Runner Up 3 20403.14

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Past and Present...But Where's the Future? - LCdr Jessica Hunter

© 2004 by Federation Space and the author pen named Jessica Hunter


“We just lost weapons Admiral,” Lieutenant Bwendelin yelled across the bridge. Sparks flew from several of the consoles, while the Kiashama’s crew fought to stay alive.

“Bring as about Helm, evasive manoeuvres,” Admiral Novatori, the ships Commanding Officer called over the noise. They had already lost shields, now weapons, if they lost their engines, the Kiashama Hara would be a floating load of junk for the enemy to destroy without any resistance.

“Admiral, do you really see any chance of us surviving this? We don’t even know who we’re fighting,” Her trusty First officer questioned. Everyone doubted the possibility of survival, but no one had dared ask yet.

Anareema Novatori, the most decorated officer in the El-Aurian Defence Force just stared out of the view screen. She doubted that her crew would survive, and even if they did, would they have a ship? Would those left be able to go on? She struggled to face the idea that her ship wouldn’t survive this battle, “We may not survive, but we won’t go down without a fight,” She said, sounding confident, as she always did.

Those around her nodded, they didn’t want to see the pride of the El-Aurian Defense Force go down against some unknown enemy.

“I can’t dodge it…” The Helm officer called, pulling the sip into a sharp turn, to at least try and avoid the blast.

The ship rocked throwing people from their stations. People were scattered over the Bridge, while the consoles exploded around them. Novatori and Kelenston were thrown from the Command chairs.

Even with the world spinning around her, Anareema Novatori saw everything freeze around her, the people, the explosions, everything. Then it all went black.

“We’re picking something up on sensors,” An Ensign said.

“What is it Ensign?” Captain DeLongvale asked.

The Ensign’s hands ran over the Console as she read over the readings, “The core Registers the ship to be the…” She paused.

“Yes Ensign?” Renee asked, prompting her on.

“It’s the Kiashama Hara…”

Renee looked stunned, the Kiashama Hara had been lost for centuries. It was one of the most famous Battle Cruisers known, “Are you sure?”

The young officer nodded, “Very sure ma’am…”

“Put it on screen,” Renee ordered.

The view screen lit up with the sight of the unusual ship. It’s design was unlike Star Fleet’s and the ship was huge. The Bridge crew of the USS Wellington just stared at the ancient ship.

“The Kiashama seems to have taken severe battle damage and there seems to be a crew onboard…”

“How many life signs?” Renee asked.

“Three.”

The crew looked around at each other. People were alive on a ship that had been missing for over two thousand years.

“Open a channel,” Renee ordered.

“Aye,” Her communications officer responded, opening the channel.

“Kiashama Hara, this is the USS Wellington of the Federation, please respond.”

After several minutes, a return channel opened and the view screen changed to the site of the Kiashama’s Bridge. Three people were moving about, everyone else on the Bridge looked dead.

[USS Wellington, I’m Admiral Novatori of the Kiashama Hara, What… What is the federation?] The older of the group said. Her uniform was different from the others. She wore the traditional red of a Command Officer, but the uniform was more ornate.

The Ensign at Sensors gasped, “Novatori… Not… Anareema Novatori?” She asked breathlessly.

Renee looked at the screen and waited for the Admiral to answer.

[You know my name?] Anareema questioned the Ensign, [How?]

Caitlin, the young Ensign glanced at her CO before responding. Renee nodded to the officer, “Go on Ensign.”

Caitlin stepped away from her station and moved to stand beside Captain DeLongvale, “I’m Ensign Caitlin Novatori, everyone knows about the Kiashama Hara, just not… what happened to it,” She said, “I know I’m out of place here Captain, I’m sorry.”

Renee smiled at the girl, “its fine Ensign, I understand,” She directed her gaze back to Admiral Novatori, “I’m Captain Renee DeLongvale, it my utmost pleasure to meet you Admiral.”

Novatori nodded, [Thank you Captain, but you didn’t answer my question about the Federation.]

“My apologies Admiral, The United Federation of Planets, a union of planets and systems who go unde the one name. Star Fleet is the united force of the people.”

Novatori nodded, [I should like to speak with you and your crew Captain,] She glanced at Caitlin Novatori, [Especially that young lady.]

Renee nodded, “Of course Admiral,” She hated to do it, but she had to ask, “What about your crew?”

Anareema Novatori looked around at her Bridge Crew, [What crew Captain? My ship sensors read only the three of us standing her,] She looked at the group standing with her, [My First Officer, Commander Hijano Kelenston and my Helm Officer Yosepha Bwendelin.]

