A/N If you went to this chapter first, go back and read Duty Roster and find out what's going on. And please review both chapters.
Chapter 24
Seeds of Rebellion
Captain's log, stardate 48532.4: Chakotay has given me a list of possible candidates that wanted to be on the MACO team. As I had planned, the people I wanted to see on there are on the list. Now will be the beginning of placing chaos into order.
Cargo Bay One
Seska, Ro Laren, Tuvok, Miles O'Brien, and Valerie all stood at attention as Ben and Kira walked past them and observed their stance.
"What do you think, Major?" Ben asked, as Kira crossed her arms over her chest and let out a little huff.
"I guess they'll do." Kira told him.
"Then, I'll leave you to it." Ben replied as he turned and walked out of the room.
"All right before we get started with this you all need to know your rankings." Kira started as she looked around at the group. "Besides myself, O'Brien has the most experience in battle so I've decided to make him the First Sergeant of this team. Valerie you will keep your ranking as Lieutenant until your training with Odo is over. After that you will receive the rank of Corporal and you will pick several more Maquis and Starfleet officers to serve under you."
"Hey what about us?" Seska asked.
"Are you just going to give all of the important rankings to Starfleet personnel?" Ro added.
"Of course not, Private's." Kira replied with a twisted smile, that quickly turned into a frown. "Now get back in line!" she snapped, as they reluctantly got back into place. "Tuvok I want you to be my Corporal."
"I accept those terms." Tuvok replied with a nod of his head.
"Good." Kira said with a satisfied smile. At least he didn't argue. "So would you please lead these girls out of the room? On my order I want you to lead these two in running a lap around the ship? Mr. O'Brien and Miss Archer will meet you outside of the door in a moment."
"As you wish." the dark skinned Vulcan replied with a nod of his head. "Private's Seska and Ro you will accompany me by the Turbolift. When Commander Kira gives the order we will start on deck A and end on deck J. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." Seska and Ro grumbled out together as the three of them walked out of the room.
"Comma... Major what's goin' on?" O'Brien asked, as the others got out of ear shot. "One minute I'm in Engineering and the next the Captain wants that girl in charge down there."
"I'm under orders not to say what's happening." Kira said lowly, even though the others wouldn't hear her. "All I can tell you is that I want you two to watch the Maquis, especially Seska. Report any suspicious activity directly to me and don't let them know you're watching them. That's an order."
Chakotay walked down the corridors of the Ares wearing a crisp new pip-less command red Starfleet uniform. It felt so weird wearing one again, but he didn't miss having to tug on the bottom of it. Seeing Tom Paris further down the hall, he decided to match his stride.
"Going somewhere, Paris?" Chakotay asked, making Tom slightly jump.
"Yeah, I'm going to an important meeting." Tom told him as he gave him a look. "You're anxious to get back into command aren't you?"
Not saying a word, Chakotay just smiled as he walked with him onto the turbolift and headed for the Captain's Ready room where Odo, Ben, B'Elanna, Seven, and Dax were waiting. It surprised Chakotay however as the senior staff seemed to be accepting of his new arrangements as the ships First Officer. The only one that seemed to be surprised about his new position seemed to be Tom Paris and B'Elanna.
As the meeting adjourned and people started to file out of the room, Neelix nervously walked into the room.
"Uhhh... ummm... Captain I've checked the ships flight trajectory." Neelix said as he started to fidget. "As your guide to this Quadrant I wish you had of consulted me before taking this route."
"This is my ship." Ben reminded him as he and Chakotay gave each other a look.
"Yes but Captain you don't understand." Neelix went on. "In this sector of space, ships fly in but they never fly out."
"Is there a reason for that phenomenon?" Chakotay asked.
"Some say a race of people destroy any ship that tries to cross their space." Neelix explained.
"So you've never flown into this section of space before?" Chakotay asked, confused.
"With all do respect, Mister... mister..."
"Chakotay." Chakotay introduced himself. "Commander Chakotay."
'Boy this ship has more Commanders then I've ever seen.' Neelix thought to himself. "Well with all do respect Commander, if you've heard something like that before, would you fly in this direction?"
"We promise to be careful, Neelix." Ben said as he walked past him and onto the Bridge. If this course was going to shave six years off of their journey home, there was no way he was going to turn back now.
Watching as Ben sat down in his command chair, Chakotay looked around at the Bridge crew and finally settled on Dax's beautiful face. As she gave him a reassuring nod, he sat down next to Sisko. After a few minutes, Chakotay closed his eyes and started to get comfortable and that was the moment everything went horribly wrong.
