ST: Gibraltar - An Alternate Universe Tale

[Gibraltar]

What happens when everyone’s favorite hard-luck starship is inadvertently drawn into an alternate (but strangely similar) universe? Why, if that ship is Gibraltar, it could be nothing less than trouble, of course!

This started off as a bit of a lark to get my creative juices flowing again, but it's taken on a life of its own. The story is posted to the Tales of The 11th Fleet message board:

Objects in Mirror Are Stranger Than They Appear

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

^ I'll add a shameless plug, both for Gibraltar's story and the 11th Fleet tales. "Objects in Mirror are Stranger than they Appear," is a hum-dinger of a story in typical Gibraltar fashion. Do Not Miss It!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Awwwwww, come on, why don't we get to see it here? I REALLY like what I see so far!

 

[TrekkieMonster]

Fantastic, as always. Great, fast-paced action, along with your patented and subtle character development for the new additions with every line. And, it's really nice to see the whole cast/crew together again. Really looking forward to seeing where this one goes, not to mention what this new universe is like.

Please, Sir, may we have some more?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Just read the newest chapter. Please post more!! I want to know how history went differently in this universe, what happened.

(And I can't believe you put a "Gungan" in there! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

 

[CeJay]

I liked this, too. I was wondering when somebody was going to look out of a window and ask: "Uh guys, why are we fighting the Cardassians?"

The telescope on the other hand was priceless. Old school sensors at their best.

 

[mirandafave]

My comments from proboards about this great yarn Having read the first instalment of "Objects May... :insert great title here:". I must say that was rather breathless. It opened in the middle of a battle that was going badly for all concerned - did you have to blow up the Miranda class!? - and then a bloody terrific description of how the space time rift occurred and the Big Rock gets blindsided by another universe! Man! Terrific beginnings - but wait! It continues!

Pava goes stir crazy with the temporal/spatial displacement I imagine. I'm also imagining if Guinan had tripped out like this on Picard it would have been a hoot to see. However, Pava flipping out is not so much funny but down right 'get out of this universe' scary.

And then we have the crew facing against a Cardassian galor and given their predicament they are going up against them with guns blazing. yeah, as if things aren't already fragile this really ramps up the political mess and could indeed result in war. Bleeding heck!

All in all, a really intense beginning to the story and it reminds me of the intensity and sheer action and pulsating pace of your crossover piece with the Bluefin - Backup. Terrific story always one of my faves and this is cooking up nicely.

P.S. It must be great writing for Rameriez again when you can write lines like that!! Damn that was great.

To add to the above I should mention I loved the pov from the Cardassian ship and moreso in this next instalment. I particularly liked the mention of the Phoenix incident and/or the situation Kimura from the Cardassian gul.

Nice tension scenes atop of the great action stuff here, with both commanding officers willing to play blinkmanship by taking the chance of standing down but ready to destroy the other if needs be. Real cold war vibe to it with a good dose of submarine warfare storytelling too. Great stuff.

 

[Gibraltar]

Fantastic, as always. Great, fast-paced action, along with your patented and subtle character development for the new additions with every line. And, it's really nice to see the whole cast/crew together again. Really looking forward to seeing where this one goes, not to mention what this new universe is like.

Please, Sir, may we have some more?

Much obliged, TrekkieMonster! I'm glad you're enjoying the tale, and I too look forward to what surprises this new universe has to offer.

Just read the newest chapter. Please post more!! I want to know how history went differently in this universe, what happened.

(And I can't believe you put a "Gungan" in there! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

I'm glad you like CamSPD's Gungan-esque character. She's got bio's (and pictures) of all Columbia's major characters up on the ToT11F board over there.

My comments from proboards about this great yarn Having read the first instalment of "Objects May... :insert great title here:". I must say that was rather breathless. It opened in the middle of a battle that was going badly for all concerned - did you have to blow up the Miranda class!? - and then a bloody terrific description of how the space time rift occurred and the Big Rock gets blindsided by another universe! Man! Terrific beginnings - but wait! It continues!

Well, someone had to go down in the first chapter, and it wasn't going to be Gibraltar!

Pava goes stir crazy with the temporal/spatial displacement I imagine. I'm also imagining if Guinan had tripped out like this on Picard it would have been a hoot to see. However, Pava flipping out is not so much funny but down right 'get out of this universe' scary.

And then we have the crew facing against a Cardassian galor and given their predicament they are going up against them with guns blazing. yeah, as if things aren't already fragile this really ramps up the political mess and could indeed result in war. Bleeding heck!

All in all, a really intense beginning to the story and it reminds me of the intensity and sheer action and pulsating pace of your crossover piece with the Bluefin - Backup. Terrific story always one of my faves and this is cooking up nicely.

P.S. It must be great writing for Rameriez again when you can write lines like that!! Damn that was great.

