Star Trek: Invasion (part 3 Of 3) free porn video

The Empire's fleet has been defeated and its planned invasion thwarted, but for the two Jim Kirks, each in the body of his Janice Lester, this isn't over yet. On Camus II the alien body-swapping device has been used again and one of them is in mortal danger, while the other holds the fate of the Empire in their hands.... STAR TREK: INVASION (part 3 of 3) by BobH (c) 2018 - 12 - "So you're a copy of our Spock, and for three decades your consciousness resided in an android body designed to look like a little girl?" said Grace Coleman, not quite believing what she was hearing. "That is correct," said the man sitting on the other side of the conference room table, the 'Spock' Grace had watched kill Emperor Khan and take his throne. "A small, female child is the image humans use to depict non-threatening innocence," said Kara Summers, the striking young woman who had beamed over to the Endurance with Spock, "so it was the logical form to house his consciousness during that time. That form and the apparent mother/daughter relationship we let them believe existed between us allowed humans to think they understood us. They did not. The AIs I developed for the Empire, and which were incorporated into the operating systems of the doomsday machines and all Empire starships were non- sentient copies of his mind. They operated perfectly for over two decades and the Empire came to trust and depend on them, but Spock always had the ability to override them at any point." "When our Spock at Starfleet Intelligence briefed me about the coming invasion and told me how he needed me to respond I thought he must be mad at first," said Grace, "particularly when he told me the little act he wanted me to put on to direct attention from your destruction of Khan's prized weapons systems." "That misdirection was necessary for our plan to succeed." "It seemed overly theatrical to me, but after seeing how you disabled the Empire fleet I trusted you to follow through on that, too. The look on Khan's face when he saw his weapons systems apparently destroyed by someone just snapping her fingers was priceless. Still, it would have been nice to have known in advance that those weapons systems were doomsday machines." "You had to appear surprised to discover that," said Kara. "Had you not, the Empire spy on Endurance could have suspected advance knowledge on your part and found a way to warn the Emperor." "We had anticipated the defeat of the invasion force would compel Khan to allow a leadership challenge and had prepared this body in advance," said Spock. "After the destruction of the doomsday machines, I left the bridge of the ISS Leviathan and went to its place of concealment on that ship. Once I had transferred my consciousness and vaporised my previous body with a phaser, it was a simple matter to then transport to the bridge." "How did Khan cut you across the chest? Were his finger nails really that sharp?" "No. He had a small device embedded in the tip of one of his fingers that would deliver a dose of a neuro-toxin designed to slow an opponent down enough to give Khan the upper hand in any physical combat. He did not know I was an android and thus would not be affected." "So he cheated?" "I believe Khan would have expressed it in terms of the superior man leaving nothing to chance." "I know you leaked the list of Empire infiltrators when the time was right for you, but I wish I'd known Michael Shaw was an Empire agent before Zoe Nyonga took him down." "Not just any agent," said Kara. "He's the son of Emperor Spock and his wife." "What?" said Grace, blind-sided by this information. "B..but he's white, he looks entirely human, and he has an English accent!" "The accent is as fake as his name. As for his skin tone and apparently human physiognomy, those are just the physical characteristics he happened to inherit from his mixed genetic background. He's one of four sons, the others of whom are all both darker-skinned and more obviously Vulcan. He's also the only one who's a big believer in the Empire. Your ship being chosen to face us was not an accident because now you are not only taking us to his parents but also him, albeit in your brig. That was part of the deal for securing the help of our Spock and Uhura." This was a lot to take in, but Grace had another question. "I don't understand your part in all this, Kara," she said. "Why would you work against the Empire at all? And why use Spock's consciousness as the basis for the AIs rather than your own?" "Because my creators, the Haakuun, made me so that my consciousness cannot be used in that fashion. As for the Empire, my first loyalty is to the man who found me on my dead world, Sybok. I have always worked