The day which followed had been quiet, so Tw'eak had decided that she and Spera should take a tour Earth Spacedock as part of a group. While most of them had been tourists from various Federation worlds, several had been very impressed to see Tw'eak, and were surprised to see her there, until she explained - this was more for Spera's benefit than for her own. Still, she had learned a few things about the environmental systems and spacedock control system just by listening in to the guide's remarks. It was the discussion of redundant damage control mechanisms which had made her start thinking to herself about the future from which Spera had come. All of this would be slagged duranium floating in the void of space, clashing against the asteroidal remains of planet Earth, formerly the heart of the Federation and centre of Starfleet operations. Tw'eak found herself wondering what would come next. Without a Starfleet left to belong to, she and whoever else survived along with her would make their way to... where? Spera had suggested the Delta Quadrant, but Tw'eak found that unlikely. How was she supposed to get there - would the Caretaker array suddenly come back online and whisk them off to the far side of the galaxy, as had happened to USS Voyager? And what would Tw'eak and her crew do without a home to return to, besides survive?
Something Corbin had said resonated with her as well - the idea of planets as liabilities. Despite being massive rocky spheres of resources, the cradle of nearly every spaceborne civilization, a planet was, to a group like the Iconians, little more than a target moving in a predictable flight path around a star. The Undine planet-killers would appear soon enough to consume them - living doomsday-machines bearing down on every world of any import within the Federation and beyond - starting with Qo'noS, the Klingon homeworld. Throughout the tour, Tw'eak found herself wondering how much of the bleak, hopeless timeline Spera had described would become hers as well - and how much, if any of it, she could hope to change.
There was also the question of her relationship with Leo. She had been so certain that she had wanted to be with him... right up until Spera showed up. Perhaps it was him - perhaps it was the way her future self had described him - or perhaps it was the foreknowledge of being aware of the impending end of the universe as she knew it, but Tw'eak found herself worried that perhaps what she had truly wanted wasn't so much to be with Leo, as to just be with someone - and that the someone she had been with had simply been available rather than compatible. But again, she found her emotions impossible to trust, and she realized after a moment that Spera was calling to her.
"Shreya," she said softly.
Tw'eak looked up. "Yes. Sorry."
"The tour's moving on."
"Right."
"That's the second time you've done that. Is something wrong?"
"No," Tw'eak replied, adding, "not yet, anyway."
"You're worried about the war."
"Is it that obvious?"
Spera smiled. She pointed to Tw'eak's antennae. "I know what those are saying."
Tw'eak realized that her antennae were pointed forward, angled towards each other, a sure expression of anxiety. "Usually I keep a closer eye on them."
"How, with a mirror?"
"It's just an expression."
Spera raised a hand. "I know, I know."
Tw'eak looked back over her shoulder. "Pal?"
"Yes, Admiral?" At her side appeared the familiar form of her Jem'Hadar bodyguard.
"I'd have thought you would've gone back to the ship by now."
"No. I have accompanied you since this morning. If I may ask you to avoid such open spaces again - I would not have been able to insure your safety had you been ambushed at the shuttle."
"But we were fine. Never mind that - Where were you last night when we had Section 31 for company?"
"Outside your door. It was a tactical error on my part. However, I was shrouded. Several Starfleet Security personnel attempted to interfere with my duty, but fortunately for them, I was able to prove my identity to them."
"Fortunately for them, you mean?" Tw'eak said with a hint of a smile.
"Yes," Pal answered proudly. "I felt that your privacy was of greater value to you than your security. It is... not my way to accord privacy to others, but I also felt it may have been inappropriate for me to stand guard too closely."
Tw'eak nodded. "I'd probably sleep better without having you right in the same room. But I appreciate your being there - and your honesty. Please don't think I'm blaming you - if Corbin wants to contact me, I'm sure he'll find a way, with or without you in the room."
Pal nodded, then looked up sharply. "Someone is approaching." He resumed his shroud, and Tw'eak turned with Spera at her side to see a diminutive Vulcan approaching.
"Greetings, Admiral," came a familiar, female voice.
"Hello, T'uni. It's been a while."
T'uni approached Tw'eak and Spera, bowed slightly, and placed her hands behind her back. Tw'eak could clearly see the rank of captain on her uniform tunic. "It is agreeable to see you as well. I have heard much of your exploits since my transfer to Starfleet Intelligence. I regret that I was unavailable to be of further support to you."
