Post by Mlle Bienvenu on May 30, 2006 1:06:37 GMT -5
THE DELUGE
“Personal Log, Commander Miranda Serling, Inactive Service
“It has been almost six months since the destruction of the Kagatakei Maru. Six months since the Borg decimated the ship on which I had spent ten years of my life. Everyone I cared about, just about everyone I knew was on that ship. Out of a crew of over 3,000: 152 survivors. Only four life pods managed to evade detection. The rest, presumed either dead or assimilated.
“But to tell you the story of the Kagatakei would be a waste of time. Since the start of the Borg War in 2419 only six years ago, there have been thousands of such ships destroyed or assimilated in the same fashion. The Kagatakei is just another grain of sand against an ever vigilant tide. The dykes and dams built long ago to hold back the flood have moldered and fallen into disrepair, while the floodgates of the heavens have opened to wash us all away.
And that will be the end.
Computer, pause recording.”
Miranda stared blankly at what she had dictated. For all intents and purposes no one would read it. She didn’t really know why she was writing it in the first place. For posterity? The way things were looking, it was unlikely that there would be anyone in the future curious enough to read it.
She shook her head, “This is pointless. Computer, delete active recording.”
“Recording deleted.”
“Computer, what time is it?”
“It’s now 1724 hours.”
“I’d better get ready, right computer?”
“Please restate your question in a valid form.”
Admiral Kim’s estate was nestled in between the eastern Himalayas underneath a force field to regulate weather, air pressure and oxygen content. It gave an impressive view of the surrounding landscape and offered the utmost privacy: The only way to gain access to it was to take a transporter, a shuttlecar, or a yak.
It was not the first visit Serling had made since the loss of the Kagatakei. The Kagatakei, along with a few smaller vessels, were in his jurisdiction when they met a bad end, and he seemed to take a personal interest in the survivors. So she was not surprised when she was invited to his estate for a gathering.
What seemed odd to Serling was that Starfleet should be so lackadaisical about reassignment. It was wartime after all, and they needed all the manpower they could get. It seemed frivolous to be insisting on such exorbitant amounts of shore leave.
As for Serling, she felt that the sooner she got back on a ship, the better. She could finally stop ruminating and put the past in the past. So when she materialized in the admiral’s living room, that was the first thing to come from her lips.
“Have you begun reassignment yet admiral?”
“Right to the point, as always, I see. Actually that is one of the reasons I asked you here. But first, my wife’s made her famous noodles. I hope you like spicy foods, I meant to ask, you don’t mind Szechwan cooking, do you?”
“Szechwan’s fine.”
“Good. I keep telling her she should make them more often, but it seems she only makes them when there’s company.”
“So that’s why you keep inviting us here?”
The admiral smiled, “You got me. Have you enjoyed your shore-leave?”
“To tell the truth admiral, I would much rather have been back on a vessel within the month of the loss of the Kagatakei.”
“Believe me, if your ship had been ready, you would have been back out there the very same day. But the testing alone has taken at least an unanticipated three extra months.”
“My ship, admiral?”
The Admiral seemed to vacillate for a moment, “I was going to wait until after supper, but I don’t suppose you’re going to let me off that easy,” he reached for a PADD which was on the coffee table, “Did you know that Captain Jennings was going to retire?”
“She had discussed it with me on a few occasions, but I always imagined that she wouldn’t actually go through with it. She really loved her ship.”
“Starfleet received this the day prior to the destruction of the Kagatakei,” He handed her the PADD, “It’s her retirement notice, and a letter of recommendation that you be her successor.”
Miranda stared at the PADD. She didn’t actually read it. She knew what it probably said. If she new Zelda, it would undoubtedly contain evidence of Miranda’s faithful tour with the Kagatakei. Which seemed to her rather ironic.
“It’s over commander.”
“Not if we can manually reroute power to shields!”
“Get into the lifepod.”
“I will not. Not if there’s something we haven’ tried.”
“That’s not a request, commander.”
“I’ll die before I leave the ship.”
“The captain goes down with her ship, not the first officer. First officer’s go on to captain their own ships, then they can do whatever the hell they want. Get into the damn lifepod.”
“You can site me for insubordination when we get out of this.” Serling pushed her way past Jennings, but didn’t get very far. Jennings pushed her into the nearest pod and sealed the airlock. The last thing Miranda saw was the captain standing in the nearest window.
“Serling?”
“I was just thinking, It was probably one of her last official acts.”
“Yes, I think it was. But you’re right, she did love that ship. But she was pushing sixty.”
“She didn’t act a day over thirty-five. I think she was more vital than a teenage Klingon.”
“Supper’s ready.”
“Thanks, Adrienne.”
All through supper, Miranda. had to bite her tongue to keep the conversation light and meaningless. The real questions she wished answered would have to wait until after the pleasantries. She hated small talk, but the noodles really were good, and there was plenty to look at. The dinning room opened on a fantastic view of the western horizon, and the sun was sending red sparks across the jagged edges of the mountain range. The variable tint polarized glass deepened the red until it almost looked like the sunsets she had seen on Vulcan.
“Tell me, have I shown you my model ship collection?”
“No, I don’t think you have.”
“Well then, it’s down in the recreation room. Follow me.”
Miranda followed him down a hallway to a staircase, then down the flight of stairs.
