30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XVIII: "Golden Voyagers"
CHAPTER FOUR
Historian's Note: This chapter focuses on the crew of Deep Space Nine (aboard the USS Defiant NX-74205). We find the Defiant arriving in the Kelvin Timeline just after the events of the beloved fourth-season Deep Space Nine episode "The Visitor."
As for Worf, he is not present on the Defiant for this chapter because (as a Lieutenant) he is already on the Enterprise-D, as seen in the last chapter.
Aboard USS Defiant NX-74205
Captain Benjamin Sisko walked onto the Bridge of the Defiant and saw Major Kira in the command chair. "What's our status, Major?" Sisko asked.
Kira checked the status displays mounted on the arm of the command chair. "We're on course for the sector we were assigned to scan by Prince William," she said. "We should arrive in three hours."
"Dax, what do we have on the sector?" Sisko asked. Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax tapped a few keys on her helm console. "We are approaching the location where Starfleet officer Ensign Sito Jaxa was reported killed in action on stardate 47566.2," Dax said.
"I remember hearing about that when I was on Earth picking up the Defiant," Sisko said. "Several people I met served with Ensign Sito at Starfleet Academy and then on the Enterprise." "Captain, I'm picking up a signal from a Federation Type-6 shuttlecraft escape vehicle's distress beacon," Chief Miles O'Brien said.
"Source?" Sisko said. "Bearing 261 mark 70," O'Brien said, checking his displays. "It's on the Cardassian side of the border."
Major Kira rose from the command chair and made her way to the Tactical station as O'Brien added, "I'm now picking up a Galor-class warship bearing down on the escape vehicle's position." "Major, get us under cloak and maneuver between the escape vehicle and the Cardassian warship," Sisko said as he sat down in the command chair.
The Bridge lights dimmed as the Romulan-loaned cloaking device came online. "Cloaking device operating within parameters," Kira said.
"Dax, how long do we have until the Cardassian ship enters visual range?" Sisko asked. "Fifteen minutes," Dax said.
"We've entered transporter range," O'Brien said. "Chief, get to the transporter and prepare to beam the occupant of the escape vehicle aboard," Sisko said.
O'Brien rushed off the Bridge. "Major, prepare to drop cloak," Sisko said. As soon as O'Brien noted that he was at the transporter controls, Sisko ordered Kira to drop the cloaking device. "The subject is aboard, Captain," O'Brien said from the transporter room.
"Reactivating cloak," Kira said. The Bridge lights darkened once more as Sisko turned to leave the Bridge. "Get us out of here, Old Man," Sisko said to Dax before leaving the Bridge.
In the transporter room, O'Brien was helping the occupant of the escape vehicle to her feet as Sisko walked in. "I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko. Welcome aboard the USS Defiant," Sisko said in introduction. "Ensign Sito Jaxa, USS Enterprise-D," the disheveled Bajoran woman said. "It is an honor to meet you, Emissary. However, the last I read, sir, you were only ranked Commander and posted to Deep Space Nine."
"Ensign Sito, this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but you are almost two years in the future from when you were when you left on your mission to escort Joret Dal back to Cardassian territory," Sisko said. "The Enterprise was destroyed a year after you were declared killed in action."
"Were there any fatalities?" Sito asked. "17 dead, but that's not the half of what I have to tell you." Sisko said. "We are on a mission to save this universe from a force seeking to destroy it. And we're being assisted on this mission by four Enterprises—including yours."
"Bridge to Captain Sisko," Major Kira said. "We're receiving a response to our report from Prince William on the Amidala." "On our way, Major," Sisko said. Sito followed Sisko and O'Brien out of the transporter room.
Back on the Bridge, Sisko smiled as he saw Prince William and Princess Sofia on the Defiant's viewscreen. "We have read your report, Ben," William said. "I presume that is your package?" Sofia said, gesturing to where Sito stood behind Sisko and O'Brien.
Sito stepped forward so that William and Sofia could see her. "Ensign Sito, good to see you're all right," William said. "I am Prince William of Cinnabar, and this is my wife, Princess Sofia of Enchancia."
Sofia nodded. "Ensign, the Defiant is on its way to where all of our forces are gathering to counteract what is going on here," she said. "I'll leave Captain Sisko to explain the situation to you. I also have a proposal to make to you when we meet in person."
"What do you mean, Princess Sofia?" Sito asked. Sofia shook her head, then added, "Remember Starfleet Regulation 46-A." "'If transmissions are being monitored during battle, no un-coded messages on an open channel,'" Sito said, quoting the regulation that Sofia was referring to.
"Exactly," William said. "See you when you arrive at Starbase Yorktown. Amidala, out." "I've never heard of a Starbase Yorktown," Sito said as the viewscreen switched back to the view from the Defiant's forward sensors.
"That's part of the story I have to tell you," Sisko said as he gestured for Sito to follow him off the Bridge.
A few hours later in the Defiant's Mess Hall, Sisko placed a cup of raktajino in front of Sito. "Thank you," Sito said before taking a sip as Sisko sat down across the table from her.
"I've been able to read the files you've provided to me, Emissary, about what is going on," Sito continued, holding up the PADD that Sisko had given her about the goings-on regarding the Army of Inter-Universal Chaos.
"Interesting reading, right, Ensign?" Sisko said. "Very much so," Sito said. "Emissary, about the Enterprise-D. Will I be allowed to meet them when we get to Starbase Yorktown?"
"Yes, but with one provision," Sisko said, nodding gravely. "Prince William tells me that when we defeat the A.I.C., we will all be returned to our proper places and times, which for the Enterprise-D means that they will return shortly before its destruction."
"So yes, you can see them. But, under the terms of the Temporal Prime Directive, you cannot divulge the Enterprise-D's fate to her crew. Is that understood?" he finished. "Perfectly, Emissary," Sito said.
"Bridge to Captain Sisko," Kira said. "Go ahead, Major," Sisko said. "We're approaching Starbase Yorktown," Kira said.
"On our way," Sisko said. He gestured for Sito to follow him.
Next time, the Voyager takes the spotlight and finds a crucial clue to the A.I.C.'s intentions...
::TBC::
