Shadow of the Past
by Antonio Cabañas
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Star Trek in all its incarnations and all related characters are property of Paramount Pictures. Tony Castro and the USS Corsair were created by me, other adventures of her can be found in my site http/ borg31de777yahoo.es.
Spoilers: Star Trek VI, Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, and Deep Space Nine to season 5.
Author Note: some parts of this story are inspired by "Chekov's Enterprise", a serial story that I read in the net some years ago. I don't remember the name of the author, but that story was one of the reasons why I started to write fanfic.
I wish to thank my beta-reader Carycomix for his help and support
Answer to Reviewers: Please, review!
Summary: An space anomaly prompts captain Tony Castro of the USS Corsair to tell a story of the past.
USS Corsair. NCC-1721-C. In patrol of the Romulan Neutral Zone. Year 2373.
"Commander Chekov hit Captain Harriman?" Asked Korg incredulously.
"Pavel wasn't entirely sober when he attended to the funeral of Captain Kirk. Although, later he came to regret the vodka that he drank that day," said captain Castro. "Anyway, I ran toward them trying to stop Pavel, but Admiral Morton was faster..."
Riverside. Iowa. Year 2293.
"Commander Chekov, if you hit Captain Harriman one more time..."
He didn't end the sentence, but the threatening tone in his voice was so evident that Chekov, still angry toward Harriman, inhaled deeply and stepped back.
"Good." said the admiral. "I understand that you have lost a good friend, but that's no reason for attacking a superior officer. This action will be a stain in your service record"
Meanwhile, Tony had been helping Harriman to get back on his feet. Just when he had managed to stood again, Admiral Morton turned to face him.
"Captain Harriman, until the review board deliver their conclusions, you are temporarily relieved of the command of the USS Enterprise. In the meanwhile, Captain Scott...," he looked to the old engineer, who had reached them."... you will oversee the repairs and the installing of the remaining systems aboard the ship. Commander Chekov and Lieutenant Commander Castro will assist you."
"Aye, sir."said Scotty.
"Very well. I want the five of you...," he made a gesture encompassing Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Tony and Harriman"..., Captain Spock, Commander Uhura and Doctor McCoy in my office tomorrow." Without leaving time for the others officer to speak, he produced a communicator, flipped it open and said: "Morton to Spacedock, one to beam up." And dissapeared in a transporter beam.
"John, don't..."
"No, Tony, Commander Chekov is right. I'm a poor excuse for a Starfleet Captain. Now, if you excuse me, I have some things to pack." And repeated the gesture that Morton had done a moment before."Harriman to Enterprise, one to beam up."
Tony turned to Pavel.
"Do you have something to say?" said Tony, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Before or after the scolding that you are about to give me?"answered Pavel, clearly a bit more calmed now.
Tony almost smiled
"Good, I see that you still have your sense of humor." Said Tony drily. "Look, I served under John Harriman in the Agincourt, when he was the first officer. And he is a pretty good officer, although maybe a bit too green to become the commanding officer of Starfleet's flagship. But if you want to blame somebody for Jim's death, you should blame the...," she repressed the profanity that had come to her lips "... damned cretin that ordered the christening of the Enterprise so ahead of schedule."
"Tony, Hikaru." said Spock behind them "I want to have some words with you."
While they went to talk the Vulcan, Tony turned to Chekov one last time and said:
"If I was you, I would go to apologize to Captain Harriman as soon as possible."
USS Corsair. Year 2373
"Captain, I suppose that that was the reason for Captain Scott's confused state when he was rescued by the Enterprise-D a few years ago. "
"Precisely. He hadn't accepted Jim's death. We didn't know that he was right. His instincts hadn't fooled him. If we had listened to him... But we can't change the past." She sighed and continued "Well, I was talking of the fight between Harriman and Pavel..."
Captain's quarters. Enterprise-B, Earth's orbit, Year 2293.
John Harriman had almost finished packing his few personal effects. Only two things remained, a picture of the crew of the USS Agincourt, and his personal weapon. He gazed at the picture, when he was simply the first officer of a Constitution-class starship, and had the experience of Commodore Wilkins to rely upon, instead of being the captain of Starfleet new flagship, and had the eyes of the entire Federation upon him. The picture was taken just before the very eventful first voyage of the ship after the Commodore took command, with the senior officers that had survived the destruction of the old Agincourt in the bridge of the new ship: Sam Grant, Tony Castro, Wong Tsen Han, T'Bel, himself, and larger than life, the Commodore. He had been proud of serving under the Commodore, knowing that he hadn't chosen him for his family connections. Unfortunately, his family connection had been the reason for being offered the post of captain of the Enterprise. When the date of the launching had been moved a month earlier of the original date, he only thought of the opportunity to prove himself, without even considering the dangers of going to space with a half-finished ship.
'And on the maiden voyage I lose a living legend of Starfleet...' he thought ' Commander Chekov is right. I'm not fit to be a Starfleet Officer.'
He took his personal phaser and placed the cannon under his chin. He heard steps in the corridor, but he wasn't worried. Nobody could stop what was about to happen.
In front of Enterprise-B captain's quarters.