There were miniature ships of all different classes. Some historical, some alien, some were even ancient sailing vessels. He had a special display cabinet housing every Enterprise from the 1700’s to the present.
“That’s a lot of ships.”
“You haven’t seen the latest one, he’s quite a handsome ship. Only thing is, he still needs a captain.“ The admiral looked at her meaningfully.
“Let’s see him.” She wondered on the interesting pronoun given to the ship.
“Actually, you have to sign a waver first.” He pulled a PADD out of his jacket.
“Waver? What for?”
“That in the event you refuse captaincy, we are authorized to erase all memory of this evening. This is top-secret, and probably the only ace we have against the Borg. If you were to be assimilated. . .”
“What makes you think I would refuse a captaincy?”
“Well, actually, the last two would-be captains have refused. This is not an ordinary mission, unfortunately, I can’t tell you about it until you sign the waver.”
“Hand it over.” She handed him back the fingerprint verified PADD.
“Computer, end program. Access code: Kim24601-ceti” The room faded away to reveal a bare holo-room, “It’s a shame that I’ll have to leave this house so soon, it’s got some view, huh? Starfleet really knows how to pick it’s top-secret locations. It’s a shame I won’t remember any of it. Alright then, follow me.”
She was lead through various corridors which seemed to go straight into the mountain.
“They really spared no expense.”
“Well it actually isn’t all Starfleet, it’s also the Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians, Andorians, Bajorans, Species 8472, The Founders. . . And everyone else under the Milky Way Alliance.”
“The enemy of mine enemy-“
“Is our friend. Exactly. Six years ago, we couldn’t get the Cardassians in the same room with the Romulans, now everyone’s pulled it together.”
“I wonder how long it will last. “
“It might last forever. If the Borg have their way, we’ll all be working for a common cause. “
They came to what looked like a stellar cartography lab, “These are the projections. The Borg have us, here, here, and here. The Delta Quadrant is theirs already. They’ve taken out the Kaazon Fleet and other more minor players in that quadrant. That leaves us with the Rebel holograms, and what’s left of species 8472. The Beta Quad is putting up a good fight, especially the Klingons and the Romulans, but they won’t last more than nine months. With the Romulans and the Klingons gone, that adds to the Borg’s fleet more than we can take out.”
“Their fleet is gaining exponentially. “
“Exactly. The Gamma Quadrant won’t pose much threat; The Cardassians aren’t equipped to do battle with the Borg. The whole Quadrant will be assimilated within a year. That leaves us against three quadrants worth of artillery and manpower. We won’t last a week.”
“We don’t know that. Numbers are numbers.” She glanced a the projections, ”Have you considered contacting the Q Continuum?”
“The Continuum?” He snorted, “They’re the one’s who got us into this mess in the first place. For all we know, they’re laughing their high and mighty asses off.”
“Have you tried?”
“We have.”
“And?”
“They couldn’t be bothered.”
“There is always a way.”
“Not always. That’s where you come in. You’re going to be plan B.”
A new image appeared on the holoscreens, along with a line which seemed to stretch across the celestial globe. He pointed to a massive starship, approximately the size of a Borg cube, however, it seemed almost organic, like the ships of species 8472.
“This is your ship. On board is the DNA, catalogued and in cold storage, of every creature in the known Milky Way Galaxy, along with the most sophisticated replication facilities and the best genetic laboratories the Federation has to offer. The library contains the vast body of knowledge accumulated in the known history of the galaxy. Your crew, a compliment of over 30,000, includes the best scientists and doctors-“
“What do you want me to do with the floating bank account?”
“Your mission, is to set a course to the Andromeda Galaxy, and establish colonies there. Perhaps it won’t be the end of civilization as we know it. Even if the Borg take over the Milky Way, at least somewhere in the universe there will be something left of our cultures.”
“It’s my understanding, that this is a one way mission.”
“Once there, there shall be no contact between Andromeda and the Milky Way. We don’t want the Borg setting their sights any farther than home. Here.” He handed her a PADD, “This contains the official directives of the mission.”
“How long do I have to think about this?”
“You have 24 hours. I’ve already prepared a room. During that time, you are to have no contact with anyone on the outside and you are to stay on the premises.”
“Understood.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
“Dr. Gunner, would you please come here for a second?”
“Yes Doctor Lekos?
“Tell me, how are those scans coming?”
“They are coming Sir. We’re having a bit of trouble recalibrating the equipment after the systems reboot check, but it’s almost recalibrated now. Then we can check the holo-scanners.”
“Good, because I really wanted it yesterday. I don’t think I need to remind you that I want this place in top shape before the admiral chooses a captain. Am I clear?
“Yes sir.”
“That’s all crewman, Thank-you.“
“Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” crewman Lang snickered as his friend returned to his place at the console.
“Did you hear her chew me out? Right in front of everyone. I didn’t go to MIT just so I could spend the rest of my career under her, Out of all the scientists they could have picked, they had to choose a hard-nosed spoonhead.”
“Actually, I didn’t sleep at all last night,” They both turned to see the Chief of Sciences standing behind them, her artificially blue eyes seemed to blaze menacingly at the two, “Would you care to know why? I was down in astrometrics with Noah, plotting the safest course to Andromeda. Perhaps next time I’ll invite you two, this ‘hard-nosed spoonhead’ has a lot of work to get done before our captain arrives, would you like me to change the duty rosters gentlemen?”
