Naruto: Infinity Divide

The Great Race

Blanket Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Trek

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

This installment is a bit of a detour, but a welcome one for your author. Here is Chapter 78, Enjoy!

Port = Left

Starboard = Right

[ ] Signifies a foreign language

{ } Signifies hand signs

Last time:

Stardate 2284.085, Federation Space, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine

The U.S.S. Wolverine was travelling at warp four back to Starbase One. Commander Nodaway was in the Command chair, and she said with a chuckle, "I guess there's never a dull moment with the Think Tank around. During the first month of our shakedown cruise, we've battled a madman in a stolen Federation light cruiser, saw a planet born, destroyed a Romulan heavy cruiser and saw the same planet explode."

"Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Wolverine Commander Nodaway." said a smiling Rafi. "We have a proud tradition of getting into crazy situations."

Samui added, "Things haven't changed all that much since we were cadets; just our rank pins and this stupid war."

Jackie nodded. "Steady as she goes Lieutenant Rafi."

Chapter 78

Stardate 2284.088, Sol System, Planet Earth, San Francisco Spaceport

Starfleet Commander T'Ara M'Fau, her husband Sovar and S'Harien Sofek arrived on Earth two days before Siegfried M'Fau's Doctoral Degree in Computer Sciences was to be awarded to him by the Daystrom Institute of Technology. It was going to be a momentous day for Siegfried, and they would be joining Maria and Siegfried Schrodinger in the audience.

S'Harien still found space travel to be a novel experience and was eagerly looking around the landing platform for Siegfried's mop of platinum blonde hair. The tall biker girl spotted her boyfriend and speed walked over to him. The young pair immediately crossed their fingers affectionately before they rested their foreheads against one another.

That was when S'Harien gave a tiny smile and said, "You've grown Ziggy. I have to look up at you now."

The platinum blonde hybrid said, "It has been far too long since I've seen you in person S'Harien. You are more radiant than ever."

The tall girl blushed slightly, and she whispered, "I've missed you so much."

The two were staring into each other's eyes heatedly when they heard a high-pitched male voice say, "Mister Siegfried, Mister Siegfried!"

The spell over the young couple was broken and they both turned to face a short human man with curly black hair. Siegfried wanted to growl. He asked in a commanding tone, "What is it, Davis?"

The now named Davis said, "You're needed at the lab sir."

"I told them I would be occupied this afternoon." stated the blonde. "What is the problem?"

Davis said, "Doctor Calico says it is urgent and you didn't answer your communicator."

Siegfried slowly got out his communicator and flipped it open. He growled, "M'Fau to Calico, come in Calico."

"Calico here." answered Sara. "Sorry to interrupt your afternoon off but Starfleet Security wants you to talk to someone here at the lab."

The blonde raised an eyebrow and asked "Who?"

"A young man named Joachim Weiss." replied the Betazoid, "That's all I know. They are waiting for you here."

"Tell them I'm on my way." said Seigfried. He looked at S'Harien and she nodded in understanding. Then he turned back to Davis and said, "Let's go."

Daystrom Institute of Technology, Supercomputing Annex

Siegfried arrived at the entrance to the Daystrom Institute and found two Starfleet Security Officers waiting for him after he checked in. One of them said, "You're a Vulcan? I thought you were supposed to be an Augment."

The blonde said, "I am part Human and part Vulcan. What does my genetic heritage have to do with anything?"

The other Officer said, "Our Superior, Commander Russel will explain the situation to you Mister Siegfried."

A huge man with Commander's bars stood outside the facility's rarely used holding cell. He towered over the blonde hybrid and said, "I'm Commander Russel. You can call me Rusty, Mister Siegfried. Inside the cell we have an Augment Human named Joachim Weiss. He is very dedicated to Khan Noonien Singh and is highly resistant to questioning but says he'll talk to a fellow augment. You are the closest person on Earth that fits that description. We need you to talk to him for us."

Siegfried said, "I understand. I trust you have a list of questions?"

"Just see if he'll talk to you first." said the Commander. "Then we'll try some questions."

The hybrid entered the cell with two guards in the corners and sat down opposite Joachim. He said, "I am Siegfried M'Fau, will you tell me your name?"

