Nike!: The Arrivals

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 1

The day started out with some success this time! Dale contacted me on the communicator to inform me that an arrival had been caught by a remote sensor. I was elated and hoped Samantha could make something of it all. Maybe this would bring me one step closer to Luke!

Thirty-two women had arrived, as predicted. We gathered again in the commissary, though we were already looking into other greeting areas for when the numbers increased - assuming we couldn't stop the 'Nike experience' before more arrived.

Lady Jessica led a group of us, assisted primarily by Princess Leia, Cordelia Vorkosigan, and a new woman from the day before, Amanda Morgan. I was keeping a record here, while Dale had duty on the bridge - I would relieve her in the afternoon. I rather liked meeting the new arrivals; the novelty of it helped keep my mind off our situation. Drs. Crusher and Russell were standing by as part of the initial briefing and greeting, but after that they would go to the infirmary to start our initial examinations. They had already had one examination early this morning before the arrivals. Apparenly one of our arrivals from yesterday had been a bit paranoid about her predicament and rather ingenious in forging an identity and managed to miss being examined by convincing each doctor that the other had done the exam. Cheeky girl, that Cally, but quite frankly I could hardly blame her under the circumstances.

The new arrivals had just started assembling when Beverly cried out, "Tasha! Tasha Yar!"

A woman with short blonde hair and wary brown eyes rushed to her side, "Dr. Crusher, what is all this? How are you here? I went back in time, through the rift, but you were still on Enterprise."

I noticed that the woman looked to have been through a fight, somewhat like Ellen Ripley's condition on arriving, all bruised and scraped. Now Beverly looked even more confused, "What are you talking about, Tasha? Oh, but it is good to see you again!"

Tasha went on, "What about the Romulans? Or the Klingons for that matter!"

Beverly seemed even more confused, "Neither of them here, Tasha, just us humans. I'll take you to the infirmary, check you out. You look really banged up, Tasha. I'll fill you in on the way." She turned to Dr. Russell, "Helena, would you take over here for me?"

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 2

Interlude -

As they walked, a gnawing suspicion grew in Beverly. "Tasha, you were talking about a rift in time. Where were you before you arrived on Nike?"

"A Romulan ship. Captured after the fight on Enterprise-C with the Romulans at the Klingon outpost, Narendra III. How did our Enterprise escape those three Klingon warbirds?"

"Tasha, I don't know how to put this, but I don't think we're from the same timelines."

"What do you mean?"

"Tasha, I don't remember you going back in time. What I do remember is you being killed by some thing on an away mission."

Tasha stopped, "An empty death."

"Well, yes, it was. How would you..."

"Something Guinan said. She said that the Enterprise-C wasn't supposed to be there, that I wasn't supposed to be there. Hell, she seemed to think the whole war with the Klingons was a mistake."

"It was. Tasha, we weren't at war with the Klingons. We did meet someone who told us a wild story about you being captured by Romulans years before. It seems that was true. I think I am from the timeline you and Enterprise-C corrected."

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 3

The reunion between Dr. Crusher and this Tasha Yar had been both perplexing and heartwarming. I hadn't been able to follow all of it, but it was clear they knew each other. This was the first time that I was aware of where any of us had recognized a new arrival. The closest before this had been the strange similarities between the timelines of Lieutenant Athena and Starbuck. However, their apparent confusion at seeing each other and the circumstances under which they had last parted made me think that they were from different points in time, or perhaps again, from different timelines, though obviously much closer than any others we had seen.

Until she walked into the commissary.

"Sarah Jane? Sarah Jane Smith? It is you, isn't it?"

It took me a moment to recognize her. While our brief encounters previously had been memorable ones, she was now very obviously pregnant....pregnant....

"Rose? Rose Tyler? Is that really you?"

"Last I checked. Sarah Jane, am I back in my old universe, or are you in my new one?"

I checked my shock, "Neither, dear. Come and sit down. We've almost everyone and the briefing will start. It will bring you up to snuff on what's going on, and then I'll be happy to answer any questions you have."

"Sure. I'd love to get off my feet. Not quite up to chasing about with Cybermen right now, am I?"

"I suppose not. No need to worry, none of those about."

"Oh, something must be about if you're here, Sarah Jane."

"Speak for yourself, young lady! I seem to recall you following trouble about, even across universes."

"Not lately, though!"

"I should think not." I gave her a brief hug, "Oh, but it is good to see a familiar face. Hush now, the briefing is about to start."

I sat down next to Rose, holding her hand. I had conflicting emotions seeing Rose again, especially in her condition. There was no doubt in my mind who the father must be - then again, knowing that, maybe there was real hope now for assistance from out of the blue....

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 5

Interlude -

Honor sat on the bridge of Nike. "Report."

