Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck- Overview

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck
A brief overview of the story at this point.

Without much warning a massive ‘energy’ wave, for lack of a better term, has swept across the entire galaxy. It has rendered the use of warp, and transwarp drives-conduits, inoperable. The most obvious affect is complete isolation for everyone. Solar Systems that were once reachable in just days are now, in some cases years, and others, hundreds, if not thousands of years apart.

The affects will last for at least seven to eight years, Starfleet estimates. Old rivalries will be revived, and alliances that were formed may now crumble as the major powers scramble for their new positions once warp travel returns.

Shuffle the Deck centers on three separate major storylines;

USS BALBOA: This ship is a refitted Excelsior class Starship which was hastily assigned to protect a Starfleet outpost on Septos-14. The outpost straddles the Klingon/Romulan neutral-zone border. The Balboa is commanded by Captain Michelle Duell. Her mission is simple; protect the Federation citizens, mainly ranchers and farmers who were relocated as part of the peace treaty between Cardassia and Earth many years earlier. Her other primary mission is to avoid confrontation with any Klingon/Romulan visitors to the system.

DEEP SPACE NINE: With the uncertainty that still remains years after the Dominion War, and the loss of warp travel, the station again becomes a very valuable asset. With the Gamma Quadrant now thousands of years distant, the wormhole could be the avenue unknown forces might take to strengthen their position during this unstable time. The USS TITAN, commanded by William Riker, and the USS DEFIANT, recently put under the command of Tom Paris, are both deployed to help augment Colonel Kira’s ability to secure the wormhole.

EARTH; The legendary Vulcan, Spock, since returned from Romulas, is now the President of the Federation during these troubling times. He must spearhead Starfleet’s efforts to countermand the effects of the Wave. Unknown to him, a new resistance group has formed on Earth. They have one goal; the removal of Earth from the Federation. And to that aim they have targeted Spock for death. With the help of a rogue Founder, they may have found the method to carry out their plans.

As stories unfold with-in each of the three major storylines, it will become apparent to all that the Wave is not some random galactic event; it has a purpose.

Most of our characters will face peril at every turn. Some will even die. But in the true spirit of Star Trek, hope will be the inspiration that guides them all.

STAR TREK; SHUFFLE THE DECK

To read from the start, click on the link below..

STAR TREK; SHUFFLE THE DECK
Everything will change!!!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck- Overview

"Nerys Ghemor"??? Dang, I just about fell out of my chair there!

So, Nerys is his surname? And he got named Ghemor? Dang...given that "Ghemor" is a Cardassian surname, I'm starting to get the sense a LOT of time has passed since any canon event we've seen so far, given that I don't think anyone in the Kira family would've given that name to anybody until at LEAST 2370, and most likely 2373!

Yet you say he was in the Resistance? Color me confused...

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck- Overview

Good point...I have endeavored to take care of that situation...

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 15

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation; Earth

15

Federation; Earth.


The travel-pod containing Admirals Jean-Luc Picard and Katherine Janeway made its way towards the giant mushroom shaped Starbase that orbited Earth. Picard smiled, and shook his head.

Janeway saw Picard smiling, and then asked him, “Why are you smiling Jean-Luc?”

Picard thought for a moment, and then turned to face her. “I was watching the Bozeman, as she emerged from the space-doors. I think there are at least seven or eight other Starships inside there.”

“And that’s amuses you?” Janeway asked as she sipped from a cup of tea she had brought along from the San Francisco terminal where the pod had originated its flight from.

“I find it ironic really,” Picard said as he sat back in his chair, and sipped on his own tea. “How many times in the past has there been an emergency facing Earth, and only one Starship was in interception range.”

She smiled too. “As I recall, Jim Kirk was usually in charge of that lone starship. I think that’s mainly how he made such a name for himself. You met him, didn’t you?”

Picard nodded. “Briefly, right before he died helping to save the millions of lives on Veridian III.”

She thought of Kirk, and then sipped her tea again. “What was he like?”

Picard chuckled, “Pretty much like the legend we have all read. I could tell right there and then, that he and I were two totally different men. And yet, with all that caviler bravado of his, I realized there could never be a man quite like Kirk again.”

“Do you think, had he lived, he could have been an asset to Starfleet?” Janeway asked.

Picard nodded his head, “Of that I have no doubt, Katherine. I never thought of my self as a hero, the world we live in today is so layered with nuance. But had he lived? I believe he would have brought back a sense of that freedom, that fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thrill that would have only inspired the minds of our young officer talent.”

“And that would have been a good thing?” Janeway said with a look of skepticism on her face, “some how I doubt that. I think order, and discipline, are what makes Starfleet better than it has ever been.”

“And yet,” Picard said motioning to the large mushroom shaped construct in space they were now entering, via the space-doors, “look at all these mighty Starships, and there is nothing any of us can do to save Earth from this dark time.”

“Kirk’s being here would change nothing.” Janeway replied quickly.

Picard shook his head, and finished his tea. “If Kirk were here, and was with Spock, somehow I feel as if the two of them, combined, could have solved this problem not long after it started.”

Janeway chuckled as they both stood up and prepared to disembark the pod. “That’s nothing but hero-worship speaking through you, Jean-Luc.”

Picard smiled, “Perhaps.” He admitted.

With that, they exited the pod and made their way to the USS Miramar, a Federation scout class vessel that, while traveling between Jupiter and the asteroid belt had became the destination of a very special visitor who wished to speak with Picard. His name was the Traveler.
--
Picard and Janeway entered the sickbay aboard the Miramar. The sickbay on this scout class vessel meant one bed, in a very small space. Picard could tell that the Traveler was in great pain. The Miramar’s doctor confirmed this by informing Picard that the Traveler would not live much longer.

