Star Trek: Outwardly Mobile

Episode 49: Prometheus Quest Part Five

(Stardate: 50820.5)

By

Jay P. Hailey

And

The Star Trek Players

 

"Okay, so give me a summary report about this war." Admiral Turkhan said. He was perched on the edge of the briefing room table, and seemed almost casual.

Miriah Katasai and Katherine Malone gave each other a look. A summary report of a war? Miriah nodded faintly to Malone and launched in.

"The Kaa are reptilian race in this area. They want to conquer the other races to facilitate ownership and abuse of these other people up to and including eating them." Miriah said. "We're helping the Fulcrum Alliance to avoid this."

"Ah." Turkhan nodded thoughtfully. "And do you think this Fulcrum Alliance is worth three ships and crews to the Federation?"

"Three ships?" Miriah asked. She had only counted the Gemini and the Endeavor.

"Don't forget the Prometheus. " Turkhan said.

Malone smiled faintly. "Thank you. But the Prometheus was washed up before we ever reached the Fulcrum."

"Yes, but the data your ship gathered on your voyage, the charts and records of encounters with the races, and what you discovered about the transwarp system installed on the Prometheus. All of that represents a resource for the Federation. A resource that's under risk. If you and your crew become casualties along with the Endeavor the then the Federation looses that, too." Turkhan pointed out.

"We do have a recorder marker on Fulcrum Station with full backups of logs and records from both ships." Stroud pointed out.

Turkhan waved his hand "As may be, The Endeavor and crew still represent an expensive and necessary resource for the Federation. Will the Fulcrum Alliance offer as much in return?"

Miriah noticed Captain Mitchell shifting uncomfortably in his seat. She was happy to see her old Captain, but he looked older and somewhat stressed out to Miriah. She was sure that his new ship was not the supportive, homey environment for him that the Endeavor had been, and she was unsure of what to do about it.

"Friends and allies are also a vital resource for the Federation." Miriah said. "I don't have a firm cost-benefit analysis of the situation, because it's too fluid to really analyze right now. However, it's my considered judgement that a good relationship with the Fulcrum and as many of the allied races as we can manage will be good for the Federation. This could be Eminiar VII and Vendikar or the Great Spiral Sector all over again."

Turkhan's eyes lit up. "Really. You think we could be seeing new Federation Members out here?"

Malone jumped in. "I wouldn't want to be hasty. There are some road blocks. Not the least of which is that I don't even know if most of these people want to join the Federation, but we have worked long and hard to make friends and win allies. To establish a mutually compatible system of trade and interaction between cultures. The Fulcrum has already done most of that work for us here. We just need to plug into it and behave ourselves. Eventually, with enough work and some luck, I think we could see some real progress with the people out here."

Turkhan thought about it. "Is all of that worth getting into a war over?"

"Yes, Sir." Miriah said. "I think it is."

Turkhan looked at Malone.

"I agree with Captain Katasai. I have already placed my crew on the line for the Fulcrum. I believe in it." Malone said.

Turkhan nodded. "Alright. I understand that. I just want to be sure that we're getting full value for our efforts here."

Miriah looked grim. Perhaps that was why Mitchell looked as unhappy as he did.

Turkhan said "Next I would like to have a meeting with the people who run Fulcrum Station and the leadership of the Alliance. Then I'll make my decision about how far into this I want to commit myself. Let's get moving on that shall we?"

The assembled Captains and First Officers nodded and the initial meeting was over.

-*-

Miriah and Kevin sat down in the Gemini's lounge at a table to themselves looking out of the huge windows that looked out of the upper front of the Gemini's main hull.

"How are you?" Miriah asked him.

Mitchell grinned wanly. "Better after seeing you. I'm glad you've manage to pull through this in as good a shape as you have."

"Thank you. You know how good the Endeavor and her crew are. If I'm careful we should get out of this war situation fine. It's a lot like fighting the Phoenix Domain. Their ships are usually smaller than us and less advanced." Miriah explained. "How was your trip out here?"

Mitchell grimaced "Long. Admiral Turkhan is on his way up. He wants everyone to know it and everyone to get out of his way."

Miriah became thoughtful. "That's not the best attitude to approach a diplomatic situation like this with."

Mitchell shrugged. "We deal with what we have. You know the drill."

Miriah nodded. "Yes. We've been there before. Tell me about the Gemini? She's a pretty little ship. Your crew seems young but competent."

Mitchell grinned and Miriah could see the old Mitchell, then one she knew. "A lot of them are my kids from the last class off the Excelsior. They very good at their jobs, and not nearly as green as they were when we started. The Gemini, well. She's the latest, newest thing. We're still working on making her a home, though. She's not as big and user friendly as the Endeavor. Not the same kind of 'make-of-me-what-you-will' spirit in her. But then she's easier to maneuver and not as hard to park."

Miriah grinned and then became more somber. "Kevin, you said you were done being a Starship Captain. What are you doing back out here?"

Kevin shrugged but Miriah could see determination hiding under the forced casualness. "Turkhan was going to bring my kids out here whether I went along or not. I may not be the newest or hottest thing out of Starfleet Command myself, but I am still a good enough Captain to get these kids back home alive. I didn't trust Turkhan to choose anyone as good as me."

"You've still got the spirit, in any case." Miriah grinned. A lot of being a Starship Captain was the utter belief in yourself. The sure knowledge that you could perform the task successfully.

"So how's everyone aboard the Endeavor?" Mitchell asked.

Miriah was looking for that opening. "Ms. Alpha insists that you pay her a visit as soon as your schedule allows."

Mitchell grinned faintly and Miriah could see a lot of his stress take a back seat. "That would be lovely. I'll work on that as soon as possible."

Miriah smiled. Ms Alpha was, evidently good for what ailed you.

-*-

Kara was in her quarters studying like mad. Thirty years of accumulated engineering advancements danced on her view screen. The Endeavor had her own Chief Engineer, and although she seemed too "civilian" at heart for Kara, she was a good starship engineer.

Even so, Kara was used to knowing every inch of the ship she found herself travelling in and wasn't about to release that element of control over her life.

The door chimed. Kara turned at the welcome interruption. Again she marveled at the size of the quarters the Federation allotted to their starship crews. Her quarters on the starship Endeavor were a small apartment of their own.

Kara stood up and took a step towards the door. "Enter." She called.

The door swished open to reveal ZanKaye. A tall, rugged looking humanoid. Kara found him interesting in a sort of dangerous, rogue-like way. He'd been a part of the Prometheus crew for just a touch longer than Kara had been.

"Good evening, Engineer." ZanKaye always pronounced Engineer as if it rhymed with "dispossessed Princess". It was a neat trick. He saw a thin woman with dark hair and aristocratic features. If she wasn't already a princess, you might cast her as one.

"Tactical officer," Kara said seriously. She tried to make it seem to equal "brave freedom fighter" but was always afraid that it came out sounded more like "bellhop".

"I was wondering if you'd care to join me at for some dinner and some serious talk about our future." ZanKaye said.

Their future? Kara was confused for a moment not understanding what ZanKaye was referring to. She held in a grin. It was widely known that Kara took everything very, very seriously. In the last few years before entering cold sleep, it had become a running joke. Kara had allowed herself to take part in more and more frivolous activities, as long as they could be rationalized as "serious", however thinly.

So the way to get Kara to do anything these days was to label it "serious". Kara understood this and was very happy that her crew knew her and trusted her enough to include her in on the joke, even if she never showed much outward expression about it.

She turned and grabbed her coat. Not that she needed it aboard the Endeavor or Fulcrum Station, but she never appeared less than fully dressed at any time, depending on what etiquette required. External appearances were important; a truth drilled into Kara since her earliest days.

-*-

The restaurant on the third deck over the atrium was aimed for business people's lunches. It was filled with greenery, served interesting food, and made a point of being a comfortable place for most humanoids to talk.

ZanKaye and Kara were seated and quickly made their orders. When the waiter faded away to make their order a reality, ZanKaye broached his subject with characteristic bluntness. "Princess, What do you think of the Fulcrum?"

Kara looked around thoughtfully. "Interesting. Definitely one of the nicer places I've eaten lunch."

ZanKaye grinned. "Okay. How about in a wider sense. Do you think you could live here in the Fulcrum? Do you think you could make a new life here?"

Kara thought about it again. "That's a nice fantasy, ZanKaye, but my destiny lies elsewhere."

"Where?"

"You know where. Eventually back on Thelon, driving the Thasite parasites from my home world." Kara explained.

"Yes, but that's always been, shall we say, a long term plan." ZanKaye said "What's in your more immediate future?"

Kara shrugged "I will return with Captain Malone to the Federation. This has always been the goal."

"Yes, but will returning to the Federation advance your long range goal?" ZanKaye asked.

Kara thought for a moment. "Captain Malone has never promised that it would, but from all that I've read the Federation is a welcoming place filled with opportunities."

"It's also three hundred light years further on. In the wrong direction." ZanKaye pointed out.

"What do you have in mind?" Kara asked.

ZanKaye became more animated. "You know that my crew and I have been fighting for the Fulcrum in a wider sense than Captains Katasai or Malone have been. It's been a long time but our ship, the Purple Lady, has been fighting better than ever against the Snakes."

Kara sighed "I haven't been able to keep up with your efforts during this war. I have been working very hard to become an adequate addition to the engineering staff of the Endeavor."

ZanKaye nodded. "No one who knows you would have expected anything less. However, I have come to realize that the Fulcrum and its associated cultures represents an opportunity for us."

"How so?"

"To fight. To do what we're good at. To fight the good fight, this time for our own benefit." ZanKaye said.

"You're not thinking about joining the Fulcrum Guard?" Kara was surprised. She'd never considered the idea of leaving the starship Prometheus. On the other hand there was no more starship Prometheus, any more was there?

"No. Subcontracting to them until this war is over. Then going out on our own." ZanKaye said.

Kara stared at ZanKaye and felt as if she might be ill. "You going to turn mercenary?"

ZanKaye nodded. "It's what we know how to do."

The waiter returned and with quiet efficiency slipped their food onto the table. Then he faded again.

Kara's lipped curled. "That hardly sounds like the man who defeated the Zejoran Authority and won freedom for his people."

ZanKaye became a little grim himself. Kara could see a bitterness in ZanKaye that she thought he'd put behind him ten years ago. "The Zejoran Republic turned around and asked us to leave, remember? Fighting for freedom and justice are good goals. However, without some three-dimensional thinking, it can turn futile very quickly. We will still fight for the things we believe in. I just want to make sure we're taken care of, too."

"Why not continue on with Captain Malone to the Federation?" Kara asked.

"Ah, the Federation. A thoughtful utopia based on science and ethics working hand-in-hand. An open, tolerant place where the rights of the individual are respected, peace reins, and exploration brings new races and new cultures into the party every day." ZanKaye said with an edge of cynicism, "What in the world would you expect me and my crew to do there, Kara?"

Kara opened her mouth but didn't say anything. ZanKaye was right. The Federation was the goal they had been working towards for ten years. However, it was always an abstract goal because the odds were against them making it there. The goal wasn't so abstract anymore. What happened after they arrived was definitely a consideration. "I've never really considered it." Kara admitted.

"Well, now's the time to consider it." ZanKaye said decisively. "I'd like you to join us Kara. With your engineering skills and warrior spirit, we'd be a lot better off."

Kara looked ZanKaye in the eye. "I am no mercenary, ZanKaye. I am a Princess of Thelon."

"In order to get back to Thelon, Princess, you're going to need a military force. One that can defeat a Thasite War City, and not by luck and desperation like the Prometheus did." ZanKaye pointed out. "Will the Federation offer you that?"

Kara's face set stubbornly. "I have made a promise to do everything in my power to get Captain Malone and the crew of the Prometheus to the Federation. I will uphold my promise."

ZanKaye spread his hands expansively. "Relax. The offer's open until the Endeavor sails. Even afterwards if you can get back out here. I'd like to have you on my team."

Kara didn't say anything but grimly dug into her food. The conversation was over.

ZanKaye shrugged and demolished his own plate. They were both veterans of tough campaigns. Food was not something to waste. You never knew when the next meal was coming.

Kara felt very small and alone as she walked back to the Endeavor. How was she ever going to return to Thelon?

-*-

Admiral Turkhan sat and listened to the information conveyed to him by the War Council of the Fulcrum Alliance. The war was stalemated. Early efforts by the Endeavor had won critical time for the Alliance to get into a war footing. Now with both the Kaa and the Fulcrum Alliance running flat out in war mode the outcome was still in the balance.

The Endeavor and the Gemini had the firepower to swing the balance. Each ship amounted to a free dreadnought in the Fulcrum Alliance, when such ships on both sides could be counted on the fingers of both hands.

Admiral Turkhan knew this. He carefully hid a grin. How much would the Fulcrum Alliance give him to keep his ships in the battle on their side? All he had to do was shave the point as closely as he could so that the Fulcrum Alliance came out barely ahead by paying off Turkhan and the Federation to keep the ships in the battle.

"The Federation is an organization of peace." Turkhan said, as an opening gambit. "We're committed to the cause of peace."

"Captains Katasai and Malone made this point very clearly." Commander Ken-Los-Phar said. "And attempted to pursue the point even at great risk to themselves. Unfortunately, the cause of greater peace occasionally demands sacrifices."

"I would accept that as axiomatic." Turkhan said. "When the Federation does fight, it is for defense of itself and in pursuit of a greater peace. And it's when our national interest is clearly invoked."

"Do you feel that the current situation meets the criteria, Admiral?" Mr. Heron, the Fasanni chief of the Fulcrum Project asked. Mr. Heron looked for all the world like a large, upright, semi-humanoid pink rat.

Admiral Turkhan smiled. "The Federation feels that your Fulcrum Station is an interesting experiment." His tone was not quite patronizing. "We feel that it shows promise. But in order to fully commit the resources I have here, I am going to need some things from you to fully engage our interests in this region."

Ken-Los-Phar blinked slowly. "Such as?" He said calmly.

"The Federation would like a seat on the steering committee of the Fulcrum Station. We would like to be full voting members of this project." Turkhan said.

"The other cultures who have this status have spent billions on the support of the Fulcrum." Mr. Heron said, "Does the Federation offer this level of support?"

"I offer myself and my two ships. That's confirmed. Once we're properly engaged in the Fulcrum, then we'll see what The Federation chooses to send as support." Turkhan pressed on. "We would also like a seat on the war council of the Fulcrum Alliance."

