Part Three
Star Trek Excalibur
Chapter One
It had been over a year since their last contact with the former captain, the Excalibur itself had become a figure of almost myth amongst their Romulan enemy. A standard Starfleet NX Class vessel with limited range, speed, defence and weapons capabilities in the eyes of their Romulan foe, once upgraded with the most technologically sophisticated technology available to Starfleet which had since been removed and now little more then a standard Starfleet vessel, with the acceptation of the integrated shield grid. However, it was not the vessel itself which had made such a name with the Romulan Forces, it was the unusual and deadly command style of the vessels commanding officer which had almost feared the enemy itself.
Since word reached Romulus that Captain Franks had been removed of command of the ship, a new fear spread through the Romulan forces as they attempted to test the new commander of the once proud and powerful ship, only to be beaten back by the unusual command style and seemingly reckless behaviour of the vessel which was now officially designated as a boarder patrol vessel.
Since the so called 'Re-Fit' of the vessel over a year ago, the Excalibur had become little more then a laughing stock amongst the other Captains and Crew of the NX-Class Fleet, since it's rebirth under the command of William James Franks two years ago, the vessel had developed a reputation as the fastest and most powerful ship in Starfleet along with the favourite target of Romulan Commanders. Once fitted with a new design of Warp engine, capable of Warp 6.5, since the re-fit, which was more then a downgrade since the new engine core was stripped from the starship itself and replaced with a Mark I Warp Five Engine it had become clear to the crew the vessel was having difficulty pushing past Warp 4.5, since anything beyond that speed and the ship would almost shake itself apart from the stress.
Commanding the ship for over a year, Commander T'Lana knew that Starfleet was punishing her for her actions years earlier when she secretly married the man who was her long time friend from Starfleet Academy, her former lover and until she took command, her Commanding Officer. Not only where Starfleet punishing her, but her entire crew as each request for a transfer off of the ship where blocked and each letter of resignation was rejected at the highest level. After their last encounter with Romulan Forces had cost them several of the crewmembers and friends, Starfleet Command had assigned what appeared to be the worst officers in the fleet to the Excalibur, officially making the crew, the Worst crew in the fleet. However, it seemed that only one officer had escaped the shame of the position as Commander Andrew Cortez, the first officer and chief armoury officer was offered a promotion and transfer off of the ship, a promotion he quickly turned down in order to remain onboard the ship he knew well.
Slowly patrolling an area far from the front lines, the vessel itself seemed to limp around in a depression as it move at half impulse through space, it almost appeared as if the ship's warp engines themselves where embarrassed to be apart of the ship and appeared to drag themselves through space as if rejecting the name of the ship.
Sat alone in the ready room reading reports from the front lines, as she always did each morning before entering the bridge for yet another day of patrols, the Vulcan Commanding Officer leaned slightly against the desk with one arm as she read the reports from what had recently become known as 'The Battle of Andoria' and the loss of one of their most prominent vessels, the NX-03 Challenger. Slamming the report down with anger, she looked up at the holo-image of herself and her husband an image taken on the day of their wedding on Vulcan as she spoke with anger.
"Damn it Bill, we sit here chasing sensor ghosts while the fleet is taken apart a piece at a time. All we need is a chance to get back into fight"
As if in prayer to her answers, the first officer entered the ready room and slumped down onto the sofa next to the window as he looked out of the ship and grunted.
"We've been ordered back to Vulcan right away… we've been reassigned" Cortez said with anger.
"Again? What is this, the fifth time this year?" T'Lana grunted.
"Forth actually… this is getting annoying!"
"Regret turning down the Challenger now?" T'Lana said with a smile.
"Considering what happened to her, no… but my place is here at your side. I made your husband a deal to keep an eye on you"
"You're a terrible liar Andy. Have a course set for Vulcan… best possible speed for this junk-ship" T'Lana complained.
"Understood… we've also received a message from the Vulcans, once in orbit we are to shut down engines and wait for our orders, apparently they are sending a Consultant onboard from the Vashare?"