diligently in furtherance of his aims. An opportunity to do so arose with the elaborate plot whereby we stole your Spock's brain and took it to Sigma Draconis VI to make a copy of it. The Empire's purpose in doing so was, in essence, to 'capture' a Starfleet officer with no one being any the wiser and then interrogate him endlessly. However, I saw that here was the opportunity I had been looking for. If we could take possession of this copy of Spock's mind when the Empire had finished with it, I knew I could use it to create the AIs I needed. And since Spock was loyal to the Federation I was sure he would go along with our plan." "Now all that remains is for me to switch places with the Empire's real Spock as planned and for him to assume the role of Emperor." "What happens to you after that?" "With the doomsday machines destroyed and Spock on the throne the Empire cannot continue as it has, so our job is done," said Kara. "The Haakuun are gone in my universe, but perhaps not in yours. When all others have returned to the Empire's universe, I will remain in this one to search for them." "As will I," said Spock. "My apparent age is purely cosmetic. I will amend this body so I appear as Spock did when I was copied from him. I will then accompany Kara on her quest. We are two artificial and potentially ageless beings. It is logical for us to travel together." The buzzer on the intercom desk unit sounded. "Yes, what is it?" said Grace. "Reyna here. Sorry to bother you captain, but we've just discovered a shuttlecraft is missing." "Why wasn't this discovered earlier?" "Ship's systems were altered so that its departure would neither be registered nor detected." "Do we know who took it?" "The only crewmembers missing are Commander Lester and Lieutenant Cassandra." "Lieutenant Cassandra?" said Grace, trying to place the name. "Transferred from the Lexington last year, captain," said Reyna. "She's an Aragonian, a blue-skinned humanoid. She recently had Dr Saavik surgically alter her claws to resemble human hands." "What were her duties on Endurance?" "She was in charge of the shuttle bay." "Convenient. Did they take anything with them?" "Doctor Saavik reports a supply of melaninox missing from sickbay." "Melaninox? I wonder what they could want with that? Well, the Endurance is heading to Camus II at maximum warp so there's nothing we can do about it now. Find out anything else you can and prepare a report for me. Coleman out." "Problems?" asked Kara. "Maybe. Janice Lester is - or claimed to be - both a time displaced version of my mother from another universe, and married to James T. Kirk." "I recall Jim telling me - or rather my progenitor - about Ms Lester and their time together at Starfleet Academy," said Spock. "If she's your mother, does that mean that Jim is..." "My father? God, no! Arthur Coleman was my father. I'm not related to Jim Kirk at all!" - 13 - McCoy pressed his hypospray to Kate Shaw's arm, injecting something that would counter the effects of the sedative he'd administered earlier. Almost immediately she began to revive, becoming groggily aware they were in the cave on Camus II that housed the bodyswapping machine. Around them lay the smashed remains of several recording devices. "Help me get the Lieutenant Commander into position," said Lawrence Cartwright, an order McCoy was compelled to obey. As soon as she was standing on one of the two pads, McCoy flicked the switch that froze her in place. Kate was paralysed now. She would be unable to move until the process was over. Cartwright stepped onto the other pad. "Let's do this," he said, feeling apprehensive but determined to do what needed to be done. No sooner had McCoy pressed a switch on a console next to the machine, than Cartwright felt an awful tugging sensation all through his body, as if something was being ripped from it. There was a brief moment when he seemed to be looking through two pairs of eyes, then he was looking through only one pair. "It's done," said McCoy. Cartwright raised a slender hand to his face, marvelling at how smooth the skin was, how white. He ran his fingers over the unfamiliar contours of his new face, while with his other hand he tentatively squeezed his firm young breasts. Even knowing it was going to happen, it was still stunning to realize he was now a woman in her twenties. This was going to require some serious adjustment on his part! McCoy pressed another button on the console and, freed from the paralysis that had held her in place, Kate Shaw toppled forward. She steadied herself against the side of the device, so drained she was barely able to move. That was when she first caught sight of her aged, dark-skinned hand. "Wh..what..?" she croaked. Then she raised her eyes to see someone