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"Sometimes Jean-Luc," Q replied with a devious smile. "An escapade is exactly what one needs. There's nothing helpful about moping around these dark quarters. I happen to know of a situation that could use your expertise." "Q, I beg of you. Leave me be." Picard protested, "The only situation that I need to tend to at this exact moment is ensuring that I enjoy this beverage before it cools. I am thoroughly embroiled in negotiations with the Romulans. I don't need you to take me halfway across the Delta Quadrant or in 2023 San Fransico." "Oddly specific mon Capitane, but no, perhaps another time." "Q, please leave me be." "Don't worry, Jean-Luc," Q smiled, "When all is said and done. You won't remember a thing." As Q snapped his fingers, Picard was blinded by a flash of light, his eyes adjusting to find himself on the bridge of an unfamiliar starship. The klaxon blared, sounding an alarm as the ship dropped out of warp, coming alongside a pair of massive vessels. Both were of unfamiliar makes, not belonging to any species that the Captain had come across during his years in Starfleet. "Helm!" Picard ordered, "Evasive maneuvers!" The woman seated at the helm looked around frantically at the unfamiliar ship. Her eyes were wide at the new helm and foreign interfaces. She spun around to look at the Captain, the uniform he wore was significantly different from the solid-coloured shirts of the Enterprise Lieutenant Erica Ortegas had been on only moments before. "Where am I?" Ortegas asked. "It would appear as though we have been transported onto an unknown starship in an unknown time. Based on the interface before me, it would appear to be a logical update to the LCARS used on the Enterprise. I would wager this vessel is from approximately thirty years into the future." Picard's eyes were drawn to the familiar voice sitting at the Ops station. "Data..." "Speak for yourself," Ortegas replied, "But it is somewhat familiar." She added, maneuvering the ship away from the massive alien craft. "Picard." A stern voice came from behind the Captain as he turned to see a blonde woman approaching him. He recognized the cybernetics on her face as Borg implants. Picard knew her face, but it took him a second to place her before he remembered her being among Admiral Janeway's crew when they returned from the Delta Quadrant. "Seven." Picard exclaimed. "Why are you on my bridge? Where's Rios?" She asked. "You know this ship then?" Picard replied. "You're standing on the U.S.S. Stargazer." "This is not the Stargazer," Picard replied incredulously. "NCC-82893. It's a legacy of your old command." Seven replied. "Which explains why Q chose it." Picard mused aloud, "Judging by the bridge crew, Q has also hand-selected several members from across every generation of Starfleet." "That appears to be a logical conclusion." An older voice interjected as Picard and Seven turned to see a wizened Vulcan enter the bridge. "Ambassador Spock." Picard explained, "I'm sorry you've been brought into this." "I find the situation to be entirely fascinating, Captain." Spock replied, "Although, I am particularly puzzled about exactly where we are." "Commander," Picard turned towards Data. He was exactly as he remembered, although this version of Data was yet to give his life in exchange for the Captain's. Were they in danger of breaking the rules of time travel should they share information about the future or was Q being honest when he said they wouldn't remember any of this once it was resolved? "Are you able to determine our location?" "Sir, I am not recognizing any of the stars on this readout, whenever we are, it's in a galaxy far, far away." "Tactical, take us to Yellow Alert," Picard ordered. "Right away, Sir." Another familiar voice caused Picard to turn towards a white-haired Worf. "Mr. Worf," Picard almost smiled upon seeing his friend. "You got old." "It would appear so," Worf replied. "Commander," Picard started, addressing Seven before turning to Spock, "Ambassador, I believe Q has transported us here to solve a puzzle, potentially of his own creation. I'd suggest we pull together the senior officers and convene for a plan to proceed." "In the meantime, perhaps we should," Seven replied, pausing. "Fly casually to integrate with the fleet." "Lieutenant-" Picard started, looking towards Ortegas. "Erica Ortegas, sir. You want me to fly casually?" "Make it so." ![]() |
