Jean-Luc Picard watched as the young woman beside him stared at the stars, the awe plain on her face.
"How many are there?" she asked.
"Trillions," he replied.
M'k'n'zy of Calhoun turned her purple eyes towards him. Picard could see her wonder at the stars.
"Would I be able to learn more about them at this Academy you speak of?" she asked.
"Yes. In your first year, you could take a Stellar Cartography class and learn where they are and what the types of stars are," he answered.
"I think I would like to take that class. It sounds interesting," she said thoughtfully.
"I thought it was. I used to stare up at the stars as a child and wonder how many I could visit one day."
"You must have visited dozens by now," the nineteen year old Xenexian said.
"I've long since lost track. Now come along. There are many more places on this ship to visit. You can always come back later."
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
D'ndai of Calhoun watched as the lithe Starfleet shuttlecraft touched down on the hastily cleared landing pad that the locals had created less than an hour ago when they had heard that Starfleet was visiting.
The starboard hatch opened and released the four passengers. One, a balding man in a captain's uniform, covered his eyes with one hand, as did one of the females.
A rock-like being simple stood by the pod as the other three continued close to D'ndai and his companion, Bragonier of Danter.
As they arrived, he noticed that the female who hadn't covered her eyes looked very familiar. She had grown since she'd left. Her hair was cropped to shoulder-length and her purple eyes flashed. The uniform collar held four pips and her belt held the sword that she had long ago taken off a dead Danteri who had tried to kill her with it.
"Greetings, Captains. I trust you are doing well?" he asked diplomatically.
"Alright, D'ndai, cut the crap. Why are we here?" M'k'n'zy demanded. She always had been impatient.
"Come now, dear sister," he said calmly, "Have patience."
She looked like she was about to say something further, but the other female, the blonde, put a hand on her arm.
"Not now, Kenzy," she warned.
"Couldn't even keep your true name, could you?" Bragonier jested.
"Actually, Ambassador," the male said, "Very few other species could pronounce her name."
"You have a point," Bragonier conceded.
"I'm Captain Elizabeth Shelby," the blonde introduced herself, "And this is Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Over by the shuttle is Lieutenant Zak Kebron."
"I am D'ndai of Calhoun and this is my esteemed colleague, Bragonier of Danter," was the only reply.
"So, why are we here?" Kenzy asked again.
"Because we have information that you may want. It regards the Klingons," D'ndai said.
"Keep going," Shelby said, her blue eyes narrowing.
"We have intelligence that says the Klingons are planning to attack the Vulcan colony at Cor Caroli IV. They believe that the Vulcans there are creating weapons for the Federation. It is also rumored that there is a Romulan agent working there as a scientist," Bragonier said calmly. Kebron's rapid footsteps shook the ground.
"She is not a spy," he said simply.
"You know the Romulan?" Picard asked.
"She is a friend."
"What, Academy friend?" Kenzy guessed.
"Yes. She left Starfleet."
"Got it. Name?" Kenzy asked.
"Soleta. She was a Lieutenant," Kebron replied bluntly.
"Captains? Shall we depart?" Shelby said with a fake grandiose manner.
As they left, D'ndai turned to Bragonier.
"The trap has been laid. Will they fall for it?"
Bragonier shrugged, "It's up to them whether they fall for it or not. This trap is likely to take a few months or even a year to seal shut behind them."
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
"Mother! You're needed in the communications center!"
T'Pas looked up when she heard her daughter's voice raised in a shout. The other scientists around her didn't even flinch; they were far too used to Soleta's mannerisms by now.
She briskly walked to the communications center and was greeted by her daughter.
Soleta had grown up to be a rather ambitious woman. Her long black hair was kept pinned out of her face by an IDIC pin that T'Pas had given her years ago. Her dark eyes seemed to look deep into one's katra.
"Perhaps a lower tone of voice would be more appropriate?" T'Pas chastised Soleta, who shrugged.
"You were needed here immediately. I could not spare the time to wait and see if you had heard me. It isn't exactly quiet in there," Soleta retorted.