Joachim stared hard at Siegfried and said, "I am stronger and smarter than you. I possess the superior intellect. You're not an Augment."

"You are correct on the latter part; I am a half." replied the hybrid. "My Mother is an Augment."

Khan's follower thought of Samui and saw her features in Siegfried. "So, you're her son…the one that broke my sternum."

'Sounds like he made Mum angry' Humor glinted in the platinum blonde's ice blue eyes. "You met my Mother?"

Joachim moved faster than the guards could react and went straight for Siegfried's throat. The young hybrid open palmed the Augment so hard that Joachim flew back and bounced off the wall before crumpling to the floor in a heap. "It seems this conversation has ended." said Siegfried. 'I guess Grandfather Sovar has rubbed off on me.'

Commander Russel and the two guards were shocked at the incredible impact and wondered if Joachim was still alive...

The young hybrid was getting up to leave when the Augment croaked out, "…Wait…We can talk. Please."

Siegfried said, "If you really are as strong and smart as you believe yourself to be then prove it by studying and making something of yourself in our peaceful society. Learn from your ancestors' mistakes. You are a Human first and an Augment second. Use your gifts to help others instead of trying to rule over them. You could become a great man someday if you try."

Joachim was nursing the side of his face where he'd been struck. He said, "Maybe…I can try your way and cooperate with normal humans. I don't like being all alone. How did you become so wise?"

"I learned from my parents and Grandparents." answered the hybrid. "They have a lot more life experience than I do. I have much to learn. I'm only sixteen after all."

"I'm seventeen." replied Joachim. "I guess I have a lot to learn too."

After Siegfried asked Starfleet's list of questions, He bid Joachim farewell and exited the cell. The big Commander asked, "Do you always flatten people you are conversing with?"

The blonde looked at Rusty and said, "It was the logical thing to do at the time."

Commander Russel smiled. "I guess smacking him upside the head did make him reconsider his point of view."

"My Grandfather refers to it as shock therapy." replied the blonde.

The Security Commander couldn't help himself and burst into laughter…

Federation Space, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Captains Ready Room

Fleet Captain Naruto M'Fau had just finished his reports to Starfleet Headquarters regarding Project Genesis. '…In short, the Genesis Device was deployed before it was completed and in an incorrect manner. Its potential is too great to be discarded. The results at Regula are testimony to this. It is my recommendation that Project Genesis should be continued under a different name.'

He heard a knock on his ready room door and closed out his report. "Enter." said the Captain.

Doctor Fairbanks came in and asked, "Could I have a moment of your time Captain M'fau? There is a rather urgent matter that needs to be discussed."

Naruto nodded and asked, "What is it, Alison?

The redhead locked the door behind her and her green eyes seemed to be set aflame. She immediately started stripping her uniform off, revealing a lacey purple bikini lingerie underneath. Naruto's eyes nearly bugged out as she slid her lithe body onto his desk and said lustfully, "Mama want's some sugar and Mama wants it NOW!" Then the tiny redheaded woman lunged at her mate and rammed her tongue down his throat…

…Naruto tried really, really hard to resist her but the feeling of her luscious curves grinding up against him in his chair had him rock hard and the redhead's frenzied stroking was too much to handle. He moaned, "It's against regs to-"

Alison cut him off by licking his neck. "That's what makes it so hot!" she whispered heatedly into his ear. "I've always wanted to get it on in this chair! This is the Captain's Ready Room so GET READY!" She pulled his throbbing manhood out of his pants and quickly straddled him. Naruto gasped as he was buried to the hilt in Alison's incredibly wet heat.

She let out a deep moan and started riding him hard and fast. The hybrid gripped her waist as she clasped her hands over his shoulders. They stared into each other's lust filled eyes before the two climaxed together as one. Alison felt Naruto's essence spill into her body as they both panted heavily and tried to catch their breath. Then the redhead clamped down on her man with her incredible tightness and smiled as she licked her lips. "We're not done yet." Alison whispered. "Take me like an animal on the desk!"