Ken-Los-Phar nodded. "The same conditions apply. Full support of the war effort, ships, troops, materiel."

"What is on the table are the Endeavor and the Gemini. These two ships represent some major leverage to your firepower in this war. They stay or leave on my command." Turkhan let the implied threat hang in the air.

Mr. Wu asked. "What other things did you have in mind?"

"The Federation is an extremely large power, compared to the Fulcrum participants. We cover more space than everyone who's currently contacted by the Fulcrum, including-" Turkhan looked at the maps on his PADD "The Kaa and the Kronin. That makes us a potentially big player in the region, should we choose to be."

Mr. Heron's eyes squeezed "We are aware of this. We suspect that your friends the Romulans might also be as important."

Turkhan grinned broadly. He loved it when the game was for high stakes. "Yes, well, the Romulans aren't here. And if they arrive, our history with the suggests that they won't be as supportive of the Fulcrum as the Federation is prepared to be."

"Assuming your conditions are met." Ken-Los-Phar said mildly.

"Our interests in the area would then be quite clear." Turkhan said. He continued. "As a much larger, and frankly more experienced power in the field of interstellar relations, the Federation would like a veto capability over decisions made by the Fulcrum Alliance War Council and the Fulcrum Steering Committee."

Mr. Heron stared as if Turkhan suddenly has a squid growing out of his mouth. "Surely, you can't be serious."

Turkhan keyed up his presentation on his PADD and directed the output to a large view screen on the wall. "This is what we're offering in return." A map of the Fulcrum area and the war zone came up. A simulation played out at advanced speed. The Endeavor and the Gemini moved across the war zone at speeds only their advanced warp drives could manage. They darted into Kaa space again and again attacking well behind the traditional lines of battle.

"The Kaa are vulnerable to a more three dimensional plan of attack." Turkhan explained. "Once we explain to them the value of strategic mobility, My staff predicts that the Kaa will have to withdraw and try to cover their assets or risk loosing them to attacks by our ships."

On the screen the red blob of the Kaa war machine began to pull back to try and prevent the Endeavor and Gemini from moving in and out of their space with such impunity.

The simulation continued to display an aggressive plan of attack by the Federation starships. By hitting the Kaa where their forces weren't concentrated, the two ships consistently eliminated stockpiles of war materiel and war production.

"If we establish an upper limit to the size of the forces we will engage, we can convince the Kaa to divide their forces to that level, to try and cover more space." Turkhan said.

Ken-Los-Phar nodded. This was how he'd hoped to use the Endeavor and Gemini but thought out to a much more detailed degree. "And that sets up the garrisons guarding against hit and run raids for concentrated assault by Alliance fleets."

"Exactly. A carefully timed assault could do severe damage to the Kaa war effort before they can re-deploy to take your activities into account." Turkhan said.

"Assuming the Kaa do what you want them to do." Mr. Heron said, almost accusingly.

"Of course there's no guarantee that the Kaa will react in the ways we have predicted. We used your own psychological profiles to model a best guess as to the responses to our activity." Turkhan said smoothly. "In war, the enemy is usually quite contrary. They may not do what we want. If they don't then we come up with another plan. Then another, and another as necessary. I have confidence that between my organizational skills, the technology advantage of my ships and the willing support of the Fulcrum, that I can win you this war, Gentlemen."

Mr. Heron looked at Ken-Los-Phar. The Commander of the Fulcrum Military looked him in the eye. Heron's question was plain. "Does this guy know what he's talking about?" Ken-Los-Phar's response was also quite plain if not verbal. "Although I am not happy about it, yes he does."

"We will have to carefully review the demands you have laid before us, Admiral." Mr. Heron said.

"The question boils down to this. Is winning the war worth the price I ask of you?" Turkhan said. "Thank you for your attention, Gentlemen."

-*-

Miriah Katasai was in her ready room preparing more reports. The stock of photon torpedoes available to the two Federation ships was limited. Miriah wanted to show the Fulcrum how to make most of the casing for photon torpedoes, but the problem lay in the delicate and sophisticated targeting sensors of the device. That's what allowed it to do what it did. She couldn't release that part to the Fulcrum without damaging the prime directive. The Endeavor simply could not replicate that part for itself.

The only solution was to design a photon torpedo that the Endeavor could fire, but that the Fulcrum could build without giving away the store.

The problem wasn't as pressing as it had been. The Endeavor had used a third of her supply of torpedoes so far, but the Gemini carried two hundred more casings. Between them they could operate for several weeks based on what they had.

The door bell chimed.

"Enter." Miriah said without looking up. Then there was the cost of having the Fulcrum support the ships and help with repairs.

"Engineer Stacy Tolliver reporting, Captain." The young woman from the Gemini said.

Miriah looked up as if slapped. "Door, locked." She ordered.

The door beeped at her to show it was, indeed locked. Miriah leapt up from the desk and came around the desk with her arms out and threw herself on her grand niece. Stacy relaxed and hugged back fiercely

"What in the name of space are you doing out here?" Miriah demanded happily. "I thought you'd be just graduated from Starfleet Academy."

Stacy grinned "Captain Mitchell kept me on as the Gemini's Chief Engineer."

"I heard about your battle with the Klingon ship. Kevin was very impressed with the way you handled yourself." Miriah said, "But Chief Engineer right out of the Academy? That's got to be some sort of record."

Miriah sat down on the couch in her ready room and Stacy joined her, the demands of rank and title momentarily put aside.

Stacy turned thoughtful. "I've been working so hard that I haven't had a chance to look it up. Might be. Starfleet's been having a manpower crunch for the last five years, or so I'm told. Too much space needs too many ships and the Academy can only turn out officers so fast."

Miriah shrugged. Starfleet's latest PR woes were not her concern. "How's your grandfather?"

Stacy smiled "He was so proud of me he could bust. He gave me lots of good advice. Even though he was never a deep space engineer, he knows a lot of the ins and outs of dealing with engineering crews. He was absolutely flying during the graduation ceremony."

Miriah sighed "I do wish I could have been there, but."

Stacy nodded "You go where the mission calls. I know. They explained it all to us at great length."

Miriah nodded with some exasperation. She recalled the repetitive Academy lectures about exactly what life in Starfleet entailed and what to expect. It some times seemed as if they were trying to drive cadets away. Miriah recalled the officers from the Endeavor who'd quit under the pressure and realized that yes, they were trying to convince anyone who would give up to do it then before the situation got critical. With a shock, Miriah realized that it had been 17 years since she had gone to Starfleet Academy.

"So what's the Gemini like?" Miriah asked "What's it like for you to serve on a starship?"

Stacy sighed. "It's a lot of hard work. The Gemini is a good ship and she's well built, but she's still very complex and it takes a lot of running around to keep her at specs. It seems like there's always another system that's just waiting for the worst time to break down and make me look bad to the Captain and the Admiral."

Miriah laughed. She often heard that same complaint from Genevieve Quest. "How do they treat you? What's your quality of life?"

Stacy shrugged and looked lost for a moment and then realized where her great aunt was going. "Oh! You mean the Klingon thing. I actually haven't had enough time to really jam the fact that I'm Klingon down anyone's throat recently. I've been working so hard that between that and my face I'm just another blue eyed Georgia girl."

Miriah just looked at Stacy. The Klingon thing? "You don't have to jam being part Klingon down anyone's throat."

Stacy looked at Miriah seriously. "I do. It's my way of reminding myself too. Grandfather taught me the Way of Honor, but it's something I picked up later. I have to work at emphasizing it, or I may look up a few years from now and realize that I've lost it. I talked to some Klingons at the consulate and watched how they behaved. Being Klingon is a very, very straight forward thing. There are subtleties but the basic idea is a head long assault on life. And I'm still trying to get in touch with that part of myself."

Miriah nodded but was elsewhere. What to Stacy was a cultural phenomenon to Miriah was a serious challenge to overcome. Anger and other emotions boiled under her surface ready to break loose at any time. Miriah had been reaching a better compromise with them over the years but still worried that under stress she might take her anger out on her ship and her crew. "Just don't loose other parts of yourself trying to get in touch with your inner Klingon."

Stacy nodded soberly. "I won't."

Good Miriah stood up, "Good. Then it's time for you and I to grab Patton and indulge ourselves in a common Klingon pass time."

"What's that?" Stacy asked.

"We kill things on the holodeck. Good for practice, exercise and letting our inner Klingons run loose." Miriah grinned. "If you have the time."

Stacy sighed. "I have some old timer non-coms running the show right now. By the time I get back they'll have to retrain me on how to run the Gemini's engineering deck. But that's okay. Any idea how long this is going to take?"

"As long as we live." Miriah smiled. "And just wait 'til I introduce you to Patton."

-*-

Mr. Heron called Admiral Turkhan back in his office aboard the Gemini.

"We have a counter offer for you." Mr. Heron said. "We'll give you your seats on the Alliance and on the Fulcrum Steering committee. We'll even give you your veto. However, a quorum vote will override your veto. Abuse this privilege and eventually you'll find the quorum against you forming even before you make your case."

Turkhan nodded "You are more than fair. Mr. Heron. We'll begin setting up to put my plan into action as soon as you give us the word.

"We hope you don't make us regret our welcoming attitude Admiral."

"I think you'll find that we're worth it." Turkhan smiled indulgently.

-*-

Space Control Commanding Officer Zlee hissed with fear and anger. "Full alert! Launch all fighterss!"

"The Federation sship is on a direct interssept course with our sship yardss. Messssage incoming. The Endeavor warnss us to evacuate all sspace borne objectss in thiss ssysstem." A junior officer reported. "It was a wide band broadcasst. Everyone heard it."

Zlee drew his weapon and shot his underling "You should have jammed that transsmissssion. You," Zlee pointed to the next junior officer in line, "Message to all Kaa units, any evacuation will be conssidered dessertion in the face of the enemy with appropriate punisshment."

"Yess, Ssir!" The surviving Juniors attacked their tasks with renewed vigor. The Kaa who had survived the war so far were very good at working under pressure.

"Fighterss launched. The lead wing iss on an interssept coursse." The report came back.

"Good." The Space Control Commander said. "How many sshipss in the enemy formation?"

The sensor officer reported "Two."

Zlee was confused "Only two?"

"The Endeavor and an unknown cruiser." The sensor officer confirmed.

"Identify that cruiser." Zlee said.

Several minutes later the Kaa fighters were approaching their intercept. The Endeavor and her escort were closing in to the Kaa world.

"Status?" Zlee hissed.

The Sensor officer curled up in distress. "Half of the leading edge of our fighterss are pressssing home their attack. The resst are hanging back."

"Open a channel." Zlee said

"Channel open."

"All fighterss, attack those shipss or I will eat your eyess mysself." Zlee hissed angrily

There was a general mutter and one pilot clearly said "If you can find them after that monsster has sscattered them all over this ssysstem."

Zlee pressed the mute button, "Identify that pilot."

"Number 34, Ssir."

Zlee nodded and returned to his address "Your choisses are limited. Victory and perhaps a quick death, or defeat and an extremely long death, Do I make myself clear?"

A muttered reply came back. None of the pilots would openly defy him. Zlee picked out the over ride codes for pilot #34's fighter. When the time came, that snake would die heroically ramming the Federation dreadnought.

"What's the status of the Ship yards and orbital defenses?" Zlee turned to the next junior officer.

This one was in even more distress "I regret I have no good information to report. Approximately one third of the manned sstationss report ready for battle. I have not heard anything coherent from the sshipyardss since your warning to them."

"What?" Zlee went over to the sensor officer's station and redirected his sensors at the ship yards. He dialed up the voice channel to the shipyards at the same time. What he saw and heard horrified him. The shipyards complex was in full blown panic. There was weapons fire visible on sensors all over the station, mostly hand weapons. The space around the station was littered with ships, half completed hulks, shuttles, pods and even space suited Kaa fleeing for their very lives.

Over the open voice channel Zlee could hear the Commander of the station shrieking "Sstay at your sstationss you egg ssuckerss! Do you know what that cretin Zlee will do to you if he catchess you? That ssadistic mother raper is not kidding about a long and painful death!" Weapons fire could be heard as the station commander and loyal crew fought mutineers and deserters for control of the station.

Zlee thought about it carefully. He could take over control of nearby orbital forts and fire on the fleeing deserters. He was carefully gauging how much fear and destruction he would have to wreak amongst his own people in order to make them fear him more than the Federation starship.

"Ssir." The third Kaa was even more unhappy "I have a tentative identification of the esscorting cruisser."

Zlee noted that the Endeavor and her escort were flying in close formation. Their effective weapons fire would be seriously increased against his fighters. Moreover, the Endeavor didn't really need the advantage. "What sship iss that?"

The unhappy Kaa officer said "I don't know sspessifically, but my ssenssorss suggest that it'ss another Federation sstarsship."

Zlee blinked slowly. Offhandedly he pulled out his sidearm and killed the third junior officer, more because the officer expected and dreaded it than any other reason. He turned to his senior surviving lackey. "Open a ssubsspasse channel and dump all ssenssor recordingss and logss to high command. They need to know thiss development. I will be in my quarterss waiting to sspeak with the general. Sstay here. Usse every tactic and every trick you know, Fight until our last weapon iss desstroyed and then wait for me here."

"Yess, Ssir." The senior lackey replied.

Zlee left the control room. He did not heading for his quarters. He made a bee line for his personal escape route out of the subterranean control station.

All the Kaa junior officers knew this. Each had his own calculation to make. If they, too left and Zlee wanted to, he could charge them with desertion. Expert torturers honed their art and experimented with deserters, sometimes even discovering new techniques. If they some how managed to win the battle, they could win forgiveness for almost any sin and even win the chance to challenge Zlee and eat his eyes. Each officer looked at the fire power of the Federation starships and carefully made his own judgement.

One by one Junior officers left the control room as if they had business else where. Which they did. The senior lackey shot one fleeing officer in the back, just because he could. He said to the optimists who stayed with him. "Okay, let's make this a fight."

-*-

On board the Gemini Daniel Mannix, the Tactical officer stared at his board in dismay.

"Status of the enemy?" Mitchell asked. The Gemini was following the Endeavor's lead despite being the flag ship of the formation. Mitchell wanted to watch the battle unfold carefully. He'd learned a lot in his time teaching at the academy. Not only the theoretical tactics taught at Starfleet Academy, which Mitchell had frankly blown off as a cadet, but historical combats viewed through his later experience in the field. Mitchell had learned quite a bit from these reviews and was now, although he didn't realize it, a decent tactician of his own. His new found skill was not to be tested much this time. Patton, the Endeavor's chief tactical officer was better at it and set up the plan fairly carefully. All the Gemini had to do was stay loosely near the Endeavor and lend her fire in support.

