Chapter Thirteen

The long and difficult task of interrogating the Picard clone known as Shinzon, was a difficult one for Captain Riker. Knowing the Captain as he did, Shinzon was able too deflect questions in attempt too confuse the captain. However, eventually the Captain managed too gain access to several pieces of information during the unorthodox interrogation method he was using. While attempting too keep the clone off guard with several unrelated questions, each one specifically designed too gain access too the information he required. As he stood to leave the room, the clone looked up at his former friend with a slight smile on his face which echoed the captain which Riker once knew.

"You look well, Number One. I assume that I will be taken back too Earth for further questioning?"

"We'll see. Earth is a long way away… many things can happened between here and Earth. Just, stay away from Lieutenant Crusher, she is very angry at the moment" Riker smiled.

His eyes opened once more as he looked around slowly, a dim light entered the room as he slowly pulled himself upright and looked around. In the corner of the small private medical room, a single figure sat with his arms folded and his eyes closed. Wearing a black Starfleet uniform with a red stripe across his chest, the figure wore the standard rank insignia of a Starfleet Captain. Taking a deep breath, the figure opened his eyes slowly as he looked at Da'Kar sat up in the bed.

"Ohh, finally… You had us all worried Da'Kar"

"Steele? What the hell is going on?"

"You've been unconscious for three days, the final inoculation put you out… you're memories should start too return shortly"

"I see" He sighed slightly. "I assume that I free to go?"

"Not yet, the Doc wants too keep you for a few more days, observation reasons"

"I see. May I have something too eat and drink?"

"You don't need to ask old friend. Nurse, please have food and drink brought down for the Praetor"

"Yes Captain" The nurse replied.

"Praetor?"

"You still don't remember. In a bloodless movement, you took over the Reman Unity, dismantled the Senate… removed the Emperor and declared a public hearing on the future of the Empire. Placing yourself as Protector, a vote was cast and you became the leader of the Reman Unity. you have served as leader for three terms as voted by the people…"

"I see that I have… missed out on lots. Forgive me Captain, I am very tired"

"It will pass… want more of the back story? It may boost some memories"

"Of course" He said as he sat back.

"Well, a few months after you took over, the Cardassians attempted an all out invasion of the Alliance once they heard Starfleet and the Unity had joined forces. With several successful joint missions behind us, you asked for me to be assigned here as the first Starfleet Commander of this facility. With Enterprise and several other ships in orbit…"

"Wait, the Enterprise? I thought you said it was destroyed" Da'Kar said with confusion.

"The F was… we're talking about the Enterprise G! Given back her title as Flagship, the Enterprise patrolled the area between Reman Territory and the Federation, stopping off at the new home port… here. With a combined Reman - Starfleet… fleet in the region, the Cardassians tried a sudden attack again Remus… before we could get any ships back here, Remus was almost destroyed. The planet was pulverised fro orbit, Millions died in the attack"

"Remus was almost destroyed?" He said in shock.

"Yes, the planet was almost cracked in half… debris from the planet settled into high orbit. You can probably see it by now from your window"

Slowly, Da'Kar turned too look out of the window, his jaw dropped with shock as he saw the large planet with a large crack running down one side of the planet leading too a large chunk of the planet missing near the south pole of the planet itself.

"What in the name of…"

"I know, a constant reminder of… yeah. Asteroids from the planet slammed into Remus Prime's north hemisphere… destroying almost everything. We still don't have a full death toll. However, much of the debris entered orbit and formed the thin ring system you can see… Tidal forces from the impacts washed away the costal regions. We worked together to stop an ice age from taking over this planet. As soon as we could gather our fleets, you freed the Romulan slaves and put them back to work rebuilding this planet with Starfleet's help. However, without my knowledge, you gathered as many of your ships as you could spare…"

"What?" He said confused.

"You sent them all too Cardassia Prime… your people demanded revenge. You levelled the planet… nothing can survive there now. You didn't stop there… every Cardassian world was destroyed by your fleet. When the news came in, I saw you sat at your desk… weeping for what you had done. It almost broke the Alliance between us" Steele said quietly.

Slowly standing, Steele walked towards Da'Kar as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small Starfleet designed Computer padd. Smiling, he placed it into his hands as he whispered.

