Skip to main content

Episode 115. The Ultimate Sacrifice

Book 1 - Episode 115 - The Ultimate Sacrifice

Context

Coordinated Universal Time
Thursday, July 15, 1954 - 9:32 p.m.
Location
  • Beta Quadrant
  • Solar System
  • Near Earth
  • USS Enterprise
  • Bridge
Timeline
Crossroads of the Prime and Schak'Irra Timelines
Previously on Trek Outta Time

Above Earth, the Enterprise, deprived of its nacelles and shields, continues to resist the colossal Tarantula. With help from Tal'Kyr, Tarsi extends a protective shield around the human ship while Agnes desperately tries to find a solution. Then a new wormhole opens, revealing VSS Schak'Irra, arriving straight from the 26th century. The Tarantula immediately turns its attention toward it. Pushed by Manu and Emilie, Agnes authorizes the creation of a virus capable of disabling the Tholian defenses. But faced with the extent of the damage, only one option remains: sacrifice. Agnes orders a complete evacuation of the ship. As the crew boards the pods, Agnes and Angie remain alone aboard. Lingua, aware, detects their last two biosigns... before shutting down.

Characters

Name Affiliation / Branch Title / Rank Species Original Timeline
Agnes V. Rodriguez NATO / Special Fleet Captain Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Angie Chen NATO / Special Fleet Commander Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi Starfleet / Temporal Division Commander Andorian Prime Timeline
T'Met Starfleet / Temporal Division Captain Vulcan Prime Timeline
Young T'Met Starfleet / Temporal Division Captain Vulcan Prime Timeline
Zaneth-Myra Lysana Starfleet / Temporal Division Commander Andorian Prime Timeline
T'Killa Starfleet / Temporal Division Lieutenant Vulcan Prime Timeline
T'Less-Cop Starfleet / Temporal Division Lieutenant Vulcan Prime Timeline

Manifests

USS Enterprise VSS Schak'Irra
Affiliation NATO Starfleet / Ni'Var
Location 1954, near Earth 1954, near Earth
Captain Agnes V. Rodriguez T'Met (Young)
First Officer Angie Chen Zaneth-Myra Lysana
Artificial Intelligence Lingua (Unofficial) Lingua (Initial Version)
Pilot Eric Corda N/A
Communications Emilie Flores T'Killa
Operations Charlene Savea T'Less-Cop
Tactical Angie Chen N/A
Science Manu N/A
Engineering Gornok (Unofficial) N/A
Advanced Weaponry Eros Vitos N/A
Security Robert Gomard (Unofficial) N/A
Sickbay Victor S. Calpel
K'hoka Khol'a (assistant)
N/A
Counselor/Consultant Manu N/A
Custodian Manu N/A
Passengers Robert Gomard's squad
4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra
Emmanuel Macron
Gornok's Tellarite workers
N/A
Detainees Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards N/A
Deployed Flotilla Tal'Kyr (With T'Met and Tarsi)
Class F shuttles (Robert Gomard and his men)
Survival pods (the Enterprise crew)
N/A

TL;DR

The Enterprise faces the Tarantula and prepares one final assault. Agnes and Angie activate self-destruct, send Emilie's virus, and lock in the ramming trajectory. Tarsi pleads with them from Tal'Kyr, but the two women refuse to flee. Hand in hand, they face the final instant together. The impact pulverizes both ships in a cataclysmic explosion that lights up space. Shocked, Tarsi screams in rage while T'Met holds back her emotion behind her typically Vulcan facade. Tal'Kyr then docks with VSS Schak'Irra, where the two officers meet the younger version of T'Met. But the joy is short-lived: instead of thanks, Schak'Irra's captain orders their arrest for violating the Temporal Prime Directive.

Story

With a knot in my stomach, I watch the survival pods carrying my crew away from the Enterprise and the combat zone. Angie and I are the last ones aboard, and we coordinate our efforts to prepare our final fight.

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Weapons are ready, Agnes. All beams are aimed at the Tarantula.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Did you prepare the torpedoes?

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Yes. Automatic reload is programmed at a rate of one shot per second. I will also send all of Eros's mobile mines.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

I hope that will be enough to get it. Get into the last pod; I will finish alone.

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Out of the question! I am staying with you to the end. Honestly! Do not imagine you will be the only one collecting all the glory!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

You realize this is a one-way trip to the hereafter?

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Of course I am aware. Anyway, we all go someday, and I would rather it be with you. There is still one advantage to dying today, since we will be born again in about thirty years in a better world.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Hmm. I hope so. Look, Emilie's console is emitting a signal!

