Naruto: Infinity Divide

The Cadet Cruise

Naruto: Infinity Divide

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Trek

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This chapter we'll see the U.S.S. Darwin and her crew's first adventures in space. Enjoy!

Port = Left

Starboard = Right

[ ] Signifies a foreign language

For those of you keeping track; here is an updated timeline:

Stardate/Year/Starfleet Battles Timeline

Stardate 2230. = 2230 = Y120 Spock Born to Amanda Grayson & Sarek

Stardate 2233. = 2233 = Y123 James T. Kirk Born

Stardate 2336. = 2336 = Y126 Constitution Class Launched

Stardate 2248. = 2248 = Y138 Shizuka Nadeshiko Born

Stardate 2254. = 2254 = Y144 Republic NCC-1371 Ensign James T. Kirk

Stardate 2254. = 2254 = Y144 Naruto Born to T'Ara and Sovar

Stardate 2263. = 2263 = Y153 Talok Born to T'Ara and Sovar

Stardate 2265.-2270 = 2265-2270 = Y155-Y160 U.S.S. Enterprise 5 year Mission (TOS)

Stardate 2265. = 2265 = Y155 Naruto's kahs-wan

Stardate 2267. = 2267 = Y157 Naruto enters the Vulcan Science Academy

Stardate 2267. = 2267 = Y157 Naruto and T'Lyra's koon-ut-la

Stardate 2271. = 2271 = Y161 Naruto and T'Lyra enter Starfleet

Stardate 2272. = 2272 = Y162 V'Ger Incident (Star Trek I)

Stardate 2272. = 2272 = Y162 End of Naruto's first semester/Naruto and T'Lyra return to Vulcan

Stardate 2272. = 2272 = Y162 Subcommander Kurenai promoted to her first command, the RIS Scimitar.

Stardate 2273. = 2273 = Y163 Cadet Cruise aboard U.S.S. Darwin

Last time:

Stardate 2273.001, Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Orbital Shipyards, Planet Mars, FRD-15, U.S.S. Darwin

Captain James was in his Command chair and turned to his helmsman Thomas Abraham. "Thrusters at station keeping Mister Abraham."

"All decks report in green." said Science Officer Jamie Beam.

Communications Officer Karina Edwards reported, "FRD-15 reports all tractor links and gravity pylons are cleared. We are free floating."

Shizuka Nadeshiko said, "All decks are secured."

"Thrusters ahead full Mister Abraham. Let's make this happen." said Captain James.

…For the first time in months the U.S.S. Darwin was moving under her own power…

…

Chapter 26

...

Stardate 2273. 031 Kappa Fornacis System, Planet Deneva

"Ship's Log, Stardate 2273.031: Captain Francis James reporting. NCC-1802 U.S.S. Darwin is visiting the Planet Deneva which has fully recovered from the blastoneuron neural parasites attack five years ago*①. We are here to return Governor Helana Albrecht to her homeworld after visiting the Federation Capital on Earth. Since the Colony is a classic example of a Class M Planet the cadets are using our special sensors to 'map and explore' Deneva from orbit as practice for actual exploration. We have permission from the Deneva Colony to send away teams down to 'explore' some of the unsettled areas and conduct a general survey of the planet to see if it is 'safe' for habitation."

…

The U.S.S. Darwin had been out testing all its systems for a month now and Captain James was drilling the crew with simulations of all kinds. The Cadets were putting out a good effort once they had some discipline pounded into them. Naruto was at the helm in auxiliary control and was very bored. Likewise, Samui was at the navigator's station. They were under the command of the ship's regular helmsman Lieutenant Thomas Abraham who was actually bored to tears himself. All the real action was up on the bridge…maybe. He signed off on a standard duty report that basically said absolutely nothing was going on.

Lieutenant Abraham wasn't going to have any more of this boredom. He decided to strike up a conversation with the beautiful Samui who was earning a reputation as an Ice Queen on board the Darwin. "So, Cadet Schrodinger, I understand you were one of the fast track Cadets aboard the Darwin. Does that mean you have a degree in something already?"

"I have a Doctoral Degree in both Cosmology and Astronomy from Cambridge University on Earth sir." said the blonde Augment.

