Usagi's head with his fingers. "Focus on my voice…"
From the whirlwind that was her mind, Usagi hears Ranma's voice, and latches onto it…
"R-Ranma?" Usagi said through bleary eyes.
"It's me, babe," Ranma said. "Just breathe…"
Usagi nods her head, as she begins to breathe…
"Feeling better?" Ranma said.
"Sort…of," Usagi said. "It's so confusing…"
"Captain Saotome and Captain Tsukino, please report to the Bridge," said Robau over the ship-wide intercom.
"Hmmm?" Ranma and Usagi said, as they turn to look at each other…
Upon arriving to the Bridge, Ranma and Usagi sees what was the trouble.
"My god," Usagi said. "What the heck is THAT?"
Ranma squints his eyes. The large ship in front of the Kelvin appeared to be a multi-armed, mechanical squid with elements of xenomorphic qualities…
Robau turns towards Ranma and Usagi.
"Are you familiar with this ship's design?" Robau asked hopefully.
Usagi and Ranma both glances at the ship…
"Beats me," Ranma said.
"Same here," Usagi said.
"I was a afraid of this," Robau said grimly. "My presence was requested."
"To do what?" Ranma asked.
"To negotiate a…surrender," said a sandy blond man.
"And you are…?" Ranma asked.
"Commander George Kirk, sir," George said. "First Officer."
"Ah."
"Captains, considering your expertise in the…strange and unknown, I would like to formerly request you assistance," Robau said. "I can authorize a reinstatement to the pay-grade of 'Lt. Commander', with the assignment of weapons and helm."
"Sir?" said the helm officer.
Robau turns towards his usual helm officer.
"This decision of mine should not be seen as a commentary on your performance," Robau said. He then turns towards Ranma and Usagi.
"While on this escort assignment, I took a look at your records. YOU two are war heroes."
"'War heroes'?" Kirk asked.
"Yes. Captain Saotome in particular delivered a crushing defeat to the Romulans, during the 'Battle of Charon' with tactics that are still being taught at the (Starfleet) Academy."
Kirk widens his eyes.
"YOU are THAT Ranma Saotome?" Kirk exclaimed. "Of the NX-01 'Enterprise'?"
"Well, yeah, but it was a group effort," Ranma said. "Admiral Archer was the one who carried out the plan successfully."
"I've asked you both here because the person that made the request was a Romulan…so he claims," Robau said.
"'Romulan'?" Usagi asked. "How could they have built a ship of that type and size, without anyone noticing?"
"Doesn't matter," Ranma said, as he cracks his knuckles. "If the bad guys are Romulans, they will be dealt with…"
Usagi looks at her husband with worry. If there was one species that Ranma loathed with a passion, it's the Romulans…but for a good reason. It was because of Ranma's victory over the Romulans at Charon that led the Tal Shiar—a Romulan intelligence agency—to get revenge on her husband, by assassinating his first family. He was able to pay back the man most directly responsible for authorizing the assassination, a member of the Vulcan High Council, but he has yet to forgive the Romulans for what had happened to his first wife and their children.
"Ranma?" Usagi said.
Ranma turns towards Usagi.
"Don't worry, I'll be professional."
Usagi says nothing, but she smiles while placing a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder for comfort…
"Good," Robau said, as he straightens his tunic. "Now, we have to figure out who should be at what station-"
"Leave that to us," Usagi said. She then turns towards Ranma.
"Rock, Paper and Scissors?"
"I beg your pardon?" Robau said.
Ranma turns Robau.
"We've done so many things that we can do…just about everything," Ranma said. "Doing 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' makes things easy to choose roles."
"…"
"How…interesting," Kirk interjects.
"Well, while you and Captain Tsukino choose your roles, here's what we should do," Robau began to say…
Twenty minutes later, Kirk was in the center seat, with Usagi was at Helm while Ranma was sitting at Weapons.
"Status, Mister Saotome," Kirk said.
