MLK's Star Trek Saga

The commander of Starfleet sat at his post in his office. He was alone. His face revealed a small degree of worry and frustration. He leaned back with his eyes glancing at the ceiling lighting. He was deep in thought. The Enterprise-D destroyed James T. Kirk's arrival in the future, the Dominion threat, the Klingon/Cardassian war and its implications to the federation. These were but a few of the many events that clouded his mind.

Still he had to sort the events out and make a decision based on the federation council that would be of the most benefit to all involved. "...Why me?" He pondered. So many times he asked himself this single question. Each time he found no answer.

"Sir," The intercom sounded. "The captain is here to see you." Her voice tuned to perfection.

"Affirmative, send him in." His voice betrayed his feelings.

The doors slide open to reveal a decorated, Starfleet officer.

"...Picard!" A warm smile greeted the captain. "Come inside and have a seat old friend."

"Good to see you Chris." Picard returned the smile.

"Can I get you anything..." Chris stopped mid-sentence. "Of course," He remembered. "That darn...tea."

"Yes, you know the kind." Picard sat, watching his friend key in his beloved beverage.

"How are you?" Chris handed him the tea.

"Just fine." Picard took a sip.

"Miss the enterprise?" Chris sat across from him.

"Yes as a matter of fact I do."

"Well don't worry, construction has already begun on the next ship. It will be a sovereign-class vessel this time."

"Chris," Picard leaned forward. "Why have you summoned me here to San Francisco?"

"Alright old friend." Chris said. "Jean Luc' how would you like a promotion to admiral?"

"...No." Picard almost whispered. "I have been advised against such a gesture."

"...Advised?" Chris cringed quizzically. "Advised by whom?"

"Jim Kirk." He smiled. "Don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship because while you are there...you can make a difference."

"I see." Chris nodded. "Of course, I read your report. But consider it temporary."

"Why me and why now?" Picard went straight to the point.

"...Because we need your instruction, your insight and all your knowledge at Starfleet headquarters now."

"Why must I be an admiral to accomplish all this?"

"It goes with the job and the prestige. Special position designed and created especially for you. Consider yourself a special agent." Chris folded his arms and leaned back into his chair.

"Christopher Gray, what on earth are you talking about?" Picard marveled.

"Its simple...we need you because the Borg are coming..."

The setting was the desolate world known as Veridian III. It was at this planet that a heroic and legendary captain from the past, emerged to do battle with a madman called Soran, only to die after his triumph...

A galaxy-class starship hung in orbit around the planet as its titanium hull sparkled from the spectacular Veridian Star. The ship was the USS Constellation and her acting captain was William Riker, formally of the Starship Enterprise-D but due to it's destruction only days ago, he had settled for this temporary assignment.

He felt an unsettling disturbance within himself as he sat in the captain's chair and peered at the main viewer. The crew was unfamiliar to him. Peering from side to side, he wistfully hoped for a familiar face. Geordi, Data, Worf or even...Mr. Barclay. Man, he sighed, Barclay? He was desperate! A faint smile crossed his face as he yearned for his friends, whom had all been reassigned. Heck, he always wanted to captain a galaxy-class ship and though he was here, the victory was an empty one. As much as he hoped, this was not the Enterprise. This ship was...a strange place to him. His discomfort could be compared to the feelings one harbored when staying overnight in different environment. He just couldn't relax.

Of course the mere fact that two of the Federation's most prominent men were aboard the Constellation did not help matters for him. Both were legends by any standards of interplanetary history. Both men had served the Federation with esteem and honor. They were considered early pioneers of Federation development and irreplaceable.

William T. Riker held the honor of transporting these men to the Veridian system. It was an honor that he was more than proud to do but their presence stressed him to limits he did not know he could endure. He sat deeper into his chair as he watched the planet grow larger on the viewscreen. He relaxed a bit but the sheer nature of the mission fueled his discomfort. Perhaps, just perhaps his faith in himself was being tested.

