Star Trek

The Canine Voyage

Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Iditarod. It's continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life, and new civilizations, to boldly go where no dog has gone before!

Balto Mandrell: Captain

Boris Goosinoff: Commander

Kaltag: 1st Lieutenant

Star Henderson: Helmsman

Steele Karzon: Security Chief

Jenna Alba: Counselor

Doc: Doctor

Stella Rahssi: Nurse

Nikki, Muk, Luk, Kodi: Security personnel

Dusty, Sylvia, Dixie: Engineers

A year after Star Trek: First Contact....

Balto walked onto the bridge of the Iditarod and took a look around. Boris was sitting in the Captains chair, Jenna was sitting next to him, Steele was at his usual station right behind the Captains chair, and Kaltag and Star were up front driving the ship. He smiled to himself. He had been through thick and thin with this crew and he trusted any of them with his life. It was good that he trusted them with his life because they had saved it more than once.

“Excuse me Boris but I think you're in my chair.”

“Oh, hello Balto” said Boris as he got up from the chair. As Balto sat down Steele spoke up and said “Captain, just a few minutes ago we received a distress call from the Canine Outpost 4 out near the edge of federation space. They said a strange vessel dropped out of light speed and started to open fire. They had just enough time to send out a distress signal before they lost all communication.”

'Great,' thought Balto. 'Just what we need.' They were on a top priority peacekeeping mission between two species, the Piraka and the Toa, both of whom had just recently joined the Federation. They were transporting the Toa ambassador to the Piraka planet.

Balto said to Steele “Is there anyone else that can respond? I mean, we can't really delay this mission.”

“Yes, the U.S.S. Roddenberry” said Steele “But we could get there faster.”

Balto mumbled angrily. “Commander Boris,” he said “Do you think you could arrange for us to beam the Ambassador Nuparu to the Roddenberry so we can head for that distress call?”

“Aye aye captain.” And off Boris went.

“Steele,” Balto asked “You said the attack was near the edge of Federation space. Was that near the Neutral Zone?”

“I believe it was sir.”

“Captain,” said Jenna “You don't really believe it was the Romulans do you? We've been at peace with them for years.”

“I know we have.” said Balto “But we WERE attacked by the Borg last year, and that weakened our fleet severely. Maybe the Romulans have decided now would be a good time to strike.” The thought made the crew shudder. The Romulans were already powerful enough, but after the Federation was attacked one year ago, they were in no position to defend themselves. Soon, Boris' voice came in over Balto's communicator badge. He said “Captain, Ambassador Nuparu has safely transported off the ship.”

“Very good Commander Goosinoff. Mister Star Henderson, set a course for the neutral zone, warp 9. Engage.”

They arrived at Canine Outpost Four very quickly. They got the outpost on the view screen, and were shocked by what they saw. The small space station was a complete wreck. Debris was floating all throughout space, and the station itself was barely intact.

“Lieutenant Kaltag, scan for signs of life.” Kaltag did a brief scan of the station. When he finished he was silent for a moment. “None, sir.”

Steele spoke up “Sir! I'm picking up another distress call!”

“From where?” asked Balto.

Steele gulped. “From the Roddenberry!”

“Boris! Beam over to the Outpost with Muk and Luk to investigate! Star! Kaltag! Set a course for the Roddenberry as soon as they've left the ship! Warp 9!”

CHAPTER 2

They found the Roddenberry quickly, and there was a Romulan bird-of-prey firing on it. As soon as the ship picked up the Iditarod on their sensors, they cloaked and left. Balto immediately arranged an away team. Himself, a cadet named Kodi, Star, Nikki, Stella, and Doc. He figured he'd better bring a doctor and nurse. When they arrived on the ship, it was also in terrible condition. Wires were hanging from the ceiling, injured people were laying all throughout the hallways, lights were busted, and it was rapidly getting colder.

“Thank the great Larry Zonka!” shouted a dog in a Starfleet uniform. Balto saw three dots on his collar, meaning he was the commander.

“Where's the captain?” asked Balto.

“Sickbay” the Commander replied. “His legs got bashed up, his left shoulder is broken, and he has concussion. He is NOT in good shape. Say, aren't you the ones from the Iditarod?”

“Yes” replied Balto.

“The Ambassador wants to talk to you.”