'Gee, what do I say to that?' thought Abraham. 'I graduated at the bottom of my class because I was having too much fun chasing women to study.' "So, what got you interested in those subjects?" he asked.

Samui pivoted around to face the Lieutenant. "My parents are Astronomers by profession and taught me about the stars as well." A light started flashing on Samui's touchpad and she quickly pivoted back to see what it was. "Starboard thruster number two is acting up again." she growled.

Thomas Abraham got on the comm and said, "Auxiliary Control to Bridge; reporting starboard thruster number two is-"

The comm fired back, "This is Captain James Auxiliary Control. We've already noted it. Put it in the next Log entry Lieutenant."

Abraham sat back and said, "I wonder when they are going to fix that bloody thing."

The doors to the Auxiliary control opened and Commander Mei Terumi walked onto the deck with a sway in her hips. Her mid back length auburn hair was just barely within regulations. She had her green eyes locked upon the screen and said, "I see all is quiet down here Mister Abraham…How are you liking the feel of the Command Chair?" she asked with a smile.

Thomas Abraham was completely smitten with the Commander, but he also feared her wrath. She could be lots of fun to work with but if you break ranks then heaven help you.

That was when there was a rumble and the ship started to roll hard to port. Naruto moved like lightning and said, "Starboard thruster number two is at maximum thrust. Compensating with port thrusters." The ship slowly leveled itself.

Samui turned to Commander Terumi and said, "Starfleet regulations demand we move into a higher orbit if we have any sort of control problems while in a low orbit."

Mei smiled and said, "Take us 10,000 kilometers up from Denava helm. Navigation plot our new orbit while I contact the bridge." The First Officer was cool as a cucumber as she contacted the Captain and explained that they compensated for the faulty thruster before the Bridge Crew reacted. Captain James didn't like the chain of command being undermined but given the nature of the situation Auxiliary Control acted in the best interests of the ship. As soon as the new orbit was plotted the data was sent up to the Bridge where they reassumed control of the vessel. "Carry on." said Commander Terumi as the ship settled into a higher orbit.

'What an incredible woman.' thought Lieutenant Abraham. "Good job Cadets." he said. "Now maybe we'll get that thruster repaired."

….

Deck 7 Starboard Number Two Thruster control room

Crewman Brea Mathuin had an extinguisher and was helping with damage control when her friend Engineer's Mate T'Lyra arrived to help shut the faulty thruster down completely. Several of the crewmen came running out and one said to T'Lyra, "You are the ranking person Ma'am. Petty Officer Davis is unconscious."

T'Lyra said, "Evacuate the Control Room while I throw the kill switch." Three minutes later everyone was out and T'Lyra broke the safety panel open and threw the kill switch on the thruster which cut all power to it. T'Lyra got on the comm and said clearly, "Engineer's Mate T'Lyra to Engineering, the number two starboard thruster has been shut down via kill switch." She then switched channels and immediately called sick bay for the four injured crewmembers…

…

Chief Engineer Sassaav was soon on site and said, "There was no other choice in the matter." He activated the airtight lockdown and turned to his people. "We had four with minor injuries. It could have been a lot worse considering the way the thruster blew. We'll have to inspect it from the outside but unless I miss my guess the whole thruster module needs to be replaced in dock. The damage didn't spread any further thanks to Engineer's Mate T'Lyra throwing the kill switch. Let's get this blocked off with safety barriers."

The big Andorian got on the comm and said, "This is Chief Engineer Sassaav to Bridge."

Captain James answered, "Go ahead Chief. What's the damage?"

"Starboard thruster number two is completely shut down." said Sassaav. "I can't make a full assessment without an external inspection which will require us to be at station keeping."

"Understood Chief. We'll have to pull away from Deneva and come to a complete halt." said the Captain. "Go ahead and get your people suited up. Better now than later."

"Aye, sir. Sassaav out." The Chief Engineer said to his people. "Let's get moving once this is cordoned off."

Ten minutes later Brea and T'Lyra were headed down to engineering to fire up one of the four Workbees to help with the repair work. Brea said, "Is it just me or was Chief Sassaav completely calm during an emergency situation?"

