Severance Part IV
“Sir, six more winged equines have appeared off our port stern,” the shuttlecraft pilot reported as they neared the large, glittering structures that marked their destination. All eyes were glued firmly to the mass of winged quadrupeds flying in tight formation all around the shuttle as if escorting it to its destination. However, based on the angry expressions, minute impacts from thrown weapons, and what looked like shouting and near-panic, it was a foolishly optimistic comparison. Still, Data couldn’t blame them, and hoped that the ensuing meeting would go much more smoothly.
Their destination, an extremely tall castle shaped like an ornate multi-tipped spearhead, sparkled and shone like a beacon in the overcast sky. As impressive as technology could be (and often was), there was something to be said about old-fashioned (perhaps ancient) architecture, and the city below was full of it. Everything from smaller keeps to what appeared to be familial and individual dwellings dotted the crystalline landscape, captivating the shuttle’s crew.
“Sir, we’re almost there, where should I set down?” the pilot asked as the captain quickly surveyed the vicinity and located an appropriate landing zone.
“Set us down right at these coordinates, about 50 yards from the central tower. That way, we will not look as though we are trying to invade their keep.”
“Yes sir, now beginning our descent.” the pilot replied. As the shuttle began its journey to the surface, Data turned to address the delegates and his chief medical officer.
“As you all are well-aware, this mission is one of an extremely delicate nature. It may be very challenging to come to an arrangement that both parties find acceptable. I will be relying on all of you at some point to aid in this diplomatic endeavor.” Data reminded them, ensuring that everyone was on the same page. “Until Lieutenant Vorik and Ensign Halis rejoin us, I will explain to the best of my abilities the scientific importance of our mission. I will be relying on Dr. Yasha to ensure that our patient is received quickly and in acceptable condition, and offer her services if need be. Ambassador S’taass, Ambassador T’Pau, Ambassador Vitok, and Mr. Garak, you four represent considerable portions of the Alpha Quadrant and will be responsible for answering any and all inquiries pertinent to your respective spheres of influence. Our primary objective is to deal with the Omega situation, and in order to do so, it is imperative that we earn the cooperation of the locals. Is everyone clear on their objectives?”
“I suppose…” S’taass mused.
“The Romulan Republic will cooperate in this matter.” T’Pau replied with a curt nod.
“Your plan is logical,” Vitok agreed. “I will aid in its execution.” There was a pause as Data looked over at a quiet Cardassian. The length of the pause extended into several seconds before the Cardassian looked up and around the now-landing shuttle. He gave a small, somewhat nervous smile.
“Well, it’s not like I have much of a choice in the matter, do I?” Data’s head tilted quizzically before he responded.
“I believe you are correct in that assessment.”
***
“Steady, steady…” Shining Armor cautioned as the strange flying machine touched down. Trying to keep the veritable legion of guards under control, not to mention the terrified population, had been a difficult task to say the least, and he couldn’t help but wonder what in Celestia’s name was transpiring. “Nopony makes a move until I give the order!” he commanded sharply, ensuring that no one would act hastily and cause an incident. He held his breath as a small door on the side of the machine opened with a light hiss.
***
Data was the first to emerge, stepping out of the shuttle onto the hard, shiny stone that made up their landing zone and upon further inspection, the streets of the city itself. His android eyes surveyed the scene before him; a small legion of what appeared to be military equines sporting similar protective gear as the flying ones from earlier stood between the shuttle and the towering castle in the center of the city. Standing out in front stood a slightly larger, pure-white equine with a blue mane; his armor was considerably more ornate than the others behind him, leading Data to consider that this particular equine might be the planet’s sovereign, or at least a figure of some importance. Even though the equine only stood roughly five feet tall, he nevertheless cut a rather impressive figure, certainly due to his role in the military service.
“Greetings,” Data began as he took a tentative step towards the crowd of equines before stopping and holding his hands up at shoulder-height to indicate peaceful intentions. “My name is Captain Data. I am a member of an interstellar federal republic, composed of planetary governments that exist semi-autonomously under a single central government based on the principles of universal liberty, rights, and equality, and to share their knowledge and resources in peaceful cooperation and space exploration.” Seeing various expressions of confusion and doubt interspersed among the faces of their hosts, Data paused to let it ‘sink in’.
