Unhappy with a new treaty, Federation Colonists along the Cardassian border have banded together.Calling themselves 'The Maquis', they continue to fight the Cardassians.
Some consider them heroes, but to the governments of the Federation and Cardassia, they are outlaws.
A Cardassian Galore Class warship tore furiously through space, it's compression cannons stabbing furiously down at the smaller vessel fleeing it. The vessel rolled and dodged wildly flinging its own phaser fire back at the warship's shields.
"Damage report!" Chakotay shouted as a console exploded behind him, sending rapidly expanding fragments of plasma towards his engineer's back. He heard her cursing in Klingon as it struck her back as harmless charcoal. Beside him, Tuvok answered.
"Shields are at sixty percent."
"A fuel line has ruptured, we are barely maintaining impulse," Bellanna reported from his right. She growled as more plasma exploded free and the ship shook "Damnit! I can't get anything else out of it!"
"Be creative." Chakotay egged her. He knew it would focus her attention on solving the problem he wanted solve, rather than all the problems she had in front of her.
"How am I supposed to "get creative" with a 39 year old rebuilt engine?" she snarled, but Chakotay resumed his maneuvers, satisfied that she was working the problem.
"Maquis ship, " Chakotay glanced at a monitor beside Tuvok that came to life, "This is Gul Evek of the Fourth Order. Cut your engines and prepare to surrender, or we will Des-" Chakotay closed the channel as the ship shuddered under fire even as the Gul called for surrender.
"After the shape our guests are in, I think we'll pass. Prepare for evasive pattern Omega." he ordered.
The Maquis Raider hurtled through space throwing it's last two torpedoes at the pursuing Cardassian ship, as it entered the region of space known as the badlands.
"Gul Evek must be feeling daring today." Chakotay growled as he took the ship close to a plasma eruption. His words for shadowed the inevitable as the Cardassian ship collided with the eruption listing wildly to one side.
With no time to celebrate their escape, Tuvok reported detection of a cohesive getting beam, and with her last trick spent Bellanna could do nothing to coax the ship's exhausted systems into any further effort to escape.
Captain's Log, Stardate 48315.2 We are investigating the disappearance of a number of vessels in the Bajoran sector, in the region of space known as the badlands. Among those missing, a number of federation citizens who have joined the terrorist organization known as, the Maquis. While our primary duty is to ensure the safety of those who may be in distress, the federation council has agreed that when found, these individuals must face charges for their crimes, and possible rendition to the Cardassian Union. Having experienced the mercies of Cardassian custody, I find myself once again torn between my duty to aid federation citizens in need, and my obligations to preserve the peace.
Picard looked up as the door chimed. "Come." he ordered.
Commander Riker entered with their sullen guest.
"Mr. Paris. Please be seated." He ordered curtly. Commander Riker nodded as the young man did so, and left, while Picard seated himself once again. Picard looked him over.
"You bear a rather striking resemblance to another promising young officer, who made some unforgivable errors." He noted
"So I've been told." Paris replied. "The Klingon you sent to get me said that guy was 'without honor'."
"As a matter of fact, I believe he found his honor at the end." Picard replied, "Nicholas Locarno took full responsibility for the accident that killed his classmate, and resigned his commission, but his actions forever clouded the careers of his surviving classmates, two of which served with distinction aboard this very ship." He sighed with a deep sadness, "both have become lost to us in very different ways."
"Well I guess I'm just lucky to have that face then." Paris said sourly. "Hopefully my doppelganger is a bit less of a failure after his reckoning, I was supposed to be on Voyager."
"Yes, I've been in contact with Captain Janeway, and she briefed me on her mission." Picard answered. "Voyager was asked to investigate a situation in the Armagosa system, and we were already on our way here with supplies for Deep Space 9. We are assuming the mission, as we have had some dealings with the Maquis, ourselves."
"I'm sure it's all the same to me, Captain." Paris said, "Whether I'm a Judas for Janeway, or for you, the coin is still the same."
"So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve, Found truth in all but one: I, in twelve thousand, none." Picard answered, "Richard the Third."
"I could get to like Shakespeare." Paris said, "I'm just not sure if I'm in a tragedy or a comedy."
"I wanted to let you know that the agreement stands." Picard told him, as he rose. "We are coordinating our search with Runabouts from Deep Space 9, and our own will launch presently as well. Commander Riker will lead the search from the Rio Grande. I want you to accompany him."
"Understood, and until then?" Paris asked, rising himself "Should I report to the brig?"
Picard stood before him and forced him to meet his eyes.
"Mr. Paris, you've acknowledged your crimes, and you are paying the price." Picard told him. "The Maquis movement, as noble as it's goals may appear to be, is a criminal organic, and a threat to peace in this region, a peace that many good officers died to create." Paris swallowed.
