Omega
"I would give my right arm for a fully trained crew" Naomi said, tossing aside the depleted dermal regenerator aside.
"You would not be wishing for a fully trained crew if we had a fully trained crew" Icheb said. "Will I live, Doctor Wildman?" he added. The Brunali male had been working heavily on his humour so that he would be able to fit in better once he reached Starfleet Academy. He was also aware that, at first, Naomi had taken a dislike to him due to the fact he was studying hard. Researching the appropriate way of apologising for his behaviour, Naomi had been surprised when Icheb had turned up to the quarters she lived in with her mother dressed in a tuxedo carrying flowers and chocolates. Her mother had been equally surprised and had burst into laughter at Icheb's reaction and response. After she had explained, Icheb had excused himself and hidden away in the Astrometrics Lab for several days.
"Yes" Naomi replied, bringing Icheb out from his thoughts. "You had still better regenerate for a while" she added.
"There is much to do" said Icheb, "And there are so few of us that nobody can afford to take time off work"
"Rest is what you need" Naomi said as they left Sickbay.
"There is another hour's work before the chamber can be powered up" Icheb said. "If you agree to allow me to work for that additional hour, I will agree to taking at least six hours rest"
"Oh, alright" Naomi giggled. She could never stay mad at her friends for that long a time anyway. "One hour's work, and not a minute more. Otherwise I'll throw you in the Brig in irons"
"Yes, Captain" Icheb said, and Naomi wasn't sure if Icheb took the threat seriously or was trying his humour again.
"I will go up to the Bridge and take over from Azan" the girl said. "I'll send him down to help you. You four have the most experience in Borg technology after all, whereas I am a simple Captain" but Icheb knew the real reason. Today was the day Naomi would speak to her father for the first time in months and nothing would get in the way of the precious 13 minutes of live talking.
"Very well" Icheb said. "I shall find out if Mezoti has finished painting the message on the sides of the chamber" he told her – referring to the fact Naomi had insisted it would be fitting if they let the Borg know who exactly was giving them their most treasured dream.
"I should be going" Naomi said, turning left and entering a turbolift. "Deck 1 – Bridge" the computer chimed in acceptance and moved upwards. Within seconds, she had entered the Bridge, relieved Azan and sent him down to Cargo Bay 1 to help in the construction of the harmonic resonance chamber.
"Please give my father your regards" Azan said. "He was most helpful in certain matters" and left the Bridge with a puzzled Naomi remaining. She briefly wondered what he was referring to before settling down in the Captain's chair.
"Computer, estimate time until point of communications with Starfleet Command"
"Thirty seven minutes"
"Conduct a long range scan" Naomi ordered. "Are there any ships nearby?"
"Scanning… No vessels detected"
"Prepare log entries and ship's status for compression transmission. Standby to transmit"
"Acknowledged"
"Report on ship's status" Naomi ordered.
"Ship's status is nominal. Currently travelling on course 187 mark 3. Speed is Warp 6.5. Shields and weapons are nominal. Warp and impulse engines are at optimal efficiency"
"Maintain course and speed" Naomi settled down for a while, bringing up a new holo-adventure program on the main viewscreen. With a few minutes to spare, Naomi crossed to the Helm and smoothly disengaged the Warp Drive and brought them to a halt – activating the deflector dish and awaiting Starfleet's signal.
"A communications channel has been detected. Identified as a Starfleet emergency channel"
"Match frequencies and engage viewscreen" Naomi said. She was rewarded with the face of, not her father, but of Admiral Paris. "Where is my dad?" she asked.
"I am afraid that his ship has been caught in a gravitational eddy and that he was injured whilst they tried to escape" Paris held up his hands briefly to forestall Naomi's stream of questioning. "He is at Starbase 71 receiving treatment, but he is too ill to speak to you. I have spoken to the Chief Medical Officer myself and he assures me that your father will need intensive care for at least a week. I am sorry, Miss Wildman, but there is nothing that I can do. Now then, I am sure that we can make use of our time. I am sending you some letters from school children on Earth that want to know all about you and your friends"
"A sort of pen-friend" Naomi nodded in understanding.
