Record keeping time: This chapter is a bit longer than usual and incorporates some of the 'Ruination' story to establish what is about to happen in this story. There may be a few questions, so please free to mention them in the reviews, or PM me. I have been notoriously slow in answering lately but that will change.
Now I will get on my soapbox for a moment. The word 'fiction' is just that 'fiction'. It doesn't matter if it is sci-fi, romance, alternative history, or whatever. It isn't real which is the definition of the word. Another word is 'improbable', which could be used as an effective substitute. The improbable therefore becomes the norm, otherwise 'what-if' loses its meaning for all concerned.
We fiction and fanfiction writers both professional and amateur, think of the improbable all of the time. Sometimes. Events that we create in our minds, good or bad, are ours. Sometimes they suck like the blue gills being related to Trills symbiotes. That novel still makes me scream by the utter lack of imagination. Nevertheless, that was his idea, and he has the right to 'creates as he wishes. What can I say about the 'Spock's Brain' episode?
Improbability is our specialty. Read or read not. As always, the choice is yours.
Now, on with the story and please enjoy.
A Universe of Change: By Candlelight Defiance
Chapter Eleven
Star Station Laberre:
"Everything that's happened to us, all of us, including the reasons we're here, is the result of us being casualties of the temporal cold war being waged by multiple factions in our reality. Some of this information was explained to you earlier, but there is more that you need to know."
"Captain Adams was caught up in this somehow, and that's something that I am not sure how or why it happened. But the implications are frightening. How many others may have experienced the same situation?"
Picard shook his head, being half-disgusted and half-resigned. Each time this discussion was approached, it gave him tension headaches. "The entity called Q strongly hinted that we are the only ones affected by the events that conspired to bring us here into this universe. We've discussed this earlier when we first discovered your arrival here. Guinan agrees that we're the only ones here. There were other possibilities," and here he twitched. "But they, along with their timelines, were erased."
"With the exception of one more copy of us who are in another universe," added Captain Sisko.
The information came straight from his other-dimensional 'brother'. His mother also confirmed it, and he believed both of them. His connection had faded, but that was because he and the other Ben knew that now wasn't the time. That Benjamín was fighting to survive two highly dangerous enemies and his brother needed to focus. But the connection was still there, just waiting to be strengthened when it was over. Then he would have a talk with Ben.
Jonathan Archer slowly nodded as he continued his explanations. "Q told you that the C57-D suffered damaged and, with their damaged hyperdrive, it would have taken decades to get back to their Earth. They must have been caught up in some kind of collateral incident, or temporal anomaly twinned them and they wound up here. That suggests that the temporal war had bled or is bleeding into other realities. There are several factions fighting both for and against altering timelines. Then there are the independent factions and natural occurrences."
Garrett spoke up. "This does suggest that incursions into other universes might be artificial in nature. But that doesn't explain it all."
"No, it doesn't, but the theory appears to be credible, with the information we have at this time.
"I agree with what you're suggesting. There are others involved in this crisis, like the Vorlons, just to name one," Rachel explained. "The Vorlons discovered a, what they believed was a natural rupture which would lead to God, and by creating the dimensional gate utilizing those energies, they could travel there and touch the hand of God and therefore become gods themselves."
Jon and others from the Bozeman looked at her, shocked even as Garrett nodded her confirmation. "They believed that?" He didn't know whether to laugh or scream. "What was wrong with them?"
"My theory?" she questioned. "I think this whole situation with them was the culmination of a very ancient, long-term plan by entities or powers unknown. According to our information, the gate or doorway had to be opened on both sides for them to enter that alternative reality, or whatever they believe it to be. Now, who instigated the opening of the doorway on both sides?" she questioned. "Remember that the Vorlon door only opened one direction at a time, much like the jump gates?"
"The Vorlons weren't stupid. They had to have a code or password for security purposes. When the gate was stolen from them by subverted Vorlons, those Vorlons could have opened the gate at any time, but they didn't. they didn't possess the code. Furthermore, the shadows simply pumped energy into the device and that activated it? No, that doesn't make sense. When we put everything that we know about this event together, the circumstances seem very suspicious." Her brows furrowed, and she blinked. She was going to come back to this when she had the time. "That's a subject for another time. I believe that elements from one reality are being shunted to other realities on a continual basis. It might be because of the Preserver's malfunctioning transit ways, or someone abusing or mishandling them. Ships or even people could be unintentionally opening doorways to other realities all the time and wouldn't know the circumstances of what happened to them or why. The Preservers might be allowing this to happen for their own reasons. We originally theorized that a large number of antimatter torpedoes could have created a rupture which cause us to arrive here. That theory we now know was completely wrong. We were grasping at straws. When we look at natural occurrences in the universe, neutron stars, supernovas, dark matter explosions, collapsed stars; those events make our largest weapons' detonations mean absolutely nothing. The universe isn't that delicate. Another theory is that the Sinhindrea used their telepathy to influence the Vorlons into believing that nonsense. If that is true, then we are looking at a very long-term game plan, a plan that may be using the Sinhindrea as pawns. Even that thought frightens me."
