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Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or its principle and supporting characters. Only Those characters created by me are my intellectual property. All other rights are exclusively owned by CBS/Paramount.
The Full Circle Fleet had retraced the USS Voyager's epic voyage. Or at least the first quarter of it as it would have been should they have transited through conventional means starting from the Beta Quadrant and delving into the adjacent Delta Quadrant employing their advanced quantum slipstream drives. The Voyager was the flagship as Starfleet explored the quadrant in greater width and breadth.
Admiral Kathryn Janeway led the expedition, chosen not only for her exemplary service record but also her hands on experience with the territories involved. Chakotay was now Captain Chakotay and served as her flag captain as the commanding officer of the Voyager itself. Despite a degree of the command staff remaining aboard, the crew was almost entirely comprised of fresh faces selected from among the best Starfleet had to offer in these troubled days.
Janeway currently resided in her flag offices where she was accepting a transmission from the Starfleet Commander, Fleet Admiral Edward Jellico. Holographic projections were returning to Starfleet vogue but the tenuous line of communication buoys laid out by the fleet as it traveled sufficed after the destruction of the Pathfinder array. As such, the communication had undergone several lags as the transmission was handed off from buoy to buoy as the fleet progressed across dozens of solar systems underway at warp speed rather than through a quantum slipstream.
"You understand that Brin Macen was also once a high ranking Maquis?" Jellico inquired.
"Are you honestly afraid Chakotay will forget his loyalties to Starfleet and this mission to aid Macen instead?" Janeway scoffed, "Chakotay served as my XO under extreme circumstances for seven years and has subsequently served as master of this vessel for the last nine."
"But you were there to ride herd on Chakotay while he previously served in the Delta Quadrant," Jellico rebutted her commendations.
"So what you're really afraid of is that Chakotay will become infected by Macen's rebelliousness and run off with this starship and raise up a brand new Maquis army. Is that it?" Janeway asked.
"He'd better not while on your watch, admiral," Jellico grated.
"It won't happen under anyone's watch. Why is Macen's arrest so important as to steal away my flagship to arrest him a quadrant away?" Janeway wanted to know.
"Macen has a long history of reckless behavior and bald faced insubordination. He defied orders to infiltrate the Maquis by actually aiding them. After the Dominion War he was court martialed and busted back to his previous rank of Commander. He was forced out of Starfleet only to hire him back in as a civilian contractor. Finally he was convicted of a murder which was later thrown out on a technicality because he killed the man's clone rather than the man himself. When he finally did kill the actual man, his conviction had already been overturned. We let him off the hook and he threw it back in our faces," Jellico fumed.
"Generally speaking or is there a specific infraction you're railing on about?" Janeway inquired.
"Mind your tone, Janeway or I'll bust you back to ensign again," Jellico promised, "Macen hired on two specialists. Specialists that turned out to be convicted and condemned felons from Ardana IV. The Ardanans have learned of this and want us to hand them over for execution."
"What did they do?" Janeway was aghast. The Federation had denounced the death penalty at the signing of the Articles of Federation.
"It doesn't matter. The Ardanans want them and Macen has them. He was ordered to hand them over through the chain of command and Macen fled into the Beta Quadrant instead. I want him found and I want him taken into custody and I want those convicts taken to Ardana so the Ardanans can execute them in what will probably be the most creative manners possible known to the Stratosians." Jellico declared.
"And this doesn't bother you at all?" Janeway asked.
"Ardana isn't a Federation world. And it's a strategic partner. It's the quadrant's only supplier of zenite ore. Ore the Ardanans are threatening to withhold shipments of until we deliver," Jellico explained.
"But doing so violates our own laws if we're aware of the condemned's fate. We'll be complicit in their deaths," Janeway argued.
"This is going to happen and you're going to make it happen. Or I'll scrub your whole damn mission," Jellico threatened.
"Admiral, you're leveling a lot of threats rather than persuading me to see your side," Janeway calmly spoke.
"Get it done. I don't care how and I really don't care what happens to the two prisoners when we hand them over. The Prime Directive makes it so we don't care. Understood?" Jellico signed off without waiting for a potential reply.
Twenty minutes later, Janeway was on the bridge after reviewing the official orders sent from Jellico's office directly rather than through Starfleet Operations. The more things progressed, the more uneasy Janeway was about the unfolding events. Still she met with Chakotay in his Ready Room off of the bridge.
"Chakotay, what can you tell me about Brin Macen?" Janeway began the conversation with a very specific question.
"Macen was semi-independent when he worked with the Maquis. He acted as a freelance 'information broker' and part-time smuggler of Federation luxury goods he peddled to the Cardassians. He was most closely identified with Ro Laren's Maquis cell on Ronara Prime. They're still friends today," Chakotay answered, "The rest of his Starfleet record is readily available. His record with Starfleet's Special Investigations Division is classified at the highest levels."
"Yet you're privy to some of those details," Janeway guessed.
"Privy to and sworn to secrecy," Chakotay advised her.
"What about Captain Ro?" Janeway asked.
"Even deeper into it and sworn to keep even more secrets," Chakotay warned her, "Why the sudden interest?"
