Chapter Twenty-Two
Captain’s Log; Stardate 6014:29. After several days of negotiation, the Equestrian government has managed to secure political and economic agreements not only with the Federation, but the… Klingon Empire. Although diplomats will be sent in to put the finishing touches on the treaties, for the most part, a new era has begun here, on this small planet.
On a more personal note, I look back at the events that have occurred here, that have begun to… shape the course of this region of the galaxy. I wonder how much might have been planned by Celestia or Discord, and if they had any help from… others. One day I might solve that mystery.
Captain Kirk leaned back in his command chair. On the bridge’s main screen, the planet Equus could be seen to port. To starboard, the K'naiah's Pride could be seen, keeping pace just ahead of the Enterprise. “Steady as she goes, Mister Sulu.”
Sulu glanced around his control panel, adjusting several controls. “Aye, Captain. All controls show green.”
Kirk allowed himself a brief moment of rest, of reflection, of pride in his ship and crew. He looked around the bridge, at the crew. At his crew. A sense of satisfaction and pride welled within him.
Sulu sat at the helm station, Chekov to his right at navigation. Arex stood by Chekov, a datapad in his central hand. Chekov made some remark about there being forests of the Tree of Harmony outside Saint Petersburg. Sulu rolled his eyes and patted his younger friend on the shoulder.
Scotty sat at the engineering station, close to the turbolift alcove. Lieutenant Kyle stood next to him. Scotty looked up at Kyle and spoke. Kyle’s eyes widened, and the two men laughed, Kyle slapping his leg.
The turbolift doors themselves opened. Bones and M’Ress stepped out, the former heading for Kirk, while the latter walked over to Uhura, sitting almost directly behind Kirk at the communications station. M’Ress handed Uhura a datapad. The two women spoke, Uhura smiling brightly.
Spock stood at his science station, bent over slightly. He peered into his station’s viewer, adjusting some controls right below it.
For a brief moment of eternity, everything was fine. Everyone was where they should be, where they were meant to be.
And the moment, like all others, passed. As it should, as it was meant to pass.
Bones stopped right behind Kirk’s chair, grinning. “Well, Jim. Looks like we pulled another one out of the fire.”
Kirk glanced behind his shoulder. “Indeed, Bones. Although I think we’ll leave the finer details to any… ambassadors coming this way. More their purview, I believe.”
Uhura raised her hand and adjusted her earpiece. “Captain, We’re receiving a message from Canterlot. It’s Princess Celestia.”
Kirk nodded. “Thank you, Commander. Open the channel.”
Uhura turned a knob. “Princess, go ahead.”
Celestia’s voice came over the bridge’s intercom. “Thank you. Captain, I wish you and your crew a safe journey. If you’re ever in this sector, feel free to stop by for shore leave. I think Pinkie Pie wants to throw a somewhat less… formal party next time you’re here.”
Kirk bowed his head slightly. “We’ll keep that in mind, Princess. Thank you.”
There was silence before another voice came over, this one Twilight’s. “Captain, I too want to say thank you. You’ve helped Equestria take our first step to the stars. You’ve helped us broaden our horizons. I hope that the next time we meet, it will be out there, among the stars.”
Kirk smiled. “Don’t keep us waiting too long, Princess. There’s a lot to see out here. It can be dangerous, and even a bit… risky.”
Twilight giggled slightly. “But isn’t risk your business, Captain?”
Kirk grinned. “Very good, Princess. Let’s meet up on Earth for lunch in about, say… ten years?”
“I’ll write it on my calendar! Twilight out.”
Bones patted Kirk on the shoulder. “You might wanna pencil that in, Jim. Considering what we’ve seen of her, Twilight probably has every intention of keeping that appointment.”
Kirk nodded to his old friend. “I don’t doubt it, Bones.”
Uhura spoke up again. “Captain, we’re now receiving a signal from the Pride. Audio and visual this time.”
Kirk nodded. “Thank you, Uhura. Onscreen.” He stood up and walked forward a few steps as the main viewscreen changed.
Kang stood in a bridge very similar to the Enterprise’s. Mara stood behind him to his right, Kinna on his left. Kellett could be seen at a duty station, while Tarqus manned the helm. Worf could be seen at another one of the aft duty stations. Kang thumped his chest, then shot his right arm out in a Klingon salute. “Qapla’ to you Kirk, son of George!”
