It was a bright, sunny morning on the newly constructed Capitol City of Terra Alpha, buildings were going up almost daily, sky traffic was increasing, but there was also an increase in land based vehicles thanks to the wide open spaces and the fact that it took less fuel to power wheeled transport than shuttles and pods.
Admiral Nicholas Ryder was standing at one of the newly opened cafe's in the city center that was directly across from the office tower his brother was building for his company, AlphaTek Solutions. Although he was currently in talks to acquire a couple other larger companies and fold them in, so the Solutions would be dropped and Industries would be added later. So currently the sign on the front simply read AlphaTek Tower.
"I think you're building too big Tony." Nick said as he sipped his coffee.
"I think it might be too small." Tony said with a smirk. "But I'm trying to be respectful of our neighbors."
"What happened that little company we started in Grandpa Gus's garage?" Nick shook his head and sighed. "You get the latest news?"
"About the riots? Yeah." Tony nodded his head and rolled his eyes. "Happening a lot more often now. You might want to reconsider swapping that uniform for a suit and tie soon."
"Maybe someday, but not right now. Starfleet still means security and peace." Nick said and sipped his coffee. "Until we're landing shuttles and guys in black with phasers come out."
"And you used to be one of those guys in black." Tony cleared his throat.
"I was the guy that sent the guys in black, but I wore black." Nick smirked. "First time since those days that you and I have gotten to work this closely."
Tony chuckled and rubbed his face. "I know... and it's been utter hell. The two of us in the same room together or more than an hour? I'm still smarter than you."
"Never said you weren't. You're naturally smart, I just got a little... help. But I was always the creative one. I came up with the concept, you made it work under the hood. And then I'd refine it." Nick said as he flexed his hand and made a tiny fireball manifest that he rolled around his fingers. "Someday I want to put this into something that'll power this whole planet. I know it's possible. Almost free energy."
"Only been working on that for the past what? 35 years? After your kids were finally old enough for you to start blowing up labs." Tony teased and smiled. "I missed this. So when's Angel coming? I still can't believe that girl's still alive."
"She's a tough girl. Like her old man and her mom. Ever since that one Borgified Android shot the legs out from her under, literally, I thought I'd be burying my first born. Turns out, just gave her an excuse to start a band and a clothing label." Nick said with a laugh and bit into his muffin.
"That green drummer chick... Jena... oof." Tony smirked and cocked his head.
"Ginny just loved finding you two in bed didn't she?" Nick winked his eye.
"She joined us. And then she left me." Tony shrugged his shoulders. "For a nurse oddly enough."
"Olivia always told you it wouldn't work out, Ginny swung for both teams." Nick teased. "Which apparently she does too. Thank her mother for that. Still, can't complain too much. Angel's had more almost weddings and a daughter from one of those."
"I haven't seen either of mine from Paula in years. I have no idea where any of them are. Every time I'd send anything, money, shuttles, gear, whatever, always got sent back. Hell I gave them all stock ownership and it went unclaimed and returned." he looked Nick in the eyes. "I have to say, I do envy you, even with about as many actual marriages under your belt as I have, you still see your kids. Guess I'm just... feeling my mortality. Just all these crazy riots and all these insane things I'm hearing from my contacts on the other colonies, and after what happened at Starfleet Recruitment..." he looked into his coffee mug. "Not the same Federation we grew up with."
"Which wasn't the same Federation that our parents grew up in." Nick replied. "But it does seem like there's more division, more... hopelessness than I've seen. Drug use is way up. Mom has had to open an entire detox wing."
"Speaking of ma, think she'll move the clinic here?" Tony glanced at the padds. "Could get her a whole hospital."
"That's my plan." Nick said and finished his coffee. "Well, I've got a bunch of meetings today and the Tigris really needs a refit of the warp nacelles, figured I'd put her in before anything else hits the fan."
"Still got the ol' Solidarity in the dock." Tony reminded him.