Admiral Turkhan had gained a certain amount of respect in the eyes of all the captains when he decided to let Patton do what he'd been doing already.

Mitchell looked at Turkhan sitting in the right hand seat of the command console. The admiral looked casual. He spent a lot of time doing that.

"The enemy fighters are closing. Sort of." Mannix reported.

"Sort of?" Talia Odan, the Gemini's Trill second in command said.

Mannix put the tactical plot up on the screen. The plot showed fighter craft strung out in a long band between the Kaa Planet and the two Federation starships. "Some are hanging back Some are advancing but seem to be heading past us.

Mitchell sighed. "Set your phasers for point defense fire, send a message to the Kaa pilots that we are accepting surrenders today. Fire only on my mark."

Mannix nodded "Aye, sir."

-*-

A couple of the Kaa fighters immediately surrendered. Many of the rest milled around. A certain number of confident, patriotic or optimistic Kaa flew straight on towards the two ships.

-*-

Kaa Pilot Number Four swept in on the smaller of the two ships. His fighter was nimble, fast and a joy to fly. Number Four was confident that his randomized, herky jerky flying was defeating the targeting computers of the cruiser.

He armed all of his weapons and carefully checked his sensors. His sensors reported to him that the shielding of the Federation ships was solidly present. The shielding of the Cruiser was baffled to keep attackers from reading for frequency holes and beaming bombs through the shields. This baffling also defeated Number Four's attempts to read how strong the Federation ship's shields were.

No matter. Since Kaa Pilot Number Four was on a defensive mission he was justified in using all the force he had. Since a Federation cruiser would be a nifty thing to paint on the side of his cockpit, Number Four raced several of his more testosterone crazed compatriots to the ship.

Several of them fired as soon as they were in range, but Number Four hissed happily. They were behind him and hoping to claim the kill early, or at least an assist against the monster.

Missiles flew and beams reached out. The Federation cruiser lit up like a coronation day celebration. Beams everywhere. Number Four grew a little more serious as most of the missiles were eliminated well short of their targets. The point defense of these ships was excellent. A Bare handful of the angry swarm of missiles hit the big cruiser. Fighters couldn't carry the heavy cobalt fusion missiles that big ships and ground installations mounted. So fighters had to get in close and jam their missiles into the enemy's windows. This appeared to be even more true with the Federation ships.

Number Four also saw that several of his compatriot's ship icons on his tactical display had gone red indicating destruction or damage so severe they were out of the fight. But Number Four didn't stop to check how many, because he was concentrating firmly on his attack

The handful of small fighter missiles reached the targets and detonated. Small blossoms of intense light came and went. Number Four couldn't see any difference in the shielding of the targeted cruiser, his sensors were still baffled.

Number Four decided that this must be a ghost image erected by the cruiser's electronic warfare. They were covering the damage done by the missiles.

Number Four rolled and swooped and got to within 500 meters of the cruiser, while one hand guided his fighter through a complex spiral, with the other he tied every weapon his ship possessed into one firing command. Then he pressed the firing button.

His fighter bucked and rocked with missiles leaving, and the panels grew dim as all energy was channeled through his beam weapons. There was an orange flash.

Number four found himself tumbling through space without his fighter. At the last second its life saving devices had functioned as designed, ejecting him from the destroyed fighter. Pilot Number four writhed his own body into a spiral which allowed him to alter his facing in null gravity. He could see what was left of his fighter, an expanding ball of debris.

"Egg sucking monkeys." Number Four cursed. It had been a short war for him.

-*-

A half hour later the fight was going a little rougher for the Endeavor and the Gemini, but not much. The orbital ship yards were now burning debris. Most of the orbital defenses were history as well. Every so often a new orbital cannon or missile platform would orbit to within line of sight of the Federation ships and would attack fiercely. They had all been shot down before making too much of a nuisance of themselves.

"Status?" Admiral Turkhan asked.

"Our shields are at fifty percent over all." Daniel Mannix reported. " We have some light damage to the outer hull and some sensors are out. The Endeavor is reporting similar conditions but their rear shields are really soft at about thirty-five percent."

"Very good." Turkhan found it hard to believe that Ensign Mannix had been a cadet only six months ago. There was a young man who was going places. "See if you can find me their command hub. Then we can take it down and go home."

"Aye, Sir." Mannix said.

-*-

"Captain, I have a disturbing report." Patton said.

"What's that, Warrior?" Miriah asked. The Kaa resistance crumbled. The battle such as it was, was almost over. Below decks, Patton's security forces were struggling to keep two dozen rescued and surrendered Kaa Pilots under control. Miriah didn't want to hear any bad news at this point.

"I have located the Kaa command facility." Patton put it up on the tactical plot. The Kaa command bunker was in an underground labyrinth deep under the most heavily populated city on the Kaa planet.

"You're kidding." Miriah said. "Leave it to the Kaa."

Brekka Di whistled softly at the breath taking ruthlessness. "They're using their own population as civilian shields?"

"The Kaa have absolutely no honor." Patton growled.

"That's what it looks like." Miriah said.

-*-

The Senior Lackey looked at his tactical plot and the truth finally came home to roost in his mind. He'd fought the best fight he possibly could and had almost managed to penetrate the shields of the enemy terror ships. The battle had been a total rout. They had little left to work with in the command bunker and nothing that seemed like it would make a difference.

"It's time to go." He said. "Let's get the hell out of here." The surviving Kaa officers slithered out of the command bunker and away.

-*-

Admiral Turkhan was on the screen "I think we can push a narrow phaser beam through the ground and into the command bunker. That should do the trick."

Miriah looked at him coldly. "And how many civilian casualties do you estimate for this mode of attack?"

Turkhan looked uncomfortable "A few hundred at most."

"No." Miriah said bluntly.

"If you have a better idea I am open to it." Turkhan said.

Miriah looked round her bridge. She had a talented crew. "Give me some time and I'll come up with something."

Turkhan almost sighed in relief. "You're on. Call me within the hour."

-*-

"I think I may have something." Genevieve Quest said. She was the Endeavor's chief engineer, a slim, attractive red headed Human woman under most conditions, she looked haunted right now.

"Instead of a brute force attack on their city, we can attack their technology." Quest continued.

"How?" Commander Stroud asked.

"But firing a subspace pulse into the city, and through the city into the bunker. I think we can achieve an energy density higher than any of their equipment can stand. Every computer and communications device in the path of the beam would be burned out almost instantly. Most power systems would probably either be shut down or burned out, too." Quest said.

Stroud looked at Miriah excitedly. "I think this could work!"

Miriah looked at Genevieve and said quietly "It's a wonderful solution, Gen."

Genevieve looked up and Miriah could almost hear ten thousand ghosts screaming at her. "And it's only a few years too late."

-*-

Daniel Mannix and Stacy Tolliver looked at the PADD with great enthusiasm.

"Wow!" Stacy said. "This is an inspiration. The numbers all look right. I think we can get that energy density plus about fifteen percent."

"Mental note:" Mannix said "Do *not* get on the Endeavor's bad side."

"No kidding." Tolliver said. "They'll find new and interesting ways to make you regret it."

Turkhan smothered a grin. "Can you make this work?"

Both Tolliver and Mannix snapped to attention "Yes, Sir!"

"Then let's get to work on it."

-*-

Slix was an eleven year old Kaa. Usually he'd be on the streets looking for old or sick Kaa to abuse with several of his friends, or looking for new drugs to trick the gullible ones into trying, or coming up with newer and more insane stunts to dare other Kaa boys and girls into.

Today was the new War Report. Brave and extremely mean Kaa soldiers were overrunning the Mammals again. The mammalian races were, by all accounts even more fun than old or sick Kaa to torture and abuse. Slix could hardly wait until he was old enough to join the army. Then maybe he could get some mammals of his own to abuse. Slix's young eyes danced at the thought. He liked the female ones best. From recorded events and public torture sessions their screams were more shrill and piercing.

As the clashing musical fanfare and the logo of the War Report appeared on the viewer, it exploded. With a loud popping noise, the viewer blew shards of glass all over the living room. It sparked and burned with an otherworldly blue glow.

As the fire in the electronic guts of the ruined machine died down, Slix noticed that all the lights in the apartment were out and that the comm-panel was in a similar state of ruin.

"Hey, Mom!" Slix hissed at the top of his lungs. "There's something wrong with the viewer!"

Slix slithered over to a window where he could see the city outside. Lights were off as far as he could see. In a couple of places he could see the flickering glow of fires. On the street Slix could see an air-car shattered from a plummet and struggling Kaa writhing in the passenger compartment.

This was too much to resist. Civil disorder was almost as much fun as war. "Mom!!" Slix hissed "I'll be outside!!"

-*-

"That's it." Lieutenant Ford reported. "As a military target, this planet is finished."

"Good." Admiral Turkhan said "I am very proud of you all. Our work here is done. Let's get back to the Fulcrum."

"Aye, sir. Setting course for the Fulcrum." The Gemini and Endeavor streaked away from their target at a speed no Kaa ship could match.

-*-

Kara was working very hard aboard the USS Endeavor. Back at the Fulcrum they were making ready for another foray against the Kaa. Kara was trying to cover for Genevieve Quest, who seemed distraught and distracted from her job.

Kara thought Quest's solution to the problem of the Kaa command bunker was very clever and something any Starfleet Officer should be proud of. Instead, Genevieve was grief stricken. That was alright. Kara was almost up to speed on the Endeavor's systems and the engineering crew was willing to work with her. They had the Endeavor almost up to spec when Admiral Turkhan walked into engineering.

"Kara, may I speak with you for a moment?" The Admiral asked.

Kara put down the PADD she was working with. She was actually trying to correct the crew rotation in engineering and get the job or repair on the Endeavor done in time to get some of the crew time for a short leave. "Yes, Admiral?"

Admiral Turkhan took Kara aside into the main Jefferies tube access and closed the door. "Kara, I couldn't help but notice that you were working on the Endeavor's warp core.

Kara nodded. "Yes, sir. It needed realignment. It should be back up to specifications within two hours."

Turkhan looked uncomfortable "You know, Kara that the Endeavor's warp core is a sensitive device."

Kara nodded "Yes, the tolerances are three times tighter than the warp core on the Prometheus. But with the new tools and a good eye for it, it's fairly easy to maintain."

Turkhan shook his head. "Not physically sensitive, but . It's some of the highest Federation technology. We don't let just anyone play with it."

Kara looked surprised. "Do you suspect that some one from the Fulcrum may try to get a look at it? Because Captain Katasai made her wishes about your prime directive very clear. There is to be as little technology transfer to the Fulcrum as possible."

Turkhan tried another tack. "Kara, have you ever considered joining Starfleet? Becoming an authentic officer?"

Kara stopped and thought about it. "There was some discussion of that when I joined the Prometheus crew. But when this mission is over and when Captain Malone and the rest of her crew are safely in the Federation, I must pursue my own destiny, and that destiny does not lie in your Starfleet."

"You could resign your acting commission as soon as we got home." Turkhan said

"If I could pick up and put down an acting commission in your Starfleet so easily, then what would be the point? I need no official rank to do my job. My skills and talents are plenty." Kara looked every inch a Princess of Thelon at that point.

Turkhan grimaced. "Kara, I don't want to denigrate your efforts on behalf of the Federation. I really don't. Nevertheless, there are rules and procedures that we have to follow. Following these procedures reminds us of who we are, and keeps us focused on the fact that we are Starfleet and that this is a Starfleet vessel. And Starfleet rules say that outside of an authorized shipyard, I can not let a civilian work on our sensitive systems."

Kara blinked, stunned. "What?"

"You are a civilian. You are not in Starfleet nor are you a Federation citizen. Therefore you aren't allowed to work on our warp core, or weapons and defense systems." Turkhan said, coldly.

Kara's lip curled "I have been the Chief engineer of the Prometheus for ten years! I fought and suffered to bring your sensitive little systems home to you in one piece!"

Turkhan "Then why not become a Starfleet Officer?"

Kara got it at that moment. "Before it was unnecessary. Under Captain Malone, competence and merit count for more than rank and procedure. Now, I will not become a Starfleet Officer because *you* are not worthy. This is all about control. You don't like me as an engineer but not an officer because I am not obligated to bow and scrape to you. I can tell you no."

Turkhan's face grew red. "That's not the issue at all-"

Kara took half a step back, sub-consciously. This put her in perfect range to defend and counter attack if Turkhan should become violent. Turkhan's violence was on another level.

"You are not *worthy* to command a member of the Royal House of Thelon. You are a petty tyrant!" Kara said coldly.

Turkhan gestured sharply at the door to the engineering compartment. "I must ask you to leave the engineering compartment. Now."

Kara held his gaze for a beat. Turkhan was a petty tyrant making sure everything in his little kingdom was under his absolute control. He would not back down. Especially not now. Kara turned, gathered her tools and her jacket and left the Engineering compartment of the USS Endeavor.

-*-

The Kaa command counsel was almost as blood thirsty as a low level Kaa command center. Dead Kaa Nobles, Generals and Admirals littered the floor. The survivors and their newly promoted supported allies. They slithered around a large flat display table with the Emperor.

"Your Majessty." The senior Kaa Admiral hissed. "The ssituation is critical, and we haven't come up with a ssolution yet."

The Senior Kaa Admiral could get away with talking to the Emperor that way. He was about as big and about as good at personal combat and had dozens of very greedy subordinates who would use his death as an excuse to rebel and grab what they could.

Every Kaa with a territory to protect was hissing angrily. The Federation terror ships almost impossible to counter. The monetary, material and yes even the loss of Kaa lives so far had been staggering.

The War Fleet was beginning to starve for supplies. They were beginning to run short on critical spare parts and rations for crews in space.

Worse, the two Federation ships were avoiding larger ship groupings. The Emperor hissed slowly. It was almost Kaa in nature. The Emperor and his senior staff (What was left of it) could see what the mammals were aiming for. Nevertheless, they had played the Kaa psychology right. Without the support of his Nobles the Emperor could not support his huge fleet of conquest. Now every Noble was demanding a task force to protect his turf and right now.

The fact that this set up the fleet and the Empire itself to be picked off piecemeal escaped most of the Nobles in their short sighted panic.