Samantha Carter started, "The independent sensors worked. We're definitely dealing with a combination of some sort of beaming technology, similar to what the Asgard gave us in my timeline and what Beverly says they had in her timeline, as well as some sort of subatomic rift in n-dimensional space, what Beverly calls subspace. The opening of the rift is apparently quite energetic; I wouldn't want to be in the room when that happens, and that may be why Nike shuts off the power. The sensors did take damage from this, but we insulated them pretty well and they stood up. It's going to take a while to analyze the data fully. The bad news is that we there's no directionality in three dimensional space to the beam; it's not coming from anywhere around us, but literally from somewhere else in spacetime, maybe even another universe. The good news is we did figure out how the 'library' is getting its information on our worlds. Every time someone new is beamed in, there is a secondary beam that materializes a small data storage device into a recess behind the wall of the room that then hooks into Nike's data systems. So that's how its getting here."

"Why a data package? Why not beam it directly as a signal into Nike's systems?"

"Data compression. If you think of energy and information as roughly equivalent, and then think of matter as extremely dense energy; E=mc squared, after all, then it's a very efficient way to transmit the data in a very short period of time."

"Good to know. However, my priority is getting out of this universe. Can we reverse engineer the rift ripping technology from what we know so far?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. But then again, maybe someone else will bring the knowledge we need to do that. We'll know more once we've had time to fully study the sensor data, as well as go over the new arrivals' information."

"Speaking of which, what do we know of the missing new arrival?"

Trinity spoke, "I was able to hack her data package. There are very interesting medical information on someone referred to only as Linda or Linda-058. Part of an elite unit called Spartans or SPARTAN II. Lots of technical data."

Honor nodded, "So probably some sort of special forces. Might explain the disappearing act, especially depending on what she left behind. Paula having any luck locating her?"

Sam answered this time, "Actually, your midnight visitor Cally O'Neal suggested some ideas on Nike creating passive sensors in crawlspaces that I didn't even think someone could squeeze in, and we have her location - unless there's someone else we don't know about on Nike, we've got her pinpointed. What we're not sure is how to approach her without making things worse. Oh, and just to make things more fun, she seems to have some sort of weapon with her in there, and I don't think it's a stunner."

"Of course," Honor stood up and stated, "Well, let's be about it."

"About what?"

"Getting our latest visitor out of the walls." Honor Harrington marched off the bridge.

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 6

Interlude -

Beverly Crusher saw to Tasha's injuries and her overall Nike entry exam.

"Well, Doctor?"

"Different timelines, definitely. The quantum signature confirms it."

"But you're so like the Dr. Crusher I know, at least as much as I can tell in the brief time we've been together."

"And you as well. But it's been a lot longer for me than you since we....since I last saw your alternate version."

"And the other thing, Doctor?"

"Very, very early. I had to use some more sophisticated tests to detect it, but yes, you too are pregnant."

"Castillo."

"I'm sorry?"

"It has to be Castillo, the father, I mean, Lieutenant Richard Castillo, last surviving bridge officer of the Enterprise-C. We became - close in that frantic little time between the old Enterprise coming through the rift and it's return to the fight. I hadn't been with anyone else in a very long time, Doctor."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Tasha."

"No, I want to. He was sweet, and brave, and I want to remember him."

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 7

I whisked Rose down to Beverly Crusher in the infirmary after the briefing. While I was curious about the missing arrival, Rose was my first priority.

"So, what is he calling himself?"

I didn't really need to clarify who.

"John Smith."

"Ha! That's typical."

We found Beverly finishing up with the new arrival she had recognized, Tasha Yar.

"Beverly, I have your next examinee. Beverly Crusher, meet Rose Tyler. Rose is, or rather was, from the same universe as my own, and also was a companion of the Doctor, my Time Lord friend."

Beverly took in a breathe, "Seems this is the day for reunions. Sarah Jane, Ms. Tyler, meet Lieutenant Tasha Yar, of the USS Enterprise, though not quite mine."

The blonde woman with the short hair nodded to us, "Doctor, where should I go from here?"

"Just stay here for a bit, then I'll escort you to the bridge."

Beverly turned back to us, "Well, let's see how you're doing, Rose. You seem to be fairly far along."

"You might say that, yeah."

"Sarah Jane, if you'll just wait out here?"

Rose made a face, "If it's all the same to you two, would it be okay for Sarah Jane to stay?"

I was a bit surprised by Rose's request, "Of course, whatever you'd like, dear."

Beverly nodded her assent as well.

"It's just that, every time I've had something bizarre like this happen to me, things can change quick, and us former TARDIS girls need to stick together, yeah?"

"Yes, quite right."

The exam seemed to go smoothly enough, or so Beverly kept reassuring us, but then she seemed to slow down, go into some more details on the scans than anything she had done with me.

"What is it, Beverly?"