T'Lyra said, "I noticed that as well. It seems that he only gets angry when he has the luxury of doing so."

Brea and T'Lyra soon inspected the two seat Workbee and took it down to the shuttle bay to get overhead inspection lights fitted. Chief Sassaav came over in his space suit and said, "Why aren't you two suited up?"

T'Lyra saluted and said, "There are already ten Cadets here. We weren't ordered to be in the inspection party."

"You are now; get suited up." ordered the Andorian gruffly. "I need people out there I can count on, not a bunch of bumbling Cadets."

…

The two young women quickly got their survival suits on and got in the two-seat Workbee. As soon as the Darwin was announced to be at a full stop and at station keeping, the shuttle bay doors opened and Brea said, "Here we go again!" from the back seat as T'Lyra smoothly engaged the Workbee's thrusters and launched the tiny craft off in flight mode. Within a couple of minutes, the Workbee was at station keeping with the overhead lights pointed directly at the damaged thruster on the Darwin. It didn't take a genius to figure out the thruster was beyond repair. The lower half of it was completely perforated with holes due to the metal not being able to withstand the thrust overload earlier.

About that time Sassaav came spacewalking out of the starboard airlock on the saucer section. He was travelling easily as walking across a room while the Cadets stumbled and wobbled about unsteadily. Ten minutes later the Chief Engineer growled, "I'm glad all of you Cadets all finally made it! I've done a cursory inspection and I want you each to do the same. I want you each to thoroughly check things over and give me your recommendation as an engineer."

Soon each one of the Cadets had done their inspection except the big Orion Kloene. He said, "Workbee; please direct your overhead lights upwards where I can see through the tears in the thruster's outer skin."

'Finally, one of them is thinking.' thought Sassaav. Kloene poked about a bit and said, "This thruster should never have passed quality control tests at the factory. The internal jets are bent. No wonder we've had trouble since we launched. These thrusters come as modules, so the entire thruster unit needs replacement. The internals are faulty, and the externals are ruined."

Another cadet asked, "Can't we bend it back to jury rig it?"

Sassaav resisted his urge to facepalm and put that Cadet down for some remedial training.

Kloene said, "Thruster jets are made out of tritanium*② alloy just like the ship's bulkheads. You don't 'bend' that stuff. The best thing we can do here is patch it up airtight with plating until a repair ship can bring us a new thruster and replace it. The only other option would be to head to a dock and replace it there."

"Cadet Kloene is correct." said the Chief Engineer. "Though several of you suggested we plate it over; none of you gave a reason why like he did. Everybody back inside where I'll submit a damage report to the Captain. Plan to do some welding in the very near future. We're not going anywhere with a hole in the side of my ship." Sassaav turned to the Workbee and gave a thumbs up. "Excellent work you two. Head back to the shuttle bay."

…

While the engineering Cadets were stumbling back into the hull T'Lyra and Brea Mathuin landed smoothly in the shuttle bay and started calculating the materials they would need for the minor patch job over the damaged thruster module. After quietly checking the ship's inventory they found there was plenty of tritanium alloy for the patch job. "I wonder if any of the Cadets can actually handle a plasma torch. I have this feeling we're going to be doing all the work again T'Lyra."

T'Lyra said, "I concur. The Cadets seem to be lacking in practice."

…

Captain's Office

Sassaav said, "In short we need a new thruster module. Starbase 10 should have it."

Captain James sighed. "Perhaps there is a repair ship we can rendezvous with Chief. We've already corrected how many problems?"

"One hundred thirty-four sir." said Sassaav. "Considering this ship is basically a new type since the refit that really isn't that bad."

"How are your cadets doing?" asked James.

Sassaav ran his fingers through his snow-white hair. "I've seen better. A few seem to be taking their jobs seriously. Cadet Kloene really has his act together for instance."

The Captain asked, "Is he one of the fast track Cadets?"

"Yes sir." said Sassaav. "I've tried not to be biased but they seem to be better than their peers."

James nodded. "It seems that way across the board. The fast track Cadets are a cut above the rest according to every department head."