Therefore, if the Kaa Emperor appeased his Nobles he lost. And if he didn't appease his Nobles, he lost.

The Kaa emperor made a mental note to take special pains to capture the Federation Admiral and eat his eyes someday. The man was almost Kaa like in his thought process. You couldn't let talent like that escape.

Of course there was always another option. Usually it involved being meaner and nastier than the enemy expected you to be.

The Emperor looked at the board carefully.

Bloodclaw caught his eye. The Emperor liked Bloodclaw's thought process. They had learned together as children the art of being nastier than expected. Because the Emperor knew Bloodclaw's thought process he'd been slowly and systematically subverting the Ambassador's support at home. One day he'd kill Bloodclaw personally and eat his eyes. It was the least he could do for his friend. The Emperor knew that if he didn't betray and kill Bloodclaw than eventually one day Bloodclaw would do it to him. The Emperor knew this in his bones.

Bloodclaw reached out to the extreme end of the board and tapped Desjaero, a world in the Chin Hegemony. It was a fat world with a billion mammals, some heavy industry and some mineral wealth. It was behind the lines and so its defenses had been stripped to support the war. It was a reasonably safe gambit. Desjaero was too far from the front to be a good base. Didn't manufacture anything critical, and wasn't a good staging area to attack anything else from. Attacking it wouldn't make a lot of military sense on one level.

The Emperor understood. "We counter attack."

The assembled Nobles, Admirals and Generals stopped and looked at him. "This world." He pointed out Desjaero. "We will mass our Dreadnoughts. We will destroy anything in our path even including the Federation starships. We will smash Desjaero. We will strip and loot their cities. We will take and eat their people. We will leave burning ruins in our wake."

The Chief Admiral looked at it. "It could work, but I do not understand the military value of the target."

The Emperor looked at the Admiral "It has little military value. However, a violent rampage like this will remind the mammals who they are fighting. The tortured and butchered corpses and the smoking ruins will strike fear into them. By so doing we turn every other world of little military value into a target. It's my own interpretation of their strategy. They will not be able to concentrate their forces on us for fear of another such attack."

The Admiral nodded in comprehension. "An excellent plan, Your Majesty."

The emperor thought about it. "I want full media coverage of this, and leaks to the mammal press. I want children across the Fulcrum and even into the Federation to see us eating helpless, screaming victims. I want thousands of troops and I want them starved before the battle so they'll eat the humanoids right away. I want some diversionary probes at the places they'll want to defend so that their own fleet arrives too late to come to the rescue. I want to leave scars on Mammal psyches for generations. Can we do that?"

The Admiral thought about it. "Once. If they stick to their plans after that, we'll be ruined."

The Emperor nodded. "Going on the defensive is not the way to triumph over the mammals. I believe that there is a limit past which they will collapse. By analogy, consider torturing a human individual. Heap enough abuse on them and they will break. It's in their nature. If we heap enough abuse on their empires I suspect that they, too, will break."

The assembled Nobles, Generals and Admirals nodded their assent. The specifics of the counter attack began to get hashed out.

-*-

"Permission to speak freely?" Captain Malone said.

Turkhan looked at her. She was angry but very controlled. At this moment you could believe that she spent 15 years pushing a desperate starship across unknown space. The woman had a definite force to her.

"Is this about Kara?" Admiral Turkhan asked.

"Yes, Sir, it most certainly is."

"Then no." Turkhan said.

"It's my duty to warn the Admiral when his actions jeopardize the success of the mission, and when his actions do not represent the interests or the attitude of the Federation." Captain Malone said firmly.

"Your lost puppies and kittens are not vital to the success of our mission, nor is it the policy of Starfleet to adopt every waif and hard luck case it happens across." Turkhan replied coldly.

"They adopted *us*, Admiral." Malone said. "Without those people you wouldn't even *have* a mission out here! Kara deserves better than summary dismissal!"

"I did not give you permission to speak freely, Captain." Turkhan said.

Malone's face hardened and turned red but she said nothing.

Turkhan said "I am noting this in my log and in my report. You know my report will be part of the evidence at the review board to determine whether or not it was your incompetence that lost the Prometheus."

Malone stood still but said nothing.

"You are dismissed." Turkhan said.

Only years of self discipline allowed Katherine Julie Malone to walk out of the admiral's office without committing a crime against him.

-*-

The Orc screamed in Stacy Tolliver's face as he tried to bring his spear around and impale her.

Stacy reacted out of instinct and stayed inside the spear. A block and strike combination led to an inhuman scream and more holo-blood and ichor all over her. The top of the castle wall was littered with dead and injured attackers and defenders. In places it was slick with blood and gore.

Stacy was in an odd state. She didn't worry about the horror of the scene. She didn't listen to anything. She just dealt with the next Orc in front of her. There was a sound unlike any Stacy had ever heard that permeated the scene. Her butterfly swords flew. The words of her teachers took on a new and very important perspective. Tae Kwon Do was an excellent hobby and form of exercise. However, underneath its purpose was deadly serious. The Koreans who developed it were fighting for their lives and they were not kidding around about it. Now, holodeck not withstanding, so was Stacy.

A quiet part of Stacy's brain decided that she really didn't like Holodeck Dungeons and Dragons and resolved not to play it any more.

Miriah swept by with her Bat'leth, and hacked up an Orc behind Stacy. The engineer had missed it entirely.

"You're doing very well!" Miriah breathed smoothly but deeply.

Stacy gasped "Screw the Orcs. Screw the Castle. And to Hell with you, Patton and your program!"

Miriah laughed. She caught Patton's attention and raised her hand with her wrists crossed at him.

"Computer! End the attack and calculate the score!" Patton yelled, as he swept through one last form, killing his last Orc of the day

The computer beeped, and the screaming hordes of Orcs, castle defenders, and assorted horrors of war faded away.

"The team score was 15,730" The computer quietly reported. "New high score for Lieutenant Stacy Tolliver, 4,892. Combat level was 4."

Stacy leaned over and breathed deeply and rhythmically, trying to bring her cardio-vascular system under control.

Miriah looked at Stacy. "That was impressive."

Patton wandered over. He was wearing a gold cover all with the more functional bits of his warrior's armor over it. With the Holodeck stopped watery gelatin to simulate gore and ichor was still all over Patton. They would have to shower and run their clothes through a sonic washer to clean it all off.

"That was not Mok'Bara." Patton said quietly.

"Tae Kwon Do." Stacy breathed. "I'm better at it than Mok'Bara."

Patton nodded. "Stick with your Tae Kwon Do. You are as deadly with it as any Klingon with Mok'Bara. Present company excepted."

Miriah made a small bow at Patton "Thank you." she was wearing a maroon cover all, with a non-standard armor chest and back piece. She too, was covered is fake gore.

"And you two do this for fun?" Stacy looked at the two senior officers with disbelief. Her own cover all was gold like Patton's. She wore armored bracers for arms and legs. It made blocking incoming attacks a lot more fun than usual in sparing. Stacy found herself soaked with gelatinous blood, also.

Miriah and Patton nodded.

"The common Dungeons and Dragons programs are quite entertaining in their way." Patton said. "We still play those and cheerfully in programs written by other crew members. But I found them to occasionally be overly complex."

Miriah added. "Sometimes, you just want to grab a Bat'leth and kill something. No plots. No NPCs with hidden agendas. No puzzles that require deep thought to solve. Just hack and slash."

Stacy looked at her great Aunt. Sometimes to work off stress and anger, the young lieutenant would do full contact sparring in the holodeck. Never before with weapons. It was an insight into the Klingon mind that Stacy wasn't sure what to do with.

The intercom beeped. "Senior Officers report for video conference with Admiral Turkhan, Senior Officers report for video conference."

Miriah look around. "Over here." She and Patton started for one of the guard towers that lined the walls of the besieged castle. Stacy stayed behind. Miriah looked at her. "You too."

Stacy shook her head. "I'm not a senior officer."

Miriah replied "Oh, yes you are. You're the Chief Engineer of the USS Gemini. That makes you a senior officer."

Stacy hurried to catch up with Miriah and Patton.

Through a very thick but narrow doorway they entered a cylindrical room in the castle. The decks were unbelievably thick wood, hand hewn and polished by years of walking feet. The walls were cut stone blocks. They bore the imprint of hard manual labor that produced them.

Sunlight filtered through narrow windows what were designed to be easy to rest in and fire arrows out at attackers, while being the next thing to impossible to get an arrow back through.

Miriah pointed to a wall. "Computer. There is a standard Starfleet comm screen there." The computer beeped and an anachronistic view screen faded in. "And one there, too." Another one joined the first.

Stacy and Patton sat down at a rough wooden table. Miriah joined them. "Computer add these screens into ship wide comm system and accept incoming conference request."

The Computer beeped and suddenly the large face of Admiral Turkhan appeared on one screen with Captain Mitchell and Talia Odan. Commander Stroud and Genevieve Quest were on the other screen and appeared to be in a conference room on the Endeavor.

"We have an update from the Fulcrum." Turkhan said without preamble. "The Kaa have made a big push. A fleet is headed for a Hegemony world named Desjaero. All five of their dreadnoughts and assorted escorts, troop transports, the whole works. They mean to take Desjaero and hold onto it for a while."

"What is the Fulcrum Alliance doing about it, Sir?" Stroud asked.

Turkhan said, "They're rushing everything they have to the area. Lead elements will engage in harassment and hit and run attacks until they have enough ships in the area to launch a successful counter attack."

"Does that include us?" Mitchell asked.

"I am considering that right now." Turkhan said. "Even if we turn around and head for Desjaero right now, we would miss the first battle, but we could take part in the counter attack. But there is evidence that this attack is a distraction, designed to get the Endeavor and Gemini to stop our raids and return to front line battle against those battleships."

"What evidence is that, Sir?" Patton said.

"Desjaero is not a military target. It's a heavily populated world, but otherwise offers the Kaa empire nothing. There is not much war production going on there. It's not heavily defended. They won't catch any Fulcrum capital ships in port. In short this offers them nothing except a change to initiate a battle on their own terms." Turkhan explained.

Patton nodded.

"How many people live on Desjaero?" Talia asked.

Turkhan looked sour. "About a billion."

"Will they be able to throw off the Kaa fleet without us?" Stroud asked.

"Yes." Turkhan said.

"With heavier losses." Patton pointed out. "And it will take more time for the Fulcrum to assemble a large enough fleet to accomplish the goal, giving the Kaa more time at Desjaero."

"That's the punchline." Turkhan said.

Miriah stood up and spoke very clearly "I recommend that we make best speed for Desjaero."

Mitchell spoke up. "I concur Admiral."

Patton spoke. "If we destroy or disable enough of the Kaa fleet this could be the decisive battle of the war."

Talia Odan spoke. "It may be ruthless, but the Kaa just invited us to take out every military installation in their own empire. By concentrating their fleet some where else, they've given us carte blanche to attack what and where we will. If we can do enough damage now with the Kaa fleet away, their war effort would collapse. And the Fulcrum Alliance would be in a much better position to demand concessions and dictate terms at the end of the day."

"True. But at the cost of letting the Kaa abuse a billion people at Desjaero." Stroud pointed out.

"I have made my decision," Turkhan announced. "We head for Desjaero. Although Commander Odan's point makes sense, the fact is that rushing to the rescue is better for our PR in the Fulcrum and more ethically supportable. Let's get to work."

"Aye Sir. " Mitchell said, cutting his connection.

"Acknowledged." Miriah said. "Computer, end conference." With a beep the screens in the castle went dark.

-*-

"That was a rough point to make, Talia." Mitchell said to his first officer. "Thanks for carrying the water on that one."

Talia shrugged. "Will could be a tin plated son of a bitch sometimes." Mitchell was surprised to hear Earth curses coming out of Trill's mouth. "Will?"

Talia smiled faintly. "One of my old hosts. He had a talent for this stuff."

"Do you get more hosts when I'm not looking? I'm sure you reference more of them every time I turn around." Mitchell grinned.

Talia smirked "I'm just a Trill who can't say no to a joining. I love this stuff."

-*-

The battle to liberate Desjaero was bloody and difficult for both sides. In the Game of War the Fulcrum Alliance won while the Kaa Empire lost. However, the real losers of the situation were the people of Desjaero. Once the Kaa fleet had been destroyed or run off, it took Fulcrum ground forces weeks to run down all the Kaa soldiers who put up a desperate guerilla war to survive. The people of Desjaero paid through the nose for every bit of it.

After this it was time for the peace conference.

-*-

Back at the Fulcrum starships were scattered all over the surface of the station, in various states of repair and refit. The Endeavor and the Gemini were along what was being called the Federation facing, at their customary docking locations.

Admiral Turkhan looked at the Romulan Warbird in the main viewer. It was an impressive sight. The Romulan Warbirds were huge, twice as long as a Galaxy class starship. They carried thousands of crew and troops. No one knew just how powerful their weaponry and shielding were but recent briefings had said to expect them to be as powerful as their Federation counterparts.

"What's the Warbird doing?" Turkhan asked.

Ensign Carter the new Ops officer replied. "They're beaming the new Romulan representative and his party into the station."

Turkhan grinned. "Now the game gets very interesting.

-*-

The main meeting chamber of the Fulcrum Station was huge. It was almost an amphitheater.. Slightly more than half a circle with a seating capacity of 2000 beings. Today it was segregated into seats for representatives of the Fulcrum and other interested parties down towards the front, and spectators and civilian interested parties up and to the rear of the thing.

Today the Kaa and the Fulcrum would begin the slow and difficult process of hammering out a peace accord that some hoped would last a while.

Turkhan meant to lend the weight of the Federation to seeing that this would happen. He entered the conference room and looked around at all the races there. They were all small fry and he was the big fish. Turkhan grinned. He was winning the big game., and it felt good. He walked down near the front of the conference room to his place near the center of things, with his Captains in tow.

Lost in his thoughts, Turkhan bumped into the representative from the Kronin. The Kronin were a humanoid but not human people. They had a militaristic society that was long on order and efficiency, and short on civil rights. Because they were a slaver race, the had not been offered a seat on the Fulcrum Alliance. They had become informal allies against the Kaa and were now considered an Interested party. Their technology was not the highest in the Fulcrum region. Their fleet not the biggest. However, their effectiveness in combat was very good.

