Captain's Log: Stardate: 58920.2: We have rendezvoused with Shuttlecraft Triton from the starship Titan carrying Counselor Deanna Troi and the Titan's first officer Christine Vale. Counselor Troi has come at her own request to aid Lieutenant Commander Dustin Zofchak with some issues he has been having with reoccurring dreams pertaining to his deceased sister, Lieutenant Amanda Zofchak, who was lost during the Battle of Betazed during the Mirror War. This is the first time he has had dreams involving this sibling. He had dreams about his other sister, Lieutenant Avery Zofchak who was lost at the battle of AR-558 during the Dominion War. Counselor Troi had asked Dustin to come to her if these dreams had ever returned.
Dustin sat in the office of Counselor Nycz with Counselor Troi. Troi had asked Nycz for the use of her office for the duration of her stay. Zofchak leaned back in a chair across from Troi, who was leaning forward resting her elbows on her knees and with her hands together and her fingers interlocked.
"Now tell me about these dreams. Where do they take place and who are in them and what events occur?" Troi asked.
Dustin let out a breath before beginning. "It's similar to the dreams I had with Avery. I'm standing on a grassy cliff overlooking an ocean. I feel confused at first because I do not know where I am or how I got there. Then I see Amanda standing with her back to me at the edge of the cliff facing the ocean. Next to her is the Mirror Captain Picard. He has her hands bound with a rope and has a phaser in his hand aimed at her. He looks at me with an evil grin on his face. The instant I move towards him, he pushes Amanda off the cliff and I can hear her screaming all the way down. I sprint towards the Mirror Picard with rage and fury wanting to kill him for what he had done. However, before I can reach him I'm caught in a transporter beam and beamed back to the Alexandria."
Deanna thought to herself for a moment before asking her next question. She wasn't sure what happened at the battle of her home planet so she would have to get the details from the chief engineer before she continued with her analysis on why the dreams have begun again with his other sister.
"Can you tell me what exactly happened during the battle when your sister was killed?"
"Four starships broke through the Mirror blockade." Zofchak said. "Us, Thunderchild, Solent and Katana. The Katana was destroyed upon dropping out of warp. The rest of the ships ganged up on Enterprise, who then began to retreat. The ship had fled to the other side of Betazed and opened an interspatial anomaly to head to the Mirror Universe. We thought they were leaving when they fired a transphasic torpedo that pierced the Solent's hull, striking their engineering section. Seconds later the ship exploded. It was then when I had myself beamed over to the Enterprise and began my assault. I wasn't thinking clearly, I wanted revenge for what happened to my sister. I wasn't going to stop until I was either dead or the mirror Picard was."
Deanna nodded. "So that's why the mirror Captain Picard is in the dream. He's the one who pulled the trigger. So what makes you think this is different than the dream with Avery? Do you think that this dream is the result of you not being ready to let your sister go? You had finally come to terms with Avery's death and the dreams stopped."
"I thought I had accepted Amanda's death." Dustin said. "I mean sure, I think about her a lot but I don't obsess over the fact. You can ask Hoshi about it. She would say that I seem perfectly fine. Obviously I'm not since I'm having these dreams."
Deanna leaned back and slightly smiled. "I think you're perfectly fine. What was the date of the Battle of Betazed?"
Dustin thought for a moment. "Stardate five seven nine zero zero."
"And what's today's?" Troi asked.
"Five eight nine two zero." Dustin said. He then looked at her as he realized where he was getting at. The Battle of Betazed happened one year and eight days ago. "Are you suggesting that these dreams are due to the fact that it's close to the anniversary of Amanda's death?"
"It could be." Deanna said.
"I kinda hope that it's that simple but at the same time I don't because I don't want you to have come all this way just to find out that my dreams are the subject to me subconsciously knowing that the anniversary of my sister's death had just passed."
Deanna smiled. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. Granted, it is a bit different to make house calls but it was worth the trip."
"Well, if that is the case and this is just my subconscious mind playing with me, then I can't surely let you go back to the Titan just after a small session like this one."
"What did you have in mind?" Deanna asked curiously.
"How about I treat you to some chocolate in Ten Forward?" Dustin asked, knowing she couldn't resist now that chocolate was involved.
"That is so tempting." Deanna said. "I'll accept only if you bring Hoshi and the twins."