…

Sick Bay

Doctor Jonathan Walker was supervising his protégé Doctor Shelly Wilson as she finished patching up Petty Officer Davis (again). Walker was thoroughly impressed with not only her skills but her bedside manner. She had a natural finesse with patients that many took years to develop. Davis touched where he'd been concussed and said, "Thank you Doctor Wilson. I feel like the vertigo is gone now."

Shelly nodded and said, "Do take care Mister Davis. We can't have you injuring yourself this seriously on a regular basis." 'I've already treated him twice before this month. Is he just danger prone?'

Her fellow fast track Cadet Gregory Hammond was treating another patient on the opposite side of the sick bay with a calf muscle injury. He studiously took care of his patient while pondering, 'Sick Bay is more like a clinic. Shelly is an excellent neurosurgeon and I'm no slouch. I was hoping to put my training to work but I guess we should feel blessed there haven't been any major injuries.'

…

"Personal Log of Doctor Jonathan Walker: Stardate 2273.031. In the last month I have been working with a group of twenty-five Cadets and it has been taxing. On the other hand, the five fast track Cadets are outstanding. Doctor Shelly Wilson is exemplary, and Gregory Hammond is excellent as well. I would feel confident in letting either one of them take care of our patients without hesitation. I have taken a total hands-off approach with the two of them in the last week with complete success. I could not be more pleased with their progress."

"The other fast track Cadets are serving in a nurse's capacity as their actual specialties are in xenobiology and other life sciences. Needless to say, the Science Department is grabbing them about half of their duty time. This is fine given I'm rotating the other Cadets through in a nursing capacity. They don't seem to have the work ethic of the fast track Cadets though. They aren't proactive or determined to learn like Doctor Wilson or Doctor Hammond who are constantly researching. The first month has been interesting indeed…"

…

Security Chief Shizuka Nadeshiko's Quarters

Lieutenant Shizuka Nadeshiko was reading up on subject matters that Vulcans generally didn't discuss with others in a Starfleet Medical Journal: Pon Farr and Plak tow. The article was written by a very well-known Starfleet Doctor named Leonard H. McCoy. As the young Vulcan woman read her green eyes got larger and larger disbelief…

Pon Farr: During Pon Farr, adult Vulcans undergo a neurochemical imbalance that takes on a form of madness (culminating in the Plak tow). A Vulcan can die within eight days if their Pon Farr is not satiated. Vulcan males experience Pon Farr every seven years of their adult life. The imbalance during Pon Farr can be transferred to others via a telepathic mating bond. It can also be transferred to other species though the same telepathic bond though this is rare. Also, during this period, the affected Vulcan's cortical levels rise and fall, as the brain's regulatory system appears to shut down when serotonin levels become unbalanced. Vulcan females also endure Pon Farr. Normally, their hormones and endorphins rise to dangerous levels. Like males, females must mate or otherwise receive treatment to survive.

Plak tow: Plak tow is a Vulcan phrase literally meaning blood fever. It is characterized by irrational and instinct driven behavior, a combative nature, and a high fever, especially during the final stages of Pon Farr. Normally a Vulcan in this state is unable to speak or think clearly and the desire to mate is very strong and irresistible. The blood fever is initiated by a telepathic mating bond between two Vulcans, but rare instances of Vulcans mating with members of other races do exist.

Shizuka would have been sweating a river if she had the sweat glands to do so. She thought nervously, 'This journal is saying that I could get so horny that I could lose my fucking mind and possibly die if I don't get laid by a Vulcan guy. I'm 24 years old; I'm too young to go!' The black-haired Vulcan girl decided to talk to the Vulcan woman she knew best, T'Lyra. Going through the ship's directory she found out that the brunette Engineer's Mate was living on Deck 6 in room 135-B (Her sidekick Brea Mathuin lived in the adjoining 135-A).

Soon Shizuka was at the door of T'Lyra's room and heard music (?) of some sort coming through the door. Though muffled by the door Shizuka could tell it was loud, heavy, and very distorted. Shizuka made out the lyrics just barely as she knocked on T'Lyra's door:

'Screams break the silence, Waking from the dead of night

Vengeance is boiling, He's returned to kill the light

Then when he's found who he's looking for, listen in awe and you'll hear him

-Bark at the moon!'

