Chapter Two
The Titan

Author's Note:

There are a series of books about the USS Titan with Will Riker in command. I have not read them. The version of the Titan in this story does not come from those books. This is an alternate timeline. Remember that. Not too much is going to be exactly the same as it is in the books or on the shows.

KIRK'S PERSONAL LOG STARDATE 61675.5

We'll be leaving for Alta Venus in the morning on the USS Titan. We haven't actually set a date for the wedding just yet, because we never know what will happen in space. Our time on the Lexus has proven that to us. Every member of both crews has found passage to either Alta Venus itself or Barrier Gate Station, so we're all going home. It's funny to think of Alta Venus as home when I haven't spent even one night there. The only home I really know is the Lexus.

Quinn is excited. He's making wedding plans even though we don't have a date. He has told me that we'll be wearing our Starfleet uniforms to the ceremony. I laughed when he told me that. Admiral Janeway will be with us on the Titan. She's worried that if she doesn't come now she'll miss the wedding. I keep telling her there's no way I would have the wedding without her there. The alternate Kathryn, Katie O'Claire, will be on the Isis along with Chakotay. I'm glad that the two of them are coming to live on Alta Venus. It wouldn't be a complete family without them.

Tom and B'Elanna will be on the Titan with us as well. They're still very excited about the possibility of opening their billiard bar on the station. I hope that they get what they want. It would be nice to see this Sandrine's they talk about all the time. Harry Kim tells me that it's quite the place and that they used it as a way to get out of the Delta Quadrant for small amounts of time.

Chad has been spending time with Gerron from Voyager. He told me that Tom suggested it, but I can tell that he and Gerron are getting close. They spend almost all of their time together. Naturally Gerron will be on the Titan with us, too. I can't wait to get to Alta Venus.

"I've got all of the clothes packed," Quinn said as he came out of the bedroom with a stasis case in each hand. "There isn't much for us to pack, actually."

"No," agreed Jim. "This place was furnished when we paid for it."

"Well, it makes moving easier," said Quinn. "I was worried about it for a bit. Then I realized that it would just be clothes and personal effects."

"Why were you worried about it?" Jim asked.

"I'm not a Q anymore, Jim," he said. "Before I would have just snapped my fingers and things would have been where I wanted them to be. Now I have to actually pick them up and move them."

"I thought you were getting used to being human," said Jim. "It's been almost four years."

"I know, and I am," he said. "It's just every now and then that I start to think about it like that."

"Your mother can always give you back your powers if you've changed your mind," Jim said softly. The very thought of him changing his mind was painful to Jim. He was still waiting for Quinn's reply to that without paying any attention to him at all when the other man launched himself at him after dropping the stasis cases.

"James Randall Kirk," said Quinn as he held him in his arms. "Don't ever say anything like that again. I would never change my mind about loving you. I would never change my mind about marrying you and spending our lives together. I don't want immortality if I can't share it with you."

"I just wonder about it sometimes," Jim said. "It isn't every day that anyone gives up immortality for me."

"Well, stop wondering, Jim," he said. "I love you. I'm always going to love you, and nothing the universe has to offer can change that."

"Then let's go get married," Jim said, and then he kissed him.

They were just getting off the elevator when they met up with Chad and Kathryn. Kathryn smiled at them as they made their way to the transport vehicle. She helped stow the stasis cases and then they were off. Chad chattered away excitedly about the Titan. Jim was looking forward to seeing the inside of the ship himself. After all it was a Sovereign-class starship. He'd never seen the inside of any other class than the Intrepid, Nova and Constellation The Sovereign-class was among the most impressive in the fleet. Only to be outdone by the Prometheus-class and the brand new Cochrane-class. The newly commissioned Enterprise-F was the first of the new Cochrane-class ships.

