ACT III

Starbase 248

Admiral Janeway blinked her eyes as she read the report from Captain Oliver of the Gertland. And then Captain Picard's report during McGawan's first command out here. She noticed that as the job became increasingly difficult, McGawan began to slowly lose control. It seemed he was trying to find a pattern that suited him and the crew, but found it hard, given the terrorist situation.

Then, there was that murder investigation on Morias Colony.

At that moment, Wing entered into the office, after notifying the Admiral that he was coming. He made a situation report. "Admiral, we received a back-up request from the convoy."

Janeway's attention was peaked. "Where are they?"

"Right now, they're entering Sector 243 by way of the Ganges Corridor," Wing reported. "They'll enter into Sector 248 through Negarani-controlled space."

"Why so far off course?"

"They were engaged," Wing reported.

"Where's Captain McGawan?"

"He's returned," Wing said. "Something about that his sentence was served?"

Janeway nodded. "It's time for a little performance review. Have him report to the office for duty."

"Yes, Admiral."

As Wing stepped out of the office, he slapped McGawan on the back. "You owe me one."

"You're a turncoat," McGawan said. "I should have known better than to ask a Shaolin Monk to cover for me."

"Yes you should have."

"Thanks for keeping Janeway a figurehead."

"As I said," Wing repeated, "you owe me one."

McGawan stepped into his office, as Janeway gave up his seat. "We have a situation."

"I know," McGawan said. "And you're due to return to Earth, am I right?"

Janeway nodded. "Seems you have a small problem."

"You're not going anywhere as long as the Negarani are on active duty right now," McGawan said. "I'm gonna bring that convoy home, then get you the hell out off my station."

"That's perfectly fine with me," Janeway said. "Let's get working."

Just as Nakajima thought, the power was out on this deck. It was a smoothe stroll down deck seven, towards the main Jefferies tube, serving engineering. She readied her phaser rifle, as she took a the large team down the corridor, with Hollweigh behind her. All the while, Kim was doing perimeter sweeps with a tricorder. "If I could get a stronger scanning field—"

"Forget it," Nakajima said. "You're stuck with this frequency. Any more and you'll set off the internal sensors."

"But I thought they were unpowered."

"Right now, everyone is an intruder," Nakajima said, as they rounded a corner. "Once we get to engineering, we can start up the systems we need."

"Fine," Harry said, sighing heavily. Suddenly, his tricorder bleeped. "Four lifesigns, heading this way."

Halloweigh held up a fist. Everyone stopped. He looked down at Harry's tricorder, and made a "number one" gesture, then pointed to the starboard bulkhead. Then, made a "number two" gesture, then pointed to the port bulkhead. The large scurity team split into two groups, taking up hiding positions in crevaces in the corridor, as they waited for the Negarani soldiers to come down.

"Psst, Harry," Nakajima whispered. "What kind of life signs are you reading?"

"Humanoid."

"No kidding," Nakajima said. "I mean genetics, boy. What kind of life signs are you reading?"

Harry shook his head. "You're not going to believe this. They're Elani lifesigns. And they're coming now."

"Elani?" Just as Nakajima was about to spout something else, one of the guards put a hand on her mouth, and put her against a bulkhead.

She turned an angry eye to the crewman, who held up a phaser rifle, and pointed towards the Negarani. "Sorry, Sir," the crewman said.

"I'll get you later, Dexter."

Four Negarani, full in militant garb, came marching down the corridor. They stopped, and started to scan around with Starfleet tricorders. They took up positions, back-to-back-to-back-to-back, pointing at all directions. "We know you're here," one of them announced. "Show yourselves or we will destroy this part of the ship."

"Okay," Nakajima said. "Here we come." Then, taking Nakajima's lead, the entire team openend fire on the Negarani, taking them down.

After the non-battle, the entire team came together over the Negarani bodies. "We'll deal with the Elani lifesigns later," Nakajima said. "We no longer have the element of surprise. We have to rush to engineering now, and secure the ship."