"The SID vanished from all official records four months ago. Just after Macen received a full pardon for any and all criminal activities and violations of Starfleet regulations," Janeway told him, "And suddenly Fleet Admiral Edward Jellico has personally ordered you and the crew of Voyager to hunt Macen and his crew down and capture two specific individuals in order to hand them over to the Ardanan officials for execution."
"Who are the individuals and what did they do?" Chakotay wondered.
"The Ardanans won't reveal the true identities of the pair. And they were tried and convicted in absentia," Janeway shared, "But they're traveling under the identities of Angelique Kerber and Bailey Smith."
"And Stratosians and Troglytes can easily pass for human," Chakotay noted, "Why Starfleet's sudden interest?"
"The Ardanans learned the pair is traveling with Macen and they're threatening to halt zenite production and export until they receive the pair," Janeway revealed.
"Any news on what they did?" Chakotay asked.
"The Ardanans are tight lipped but they're listed as being convicted of subversive activities," Janeway said.
"Which means one or both are Troglyte freedom fighters," Chakotay surmised, "Which would appeal to Macen's sense of justice."
"Will Macen fight rather than hand them over?" Janeway asked point blank.
"Undoubtedly," Chakotay replied, "Macen is an El-Aurian. He views every threat as the Borg reborn. Even with the Borg out of the equation, he will use any and all force he deems necessary to protect a member of his crew."
"Chakotay, this man received the highest medal of valor the Federation can bestow. I won't endorse a protracted struggle involving unwarranted casualties. Find him and find out the story behind Kerber and Smith," Janeway instructed, "It may make all the difference having all the facts."
"We'll set out immediately," Chakotay promised.
The Galaxy-class USS Rutherford was docked at Deep Space Four with orders to pursue Macen and the Obsidian. Captain Erika Benteen, the station CO, had never met a bigger group of Enterprise-D wannabes in her life. Captain Jean-Claude Voltaire even shaved his head bald to mimic Picard. Commander Bill Frakes was a goateed copycat of Captain Will Riker. Lt. Commander Diana Triad was an obvious Deanna Troi worshipped. Doctor Kimberly Krusher echoed her namesake. Lt. Geoff Burton wore vision enhancing spectacles to mimic a VISOR. Ensign Rey Lyran worshipped at Captain Ro's feet. Lt. Morag had obviously been raised on stories of the legendary Worf. And India Yar was related to Ishara but had escaped Turkana IV before its destruction.
And finally, a human named Brett Spiner that had been dealt a severe cranial trauma had had his brain replaced with a positronic one. Lt. Byte was the result of that synthesis. He had the data concerning his human existence but no attachment to it at all. Oddly enough, he and Yar had formed an intriguing pairing.
In their briefing session, Voltaire constantly revolved around the question of why Benteen hadn't rerouted the Nebula-class USS Sutherland to attempt to intercept the Nova-class Obsidian. And Benteen continually redirected his attention to the comm and sensor logs indicating the Obsidian had cruised past DS4 three hours before Jellico's arrest warrant was even received.
Benteen also pointed out that when the Sutherland's current mission was retasked, the starship was far enough away that the Obsidian had slipped deeper into the Delta Quadrant than the Sutherland's patrol route allowed for. And the projected course skirted Iridian Enforcer territory. Even Voltaire was quieted by that revelation. The Iridians were more inscrutable than the Tzenkethi and twice as hostile as the Gorn ever were. And indications were that the Iridians' xenophobia made the Tholians look warm and fuzzy.
The Iridians looked for any excuse to invade and plant a flag over conquered peoples. Their flag, exclusively. And yet it seemed the Iridians were in high demand as peacekeeping forces despite the fact all sides were assimilated into Iridian control. And they were paid monthly retainers to occupy worlds.
The Iridians had spread far and wide in the Galactic Center. They'd even blocked all travel from the Alpha Quadrant to the Galactic Core and the Great Barrier that guarded it. Which foolhardy souls still attempted to do despite Starfleet's quarantine after James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise-A penetrated the barrier in 2287.
Voltaire's first command, a New Orleans-class registered as the USS Sightseer had been lost to the Iridians during the abortive conflict between the Typhon Pact, Khitomer Accords nations, and the Iridians. Benteen could see by Voltaire's facial twitches at the mention of the Iridians that he still wasn't over the event. In less perilous times, Starfleet would have sidelined him before approving his next command. Instead, he'd hand selected his crew very selectively. Most of whose careers were either stalled or in a terminal backslide. Only Rey and Byte seemed destined to further themselves.
Benteen had done her research when it was announced the Rutherford would be calling on her. Voltaire was a rigid harridan that saw the world in stark black and white terms. But he didn't have a morality to base his paradigm on, merely Starfleet regulations. And rumor had it; he was quite selective in his own judicious implementation of regulations. Especially given the fact that he was having a shipboard affair with Krusher despite his years of friendship with her husband, John Krusher. And John Krusher seemed to be the last one willfully ignorant of the liaisons.
The rumor mill at Krusher's last posting spoke of impropriety between Krusher and her teenage son, Wilbur. Seeing the crew now, Benteen believed every scrap of scuttlebutt surrounding them all. She wasn't certain about Morag yet but his protectiveness towards Rey made his affections known. And Yar was a civilian specialist so she hadn't been included in the meeting. Which intellectual curiosity made Benteen wonder how Byte reacted around her.