“No sir.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how much work we get done now. Perhaps I won’t have to stay up all night after- Velar!“ Lieutenant Lekos had turned around to leave, but in the doorway was the last person she expected to see. In the doorway stood a tall Romulan woman. Lekos grinned and strode to the door to meet her, “Prenn Velar, is it really you?”
“I haven’t the patience for games anymore, Lekos. I want to know what you’re doing here and why.”
“And I would love to tell you everything that’s happened since the last time we got together, but I’m a very busy woman with a very, very tight schedule.“
“Believe me, if the MWA has any doubts about their Chief of Sciences, there won’t be any deadlines for you to meet, so I suggest we step into my office.”
“Your office?”
“I’m the Chief of Security.”
“Ah. I see.”
“How many favors?”
“I’m sorry?”
“The Obsidian Order. How many does it take to escape assimilation?”
They stared at each other, each sizing the other up like old sparring partners. Tam grinned and broke the silence.
“How much clout does it take with the Tal’Shiar?”
“I was assigned this mission.”
“Does Starfleet know they have a spy as a Security Officer?”
“Yes. Under the Milky Way Alliance, the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation have agreed to pool resources in the effort against the Borg, that includes intelligence operatives. But the real question is, do they know they have an operative of an unauthorized agency as their chief of sciences?”
She rolled her eyes, “Isn’t this getting a bit old? We’ve been through this before, I am not part of the New Order. It’s unlikely that there even is a new Order. It’s only urban legend. The last time I checked my history books, the Order fell at the Dominion War.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“I’m so happy we agree.”
“They have had plenty of time to regroup.”
“But resources? No. Come off it! The Cardassian State is in no shape to even begin to support such a network. Cardassia can barely feed it’s people as it is, and with the war- ” She shook her head and muttered under her breath,” I can’t believe this is happening again. I shouldn’t have to explain this, especially to a xenophobe like you.” She stood up and placed her palms on Velar’s desk, ”You know what, Velar? You got me. I confess. Impressive detective work. I got into Starfleet Academy, got my degree, worked on various starships for many years without Starfleet even suspecting I was a member of the New Obsidian Order. And now you come along and blow my cover. Congratulations. “ Tam paced the room angrily, “You know what else? I’m not only a member of the New Order, I’m. . .I’m, part of a nefarious plan to take over the galaxy. Didn’t you know? You, with your keen deductive powers must have suspected that I’m really the Borg Queen! These are not really ocular implants at all, they’re really Borg implants that link me to the hive, which I control. They’re coming, you know. I’ve sent my drones, and they’re on their way here right now and the first thing I’m going to tell them to do is assimilate you!“
“I’ll be sure to tell the commander.” She said dryly.
Tam Lekos gave her a look and headed for the door.
“I didn’t say you could leave.”
“No? I don’t think you have a case against me, or have you found some sort of new ‘evidence’ you would like to surprise me with and start me quaking with fear? Tell me, did the Tal’Shiar ever reconsider the promotion you were up for before you became an embarrassment to them?” Something in Velar’s face betrayed her to Lekos. The Cardassian smirked, “Now I understand, you’ve been assigned to this vessel because the Tal’Shiar doesn’t want anything to do with you! That’s it, isn’t it? I bet they’re erasing all knowledge of you right now. Every case, every piece of intelligence you’ve ever risked you’re life to obtain, now accredited to someone else. I bet even your family thinks your dead.” Her face darkened in a look of superiority, “How does it feel to not exist?”
The Romulan’s thin mouth tightened around clipped words, “Get out of my office.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
The mirror in Commander Selek’s quarters seemed to offer a visage he didn’t recognize. What looked back at him seemed wan and reminded him that entropy was beginning to infringe on his orderly, logical life. For one thing, he knew his hair seemed a bit greyer than it seemed last year, although, he recollected that last year it had already been a uniformly colored grey. “It’s the War,” Selek had told himself, “sensibly, war increases the entropy of the universe.” But common sense told him it was more probable that his hair was a casualty of age rather than of war.
“Computer, increase room temperature five degrees.” It seemed to him the room had become rather chilly, although he knew he adjusted it less than a half hour ago.
Admiral Kim still hadn’t chosen a captain. To be more precise, no one had accepted the captaincy. Throughout the coarse of the project, getting volunteers had been a very delicate operation; The MWA tried to choose those who had few or no attachments to planetary bodies. Then, each candidate had to be secretly tested for mem-wipe responsiveness. Some were more responsive to memory wipe techniques than others, which drastically reduced the number of eligible candidates. And then, they always had the right to refuse.
“Computer, decrease room temperature by 5 degrees.“
“Excuse me Commander, but didn’t you just turn it up?” Selek looked up from the Chief engineer Shift’s report to see a figure dressed in baggy black pants and shirt.
“Who are you and why are you in my quarters?”
The figure smiled wryly, “I think it’s rather rude of you to keep calling me, ‘computer’. I’m Noah. You’ve been doing it since you arrived, and frankly, it’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“That doesn’t tell me what you’re doing in my quarters.”
“Allow me to explain, I’m Noah, the ship and the ship’s computer. What you’re seeing is my avatar. A holographic image which allows me to function among you little ones. I already know who you are, it’s in my datacore, Commander Selek, so don’t bother introducing yourself. Now that we’ve got through the introductions, perhaps now you can answer my question, didn’t you just turn the temperature up?”