The music stopped and T'Lyra opened door wearing her off duty clothing which was gray shaded urban camo pants and a tight black tee shirt that showed off he ample bust nicely. The only thing that was 'normal' was T'Lyra's long hair was tied back in a tight braid. Shizuka had never seen T'Lyra off duty and was a bit shocked at the younger woman's appearance. The Engineer's Mate saluted and asked in her usual dry tone, "How may I be of service Lieutenant Nadeshiko?" Noting Shizuka was in uniform, T'Lyra added, "I can be in uniform in-"

Shizuka waved her hands. "There is no need T'Lyra. I came to visit you off duty. I wanted to ummm…talk to you about something private."

The brunette beauty raised an eyebrow and said, "Please come in."

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." said Shizuka.

T'Lyra said, "I was just listening to a Terran classical musician named Ozzy Osbourne. I was wondering how it would sound played on my ka'athyra." Seeing the disturbed look on Shizuka's face the brunette simply said, "It's an acquired taste."

"I see." said Shizuka as she followed the slightly shorter woman inside. 'How do I start this conversation?' "Ummm…I've been reading about Vulcan mating issues, and I had some questions."

T'Lyra got a totally flat look on her face and said while motioning towards the chair at the desk, "Please sit." T'Lyra sat on her bunk and asked, "What specific things did you wish to discuss?"

Shizuka scratched her neck nervously and said, "Pon Farr and Plak tow. I read about them in a Starfleet Medical Journal, and they raised some concerns for me."

"And you are concerned because you don't have a chosen mate." said T'lyra.

The Security Chief hated sounding weak but wanted to squeal, 'I don't wanna die!' "Is it true that you can actually die if you don't get laid?" asked Shizuka.

"Get laid?" asked T'Lyra. "Is that a human idiom for mating?"

Shizuka blushed slightly green. "Yes, it means mating."

'Another human phrase for my vocabulary.' thought T'Lyra. "Pon Farr is generally not discussed but since you were raised by humans seeking out another Vulcan to discuss it is the logical choice. I've never experienced Pon Farr."

Shizuka face faulted and asked, "Are you telling me you are a virgin?"

'At least I already knew that term from Brea.' The Engineer's Mate said, "I never said that; I said that I've never experienced Pon Farr. Vulcans mate like anyone else. Pon Farr is not a prerequisite for mating but when Pon Farr does occur then one must mate."

…

Hours later…

T'Lyra waved goodbye to her oddest friend Shizuka Nadeshiko. 'I remember when Mother and Father explained these things to me. I do not recall things being so awkward or confusing. It was very straightforward and simple. Shizuka's slang was incredibly crass and vulgar but she was raised by humans, so I do not believe it's her fault…I hope Naruto doesn't mind that I had to use him as an example. Of course, he is the logical choice for me to describe as he is my mate.'

…

Flashback…

"But my life is on the line here T'Lyra!" Shizuka nearly shrieked.

T'Lyra said, "If it is a worst-case scenario then my mate Naruto will take care of your needs."

Shizuka's green eyes widened. "He will?"

"It's the logical thing to do." said the mentally exhausted T'Lyra.

Flashback end…

…

'Or perhaps Naruto will completely snap at the very concept…' thought T'Lyra. 'I believe I need a drink.'

…

Stardate 2273.032, Deck 7 Starboard Number Two Thruster

The next morning at 06:00 the Cadets were ordered to start plating off the bad thruster module and Sassaav was going to have them do it come hell or high water…all for naught. The exterior patch job was atrocious and the big Andorian was fit to be tied. After numerous expletives he had them rip it all out and start over with the guidance of the former construction crew. What should have been a one-hour job turned into a six hour one and the various petty officers guiding the cadets were immensely relieved when the job was done.

T'Lyra and Brea were in two separate Workbees keeping the area lit and hauling tritanium alloy plating to and from the shuttle bay the whole morning. Brea was cursing up a storm on a private channel about the cadets 'not being able to weld a straight line' and T'Lyra had lapsed into stoicism waiting for the cadets to get done.

