The crew on the bridge watched the main viewscreen as Captain Picard called for the ship to come to a full stop. They knew an unknown ship was going to appear there and they felt both eager to find out what it was and also trepidation about the same thing.
The command crew felt the same way, especially Picard. He knew that Tom Riker had called for help and admitted his mission to funnel advanced technology to the Federation undetected had failed. The funny part about that was it would have circumvented many of the treaties the United Federation of Planets had with several other empires to not research technology themselves.
Worf's console beeped at him. “Captain! A ship has been detected dropping out of warp.”
“On the main viewscreen.” Picard said and the view shifted slightly as a dot appeared on it. “Can we get a better view?”
“One moment, captain.” Data said from the navigation console next to the helm. His hands blurred over the buttons and the viewscreen pixellated for a second and then the zoom increasted to show a very heavily armored ship.
“What is that?” Deanna asked, her surprise at the sight making her speak up.
Worf typed up a few things. “Long range scanners have determined it is similar to the proposed Intrepid class that will be launched next year, only it is half the size and does not have adjustable nacelles. It also has its shields up and its weapons are on standby.”
Everyone on the bridge looked over at Worf and then at Captain Picard. The man tried to keep the embarrassment off of his face and barely succeeded as the proof of Tom's claim flew towards the Enterprise.
Data's hands moved like lightning as he did several scans and checked the results. “According to these readings, the heavy armor plating is something called Ablative Armor. It's an energy construct, similar to replicator use, except it's external to the ship and protects it from enemy energy blasts that can cut through or bypass a ship's normal shielding by being burned off and not damaging the actual hull.”
Everyone saw him frown slightly and his hands moved a little faster.
“Captain, I do not remember hearing about such a thing before, so I checked the database itself. The entry for the reference in the database is dated to only half an hour ago.” Data informed him.
Picard held in his sigh at hearing that. “Mr. Data, split the main screen and show a list of other items entered into the database at or near the same time.”
“Yes, sir. Just a moment.” Data said and the screen split, then a number of items appeared in small print and grew, then the list started scrolling.
“Dear lord.” Someone whispered.
Picard felt his own resolve waver as he watched the list grow from shipboard applications to encompass all forms of technology in the Federation. Additions were made to nearly everything and the sheer scope of the things would have the people at Starfleet R&D salivating at only having the references and descriptions for the ideas they generated. If they had access to the upgrades as well, despite the source of said technology, Picard doubted his position on the flagship would last longer than a flickering candle in the wind.
“Sir, we're being hailed on a standard Federation frequency.” Worf said and hit a few buttons. He looked surprised for a moment and hit the same sequence of buttons again. “I've confirmed the source is the United Federation of Planets starship registry, NCC-54362, the USS Retaliation.”
Commander Riker shook his head. “No such ship exists.”
His words almost echoed across the silent bridge and no one missed the implications.
“Accept the hail and put it on the main viewer.” Picard said, reluctantly.
Deanna softly gasped when a woman who had a striking resemblance to her mother appeared on the screen, except she was slightly younger, had her hair in a Starfleet regulated pattern, and wore a uniform that looked like a Starfleet command uniform, only slightly futuristic in style.
Everyone could see the smaller bridge and no one doubted it was real, until another woman that looked identical to the woman sitting in the command chair walked by the screen, except she wore an engineering uniform.
“Greetings and salutations, Captain Picard. I am Commander Chappel.” The woman in the chair said and stood up. She took two steps forward and everyone on the Enterprise's bridge couldn't help but admire the woman's figure that the uniform hugged in all the right places. “Helm, all stop. Stand down Yellow Alert.”
“Aye, commander.” Her own voice responded.
Worf's console beeped at him and told him both the enemy's shields and the weapons were powered down. “Confirmed, captain.”
Picard stood as well. “Commander Chappel? Who do you report to?”
The woman smiled knowingly. “You already know that answer, captain.” She said and made a motion with her hand. The viewscreen backed off and showed the whole bridge and all eight versions of the same woman.
“Who, or what, are you?” Deanna asked, her curiosity was too piqued to ignore any longer.