“I assure you that neither I nor my companions mean you any harm,” Data continued, to assure the considerably quieter crowd. “We are here on a mission of peace, diplomacy, and scientific exploration. To that end, I would very much appreciate an audience with whomever you call a leader or governing body.”
Shining Armor just stood and stared at the strange new arrival. How does it know our language? Why did it identify itself as ‘captain’? Is that its rank or just a title? If it is military, how dangerous is it? If this was, as the strange biped claimed, a “mission of peace and diplomacy”, then the ideal pony qualified to tackle this extremely strange and unexpected situation was the only governing official currently present in the Empire, besides himself. Hopefully, Cadence’s training in the areas of diplomacy would shed some light on the questions occupying the thoughts of all present. He cleared his throat and prepared to greet their visitors.
“My name is Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard.” he exclaimed, perhaps a bit more forcefully than intended. If the tall creature was offended or intimidated, it did not show it; rather, it simply stood and regarded him with a neutral expression that almost felt…artificial. Shining couldn’t quite wrap his mind around why but something told him that whatever this creature was, was much more than what it appeared. It was, admittedly, a discomforting notion.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Shining Armor,” Data replied cordially. “Are you this world’s leader?”
Shining paused to consider his reply. He didn’t have the political knowledge or authority to accommodate them himself, but the last thing he wanted was to lead a group of strange (and potentially dangerous) ‘aliens’ directly to his wife. But isn’t this what she was trained to do, he asked himself. Surely one of a princess’ most important tasks was developing diplomatic relations with outsiders…wasn’t it? He took a deep breath and steeled himself.
“No, I am not,” he replied. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is responsible for government functions within the Crystal Empire.”
“Crystal Empire? Is that the official designation of our current location?” Data asked. Once or twice throughout their conversation, Shining had to inwardly give his head a shake and remind himself that he wasn’t talking to Twilight. With all of the intellectual inflections, it was a little eerie.
“That is correct.”
“I see. Is that also the name of this world?”
“No, our world’s ‘designation’ is ‘Equestria’.”
“Thank you,” Data replied. “If you do not mind, I will save any further questions for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. However, I have someone aboard my vessel that I believe belongs with you.” With that, the shuttle’s rear door opened and Dr. Yasha emerged, flanked by two members of her medical staff. Eyes widened and mouths gasped as the prone form of Princess Luna appeared from within the machine, lying on what looked like a medical stretcher.
“Princess!” Shining exclaimed as he ran over to his step-sister; it was at that point that Dr. Yasha and her staff wisely moved out of his way, giving Shining Armor and several guards a wide berth. After checking her over and confirming that she was very much alive and well, Shining Armor turned to Data once more. “What happened to her?” he asked as calmly as he could.
“We do not know,” Data replied. “We found her in critical condition while searching for a lost piece of scientific equipment.” He gestured towards the doctor and her team. “Dr. Yasha here was able to treat her wounds and return her to a healthy state.” As if confirming Data’s explanation, the moon princess suddenly stirred, thanks to a delay-effect revival hypospray covertly administered minutes before landing. All eyes were on her as the princess let out a lengthy yawn before slowly getting up and off the stretcher. Her ears perked up as she took in the strange sight around her.
“Did We miss something?”
***
As Data predicted, it was Princess Luna’s safe return that got the captain and his small entourage an audience with the other princess present in the Crystal Empire, a tall, pink, regal-looking equine named Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence, as she preferred. While the local doctors checked the night princess thoroughly, Princess Cadence, her husband, and Data’s team took their seats in the throne room. At Data’s command, most equipment, save for Data’s scientific tricorder and their communicators, had been left in the shuttle, lest such technology intimidate their hosts. As such, it was up to Data and the delegates to explain what they were, who they were, and what they were doing. Of course, Princess Cadence, along with Princess Luna as soon as she was given a clean bill of health, were more than willing to share details on their world as well.
And there were lots of details to share…from both sides.
Data, ever the thorough android, ensured that every inquiry, great and small, was explained in great detail. In order for the mission to go smoothly, he had to do everything he could to alleviate any concerns the princesses had. It was, after all, their world; they had the right to know every detail pertaining to the sudden alien presence.
