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And always big appreciation holler to Abibliophobia!

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CHAPTER FORTY NINE

"You can't be serious!"

"What do you suggest we do Cartwright? Destroy the entire planet ourselves to keep the enemy from getting their hands on it?" Sneered Admiral Halgrim from his spot at the rain splattered window, staring coldly into his empty Styrofoam cup.

Cartwright had continued on as if he hadn't heard Halgrim. "Even with the loss of outside contact, we still have more than enough munitions at our disposal to use in this emergency. We're temporarily crippled, but we are far from being obliterated."

His dark glare skimmed over the faces of other senior officer's that filled the room before letting it rest on Nogura at the end of the table, the defiance just barely kept under the surface.

Silently observing his staff while nursing a headache that felt that it ran all the way down to his toenails, Nogura had kept his half closed eyes fixed on the young officer that sat to his left. The man he expected at some point and time, in the near future, would be taking his place. It was merely his choice for the most part, when he felt he was ready for it. The only other man, whom Nogura would've even considered the job to be offered to, wouldn't have taken it if everyone within the room had gotten on their knees to ask.

Captain William Smillie was here, both on the planet and attending this meeting by sheer chance. His ship, the 'U.S.S. Valor' had returned to McKinley station for an overdue refurbishment a week earlier, allowing his crew a much needed and appreciated shoreleave. Smillie himself had chosen to remain at Headquarters, with a different agenda other than rest and recreation on his mind.

The idea of someday being in charge of all of this organized chaos, was one of the farthest things from his mind for the most part. He was more than merely contended with his lot in life at that moment and wasn't seeing any further into his own future other than what would be his destiny when he awoke the next morning. However, he was also wise enough to take every opportunity to observe the workings of those above him in rank. One never knew when such an observation education would be useful later in ones career.

Nogura was aware of this in the young Captain, as well as the lack of greed for control or that crack of near religious fanaticism that could spread quickly the more power one gained. What he did have was a skill, intelligence and the personality that made him a man that was trustworthy in everything asked of him. More importantly it also gained him the loyalty of practically any that crossed his path. Something that he held in common with he only other man that Nogura would ever consider for his replacement.

At that thought, the Admiral sighed out of sheer exhaustion as he flicked his gaze over to the still frothing Cartwright, then back over at Smillie.

The Captain's own stare was half closed as he let his eyes move around the counsel room but always returning to Cartwright. At those times a nerve would move enough along an eyelid that hinted at the Smillie's thoughts on the man and his reaction. In reality it said nothing, but it also reflected a great deal specifically to a man like Nogura.

"I appreciate your...bolstering attitude Cartwright." Shifting forward in his chair, Nogura tried to keep his irritation reined in. "However, I remind all of you, we are sitting here with literally no information of whom we are up against, where their base is located, let alone the sophistication of their weapons. We have nowhere to focus our attention on if we did agree on taking action."

"I agree with Admiral Nogura's decision." Looking down the table toward the C and C, vice Admiral Lynne smiled faintly. "There is nothing we can do until we are able to pull together enough data from our own records to gain some ground on this new antagonist. We simply can't go around the planet attacking 'hotspots' of known criminal activity in hopes that someone will volunteer information on either the plot or the people behind it. That choice would possibly get more innocent individuals killed here, as well as risking the lives of any one who is onboard one of our ships or stationed on a base under our authority. That's too high of a risk to take in my opinion."

"How can you be so sure it isn't an enemy that we don't already know." Grunted Commodore Probert, slipping a skeptical glance tward Lynne before meeting the patient but serious expression of Admiral Nogura. "If the data that we do have is correct and this Commander Talmon is working for the Orion's in some capacity then there is a high probability that certain groups or even governments that we have dealt with in the past as well as present could be behind this."

"You're referring to whom Commodore? The Klingon's or the Romulan's? Or both?" Sitting opposite of Lynne, Admiral Morrow gazed at Probert with half concealed contempt. "Accusations and paranoia isn't what we need at this crucial time. Let's just face the fact, that right now we should consider ourselves damn lucky that we were notified of our situation instead of being simply eradicated by this madman and instead of aruging who 'is' behind it, pull together what we do know and see if we can come up with a solution to regain control of what we can."

"Explain how we accomplish that when our own people are incapable of tracking down the original security crack that Talmon used to get into the systems." Snarled Cartwright, both hands clenching the table edge as if trying to keep himself from jumping over it and attacking the seemingly impassive Morrow.

"Please,..." Nogura spoke quietly but with a strength that brough the nearly erupting situation to a silent standstill. "People, at this popint we are hardly benefiting our own crisis and no doubt assisting the plans of enemies, whom ever they maybe if we destroy ourselves from within before they do put their full plan into operation. It maybe what they are waiting for as we speak. They seem to know us and our inner workings better than we do ourselves."

