-Chapter Twelve - Everyone Needs Friends-
-ISS Valley Forge, 10 Foreword Lounge, 22 days out from Starbase 2000-
A group of four Midshipmen, two men and two women barely out of their teens were clustered at one of the tables near the doors. The lone hollow pip on their uniform collars denoted that they were the lowest caste of officer, fresh out of the Academy and on their first deep space cruise.
"You see," one of the men in Engineering amber said to one of the women in Command red, "back in my grandfather's day things were a lot different than they are now. Back then, Constitutions ruled space and all combat was fought at warp. Not like it is nowadays, with every engagement fought mainly at STL speeds. At warp, you had to be a REALLY sharp helm officer, because at those speeds, a slight miscalculation could have drastic consequences. Nothing like accidentally flying into a star or even an asteroid at Warp 4 to ruin your day. Hell, you could even collide with the other ship if your course was off by a few degrees!"
"Oh ya, like flying around at 70 PSL in normal space is a real picnic Johnson!" The young Command officer retorted. "The time dilation effects alone are a real pain to calculate in your head, not that its a real problem with FTL sensors and a ships computer, but that doesn't stop the Academy instructors from drilling it near incessantly." Her Engineering companion looked like he was about to start into a long winded reply, but she cut him off. "And maneuvers at warp back then were easily estimated due to the limitations of their ancient SIF. You could only turn so fast unless you wanted to shear your hull in half. Nowadays, I have to worry about keeping pace with ships that can damn near turn on a dime at 60 PSL. You try doing that, especially at knife range, then tell me that I have it easy."
The other woman, this one in security gray, glanced up from the lively debate as the double transparent aluminum doors swooshed open. Her eyes went wide and she hissed to her three companions barely above a whisper.
"There he is!"
"Who?" the other male, this one in Science blue said as he started to turn towards the doors.
"Don't look you fool!" She whispered to Midshipman Carstairs fiercely. "It's him. The Skipper!"
For most Midshipmen on the first cruise, their Captain was a mythic figure, second only to God and even then not by much. But for the Middies on the -Valley Forge-, their Captain was more. Everyone knew all their was to know about Captain Ulysses Vanguard. He had almost single-handedly saved 2nd Fleet from total annihilation, and had received the Lion of Terra because of it. The ease of which he had exterminated the pirate vermin the -Forge- had encountered enroute to the Fleet Gunnery Range at Regulus had merely increased the young officers case of hero worship. From what the newsies were saying, he was the next James Kirk or Benjamin Maxwell. As their Captain walked across the deck, crimson cape billowing slightly, then took a seat near one of the foreword-facing floor to ceiling windows, the four midshipmen all cast covert glances his way.
"He looks a lot younger than I expected, but there's something about him..." The Security officer said dreamily.
"I know! I was saving this for later, but in the hallway this morning, as I was going off shift, he said 'Hello Miss Midshipman Tanaka.'" The Command officer said. "Can you believe it, he knows my name and he even was pleasant."
"I wouldn't put to much stock in that." The Science officer said in a slightly huffy tone, for he despised having to compete with a Captain for the attention of a beautiful lady. "He's pleasant to damn near everyone as far as I can gather. And I have never once heard him misname anyone. Must have a bloody good memory to have the entire crew memorized like that."
"I'll lay good credits that it's those Borg implants he still carries around. What I wouldn't give to have a computer in my head some days." Midshipman Johnson replied.
"Yah, and I'll bet you'd really enjoy being assimilated to get it wouldn't you." Midshipman Carstairs deadpanned. "Wait, on second thought, the Borg would never assimilate you, you would detract from perfection far to much to be worthy." The other three all burst out laughing while Johnson made a sour face.
"Just you wait, I'll make you pay for your jibes where it counts... the poker table!" Johnson replied.
"You're on!" And with that the Four Midshipmen got up and went towards their bunks on Deck 13 to get down to serious business.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ulysses settled down into the chair in 10 Foreword and stared out at the swirling blue vortex of Slipstream that stretched off into infinity before him. Within seconds a waiter was at the table awaiting his order.
"Romulan ale and orange juice please." While they turned an interesting almost florescent muddy color when mixed, the flavor the combination was excellent.