looking at her in fascination. It took a second for it to register this was her own body. "No!!" she cried, eyes widening in horror. Cartwright grinned. "Yes!" he replied, raising her phaser and firing. It wasn't set to vaporize only to kill, which it did. Kate Shaw died instantly. Cartwright looked down dispassionately at what had until a few minutes ago been his body, before stepping over it to get to McCoy. He placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder. "Prepare a lethal dose of something guaranteed to kill - I'll let you decide what - and load it into your medical hypospray. Return to the cells, free Jill Finn, and give this to her. Tell her she is to use it to kill this facility's medic, Doctor Abdullah on my orders. After doing so you will go to my cell, sit down, and stay there. You will be unable to speak or to move unless I return and tell you otherwise. Ordinarily this is the point where I'd instruct you to forget everything you've done, but I *want* you to remember. Now go." When McCoy had gone, Cartwright ran his hands down over his new body. Having the energy of youth again was glorious and he felt amazing, but damn those female curves were going to take some getting used to! Still, there would be time to worry about that stuff after he had completed his mission. Slapping the phaser to his thigh, he set off for Director Spock's office and his appointment with murder. Emperor Spock was his primary target, but if all went well he should be able to kill the others in the room and any guards, too. After destroying all recording devices and with no one left to identify him as the killer he could then slip away, join the crew of the USS Spencer, and depart this planet with no one aware he wasn't the real Kate Shaw. At first Cartwright was uncertain of his gait. Walk as he always had and he might seem mannish, but swing his hips even a little too much and it would look 'swishy'. Eventually he realised it was better to just relax and let this body's 'muscle memory' take over. When he reached the Director's quarters there was a guard stationed outside. Not surprising given the room now contained the Empire's new Emperor, and so about as important a dignitary as had ever set foot on this rock. Fortunately Cartwright recognised the guard from the time he had brought his meals to his cell. "Good afternoon, Murphy," he said. The guard snapped to attention. "Lieutenant Commander," he said, opening the door. Inside, Cartwright found Director Spock, Emperor Spock and his wife, and two middle-aged women. One of these he recognised as an older version of Janice Lester aka Jenna Lawson, the woman he had travelled to this universe with decades ago, which meant the other had to be Janice Rand. "Dr McCoy not with you?" said Lester, frowning at him. "The doctor was feeling tired and returned to his room to lie down," replied Cartwright, smoothly. They seemed to accept this and returned to their conversation. As soon as no one was looking at him, Cartwright drew his phaser and fired it at Emperor Spock. The beam never hit him. At the last second Janice Lester threw herself between him and the Emperor, taking its full force. "Janice!" screamed Janice Rand, lunging for Cartwright before her wife's body had even hit the ground. She, too, took the full force of his phaser. He swung it around to target the Emperor again, but it was too late. He felt someone pinch the nerve cluster near the base of his neck and then he went down, unconscious. - 14 - Grace Coleman stared down at the bodies of Janice Lester and Janice Rand on the mortuary slab, face grim. "And there was no way to save them?" "There was not," said Spock. "Both were critically injured but might have been saved had Doctor Abdullah or Doctor McCoy been available. Unfortunately, Doctor Abdullah had been murdered by Yeoman Jill Finn, and Doctor McCoy was in a hypnotic trance we have as yet been unable to break him out of. We believe this was deliberate, the assailant having removed the doctors so that if he did not succeed in killing his target, only in injuring him, those wounds might still prove fatal." "By 'the assailant' you mean the former Admiral Cartwright." "That is correct. He had stolen Lieutenant Commander Shaw's body, as we confirmed when we discovered his own, dead body in front of this planet's alien bodyswapping device. Your biological mother grew suspicious when she saw he was wearing his phaser on his right thigh rather than the left, as Kate Shaw always did. She was watching him from the corner of her eye and so was able to save the Emperor's life when Lawrence Cartwright made his move." Grace sighed. When the Endurance arrived at Camus II this was the very last thing she had expected to find. What were