The Iconians' version of lunch definitely agreed with Kira. Currently he was munching away on a sandwich of some sort in a hurried manner while listening to the conversation around him aboard the Iconian ship.
"Our problem now remains as to how to move these two stars back to their correct orbits," said the tall Iconian who was the leader of the group of scientists located in the large meeting hall aboard the ship that had carried them to the core of galaxy *Maffei I*. "Our visitors have provided us with the basic idea of reversing the gravitational fields surrounding the two stars, however, the problem remains as to how to accomplish this task." The tall Iconian punched some buttons on a nearby console, which brought to life the large display in the middle of the table. "In order to accomplish our goal of reversing gravity within the proximity of these two stars, we will require a large number of our ships in a spherical pattern surrounding their area of space. The only problem that we foresee with this plan involves the placement of the ships around the two stars. In order for the field to remain constant throughout the area, we will need a single ship to be placed in the middle of the sphere. Unfortunately, none of our ships are capable of producing a warp field of the magnitude needed in order to provide stability to the field."
"Ter'ai is correct," said Kira as he finally finished eating his lunch, "you will need a ship in the center of the field in order for the plan to succeed. However, I believe that there is a way to allow the central ship to augment the field stability; if you will allow me, I will work to enhance your warp field strength in the central ship during the process."
"How do you propose to do that in such a short time?" said Ter'ai, "We do not have enough time for you to modify our engines to accomplish this goal."
"I won't need to modify your warp engines, Ter'ai," said Kira. "Among other things, I have the physiologic ability to modify and create energy fields of varying strengths and types. This ability is what allowed my friends and me to travel to your time."
Several looks of astonishment and murmurs of surprise came from the various species around the table in the meeting hall. Of those seated at the meeting table, only Nige was nonplused at Kira's remarks. In fact, he was rather enjoying the various reactions to his friend's statement.
Regaining his composure, Ter'ai continued his line of thought. "If our visitor is capable of doing what he proposes, then we may be able to succeed in this endeavor." Ter'ai tapped a few more keystrokes on the console behind him and spoke once the images had shifted in reaction to his input. "If we are able to reverse the gravitational fields surrounding the two stars, by our calculations we should be able to return them to their corrected orbits within a matter of a couple of days."
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to stabilize the warp field for that length of time, Ter'ai," said Kira.
"How long can you sustain the field integrity?" asked Ter'ai.
"Only for a maximum of six hours," said Kira. Many in the room around him expressed their dismay at his answer. Sensing their bewilderment Kira interjected, "But, there may be another way to move the stars to their corrected orbits within that time frame."
"How?" asked the heretofore silent Kerrin, who was seated by Nige.
"After we've created the field around the two stars I propose that we bring them to low warp for a period of time in order to correct their orbits in a much faster manner. I believe that we'll have to do this in three stages; first, we will need to create the field; second, we move to low warp speeds; and third, we then reverse the gravitational fields surrounding the two stars to bring their orbits back to normal."
"Kerrin," asked Ter'ai, "is this even possible?"
"In theory, yes," replied Kerrin in amazement at the audacity of Kira's plan. "But if we were to have any areas of instability in the field at any point, whether stationary or at warp, the results could be catastrophic."
"What do you mean by catastrophic?" asked Nige.
"The stars' own internal balance of fusion/fission will break down, causing immediate supernova."
"How long would we have until the stars collided if we just let them continue on their course?" asked another scientist at the table.
"They would collide in less than two weeks without our intervention," stated Kerrin.
Everyone in the room sat in stunned silence as they pondered their fates should they fail in the plan laid before them. On the one hand if they let things be they were assured at least two weeks before their fates were sealed, but should they decide to go ahead with their plan and fail, their destruction would be immediate.
A single voice emanated from the corner of the room that broke the silence at the table. "I for one would prefer to do something about our situation versus waiting for circumstances to play themselves out. If it comes down to a vote, I say we go ahead with the plan to bring the stars to warp. If we should succeed, then our galaxy is saved, but should we fail the outcome would be no worse than what would happen if we were to allow the stars to collide."
Kira turned around to face the nameless voice in the corner, and was greeted by the face of Captain N'tieu. Kira was surprised to see him there, since up to this point he had only been found on the bridge of his ship.
Murmurs of assent were heard across the room as the scientists came to agreement with N'tieu's assessment of the situation.
