Here's the last installment. I hope you enjoyed it.
CHAPTER 16
Supplemental
USS Independence, Unused Crew Quarters
Holding Station inside the Beta Pictoris Proto-System
Doctor Zo’Kama rushed to bin Nadal’s side as she entered. Her medical tricorder was out within a blink. He had a severe concussion. She readied a hypo and injected him.
Slowly his eyes opened. He blinked several times. Absently, he said, “Doctor, where am I?”
The reptilian cocked her head, “You’re in a crew’s quarters.”
He repeated with glazed eyes, “Where am I?”
He got hit hard. It would take a moment for him to recover. She simply stated, “Just lay back and relax for a while.”
“Ok.”
The Arkonian activated her compin, “Doctor to bridge.”
“Aurelia here.”
“He’s here,” reported Zo’Kama. “He’ll be fine. I’m going to have him transported to sickbay.”
“Understood.”
*****
Supplemental
USS Independence, Sickbay
Holding Station inside the Beta Pictoris Proto-System
About an hour later, Sintina came to visit him. Karim had been kicking himself for being so foolish for the better part of that time.
She went to his bedside. “Zo’Kama tells me you took one hell of a hit.”
He was too frazzled for small talk, “They know. I gave them her name and now they know.”
“What happened?”
“It was a set up,” he continued, “it was all a set up to get Admiral Nechayev’s name. P’nav was a Chameloid. He…it…was probably working for Section 31.”
Dejected, Sintina sat on a nearby stool. “Goddamn spy shit.”
“We have to warn her,” Karim persisted.
She began to nod unenthusiastically, “All right. I’ll tell Wo’toth before he leaves. He’ll be able to get the message to her.”
He shook his head, “I’m such an idiot.”
She got up and offered, “Look on the bright side. We won the battle.” The observation didn’t have the desired effect. She smirked weakly and headed for the exit.
He said to himself grimly, “No. No, we didn’t.”
*****
Supplemental
USS Independence, Conference Lounge
Just outside of the Beta Pictoris Proto-System
The Odaus rendezvoused with them a few minutes ago. Commander Hanora and her first officer joined the senior staff for a partial debriefing.
“I must say,” began Hanora purposely, “I’m amazed you were able to find the Fothmar in the debris disk at all.”
The best cover story Sintina could come up with was, “I had a hunch.”
“A hunch,” repeated Hanora. She let the comment linger for a moment before moving on, “Well regardless, your ship is in no condition to continue the search.” She and Jaliv stood, “On behalf of the Romulan Star Empire, I thank you for the efforts. Starfleet has sacrificed much on this joint mission. I mourn for your losses.”
Everyone else went to their feet as well.
Aurelia said, “Thank you, Commander. I wish this little…venture was more productive.”
“As do I.”
The Independence captain asked, “What will you do now?”
Hanora considered the question. “He will eventually be tracked down and punished,” she added with menace, “as those who support him will be.”
“Good luck with your pursuit,” Aurelia said genuinely.
The Romulans were escorted out a moment later, leaving the Indy’s senior staff behind.
Aurelia opened up with, “Where do we stand?”
“I recommend we make a course for Starbase 23,” said Windslow. “Our port impulse engine is shot, along with dozens of secondary systems. It’ll take months to repair without help.”
“Two torpedo launchers are out,” added Faltyne, “and three phaser arrays.”
“I have a bit of good news,” commented the doctor, “There were only moderate injuries to seven crewmembers.”
Aurelia resigned herself, “Alright, Starbase 23 it is. Set a course and engage at warp five. If there isn’t anything else, dismissed.”
Most people began to file out. Windslow and Tang stood fast. The chief engineer piped up, “Captain, we’d like to have a word with you and Commander bin Nadal.”
The two stopped.
Sintina was tired, but she sighed and said, “Sure, what is it.”
Ethan went up to the display and brought up some scan results. He explained, “When we were working on the report concerning the Philadelphia’s destruction, we came across some odd readings.”
He had their attention. So he continued, “There was an unexplained change in the quantum signature of the nearby space.”
He waited for a reaction. There was none.
The science officer elaborated, “You see, everything in the universe has a specific quantum signature. There is no known way to change it.”
“So how’d it change?” asked Karim.
“We searched for anything that might explain it,” said Windslow. “In theory, the only thing that could do it is a molecular phase inverter.”
He got blank stares again.
Tang explained, “In theory, a molecular phase inverter can change the quantum signature of matter and energy in this universe and shift it out of phase. The result is anything out of phase with the rest of universe is invisible.”