“You made it,” the Traveler said with a kind smile as Picard came to his bed. “I had so hoped you would bring Wesley with you.”

Picard nodded, and smiled down at the Traveler. “I believe he was on Vulcan when the Wave passed. Are you here because of the wave?”

The Traveler thought for a moment. “The phenomena you call the Wave has not only altered your level of travel, but ours as well, and unfortunately, my kind's very existence.”

“Can you tell us anything that can help?” Picard asked.

The Traveler tensed up in pain. “I was only able to make my final journey, to you, by all those like myself combining our ability. My kind will come to an end with my death.”

Janeway gave Picard a concerned and sympathetic glance.

“You must have come here for a reason,” Picard said to the Traveler, “can we do something to reverse the affects?”

The Traveler’s expression became distant. He looked to Picard, and with his dieing words he said… “You must go to the Essians. You will find them in the Gamma-Quadrant. For it is they, and they alone, that can save you all. The wave will return, and when it does,” the Traveler’s voice became a mere whisper, “all will perish.”

The Traveler was dead.


Continued—

STAR TREK
Shuffle the Deck

A ‘wheel’ story which encompasses three different main storylines.

USS BALBOA (a ship stranded in a star system that straddles the Klingon-Romulan border)

DEEP SPACE NINE (the famous space-station now under Kira’s command. There is also the USS TITAN, with Captain Riker, and the USS DEFIANT, under the command of Captain Tom Paris. Both ships help to guard the wormhole from any possible visitors.)

and

Earth...President Spock struggles to keep the Federation alive, while in the target of a Founder assassin!!!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck- Overview

Good point...I have endeavored to take care of that situation...

Rob

That works better. I could've seen Kira naming one of HER kids that, though it would be Kira Ghemor due to name Bajoran order.

Only question now: does Nerys remain the surname? Bajoran surnames come first, so in Colonel Kira's case, Kira is the surname and Nerys is the given name. So in this man's case, you've got Nerys as the surname and Jarav as the given name. Is that what you mean to do?

Anyway, I'm VERY sorry if my user name confused you; I opted for Cardassian name order as opposed to Bajoran.

Anyway, on your plot--now the people on Earth have to get to the Gamma Quadrant, and the people at DS9 have to get to Earth! I have to wonder if somehow, the Balboa will end up being the link between the two...

 

[RobertScorpio]

STAR TREK; SHUFFLE THE DECK--writer's note

Star Trek
Shuffle the Deck; USS Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Earth13 USS BALBOA

Deep Space Nine character correction

The chief of security on DS9, due to continuity issues, has been re-written as Jarav Halmes. His back story no longer has him as a cousin of Kira. His Starfleet career remains intact, as does his earlier service with a ruthless resistance cell. He does have an interesting new back story that will be fleshed on DS9’s next turn in the cycle…sorry for the confusion. These changes have been made in the previous DS9 installment..thank you for your understanding..

Rob
Scorpio

 

[RobertScorpio]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 16

Star Trek
Shuffle the Deck; USS Balboa—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth

USS BALBOA

16

The sleek, and fast, Bird of Prey swept over the top of the Balboa, the Klingon ship firing its disrupters as it did. Then it banked down below the starboard side of the saucer section and took more shots at the support structure of the starboard nacelle.

The Bridge crew of the Balboa could feel the ship rocking as each blast struck the shields that were between them, and utter destruction.

Captain Michelle Duell talked into the com unit on her chair. “Tell me what you got West.”

Lt. Commander Everett West was her chief of Engineering. They had both attended Starfleet Academy at the same time. Their class had the distinction of being one of the lowest rated graduating classes; ever. But that label had only spurned the two of them, and their fellow classmates, to try harder.

“The shields are down to 71 percent,” West’s voice replied from Engineering. “How much more of this rope-a-dope are you going take from K'brog, Captain?”

Captain Duell looked up at the tactical map that was now on the main screen. “Not much more West, I promise. Commander K’brog is no doubt letting off some steam. Let’s go ahead and let him pout.” She looked up at Bynak.

“We have a lock on them,” Bynak replied. “Just tell me when.”

Capt Duell nodded. “I will. Then you can throw a banana-peel out in front of them.”

Bynak was about to ask her what she meant by that when Thron cut him off.

“Captain Duell,” Thron, the Balboa’s Gorn communications officer said with his deep scruffy voice, “Captain K’brog’s voice has just gone up two octaves. His use of Klingon curse words is increasing as well.”

Captain Duell smiled. “Good, that means he realizes he is wasting a lot of fire power, and it’s a long way home for a reload.” She looked back up to Bynak. “Go ahead and fire one torpedo. Just jab them enough to get them to stop.”

“Its about time,” Bynak replied.

The Bird-of-Prey prepared for another run, and as it did, a lone torpedo blast streaked out from the Balboa and struck the Klingon vessel hard.

The young Bajoran Navigator, Lt. Elame, clinched his fist together and, very excited, he couldn’t help but say to the entire Bridge crew, “Yeah!!!”

“Calm down youngster,” Capt Duell said to the enthusiastic officer. “We’re all professionals here.” She said, winking at him with a smile.

Thron spoke again from the post. “K’brog’s voice has returned to a calm state. He demands you confer with him.”

Captain Duell nodded her head. “Tell K’brog he can beam over and we’ll confer over here.”

“You know him?” Bynak asked.

Doctor kip’fk, who had monitored the entire episode with the Klingon ship, chuckled. “Before you joined the crew, she and K’brog played a game of Rumarian Poker on Cestus-3. It came down to her, and a pair of twos, and him and his pair of Queens; she won.”

“So,” Bynak repeated, “how do you know he is commanding this Klingon ship?”

“Go ahead and zoom in on the lower left wing of the Bird-of-Prey.” Kip’fk said to Bynak.

