This story begins after "First Contact" and before the DS9 episode "Tears of the Prophets" at the end of the 97-98 TV season. In this story, the crew of the Enterprise E comes in contact with a future ship, the Enterprise K. At Lee's suggestion, to avoid confusion here is a list of the crew of the Enterprise K:
Admiral Data
Captain Kim
(Doctor) Commander Odo Kira
(Chief Engineer) Ensign Leslie Picard
First Officer Paris
Security/Tactical Officer Ensign Jotran Dax
Commander Kelix (daughter of Neelix and Kes)
"Damn it!" said Commander William Riker. "That's the 12th game of poker in a row that I have lost."
"Will," stated Deanna Troi. "There is nothing wrong with losing."
"I know that... it's just.... I never had a losing streak during the year between the crash at Veridian III and the comissioning of the Enterprise."
Data decided this would be the perfect time. "If I might interject, sir..."
"No thank you, Data, I don't need advice."
"Yes, sir."
"Well," said Beverly Crusher. "Its 23 hundred hours, and I have an early shift tomorrow. I am going to retire now, and take my winnings, if no one minds."
"What time is your shift over, Doctor?" asked Riker.
"15 hundred hours. I'll meet you at the aroboretum at 6 tomorrow evening."
But the doctor and first officer's thoughts turned to those of Odan. Tomorrow was the anniversary of the incident in which Riker had been implanted temporarily with the famed Trill ambassador. Every year Riker and Crusher celebrated this and remembered the bond they had shared, since Beverly had been in love with Odan and during that time spent a night with the combination of Riker and the Trill.
That was when the Red Alert klaxxon sounded.
As the crew entered the bridge of the Enterprise, Picard said, "Admiral Hayes has asked us to find survivors at the Klignon-Federation research outpost at Narendra III. It has been attacked by a Dominion 'super battleship'. The 101st task force will rendevous with us there in 36 hours."
Riker stated, "Narendra III. I hope we fare better than the Enterprise-C."
Riker kneeled down next to Picard's chair, in which the captain was sitting. He whispered, "Is it me or do we have the habit of returning on missions to places where other ships named Enterprise haven't fared as well? Is this coincidence or does Starfleet like sending us to these disaster sites?"
Picard returned a grimace. "My thoughts exactly."
Three blasts from a Jem'Hadar warship pierced the Enterprise's shields, destroying the navigational deflector. From Ops, Data noted a temporal rift forming directly ahead of the Enterprise. "Sir, a vortex is being created: it is a temporal rift. It looks like it was created due to a weak area of subspace and the explosion."
"On screen," ordered the captain.
The temporal vortex was growing quite large. When it filled
all the viewscreen, it simply stopped and appeared to rotate, with
gases sucked in from a nearby star.
--Lee Jamilkowski
A beep from the security console alerts the green skinned ensign manning the console. "Captain...Reading large nutrino disturbance. Very large...Romulans?"
Riker casts a wary glance towards Picard. "The Enterprise. Romulans. Narendra III...notice a pattern here?"
"I should say so." Picard replied "Conn, back away from the disturbance. One quarter impulse power."
"Aye sir" said Lieutenant Brielle, the lovely young Bajoran helm officer. "answering one quarter--"
"Captain. This is odd." the green skinned Ensign Merjed piped up. "I can confirm that the nutrino source is Romulan in origin, but I've never seen a Romulan ship create a disturbance of this kind."
"What are you saying?" said Riker with a concerned grimace.
"If it's Romulan, It's something we haven't seen yet, or--"
"Or--" a stately voice echoed through the bridge speakers "--You're completely wrong."
"Who is this?" Picard barked at the speakers "I demand that you lower your cloaking field and stand down."
The void of space began to ripple revealing a large spacecraft. It is now obvious that it is not a Romulan vessel.
"Ensign, Identify" ordered Picard
"Starfleet vessel. Registry number NCC-17--...Wait that can't be right." Ensign Merjed wrinkled his brow. "Captain this is impossible"
"What's impossible? What is that registry Number?"
