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USS PYTHEAS (Dauntless Repost)

Chapter Sixteen

USS Independence
New Resoto
Stardate 55343.2 (May 6, 2378)

Captain Sintina Aurelia ground her teeth as the foul-smelling canine aliens growled and barked at each other in the conference lounge aboard her ship. Since the genocide on their homeworld, the remaining Resoto had returned to ancient tradition and reformed their hunting packs. While Captain Logan, on the orders of Admiral Ranar, had tasked her with making sure that the rest of the Resoto weren't wiped out by the Cha'lav, she thought that this mission would be best served by getting them to work together. It wasn't as easy as it had seemed at first and Lieutenant Kimula was smirking in the corner. Bin Nadal was doing his duty as exec on the bridge—and complaining about sitting around—while she was trying to herd the packs into a mutually-beneficial treaty.

'Enough!' she bellowed and even Kimula's smirk vanished. 'What is wrong with all of you? Do you really think that the Cha'lav care if you hunt in packs or individually? Do you think they will save the stronger packs? They don't and they won't. Their only goal is to finish the job they started. If you don't work together they will kill you all and there will be no Resoto to continue your traditions. In a few centuries no one will even remember your race.'

'You would say that, Starfleet. You are no match for the Cha'lav in this puny vessel and you will be the first to be destroyed.'

Sintina smiled and Kimula recognised it as trouble. She pushed off from the corner to aid the Resoto leader against her own captain but Sintina held up her hand, motioning for the counsellor to stay where she was. 'I may be destroyed, but I will have died protecting you and fulfilling my mission in the eyes of my superiors. Whether you want to protect yourselves against such a threat is quite frankly immaterial to me, I will do my duty. I had hoped that you would recognise the fact that your very existence is in danger of being destroyed, but since you don't care you can all get off my ship and return to your packs.'

Two security guards who had stood by the doors stepped forward to escort the Resoto pack leaders back to the transporter room when the red alert klaxons sounded. 'Captain Aurelia to the bridge,' bin Nadal called with urgency in his voice.

Aurelia left the security guards to do their jobs and almost sprinted for the bridge. She skidded to a stop when the doors parted and she saw the image on the viewscreen. 'Raise the shields as soon as the Resoto are off the ship. Send a message to Starbase 535 and advise them that a spatial rift has opened at New Resoto.'

'Signal sent,' Lieutenant Jonin Faltyne, the tactical officer replied. 'Phasers and torpedoes are standing by.'

'Why the hell didn't we detect it with the sensor modifications?'

'Spatial rifts are notorious for playing havoc with sensors,' bin Nadal answered. 'All the Resoto are off the ship. They're moving away into a defensive position around the planet.'

'Leaving us as the first line of defence,' Aurelia muttered.

Bin Nadal glanced at the dedication plaque. 'We are the ones we've been waiting for,' he murmured.

Aurelia turned to face the plaque. 'I wish we could have kept our own dedication.'

'This will have to do,' bin Nadal and turned to face the viewscreen. His narrowed to slits and he turned to his commanding officer.

Aurelia nodded.

'Open a channel to the Cha'lav fleet.'

'Channel open.'

'This is Commander bin Nadal of the Federation starship Independence. This is sovereign territory of the Resoto. Leave now and you will be spared. There will be no further warning.'

Aurelia smiled. 'What happened to diplomacy?'

'This is gunboat diplomacy.'

'No response from the Cha'lav.'

'We're not going to be the first to open fire. We'll act in self defence only.'

'Incoming!' Faltyne yelled as the ship bucked. 'Shields are at ninety-six percent.'

Bin Nadal turned to Aurelia. 'Captain?'

'They were warned. Return fire, all weapons. Aim for their weapons and engines. Ensign Weston, get us in range to do significant damage.'

'Aye sir; engaging evasive manoeuvre Weston-six.'

'He comes highly recommended,' Aurelia told her exec when he looked up in surprise.

The Independence headed straight for the lead Cha'lav cruiser, spiralling wildly as it got close and then the phasers and torpedoes were loosed, impacting the enemy shields at a consistent barrage.'

'Their shields are weakening, and we're too close for their weapons to do any damage.'

'Receiving an incoming message, from the Resoto,' bin Nadal said in surprise.

'Let's hear it.'

'Captain, I thank you on behalf of the Resoto Council. We will protect our new homeworld.'

'With all due respect, Councillor, it is my mission to protect you lest the Cha'lav succeed in killing the rest of you.'

The Resoto leader laughed. 'I thank you for your concern but as you can see, we have some help.'

'Captain, I'm reading six Ynelavii vessels approaching at high warp,' Faltyne said with surprise. 'And eleven more vessels of various sizes, all unidentified.'

'Well I'll be,' Aurelia muttered as the Ynelav ships dropped out of warp. 'I guess the military aren't dealing with the coup directly. Back us off, but not too far. We should remain on station in case we're needed.'

'The Ynelavii seem to have things in hand,' bin Nadal said as two Cha'lav vessels—one of which they had severely dented the shields on—exploded. 'The Cha'lav have no idea what hit them.'

'The Cha'lav are learning about cooperation. I just hope that some are left alive to take the results back home.'

'It looks like you might be getting your wish, Captain,' Weston replied at the helm. 'The rift is closing and the remaining ships are retreating.'

'You got through to them,' Kimula said.

Aurelia looked at the counsellor. 'Maybe, but I think they realised that they had to band together to defeat a common enemy. When the Cha'lav have been defeated they may well go back to their old ways.'

'Perhaps, but for now it looks like the Ynelavii Cooperative just gained another member,' Kimula replied.

'Score one for Starfleet,' Weston said dryly.
 
Chapter Seventeen

Starfleet staging ground
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55343.8 (May 6, 2378)

Ensign T'Larr, one of only two Vulcans aboard the Weisskopf, had been chosen for this ill-conceived mission because of two reasons; she was the exobiologist on board the small starship and her physique was close to that of the general populace of Ynelav. She'd vocalised her objections to the mission and her objections had been noted and ignored, which was not unusual. Most humanoid species did not like being told when they were wrong or choosing the wrong path. Captain Dhrex wanted to learn more about the Ynelavii and since he had been ordered to stay off world during the civil war he could not, and as such had therefore resorted to subterfuge. This planet was totally unlike Vulcan in that it had excessive amounts of rainfall, especially in the area chosen for their primary base – on the slopes of the largest mountain range on the continent. In the last seven days they had ventured into the local village and learned that while the coup had been successful, loyalists were fighting back and the people were being slowly swayed by the loyalist propaganda machine. Starfleet might be officially back within the week, she privately mused.

T'Larr glanced at her companions as they moved closer to the cave mouth that was a secret entrance to the reliquary which held Ynelav's most sacred relics. Chief Banks and Crewman Chan were both dressed as she was in muted tunics the colour of dust which hid her true form. They had originally dressed as peasants but since T'Larr decided to enter the reliquary, they had acquired the robes of acolytes so that they might move freely among the tyros and priests. It was bad enough that they were on this world with minimal backup, but worst of all was the fact that they could not even bring their tricorders, only their communicators, so reading any scrolls written more than five or six thousand years ago would prove difficult at best. Lieutenant Renn provided with a full translation of everything she managed to create before the coup and T'Larr spent the night before the mission going over it line by line. She now believed herself fully conversant in the old language—up to six thousand years ago. Crewman James Chan was taking point and halted just inches from the cave mouth.

He held up his hand and T'Larr stopped immediately. Banks stopped a fraction of a second later, but not before bumping into the Vulcan. Chan's eyesight was far more suited to the dusty cavern, having spent much of his life in the caves of Mars, and it was for this reason alone that T'Larr allowed him to take point. His reliance on old military hand signals was bizarre but they seemed to work, marginally better than the Starfleet ones—she would have to inform her superiors of this, since Starfleet seemed to be more and more involved in ground combat these past few years—even to the point of resurrecting the Starfleet Marine Corps of a century ago specifically for that purpose. Chan disappeared into the cave and then emerged a few moments later.

'We'll be safe inside, the Militia loyal to Furan have herded the priests and everyone else into a holding centre back in the village.'

'Is it likely they will escape and return to the reliquary?'

'Not unless they have help from the Loyalists, but from what I've seen the Loyalists are having enough trouble just holding on to their lives.'

T'Larr raised an eyebrow. 'The rebellion is winning?' she asked, surprised at how humans had the ability to capitalise words and bring that out in their annunciation of said word.

'For the moment.'

'The Seer is the only person on Ynelav who can prevent the rebellion from winning,' the Vulcan replied.

'How so?' Banks asked.

'According to Ynelavii legend, the Seer will unite all the people of Ynelav under a common banner. Perhaps our investigations in the reliquary will provide us with the answer we need to assist them.'

'What happened to “this is an ill-conceived mission”?'

'This is an ill-conceived mission but that does not mean that it cannot be a success.'

'That's the spirit, T'Larr!' Chan said in a whisper.

'We'd better get started if we want to be out of here before the priests get free, with or without the Loyalists' help,' Banks said.

'You think they might?' Chan asked, his expression suddenly crestfallen.

'The Bajorans did without any outside help.'

'Other than the Prophets.'

'Hmm,' T'Larr responded, thinking of an interesting paper she could write on that very subject. 'Let us proceed.'

Chan led the way into the cave system and she followed him with Banks taking up the rear through several passageways and caverns until they reached the main reliquary, where thousands of sacred artefacts were stored on shelves and in powered cases of some kind.

'Their level of technology is impressive,' T'Larr said, 'considering how they choose to display their technology.'

'This is not their technology,' Banks said and T'Larr turned to look.

There was a computer console in the corner of the room which was eminently familiar to them, but quite unfamiliar at the same time. Of the three, only T'Larr knew what she was looking at and made a mental note to contact the Weisskopf as soon as they left the cavern. A theory was developing that might explain the technological advancement in some areas and not in others, precisely the same areas as another race in the Alpha Quadrant. A closer inspection of the cases revealed that they too were constructed of the same alloy from which the console was.

'How long has all this been here?' Chan asked.

'I would rather ask the question, what is it doing here?' Banks muttered.

'Approximately three centuries,' T'Larr answered. 'I cannot answer your query as to what this technology is doing in this place, although it might explain why Subcommander Sokal has been enjoying the hospitality of Starbase 535.'

'Why do you say that?' Chan asked.

'What you see are the remains of a Romulan warbird, a quantum reading of -230306, the Earth year 2092, prior to Earth's first encounter with them.'
 
Chapter Eighteen

Space Ministry
Xyril City
Stardate 55344.5 (May 6, 2378)

Deputy Commissioner Dreno'L smiled in smug satisfaction as the human freighter captain and his friend arrived with his cargo. The parts were going to be used to build a prototype space vehicle capable of taking a Xyrillian anywhere he or she wanted to go without the use of the engines that the species had used for the last two centuries. Their own warp propulsion was still primitive and the scientists on the homeworld were reluctant to upgrade it because it did work. The only problem was that it broke down far too often and the Xyrillian crew had to covertly or overtly hitch rides in order to get the engines working again. As his assistant ushered Miles Murdoch and Paul Marshall into the office, Dreno'L saw a young girl holding the Murdoch's hand. She looked to be about ten years old, although he knew that was subjective, since different species matured at different speeds.

'Mister Murdoch, I'm so glad you were able to procure my merchandise. The gold-pressed latinum is being transferred to your ship as we speak.'

'Your merchandise is being taken to the hangar as you requested,' Murdoch replied, eyeing the Xyrillian with suspicion.

'You didn't need to come here to tell me that.'

'Did you know that this little girl was on board still?'

