LAST TIME ON LICC...

Our heroes head for a date with destiny, accompanied by two massive Earth battleships. Windward returns, and can disaster be far behind?

"Wow. That was nice!"

"Exactly as planned. We will now continue with the other scheduled firing tests."

"Very fine. As soon they are done we can use our new toy to create some well-positioned fireworks. I'm only waiting for the details. Ha!"

Jackson makes a final check of Tactical and notices something interesting.
Steve, look at this... When I press this button, Pointing to a big orange button all the weapons we have become active...and we are practially bristling with them... From the legs, which contain torpedo launchers at their ends and phaser banks all along them, to our back end...The DoS and Earth Military have made us pratically into a warship! Which makes sense in a way, considering where we're going...

Adon was in his quarters, typing on a PADD, with a cup of hot apple cider nearby, and soft music playing from hidden speakers.

There. That should do it for those training programs. Adon to Bridge.

A screen opened in front of Adon showing Commander Milkshake sitting in the Captain's Chair. Adon got up to put his now empty cup away and the screen followed him.

I've finished with those training programs you wanted. They are ready to go in Holodeck 2.

Makes sense, Jackson.

A comscreen opens in thin air in front of Milkshake.

"Adon to Bridge. I've finished with those training programs you wanted. They are ready to go in Holodeck 2."

Thanks, Commander. We'll start the crew training tomorrow morning. Good night.

Milkshake stands to leave.

"You have the bridge, Number One."

Delgado takes the Bored Viewer to the ships tailory.

"All right, let's see here... you're a size... 48?"

"46."

"No, better make it 48." He inputs some commands into the replicator and soon the Bored Viewer is able to slip into some comfortable pants.

"So," Delgado asks, "what's your name, anyway?"

Grant Lopez sits in his fighter incredibly annoyed. "OK, I'm willin to let the new thrusters go. Alex actually seems to have added 4% to the Banshees' maneuverability without sacrificing firepower. But was it absolutely necessary for him to change the paint job? If Mr. kiehart saw this new scheme he'd flip!" Brad Plevyak chuckles. "Well, at least it matches with the color scheme of the Spidership. That dingy grey with red stripes thing was a little too Star Wars for my taste anyway." "Yeah, well, he should've run it by me first. AS soon as this battle is over I'm going to look into changing it back. Speaking of Alex, where is he? Ah hell with it. Grab one of the rookies, one with high scores in the sims, and get him into Banshee 9." "Isn't ALex going to use that experimental craft that Rocket Ranger brought?" Lopez slaps his forehead. "Smeg, I forgot!"

Noticing no response from Lopez, Alex looks around and discoveres that this Lopez is holographic, part of an experiment to see if holographic figures could be used instead of real people in fighter battles. Exploring further, Alex hears voices, follows them, and discovers the real Lopez and Plevyak talking.
You wanted to see me, sir? Sorry for being a bit late, but I was testing out a simulation of Ranger's ship in the Holodeck so I can learn how to fly it. Then, of course, I ran into your holographic doppleganger in the next room...

Lopez just points. "Just get in your ship pilot. We need to be ready to drop at a momets notice."

I'm Fred Lloyd. So this is *really* the Spidership?

Unfortunately for Mr. Lopez & the pilots the Momet had fallen asleep in its cage and was expected to hibernate for at least six months.

Farmer: Where's the key to the tractor, boy?

Son: I...think I dropped them when I was feeding the Momets. And one of them ate it.

Farmer: You mean....!

Son: Yep, Pa. The key is lost in a Momet!

Well, feed it some laxatives and the Momet shall pass.

As Lopez's report to Milkshake had gone unread for greater than 12 hours, the Spidermobile's now Colanator-less computer cores rerouted the file from the original PADD (now forgotten and collecting dust underneath the Tactical console) to Milkshake's priority message folder, set to activate whenever and wherever he checks his E-mail and messages.

Now never, I repeat NEVER!, put a Momet and a Scpipt into the same room. They are mortal enemies in the wild and a confrontation between the two is horrifying to watch.

As we'll demonstrate in this room full of redshirts.

(overhears Fred Lloyd's question)

No, it's the QE XLVII after an overrhaul.

Ah cour she's the Spiderrrrrrship! How many uther spiderrrrrrr-shaped ships do ye know of abooot. LICC has the trademarrrk on spiderrrrrr-shaped ships, man!

"Uh, well, like he said, Fred, this is the one and only Spidership. Now, do you want to do something about that shirt? It's probably not the safest thing to wear around here."

Aye, sir.
Alex springs to the Turbolift, which heads for Rocket's lab. Once there, he sits in the pilot's seat and activates the holographic display. The room vanishs, replaced by the cockpit of the ship. Looking out the window, he can see Lopez and the rest of the pilots getting ready for launch.
Dupree to Rocket Ranger and Lopez, this bird is ready to go!