"V'Shar… it's pronounced V'Shar" She said slowly "It is the… Vulcan equivalent of Starfleet Intelligence… SHIT!" She said, much to his amusement.
"What, is it that bad?" Cortez said quickly.
"It can be Andy…Rumour has it, V'Shar has some top agent working in this sector… this does not leave this room. Am I clear?" She said stoically.
"Very!" He said with interest as he sat on the edge of the sofa.
"Rumour has it, this un-named agent has not only seen a Romulan first hand, But actually been to Romulus for some espionage mission" She said with an almost whisper.
"WHAT?" He yelled before regaining his senses and whispering. "How the hell do you know that? Does Starfleet know?"
"I may seem Human Andy, but you forget that I am a Vulcan… Through my own personal disgrace amongst my people, I still have some friends back home and they keep me updated on what is happening on Vulcan. This worries me Cortez, I don't like the idea of ANY of those… people onboard what is left of our ship. It should take us at least 48 hours to get back to Vulcan, I want everything on lockdown before we arrive, post security at on all decks… also… issue side arms to all personnel… this could get a little rough. And keep your mouth shut about what you heard, okay?"
52 hours later, the Excalibur entered a stationary orbit directly above the capital city of the Planet Vulcan before shutting down all engines but navigational thrusters. Stood before the transporter controls, a young Ensign activated the delicate system as a figure materialised on the platform before him. A tall humanoid figure wearing a long black cloak and hood which covered everything with a menacing shadow over the face as a distinctly gravely male voice echoed from under the hood.
"Where is the captain and first officer as requested?"
"S-Sorry sir" The Ensign stuttered. "I was instructed to escort you to the situation room behind the bridge. The Captain has assembled the senior staff"
"Very well Ensign Watson… lead the way" The voice said once more.
"H-H-How do you know my name sir?" He said with a hint of fear.
"I have made myself familiar with this vessel and its crew. Lead the way"
Nervously nodding, the Ensign stepped backwards from the control console before him as he led the way towards the bridge, with every step it appeared as if every crewmember had stepped aside for the seemingly large and imposing figure until they entered the bridge as all eyes fell upon the two before the Ensign nodded and walked away, leaving the hooded figure standing before the Command Crew as his eyes scanned each of them in turn before he bowed his head slightly and spoke.
"Captain T'Lana, Commander Cortez, please join me in the ready room immediately" He said aloud before turning and leaving for the Commanding Officer's private office.
As they entered the Captain's Office, the door slid closed as T'Lana stood before the hooded figure and spoke with a dark tone in her voice.
"I don't know who you are… or why you are here… but on this ship, I give the orders am I CLEAR?"
From the lighting in the room, a slight smile could be seen as he spoke before removing his hood.
"Is that anyway to speak to your husband after all this time?"
As his face was revealed to her, her emotions ran wild from shock through excitement and anger as she slapped his face hard before leaping into his arms with a tight hug as he gasped for air.
"Captain?" Cortez said quickly.
"T'Lana… my lungs work better when I can use them…" He wheezed.
Smiling widely, she stepped backwards as his hands slipped into hers as he spoke with a soft tone in his voice.
"It's been a long time. I have so much to tell you… both of you. But we don't have the time. I need your help honey… in doing so, I will return this ship to her former glory. I have a team of a hundred engineers waiting planet-side…"
"Waiting for what sir?" Cortez said with a smile.
"Andy, drop the rank… we have little time to act. I just wanted to see you both in private first, was that Alexis I saw outside?" Franks said without looking away from his wife.
"Yes, she came onboard before we launched. She's stuck onboard like the rest of us now" Cortez said with shame.
"By the time we are finished, Starfleet will be screaming out for this crew to take up positions all over the fleet" Franks smiled.
"You're the agent I heard so much about?" T'Lana finally said.