'I thought all had perished, or so the last report stated. I will speak with the patrol captain.'

Murdoch smiled. 'There's no need for that, Commissioner. You and I both know what happened aboard that ship a few months ago.'

Dreno'L kept his face neutral as Murdoch told him a story, no doubt from the little girl's perspective, about a group of raiders attacking the ship and killing its crew when they refused to cooperate. He looked at the girl, such a slip of a thing, and realised that neither she nor Murdoch would be a problem if his plan made it to fruition. The girl tugged at Murdoch's tunic and he stopped telling the story, kneeling down for her to whisper into his ear.

'Linnis thinks that you're putting a bomb on board my ship. Are you?'

Dreno'L knew his face betrayed him and could do nothing about it when he saw the realisation on the human's face.

'She's the real reason you wanted me to get those parts isn't she? You knew there was a survivor and you knew that she wouldn't let any of your men near her. So you hired me to do your dirty work.'

'Very astute,' the Commissioner replied, abandoning his pretence. 'Since you know about the bomb I suppose you'll call the authorities. I must warn you, they will ignore you after a cursory examination reveals nothing.'

'Linnis has some very interesting gifts, Commissioner,' Murdoch replied. 'Somehow I doubt that I'll be having any trouble from you.'

'What can that little thing do?' he sneered.

'What were you planning to do with us?' a voice said behind him and he turned to face an adult female who looked like Linnis and wore a military uniform of some kind.

'Who are you? How did you get in here?'

'Did you want our ship? Our minds? What was it you heard about us?' another voice said, this one male, as he advanced on the commissioner.

'I wasn't going to do anything with you,' he answered, scrabbling backward. 'It was all the patrol captain's fault.'

'What was?' the woman asked as she walked toward him.

'Our engines are out of date, we needed something new. Your minds can help us!' he said, trying to regain his dignity as the two soldiers continued to advance from different directions. 'You would have been handsomely rewarded.'

'I think he's had enough, Linnis,' Murdoch said as Dreno'L sank to the floor and began moaning.

'He's a bad man,' the Ocampan replied.

'Yes, he is,' Murdoch agreed. 'But if you hurt him, you become just like him. Your parents wouldn't want that, would they?'

Linnis looked up at him and shook her head.

The apparitions vanished and Dreno'L looked up. 'What happened?'

'I told you she had some interesting gifts.'

'Then I will use her for the ship!' he said, regaining his equilibrium.

'How? What exactly can the Ocampa do?'

'Their minds are so powerful. They can guide me anywhere, and they can do it fast.'

'How do you know that?'

'One of my colleagues found a ship adrift and experimented on them,' the commissioner replied as he returned to his desk. 'I'm just continuing his work.'

'Not anymore you're not. I'll tell the police here everything you've just told me.'

'You won't get that far,' he said and pulled a Klingon disruptor pistol from his desk.

'Linnis, I think we should leave.'

'I can hurt the pistol,' she replied, looking up at Murdoch.

'How?'

'Like this.'

Nothing happened.

'Hah!' Dreno'L replied and pressed the firing stud.

Nothing happened.

'Goodbye, Commissioner,' Murdoch headed for the door.

'Security!' Dreno'L called. Two Xyrillians reached the doors as Murdoch did.
'Arrest them,' he added, waving the disruptor around.

The Xyrillians raised their own pistols and pointed them at the Commissioner.

'These people are unarmed, Commissioner. Were you going to shoot them?'

'It's not working, an antique, see,' he retorted and shot the guard in the chest.

As the first guard collapsed with a smouldering burn, the second fired at the commissioner.

Linnis buried her face in Murdoch's leg, crying.

'I can hear him dying,' she said of the guard.

'So can I,' Murdoch replied. 'Come on, I want you to meet some friends of mine who can help you.'

'Sir, please wait. We need to take statements from you both.'

'You can take a statement from me, not from her,' he replied gently. 'She's already traumatised from the loss of her parents.'

The guard nodded and pulled out a padd. 'Where are you based?'

'Starbase 535, and I shall be heading directly there once we are finished. You will find a number of parts from her parents' ship in the hangar where my ship is berthed, the Gilgamesh. I was hired to steal them by the Commissioner for use in what I gather was an illegal project.'

The guard said nothing as he took all the information down. 'Everything's going to be all right,' he said to the girl. 'You can leave now, Mister Murdoch. I'll deal with this. Thank you for your cooperation.'
 
Chapter Nineteen

USS Pytheas
Kursican Triangle
Stardate 55345.1 (May 6, 2378)

Captain Astar knew that the recovered hull fragment was important in some way, but she wasn't sure how. Even if she took the nonsense about the twenty-second century's temporal cold war at face value, there was no way she was going to believe that the Cha'lav had been pulling the strings. It was just as likely that wherever their homeworld was, in whatever galaxy it was in, had this alloy in abundant supply or was manufactured by their space industry. Though the Astar symbiont had lived several lifetimes, and had the collective memories of those lifetimes, Leza knew that there was much she didn't know. This compelled her to learn, and right now her entire complement of science personnel was working on one of two problems. The first was the hull fragment, but the second was the most important to her. The Onizuka's sensors had picked up something but the resulting visuals were too distorted. It was these visuals that the science team and the engineers were working on, and had been for some time. The Pytheas was holding position at the edge of what had been the debris field until Astar was certain that whatever the shuttle's sensors picked up was not harmful to them in any way.

'Captain, you may cease hovering,' Mahtani said with an almost Vulcan tone. 'We've cleared up the distortions as best we can. Watch this.'

Astar's eyes widened as she saw the images on the screen. 'Is that what I think it is?'

'Yes sir, it is,' Mahtani replied, sitting at the science console on the bridge, forward of the Ops console. 'It is the same creature we believe destroyed the Cha'lav fleet. Our “subspace shark.”'

'What of the data? Have you been able to reconstruct it?'

The science officer nodded. 'The creature which the Onizuka picked up is smaller than the one we detected, about a third of the size, but still almost a kilometre long.'

'A baby?'

'Probably, but we can't be a hundred percent sure without further analysis.'

'Does the creature pose a danger to the ship?'

'I don't believe so, but I recommend not exceeding warp four while in the Triangle. Any faster than that and the creature will be drawn to our subspace wake.'

'Very well,' she said and turned toward the helm. 'Larson, set a course for the far side of the Triangle, warp three point seven.'

'Aye sir, three point seven; course laid in.'

'Engage.'

'Captain, I believe there is a growing problem within the Triangle,' Gonzales said.

'Go on,' Astar replied.

'I've been getting updated readings of the subspace topography from Commander Wright in astrometrics and I believe I have found a reason why the Cha'lav chose this sector as their staging ground.'

'Well?'

'The Cha'lav vessels seem to be more at home in subspace and this allows them to travel between galaxies much faster than they could in normal space, due to the subspace eddies. The Kursican Triangle has a very weak barrier between normal space and subspace and this allowed the Cha'lav to break through easily. Because of the complicated topography, it also means that the Triangle's subspace regions are coiled like a DNA protein string, curving in and around itself, so that where tears or ripples occur, we're likely to get plasma storms.'

'Oh,' Mahtani added in response.

'Is that a problem?' Astar asked, not being of a scientific bent.

'Yes sir, it means that if the barrier weakens enough, we'll get a giant subspatial rift, something typical of a subspace weapon much like what caused the Tomed Incident, but on a much larger scale. This entire sector could be ripped asunder.'

'Is there any way to repair the barrier?'

'We could, but we'd be sacrificing the shark's species to death. It might live in subspace, but it needs to emerge in normal space every now and then, like a dolphin.'

'Alright, putting aside the fact that we might be sentencing a species to extinction, can you find a way of repairing the barrier in the Triangle? Once you've worked that out, perhaps you can work out a way to save the sharks as well.'

'It is possible that the plasma storms could do our jobs for us.'

'In what way?'

'We could deliberately open the weakest points and then, because the plasma needles are drawn to them, they would kind of suture the tear closed. It would stabilise the region and still leave enough weak points for the sharks to emerge. One possible reason for the major weak points could be the Cha'lav presence opening their rifts, both inside and outside of the Triangle.'

'I like it, set up a way of doing so and bring me a solution by the end of the day. The sooner we reach Eeroth, the better for all of us.'

'Aye sir,' Mahtani and Gonzales said.

'We'll need to coordinate with astrometrics to find the weakest points,' Mahtani added.

'Get on it,' Astar ordered. As her tactical and science officers entered the turbolift, Astar had a sudden thought and asked them to wait. 'How can we detect these weak points?'

'Tetryon particles only exist in subspace. They become erratic and unstable when in normal space. Since the Enterprise-D and Voyager had run-ins with several subspace phenomena, both shields and sensors were enhanced to detect and protect against them,' Gonzales answered. 'If we detect a large concentration of tetryon particles, we know we've found a weak spot.'

'Helm, find us some tetryons,' Astar ordered as the turbolift doors closed on her officers.

She stared at the viewscreen and wondered whether anything they did here would make a difference. Although they had been dealing the Cha'lav serious blows, it didn't seem to make any difference. They just kept coming. She was beginning to think that the only way to prevent this war from occurring was to either destroy every Cha'lav ship that appeared in the galaxy (which wasn't going to be easy if they appeared outside allied space) or to take the battle to them and enter their own territory—perhaps even convincing them that this galaxy didn't pose a threat, but she couldn't see that happening, not anymore.
 
Chapter Twenty

Observation Deck
Starbase 535
Stardate 55345.7 (May 7, 2378)

Miles Murdoch sat in one of the comfortable chairs placed in groups of two to four dotted across this section of the observation deck that ringed the top of the starbase. With her hands on the windows, Linnis stared out at the vista spread before and neither noticed Captain Logan until he sat down beside the Intelligence officer. Murdoch tore his gaze away from his new charge and glanced at the starbase's commander.

'They said no?'

'Actually, they said yes, with one proviso.'

'Which is?'

'That you let Admiral Janeway speak with her on Earth when you get back.'

'Why would she want to speak with her?'

'Janeway had an Ocampa on board Voyager for three years.'

'I thought I was the last of my kind,' Linnis said and climbed into Murdoch's lap.

'Hundreds of your people live across the other side of the galaxy,' Logan told her, 'but we don't know how to get you there.'

The young girl looked thoughtful for a moment and then shrugged. 'I don't need to go there. Miles will look after me.'

Murdoch smiled. 'Am I required back on Earth immediately?'

Logan shook his head. 'There was no time frame specified. I would like you here as my eyes and ears on the frontier. With the Pytheas off on a humanitarian mission and the Weisskopf watching the Ynelavii civil war, I have only the Independence watching for Cha'lav encroachment, along with the Romulans and Klingons. I need someone to tell me what the colonies are thinking, and since you'll be heading out that way tomorrow, I think you can do that job for me.'

'What's happening with the Cha'lav?'

'They seem to be using this sector as a staging ground for a war against our galaxy. I don't know why this particular region of space, but I do know that we can't allow them to gain a foothold in the quadrant like the Dominion did. The Cha'lav are far worse and from the information we've been able to decrypt from their database, they have done this in several other galaxies and been entirely successful. I'd like to see them lose for once.'

Murdoch nodded, making a mental of everything for his employer. 'If word got out to their other subject worlds, it might foment rebellion. A concerted effort on so many fronts would weaken them to the point of impotency.'

'A good plan, I'll suggest it to Admiral Ranar.'

Murdoch looked down and saw that Linnis had fallen asleep.

'Maybe you should get her to bed,' Logan suggested.

Murdoch lifted the slight young girl from his lap. 'I think that's a good idea. Once she's in bed I'll oversee the loading of the Gilgamesh.'