"Yeah, my break glass in case of war ship." Nick chuckled and got up. "Still getting used to actually sleeping on the surface in a bed alone. Last time I had a house I was married."
"You'll get used to it. Besides, isn't your Ex Noella coming to head up the Diplomatic whatever it is?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "Can share a bed with her again, she wouldn't complain."
"You're right. She wouldn't. BUT I would." Nick shook his head. "Too much bad blood to really reopen that old wound with her. Wasn't my idea, I assure you. Although I am looking forward to meeting my daughter that I never really got to know before."
"Someday we'll stop thinking with our dicks." Tony teased
"Speak for yourself." Nick winked and tossed a cred chip on the table. "I'm buying Mr. CEO. Besides, you bought the last three times."
"The day I can't afford to buy a fancy coffee for my big brother is the day I join Starfleet." Tony saluted.
"That'll be the day." Nick laughed and headed out of the cafe.
"Oh yeah... that'll be the day." Marcus said as he crossed his arms and glared at his big sister across from a briefing room table on the USS Seraphim.
"Just be open to the idea Marcus, I'm still a superior officer and I'm still your big sister." Angel said as she crossed her arms. "Seriously, why are you being so resistant to the idea of serving on the same planet in the same system as me?"
"Because last time I served with you and dad, I ended up on frakking dock duty." Marcus said and looked at her with crossed arms. "I'm a Marine, I may not have chosen the Corps, that was mom all the way but I take it seriously. I'm a war machine Angel. Point me at a problem, it's no longer a problem. But I'm not that little kid you used to babysit. Nor am I the idiot that didn't get the hints that my now ex wife and mother to my son was more in love with my sister than me."
"I know Marcus... I know." Angel sighed and shook her head. "I'm never going to stop caring about you nor am I going to stop trying to help you further your career. You could have been a Major by now if you were't such a damn daredevil."
"That IS my call sign." Marcus teased.
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" Angel shouted and chuckled. "I know you're on suspension from the Marine Fighter Wing on your current posting for crashing a fighter."
"Wasn't entirely my fault. If that Romulan pirate wasn't flying so erratic I wouldn't have had to take so many risks." Marcus said and clasped his hands behind his back. "It was a tactical error."
"Marcus... you bombed an Diplomatic Corps ship... luckily it wasn't being used but... you gotta be more careful." Angel said and took a deep breath. "Look, just... consider it. I'll be here for another day, Noella's still getting her stuff and her staff moved over."
"It's funny isn't it... doesn't feel like that long ago we called her mum." Marcus said with a slight smile.
"Until our mother returned and nearly beat her within an inch of her life." Angel grimaced. "I'm still not forgiving her by the way. You may have."
"She's still my mom." Marcus said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Your's too."
"Times I feel that's debatable." Angel said and felt the scar by her throat. "By the way... speaking of mothers. How's..."
"K'Aina? Not a factor anymore... she... lost the baby. We split up. It's alright. It was impulsive for us both. She was my mechanic and we're still different species." Marcus said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Granted Romulans and Humans have mated but... it's always tricky. Must be the universe's way of saying... not now. Not with her."
"I'm sorry Marc... really. I... kind of liked her." Angel said softly.
"It's alright, she's busy with the Romulan-Federation rebuilding efforts. Her people need her more than I do. Even IF she's just as much a Marine as I am." Marcus said with a laugh. "Ooohrah. Sounded so sexy when she'd say it in her Northern Romulus accent."
"Same old Marcus." Angel chuckled. "But seriously, work with us... it'll be the first time the whole family has been on the same planet in the same system."
"I'll think about it." Marcus nodded his head. "You're probably right, I'd be an idiot to pass this up."
A purple and silver hovercycle screamed down the highway into Capitol City, three security cruisers were tailing it with lights and sirens flashing. The rider glanced back, her long black and purple hair fluttering behind her as a hard driving electric punk rock song played over her sound system. A smirk formed on her purple lips as she kicked in the boost on her cycle and rocketed ahead toward an exit.