"...Captain," Rochelle Brown, the helmsman snapped to attention. She was unsure about how to address her new-temporary captain. "Maximum orbit has been attained." She was nervous.

"Affirmative." Riker's voice was as stern as ever. "Notify the transporter chief that we will be beaming down in 2 hours for the service." He scooted out of his chair. "I'll be in the senior captain's stateroom." He quickly strode to the turbolift, his towering size intimidating the bridge crew.

Riker made his way through the seemingly endless corridors until he stopped just outside of the senior captain's stateroom. Few things ever stirred the nerves of the captain but the man inside that room did. He sighed silently and though hesitant, he pressed the door chime for access.

"...Come." The voice was just as stern as his. Maybe more so than his. It was however, intimidating, he decided. He had heard and read many things of the man beyond the door but he thought that he would never ever meet him face to face.

The door slid open.

"Good evening, sir." Riker crept in. He felt like he was walking on eggshells.

"Good evening to you captain." A voice was heard but the person speaking could not be seen. The room was totally dark. "Please, come in captain."

Riker did as he was told while squinting to see an image of the person that spoke. He could see nothing.

"Lights, point 8 percent." The man said and the room lit. He was in full view now. "Hello captain." He outstretched an arm and shook Riker's hand. The senior captain's grip was strong. Strong enough to send spasms up the acting captain's arm.

"It is truly an honor and a pleasure to meet you, Captain Michael L. King."

The familiar pattern of swirling energy stirred while Captain Benjamin Sisko stared at the natural phenomenon. The wormhole opened allowing a small ship to emerge from it. The ship was of unrecognizable design. "Sisko to ops." He knew that Major Kira or Dax would be alerting him to the arrival of the vessel at any time. His shift had ended only an hour ago. The day was filled with Dominion, Klingon and Cardassian briefings not to mention his duties as the emissary. He was tired but he mustered the strength, as he had done on so many other occasions to answer the call to duty.

"Major Kira here sir." Her voice was laced with worry.

"What is it major?" Sisko recognized the stress in Kira's voice.

"Sir you had better get up here and fast!" She almost shouted. "We have a Dominion warship emerging from the wormhole now in pursuit of a smaller class ship."

"I'm on my way!" Sisko turned for a second to see the warship come out of the wormhole before exiting the room. "Red Alert!" He yelled. "All hands to battle stations."

The command center was flashing with activity. Dax scanned the dominion craft. It was at battle readiness with all weapons charged for dispersal. A shot rang out from the ship, which impacted on the shields of the smaller vessel.

"May-day, may-day, this is the scout ship Eagle, I need your help please!" The pilot's voice boomed over the speakers surrounded by static and electrical noise. "My shields are gone and I can't take another hit!" He pleaded.

"Report?" Sisko stepped out of the elevator.

"The dominion warship has a weapons lock on the smaller ship." Major Kira answered. "One more shot captain and that ship will be destroyed."

"Put me on hailing frequencies." Sisko ordered. "Dominion craft, you will disarm all weapons and cease your attack!" He warned but received no reply. The dominion warship shot out another energy beam which luckily the pilot out maneuvered.

"Please help me!" The pilot was frantic.

"Chief O' Brian, lock all quantum torpedoes on that craft and FIRE!" Sisko shouted and the station turrets opened up, releasing 20 screaming pods of energy. The torpedoes struck the dominion ship and the continued fire successfully drained the shields of the invading ship. The warship tried to respond to its attacker but she was overwhelmed. Another volley blew through the alien-metal and the craft exploded, shaking the station in the process.

"Thank you!" The pilot cried in relief.

"Identify yourself!" Sisko's tension was far from over. "And shutdown all your ship's systems and prepare to be boarded." He was angry.

"I am Captain Curtis Fox...of the Federation."

End of Part 1

Star Trek is a registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures. These stories are intended for fan reading only and are by no intention, an infringement on Copyrighted materials nor for monetary benefit.