"Ben, I'm detecting several small vessels approaching our position." Dax reported from her station.
"Is it from any known ship from Neelix's database?" Ben asked.
"No." Dax reported as she looked down at him. "But they'll intercept us in two minutes."
"Ohhhh boy, ohhhh boy." Neelix said nervously as he began to tap his right foot nervously on the floor.
"Neelix!" Ben snapped. Using two fingers, he pointed to the vacant command chair beside him. Closing his mouth, the Talaxian obediently sat down beside the Captain."
"Nine small vessels have just dropped out of warp." Odo spoke up. "The lead ship is hailing us."
"Onscreen." Chakotay said. The image that showed up on the main viewer shocked the whole bridge crew. The alien being that now stared at them was wearing all black military styled uniform and had a white mask on it's face, with what appeared to be a large birds beak in the middle of it.
"Alien vessel, I am Strigidae, Captain First Class of the Krowtonan Guard." the alien said, hostility evident in his voice. "You have committed a serious infraction by crossing the borders of our territory. By the authority given to me by the Senate of the Krowtonan homeworld, you will be destroyed."
"Ohhhhhh boy... ohhhh boy..." Neelix started saying again, as Ben gave him a sideways glance, instantly making him be quiet.
"I am Captain Benjamin Sisko of the United Federation of Planets." Ben started, only for the Krowtonan captain to hit his hand hard on the console.
"The Federation!?" Strigidae yelled out. "This is your second infraction! How many times will you cross our borders and violate our space with your presence?" before Ben could answer, he cut communications.
"Can we ever just meet some nice and wholesome alien species?" Tom muttered to himself, even though the rest of the Bridge crew seemed to nod in agreement.
"Did you hear what he said?" Chakotay asked as he turned to Ben. "There's another Federation ship out there somewhere."
"But how long ago has..."
"Ben, those ships are surrounding us." Dax cut him off.
"Come about." Ben commanded. "Full impulse."
As the ship started to swerve to the left, the lead ship moved to block them, even as two of them started to fire energy beams at their warp drive. Keeping himself level, as the ship started to violently rock, Tom typed into his console.
"Captain, those energy beams are draining power from our warp core." Tom reported as he looked back at him. "I can't get us out of here."
'Torres to the Bridge.' they heard B'Elanna's voice over the comline. 'What the hell is going on up there?'
"Standby Chief." Ben replied as he looked back at Odo. "Constable, disable those two ships and Tom when we're clear, full reverse. Get us the hell out of here."
Before Odo could get a clear shot all of the ships started to zip around the Ares at incredible speeds. As they did so, they emitted large strings of energy that formed together and created a form of energy webbing or a crows nest that surrounded the ship on all sides.
"They're still draining the ships energy supply." Dax reported.
'I've had about enough.' Ben thought to himself. "Target the nearest ship." the Captain ordered. "Fire!"
Typing into his console, Odo shot out a few blasts from the phasers, but they only bounced off the webbing and dissipated into the energy barrier.
"No damage." Odo reported.
"Load the torpedo launchers, fire when ready." Ben said, trying to change tactics.
The torpedoes shot out into space and merely lit up the web, even as the Ares started to shake as the Krowtonan Guard started firing at them.
"Get us out of here." Chakotay ordered as consoles and plasma transfer conduits started to explode behind him. "Engineering, give us full power to the engines."
'The warp drive isn't responding.' B'Elanna reported.
"Apply ablative hull armor!" Ben yelled.
"The ablative armor generators aren't responding." Dax told him. "It's because of the energy barrier. We've also lost power on decks C, D and E."
Quickly standing to his feet, Chakotay ran to Odo's console. Excusing himself, he quickly typed into the Changeling's console and fired off a continuous full powered blast of phaser fire that hit the top of the webbing, where it seemed less formed. After a few seconds the web destabilized and disappeared.
"Mr. Paris, get us the hell out of here!" Ben roared. "Maximum warp!"
"All I can give you is warp four!" Tom replied over the sound of venting plasma.
"I'll take it." Ben said as the ship hit warp, leaving the smaller vessels behind.
"There's no sign of pursuit." Dax reported as she let out a breath, she didn't know she was holding. Luckily they didn't fly that far into the solar system.
"Department heads meet me in my Ready room." Ben ordered as he slapped at his combadge.
Ready Room
"How did you know how to disrupt that field?" Dax asked of Chakotay, as she, Ben, Seven, Tom, B'Elanna, Kira, Neelix, and Odo sat around the main table.
"Believe it or not but the Maquis encountered something similar to it when we were in the Alpha Quadrant." Chakotay answered. "I'm just glad the same trick worked twice."
