Fears and hopes
The USS Denali slammed back into real space with a groan that was felt throughout the entire ship. Even with the Iconians rebuilding the ship, the Jupiter class starship had never really been designed to travel at those speeds. It could, hence the Denali's arrival in the Cait system intact instead of as a cloud of rapidly dispersing atoms, but Starfleet was not in the habit of using transwarp because there were downsides to it. Not the least of which was ships shaking themselves apart in the shifting energies of the transit. Warp drive worked well enough for 99.99% of situations that Starfleet encountered regularly. If needed? They had ships specifically designed to go that fast, hulls heavily reinforced and superior shielding to regular Starfleet ships. The problem, as always, was economic. The Federation was supposedly a post scarcity society, but it did cost resources and time to make starships. It simply made sense on on an interstellar scale to standardize things for ease of manufacture. Faster meant more expensive and thus, rarer.
"We are not doing that again." The Gorn who served Mary as her second officer said flatly from his seat. Mary nodded from hers. "Not without a lot more preparation time. I don't even what to think what the engineering staff is saying about us right now."
"It's probably not polite, no." Mary shook her head. "I need a chief engineer, but no one wants the job."
"Considering how many times and in how many ways you try to break the ship?" R'Kerti said from her helm seat, her tone sour. "Can you blame them? And no!" She snarled as Mary opened her mouth. "I am not a chief engineer!" Mary looked hurt as R'Kerti glared at her. "You break far too many rules, Captain. Putting a straight out of the Academy ensign on helm of this beast was bad enough." She was being a bit unprofessional, but everyone had been a bit worried during that fast and bumpy ride, so Mary cut her some slack. Taakezh eyed her, but R"Kerti stuck to her guns.
"You were the best pilot in our class, R'Kerti." Mary said quietly and her second looked at her. "She was. By a hefty margin." Mary explained with a smile that the Gorn at her side slowly shared.
"We haven't been blown out of space. You did well at Qo'nos when you got us into range of the K'Tinga when we were targeted by J'mpok's weapon. I think you are the best Gorn for the job." The Taakezh hissed in soft laughter as R'Kerti tried her glare on him. It seemed to bounce off. "Credit where it is due, Helm." Taakezh said firmly and R'Kerti subsided a little. "You do well."
"This is not what I thought I was going to be doing with my life, but…" R'Kerti nodded her acceptance of the compliment. Then she took refuge in formality. "We have arrived in the Cait System, Captain."
"Right." Mary took a deep breath and returned to professional herself. "Jhinis? Hail Cait and ask for Clan Leader R'Lass. Tactical? Anything out of the ordinary?"
"System scan is coming in." The Saurian officer at the tactical station reported. Lieutenant Commander Kolez looked a bit green from the rough ride as well, but he was former Starfleet. He coped with weird and Mary was eyeing him as a full time addition to the bridge crew. He was good. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Standard merchant traffic. No sign of military vessels." He seemed a bit dubious at that and Mary understood.
Cait was a Federation world in the heart of its space. Any Federation world was going to be a hub of business, both legitimate and not. With the wars done for the moment, there wasn't a Starfleet presence stationed here. No one was stupid enough to assume war was gone forever, but normal was good. That said? Cait had its own fleet, so formality was probably a good thing. Maybe a bit of prudence too.
"Hold position." Mary ordered when R'Kerti looked at her. "We are unannounced and came via transwarp. They don't know if we are attackers. See if you can send a standard hail to Cait Traffic Control, Jhinis." Her herald nodded and bent to her task. Taakezh looked at her and Mary shook her head again. "If we launch our escorts, they will assume we are attacking and our day will get loud and messy. I bet any Catian or Starfleet vessels in system are cloaked and watching us."
"Catian ships have cloaks?" Taakezh asked and jerked as an alert sounded and the tactical officer reported a ship decloaking! "I see they do."
"Of course they do." Mary replied dryly as a small Catian ship appeared right in front of the Denali! Mary knew the class of ship from her Academy training. A Shikaris escort, all rounded lines and sharp points. Like a claw. She hadn't known they had cloaks, but she wasn't surprised. Catains were very good at defending themselves. Their carriers and escorts had made a name for themselves in defending their words from attacks during the war with the Klingons and then against the Iconians. They didn't have a large fleet, but it was professional and very technologically advanced. "Cloaks, stealth fighters, you name it. Sneaky is as sneaky does.
"We are being hailed, Captain." Jhinis spoke up and Mary sent a fast thought to her. The Aenar's Herald armor vanished, replaced by an Alliance uniform. Even after five years, people still got a bit upset when Iconian Heralds appeared. Not that surprising. Mary still wore her Alliance uniform and kept her meridian in sight and Jhinis did the same. No lies here.
