Star Trek: Ranma's Story 93
Disclaimer: Ranma ½, Star Trek, Sailor Moon and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 93
Sometime later...
Location: En route to the Valo Sector.
"Glad to that you can make it, Admiral Kennelly," said Captain Jean-Luc Picard, as he greeted his immediate superior. Ever since he had learned of the destruction of the Federation colony on Solarion IV, it was thought that the dispersed "Bajorans", refugees who fled the occupation of their home planet Bajor by the Cardassians, were responsible for the attack. Lt. Commander Ranma Saotome, who was the designated Strategic Operations specialist aboard the Enterprise-D, was examining the reports with the utmost detail. Contrary to popular belief, Ranma can be professional when he needs to be. As he looked over the reports, he felt that something was amiss. He decided to wait until he received more information, before coming up with the results of his analysis.
"I'm glad to be here, Jean-Luc," Picard says. "You remember Commander Riker and Lt/Commander Saotome, right?"
"Ah, yes. I do remember the heroes that saved Earth from the Borg."
"It was nothing," Riker says.
"And it was a part of our job," Ranma said.
"I take it that you will elaborate your the reports, Mr. Saotome?"
"I have some preliminary findings, sir."
"Good! Let's get to work..."
An hour later...
"...And it is my belief that Orta may not have worked alone, since he doesn't have the resources to carry out the attacks," Ranma concluded.
"Very interesting, Mr. Saotome," Kennelly says. "I think that you will need to further your investigation, before I can submit your findings to Starfleet Command."
"Of course, Admiral."
"In the mean time, I have some personnel to transfer to your ship. One of them will be useful in your investigation, Mr. Saotome."
An hour later, down in the transporter room...
"I can't believe that the Admiral wishes Ensign Laren-" Riker began.
"Ro, Commander," Ranma said.
"Pardon?"
"When pronouncing the Bajoran name, it's family name first, followed by first name. This custom is no different than in my native Japan."
"Oh. Well...I still say that we should not be saddled with Ensign RO Laren."
"Well, I have my own 'baggage' to contend with."
Soon, the transfer of personnel is complete.
"Ensign Ro Laren, welcome," Riker said frostily. He had read her file, which included an incident that had gotten her court-martialed for disobeying a direct order...the result of which was the death of her Away Team. "Just to make sure that things were clear, you slip up once-"
"I know," the raven haired beauty says. "I simply want to fulfill my obligation, so that I can leave Starfleet."
"Very well then, ENSIGN."
Riker turns towards Ranma.
"You will assist Commander Saotome with his investigation."
"Yes, sir."
"Carry on."
With Riker gone, Laren and Ranma faces each other.
"So, what are we to do first?" Laren asked.
"Eat."
"Pardon?"
"I'm starving, so, after you check in, meet me at 'Ten-Forward'. This is not an option, Ensign Ro."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismiss."
Once Laren leaves the transporter room, Ranma turns to face his own "baggage".
"Wow, this is a surprise...Ensign Hibiki," Ranma smirked. "When I heard that you had joined Starfleet, I wondered if I'd run into ya."
"Gloat all you want, Ranma," the Lost Boy fumed. "I'll be a better Starfleeter than you ever will be!"
"Perhaps, but not today. Report to Chief Engineer LaForge after you check in."
"Yes, SIR."
Meanwhile...
"It's SO neat that you decided join Starfleet, Naru-chan!" Usagi said, as she hugged her friend. Starfleet Ensign Naru ("Molly") Osaka would join Usagi's staff as a science officer specializing in mineralogy, and would train under the resident geologist. "And what is this I hear about you and Ryouga Hibiki?"
"Yes...WE'RE ENGAGED!"
Usagi squilled like a school girl.
"You know, after you check in, we MUST have lunch!"
"I'd like that, Usagi!"
The day proceeds normally. After Ryouga had his "personal transponder" calibrated to the Enterprise-D's schematics, he can now avoid getting lost...much to Chief Engineer LaForge's relief. During lunch, Ranma and Laren discusses the report that Ranma was finalizing.
"So you think we should go directly to the Bajoran camps on Velo II, rather than go through the usual diplomatic circles?" Ranma asked.
"Um, correct," Laren says, as she nibbles a bit of her food. "Most of the civilian contacts have no real power amongst the 'freedom fighters'."
"You mean terrorists."
"No, I mean 'freedom fighters'. We are fighting for the right to return to Bajor without the Cardassian occupation."
"I see. So, it's okay to target civilians, even if they are 'the enemy'?"
"You don't know what's it's like to be abused and tortured, SIR!"
Ranma merely cleared his throat.
"Do you recall the story of the 'The Panda and the Pigtail Girl', from my book 'The Tao of Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu'?"