"Quite so" agreed Paris. "Maybe a link between yourself and several schools might be in order" and the thoughts just confused Naomi, so she settled for simply nodding in agreement.
"Admiral, I'm… I'm confused. I'm so worried about getting everything wrong. I seem to be doing a hundred things at once, and yet I never seem to get any of them done" Naomi's string resolve faltered.
"I was like that on my first command, Miss Wildman. All Captains are like that on their first commands, but they soon get used to it"
"But I am not a Captain" said Naomi. "I haven't even had basic cadet training. I'm just a girl that isn't even ten yet. I'm…" she held back the tears that threatened to burst forth from her, "I'm scared of letting my friends down" and Paris looked a little out of place and spent the remaining time trying his best to comfort the girl. His last words gave her some comfort.
"Captain Janeway clearly trusted you to bring Voyager home, and I can not question her decisions. Mr Icheb may well have the academy training, but he has already made it clear to me that he would much rather serve under your command. Trust in your friends and let them help you"
"Easy for you to say" Naomi said flatly at the dead viewscreen. Wiping away her tears, she ordered the computer to resume course and maintain scanning for vessels and more information about the Omega particle. "Computer, access music files and play something soothing"
"Define parameters"
"Random selection of something" Naomi ordered. The girl then spent the next few hours on the Bridge, silently minding each and every console for any indications of a malfunction or alien attack.
"Cargo Bay 1 to Bridge"
"Naomi here" the girl replied to Mezoti's call.
"We have finished construction of the harmonic resonance chamber" her friend said. "It is ready to be used at any time from now"
"Good job, Mez" Naomi was surprised it got done so quickly. "Might as well have an early dinner. What about spending nearly a day at the next communications spot?"
"I would find the extra time most conductive to combat operations"
"Combat?"
"Yes, Naomi. I believe we have a giant castle and a beetle to conquer"
"Fair enough. I'll meet you all at the mess hall, Naomi out. Computer, engage the cloaking device and increase speed to Warp 8. Recompute arrival time"
"Arrival time at next communications point with Starfleet Command will be in 18 hours and 12 minutes"
"Mmm… Make that Warp 9.995 and bring us out of warp when we have arrived – maintaining cloak until further notice. Monitor all surrounding space and communications frequencies. You have the Bridge, Computer".
"The Bridge is to be manned at all times"
"Override by Captain's order"
"Logged. Acknowledged" and Naomi grumbled her way to the turbolift.
"Mess Hall" she said, and ended up in Engineering. "Mess Hall" she said again, and came to a stop nearest the battle bridge. "Computer, status of turbolift car 13?"
"Operational"
"Computer, send this turbolift car to the Mess Hall"
"Unable to comply"
"Explain"
"That information is classified"
"What?"
"That information is classified" the computer repeated.
"Override all previous orders and commands regarding this turbolift car. Send this car to the Mess Hall"
"Affirmative" and the car hurried upwards and sidewards along lift shafts. "Deck 2 – Mess Hall" it added helpfully. Naomi snarled at the machine with a mixture of disgust and fury.
"Computer, remove this turbolift car from service and return it to the storage area"
"Understood" and the doors snapped shut and it hummed away.
"What the hell is going on with this ship all of a sudden?" the girl wondered. The day had gone well, not counting the missed chance of talking to her father and the fact that none of her friends had remembered it was her birthday. This thought held for just a few seconds as the lights to the Mess Hall came up to full brightness and the computer played 'Happy Birthday' as her friends and the EMH sang along – they hadn't forgotten. They had set the computer to be awkward in Naomi's commands for the turbolift so she wouldn't turn up too early. Several hours, and lots of cake, party food and presents, later, Naomi clawed her way into bed and slept soundly for the first time in months.
