"Sir!" yelled the communications officer. "All channels are gone! Not even visual contact can be made!"
"It looks almost as if we're being pulled through a temporary worm hole," said the navigation officer with another frown. "Change in pressue coming! All crew hit the floor!"
Suddenly, the ship shooks with a grand ferocity. Chairs were knocked across the bridge, crew were thrown the the floor, and lights flickered. As quickly as the shaking came, it stopped.
The navigation officer jumped to his seat and began analyzing the surroundings. "Sir," he said. "It looks as if we are in the same system... But something is wrong."
"What is it?"
"I'm getting a space station visually and on scanners. It looks like it's about three light years away" The viewport flickered to a view of the distant station.
"Why is that a problem?"
"Well," said the navigation officer, hesitating. "I'm doing the calculations from when the megaverse shifted... Here we go. Before the shift, that system was in the Core. There was a space station there once... but that was sixty years ago."
"During the original Veggie invasion?" asked EC3 in shock.
"Sir!" shouted the communications officer. "We have an incoming signal!"
"Accept," ordered Acky with a confused tone.
"Unknown ship," called a voice over the comm. "You are in Resistance territory. Stand down and prepare to be visited by Colonal Korn."
"Unknown ship, this is Citrus Orange," called another voice. "Do you wish to join us in our fight against the Veggies?"
Acky quickly glanced over at ECC and then at the comm station, "Open a hailing frequency to the first ship. Audio only."
He spun hurridly to the security officer, "Quickly! Shut down any broadcast beacons that we are transmitting. I don't care what you have to do, just make sure they can't identify us."
ECC looked at him, "What's wrong? We're a peace keeping ship."
Acky got a michivious grin on his face, "Maybe in our time."
ECC blinked, "Our time? What do you mean our time?"
"Channel open, sir." A tech interrupted, before Acky could respoind.
Acky nodded to the tech, "Unidentified ship. Please allow me to talk to your captain or highest official onboard."
A pause came from channel.
"This is Colonal Korn. With whom am I speaking to?"
Acky stepped back and ran to the communication station and whispered to the controler, "Create static in the frequency. Make them think our communications are bad."
The tech nodded.
ECC stood up, a blank look on his face, "All right, who are you, really? We don't have time for practical jokes."
Before Korn could respond Acky drew a side arm blaster equiped with a silencer and stunned ECC to the floor.
He shrugged and whispered, "Sorry. Extreme measures."
He left the bridge, leaving the communication officer to make excuses to stall Korn.
Acky hurried to his ready room and pulled out the file on the first Veggie invasion he had found earlier. He pulled up the entire folder and started back toward the bridge.
On his way, he initiated a search of the Veggie file of any Captains MIA and the years they were declared so.
When he entered the bridge, it seemed the communication officer was not fooling Korn much longer.
Acky glanced around and saw ECC slowly getting up, a horrid expression came upon his face when he saw Acky. Acky quickly pressed a finger to his lips.
He moved to the statistical panel and quietly asked the officer what date it was. The officer replied and Acky nodded, tapping one name on the data pad.
He looked at the communications officer and made a slashing motion across his throat, signaling the static to stop.
"Colonal Korn! IT is you!" He replied.
"I know who I am, but not who you are."
Acky stifled back a laugh, "It's me! Captain S. D. Packet!"
A pause came again from Korn. "Packet! What happened?"
Acky paused, looking down at the data pad quickly, "After we got blown into that Veggie stronghold, I somehow got out. Found a new ship, too."
Korn laughed, "Let me come aboard. We need to talk. In person."
Acky frowned and motioned for everyone to make noise like it was an emerceny. He set the alarms off with the force.
"What's going on Packet?"
Acky didn't reply and when he did he said, "Reactant leak. We might all be contaminated. Can't let you aboard. We need you Korn."
Korn began to reply, but Acky cut him off.
"We're loosing communications. I'm pulling the ship out of system just incase something does go wrong."
Acky cut the transmission and yelled at the comm, "Send a message to the second voice we heard. Tell them we're having engine leaks and are pulling out of system. We've lost communications."
ECC stood now, weakly, "What is it?"
The ship jolted as it went to hyperspace, its destination; one system over.
Acky grinned, "We're experiencing the first Veggie invasion like no one ever has from our time. We're there."