"Perhaps you should show me a few of your... Maquis tricks?" Odo suggested, as Chakotay nodded at him.
"I'm sure you took extensive scans of the region, old man." Ben stated, as he looked to his science officer.
"Yes, I did." Dax replied with a sigh, as she stood up and walked towards the overhead computer console. Typing in some commands, a simulation of the nearby solar system appeared on screen. "Seven and I have been going over this for awhile. According to our data if we don't go through Krowtonan space, at a minimal it would take at least five and a half years to go around them."
"Why would it take so long outside of their space?" Kira asked.
"Basically, if we go through their solar system it should be smooth sailing and it'll only take about six weeks to go through." Dax started to explain. "But if we tried going around it, we'd have to deal with sub-space field clusters, random anomalies, and a massive asteroid field we'd have to navigate through."
"So basically we're damned if we do, damned if we don't?" Ben asked, as he closed his eyes to think for a moment. "We have a long road ahead of us, but I made a vow to this crew to do whatever it took to get us home a lot sooner than seventy five years. Normally in a situation like this I would suggest that we change course and find another route to take, but there's another Federation ship out there somewhere..."
"How can we be sure that the Krowtonan Guard didn't destroy that ship?" B'Elanna asked, as everyone looked at her. Not letting on that she was feeling the weight of their stares, she quickly continued. "I mean this is the most advanced Starfleet ship we've ever seen and we had to retreat. How do we know the other ship made it through?"
"We don't." Ben told her honestly. "But what if they did make it? What do you think our chances of getting home would be with two ships?"
"If the ship is not heavily damaged and has a functional warp drive capable of warp nine and enough crew members then..." Seven stopped to calculate all the possibilities and outcomes. "It would increase our chances of survival and of getting home by twenty six percent."
Sending a glare towards the other woman, B'Elanna suddenly thought to herself. 'Show off.'
"That was a rhetorical question but it proves my point." Ben replied with a smile. "Chakotay and Odo I'd like for you two to analyze the battle data from our fight with the Krowtonan Guard and come up with a counter measure to their attacks."
"Yes, sir." Chakotay replied as Odo nodded his agreement.
"Mr. Neelix, I would like for you to get with Seven, Kes, and Dax." Ben said as he turned to the ships guide. "Give them all the information they need on what planets have food and dilithium on them. Even though our ship isn't in need of resupply for another three years there's no telling when the next time we'll be able to make a stop and I want our food, mineral, and supply stores filled to the brim."
"Yes, Captain." Neelix told him, happy that he could be helpful.
"Good. Major how is the MACO team coming along?" Ben asked as he looked towards Kira.
"I already have two trouble makers." she replied as she looked to Chakotay. Without her even saying their names he already knew who she was talking about. "But I'll whip them into shape."
"Make sure it's done soon." Ben said as he sat back in his chair. "I have a feeling we're going to need them. B'Elanna how much damage was done to the ship and how long will it take to be fixed?"
"Besides the massive power drain, a little damage to the outer hull, and a few damaged relays, I should have everything as good as new in a couple of days." B'Elanna told him. "This is a tough little ship."
"I'm glad I have your approval." Ben told her with a lopsided grin. "Get with Mr. O'Brien and have him to help you. I've also read your reports about the Doctor. I don't know what problems you and Seven are having but I need Doctor Erin fixed on the double."
"Yes, sir." B'Elanna said as she gave Seven a quick, but hard glance.
"Mr. Paris, Seven tells me that you wanted to start a movie night?" the Captain asked, startling the pilot. Honestly he came to this meeting because he was Chief Helmsman, but didn't think that Ben would ask him any questions.
"Ummm... yes sir." Tom replied as he sat up straighter in his chair.
"Well get on it." Ben said with a raised eyebrow. "After all this crew has seen we need the entertainment."
"If it's entertainment you need, maybe I can help." Neelix spoke up. "I've been checking the computers database on recreational and relaxing programs for use on the holodeck."
"The both of you can work on it together then." Ben replied as he looked around at the group. "We'll reconvene in a week but no later. If that's all... dismissed."
As everyone started to leave the room, Chakotay cleared his throat. "Ensign Sisko, may I have a word with you?"
Hearing Seven's name, Tom stopped in his tracks until Ben put a firm hand on his shoulder and pushed him lightly out of the room. Hearing the soft swish of the doors closing behind her, Seven placed her hands behind her back and looked over at the older man.
"You wished to speak with me, Commander?" Seven asked professionally.