"It is decided then," said Ter'ai. "Captain, if you would return to the bridge and contact as many ships within range as possible it would be appreciated. Have their communications routed here so that we can coordinate with them on how to synchronize our collective warp fields."
N'tieu nodded in understanding, then spun on his heels and headed for a nearby exit on his way to the bridge. As soon as he left multiple conversations sprung up around the room as the scientists discussed the practical implications of how to create a stable warp field of this magnitude.
After a few moments had passed, the conversations around him were boring Kira. Although the rest of the Iconian scientists had a lot of work before them in coordinating their efforts to create the field from the available ships, Kira wouldn't be put to the test until it was nearly time for them to begin.
Sensing his friends' apathy, Nige leaned over to Kira and said, "Do you want to get out of here for a while?"
"You read my mind," said Kira in a low voice that could barely be heard above the now-heated conversation in the room around them.
Obviously hearing their conversation, Kerrin motioned over to a nearby Iconian officer standing near one of the doorways. She quickly informed him to take Kira and Nige back to their quarters until they were needed.
Mouthing a quick "thank you" to Kerrin, Kira and Nige quickly exited the room behind the Iconian officer who led them through the maze-like corridors of the ship to their quarters.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, Kira walked over to a nearby comfortable looking couch and proceeded to relax his tight control over his mind.
Nige had seated himself nearby and was doing the same thing for the briefest of moments when a stray thought crossed his mind that left him unsettled and unable to rest. Unable to contain his question any longer, Nige finally voiced his concerns to his friend.
"There's something I need to tell you, Kira."
"What was that?" asked his friend in a groggy tone.
"I didn't come up with the idea to reverse the gravitational constant thingy, or whatever it's called. Q cornered me in the restroom and told me to tell you what to do."
"What?" asked Kira in a more awake manner.
"It wasn't my idea at all, it was Q's. He gave me some sort of excuse that he couldn't tell you what to do because there were too many people watching you from the Continuum. So, he used me as his intermediary."
After a few more brief moments, Kira responded to Nige's comments. "I am getting so tired of their meddling with my existence, Tyran," said Kira in a tired, yet exasperated tone. "When we're through with this situation Q better have some pretty damned good answers to why he's 'so interested' in me."
A few more agonizingly quiet moments passed before Tyran ventured another question.
"Kira," said Nige, "are you sure you can do this?"
"I think I can, Tyran. It's going to be tough, but I think I can do it. Besides, I agree with N'tieu's opinion, what good would it do for us to abandon our endeavors at this point? We would have traveled back in time and space to simply watch all of history repeat itself. We can't just stand by and watch as the universe begins to destroy itself."
"Yeah," said Nige. Frankly, that was all that he could say to his friends' response. It was at times like this that he felt the most out of place. Everyone aboard the ship knew what they had to do when the time came, except him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was just here along for the ride, for nothing more than moral support.
"Don't worry, Tyran," said Kira, breaking the pause of silence that was growing between them. "We'll either save them, or die trying."
With that last comment, Kira slowly extricated his frame from the all too comfortable chair that he was sitting in and walked over to the doorway to his rooms. "Wake me as soon as it's time. And don't worry."
Nige offered his friend a weak smile of assurance as he nodded in understanding of their conversation. As he watched his friends' frame disappear behind the closed doors of his room, he decided that he too would need some rest before their ordeal began. He slowly stood up and quietly walked over to his rooms on the opposite side of the great room, opened up the doors between them, and then proceeded to lay down on his bed in hopes of getting the briefest of naps. It wasn't long after his head touched his pillow that his thoughts took a darker turn, bending his mind towards thoughts of horror over what must have happened to his friends and family from the *Ronin* as the Kelvans of that time discovered their position. He managed to fight his way back to reality as he realized that their only hope of survival depended on his friend in the rooms next to him. Although he had told Kira about Q's interference with where the idea came from that started them on their current course of action, somehow he couldn't bring himself to let Kira know about the thinly-veiled threat that Q had leveled at him should he have refused to be used by Q as his personal messenger. He didn't want to trouble his friend with more stress than he already was under.
As the moments ticked by Nige finally fell asleep on his bed, but his sleep was not deep, nor was it refreshing. Yet, it was rest nonetheless, and it was much needed.