Turkhan said "Excuse me." He thought momentarily about how the Kronin were really small fry despite their military pretensions. They were goose stepping self-important small fry and when he was in position properly, Turkhan decided to apply every pressure he could bring to bear to get them to get into line and get with the program of society as the Federation saw it.

The Kronin that Turkhan had bumped into was a wall. About two meters tall, this Kronin was all trunk. He looked at Turkhan coldly with ice blue, almond shaped eyes for a few moments and then said. "I am offended."

Turkhan nodded and thought the "Easier right now to play nice. He'll know who the boss is eventually." What he said was "I sincerely apologize if I have given any offense."

The Kronin was implacable and immovable. "Your thoughts are deeply offensive."

Turkhan boggled. "My what?"

Mitchell looked very grim indeed. "Sir, the Kronin are telepathic."

"Ah." Turkhan said desperately "Then I most sincerely and deeply apologize!" His thoughts were not terribly coherent at that moment.

"This requires satisfaction. I challenge you to a duel." The Kronin said, simply.

Turkhan could feel his eyes bug out. "Now, really- Er," err of the side of caution "General, surely there's some way I can apologize to you and satisfy-"

"I am General Stalgari Tesral yiEryian. Meet me on the field of honor, or be revealed as the coward and the scoundrel I know you to be."

Turkhan blinked. He noticed that most of the delegates to the conference had stopped and were now watching the confrontation. That last thing that Turkhan wanted to do was to get involved in some adolescent pissing contest. That was no way for grown men to behave. Now Turkhan's public honor was now on the line. If he blew off the Kronin's challenge then his public honor and therefore credibility would be shot. He'd be out of the game, permanently. "Ah, ah."

Turkhan looked at Captain Katasai briefly. He could send her in as his champion. She'd survived and won in hand-to-hand against a Klingon Warlord. Surely. No. Turkhan knew that sending in one of his subordinates would be seen for just what it was. Cowardice. He had to face this head on, or it would defeat him like he'd never been defeated before. Turkhan's mouth went dry. "o- Okay. Where and when?"

"One hour. Usually it would be a day or more but I don't want to disrupt the peace conference. The Fulcrum has suitable facilities. I will have my adjutant contact your second with the exact time and place." The Kronin said.

Mitchell nodded. "I guess I'm the second." Mitchell, Katasai and Malone were all thinking exactly the same thing. That this would be great fun if only the circumstances were different. Getting their Admiral killed in an honor duel did not look good on the resume.

The Kronin looked at Turkhan. "The weapon will be short blades. I will give you a chance."

Turkhan said vaguely "uh huh.."

The Kronin tuned and walked away. Turkhan found himself shaking and weak kneed.

-*-

In a gymnasium in the bowels of Fulcrum Station, Turkhan stood in exercise tights and sweated profusely. He was filled with fear. This was not the way he wanted to be spending his afternoon.

The Captains were with him, as well as the security chiefs, and Doctor Walter O'Reilly, the chief Medical Officer of the Gemini. O'Reilly had made his opinion of the duel plain, and once it became clear he wasn't going to dissuade anyone he shut up about it and made the necessary preparations.

A Fassani was there, a gray one with a very personable attitude and a holo camera.

"Is that really necessary?" Captain Malone asked him sharply.

"I'm the pool coverage. This is restrained. If I weren't here, you'd be buried in the press. We felt that a more restrained coverage was more appropriate."

"Thank goodness for small favors." Malone said acidly.

General Stalgari Tesral yiEryian walked in with his retinue. He was still in his uniform. His right arm was bare as was the custom among the Kronin.

Without preamble, The Kronin walked up to the mat, bowed and took his place on it. "Whenever you're ready, Admiral."

Turkhan's mind suddenly went into competition mode. He'd come this far against all manner of opposition and difficulty. Turkhan did not believe that he'd come so far to be stopped now. He was the golden boy. The Winner. If he went into this duel with confidence and his natural talents then he'd win. It was in his nature. He was a winner.

He stepped onto the mat and took up a relaxed parade rest pose. "I'm ready."

The General's adjutant stepped forward with a weapons case. He opened it towards Turkhan. The Admiral looked at the long straight daggers, but couldn't tell any difference between them. He took the top one.

In a Starfleet that routinely faced Klingons, hand-to-hand combat training was fairly heavily emphasized. Turkhan felt confident that his years of training and practice gave him the skills he needed to over come the Kronin General.

The General just looked at Turkhan matter of factly. The Second gave the General the other knife. He back off the Mat and said. "Are both sides ready?"

The General nodded. Turkhan said "Yes."

The Second called out "Lay on!"

Turkhan stepped in and feinted through a couple of attacks trying to judge the General's hand speed. The results were encouraging. The General had a lot of momentum going for him but that hampered his reaction time.

The General counter attacked, becoming for all intents and purposes a bulldozer with a sharp, pointy thing hidden somewhere on him. He held the knife in close and turned his shoulder. This caused Turkhan to loose track of the knife, which unnerved him.

Turkhan spun away from the Kronin General who followed Turkhan. Turkhan reached out and deliberately made a shallow swipe at the General. He hit, causing a small wound, that bled.

Against any other combatant this idea might have worked. Turkhan was hoping to distract the General with some pain and the awareness of bleeding. People who didn't spend a lot of time fighting found this sort of early injury distracting and a little demoralizing.

The General ignored it and kept coming. Turkhan kept backing and swiped again. The General blocked slowly but effectively. He swiped back and Turkhan now had a cut down one of his arms.

Turkhan backed off the mat trying to stay out of the General's grasp. When they backed off the mat, everyone but the Kronin party expected a time out to be called to get the match back onto the mat.

Mitchell looked at the Kronin second meaningfully. The Second looked back blandly. The message was plain. Once the match was started Turkhan was free to run the entire length of the Fulcrum station if he thought it would do any good.

Turkhan stopped back pedaling. He hadn't looked at the layout of the gym closely enough and didn't want to back into anything. He stepped in and fired off a snappy kick at the General's groin. The General turned his hip to block, Turkhan took the block and used to momentum to go into spin. He whipped around and dug an elbow sharply into the General's side There was a noise like hitting a padded bass drum. Turkhan recovered and stepped back. He'd laid a serious hurt on the General That was some pain a serious bruise, perhaps a cracked rib or two.

The General considered this for half a second and then put it aside and came back after Turkhan. The Admiral's face fell. The General had been hurt but just put it aside. "This is going to take a while." Turkhan thought to himself.

The General pressed an attack. The moved into Turkhan trying for a shoulder block. With his build the General had probably successfully shoulder checked tanks. Turkhan didn't wait for it. He accepted the charge and then spun. What was it that was said about fighting telepaths? Don't think, fight. Don't consider any move. Simply do what comes naturally and do it quickly. If you find yourself halfway through a move before you know what you're doing then the telepath won't know in advance either.

Turkhan launched a kick combination. One kick, two kicks-

The Admiral's face exploded and he found himself on the deck. "What the -!?" he thought. There was an impression of a starship sized elbow in his brain somewhere.

Then he was pinned. Turkhan writhed but could not break free. The General was far too heavy.

"NO!" Turkhan screamed. This simply could not be happening!

Then there as a terrible pain as the Kronin General shoved his dagger through Turkhan's chest. Turkhan didn't believe anything could hurt that much until the General twisted the dagger and yanked it back out, causing even worse damage.

The next few moments took an eternity for Turkhan. "I guess you're not the golden boy after all, are you?" His brain whispered. Through the pain perspective came to Turkhan. He was just one arrogant little monkey with spangles on his chest who'd been done in by another over a small time dominance issue. Turkhan saw himself clearly and didn't like what he saw. His people, despite the abuse he'd heaped upon them were rushing ever so slowly to his aid.

Turkhan knew he was dying and hated the idea. He loved his life. He loved living. He regretted like hell that it took dying for him to figure out what it was that he enjoyed about it.

He looked at the slowly retreating back of the General. He experienced a mix of blackest hate and anger and a certain amount of gratitude. He'd been shown the truth. How ironic that he was dead before he could do anything with it.

The General turned at the thought. He looked at Turkhan. There was some sort of understanding there.

Things faded away. "No!" Turkhan thought "I can still beat this!" He knew it was hollow. He knew he was done beating things. Blackness engulfed him.

-*-

O'Reilly was first to Turkhan's side. Scanner out. "He's flat lined! Endeavor, go!"

O'Reilly and Turkhan sparkled away.

Mitchell said "Excuse me." To the General.

The general turned. He was beginning to sweat now, his exertion catching up with him. He also seemed a little pained as he turned.

"Admiral Turkhan was under my protection, General, By injuring him in this duel you have dishonored me." Mitchell said

"Kevin!" Miriah barked. Turkhan was a healthy man in good physical condition, with some clues about physical combat. General Stalgari Tesral yiEryian had taken him down in under thirty seconds. Kevin still moved stiffly and sometimes required a cane from his last deadly encounter with a master martial artist. Moreover, the Doctor who'd saved him that time was now busy trying to save Admiral Turkhan.

"Stand down, Captain." Mitchell said quietly.

The General turned and looked Mitchell in the eye. "I offer you satisfaction. Name your terms."

"Half an hour. I don't want to delay the conference unnecessarily. The place is the blue fish bar. The weapon. Alcohol." Mitchell said calmly.

Everyone looked at Mitchell stunned. Alcohol as a dueling weapon? Miriah snorted and had to turn around to cover her grin.

The General cocked his head to the side. He hadn't thought of that before. Nevertheless, he had confidence that at two meters and nearly 150 kilograms, he had enough body mass to outlast the crippled human.

"I will be there." The General said.

-*-

Captain Malone represented the Federation at the peace conference that after noon. Not a lot of business was done. Everyone knew now that Kronin simply didn't booze it up a lot. It was being passed around now that if you felt that you were in danger of being challenged that you preemptively challenged the Kronin and named booze as your weapon. Honor was served and both parties could reasonably expect to get out of the duel alive.

The Federation's honor was intact, as well as Captain Mitchell's although it might be a day or so until he was capable of returning to duty. General Stalgari Tesral yiEryian had a more difficult recovery path ahead of him. Not being a strong drinker, his hang over promised to be much worse.

Late that evening, the doctors of the Gemini and Endeavor reported that they'd successfully implanted an artificial heart into Admiral Turkhan and that he might live through his encounter after all.

-*-

Miriah walked up to a table where Suvmar was eating in the Garden restaurant on the third deck of the atrium.

"Hello, Captain." Suvmar said He was a former Romulan Science officer.

"Suvmar." Miriah said sitting. "How are you?"

Suvmar shrugged. "Surprisingly well, all things considered. I have been interrogated very thoroughly. Questioned on every aspect of my time with you and here at the Fulcrum. They haven't disappeared me, yet. They probably consider me a security risk, but for right now I am a useful one."

Miriah said "That's nice. Are going to stay useful to them?"

Suvmar grinned. "I think I can manage it. I know more about the Fulcrum than they do, And because I am science officer, I'm the one with the knowledge and skill to explore the Fulcrum further for them. As long as I am a useful tool and continue to behave as a loyal Romulan citizen, I should live through this."

Miriah nodded. "You can come with us, you know. To the Federation."

Suvmar shook his head. "I would never have been happy there. I would always have been an alien and an outsider. Here, if I do things just right, I may be able to go home again. The Fulcrum is now tied into the Romulan communications net, so I can get messages to and from my family at home."

"Good." Miriah said. "I wanted to make the offer, just in case. I hope things work out for the best for you."

"Thanks. I have high hopes that they will." Suvmar said. "It would be better if we did not speak again so openly. It could have negative repercussions for me."

Miriah nodded. "Okay. Is it alright if I write you? The Fulcrum is hooked into the Federation communications network, too."

Suvmar nodded. "I think that would be alright. I suspect that my activities will be watched from here on in. Don't write anything to me that you can't afford to have the Romulan High Command hear. They'll be eavesdropping even if I don't report every word to them. And I will, It's the only way for me to prove that I'm loyal."

Miriah stood up. "I understand. Good luck, Suvmar. I wish you happiness in your life."

Suvmar stood himself. "And you, Miriah. Fare well."

Miriah turned and left the restaurant.

The surveillance playback ended. The Romulan Ambassador looked up at his political officer. "What do you think, Ranaveal?"

The Political officer looked sour. "He is definitely compromised. He has formed a friendship with the outsiders. I rate him a severe risk."

"Do you think we can use him to explore the Fulcrum and report accurately to us?" The Ambassador asked.

"For a while at least. His profile suggests that he will try to curry favor with the Empire by doing his job well." The Political Officer said. "We can use him for a while. However, his acceptance of alien cultures is already too high. As he gets exposed to them more and more I expect him to weaken and move into active betrayal of the Empire."

The Ambassador nodded thoughtfully. "Then we'll use him as much as we can before we have to get rid of him. His crew?"

The Political Officer shrugged. "More renditions of basically same story. We can use them in the short term. I don't trust a single one of them."

The Ambassador grinned. "You never trust anyone. It's your job to be distrust everyone."

Ranaveal looked him in the eye coldly. "Don't forget it."

-*-

Admiral Turkhan walked stiffly into the main meeting room of the Fulcrum Committee. All the races and stellar nations that lent their support to the Fulcrum project had seats there, as well as a handful of observers in an "interested parties" area.

A curved concave table allowed all members of the Fulcrum committee to address each other or to pay attention to a being addressing them. There were huge view screens on either side of the room so that data could be displayed clearly to all participants and observers.

He walked up to the table, and stood in the middle of the of the presentation area. "As the Federation representative, I would like to address the Fulcrum committee, please."

Mr. Heron, the Fassani representative to the Fulcrum and its civilian administrator looked at Turkhan for a few moments. He looked at the other representatives to the Fulcrum. "Is there an objection?"

No one spoke, although most looked sour. Under the deal negotiated by the Federation Admiral the Federation was now big dog around the Fulcrum. If had gotten them through the war with the Kaa and now it was time to pay the piper.

The Romulan Representative looked bland and smug. He had the power to demand equal time and concessions to the Federation and he knew it. Anything that Turkhan got from the council, he would get, too.

"Gentlebeings of the Fulcrum Steering Committee," Turkhan said. It was a prepared statement, "as the representative to the Fulcrum, I formally renounce any and all special status accorded to the United Federation of Planets by our earlier agreement. As the representative of the Federation I tell you that my government would like to join the Fulcrum project as a fully supporting and voting member. However we understand that the Fulcrum is an expensive project, required not only the peaceful and communicative intentions of all participants, but their unstinting material and economic support as well. We stand ready to pay the price of admission and play by the rules you have established for this peaceful and diplomatic enterprise, as an equal partner."