Rocket Ranger to Dupree and Lopez. The SnowCrane and the ThunderWolf are both ready for action. Lets kick keister and take names!

Rikard begins to read the copy of Lopez's report on his PADD. A couple of lines into it, his communicator beeps.
Rikard here.
A screen opens and the Holodoc's head appears.
Whoa! Oh, hey Doc. Can I help you?
EMH(or LMH): Yes Commander. Please report to Sickbay. I have something that you need to see immediately
Rikard nods.
Alright. I'm on my way. Rikard out. The window disappears and Rikard heads for the turbolift.

Morning chimes

The computer speaks all throughout the ship

"The time is 0800 hours. All members of the bridge crew alpha shift, please report to Holodome 2, deck 12. All members of the bridge crew alpha shift, please report to Holodome 2, deck 12. Beta shift report to the bridge. Beta shift report to the bridge. Thank you."

Is it time for the Alpha shift Tiddly Winks tournament already?!

(An unidentified ship approaches the Spidermobile, Atlantis, Eurasia & any other ships the author forgot about. The various bridges are a whirl of activity as the crews try to figure out if this is friend or foe. On the ships' main viewscreens appears Cyber 9's image. An officer on the Eurasia sees the X-CwX implants* and fires believing this to be an attack.)

This is the LICC vessel Chameleonmobile.

(The energy weapons have no effect and the missiles stop in mid-space and are deactivated. Cyber 9 looks at the officer who fired and asks,)

Would you like your sticks and stones back or should we convert them into something useful?

* No, not breast implants, cybernetic implants. Boy, some people...

I wonder if they're going to have a meeting about this?

"Atlantis, Eurasia, hold off! New ship is a friendly, repeat, new ship is a friendly."

Jackson, who happens to be on the bridge at the time, recognizes Cyber 9.
Cyber 9? What are you doing in this century?

Yeah, get your own century! (whispers to Jackson) quick, tell me, who's he again?

On the holodome...

The bridge shakes fiercely. Two redshirts have already perished due to exploded consoles, and Delgado is not happy. Milkshake has black carbon scoring on top of his helmet, testament to a repulsed X-CwX invasion of the bridge. The other bridge members are similarly injured or afflicted.

Two O'kakian battle cruisers move in for the kill. Milkshake stands.

Adon, tie all weapons in, one Alpha Strike should detonate that leftmost one!

Jackson looks over at Enesku and whispers back
I assume you've heard about, or at least read about our adventures in the 64th century, right? Well, Cyber 9 is a member of that century's LICC.. the "L" in that case being Legion instead of League...

"Chameleonmobile, this is Spidermobile III. May we inquire as to the reason for your presence in the past?"

Holodome

Yellowshirt bends to inspect a downed X-CwX drone, which appears to be beeping.

"Captain, I don't think they're..."

The drone explodes, filling the 'bridge' with sound and force and vaporizing Yellowshirt. Now it's really bad.

Gene notices Keiran Morgan enter Zen Forward just as he sat down. He grinned to himself as he walked over to the bar and ordered a drink.

He returned from the bar and sat down and Keiran's table.

It would be easier to keep an eye on me if we sat at the same table. Care for a drink and a chat?

Morgan shrugs.

"Certainly."

He raises one finger, and a waiter (Peaceflower is off work), used to Keiran's tastes, brings a glass of iced tea.

"So...Mr. Windward. May I ask where you hail from?"

Holodome

Aye, sir! One alpha strike coming up!

The drone exploses tossing Adon from the controls before he could fire. He climbs to his feet, a little shaky but otherwise unhurt.

Ouch!

Before he can get to the tactical controls, the ship is rocked by another set of explosions. Various windows open up as a warning blares all over the ship.

Computer: "Danger! Warp core breach in progress! All personel proceed to the emergency escape pods. Repeat! Warp core breach in progress..."

Great. FIRING WEAPONS!

The alpha strike manages to destroy the left O'kakian ship, but the return fire from the other ship knocks out what little weapons were left.

At least we managed to take one of them with us...

A white light fills the bridge, and fades, revealing the Hologrid, along with various crewmembers, all unhurt. Those who were sitting, still had their holo-chairs, to prevent them from dropping to the deck as their seats vanished.

Welcome to the land of the dead. Well, lets try that again. Computer: load program Adon_Training1. Lets go again.

The bridge appeared around them, as the Spidership approached their destination...

Oh, I was born on the Planet Yggricil. Normal frontier world childhood and all. When I grew up, I joined the local system police forces. It was my partner who recognised my potential and taught me everything I know. He even gave me my gun. But after he betrayed me...

Gene paused, and rubbed his left arm absentmindedly. That was the arm that had leather wrappings all the way up to the shoulder, while his right arm had a normal looking sleeve. He downed his drink in one gulp and ordered a new one.