'She might wonder where you are if she wakes up. If her telepathic abilities are as strong as you say, we might not want her broadcasting too loudly.'

'She seems to have a large measure of control.'

'You should know that she is not like other Ocampa. Admiral Janeway has had the opportunity to study her blood work with Voyager's EMH who's now at the Federation Research Institute.'

'What did they find?'

'Standard Ocampa lifespans are eight to nine years, but according to hers, her expected lifespan is almost triple that.'

Linnis stirred slightly but settled against Murdoch's shoulder. 'Is there any reason for that?'

'None that they could detect in her genetic structure. Her people haven't been genetically engineered, but their mental abilities might go some way to explaining that.'

'What am I taking to the colonies?' Murdoch asked, changing the subject to something more palatable.

'Weapons,' the commander replied and Logan sighed. 'If the Cha'lav land ground troops, I want the colonies ready to defend themselves. Every freighter that docks here will be loaded with weapons and emergency supplies.'

'So we're preparing for a war? I thought all that was behind us?'

'So did I, Mister Murdoch, so did I.'

'I just hope that Captain Astar can do what she set out to do, whatever that is.'

Logan glanced around but realised they were still mostly alone in this corner of the deck. 'Astar is returning an alien to his people and hoping that she can do so before the Cha'lav have a chance to destroy his homeworld as they did to the Resoto.'

'If she fails?'

'Then the Cha'lav have a foothold. She can't fail.'

'Where did she go?'

'Through the Kursican Triangle.'

'I've heard bad stories about that place.'

'So have I, but it is the only route to reach the alien's homeworld.'

'Let us hope that she's able to complete her mission and get back here before the Cha'lav decide to attack us.'

'I would think that that possibility is some time off. They don't have any allies in this part of space and the few ships that they have sent have been destroyed or crippled.'

'Score one for us. All they would have to do is open a large enough rift and sent a big fleet through, unless there's a limit to the size.'

'I'll have my science team take a look at the database and see if they can figure that out.'

'Good idea, I'll get back to my job,' Murdoch replied and headed towards his quarters.

As he carried Linnis, who was fairly light considering her size, he thought about what his life would have been like had he not been chosen by Admiral Nechayev straight from the Academy for intelligence work. He graduated third in his class and would have had the pick of any assignment in the fleet. Knowing his proclivities he would have chosen a post on a remote world that may once have been home to another race, since archaeology was his first love. He decided on Starfleet as a career only because he wanted to know more about the universe, but he had found a home among people as like-minded as himself.

He entered his quarters and saw Paul asleep. Placing Linnis gingerly on the couch in their shared quarters, he stripped off and joined his lover in bed, thinking happy thoughts.
 
Chapter Twenty-One

Operation Cobalt Headquarters
Utopia Planitia
Stardate 55345.9 (May 7, 2378)

Admiral Andrew Ranar felt restrained as he waited for his shuttle to reach Berth 1864. He needed to pace to release the pent up energy that being an admiral caused. He sometimes thought that accepting the promotion was a mistake, but the losses to the Admiralty from the Breen attack were still keenly felt and he was a good tactician. He was asked to take over a particularly sensitive mission that Starfleet Command had named “Cobalt” for some obscure reason and he had read all the classified files on the Cha'lav.
It wasn't much.

From a time-travelling lieutenant to an invasion from beyond the galaxy, it all sounded like a bad holonovel but the reports that kept flooding in from the Kursican sector assured him that this was not so. The Cha'lav were a dangerous enemy, to be sure, but if Command granted his wish then he was sure that Starfleet would be assured victory, unlike their future counterparts who were most likely all dead or knew nothing because of the changes in the timeline. He had a rudimentary knowledge of time travel and what he didn't know he had learned from those that did. Even the smallest changes in the past could lead to catastrophic results in the future but in this case, that was a good thing. The Federation of the future had all but collapsed because of a prolonged centuries-long war with the Cha'lav and in a last-ditch effort to stave off disaster, they had sent a woman back through time to prevent the enemy from gaining their foothold.

Unfortunately, someone else had also travelled back and while the Andorian was currently being hunted both covertly and overtly by Starfleet and the Federation, there was no way to know what damage she had already wrought. Ranar hoped that if Captain Astar could deal the Cha'lav a bad enough blow, it would give Lieutenant Parker time to concentrate her efforts on finding the Andorian and stopping her before the present became as bleak as the future.

The shuttle finally landed in the small bay at the rear of the rectangular berth and Ranar quickly strode toward the hangar at its centre. Sixteen hours ago, he had been on a shuttle heading for Vulcan for a conference with the head of the V'Shar when he was called back by Fleet Admiral Nechayev, the woman nominally in charge of this little endeavour. Ranar entered the hangar and smiled at what he saw. About twenty Corps of Engineers personnel were busy poring over the alien vessel, hoping to learn everything they could about it before Starfleet decided what to do with it.

'It's a sight, isn't it?'

'It certainly is,' Ranar replied. 'I take it you didn't call me here to show me the ship I know so well?'

Nechayev shook her head. 'I called you back because the engineers have the Gateway working.'

'I thought it was destroyed?'

'It was, but using the knowledge from the Gateways crisis and the Enterprise's mission some years previous, they were able to reconstruct the chamber. The engines work and the consoles are being swapped out for Starfleet tech across the ship. It should be ready in about six months.'

'Why so long?'

'The Corps want to test everything before they let it go. There is still so much about them that we have no idea about. And getting the Starfleet and Cha'lav databases to work together is probably going to take the longest. They're having trouble getting main power to stay online for more than an hour at a time with both databases working.'

'Does that mean that Command have given us the go ahead?'

'Not yet, they're still debating the finer points with the security council and the President is weighing in as well.'

'You don't like her much do you?'

'No, I think her stances on almost everything are too black and white. Fel Pagro is well suited to her.'

'Oh yes, the special emissary. Who would you rather held the post?'

'To be honest, I don't know. I wasn't that keen on any of the candidates at the time, but hopefully we'll get someone new shortly. I don't think Satie is well liked enough to get re-elected.'

'When will we know whether we have the green light?'

'That's a good question. I'm hoping we get the nod before she's ready to go so she can be tested by the people that are going to command her.'

'I wanted to talk to you about that.'

'Oh?'

'I think that Astar's command crew should take the ship into Cha'lav territory.'

'Why?'

'Because they know the Cha'lav better than anyone.'

'Doesn't that make them too close? As long as Parker is along with whoever goes, I don't think it's an issue.'

'Sisko and his crew knew the Dominion better than anyone and they were successful in their mission behind enemy lines.'

Janeway considered that for a moment and nodded. 'I think we should suggest that on a united front to Edward.'

Ranar smiled. 'Edward? Are we on first name terms with the Commander-in-Chief now?'

'Fleet Admiral Jellico is one of the keenest minds in the Federation. He accepted the position after Satie was made President so that he could run interference. Well, that's what he said, anyway.'

'I see.'

'They're old friends and he still has Satie's ear, which makes him more likely to convince her than anyone else. The Security Council should make up their own minds but because so much of this operation is classified they'll go along with whatever Satie decides.'

'And she'll go along with the C-in-C?'

'Exactly.'

Ranar smiled.

His aim of taking the battle to the Cha'lav on their own turf was brave and had its share of risks, but if any of their subject races knew what was happening they might rise up as well and join in the fight. No empire can fight a war on several fronts and come out victorious, especially not one as vast as the Cha'lav empire.
 
Chapter Twenty-Two

USS Pytheas
Kursican Triangle
Stardate 55348.2 (May 8, 2378)

Over the last two days, while the starship had traversed the Triangle, the crew had worked tirelessly to find a way to dissipate the region's intense plasma storms and save the subspace shark. Ensign Daniel Larson kept one eye on the readouts as course correction information was fed to him by Commander Wright in astrometrics due to the subspace topography. He made another correction and the Pytheas veered to port seconds before a rift opened. A plasma needle pushed through before being cut off as the rift closed.

'That was too close, Ensign,' Astar said, emerging from her ready room.

'Yes sir, this particular region has the weakest barrier we've encountered so far. It would be a prime target to test our hypothesis.'

'Slow to impulse,' Astar ordered and Larson did so. 'Mahtani, you ready?'

'Yes sir,' the science officer answered from astrometrics. 'Engaging deflector dish now.'

Although they couldn't see the beam itself, Gonzales had overlaid a tactical plot on the main viewscreen of what the beam was doing. Inset at various places were smaller screens with information scrolling down regarding the weaknesses of local space and the strength of the beam.

'We have a rift forming,' Gonzales said. 'According to my scans the other side is in the plasma storms at the edge of the Triangle.'

'How long before the rift is open enough?' Wright asked in a bored tone as he returned to the bridge.

Ignoring Wright, Gonzales replied. 'We have to open the rift all the way, like cutting a leg open to remove a thorn before the suturing can begin.'

'How long?' Wright asked again, sounding impatient.

'Another three minutes.'

'Plasma needles are coming through,' Larson said.

'Hold position,' Astar ordered. 'Shields to maximum.'

'The beam is now penetrating the subspace interfold layer. We're almost there,' Mahtani added.

Plasma needles struck the Pytheas full on and the bridge shuddered, the lights flickering on and off as the structural integrity field tried to hold the ship in one piece.

'Hull breach on deck six, no injuries. Forcefields are holding and emergency teams are en route.'

'Mahtani?' Astar asked, sounding impatient herself.

'Disengaging deflector beam, recommend you pull us back to a safe distance.'

'You don't say,' Wright muttered but only Astar heard him.

'You heard him, Ensign, take us to one million kilometres from the rift.'

'Aye sir, reversing course.'

Plasma needles were now emerging fast and were indeed hugging the edge of the rift, as if they were trying to pull it back into subspace.

'Captain, I'm picking up something,' Gonzales said, entering commands at a feverish pace.

'What is it?'

'It looks like the creature again, with its young.'

'On screen.'

The viewscreen magnified to a point at the centre of the rift where the child was trying to ride a plasma needle and the mother was attempting to prevent it from doing so.

'What's happening?'

'It would appear that the child is trying to reach normal space and its mother won't allow it.'

'Why?'

'Perhaps the child cannot survive in normal space and the mother knows that the rift won't stay open for long.'

'How long before it collapses?'

'Another ten minutes at its current rate.'

'I'm picking up two more lifeforms,' Gonzales said. 'More young sharks.'

'Can she manage all three?' Larson asked.

'Probably not through a rift this size,' Talen chimed in.

Astar turned to him. 'Care to explain, Lieutenant?'

'The rifts we have previously seen were less than a tenth this size, large enough for a mother and its young to enter for a breather, so to speak. This one is too large for her to adequately protect her children. She may need our help.'

'It's not our place to interfere,' Wright said forcefully.

'It will be our fault if any of them die,' Talen shot back, his antennae pointing forward in agitation at the executive officer.

'I understand your argument, Lieutenant. But we're doing this to protect her species. If she loses one but the other two survive, those are acceptable odds.'

'I think we're about to lose those odds, Captain,' Gonzales interjected. 'I'm picking up six vessels approaching from subspace. Their energy signatures match the Cha'lav scouts we've encountered before.'

'Ready weapons.'

'They're not on course for us, Captain,' the Betazoid looked up, horrified. 'They are closing on the sharks.'

'Take us in, as close as you dare.'

'Aye sir,' Larson replied.

As the Pytheas moved closer to the shrinking rift, one of the shark pups emerged fully from subspace and swam around the plasma needles. The other two tried to follow but the mother kept them at bay. Five of the Cha'lav scouts began herding the sharks back into the interfold layer between subspace and normal space while the other one headed for the wayward youngster.