Renee looked at them, that crew was supposed to be long dead, yet three members of the Kiashama stood infront of them, “If the Admiral wishes, we can beam you aboard the Wellington?”

[I’d appreciate that,] She looked at her people, who both nodded, [Beam us aboard Captain DeLongvale. We’ll see you soon, Kiashama Hara out.]

The comm. Link with the Kiashama went dead and everyone turned to Renee, “Beam them to Tranporter Room one,” She ordered, “Ensign Novatori, join me,” She turned to her First officer, “Commander Lathrik, you have the Bridge,” Then she left with Ensign Novatari following right behind her.

A few minutes later they arrived at Transporter Room One, along the way they had picked up Tizane Matherson, a good friend or Renee’s and a former Star Fleet Officer.

They walked in and were greeted by the site of Admiral Novatori and her remaining crew.

“Welcome aboard the USS Wellington,” Renee said as she extended her hand to Admiral Novatori and the rest of her crew.

“Thank you Captain Delongvale,” Anareema replied, she looked at the Captain’s companions, “Enisgn… Novatori,” She looked at Tizane, curious because she wasn’t in any sort of uniform, “and you are?”

“This is Tizane Matherson, my Former Chief of Security and First officer,” Renee said.

“Former?”

“I retired from service a few months ago,” Tizane explained.

Admiral Novatori nodded, “I see.” 

Yosepha Bwendelin, a Lieutenant from the Kiashama looked around, “Your designs are different then ours Captain DeLongvale.”

“Indeed,” Renee said, “Come, we can talk in my Ready Room,” Renee said, leading the way out of the Transporter Room.

“So, I guess this confirms that the Kiashama Hara’s crew was human…” Tizane said as they sat down in Renee’s Ready Room.

“Actually, we’re not Human,” Hijano Kelenston replied.

Renee shook her head, “No… They’re El-Aurian…”

Anareema looked at Renee, “how did you know?”

“Well, there is this theory that El-Aurians know another when they’re around them…” Renee said.

Caitlin just looked at Tizane, “you didn’t know that the Kiashama’s crew was El-Aurian?”

“No…”

Renee laughed, “It’s not a very well known fact Ensign, You know because of you family history, I know because I researched El-Aurian history.”

Anareema nodded, “I see, you’re El-Aurian Captain, then why aren’t you in the El-Aurian forces?”

Renee looked at the El-Aurian Officer, “Admiral… El-Auria was destroyed over thee hundred years ago.”

The three crew members of the Kiashama stared at Renee, “Are you sure?”

Renee nodded, “Yes, Those that are left of the El-Aurian people are scattered of the universe, either making a new life for themselves or living on Refugee ships…” Renee hated the idea of the refugee ships. From the little she had found out about herself, she had been born on one and it had crashed, killing everyone but her.

“Who… Who destroyed El-Auria?” Yosepha asked.

“A Species called the Borg, It’s amazing there are any survivors from El-Auria,” Tizane said.

“I find it hard to believe that El-Auria is gone, Miss Matherson,” Anareema said.

“I’m sorry Admiral, but it’s true, if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t of been forty when I found out that I was El-Aurian.”

Caitlin glanced at Renee, “You’re El-Aurian?”

Renee nodded, “Yes,” She looked back at Admiral, “There’s very little that I know about my parents, but I do know that I was born on one of those Transports, but it was destroyed… but others still exist.”

“We can take you to the old location of El-Auria,” Tizane suggested.

“Indeed we can,” Renee said.

“Can I give an idea?” Caitlin asked.

“Sure Ensign,” Renee replied.

“Maybe we could analyse the damage and battle logs of the Kiashama and attempt to figure out who they were fighting…”

“I don’t have a problem with it,” Anareema said.

Renee nodded, “Fine then, Ensign, work with Lieutenant Soden and see what you can find.”

Admiral Novatori looked at her First Officer, “Commander Kelensten, assist them, they’ll have to go over to the Kiashama, we don’t want them to get lost.”

“Aye ma’am.”

“Wow, your ships are so different to ours,” Caitlin said as she walked through the corridors of the Kiashama Hara with Hijano Kelenston.

He laughed, “Indeed, it’s a pity your crew couldn’t’ have seen her in her former glory.”

“I wish we could’ve.”

“Take this way, that section has a Hull breech,” Hijano said, leading Caitlin a different way.

“Ok, you know your way. I’m just following you, Commander,” She replied, taking in everything she saw and trying to avoid the dead bodies of the Kiashama’s four thousand man crew.