"This shows us how little we know about the universe we live in," Archer sighed. "That is the danger of the temporal cold war. Higher entities are getting involved to clean up the mess," he all but growled. "Back to the subject before we get side-tracked. The Xindi conflict was caused by another faction. It began with other-dimensional aliens using time travel to alter the course of our reality. The Sphere Builders wanted to terraform our galaxy so they could survive there. The Builders lied to the Xindi about the Federation, that we in the future, destroying them. The Builders feared them-us. They would have been stopped by the Federation. Therefore, they made plans to erase Earth and the Federation from history by destroying Earth. I know that they tried to invade again during the time of the Enterprise-J. In or original timeline, the Xindi war, the attack on Earth should have never happened, even years later, Jon still felt the anguish of everything that was lost.
Picard, followed by Garrett, and the others glared at him. They didn't know. "What do you mean? Were you on the Enterprise-J? You transported to the future?"
"Yes. I was taken to the future by time agent Daniels and witnessed a small part of the battle as the Sphere Builders made one last desperate attempt to conquer our galaxy. That is just one example. I will let you read my personal logs for details, but there have been dozens of attempts to change our timelines and the war is still raging or it's already won or lost." He sighed. It was becoming a habit. "I hate temporal dynamics."
"Join the club," Garrett muttered.
"The point is that the forces trying to correct the timelines and trying to keep any more collateral damage from occurring. Then, there are others on the sidelines with their own agendas, such as the Sphere Builders attacking our reality and timelines to keep the Federation from forming."
"Simply put, but yes."
She rolled her eyes. This was anything but simple.
"From everything that I've learned from Bozeman's historical data logs, my timeline was changed, and we didn't know. My Enterprise should have fought the Romulans with lasers and nuclear weapons. We had phase pistols and photonic missiles. World War III happened much later than it should have. The Borg used time travel to try to change the past and assimilate Earth during the late 21st century. Captain Picard, your counterpart prevented the Borg from destroying Earth, but the timeline was still changed. There were Borg survivors on Earth, discovered decades later, during my explorations." his eyebrows rose a fraction. "See what I mean?"
Picard fought the urge to laugh. This was so absurd.
Captain Archer's mood darkened. "We had to kill them, even though they were crew members and our own scientists. But we couldn't get them all. Their ship got away, and we were unable to stop them. We didn't have a name for them until we came here. Everyone, there are so many changes that I don't know what the truth really is. But we are here in this universe, and we are stuck here." He sighed once more. "I believed that the Bozeman was from another reality, possibly from our main timeline, because their records and my history didn't match." He blew a breath. "With everything that has happened, I have since reconsidered my initial opinion. It could be worse."
"Much worse," Benjamin added. "It's obvious now that one of the effects of this temporal conflict is that we received a technological boost beginning before the time of your first mission, possibly even before the first contact with the Klingons. Somme one was helping us, establishing a balance of sorts."
"Our history has been fundamentally changed and we may never know to what extent. These collateral effects might well be spreading to other realities. This must stop."
"If I read Daniels' temporal computer correctly, the changes began after the missions of Captain Kirk." He was a legend in his time." Many of the officers there smiled at the understatement, forcing Jon to make a note to talk about that captain in more detail. "The device clearly showed that his timeline was different from what was recorded after his death. Whatever occurred to cause the timelines to alter happened a little after his death. Incidentally, Captain Picard, your counterpart was present at his death in 2371, although, according to official records, he went missing some decades earlier. I believe that it was during that time of when he was missing that the time wars began and our lives were changed. The differences in what he knew and what we know now was not the same. It was altered by these factions and outside forces."
"So, during the time of Kirk, his timeline was the original unaltered one, and everything we know is a derivation of his timeline, changing the timeline both forwards and backwards?"
"Maybe, or maybe not," he said. "Our respective timelines are just as real and solid as his was and I use the word 'his, referring to the history of the Federation at that time. Reading the temporal computer is complicated. There are lots of overlapping changes that are now history."
"I hate temporal dynamics," Garrett muttered aloud, while Picard was nodding his head in grim agreement. "Yes, I know, but it's worth saying again, in case no one heard it."
"We also have to acknowledge that our two universes are linked, in some way," La forge added. "Our timeline here may be affected as well. The faction involved in our old reality isn't here. But there have been incidences of temporal manipulations here, and we recorded those. The Vorlons were involved in some way, according to Draal-l. It had something to do with the circle and Babylon Four. He wasn't specific, but we can ask Kosh. Who knows? He might even answer our questions."
"Our two universes are intertwined," mused Picard. The more he thought about it, the likelier it seemed. "Voyager came here and went back. Your ship arrived here. The UP saucer may well have suffered collateral damage and arrived here. The Vorlons went to our universe. The Sinhindrea came here. Whatever Q did to close the timeline could have been interfered with by those other factions causing fractures in other realities. I remember the other Worf mentioning a dimensional fracturing, where thousands of Enterprises were filling up the sectors until that fracture was closed. Every possibility that could happen occurred. That wasn't temporal, but it was just as damaging."
A thought occurred to , and he voiced his thoughts for everyone to hear. "My Enterprise-D may have been present during that fracture, but none of us would remember once it was closed. As you mentioned, Captain Garrett, I hate temporal and dimensional fractures. But it makes one wonder if Alyt Rannaonn's ship will return during our lifetime."