All logical thought left the blonde hybrid and the only thing left on his mind was pleasing his wild, sexy redheaded lover anyway he could. His last coherent thought was, 'I'm glad this room is soundproofed…'

Alison Fairbanks came out of the Captain's Ready Room two hours later (fully dressed) and was practically glowing. She took over sensor station one from Maya Ayasugi who said, "You were in there quite a while Doctor Fairbanks. Is everything okay?"

"I had a new project that took some time." said Alison. "I'd say it was a smashing success though."

Her sister wives knew exactly what had been going on the entire time and Shizuka and Samui thought, 'Why didn't I think of that first?'

M'rella could sense her husband was a smoking wreck and thought, 'My poor baby.' Then the Caitian beauty giggled. She had thought of using the Captain's Ready Room for just such a thing but had never carried through with the idea.

In the meantime, T'Lyra thought, 'I will have to arrange such a tryst with my mate. It is logical to experiment.'

…As for Naruto, he was straightening up both himself and his workplace with the help of four shadow clones. The Ready Room was a mess. He thought, "My mates are a conniving bunch of wild sex machines. This office is a disaster area!' He exhaled and thought aloud, "At least I will die happy."

Sol System, Planet Earth, San Francisco, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus, Guest Hotel

S'Harien, the Schrodinger's and the M'Fau's had checked into their rooms near the campus stadium where the Graduation Ceremony was to be held. Siegfried joined them for dinner after his interview will Joachim Weiss.

"What was that all about Ziggy?" asked S'Harien.

The younger hybrid said, "They wanted me to talk to a Mister Weiss who needed an attitude adjustment. He simply needed a bit of shock therapy."

"Ah." said Sovar knowingly. "Well done, Siegfried."

T'Ara looked at her husband and asked, "You taught him that move?"

"What is this 'shock therapy' exactly?" asked S'Harien curiously.

"It's a Kareel-ifla open palm technique used when one wants to induce blunt force head trauma." explained Siegfried nonchalantly.

The biker girl gave a tiny smirk of approval. 'I'd like to see that.' she thought.

Maria was a bit taken aback. "I thought Vulcans abhorred violence."

"We do." said Sovar. "I'm sure Siegfried was acting in self-defense."

The blonde nodded. "Mister Weiss was acting violently towards me at first. After some shock therapy we had a civil conversation."

Siegfried Schrodinger snickered and said, "That's my Grandson!"

After dinner, both sets of Grandparents went to their rooms to retire leaving Siegfried and S'Harien to themselves. The blond hybrid brushed her bangs out of her face before he leaned in and the two kissed each other passionately. When they came up for air she said, "It is cold here on Earth Ziggy. You are very warm like home."

"I love you S'Harien Sofek." he said with lidded eyes.

She kissed him again and replied, "And I love you Ziggy M'Fau. Stay here and hold me tonight."

The two lovers kissed, caressed, and held one another until sleep took them hours later…

Federation Space, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Bridge

Lieutenant Commander Samui Schrodinger was fretting, "This will never do. Siegfried's graduation is in less than two days, and we are eight days out from Earth."

Naruto did the math in his head and replied, "Lieutenant Rafi, increase speed to warp factor eight so we will arrive before 18:00 hours Earth time."

Rafi grinned and said, "Absolutely! Ahead warp factor eight Captain." As the ship accelerated the Trill woman said, "Estimated time of arrival it 14:00 local Earth time."

"Excellent." replied the Fleet Captain. "That will give us four hours leeway."

Samui looked back at her husband and smiled. "Four hours should be plenty of time Captain."

'We did promise to try to be there Samui.' thought Naruto to his blonde mate.

She replied, 'I'm sure Siegfried will be excited to have us all there.'

Stardate 2284.089, Sol System, Planet Earth, San Francisco, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus, Guest Hotel

S'Harien woke up in the morning in Siegfried's embrace. She smiled at his sleeping form. She'd opened his Earth style button up shirt last night when they were making out and leaned her head against his solid chest. She felt her boyfriend's heart beating peacefully as she curled up in his strong arms. 'I feel completely safe and protected with Ziggy. He completes me. I've never felt this way before.'