"Let's take two teams," Halloweigh said. "Alpha team will take the bow entrance. Gamma team will take the stern entrance."

"Sounds good to me," Nakajima said. "Let's get moving!"

"Where are they now?"

Wing took a look at the tactical sensors. "Entering Sector 248, Captain." Wing zoomed in a picture on one of the screens, showing that the convoy was heading for Negarani Space. "This may not be a good sign."

"Do we have any ships out there?" McGawan wondered.

Wing took a look, and found only two. "The Mukaihara is out there, doing a survey on a stellar nursery."

"They can't do much, they're only an Excelsior," McGawan realized. "Dammit, why do these things have to be so difficult?"

"Should I send them anyway?"

McGawan eyeballed Janeway, who simply shook her head. "I see," he said, turning back to Wing. "Send them."

"Captain!" Janeway said, stepping forward.

"Unless you wanna take a runabout out there on your own, to attempt to give two fully capable starships some support, I suggest, with all due respect, that you let me do my job and keep your trap shut."

"That is the LAST time I let you slide being insubordinate with me," Janeway said. "You're so far out of line it makes my head spin."

"Shove it for a moment, I have a convoy to save," McGawan said, blaitently. To Wing: "Report."

"They're on their way."

McGawan nodded. "Good."

"Also," Wing said, checking another blip on sensors. "The U.S.S. Consulate has just entered the sector, and is attempting to engage the Negarani."

"What the hell!" McGawan ran a cross-check on the Consulate. The vessel, an Iwajima class friggate, was now entering into Sector 248, engaging without permission. "Get me T'Kur on screen, now!"

"Already done," Wing said, as he put T'Kur Nakajima on the main screen.

"This is Captain T'Kur of the Starship Counsulate. What can I do for you, Captain?"

"Get the hell out of my battle zone," McGawan said. "I gave you no prior authorization to interfere in this delicate operation."

"With all due respect, Captain, I do not recognize your authority in this sector," T'Kur said simply.

"Bullshit you don't," McGawan said, getting more and more frustrated. "Let me introduce myself, since you are obviously new to this sector. I am—"

"Captain Bruce McGawan, Station Commander of Starbase 248," T'Kur said. "As I said before, as a flag officer of Starfleet, I do not recognize your authority."

"You don't recognize my authority?" McGawan echoed, trying to chew the words right. "Let me give you a little update, Captain. I am the Sector Commander of this sector. And as such, in order to participate in any operation, you must first garner the proper authorization. Since you did not do so, through me, then I must hereby order you to withdraw from my operation."

"I stand by regulations, Captain," T'Kur said. "I do not recognize your authority. If you wish to file a formal protest, please do so with Starfleet Command. Consulate out."

Then the screen went off.

McGawan pointed to the screen. "See, Admiral? This is what I have to deal with!"

"Then we have come to an understanding today," Janeway said.

That kinda hurt McGawan a little. Because it was absolutely true. He had put Janeway in the same position that T'Kur put him in just a moment ago. And thusly, McGawan nodded. "I appologize."

"Accepted. Situation forgotten. Now, solve your delema, Captain."

"Yes, Admiral."

"What the hell are they doing?"

On the viewscreen of the Gulfstream, the Consulate openned fire on the North Star's would-be thieves. Daniels quickly stood, ordering O'Riley to hail them, in a hurry. When T'Kur came onto the screen, Daniels got understandably angry. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You're ruining a delicate operation!"

"Our sensors have counted thirteen Starfleet signatures on an inactive vessel, being towed by enemy vessels," T'Kur said to Daniels. "Under Starfleet General Order Two-One, I am taking command of this operation. You will drop back and not pursue."

"Just what the hell are you talking about?" Daniels wanted to know.

"Your vessels are heading right for Negerani Space," T'Kur said. "If you cross out of Federation Space, you will be in volation of peace-time regulations."