"Blood of Saints will return someday. Of that, I have no doubt," Ben announced with unquestioned certainty. But our primary concern are the Sinhindrea. They've struck Minbar and Centauri Prime. Everyone is looking for Minbar to lead the fight against the Sins, but they're also looking to us. We have to step up and become more proactive. I know we are small, and the political costs will be high. People will come to us, and some governments will become more antagonistic than ever. Earth Alliance politicians will come after us hard if Senator Wills wins the Presidency. We have a treaty, but they will still try to force us to join them under their authority. I believe in this 'herd unity' theory we've discussed." Turning to the Bozeman crew, he explained. We suspect that the genetic manipulation that the Vorlons and Shadows performed on all of the races in their controlling sector of space, had the side effect of increasing the isolation of different species and causing them to subconsciously cling to their own species harder than we would normally assume. That is why Earth Alliance has had such a difficult time with us not joining them, despite all of our difficulties. They expect us to join them, become part of them, and give them all of our technology and knowledge just because we're human. We should have submitted to their authority because they are the senior herd, and we are just a small pack that must be brought into the fold for our own safety and strengthening of the herd. And it is what they suppose that we do. When we didn't, they hated it and they couldn't understand why we wouldn't. According to them, we were human, and family and had to do everything to become part of the 'herd'. This is just a theory, but we see evidence of this at almost every turn. Individual EA people are the exception, but with the general population, it is obvious."
"Have you mentioned this to any of the Earth Alliance humans?" asked T'Pol.
"Are you kidding?" Sisko asked her. Vulcans didn't joke–usually, but her question was funny. "Earth Alliance feels insecure around us already. Merely suggesting something like that would cause a new round of tensions. Eventually, we will have that discussion and see how they respond. The fact that we've shown them that there are more ways to achieve faster than-light-travel has had shock waves across this sector of space. The fact that we did not join the Earth Alliance shocked every race here. Many of them still don't understand why. No," Benjamin said. "Now isn't the time to open that can of worms. For now, we will just continue to gather evidence both for and against this hypothesis. We have more important things to consider. When this is over, if we survive, it will take a generation before we all become comfortable with each other. But we must step up and be counted. I and my marines will go with the Storm Breaker as the representative of the federation on Minbar. My marines will go with the EF GROPOS and Narn ground forces."
Picard thought for a second and nodded his agreement.
Captain Garrett purposely glanced at a curiously looking Captain Archer who noticed her mischievous smirk.
"Make it so, Admiral," she thought.
Minbar:
Almost two weeks had passed since the invasion of the First Ones, and the world was caught up in hell. Three of those accursed cities had grown from the plasma storms detonated by the Sinhindrea in a once pristine world. No one knew exactly how many Minbari had died since the invasion, but it was estimated in the millions. Every orbital platform in orbit was either debris or completely incinerated. Communication satellites were down, or the remaining few jammed. Eighty Sinhindrea capital ships dominated the system, destroying anything that dared to come against them.
Ten transports and two capital cruiser analogs orbited the planet, defying anything that the land-based military could throw against them. Three more transports were planet-bound, disgorging hundreds of thousands of armored aliens and tank transport analogs. There was no declaration of war, no communication between the foes. There was only fighting and death.
The Minbari Federation forces were at the edge of the system and gathering. Close to three thousand Minbari warships were preparing for battle, and more were gathering. Patrol ships from the protectorate worlds had abandoned their posts and were vectoring towards Minbar to defend their home and drive out the invaders. Every ship prepared to do battle. Some vessels were barely functional, but that didn't stop them from preparing to take back their home. The warrior, worker, and religious clans were of one accord and nothing would stop them from taking back their home when the time came. But the fleet wasn't ready yet. There were still preparations required before they began their push.
That lack of preparation didn't stop several of the more rabid clans from disobeying orders and striking back. The small, rabid Sun Flare, supplemented with elements of the Blood and Stone knives warrior clans, ran the gauntlet to reach Minbar and support the land warriors. Two hundred Sharlin, Tinashi, nials and support were slaughtered to a man. Every ship was turned to stellar dust. Plasma pulses and beams ripped apart crystalline armor as if it was nothing. Warriors barely had time to scream.
The entire fleet screamed and raged in anger, but there was something else taking hold.
Fear.
A portion of that fear was generated by the Sinhindrea. All of the aliens were telepathic, and they generated fear and used that fear as a weapon. They also generated the desire for friendship and sympathy from their enemies. In the early days of the siege, dozens of Minbari warriors were paralyzed with fear and scores of workers found themselves wanting to be friends with a species who had no idea of the concept. Love, compassion, respect for other species, mercy, had no place in the minds of the Sinhindrea. Anything not their own was something to be consumed, or something that was a threat to be destroyed. They didn't understand those concepts, but they knew how to exploit them.
The Sinhindrea had the ability to 'suggest' those feelings to the more susceptible Minbari, and its initial caused havoc on several ships and these effected either tried to convince others to stand down and initiate peaceful contact with their enemies, or they attempted to smash vital instrumentation to cripple warships, making them combat ineffective. Unlike Shakiri, they weren't targeted and infected by the Clovien Lords, telepathic savants who infected the Star Rider leader with mental worms that bored into his brain, making him permanently susceptible to their influence. The clan leader was free from their influence at the moment. All of the Clovien who infected him were dead.
However, other cloviens who shared the taste of him could retake control of his mind. He had to be aware of this forever and he cursed the Sinhindrea for his fate, and in his hatred, he cursed the human Starfleeters who escaped his psychic imprisonment and humiliated him by the fact that they were still alive. He hated the human federation for being considered more powerful and advanced than his people, and a greater threat to them than the Minbari, who were their superiors in every way, something he determined to prove, some day when they bowed in submission to him to the Glory of the Star Riders clan for all to see.
