CHAPTER 1
Stardate 53012.2 (5 January 2376 – USS Independence)
“Captain’s Log, stardate 53012.2. We’re holding position just outside the Badlands. We’re still licking our wounds. … And I get to tell Command that I’ve failed my first mission on the Independence.”
When Sintina was eleven, she programmed the replicator to make gagh when poppy seed muffins were ordered. The muffins had been her little brother’s favorite breakfast. He made such a girlish screech when he saw the gagh materialize. Her mom soon forced her to confess and apologize. Sintina was experiencing a similar sensation now.
Admiral Ross stared at her from across sub-space in her ready room. “So they used that Maquis maneuver against you, huh?”
With that kick in the gut, she thought, ‘did everybody know about this but me?’ She gathered what remained of her ego and sputtered, “Yes, sir.”
Ross wasn’t pleased, but wasn’t upset either, “Well, unfortunately, there have been a number of Cardassian ships that have refused to surrender. The one I sent you after was the tip of the ice burg.” He intertwined his fingers, “I fear this is the beginning of a much larger problem.”
Ironically, Aurelia was consoled somewhat by the comment but she said nothing in response.
Ross continued, “At the moment, however, there’s a situation developing at Cardassia Prime. I want the Independence there to make anyone think twice before trouble starts. It seems our allies are having a bit of a squabble over some toys. I’m sending you details on another channel.”
“Aye, sir.”
“How long until your repairs are complete?” inquired Ross.
“We should be underway in an hour or two.”
Ross reached for the control to end the transmission, “Very well. Admiral Whatley will be expecting you there in three days, Ross ou...”
“Wait, Admiral!” Aurelia ordered more than asked.
Ross’ face stiffened. Aurelia took on an apologetic tone, “I’d like to talk about my first officer.”
Ross slowly moved his hand back and rested it on the desk, “Continue.”
“He was assigned here temporarily. When could I expect a replacement?”
Ross got more comfortable, “That depends on the investigation. To be honest, the evidence we have is sketchy. He could be reinstated as captain and off your ship in a month or two.”
Aurelia leaned forward, “I’ve looked in his eyes. That man is guilty. He shouldn’t be in the uniform let alone in command of a starship.”
Ross countered with, “Despite this incident, Captain Windslow has served honorably in Starfleet for 20 years. I’m not so willing to over look that.”
Aurelia fought the urge to argue with the Admiral and decided to let it slide.
Ross didn’t follow her example, “Furthermore, he helped design many of the systems on that ship, via the Defiant Project. The technology of pulse phasers, ablative armor, quantum torpedoes, bio-neural circuitry; they’re all fairly new. He has experience with them.”
Aurelia bit her tongue; wanting to defend her own engineer, though he wasn’t being insulted.
He put the nail in the coffin of the conversation, “He’s there for a reason, Captain. I suggest you utilize him instead of judge him. Ross out.”
Aurelia found herself in front of the UFP logo. It was the door slammed in her face.
*****
Bin Nadal pulled his darts out of the board; 2 eighteens and a triple sixteen. “…and according to Dr. Bashir, it was this Section 31 that infected their security chief so he could infect the Founders.” He moved back to the throwing line, where Kimula stood, a regenerative cast on her leg.
Kimula, now on medical leave, wore a traditional Andorian robe. She lined up her shot, “And the Starfleet security reports say it was a covert action by the Tal Shiar?” The projectile left her hand.
Karim grimaced as she nearly got a bull’s eye. “Exactly.” Kimula launched another; triple 20. “The thing is,” Karim continued, “I worked for Starfleet Intelligence for nearly 2 years and I’ve never heard of such an organization.”
The Andorian turned to face Karim, her antenna slumping. “Well, if it’s as covert as Bashir says, it would stand to reason that only a handful of people even know about it.” Her lips formed a smirk, “Sorry to wound your ego, but you probably weren’t important enough.”
Bin Nadal was glad to be able to share a light hearted moment. “Maybe I’m just gullible to believe such a thing.”
Kimula admitted, “I don’t tend to believe it either.” Kimula didn’t want to dismiss Karim; he had never been the gullible type. “But …maybe you should follow the evidence; see where it leads you. Did Bashir give you any proof?”
“No, not really.”
Kimula tossed her final dart, “Maybe you should start a correspondence with him to see if he has any. Then you can decide for yourself.” She began to recover her darts.
Needing to tell someone, Bin Nadal blurted, “I saw Admiral Boral’s people torturing the Founder.”
Kimula stopped in her tracks, she spun around on her wounded leg; causing her to wince in pain, “What?”
“They said, it was a restraining device but she was in pain and they tormented her.”
She considered, “Does that really qualify as torture?”
Karim sarcastically nodded his head, “By my definition, yeah.”
The Andorian shrugged her shoulders, “Well consider what she’s done. It’s not like she needs to be treated…”
“Humanely?” interjected Bin Nadal.
Kimula then focused on the carpet and bit her bottom lip. She again looked at Karim, atonement in her face.
Karim reluctantly added, “There was something else.”
Kimula genuinely looked curious, “What?”
“When we were transporting the Founder, she claimed that the attack on San Francisco was detected by Starfleet and allowed to happen anyway.”
Kimula couldn’t help herself as she jested, “Now I know you’re gullible.”
Bin Nadal raised his hand, conceding the point, “I’ll have you know, I dismissed it as a lie as well. But…”
“But, what?”
Karim sat down, forgetting the game, “Do you remember when the power grid on Earth was sabotaged by Red Squad?”
Kimula joined him, “Sure, it was my junior year.”
“It was my senior year. I was actually in Red Squad. I had a good friend that went to prison because of it.”
Kimula asked with concern, “Not to be unsubtle, but why didn’t you go to prison too?”
Bin Nadal forced a smile, “That’s why I like you. You must be the bluntest counselor in the fleet.”
She raised her arms in mock confusement, “What can I say? It’s often best to go straight for the throat.”
Karim continued the narrative, “Because, I didn’t have an engineering background. They didn’t need me.”
“But you knew about the plan?”
The security officer slowly shook his head, “No, I just knew something was happening. When I asked, my friend he told me it’d be better if I didn’t know.” He let out a big breath, momentarily looked at nothing and concluded, “Anyway, the Founder implied there were more people behind it than those who were arrested.”
Kimula tried her best not to have any disbelief in her voice, “This Section 31, maybe?”
There was almost no emotion in his face as he turned, “It makes me wonder. …And IF elements of the Federation could sabotage Earth’s power grid, what else are they capable of?”
END OF CHAPTER 1
It always helps to have at least one member of the crew that can tell the captain off when she really, really needs it. 
