Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!prodigy.com!news.glorb.com!news-xfer.newsread.com!yellow.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "longbeachtrekstar" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW FFF: Apocalypse | Red 2/4 (TNG/DS9/VOY: Y/f, f/f, AU) [NC-17] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 718 Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 13:55:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1101563707 209.198.142.218 (Sat, 27 Nov 2004 08:55:07 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 08:55:07 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85789 X-Received-Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 05:55:12 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: Apocalypse | Red Author: longbeachtrekstar ( longbeachtrekstar @ yahoo . com ) Series: TNG/DS9/VOY Codes: Yar/Sito, Shelby/K'Ehleyr, AU Rating: NC-17 Parts: 2/4 Warnings: f/f sex, angst, violence, death (canon and non-canon=20 characters) Disclaimer: Paramount owns Star Trek. This is not for profit, just=20 for fun. Archiving: FFF, ASCEM, others please ask. Feedback: Yes please, here or by email. Notes: Written for Round XV of the Femme Fuh-q Fest --=20 http://www.geocities.com/femme_fuhq_fest/ Summary: The Federation faces a series of challenges which threaten=20 Apocalypse | Red by longbeachtrekstar, July 2004 "And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given=20 to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they=20 should kill one another. And there was given unto him a great sword." -- Revelations (6:4) ***** "London!... London, come in! This is Vonnegut. Do you read?" As=20 Captain Natasha Yar looked at the flaming hull of the U.S.S. London=20 on the viewscreen, she knew she would receive no answer. The battle=20 had been a disaster, and only by putting her own ship directly in the=20 path of two Klingon battle cruisers had Admiral Shelby saved the=20 entire task force from being overrun. Now Yar sat helplessly,=20 watching the London in its death throes. Both nacelles were venting=20 plasma, and a series of explosions wracked the saucer as bulkhead=20 after bulkhead gave way in a cascading series of blasts. The war had finally turned hot six months ago, and the Klingons were=20 winning -- in no uncertain terms. Tasha unconsciously stroked the=20 recent scar that ran from her right ear, across her cheek, to the tip=20 of her chin -- a memento of the Vonnegut's own brush with destruction=20 just a few weeks ago. Her blonde hair of moderate length was tied=20 back in a French braid which just reached below her neckline. Her=20 steel-blue eyes took in every detail the viewscreen had to offer. She=20 searched in vain for any sign of escape pods until she felt they=20 could safely wait no longer. "Put me through to the force," she said over her shoulder to her Comm=20 Officer, Lieutenant D'Sora. "Task Force Eagle, this is Captain Yar of=20 the Vonnegut. The London -- and Admiral Shelby -- have been lost. I'm=20 taking command of the force. All ships, form up on us and prepare to=20 withdraw." ***** The Klingons wasted no time in swarming aboard. They seized airlocks=20 and boarded by foot, as well as transporting deep within the ship.=20 Initially, a few naive crewmembers may have held out hope for victory=20 against the invaders, but soon everyone was resigned to the futility=20 of their predicament. And all personnel were well aware of the fate=20 that awaited any who were captured alive. Very few would be. On the bridge of the U.S.S. London, Admiral Hannah Shelby stared=20 remorsefully at the auto-destruct console as it sparked and crackled=20 uselessly. Unable to destroy the ship -- and the Klingons with it --=20 she'd arrived at a fateful decision -- one that went against the very=20 grain of her being, but which she felt was necessary. She would much=20 rather go down fighting, with as much Klingon blood on her hands as=20 possible. But instead, she had resolved to let herself be taken alive. ***** Captain Yar entered the Commissioner's office aboard the U.S.S.