One last time, thank you so much for reading and commenting. Especially considering the 6 month gap.
I'd like to thank The Lone Redshirt for the use of the Bluefin and its crew.
The next story "Nadir" will pick up right where this one leaves off. The crew will be separated. It should allow for some interesting character work. Sintina especially, will finally start being at bit more tempered. It's getting redundant writing for her. It's time for her to grow up.
I don't foresee making you guys wait long for the next story.
Thanks again!
*****
EPILOUGE
Stardate: 54628.3 (18 Aug 2377)
USS Independence under Tow, Captain’s Ready Room
En Route to Starbase 17
“Captain’s Log: Stardate, 54628.3. We are now moving at warp six, thanks to the Bluefin. We’ll arrive at the starbase tomorrow…”
Captain Aurelia sat at her desk. The display showed the personnel KIA. She continued her log, “I’m not looking forward to writing thirty-four ‘sorry for you loss’ letters.” She glanced down and huffed softly, “As I’m sure family members aren’t looking forward to reading them.” She leaned back, “When we arrive at starbase, there will surely be a hearing about what happened. I don’t know what Starfleet will do to me.” The Latina sighed deeply, “I did what I thought was right at the time…small comfort.”
The door enunciator chimed.
“Computer, end log.” She faced the door, “Come in.”
The boarder cutter skipper walked in the now fully illuminated office. He started, “I’m sorry, Captain. I had Commander Strauss review our sensor logs, but she couldn’t find any hard evidence of that stealth ship you talked about. If we could go back maybe…” He let the sentence slide. There was no going back to the H’Kan system.
Sintina looked dejected. She stood and leaned against the window frame. She stared out absently.
“For what it’s worth,” Akinola said, “I believe you.”
She faced him, “Thank you, I…I think I needed to hear that.”
The elder captain gave a grandfatherly smile. It went away as he added, “I’ve had a run in or two with this ‘Section 31’ – the supposed guardians of the Federation. They’re very dangerous people.” He stepped closer and gazed out the same window Aurelia had looked out before, “They had my CMO, Calvin Baxter, killed. He was a dear friend.”
Both captains respected each other’s moment of silence.
Akinola spoke up, “You’re not involved with the counter movement, are you?”
“I…we were unintentionally sucked into it.”
He smirked, “Well, I can sympathize with that. A word of advice,” he offered, “don’t trust them, either.”
She nodded silently.
The skipper returned the gesture and moved to the exit. He stopped short and ended with, “If you ever need anything, call. Us pawns have to stick together.”
Sintina just barely managed a grin.
Akinola bowed slightly and left.
The captain returned to her chair. The face on the screen was that of bin Nadal’s. He was the one who got her involved in the counter 31 group in the first place. Had it not been for him, she might have a pretty respectable career.
In hindsight, he did do one thing for her: he opened her eyes. She didn’t care about politics or covert operations before. If Karim hadn’t taught her otherwise, she probably wouldn’t care about Section 31 and their tactics, even if she knew about them. Over the years, he had become her conscience. He had pulled her from the brink more than once. He had helped her to grow beyond just being a compliant soldier. Thanks to him, she was just now starting to truly understand being an obedient trooper and being a Starfleet officer were two entirely different things. From now on, she would have to do better, have to be better – for Karim and for herself. She would have to face those dark places inside her that she had ignored and buried for so many years. The thought chilled her to the bone, but she could do it. She would do it, to honor her friend. Karim wanted nothing else for her but to grow as a person.
She felt so ashamed of herself.
Kimula’s voice came over the speaker, “Captain, you have an incoming transmission from Captain Picard.”
She recovered from her brooding slightly, “Put him through.”
The balding man appeared on her screen, “Captain, I’ve heard what happened. My sympathies to your ship and crew.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
He went on, “We believe the Data imposter was another android made by Dr. Soong, named Lore. It is extremely distressing to know he has been reactivated and working with this shadowy group, no less. I promise you, Captain, I will do everything in my power to expose these people.”
She nodded absently, obviously not holding out much hope for his efforts.
Picard took a long breath and continued, “I was also informed of your…drastic attempts to confront the captain of that stealth ship.”
Aurelia wondered who on her crew had contacted him. She bet Windslow told LaForge and LaForge told Picard. She’d have to have a word with her chief engineer. At the moment, however, she felt a lecture coming on, “Captain, with all due…”
He benevolently put up a hand, “I succumbed to revenge myself once. It very nearly cost me my ship, my crew, and the whole future of humanity.”
This admission was not what Sintina was expecting.
“It took a very brave woman to call me out on it.” He grinned, “She reminds me a little of you, in fact.” He leaned back, “It took me a very long time to let go of that anger and hate. I’m still letting go.” The captain was lost in his own thoughts for a moment, “I called you to let you know, I understand how you must feel.” He leaned in, “And to ask you to not give in to vengeance. Nothing good will come of it, I promise you that.”
Surprisingly, Aurelia wasn’t offended by his words. Normally, she would have viewed it as an attack on her, but not today. She could only think to say, “I’ll do what I can.”
The conversation seemed to have stalled.
Picard curtsied and said, “Godspeed, Captain Aurelia.”
He went to end the transmission, when Sintina piped up, “Thank you, sir.”
He smiled slightly and the screen reverted to the Starfleet insignia.
THE END
