VIII

San Francisco, The Next Day

The Capitol of The Federation-indeed, the entire Alpha Quadrant-was on edge after the news of the destruction of the U.S.S Intrepid, and Ranger Ani Besho's ship near Fenris, along with the destruction of the Fenris ship Osprey. It had stunned virtually everyone, including Admiral Alynna Necheyav. She, unlike Sloan, didn't want a war over Fenris. She simply wanted to get Seven of Nine, and to get the benefits of winning a war without actually fighting one.

Yet the reports that were coming in from Admiral Shelby made her furious. From all accounts-and there was no one alive to refute what had happened-the Fenris defenders had fired on the the Federation ship without provocation. The data retrieved from other ships that had been somewhat close to Fenris, indicated that Captain Munshif had launched four probes-for what reason, no one knew, and then the two defending ships had fired on, and destroyed Intrepid.

The most confusing information coming from Shelby-and none of this had been made public yet, because no one knew what the hell had happened-is that Intrepid's shields had suddenly dropped moments before four torpedoes obliterated her.

Shelby, being as far away as she was, could not talk in real time with Necheyav, but had sent a subspace video transmission that Necheyav and her cabal had seen just a few hours ago. Shelby had indicated that nothing had preceded the destruction of the three ships, and, that for the moment, she was of the opinion that the Fenris forces had attacked without provocation. She would await further orders.

"It makes no sense", Admiral Selvur said, using a Vulcan's known sense of logic. "It serves no interest fore Fenris to open fire on a Federation ship. This disturbs me."

"Why?" Sloan looked at the man with an impassive face. "If there is going to be a war, better that they fire the first shot, isn't it?"

"I didn't want a war, Sloan", Necheyav reminded him, grinding the words out. "I wanted to put enough pressure that we capture Seven of Nine, and take her off the board. That way, we can continue forward with reforming The Federation. She is a threat as long as she's out there."

"Alynna", Sloan continued, using her first name, which, in front of her colleagues, grated her to no end, "you can't be so naive about such things. Sometimes the only way you can get what you want is to fight for it. This may have to be one of those times."

Admiral Weinrich shook her head. "I disagree, Mr. Sloan", she said emphatically. "And I agree with my esteemed colleague-something isn't quite right about this. I certainly didn't expect Fenris to initiate a conflict. They know they can't win."

"Unless they can get the Klingons involved", Admiral Adams offered, silencing the room.

Necheyav acknowledged that point. "Chancellor Worf has stated that he would only consider entering a war if we fired on Fenris first. From everything Shelby has told us, they fired on us."

"If I may", Captain T'revva spoke up, something she rarely did in these meetings.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Why would Captain Munshif fire four probes out just before the Fenris ships fired?"

The three Admirals present pondered that. Even with what they were trying to accomplish, they liked things to make sense. This didn't make sense.

Sloan kept his poker face on.

Q'onoS

Chancellor Worf was meeting with the High Council, which he called into session after the events above Fenris. Kurn had not yet left for Earth, so he was in on the meeting as well. As with the Starfleet Admirals, the events at Fenris didn't make sense.

Worf had his Foreign Minister, Grelk read the official report from the Klingon intelligence services. It was just as confusing to them as it was in San Francisco.

"From all accounts, Chancellor, it seems that the Fenris forces started the...battle. Although it was no battle. All three ships were destroyed at the same moment."

Another member of the Council, a female name Ashavo, spoke next. Worf had ended the out-dated tradition that only men were allowed to sit on the Council. It had met with less resistance than he had anticipated. Ashavo had served on more than one Klingon bird of prey.

She held a copy of the report in her hands. "I simply do not understand the use of probes." She looked up at all the other members. "What purpose does a probe serve at such close range?"

"None that I can see", Kurn added quickly. "I have held, as you know, every position on The Bridge of a Klingon ship, and I served in the exchange program on the Enterprise, and I can think of no circumstance that comes to mind, honorable members."

"Could it be used to draw the fire of the Fenris ships?" Gremlock had never served on a bird of prey, which was rare for a Klingon. He had grown up in a house famous for diplomats that served the Empire."

Worf had served at Ops and Tactical, both in Starfleet and during the Klingon Civil War with his brother Kurn. "A mere probe, Gremlock, would be easily detected by even a first-year cadet, in the service of just about any military", Worf explained. He paused for a moment, thinking deeply. "I can think of no valid reason to fire a probe from such a close distance. His sensors should have been able to identify everything the other ships were doing at the time."

