Year Two: 2373
"Are you sure we're at the right place?"
"Yes, I'm positive. New York City; this is the only place in the city that houses personal shuttles for any period of time."
Graham sighed, shaking his head as he let Tette lead the way through the dimmed hallway. Following behind the other three, he watched their backs, determined not to ignore his gut feeling- nothing ever good came from when he did.
"You did write down the codes, right?" Graham heard Deanna ask suddenly.
"Yes, I wrote down the code. It's easy to remember."
"What do you mean 'code'? There are at least two needed," Deanna hissed at him. Graham looked over at the three officers, smirking. He shook his head, what a long night it could turn into.
"He only gave me one. He said Commander Data could figure out the rest." There was no response from Data that Graham could hear, or see, but he got the feeling that the android wasn't all that thrilled with the comment.
"You can do that, right Data?"
"I believe I can, Counselor," he replied just as Tette halted in front of a pair of doors.
"This is it," Graham heard as he watched the corridor. The halls were empty, void of anything except for them and the small amount of light shinning on the dull white walls.
Graham let out another sigh as he heard Tette fumbling with the slip of paper, trying to read his unpracticed handwriting in the dim light.
"Four… five… eight… two… one… eight," the Commander muttered, reading off the numbers to Deanna as she punched in the code. "Wait!" he hissed suddenly, Deanna's finger jumping back before she hit the last digit.
"Ah! What?"
"Not eight. It's zero."
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-" Graham looked to see Tette squinting down at the paper. "Yeah. Zero. Zero's definably the last number."
She took a deep breath, tapping the last number hesitantly. The doors opened compliantly, making no sound to cover Tette's sharp sigh.
"Which one's his?"
"Uh-"
"You don't know?"
Tette ignored Graham's remark, looking over the six ships in the hanger. "It's… that one."
"How do you know?"
Tette shrugged. "It's the only one without a name."
"That's how you know?"
"He's not much of a name person." Tette moved quickly towards the shuttle, Graham following close behind.
"That is an interesting method to come to such a decision," Data commented, moving to catch up with him. Deanna just shook her head, following behind. "But are you sure your decision is accurate?"
"There's no way to tell now. Can you open it?" Deanna looked up at Data, turning to allow him to walk around her. But she didn't pay much attention to what they were doing. Instead she stared at the door.
"Someone's coming." Deanna's soft whisper caught all of their attentions, making the three men pause.
"Over here." They all followed Graham behind the large cargo containers, all four able to hide before they heard the door open.
"What are we doing again?"
"Come on, idiot! Same thing we do every week at this time."
"Right… so how's the wife?"
"Tina? She's doing fine," he answered, somewhat distracted as he walked farther into the room.
"I can' believe they're making us work tonight!" The other man said after a second of silence.
"Would you stop complaining? It's not like you had a hot date or anything."
"Hey! But it's one in the bloody morning!" the other groaned.
"I've got my phaser, sir," Tette whispered to Data, pulling it out as he spoke.
"Commander, I saw a thumbprint scanner on the shuttle. They might have access."
Data looked between Tette and Graham, the Lieutenant's own phaser out and ready to use. A brisk nod from the android was all the two needed. Rising, both aimed, sensing the two workers to the ground.
"Let's just hope this is going to work."
Tette looked over at Deanna, a small scowl on his face. "It'll work. I trust my contact."
"You trust the man that didn't even tell which shuttle is his and how to get into it? Sorry." Graham sighed, shrugging off Tette's harsh stare.
"Help me with this guy." Data shook his head, stepping around Tette to lift one of the men from the floor. With ease, he dragged the man over to the shuttle's entrance. Deanna meet him there, taking the man's hand and pressing his thumb to the pad.
The three held their breath as they attached the computer process the print.
"Access granted. Password."
"Password?" Graham asked. "We are so-"
"Tina." All eyes turned to Deanna. "He said his wife's name is Tina. It's as good as we're going to get."
"Tina?"
"Voice match: incorrect."
"Uh-"
"Tina," Data repeated quickly. Tette and Graham both looked to him, started and confused by the change in his voice.
"Voice match: correct. Access granted." The doors opened with a hiss, sliding out of their way. For a moment, they just looked at each other, smirking dumbly at their fortune.
"Commander, begin the start-up procedure. Lieutenant, take him."