Chappel gave her a similar smile. “You seem to recognize me, Lieutenant Commander.”
Deanna opened her mouth to respond and stopped at Picard's raised hand.
“Please answer the question.” Picard said.
“No, it couldn't.” Tom Riker said from the viewscreen and everyone turned back to look, only to be shocked by who else was there.
“Beverly!” Deanna gasped when she saw the damp eyes and sad face of her best friend.
“I'm sorry, Deanna. I cannot stay on a ship commanded by a man who could say those things to me and not regret it.” Beverly said.
“But, the inquiry...” Deanna started to say and trailed off.
“It doesn't matter what the results are.” Tom said. “Just the report of the incident is enough to put a permanent mark on her service record because of the investigation. That's really sad, since the mark should be on Picard's record as well. It won't be, because he's the captain and Beverly questioned his authority in front of witnesses. Neither he nor Starfleet can afford that, can they?”
Picard let out the sigh he didn't realize he had been holding. “What are you going to do now?”
“Me? Why would you care about that? I'm only a child.” Tom said with a smirk and turned to Commander Chappel. “I just had a neat idea. Do you want to adopt me and set a new record for absurdity?”
“SON!” Chappel said and jumped at him and hugged him tightly. “You adorable little man! I'll hug you and love you and call you Will!”
Deanna Troi blushed from embarrassment, because that was exactly how her mother would have reacted. She glanced over at Commander Riker and saw his embarrassed face and felt his emotions. He felt the same way as she did and he also felt a little jealous that a younger him was being hugged by the younger version of her mother.
“Thanks, mom.” Tom said and held her. “I'll put the paperwork through after we leave.”
“What about Beverly?” Chappel asked and let her new son go and looked at the tall redhead. “Am I getting a daughter-in-law right away or do I have to wait for a while?”
Beverly blushed and looked at Tom.
“We've only had one date and I haven't briefed you in on everything yet.” Tom said and turned to face her. “Mind you, I'm going to have a difficult time topping the best date we've both had in a long time.”
Beverly smiled warmly. “I'm a little too old for impulsive things like jumping into a marriage right away. I have a successful career, a family, and old friends that take priority...”
Everyone on the bridge saw Picard flinch at hearing that.
“...you know, I changed my mind. I don't have any of that anymore.” Beverly said and stepped close to put her arms around Tom's neck. “If you'll have me, I accept.”
Tom beamed a smile at her. “Have you? I adore you.” He said and dipped his head down to give her a soft and tender kiss. “We'll pop by Earth to visit Wesley and see if he's as disillusioned with Starfleet as we are.”
Beverly beamed a smile right back at hearing that.
“Then you'll both need to change into your uniforms before we get underway.” Chappel said and pulled a set of full admiral bars out of her pocket and gave them to Tom. “You are quite under-dressed, Admiral.”
Everyone on the bridge of the Enterprise stared as Tom put the admiral designation on the collar of his shirt.
“Your promotion also went through, Flag Captain Crusher.” Chappel said and held out the appropriate command bar for her to attach to her collar.
“F-f-flag C-c-captain?” Beverly stuttered as she accepted them.
“Who else could be the admiral's first officer?” Chappel asked and pointed to her own command pips. “I'm only a commander.”
Beverly put the captain designation onto her collar and her back straightened.
“We can delay the uniforms until we enter warp.” Tom said and took Beverly's hand and led her over to the chairs and sat her on the side and then sat himself in the center chair. “Captain Picard, I'd like to say it's been a pleasure... and I can't in good conscience lie so blatantly.”
Deanna sucked in a breath at feeling his strong emotions and she stared at him like she had never seen him before. How had he succeeded in hiding them from her?
“Have fun at your conference and I suggest Commander Riker avoid the Romulan Warbird on long range sensors, just as a precaution.” Tom said and motioned for Chappel to sit on his other side. “Keep the ablative armor up, engage the cloaking device, and get us out of here.”
Several people on the bridge of the Enterprise gasped as the call ended and the viewscreen showed the sleek little ship as it slipped around in a 180 degree turn and then shimmered and faded from view.
“That ship violates several treaties.” Picard said into the silence.