"PULL OVER OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO STOP YOU" a voice shouted over a speaker. A voice that may as well as have said 'Go faster this is fun!'because that's just what happened..
The rider sped up and would almost have made it to the exit had a land freight truck not pulled over to the side and blocked her escape. The cops following her thought 'finally we got her!' but they didn't anticipate her shutting off the grav generator and continuing on with sheer momentum, skidding across the pavement, ducking under the truck and then re-activating the anti-grav and rocketing into the city.
Cranking the music a bit louder, she mouthed the lyrics along to the Orion singer and smirked as a wicked idea crossed her mind. Seeing the Command Tower, she pushed the engine of her cycle to its full power and shot up the side of the building, setting off every alarm in the facility and then skidded to a stop on the roof.
"Fifteen seconds... a new record." She mused as she popped her helmet off and cocked her head to the security team who were already surrounding her with weapons drawn.
"HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" An officer shouted at her, weapon drawn and ready.
"Please... I outrank you." she said and flashed her own ID badge. "Commander Olivia Ryder. And you motherfuckers all just failed big time."
"HANDS!" Another office shouted and looked at the badge. "Don't matter if you're the friggin' Admiral in Charge, you lead us on a high speed chase through the city, you shot up the side of the Command tower. What in the hell do you think we're going to do?"
"You're going to stand down, that's what you're going to do." another woman's voice said as she beamed in and cocked her head slightly. "And FYI... I AM the one in charge here and that's my twin sister."
"Yeah that's why purple haired punkette is still a Commander." the security officer said and holstered his weapon.
"For now." Olivia said and crossed her arms. "I think I will take that position Angel."
"Sounds good Captain... what last name are you using these days?" Angel raised an eyebrow.
"Ryder, same reason why you're a Ryder again. Besides, these monkeys need some sense knocked into them. The first mistake boys, was engaging me without opening a comm. Did anyone think to simply hit 'open comm channel?' you chased me, went over the loudspeaker and... instead of calmly askin me to stop, you treated me like I was some rabble rouser. Which I AM by the way, so good call there, but treating them like the enemy is going to hurt innocents and isn't a good look on us." Olivia said and tapped a control on her wrist band the cycle was beamed away. "So Director of Terrestial Security? I gotta wear gold now huh?"
"Navy blue, it has its own uniforms." Angel said as she put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Besides, I'm trying to keep you out of Intelligence."
"Good call there. By the way your neice wants that keyboard you promised her for Christmas but we missed picking up." Olivia said with a wink.
"I'll have it delivered to your place." Angel replied and pecked her cheek. "Missed you sis."
"Missed you too. So did Dumbass say yes?" Olivia whistled.
"Yes and be nice to our brother."
"He screwed my best friend, got her pregnant and left me to deal with the fall out. He's a dumbass. He's my brother but he's Dumbass." Olivia winced. "I'll try to be nice. Did you hear from Jack yet?"
"He's on his way. Has a surprise for us." Angel shook her head. "I'm thinking it's that insane Xenexian he met."
"The brunette hottie that has a security dossier that takes up two padds?"
"If it is, then she's got more sense than most of the other girls that Jack's dated. I know our brother's a genius, but you remember how many of the pretty airheads flirted with him so he'd do their homework?" Angel said and shook her head as she looked up. "Although I really hope it's more than just that Calhoun woman and actually a formal alliance with the Xenexians. Not that he's a diplomat but he's been with her for years now."
"Seriously?" Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Has it really been that long?"
"She's a spy like you, she went by about four different names." Angel said and winked. "You've met them all, she's just that good at deep cover, telepaths..."
"Bane of our existance."
"Be nice... one of them was your step mother." Nick said as he beamed in and put his arms around his girls. "Young lady what did I say about leading security forces on chases?"
"Call you first so you can join in?" Olivia giggled.
"Exactly!" Nick replied with a laugh and kissed her cheek. "So she say yes?"
"She did... and y'know we're kind of old for you to be keeping us on a low jack." Angel teased.
