Summer was monitoring the long range scanners. She was ever vigilant in watching the Romulans. It was in this practice that she discovered the temporal rift. Summer quickly called Commodore Tan, "Look at this?"
"There is nothing special about the H'Atoria region or the Lambda Hydrae Sun, why is this here?", Tan asked.
"It appears to be a dangerous holdover from the move from the Typhon Expanse.", Summer explained.
"We need to mark and monitor this.", Tan responded.
"Inform the Regional Romulan Praetor and General Kabarann.", Tan ordered.
"Sir?", Summer responded, puzzled.
"If they are ever gonna trust us, Summer. We have to be honest about everything.", Tan looked at his Operations Commander.
"Yes, Sir.", Summer responded, remaining very professional. Secretly, she could care less if either T'Ros or Hon'Tihl knew.
Commander Teero was summoned from the surface. The Bajoran stared at the rift for a long time, "We should try to pass something through it."
"Are you certain?", Summer responded.
"We need to disapate its energy. We did this when we moved the colony.", Acrylos responded.
"What is the closest vessel?", Tan asked.
"The Tanmesad is on Romulan Border Patrol.", Summer looked at the table top console.
"Inform the Romulans and then fire a photon torpedo through the rift.", Tan ordered.
"Yes, Sir.", Summer responded.
The Tanmesad banked hard and headed straight for the anomoly. Commander S'Ari looked at Vash, "Torpedoes away!"
Tan looked at Acrylos, "Here goes nothing."
The rift fluxuated fiercely and then disapated. Acrylos looked at Tan, "Told ya."
Summer looked at both men, "Gentlemen, we have a problem."
"What's that?", Tan asked.
Summer pointed outside at the main viewer. Tan exclaimed, "What the hell is that?"
The beautiful but older Galaxy Class hovered in the space above the rift. Summer looked at Tan, "The USS Yellowstone ~ by its markings."
"The Yellowstone?", Acrylos exclaimed, "Are you certain?"
Summer blew up the image. There was no doubt.
Tan looked at Acrylos who was as white as a ghost, "What?"
"The Yellowstone was lost to the Borg nearly 30 years ago.", Acrylos explained.
"Be careful with this one.", Tan ordered.
"This is Captain Ivan Younger of the Federation Starship, the USS Yellowstone. Please identify yourself, alien station.", Ivan spoke with a booming voice.
Summer looked at Tan, "Sir, they would have no knowledge of the Phoenix Liberation War, of Emperor V'Ros, of any of this."
"Dammit! I wish Viceroy were here.", Tan responded, puzzled.
"We have no other option, Summer. Be honest.", Tan looked at the viewer.
"This is the Phoenix Federation Station, Governor's Station. We have a non-aggression agreement with the United Federation of Planets and you are safe here.", Summer responded.
"Your dialect sounds very Betazoid.", Ivan was a student of language.
"That is correct, sir.", Summer responded, knowing a recognized Federation race would put him at ease.
"Permission to come aboard.", Ivan asked.
Tan looked at Acrylos, "Thoughts?"
"If he is stuck here, we need to integrate him immediately.", Teero responded.
"Permission granted.", Summer responded.
Tan and Summer went to meet Younger. Ivan looked at Commodore Tan, "What the hell is that?"
Summer smiled, "That is a member of the Hierarchy Clan of the Delta Quadrant."
"The Delta Quadrant is largely unexplored.", Ivan responded.
"Not in 2390.", Summer blurted it out.
"What?", Ivan exclaimed.
Summer proceeded to explain about the Typhon Expanse, about Temporal Anomolies and about the H'Atoria move of the Phoenix Colony. Ivan looked on intently.
"What happened to me?", Ivan finally asked the question. Summer knew it was coming.
"The Yellowstone was lost to the Borg.", Summer looked at Ivan. She did not need to be Betazoid to feel his sudden pain.
"And what of Tania? What of my girls?", Ivan teared up.
"Tania was captured by the Borg. She served with them for many years. In 2386, she was discovered by the USS Tanmesad and has served with them every since.", Summer explained.
"She must be quite old.", Ivan sucked his bottom lip.
"Not really. The Borg implants have kept her young.", Summer responded.
"I would like to see her.", Ivan asked.
Summer looked at Tan and Teero, "Can he see her?"
"Provide the Tanmesad with a detailed explanation and then beam her over.", Tan ordered.
Ivan was standing in the observation lounge when Tania walked in. Ivan looked at her. She was wearing the implant hiding outer suit designed by Carson Warren. She was still beautiful.
Ivan hugged her, "You have been missing from the ship for several days."