Kirk returned the salute. “Qapla, to you, Kang, son of … K'naiah.”
Kang lifted his head slightly. “We are returning to the Empire. Kor and Koloth have responded to me. We shall begin the hunt for the Albino.” He paused. “Kruge will be accompanying us.”
Kirk nodded, half-smiling. “I’m glad you took my advice, Kang.”
Kang’s head twitched a bit before he finally stopped and looked at Sulu. “Commander Sulu, we shall keep you apprised of our success.”
Sulu nodded. “Thank you, Captain. I wish you good hunting. If you do need help, I’ll be there.”
Kang nodded to him. ”Thank you, Commander. Kahless willing, we will deal with him quickly and decisively.” He looked up at Kirk once more. “We shall work somewhat… quieter than you to change the Empire, Kirk, but by Kahless, I and my crew shall do what we can.”
Kirk nodded. “If there is… anything we can do to help, Kang, ask. Friends shouldn’t go it alone.”
Kang snorted. “I never thought I’d call an earther a friend, yet here we are. Thank you, Kirk. Until our next encounter.” With that, the main viewscreen changed once more to Equus from orbit.
Kirk went back and sat once more in his chair. “It’s a start,” he said, settling back.
Uhura spoke once more. “Captain, we are now receiving a transmission from Starfleet Command. It’s…” Her brow furrowed slightly as she adjusted some controls. “Commodore Robert Wesley?”
Bones looked to her, then to Kirk. “Wait a second, Bob? Last I heard he was still governor of Mantilles.”
Kirk glanced to him. “After the incident with the… cosmic cloud, Bob decided to return to Starfleet. He figured he had more to offer there.” He motioned to the viewscreen. “Put him through please, Uhura.”
The image changed to an older human male, gray hair and a somewhat lined face. He nodded before speaking. “Jim, good to see you. Just about everyone here at Starfleet Command is buzzing about the great work you and your crew have done on this mission.”
Kirk smiled. “Thank you, Bob. Although I have a feeling this call isn’t just to… sing our praises.”
Bob nodded. “Correct, Captain. You’re getting new orders. We want you back at Earth as soon as possible. We have a new mission for you, then the Enterprise is getting its refit ahead of schedule. We’re going to try and intercept V’Ger as soon as possible.”
Kirk leaned forward. “Makes sense, Bob. Will Epsilon IX be evacuated?”
“It will be, although the station itself will remain and its sensors operated remotely, just in case we need to get scans of V’Ger.” A wan smile crossed Bob’s mouth. “I’m afraid we couldn’t get much from the movie itself.” He held up a hand. “And the Klingons have already told us they’re gonna keep any ships far away from its projected flight path. With luck, we should be able to nip this one in the bud.”
Kirk laced his fingers together. “And the mission beforehand? Or is it classified?”
Bob smiled. “Oh, no. We’ll be sending the Enterprise back to 1986. There’s a pair of humpback whales named George and Gracie to pick up, along with a marine biologist named Gillian Taylor. I’m sure you can work your usual charms, Jim.” He turned his head slightly. “And of course, Mister Scott will help a certain Doctor Marcus Nichols with the invention of transparent aluminum.”
Scotty turned in his chair to the main viewscreen. “It’ll be a pleasure and an honor, sir!” he said, grinning.
Bob glanced to his right for a moment. “Well, then. We’ll see you at Starbase One within the week. Safe travels, Enterprise. Starfleet Command, out.”
Bones nodded and patted Kirk on the shoulder. “Well, good to see they’re not locking those episodes or movies up in some dusty old warehouse in the middle of nowhere.”
Spock turned from his station and walked over. “It would be illogical to not utilize such a vast amount of information, Doctor. With proper planning, many crises can be averted, or at least minimized.”
Bones crossed his arms. “And since when have you known Starfleet Command to be ruled by logic, Mister Spock?”
Any such rejoinder was silenced as Kirk held his hands up. “Gentlemen, please. We have a pressing engagement a week from now and about… two hundred eighty-three years in the past.” He looked to his left. “Mister Scott, engine status?”
Scotty looked over several screens at the engineering station. “Everything’s in the green, Captain. We’re all ready. Just give the word.”
Kirk straightened up in his chair. “Then the word is given. The information Sunset and Trixie gave us is a… guide to the future. But the future can only be met head-on. Mister Sulu, Mister Chekov, take us out of orbit. Then set a course for Sector 001, warp six.”
