SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.
Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 3
Meanwhile…
"What do you mean we lost contact with Commander Sisko's 'runabout'?" Major Kira asked.
"That's just it, Major," said O'Brien, as he checked his sensors. "Worse, until we have our sensors at least up to par, I can't extend the sensor grid beyond the Denorios Belt to be sure."
"But what do we know?" Kira said with frustration.
"There was a brief disruption of the space-time continuum, moments before the 'Rio Grande' disappeared. I definitely picked a neutrino disruption-"
"Great, just great," Kira said, as she paces back and forth. "And I know that Gul Dukat will be monitoring our communications traffic for ANY reason to return to the station,"
"Still, at least we don't have to worry about the safety of Commander Sisko and the others," O'Brien said with a shrug.
"How so?" Kira said with a frown.
"Counselor Tsukino, my mother-in-law, is with them."
"Humph," Kira replied. She knew about Counselor Tsukino, due to the fact that she knew her HUSBAND well…
'It's hard to believe that Ranma could have a life with HER…'
Meanwhile…
Usagi was humming a tune, while underneath an engineering panel, while Sisko and Dax was conducting a survey of the system.
"That was definitely a 'wormhole'," Sisko said. "But the properties are not the same."
"I can confirm that the wormhole is 'artificial'," Dax replied, as she continued her scans. "They are MUCH more advanced than our 'Jumpgate' technology."
"And probably beyond the level of the Juraian and Minbar's ability to generate a wormhole," Sisko said.
"That's because it is," Usagi said, as she removes herself from underneath the engineering panel. "I met species that can create entire pockets of reality, but uses established conduits in and out of normal reality."
"Old Man?" Sisko said.
"It is possible, but I would need verification of this."
"Well, you got a way of finding out now," Usagi said.
"What do you mean?" Sisko asked.
"I auto-tuned the warp nacelles to trigger an opening, once we make contact with the event horizon of the wormhole."
"So it won't automatically open."
"Nope. Like I said, and Dax can firmed this, we're dealing with an artificial wormhole of monumental proportions."
"Well, then, we should return to the station," Sisko said. He then turns towards Dax.
"And, please, Old Man…make it a smoother ride."
"Of, course, Benjamin," Dax said with a smile.
And with that, the Rio Grande proceeds towards the mouth of the wormhole…
FWOOSH!
The previous bumpy ride is less bumpy, as Dax compensates for the gravity well of the wormhole. Soon, Sisko notices something…
"Dax, did you reduce impulse power?" Sisko asks.
"No, why?" Dax said.
"We may be inserting into a pocket dimension," Usagi replied. "I recommend an auto shut-down, or we'll loose our engines will stall."
"Initiate auto-shut down," Sisko said.
"I'm detecting a developing atmosphere and landscape," Dax replied.
FLASH!
THUNK!
"Ben, we've just landed," Dax said with astonishment.
"On what?" Ben said.
"Commander, I sense intelligence beyond this ship," Usagi said, as she looks around. "I'm sensing…curiosity?"
"Well, we better go see our 'host'," Sisko said, as he gets up from his seat.
Minutes later…
"What a desolate place," Sisko said, as he looks at something straight out of Dante's "Purgatory"…
"What are you talking about, Ben?" Dax said with a smile, as she fans out. "I see a garden paradise…"
Dax turns to look at a bewildered Usagi.
"Bunny?"
"I'm must delirious, because I see my Moon Kingdom in its prime," Usagi replied. "I see a great hall, where the court has assembled for an audience with my mother, Queen Serenity- eh? What are you talking about? No, I'm not wearing a costume, MOTHER! I'm a Starfleet officer. Yes, I'm in the military. What? That, MOTHER, is sexist and old fashion- Luna! I don't need YOU to get into MY business. Humph!"
The only thing that Sisko and Dax could do is sweat in confusion.
"…"
"Well, obviously, we can't all be experiencing the same thing," Sisko said. And then-
FLASH!
An hourglass made from crystals appears in front of everyone.
"Ben, Bunny…so you see-" Dax began to say.
"A Bajoran Orb," Ben finished. He then turns towards Usagi.
"Counselor-"
"I told you, I'm not going to wear THAT hideous dress!" Usagi said. "No, YOU can wear it, Luna-"
"Counselor?" Ben asked. "I need your attention, please."
"Huh?" Usagi said. "Oh, sorry about that-!"
FLASH!
A pale, green beam lances at the three Starfleet officers.
"We're being scanned, Ben-" Dax said, just as she and Usagi are suddenly incased in a crystal.
