A Captain Decision Ch 08

I had Rommie open a portal as we started to travel to where Picard's ship was. Less than a minute later, we exited the portal.

I was shocked when I saw that Picard's ship was surrounded by a huge host of ships. At first, I thought that they were meeting them, 'til they started to fire on them.

I, of course, recognized the Klingon ships, as well as the Romulan ships. I also saw that there were what appeared to be Cardassian ships.

My eyes flew open when I also felt what appeared to be a Q. Damn it, I wasn't expecting enemies, especially this many of them. Then I swear I felt the Q moving toward me, not good.

It seemed to get even worse when I felt the ship rock when the Q smashed into my shields.

"I suggest you not attempt that again; an unconscious Q is not a good thing. I am a lot more powerful than you think I am," I said.

"Just who are you? You feel human, though no human has the amount of power that you do. Might I suggest that you keep out of this 'til all of us are finished," Q said.

I smirked as I said, "might I suggest?" I started. "That unless you and all those that are here, wish destruction? That all of you clear out before I get angry, something I don't think all of you would like," I said.

I could almost feel the Q smirk as it started to power up. I just shook my head as I released a huge amount of power shaped like a huge fist.

What really shocked me was when the fist connected, knocking the Q out. Huh, I thought, I am far stronger than I thought.

I then turned toward Picard's ship, surprised that it was holding up as well as it was. I could see though that they were going to lose soon without help.

I lightly growled as I pointed at all the ships, then smiled when half of them blinked out of existence.

"Might I suggest that you break off before the rest of you are destroyed?" I asked as they kept firing. "Alright, target all of them, take almost all systems offline.

"Now firing, John. Reading almost all systems offline," Rommie said.

I nodded as I turned toward Picard's ship, "alright contact..." I started when the ship entered warp space. "Damnit! I guess I am going to have to immobilize them," I said.

Onboard Picard's ship, they were analyzing all the data that they had received. "Do you have any idea of who they are?" Picard asked.

"No idea, they do appear to be extremely powerful," his first officer said.

Picard was staring at the picture of the strange ship, something seemed to be nagging at his memories. The worst thing, though, was that, for the life of him, Picard was sure he'd seen it before.

They were grateful that the strange ship had helped them though, as powerful as it was, leaving was essential. He just hoped that whoever it was that they weren't upset the way they left.

"Keep a lock on them and the three races that attacked us. Also keep an eye out for that Q, lord only knows what he wanted," Picard said.

"Aye sir," the first officer said. "Any other instructions sir?"

"No, not now, at least not until we can figure out just what the hell is going on," Picard said. "If you need me, I'll be in my ready room."

"Sir!" The communications officer started. "It appears that Starfleet command wishes a private com. with you."

"Alright, put it through to my ready room," Picard said. "Admiral, how can I help you?"

"Captain, are you aware of the plague planet crisis about a hundred, hundred and fifty years ago?" The Admiral asked.

Picard sat and thought for a few moments," wasn't that during the first Enterprise's run? I believe commanded by James T. Kirk?"

"Yes good, so you are a little familiar with it," the Admiral said.

"Only that the mission was saved by the Kirk's ship, though much of the mission is still classified secret," Picard said.

"Much of that mission was somehow erased from the memories of all them. This," here the Admiral clicked up a picture of a long shuttle type ship. "Was recorded for a few seconds by Kirk's ship. Look familiar?"

Picard's mouth dropped open, "there is no way, it would be ancient. The one I saw today was a little larger and far more powerful. Are you suggesting that this is the same ship?"

"At this point, we aren't ruling anything out. Starfleet wants you to stay as far away from it as you can. Apparently, it has targeted you much as it did Kirk's ship," the Admiral said.

"We will do the best that we can, Admiral, though if this is as advanced as you seem to think, we might fail, Picard said.

The Admiral sighed, "we realize this, though it may give us time to prepare for what we can."

"Again Admiral, prepare for what? This took out an equal number of Klingon, Romulan and Cardassian ships. Plus the Q that was about to come on board? Also, it was knocked out, might be better to talk to them rather than attack," Picard said.