"Tell me, Captain. Why do you continue to protect these criminals?" Voltaire decidedly refused to believe any fact presented to him
Benteen pitied his crew, "Even if I were protecting Macen, I would have to explain the 'why' to you and I don't think you could grasp it," Benteen finally fumed.
"I will be reporting your unwillingness to cooperate to Admiral Jellico," Voltaire bathed in the fact he was currently Jellico's favorite son, "I'll have you busted back to ensign."
"Even if you could, the record will show your accusations are unwarranted," Benteen replied, "Or, did you forget every room outside of quarters and restrooms has visual flight recorders? It should make for interesting video of you and Dr. Krusher 'examining' one another."
"Liars I tell you!" Voltaire raged.
"And the system is hardwired ever since the Finney incident. So don't bother trying to erase the evidence," Benteen enjoyed herself immensely, "But then again, extramarital affairs are rarely court martial material but they are a violation of regs. An infraction that could get you reassigned."
"Are you threatening me?" Voltaire tried to ignore his command staff's snickers. Even Krusher was laughing at him.
"Never. Consider it a warning," Benteen offered, "Leave me alone and I won't report that Starfleet should look for improprieties aboard your vessel."
"I want Macen's location," Voltaire tried again.
"Try the Delta Quadrant. Beyond that, I can't tell you what I don't know. Macen made it so I didn't have to try and protect him. He protected me," Benteen shared, "But I know someone who might know."
"Tell me!" Voltaire was like a rabid dog.
"Maltus Mazur is an El-Aurian who traveled to the Alpha Quadrant with Macen. He's currently moonlighting for a clandestine group," Benteen didn't mention Section 31 by name. It would've gone orbital above Voltaire's head, "I'll put you in touch."
"Now," Voltaire demanded.
"Don't forget your manners," Benteen chided him.
"Please," Voltaire sneered.
"I've projected our parabolic course through the nebula," Tracy Ebert reported from CONN.
"Proceed at half impulse," Macen ordered.
Beside him, Shannon Forger twitched, "We're really going in there."
"We really are," Macen promised her.
Forger had three distinctions. Her sister was Amanda Forger, the Director of the SID. Shannon had been born Sean Forger and transitioned into womanhood. And she was effectively the captain of the ship most of the time.
"Why are we hiding a nebula?" Forger asked…again.
"Because this nebula has an 'eye' to the electrostatic storm. And in it are a sun and a small solar system consisting of an M-class planet and several dwarf planets. And the locals owe me a favor," Macen added the last part for the first time.
The ship emerged to find a dwarf yellow star and a planetary system as described. Forger was nonplussed, "How?"
"Inexplicably, when the binary twin exploded to form the nebula, the Dwarf was created from solar shearing from blue super giant star to a yellow dwarf. The Class-L planet that survived was terraformed into something hospitable by friends," Macen explained at last.
"So what's the planet called?" Forger hated all the mystery.
"Gilgamesh," Macen happily told her.
"You're kidding, right?" Forger asked.
"You wish," Macen retorted, "Vulcans weren't the first aliens to reach Earth."
"Captain we're being hailed, "Edwin Zimbalist reported from OPS.
"And we're being targeted," Jaycee Miller stated from Tactical.
"Reply to the hail and ignore the targeting sensors," Macen instructed.
A male Gilga appeared on the screen. He appeared to be a rather large, humanoid tortoise wearing a turban, "Hail Macen, we have received your message and have made the requested arrangements."
"I'll be bringing down a small landing party. I don't wish to intrude too greatly. And we have coin so we can pay for our accommodations and food," Macen told him.
"Consider it repayment of our debt. You brought Guinan to us and assisted her as she healed my people of the plague that afflicted us. Without you and Guinan, we would be extinct," the Gilga responded to the offer, "And you and your party can be witness to the fact our business has paid off handsomely. You will honor us if we share our bounty with you."
"I won't insult you further by arguing with you," Macen conceded, "Please be ready to receive us on the half hour mark."
"We will be standing by," the Gilga assured him.
"Hold here and then enter the edge of the nebula when we depart," Macen told Forger.
"Why not move into orbit and beam down?" Forger asked.
"Because the Gilga won't permit it. We're already imposing so let's not stretch propriety to the breaking point," Macen chided her; "You need to think like a captain."
"But I'm not really the captain," Forge r complained.
"You will be as soon as we finish this business," Macen told her, "I promise."
"Like you and Captain Riker shared command?" Forger was skeptical.
"As in I'll stay off the bridge unless summoned and stick strictly with being the Mission Commander while you exercise full authority over the ship. The way it should be," Macen stated.
"Hot damn! Get off my frinxing ship, sir!" Forger enthused, "And why you're away we'll get Celeste and her team to Ardana IV."
"I'd expect nothing less," Macen admitted, "Tracy; you're flying the Corsair for the duration."
"No problem," Ebert replied as Aglaia stepped out of the turbolift, "I saw that one coming as soon as you said we couldn't use the transporters."
"The runabout is prepped and ready for departure," The Platonian pilot reported.