While he waited for his drink, his thoughts invariably drifted to his new CMO. Of all the sickbays in all the galaxy she had to walk into mine he thought. He had spent the last three days doing his level best to avoid contact with her. It was irrational really, for they had been inseparable friends in the close knit community of -Oberon-. Perhaps it was that he feared not her but what she knew. No one living knew him like she did. Now that he was older, he consciously realized this, and the part of him that wouldn't allow any personal attachments that kept him away. It would be so easy to fall back into the familiar patterns of friendship that it couldn't be allowed to happen. If it did, it would become impossible for him to protect her. The glimpses his sense had shown him of what was to come had proven that to him beyond a shadow of a doubt. Anyone close to him would be hurt badly. It was inevitable. It was certain. It was...
"Is this seat taken?" a voice said from his right. HER voice! Ulysses twitched as if struck.
"Not at all. Enjoy yourself." He stammered out as he rose, leaving his drink half finished on the table. He turned and strode determinedly out the doors without a backward glance. Cmdr. Anna Petersmith frowned at his back and fire light in her eyes. If Ulysses wouldn't talk to her about what was bothering him on his own, she would damn well have to make him. Just as determinedly, she strode after him. After a few corridor junctions and turbolifts, she followed his trail to his personal quarters.
"Ulysses open the door, we need to talk." She said after she pressed the admittance key. The door didn't budge. "Computer, override door controls to Officer's Quarters 001, authorization Petersmith Alpha Baker Five Zebra Seven." The computer obliged the ships ranking medical officer by disabling the lock and opening the door. She stepped into his quarters and activated a personal jammer.
"Can't you take a hint and leave me alone?" Ulysses growled past a pained expression.
"You know me, I'm just as stubborn as you are." She growled back with startling intensity. Then her voice softened and she pleaded with him. "Damn it Uly, talk with me! We haven't seen each other going on 11 years and you haven't spoken more than five words to me since I came aboard."
"What would you have me say, good to see you again, how have the years been treating you?!"
"It would be better than the silent treatment you've been putting on. What on earth did I do to warrant that? We were best friends, and as such I think I deserve an explanation."
"Ok, you want an explanation, here's one. If you stay my friend, you'll just be hurt, and hurt badly. You might even die."
"What do you mean?" Anna said as she frowned.
"That's just it." Ulysses gave a short snort of laughter. "I don't know what I mean." He began to pace restlessly. "If you got hurt because of me, I could never forgive myself. I could never, EVER hurt you. And that's why you have to stay away! That's why everyone has to stay away. Something bad is going to happen, and it will hurt all those close to me."
"You know something Ulysses, you are the most stubborn and self righteous twit I have ever met." Anna said exasperatedly. "I'm your friend, and I know the risks being that entails perhaps even more than you do. Which is why I willingly CHOOSE to continue to be your friend. You cannot just cut yourself off from your friends because they may or may not be hurt, that very act itself hurts them. Can't you get it through your thick skull that I remain your friend in spite of the risks?!"
"But I don't want to hurt you Anna, and if we remain close, I can't help but do so. I've seen it!" Ulysses said, tears welling in his eyes at what he was forcing himself to do.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'll take that risk." Anna replied immediately
"But..."
"But nothing! I can tell that you think that by shouldering your burdens entirely by yourself you're somehow sparing the rest of us from sharing your hurt. But like it or not I'm your friend and friends don't let friends go it alone even when they think it's necessary. I'm not going to stop being your friend EVER. You're stuck with me Uly, so you better damn well get used to the idea."
Ulysses sagged visibly and sat down on a nearby chair. "Eleven years and you still are more mulish than I am."
"And a darn good thing too, because unless I'm greatly mistaken, you need a friend right about now." She said with a slight satisfied smirk on her face.
"You're right Anna. I... I haven't had one since I left the -Oberon-. Sure I've had acquaintances, allies, mentors... but I have never allowed myself a true friend."
"That's no way to go through life Uly." Anna said softly.
"I know but I didn't want anyone to get... but it doesn't matter now. You're right, I am stuck with you, for good or ill." He sat straighter, as if a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders and a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth as Anna sat down across from him.
"So, now that we're talking again, how about you tell me what happened to the teen filled with piss and vinegar and a shadow of a plan who jumped ship when no one was looking? Seems like he and the decorated officer sitting in front of me are mutually exclusive." Anna said, pointing to the gleaming Lion of Terra that hung with the rest of his campaign medals beneath his communicator pin.