His fate wasn't shared by the other Minbari. Theirs was temporary, and they learned to substitute hate for fear and vengeance for sympathy for their enemies. The Sins didn't understand how their influences were so easily broken and they really didn't consider it an issue. It did make them a threat and the aliens would not tolerate that.
Interlude- Another Universe
The Battlestar Galactica in orbit over
The new colonial worlds of Caprica Ananeoméno
Retired Commander Adama, ex-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, savior of the survivors of Kobol. He knew shouldn't be here, in the Commander's cabin. He knew this, but his son, Apollo, the current Commander of the Galactica for the last ten years, would never deny his father what was his personal office onboard the ship. It was his home for decades and he felt more comfortable here than in his new home that he had lived in for six years with his wife. Her loss two years earlier still pained him, and he freely admitted that he came to the Galactica, seeking peace from that pain as much as to find comfort in the confines of the ship.
The two-hundred thirty-year-old ship was massively upgraded and, like the Pegasus, looked almost like a new class of battlestar. Gone were the scars and dents of a war long gone. Now, it had new weapons, new power sources, new systems, and a new crew. Not all of the old personnel were gone as they were busy training the newer crew, but most moved on, either cut down during the war, or left to live their lives on one of the two colony worlds now in their possession.
Preparing to make another entry into his personal journal, he was one hundred-sixty-eight years old and no longer the commander of the Galactica. That responsibility now belonged to Commander Apollo and his second-in-command, Captain Starbuck. His son would never imagine not allowing his father access to the Commander's office and Adama gratefully took advantage of it.
Who could have imagined Starbuck, married and second in command? The man was still somewhat of a rogue, but Adama had faith in him. He saw the man's potential when he was a viper pilot, and he still saw that potential now. His command of the newly built Battlestar Solaria would happen as soon as the new ship was finished. It was close to undergoing trials. Starbuck would make a very capable commander. He would be needed. But that was for the future and if Colonials had learned anything, it was that one needed to be prepared.
His time was almost done. It was time for the younger generation to take over. They, however, must never forget the hard lessons learned unless they wished to fall into the same traps once more. This journal was for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Others would take heed of his experiences and words if they were wise. That was the reason he wrote. He wanted them to remember.
Adama's Journal-volume 3: It has been thirteen years since the end of the Federation-Cylon war ended and the people of the galaxy have tasted the sweet air of peace from our robotic enemies. I know it is short-lived, but the taste is no less sweet, and I will rejoice in it for as long as I have breath,
Our story, as I have recounted so many times before, began because we'd forgotten our most important rule. Remain vigilant. We were tired of war. We became complacent because of our victories over the Cylons for more than a thousand yarens. We trusted the serpents in our ranks. Because of our mistakes, the people of Kobol had to undertake a desperate journey, fleeing from our enemies, the Cylons.
We were destroyed, seduced by the guise of a peace conference, which we foolishly believed that the Cylons were interested in. We fought them for a thousand years. Tired; we allowed our own personal feelings and fears to lure us into a state of complacency.
I do understand why we so foolishly lowered our defenses. We were slaughtered in an attack we were unprepared for. Count Baltar, may his soul be forever cursed to burn in the burning coals of Hades, lied to and betrayed us, causing the destruction of our people. He did this, expecting a reward. The Cylons promised him that he would rule over the few humans that survived, under the command of the Imperious Leader. But the traitor forgot the very point of the war. The Cylons wanted to exterminate the lifeform known as Man. Their promises were a lie and the greedy fool couldn't see it. The results of his stupidity and greed were the loss of our nation, our worlds, and associated colonies to our mechanical enemy, who had no concept of love or compassion.
These mechanical creatures, originally built by their reptilian masters, turned against their creators, destroyed them for reasons we never fully understood until years later. What we know very little about the organic Cylon civilizations other than they created the robotic Cylons in the image of humans, because they thought that our forms were more efficient. Yes, we understood that the Cylon machines wanted to subjugate us and we refused to allow them to do so, which resulted in the thousand-year war. But we never understood the true background as to why they were so dedicated to our destruction. We now know that they were programmed to do so by an evil entity called Count Iblis.
This creature was a very advanced alien whose own personal ambition and hatred of us less advanced life forms caused him to want to destroy us. Before we were directly targeted. He was responsible for influencing and destroying countless worlds in the guise of having them devote themselves to him. He never understood the concept of love. He treated the lesser advance races like pets that he abused and then discarded. We resisted.
With no tolerance for resistance, the Imperium initiated the thousand-year war against my people. We went from fifty-four billion people down to a mere fifty thousand stranded, hungry refugees, desperate to escape the onslaught. Our plight was exactly what he wanted. Iblis came to us when we were at our weakest, expecting to do to us what he had done to so many others.
For the record and for future historians, I freely admit that the loss of our worlds is partially one of our own makings. President Adar, in his desire for peace, crippled our military forces. At the Peace Conference, he insisted that we not take any measures that would appear aggressive towards the Cylons, at Baltar's urgings. That man, a battlestar commander, sacrificed hot only his ship but the others in a bid for power. I still dream at night of wrapping my hands around his throat and finishing the job that I was denied decades ago. But that is in the past.