"Sarah Jane, you both traveled through time on a regular basis, or so you told me. I picked up some trace temporal energy in Rose's scan, which I assumed was from that. Rose, first let me say that your baby is perfectly healthy, developing just fine, and perfectly human. However, in addition to the normal human DNA of your baby, intertwined with it almost like a third strand, is a strong temporal energy field. I can't explain it."

Rose swallowed, "Maybe, I dunno. I had the energy of a time traveler, yeah, but I also had the energy of the heart of the TARDIS in me at one time. He took that energy out of me, into himself, the Doctor did. And John, a human created from regeneration energy while in the TARDIS, is the father. I dunno, maybe one, maybe the other, maybe both? I wish the Doctor was here now; he might be able to explain it."

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 8

Interlude -

Honor approached the corridor where several others had assembled. Paula Myo and Cally O'Neal made an odd couple after last night, but the two seemed to be working together as if it hadn't even taken place. Several others were on scene as well to assist, including Ana Khouri and Sarah Connor. Joining the group at about the same time as Honor, Dale, and Trinity was Lady Jessica Atreides and Princess Leia Organa Solo.

Linda-058 watched them all from the the narrow accessway. The shape she was contorted into to fit would have made people uncomfortable merely to look at, nevertheless obtain. Yet she still managed to have her weapon pointed at the converging women. All human, she noted, no Covenant species. So far intel checked out. She could have crawled farther into the bowels of Nike, made them come after her. However, the fact they were here now must mean they had a way to track her.

Jessica and Leia both offered to try to get the woman to come out, though both remained evasive as to how they would do so. Honor merely smiled - she knew those two would need to come forward someday with whatever it was that they could do, but now wasn't the time.

Honor disarmed herself visibly (though not literally), and stepped forward.

"Petty Officer Linda-058, I am Admiral Honor Alexander-Harrington of the Royal Manticoran Star Navy. We learned your name and rank by hacking into information loaded into the computer of this space station when you were brought here. I am neither your abductor nor your enemy. These women and I were abducted, just as you were this morning. The earliest of us arrived less than a week ago. Your reaction to the situation is understandable, but I need you to stand down. We wll work together to escape this place and return home. In my world, the first duty of every prisoner is escape. As senior ranking officer among the abducted on this space station, it is my duty to plan that escape. I need your assistance, and I need you to stand down."

Linda-058 was interested. The uniformed officer had command presence, even if she appeared too young for flag rank. John, Master Chief, couldn't have said it better himself. Linda had to decide whether this was some psyop by the Covenant, or more likely a separatist group, or if these women were what they said and if so, whether it would be better to ally with them or to try to evade them and work alone. Alone had appeal, but would probably entail having to neutralize these women if she were to be left free to act against her abductors, again assuming they weren't one and the same.

Lady Jessica moved to stand beside Honor, but Princess Leia laid a hand on her arm, "Don't. I think our reluctant arrival is on the verge of a decision."

"Petty Officer, I do not have all day."

Linda-058 dropped to the floor of the corridor, gun held loosely at her side, "I keep the gun."

"Whatever it takes, Petty Officer. The Lady Jessica is assigned to process all new arrivals, please cooperate with her as much as you feel is allowed by your own military codes."

The Spartan nodded to the Admiral.

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 9

Interlude -

Doctor Helena Russell approached the group of women after the first new arrivals began to filter into the infirmary.

"Dr. Crusher?"

"Yes, Helena, what can I do for you?"

"I just reviewed the first batch of new arrivals to be examined, and I think there is one who you need to meet."

"I was just heading up to the Bridge for a bit before coming back to start exams, who is this you want me to see?"

Dr. Russell gestured to an attractive dark skinned woman who joined them.

"Dr. Crusher, this is Nyota, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. Her form says she is from the United States of Africa, in the United Federation of Planets, and is a member of Starfleet serving as communications officer on a USS Enterprise. That sounded to me like your world."

Both Crusher and Yar stood up to greet the newcomer, "It does indeed, but I don't know you, Lieutenant. I am chief medical officer from the USS Enterprise 1701-E, 24th century. This is Lieutenant Tasha Yar, also 24th century, but from an USS Enterprise 1701-D from an alternate universe to my own, though we served with parallel versions of each other. How about you?"

Uhura shook her head, "I guess we didn't do too badly if they kept the name and number in service so long. I serve on the USS Enterprise 1701, no letter, in the 23rd century."

Yar perked up a bit, "Would that have been under Captain James Tiberius Kirk?"

Uhura nodded, "Yes. I guess history recalls captains better than communications officers."

Beverly Crusher raised a hand, "Don't be too certain. I had the opportunity to meet Montgomery Scott, the original Enterprise's engineer. He spoke some about his old crew. Now that I'm thinking of it, I seem to recall him mentioning a fellow officer named Uhura."