Citrus Orange frowned at the scanner screen, an ancient video console fixed up by his technical staff, as the mysterious ship entered hyperspace. It was like nothing he had ever seen before with manuvering and speed that dazzled the imagination. The Resistance surely did not have the resources to create such a thing, with left only one possibility: it was a Yuuzhan Veggie test weapon.
But now was not the time to think about such things. Intelligence had just reported an amazing find: all Yuuzhan Veggie forces were controlled through one central space station. If that space station were to be destroyed, the Veggies would be left uncoordinated.
Citrus Orange turned swiftly to his second in command, a man named Colonal Korn. Korn was a tall man with jet black hair and a glint in his brown eyes that showed both determination and charity. Citrus Orange bowed quickly in respect, then lifted his surplus date-a pad, hundreds of years old, to his eyes.
"Colonal... The Yuuzhan Veggies have made a terrible error... The time for our attack has come."
Colonal Korn grinned as Citrus said this. "I heard. Judging from the supplies they have in Intell, I was surprized they found anything at all."
"Korn, you for one should know that Intell is not dependent on machinery," said Citrus. "That is simply a technicality. The people, the connections, the genious.. That is what makes Intell what it is."
"So I have learned," said Korn with a chuckle. "Now about this mission... Our fleet is practically dead. The Yuuzhan Veggie's blockade of our people has left refugees with out food or medical supplies. Our armed forces have fallen into disray. How can we do anything? We have a dozen relic capital ships and a handful of starfighters, for goodness sake."
Citrus simply gave one of his slight secretive smiles. "We have enough. All we need to do is destroy the space station. We've done it before... Remember the attack on that Veggie military convoy? We destroyed fifty ships with two starfighters!"
"Citrus, you rogue, you always manage to make everything seem better than it is," Korn commented with a returned grin. "The problem is that we are short on starfighters projectiles, and this central space station is heavily guarded."
"It is a good thing I am optimistic," responded Citrus. "Because I have a plan. Do you remember a young chap on the planet named Kenobi?"
Korn hesitated as he strained to remember. "Of course... Quite talented with the Force... the Jedi are glad to have him, I think."
"I have a plan," said Citrus informally. "The Jedi protect the galaxy, correct?"
"That is what they say," confirmed Korn.
"Yet they have never been applied in a military sense."
"I believe that is to prevent the risk of this Dark Side..."
"Not if we're careful..." Citrus paused. "The Jedi will prove essential in providing a diversion... As we have discovered, the Veggies are susceptable to illusion. So the Jedi shall manipulate the light to make it appear that a huge Chiss battle fleet is exiting hyperspace..."
Korn laughed heartily, his fears temporarily shoved aside. "Sir, the Chiss are merely a legend. They probably do not even exist..."
"No one knows for sure... Including the Yuuzhan Veggies," said Citrus. "Call the fleet together... I'm going to breif them."
"What of that mysterious ship?" asked Korn.
Citrus considered this. "The person on the other end did not sound like a Veggie... we may be being decieved, but I have a feeling they could be allies in this final battle. Contact them and ask them if they would like to help."
"Sir, you never cease to amaze me," said Korn.
"I know," said Citrus with a grin. "That's my job."
"Hmm..." Acky repeated the buzzing hum again as he read over the history reports of the Veggie invasion. He had found two more coded files in the information and was in pure shock at what he read.
And then he dropped the datapad in shock of what he read.
"ECC," he said over the comm, "Get in here."
ECC bustled in from the bridge, "We're receiving a transmission...They want our help and also to-"
Acky cut him off. "Tell them yes."
ECC jumped back in surprise, "But the timeline...!"
Acky shook his head, "Read this." He handed his friend the pad, "I don't think we'll have a problem as long as we defeat the Veggies."
ECC opened his mouth after scanning the datapad several times, but nothing could come out. "Y..you mean we're /supposed/ to be here?" He stammered finally.
Acky shrugged, "That says that a mysterious ship came out of hyperspace at the exact time we did and contacted Korn, which we also did. The report says that the ship then helped defeat the Veggies. And that the same ship was the one seen leaving the complex where the secret weapon was being stored when it was stolen."
ECC turned to go back to the bridge, "So we're supposed to just follow this?"
Acky nodded, "I guess that's all we can do."
* * *
Kenobi laughed, "Come on! You can do better than than!"
He and his best friend Qel were having a memory match.