Tette nodded before he and Deanna disappeared into the shuttle; Graham, however, scowled, taking Tina's husband under the armpits and dragged him to the door. Data did the same only he lifted the other man onto his shoulder, bringing him to the door faster than Graham was able.
"We should hurry, it won't take long before they notice a shuttle leaving."
"You are correct," Data responded, already walking quickly back to the shuttle.
Deanna looked to the back as she heard the door close. Quickly she moved from the co-pilot's seat, letting Data have it instead. She settled back into one of the passenger's seats, relaxing back into the cushioned chair. "I will give you this, Tette, we are flying in style."
The Lieutenant Commander nodded, chuckling softly with her remark. "Great. Counselor, hide the bag in one of those compartments. Just incase."
"Just incase what, Commander? You're not planning on getting caught are you? Because I paid for a great pilot," she teased as she rose, doing as he asked.
"No ma'am," he said with a laugh. "I hope not."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"Commander Jaron."
"President Amen."
Amen gave a small smile of satisfaction as the Mikolian walked farther into his office. "It's good to see you again."
Jaron merely inclined his head, pausing a meter in front of the oak desk. "I am here to… propose a condition."
"Go on."
"My superiors want full disclosure of all Federation technology. Complete with any schematics or like information."
Amen sighed, leaning back in his chair. His fingers rubbed his chin in thought. "That's it, huh? I promise that, and you're government will agree to the terms?"
"Yes. Do you accept?"
The President stood, walking around the desk. Jaron caught his eyes, remaining poised even with the blank stare in the human's gaze. "You have a deal, Commander. Tell your leader that I will meet with him-"
"No. The treaty will be drafted under his supervision and agreed upon by you. When, and only when, he sees your signature, will he sign."
Amen took a deep breath, staring at the wall behind his desk. "Very well."
Jaron nodded curtly. "If that is all-"
"No, actually…" the President turned back towards him, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Now that we're going to be allies, I have something I would like you to do."
"What?"
"The Mikolians's ships are known by very few in the quadrant."
"That is true."
"And are virtually undetectable."
"When we want to be."
Amen nodded. "True. True. I have a proposition to make."
"Involving our ships?"
"It will benefit you as well."
"I am listening then."
"I want to convince the Romulans that a new, powerful race is trying to… take over their space."
"The point of that is?"
"The point, Commander, is to offer an alliance with the Romulans."
Jaron's brow wrinkled and his confusion was evident in his words. "So that you both can attack a nonexistent race? … Or my own?"
Amen nodded, a short laugh escaping his lips. "True. But I highly doubt that the Romulans would accept such an offer."
"Then why extend it?"
"To lead it to a non-aggression pact. I want to be safe from the Romulans… if anything were to happen in the next few years."
"And you could accomplish this with my ships?"
Amen smirked. "You just leave that to me. Trust me."
Jaron looked away a moment. "You want me to take my ships into Romulan territory and do what?"
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"So far, so good," Tette muttered, nearly smiling as he piloted the shuttle over his home planet.
"Never say that. Because once it's said… everything just gets worse."
Deanna scowled up at him. "Don't be such a pessimist."
"I'm not. I'm a realist. Just give it a second," he said, brushing past her and walking into the back of the shuttle.
"Ignore him, Commander. You're doing a good job."
"He's probably right. It's been too easy so far. Not so much as a peep when we left the hanger. I would have expected something."
"Well… leaving the atmosphere will be the tricky part," Deanna said.
"That is true, Counselor. There are many probes designed to detect unauthorized exits of Earth's atmosphere. As we are all aware of, we are hardly authorized."
Deanna smirked at the android. "We'll find out in just a second," Tette announced. "Approaching the edge of the stratosphere."
Deanna held her breath as she watched the shuttle fly through the Earth's ozone layer. Ten seconds passed and nothing happened. With a sigh of relief, she and Tette broke out into nervous smiles.
"See, Graham doesn't know what he's talking about." Deanna giggled, looking down at the Commander. Data just gazed thoughtfully at them.
"It would appear that-"
The sudden beeping of alarms halted his words, Deanna backing away as Tette frantically searched for the problem.
"Someone's scanning us. They're hailing. Should I respond?"
Both looked to Data, the android nodding. "Only audio."
"Aye, sir." A simple button opened the channel, a man's voice speaking over it.
"Your ship isn't authorized to be leaving Earth's atmosphere. Please identify yourselves."
