CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Entering the offices of the Earth Ambassador, Major Juxlin didn't bother to wait for the protesting secretary to notify anyone of her arrival as she charged straight into the Ambassador's office.

"Sir, it appears that our suspicion's were true, but late." She spoke as she approached the massive desk, ignoring the two other men in the office who stood as she drew closer.

Sitting behind the desk, the surprisingly young Ambassador Britt stared at Juxlin as if he wasn't completely surprised at the news, considering where she had just come from. His own faith in Star Fleet was not on the most solid of ground's at the moment with what information he had been receiving in the last eight hours.

"You do remember the President and Col. Halstrom, Major." He spoke in an unusually soft manner as he waved a hand towards the two men who had resumed their seats while Juxlin had blurted out her news.

Eyes widening a fraction, Juxlin shifted her gaze momentarily over to the pair of men and gave a slight nod of acknowledgement toward them. "Mr. President. Colonel Halstrom."

When Ambassador Britt had first asked her to look into the Finnegan/Dalcrom matter, she knew it had to be of some importance if he had taken the time to already know the key players. He had this inexplicable talent of sensing something larger lying behind a tiny insignificant bit of news when it crossed his path. Nevertheless, she hadn't considered it as serious as the Ambassador had, when first accepting the assignment only a few hours earlier. That was until she discovered that the Ambassador hadn't been the only one investigating the matter within the last hours, and more specifically whom had been the one doing the probing.

After her excursion to Star Fleet Headquarters, and witnessing a scene that Cartwright as well as Talmon would just as soon not anyone, especially a SSD member, had overheard. Then returning to Paris to find both the Federation Council President and the head of the SSD in the Earth Ambassadors office, was more than enough for her to realize that this heading straight for a high level crisis.

"I've brought both gentlemen up-to-date on our problem." Murmured Britt, sliding farther back into his own chair, his posture showing little anxiety while his facial expression had darkened considerably with trepidation. "I'm taking it by your brusque entrance, that Star Fleet has also been following the same lead as we have?"

"Yes, Mr. Ambassador. However, it appears that both Star Fleet and our own investigation are belated." Juxlin replied unsure of how to explain what information she had obtained. "It appears that Dalcrom has managed to slip one of their own agents into Star Fleet's ranks. A commander on the Headquarters base. Star Fleet believes he was secreted into the base to attempt to cripple it in some fashion."

"Who is this commander?" Halstrom immediately demanded jumping to his feet again.

"Is there a chance he may have come here under a joint assignment at some point?" Asked the President while sliding to the edge of the seat he occupied, his gaze fixed on the Ambassador.

Meeting the heedful stare of the President for a brief moment, Britt shifted his eyes back to the Major. "Do either you or Star Fleet have a clue as to what this commander had in mind for disabling the base?"

Mouth quirking into a small tight frown, Juxlin gave the Ambassador a thwarted look and started to reply when the intercom on the desk blared to life with a tone that verge on frantic.

Leaning forward, Britt slapped the switch in the first hint of frustration. "Ambassador Britt here."

"Lt. Colonel Ulman here, Ambassador. I need to speak with Colonel Halstrom."

The stunned hollowness could be heard by all in the room, as Halstrom moved to the desk to speak into the intercom.

"Halstrom here. What's the problem Ulman?"

"I'm afraid I can't give a solid answer to that Colonel." There was a pause on the other end as a muffled voice could be heard in the background speaking to Ulman for a moment before his own voice returned. "It appears Star Fleet Headquarters has shut down their entire output of communications. In the last minute and thirty-six seconds, there has been no messages or signals of any kind coming out of San Francisco."

All four within the office stared at one another in astoundment, as the president and Ambassador also rose to their feet. The Major glanced uneasily from the Colonel to the Ambassador and back again, while the President slowly started pacing the width of the office.

"Are any message's getting in?" As he spoke, Halstrom gazed up at Britt as he moved over to the President and started to quietly talking with the man.

"We don't know, sir." Again there was pause that stretched out for several unnerving seconds before Ulman's suddenly shaken voice came back. "I'm afraid sir, that we've also lost our entire communication systems to all outside ships, bases and worlds."

TBC