The view screen zoomed in and, just under the left wing, and very small, was what appeared to be the image of a black cat.

“That looks like,” Bynak said softly, “the captain’s feline pet she keeps in her quarters.”

“It is. We had a side bet,” Captain Duell said with a wry smile. “Had I lost, I would have tattooed K’brogs name…” She let her voice trail off. “Well, in a place the rarely sees the sun.”

Bynak could only shake his head in disbelief at the new tidbit of information.

--

Moments later K’brog was beamed over. He was brought to Captain Duell’s quarters. Once the security officer had ;eft K'brog in the Captain's quarters, the young security officer left with out a word.

Captain Duell came out from her dressing room wearing only a bra and a see through panty. Her black cat, Stormy, was sleeping on the floor near the dressing room.

Captain Duell looked at K’brog seductively. “I am so glad,” she told him, “that you were stranded near to this system. I would have missed our secret strategy sessions.”

“Yes,” K’brog said as he watched her spread out on the bed like steaming butter on a plate of living Gagh. “It would have been a shame.”

He joined her on the bed and they enaged in hot klingon/human sex.

Continued--

next time...Q vs Riker..round whatever!!!

STAR TREK
Shuffle the Deck;
DEEP SPACE NINE!!!

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 17

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA-- DEEP SPACE NINE-- FEDERATION; EARTH

Deep Space Nine

17


It had been sometime since Q had last visited Deep Space Nine, and in remembered, he rubbed his jaw.

Q sat across from Colonel Kira, in her office above ops. Capain Riker was there as well, and sat next to Q.

“Alright, Q,” Kira said, “why did you hire Mr. Cooper to bring you through the wormhole?”

The impish Q shook his head. “Oh, why should I even answer your boorish questions,” Q protested, “this is a free galaxy last I checked.”

Riker shook his head, and cut in. “Cut the silly talk Q,” Riker said with anger in his voice, “incase you haven’t noticed, we are facing a very tough situation. So, can’t you just answer the Colonel’s questions?”

Q looked to Riker and gave him a sympathetic look. “I really do feel sorry for you Number-one.”

Riker flashed Q a wry smile, and pointed at the pips on his collar. “Unless you didn’t notice, I’m a Captain now.”

“And yet,” Q said as he looked back to Kira, “you still answer to her. So, really, you’re still just a Number-one to me.” He looked back to Riker. “Like I told you before, you were a fool to turn down my offer to join the Continuum.”

Kira shook her head, and cut in on the walk down memory lane. “We don’t have time for this,” she said to Q, “why are you here?”

“I like her,” Q said to Riker, “this one is spitfire.” Then he looked to Kira, “I am here because I need to get into the wormhole.”

“Why?” Riker asked.

Q appeared to be annoyed as he spoke. “Oh, alright, I’ll tell you. We Q have all been recalled to the Continuum. But due to this, whatever it is, our mode of travel, just like yours, has been extremely inhibited.”

Riker smiled, “How wonderful for you. Perhaps the Wave wasn’t such a bad thing after all.”

Q went on. “I have enough strength for maybe one, or two, 5-dimensional-plane jumps. But where I need to go, the Continuum, requires a kind of energy I can not access at this point.”

“Well, I don’t understand,” Kira said, “why will going to the Gamma-Quadrant give you enough power? They are affected over there just as much as we are over here.”

Q shook his head. “Are you listening to me sweetie? I don’t need to go to the Gamma-Quadrant, I could do that now if I wanted to. I need to get inside of the wormhole.”

Both Kira and Riker understood the meaning of Q’s words.

Kira gave Q a very serious look. “You’re telling us that you need energy that only the Celestial Temple can give you? You need the help of the Prophets?”

Q nodded. “We go back a long way with them,” Q said to Kira, “they do their thing, we do ours. And, yes, right now they possess the kind of energy I need to get into the Continuum.”

Kira shook her head. “How can I trust you, Q? How Do I know you wont go in there and cause trouble?”

“She’s right,” Riker said to Q, “for all we know you might go in there and destroy them to get this power you need.”

“Look you two,” Q said to them, “there is a chance that the Continuum can end this. You’re just going to have to trust me.”

Riker looked to Kira. “We may have no choice.” Riker said to her.

Kira gave Riker a look of doubt. “I don’t want to be responsible for the destruction of the Prophets.”

“Oh please,” Q said to her, “you seem to think that I am some kind of horrible menace.”

“YOU ARE!” Both Kira and Riker replied quickly.

Riker thought for a moment, and then he looked to Q.

“You say you have enough power for one or two jumps?” Riker asked.

Q nodded his head. “Yes, but I don’t need to travel on a 5-dimensional plane. I already told you this.”

Riker looked to Kira, and then to Q. “I will take you into the wormhole,” Riker said to Q, “but only if, before we go, you send me to Earth so that I can speak with Admiral Picard.”

Kira nodded her head. “Then you could warn the Admiral about the rogue Founder on Earth.” She looked over to Q. “I would sign off on that, especially if you were to escort Q into the wormhole.”

Q thought for a moment. “I would have enough power to send you to Earth, and get you back, and then my powers would be exhausted.” Q said to himself. “Very well, I’ll do it. But you can only stay there, at best, two or three minutes. After that, it would be impossible to get you back here.”

“Let’s do it.” Riker said as he stood up.

“Tell Jean-Luc he owes me one.” Q said to Riker.

“I’m sure it will make his day.” Riker said with mock appreciation.

Riker looked to Kira. “I’ll be right back.”

Kira nodded. “Good luck.”

And with that said, there was a flash of light…and Riker was gone.

--continued

Next time
Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
Federation Earth
Picard and Riker
together again!!!