It should come as no surprise that the subject of magic had come up rather quickly. Patience was a virtue, especially during diplomatic meetings, a lesson with which Data was quite familiar. He never pressed for information; rather, he expressed curiosity and simply allowed the princesses, both skilled diplomats in their own rights, to inform him at their own pace. Such pragmatic technique served him well; the meeting was turning out to be an extremely profitable one. As he absorbed (and in many cases, observed) the details about the ‘magic’ of the world and its inhabitants, he gradually found it easier to justify ‘bending’ the Prime Directive. While the Omega Directive superseded it, Data was grateful to have another reason that might stand up to the scrutiny of history…or at least, that of his superiors.
Magic was an interesting concept, to say the least. Data found himself dedicating much more computational power than usual in his attempt to rationalize and comprehend something that, at the time, could not be explained in scientific terms. All they knew for sure was that the planet was the source of the energy, while the inhabitants acted as conduits for said energy. There were several levels of conduits; it was clear that the princesses were in the upper echelon, while most sentient inhabitants hovered around the middle echelon. Lesser creatures did possess a little bit of the energy but not enough to make a significant impact on their lives. Indeed, only the most intelligent and evolved species were able to actively make use of it, undoubtedly due to many centuries of evolution.
What Data eventually concluded (at least for the time being) was that further and extensive study was needed, which brought up a tough question; what manner of association should Equestria and the Federation share? It was for that reason Data was fortunate to have trained diplomats in his company. They endeared themselves well; S’taass and Princess Luna bonded over a shared interest in defense and glorious battle, while T’Pau, Vitok, Data, and Garak shared details about the Alpha Quadrant, concentrating on what the Federation was and stood for. While Data and his team were fairly thorough, they made sure to reserve sufficient time to explain their mission.
“Let me see if I understand this correctly,” Princess Cadence said slowly. “You found this ‘Omega molecule’ here in the Crystal Empire?”
“Preliminary scans suggest that the source is located almost directly in the center of this structure, to be precise,” Data replied, checking his scientific tricorder. Cadence nodded and tried to think of what he might be referring to.
“My apologies, Captain, but the only item of note in that particular part of the palace is the…”
It was then that something clicked in the princess’ mind. There was only one item that could have attracted attention to itself, and it was an item that they admittedly knew very little about, besides its most basic functions.
“The Crystal Mirror…” she whispered to the floor, so quietly that only Data’s android senses could pick it up. She looked up and found Data looking at her quizzically. “I…I think I might know what your machines found…” she continued hesitantly. “However,” she cleared her throat. “I would like to inform Princess Celestia before we proceed. She is the sovereign ruler of Equestria and as such, she should know about this as soon as possible.” Data nodded in agreement.
“Agreed. It is imperative that all ruling bodies be informed of our discovery.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” All heads turned to face the source of the familiar voice.
“Aunt Celestia!” Cadence exclaimed, rising to greet her. “And…Twilight! And your friends!” Cadence couldn’t help but smile at the group of familiar faces that made up her aunt’s entourage. “It is wonderful to see you all again.” At that, Data and the others rose respectfully as well. “When did you all arrive?”
“Mere moments ago,” Celestia explained as her group approached Cadence’s. “The moment I saw that ship in the sky, I knew it was imperative that I warn all of Equestria’s realms.”
Dead silence.
“Um…Princess…did you say ‘ship’?” the purple unicorn, whom Data supposed to be Twilight, asked in confusion.
“Is that why you teleported all of us from Canterlot the moment we arrived at the palace?” a white one with a purple mane and tail added.
“What…what’s wrong, Auntie?” Cadence asked as Celestia walked resolutely up to Data, standing nearly eye-to-eye to him as she studied him intently.
“Hmmm…” she mused, looking him up and down. “You’re not like the ones that came before, nor are you like the ones from the other world, and yet…you are here...”
“I’m afraid that I do not follow.” Data replied.
“Sister, what is going on?” Luna asked, voicing the question on everyone’s mind. They all watched as Celestia took a deep breath.
“I guess this is as good a time as any,” she began. “Please pay special attention, my little ponies, for I believe that once you have heard this tale, we shall know exactly why these visitors have come here from the great expanse.” She motioned for everyone to gather in front of her and sit, which they did.
“Almost 200,000 years ago, Equestria was visited by beings of air and darkness.” Celestia closed her eyes as the room suddenly dimmed. All eyes were drawn to her horn, which lit up and produced an image. There was a collective gasp as they beheld the strange and unsettling sight. “They called themselves…‘Iconians’.”