"On screen." Mary said formally and sat up straight. She fought to keep from tweaking her own uniform, the infamous 'Picard Maneuver' that had nothing to do with starship tactics. A red furred Catain face appeared on the screen and spoke.
"USS Denali." The other was utterly professional, with just a hit of wariness. Alliance ships were not that common still and one simply appearing out of nowhere was going to rattle people whose job was defending the world. He looked at her meridian and did not comment. Very professional! "Your arrival was not expected."
"I am Mary Owlna Pangolin, captain of the Joint Alliance carrier USS Denali." Mary said formally to the screen. "I apologize for not calling ahead, but no com message would have been faster than our transit. I need to speak to Clan Leader R'lass on a matter of some urgency."
"Alliance?" The other said and then paused. "Ah, I see. Apologies, Captain Pangolin. I am Captain J'Loss of the Catain starship Claw of Justice and we haven't seen many Alliance ships though here. Certainly not ones who come in so fast." The last was desert dry and begged an explanation.
"Totally understood, Captain." Mary did not react as several ships, both Catain and Starfleet, appeared out of cloak around the Denali and started moving away. She actually approved of the tactics. "If the situation were not so dire, we would not have chanced transwarp. I need to talk to R'Lass as soon as possible."
"Um… That will be a problem, Captain Pangolin." Captain J'Loss said slowly and Mary tensed. "Her clan is in medical quarantine and-" He stilled as Mary surged to her feet.
"If you nuke that area, you will spread the disease!" Mary snapped and the other gawked at her. "I was briefed on it and your people's standard response to it! The palliative wore off." Not a question. "How many infected?" She all but begged.
"Three thousand, six hundred and two at last count but that was a day ago. The number will have gone up." The Catain said soberly. "There is no cure."
"Yes, there is!" Mary snapped and the Catian all but snarled at her. She wasn't done though. "And this one is not a fake or made by horror!" At that, the Catian captain went utterly still and Mary nodded. "Not on open coms." She said firmly. "This is above our pay grades! Get me R'lass or get me someone in your High Command! Now!"
That was pure command and again, Mary was impressed by the Catain captain's professionalism. He looked to the side and a chime sounded. Without a word, Jhinis divided the screen, showing another male Catain face, this one not in uniform. His golden fur was immaculate groomed. He spoke before Mary could.
"Captain Pangolin, I am Justicar H'Soll." He said without preamble. "From your words, you know our plight and our shame."
"I do." Mary replied, calming. When he did not speak, she continued. "It is a very long story, but the short version is that I spoke with Captain R'Rollow and his mate." At that, both male Catains on the screen stiffened, but Mary wasn't done. "I know what happened. I know why. The same one who lied you all hurt me very badly. I hold no animosity to your people for the actions of a rogue intelligence agent." Neither of them reacted and Mary continued. "As I say, it is long story, but I have proof and more importantly, I have a cure for the disease."
"How?" The Justicar all but spat that at Mary. "No Federation tech or any we have sought can heal Heaven's Wrath."
"My mother's people did." Mary said softly and there was utter silence. "I am sure you were briefed on my 'delusions'…" She made air quotes around that word. "...as soon as the Denali appeared in your space, Justicar H'Soll." She smiled, but there was little mirth in it. "They are not delusions. They are facts and I have proof. My mother's healers took the rogue Nuna's actions as a professional insult. They were quick and sure. Captain R'Rollow was infected with the disease. He no longer is." Both Catians all but gawked at her and Mary nodded. "We can help, Captain J'Loss, Justicar H'Soll… Please, let us!" She begged.
"You believe you are the daughter of an Iconian." The Justicar said slowly.
"Adopted." Mary replied, offhand. "I have proof but it will cause all kinds of problems if I show it over public communication channels."
"Captain!" Kolez at the tactical station all but barked. "Missile launch from the planet's surface! Planetary range only!" He blanched as Mary looked at him, his eyes on his scanners. "Nuclear warhead."
"NO!" Mary spun back to the screen, her face a mix of fear and rage. "Even nukes won't work! It won't be destroyed, only spread! You will see it in more places no matter how good your quarantines! How many more of your people must die?" She demanded.
"This is an internal matter." The Justicar was cold now as the missile crept into the upper atmosphere. "You should leave now, Captain and-" He broke off as alarms sounded on the Denali's bridge and both views on the screen.
