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USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D. Stardate 45635.2...

Lt. Cmdr. Data sat in main engineering, wires connected to his positronic matrix. "Network diagnostic in progress." he announced. "Phase discriminator: scanning for anomalies... Neural net scan: complete. Positronic diagnostic complete."

"You're all set, Data." Lt. Cmdr. La Forge told his android friend. "The routine scan indicates no problems at all." He then began disconnecting the wires. "Ya know, Data, I've been thinking. While Dr Soong was head and shoulders above anyone else in his field when he constructed you, using parts that will last for a very long time... That was more than 30 years ago, and there have been significant advances since then, with advanced isolinear chips, for example. Have you ever considered upgrading yourself?"

"I have considered it, Geordi." Data replied. "I have decided against it, however, because of the philosophical implications. If I start replacing my components with improved ones, where would that process end? Eventually, would I no longer be myself? Instead, I have chosen to remain as I was created. Consider yourself, Geordi. You have in the form of your VISOR what could be considered an improved component. Would you consider other such upgrades?"

La Forge pondered this. "Hmm. Well, I don't know if I'd call my VISOR an improvement." he remarked. "Sure, it does give me some extraordinary abilities. But you're right, I wouldn't really wanna replace replace other parts of my body. In fact, I'd rather have normal vision and not even need to wear the thing at all, so I guess I see your point, Data."

~8~

Meanwhile, Commander Riker was talking to Captain Picard in the captain's ready room. "We're about to arrive at Naia VII, sir." Riker reported.

"Fine." Picard acknowledged. "This should be nothing more than a routine stop and greet visit, Number One. There's a particularly harried division of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers there, and I think they might require a little encouragement."

"I'll take care of it, sir." Riker said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the mining operations."

"It's quite an achievement." Picard commented. "Although, it's said to be a little dangerous down there. Keep your eyes open." he warned his first officer.

"I'll take Data and Worf with there." Riker replied. "Those two should keep me safe enough."

"Well, Mr Data should certainly get the attention of the engineers, at any right." Picard smiled wryly as Riker left the room.

~8~

The Enterprise soon entered orbit of Naia VII. Riker, Data and Lt. Worf arrived in transporter room three, ready to beam down to the planet's surface. Counsellor Troi was there to see them off. "Now remember what I said about the Dai-ai." she told Riker.

"You said they were fish people." Riker replied.

"They may seem at first to be friendly and outgoing, but they are, in fact, rather private. They prefer to have limited interaction with Humans. And I never said 'Fish people'!" she added indignantly. "I said they were aquatic Humanoids. Amphibious."

"They sound delicious." Worf remarked.

"Worf!" Troi groaned.

"He does have a sense of humour, Deanna." Riker snorted as he, Data and Worf took their places on the transporter pad. "Energise." he ordered Chief O'Brien.

~8~

Two Starfleet officers were waiting outside the mining facility when the away team from the Enterprise materialised. One was a male wearing the new Starfleet utility jumpsuit with captain's rank pips, the other was a female wearing scuba diving gear. "Commander Riker." the captain greeted the away team. "I'm Captain Ochoa, this is Lt. Amato. Welcome to Naia VII."

"Thank you." Riker acknowledged, shaking Ochoa's hand. "Breath-taking! I had done my research, but still, what a view!" The facility was located on the shoreline next to a periwinkle sea under a rose-coloured sky.

"And this must be the famous Lt. Cmdr. Data." Ochoa turned to the android. "I've read about him for years in the engineering journals, but never expected to actually meet him."

Just then, Riker saw an aquatic figure emerge from the water. "Captain Ochoa, perhaps you can also introduce us to your friend?"

"Ah, yes." Ochoa acknowledged, and turned to the newcomer. "Seelos, these are the visitors from the Enterprise; Commander Riker, Lt. Cmdr. Data and Lt. Worf."

"Welcome to Naia." Seelos said to the Enterprise trio. "Thank you for your ongoing trade with my people. We wish for you to have a pleasant time here on our home, and hope for your safe travels on your distant journeys."

"On behalf of the crew of the Enterprise, thank you." Riker acknowledged. "We are honoured to meet you."
Seelos made a respectful gesture with his flippers, then did a spectacular backflip into the water.
"Goodbye?" Riker blinked. "Not a very talkative bunch, are they?"