"Oh, it's okay - I've got lots of friends looking after me." Tw'eak turned to Spera. "This is... well, I'm sure you've read the dossier on Spera by now and don't need me to explain it."
"Indeed." T'uni nodded slightly to Spera. "Welcome to Earth Spacedock."
"Thanks. It's good to see you again."
T'uni raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes. Fascinating. Apparently I survive the coming onslaught."
Spera smiled at T'uni. "Yes, you certainly do. You run the education program. You're the superintendent of the school ships."
"Indeed."
"Shreya always told me to stay out of your office." Spera looked from T'uni to Tw'eak. "I did, of course."
"Were you looking for me?" Tw'eak asked T'uni.
"In a manner of speaking. I had hoped to discuss a matter with you of some importance."
Tw'eak thought of Corbin. "The starship Leibniz, I take it."
For a brief moment, T'uni looked genuinely surprised. "The- Curious. That starship is a classified matter which is entirely separate from my intention. I am curious as to how you learned of it."
"My regular visitor from Section 31 dropped by the other night, told me not to take any assignments associated with it."
"That is all the more peculiar, as the matter is being dealt with by Starfleet Intelligence presently. I am curious as to Section 31's interest."
"I would be too, in your position. I wish I could tell you more - it's not like Section 31 to show up and tell you what not to do for them."
"Indeed. I am concerned by their continued interference with our operations. They have anticipated our intentions once too often. Nevertheless, I have sought you out on a separate area of concern."
"That being?"
"As I mentioned earlier, I have reviewed all available information and materials related to the Undine, as well as the impending arrival of the Iconians."
"That couldn't have taken long."
"My clearance level permits me a greater sphere of access to information than you presently enjoy - even at your current rank of Rear Admiral."
"I see."
"It is for this reason that I would like to offer a proposal."
"What kind of proposal?"
"The kind that is not to be discussed here."
"I see," Tw'eak repeated. "Where, then?"
"I have been informed that you are in possession of a shuttle. Is this correct?"
Tw'eak shot a look over her shoulder, to where Pal had been, before looking back to T'uni. "Yes, but getting there constitutes a security risk."
T'uni inclined her head slightly, then followed where Tw'eak's eyes had gone. "Your Jem'Hadar crew member?"
"How did you know?"
"He is standing over there." T'uni looked to Tw'eak's other side.
"Really?"
"Yep," Spera confirmed. She tapped the temple of her forehead. "Can't fool us."
"It's all right, Pal - come on out."
Pal stepped from out of the shroud, miffed. "Area is secure, Admiral."
Tw'eak turned to T'uni. "He's very good at this."
"Indeed."
"Are we just having a conversation aboard the shuttle, then?"
"No. I would require flight control."
"Oh. That may be a problem. If you think this guy's bad, you should meet my pilot. Where are we going?"
T'uni arched an eyebrow and looked off into the distance of the corridor.
"One of those flights. Right." Tw'eak turned to Spera. "Well, can we have an hour or so to finish up our tour?"
"Very well. I will meet you at the shuttlebay at... seventeen-hundred hours."
"Hmm, better make it seventeen-thirty. We haven't had lunch yet."
"Very well. Please be prompt." T'uni gave a brief salute, then left.
Tw'eak turned to Spera. "Maybe we'd best catch another tour."
"Oh." Spera looked slightly disappointed.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's all right... duty calls. I know how it is."
Tw'eak looked at Spera, then down the corridor. "Come on."
"Where?"
"We'd better catch up with them."
"No, like you said - another tour."
"Spera, if I've learned anything from you being around, it's that there may never be another chance to do these things. T'uni can wait." Tw'eak looked back. "C'mon, Pal." She broke into a run, and called out, "Computer, indicate direction to tour group."
The Jem'Hadar stepped back into invisibility, following the two of them as they raced along a lighted path on the floor, on their way to catch their tour group.
The tour completed, Tw'eak and Spera returned to their guest quarters for a quick lunch. The time was seventeen-ten, and Tw'eak could hear Spera's stomach making noises. "You must be hungry," she noted.
"I didn't want to say anything, but I could've really used a quick drink or something."
"Why not?"
"The time."
Tw'eak stopped at the door of the quarters. "Look at me." Spera came up to Tw'eak and looked into her eyes. Tw'eak put her hands around Spera's shoulders. "I know where you - when you come from, there's some other version of me that's all urgent business, all the time. That's not me - at least, not yet. If it is, well... it's only because it has to be, for the moment, crisis, whatever. There will always be time in my life for you."
