Star Trek the Next Generation
Rabies
Chapter 8
Perilous Stakes
We will be remembered not for the powers of our weapons but for the power of our compassion, our dedication to human welfare.
-Hubert H. Humphrey
"Captain's log star date 233.56, we responded to a distress call from the Ghandi. Unfortunately, the vessel was too badly damaged and by the time we got there the ship succumbed to its damage. We did find an escape pod, carrying a rather interesting officer. He was unconscious when we retrieved and I am waiting anxiously for him to wake up. There are too many unanswered questions and I hope he'll be able to answer some of them. We are now on route to rendezvous back with the Enterprise and will be there in three hours."
Sisko walked down the corridor deep in thought. He was just visiting engineering and was now going to visit sickbay, to check the status of their new patient. Bashir looked up from his computer when Sisko walked in, "I thought I was supposed to call you when he wakes up?" He said taking a few steps toward his Captain.
"I know," Sisko said wearing an anxious look, "But I need questions answered. It is time he wakes up to answer them."
"Yes sir," Bashir said grabbing a hypro-spray.
He pressed it against Riker's neck and there was a silent hiss, when it was released into his body. Riker inhaled and his eyes fluttered open. Sisko leaned forward and Riker looked at him with a surprised look on his face. "Where am I?" He asked looking at Sisko and then Bashir.
"You are on board the Defiant," Bashir said setting the hypro-spray on the table next to all the other sprays.
"The Ghandi?" Riker asked trying to sit up, but he laid back down when he began to feel dizzy.
Sisko shook his head and Riker grew angry for a second, "Who are you really?"
"Lieutenant Thomas Riker," Riker said ruffling his hair, "Why do you ask?"
"Thomas Riker?" Sisko asked looking at Bashir.
"He has the same genetic code as Commander Riker," Bashir said.
"Of course I do," Riker snorted, "We are the same person; not exactly that is. A transporter accident caused it to create a double of Will Riker."
"What happened out there?" Sisko asked.
"We were patrolling the cluster nebula like usual, when we picked up something strange on sensors," Riker said, "Before we were even able to really scan it fully, the Romulans attacked us."
"How many vessels?" Bashir asked looking at Riker.
Riker looked at Bashir and shook his head, "I don't know exactly. They would uncloak long enough to attack and before we knew it all major systems were gone. The Captain informed us to take the escape pods. I managed to get the last one, when the Romulans shot some sort of weapon on the Ghandi. After that, I don't remember anything else."
Sisko cleared his throat and began to stroke his goatee. "Well with the Romulans new attack, it could start a war."
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Seven Klingon ships uncloaked and began firing on the approaching four Romulan vessels. The Romulan ships spread out, into a backward V shape, hoping to trap the Klingons. A Klingon ship spun and fired a string of torpedoes. They struck the side of the side of the Romulan ship. Explosions erupted on the hull of the ship and the Romulan ship exploded. The Klingon ship flew through the debris and began firing at the middle Romulan ship.
The Romulan ship eluded the torpedoes and shot a single torpedo. It struck the Klingon ship and it exploded. Two war birds flew around the debris of the Klingon ship and fired on the center Romulan ship. The Romulan ship tried to dodge it again, but the torpedoes struck the side of the hull.
The Romulan ship exploded and the Klingon ships flew the debris and flew opposite ways. Both began firing on the rear section of the Romulan ships. The other Klingon ships began firing as they approached the remaining Romulan ships. The Romulan ships exploded from the Klingon ships.
T'Plak smiled as he watched the remaining Romulan ship explode. He stood up as he suddenly thought of something. "Helmsman," He said turning to his Klingon helmsman.
"Yes," Kulat said looking up from his computer.
"Send a message to the remainder of the ships," T'Plak said as he took a few steps toward Kulat, "And give them the coordinates to the Romulan base in the Vellar System."
"Yes sir," Kulat said loudly.
Chullkar walked up to T'Plak and asked. "What is your plan?"
"Isn't it clear," T'Plak said with a warrior grin, "We are going to destroy that base. We need to show the Romulans who's in charge. The Federation won't do anything in the offensive category."
"They will try to negotiate and talk with the Romulans," Chullkar said with a crooked grin.
"And of course it won't work," T'Plak said reaching out and patting Chullkar on the shoulder, "The Romulans can't be reasoned with. Soon the Federation will see we are right and the only key is in the offensive."
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Picard shook his head in dismay, "No there was nothing the Defiant could do for the Ghandi."
"It is a pity," Admiral Jacobs frowned, "She was a good ship with a good crew."
"You did hear that Lieutenant Thomas Riker survived the attack?" Picard asked his eyes narrowing at the small smile Admiral Jacobs gave him.
"Oh yes," She said, "And he will be under your command. Once this conflict with the Romulans is over, he will be transferred to a Federation psychic center."
"Psychic center?" Picard asked giving Admiral Jacobs a strange look.
"Of course," She said giving Picard a you should've known look, "He just saw his whole crew die. All his friends on his ship are now dead."