=20 Asimov, currently in orbit above Betazed. Janeway was gazing out at=20 the picturesque view of the red sun coming up over the planet. Yar=20 remained respectfully silent, waiting for the Commissioner to speak=20 first. Janeway turned toward her. "I read your report... What a tragic loss." "It could have been much worse, Sir. Admiral Shelby did an=20 outstanding job." "I'll miss her." She gazed back out the window. Janeway was silent=20 for another moment, before mentally shifting gears and getting back=20 to business. "Captain, I'm going to give you a great opportunity...=20 and you'll probably hate me for it for the rest of your life. I'm=20 promoting you to Admiral -- I want you to command the fleet." Yar was dumbfounded for a moment. "Sir... I'm honored, of course,=20 but... there are admirals much more senior-" "I know, I know. They're the same admirals who were senior to Hannah=20 when I promoted her. I don't need desk jockeys reading orders out of=20 a manual, Tasha. I need leaders with frontline experience -- who know=20 what it's like to have a Klingon battle cruiser bearing down on them=20 and still get the job done." She put her hands on Tasha's=20 shoulders. "I need you, Tasha. Can I count on you?" "Yes... Yes, you can." "I knew I could." Janeway said, as a pensive look crossed her=20 face. "Tasha, I hate to have to hit you with all this so quickly, but=20 time is short. Please come with me." Janeway lead her into an=20 adjoining room. For the second time in as many moments, Yar was struck speechless.=20 Standing to greet them in the next chamber was Admiral Toreth of the=20 Romulan Empire. "Admiral," said Janeway to the Romulan. "I'd like to=20 introduce my new Fleet Commander, Admiral Natasha Yar." The Romulan looked at Yar's collar as she extended her hand. "From=20 Captain to Admiral. Congratulations." ***** Captain K'Ehleyr, of the Klingon Battle Cruiser Kang, entered the=20 interrogation room. Admiral Shelby, surrounded by three guards, stood=20 in the center of the room, stripped naked, both wrists secured in=20 manacles and hoisted above her head. Her feet rested on the ground,=20 but not comfortably so -- she had to stay on the balls of her feet to=20 keep her weight off her wrists, or the restraints would dig=20 mercilessly into her flesh. K'Ehleyr stepped up and, removing her gloves, ran a bare finger=20 across Shelby's soft, white skin. "My dear Admiral Shelby. Whatever=20 shall we do with you?" "You could always release me." "And what would you do then?" Shelby smiled. "Find out." K'Ehleyr nodded knowingly. "Yes, of course. No doubt you would=20 attempt to revenge your crew... and be cut down before you took two=20 steps. What a waste that would be." She turned to the guards. "Leave=20 us." The guards exited, and she turned back to her prisoner. "Now=20 Admiral... Hannah, isn't it?... Hannah, you and I are in an unusual=20 situation, and I think we can help each other. You are, quite=20 literally, moments from death -- a most unpleasant death, I might=20 add. But what would that get me? Nothing I don't already have. But if=20 I were to spare you... say, in exchange for some useful=20 information..." "Go to hell." K'Ehleyr grabbed a handful of Shelby's hair and yanked her head back.=20 She leaned close to Shelby's face and hissed her words. "Hell is=20 already here, you fool! Hell is the Klingon Empire, and it will burn=20 your Federation alive!" She released her grip and struggled to regain=20 her composure. "Have you any idea what it is like to be the only=20 female commander in the fleet?" "Can't say I do. Our problem is quite the reverse." "Well, let me tell you... You're never smart enough, you're never=20 strong enough, you're never good enough. No matter what I do, I'm=20 never through having to prove myself." "How sad for you." Shelby's voice dripped sarcasm. "We're both loyal officers. We each have our duty. I'm not asking you=20 to let me into Starfleet Headquarters. But there's bound to be some=20 little outpost somewhere, that we haven't stumbled across yet, that=20 wouldn't be missed if we did." K'Ehleyr moved close to Shelby and=20 began running her fingers over her skin again. "Now, if you just=20 pointed me in the right direction... gave me just a little something=20 to bring back to the High Council..." She pinched Hannah's nipples as=20 she spoke, teasing them to erectness. She stood behind her, reaching=20 around and laying her hand on Hannah's pussy. Breathing hotly on Hannah's neck, K'Ehleyr's tongue darted against=20 her skin as she whispered in her ear. "I could release these clamps.