#
"Red Alert! All hands to Battlestations! Captain Wildman to the bridge, please!"
"Icheb, we're all here anyway" Naomi glanced at her friend.
"My apologies, Naomi, but I have wanted to say that for a long time" the Brunali smiled before returning to his work at the Science station. "Sensors reveal the Omega particles to be on a small moon near the fourth planet" he said.
"Adjusting course" Naomi said, neatly slipping the mighty Voyager from warp to impulse power.
"Naomi, I am reading several small ships in the area of the third planet" Mezoti said. "I would hazard a guess at a Pre-Warp society. However, there are two ships heading from an orbital facility towards the moon of the fourth planet. They will arrive just two minutes after us, but will undoubtedly see us well before then"
"Azan, engage the cloaking device" Naomi said.
"The cloaking device will not work in such an area like this" Azan said.
"If I may suggest an option…?" Rebi looked up from the Tactical station. "Put the moon between us and the incoming vessels. They will not see us until it is too late and we can disable their vessels so they can not pursue"
"That would break the Prime Directive" the Doctor said from MSD console.
"May I remind you, Doctor, that the Prime Directive does not apply under these circumstances?"
"I don't want to disable them too badly" the hologram replied.
"Sending out a measured pulse from the main deflector will result in their loss of primary system" Icheb said. "They will still be able to navigate by visual means, though"
"So long as that happens…" the Doctor seemed satisfied. "Harmonic chamber standing by" he reported.
"Orbit in thirteen minutes and twelve seconds" Naomi said. "Icheb, can you spell me at the Helm for five minutes?"
"Certainly" and he walked over to the Helm. "'M' 'E'" he said.
"Not bad" Naomi giggled, before sliding out of her seat and heading to the aft section of the Bridge – returning a few minutes later. "Next time we talk to Starfleet, I am going to personally recommend a commendation for the person who put a toilet on the Bridge"
"With your permission, Naomi, I would like to go down to the Cargo Bay and monitor the transference of the Omega Particle from there" Mezoti said.
"I will go with you" said the Doctor.
"As you wish" Mezoti inclined her head before heading for the Turbolift.
"I am increasing sensor resolution for the transporter signal pickup" Azan said.
"Icheb, scan the moon's surface"
"That's no moon" Icheb said. "That's a space station… No, sorry… It is a moon" Icheb thumped one panel and muttered about shoddy parts – quite forgetting he was the one that had replaced those circuits some six weeks previous. "I am reading massive damage to a research facility located on the southern hemisphere. Oddly, it is the only remaining structure in a three hundred thousand mile radius. On screen"
"Oh my god…" Naomi looked up from the helm to see massive devastation.
"The station itself is very unstable and will collapse within the hour" Icheb said. "I am seeing living quarters, workshops, mess halls, ground transports… Naomi, I am sorry but I am reading no survivors"
"Maybe that was for the best" Naomi said quietly. "What about the location of the Omega particles?" she asked.
"Sensors are having a hard time scanning that area, though I believe that they are contained" Icheb said.
"Azan, prepare to lock on to the co-ordinates and beam them aboard"
"Aye, Captain" and Naomi realised that the sight had affected him as well.
"Bridge to Cargo Bay 1. Are you ready down there?"
"Ready to beam aboard" Mezoti said.
"Energise" and there was a long pause.
"Cargo Bay 1 to Bridge. Increase transporter sensor resolution by 13%"
"I will comply" Azan said.
"Icheb, you able to tap into their computers at all?" Naomi asked quietly.
"Scanning…" the boy worked the panel well. "Perhaps I can. Naomi, the rescue vessels will be within visual range in less then one minute and fifteen seconds"
"Azan, be ready to fire the deflector"
"Naomi, if we change our orbital path, we will be able to put the planet between us and the approaching ships" Azan replied.