They made it to the Bridge and Caitlin was taken away by the site. It was nothing like the Wellington’s, it was huge. She could only imagine the people she saw lying lifeless on the ground, working wounders on the stations that occupied the bridge.

“Those four are Science,” Hijano said, pointing at four of the stations.”

“Ok, thanks…” Caitlin moved off to one and started looking for the data she required. As she was looking through it, she noticed a lot of it was damaged, but usable to find out the cause. What irritated her most, was that all of the data was in Binary, “I’ll have to get the Wellington’s Computer to Decrypt the data, it’s all binary due to the damage,” Caitlin sad.

“Hmm, maybe I can get Kia running, she’d be able to do it…”

“Kia?” Caitlin questioned.

“Our AI, she links in with the Computer mainframe,” He pointed over at the body of an Android.

“She’s not Humanoid…”

Hijano laughed, “No, our ships represented animals, the Kiashama Hara seemed to attract a Lion from the designers. It was always funny with new members. They’d freak out when they saw the lion.”

“So… how does it work?” caitlin asked, coming over to have a look.

“Well, Kia goes through the Data and uses the Computer Consoles to give back what she finds,” Hijano explained, “Every ship has an AI, Cats, dogs, monkeys, birds, depends on the ship. We were a war ship so we got a predator.”

“Wow, that’s cool, our ships are all boring, the same old, cold computer voice, it’s freaky.”

“I believe you. Come on, lets see what we can do here, maybe if we can get her running, we’ll be able to travel to El-Auria with you.”

Caitlin looked sad, “You heard what the others said, “El-Auria doesn’t exist anymore.”

Hijano sighed, “Yes… I know…”

With that the two of them went off in different directions, Caitlin to send the data to Lieutenant Soden in the Wellington’s Science labs, and Hijano to fix the Android.

“Soden to DeLongvale, I’m starting to receive data from Ensign Novatori on the Kiashama.”

[Good, when you’ve found out who it was, send a copy down to engineering and to my Ready Room, perhaps we can help with the repairs,] Came DeLongvale’s response.

“Aye Ma’am, Soden Out,” Soden finished his commune with the Captain then started reading through the data that he was receiving.

“Binary? What was the girl thinking…” He muttered to himself as he started running the data through the ships computer.

[101001101110100011100100111010101100011011101000111010101110010011000010110110000100000011001000

1100001011011010110000101100111011001010010000001110100011011110010000001100110011011110111001001

11011101100001011100100110010000100000011010000111…]

Paraat Soden, the Chief Science Officer of the Wellington looked through the Data he was receiving. There was a lot to translate and to read, but he was certain he would find what he was after.

[Structural damage to forward hull

Hull breach:

Deck 03 Section 14

Deck 08 Section 03-21, 34

Deck 09 Section 05-15, 17

Deck 10 Section 08-10, 12, 18, 22, 34-36

Deck 11 Section 09-10

Deck 15 Section 04,06,08, 26-27

Deck 23 Section 32-36

Deck 25 Section 30

Deck 30 Section 24-25

Deck 40 Section 09, 11

Deck 41 Section 08-10

Deck 42 Section 09-10

Deck 43 Section 09

Deck 52 Section 08

Failure of life support.

Conditions lethal to humans on

Decks 8-15, 40-55

Failure on skeletal frame

Alpha-components from forward hull

Structural Integrity field inoperable

WARINING vessel can break apart

Propulsion offline

Warp core offline

Starboard PTC damaged and leaking

Plasma leaks on decks 40, 52

Navigational controls offline]

“They were in Bad shape… How did they survive?” He wondered.

He read through some more data from the Kiashama, He started matching the weapon signatures against the registered ones on the Wellington’s Database. Soden leant back and watched as the computer did its work.

He shot up from his seat as the Computer made a match, “Soden to DeLongvale!” He cried, tapping his commbadge.

[DeLongvale here, Calm down lieutenant, what is it?]

“I know who attacked the Kiashama… And you’re not going to believe it.”

[Well Lieutenant, we’re waiting.]

“It was the Romulans.”

[Lieutenant, report to my Ready Room with your findings, now. DeLongvale out.]

Then channel went dead and Soden transferred the data to a PADD, then walked out of the Science labs.

Suddenly a huge Lion came bounding towards Caitlin and pushed her to the ground, “HELP!” She cried.

“KIA!” Hijano called. The Lion stopped tackling Caitlin.

“Yes Commander?” She said, “You mean she’s not an intruder?”

Hijano laughed, “No Kia, she’s helping us. Now, how about we get to some repairs?”

The Android Lion nodded, “Repair sequences commenced, estimated time of completion, fifty-two hours and forty-six minutes, but Main Engineering requires your attention Commander.”