"You have your orders, Captain. Starfleet out," the Admiral said, then disconnected.

Picard could only shake his head; he was starting to have a really bad feeling about this.

__________________________________________________________________

I had taken a nap while Rommie kept an eye on Picard's ship. Finally, feeling better, I saw that the ship was still moving. I decided that I needed to strengthen myself more.

This was the first time I had done this while I was out on a mission. As I moved through each of the abilities I had, I felt almost all of them almost double. With all that I felt out there after me, I knew I'd need it.

I tried not to work on this for very long, afraid that I might overextend. Though, as I learned later, I wasn't really pressing too far at all.

I was shocked when I almost tripled my abilities. I looked at the engines making them twice as strong along with the hull. I then turned to the weapons, making a few more weapons that I had only thought of.

Now I thought it was more on par with the energy beings that I felt between the universes.

I had just finished when I felt the Q from before appearing outside the ship. I know that you don't want to mess with me Q. I am not in a good mood right now and might end you, my thoughts said.

I felt him start to laugh, which pissed me off. I pulled, and he appeared within the ship a look of surprise on his face.

"So, you are human, plus you made your first mistake," he said with a smile, snapping his fingers. His smile vanished immediately, then he turned to me. "What have you done?"

I smirked, "you wanted to insult me? Fine, I made you human. I told you I am far stronger than you. I am stronger than any Q now. I just increased my power, though I am not stupid," I told the startled Q.

"Fine, I was sent as an ambassador for the Q continuum. We have felt you in no less than five universes. We demand to know what your intentions are," the upset Q said.

"Demand? I could destroy a great many of you, especially now. Hmmm," I said. "I think," here I opened up communication to the others Q's. "I think that all of ther Q? Need to rephrase what was just said."

I felt more than a few raised voices start to shout at me. I got mad again and pulled the three loudest voices, then they were there, each with a shocked face.

"As I told this Q, I am far more powerful than any of you. Now do you wish to rephrase, or do I make an example of one of you?" I asked.

All four of them looked at each other then stared at me." Why," the oldest started, 'til I waved my hand, and he couldn't speak.

"I guess we aren't going to get anywhere, might as well send you back. Then you'll have to wonder if I am going to end all of you," I said.

I was about to send them when the oldest held up his hand. I sighed and allowed him to speak.

"Please forgive us, we aren't used to being human. You have more power than we have ever seen, it is scary. What are your intentions?" The oldest looking one asked.

I nodded at what the older looking male had said. "At the moment I am trying to help save all the universes. I have saved two so far. I am working on the last two."

All four of the Q looked at me strangely, "you, as a human wish to save universes? Why, this has never been heard of on such a grand scale." They looked at me even harder, "you appear to be human, though your actions say that you are not."

I sighed as I shook my head, "I assume that you don't mean to insult me? Cause for a moment there it most definitely seemed that you did. Need I remind you, that I am still human and don't take insults very well at all."

Three of them shook their heads negatively, while the fourth only smirked. I narrowed my eyes at him, "hey," he said, raising his hands. "I am not insulting you, just amazed that they capitulated as easily as they did."

The other three's mouths fell open as they stared at him. "Yes," I said as I narrowed my eyes again. They did seem to give in rather easily, know I am far more powerful than you think. The simple fact that I pulled three of you here and took you power should be enough. Now then, I have a lot to do, including chasing down certain people."

"So, you don't have aims to take...," the oldest Q started.

"Look," I said as my anger rose to the surface. "I have enough to do without dealing with you and your continuum. Leave me alone, and you won't have a problem with me, mess with me? I might end up destroying some of you, OK?"

I waved a hand at the last three I had pulled, watching as they were amazed, then vanished.

"For some reason, I feel that you have far more information about me than I do about you. I also do not wish to make an enemy of you, though I am afraid that some of the younger Q might try to interfere," the Q I knew said.