After that, I was thrown off the force because of what happened. My former partner disappeared, and I decided to hunt him down. Since he apparently left the planetary system, he was beyond the reach of the local police. So I decided to become a bounty hunter instead. But enough about me.

Morgan sips his tea, his face displaying nothing.

"Risky business, bounty hunting. And I don't mean the physical risks, I'm sure you have those well in...hand. More about what it can do to a man's soul, unless he goes about his work carefully. I'm sure you've been assigned to hunt down your share of those who turned out to be innocents."

Milkshake shakes his head as the simulation restarts.

I suppose it doesn't hurt to stack the deck. Whew. Alright, everyone, we know how we proceeded last time. Bridge crew, implement attack pattern Greene. They won't be in the same place twice.

Delgado, for one, was glad to start a new simulation; he had acquired quite the menagirie of holographic wounds in the last go-around.

I wonder if my bag's got a personal shield generator in it... he muses as the simulation re-set. He sat at the holographic Spare Crewman Station and waited for the next attack to begin.

"That's amazing! I've never seen before a planet shaped like a spritzkuchen! Nice shooting."

"And the following explosion wasn't bad either, hehe."

Holodome

Around fifteen minutes later...

Underneath the destroyed Spare Crewmember Console...

Yellowshirt slowly lifts his hands from his head and cautiously looks up. Every crewmember on the bridge is dead, and the command center is filled with O'kakian shock troops, some deceased, most alive and extremely angry. One green, scaly thug looks in his direction, hefting a hand laser cannon. Yellowshirt has just enough time for an ingratiating grin before he is vaporized. Again.

The holodome resets. Yellowshirt shakily stands up.

What, five seconds longer than last time? We're improving, at least.

I've been assigned nothing. I take whichever bounties I want. They are either those who skip out on their dates with the courts, or those that have no doubt as to their guilt. If they were so innocent, why would they run? It is my, less restrained, coworkers that give this line of work a questionable reputation.

Rocket Ranger watches the simulations going on in the Holodome via a small monitor built into the SnowCrane's console.

Rocket Ranger: You're forgetting something.

Commander Milkshake: And what would that be, Rocket?

Rocket Ranger: Remodulate the ship's systems so that anyone trying to beam onboard is re-routed to Deck 13. With all the traps down there, that should give you some extra time.

Holodome?

Two redshirts enter, one redshirt leaves.

(Cyber 9 teleports just behind Enesku)

Return to our own time? (he says in booming voice that causes Enesku to jump) Our time may no longer exist. (then he teleports back to his ship)

We need to have a meeting with all concerned about your mission.

(And there was a meeting*. Introductions, explainations of the LeagueICC's encounter with the LegionICC, The Funky Horror's involvement, the destruction of the Morgan, & the change in the time stream were all made. Fortunately the viewers didn't have to sit through all this as the director decided to imply it by using 'the dissolve'** and we jump to the end of the meeting.)

...and we can try to upgrade your 'bear skin and stone knife' technology to something that will allow you to last longer than fifteen minutes.

Spidora: A lot longer actually. We can't upgrade your systems as much as we'd like however. We only have a limited number of supplies and we don't know if the 64th Century we left is still there or not. Also implementing some of our systems would overload your own. I've already examined your systems and can begin the upgrades. (She leaves the room)

Someone at the meeting: So why didn't you help when Taconator first came back from the future and attacked?

Because... because the Chronological... (Cyber 9 suddenly looked greener than usual) Intervention D... (Cyber 9 collapsed unconscious to the floor and and he was beamed to Sickbay)

* Fortunately Cyber 9's call came just as the latest Holodome exercise had ended so the command staff of the Spidermobile could attend.

** Paris When It Sizzles reference. ;-)

(Ensign Ardluck was temporarily filling in at the science station when the arachnoid Spidora and the reptilian Dragonette came up from behind and as one said)

Hi!

Wha!?! (Ardluck jumped out of his seat and banged his knee on the console) Owwww!!!

Spidora: Oh, sorry.

Dragonette: Are you all right?

Uh, yeah, I'm fine. How can I help you?

(As one they asked) Where's Mr. Obvious?

Uhhhh, he retired a few years ago.

(Again as one) Ohhhhhhhhhhh...

Spidora: Too bad.

Dragonette: Thanks for your help, anyway.

You're welcome. I think.

(As they walked away he heard)

Spidora: Just as well I suppose. You just would have been hurt when he confirmed he liked me better.

Dragonette: Oh, puhlease! The only way you could keep him near was with webbing.

Spidora: That was a joke. Besides what about you burning his hair off?

Dragonette: It was only singed...

(In a smashed and battered room Robot Redshirt comes back online*.)

Robot Redshirt to Security! Somebody released a Scpipt & a Momet into a roomful of redshirts.

Security: Any casualties?