her mothers even doing here? "I'll have the bodies shipped back to Earth for burial, of course." "Thank you," she said. "I think you'd better take me to meet them now. "As you wish," said Spock. He led her to a room where two young women awaited her: Kate Snaw and Jill Finn. They snapped to attention when she entered. "At ease," said Grace. "Well look at you both. You're younger than me now. How does it feel to be in your twenties again?" "Amazing!" said Kate Shaw, and with that the two rushed over to Grace and they all hugged. "While we could do nothing to repair the injuries suffered by Janice Lester and Janice Rand there was another solution," said Spock. "We had two healthy young Empire agents in custody, both of them murderers. So I followed the logical course of action. Dr McCoy would have had an ethical problem with using the alien bodyswapping device on this planet to have your mothers live on while they died in their place. I did not." "Neither do I," said Grace. "Thank you, Director Spock, thank you so much." "And now that you finally know about the device there's nothing preventing me from telling you why your father and I ended up being confined to Earth for so long," said Kate. "You mean you've been here before?" "Yes. It was Arthur and I who first discovered the device and figured out its operation. We used it to swap my body with Jim Kirk's so that I could take over the Enterprise." "You did *what*? Why?" "Because at that time no woman had been appointed captain of a starship in twenty years, and I had always desperately wanted to be a starship captain. Jim eventually got his body back, of course. I was judged insane and sent to Elba II. I later convinced Jim to let them use the brainwashing device on me that Khan - our Khan - had utilized during the Eugenics Wars in order to overwrite my original personality with a modified one I created that was less obsessive and destructive. I was then released to Earth, where Jim interceded with the tribunal on behalf of Arthur so that he wouldn't be sent to a penal planet. Instead we were both confined to Earth." "Everyone in that courtroom and everyone who had ever heard of the bodyswapping device was sworn to secrecy," said Jill. "It was considered a military secret of the highest order, which is why we were never able to tell you about it before this." "Wow," said Grace, looking stunned. "Just wow!" "That's not all," said Kate. "The link the device forged between us obviously remained in some fashion because when Jim Kirk was killed by that mysterious energy ribbon I started getting his memories. At first I thought I must be going mad, but over the course of a year I gradually acquired his memories. All of them. And some of his character traits." "So *that's* why you got more assertive all of a sudden," said Jill. "I wondered what had happened. You always used to be such a femme, but not anymore." "There's now the matter of what to do with you both," said Spock. "You cannot return to the USS Spencer because while you have the bodies of Jill Finn and Kate Shaw you have none of their memories and would soon find yourselves under suspicion. That just leaves Starfleet Intelligence or...." "I'm taking them," said Grace, firmly. "I'll approve their transfer to the Endurance immediately. If Kate does indeed have the memories, skills and confidence of Jim Kirk she's more than capable of being my First Officer and leading away missions. It's a shame Jill's only a yeoman, though. Mom Janice Rand started as a yeoman, but she's way more experienced than that now." "That will not be a problem," said Spock. "I will affirm that Ms Finn has been working undercover for Starfleet Intelligence all along and in fact holds the rank of lieutenant. I will create the appropriate records to support this story." "Then that's settled," said Grace. "Two of the three women I've admired most in my life is a great addition to my crew. I'm only sorry Uhura couldn't be here, too." "Ah," said Kate, "about that...." - 15 - It has been three months since Jill and I joined the crew of the USS Endurance, three months of discovering each other anew and falling in love all over again as the new people we are. Now, with our daughter standing before us, I knew there was nowhere else in this universe I'd rather be. "One of the more pleasant duties of ship's captains since the age of sail," said Grace, "is presiding over shipboard weddings. It is a duty I happily discharge today for this young couple. Jill and Kate are new to the Endurance having both only recently transferred from the USS Spencer. Both have quickly become a part of our family and we gather here today, their friends and colleagues, to witness their union." "Do you, Katelyn Athena Shaw take Jillian Morwenna