The USS Galaxy slowed to a stop, shields at maximum, all weapons on standby.

Starbase 4 vented atmo from three minor hull breaches, its shields visibly flickering, and weapon systems offline. Damage reports suggested dozens of crew were already dead, some vented into space, with thousands more lives in imminent peril.

The Vor'cha attack cruiser Jajvam stood poised to resume its bombardment at any moment. With all weapons locked on Starbase 4, it held thousands of hostages at gunpoint. If its full firepower tore into the damaged station, the weakened shields wouldn't last long.

Galaxy's Communications Officer sat up straighter, "The Klingons are hailing, Captain."

Captain Murata set his jaw. Not to hide any feelings of uncertainty… but to disguise his rage. "Onscreen."

The Klingon Captain didn't wear the standard uniform, and the officers behind him looked slovenly, undisciplined, and generally unsavory. "So! A weak imitation of the Enterprise has arrived, Captained by a weak imitation of Picard! Even he would have no choice but to give in to my demands, so there's little point in preamble. Order my brother's release, immediately!"

Captain Murata rose from his chair. "You and your crew are deserters, and you command a stolen ship. Our treaties and agreements with the Klingon Empire don't apply to you. You're essentially a rogue agent. A criminal."

"And how is that relevant compared with the lives I hold hostage? Would you doom everyone on Starbase 4 just to keep one Klingon imprisoned? Is that what Picard would do?

"As you pointed out, I am not Picard, and this is not the Enterprise. Your brother is a mass-murderer. Don't assume you know what I'll–"

"Give the order now, and show me my brother walking free, or I will resume my attack! You see the Starbase's condition! Their shields are nearly depleted, and their structure is already badly damaged! Obey me, or I'll kill everyone on that station!"

"Everyone who's left, you mean. You've already killed dozens."

"Proving my willingness to finish the job!"

Captain Murata kept his expression schooled. He hid his anger, his disgust, his overwhelming desire to protect the people of Starbase 4… and his willingness to exterminate a crew of Klingon terrorists in the process. He made a convincing show of dejection. His face showed impotent defeat. "I believe you. Stand by."

With a nod, he signaled his Comm Officer to cut the transmission.

Instantly, his expression hardened. "Prepare for the Saitama maneuver."

The bridge crew went to work swiftly and decisively. They all had hoped this would never be needed, but they'd simulated it dozens of times. The Enterprise and its legendary Captain had especially strong reasons for focusing on diplomacy, only resorting to violence after exhausting many other options.

But this ship, this crew, this Captain, in this situation… and versus murderous terrorists?

Captain Murata returned to his chair, as the Helmsman and Tactical Officer confirmed readiness. The warp core pushed its capacity dangerously, all systems stood ready for rapid transfer of power, and dozens of torpedoes armed.

"Execute."

Captain Dek'lan's conceited smirk faltered when space lit up like a nova. The Galaxy's two primary phaser arrays drilled into Jajvam's shields, aiming for the side of the "neck." A storm of photon torpedoes launched from the Galaxy's forward launch tube so rapidly that the slightest mistiming could have caused internal detonations. As this firepower tore into the Jajvam, the Galaxy rapidly spun in place, and its tractor beam activated at full power.

"Come about!" Dek'lan roared, fighting down panic. "Return fire as soon as our weapons come to bear!"

"We're trying! That tractor beam is slowing our turn!"

He'd miscalculated horribly. Starbase 4 was vulnerable, but it would still take more than one volley to finish them off. Picard never would have resorted to this so quickly.

He was so sure he had more time…

"Enemy shield strength at minimum!" his Sensor Officer reported. Dek'lan looked at the display in horror. The overwhelming majority of Galaxy's warp core output was focused into their weapons and maneuvering thrusters. Jajvam's primary weapons could only fire forward, and they had started off pointed at Starbase 4, not the Galaxy. That tractor beam would have meant little against the Klingon ship's primary impulse engines, but their maneuvering thrusters were far less powerful.