"Scotty, eh? Yes, we served together. We both ended up joining the Enterprise permanently after the destruction of Vulcan."

Beverly and Tasha both exclaimed, "What?"

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 10

Interlude -

Honor Harrington, Susan Ivanova, Jessica Atreides, and Dale Arden sat in the side office off the bridge. Honor sipped at her cocoa.

"We need to change tactics."

Jessica sighed, "Obviously."

Ivanova snorted, "I'm surprised that we didn't have more trouble before this. Hell, I'm surprised no one has been shot yet."

"Well, someone already was shot, if only to stun, or did you forget Cally O'Neal?"

"Hardly, but then again, I don't really count being stunned as 'shot'."

Jessica said, "We could instruct Nike to restrict production of weapons, and to have the doors of new arrivals locked until we release them."

Honor shook her head, "That won't win trust. We're going to great pains to make it clear we are not their abductors, but that would make us their captors."

Susan suggested, "Split the difference? Lock out weapons at least until they've been through the orientation and we've had a chance to convince them we're not a threat, but keep the doors open."

Jessica asked, "But how do we guarantee they get the word?"

Dale looked up from her tablet where she'd been recording notes, "Why not have it start playing in their rooms as soon as they arrive? I would have at least watched something like that before going out into Nike."

"That could work."

Ivanova added, "I also suggest we start assigning people not on other duties at the time as 'hall monitors' for the sleeping sections to help people along to the main assembly area."

"Doable, I suppose, and it might cut down on others getting side-tracked."

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 11

Quite the morning all around, I must say! I don't think I've been quite so stunned since meeting Beverly and Honor a few days ago. Rose and I joined Beverly, Tasha, and Uhura on their trip to the bridge. We met up with Honor, Susan, and Sam there, with Beverly making her excuses to resume her post in the infirmary. After a quick round of introductions, the import of what had happened today began to register on our bridge team.

"Well, it would seem that our abductors have some interest in ships named Enterprise in your universe," Honor stated.

"Not to mention this TARDIS or Doctor of Sarah Jane's," Susan added.

Sam Carter interjected, "I would tend to agree. We were suspecting some sort of pattern, though this emphasis on variations of your timelines is unexpected."

"Maybe not so unexpected, given the two refugees from a Battlestar Galactica who have arrived here," Honor countered.

"Fair point, Admiral."

"Have you had a chance to inspect the information from the other new arrivals for other parallels, Sam?"

"Yes, Honor. These seem to be the only cases."

"Well, Rose, Lieutenant Yar, Lieutenant Uhura, welcome aboard, even if its not under the best of circumstances. Susan, think we could use these two Starfleet officers on the bridge here?"

"Oh, I think so, Admiral. Lieutenant Uhura, we don't really have anyone on communications, but the time is coming when that may be critical, not to mention we could do a better job of scanning the region for signals from others. Lieutenant Yar, I could also use someone on tactical here, and some assistance in organizing our internal security on the off chance we encounter any hostile arrivals."

Tasha Yar nodded in acknowledgement, "I'll do my best, Captain Ivanova."

Uhura added, "As will I, Captain, for as long as we're trapped here."

"Very good. You'll find the controls on Nike surprisingly simple to master, I think."

[Glen]

Day 6 Part 12

Interlude -

Kaitlin Garroway and Marygay Potter-Mandella sat side by side, with Sarah Connor, Dizzy Flores, Ana Khouri to either side of the table. A few other newcomers were scattered about as well. Cally O'Neal was standing by the door, leaning casually as she listened.

"Marygay, you have the most experience in ground troop combat, it would seem, so perhaps you should lead our effort."

"Yeah, if you count being shot through space for hundreds of years just to fight in a battle suit experience. What we need here is more of a security force rather than ground pounders."

"Well, Ana, how about you? You've had some experience in security, yes?"

"Personal protection, personal assassination, but that's about it. Nothing like this."

The door opened and in walked another new arrival, Tasha Yar.

"Sorry to interrupt. Captain Ivanova asked me to come down from the bridge to liaison with your efforts."

Marygay Potter-Mandella smiled as she looked over her tablet, "Ah, Lieutenant Yar, now you seem just what we need. It says here you were head of ship's security on a large ship called Enterprise. We are looking for some guidance on how to form a scratch security force for Nike. Perhaps you can give us a hand with your experiences?"

"I'll try my best. Let me bring up a schematic of the station and a roster of who is available."

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 1

Interlude -

The sixty-four new arrivals awoke to the sounds of chimes, followed by a voice coming from the air.