The blonde woke up to the feeling of S'Harien gently running her hands through his downy soft hair. He gently tilted her chin up and gave her a fiery morning kiss that took her breath away. She smoothly rolled over on top of him as they continued to kiss each other until they broke for air.

"Good morning beautiful." he said huskily.

She smiled and playfully pecked him on the lips. "Good morning to you handsome." she said with humor in her reddish-brown eyes. Then S'Harien added, "I believe it is logical that we mind meld."

His ice blue eyes widened slightly, and Siegfried said, "Yes, I agree. Let us share our thoughts."

They gently placed their thumbs and then their fingers on each other's temples and said in old Golic Vulcan,

[My mind to your mind…]

[My thoughts to your thoughts…]

They both felt the wild, untamed spirits of one another flowing together harmoniously as their souls and hearts became one for the first time. She was like fire, and he was like wind. Together they were as a sandfire storm dancing across the desert…

'It is beautiful…' they thought as one. 'We are one. I don't want this to ever end…'

San Francisco, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus

That evening Maria Schrodinger was fussing over every last detail of the Graduation Program printout. "Your graduation is to be announced at precisely 6:00PM. Oh, I hope Samui, Naruto and the rest of your family can make it! I know they promised but they are in the military…"

"They promised to do their best to be here Grandmum." said Siegfried. "They will either make it or they won't."

Maria affectionately pinched his cheek. "But tomorrow is your special day. They want to be here to share it with you dear. I know you want them here too."

He gave her a tiny smile. "They'll make it here somehow. I know they will."

Stardate 2284.090, Sol System, Planet Earth, San Francisco, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus, Siegfried's Quarters

Siegfried was trying on his white Daystrom Institute graduation robes with gold trim and thought to himself, 'How garish. Robes on Vulcan are far more practical. Grandpapa says this kind of ceremonial robe has been around for centuries.'

That was when S'Harten came in and saw the platinum blonde holding his mortar board. She stared at the tasseled hat for a moment and asked, "What is that…thing you are holding Ziggy?"

The young hybrid blushed slightly and said, "It is a close-fitting headpiece worn here on Earth for academic graduations called a mortar board…I'm going to look ridiculous wearing this aren't I?"

The dark brown-haired girl said, "Yes, you are. Is it optional?"

"I'm afraid not." answered Siegfried. "It seems to be deeply rooted here on Earth, particularly in America. Grandpapa and Grandmum seem very excited to see me in it."

"The Medallions worn on Vulcan are far more practical." she said.

"We are in complete agreement with each other." said the long-suffering platinum blonde.

17:30 Hours, Sol System, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Bridge

Delays in checking in with Starfleet and offloading the Romulan prisoners on Mars had held up the Wolverine and her crew for hours. Samui was fit to tear her hair out when they were finally released to head into Earth orbit.

"Cast off Rafi." ordered Naruto. "We have clearance."

Commander Nodaway looked over at Naruto who nodded. She added, "Put the pedal to the metal Rafi!"

17:35 Hours, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus Stadium

The Professor Emeritus Emilio Rankin stepped over to Siegfried and said, "Young man, it's an honor to meet a holder of the Zee-Magnees Prize but suffice it to say I can't pronounce your last name."

"Please just address me as Siegfried of Vulcan." replied the young hybrid. "That would be the most logical solution."

Rankin brightened up immediately. "And an eminently logical solution it is Siegfried of Vulcan."

The opening ceremony seemed to last forever to Siegfried. He knew both sets of his Grandparents and S'Harien were in the crowd and with them were sitting his Aunt Vach, Rear Admiral Tolm and Commander Montgomery Scott. He was honored they were all there. The platinum blonde just wished his parents could be there as well…

17:55 Hours, Planet Earth Orbit, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Bridge

"The stadium says they will not permit direct beam ins because it will disturb the ceremony sir." said M'rella in a combination of disgust and sorrow. Her ears were drooped, and she thought, 'Siegfried…'

Samui was upset and it showed. "Damn it all! We promised our boy."

Commander Nodaway was sympathetic. "Schrodinger, I'm afraid we'll have to watch via transmission like the rest of the system."

Shizuka and Alison were both fuming at the ridiculous rules and T'Lyra was upset as well.

