- 6 -

For a moment everyone seemed stunned by the realisation that Charon had been destroyed by a doomsday machine. Of all those on the bridge, I was the only one not surprised. But then why would I be? I had been there when the Empire captured it, after all.

In both our universes the doomsday machine was an ancient, totally autonomous alien weapon of last resort that had drifted into our galaxy where it then started destroying planets as it was programmed to do. Its arrival caught the Federation completely by surprise. Not so the Empire. Thanks to having had access to the time-displaced Federation starship USS Defiant and its records for a century by that point, we were expecting its arrival, knew exactly where and when that arrival would take place, and had had decades to prepare for it. I still remembered that day vividly. I was captain of the ISS Enterprise, still James T. Kirk, and feeling on top of the world...

"We have contact with a large object entering star system L-370 at the exact point and exact time you said it would, captain," said Spock, looking up from his instruments. "I would very much like to know how you came by such knowledge."

"I'm sure you would, Mr Spock, but the answer to that question is above your pay grade."

Spock stroked his beard and regarded me thoughtfully, but said nothing.

"Is the ISS Constellation ready, Uhura?" I asked.

"Affirmative," she replied. "Captain Masada confirms they're standing by and ready to act when you give the order."

I smiled at this. At one point it had looked as if Matt Decker was going to be given command of this mission and take all the glory since, as a commodore, he outranked me. Fortunately, I was able to use my Tantalus device to aid Masada in eliminating Decker and assuming command of the Constellation. He's been very grateful.

"Do we know what this alien artefact is capable of?" asked Spock.

"Yes, it's a planet-killer. It destroys them and converts their remains to fuel."

"Then I recommend we move to intercept. The orbits of the seven planets in this system are currently bringing them into alignment. This is unfortunate. The artefact is almost upon the outermost planet and from there could travel inwards, destroying them one by one."

"Negative, Mr Spock. The colonists in this system have not been as grateful for the blessings bestowed on them by the Empire as they should be. Seeing how we neutralise this menace after their outer planet is destroyed by it should improve matters in that regard. Also, I want to see what this 'doomsday machine' is capable of for myself."

"I would remind you that the outer planet is home to seven thousand colonists."

"Noted," I replied, "but irrelevant."

Spock had wisely remained silent after that, and we had watched as the doomsday machine attacked the outer world, its mighty energy beam slicing through habitat domes and oxygen plants as it cut deep into the planet's crust. Vast cracks appeared spewing molten magma, the doomsday machine splitting the planet as one might a diamond, until it broke apart, finally expiring in a huge explosion. The machine easily weathered the storm of rock that came its way, drawing fragments into its massive maw.

It was magnificent.

Watching it do its work I found myself getting quite aroused, but I could only view the spectacle before us for so long. Eventually it was time.

"Okay, let's move in," I said. "Relay the order to the Constellation, Uhura."

"Aye aye, captain."

We positioned ourselves above the doomsday machine, and the Constellation below - insofar as those terms have any meaning in space - then simultaneously fired specially developed 'harpoons' into carefully chosen spots on its surface. Almost immediately, streams of data passed down the cables, attacking and overwhelming the doomsday machine's defences against such attack and rewriting its code. Within minutes it was clear we had won. Its systems powered down and it went into 'sleep mode'. Where the Federation had had to destroy their doomsday machine at great cost, ours had been captured and was ready to be pressed into service by the Empire.

"I am puzzled by something," said Spock. "This 'doomsday machine' entered our galaxy from deep space. It is probably a survivor of some ancient conflict, and is something we have never encountered before. Understanding the alien code language used to program it would take many years of study, as would developing effective programs to counter that code, yet we had these ready and knew the most effective way to deploy them. How is that possible?"

"Pay grade, Mr Spock, pay grade," I said, rubbing my stubbled chin and enjoying myself hugely. "This has been a good day."

Yes, it had. Remembering it now I grew wistful, contemplating all I had lost since then, not least my manhood. I had come to this universe to regain it, to be free of this weak female body with it's smooth face and soft curves that Janice Lester had trapped me in, but that goal seemed further away than ever.

My starfleet badge started vibrating. The frequency of the vibration told me this was a private message. I tapped the badge.

"Time to go," said a voice in my ear, "there's not a second to lose."

I got to my feet.

"I'm feeling unwell," I told the captain. "I think I need to report to sickbay."

Grace nodded absently, her attention on the viewscreen. Seconds later multiple portals opened in front of the USS Endurance and starships began pouring through, all of them with Empire markings. As I stepped into the turbolift more portals were forming, the biggest yet, and through these came doomsday machines.

Six of them.