We were wiped out, and no one escaped the Cylons, with the exception of the two battlestars. As commander of the Battlestar Galactica, I gathered and protected two hundred civilian ships that traveled at a speed that was just perfect for target practice. We discovered the Battlestar Pegasus and later lost it, only to rejoin with her a few years later. With her help, the battlestars protected our people from the ravages of the Cylons following us, waiting for us to make a fatal mistake.
Because of our presence, other human worlds that we discovered were targeted and destroyed. A few who escaped, including a few refugees from the Eastern Alliance and their small battleships, they and their own adversaries joined us. We continued on, never being able to rest knowing that if the Cylons would try to destroy us at any given moment even though we hadn't seen them for many years.
During those turbulent years, what we didn't know was that we were being protected by forces beyond our understanding, even as we were attacked by elements of that same force, Iblis. They had a non-interference policy that prevented them from acting directly on our behalf against Iblis. But they could and did help us indirectly.
The species called the Defray, who are, like the Metrons, are distantly related to humanity. We call them beings of light, or angels, shepherded us and hid us from the Cylons and kept them away from us. These beings also protected other human worlds from the Cylons and would continue to protect them until they were able to stand for themselves against their enemies. For that, I am forever grateful. I do not want others to experience what my people have.
The alien we know as John was one of our great benefactors. He represented those who sent us into another universe. We were completely unaware of this transference until John told us several years ago. He did it to preserve my people. We merely believed that we had finally escaped our enemies and found the Thirteenth Tribe of Man, and the shining world called Earth.
Iblis didn't give up easily, and some elements of the Cylon Empire followed us through the portal. Our technology was primitive compared to the Federation, and the Cylons were no match for the defensive weapons or the Federation starships. Iblis was aware of this when he followed.
Unknown to us or the Federation, Iblis directed a Cylon Raider to an unknown planet. On the planet was a T'Kon automated station, one of the few artifacts that survived the destruction of the T'Kon Empire, when a star centered in the heart of their territory went supernova.
The station, being explored by a cylon centurion, acquired the robot and enhanced the cylon to a monstrous degree. That Cylon, in turn, enhanced others of its kind by the use of nanotechnology. The changes spread like wildfire. The Cylons here became something to be feared by everyone. This was Iblis' fault. His desire to destroy caused the lives of hundreds of millions.
From what I have gleaned from John and the entity called Q, Iblis knew that there would be no direct action by the Council of Elder Races. Their treaties prevented them from directly attacking and interfering with the actions of other elder races. That allowed Iblis to do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't violate their treaty. This allowed him to influence countless souls to give themselves freely to him. When they did, they became his property, and he used them as he wished. The others could not stop him without starting a war.
We were on our own, but we were not alone.
The United Federation of Planets is a very powerful government, with technology that is almost unbelievable in its complexity. Iblis hated and feared them because of what they were becoming and what they might become in the far distant future. He specifically targeted humanity for destruction because of this. he didn't want to deal with another infant group of Preservers running around in the universe, as he said. He feared, envied, and hated humanity and decided to destroy us because of that fear.
We believed we were safe with our brethren. However, that wasn't true. Iblis planned his attack well. We know it was Iblis who directed the lone raider to the planet. How do we know this?
Braggart that he is, he told us of his plans, assuming that there was nothing we could do to stop him. The automated station, which was in disrepair and damaged from the supernova, assumed that the Cylon was one of its mechanical devices and enhanced the Cylon using nanotechnology. The cylon infected the others, and the machines evolved into something to be feared by everyone. Iblis infected the Cylons with the same programming that he used to have the Cylons destroy their original creators. He modified his ruination imperatives programming. The life form known as Man, now included all sentient organic-based beings. Iblis initiated a galaxy wide war.
The Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Dominion governments, to name a few, united to war against the newly evolved Cylon Empire. This was exactly what Iblis wanted: galactic genocide, with the few remaining survivors turning to him. As powerful as the Cylons were, they were slowly being pushed back, that is, until they joined with another entity named the Borg. The cybernetic creatures, combined with the Cylons, threatened an entire arm of the galaxy with death and slavery. For years, I felt responsible for introducing the Cylons to the Federation and the Alpha Quadrant. What we didn't know again was that there were other higher powers, elder races, carefully watching us. And one entity confronted Iblis. It was in his indirect interest to help us to win the war. But I am dubious about his interests, because he is next to kin to chaos, as someone once told me. There is always a price when dealing with him. However, the Delfray are still supporting us.
The Borg and Cylon alliance failed. Neither trusted the other and although their end goals were the same, both sides understood that one could not survive as long as the other existed. The Borg were far more powerful,, but if they could have achieved their goals, the Cylons would have contacted a machine race that could make their power absolute. That machine race was the one that created V'ger, and its progeny. The Cylons would use that power to destroy all sentient life.
The Borg wanted control of the Children of V'ger, the perfect blend of organic and inorganic life. They wanted to assimilate them and achieve perfection. Their power would have been absolute. Neither of these entities could be allowed to succeed. We stopped them. The Cylons were destroyed, and the Borg were crippled and will take decades to recover.
We experienced peace for a while and our two colony worlds are thriving. We were blessed and honored to be invited by one world to share with them in our times of need. And the two of us have become stronger for it. Our new colony world is pristine and perfect for habitation, and we have acclimated to it with fervor. Others have joined us including the Klingons, Andorians, and the Rashamanine. It feels me with joy watching us grow and prosper as an independent world associated with the Federation.