=20 I could protect you." Her whisper became a hot hiss. "We could enjoy=20 each other soooo much." "There's just one little problem with that plan," Shelby whispered=20 back. "What would that be, my dear sweet Federation Admiral?" Still whispering, Shelby deadpanned, "The moment you released me, I=20 would kill you!" "Arghh!" K'Ehleyr pushed back from Shelby, batting her on the back of=20 the head as she did so. Stabbing at a button on the wall, she called=20 out to the guards, "Get in here!" The metal door slid open and the=20 three guards stepped back into the room. K'Ehleyr barely looked at=20 them, calling out her orders over her shoulder as she exited. "Soften=20 her up! But don't kill her... yet!" With a combination of pleasure and regret, K'Ehleyr heard Shelby's=20 voice, cut off in mid-scream as the heavy door slid shut once again. ***** The newly appointed Admiral Yar nodded coldly to the=20 Romulan. "Admiral Toreth, whatever brings *you* here?" Janeway interceded. "I know this will come as a surprise, but the=20 Federation and Romulus have been negotiating an alliance." "Alliance?!" "Yes!" snapped Janeway, in a tone that silenced her young=20 commander. "As Admiral now, you'll soon realize that things are even=20 worse than you think. And the Romulans are rightfully concerned that=20 after the Federation, the Klingons will turn on them next. An=20 alliance makes sense." "We have no wish to interfere unnecessarily in your affairs," offered=20 Toreth. "Among other things, we're sensitive to your *gender*=20 predicament. That's one of the reasons Romulus sent me instead of,=20 oh, say, Tomalok." "How understanding of you, "said Yar icily. "I think you'll find," Toreth continued, "that we can benefit each=20 other. Your predecessor, Admiral Shelby, and I were working on a plan=20 to meet the Klingons with both our forces in a decisive engagement at=20 Iconia." "This could be the turning point we're looking for," said Janeway. "I=20 want you to work with Admiral Toreth to come up with a viable plan=20 for attacking the Klingons together." ***** Forty-five minutes after she'd left the interrogation room, K'Ehleyr=20 returned to check on her guards' progress. She expected Shelby would=20 be much more pliable now, assuming she was still alive at all. It was=20 a shame she had to destroy such a noble spirit, but when the tree=20 refuses to bend, it is bound to break. The door slid open, and the shock of what she saw sucked the breath=20 out of K'Ehleyr's lungs. All three guards lay dead on the floor.=20 Standing in the middle of the room, one foot resting triumphantly on=20 one of the bodies, was Admiral Shelby. She was still naked. Her hands=20 and arms, from the elbows down, were completely covered in the=20 purplish-pink of Klingon blood, which was also splattered generously=20 across her body. In her right hand was a kut'luch -- a dagger-like=20 weapon from one of the guards. The two females studied each other silently, and K'Ehleyr's shock was=20 slowly replaced with grudging admiration for her Federation=20 counterpart. K'Ehleyr had obviously not seen what happened, but as=20 she surveyed the scene before her, she felt she knew exactly what had=20 transpired. The yellowish-orange smears of Klingon semen on the=20 Admiral's body indicated that her charges had begun their task=20 adequately enough. Then, in her best mewing little-girl voice, Shelby=20 had promised that the experience would be so much more enjoyable if=20 they'd only release her restraints. In a rutting haze, the dolts had=20 acquiesced, and the rest was obvious. K'Ehleyr felt no loss or disappointment at the guards' demise. Three=20 Klingon warriors against a single, weak, naked, female human? They=20 deserved to die. And perhaps this human would prove to be a greater=20 prize than she had anticipated. ***** Shelby lay back on K'Ehleyr's bed, trying hard to look sexy.