"I'll just double check the preflight checklist," Ebert told Macen
She arrived in the hangar bay to find Kerber and Smith already aboard. So she put them to work checking the runabout's stations while she verified the warp drive and flight controls checked out. In the hangar itself, the ship's EMH, Tessa, was applying inoculation boosters to the Angosian Rab Daggit and his Orion wife, Parva.
"So where is the captain?" Tessa wondered.
Daggit had served in Macen's SID team since it was officially created. Parva had followed soon behind. He and Celeste Rockford had confided with them his desire to step down as ship's captain to focus entirely on the SID. They kept quiet about feeling it was Macen's role to share with Tessa if he wanted to before he made the general announcement.
"Captain, if you're withholding information, Starfleet will find out. We always do," Admiral Leonard James Akaar advised Ro, "So if you know anything about Macen's plans, now is the last chance to divulge them."
"Do you really think Macen would share anything with me knowing I'd have to answer to Starfleet Command?" Ro was tired of the litany.
"It's career suicide if he did," Akaar warned her.
"I've thrown it away before," Ro tersely replied.
"And there are some that would still say it was a mistake to let you rejoin the ranks," Akaar told her, "Fortunately, I'm not one of them. I understand the choice you made to join the Maquis. You were a member of the Bajoran Resistance long before you applied to Starfleet Academy. Another disclosure that should have been made before you enlisted."
"Yeah, that'd work out. 'Hi, I'm Laren. I used to be a terrorist. Can I join Starfleet now?'" Ro was scornful.
"It's a pattern with you," Akaar stated, "And it's one you can no longer afford. I'm one of you supporters. That's why I volunteered for this detail. I don't want to sign off on you and have it blow up in your face."
"What about your face?" Ro wondered.
"I'm Teflon in this case," Akaar promised her.
Akaar's comm badge chirped and he tapped it, "Go."
"Biosensors indicate she's telling the truth as she knows it," Lt. Aiden Quinlan reported.
"Congratulations, you get to keep your command for another day," the massive Cappellan rose to exit, "But inform me if Macen does contact you. There's still hope that this can be resolved amicably."
"Even for Kerber and Smith?" Ro asked.
Akaar transported over to the Excelsior-class USS Freedom and it set course for Barrinor at a leisurely Warp 2. There he expected to meet with the former Admiral, and now Director, of the Starfleet Special Investigations Division. Amanda Forger had led the unit, now agency, since its inception. And despite it now being a clandestine entity outside of Starfleet, at least officially, it still answered directly to the Office of the Federation President.
The SID was located with Macen's space station, the Nor-class Ampok Nor. It was a recently constructed cousin to Terok Nor and Empok Nor. Akaar wasn't surprised to find the SID in full operation when he arrived. Amanda Forger was considered a Starfleet reservist but the President had appointed her Director of the Starfleet division that was a mixture of civilian and Starfleet components. Off the Federation's books, the SID directly served the Office of the President for Starfleet.
Akaar had been skeptical regarding the shadowy organization that had existed within Starfleet especially when they began contracting civilian specialists. Of course most of those same specialists were former Starfleet officers. But largely officers and enlisted that had left the service in disgrace. Macen and Tom Riker being chief examples.
The problem was that Macen had a seventy-two hour head start. Akaar had been recalled from an inspection tour of the Ninth Fleet in the Kalandra Sector to chase a ghost less than twenty hours ago. The rest of Starfleet had also been tasked with locating Macen at that time. And the longer it took to determine where Macen had fled the greater the lead he had on them.
"Amanda, I won't waste your time," Akaar promised the much younger woman
"But I'm a waste of yours. Brin took off without informing me of why or where his destination would be," Forger readily admitted, "It wasn't until the Interstellar Security Advisor contacted me that I was even aware there was a problem."
"You didn't know about Kerber and Smith?" Akaar was surprised.
"I knew there were irregularities in their background. But given most of Macen's crew, it didn't seem worthwhile to investigate. Plus, Kerber and Smith are computer experts. Read that as premier hackers. Kerber is the programmers and Smith is a cryptologist. Their documents were flawless and had all the right electronic earmarks. But if you spoke to them, their cover story began to fall apart."
"How so?" Akaar asked.
"Well, even colonials that have never stepped foot on Earth had better cultural ties and awareness of Earth's customs," Forger explained, "And until I spotted Kerber's shoulder tattoo and ran through a recognition program I never realized she was a Troglyte."
"A Troglyte?" Akaar hadn't been fully briefed yet.
"Yes, her tattoo marked her as part of the Root Clan. She's practically nobility amongst the Troglytes," Forger shared.
"Why the Delta Quadrant of all the places to go?" Akaar wondered aloud.
"We have minimal presence and Macen's an El-Aurian. Before the Borg assimilated his people, he was a member of their Expeditionary Forces. That's why he was injected with the same longevity drugs Guinan was exposed to. Guinan is older but she'll outlive all of her people, including Macen. Exposure to theta radiation negated the effect of the longevity serum in Macen's cells. He'll only live another two or three hundred years at most," Forger divulged.
"Macen was exposed to the Nexus, wasn't he?" Akaar inquired.
"All the surviving El-Aurians were," Forger corrected his assumption, "Macen's uncle became obsessed with the Nexus."
"Macen was related to Tolian Soren?" Akaar nearly yelped. It was the closest thing she'd ever seen to making the stalwart Cappellan panic.