"You are letting your Romulan side get the better of you," T'Pas warned, eliciting a snort from the other woman.
She took the time to look at the screen and saw four Klingon birds-of-prey waiting.
"The fleet captain, a man named Kurn, wants to talk to you," Soleta reported, slipping into her Starfleet-earned ways.
"Put him onscreen," T'Pas ordered. Soleta did so.
"I am Captain Kurn of the Klingon Empire. You will surrender your weapons and the Romulan spy to us immediately," he demanded.
"We have no weapons here, Captain. This is a peaceful colony, dedicated to the scientific ways. I do not know of any Romulans," T'Pas replied. Off screen, Soleta lifted an eyebrow at her mother's blatant lie about no Romulans here.
Unfortunately, Kurn saw it too and peered at Soleta.
"Your tech back there would disagree with you. What would be the lie, little one: the weapons or the Romulan?"
Soleta walked up behind her mother. T'Pas was about to say something when Soleta, seeming to read her mind, interrupted her before she began.
"My mother would protect me, but what reason is there to lie to someone who would trespass into Federation territory without the proper legal documentation. I am half-Romulan, by means that are better off left unsaid. Do you think that Starfleet would not come?" she said.
"Starfleet would not dare to cross our-" he was interrupted by a sensor officer somewhere around him.
"Sir!" the officer reported, "The blasted colony sent out a distress signal. Three Starfleet ships responding."
"Which ones?" Kurn roared.
"The Enterprise, the Trident, and the Excalibur, my lord. All are running weapons hot and shields up. They will be here in twenty minutes."
Kurn scowled, "Destroy the colony. Perhaps we will be able to meet these ships in battle again soon. In fifteen minutes, cloak and return to home territory."
T'Pas lifted an eyebrow, but didn't get anything out as again Soleta spoke first.
"Cowards!" she snapped, "You do not even have the honor to face us down here on our terms. What kind of a warrior are you?"
Kurn sneered, "A smart one, little half-breed. A smart one."
With that, he closed the channel. T'Pas fixed a cold stare on Soleta, who didn't even blink.
"You had no need to goad him on or to antagonize him. I will assume that you sent the distress signal," T'Pas said calmly.
"Yes. Now I will sound the red alert," she replied as she pressed the button that activated the alert klaxon.
One of the junior scientists stuck his head inside the doorframe and asked, "I will presume this is not a drill?"
"No," T'Pas replied, "It is not. We are under attack by four Klingon birds-of-prey. We must evacuate to the underground shelters."
"Understood," he replied before hurrying off to destroy the computer mainframe.
T'Pas was about to say something else to Soleta when the first disruptor blast struck the communications center and everything went black. The last thing she heard was Soleta screaming something unintelligible.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
"Mister Gleau, were those Klingons or Romulans that just cloaked and hauled ass?" Commander Jack Crusher asked.
The Selelvian science officer reported quickly, "Klingons, sir. They hit hard and fast. I'm only reading four life signs on the surface, all Vulcan and within the vicinity of what must have been their main building."
"Understood," Kenzy Calhoun said with a small sigh.
Ensign Robin Lefler went pale, "There were over six hundred scientists there."
Mark McHenry was frantically tapping keys on his board, doing something.
"McHenry, what's got you so interested in your board?" Jack asked.
"I'm looking for a friend," he replied before turning his full attention to his controls, which was really something.
"Soleta," Kenzy said, understanding. Kebron and McHenry had been in the same Academy graduating class.
"Yes, ma'am," he said quietly.
"Good. You can join the Away Team. Jack, Gleau, and Kebron, you're with me. Let's go, people," she ordered.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Lieutenant Commander Tasha Yar looked around at the hellhole they beamed down into. Doctor Beverly Crusher looked like she wanted to be sick and Captain Jean-Luc Picard muttered something in French. The two security officers who'd accompanied them to the surface looked a little green. Only Tasha kept her cool.