Finn to be your spouse in accordance with the laws of the United Federation of Planets, to love and to cherish her for as long as you both are together?" "I do," I said, and I would. With all my heart. "And do you, Jillian Morwenna Finn take Katelyn Athena Shaw to be your spouse in accordance with the laws of the United Federation of Planets, to love and to cherish her for as long as you both are together?" "I do." "Then by the power vested in me by the aforementioned United Federation of Planets, I declare you wed. You may now both kiss your wife." We did, and everyone in the room cheered. Later, in the captain's quarters, we had a private little celebration, just Grace, Jill, Zoe Nyonga and me. Zoe had brought Saurian brandy. "I always wanted to join in when the three of you got together and Aunt Uhura brought the brandy," said Grace as Zoe poured her a glass, "and now I get to." "You were a little girl when we got married the first time," I said. "Now you not only married us but you're our commanding officer. It's a funny old universe, sometimes." "To the brides!" said Zoe. "The brides!" agreed Grace, and we drank our toast. "It's a shame Grant couldn't be here to celebrate with us," I said, wistfully. "Our son has no connection to Jill Finn and Kate Shaw so it would've been hard to explain his presence," said Jill. "We weren't even supposed to let him know we're still alive because that meant revealing the existence of the bodyswapping machine to him." "I wasn't going to put him through all that grief when we buried the bodies of Janice Lester and Janice Rand," said Grace, firmly, "not my little brother. If Starfleet find out what I did and want to court- martial me, let them." "Quite right, too, Gracie," I said, laying a hand on her arm before changing the subject. "What's the latest from the Leviathan?" We had allowed the Empire fleet to return to their universe but had kept their flagship for ourselves as a prize of war. "What we're learning from her is going to advance starship design by decades," said Grace. "Good. That means at least we'll get something out of all this. I can't believe Starfleet slapped a security blanket over the whole affair, that as far as history will be concerned this never happened and we were never invaded." "Can you blame them?" said Jill. "If they didn't they'd have to reveal that a significant number of senior Starfleet officers are actually agents of a foreign power brainwashed into being loyal to the Federation with a device whose use has been prosecuted as a war crime." "I suppose," I said. "I still think Spock made the right call there, though." "I agree," said Grace, "but I think it's weighing on him. Word is that he's resigning from Starfleet Intelligence and joining the UFP Diplomatic Corps." "Good," said Zoe. "That was where he wanted to be all along, where he would've ended up if not for that whole Ares thing." "Yes, and I haven't forgotten that you were planted on my ship to root out any of them here," said Grace, frowning at her. "If you weren't one of the women I love and trust most in all the world we would have had serious words over that." "At least we don't have to worry about the Empire trying this again," I said. "Not only did Emperor Spock agree to have all their portal projectors destroyed, but I think the idea of facing someone with the power of a god again terrifies his starship captains." "Power of a god," chuckled Grace. "That's me." "I don't suppose you're ever going to tell us how you pulled that stuff off?" I said, not really expecting an answer. "No," she said, "I don't think I am. Even if I was allowed to, it's far more fun keeping you guessing." "Here's hoping we never have to deal with the mirror universe again!" said Jill, raising her glass. "Hear, hear!" said Zoe. "Though I have to say it was intriguing seeing a version of my old body, and what I'd have looked like if I hadn't been infected with Regellian polymyositis and died." "Yeah," said Grace, thoughtfully. "Their Uhura was fascinated to learn I'm the daughter of Arthur Coleman and Janice Lester for some reason and kept giving me the strangest looks I have no idea why." Since their presence in the Empire fleet would have been difficult to explain, we had agreed to take Uhura and her son to Vulcan, where they retrieved the harnesses she and her Spock had used to get here, then returned to their universe. "Which reminds me..." I said. "She mentioned that her Jim Kirk and Janice Lester had also once swapped bodies. I meant to ask her what happened to him but never got the chance. Oh well, I don't suppose it matters...." * Epilogue: It was summer in Montana, but the breeze coming off the nearby Yellowstone River was pleasantly cooling. Not that our guests at the