The entity known as Count Iblis is now imprisoned for his crimes for life. For the next nine thousand years, he has been sequestered in a small, featureless room, paralyzed, seated on a small chair with only a portrait of myself and q for company. That was Q's suggestion, and I am sure Iblis' screaming would be heard throughout the known universe if he could just open his mouth. I consider it a just punishment for such a creature. There will be no escape and he will remain there until the day he dies.
We've learned many lessons, and we are united with our adapted brethren even though they are not the Thirteenth Tribe. We must all grow strong and be prepared to fight for our freedom. There are other forces we are aware of that want to destroy us. The Ciona Imperixe are losing their war. The parasites cannot sustain the losses they are incurring and are seeking fresh hosts. We are aware of them and prepared to destroy them if necessary. It is a shame that we are reduced to destroying the hosts, but we see no other choice. Their ability to infect us is too great if they decide to attack us in force.
They are insidious creatures, able to wrap themselves around the spinal column and attach to the brains of their host, completely controlling them. We know from then Captain Picard's and Commander Riker's accounts that the only way to stop them is to kill the host. There is only one host who is known to have survived, and he had no memory of the incident. We know that they have a single protrusion, a bluish gill that extends from the base of the neck, which allows them to breathe. Other than that, we know nothing of their physiology. We are not even sure if the mother creature killed by the Enterprise officers was a mother creature or one of the smaller creatures grown to full size. We know that they eventually destroy the body completely. They take the best people for hosts and discard the weak, taking every resource they can before abandoning a depleted world and a sick and dying population. We are unaware of the numbers of variations of these creatures and how vast their territory is. But we have seen what happens when they abandon a host world., and it is sickening.
What we do know is that Q introduced them to the Sinhindrea using a so-called test that Q seems to delight in. And when Picard confronted him, he admitted, in his own way, that the introduction was a way of slowing them down from attacking the Federation to allow us more time to destroy the Cylons and prepare for the Sinhindrea.
He did specifically order us to hurry up and finish the war with the Cylons because there were things coming that would make our Cylon conflict seem like a warmup exercise. None of us liked the sound of that. The casualness in the way he suggested this to Admiral Janeway made us all wary, and it frightened us all. Our previous experience with the Sinhindrea helped us to understand the severity of the warning. They are coming.
We've seen reports of small scouting forces in the area, however even these small forces are supremely dangerous. The Ciona Imperixe will slow them down for only a short period of time. All of the governments are preparing. The Imperixe territories are closer to the Dominion, and they have been invading Dominion worlds acquiring new hosts and materials for their fight against the Sinhindrea. The Founders are taking exception to m and are working to remove Imperixe incursions. Their conflicts are mere skirmishes for the time being. They know that the Sins will come for them sooner rather than later and they are preparing. We are fortunate that the Sinhindrea main forces are so far away and their method of FTL is slow, but we have also seen massive fleets on their way here. Those creatures cannot abide our existence. We are a threat to their species and if they can, they will kill us all. We have no choice but to come together in spite of our political differences.
Some elements of the Freed Borg Collective have opened negotiations with us. The Gorn Empire has not. We cannot trust them. This reptilian empire consisting of several reptilian species are fractured. Some can be trusted to talk and respect other species. Others consider us nothing more than food or incubators for their brood. That element of the Gorn, although extremely intelligent, will not be tolerated within our borders. We, like the Federation, have relearned an important lesson. If we want peace, then we need to be prepared to fight for it.
The Federation was created by a group of governments that wanted peace and protection. The original Starfleet mandate established the fleet as a peacekeeping armada. Because of the Dominion war, the Borg incursions, the Breen strikes, the Dominion and Klingon, and Cardassian conflicts, the Cylon-Borg conflict, and the Imperixe threat and the coming of the Sinhindrea, the Federation has finally understood this lesson. Admiral Janeway speculated that this was Q's lesson to us. Peace is worth fighting for, if we wish to keep it.
John told us the same thing. He considers us primitive, and I admit to that, as they are hundreds of thousands of years ahead of us, but he is more supportive of us. Q is another matter. He likes Janeway and Picard. I will not complain.
The war with our Cylon enemies is over. Iblis has received a just punishment, an eternity of paralyzed isolation, with only a picture of myself and Q for company. I find his punishment fitting for an entity that will not die for tens of thousands of years. As with all things, he is not eternal, and judgment will come upon him.
Now we are preparing for another war and I am tired. I feel my time is coming to a close, and I will embrace it. I understand death is a prat of life, and we all must face it.
The Galactica
The Galactica, in the years that it was in the Federation, was massively modified, as had been the Pegasus. But there were differences between the two. The Galactica was modified with Starfleet technology during the war, and this initially caused more than a few problems. There were those in Starfleet who strongly believed the ship, his ship, should be folded into Starfleet and should fall under the command of Starfleet. That proposal didn't go over well and caused a schism. The Kobollians were an independent entity and there were those who didn't agree that the refugees should keep their independence because they owed the Federation. Those factions were swiftly crushed by the majority. The Kobollians were human, but they were not Terran colonist, nor were they from Earth. Then there were hints of the ugly Federation civil war and the rise of the Marquis conflict. No one wanted a repeat of that, and the matter was dropped. Eventually, they would officially join the Federation, but now, they were their own independent entity, and the critics had to deal with it, no matter what their feelings were. The coming war demanded unity, and the Feds had mostly learned their lessons.
