TRT3: The Ranma Trek Voyage! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Author's Note: This chapter covers some back story that I had forgotten to include in previous chapters. Enjoy!
Part 51
A week later…
Ship's Log, Stardate: 49690 (Earth Year 2372). Thanks to a mishap on our last stop, both Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay have been left behind due to unusual side-effects caused by a planetary viral agent. As a result of this virus, both Janeway and Chakotay will immediately succumb to the virus, if they are removed from the planet's biosphere. As of now, the virus is contained, lying dormant in their respective systems. In the meantime, I've decided to take on a very dangerous initiative, one that could put the crew in jeopardy.
"Status," said Commander Tendo, as she looked at the engine checklist, while sitting the PADD down. Over Lt. Commander Tuvok's objections, "Ranko" was officially promoted by Janeway to continue Voyager's trek back to the Alpha Quadrant. However, after receiving Janeway's last set of instructions, Ranko decided to adjust their flight plans…
"We're good to go," Lt. Paris replied, as he went over the ship's avionics. "Though, what we are about to do is…insane."
"Yes, it is," Ranko said. "However, the Doctor is sure that his 'girlfriend' has the data he needs to create a cure for the captain and Commander Chakotay."
"Assuming that our Emergency Holographic Medical is correct in his assessment, that is," Lt. Commnader Tuvok replied.
"Sir, I am sure that Dr. Pel received the Doctor's message," interjected Lt. Kim, who was also promoted shortly after Janeway's departure. "We even received a return verification reply."
"Which could have very well been intercepted by Dr. Pel's people, the Viidians," Tuvok said.
"Actually, I am counting on it," Ranko replied, as she pressed a communications panel nearby. "Bridge to Engineering…"
Down in the Engineering Bay, a furious demi-Klingon slammed her hand on the receiver button.
"What?" B'Ellana asked tersely. "I'm busy trying to get the engine modifications WE came up with online."
"I…was about to ask you about that, 'B'Ell-chan'," Ranko said jokingly while Paris and Kim tried to stifle a laugh.
"They are going as well as possible," B'Ellana replied. She hated the nickname that Ranko had came up with, after drunk B'Ellana admitted that she had always wanted to be a ballerina as a child, but was denied her dreams by her stern Klingon mother from doing so.
"And I told you not to call me that!"
"Okay, okay!" Ranko replied. "So…what's the status?"
"The 'status' is that we might tear the engines apart, if we don't end up in some alternate dimensional plane. The warp drive systems, as they are now, aren't ready for this sort of thing!"
"Duly noted," Ranko replied. "And don't worry. If we managed to get through this thing in one piece, I will play my violin while you get to live out your dreams…as a ballet dancer."
"Grrr!" B'Ellanna growled, as she violently disconnected their comlink…
"You're in trouble now," Paris replied.
"Motivation, Mister Paris," Ranko said, as she glanced towards Tuvok. "I don't expect any problems, Mister Tuvok?"
"Only if you prove to be a danger to this ship and her crew…'sir'," Tuvok replied.
"That is good to know," Ranko said, as she presses the shipwide intercom button.
TWEEET-EEET!
"All hands, this is Commander Tendo, speaking," Ranko replied evenly. "What we…are about to do is…dangerous, to say the least. I know that many of you know who I am. Those who do not, know this: your lives and this ship will never be put into harm's way needlessly, but, as an old friend once said to me, 'Risk is our business.' As long we do our jobs, we'll get through this. Tendo: out."
Ranko then takes one last look of her crew. It's been a while since she was a starship commander, but, like riding a bicycle, it was a position that was familiar to her.
"Mister Tuvok, 'Yellow Alert'," Ranko replied. "Mister Paris, let's roll."
"'Let's…roll'?" Kim asked.
"An old Earth expression, my friend," Paris replied. "Engines are now online."
"Well, let's not keep our friends waiting," Ranko said. "Engage."
