CHAPTER 1
I sit watching the stars fly past my eyes, the stars holding many systems, many planets, and many civilizations. How many of them have been touched by our internal war? And how many of them were yet to be touched?
Our mission was once that of mapping them, but now it is of protection, resources, aid. While our enemies is against every principal many of them swore to long ago. How could civil war come to such an enlightened culture? Such a knobble race of explorers whose principals had echoed through the galaxy for centuries. Decay. It happens to every society who reaches its peak. But had we endured so long? Had the Federation of Planets gotten to its peak so young in the eyes of history? There are some who think so, but more around me who think not. We now strive to bring order to the galaxy once again, to return to peace and harmony through humane ideals. I think of standing before the greats, Archer, Kirk, Picard and telling them it was all for this. But it was worth every moment that it lasted, and that is now why we fight so hard.
Who am I? I am Kal Dutton. And I was once known as the last Starfleet Commander. Perhaps in many peoples I still am. My rank is not by commendation, or honour or service for that matter, but by necessity. Fleet Admiral? I am barely in my mid 40's. That is young by human standards and even younger by Valen. Yes, I forgot to mention. I am a half breed of Human and Valen. Two species of whose qualities I hope to represent the best of. Unlike most full Valen's I do not hide from sunlight, I can withstand it and my lust for blood is not my only nutritional need, I can go months without it and only weaken. It is a Luxury I can not have much these days. Yes, my species drinks blood. There are many legends of how my people became the intergalactic vampire's of the galaxy, and many contradict. I guess my farther was the most accepting. My human brother Karl always called me "Dracula" when we were children. If only he was here with me now.
My ready room is basic at best; I look around it at the wires and cabling, the scorched walls from the many battles. The replicator is now just a hole in the wall. No decoration, no luxuries we once took for granted. The Human Leagues resources are still strong and overwhelming even after all our hard work, our sacrifice.
How did we get to this point? What are my memories of those last days of the Federation? Well I will share my story, but I warn you it will be tainted by personal views.
/\
At the time this all began in my eyes my ship the USS Phoenix was returning to Utopia shipyards for an extensive refit. It had served our 10 year mission well but as is always the constant in this galaxy, things had evolved and needed upgrading to the latest model. The ship herself was an Excalibur class, very new at her time of launch in 2378 but then outdated by the new top of the line models. Transwarp drive had advanced to safe levels, weapons had been invented and computers were now even faster. The ship was bulky but unlike per say the Galaxy Class the bulk was evenly spaced over the main and secondary hulls. Long nacelles with more than a touch of Romulan design on the curves and ridges also present elsewhere on the ship. She had been the first peaceful merger of the two cultures technology and we had reaped the rewards.
As she flew past the boundary of sector zero zero one I felt a strange sense of accomplishment sitting there on the bridge. I had taken the command very young at 29 and in the ten years following had proved myself and had stepped out of the shadow of my elder brother, a late great Admiral of the fleet who had been lost in a prelude to the short but destructive Krelak war. At sat now watching the crew, many I knew so well, still working hard as ever not taking the moment in but simply working as they always did. The bridge was one of the largest I had ever been on, my command chair sitting at the centre of many departments, consoles and officers as it always had.
Beside me sat my first officer, Kalista Jade. Like me she was a half breed, but was that of Human and Bajoran. She two seemed to be busy. She had always been an excellent officer, notably after being thrust into the position when her partner and predecessor Hansel Seiben was killed. She was also a strong but kind woman, a perfect person to have at my side.
At the helm Jack Hunter piloted the ship with ease, as he done many times before in times of great need to us. At tactical was my dear friend and unjoined Trill Julian Macgyver. At science another useful comrade in Thomas Bligh who courage was unmatched. At operations sat Ms Hernia Verthmins, at the newer intelligence console Ms Zari Evans and beside me Counsellor Drake Keil.
"Kalista, we are nearly home. What can you possibly be doing?" I asked turning to her.
"You will be surprised how many reports come in at the last minute" she replied not looking up.