Kenobi always gave Qel a hard time. Though they both knew which was stronger. Qel had extremely high force capabilities. Higher than anyone had ever seen before.
"Look!" Qel said, pointing.
Two men were coming up the hill toward them.
"You are requested to meet with Colonal Korn. Immediatly." The lead said.
"Enter." Acky said as the door chimed.
The lights in his office were on heavy dim and yet Acky still made out the figure of the special agent he had sent for. Her figure was perfect and the single brown ponytail drapped down her back swung from side to side.
Acky stood, "I'm glad you could make it."
She smiled, "I'm certain this won't be a waste of my time, Admiral." A deffinite English accent was prudent in her voice.
Acky returned the smile, "Please, sit."
She slightly bowed and sat in the chair had pointed out. "What's this all about?"
Acky turned the computer screen around so she could see as well. "After the Veggie's are defeated, the Republic is going to build a superweapon, if they haven't yet. A terrorist group must steal the weapon for the safety of the galaxy."
Special Agent nodded, "And you want me to accompany you to steal this?"
Acky smiled, "I knew you were a good choice. You see, the weapons we have are types these people have never seen before. We have to throw them off the trail that we are from the future. Our ships and weapons on board and enough.
"You still use...old fashioned weapons, do you not?"
She nodded.
"And my lightsaber will not be recognizeable as something from the future."
She smiled, "Thank you for choosing me Admiral. I'll be ready when you call me."
ECC's voice came over the comm unit, "Acky to the bridge. Korn is sending instructions. We are in position to begin."
Acky nodded, "I'll be right there ECC." He turned to look at the special agent, "It's been a pleasure meeting you Special Agent Croft."
She smiled once again and began to walk out, "Just leave it at Lara."
The Veggies had been defeated...again.
The crew was restless to return to the present, but Acky knew there was another agenda to deal with. The weapon was almost completed and they had already snuck it out to test.
Time was running down, he knew that. They had to steal the weapon, but they were forced to do it only when the terrorist groups were in system otherwise, history could be altered.
Acky glanced up as the shuttle bay doors opened, "Trust me ECC. We'll do this." He closed the channel. He looked back at the only passanger in the small, highly outdated shuttle, "You ready Lara?"
"I'm always ready."
"I guess I'm glad for your confidence." He tapped a few buttons, "Let's do this."
The shuttle's engines powered up and moved slowly out of the hangar bay.
* * *
Voyager slowed to Impulse.
"Well Captain," Harry Kim begin, "This is the Shadow's last known location."
Janeway looked grim, "Set up sensor quads and search the area."
* * *
The shuttle landed in the forest, extremely close to the weapon base. Up in orbit, several terrorist ships had just exited hyperspace. Good.
Hopefully, they were too busy with them and didn't notice Acky's shuttle land.
Lara, sleek in black tightfitting spy clothes, leaped out the top. "I'll keep in contact with you via the headset."
Acky nodded and activated the cloaking shield that made the shuttle look like forest.
Lara hugged the wall as she spied the first security camera. They ridiculed her for still using her pistols and uzis, but now it would be impossible for the people in the Past to trace her.
She leveled her pistol at the camera and fired. They would know something was wrong now. Her time was short.
Lara Croft ran and broke open the door using her body weight and pulled her uzis out. "No one move."
Except no one was there. "Acky." Lara said inot the headset, "No one's here."
Acky didn't reply, "No one?"
Lara shook her head, but remembered that Acky couldn't see her, "No one at all. No life signs, either."
"Keep an eye out Lara. I don't trust this at all."
Suddenly the headset went dead.
Lara tapped it and hoped that Acky was ok and outside, Acky hoped the same about Lara.
Acky seperated the shuttle, leaving one shuttle for LAra, and taking the mini shuttle that was stashed in the cargo bay back to the Shadow.
Meanwhile, Lara glanced around the big room and spied the weapon. "There it is..." She mumbled, and sprinted toward it.
She grabbed the weapon and every alarm in the place went off. Throwning the weapon in her backpack, Lara dashed out of the place. "This wasn't in the damn history file!"
Three guards exit into the corridor, looking sleepy.
Lara pulled her guns and fired.
THe guards woke up quickly and fire their own lasers at Lara. One beam grazed her shoulder and a few drops of blood fell on the floor, unbeknownest to Lara.