“Accessing,” Data suddenly added as he searched his memory. “Ah, here we are: the Iconians were an ancient and highly advanced civilization that was destroyed some 200,000 years ago by the orbital bombardment of their homeworld, Iconia. Ancient texts called the Iconians "Demons of Air and Darkness", who were said to have the ability to appear at will on far-flung planets without the use of starships.” He turned to the princess. “Are these the same beings that your people encountered 200,000 years ago?”
“The very same,” Celestia confirmed. “They arrived in a vessel in much the same way as you did, but it was considerably larger and so very different. They simply ‘appeared’ completely without warning.”
“The Iconians were reputed to be an extremely warlike and technologically advanced race,” Data added. “Did they display any hostility when they arrived?” To everyone’s surprise, Celestia shook her head.
“No, they did not. In fact…” The princess paused briefly. “They came to us as refugees.”
“Refugees! Them!?” S’taass exclaimed angrily. “They did not seem so helpless when they murdered half of the Klingon High Council in cold blood!”
“Ambassador, I realize that this does contradict all known evidence pertaining to what we know about Iconian behavior. However, it is possible, as unlikely as it may seem, that not every member of their species was inherently hostile.” Data reminded him before turning to the princess. “Please continue, your highness.”
“You are correct,” Celestia affirmed with a nod. “Anticipating its destruction, they fled their home and spent the last few decades of their once-powerful empire wandering through the cosmos, searching for a new home, one far away from all of the death and destruction.”
“But how did they end up here in Equestria?” Cadence asked.
“They were passing through this part of space when their ship was attacked by the same alliance that not long before, had destroyed their civilization and reclaimed the galaxy. The refugees did everything they could to prove that they had never wanted anything to do with any Iconian Empire, but the hatred towards them was too great, and their ship was downed. It crash-landed in this very spot just over 200 millennia ago.” Everyone watched as Celestia’s head bowed slightly. “There were…few survivors.”
“But…I thought they didn’t need starships to travel the galaxy…” Garak mused.
“We’ve seen their ships,” T’Pau said with a nod. “One of them captured the I.R.W. Leahval from the Reman Resistance and dragged it into an Iconian gateway built into an asteroid.”
“It seems that, as a security measure of sorts, the Iconians deactivated their gateways, planning on reactivating them once they had returned to full strength.” Vitok added. “It is likely that they did not wish for their enemies to be able to use them.”
“That is exactly what they told me,” Celestia confirmed.
“Just one moment, sister,” Luna exclaimed. “Why did you never inform Us of this…incident?” Celestia sighed.
“In order to protect themselves along with us,” Celestia explained. “By aiding them, we could have been seen as helping a so-called enemy of the galaxy, and I don’t think I need to remind you how much we wish to avoid such…confrontation. So, between myself and a select few who knew about the event, we kept everything that happened a guarded secret. Those others have long since passed on and taken those memories with them, leaving myself as the last living Equestrian link to the Iconians.”
“Last…living link?” Cadence asked, intrigued by Celestia’s choice of words. “What do you mean, Auntie?”
“Before they departed, the Iconians left three gifts as thanks for tending to their needs while they repaired their vessel.” Celestia continued. “The first was to place Equestria in its own pocket of space accessible only by a special portal called a ‘wormhole’.”
“Then the wormhole we encountered in Tau Dewa was in fact created by the Iconians and not a natural phenomenon?” Data confirmed. Celestia nodded.
“They knew that their enemies would eventually trace them to our world, so they sought to shield Equestria from their wrath by hiding us. They assured us that such a move would do us no harm, and they were correct; life has simply gone on as normally as it always had.” At this point, the solar monarch had the entire room as quiet as a grave as everyone listened intently.
“The second gift came in the form of seven amulets, created by the seven Iconian scientists on board their ship. They infused six of the amulets with energy from Equestria itself and designed them to work directly with a pony’s own inner magic, amplifying it tremendously. Although I opposed being given any sort of weapon, they assured me that these amulets were meant to purify, not outright destroy. They did not want their last acts to be associated with violence or destruction. They were created to not only amplify one’s inner strength, but their brightest personal traits as well, qualities that allowed them to express their inner magic.”
