Pytheas 1x08 - Secrets and Lies
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
The path of a double agent is always a dangerous one--Astar might have bitten off far more than she can chew here.
I tried posting last night, but either the site was down or my computer was messing up, either way you guys get too chapters today. Xeris' true nature will shortly be revealed.
------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Nine
Studio 47
Federation News Network
Stardate 55726.1 (September 23, 2378)
Lieutenant Talen watched several people move around, dragging tripods and holocams with them, or passing food and drink out to others, but he stood alone among them. This was his first interview with the media since his return from Andor after his joint discovery of the Andorian temples. He was eager to tell the galaxy about the genetic discoveries Andorian scientists had made since that event, but the sample questions he had seen had more to do with the discovery of the temples themselves. It seemed that God, to use an Earth term, was of more importance to the news network than the end of the Andorian genetic crisis.
A representative from Parliament Andoria’s Department of Public Affairs, Colonetra th’Welem, stood beside him, talking incessantly about what he should say and what he shouldn’t, but Talen wasn’t listening. He concentrated on sensing something that didn’t feel quite right. There was something in the studio that didn’t belong. An electrical field that didn’t match any of the people present and he had no idea what it was; only that it didn’t belong.
‘Are you even listening to me, Lieutenant ch’Maras?’
Talen smirked. ‘No, I tuned you out some time ago. Something here doesn’t feel right.’
‘You need to pay attention, Lieutenant. Public Affairs don’t want you to say something that we want to be kept private.’
Talen turned to him. ‘Do you have experience doing interviews?’
‘Yes, of course. I have participated in many.’
‘And you know everything about my discovery?’
Th’Welem nodded vigorously. ‘Of course, everybody does.’
Talen grasped his shoulder. ‘Good, you can do the interview for me. I have something I need to take care of.’
‘But…but…they specifically requested you.’
‘I’m a Starfleet officer,’ Talen said with a grin. ‘I was called away. I’m sure you can make something up.’
Th’Welem watched in horror as Talen walked away. Talen looked around, his antennae whirling around like crazy trying to detect where the electrical field was coming from. As he walked around the studio, the electrical field became stronger, as if it was reacting to his presence. He stopped by one of the inactive holocams and felt the electrical field as if it were a physical phenomenon. He didn’t want to alarm anyone and he didn’t have a tricorder on him in order to confirm his hypothesis but he felt caution was the better part of valour so he slowly stepped away.
‘We’re ready for you, Lieutenant,’ one of the producers said.
Talen grabbed her arm. ‘This isn’t one of your holocams is it?’
She looked at it and then shook her head.
‘It is a bomb and reacts to my specific presence. I want you to evacuate the studio and get Starfleet Security in here.’
A voice suddenly came over the intercom system, one that he believed had been taken care of a few weeks earlier. ‘If you attempt to evacuate the building the bomb will go off. If you attempt to disarm the bomb, it will go off. You get the picture, Lieutenant.’
‘She is supposed to be dead,’ Talen said as the public relations officer hurried over to them.
‘Who is she?’
‘Former Starfleet Commander Granapirto zh’Share, a Way of the One terrorist I watched commit suicide.’
‘Clearly she did no such thing,’ th’Welem replied sardonically.
‘Regardless, we must deal with this,’ Talen said. ‘She is a dangerous woman.’
‘What do you suggest we do, Lieutenant? You heard what she said.’
‘I assume she’s watching us?’
‘There are security feeds she could have hacked into,’ the producer said.
‘Do you know the frequency the feeds are on?’ Talen asked as he walked away from the bomb with th’Welem and the producer in tow.
‘Yes, but how can that help us?’
‘I want you to hack into the feeds and record what she is seeing. We’ll record for as long as possible and then switch to the recorded loop while we get everyone out.’
‘That will work for the studio, but what about the rest of the building?’
‘Can we get the people out of the studio without them showing up anywhere in the building?’ Talen asked.
‘No,’ the producer shook her head. ‘The terrorist would be able to see them.’
‘Hacking all the feeds would be a little difficult,’ Talen mused aloud, ‘but there must be something we can do.’
‘What do you suggest?’
Talen clicked his fingers, ‘I have it.’
‘What?’
He pulled out his combadge from his pocket and tapped it. There was nothing but a beep indicating inactivity. ‘Perhaps not. There is a communications blackout in effect. I doubt any signal is getting out. FNN Earth has been disabled.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘Communications are out and there’s probably a transporter inhibitor in place as well. I’ll need some time to figure out what to do next.’
‘Shanitalen,’ zh’Share taunted. ‘You’re not thinking of escaping are you?’
‘Come down here and I’ll show you what I’m planning, Grana,’ Talen countered. ‘This time I will kill you. The Way of the One won’t protect you now.’
‘Just as Uzaveh cannot protect you,’ the terrorist replied.
Talen grinned. ‘How little you know, zh’Share.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘Tell me the tale of the Breaking,’ Talen taunted her.
‘What does the Breaking have to do with anything?’
‘Thirishar, I think Commander zh’Share needs a lesson in history.’
‘Thirishar is dead,’ zh’Share said. ‘I vaporized him.’
Where there had been nothing a moment before, stood former Starfleet officer Thirishar ch’Thane dressed in a simple clerical robe and Talen knew that zh’Share could see him too. ‘Not quite dead, Granapirto,’ Thirishar said and waved a hand toward the bomb which disintegrated.
‘What the hell?’ th’Welem said and knelt before Thirishar.
‘Stand up, Colonetra th’Welem. I am not Uzaveh, you don’t need to kneel before me.’
Th’Welem looked up. ‘You are Thirishar reborn, as the scrolls prophesied.’
Thirishar smiled. ‘I am here simply to protect my people,’ he said and zh’Share suddenly appeared in front of him. ‘Shanitalen tried to spare your life, Granapirto, and in return you tried to take his. He convinced the Chancellor to offer the Way of the One amnesty and they accepted. You, however, chose to continue the war when our people needed peace. For this you will be judged.’
Talen stepped forward, between the Andorian saviour and the terrorist. ‘The people will judge her.’
Thirishar looked at him. ‘I will not judge her, I will leave that to Uzaveh the Mighty.’
Zh’Share knelt before him. ‘Thirishar the Whole, please, I implore you not to judge me too harshly.’
Thirishar looked down at her. ‘Stand up.’
When she did not, Thirishar sighed and the two of them vanished.
‘What happened?’ th’Welem asked. ‘How did he survive?’
Talen turned to the public relations officer. ‘Thirishar ch’Thane is Uzaveh’s Prophet. He will guide our people back to the light and he has made us all whole again. We don’t need the Sheltreth anymore.’
------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Nine
Studio 47
Federation News Network
Stardate 55726.1 (September 23, 2378)
Lieutenant Talen watched several people move around, dragging tripods and holocams with them, or passing food and drink out to others, but he stood alone among them. This was his first interview with the media since his return from Andor after his joint discovery of the Andorian temples. He was eager to tell the galaxy about the genetic discoveries Andorian scientists had made since that event, but the sample questions he had seen had more to do with the discovery of the temples themselves. It seemed that God, to use an Earth term, was of more importance to the news network than the end of the Andorian genetic crisis.
A representative from Parliament Andoria’s Department of Public Affairs, Colonetra th’Welem, stood beside him, talking incessantly about what he should say and what he shouldn’t, but Talen wasn’t listening. He concentrated on sensing something that didn’t feel quite right. There was something in the studio that didn’t belong. An electrical field that didn’t match any of the people present and he had no idea what it was; only that it didn’t belong.
‘Are you even listening to me, Lieutenant ch’Maras?’
Talen smirked. ‘No, I tuned you out some time ago. Something here doesn’t feel right.’
‘You need to pay attention, Lieutenant. Public Affairs don’t want you to say something that we want to be kept private.’
Talen turned to him. ‘Do you have experience doing interviews?’
‘Yes, of course. I have participated in many.’
‘And you know everything about my discovery?’
Th’Welem nodded vigorously. ‘Of course, everybody does.’
Talen grasped his shoulder. ‘Good, you can do the interview for me. I have something I need to take care of.’
‘But…but…they specifically requested you.’
‘I’m a Starfleet officer,’ Talen said with a grin. ‘I was called away. I’m sure you can make something up.’
Th’Welem watched in horror as Talen walked away. Talen looked around, his antennae whirling around like crazy trying to detect where the electrical field was coming from. As he walked around the studio, the electrical field became stronger, as if it was reacting to his presence. He stopped by one of the inactive holocams and felt the electrical field as if it were a physical phenomenon. He didn’t want to alarm anyone and he didn’t have a tricorder on him in order to confirm his hypothesis but he felt caution was the better part of valour so he slowly stepped away.
‘We’re ready for you, Lieutenant,’ one of the producers said.
Talen grabbed her arm. ‘This isn’t one of your holocams is it?’
She looked at it and then shook her head.
‘It is a bomb and reacts to my specific presence. I want you to evacuate the studio and get Starfleet Security in here.’
A voice suddenly came over the intercom system, one that he believed had been taken care of a few weeks earlier. ‘If you attempt to evacuate the building the bomb will go off. If you attempt to disarm the bomb, it will go off. You get the picture, Lieutenant.’
‘She is supposed to be dead,’ Talen said as the public relations officer hurried over to them.
‘Who is she?’
‘Former Starfleet Commander Granapirto zh’Share, a Way of the One terrorist I watched commit suicide.’
‘Clearly she did no such thing,’ th’Welem replied sardonically.
‘Regardless, we must deal with this,’ Talen said. ‘She is a dangerous woman.’
‘What do you suggest we do, Lieutenant? You heard what she said.’
‘I assume she’s watching us?’
‘There are security feeds she could have hacked into,’ the producer said.
‘Do you know the frequency the feeds are on?’ Talen asked as he walked away from the bomb with th’Welem and the producer in tow.
‘Yes, but how can that help us?’
‘I want you to hack into the feeds and record what she is seeing. We’ll record for as long as possible and then switch to the recorded loop while we get everyone out.’
‘That will work for the studio, but what about the rest of the building?’
‘Can we get the people out of the studio without them showing up anywhere in the building?’ Talen asked.
‘No,’ the producer shook her head. ‘The terrorist would be able to see them.’
‘Hacking all the feeds would be a little difficult,’ Talen mused aloud, ‘but there must be something we can do.’
‘What do you suggest?’
Talen clicked his fingers, ‘I have it.’
‘What?’
He pulled out his combadge from his pocket and tapped it. There was nothing but a beep indicating inactivity. ‘Perhaps not. There is a communications blackout in effect. I doubt any signal is getting out. FNN Earth has been disabled.’
‘Meaning what?’
‘Communications are out and there’s probably a transporter inhibitor in place as well. I’ll need some time to figure out what to do next.’