Ensign Merjed looked again at his console, "Starfleet registry NCC-1701-...K."
--Andrew Runion
Then a torpedo blast ripped a hole through the engineering room.
"Geordi," Riker called into the intercom.
"Captain," said Data. "A Dominion fleet---consisting of 5 Jem'Hadar warships and 3 Galor class vessels."
After a few tense seconds, the chief engineer responded. "LaForge here," said Geordi. "I was lucky... I had been in one of the Jefferies tubes when the explosion passed through. The operational sensors down here don't detect any life signs besides myself. There is theta radiation flooding the engine room; you'll need to beam me out of here."
"Picard to transporter room. Lock onto Commander LaForge and beam him directly to the bridge. Lieutenant Taitt, lock phasers and quantum torpedos onto the nearest 2 Jem'Hadar vessels. Hail them."
The familiar transporter pattern appeared on the bridge, and Geordi LaForge appeared, laying on his stomach. He pulled himself up and walked over to Engineering.
"No response," said the young tactical officer. Two more torpedos ripped into the saucer section of the Enterprise.
"There's only one way to go," replied the first officer.
"Take us into the rift," ordered Captain Picard.
--Lee Jamilkowski
Brielle tapped frantically at the console. "The helm is responding but it's as though something's pulling us from behind."
"A tractor beam", Riker noted. "can you pinpoint the source?"
"It's coming from the Enterprise-K." answered Brielle.
"Fire a short phaser burst at the exact source of the beam." said Picard.
A beam shot out of the Enterprise's rear phaser array, striking the Enterprise-k's tractor beam emitter. The beam fluctuated a bit, freeing the Enterprise-E.
"Good. We're free. Now take us in Lieutenant." Picard ordered.
Riker chimed in "What is the status of Enterprise-K?"
"Commander" said ensign Merjed, "The Enterprise-K is no longer reading on our sensors."
"Back under cloak?" pondered Riker.
"No nutrino disturbance registering"
The rift grabbed the Enterprise into a gravity well, pulling it in. The Enterprise disappeared into
the colorful anomoly.
--Andrew Runion
The away teams from the Enterprise-K beamed into various parts of the ship including the bridge. A man tapped his communicator and said "Kim to all teams. Survivors are not to learn when they are and who we are. If they question you, contact me."
He scanned the bridge with his searchlight. Unconcious and dying bodies littered the deck. Besides the dead and dying, the bridge looked exactly like all the re-creations he had viewed. He saw a bald head and realized that it must have been Jean-Luc Picard's. The thought of introducing Picard to his daughter passed through his mind. Then he called Doctor Kira over, realizing the shock of a partially Borg captain would not be good for Picard, with his experiences.
On the bridge of the Enterprise-K, Ensign Jotron Dax stood at the tactical console even though she was in command of the ship with the senior staff gone to the predecessor ship. She suddenly detected two Jem'Hadar battleships approaching. The E.T.A. was 3 hours. She rubbed a hand nerviously over her Klingon ridges and down the back of her head passing through her hair.
She touched the open communications button. "Dax to Kim. Long range sensors have picked up two Jem'Hadar battleships headed our way. They will arrive in 3 hours."
"Noted," replied the Captain.
On the bridge of the Enterprise-E, Kim touched his communicator and ordered, "Away teams. Get the injured to our ship as soon as possible. We will have visitors in a few hours."
The scope protruding from the captain's jaw shone onto the console imbedded into an arm of the captain's chair. He read the text of the most recent log entry of Picard.
Commander Odo Kira, the shapeshifting doctor, scanned Picard
with a tricorder and administered a sedative through a hypospray. He
contacted the ship and they beamed to the Enterprise-K sickbay.
--Lee Jamilkowski
1 hour later
When Dax saw the Captain coming out of the turbo lift, she quickly informed him of her new discovery.
"Captain, we have a problem. I conducted a long range scan and..."
"Yes I know, the Borg." said the Captain. "Did they contacted us? Are they on our side this time?"