Six redshirts, a Scpipt & a Momet are dead

Security: Anyone important?

As a redshirt I resent that remark. Try to find out who did it. Robot Redshirt out.

(Rob left the room, thinking) That is so unfair. Redshirts do their job well! We literally put our lives on the line and usually die so that others don't and we get no respect at all! You'd think they would care. Maybe shed a tear. Why can't we get any respect?

(He sees Hairy Kim, throws his arms wide and yells,)

Doggy!

(As everyone is looking around trying to see where the dog is, Rob puts his head in his hands and thinks,) On the other hand that is why no one respects us robots.

* Upgrade. If someone doesn't push his reset button within half an hour it comes on automatically.

Alex, who is at Cyber 9's meeting, speaks up.
Rocket, I know that ship of yours is experimental and highly advanced, but maybe we could let Cyber 9 look at it and do any upgrades he needs to...

Yep. This is just like what they did with Star Trek. TOS was action and fun, while TNG was endless meetings. Looks like TPTB took a lesson from that!

Milkshake gets up and heads to sickbay, mentioning as he leaves:

I'm not willing to accept this at face value. I need to talk to him further.

Yes, but the original series was cancelled after a few years while TNG was the most popular Trek ever.

Quite a while before the Legion arrives and beams aboard, Rikard is in Sickbay with the Medical Hologram. They're looking at a graphic of Rikard's body.

Holodoc: As you can see from you last physical, your body has experienced a few unexplained changes. It appears to be aging at half of its expected pace. In fact, I'm not sure why we didn't detect it before, it appears that you haven't aged normally since you were 21. But that's not all. He shows him several more screens of the various changes happening to him.
Do you have any idea what's going on?

Rikard nods.
Yeah, I think that I do. A few months ago, I had a dream. You know that guy that keeps contacting me in my sleep? The guy that told me that I was a Jedi a few years ago at Club Ted? The one that makes the occasional visit to my head?*
The MH thinks for a few seconds before nodding.
He said that something may happen. I may start developing some new weird powers. Maybe this is what he was talking about.
The Holodoc nods.
Doc: Very well. You shouldn't be feeling any changes yet but as soon as you do, I want you to report to Sickbay. I'm also injecting you with a device that will monitor you body's functions and automatically calls me when something happens. Just in case you aren't able to call me.
He takes a hypospray and injects a microscopic device into Rikard. At that point an announcement for yet another meeting is projected over the comm. Rikard sighs.

Yet another meeting. Thanks Doc.
He makes his way for the briefing room and attends the meeting with the LegionICC. After Cyber 9 collapses, Rikard follows Milkshake back to Sickbay.

After the LeigonICCC meeting, Delgado goes back to his quarters and finds his duffel bag. Slinging it over his shoulder, he says, "Let's see what else I can use out of here."

Lopez bangs his head on the main console in his Banshee class fighter. "Weren't we supposed to be hoping into battl;e by now? I'm starting get leg cramps from all this sitting, AND I've got to go to another blasted meeting!"

"Why would they run, indeed..." Morgan quietly replies, a sardonic note creeping into his voice, remembering rather well a previous encounter.*

* LICC2 XXXVIII - LICC2 XLIII

Writing rather awkwardly, thinking of prechecking more often, retreating awfully fast...

45 minutes ago, shortly before Cyber 9's beaming over.

"Um, hold please, Atlantis."

38 minutes ago.

"The Captain is busy right now, Atlantis. We'll pass on your query. Hello?"

24 minutes ago.

"I'm terribly sorry, Captain Jansen, but the Captain is in a very important meeting and can't be disturbed. No, I do not know who the intruders are. No...no...yes. No, I'm sure the Legio--INTRUDERS are perfectly peaceful and have a-- Captain Jansen?"

12 minutes ago.

"Uh...er...DOO DOO DOO...The subspace channel you have tried to reach is no longer in service. Please check your frequency and hail again."

15 seconds ago.

The Spidermobile shudders slightly as an extremely powerful transporter beam punches directly through its raised shields. Three figures materialize aboard the bridge. A quite angry Captain Jansen, a grim, dark-complexioned human male with Lt. Commander insignia, and a very deadly-looking Bladian Lieutenant.

Jansen simply stares at the comm officer.

"Eee....eh...the Captain's in sickbay."

The three from Atlantis turn and enter the turbolift.

So why wasn't the captain of the Atlantis at the meeting? Cyber 9 appeared on all the ship's viewscreens and said they had to have a meeting. If she chose not to attend then she only has herself to be mad at.

I just wish that "Morgans Author" would identify himself as 'Keirans Author' instead to avoid confusion with another author.

What does that have to do with my comment?

Uhhhh, maybe she was in the bath?

(Cyber 9 opened his eyes to see he was in Sickbay. As he sat up Hairy Kim came running in)

Kim: I just heard! Are you okay?