SHe jumped into the shuttle and took off toward the Shadow, just realizing the cut on her arm. "Uh-oh..."
* * *
Acky glanced over the bridge, "Fire the advanced torpedoes."
Three balls of light flew out from under the Shadow and explode in midspace. A small area of space turns a dark blue, almost indestinguishable from the rest of space. That was the rift to take them home.
"Croft to the Shadow...We got a problem here. I uh left some blood back in the base. No doubt they got a sample for DNA testing."
"Lara, the rift won't last very long. You've got to hurry."
Acky looked at the newly installed transporter's officer, "Try and get a lock on her blood drops."
"Yes sir." The officer tapped a few buttons, but instead of small blood drops appearing on the bridge, a small jar a medicine did.
Acky looked at it, "I've never heard of this before...I wonder if we're supposed to take it, thus it was never introduced..."
* * *
"Captain, We've got a ship on scanners. It's the Shadow."
Janeway straightened up, "Where?"
Tuvok double checked the sensor scans, "Right infront of us."
"There's nothing there." Paris said.
"I know." Tuvok said, "I don't understand it."
* * *
Lara brought her small ship down and let loose with the laser cannons. The lasers weren't the best in the world, but they did their job. The testing lab went up in flames.
She sped back toward the Shadow and docked.
* * *
"Acky, We've got a ship on scans. Voyager."
Acky looked back, "Where?"
"On the other side of the rift."
Acky glanced at the screen, "Lara's in." He glanced at the time, "Right on schedule. Take us home."
The Shadow lurched forward and went throught he rift.
"Kathryn!" Acky shouted through the comm.
Tuvok's grim voice came back, "She's deadly sick. We tried to contact you, but you didn't respond."
Acky suddenly realized the medicine was still in his hand. "Tuvok! I've got a bottle of medicine I've never heard of from the..uh past. Try it."
THe medicine disappeared out of Acky's hand.
ECC glanced up from scanners, "Acky, we've got several ships coming in fast. The information HoT gave us is helping. It's our first hostile race."
"Acky!" Came the voice over the comm. It was Janeway.
"Kathryn! You're healed! And quickly, too!"
She laughed, "Whatever that was did it."
ECC spoke up, "Sir, it's the Borg."
"It looks almost as if we're being pulled through a temporary worm hole," said the navigation officer with another frown. "Change in pressue coming! All crew hit the floor!"
Suddenly, the ship shooks with a grand ferocity. Chairs were knocked across the bridge, crew were thrown the the floor, and lights flickered. As quickly as the shaking came, it stopped.
The navigation officer jumped to his seat and began analyzing the surroundings. "Sir," he said. "It looks as if we are in the same system... But something is wrong."
"What is it?"
"I'm getting a space station visually and on scanners. It looks like it's about three light years away" The viewport flickered to a view of the distant station.
"Why is that a problem?"
"Well," said the navigation officer, hesitating. "I'm doing the calculations from when the megaverse shifted... Here we go. Before the shift, that system was in the Core. There was a space station there once... but that was sixty years ago."
"During the original Veggie invasion?" asked EC3 in shock.
"Sir!" shouted the communications officer. "We have an incoming signal!"
"Accept," ordered Acky with a confused tone.
"Unknown ship," called a voice over the comm. "You are in Resistance territory. Stand down and prepare to be visited by Colonal Korn."
"Unknown ship, this is Citrus Orange," called another voice. "Do you wish to join us in our fight against the Veggies?"
Acky quickly glanced over at ECC and then at the comm station, "Open a hailing frequency to the first ship. Audio only."
He spun hurridly to the security officer, "Quickly! Shut down any broadcast beacons that we are transmitting. I don't care what you have to do, just make sure they can't identify us."
ECC looked at him, "What's wrong? We're a peace keeping ship."
Acky got a michivious grin on his face, "Maybe in our time."
ECC blinked, "Our time? What do you mean our time?"
"Channel open, sir." A tech interrupted, before Acky could respoind.
Acky nodded to the tech, "Unidentified ship. Please allow me to talk to your captain or highest official onboard."
A pause came from channel.
"This is Colonal Korn. With whom am I speaking to?"
Acky stepped back and ran to the communication station and whispered to the controler, "Create static in the frequency. Make them think our communications are bad."
The tech nodded.
ECC stood up, a blank look on his face, "All right, who are you, really? We don't have time for practical jokes."