The representatives looked stunned. Mr. Heron fluffed up quite a bit and his eyes were shining. The Romulan Representative looked unhappy. So much for demanding parity with the Federation.

Mr. Heron said "Forgive me, Admiral Turkhan but this seems to represent a serious change of attitude from your Federation."

Turkhan shrugged eloquently. "Not so much of the Federation as of myself. I was not paying enough attention, frankly, to the principles of my Federation. Several people advised me of this, but it was the Kronin representative's opinion that really opened my eyes."

That remark got a chuckle. Turkhan's defeat at the hands of the Kronin general had been widely broadcast.

"Alright then." Mr. Heron said "Resolved: The United Federation of Planets requests to join the Fulcrum Project as an equal member."

The debate was short despite spirited opposition from the Romulans, supported by statements from the Kronin and the Kaa.

-*-

The Purple Lady was a small scout/attack ship from the old Zejoran Authority Space Navy. A sleek wedge shape with no nonsense gun ports and engines. The Purple Lady had been rebuilt and modified so often that no Zejoran technician would have recognized her insides. She had been painted iridescent purple at some point in her civilian career and the distinctive paint scheme had come and gone as convenient for ZanKaye and his crew. Now it was back and more probably than not on a permanent basis.

After the recent fighting it was time for more rebuilding and upgrades to the gallant old ship.

In the engine room Kara was trying to get the new pieces she'd just had manufactured at the Fulcrum to fit in the obsolete spaces of the old ship. She was dressed in a cover all, covered with grease and sweaty from a long day of work.

"Your Highness?" A voice said behind her.

Kara whirled to find Turkhan standing in her engine room. He was holding a small case at his side. She drew herself up and subconsciously gripped the tools she was using tighter in case she needed an improvised weapon.

Before Kara could shout or hiss or otherwise express her anger with the man, He dropped to one knee in front of her. "I humbly and abjectly beg your forgiveness." He said.

Kara's anger was almost derailed. "Is this some sort of joke?"

"No. I was wrong. You were right. I was anxious about controlling every inch of my turf and through my short sightedness, I hurt you. I know this now and I hope that you can see it in your heart to forgive me."

Kara stared at him uncertain of what to do. She wasn't used to men throwing themselves to their knees at her and was uncertain how to handle it. "be gracious, of course." Her mother's ghost whispered as it usually did in these sorts of situations.

"Stand up and speak to me, Admiral." She said.

Turkhan got up, stiffly and said "What would you like me to talk to you about?"

"What's in this apology for you? From what I have heard you're the type who measures the cost of everything and always makes sure he comes out ahead. Tell me how this is in your interest." Kara said.

Turkhan thought about it for a moment. "I was hoping to hire you and the crew of the Purple Lady to be my personal fact finders and body guards while I'm here at the Fulcrum. But that's not really it. What's in this for me is whether or not I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I did the right thing. It's about whether or not I can be at least a little proud of myself."

"Throwing yourself to you knees in front of me is a salve to your pride?" Kara said harshly. No Thelonite Officer or Gentleman would have done so as readily.

Turkhan looked her right in the eye. "If it's the right thing to do, yes."

That caught Kara unprepared. She found herself softening to the Admiral. She wanted to support his new attitude about doing the right thing.

"If I were to appoint myself your conscience, what would you say to that, Admiral?" Kara challenged.

Turkhan looked at her seriously. "I think that would be excellent."

Kara nodded. "Then your apology is accepted. However I advise you to find Captain Malone and Commander Westin and apologize to them as well."

Turkhan held the case out to her. "They recommended I give you these."

Kara opened the case. Inside were a bright, shiny pair of golden rank pips. Older ones, the type used on the Prometheus. They were lieutenant's pips. There was also an old fashioned Starfleet badge and a medal.

Kara looked up at the Admiral "I have a job. I do not need to return to Starfleet."

Turkhan nodded. "I understand that. These are yours anyway. These represent your previous service. Your service will be noted in the logs as a commission that you have voluntarily resigned. This one," Turkhan noted the medal "is a meritorious service medal with three clusters noting specific incidents. Captain Malone and Commander Westin recommended it. Captains Katasai and Mitchell reviewed the documentation and recommended the award. This represents the thanks of the Federation, Starfleet, myself, and the crew of the Prometheus for your help in getting them home."

Kara took the case. "Thank you. What if I had chased you away from here?"

Turkhan shrugged "I would have sent them back with Captain Malone and a very earnest note."

Kara nodded. She must be tired. Her eyesight was getting blurry. "I guess I am one of you Starfleet people now."

Turkhan said "You always were. It just took me a while to see it."

"Please tell Captain Malone that I would like to see her before she leaves to return to the Federation." Kara said quietly.

"I'll tell her. However, as a former Starfleet officer you are welcome aboard any Starfleet ship or base as a default state. Don't feel you can't come into the Endeavor after her." Turkhan noted.

"Thank you." Kara said.

"And thank you." Turkhan replied.

-*-

On his way out of the Purple Lady, Turkhan spoke to ZanKaye, "I'd like to hire you and your people as body guards for me and fact finders for the Federation. Think we can discuss it?"

ZanKaye looked at him sideways. "That depends on what Kara recommends."

Turkhan nodded and left the Purple Lady.

-*-

"Are we ready to go?" Miriah asked.

"Yes, Captain." Brekka Di replied. "All systems are working with in specifications and everyone who's returning to the Federation is aboard."

Miriah turned to Patton "Status of the Gemini?"

Patton checked his board. "They have just requested permission to undock from Fulcrum Control. Permission has been granted. They are undocking."

"Open a channel to the Fulcrum." Miriah said.

"Endeavor, this is Fulcrum Control." The voice was Commander Ken-Los-Phar the military and emergency commander of Fulcrum Station.

"Fulcrum Control The USS Endeavor requests permission to undock and maneuver." Miriah said formally.

"Permission granted. May the spirits bless your journey, Captain." Ken-Los-Phar replied.

"Thank you. And may the spirits bless you and the Fulcrum as well." Miriah said.

The Endeavor undocked and moved on thruster a little way from the station.

Kevin Mitchell appeared on the screen. "The Gemini is preparing to go to warp, Endeavor. We'll see you at the rendezvous."

"Take care of yourselves, Gemini." Miriah said. "Stay in touch and we'll see you at Starbase 94."

The smaller cruiser went to warp with streaks of light and an explosion of energy.

"Set our course and engage for home." Miriah said.

-*-

The trip home was relatively uneventful. "Relatively" being the key part of the phrase.

The Endeavor and the Gemini took different but parallel courses home. This was to add to the knowledge of the corridor between the Fulcrum region and the Federation, still mostly unexplored space.

Eventually the two starships met at the edge of the Great Spiral to proceed on to Starbase 94 together.

-*-

Stardate: 51254.6

"Contact." Joe the Scan said.

"Identify." Stroud said.

"Federation Starships. Three beacons now." Joe reported. "No, four. Four Federation Starships approaching us."

Stroud looked surprised. Four starships was usually more than one saw on a simple escort mission.

Stroud looked impressed. "That's quite a welcoming committee. Call the Captain to the Bridge. How long until they reach communications range?"

"About 15 minutes at our combined rate of closure." Joe reported.

Stroud sighed. "Okay. It's show time."

-*-

Miriah gathered her wits by main force of will. She was happily asleep until the alert came. Usually she woke up quite able to fight, but less able to think.

"We are in hailing range. We are being hailed." Patton reported. "It's a wide band hail aimed at both us and the Gemini."

"Accept the Hail." Miriah said.

Instantly her viewscreen was filled with five windows, each with a different face in it.

One face spoke, He was Bajoran-oid with ridges on the bridge of his nose. That marked him as a native of the Great Spiral. He had a steely glint to his eyes and distinguished stripes of gray in his hair. "Greetings, I am Captain Veirtain of the USS Caractalla. Endeavor and Gemini I inquire as to your current status."

Miriah nodded "I'm Captain Katasai of the starship Endeavor. We're fine over here. The crew is good shape and the ship is operational given our long cruise."

In another window on the main view screen Kevin Mitchell took up the introduction. "Kevin Mitchell here of the Starship Gemini. All's ship shape, no hostages, terrorists or alien influences that we can detect. How about yourselves?"

With great interest Miriah noted that one of the ship's Captains was Cidi.

"I am Zevmar Kerkoorien," An Andorian wearing Commander's pips said "I command the USS T'Salk. I am pleased to meet you, and report that all is well with my ship."

A face reminiscent of nothing so much as a Turtle was the next one. It hissed and gurgled and the Computer obediently repeated its words in Standard. "I am Captain Rielm, of the USS Pershing. I have heard much of the adventures of the Endeavor and the Gemini. I hope we can find time to speak in depth that I may hear of your adventures first hand. I am pleased, however, to report my own ship is boring and uninteresting at this time, all functioning as expected."

Miriah smirked at the translator's handling of the Rigellian's syntax, always a challenge for any computer.

"I am Captain Maku Pani Eryu, of the Pride-of-Cidi." The brown furry face with its large and deep brown button eyes seemed normal sized on the screen, but Miriah knew that the owner of the face was some where in the vicinity of five inches tall. "It am very pleased to meet you Captain Katasai, and relieved to hear that all is well with you and you companions on the Gemini. May I ask as to the status of the Cidi citizens on your crew?"

"I am pleased to meet you Captain Eryu." Miriah said honestly. It seemed a life time ago that she'd visited the Cidi, but it was just a touch less than a year, now. "Most of the Cidi travelling with us are fine and have been an invaluable asset to us on our mission. It is with regret that I must report that two Cidi citizens have fallen since we began our mission. I will be forwarding their remains and a full report to the Cidi government as soon as we reach Starbase."

The Cidi Captain nodded "Thank you Captain. I look forwarding to receiving the reports of the Cidi who have been honored to serve with you."

Captain Veirtain spoke up. "Captains Katasai and Mitchell, our group has been sent to escort you back to Starbase 94. We will reach your position in approximately ninety minutes. May I request a slow down to warp six to allow the group to stay together?"

Miriah looked at her Chief Engineer who was at her bridge station. A rare occurrence. Genevieve usually could only be found at her when something interesting was happening that didn't tax the ship. "Will that pose any problems, Genevieve?"

"No, Captain. The only draw back is that we reach Starbase 94 in ten days rather than four." Genevieve answered.

"I suppose We can live through that." Miriah said, turning back to the great Spiral Captain. "If Captain Mitchell has no difficulties, then I think we can accommodate you, Captain."

"No problems here, Captain." Mitchell said. "We'll hook up with you and head on into Starbase 94 in style."

Veirtain nodded. "I invite the Captains to my ship for a breakfast and informal debriefing. Will 0800 hours be a good time for everyone?"

Miriah was prepared to reluctantly agree. A couple more hours of sleep would be nice, but being polite was higher on the priority tree.

Mitchell saved her "Actually Captain, My ship's clock is reading 0145. Can we have a brunch at 1000 hours instead? I can't speak for Miriah but for myself beauty rest is critical. I wouldn't want to frighten your crew."

Veirtain grinned "A brunch at 1000 it is."

Miriah spoke up. "We have Captain Malone of the Prometheus here, too Captain. Would you like me to extend the invitation to her?"

"Certainly. She is welcome." Veirtain answered.

"Well, good. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to bed and let my night watch get us set up to travel to the Starbase. Good night everyone. It was a pleasure meeting you." Mitchell said.

"Good night Kevin." Miriah said, with similar sentiments echoes by the rest of the Captains.

The Subspace conference was ended and the screen went back to the star field and the close up view of the Starship Caractalla heading right for them.

-*-

"Captain, you might want to take a look at this." Daniel Mannix said.

"What's that, Daniel?" Mitchell yawned.

Mannix put his tactical scans on the main screen. "This is a scan of the USS T'Salk. The Pershing is about the same."

Mitchell rallied and tried to focus.

"Oh, sweet space." Talia Odan said sadly. "They've gone and done it."

Mitchell looked at the scan of a very small ship, but a very powerful one. The scans were shielded against in the hull, so the details were lacking, but the focus was plain. The USS T'Salk was a gunboat. All engine and what Kevin could only assume were guns. The scan read a cramped seventy-five people aboard in a space that was less than one quarter of his own ship's.

"What in the hell is that thing?" Mitchell asked, puzzled. It hardly had any space at all aboard it and no allowance at all for doing the things starships customarily did.

Talia spoke "It's an attack ship, Captain. One of my hosts saw some specs for something like this once. It's a dedicated warship. They'll have little or no cruise or science capability. These two ships are about hunting down and destroying other ships. Nothing else."

Mitchell looked at the tactical scan carefully. "Hmmm."

"But I thought Starfleet didn't build warships as a matter of principle." Stacey Tolliver, the Gemini's Chief Engineer said.

Talia sighed. "We didn't used to."

"I want to find out what the hell is up with this. But it'll wait until tomorrow." Mitchell decided. "I'm off to bed. Talia, please get used synched up with the battle group out there, and then hit the hay yourself. I'd like you watching my back tomorrow."

Talia and the rest of the bridge looked at him. "You distrust Starfleet vessels, Sir?" Mannix asked, shocked at the very idea.

Mitchell laughed. "Oh, I trust them. I fought in one war with the reservists from the great spiral a few years ago. It's just that between their attitudes and the warships out there, they may start saluting at me. If they do that I may have to come to attention and return the salute. Then I'll have to call Dr. O'Reilly to beam me back and unstick my spine."

Mitchell leaned up the ramp to the back of the bridge and shuffled up it like an old man. "And none of us wants to have to see that."

Talia smiled fondly at her captain's back. Working with Mitchell was like being commanded by your favorite old uncle. It was a very unusual style, but Mitchell was good at it. Part of her wondered how he'd handle it if circumstances worked out so that he had to order members of his ship board family to their deaths. Mitchell was all in all from a kinder and gentler Starfleet. Talia didn't think things were going to stay kind and gentle for long is Starfleet Command found reason to build Defiant class gunboats

Mitchell entered the Turbolift with a swish and Talia chided herself for ruminating too much.

-*-

"If we'd had the fleet outside back at the Fulcrum," Miriah explained. "It would have been a much shorter and more convenient war. For us."

"What's going on Miriah? Why would Starfleet feel the need to build gunboats like that?" Malone asked disturbed.

Miriah shrugged. "My guess is that we're expecting a war."