A quiet discontented murmur started and died at the opposite end of the table as Cartwright reluctantly slumped down in his cahir. He emphasized his discontent on the subject by fixing his dark narrowed gaze on the C and C who seem to purposely overlook it. With an inaudible grunt he momentarily shifted his attention to the Admiral's new pup, when a whisper of a flinch swept over his face when he found a contemplative Smillie watching him. After a second of returning the Captain's steady stare, he abruptly scanned the table once more before focusing on the man at the head of the table.

"I suggest, even with our temporary limitations that we attempt to traverse every avenue that we can find since by all appearance we only have our skills, intelligence and each other to rely on. We have a short amount of time until the next message is to arrive and we should use it to our best abilities. There has to be a way to discover the exact spot that Talmon infiltrated our security systems and shut down our communications. If we manage to gain some knowledge we may find it useful before we decide upon any actions of attack." Hesitating Nogura briefly glanced out of the corner of his eye toward the windows in a second of private meditation then instantly addressed the people gathered in front of him. "Care is most important as of now. Care in the idea of keeping the enemy unaware that we are attempting to impede their tactics. They have implied that they are also in control of ships and star bases. A heavy liability if we're caught in the troop. Secondly, it's also come to my attention that these 'terrorists' have their base located here on earth. We're tempting the fat of everyone on this planet as well as our own if we do try anything. Hence my hesitation in trying anything immediately. We do have more here to consider our own positions and place in the universe."

Again a ripple of contention wafted up from the other end of the table but dissipated in the same heartbeat, followed by the soft squeak's of people moving in their leather chairs. The last words had made their mark even if a few were still disgruntled by the valid explanation.

Nogura continued when nap one, specifically Cartwright, made no further response. "I have spoken with the President and he has acknowledge that whatever we decide upon as our action, that he and what Council members present will be prepared to back us up. For the time being, unless a miracle does land in our laps, we are isolated from our own people and must do what we can before someone else does flinch."

"You mentioned that you were aware that the enemies base is locate right here on Earth." Probert's chair tilted back as he watched the C and C through narrowed eyes. "How are you aware of this, Nogura? And is there a chance that this 'source' of yours might offer more information or assistance?"

Nogura regarded the Commodore with an etched expression of an eternal long-suffering tolerance, that he then shared with Cartwright who shifted slightly under the look.

"At this very moment," As he spoke, Nogura closed his eyes trying not visualize the individual's that he was discussing. "I don't even know if that line is even operational any longer."

The small group of officers stared at the Rear Admiral speechless, as they were all aware of what was being meant and of whom, as they all had by now heard the rumors if not the actual reports of what had initiated this entire horrifying nightmare.

Sensing a lull as an advantage, Cartwright was on the verge of expressing an opinion on the matter when the rush of voices could be heard on the other side of council room door, before it snapped open allowing a handful of people to tumble into the room.

Two thirds of the officers stood up from the table at the confusion and the odd assortment that had besieged them as several security men plugged up the doorway with their mass and phaser's.

"Admiral! Before you do anything else give us a chance to explain this interruption." Untangling himself first, a familiar figure lunged for the table more for a brace to catch his breath than to keep from collapsing to the floor.

"Eyebrow shifting faintly, Nogura stared at the dilapidated man in front of him with a dubious shadow before he recognized him. "Doctor McCoy? Where are the..."

"McCoy? What's going on!" Demanded Cartwright instantly pouncing on a turning point in the tense moment.

Purposefully brushing passed Cartwright, McCoy moved toward the C and C, while Eugene shrugged violently out of Captain Talmon's grasp to follow the Doctor.

"There isn't a hellva lot of time Admiral to explain all the damn details about this but I can say that if you give me a minute to talk with you, we might be able to put a kink in one man's tail." hand resting on the back of Smillie's chair, McCoy kept his blue star fixed on Nougat's introspective face.

More intrigued with the Doctor rather than what was going through the Rear Admiral's mind, Smillie slipped up beside McCoy. "You think you've got a way to find the embedded security breach patch?"

Both McCoy and Nogura looked at Smillie, who showed no reaction totheir sudden attention and maintained his waiting face as he anticipated the Doctor's words.

"No." Was the honest reply that McCoy gave while giving the Captain a double take as he glanced back at the Admiral.

"Then what exactly was your asinine purpose of disrupting this meeting!" Growled Cartwright pushing his way up behind McCoy and Eugene. "We are in the middle of what could be the most crucial hours of Earth, Federation space, not to mention Star Fleet itself. your interruptions could only be more damaging that helpful Doctor."

Nose and eyebrow twitching in a slow boiling choler, McCoy managed to ignore the foaming Cartwright as he pointedly stared a Nogura. "Liberty found what maybe the key to discovering how Dalcrom has done all of this or at least the basic blueprint to it."

Sucking in a sharp breath as he studied McCoy's face, Nogura straightened his shoulders into a tight line then cast a quick gaze around the dumbfounded group. Coming back to Cartwright, his lips pursed then relax as he caught the sight of Smillie who was one of the few in the room who was far from bedeviled by this intrusion or news. Finally meeting the apprehensive blue eyes of the Doctor, he swiftly whirled on his heels moved around the table heading for the quickly clearing door as he quietly snapped.

"We need to talk, Doctor."

TBC