"Dax!" Sisko said, just as he was about to be engulfed in white. "Counselor-!"
FLASH!
The crystals containing Dax and Usagi travel through the wormhole and-
BRRRRIIIIINNNNGGGGGG…
The two crystal containers are beamed aboard at Ops. And then-
FLASH!
"Whoa," Usagi said. "That was…strange."
"Bunny, are you okay?" Dax asked.
"Oh, Dax," Usagi said, as she hugged the Trill. "I was SO frightened…"
"Excuse me?" Kira said. "Do you two mind telling me what just happened? And where is Commander Sisko?"
"Well, let's see," Dax said, as she began her report…
Ten minutes later…
"An artificial wormhole?" Dr. Bashir said.
"Apparently so," Dax said.
"Well, unfortunately we got bigger problems," Kira said.
"Oh?"
"As soon as I beamed your 'crafts' to the station, Gul Dukat's ship departed to the Denorios Belt," O'Brien said.
"We need to stop them AND get Commander Sisko back," Kira said. "But we don't have the means to intercept Gul Dukat's ship."
"Actually, we do," Usagi said with a smile.
"And how so, COUNSELOR?" Kira replied.
"We have this station, remember?"
"Of course!" O'Brien said. "We can use the thrusters to push the ship-"
"And use the sub-space generators to 'lighten it', by canceling its gravitational constant," Dax said.
"If that's the case, Bajor can stake a claim to this new wormhole, and change this sector's future for the better," Kira said. She then looks at Usagi.
"Counselor, I read your file, and after what Dax had said-"
"No need to apologize," Usagi replied.
"No, I was about to assign you to work with Chief O'Brien on preparing the station, while the rest of us we'll try to get Commander Sisko back."
"Oh."
Kira then looks around Ops.
"Well, let's get started people," Kira said. "We got jobs to do, so let's move!"
After Kira and the others leave, O'Brien and Usagi get to work on modifying the station for movement…
"DAMN IT!" O'Brien yells in frustration.
Usagi pulls herself up from a panel with cables wrapped around her neck.
"Modifications are almost done," Usagi said, as she wipes the sweat of her brow.
"Fat chance that'll do," O'Brien said. "This stupid Cardassian control panel design is madness!"
O'Brien kicks the control panel.
WHAM!
"Ow!"
"Miles, relax," Usagi said, as she goes over towards her son-in-law's side.
"Relax? If I fail to get this station ready, the Federation will have failed these people in claiming a potential jewel."
"Miles, back in the old days, I knew a man who was a maestro at engineering. One type, he was able to install a Romulan cloaking device into a Federation starship perfectly, which is why he was called 'The Miracle Worker'."
"Well, what was his secret, then?" O'Brien said out of curiosity.
"At the end of the day, a circuit is still a circuit. THAT is a commonality of all technology, no matter what."
O'Brien ponders Usagi's words. He then looks at the control panel that was before him…and presses a button.
CHIRP!
Wrrrrrrrr…
"Ah, we did it!" O'Brien said as he smiled at finally figuring out how to access Cardassian technology mentally. "All I needed to do was think how a Cardassian would utilize this panel."
"Bingo," Usagi said. "Now, let's get a move on."
"Right. You know, you not bad a counselor after all?"
"Why, um, thank you?" Usagi replied, not sure how to respond to O'Brien's choice of words…
And thus, the Federation station Deep Space Nine moves off from Bajoran orbit. Destination: the Denorios Belt.
Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan.
After Gul Dukat's ship entered the wormhole, the wormhole suddenly disappears, denying a rescue of Commander Sisko. When that happened, Kira was forced to call off the rescue attempt and return to the station upon its arrival. Worse, Gul Dukat had called in reinforcement…
"Where is Gul Dukat's ship?" said Gul Jasad, member of the Seventh Order, as he prepared to attack the station. "We left Bajor in good faith, and THIS is how you repay our kindness?"
"We assure, that we have sensor evidence to attest to the fact that there was a wormhole here."
"Which can be forgeries," Jasad said. "You have one hour to surrender this station, or be destroyed."
CHIRP!
With the screen off, Kira turns towards Usagi.
"Counselor?" Kira asked.
"He's looking for an excuse to re-establish control over this sector," Usagi said. "Even if he DID learn the truth."
"Problem is, we don't have many options," O'Brien said. "And the Cardassians have already cut off communications with the nearest Starfleet ship."
"Advice, Counselor?" Kira asked.