Data sparred only the shortest of glances to Deanna, immediately speaking to the officer, his voice changing like he had done before.
"This is Commander Delgarian, Starfleet."
"Well, Commander, you should know the procedure. You're not authorized to be leaving, I can't let you pass."
Data looked to the others, Deanna able to see the wheels turning in his head as he thought quickly. "I am sorry you feel that way."
"Wha-" Data deactivated the comm. channel, his fingers flying over the console. Deanna tripped, falling back into the wall, as he accelerated the shuttle to warp.
"What was that for?" She muttered, pushing herself up.
"I apologize, Counselor."
"They're going to catch up to us."
"No they will not. Ships patrolling Earth have only a maximum of Warp Five. This shuttle, however, appears to be traveling at Warp Six point Four. They will not catch up with us soon."
"So, they'll just send someone else after us," Tette complained. "That's what they do."
"Yes, but they will find it difficult to track a shuttle that is traveling in four different directions, none of which are ours."
Deanna smiled, nodding her head. "Nice job, Data."
"Thank you, Counselor."
/-/-/-/
/- A Few Days Later
"Captain's Log. Stardate, 37301.27.
"I have just received word that the away team has left Earth's orbit and are eight days away from our position." Riker sighed, running his hand through his hair and over his face.
"Eight more days… well, Data estimates that it will be eight days, seven hours, thirty six minutes and… well, I'm sure he said the seconds. I don't care how long it is, I just want them home… soon."
Using his thighs as leverage, Riker pushed himself up, slowly wandering through his ready room. Eventually his legs led him to the floor to ceiling window. He gazed out the black window, watching the stars as they went by, stretching and distorting from the effects of warp.
With a sigh, he continued. "Their message didn't say specifically what they'd found. Actually, they didn't say if they'd found anything at all." He took a deep breath, sighing deeply. "But, then, they wouldn't be returning if they hadn't. Oh well, I could really care less what they found, just if they all return health and okay."
/-/-/-/
/- A Week Later
"How was it?" Riker asked as Data walked from the transport pod, approaching his Captain as soon as he noticed him.
"Profitable, Captain. We found-"
"Will!"
Riker looked away from Data, smiling broadly as he saw his wife walking from the transport. She dropped her pack to the ground, running up to hug Will. She kissed him, running her hands over his thick beard.
"I missed you, so much," she whispered.
"I missed you too… it's hard keeping track of a three year old by myself." His soft chuckle met her ears. She swatted at his chest, though she was laughing with him.
"You're mean."
He laughed and shook his head, turning back to Data as he slipped his arm around her waist. She leaned against him, resting her head on his chest and rubbing his back.
"I'm sorry. What were you saying?"
"We found what you wanted. Dr. Tanith's office never examined any bodies in the week that President Amen claims. Furthermore-"
"Data. Tell me tonight at the briefing."
"Yes, sir."
Will shook his head, a small smirk on his face, as Data walked away. Deanna slipped from his hold to grab her bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she walked back to him.
"So, do I still have a daughter, or did you loose her while I was away?"
"You still have a happy, health daughter, even though she misses her mother."
"Where is she?"
"Daycare. Right on our way home."
"Good."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"President Amen has a secret alliance with the Hagan?" Captain Collins commented, looking over to Riker. "What would that offer him? The Hagan have few resources and little respect or recognition."
"No matter what he wants with them," Jayton started, "It would explain a lot."
"Explain what?" Captain Reece asked.
"It would explain his reaction to President Aurik's orders to fight the Hagan vessels- assuming, of course, that the negotiations for such an alliance had already begun," Data informed the table of Captains.
"Of course. Amen wouldn't have wanted Starfleet ships to attack ships of a possible ally. It would look like he had ordered them, or consented to them."
"And when we did attack," Ivinch continued for Reece, "he sent a squad of ships after us to make the Hagan believe that we were disobeying orders."
"When we escaped it only gave Amen an even better chance to discredit us. And possibly use us a scapegoat for anything he plans on doing in the future," Riker thought aloud. "Something like the murder of President Auirk."
"There was one last thing we discovered, Captains. This-" Data said as he placed a data crystal on the desk, "is the official logs of Dr. Tanith's office. Though a basic inspection shows that the doctor received the body, now classified as former President Aurik. A closer search reveals that no body was delivered in the time shown. Nor was Dr. Tainth in his office during three of the hours his logs say he was working on the body's autopsy."
