Prologue
Poseidon City
New Atlantis
Stardate 54690.3
Captain T’Mur stood on the roof of the Federation embassy and watched the city burn. The smell of burning flesh, polymers and metal was most unpleasant but it was omnipresent and would stay in the city until the storm came through in a few days. The storm would bring a welcome relief from the smell but it would severely hinder the rescue attempts that continued.
New Atlantis was a protectorate of the Federation and was in the process of becoming a member, at least until last week when the civil war broke out. T’Mur wondered why the rebellion had chosen to attack the government headquarters on the same day that the
Nietzsche had arrived in orbit to bring a diplomatic envoy.
‘Captain, as I’ve repeatedly told you, it was only a matter of time,’ the liaison told him as they stood on the rooftop.
‘Stating the same erroneous fact numerous times will not make it truthful,’ T’Mur replied. ‘I have studied every report on the rebellion from my people and yours, and I am convinced that the rebellion did not have the capacity to wage this kind of battle. They had outside help.’
The liaison officer shook his head vociferously. ‘The Free Atlantis movement would never accept any help from non-Humans.’
‘Precisely,’ T’Mur agreed. ‘Therefore, a human group must have aided them. My security chief has been checking the global communication network to see who may have been contacted by the rebels.’
‘Has he found anything?’
T’Mur nodded. ‘He has found a great deal of information, which is quite troubling. Hidden within numerous personal communiqués were messages intended for a human weapons dealer. A Starfleet vessel has been dispatched to arrest him in accordance with Federation law and we will know everything within a few days.’
‘Governor Reggorf will be overjoyed to hear that, Captain.’
‘I have already informed him of the situation,’ T’Mur replied. ‘What I require from you are the names of the traitors on my ship who assisted you to smuggle the weapons here?’
‘I have nothing to do with the rebellion,’ the liaison countered.
T’Mur turned to him for the first time. ‘I know you have been in contact with members of my crew, just as I am aware of the fact that Admiral Emerald Phillips arranged for the weapons to be delivered to your warehouse on the waterfront as soon as the
Nietzsche was in transporter range.’
The New Atlantean said nothing as two Poseidon City Militiamen stepped out of the shadows to take him into custody.
‘Give me the names of the traitors on my crew, please?’ T’Mur asked again.
‘Free Atlantis lives!’ the liaison said and clamped his mouth shut.
The explosion caused the roof to collapse and the two militiamen were killed instantly by falling debris. T’Mur was knocked off the building by the force of the explosion and landed outside the front entrance to the embassy as people came running out. His head faced the doors and he saw his executive officer staring at him. He tried to speak but he could not say anything, nor could he use a mind meld to impart the sensitive information to her as his arms were both broken. He saw her tap her combadge but he blacked out without hearing what it was.
***
Commander Nara Q’Rel stood by the surgical bed and watched as the man she idolized slipped away second by second. According to Doctor Tym, the physical damage was too severe to be repaired and there was excessive neural damage as well, making a recovery almost impossible. Tym had acceded to T’Mur’s recorded wishes that Nara be present in his final moments, but both women had no understanding as to why.
All of the readings flatlined and T’Mur’s body relaxed in death. Nara was about to leave when the lights in the small sickbay suddenly dimmed. She heard the unmistakable sound of a forcefield being erected and looked around for the source. A monitor to her left came to life and Captain T’Mur appeared. He was in his quarters but still in his uniform and she could see little else behind him.
‘
Commander Nara Q’Rel, if you are watching this recording, I have died before giving you sensitive information. Sickbay has been secured against listening devices of all kinds for the duration of this message.’ T’Mur’s image disappeared to be replaced by that of an older dark-skinned man with admiral bars. She recognized him as Terence Glover.
‘
Several months ago, Starfleet Command began construction on a starbase far from any shipping lanes and trade routes for the express purpose of amassing a fleet in secret. Over thirty vessels are being pulled from their normal duties across the Federation to arrive at Starbase Bastion within the next two or three weeks. Captain T’Mur, along with dozens of senior captains in Starfleet, was given a list of names from which to pick from. Your name was selected by several, including Picard, DeSoto, Benteen and Drake. Admiral Covey and I have discussed your record and we believe you are a suitable candidate for Task Force Vanguard.
‘
You will be more fully briefed when you arrive at Starbase Bastion, but for now I will give you a brief overview. Some decades or centuries ago, something happened deep in the Delta Quadrant that forced dozens of alien races to flee their homes in whatever ships they could. As they travelled, they displaced other races and so on. This domino effect will soon reach the Nyberrite Alliance if it hasn’t already, and Starfleet needs to prepare. Vanguard is the opening thrust of that endeavor, to reach the advancing nomads and establish relations with them before the Klingons, Romulans, Tholians, Breen or Cardassians learn of them.
‘
The Nietzsche
does not fit the mission profile for Task Force Vanguard and I have been given the authority by Admiral Brandies to offer you a promotion. Please report to the Charis Shipyards in orbit of Vulcan as soon as time permits. You will be given further instructions once you arrive.’
T’Mur reappeared on the screen. ‘
The activation of this message caused a signal to be sent along with our most recent log entries. You will be contacted within twelve hours. Live long and prosper, Commander Nara Q’Rel.’
Tears filled Nara’s eyes at the farewell but she wiped them away just as the forcefield fell and two security officers entered with Doctor Tym.
‘Are you all right, Commander?’
‘I will be. Prepare the captain’s body for stasis. We’ll return him to Vulcan as soon as possible.’
‘You can go now,’ Tym told the security officers and then turned back to Nara. ‘Aren’t we staying here to help with the clean-up? Isn’t that what the captain ordered?’
‘Doctor, please don’t ask any more questions,’ Nara told her. ‘I can’t tell you what’s going on.’
Tym looked at her with a baleful glaze. ‘Fine, but I’ll be reporting this usurping of my sickbay to Starfleet Medical.’
‘Go ahead,’ Nara replied and walked out of sickbay, leaving her captain’s body behind.
Her thoughts were consumed with grief, anger and curiosity. What ship was she going to command?’
Not that there's anything wrong with that. 