"Well then," said Kathryn as she programmed the transport vehicle. "We're all set. I talked to Captain Riker this morning, and he assured me that we all have quarters. Jim, you and Quinn will be together. There'll be sixty-one from the crew of Lexus and ten from the crew of Voyager on board the Titan."

"The rest are either on the Isis or the Sable," said Jim. "The entire family will be on either Alta Venus or Barrier Gate Station very soon."

"I had heard that almost all of your crew would be moving to Alta Venus," she replied. "I didn't know that all of them were going to be there."

"I talked with all of them shortly after we had the meeting with the Voyager crew about this timeline," Jim explained. "They'd all made their decisions before we even got back to Earth. Well, not about Alta Venus. That planet didn't exist in the other timeline. They just knew they wanted to be anywhere but the alternate Earth. When I showed them all data on Alta Venus their decisions were made."

"Well I think it's great that both crews will be living on Alta Venus until they're assigned to a ship," she said.

The rest of the ride to the shipyard was basically silent. Jim thought about getting married more than anything else. Once they were on the planet, he and Quinn would start thinking about the wedding and actively making plans. When Jim had talked to Admiral Hammil about it, the man had made him promise to keep him informed on the planning. He'd said that as an Admiral it was completely legal for him to perform the ceremony. Jim talked with Quinn about that, and both men were happy to have the admiral officiate.

Admiral Paris had decided that he'd much rather be a guest at the wedding so it all worked out for them. All of both crews wanted to be guests but some of them were going to be in the wedding party. Jim had finally talked Quinn out of the Starfleet Uniforms for the wedding though. He'd explained that they spent so much time in those uniforms that getting married in them just seemed like a mistake. Quinn had thought it over but it has been Chad showing him tuxedos that finally got him to change his mind. Jim had thanked Chad profusely after the decision had been made.

Kathryn was in on the planning as well. She hadn't told Jim but she and Quinn were putting together a twentieth century wedding. She knew that Jim would like it and Quinn had liked everything that she'd showed him so far. She couldn't wait to find the venue and start putting the event together. She also couldn't wait to find out exactly who would be in the wedding party. Chad was a given. She knew that Jim would choose him as his best man. Quinn's was harder to imagine. She didn't know if he was especially close to anyone other than Jim and Chad. She'd almost thought that anything was possible in the year they'd spent lost in another timeline but they'd told her that for them it was only a matter of weeks.

Will and Deanna Riker were waiting for them when they reached the shipyard at Starfleet Command. She smiled at them as they got out of the transport vehicle. They assembled around her with their stasis cases in hand as they gazed at the Titan. It was a very impressive ship, much larger than both Voyager and Lexus.

"Admiral," said Will, extending his hand to take her stasis case.

"None of that, Will," she said, smiling as she handed it over. "We're not on the ship yet, and I'm only a passenger."

"Yes," he said, smiling back at her. "One of many."

"Deanna, you look lovely as always," she said, smiling at the councilor.

"Thank you, Kathryn," replied Deanna with a radiant smile of her own.

"Mr. Kirk," said Riker as he shook Jim's hand. "Pleasure to have you with us."

"Thank you, Will," he said, smiling. "Will you and Deanna be at the station long?"

"That hasn't been decided yet," he replied. "We're taking supplies and personnel but other than that our orders haven't changed. We could be there a week or a month."

"Any word on the new ship?" Deanna asked them as they made their way to the Titan.

"So far all I know is that they're planning to build another Lexus," he said. "That and that it won't be an Intrepid-class."

"Which class are they bumping you to?" Will asked. "I'm sure it will be a promotion."

"I'm not sure," he replied. "Kathryn hasn't been informed and they haven't said anything to me. She tells me that I'll be the first to hear about it."

"You're her captain," Kathryn said, smiling at him. "They'll tell you first."

"Well then I guess I'll know when they decide," he said, smiling back at her as he gripped Quinn's hand.

