[USS Dragon – Captains Ready Room]
—————————————–

Michael looked out of the viewing window of his office at the Quantum Fissure, which gleamed against the backdrop of space like a tiny star. A small pit of anticipation was seething in the bottom of his stomach. There was so much that could go wrong with this, and so many lives on the line…but the alternative was much worse.

The doors slid open, and Commander Jessica Stern walked in. Michael turned to give her his attention, crossing over to his desk and retrieving a cup of hot coffee. “So how do we stand?” He asked, opting not to sit.

“Ninth in the queue. Station Control estimates that if all goes well, we can depart in about 45 minutes.” She reported. “But that’s assuming all goes well. In the time I had talked to them, they had two internal activations for ships returning, which pushes the external departures back by at least 15 minutes each time.”

“So, it could be a few hours still before we depart?” Michael summarized. Jessica nodded at his assumption. Michael shook his head, “Worse thing about command is the damn waiting around…” he sighed. “Let’s go ahead and get everyone together and go over the plan one last time so they’re all on the same page.”

Jessica nodded at the command, tapping her comm badge. “All senior officers, report to the main conference room for operational briefing.”

Michael could hear her voice echoing through the ship’s intercom system. He took a deep sip from his cup, feeling the heat from the coffee travel down his core, as he grabbed a PADD off his desk and headed to the conference room.

 

[USS Dragon – Conference Room]
—————————————–

Zach, V’era, and Pi were the first to arrive, having already been stationed on the bridge when the call came out. Roptojmey and Clara came in next, the Deltan councilor also sporting a cup of hot liquid in her hand. Kiff was the last, having come all the way from Engineering to attend. As everyone took their seats, the collection of officers looked to the captain as if to expect the meeting to start, but his eyes remained on the door, waiting in silence.

The conference room doors opened once more, and in stepped a freshly dressed Orlok Ken, much to everyone else’s surprise. “Given the nature of our mission and the role the Displaced will play in this, I have asked Lt. Ken to assume the role of acting security chief.” Michael explained, motioning the Trill to join them at the table.

Orlok took his place, sitting next to Kiff as the Captain stood and activated the screen behind him. A top-down display of the Starbase and surrounding starships could be seen, as 12 ships held a holding pattern around the station, waiting to break off to enter the fissure. “Because the Quantum Fissure has to be calibrated for each unique destination we cross over, there is a long line ahead of us. The estimated departure is roughly around two hours.”

“They weren’t kidding…” Roptojmey remarked, amazed at the realization of just how impactful the displacements of their universe really were.

“No, they weren’t. It’s a widespread problem, so once we go in, we need to take care of business and make it back as quickly as possible. I called this meeting to finalize departmental roles and responsibilities during this time, so everyone is on the same page. Commander Pi, care to start us off with Operations?” Michael initiated.

“We have worked with the Engineering department to increase internal sensor sensitivity by 48%. We have also deployed transport inhibitors around cargo holds, engineering, sickbay, the armory, and the bridge, to prevent unwanted guests from transporting in. I have also written an algorithm to refresh our shield harmonic frequency every 10 minutes.” The Xb officer reported.

Michael nodded at this, “Good work. Science?”

“We have provided Starbase 80 with our targeted Quantum State Vector of the displaced universe. The singularity exists in a fixed position through all possible realities, so once we are on the other side, we will need to initiate a Graviton beam at the same location, using the QSV frequency of our universe. The science department has already made the modifications needed to the deflector dish to achieve this.” V’era informed

Michael once again nodded in agreement, “Medical?”

“We have two teams of Trill Surgeons onboard, as well as our Guardian to oversee the procedure. Once we have their Orlok and our Ken back, we can begin the re-transplant process.” Roptojmey began to explain.

“How long is that going to take?” Michael inquired.

“The procedure shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half. But the volatile nature of both the hosts and symbiotes during that time is going to be crucial. We’re not going to be able to assure a smooth transition if we’re dodging enemy fire during that time.” Roptojmey stated flatly.

“Commander?” Michael turned to ask.

“The Betreka Nebula is nearby. If we can slip in there, we should be able to hide out undisturbed during the procedure.” Jessica noted.