Caitlin looked at him, “I’m sure if you ask, Captain DeLongvale would send across from Engineers, Lieutenant Jansen is very good with unknown ships and technologies.”

Hijano nodded, “Not a bad idea, I think I might,” He walked over to a console and activated some of the controls, repairing some of them as he went, “Kia, open a channel to the Wellington.”

“Channel opened,” The Lion responded.

“USS Wellington, this is the Kiashama, I was wondering if I could borrow some Engineers to help with our repairs?” Hijano Kelenston asked, “It will take about two days with assistance, or we’ll be here three.”

[We’ll send a team over. Wellington Out.]

Soden arrived at Renee’s Ready Room and came in. He looked around, his Captain and her friend was there, as were two members of the El-Aurian crew, “Captain, Admiral,” He started, “I was looking through the database when I finally figured out what happened to the Kiashama. They were attacked by modern day Romulan Warbirds, well not exactly Modern, but close to it. Now, the Romulans didn’t exist when the Kiashama was destroyed, leaving only one solution.”

“The Romulans are playing with time travel…” Tizane finished for him.

He nodded.

“We didn’t stand a chance…” Admiral Novatori said, her voice like a whisper.

Three days later, The USS Wellington and the Kiashama Hara came out of warp near the coordinates that should’ve been El-Auria. All that was there were the remains of a long gone planet. Shortly after their arrival, the screen changed to the Kiashama’s Bridge.

[Surely this isn’t El-Auria?] Anareema asked.

[Admiral, I’ve been searching the Wellington’s database, most interesting, but as Captain DeLongvale said, El-Auria was destroyed,] Kia said, moving forward in a prowl.

Yosepha and Hijano looked at their Commanding Officer, who looked at her crew then at Renee DeLongvale, “How? Who?”

“After the Kiashama’s disappearance, many thought El-Auria to be weakened by the loss, but the big threat came from the Borg, who in the end destroyed El-Auria,” Renee explained.

Yosepha looked heart-broken, [Everyone’s… gone…]

Almost at the same time, Kia and Renee’s sensors officer started saying that there were incoming ships.

[Three vessels just came out of warp,] Kia reported.

“They’re… Romulan,” Caitlin responded.

[More are arriving.]

Renee looked at her crew, “How many Ensign?”

“Six Romulan war birds.”

“We’re still damaged Captain, we can’t take on six, neither can the Kiashama,” Liwutenant Commander Jansen said. Her Chief Engineer had a point.

“Any Federation ships in the area?” Renee asked.

“No, only more Romulans…” Caitlin said, “Four more just came out of warp…”

“Send a message on all Federation Frequencies, Open channel.”

“Aye ma’am, Channel open.”

“All Federation Vessels, this is Captain Renee DeLongvale of the USS Wellington, requesting immediate aid. We are under attack from Romulan forces, requesting immediate aid.”

“Captain, incoming hail, it seems to be from the Romulan lead ship,” Someone reported.

“On screen.”

[Captain, surrender the El-Aurian Vessel and leave, stay,] The Romulan Commander paused, [Stay and you shall die.]

The channel closed and then Anareema appeared on her screen.

“It seems I’m popular today,” Renee muttered.

[I’m sorry Renee, it seems we’re the cause of this… What if we go?]

Renee looked at the woman, “Are you crazy Admiral? Handing yourself over is suicide…”

Kia stepped forward, [I say we fight them. I won’t go down without a fight.]

Hijano, Novatori’s First Officer nodded, [I agree with Kia, Ma’am.]

Anareema looked at her last crew member, [And you Yosepha?]

[We fight.]

Anareema nodded, [Very well then.]

“There are two ships coming out of warp Captain,” Caitlin called, “The USS Dauntless and the USS Drake.”

Renee sighed in relief, while she didn’t know Commodore Thrawn or Captain Lorien, she had faith in them and their crews. She didn’t have time to thank them for coming when the Romulan armada opened fire on the Kiashma.

“Open a ship wide channel,” Renee ordered.”

“Channel open.”

“We’re under attack, battle stations, now!” People started to scramble onto the Bridge heading for various stations. Several shots hit the Wellington, but shields managed to hold them at bay for now.

“Shields down to ninety percent.”

“Evasive manoeuvres.” Renee called, “fire phasers and photon torpedoes.”

“The Dauntless and the Drake have opened fire.”

The four ships fought together, some of the Romulan ships went down, butt when they regrouped, they started ganging up on the Kiashama.

“Wellington to the Drake and The Dauntless, protect the Kiashama Hara at all costs.”