"The ships are taking up position over the blast site" Icheb said. "We will not be able to get the information we require"
"Bridge, Cargo Bay1. Transport complete"
"Okay. You can come back now" Naomi said.
"Of course, we can still get their computers" Icheb said. "If we engaged the cloaking device, we can enter the moon's atmosphere and beam them up"
"Wouldn't the radiation affect us?" asked Naomi.
"I can adjust the shields to block most of it, but we will get radiation poisoning"
"Doctor?"
"Although I would advise against this, Miss Wildman" the hologram said, "It would be most useful research. The radiation will make everyone, bar myself of course, very ill, but I can treat it easily enough"
"How long will the cloak last for in the radiation?" asked Naomi.
"It will last for only a matter of minutes. I would hazard a guess and say two at the most" Azan said. "However, there are extreme gravitational currents due to the Omega particle"
"Icheb, take the Helm" Naomi said, jumping out of the seat for her older friend to take. The Turbolift doors opened and Mezoti and Rebi came back onto the Bridge – taking Science and Engineering respectively.
"Engaging cloaking device" Azan said.
"Mr Icheb, manoeuvring thrusters" Naomi said, settling into Captain's chair.
"Aye, Ma'am" Icheb deftly took Voyager out of orbit and into the Moon's atmosphere"
"Venting drive plasma" Rebi said.
"WAIT!" Naomi said. "We'll need to warp out of here. Icheb, lay in a course and be ready to warp inside an atmosphere. Computer, auxiliary power to the shields"
"Acknowledged"
"Ready to beam aboard computers" Azan said.
"WARNING!" the computer blared out loudly. "Radiation levels have reached over 2 million Terratynes. Radiation dampeners are offline. Radiation will reach lethal levels in less then three minutes"
"Icheb, push the engines past maximum if you have to"
"Understood"
"Energising…" Azan said. "Transport incomplete. Attempting second transport. Energising… Computers are aboard and stored in Cargo Bay 2" he announced.
"Cloaking device is losing power. Failure in twelve seconds" Rebi announced.
"Turn us round – go to warp" Naomi said, gripping her arm rests as the inertial dampeners battled to keep them from being turned into a mess at the back of the Bridge.
"Engaging warp engines" Icheb swung the ship around, punched the Warp controls and rocketed the ship out of the moon's atmosphere and out into space. Once clear, he overrode the safety protocol and pushed the engines to maximum for several seconds before throttling down to cruising speeds.
"Cloaking device has failed" Rebi announced.
"Mez, scan for ships" Naomi was breathing deeply from the adrenaline rush she was going through"
"Scanning… no ships that are a threat" Mezoti reported. "Nearest vessels are those we left behind"
"Thanks for watching over us, Mom" Naomi whispered, looking at the ceiling of the Bridge. "Icheb, get us back on course for the communications point – Warp 6"
"Aye"
"Miss Wildman, I would like to see you in Sickbay" the Doctor said.
"What about the others?" the girl asked.
"They have exposure too, but shielded somewhat by their remaining Borg implants and partial exoskeleton" the hologram replied.
"Oh" Naomi said absently. "Icheb?"
"Yes, Naomi?"
"You have the Bridge. Keep us… Keep us … safe…" and the girl passed out.
"Standby for emergency transport…" Azan locked on to both Naomi and the EMH – sending them both to Sickbay.
"Will she be alright…?" Mezoti was afraid for her friend.
"I do not know" Icheb replied. "We shall have to wait and see, though I have no doubt that the Doctor will prevail"
"Shall we go and wait outside Sickbay?" asked Rebi.
"That would be a waste of time" said Azan. "I suggest we make repairs to the cloaking device and set to work downloading the alien computer drives"
"Agreed" Icheb said. "I will set the Helm up for automatic piloting by the computer" and, a few buttons later, the trio stepped into the turbolift and headed away to complete their task.
