Chapter Twelve.
2368
Captain's Log. Stardate 44995.3
It has been four years since I assumed command of this vessel, the ship and crew have surpassed every expectation I have of them and I can honestly say that I am pleased with the progress we have made. Two days ago, the Enterprise was ordered to hold position and await the arrival of the USS Tempest. For 47 hours we have held position, it has given the crew a chance to relax after a patrol of the boundary between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. However, with sightings of the as of yet unknown Marauders in the region… I do not enjoy holding position.
As my First Officer once put it, I don't enjoy waving my hands and screaming our location. For the moment, I have taken time to read a book once given to me by an old friend.
Sat comfortably reading the antique novel given to him many years ago by an old friend, Captain Picard sipped on his favourite drink, Earl Grey Tea as he turned the page slowly and carefully of what could be his most valuable possession. A battered and almost moth eaten copy of Leo Tolstoy's War and Piece, once owned by the legend James T. Kirk himself. On the day he took command of the Enterprise, the book was presented too him by Leonard McCoy, the once medical officer of another ship named Enterprise. It had become something of a tradition for McCoy to give this copy of the book too every commander of a ship named Enterprise as a sign of good luck. However, much too his own failing body at the time, he could not hand the book too Captain Rachel Garrett upon the launch of her vessel. After learning of the fate of that ship, McCoy regretted his actions and blamed himself for failing to continue the tradition, a mistake he swore he would not repeat with the next ship named Enterprise.
As Captain of the Federation Flag Ship, Picard had been granted a high honour of selecting his crew from any posting within the fleet. Although every starship commander had a similar honour, many positions remained outside of their grasp, but not for the Captain of the Flag ship itself.
His first choice was clearly his First Officer, a brash young Lieutenant Commander named William Thomas Riker, whom had risen quickly through the ranks of Starfleet to full Commander. With many commendations too his name and an almost equal amount of disciplinary notes on his file, William Riker was almost considered by many who served with him as a reincarnation of James Kirk himself due too his command style, something Picard found almost irresistible when hiring.
Second Officer was something different entirely. A truly artificial life-form created by generations of research and struggle by a family of almost outcast scientists dating back to the 22nd Century. Considered the pinnacle of artificial life forms and granted the title of a sentient life form by the Federation President himself, Commander Data was the perfect choice for First Officer, yet his status at the time of selecting a First Officer would not allow him to take the position. In an act of defiance, Picard had personally ignored Starfleet and made Data his Second Officer, knowing that Riker would quickly take a ship of his own. An act which never happened since Riker turned down three commands of his own in order to stay onboard the Enterprise.
Chief Engineer was also an unusual choice for the coveted role. Blind since birth and implanted with cybernetic implants, Lieutenant Commander Geordie LaForge was in many ways, a genius himself. With the implants he wore for his vision, he was once, during his days at the Academy given the nickname as a 'Walking Tricorder' due to the ability of the implants to see things that the human eye could not.
Following the trend of unusual officers, Picard had almost been laughed out of the service in his choice of his Chief of Security. A large and powerful Klingon named Worf. Orphaned during childhood and raised by a human family, he quickly joined Starfleet and made a name for himself as a ruthless and formidable opponent to any enemy he came up against. Yet, his time serving on the Enterprise had earned him a great amount of respect from his shipmates and Starfleet Command itself.
Completing Picard's Command Staff was the Chief Medical Officer. Doctor Beverly Crusher, the beautiful and highly intelligent Doctor and a close personal friend of the Captain. It was once considered many years ago, that her own daughter named Alison was infact the daughter of Picard himself. Proof was found many years after his birth when Doctor Crusher and Alison joined the Enterprise crew.
Placing down his book after finishing yet another long chapter, Picard pulled on his uniform jacket as he entered the bridge from his ready room. For almost two days they had awaited the arrival of the old Starship and with time moving swiftly into the early hours of the morning, Picard had finally decided to retire to bed for the night. Yawning slightly, he walked towards the turbolift too the left of his ready room as he nodded to the command officer on duty, Commander Data.
"I assume you are retiring for the night Captain?"
"Yes… let me know when the Tempest signals" He nodded slightly.
"Of course sir, I shall be on the bridge if needed. Good night" Data replied.
"Data, sometimes… I envy you"
"How so sir?"
"Do you ever sleep?" Picard laughed.
"I tried it once… I found myself recalibrating the warp core"
"Yes… we all remember that" Picard laughed. "Good night"
He could not tell if it was fate or the universe attempting to play with him, but as he reached the turbolift and stepped inside, a beeping sound filled the bridge that signalled an incoming transmission. Laughing slightly too himself, Picard slowly walked onto the bridge as Data looked at the command console before him and spoke aloud.
