"Captain Jim of the Enterprise, that's correct, NCC 1701, no E or any other letter in the alphabet. I am requesting permission to enter the wormhole immediately." Jim replied to the skeptical communications officer of Deep Space Nine.
"Jim, quite frankly, that HAS to be the ugliest space station I have ever seen." Wefud muttered. "I don't know, kind of looks like K-7 don't you think?" Jim needled.
"You only say that because we were just there a little while ago, I swear, we're still finding those little fur balls in the strangest places." Wefud replied.
The screen shimmered again and a beautiful young woman was on the screen, she was short, short black hair, and spots running all the way from her head down her neck. "This is Ezri Dax of Deep Space Nine. I was informed that you're claiming to be Captain Jim. That museum piece of a starship is a nice….touch." Her voice trailed off as she focused on Jim's face. Wefud grinned smugly. "What in the world is going on? What are you doing here? Sir." She added hastily.
"Well, why I'm here is a question that we're still trying to answer, what I want to do now, is enter the wormhole." Jim replied.
People were starting to crowd around Ezri, staring over her at the screen. Some were pointing and whispering loudly. Jim took it all in stride. "A guy could get used to that." Wefud whispered. Jim shot him an annoyed glare. Ezri snapped her head around. "Do you MIND?" The crowd very reluctantly began to disperse. "Sir, entry to the wormhole is restricted by order of the Federation counsel. The wormhole leads to the Gamma quadrant and Dominion space. We just had a rather bloody war against them and we don't want to do anything that could provoke them again. Traffic is restricted to sanctioned scientific missions or errands of mercy."
Jim nods. "I understand that, Lieutenant Dax, but this is an errand of mercy in many ways. It seems that the Federation has been attacked by an unknown alien menace. I have been in contact with certain parties that have informed me that some answers to this alien menace lies within the wormhole. I don't have any intentions of passing through the wormhole and entering contested space." Jim replied calmly but flashed his infamous smile. Wefud fought the urge to roll his eyes. She blinked and it seemed like she was blushing. "Sir, I have no knowledge of these events, but I am under strict orders."
She paused as if just realizing something. "Sir, did you say that you were contacted by someone?" "That's correct," Jim leaned forward as it dawned on him as well. Sisko had been in command of this very station. "Someone whom you might have known." "Benjamin?" She whispered. Jim nodded. Ezri grinned. "I knew it!"
She glanced around, suddenly aware that she had said it too loudly. She turned back to the screen. "I know I'm not supposed to do this, thankfully Captain Benteen is down on Bajor doing a survey, so I'm going to turn a blind eye captain, but whatever you do, make it quick." Jim nodded. "I understand completely, Lieutenant. And thank you so much." "My pleasure captain. Maybe after all this excitement is over you can come aboard and tell us a story or two over drinks."
"Much obliged, I think I'll have to take you up on that offer." Jim replied with a boyish smile. Wefud grumbled something under his breath.
Suddenly there was commotion behind Ezri and communications officer hurried down to Ezri, handing her a report and whispering in her ear. Ezri frowned.
"Never rains but it pours." Wefud whispered. "Don't you have sick people to attend to?" Jim stage whispered in return. Wefud frowned. "Uh, Captain, I have direct orders from Starfleet command to detain the Enterprise and the science vessel Sagan. It seems that you left Starbase 109 without permission of Commodore Chang. He has demanded that you be detained to halt any more contamination of the timeline. Three starships will be here in six hours to escort you back to Starbase 109."
"Three? They have three starships to bring me back but none to try and rescue Captain Saben?" Jim replied hotly.
"These are my orders, sir. I'm sorry. I'm sending the runabouts Danube and Rhine to escort you into docking bay 12. There you will hold until the starships arrive." "Two small shuttle craft type vessels approaching." Spock reported evenly. "Understood, lieutenant Dax. I guess we'll have that drink a lot sooner than I thought." He replied coolly. "I'm sorry sir." She replied hesitantly and switched off the channel. Jim turned to Benera. "Get the captain of the Sagan, tight beam." "Aye Aye sir."
"Time until those runabouts get here?" "They will be in range in two minutes." Jim turned to face the screen as Captain Entebbe appeared. "The word captain?" Entebbe asked. "The word is no, I am therefore going anyway." He replied. "We'll be right behind you, sir." Entebbe replied grimly. "Captain, I can't ask you to take this risk with me." "Sir, with all due respect, we've been with you from the beginning and we're not going to turn back now. The Federation is under attack and it seems like you and I are the only ones who see the threat clearly." Entebbe replied sternly.
Jim nodded slowly. "Well, I guess then there's no talking you out of it, make for the wormhole, full impulse."
"Acknowledged, Captain." Entebbe replied. The Enterprise and the Sagan rotated and began advancing on the wormhole. "Sir, we're receiving frantic hails from both the runabouts and DS9. They're demanding that we stand down." "We didn't hear that, Benera, too much interference." "Yes sir." She answered with a small smile.
"Runabouts closing fast…they're arming weapons." Jim nodded but his face remained impassive as he watched the spot where the wormhole lay loom on screen. "We are 20 seconds from the wormhole." Wefud reported. "Runabouts are 10 seconds from interception." Tock reported. The bridge was silent as they continued forward. "Shields?" Chim asked lowly. "No, Mr. Chim let's make those boys have to fire on an unshielded vessel." Jim responded. "Runabouts sending one last warning, captain." Jim nodded. "5 seconds to wormhole." "Torpedoes inbound!" Tock warned. The bridge crew braced themselves, but they passed several meters between the Sagan and the Enterprise and exploded. The vessels shook but there was no damage. "Warning shots." Wefud surmised. "We are at the wormhole's event horizon." The screen flashed, nearly blinding the bridge crew as the wormhole opened. The Enterprise and the Sagan plunged into the wormhole and as quickly as it exploded open it flashed close leaving the two runabouts in pursuit to coast to a stop.
Ezri rested her head on one hand and sighed heavily. "This is going to be a long day." She muttered.