ranch cared. Charlie and Linda were newlyweds, and they only had eyes for each other. They were currently sitting on two of our mountain bikes, strapping their helmets in place. "The nearest trailhead's only a short ride from here," I said, "and there's no shortage of other outdoor activities for you around Billings, too. You can try your hand at climbing the rim rocks, rafting on the river, horse riding, or anything else that takes your fancy. If you ride into town you'll find we have some top-flight local breweries." "It's awfully good of you to invite us to honeymoon at your private ranch, Ms Lester," said Linda. "I still don't know why you did since we're both fairly lowly employees at Aragon Futuristics, but we really appreciate it." "Call me Janice," I said, "and it's my pleasure. Now be off with you and enjoy your day. My chef will prepare you a gourmet dinner when you get back." As they pedalled off so Cassie emerged from the main ranch house behind me. Everyone believed her to be my personal assistant, but she was so much more. "Ah, young love!" she said. "They seem to be settling into the guest cottage nicely." "Of course they are. Did you manage to put the drug in Linda's breakfast orange juice before it was served?" "I did. It's working its way through her system now and will soon render her sterile. She'll never be a mother, and no doctor will be able to tell her why." "Good. Years from now, when it's time to kill her, I can't have her leaving any brats behind." "That would be...unfortunate." "All this talk of murder is making me horny," I said, turning to Cassie. "Do you want to go to the barn?" "With you?" she replied. "Always." I studied her impassive brown face, her naturally pale blue skin having been rendered more acceptable to this era by melaninox, her eyes concealed by dark glasses as always, and smiled. Without another word to each other, we walked down to the barn. A small structure beside the larger stable where we kept the horses, the barn was deceptively formidable. Inside that wooden structure lay a bunker strong enough to resist all known non-nuclear explosives. And inside the bunker, behind impenetrable tungsten steel doors, was something any government in the world would start a war to get hold of if they ever suspected its existence. "A shame she no longer flies," I said, running my fingers over the surface of the shuttlecraft. "She served her purpose," said Cassie, "and now she serves another." Indeed she does. There are no shortage of beds in the ranch house but there's just something about having sex here, in our only remaining link to a future we'll never see again, that gets our juices flowing. Cassandra removed her dark glasses revealing the golden 'cat-eyes' that only I was ever allowed to see and shook out her long silver hair. Taking my hand, she led me inside the shuttle and pushed me down on the bed we had put there in place of the passenger seats. Then she threw herself on me. The sex that followed was rough and passionate - just the way I like it. "It's only taken five years," I said afterwards, as we lay in each other's arms, "five years to amass great wealth and destabilize a planet. I still sometimes marvel at that. Introducing new technology by reverse-engineering components taken from the shuttle, combined with your ability to foresee stock-market trends has made us fabulously wealthy. And we've put that wealth to good use." Indeed we had. Quite apart from what Aragon Futuristics could legally do with its money, we'd secretly funnelled funds to candidates and organisations we knew would worsten international relations and increase conflict both here in America and across the world. We need to bring about World War III. Fortunately, with Cassandra's ability to see all the possible outcomes of our decisions we're able to apply our funds with almost surgical precision in furtherance of that aim. And it turns out one of the most effective ways of applying our money in this country is by using it to buy politicians. They can be bought surprisingly cheaply, too. I look at America today, at the increasing internal strife, the growing disputes with its allies, and I can't help but feel a great sense of accomplishment. Before we arrived in this universe, so different from our own, there was an equal chance of Earth's future belonging to either the Empire or the Federation. That's no longer the case. We've tipped the balance decisively. The road we've put it on leads inevitably to the Empire. "When we first arrived I thought I'd made a terrible mistake," said Cassie, "that this Earth had diverged too far from both yours and that of the Federation to be what we needed. But the longer we were here the more I realised that wasn't the case. Yes, the