"Captain, the Tempest signals their arrival. One hour sir"
"Better late then never Commander…"
"Sir?" Data said slowly.
"Never mind. Well if I'm awake… get everyone up here. Looks like our day starts early"
"Aye sir. Attention all hands, this is Commander Data. All senior officers report too the bridge please"
One hour later…
Finally, the Command Staff had arrived at the portside airlock in full dress uniform as directed by the Captain of the USS Tempest. Yawning and carrying a cup of warm coffee, commander Riker walked towards he gathered crew as they awaited the opening of the airlock between the two vessels.
Although Starfleet utilised the transporter technology more and more since its discovery centuries ago, the guest being delivered to the new Enterprise had argued many times of walking from ship too ship.
"Finally!" Riker moaned.
"Indeed!" Picard replied.
"You should be on your best behaviour Jean-Luc, the Admiral is… unusual"
"I know that Beverly. He's an old friend… remember?"
Slowly, he large airlock opened too the Boatswains signal as frail old man entered the ship wrapped up in thick warm clothing, carefully guided on by a young woman at his side.
"Admiral McCoy… it is good too see you again"
"Hello Picard. Finished with my book?" He grumbled.
"All this way for a book?" Data said quickly.
"Hardly Mister Data… not changed I see?"
"I do not grow old Admiral"
"Still looking for that… sense of honour I see?"
From the rear of the group, a middle aged woman walked towards him quickly as she pushed past the small group behind him with a look of dissatisfaction on her face as she spoke.
"Leonard… Leonard, you said you would wait!"
"Ohh… I forgot" He winked too Picard. "Picard, you remember my wife"
"Of course, A pleasure as always Doctor"
"It's good to see you again Captain. You look good, this ship seems to be treating you well"
Stepping forwards slowly, Doctor Crusher ushered her medical staff too join them quickly with an old style wheelchair for the Admiral, sitting down slowly he groaned slightly from the strain of his aging body until he sighed deeply with satisfaction of sitting down.
"Well, I guess you are wandering why we are here?"
"The though had occurred to us Admiral" Data replied sharply.
From behind the small group, a voice echoed through the halls as the Enterprise crew stood too attention almost instantly as a form appeared from behind the small group of Doctors.
"Indeed, perhaps I can explain"
"Mister President?" Picard said quickly.
"Ohh come now Captain, I have known you for many years now. Please… do not use that title"
"Of course sir" Picard replied.
"Call me Spock!"
After retiring from Starfleet, Spock had followed in his father's footsteps as an ambassador for the Federation and finally, yet reluctantly, took the position as President of the Federation after the death of his father three years ago. After taking the position, Spock had made it his personal challenge to get to know the commander of the USS Enterprise as he had done with each commanding officer of every ship named Enterprise since he had left Starfleet service.
Captain's Log. Supplemental
With introductions made, was have moved to a more… private and secure setting for what ever briefing the Admiral and President had in mind… my own personal quarters.
Moving whatever seating he could, Picard frowned as he looked around the large room and realised that he did not have enough seats to go around.
"Once again, let me apologise for the lack of seating…"
"I found one" McCoy pointed too his wheelchair.
"Honey… not the time" He wife said with a smile.
"Sorry" He smiled slightly.
"Admiral, I was not aware that you had married" Data said with a hint of surprise on his face.
"Decades ago" McCoy grumbled.
"Ohh, don't be put off by it Commander Data, it took twenty years before we took the big step"
"Of Course Doctor"
"Perhaps you are wandering why we are here?" Spock said slowly.
"Something like that!" Geordie yawned.
"Commander Data. Search for the files on the Langaran Plague… summarise please?" Spock said.
"Assessing, fascinating… Originally a Bio-Weapon developed by the Andorians code-named R-U-D-45, stolen by the USS North-Gate from Cold Station Twelve… adapted with genetically augmented DNA, detonated into the Langaran Atmosphere via Photon Torpedo. A vaccine was developed by Doctor David McCoy, unsuccessfully for the next 80 years it spread across the Romulan Empire until a cure was discovered by Doctors McCoy and Selana… resulting in the lasting ceasefire that ended the long Cold War between the Federation and the Romulan Empire. However, sixty years ago the Romulans cut off all communications with the Federation and disappeared…."
"Something like that!" McCoy moaned.
"What does this have to do with why we are here?" Geordie replied.
"One week ago, I was personally contacted by the new head of the Romulan Government, they wish to talk. A series of special co-ordinates where given and a request that Doctor McCoy and his wife, Doctor Selana attend… along with the Enterprise"
"What?" Riker said quickly.
"It appears that the Romulans respect the name 'Enterprise' in their language it means…. Freedom. All albeit archaic word from a dead language on their world… in addition, the Enterprise has been involved deeply with the Langaran Plague and requested your presence…"
"Captain, I don't like this. It smells of a trap" Riker said quickly.