I nodded my head, "I do know more about you than most of the Q. I know that you like to interfere more than the others. I suggest that you stay as far away from this as you can 'til I am gone."

"I think I can do that" the Q said. "As I said, I can believe you, though not sure if they can, especially the civil war we had."

I nodded my head then waved a hand at the Q, then turned after he vanished. "Are you detecting them anywhere nearby?" I asked.

Rommie appeared a moment later, and I saw that she was working on the problem. "I am not detecting within ten light years, Captain."

"Good, now we just have to catch up with Picard. That's if we can get him to stop long enough," I told Rommie.

I guess I'll work on Mary and myself why I had the time. Reaching out, I felt Mary still asleep. Looking over Mary's body, I could see that the weapon they had used had badly weakened her.

He had managed to deplete her body of most of the energy when she awoke. John? Is that you? Her thoughts said.

Yes Mary, I am just trying to rid your body of bad energy. I was also going to try and up your defenses, hopefully this won't happen again.

Thank you, John, I am actually feeling a lot better. Will I be able to depart from here? Mary's thoughts asked.

If I can get your defense, I don't see why not, though you might have to learn to thought travel. At least that way, you can get out without them knowing for a short time.

That would be nice, uh..., Mary's thoughts hesitated.

What's wrong, I asked her, feeling that he was worried about something. I'm sure that I can put your fears to rest, I thought to her.

It's just, well I am not really a big fan of pain, so I have to ask. Will this hurt John? Those that held us used a lot of pain to make us, as they said, 'behave'. So will it hurt?

At first, I was worried, I didn't want to cause her more pain like she'd experienced. I thought for a few more moments, then answered, I will try to make it as painless as I can. I don't want you to have more pain than you have to.

I waited as Mary took in all the new information. That's all I ask John, that you try to make it as little pain as possible.

I will do all I can, I told her. Then I started to raise her defenses as slowly as I could. Though it wasn't fast, she definitely was starting to get higher.mn I just hoped that it would be enough to help her. Alright, it is a lot higher. I wish it was more, though this will help. Talk to you later, I thought, then broke the connection.

A moment later, several alarms were going off onboard. "What have you got Rommie?" I asked.

"It appears that we have a very large contingent of enemy ships approaching our position," Rommie said.

"Damnit," I swore, "I had just started to raise my levels. Are they still the three we faced before?" I asked.

"Yes, though they seem to have more than doubled the number that they have. They also seem to have a way to track us. I am trying to find out how. They also have even stronger ships this time," Rommie informed me.

I shook my head, they obviously thought that they could defeat me. "Alright, let's send them a message shall we. Fire on the smallest ships of all three, see if that gets their attention."

"Charging all weapons, targeting the three mentioned ships and firing," Rommie said as three beams laced out from us, nearly vaporizing all three ships.

Rommie already had us moving though, as she had said, they seemed to have a way of tracking us now. "Have you found out how they are tracking us," I asked Rommie.

"Not as yet," she said, as I tried to add a few more senors to her array. "Ah! I seem to have picked up some type of homing signal. Now trying to disarm and remove, John! It appears to be magnetically attached to the outer hull.

I felt then I actually saw what she had detected. I thought of it on the lead ship, then smiled when the other ships turned toward it. I laughed as I could almost see the confusion on their faces.

"Open a channel," I told Rommie.

"Channel open, sir," she said.

"Now then," I started, "I can see that you are badly out matched, I hope that you can also. I have more than enough power to completely destroy you. Though I do not wish to, I will if I feel threatened. So, I leave it up to you."

"You would not dare to create an incident, nor to start a war. I know federation law will not allow it," a voice said.

"Yes, that would apply if I was federation, I am not. Rommie destroy another six ships. Make it two of each, medium ships," I said.

"Yes sir," she said, then there were six fewer ships. I heard a few voices that were talking about demons and a type of devil.

"Ha!" The voice returned, "you have no power."

I looked over to Rommie and ordered, "take out half the Cardassian fleet."

"Targeting now sir," Rommie said. "Now firing."