I'm fine. The Doctor was just about to don a feathered headdress and dance around with a live chicken to chase away the evil spirits.

Holodoc: Ha. Ha. Why you haven't opened up a line of Cyber 9 Charm Schools, I'll never understand.

Kim: How is he?

Holodoc: Cranky & belligerant, but I suspect you knew that already. However I would prefer to tell my patient my diagnosis in private.

Whatever you can say to me you can say to her. (Something approaching a smile crossed his face as he glanced at her) She'd find out anyway.

Holodoc: Very well. (pause) There's no easy way to say this, but... you're dying.

(For a moment Cyber 9 & Kim just stared at the Doctor)

And?

Holodoc: And? And? Isn't that enough? (pause) You already knew didn't you?

If it's about the X-CwX 'self-destruct', yes. I knew about it last year when the League came to the 64th Century.

Holodoc: Our scans of you don't show any signs of it.

The scanners got better after 34 centuries. Besides it's not like you had any ex-X-CwX to study.

Holodoc: Just that Funky Horror & the drone that Rocket Ranger freed.

What?!? There's a X-CwX drone on the loose?

Holodoc: Rocket Ranger freed her from her X-CwX programming two years ago.

(While the Doctor was explaining that, Cyber 9 was scanning the ship with a beam from his eyes)

There she is, in the Botany section. (pause) Odd. Her programming is broken. She is however in the early stages of self-destruct. (Activating an internal communicator) Spidora, I want all information about a Rocket Ranger's experiment on a X-CwX drone.

Holodoc: You could simply ask him yourself.

(Searching the information) A tstasis device? Where did a man with a 30th/31st Century level of technology learn to build a tstasis device?

Holodoc: He's very clever. He also said that "tstasis" was a typo.

Then he was lying. To build a tstasis device requires knowledge that's a few hundred years beyond this time.

Holodoc: Maybe the knowledge will be lost & rediscovered? There is Ancient's technology that today's scientists don't understand, so it's not without precedent.

Perhaps.

Holodoc: Anyway, it's a good thing for 12 of 10 that he had that knowledge.

A good thing for what?

Holodoc: No, What is no longer on the ship. 12 of 10 is the name the drone goes by.

That's funny.

Holodoc: Yes. Odd that with all the cybernetic implants that the X-CwX should be so bad at math.

That's even funnier. (Cyber 9 was actually smiling)

Kim: The X-CwX have a... mathmatical sense of humor. 12 of 10 translates as more than the parts of your sum.

(Cyber 9 snickered)

Kim: Now if you really want to see him laugh... (She then whispered into the Holodoc's ear)

Holodoc: X x 3521⁸⁹(66-Y)⁴ + Z = 9874⁴⁷ ÷ 3

(Cyber 9 shook his head) Some people can tell a joke, some people can't.

(Holodoc looked accusingly at Hairy Kim who just shrugged apologetically. At that moment Milkshake & Rikard came into the Sickbay after being trapped by a turbolift glitch which has since been fixed)

Delgado has his duffel open on the table, with a number of possibly useful items scattered about him. One of these is a utility belt that he is trying to get everything else clipped to.

"Let's see... shield generators..." There are two of these, that get clipped to either side of the belt, in the hopes that if one fails, the other will take over automatically. Next, Delgado takes his bomb box and folds it down until it can be clipped on. On the opposite side, he holsters a type-IV personal disruptor- a powerful, if quiant, weapon. Finally he comes to an object that looks an awful lot like a lightsaber.

"Why would they give me a lightsaber? It's not like I have any knowledge of the Force..." He activates it anyway, and with a hiss, the dark green blade extends out, humming with energy. "I've never seen one that's dark green before..." Nevertheless, Delgado takes a few practice swipes with it, trying to get the feel for the weapon. It doesn't seem very promising, but then he notices, just below the emitter for the blade, a small ring that looks like it twists around. He twists it, and as he does so, the beam changes. The end of the beam suddenly widens, until it is about a half-meter thick. The result is a V-shaped blade- another method of shielding, Delgado figures. Could be useful. He clips the saber onto his belt next to the disruptor and returns to the duffel.

"I hope I can find it..." He reaches inside the bag, all the way down to his elbow, in fact, before he retrieves a small control device. He closes the duffel and presses a button on the remote. The duffel shimmers a bit, and suddenly shrinks down to a box small enough that Delgado can fit it in his fist. One side of the box has a pale blue circle inscribed in it, and Delgado clips the box to his belt with this circle facing out. He clips the control on the other side of the belt buckle.

"All right. Let's do this!" He strides purposefully out of his quarters and returns to duty.

Good to see that you're doing better.

Turns to the doctor. So, what happened? Why the collapse? Is Cyber 9 going to be alright? Is it okay to ask him a few more questions about this mission?