"Greetings from your fellow abductees. I am Fleet Admiral Honor Alexander-Harrington of the Manticoran Star Navy, an abductee as are you and all the women aboard this place, a space station called Nike. Our abductors are not on this space station nor do we know who they are. I ask that you wait in your room and hear out the rest of this orientation broadcast that we, your fellow abductees, have created to give you what answers we have been able to discover thus far. At the end of this presentation, there will be instructions on how to meet with us who have arrived before. We come from different times, different parts of the universe, different histories. We believe that Nike is in a universe completely different from our own. We are dedicated to discovering a way home for all, to our mutual self defense, and to the discovery of our abductors."

***

I was stationed in the hallway nearest to my own room. The same orientation was playing for us as it was in the room, the better to judge when it would be completing. I was pleased to see that no one at least in my line of sight was running out of the rooms or sprinting down the hall. Hopefully this would help avoid the close calls that we were starting to have as more and more people were arriving. Honor's introduction segued into Jessica's explanation of the intake process, and then Beverly's explanation of the medical situation and procedures. Beverly's part of the presentation was about half-way through when an authoratative woman with auburn hair came striding down the hall.

"Take me to Doctor Beverly Crusher."

Guess it was going to be one of those days - again.

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 2

Interlude -

Honor was sitting on the bridge along with just a few others - most the rest were in the corridors of Nike to help guide the new arrivals. The broadcast had just finished, and seemed to have worked mostly according to plan, though there had been a few who exited their room prematurely it sounded. Honor suspected that they had a few more close alternate histories to people already here again. Even so, when the bridge door opened and the dark featured woman with the Winton features entered the bridge, Honor still was taken aback.

"Mike, Mike Henke!"

"Honor!"

Dale was a bit shocked when Admiral Harrington actually ran over and embraced the other woman, tears running down her eyes.

"Mike, I'm so happy to see you, but damn, why do you have to be trapped in this thing, no matter what universe you're from."

"Hell, Honor, we'll get out of this faster than either of us got away from the Peeps! Whoever behind this has made a serious mistake placing the two of us in their trap together."

Interlude -

Jessica was still in the commisary, but in a few days if they hadn't discovered a way off Nike, she would have to move her command center to the auditorium they had discovered on Nike's schematics. There were actually more than one commissary on Nike, but this one was the closest to the center of the station, and to the bridge, and it still made for a good assembly area. The ability to get the new arrivals something to eat and a place to eat it at was also an attraction. She had already processed a few when she heard a voice.

"Reverend Mother."

Jessica turned to see a familiar blue-within-blue set of eyes looking back at her.

"Chani? Chani, is that really you?"

It had to be her, but older, and of course very pregnant.

Chani was equally surprised to see Jessica look so young and so pregnant, as she had not seen her for years.

***

"Um, Helena, where is Beverly? I have someone here."

Even as I said the words, Beverly entered the main portion of the infirmary and came to a sudden halt.

"Commander Crusher, I have some questions for you."

"Vice Admiral Janeway?"

"The same. We can start talking as you examine me - that is the procedure is it not?"

"It is, Admiral. We also should compare histories and see where we diverge."

"I do have some familiarity with alternate timelines, Dr. Crusher. Let's get to it."

"Afterwards, Beverly, I think I ought to escort the Vice Admiral to the bridge to meet with Admiral Harrington."

Kathryn Janeway nodded, "I think that would be best."

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 3

Interlude -

Leia Solo was in another corridor, close to her sleeping quarters, like most of the people who had arrived on Nike. Today, however, Leia didn't need the chimes or the beginning of the recorded announcement to alert her to the arrival of new abductees. She felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if some massive power had entered Nike. She had something like this only from a few people; her father (of course she had known him as Darth Vader at the time), and her brother. However, she was much more attuned herself to the Force now than then, so it hit her like a palpable wave.

***

Interlude -

Dr. Crusher began her examination of Vice-Admiral Janeway as she gave her a brief synopsis of her past week on Nike.

"I would have thought if you had disappeared, Doctor, that Jean-Luc would have torn a hole through the Alpha quadrant looking for you."

Beverly blushed a bit at that. "Well, Admiral, we all seem to be from different timelines, so I doubt your Jean-Luc Picard has been much concerned. Here, let me show you the difference in quantum signatures between us." Beverly placed her own quantum signature on Nike's version of a viewscreen, then scanned Kathryn Janeway for hers.

"Doctor, I may not be a Starfleet physician, but I believe I have a fair head for science. To me, those quantum signatures look identical."

"That is because, Admiral Janeway, they are. I think perhaps I should accompany you and Ms. Smith to the bridge."

***

The three of us went up quickly to the bridge, Beverly, Vice-Admiral Janeway, and myself. I found it quite fascinating to hear that they had both been brought from the same timeline, in fact the same time. This was unprecedented in the week that we had been on Nike. I was also interested to see how Honor, Fleet Admiral Harrington, would react to Vice-Admiral Janeway. The woman had her own imposing way about her, that was for certain!