"They don't really care much about the mining." Ochoa explained. "We provide them with food and supplies under our agreement, and they give us licence to run our operations here. The Dai-ai can be charming enough, but they do value their privacy." He then led the way into the facility. "Naia VII is a treasure trove of trace elements; dilithium, biltrium, kelbonite, and more. It's all here. It's amazing what we find here. The difficulty, of course, is mining a water world." They made their way along a walkway stretching across a vast mine shaft reaching down deep into the bowels of the planet. "Only the mountain tops extend above sea level here on Naia VII, so we build these mines to tunnel down into the mountains where the valuable minerals and elements can be found. It's the fact that most of the mountain is under water that makes it tricky.

"Let's head down to one of the newest sites, where the real fun is" Amato suggested.

"Captain, this seems like a lot of unnecessarily dangerous work." Riker said to Ochoa as they all boarded a turbolift. "Surely there are other mining technologies using particle beams and transporter technology from orbit that could make this easier.

"Certainly. But the Dai-ai have strict environmental protocols that we must follow under the terms of our agreement." Ochoa replied. "Months of negotiations allowed us to reach a compromise that permitted our operations to proceed in this very particular, and admittedly work-intensive fashion."

"In other words, they don't want anyone firing on their planet." Riker surmised.

"Preciously." Ochoa confirmed as the lift took them all down to the lowest level. "It's a mutually beneficial relationship." Ochoa said as they stepped out into an underwater tunnel. "The Dai-ai are well compensated, and Starfleet gets some extraordinary rare materials that we need very badly. Extracting them in this fashion is certainly a tall order for the engineering group, that's for sure."

"We'll take you to the new eastern tunnel complex." Amato said as she led the way towards an airlock at the end of the tunnel. "It's our newest dig at this depth."

"Captain, would you tell us more of the precautions you take to minimise all of the inherent dangers down here?" Data asked. "Water leakage, structural collapses due to pressure..."

"Good question. We use a variety of forcefields, sealants, and anti-grav devices." Ochoa replied. "In fact, I was hoping to consult with you and your chief engineer to review our processes and see if you have suggestions for improvement. We also use the tried and true system of interlocking pressure compartments to try and minimise the damage if we do have a leak." he continued as he opened the airlock and they entered the next compartment. This room featured a porthole that gave a view of the ocean outside. "But I'll be honest with you, gentlemen. This is very dangerous work." Ochoa said. "One of the reasons I requested a visit was that I was hoping to get some high-level technical consultation on some of the difficulties here. When we head that it was the Enterprise coming, I was so relieved. Starfleet needs these materials badly, and I'm concerned that safety isn't necessarily the No. 1 priority."

"Captain, I don't think we had any idea of the depth of the challenges your team is facing here." Riker said. "I don't think Captain Picard was made fully aware of this either. Don't worry, we'll do whatever we can to help out here."

"Commander!" Worf interrupted suddenly, and Riker turned to see that the transparent aluminium in the porthole was cracking.

"Oh, hell." he groaned.

"Amato, pull the release valves!" Ochoa hollered, but it was too late.

The porthole gave way and a tsunami of water cascaded into the compartment, sweeping everyone off their feet. Worf managed to grab Ochoa and Amato and bring them to the surface. "Data! Where is Commander Riker?!" he asked urgently.

"I am looking for him now." Data replied, wading through the chest-deep water. He reached an arm underwater and a second later, pulled out Commander Riker by his uniform tunic. "I have found him. Are you unharmed, Commander?" he asked.

"Thanks, Data. I'm fine." Riker coughed. "Worf, we need to contact the Enterprise and get some help down here."

"Taken care of, sir." Worf replied. "A medical team and an engineering team are already on their way."

~8~

Dr Crusher, Nurse Ogawa, Dr Selar and the rest of the Enterprise's medical staff rushed about sickbay, preparing to head down to the surface. "Let's go, people!" Crusher ordered as they gathered up their portable equipment and headed for the transporter room.

~8~

On the main bridge, Picard approached La Forge, who was working at the aft engineering station. "Mr La Forge, I'm heading down to the surface now." he said to his chief engineer. "Please join me after you complete your assessment."

"Yes, sir. I'll be down there as quickly as I can." La Forge acknowledged.

~8~

By evening, the rescue operation on Naia VII had been completed. "How bad, doctor?" Picard asked Crusher.

"Bad enough, Captain." she replied gravely. "Eight dead, 22 injured."

"I am sorry for your loss, Captain." Seelos said.

"Thank you." Picard acknowledged. "I can't help but wonder, though, why your people didn't assist with the rescue efforts. Many of them were seen in the waters nearby only minutes after the collapse, I'm told."