"So the body's a fake?"
"Not necessarily," the android countered, turning to Captain Kaikes. "The fact that official logs were altered and that the body was destroyed after only one doctor allegedly inspected it would suggest that there was a conspiracy of some kind around the body's existence. Though there is not enough evidence to prove that it was faked, there is enough to believe so."
Silence filled the room. For a moment, no one spoke as they tried to understand all that they had heard. As they themselves tried to comprehend what was going on around them.
"So what are we going to do with all this? We don't even know if anyone would believe us."
Riker sighed as he looked to Kaikes. "I am personally taking it to Betazed. Someone will believe us."
/-/-/-/
/- Two Weeks Later
"Captain's Log. Stardate, 37302.24.
"It's been three weeks since we left Shadow Land. Starfleet has dozens of patrols out here looking for us. They're everywhere. It's a miracle that they haven't gone near Shadow Land yet. Data tells me that the radiation from the two stars near the station that distort all long range sensors, keeping the station hidden."
Riker let out a sigh as he turned away from the ready room window. "An average trip from Shadow Land to Betazed is five to six days. We've already added sixteen to keep from being found. We had to reduce speed and alter course every few hours. Data says that, at this rate, it will take another seven to eight days."
Collapsing into his chair, Riker rubbed his tired face, stifling a yawn. "I ordered the rest of… "the fleet" to stay at Shadow Land. At least that way they won't be directly associated with us, especially if we're caught-"
"Data to Captain Riker."
"Computer, end log. What is it, Data?"
"Could you come out to the Bridge, Captain?"
Riker sighed, tapping his comm. badge before he rose and walked from his office. "Data?"
The android stood next to his console, ushering the Ensign out when he saw his Captain approaching. Riker walked over to his first officer, his hand on the back of his chair as he looked out the view screen.
Two black ships hovered a few hundred kilometers away, making no movement or even hostile action. "What the hell is a Mikolian ship doing out here?" Riker muttered.
"I do not know, sir."
Riker turned to Worf, ordering, "Hail them."
"Frequencies open, sir."
"This is Captain Riker to Mikolian ship. You are in violation of Federation space. I request-"
But his announcement was cut short as one ship sent a photon torpedo at them, sending Riker to the ground. "What the-? Worf, shields up! Red alert!"
"Aye, sir," the Klingon huffed, immediately red flashes replaced the normal lighting.
"Fire o-"
Riker's sentence died in the noise when both Mikolian ships hit his ship. He stumbled backwards into his chair as some of the impact forced its way past the inertial dampers.
"Shields are down to seventy-seven percent."
"Aim for their phasers."
Worf complied instantly, two red beams hitting the Hagan ships, their shields shimmering as they protected the ship.
Worf continued his firing, reporting Enterprise's weakening shields in steady intervals. After only fifteen minutes of fighting, though, the shields had weakened to only forty-six percent of normal.
"Get us out of here, Data," Riker ordered. The ship pivoted, turning its back to their attackers before jumping to warp.
Riker fell, grasping his chair for support, as he yelled out, "Report!" over the noise.
"Both Hagan vessels fired at our warp nacelles."
"And?"
Data checked his console. "They appear to be running but it may be dangerous to continue at warp."
"Would the danger be less if we stopped?" Data opened his mouth to speak, Riker raising as hand to stop him. "That was rhetorical, Data. We'll need to stay at warp. Reduce speed if you think that will make a difference."
"Aye, sir."
"I want to know immediately if there are any farther problems."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"Do we peruse them, Commander?"
The Commander looked down at the young Mikolian. His grey eyes shone with his lust for fighting, but he forced down his feelings, shaking his head slowly. "No, those aren't our orders. Resume course."
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be in my private room. Contact me if there are any changes."
"Yes, sir," the young man said once again, no longer paying attention as the commander walked away.
With crisp, even steps, he walked confidently to the back of the command center, stepping through the door to his private room. A slow hiss echoed in the mostly bare room. A glance around was all he sparred before taking a seat behind his desk.
But, before he could savor his rare silence, the chime sounded. "Yes?"
The door opened with his words, as if they were a password, and allowed his first officer entrance.
"Azia? Is there something I can do for you?"