'Gonzales, watch that scout, the moment it does anything, fire.'

'My pleasure,' she replied with what Astar hoped was not malicious glee, though she couldn't much fault her tactical officer for it.

The scout did not fire on the helpless youngster but tried to snare it with a net that reminded Astar of the Tholian webs she had seen back at the Academy.

'Commander?'

'Firing a photon torpedo, we're too far out for phasers.'

'Get us closer, Ensign.'

'Yes sir.'

'Direct hit, Cha'lav vessel is still intent on the shark.'

Plasma needles buffeted the ship, though they were not as severe as those earlier since the rift was nearing the size of its predecessors.

'We're in range.'

'Fire phasers, continuous firing sequence. Aim for the weapons and engines.'

'Aye sir, firing.'

The Cha'lav vessel finally broke off its attack and sent a few volleys of plasma toward the Pytheas before joining its companions.

'Captain, the pup is too weak to rejoin its mother on its own and the rift will close in less than two minutes. It will not open again,' Mahtani called from astrometrics. 'I've been taking continuous scans of the area.'

Astar made a split-second decision. 'Larson, take us in. Gonzales, snare the pup as gently as you can with a tractor beam. Ensign, have you ever flown in the interfold layer or subspace?'

'No sir, not even in simulations.'

'Now's your chance. Ready, Commander?'

'Yes sir, tractor beam standing by.'

'Let's go.'
 
Chapter Twenty-Three

USS Pytheas
Somewhere in subspace
Stardate 55348.3 (May 8, 2378)

Larson pushed the ship to up to three quarters impulse as Gonzales caught the pup in a low-intensity tractor beam. The Pytheas slipped through the rift just as it closed and they were caught in the interfold layer as one last plasma needle burrowed its way into subspace itself. The ship was suddenly hit from the ferocious subspace energies. The screen blanked out and the bridge was plunged into darkness as they hit something solid.

Talen was the first to regain his feet and reinitialised the viewscreen. Main power came back online as Astar and Wright reached their chairs and he saw Larson sprawled beside his, clearly unconscious. He saw Gonzales' hand grab her console as she hauled herself up to a standing position.

'What the hell did we hit?' Astar asked.

'We didn't hit anything, Captain. We were hit by a subspace shockwave caused by the sealing of the rift,' Talen answered.

'If the rift is sealed, how do we return to normal space?' Wright asked.

'There are other weak points in this vicinity, Commander. All we have to do is locate the weakest of them and punch through with the tetryon beam.'

'Then let's find one.'

'Not so fast, Commander,' Astar reined him in. 'Where are the Cha'lav and the sharks?'

'The shark we snared was released and has rejoined its mother and siblings,' Talen answered. 'The Cha'lav have released their net and are currently circling them but making no hostile moves.'

Astar felt Larson's pulse. 'Talen, grab a medkit and see what you can do with him. Commander, get down to astrometrics and find us a way out. Gonzales, I want a way to communicate with the Cha'lav and find out what they're doing to the sharks.'

'We should have no trouble communicating with the Cha'lav since we both use subspace communication.'

Astar smiled. 'Excellent, open a channel.'

'Channel open.'

'This is Captain Astar of the Federation starship Pytheas to the Cha'lav vessels. Leave those creatures alone and we will allow you to depart, unharmed.'

The face of a Cha'lav-Marsupial appeared on the viewscreen. 'We hunt these creatures for food. I know your laws, you cannot interfere.'

Astar could not believe what she was hearing. 'That's where you're wrong. If you do not return to your own territory immediately, we will destroy you for violating our space.'

The Cha'lav looked pensive, or so Talen thought, for just a moment. 'I don't believe you. You'd have to report your actions to your superiors and they wouldn't be pleased.'

'That may be so but I cannot stand by while you slaughter these creatures. They are sentient lifeforms.'

The Cha'lav commander smiled. 'They are prey, now leave before we destroy you!'

Astar turned to Gonzales as the communication was terminated. 'How will our weapons work in subspace?'

'I can't say for certain, Captain, but I would recommend against using our torpedoes. We have no way of knowing how our photon torpedoes would react to the energies present. Our quantum torpedoes utilise zero-point energy from artificial subspace regions, but they could be devastating if they erupted here.'

'We're too far away from them to use phasers, so torpedoes are our only option. You recommend the quantum torpedoes?'

Gravely, Gonzales nodded. 'Load one and set it to detonate at minimal yield as far from the sharks as possible.'

'Yes sir,' Gonzales replied.

'As soon as you're ready, fire.'

'Aye sir, firing.'

They watched as the torpedo impacted the shields of the Cha'lav vessel furthest from the creatures. A blinding flash rendered the viewscreen inoperable for a few seconds but when it cleared, they saw all of the Cha'lav vessels had been ripped apart by the blast, but she sharks appeared unharmed. There were also stars visible.

'Captain, there is a breach in the interfold later!' Larson yelled. 'Permission to depart?'

'Granted, get us out of here.'

'There is another rift opening, Captain,' Gonzales added. 'It appears as though more Cha'lav are coming through.'

'Ensign, full impulse.'

'We're already at full impulse, Captain.'

'Sir, we're in subspace, we could use a stable warp field to generate more speed,' ch'Maras suggested.

Astar looked at him and then at Wright. 'Will it work?'

'Only one way to try,' her exec replied.

'Initialising warp field,' Larson said. 'Now travelling at one hundred and seventeen percent of normal impulse speeds.'

'I'm not a scientist, Ensign. Care to explain what that means?' Astar murmured, approaching the helm.

Without turning in her direction, he answered. 'Maximum impulse speed is generally one third the speed of light, using a warp field in subspace has allowed us to increase our maximum impulse speed to forty percent of the speed of light.'

'How long till we reach our rift?'

'Three minutes.'

'The Cha'lav will be in firing range before then,' Gonzales called out.

'I can't push the impulse engines much more.'

'What about a microsecond burst from the warp engines?' Astar asked, thinking back to the Academy and an old tactical manoeuvre.

'Larson to Xeris, I need a two point six microsecond burst from the warp engines at warp three,' the helmsman replied.

'Ready when you are,' the chief engineer responded without hesitation.

Astar smiled at the experience of her crew. The inertial dampers whined for less than a second as the starship accelerated. As the ship dropped out of warp the rift was upon them and they were through.

'Well timed.'

'Not really,' Larson replied. 'I didn't take into account subspace itself. I could have torn us apart.'

'You didn't and you saved us in the process. How close are the Cha'lav?'

'One minute away.'

'How far are we from the far edge of the Triangle?'

'Another day perhaps, judging from our position, not much more.'

'Set a course and engage at warp four. Are the Cha'lav pursuing?'

'Yes sir,' Gonzales replied as the Pytheas jumped to warp. 'But they won't be able to catch us before we reach the edge of the Triangle.'
 
Chapter Twenty-Four

USS Weisskopf
In orbit of Ynelav VIII
Stardate 55349.6 (May 8, 2378)

Ensign T'Larr stood in front of Captain Dhrex's desk in his ready room as he perused her latest report. Her team had returned to the ship five days prior, after the discovery of the Romulan warbird's remains, and since then T'Larr had been working tirelessly to try to fathom the identity of the warbird. She was not getting anywhere and had now exhausted all but three methods of obtaining the information, all of which were in the report that the captain was taking his time to read. He looked up at her impassive face and gestured for her to take a seat, which she did.

'To recap, Ensign, you believe that almost three hundred years ago, a Romulan warbird crashed on Ynelav IV and the people reverse-engineered the technology for their own use. You have further stipulated that the Romulan survivors posed as false gods to the Ynelavii people and this caused a schism in their religious background which still exists today, and is in fact the basis for the civil war that is currently progressing on the surface?'

T'Larr nodded, 'Yes sir.'

'Do you have anything to back up this report?'

'Yes sir, I do,' the Vulcan replied. 'This region is far from Romulan space and yet there is a Romulan warbird within the sector which arrived prior to Starfleet and the Romulans did not stake a claim to the sector or make any moves, covert or otherwise, against Starfleet. It is logical to assume that Subcommander Sokal is searching for something and a Romulan warbird which disappeared three centuries ago, and may contain the remains of a relative, would be ample motive, especially since the Romulans have closed their borders to deal with the rising Reman problem.'

'Is that all?'

'No sir, Nelan is an old Romulan name that is no longer used. It does not appear in any other culture, except this one, and the Ynelavii have constructed a religion around it. From my studies in the reliquary, I discovered runic markings that bear no resemblance to the native writings, but significant resemblance to an old rural Romulan dialect. I believe that Subcommander Sokal is searching for a relative. I also postulate that the Seer in native lore is in fact a descendant of one of the survivors, perhaps Nelan himself.'

Dhrex sighed. 'Do you have any idea what you are suggesting?'

'Yes sir, I do. I am also aware that according to regulations, you must report this to your direct superior.'

'Who happens to be in close proximity to the Subcommander quite frequently. I am aware of regulations. Dismissed, Ensign.'

T'Larr raised an eyebrow. 'Sir?'

'I have a private call to make, dismissed.'

With a nod, T'Larr turned on her heel and strode from the ready room. Since she had been working on this outside of her usual shift hours, and had presented her report just after her latest shift, she decided to return to her quarters for meditation but that thought was immediately quashed when Dhrex emerged onto the bridge.

'Wait a moment, Ensign. Are you sure about your report?'

'Yes sir,' she replied.

'Could you show the Ynelavii the evidence?'

'Captain, doing so would likely destroy their faith, as well as being in breach of the prime directive.'

Dhrex looked around at the officers, including his exec who raised an eyebrow as well as any Vulcan. 'Alright everyone, conference room. We'll discuss this. You too, Ensign. I want you to present your findings to them.'

'Yes sir,' T'Larr replied. Though she didn't let it show on her face, she was surprised that he would discuss what amounted to a breach of the most sacrosanct law in the Federation.

Moments later, once the bridge were seated around the conference table, T'Larr gave her report. Once she had concluded, there was silence until Lieutenant Commander Renn, the tactical officer, spoke up.

'I can accept that telling them the truth would violate the letter of the prime directive, but it does not violate it's spirit. We're not interfering in the natural course of their spirituality, we're helping to return it to its natural course.'

Commander Banks shook his head. 'I disagree, I think that by revealing to them that the last three centuries of their religious beliefs have been a lie, we would be causing a deeper schism than the one that already exists. It would be reckless and irresponsible to put this culture, hell any culture, through that.'

Dhrex glanced at his XO and sighed. 'You may be right, Commander, but I cannot leave without revealing it to them.'

'There is another way,' T'Larr said.

'We send the information to both parties through an intermediary and let them decide what to do with it.'

'Who would that third party be?'

'The Resoto,' Banks answered.

Dhrex scratched his chin. 'That is an interesting proposition. Alright, let's contact the nearest Resoto vessel and have them deliver our message.'

'There is something else,' T'Larr said and Dhrex turned to her.

'Well?'

'They may ask us to return, so we shouldn't be in the system. They could get suspicious.'

'Their ships have returned from their mission, wherever that was, so it will be difficult to leave without being detected.'

'That's easy,' lieutenant Johnson, the chief engineer, replied. 'We mask our signature to match the background radiation and just leave at one quarter impulse. They'll never find us.'

'I take it you've used that trick before?'

'On the Cardassians, and they were paranoid.'

'We have a plan, let's get to it, dismissed. T'Larr, wait a moment please.'

The others filed out to get on with their new tasks and Dhrex handed the Vulcan a small wooden box. 'I know you don't like a fuss, so I thought I would just present it to you simply. Your department head had already been informed.'