"With whom?" Malone asked.

"I have no idea. When we left the Klingon Empire was thinking about having a war with the Cardassians. There were rising tensions and cross border raids. However, the Klingons would not want our help in a war they started, nor would we give it to them. That much is plain in the treaty. The Romulans were involved in a Klingon civil war, about six years ago. If anyone was going to do something I'd look at them but the Romulans are still tied up in their Romulan stuff. Their involvement in the Klingon Civil War was actually very small and carefully leveraged. The Romulans like to cause trouble when they can but don't seem to have a lot of resources free to back it up with. No one else is in a position to pick a war with us and have it last more than a few weeks. The only other explanation would be the Borg. And we've heard nothing from them since we drove them away from Earth." Miriah said.

Malone shuddered "I hope it's not the Borg. They scare me just from the records."

Miriah was dubious. "We've beaten the Borg once. We can do it again."

The two Captains entered the Endeavor's transporter room. Miriah was wearing her normal duty uniform while Malone was wearing a conservatively cut civilian business suit in dark blue. Malone was off duty as a Starfleet officer and wanted to stay well clear of the Endeavor's chain of command, as much as possible.

Commanders Stroud and Westin were there. Westin was back in uniform. He'd appointed himself Stroud's backup exec. The two men seemed to work well enough for it not to be a serious problem.

"Are we ready to go?" Malone asked Westin. It was an old habit. Westin checked the Transporter console. It was programmed to keep careful track of the two captain's comm-badges. Not enough of a lock to be visible to the sensors of the hosting ship, but enough so they could quickly get and maintain a lock and beam their people away, unless the Caractalla prevented them.

"We're watching over you." Westin said. "Try not to get into trouble."

The two Captains stepped up to the Transporter pads and beamed over to the USS Caractalla.

-*-

A Bajoran-oid woman met them with short black hair and an intense attitude. "Captain Katasai and." the woman seemed taken aback by Malone.

"This is Captain Malone of the Prometheus." Miriah said.

"Oh, uh, I apologize, Captain. I wasn't expecting you to be out of uniform. I am Lieutenant Commander Geogavan, the First Officer. Captain Mitchell has already beamed aboard, And Captain Veirtain is in the main lounge with him. If you'll follow me I'll take you there."

Miriah noted that Lt. Commander Geogavan was wearing the mostly gray uniform of the reserve. As they left she asked the woman. "I'm sorry if the question is inappropriate, but you're on full time duty here on the Caractalla, Aren't you?"

Geogavan nodded shortly. "Yes, Captain. I am a fully qualified Command officer if that's what you're thinking. I just haven't been able to get to Earth to do the regulation courses for Commander's rank."

Miriah said "I wasn't questioning your professional qualifications, Commander. If you weren't qualified you wouldn't be here. I was wondering why you're still on reserve status if you're serving as a full time officer."

Geogavan replied seriously "The terms of my service as a reservist are different than if I went full time. Besides it doesn't make all that much difference, does it? We're all one fleet."

Miriah nodded. "True. Please forgive my intrusion."

Geogavan smiled faintly, as if she had a limited amount of smiling allocated in her life time and was planning to be very happy later in life. "There was no intrusion at all."

The Corridors of the Caractalla were of the newer rectangular design, rather than the older hexagon cross section of the Endeavor. Miriah found the difference a little disconcerting but only for a few moments.

The Main Lounge of the Caractalla was as large as the one on the Endeavor and if anything even better appointed. At a large table underneath huge forward looking windows, the other Captains sat.

They stood to welcome the new arrivals and then everyone was seated.

Introductions were made all around. Miriah was charmed to see the Cidi Captain seated in a Cidi sized table and chair in the space to her immediate right. Although the Cidi still occasionally made her hungry Miriah was finding that reaction came less and less and that she enjoyed the company of the Cidi more and more.

Captain Veirtain said "We've been hearing about some of your adventures Captains. I hope you don't mind if we bombard you with questions. We're all relatively new to command, and we find your experiences fascinating."

"You're all new commanders?" Malone asked.

Veirtain replied "Well no. I am actually a long time Destroyer commander. My last Command was the Fifteenth Destroyer Group, The Trebberhorn Raiders. We made long patrols, fought pirates and even the odd Ilshani Raider. I was in command of one of the Destroyers that was sent to reinforce the Endeavor in the Phoenix Sector during the war there."

"Really? I never got to say thank you for that properly." Mitchell said. "You guys really made all the difference in that conflict."

"But the majority of the destruction that the PDs suffered was inflicted by you and the Endeavor. All we did was to hold you cloaks while you went and fought." Veirtain said.

Miriah spoke firmly "The Endeavor couldn't be in two places at once. Because you were there to cover places like Chelsea, Avatar Belt and Rhad, that left us free to take the war to the Phoenix Domain and that's what won it for all of us. Videga, Shiva and Winterjewel especially owe you their thanks. They were liberated from the Phoenix Domain and that's because of people like you."

Veirtain Smiled and said. "Then on behalf of myself, my ship mates and my fellow destroyer crew people I accept your thanks. I will pass it on. In those old slow boats it's to easy to talk yourself into feeling marginalized. Like no one knows what you do or especially cares."

Mitchell spoke up. "I suppose the Caractalla is quite a bit different from your previous commands."

"I find that a lot of being a Commander is a talent for picking the right staff. A good command staff can get you through anything." Veirtain said "But you're right. The Caractalla is like my entire Destroyer Squadron wrapped up into a single ship. It's a different sort of command. Everything just runs a little different. It's been an adjustment. But I think I'm doing Okay."

"How about you, Captain Rielm?" Malone asked.

"Commander is my rank, and the proper form of address, here." The Rigellian replied. "I had worked my way up through the ranks at Starfleet Command. Most of my experience is as a Staff Officer and in operations posts. I yearned for Starship duty but was not regularly rewarded with it. I completed my Command school training and my indoctrination on Earth, but the assignments were all for operations staff on Starbases. Then I was recruited to come out here to the great Spiral and Command the Pershing. Although I am new to starship Command I have great experience in administration and commanding subordinate staff."

Miriah looked at Rielm "You said indoctrination on Earth?"

The Rigellian bobbed his head thoroughly and replied. "Yes. Starbases have all the training material necessary to turn out technically competent and well trained Starfleet Officers. Many times an officer in one field would like to switch his field of assignment. Other times a short duration enlisted specialist will wish to upgrade his service to full officer. All this training and preparation to be a working officer happens every day at Starbases. But it is requirement to go to Earth so that Each officer may share a common bond and have some common cultural elements instilled into his experience of being in Starfleet."

Miriah blinked. That made a lot of sense. "Isn't it helpful to our group identity to have a set of shared references?"

Rielm said "Indubitably. Without doubt. However it is distressing to go to Earth and experience the necessary experiences and common references, and still be offered second rate assignments."

"I bet it is." Mitchell said.

"But Admiral Vontoer offered me a chance to prove myself as an Officer of a ship. I believe this will be the beginning of a much more note worthy career in Starfleet." Rielm said

"How about you, Commander Kerkoorien? What brings you out here to command your ship?" Miriah asked.

The Andorian leaned slightly forward and to the side. "Serving on a Frigate or a Destroyer is a type of service that is very attractive to my people Captain. We see holding our space, patrolling our borders and reinforcing our chosen social code as the highest calling of the service or any Andorian serving in it."

"It's a very convenient arrangement." Malone said. "The Humans explore new territory and the Andorians hold what we have. Both are happy."

Kerkoorien looked sour. "I don't do this to facilitate the human propensity to stick your noses into things that none of your business. I and my fellow Andorian officers do what we do in spite of you, not in support of you."

Captain Veirtain looked stern "Commander. That's no way to talk to our guests."

Kerkoorien looked embarrassed. "I apologize. Please forgive me."

Malone smiled faintly. "No harm done."

Miriah spoke up. "It's a point of view I haven't heard before. How many of your fellow Andorians feel this way, Commander Kerkoorien? I wouldn't want to shuffle your opinions under the table."

Mitchell nodded "I agree. We need to hear this, even if we don't necessarily agree."

Malone took a sip of water and said "Go ahead Kerkoorien. Tell us what the Andorians think."

Kerkoorien took a deep breath "We Andorians are not all alike even as humans, Vulcans or natives of the Great Spiral are not. For myself I have one opinion, but speaking for Andorians as a whole I am responsible even for Andorian opinions that I do not agree with. However, I will try to describe the range of thought that holds in the Andorian dominated areas of the fleet. A few Andorians are right out there with the Humans in terms of seeking the unknown. A lot of us feel that Starfleet spends too much energy and effort sticking our collective noses into other people's business. Look at the Endeavor and the Gemini. These ships and crews are needed here, at home. There are sectors that don't see Federation starships for years. Pirates move through our space with impunity. People get into trouble and die because you and your two ships are not there when they are needed but out on the frontier, finding new problems and new areas for my Starfleet to try to patrol and control. Starfleet has been stretched too thin since the Federation started. In my opinion, Humans and the Human expansionist agenda unfairly dominate the policy of the Federation and Starfleet. I support the Federation whole heartedly. I would just like to see the priorities change. There are those more radical than myself who feel that the Federation is a bottomless pit for Andorian ships and crews and that Andorians need to secede from the Federation and get back to looking out for our own interest exclusively."

"But, ah, you support the Federation huh?" Mitchell asked.

"There are other people beside Humans in the Federation, Captain. Andor's relationship with other cultures is beneficial for us. And I find that, taken individually, Humans are not hard to get along with at all." Kerkoorien said.

"Well, thank you." Malone said. "I quite like the few Andorians I have met, too."

"Ah. Just in time." Captain Veirtain said . A number of people in white smocks were bringing out dishes.

"This is Ensign Vesoer," Veirtain waved as a particularly spattered person in the lead of the serving group. "One of my Science officers. Ship's chief bio-chemist. Not only is he a brilliant scientist, but he's also an award winning chef. He volunteered to cook some traditional Tallamatrix dishes for us."

Vesoer smiled embarrassed. "I'm an amateur. The awards were in amateur competitions, Sir."

However, the meal Vesoer served belied his statement. Miriah dug in heartily and asked for seconds.

After eating for a while, Mitchell said "There is something that has been bothering me. I wonder if those of you can answer it for me."

Captain Veirtain Looked up and said "if I can."

Mitchell put down his fork and looked at Veirtain seriously. "Can you explain the presence of these gunboats? The Pershing and the T'Salk?"

The Bajoranoid Captain smiled. "We're patrolling the Great Spiral sector working up to become and effective battle group. We happened to be out and about when our sensor net detected your approach. Admiral Vontoer asked us to come and escort your two ships in. It's nothing sinister. We actually just happened to be in the neighborhood."

"Well, that's one level of my question. The other is why does the Federation need gunboats like the Pershing and T'Salk? Since when did Starfleet start building warships and who are we at war with?" Mitchell pressed home.

Captain Veirtain sighed. "I can't really tell you too much. Admiral Vontoer wants to debrief you and then bring you up to speed himself. The prototype for these ships is named the USS Defiant and she has been attached to Deep Space 9 for the last couple of years. They have discovered that these little ships are really a very effective design. Recently word came down from Starfleet Command that more of the ships were to be produced and deployed in groups with larger ships. Really it makes a certain amount of sense. The Caractalla is a very effective multi-role starship. By having the Pershing and the T'Salk with us we are now, as a group, the equal to anything this quadrant in terms of fire power. For the cost of two small ships. I think it's very efficient actually."

"The Pride-of-Cidi is here for trials, to work with Starfleet units, training exercises and to meet you and Captain Katasai." Captain Eryu added.

Miriah said off handedly. "I have fought in two wars now and we have more fire power here than I did in each of them."

Captain Veirtain smiled. "Comforting, isn't it?"

Malone said, deadpan "That's one way to look at it, sure."

-*-

The Captains and First Officers from the Prometheus, Endeavor and Gemini were sitting in Admiral Vontoer's office. The Gemini and Endeavor were quickly emptying of people as a planned refit for both ships and accumulated leaves took effect.

"This is a preliminary strategic briefing. I want you all up to speed with this matter before we begin the recovery phase from your mission. By the way, welcome back to the Federation Captain Malone and Commander Westin. I think it's safe to say that we're all glad you made it back." Vontoer leaped in.

"Thank you Admiral. I am curious. I thought that with all we learned, encountered and brought back from our trip that we'd on a fast transport to Earth by now." Malone said.

"I have over ridden that particular process, Captain. I'll explain why if things work out right in the board of review." Vontoer said. "Miriah, Kevin, would you be willing to sit with me on the review board. We can go over the evidence in detail and handle things quickly and efficiently. I know that both of you understand what a long tour, lost in deep space entails well enough to be fair judges of Captain Malone's actions."

Miriah shook her head. "Sorry Admiral. I have a lot of leave coming up and I intend to catch up with my mate as soon as I can."

Vontoer shrugged "I guess Captain Veirtain with just have to do. That's fine. Now on with the briefing. Let's get this out of the way. Computer, play Starfleet briefing K-one, full version."

"State Authorization Code." The Computer replied.

After Vontoer reeled off his code the Computer said "The following briefing is considered Classified. Need to know authorization only."

The screen lit up to show a humanoid man with slicked back hair, white skin and yellow eyes. "I am Commander Data of Starfleet Command, and this is a classified strategic threat briefing."

The screen changed to show a thing. It was shaped like a slug and had multifarious tentacles growing out of it. The worst part of it was the eyes. It had dozens of eyes scattered about it almost at Random. There were faceted insectoid eyes and bulging sacks of goo. The most hideous part were the humanoid looking eyes. A piece of normalcy misplaced into strangeness. "This is a Kliges'chee."

"Ugh!" Malone said.

"The Kliges'chee are native to a liquid methane environment, at a temperature of 250 degrees below zero on the Fahrenheit scale. They are part of a telepathic mass mind that is said to feel irrational hatred for sentients native to class M environments, especially ones who are individual in nature." Data continued.

"That doesn't make any sense." Talia Odan said.

"Shhh. Let him finish and then we'll discuss it." Vontoer said mildly.

"This is a Kliges'chee ship." Data said. The screen was replaced by a recorded tactical scan. The ship in the scan looked like a hostile bunch of walnuts. One large nut was placed point forward and two more smaller and sleeker nuts were mounted on either side of the main body as outrider pods. Information on the ship appeared as pointer lines were added to highlight various sections of the alien ship. "The one pictured is a cruiser. There is a scout that appears almost identical but it is smaller and less powerful than the one pictured here."