‘Shanitalen,’ zh’Share taunted. ‘You’re not thinking of escaping are you?’
‘Come down here and I’ll show you what I’m planning, Grana,’ Talen countered. ‘This time I will kill you. The Way of the One won’t protect you now.’
‘Just as Uzaveh cannot protect you,’ the terrorist replied.
Talen grinned. ‘How little you know, zh’Share.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘Tell me the tale of the Breaking,’ Talen taunted her.
‘What does the Breaking have to do with anything?’
‘Thirishar, I think Commander zh’Share needs a lesson in history.’
‘Thirishar is dead,’ zh’Share said. ‘I vaporized him.’
Where there had been nothing a moment before, stood former Starfleet officer Thirishar ch’Thane dressed in a simple clerical robe and Talen knew that zh’Share could see him too. ‘Not quite dead, Granapirto,’ Thirishar said and waved a hand toward the bomb which disintegrated.
‘What the hell?’ th’Welem said and knelt before Thirishar.
‘Stand up, Colonetra th’Welem. I am not Uzaveh, you don’t need to kneel before me.’
Th’Welem looked up. ‘You are Thirishar reborn, as the scrolls prophesied.’
Thirishar smiled. ‘I am here simply to protect my people,’ he said and zh’Share suddenly appeared in front of him. ‘Shanitalen tried to spare your life, Granapirto, and in return you tried to take his. He convinced the Chancellor to offer the Way of the One amnesty and they accepted. You, however, chose to continue the war when our people needed peace. For this you will be judged.’
Talen stepped forward, between the Andorian saviour and the terrorist. ‘The people will judge her.’
Thirishar looked at him. ‘I will not judge her, I will leave that to Uzaveh the Mighty.’
Zh’Share knelt before him. ‘Thirishar the Whole, please, I implore you not to judge me too harshly.’
Thirishar looked down at her. ‘Stand up.’
When she did not, Thirishar sighed and the two of them vanished.
‘What happened?’ th’Welem asked. ‘How did he survive?’
Talen turned to the public relations officer. ‘Thirishar ch’Thane is Uzaveh’s Prophet. He will guide our people back to the light and he has made us all whole again. We don’t need the Sheltreth anymore.’
Chapter Ten
Control Complex
Verteron Array, Mars
Stardate 55726.3 (September 23, 2378)
Xeris woke up and struggled against the binds which had him strapped to the chair. Again, it was to no avail. He was bound tight. The operative stepped into the pool of light in which the chair was bolted to the floor and pressed a button on the small device he held. A jolt of pain swept through Xeris’ entire body and he twitched spasmodically.
‘You will tell me what I need to know.’
‘I will die before you learn a thing.’
‘That I will most definitely look forward to,’ the operative said and pressed the button again.
Xeris bit his lip to keep from crying out and tasted blood. He could only see out of one eye and his face was badly bruised from the torture he had been subjected to over the last twenty four hours. The operative had tried to glean three specific pieces of information from him, and had thus far been completely unsuccessful, though that could all change in the next few minutes.
Whoever had sent the operative, and Xeris was sure that it was Chairman Koval—the head of both the Continuing Committee and what was left of the Tal Shiar, wanted to know who and where the other Aehallh Terrh operatives operating in Federation, Romulan and Klingon territory were, who else knew about the existence of the ultra-secretive agency, and the location of the Aehallh Terrh weapons cache.
The operative was setting up a Klingon mind-sifter in the hope that it would be able to retrieve the information from Xeris’ brain. Xeris knew he could withstand anything up to level 7, he had not been tested against the highest setting, level 8. It was an oversight that he intended to correct, as the operative would no doubt quickly ascend to that level in order to get the information from him. The only problem was that since Xeris had left Romulus behind, his only knowledge of secret organization was his own personal network spread across the galaxy.
He had no idea where Zaera had placed operatives. As for who knew about the organization, he was certain that his Federation counterparts, namely Section 31, were aware of its existence but he doubted they knew much more than that. What troubled him most of all was the weapons cache. Yes, it was held in a secret location known to every member of the organization, but there were ancient artefacts there which were dangerous in the wrong hands.
‘Are you ready to tell me the truth or do I have to use this barbaric device?’
‘Where did you get a Klingon mind-sifter from?’ Xeris was curious. The Klingons were usually notorious about guarding the devices, especially from the Romulans.
‘I salvaged it from a destroyed Klingon bird of prey,’ the operative answered. ‘Are you sure you won’t change your mind?’
‘I don’t have the answers you want.’
‘Oh, I think you do,’ he replied and moved the mind sifter into place.
Xeris felt the heavy helmet fit over his head. ‘This doesn’t look like any mind sifter I have seen.’
‘I have made a few modifications. I trust you have no objections to being used as a guinea pig? My patron is most interested in how this works.’
‘I’ll just bet he is.’
‘Tell me what I want to know.’
‘Never!’ Xeris spat and winced as the operative back slapped him across his face.
‘Then I guess we’ll find out just how well you can resist this little baby.’
Xeris silently cursed his bad luck and wondered how he was going to get out of this predicament. No one knew where he was, and even if someone was looking for him it was unlikely that they would ever find him. He had covered his tracks well and no one would miss him until the Pytheas was ready for its shakedown cruise, except Sheena, but they often went days without seeing each other. He felt the first tendrils of pain from the mind sifter and cleared his mind of distractions.
‘Tell me who knows about Aehallh Terrh’s existence,’ the operative asked.
Xeris closed his eyes and tried to enter a meditative trance, a trick learned from the Vulcans, but the operative increased the setting when he didn’t answer.
‘Let’s see if level three loosens your tongue.’
Xeris clenched his teeth together until his body stopped twitching. ‘Koval,’ he said through his clenched teeth and wondered if that would be enough.
‘Who else?’ the operative asked as he increased the setting to level four.
Xeris’ body twitched and convulsed as the synapses in his brain began to degrade. ‘You know,’ he managed to get out in defiance.
The operative cursed and cranked the mind sifter to level five. Xeris knew that if he wasn’t careful he would reveal Zaera’s existence and he did not want to be responsible for that. If he died, he wanted to know that someone would avenge him. No one knew where he was and needed to stay strong, at least until the operative gave up for the day.
‘Koval sent me, you fool. Of course he knows. Where are your operatives? I want names and ships.’
‘Erebus is waiting for you.’
‘Aargh,’ the operative cursed and cranked up the setting to level six. ‘Tell me where the weapons cache is?’
Xeris felt like his brain was melting, but there was something at the edge of his consciousness that he couldn’t identify. It was like a reserve of strength he didn’t know he had. He channelled it and felt something else. His brain began to heal even as the mind sifter continued to kill him, but he no longer felt the mind sifter. He had entered the healing trance and could no longer even hear the operative’s continual cursing.
Deep within the recesses of his own mind, Xeris remembered his relationship with Zaera over sixty years earlier. He remembered his time with the Tal Shiar and his distaste with how they operated where everyone could see them. In his mind’s eye he saw the bitter rivalry between the Tal Shiar and the Tal Arcani unfold with the people of the Empire caught in the middle. He remembered that was the time when he was approached by the nameless agency and became Aehallh Terrh. Xeris remembered what the group stood for, to protect the Empire from internal corruption and make the Empire strong against its enemies.
Control Complex
Verteron Array, Mars
Stardate 55726.3 (September 23, 2378)
Xeris woke up and struggled against the binds which had him strapped to the chair. Again, it was to no avail. He was bound tight. The operative stepped into the pool of light in which the chair was bolted to the floor and pressed a button on the small device he held. A jolt of pain swept through Xeris’ entire body and he twitched spasmodically.
‘You will tell me what I need to know.’
‘I will die before you learn a thing.’
‘That I will most definitely look forward to,’ the operative said and pressed the button again.
Xeris bit his lip to keep from crying out and tasted blood. He could only see out of one eye and his face was badly bruised from the torture he had been subjected to over the last twenty four hours. The operative had tried to glean three specific pieces of information from him, and had thus far been completely unsuccessful, though that could all change in the next few minutes.
Whoever had sent the operative, and Xeris was sure that it was Chairman Koval—the head of both the Continuing Committee and what was left of the Tal Shiar, wanted to know who and where the other Aehallh Terrh operatives operating in Federation, Romulan and Klingon territory were, who else knew about the existence of the ultra-secretive agency, and the location of the Aehallh Terrh weapons cache.
The operative was setting up a Klingon mind-sifter in the hope that it would be able to retrieve the information from Xeris’ brain. Xeris knew he could withstand anything up to level 7, he had not been tested against the highest setting, level 8. It was an oversight that he intended to correct, as the operative would no doubt quickly ascend to that level in order to get the information from him. The only problem was that since Xeris had left Romulus behind, his only knowledge of secret organization was his own personal network spread across the galaxy.
He had no idea where Zaera had placed operatives. As for who knew about the organization, he was certain that his Federation counterparts, namely Section 31, were aware of its existence but he doubted they knew much more than that. What troubled him most of all was the weapons cache. Yes, it was held in a secret location known to every member of the organization, but there were ancient artefacts there which were dangerous in the wrong hands.
‘Are you ready to tell me the truth or do I have to use this barbaric device?’
‘Where did you get a Klingon mind-sifter from?’ Xeris was curious. The Klingons were usually notorious about guarding the devices, especially from the Romulans.
‘I salvaged it from a destroyed Klingon bird of prey,’ the operative answered. ‘Are you sure you won’t change your mind?’
‘I don’t have the answers you want.’
‘Oh, I think you do,’ he replied and moved the mind sifter into place.
Xeris felt the heavy helmet fit over his head. ‘This doesn’t look like any mind sifter I have seen.’
‘I have made a few modifications. I trust you have no objections to being used as a guinea pig? My patron is most interested in how this works.’
‘I’ll just bet he is.’
‘Tell me what I want to know.’
‘Never!’ Xeris spat and winced as the operative back slapped him across his face.
‘Then I guess we’ll find out just how well you can resist this little baby.’
Xeris silently cursed his bad luck and wondered how he was going to get out of this predicament. No one knew where he was, and even if someone was looking for him it was unlikely that they would ever find him. He had covered his tracks well and no one would miss him until the Pytheas was ready for its shakedown cruise, except Sheena, but they often went days without seeing each other. He felt the first tendrils of pain from the mind sifter and cleared his mind of distractions.
‘Tell me who knows about Aehallh Terrh’s existence,’ the operative asked.
Xeris closed his eyes and tried to enter a meditative trance, a trick learned from the Vulcans, but the operative increased the setting when he didn’t answer.
‘Let’s see if level three loosens your tongue.’
Xeris clenched his teeth together until his body stopped twitching. ‘Koval,’ he said through his clenched teeth and wondered if that would be enough.