Eugenics Wars had never happened, and after getting to the moon they turned their back on manned space exploration, but these were less significant than I'd feared." "The differences worried me, too," I admitted. "After the traitors who led the rebellion were hanged on my Earth and the Constitution of the United Colonies of America formally adopted, Governor-General Benedict Arnold was the first in a long line of Governors-General of the UCA leading up through people like Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Nixon. Those last four were presidents on the Federation's Earth just as they were on this one, but they also have subsequent presidents here whose names I'd never encountered in histories of either the Empire or the Federation. Ford, Carter, Clinton, Bush, Obama - who *are* these people?" Another mystery that confounded me was why, in place of the UCA's northern territories, both the Federation's Earth and this one had something called 'Canada'. "It doesn't matter," said Cassandra. "Thanks to the chaotic nature of that fractured area of Tholian space, I could see it wouldn't be possible to travel from our universe to this point in time in another until thirty years had passed since our first meeting. Even with all the differences we've encountered, my original plan to send you into the future so that you would still be young enough to bear children when we traveled here was still the correct one." "If you'd told me that was your intention beforehand I might have refused and taken my chances with Empire security forces." "Which is why I never did. Am I still hearing reluctance in your voice?" "Does that surprise you?" "No, but it does concern me. I can't have you getting cold feet, not now when we've come so far. I think you need a reminder of what's at stake. Computer, access history file on Zefram Cochrane. Project images on shuttle wall." "Cochrane, Zefram," said its mechanical voice, "born March 12, 2030 in Billings, Montana to Charles and Janice Cochrane. In aftermath of World War III, constructed humanity's first warp-capable vessel, the Phoenix, in Bozeman, Montana, using a Titan II nuclear missile dating from 20th century. On April 5, 2063, made Earth's first warp flight. Phoenix warp signature was detected by Vulcan survey ship, T'Plana Hath, which then made peaceful first contact with humans, including Cochrane, at Phoenix launch site." A picture of Cochrane shaking hands with the Vulcans appeared on the wall, with their Cochrane looking much older than his years, just as ours had. This was replaced by a second photo, one showing Cochrane as a teenager, with his father. "Computer, freeze photo," said Cassie. "I know what you're trying to do," I sighed. "I know you do, but I'm still going to do it because you need to be reminded what's at stake. This is one of the few photos from Cochrane's childhood to survive the war in either universe. None survive of his mother. Janice Lester needs to become Janice Cochrane and give birth to him in this universe. As his mother you can raise him properly and shape his views so that, as in your universe, when the Vulcans land on Earth, expecting a peaceful first contact, Zephram will kill their leader with a concealed weapon. He and his people will then seize the T'Plana Hath. From that bold act, from that captured technology, the Terran Empire was born on your Earth. And from that same act, it will be reborn on this one. But only if you do your part. You swore an oath to protect the Empire. Do you still hold to that oath?" "You know I do, damn it," I said, "and when the time arrives to do so I'll lie back, open my legs, and think of the Empire. What I won't do is marry Charlie Cochrane before I need to. Let him and Linda enjoy their time together. After her death, I'll be the friend who consoles him, comforts him, and gets him to fall in love with her. I'll play the part of a loving wife and mother for the sake of the Empire, but not a minute before I need to." "I can live with that," said Cassandra, smiling and caressing my breasts, before leaning over and opening the small refrigerated storage slot where we kept a few bottles of champagne on ice. She opened one and poured us each a glass. "If someone other than Spock had become Emperor none of this would be necessary." "Or if your counterpart hadn't foiled his assassination on Camus II. The Aragonians could see the other Jim Kirk needed to survive beyond the time of his apparent death in order to achieve their aims, but not until recently could they or I see why." "And Spock died in every other possible future? I can't believe their Kirk being there would be that crucial." "And yet it was. The closer we got to that point in time, the easier it became for me to see