=20 Seduction was not one of her stronger skills, but she had been=20 working on it a lot lately. She'd been aboard the Kang for almost a=20 week -- initially in the brig, but the past few nights she'd actually=20 spent in K'Ehleyr's quarters. Shelby had no doubt that if she had caved in to K'Ehleyr during their=20 first encounter, she would already be dead. But instead, K'Ehleyr had=20 been impressed by her strength and decided to keep her around. Their=20 commander-to-commander chats soon became woman-to-woman chats, which=20 then became more. As things grew more intimate, she also gained a certain amount of=20 trust from the lonely, isolated Klingon female. And in the midst of=20 some casual, unguarded conversations, she'd deciphered what she=20 thought was K'Ehleyr's personal access code to the ship's computer. Time was now of the essence. Any day now, K'Ehleyr would cave in to=20 the protests of her staff and throw Shelby back into the brig, turn=20 her over to Klingon intelligence agents, or execute her outright.=20 Shelby decided that she would make her move tonight. As she lay on the bed in nothing but a flimsy nightgown -- which=20 K'Ehleyr herself had rather shyly presented to her the night before -- she reached under the bed to check for the tenth time that the=20 kut'luch was still where she'd placed it. She looked up at the=20 decorative kut'luch-and-bat'leth weapons display on the wall and=20 hoped K'Ehleyr would not notice that part of it was missing. Her heart jumped when the door opened and K'Ehleyr stepped in,=20 smiling. "You decided to wear it." "Of course," smiled Hannah, running her fingers across the fine=20 material to one of her nipples, which she toyed with through the=20 cloth. "I wouldn't have guessed Klingons had such *luxuries* on=20 board." "You see. We are not so uncivilized after all... It suits you," said=20 K'Ehleyr, moving beside the bed. Hannah reached out and took K'Ehleyr's hand, drawing it to her,=20 kissing it. "And that uniform suits you, but it's a bit much at the=20 moment, don't you think?" Still holding her hand, Hannah gently=20 pulled K'Ehleyr down onto the bed. Their lips met in a would-be=20 passionate kiss, but still restrained as new lovers often were.=20 K'Ehleyr's tongue, however, soon parted her partner's lips. Hannah struggled to remove the Klingon's clothes as K'Ehleyr slid=20 down between her legs. The frilly nightie was easily pushed aside,=20 and K'Ehleyr slipped her tongue inside. Despite her anxiety over=20 other matters, Hannah's body responded to the stimulation, and she=20 writhed and moaned beneath her captor. Moments later she rolled over on top of K'Ehleyr and finished=20 undressing her. "The better to return the favor," she purred as her=20 hand slipped passed K'Ehleyr's wiry curls and between her legs.=20 K'Ehleyr sucked in a sudden breath, and her hands clawed at the=20 sheets as Hannah worked her hot Klingon pussy with her fingers and=20 took one of her nipples between her lips. Hannah momentarily released the stiff nip from her mouth and looked=20 up into the Klingon's eyes. "Just lay back. Close your eyes. Let me=20 take care of you." K'Ehleyr did just that, reveling in a pleasure she=20 had not felt for ages. Hannah leaned close to her, kissing her neck while at the same time=20 stretching her hand under the bed. At first her heart jumped, and she=20 thrashed her hand around, not able to locate the weapon. A moment=20 later, however, her fingers found its handle, and she took it into=20 her grasp. She gazed up at the Klingon lying before her. She felt as=20 if she should say something... a romantic farewell. But that would be=20 ridiculous, of course. K'Ehleyr opened her eyes at the pause in activity. Hannah leaned down=20 and began suckling again, and K'Ehleyr's eyes slowly closed in=20 contented bliss. Under the bed, Hannah nervously rotated the hilt of=20 the weapon in her hand. It was now or never, she knew. In one swift=20 motion, she sat up, bringing the blade out from hiding and placing=20 its tip at the top of K'Ehleyr's neck, just under the chin.