To add to the above I should mention I loved the pov from the Cardassian ship and moreso in this next instalment. I particularly liked the mention of the Phoenix incident and/or the situation Kimura from the Cardassian gul.

Nice tension scenes atop of the great action stuff here, with both commanding officers willing to play blinkmanship by taking the chance of standing down but ready to destroy the other if needs be. Real cold war vibe to it with a good dose of submarine warfare storytelling too. Great stuff.

Thank you for the outstanding review and feedback! Yes, I threw in a bit of Cold War angst, along with some fast-paced combat to get the blood flowing. Luckily for Sandhurst, Gul Dasin is a reasonable man with a good handle on his ego.

 

[Gibraltar]

Chapters 2 and 3 are now up at Tales of the 11th Fleet's fiction board:

Objects In Mirror Are Stranger Than They Appear

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

It seems to me these alternates are more respectful of the Cardassians, by not unleashing the Klingons and Romulans on them. I'm not sure yet, but this might--MIGHT--be closer to the outcome I'm hoping for in Sigils and Unions. We'll see, though...there are still a lot of choices yet to be made.

And Pava with the Klingons? Seems like a scarily good fit. I also wonder if his proximity caused the coma to be worse in the Gibraltar's Pava.

I hope the Teravi survives this!!!!

 

[Gibraltar]

It seems to me these alternates are more respectful of the Cardassians, by not unleashing the Klingons and Romulans on them. I'm not sure yet, but this might--MIGHT--be closer to the outcome I'm hoping for in Sigils and Unions. We'll see, though...there are still a lot of choices yet to be made.

And Pava with the Klingons? Seems like a scarily good fit. I also wonder if his proximity caused the coma to be worse in the Gibraltar's Pava.

I hope the Teravi survives this!!!!

The Federation in the ToT11F universe has certainly avoided (so far) falling into the trap of occupying the Union ostensibly for its own good. However, I’m thinking the CU of this particular parallel reality might not have suffered nearly the level of devastation the Cardassian people in the UT universe have. Regardless, though this alternate Starfleet’s mission is still a dangerous one, at least they’re not faced with an active insurgency.

And as for the proximity of Pava’s doppelganger, it may indeed have something to do with the severity his reaction and his ongoing condition.

Thanks for the review!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

You're welcome...I'm enjoying it! Let us know when more is posted.

I keep imagining the look of shock on Sandhurst's face if he'd been thrown back to the Sigils Dominion War--and somehow encountered Spirodopoulos in his Cardassian armor! I wonder what kind of universe he'd think he was in!

 

[CeJay]

I'm really enjoying the contrast between the UT universe and the 11th Fleet in regards to the post Dominion War history. For now it does seem that aid instead of occupation was the wiser course of action. On the other hand, it would probably take years befoe one can fully analyze the outcome of these two post-war strategies, their failures and successes.

I recommend Darkush's excellent Hero Of The Federation as a great piece of comparative history as it gives a great glimpse at some of the consequences of the occupation in the UTverse.

Also, awesome twist at the end. This promises to be very interesting.

 

[Gibraltar]

You're welcome...I'm enjoying it! Let us know when more is posted.

I keep imagining the look of shock on Sandhurst's face if he'd been thrown back to the Sigils Dominion War--and somehow encountered Spirodopoulos in his Cardassian armor! I wonder what kind of universe he'd think he was in!

Undoubtedly, he'd think himself in a universe turned upside down!

 

[Gibraltar]

Chapter 4 of the story has now been posted:

Objects In Mirror Are Stranger Than They Appear

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

And now a Yoda character?! What's up with this universe? Did it crossbreed with Star Wars or something?

And poor, poor Vettrel. Even if what he's seeing isn't real--and knowing Pava I bet it is--that is just beyond horrible.

 

[CeJay]

I have to admit, I'm not the greatest fan of the 11th Fleet's Star Wars inspired characters which is probably the main reason I haven't explored that universe as much as I would have liked.

But this supremely evil version of Pava has captured my full curiosity. We always knew he had a dark side but this guy is beyond dark. Wow.

 

[TimmyWl]

I've been following this off and on. I do like how the other El-Aurian contacts with the one in the coma. The whole mind reading did foreshadow the bit at the end for Dark Pavia. I do like the mechanics of it and how in both dimensions there was a commonality with each other (Dominion War). That makes this story a bit more relatable and easier to read. Great stuff Gibraltar and keep the story going

 

[USS Fardell]

And poor, poor Vettrel. Even if what he's seeing isn't real--and knowing Pava I bet it is--that is just beyond horrible.

I agree.

 

[TrekkieMonster]

I'm loving seeing this side of Pava, as he might have been. Oh yeah, and the other stuff is interesting, too.

As always, engaging storytelling (though, I do have to confess that I cringe a little every time Isa readsa the Jar-Jar speak.)