"According to our intelligence." Picard told him, "Chakotay's Maquis Cell was in the process of freeing a group of Cardassian prisoners previously unknown to the federation, starfleet officers quite possibly among them." Paris exhaled as he digested this. Picard's eyes narrowed as he took note of the swirling colors outside the viewport behind his desk. He continued.
"Now they may be out there in danger, or dying, or they may be plotting their next act of violence. Your job is to help more good officers, do their jobs, is that clear? You are a guide through the badlands, nothing more," Picard paused for emphasis, "But nothing less. You are on parole, sir, you are not a prisoner."
Paris straightened, and at last abandoned the wounded look he had evidently brought on board. "Yes sir, understood."
"Very good." Picard nodded "Report to the shuttle bay."
"Report Number One" Picard ordered as he stepped on to the bridge, Paris entered a turbo lift behind him. "I thought I ordered you to lead a survey of the badlands, not bring the Enterprise into them."
"Yes sir," Riker grinned, "Unfortunately, one Gul Evek found himself in need of a tow, and his friends only just arrived." He nodded at the view screen where a Cardassian ship was just towing another out of viewing range. "Sensors reported the plasma storms had subsided, and I thought we could earn a little good will."
Picard grimaced. "Well now that we are here, I suppose we should be of some use. Initiate a full sensor sweep of the area, but pull us out the moment there are any signs of storm activity."
"Understood sir," Riker noted as Picard began to stride up the ramp. "Will you be long sir? Shall I contact Commander Data to take charge of the survey?"
"I've just been asked to make an appearance Will." Picard replied testily, "I intend to return in short order."
Riker chucked. The helmsman, also the ships counselor. shook her head.
"You're incorrigible." She told him.
"Well, to be honest, I'm not looking forward to spending time in a runabout with Mr. Paris." Riker commented, he grinned, "but I'm sure the Captain is less enthusiastic about attending Doctor Selar's wedding shower."
"Mr. Paris is on his best behavior." Troi informed him. "I sensed he regretted making certain observations about me on our way back to the Enterprise after I told him what my relationship with Worf was."
Riker winced.
"Did he even know you were half betazed? Poor guy probably never even knew what he was up against."
"Captain. Your presence is appreciated." Dr. Selar stated with a nod. "Perhaps you can explain to Doctor Crusher that gathering the ships entire medical staff together in order to gift me with clutter is not logical." Picard cast something of a. nervous glance at Doctor Crusher.
"As my chief medical officer, I felt it wise to support her request to use the conference room for this gathering as she felt it was the most appropriate for her plans." He replied neutrally.
"Her plans to direct me here, under false pretenses, in order to initiate these proceedings without warning." Selar asked. She indicated the Conference room, decorated with balloons and the table filled with sliced sheet cake and gifts. she was seated at what would customarily be Picard's place with the chair seemingly enhanced with a large cushion.
"Yes, well, she felt it was important to recognize your.. status before you went on leave." Picard replied. Crusher patted him on the shoulder.
"Why Jean Luc." She murmured, "such a way with words." He shot her an inpatient, almost pleading look.
"Is it not logical to celebrate procreation with one's peers, in a manner that reflects a tradition of supplying the procreator with necessary supplies?" Commander Data approached, somewhat perplexed. He held a wrapped box.
"Perhaps." Selar acknowledged. "What are you providing." She took the box and opened it. "Ah. education material."
"They are Vulcan syllable blocks." Data stated, "I recalled that Ambassador Spock mentioned they were essential for developing proper language skills."
"Data, this is a party, gifts are supposed to be fun." Doctor Crusher objected. Data blinked and looked around. Data's brow furrowed.
"Given the Vulcan cultural imperative for utility, I thought that a gift, however practical that the Doctor could utilize at a later date with her child would be "fun"." He explained.
"The gift is appropriate and well considered." Selar observed. Crusher blinked.
"I stand corrected." Crusher murmured, "That sounded almost like a compliment."
"Riker to Picard." Picard's communicator chirped, "We're being scanned by a coherent tetryon wave. You might want to come see this."
Picard nodded quickly to the doctors and turned to leave the briefing room, Doctor Crusher caught his arm.
"Thank you for indulging me with all this." She said "I know it's a little outside your comfort zone."
Picard nodded but wiped the back of his head, "We've been a crew for seven years, I suppose I have to venture out every now and then..."
"Captain." Data said, Picard and Crusher looked out the conference room viewport.
they saw the clouds suddenly lurch and the ship lurched slightly.
"I need to get to the bridge." Picard told her."
"Understood." Crusher responded to the urgency in his voice. She turned to the room, "Alright, let's pack it up, it looks like we are back on duty."
Picard hurried up the corridor to the bridge, Data close behind him. Suddenly the red alert sounded as he hurried down the corridor. The doors opened onto the bridge in time for him to hear Riker about "All hands, brace for impact!"
The world exploded into a bright roaring flash and he felt Data's android arms grab him harshly as wind exploded around him.