The Other Torres | A Star Trek Fanfiction *Book 1*

Time and Again-Chapter 12

Lt. Amanda Torres and Lt. Tom Paris are transported back in time by a subspace fracture just before an explosion ends all life on a doomed planet.

Tom Paris is handing over helm to his relief, a Starfleet woman. "Holding course three five one mark one zero, warp seven. We'll be passing a red dwarf system in forty minutes. I can't tell you if there are any M-class planets." said Tom, Amanda had just handed her station over to a Starfleet officer, the two go over to Harry. "You ready?" Tom asked "no, I really want to get on that transtator assembly diagnostic." said Harry. "Harry, we can't do this alone." said Amanda. 
"I'm sorry." said Harry. "Come on, we've been waiting for this all week, I'm really wanting to try out the new program, I promise afterwards we can hang out at the Panorama Mountain Resort" said Amanda. "The what?" asked Tom "a program, Mandy made it while we were at the Academy, we would go there on our days off the relax, she programed it into the holodeck log at some point" said Harry. "Come on it'll be fun, besides I want to see this Panorama Mountain Resort" said Tom, "I told you both, I need to run a transtator diagnostic." said Harry.

"You need to run a self-diagnostic. This is the first day off we've all had at the same time in a week" said Tom. Something hits Voyager, starting it shaking. Janeway and Neelix stagger in from the Briefing room. "Report!" said Janeway. Tom and Amanda are in Harry's station while everyone keeps losing their balance "we're at the leading edge of a shockwave." said Tuvok.

Kes wakes from her sleep and sits upright. The shaking stops. "Minor hull breach on deck three. Contained. Shields are holding." said Harry. "Engineering is undamaged, Captain. All systems operational." said B'Elanna over the comm. badge, Tom takes back the helm and Amanda takes back her station. "Mister Paris, can you identify the source of the wave?" asked Janeway at the helm "I'm not sure. Scanners are picking up a debris cloud in the red dwarf system we're approaching." said Tom "it consists of differentially charged polaric ions, Captain." said Tuvok.

"Differentially charged? That would suggest a massive detonation. Are you familiar with any intelligent life forms in this system, Mister Neelix?" asked Janeway "familiar? Not exactly familiar. Considerably less than familiar, actually." said Neelix, Amanda rolled her eyes, one answer would've sufficed and that answer would've been no. "Adjust course to investigate." said Janeway, "aye, Captain." said Tom. A short while later, Kes has dressed and enters the Bridge. "Entering the system Captain. Heading zero one zero mark four. Deflectors at maximum." said Tom. "Kes, what are you doing here?" asked Neelix "I had to know." replied Kes, "know? Know what?" asked Neelix.

"The origin of the shockwave is an M-class planet, Captain. We're within visual range." said Amanda. " On screen." said Janeway. A grey cratered ball. "All vegetation on the planet has been destroyed." said Amanda "no satellite system in orbit, no evidence of space craft." said Tuvok. "Life signs?" asked Janeway. "None." said Kes softly "none. But the polaric radiation may be interfering with the scanners." said Tom "take us into orbit." Janeway ordered Tom "density patterns on the surface show artificial waterways and a global aqueduct system. There is a civilisation down there, Captain." said Tuvok "or there was. What do we know about surface conditions?" asked Janeway. "Radiation is within acceptable levels. Atmosphere, breathable." said Amanda. "Mister Paris, Amanda, Tuvok, you're with me. Miss Torres, meet us in transporter room two." said Janeway. "On my way." said B'Elanna over the comm. "Commander, you have the Bridge." said Janeway.

The away team beam down into the night of a scene of devastation, like the aftermath of a war. Tuvok puts his phaser away and they all take out their tricorders. "The entire surface of the planet was just seared." said B'Elanna "there was a chain reaction in subspace, very likely triggered by the detonation of one or more polaric ion devices." said Amanda "if that's what happened, the people here never had a chance." said Tom. "They're gone. Vaporised. Every organic has basically been obliterated." said Amanda. "At least it happened quickly. Polaric detonation would have swept through this city in seconds." said Janeway. "It recalls the Chaltok Four incident." said Tuvok "Chaltok Four?" asked B'Elanna.