The younger officer stepped in, bowing his head with respect, before he spoke. "Commander, what are we doing being sent into Romulan space? And not even by our own leader-"
"I know, Azia, I know. It is odd, but…"
"Then why are we going?"
Jaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Because, Azia, as… feeble as this human president may seem, he wields much power. Power we need. This may be a way to ensure that that power is never tested."
Azia sighed, looking Jaron in the eyes. "Do you really believe that?"
"I must believe it, whether or not I do."
/-/-/-/
/- A Few Days Later
"This Is LaForge to the Bridge. We need to drop out of warp immediately!"
"What's wrong, Geordie?" The Riker asked as he pushed himself form his chair.
"The warp core is beginning to… over heat. Whatever the Mikolians did to us, they hit the core pretty bad."
"Data?"
"If we stop now," Data began, "We will arrive eighty thousand kilometers from Deep Space Nine. They will be able to detect us."
Riker glanced down at the android, his hand on the man's chair. "We have little choice, Data. Stop the ship as far away as you can."
"Aye, sir."
The stars shrank, returning to their normal points rather than streaks of light. Riker sighed. In clear view of them was the space station.
"Data-"
"Captain? They are hailing us. Should I respond?"
Riker turned to look up at Worf. Could they really not? It would be hours before they had propulsion, and he knew the station had a ship of their own now. They were in no condition to fight.
But admitting surrender? He wouldn't do that. Or perhaps…
"On screen, Commander."
"Aye, sir." Riker turned away from the stunned Klingon, watching as a man's face appeared before him.
"Commander Riker. What a surprise."
"Actually, it's Captain Riker… Captain Sisko. And it is that indeed."
The man let out a sigh, the act sounding more like a snort. He eyed Riker suspiciously. "I know you're a smart man, Captain Riker. You must realize that I have orders to detain you and your ship."
"No offense, Captain, but your station is hardly adequate to apprehend us, even in our condition."
Sisko openly laughed, stating, "With your warp engines off-line and shields at minimum? I doubt that, Riker. My station would have enough fire power- not to mention the Defiant."
Riker sighed, not at all shocked that his pathetic bluff was called. "I'm not here to attack you, Captain."
"Then what are you here for?"
Riker just looked at him a moment, not quite glaring. "If you'll allow me onto your station… I would like to talk."
"Talk?"
"As simple as that."
"Talk?" Sisko repeated, nodding his head. "We'll talk. In one hour."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"I don't think they've done what the media has said," Dr. Julian Bashir argued, looking among all of the senior officers around him for some sort of response.
"Julian, I know you're friends with some of them, but we've got to at least consider the possibility that they're really doing all this. That they have done everything your government is saying." The table's attention turned to the young Trill, Jadzia Dax leaving her focus on Julian.
"I agree with Julian. I know these people, sir. They wouldn't do what everyone's been saying. Trust me, sir," Miles O'Brien pleaded, "If they are behind some of this stuff, then they have a damn good reason and I think it's worth hearing."
Sisko looked at each of his senior officers, taking in their faces and recalling where they stood. Looking off the to back, Sisko's gaze rested on Odo. The shapeshifter had briefly explained his neutrality on the situation, claiming that the politics of the Federation affected him very little.
Next, he looked to Kira. Unlike Odo, she had been quite vocal in Riker's defense. Though it had only been on few occasions that he knew the two had interacted, she seemed a loyal friend and an ally for Julian and Miles in their argument.
His eyes turned to Jadzia. Dax had been an old friend of his, stretching far back into her former life. He knew that she held little to the media and politics of anything, but she had always had a level mind. She was merely playing the devil's advocate in that briefing. In all honesty, Sisko wasn't sure what her opinion was.
He glanced at Julian and Miles, the doctor and engineer sitting next to each other. He knew both had befriended many onboard the Enterprise, Miles more for he had lived onboard the ship for many years. But even with all that, he still wasn't sure… there was something in the pit of his stomach that was shouting at him to say no.
He sighed, folding his hands together. "Very well, I'll listen to him. But I'm not agreeing with any of you, not until I hear what Riker has to say. I want to speak with you all in three hours. Dismissed."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"How is your… project coming along?"
Ken chuckled, Amen falling in step with him. "It's coming."
"How long before it's ready?"
Ken sighed, glancing over at the president. "Uh… a year at most. Perhaps longer for some. But it will be ready when you need it."