"I don't think I need to remind you, Captain, of the terms of our agreement with Starfleet." Seelos replied curtly. "We have no interest in risking our lives in any way over your desire for our unusual rocks. Would you prefer that we opt out of our contract?"

"No, no." Picard conceded. "Very well. I understand." And Seelos walked away.

"Captain, why do we put up with this?" La Forge grumbled. "These are our partners?!"

"It's a complicated relationship, Commander." Picard replied. "Your report on the causes of the collapse?"

"I almost couldn't believe it, Captain. The safety protocols here are remarkably low." La Forge replied. "It's no wonder they have accidents, but that's not Ochoa's fault. Starfleet has given him specific orders to meet regular quotas, and has specifically ordered him to maintain those quotas, in spite of the risks. I didn't find out the risks involved until you granted me higher clearance to investigate. This whole operation is partially classified." He shook his head at the Dickensian situation. "What's goin' on here? Why're we putting these personnel at such risk?"

"The Borg, Commander." Picard replied grimly. "We lost so much of the fleet at Wolf 359. We're trying to rebuild our forces and prepare for their inevitable return. We need every scrap of raw material we can get our hands on to maximise our defences. In some cases, hard choices have been made to do whatever we must to prepare. The sacrifices of these engineers may very well make the difference for the Federation."

~8~

Picard, Riker, Data and Crusher were the last personnel to return to the Enterprise when the operation was fully completed. "After you get cleaned up, I'd like your thoughts on the situation, Number One." Picard said to his first officer as they stepped off the transporter pads. "My ready room in one hour. Mr Data, doctor, I'd like you there as well."

"Aye, sir." Riker acknowledged.

~8~

An hour later, the four officers met in Picard's ready room as scheduled. "It's not a question of ability, Captain." Crusher stressed. "Those people are stretched to the limit."

"And so arrangements have been made to make sure Captain Ochoa will be getting additional support and resources?" Riker asked.

Absolutely." Picard replied. "I've received word that the Lexington will be arriving soon with additional equipment and a full task force of engineers. The resources to be gained there are vital."

"He'll be happy to hear that." Riker said. "The situation down there certainly required more than just a pep talk."

"Agreed, Number One." Picard concurred. "I admit I had no idea the conditions had grown so dire. I'm grateful you're alright." He then leaned back in his chair and his expression became more laid-back. "However, as the situation is resolved for now, I have a slightly less strenuous task for you. I'm told the most recent systems upgrade to holodeck has been completed. Perhaps you could see to it that it receives the proper inspection? There's a new Dixon Hill adventure available that I've not even gotten a glance at."

Riker turned to Data and Crusher. "What d'you say, doctor? Mr Data? Care to join me?" he asked cheerfully.

~8~

Riker, Data and Crusher had soon changed into 1940's attire and were standing outside holodeck four. "Computer, begin program 'Picard Dixon Hill Seven'." Riker ordered.

"Program begin." the computer acknowledged. "Enter when ready."

The three officers entered the holodeck and found themselves on a beautifully recreated 1940's San Francisco street. "Very nice." Riker commented.

"Is that the ocean I smell?" Crusher asked. "That's new."

"Indeed." Data confirmed. "Detecting olfactory traces of seawater, carbon monoxide exhaust, and... sourdough bread. Very thorough."

"You just said the magic word, Mr Data. 'Bread'." Riker grinned. "I'm famished. Let's see if we can't find a restaurant around here."

As they made their way along the street, they suddenly heard a strange wheezing and groaning noise. "You hear that?" Crusher asked.

"Sounds like all the bugs aren't quite worked out of the upgrade yet." Riker shrugged. "Remind me to mention it to Geordi." And they walked on, blissfully unaware that a blue police public call box from 1960's Britain had just appeared on the street behind them, seemingly out of nowhere.

~8~

Riker, Crusher and Data had soon found a bar and they went inside to sample the local beverages. "...and a gin and tonic for the lady, please." Riker told the barman.

"Comin' up, pally." the barman acknowledged.

"Hello! Look at this!" a British-accented voice said suddenly, and the three Starfleet officers turned to see that four new people had entered the bar; a gangly, dark-haired man in a tweed jacket and bow-tie, a caramel-haired woman in a camel brown coat and black fedora, a ginger-haired woman in a pink dress and hat, and a brown-haired man in a black suit and fedora. "An android!" the bow-tie man said excitedly. "A positively splendid android!" He went right up to Data's face. "What do you have in here, a positronic brain? Those can be tricky to untangle, need lots of artificial synapse jumping. Looks like you've got it running very smoothly."