"At ease." Chakotay simply said, as he indicated that he wanted them to sit down. "I ummm... I wanted to make several overdue apologies."
"You have not harmed me." Seven stated.
"No... no.. no... I... I wanted to apologize for... how I left." Chakotay started. "It's just that when I found out my father died, I was so angry and hurt because I never got a chance to patch things up with him and to tell him I loved him. I felt that I had to honor him by taking up his cause and making the Cardassians pay for what they had done. What I didn't mean to do however was hurt you in the process. I couldn't sleep well last night so I took a walk around the ship and I bumped into your father. We... we started talking and he told me how badly my leaving had effected you. I'm not asking for a second chance, especially considering how wide our age gap is now, but I at least wanted us to try to rebuild a friendship."
As Chakotay spoke, Seven thought back to that day on Mars and the hurt she felt at that moment came back to her and made her shiver. But then in that same moment, she thought about something that made a cold chill run down her spine. What if she had of lost Ben instead on that moon they had crashed on. The Borg had no use for revenge but she was human and she knew that it would have broken her spirit if she had to tell her little brother that their father was dead. Giving Chakotay another look a lingering thought popped into her head. 'What if.'
"I'd like that." Seven finally replied, giving him the benefit of a doubt.
"Good." Chakotay replied with a warm smile, as the both of them stood to leave. "Oh and umm, I know that you're dating Tom." he said and stopped himself from what he was about to say. "Tell him... tell him I'll take him up on his offer and the three of us can have dinner soon. I'm not much of a cook, but I can replicate a hell of a vegetable stew."
"I remember how... well you can cook." Seven replied with a smile as she headed towards the door, her back to him. "Me and Tom aren't dating... not yet, but I'll let him know what you said."
And with that Seven walked out of the room, making Chakotay breathe a sigh of relief. At least he had cleared the air and hopefully both of them could move past this and start anew.
Mess Hall
"By... by the Prophets." Seska gasped out as she and Valerie stumbled into the Mess hall and sat down. Sweat pouring off both of their brows. "That damn Vulcan tried to kill us."
They had run halfway across the ship and she was already out of breath. When the Krowtonan Guard had attacked they had a small break, until after Tuvok had found out what was going on. As soon as the attack ended and they were clear of danger, they had to run through the ship again from the beginning.
"Tell me about it." Valerie replied as she rubbed at her sore legs. Seeing a crewman at the counter, she suddenly waved over at him. "Hey give us a bottle of Andorian Brandy. None of the replicated stuff, because we've had a bad day."
As the crewman brought the bottle and a couple of glasses over, Seska and Valerie made a toast and started to down the strong beverage. After a few glasses and her mind going numb, Valerie looked over at Seska and violated one of her most sacred oafs as a Starfleet officer. She told the standing order that she had received from her superior officer.
"Hey Seska." Valerie said as her speech became impaired. "Major Kira told me to watch you."
Equinox
Ready Room
Captain Rudolph Ransom, stood at the view port of his ship and silently watched as the stars zoomed past. Even though it was three weeks ago since he had passed, partially through Krowtonan space, almost half of his crew was dead because of their attack. What made it worse was the fact that they couldn't even traverse all the way through their space. Half way through it, they had fallen for a booby trap of sub-space mines that had nearly destroyed his ship.
It seemed that the Guard had already put counter measures up, in case a ship had gotten past their border patrol. They had no choice but to adjust their heading and get out of Krowtonan space. If only they could have stayed in their space until the end, he could halfway justify getting those thirty nine people killed. Checking the ships readouts, he had found that at least they had cleared the large asteroid field outside of their space and had shaved three years off of their journey home.
'But was it worth it?' he questioned himself.
Not only because all of those people died but because of the people who were still living. His ship was severely damaged and the crew had not eaten in days. Things were falling apart so badly that he had wanted to find a nice M-Class planet and make a colony there, but then he remembered something important. He had promised on the dead souls of his crew members that had died, that he would get the others home. If anything he was going to keep fighting so that at least he could fulfill that promise.
Luckily for them however, long range sensors detected an M-Class planet about another day's journey from where they were now. If anything maybe those people would be welcoming and give them food and much needed medical supplies.
Suddenly his combadge chirped, making him snap out of his thoughts. "I thought I said I didn't want to be disturbed?"
'I'm sorry, Captain.' Lieutenant Burke, his new First Officer said over the comline. 'But we're being hailed by an alien vessel. The main viewer is still damaged so we're getting audio only. They are known as the Vidiians and they are asking if we need assistance.'
"I'm on my way." Ransom replied, as he massaged the back of his neck and walked out onto the Bridge.