“Ok, let’s make plans for that.” Michael confirmed. “Engineering, how are we standing?”

“Uh, yes, sir. Uhm, so, the ships in their universe are vastly underdeveloped compared to our own. I sat down and did a rundown with the displaced to confirm what kind of classes we would mostly be dealing with. The level of technology they have, we should be able to rig for silent running and slip past most patrols with ease. Disable our transponder, switch to passive sensors, and shut down non-essential systems. I can modify the shield harmonics to mask our energy signature further. Unless we run across a Galaxy, or a Nebula with an advanced sensor package, we should be as good as cloaked.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kiff.” Michael confirmed, before turning his attention to Zach. “Tactical?”

“There aren’t many situations an Inquiry can’t handle in our universe. I know you want to try to avoid engagement, but if push comes to shove, we can cut through anything they have like a hot knife through butter. Unless we come across a flotilla or a Starbase, we should be perfectly fine. I did get with Pi and prepared a few non-confrontational countermeasures just in case.” Zach replied confidently.

Michael looked to Pi with a raised eyebrow. “We modified a few munitions into Electromagnetic Detonation Warheads, and 2 Viral Matrix Probes to disable enemy systems, without having to engage in direct confrontation.” Pi explained.

“Good, let’s not underestimate our opponents by overestimating our abilities despite technological advances. Lt. Ken, care to share your insights?” Michael continued.

“The shuttlecraft displacement put your runabout transponder inside my universe, so tracking their craft should be simple enough. However, if they experienced the same difficulties, we did, then their training would dictate they would have reached out to the nearest Federation Starship or Starbase…which is the worse case scenario.” Orlok began.

“In my universe, we are renegades. In the eyes of the parasites, we are wanted criminals. Me especially, as I had recently killed the Hive Mother of Starbase K-74. We were fleeing from that engagement when the displacement happened. If they captured ‘us’, then this turns from a search and rescue, to a jailbreak.” He finished explaining.

“If you killed a Hive Mother, then what is the risk assessment to the team if captured?” Jessica probed.

“They won’t execute on site, if that’s what you’re asking. The bugs are nothing if not performative, and they will use any leverage they can get to discredit the Trill resistance through social influence and propaganda. The other Orlok, if he’s even conscious, will most likely be held for a public spectacle. The rest of them, unfortunately, will be immediately compromised to collect as much information on the resistance as they can.”

“Infected, you mean?” Roptojmey corrected. Orlok solemnly nodded.

“But…if they infect our crew, who aren’t your resistance fighters…” Michael began.

“Then the bugs will know everything they do about your universe. Which can confuse and stall them for a while, as they try to sort things out at least.”  Orlok expressed.

There was a moment of silence as everyone at the table processed this revelation.

“Look, I know you can’t get too involved, I understand. So, if it comes down to infiltration and extraction, my team is willing to go in. You just need to get us on location to do our thing.” The Trill conveyed.

“Yes, but you can’t join them, you’re going to be needed here for surgery.” V’era pointed out.

“I’ll go in his place.” Pi piped up.

Heads turned to the former borg. “I’m the only one onboard who is potentially immune to the parasite’s control methods; my brain stem is bionic. I can take a Pulse Rifle with isoliner tags and mark our crew to transport, even if wherever they’re being held is shielded, then tag myself for extraction.”

“That still doesn’t answer how were going to get the bugs out of them when we get them over here. The surgical teams are going to have their hands full on the symbiote swap.” The Klingon doctor protested.

“The only ways we know to remove a parasite from a host are through a synthesized trill genome injection we don’t have access to at the moment, by killing the hive mother, or killing the host.” Orlok answered. The Trill could see the uneasiness in the Captain. “I know it’s not how you handle things, but this is our world, and this is what we do. All you need to do is get us in, and we can do what we have been trained to do. In doing so, we’re returned to our universe, and your crew is freed. Win-win.”

Only, it didn’t feel like a win to Michael. He wasn’t used to sitting around casually planning political assassination. It felt wrong, he knew deep down it WAS wrong, but did he have a choice? If he did nothing, if he hesitated, he brought the threat of the loom upon both worlds. Leaning his elbows on the table before him, Michael rested his head in his hands. Not looking up at the rest of them, he issued the command. “Make your stations ready…Dismissed.”