“Yes.”
“And just now, you wanted me to turn it down again?”
“Correct.”
“Are you always going to be this fickle when it comes to temperature? Because if you are, I think I should like to know now.”
“I do not make a habit of changing room temperatures, no.”
“My datacore shows that Vulcans find 101 degrees to be most comfortable, yet the temperature in here is quite a bit higher. Are you sure you’re not ill? Perhaps you have a fever, in which case, it would be unwise to keep the temperature so high. Actually, now that I’ve thought of it, you’re not looking very well. You have hardly any color at all. I suggest you see Doctor Seth immediately, right now he’s in sickbay three.”
“I will keep that in mind, thank-you.” He went back to reading his report.
“Well?”
“Pardon?”
“Aren’t you going to go to sickbay three? You really should, you know, you look absolutely awful.”
“When I wish to go to see doctor Seth, I will. Right now, I would appreciate it if you left my quarters.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
“Ow! Hey! Hey! Ow! “
“Almost finished.”
“Hurry up! You’re killing me!”
“Almost. . .there! How’s that?”
“Better. “ She tested her arm gingerly, “Yes. I think it’s going to be alright. Thanks Doc.”
“So tell me Sha’an, did you take the safeties off?”
“Umm. . . maybe.”
“Do we have to discuss this again?”
“No.”
“Will you please keep the safeties on.”
“But they’re so confining. I feel like I have to be gentle or something.”
“You know, one day you’re going to snap an antenna and then what will you do?”
“I’d still have another one.” The Andorian smiled.
“The Prophets guide you, you’re impossible! Go on, get out of here! Keep the safeties on or I’ll report you to the Commander!”
“Report what to me?” Selek walked into sickbay three.
“Oh nothing, Commander. What can I do for you?”
“I may have a sleight temperature.” He glared at Noah, who had appeared in the room.
“Let us see then. Hmm. . . You are running a fever, I can give you a-.”
“Thank-you doctor, however, I have a fever suppressant in my quarters.”
“Are you sure, Commander? I have a-”
“Yes, Doctor. You have been most helpful.” He gave a final stern look towards Noah.
Selek left.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
The ocean waves fell on Miranda, forcing water into her lungs. Off on her left was a raft, but as hard as she swam, she never seemed to reach it. The waves kept coming at her and finally she sank into the prevailing sea. For a frightening moment, she didn’t know which way was up and she felt an icy coldness take her as she sucked in water. But something grabbed her by her hair and pulled her into the raft, but there wasn’t anyone there.
“Miranda,” said a voice, “Get into the damn lifepod.” She looked over the edge of the raft and saw a giant octopus with the head of Zelda Jennings.
Suddenly she was on the bridge of the Kagatakei. On the viewscreen was a tactical display, only it showed her raft and the surrounding terrestrial sea. It seemed it was not a sea at all, because in the middle was a gigantic whirlpool. Surrounding the whirlpool was a force field. The whole display was notated as the Charybdas Galaxy
The octopus stood on the bridge of the Kagatakei and turned to her, “There is nothing outside the Charybdas, only rocks to wreck ships. The sirens will only wreck you on the rocks. Plug your ears, do not listen! That’s an order, Commander.”
“There is nothing but a whirlpool here, The Charybdas will only swallow us up, you can’t stop the whirlpool from turning, our only chance is escape, you can site me for insubordination when we get out of this.”
“If you make it past the rocks, then there is the Doldrums. Your raft will languish and the sun will kill you.”
“You forget the Isle, we can resupply there. We can rest and grow strong there.”
“The Isle is a desert. The sun will scorch you. You will all die.”
The display showed a hideous picture of Miranda’s blistered and swollen body half buried in sand.
Miranda awoke in a cold sweat.
“Computer, Time.”
“The time is, 0400.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Tamara Lekos agitatedly made her way back to her lab. It had been ten years since her brush with the Tal’Shiar. Why would they want to reopen the case now? It was proven that she couldn’t possibly have been the Cardassian they were looking for (Probably at the expense of Agent Velar’s career but that certainly wasn’t her fault.). They had caught the criminal. So why now? Especially when she had done nothing wrong. She was not a member of the New Order when she was questioned by the Tal’Shiar, and she certainly wasn’t one now.
Of coarse, it was in all probability that Velar truly was assigned this post because she was a ‘throw away’ agent. That was slightly amusing. She wondered if Starfleet knew that their Security Officer did not actually ‘volunteer’ as they had requested all personnel to do. The special circumstances of the mission considered, Federation morality kicked in and decided that the mission should be on a volunteer-only bases. Tam considered throwing a spanner in the sprocket by informing the Commander of the Tal’Shiar’s idea of ‘volunteer-only’. That would certainly get Velar kicked off the ship and out of her life forever. She was so close, why now?
The doors opened to the laboratory. Of course, it seemed everyone had left.
“Everyone’s gone for a drink on deck ten. I leave for five minutes and everyone leaves. They are all doing double shifts to make up for this. “ She thought. “Maybe if no one sleeps for three days, we’ll be able to get everything done on time.” She allowed herself a yawn, thinking of the last time she’d actually slept well.
A figure sat slumped over onto a console. Tam went over to take a closer look. It was Crewman Gunner.
“Lekos to Dr. Seth.”