Tania's hug did not have the same warmth Ivan knew. He did not understand. Tania looked up, "Ivan, things have changed. 30 years is a long time."
Ivan looked sad, "And what of the girls?"
Tania started to cry, "Oh Ivan."
She hugged him again, "Nancy grew up to be a fine officer and a grand lady. She was the Executive Officer on the USS Princess Diana."
"Was?", Ivan asked.
"In 2388, she was killed in an attack by the Borg on the Diana.", Tania explained.
"No.", Ivan started to cry. In his reality, only days ago, the girls and Tania had simply disappeared when the ship passed through the anomoly.
"And what of baby Nicole?", Ivan asked.
Tania looked at Ivan and then motioned to Summer. Nicole walked out holding Magenta's hand for comfort. She was 3 when her mother put her in the escape pod. She barely remembered her father. Ivan looked over at his daughter. He was already crying and now he was blubbering, "Nicole?"
"Dad.", Nicole answered.
He held her so tightly, "You are a miracle."
Nicole held him, "Dad, this is my wife Dr. Magenta Coren-Branson."
"Your wife?", Ivan looked puzzled.
He looked at Tania. He was an old school Captain. This was very odd for him. Ivan looked at Magenta, "A doctor?"
"Yes, sir.", Magenta responded.
"Well, I guess, every dad should be happy if his daughter marries a doctor.", Ivan forced a chuckle.
Summer brought Brenna around the corner, "Is he my grandfather?"
Nicole looked at Brenna and then at her mother. Tania smiled, "Yes, sweetie. This is your grandfather."
"Brenna Montgomery, Ivan Younger.", Tania smiled.
Ivan looked at Nicole, "Yours?"
"Ours.", Nicole pulled Magenta close.
Ivan picked her up and swung her around. Nicole could remember Ivan swinging her even though she was only 3. She looked at her father and she too started to cry.
The family went for supper. Nicole told Ivan about Orchid, about baby Trista, about the Phoenix Liberation War, about President William Hunt. She never wanted the night to end.
Ivan looked at Tania and put his hand on hers, "And you my love."
Nicole looked at her mother as Tania motioned to Summer. Dr. Christina Lodge came walking in and sat down at the table. Tania began her story, "Ivan, when I was reintegrated into Federation culture, no one would give me any time. No one of any gender. Christina was there for me. She was my rock."
Tania kissed Christina. Ivan grew very angry, "You did this? You made our daughter like this?"
Ivan stormed from the table. Tania looked at Nicole. Both were in a state of horrid shock. Ivan beamed back to the Yellowstone. Nicole looked out the viewer.
"Is my new grandpa mad?", Brenna asked.
"Oh yes.", Nicole frowned.
In the morning, Summer awoke Tan, "Commodore, the Yellowstone is losing its link to this reality."
Tan followed Summer to Operations, "What can we do?"
"I don't think we can do anything.", Summer responded.
"We can do one thing.", Teero interrupted as he beamed up from the surface.
"Because we have the end point of the line, we can extrapolate and put the line back to a specific starting point.", Teero explained.
"Inform Captain Younger. We will put them just before the anomoly and allow them to avoid it.", Summer informed the Yellowstone.
"Inform Nicole and Tania.", Tan ordered.
Tania and Nicole beamed to the station and looked out at the viewer as the Yellowstone faded in and out of view.
Tania looked at the viewer, "Main Communications."
She looked at Ivan. She had feelings for him; so much time had passed. She did not know what to say. She just stood there.
"We have to send them back.", Summer interrupted.
"Ivan, help me get the girls in the escape pod and then leave me there.", Tania started to cry.
Ivan too started to cry, "I will."
Ivan looked at Nicole, "You take care of my granddaughter."
"I will.", Nicole cried out.
Ivan looked at Nicole crying, "And that wife of yours."
"I will.", Nicole was a blathering fool.
Dr. Lodge walked around the corner. Ivan looked at Christina, "That is my wife you got there, the mother of my children. You take care of them or I will haunt you for all eternity."
Christina looked at Ivan, "You have my word, Captain Younger."
The Yellowstone disappeared. Nicole fell into her mothers arms, "Oh mommy."
Her childish words were so precious. Magenta leaned in and hugged them both. Christina walked over and put her hands on the groups.
Brenna walked over, "Family hug."
There was and is nothing so precious as family...
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Mayor of Omega Prime
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Special Guest Appearance by
Commander Tania Branson
Executive Officer - USS / CGV Tanmesad
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Based on conversation with
Commander Acrylos Teero
Chief Engineer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