“So…that means that…the Elements of Harmony…” Twilight began as her brain worked overtime to comprehend the magnitude of what they’d just been told. “…are alien in origin?”
“That is correct.” Celestia affirmed as Twilight produced a scroll and quill from out of nowhere, writing furiously the second they appeared.
“Wait a moment, sister…you said there were seven amulets given to ponykind.” Luna pointed out. “If only six were imbued with magic, what happened to the seventh?” Celestia’s visage saddened slightly.
“The seventh was created separately from the others and infused with a type of particle the Iconians called ‘Omega’.” She turned to Data. “It seems as though your people and the Iconians share a common interest.” Data nodded.
“We have been working diligently to prevent many others from exploiting the molecule for their own gain,” Data explained. “Perhaps if there is time later, I will explain it in greater detail. After all, it is clear that anything concerning Omega concerns you as well.”
“I look forward to it,” Celestia replied with a small nod. “While the Elements of Harmony were designed to work together to purify and restore, the seventh amulet was meant for one role and one role only: power. It would grant the user incredible abilities far beyond the reach of anypony besides myself or Luna. That is how it became known as the ‘Alicorn Amulet’. It came with a terrible price, however. Continued use would corrupt a pony completely, eventually transforming them into nothing more than power-starved shells of their former selves. No harmony, no love, nothing; just a craving for brute strength. I accepted it like the others but ordered it hidden away as soon as they had left.”
“Why didn’t you just destroy it, Princess?” Twilight asked. “I’ve seen first-hoof how dangerous it can be’ who not just get rid of it?”
“I…” Once again, the princess hung her head. “I could not bring myself to do so. Once I became aware of what lay outside our realm, I became afraid of it. I feared what might happen to my beloved world if some terrible outside force descended upon us, something about which we knew nothing and could not repel.”
“B…but you’re Princess Celestia!” Twilight blurted out. “What could you possibly be afraid of?” Celestia offered her a small smile.
“Twilight, we live in a universe so unfathomably vast that nopony can possibly know everything about it.”
“Challenge accepted…” Twilight muttered.
“And in this great universe, there are many strange and wonderful things, many powers at work, powers about which we know nothing. Powers that may rival or even exceed our own. So you see, Twilight, why I had to be cautious. As much as I hate to admit it, I needed every asset I could get. However, that doesn’t mean that I could ever bring myself to use such a thing.” Celestia assured them. “But now that the Alicorn Amulet has been secured, so shall it remain, nothing more than a sign of gratitude, albeit an unusual one.”
“And what of the third gift, sister?” Luna asked.
“Ah yes, the third gift. Their final gift was one of their greatest treasures, a true symbol of their ingenuity and prowess. Just in case our world was ever lost, as theirs was, they bestowed upon us a way to ensure our future. The Crystal Mirror was their final gift, an escape to another world if our situation ever became truly hopeless. Like many Iconian devices, it was powered by Omega, which is most likely what you discovered when you entered our realm.” Celestia finished, turning to Data. “Tell me, and please do not be afraid to answer honestly; why do you seek Omega?”
“I cannot lie, your Highness,” Data assured her. “We are under persisting orders to dispose of any Omega molecules we encounter.” Seeing the surprised (and worried) looks on the ponies’ faces, he quickly continued. “Please allow me to explain; Omega molecules are extremely unstable and when they collapse, they cause considerable damage to subspace, which is required for most means of faster-than-light propulsion, without which galactic civilization would cease to exist.”
“Perhaps that is why the Iconians used Omega so much,” Celestia theorized. “Since they used gateways to travel, they did not need to worry about damaging…subspace, was it?”
“Correct,” Data replied. “Think of the effect as an explosion damaging a railway; without intact rails, a train cannot use them and any travel along that route stops.”
“Is there no way to simply repair such ‘space rails’?” Luna asked.
“Not at this point, although it may be scientifically possible one day in the future.” Data explained, turning to Celestia. “Would it be possible to study this ‘Crystal Mirror’ more closely? This planet’s energy field prevented our ship from ascertaining anything regarding the gateway beyond its location and the presence of Omega.”
“To what end?” Celesta asked, raising a brow at the request.