We entered the bridge to see Honor thick as thieves with what I supposed must be a new arrival, though you wouldn't know it from the way that they were going about.

"Honor, Beverly and I have brought a special arrival to meet you."

Beverly continued, "Admiral Honor Alexander-Harrington, may I introduce you to Vice-Admiral Kathryn Janeway, of Starfleet Command, and according to my scans, from the same time and timeline as my own."

Honor pulled herself away from her new arrival to stride over to us, "Two Vice-Admirals in the same day, no less! Welcome, Admiral Janeway. I must say I've been impressed with the stories I've heard of your Federation and Starfleet. A bit like what the Solarian League should have been. May I introduce you, Doctor Crusher, and Sarah Jane to my good, dear friend and fellow officer, Lady Gloria Michelle Samantha Evelyn Henke, Countess Gold Peak, Vice Admiral of the Red, Royal Manticoran Navy."

Mike made a face, "None of that, Honor. Please, ladies, call me Mike, or Admiral Henke if you must be formal. The rest of that aristocratic gilding we can leave should you ever visit the Star Empire of Manticore."

I liked Mike almost immediately, much sooner than I had warmed to Honor, though I considered her quite close, now, among my Nike acquaintences.

Dr. Crusher asked, "Did you two discover any divergences in your histories?"

Honor replied, "Not yet, no."

Beverly took out an instrument she had previously referred to as a tricorder, "That's probably because you two have the same quantum signature. You are from the same time and timeline!"

I exclaimed, "Two in a row! Nike is throwing us another curveball, as the Americans would say."

Kathryn Janeway cut in, "That's all very well, but what I'd like to know is what progress you've made thus far in determining a way back to our home universes. I have some previous experience both with being trapped a long way from home with a mixed crew, and with time and alternate dimensional travel, so perhaps I could help if I could get a briefing on the situation thus far, in more detail than what I heard in the introduction in my room?"

Honor replied, "Of course, Vice-Admiral, though I will tell you we have multiple abductees on Nike with similar trans-temporal and trans-dimensional experiences, including your guide there, Ms. Smith. But we value any assistance you can lend to the cause. Mike, it would probably be useful for you to hear more as well, even though we Manticorans have much less experience with these time and universe translocations."

"I'm at your disposal, Honor."

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 4

Interlude -

Lieutenant Athena had the bridge watch that morning with Admiral Harrington. As the names and information of the new arrivals started to come through Athena scrolled through it, looking for any similarities such as she had experienced with Kara Thrace. At one entry she stopped, read, then read again.

"Admiral Harrington?"

"Yes, Athena?"

"Another new arrival from a Battlestar Galactica, and with a name I recognize at that. Permission to investigate?"

"Very well. It seems to be a day of reunions."

Athena exited the bridge and headed for the infirmary.

***

Leia Solo had not been able to find the source of the disturbance in the Force at the commisary, so she next headed for the infirmary. As she approached, she could feel that she was getting close, though the sensation was no longer nearly as strong as that first shock on the moment of the woman's arrival. As she entered the infirmary, she was steered by the Force to the right of the room where she was somewhat surprised to see Susan Ivanova. It was the woman standing next to her that was the person Leia had sought.

Susan saw Leia approach, "Leia Organa Solo, let me introduce you to another refugee from Babylon 5, my Babylon 5 it would seem according to the scans. This is Lyta Alexander."

Leia stared at the red haired woman with dark eyes that sometimes seemed too dark. "I take it you two were friends on your former space station, Susan?"

"Comrades in Arms. Both fought against the Shadows, and both have a disliking for the Psi Corps."

Lyta snorted, "Dislike is an understatement, Susan. Best part of this whole Nike situation; no Psi Corps."

"A pleasure to meet you, Lyta. I was looking to see if anyone from my own galaxy had arrived on Nike. I hadn't expected to meet someone from Susan's."

A voice inside Leia's head said 'I bet you didn't.'

***

Interlude -

Cordelia Vorkosigan was checking in arrivals still in the commisary, though most had gone to the infirmary. A straggler came through the door.

"Hello, welcome. I'm Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan. Can I get you to fill out one of our information forms?"

"I suppose so. What is your native language?"

"Betan, but everyone here speaks this Nike stuff after arriving, except for the occasional curse word."

"Really? Have you tried speaking Betan? Really trying."

"Well, no, I suppose not."

"Try it now. Think of it like trying to access a foreign language. Do you know languages other than Betan?"

"Yes."

Cordelia found much to her delight that with effort, she could in fact speak Betan. She said a few words out loud to savor them.

"Interesting. So Betan seems to be English derived." The new arrival then said a few words of what sounded like passable Betan, though a bit off.

"You know Betan?"

"No, just good with languages. It is easier since arriving to just speak in this Lojban derivative. Everyone I've run into so far seems to understand it.

