STAR TREK/THE REIGN: HIVE MIND
Fan fiction Crossover by Lance Berry
Last chapter of buildup, then it dives into the action…
CHAPTER 2: PARALLELS
"I know this is…a difficult concept to understand," Captain Picard was telling the middle-aged, stern-faced officer whose dour countenance stared him down on the Horizon's viewscreen. "But it is the complete and utter truth as to how we came to be in this position."
General Bruce Hackert had never been a man who was easily amused…and he found no humor whatsoever when he tried to contact David Christenson aboard the Horizon, only to find that he and his crew had been replaced by a bunch of strangers claiming to be from another universe. He had listened to this "Jean-Luc Picard's" highly imaginative tale as patiently as he could manage, but that patience was quickly nearing its limit. "Well, 'Captain' Picard," Hackert said somewhat mockingly as he looked over Picard's "uniform"—which to the General, looked like nothing more than an outrageously fancy pair of pajamas—"Perhaps where you come from, the letters of the alphabet are a very deadly thing. But here, in this universe, I have more important things to worry about."
Like Admiral Hanson in Picard's own universe, Hackert quickly tabbed commands into a console just out of sight on the viewscreen. "I have a fleet of 500 Heavy Cruisers preparing to amass at Jupiter, because the Calvorian Alliance has chosen to finally send one massive fleet to Earth in an attempt to bring our planet under their rule once and for all—and I needed David Christenson and our flagship!"
Picard shared a brief, urgent look with Will Riker, who was seated in Mara Christenson's chair at the rear of the small, circular bridge—then looked back to Hackert. "Then with all due respect, General…allow us to help! We may not be from your universe, but I can't stand idly by and watch Earth be attacked by any force!"
Hackert raised an eyebrow, impressed by this Picard for the first time since they had begun speaking. "Your offer is noted and appreciated, Picard. However, you're in illicit possession of United Earth Force property, and standing idly by is precisely what you shall do! I've signaled the Heavy Cruisers Prestige, Atlantis and Brooksfield to rendezvous at your position. They'll be there in thirty minutes, and all have orders to take your crew into custody and regain control of the Horizon. You and your people will be taken to the nearest Watch Station and held there, pending a full investigation into this matter. And Picard, I would advise you to not attempt to resist under any circumstances. These Cruisers will not hesitate to shoot if you or your people give them a reason. The Horizon is our flagship and we need it…but if it needs to be crippled temporarily in order to ensure it falls back into our hands, then c'est la vie."
And without another word, General Hackert closed the channel, returning the image on the viewscreen to that of the stars suspended in place outside.
Picard took a brief look around the bridge at his crew: Data was at the helm console, with Ensign Wesley Crusher beside him at navigation. Counselor Troi was seated at the communications console at the bridge's rear, next to Riker at Ops. Although the primary tactical station was on the upper level of the three-tiered bridge, Picard had ordered Worf to man an auxiliary console on the primary bridge, this console now doubling as the central tactical console. Doctor Crusher was in sickbay down on deck 9, while La Forge was positioned with his team in the engineering room on deck twenty-five. Riker gave the captain a quizzical look. "I take it we're not simply going to wait here to be shackled in irons, sir?"
Picard shook his head. "While I do respect the command line, Will, this isn't our universe and I have no obligations to that gentleman. My primary concern is with getting our crew back home, and perhaps aiding in the protection of this Earth is Q's end-goal. Maybe with this planet saved, Q will have had his fill of amusement, and switch us back to where we belong." The captain turned to Wesley. "Ensign Crusher, what is our ETA to Jupiter from our current position?"
It took only a moment for Wesley to tab in commands to the navigational console and retrieve the required information. "Utilizing the Horizon's artificial wormhole capability at its peak intensity…three hours and fifteen minutes, Captain." Picard took a breath and gave his senior staff a final once-over. "If anyone has any objection to this course of action, speak now. It will be duly noted in this ship's log, and my own, when we get back."
There were no objections. Picard nodded in satisfaction. "Speaker," he said aloud as he took a seat in the utilitarian command chair. The ODC gave off an affirming chime, and the captain's voice echoed throughout the Horizon's thirty-four decks as he said: "Attention all hands, this is the Captain. You've all been apprised of our situation, and you know that we are doing the best we can to find a way back to our own universe and time. However, a situation has arisen where the people of this reality face a grave threat, and they need our help. I would be remiss in my duties as a Starfleet officer to just turn a blind eye to the needs of another world, even if it's not one you or I are familiar with. The primary goal of any Starfleet vessel is 'to seek out new life'…and in that seeking, we must offer aid whenever necessary and possible. Therefore, we are now taking this ship into combat. I'm sure you've all done your best to familiarize yourselves with the Horizon's systems. We have just over three hours to reach our destination, so I implore you to become even more intimately familiar with them. Although somewhat primitive by our standards, this is an unfamiliar technology to us, and so it will take every last bit of our training to master it fully in order to ensure this Earth's survival…as well as our own. Be certain however, that as always, I have full faith in all of you. Picard out."
"Captain," Deanna spoke up as the intership line shut off, "Doesn't our interference in this universe's war constitute a violation of the Prime Directive?"
"I did consider that, Counselor," Picard replied weightily. "But given the circumstances of our arrival, and the fact this war has no repercussion on our own universe, I don't believe this constitutes any overt violation of the Directive at all." Picard cleared his throat as he turned forward in his chair. "Picard to engineering."
"La Forge here," the answer came back almost immediately.
"Geordi, we'll be utilizing the Horizon's top speed via wormhole."
"Understood, Captain. I have to say, sir; for engines that are based on somewhat simplistic science principles that we wouldn't use in our own realm, these babies down here are a thing of beauty! I'm reading full power available across the board. The gravimetric tunneling device is available through the ship's forward deflectors. I'm ready when you are."
"Thank you, Mister La Forge," Picard said. "Mister Data, Mister Crusher…set course for Jupiter, top speed. Engage!"
The android and the young man seated at the forward consoles replied affirmatively. Only seconds later as they worked their controls in tandem, a pinprick opened up in the space ahead of them on the viewscreen. The pinprick widened rapidly to a massive, ovular maw…and within was a multicolored swirling mass of infinity. A tunnel into and through the fourth dimension known as hyperspace. It was an imposing sight, and all on the bridge looked upon it with no small measure of awe. Data tabbed some commands into the helm console and the mile-and-a-half long behemoth known as the Horizon moved forward both under its own steam, and was simultaneously pulled toward the roaring tear in space by the immense gravitational forces on display. The Heavy Cruiser dove into the wormhole, and as soon as it was fully inside, the tear in space closed behind it and vanished, leaving no evidence that the ship had ever been there…
