CUT TO. INT-WALES, SHUTTLE BAY: The shuttlecraft makes a soft landing. The rear hatch opens and MacGregor, followed by Fawkes, followed by Trouse step off. Waiting for them is an older, Asian man. Captain HARRY KIM. MacGregor stands before Kim.
MACGREGOR
Non stop to Pluto right?
KIM
That we are. If you'll follow me Captain I'll get you set up.
MACGREGOR
No no, I'll be in Ten Forward.
KIM
Okay, but your First Officer would like to have a word or two.
MacGregor stops walking.
MACGREGOR
He's not at the yards?
KIM
No, he got onboard and and won't leave until you two speak.
MacGregor begins walking again.
MACGREGOR I'll kill him.
CUT TO. INT-TEN FORWARD, WALES: MacGregor enters the room via a pair of doors nearest to the bar. The room is empty with the exception of Commander Stalar standing, looking out at Earth. The view is shifting because the ship is turning away from the planet. MacGregor walks up to Stalar. MacGregor looks right at his first officer, Stalar keeps a vigil at the window.
MACGREGOR Why didn't you take a shuttle commander? Why are you still here commander?
Stalar turns to MacGregor.
STALAR
Captain Kim has informed me that you were on VOYAGER.
MACGREGOR
What the hell has that got to do with you not following my orders?
STALAR
Premission to speak freely sir?
MacGregor braces for the worst.
MACGREGOR
What?
STALAR
From your emotional display towards Admiral Janeway, I wanted to know whether or not my Captain was of sound mind and judgement, sir.
MacGregor smerkes and looks away. He begins to walk to the middle of the room. Stalar follows.
MACGREGOR
What do you know of the Maquis commander?
STALAR
They were a group of rebels who, after having their colonies annexed by the Cardassians in the DMZ, began to wage a gurrila war on the Cardassians.
MACGREGOR
Do you know what happened to the Maquis when the Cardassians joined the Dominion right before the war?
STALAR
Yes.
When MacGregor doesn't hear the deatils, he looks at Stalar.
MACGREGOR
Thrill me with the deatils commander.
STALAR
With their Dominion allies, the Cardassians began to exterminate the Maquis.
MACGREGOR
How well did that go over commander?
Stalar sees he's being baited and doesn't answer. MacGregor notices this.
MACGREGOR
Answer me commander? How well did the Cardassian and their Dominion cohorts "exterminate" the Maquis. The colonies, the innocent children and families? How efficiantly were they killed? One by one or planet by planet, system by system? How good of a job did they do commander?
STALAR
She didn't kill your family captain. Admiral Janeway couldn't have seen the Dominion war in the Federation's future sir. To be honest, you make it seem as though she was the one who pulled the trigger.
MacGregor walks to the bar.
MACGREGOR
When she stranded me in the Delta Quadrent, she wasn't even my Captain. But I grew accustomed to following under the Starfleet banner.
STALAR
Why are you a Starfleet captain then sir?
MacGregor thinks for a moment.
MACGREGOR Because... because there was no other life for me afterwards. I put it behind me. Starfleet centred me. And they trained me as one of their own in the hopes that the few remaining Maquis would hop on the band wagon too. Truth be told, I'm a captain because I'm an asshole.
Stalar digests this information. He moves closer to MacGregor.
STALAR
Sir, trust me to be your first officer.
MACGREGOR
When I trust you, you'll know it.
CUT TO. EXT-SPACE: The WALES arrives at Pluto. The planet has several points of lights, small starfleet research outposts. Encircling the planet are thousands of drydocks with starships being built. These are the TERRA NOVA Shipyards. Nothing but the newest, best and experimental are built here. Built not long after the Dominion wars, the ships built in the drydocks and the research done on the planet below is all cutting edge. Not many starship are moving but many of the drydocks have fully constructed vessels inside. Though there are many shuttles moving around the area. In orbit of the planet is a massive space station. About as high as the CN Tower and as wide as a football field at it's core, the station also sports several rings and outcropings housing labs, habitats and conference rooms. It's a giant contracting station also used as a Starfleet only spaceport. The starship WALES moves towards Terra Nova Space Station.
CUT TO. INT-WALES, BRIDGE: MacGregor and Stalar enter the bridge. Commander Fawkes is already there. Captain Kim is negotiating with his helm officer the docking procedures. MacGregor and Fawkes stare at the viewscreen.
MACGREGOR
These are my kinds of ships.
FAWKES
Why do we need an army like this?
MACGREGOR
I'll tell you when I'm allowed. (whispers in Fawkes' ear) To fend off Armageddon as Janeway put it. (moves away from his ear) We've got Thresher class, Maco class and Hammerhead class.
FAWKES
Predators.
MACGREGOR Predators of the seas are now predators of the skies.
Captain Kim rises and moves to MacGregor.
KIM
Captain, your chief engineer is on the station, he wants to talk over lunch.
MACGREGOR
Tell him I'll be there dispite the fact I'm not hungry.
KIM
Okay, we're here just to drop you off. As soon as you beam away, we're headed back to Earth.
MACGREGOR
I guess I'm on my way to the transporter room then.
Kim puts out his hand for MacGregor to shake.
KIM Enjoy your new ship Captain.
MacGregor smiles weakly and shakes his hand.
MACGREGOR I hope she flies as good as she looks. Alrighty folks, we've got a ship to launch.
MacGregor, Fawkes and Stalar leave the bridge.