“I assure you that the gateway will not be harmed or otherwise tampered with in any way,” Data assured her. “I only wish to gain a better understanding of its design. In the interest of maintaining diplomatic relations with you and your people, I would rather not risk jeopardizing that relationship by inadvertently destroying something of such great importance to your world.”
“We thought you were ordered to destroy Omega as soon as you detected it,” Luna added.
“That is true,” Data conceded. “However, if we can determine that the Omega are in a stable form, then we must make an amendment to such instructions. Since a perfectly stable Omega has never been encountered, there is no provision in the Omega Directive should it be discovered. As such, if the ones powering the gateway are, which they should be judging by how long the device has existed, then I do not believe that we can interfere. To do so would be to illegally destroy your property, which is expressly forbidden by Federation law.”
Another round of silence ensued as everyone considered Data’s position.
“Very well,” Celestia said with a small nod. “You and your team may take as much information as necessary, provided that you do not tamper with the gateway.”
“I assure you that all precautions will be taken,” Data assured her. “Our scans will be non-invasive. However, in the likely event that our instruments will be unable to perform a complete analysis due to the interference from the magical field, we may need to enlist the assistance of our starship.”
“How so?” Celestia asked.
“The scanners aboard the Enterprise-E are much more powerful than what we can carry. If it could get close enough and remain in atmosphere several hundred meters above the surface, its scanners could penetrate the energy field and analyze the gateway much more efficiently.” Data explained.
Celestia had to think hard about Data’s proposal. On one hoof, having the optimal equipment would surely expedite the process. On the other, the last time a starship had made planet-fall, it had changed the very nature of Equestria.
“I have to admit that you’ve placed me in a rather difficult position,” Celestia mused. “Before they left, the Iconians warned me about other interstellar beings. How do I know that your ship isn’t a threat to us?”
“I realize that I do not have tangible proof to back up my previous assertions. However, I…”
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble…
“What’s going on?” Cadence shouted as everything began to shake as if the earth below was having a seizure. “There’s never any earthquakes this far north!”
“This is most strange!” Luna added, hovering just above the shaking floor.
“T-t-t-his i-i-is aw-aw-awesome!” a pink pony exclaimed happily as she vibrated with floor.
As everypony and everybody tried their best to maintain their footing, a royal guard came crashing through the doors, clearly out of breath, and very clearly worried about something.
“Y-your highnesses!” he shouted, grabbing everyone’s attentions. “There’s…s-something…you should s-see!”
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5497266
Good thing the Feds have captains that are experts in turning potential disasters into successes...well, most of the time!
4575604
Absolutely. I was never a huge fan of DS9, so Sisko's departure was the final nail in the coffin.
I'm surprised the Klingons and Romulans are talking up the federation. Seems opposite of both of their attitudes - especially since tau dewa is a sector where all three have interests.
I can see the Klingons being more alright with it, though. Being cute and peaceful would just make them angry.
5547080
By this point, they've officially been working together to combat various threats that affect them all (Borg, Tal Shiar, Elachi, etc.).
Hmmm..
I only have one issue, you've moved the events of STO back by A LOT.
In the game, they take place in 2409, here, you seem to be saying they take place a short time after Spock and Nero's departure for the alternate reality, and they've already gotten past 'Surface Tension', so it kinda make's me wonder about the timeline of this reality.
5547083 yeah.. If data is around, it is before sto, which would mean tensions are ramping up, rather than down, since sto starts shortly after the enterprise e's disappearance.
Unless you covered it returning and I missed it.
Since right now, the timeline seems to be after the attack on earth space dock (star base 1) and the attack on qo'nos, and all three major powers agreeing to work together against the iconians.
It's nice to see how Data is handling this situation compared to Janeway. Also, thanks for taking the time to explain why the Prime Directive takes a back seat to Omega. I know why it does, but you can't assume everyone has seen that episode of Voyager.
5546786 I thought I was the only one who had that opinion.
Well I'm enjoying this arc immensly, I like seeing Data and Garak get some screen time and it breaks up the main story nicely without feeling like a plot dump.
Ah, this explains a few things about Trixie's own amulet.
So far, so good. Until the end. Why must things always degrade at the end?!
Looking forward to more!
5546786 Not a bad chapter. Looking forward to this story's continuation.
As for DS9 I actually enjoyed it more than Next Gen; they went to some darker places that a noble cause would have to face and I think that's important for any drama.