"I know." Spera closed her eyes and lowered her head slightly, her antennae inclining forward slowly. "Shreya used to tell me that, too. Even though there usually wasn't time, she'd say it anyway. We used to argue about it a lot. She had her priorities, and we all depended on her. But I depended on her for me."
"I understand that. It's strange, you know... knowing that when you arrive, I become so much like my own shreya, caught up in my work instead of where I'm needed. I guess I'd always hoped I'd do a better job than she did."
"Yeah. Sorry, it's just..." Spera looked up at Tw'eak. "I've heard this all before."
Tw'eak felt a pang of sympathy for this young girl, this daughter of hers. "I don't know what to say. I've already messed this up in the future, I guess."
"No, no. Today was a lot of fun. It was kind of nice to be in a place like this without worrying about stripping wall conduits for parts, or being ambushed at any moment, or anything like I'm used to. I was trying to seem as calm as I could, but a lot of those places really freaked me out."
"I can understand. You've got a better situational awareness than most people your age. I guess you've had to develop that, haven't you?"
"Yeah. It's kept me alive." Spera glanced over at Tw'eak. "Thanks, by the way."
"For what?"
"For not leaving the tour. When T'uni showed up, I mean."
"Oh. No big deal."
"Maybe not to you." Spera gave Tw'eak a hug.
As they went inside, the quarters lights were down. Tw'eak sensed the interior of the room to be empty, save for a sleeping form on the couch. "Computer, lights, half." Leo was there, his breath softly rising and falling. Tw'eak looked back to Spera, who silently giggled. They both stepped back out the door.
"How is he still asleep?" Spera asked once the door had closed.
"Must have had a rough night."
"But we got way less sleep than he did, and-"
Tw'eak raised a hand. "I know. Just go with it." She was reminded of her future self's remarks about Leo's problems with alcohol, and she sighed quietly to herself as she took Spera down the corridor. "Come on, there's a replimat on the way to the shuttlebay. We can get something quick."
When Tw'eak and Spera reached the shuttlebay, they found T'uni patiently arguing with a very agitated Lieutenant Aewon.
"But this shuttle is my responsibility-"
"I have already cleared access with the Admiral-"
"I'm going to need to speak to - Admiral, you're here. This is a Captain T'uni from Starfleet Intelligence, and-"
"It's all right, Lieutenant." Tw'eak nodded. "She's an old friend."
"But I'm already overdue to return to the Warspite."
"I'll contact Octavia on our way out. We can arrange transport for you along the way if you'd like."
"But it's just-" Aewon took a deep breath. "All right, you're the admiral."
"How was lunch?"
"Good, it's just - may I speak freely, Admiral?"
"Sure."
"I'm overdue for my injection. If I'm not careful I'll start emitting pheromones." The Deltan looked around nervously. "You know what kind of effect that can have."
"I understand completely. You're relieved, on my authority. We'll take good care of the shuttle. You beam back to the Warspite and take care of yourself. Priority one, Lieutenant."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am." Aewon made his way up the ramp down which Tw'eak and Spera had just come.
"He is formidably loyal," T'uni said.
"Speaking of which - I won't have such an easy time relieving a Jem'Hadar of duty."
"So I imagined, which was why I took the liberty of granting him clearance. He may come with us."
"Can you tell me where we're going yet?"
"No. I must say, it is fortunate that this shuttle has a cloaking device."
Tw'eak looked back to Spera. "That was your idea for upgrades," came the reply from the younger of the two. "Wouldn't have gotten to the wormhole without it."
Aboard the shuttle, Tw'eak settled in as T'uni took the controls. Within moments, they had taken off, and were well on their way out of spacedock before Tw'eak noted the speed control reading. "You're at full impulse."
"Indeed."
"But regulations-"
"We will never make it through that door otherwise."
Tw'eak looked up to see the massive spacedock doors closing fast, a Vesta-class starship having just cleared its pathway heading out. "T'uni-!"
"One moment, please." T'uni tapped the flight controls and set the shuttle to align its horizontal direction with the edge of the door, tilting up onto its side. Angled thus, the cloaking device engaged, the shuttle burst through the closing doors just moments before they would have closed shut. Sensing the danger of something passing between them, the doors then broadcast an alarm and commenced opening again. "We are clear of Earth Spacedock."