And after the questions, we can discuss the offer of future technology, and why I'm not prepared to accept such an offer, given the dangers of temporal tampering.

Is there anything I can do to help, Doctor?

Artsy is so absorbed in detailing the object in her hands, each line and curve just so, perfectly and obliquely balanced, that it takes the combined telepathic "shouts" of Quito and Seeker (who is currently sitting in his own private docking bay) to shock her back to awareness of the outer world.

"Ow. What?" Artsy rubs fretfully at her temples, frowning at her young charge. The small alien cuddles up to her, antennae quivering, her sending now much more subdued but full of concern. Artsy pulls her onto her lap. "Hey. It's all right. I'm right here."

Seeker prods Artsy's mind once more. LEFT WORD SOMEONE FOR YOU.

Artsy reaches over to hit her comm button. Keiran's voice comes through. "I thought you might be in your quarters, but I guess not. Just letting you know that there are some new fight training programs in the holodome, and I'll be working with other command staff there if you need me. Or if you want to join in. I love you."

How had she missed hearing that message? Seeker gives her little time to ponder. TRAINING I WANT; CONNECT HOLODOME TO ME? EXCITMENT/TREPIDATION/OFFENCE IF CAN'T BE DONE.

"Light, calm down," Artsy says and thinks. Ruefully she eyes the still-incomplete art project. "I'll see what I can do."

(to Milkshake)
The "temporal tampering" has already happened. You can ask Colanator he's the one who confirmed it.

Besides we're not planning to let you keep the upgrades. Once Taconator is defeated all future tech will be removed. As you remember we removed all upgrades after the defeat of the X-CwX in the 64th Century. (pause) Except for the Time Turbines which was a mistake.

(to Rikard)
I collapsed because of a biological 'booby trap' that happens to X-CwX who betray the Overlord. That's probably why the 'Funky Horror' is working with Taconator, to be a slave hoping for a cure. And he could have brought back all sorts of fancy 64th century tech that was developed after Taconator escaped into the past.

(to Milkshake)
If Taconator wins the future will belong to him. Earth, the Cu'uth'ulu Empire, The Galactic Order and any other varied & sundry governments will become X-CwX. There will be no will, but Taconator's will.

"One thing."

(Keiran steps out of the one slightly shadowed corner of sickbay.)

"Well, actually two. One, if Taconator has future technology, why hasn't he attacked already? Your little ship, if it lives up to half your boasts, could give most of the Fleet a run for its money.

Two, what's to say giving the technology, and by association your very presence here, won't have unanticipated influence on future events? Give a 20th century man a PADD, and he may not know how to use it or how to build another one, but you've already changed the future, possibly for the worse, and the changes won't stop if you simply take it away from him after he's fiddled with it a bit. You're offering weapons."

And why is it that we suddenly need 64th century technology? We've fought Taconator and the X-CwX before with our current technology and won. Why the change?

Grant Lopez, overhearing this, coughs. "Well, personally Commander, from my admittedly limited understanding of temporal mechanics, the Timeline has been messed with so often and so badly, that Time is simply utter bunk, and it won't make a lick of difference what we do or don't do, cause it'll all start and end the same anyway. I'm actually a regular on the Time Travel Is For Losers discussion board on the TachyonNet."

(bored out of his skull by the constant stream of meetings)

Right, I think that covers everything. Anyone for a game of "Whoosh"?

If you don't want the upgrades, Commander, fine.

(to Keiran)
Advisor, we didn't change time, the X-CwX did. According to the historical records the Morgan survived the battle with the X-CwX ships. It didn't.

I don't boast. The comment about giving most of the fleet a run for it's money was a conclusion jumped to by someone else at the meeting.

The Chameleonmobile is only one ship. It can be outnumbered and overpowered.

(to Rikard)
*sigh* How many times do I have to explain this. What has changed is that now he has the help of The Funky Horror who has freed the imprisoned X-CwX from the 64th century and has taken genetic material from various superheroines. Your own Doctor theorized that he would use that to create a new breed of superpowered X-CwX. Is that too hard for you to understand? Would you like me to sketch it out using holocrayons?

Rocket Ranger, attending the meeting via holographic projection since he doesn't feel like leaping back and forth between meetings and the SnowCrane, speaks up.

As you may know, I freed 12 of 10 from being an X-CwX drone. During the time I studied her to determine how to do that, I discovered something that we might be able to use....

He pauses, and coughs for a second.

I believe I've found a virus that the X-CwX may be vulnerable to, but without actually testing it on a drone, there's no way we can be sure. It acts both as a natural virus AND a computer virus, hitting both their cybernetic and organic systems at the same time. Unfortunately, it may not be lethal. It would just make them very sick. But that could be all we need.

He looks at Cyber 9.

Of course, being from the future, you could probably just tell me if it'll work or not. If it won't, then I'll go back to working on my little surprise for Taconator.