"You were right for the Borg part but there is something else. The 2 Jem'Hadar ships we had detected, have a different configuration. It seems like the ships are part Jem'Hadar, part Borg and..."
"What!!!!! Are you sure?" ask Kim
"Well, yes, for this part" replied Dax "but there is something else I'm not sure of. I think those two ships have a clocking device."
"Data" asked the Captain "Do you think the Borg assimilated the Jem'Hadar?"
"I don't think so Captain." replied the android. "Since the first time I met the Borg while I was under Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and according to all the logs of other ships of Starfleet, the Borg will only assimilate a being that will bring new knowledge, new technologies, etc. to the collective. And as we know, the Jem'Hadar were created for battle only. Not to think."
"And for the clocking technology?".
"Captain, we all know that the Borg had assimilated the Klingon and the Romulans but if it's the Jen'Hadar, I can't see how they could obtain that technology." responded Data.
"Thanks Data" said the Captain "We still have 96 minutes before the Jem'Hadar/Borg will be in visual range. I would like if you could go to sickbay and check on your former Captain."
"Sure Captain" replied the android. He turned around and entered the turbolift.
In Sickbay
Data entered the sickbay and saw Captain Picard on the biobed.
"How is he Doctor?"
"He's ok. Just sleeping."
"Can I talk to him" continued Data
"Sure." replied the Doctor
While the Doctor administered something on Jean-Luc Picard's neck, Data asked another question.
"How's the android of the Enterprise E?"
"Lieutenant-Commander McKellar is checking him right now. According to the last report he gave me half an hour ago, it seems like that Data lost his memory. Commander McKellar doesn't know he could lose his memory." said the Doctor
"Did he found a way to restore his memory?" asked the android
"Not yet" said Doctor Kira
"How come I still have my memories but I can't remember this event?" thought Data.
"Data" asked Captain Picard.
"Captain." said Data "how are you feeling?"
"I'm ok Data" said picard "but where am I?"
Then the Enterprise-K shook from left to right. The red alert lights started to flash everywhere.
"Attention all decks, we are under attack. This is the Captain speaking, senior staff, please report to your stations"
"Data, what is going on?" asked Picard
"I'm sorry, Captain but I can't respond to that." answered the android.
"DATA, what is going on. How come the sickbay is not the same? The staff is different. The Enterprise is captained by someone else. How come you can speak with contractions? You never could do that before. And why in the hell do you have an Admiral pin?"
Then Picard felt something strange. Really strange.
"Captain, what's wrong?" said Data.
"Data" asked Captain Picard "are we under attack by the Borg?"
"I will return as soon as I can" answered Admiral Data.
--Eric St-Jean
On the bridge, Captain Kim touched his chair's computer consoles. He announced to the bridge, "I am activating my mother's modifications to the ship. It's the only way that we will survive."
The outside of the Enterprise suddenly became armored with Borg technology. The voice of the computer changed from the harsh, uncaring female voice of the main computer to the voice of the Borg drone known as One. "One strategies and Borg weaponry activated."
Data arrived on the bridge and took a seat in the V.I.P. chair. "Lock on plasma torpedos and fire at these coordinates," said Kim. "And modulate shield nutation."
The two Borg Jem'Hadar ships exploded easily. Suddenly, two Borg drones arrived on the bridge.
First officer Paris said to the two drones, "Thank you, but we were successful. I do not think we will need your protection at the moment. Please, fell free to scan the ship should the Borg be attempting a "First Contact" takeover attempt."
The "main" Borg stood and stared blankly for a second, comprehending the information. Then both drones entered the aft turbolift and left.
"That was too easy," said Dax. "This is a new threat to Starfleet. I'll send an encrypted message to Starfleet."
Kim opened communications with the Enterprise-K's chief engineer, Ensign Leslie Picard. "How are repairs going, Les?"
"Better than expected. The ship will be underway within the hour."
"Great. We need to get her farther into Rebellion space."