As the Council debated, simply to try and get a clear picture of what had happened, Kurn was deep in thought. As a veteran of the Klingon military, and, as he had mentioned, someone who had served in just about every conceivable role on starships, he didn't understand this any better than the others.

For some reason, his mind wandered back to his days, shortly after the end of the Klingon Civil War, on the U.S.S , Enterprise. It had been a rare social visit for Kurn to see his brother again after he had returned to work on the Federation ship. It also gave him a chance to visit the Enterprise crew, whom had so impressed him when he had served for a month in the Klingon/Federation exchange program.

In the Conference Room on the Enterprise, Commander Kurn, Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Worf, and Lieutenant Commander Data were discussing diversionary tactics that could be used in battle.

"I was able to use use the deflector array, combined with a modified tachyon pulse to present a false image of another ship against one of the ships loyal to Duras. It had the effect of making that p'taq think for a few extra seconds as he approached, and I was able to fire first, and force him to retreat."

Commander Data's eyebrows went up. "Fascinating, Commander", the android said in his usual fashion. "Not long ago, with the Captain's permission, I worked on some 'war games' with Worf and Commander Riker, in which, in theory, we were able to do something similar, but by a far different method."

Kurn was drinking a Romulan Ale at the time. He hated the Romulans, but he thought their ale was the best in the Galaxy, illegal or not. "May I ask what this theory was, Commander?"

"Of course, sir", Data nodded. "We theorized that we had detected an enemy on long-range sensors, and had already concluded that we were outnumbered, and had no way to receive reinforcements. With this theory, Commander, we programmed a bank of six probes, that had been re-calibrated. We were able to verify on the holodeck that, calibrated correctly, the six probes, formed up in pairs of two, would put out a signature of three other Federation vessels on their sensors. They would not know otherwise if, and until, they were in visual range of the Enterprise."

"We ran a series of computerized war games on the Holodeck", Riker added, "where we were up against Cardassian forces. We programmed in known Cardassian tactics and what they taught their commanders. Each time we ran it, the Cardassian force backed off before reaching us."

Kurn's eyes clicked, thinking back on that conversation.

"Could that be it?"

Conversation stopped around him.

"Ambassador Kurn", Worf said with a small, curled smile, "do you wish to add something to our discussion?"

Kurn then explained to the Council about that conversation. Worf had been present. His face became animated.

"I remember that, brother", Worf said, dropping formalities for a moment. "Data and I never got to use the theory, but you are right. Every time we ran the scenario, the Cardassians backed off and retreated."

The others didn't quite get it.

Kurn looked at all of them, not sure if he was one-hundred percent correct, but this was a delicate situation, and any ideas would be helpful.

"From what Data and Worf did", he explained, "they could, as Picard said at the time, 'throw shadows' at their enemy and confuse them." Everyone in the room regarded Picard as a formidable man, and a true warrior.

The Chancellor looked at the Ambassador to finish the thought. "What if the Federation ship reprogrammed those probes to look like torpedoes on the other ships' censors?"

That stopped the room cold.

These are the times I wish I had Data to talk to, Jean-Luc Picard said grimly. The news out of Fenris had shaken him, like everyone else. The Quadrant now stood on the knife's edge of a major war.

He was back in France, with Deanna Troi. Will was currently in San Francisco, wakened in the middle of the Spanish night with the news of the encounter. He had immediately been contacted by Ed Jellico, and asked to come back to the bay area, to put their heads together with Owen Paris and Mike Patterson.

"It makes no sense, Deanna", Picard said, with Elnor and Soji close by, but not within easy earshot of the other two. "Fenris has nothing to gain by attacking Federation ships."

"A rouge commander?"

"Possible", Picard offered. "But I've read up on Ani Besho, the Commander of the Rangers. It doesn't fit her background or her normal M/O. Perhaps the other ship had a rogue commander? I just don't know. And I can't imagine this coming down from the Prime Minister of Fenris."

"Have you ever met Prime Minister Sladek, Jean-Luc?"

"I've read up on him, but no, I have not met him."

"I met him several years ago", Deanna advised him. "He was at a conference on San Francisco, oddly enough on how to handle internal Federation discord. He is a very astute, highly intelligent man, who is much more than he seems. He fought in the Cardassian war, not on Federation ships, but with Fenris forces. He received numerous honors for heroism. He's not to be trifled with."

"I've often felt, Deanna", Picard mused, "that any man in his right mind, that has fought in war, would not seek to initiate one. There are always exceptions to that rule..."