"I'll have him talk with Counselor Troi when he gets here," Picard said as he suddenly got a strong desire for tea.
"The Romulans are getting dangerously close in causing a full scale war with the Romulans," Admiral Jacobs sad leaning forward in her seat. She squinted at the screen and continued in a mechanical tone, "I don't have to tell you to be careful out there, do I?"
"No you don't," Picard said with a smile.
"Good," Admiral Jacobs said giving Picard a long hard look making Picard shudder, "Admiral Jacobs out."
Picard shut his computer, just as the door chimed. "Come in," He said loudly as he stood up to get some tea.
Riker stepped into the ready room and said, "The Defiant has just rejoined the fleet and we are ready to pick up our guest."
"Have Counselor Troi go with you to greet him," Picard said as he took a sip of his tea.
"Yes sir," Riker said as he turned to leave, "Are you alright, Captain?"
"I'm fine," Picard said looking up from his desk, "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Riker said as he walked out of Picard's ready room.
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The Romulan ship approached the Cardassian home world. Seta looked at the planet with a disgusted look on her face. "Load the probe," She ordered staring at her weapons officer.
He nodded and loaded it up. He looked at Seta and said, "The probe is ready."
"By all means," Seta said eyeing Cardassia, "Fire."
The probe shot out of the cloaked Romulan ship. Suddenly the helmsman's computer exploded. "What happened?" Seat asked running to her weapons officer.
The weapons officer was about to answer, but another explosion from the weapons officer's computer caused her to fly backward and land badly. She stood up slowly ignoring the pain and saw two of her bridge officers were dead. Everything was going as planned. She just hoped the result wouldn't have been so bloody.
Plus if everything would go as planned, it would like an accident. Seta sat in her chair and asked her science officer, "Status?"
"We have lost main power and the warp core is over loading," He said.
"Good," She said closing her eyes.
In her mind she saw the resurrection of Romulus. She found herself walking side by side with her husband, staring at the cliffs in the Dellat Valley. She then saw herself walking up to the tree that was in her front yard of her home, when she was growing up. She reached out and rubbed its rough trunk. A smile appeared on her face, but that was it as the Romulan ship exploded.
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Riker and Troi walked into the transporter room and when the Ensign posted there saw them walk in, he stiffened. "At ease," Riker said, "You ready?"
"Yes," He said nervously.
"Energize," Riker said eyeing the transporting pad.
Seconds later Thomas Riker appeared on the transporting pad. When he saw Troi he immediately smiled, but restricted himself, for the other Riker was standing next to her. Both Rikers looked at each other with a feeling of resentment between each other. Troi felt this and stepped up to Thomas Riker saying, "Come on, I'll show you to your quarters."
Thomas Riker smiled at Troi and followed her out of the transporter room. Riker looked at the Ensign for a brief second and then followed the other Riker and Troi. "So," Riker said, "Tell me something, how come you survived out of everyone else from the Ghandi crew?"
"Do you think I wanted it to be like that?" Thomas Riker said sourly, "If there was a way I could've saved them, I would have. But whatever the Romulans shot at us turned the crew into those zombie-like creatures."
"Then how come you didn't get infected?" Troi asked looking at Thomas Riker.
"Captain Reynolds informed the crew to take the escape pods," Thomas said anger creeping in his voice. They turned into the turbo-lift, "Dozens of escape pods were destroyed by the Romulans."
They stepped into the turbo-lift and Troi said, "Deck fifteen, crew quarters."
"I'm sorry to hear about the Ghandi crew," Riker said feeling sorry for his other self.
"Thanks," Thomas tearfully said, "You don't know what it feels like to lose a whole crew. Everyone on that ship was my friend."
Troi placed a friendly hand on Thomas' shoulder and he nodded at Troi. "It must be so hard for you," She said.
"Of course it is," Thomas said, "But I'd rather not talk about that now."
They exited the turbo-lift and the rest of the walk to Thomas' proper quarters was silent. When they got to his quarters, Troi turned to him and said, "If you ever want to talk to me about anything, you know where to find me."
Thomas looked at Troi and then at Riker, "Okay," He said walking into his quarters.
He walked up to the replicator and was about to order something when he balled both of his fists. He punched the wall hard again and again. "I will have my revenge," He muttered angrily turning from the replicator and began blowing on his hurting knuckles.
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Picard stepped on to the bridge when Worf said, "Sir, we are picking a subspace message from Cardassia."
"Cardassia?" Picard asked looking at Worf perplexed, "Well put it through."
"Yes sir," Worf said.
Picard turned to face the view-screen when Gul Dukat's image filled it. He was about to talk when Gul Dukat said, "To all Federation and Klingon ships. Today is a day that will change the wave of power in the alpha quadrant. Today, a Federation probe landed on Cardassia, with a lethal virus. It has already infected half of Cardassia. Did you guys think you would get away with it? Putting a Federation probe on a Romulan ship hoping we would attack them. But that is something that will not happen. As of now, the Romulans and us are allies. In fact, right now Cardassian ships have dispatched to attack Starbase 34. You wanted to start a war; you are going to get one. Just on different grounds."