Everything about the Titan was bigger than the Lexus. The corridors were wider and darker in color with computer access panels everywhere. They followed Will to the turbo lift and then to their quarters. He told them that with space being such an issue Jim, Quinn and Chad would be sharing one of the family suites while Kathryn would be in a private suite of her own. Tom and B'Elanna didn't have to share because they also had Miral.

"After we're off the ground I'd like you three to come and have a look at the bridge," said Will as they stood in the living room of the suite of rooms they'd be staying in. "Quinn, I'm sure you'd like to have a look at sickbay."

"I would," he replied, smiling. "I'd still like to see the bridge though."

"Of course," said Will, smiling. "I'll let you all know when."

"Thanks, Will," said Jim as he shook his hand. "For everything."

"Any time, Captain Kirk," Will said, smiling wide. He turned to leave the suite and nodded at them. "Gentlemen."

"This is great," cried Chad once Will was out of the suite. "Look at this place!"

"I am," said Jim, smiling as he looked around.

The living room was only furnished with basic furniture. He didn't think there would be need dress it up though. They'd only be using if for three months barring any complications. He was more interested in getting to see more of the ship. He'd studied the Sovereign-class ships at the academy but this was his first time actually aboard one. He and Quinn were in their bedroom, putting their clothes and personal effects away when the entire room changed.

"Hey!" called Chad from his own bedroom. "What the hell?"

The standard Starfleet issued bed had morphed into a four post queen sized bed with a fluffy emerald green comforter and comfortable looking pillows. The chest that Jim had been putting his folded clothes inside morphed into a standing bureau and he jumped back as his clothes went from folded in drawers to hanging from the bar at the top of the bureau. His and Quinn's shoes were lined up under the clothing. The standard gray carpet under his feet became plush and turned Burgundy. He turned to face Quinn and found that there was a long chest of drawers with a large mirror that nearly reached the ceiling. When he looked up he saw a chandelier hanging in the center of the room.

"Mother!" cried Quinn as he and Jim started out of the room.

The entire suite had been changed. The living room that had once had only gray and black furniture now had twentieth century furniture. A long green and gold couch with huge pillows was against the wall across from the banks of what had been bulkhead windows. Now they looked like windows from a house with long emerald drapes. There was a big screen television in front of the windows as well with twentieth century electronics on the shelf underneath it. A stereo sat beside it and Jim was stunned to see a CD player. There were also two very comfortable looking recliners one on either side of the couch, facing each other. In front of the couch on which Q was perched, smiling at them was a deep rosewood coffee table. Two matching end tables held brass lamps.

"Hello, Quinn," she said, beaming at him before she turned her attention to Jim. "Captain, you're looking dapper as always. It's good to see you both. Where is that friend of yours?"

"Mother, you can't do this," Quinn argued, looking at her with pleading eyes. "What if Captain Riker comes in here and sees this?"

"You'll tell him that your mother couldn't bare to let you live in such squalor," she said, smiling again. "You'll not convince me to change it back. The place was ghastly!"

"You guys will never believed what happened in there," Chad said with an excited smile on his face as he came into the living room. He stopped when he saw Q. "Well hello there. Did you do all of this?"

"I most certainly did, Chad," she said, smiling at him. "Would you please tell my son and future son in law that this is much better than the way it was before I came."

"Guys, this is great," Chad said, turning his smile on their stunned faces.

"Chad Dodds, you are quite the human," she said, getting up and wrapping her arms around him. "You've even shown proper excitement to see me. How charming!"

"Mother, it can't stay this way," said Quinn. "You have to change it back."

"I will not," she said. "Let your boring Captain Riker yell at me about changing his precious ship. Besides I didn't change much. The structure of the ship is still the same. This suite is all that's different, and the changes are all inside the ship."

Just then there was a loud chime. All three of them turned to look at various parts of the room while Q laughed at them. She thought about telling them that there was someone trying to gain access to the suite but it was too much fun watching them look around like idiots. She was having the time of her life watching them.