"To say they were estranged would be a cosmic understatement," Forger chuckled, "Macen insisted, demanded really, that Soren move on. But despite outward appearances, the El-Aurians always knew Soren would do absolutely anything to return to the Nexus. Which he proved twenty-one years ago at Armargosa and Viridian III."
"Soren isn't the only displaying obsessive behaviors," Akaar noted.
"Check Macen's profile and multiple psych evals," Forger recommended, "He's only obsessive about protecting the people he cares for. Fortunately for us, the people he cares for live in or serve the Federation and generally are in Starfleet."
"Which is why he's gone to such lengths to occlude his purpose from his friends and acquaintances," Akaar grasped it at long last.
"The only living being that fully knows what's in his head right now is Celeste Rockford," Forger confided, "And she'll be with him on this."
"Despite the fact she tried to kill him as Annika Ryst," Akaar mused.
"Ancient history. And there's power in forgiveness," Forger spoke to him confidentially.
"I'll wrap up be speaking with Captain Riker and Commander Danan," Akaar decided.
"Tom and Lisea won't know anything either but you have to check them off the list," Forger stated, "They'll understand and will cooperate."
"All the cooperation in the quadrant is useless if no one knows anything," Akaar grumbled
Akaar fully realized he was probably wasting his time. But before becoming an Outbound Ventures Captain, Tom Riker had been XO aboard the Obsidian. And his current First Officer and wife, Lisea Danan, had been Macen's lover through most of their mission with the Maquis. Then she'd been his first XO in the SID before Riker joined the crew and Danan eventually rejoined it as the resident Science Officer.
Danan's loyalty stretched back through two Trill hosts and Macen had given Riker new purpose in life. So the odds of them betraying a confidence, if there was even one to betray, would be slim to none. But Akaar's assistants verified Riker and Danan knew nothing of Macen's departure until hours before it occurred when he filed for a window to leave the system.
And Macen, being the corporate founder and resident SID contractor, left under mysterious conditions all the time. Usually for Starfleet. No one had thought anything was amiss until Starfleet began threatening everyone in the company. Having found precisely nothing of note, Akaar scheduled his own departure and returned to the Kalandra sector to finish his inspection tour.
Macen said his farewells to Celeste Rockford privately in their cabin. Rockford was more than just Macen's wife and teammate; she was also his business partner. Outbound Ventures had merged with Rockford Investigations. And the company was stronger than ever with demands for their services departing a solar system at maximum warp.
Rockford Investigations had a greater presence on various planets but Outbound Ventures was the hub from which the corporate fleet deployed from. And Ampok Nor played home to the SID now that it had left Earth. Macen's SID team was comprised of Outbound Ventures contractors and Rockford investigators.
Only this time out their was dissension in the ranks. Lee Kang had led the "mutiny" against Macen's decision to keep Kerber and Smith out of Federation custody, and thereby Ardanan custody. Shade and Tony Burrows had eagerly gone along with the protestations. Finally Arianna Forte had eventually sided with them. And their solution had been to try and seize Kerber and Smith by force and use the Corsair to fly to Deep Space Four and turn them in.
The abortive mutiny had lasted less than ten minutes before Daggit and Jelena Kovic led the ship's security down upon them. They'd been occupying two cells in the brig ever since. Rockford was concerned about her investigative staff.
"So what happens to them?" she asked Macen, "They violated our trust not Federation law."
"Actually they did violate maritime law that governs the operation of any starship, space going vessel, or wet navy," Macen corrected, "But the point is I don't feel like pressing charges. Instead I still want them to accompany you to Ardana."
"They won't assist me," Rockford complained.
"Make it a challenge to prove you wrong by proving the Ardanans' case again Bailey and Angelique. If they can make the charges stick, without any shades of impropriety and actual evidence of wrongdoing, I'll hand them over myself," Macen promised.
"And if they do?" Rockford reiterated.
"They won't. I've examined my case myself. The flaws in it are bare naked for anyone to see," Macen assured her.
And if they refuse?" Rockford asked.
"They get off the boat here on Gilgamesh," Macen told her, "The Gilga will make certain they're comfortable…and quiet. Long enough for you to prove Angelique and Bailey's innocence."
"And where will you go after Harri gets here?" Rockford wondered.
"Maybe Ekos but it's really up to Harri. She's the expert on hiding out," Macen replied.
Harriet Fedora Mudd was many things but a saint wasn't one of them. Rockford had her services on retainer and she was tasking Mudd with helping Macen's group out. Plus, Rockford knew Mudd had a soft spot for Smith and Kerber.
"And if Starfleet manages to actually catch you all?" Rockford was concerned.
"Harri won't let that happen," Macen joked, "Besides, we hire the best legal team in the Federation to defend us. And if the worst should happen, I served two years on a penal colony. It's boring but survivable."
"You were sentenced to one with T'Kir," Rockford reminded him, "Which took every string Admiral Forger could pull. I won't be getting arrested and tried with you."
"You never know," Macen joked.
"I'm serious," Rockford fumed.
"So am I. I just have to manage not to get arrested," Macen replied, "Simple, really."
"You do we realize we split up on our last outing as well?" Rockford wondered.
"The problem with both of us being essential and invaluable," Macen drew her in for a kiss.