“Not only that,” added Windslow, “but if it’s out of phase, matter and energy from our universe wouldn’t have any affect on it.”
“Soo,” began Aurelia, “What are you saying?”
“We think the Philadelphia has some type of interphasic cloaking device,” said Windslow.
“It wasn’t destroyed at all,” inserted Tang. “It just phased slightly out of our universe.”
Karim commented, “I remember hearing something about that around five years ago.” He searched his mind, “Um, some admiral was accused of developing it on an Oberth class ship.”
“Wouldn’t that violate the Treaty of Algeron?” asked Tang.
The Persian mused darkly, “I don’t think these people really care.”
“What people?” he rejoined.
“Nevermind that, Lieutenant,” said Aurelia. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Dismissed.”
Reluctantly, Tang left. Windslow went up to Aurelia, “Captain, it’s a well known secret there is something…odd about some of the things we do on this ship. Most ignore it, but I have a…personal interest in what is going on this time. Remember how Admiral Ross promised me a special assignment if I kept my mouth shut about…about what I did?”
She nodded, “I remember. Maybe we can talk about it later. For now…good work.”
The compliment took him back. “Thank you, Captain.” He decided not to press the issue and exited.
Karim shared an ominous look with Sintina.
She said, “I knew that son of a bitch wouldn’t go away that easy.”
*****
Stardate: 54521.3 (10 July 2377)
USS Independence, Captain’s Ready Room
En Route to Starbase 23
“Captain,” said Kimula’s voice, “you have an incoming message on a coded channel.”
She put down the maintenance report, “Fine.” She activated the computer. A blonde-haired human stared back at her. Her face was calmer than Sintina would expect her to be. “Admiral Nechayev,” she said by way of greeting.
“Captain Aurelia,” she began, “I’ve been informed of a problem with our last mission.”
More than a bit perturbed, she responded spitefully, “Yes sir, it turns out your informant was a spy for Section 31. At least, that’s what we suspect.”
“The real P’nav is obviously dead.” The admiral went on, “The fact that 31 has my name is to be expected. It was only a matter of time.” She added, almost motherly, “Don’t blame Karim too much. He had no way of knowing.”
“We found out something else,” offered Sintina, “We think the Philadelphia has an interphasic cloak.”
Nechayev’s reaction was neutral, “That doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure she’s now part of their shadow fleet.”
“Shadow fleet?”
“A fleet of ships with no Starfleet or Federation markings. Ships that don’t officially exist.”
Sintina shook her head as the ramifications hit her, “So Collins is more dangerous than ever.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed.
The captain took a moment, “So why did you call, Admiral?”
The middle-aged woman took a breath, “I wanted to thank you personally for all you’ve done. All you’ve tried to do. I know you don’t have as much faith in us as your first officer, but you’ve helped us more than you’ll ever know.”
Aurelia leaned in, “This is starting to sound like a good-bye, sir.”
“Of sorts,” she confirmed. She concluded, “I’m afraid I’m rather busy at the moment, Captain. So, I’ll simply say, Godspeed.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Nechayev out.”
She leaned back. The odd conversation got her thinking.
*****
Supplemental
Location Unknown
A narrow faced Romulan spoke to the agent with a silver tongue, “It was an unfortunate situation with P’nav. I should have told you about my plan to use him to expose the resistance cell before you had him killed.”
A dark-skinned human male responded evenly, “Yes, it would have been helpful, Koval.” He leaned back, “We were able to salvage the situation quite nicely, however.”
“I am pleased then.”
Morgan decided to bring up something else, if for no other reason than to gauge the Romulan’s reaction. “My infiltrator read a very interesting letter from P’nav to his first officer.”
Without missing a beat, Koval said, “Ah, yes. The story about the how the Federation was aiding a Reman revolt. Well, I had to tell P’nav something to properly motivate him. Why do you bring it up? There isn’t any truth to it is there?”
Slyly the 31 agent responded, “Of course not. You’re our man on Romulas. Anything we do in the Empire, we do through you.”
“And I would be equally foolish,” added Koval, “to subvert your efforts. I would have nothing to gain and everything to lose by going against your Directorate.”
Morgan stated, “I’m glad we’re in agreement, then.” He concluded with, “We’ll be in touch. Morgan out.” He closed the channel.
The agent got out of his seat and approached a large window overlooking the refit station. Held in the scaffolding was a Sovereign class ship. A machine was slowly passing over top of the saucer section. It was spraying the hull with a black pigment. It passed over the word “Philadelphia.”
END OF CHAPTER 16
END OF “BENEATH THE RAPTOR’S WINGS”
... 
Well done a terrific story.