"I found a better plan than mine. I realized that my plan merely struck out at the brainwashed populous of the Empire and even in the unlikely event that it succeeded wouldn't change the system that had killed my parents. As much as I desired revenge, I realized that true revenge could only be attained by bringing down the entire system. Admiral T'var showed me that and gave me the ability to achieve my new goal. Slowly but surely the system is changing. By now you have surmised that most officers aren't like Kirk and Pike were. That is largely because of the teachings of Spock. For good or ill, depending on the side you're on, they have gone a long way to moderate Imperial policy and Starfleet enforcement of that policy. Despite Section's best efforts to eliminate his teachings, they are more prevalent with each passing year. There is no exact numbers for evident security reasons, but it must be so. Why else would policy shift so much from the barbarism of Spock's time to what it is now?"
"Your reasoning is sound, but I think that it's liable to start backsliding again now that the public is terrified about the Grand Alliance. Not that I begrudge them from rising up against the horrid conditions they were forced into, but one has to admit that the sneak attack against Terra was not bound to win over many Imperial citizens. If the Emperor was to make any non Imperial's life forfeit today, it would be carried out without question. Then there's the rumors that the GA has already done as much within their borders. Somehow I don't think that Spock's vision of the Empire and other species working hand in hand with each other will come about anytime soon."
"I'm forced to agree with you. It will only begin to happen if there is a drastic change in the Imperial government." Fire flared in his eyes and his mouth formed a snarl of hate. "That is one thing I would be more than happy to do. Our great Emperor," Ulysses spat out the title with as much venom as he could muster, "is none other than the leader of the Purity Squad that killed my parents."
Anne gasped. "Are you sure?"
"I watched the internal sensor recordings at least a million times, trust me, I'm sure."
Anne remembered that time. Her playmate had withdrawn into himself, starring at the screen as the images replayed themselves over and over again. Her father had finally put a stop to it, but Ulysses was never again like he was before his parent's death.
"Part of me wishes that the GA had succeeded in wiping out the Empire. Perhaps something better would have arisen from it's ashes."
"Perhaps, but perhaps something much worse would have sprung forth. The GA has good reason to hate the Empire, and I don't think they would have been very forgiving if they had won."
"But they didn't, and now we are left with a stalemate that neither side is currently powerful enough to break." Ulysses said, and both frowned at the implications a long smoldering war would have. The bad blood was too deep on both sides for much of anything to stem the mutual hate for a long, long time.
-ISS Valley Forge, 10 Foreword Lounge, 22 days out from Starbase 2000-
A group of four Midshipmen, two men and two women barely out of their teens were clustered at one of the tables near the doors. The lone hollow pip on their uniform collars denoted that they were the lowest caste of officer, fresh out of the Academy and on their first deep space cruise.
"You see," one of the men in Engineering amber said to one of the women in Command red, "back in my grandfather's day things were a lot different than they are now. Back then, Constitutions ruled space and all combat was fought at warp. Not like it is nowadays, with every engagement fought mainly at STL speeds. At warp, you had to be a REALLY sharp helm officer, because at those speeds, a slight miscalculation could have drastic consequences. Nothing like accidentally flying into a star or even an asteroid at Warp 4 to ruin your day. Hell, you could even collide with the other ship if your course was off by a few degrees!"
"Oh ya, like flying around at 70 PSL in normal space is a real picnic Johnson!" The young Command officer retorted. "The time dilation effects alone are a real pain to calculate in your head, not that its a real problem with FTL sensors and a ships computer, but that doesn't stop the Academy instructors from drilling it near incessantly." Her Engineering companion looked like he was about to start into a long winded reply, but she cut him off. "And maneuvers at warp back then were easily estimated due to the limitations of their ancient SIF. You could only turn so fast unless you wanted to shear your hull in half. Nowadays, I have to worry about keeping pace with ships that can damn near turn on a dime at 60 PSL. You try doing that, especially at knife range, then tell me that I have it easy."
The other woman, this one in security gray, glanced up from the lively debate as the double transparent aluminum doors swooshed open. Her eyes went wide and she hissed to her three companions barely above a whisper.
"There he is!"
"Who?" the other male, this one in Science blue said as he started to turn towards the doors.
"Don't look you fool!" She whispered to Midshipman Carstairs fiercely. "It's him. The Skipper!"