But Fleet Captain Naruto M'fau was furious. After deliberating for a moment, he said, "Too hell with them then! Rafi, I want us right on top of that stadium. One thousand meters above it. Make it so."

Rafi was cackling inside her head. "Aye sir, the best seats in the house coming right up!"

18:00 Hours, Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus Stadium

Professor Emeritus Rankin said "Siegfried of Vulcan, it is my honor to-"

There was a muffled roar of something MASSIVE displacing the air above the stadium and the old Professor looked up and saw the arrowhead shaped primary hull of the U.S.S. Wolverine floating majestically above them at perfect station keeping with NCC-1602 brightly lit on the lower saucer for all to see. "What on Earth…?" said the Professor as everyone in the stadium looked up.

Siegfried M'Fau looked up and everyone saw his face light up with a tiny smile on the screen. "That would be my Father's ship, the U.S.S. Wolverine. Please Continue Professor Rankin." 'They made it!' thought the younger hybrid.

Deciding to roll with it, the Professor Emeritus said, "Siegfried of Vulcan, on behalf of the Daystrom Institute of Technology, I present you with the Degree of Doctor of Advanced Computer Sciences, Summa Cum Laude. Congratulations and well done!"

Up in the Admiral's booth*①, Nogura was red in the face for such a blatant display of breaking regulations. Most of the Admirals present were just dumbfounded. Admiral Kirk was red in the face as well and decided to take action and got out his communicator…

18:05 Hours, NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Bridge

M'rella looked wide eyed, "We have an incoming message from Admiral James T. Kirk."

Naruto wanted to sigh. "On screen M'rella."

The Caitian beauty said, "It's audio only sir."

"Pipe it through." ordered the blonde.

There was a slight crackling before the crew heard, "Admiral James T. Kirk here. Do you read me Fleet Captain Naruto?"

"Yes sir, I read you loud and clear." replied the blonde hybrid.

Kirk exploded, "Bwhahaha! I wish I'd thought of pulling a stunt like this! Bravo Zulu to you and the crew of the Wolverine! Hahahaha!"

Naruto was relieved and said, "I'll pass that along to my crew sir."

"You just keep right on doing what you do best -raising hell!" said the Admiral. "Kirk out."

"Aye sir." said the pleased blonde. "U.S.S. Wolverine out."

Daystrom Institute of Technology Campus Stadium, Admiral's Booth

"You didn't have to encourage him, Jim!" growled Fleet Admiral Nogura.

Jim Kirk nearly fell out of his seat laughing. "But they pulled it off so flawlessly! It was textbook perfect!"

Nogura just shook his head at his protégé. 'Oh well, there's not much to be done about it.'

Campus Stadium

Down in the stadium, the crowd was clapping thunderously for Doctor Siegfried M'fau and Lucien Tolm and Scotty were both clapping loudly while laughing uproariously at Naruto's stunt.

Captain Vach looked over at her niece T'Ara and motioned up to the Wolverine. "He's your son." said the Captain. "I believe your Father would have approved."

T'Ara looked over at Sovar who was staring up at the enormous form of the Wolverine. Sovar said, "I do hope our son never gives up his pranks. This is the biggest one yet." T'Ara just shook her head…

Maria and Siegfried Schrodinger were delighted and took a few pictures of the ship to help commemorate the occasion.

NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Bridge

"We made it!" cheered Samui as she enveloped her husband in a bone crushing hug. "Our baby boy is a Doctor!" She pulled Naruto in for a kiss and said, "I'm so happy."

Naruto returned her hug and said, "Doctor Siegfried M'Fau."

Rafi laughed at her best friend and the whole bridge crew cheered.

Jackie Nodaway smiled and said, "It has a nice ring to it."

The crew sat back and watched over the ceremony's completion before they were ordered to return to a safe orbit in the heavens above the stadium by the Fleet Admiral himself…

Campus Stadium, Auditorium

Siegfried was sitting with S'Harien at the party being held for the graduates in the large auditorium and saw his family arrive via transporter a few minutes later. The platinum blonde hybrid nearly had all of the air squeezed out of him by his Mother's joyous hug.