"Jasad…Oh, may I talk to him?"
"What for?"
"I some…things that Jasad might want to hear."
"Okay, but if you mess this up-"
"We'll be in a lot of trouble."
For a moment, Kira simply stared at Usagi…
"Alright, go."
"Chief, on screen," Usagi said.
CHIRP!
"Hello," Usagi said with a smile.
"And you are…?" Jasad asked.
"I am Counselor Usagi Tsukino, and I have been chosen to negotiate a peaceful resolution."
"So you will surrender the station after all?" Jasad asked.
"Actually, I have a better deal for you to accept," Usagi said. "You are Jasad Mek?"
"Yes…"
"Brother of Jasad Mal?"
"Yes, how do you know my brother?" Jasad asked.
"My husband, Ranma Saotome, once saved your brother's life."
"Oh? How did this…Ranma Saotome save my brother's life, Counselor?"
"By letting him LIVE."
Jasad was confused for a moment, but realized something.
"Wait, you're married to THAT Ranma Saotome?"
"Yes."
"The one known as 'The Destroyer' amongst my people, 'The Chaos' amongst the Minbari, 'The Humiliation' amongst the Romulans, and 'The Beast' amongst the Klingons?" THAT Ranma Saotome?"
"Yes, THAT Ranma Saotome," Usagi said. "Gee, I wonder what would happen if something happens to his loved one…"
"Er, well, in light of recent information, a more conciliatory approach is best," Jasad said, as he swallowed hard. The last thing he would want is to bring doom to his home planet. Rumor has it that Ranma systematically eliminated everyone who had anything to do with the death of Ranma's first wife, back in the mid-22nd century. The Romulans has sought revenge for Ranma's role in the decisive battle that led to the end of the Romulan-Earth War, and the subsequent establishment of the United Federation of Planets. So, they orchestrated the assassination of Ranma's wife, and paid dearly afterwards. That is why, even today, there is a specific warning about dealing with Ranma Saotome, and that any actions taken against him as to be approved AFTER careful deliberation. And even then, there has to be approval of authorization by whatever oversight body there is over the government's activities against Ranma…
"That is sound advice, Gul Jasad," Usagi said with a smile. "Have a nice day."
CHIRP!
"Well, I don't like to 'name drop', but in light of our circumstances-"
"We'll take every bit of help, until this station is up to par," Kira said. "And seeing the look on Gul Jasad's face was priceless-"
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-!
Dax looks down at her instruments…
"Neutrino effect in play," Dax said.
FWOOSH!
The artificial wormhole opens up, to reveal the Rio Grande, as it tows Gul Dukat's ship to DS9.
"We're being hailed," O'Brien said.
"On screen," Kira said.
CHIRP!
"What did I miss?" Sisko said with a smile.
"Commander, is everything okay?" Kira asked.
"More than okay," Sisko said with a smile.
"I'm looking forward to hearing your side of things," Kira said.
"And vice versa…"
With the crisis over, Starfleet sends a series of Federation ships to protect DS9, until it is ready to take on its own defenses. In the meantime, the USS Enterprise-D returns for one last stop at the station…
"Wow," Ranma said, as he walks back to the airlock with Usagi, Dax and O'Brien. "You make it sound like I'm larger than life, Usagi."
"Well, I'm just glad that you DO have a reputation," Usagi said.
"I can't believe all those stories I've heard about you over the years is TRUE," O'Brien said. "I can believe the part about the Cardassians, since I was THERE with you during the Federation-Cardassian War."
"Well, I'm flattered," Ranma said. "If you guys can do me a favor, keep Usagi out of trouble, will ya?"
"Hey, I resent that," Usagi said with a smile.
Meanwhile, above the Promenade, Kira looks down at Ranma…
"Major?" Odo asked Kira, as he made his rounds.
"Hmmm?" Kira said, as she turns to look at Odo.
"IS there something the matter?"
Kira takes one last look at Ranma, before turning away.
"No, there isn't," Kira said, as she walks away, leaving a perplexed Odo behind.
Meanwhile, Sisko runs into Usagi.
"Oh, Commander," Usagi said.
"Counselor," Sisko said. "I just wanted to let you know that I look forward to our first session."
"Pardon?"
"I did set up an appointment through Dr. Bashir's office for counseling."
"Oh?"
"After my experiences with the Bajoran aliens, I need to get something off my chest."
"Okay," Usagi said with a smile. "I'll be waiting."
And thus, new adventure begins…
Tbc.
Next Time: "Past Prologue"