Before Korn could respond Acky drew a side arm blaster equiped with a silencer and stunned ECC to the floor.
He shrugged and whispered, "Sorry. Extreme measures."
He left the bridge, leaving the communication officer to make excuses to stall Korn.
Acky hurried to his ready room and pulled out the file on the first Veggie invasion he had found earlier. He pulled up the entire folder and started back toward the bridge.
On his way, he initiated a search of the Veggie file of any Captains MIA and the years they were declared so.
When he entered the bridge, it seemed the communication officer was not fooling Korn much longer.
Acky glanced around and saw ECC slowly getting up, a horrid expression came upon his face when he saw Acky. Acky quickly pressed a finger to his lips.
He moved to the statistical panel and quietly asked the officer what date it was. The officer replied and Acky nodded, tapping one name on the data pad.
He looked at the communications officer and made a slashing motion across his throat, signaling the static to stop.
"Colonal Korn! IT is you!" He replied.
"I know who I am, but not who you are."
Acky stifled back a laugh, "It's me! Captain S. D. Packet!"
A pause came again from Korn. "Packet! What happened?"
Acky paused, looking down at the data pad quickly, "After we got blown into that Veggie stronghold, I somehow got out. Found a new ship, too."
Korn laughed, "Let me come aboard. We need to talk. In person."
Acky frowned and motioned for everyone to make noise like it was an emerceny. He set the alarms off with the force.
"What's going on Packet?"
Acky didn't reply and when he did he said, "Reactant leak. We might all be contaminated. Can't let you aboard. We need you Korn."
Korn began to reply, but Acky cut him off.
"We're loosing communications. I'm pulling the ship out of system just incase something does go wrong."
Acky cut the transmission and yelled at the comm, "Send a message to the second voice we heard. Tell them we're having engine leaks and are pulling out of system. We've lost communications."
ECC stood now, weakly, "What is it?"
The ship jolted as it went to hyperspace, its destination; one system over.
Acky grinned, "We're experiencing the first Veggie invasion like no one ever has from our time. We're there."
Citrus Orange frowned at the scanner screen, an ancient video console fixed up by his technical staff, as the mysterious ship entered hyperspace. It was like nothing he had ever seen before with manuvering and speed that dazzled the imagination. The Resistance surely did not have the resources to create such a thing, with left only one possibility: it was a Yuuzhan Veggie test weapon.
But now was not the time to think about such things. Intelligence had just reported an amazing find: all Yuuzhan Veggie forces were controlled through one central space station. If that space station were to be destroyed, the Veggies would be left uncoordinated.
Citrus Orange turned swiftly to his second in command, a man named Colonal Korn. Korn was a tall man with jet black hair and a glint in his brown eyes that showed both determination and charity. Citrus Orange bowed quickly in respect, then lifted his surplus date-a pad, hundreds of years old, to his eyes.
"Colonal... The Yuuzhan Veggies have made a terrible error... The time for our attack has come."
Colonal Korn grinned as Citrus said this. "I heard. Judging from the supplies they have in Intell, I was surprized they found anything at all."
"Korn, you for one should know that Intell is not dependent on machinery," said Citrus. "That is simply a technicality. The people, the connections, the genious.. That is what makes Intell what it is."
"So I have learned," said Korn with a chuckle. "Now about this mission... Our fleet is practically dead. The Yuuzhan Veggie's blockade of our people has left refugees with out food or medical supplies. Our armed forces have fallen into disray. How can we do anything? We have a dozen relic capital ships and a handful of starfighters, for goodness sake."
Citrus simply gave one of his slight secretive smiles. "We have enough. All we need to do is destroy the space station. We've done it before... Remember the attack on that Veggie military convoy? We destroyed fifty ships with two starfighters!"
"Citrus, you rogue, you always manage to make everything seem better than it is," Korn commented with a returned grin. "The problem is that we are short on starfighters projectiles, and this central space station is heavily guarded."
"It is a good thing I am optimistic," responded Citrus. "Because I have a plan. Do you remember a young chap on the planet named Kenobi?"
Korn hesitated as he strained to remember. "Of course... Quite talented with the Force... the Jedi are glad to have him, I think."
"I have a plan," said Citrus informally. "The Jedi protect the galaxy, correct?"
"That is what they say," confirmed Korn.