"Very good. Very good," Amen said with a nod, looking down at the PADD in his hand. "Here, come with me. I want to show you something."
Ken watched, eyebrows furrowing, as Amen entered his access code. The doors opened silently, revealing a long white corridor. "I didn't even know this wing existed," Ken commented as he followed behind Amen.
"Don't feel bad. I find a new room everyday."
Ken chuckled along with the president, the smirk leaving his face as he asked, "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Ken waited as Amen punched in his code for a second time, opening the door in front of them. Ken leaned in, trying to see inside.
"A medlab?"
The two walked in, stepping onto a landing towering over the medlab. Ken walked over to the railing, looking down the three stories below them.
"Wow. What the hell are they doing down there?" Catching Ken's eyes, Amen just smirked and looked away.
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"Captain Sisko," Riker greeted, his voice neutral as he stepped inside the briefing room.
Sisko turned to see Enterprise's Captain escorted by two security officers. Riker held himself erect, shoulder square and chin high, his eyes dark as he gazed at the space station's commander.
A curt nod ordered the two men to leave and the door to the conference room slid shut behind them.
"Captain Riker… it's been a while."
"A very long while, sir."
Sisko nodded, his chest rising as he took a deep breath. He pivoted on his foot, turning to face the large windows. "Why are you here, Captain?"
"We're only here because our ship is damaged." Riker sighed as he walked slowly into the room. "My ship was attacked by a race known as the Mikolians. Do you know them?"
Sisko swiveled his head to see Riker, his brows knitted in thought. "It's vaguely familiar."
Riker nodded. "Well… it's not really important who they are. We… let's just say we had to get away from them and it led us here. That is, we had to drop out of warp here."
"We haven't detected any unknown ships, Captain," Sisko informed Riker, his body having turned back towards the other Captain at some point in their conversation.
"I'm not accusing you of anything, Captain," Riker said immediately, hearing the anger rising in the other man's voice. "No. It's just a statement of fact. I just need to know if they came here, or if you know where they went."
There was a pause for a long moment, Sisko taking in the older Riker before him. He had changed since the last time they met- however brief. He seemed more confident and yet far less innocent. Far more experience and far more distance.
Sisko's sigh broke the odd hum of silence. "That's all well and good but… that doesn't change the fact that you're renegades. And that I have orders to capture and turn you in."
"No, you're right. But may I have the chance to persuade you to… forget that we were ever here?"
Sisko paused again, his eyes meeting Riker's as he thought through the proposal. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
A slight smirk tugged the corners of Riker's lips. "With proof… proof that Amen nor the media will even tell you."
"I'm listening."
/-/-/-/
/- A Few Days Later
Commander Jaron stood with his body straight, and nearly rigid, as he watched the scene play out on the viewscreen. His face was void of anything, showing nothing to his crew, as he watched.
Red beams of light emanated from the ship, a large explosion at the end of them. Debris hit the shields, shown by the glimmering of green. The ship rocked softly with the shock wave, riding it through with ease.
With a deep sigh, he turned to his friend, stepping up to his console. "I don't like this, Azia." He looked back to the image of the destroyed space station.
"I don't care that this Human wants with us pestering the Romulans, he just better clean this up."
Jaron nodded, eye never leaving the viewscreen. "Get us out of here, Hishna."
"Yes, sir."
The stars warped around them as they moved away from the scene. "I hope your wish will be answered, Azia. I, too, do not fancy being known as a murderer."
"We already are. It matters not what other will think."
/-/-/-/
/- A Week Later
"What is it? And this had better be good," the Betazoid Commander mumbled as he stumbled into the command center only half-awake.
A Lieutenant nodded slightly, moving to his console. "I detected a ship on long-range sensors nearly an hour ago, sir." The Betazoid Commander starred at him waiting for the good part. "It's the Enterprise, sir."
"The Enterprise? How far out are they?"
"Two hour at their present speed, sir."
The Commander nodded. "Their approach? Is it hostile?"
"No, sir. Shields down, weapons uncharged. They're not here to fight, sir."
He nodded slowly. "Then what are they here for?"
"To blow us up when we're not looking, is what!"
Both men spun around in surprise as they heard the familiar, scratchy voice. "Admiral Stephens?"
"Enterprise, ay? Commander Riker isn't dumb, Commander, he's got something up his sleeve, or else he wouldn't be here."