The Pegasus was modified by the Klingon Empire. The Klingons loved that ship and commander Cain. Him, they could relate to and because of Cain, relations with the Klingons had improved significantly. There were a few Klingons in the main colony world, and both sides got along well with each other. The Pegasus was and continued to be a ship of war, which aggravated some officials in the Federation, but the colonials didn't care.
If the Pegasus was designated as a ship of war, then the Galactica was a protector of the people. Different functions, but the same results.
Adama was tired of war, and at one-hundred sixty-eight years old, he felt his time of service was complete. His people were protected, but he would not be at the forefront of the fighting. The younger ones would have to take his place. As for him, he felt his biological clock winding down, and he was accepting of the fate of all living things. He had done his duty and protected his people. He could and had succeeded in bringing his people to safety.
However, there were those who were displeased by his acceptance.
Sequestered comfortably in his cabin, he felt them before he saw the two of them. He was not surprised, had expected them to come. Both of these adopted children of his were visiting more and more frequently. He felt a bit of comfort by their consistency and their concern for him and his health. Like Athena and Apollo, and his grandchildren, they worried about him. In the last thirteen years. Illia, the progeny of V'ger, had grown so much, transitioning from a machinelike creature into a full-fledged, living personality. As enormous as her power was, she was still young, still growing. The child, now woman, was created from a combination of a fusion of Deltan, Human and V'ger, a machine intelligence that almost defied comprehension in its complexity and intelligence. But for all this power couldn't do what its children could, touch another living being. That simple feeling was beyond the machine. The result of the blending of organic and inorganic stood before him, looking positively dejected. Ex-President Adama, as always, felt touched as he once again prepared to discuss their concerns.
"Adama-unit," Illia said. Her voice was soft and y and full of despair as she fully materialized from the probe state she used to travel in her incorporeal state. "You are being illogical." Unlike the blinding white light that announced her presence in the first few times she visited him so long ago, this time, it was a soft diffused glow, reflecting her respect for the man she revered as a teacher and loved like a father. "The Illia and Suchita units do not want you to be extinguished."
Adama just smiled as he took in what she had said, her voice was more mechanical, which was a characteristic of how stressed she was. Through the years, her voice had become more human, almost to the point one couldn't tell the difference between her voice and a purely organic being. "next to her, her thirteen year-old daughter, who appeared to be in her late twenties looked on, appearing just as distressed as her mother.
"I am an old man. There comes a time when we all must move on."
"Admiral Cain used the transporter, and he functions normally," answered a stubborn Illia.
"You would continue."
The transporter incident that turned the Enterprise crew into younger versions of themselves generated intense interests, being studied extensively. But the effect wasn't reproducible. The scientists and specialists scrutinized every bit of available data, to no avail. The Cain incident spurred specialists to new heights, and they were still working on it.
If Illia looked at him as a father, her daughter Suchita thought of him as her grandfather. Unlike her mother, her mind was more fully integrated with who she was. Part of this was because of her interaction with the Adama family and the crew of the Galactica and the Colonials in general. Other than Admiral's Janeway and specific members of Captain Chakotay's crew, including Annika, she shied away from the Federation. They had tendencies to treat her like a lab experiment, which gave her and her people uncomfortable reminders of how the Borg treated them. She responded better, understood better than her mother. She had the knowledge of the universe at her fingertips, and she was slowly learning the concept of wisdom.
Her mother wasn't quite there yet, but she was learning and developing a better understanding of what it was to be organic. Machine logic was easy. Human-Delta emotions were far more complicated. Illia was the one who attached herself to him like he was a lifeline. She responded easily with the other Adamas. Because of that, the others looked towards Illia as the blueprint and interacting with organics.
"Adama-unit, if you choose not to continue, then I wish to procreate with you. When you cease to function, then Suchita and I will have some part of you, and the progeny will continue. Suchita and I will take care of it and remember," she said matter-of-factly. "It is a logical action."
Adama was floored. "Illia, I have children and grandchildren. I have my adapted child, you and my adapted grandchild, Suchita. I am content. But my child, I must be honest. Even in my old age, I am almost tempted, but it would cause problems none of us are prepared to deal with. I am your family, and according to my traditions and values, it wouldn't be right even if I decided to do so."
Illia and her child were genetically Deltan and Human. Their Deltan heritage dominated everything around them when the two were not in control. The Deltan species were at the same level of intelligence as Vulcan, but instead of suppressing their emotions, they expressed them fully. They were also considered one of the most sexually expressive races in the galaxy. To humanoids in the Alpha quadrant, they were also considered one of the most desirable species known. When the species served on starships, they were required to swear an oath of celibacy. It was well known that a starship was placed in danger when Deltans let loose.
Adama understood and agreed completely. Their beauty was intoxicating, and they exuded pheromones that could easily affect everyone around them. To Deltans, most humanoid species were described as sexually immature species and the interacted with them accordingly as to not injure their fellows. The only species that came close to them were the Orion women. Adama knew full well that Illia could force him, and he could go to her willingly, Despite of his convictions if she decided to tempt him, but he trusted her not to.
"It is a simple act of procreation," Illia insisted.