"Yes… and welcome back. I have a lot to explain and not much time to do so, now… listen very carefully…"
Explaining as much as he could in such a short space of time, the two looked at him in shock at the story he was telling but more importantly, about who he now worked for.
After thirty minutes, the three left the ready room as the bridge crew looked on in shock at who followed the Captain and First Officer. Finally stepping into the situation room, he looked around the table at the many new faces yet the faces he knew instantly after memorising the crew manifest before he finally turned to the last of the original crew as he walked towards the young woman and hugged her softly.
"Alexis… how are you?"
"F-Fine sir" She said past her tears of joy.
"Lex, drop the rank… I'm just a Civilian Consultant on this ride. I heard about your daughter, how is she?" Franks said with concern in his voice.
"Melissa is fine, but we're both terrified. She's only two years old… far to young for…"
"I know. Can you do me a favour and wait for me, Cortez and T'Lana on Vulcan? T'Lana's mother is expecting you" Franks said with a comforting smile.
"What?" She replied with shock.
"Trust me Kiddo… the coordinates are already set in the transporter console, it's programmed to activate with your voice command only"
After a moment of protesting about being left out of the mission briefing, she finally nodded in agreement as there was something in his eyes that told her to trust him as she finally left the bridge as Franks turned back to each of the command crew in turn and called out their names and departments with a smile.
"… Alright. I assume that by now you all know who I am? So this will go easier. Once Alexis has left the ship, a team of Engineers will beam onboard this ship with equipment to begin immediate upgrades of all ship's systems and install a few new ones. By the time they have finished, this vessel will outrun anything in Starfleet and the Romulan Fleet with a few extra surprises along the way, Chief Engineer Tarkin… I can hear your objections before you said them, I know this ship has been limited to Warp 4.5, Admiral Wessex saw to that humiliation, just trust me and things will go a lot smoother…"
"What kind of upgrades?" Called out the female Engineer.
"Our… new friends will upgrade the warp core with a new system specially designed for this ship and ONLY this ship using Vulcan tech along with a few others we've managed to gather along the way. Once complete… this vessel will be capable of Warp 7+"
Almost instantly, the command crew broke into laughter as Franks remained silent with his eyes focused on each of them until the laughter slowly died down and the engineer looked at him in shock.
"You are serious?"
"Very! Everything has been designed for this ship. Originally, she was warp 6.5 max speed… that system IS still in place, the engine core was simply suppressed, that Bastard Wessex saw to that himself. We'll upgrade the shields, weapons and structural integrity. We have two new Warp Nacelles ready for installation that should take only four days to complete, those new nacelles are the key to…"
"FOUR DAYS?" Called out Tarkin. "That's impossible, it could take weeks to install just one"
"We've made a few refinements" Franks smiled.
"Who is we?" Called out Helm officer Lieutenant Pavlova.
"For the moment, that is still classified. Effective when I beamed onboard, this ship was released from Starfleet Command and placed on detached duty to the Vulcan High Council and it's… well, let's just call it a Sub-Department for now. In five days, this ship will be ready for launch on an assignment that will change the course of this war in our favour…" He said with a smile.
"If you can tell us sir… what is our assignment?" Tarkin said slowly.
"Steal a Romulan Cruiser and return it to Vulcan for analysis…" T'Lana smiled Darkly.
"What my wife said!" Franks smiled with pride. "No one can order you to do this… it's strictly volunteer mission and the reason I demanded this ship. Each of you has lost greatly to the Romulan fleet, when this is over… we will deliver them a punch in the throat they will not soon forget. Cortez and T'Lana are with me, anyone else?" He said with a large and dark smile on his face.
After a classified briefing that lasted for over two hours, Cortez, Franks and T'Lana had beamed down to the family home of the Excalibur's commanding officer and entered with a smile on their faces, not at the mission ahead, but seeing the purest of joy on Alexis's face as she held onto a young human girl as if she was afraid to let her go while T'Lana's mother watched with pride on her face.
"I see you've made friends already?" Franks said with a large smile.