"Yet they have never been applied in a military sense."
"I believe that is to prevent the risk of this Dark Side..."
"Not if we're careful..." Citrus paused. "The Jedi will prove essential in providing a diversion... As we have discovered, the Veggies are susceptable to illusion. So the Jedi shall manipulate the light to make it appear that a huge Chiss battle fleet is exiting hyperspace..."
Korn laughed heartily, his fears temporarily shoved aside. "Sir, the Chiss are merely a legend. They probably do not even exist..."
"No one knows for sure... Including the Yuuzhan Veggies," said Citrus. "Call the fleet together... I'm going to breif them."
"What of that mysterious ship?" asked Korn.
Citrus considered this. "The person on the other end did not sound like a Veggie... we may be being decieved, but I have a feeling they could be allies in this final battle. Contact them and ask them if they would like to help."
"Sir, you never cease to amaze me," said Korn.
"I know," said Citrus with a grin. "That's my job."
"Hmm..." Acky repeated the buzzing hum again as he read over the history reports of the Veggie invasion. He had found two more coded files in the information and was in pure shock at what he read.
And then he dropped the datapad in shock of what he read.
"ECC," he said over the comm, "Get in here."
ECC bustled in from the bridge, "We're receiving a transmission...They want our help and also to-"
Acky cut him off. "Tell them yes."
ECC jumped back in surprise, "But the timeline...!"
Acky shook his head, "Read this." He handed his friend the pad, "I don't think we'll have a problem as long as we defeat the Veggies."
ECC opened his mouth after scanning the datapad several times, but nothing could come out. "Y..you mean we're /supposed/ to be here?" He stammered finally.
Acky shrugged, "That says that a mysterious ship came out of hyperspace at the exact time we did and contacted Korn, which we also did. The report says that the ship then helped defeat the Veggies. And that the same ship was the one seen leaving the complex where the secret weapon was being stored when it was stolen."
ECC turned to go back to the bridge, "So we're supposed to just follow this?"
Acky nodded, "I guess that's all we can do."
* * *
Kenobi laughed, "Come on! You can do better than than!"
He and his best friend Qel were having a memory match.
Kenobi always gave Qel a hard time. Though they both knew which was stronger. Qel had extremely high force capabilities. Higher than anyone had ever seen before.
"Look!" Qel said, pointing.
Two men were coming up the hill toward them.
"You are requested to meet with Colonal Korn. Immediatly." The lead said.
"Enter." Acky said as the door chimed.
The lights in his office were on heavy dim and yet Acky still made out the figure of the special agent he had sent for. Her figure was perfect and the single brown ponytail drapped down her back swung from side to side.
Acky stood, "I'm glad you could make it."
She smiled, "I'm certain this won't be a waste of my time, Admiral." A deffinite English accent was prudent in her voice.
Acky returned the smile, "Please, sit."
She slightly bowed and sat in the chair had pointed out. "What's this all about?"
Acky turned the computer screen around so she could see as well. "After the Veggie's are defeated, the Republic is going to build a superweapon, if they haven't yet. A terrorist group must steal the weapon for the safety of the galaxy."
Special Agent nodded, "And you want me to accompany you to steal this?"
Acky smiled, "I knew you were a good choice. You see, the weapons we have are types these people have never seen before. We have to throw them off the trail that we are from the future. Our ships and weapons on board and enough.
"You still use...old fashioned weapons, do you not?"
She nodded.
"And my lightsaber will not be recognizeable as something from the future."
She smiled, "Thank you for choosing me Admiral. I'll be ready when you call me."
ECC's voice came over the comm unit, "Acky to the bridge. Korn is sending instructions. We are in position to begin."
Acky nodded, "I'll be right there ECC." He turned to look at the special agent, "It's been a pleasure meeting you Special Agent Croft."
She smiled once again and began to walk out, "Just leave it at Lara."
The Veggies had been defeated...again.
The crew was restless to return to the present, but Acky knew there was another agenda to deal with. The weapon was almost completed and they had already snuck it out to test.
Time was running down, he knew that. They had to steal the weapon, but they were forced to do it only when the terrorist groups were in system otherwise, history could be altered.
Acky glanced up as the shuttle bay doors opened, "Trust me ECC. We'll do this." He closed the channel. He looked back at the only passanger in the small, highly outdated shuttle, "You ready Lara?"