‘Who else?’ the operative asked as he increased the setting to level four.
Xeris’ body twitched and convulsed as the synapses in his brain began to degrade. ‘You know,’ he managed to get out in defiance.
The operative cursed and cranked the mind sifter to level five. Xeris knew that if he wasn’t careful he would reveal Zaera’s existence and he did not want to be responsible for that. If he died, he wanted to know that someone would avenge him. No one knew where he was and needed to stay strong, at least until the operative gave up for the day.
‘Koval sent me, you fool. Of course he knows. Where are your operatives? I want names and ships.’
‘Erebus is waiting for you.’
‘Aargh,’ the operative cursed and cranked up the setting to level six. ‘Tell me where the weapons cache is?’
Xeris felt like his brain was melting, but there was something at the edge of his consciousness that he couldn’t identify. It was like a reserve of strength he didn’t know he had. He channelled it and felt something else. His brain began to heal even as the mind sifter continued to kill him, but he no longer felt the mind sifter. He had entered the healing trance and could no longer even hear the operative’s continual cursing.
Deep within the recesses of his own mind, Xeris remembered his relationship with Zaera over sixty years earlier. He remembered his time with the Tal Shiar and his distaste with how they operated where everyone could see them. In his mind’s eye he saw the bitter rivalry between the Tal Shiar and the Tal Arcani unfold with the people of the Empire caught in the middle. He remembered that was the time when he was approached by the nameless agency and became Aehallh Terrh. Xeris remembered what the group stood for, to protect the Empire from internal corruption and make the Empire strong against its enemies.
Family issues and last minute errands meant that I haven't been able to get online much in the last few days. I'm posting four chapters now, one for each day, but I won't be able to post tomorrow, and my parents are coming in on the 26th if all goes well. This is the shortest story of all so I will try to have it all posted before the new year.
-------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Eleven
Control Complex
Verteron Array, Mars
Stardate 55726.4 (September 23, 2378)
Commander Astar stood outside the doorway to the control complex and tried to listen to the conversation between the two Romulans.
‘What do you want?’ Xeris asked and she peeked in to see the other Romulan looking directly into Xeris eyes.
She saw the other Romulan raise a disruptor to Xeris’ face and step back. ‘I see that I am not going to learn anything from you.’
Before he could fire, she fired and he collapsed in a heap on the floor. She saw Xeris strapped to a chair with a bizarre device attached to his head.
‘Commander?’
‘Xeris, what happened to you?’
‘Can’t tell you,’ he replied hoarsely.
‘If anyone asks where you were, tell them I sent you on an errand. Let’s get you cleaned up.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not going back to the Pytheas.’
‘Excuse me, Commander?’
‘I can’t tell you why, but you’ll have to trust me. It is in both of our interests for me to return home.’
‘Aren’t you going to be shot on sight?’
Xeris smiled as Astar released him and he struggled to his feet. ‘No one on Romulus knows who I am. But that is about to change.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Xeris looked at her and decided to play his hand. ‘It has been said that the Tal Shiar is the Romulan counterpart of Section 31.’
Astar’s eyes widened at the mention of that shadowy group. ‘How do you know about them?’
‘I would ask you the same question, but I know about Petrov, Merias III and the Scarab Nebula incident. Ask yourself this, how is the Tal Shiar, who operate in the open, the same as Section 31, who operate in the shadows?’
Astar didn’t answer.
‘Since you now work for Emmanuelle Walker, I see no problem in telling you what I am about to.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘She told you where I was. She is the only one who knew.’
Astar frowned. ‘Who exactly are you?’
‘The Tal Shiar call us the Ghosts in the Night, the Aehallh Terrh, a name we have adopted to suit our purposes. Only a handful of people in the Empire know we even exist, and the Tal Shiar do their best not to antagonize us, but sometimes we must show our hands.’
‘And now is one of those times?’ Astar asked, not really surprised that Aehallh Terrh existed. After all, even the Trill had the Watchers.
‘A weapon we had in our possession was stolen during the Dominion War and we believe that the Remans now have it in their possession. It is too dangerous to be in their hands and we need to retrieve it before they figure out how to make it work. I cannot do that if I am still undercover as a Starfleet officer.’
‘Aren’t you going to get in trouble with your boss, telling me all this?’
Xeris raised an eyebrow. ‘I run the organization.’
‘From the Pytheas?’
Xeris sighed. ‘Zaera ran the group in my absence but she had information to give me, specifically about the weapon being stolen.’
‘Why did it take you so long to discover it?’
‘We have only just now been able to send one of our ships out to the planet in question. As soon as she discovered it missing, she sought me out.’
‘And now you’re both going back to Romulus to retrieve the weapon from the Remans?’
‘Among other things.’
‘What are you going to tell Sheena?’
Xeris frowned. ‘I don’t intend to tell her anything. Zaera and I will quietly disappear and she will not be any wiser.’
‘I could tell her?’
‘But you won’t,’ Xeris countered. ‘You won’t say anything to anyone about this conversation. Section 31 will never find out, and neither will anyone else in Starfleet. Only four will know the truth. You, me, Zaera and the symbiont.’
Astar reflexively touched her abdomen.
‘I won’t kill the symbiont,’ Xeris said. ‘I kill only when necessary.’
‘What about him?’ she pointed to the other Romulan.
‘I will take him back to Romulus and use him as a message to his patron.’
‘How am I supposed to explain your disappearances?’
‘I’ll take care of that, all I want you to do is make sure that Sheena doesn’t get it into her head to avenge my “death.” That would be difficult for all involved.’
‘I can’t promise that.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find a way, Commander.’
Astar looked at her former chief engineer. ‘Goodbye, Xeris.’
‘Goodbye, Commander.’
Astar took another look at the engineer’s face, turned and headed out of the control complex. She hoped to be back aboard the Pytheas by the time Xeris and Zaera disappeared, so it would appear as though she had nothing to do with it. Cheer would have her look for another chief engineer and diplomatic officer and she wondered if Hu’fret was qualified enough to take over the engine room. If the captain found out about Xeris he would have an apoplectic fit, and Astar suspected that Section 31 knew the truth anyway but it was in their best interests not to let anyone else know. After all, anything that kept the Romulan Empire squabbling amongst themselves kept them from attacking the Federation.
As Astar climbed into the Martian buggy which would take her back to the Utopia Planitia ground base, she stole a glance back at the control complex and saw Xeris emerge with the assassin on his back. Xeris dumped the body in the dirt, pulled a device from the assassin’s pocket, and then touched a control on it. A shuttle of unknown origin appeared before her eyes and Xeris hauled the assassin into it. As soon as they were both aboard, the shuttle cloaked and Astar was sure it took off, but it was almost silent if it did. She set the buggy on course and didn’t look back. This was going to be hard enough as it was.
-------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Eleven
Control Complex
Verteron Array, Mars
Stardate 55726.4 (September 23, 2378)
Commander Astar stood outside the doorway to the control complex and tried to listen to the conversation between the two Romulans.
‘What do you want?’ Xeris asked and she peeked in to see the other Romulan looking directly into Xeris eyes.
She saw the other Romulan raise a disruptor to Xeris’ face and step back. ‘I see that I am not going to learn anything from you.’
Before he could fire, she fired and he collapsed in a heap on the floor. She saw Xeris strapped to a chair with a bizarre device attached to his head.
‘Commander?’
‘Xeris, what happened to you?’
‘Can’t tell you,’ he replied hoarsely.
‘If anyone asks where you were, tell them I sent you on an errand. Let’s get you cleaned up.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not going back to the Pytheas.’
‘Excuse me, Commander?’
‘I can’t tell you why, but you’ll have to trust me. It is in both of our interests for me to return home.’
‘Aren’t you going to be shot on sight?’
Xeris smiled as Astar released him and he struggled to his feet. ‘No one on Romulus knows who I am. But that is about to change.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Xeris looked at her and decided to play his hand. ‘It has been said that the Tal Shiar is the Romulan counterpart of Section 31.’
Astar’s eyes widened at the mention of that shadowy group. ‘How do you know about them?’
‘I would ask you the same question, but I know about Petrov, Merias III and the Scarab Nebula incident. Ask yourself this, how is the Tal Shiar, who operate in the open, the same as Section 31, who operate in the shadows?’
Astar didn’t answer.
‘Since you now work for Emmanuelle Walker, I see no problem in telling you what I am about to.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘She told you where I was. She is the only one who knew.’
Astar frowned. ‘Who exactly are you?’
‘The Tal Shiar call us the Ghosts in the Night, the Aehallh Terrh, a name we have adopted to suit our purposes. Only a handful of people in the Empire know we even exist, and the Tal Shiar do their best not to antagonize us, but sometimes we must show our hands.’
‘And now is one of those times?’ Astar asked, not really surprised that Aehallh Terrh existed. After all, even the Trill had the Watchers.
‘A weapon we had in our possession was stolen during the Dominion War and we believe that the Remans now have it in their possession. It is too dangerous to be in their hands and we need to retrieve it before they figure out how to make it work. I cannot do that if I am still undercover as a Starfleet officer.’
‘Aren’t you going to get in trouble with your boss, telling me all this?’
Xeris raised an eyebrow. ‘I run the organization.’
‘From the Pytheas?’
Xeris sighed. ‘Zaera ran the group in my absence but she had information to give me, specifically about the weapon being stolen.’
‘Why did it take you so long to discover it?’
‘We have only just now been able to send one of our ships out to the planet in question. As soon as she discovered it missing, she sought me out.’
‘And now you’re both going back to Romulus to retrieve the weapon from the Remans?’
‘Among other things.’
‘What are you going to tell Sheena?’
Xeris frowned. ‘I don’t intend to tell her anything. Zaera and I will quietly disappear and she will not be any wiser.’
‘I could tell her?’
‘But you won’t,’ Xeris countered. ‘You won’t say anything to anyone about this conversation. Section 31 will never find out, and neither will anyone else in Starfleet. Only four will know the truth. You, me, Zaera and the symbiont.’
Astar reflexively touched her abdomen.
‘I won’t kill the symbiont,’ Xeris said. ‘I kill only when necessary.’
‘What about him?’ she pointed to the other Romulan.
‘I will take him back to Romulus and use him as a message to his patron.’
‘How am I supposed to explain your disappearances?’
‘I’ll take care of that, all I want you to do is make sure that Sheena doesn’t get it into her head to avenge my “death.” That would be difficult for all involved.’
‘I can’t promise that.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find a way, Commander.’
Astar looked at her former chief engineer. ‘Goodbye, Xeris.’
‘Goodbye, Commander.’