“Yes?”
“Medical emergency in Lab10.”
“Personal Log, Commander Miranda Serling, Inactive Service
“It has been almost six months since the destruction of the Kagatakei Maru. Six months since the Borg decimated the ship on which I had spent ten years of my life. Everyone I cared about, just about everyone I knew was on that ship. Out of a crew of over 3,000: 152 survivors. Only four life pods managed to evade detection. The rest, presumed either dead or assimilated.
“But to tell you the story of the Kagatakei would be a waste of time. Since the start of the Borg War in 2419 only six years ago, there have been thousands of such ships destroyed or assimilated in the same fashion. The Kagatakei is just another grain of sand against an ever vigilant tide. The dykes and dams built long ago to hold back the flood have moldered and fallen into disrepair, while the floodgates of the heavens have opened to wash us all away.
And that will be the end.
Computer, pause recording.”
Miranda stared blankly at what she had dictated. For all intents and purposes no one would read it. She didn’t really know why she was writing it in the first place. For posterity? The way things were looking, it was unlikely that there would be anyone in the future curious enough to read it.
She shook her head, “This is pointless. Computer, delete active recording.”
“Recording deleted.”
“Computer, what time is it?”
“It’s now 1724 hours.”
“I’d better get ready, right computer?”
“Please restate your question in a valid form.”
Admiral Kim’s estate was nestled in between the eastern Himalayas underneath a force field to regulate weather, air pressure and oxygen content. It gave an impressive view of the surrounding landscape and offered the utmost privacy: The only way to gain access to it was to take a transporter, a shuttlecar, or a yak.
It was not the first visit Serling had made since the loss of the Kagatakei. The Kagatakei, along with a few smaller vessels, were in his jurisdiction when they met a bad end, and he seemed to take a personal interest in the survivors. So she was not surprised when she was invited to his estate for a gathering.
What seemed odd to Serling was that Starfleet should be so lackadaisical about reassignment. It was wartime after all, and they needed all the manpower they could get. It seemed frivolous to be insisting on such exorbitant amounts of shore leave.
As for Serling, she felt that the sooner she got back on a ship, the better. She could finally stop ruminating and put the past in the past. So when she materialized in the admiral’s living room, that was the first thing to come from her lips.
“Have you begun reassignment yet admiral?”
“Right to the point, as always, I see. Actually that is one of the reasons I asked you here. But first, my wife’s made her famous noodles. I hope you like spicy foods, I meant to ask, you don’t mind Szechwan cooking, do you?”
“Szechwan’s fine.”
“Good. I keep telling her she should make them more often, but it seems she only makes them when there’s company.”
“So that’s why you keep inviting us here?”
The admiral smiled, “You got me. Have you enjoyed your shore-leave?”
“To tell the truth admiral, I would much rather have been back on a vessel within the month of the loss of the Kagatakei.”
“Believe me, if your ship had been ready, you would have been back out there the very same day. But the testing alone has taken at least an unanticipated three extra months.”
“My ship, admiral?”
The Admiral seemed to vacillate for a moment, “I was going to wait until after supper, but I don’t suppose you’re going to let me off that easy,” he reached for a PADD which was on the coffee table, “Did you know that Captain Jennings was going to retire?”
“She had discussed it with me on a few occasions, but I always imagined that she wouldn’t actually go through with it. She really loved her ship.”
“Starfleet received this the day prior to the destruction of the Kagatakei,” He handed her the PADD, “It’s her retirement notice, and a letter of recommendation that you be her successor.”
Miranda stared at the PADD. She didn’t actually read it. She knew what it probably said. If she new Zelda, it would undoubtedly contain evidence of Miranda’s faithful tour with the Kagatakei. Which seemed to her rather ironic.
“It’s over commander.”
“Not if we can manually reroute power to shields!”
“Get into the lifepod.”
“I will not. Not if there’s something we haven’ tried.”
“That’s not a request, commander.”
“I’ll die before I leave the ship.”
“The captain goes down with her ship, not the first officer. First officer’s go on to captain their own ships, then they can do whatever the hell they want. Get into the damn lifepod.”
“You can site me for insubordination when we get out of this.” Serling pushed her way past Jennings, but didn’t get very far. Jennings pushed her into the nearest pod and sealed the airlock. The last thing Miranda saw was the captain standing in the nearest window.
“Serling?”
“I was just thinking, It was probably one of her last official acts.”
“Yes, I think it was. But you’re right, she did love that ship. But she was pushing sixty.”
“She didn’t act a day over thirty-five. I think she was more vital than a teenage Klingon.”
“Supper’s ready.”
“Thanks, Adrienne.”
All through supper, Miranda. had to bite her tongue to keep the conversation light and meaningless. The real questions she wished answered would have to wait until after the pleasantries. She hated small talk, but the noodles really were good, and there was plenty to look at. The dinning room opened on a fantastic view of the western horizon, and the sun was sending red sparks across the jagged edges of the mountain range. The variable tint polarized glass deepened the red until it almost looked like the sunsets she had seen on Vulcan.
“Tell me, have I shown you my model ship collection?”
“No, I don’t think you have.”
“Well then, it’s down in the recreation room. Follow me.”
Miranda followed him down a hallway to a staircase, then down the flight of stairs.
There were miniature ships of all different classes. Some historical, some alien, some were even ancient sailing vessels. He had a special display cabinet housing every Enterprise from the 1700’s to the present.
