Final part, people...
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EPILOGUE
Conference room 323
Starbase 535
Stardate 57378.1
Commander Logan sat at the head of the table with his executive officer seated to his left. Also around the table were Captains Dhrex, Aurelia and Vikagh and Admiral Owens. Logan knew that Owens would be taking command of the starbase shortly but his fate was as yet unknown. This conference was designed solely to disseminate information, and not to make plans for anything else. Vikagh was finishing his exaggerated tale of hunting a lone Cha’lav vessel which he subsequently destroyed before it could destroy a Resoto merchant vessel or call for assistance.
‘I would enjoy picking off every last one of the filthy PetaQ,’ he concluded.
‘That may be so, but we have just received word from the Dauntless. They have crossed the Badlands, and destroyed it in the process. Their speculation is that it was created by the Cha’lav to facilitate their invasion of this galaxy. The Cha’lav also seem to be massing an invasion force but the destruction of the Badlands’ subspace gateways have set their timetable back, we just don’t know how long for,’ Logan replied, hoping to keep the conference on track.
‘The Ynelavii have ended their civil war but the Romulans have moved in and according to my last report from Regent Dolan, Subcommander Sokal is refusing to leave that world until something from her family’s past is presented to her,’ Dhrex said and saw Logan wince ever so slightly.
‘That is a minor matter,’ Owens interrupted. ‘Captain Aurelia, what of the Resoto?’
‘The remaining Resoto have banded together on a number of worlds which remain hidden from us just in case the Cha’lav intend to finish the job.’
‘So all we have to do is prepare for an invasion. That we have experience in,’ Logan said mournfully.
‘Before you all disappear, I would like to extend my thanks to Commander Logan for his hard work here. As you know, I’m taking command of Starbase 535 and Commander Logan is being reassigned. Command is pleased with your work here, especially in your dealings with the Kursicans, who have withdrawn their petition for Federation membership, but asked that we keep them as a protectorate—allowing us to keep the starbase.
‘Commander, let me be the first to congratulate you on your promotion to Captain,’ Owens added with a grin and slid a polished wooden box across the table. ‘The Everest awaits you.’
The USS Everest was a contradiction in terms. It was one of the last Oberth-class ships still in service and yet named after one of the largest features on Earth. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Thank you would be good,’ his exec muttered.
Logan shot him a look as he affixed the fourth pip to his collar. ‘Do I have an assignment?’
‘You do,’ Owens replied. ‘Starfleet has been invited to the Ansharan homeworld to witness the eruption of Thesauria, their largest volcano.’
‘The last time we visited their world they killed the away team and nearly destroyed the ship.’
‘Governments change,’ was all Owens said. ‘As for the rest of you, please return to your previous assignments. New ones will be forthcoming shortly, dismissed.’
USS Dauntless
En route to Eeroth
Stardate 57378.3
Captain Astar sat in her chair and watched the viewscreen as the last vestiges of the diabolical Badlands faded, leaving behind the stars and nebulae that made space so beautiful to look at. Around her, the rest of the bridge crew were as rapt as she was, except one. Wright left her some unfortunate business to attend to, but if she could, she would leave it until her return from Eeroth. Deciding that time was now of the essence, she pulled her gaze from the screen and turned toward Rashal, who had spent much of the journey in his quarters.
‘How far are we from your homeworld?’
‘Three days at warp six,’ the Eerothian replied sourly. ‘But much time has passed already, I am not sure there will be anything to go back to.’
‘Perhaps your people will have united against a common enemy,’ Larson suggested.
‘That is unlikely.’
‘All things are possible,’ ch’Maras added quietly.
Rashal turned to him. ‘My people have been fighting since the dawn of time, Lieutenant. I doubt very much that a single force could unseat their hatred of one another.’
‘My people thought that way once as well, Rashal. Now we have been close friends and allies with the Vulcans for over two centuries.’
‘There is still animosity among both your kinds.’
‘It will always be there, tempered by reason and my mutual cooperation. It is the only way we can survive.’
‘Then one day you will all perish. Such a weak bond cannot hold you together forever.’
‘It doesn’t need to,’ Astar interjected, noticing that Wright was wholeheartedly agreeing with the alien. ‘They both have us, and others who stand by them all. Together we are stronger than we are individually. Before the Federation was formed, we fought a terrible war at a terrible price, but it brought us together. Our homeworlds and colonies fought against a common enemy and a union was formed. Now, two centuries later, our enemy has been torn asunder from forces within and we stand by them, willing and able to help. Not because we want to force them to our ways, but because we can and because it is the right thing to do. Our highest ideals focus on helping others, regardless of the cost to ourselves. We are returning you to your homeworld because we can, we will stand beside you and fight a common enemy because together we are stronger.’
‘Your ideals are noble, Captain,’ Rashal responded wanly. ‘But in your territories, it is paradise. In ours, it is a constant fight for survival.’
‘As it once was in ours,’ Wright said, standing up. ‘But as the Captain has said, we stood together on the threshold of war, and walked through the doorway of peace, where we still stand today.’
Astar held her tongue, for she could see in Wright’s eyes that he did not truly believe that. ‘Enough, it is time we actually found out what is going on. Ensign Larson, set a course for Eeroth, warp six.’
‘Aye sir,’ Larson replied as the Dauntless’ nacelles rose up into formation.
As the starship jumped to warp, Astar wondered whether she would find a ruined world or a paradise being fought for.
END
The crew of the Dauntless will return in...To Serve the Unwise