Astar took another look at the engineer’s face, turned and headed out of the control complex. She hoped to be back aboard the Pytheas by the time Xeris and Zaera disappeared, so it would appear as though she had nothing to do with it. Cheer would have her look for another chief engineer and diplomatic officer and she wondered if Hu’fret was qualified enough to take over the engine room. If the captain found out about Xeris he would have an apoplectic fit, and Astar suspected that Section 31 knew the truth anyway but it was in their best interests not to let anyone else know. After all, anything that kept the Romulan Empire squabbling amongst themselves kept them from attacking the Federation.
As Astar climbed into the Martian buggy which would take her back to the Utopia Planitia ground base, she stole a glance back at the control complex and saw Xeris emerge with the assassin on his back. Xeris dumped the body in the dirt, pulled a device from the assassin’s pocket, and then touched a control on it. A shuttle of unknown origin appeared before her eyes and Xeris hauled the assassin into it. As soon as they were both aboard, the shuttle cloaked and Astar was sure it took off, but it was almost silent if it did. She set the buggy on course and didn’t look back. This was going to be hard enough as it was.
Chapter Twelve
USS Pytheas
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55733.9 (September 25, 2378)
Commander Astar and Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales stood outside the captain’s ready room. At Astar’s insistence, Gonzales had chosen to find out the important news in the ready room and she steeled herself for what might happen inside. She pressed the chime and heard a gruff “Enter!’
‘You wanted to see me, Captain?’ she asked and Astar took a seat by the window.
‘Commander, I think you should do this,’ Cheer said in an uncharacteristic tone of voice, completely devoid of bluster.
Astar nodded and stood up, approached Gonzales and laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Xeris is dead, Commander.’
Gonzales stood in shock, as though she hadn’t heard what had been said. After a moment she blinked and then shook her head as if in denial. ‘What happened?’
‘Xeris and Zaera had been in a meeting with Admiral Sitak and they were on their way back here in a shuttle. There was a malfunction with the impulse engines, and the shuttle exploded. We’ve been searching the wreckage for the better part of eight hours and have yet to find anything more than genetic residue. I’m sorry.’
Gonzales blinked back tears and looked at the two of them. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
Cheer slid the padd across his desk. ‘You’re welcome to take a look at the report.’
Gonzales shook her head. ‘I don’t believe it.’
‘Sheena, look at the report. See for yourself.’
‘Reports can be faked. I want to see the wreckage.’
‘You can borrow a shuttle. I’ll authorize it.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Gonzales said. ‘If I may be dismissed?’
‘Dismissed, Commander.’
Once the tactical officer left the ready room, Cheer slumped in his chair and turned to Astar. ‘That went about as well as could be expected.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘On to the business at hand. Is Hu’fret ready for division head?’
‘I don’t think she is. She doesn’t have enough time in an engine room.’
‘Then you need to find someone quickly. What about our diplomatic officer?’
‘Command is definite in its decision that we need one.’
‘And a counsellor?’ Cheer asked, still annoyed that he was forced to have one on board.
‘I have a theory about that,’ Astar said.
‘I’m listening.’
‘The diplomatic officer can do double duty as counsellor.’
‘We’ll need to pick the right person for that job.’
‘They will need to very strong emotionally,’ Astar agreed. ‘I have found a few people who might be suitable but I wanted to run it by you first.’
Cheer held up a hoof and shook his head. ‘Oh no, this is all yours, Commander.’
Astar smirked. ‘Yes sir.’
‘How are we doing with the families?’
‘Of the hundred and forty-two crew members, sixty-one have requested families.’
Cheer’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t think we can handle that.’
‘The ship can comfortably accommodate 200 people for an extended period of time. However, even taking that into account, I have had to limit the request for families to officers and senior non-coms.’
Cheer grimaced. ‘If we have families aboard, we’ll likely have children aboard. They will need a classroom and teacher, perhaps more than one.’
‘I’ve taken care of that, sir. At least three officer’s spouses or partners are teachers and have teaching experience. They have agreed to teach if we require it.’
‘And the classroom?’
‘The captain’s mess can be split into two rooms.’
‘An acceptable compromise. I prefer eating in my quarters at any rate.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Is there anything else we need to discuss?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Dismissed, Commander. You have a lot of work to do.’
Astar left Lieutenant Talen on the bridge and went to her quarters where she could work in peace. She figured that finding a chief engineer would be the slightly easier task and elected to find that person first. Once she was seated at the computer terminal in her quarters, she downloaded the list of available officers onto her padd. With the list in hand, she sat on the couch in her quarters and began to read. There were a number of potential candidates in the fleet, but she wasn’t sure if they were suitable for a long-term mission outside of Federation space. She found two possible candidates and decided to contact their commanding officers to see if there was something which was not in their official file.
Before she did that, she wanted to see if any officer in the fleet had the potential to be the Pytheas’ new diplomatic officer and counsellor. After perusing the list twice, only one stood out. She was the assistant counsellor on the Manticore, and Astar was on friendly terms with the captain so she decided to contact him first. She waited as the computer worked to establish a link to the vessel which was supposedly operating in the Bolian sector.
The Federation logo was swiftly replaced by the stern face of Captain Donald Lydecker.
‘It is good to see you again, Donald.’
Lydecker smiled. ‘You threw your career away by accepting the demotion,’ he replied.
‘There are things going on that you don’t know about, Don. I have a plan.’
‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’
‘Always,’ she said with a smile. ‘Don, this isn’t a social call. I’m looking for a diplomatic officer and counsellor and I think someone you have might be suitable.’
‘Don’t you already have a diplomatic officer, a civilian Romulan?’
Astar looked down and sighed. ‘She was killed in a shuttle accident several hours ago. Our chief engineer was killed as well.’
Lydecker frowned. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Leza. You have my sympathies. Unfortunately, I can’t spare Commander Gooch right now.’
‘I was thinking of Evara actually.’
Lydecker consulted a padd. ‘She isn’t on the transfer list.’
Astar held up her padd. ‘She’s on the promotions list. You recommended her for a promotion following the Tranamii first contact.’
Lydecker laughed. ‘So I did. You should have seen her arguing with the Tranamii Prime Minister on the ethics of genetics. It was like a Tellarite grudge match.’
‘I take it that’s a good thing?’
‘The Tranamii are very much like Tellarites, but their form of entertainment is a no holds barred debate. If you have no argument on any subject you’re considered to be of the lowest caste. Evara matched the Prime Minister subject for subject and even bested her on several. It is thanks to her that there are interested in becoming members. I wasn’t thinking of a transfer though, she’ll be missed here. Where are you headed?’
‘Delta Quadrant, open-ended exploration mission,’ Astar answered, giving her old friend a partial truth.
‘She has a boyfriend who is a civilian on board. I’d hate to break them up.’
‘What does he do?’
‘He’s an archaeologist, assists the science team sometimes.’
Astar chuckled. ‘About a third of the scientists on the Pytheas are civilians. He’ll fit right in.’
‘You’re taking families?’
‘Some, for the officers and senior non-coms. An open-ended mission is a long time to be without family, but with family come issues, hence the need for a counsellor. Command was going to assign us a counsellor anyway, so the captain and I decided we might as well have a use for them.’
Lydecker nodded. ‘I’ll send her your way. When are you scheduled to depart?’
‘Our launch date is sometime during the first week of October, but that could change.’
‘They’ll be on their way by the end of the day.’
‘You can give them a couple of days to say their goodbyes. We can wait.’
‘Thanks, Leza,’ Lydecker said as the red alert klaxon sounded. ‘Got to go, talk soon.’
Astar leaned back and then looked over the list of possible engineers again.
USS Pytheas
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55733.9 (September 25, 2378)
Commander Astar and Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales stood outside the captain’s ready room. At Astar’s insistence, Gonzales had chosen to find out the important news in the ready room and she steeled herself for what might happen inside. She pressed the chime and heard a gruff “Enter!’
‘You wanted to see me, Captain?’ she asked and Astar took a seat by the window.
‘Commander, I think you should do this,’ Cheer said in an uncharacteristic tone of voice, completely devoid of bluster.
Astar nodded and stood up, approached Gonzales and laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Xeris is dead, Commander.’
Gonzales stood in shock, as though she hadn’t heard what had been said. After a moment she blinked and then shook her head as if in denial. ‘What happened?’
‘Xeris and Zaera had been in a meeting with Admiral Sitak and they were on their way back here in a shuttle. There was a malfunction with the impulse engines, and the shuttle exploded. We’ve been searching the wreckage for the better part of eight hours and have yet to find anything more than genetic residue. I’m sorry.’
Gonzales blinked back tears and looked at the two of them. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
Cheer slid the padd across his desk. ‘You’re welcome to take a look at the report.’
Gonzales shook her head. ‘I don’t believe it.’
‘Sheena, look at the report. See for yourself.’
‘Reports can be faked. I want to see the wreckage.’
‘You can borrow a shuttle. I’ll authorize it.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Gonzales said. ‘If I may be dismissed?’
‘Dismissed, Commander.’
Once the tactical officer left the ready room, Cheer slumped in his chair and turned to Astar. ‘That went about as well as could be expected.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘On to the business at hand. Is Hu’fret ready for division head?’
‘I don’t think she is. She doesn’t have enough time in an engine room.’
‘Then you need to find someone quickly. What about our diplomatic officer?’
‘Command is definite in its decision that we need one.’
‘And a counsellor?’ Cheer asked, still annoyed that he was forced to have one on board.
‘I have a theory about that,’ Astar said.
‘I’m listening.’
‘The diplomatic officer can do double duty as counsellor.’
‘We’ll need to pick the right person for that job.’
‘They will need to very strong emotionally,’ Astar agreed. ‘I have found a few people who might be suitable but I wanted to run it by you first.’
Cheer held up a hoof and shook his head. ‘Oh no, this is all yours, Commander.’
Astar smirked. ‘Yes sir.’
‘How are we doing with the families?’
‘Of the hundred and forty-two crew members, sixty-one have requested families.’
Cheer’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t think we can handle that.’
‘The ship can comfortably accommodate 200 people for an extended period of time. However, even taking that into account, I have had to limit the request for families to officers and senior non-coms.’
Cheer grimaced. ‘If we have families aboard, we’ll likely have children aboard. They will need a classroom and teacher, perhaps more than one.’
‘I’ve taken care of that, sir. At least three officer’s spouses or partners are teachers and have teaching experience. They have agreed to teach if we require it.’
‘And the classroom?’
‘The captain’s mess can be split into two rooms.’
‘An acceptable compromise. I prefer eating in my quarters at any rate.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Is there anything else we need to discuss?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Dismissed, Commander. You have a lot of work to do.’
Astar left Lieutenant Talen on the bridge and went to her quarters where she could work in peace. She figured that finding a chief engineer would be the slightly easier task and elected to find that person first. Once she was seated at the computer terminal in her quarters, she downloaded the list of available officers onto her padd. With the list in hand, she sat on the couch in her quarters and began to read. There were a number of potential candidates in the fleet, but she wasn’t sure if they were suitable for a long-term mission outside of Federation space. She found two possible candidates and decided to contact their commanding officers to see if there was something which was not in their official file.