"Indeed Number One… but if the Romulans want to come out of hiding… we should be there"
"Agreed Captain" Spock nodded.
"Captain Picard, this is our daughter… T'Lara, she is more then familiar with the Plague and its cure. She will join you on this voyage… where ever it takes you" Selana said with a smile.
"I assumed that you will be joining us"
"We will Jean-Luc. If this has something to do with that damned plague… you'll need an expert. She knows more about the damned thing then even I do" Replied the old Admiral.
"Your objections have already been noted… don't worry Doctor Crusher… I will simply be a member of your medical staff. From what I have seen of your file, you are an amazing doctor…"
The meeting went along smoothly between the most senior members of the Federation and the Enterprise crew. Leaping into warp with the USS Tempest never our of sensor range along with a large fleet of Federation ships nearby, the USS Enterprise approached the co-ordinates given by the leader of the Romulan Empire.
It did not take long before a large vessel appeared on the Enterprise' sensors. A large spider like ship exited warp, almost dwarfing the Enterprise herself as the crew looked on in shock at what they saw before their very eyes.
"Ohh Shit!" Data said, much too everyone's shock.
"Shit, indeed!" Spock replied.
"I guess now we know. Tactical analysis Mister Worf"
"Captain. I can not scan past the hull of that ship, it appears to be blocking our sensors somehow"
"Captain Picard, does that ship not look a lot like…"
"The vessels which have been attacking Federation ships along the Zone, quite right Doctor Selana" Picard said quickly"
"I guess, no we do know" Riker replied.
Picard turned quickly on his heels to look at his first officer before he was interrupted by the unfamiliar appearance of an alien on his view screen. Almost unrecognisable too the crew of the Enterprise as it smiled slightly displaying sharpened teeth and a frown on it's face that appeared almost evil and dark in its appearance.
"How are they doing that?" Riker yelled.
"Do not worry about the how and why… Commander William Thomas Riker, accept that we are!" The alien growled.
"How do you know my name?"
"We… are familiar with all of your crew. President Spock, so glad too see that you received our… invitation"
"Pardon me, but I do not believe that we are acquainted" Spock said politely.
"Of course, but you will. I see you have brought the traitor with you… Ahh yes… Doctor McCoy, the saviour of our race!"
"Who or what the hell are you?" McCoy grunted.
"A Product of your design Leonard McCoy… Please, do not attempt too stand. I am familiar with your… condition. As you once said, perhaps a history lesson?"
"Weapons standing by Captain" Worf mumbled.
"Ohh Mister Worf, the Klingon Orphan… how I wish to meet you in battle…"
"That can be arranged!" Worf Yelled.
"Perhaps in time. As I was saying… many of your decades ago. Doctor McCoy and the traitor attempted too vaccinate the entire Romulan Empire from the Plague… it worked, for a short time. Fifteen years later, a new strain of the plague appeared on an isolated world… deadly and highly contagious. However, the Reman people where immune to its effects… the Romulan keepers experimented on the Reman people and through selective breading… the plague was wiped out. Once the cure was found, the Romulans tried to destroy their… creation, the Remans fought back along with the hybrids. A visionary on Remus built a ship, in secret and freed the Reman people and with their hybrid brothers… we took over the Empire…"
His long, dark pause seemed to last forever as he leaned closer too the viewscreen of the Enterprise and smiled darkly. His hybrid or Romulan and Reman features glistened in the dim light from the large vessel before them as he continued.
"WE thank you Doctor McCoy. You have done more for the Reman people then you can imagine. For your Federation, this is a great day… the Romulan Empire has fallen under its own stupidity… now witness the arrival of the new REMAN UNITY!"
The main viewscreen of the Enterprise changed from the half breed Romulan-Reman to an external view of the deep black spider like Starship before them. Shock and fear overcame the crew of the Enterprise bridge as hundreds and thousands of vessels decloaked behind the large Reman ship. Almost frozen too the spot, yet forcing his legs to move. Picard walked forwards towards the helm as he spoke.
"Worf?"
"Counting… two thousand ships Captain… no… three…"
"Enough… What?… Umm…"
For a moment, it seemed like even the President himself was shaking in his boots as Picard turned for any answers his crew may give him. It was more then clear too everyone that if one of those ships decided to turn their weapons upon Enterprise, they could do nothing.
Silence and shock gripped the bridge of the proud Federation Starship as a voice, deep and almost evil sounding echoed over the bridge speakers.
"You are free too leave Enterprise. We no longer have interest in your ship… or your Federation. But remember this, we are watching you. The treaty you had once created with our Romulan oppressors… is no longer valid"
To be continued in…
Star Trek TNG: A Different Perspective
Story by:
Ariston-1