T'Larr opened the box and saw inside a small cotton cushion, upon which rested a hollow gold pip. 'Captain?'

'It has been a long time coming, Lieutenant. Live long and prosper.'

'Peace and long life,' T'Larr replied, cradling the box.
 
Chapter Twenty-Five

Rebel Headquarters
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55349.7 (May 8, 2378)

Minister Furan, after reading the information provided by a passing Resoto trader, had immediately called his cell leaders to a meeting to disseminate it. Most agreed to his course of action, and the remainder agreed to go along for the time being. Furan had Regent Dolan released and brought to him.

'You may bathe, eat and freshen yourself up. We have much to discuss.'

'Am I getting my planet back?'

'We'll discuss that once you've cleaned up. I have been given important information which I have decided to share with you.'

Dolan decided against baiting the rebel leader and just nodded. 'Thank you, what of my aide?'

Furan sighed. 'He is staying where he is for now. Perhaps he'll be released once our discussions have been concluded.'

Dolan nodded and entered the room. Through a doorway on his left was a bathing room, and to his right, clean robes and fresh food. He headed for the bathing room and discarded all his clothing before sinking into a tub filled with hot water. The former leader washed himself quickly, dried and put on the clean robes before helping himself to the food on display. The spicy Felos strips were his favourite and he ate his fill, washing it down with the citrus wine from the Navalo slopes. After about an hour, Dolan opened the door and saw the guard was no longer standing there. He strode toward the end of the plain corridor which was clearly built underground since it had no windows, no illumination save for the lights on the walls, and had a peculiar earthy smell. A door opened and he stopped in a heartbeat.

'Regent, please come in,' Furan said, gesturing the for the former leader to enter.

'Thank you, Minister,' Dolan replied as he entered a conference room.

There were only two chairs and a computer console at each one. 'Please sit and read the information. There is a rather copious amount and we'll need to discuss it afterwards. Both in regards to what it means for the people and for the leadership,' Furan said and took a seat himself.

Dolan began reading the information and his eyes flicked to Furan's impassive face several times though the rebel leader didn't seem to notice. After some time, he came to the conclusion of the report and switched off the screen. 'It's true, isn't it?' he asked.

'I believe so, only the two of us know the specifics.'

'This came from a Resoto trader, but it is a Starfleet document.'

'They did the research before I kicked them out of orbit and they clearly thought that this information would end the civil war.'

'Will it?'

'I have already ordered a ceasefire and General Allak has accepted it. For now, both sides have stood down. What happens next is up to us.'

'I think you and I both need to visit this reliquary and see the technology for ourselves. Only then can we really decide what to do. If this technology truly is from another world, and one or more of them did survive and integrate into our society then we should try to find these individuals.'

'As you can see, the report does give a genetic profile of this species, Romulans, and even with our limited technology in that area, we should be able to test them.'

'Since Starfleet has expertise in this area, we should call them in.'

Furan smiled. 'So they can assist you in retaking the government by force? I don't think so.'

'They don't interfere in the internal politics of other cultures. Don't you think they would have intervened before if they were going to?'

Furan scowled. 'We cannot understand their motives. Why did they not bring us this information directly?'

'You asked them to leave. Had they returned against your wishes, their captain would have been in trouble with his superiors,' Dolan replied. 'I have studied their rules and their history. They have fought these Romulans before and know how to deal with them if they should return. They know more about this technology than we are ever likely to. It would be a mistake not to invite them to assist us.'

Furan said nothing for a long moment. 'Let us visit this reliquary first, and then decide whether to invite them. Is that acceptable?'

Dolan nodded. 'When do we leave?'

'I have a skimmer standing by.' There was a knock at the door. 'Yes?'

'General, there is a vessel approaching orbit. It does not answer any hails. General Allak said it just appeared in front of him.'

'Has it made any overt moves of hostility?' Dolan asked.

The messenger looked at Furan. 'No, but why else would it be here?'

'Perhaps we should get to the Ministry where we can greet the visitors properly?'

Furan nodded and turned to the messenger. 'Ready the skimmer.'

'Yes, General.'

Dolan realised, once they emerged from the underground fortress, that they were actually in Navalo itself, and not too far from the vineyards or the reliquary. The skimmer would only take about twenty minutes to reach the Ministry of Science. It actually took almost half that time and both Dolan and Furan reached the office at the same time, only to find that it wasn't empty. A tall woman with a stern regal bearing sat in Dolan's chair. She had greenish skin, pointed ears, and wore an unusual uniform. It consisted of black trousers and heavy black boots with a chequerboard jacket and belt-sash combo with various insignia.

'Who are you?' Furan asked.

'I am Subcommander Sokal of the Imperial Rihannsu Warbird Gilded Talon. I am here for my warbird and any personnel that are still alive. You may keep the dead.'

'We have only just discovered your technology, Subcommander,' Dolan replied. 'We are not yet aware of any of your personnel. It has been almost three centuries, will there be any alive?'

'We will take the half breeds with us.'

Dolan looked at Furan. 'We should negotiate this.'

Furan took a firmer stand. 'We will not negotiate. You can take your warbird but the people will remain here.'

Sokal withdrew a disruptor from her belt and fired. Furan's dead body dropped to the floor. 'Will you negotiate?'

'That is what I offered to do. The warbird is of course yours, as to the people, she should locate them first.'

'I can help with that. My vessel can detect people with Rihannsu blood.'

'Then we should begin negotiations in earnest.'
 
Romulan negotiations... :evil:

Your rewrite has taken the best of your original story and seamlessly incorporated additions that have further enriched the characters and plot.

Very nicely done.
 
I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hope everyone else is too.

Here's more...

--------------------------------

Chapter Twenty-Six

USS Pytheas
Kursican Triangle
Stardate 55350.3 (May 8, 2378)

'We're approaching the edge of the Triangle, Captain,' Ensign Daniel Larson said with a touch of relief to his voice. 'We should reach the plasma fields in the next two hours.'

'Get some rest, Ensign. I need you at your best.'

'Yes sir,' the helmsman replied, rising from his station and heading for the turbolift.

'Gonzales, how far behind us are the Cha'lav?'

'About an hour, but they'll close that gap quickly once we enter the plasma fields.'

'Can you detect anything from them at this distance?'

'There is a lot of subspace chatter going on between them, but their weapons are powered down and I'm not detecting any hostile manoeuvres.'

'I don't trust them. They could have disappeared back into subspace, why didn't they?'

'Ask Jamal, he's been doing some research on their behaviour.'

'Has he now?' Astar asked. 'Bridge to astrometrics. Mahtani, what have you learned about the Cha'lav with regards to their subspace technology?'

'The Cha'lav's subspace technology is not as good as they would have us believe, Captain. They cannot open rifts just anywhere, and in the Triangle they cannot open rifts to the galactic void. Their primary method of travel is what we might call hyperspace. It is like the quantum slipstream technology being developed by the Corps of Engineers but it works in subspace and is much faster. They can reach any of our satellite galaxies in approximately nine days. I would think that they would need some other method of travel if they were to reach other major galaxies quickly.'

'How do the plasma fields look? Are we likely to have a rough ride?'

'Not this time, sir. I think we might have thinned out the plasma fields when we sealed that major rift.'

'How so?'

'It looks like the plasma needles, the naturally-occurring rifts and the subspace topography exist in symbiosis with each other. When we forced the super-rift closed, we used up some of the needles. I think it is possible to completely obliterate the Triangle if we use up all the needles.'

'And how do you propose we do that?' Astar asked somewhat tetchily.

'All the rifts open into the plasma fields, which means that there is some kind of subspace fault line. If we can set it off, then the plasma needles will seal it shut and in doing so the Triangle will lose much of the danger to passing vessels.'

'What of the sharks?'

Mahtani was quiet for a few seconds. 'The naturally occurring rifts shouldn't be affected, Captain.'

'Run simulations and get back to me in one hour. We'll be entering the plasma fields in a little over ninety minutes.'

'Yes sir, Mahtani out.'

'Prepare the deflector for another shot,' Astar said to her tactical officer. 'We could make it a lot harder for the Cha'lav to attack this sector if we can limit the number of places they can open their rifts.'

Gonzales nodded. 'Anything we can do to send those creatures back to the rock from which they came is a good thing. We defeated the Borg, the Dominion, and now we'll show the Cha'lav the same treatment!'

Astar stifled a grin. 'Get on it, Commander.'

'Yes sir.'

'Captain, could I have a word?' Wright asked, having been almost silent on the bridge for the last several shifts.

'Of course, my ready room. Gonzales, you have the bridge.'

Wright entered the ready room and Astar followed. 'Permission to speak freely?' her exec asked.

Finally, Astar thought. 'Permission granted.'

Wright looked her square in the eye. 'I don't think you have any business being in that chair. Your decisions are reckless, you try to communicate with them when they are clearly not interested, and “crippling blows” you believe you are dealing to them will likely stop nothing. I've been in worse battles than your jacket credits you with and I believe that I am better suited to command this mission.'

Astar sighed and drew herself up to her full height, which wasn't enough to match his, but her steel did the rest. 'Starfleet's mission is one of peace and exploration and it is better to turn an enemy into a friend. If you can't follow those ideals then you don't belong in that uniform. You're on report, Commander. The next time you decide to disobey an order or question me in front of the crew, I'll have you relieved of duty and stripped of rank. Do you understand me?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Dismissed.'

Wright stalked out of the ready and Astar collapsed against her desk. It was time to have a closer look at his jacket. She sat in her chair and activated the monitor which rose from the desk. Calling up his record, she looked at his wartime accomplishments and noted an impressive array of tactics, albeit ones that were just plain ruthless. Perusing his career, she noticed that the reports from his superiors changed about eight years prior, just days after his promotion to commander.

'Captain Astar to the bridge,' Wright called and she knew that something was up.

'What do we have?' she asked as she emerged from her ready room.

'A rift has opened ahead of us and we're detecting a large build up,' Gonzales answered.

'How many ships?'

'At least thirty.'

'What about the ships behind us?'

'They have adjusted course to enter the rift. I do not believe that either group will attack.'

'Why not?'

'They're not ready yet. This is a fleet build up, Captain. I believe they are preparing to attack the starbase.'

'Let's see what happens.'

Astar took her seat and watched as Gonzales' prophecy was fulfilled. Over the next thirty minutes the ships behind them entered the rift, joining the thirty plus ships already gathered and the rift sealed itself.

'God help us all if they attack soon. We've got nowhere near enough ships.'

'Do we go back?' Gonzales asked.

'No, perhaps sealing the Triangle will push their timetable back a bit. That's our best hope.'
 
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cha'lav Homeworld
Chalavratan galaxy (NGC-4321)
52.5 million light-years away
Stardate 55351.1 (May 9, 2378)

The full tri-level council was in full session for the first time in more than a millennium. The Lower Council, comprising the aquatic and semi-aquatic species, took up the immense man-made lake in groups of three separated by species. The Central Council, comprised of the land-walker species, sat around the central column of the council chamber, intent on their own discussions while the High Council, comprising the two remaining avian species, sat atop the column itself looking down on the others like prey. This council had never been content but the strict hierarchy had served them well for eons, and as such they were the oldest species in the galaxy. A klaxon rang out that silenced everyone present.

'I have called this emergency session to discuss the Milcha-Wae situation,' High Council leader Lord Fetar said gravely, flapping his wings in emphasis. 'The advanced fleet has been severely crippled and the Gateway technology stolen from that galaxy several millennia ago has proven ineffective against the populace of the staging ground. Just in the last cycle, the largest political entity, the Federation, has destroyed a region of space that we specifically created for our purpose. Lord Linta has asked that we send more ships to aid in his fight against them.'