For most Midshipmen on the first cruise, their Captain was a mythic figure, second only to God and even then not by much. But for the Middies on the -Valley Forge-, their Captain was more. Everyone knew all their was to know about Captain Ulysses Vanguard. He had almost single-handedly saved 2nd Fleet from total annihilation, and had received the Lion of Terra because of it. The ease of which he had exterminated the pirate vermin the -Forge- had encountered enroute to the Fleet Gunnery Range at Regulus had merely increased the young officers case of hero worship. From what the newsies were saying, he was the next James Kirk or Benjamin Maxwell. As their Captain walked across the deck, crimson cape billowing slightly, then took a seat near one of the foreword-facing floor to ceiling windows, the four midshipmen all cast covert glances his way.
"He looks a lot younger than I expected, but there's something about him..." The Security officer said dreamily.
"I know! I was saving this for later, but in the hallway this morning, as I was going off shift, he said 'Hello Miss Midshipman Tanaka.'" The Command officer said. "Can you believe it, he knows my name and he even was pleasant."
"I wouldn't put to much stock in that." The Science officer said in a slightly huffy tone, for he despised having to compete with a Captain for the attention of a beautiful lady. "He's pleasant to damn near everyone as far as I can gather. And I have never once heard him misname anyone. Must have a bloody good memory to have the entire crew memorized like that."
"I'll lay good credits that it's those Borg implants he still carries around. What I wouldn't give to have a computer in my head some days." Midshipman Johnson replied.
"Yah, and I'll bet you'd really enjoy being assimilated to get it wouldn't you." Midshipman Carstairs deadpanned. "Wait, on second thought, the Borg would never assimilate you, you would detract from perfection far to much to be worthy." The other three all burst out laughing while Johnson made a sour face.
"Just you wait, I'll make you pay for your jibes where it counts... the poker table!" Johnson replied.
"You're on!" And with that the Four Midshipmen got up and went towards their bunks on Deck 13 to get down to serious business.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ulysses settled down into the chair in 10 Foreword and stared out at the swirling blue vortex of Slipstream that stretched off into infinity before him. Within seconds a waiter was at the table awaiting his order.
"Romulan ale and orange juice please." While they turned an interesting almost florescent muddy color when mixed, the flavor the combination was excellent.
While he waited for his drink, his thoughts invariably drifted to his new CMO. Of all the sickbays in all the galaxy she had to walk into mine he thought. He had spent the last three days doing his level best to avoid contact with her. It was irrational really, for they had been inseparable friends in the close knit community of -Oberon-. Perhaps it was that he feared not her but what she knew. No one living knew him like she did. Now that he was older, he consciously realized this, and the part of him that wouldn't allow any personal attachments that kept him away. It would be so easy to fall back into the familiar patterns of friendship that it couldn't be allowed to happen. If it did, it would become impossible for him to protect her. The glimpses his sense had shown him of what was to come had proven that to him beyond a shadow of a doubt. Anyone close to him would be hurt badly. It was inevitable. It was certain. It was...
"Is this seat taken?" a voice said from his right. HER voice! Ulysses twitched as if struck.
"Not at all. Enjoy yourself." He stammered out as he rose, leaving his drink half finished on the table. He turned and strode determinedly out the doors without a backward glance. Cmdr. Anna Petersmith frowned at his back and fire light in her eyes. If Ulysses wouldn't talk to her about what was bothering him on his own, she would damn well have to make him. Just as determinedly, she strode after him. After a few corridor junctions and turbolifts, she followed his trail to his personal quarters.
"Ulysses open the door, we need to talk." She said after she pressed the admittance key. The door didn't budge. "Computer, override door controls to Officer's Quarters 001, authorization Petersmith Alpha Baker Five Zebra Seven." The computer obliged the ships ranking medical officer by disabling the lock and opening the door. She stepped into his quarters and activated a personal jammer.
"Can't you take a hint and leave me alone?" Ulysses growled past a pained expression.
"You know me, I'm just as stubborn as you are." She growled back with startling intensity. Then her voice softened and she pleaded with him. "Damn it Uly, talk with me! We haven't seen each other going on 11 years and you haven't spoken more than five words to me since I came aboard."
"What would you have me say, good to see you again, how have the years been treating you?!"
"It would be better than the silent treatment you've been putting on. What on earth did I do to warrant that? We were best friends, and as such I think I deserve an explanation."
"Ok, you want an explanation, here's one. If you stay my friend, you'll just be hurt, and hurt badly. You might even die."
"What do you mean?" Anna said as she frowned.
"That's just it." Ulysses gave a short snort of laughter. "I don't know what I mean." He began to pace restlessly. "If you got hurt because of me, I could never forgive myself. I could never, EVER hurt you. And that's why you have to stay away! That's why everyone has to stay away. Something bad is going to happen, and it will hurt all those close to me."