"Computer, what is that sound?" Jim asked, and the smile slipped from her face. This one was smarter than she'd given him credit for.

"Admiral Kathryn Janeway is attempting to gain entrance to these quarters," replied the computer.

"Come in," he called, shaking his head as he looked at Q.

"I thought if you three . . . " Kathryn stopped and gaped at the living room and then took in Q standing with Chad. "What have you done?"

"I've made this place a bit more comfortable for my son and future son in law," replied Q. "Don't tell me, Kathryn. You want me to come and help you decorate, too!"

"No, I don't," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "Change this suite back now!"

"No, I'm afraid I won't do that," she said, letting go of Chad and turning to face Kathryn. "It was just too dreadful before."

"But the ship!" cried Kathryn.

"Oh, ship, chip," laughed Q. "The ship is fine. I didn't hurt it one little bit. I can take you out to the outer hull and show you if that would make you feel better, but I simply will not change this suite back."

"Now you listen . . . "

"No, won't," she said, smiling as she turned to Jim and Quinn. "Really darlings, this is for the best. I'll be back now and then. Don't get married without me!"

Then she snapped her fingers and disappeared, leaving them all to stare at the spot she'd been standing in. Kathryn consulted the computer to find out if the hull had been changed. She sighed when she found out that it hadn't. She couldn't believe that Quinn's mother had done this. Then, on second thought she could believe it. She'd seen the Continuum at work far too many times to be surprised by anything they did.

"I guess this is going to stay the way it is then," she said. "I came here to invite you all to grab a bite to eat in the mess hall."

"That sounds good," said Jim, turning to Chad. "Are you all unpacked?"

"Yeah," he said, smiling. "Q did it for me."

"Right," he said.

They followed Kathryn out of the suite and down the corridor to the lift. None of them said anything until they were seated in the mess hall with trays of replicated food in front of them. Jim actually liked the changes to the suite. He'd been worried about the hull but now that he knew the hull was unchanged he was inclined to enjoy the suite. He knew that Chad liked it, and he was sure that on some level Quinn was happy with what his mother had done for him. In a way it was kind of touching.

"I'm sorry about my mom, Aunt Kathy," Quinn said, breaking the tense silence that had grown between the group.

"Oh, don't be sorry," Kathryn replied, smiling. "It actually looks much more comfortable than anything else on the ship. And she did it out of love I think."

"I promise I'll get her to change it back when we reach the station," he said.

"I'm not worried," she said. "Will might be, but I'm not."

"We could always ask her to come back and do that to his quarters," said Chad, and then they were all laughing.

"Oh, it's so good to laugh with you three again," she said when she caught her breath, aware that others were watching them. "You have no idea how worried about you I was."

"To be honest there were a few times when I thought we'd be assimilated or killed," said Jim. Then his face took on one of the most anguished looks she'd ever seen. "I lost Quinn over there. He was assimilated."

"But my father brought me back," Quinn said, squeezing Jim's hand.

"And turned Jim into a potted plant," laughed Chad, trying to break the somber mood.

"All I know is that he was on the Yacht when it exploded," said Jim. "I can't even tell you what that felt like. I just wanted to die right there."

"Don't talk like that, Jim," said Quinn quickly. "I didn't die. I'm here with you. We're going to get married and love each other for the rest of our lives."

They sat there for a long moment just looking into one another's eyes. Kathryn was moved to tears as she watched the scene before her. If she'd ever had any doubts that Jim Kirk loved Quinn they were gone now. His eyes had looked dead when he talked about Quinn being assimilated. He'd looked broken. It was a look she never wanted to see in his eyes ever again. She prayed that there was never a reason for it again.

"Come on guys," said Chad, putting his hand on top of theirs. "We made it though all of that. We're a team, and nothing is going to stop us."

"Here, here," said Kathryn, smiling at them.

"Sorry about that," Jim said, smiling as he wiped tears from his eyes. "I didn't mean to get all mushy. It's just kind of hard sometimes to think about where we've been and what we've gone through."