Samui said, "Doctor Siegfried Naruto Schrodinger M'Fau, we are all so proud of you! I love you so much!" Then the Augment woman looked him up and down. "You've grown in these last few months. Look at how tall you are!"

Each of his Mothers eagerly greeted the younger hybrid. Finally, Naruto was able to greet his son properly and gave the Vulcan salute. Then he ruffled his son's hair the way T'Ara always did his own. "I am so very, very proud of you, my son. You don't know how much it meant to all of us to see you graduate. First the Zee-Magnees Prize and now this." He gently hugged his son. "Very nicely done Doctor M'Fau.

S'Harien was talking with Naruto's wives eagerly about them 'showing up in a dynamic style' while Siegfried spoke more sedately with his Father and Grandfathers. Rear Admiral Tolm and Commander Scott came over as well to congratulate young Siegfried. Scotty laughed and said, "Well done Doctor Siegfried! What have you got in the family, three generations of Doctors?"

The platinum blonde nodded. "There are three generations of M'Fau's and three generations of Schrodinger's who are all Doctors, Scotty."

Montgomery Scott winked. "No doubt there will be a fourth generation as well."

"So, this is the young man that impressed my son so much." said Admiral Kirk as he walked up to join the conversation.

Naruto said, "Allow me to introduce Admiral James T. Kirk."

"Peace and long life." replied Siegfried. "Doctor David Marcus is a good friend of mine. He is a brilliant Astrophysicist. You must be proud of him."

"I am." said Admiral Kirk. "I'm sure your parents are just as proud of you."

They conversed for a while and Jim leaned over and said to Siegfried's Father, "I'll call you later Naruto. I have got to hear the story behind that stunt you pulled in the Wolverine. I nearly died laughing."

After the crowds thinned out, S'Harien and Siegfried were out walking together in the cool air of night. Her reddish-brown eyes were full of happiness. She said, "I never noticed it before, but you don't like large gatherings, do you?"

The platinum blonde hybrid replied, "I prefer it when it is just the two of us." He heard music playing in the distance and said, "Let us dance together." as he wrapped an arm around her narrow waist.

"You can dance?" she asked with surprise evident in her voice.

He nodded as he led her in a traditional Vulcan dance. "I was forced. My Aunt Talok is only a few years older than me and needed a dance partner. I was six years old."

She gave a tiny smirk and said, "I was forced too. I know all the traditional dances of the Priestesses of Mount Selaya."

The two young lovers quickly found their rhythm and danced the night away…

Stardate 2284.092, Sol System, Planet Earth, San Francisco, Starfleet Headquarters

Two days later, Fleet Captain Naruto was presenting his report on Project Genesis to his superiors in the Admiralty. "…As with any experiment, it was doomed to failure when the device was deployed prematurely and under uncontrolled conditions. As an astrophysicist, I see the forming of the planet Genesis out of the Mutara Nebula to be proof of the enormous potential of this project."

Admiral Morrow stated, "And yet the political ramifications of the Genesis Project have both the Romulans and the Klingons screaming that we have a doomsday device under development."

The blonde raised an eyebrow and replied, "That is why the Project Genesis must be cancelled publicly."

"Publicly?" asked Admiral Fitzpatrick.

"I proposed in my report to continue Project Genesis under a different name and by extension, different financial backers." said Naruto. "A great deal of political maneuvering will be necessary of course."

"Are you suggesting we lie to the public?" asked Admiral Morrow.

"The military does it all the time to get things done Admiral." replied the hybrid. "It goes without saying he Federation Council does the same."

Admiral Cartwright interjected, "The Fleet Captain raises a valid point."

Fleet Admiral Nogura said, "We will take your ideas under advisement Fleet Captain Naruto. Is there anything else before you are dismissed?"

The blonde nodded. "The Romulan Star Empire lost a heavy cruiser but obtained very little information regarding Project Genesis. They have been making wild accusations based on little factually. The Klingons have been making complaints about the same subject in far too much detail. It is logical to assume they had a ship observing Planet Genesis as well at range while the Wolverine was there."

Admiral Fitzpatrick pondered a moment and said, "The Klingons will claim their information came from their Romulan allies."

