SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By Ocramed
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 19
With a near-diplomatic crisis brewing, Starfleet Command sent out a person who specialized in dealing with all things "Usagi Tsukino"…
"I can't believe I was diverted from my normal assignments for THIS," said Lt. Commander Ranma Saotome, as he read the report while Chief Petty Officer Miles O'Brien ferried his old comrade—who also was the great-grandfather of his wife Keiko—to the Federation Space Station Deep Space Nine on a runabout (i.e. the USS "Ganges").
"You guys are real lucky that I was planning on visiting Usagi, and you, Keiko and Molly as well, next week, when I went on leave."
"Well, sir, we're glad that you could get away from the 'Enterprise' when you did," O'Brien said.
"Miles, you don't have to refer to me formally when it's just us, and when we're technically 'off-duty'," Ranma said, as he sets down is "personal access data device" (PADD) on a non-active workstation. "We're family, remember?"
"Sorry, force of habit. I mean, we've been through so much together, first during the 'Federation-Cardassian War' as a 'Black Ops Unit', under Captain Maxwell's command, and then aboard the 'Enterprise', under Captain Picard's command."
"And that's why I gave you permission to marry my Keiko," Ranma said. "No matter how bad it got, you remained unflappable. That impressed me the most."
"Um, thanks?" O'Brien said. "Anyway, we should be back at the station soon."
"I can't wait," Ranma said sarcastically. "I JUST can't wait to hear what Usagi has been up to…"
Meanwhile, aboard DS9, Bajoran Minister of Energy Development pays the station commander an unpleasant visit.
"Commander Sisko, this is intolerable!" Toran said. "Do you know what this…interference of one of your officers could do to Federation-Bajoran relations?"
"I am well-aware of the situation, minister," said Commander Benjamin Sisko. "And I have already requested that a specialist be sent here to deal with the crisis."
"And you can do nothing else?"
"Considering the fact that Commander Sisko, Major Kira and I know this specialist personally, I can rest assure that the matter will be settled soon," said Science Officer Jadzia Dax said evenly, as everyone sat around Sisko's office.
"I don't see how ONE person would warrant yet another 'Starfleeter' here, which is why I have authorized a more…direct response, since the Federation is hesitant in dealing with the matter swiftly."
"What do you mean by that?" Sisko asked.
"I mean, there is a armed response to this matter," Toran said, as he straightens his suit.
"Are you out of your mind?" Kira yelled. "Didn't you see what she did to your car, when she threw it into your office, which is a few stories up? And didn't you read my report?"
"She could have used the auto-drive function on my HOVER car. As for your so-called report: I find that as ridiculous as this situation. I mean, no person can do the things this counselor of yours can do-"
BEEP!
"Sisko: here," Sisko said, as he pressed the intercom button on his desk.
"Sir, we have a direct call for Minister Toran," said one of the operators.
"Patch it through," Toran said anxiously.
"Sir?"
"Do as the minister says," Sisko said.
"Patching through, now."
The monitor shows members of the Bajoran Militia on their knees with their hands behind their heads.
"What the hell is this?" Toran said.
"Minister Toran, you have failed once again," said a voice that was obviously modulated. "But do not worry; your soldiers will not be harmed while in the custody of the 'Jerrido Liberation Front'."
"WHAT?"
"Am I speaking to Counselor Tsukino?" Sisko asked drolly.
"Uh, no," said the voice with hesitance. "I am, uh, a concerned individual who feels that Minister Toran's position is incorrect."
"I know that this is Tsukino that I am speaking-"
"Concerned citizen, tell Usagi that RANMA is on his way to DS9," Dax said.
"Really?" said the so-called "concerned individual". "Uh, so?"
"So, I don't think he'll appreciate USAGI's latest antics."
"Humph, we'll see about that! I, I mean, Usagi, will divorce him, if he gets anywhere NEAR Jerrido…"
Pause.
"So says 'Concerned Individual'!"
CHIRP!
"Oh, boy," Dax said.