"But maybe he's not the same man I met, or he's changed, or I mis-read him?"

"You", Picard quipped, "mis-read someone? Not likely."

Deanna nodded. "True", she said with a small smirk, "but people do change."

Picard shook his head. "That is possible, but reading up and watching events on this crisis since the beginning, Sladek has been most cautious, and most forthright, even with Admiral Shelby, who he has to see as a potential enemy."

"What do you believe happens next?" Deanna poured Picard a refill on his ice tea.

"I'm frankly not sure, Deanna", Picard said grimly. "If this were a power from outside the Quadrant, I would think we'd already be at war, but Necheyav hasn't said anything publicly. I think everyone's taking a small breath here, to see if this was some kind of accident."

"An accident", Troi said skeptically, "with three ships being blown to bits?"

"It's possible", Picard pointed out, although his heart wasn't exactly in it.

Troi suddenly had a thought. "We talked about a rouge Captain. What if...what if the captain of the Intrepid was the rogue?"

Picard's head snapped up, staring at his former ship's Counselor. It was obvious to Deanna, even without her empathic abilities, that Jean-Luc Picard had not even considered that.

Onboard Voyager, Near Fenris

Admiral Elizabeth Shelby was sick to her stomach. She had seen loss under her commands before-that simply went with the territory of being a commander on a ship that did dangerous things. But this? This made absolutely no sense to her. She not only grieved for the one-hundred and eighty people on the Intrepid, but for the over three-hundred lives snuffed out on the Fenris ships.

What the fuck happened out there? That thought kept slicing through her mind.

She called in her Senior Staff in the middle of the night, shortly after the event occurred, for a conference of war.

"I'm sorry that I had to wake you, but the news of the Intrepid, and the two Fenris ships that were destroyed requires our immediate attention."

She looked around at her senior Ops, Tactical, Helmsman, Astrometrics officer, and Engineer. All were veterans with impeccable service records. All of them looked as grim as she did. The first reports simply were too stunning to figure out. She had given each department head time to check in with their staffs, many who had been waken as well, to start pulling in preliminary information.

Naturally, she turned first to her First Officer, Captain Nokolas Stavros, who was the titular commander of Voyager, and who, as an Ensign years ago, had earned many of The Federation's highest honors during the Dominion War.

"Nick, can you tell me what we've learned?"

"Admiral, all indications that we see are that the Intrepid was attacked without provocation. Telemetry that we were able to collect shows all three ships in standard patrol patterns, keeping a decent distance form each other, with shields up. Intrepid did have her weapons active, but there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary. The two Fenris ships had their weapons on stand-by, which has been standard for Fenris forces during the blockade."

Next her younger Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Lucy Prentiss, who had only graduated from the Academy five years earlier, but had impressed since her first day at the Academy, added her information.

"Admiral, the only thing out of the ordinary was the launching of four probes from the Intrepid. So far, we've found no reason for that, and we've seen nothing out out of the ordinary in the probes that were launched. It was, however, within moments of the launch of those probes that the Fenris ships fired on Intrepid, and Intrepid responded."

"The other mystery is that Intrepid's shields dropped just moments before the inbound enemy torpedoes destroyed the ship", her Ops Officer, Ensign Yussa Jebi, a Bajoran, informed her. "We don't know why they dropped. It could be a malfunction, or someone entered a wrong command. Right now, it's a mystery."

"Unlikely that someone keyed in wrong information", Captain Stavros commented, "but we can't discount anything while investigating this."

"People, I know we just received this information within the hour, but you're on duty as of this moment. I want you to scour everything we can find on this. I want some answers. Why did the Fenris ships fire, apparently unprovoked? Why were probes launched? Why did the shields drop? All of this may be a sad case of things simply going wrong at the worst possible moment, but I don't buy that. I've already sent a preliminary report to Starfleet Command, but advised them this information is very preliminary."

She looked around at her troops, knowing they were good people, who would go above and beyond. "Let's get some fresh coffee going throughout the ship, and let's get to work."

Like everyone else, Fenris Prime Minister Cyan Sladek was at a loss. None of this made any sense. It certainly made no sense because of the fact that Commander Ani Besho had been the one patrolling near the Intrepid. She had been a cautious, intelligent, and resourceful officer her whole career. In his mind, Sladek could see no circumstance where Besho would fire first.