“That’s a lot of ships.”
“You haven’t seen the latest one, he’s quite a handsome ship. Only thing is, he still needs a captain.“ The admiral looked at her meaningfully.
“Let’s see him.” She wondered on the interesting pronoun given to the ship.
“Actually, you have to sign a waver first.” He pulled a PADD out of his jacket.
“Waver? What for?”
“That in the event you refuse captaincy, we are authorized to erase all memory of this evening. This is top-secret, and probably the only ace we have against the Borg. If you were to be assimilated. . .”
“What makes you think I would refuse a captaincy?”
“Well, actually, the last two would-be captains have refused. This is not an ordinary mission, unfortunately, I can’t tell you about it until you sign the waver.”
“Hand it over.” She handed him back the fingerprint verified PADD.
“Computer, end program. Access code: Kim24601-ceti” The room faded away to reveal a bare holo-room, “It’s a shame that I’ll have to leave this house so soon, it’s got some view, huh? Starfleet really knows how to pick it’s top-secret locations. It’s a shame I won’t remember any of it. Alright then, follow me.”
She was lead through various corridors which seemed to go straight into the mountain.
“They really spared no expense.”
“Well it actually isn’t all Starfleet, it’s also the Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians, Andorians, Bajorans, Species 8472, The Founders. . . And everyone else under the Milky Way Alliance.”
“The enemy of mine enemy-“
“Is our friend. Exactly. Six years ago, we couldn’t get the Cardassians in the same room with the Romulans, now everyone’s pulled it together.”
“I wonder how long it will last. “
“It might last forever. If the Borg have their way, we’ll all be working for a common cause. “
They came to what looked like a stellar cartography lab, “These are the projections. The Borg have us, here, here, and here. The Delta Quadrant is theirs already. They’ve taken out the Kaazon Fleet and other more minor players in that quadrant. That leaves us with the Rebel holograms, and what’s left of species 8472. The Beta Quad is putting up a good fight, especially the Klingons and the Romulans, but they won’t last more than nine months. With the Romulans and the Klingons gone, that adds to the Borg’s fleet more than we can take out.”
“Their fleet is gaining exponentially. “
“Exactly. The Gamma Quadrant won’t pose much threat; The Cardassians aren’t equipped to do battle with the Borg. The whole Quadrant will be assimilated within a year. That leaves us against three quadrants worth of artillery and manpower. We won’t last a week.”
“We don’t know that. Numbers are numbers.” She glanced a the projections, ”Have you considered contacting the Q Continuum?”
“The Continuum?” He snorted, “They’re the one’s who got us into this mess in the first place. For all we know, they’re laughing their high and mighty asses off.”
“Have you tried?”
“We have.”
“And?”
“They couldn’t be bothered.”
“There is always a way.”
“Not always. That’s where you come in. You’re going to be plan B.”
A new image appeared on the holoscreens, along with a line which seemed to stretch across the celestial globe. He pointed to a massive starship, approximately the size of a Borg cube, however, it seemed almost organic, like the ships of species 8472.
“This is your ship. On board is the DNA, catalogued and in cold storage, of every creature in the known Milky Way Galaxy, along with the most sophisticated replication facilities and the best genetic laboratories the Federation has to offer. The library contains the vast body of knowledge accumulated in the known history of the galaxy. Your crew, a compliment of over 30,000, includes the best scientists and doctors-“
“What do you want me to do with the floating bank account?”
“Your mission, is to set a course to the Andromeda Galaxy, and establish colonies there. Perhaps it won’t be the end of civilization as we know it. Even if the Borg take over the Milky Way, at least somewhere in the universe there will be something left of our cultures.”
“It’s my understanding, that this is a one way mission.”
“Once there, there shall be no contact between Andromeda and the Milky Way. We don’t want the Borg setting their sights any farther than home. Here.” He handed her a PADD, “This contains the official directives of the mission.”
“How long do I have to think about this?”
“You have 24 hours. I’ve already prepared a room. During that time, you are to have no contact with anyone on the outside and you are to stay on the premises.”
“Understood.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
“Dr. Gunner, would you please come here for a second?”
“Yes Doctor Lekos?
“Tell me, how are those scans coming?”
“They are coming Sir. We’re having a bit of trouble recalibrating the equipment after the systems reboot check, but it’s almost recalibrated now. Then we can check the holo-scanners.”
“Good, because I really wanted it yesterday. I don’t think I need to remind you that I want this place in top shape before the admiral chooses a captain. Am I clear?
“Yes sir.”
“That’s all crewman, Thank-you.“
“Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” crewman Lang snickered as his friend returned to his place at the console.
“Did you hear her chew me out? Right in front of everyone. I didn’t go to MIT just so I could spend the rest of my career under her, Out of all the scientists they could have picked, they had to choose a hard-nosed spoonhead.”
“Actually, I didn’t sleep at all last night,” They both turned to see the Chief of Sciences standing behind them, her artificially blue eyes seemed to blaze menacingly at the two, “Would you care to know why? I was down in astrometrics with Noah, plotting the safest course to Andromeda. Perhaps next time I’ll invite you two, this ‘hard-nosed spoonhead’ has a lot of work to get done before our captain arrives, would you like me to change the duty rosters gentlemen?”