"You know what this Nike language is?"

"Certainly. It's a variation on an artificially constructed language from the early 21st century, with syntax based on first order logic, and a very regular phonology. Word roots mostly based on six common languages of the time, including your root tongue, English. Very easy to learn, especially for computers. I do find it an interesting twist, however, that whoever designed this communications system has a customized Hangul script for writing Lobjan. Lobjan was developed using a Roman Alphabet. I kind of like the merger of the two; Hangul is such a well constructed writing system. It's impressive that the original Hangul was developed in the 15th century Korean peninsula, when you think about it."

"And you recognize both? That's amazing. Who are you?"

"Hoshi Sato, 22nd century Earth, Starfleet, Communications Officer for the Enterprise."

Cordelia looked at her tablet, "We seem to be having a run on Starfleet Officers this week."

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 5

Interlude -

Even though Wilma Deering had intelligence experience as part of her service to the Earth's Defense Directorate, she found that in the past week she had spent most of her time in a Nike fighter or trying to put together a fighter wing. She was somewhat surprised to see Lieutenant Athena approaching with another woman in tow. Athena was wearing the dark uniform that was standard for bridge crew for battlestars, as the great warships of her worlds were known. Wilma had been running Athena through drills in Nike's fighters whenever she could to start building her flight skills, just in case, so she knew that Athena was on bridge duty at present. However, she imagined the other woman with her was the reason for her unexpected appearance. The new arrival with Athena had sandy hair and brown eyes and a bit of a swagger to her walk. She was garbed in a brown flight suit that had a similiar design in some ways to Athena's.

"Colonel Deering, I've brought you another recruit for your fighters. Wilma Deering, meet Lieutenant Sheba. Sheba is actually from my own Battlestar Galactica."

"By way of Pegasus." Sheba interjected.

"Well, we're glad to have the help, Sheba. Why don't we take out some fighters and see how you take to them."

"Sheba, I have to return to the bridge, but we'll talk later. Apollo would kill me otherwise." Athena smiled, "Colonel Deering will run you through your paces."

"So, Colonel, which bird can I have?"

After their trial flight, Deering couldn't help smiling. Sheba was good, very good.

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 6

Interlude -

Cordelia Vorkosigan had just finished giving Ensign Sato directions to the infirmary when a voice called, "Lady Vorkosigan!"

Cordelia turned around to see a familiar tall, athletic, but very pregnant, blonde woman enter the room, "Ludmilla Droushnakovi! Pregnant as well! Who is the lucky man? Please tell me it's Kou."

"Of course it's Kou! You think I'd be working on my second child with anyone else but my husband? Why are you talking such nonsense? And how are you suddenly pregnant? After what happened to Miles I thought you'd..."

"What are you saying? You must be from my future, or a version of it. Miles is my father's name. But my father's dead. Who is Miles?"

"Your first child, Cordelia. How could you not know that, unless....the briefing, it said some incredible things about different times. What was the date just before you arrived here?"

Cordelia had to think a bit to remember the exact date, as she hadn't thought in terms of the Barrayar calendar for a week.

Droushnakovi blanched, "The night of the soltoxin attack! None of us could ever forget that date. But that must mean, you weren't poisoned?"

"Of course not! Aral! Was Aral hurt?"

"No, we were able to get an antidote in time. But that means...you're pregnant with Miles, right now, and you haven't been exposed to....oh, Cordelia!"

"There's something you're not telling me, was there damage to my child from the soltoxin?"

"Not the soltoxin, but the antidote. Oh, Cordelia, we had failed you both. You were going to die without the antidote, but it was terratogenic."

Now it was Cordelia's turn to blanche, "No. How bad?"

"Should I even be telling you all this? It is your future."

Cordelia Vorkosigan's sea grey eyes glittered dangerously bright.

"Screw the future. You will tell me what has happened to my son!"

"The antidote caused severe damage to his bones. We managed to obtain an experimental treatment that saved his life, but his bones are fragile, terribly brittle. They break all the time, and it's stunting his growth, the poor thing."

Cordelia shuddered to imagine the reaction of the Barrayarans to a defective child, with their horror of mutation. A harelip could be a death sentence in the back-country.

"But he lives. What about his mind, did it do anything to that?"

"Nothing, Cordelia! He's the cleverest little man! He's so young, but Miles thinks circles around most of us."

"Well then, well then....but why do you keep using his middle name? We're naming him Piotr Miles, in the Vor fashion, after his paternal then maternal grandfathers. Doesn't he like Piotr?"

"No, his name is Miles. Miles Naismith Vorkosigan."

"My father's full name. Why?"

"Count Piotr wouldn't allow his name to be given to a child who was damaged."

Droushnakovi decided not to mention at this moment the attempt Piotr made to kill Miles.