I think that Cole and trixi should go all the way seeing that they are both individuals that like to wander a lot, and they don't seem to have any attachment to a particular place anywhere in the galaxy, and that they a out growing traveling companionship to something more, seeing the hell that they been trough together. Cole problem with a relationship with Trixi seem to me that he still associate rutting with a pony as a form of bestiality
, and not as interspecies relationship, witch is more easy to accept as most alien have at least a humanoid form. Seeing that Q an Discord seem to fond a form of entertainment in the mater, why not show them a visit and turn Cole into a pony to allow that to append finally do it together ( or maybe i just have read too many HiE). any seeing Cole trying to constantly having to prove his identity to the Federation bureaucracy
, not to mention friends and acquaintances, sound like fun at his expense. 
5547324
Truthfully, I wasn't aware of the Enterprise-E disappearing...
And you're right, this takes place pretty soon after the attack on the Klingons.
When I rewrite this story, I'll fix the timeline (or at least do a better job).
5547712
Because it wouldn't be "Starring Trixie" if that didn't happen?
5547233
Honestly, I've been struggling with the timeline since I started. I'm not surprised that you have an issue with it because I do, too, and I know that's one of the story's weak elements. When I do the rewrite, I'll dedicate a lot more time to improving the timeline and hopefully, make it make sense.
I'm enjoying this arc...
5548774
Thanks, I'm glad one of us is!
5548267 They wouldn't make an Enterprise-F if there was still the Enterprise-E! :P Though, I suppose the Enterprise A and Enterprise B lasted long enough to get retired/decommisioned...
Apparently they changed it so the ship was attacked by the Undine and destroyed in 2408. Most of the crew made it off. (http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28NCC-1701-E%29)
5550578
Ah, thank you for clearing that up for me. Much appreciated!
5550578
Also, thank God for that AU tag, I guess...I didn't want to screw with established canon too much but I don't think I succeeded. Ah well, the show must go on.
5550787 Star Trek's canon is so convoluted and messed up at times, I can understand not being a super nerd and not sifting through it all.
I have enjoyed your work so far, it's just nit picky things for the most part that I commented on. As for the prime directive, it gets disregarded on a habitual basis in voyager, and next generation has plenty of examples as well.
I only watched the parts of ds9 with the space battles. All the characters but Dax were far to whiny.
5551470
Agreed, dude. I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far, despite its (occasionally glaring) shortcomings! Means a lot, trust me.
5547801
It's safe to say that I'm staying the Hell away from any transformation; if Cole can't accept her for who she is (and vice-versa), I just don't think their bond would be nearly as strong. As for the idea of them 'getting busy'...I'm still hashing that out. It'll probably happen but don't expect the story's rating to change as a result. You make a good pint, though; Trixie's very sapient, considering she's a quadruped (as are all of them,I suppose), so it's difficult to make a judgment call. Like I mentioned in the story, and I agree with Cole's position, I don't care how reverent (or strange) of a fan you are; any of us would be hesitant to jump in the sack with one.
5566652 as I said, I probably read too many HIE. You are probably right, Coal will hades to accept Trixi as is. still I thought it would be fun
5629166
May I assume that you're enjoying the story so far?
By the way, your video choices are spot-on.
5629819
5666425
Dude...love the Akira-class!
5667450 I've been following this story since the beginning. Glad you like it. Not many people know the Akira class cruiser. I guess you would considering the knowledge you've shown in this fic of yours. I love how you portray Trixie in it! I hope you don't mind I mentioned you in my fic Adventures Across Space saying your story inspired mine and linked it.
5668339
...um...wow...
You mean I actually inspired someone? I actually feel like I accomplished what I set out to do when writing this. Thanks you, man. Seriously, this means a lot and I will definitely give yours a good read. I'm sure it'll be great!
Also, of course I don't mind! In fact, I shall return the favor.
5668503 Thanks. I loved the arc you did in the Mirror Universe. You need to bring them back! That was a fun section to read. My personal favorite was when you made Trixie face off the klingons at the starbase for her first show.
5668543
I did rather enjoy writing the Mirror Universe arc; after all, it gave Trixie her most important tool. And the 'fight' with the Klingons was fun too! I'd like to explore them more but I don't have many ideas at the moment. We'll just have to see I guess.