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 18

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—DEEP SPACE NINE—Federation; Earth

18

Jean-Luc Picard looked out the window of his temporary quarters at the large Federation complex in Paris France. His family’s winery wasn’t far from the complex, but it almost seemed a world away. After his brother’s death, Picard hired a family with a long history with growing grapes to take over the day-to-day operations until the time Picard felt he would hang up his Starfleet career and retire and run the winery.

Picard straightened out his uniform, and headed to the door to leave his quarters when all of a sudden there was a bright flash of light. Then, out of nowhere, Captain William T Riker stood before Picard.

Picard smiled, “Will!” Picard said excitedly. The two old friends shook hands.

“I don’t have long to visit,” Riker said to Picard.

Picard nodded, “Q sent you here didn’t he?” Picard asked.

“Yes,” Riker said to Picard, “apparently the Q are being affected by the Wave as well. But that isn’t why I’m here. Listen,” Riker said to Picard in a serious tone, “The ruler of the Founders, and of the new-Dominion, Odo, believes there is a rogue Founder; here on Earth. Its purpose for being here, Odo believes, is to kill President Spock.”

“That is grave news,” Picard replied. “I’ll see to it at once.” Picard said. “I have something to tell you as well, Wil. The Traveler was able to journey here with some interesting information. Unfortunately he died in the process.”

“Did he have any news about the Wave?” Riker asked somberly.

“He did. He warned us that at some point the Wave will make a second sweep through the galaxy, and kill every living being. He also implied that a race called the Essians might hold the key to stopping it.”

“Who are the Essians?” Riker asked.

Picard shook his head, “I have no idea who they are. But they dwell somewhere in the Gamma-Quadrant. You need to take a ship into the Gamma-Quadrant and find the Essians.”

“We can’t use warp there either,” Riker said to Picard. “How can we possibly find them with out it?”

“I’m not sure.” Picard replied in his own somber tone.

Riker looked at the old style clock that was hung on the wall of Picard’s quarters. “My time is almost up,” Riker said to Picard, “I’ll see if Q has any knowledge of the Essians when I get back. Maybe he’ll know how to contact them.”

Picard nodded. “Very good, you take care.” Picard said to Riker.

“You too,” Riker replied.

The two old friends reached out and shook hands and suddenly there was a bright flash.

--

Picard felt disorientated then realized his surroundings had changed. He turned around to see Colonel Kira sitting behind her desk, and then looked to Q who was sitting in a chair across from her.

“Q!” Picard said with anger, “what is the meaning of this!?”

Q gave Picard a wistful look, and in an innocent voice replied, “Whoops.”

--continued next time in

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 18

You know, I can definitely picture and hear John de Lancie delivering that line "Whoops," just like you wrote it. Maybe a little shrug of the shoulders and a "Who, me?" look...

And nice way to get the corners of the galaxy connected! Now the question is, though--if the Wave is able to defeat supposedly omnipotent beings, just what IS this thing?

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 19

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—Deep Space Nine—Federation; Earth

19

The Romulan commander, S’ovak, was taken from his quarters and brought to the shuttle-bay of the USS Balboa. There were several shuttles parked on the large deck, but in the center of the bay were two chairs. One had a desk in front of it, the other didn’t. No longer in shackles, the Romulan commander was brought to the chair that had no desk. The guard saw to it that S’ovak sat in the chair. The Romulan also noted that the large space door of the shuttle-bay was opened as well.

At that moment, Captain Michelle Duell entered the bay and walked over to where the Romulan was. The guard, his phaser drawn, was standing 10 feet from the Captain and her guest was. Captain Duell sat in the chair behind the desk.

“This is an interesting place to conduct an interrogation.” S’ovak said in the usual smug Romulan way.

Captain Duell nodded in agreement. “To be honest,” she told him, “I can’t stand that interrogation room; but then again you know why. Here,” she said to S’ovak as she lit up a cigarette, “I can question you. And if I don’t like the answers, I just have them remove the force field and I hold on to this desk, firmly mounted to the floor, while you fly out into space and die. Plus,” she added with a smile, “I don’t need an ashtray, and I like view. It’s a win-win for me.”

“Typical human,” S’ovak said with his own wry grin, “always for the dramatics.”

Captain Duell continued, after taking drag on cigarette. “I spoke with the Klingon commander,” Capt Duell said to S’ovak, “and he says you fired on his ship first. And since the Klingons and the Federation are still allies, I have no reason to doubt him.”

S’ovak gave her a look of annoyance. “If my ship had fired on that Klingon scrap of mettle, don’t you think there’d be some kind of damage?”

“The Klingon says you missed.” Capt Duell added. “Besides,” she continued, “as I said before, you’re even being on this side of the neutral-zone is an act of war.”

“So what is to happen to my crew?” S’ovak asked in a cold manner.

“Since we have no way to send you back,” Captain Duell said, “you will all be brought to this hanger deck and executed.”

“Executed, are you serious?! S’ovak demanded

Captain Duell smiled, “No, I’m not. You will be brought to Septos-14 and you will be kept in a secure place until such time as we can return you home.”


S’ovak shook his head. “That could be as long as eight of your Earth years!”

Capt Duell nodded her head. “I know, and I understand your anger. But, really, what would you have me do? You have no ship, and we have no way of taking you back. You have two choices; imprisonment on Septos-14 until we can send you home, or, we can have the Klingons intern you on their ship. The choice is yours.”

At that moment Bynak entered the shuttle-bay and came over to where S’ovak and Capt Duell were sitting.

“Can I speak with you Captain?” Bynak asked.

Capt Duell stood up and walked with Bynak to a safe position away from the Romulan prisoner.

“What is it?” Capt Duell asked.

“We have just received a message from Septos-14,” Bynak told her, “Ensign Rose’s child has been abducted.”