Sulu’s hands danced across his control panel as he twisted dials and flipped switches. “Aye, Captain. Course set.”
Chekov checked his own displays. “Warp drive ready at your command, Captain.”
Kirk nodded. “Engage.”
The Enterprise slid out of orbit, gracefully spinning about in a tight arc. The front half of the ship suddenly stretched out impossibly long as the warp drive activated. It hung there for a moment before the aft half snapped forward, sending the Enterprise hurtling through space, on its way to its next adventure.
Twilight paced back and forth, a clipboard hovering in front of her face. It had been three weeks since the Enterprise and K'naiah's Pride had departed Equus. Even now, diplomats and aides from the Federation and Empire were in Canterlot, beginning formal negotiations. Twilight, however, was quite a ways away, in the middle of the flat plains where Equestria’s rock farms were located. A long translucent cylinder stretched between two rather large tanks, each one filled with a glowing, pulsating liquid. A few control panels and monitors were mounted to the tanks, charts and other readouts flashing on the monitors.
Spike stood in front of one of the tanks. He craned his neck as he looked at one of the monitors. “Okay, pressure looks stable. I think…” He looked to Twilight. “So on a scale of one to ten, how dangerous is this?”
Twilight slid her clipboard into the saddlebag on her left flank. She wore a pair of goggles, a lab coat, and heavy boots. “Maybe a six,” she said, walking over to Spike’s side. She looked the monitors over. “We’re out in the middle of nowhere, the closest rock farm or settlement about twenty miles away. According to my calculations, Moondancer’s calculations, and Minuette’s, any possible explosion won’t harm anyone.” She leaned in close to Spike. “And if anything does, you and I are just one teleport away to safety.”
Spike let out a breath. “Well, okay.” He looked the entire apparatus over. “Gotta admit, Twilight. This is pretty impressive!”
Twilight broke from Spike’s side and walked the length of the cylinder between the tanks. “I couldn’t have done it without my number-one assistant,” she said, looking back and smiling at Spike. She looked to the cylinder once more and a thick bulge in its center. “All right, in five minutes, Equestria’s first matter/antimatter continuum-distortion engine will go online!” She paused and her head lowered slightly. “And… hopefully not explode in the process.”
Spike walked back to Twilight’s side and gently elbowed her in her barrel. “Twilight, all kidding aside? After three weeks working on this with you, I have faith it will go well.”
Twilight turned and leaned into Spike, nuzzling him. “Thank you.” She looked back to the engine. A small recorder floated out of her saddlebag and up to her mouth. It clicked on, and she spoke into it. “This is Twilight Sparkle, recording. I am about to fire up Engine Prototype-One for its first full-power test. All monitors and readouts show green.” She put the recorder back and let out a breath. “Well, here’s another first step.”
Spike ran up to her side. “So, after this, then what? I don’t think we can just fly the engine to Earth.”
Twilight shook her head. She and Spike walked away from the engine, over to a rocky outcrop. “Oh, no, Spike. We’ll need an actual hull, navigational deflectors, an inertial dampening system, a structural integrity field, actual computers for navigation and a dozen other devices, and Celestia knows what else!” She spun around to face the engine. “I told Captain Kirk I’d meet him on Earth in ten years. But going over what Equestria has to do in that time?” Her ears flattened against her skull. “I just don’t know, Spike.”
Spike walked around to Twilight’s front and leaned in close. “Twilight, I’m not sure what… half those things are you listed, but I do know one thing. And that’s when you set your mind to something, you do it.” He reached out and gently patted her cheek. “And you won’t be alone, either. You’ll make that appointment, Twilight. I believe in you!”
Twilight stared at Spike, her eyes glistening slightly. “No, Spike. We’ll make that appointment.” She gently lifted Spike with her magic and deposited him onto her back with her magic. She stared at the engine. “Ready?”
Spike nodded. “Ready, Twilight. Engage!”
Twilight sucked in a breath. “All right. Here goes everything!” Her horn glowed once more. A lever on each of the tanks slid down.
And the universe opened up.
Stats
Page generated in 0.031 seconds
Total duration
918 users online
498,250 hits today, 2,280,440 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Sad to see the end approaching, but nothing lasts forever. Nice work.
That's always what we want at the end of any Star Trek story. Optimism for a better tomorrow.