"And how much we've already lost," Chad said sadly.

This time when the silence grew Kathryn thought about the fact that of the three, Quinn was the only one with living parents. One had punished him cruelly and the other had saved him. Jim and Chad were orphans, out of their time and out of their timeline. Oh how she loved them. She wished so badly that she could make their lives happy. Jim would have that with Quinn, but what about Chad?

"Riker to Kirk," came Will's voice through Jim's comm badge, breaking the mood quickly.

"Kirk here," he said, wiping his eyes one last time.

"The three of you can come to the bridge," said Will. "We're almost completely out of orbit."

"On our way, Captain," he said, smiling at Chad. He took Quinn's hand as they got up from the table.

"You three go on," laughed Kathryn when they looked back at their empty trays. "I'll take care of this, and I've seen the bridge."

"Thanks, Aunt Kathy," said Quinn, beaming at her.

They made their way to the turbo lift, passing Titan crewmen along the way. Jim felt like a fish in a bowl as the passing crewmen stopped to stare at him or commented to each other about who the three of them were. He couldn't wait to be back in the quarters he shared with Quinn and Chad and away from the eyes of the crew.

"Bridge," he said when they were in the turbo lift.

"That was interesting," said Quinn as he smiled at Jim.

"Kathryn did say we were kind of famous now," said Chad. "I guess I didn't really think anything of it until now. I hated the way they stared at us."

"That makes three of us," said Jim as the lift doors opened onto the bridge.

The bridge of the Titan was like nothing he or Chad had ever seen. Unlike Lexus's bridge this one was rounded to fit the top of the saucer section of the ship. The stations were in different places as well. The Conn and Operations stations looked like boxed cubicles while the Science and Communications stations were along the left wall with stations off the bulk head as well as consoles that looked like slanted tables. The same could be found on the right wall, but Jim wasn't sure what these stations were for. The Tactical stations were behind the Command stations and everything was bronze, gray and brilliant blue.

"Welcome to the bridge, gentlemen," said Will as he stood up from the Captain's Chair and smiled at them. "I trust it's a bit different than what you're used to."

"It certainly is," said Jim as he looked around again. "It's very impressive."

"We like it," Will said with a chuckle. "Chad, perhaps you'd like to look over Mr. Crusher's shoulder." He indicated Lieutenant Wesley Crusher at the Conn station with another smile.

"I think I would," said Chad, the excitement barely masked in his voice.

He walked over and stood slightly behind the station chair and marveled at the controls. Wesley began to explain the layout and then they were talking back and forth about warp and impulse controls when Chad noticed that there was an entire panel missing from the control board.

"Something wrong?" Wesley asked, noticing the confused look on Chad's face.

"I just realized that this ship doesn't have a slipstream drive," he said, shaking his head. "I was looking for the interface."

"Slipstream must be amazing," Wesley breathed with a stunned look on his face.

"Oh it is," agreed Chad. "On Lexus we reached the equivalent of warp factor fifty with slipstream."

"Warp fifty!" cried Wesley, making Chad laugh. "What's it like?"

"Don't fill his head with too many tales of slipstream velocity, Lieutenant Dodds," laughed Will. "He'll not shut up about it for the entire trip."

"I'm headed to Alta Venus to study slipstream theory," admitted Wesley. "Ensign Potts and I will be studying on the planet for three months while the Titan is fitted with a new interface and a slipstream drive."

"Well then you won't want me to say anything about it then," laughed Chad. "You'll be finding out for yourself soon. Trust me, the experience can't be described."

Then as he watched three different sections of the console began to blink. Seconds later he heard a beeping coming from behind him. He knew, instinctively what this was. He knew before the Ops officer said the words. He knew that there was a ship behind them. He knew it with every fiber of his being.