"You'll never be too old for that." Nick pecked her cheek. "So... did I tell you about the apocalyptic dream I had?"
"Too much coffee before bed." Olivia deadpanned.
"And chocolates. Or skinny blondes." Angel deadpanned back.
"Ouch." Nick shook his head. "Eu Tu Angeli at Olivi? I'll forgive it... control three to beam to Command."
Angel held onto her father's hand as they beamed to the Command Center. As much as she liked to believe she was a strong, independent, intelligent woman, she was still a daughter, a daughter who did miss being with her father and found a curious kind of comfort and invigoration just being in his orbit. She knew that if he was freaked out by something, it was serious. He wasn't prone to hyperbole or going on 'feeling' he was an engineer and a scientist who questioned everything, but he also was a man of great faith in a higher power and she couldn't fault that. Of the Ryder children, Angel was the most like their father. An ex of her's once called her his clone, he meant it as an insult, she took it as a compliment.
Materializing in the state of the art command center, she took a deep breath. The scent of freshly installed computer systems, new furniture and freshly polished metal surfaces hit her nose right away. She could tell her father had a hand in the construction, he always favored a certain metal polish when he did the finishing touches on a new bridge or command center.
"God, Dad... it's like you keep making these command centers bigger and bigger." Olivia commented as she looked around. "Still, it's kind of nice that it's laid out with enough space to move around without bumping into each other."
"I like the tri level set up." Angel said as she glanced up and saw some officers with wings working consoles. "We actually got Wilosians? That's a coup."
"Wait until you see some of our other staffers." Nick said with a smile, "We got a lot of races that don't usually get picked for assignments like this."
"As long as it's not the misfits like Starbase 33." Angel said with a shudder.
"Not entirely, but some of the newer additions to the Federation that have felt a bit left out. Maybe even a little 'used' since they were admitted into the UFP." Nick said as he opened the door to his office. "Don't mind the mess... I just moved everything from the main commander's officer, which is your's now Angel, to here."
"Since when have any of your offices not been entire disaster areas?" Angel teased and squeezed his hands. "Luckily I know the method to your madness."
"I'm such a spartan." Olivia admitted. "Course I'm used to not having a place to call 'home' for more than a few months at a time, had to keep moving or changing my identity." she sighed heavily. "I feel for bad for Lana and Vin, they suffered a lot for my career choices. At least Lana's older and Vin's been spending more time with his father's side of the family on Delta 9."
"How IS he anyway, been a while since I've seen the Major." Nick said as he sat down behind his desk.
"Busy as ever, honestly... I think there's something very big and very nasty brewing. Call it the instincts I got from mom and from you." Olivia said softly as she glanced around the room. "Part of the reason I accepted this."
"You girls both know I'm not prone to just freaking out over a 'dream' but there's more to it than that and there's a lot more that all of us have been kept in the dark about." Nick said as he hit a few controls and a light humming was heard. "We can talk freely now." he sighed and took a bottle of iced coffee out of the fridge under the window and poured it into three glasses and then took a flask and put a little of the contents in each before topping it off with a little cream and simple syrup from a bottle. "Your mother's friends slipped up." he handed them each a glass. "I was on Earth getting staff and final orders as well requisitions for equipment set up and basically... the Federation council on Earth is working for their own ends. Which isn't shocking but, there was talk of Empire building. Which, as someone who has worked in the Pythus Sector for years, is pretty fucking close to the Mirror Universe."
"Those posers?" Olivia wrinkled her nose.
"After the Frontier Day Fiasco, the Romulan clusterfucks and the general unease in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants since the Dominion War decades ago... it's not shocking Empire building is something that would be discussed." Nick said as he took a sip of his drink. "Expand or Die." he raised his glass. "One reason why I wanted to spearhead this colony, there's something nasty coming and the things I had in that vision, combined with the intelligence that I've been privy to, plus the people running things now." he shook his head.
"All levels." Angel agreed. "I've heard some chatter too. It's coming to a head soon. Maybe another couple years if that. Although... there's something else..."