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.
Part 49
Meanwhile…
Ranma paces back and forth on the Bridge of the USS "Aventine". He then turns towards the helm officer.
"Lieutenant, what is our ETA?" Ranma asked.
"Fifteen minutes, sir," said the Flight Control Officer (or CONN).
"Aw, damn it!"
"Ranma, we're going to get there soon enough," Dax said, as she places a hand Ranma's shoulders. "And Usagi IS an experienced starship captain. Have faith in her abilities in dealing with this latest threat."
"I know, I know, but after what happened to our allies, the Klingons-"
"Ranma, listen to me," Dax said, as she looks directly in Ranma's eyes. "You have to have faith in Usagi, okay?"
"I…I don't want to lose Usagi like I lost KATHY."
Dax nods her head in reply. During the last Borg invasion, Admiral Katherine Janeway sacrificed her life to put an end of the Borg threat—lead by the renegade Vulcan scientist T'Uerell—with the help of a long-lost Starfleet officer, Captain Erika Hernandez of the NX-02 "Columbia". Because of Janeway's sacrifice, Ranma's daughter, Hoshiko Saotome, also known as Borg unimatrix drone Six-of-Nine, was successful in steering the Borg towards a more benevolent existence as the Borg Queen 2.0 (with Seven-of-Nine as its ambassador)…
"And I don't want to lose Usagi PERIOD," Dax replied. "We dated for a long time, remember?"
Ranma nods his head.
"Now, Admiral, shall I prepare the ship for battle?" Dax said.
"Of course, Captain," Ranma said, as he straightens himself out. "Let's just hope that it's the OTHER guy who treads lightly."
"Hear, hear."
Meanwhile…
"Fire quantum torpedoes!" Usagi called. "Fire phasers, maxiumum yield."
CHOOM!
FWOOSH!
The exchange of firepower was brutal, as the Enterprise-E and the Nerada pounded each other. The Enterprise-E's ablative armor protected it, while the Nerada's self-repairing systems protected it as well.
Meanwhile, aboard the Nerada, Nero growls.
"Why are we not getting anywhere with THAT ship?" Nero yelled.
"Sir, considering the fact that the Federation has had continuous engagement with the Borg, it is not surprising that the Enterprise-E has adequate defenses," Ayel replied.
"Then we will have to get up close then," Nero said. "I'm NOT going to allow the death of my wife to go unpunished!"
"Aye, sir," Ayel said. "Thanks to these new additions, when we got an upgrade at 'The Vault', we are much more…limber."
"Good. Let's take that ship DOWN. If nothing else, we can force the Enterprise-E to move out of the way, so we can get to Spock."
With that, the Nerada begins to move forward…
"Captain, the Nerada is moving at us, ramming speed!" Choudhury said.
"They're playing chicken!" Faur yells.
"No, not quite," Usagi said, as she interlaced her hands.
"Captain?"
"Think of the story of 'The Lady or the Tiger'."
"Hmmm," Data said. "Of course. Presented with an unknown, either choice could be bad."
"Exactly. If we go head-to-head, we will be able to give Ambassador Spock a chance to deploy the red matter in Hobus, the Black Sun. However, the Enterprise-E will be crippled in the melee. We move out of the way to get a breather, the Jellyfish gets 'it', and we lose a chance to shut down the Black Sun."
Pause.
"Commander Data," Usagi said, as she stands up. "Come with me. Commander Kadohata, maintain station until Commander Data returns."
"Yes, ma'am," Kadohata replied.
SHOOP!
"Data, we're going for option 'C'," Usagi said. "But I need the Enterprise-E to get in close."
"What is option 'C', ma'am?" Data asked, as he and Usagi walk down to the corridor towards the shuttle bay.
"It's…a trick that I inadvertently picked up during my stay on Jurai a long time ago. But, I want you to get in close. Meanwhile, while the Nerada is focused on the Enterprise-E, I will take a shuttle into the maw of the Nerada. Whatever happens, Nero is my responsibility."
"Very well, Captain," said Data, as he stops at the elevator that would lead to the shuttle bay.
"Once I initiate my action, and you'll see what I have done, get the Enterprise-E out of the area."
"And the Jellyfish?"
"I'll inform the ambassador of my plan as well, when the time is right."
"Very well."
"And Commander? You're Captain of the Enterprise-E now."
And with that, Usagi was gone, leaving a perplexed Data behind.
As the Usagi's special shuttle leaves the ship, Usagi sent a telepathic message to Spock, informing him of the plan.
"{Are you sure you want to do this, Usako}?" Spock thought, as he prepares to deliver the red-matter into the Black Sun.
"{No choice}," Usagi thought. "{I don't want the Enterprise-E or the Jellyfish destroyed while solving our crisis. Just concentrate on your end}."
"{Understood. And Usako? Good luck}."
"You, too," Usagi said quietly, before she pilots her shuttle into the maw of the Nerada…
"Captain, there is a lone shuttle on approach," Ayel says, as he turns towards Nero.
"Really?" Nero said incredulously. "Destroy it-"
"I'm also getting a hail from it."
"On screen."
BLIP!
"Nero…Oren, I'm giving you one last chance to back down," Usagi said. "Otherwise, I will have to unleash something on you."
"Don't make laugh! And I won't be denied my revenge."
"How disappointing," Usagi said. "Very well…I have it your way."
BLIP!
"Do you detect any bombs on that shuttle?" Nero asked.
"No, but I am detecting a powerful energy signature," Ayel said, before something happens.
FWOOOMP!
Within the mouth of the Nerada, a white, crystalline ship spreads out pummel it with its pylons.
CROOMM-!