"Your 'specialist' better stop this obviously insane woman, Commander Sisko, or your time here will be OVER!" Toran yelled.
Before Sisko could retort…
SHOOP!
"Commander Sisko, I brought Lt. Commander Saotome, as requested," said O'Brien, as he and Ranma entered Sisko's office.
"Commander," Sisko said, as he faced Ranma.
"Sir," Ranma said. He then sees Dax and Kira.
"Lieutenant, Major," Ranma said with a nod.
"Ranma," Dax replied with a nod.
"Um, Ranma," Kira said with a nod as well, although she was hesitant to look at Ranma for some strange reason…
"So, you're the specialist, huh?" Toran said with a scoff manner. "You don't look so special to me."
Ranma cocks his head slightly.
"And you must be Minister Toran, right?" Ranma said. "From the Ministry of Energy?"
"Yes, that's right," Toran said arrogantly.
"That's good to know."
"And why is that?"
"I don't have to feel bad calling in my favors."
"Oh?"
BEEP!
"Sisko: here," Sisko said.
"I have call coming from the First Minister," said the operator. "It's for Minister Toran."
"Now, you done it," said Toran. "Put the call through."
"Sir?"
"Put the call through," Sisko said.
BLEEP!
"Minister Kalem," Toran smiled. "I assure you, I have the matter under control…"
A few minutes later, a pale-stricken straightens his suit as a means of salvaging his dignity, after being called to the carpet for his actions in escalating the crisis. It turned out that Kalem Apren knew Ranma during the Cardassian Occupation, when Ranma used his 'Anla'Shok'—the Rangers of the neighboring Interstellar Alliance—to escort Kalem and other important Bajorans to and from Bajor while escaping the notice of the Cardassian "overlords". It was the ability to move about that enabled the Bajoran Resistance Movement to survive the forty years of hell inflicted by their occupiers…
"It appears that I have…misjudged the situation," Toran said. "My…apologies, Commander Sisko."
"None taken, Minister Toran," Sisko replied. "So, I take it that your ministry will be accepting help on the Jerrido Project after all."
"Of course," Toran said warily. "After all, what is a few extra months going to cost us anyway?"
"That's all well and good, but we still have a hostage crisis on our hands," Kira said.
"And you are here to end it, Saotome," Sisko said. "And I need an 'out' that will allow me to justify keeping Usagi here."
"Aye," Ranma replied with a nod. "I think I know what to do..."
Pause.
"If you will excuse me, I think I'll settle the matter now."
With a nod, Ranma turns to leave Sisko's office…
"Benjamin, Kira and I have to go with Ranma," Dax said.
"Oh?" Sisko said, as he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Dax said, as she glances at Kira and Ranma. "We want to make sure that this crisis is handled as gently as possible, where Usagi is concerned."
"Ah," Sisko said, as he nods his head. "Just remember that, Old Man."
"Of course."
After Ranma, Kira and Dax leave Sisko's office, Dax turns towards Ranma.
"Ranma, before you do anything, you have to know what is going on," Dax said.
"I already know what's going on," Ranma said. "If I have to put down Usagi, I will."
"You would do that?" Kira asked questioningly.
"Nerys, Usagi has access to a lot of power. If she ever becomes EEEVIL, the entire Alpha Quadrant, if not everywhere else, could be in jeopardy…"
Pause.
"And Usagi would do the same for me if the positions were reversed."
"That's the thing," Dax countered. "She isn't doing this because she is crazy; she's doing this for a reason."
"WHAT reason?" Kira asked.
"I would like to know as well," Ranma replied.
Dax tells Ranma and Kira about the old temple on the moon of Jeraddo, and how Usagi felt that it was imperative to not disturb it, due to a great evil sealed within its walls. As a final request of Kai Opaka, Usagi was sworn never to reveal the temple's existence, until after Sisko embraces his role as the Emissary of the Prophets.
"That's why Usagi is fighting the Bajoran Provisional Government on this," Dax said. "The Energy Minister's plan would result in breaking the seals within temple, due to the geological effect of extracting geothermal energy from the moon's core."