Pavel Chekov had just arrived at the doors of the captain quarters, and all the way there had been mentally rehearsing what he was going to tell him. He had been delayed because there was a turbolift car jammed between two decks. But everything vanished from his mind when he heard a familiar sound in the other side of the door. He shouted an expletive and tried to open the door, that seemed to be blocked. The ship's alarms began to sound and security officers ran toward the door.
"What had happened, commander?" asked an ensign dressed with the armor vest over the uniform
"I don't know, kid. But I have heard a phaser being fired on the maximum setting in the captain's quarters."
When the security officers overrode the door lock, all that they saw was a phaser on the floor and some burns on the bed. Harriman was nowhere to be seen.
USS Corsair. Year 2373.
"Are you saying that captain Harriman killed himself?" said Khalev. "But..."
"Who is telling the story, Khalev?" answered the captain while Commander Ramirez looked at the Andorian navigator with the hint of a smile on his lips. "Pavel was speaking with the acting security officer of the Enterprise-B..."
USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-B. Year 2293.
"Captain Harriman was alone all the time in his quarters according to the internal sensors, sir." said the security officer of the Enterprise-B.
Before he could reply, he heard somebody running through the corridor. He looked there and he could see Lt. Commander Castro coming to them.
"Pavel! What has happened?"
"Harriman killed himself." Said Pavel. "If that turbocar hadn't been jammed..."
"That was me. I had come to talk with John." Said Tony, almost crying. "Oh, my god! It's my fault!"
"No, Tony, it's mine. If I hadn't said those things to captain Harriman..." said Pavel "I didn't know..."
"I should have known. He was mever sure of himself, being under the shadow of his father." Said Tony.
San Francisco. Starfleet Headquarters. One hour later.
Two Starfleet flag officers were discussing the last events.
"The death of Harriman is unexpected, to say the least." Said one.
"In reality this whole situation falls under that category. It was unexpected that Kirk would save the ship. According to the data available the energy ribbon destroyed every ship that came close to it." Answered the other, and added "Damned overgrown boy-scout!"
"If you remember our previous reunion, I expressed my reserved about your plan." Said the other drily. "Well, at least Kirk is dead, and of his people, only that intolerable half-breed knows something about our plans."
"What are you going to do about them?"
"Tomorrow they have a meeting with the Starfleet Commander in Chief, where they will learn of their new missions. They will be disposed of when our plan comes to fruition."
"Who is going to be the new captain of the Enterprise? Sure that you aren't thinking of giving her command to Saavik?"
"You know, perfectly well, my opinion about all those half-breeds. No, I have the perfect idiot for the job. And this time we won't need those stinking barbarians."
Starfleet Commander in Chief office. Next day.
"The suicide of captain Harriman has created a difficult situation. My intention was to keep him in command of the Enterprise, barring a contrary recomendation from the review board." Explained Admiral Morton, the new Starfleet Commander in Chief. "Unfortunately there is are qualified officers waiting for a command, so, Commander Chekov, you are hereby promoted to full captain rank, conditional to your aceptance of the command of the USS Enterprise. Do you accept?"
Chekov was astounded, and full five seconds passed before he answered.
"Da...Yes. But, why haven't you offered the post to Captain Spock?"
Morton nodded to Spock, who started to elaborate.
"Mr. Chekov, it's true that I have commanded the starship Enterprise in the past, but I have never had command ambitions, as I said yesterday to Adamiral Morton when he contacted me, and I have diplomatic duties in QonoS' in the next few months."
"That's part of the reason why you are here, captain. Chancellor Azetbur will visit Earth next month..."
"I know, a part of my duties will be to prepare that visit."
"Good, then I don't have to explain some things to you. Doctor McCoy, for almost two years you have been asking to open a medical exchange program with the Klingons, and Commander Uhura, you have been working on bettering your klingonese. Well, this is your opportunity. You will accompany Captain Spock to QonoS'."
"Eh...thanks."
Mortin continued, almost without breathing.
"Chancellor Azetbur will bring something with her. She intends to donate two old klingon cruisers, D5 and D6 classes, and an old Starfleet ship that they captured 40 years ago, the USS Pioneer, to the Starfleet Museum." He smiled "Apparently they found it in one of their depots, where she had been sitting for years after being stripped of everything valuable for their military." His face went serious again. "I want the Excelsior and the Enterprise providing escort for the Klingon top brass. Captain Sulu?"
"The Excelsior will be ready on time."
"Good. Captain Scott, about the Enterprise?"
"It's gonna bein' difficult, admiral. The lass had a severe beating, I'm not familiarized with the new systems..."
The familiar tirade brought smiles to the faces of the former crewmates of the old engineer.
"Mr. Scott..."
The scottish engineer smiled.
"You dinna needed to ask, Admiral. The lass will be ready on time, even if I have to push her myself out of drydock."
"Very well, Captain Scott." She paused and looked to Antonia Castro. "Commander Castro, you are appointed as the new science officer of the USS Enterprise, and until Commander Saavik come back from her leave on Vulcan, acting first officer. Does anybody want to add something?"
"Admiral, who is going to be the Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise?" asked McCoy.
"That matter is already settled. Any more questions? No? You are dismissed."
When everybody left the roomy office, Admiral Morton turned toward the window and rubbed his temples, saying:
"Well, it's done. The game's afoot."
TO BE CONTINUED…