"What in the-?" Nero said. He then turns towards Ayel.
"Can we disengage?"
"Negative!" Ayel said. "Whatever THAT is, its wedged into us!"
Meanwhile, Spock deploys the red matter.
"Discharging weapon…now," Spock replied, as he launched the canister.
POOMPH!
The tiny canister spins into space, as it falls away from the Jellyfish.
TING.
WHOOOSH!
An explosive force ensues, as a spatial vortex begins to open up. The stars energy nearby fuels the vortex, as it quickly evolves into a wormhole.
Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise-E…
"My god," said the tactical officer. "What kind of weapon is that?"
"It's not intended to be a weapon, but the effects are the same," Data said. "Begin to move out."
"Yes, sir," Faur said, as she begins to change course, only to realize that the gravity well that the wormhole was generating was very powerful.
"Sir, I think we are in trouble!"
"Got to maximum thrust," Data said. "Full warp, if necessary."
"Aye, sir…"
Meanwhile, the Nerada, already affected by the attack on his ship, was being pulled into maw of the wormhole.
"We can't…break free!" Ayel yelled.
"Damn you-!"
As the Nerada enters the wormhole, the crystalline ship contracts a bit, and shoots off from the Nerada. However, it, like the Enterprise-E and the Jellyfish, were now caught in the wormhole's gravity well.
Within the crystalline craft, the holographic image of Usagi stood motionless, as she directs her transformed body.
"Spock, I can only save you or the Enterprise-E, before I go under!" Usagi said.
"Then choose the Enterprise-E," Spock said. "That is your first duty…and I already had a good life."
"Okay, then, I need to do one more thing…"
On the USS Aventine, Usagi's ghostly form appears on the Bridge.
"Usagi?" Ranam exclaimed, as he and Dax stood up.
"Usagi, what's going on-?" Dax said.
"I don't have time," Usagi said. "Ranma, I just wanted to say that I…I shared a good life with you, and, if the Great Maker permits it, I hope to see you again."
"What are you trying to say-?"
Usagi kissed Ranma on the mouth, as best she could.
Usagi turns to Dax.
"Dax, take care of Ranma for me while I am gone," Usagi said with a smile.
"I…I will," Dax replied.
"Good-bye…"
"Usagi?" Ranma cried. "USAGI-!"
Meanwhile, Usagi, as the crystalline ship, watches the Jellyfish enters the wormhole…
"Okay," Usagi said, as she summons a kinetic blast that knocks away the Enterprise-E out of the vicinity of the gravity well of the wormhole.
FWOOMP!
"Good-bye," Usagi said quietly, as she is sucked into the wormhole.
Within moments, the wormhole successfully stabilizes Hobus, returning it back to its original configuration, thus ending the threat poised by the Black Sun effect.
A minute later, the Federation Alliance task force arrives…
"We're being hailed by the Aventine," said Choudhara said.
"On screen," Data said.
BLIP!
Data sees Ranma and Dax standing there, both of whom were obviously grief-stricken.
"Data?" Ranma said quietly.
"I apologize to make this announcement, but we lost both Ambassador Spock…and Fleet Captain Usagi Tsukino."
"…"
And thus the crisis was over.
In the weeks and months ahead, the Federation would help the Romulans, what was left of their people anyway, to stabilize their territory integrity as best as possible. The Klingons wanted to revenge for the loss of ships by the rogue Nerada, but Ranma directed them to accept the fact that the Romulans paid a heavy price, and that it would be best to go for a settlement, as represented by the acquirement of more territory, rather than go for the juggler. Since Ranma still was Emperor, at least until his daughter Ran'Qo was ready to take the throne, and since he had friends amongst the Klingon High Council, the Klingons accepted the deal in good faith…
A year later…
"Push, honey," Ranma said, as he stood by his wife's side. "You can do it!"
"Of course I can, Ranma," Dax said, as she breathed hard. Ever since she had married her husband, she began to grow out her hair…
"I've been a mother before, remember?"
"Okay," Dr. Amanda Rogers said, as helped her co-wife give birth to her daughter. Amanda had long replaced Dr. Bashir as the CMO of DS9.
"Now…PUSH-!"
A minute later, Dax had her daughter in swaddling clothes, and in her arms.
"Ah, she's cute," Dax said of her auburn-haired daughter. "She has your eyes…"
"And your spots," Ranma replied. "I guess she'll be able to take up the family business if she wants to."
"Wow, she IS a cutie, Ranma-sama," said Assistant Chief Medical Officer Kodachi Crusher hands over the PADD to Amanda to sign.
"Thanks," Ranma replied.
"So, what shall we name the newest addition to the family?" Amanda said with a smile.
Ranma and Dax turn to look at each other, before facing Amanda.
"We've decided to name her 'Usagiko'," Dax said.
"We…we wanted to honor Usagi somehow," Ranma said.
"I'm glad to hear that," Amanda said with a smile.
Of course, neither Usagi nor Spock, along with the crew of the Nerada, would know what happened after they entered the wormhole…
END FLASHBACK!
"Whoa," Ranma said, as he and Cadet Kirk stepped back. He then turns towards Spock.
"You mean…Usagi sacrificed her life to save the Enterprise?" Ranma asked.
"I do not know," Old Spock replied. "All I know is that the Usagi of my time would be the last to enter the collapsing wormhole."
"So…we might see this Usagi come out soon?" Kirk asked.
"Perhaps."
"Then, we better find my friend, the Miracle Worker," Ranma said, as he heads out the cave he and the others were hiding.
"You mean-?" Old Spock began to say.
"Yep," Ranma said. "If you know what I am talking about, then you'll know that our chances against Nero has just gone UP."
Tbc.