'I vote against this,' Lower Council leader Aqati slapped her fins to the water in anger. 'Lord Linta was warned about attacking so soon. We should have concentrated on the bioweapons first to weaken them.'

'The bioweapons were rendered useless a third of a solar cycle ago when the Federation discovered what we were up to and put a stop to it,' Fetar responded coolly. 'Do you not read all of the reports?'

'I have been trying to quell a dozen uprisings in my galaxy,' the Cha'lav-Aquatic gurgled angrily. 'News of the Federation fighting back has already reached our outlying galaxies.'

'We need a decisive victory against the Federation and we need it soon,' Central Council leader Cala said, slamming her fist against the column. 'You have been so quick to belittle Lord Linta for his failures in this instance, but how many successful campaigns has he won for you? The H'lranthians in the Dromdae galaxy were no match for his fighting force. You tied his flippers with this engagement by making him use local technology against them.'

'Yes, but the H'lranthians fought back, with Federation help. That's when you decided to attack at their heart, but instead you have chosen a region of space that they would not have been so interested in if you had not begun kidnapping people.'

'Enough!' Lord Fetar squawked. The column reverberated with his anger. 'We need to determine a new course of action, now.'

'We should let Lord Linta continue his advance with the ships he still has at his disposal. Thirty-six vessels is more than enough to destroy a world and the base orbiting it,' Aqati said, her strong voice carrying through the water.

'And what if the Federation amass more vessels?'

'They will not be able to match our might. They have recently emerged from a war that exacted a terrible toll on much of the galaxy. They should be easy pickings.'

'I have learned not to underestimate our prey. I recommend that we use our feared foot soldiers on their homeworld.'

'We would never get close. Their core worlds are too well protected since the end of the war. To do significant damage would mean pulling ships from other fronts and this galaxy is not that much of a threat yet.'

'Lord Linta is our most revered strategist. If he loses his life, it will be a blow to us all.'

'What is the situation in the Pechazhizh galaxy?'

'It is nominally under our aegis, we control the majority of worlds represented in the Galactic Council. It is only a matter of time before they vote on one of our puppets as leader.'

Lord Fetar nodded. 'So, do I tell Lord Linta to use another approach in dealing with the Federation?'

'Yes!' echoed across the council chamber from the senior leaders.

'Very well then, the motion has carried. You may return to your vessels and galaxies. I hope not to see you for at least another century or two, perhaps longer.'

Multiple fissures, rifts and gateways opened allowing the councillors to return to their respective ships and lands, but Lord Fetar remained with his second in command.

'You think I was wrong to call the full council?' he asked.

'Yes, Lord,' his second replied. 'One or more may be the rebel leader. Someone from the council has been feeding information to the rebel cells across much of our territory. The tides are shifting against us, that much we know.'

'But the Council does not, and they will not while they each control their own galaxy. For now, they are too busy to talk to each other about allying against us.'

'Our position is tenuous, Lord, but we remain in control because we do not show our wing. I believe that calling the full council showed too much of our wing at the wrong time.'

'Perhaps, but we shall see. Right now, I must inform Lord Linta of our decision,' he said and moments later was alone.

Lord Linta appeared on a large screen almost immediately after the signal had been sent. 'You asked to see me, Great Lord Fetar?'

'I did. I understand you are having trouble gaining a foothold in the Milcha-Wae galaxy.'

'Yes, my Lord. The Federation are far more resourceful than our advance intelligence reports suggested. We may need to gather more vessels and be far more aggressive with them.'

Fetar shook his head. 'In time, perhaps the ships we have in the Pechazhizh galaxy can brought to your aid. In the meantime, however, the Council has decided to authorise the use of selective genocide. Do you have any Planet Killers remaining in your arsenal?'

'Yes, my Lord. We have kept their fluidic prisons low on nutrients to keep them pliant. They will be more than ready to attack for a little food.'

'Excellent, how long before you attack the orbital station?'

'The Rift-space has been rendered inoperative by the Federation ship, my Lord. It will be a few weeks before we are able to attack.'

'Contact me when the attack is complete. There may yet be a seat for you in this august council. Fetar out.'
 
Epilogue

Conference room 323
Starbase 535
Stardate 55351.2 (May 9, 2378)

Captain Logan sat at the head of the table with Commander Madden seated to his left. Also around the table were Captains Dhrex, Aurelia and Vikagh and Admiral Ranar on the screen on the bulkhead. This conference was designed solely to disseminate information, and not to make plans for anything else. Vikagh was finishing his exaggerated tale of hunting a lone Cha'lav vessel which he subsequently destroyed before it could destroy a Resoto merchant vessel or call for assistance.

'I would enjoy picking off every last one of the filthy PetaQ,' he concluded.

'That may be so, but we have just received word from the Pytheas. They have crossed the Triangle, and destroyed it in the process. Their speculation is that it was created by the Cha'lav to facilitate their invasion of this galaxy. The Cha'lav also seem to be massing an invasion force but the destruction of the Triangle's subspace rifts have set their timetable back, we just don't know how long for,' Logan replied, hoping to keep the conference on track.

'The Ynelavii have ended their civil war but the Romulans have moved in and according to my last report from Regent Dolan, Subcommander Sokal is refusing to leave that world until something from her family's past is presented to her,' Dhrex said and saw Logan wince ever so slightly.

'That is a minor matter,' Ranar interrupted. 'Captain Aurelia, what of the Resoto?'

'The remaining Resoto have banded together on a number of worlds which remain hidden from us just in case the Cha'lav intend to finish the job.'

'So all we have to do is prepare for an invasion. That we have experience in,' Logan said mournfully.

'Before you all disappear, I would like to extend my thanks to Captain Logan for his hard work here over the last two years. As you know, one of the reasons we're out here is to assist the Kursicans in joining the Federation and from the reports that the Federation Council are getting, it looks like they are going to be ready far sooner than expected. Please continue your good work.'

'Thank you, Admiral.'

'Captain Logan, Commander Madden, please wait a moment. The rest of you are dismissed.'

Once the others were out of the room, Logan looked at the admiral. 'Sir, what is all this about?'

'Starfleet has approved Operation Cobalt's plan.'

'What plan?' Logan asked.

'Commander, would you mind?'

Madden turned to his immediate superior. 'A crew will take the captured Cha'lav vessel into their territory to negotiate a peaceful solution or gather allies for the coming war.'

'Which crew?'

'At the moment it looks like it will be Captain Astar, since she has had more dealings with them at this stage. However, the ship will not be ready to go for at least six months and I do not want to send them into such a dangerous place while zh'Malashan is still on the loose.'

'It could take years to find her.'

'If it takes more than a year then we'll re-evaluate the situation. At this juncture, I think it prudent to wait and see what happens before making more concrete plans.

* * *

USS Pytheas
En route to Eeroth
Stardate 55351.3 (May 9, 2378)

Captain Astar sat in her chair and watched the viewscreen as the last vestiges of the diabolical Triangle faded, leaving behind the stars and nebulae that made space so beautiful to look at. Around her, the rest of the bridge crew were as rapt as she was, except one. Wright left her some unfortunate business to attend to, but if she could, she would leave it until her return from Eeroth. Deciding that time was now of the essence, she pulled her gaze from the screen and turned toward Rashal, who had spent much of the journey in his quarters.

'How far are we from your homeworld?'

'Three days at warp six,' the Eerothian replied sourly. 'But much time has passed already, I am not sure there will be anything to go back to.'

'Perhaps your people will have united against a common enemy,' Larson suggested.

'That is unlikely.'

'All things are possible,' Talen added quietly.

Rashal turned to him. 'My people have been fighting since the dawn of time, Lieutenant. I doubt very much that a single force could unseat their hatred of one another.'

'My people thought that way once as well, Rashal. Now we have been close friends and allies with the Vulcans for over two centuries.'

'There is still animosity among both your kinds.'

'It will always be there, tempered by reason and by mutual cooperation. It is the only way we can survive.'

'Then one day you will all perish. Such a weak bond cannot hold you together forever.'

'It doesn't need to,' Astar interjected, noticing that Wright was wholeheartedly agreeing with the alien. 'They both have us, and others who stand by them all. Together we are stronger than we are individually. Before the Federation was formed, we fought a terrible war at a terrible price, but it brought us together. Our homeworlds and colonies fought against a common enemy and a union was formed. Now, two centuries later, that enemy is a reluctant ally, and we stand by them, willing and able to make things better. Our highest ideals focus on helping others, regardless of the cost to ourselves. We are returning you to your homeworld because we can, we will stand beside you and fight a common enemy because together we are stronger.'

'Your ideals are noble, Captain,' Rashal responded wanly. 'But in your territories, it is paradise. In ours, it is a constant fight for survival.'

'As it once was in ours,' Wright said, standing up. 'But as the Captain has said, we stood together on the threshold of war, and walked through the doorway of peace, where we still stand today.'

Astar held her tongue, for she could see in Wright's eyes that he did not truly believe that. 'It's time we actually found out what is going on. Ensign Larson, set a course for Eeroth, warp six.'

'Aye sir,' Larson replied as the Pytheas' nacelles rose up into formation.

As the starship jumped to warp, Astar wondered whether she would find a ruined world or a paradise being fought for.

End

The crew of the Pytheas will return in...To Serve the Unwise
 
Pytheas 1x04's up next, and then I'll be posting 1x05 in a separate thread. And adding it to this one, once it's been fully posted. All future stories will be in separate threads and then later added here. There are currently five more Pytheas stories on the drawing board, which will move us from season one (1x10) into season two (2x01) as part of a two parter...More details on that later.
 
USS PYTHEAS

Part of the United Trek universe​


1x04
“To Serve The Unwise”​


Historian's Note: This story takes place from early to late May 2378; beginning three days after The All Consuming Fire.​


Prologue

USS Pytheas
On approach to Eeroth Prime
Stardate 55359.1 (May 12, 2378)

The sunlight was reflected through the stained glass windows and made coloured patterns on the floor of the Hoobishan baths, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Soft music played through hidden speakers and Leza Astar felt calmer than she had in weeks. Ever since she had reluctantly accepted this assignment, she felt physically ill and there was nothing that her godson could do about it. She looked over at Lieutenant Arlon Maxx, as he sat with his eyes closed in the Jacuzzi.

'Tell me you haven't fallen asleep again, Arlon?'

The young Bolian opened one eye lazily. 'Oh I'm still awake, but you looked like you wanted to think so I let the conversation drop off.'

She chuckled. 'You fell asleep again.'

'I can't help it,' he shrugged. 'The waters of the Hoobishan baths always make me sleepy. And the holographic representation is almost as good.'

'Well, you'd know, having been to visit me several times on Trill. Which reminds me; you were asked by the Symbiosis Commission to help because of your familiarity with my people, weren't you?'

Maxx nodded. 'I was, I assisted in several surgeries to remove symbionts and helped the Guardians to calm the surviving symbionts. Why do you ask?'

'Astar has been restless of late, and I think it might be to do with the distance we are from the homeworld.'

Maxx shook his head. 'The symbionts, and yourselves, are highly curious, the likelihood of feeling homesick or worried about being too far from home in the event of an emergency is slim.'

'What else could it be?'

Maxx sighed and she could tell that it wasn't going to lead into something pleasant but she waited for him to speak. 'Have you ever performed the Zhian'tara?'

'The rite of closure? No, I haven't.'

'The Symbiosis Commission requires that it is performed by all new hosts. And since you've been joined for more than fifteen years, I'm surprised that they haven't contacted you already, although the recent upheaval could account for that,' Maxx replied. 'It has to be performed by a Guardian so when we return to Federation space, I'll contact the Symbiosis Commission.'