Before she did that, she wanted to see if any officer in the fleet had the potential to be the Pytheas’ new diplomatic officer and counsellor. After perusing the list twice, only one stood out. She was the assistant counsellor on the Manticore, and Astar was on friendly terms with the captain so she decided to contact him first. She waited as the computer worked to establish a link to the vessel which was supposedly operating in the Bolian sector.
The Federation logo was swiftly replaced by the stern face of Captain Donald Lydecker.
‘It is good to see you again, Donald.’
Lydecker smiled. ‘You threw your career away by accepting the demotion,’ he replied.
‘There are things going on that you don’t know about, Don. I have a plan.’
‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’
‘Always,’ she said with a smile. ‘Don, this isn’t a social call. I’m looking for a diplomatic officer and counsellor and I think someone you have might be suitable.’
‘Don’t you already have a diplomatic officer, a civilian Romulan?’
Astar looked down and sighed. ‘She was killed in a shuttle accident several hours ago. Our chief engineer was killed as well.’
Lydecker frowned. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Leza. You have my sympathies. Unfortunately, I can’t spare Commander Gooch right now.’
‘I was thinking of Evara actually.’
Lydecker consulted a padd. ‘She isn’t on the transfer list.’
Astar held up her padd. ‘She’s on the promotions list. You recommended her for a promotion following the Tranamii first contact.’
Lydecker laughed. ‘So I did. You should have seen her arguing with the Tranamii Prime Minister on the ethics of genetics. It was like a Tellarite grudge match.’
‘I take it that’s a good thing?’
‘The Tranamii are very much like Tellarites, but their form of entertainment is a no holds barred debate. If you have no argument on any subject you’re considered to be of the lowest caste. Evara matched the Prime Minister subject for subject and even bested her on several. It is thanks to her that there are interested in becoming members. I wasn’t thinking of a transfer though, she’ll be missed here. Where are you headed?’
‘Delta Quadrant, open-ended exploration mission,’ Astar answered, giving her old friend a partial truth.
‘She has a boyfriend who is a civilian on board. I’d hate to break them up.’
‘What does he do?’
‘He’s an archaeologist, assists the science team sometimes.’
Astar chuckled. ‘About a third of the scientists on the Pytheas are civilians. He’ll fit right in.’
‘You’re taking families?’
‘Some, for the officers and senior non-coms. An open-ended mission is a long time to be without family, but with family come issues, hence the need for a counsellor. Command was going to assign us a counsellor anyway, so the captain and I decided we might as well have a use for them.’
Lydecker nodded. ‘I’ll send her your way. When are you scheduled to depart?’
‘Our launch date is sometime during the first week of October, but that could change.’
‘They’ll be on their way by the end of the day.’
‘You can give them a couple of days to say their goodbyes. We can wait.’
‘Thanks, Leza,’ Lydecker said as the red alert klaxon sounded. ‘Got to go, talk soon.’
Astar leaned back and then looked over the list of possible engineers again.
Families...with the Cha'lav threat and Section 31, I cannot say I think this is a wise move at ALL.
And so, after all this time, it turns out that Xeris is definitely a traitor. Astar just can't catch a break.
And so, after all this time, it turns out that Xeris is definitely a traitor. Astar just can't catch a break.
Chapter Thirteen
Mount Seleya
Vulcan
Stardate 55741.3 (September 28, 2378)
The mountain loomed before the lone Vulcan woman dressed in the simple robes of a Kolinahr initiate. She had travelled this path many times since leaving Starfleet and the horrors that forced her to re-evaluate her life. Though she had continued on for as long as possible, her colleagues began to notice the changes in her behaviour, and the captain had even noticed her emotional state. She suggested that she seek out professional help, specifically from the Adepts on Mount Seleya, and agreed to sign off on her request for extended leave. That had been seven months ago and she knew that she was no closer to Kolinahr than when she started. Her emotional control continued to slip at times and she could tell that the Adepts were beginning to question her reasons for being there. It was for that reason that she had left the mountain on a meditative stroll and she had reluctantly come to a conclusion.
Kolinahr was not for her.
Upon her return to Mount Seleya she was greeted by T’Kran, the mentor for all Kolinahr initiates. ‘You have made your decision?’
She briefly inclined her head slightly in response. ‘I have, Master T’Kran. I believe my answers lie elsewhere.’
He nodded, expecting that answer. ‘Where will you go?’
‘I may join the T’Karath Monastery,’ she answered. ‘Perhaps my answers lie there.’
‘Perhaps, and perhaps not,’ the Vulcan Kolinahr master replied cryptically. ‘You have a visitor.’
The woman raised an eyebrow in obvious surprise. ‘Who else knows I am here but my Captain?’
‘I leave that to you to answer. She is waiting in the visitors’ area.’
The young woman and strode purposely toward the visitors’ area of the extensive complex. As she turned a corner, she noticed the only non-Vulcan in the room. A Trill woman in a Starfleet Commander’s uniform. Schooling her features to be impassive, she walked up to the woman.
‘I was told you wished to see me.’
The Trill smiled. ‘Are you T’Shanir, former chief engineer of the Cuffe and the Soval?’
‘I am currently on extended leave from the Soval,’ T’Shanir replied.
The Trill nodded. ‘I am Commander Astar, executive officer on the Pytheas. I have come to speak with you regarding an open position for chief engineer.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘May I ask what happened to the previous occupant of the position?’
Astar looked down for a moment. ‘He was killed in a shuttle accident with our new diplomatic officer. We have replaced her, and I still need a chief engineer.’
T’Shanir considered the answer. ‘Where is the Pytheas assigned?’
‘An exploration mission of the Delta Quadrant. There is more, but I could only provide that information if your security clearance was increased.’
T’Shanir was intrigued. ‘I have level fourteen security clearance.’
Astar smirked. ‘The information is classified Cobalt-One.’
The Vulcan struggled not to look shocked. The Cobalt-One classification was a rumour among cadets at the Academy, many considered it a myth because there was no active information classified as such, or hadn’t been, she corrected herself.
‘I am interested, however I must contact the Soval.’
‘Captain T'Prea has given her approval for your transfer should you accept the position, which also carries a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.’
‘I accept the position, Commander.’
‘Excellent, how soon before you are ready to leave?’
‘I will be ready in eleven minutes,’ the Vulcan replied.
Astar look puzzled, but nodded, and T’Shanir strode away. She headed directly for her modest quarters and proceeded to change into her Starfleet uniform before folding up the robes and leaving them on the bed. She packed the few belongings she had bought with her and returned to the visitors’ area. Ten minutes had elapsed.
‘Are you out of breath, Lieutenant?’ Astar asked as they began the long walk towards Shi’Kahr.
‘I detect no change in my standard breathing,’ T’Shanir answered.
‘You sound as though you have been running a marathon. We’ll have Doctor Maxx look over you when we get to the ship.’
‘When is the vessel due to depart?’
‘Next Thursday, and we’ll be undertaking a shakedown cruise. The Pytheas was badly damaged a few months ago.’
‘I presume I will not like the information contained in the reports?’
Astar shook her head. ‘Definitely not. The aliens responsible are more deadly than anything the Federation has faced in the past.’
‘This will a most intriguing assignment.’
‘That is an understatement, Lieutenant. We’re in for a bumpy ride.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘I will endeavour to keep the ship steady, Commander.’
Astar turned to face her as they emerged from the shadow of the mountain. ‘Was that a joke?’
‘Was it amusing?’
‘A little,’ Astar admitted.
‘Then it was a joke,’ the Vulcan added.
Astar shook her head in what T’Shanir interpreted as exasperation. Neither one said a word until they entered the city and headed toward the Vulcan Starfleet complex.
‘Commander, may I ask why you walked to Mount Seleya and did not use a ground vehicle?’
‘I needed the time to think. I have been through an emotional wringer in recent months and I wanted to clear my head.
‘There have been studies that show the Vulcan atmosphere to be damaging to the symbionts over a long period of time.’
‘I’ve been here a few hours, Lieutenant. The Astar symbiont is quite hardy,’ Astar replied and then stopped in her tracks. ‘How did you know I was Joined?’
‘The look in your eyes. Your eyes say they have seen much, far more than an unjoined Trill.’
‘Yeah, Astar’s seen a lot. I have, too, and I wish that no one else had to go through it.’
The Vulcan said nothing further, but she retreated into her mind, maintaining only a peripheral awareness of her surroundings. She considered what she had been through in her short life and deemed it horrific by even human standards. The Crimson Shadow believed themselves to be freedom fighters but they were nothing more than terrorists, much like the Maquis—and to a greater extent, the neo-Maquis—were.
Mount Seleya
Vulcan
Stardate 55741.3 (September 28, 2378)
The mountain loomed before the lone Vulcan woman dressed in the simple robes of a Kolinahr initiate. She had travelled this path many times since leaving Starfleet and the horrors that forced her to re-evaluate her life. Though she had continued on for as long as possible, her colleagues began to notice the changes in her behaviour, and the captain had even noticed her emotional state. She suggested that she seek out professional help, specifically from the Adepts on Mount Seleya, and agreed to sign off on her request for extended leave. That had been seven months ago and she knew that she was no closer to Kolinahr than when she started. Her emotional control continued to slip at times and she could tell that the Adepts were beginning to question her reasons for being there. It was for that reason that she had left the mountain on a meditative stroll and she had reluctantly come to a conclusion.
Kolinahr was not for her.
Upon her return to Mount Seleya she was greeted by T’Kran, the mentor for all Kolinahr initiates. ‘You have made your decision?’
She briefly inclined her head slightly in response. ‘I have, Master T’Kran. I believe my answers lie elsewhere.’
He nodded, expecting that answer. ‘Where will you go?’
‘I may join the T’Karath Monastery,’ she answered. ‘Perhaps my answers lie there.’
‘Perhaps, and perhaps not,’ the Vulcan Kolinahr master replied cryptically. ‘You have a visitor.’
The woman raised an eyebrow in obvious surprise. ‘Who else knows I am here but my Captain?’
‘I leave that to you to answer. She is waiting in the visitors’ area.’
The young woman and strode purposely toward the visitors’ area of the extensive complex. As she turned a corner, she noticed the only non-Vulcan in the room. A Trill woman in a Starfleet Commander’s uniform. Schooling her features to be impassive, she walked up to the woman.
‘I was told you wished to see me.’
The Trill smiled. ‘Are you T’Shanir, former chief engineer of the Cuffe and the Soval?’
‘I am currently on extended leave from the Soval,’ T’Shanir replied.