Inside the number two thruster room were Kloene and Daniel Simmons who were programming the ship's other thrusters to compensate for the loss of the number two thruster. Kloene was reading the actual power output of each thruster (not what it was rated at) to make sure the program was right. It took about two hours to complete but when the two fast track Cadets were done the thruster systems were good to go. The Engineering Officer over them gave them a 'well done' and the two members of the Think Tank wondered what was taking so long on the exterior.

Simmons said to Kloene as they sat down for a break. "I'm sure glad we aren't outside welding. I heard they've already ripped all the work out once."

"Better them than us." said Kloene in agreement.

…

"Ship's Log, Stardate 2273.032: Captain Francis James reporting. NCC-1802 U.S.S. Darwin is leaving the Kappa Fornacis system to rendezvous with the Auxiliary repair ship U.S.S. Vestal which is bringing us a new thruster unit from Starbase 10. The last of the away teams have been retrieved from Deneva and we should be meeting up with the Vestal in two days. For now, the crew is in high spirits that we are underway again. A positive that has occurred is our Chief Science Officer Jamie Beam is finally getting the hang of commanding others. The special sensor teams are going like clockwork now. She has a lot to learn but my doubts about her seem to be unfounded which is a huge relief in my book…"

…

Bridge

Cadet Rafi was at the helm working with Lieutenant Karatek who was at navigation. The ship rattled like an earthquake had rippled through it and Rafi compensated in an instant. Commander Terumi was in the Captain's chair and said, "Yellow Alert. This can't be good. Helm; drop us out of warp. We may be having more technical issues." She turned to her Science officer and said, "Tell me what you've got Lieutenant Commander Beam."

Jamie was already on the Special Sensor viewer and said, "The cause of the rumbling is external. I'm picking up an unstable wormhole in the nearby Kappa Triumvirate System. It's throwing off temporal waves. We should investigate it." Another wave rattled the Darwin and Commander Beam said, "All special sensors lock onto that wormhole. Everyone get me as much data as you can…And get me some astrophysicists up here on the bridge. I need someone whose expertise covers temporal waves. Most of us up here now are life sciences." She asked the computer, "Computer, display a list of personnel aboard who specialize in astrophysics."

The computer replied, "Working." as another wave shook the Darwin. It soon listed five individuals.

Commander Terumi said on the overhead, "Captain James to the bridge."

As the various blue shirted science department swarmed about the bridge Captain James came off the turbolift and said, "Report! What's the situation Commander Terumi?"

Mei smiled and said, "It seems we've found an unstable wormhole that is throwing out temporal waves in the Kappa Triumvirate System. That's what's rattling the ship. Sciences wants to investigate it, but I'm concerned it may put the ship in danger."

…

Auxiliary Control

"Cadet Naruto report to the Bridge immediately." blared the overhead. Four others had been called as well.

'This must have something to do with the rumbling going on.' Naruto thought as he stood up from his auxiliary helm station. Another Cadet quickly took his place at the station.

The Darwin rumbled again as blonde Vulcan stepped onto the turbolift to the bridge and his brain was racing with theories…

Naruto soon stepped on the turbolift to the bridge and noticed the science stations were swarmed. "Cadet Naruto reporting as ordered." he said as he saluted.

He saw Commander Terumi motion him over and she said, "Sciences is in need of your expertise. Speak with Lieutenant Commander Beam."

Naruto went over to Commander Jamie Beam who was speaking to his fellow Think Tank Cadet Maya Ayasugi. Ayasugi waved him over with a look of relief on her face. Commander Beam asked, "Name and specialty Cadet?"

"I am Cadet Naruto M'Fau and I have a Doctorate in Astrophysics and Astrodynamics as well as Xenobiology and Genetics." stated the blonde. "How may I serve?"

Jamie Beam looked at Naruto and thought, 'This is the one Ayasugi recommended.' "We've spotted an unstable wormhole and it's throwing off temporal waves. I want you to look at it. Ayusugi, take him over to Special Sensor station number 3."

Ayasugi nodded and led Naruto over to the station. She said, "I'm glad you're here Naruto. I have a hunch something is inside that wormhole but I can't prove it."

Naruto nodded and sat at the central seat of the Special Sensor Station. He observed in silence as two temporal waves passed over the Darwin. "Fascinating, I detect two cruiser sized vessels in close proximity inside the wormhole judging by the size and strength of the waves. They are masked by the side of the wormhole from the angle we are at."