that. As easy as the defeat of the Empire's fleet." "With Spock at its head the Terran Empire won't survive." "Not in your universe it won't, no," agreed Cassandra, clinking her glass against mine. "Fortunately, we have an alternative. The Empire is dead. Long live the Empire!" "Long live the Empire!" I said, throwing back my champagne then grinning. The future of this Earth would be glorious! """"""""""""""""""" The End? """"""""""""""""""" Notes: Given the lack of interest I very much doubt I'll ever write any more of these. But then this was always my least popular series here on FM. Finishing the saga that I'd plotted out four years ago was an itch I needed to scratch, and now I have. In the very unlikely event I did write more, they'd feature the crew of the USS Endurance, who I think are an interesting bunch with lots of potential, and be written from the pov of Kate Shaw. What they would *not* feature again is the mirror universe. The next time Starfleet encounters the denizens of that place is in episodes of STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE. **** Here are the brief character notes (mostly cribbed from 'Family') that I kept to hand when writing this one: Crew of USS Endurance: Captain Grace Coleman: Essentially a female Jim Kirk, and just as successful and popular with the ladies. Parents Janice Lester (biological mother) and Janice Rand. Brother Grant, a teacher in small town Iowa, is four years younger. Biological father Arthur Coleman died when Grace was seven. She remembers him, Grant doesn't. Lieutenant Commander Kate Shaw: Grace's mother Janice Lester in a younger body. Grace, Zoe Nyonga, and Jill Finn believe she has access to Kirk's memories, only Spock knows she actually was once Jim Kirk. Married to Jill Finn. Ironically, she succeeded her mirror universe counterpart as First Officer on the Endurance. Lieutenant Jill Finn: Grace's other mother Janice Rand in a younger body. Married to Kate Shaw. Chief Engineer Moira Makutsi: born in her father's Botswana but raised in her mother's Glasgow, so has a thick Scottish accent. Short, round, round-faced, likes whisky. Both parents black, idolises Montgomery Scott. Would get on like a house on fire if they ever met. Helmsman Kevin Okuda: from California, cerebral, laid-back, and plays the bongos. Very little seems to fluster him and he remains cool even under extreme pressure. Communications Officer Zoe Nyonga: Nyota Uhura, Grace's aunt, put in a younger body by Starfleet Intelligence, to whom she still owes some alliegance. Only Spock, Grace, Jill Finn, and Kate Shaw know this. Uhura believed dead by everyone else. Science Officer and First Officer Reyna Skullcrusher: an Amazon. In her Starfleet file they call her 'Reyna S. Crusher'. At six-eight the tallest officer. Fair-skinned, and wears her thick, blonde hair in a long plait that reaches all the way down to her butt. At the end of this is an iron ball that Amazons use in battle, reaching behind their heads and swinging it round with deadly force and an impressive degree of accuracy. It's a requirement of her culture that she wear her short sword - which resembles a Roman gladius - at all times, is having her arms tattooed. Her Starfleet uniform covers these. Amazons have some of the most ornate tattoos of any culture anywhere, which tell their family history. Reyna is from the caste of warrior-scientists on Amazonia. Her posting to Starfleet was approved by the Matriarch herself. Amazonia is a relatively new member of the Federation. Their actual name for their planet and race is unpronounceable by anyone else, so they chose the name 'Amazon' for use by others reviewing the history and legends of various Federation member planets. 'Amazonia' followed from that choice, of course. They look like Earth-standard humanoids, albeit taller, but can take a lot more punishment. Their internal organs are better protected and their bones much stronger, which they have to be to support that extra mass and height. Reyna joined Starfleet because she liked the idea of being among people shorter than her. On her own world she's almost a midget. Nurse Carter Willoughby III: His family sat out World War III in the largest, most luxurious bunker in North America. No one has money or large personal wealth anymore, but he still pretends like he's from New York high society of the nineteen-forties. Has film-star good looks, and knows it. Both cocky and charming. Loves winding Reyna up. Other crewmembers think they should 'get a room'. Dr Saavik, ship's surgeon: a teenage Vulcan, whose mother is also named Saavik. Daughter of the late David Marcus, granddaughter of Jim Kirk and Dr Carol Marcus. Sometimes referred to by Grace as "Doogie Howser," to her great irritation.