She'd seen this before, on Turkana. It hadn't been pretty then and it sure as hell wasn't pretty now.
Captain Elizabeth Shelby, Commander Katerina Mueller, Lieutenant M'Ress, and two more security officers shimmered into solidity nearby. A few seconds later, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, Commander Jack Crusher, Lieutenant Mark McHenry, Lieutenant Commander Gleau, Lieutenant Zak Kebron, and a trio of security officers beamed in.
"Well, this'll be short," Crusher muttered.
As they split off into teams, Tasha walked around the perimeter of the beam down site with Calhoun, who had her tricorder out and scanning for life-signs. They remained silent until Tasha stumbled across something.
As she looked down, she saw a hand, connected to an arm that disappeared beneath a pile of debris. The hand was holding a phaser that hadn't been in common 'Fleet usage since before Tasha had graduated.
"Captain Calhoun!" she called out, bringing the other woman to a halt, "I found something!"
Checking for a pulse on the wrist, she found one and started pulling debris off of the person. Calhoun helped and within ten minutes they had uncovered up to the shoulder of what was clearly a feminine form.
Beverly and M'Ress ran over, the doctor holding her tricorder and the Caitian holding an anti-grav lifter.
Working together, they had most of the woman uncovered within another half hour. Nearby, McHenry found a scorched IDIC pin that had been tossed a clear ten meters away from its owner by the force of the explosion that had buried her.
He looked up to see Doctor Crusher scanning a female Vulcan for injuries and scowling as she found several.
"Captain?" he said.
"Yes, McHenry?" she asked, sounding very impatient as she finished pushing debris off of the woman.
"That's her. That's Soleta. This is her pin. I found it over there," he said quickly.
"Good. You get to carry her back to the Enterprise, then," Doctor Crusher said, "Let's go."
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
When Soleta woke up, she realized that it was dark. Reaching a hand up to her face, she felt a bandage over her eyes.
"Don't," a voice said from above her, "Your eyes were damaged in the explosion."
Soleta remembered something suddenly. As she struggled to sit up, a firm hand barely touched her and pushed her back down. She grabbed Zak Kebron's hand and asked him a question she dreaded the answer to.
"My parents?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," he rumbled. Even under the bandages, she felt her eyes tear up. Despite the medical person's protests that her eyes were damaged, she pulled the bandage off and winced as the light hit her eyes.
A red-haired human woman sighed and called for the lights to go down to 15%.
"You look like hell," Mark McHenry commented from a chair nearby where he had dozed off. She flashed him a look of irritation, to which he only laughed.
The doctor excused herself and left the three of them alone. Mark spoke first.
"I found your pin," he said.
"What?" Soleta asked, noticing her voice was rather hoarse from disuse.
"Your hair pin," he clarified, holding up a battered IDIC pin. Soleta gently took it from him and deftly pinned her hair back with it so that stray bits of hair weren't in her face.
A Starfleet captain walked in, followed by a woman in exercise clothes.
"Hello, Miss Soleta. I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard and this is Captain Mackenzie Calhoun," he said.
The woman in exercise gear waved, "Hello."
Kebron warily stood off to the side, as if he was unsure of the superior officers.
"Hello, Captains. What brings you here?" she asked.
"Actually, we wanted to ask you something," Picard said. Calhoun sighed and spoke before he could say anything further.
"What Jean-Luc is trying to say is that Starfleet wants to give you back your rank and post you on the Trident, the Excalibur, or the Enterprise as a relief science officer," Calhoun said briskly.
"Okay," Soleta said without hesitation, clearly startling Mark and Zak.
"Well then, Lieutenant. Rest up and make sure you listen to Doctor Crusher. She gets touchy when you walk out of her sickbay," Calhoun said.
"You would know," Picard said quietly.
"Shut up, Jean-Luc. Anyway, when you're ready, pick a ship and make yourself at home," Calhoun replied before turning to leave, sharing a remark with the red-head on her way out that made Picard blush as he followed.
"Was that normal?" Soleta asked.
"Pretty much," Mark confirmed, "Just wait until you meet Captain Shelby. She's a real joker, that one."
Soleta lifted a typical Vulcan eyebrow, but said nothing further. Zak rumbled, his version of laughter, if he even believed in such a thing.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Edward Jellico stared grimly at the screen on his desk. Captain Mackenzie Calhoun was next on his list of people to call and update on current affairs.
When he reached the Excalibur, he was surprised to see the harried face of a Vulcan he remembered.
"Lieutenant Soleta. Can you patch this through to Captain Calhoun?" he asked.
"Certainly. Just as soon as I figure out how to work this damn system," she replied
Robin Lefler stood behind her and pressed a control that transferred the communication to Captain Calhoun, who didn't look remotely pleased.
"Ed. Please tell me that what my sources are telling me isn't true. We can't afford a war now, not with the Romulans being difficult," she said, her purple eyes flashing. He could just barely see Commander Jack Crusher behind her, leaving quickly.
"First, let me tell you the brief, short version. The Klingons have teamed up with the Cardassians and a power from the Gamma Quadrant called the Dominion to cause us all manners of headaches. Sisko was just forced to evacuate Deep Space Nine and return to Federation space. Bajor is defenseless and has fallen back into Cardassian control. They then formally declared war on the Federation and the Romulan Empire. So, you're going to meet an emissary from the Empire. We don't know who it is or what they're going to want, but we need the Romulans. Any questions?" he replied evenly.
Calhoun looked stunned, "Just one. What's our game plan?"
"This is why Command likes you, Kenzy. Because you go straight to the point and cut the crap, unlike most captains. We don't have an official game plan right now, but we're giving captains the discretion they need to do what they have to. Pick up the emissary and carry him or her aboard while you go around doing what you will. You, Shelby, and Picard have been assigned to Sector 221-G. Godspeed," Jellico ordered.
"And to you, Admiral. Excalibur out," she said before cutting the channel. Jellico sighed and moved on to the next name on his list, Captain Frances Stewart.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Kenzy stood up and walked out of her Ready Room, her face grim. Robin Lefler noticed it instantly and frowned, but said nothing.
She walked over to her command chair and sat down, pressing the button for a ship-wide broadcast.
"Attention, crew of the Excalibur. As you all know, the Klingons have performed several smash and grab attacks on Federation space. What you don't know is that while they were doing that, the Cardassians attacked Bajor and forced Captain Sisko to evacuate Deep Space Nine, leaving the Bajorans back under their control."
The bridge crew remained silent.
"So, what I mean to tell you is that as of 1635 hours today, the United Federation of Planets is at war against an alliance that consists of the Klingon Empire, the Cardassian Union, and the Dominion."
More silence.
"As soon as we stop at a Starbase, I want all civilian personnel off, no buts about it. I'm not risking anyone's life here. If you want to stay, join the Fleet."
A civilian tech on the bridge had a datapad out and Kenzy could see that he was applying for the Academy as she spoke. A small smile appeared on her face as she saw that.
"Godspeed. Calhoun out."
The civilian tech looked up and asked, "Which would be better: the Academy or MACO training."
"We've got enough officers to go around. Take MACO training. That's just been added as of an hour ago," Kenzy said, not even missing a step.
"Thanks," he said before finishing his application, "Hey, I'm the first one to sign up!"
"Good man," Jack said, "The plus side is that MACOs can remain aboard a ship and take holo-training courses."
"Even better," the tech said before returning to work.
Jack heaved a sigh and turned to Kenzy.
"Course heading, Captain?" he asked.
She smiled slightly, "Helm, set in a course for Artalierh, in Romulan space. Send the course adjustment to the Trident and the Enterprise. Maximum warp."
McHenry nodded, "Course laid in."
"Punch it."
AN- So here we have another new fan-fic. Now, I won't be updating again for a while because I'm going to attempt to carry on a story that I truly have no right to be doing so, as it was written by one of the few true gods of this website. So, Allons-y and Geronimo!