"Yes, it was required reading for Starfleet Academy students...WAIT! I remember now. YOU are that 'pig-tail girl'!"
"Well...at least half the time I am. But do you know the moral to the tale?"
"Yes, yes I do. 'There's always someone worst off than you'. Of course."
"Look, I read your biographical data. You grew up in the camps, where your father was tortured to death in front of your eyes. But you escaped that environment for a better future."
"Sir, I appreciate the 'pep-talk', but I have to my duties to attend to."
"Sure."
After Laren leaves, Guinan, the proprietor of "Ten Forward" steps in.
"You need anything else?"
"Naw, I'm good."
"Oh."
The alien black woman sits down at Ranma's table.
"What?"
"Reminds you of anyone?"
"Yes, she does, which is why I'll have to have Tasha have a word with her..."
The next day, on the suggestion of Ro, an Away Team is assembled to meet with one of the key Bajoran refugee leaders, Keeve Falor. At first, he wasn't exactly cooperative...
"Captain Picard, the Federation did NOTHING while my people were being butchered. Why should I help you?"
"If you set up a meeting with Orta, I can have some supplies, including replicators, beamed down." Picard replies.
Meanwhile, Ranma was sitting on a rock, taking some notes. Out of curiosity Ro goes over to where Ranma was sitting.
"Um, what are you doing, sir?" Laren asks.
"Just filling some reports," Ranma replied. "Hopefully, they'll get the Federation more involved in these kinds of things."
"Oh. Um, I talked with Lt/Commander Yar like you wanted me to, and she told me some things about you."
"Oh? Like what?"
"She told me how you joined the 'Anla'Shok', when the Federation did not want to involve itself in the 'Shadow Wars'. In fact, you had visited Bajor as a key ally."
"Yeah, those were the days. I just wished that the Federation had learned that not all non-interference policies are 'reasonable'."
"And I also learned that you are the new 'Ranger One', and that you are actually Lord Ranma Saotome...also known as 'The Chaos Factor'."
"Those are only honorary titles at best."
Suddenly, Ro Laren gets on her hands of knees.
"What the-?"
"I must implore you to free my home planet. If you did this for me, I will be forever in your debt."
"I don't know what to say..."
"Commander Saotome?" Picard said as he and Commander Yar enters Ranma's presence; Laren quickly gets up.
"Yes, sir?"
"Prepare for a mission to Valo I. I have been given the coordinates to Orta's location."
Sometime later, Ranma, Yar and Ro Laren have arrived at a secret site, where they were to meet the infamous anti-Cardassian terrorists.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Ro?"
"I have to confess something."
"That Admiral Kennelly wanted you to make a separate deal with Orta?"
Ro looks at Ranma in shock.
"Don't be shock, Ensign. Admiral Kennelly gave you that assignment, while he gave me the assignment of 'over-sight'."
"I see."
"But I used my 'background' to convince Kennelly to not sell out Orta to the Cardassians."
"WHAT?"
"It's true, Ensign Ro," Yar says, as she hands Ro the intelligence report concerning Kennelly's communiques with the Cardassians. "Kennelly was concerned with the upcoming negotiations that would make the boundaries between the Cardassians and the Federations permanent. By selling out Orta, who is seen as a terrorist in the eyes of the Federation now, negotiations can run smoothly."
"But what Kennelly does not know, is that it is the Cardassians who attacked the Federation outpost, not Orta."
"I see now," Ro says. "Starfleet does Cardassia Prime's dirty business."
"Yep."
"But...if you know this, why are we still going to Velo I? And does Captain Picard knows this?"
"That," Tasha says, as four White Star ships de-cloak near their shuttle.
"And yes, Picard unofficially knows what I'm doing," Ranma says. "In fact, he's the one who convinced me of bringing in the Anla'Shok."
"Oh. So what's going to happen?"
"I, as 'Ranger One', will officially request an alliance between Bajor Resistance Movement and the Anla'Shok."
"And those ships...?"
"We've detected two Cardassian warships. Since this is neutral territory, they attack the White Stars, the Cardassian Union will have their hands full with the Interstellar Alliance."
"Commander, um..."
"No need to thank me, Ensign. You simply reminded me what's more important."
And with that, a new chapter in the Alpha Quadrant begins. Orta tentatively accepts Ranma's deal, while passing along the word that the Bajoran Resistance Movement will get major assistance from a credible power. The Cardassian Union now have to contend with the IA's involvement, especially since within that political paradigm exist the authority of Minbari. However, their intelligence network, The Obsidian Order, has begun to "research" the one person responsible for this new change: Ranma Saotome. It will only be a matter of time before Ranma will have to deal with this shadowy organization personally.
Tbc.