The Trill nodded. ‘I am Commander Astar, executive officer on the Pytheas. I have come to speak with you regarding an open position for chief engineer.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘May I ask what happened to the previous occupant of the position?’
Astar looked down for a moment. ‘He was killed in a shuttle accident with our new diplomatic officer. We have replaced her, and I still need a chief engineer.’
T’Shanir considered the answer. ‘Where is the Pytheas assigned?’
‘An exploration mission of the Delta Quadrant. There is more, but I could only provide that information if your security clearance was increased.’
T’Shanir was intrigued. ‘I have level fourteen security clearance.’
Astar smirked. ‘The information is classified Cobalt-One.’
The Vulcan struggled not to look shocked. The Cobalt-One classification was a rumour among cadets at the Academy, many considered it a myth because there was no active information classified as such, or hadn’t been, she corrected herself.
‘I am interested, however I must contact the Soval.’
‘Captain T'Prea has given her approval for your transfer should you accept the position, which also carries a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.’
‘I accept the position, Commander.’
‘Excellent, how soon before you are ready to leave?’
‘I will be ready in eleven minutes,’ the Vulcan replied.
Astar look puzzled, but nodded, and T’Shanir strode away. She headed directly for her modest quarters and proceeded to change into her Starfleet uniform before folding up the robes and leaving them on the bed. She packed the few belongings she had bought with her and returned to the visitors’ area. Ten minutes had elapsed.
‘Are you out of breath, Lieutenant?’ Astar asked as they began the long walk towards Shi’Kahr.
‘I detect no change in my standard breathing,’ T’Shanir answered.
‘You sound as though you have been running a marathon. We’ll have Doctor Maxx look over you when we get to the ship.’
‘When is the vessel due to depart?’
‘Next Thursday, and we’ll be undertaking a shakedown cruise. The Pytheas was badly damaged a few months ago.’
‘I presume I will not like the information contained in the reports?’
Astar shook her head. ‘Definitely not. The aliens responsible are more deadly than anything the Federation has faced in the past.’
‘This will a most intriguing assignment.’
‘That is an understatement, Lieutenant. We’re in for a bumpy ride.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘I will endeavour to keep the ship steady, Commander.’
Astar turned to face her as they emerged from the shadow of the mountain. ‘Was that a joke?’
‘Was it amusing?’
‘A little,’ Astar admitted.
‘Then it was a joke,’ the Vulcan added.
Astar shook her head in what T’Shanir interpreted as exasperation. Neither one said a word until they entered the city and headed toward the Vulcan Starfleet complex.
‘Commander, may I ask why you walked to Mount Seleya and did not use a ground vehicle?’
‘I needed the time to think. I have been through an emotional wringer in recent months and I wanted to clear my head.
‘There have been studies that show the Vulcan atmosphere to be damaging to the symbionts over a long period of time.’
‘I’ve been here a few hours, Lieutenant. The Astar symbiont is quite hardy,’ Astar replied and then stopped in her tracks. ‘How did you know I was Joined?’
‘The look in your eyes. Your eyes say they have seen much, far more than an unjoined Trill.’
‘Yeah, Astar’s seen a lot. I have, too, and I wish that no one else had to go through it.’
The Vulcan said nothing further, but she retreated into her mind, maintaining only a peripheral awareness of her surroundings. She considered what she had been through in her short life and deemed it horrific by even human standards. The Crimson Shadow believed themselves to be freedom fighters but they were nothing more than terrorists, much like the Maquis—and to a greater extent, the neo-Maquis—were.
Chapter Fourteen
Shuttlecraft Resnik
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55741.6 (September 28, 2378)
Lieutenant Bradley Weston tried to resist the impulse to turn his head and look at the two women he was taking to the ship. Both were gorgeous and exotic and wholly alien. The Vulcan was young and wore her hair in a ponytail which accentuated her tapered ears and the other one he had no clue about. She looked almost human but there were no spots so she wasn’t a Trill or Kriosian. Her eyes weren’t black which ruled out Betazoid and he wasn’t sure about her being an El-Aurian since he didn’t know if any were Starfleet officers, but he thought there might have been one or two. He concentrated on piloting the new type-11 shuttle which replaced the Jarvis and kept an ear open to the conversation the two women were having.
‘The Tranamii are even more argumentative than the Tellarites, I’m amazed they managed to evolve technologically to the point of developing warp drive,’ Lieutenant Evara said, explaining to the Vulcan engineer her recent assignment on board the Manticore.
‘Are they going to become Federation members?’ newly promoted Lieutenant Commander T’Shanir asked as she changed position to become more comfortable.
‘Not for a long time,’ Evara answered. ‘They still have a caste system and their world is not completely united. They have a world government but there are still about a dozen countries which remain independent republics, though they are represented by ambassadors.’
‘How does that work?’
‘The ambassadors don’t have full voting rights for bills that represent the countries of the world government, but they have voting rights for anything that is relevant to the world as a whole like the environment, public safety, and so on.’
‘You seem to have enjoyed visiting the planet.’
‘The people are amazing and their artwork is incredible. I have some which I’ll be putting up in my quarters if you’d like to see it.’
‘I would, I appreciate art for its aesthetic qualities.’
Evara nodded as she warmed to her subject. ‘The Tranamii evolved from marsupials and have three genders, a male, a female, and a neuter which is solely responsible for carrying a child to term. I’m not sure how or why they transfer the genetic material to the neuter but I know that the killing of a neuter is considered the most heinous crime and is punishable by death.’
‘That is barbaric,’ T’Shanir replied. ‘Unless they change that, they will never become members.’
‘From our point of view, it is, but you have to understand that without neuters the population would die out. For some reason, the women are unable to carry children to full term. I know the Manticore’s CMO was covertly scanning all three genders and looking at the results, but he hadn’t come to any conclusions before I was transferred.’
‘Will you keep in contact with him to find out his conclusions? I find myself intrigued by this.’
Weston tried not to laugh at T’Shanir’s obvious attempt to ask about the results while trying to be subtle about it.
‘He agreed to contact me with the answer, if he finds one.’
‘Do you doubt he will?’
‘He doubts he will, since their scientists have been trying to figure it out for centuries.’
‘Our medical expertise is far greater than theirs,’ T’Shanir replied.
‘We can learn just as much from them as they can from us,’ Evara replied.
‘Indeed.’
Weston now turned to face them and tried not to look like he was checking them out, but he was sure he failed miserably. ‘We’re approaching the Pytheas.’
He turned back and after a moment found both women standing behind him to see the ship. Evara was wearing a subtle perfume which smelled vaguely like vanilla and some kind of flower but he found himself drawn more toward T’Shanir, for no reason he could readily identify. She was lithe, with a slim figure and the uniform seemed to accentuate her curves, such as they were. Evara was more curvy and as she craned her neck to get a better look at the ship she inadvertently brushed his shoulder. As a wave of extreme pleasure passed through him, Weston realized that it was not perfume that she wore but a pheromone of some kind, and wondered if she was part Orion.
‘Beautiful,’ Evara said as she saw the Pytheas nestled in the repair structure. ‘The Pytheas is one of the second run, isn’t it?’
‘Officially, the Pytheas is listed as a Voyager variant because she is equipped with several modifications based on retrofits Voyager was forced to undergo. The ship also has a number of test bed technologies which aren’t in any other ship.’
‘Such as?’ T’Shanir asked. ‘I have not had time to familiarize myself with all of her systems.’
‘Before the ship left for the Kursican sector, she was outfitted with the Sensor Probe Recon Array and it performed well, but during the refit it was retrofitted to act as an independent mobile weapons platform as well, in order to provide better offensive capabilities if we have lost our weapons.’
‘Intriguing. What else has been modified?’
‘The engineers improved the Astrometrics lab, upgraded the weapons and shields, gave us another shuttle, and because we will be out of range of standard subspace communications, we’ll also be deploying a series of communication buoys which contain quantum singularities and tachyon amplifiers.’
‘For what purpose?’
‘The Pytheas can generate a tachyon beam toward the buoys and the tachyon amplifier will amplify it and send it to the next buoy via the quantum singularity and so on, creating a communications link with Project Cobalt.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘That is quite ingenious, but it is experimental, is it not?’
Weston nodded. ‘Yes sir, it is, but it is based on Project Pathfinder’s communication system created with the MIDAS array.’
‘I remember reading about that,’ the engineer replied. ‘Reginald Barclay is a most interesting officer.’
‘Shuttlecraft Resnik to Pytheas, request permission to dock.’
‘Permission granted, Resnik. Main shuttlebay doors are open.’
‘Who was that?’ Evara asked. ‘I recognize the voice.’
‘Ensign Jatarn, beta shift helm officer.’
Evara shook her head. ‘I could have sworn it was someone I knew when I was younger.’
‘Clearly it is not,’ T’Shanir replied.
Three minutes later, the Resnik touched down on the shuttlebay deck and T’Shanir was the first off. Evara picked up her duffel and turned to Weston. ‘You coming, Lieutenant?’
Weston turned his face, but not his body, and went red. ‘I need to, uh, complete post-flight checks.’
Evara lowered her head. ‘I’m so sorry, Lieutenant. I must have missed my last shot.’
‘Sir?’
‘I’m one quarter Orion. I need to take two shots a day or my pheromones get the better of me.’
‘It’s not a problem, sir.’
‘Sweet of you to say, but I should have realized. Will you forgive me?’
Before he knew what he was saying, Weston agreed and smiled broadly. ‘Sure, but only if you agree to dinner, minus the pheromones.’
Evara smiled. ‘I don’t know how to say this, but I’m afraid I don’t go for, uh, men.’
‘Oh,’ Weston’s smiled dimmed. ‘Never mind then.’
‘I would enjoy dinner though.’
The helmsman wasn’t sure how to answer. ‘Sure, I can give you a tour as well, if you like.’
‘Wonderful, I look forward to it.’
‘Nineteen hundred hours?’
‘See you then,’ she replied and left the shuttle, leaving Weston wondering what the hell just happened.
Shuttlecraft Resnik
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55741.6 (September 28, 2378)
Lieutenant Bradley Weston tried to resist the impulse to turn his head and look at the two women he was taking to the ship. Both were gorgeous and exotic and wholly alien. The Vulcan was young and wore her hair in a ponytail which accentuated her tapered ears and the other one he had no clue about. She looked almost human but there were no spots so she wasn’t a Trill or Kriosian. Her eyes weren’t black which ruled out Betazoid and he wasn’t sure about her being an El-Aurian since he didn’t know if any were Starfleet officers, but he thought there might have been one or two. He concentrated on piloting the new type-11 shuttle which replaced the Jarvis and kept an ear open to the conversation the two women were having.
