"A Thin Veneer: Dream State"

NOTICE: THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE BUT MUST NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM

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"Star Trek", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star trek: Enterprise" and all related Star Trek related material, it's characters and certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television shows and movies, may be or are registered trademarks of, and may be or are copyrighted by Paramount Studios and whatever Corporation it may or may not be owned by. "Babylon Five", it's characters, certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television show, past present of near future, may be or are registered trademarks of, Babylon 5, characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Time Warner Entertainment Co., LP. None of the Studios are responsible for the content of this story. Other names and additional characters are the creation of the author who is solely responsible for them as such.

THIS STATEMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE STORY 'A THIN VENEER: DREAM STATE' IF DISTRIBUTED. THIS STORY IS FREE OF CHARGE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM. THIS DEDICATION MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DISTRUBUTION OF THIS STORY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU (AT THE LEAST) READ 'A THIN VENEER', 'A THIN VENEER: SUPPLEMENTS', AND 'THOSE WHO STAND', OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT HAVE A BIT OF TROUBLE FOLLOWING THIS ,EVEN THOUGH IT IS A ONE SHOT STORY AND AN INDEPENDENT OFFSHOOT OF 'A THIN VENEER'

Introduction: Years ago before ATV was ever thought of, there was another story that featured James T. Kirk unwittingly pitted against the Minbari during the time of the Earth Minbari war of the Babylon Five universe. The creator of the story calls himself Col. Crackpot and he is by all accounts, the grandsire of 'A Thin Veneer'. He began the story 'Kirk Starkiller' and it was magnificent. The purpose of the story was to see what Kirk would do in a similar situation as Captain Picard of the 'A Universe of Change' series. Needless to say, it caused quite a stir, however most of you have never read what I call the precursor of ATV. I asked permission of CC to present his story in ATV and he gave me permission so her it is in ATV format. The original story has been modified a bit so you would consider this an AU of his story. Everything is essentially the same as his original story with a few twists added which blends it fully to ATV.

Please enjoy as we give you this special presentation:

A Thin Veneer – Kirk Starkiller 'Dream state' by Col. Crackpot and Albert Green Jr.

"A Thin Veneer: Dream state"

(suggest that you See Chapter 67 ATV for references)

USS Enterprise:

Two point four light- years from Minbar

"…Yes, Sir," Lieutenant Valeris answered. "We achieved a victory. And we have survived. I acknowledge that I continue to exist and function sufficiently to perform my duty without impedance."

"Do you feel 'anything' concerning the loses the enemy has incurred?" asked Admiral James T. Kirk.

"I am Vulcan, Sir." To her that answer was all that was needed for the Admiral to understand. But he wasn't letting go that easily.

"So which is better, too much emotion or not enough?"

"I can't quantify such an answer, Admiral. As I have little access to my emotions, it is not logical for me to dwell on such abstract thoughts."

"Is that because of a desire not to?"

"No, Sir," she answered. "It is because I choose not to."

"Well, choice doesn't matter. One day I expect an answer to my question. Consider it an order, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Sir," she answered at once, not sure at what he was trying to get her to understand. Kirk smiled at the consternation hiding under her unemotional façade. He had spent too long around Vulcans to be fooled by her declaration of non-emotion. His emotions ranged between amusement at his Lieutenants predicament and profound sadness of the loss of life as he stood up and walked towards the turbolift. He had a report to put together for Starfleet Command. These Ashen were going to be a problem.

"Commander Harriman, you have the conn."

The commander nodded.

The turbolift door closed as he headed for medical. Several members of the crew had been hurt and although he had received their status, wanted to see them for himself. He was the Admiral of the Fleet but that didn't stop him from being the captain of the Enterprise and right now his people need to see their 'Captain'.

Two hours later and a trip to engineering, he was back in McCoy's office relaxing for a moment. Doctor McCoy had opened a small cabinet and was in the process of pulling out a small brown bottle.

"What you need now is some good Kentucky bourbon," McCoy told him as he found two glasses which he placed on the desk. "We were lucky today, Jim. A few broken bones, no radiation poisoning." Frustrated, he took his glass and downed the liquid in two gulps. "They know they're out-classed. Hell, we've wiped out most of their fleet. Why can't they surrender! All of this needless death and destruction. Don't they know what's coming? There has to be a better way. My God! I thought these people were supposed to be civilized. They're just as bad as the Klingons."

"Bones…"

"I know, I know. I just hope that one day we can come up with a better solution than killing each other."

"We're still only half-civilized according to the Metrons." That comment spoken to him so long ago still made him smile, giving him hope for Humanity even after all of these years.

"I hate to dash that little hope, but remember that the Metrons were going to destroy all of us and the Enterprise if you lost that fight with the Gorn commander. That was their idea of putting an end to the whole mess."

"I guess they need a bit more civilizing , too," he chuckled. Then he turned somber. "I cheated death that day, found a way to win despite the odds," Kirk said. "I won that day. Was it worth it?"

"Well, we didn't go to war with them and now the relations between the two of us are better than ever. That has to account for something."

"You're right, but I wonder how this war will change the galaxy at large. Right now, we're allies with the Klingons. How long will that last?"

"Ah, I see," he said nodding. You're worried about the Vorlon Empire. Truth is, I've been worried about them myself."

"We don't know why they pulled out. All the signs were there. They were going to enter the war and then they pulled back." He paused and took a sip. The bourbon burned as it went down. "If they decide to enter the war at the last minute on the side of the Minbari, then we will lose this war because frankly, I don't think we'll be able to stop them."

"But if they were going to enter the war, then they would have some time ago, wouldn't they? Makes no sense to wait. Maybe they decided that war isn't in their best interests."

"Something backed them off," Kirk concluded. " I think they are afraid of something. And I think that I know why."

"Not us, certainly. Their ships are far more advance. They'd run over us."

"Then, why don't they?" he took another sip. "Bones," he said changing the subject. "I received a data burst from the Alpha quadrant. Apparently we're not the only one using it?"

"Who…?"

"Another Federation of Planets ship was there apparently from the future. There was an advanced Klingon warship traveling with it. They established communications with theConcordat. From the reports the other Federation vessel made that ship look primitive in comparison. It called itself the USS Voyager. There was a wealth of information passed along by an Admiral Janeway."

"Don't we have laws about recording and transmitting with different timelines?" he yelled out. Such a violation was surprising to say the least. "If I remember correctly, Starfleet frowns on such things," he said smirking, "probably because of us."

"That's not all," Kirk continued, ignoring his friend's outburst even while acknowledging the truth of it. "There was a Minbari warship with them, Blood of Saints. That's the same name as the one Sulu destroyed months ago." McCoy blew a long whistle. "Voyager sent us a warning. Essentially it came down to 'beware of the Vorlons'. Bones, the technology on that ship that they passed on to us… The Admiral said we'd need it for what was coming. That action in itself frightens me."

McCoy stood up and looked out of the small view port at the stars. He could see the Lincoln nearby. He came back and poured himself another. "That's why you're expecting a war with them sooner or later."

Kirk took a sip. He never answered directly but his eyes told McCoy everything he needed to know.

***