=20 K'Ehleyr's eyes opened at the sudden motion, looking up just as=20 Hannah threw all her weight against the weapon, driving it at an=20 angle through her neck and into the base of her skull. Suddenly, Shelby was once again bathed in the purplish-pink of=20 Klingon blood. The force and volume with which it spewed from the=20 wound surprised her. Its incredible heat was also a shock. The=20 Klingon's mighty heart continued to pump for an eternity, soaking the=20 sheets in its sickly hue. Finally, it too gave out. The light in=20 K'Ehleyr's eyes faded, and she lay there, truly dead. Shelby sat on the bed for a few moments, trying to collect herself.=20 Her trembling hands were soon calmed, and she got up to start the=20 next phase of her plan. ***** Crusher stood looking over Troi's motionless body. The machines and=20 monitors arranged around her beeped and blinked. Long shadows fell=20 across the room in the early evening, as Beverly heard a door slide=20 open behind her. "How is she?" asked Doctor Ogawa, stepping up beside her. "No change," Beverly sighed. "No change for the last six months." She=20 turned to look at Ogawa. "Thanks so much for everything, Alyssa.=20 You've been wonderful," she said, patting her friend and prot=E9g=E9 on=20 the arm. Beverly raised her hands to her face, shivering. "How many=20 did we lose that night? Ten thousand, I think... including Selar...=20 Well, thank God it was nighttime. If it was during the day, it would=20 have been so much worse." "Apparently, that act was more than even she could handle. It short- circuited her brain -- fried almost every neuron." Ogawa turned from=20 the comatose Troi to Crusher. "So, do you know what happens next?" "No. There are plenty of people screaming for her head. They want to=20 execute her as soon as she wakes up, or even before! Others are=20 talking about a trial. Only one thing is certain at the moment."=20 Beverly reached out and stroked Deanna's forehead. "Right now, she's=20 a prisoner of herself." ***** In K'Ehleyr's quarters, Shelby stripped off her blood-wet nightgown=20 and used it to quickly wipe off as much of the blood from her hands,=20 arms and chest as possible. She considered dressing, but why bother?=20 She didn't expect to be alive five minutes from now. Speed was of the=20 essence. All she needed was an unexpected call from the bridge to the=20 Captain, and her plan would completely unravel. She rummaged through the heap of K'Ehleyr's clothing on the floor,=20 retrieving a disruptor. Then she moved to the computer terminal, and=20 between K'Ehleyr's access code and her own pidgin-Klingonese, she was=20 able to activate the site-to-site transporter. Moments later, she materialized inside the Kang's engine room. An=20 engineer turned toward her, but the sight of a naked human female=20 appearing out of thin air was more than enough to immobilize him.=20 Shelby easily drew down on him and fired. She turned to the warp- core, pulsing away in the middle of the room. The seal around the=20 dilithium chamber at its base was only duranium, and could be easily=20 pierced by a disruptor blast, creating a warp-core breach. She set the disruptor to its highest setting, aimed, and fired. ***** Admiral Yar was reviewing the Iconia plans in her office aboard the=20 Vonnegut. It was no longer her ship to command, but it had been her=20 prerogative to make it her flagship, from which she commanded the=20 fleet. Not surprisingly, she was quite fond of the vessel that had=20 seen her through so much of the war. Its replacement was nearing=20 completion back at the Utopia Planetia yards on Mars. The Sovereign- class U.S.S. Salinger would be bigger and better in every way, but=20 she would miss the Vonnegut when the time came to give it up. It had been one of Yar's few recent pleasures to promote her Bajoran=20 First Officer, Commander Sito Jaxa, to Captain, and to give her=20 command of the Vonnegut. She and Jackie had been friends since the=20 Academy, when Tasha was a junior, and Jackie a plebe. They were=20 separated for a time after Tasha graduated, but when given the chance=20 to choose her crew, one of her choices was easy. Tasha looked