"Thank you sir… Bill" Alexis smiled with tears as her husband sat at her side.
"Alan, it's good to see you again" Franks said to her husband.
"Bill, I don't how to thank you for this moment… when you asked me to bring her here, I thought you where nuts. But seeing my wife again, is worth the journey"
"There is more to it then that my friend…" Franks aid as he sat facing the two of them.
"I assume that my mother has made you feel at home?"
"Yes Ma'am. Thank you… thank you all of you" Alexis said with tears in her eyes.
"Ohh this is only just the beginning Lex. A week ago, I spoke with Admiral Chen… although he hasn't granted your resignation, he's placed you on the inactive list indefinitely…" Franks smiled.
"What?" Alexis said with shock.
"I pulled in a few favours and called in a few debts. Tomorrow morning, you have an appointment at the Vulcan Medical Institute where they will examine your daughter…" Franks smiled as Alexis wept with joy.
"You will meet with an old family friend, Doctor S'Gar… he is familiar with your daughter's condition and believes that he can help her, perhaps even cure her"
"Oh my god! Franks, is this true?" Alan said with hope in his eyes.
"Yes sir. Now, it's going to be a long road to recovery for her… and you both. T'Lara has assured me that you are all welcome to stay here with her until you find a home for yourselves. Maybe you might even want to stay on Vulcan…" Franks said with pride.
"I have plenty of space… and it would be good to have the sound of a child's laughter in the house once again, since there is no sign of a grandchild yet" T'Lara said with a half smile as she looked at her daughter.
"Wait… what about Comms? Who will…"
"Lex, let go of it all for while. I speak a few alien languages, it's been awhile but I'll take over for now. Take care of your daughter… live your life and enjoy this planet" Franks smiled.
"I'll have your personal belongings beamed down shortly Alexis…" Cortez smiled. "… It won't be the same without you, but then… you where never really around anyway" He said with a wink.
"Thank you, all of you. I just wish there was something I could do for you…" She wept uncontrollably.
"Take care of your baby and we'll call it even" Franks said as he leaned forwards and held her hand softly. "We'll be in orbit for a few days yet Lex, if you need anything… call either one of us"
Carefully passing the frail young girl to her father, Lex stood as she trembled with tears of purest of happiness while Franks stood before her and reached out for her as she fell into his arms and wept uncontrollably into his chest as he held his former crewman softly while he spoke.
"This is why I didn't want you at the mission briefing. The less you know, the better"
"I understand" She said as she stepped backwards slightly and wiped her eyes.
"Very soon, you may hear stories about us, the ship and crew I mean. Don't believe them Lex, and don't talk to anyone about us… no matter how difficult it may be, keep your calm and move on with your life… T'Lara will help you with anything you need. Be warned though, she is… a little… crazy!"
"Worse then me!" T'Lana smiled.
"Stop that! This IS my house you know, do you want me to ban you both? Cortez, you are always welcome" She smiled slightly. "I see you looking at me"
"I wasn't… Commander, I wasn't!" He protested.
"Best just move on Andy…" T'Lana laughed.
"Well, since you are going to be staying for awhile, T'Lana, why not our guests around? I believe you know the way?"
"Yes mother" T'Lana nodded.
"Billy, why not help her out?" T'Lara said with a smile.
"What? Ohh!…" He said with a smile. "You're in trouble now Andy" He whispered to his old friend.
Smiling widely, Franks left the room at his wife's side while Alexis followed as Alana carried the young girl as he stepped at the side of his wife. Alone in the room, Cortez shuffled his feet nervously as the Vulcan woman walked towards him with a soft smile as she spoke.
"Do not be nervous I do not bite. You are a very handsome man, especially for a human…" She said softly.
"I am not…" He squealed. "I'm not nervous, You are my commanding officer's mother…"
"It has been a long time since I had a real man in the house. Ohh Billy is great, but he is married to my daughter. Have you ever… imagined what it would be like with a Vulcan woman?" She smiled softly.