"Curious..." Data commented.

Riker on the other hand was at a loss for words. "Um..."

"Doctor, ye being rude." the ginger-haired woman chided the bow-tie man in a Scottish accent.

The man seemed to pay her no attention. "Top-notch workmanship, I have to say." he continued to ramble, putting his hands on Data's head. "Did you build him yourself?"

"Please let go of my head." a nonplussed Data requested.

"Yes, let's leave the android alone, shall we, dear?" the caramel-haired woman told the man, pulling his hands off Data. "I know androids aren't an everyday sight in 1940's America, but there's no need to get carried away."

"So much for the upgrade." Crusher remarked as she and Riker watched all this.

"Looks like the simulation's malfunctioning." Riker commented. "It's recognised Data as not being of the proper historical period. Geordi will have to give the artificial intelligence a good workup."

The man had overheard all of this. "Malfunction?" he raised a brow. "Of course! This must all be artificial, some sort of holographic simulation. Well spotted."

"Simulation? Ye mean we're not in San Francisco at all?" the Scottish woman asked.

"Evidently not." the caramel-haired woman observed, taking out a small gold metal cylindrical object with a blue light at the end and pointing it around the room. "This is a holographic reproduction of San Francisco, albeit a very good one."

"We should've noticed it when we first stepped out." the man commented. "The smells, the sounds, the simulated gravity under our feet... Too perfect. Reality is always much messier. Why didn't I realise..."

"Oh, great." the brown-haired man grumbled. "I knew it was too simple for us to be in an actual, real place. Where are we really?"

"Curious, Commander. The simulations appear to have achieved some level of sentience, or at least the illusion of such." Data said to Riker.

"Oh, we're simulations. Sentient simulations, I see." the bow-tie man said. "Shall we put that to the test."

"It's your funeral." Riker shrugged. "Computer, end program."

The simulation ended and the bar was replaced by the plain walls of the holodeck, but the four strangers and the police box remained. "Intriguing..." Data remarked.

"Right, now that we've established that we're not holograms, I think introductions are in order." the caramel-haired woman said. "I'm Gazelle, this is my husband, the Doctor," she indicated the bow-tie man, "and these are our friends, Amy and Rory." she indicated the Scottish woman and the brown-haired man. "Don't s'pose you could tell us where we are?"

"Maybe we'd better have a word with the captain." Riker said crisply. And as if on cue, Worf arrived with three security officers. "This is Lt. Worf, our chief of security. Mr Worf, if you'll accompany our... guests to the observation lounge?"

"Yes, Commander." Worf acknowledged. "Come with me!" he ordered the four strangers.

"Well, you're a big fellow, aren't you?" the Doctor remarked to Worf. "A Klingon, if I'm not mistaken. Relax, we're all extremely friendly."

"Doctor, Gazelle, what's going on here? Where are we?" Amy asked as Worf and security led the quartet out into the corridor.

"Good question, Amy." Gazelle replied. "I just wish we had an answer for it."

"Well, wherever we are, one's thing's certain: we're definitely not where we were," the Doctor said, "and the situation is changing rapidly."

"What?" Rory asked.

"I seem to be remembering things that have never happened to me." the Doctor replied. "Well, until I got a glimpse of our tall friend there..." he nodded to Worf.

"Well, what d'ye mean?" Amy questioned.

"I had never even heard the word 'Klingon' before."

~8~

Worf led the four strangers to the observation lounge. "Look at the windows." the Doctor commented. "We're in space."

"You see that, Doctor? They have windows in their ship and everything." Amy snarked.

"This is a Galaxy-class starship." Gazelle observed, looking around. "Mid 24th century, United Federation of Planets." Then she frowned. "Funny. I shouldn't know that."

"Mr Worf, report." Picard called from the head of the table, drawing their attention to them.

"Captain, these are the... visitors Commander Riker discovered in the holodeck." Worf reported.

"So I'm told." Picard said, standing up and straightening out his uniform tunic. "We very seldom receive visitors in the holodeck, much less ones who park their telephone boxes there." he said to the four strangers. "I'm Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Enterprise. I must ask you, however, who are you, and what exactly are you doing on our ship?" he asked curtly.

"Who, us?" the Doctor asked innocently. "Nobody, really. Just doing a bit of travelling. This is Amy..."