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Someone is trying to contact us... It is Tarsi!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Put her on the main screen.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

Hey! What are you doing??? All the Enterprise survival pods have been launched!!!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Change of plan, Tarsi! We are going to ram the Tarantula and blow up the Enterprise at its core. Move Tal'Kyr away.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

Have you both gone insane?! No, I will not move aside! Lingua, transport Agnes and Angie to Tal'Kyr immediately!!!

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)

Lingua is no longer available. Move Tal'Kyr aside, Tarsi, or I will not hesitate to fire on you!

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

You would never dare! I am not going to let you sacrifice yourselves without opposing it!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Our decision is made. I am asking you to take care of my crew and keep them safe.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

Damn it, Agnes! Please! Do not do this!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

It is our only chance to restore the Prime temporality, and you know it! Promise me you will look after the Enterprise crew!

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

[censored], what did I do to deserve always making friends with completely crazy people! T'Met was already the last straw, but you and Angie beat every record!

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

You are our friend, and you will remain so for eternity.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Video channel

And I will carry this on my conscience for the rest of my life. I love you...

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

We love you too, Vexoriana-Lyss'ra. Enterprise out.

Tarsi's image is immediately replaced by the imposing Tarantula. We move toward a console, our hands brushing as we pass, and begin the procedure to activate the Enterprise self-destruct. The countdown begins and, while Angie recovers the last drops of available energy to redirect them to propulsion and weapons, I send the virus crafted by Emilie, which neutralizes all the enemy ship's defenses in no time.

The Enterprise, now launched into a ramming maneuver toward the Tarantula, charges at full fire with unwavering determination. During that fateful instant, we hold hands tightly, a final gesture of love and courage before the fatal impact. Our eyes lock together, accepting our fate. A few seconds later, the two ships collide and a devastating explosion engulfs the surrounding space. Aboard Tal'Kyr, Tarsi and T'Met helplessly witness the horror of the scene.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

[censored], [censored], [censored], [censored], [censored]!!!

Capt. T'Met

Calm yourself, Vexoriana-Lyss'ra. Our task is not finished.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Do not you dare tell me the loss of Agnes and Angie does not affect you!

Capt. T'Met

As a Vulcan, I cannot express my emotions, but know that I am psychologically devastated and must call upon all my willpower to control myself.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

It would not hurt you to express your anger from time to time! Contact Schak'Irra while I maneuver.

Capt. T'Met

VSS Schak'Irra, this is Tal'Kyr. Do you read us?

Lt. T'Killa (Communications VSS Schak'Irra)

Audio channel

We read you, Tal'Kyr. What are you doing here, and what is happening in this area?

Capt. T'Met

It is a long story, VSS Schak'Irra. We request permission to dock.

Lt. T'Killa (Communications VSS Schak'Irra)

Audio channel

Permission granted. Captain T'Met is curious to hear your explanations.

Once docked with Schak'Irra, T'Met and Tarsi hurry to the bridge. T'Met stands before her younger self, a Captain T'Met who never spent 70 years in captivity among the Russians. The two Vulcans face each other, looking at one another impassively while each raises an eyebrow.

Capt. T'Met

Captain T'Met, I will ask you to give the order to recover all survival pods and shuttles aboard Schak'Irra.

Young Capt. T'Met (VSS Schak'Irra)

Who are they?

Capt. T'Met

Mainly humans from the 21st century and survivors from my crew.

Young Capt. T'Met (VSS Schak'Irra)

Humans from the 21st century in 1954? Lieutenant T'Less-Cop, supervise recovery maneuvers and isolate the survivors.

Lt. T'Less-Cop (Operations VSS Schak'Irra)

Aye, Captain.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Oh, T'Met, thank you so much.

Young Capt. T'Met (VSS Schak'Irra)

Commander Lysana, escort my older double and Commander Tarsi to a holding cell.

Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Number One VSS Schak'Irra)

Captain, is that necessary? We must first investigate what happened.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Huh, uh, what?! Why are you doing this to us, T'Met? Do you realize that we just saved your little butt and that people sacrificed themselves?!!!

Young Capt. T'Met (VSS Schak'Irra)

Commander Tarsi, you were supposed to watch our backs from Earth's starbase in 2554, not make a mess of my mission in 1954! I remind you that you are both Starfleet officers and that you behaved like irresponsible humans by violating the Temporal Prime Directive!

Capt. T'Met

I concur.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Of course! It would be illogical for you to disagree with your double!

Cmdr. Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Number One VSS Schak'Irra)

Please follow me.