It's strange to think of this story ending. Still, it's been one heck of a ride. Here's to whatever the future may hold for every civilization involved. And I can't say I envy Picard, Sisko, or Janeway if they ever learn of their televised exploits. (Of course, in Sisko's case, he already knows, but... Oh, you know what I mean. Darn extratemporal entities.
)
Looking forward to the epilogue.
I do want to see a sequel to this, maybe involving Picard or Janeway.
One story's ending is simply the beginning of another. It's been very refreshing to read an ineffably optimistic and positive story, and I look forward to the epilogue.
I love that you kept Chekhov’s gag of claiming everything is Russian.
I hope the Enterprise, Federation, and Empire don’t get complacent and assume everything will be like the show and movies.
From the sounds of things, they're jumping the gun a bit on every plot from the first six films. No complaints here if it saves lives.
Good thing warp cores aint like KK drives. You fire up one of those things on a planetary surface, and the militery wants to have a long chat with whats left of you.
9080910
me too
It is likely that the 'Khitomer Accords' shall be known in this new timeline as the 'Equus Accords'.
Good to see that things are about to work out!
And Equestria is about to go where no pony has gone before!
9080855
All good things....
9080881
That's another possibility, sure, but it wouldn't be quite as funny. >^_^<
Trixie and Sunset deserve to be on that lunch.
That could be the epilogue, "Ten Years Later"
9081146
will we get the continuing adventures as a sequel, or just some one-shot side stories when/if inspiration strikes?
For the Future
the details in this story are really amazing shit the hole story is totally awesome, but if you want to make it 20% cooler a sequel is needed.
9080933 So they also have to make sure to stay away from Fake God from "Star Trek V".
And then they realize Discord is God and Q...
9081188
I was considering referencing the series finale title of TNG, but held back. Now I wish I had!
9080866 In the NEW modern Star Trek, everyone hates everyone and there's angst and murder and treachery and everything sucks!
Because Edgelords apparently took over the universe.
Dealing with movies one and four ahead of time is a good idea, hopefully they can manage something similar for two, three, and six.
Whatever this is, I have concerns. Please tell me that isn't a matter/antimatter experiment.
Oh my god, it is. Of course it is.
9081652
Well, lots of things they can do to avoid that. Keep close tabs on Sybok, have the Federation and the Klingon Empire be more properly invested in Nimbus III, or simply just go to where 'God' is and blast him from orbit.
Love this story. Hopefully a sequal will come out.r
9081659
Welcome to the world made by author of Bester (the P9 from Babylon 5).
9080939
There will not be military left. KK-drive able to change orbits of planetary bodies that were nearby, so it must be activated in deep space.
9081969 Whatever it was, it was pretty damned feeble.
The Enterprise crew had already encountered several entities far more powerful in the original show.
Actually, in the original script, they were going to meet God, but the studio decided they were not OK with that and changed it. And the movie had serious budget problems. So it turned into crap.
I do hope there's a sequel. Maybe a Dr. Who crossover gets involved as well? :D
That one comment about the Borg might be interesting, if I interpreted it correctly (I'm not actually sure...). It would be interesting to find out just how powerful the Stare is.
9082699
Oh, I'm well aware of that. The Writer's Strike probably didn't help it either.
9083253 Well, I was talking about in THIS story. Had they watched Q episodes yet, is what I meant.
Well, that was abrupt. The story was good overall, but it feels like you have a lot of hanging plot threads which really demand a sequel of some form. Twilight's Klingon studies in particular didn't really wind up going anywhere yet since Kirk took over for the big push, and there is a lot more to be done regarding how things go in the Empire than I can see being covered effectively in an epilogue.
9081659
To be fair, murder and treachery have been things in Star Trek since the beginning, but I'm 100% with you about them throwing out the soul of the setting with the new material and don't plan on watching more until they inevitably back up and try again.
This has been a strange read. A lot of enjoyable build-up, but not really any payoff. Sorta an anticlimax.
Awwww, it ends here? This story is practically singing for a sequel.
9081969
Turns out Sybok does NOT exist in the 'real' Star Trek Universe. So for them, ST: The Final Frontier will amount to a camping trip. And happily (IMO only), it ALSO means that Michael Burnham does not exist either!
9085320
...okay, I can't cast any opinions on the characters or story for Star Trek: Discovery - I haven't seen it beyond that first episode - but given neither of us is the one writing this story, maybe we could restrain ourselves from being too negative about anything we might disagree with? If the author opts to do anything with those characters, that's up to them.
