Captain's Log: Stardate 87370.78

The Acca Larentia has been recalled from the front lines in the Solanae Dyson Sphere and ordered back to the B'Tran Cluster. With the renewed threat of Species 8472, Starfleet wasn't going to take any chances of these discovered worlds falling victim to the Undine. Our mission is to maintain security while continuing to chart unexplored regions of this sector. I remember our last mission in this region of space was an impromptu first-contact scenario involving dragons. If things go well we might be able to pay them a visit.

An Armitage Class starship cruised through space at a steady speed of warp five. On the bridge Captain Minevera MacDougal sat, quietly observing the activity. Meanwhile her thoughts were on other things.

Despite the mundane task of patrol, the majority of the crew was relieved to actually have a break in the action. This allowed for some side projects to get done and some much needed off-duty time be it on the holodecks, in private quarters, or just relaxing in the lounge. Morale was high. Perhaps she can take some time for herself with one of her sled-dog programs.

Hopes for that were quickly dashed as the Acca Larentia unexpectedly came to a complete stop. The helmsman, a Gorn exchange officer, struggled to enter commands into the controls.

“Why have we stopped?” Minevera asked, confusion and irritation ever so present in her voice.

“I don't know,” he said while still trying to enter commands. “Helm isn't responding to any of my inputs.”

Minevera stepped to the console and tried entering commands, getting the same results. She turned her head to her Science Officer, “Zeabe, what's our current location?”

Lieutenant Judsai Zeabe, a Trill, quickly glanced at the astrometrics data, “Captain, we're currently above the only planet in system E172121919. Our previous course was set to pass through the system.”

The information was convenient, too convenient.

Minevera's brow furrowed while she tried to figure-out the situation. “MacDougal to engineering.”

The comms registered a female voice, “Yes Captain?”

“I want you to run a level one diagnostic on the helm controls at your earliest convenience.”

What she did not expect was a disembodied voice to answer some of her questions for her, “Oh I wouldn't worry about your gadgets and gizmos as they're all working just fine.”

Just as the voice finished a bright flash appeared in the captain's chair, where an unusual being reclined. It had many different parts of various animals.

The flash of light only bought one name to mind for Minevera, “Q.”

Oh how mistaken she was.

“Q? Hmm, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time...” The being mused before asking, “How is that old bean doing these days?”

Minevera had no words.

“Oh where are my manners? Fluttershy would have my hide if I wasn't being courteous.” The being cleared his throat before fashioning a Starfleet Uniform¹ of his own, “I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos and the only resident draconequus of Equestria.”

Minevera, still confused, maintains her composure. “I am Captain Minevera MacDougal of the Starship Acca Larentia” – she stepped to Discord – “and you're in my chair.”

“So I am, but let's cut to the chase shall we?” with a snap Discord and Minevera disappeared from the bridge, sending the present crew into a controlled panic.

Commander Carie Christopherse immediately took charge, “Lieutenant Bogue, see if you can locate the Captain's whereabouts.”

“She's still on board, Commander,” Violeta said while gesturing towards the ready-room. “Shall I have security on their way?”

“Do it; we don't know what this being's intentions are.”

When both Minevera and Discord reappeared they were both in the ready-room; she seated behind her desk while he stretched across the couch². Though thankful for still being on her ship, Minevera was still growing more frustrated with his antics.

Cracking his neck with a relieved sigh Discord said, “Now that we're somewhere a bit more private I imagine you have a question or two for me.”

Taking a deep breath Minevera stated, “Asking you to release my ship would be the rhetorical question of the moment so I'll skip that and ask this: Why are we here?”

“An excellent question my dear!” he floated off of the couch and hovered to the front of the desk. “I am a being of all-things 'Chaos'; be them positive or negative. For the past four days my senses picked-up a potent amount of negative chaos. Normally I would just be swimming in it, but my tastes – along with my reformed nature – simply cannot stomach it. I've always preferred silliness and harmless shenanigans, even when I was allegedly evil, but I'm getting sidetracked.

He then stood back up as his face became serious, “I need your help finding where it is, Captain.”

Minevera leaned back in her chair, “I beg your pardon Discord, but aren't you able to find it yourself? I mean no disrespect, but it sounds to me you have an ulterior motive behind this.”

Discord raised both paw and claw in defeat, “You got me: part of the condition would be to have you meet at least my friends in Equestria – though I honestly consider it more of an added bonus.”

Minevera covered her face with both hands and gave an exasperated sigh. “Look, as much as I'd like to just waltz down there and say 'hello' I just can't. Doing that itself would be violating our Prime Directive: a rule citing non-interference with any developing culture.”

He pondered her words for a moment. “You do have a valid point, though you probably know that I still won't let you leave until the job is done.”

“Short of taking on a disguise and alias my ha-” Minevera was abruptly cut-off with an outburst.

“Disguises,” Discord slapped his brow, “why didn't I think of that? I'll figure something out for you and whoever you bring along. See you planet-side,” he smiled before snapping his paw and vanishing.

As the door opened two security officers stumbled through, nearly falling on top of each other. Violeta stood there at the entrance ready to ask if everything was alright, but stopped when she got a good look at her captain.

Minevera propped her elbows on her desk, face planed in her hands as she let-out an audible groan of pure frustration. “What did I get myself into?”

Author's Note

1: The most recent design is the 2410 Odyssey

2: On every Federation Starship bridge map in every ready room there is a couch. I don't know why there is, it's just there.