"And using the Federation's method of energy extraction would be less intrusive and damaging to the moon geo-sphere," Kira said.
"Precisely. In fact, Usagi has helped me improve the Federation's standard methods with a radical procedure that could, under normal circumstances, proved to be a boon to the energy sector in the Alpha Quadrant."
"But why would Toran push for a method that is less efficient and damaging then?" Ranma asked, as he scratched his head.
"Ranma, you know for a fact that we Bajoran are a prideful people," Kira replied. "And with the Provisional Government trying to develop relations with outsiders, their political standing is on shaky ground."
"Okay," Ranma said, as he nods his head. "I understand what's going on, but Usagi needs to be put down."
"Why?" Dax said.
"It's as Kira said about the pride of an injured people. If Usagi's actions go unpunished, then the Bajoran people will not feel that they are in command of their future. That will make it very difficult for them to accept any outside assistance in the future."
"So, what do you have in mind?" Kira asked.
"I think I have an idea, based upon those stories from that book you gave me during the Cardassian Occupation."
"You still have that?" Kira asked. Back when Starfleet had sent Ranma and his team to help the Bajoran Resistance, during the Cardassian Occupation, Kira gave Ranma a Bajoran lore book as a birthday gift.
"Of course," Ranma smiled. "I don't lose gifts from old friends."
"Ah," Kira said as her facial expression softened a bit…
"Um, guys?" Dax said with the smile of someone with a wicked sense of humor. "We don't have time for the goo-goo eyes."
"Oh, be quiet," Ranma said. "And don't think I haven't heard about what's been going on between you and Usagi, Dax."
"My relationship with Usagi is based upon the fact that I used to be a man in a previous incarnation. We dated back then, remember?"
"Yeah, uh-huh. RIIIIGHT…"
A short time later, on Jeraddo…
"How are you guys holding up?" said Mulibok said, as he feed the captured Bajoran militia unit.
"This is actually quite good," said one of the soldiers.
"Pure organic flavor, my friend," said the old man. He wasn't sure how to process Usagi's actions, other than appreciating the fact that she was helping him and his fellow settlers to stay on Jeraddo…
"You know, you could be seen as a traitor, Mulibok," said the unit commander. "You are disobeying a directive from the Provisional Government with the help of an outsider."
"So, in other words, I and my people should accept the abuse of power by our own government instead?"
"…"
"Thought so."
Meanwhile, Usagi was cooking up some more food for the people, when she felt a powerful energy signature.
"Huh?" Usagi said, as she looked up and around. She had been extending her senses in order to detect the approach of both Bajoran and non-Bajoran life-signs all day. It was taxing on her mind, but so far, her actions were not debilitating."
Mulibok notices Usagi's unease.
"What is it, Bunny?" Mulibok said.
"I'm not sure," Usagi said, as she pulls off her apron, as she turned towards the direction of the Temple of the Pagh Wraiths. "It may be nothing, but I need to check something out."
"Sure, go ahead," Mulibok said, as he directs a friend to take over the cooking duties from Usagi. "We can handle things from here."
"Thank you," Usagi said, as she walks down the path towards the Pagh Wrath Temple…
About half-way, Usagi was stopped by a somewhat familiar sight.
FWOOM!
"Ah!" Usagi said, as the sudden air burst stops her in her tracks. She then takes a good look at the cause.
"YOU?" Usagi exclaimed. "But…how-?"
"It matters NOT, little girl," said the blue, insect-like warrior with pale skin and a mean disposition. "My father made sure that if anything happened to him, one of his brood would survive."
Usagi tensed up a bit, as her aura began to flame…
"MOON POWER MAKE-UP!"
FWOOSH!
The intruder grunts, but makes no move, as Usagi, for the first time in a long time, becomes Sailor Moon, once again.
"I don't know how you managed to survive, or stay hidden, Cell, Jr., but I swear that you will not get very far this day," Sailor Moon said, as she cracked her knuckles. "This, I swear!"
Tbc.