--Lee Jamilkowski
JUST THEN DAX SAID, "CAPTAIN, SENSORS ARE PICKING UP A CRONITON/NUTRINO SURGE FORMING, 125,000 KILOMETERS OFF THE PORT BOW." A SHIP EMERGED FROM THE SURGE /ANOMALY. IT RESEMBLED A SOGERIAN-CLASS SHIP, BUT IT HAD A THREE ENGINE CONFIGURATION.
"IDENTIFY." KIM SHOUTED AT DAX.
"THEY ARE NOT TRANSMITTING AN ID SIGNAL."
JUST THEN THE NAME CAME INTO VIEW. ...USS ENTERPRISE NCC -1701 H.
"CAPTAIN, THIER ENERGY EMISSIONS ARE 7 TIMES MORE THAN OURS- WE ARE BEING HAILED."
"ONSCREEN." KIM ORDERED.
"I'M ADMIRAL STEVEN SUBEE OF THE USS ENTERPRISE, SURRENDER OR BE DESTROYED!" HE SAID.
"BUT OUR MISSION-" HE SAID JUST AS THE CHANNEL CLOSED, AND THE SHIP WAS HIT BY QUANTOM TORPEDOES.
"DEFENSE SYSTEMS ARE LOSING POWER, THEY'VE ACTIVATED A DAMPENING FIELD."
"SHUNT ALL POWER TO DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS." KIM ORDERED.
"COUTERMAND THAT ORDER," ORDERED ADMIRAL DATA. "SHUNT ALL POWER TO PHASER ARRAYS, AND FIRE UNTIL THEY ARE DRAINED."
"AYE SIR." SAID DAX.
JUST THEN ALL THE CONSOLS, ON BY ONE, STARTED EXPLODING.
"WE ARE DOWN TO AUX. POWER."
"CORE BREACH IN 2 MINUTES" SAID THE COMPUTER.
"EVACUATE THE BATTLE SECTION." ORDERED DATA.
1 MINUTE 45 SECONTS LATER...
"EVACUATION COPLETE."
"FULL IMPULSE." ORDERED DATA.
THE ENTERPRISE K SAUCER SECTION PULLED AWAY FROM THE BATTLE SECTION JUST AS IT IMPLODED AND THE BLAST ENGULFED THE ENTERPRISE-E , AND THE ISS ENTERPRISE-H, AND DESTROYED THEM.
"MINOR DAMAGE" REPORTED DAX.
"STAND DOWN FROM RED ALERT" SAID DATA.
THE NORMAL RUNNING LIGHTS RETURNED. ALL WAS WELL FOR A WHILE UNTIL- "CAPTAIN, 15 JEM'HADAR FIGHTERS-OFF THE PORT BOW" DAX REPORTED JUST AS THE SHIPS FIRED.
"RED ALERT, RAISE SHIELDS!" HE ORDERED.
--Steven Subee
"Vessel decloaking sir." reported Ensign Dax.
Captain Kim rose from his seat and replied, "Can you identify?"
"Sir, it's a Ferengi Attack-cruiser."
"They are hailing us sir, shall I put it on screen?" said Paris as the ship shook with yet another phaser blast.
"Do it" Kim said as he struggled to keep his footing and then wisely sat down.
"Hello Captain, I believe we may be of service to you, for a price."
"Yes, you may." replied Admiral Data as he was surprised to see DaiMon Nog, one of the most infamous Ferengi to ever live. "What is your price DaiMon Nog??"
"I have made many enemies within the Ferengi Alliance while supporting my uncle's failed attempt to remain as Grand Nagus. I wish to join your "Rebellion", that is all." replied the one-time Starfleet officer.
"That can be arranged." Data said, imagining that if his emotion chip was still intact that he'd be disgusted at the thought of a Ferengi joining their cause.
"A wise choice Admiral. Allow me to introduce a few of my friends." At that moment 4 more Ferengi ships decloaked, including another Attack-cruiser and 2 fighters.