9086139
I apologize if my enthusiasm rubs wrong but the Author is the one who said there was no Sybok or Michael Burnham.
From Chapter 17:
See? No Sybok, no Burnham. By the author's hand. I will apologize again if my enthusiasm for this position rubbed you the wrong way. Live Long and Prosper.
9086207
...ah. I'd totally forgotten that. Nevermind, apologies if I came across a little aggressive there.
9086349
No problem!
9083861 Well, they're throwing Spock and Captain Pike into the series now, so they've begun to realize the edgelord version isn't doing so well.
9087013
Well, that sounds like an improvement, although Spock was one of my biggest problems with the movies so hopefully they got a new actor who can do a better job.
9086207
Actually, Michael Burnham is not a half-sister or technically even a sibling of Spock. She's adopted. And even then, Sarek does not call her his "adoptive daughter":
They make a pretty big deal about Sarek not calling Michael by any familial term. Is it so far-fetched for Spock, who has his own reasons, to not consider her his "sibling"... if the author decides Michael Burnham even is canon to this story in the first place?
9089612
Fair enough. I have my personal views but certainly, do not claim to speak for the author. My own view is that the notion runs contrary to the dynamics we see in "Journey to Babel" but again, as you say, I am not the author.
*A few months later*
"
"
"
"
Kirk: "Okay, Sulu. Let's see what she's got.
Sulu: "I hope Commodore Wesley didn't forget to fix the antimatter imbalance that caused the wormhole with the launch of the refitted Enterprise...or this is going to be a real short trip!
Chekov: "Vell, I'we got the photon torpedoes standing by...just in case! :rainbovdetermined2:"
M'Ress: "Misterr Chekhov, please fix yourr stupid accent, alrready!
Kirk: "Well, Sulu. It's looking like this is going to be a very long trip...even with...the wormhole.
Dear God in heaven, if I could have sex with this story, I would. It's THAT good.
For the love of Celestia, MOAR. Set in the same universe.
9081659
I think you missed the point of Discovery, which is that even in seriously dark times the ideals of the Federation should not be abandoned.
9096416 They made that point while completely ignoring canon.
And besides, DS9 already made a much BETTER point, that sometimes ideals have to be set aside or else the most aggressive forces will win. Knowing when and how is the most difficult decision to make.
You know I forgot to say it, but I still really like this story.
9096426
It didn't especially bother me since I tend to treat canon as broad strokes. And you can always consider it an alternate timeline. After all, the comics indicate that alternate timelines even have their own mirror universes etc.
As for which is a better message and who pulled it off better, ymmv. I liked both, but I think it's important to say that doing the easy, less moral thing isn't always the smart thing. The myth that ideals are always a luxury and a disadvantage basically guarantees they'll be sacrificed as soon as things get difficult.
9096468 You never fought in a war.
We made a deal with Stalin to stop Hitler. Churchill himself hated Stalin and communism, but knew it was crucial to get the Soviet cooperation.
War is nothing but one dirty trick after another. The ones who won't play dirty, lose.
9098843
Most assured that Peter will live now. With the information provided, I expect that Starfleet will send a cruiser, colony ship, hospital ship and a crapload of Starfleet Marines to evacuate Khan and his people. 20 of them died to Ceti Eels but we have hope to believe most of those, including Marla McGivers, still, live at this point.
The number of lives saved by the actions of Twilight, Sunset, and Trixie can safely be estimated in the thousands at the low end. Beyond that, millions or perhaps even billions may have been saved.
9101114
Certain things will happen, regardless of what information Starfleet and Kirk know about the Intruder: aka V'Ger. V'ger will still kill one member of the bridge crew and replace that person with a probe in their likeness. That is unavoidable. It is unfortunate that with advanced warning, they cannot save Ilia. Nor can they replace her. As cold and immoral as it sounds, it would be just as immoral to deliberately send another in her place.
That course of action could even be dangerous as with Ilia gone, V'ger might take someone else like Spock. So Ilia will meet her fate.
This leaves Will Decker, son of the late Matt Decker, and an officer with some potential. Is it morally right to put him in a position where we know how he will react? Actually, for him, the answer may be 'YES'.
"As much as you wanted the Enterprise, I want THIS"
It will be painful for Kirk but there is no alternative.