30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XVIII: "Golden Voyagers"

CHAPTER SEVEN

Historian's Note: The next two chapters take place aboard the DDV Amidala concurrent to the investigations of the five Starfleet crews, as seen in the previous five chapters.

Aboard DDV Amidala

Ship's Log, Mission Date 1,187, Prince William recording.

We have not yet located any indications of where the A.I.C.'s headquarters in this world or their anomaly generator are located. I can only hope that the Starfleet crews are having better luck than we are.

William looked over at Mal when she reported, "Incoming hail from the Prime Enterprise." "On screen," William ordered.

The Bridge of the Prime Enterprise appeared on the Amidala's viewscreen. "Jim, what's going on?" William asked. "We've found part of the energy signature you showed us," Kirk said. "You should be receiving our data momentarily."

Clara turned to look at William. "We've received the data packet from theEnterprise," she said. "On screen, Clara," Sofia said. The communication from the Prime Enterprise was shifted to another window in order to allow the Bridge crew to examine the readings that the Prime Enterprise had recorded.

"That looks likeDeep Space Nine," Sofia said. "Captain Sisko's station?" Kirk said. "Yes, but look," William said. "It's orbiting Bajor. We must be looking atTerok Nor." "What is Terok Nor?" Kirk asked.

"Terok Noris the original Cardassian designation for the facility now known asDeep Space Nine," Clara said. "We could be looking at a version of the station either from before the handover from the Cardassians to the Bajoran Provisional Government and Starfleet...or from the mirror universe."

Kirk turned in his chair to look at Uhura and Scotty with a surprised glance. "Jim, I am sending you a file on Cardassian life-sign readings," William said. "If you cannot find them, then the third possibility is likely: that this version ofTerok Norcomes from a time in the mirror universe where the Terran Rebellion took the station from the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance."

"I have received the data, Captain. Commencing scan," Spock said. "I am reading a mixture of Klingon and Cardassian life-signs." "So this Klingon-Cardassian Alliance is in league with the A.I.C.," Kirk said.

"It seems so," Clara said. "Mr. Sulu, set course back for Starbase Yorktown," Kirk said. "Aye, sir," Sulu said.

"You did well, Jim," William said. Kirk nodded, then said, "It's up to the other ships now. Enterprise, out."

A few hours later, William was reading Captain Sisko's mission update on the couch in the Amidala's Ready Room when Mal's voice came on the comm. "Prince William to the Bridge, please," she said. "On my way, Mal," William said.

William walked onto the Bridge just as Sofia exited a turbolift. "Incoming hail from the Defiant," Zenon said as Mal stood from the command chair. "Put it through," William said as Mal relieved Zenon.

The Bridge of the Defiant appeared. Sisko sat in the command chair, a disheveled Bajoran woman standing nearby. "We have read your report, Ben," William said. "I presume that is your package?" Sofia said, gesturing to where the disheveled Bajoran woman stood behind Sisko and O'Brien.

The woman 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, theDefiantis 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?" Ensign Sito Jaxa 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." As the viewscreen switched back to the forward view from the Amidala's sensors, William looked at Sofia. "What proposal?" William asked.

"I was thinking about having Ensign Sito join the Scarlett Army," Sofia said. "You've read Ensign Sito's file."

"Yeah, I did," William said. "Her behavior after the incident she was involved in at Starfleet Academy proves she should not be trusted with such an important job as a member of Aunt Scarlett's army!"

"William, I am fully aware of the incident involving Cadet Joshua Albert's death and the subsequent cover-up," Sofia said. "However, after it and until she was declared KIA, Ensign Sito fought hard to prove herself worthy of being a Starfleet officer, and her record as such proved it."

"When Scarlett made me High Commander of the Army, she gave me complete authority over the recruitment of personnel," Sofia continued. "I think Ensign Sito deserves a place in my Army, so I'm gonna give her the opportunity. You should too."

William sat silently for a few moments to digest the meaning of Sofia's words. Then, he smiled. "Honey, if you trust Ensign Sito, I will too," William said.

Next time, the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place...

::TBC::