"Captain," said the dark haired man who stood at the Ship Operations Station. "There's a starship coming up behind . . . "

"It's gone," Chad said as the console suddenly stopped blinking. The beeping stopped at the same time.

"He's right, Captain," said the man who's name Chad did not yet know. "They just vanished."

"Vanished?" Will asked in disbelief. "Romulans?"

"No, sir," said the Ops officer as the console began to blink again and the beeping returned. "A Starfleet ship."

Wesley's hands flew across the controls as he checked his sensors and found the ship. Everything he needed was right there in front of him. The console told him the size of the ship, that it's shields were raised and weapons were armed. It was a Saber-class ship. Small but lethal.

"Sir, they've raised shields and their weapons are armed," Wesley said quickly. "They've fired a torpedo!"

"Raise shields," said Will. "Hail them, Mr. Franklin."

"No response," Mr. Franklin, a red haired older gentleman said a minute later. Then the ship was rocked as torpedo found them.

"Deploy armor," snapped Will. "Tell me everything about that ship, Mr. Crusher. Red alter!"

"Aye, sir," he said, licking his lips. "It's a Saber-class . . . "

"Saber!" hissed Will. "This must be one of the stolen Saber-class ships from Alta Vera."

"Stolen?" Chad, Jim and Quinn said at the same time.

"Later, gentlemen," Will said. "Mr. Crusher, plot an intercept course."

"Aye, sir, course plotted," replied Wesley as his hands flew across the board again.

"After, them, Wes," said Will. "Maximum warp."

"Aye, sir," said Wesley.

"Engage!" hissed Will. "Mr. Franklin, send a subspace message to anyone in the area and inform them of the situation."

"Sir, sending message," said Mr. Franklin. "We're a bit lonely, sir."

"Damn it!" Will breathed. "Show me."

The view screen came to life with a magnified picture of the Saber-class ship as it raced toward them. They hadn't altered course when the Titan had changed to an intercept course. Chad wondered if they were planning to ram the ship. Surely, he thought, they couldn't be that crazed, but if they'd stolen that ship who could know what else they were capable of.

"Sir, the Saber-class is still on the same heading," said Mr. Franklin.

"Are we close enough for phaser fire?" he asked.

"Not yet," said Wesley.

"Mr. Davis, as soon as we're in range," said Will as he turned to face the blonde haired man behind him at tactical.

"Aye, sir," replied Mr. Davis.

Minutes later Mr. Davis fired several phaser blasts at the oncoming starship. Chad watched as the phasers struck the ship's shields. He called out that their shields were down to seventy-five percent before he fired phasers again. This time the phasers struck at a completely different point.

"Shields down to sixty percent, Captain," said Mr. Davis.

"Fire a photon torpedo," said Will.

"Aye, sir," said Mr. Davis as he fired. "Torpedo away."

They watched the view screen as the torpedo shot through space toward the oncoming ship. When it struck it was immediately evident that their shields had collapsed. Will gave the order to cripple the ship and Mr. Davis opened fire with several phaser blasts to the key areas of the ship. Then it was sitting still in space.

"Well done," said Will. "Hail them again."

"Sir!" cried Wesley. "They're continuing to engage warp drive. The core will breach!"

"Mr. Franklin, are we in transporter range?" asked Will.

"Barely, sir," he said.

"Wesley how soon until the core breaches?"

"Minutes, sir," said Wesley.

"Mr. Franklin, get as many of them as you can," Will said quickly. "Quickly, Mr. Franklin, put them in Cargo Bay Two."

"I've got them, Captain," said Mr. Franklin. "Thirty-one to Cargo Bay Two."

"Security to Cargo Bay Two," said Will, tapping his comm badge. "Get us out of here, Mr. Crusher. Warp Nine."

"Aye, sir, warp nine," said Wesley as his fingers flew across the board again.

"Riker to Janeway," said Will, tapping his badge again.

"Janeway here," came Kathryn's voice.