Balto sent his away team to the sickbay so Doc and Stella could help the injured people, and so the captain could put the others to work repairing the ship. Then he went to the ambassador to see what he wanted. Fortunately all Nuparu wanted was to be transported back to the Iditarod. While Balto was there, he sent some engineers over to help repair the ship.

“Alright,” said Balto to his crew “I know a lot of our crew is off the ship, but we really need to get ambassador Nuparu to the peace talks. Jenna, contact Boris and tell him he'll be there for a while longer.”

“Yes sir.”

The Iditarod made it to the peace talks safely, but the trip back was, well, a different story. They had just picked up Boris and the polar bears from Canine Outpost 4. “Well Boris,” said Balto “What did you find out?”

“Well sir...” Boris got no further. He was interrupted by explosions and the shudder of the ship.

“Kaltag! View screens on! What was that?” Kaltag quickly brought up the screens. It was up just in time to see two torpedoes coming from a Romulan bird-of-prey and headed directly toward them. There was two more explosions and the ship violently shuddered again.

“Shields up! Now!” Balto shouted. “Steele, power up phasers and torpedoes! Fire as soon as possible!” The weapons were powered up almost instantly, and Steele immediately fired directly at the bridge of the Bird-of-prey.

“Two direct hits!” Steele happily shouted as soon as the torpedoes found their mark. “Hey! The Romulans are leaving! Ha ha! We got them! They're leaving!” Then he didn't sound so happy. “Um, sir. I just got the damage report. The four torpedoes that hit us before our shields were up got us very badly. Our warp core is almost destroyed, and levels 4 through 12 are reporting heavy losses. And all of our vital systems are at least damaged slightly.”

Balto sighed. “Star, what's the nearest place we could go for repairs?” Star said “Um, Deep Space Nine.” Balto sighed again. “Kaltag, let's go pick up our people from the Roddenberry and head for Deep Space Nine.”

CHAPTER 3

Finally, they arrived at Deep Space Nine. When they docked, they went inside, and were met by a large group of engineers. Nikki began explaining what had happened and what particular areas they needed to repair first. Nikki said to Balto “You know, I should probably stay behind and help out the engineers. I know this ship like the back of my hand.” “Alright,” said Balto “Have fun.” Balto turned and began walking out of the airlock, then heard a resounding 'Dong' as Nikki hit his head on the doorway.

“Come on Jenna, just a dinner.”

“No Steele. I'm not hungry.”

“Oh come on. They've got one of the best Klingon restaurants in the quadrant.”

“Klingon??” she replied in horror. “It makes my stomach lurch. Especially those wretched gagh worms.”

“Oh, fine. Maybe your taste runs more toward... Bashir.”

“Him? I'll have you know in the five minutes we've been on this station he's already asked me out twice!”

In Ops Balto was talking with Commander Sisko. “So how long do you think we'll be here? How long will repairs take on my ship? Already I've got three drunk security personnel in Quark's, fighting over who won the last round of Dabo.”

“I hate to tell you this captain, but probably it'll be another two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” cried Balto.

“You know,” he replied “Four precisely aimed torpedoes on an unshielded ship do horrible wonders. By the way, are you sure those were Romulans?”

“Am I... well, of course I'm sure they were Romulans! It was a bird-of-prey! And it cloaked! Only the Romulan and Klingon can cloak. Who else would it be?”

“Well, I just thought it was odd that they would wait a whole year after a fleet's destruction to do anything. And also, why would they leave as soon as your shields went up?”

“Hmm. That was odd.” With that Balto left Ops.

Balto was laying in the bed in his quarters, looking out the windows at the stars. The question of the bizarre Romulan attack still puzzled him. Why had they been severely damaging the Roddenberry, and yet they broke off attack as soon as our shields went up? I don't think they're afraid of us. Oh well, I guess it's over now. He was about to fall asleep when he thought of something. He grabbed his communicator badge. “Boris, as quickly as possible, I want a ship!”

“Um... sir, what exactly is the purpose of needing this ship?”

“I want to investigate something. Get me a runabout, the Defiant, anything!”

“Uh, is this a whim, a momentary, passing fancy?”

“No, it is an imperative and unyielding need.”

Boris sighed. “Very well sir. You're the captain.”

Fortunately, Boris Goosinoff was excellent at his job, and had

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