“No sir.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how much work we get done now. Perhaps I won’t have to stay up all night after- Velar!“ Lieutenant Lekos had turned around to leave, but in the doorway was the last person she expected to see. In the doorway stood a tall Romulan woman. Lekos grinned and strode to the door to meet her, “Prenn Velar, is it really you?”
“I haven’t the patience for games anymore, Lekos. I want to know what you’re doing here and why.”
“And I would love to tell you everything that’s happened since the last time we got together, but I’m a very busy woman with a very, very tight schedule.“
“Believe me, if the MWA has any doubts about their Chief of Sciences, there won’t be any deadlines for you to meet, so I suggest we step into my office.”
“Your office?”
“I’m the Chief of Security.”
“Ah. I see.”
“How many favors?”
“I’m sorry?”
“The Obsidian Order. How many does it take to escape assimilation?”
They stared at each other, each sizing the other up like old sparring partners. Tam grinned and broke the silence.
“How much clout does it take with the Tal’Shiar?”
“I was assigned this mission.”
“Does Starfleet know they have a spy as a Security Officer?”
“Yes. Under the Milky Way Alliance, the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation have agreed to pool resources in the effort against the Borg, that includes intelligence operatives. But the real question is, do they know they have an operative of an unauthorized agency as their chief of sciences?”
She rolled her eyes, “Isn’t this getting a bit old? We’ve been through this before, I am not part of the New Order. It’s unlikely that there even is a new Order. It’s only urban legend. The last time I checked my history books, the Order fell at the Dominion War.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“I’m so happy we agree.”
“They have had plenty of time to regroup.”
“But resources? No. Come off it! The Cardassian State is in no shape to even begin to support such a network. Cardassia can barely feed it’s people as it is, and with the war- ” She shook her head and muttered under her breath,” I can’t believe this is happening again. I shouldn’t have to explain this, especially to a xenophobe like you.” She stood up and placed her palms on Velar’s desk, ”You know what, Velar? You got me. I confess. Impressive detective work. I got into Starfleet Academy, got my degree, worked on various starships for many years without Starfleet even suspecting I was a member of the New Obsidian Order. And now you come along and blow my cover. Congratulations. “ Tam paced the room angrily, “You know what else? I’m not only a member of the New Order, I’m. . .I’m, part of a nefarious plan to take over the galaxy. Didn’t you know? You, with your keen deductive powers must have suspected that I’m really the Borg Queen! These are not really ocular implants at all, they’re really Borg implants that link me to the hive, which I control. They’re coming, you know. I’ve sent my drones, and they’re on their way here right now and the first thing I’m going to tell them to do is assimilate you!“
“I’ll be sure to tell the commander.” She said dryly.
Tam Lekos gave her a look and headed for the door.
“I didn’t say you could leave.”
“No? I don’t think you have a case against me, or have you found some sort of new ‘evidence’ you would like to surprise me with and start me quaking with fear? Tell me, did the Tal’Shiar ever reconsider the promotion you were up for before you became an embarrassment to them?” Something in Velar’s face betrayed her to Lekos. The Cardassian smirked, “Now I understand, you’ve been assigned to this vessel because the Tal’Shiar doesn’t want anything to do with you! That’s it, isn’t it? I bet they’re erasing all knowledge of you right now. Every case, every piece of intelligence you’ve ever risked you’re life to obtain, now accredited to someone else. I bet even your family thinks your dead.” Her face darkened in a look of superiority, “How does it feel to not exist?”
The Romulan’s thin mouth tightened around clipped words, “Get out of my office.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
The mirror in Commander Selek’s quarters seemed to offer a visage he didn’t recognize. What looked back at him seemed wan and reminded him that entropy was beginning to infringe on his orderly, logical life. For one thing, he knew his hair seemed a bit greyer than it seemed last year, although, he recollected that last year it had already been a uniformly colored grey. “It’s the War,” Selek had told himself, “sensibly, war increases the entropy of the universe.” But common sense told him it was more probable that his hair was a casualty of age rather than of war.
“Computer, increase room temperature five degrees.” It seemed to him the room had become rather chilly, although he knew he adjusted it less than a half hour ago.
Admiral Kim still hadn’t chosen a captain. To be more precise, no one had accepted the captaincy. Throughout the coarse of the project, getting volunteers had been a very delicate operation; The MWA tried to choose those who had few or no attachments to planetary bodies. Then, each candidate had to be secretly tested for mem-wipe responsiveness. Some were more responsive to memory wipe techniques than others, which drastically reduced the number of eligible candidates. And then, they always had the right to refuse.
“Computer, decrease room temperature by 5 degrees.“
“Excuse me Commander, but didn’t you just turn it up?” Selek looked up from the Chief engineer Shift’s report to see a figure dressed in baggy black pants and shirt.
“Who are you and why are you in my quarters?”
The figure smiled wryly, “I think it’s rather rude of you to keep calling me, ‘computer’. I’m Noah. You’ve been doing it since you arrived, and frankly, it’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“That doesn’t tell me what you’re doing in my quarters.”
“Allow me to explain, I’m Noah, the ship and the ship’s computer. What you’re seeing is my avatar. A holographic image which allows me to function among you little ones. I already know who you are, it’s in my datacore, Commander Selek, so don’t bother introducing yourself. Now that we’ve got through the introductions, perhaps now you can answer my question, didn’t you just turn the temperature up?”