With that, the USS Voyager heads directly for Viidian space…
Meanwhile, back on "Janeway's Planet"…
"It's getting cold," Chakotay said, as he stepped outside of their makeshift, pre-fabricated cottage.
"I know," Janeway replied, as she wrapped her shawl tighter around person while looking up at the night skies. In fact, she was looking towards the direction of where Voyager would be…
"I am thinking about what is happening up there," Janeway said. She then turned towards Chakotay.
"And I am thinking about…out future."
"Oh, I see," Chakotay said with a nervous cough.
"Don't worry, commander," Janeway replied jokingly. "I am not at that point where I need…intimacy to keep myself from being lonely."
"Er…okay!" Chakotay said, as he immediately dismissed romantic thoughts towards Janeway. "Of course, I wasn't thinking at ALL about…us being together. Nope, not at all."
"Huh," Janeway said. "I don't know if I should be offended or relieved by that…"
Silence.
"So, do you think everyone will miss us?" Janeway asked.
"Well, the crew have gotten to know each other for a while now, ever since we arrived her to the Delta Quadrant," Chakotay said. "However, you've known a few even longer."
"Yes, that's true," Janeway replied. "I've known Tuvok and 'Ranko' since my academy days, and you known 'Ranko' in particular."
"Yes, 'he' was my flight instructor at the academy," Chakotay replied. "And later, when I was with the Maquis."
"Ranko recruited you directly?" Janeway asked.
"Yes, 'she' did," Chakotay said. "In fact, a lot us knew about Ranko's reputation as a veteran of the Federation-Cardassian War, primarily as a 'rule breaker' who got things done, for the greater good."
"I see…"
Pause.
"You don't think Ranko is-?" Janeway said with alarm.
"Of that, I have no doubt," Chakotay said. "If nothing else, I have a feeling that 'he' isn't about to make new friends…"
"Oh, dear."
Meanwhile, Voyager arrives at the designated rendezvous site, only to face a blockade of Viidian starships.
"Oh, boy," Kim said with worry. He then turns towards Ranko.
"Um, what are we going to do?" Kim asked.
"I see no logical course of action other than to leave this area," Tuvok said. "That is, unless you want to go against the Viidian fleet?"
"That is precisely what we are going to do," Ranko said, as she presses her combadge. "Doc, you're ready?"
Down in Sickbay's Medical Lab, the EMH and Nurse Kes are preparing to receive important data from Dr. Pel.
"We are ready to retrieve the data for processing," the EMH replies. "That is if you can keep this vessel in one piece?"
"I'll remember that," Ranko replied. She knew that the Viidans, hungry for fresh organs, will want to avoid destroying Voyager outright. However, that would mean that they will target the ship's vital systems in order to disable it…
"Engineering?" Ranko yelled.
"We're ready, I hope," B'Ellana called out over the PA system. She had been listening to what was going on, on the Bridge, for a while now…
"Well, as they say, 'Hope springs eternal'," Ranko replied. "Okay, all hands, 'Red Alert'! Mister Paris, full impulse speed!"
"Yes, sir!" Paris said, as Voyager made its move.
Predictably, the Viidian fleet moved to intercept Voyager.
Meanwhile, on a secured comlink that was carefully coded, Dr. Pel, who was on one of the Viidian ships, had received a message from the EMH. She had been working on developing a cure for the Phage, the disease that had been ravaging the Viidians for years, and, thanks to her interaction with her holographic lover, she was making great progress. Still, old habits die hard, so her people were still conducting raids on nearby systems for fresh body parts.
"Pel?" asked one of the Viidian ship commanders.
"Yes?" Pel replied.
"We know that you have been in contact with Voyager," the Viidian replied. "They are here for something. What?"
"Maybe…my boyfriend wants to see me?" Pel replied defiantly. "He doesn't think I am hideous."