"Of course, sir. But to harm Betazed seems pointless, especially considering who his wife is."
The Admiral glared at the young Lieutenant. "What are you?"
"Lieutenant Steel, sir."
"Really?" He asked sarcastically, turning his head away from the young man and back to the viewscreen. "That wasn't exactly what I meant. But give him time, and he will somehow do just that."
The Commander's brow rose, barely containing his sigh of impatience. "Shall we hail them?"
"Oh, do, please, Commander Sampson. I want to speak with Riker."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"They're hailing us, Captain."
Riker nodded, pushing himself from the Captain's chair, pulling down his shirt as he approached the viewscreen. "On screen, Mr. Worf."
"Commander Riker, what a pleasant surprise," Admiral Stephens said as his old, white-bearded face appeared on the screen.
Riker held his tongue, choosing not to say anything that could further kill his already dead career. "Admiral."
"What do you want, Riker?"
"I want a lot of things, Admiral."
"Then what do you want here?"
"I want you to listen."
Stephens openly laughed at Riker's words. "Listen? To what?"
"Give me two hours and you can see for yourself." Riker turned to Worf, a slight gesture cutting the Admiral's words off. "Data, Deanna." The two officers stood, following Riker up the ramp. "Commander, Lieutenant, you too."
Graham and Tette glanced at each other, a look of dread hidden behind professional facades. Falling in behind the Consoler, the two walked onto the turbolift, turning just as the door closed behind them.
"Where are we going, Captain?"
"To the planet, Commander."
"Right," he muttered, sighing as he backed up to the wall.
Tette looked around at the four others in the lift. Though he would say that the other three he knew quite well after living with them- that is, well enough to comfortably hold a conversation with- the Captain was another story. For one, it wasn't even his captain. For another, he was just a hard man to understand.
The lift stopped suddenly, its doors opening to a short hallway just outside the shuttle bay. Deanna walked out first, chivalry dictating such an order. Riker walked behind her, his hand settling on the small of her back.
The other three stepped out behind them, walking silently into the shuttle bay, heading for the Captain's Yacht. Tette sighed, "And why are we going down again? I mean, just the five of us?"
"Because who's going to listen to a man surrounded by security?"
"Not like they're going to believe us anyway."
"Think happy thoughts, Lieutenant Graham. Happy thoughts."
/-/-/-/
/- Around the Same Time
"What's going on here?"
"Ambassador Troi?" Commander Sampson asked, surprised by her sudden appearance. He turned away, looking behind himself at Lwaxana, flanked by the Trill Ambassador. Clearing his throat, he made to begin his explanation.
But she interrupted before he could begin. "I asked you a question… Commander. Why do you have all these security officers here? And armed with phasers pointed at the bay's exit?"
"Well, uh-"
"Well, what, Commander?"
"Admiral Stephens ordered it, ma'am. Commander Riker, and who knows who, is about to wall through those doors-"
"Yes, I know all that. I also know that they came without weapons and in a peaceful manner. This is not how they should be greeted."
"But they're renegades. President Amen and Starfleet have ordered their immediate arrest."
"I know that as well, Commander. And yes, Commander, I know that they were coming. I have many good sources. Oh, and Commander," Lwaxana began, Sampson looking at her as they could hear the shuttle landing. "Don't forget that on board the Enterprise is my daughter and her husband."
Sampson nodded mutely, looking to see the doors opening. Two figures barely had a foot out before the security team moved in on them, weapons drawn and aimed at them.
Lwaxana immediately recognized the first as Will. She was able to sense, but not yet see, her daughter behind him.
"My, what a party." Glancing up, Riker spotted Lwaxana and Pell hanging back. He sighed, looking back to find Commander Sampson approaching him. "So, you're superiors don't even want to know how much they're been screwed over? It's fine with me. Just a waste of my time."
"Save your breath, Riker. You've got nothing and you know it," he spat back, inclining his head as a signal to lead them away.
"Really? Would I have come here and shown- no, given myself to you if I didn't have something? I had you walking in circles- you would never have found me."
The Commander watched Riker's back as he was walked away, listening to his every word. But he said nothing in response. And, after a moment, followed behind.
"Where are they taking them?"
"There are secure quarters in the Federation Consulate."
"We're coming with you," Pell told him, walking faster to get ahead.
"No, you're not."
"Yes," Lwaxana hissed, "we are."