In these few seconds, the Federation battleship had spun completely around. Her aft weapon systems unleashed a storm of firepower, with numerous small phaser banks and another rapid volley of torpedoes smashing into the Klingon cruiser.

And still the Galaxy spun, preparing to bring its forward weapons to bear... again.

"Shields nearing collapse! The damage is coming too quickly!"

"Maneuvering thrusters losing power! We still don't have a shot!"

The Galaxy's two primary phaser arrays fired a second time, finishing off Jajvam's forward shields. Everyone acted like Galaxy-class starships were "fat and clumsy," but their ability to rotate in place far exceeded that of a Vor'cha. Especially when they used their tractor beam to slow the Vor'cha's turn.

Torpedoes were already pouring out of the enemy ship's forward tubes, turning toward Jajvam's unshielded forward section.

The bridge crew rose from their seats in disbelief. In under fifteen seconds of extreme firepower, Galaxy had overwhelmed Jajvam's defenses and blasted her head to burning wreckage. With the bridge and primary weapons obliterated, the unshielded ship drifted out of control and helpless.

Tentatively, the shaken Operations Officer asked, "Do we attempt to rescue survivors?"

"Yes… from Starbase 4."

Everyone turned to the Captain, who seemed not the least bit surprised by the outcome of their all-in assault. "We will provide assistance, medical personnel, and repair crew to the victims of the terrorist attack. Once we are certain every surviving person on Starbase 4 is safe… then we will look for survivors among the terrorists who tried to kill them."

Silent, stunned by the speed of the destruction, the crew went to work. On the main viewscreen, the Klingon ship slowly broke apart as one system after another went critical.

As the first of the emergency crews transported to Starbase 4, Captain Murata addressed the bridge. "Well done everyone. You performed flawlessly. A mob of bloodthirsty criminals thought they could dismiss the might of a Galaxy-class starship. We did what we had to, and thousands of our comrades on that Starbase are safe."

And perhaps word of these events will lead the enemies of the Federation to take us more seriously. When the flagship, and the genius Picard, chooses to lead with peace and diplomacy, that does not mean it's their only option. Any enemy would do well to remember what might happen if they insist on violence.

Author's Note:

I was very short when The Next Generation aired, and I barely understood a lot of what was going on. But I knew I loved it. It was so smart, so mature, with such weight of dignity and lofty ideals. I would stand in front of the TV pretending to conduct the orchestra during the musical theme, and I loved the idea of holodecks, replicators, and a massive exploration vessel that also felt like a luxury cruise ship.

Then, on a looooong road trip, lol me devoured the detailed blueprints of the Enterprise-D. I was blown away by the size and majesty of this vessel, its ability to provide beds for five thousand more people than the actual crew, the size of the shuttlebays and holodecks... and just how many weapon systems it mounted. This ship was very well armed, and had perhaps more weapons pointed backward than forward. The show demonstrated an enlightened age when violence was never Plan A… but the-Galaxy class had tremendous potential for throw'n hands if things got ugly.

I like to imagine a capable, bold Starfleet Captain who's secretly a fan of "ancient Earth animation," especially a certain parody about a caped bald guy who punches like an ICBM. This Captain would make sure that his ship's awesome firepower, and the crew that wields it, was always ready for full-scale smackdown if an unfortunate scenario required it. And without the limits of visual effects and budget of the late 80's and early 90's, the true potential revealed in the Blueprints and the Technical Manual could be insane. We got a glimpse of this in "Q Who?" when the Enterprise pounded the Borg ship, with several phaser blasts of such power that they obliterated chunks of the cube nearly as massive as the Enterprise herself. If a ship of her class spun, going full beast mode with forward weapons, then aft weapons, then forward again, and with zero regard for conserving torpedoes, the devastation should be terrifying.

I deeply respect Picard's focus on diplomacy and understanding, which is especially important for the flagship of the peaceful Federation. But if an enemy needs to be put down, this ship class should be very good at making it happen.

Reviews always welcome.