Alex, who has also been following the meeeting in much the same way Rocket has, speaks up
And with your ship, Rocket, I'll give the bad guys a run for their money.

I'm sorry Cyber 9, but after meeting after meeting, you come along, start to drone on endlessly about the end of your timeline, and put half of the crew to sleep in yet another meeting. Forgive me if some of your unending babbling doesn't stick with some of us.

Turns to the Rocket Ranger hologram And haven't you been working on your "little surprise" since we last saw Taconator?

Delgado looking for some historical context on redshirt losses, decides to sit at the Spare Crewmember Station and search the computer's database...

"Redshirt #91932 was killed when the captain's chair was hit by a stray Polymorph Rifle discharge, turning it into a bengal tiger which proceeded to devour the Redshirt. The chair was restored with the aid of a normality field...

"Redshirt #47675 was killed on account of ennui... on account of ennui? What does that mean?

Redshirt #60934 was killed after a long duty shift in which his console did not explode. The strain of waiting for the console to explode caused the redshirt to become unstable, at which point he whacked the console with a stick and caused the console to explode...

Boy, this certainly is a long file... Oh, hey, the new board is getting closer..."

Redshirt #60609 died of a heart attack caused by shock when nothing at all happened to him.

Redshirt #91307 was burned to a crisp, when the magnifying glass on Quantum Man's Nitty Award focused on him, and caused him to catch fire.

A group of Redshirts were struck by lightning from a storm casued by Butrfli flapping her wings on the Whyte Kastle planet.

The Rocket Ranger hologram turns its head in the direction of Commander Rikard.

Commander, apparently you've been neglecting the quarterly reports I've filed about my progress on the anti-Taconator project. Otherwise, you'd know that I've been doing constant research and upgrades as better technology and more information becomes available. Most likely, I will continue working on the surprise I have in store for Taconator up until the very moment that I unleash it on him.

He turns to face the hologram of Alex.

Don't be too cocky, Alex. Remember, that ship is still experimental. Its been tested to make sure everything works okay, but this will the first time its been used in actual combat.

Lopez, sitting in the flight deck command center and lsitening to the meetings through his comm console scoffs. "I've been saying that to him ever sicne he came aboard Ranger. But Alex has one hell of a lucky streak going for him right now." Suddenly, without warning, Lopez does a full body shiver. Nobody sees this, so they are a bit confused whn his voice pipes over the comm system into all the meeting areas. "Whoa, that was odd."

Meanwhile, back on Earth, someone Lopez knows, and hates, is being briefed on her new assignment by the DOS.

And one more thing, how will you manufacture these advanced weapons? Do you really have facilities for weapon fabrication and ship refit on the Chameleonmobile? Not to mention I'm sure the Atlantis and Eurasia won't stand to stay with their conventional armaments.

Just then, the party from the Atlantis walks into Sickbay.

Aaaaaaah! Smell that?

Yep! Another KAM plotline going down in flames.

I don't know which I prefer better. Watching his plotlines be ignored or watching them self-destruct.

Well, those are the only reasons they keep that 10th rate hack around.

(to Rocket Ranger)
According to the mission report the virus worked at first, but they overcame it. Your 'surprise' will be partially effective, if the X-CwX attack had allowed you use it a few minutes later it could have been completely effective. However it was good enough to get you a posthumous Medal of Valor.

(to Milkshake)
If you don't want the upgrades, does it really matter where they come from?

However, as I explained in the meeting, the Chameleonmobile has replacement parts for our systems, some of which could have been adapted to work with your systems.

(As the party from the Atlantis enters Sickbay)
Holodoc: All right! This is Sickbay, NOT a meeting room! Unless some of you need medical treatment, please adjourn to one!

"Captain Milkshake, I assume you have an explanation for this."

And then the entire situation is explained to Jansen.

"...I've heard it but I still don't believe it. Why can't the Legion travel farther back in time and prevent Taconator from escaping into the Beta 9 black hole to begin with?"

A Department of Superheroics ship docks with the Spidership.

Permission to come aboard?

Permission is granted, and a new hero, wearing what appears to be a 20th Century business suit, and carrying a briefcase enters the Spidership.

Greetings! I am MEETING MAN. I have the ability to invoke a meeting at will, or join any meeting in progress! Oh, here are my orders from the Department of Superheroics.

Lack of sleep from all the meetings causes Lt. Jadlad to collapse.

All right! Let's hold a meeting now!

Noooooo!

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a rampaging mob of respectable physicists lynches Meeting Man, chanting "We really can't stand smart-asses!"

After hearing about the new arrival...

Thanks, but no thanks. I think we're doing a fine job of creating and holding enough meetings as it is.

Sir, why don't we just let them do the modifications. We're still 9 hours away from our destination. We need to get to them as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more time they'll have to do whatever really evil masterminds and their armies do.