Captain Duell nodded to Bynak, then she walked briskly back to where S’ovak sat and waited.

“I’m afraid the decision has been made for you.” Capt Duell told S’ovak. “You will be interned on Septos-14.” She looked back to the guard. “Take him back to the Brig.”

She headed towards where Bynak stood, and then the two of them headed to the Bridge.

--

Thron was not happy. The massive Gorn had just thrashed his quarters, and more importantly, had smashed the door of his quarters out into the corridor that passed by. Lt. Commander Everett West, who occupied the quarters next to Thon’s, came out into the corridor, upon hearing the smashing sound of the door. He followed the sound of the continuing ruckus into Thron’s now door barren quarters.

“Hey big guy!,” West yelled to Thron, “I’m trying to sleep over here! What the hell are you doing?”

Thron turned to face West. “The child, Ensign Rose’s child, has been abducted on Septos-14. I promised her I would see to the safety of her child and now this has happened!!!” His low voice rumbling as he spoke.

“The kid’s been kidnapped? Oh man, oh no!” West replied with anger. He clinched a fist, and then he looked around for a target. Thron pointed to the wall behind West. West turned around and punched the glass mirror that hung behind him on Thron’s wall, which was one of the last things not destroyed already. After watching it smash to the floor, he turned back to face Thron. “Damn, does the Captain know?”

Suddenly the ship lurched into impulse drive, very quickly; as if someone just ‘punched it’.

Thron nodded, “She knows now. When I find who ever did this thing, this terrible thing” Thron said, “I will rip their neck from their body, and devour it.”

West saw a large club on the ground, no doubt from Gorn, and picked it up, “Not until after I bash them with this!”

The Gorn walked over to his closet, opened it, and took out an even larger club. “And not until I thrust this into their skull!”

West saw a phaser on the floor, and picked it up, “Then we’ll use this and fry their fingers off, one by one! Then we’ll kill the bastard.”

He looked back to the Gorn who had strapped two of the new large phaser rifles to his shoulders. “Then we’ll find the accomplices,” Thron said, “and blast them!”

Suddenly Kip’fk, the Benzite doctor ran into the room.

“I demand to know what is going on in here!!!” Kip’fk demanded.

--

Moments later, the turbolift on the Bridge of the Balboa opened. Storming onto the Bridge were; Lt Commander West, who had two phaser pistols in his hands; Thron, with the two phaser rifles around his shoulders; and Dr. Kip’fk, holding a Benzite sling-shot.

Captain Duell stood up at the sound of feet pounding on the deck and faced the fighting force of three.

“What the hell are you three doing?!” She demanded of them.

West, who first looked at his two comrades in arms, lowered a bandana around his head, and then looked back at Capt Duell. “We’re going to kick some ass the moment we get back to septos-14, that’s what were doing!”

Capt Duell smiled, and then she removed the Klingon dagger she always kept in a hidden panel on her command chair. “Count me in.” She said with a devious sound in her voice.


--continued

Next time-
Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
Deep Space Nine

Picard…Q..and the Emissary. What more is there to say?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 19

Whoa, how did they go into warp? Then again, the "punching" description sounds a LOT like what Q did to the Enterprise in "Q Who?"...

And my goodness, isn't Bynak the disciplined one! Something tells me losing the kid is tearing him up just as badly if not even worse--but that Cardassian military rigidity turns out to be a good thing here, as I suspect his calm keeps Duell from completely blowing a gasket and shooting S'ovak on the spot...

 

[Alpha Romeo]

What's with the language and the innuendo?

 

[RobertScorpio]

What's with the language and the innuendo?

Good point..I have toned down aspects of the last installment to get it a PG-13 rating...but Michelle Duell is kind of on the so called 'dark side' of Trek. She would have fit in well on DS9...or nuBSG for that matter...

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 20

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—Deep Space Nine—Federation; Earth

20

The small civilian ship, Evan Cooper’s smuggling vessel, slowly approached the mouth of the Barjon Wormhole; Deep Space Nine was in the rear, at a far off distance. The Defiant and Titan, which were escorting Cooper’s ship towards the wormhole, were both deemed to power to enter the wormhole, and might have started an incident with the Dominion fleet on the other side had something gone wrong, and they were unable to reverse course inside the Wormhole.

It was decided that Evan Cooper would complete the job he had been hired to do by Q, with one notable addition; Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. Colonel Kira’s face stared down from the main screen of the small ship’s cockpit.

Evan Cooper was in the pilot’s seat, with Admiral Picard and Q sitting behind him in the two optional co-pilots seats. She spoke directly to Cooper.

“Admiral Picard is about as important as they come, so, Mr. Cooper, you better keep him safe.” She said. Then she looked to Q, “Now, as for this one? You can use him for ballast if you must.”

Q gave her a sarcastic look, “Very funny, toots. Sorry if I sound too bold, but I am the most important part of this excursion into the wormhole.”

Kira grinned and then her image was replaced by that of space.

With that, Cooper increased speed and headed for the wormhole’s position. Picard looked over to Q.

“By the way Q, who are the Essians?” Picard asked.

Q arched an eyebrow. “I want to know who told you about them?” Q demanded.

“How I know isn’t important; where they are is?” Picard said back to Q.

Q thought for a moment. “There are some things your species will just have to find out on their own, Jean-Luc.” Q said finally.

“Have it your way,” Picard said. “Well, Mr. Cooper, take us in.”
--
Captain Riker sat in his command chair and watched the mouth of the wormhole burst interview.

“I don’t care how many times I see the wormhole open, I never tire of it.” Riker said.

Tuvok nodded his head in agreement from his post. “It does have aspects of color that are not normally seen with the eye.”

Commander Vale smiled, and then she looked over to Tuvok, “Mr. Tuvok, is that your way of saying its beautiful?”

