Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 02:57:13 -0400 In: alt.startrek.creative From: kdj2020@webtv.net (Kevin Johnston) Title: Worlds Move On Author: Kevin Johnston Series: Shadows And Suns, my own DS9 and TNG alternate universe that now also incorporates some elements of Rob Morris' "Ancient Destroyer" cycle and the original series. Rating: PG-13 Archive: yes for ASC Feedback: Wanted and welcomed, by post or by e-mail As the port side turbolift doors slid open, Kirk stepped out onto the Bridge, all business. "Spock?", he inquired of the Vulcan, who slid out of the command seat, moving to his station, as Kirk took the seat. "Commander Uhura has completed her work on the Klingon's message.", Spock replied. Looking at her for confirmation, Kirk took note of the look in her eyes. It was one of hope mixed with worry. "You've listened to it?", he asked. "No, sir. Your orders were to let you be the first." Nodding at that, he stepped out of his chair and made his way to her station. Taking the earpiece she handed him, he wedged it into his right ear, waited for whatever it was that the Klingons wanted to let him know. Nodding at her again, he listened as she began playing back the audio. In Kirk's ear, the voice of Chancellor Martok rang out, composed, but just barely. "This is Martok, ruler of the Klingon Empire. Kirk, devil though you may be, I trust you to act upon my next words as you best see fit. Know this: The usurper Kor has no standing within the Empire. He and his captains have shown their true nature, as Disciples Of Kahless. Their actions have no approval of the Council, and any treaties entered into with them are meaningless. If she who rules Bajor has allied herself with them, then she must be punished, as well. This message is the only one we are able to send. Copy it and send at once to Commander, Starfleet as well as the Federation Council. I do, as ruler of the Empire, authorize you to act in the Empire's interests. Do with the criminal Kor as you will. And may the warriors in Stovokor guide you with all their wisdom." As the last words died out, Kirk slowly, carefully, handed the earpiece back to his Communications Chief-slash-Second Officer. Returning to his seat, he eased into it, spoke. "Uhura, hail the away team and have them beamed back aboard, now, then get that message off to Starfleet Command. Mister Spock, wake all shifts of Security personnel and have them report to the hangar deck, and stand by to erect a level-four force field, between our people and the hangar doors." "Aye, sir.", both responded. Letting that all sink in, Kirk then thumbed his own intercom. "All hands, this is the captain speaking. Yellow Alert, repeat, Yellow Alert." The lights dimmed, then, on the Bridge, replaced by the yellowish glow of the alert status indicator, and the light from the bridge consoles. "McCoy here, on my way to Sickbay." "Acknowledged. No promises, Bones, but I'll do my best to keep casualties low." "That's all I ever ask for....we going to Red Alert?" "Any minute now." "Got it. McCoy, out." "Bridge, out." "Commander Kirk to Bridge." "Go ahead, Peter." "We're headed for battle, sir?" "We are, indeed, and I need you on the Bridge. Captain Ro?" "Yes, sir?" "Report to the hangar deck, and take charge of Commander Kirk's people. Arm everyone with Type-Two EM-Pulse phasers." "Yes, sir." Uhura, nudging her way into his range of attention, carefully, waiting until he was done doing whatever he was up to, done sending his instructions to whomever needed them. "Sir, all decks are at Yellow Alert." "Good. Give them two more minutes to get ready, then signal Red Alert. Helm, position of the Praxis?" Standing ready, Saavik Kirk had the answer waiting for her captain. "Relative to Enterprise, z-minus fifty degrees, five kilometers to starboard and fifteen ahead." "Drop us down, now, thrusters only. Put us in weapons range in three minutes." "Aye, sir. Three minutes.", answered Saavik, once more an officer. Peter raced onto the Bridge, ran for his station at the Weapons console. "Nice of you to join us, Commander." "Thank you, sir. Going hunting, are we?" "That we are. Remember Lexonis Delta?" Peter grinned a nasty smile. That had been one very rough battle, one that Enterprise had survived only due to the timely arrival of Captain Riker and the Excalibur. "Sir, that was a renegade Romulan. This is the personal fleet of the Klingon Chancellor." Jim smiled at that, a smile with nothing but grimness in it. "Not any more. That message? Martok, letting me know Kor's gone over to the Disciples." "Consider it done, sir." With those words, Peter began working, frantically. Time raced by, and he barely heard Uhura's voice calling out for Red Alert, barely noticed the lights go red. Only when weapons range was half a minute away, did he stop and look up at the screen at the front of the bridge. There, moving closer, was the weakest of the three. "Weapons range in thirty seconds.", came the the familar sound of his wife's voice. "Peter?" "Almost ready, sir. Sir, this won't work for long." "I know. Spock, stand by with that force field. Peter, when their shields go down, take out their warp nacelles, then wait for my next order." Peter nodded as Spock responded with, "Standing ready, sir." "Twenty seconds...Praxis is firing thrusters to move away." Kirk rose from his seat, moved to the helm, laid a hand on his nephew's wife's shoulder. "One-quarter impulse, stay with him." "Yes, sir." Kirk retook his seat as both ships moved, one chasing the other. Peter's voice. "In range....now." "Do it." "Aye....starting prefix code reset....twenty percent complete....fifty....eighty...we have prefix control of the Praxis. Dropping their shields now. Targeting warp nacelles, quantum torpedoes away." James T. Kirk gave his orders, screaming the first of them into his intercom. "Transporters, now! Spock, force field! Peter, ten seconds, then blow that ship from the stars." "Yes, sir." Transporter effect echoed throughout the ship, so loud it could be heard on the Bridge. Peter watched his time display, unloaded half a dozen photon torpedoes into the hull of the Praxis. The cruiser exploded, and then there was only debris where a warship had been. Kirk rose from his seat again, moved to Uhura's side, nodded as an answer to her question. She ran the control sequence, nodded at him that all was ready. "Kor, this is Kirk. Stand down your remaining ships, or I'll do the same two more times. Your warriors are on my hangar deck, unharmed. I'm ordering them to be treated as prisoners of war. Stand down, and I'll release them." Five seconds, then ten. "Come on, Kor....I know you know I'm serious." Fifteen, and then- "Reply, sir. Audio only." "Kirk, this is Kor. It is you who has begun this war, and I who shall end it." "Try again, old friend. Think you can block our systems from doing that again?" "I have no need. Behold." Five more, and ten, again, as Kirk headed to his chair once more. "Admiral, here, please, now." "Spock?", asked as he approached his friend. "Here, and here.", that friend pointed. "I see it....but ....damn." "Indeed." "Uhura, give me allcall, routed to Science One." "Aye, sir." Straightening his uniform top, Kirk spoke. "All hands, this is the captain. Stand down from Red Alert, repeat, stand down. The remaining Klingon vessels have been abandoned by their crews, who have beamed down to points unknown on Bajor herself. Stand by for briefings from your department heads." Catching his breath, Kirk asked a question. "He's set the self-destruct in motion?" "He has. Recommend we leave orbit and withdraw to a safe distance." "Recommendation noted and accepted. Saavik, get us out of orbit, now." From that point, until ninety seconds later, no one spoke, and all watched as the other two Klingon ships blew themselves to bits. Still at Spock's side, James T. Kirk gave the order to resume standard orbit, and the Starship Enterprise moved back towards a world now truly occupied. -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? 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