Less than a minute later, there were twenty floating wrecked Cardassian ships. That's when all the ships there started to fire in a wide area. A moment later, an energy shot hit the side of the ship.

"Return fire! Rommie," I yelled as the stealth started to flicker. Rommie had taken out almost all the ships when another weaker shot hit us broad side. This, of course, took out the stealth projector.

Mary managed to get two of the last three, heavily damaging the last Cardassian ship. "Sheilds at fifty percent, stealth inoperable, sub-light, warp still at eighty percent. Trans-warp is down to twenty percent. Repairs have started stealth back on line, ten percent."

"Damnit!" I thought of the stealth, then it rose to eighty percent. I then got the sub-light and warp to a hundred percent. I looked at the trans-warp, seeing the mess that it was. I managed to get it to thirty percent, I'd have to wait 'til more was regrown.

"John," Rommie said. "Most of the weapons are also offline."

"Get us out of here, how long 'til we have trans-warp," I asked.

"We need no less than fifty percent. The growth pods have been mostly destroyed. You managed to get another fifteen percent working though it will take a long while. I am not sure just how long, also it will take longer to catch Picard's ship," Rommie advised me.

"I'll keep an eye on the trans-warp, just keep us away from any more ships for a bit," I told Rommie as I tried to get some the weapons back online. For the moment, all I got back was the energy weapons back.

This was going to go badly if we met up with anything more than a few ships. That I knew wasn't about to happen.

I saw that we were moving away from the Cardassian ship under full warp. I also noticed that Rommie had raked the hell out of the side of their ship. They were moving at barely one quarter warp.

Had I weapons, I would have ended them right now, though they might also have weapons. Rommie was working on everything that she could. Reaching out, I managed to get another five percent of the growth pods up.

I felt them engage working on the weapons and the trans-warp. I sighed as I could tell that this was going to be a while. I could repair them, yes, though they had to not be in pieces.

We were making some good time though we were in no way gaining on Picard's ship.

We had been in warp over an hour when no less than twenty federation ships came out of warp. Holding near where the fleets had been destroyed, the admiral shook his head.

"What do we have on the scanners," the Admiral asked the science crew.

"We are detecting no less than a hundred fifty ships, at least forty of all three races. I'm confused sir," the young Lieutenant said.

"Why is that," the Admiral asked.

"I have never seen these three races ever band together likes this. Sir, it's almost like they know something that we don't. They seem more afraid than I have ever seen them," the Lieutenant reported.

The Admiral looked over the young officer's shoulder at the data. This was about to get out of control, they needed to get control of this as soon as possible.

If the truth about all this got out, then there could be an all-out war. The simple fact that the enemy had lost so many ships was bad. They needed to find this new player that had entered the arena.

"Continue scans of the area, we need all the data that we can get," the Admiral said.

He then walked to his ready room as he pulled up all the data they had so far. Clicking a com he said, "I need a secure channel to Starfleet."

A moment later, an older male's face appeared. "Do we have confirmation?" The older man asked. "Does it appear to be the same one from centuries ago?"

"So far the data is pointing toward it being so. The only problem we are having is the fact that the ship, singular, destroyed over a hundred fifty ships. This is an unprecedented amount of power, plus we still don't know if it is on our side. I mean this was three different races, might I suggest we proceed carefully," the Admiral said.

The older man nodded his head before he spoke. "That seems to be a very cautious idea. I still think that we still need to make contact with them, no weapons!

"We do all we can sir, god only knows that we don't have the power that they did," the Admiral said. "Plus, all three of these races joining? Makes it appear that they are scared, really scared."

"I agree, proceed with all caution," the older man said, then clicked off.

We were an hour away from the destroyed fleets, when I managed to get another ten percent of the growth pods up. I am glad when the trans-warp rose to forty-five percent. Almost a quarter of our weapons were up, and stealth was at ninety percent.

At least we were almost completely hidden.

"John!" Rommie said as she appeared. "I am detecting no less than twenty starships when we were."

"Maintain stealth, with any luck we can get far enough away," I said, as I hoped that we were.