Tuvok did not answer the inquiry.
--

Mr. Cooper’s vessel, aptly named Tormenta, the Spanish word for Storm, vanished from sight, after diving into the swirling lights, and then; the wormhole was gone.

--

The night surrounded the small village, as did a storm. Lightning flashed, and almost as quickly, there was a burst of thunder. The rain fell very hard.

The village had been reduced to nothing but rubble. It was a different time. The Cardassian occupation of Bajor was in its closing years. And as the end approached, the retribution increased. It seemed as if the Cardassians wanted nothing more than to wipe the Bajorans out of existence. Attack craft had attacked the village from the sky, and now the ground troops had moved into kill whatever survivors there were; including women and children.

An eleven year old Bajoran boy watched over three younger Bajoran girls, ages five, six and eight. He also held a small Bajoran infant as well. He had sworn to his elders to protect them.

The village was known to the Cardassians for housing Bajoran terrorist from a very violent cell. There would be no mercy from the Cardassians. So, hidden in the rubble of a smashed home, the eleven year old boy, his name was Jarav Halmes, crouched down, with only a sharp knife to protect himself, and the small children under his guard. If they were quiet, and made no sound, he was sure they would survive the night. But the baby kept whimpering. And each time it whimpered, it offered the Cardassians, searching the nearby wreckage, the opportunity to find them.

Jarav crouched on the ground, and through a slope of mud, he could see two Cardassians in a nearby abode. Suddenly he heard screams. They had found a Bajoran survivor, one of the elderly women. The massive Cardassians ravaged her as he watched. And, once they were done with their pleasure, they slit her throat and killed her. The two Cardassians stared down at the dead woman’s body, and they were about to head the other direction, when suddenly the baby in Jarav’s arms made a loud crying sound.

The two Cardassians looked back in Jarav’s direction. Jarav reached down and motioned for the girls to follow him. He took them into another hiding place, beneath the rubble that used to be a fire place. The rain was now falling where they were hiding, due to the roof of the house having been burned away from the earlier attack.

“We know you’re in here!” One of the Cardassian’s yelled. “We will find you, and you will die.”

Jarav looked to the three girls, who had fear in their eyes. He knew that the Cardassians would ravage the three young girls, possibly even him, in the same way they had the older woman before they killed her. The children could easily hide out the Cardassian’s search, but the baby was starting to awake. The innocent baby would no doubt make more noises that could give up their position. With no other choice, Jarav covered the baby’s mouth in an attempt to quiet it. The Cardassians drew closer, as his grip over the baby’s mouth became tighter. Soon the baby’s sounds slowly faded. The Cardassians, tiring of the rain pelting them, gave up their search. The two brooding soldiers left.

The three girls seemed very relieved. But as Jarav pulled back his hand he realized the baby had suffocated, and died, due to its ability to breathe being stopped by Jarav’s hand. Jarav had killed the young baby so that the rest of them could live.

--
Jarav Halmes woke up in his quarters, aboard DS9, in a cold sleep. The dream he had was so real, it felt like it had just happened. It felt real, because it had happened. It was a deep memory that would be apart of him until the day he died. It was just one of many terrible dreams that haunted him. He stood up from his bed and walked over to the sink area.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror, and the sweat that clammed up his face. He turned around and opened the closet behind him, and pulled out the knife he had kept in his possession since he had become a terrorist in his own right. It had brought him luck, or so he thought. He faced the mirror again and placed the blade to his neck. It was time to bring his live to an end. But, some thing held him back. He hadn’t found absolution; not yet.

When he did, then he would end his life.

--
continued next time with;

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
Federation; Earth

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 20

Man...you know, that story about the baby dying like that--I think I heard something like that from the Holocaust once.

I sure hope Jarav finds whatever absolution he needs.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 21

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—Deep Space Nine—Federation; Earth

21


The Federation President’s residence, in Geneva, offered a grand view of the mighty Swiss Alps. Captain Riker, Admiral Janeway and President Spock stood on the secluded deck that straddled the canyons below.

“What a remarkable view, Mr. President.” Riker said in awe, “it reminds me a lot of the Alaskan frontier.”

The three of them all sipped cups of Vulcan tea.

Spock freshened up Janeway’s cup, and then he set the pot down. “Thank you Captain Riker,” Spock said, “the cold gets to me at times. But my security advisors have given me little choice to stay any where else due to this threat.”

“It’s for your own good,” Janeway said to him, “a rogue Founder should be considered a most serious threat.”

Spock nodded his head in agreement, “I suppose you’re right.” He then looked back to Riker, “I have never met this Q being that Jean-Luc and the two of you have spoken so much of. Can he be trusted?”

“There are times I would say no,” Janeway allowed, “but other times he did seem to help, if you want to call it that.”

Spock looked to Riker for his opinion.

“I wouldn’t trust him, sir.” Riker said. “Oh, at times he wasn’t as much of a nuisance, but I will never forget the loss of life he caused the Enterprise by throwing us into our first meeting with the Borg.”

Spock continued, “Why would a rogue Founder wish to cause harm to a Federation President? As I recall, the terms that brought the end of the Dominion War were far from harsh.”

“Sir, I must stress that we found a hidden message from Odo,” Riker told Spock and Janeway. “It was the message that warned us about the rogue Founder. I got the impression from Odo, and so did Colonel Kira and she knew him best, that he was under some kind of duress. If Odo’s hold over the Dominion is faltering, we may have more problems down the line.”

“Indeed,” Spock said with a slight arch with his eyebrow. “Meanwhile, Starfleet intelligence has searched their files for any clues as to who or what the Essians are. But, as of yet, there seems to be no historic contact with them by any major power in the galaxy.”