"You know, we could've gone out through a shuttle port like normal people."
"Indeed," T'uni said, looking back with a shadow of a smile across her face.
In orbit of Mars, the constellation of shipyards, space stations and supply depots known collectively as Utopia Planitia stretched out far above the red planet's surface. From just beyond its confines, the shuttlecraft Hypatia approached, still at full impulse.
"Mars traffic control, this is shuttlecraft Hypatia, clearance code Omega nine-five-alpha."
"Shuttle Hypatia, you are cleared for approach to Station Phoenix," the orbital traffic control said over the communicator.
"Hypatia responding, approach vector set." T'uni tapped in a few course corrections, and the shuttle's nose obediently pointed off into space. "Thank you, control."
The shuttle continued along for a few moments. Tw'eak looked forward in the cabin. "Uh, T'uni? Where are we going?"
"I believe you will see momentarily."
"No, I mean - there's... there's nothing out there. Except, I don't know, asteroids? Jupiter Station, maybe?"
T'uni looked back. "One moment, please."
After a few seconds, a crackling noise could be heard over the hull. Tw'eak and Spera were both on their feet within an instant, expecting the worst. The forward window coruscated with a blue energy field, but T'uni seemed unfazed.
"Something's wrong," Spera said softly.
"Nothing is wrong," T'uni corrected. "We are passing through a directed holo-field."
"Look!" Tw'eak pointed to where the energy field had cleared enough to reveal the shape of a spacedock with three bays, each of different sizes. Two ships were vaguely familiar shapes - one had the look of a science vessel while the other bore the sleek lines of an escort. The third, at the centre, was unknown to her - it looked Tholian at first glance, then took on contours of a Federation vessel at closer examination - the lifepods, the windows, the hull registries were unmistakably Starfleet. All the ships shared a common design - faceted hull sections, angular contours mixed with curvy ones, lengthy edges and details both similar to and distinct from present-day designs. "What is this?"
"Intelligence has appropriated a concealed shipyard in order to finalize prototype designs of a stealthier sort. The shapes of these vessels are intended to reduce their energy signature and overall sensor return, using methods originally developed by the Hirogen. This allows them to avoid detection while maintaining their overall purpose and mission." T'uni indicated the science vessel. "The Scryer class, the Eclipse class, and this one here... which I believe will be of greatest interest to you, Admiral..."
The shuttle turned directly towards the escort, and as it passed overhead, Tw'eak was reminded of the ushaan blade. She looked over at Spera, who was craning her neck in an attempt to look over the shuttle's nose at the vessel below, her antennae mere millimetres from scraping the forward ceiling.
"This is the USS Silhouette, a Phantom-class intelligence escort." T'uni tapped in a few commands and the shuttle seemed to settle over an octagonal section at the very back of the vessel, turning to align its forward heading with that of the ship. "It is one of several ships who will be tasked with intelligence gathering and other duties intended to forestall the Iconian invasion. It will also serve as your new flagship."
"My new-?"
"Indeed." T'uni got up and looked Tw'eak directly in the eye. "I have orders here from Admiral Quinn." She produced a padd, seemingly out of nowhere. "They authorize you to be seconded to Starfleet Intelligence after your promotion has been finalized."
"Promotion-?"
"Your mission will be to co-ordinate all intelligence and advise Starfleet on best practices against the Iconians. In this regard, given Spera's presence, Starfleet could find no one better suited to the task. I should observe that Starfleet has created a similar task force, known as the Undine Counter-Command, whose duties extend into fluidic space and dealing with the threat posed by Species 8472. Co-ordination with that task force will be essential in order to avoid duplication of effort."
Tw'eak watched the astral horizon disappear as the shuttle sank into a bay nestled dorsally aft. "A lot's happening all at once here... I'm speechless."
"Congratulations, Shreya!" From behind, Spera ran her hands around Tw'eak.
"And to you as well," T'uni said to Spera. "Your participation will be essential to the vice-admiral's new mission. With that in mind, Starfleet Intelligence has requested that you be designated a permanent consultant to the vice admiral, at the provisional rank of Commander."
Tw'eak ran a hand along the edge of her jawline, and watched as Spera turned towards her, her face lit up like it was Christmas morning. "So much for that trip to Andoria," she said to Spera after a moment. "We have work to do."