"The doctors say you're not ready for the rest. Everything is on here… do me a favour, Don't let Nurse Ratchet see that"

"Nurse Ratchet?" Da'Kar said with confusion.

"Trust me, old friend" He smiled once more. "Get better soon… and for god sake, shave once in a while" He winked.

As the Starfleet Officer walked away, Da'Kar looked at his reflection on the surface of the computer in his hands as he ran his hand over the stubble which had grown on his face. One thing Steele had neglected too mention however, was the addition of a hand where the first one had been removed during the fight with the Starfleet officer. Clenching his fist, he activated the device as he looked down upon the display.

Once again entering the Holographic Lab, Steele smiled as he looked at a puzzled Alison Crusher before him.

"What?"

"Nurse Ratchet?" She said with confusion.

"Yu should read more Lieutenant…" Riker smiled as he entered. "One flew over the cuckoos nest' Right Commander?"

"I'm impressed Will. 10 points for the bonus round… who played her in the movie?" "Steele laughed.

"Easy, Louise Fletcher… Ho goes your experiment?"

"He's almost ready… Shinzon?"

"I got it. He tried too get under my skin a little bit, it didn't last. However, one thing that kept coming up… he kept mentioning a third… he was one, Da'Kar was the second. He mentioned a third in what ever conspiracy they are upto"

"I know, he tried that with me too. I get the feeling that Da'Kar could not have created that clone without help from someone in Starfleet"

"Makes sense, but who?" Riker sighed.

"I think if we keep an eye on that one, we may find out"

For over two hours, the three officers sat in the holo-lab as they monitored the prisoner as he continued too read through the makeshift database controlled from their location. As Riker sat monitoring the prisoner, he turned slightly too his left as he saw Steele sat very close too Alison, seemingly talking quietly amongst themselves. Rolling his eyes slightly, Riker looked back at the console before him as the next page the prisoner was reading appeared on the display. Throwing his legs off the console before him, he sat up straight as he smiled slightly and spoke.

"Put her down Jack… I think he's taking the bait"

Walking too his side quickly, Steele leaned closer too the console as he watched the prisoner's searches on the display before him.

"Come on Da'Kar… take the bait!" He whispered quietly.

On the screen before them, a search through Federation databases continued as Da'Kar was seemingly looking for something. Ushering Riker out of the seat, The Captain moaned slightly as the Commander sat in the seat as he stood slightly.

"Come one… almost there…" Steele smiled.

Files scrolled across the screen before them as Da'Kar's search slowly too a careful crawl before he stopped. Clapping his hands together, Steele leaned forwards as worked the controls slowly and placed the file on a separate screen. His jaw dropped as he looked at the title of the classified document before him as anger swelled within him.

"What, what is it Jack?" Riker said quickly.

"Project Achilles… Son-of-a-bitch… I know that damned thing!"

"Impossible, according too this… it was decommissioned years ago…" Riker replied as he looked at a separate screen which contained the search Da'Kar was looking for.

"I know… after a security breach… on Orion!"

Slamming his fist down on the computer surface before him, it cracked slightly as Steele stood and ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke.

"This is all my fault. I was set up!"

"Will someone please fill me in on this?" Alison said with a growl.

"Ten years ago, a classified project named 'Achilles' was shut down after someone infiltrated the home of a Starfleet Admiral and stole a copy of the database. Most of the files where deleted… the program was classified beyond top secret"

"You?" Alison said in shock.

"Me!" Steele sighed. "Riker, what was that thing about?"

"If memory serves, I remember Picard talking about it just after I joined his crew… it was an end-game program designed to infiltrate the Romulan and Klingon Empires… and bring them down from the inside using genetically modified agents left over from the Eugenics Wars…"

"WHAT?" Steele yelled.

"After… YOU… took the full database, it was shelved"

"Obviously not entirely. Who ran that program?" Steele growled with anger.

