Disclaimer:  I don't own Voltron, Star Trek, or any characters mentioned here that are cannon to either franchise.  What I do own are the fighter, Thunderwing, and the crew of the Berlin, except for Mordock.  The rest I'm just borrowing for a while.

 

Star Tron:

The Black Suits Cometh


Chapter 6

"Thunderwing to Berlin, request permission to land."

"Permission granted, Thunderwing," Lieutenant Singh replied.  "You're clear to come aboard."

Everyone on the starship's bridge was eager to hear the captain's account of the battle they'd just witnessed.  Seeing him in action both here and with the subspace anomaly had by and large dispelled their doubts about his capabilities.

Gredar, however, remained unswayed.

The Gorn maintained a more critical view of his commanding officer.  He didn't approve of the captain's laid-back command style and gung-ho attitude.  But still, he had supported Driscoll, because that was his job.

Until now.

Where the other saw a heroic display of flying skill, Gredar saw grave breaches of conduct, some of which could have repercussions on the Federation itself.

And so it was that when Driscoll arrived on the bridge and announced a senior staff meeting, Gredar already knew what he was going to say.

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As the meeting came to order, Jacobs asked, "What happened down there, Skipper?"

Driscoll replied with a dismissive wave.  "I'll give ya the details later.  Right now, we've got more important stuff to deal with, namely, a first-contact."

"Two, sir," Gredar corrected.

"Right, but one at a time, Commander."

"Captain, you attacked that robot without provocation."

Driscoll sensed the challenge in his first officer's words.  "Gredar, not now.  If you got a beef, talk to me later, okay?"

Gredar hissed something that his translator didn't translate, indicating either Gorn slang or a particularly nasty curse.  Driscoll was willing to bet on the latter.

"As I was saying," the captain continued, "we've got a first contact scenario.  The group I helped out down there was the Voltron Force, who are in the service of the Galaxy Alliance.  The Alliance is an organization like the Federation, composed of many member worlds spread across a lot of space.  Right now, the Alliance is fighting a two-front war against the Drule Empire and the Doom Empire, who owned that green beastie on the surface…"

The senior crew listened closely as the captain delivered a comprehensive briefing on the Galaxy Alliance, the Voltron Force, Arus, and the Doom and Drule Empires.  When he finished, Curtis asked, "How do you know all this, Captain?"

"I have my sources, Lieutenant," Driscoll replied cryptically.  "At any rate, we've been invited to dinner by the Princess of Arus.  This ain't a formal thing, so standard duty uniforms will do.  The away team will consist of myself, Commander Gredar, and Commander Jacobs.  I'll fly down in my plane, so they know it's us.  Gredar, you and T.J. will fly my wing in a shuttlepod."

"Are there any Prime Directive concerns, sir?" Mordock asked.

"Nope.  They just don't have transporter technology, and I don't wanna dazzle 'em on our first visit."  Mordock nodded, as Driscoll continued, "While we're on the surface, Captain Scott will be in command."

"And if the Doom ships return, sir," Scotty asked.

"Try to avoid a fight, and notify me immediately.  Standard rules of engagement."

"Aye, sir."

"Are there any other questions?" Driscoll asked.  Hearing none, he ended the briefing, and asked Gredar to remain behind as the others filed out of the room.  When they were alone, the captain said, "If you got something to say, say it."

"You have committed an act of war, without cause or provocation," Gredar rasped.

"Not without cause.  But yeah, I violated the standard rules of engagement."

"No, sir.  It is not so simple.  You have involved the Federation in a war we have no business in."

"Gredar, I had more information on the situation than you.  Believe you me, I knew what I was getting into."

"The fact, sir, is that there was no need for you to attack at all.  You were not under attack, or in danger of attack.  You have violated five major regulations.  Given the severity of these infractions, I could have you arrested."

Driscoll stared across the table at Gredar, his eyes full of anger.  "You've really got it in for me, dontcha, Godzilla?" the captain spat, using a nickname Gredar had acquired during his tour on the Dartagnan, and had come to loathe.  "Ever since I came aboard, you've been waiting for an opportunity to shoot me down.  Why?"

Gredar was silent.  The foolish human before him was beginning to arouse his anger.  The Gorn had learned to carefully control his hot temper, but his captain was trying his patience.

Driscoll stood and began to pace.  "Why'd you apply to be my XO, Gredar?" he asked.  "What made you want to serve with me, if you hate me so much?"