“Only if it was Starfleet that developed the technology.” Data said. “If it was appropriated from other races and integrated, as Lieutenant Riker's skills suggest, then it completely bypasses all the clauses that establish technological individuality between the Romulans, Klingons, and the Federation.”
Picard stared at the screen for another moment before he spoke. “Number One, you have the bridge. Bring us to the rendezvous point where we will part ways for the conference.”
“Sir.” Commander Riker said.
“I have a report to make to Starfleet about this incident.” Picard said and walked across the bridge to his ready room.
As soon as he went inside, soft murmurs and chatter started among the bridge crew at the science stations at the back of the bridge. They kept their voices low, so no one but those near them could hear them, and they talked about everything that just happened and what was going to happen because of it.
Deanna gave Will Riker and questioning look and the man tried to ignore her. He shook his head at her and she held in her frustrated sigh. This was a perfect excuse for them to talk about their own situation and the idiot didn't want to acknowledge that they had something important to talk about. She crossed her arms and gave the man a silent glare for the rest of their shift.
When they reached the rendezvous point and it was time for Deanna, Picard, LaForge, and Data to leave on a runabout, she stood from her chair and huffed loudly at Commander Riker before she stalked over to the turbolift, entered it, and disappeared from sight. She had some light packing to do and included a sexy blue wrap dress for the after party.
Deanna's thoughts went to Beverly and she had the idea that perhaps giving a younger man a try might not be as bad of a thing she had thought it was. She was still a sexy and desirable woman and had a nice body. Who wouldn't want to have go at her?
Her thoughts stopped at the image of Will Riker's face being her answer. She frowned briefly and then huffed as she tossed a sexy pair of panties into the case, too. They were his favorite color and she tried to ignore her own regret that she had rejected Tom's advances before he had made them.
What would have happened if Deanna had accepted the situation and acted like she did back then when she and Will were fully in love? Would she be where Beverly is now? Getting married to a copy of Will Riker and having a copy of her mother as a mother-in-law?
Deanna laughed and added some choice jewellery to the case and closed it. She went to have a quick shower, changed into a fresh uniform, and made her way to the main shuttlebay. She met Geordi on the way and they rode down to the shuttlebay together. They chatted about what they were looking for ward to talking about at the conference and entered the shuttlebay.
Data was there and the three of them put their things onboard the runabout. Picard entered the shuttlebay at a fast walk and no one asked why he had a stern look on his face. He joined the three of them on the runabout and Geordi sat in the pilot seat and Data sat in the navigator's seat.
After clearing their departure with the shuttlebay crew, the runabout flew out into space to head to the conference and the Enterprise flew on to their next mission. They would meet up again in three days and everyone hoped that things would settle back down, now that the disruption that caused so much strife was off of the ship and out of their proverbial hair.
It was only Picard that knew his report had not been received well at Starfleet Command. There wasn't much they could do about it, with Tom Riker gone and not under their authority. What they didn't like was that he had somehow gained matching authority with some of the highest ranking officers in Starfleet and had the command codes to prove it. No one knew how that happened and were working hard to figure it out.
They had also somehow received the same database update Data had access to and Picard had somehow avoided answering several pointed questions about how such secret information had been given to the flagship first. R&D claimed most of it was still in the ideas and discussion phase and hadn't even made it to the drawing board yet. How could they already exist in the database?
Picard had no answers for them, except to point everything at Thomas Riker, the eight year old clone of William Riker. He was the source of the incident and everything stemmed from him being discovered. How that tied into advanced and theoretical technology, Picard could only speculate that either the technology was faked or the transporter clone story was fabricated. Those were the only explanations he could come up with.
Since they had scans of the new ship, that didn't have an official registry, the transporter clone part of the story suddenly became suspect. No one knew what to do about it, though. Doctor Chappel's adoption papers had been filed and she was now Thomas Riker's official mother, cementing the admiral's decision to declare him an eight year old child.
It was a mess and several more investigations had to be launched to cover it all. They would get to the bottom of things eventually, assuming they could ever find a federation ship that could cloak and hide from even the most advanced sensors in Starfleet.