'Isn't that unusual?'

'Highly, but as one of the few doctors in Starfleet to know about how important the rite is, and as your personal physician, and your friend, I'll push for a Guardian to come here. My only other alternative is to get Starfleet Medical to divert us to Trill. You must let me know if you or your symbiont is feeling unduly distressed, above and beyond normal stressors.'

Astar nodded, unable to speak.

'Captain Astar to the bridge, we are approaching the Eeroth system,' Wright called out over the comm.

'I'll be right there, Commander,' she replied and climbed out of the Jacuzzi, thinking that his voice sounded a little tight.

She picked up her towel and dried herself off, put her uniform back on and then tidied up her hair, tucking it back into the ponytail that she was currently wearing.

'You'll be needed too, Arlon.'

'I know,' he replied as he followed suit. 'Maxx to sickbay, are we ready for casualties.'

'Yes, Doctor, and the EMH is standing by.'

'I want to adjust certain parameters on that thing.'

Astar smiled. She thought it was too much as well. 'Computer, end program.'

As the baths faded to the grey-and-yellow grid of the holodeck, Astar sighed and exited through the massive doors, making her way to the bridge as her chief medical officer returned to sickbay.

The turbolift doors opened and Astar took her chair. Wright never sat in it now when he was in command; he preferred to sit in his own chair, which suited her just fine. He was never going to have command potential, and the sooner she figured out why, the better.

'What have we got?'

'We've picked up masses of debris strewn across the system and no active subspace or tachyon communication. There's nothing here.'

'Get Rashal up here, and find out where Cadet Jenak is. I want her to see this.'

'Aye sir.'

'Gonzales, can you tell me something about the debris? Do you detect any Cha'lav energy traces?'

'I'm running continuous scans, Captain. So far, I've picked up nothing but elevated levels of radiation to the background norm.'

'Mister Mahtani?'

'Nothing definitive, Captain.'

Astar scowled as the turbolift doors opened to reveal her passengers. 'Rashal, welcome home.'

The Eerothian took in the debris field that the Pytheas was passing though and recognised the discoloured hulls of several vessels. 'Captain, the sixth moon of Eeroth VI is a colonial haven for my people. I'd like to know if anyone is still alive.'

'What about your homeworld?'

'It was on the verge of a nuclear holocaust. I doubt that the Cha'lav would have needed to help it along.'

'Captain, picking up an approaching vessel.'

'On screen, do you recognise it?'

Rashal sighed, he did. 'It is a government shuttle, Captain.'

'We're being hailed.'

'On screen,' Astar ordered.

The Eerothian looked to be the same race as Rashal but older. 'Whoever you are, you're holding an enemy of Eeroth. Return it or be destroyed.'

'I am Captain Leza Astar of the Federation starship Pytheas. We are returning Rashal to his homeworld.'

'No, Captain, you are returning an exile. Rashal is the leader of a rebel movement, exiled for crimes against our people,' the old man cried out. 'He is the one who brought destruction upon us all by allying with the Agent Races of the Underworld.'

Astar turned to Rashal, her eyes narrowed to slits. 'Is he telling the truth?'

'I made a deal with the Cha'lav, they reneged. It was not my fault.'

'Take him to the brig,' she said and turned to face the old man. 'If you would care to come aboard, I would like to hear what has transpired. My people have defeated the Agent Races before, perhaps we can help you.'

'I accept,' he said and the screen blanked.

'Captain, the Prime Directive?' Wright whispered.

'The Cha'lav represent a threat to all life. If Starfleet wants to court-martial me then fine, but I will do everything in my power to prevent the Cha'lav from destroying any more civilisations.'
 
Chapter One

USS Pytheas
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 55359.2 (May 12, 2378)

'...Once we fought off the Agent Races of the Underworld in the last battle of what turned out to be an almost completely one-sided war, we felt that there was only one thing that Rashal could do to reclaim his honour. We sent him with a number of intelligent missiles into a rift to find the Agent Races' homeworld and eliminate them for good. It clearly appears that he was unable to complete even this simple task.'

The senior staff stared in mute shock at the old man once he finished telling his tale. Rashal, when he was Vice President of the Eeroth Council (a token position to be sure), made a deal with the Cha'lav to end the bloodshed on the planet by committing genocide against the Dahreki Dominance. The Fahira representatives were immediately removed from office, their territories seized and their families exiled from the homeworld. Both the Dahreki Dominance and the puppet government of the Fahira Alliance fought side by side against the Cha'lav.

'President Janar, you said the Great Searing occurred just a few weeks ago?' Astar pressed, asking for more clarification on the precipitating event at the end of the war.

'Yes, we had all been fighting the Agent Races for months and each world we lost was boiled to extinction or destroyed. Four weeks ago we made a final stand on the homeworld. Almost every one of our vessels was destroyed and the survivors fled to whatever safe haven they could find, whether it was Eeroth or not. We fought them until our homeworld where we had arranged one last surprise for the Agent Races should all else fail. We had destroyed a good number of their vessels but those that remained rained destruction upon the homeworld and killed the millions that were unable to escape.

'The radiation is deadly to us and almost nothing can survive on the homeworld,' he said, leaning back in the chair. 'We used a secret weapon to turn their own energy against them and after their lead ship was heavily damaged, they fled into the rift—which remained open long enough to send Rashal and his missiles.'

'What happened to the Agent Races when your world was destroyed?' Gonzales asked again.

'They returned to wherever they came from,' Janar replied. 'We've been rebuilding ever since on whatever habitable planet, moon or asteroid we can.'

'Where is your primary base of operations?' Astar asked, hoping for somewhere to be to start work on helping these people.

'You'll forgive me if I don't provide you with the location, Captain,' the President answered. 'Trust is currently a sore issue for us.'

'Of course,' Astar accepted. 'We'll hand Rashal over to you after a hearing to determine whether he is actually guilty of the crimes you say he has committed.'

'We don't want him back, Captain. He is persona non grata to our people.'

'Commander Wright, what do you know about terraforming?' Astar asked, and steadied herself against the table as a jolt of pain shot through her.

'Not much, Captain,' he replied. 'Only the basics we all get taught at the Academy.'

She nodded, seeing Maxx look at her worryingly. Anyone familiar with Wright's file would see that he had just blatantly lied, since he had been at Terraform Command as his first posting from the Academy, but this wasn't the time to make that public. 'Have a look through the ship's database and see if you can find a way to repair the damage which the Cha'lav have wrought.'

'Aye sir,' he replied but made no move to leave.

'Now please,' Astar forced the issue.

'Yes sir,' he said and got up, leaving the room quickly.

'President Janar, we'll remain in orbit until we can find a way to help you.'

'Thank you, Captain, but that is unnecessary.'

'We've come a long way to do a kindness, Mister President,' Astar countered. 'We would be remiss if we did not at least attempt to help. We can provide food and medical supplies, and we will assist you in removing some of the debris from orbit of your homeworld and around the system.'

Janar bowed his head. 'Thank you, Captain. I am grateful for any help you can provide, but I must decline until Rashal is no longer in a position to cause any trouble. As long as remains alive, he is a danger to my people, and to yours.'

'I will not execute him. But if you want to have that extradition hearing, we'll deal with him that way. If found guilty, he'll be turned over to you and you can execute him yourself.'

'Captain,' Gonzales stood up. 'That violates a number of Federation statutes. I cannot allow you to agree to such an extradition taking place. You know the law. We do not extradite people who will be executed by the interested party.'

Astar glared at her tactical officer. 'Your objection is noted, Commander, but if the extradition is successful he will be dealt with by the laws of his own people, as dictated by the Prime Directive. I cannot in good conscience allow him to remain on board where he may once again prove to be treacherous,' she said, ignoring the small voice in her mind that said she was doing exactly that for her executive officer.

'Captain, this isn't right,' Gonzales remained standing. 'Doctor?'

'Commander Gonzales, be seated or you will be relieved of duty,' Astar said.

Gonzales stood her ground and Astar grabbed the table again to stop the room spinning. This time, everyone looked at her in surprise as she almost collapsed.

'What you're doing goes against the very ideals the Federation was founded upon, Captain.'

'Commander Gonzales, you're relieved,' Astar replied through gritted teeth as Maxx rose from his seat to attend her. 'Return to your quarters pending a hearing.'

President Janar looked on in surprise as Maxx reached his commanding officer. 'Captain, I must protest. You are clearly suffering from something and I believe it is clouding your judgement.'
 
Chapter Two

USS Pytheas
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 55359.3 (May 12, 2378)

'I'm fine, Arlon,' Astar said as another jolt rocked her body and she closed her eyes.

'She has done nothing that warrants her being relieved of duty,' Maxx replied, then added with a sad note: 'You, on the other hand, have and I don't believe that you are in full control of your faculties. Captain Leza Astar, under Starfleet protocol 121, section A, I hereby relieve you of duty pending a full physical and psychological evaluation. Please return to your quarters.'

'Arlon, please.'

'Captain, you've been relieved. Commander Wright will assume command in your absence.'

'But he's...' she started and held her tongue, realising that she could say nothing without raising his suspicions.

'He's what, Captain?' Maxx asked politely and tapped his combadge. 'Commander Wright, Captain Astar has been relieved of duty. Please assume command.'

'What did you say, Doctor?' Wright replied, and where surprise should have been evident in his tone, there was none, only a sense of righteousness which raised the doctor's interest. There was nothing he could do at this moment in time, since Wright was the first officer and next in the chain of command.

'I have relieved Captain Astar of command. You're in charge now,' he repeated.

'Acknowledged, Wright out.'

'Since you're unwilling to return to your quarters, we'll go to sickbay,' Maxx said and turned to the alien dignitary. 'President Janar, I am sorry you've had to witness this. Until I know what is going on, I'm afraid that this meeting is adjourned. Commander Wright will contact you in due course.'

'Thank you for your candour, Doctor. I will return to my vessel.'

'Commander Gonzales, could you escort the President,' Maxx asked as he took Astar by the arm and led her out of the conference lounge to the turbolift.

'What the hell are you doing?' she hissed as she was led across the bridge.

'Saving your career,' he shot back in a whisper. 'What you were planning was murder by proxy, which as I'm sure you're aware is against Federation and Starfleet regulations. I know that symbiont and none of your previous hosts have had such a streak, so I'm assuming that the problem lies with you. You're clearly in a lot of pain and I have to wonder why you haven't told me about it.'

'It started in the meeting,' she replied as they waited for the turbolift. 'I've been feeling a little under the weather but I assumed it was the stress of dealing with the Cha'lav.'

'I will conduct a full battery of physical tests and have Counsellor Zayner conduct a thorough evaluation of your mental state.'

'The evaluation isn't necessary, Doctor. I'm fine.'

'As your earlier comment adequately showed, you're not thinking clearly,' he replied as the turbolift arrived. 'Sickbay. I know you well enough to know that were you in your right mind you would never sanction such a hearing knowing what would happen to Rashal.'

Astar sighed. 'I don't want Wright in command. He's not cut out for the big chair'

'Why not?'

'His jacket speaks for itself, Arlon. This ship isn't going to be in safe hands with him in command.'

'I see.'

Astar pressed the issue. 'He's less fit for command than I am, how can I make you see that?'

'Show me proof, and I'll have Gonzales take command. I need something he's done on this ship that makes him unfit.'

'What about his actions on his other postings?'