"I do not hate you, Captain," Gredar replied.  "I chose to apply to be your first officer because of your reputation.  Despite your age, you have a reputation as a good commander.  But although your skills are adequate, you command poorly.  You are impulsive, reckless, and undisciplined."

"I know.  That's why I chose you.  You're a reliable officer.  You do things by the book; you're very rational, and very cautious.  You have all the qualities to balance my shortcomings.  But instead of working with me, you've been fighting me.  Why is that?"

"It is my function as your first officer to make sure that you consider all options.  I have only been acting in the best interests of this ship and crew.  I have never attempted to undermine your authority."

"And I have never put this ship or her crew in unnecessary danger!"

"But you have put yourself in danger in your fighter."

Driscoll stopped pacing and sighed, shaking his head.  "That's how I am, Gredar.  I don't command from the rear.  I lead from the front.  I would never ask any of these guys to do anything I wouldn't do myself.  I care about this crew.  We're a team out here, and we all depend on each other.  I'm tryin' to show these guys that I'm a team player, too.  I know you all resent me.  I'm half the age of some of the lieutenants on board.  Hell, I ain't old enough to go to the Academy.  I've gotta prove myself to this crew, which is something that not many captains have to do.  I can do this job, and I have to show them that.  That I'm just another part of the crew, doing his job, and that I can do it good." 

Gredar sat there a moment, considering his captain's words.  Normally, he would have considered such an outburst childish and pathetic, but there was an undeniable ring of sincerity in his commander's words.  And he sympathized.  He knew well of the crew's feelings about the captain, but didn't know the captain was also aware.  Perhaps he had misjudged the young officer.  "I understand, Captain.  But you did act irresponsibly.  I must note that in my report."

"Yep, I know," said Driscoll.  "You do your job, Gredar.  That's all I expect."  He looked the Gorn in the eye.  "And trust me to do mine."

Gredar, sensing the end of the discussion, rose and asked, "Permission to return to duty, sir?"

Driscoll nodded, and Gredar left the room.

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Prince Lotor stood before his father, King Zarkon, in Castle Doom.  He had just delivered the news of his latest defeat, and was awaiting the king's tirade.

But instead, Zarkon sat deep in thought for several minutes.  Finally, he looked at his son.  "You say this fighter merged with Voltron?  Why hasn't it appeared before now?"

"I have no idea, Father.  It came from nowhere and attacked the robeast.  But it was not until it merged with Voltron that it posed any real threat."

"Where did it come from?" Zarkon asked.

"I don't know.  There were no other ships, and a fighter that small can't have much range."

Zarkon was puzzled.  Though upset about Lotor's most recent failure, he was intrigued by the mysterious new craft his son reported.  He sensed that this was no trivial incident.

"Perhaps your failure this time was not so dismal after all, my son.  Send a probe to Arus," Zarkon commanded.  "This situation bears further scrutiny."

"Immediately, Father," Lotor acknowledged with a salute.

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The Voltron Force was gathered in the control room, awaiting the arrival of their new ally.  Coran was at his usual post, manning

the large console at the center of the room, while Keith busied himself checking monitors, and the others stood gathered around

Coran's console.


A light on the panel drew their attention to the Prime Minister as the stately old man opened the channel and announced, "This is Castle Control.  You are entering Arusian airspace.  Please state your business."


"Castle Control, this is Thunderwing, Dinoman speaking.  Request landing clearance."


Coran looked at Allura, who nodded.  "Thunderwing, you are cleared to land."


"Roger.  You got valet parking down there or is it self-serve?"


Coran was thrown for a moment by the unexpected reply, which elicited a number of chuckles from the Voltron Force.  "You may park your craft outside the castle moat," he replied.


"Copy that.  We're on final.  Thunderwing out."


"Why don't we go meet them?" Pidge suggested.


"Good idea," Keith agreed, taking the lead as the group headed out of the control room.  As an afterthought, he said, "Coran, leave the defenses on standby, just in case."

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Driscoll looked over his shoulder at the small shuttlepod following closely on his four o'clock position.  "Okay, Commander, slide in behind me and follow me in.  We're gonna park under that stand of trees at eleven o'clock low."


"Acknowledged," Gredar rasped.


The Toto pulled in behind Thunderwing as the Mustang circled the palace, then used its thrusters and antigravs to make a perfect, three-point vertical landing, followed closely by the shuttle.


While Gredar and Jacobs secured the shuttle, Driscoll removed his flight gear and tossed it into the rear jumpseat before joining his fellow officers at the shuttlepod.