"What?" whispered Commander Beam. "Show me Cadet."

She gasped as she saw the mathematical formulas for two ships overlaid the wormhole. "This shows two unstable warp fields overlapping." she said.

Beam turned and saw Mei Terumi standing there. Terumi smile in her usual way and said "Well…?"

"The Cadet's math is irrefutable." said Beam. "They are in need of rescue as those two warp fields clashing are going to destroy them."

"Can we identify the vessels?" asked Terumi. "If they are in trouble, we should render assistance."

"The only way we can identify the vessels is visually due to interference from the wormhole phenomena." said Naruto. "We need to change positions to do so."

Captain James said from his Command Chair. How close can we get without the Darwin suffering damage?

"300,000 kilometers sir." said Naruto. "We are currently at 600,000 kilometers."

Mei Terumi asked, "What happens if we get closer than 300,000 kilometers?"

Naruto turned to the commander and said, "The temporal waves would tear us apart."

Beam looked a little pale and Captain James asked, "How are those two ships intact then Cadet?"

"The two ships are generating the temporal waves and are unaffected by them." said Ayasugi. The clashing warp fields are what put them in danger. If they shut down one of the warp fields, then the issue would be resolved and the temporal waves would cease."

The wormhole suddenly twisted like a snake and the maw of it faced the U.S.S. Darwin looking like a vortex leading straight into hell. It tried to envelop them but didn't quite reach. An enormous temporal wave hit the Darwin and sent the Galactic Survey Cruiser plummeting away. Somehow Rafi brought the tumbling cruiser back under control using impulse power only. "She's fighting me the whole way!" roared Rafi as the Darwin leveled out.

The crew was seeing triple images of themselves and one of the bridge crew yelled, "What the hell?" in an echoing voice as the sound.

"Stay calm!" roared Captain James as everyone stumbled to their feet. "Get us out of here helm; maximum warp." he said as his voice echoed.

"If we use warp power within this temporal field then we will be destroyed Captain." said Naruto.

James looked at Naruto with hard eyes and said, "What do we do then Cadet?"

Naruto locked eyes with Rafi and said, "Let Cadet Rafi ride the temporal waves out on impulse power alone. She can do it. The waves will give us all the propulsion we need sir."

"How many more waves can we take?" asked Commander Terumi as her image and echoing voice started to spread out.

"Three Ma'am." replied Chief Science Officer Beam.

For a moment there was dead silence. Mei turned to Captain James and said in a triple voice, "Your orders sir?"

Captain James turned to Rafi and thought, 'This Trill girl is younger than my daughter.' "Helm, ride the waves and get us out of here."

Rafi smiled with a wild look in her eyes. "Aye, aye sir!" The Trill winked at Naruto and thought, 'Thanks for believing in me Naruto.'

"The next wave is incoming." said Ayasugi. "30 seconds to impact."

Rafi moved her fingers across the controls and the big cruiser pivoted so the shockwave would hit the Darwin broadside. The wave hit but was spread out over a bigger area that pushed the Darwin along instead of smashing into her like a punch to the jaw. The young Trill woman adjusted the thrusters and started riding the temporal wave along. The ship rumbled as the wave finally overtook them and passed over them. Rafi immediately turned the ship again at full impulse to gain speed before the next wave hit.

…

'Yeeeaaah!' thought Rafi as they rode the crest of the third wave even smoother than the second. "Now I have it. Sciences let me know the second I can kick in the warp engines."

Naruto watched in silence as they exited the reach of the wormhole at 300,000 Kilometers. "We are clear." said Naruto.

Captain James nodded and said "Helm, maximum warp now!"

…The U.S.S Darwin turned into a streak of color and vanished to the naked eye…

…

"We are out of the range of temporal waves sir." said Commander Beam with obvious relief in her voice.

"Drop us out of warp Cadet Rafi." said Captain James. "…And very well done." He exhaled deeply to calm himself. 'I can't believe we made it out alive…That girl Rafi is something else.' The Captain saw Rafi look over at Naruto and grin. He would have sworn that the blonde Vulcan gave back a ghost of a smile.

