CHAPTER 6
Supplemental
USS Independence, Guest Quarters
En Route to the H’Kan System
Despite Kimula’s best efforts to remain anti-confrontational and non-judgmental, in both tone and thought; Clayton was becoming almost frantic.
“They’re lying!” he persisted.
The Andorian remained seated and calm. “Are you suggesting that Section 31 created false documentation?”
“Yes!”
She examined a padd for a moment. “These documents seem authentic, Clayton.”
Thowing up is arms, he rejoined, “They wouldn’t be much good if they didn’t!” He paced like a caged beast.
Kimula didn’t know who or what to believe. If Easton was a plant, he was certainly putting on a good show. Then again, she couldn’t see how anyone could fake these documents from such diverse locations so quickly. She sighed. His agitation was filling the room like a flood. It was difficult not to get sucked into it. “Alright,” she offered finally, “Let’s say they are fake. Do you have anything to prove them wrong?”
He mockingly checked his pockets, “Gee, I’m sorry. I must have left it in my other pants.”
The counselor tilted her head. She didn’t appreciate the sarcasm. Though, she was often quick to dish it out herself. “Couldn’t we contact Starbase 39-sierra?”
His response was quick, “They won’t have any records of me there. Section 31 didn’t want any record of me there!”
At an impasse, Kimula sat back. It was time to take this a step further. “How do you feel about Klingons?”
Easton seemed genuinely confused, “Klingons? Why?”
“Just answer the question, please.”
He snapped, “That has nothing to do with anything!”
She took a slightly different track, “Some of the records we obtained indicate you had a wife and a daughter on Archanis IV.”
Clayton nearly yelled, “I told you, I’ve never been married!”
Kimula’s counseling technique had always centered on cutting to the quick. She pressed hard, “Their names were Clara and Mira…”
He turned away and violently pounded on the bulkhead, screaming, “I don’t know them! They never existed! Don’t you see that?” His face was beet red and he was on the verge of sobbing.
Supplemental
USS Enterprise, Conference Room
Sector 18945
The Enterprise senior staff was assembled.
Picard strode around the long table, “The admirals I talked to all but confirmed Captain Aurelia’s accusations.” He found his chair and rested his arms on the back of it, “Elements within Starfleet and the Federation are currently using cloaking technology, including Admiral Pressman’s interphasic cloaking device.” He added with distain, “One almost bragged about it.”
Counselor Troi was the first to protest, “How can they get away with that?”
“The answer to that, Counselor,” rejoined the captain, “is something that keeps me up at night.”
“It’s amazing how easily they admitted their knowledge of the Federation breaking galactic treaties,” noted the first officer.
“They truly see nothing wrong with it.” Picard added, “And they believe they are untouchable. At least, that’s the impression I got.”
Doctor Crusher hoped, “With any luck, their overconfidence will bring them down.”
“I doubt a few loose-lipped admirals are an accurate representation of what these people are capable of,” responded the captain.
Riker darkly mused, “If we were only so lucky.”
The conversation stalled. Each officer took a moment to digest the information.
Geordi leaned in, “I’ve talked with Commander Windslow. He has a plan to get around the cloak, but it’s a long shot.”
The deep voice of Worf injected, “If a vessel is tracking the Independence, we must assume their communications are being monitored as well.”
“Agreed,” said Picard. “Not even secured channels might not be good enough.” He sat with a sigh, “I was also given a warning to not investigate this any further.”
Concerned, Beverly assumed, “An admiral threatened you?”
He straightened up, “Not exactly. He suggested that bringing this to light via official channels would not only be ineffective, but put force this rogue group even deeper into hiding.”
“He’s probably right,” commented Riker.
Picard nodded, “Unfortunately so.” He looked around the table, “I need options.”
The room was quiet for several moments. Finally, Data piped up, “I may have a course of action, Captain.”
Stardate: 54619.0 (15 Aug 2377)
USS Independence, Conference Room
H’Kan System
Aurelia walked in and took a seat, “Report.”
Ensign Weston began, “We are holding position inside the system’s Kuiper belt to avoid detection.”
Then, Science Officer Tang added, “I’ve been scanning continuously for chroniton fields. Nothing so far, but it would have to be within 100,000 kilometers for the scanners to detect it.”
Kimula spoke to that point, “Captain, it’s entirely possible there never was any ship.”
“Is that your professional opinion?” queried Sintina.
Her antennae waved slightly with her head, “I don’t know. Clayton is obviously…disturbed. But I’m not sure if it’s over his lost family… or that no one believes him about that ship out there.”
Bin Nadal spoke out of turn, “I believe him.”
“We all know your views on Section 31, Karim,” remarked the captain. She continued, “But I don’t trust this man. I won’t be duped again.” She looked to Faltyne, “I want Easton in the brig. That might give him some clarity.”
The Andorian security chief nodded.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” offered Kimula.
“Neither do I,” seconded bin Nadal.
Aurelia’s tone was bitterly mordant, “Well, I’m not asking your permission, now am I?”
The comment muted their protest.
“Now,” the captain went on, “how are we going to go about making contact with the Vuke?”
“Ideally,” said Kimula coldly, “We should approach some sort of scientist, first. Scientists usually have a more open mind about alien life.”
Jonin Faltyne informed them, “I ran a passive scan of the system. Most of the Vuke ships are clustered in orbit of their colonies.” He got up and activated the viewer, “With one odd exception. The command ship of their third fleet is by itself, moving away from the outermost colony.”
“How fast can their ships travel?” inquired Windslow.
“About one-tenth impulse.”
Zo’Kama observed, “It’s nice to know we could always outrun them.”
The comment prompted some glances.
She added, “Not that we’ll have to.”
“Anyway,” Jonin went on, “I’d say that’s our best option. The down side is: there is no place to hide within transporter range of that vessel.”
“Everyone in the system will be able to see us,” said bin Nadal.
The Andorian nodded, “That carrier could get reinforcements within three hours.”
The chief engineer suggested, “Maybe we don’t have to reveal ourselves right away, at least not directly.”
Aurelia cocked an eyebrow, “What did you have in mind?”
...it also means I must be doing something right. 