"Admiral, I think you might want to meet us in Cargo Bay Two," said Will.

"On my way," she said.

"Captain Kirk," said Will as he got to his feet. "Perhaps you'd like to join me and Commander B-4?"

"Absolutely," replied Jim as he looked at Quinn.

"Mr. Crusher, you have the bridge," said Will. "Mr. Dodds, do you feel comfortable enough to man the Conn?"

"I do," Chad said excitedly.

"Wes, make sure he knows what he needs," said Will as he turned. "Mr. Franklin, if you would join us."

Jim followed Will and the others to the turbo lift. He was just as anxious to find out who had been on that Saber-class ship as they were. He wondered why Kathryn hadn't mentioned the thefts at Alta Vera. They met up with Kathryn on their way to the cargo bay and Will quickly filled her in on what had happened. They had a short discussion about the stolen starships along the way. Jim wanted so badly to ask her about the thefts but he knew better than to interrupt her during a discussion with Will. She wasn't his surrogate mother at that moment. She was Admiral Kathryn Janeway, and this was important.

What they found in the cargo bay shocked Jim completely. It was thirty-one members of a species he'd only read about in the academy. The Skrreea were a Gamma Quadrant species that had been driven off their planet. They'd attempted to settle on Bajor and flocked to Deep Space 9 while they pleaded with the Bajoran government to grant them a settlement on Bajor. After Bajor refused, the Federation allowed them to settle on a planet in the Belzine system. That system was very close to the Delphina system where they were headed.

Kathryn asked that the leader of this group of Skrreea be taken to the conference room so that she could question him. She invited Will and B-4 along but not Jim. He wondered why but knew better than to ask. He was shocked to see them all in uniform though. It was a uniform he'd only seen pictures of at the academy, a uniform that had caused a great deal of fighting in the past. The uniforms were Maquis.

Two hours later Will called the senior staff to the conference room and invited Jim, Quinn and Chad to come along. Jim had told Quinn about the thefts at the Alta Vera ship yards. Like Jim and Chad, Quinn wondered what else had happened while they were gone that Kathryn hadn't told them about. Neither he nor Chad knew what to make of the Skrreea wearing Maquis uniforms and attacking the Titan on a stolen Saber-class ship. If he didn't know better he'd have sworn this was his father's doing, but his father was in another galaxy without powers and with no way to get back. His mother had seen to that.

He wondered if it could be that the Maquis had for some reason risen again. That would be a very bad thing for Alta Venus if the Skrreea were a part of it. He knew just like the others that the Skrreea were settled on a planet in a neighboring system. What would stop the fighting from reaching Alta Venus. For that matter, what would stop the recruiting?

They took seats in the conference room at the table with the Titan's senior staff. Quinn was shocked to find Riker seated along side B-4, the android. He would have expected the man to take the head of the table where a captain belonged. Instead Kathryn took that seat. She had a tense look on her face, and Quinn quickly realized that Riker had an equally tense look on his face as well. The news couldn't be good. He just hoped that it wouldn't have a direct effect on Jim, Chad and himself. They'd just gotten back from hell.

"There's not an easy way to tell you this," Kathryn said slowly. "I'll just have to tell you straight out. The Skrreea are no longer happy on the planet the Federation allowed them to settle on. I'm sure you all remember the mass of escapes in Aukland, New Zealand last year as well as the thefts of Saber-class starships from the ship yard at Alta Vera. What none of you know is that there were fifty confiscated Maquis raiders at Alta Vera as well. They were stolen, too.

"The escaped inmates at Aukland were responsible for the thefts," she went on after a moment to let them all absorb what she'd told them. "They were in the process of invading the Skrreea settlement on Pemera but listened to the anger of the Skrreea and decided to give them ships and help them take revenge against the Federation for leaving them on Pemera.

"There are thirty-one Skrreea soldiers in Cargo Bay Two," she continued. "They're calling themselves the second uprising of the Maquis."