"Which we know is not true." said Admiral Lance Cartwright. "The Romulans entered the war at the urging of the Klingons and suffered horrific losses. Their current Emperor Tarus blames the Klingon Empire for the humiliating defeat the Romulans had to endure. He has even been talking about breaking off the Klingon-Romulan Alliance."

Admiral Morrow stated, "We also have intelligence that Praetor Maxillius is the real power, and that Emperor Tarus has descended into hedonism since the war went badly for them. The Romulan Empire is collapsing politically."

Fleet Admiral Nogura took control of the conversation again and said, "Regardless of the Romulan situation I believe that Fleet Captain Naruto is correct. The Klingons were there too."

After he was dismissed, the blonde hybrid wondered what the future held. The Klingons were holding their ground, but the Romulan Empire had suffered one defeat after another since they entered the war just over a year ago. That was when he got paged personally to Fleet Admiral Heihachiro Nogura's Office…

The Fleet Captain sighed and reported in twenty minutes later. The Fleet Admiral's secretary remembered Naruto's very intimidating aura and said, "H-head right in Fleet Captain, the Fleet Admiral is waiting for you."

When the blonde walked in, he saw Admiral Nogura was waiting for him with a keen look in his eyes. It was obvious the Fleet Admiral wanted something. Nogura said, "Take a seat Fleet Captain Naruto. I wanted your opinion on the Romulan situation. Your papers on tactics have practically been a textbook on defeating them. You didn't say anything at the meeting. I wondered why."

Naruto cocked his head. "It was a meeting between Admirals, sir. I am a mere Fleet Captain, and my opinion was not asked."

Nogura frowned. "That never stopped you before Fleet Captain."

The hybrid simply replied, "Touché."

The Fleet Admiral smirked. "So how do you think the best way is to knock the Romulan Empire out of the war?"

Naruto pondered a moment and answered, "We push south and cut off any direct contact they have with the Klingon Empire. If we close off the corridor between us and the Tholian Holdfast the Romulans will be isolated."

Nogura asked, "Say we did that. Isolation wouldn't stop them from being a threat."

"But it would cut off their direct coordination with the Klingon Empire." stated Fleet Captain M'Fau. "Just as importantly it would cut off the supplies of spare parts for the ships of Klingon origin that comprise nearly a third of the Romulan fleet."

The blonde continued. "It would also cause greater economic strain and greater divisions between the Romulan Great Houses that hold power. With an ineffectual Emperor Tarus and Praetor Maxillius losing control the Romulans might break into civil war or at least consider coming to the peace table. They need to realize that they are stronger with us as allies than as enemies."

'This is why I wanted this boy on my staff years ago!' thought the Fleet Admiral. "The Admiralty is having a meeting in a week. I want you to draw up plans as you have presented to me in detail for a shift southward. This is an order Fleet Captain Naruto, not a request. You and your ship can conduct those scheduled tests here in the Sol System in the meantime."

Naruto wanted to bang his head on the wall. 'The last thing I want to deal with is the Admiralty.' he thought. "As you wish sir."

Nogura said in a pleased tone, "You are dismissed Fleet Captain."

NCC-1602 U.S.S. Wolverine, Transporter Room

'That old slime devil.' thought Naruto grumpily as he beamed aboard the Wolverine.

'You're thinking too loudly again my love.' spoke T'Lyra mentally. 'Who is an old slime devil, by the way?'

The blonde sighed and replied, 'Fleet Admiral Nogura is who I was referencing.'

'Why don't you come back to our quarters where I can take care of you Naruto?' she asked invitingly. 'I've missed my mate.'

Naruto was soon in the arms of his beautiful wife T'Lyra. As she took care of him, he decided to forget about everything else until tomorrow…

POSTSCRIPT:

*①: Admiral's Booth: Many of the graduates of the Daystrom Institute are members (or going to be members) of Starfleet so lots of officers are present for the ceremonies.

Well, I was able to keep the footnotes to a minimum this chapter which was nice after the last one. Next installment we'll see how Naruto's plan goes over with the Admiralty. See you next time. Blue out. 8/20/23