The Dreadnought Sovereign-class of the Federation/Ssoran Alliance, now
being the underdog decided to fall back and wait for help. It
immediately cloaked and went to warp.
--Micheal Saylor
Data signaled for Kim to walk with him into the conference lounge. "Captain, while it is interesting that Daimon Nog would like to join the Rebellion, might I remind you that with the destruction of the Enterprise..."
"I know, sir," replied the human. "Although, it looks like the energy from the vortex has prevented us from being altered along with the timeline. I will set course for the past. I know you were captain of the Enterprise-H, sir. Which means, we must prevent that Steven Subee from taking command."
Kim hit his communicator and said, "Prepare to take us into the vortex, Mr. Paris."
The two officers walked out of the conference lounge. "Mr. Data, with your experience, I would request that you take command," stated the captain.
The android stated, "Kelix, take us in, half impulse. When we
arrive, slingshot around the star until we arrive in the year 2388."
--Lee Jamilkowski
Just as ship approached the anomaly a thruster missfired. The ship's trajectory was off. Where they were to go next was anyone's guess. The time had been altered and in danger since the appearance of the ship from the future. When the ship came out of the singularity as it had been a wormhole with the bright burst of energy, they arrived in a battlefield. One thing more surprising than realizing this was that there was another E-K there in the field but its hull floated out there next to the countless others. All of the crew was shocked to see a future representation of themselves.
Kelix gasped as if he was the reason that caused this. He couldn't be sure but felt a major burden.
"I Can't believe the thrusters missfired" Kelix replied.
Data replied "Maybe the thruster didn't really caused the altered time, I took in factors of missfires."
"What are you getting at?" Kelix asked.
"There is a one in 223,980,890,000,120 chance that when we entered the anomaly it would create an exact quantum duplicate, and one copy was sent to this time and our ship was sent to here" Data replied.
Kim replied "Which of us is the copy? The one laying in the debris, or are we the copy?"
Data answered "There is a way to determine which but it requires several
hours to process."
--B_sisko
Captain Kim reconsidered. "Don't bother, Admiral. If that Enterprise is identical to ours, it doesn't matter which is the copy. Kelix, if we attempt that maneuver again with a warp-powered shuttle instead of the entire starship, can you assure me that a thruster will not missfire again?"
"Almost certainly, Captain."
Kim turned back to Data. "As I understand it, if we slingshot a shuttle around the star, the odds of it getting 'doubled' are infinitesmally small. Is that correct?"
"It is sir, but should we not attempt to find out what happened to the other Enterprise K first?"
"Why? Whatever happened here should not have, and we can prevent all of this mess by going back to 2388 and stopping Subee from taking command. Without his interference, neither the Enterprise E nor H would have been destroyed, and we would never have attempted the first time jump which caused a second Enterprise K to come into existence. By correcting history, we would erase this battle scene."
Data nodded. "I see sir."
"Admiral Data, you outrank me so I cannot order you to pilot the shuttle back through history. However, since you are the person here most familiar with the time when Starfleet chose between you and Subee to Captain the Enterprise H, I believe you should go. You can choose who you would like to go with you."
Data agreed
The shuttle hurtled headlong toward the star with Admiral Data at the controls, accelerating toward Warp 9. There was flash of light. From the inside, the ship seemed to stretch in four dimensions. Data lost consciousness and fell into a bizzare fragmented dream of nonsensical images.
When he awoke, the breaking thrusters had already fired. The ship's chronometer indicated he had reached the year 2388. He had twelve hours to reach Starfleet Headquarters in San Fransisco and convince the council to assign Subee to the USS Zarahemla instead of the Enterprise.
If he succeeded, this temporal mess would fall into place. He fed the coordinates into the navigational computer, and took off toward Earth.
--Argus Skyhawk
Data turned on the cloaking device and entered transwarp. After 5
minutes, he found himself in orbit of the Federation's old homeworld.
"Computer, download recordings to my synthio-positronic net and then
beam me to Starfleet Headquarters."
--Lee Jamilkowski
Continue on to Page Two.