Shizuka said on the overhead, "All decks report in for damage assessment." Then she smiled and said, "Hey, I'm not seeing triple anymore."

Commander Terumi turned over to Naruto and Beam and said, "Do you two have an explanation for this phenomenon?"

Naruto said, "We were seeing our past, present and future selves simultaneously Commander. The closer we got to the source of the waves the worse the effect would have multiplied."

…

Captain's Office

"Ship's Log, Supplemental: Captain Francis James reporting. NCC-1802 U.S.S. Darwin is currently at station keeping outside the reach of the wormhole trying to identify the two ships that are trapped within. We dare not approach the wormhole again. One brush with death was enough for us. There were a lot of minor injuries, but all hands have reported in and the damage to the Darwin is minor. I must commend our helmsman Cadet Rafi for her outstanding skill at the helm. I honestly don't think anyone else on the ship could have done it, including myself. When Cadet Naruto said she could do it he had the greatest confidence in her. Something in my gut told me to trust the boy's judgment and we are alive because we did…"

…

Bridge

Naruto was carefully observing the two cruisers sized vessels that were trapped in the wormhole. He felt a bit helpless watching from a safe distance. There was nothing the crew of the Darwin could do but observe now. Approaching closer meant destruction. Starfleet Command had already been informed that the Kappa Triumvirate System was off limits until the wormhole collapsed back into wherever it came from. In his scientific mind Naruto wondered where and when the other end of the wormhole led…

Ayusugi was looking through the visor tied into the sensor and said, "One of the warp fields just collapsed! Ship B just imploded!"

Naruto quickly grabbed the secondary visor and said, "The wormhole is collapsing. Ship A is clear of it."

Mei Turumi and Jamie beam were on the pair of Think Tank Students like hawks. "On main screen!" both women ordered.

The main screen showed a tiny ship floating dead in space as the wormhole imploded behind it. There was a blinding flash of light and space returned to normal except for the cruiser sized vessel that had been ejected from the storm. Mei took the command chair and said, "Captain to the Bridge!"

Shizuka said, "Condition yellow; shields up! That vessel may be hostile!"

Mei said, "Magnify the ship on screen. Get me an identification on that hull type. Communications, open hailing frequencies!"

"Commander, I recognize that hull type." said Shizuka. "It's an NX type hull. They were around before the United Federation of Planets was formed."

"NX type…?" asked Commander Beam.

"They were the first Terran ships to reach Warp Factor 5. My dad has a model of one back home on Earth." explained the Security Chief.

"Identification confirmed." said Naruto. "United Earth Starfleet NX Light Cruiser Class*③. They were in service during the 2150s. It appears to be powered but is adrift."

"That ship is over one hundred years old…." said Commander Terumi. "Start scanning that antique for life forms…"

…

POSTSCRIPT:

*① Disaster struck Deneva in 2267 when a visiting transport ship from Ingraham B brought deadly blastoneuron neural parasites with them that took over the colonists' minds, making them build spaceships so that they could spread their influence. Fortunately, their plans were halted by Captain James T. Kirk (whose brother Sam and family were stationed on Deneva) and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Deaths from the invasion numbered close to twenty-one thousand, including Deneva's governor Newton Armitage, Sam Kirk, and his wife Aurelan. Deputy governor Helana Albrecht took over leadership of the colony after that. (See the TOS Episode "Operation—Annihilate!")

*② Tritanium is an ore known to be 21.4 times as hard as diamond. It is found, among other places, on the planet Argus X. Tritanium alloy is a widely used construction material. The bulkheads of NX-01 Enterprise were composed of tritanium alloy.

*③ The NX-class was a type of explorer starship in the United Earth Starfleet in service during the mid-22nd century. The NX-class was commissioned as an exploratory vessel as a medium for the new warp 5 engine that would form the basis of Humans first reach into the galaxy. NX-01 Enterprise was the first NX-class starship built.

And so T'Lyra had to give Shizuka the condensed Vulcan version of 'The Talk.' We also found out that Naruto's mate has wide tastes in music. The end of this chapter wasn't really meant to be an evil cliffhanger but I ran out of space. See you next time. Blue out. 9/24/23