Mary gawked with everyone else as the L'Miren's Gift appeared in planetary orbit! Everyone knew what Iconian ships looked like! What they could do! What happened next though… One beam of dark blue energy lanced out from the front of the massive white dreadnought and the missile vanished! No explosion, just gone. Then, in another puff of blue/black energy, the Vonph class dreadnought gated back to wherever it had hidden. Mary fought hard not to snicker at the looks of sheer disbelief on both Catain faces that showed on her screen. Jhinis snickered in her mind and both sent thanks to K'Tao who was not amused, but glad to be of service. Mary schooled her features when the others stared back to her from whatever they had been looking at.
"I don't blame you for doubts." Mary fought for calm and managed. When she spoke again, it was quiet. "So much horror. So many lives lost and for what? In the end? The Iconian War was all pointless." She slumped a bit. "Even nuclear fire cannot kill every last germ, Justicar H'Soll. Any that are not vaporized in the closest blast will spread or worse, mutate. I call Captain R'Rollow a friend and I want that disease that hurt my friend and his people gone. My Mother wants to fix some of what she and her people broke. There is much she cannot. That can never be undone. But she is determined to try and I am determined to help her. Her healers made a cure. Will you take it?"
"You serve the Iconians." Came from the Catain Captain.
"I am the adopted daughter of an Iconian. I serve the Joint Alliance, Captain J'Loss." Mary retorted evenly. "Trust cannot happen overnight. For many, it will never happen. Vengeance is a powerful force in any sentient being and it drove them for millennia. It drives my aunt T'Ket in her madness still." At that, hisses of disbelief came from the screen, but neither of the faces moved. "I am not vengeance crazed. My mother is not. We wish to aid your people. I know you cannot trust us. I know this is very sudden. But please?" She all but begged. "How many of your kits must die for pride?"
Another chime! Jhinis added another screen and Mary fought back a sob as a horrid looking Catian female appeared on it. Her dark brown fur was patchy and falling out. Mary had seen images when she had been briefed for this, but Clan Leader R'Lass looked nothing like herself. The illness drew its strength from the host's body. It took said strength fast and mercilessly. She had been strong in her prime, R'Lass had. Now? She was a wreck.
"R'Rollow sent you?" R'Lass lay on something that was not visible and her voice was barely audible. "Idiot boy. Is he still chasing dreams?"
"There is nothing wrong with chasing dreams, Ma'am. Only in being blinded by them." Mary smiled, but it fell as R'Lass tried to and failed.
"They will send another missile. Historically, that was the only way." R'Lass said softly. "I… The kits- Can you-?" She begged.
"We can. I am on my way, Clan Leader R'lass." Mary said when neither of the others spoke. Then she eyed the others. "Captain, Justicar, if anyone fires on this ship, it will be the last thing they do. Am I clear?" Pure, unemotional threat.
"Yes." Came from both and Mary nodded.
"Helm, get us into a standard orbit." Mary said and R'Kerti started moving the Denali slowly. The Catian escort formed up beside her, weapon offline. Wise. "Jhinis, notify Doctor Cyrus to have his medical teams ready and I am going."
"Not alone and not first." Taakezh said firmly from where he sat, typing his own keys. "Catains are just as prone to breakdown in civilized behavior in such situations as any sentient beings. Security teams will accompany you." He glared at Mary who stiffened. "If you or Jhinis draw your weapons on that planet it will end badly for the Alliance. Your mother would not approve and I will tattle on you." The screen still showed all three Catain who gawked as Mary stuck her tongue out at the Gorn! Taakezh growled at her. "Captain!" He nodded at the screen and Mary went still, her face shading to embarrassed.
"I um…" Mary started, but R'Lass choked out a laugh and both male Catians seemed to be fighting smiles.
"We will talk, child." R'lass promised. "But one ship… Can you help an entire planet?"
"We can make a start." Mary promised. "See you in a few minutes."
Seventeen minutes later
Mary was used to Starfleet transporters, even if she preferred Iconian ones for speed. Using such here would not be a good idea for lots of reasons. When the beam released her, she looked around quickly and then nodded to her assigned security escort. The four beings in MACO armor were as mismatched as their weaponry. It was hard to tell species or gender in the full armor, but they were all different sizes and their armor was subtly different colors. One, she was sure was a Ferengi! That one carried a phaser cannon like the one Starfleet Ferengi Mary had met before, but had never spoken, so Mary didn't know if it was Lieutenant Commander Eshade. The team had come highly recommended for such things though and Mary had heard a lot about MACOs in her time at the Academy. Not all of it good, of course, but mostly impressive.