"The weapon system that this vessel uses is a modular warhead," Ranma said, as she performs his analysis. "Essentially, the warheads literally 'pop' the fields at the point of impact, while the follow-through scrapes the hull."
"Can we survive another attack?"
"With these systems? Not likely. However, that doesn't mean we can't improvise-"
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!
The data sensor of Captain Robau's life signs, displayed on the main-screen, displays a flat-line indicator.
"No," Usagi said.
"I told him it was a bad idea!" Ranma said, as he immediately began charging the weapons battery.
"He gave us a chance to repair the ship," Kirk said. "Let's hope the modifications you guys suggested pains out…"
The Romulan ship began to discharge a battery of missiles…
"Evasive!" Kirk said, as he turns towards Usagi.
"Attack Pattern Sigma-6," Usagi said, as her hands danced upon the helm control panel. "Initiated."
BLIP!
"Mister Saotome-!"
"Targeting missiles," Ranma said, as he hit his marks.
Meanwhile, inside the mysterious ship, the ship's captain gawks at how the Federation ship was successfully dodging the attack. The captain, like the rest of the crew of the Romulan mining ship, "The Nerada", had shaved and tattooed their heads in honor of those Romulans who lost their lives…nearly 159 years into the future….
"HOW is THAT ship even functioning?" demanded the ship's captain.
"I do not know, Captain Nero," said the first officer, as he checked his sensors. "Shall utilize other measures?"
"Certainly. Destroy THAT ship!" Nero yells. "I will not loose to this ship, like I lost to the 'Enterprise-E'!"
"Very well," the first officer said, as he directs his men to begin to initiate other alternatives…
"Captain," Ranma said, as he double-checked his sensors. "The 'arms' of the Romulan ship is moving-!"
The tentacles lash out, and graze the Kelvin.
CHOOM!
"Ms. Saotome-" Kirk said.
"Already compensating," Usagi said, as she dodged and weaves through the latest attack, while Ranma continues to target the missile attack. "Sir, that last attack did a number on our thrusters. If we are to initiate our final attack, I recommend we do so now."
"Understood," Kirk said. "Get us into the maul of the ship."
"Yes, captain," Usagi said, as she begins her attack trajectory…
"Mister Saotome, prepare to launch one of our cores," Kirk said. "I wish we could use all of them to be sure…"
"We deal with the hand that is dealt to us," Ranma said, as he prepares to jettison one of the warp cores.
CHIRP!
"Ready."
"Let's hope that this is enough," Kirk said.
Taking on additional damage, Usagi maneuvered the Kelvin as close to the alien ship as possible.
On board the Nerada, Nero frowns.
"What are they doing-?" Nero said, as he sees the Kelvin suddenly bank left, while jettison-
"Sir, the jettison their warp core-" the first officer said, just as Ranma detonates the core with a photon torpedo.
BOOOM!
The force of the explosion tears through the Nerada, just as the Kelvin makes its escape…
"We did it," Kirk said.
Ranma looks at the sensors. He hoped that the resulting damage to the ship was enough to at least cripple the ship for a long, long time…
CHIRP!
"Captain Kirk?" said a voice over the ship's intercom system.
George Kirk looks around before tapping the intercom button on the armrest of his center seat.
"Yes?" Kirk asked.
"Congratulations…you have a son."
"Oh…OH!" Kirk said with happiness. "Um…"
"We got everything under control, sir," Usagi said.
"Thanks," Kirk said, as he immediately gets up. "You have the conn."
And with that, Kirk leaves the Bridge.
"Well, I wonder if this incident will help us at our eventual hearing," Usagi said, as she leans back.
"One can only hope," Ranma said, as he wonders if the crew of the Romulan ship had survived the attack, considering the fact that the large ship was a virtual space fortress with advance armament, armor and weaponry.
"One can only hope…"
Tbc.
Next Time: We fast forward in time, where Ranma and Usagi meet a hotheaded Starfleet cadet named "James T. Kirk"…just in time for the return of Captain Nero and the crew of the Nerada, as they initiate their attack on the planet Vulcan! See you then!