‘The Tranamii are even more argumentative than the Tellarites, I’m amazed they managed to evolve technologically to the point of developing warp drive,’ Lieutenant Evara said, explaining to the Vulcan engineer her recent assignment on board the Manticore.
‘Are they going to become Federation members?’ newly promoted Lieutenant Commander T’Shanir asked as she changed position to become more comfortable.
‘Not for a long time,’ Evara answered. ‘They still have a caste system and their world is not completely united. They have a world government but there are still about a dozen countries which remain independent republics, though they are represented by ambassadors.’
‘How does that work?’
‘The ambassadors don’t have full voting rights for bills that represent the countries of the world government, but they have voting rights for anything that is relevant to the world as a whole like the environment, public safety, and so on.’
‘You seem to have enjoyed visiting the planet.’
‘The people are amazing and their artwork is incredible. I have some which I’ll be putting up in my quarters if you’d like to see it.’
‘I would, I appreciate art for its aesthetic qualities.’
Evara nodded as she warmed to her subject. ‘The Tranamii evolved from marsupials and have three genders, a male, a female, and a neuter which is solely responsible for carrying a child to term. I’m not sure how or why they transfer the genetic material to the neuter but I know that the killing of a neuter is considered the most heinous crime and is punishable by death.’
‘That is barbaric,’ T’Shanir replied. ‘Unless they change that, they will never become members.’
‘From our point of view, it is, but you have to understand that without neuters the population would die out. For some reason, the women are unable to carry children to full term. I know the Manticore’s CMO was covertly scanning all three genders and looking at the results, but he hadn’t come to any conclusions before I was transferred.’
‘Will you keep in contact with him to find out his conclusions? I find myself intrigued by this.’
Weston tried not to laugh at T’Shanir’s obvious attempt to ask about the results while trying to be subtle about it.
‘He agreed to contact me with the answer, if he finds one.’
‘Do you doubt he will?’
‘He doubts he will, since their scientists have been trying to figure it out for centuries.’
‘Our medical expertise is far greater than theirs,’ T’Shanir replied.
‘We can learn just as much from them as they can from us,’ Evara replied.
‘Indeed.’
Weston now turned to face them and tried not to look like he was checking them out, but he was sure he failed miserably. ‘We’re approaching the Pytheas.’
He turned back and after a moment found both women standing behind him to see the ship. Evara was wearing a subtle perfume which smelled vaguely like vanilla and some kind of flower but he found himself drawn more toward T’Shanir, for no reason he could readily identify. She was lithe, with a slim figure and the uniform seemed to accentuate her curves, such as they were. Evara was more curvy and as she craned her neck to get a better look at the ship she inadvertently brushed his shoulder. As a wave of extreme pleasure passed through him, Weston realized that it was not perfume that she wore but a pheromone of some kind, and wondered if she was part Orion.
‘Beautiful,’ Evara said as she saw the Pytheas nestled in the repair structure. ‘The Pytheas is one of the second run, isn’t it?’
‘Officially, the Pytheas is listed as a Voyager variant because she is equipped with several modifications based on retrofits Voyager was forced to undergo. The ship also has a number of test bed technologies which aren’t in any other ship.’
‘Such as?’ T’Shanir asked. ‘I have not had time to familiarize myself with all of her systems.’
‘Before the ship left for the Kursican sector, she was outfitted with the Sensor Probe Recon Array and it performed well, but during the refit it was retrofitted to act as an independent mobile weapons platform as well, in order to provide better offensive capabilities if we have lost our weapons.’
‘Intriguing. What else has been modified?’
‘The engineers improved the Astrometrics lab, upgraded the weapons and shields, gave us another shuttle, and because we will be out of range of standard subspace communications, we’ll also be deploying a series of communication buoys which contain quantum singularities and tachyon amplifiers.’
‘For what purpose?’
‘The Pytheas can generate a tachyon beam toward the buoys and the tachyon amplifier will amplify it and send it to the next buoy via the quantum singularity and so on, creating a communications link with Project Cobalt.’
T’Shanir raised an eyebrow. ‘That is quite ingenious, but it is experimental, is it not?’
Weston nodded. ‘Yes sir, it is, but it is based on Project Pathfinder’s communication system created with the MIDAS array.’
‘I remember reading about that,’ the engineer replied. ‘Reginald Barclay is a most interesting officer.’
‘Shuttlecraft Resnik to Pytheas, request permission to dock.’
‘Permission granted, Resnik. Main shuttlebay doors are open.’
‘Who was that?’ Evara asked. ‘I recognize the voice.’
‘Ensign Jatarn, beta shift helm officer.’
Evara shook her head. ‘I could have sworn it was someone I knew when I was younger.’
‘Clearly it is not,’ T’Shanir replied.
Three minutes later, the Resnik touched down on the shuttlebay deck and T’Shanir was the first off. Evara picked up her duffel and turned to Weston. ‘You coming, Lieutenant?’
Weston turned his face, but not his body, and went red. ‘I need to, uh, complete post-flight checks.’
Evara lowered her head. ‘I’m so sorry, Lieutenant. I must have missed my last shot.’
‘Sir?’
‘I’m one quarter Orion. I need to take two shots a day or my pheromones get the better of me.’
‘It’s not a problem, sir.’
‘Sweet of you to say, but I should have realized. Will you forgive me?’
Before he knew what he was saying, Weston agreed and smiled broadly. ‘Sure, but only if you agree to dinner, minus the pheromones.’
Evara smiled. ‘I don’t know how to say this, but I’m afraid I don’t go for, uh, men.’
‘Oh,’ Weston’s smiled dimmed. ‘Never mind then.’
‘I would enjoy dinner though.’
The helmsman wasn’t sure how to answer. ‘Sure, I can give you a tour as well, if you like.’
‘Wonderful, I look forward to it.’
‘Nineteen hundred hours?’
‘See you then,’ she replied and left the shuttle, leaving Weston wondering what the hell just happened.
I can see why T'Shanir would find Kolinahr so difficult; it seems like her emotions are very close to the surface for a Vulcan.
As for the Crimson Shadow--that's the Cardassian terror organization in the United Trek universe, right?
As for the Crimson Shadow--that's the Cardassian terror organization in the United Trek universe, right?
That's very arrogant and judgmental of T'Shanir, when it comes to the use of the death penalty. As I've always felt, Federation tolerance only extends towards those who think like them.
As for Evara--it's nice to see that she wasn't deliberately flaunting her pheromones. I know the shots must be aggravating to her, but it's good that she respects the fact that not doing them interferes with the thoughts of other species.
As for Evara--it's nice to see that she wasn't deliberately flaunting her pheromones. I know the shots must be aggravating to her, but it's good that she respects the fact that not doing them interferes with the thoughts of other species.
Nerys, you don't think much of the Federation ideals, do you?
I personally consider the death penalty for any crime meaningless. A person cannot learn from their mistakes if they are dead, and the Federation prefers to rehabilitate prisoners if possible, even if that doesn't work all the time.
As for the Tranamii, should they commute a death sentence for killing a neuter, or should they continue on they are without the Federation?
I have always thought that the Federation could relax some of its criteria for joining, and perhaps I will explore this in greater detail in a future story.
I personally consider the death penalty for any crime meaningless. A person cannot learn from their mistakes if they are dead, and the Federation prefers to rehabilitate prisoners if possible, even if that doesn't work all the time.
As for the Tranamii, should they commute a death sentence for killing a neuter, or should they continue on they are without the Federation?
I have always thought that the Federation could relax some of its criteria for joining, and perhaps I will explore this in greater detail in a future story.
I forgot how short this story was.
----------------------------------------------------
Epilogue
USS Pytheas
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55748.9 (October 1, 2378)
Captain Cheer was the last to arrive to the briefing room and he was gratified to see that all of his senior staff were present. Commander Astar sat to his right and he wished that he could tell what she was thinking. He knew there was something she was leaving out about the deaths of the two Romulans, especially in the light of her now nominally an operative of Section 31, but he had no proof and she seemed to have everything well in hand. She did pick very good choices for both the chief engineer and the combined diplomatic officer/counsellor positions, and they had integrated very quickly having just come aboard three days earlier.
‘Let us begin this briefing,’ he said and the others stopped talking amongst themselves and focussed their attention on him. ‘I know you have all been introduced to our new chief engineer and diplomatic officer, and I would like to extend my official welcome to you both. I apologize for not being around much over the last three days, but the people at Project Cobalt have discovered a number of useful facts about the Cha’lav in this galaxy, including the fact that no reinforcements have come through any rifts from other galaxies.’
‘What does that mean?’ Gonzales asked.
‘It means that they have ship building facilities somewhere in this galaxy,’ Parker replied sourly. ‘I wondered when this would happen.’
‘Meaning?’ Cheer asked.
‘The voidspace rifts distort the space time continuum and in my time we found a way to help the continuum mend itself. The by-product of this is that no more rifts can be opened in that galaxy. This suggests that the Cha’lav have been in the galaxy far longer than we previously believed.’
‘How long does it take for the continuum to heal by itself?’ T’Shanir asked.
‘Usually about two centuries,’ Parker replied. ‘And since the technology to shorten that period doesn’t exist in this time, we have to assume that the Cha’lav have been here since at least the time of the Federation’s founding.’
‘That is disturbing,’ Astar chimed in and turned to Cheer. ‘We have to get the shakedown underway sooner rather than later.’
Cheer sighed. ‘Unfortunately, that call is not mine to make. Admiral Sitak denied permission for the ship to depart and gave me no reason why. I have to assume that she is working on something and until that changes, we’re stuck here.’
Gonzales muttered a curse. ‘A lot of people have died already. Every minute we delay means more people are dying because of the Cha’lav. We should leave now, regardless of what Admiral Sitak says.’
‘I’m sure she has her reasons,’ Astar countered. ‘But I would like to know what is more important than getting us underway.’
‘As would I,’ the captain added.
The briefing room doors opened and all the officers stood as they saw who it was. ‘I believe you wanted to know my reasoning for delaying the shakedown cruise?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Admiral Sitak nodded. ‘Very well. I spoke with my superiors regarding the Cha’lav situation and argued for the release of classified technology to assist you in your mission of preventing the Cha’lav from gaining any more territory. I was successful and I believe that the necessary delay will mollify your eagerness to stop the Cha’lav.’
‘What are we getting?’ Astar asked, suspicious.
‘A Federation-made cloaking device.’
There was silence in the room as the ramifications sank in.
Cheer was the first to speak up. ‘How long have we been violating the Treaty of Algeron?’
Sitak raised an eyebrow. ‘We are not violating the treaty. As a courtesy, both the Romulan and Klingon leaderships were informed of the Cha’lav threat and the Praetor agreed with President Satie that the cloaking device could be used in the Delta Quadrant.’