"Hullo." Amy waved slightly.

"And her husband, Rory..."

"Hi." Rory said.

"I'm the Doctor, and this my wife, Gazelle." the Doctor finished.

"Bonjour, Capitaine." Gazelle tipped her hat.

"Doctor?" Picard questioned. "Doctor of...?"

"Just the Doctor." he replied, extending a hand.

"Very well, then, 'Doctor'. A pleasure to meet you." Picard replied, accepting the handshake while Riker arrived with Counsellor Troi.

"Deanna, are you getting anything from them?" Riker asked Troi. "Deception, intention... anything you can tell us?"

"No attempt to deceive us at all, Will." Troi replied. "From their young friends, I sense a nervousness, but an absolute trust in their companions."

"And from this 'Doctor' and that 'Gazelle'?"

"It's like nothing I've ever sensed before." Troi frowned. "There's wisdom, much beyond both of their years. And a sadness. Great sadness, but no ill intent. I'm certain of it. In fact, I sense that they've recently discovered she's pregnant."

Meanwhile, Picard and the four newcomers had all taken seats at the table. "We shouldn't be here, really, or you shouldn't." the Doctor said. "I don't suppose you've had any other unexplained visitors lately?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Picard replied. "Of course, it all depends on how you define 'Unexplained'."

Just then, Data's voice came over the intercom, "Bridge to Captain. Receiving a distress signal, priority one. Audio only."

"Put it though, Mr Data." Picard ordered.

Data complied and a frantic transmission was relayed to the observation lounge. "Help us! Massive attack from..." static, "The Lassiter is already gone! Repeat, this is Command Control on Delta IV requesting..." The transmission abruptly ended.

"The Deltan home world." Riker realised. "It's densely populated, but has no real strategic value. What could this be about?"

"I don't know, Number One." Picard replied, and tapped his combadge. "Mr Data, best speed to Delta IV?"

"Warp 9 will take us there in approximately 37 minutes, Captain." Data replied.

"Make it so, Mr Data." Picard ordered. He then turned to the visitors. "Is this your doing, Doctor? You arrival is conveniently timed, after all."

"Me? I've never heard of Delta IV!" the Doctor squeaked indignantly. "Which, considering the fact that I know every planet of every star system, is just a tiny bit concerning. As for conveniently timed, that could be my middle name!"

"Indeed." Picard raised a brow. "Mr Worf, keep an eye on our guests until we arrive at Delta IV." he ordered Worf as he got up to go to the bridge.

~8~

37 minutes later, the Enterprise was entering the Delta system. Worf brought the visitors to the bridge so that he could keep an eye on them as per orders. "Very nice, very impressive." the Doctor commented, looking around the room. "Roomy. I like roomy. I like the lines. Very nice use of space."

"Will you please stop talking?!" Worf asked irritably. For the last 37 minutes, this 'Doctor' had done nothing but rabbit on and on about this, that and the other.

"Sorry about my husband, Mr Worf." Gazelle said. "Sometimes, his mouth moves quicker than his brain. Mind you, I like the décor." she commented as she looked around. "Might have to keep this in mind next time we change the TARDIS desktop."

"Sensors indicating a large gathering of vessels in the immediate vicinity of Delta IV." Data reported as he checked his console.

"Large?" Picard frowned. "Define 'large'."

"Still calibrating, sir." Data replied. "Now within range for visual sensors, sir."

"On screen, Mr Data." Picard ordered. A moment later, his artificial heart nearly stopped. "No..." he murmured weakly.

On the viewscreen was an armada of ships: huge cube-shaped vessels festooned in girders and conduits, as if their insides had been turned outside, and long cylindrical ships with ring-like structures around the core. The Enterprise crew knew what the cubes were, while the Doctor and Gazelle seemed to recognise the cylindrical vessels "The cybermen?!" they exclaimed just as Riker said "The Borg?!"

"We shouldn't be here, Captain." the Doctor said grimly.

"I believe you're right..." Picard breathed.

To be continued...

Author's notes: And here's the next part of the adaptation, showing the TNG side of things. Both Seelos and Naia VII show the advantages a comic has over TV; they can be more imaginative with their planets and aliens. The bit with the Doctor interacting with the Enterprise crew was fun to write. I wonder if the comic's author found those parts fun to write too. I could actually imagine Matt Smith and Michael Dorn acting out that part! Next time will see a TOS/Classic Doctor Who crossover. Until then...