She gazed up at him and their eyes met, "You're not getting out of this that easily."
"Why do I suspect you have a demand?" Macen wondered.
"Because you're a genius," Rockford chortled.
"Okay, lay it on me," Macen insisted, "Before I choke on all the flattery."
"Two weeks at Risa," Rockford requested.
"Make it three," Macen promised, "And a private villa."
"You are so on," Rockford agreed before he could change his mind.
"Look, this situation won't last forever," Macen consoled his wife, "But if you unearth signs of legal tampering, run straight to Earth. Leave me a message at our agreed upon cutout and we'll join you all when we can."
"I'm just sick of saving the damn quadrant," Rockford complained.
"Would a solid month on Risa recharge your batteries?" Macen offered.
"Hell, let's save the universe," Rockford happily replied.
"It'll be worth it to see you in a bathing suit again," Macen grinned.
"Go. Before you start drooling," Rockford steered him towards the hangar bay entrance.
"Ah, you cut me to the quick," Macen sighed theatrically, "But I can still dream."
He went through the opening door and it slid shut behind him. Rockford called Kovic to warn her she was headed for the brig to release the prisoners.
Ebert expertly flew the Corsair through orbital traffic. Freighters could be seen landing, loading, or departing a large spaceport and warehouse district. The comparatively diminutive runabout had been redirected to one of several shuttle ports.
"Captain, why haven't we seen more traffic?" Ebert asked Macen.
"The Gilga hide their defensive flotilla in the nebula. There are other clear pocket where space stations and dry-docks have been built in orbit around Class-D planetoids," Macen explained, "The native industry is star seeding."
"What's that?" Ebert asked.
"They feed gases and stellar dust into brown dwarfs and initialize a fusion reactions to create a star. Of course, those stars only have life spans of a few thousand years to a million or so," Macen described the process, "Generally their clients are looking to create a short term solution for energy demands or colonization efforts."
After landing, they went to the nearby immigration offices where they could see glimpses of street life. Dozens of unknown alien races were represented just in that simple snippet of planetary life. Daggit inquired as to who everyone was.
"Refugees," Macen told the group, "The Gilga are survivors from the Borg assimilation of their world just like my people are. The Gilga made it a policy to shelter other beings facing persecution of every conceivable kind."
"We should fit in," Kerber remarked.
"That's the expectation," Macen shared.
The same Gilga official that appeared on screen approached them with two honor guards, "Welcome back to Gilga."
"It's a pleasure to return," Macen bowed his head since the Gilga were physically incapable of bowing at the waist owing to the shells encompassing their torsos.
"Tell me, in your many travels, have you encountered any other members of my species?" the Councilor asked.
"No, Councilor Aram. But there is a similar race on Rigel VII. The call themselves the Chelon and they're nearly indistinguishable for your people. At least, physically," Macen shared.
"And they dwell in this Federation of Planets you spoke of?" Aram inquired, "And are these further representatives of your own people? Or children perhaps of your kind?"
"No, most of my people are elderly. Just a few of us can still procreate. And we seem to be genetically incompatible towards most other races. But these people represent different corners of the Federation or its allies," Macen described.
Most had suspected this truth already. But it came as a shock to Ebert, "You can't have children?"
"Not quite, I just can't procreate with many other races," Macen explained, "And there are no surviving El-Aurian women of child bearing age. I heard rumors that some others of my people reached the Gamma Quadrant. But they would under the Dominion's control so I have no proof and no contact with any others of my kind."
Kerber and Smith were learning more about Macen's situation in this brief conversation than all the time they'd served beside him. Now they finally fully grasped why Macen had been so dedicated to the border colonies that became the Demilitarized Zone or were ceded to Cardassia. And why he joined the Maquis when Starfleet refused to defend them. A forced assimilation had effectively driven his race to extinction. He refused to see it happen again while he could still do something. No matter how futile it seemed.
"This is the pair I seek sanctuary for," Macen motioned towards Smith and Kerber. They couldn't gauge Aram's reaction because beings with beaks didn't smile. But he did click his beak, which among the Chelons was a sign of approval.
"Are they being actively pursued?" Aram wondered.
"Yes, by an organization called Starfleet," Macen told him, "Typically we would be working for Starfleet but in this we're at cross purposes."
"Shall we stop them if they come?" Aram asked.
"No, Starfleet represents the Federation. They're just in the wrong in this. It's happened before," Macen stated.
Ebert appreciated the veiled reference to the Maquis. Aram motioned for them to follow, "We have lodgings arranged nearby. We have quite a productive agricultural development on our world now. We produce foodstuffs of every kind. We can only hope you will enjoy samples of our fruits."
"I'm sure we will," Macen assured him.
Mudd cursed her luck. Her ship, the freighter registered as the Freehold, had been intercepted entering the Delta Quadrant by the USS Rutherford. Commander Frakes personally led the inspection team. Which Mudd wasn't impressed with. The entire team consisted of Lt. Morag and Lt. Burton in addition to Frakes. But then Burton summoned a strange character they called Lt. Byte. Which Mudd easily assessed that something was seriously wrong with Byte.
"Something funny, Captain Mudd?" Frakes was irritated by Mudd's good humor.