‘You informed them that we had violated the treaty by developing a cloaking device?’ T’Shanir asked
‘As I said a moment ago, Commander, the Federation has not developed a cloaking device since the Treaty of Algeron has been in effect.’
‘But we did develop one or two beforehand,’ Astar realized. ‘And I suppose in the spirit of cooperation you provided them with the specifications for our one?’
‘Incorrect specifications,’ Sitak corrected. ‘However, since they will not be building one, they will not discover this.’
‘Vulcan logic,’ Weston said. ‘They will subject the specifications to computer simulations. That will show them that the specs are duds.’
‘Any simulation they run will show them that our cloaking device is inferior to theirs and easy to spot, but it will work perfectly well against species that do not what to look for.’
‘And in reality?’ the new chief engineer
‘The cloak is completely invisible to Romulan scanners and those of other belligerent races, including the Klingons. Commander T’Shanir, would you please return to engineering and begin construction of the device.’
The engineer nodded and silently left the room. ‘Sure, why not.’
‘You’re all dismissed, this briefing is over,’ Cheer said.
‘Admiral, could I speak with you?’ Astar asked
‘Can I help you, Commander?’
Astar hedged her bets and chose to test the Vulcan. ‘I’m thinking of a number.’
Sitak raised an eyebrow. ‘What purpose does this serve?’
‘Never mind, I just wanted to check something. I do want to say, however, that your reasoning for violating the treaty is nothing more than semantics. I just hope the Romulans find out.’
‘They will not, unless one of the senior staff on this vessel mentions anything.’
‘They always seem to find out,’ Astar countered and left the briefing room with the Captain.
Once they were on the bridge, Cheer pulled her aside. ‘Did you think she was a member of Section 31?’
‘I had to make sure, and the expression on her face was surprise at the question. She had no idea what I was talking about. I guess she just wanted to give us an edge out there.’
‘Or it could be that someone put her up to it,’ Cheer countered.
‘Possibly, but I’m not sure we’ll ever know.’
----------------------------------------------------
Epilogue
USS Pytheas
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55748.9 (October 1, 2378)
Captain Cheer was the last to arrive to the briefing room and he was gratified to see that all of his senior staff were present. Commander Astar sat to his right and he wished that he could tell what she was thinking. He knew there was something she was leaving out about the deaths of the two Romulans, especially in the light of her now nominally an operative of Section 31, but he had no proof and she seemed to have everything well in hand. She did pick very good choices for both the chief engineer and the combined diplomatic officer/counsellor positions, and they had integrated very quickly having just come aboard three days earlier.
‘Let us begin this briefing,’ he said and the others stopped talking amongst themselves and focussed their attention on him. ‘I know you have all been introduced to our new chief engineer and diplomatic officer, and I would like to extend my official welcome to you both. I apologize for not being around much over the last three days, but the people at Project Cobalt have discovered a number of useful facts about the Cha’lav in this galaxy, including the fact that no reinforcements have come through any rifts from other galaxies.’
‘What does that mean?’ Gonzales asked.
‘It means that they have ship building facilities somewhere in this galaxy,’ Parker replied sourly. ‘I wondered when this would happen.’
‘Meaning?’ Cheer asked.
‘The voidspace rifts distort the space time continuum and in my time we found a way to help the continuum mend itself. The by-product of this is that no more rifts can be opened in that galaxy. This suggests that the Cha’lav have been in the galaxy far longer than we previously believed.’
‘How long does it take for the continuum to heal by itself?’ T’Shanir asked.
‘Usually about two centuries,’ Parker replied. ‘And since the technology to shorten that period doesn’t exist in this time, we have to assume that the Cha’lav have been here since at least the time of the Federation’s founding.’
‘That is disturbing,’ Astar chimed in and turned to Cheer. ‘We have to get the shakedown underway sooner rather than later.’
Cheer sighed. ‘Unfortunately, that call is not mine to make. Admiral Sitak denied permission for the ship to depart and gave me no reason why. I have to assume that she is working on something and until that changes, we’re stuck here.’
Gonzales muttered a curse. ‘A lot of people have died already. Every minute we delay means more people are dying because of the Cha’lav. We should leave now, regardless of what Admiral Sitak says.’
‘I’m sure she has her reasons,’ Astar countered. ‘But I would like to know what is more important than getting us underway.’
‘As would I,’ the captain added.
The briefing room doors opened and all the officers stood as they saw who it was. ‘I believe you wanted to know my reasoning for delaying the shakedown cruise?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Admiral Sitak nodded. ‘Very well. I spoke with my superiors regarding the Cha’lav situation and argued for the release of classified technology to assist you in your mission of preventing the Cha’lav from gaining any more territory. I was successful and I believe that the necessary delay will mollify your eagerness to stop the Cha’lav.’
‘What are we getting?’ Astar asked, suspicious.
‘A Federation-made cloaking device.’
There was silence in the room as the ramifications sank in.
Cheer was the first to speak up. ‘How long have we been violating the Treaty of Algeron?’
Sitak raised an eyebrow. ‘We are not violating the treaty. As a courtesy, both the Romulan and Klingon leaderships were informed of the Cha’lav threat and the Praetor agreed with President Satie that the cloaking device could be used in the Delta Quadrant.’
‘You informed them that we had violated the treaty by developing a cloaking device?’ T’Shanir asked
‘As I said a moment ago, Commander, the Federation has not developed a cloaking device since the Treaty of Algeron has been in effect.’
‘But we did develop one or two beforehand,’ Astar realized. ‘And I suppose in the spirit of cooperation you provided them with the specifications for our one?’
‘Incorrect specifications,’ Sitak corrected. ‘However, since they will not be building one, they will not discover this.’
‘Vulcan logic,’ Weston said. ‘They will subject the specifications to computer simulations. That will show them that the specs are duds.’
‘Any simulation they run will show them that our cloaking device is inferior to theirs and easy to spot, but it will work perfectly well against species that do not what to look for.’
‘And in reality?’ the new chief engineer
‘The cloak is completely invisible to Romulan scanners and those of other belligerent races, including the Klingons. Commander T’Shanir, would you please return to engineering and begin construction of the device.’
The engineer nodded and silently left the room. ‘Sure, why not.’
‘You’re all dismissed, this briefing is over,’ Cheer said.
‘Admiral, could I speak with you?’ Astar asked
‘Can I help you, Commander?’
Astar hedged her bets and chose to test the Vulcan. ‘I’m thinking of a number.’
Sitak raised an eyebrow. ‘What purpose does this serve?’
‘Never mind, I just wanted to check something. I do want to say, however, that your reasoning for violating the treaty is nothing more than semantics. I just hope the Romulans find out.’
‘They will not, unless one of the senior staff on this vessel mentions anything.’
‘They always seem to find out,’ Astar countered and left the briefing room with the Captain.
Once they were on the bridge, Cheer pulled her aside. ‘Did you think she was a member of Section 31?’
‘I had to make sure, and the expression on her face was surprise at the question. She had no idea what I was talking about. I guess she just wanted to give us an edge out there.’
‘Or it could be that someone put her up to it,’ Cheer countered.
‘Possibly, but I’m not sure we’ll ever know.’
END
The Pytheas will return in…Shakedown
The Pytheas will return in…Shakedown
Their ideals are one thing--the hypocritical way in which they enact them is an entirely other thing. I think their founding principles were likely good, but the truth is that they are really very arrogant and bureaucratic.
I think that there are some people it is too risky to allow to live, and some that cannot be rehabilitated. I think that there is real evil in the world and it has to be dealt with. But I think we have to be clear that there are real penalties for the worst crimes, and we also cannot allow people who have done certain things to have any chance of doing them again.
I do believe in great caution with the death penalty--the standard of evidence must be very high, which is why I DO support the work of people like the Innocence Project, who are using DNA evidence to help clear those who are wrongfully convicted. But once that standard is met, I do think that it is better to execute someone who has committed the worst crimes.
There are other things I think about the nature of the death penalty that are not for this forum--they're too personal and would take too long and most likely be taken way out of context. So that'll have to do for now, but know that even though I haven't said all that I think on the subject, that I have thought it through very carefully.
BB,
Wow! A very consequential story. It appeared you wrapped some things up while also setting more things in motion. There were some big revelations and character turns here, particuarly with Xeris and Astar. I like the whole Ghosts of the Night thing. You really have a way with names. I've always liked your Andorian names and the Ghost organization has a cool name as well. I wish was as adept with naming stuff.
Thanks for giving T'Shanir new life. I like your characterization of her. I did little with her. Though I must inform you that she was only an assistant on the Cuffe, never chief engineer. I'm curious about this incident between Terrence and Sheena's dad. Looking forward to seeing what happens with that. Thank you also for mentioning the Tal Arcani and the events still playing out in "Shadow Puppets". That was cool.
The idea of a cloaking device is interesting. I never thought about the Feds developing one before the Treaty of Algeron. That's a neat idea, and it makes a lot of sense.
I think you've done a good job introducing new characters, like Cheer, Evara, and T'Shanir, and giving the ship a new mission. It's like a reboot of sorts, but done in a fairly organic way.
Wow! A very consequential story. It appeared you wrapped some things up while also setting more things in motion. There were some big revelations and character turns here, particuarly with Xeris and Astar. I like the whole Ghosts of the Night thing. You really have a way with names. I've always liked your Andorian names and the Ghost organization has a cool name as well. I wish was as adept with naming stuff.
Thanks for giving T'Shanir new life. I like your characterization of her. I did little with her. Though I must inform you that she was only an assistant on the Cuffe, never chief engineer. I'm curious about this incident between Terrence and Sheena's dad. Looking forward to seeing what happens with that. Thank you also for mentioning the Tal Arcani and the events still playing out in "Shadow Puppets". That was cool.
The idea of a cloaking device is interesting. I never thought about the Feds developing one before the Treaty of Algeron. That's a neat idea, and it makes a lot of sense.
I think you've done a good job introducing new characters, like Cheer, Evara, and T'Shanir, and giving the ship a new mission. It's like a reboot of sorts, but done in a fairly organic way.
About the Crimson Shadow, yeah, its a UT terrorist organization. I made them up. It's an offshoot of Gibraltar's Crimson Order, a veteran's organization headed by the hardliner Mintof Urlak. I wanted the Shadow to be the military arm of the Crimson Order.
Very well done, BrotherBenny. You've taken Astar in a surprising--and I think effective--direction. I like what you've done with T'Shanir as well as the concept of the Tranamii. Regarding Tranamii membership in the Federation and the death penalty--other Federation members do have death penalties for certain offenses. I think the standard for the Federation is that while no death penalty is ideal, if a member world does have capital punishment, that it is reserved only for the most heinous of crimes and guilt is near 100% assured. An exploration of capital punishment is certainly a good subject to explore--and can be approached from several perspectives.
Similar threads
