Chapter 3

Captains Quarters USS Titan, 5 hours from the transwarp conduit

Deanna gazed upon her husband as he lay there dreaming. Ever since they were married she had naturally awakened an hour early and just watched Will sleep. Sometimes she would get a since of what he was dreaming about but mostly she would use her telepathic impulses to feel his heartbeat and every breath.

This morning was different. In approximately 5 hours they would be using a piece of technology used by their deadliest enemy to travel to the other side of the galaxy to search for a mysterious crystal that had incredible power. However, that is not what worried Deanna the most, and she suspected it was also what didn't worry Will or Captain Picard. When they had been briefed aboard the Enterprise everyone in the room, the Enterprise and Titan officers, had seen the look on Guinan's face. (Guinan had been the Enterprise's ship's counselor for over two years by Picard's special request.) When Picard asked her if she knew anything about the crystal, she replied that all she knew was legend. She delved into what she was told about the crystal by her grandfather over 400 years ago.

"The legend is that the crystal was taken from the heart of the Crystalline Entity by a powerful group of warriors known as the Daka. It was carried by their prince Fulsa to there homeland 2000 years ago. These warriors worshiped the crystal for its ability to cure any illness whether mental or physical by simply touching it. Soon the Daka disappeared for unknown reasons. The crystal was then lost and found its way to Vulcan after the Romulan/ Vulcan split. The Vulcans found a way to use its mystical power to help purge their race of emotion. It is rumored that the crystal in the right peoples hands could purge the galaxy of war and keep peace."

Guinan was unable to reveal anything more, but her explanation made her previous look seem credible. Anything with this much power could be deadly in the wrong hands. And so that is why they continued on into the unknown looking for the crystal and not turning around to Starfleet demanding answers.

"Good Morning" Riker said to his distant eyed wife.

"Good Morning" Deanna replied back

"So what's for breakfast."

"We could die in five hours and all you can think about is food."

"Yes" Riker replied simply, and rolled over to get his five minute wake up nap.

Deanna slapped him on his head and got out of bed.

"Since it might be our last meal I'll make you that artery clogging breakfast and I'll have my chocolate, chocolate sundae."

"Sounds good."

Will's artery clogger involved sausage gravy, biscuits, country ham steak, eggs and hashbrowns.

"So you don't seem to be very worried." Deanna said.

"What's there to worry about? We wouldn't be going unless Captain Picard had a pretty good idea we wouldn't die."

"Good point."

As they ate breakfast Will brought up the schedule.

"When we get to the conduit we will prescan for any Borg technology. After that we will enter the conduit and Enterprise will follow 20 minutes later. When we exit we will proceed to the coordinates from the message."

"What if we run into the Borg."

"We shoot first, shoot to kill. Our orders were very clear Deanna, any means necessary, including violation of the prime directive if absolutely needed."

"I understand."

"Lets go."

And with that statement they left their quarters to go to the bridge.

Bridge USS Enterprise

"Captain Picard we will be at the conduit in 15 minutes."

"Thank you Data, I am on my way."

The only peace Picard could feel on this mission was that none of the residual Borg implants in his brain were giving him any indication of Borg presence. Of course that could be a mixed blessing; if he at least heard the Borg he would know how to avoid them.

"Lieutenant please take us three kilometers from the entrance." Picard ordered.

"Titan is ready and waiting Captain." said Data.

"Alright Will we will be 20 minutes behind you from the moment you enter the conduit."

"Yes Captain we will be waiting for you."

"Geordi, are we ready to go." Data asked?

"We're ready. The computer is set to flash the warp field coils the second we enter." Geordi replied from his bridge station.

By flashing the field coils as they entered the conduit they would speed up and exit anywhere from two to three hundred light years from the entrance.

Very intently Picard gazed at the view screen watching the Titan approach the conduit.

Then in a brilliant flash the Titan was gone.

"Twenty minutes to Showtime Data." Picard remarked.

"Showtime Captain?"

"Its just an expression Data that is sometimes used when about to embark on a crazy adventure."

"The mission does not fall into the definition of craziness."

"But it does fall into the category of an adventure." Guinan commented from her bridge chair.

"Lieutenant take us into position and prepare to engage full impulse at my command"

"Ready Captain standing by."

"Engage"

Suddenly the Enterprise was pulled forward into the conduit and was being propelled at transwarp velocity.

Ten minutes later they suddenly were ejected and as they brought their sensors back online.

"Enterprise this is the Battleship Gatton do not attempt to arm weapons or raise shields or you will be destroyed."