“Yes.”
“And just now, you wanted me to turn it down again?”
“Correct.”
“Are you always going to be this fickle when it comes to temperature? Because if you are, I think I should like to know now.”
“I do not make a habit of changing room temperatures, no.”
“My datacore shows that Vulcans find 101 degrees to be most comfortable, yet the temperature in here is quite a bit higher. Are you sure you’re not ill? Perhaps you have a fever, in which case, it would be unwise to keep the temperature so high. Actually, now that I’ve thought of it, you’re not looking very well. You have hardly any color at all. I suggest you see Doctor Seth immediately, right now he’s in sickbay three.”
“I will keep that in mind, thank-you.” He went back to reading his report.
“Well?”
“Pardon?”
“Aren’t you going to go to sickbay three? You really should, you know, you look absolutely awful.”
“When I wish to go to see doctor Seth, I will. Right now, I would appreciate it if you left my quarters.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
“Ow! Hey! Hey! Ow! “
“Almost finished.”
“Hurry up! You’re killing me!”
“Almost. . .there! How’s that?”
“Better. “ She tested her arm gingerly, “Yes. I think it’s going to be alright. Thanks Doc.”
“So tell me Sha’an, did you take the safeties off?”
“Umm. . . maybe.”
“Do we have to discuss this again?”
“No.”
“Will you please keep the safeties on.”
“But they’re so confining. I feel like I have to be gentle or something.”
“You know, one day you’re going to snap an antenna and then what will you do?”
“I’d still have another one.” The Andorian smiled.
“The Prophets guide you, you’re impossible! Go on, get out of here! Keep the safeties on or I’ll report you to the Commander!”
“Report what to me?” Selek walked into sickbay three.
“Oh nothing, Commander. What can I do for you?”
“I may have a sleight temperature.” He glared at Noah, who had appeared in the room.
“Let us see then. Hmm. . . You are running a fever, I can give you a-.”
“Thank-you doctor, however, I have a fever suppressant in my quarters.”
“Are you sure, Commander? I have a-”
“Yes, Doctor. You have been most helpful.” He gave a final stern look towards Noah.
Selek left.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
The ocean waves fell on Miranda, forcing water into her lungs. Off on her left was a raft, but as hard as she swam, she never seemed to reach it. The waves kept coming at her and finally she sank into the prevailing sea. For a frightening moment, she didn’t know which way was up and she felt an icy coldness take her as she sucked in water. But something grabbed her by her hair and pulled her into the raft, but there wasn’t anyone there.
“Miranda,” said a voice, “Get into the damn lifepod.” She looked over the edge of the raft and saw a giant octopus with the head of Zelda Jennings.
Suddenly she was on the bridge of the Kagatakei. On the viewscreen was a tactical display, only it showed her raft and the surrounding terrestrial sea. It seemed it was not a sea at all, because in the middle was a gigantic whirlpool. Surrounding the whirlpool was a force field. The whole display was notated as the Charybdas Galaxy
The octopus stood on the bridge of the Kagatakei and turned to her, “There is nothing outside the Charybdas, only rocks to wreck ships. The sirens will only wreck you on the rocks. Plug your ears, do not listen! That’s an order, Commander.”
“There is nothing but a whirlpool here, The Charybdas will only swallow us up, you can’t stop the whirlpool from turning, our only chance is escape, you can site me for insubordination when we get out of this.”
“If you make it past the rocks, then there is the Doldrums. Your raft will languish and the sun will kill you.”
“You forget the Isle, we can resupply there. We can rest and grow strong there.”
“The Isle is a desert. The sun will scorch you. You will all die.”
The display showed a hideous picture of Miranda’s blistered and swollen body half buried in sand.
Miranda awoke in a cold sweat.
“Computer, Time.”
“The time is, 0400.”
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Tamara Lekos agitatedly made her way back to her lab. It had been ten years since her brush with the Tal’Shiar. Why would they want to reopen the case now? It was proven that she couldn’t possibly have been the Cardassian they were looking for (Probably at the expense of Agent Velar’s career but that certainly wasn’t her fault.). They had caught the criminal. So why now? Especially when she had done nothing wrong. She was not a member of the New Order when she was questioned by the Tal’Shiar, and she certainly wasn’t one now.
Of coarse, it was in all probability that Velar truly was assigned this post because she was a ‘throw away’ agent. That was slightly amusing. She wondered if Starfleet knew that their Security Officer did not actually ‘volunteer’ as they had requested all personnel to do. The special circumstances of the mission considered, Federation morality kicked in and decided that the mission should be on a volunteer-only bases. Tam considered throwing a spanner in the sprocket by informing the Commander of the Tal’Shiar’s idea of ‘volunteer-only’. That would certainly get Velar kicked off the ship and out of her life forever. She was so close, why now?
The doors opened to the laboratory. Of course, it seemed everyone had left.
“Everyone’s gone for a drink on deck ten. I leave for five minutes and everyone leaves. They are all doing double shifts to make up for this. “ She thought. “Maybe if no one sleeps for three days, we’ll be able to get everything done on time.” She allowed herself a yawn, thinking of the last time she’d actually slept well.
A figure sat slumped over onto a console. Tam went over to take a closer look. It was Crewman Gunner.
“Lekos to Dr. Seth.”
“Yes?”
“Medical emergency in Lab10.”