"I see" I reply somewhat bemused, tapping a button on the arm of my chair.
"Commander Scott, have you begun shutting down the warp engines?" I asked our Chief Engineer of famous family ties.
"Aye sir, and taking them apart. This refit need not take more time than it need ta'" William replied.
"Thank you Will, how long should this refit take?"
"I wish I could say, maybe five months at best" came the reply.
"Thank you Scotty."
I tapped another button on the chair arm.
"Anything to report from Sickbay Commander Ch'zar?" I ask the Andorian.
"Only the usual, why? Checking up on me sir?" he replied.
"As you were" I smiled and closed the channel.
"Now approaching the shipyard Captain" reported Hunter taking my attention.
"Alright Lt, take us in."
The Phoenix moved gracefully down past many platforms of ships, many classes, being refitted, built in their dry docks. As we passed one I smiled and looked over at Jade. The ship read USS Tranquillity, the next in line from an old ship that had served in my brother's fleet. And now her new ship awaited, as did her promotion ceremony on Earth. It was hard to say goodbye to such a dear friend and first officer but I would get the best, I was sure of that.
Hunter tapped the console with ease and skill as the ship docked into its assigned dry dock, latches reaching out and grabbing onto the hull, the ship shuck slightly before finishing the docking sequence.
"And so" I breathe "a journey ends."
"And a new one begins" replies Jade as I look back at her and exchanged a smile.
/\
I walked down the corridor of the mighty star base, activity all around me as Admiral Picard spoke.
"Your missions have been logged among some of the best in recent history Captain, you should be proud of your ship and crew" he speaks in that polished tone that commanded so much respect.
"I am sir, thank you. Coming from you that means a lot" I replied.
"I trust I will see you at the promotion ceremony for Ms Jade?"
"You won't be attending the dinner tonight?" I asked, turning as we continued to walk.
"I have a few things to do, some strange reports you would do best not knowing about" he told me.
"Strange? Nothing hostile I hope."
"No, just some political problems but I have already said more than I should."
"I see" I said as we finally reached my shuttle "I will see you at the ceremony then."
I watched him walk off with a strange curiousness.
"Captain?" called the pilot already in the cockpit "you coming?"
"Yes" I replied "yes of course."
I stepped into the shuttle, the doors closing behind me. He set the course as I sat and I was off back to the only home I had ever known, Earth.
/\
As I
stepped off the shuttle I felt the warmth of the sun that the rest of
my kind could never enjoy, I smelt the air and grasslands with my
enhanced senses and began to step forward thanking the pilot.
All
the while I felt I was being stared at. I felt eyes boring into the
back of me, I turned and looked. Nothing.
I continued on and
walked into headquarters and was at once greeted by an old friend.
"Kal, hey there!" came the voice of Captain Tyron Blake. He was human; fine toned and had a fitness that radiated from him. His hair was crew cut and greying and he wore the vest variant of the uniform on this bright, warm day.
"Tryon" I greeted him and shuck his hand "I saw the Typhoon in the shipyards, here for the refit too?"
"They forced me. I didn't want to get all the new gear. But apparently my ship is well behind the times. And Starfleet needs top of the line ships where we are going."
"Well" I chuckled "it is the only original Galaxy class remaining in the fleet."
"I was trying to let the old lady go untouched, like those old excelsior ships. The old lady of the fleet, with a real sense of history."
"And cobwebs to show it."
"Ah, you never did understand with that big fancy ship of yours. Don't tell me they are upgrading it again?"
"10 years, time for a major refit."
I looked at him and laughed at the expression.
"So you here for the dinner?" He asked
"Who isn't? What with all these Admirals and Captains wanting to congratulate each other and swap old war stories" I replied.
"Yeah the whole snooze, come on I'll walk with you. Give me some interesting company."
We walked and continued chatting until coming to the double doors with opaque oval windows with the old Starfleet arrowhead design on it. A memorial to the days of the first Federation USS Enterprise.
"Ready?" he asked me.