"That is because he is a holographic projection," the Viidian commander scoffed. "Such a creature, if you prefer to call 'it' one, is not 'real'."
"He is, and he's coming for me!" Pel replied. "You'll see."
"Yes, we will…"
The Viidian commander then turned towards his immediate subordinate.
"Make sure that THAT ship has been…neutralized," the Viidian commander said.
"Of course, sir," replied the subordinate. "It's not every day that I can get a human organ…"
With that, the Viidian attack en masse.
Meanwhile, Ranko surveys the scene.
Harry, have you located the ship that Dr. Pel is on?" Ranko replied.
"We picked up her transponder the moment we dropped from sub-space," Kim replied. "But…wouldn't the Viidians know that Dr. Pel is waiting for us?"
"After I made that threat on their planet, it's a matter of honor," Ranko replied. "They want us, specifically ME, as some sort of trophy."
"Aren't you the lucky one," Counselor Stadi said, as she stepped onto the Bridge. "And btw the way, I say that in a good way."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Ranko replied. "You ready?"
"What I am about to do has never been done before," Stadi said. "And I am not even a trained Betazoid outside of the basics."
"Well, we need as many resources as we can muster, if we are to pull this off-"
"Engagement in twenty seconds," Tuvok replied. "We will be in range of their weaponry."
"Understood," Ranko replied. "B'Ellana?"
"We're ready," B'Ellana replied.
"Harry?"
"We are go," Kim replied.
"Tuvok?"
"Shields are at maximum…such as they are, considering the power strain," Tuvok said.
"Okay," Ranko replied. She took a quick breath.
"Mister Paris, initiate the 'Transwarp Burst Maneuver'," Ranko replied
"I'm surprise that you didn't name this latest trick of yours," Stadi replied sarcastically.
"You know, I like the other you better-"
"Initiating maneuver…NOW," Paris replied.
Suddenly, Voyager winked out of existence…
"Status!" yelled the Viidian commander. "Where is THAT ship?"
"I am picking up no indication that Voyager is even in our sector," the subordinate replied, as his fingers danced across the panel. "Wait, I am picking up Voyager…um…"
"Spit it out, man!" the Viidian commander replied.
"They…they're everywhere!"
"On screen!"
Sure enough, multiple versions of Voyager appeared.
"Are they holographic projections?" the Viidian commander asked.
"No, they appear solid to the sensor, yet not quite solid…"
"Then, all ship, FIRE on all the Voyagers!"
"No!" Pel yelled, as she screamed.
"Escort Dr. Pel to her quarters!" the Viidian commander replied, as guards grabbed Pel and removed her off the Bridge of the Viidian ship.
A few minutes later, Pel was brought to her quarters.
"You won't get away with this!" Pel replied.
"Yeah, right!" replied one of the guards, as another opened Pel's quarters.
SHHHHHHH!
However, instead of Pel's quarters, Pel and her escorts were looking inside Sickbay.
"What?" replied one of the guards, just as Nurse Kes immediately walked up and injected both guards with a sedative that rendered both guards unconscious.
"That was…interesting," Kes replied.
"What?" Pel replied in stunned disbelief, just as the EMH walks up.
"Dr. Pel, I presume," the EMH replied knowingly. "Welcome back."
"But, how?"
Before the EMH could explain…
"Doctor, you have her?" Ranko replied over the PA.
"Yes," the EMH replied with annoyance. "Dr. Pel is here."
"Good, then you can stop trying to impress your girlfriend and get the information we need."
"Okay," the EMH replied through gritted teeth, even as Pel and Kes stifled a giggle. He then turned towards Pel.
"If I could have that information…?"
"Of course," Pel said, as she removed a data chip from her person, and handed over the EMH. "I…I wish that we had more time together."
"I know," the EMH replied, as he accepted the gift. "Rest assured that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay will appreciate this…"
Pause.
"But can't you come with us?"
"I…I want to, but my people need me here," Pel replied sadly.