Now she was dead. He had called in his military C-in-C, his Chief of Staff, and Qochur, whom he knew would probably be named the new Rangers Commander. Thinking of that, he was certain that if Seven of Nine were on Fenris, she would probably have taken command. No one had heard from Seven in several months.

As he waited for his advisers, he had pondered sending a message to Admiral Shelby, whom he had come to know a little over the last few months. Despite the fact that Shelby, right now, was not an ally, he had come to respect her and the honesty she had shown to him. He had sensed that she found some of this distasteful, but he respected her, as a soldier who had taken an oath, to faithfully carry out the orders of her superiors.

He had decided not to do so. One, sending a message so quickly would perhaps make it look like this had been choreographed from Fenris, with the truth being that, like everyone else in the Quadrant right now, Sladek had no idea what had happened. Secondly, doing so would probably be counter-productive, as the information received, at least for now, showed that Besho had let loose an unprovoked attack.

He had called his Foreign Minister, waking the man up in the middle of the night, and asking him to draft for his approval, a message to the Klingon High Council, and Chancellor Worf. He didn't want the aid of the Klingons at the moment, but since The Federation certainly wouldn't share information their intelligence services had, he was hoping that the Klingons could perhaps shed some light on events.

He was not looking forward to the next few days. It could mean the end of his people and his planet.

Onboard The Phantom

Seven of Nine was alone onboard the Phantom, as Kathryn Janeway was still recovering in Calgary's Sickbay from her injuries. Janeway had nearly been killed when a guard at the XB facility on Ganymede, unaccounted for after the firefight had died out, had shot her with his phaser as he hid in a doorway. Fortunately, Kathryn would survive.

Seven would have rather been there with Janeway, helping her through the recovery from her injuries. Yet this ship, as well as the Icheb I, both which had been built on Covis III, needed to get to Vulcan. B'Elanna Torres was piloting the other ship, as Tom Paris remained onboard the Calgary as a medic, and Tuvok was still there, helping to advise Captain Kim.

The trip had been uneventful so far. Seven and B'Elanna had passed sometimes talking to each other on a highly encrypted video transmission, where they tried to keep things light between them, and look to the future.

"I need to thank you again, B'El", Seven said sincerely, "for the comfort you gave me on Ganymede. If you and Kathryn had not been there...I think I would have fallen to pieces."

"No sweat, Blondie", the half-Klingon woman said with a tender smile. "What we saw down there...you know I was held in a Cardassian prison, and what I saw at Ganymede was just as bad. I wanted to snap one of those so-called 'doctors' neck."

"I know, but I'm glad you didn't", Seven said, even though she felt the same way. "I do believe it has help me come to terms with how I found Icheb."

"It felt good rescuing Ludmilla, didn't it?" Torres face now had a full smile on it.

"It did", Seven agreed, smiling at her former detractor, now perhaps her dearest friend. "Had we not found anyone alive, I might have reacted differently afterward, but...she's got a chance now. I may want to keep in touch with her."

"She may need your guidance, Sev", B'Elanna said seriously. "You had no one to really guide you-no one who had been through what you had been through. It might help her a lot."

Seven pondered for a moment. "Perhaps after all this is over, I can serve by helping as many XB's adapt to freedom, and counsel them while they try to make a life for themselves?"

B'Elanna approved of that. "Maybe I'll help you, Seven", she said, not having thought of the idea before. "It would be nice if we could help integrate them back into society."

"I've seen enough death, B'Elanna-and I know you have, too. If I can still rescue XB's, I won't hesitate, but I think part of my penance may be to reclaim lives, not terminate them."

"I think Icheb would be proud of you for that, Sev", B'Elanna added softly, touched by her friend's determination. "He'd be proud."

"I miss him, so much to this day, B'Elanna", she lamented, a few tears escaping.

"Keep him in that beautiful heart of yours, Seven, and he'll always live."

As they went silent for a few moments, they both received an incoming transmission from Calgary, within moments of each other.

Torres rolled her eyes, looking at Seven on the screen. "What does Harry want now?" Both women laughed.

"Maybe he wants to play the clarinet for us so we're not lonely?" That made them both laugh even louder.

The laughing ended as they scanned the message. "Holy shit, Seven..."

"My God", the former drone said in shock, reading the communication, verbatim. "Intrepid destroyed in firefight near Fenris. Two Fenris ships, including that commanded by Rangers Commander Ani Besho destroyed. No survivors from any of the three ships."

Like everyone else in a now very troubled Quadrant, Seven and B'Elanna now wondered if they would be in a shooting war that would engulf both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.