"I'm always ready."
"I guess I'm glad for your confidence." He tapped a few buttons, "Let's do this."
The shuttle's engines powered up and moved slowly out of the hangar bay.
* * *
Voyager slowed to Impulse.
"Well Captain," Harry Kim begin, "This is the Shadow's last known location."
Janeway looked grim, "Set up sensor quads and search the area."
* * *
The shuttle landed in the forest, extremely close to the weapon base. Up in orbit, several terrorist ships had just exited hyperspace. Good.
Hopefully, they were too busy with them and didn't notice Acky's shuttle land.
Lara, sleek in black tightfitting spy clothes, leaped out the top. "I'll keep in contact with you via the headset."
Acky nodded and activated the cloaking shield that made the shuttle look like forest.
Lara hugged the wall as she spied the first security camera. They ridiculed her for still using her pistols and uzis, but now it would be impossible for the people in the Past to trace her.
She leveled her pistol at the camera and fired. They would know something was wrong now. Her time was short.
Lara Croft ran and broke open the door using her body weight and pulled her uzis out. "No one move."
Except no one was there. "Acky." Lara said inot the headset, "No one's here."
Acky didn't reply, "No one?"
Lara shook her head, but remembered that Acky couldn't see her, "No one at all. No life signs, either."
"Keep an eye out Lara. I don't trust this at all."
Suddenly the headset went dead.
Lara tapped it and hoped that Acky was ok and outside, Acky hoped the same about Lara.
Acky seperated the shuttle, leaving one shuttle for LAra, and taking the mini shuttle that was stashed in the cargo bay back to the Shadow.
Meanwhile, Lara glanced around the big room and spied the weapon. "There it is..." She mumbled, and sprinted toward it.
She grabbed the weapon and every alarm in the place went off. Throwning the weapon in her backpack, Lara dashed out of the place. "This wasn't in the damn history file!"
Three guards exit into the corridor, looking sleepy.
Lara pulled her guns and fired.
THe guards woke up quickly and fire their own lasers at Lara. One beam grazed her shoulder and a few drops of blood fell on the floor, unbeknownest to Lara.
SHe jumped into the shuttle and took off toward the Shadow, just realizing the cut on her arm. "Uh-oh..."
* * *
Acky glanced over the bridge, "Fire the advanced torpedoes."
Three balls of light flew out from under the Shadow and explode in midspace. A small area of space turns a dark blue, almost indestinguishable from the rest of space. That was the rift to take them home.
"Croft to the Shadow...We got a problem here. I uh left some blood back in the base. No doubt they got a sample for DNA testing."
"Lara, the rift won't last very long. You've got to hurry."
Acky looked at the newly installed transporter's officer, "Try and get a lock on her blood drops."
"Yes sir." The officer tapped a few buttons, but instead of small blood drops appearing on the bridge, a small jar a medicine did.
Acky looked at it, "I've never heard of this before...I wonder if we're supposed to take it, thus it was never introduced..."
* * *
"Captain, We've got a ship on scanners. It's the Shadow."
Janeway straightened up, "Where?"
Tuvok double checked the sensor scans, "Right infront of us."
"There's nothing there." Paris said.
"I know." Tuvok said, "I don't understand it."
* * *
Lara brought her small ship down and let loose with the laser cannons. The lasers weren't the best in the world, but they did their job. The testing lab went up in flames.
She sped back toward the Shadow and docked.
* * *
"Acky, We've got a ship on scans. Voyager."
Acky looked back, "Where?"
"On the other side of the rift."
Acky glanced at the screen, "Lara's in." He glanced at the time, "Right on schedule. Take us home."
The Shadow lurched forward and went throught he rift.
"Kathryn!" Acky shouted through the comm.
Tuvok's grim voice came back, "She's deadly sick. We tried to contact you, but you didn't respond."
Acky suddenly realized the medicine was still in his hand. "Tuvok! I've got a bottle of medicine I've never heard of from the..uh past. Try it."
THe medicine disappeared out of Acky's hand.
ECC glanced up from scanners, "Acky, we've got several ships coming in fast. The information HoT gave us is helping. It's our first hostile race."
"Acky!" Came the voice over the comm. It was Janeway.
"Kathryn! You're healed! And quickly, too!"
She laughed, "Whatever that was did it."
ECC spoke up, "Sir, it's the Borg."
