Chapter 4

Admiral Janeway stood, and walked across the room to look out the window.

"Has there been any word form the Titan?" She asked Pickard who sat uncomfortably in one of the room's easy chars.

"No. We have had reports of an intense fire fight Near Romulus. We believe the Titan to have been destroyed. It also looks like the Romulons are massing a fleet of large powerful ships." Pickard responded.

"Captain, the Romulons are openly at war with us now, they have raided several of our outposts near the Neutral zone." She said. "We also have reports of a Romulon fleet, headed for scetre 15- 909."

"The Atlantian Colony?"

"Yes, and we have no way of warning Captain Decker until he exits the mirror universe. And by then it will be too late."

Captain Decker looked at the Defiant. Or this realities version of it. The ship was almost completely black, with only a couple of sliver heights, the name in a deep blue and the torpedo bays and phaser canons done in dark read.

"Looks Spiffy." Lt. Brown said. Decker agreed. "Sir they are hailing us."

"On screen". Quiche ordered before Decker could respond.

The image of the defiant was replaced by one of Captain Sisco.

"State your presents, or be destroyed." He said.

"I'm Captain Decker of the Federation Star Ship Excelsior We are form the alternate reality, and are using this 'Mirror Universe' as safe passage to sector 15-909. We have no interest in the politics of this dimension and only wish safe passage."

The other captain considered this and on urging form one of his officers grudgingly agreed to let them pass through.

Decker thanked him and they were on their way.

Will Ricker Came around; his first thought was that he was happy to be alive. He looked around surviving his surroundings. He, along with 3 of his senior staff, was being held in a dimly lit Romulon detention centre, the only sound he could here were, the humming of the force field, and the footsteps of the Romulon guards. As he listened more closely he could here the hum of engines, it was almost drowned out by the force field, but it was there. They were still on a ship, probably one of the Scimitar Class War-birds that had attacked his ship.

He got up and walked across the high sealinged room, towards the door. He looked out into the equally dark corridor, which curved off into darkness on one side and on the other was a force field blocking the way. By the force flied was the guard, and he was a Reman!

Decker stood in his quarters looking out the window, as the stars streamed past.

"John?" Amy walked in.

"Haw did you get in?" He asked.

"Security bypass." She replied.

"Amy, did you want something?"

"Haw are you felling?"

"What you mean after yesterday." Decker said turning back to the window.

"Yes," She walked up beside him, "pleas, I want us to have what we had before."

"You think that's such a good idea, us getting together?"

"I don't know, I just know haw I feel about you. I want us to be together."

Decker studied her face for a minute, before replying. "I don't think it's such a good idea, not now."

"I know, I know, emotional attachments and all."

"Look, I'm really sorry. But I don't think its such a good idea, especially with this assignment."

There conversation was interrupted by Quiche's voice over the com. "All senior staff report to the bridge.

"Captain we are about to project the exit aperture." Quiche said, as they walked onto the bridge.

"At your leisure, Commander."  Decker replied.

They all watched as the stream of charged plasma was expelled from the Nacelles, and collected 1.4 million kilometres form the ship.

"Plasma collected, ready to emit pulse." Lt. Crusher said.

The energy pulse hit the ball of charge plasma, and it erupted into a crimson shockwave, that tore through the fabric of space-time.

"The window is stable." Crusher reported.

"Set course to go through, one third impulse."

The ship drifted through the rift and minutes later it collapsed in a whirling of crimson energy.

The ship jumped to warp heading toward the colony.

Captain Pickard and Admiral Janeway walked through the corridor of the Utopia Planisha.

"Haw long until the Enterprise F can be space worthy?" The Admiral asked.

"37 hours." Pickard replied. "Why?"

"We received a communiqué form the Romuluns."

"What about?" Thought of his friend Will being dead, or worst captured, flooded through Pickard's mind.

"They say they destroyed the Titan, and are holding its crew as prisoners of war. They also say that they will destroy the federation."

"Will." Pickard stopped.

"I'm sorry Jean-Luke." Janeway said turning to face him. "I'm organising a rescue party to go in get the crew of the Titan out. I want the Enterprise to be part of that rescue. Voyager will head it and I will be in charge. I'm giving you this opportunity to join this, but you must follow your orders to the letter. Is that clear."

"Yes Admiral, and thank you Kathryn."

The two of them walked off toward the briefing room.

"Sir, we are approaching the coordinates of the Atlantian colony." Lt. Crusher Called from her station at the back of the bridge.

"Thank you." Decker said, and tapped a control on the panel that separated his form the first officer's chair. "All senior staff report to the bridge immediately."

Decker sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Enjoying not having to make snap decisions in the heat of battle. Although he didn't doubt he would get the chance to do that before too long. 

Decker looked at the type G world, just one giant desert.

"Sir." Egnson Bates said. "The planetoid has Thulium core, we wont be able to use transporters, due to the interference."

"Understood," Decker replied standing, "Lt commander. Brown, Engson Bates, your with me, Quiche you have the bridge."

"Sir may I inform you that regulations prohibit the captain going on potentially hazardous away missions?" Quiche said standing.

"No."

Amy covered a smile and followed Decker into the turbolift.