"Sorry, déjà vu," Mudd waved the slight away, "But seriously, you people look like someone replicated a poor copy of the classic Enterprise-D command staff. Except you're twenty years out of date. You do know Picard retired to become a Federation ambassador and Riker is a captain now? You're lagging behind, Commander."
Before Frakes could snap at Mudd, Burton came forward from the engine compartment, "Commander, you have to see the drive system on this tub."
"Is it in violation of regulations?" Frakes hoped.
"No, but it can provide enough power to outrace most starships in a sprint," Burton assessed, "If she could maintain those speeds, it would violate maritime regs. But she can justify it under emergency clauses regulating speed boosters."
"Can the frame take it?" Frakes angled for another venue of attack.
"A Bajoran built Antares-class was never designed to exceed Warp 5. Captain Mudd can exceed Warp 9 for a brief period," Burton reported.
"But is it a safety violation?" Frakes grated.
"It shouldn't be," Burton guessed, "But if it ever is one, she won't live long enough to realize it."
"I have permits and variances for every modification on this tub," Mudd brought up.
"Byte?" Frakes inquired.
Byte accessed the computer core with his tricorder which linked his positronic brain directly with the ship's computer, "She is correct. Even for the weapons systems Lt. Morag has undoubtedly discovered by now."
"Commander!" Morag bellowed.
"Who authorized the variances?" Frakes wanted to know.
"Various officials but they all recently renewed en masse by Admiral Amanda Forger," Byte answered.
"Who recently resigned in disgrace," Frakes looked like he'd swallowed the proverbial canary, "It can be argued every decision she ever made with Starfleet can be subject to review."
"Oh really," Mudd dripped sarcasm, "Especially when it's personal."
"Settle in, it may take Starfleet Command to settle this all out," Frakes was practically giddy.
"Take your time, Commander. I'm picking up cargo rather than delivering it," Mudd told him.
"What cargo?" Byte asked.
"You should read the transport license and bills of lading for one runabout a collector has acquired near the border with the Delta Quadrant and she wants it shipped to her location on Sherman's Planet," Mudd explained.
"I have the pertinent files pulled up. And they were verified by officials other than Admiral Forger. Her manifest is complete and she has a destination for pickup listed as well," Byte informed Frakes.
"Then you wouldn't mind an escort?" Frakes smiled.
"I'd love it," Mudd smiled back.
And they looked like predators about to duel over a prize snack.
Rockford faced down the occupants of the two cells in the Obsidian's brig. The third and final cell was still open to accommodate any freak incidents that required locking someone up. Security Chief Kovic unhappily released them all.
"I'm feeling generous," Rockford announced, "We're traveling to Ardana IV, the very scene of the crime. So, he's my challenge: we're going to review all the evidence and every record pertaining to Angelique Kerber and Bailey Smith and you get to prove me wrong and that they're guilty."
"That's not their real names," Tony Burrows reminded Rockford and Lee Kang agreed.
"They are until further notice," Rockford explained, "The Ardanan official are expecting us on Stratos and they've redacted all the documents to reflect our accuseds' assumed identities."
"Why bother?" Shade asked.
"Because their identities are so inflammatory that they don't the public to who they are," Rockford shared, "Hence the secret trial even in absentia."
"That's…odd," Forte admitted.
"What happens when we prove it?" Lee asked.
"I contact Macen and he delivers them up," Rockford told them, "That simple."
"And you believe him?" Lee snorted.
"He believes in you," Rockford admitted, "If you can prove their guilt than he'll admit he made a mistake and make good on their capture."
Tessa appeared, "Celeste, you have an incoming message."
"From Brin?" Rockford hoped.
"From Harri Mudd," Tessa revealed before she vanished.
Rockford had to make it back to her quarters before she could receive the message. And Tessa could make the trek a thousand times by just vanishing a reappearing. Sometimes Rockford envied Tessa the life of a hologram.
Mudd sat out the flight that Byte was piloting. Morag had beamed over a security team to insure Mudd didn't interfere. Burton was still poking around the engine compartment. But thankfully, Frakes was back aboard the Rutherford. Which suited her. She was tired of him raping her with his eyes.
They were still traveling at impulse when Frakes transported back aboard, "Everyone pack up. Captain Mudd can go her own way."
"Really?" Mudd perked up.
"Starfleet Command has upheld your variances and weapons permits," Frakes unhappily told her, "Frankly; I wanted to bring you down. Like a Mudd deserves."
"You wound me, Commander," Mudd lied.
"There is a caveat," Frakes looked encouraged again, "You're ordered to report to DS4 for a further examination of you manifest and bills of lading. Don't be late or we'll find you again."
The Rutherford crew returned to their ship and Mudd watched as the starship went into warp to continue looking for the Obsidian. Which should have been sailing past DS4 at that time. So Mudd settled to report her delays to Rockford.
Back aboard the Rutherford Voltaire called a meeting of his senior staff officers. Rey was few minute slate reporting in. Her sister, Seti, was a the CONN Officer aboard the Sutherland. Rey had used that backdoor communication channel to alert the Sutherland of the extensive modifications made aboard the Freehold should Mudd make a run for it.