"Damn the old goat. We need to get you into the system, Drou. We're going to try to get back home, but until then we need to be prepared for anything."

"Whatever you say, Lady Vorkosigan."

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 7

Interlude -

Helena Russell was holding down the fort in the infirmary while waiting for Dr. Crusher's return, but there was a long waiting line for evaluation. She hoped Beverly would be back soon, she was much more adept with the examinations due to her time's advanced medical knowledge. Helena oftentimes over the past week felt as if she was back in medical school.

"Excuse me, Dr. Russell, is it? I was informed that you and Dr. Crusher could use a hand here. I've a medical degree and I'm a fairly quick study when it comes to alien technology."

"That would be incredibly helpful. What's your name?"

"Jones. Dr. Martha Jones," said the black woman with the stunning smile.

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 8

I had managed to link up with Honor and was asked to sit in a meeting with another one of our new arrivals. The woman was much smaller than Honor (not that most of us weren't), had an attractive if not beautiful face, and dark hair. Unlike a number of our other new arrivals that day, she appeared to represent a truly new timeline from those we had already encountered. However, as per her intake form, she was our third admiral of the day! Apparently our abductors were feeling that Honor needed some more high ranking company.

It was fascinating watching the two women sitting across from each other. While they looked nothing alike in facial features other than overall coloring, they both exuded what many call 'command presence'. In some ways, this new admiral reminded me of a scaled down Harrington.

"Welcome aboard Nike Station, though of course I wish it were under better circumstances."

"As do I. I don't take well to being shanghaied - um, does your universe have that term?"

"Yes, a hold-over from the old wet navy days of Earth. I take your point."

"I am impressed with what you have done to organize things in just a week, Admiral Harrington."

"Much of the credit for that goes to the very capable women who have been abducted with us. I think you will find we have a very interesting group on Nike."

"Still, I know what it is like to have to throw together a command structure from scratch, and you've worked wonders in that time."

"Yes, you seem to have had precisely that type of experience in your own timeline. I've fought pirates and slavers myself, and they are an unsavory bunch. The degree of long term planning and scale of organization of this pirate conspiracy, however, boggles the mind."

"Yes, it does. Unfortunately they almost succeeded. I lost most of my family in the attacks on our company, I lost a crew full of good people, friends, in the course of the war, but I made them pay for that."

"I know what that kind of loss is like, Admiral Vatta."

"I believe you, Admiral Harrington."

"Call me Honor."

"And you must call me Ky; no one really uses Kylara.

[Glen]

Day 7 Part 9

Samantha Carter came to the end of the briefing.

"And so, we're trying to figure out a way to either replicate or use the rift/teleportation scheme that our abductors are using as a way to get people home. One of Sarah Jane's acquaintences, Rose Tyler, noted that she had come across a trans-dimensional rift that was being held open by an energy beam. We're looking into this as a possibility when the next arrivals take place."

The briefing had started with some background material for Vice Admiral Janeway, but this was now getting into new territory, and thus Honor had joined the assembly.

Kathryn Janeway spoke up.

"This is all fascinating, Colonel Carter. You've really done some remarkable work for less than a week's time. I have to admit, I find it simply fascinating that people from the early 21st century could have this amount of background. The timelines you and this Rose Tyler come from must be rather extraordinary. However, have you fully thought out the moral ramifications of trying this while a 'new arrival' is being brought in. It could mean the death of whoever is being brought through."

Honor was the one to reply.

"If I were the one being transported, I would rather have someone take the risk and thwart the attempt rather than sit idly by and do nothing."

"As would I, quite frankly, Admiral. But do we have the right to make that decision for another." Kathryn Janeway retorted.

"I don't know that we have the right, but I think we have the duty to attempt to escape, and to halt this mass abduction."

Sam interjected, "All of this may be moot. We still have no clear idea as to whether we can generate a sufficient energy beam of the right type to hold open a rift."

Interlude -

Martha Jones was new to the infirmary, but the large number of arrivals meant that there was only time for on the job training. Helena had run her through the machinery which really was simple to operate, and introduced her to Dr. Crusher when she arrived. While Martha was still a bit stunned to find herself in this situation, she'd always been one to work through her shock rather than freeze up or any such nonsense.

One of the last to come through her exam room was a very pregnant lady. She had no idea where she was from, but then she saw the scans were being flagged - hmm, similarities to someone already here. And a problem as well. From what the briefing and Helena and Beverly had said, that seemed surprising. Martha hit her newly issued combadge.

"Dr. Crusher, this is Dr. Jones. We've a bit of a surprise. Could you come to my exam room?"

"Is there something wrong, Doctor?"

"Not as such, or at least nothing we can't take care of."

Martha read through the information her patient had entered, and the scan comparisons. She hit her combadge again.

"Organa Solo, please report to the infirmary and ask for Dr. Jones."