“They’re not changing their attack patterns, they’re giving it all they’ve got…”

“Captain, the Kiashama’s shields are failing and they’ve lost weapons.”

“Open a channel.”

“Admiral, get out of here. The Kiashama can’t take much more. You’re useless without weapons.”

[I’m sorry Renee, we’re going to finish this fight. Kiashama out.]

Renee DeLongvale watched in horror as Admiral Novatori lead the Kiashama into the fray, “Give them cover fire,” She ordered.

“It’s too late Captain…” Caitlin said. The view screen showed what they had all had feared. The Romulans fired continually at the huge ship, till the structural integrity gave way and the ship blew up, destroying some of the Romulan vessels with it.

Silence fell over the Wellington’s Bridge, they’d spent three days working with the crew of the Kiashama Hara and they had become their friends, but now they were gone.

“We’re being hailed.”

Renee sighed and took a deep breath, “On screen.”

[Captain DeLongvale, I’m Captain Lorien, what just happened here?]

“While on patrol we found the ancient El-Aurian ship, the Kiashama Hara. Some of the crew were still alive…”

Lorien nodded, [I see… But what did the Romulans want with the Kiashama?]

“They’re playing with Time travel Captain, it was the Romulans who attacked them two-thousand years ago… But something or someone froze them in time…”

[A Q?]

“It’s possible.”

“Did someone mention my name?” A man said, suddenly standing on the Wellington’s Bridge.

Renee turned around, “Why is it, when ever some one mentions a Q, it’s their que to arrive.”

Q looked around, “Did I do something?”

Renee sighed, “No.”

“Now, onto the Kiashama Hara, what happened?”

Renee looked down, “The Romulans launched a full out assault, directly on the Kiashama, they didn’t stand a chance.”

Q looked around at her crew, then at Lorien, “Even with help, the Kiashama was lost.”

“Admiral Novatori insisted on following through with the battle, I told her to fall back, but she wouldn’t.”

[We have to be leaving Captain DeLongvale, I’ll see you on Star base Alpha,] with that, the USS Drake broke away from them, shortly followed by the Dauntless.

Q disappeared, leaving the Crew of the Wellington alone, “So, what did he want?” Tizane asked.

“I don’t know, He was defiantly interested in the Kiashama, but then, who ever knows what a Q wants?” Renee asked, “They’re as mysterious as this universe.”

Tizane nodded, “True.”

“Set a course for Star base alpha,” Renee ordered, “Commander Lathrik, you have the Bridge.”

Renee walked into her Ready Room and just stood there; glad to be away from everyone else. She slowly walked over to her desk, she didn’t feel worthy of her position as Captain.

The doors opened and Tizane walked in, “Renee?”

Renee slammed her fist on the desk, “Damn it Tizane, I’m sick of it!”

Tizane looked taken aback by her friend’s outburst. She’d never seen her so angry, actually, she didn’t think Renee capable of getting angry, “Sick of what Renee?”

“Failing this crew…” She looked up at her former Chief of Security, “Every mission we’ve been on so far has been a failure, even when I was First Officer.”

“Renee, what happened to Captain Taylor and the others, wasn’t your fault, neither was this. Plus, not every mission was a failure; Jure and Hisra are in peace thanks to you.”

Renee sat down, “Maybe… Maybe I’m just not fit to be in command?”

“Don’t be stupid, Captain, you do a great job. This crew loves you. Everyone has their failures, Renee, this isn’t like you, grow up. What happened to the strong, reliable woman I used to know? The Counsellor, the adventurer?”

Renee sighed, “I don’t know, I promised them…”

“Renee DeLongvale, promises get broken, but not always on purpose. Anareema wanted to continue that fight. It was her fight. You did what you could, we all did.”

“You’re right Tizzy… This isn’t me… and she wanted to go on…” She looked slightly happier, “They were our past, but we were their future, then we became their present, giving them no future.”

“They have a future, there are three crews that got to work with the Kiashama Hara, that will never die and, what about Ensign Novatori? How many get a chance like she did the got to meet her ancestor.”

Renee nodded, “Indeed, how is she?”

“Not doing well.”

Renee stood up and walked out of her Ready Room.

“Ensign?”

Caitlin looked up, “Yes Captain?” She asked.

“Take the rest of the day off.”

She smiled, “Thank you Captain,” Caitilin walked off the Bridge leaving the Science station un-attended. Renee watched her go, and then looked around at the rest of her Bridge crew. Everyone seemed solemn, which she understood. While they were moving along physically, mentally would take a while, some of them had gotten to know the Kiashama’s crew quite well, and now, the Legend was gone, again.