"Procreation is easy," Adama countered. "It's the commitment that is more important." She looked as if she wanted to argue, but he pressed on. "Do you remember when you came to the Galactica with Suchita for the very first time?" he asked, looking at her. "Do you remember how you treated her, throwing her against the wall because she was only your progeny, just an act of procreation?"
"Yes. I possess those memories."
"Do you remember how you responded when I took her in my arms? Do you remember how you felt?"
"Yes." Her voice was more mechanical. That memory was a source of embarrassment and jealousy.
"I think you learned, then, that your children are more than progeny. They are part of you biologically, but they are connected to you emotionally and spiritually. You are them and they are you, and now both of you respond to each other on that basis. Before you met me, your children were only progeny. Afterwards, your progeny became your children in heart as well as in body. Both of you are my children, offspring of V'ger. Listen to me and know that you are so much more to me. I will not violate that love and trust we've given to each other."
"I do not want to lose you," Illia whispered.
"I do not want to lose you, Grandfather," said Suchita. "I understand what you are saying to us. That is why I have not procreated yet. You have taught me that it is important to find someone that I can share with, not simply procreate with."
"Procreation is a simple biological function, but I will honor the wishes of my adapted father," she dejectedly responded. "Adama-father-unit, I wish you will reconsider."
"Don't waste your time," a nebulous voice said, startling all three of the occupants. "I tried that with Kate, and she rejected me as well. I don't know what she was thinking. These humans and their excuse for morality… They don't know what they're missing.
An instant later, there was a flash and two beings appeared.
Illia was the first to respond to the entities. Accessing her memory, she identified the first intruder. "You are Q, of the Q Continuum." She couldn't identify the other person, but she knew it was one of the elder races of the galaxy.
"Hello, young one," the second male said easily. "You can call me John. I am Delfray, one of the elder races in this part of the galaxy. I was the one who helped your father survive his long journey to safety."
"I have information," Illia said. "You are part of the Coalition of Elder Races."
"Yes, I am."
Q couldn't help but to roll his eyes. "Delfray, Metrons, those over-the-top and supremely boring Organians. They're all still babes compared to me."
"We're elders, not old," Jon retorted so pleasantly, that Q wasn't sure if it was an insult or not. "We have come here to ask a favor of you. The time war is still occurring, but we have managed to lesson its effects. But there are still collateral damages that we must deal with that concerns not only this universe but another as well. What your son and Starbuck did for us, made me think of you."
"Oh please," Q scoffed. "I was the one who suggested you, and your people, in the first place. You Colonials are interesting, almost as much as the Federation, and despite your limited mental capabilities and laughable technology, and incomprehensible stumbling around and not getting yourselves exterminated, I have decided to examine you carefully and compare you two branches of Humanity."
Adama stared at him, analyzing the creature in front of him carefully. "I do not know what your reap purpose really is, or what humanity will become, but although your attitude leaves something to be desired, I believe that humanity might be wise to accept guidance from our elders who are far wiser than we are. I hope that we will be found worthy, all of us, whatever the future brings."
Q looked at the old man intensely scrutinizing him. "Bah. You're no fun. Picard would have blown a blood vessel by now. Kate would have stared at me like I was some type of irritating pest. I'm glad I went to them first."
"Don't mind him," John said. "He used to fear what Mankind might become. Now I dare say, he almost likes you. He's learned a lot from your people."
"Bite your non-existent tongue." Q turned back to face Adama. "I'll admit your species, as weak as it is, has hope and that is why the Q are testing you."
"To see if we are worthy?" asked a dubious Adama.
"No, to see if you will survive the long journey ahead of you. But I digress. John and I are here to deal with a collateral problem that has to be addressed in another universe. Because of the time war, Iblis, and interferences by other outside forces, and Certain events have happened that were beyond the Q's control…"
"Beyond the Q's control?" asked John.
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL!" growled Q. "Honestly, you give the kids a little leeway and they try to run all over you," he muttered. We need you to go there and straighten out the situation before it weaves out of control. Call it payment for me introducing the Ciona Imperixe to the Sinhindrea." He bowed to his audience, obviously pleased with his actions. "Believe it or not, you are the perfect person to deal with this situation. We will need the Galactica and a few more items. I will be going to the Feds and informing them of this mission. For this, I won't take no for an answer. As for John being here, it is to stress my sincerity and seriousness of this mission. People don't necessarily take me seriously the first time around." He shook his head. I don't know why."
Now, John rolled his eyes. "You will have three months preparation time. That isn't much but in this case, we are on a schedule and you need to return in time to address the first skirmishes of a relentless enemy."
"The Sinhindrea."
"Yes."
Illia and Suchita glared at the elders in horror. "We will accompany him," both insisted.
Q turned sharply towards the two women. "Look at them, John. They're so young, the chord isn't even cut yet. You do know that ninety-nine percent of new species never survive the first thousand years."
Again, John's optimism shown through. "I have faith in them, and they have gotten off to a good start."
"Maybe," Q finally admitted. "We'll see, won't we? I should have introduced your people to the Vorlons. You could have given lessons about being beings of light, although I doubt it. Waste of time." He smiled at the two women. "Anyway, President Adama of the Colonies of Kobol, who have survived despite your bumbling. This is what we need for you to do..."
TBC
NExt" The Fed crew continue their conversation and choice of weapons and begins their journey.
Everyone, be well.
AG