Fragmented Time

Posted on Thu Dec 15th, 2022 @ 12:16pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Captain Patrick Dow & Lieutenant Nick Archer

1,397 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 114 - A Time and Place for Everything
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD1 - 1045hrs

ON:


The ships from Starbase 400 had returned just an hour before. Mike made his way from the Pegasus and was ‘taking the long way’ back to Ops as he walked down the access way between the ship and the station. About half way, his comm-badge beeped.

“Ops to Fleet Admiral Bremer”

“Go ahead Captain Dow.” Mike smirked at the level of formality his old friend was using.

“Can you please report to Ops? We have a…situation.” Dow replied.

Mike didn’t detect any concern in Dow’s voice, more annoyance than anything. He let out a breath, then replied. “Beam me to Ops please.”

A moment later Mike stepped off the transporter pad in Ops. He looked around and saw Dow standing over to the side near one of the turbolift doors. Mike took a few steps then realized why Dow was annoyed. Stepping from behind Dow was a Ferengi Mike knew all too well.

“Quark, what brings you all the way out to Starbase 400?” Mike said as he forced a smile. “I know it’s not the twenty bricks of latinum you still owe me.”

“I thought we squared that away yeeears ago.” Quark replied with a toothy grin, “But to your question, I’m here for profit.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Mike replied.

Dow raised his eyebrows as he rolled his eyes before stepping away.

“How would you like to invest those bricks, in a new Quark’s here on Starbase 400?” Quark asked.

Dow looked back, “You’re leaving DS9?”

“No no” Quark started, “I’m opening franchises! I’ve got one on Free Cloud already open. I’m in talks with the Mayor of London on Earth, and Starbase 400 is my next opportunity.”

“We already have a Ferengi on the station with a bar open. I’m not sure Zark will appreciate the additional competition.” Mike replied.

Quark smiled, “I’ve already talked to Zark, and using the latinum he owes me as an investment, he’s agreed to rebrand and become a Quark’s franchise. Twenty-five percent of his profits will come to me, plus a small licensing fee. We’ll expand his current lay out, add in a holo-Leta to run the Dabo table, and I’ll visit once and a while to make sure things are running properly. Not to mention, it’s the Holiday Season on Earth, and with a crew that’s over sixty percent Human…the time is right for extra profit. I’ll even put a holo-Christmas tree in there just for you.” Quark made a 'I really don't want to' expression.

Mike took a deep breath. He wasn’t so annoyed with the plan, he was more annoyed at the fact that the plan made sense, even for SB400 and the amount of civilian traffic returning to the area.

“And, to sweeten the deal, I’ll open a small mini-Quark’s down on Kaleb IV for the local population.” Quark added. “I promise you, in just a short time you’ll not only earn your twenty bricks back, but you’ll also earn interest as an investor.”

“Paying investors doesn’t seem very, Ferengi. Means less profit for you.” Dow repied.

“On the contrary, it’ll be more for me compared to what’s coming in now.” Quark replied.

“This isn’t something you could have worked out over subspace?” Mike asked. He didn’t mean to ask it aloud.

“Well, I like to make personal appearances to ensure everyone knows this Quark’s is indeed a licensed franchise.” Quark replied as his smile faded.

After a moment, Mike nodded. “All right Quark. If Zark agrees, I’ll support it, but keep my name off.”

“Oh don’t worry, I removed your name from all documentation while we were talking.” Quark smirked as he held up a Ferengi PADD.

Mike nodded.

“Then I’ll go talk with Zark and get his final signature, and don’t worry I know my way to the Promenade. You won’t be disappointed.” Quark smiled again as he stepped into the turbolift and the doors closed.

Dow looked at Mike and laughed, but the laugh was cut off when several stations around Ops started to beep.

“Admiral, we’re picking up traces of chronometric particles near the Station. I believe they’re coming from a quantum filament that just formed.” Archer reported. “I’m trying to pin down the exact location now.”

“Order all traffic around the Station to hold position and signal any inbound ships to hold at the outer marker.” Mike ordered.

The viewscreen activated as it showed the general area the quantum filament was in. All that could be seen was a field of stars when suddenly there was a flash and a blueish green anomaly.

“I think the filament has become a quantum fracture.” Archer reported. “No ships were nearby though.”

As they watched the screen suddenly ships started to appear randomly around Starbase 400.

“I’m guessing they weren’t cloaked.” Dow asked, already knowing they weren’t.

“They’re being pulled into our timeline by the quantum fracture. I’m picking up nearly twenty ships already, some rather famous ones. Some of these ships have quantum signature from as far back as the 2150s while a couple others are from the 32nd century…and many in between.” Archer reported.

“That’s the USS Aventine.” Dow said as he zoomed in on one ship, Vesta class. “Her signature suggests she’s from our time, maybe last week.”

“Hail Captain Dax, let her know what’s going on and ask her to assist.” Mike replied. With the Aventine from basically the same time as Starbase 400, the damage to the timeline would be as minimal as possible...given the situation.

“Actually, she’s already hailing and asking to beam to Ops.” Dow replied.

Mike nodded, giving the okay. “Archer, send a message to the other ships, let them know we are investigating the situation. Ask them to send us what stardate they are from, location they were at, and if they were in the process of doing any kind of temporal tests or experiments.” Mike paused a moment, “Also ask the them to remain aboard their ships right now and hold position.”

Archer nodded.

Mike tapped his commbadge, “Senior Staff report to Ops at once.”

About the same time, Captain Ezri Dax stepped off the transported pad. “Mike, what’s going on?”

Mike gave a hug to his old friend. He’d known Jadzia for a few years before he death and met Ezia not long after she became joined with the Dax symbiont. “We’re not sure. A quantum filament appeared near the Station, after a few moments it seemed to rupture and then ships started to appear from various timelines.”

Dax checked the time, “I think we were the first ship here. Our time shift was only five days. Now we have ships out there from a thousand years of separation.”

“Welcome to the multiverse.” Mike replied with a smile.

Ezri smiled back, then took a breath. Before she could say anything though, Archer spoke up.

“Admiral, all ships have responded and agreed to remain in position. Most are sending us sensor data before, during, and after they arrived here as well as their telemetry. However, two ships are requesting to speak with you, by name.” Archer tapped a few buttons and the ships appeared on the screen. “One is the USS Pegasus-C from about fifteen years in the future. The other is the USS Durga from about two-and-a-half years ago.”

Mike felt his heart sink as he saw the Ronin class USS Durga on the screen. He could feel a tear trying to form in his eye, “Janice?”



OFF:



OOC: I’ll stop there, feel free to post what your character’s up to. Of course, civilians wouldn’t know yet and junior officers wouldn’t either until the Department head arrives in Ops to see the fun lol Y’all know how this all works! I do ask, PLEASE DO NOT have anyone famous show up without getting approval first. I have some surprises in mind so we might can work things together. Also, I know the plot says Q pops in, I’ll bring him in when the time is right, but it’ll just be more of a cameo.

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