"I believe Q chose this vessel to aid in some sort of situation." Picard replied, "This vessel is equipped with technologies I have never seen before, Seven, this vessel is your current post, correct? Do you have any insight into why Q might have seen it appropriate to put us on this vessel?" "The Sagan-Class is the first vessel Starfleet built using technology from the Relic, a derelict Borg Cube. However, this particular iteration appears to be modified further. I've noticed that in addition to the ablative hull, there are ablative generators. Ablative generators were a technology employed on Voyager but ultimately abandoned by Starfleet as the Borg assimilated them. I'm not sure why they would be equipped on this vessel." "Logic would dictate that whatever foe Q has put us up against, perhaps isn't quite as adept at getting around our defenses." Spock suggested. "I have noticed that the Stargazer is also equipped with a cloaking device and a full payload." Picard nodded to Worf, before looking around the room. "Any other specialized systems we should be aware of?" "Uh actually," A blonde man at the far end of the table interjected, "Hi, Commander Paul Stamets. It would seem your 'Q' has equipped this vessel with a compact version of my Displacement Activated Spore Hub Drive." Blank stares came from the staff as they looked toward Stamets. "It's a classified form of instantaneous travel used during the Klingon War." "Captain, if I may," Spock interjected turning towards Picard. "I served with Commander Stamets briefly. He is telling the truth. His fate and the technology he's describing were classified and buried by Starfleet in the mid-twenty-third-century." "Captain, I don't mean to interrupt but we're being hailed on multiple frequencies." "It would seem that our presence here has been noticed. Keep me updated of any further developments. Dismissed," Picard ordered as the senior officers stood and exited back onto the bridge. "On-Screen, Ensign." Picard commanded returning to the central command chair. There was a brief pause, as Picard turned towards the communications officer only for Hoshi to shake her head before answering. "Audio only, Captain. One was also sent via a form of text communication." "How quaintly archaic." Picard mused, "Very well, audio only then, Ensign." "Playing the message now, Captain." "This is General Sinnali of the CIS Malevolence II, contacting unknown vessel. Your arrival was unscheduled. Please declare your origination and intent." Clearly, Q had dropped the Stargazer into an assembly of sorts and this vessel had identified them as out of place. Picard stood still, listening to the tone and weight of each word. There was a definite authority in the woman's words. She was not used to being challenged, nor did she like being caught off guard. Picard could hardly blame her in what appeared to be a tense military situation. It didn't take a keen eye to notice the mish-mash of vessels orbiting the planet below. While there was a clear fleet, there were also several distinguished outliers, this 'CIS Malevolence II' being one of them. "We also received this from the larger of the two vessels. Putting it on screen." Hoshi stated, bringing Picard's attention back to the bridge of the Stargazer. Moving her hands across the console before her, the Ensign transferred the message onto the view screen. >TO UNK VESSEL There was something distinctly alien about the 'Fires of Antiquity'. It reminded the captain of the first time he stared down a Borg Cube. "Mr. Worf take us to Red Alert. Shields to maximum." Picard ordered, "Lieutenant Ortegas, full reverse. I want some distance between us and those ships." Stepping across the bridge, Picard approached Commander Data all the while keeping an eye on the view screen towards the pair of massive ships. "Commander, I want a full sweep of both of those ships. Get me everything you can on their weapons, shields and any other relevant systems. I want to know what we're up against." "Captain, there's another hail, there's something more familiar about this one." Hoshi stated, speaking up as Picard nodded for her to put it through. "Unidentified vessel, this is Colonel Carter of the U.S.S. George Hammond. Our scans indicate you're not native to this universe however, we weren't expecting you. Do you require any assistance?" "Lieutenant Ortegas, continue to put some distance between us and the fleet formation, the minute their weapons systems come online, I want you to go to warp." Picard ordered before motioning towards Seven and Spock to join him at the command chair. "Ensign, open a channel to the U.S.S. George Hammond." Picard requested as Hoshi nodded to let him know the channel was open. "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Stargazer. We were stranded here by an extra-dimensional being known as Q. Are you the commanding officer here, Colonel?" ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ![]() |
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