from one map to another. She was trying to steer the=20 Klingon invaders toward the Iconia system. With almost a dozen=20 starships undergoing repairs, it was getting damned hard holding up=20 her end of the plan. Frustrated, she slammed her fist on the table. Her aide, Ensign McKnight, buzzed, then entered the office. "Message=20 from the Murob sector, Sir. An agent reports one of the Klingon's=20 J5's exploded." "What?!" she exclaimed. The aide handed her the report padd, which=20 she quickly scanned. "The Kang... Apparently the ship suffered a warp=20 core breach of unknown cause. This will set back one of their major=20 task forces for several days at least." She looked up at McKnight and=20 smiled. "Thank God! This gives us just the extra time we needed." ***** Hours later, the door to Yar's darkened quarters slid open. Tasha=20 stood silhouetted in the doorway a moment, leaning against the=20 threshold in exhaustion. She and her staff had reviewed every detail=20 they could think of regarding the coming battle, but there were still=20 far too many variables for her to feel good about it. Finally, she stepped inside, and the door slid shut behind her. She=20 was about to lie down on her bed when a slight sound and the shadow=20 of movement caught her attention. Captain Sito stepped into=20 view. "Hello, Tasha. Rough day?" "Jackie!" Yar smiled as she took in the sight. Sito stood before her=20 with a drink in each hand, but it was her attire that brought a smile=20 to Tasha's lips. From her neck to her toes, Jackie was dressed in=20 nothing but a sexy black fish-net body-stocking. The stretchy garment=20 wrapped itself around every supple curve of the young Captain's body - - but did not hide very much of it. It moved with her sensuously as=20 she glided over to the Admiral and handed her a glass. Tasha took the proffered drink in one hand as she gently reached for=20 Jackie's breast with the other. She took a sip, ice bumping lightly=20 against her nose, as she teased one of Jackie's nipples through the=20 fish-net. She gently stroked it to firmness until it poked boldly=20 through one of the open squares of the outfit. "Mmmm." Sito's initial sigh morphed into a giggle as she rose up on=20 her toes to kiss Tasha warmly on the lips. Suddenly, Tasha pulled back. "We shouldn't... I just came in for a=20 quick nap..." "Commander Leijten is a very competent First Officer. I told her we=20 were going to spend some time together." "You told her... that you and I...?" "Yes! Now," Jackie began guiding Tasha over to the bed, "if anything=20 important comes up, she promised she'd call. But for now, Admiral,=20 you are to relax and unwind. I can't think of anyone who needs it=20 more." Tasha let out a sigh of mild resignation. "You're cute when you're=20 bossy, you know that?" With a synchronicity born of years together --=20 on and off duty -- they both set their drinks aside and embraced each=20 other. There was much at Tasha's fingertips to tempt her, and her=20 fingers roamed over the barely-there garment, feeling Sito's warm=20 flesh just beneath. Jackie coaxed Tasha to lie down, skillfully and efficiently removing=20 Tasha's top. She momentarily ran her fingers along the crooked line=20 of Tasha's scar, while Tasha likewise stroked the sensitive ridges of=20 her nose. She leaned close and nuzzled her lips against Tasha's=20 breast. Tasha laced her fingers into Jackie's golden hair, holding=20 her there as she sucked a nipple. One, then another of Jackie's=20 hairpins fell away, and her shimmering locks spilled across her=20 shoulders. Inspired, Tasha reached beneath, and played with the sparse blonde=20 curls of Jackie's pussy -- curls that teased and beckoned as they=20 wrapped themselves around the black net over her crotch. Jackie began=20 moving her hips in a rhythm as Tasha's fingers slipped inside... then=20 out again... then back inside... Reluctantly, Jackie slid herself beyond Tasha's reach. "I came here=20 to help *you * relax, my dearest Natasha," she teased. "Believe me, I am!" replied Yar, beaming. Wordlessly, Sito moved back within range, but only to divest the=20 Admiral of her pants, before kneeling