Voltaire scowled at Rey as she took her seat. The Bajoran was generally quite prompt and the captain had had to delay his briefing for an entire ninety seconds waiting for her. Something he felt should be noted in her next performance evaluation. Voltaire had also noted all the off duty time Morag spent with Rey. And Voltaire found interspecies fraternization distasteful.
Of course, Frakes and Triad had rekindled their past flame. But at least they were both human. They'd previously served together aboard the Trident under Kat Mueller's command. And no one ever spoke of the open secret between Voltaire and his Chief Medical Officer. And even their guest bounty hunter, Yar, seemed inflamed with lustful passions towards Byte. Voltaire care about any of it as such as long as it didn't impede performance.
"Ms. Yar, you say you are aware of candidate worlds where we could obtain information pertinent to our mission," Voltaire led the conversation.
"Please, just call me India," Yar insisted.
"Ms. Yar, you are guest aboard my vessel and we are not well acquainted. I will continue to address you in the manner in which I have already done so," Voltaire sternly lectured her.
"It's okay. My cousin Tasha was a pain in the ass after she joined Starfleet so I know your type," Yar quipped.
"Ms. Yar! Please come to the point!" Voltaire demanded.
"There are several trading hubs near the technical border between the quadrants. You can buy what you seek there," Yar informed the group.
"Buy?" Voltaire sputtered, "Are you aware that the Federation is a cashless society?"
"And are you aware that the Federation keeps hard currency reserves for situations like this?" Yar asked, "Or you could simply barter."
"How would you be aware of the Federation's reserves?" Voltaire wanted to know.
"How do you think Starfleet pays me for a bounty?" Yar was incredulous. Surely Picard had never been this stupid.
Rey couldn't help but snicker and Voltaire struck another rating off of her performance eval. It was bad enough their bounty hunting "mission specialist" had slighted him in front of the crew. Voltaire would sabotage her efforts at getting paid for her part in this.
"Please give Ensign Rey any and all pertinent coordinates, "Voltaire managed to keep his voice steady, "Exec, draw plans with Lt. Morag and Ms. Yar on capturing Macen and the fugitives. Dismissed."
Voltaire turned to Krusher, "Doctor, I have a matter that requires your attention."
Krusher smirked and knew the table would need wiping down when they'd finished. He was just lucky she also preferred to swallow.
Commander Reya Killa handed off responsibility for the Freehold to DS4's Ops Center. Then the Bajoran starship captain rerouted the Sutherland to patrol the border in order to assist the Rutherford if needed and to keep an eye on potential Romulan interference in the search.
Yeoman Ayn Rand delivered Mudd to Benteen. Benteen dismissed Rand, "That will be all, Yeoman. Now, Captain, I suggest you stay here for forty-eight hours before shipping out again. If I know Macen, he can hide for that long."
Mudd grinned, "Rockford said you were getting awfully chummy these days."
"She said the same about you," Benteen retorted.
"I like you," Mudd decided.
"Now, try not to rake my crew out of all their latinum in the inevitable card games," Benteen requested.
"No promises," Mudd definitely liked the station's CO.
"Forty-eight hours, then you're on your way," Benteen stressed.
"Aye, aye, Captain," Mudd threw her a mock salute.
Benteen already recognized that Mudd would be trouble. Just as her reputation stated. It would be a challenge having her on the station. But the crew had been bored lately so the challenge would be welcome.
"These people's technology is a step above the Federation's," Parva noted, "Their planetary engineering capabilities are almost as advanced as the stellar seeding programs."
"What use is a star that only lasts a few thousand years?" Smith quietly asked, as was her wont.
"Purely for energy extraction or warming planets undergoing development until proper life support and structural infrastructure can support life without assistance," Macen explained, "Those techniques were why the Gilga were a Borg target. But after the Borg received the data they desired, they promptly ignored it."
"And the Borg never shared with anyone," Daggit angrily stated.
"Very true," Macen said softly. But some former Borg drones, like Icheb and Annika Hansen, had refused to join the Caelier when they absorbed the Borg into their Gestalt from which the Borg had been separated from eons ago. And the Caelier had left them physically restored and left them to reconstruct their lives.
"At least we were given an entire house," Ebert spoke up.
"A prison is still a prison no matter how pretty it is," Kerber grumbled.
"What use would returning to Ardana be now?" Macen had to wonder.
"We could show the Troglytes they don't have to submit any more," Kerber angrily snapped back at him.
"But you'd die a martyr's death in secret and your people would never know your fate," Macen replied, "Or your message."
"We'd find a way to be seen," Kerber promised.
"But there's a better way," Macen promised, "Your case is being reopened and reexamined by outside experts."
"Celeste's secret mission," Smith realized.
"Her team is trying to prove your guilty but they're going to prove your innocence instead," Macen explained.
"But will they report it if they do?" Kerber wanted to know.
"Celeste is their conscience. She'll force them to admit they're wrong," Macen assured the pair of fugitives.
"So who is our conscience?" Ebert asked.
"We don't need one," Macen told her, "But Angelique and Bailey keep us honest."
"Stratos is built on a singular goal. Their only objective is to retain power by enslaving the Troglytes even though we share a common ancestry," Smith was from Stratos and spoke with greater insight than even Kerber had, "So Celeste and the others are in grave danger."
"Nothing will save Stratos if they're killed," Macen vowed.