He closed his eyes, taking in the weight of what he was going to have to do. Almost everyone departed in silence; only Jessica and Clara remained.

“You ok?” The Deltan Counciler asked, moving to sit next to Michael, across from where Jessica sat.

“I don’t like the fact were casually planning to send freedom fighters in to kill a government official for our benefit, it seems wrong on every moral level, yet…I can’t help but think, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill a Borg Queen to release control over a collective, especially if they were my crew.” He admitted.

“Yeah, I’m not too pleased with the prospect, but at the same time, this isn’t our world were talking about, not our rules, not our principles. All we can do is focus on getting our people back, and getting out of this contaminated universe as quickly as possible and hope we never see it again.” Jessica assured him.

“We trust you, Captain. Your crew trusts you. Trust in yourself, and everything will be ok.” Clara expressed, placing her hand on Michael’s to comfort him.

 

[USS Dragon – “The Roost” Shuttlebay]
(1-Hour Later)
—————————————–

The displaced officers were preparing the very shuttle they previously threatened to destroy. Loading armaments and cargo onboard, and running through scenarios with one another. A’Vran sat at the pilot’s terminal inside, running diagnostic checks on all ship systems before the mission. The door to the cockpit opened, and V’era entered.

A’Vran turned, seeing the Half-Vulcan prime officer, and perked his eyebrow. “Is there something you need, Lieutenant?” he asked flatly.

V’era turned and sat in the Co-Pilot’s seat, pulling a miniature PADD from her pocket and resting it in her lap. “My father worked with the Vulcan Historical Society. As his…rebellious half-romulan daughter, I was prone to provoke him, to try and prove we were not so different after all. In some of these youthful antics, I would hack his professional credentials, and came across a file I did not fully understand. We cannot provide you with advanced technology or weaponry…But I can share with you this.” She stated, taking the PADD and handing it to the Vulcan.

He took it, hesitantly, and glanced at the screen. “This is nothing but a superstitious legend. I do not see how this could benif—” he began, but was cut off.

“We found it.” She interjected. “And it worked.”

A’Vran studied her face for a moment and returned to the PADD, paying more attention to the details within. “What happened?”

“It was returned to Vulcan and ultimately deemed too dangerous to remain, so they destroyed it to ensure it did not spark a cultural uprising.” She explained. “Jean Luc Picard was a key figure in our universe. If he was compromised in yours, and never encountered the borg, logic dictates he didn’t do other key events he played a part in, either, like helping to discover this. Meaning its still out there in your universe.” She admitted

V’era stood up, nodding politely to the Vulcan who was now wholly engrossed in the details on the PADD. “Do with that what you will. But we didn’t want to leave you to your fate empty-handed.” She remarked, before turning to leave.

A’Vran, however, only partially acknowledged her departure, as he held in his hands what humans would have considered to be the ‘holy grail’. Details and the last known locations of the three artifacts of the Stone of Gol…

 

[USS Dragon – Bridge]
(Another Hour Later)
—————————————–

“Station control reports we are ready to proceed.” Pi confirmed from his station.

Michael sat in the Captain’s Chair, with Jessica at his side, as they watched Starbase 80 fire a beam into the event horizon of the Quantum Fissure. The Light emitted did not change, but there was a swirling within that caught his eye.

“Quantum Singularity is open, and ready Captain.” V’era reported from her station.

Tapping a button on his chair, the Boatswain whistle echoed through the Starship.

[Michael: “All hands, this is the captain speaking. We are now entering into the universe unknown…”]

As he said this, he gave the Helmsman a hand signal to proceed, as the USS Dragon’s impulse engines roared to life, pushing the Inquiry-class starship closer to its target.

[Michael: “…where we are going, a danger we cannot comprehend awaits. We are taking every precaution we can so that we can bring home the people we lost. I know I can count on every one of you to do what needs to be done to see us all make it home safe and sound. You all have your orders. Yellow Alert! Rig for Silent Running!”]

“Take us in.” He ordered. And in a bright flash, the USS Dragon, disappeared from the Prime Reality.

 

[To be continued]