'I said this ship, Captain,' Maxx shot back. 'I'm well aware of his supposed actions on the other ships on which he has served, but on this ship he has shown no outward sign of psychological unbalance or sociopathic behaviour. Unless you can give me something definitive, my order stands and not even Command can counter it unless my own mind is not sound and I find no evidence to keep you relieved of duty.'

Astar sighed as the turbolift came to a halt. 'I don't have anything concrete.'

'Then my order stands. You can discuss Commander Wright's situation with Lieutenant Commander Gonzales after I've completed my tests. Then you will be confined to quarters. Lieutenant Zayner will see you in your quarters for one hour a day until I'm satisfied that you are once again fit for command. Is that understood?'

'Perfectly.'

'Good, now take a seat and let's get started,' Maxx said with a smile as Astar climbed onto a biobed.

As the doctor waved the medical tricorder over her body, paying particular attention to her brain and the symbiont, Astar considered her actions. Yes, there was something wrong with her, that much she knew as Maxx was right about her decision-making ability but she had no idea what was going on.

'Are you still experiencing the pain?' he asked.

'Occasionally,' she replied. 'The pain is the most recent addition to my symptoms.'

Maxx sighed. 'I have no idea what is causing it, but since there is elevated activity in your metathalamus, I would have to say that what you are suffering from is essentially a Trill form of Vulcan Bendii syndrome.'

'Doctor, there is no Trill form of Bendii syndrome. It is a disease unique to Vulcanoids.'

'Ordinarily I would agree, but the preliminary evidence is there. I will culture a tissue sample and we'll see, all right?'

'As you wish,' Astar replied, knowing that for the moment there was very little she could do. 'Can you contact the Symbiosis Commission to see if they have anything on this?'

'I took the liberty of getting a copy of the latest edition of two of the Commission's largest resources: Symbiont Illnesses and Their Effects on the Host and Host Illnesses Which Effect the Symbiont. I will be looking through everything I have on Trill physiology and neurochemistry to determine what is causing it and how to combat it.'

'Thank you.'
 
Chapter Three

IRW Gilded Talon
Ynelav IV orbit
Stardate 55361.8 (May 13, 2378)

Subcommander Sokal watched the planet below from the discomfort of her throne-like chair on the bridge. The planet's civil war had all but stopped when Romulan soldiers beamed down to the surface to scan every single person for Romulan DNA. She knew that one of her family's ships was down on the surface, and had been for a long time, at least three generations, and it was high time that it was returned. According to her Starfleet spy, the ship had been taken apart and integrated into their technology about two centuries ago when it crash-landed. She intended to find every piece and vaporise it. Her top priority however, was to find her ancestor and regain her honour.

'Subcommander, the centurions in the capital city have something.'

'People or technology?'

'Both,' the Decurion answered.

Sokal smiled. 'Excellent, have the people transported to the brig and the technology put in the secondary cargo section. I will inspect it myself.'

'Right away,' the Decurion replied and saluted, the old-fashioned way.

Sokal returned the salute and returned to her chair. At least she now had a specific alloy signature to search for and that would make the technological search that much easier. As for the DNA search, Romulan blood would have been diluted so much in three generations of Ynelavii that it might prove difficult, unless she could find a specific bloodline to follow.

'The “guests” are aboard,' the Decurion reported. 'One of them is the soldier who greeted us.'

'General Allak? Interesting, I did not notice his Romulan heritage.'

'Doctor Gral may have an answer for you on that score, Subcommander.'

'Then we shall go to the medical bay,' Sokal replied, rubbing her hands together. She turned to one of the centurions. 'Let me know if anyone else is found.'

'Immediately, Subcommander.'

By the time Sokal and her first officer reached the medical bay, and torture chamber—depending on her mood, Doctor Gral was ready for them. Sokal listening to his prattling on about the latest crew physicals, which had been mandated by Praetor Hiren and which Gral cared about much to her annoyance, before cutting him off mid-stream.

'Doctor, the Ynelavii?'

'Ah yes, our backward cousins,' the doctor replied. 'Ynelavii DNA is somewhat stronger than most of the humanoid DNA we have encountered in the past, except of course Vulcan, and maybe Klingon.'

'Doctor?' Sokal warned.

'Yes of course, my apologies. As I was saying, the Ynelavii DNA is actually dominant enough to repress certain Romulan characteristics. The ears, and blood type, for example. The blood samples I have taken from General Allak indicate that he a ninth-generation hybrid.'

'Meaning?'

'The Romulan hybrids on this world have a Ynelavii life-span, not a Romulan one. How many people were aboard the vessel?'

Sokal hesitated before answering. 'Just one.'

'He led a very active life. I believe, based on the genetic drift, that there are approximately four hundred hybrids on this planet.'

Sokal frowned. Her House had been disgraced and this would serve only to deepen it. 'I want them all found and executed. Make sure you know who they all are first. Trace the bloodlines. My ancestor held a secret before he died and I want to know if he passed it to any of his descendants.'

'I'll get on it straight away, Subcommander,' Gral replied.

'Breathe a word of this to anyone and your honour blade will come in very useful.'

Gral nodded solemnly.

Sokal knew that every member of the crew was loyal to her and her House, but they didn't need to know everything. 'Decurion, join me in the cargo section. We will analyse the hull fragments. Once we have the alloy signature, I want you to scan the entire surface and beam every piece you find aboard. Once you have exhausted the surface scan, I want you to send soldiers to scan every inch of the planet and find the rest.'

'If we don't?' he asked as they left the medical bay.

'We find as much as we can. Whatever my ancestor knew, I want to know.'

The Decurion nodded. 'We'll find out what he was working on. Are you sure you want to execute all the hybrids?'

'The hybrids are an affront to the purity of Romulus.'

'Successive praetors have kept Sela alive.'

Sokal bristled at the mention of the reviled hybrid. 'Perhaps Hiren will do away with her once and for all.'

'Perhaps.'

They entered the guarded cargo section and saw a familiar piece of Romulan technology.

'Is that what I think it is?' the first officer asked.

'An ionic impulse drive,' Sokal replied. 'What was it used for?'

'The pride of Ynelavii power generation. It was their oldest fusion generator.'

'A nuclear power station?'

He nodded. 'It went critical the second we beamed these components aboard.'

'Damage?'

'Three thousand square kilometres uninhabitable for centuries. Four hundred dead, and the extensive loss of the local ecosystem.'

'That should show them that we mean business. Perhaps Regent Dolan will be more receptive.'

Her first officer smiled. 'His warships have taken up attack positions around us and we have been ignoring his hails.'

'Weapons capability?'

'Their vessels are no match for ours, Subcommander,' he said.

'You're certain.'

'You can engage them now if you wish?' he asked, clearly relishing the prospect.

'Starfleet might need their help later. I will destroy them if the people resist our scans. Have you scanned the ships?'

'Their shielding prevents our scans from penetrating the hull.'

Sokal turned to him. 'Ask the Regent to make his ships lower their shields or we'll destroy them. Mention the nuclear disaster he's dealing with. That should hold his attention.'

'Right away.'
 
Chapter Four

Regent's Office
Ynelav IV
Stardate 55364.5 (May 14, 2378)

Regent Dolan stared at the screens around him in horror.

The Romulans had thus far caused a nuclear tragedy, kidnapped two hundred Ynelavii citizens and now wished for access into the reliquaries. He was not going to allow his citizens to be executed, as the Romulans had expressed their wish to do so, especially not with the damage caused to the coastal region outside the capital city. Three civilisation centres were now nothing more than radioactive wastelands and the capital city's power was existing on batteries and solar power. The remnants of the radioactive cloud were still visible in the sky and he had every available medical resource on alert combating the radiation sickness which was sweeping through the southern edge of the city.

Standing beside him was Jonek, his former aide and now liaison to the Romulans. 'It would be wise to have our ships lower their shields. Once the Romulans have taken our people we can negotiate for their release, but preventing them from taking our people could cause more damage, not only to the planet but to the people's morale.'

Dolan nodded. 'I agree, but how much more technology do we have that they will just take?'

'I have asked that question and I believe them when they say that they have as much of the warbird and its innards as they are likely to find, now that they have raided the reliquaries.'

'Very well, have the shields lowered and let them complete their scans. Do you think you could see to it that their troops are removed?'

'They won't remove their troops until every Ynelavii citizen has been scanned for evidence of a Romulan bloodline.'

'What are their estimates?'

'They have traced fourteen bloodlines back to the Romulan who crash-landed. The one coordinating the troop movements tells me that there will probably be another forty bloodlines.'

'Another six hundred people?' Dolan made the calculation in his head. 'And they still want to execute them?'

Jonek nodded. 'Yes, Regent.'

Dolan shook his head. 'Forget it. I'm not putting up with this anymore. Who is in charge of the fleet?'

'Colonel Ferok, sir.'

'Open a channel, secure frequency.'

'Regent, this course of action is not recommended.'

'Do it.'

'Yes sir,' Jonek replied and opened a secure channel to the Oxelus.

'Regent?' Colonel Ferok asked.

'I am giving you a green light,' Dolan said. 'Remove that ship from orbit using whatever means necessary.'

Ferok nodded. 'It will be done, Regent,' the colonel replied and cut the channel as he turned to face the bridge crew.

Dolan activated the planet-wide emergency broadcast network. 'This is Regent Dolan and I speak to you now of the day of a grave injustice. The Romulan troops you have seen and been in contact with have destroyed the nuclear generator outside the capital city, killing hundreds, and destroying the local wildlife sanctuary. They are kidnapping your friends, lovers and relatives with plans to execute them when they have them all in custody. I call on you now to do whatever it takes to resist their efforts at destroying our way of life. This is Ynelav and we will protect our land and our people from any who would destroy it.'

'That was a mistake, sir,' Jonek replied.

'No, what was a mistake was letting this get so far in the first place. You can either remain as liaison to the enemy, or join me as my Vice Regent.'

Jonek smiled. 'I will join you, Regent.'

'Excellent, I suggest you pass out weapons to everyone. A worldwide insurgency is the only way we're going to get rid of these Romulans.'

'We will lose a lot of people.'

'But we'll save our world.'

'At what point is the price too high? How far do you think Subcommander Sokal will go to get what she wants?'

'She'll go as far as she needs to, to get everything she wants. I have no doubt that she will kill a lot of people just because they represent a threat that doesn't exist,' Dolan replied. 'I cannot foresee a time when eight hundred Ynelavii will travel to Romulus and ask for their birthright. We had no idea the Romulans even existed before they arrived here.'

Jonek started at a noise down the corridor.

'Sokal can beam into this office if she wanted to,' Dolan said.

'Another coup?'

'Unlikely,' he said but opened the door a fraction and peered down the hallway.

The militia guards were gone and the corridor was deserted. None of the aides or ministers or scientists could be seen either.

'Regent?'

'Yes?' Dolan asked, turning to face his colleague and friend.

'We're getting reports of fighting across every province. The people are attacking Romulans on sight using whatever weapons they have to hand.'

'We'll get a response from her soon enough.'

As if on cue both men were caught in the tingle of a transporter beam. They materialised on the bridge of the Romulan warbird and faced Subcommander Sokal.

'Your actions today have cost a great many lives,' she said and pointed him toward the debris on the screen. 'This is what remains of your space fleet. My troops have the upper hand on the surface and your world will cower in fear before this day is over.'

'I have more ships,' Dolan pointed out with a smile. 'My people will never give up until every last Romulan is dead or off-world and the Ynelavii fear no one. You will have to kill every last one of us before we give you anything.'

Sokal stepped toward him but was stopped by Jonek, who rested a hand on her arm. She couldn't move.

'You will take your people off our world and return every Ynelavii to the surface. Take what remains of your ship and leave this sector.'
 
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