between her lover's legs. Tasha=20 sucked in a quick breath at the first touch of Jackie's tongue, then=20 melted into a puddle of ecstasy as she surrendered to the Bajoran's=20 erotic skills. Yar lost track of time, and was only roused from her euphoria by the=20 rummaging of her First Officer in the nightstand beside the bed. "Do=20 you still keep it in the bottom drawer?" asked Sito. Tasha only=20 smiled as Jackie withdrew a smooth cylindrical object. The secus crystallus, the "love stone." Found only in the Amatorius=20 Mountains of Bajor, the jade-like mineral was a natural bio-electric=20 resonator. Jackie fondled the smooth, tapered, slightly curved object=20 d'amour. A good thirty centimeters long and five centimeters across=20 at its widest, it was a deep violet color, with swirls of orange and=20 yellow. Jackie teased Tasha's sensitive opening with it, slipping a=20 centimeter or two inside, then withdrawing it. Finally, with a moan=20 from Tasha, she slid half of it inside, seating it firmly in place.=20 Sito now quickly shed her fish-net garment, tossing it to the floor,=20 where it resembled nothing more than a pile of string. Climbing atop=20 her lover once more, she aligned her own vagina atop the crystallus,=20 and slid down until their pussy lips kissed each other. Tasha reached up and pulled Jackie into a passionate embrace, the two=20 of them kissing again, with their other pair of lips. They began=20 rocking together, each fucking the other with the smooth, phallic=20 stone held between them. And it was then that the sensual device=20 began to work its magic. The resonating properties of the mineral focused the bio-electric=20 energy of those who were in contact with it -- so much so that when=20 used between two lovers, it could bring each person's bio-rhythms in=20 sync with the other's. In other words, it led to the most incredible=20 simultaneous orgasms! A sheen of sweat lent a radiance to each of them -- a warm glow, even=20 in the artificial light of the quarters. They did not speak, not now,=20 as they communicated on a much more intimate level. As they rocked=20 and bucked against each other, an occasional grunt or moan was all=20 that escaped them. They worked their bodies up to such a fever, their=20 pussies to such an aroused state, that the wet sound of flesh=20 smacking flesh soon drowned out all else. The beating of their hearts, the pulsing of their glands, the very=20 quivering of their cunts, was in perfect unison as together they=20 reach the heights of climax. Tasha fairly screamed with her release,=20 and left a pair of bloody scratches across Jackie's back. Yar would=20 later apologize profusely for her reckless abandon, but Sito=20 considered them badges of honor. Carefully placing the crystallus aside, the two lay together, soon=20 falling asleep in a warm afterglow. A few hours later, Sito would=20 rise, shower, and return to duty -- quietly leaving Yar to rest and=20 regain her strength for all that lie ahead. ***** Doctor Crusher stepped into Commissioner Janeway's office. Janeway=20 looked up, and Crusher could see the fatigue in her face. The=20 Commissioner rubbed her eyes and ran the palm of one hand roughly=20 across her forehead and through her dark auburn hair. "Please, tell=20 me you have good news." Crusher gave her a rueful smile. "I'm afraid it's the proverbial good=20 news / bad news." Janeway sighed. "The good news." "We've completely isolated the Plague virus and have begun a thorough=20 analysis." "A cure?" "Not yet, but I dare say one is in sight." "That's wonderful... What's the bad news?" "We've confirmed the fact that it's an engineered virus." "Do you know by whom?" "We can't say for sure, but there are clues. We knew it only attacked=20 humanoids with the SRY gene. This includes most Federation species=20 but -- surprisingly enough -- not Vulcans." "Really? But they've-" "Yes! They've been hit as hard as anyone. That's because there are=20 additional components to the virus that enable it to identify and=20 attack Vulcans. Now, Vulcans and Romulans are quite similar, so what=20 would you say if I told you that it is also designed *not* to attack=20 