Janeway picked up Spock’s line of reasoning. “But this Traveler knew who they were. So I have to assume that Q, and the rest of the Continuum know of these Essians as well.”

“All I know is that Q wanted to go into the wormhole,” Riker said to Janeway. “He seemed utterly convinced the entities inside the wormhole could provide him enough energy to get back to the Continuum. Perhaps these higher beings, like Q and Traveler, that use forms of transport we can’t possibly imagine, meet up on some metaphysical super highway now and then.”

“Captain Riker, you remind me much of my old friend, Doctor McCoy.” Spock said. “He, like you, would offer such incredible theories about events we were dealing with at any given time.”

Riker felt proud, “I hope Doctor McCoy, who once was aboard the Enterprise-D I might add, sounded logical with his theories.”

Spock nodded his head, “Logical?” Spock replied, “Perhaps at times, Captain. However; his opinions were always so,” Spock paused, “fascinating; and always so human.”

Janeway looked over to Riker. As he was sipping on his tea, Riker raised to fingers on his other hand. Janeway nodded.

“Mr. President,” Janeway said to Spock, “perhaps we should get you back into your chair.”

“Perhaps you’re right, Admiral.” Spock agreed.

Spock set his drink down as well as Janeway brought the large chair onto the deck. The chair opened up, and Spock sat down inside of it, and then the chair closed, incasing Spock.

The three of them took their conversation into the main living area, and its much warmer temperature. As they went inside, they were unaware of the small rodent that poked its head up and over the deck they had just been standing on. The rodent scurried across the deck and then down around the outside of the large home.

Riker sat in one of the comfortable chairs, while Janeway sat down on one of the couches. Riker also held his left index finger close to his left ear. He then looked to Janeway and flashed three fingers.

Janeway knew immediately what the signal meant; It was possible that the Founder had arrived.

Continued…with

Star Trek
USS Balboa

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 22

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—Deep Space Nine—Federation Earth

22

The USS BALBOA entered parking orbit of the planet Septos-14. Moments after orbit was established, Captain Michelle Duell, Lt. Commander Everett West, Communications officer Lt. Thron, and Lt. Lip’fk, the ships chief surgeon, all beamed down, as well as fifty other crew members, to find Ensign Rose’s abducted baby.

Once they had materialized on the planet, near the compound they had built up before responding to the Romulan vessel that came into the system. Lt. Commander West looked to Captain Duell.

“Are you sure it’s safe to have this many of the crew down here looking for that kid? I’m sure the local authorities can help.” West said.

Capt Duell watched as the crew members spread out and headed for the compound, and then she saw the watch-standers of the camp open the large gate to let the search teams in. It was hard to believe that with in the midst of the rustic scenery, the flowing trees and mountains in the distance, that such an act of treachery could have happened.

“Commander Bynak assured me he would be able to keep our Romulan guests nice and secure,” Capt Duell said to West, “now, Mr. West, let’s go find that baby.”

Duell and West headed for the compound. As they approached the compound they could see there was some kind of ruckus at the entry into the main barracks. Ensign Rose, and the others who had stayed behind, were blocking the entrance. Capt Duell and Lt.Cmdr West picked up their pace.

“What’s going on here,” Capt Duell demanded as she as West joined the others.

Ensign hushed down all the murmuring, with motions of her arms conveying that they keep their voices down. “Please, can you all be quite,” Rose pleaded, “Elaine is safe and sound and she is sleeping just beyond this door.”

“You found your baby?” Thron asked, holding the two large phaser-rifles he had brought to his side, aiming them up at the sky.

“We tried to contact you,” Ensign Davies, a human male who worked in engineering, and had been injured when the Wave caused the initial damage to the ship. “But our communications platform gave out not long after we sent that first message to you.”

Capt Duell nodded her head. “Alright,” she said to Davies and Rose, “was the baby abducted or not?”

Davies and Rose looked to each other, and then back at Capt Duell. “Yes sir, we caught the abductor.”

Dr. Lip’fk raised her Benzite sling-shot over her head, “Let’s take that villain down!!”

The crowd, or more like revenge seeking mob, cheered and were ready to bring down the house. But Davies and Rose shook their heads, and tried to silence the throng again.

“It isn’t that simple,” Ensign Rose said to them all. Then she looked to Capt Duell. “It’s best that only you, Captain, meet with the abductor. He won’t live much longer, and I believe you will find what he has to say very bizarre.”

Capt Duell put her Klingon dagger back inside’s the sheath she wore on her left hip. “Very well,” Capt Duell said Ensign Rose, “but I must say; this better be good.”

Captain Duell made her way through the militant crowd and up the stairway to the main building. She followed Ensign Rose into the barracks as Davies stayed behind to deal with the crowd.

Ensign Rose escorted Capt Duell through the very dark sleeping area. They passed the crib that contained Elaine, who was sleeping, just as Ensign Rose had said she was.

“Why are you keeping it so dark in here?” Capt Duell asked.

Ensign Rose stopped, and motioned to the bed in the corner. “I’ll stay here,” Ensign Rose said to Duell, “We keep it dark because the eyes of our guest are very sensitive to light.”

“Did you say our guest?” Capt Duell asked Ensign Rose. “This person tried to abduct your child, Ensign. I would hardly call him a guest.”

Ensign Rose nodded, “I know, but like I said, you’ll find this most bizarre.”

Capt Duell, in a very curious mood, looked over to the sleeping person on the bed, and made her was over to the bed. She walked over to the side of the bed to see who this mysterious person was.

Due to the sensitivity to light, blankets had been piled up. Only the head of the abductor protruded from the blankets. Capt Michelle reached into her pocket and took out a small light. She turned it on at a low setting so as to see the face of this mysterious person. She gasped at what she saw…

“Bynak?” She said with a shocked whisper.