"Something called… Section 31, under the oversight of Starfleet Admiralty"

The anger boiled over within the Commander as he looked back at the screen beside him, clenching his fists tight, he wanted nothing more then too destroy the Hybrid inside the Holodeck as realisation hit him. Da'Kar and his conspirators on his world must have learned of the program during the cloning process of Picard, seeing an opportunity they began a covert war against the Federation, moving pieces around like a game of chess. No one could know how many Reman operatives where now in place around the Federation, or even where they were placed. But one thing was sure, they had too find out.

Grabbing a phaser from the wall, Steele took a deep breath and calmed his anger as he nodded too Riker. The Captain knew that Steele was about too cross a line, but could do nothing about it as he walked towards the Holodeck entrance with a dark smile on his face. Turning slowly, he looked at Riker as he spoke.

"Take care of yourself Will, take care of this ship and her crew… keep this information until you need it. If anything happens too the clone, blame it on me!"

"Jack, don't do this!" Alison said quickly.

"I'm sorry Ally… Once I come out, arrest me. I won't put up a fight" He nodded.

"Jack wait. I've got another idea!"

Entering the hospital room, Steele looked around before he ran towards a window and looked out, closing the blinds quickly he picked up a medical robe and threw it towards Da'Kar as he spoke quickly.

"Put that on, we have no time"

"What is going on?" Da'Kar said.

"Something you don't know. After we took you back too Earth for trial, you gave up the clone and the rest. Seeing an opportunity, the Klingons wanted revenge against those who destroyed their Empire… they wanted a public execution. The Federation demanded a fair trail and where eventually tried with Treason and imprisoned for life… damn it, they're close…"

"WHO?"

"The others, I just heard… six hours ago, they broke from a penal colony close by… they're here… on Remus Prime. They're coming for you, they say you betrayed them and they want you dead!"

"What? What about security? You have too protect me!" Da'Kar panicked.

"I'm on it… we're under manned as it is. Put on the damned robe!" He growled.

Running towards the door, the sounds of explosions and phaser fire echoed through the room as Jack stood ready at the door while Da'Kar stood at his side.

"Stay low!"

"Shouldn't I have a weapon?" Da'Kar said in panic.

"I was lucky too grab this… I've gotta find Ally and the kids" He said quickly.

"Wait, why would Shinzon and Barrett try an assault here… how many security do you have?"

"This is just a hospital. The main facility is miles away. Their first stop was the command centre… they destroyed it before they where detected, they beamed out and crashed their ship into the command post" Steele said quickly. "They have Nausicaans with them, lots of them"

"You have got too protect me Steele"

"Ohh, I'm trying old friend. On three, we exit this room, move down the corridor… third door on the right is an emergency exit. It leads too an old facility where the Romulans created the Hybrids…"

"I know the place"

Counting slowly, Steele opened the door as he ran into the hallway firing his weapon. Stood at the far side of the hallway where three large Nausicaans holding large rifle like weapons. Quickly ducking beneath the Starfleet officer, Da'Kar attempted too avoid the weapons fire as they moved down the corridor while Steele fired his weapon hitting one of the large aliens. As they reached the correct door, an energy blast impacted Steele in his chest as he fell too the floor in pain.

"Get... Outta here!" He demanded.

"I'm not leaving you!" Da'Kar said with concern.

"GO!"

Nodding slightly, Da'Kar opened the door and pushed through with all of his strength as darkness overtook him and he stood face-to-face with two Federation Phasers aimed at him.

"What the hell?" He said in shock.

Quickly turning, he looked back as Steele walked towards him smiling widely as he spoke.

"Whoops! Surprise"

As he passed through the opening, his holographic disguise changed too his youthful features and his uniform reverted back too the Starfleet Standard design. Looking around in shock, Da'Kar laughed slightly as he spoke.

"Very nice work…"

"Security… take this man back too his cell. Ohh, give him something too eat and drink" Steele laughed.

As two guards entered, Da'Kar looked around at Steele as he spoke.

"Very impressive Captain… Commander, you should make that a Holo-novel, you have a talent. I have one question. How long was I in that… simulation of yours?"

"A little over Six hours…" Alison laughed.

"Very impressive, but you have nothing" Da'Kar said with pride.

"Ohh no… old friend. We have everything we need, Shinzon rolled on your ugly ass!"

"Impossible" Da'Kar said with pride.

"Are you sure about that? We have more then one Holodeck"