"There is NO peace time with terrorists," Daniels said. "You are putting lives of our people at risk! Cut off your attack now!"

"I am sorry, Captain," T'Kur said, obviously NOT sorry. "I do not recognize your authority in this matter. Consulate out." And then he ended the transmission.

"That green blooded... I'll have his rank for this," Daniels said. "Open a channel." After the comm signal sounded, Daniels announced: "Attention, Starship Consulate. Stop your attack or we will open fire upon you."

All eyes, stunned, turned to Daniels.

To that Daniels simply said: "I will not let any of our people die because of T'Kur's utter stupidity..."

Finally, Engineering. On the aft section, Nakajima and Kim suctioned a manual openner onto one door, and tried to push it open. It wouldn't move. "Strange," Nakajima noted. "This should open with no power..."

They tried again. Nothing.

Then, Kim scanned the door. "It's been welded shut."

"Welded?"

Then, there were the sounds of weapons arming. Slowly, the Starfleet officers turned to see about a dozen Negarani militants, arming weapons, and pointing them right at the away team. "I see we found ourselves some intruders," the militant said. "You are outnumbered and outgunned. Surrender now, or your deaths will not be as swift."

"Go straight to hell," Nakajima said. "Fan out, pattern blue!"

But too late. The Negarani openned fire, with deadly precision. They took down the Starfleet guards before a single shot could be fired. That left only Nakajima and Kim standing.

But, not for long. The squad leader, in a green mask, shot Kim in the leg. As a result, blood gushed from the wound, and Kim fell to the deck. "That was a major artery," the militant said. "He will die slowly within the next four hours. It will be painful and there is nothing we will allow you to do about it."

"You sick bastard," Nakajima said, pointing her phaser rifle at the men. "It's set to wide-beam dispersal."

"And you will only knock down four of us while the others take you down," the Negarani Militant said. "You have no chance to survive. Make your time; surrender now."

On the viewscreen, the Negarani lead militant, standing on the powered-down bridge of the North Star, held Halloweigh's hair by its turf, while sliding a d'artag just light enough to make a nice cut on Halloweigh's neck. "We have ended your operation," the militant said, as Daniels watched on the screen. "Now, you will feel our wrath. Long live the Negarani!"

And then Halloweigh met his end.

"The one with the slanted eyes is next," the Negarani said. "You will bow down to us and surrender this ship. Or we will take it from you. Long live the Negarani!" And with that, the militant ended the conversation.

The image was replaced by the convoy. Suddenly, the Consulate stepped up her attacks on the enemy. Daniels stood straight up, face flush with anger. "I've had enough of this. Arm phasers. Target the Consulate's warp engines."

"You're going to cripple the Consulate's warp capabilities?" O'Riley demanded to know.

"Don't argue with me right now, just do it. T'Kur is going to kill our people," Daniels said.

Before O'Riley could continue, a comm signal came through. "Message from Starbase 248. It's Captain McGawan."

"It's about damned time. On screen."

McGawan's image appeared. "Having a bit of trouble out there I see?"

"You could say that," Daniels said to McGawan. "My hands are tied right now. Give me some authority here, Bruce."

"You got it," McGawan said. "T'Kur pissed me off..."

"Oh boy, I know what happens next..."

"If you have to fire upon the Consulate to settle the situation, then for God's sakes, make sure you don't destroy her, okay?"

Daniels grinned. "That's what I wanted to hear."

"248 out." The image was replaced by the still attacking Consulate.

"Hail the Consulate one more time."

With that, T'Kur appeared. "Unless you are here to offer support, I suggest you drop from warp immediately."

"Captain," Daniels said, standing, and coming forward. "You have ten seconds to break off your attack and stand down."

"Or else what?"

"Or else," Daniels said, "I am within complete authority to open fire upon your vessel and take you out of action. By order of Starfleet Command." To that, he turned to O'Riley. "Target their starboard nacell. Prepare to fire on my order."

END OF ACT III