"Well, for what it is worth, I understand," the EMH replied, as the two shared a kiss…
WOOOOMMM!
"Doctor?" Kes said with concern, as the ship buckled. "We have to go!"
"I understand," Doctor said, as he steps back. He then moves Pel back into the corridor of the Viidian ship.
"Until next time," the Doctor said, as the doors closed between him and Pel.
"Doctor!" Pel replied, as she reopened her doors, only to see that the room had returned to the appearance of her quarters. "Doctor…"
Meanwhile, back on the Bridge of the Voyager…
"We can't maintain this…much longer!" Kim said. "Structural integrity failure will occur in ten seconds-!"
"We got what we came for," Ranko said. "Disengage!"
The "Transwarp Burst Maneuver" allowed Voyager simultaneously in one specific area. The side effect is that the ship is partially phased out of normal space, which is how Voyager could partially merge with the ship that Pel was on. However, with the help of Stadi's telepathy and the transponder that the EMH had given to Dr. Pel, Paris, with Kim's help, could narrow down the number of places that Voyager could end up at once…
"Disengaging the maneuver…now!" Paris replied.
All the Voyagers turned and moved off. They then briefly disappeared, before a single Voyager moved off. Thankfully, that Voyager was far off to make a quick escape.
"Sir, shall we pursue?" asked the Viidian officer.
"No, let's not," replied the Viidian commander, as he turned towards the exit of the Bridge. "In the meantime, I must have words with our guest of honor…"
A week later…
Ranko was sitting on the couch in the Ready Room, while Janeway read the final report on their latest excursion.
"Well, that was interesting," Janeway said, as she sets down the report.
"So…what now?" Ranko replied. "We're good?"
"For the most part, yes…aside from the significant damage to ship, when you did your 'Trans-warp Maneuver', you did well in my absence. The good news is that the cure the Doctor found could be useful in making that planet Chakotay and I was on, will be quite useful, which is why a new Stargate was placed there, albeit buried and deactivated for the time being."
"Hey, I did what I could," Ranko replied.
"However, I gave you a direct order to take this ship and her crew back to the Alpha Quadrant," Janeway replied. "So…for disobeying a direct order, I am demoting you back to your previous rank of 'Ensign'. As long as 'Ranko Tendo' is aboard this ship, she is to follow orders to the letter. Understood."
"Yes," Ranko replied. "I'm surprised that strip me of my officer's privileges."
"You're too experienced and valuable to be just Crewman or NCO," Janeway replied. "Besides, doing that would just give you license to do whatever you want."
"So…I am on a tight leash?"
"Pretty much. Dismiss…"
Ranko gets up, and begins to walk away.
"Oh, and Ranma?" Janeway asked.
"Yes?"
"Thanks," Janeway said with a smile.
Ranko smiles, nods her head, and leave the Ready Room.
Janeway sighs, as she turns to look at the stars. She knew that "Ranko" would risk much for her, no matter the cost…
END FLASHBACK!
Janeway and most of the crew, being stuck on a volcanic planet with no ship was bad. What's worse is that the Kazon had Ranko, as well as a few others that the Kazon did not find.
Janeway surveyed the area, and then looked up at the stars…and smiles.
"Captain?"
Janeway turned towards Kim, who was a bit worse for ware.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Why are you smiling?"
"I am 'smiling' because it is time to call in some favors," Janeway said, as rolled up her sleeves to reveal an unusual scar.
"Ma'am?" Kim asked out of curiosity.
"An old friend, whom you probably know, once said, when faced with overwhelming odds, that he doesn't intend to lose," Janeway replied. "On this occasion, I agree with that sentiment."
"Huh?"
Tbc.
Next Time: Janeway reveals a secret side of herself, as she and the crew of the USS Voyager begin their counter-offensive against the Kazon! Oh, and "Ranko Tendo" is caught in the middle of all this. See you there!