"Note the large cannon mounted axially." Data said. The scan rotated to show the port for a huge disruptor cannon. Miriah didn't like that piece of the enemy ship. The axial cannon would be large enough to damage or destroy the Endeavor. It was the only part of the Kliges'chee cruiser that looked dangerous to her at all. However, Miriah wasn't that worried about it. In order to stuff that much energy into its axial cannon the Kliges'chee ship would have to shut down most of its other systems, setting it up for Patton to kill.

"The Kliges'chee also have access to a weapon which can destroy the defensive shielding of an opposing ship." Data said. "We have an effective counter measure which will be enacted in Tactical upgrade S-Alpha 50677.1."

"That's what we're setting up to add to your ships. Along with a whole raft of other stuff." Vontoer said.

"This is a map of what we know to be Kliges'chee space." Data said the screen changed to show most of known space. Most of know space took up half the screen. A large yellow blob filled in to take up the other half of the screen.

Miriah felt her eyes go wide.

"That's over a thousand light years across!" Westin said outraged.

"That covers the Klingons and Romulans both on the far side of us." Talia Odan said.

"The Kliges'chee sphere of influence is at least 1,100 light years across and encompasses more volume than known space." Data said.

"Recently the Kliges'chee seem to have successfully conquered a state on the far side of the Klingons called the Zantree Alliance, although information from that area is scarce. This brings them to within 50 light years of the Klingon Border. Data said.

"Does Starfleet think that then Kliges'chee are going to attack the Klingons?" Miriah asked. "With ships like those?"

"An offensive against the Klingon Empire or the Romulan Star Empire can not be discounted." Data said. "Although they suffer a marked inferiority when compared unit to unit, the Kliges'chee have one extremely serious advantage." Data said "A conservative places the number of Starships in the Kliges'chee fleet at 24,000 ships."

The Captains and First Officers were stunned.

"My Lord. That's more ships than all of known space put together." Mitchell whispered.

"An optimistic estimate puts their numbers at 12,000 ships." Data continued. "using optimistic projections, a Kliges'chee attack concentrated on the Klingon Empire could number up to 6,000 ships. We expect the Klingon Empire to fall after one year of fighting in that case."

"Using conservative estimates, we imagine a concentrated attack of 18,000 ships. We expect the Klingon Empire to fall in four months under those conditions." Data concluded.

"However, there is cause for optimism. The Romulans have consistently held off the Kliges'chee for over 60 years. They must know quite a bit about fighting the Kliges'chee. The Kliges'chee have not committed an attack with massed forces against them yet. The Kliges'chee may have good reasons for not using the elementary tactic, up to and including and enemy else where." Data said.

"Starfleet Command feels that the time to prepare for a possible Kliges'chee incursion into known space is now. Specific directives will follow this briefing. Implement them. Feel free to improvise and to send suggestions to myself or Admiral Picard. I do not know how long we have until the Kliges'chee attack or even if they will. However military logic calls for being as prepared as possible against the possibility. This ends the main briefing on the Kliges'chee problem."

The screen blanked to show the federation seal.

"That explains the gunboats." Mitchell said quietly.

"The Defiant class. Aren't they sweet?" Vontoer enthused. "one hundred and seventeen meters and five decks of hot death. We here in the Great Spiral couldn't have designed anything better ourselves. One of the directives we have that I happen to agree with is that beginning right now we're arranging ships into battle groups. One heavy unit, like the Endeavor and between two and five lighter units like your Gemini or a Defiant class gun boat. What ever we happen to have available."

"And that's what you're doing with the Endeavor and Gemini?" Miriah asked. "We're going to be another battle group for you?"

Vontoer pointed at Miriah "Right the first time. The Endeavor and the Gemini will form the core of a new group. Then we'll send you out on a patrol and on war gaming exercises, to get you used to fighting as a team. The group will have a senior Captain, under over all command, but the individual captains retain command authority and discretion. Ships may be peeled off from the group for specific tasks but once they complete these tasks they'll be expected to return to their battle group and get back into training and patrolling."

"And what about Starfleet's exploration missions?" Malone asked.

"Well, for technical reasons we can't up grade anything built before 2340 to the new engine standards. The excelsior class ships and others of that era will remain too slow to keep up with battle groups composed of newer ships." Vontoer explained. "We're really hoping to have a whole new run of warships complete before this breaks down, if it ever does. Although the mothballed ships of the fleet are being upgraded just in case, we hope to phase out all ships built before 2340 after we're done with this build up. What that means is that Miranda class ships and their variants, and Excelsiors and their variants so on,

they are not being formed up into battle groups right now. The Excelsiors get to keep on exploring and doing what they have always done."

"Maybe I can get transferred to one of those." Mitchell said sadly.

"Sorry, Captain. No can do." Vontoer Said. "For the duration everyone stays right where they are. No resignations, no transfers, nothin' unless the circumstances are extreme. And even then I'll just shuffle you to a different ship or a different assignment and make you keep working for me."

Malone looked at Vontoer, stunned. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, Captain Malone. The review board still has to go through your evidence and find if you were culpable in the transwarp accident, or chargeable for anything you did subsequently on you trip home. But, assuming I can still keep you and Commander Westin and any member of the Prometheus officers on duty I will." Vontoer said.

Malone grimaced. "Welcome back to the Federation indeed."

Westin smirked "I have about a million days of leave accumulated. I am putting in for them now."

Vontoer smiled back "Denied, Commander. Let's see what the review board has to say about your trip, first. I may be able to offer you extended leave in a resort in New Zealand. We'll work something out I am sure. The fact of the matter is that if we do get bounced by tens of thousand of Kliges'chee, then the Endeavor will need someone covering her back. I think that you'd be good for that."

Malone shook her head. "Review board first." She turned to Westin. "And to think of how hard we *tried* not to do anything that would get us arrested when we got home."

Westin laughed.

Miriah grinning looked up at Vontoer. "Can I catch up on the details later? There's a transport heading my way in an hour. I can grab shuttle and be at home within a few weeks."

Vontoer grabbed a PADD off his desk and down loaded the Kliges'chee data into it. "Here. Something to keep you busy on your trip. Remember it's need to know only."

"Thanks." Miriah said, taking the PADD "With your permission?"

"Dismissed." Vontoer said.

"Have fun." Mitchell said. "Take care of yourself."

"The Endeavor will be shipshape when you return, Captain." Stroud said.

"Thank you, Miriah." Katherine said. "Thank you for bringing us home."

"I'm not leaving forever, Just long enough for leave!" Miriah laughed. "I will talk to you all later."

Miriah quickly packed, and made her way down to Holodeck Two. "Prometheus. Are you home?"

A small boy appeared in the black room. He looked solemn. "Hi Captain. What's up?"

"I am going on leave to my home world, now." Miriah said. "I wanted to say good bye."

"Will I be allowed to stay and serve with you on the Endeavor?" Prometheus asked.

"I don't know. I think Admiral Vontoer is going to try and talk Katherine into taking a new ship. You may want to go with her." Miriah said.

"Well, she's first on my list," Prometheus said "but, you're the very next one down. You and the Endeavor are a lot of fun."

"Well thank you Prometheus. You're a lot of fun, too." Miriah stepped up and hugged the holographic little boy. "You stay in touch now, won't you?"

Prometheus smiled a little wanly. "Sure thing, Captain."

"What's wrong?" Miriah asked.

"What if they dismantle me?" Prometheus said quietly. "What if Starfleet Command decides I am too dangerous to be allowed?"

Miriah thought about it for a few minutes. "You're still listed as a crewman on the Endeavor. As an Acting Ensign no less. Look up Commander Data. Then send him a message. I am sure that if Starfleet arbitrarily wants to shut you down, he'll have something to say about it. You know that if you ever have any sort of problem at all, all you have to do is call the Endeavor and we'll come running to your rescue. Even if we have to race Captain Malone and her ship to do it."

Prometheus looked a little better "Thank you Captain. That makes me feel a lot better. I'll send that message now. Hopefully Commander Data can help me out with my status."

"I'm sure he will." Miriah said.

With another hug Miriah left the holodeck and went down to Alpha's to spend the rest of her remaining time with her.

-*-

The shuttlecraft Herbie gently came in to dock with the Passenger liner pod being carried by the tug Stahl. The Tug was one of the newer ones with the sleek new nacelles, and the running shoe shaped hull.

The Passenger Liner Pod was an older one, but a serviceable one. Passenger Liners and pods constructed for the purpose were luxurious affairs meant to make journeys of weeks palatable.

The Shuttle bays were large and open designed to hold dozens of small ships during the journeys the pod would make though deep space. Miriah piloted the shuttlecraft she requisitioned from the Endeavor's stock to the highlighted parking space. She landed, shut the Shuttlecraft down by the check list and gathered up her two small bags. Making sure she left nothing behind she closed up the shuttlecraft and walked to the entry bay that led into the rest of the Starliner.

There was an officer there is medical blue to meet here as well as an enlisted person in gold.

Miriah came up to the officer and saluted the keel of the ship "Permission to come aboard?"

The young woman in gold smiled "Captain Katasai? There's no need to be so formal. You're our guest here. Welcome aboard the Stahl."

"Captain," The man in blue said "I am Brennan Caufield, I am a counselor on active duty on this ship. I wanted to let you know that we're here, and that you should feel welcome to make use of our services as we travel."

"Thank you," Miriah said "right now I'd like to settle in and just spend some time off duty, relaxing."

"Okay." Caufield said. "If you feel that you would like to discuss anything, just call me over the ship's comm system, or call the counselor's office. Or feel free to stop by." He turned and walked away.

"Do you mind if I call you Miriah?" The young lady in gold said. "I'm Giselle, I'm the chief purser here. You room assignment is Delta deck room 2217. That is unless you prefer a room with no outside windows."

"That will be fine." Miriah said

Giselle began to walk Miriah further into the pod. "This Pod has just been refit and has all the latest amenities. We have two pools, eight Jacuzzis, five saunas and sports facilities all over the ship. We have fifteen holodecks so there's almost never any waiting. A schedule of classes and panels is available. If you have anything you'd like to run a panel on just call me and we'll set that right up. I am trained in presentation and graphics design so I can help you assemble a presentation of your subject if you like. There is one bar that's open around the clock. The casino is also open twenty-four standards hours and serves alcohol as does the entertainment lounge where we have live entertainment each night. The Library with real books has been moved to the aft lounge on kappa deck with the big windows. Have I left out anything?"

"No, I think that about covers it. Except, how do I get to my room?" Miriah asked.

Giselle went to a small panel and called up the internal map. She described the directions to Miriah's cabin. Then she said "And if that's too complicated right now, Then just follow the glowing icon. Computer show Miriah to her Cabin."

A glowing green ball appeared in the screen and beeped pleasantly at Miriah. Then it appeared one screen further down the hallway and chimed musically at her again.

"Thank you Giselle." Miriah said.

"You're welcome Miriah. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know."

Miriah wandered down the hall following the chiming green ball, wondering where Starfleet found all the excessively cheery people to man the Starliner pods.

-*-

When Miriah got into her cabin she found it nice if a little smaller than her normal quarters. The one thing that got her attention was the large bathtub. Real wet, hot water baths. Miriah grinned.

The transport Stahl finished her pick ups and drop offs for Starbase 94, carefully aligned herself and went to warp, leaving behind a PADD full of classified Kliges'chee data floating in deep space, unnoticed.

-*-

Commander Kevas Quatros had settled into his job as the first officer of the USS Xerxes another one of the new Defiant class gun boats. He was assigned to the battle group formed around the USS Royal Sovereign. They had spent the last six months, Patrolling up and down the Klingon Federation border, training, doing exercises, stopping by at Federation and allied planets and generally being show pieces for the latest in Federation technology and Starfleet know how.

Kevas would have much preferred being on an exploration vessel, but being assigned as a display of the best and brightest of Starfleet was a nice second place.

"Personal message for you, Sir." Ensign Lormer said from the Ops console.

"I'll get it." Kevas said. He tied the command console into the communications system and retrieved the message. It was a subspace relayed message about two days old. Kevas pressed the command to play the message.

Miriah appeared on the screen mostly covered by a bubble bath, and nothing else. "I'll be on Nissus, shortly Kevas." She said in a tone of voice that was rich with different layers. "I hope to see you there." The message ended.

Kevas blinked several times, a strange warmth filling him.

"Who was *that*, sir?" Ensign Lormer asked, dazzled by the voice.

"My Mate!" Kevas yelled happily. He managed to coherently fill out a leave request and took it to his captain. Kevas was on his way to Nissus less than six hours later.

-*-

"Dear Captain Katasai," The letter read.

"I am fine, My status has been decided. Commander Data arrived quickly with two more friends. Commander Maddox and Admiral Haftel, both of the Daystrom Institute. With their help I was confirmed as a sentient being according to Federation law. With testimony from Captain Malone and rest of the Prometheus crew as well as all of my friends from the Endeavor, I was confirmed as Ensign Prometheus of Starfleet."

"I have been reassigned away from both you and Captain Malone unfortunately. I have been assigned directly to Admiral Haftel as his research assistant. Although from what I can see I am also the subject of most of the research. Admiral Haftel is very nice and is very careful not to treat me callously, but always as a person. He's not used to me right now, but when he does get used to me, he won't have to make as conscious an effort about it."

"Admiral Haftel is very taken with my physical construction. He says, and after reviewing his evidence I concur, that who ever made my physical plant was not human at all. He says that what he'd really like to do after he gets good observations of my physical operation and my software, (I have been backed up twice now! One copy of my software is stored here at the Daystrom Institute and another one is hidden away at Starfleet Command on Earth!) is that he'd like to take me and a ship out to the area where Captain Malone found me and see if we could track down who made me. Isn't that a nice thought? Anyway, I am really busy and thinking about cybernetic things really uses a lot of capacity. I am happily working away and hope that you find yourself usefully occupied and having fun."

"Love, Prometheus"

Miriah leaned back under the bright full spectrum lights that were hung beneath the transparent canopy that covered the upper spine of the Starliner. The main pool of the Starliner was in a two deck deep cutout in the top spine of the Pod. It smelled of chlorinated water and people having fun. Happy noise filled the compartment, some of the noise emphasizing how big the open space was.

"Well, no and yes." Miriah grinned. Not too much more longer and she'd be home.

-end-

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.

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Jay P. Hailey

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