"You know something Ulysses, you are the most stubborn and self righteous twit I have ever met." Anna said exasperatedly. "I'm your friend, and I know the risks being that entails perhaps even more than you do. Which is why I willingly CHOOSE to continue to be your friend. You cannot just cut yourself off from your friends because they may or may not be hurt, that very act itself hurts them. Can't you get it through your thick skull that I remain your friend in spite of the risks?!"
"But I don't want to hurt you Anna, and if we remain close, I can't help but do so. I've seen it!" Ulysses said, tears welling in his eyes at what he was forcing himself to do.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'll take that risk." Anna replied immediately
"But..."
"But nothing! I can tell that you think that by shouldering your burdens entirely by yourself you're somehow sparing the rest of us from sharing your hurt. But like it or not I'm your friend and friends don't let friends go it alone even when they think it's necessary. I'm not going to stop being your friend EVER. You're stuck with me Uly, so you better damn well get used to the idea."
Ulysses sagged visibly and sat down on a nearby chair. "Eleven years and you still are more mulish than I am."
"And a darn good thing too, because unless I'm greatly mistaken, you need a friend right about now." She said with a slight satisfied smirk on her face.
"You're right Anna. I... I haven't had one since I left the -Oberon-. Sure I've had acquaintances, allies, mentors... but I have never allowed myself a true friend."
"That's no way to go through life Uly." Anna said softly.
"I know but I didn't want anyone to get... but it doesn't matter now. You're right, I am stuck with you, for good or ill." He sat straighter, as if a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders and a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth as Anna sat down across from him.
"So, now that we're talking again, how about you tell me what happened to the teen filled with piss and vinegar and a shadow of a plan who jumped ship when no one was looking? Seems like he and the decorated officer sitting in front of me are mutually exclusive." Anna said, pointing to the gleaming Lion of Terra that hung with the rest of his campaign medals beneath his communicator pin.
"I found a better plan than mine. I realized that my plan merely struck out at the brainwashed populous of the Empire and even in the unlikely event that it succeeded wouldn't change the system that had killed my parents. As much as I desired revenge, I realized that true revenge could only be attained by bringing down the entire system. Admiral T'var showed me that and gave me the ability to achieve my new goal. Slowly but surely the system is changing. By now you have surmised that most officers aren't like Kirk and Pike were. That is largely because of the teachings of Spock. For good or ill, depending on the side you're on, they have gone a long way to moderate Imperial policy and Starfleet enforcement of that policy. Despite Section's best efforts to eliminate his teachings, they are more prevalent with each passing year. There is no exact numbers for evident security reasons, but it must be so. Why else would policy shift so much from the barbarism of Spock's time to what it is now?"
"Your reasoning is sound, but I think that it's liable to start backsliding again now that the public is terrified about the Grand Alliance. Not that I begrudge them from rising up against the horrid conditions they were forced into, but one has to admit that the sneak attack against Terra was not bound to win over many Imperial citizens. If the Emperor was to make any non Imperial's life forfeit today, it would be carried out without question. Then there's the rumors that the GA has already done as much within their borders. Somehow I don't think that Spock's vision of the Empire and other species working hand in hand with each other will come about anytime soon."
"I'm forced to agree with you. It will only begin to happen if there is a drastic change in the Imperial government." Fire flared in his eyes and his mouth formed a snarl of hate. "That is one thing I would be more than happy to do. Our great Emperor," Ulysses spat out the title with as much venom as he could muster, "is none other than the leader of the Purity Squad that killed my parents."
Anne gasped. "Are you sure?"
"I watched the internal sensor recordings at least a million times, trust me, I'm sure."
Anne remembered that time. Her playmate had withdrawn into himself, starring at the screen as the images replayed themselves over and over again. Her father had finally put a stop to it, but Ulysses was never again like he was before his parent's death.
"Part of me wishes that the GA had succeeded in wiping out the Empire. Perhaps something better would have arisen from it's ashes."
"Perhaps, but perhaps something much worse would have sprung forth. The GA has good reason to hate the Empire, and I don't think they would have been very forgiving if they had won."
"But they didn't, and now we are left with a stalemate that neither side is currently powerful enough to break." Ulysses said, and both frowned at the implications a long smoldering war would have. The bad blood was too deep on both sides for much of anything to stem the mutual hate for a long, long time.