"Never" came the reply as we walked through the doors and into the hall.
The circled table was huge, with many seats around it.
We walked through the crowd that was stood getting drinks, smiling, nodding and shaking hands before finally making it to our places and sitting.
At the head of the table I saw the much known Admiral Janeway speaking to Admiral Read. She nodded my way as I sat and I nodded back.
After what seemed like forever all were sat down and silent as Fleet Admiral Telic entered the room, new to the job and the first time it had been held by a Vulcan.
"Greetings to you all. The arrangement of this event has been so booked as so many of you are present here on Earth at this time. Many here for refit, some here for shore leave, others for congress. I trust that you will all enjoy the evening and the menu that has been prepared. Thank you."
Everything seemed normal from that point, our meals came. The normal banter carried on through the night as always. Most of my time spent talking to Captain Blake.
"..So we are charting the sector and out of nowhere comes this big bad battle ship demanding we are in their space. I said, 'This is Federation space.' But he argues and opens fire before you can say 'Wait a minute'."
"And you fired back?" I asked sipping my drink and placing it back on the table.
"Yeah…"
I didn't here the rest, across the room I saw her, Captain Amy Trion. I look down upon seeing her face and then up again. I hadn't expected to see her here.
Our love affair had not ended well to say the least. We had both been stationed on Deep Space 4 for several months and we had begun making plans to stay there once our feelings became clear. I was a Lt Commander then, young by Valen standards and headstrong. She had fell for my dark alluring presence that came with my heritage. My fierce eyes, my half fangs, my pale skin and my long hair. She liked the hair most, that she made clear. I was willing to do anything for her but she was one of those very paranoid, clingy and at times dam right selfish women. She wanted it all her way and hated that my best friend at the time was a women in Jade Mandelo. I could never get through to her that I wasn't going to commit an act behind her back, that I had eyes only for her and most of all that my friends who disliked her were only looking out for me. Before I had met her I was having fun with going up the Starfleet ranks, climbing the ladder and gaining friends on the way. Then she grounded me, told me what to do, and as my commanding officer she had a duty to do so well as a motive. But she would always want me with her and nothing else mattered no matter how I felt or how it impacted on my career or friendships. I found my friends fighting with her and telling me the truth, she was no good for me and if I valued my career, I had to leave her. But I loved her so much; my feelings for her were so strong that it didn't matter to me. She had so many things I loved and knew I would never get anywhere else.
But then as always I got a wakeup call, an offer of a lifetime to be the First Officer of the USS Darknight. She kicked and screamed but I had made my choice, I departed and never saw her again, until now.
She met my gaze and I saw the hatred in her eyes, the need to speak to me but the desire to cause me physical harm. The tension was strong before I finally decided to do something about it.
"Will you excuse me" I cut Blake off and stood, standing and walking across the room before he could answer.
"Sure" I heard him say, before returning to his drink.
I saw her face go pale as I came forward and watched her friend give me a scorn filled glance before departing.
"It has been a long time Amy" I spoke.
"Yes, It has" she almost growled.
"Well, I thought I would come and say hello."
"As if that covers it, look at you now. Starfleet's best, Captain of a frontline vessel. And me stuck on an ancient ship doing routine scans. As always it is me who no body cares for, my fault, me who takes the fall. While everyone loves you and praises you, I suppose you are together with that bitch?"
"That Bitch is dead," I said with a little anger.
"Oh, I am sorry to here that."
"I am sure you are, now if you will excuse me."
"Off again?" She scowled "well I thought you would like to know I have been promoted to Commodore."
"Congra…"
"Save it!" She spoke walking off.
I sighed and returned to my table a little distressed, but nothing could prepare for the news I would here the next morning.
/\
I awoke to the sound of my door chime. I yawned and sat up, getting from my bed and putting on a robe.
I walked to the door, pressing it and watching it pull back to reveal two Starfleet security officers.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"We would like you to come and answer a few questions" one replied.
"About what?" I demanded.
"Captain Trion" he spoke "she was murdered last night."