--
Continued with
STAR TREK
DEEP SPACE NINE

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 22

Whoa, hold up...have we got one Bynak, or two??

 

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek; Shuffle The Deck part 23

Star Trek; Shuffle the Deck
USS BALBOA—Deep Space Nine—Federation; Earth

23

Admiral Picard, Q, and Evan Cooper found themselves surrounded by a universe of white light.

Picard looked to Q, “Is this your doing Q? This looks strangely enough like that vision of heaven you showed me years ago. Where is your white robe?”

“I assure you Jean-Luc,” Q replied, “this is none of my doing. We are in the realm of the Celestial Temple of the Prophets.”

“You believe in those things?” Evan Cooper asked. “All I want to know is what happened to my ship?”

Picard spoke as he looked to Cooper. “Mr. Cooper, I am sure your vessel is just fine. We are in some kind of pocket woven fabric of reality.”

Cooper nodded his head, “Yeah,” he said with the sound of disbelief in his voice, “sure, I get it now. That kind of thing happens to me everyday.”

Suddenly, from out of the white light, a fourth person joined them. He wore a standard Starfleet uniform, and it was someone both Picard and Q knew.

“Ben Sisko!” Picard said with a warm smile.

Picard shook Sisko’s out reached hand.

Sisko smiled back to Picard. “It is good to see you,” Sisko said with his deep baritone voice, and paused as he looked at Picard’s collar, “Admiral Picard. Well, it’s about time you accepted promotion.”

“Trust me,” Picard said to Sisko with a wry smile, “it was not my choice at all.”

Sisko looked to Q. “How’s the jaw, Q?”

“Very funny,” Q said.

“Ben,” Picard said, “I brought Q into the temple, so I am responsible for his being here. He needs to get back to the Continuum, and he seems to think by coming here he can.”

Sisko nodded his head. “Yes,” Sisko said to Picard, “he can get there now.” Sisko looked to Q. “Omnipotent; and yet you come here for help. It puts things in their proper perspective, don’t you think Q?”

“Ben,” Picard pressed, “the rest of the galaxy has been affected by an unidentified wave. It swept over the entire galaxy in a matter of a week or so. All warp power, subspace communications, have been wiped out. And according to information we have obtained, the wave will sweep back at some point in the future, and most surely destroy all life. We have been told that a race called the Essians may hold the key to our very survival; can you help us.”

Q looked at Sisko, “Don’t tell him, Emissary,” Q said to Sisko. “There are many things that species on their level must find out on their own. Disrupt their natural evolution and you could upset the very fabric of the universe.”

Evan Cooper whistled, “Man, this is some pretty deep stuff. Can you let me out of here? I just want to get back to the Dabo wheel on DS9.”

Sisko looked to Picard. “Q is right, Admiral Picard. There are things I can not reveal to you for the reasons he said. However, if Mr. Cooper here would agree to give his assistance, I think there is a way to find out what you need to know.”

“What does that mean exactly?” Cooper asked. “I’m no Starfleet officer. My only strategy, when up against any trouble, is to run; and I’m proud of it!”

“Admiral Picard,” Sisko said to Cooper, “is too valuable as a Starfleet asset. If he was to be gone for any extended amount of time, and he would be, Starfleet might feel it necessary to send out an entire fleet to find him. And with things the way they are in the Gamma-Quadrant, now would not be a good time for that circumstance.”

Q cut in. “Well, this is all so interesting, but I need to get going,” Q said to them all, “I am quite confident that you’ll handle this situation in a workable way, Emissary. Please tell the Prophets I am in debt to them.”

Sisko smiled, “Oh, trust me Q, they will collect on that debt. Or, should I say,” Sisko said, as he paused for affect, “I will.”

With a flash of light, Q was gone.

Picard and Sisko looked to Evan Cooper.

“Okay,” Cooper said, “I’ll do this; whatever you want me to do.”

Picard shook Cooper’s hand. “Good luck Mr. Cooper.” Picard said to the small time Orion Syndicate smuggler. Then Picard looked to Sisko.

“Admiral,” Sisko said, “I will contact you when Mr. Cooper has returned from his journey across the Essians.”

Picard nodded in agreement. He looked to Cooper. “I’m not sure where you are going,” Picard told him, “but don’t forget that the fate of the entire galaxy may rest in your hands.”

Cooper shook his head, “Um,” Cooper said, “I’ll do my best.”

Picard looked over to Sisko, “Take care, Ben. And come home to us; soon. ”

In a flash of light Picard found himself piloting the Tormenta out of the wormhole, to the welcome party consisting of the Titan and Defiant. He had no idea what Evan Cooper, a simple man, would experience. Yet, Picard envied the man. It sounded like Cooper was definitely going where no one had gone before.

--
The wormhole opened up on the Gamma-Quadrant side of the wormhole. The Dominion fleet monitored a small object. They had recorded images of such objects in their data bases. The object resembled one of the orbs that had come from the inside of the wormhole over the past ten thousand years, and had shaped Bajoran theology.

The Dominion fleet was about to fire on the object, but then it streaked away at incredible speeds. The orb was apparently unaffected by the properties of the Wave. Its destination was unknown to the Dominion fleet. The Jem’Hedar were able to detect a humanoid life form inside the orb, but it streaked away at too fast of a speed to obtain more data.
--

Admiral Picard exited the landing bay on DS9. He had found piloting such a small vessel very entertaining, and all to brief. Colonel Kira and constable Jarav greeted Admiral Picard at the entrance to the landing bay.

“Where is Cooper?” Jarav asked Picard.

“He might possibly,” Picard told the both of them, “be on a mission to save us all.”

“Him,” Kira said. “Why do I find that so amazing.”

Picard smiled at her, “Because, Colonel; you should.”
--

Continued with
Star Trek;
Federation; Earth