"Deal. Although I must warn you, the twins are teething now so be careful not to let them get a hold of your fingers. You might not have any left when they're done."
At that moment, the intercom kicked on with Commander Merriell's voice on the other end. "Senior officers report to the observation lounge."
"I guess we're done here." Deanna said.
Dustin nodded in agreement before walking out the door.
A short time later, the senior officers sat around the table in the observation lounge. Allensworth was the last to enter. He held up a hand to his officers as he entered, indicating to them to keep their seats. He sat down and got right to business.
"A short time ago, I received a message for assistance from a commander of a base in the Hyralan Sector of the Mirror Universe, more specifically, Galorndon Core." The mere mention of the Mirror Universe caught the rest of the senior officers off guard. The commander in question is a Vulcan who served the empire. He was given the responsibility of caring for three Starfleet personnel captured during the war. Since the war's end, Starfleet has found multiple bases holding Federation prisoners."
"Why now?" Hoshi asked. "The war has been over for a few months and we're just now hearing from them?"
"Nivek, the station's commander had just arrived to the station to relieve the previous commander only a few days ago."
"Hard to believe the Terran Empire would just surrender such valuable assets." Ra'chel said.
Allensworth nodded. "Nivek's message also said that the officers have been interrogated multiple times since their capture but has put a stop to it since his posting there."
"My question is that," Nycz began. "Why would a member of the Terran Empire just hand over prisoners? Why not execute them like they normally do?"
"Nivek is a Vulcan. Vulcans in both universes are practically identical in their way of life." Allensworth said.
"Whatever the reason," Merriell said. "He trusts you to see this through. We can create a wormhole and enter the Mirror Universe in short order, Captain."
"I'm afraid that's not possible." Allensworth replied. "The Mirror Treaty signed after the war comes with strict stipulations, one of which is that any Federation starship cannot enter Terran Empire territory. Doctor Plumley and one assistant will be allowed to travel by shuttlecraft to a rendezvous point in their universe, where they will accept transfer of the officers and bring them back here. Further, no weapons are allowed aboard the shuttle.
McKenzie leaned forward in her seat, her firm expression familiar to Plumley as the security chief displayed it whenever a situation did not sit well with her so far as the crew's safety was concerned. "Captain, do they really expect we'll send Doctor Plumley unprotected behind enemy lines?"
"That may be their expectation, Lieutenant." Allensworth replied. "But I have no intention of accommodating that demand. That's why you will accompany the doctor as her assistant. The Alexandria will maintain station just on the Federation side of the wormhole near our universe's Galorndon Core, and I'll have no reservations about entering Terran Empire space if we suspect anything problematic taking place."
McKenzie offered a confident nod. "Understood, sir."
"Why a shuttlecraft? Can't we just use a multidimensional transporter and beam the patients here?" Hoshi asked.
"Galorndon Core's atmosphere creates electromagnetic storms interferes with sensors and transporters." Ra'chel said. "That's probably the reason why they chose that planet to hold the hostages."
"How soon can you be under way?" Allensworth asked.
"Once we get supplies and a shuttle prepared, I'd say just under three hours."
"Excellent. Despite the unorthodox nature of this mission I don't need to remind you that the diplomatic ramifications of your efforts may well prove as vital as the humanitarian aid you'll be providing. Good luck to both of you. Dismissed."
As the room began to clear, Plumley caught Allensworth's eye and walked toward him at his small nod. He also nodded to McKenzie to join them as she stood up from her chair.
"This Imperial commander is making an uncharacteristically bold step toward the Federation with this offer." He said. "Starfleet Command will be watching what happens with a keen eye. Despite what I said earlier, your first duty is to your patients, and our own safety. Leave diplomacy to the diplomats."
The two women nodded. "You can count on us, sir." McKenzie said.
Allensworth turned his gaze from his security chief to his chief medical officer. "I understand that a Doctor Zimmerman will be rendezvousing with the ship and will probably arrive after your departure. I shall keep him here until you return. I know how much this means to you, Doctor."
"Thank you, sir." Plumley said.
The captain turned and left the observation lounge leaving the two of them alone. McKenzie turned to Plumley. "I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I think that's if we return."
"Don't worry, Lieutenant. We'll return."