I'd just as soon have the Legion stay out of this, unless we fail our mission, that is.

Everyone in Sickbay turns around in supprise and looks at Adon, who came in behind the Atlantis crowd. The Holodoc throws up his hands in dispair, and storms off into his office.

Playing with time is a very dangerous thing, and shouldn't be done at all, if it can be helped. I would rather that they didn't come back at all, but sit back and watch and see what happens, and interfere only if absolutely nessessary.

Muwhahahahahahaha! You'll never beat me, Meeting Man! In fact, I have a new, dastardly scheme that will destroy you once and for all!

Pauses.

And I'll implement it, just as soon as I scarf down a bag of chips and a glass of Dew, then take a nap.

Procrastination Man, you're late for the meeting!

Delgado reaches a finishing point in his research and sits back to ponder his next move. A flashing panel attracts his attention.

"Looks like the next board will be here soon."

Ah, look, I'm sorry, Cyber 9. You and the Legion had saved our bacon enough times during that future mission, and here we are, treating you like an unwelcome relative with the flu. We appreciate your offer of the assistance, but we can't accept just like that. The timeline may be already polluted, but this might push us into chaos.

Meanwhile...a few hundred light-years ahead...a Terran distress signal weakly blinks into existence.

And so, another meeting begins. But unlike any other meeting previously, a wormhole in space - a wrinkle in time, if you will - opens in the middle of the conference room. In an impressive display of morphing-effects, a beautiful dark-skinned girl of roughly 18 appears, either coming out of the wormhole or formed from it.

My name is Tessa Ract, the Timewrinkler. Sometimes your ally I shall be, at other times a deathly foe. In this case, I realise that for the past three boards you have been stuck in meetings doing little more than nothing, and show no sign of change. I have it in my power to skip this tedium and move time forward so you have reached your destination. Do you accept this offer?

Note: The offer is not cursed. The only ill-effects you will suffer as a result will be those one expects to suffer when fighting the deathly Taconator.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

A high-backed chair, unnoticed by just about everyone, suddenly swirls around.

"I don't think I do, I have a twist in mind that I'm still trying to bring about. More like a development, actually." says the occupant.

"I'm proud to report that our new toy is ready for action."

"Good. I'll contact the HQ."

Thinking to himself...

Ha! It's a good thing the LICC doesn't know I'm really a villain! I'm going to cause them to get bogged down in endless meetings until they can be defeated!

Meeting Man... what good are meetings if you are unable to speak?

Agent Smith gives Meeting Man a strange look, but nothing else happens. Displeased that nothing is happenign to Meeting Man, Agent Smith pulls out a roll of duct tape and wrapps it around Meeting Man's head, preventing him from speaking or removing it without loosing a large ring of hair. Satisfied with the results, Agent Smith walks away.

Little does Agent Smith know that Meeting Man doesn't need to speak to invoke his power. As Agent Smith walks through the door, he walks into a conference room where a meeting is taking place.

Chairman: Ah, there you are, Agent Smith. Sit down, please, we were just about to begin the meeting.

Agent Smith: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(on the bridge, at some station that wasn't being used by anyone else, Lt. First detects something)

Sensors indicate somekinda spacial anomoly.

Whoever's in charge: Is that all?

No. It appears to be the kind that makes it turn out that some people or events were just somekinda bad dream or something.

Whoever's in charge: One of those again. Why did it have to be one of those?

It's currently lurking off the port bow as if waiting for instructions.

If that's the way you feel, fine.

(suddenly Cyber 9 teleports all the Legionnaires back to the Chameleonmobile

It looks like we are on our own.

(however as the Chameleonmobile is about to take off an unidentifed ship decloaks, splits into several smaller parts, surrounds the Chameleonmobile and the Legion ship vanishes from real space. The unidentified ship reassembles and recloaks. None of the Spidermobile's sensors, nor any of the assorted super-beings, can detect where either ship went.)

(Will we ever learn what happened? Will we ever learn just who, or what, was piloting that ship?)

(Who cares?)

I don't!

When's Frangelica coming back?

Meanwhile the spacial anomoly, pissed at being used as a red herring, storms off to complain to it's agent.

Jackson, who has been dozing because of all the meetings, fully wakes and says
Steve, maybe we should have accepted their help. Who knows what we'll face during the battle... And besides, they would have removed the new stuff when they left...

Somebody hits Meeting Man over the head with a big agenda. The poor villain collapses immediately because of an instant allergic reaction.

Ok, guys, drag him away! This meeting has been postponed indefinitely.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

"Cap-Commander, I'd like permisison to send Red Squad off ahead of us to gauge the enemy's perimeter defenses."

"Granted, Lopez, but proceed very very carefully. We don't want to tip them off too soon. Take a field fighter support ship, too. Have Engineering install a cloak on it."