The area they had beamed into was clearly a park of some kind. Probably a Federation one, since it seemed to be set up for different species. It had trees, grass, a small place with sand for children to play. A large rock in the middle of it dominated and might give a good view of the area, but she was not in charge here, much as it galled her. Jhinis stood by her side, but the four others took their duty very seriously.
"The Doctor's base of operations is that way, Captain." The male voice from the leader of the team was calm, but wary. He answered to 'Commander Wills' and she knew nothing else about him. He only carried a phaser pistol, but knowing MACO? Not a standard one. What was that odd weapon slung on his back? It looked like something out of a twentieth century gangster movie. Something called a 'Gommy Tun'? That wasn't right but 'now' was not the time to ask. He waved with his free hand, a careful move.
"Right." Mary waited until the guards started off to start walking. They had had that discussion wen the team had declared themselves to be Mary's guards. Jhinis had not been amused, but Taakezh had stood firm and such was his job as Second Officer. Technically, he was First Officer to anyone who didn't know that Jhinis was Mary's Herald and second in everything.
"Status?" Mary asked as Jhinis kept a close eye on the surroundings and their guards. Paranoia had been her life for a long time and she was not going to change any time soon no matter how Mary tried.
"It is bad, Captain." The team leader said quietly. "Civil order didn't break down, but just barely. If I didn't know how well you and the com officer were protected, I wouldn't have let you beam down." Mary eyed him and he shrugged. "Or at least I would have tried to get you into armor or EVA suits. According to the doc, it isn't cross species, but viruses mutate fast."
"You have your job, I have mine, Commander." Mary wasn't agreeing or disagreeing. "How many?"
"Seven hundred and six dead, Ma'am. Almost everyone in the area has it. Counts are still coming in, but at least ten thousand inside the quarantine zone." The MACO was still wary but sadness crept into his tone. "This is really bad. If this was a weapon-" He started but Mary cut him off with a wave.
"All forensic evidence says it is not." Mary said sadly as they passed a row of bags in a line. Each one was sized for a humanoid form. The smallest ones tore at her heart, but she forced herself to move on. "Even if it started as one, the problem with viruses is that that they change. Biological weapons are bad and rarely just for the targets. Every race that I know of had its warlike periods. Even Iconians." She sensed disapproval from the guard and she shook her head. "I am not discounting the war or worse, trying to say it didn't happen or some other silliness. I am saying that when the Iconians evolved on their world, they went through a stage very similar to all other known races and could have wiped themselves out like so many have and do. They learned about weapons of mass destruction then." The cavalcade passed a pair of beings in hazmat suits who stopped to stare at Mary and Jhinis in their uniforms. Mary smiled at them. "It is okay. We are here to help."
"Is it true?" The voice from the larger of the two was Catain, female and somewhere between sad and raging. "You have a cure?"
"Not me, but yes." Mary stilled as the Catain threw herself at Mary, yowling. That wasn't Catain rage. "NO!" Mary commanded as all four of her guards took aim. None fired. The Catain came to a sudden halt right in front of Mary even as Jhinis moved to ward the human looking being. She didn't have her hands up as if to attack, though. No, she tore off her hazmat helmet and she had been crying a lot. She dropped it at her side and just stood, her entire posture one of rage and dejection mixed. Her once glorious orange fur was matted with tears and filth. How long had she been in that suit?
"Why now?" The Catian demanded angrily. "Why now? My mate and kit are dead!" She yowled. "You are too late!"
"For your mate and kit, yes." Mary said sadly. "I was delayed. I am sorry for your losses. I know grief. When I was very small, I lost my own parents and had a lot of bad things happen to me. I was helped and now? I am going to help you and your people. I cannot fix everything. I cannot fix most things. I will fix what I can." She reached out with a slow hand to take the Catain's gloved hand. It trembled in her hand. "What is your name?"
"I…" The Catain started to cry harder and Mary pulled her close. She didn't react as Jhinis touched the sobbing being's neck, inoculating her with the Iconian made cure. "S'Rama. I... I just..."
"I know." Mary held the sobbing Catain and looked around. They had drawn a small crowd and the MACOs were wary, but Mary was not. "It is all right, S'Rama. It is going to be all right. I am here now. I cannot change the past or undo the horror you have endured, but what I can fix, I will."
"She speaks true." A familiar voice heralded R'Lass staggering into view. Doctor Cyrus was walking behind her, muttering about 'stubborn'. She was looking better even as she walked! Still bad, but better! She was gasping for breath, but clearly on the mend. "It is all true. Everything."
"My mother made a promise to your son, Clan Leader R'Lass." Mary said as she held S'Rama who was sobbing, but Mary could feel her body changing, recovering! "I am here to see that promise fulfilled."