Romulans?" "I'd say that was a very *particular* virus." "Technically speaking, this doesn't prove who may or may not be=20 behind it all, but-" "But we can ask ourselves who would want to attack the Federation,=20 including Vulcans, while specifically avoiding Romulans... Thank you,=20 Doctor. Excellent work." ***** "Obviously this throws all our plans out the window. The Romulans are=20 cooking up something nasty, and I for one don't want a taste of=20 whatever it is. Looks like your instincts were right all along,=20 Tasha." "Thank you, Commissioner," said Yar. She sat in a secure briefing=20 room aboard the Vonnegut, watching Janeway on the video screen,=20 speaking to her through subspace. "Damn them anyway. Plans within=20 plans. Secrets within secrets. It's always a guessing game with them.=20 Romulans can no more tell the truth than they can breathe in space." Janeway smiled a devilish grin. "I'm thinking, Admiral, that we might=20 be able to use this information to our advantage." ***** The bridge of the Vonnegut was abuzz with activity. Captain Sito sat=20 in the command chair, with Admiral Yar seated to her right -- when=20 she wasn't pacing about the bridge. "Entering the Iconia system," announced Ensign Allenby, at the helm. "Slow to impulse," ordered Sito. "Comms, confirm status of the escort=20 ships." "Both the Heller and the Hesse report ready, Sir," answered D'Sora. "Romulan vessel dead ahead!" called out Allenby. "The fleet?" asked Yar. "No, Sir. Just one ship-of-the-line." "As I suspected. Hail them," ordered Yar. The viewscreen shimmered, and Admiral Toreth appeared, looking=20 upset. "Admiral Yar! Where is your fleet? You were supposed to=20 rendezvous here with-" "My dear Admiral Toreth, where is *your* fleet? Mine is already=20 engaging the Klingons at Khitomer. It should come as quite a surprise=20 to them, yes? Since -- with your help -- they were prepared for a=20 battle with us *here*. But then, theirs will be nothing like my own=20 surprise at finding the Romulans plotting *against* the Federation." "Are you well, Admiral Yar? You are talking foolishly. Haven't we=20 been working together to *defend* your Federation, against the=20 Klingons?" "You can end the game, Toreth. The virus you Romulans engineered was=20 the first shot of this war. Were you working with the Klingons all=20 along? I'm guessing no. I'm guessing you were pretty peeved that it=20 took them so long to finally attack us, and that now you're trying to=20 hasten things along by leading us into a trap... Well? Admiral?" Silence hung in the vacuum between them as Toreth struggled for a=20 response. Yar noticed her gripping and ungripping her armrest in=20 frustration. "I acknowledge *nothing*, Yar. But I take great pleasure=20 in the realization that our galaxy will soon be rid of its human=20 infestation." "Replaced by the Klingons?" "Bah! Stupid animals. They will be easier to deal with than you were." "As we say back on Earth, Toreth, don't hold your breath. Tell your=20 handlers that it is not over between us -- that it hasn't even begun!=20 In the meantime, I'm late for a prior engagement with the Klingons.=20 But I've got two ships here to escort you to the border. Have a nice=20 day, Admiral." Yar turned away from the screen as the comm-link was closed. Their=20 deception exposed, the Romulans obediently turned toward the border,=20 two Federation vessels flanking them the entire way. "Shouldn't we destroy them now?" blurted Ensign Allenby. Such a comment was entirely out of line, but Admiral Yar only smiled.=20 She knew every person on the bridge was thinking the same=20 thing. "Rest assured, Ensign. The Romulans will get what's coming to=20 them. But for now, they'll stay out of our hair while they nurse=20 their wounded egos. They would much rather create another devious=20 plot than engage in open battle. The Klingons are waiting. One war at=20 a time." Yar nodded to Sito. "Captain... if you please." Sito nodded in acknowledgment. "Helm, hard about! Set course for=20 Khitomer and engage, warp nine... We've got a battle to win!" (End of Part Two of Four) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: