Star Trek
Deep Space Nine
The Marrissa Stories
Premier Maquis
by Stephen Ratliff
This Story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used
fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental
Star Trek is property of Paramount Pictures, a ViaCom company.
The story is property of Stephen B. Ratliff, Copyright 1996.
Notice (courtesy of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be
prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished;
persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.
By order of the Author.
This story is dedicated to:
my cousin Joseph D. Ohlin, juris dr.;
and
the Principles and their assistants of Cave Spring Elementary,
Hidden Valley Junior High, and Cave Spring High School,
especially ...
Mr. David Belvins, principal Hidden Valley
Mr. David Price, assistant principal Hidden Valley
Doctor Martha M. Cobble, principal Cave Spring High
and Mr. Thad James, principal Cave Spring Elementary.
Special Thanks to:
Eugen Woiwod, for proofreading
Acknowledgments
The prologue is a rewrite of the Declaration of Independence by
Thomas Jefferson.
The USS Stargazer was redesigned with the help of my little
brother, Phillip. Don't tell him I told you.
Prologue
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one
People to dissolve the Political Bonds that have connected them with
another and to assume among the stars, the separate and equal status
which the Laws of Nature and the Universe entitle them, a respect for
the opinions of the population of the Galaxy demands that they should
inform others of the causes which force them to sever ties.
We hold these truths ... all people are created equal and are
provided with certain unalienable rights. Among these are Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. To secure these rights,
Governments are instituted, deriving their powers from the consent of
the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive
it is the right of the people to change or end that government and
replace it with another. That new government laying it's foundation on
such principles and organizing its powers in such a way to preserve
their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence dictates that governments long established should not
be changes for light and passing causes. However, when a long train of
abuses and usurpations towards an end, showing a design to reduce them
to absolute oppression, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to
overthrow that government and provide new guides for their future
security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and it
is now their duty and right to alter their systems of government. The
history of Star Fleet and the United Federation of Planets has shown a
repeated disregard for these Colonies. As evidence of this, let these
facts be set before the Galaxy ...
They have disregarded our representatives plea for help.
They have given us up to another government with out our
consent.
They have attacked our trade, by restricting the goods we can
purchase
They have let bandits supported by their cruel neighbors
terrorize us.
They have kept us from purchasing weapons to defend ourselves.
They have hunted down those among us who stood up to defend
themselves.
They have hunted down those among us who supported the
aforementioned people.
They have restricted the press's reporting of the deeds
occurring here in the zone.
They have in acted a treaty without our consent taking away our
lands and giving them over to our enemies.
We have asked for remedy to our situation from them and received
none, only repeated acts of the above. A Government which acts as such
is unfit to rule a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our Federation
Counterparts. We have warned them of Governments Acts. We have
reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement
here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Fairness, and ties
of common Relation. They too have been deaf to the voice of Justice and
Reason. We must, therefore bow before the Necessity, and announce our
Separation to become Enemies in War, Friends in Peace.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the Maquis Colonies of the
former Federation-Cardassian Demilitarized Zone, in General Congress,
assembled and appealing to the Supreme Judge of the Universe, do, in
Name and by the Authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly
declare, that these United Colonies are and of Right should be a Free
and Independent State; that they are absolved from all Allegiance from
the United Federation of Planets, and that all Political Connection
between them and the aforementioned Federation is and ought to be
totally dissolved; and that as a Free and Independent State, they have
full power to wage war, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish
Trade, and to do all the other things which Independent States do. And
for the support of this declaration, with firm reliance in the
protection of the Supreme Power, we mutually pledge each other our
lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
Chapter One
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard entered the bridge of the
USS Miranda. Noticing Captain T'Gwen Washington she said, "Reporting as
ordered, Captain."
"Lieutenant Commander Picard, I presume," T'Gwen said. "I
regret that I can not take command of the Stargazer at the moment, but I
must wait for the Victory to arrive so I can turn over command of the
Miranda to Captain Zimbata."
"I understand, Captain, I assume that means I will be turning
command over to our Cardassian First Officer," Marrissa commented.
"No, Gusat has orders to report to Captain Washington of the
Stargazer, and since I have not taken command of that vessel yet, he can
not report in, and hence command it," Washington commented. "So I guess
you will have to stay in command until then."
"It's no hardship," Marrissa replied. "Oh, and Captain, the
Cardassian Central Command has requested permission for their officers
who will be joining the Stargazer to be allowed to wear Star Fleet
uniforms. The Admiralty has informed them that such decisions are the
Captain's prerogative on an individual basis."
"Inform the Cardassian Central Command that I will grant that
permission," the half Vulcan Captain replied. "I suggest that you grant
interim permission as well, Commander."
"Aye, sir," Picard replied. "If you'll excuse me, I've just
been informed that I'm to attend a diplomatic function tonight aboard
the station, and I forgot to pack a dress."
"Dismissed, Lieutenant Commander," Captain T'Gwen Washington
concluded.
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard walked down Deep Space
Nine's Promenade, while waiting for Garak to finish her dress. As she
walked toward Quark's she spied Captain Sisko's son, Jake. "Jake," she
called out. As he walked up to Marrissa, she continued, "Remember me,
Marrissa?"
"How could I forget the person who provided me with my first,
and so far only authorized biography contract," Jake replied.
"Especially since it sold five trillion copies, and was on the
bestsellers list for 8 weeks. Tell me, can I write a sequel?"
"Maybe when I've done a little more," Marrissa said. "Your last
one ended when I took that Trakce ship. I've only discovered that I'm a
Princess and got promoted since then."
"I didn't see the Enterprise come in, and it's hard to miss a
Galaxy class starship," Jake commented. "So are you here on vacation?"
"No, I got a promotion and a transfer," Marrissa replied. "I'm
now Second Officer and Fighter Commander on the USS Stargazer NCC-2893."
"Congratulations, Marrissa," Jake replied. "If I remember what
my dad said, you'll be having a great adventure in the demilitarized
zone."
"The Maquis thought they had problems with the Intrepid class,"
Marrissa said. "Wait till they see what my Essex-10 fighters can do."
"Record a battle for me," Jake asked. "It might help with my
series I'm writing about a Maquis fighter."
"You know a Maquis?" Marrissa inquired
"Not really, but I've interviewed several captured ones and I've
been writing fiction books about one," Jake said. "Hey, isn't that your
new first officer, Gusat?"
"I believe you are right, Jake," Marrissa replied. "If you will
excuse me, I better go introduce myself."
The Cardassian officer Gusat was on his way to Quarks for a
little Dabo when Marrissa caught up with him. "Gusat," she inquired.
"Yes," he responded.
"I'm Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard, I'll be serving as
Second Officer and Fighter Commander under you on the Stargazer."
"I've been looking forward to meeting you face to face," Gusat
smiled.
"Have we meet before?" Marrissa asked.
"We have," Gusat responded. "I was a helmsman on Gul Ducat's
ship when you drove him insane."
"I wasn't aware that I caused him that much harm," Marrissa
replied. "I only wanted to humiliate him."
"Well you did a good job and since he went mad, everyone under
him got promoted," Gusat said. "So I must thank you for that."
"Your welcome, Glinn," Marrissa replied as they sat down at the
bar. "Strawberry soda, Quark, and don't you even think of spiking it
this time."
"Spiking it?" Glinn Gusat questioned.
"He, unintentionally he claims, gave me a strawberry Bajoran ale
when I was here for my twelfth birthday," Marrissa explained. "And I
had little tolerance for alcohol at the time."
The Intrepid class starship Fearless was taking a break from
demilitarized zone patrol. Admiral Ellis had ordered the bridge crew to
take shore leave on Greenhome IV, a planet in the DMZ. Captain Seina
had left Doctor Francis Pazzi, the Chief Medical Officer in command. If
the Captain was going to be forced to take shore leave, he was going to
make sure the person responsible was going to suffer for it. Of the 132
crew members of the Fearless, only 30 were still on board, those who
Doctor Pazzi had decided need shore leave the least.
"Doctor, a Maquis raider has entered the system," an ensign said
from the helm.
"Hail them," Doctor Pazzi stated.
The ex-Star Fleet Lieutenant Commander Michael Eddington
appeared on screen. "Is everything ready?"
"The only ones here are us chickens," Pazzi responded.
"Very good, one to beam directly to the bridge," Eddington
ordered.
The channel closed, and Eddington materialized on the bridge.
Doctor Pazzi got up out of the center seat and said, "Computer, transfer
command to Captain Michael Eddington, per orders."
"Transfer complete," the Computer replied. "The USS Fearless is
now the Maquis vessel Defiance under command of Captain Michael
Eddington."
Chapter Two
Captain's Log
USS Stargazer
STARDATE 50378.4
Captain T'Gwen Washington recording
Captain Zimbata of the Victory, having arrived to relieve me of
the Miranda, I hereby accept command of the USS Stargazer, NCC-2893, the
first ship of the Stargazer class. I look forward to beginning our
mission to reduce tensions in the demilitarized zone by restraining the
Maquis and their Cardassian counterpart, the Hi'den order, or the order
of the forgotten and abandoned.
Joining me on this mission will be my Cardassian first officer,
Gusat, and several other members of the Cardassia Central Command. In
addition, I have the pleasure of one Lieutenant Commander Marrissa A.
Picard, serving as my Second Officer and Fighter Commander. Her youth
and vigor, not to mention ability will be a refreshing change from the
Miranda, where all my officers were older than 40, 5 years older than
myself at the least.
Most of our personnel have arrived. However, I am distressed by
the lack of a Chief Engineer. Currently no one is assigned there. I am
now meeting with each of my command officers to get to know them better.
"So Glinn," Washington asked. "What do you think of our young
fighter commander?" As they lounged in her Ready Room.
"If she does as well with fighters against Maquis; as she does
with a saucer section, and a top-of-the-line Cardassian warship," Glinn
Gusat stated, "then she has my confidence. I certainly don't want to be
the pilot of the ship facing her again, and as for the weapons officer,
perish the thought."
"Good, then I can expect few conflicts between you and our strong
willed fighter commander," the half-Vulcan replied. "And by the way,
you might want to pass the word not to call her Risa. According to our
Chief Tactical Officer, that makes her mad enough to resort to practical
jokes under the guise of a drill."
"Practical jokes during a drill," Gusat responded. "I'd like to
know how she does that."
"I'm sure Lieutenant Ross Lockard will inform us," Washington
said.
At that moment, Lieutenant Ross Lockard was greeting the fighter
pilots in the Fighter bay. Twenty-nine Cardassians and an equal number
of Starfleet personnel stood in ranks by seniority in the over 10,000
square foot bay. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am the Chief Tactical Officer
on this vessel, Lieutenant Ross Lockard," he began. "Your Commanding
Officer, the Fighter Commander, Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard,
had 'affairs of state' to finish and will be joining us later.
Meanwhile, it is my job to introduce you to the rules and regulations
of this vessel.
"First, you are expected to keep your fighters in order. We
only have fifty of them and a rather short engineering staff. In fact
we are still waiting for a Chief Engineer.
"Secondly, as to obeying orders, you are to obey all the orders
of those ranked above or positioned above you. Your direct superiors
will be the Fighter Commander, the First Officer, Glinn Gusat, and the
Captain, T'Gwen Washington.
As Ross concluded his remarks, Marrissa Amber Picard entered the
bay. Noticing her Ross announced, "Now here is your commanding officer,
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard." As he moved to leave, he
whispered in Marrissa's ear, "I got them ready for you, enjoy."
"Fellow pilots," she began. "As Ross has no doubt informed you,
I am the fighter commander on this vessel. I am also the second officer
as well. Since I have the honor of serving as fighter commander, it is
my duty to organize this department and provide a chain of command. A
full chain of command in the department will take awhile but organizing
it will not. After I have dismissed you, you will find your wing and
quarters assignment on the wing status display board on the right side
wall as you exit the bay toward engineering. I am now also prepared to
announce your wing commanders. This is based on those tests you all
took in the past couple days. Red wing, Lieutenant junior grade
Katherine Lockard, Blue wing, Lieutenant junior grade Matthew Grubb,
Green wing, Lieutenant junior grade Tibek, Black wing, Dar Dukat Mikor,
Brown wing, Assist Dar Ekat, Orange wing, Assit Dar Davek, and last but
not least our combined wing, Yellow, Lieutenant junior grade Tanis
Solar. Please report to the conference lounge on deck 7 at 1100 hours,
tomorrow. That is the Wing Debriefing Room, so please make sure you
know where it is."
Twelve-year-old Kerstin Szustakowski was in class when it all
began on the Roanoke. First the ship went to Yellow Alert. Then the
ship shook and went to Red Alert. Finally her teacher collapsed.
As the rest of her class was sitting there shocked at the
teacher's collapse, only Kerstin could take the initiative. "Classroom
Two to Sickbay, Medical Emergency," she said. There was no response.
"Medical Emergency in Classroom Two." Still no response. "Kerstin to
Engineering." No Response. "Kerstin to the Bridge." No Response.
"Computer, crew status, authorization Kerstin Alpha Five Four Oh Kids."
"Adult crew out of commission due to unknown compound in
ventilation," the Computer responded. "Activating Kid's Crew, Kerstin
Szustakowski now in command. Intruder alert, on the Bridge."
"Transfer command to Classroom two, lock down the bridge and
change all command codes to settings in file
KidsCrew/Operation/Codes/Kerstin," the eleven year old girl ordered.
"Seal all sections that Intruders occupy with force fields."
"Unable to comply, system disabled," was the computer's
response.
"Great," was Kerstin's reply, as she tapped her combadge. "All
Kid's Crew members report to Classroom Two. Computer, their is
decompression problems on the bridge and the other areas the Intruders
occupy, lower bulkheads."
"No pressure drop located."
"There is a sensor malfunction, lower bulkheads, authorization
Kerstin Alpha Four Oh Five Beta Princess."
"Lowering bulkheads."
The next mornings staff meeting on the Stargazer was held in the
conference lounge below the bridge at 0800 hours. In attendance were
Captain T'Gwen Washington, Commander Gusat, and Lieutenant Commander
Marrissa Picard. The new Chief of Operations, the Cardassian Assist
Duvet, and the Chief Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Ross Lockard were also
there. Just arriving was the Doctor and Chief of Security.
The half-Vulcan, half human Captain began, "Ladies and
Gentlemen, welcome to the Stargazer, since not all of you have met, we
will begin with introductions. Please tell us your name, and your duty
assignments. I am T'Gwen Washington, Captain. My job is commanding
officer." She gestured to her right.
A Cardassian spoke up, "I am Gusat, Glinn. I am the First
Officer."
Next to him, another Cardassian spoke up, "Duvek, Assist Glinn,
Chief of Operations."
Beside him was yet another Cardassian, "Assist Gavek, Chief of
Security."
Beginning down the other side was a brown haired man, who
stated. "Ross Lockard, Lieutenant, Chief Tactical Officer."
Next was a man in medical attire with straw-like hair.
"Lieutenant Commander Jackson Johnson, Chief Medical Officer," he
drawled.
And last but certainly not least was the blond girl on the left
of the Captain. She recited. "Princess Marrissa Amber Picard,
Lieutenant Commander, Second Officer, Fighter Commander. Shall I go on
to my duties that do not pertain to this ship?"
"Go ahead, I'd like to know what else you have to do," Gusat
responded.
"Coordinating Officer of the Kid's Crew program, Heir to the
throne of Essex," Marrissa finished.
"I have just found us a Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Virginia
Szustakowski. She will be joining us in the zone," Captain Washington
concluded.
"Bridge to Captain Washington," Katherine Lockard interrupted.
"Go ahead Lieutenant," Washington replied.
"A priority one signal has come in from Captain George Siena of
the Fearless," Lieutenant Katherine Lockard announced. "Request for
immediate assistance. Captain Sisko has asked if we can handle it, since
Commander Worf has the Defiant in the Gamma Quadrant."
"Inform Sisko that we will be underway as soon as he gives us
clearance," Captain Washington replied, standing up.
From the stairs to the deck below, the Command crew of the USS
Stargazer emerged onto the bridge. Lieutenant Katherine Lockard
relinquished the Command chair to Captain T'Gwen Washington as the rest
of the Command crew filed in. She took over the helm from some junior
officer. Glinn Gusat took his seat beside the Captain. Duvek relieved
his second, Lieutenant Lavelle and Lieutenant Lockard and Assist Gavek
both took up tactical as Lockard was helping Gavek learn the system.
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard sat down at the Fighter Commander
console.
"Ops, do we have clearance?" Captain Washington asked.
"Clearance from Deep Space Nine has been logged," Duvek replied.
"CONN?"
"Departure course laid in and awaiting your command," Katherine
Lockard replied.
"Release Docking clamps, forward and aft thrusters to station
keeping. Port thrusters to one quarter," T'Gwen Washington ordered.
"Take us out, Lieutenant."
Stargazer pulled away from lower pylon two of Deep Space Nine.
Sliding sideways she cleared the port and then pulled out of Deep Space
Nine away from the wormhole.
"Now clear of Deep Space Nine," Kathy announced.
"Captain Sisko sends his best wishes," Assist Glinn Duvek
informed.
"Thank him for me. CONN course, one five two, mark six two,"
Captain Washington ordered. "Warp eight, it's time we see what this
ship can do. Commander Picard, have two wings ready to take off on a
moment's notice."
"Blue and Black wings will be ready in five minutes," Marrissa
replied. "Please note that in the future I intend to cut that time to
two minutes."
"So noted," Captain Washington said.
Chapter Three
The Maquis did not expect any resistance from the Roanoke, after
all they had a drug that caused instant loss of consciousness in the
adults they had tested it on. However almost as soon as they arrived
the bulkheads went down, trapping them on the Bridge and Engineering.
Kerstin and her Kid's crew had destroyed their ship. They couldn't
access the Computer. They did manage to sabotage the ship's engines by
manually removing key computer components, but that was all they could
do.
Kerstin Szustakowski had their number, and was about to call it.
As soon as reinforcements arrived that is. Two dozen children versus two
scores of Maquis, that just wasn't odds that Kerstin liked.
"Someone has stolen Captain Seina's ship," Washington stated
before her assembled bridge crew.
"Excuse me Captain, did you say stole?" Lieutenant Ross Lockard
asked, shocked. "You don't steal a starship ... we haven't had one
stolen since Kirk stole the Enterprise."
"Captain Seina believes the Maquis commandeered his vessel,"
Washington replied. "He also suspects his Doctor, who he left in
command, has something to do with it."
"Makes sense," Glinn Gusat responded. "After all someone had to
arrange for the right people to come aboard."
"The ship's Chief Medical Officer, even one with his commander's
pips doesn't have that much power," Doctor Johnson observed. "Someone
else must have been involved."
"Agreed, Doctor," T'Gwen Washington responded. "But I'm afraid
we may never find out who. Admiral Ellis has imposed a gag order. We
may search for the Fearless, but no one is to speak of suspected reasons
for her disappearance."
"Makes sense," Glinn Gusat commented.
"I'm glad it makes sense to you, Glinn," Marrissa replied. "It
makes very little for me."
Kerstin Szustakowski had just reached Admiral Ellis. Apparently
an urgent call from the Captain of a Kid's Crew was not urgent to the
Admiral. "What is it? I've got Personnel Review Forms to finish," the
Admiral snapped.
"I need immediate assistance," Kerstin stated. "I've got forty
Maquis Officers on board occupying my bridge, all the adults are
unconscious and I just have two dozen untrained children at my
disposal."
"And you are?" Ellis said with contempt.
"Kerstin Szustakowski, Captain, Kid's Crew USS Roanoke," she
replied. "When can I expect assistance?"
"What assistance," Ellis sneered. "You aren't worth the
trouble. Ellis out."
Kerstin wasn't happy with the latest development. She'd done
just like the manual said. But the Bastard wouldn't help her as the
regulations required. Fortunately, Kerstin followed the advice of her
Kid's Crew supervising officer, always have a back up plan. In fact she
was about to contact that very officer.
Chapter Four
"Commander Picard, urgent communication for you from Kerstin
Szustakowski, USS Roanoke," Assist Glinn Duvek said from Operations.
"I'll take it in the Observation Lounge," Marrissa Picard
replied, then remembering that she had been left in command, she
continued. "You have the Bridge Duvek." She got up out of her station
above the stairs and walked around to and down the stairs. Duvek
meanwhile took to the command chair as Lieutenant Lavelle replaced him
at Ops.
Minutes later Captain Washington entered the bridge. "Where is
Lieutenant Commander Picard?" she asked.
"The Commander had a call from a Kerstin Szustakowski, acting
Captain USS Roanoke," Duvek said as he returned to his station.
"Kerstin Szustakowski?" T'Gwen Washington mused. "Kid's crew in
command, again. Can't Captain Mary Szustakowski keep her children out of
the command chair?"
"Careful Captain," Katherine Lockard said from the helm. "I'm
one of those children."
"No offense intended, Lieutenant," the Captain apologized.
"None taken, Captain," Kathy replied. "I know Mom has spent a
lot of time out of the chair in the past couple years, most of the time
with one of my little sisters taking her place. It seems some Star
Fleet Admirals have found a little trick that allows him to send a
Captain Szustakowski even when Mom gets herself injured."
"I wish I hadn't told Admiral Okie of that little trick,"
Marrissa Picard said, emerging from the stairs. "At the time it seemed
like the only way to stop that war in the Naklab system though."
"Hey, my sisters aren't objecting," Katherine responded. "After
all, Hope has a treaty and Kerstin has two to her names."
"Yeah but diplomacy makes dealing with Maquis taking over your
ship positively look easy," Picard replied. "Until you get them
confined that is. Now poor Kerstin is having trouble getting help.
Admiral Ellis just refused to send any."
"He did?" Washington stated. "That was not logical. CONN set a
course to the Roanoke, warp seven. Picard, have your fighters standing
by. If that young Captain of yours has managed to curtail the
activities of some Maquis, they logically would have called for help."
"Kathy, you won't mind if I borrow your wing?" Marrissa asked.
"Kerstin suggested that you'd be ready to decode her messages."
"I'll be ready," Kathy replied.
Marrissa nodded and tapped her communicator. "Attention all
Fighter Wings, red wing, blue wing, to launch status. Green wing, black
wing, to ready status. All other wings standby for deployment orders."
Closing the channel she continued. "With your permission Captain, I'll
go down to the fighter bay now."
Ro Laren was not in good sprits. She had lead the Maquis on
board the Roanoke, after gassing its crew. Ro knew of no way she could
have been blocked in her takeover of the starship. She knew about the
fact that the gas was ineffective on children. Could it be that the
children had command of the ship? No, she dismissed the thought. No
Captain would allow the children to have command level access. And who
ever was fighting her off had to have that. Even with that Kid's Crew
regulation they passed just before she left Star Fleet.
The Roanoke had destroyed her ship, and all who remained aboard.
At least that wouldn't happen to any one else. Ro had ordered phaser
power conduits disconnected. It was now time to call for back up.
"Maquis Croatan to Marqui Defiance, help requested," Ro said over her
portable communications equipment. "I've been locked out."
Chapter Five
In classroom two on board the Roanoke, the panic had just begun
again. The temporary command center was experiencing another crisis.
"Multiple contacts coming out of warp," the boy taking care of sensors
announced. "A dozen Maquis raiders and one Intrepid class Starship, in
formation."
"Tactical, weapons status?" Kerstin asked.
"No power to phasers," a girl replied. "Torpedo launching
systems jammed."
"And no way to run either," Kerstin responded. "ETA on the
Stargazer."
"Three minutes," a boy replied.
"Three minutes, we can do that," Kerstin smiled. "Tell me,
Ashaya, is the loading system still OK for the torpedoes?"
"Yes, Kerstin," the tactical officer responded. "But what good
is that going to do?"
"Transporters are still on line aren't they?" Kerstin asked. A
boy responded with a nod. "Then we'll transport them. I just love
Tactics Monthly."
Eddington smiled as his fleet approached the drifting Roanoke.
It was just waiting for his forces. He wondered why Ro hadn't been able
to take over the ship. She was one of the Maquis' most experienced
operatives, that's why she had been assigned the task of taking the
Nebula class starship. In any case, with the Maquis Defiance's support,
the Roanoke would soon be Maquis.
"Incoming hail from the Roanoke," his operations officer
announced.
"On screen," Eddington responded, his Star Fleet training
evident. All that training went out the window when Kerstin appeared on
screen. He muttered, "a child, a child."
"Yes a child," Kerstin replied. "Kerstin Szustakowski, Kid's
Crew Captain, presently in command of the USS Roanoke. I suggest you
withdraw immediately."
"Why? Ro informs me that your ship is currently disabled,"
Eddington responded, dryly. "You couldn't hurt a flea."
"Well I may not be Marrissa Picard, but you'll find than no
Kid's Crew Captain has a bark worse than their bite, Mister," the young
girl replied. "Roanoke out."
In the classroom that was serving as the control center of the
Roanoke, Kerstin turned toward her tactical officer and said, "Ashaya,
transport one torpedo directly in front of the lead Maquis raider. Set
it to explode on impact."
On the classroom's view screen, a Maquis raider's nose was
obscured by the explosion. When the blast cleared, half the ship was
gone. It drifted aimlessly toward the Roanoke.
"Dusty," Kerstin ordered a boy at the rear of the classroom.
"Look for known Maquis with the name Ro. I want to know about our
opponent."
"Kerstin, shields have gone up on all remaining vessels," a boy
announced.
"They should have had them up before," Ashaya responded.
"Agreed," Kerstin replied. "Send another torpedo at that
half-destroyed ship, I don't want it drifting into us. Also that raider
at seventy mark eight looks a little weak. Give him a torpedo in thirty
seconds."
"Aye sir," Ashaya replied.
"Another vessel has arrived ...," a boy said. "... it's the
Stargazer."
On the bridge of the Stargazer, Captain T'Gwen Washington
surveyed the scene surrounding the Roanoke. A half destroyed hull blew
up as they watched. The remaining ships were beginning to surround
the Roanoke, the Intrepid class ship being on the other side from
the Stargazer.
"Launch fighters," she ordered. "Ops status of the Roanoke,
CONN plot a course to bring us along side the Intrepid Class vessel.
Tactical fire on raiders as your phasers come to bear."
"The Roanoke's warp and impluse engines are offline," Duvek
responded. "No power to phasers. Transporter activity indicates that
they are using transporters to launch torpedoes."
"Fascinating," Washington responded. "Gusat, take the upper
warp pair. We are going to give who ever took the Fearless a chase.
Duvek, take the bridge, I'll be in the lower warp pair. Once we split,
I want you to move to cover the top of the Roanoke. If you can,
transport security teams on board the Roanoke to clear out those Maquis.
Warp pair separation in one minute mark."
The Captain and First Officer left the bridge of the Stargazer,
and Duvek settled into the command chair. "Rotate us 90 degrees onto
our port side. Set a course looping around the raiders terminating in
front and facing the Fearless at separation."
Chapter Six
The Stargazer looped around the Maquis raiders firing at whoever
was closer. Every once in a while a torpedo would explode by a raider,
courtesy of the Kid's crew of the Roanoke. Meanwhile Marrissa's red
and blue wings, and Marrissa herself pursued targets among the raiders,
sowing confusion where ever they went.
Then suddenly, the Stargazer took on the appearance of a
collision course, full impluse. "Separation in 10 ... 9 ..." Closer
and faster they went. Collision emanate. "6 ... 7 ..."
On the Bridge of the Maquis Defiance, a.k.a. the Fearless, the
operations officer announced, "The Stargazer is on a collision course.
Impact in ten seconds."
"Evasive," Eddington got out, too late for the helmsman to
respond.
On the screen, the sideways ship closed, then suddenly the warp
engines pealed off. The saucer itself stopped. The warp pairs made
organized strikes down the sides of the Intrepid Class Maquis vessel, as
the crew continued to stare. The saucer then made a corkscrew turn back
toward the Roanoke, righting itself and tossing a volley of torpedoes at
the Fearless, almost absentmindedly.
"Shields at 50 percent," the tactical officer announced.
"Follow the saucer," Eddington ordered. "We'll see if we can
retrieve our strike team before we leave."
Meanwhile, Marrissa's two wings of fighters were after the
eleven remaining raiders. She and Lieutenant Matt Grubb (blue wing's
commanding officer) were busy directing their forces. "Picard to Red
two, watch your back."
"I see him, Commander."
"Red four to Red five, you've got a tail"
"I can't shake him."
"Picard to Red Three, Four, Six, relieve Five of his tail.
I'll be joining you."
Marrissa turned her fighter from the raider she had been
following toward the raider causing Red Five trouble. She noted this
course would cause her to pass between the secondary hull saucer of the
Nebula class starship. As she closed, she noticed that the Maquis
raider in question's rear shields were lit up like a firefly. She
crossed the saucer of the Roanoke and came out in front of the raider
and fired her two mini-torpedoes and phasers. That was the last of the
raider, as it exploded and Red Three, Four, and Six peeled out of the
cloud of expanding gas that it left behind.
"Black Leader to Fighter Commander," Dar Ducat's voice came.
"Black and Green joining up. Where do you want us?"
"Black odds take raider five," Marrissa began "Black even,
raider six, Green odd, seven, Green even, eight, Red even reassigned to
nine, Red odd, four, leaders assist as necessary your wings."
"Blue two to Commander, raider two is gone."
"Take raider ten Blue even. Leaders take raider eleven. Let's
clear these guys out."
Three fighters on each Maquis Raider left little that the Maquis
could do, as raider after raider found itself losing. Meanwhile the
Defiance was trying to avoid the two warp pairs of the Stargazer.
Unable to close on the Roanoke, the Defiance hit warp, exiting with the
warp pairs following. One by one, the raiders either followed suit or
were destroyed.
The saucer, confined to impluse, took up guard above the
Roanoke. The red and blue wings returned to the fighter bay, by
Commander Picard's orders. The remaining wings took up station below
the Roanoke.
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard returned to the bridge.
"Status, Duvek?" she asked, as he yielded command to her.
"The warp pairs are still after the Maquis vessel," Duvek began.
"No sign of any additional Maquis. Ship is secure."
"Excellent, hail the Roanoke," Marrissa ordered. Kerstin
Szustakowski appeared once again from her classroom. "Kerstin, I must
compliment you on the photon torpedo trick."
"Thank you Commander," Kerstin blushed.
"I think it's time to get rid of that occupation you're
suffering," Marrissa replied. "Would you mind if I removed them from
the Bridge and Engineering of your ship?"
"Those uninvited guests? Take them," Kerstin said, relieved.
"Just get someone over here to see to the Medical needs of my crew. The
adults have been out for half a shift now."
"Doctor Johnson will be over shortly," Marrissa replied.
"Stargazer out."
Chapter Seven
Captain's Log
USS Stargazer NCC-2893
Stardate 51381.89
Captain T'Gwen Washington commanding.
... After defending the Roanoke, we chased the Intrepid class
vessel stolen by the Maquis into the badlands. Unfortunately, we lost
them in a plasma storm. I and Glinn Gusat returned to the saucer and
docked.
Lieutenant Commander Picard had, in our absence, retaken the
bridge and other occupied areas of the Roanoke. Doctor Johnson has
filled our sickbay, and theirs with the Roanoke's comatose crew. He
believes they will recover without ill effect within 48 hours, but
recommends a week's recovery period.
Per Picard's recommendation, I have left young Szustakowski in
command of the Roanoke. We are returning to Deep Space Nine with much
to ponder.
Marrissa, Doctor Johnson, Ross and Kathy Lochard, and Lieutenant
Lavelle were in Seven Slightly Starboard playing poker. "What I don't
get is how the Maquis took the Fearless," Ross commented, dealing out
the final cards. "Your bid Lavelle."
"Five," Lavelle opened. "Their has to have been someone in their
command crew who helped them."
"I'll see you and raise you 10," Kathy responded. "But all the
command crew sans the doctor were left behind.
"So the doctor did it," Lavelle replied.
"I don't think so," Doctor Johnson commented. "We don't have
that much access. I fold."
"Then the agent stayed behind," Lavelle suggested.
"I'm going to have to shoot that one down, Sam," Marrissa said.
"See you and raise you twenty."
"Too rich for me," Ross folded. "I have to agree with you on
one point, Sam. Someone had to have lots of clearance to pull that one
off."
"You mean they didn't just take her like they tried to do to the
Roanoke," Kathy queried.
"The ship was functioning too good for that to be the case,"
Ross stated.
"That's what I thought," Lavelle confirmed. "I'll see and raise
20."
"I fold," Kathy responded. "If not the command crew then who?"
"I'll see your 20, Sam, and raise you 30," Marrissa called. "I
have a couple suspicions on that."
"Oh?" Sam Lavelle responded. "Who? I'll see you and raise you
40."
"Admiral Ellis," Marrissa answered. "I see you and raise you
50."
"Ellis? really Marrissa," Kathy remarked.
"Yeah, what have you got against him?" Ross asked.
"I fold," Lavelle said.
Marrissa pulled in the pot and replied, "He failed to send a
rescue party to the Roanoke when Kerstin requested one."
"That sounds like a good enough reason," Doctor Johnson
concurred. "Is anyone charging him?"
"I've asked the JAG office to look into the matter," Marrissa
responded. "Well gentlemen, I've got Alpha shift tomorrow, so I'll be
going now."
"Quitting while your ahead, I see," Ross Lochard stated.
"Always, Lieutenant, first rule of tactics," Marrissa smiled.
"And don't get too loud tonight, my room is right on the other side of
that wall."
Former Star Fleet Lieutenant Ro Laren sat in the brig of the
Roanoke. She wondered why she always took the hard assignments. Taking
a Nebula class starship, who ever had put that on the assignment list
must have been insane. Never the less she had signed up for it. Now
she was paying for it. On the eve of Maquis Independence, here she sat
in the brig of a Star Fleet vessel.
"You don't look like you're having fun," a young voice stated.
Standing outside her cell was a young girl in a red and blue
Starfleet-like uniform. Ro wondered who it was.
"No I'm not," Ro commented.
"It's a shame really," the girl responded. "You certainly
seemed to be having fun yesterday."
"You mean when I tried to take over this ship," Ro replied.
"That wasn't fun, that was duty."
"Who said it wasn't possible to do both?" the girl asked.
"I've never been able to," Ro answered.
"That's really a shame," the girl commented. "I've had fun
almost every time I've been on duty. Unless you count that Greiluse
treaty. That gave me a headache."
"Who are you anyway?" Ro inquired.
"Kerstin Szustakowski, acting Captain," the girl informed.
"I leave and Star Fleet goes to the kids," Ro grumbled.
"Shouldn't you be on the bridge or something?"
"No, it's Beta shift," Kerstin replied. "I'm doing my tour of
the ship. It's been nice talking to you, Miss Ro." The girl Captain
walked off.
Captain T'Gwen Washington and Glinn Gusat sat in the Stargazer's
ready room. Already, the room was beginning to take on the personality
of the half-Vulcan Captain. A painting of the Vulcan's Forge graced one
wall, with the Captain's saber hung below it. A copy of Decartes's La
Geometrie sat under glass on a table. A stand by the door had the
traditional model of Washington's last command, the Miranda.
"So Glinn, what do you think of the Stargazer now," Washington
asked.
"Where can Cardassia purchase one?" Glinn Gusat replied. "I've
never seen such a versatile vessel. Fighters, those warp pair craft,
and I've never seen such a large vessel corner so well."
"Well, when the refitter has been around 150 years, he learns
some things," Captain Washington remarked.
"Vulcan?"
"No, Admiral Scott's human," Washington replied. "He spent a
quarter of a century as Captain Kirk's Chief Engineer."
"James T. Kirk?"
"The same. Scott is a certified genius. He's spent the last
couple years figuring out how to upgrade our older starships. He did
such a good job converting the Constellation class into the Stargazer
class that they're thinking of giving him the Nova Class project."
"Shouldn't he be retiring soon?"
"He did once. Reportably he couldn't stand it."
Chapter Eight
Captain's Log
Deep Space Nine
Captain Benjamin Sisko recording
The Stargazer has arrived towing the Roanoke. Apparently, the
Maquis tired to capture the Roanoke. I am happy to report that due to
the efforts of the Stargazer and the Kid's Crew of the Roanoke, they
failed.
As a result of this attempt, several Maquis have been captured.
They include a former Bajoran Star Fleet Officer, Ro Laren. This Ro
defected from the Enterprise three years ago at the rank of Lieutenant.
At the time she was part of an attempt to infiltrate the Maquis.
Then Captain Jean-Luc Picard noted that he held himself partly to blame
in her file. She will be brought before a court-martial.
Marrissa was walking down the promenade when she heard a
familiar voice from behind her. "Too busy to even stop and chat with
an old friend?" Marrissa spun around looking for the owner of the voice.
She spotted the blond teenager sitting at a table in the Replimat which
she had just been going past. "Come over and join me," Jay Gordon
asked. "I know you haven't had dinner yet."
"Jay, what are you doing here?" Marrissa inquired, as she sat
down across from Jay.
"Captain Sisko asked for some back-up, after the Maquis declared
independence," Jay informed. "Star Fleet sent him the Independence.
Since we've been out on exploratory missions, we haven't had much shore
leave. So Captain Morris authorized some when we came into port."
"I see you got your full Lieutenancy," Marrissa observed. "What
did you have to do to get it?"
"You're looking at the Independence's new Chief of Operations,"
Jay beamed.
"I thought that was your father's position," Marrissa commented.
"He got bumped up to First Officer," Jay said, smiling. "We
were out of range of replacements, so Captain Morris appointed me. Why
me I have no idea, after all I'm leaving for the Academy in six months."
"Because Jay, you're good at organization, that's why I made you
my number one back in the Enterprise's Kid's Crew," Marrissa said.
"Speaking of the Kid's Crew on the old Enterprise, how is Clara
doing in command?" Jay asked.
"My father left her and the Kid's Crew in command while he went
to talk to Admiral Necheyev on Starbase 12," Marrissa began. "You know,
low risk watch, not much chance of trouble."
"You mean the kind of watch that Kid's Crew Captains turn into
great adventures?" Jay said. "Usually beginning with an attack by some
enemy of the Federation."
"You've heard this story before," Marrissa accused. "The
Romulans sent their annual attempt to destroy a starship toward Starbase
12 this year."
"So how did Clara do?" Jay asked.
"Quite well, much to her surprise," Marrissa mused. "She neatly
clipped off the engines of the Warbird and captured it."
"So is she still claiming that she's an Engineer, not a Starship
Commander?" Jay inquired.
"Of course," Marrissa confirmed. "Not that anyone believes that
Engineering is her only talent after that performance."
"I hope not," Jay responded. "So how are you doing?"
"Let's see, my department is a nightmare, Cardassian personnel
feuding with Star Fleet personnel. My quarters are next to the ship's
bar, which means I hear all of the bar fights, and the Stargazer seems
to have attracted all the prerequisites for them. To make matters
worse, I've been assigned the defense of former Star Fleet Officer
turned Maquis," Marrissa listed.
"Would that be Ro Laren?" Jay asked.
"It would," Marrissa confirmed.
"Perhaps I can help," Jay remarked. "Since I've become Chief of
Operations, I've defended four people."
"How good are you?" Marrissa inquired.
"I'm four for four," Jay smiled.
Lieutenant Ro Laren sat back against the wall of her cell on
Deep Space Nine. Her knees bent, with an arm causally resting on it,
she contemplated her fate. She hoped they had got the west wing air
conditioned ... it was rather likely that she would be spending some
time in prison. After all she was being court-martialed for attempted
take over of a starship and numerous other things she had done as a
Maquis.
As she mused over this, a young blond lady entered in a red Star
Fleet uniform. "Ro Laren?" the blond inquired.
"Yes?" Ro replied
"I'm Marrissa Picard, I'll be your defense attorney," she
replied.
"I remember you," Ro commented. "You're the girl that got the
Ensign's rank at age 12. I know some non-coms that didn't like that."
"I know," Marrissa responded. "There are even a couple officers
who are resenting the speed at which I've been promoted. Never mind the
fact that I've protested them all, with the exception of this last one
to Lieutenant Commander."
"They put you on the fast track," Ro smiled. "I've been on it,
twice. Its not easy is it?"
"No, sometimes I feel like I'm under a magnifying glass,"
Marrissa stated. "And if you make the slightest error ..."
"They jump on you like a two year does with a spider on a
sidewalk," Ro finished. "Just be glad you haven't wound up in prison
yet."
"Do I sense a defeatist attitude?" Marrissa asked. "I shouldn't
be, after all I believe I can get you off."
Ro laughed, "Right."
"Right," Marrissa replied. "After all, you can't be
court-martialed in an organization which you were not a part of at the
time of the crime."
"You're serious aren't you," Ro commented.
"My father considered your message to then Commander Riker as a
resignation," Marrissa informed. "That takes care of all but the charge
of sabotaging a mission. Unfortunately, that mission was classified,
I've got the details due to my level 15 clearance. Unfortunately,
Captain Sisko, the chair of the court, only has level 10. He can't get
to it."
"How did you get level 15 clearance?" Ro asked. "That's usually
associated with a full Admiral's rank!"
"The clearance is federation wide clearance," Marrissa stated.
"Star Fleet Clearance is a yes or no question. As an officer, I've got
Star Fleet clearance. As the next in line to be head of state of a
member planet, or heir to Essex, I've got the level 15. It's a weakness
of the system."
"So, Commander, have you done this before?" Ro inquired,
smiling.
"No, not as defense counsel," Marrissa replied. "Usually I
serve on the other side of the gavel."
"Who else is on the court?" Ro asked.
"Lieutenant Julian Bashir and Lieutenant Samuel Lavelle,"
Marrissa responded.
Lieutenant Katherine Lochard was talking to her sister, Virginia
Szustakowski, the new Chief Engineer of the Stargazer, at Deep Space
Nine's Replimat. "You'll enjoy Commander Picard, Gina" Kathy commented.
"She hasn't lost that child's sense of fun. One word of warning,
though, don't call her, Risa. Ross keeps making that mistake and ending
up with strawberry juice all over his uniform and hair."
"Sounds like fun," Virginia replied. "The second on the
Fearless was pure terror. You never knew what he was going to complain
about next." As she said this, Gina noticed her youngest sister,
Kerstin coming towards them. "Oh, here comes Kerstin the cursed
Captain."
"Don't let her hear you say that," Kathy said. "She's been
known to beat people up for that."
"Someone mention my nickname?" Kerstin stated from behind Kathy.
Kathy blushed. "Don't worry, I know it was used in a good way. I'd
rather you call me that than having Mom."
"How is Mother," Gina asked.
"She's been relieved of duty for the next week," Kerstin
informed. "Doctor Johnson of the Stargazer wants her to have time to
recover. She's already tried to have Doctor Bashir overrule him.
Apparently Bashir had been informed that she would try."
"I told Johnson," Kathy responded. "But don't tell Mom."
"Don't tell me what?" Captain Mary Szustakowski asked,
approaching with her four remaining daughters.
"Mom, you were supposed to be resting in your quarters," Kerstin
stated.
"I couldn't stand it, so I decided to do a little shopping,"
Mary replied, gesturing to her daughters who where carrying various
packages.
"Well at least you got someone to carry the packages," Virginia
commented.
"Mom, you should really rest," Katherine stated, seriously.
"Kerstin, your still acting Captain of the Roanoke, aren't you?"
"Yes, Why?" Kerstin replied.
"Confine her to quarters, if she disobeys, try the brig," Kathy
said. "She is not going to get well shopping on DS9. Mom, I haven't
seen you this pale since right after you fought that Cardassian in
hand-to-hand combat, just four days after you gave birth to Kerstin."
"How could you remember that?" Mary asked, palefaced.
"I was 12 years old at the time," Katherine responded. "As I
recall, you came back missing the upper half of your uniform and with a
rather large gash in your side."
Captain Mary Szustakowski paled more at the memory as Kerstin
spoke up, "Captain Mary Szustakowski, as of this Stardate, you are
confined to quarters. You will remain there until such a time as you
are declared fit by Medical personnel. Lieutenants Lochard and
Szustakowski, would you see to her confinement? I'm expected in Ops."
Chapter Nine
Captain Benjamin Sisko rang the bell, calling the court-martial
to order. On his right sat Doctor Julian Bashir, his left, Lieutenant
Sam Lavelle. At the persecutors table sat Lieutenant Commander Worf.
The defendant, Ro Laren sat at the defense's table, not in uniform.
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard sat beside her, a smile crossing
her face as Sisko asked. "Mister Worf, would you please read the
charges?"
"Ro Laren, Lieutenant, last assignment, CONN Officer, USS
Enterprise, is charged with sabotaging a mission, five counts of
attacking a Federation Starship, one count of attempted take over of a
Star Fleet vessel, and going absent without leave," Worf read.
"Defense, do you accept the charges?" Sisko asked.
"No, I do not" Marrissa replied. Lieutenants Lavelle and
Bashir's mouths dropped. Sisko was taken back as well. "All the
charges after Stardate 47897, are not in the jurisdiction of this
court."
"I'm afraid I must disagree, Miss Picard," Sisko responded.
Before Sisko could get in his pronouncement, Marrissa continued,
"A Starfleet court-martial can only try someone on events happening
while they are in Starfleet. Ro Laren was not in Starfleet after that
STARDATE."
"Mister Worf, can you counter that?" Sisko asked.
"I ask for a recess," Worf replied, frustrated.
"One hour recess granted," Sisko responded, hitting the bell.
An hour later, Sisko reconvened the court. "Mister Worf, your
counter please," he asked.
"I regret that I must agree with Lieutenant Commander Picard,"
Worf responded. "Ro Laren's commanding officer at the time, now Rear
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard has supported that statement." Then muttering he
sat down. "I suspect Marrissa got to him first."
"What was that Worf?" Doctor Bashir asked.
"Nothing Doctor," Worf replied.
"That leaves the charge of abandoning a mission, sabotaging it
as a result," Captain Sisko stated. "Mr. Worf, call your witness."
"I call Captain William T. Riker, commanding the starship
Enterprise," Worf called.
"Aren't you lucky that he was vacationing here," Marrissa
commented as Riker entered.
"Luck had nothing to do with it," Riker said as he sat down.
Worf began his question, "Captain, on Stardate 47865, you were
serving as first officer of the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, where you not?"
"Yes, that is the position I held," Captain Riker stated.
"Beginning on that STARDATE Ro Laren began a undercover mission
to flush out Maquis, correct?" Worf questioned.
"I was so informed," Riker responded.
"Five days later you joined her as her 'brother,' correct?"
"Yes."
"Please tell me what happened during the next couple of days."
"The Maquis had been fed information that the Cardassians were
trying to construct a biogentic weapon, and that the components of that
weapon were on a convoy passing near the DMZ. Ro had convinced the
Maquis that taking the convoy would be a good idea. The Enterprise and
several other starships were hidden in a nearby nebula. Just before the
Maquis raiders were to leave the DMZ, Ro scanned the nebula revealing
the Star Fleet vessels. The Maquis did not leave the zone. She gave me
a message for the Captain and beamed off."
"And what was that message."
"I'm afraid that I don't recall it."
"Thank you, Captain," Worf responded. "Your witness, Marrissa."
"Captain Riker, why did then Captain Picard send you to join
Ro?" Marrissa asked, standing up and walking over to Riker.
"He believed that Ro might not be able to complete the mission,"
Riker responded.
"So the Captain knew that Ro might not be able to complete the
mission, yet left her on the mission," Marrissa stated. "Tell me
Captain, about how far back in your opinion did this concern go?"
"In my opinion, Captain Picard did not want her on this mission
in the first place," Riker said.
"So Ro was sent on a mission, which her Commanding Officer did
not think she could complete, and she did not. Tell me Captain, why
then was she sent on that mission?"
"Admiral Carstairs gave the order," Riker remarked.
"Admiral Carstairs, wasn't he the one who as a starship Captain
put Ro up before another court-martial."
"Yes."
"No further questions," Marrissa said quickly returning to her
seat.
"You may step down," Sisko said. "Lieutenant Commander Picard,
you will refrain from making any more insinuations on people not here to
defend themselves."
"When did I do that?" Marrissa smiled, innocently.
"You know darn well," Sisko responded. "Your next witness,
Worf."
"The prosecution rests," Worf replied. Sisko raised an eyebrow.
"Lieutenant Commander Picard, call your first witness please."
"I call Ro Laren," Marrissa stated. Ro stood up, walked up to
the witness chair and sat down. "Ro, Captain Riker stated that my
father, Jean-Luc Picard, was worried about your ability to complete the
mission from the beginning. How did you feel about the mission."
"Objection," Worf interrupted. "Feelings are not relevant."
"Overruled. Ro's feelings about this mission are very much a
part of this case. Go ahead."
Ro drew in a deep breath and began, "Well at first I just
thought it was another mission. Then after my cover was set, something
familiar hit. The role I was acting was like the time I spent in the
Bajoran Resistance. I began to feel like a Cardassian plant.
Eventually I got over it. But as I got to know the people, the feeling
returned. When the Cardassians attacked the town where I was living, I
defended myself. In the fire fight, the leader of the cell, who I had
grown close to died. Suddenly everything had changed. I wasn't a Star
Fleet Officer looking at people who were disobeying the law. I was one
of them. I had felt and shared their loss. I was apart of them. I
also discovered that I was his chosen successor. I did not want to let
them down, but I also didn't want to let Captain Picard down."
"That's when then Commander Riker joined you," Marrissa
prompted.
"Yes, I have to admit I was resentful of the Commander being
added. It was as if Captain Picard didn't trust me. On top of that,
the plan to capture the Maquis who had become my friends had me
doubting my loyalties as well."
"What made you decide to resign and protect your new friends?"
"I think it was that friendship ... During the time I was in
Star Fleet, I never developed many friends. When I served under
Captain Carstairs on the Challenger, I was on the fast track, and not
many people were willing to associate with a Bajoran. At the time our
home world was still occupied by the Cardassians and we were seen as
little more than stray dogs. Then I was court-martialed for disobeying
orders that I couldn't obey in good conscience. When I was assigned to
the Enterprise, the shadow of that court-martial followed me around. I
still didn't get many friends, with the exception of Guinan, hostess in
Ten-Forward. I never felt like I belonged. The Maquis, after I passed
though there initial suspicions, made me feel like I belonged."
"One last question," Marrissa asked. "Knowing what you know
now, would you have taken that mission?"
"No, I didn't have the loyalty and ties to Star Fleet that it
takes to go undercover," Ro replied. "I didn't know that then, but I do
now."
"Your witness, Worf," Marrissa concluded.
"You stated that you were beginning to doubt yourself way before
you resigned," Worf recapped. "Why didn't you ask to be pulled off the
mission?"
"I felt that I could push myself though the doubts," Ro
responded. "And I didn't want to let Captain Picard down."
"An honorable intention," Worf replied. "But you still let him
down. You disobeyed orders, abandoned your post, betrayed your fellow
officers..."
"Objection, badgering the witness," Marrissa interrupted.
"Sustained," Sisko rang. "The prosecution will refrain from
resighting a list of the offenses the defendant is on trail for."
"No further questions," Worf concluded. A shaken Ro descended
from the stand.
"The Defense would like to enter into the record, the
defendant's last Commanding Officer's recommendations and comments,"
Marrissa asked.
"Does the Prosecution have any objections?" Sisko asked.
"No, your honor," Worf replied.
"So entered," Sisko stated.
"The Defense rests," Marrissa stated.
"Then we will call it a day," Sisko responded. "Tomorrow we
will hear your closing statements."
Chapter Ten
Jay Gordon was admiring Marrissa's Quarters. He liked
Marrissa's taste. The soft green drapes hugged the windows, benefiting
from the saucer design of the remodeled ship. Jay noticed the painting
of Marrissa, himself, Clara, Alexander, and Shayna coming out of the
woods of DOAllen. "Data's work?" he inquired.
"Yes, he gave it to me as a gift when I left the Enterprise,"
Marrissa confirmed offering Jay his favorite drink, root beer.
"I don't think he got Shayna's hair right," Jay remarked,
accepting the drink.
"I'll tell him," Marrissa responded.
"He'll undoubtedly endeavor to be more observant," Jay smiled.
"So how is your case going?"
"I'm not sure," Marrissa replied. "The charge reduction idea
worked, but like you said, that was a fairly easy maneuver. Riker's
testimony went well, but I'm afraid that there are too many holes in the
favorable part of his testimony. I hope Worf missed them."
"Considering some of the things Worf missed in the past, you
have nothing to fear," Jay encouraged.
"You may be right," Marrissa said, not quite sure. "But I still
have to get through the closing statements."
"You will, Risa," Jay responded, trying to get a reaction.
"Jay Alan Gordon," Marrissa suddenly perked up, "How many times
do I have to tell you not to call me that?"
"Oh, some number around infinity," Jay smiled. "So are you
willing to hear my suggestions, your highness."
"Yes, but drop the titles, sir knight," Marrissa replied,
somewhat peeved after Jay's jabs. "Or I'll spend some time giving your
little sister some new ways to drive you nuts."
"Please, not Jacquelynn."
Once again, the court-martial assembled in Deep Space Nine's
Observation Lounge. Captian Sisko rang the bell, calling the court to
order. "Commander Worf, your closing statement please."
"Lieutenant Ro Laren is charged with disobeying orders,
sabotaging a mission, and defecting," Worf said, beginning to pace in
front of the judges. "She deliberately did so, with full knowledge of
the consequences of her actions. She has shown a remarkable willingness
to explain her actions, but that does not change the fact that she did
the deeds. Ro Laren has shown disregard for orders in the past, which
is a matter of her record. She does not protest the events which lead
to this trial. As such she should be found guilty."
"Miss Picard, your closing," Sisko prompted after Worf sat down.
"Thank you Captain," Marrissa responded, standing up to address
the judges. "It's an interesting situation we have here. Star Fleet
Command wanted Ro to be tried for the events which lead to her
resignation. Meanwhile outside these doors, reporters await our
results, questioning what effect this will have on Maquis Independence.
"In any case, you must judge Ro. It can not be an easy task.
Star Fleet has always held that if you can't carry out your duties, in
good conscience, you should resign. Ro tried to carry out her duties,
and resigned when she could not do so in good conscience. Ro is now
being tried for doing what her conscience told her, which is an ideal
which Star Fleet holds dear. In any case, the facts of the case are as
Worf stated them. Ro did commit those deeds.
"The question is not if, or even why she did so. She did, and
we have heard her reasons, which undoubtedly were the result of much
soul searching on her part. No, the question is, is this the right place
to try her. She was not a member of Star Fleet at the time. She
submitted her resignation, due to orders she could not obey in good
conscience. This is in the tradition of Star Fleet. Other officers
have done so in the past, they were not tried by Star Fleet. In fact
many of them later returned to Star Fleet and were welcomed with open
arms.
"Gentlemen, remember that tradition while you deliberate,"
Marrissa concluded. She returned to her seat and sat down with a sigh
of relief.
"This court is now in recess," Captain Sisko stated. "We will
reassemble when a judgment has been made."
"Glinn, do you know how to play poker?" It was an innocent
question coming from the ship's Chief of Operations, Assist Glinn Duvek.
The two had been eating lunch in the ship's mess on deck six above seven
slightly starboard. It was a meal that the two had made a point of
having together since they had served together under Gul Ducat.
"You mean the human game that Picard and her circle were playing
last night," Gusat asked. Duvek nodded. "I've watched them play a
couple of times, and I know the rules, what's good to hold and what's
bad, but I've never played it."
"Some of us would like to learn the game well enough to
challenge the Commander's circle," Duvek replied.
"A worthy ambition, if not difficult," Gusat commented. "Just
who is 'some of us.'"
"Myself, Assist Guvek, Assist Dar Ekat, and Dar Dukat," Duvek
informed.
"Good," Gusat replied.
"You expected a problem?" Duvek asked, judging Gusat's tone from
his long friendship.
"Frankly, yes," Gusat responded. "If you had mentioned Assist
Dar Davek, I would have suspected an ulterior motive."
"You mean the noble Orange Wing Commander who got in a fight
with a Star Fleet Engineer last night and is residing in Guvek's brig,"
Duvek remarked. "You will have Gavek's recommendation, along with
Commander Picard's, on your desk after lunch. It seems that he isn't
doing any better as a wing commander than he is at integrating himself
into a mixed crew."
"So I can expect a rather poor recommendation on Davek?" Gusat
inquired.
"Scathing might be more like it," Duvek responded. Then as
Gusat's left eye ridge rose in inquiry, he continued. "Guvek asked me
to proofread his report for him."
"Has he found the spell check function yet?" Gusat asked.
"I think so, and the thesaurus as well," Duvek replied.
Chapter Eleven
The court room was silent as Captain Benjamin Sisko, Doctor
Julian Bashir, and Lieutenant Samuel Lavelle filed in the room.
Lieutenant Commander Worf sat, confident that he had made his case,
behind his table. Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard sat at the
defendant's table, not at all confident, in fact she was going through
all the flaws in her conduct of the case, real and imagined in her mind.
Meanwhile the defendant sat passive, accepting her fate, what ever it
might be.
"We find the defendant not guilty," Captain Benjamin Sisko
pronounced, to the astonishment of both counsels. Worf barely
restrained himself from using a Klingon cuss word. Marrissa was over
joyed at her success, in fact she was at a loss of words. "We believe
that her actions were guided by her conscience, which as Commander
Picard has pointed out is the best that Star Fleet expects.
Furthermore, we find that the mission she was sent on was ill
advised and should have been stopped before it started. As such we
believe that an acquittal is the only course we could have arrived at.
Court is adjourned"
Marrissa Picard and Ro Laren exited the courtroom together,
heading to the Promenade. The judgment of the court was just being
realized by Ro. "Commander, I believe I owe you dinner," Ro remarked.
"That's not necessary, Ro," Marrissa responded. "I was just
doing my job and most of my plans came from Jay anyway."
"Commander, plans can go wrong very quickly if you don't know
how to execute them and can't make up for holes in them," Ro replied.
"Which you knew how to, so I do owe you."
From behind them, Odo's voice came, "One minute if you will,
Miss Ro."
"Certainly Constable," Ro responded. "What can I do for you?"
"Get off my station as soon as possible," Odo remarked gruffly.
"I'll be booking a passage to Bajor after dinner, Constable," Ro
responded. "You really should improve your menu in the brig. Its
almost cruel and unusual punishment."
"Talk to Quark, he has the contract," Odo said, turning around
to leave.
"What are you planning to do on Bajor?" Marrissa asked.
"There is an old opponent of mine who is rather high in the
religious orders," Ro responded. "I though I'd stop by and annoy her."
Behind them a thump was heard. Ro and Marrissa wheeled around. Odo was
lying on the floor, unconscience.
"What in the world?" Marrissa exclaimed. Then she too was
knocked out.
Ro turned to the attacker and inquired, "Why did you do that?
I've been acquitted."
"Sorry sir," the gruff Maquis responded.
"Oh well, I assume an escape has been arranged?" Ro asked.
"This way."
A hour later, Marrissa woke up in the infirmary with a headache.
"What happened?" she asked, her hand going to her head.
"Someone tried to use your head as an anvil," Doctor Bashir
responded.
"Remind me to tell Odo that I'm not happy with his security,"
Marrissa remarked, sitting up.
"I'm not happy with it either," Odo responded from a nearby bed.
"Doctor, can I leave now?"
"You both may go, but try not to get hurt again," Doctor Bashir
responded.
"Doctor, I'm in the Command Branch," Marrissa responded. "We're
supposed to get hurt. That way we can disregard the Doctor's orders and
pull off some feat while the CMO is trying to get us to return to
Sickbay."
"That explains a lot," Doctor Bashir stated. "Oh, Lieutenant
Jay Gordon was here. He said that he would like to see you as soon as
you can."
Epilogue
"So Jay, what's up?" Marrissa asked, as they finished their
dinner on the station's Promenade's Replimat.
"Let's see, we've lost three of the four Intrepids in the DMZ,
two of Deep Space Nine's three runabouts, and several other merchant
ships are now Maquis," Jay recited.
"Has Congress or Star Fleet decided what to do about the Maquis
Declaration of Independence?" Marrissa asked. "I've been too busy with
Ro's trail to keep up."
"Congress is still debating," Jay responded. "Star Fleet has
altered our patrol routes to the outside of the DMZ. Cardassian Central
Command is doing likewise."
"Sensible, but I'm sure you didn't invite me to dinner to
discuss politics," Marrissa stated.
"No, to be honest, it's boring on the Independence," Jay
remarked. "As Chief of Operations, I'm now senior staff and their
aren't very many people who aren't nervous around me. And those that
aren't won't associate with me due to my age."
"I know the feeling," Marrissa consoled. "At least you're a
little older than I was when I became Chief of Security on the
Enterprise."
"You at least had the support of your kid's crew and some good
friends," Jay maintained. "My first officer hasn't said any more than
'yes sir, no sir' since I got promoted."
"You do have a problem," Marrissa observed. "Well you know
where Clara and I are, if you feel the need to talk to some one.
Meanwhile, I can get used to a handsome young man taking me out to dinner
when we're both in port." Jay blushed. "By the way, you said you were
going to the Academy in six months. How? After all you have to be 16
to be a Cadet."
"Technically, Clara, Alex, and I won't be Cadets," Jay
responded. "We are officers going back for additional training."
"When did Alex get his Ensign's rank?" Marrissa asked.
"You didn't hear?" Jay remarked. "Star Fleet Diplomatic gave
him it after he stepped in at Higanus XXII."
"The Klingon planet in Federation space that had a brief civil
war?" Marrissa asked.
"Yeah, the Federation sent a mediator with Worf as an advisor,"
Jay confirmed. "Alex came along with his father. After a bomb killed
the mediator and injured Worf he took over and got them to stop."
"This has to be ironic," Marrissa remarked. "The kid from a
warrior race gets his rank by ending a war, while us humans get it by
going into battle."
"Hey, you knew he wasn't going to get it the way we did," Jay
responded. "After all we all got tired of hearing that 'I don't want to
be a warrior' refrain."
"True, and he doesn't have the Engineering talent to follow
Clara," Marrissa remarked. "Did you hear that Shayna just got her
rank?"
"How did she manage that?" Jay asked. "She was the one I
thought was going to have to go through the Academy."
"Sorry, you lost that bet. She followed Clara's footsteps,"
Marrissa responded. "She seems to be specializing in weaponry and
shields. Her latest is in this month Daystrom Journal. 'Mechanics of
Shield Regeneration: A New Approach.' I don't understand a word of it."
"I told you that Clara and Shayna spend too much time together,"
Jay replied.
Here ends Premier Maquis.
Next Stargazer Mission: Stargazer, Past and Present.
Next Marrissa Story: Falling Into Command
Next Revised Story: A Royal Wedding