"Captain Bole, you are needed on the bridge," came the chime from her ready room.
The Betazoid stood up from her desk then walked onto the familiar light gray bridge that was more in line with the classic Kelvin class aesthetic and design plans. She came to the captain's chair then turned her attention onto Commander White, "Hail the oncoming starship, Commander," then turned her attention on the screen.
The ship was on yellow alert.
Commander White's voice was heard from her station, "USS Shran to approaching vessel, please respond, you are approaching too closely to the USS Shran, please respond," then the communication's acceptance came through on the console. On the center of the room stood a unique human like individual with ridges riding alongside the neck, the nose, and odd piercings on the ears.
"My name is Rachj, Captain Rachj, please lower your shields and allow us to board."
Bole stood up, straightening her uniform.
"Captain Rachj," Bole said. "Funny how we have crossed paths."
"Captain Bole," Rachj's face turned white. "but I saw you die."
"You thought you did," Bole said. "Lower your weapons and surrender to us. I see you have stolen a new vessel for your liking," Bole placed her hands on her hips glaring at the male captain who was stuttering trying to find words to speak back. "Or I can give you the dignity of destroying the vessel for your enemies not to get your hands on you."
"Bullshit," Rachj said. "That vessel is not a flagship."
"You want to test me?" Bole asked.
"Just because your friends are at high places doesn't mean they would hand a heavily traumatized captain a flagship," Rachj said.
"If you try to get this vessel in any form; hacking the computer, killing my senior staff, I will have no choice but to self destruct this ship for the safety of star fleet and destroy your precious new off the docks Megee starship." Bole said. "Are we clear?"
There was tense looks exchanged including from Lieutenant Watson at the navigational station and Lieutenant Frizber. Rachj's figure flickered off the center of the bridge allowing blue static to be clearly seen. Bole's hands were encased into fists. Thinking of many back up plans should that fail. Rachj was a unique foe in any kind of space. He was one of the most wanted criminals out there for various crimes that went against planetary laws. Bole recalled the last crime he had been involved in, interfering in the world of Kelpia and removing some of them where the federation was still scratching their heads on. There was radio silence. People theorized they were turned into slaves, became prisoners, or abandoned somewhere far from their predators. Rachj appeared on the screen.
"Well, you ought to have someone you don't want to have on your ship for legal issues?" Rachj said.
George looked over in the direction of the captain.
"Your offer is declined," Bole said. "We don't need your help."
"Not even going to attempt arresting me?" Rachj asked, curiously.
"We are not interested in conflict," Bole said. "we are interested in peace."
"Peace, peace, peace," Rachj said. "You wouldn't be here for long, not for a quick classified mission," He narrowed his green eyes at the woman with his arms folded. "what brings little old you in my territory?"
"Commander Winters, reroute the signal to my ready room," Bole said.
"Aye, Captain," Winters said, then Bole went into her ready room.
George sat there, concerned, then got up to his feet once remembering that he was the first officer and that she should have told him what she had planned in store. The first officer made his way into the ready room. The Space Pirate was listening to what the captain had to say, considerately, explaining how and why they had came into his territory. She sat behind the desk.
"And my CMO cannot give him the surgery that he needs to blend in to Vulcan," Bole said. "Can you find him a medical professional then cart him off to Earth?"
"We're pirates," Rachj said. "Not the red cross." he shrugged. "We can't afford to give that kind of surgery. We don't have the tools for it nor the medical professional skilled in that kind."
"Understood," Bole said. "But can you find one?"
"An illegal CMO willing to perform that? No, I am afraid not," Rachj said. "There are some Orions who like to have a Romulan play toy and they pay a lot of credits for that," Bole nodded in return. "The kind that sweet corruptible CMO's on those sweet, advanced space stations can fall prey to."
"What corruptable chief medical officers?" George asked. "We don't have corrupt officers in star fleet."
"Sharon, ah please, tell me you didn't get a naive first officer who thinks everything is goody two shoes," Rachj said.
"Because officers follow the rules and we don't have disobedient officers in star fleet," Bole said.
"So . . ." Rachj began. "just because your captain was paid to visit that left into Catalian territory because of corruption and spent five months trapped on a Catalian starship with a hundred or so of your crew, you still believe there is no corruption in Star Fleet?"
"I have a reason to believe it wasn't orchestrated like that," Bole said. "that was a retrieval mission gone wrong."
"Denial," Rachj said. "you still have those scars on your back from the torture and they haven't changed you a bit."
"It is best not to let what happened to me to become something worse," Blole said. "I am better than that," she stood up from the desk the walked over. "Should I hand over Lyionel…"
"We won't beat him up," Rachj said.
"Get him there in one peace," Bole said. "He must be informed what he is getting into. He must have consent into this,"
"Just make I don't have to stay here for more than twenty-four hours," Rachj said
"An hour," Bole said. "Tops."
"Alright, Sharon," Rachj said. He grinned. "Doesn't this make you feel good? Helping someone?"
"No," Bole said. "I feel disgusted." she pressed a button and the he was gone.
"Captain," George said, coming forward. "You know this man?"
"Cell mate," Bole said. "He was a engineer. Chief Engineer of the USS Gladion."
"Oh," George said. "Captain, next time you have a plan on this mission, can you run it by me?"
"You thought I was going to turn over your son and his husband," Bole said.
"No," George said. George frowned in return. "I thought you were going to beam yourself over and have me take over," the first officer didn't seem to be pleased as he gave her a look. "I am a scientist, captain, not a commanding officer."
"It didn't occur to me," Bole said, then she jokingly added, "Perhaps I will do that next time."
George had a insulted look on his face.
"For everyone's sake," George said, "Don't think of it."
"Not even after we split ways," Bole asked, her demeanor changing to serious.
"Ever," George said. "You are one of a kind captain."
"Dismissed, Number One," Bole said. "You have the conn."