Chapter Title: Men of Shadows
Chapter Synapses: While on shore leave, Starwind is approached by a man who knows about the other universe Starwind had been sent to, who makes an impressive, and bizarre, offer.
Written by: Seraph Koji
Starwind sat on a bench in the lush green environment of the terrafromed New Dublin colony, in civilian garbs with only his comm. badge signifying his Starfleet ciomission, reading. A task he rather enjoyed, as a distraction from matters of the Federation. Or, so he hoped.
"Victor Starwind, Captain, USS Hyperion." A young man approached, no older than twenty years of age.
Starwind looked up from his book, "You know me, but I don't know you."
The young man nodded, "Name's Ron Newberry, U.P.F. Department of Stellar Cartography."
"A pleasure, Mister Newberry." Starwind said, "Now is there anything I can help you with?"
"Everything! How were stellar shifts in the other universe different from ours? What are transport patterns like over there?" Newberry asked.
Starwind quickly closed his book and stood up, "What? How do you…?" He paused. He tapped his comm. badge, "Starwind to New Dublin security, send assistance." No response.
"They aren't listening anymore, Captain." Newberry smiled, pushing a small button on pure black outfit, "Newberry to Specter, two to beam up." Newberry and Starwind dematerialized.
When Starwind awoke, he was on the bridge of a ship. By the layout, he assumed a Defiant class, "Good morning, Captain." Newberry's voice came from the Captain's chair.
Starwind found himself unarmed and his comm. badge missing, but otherwise fine. He moved beside the chair, looking down at Newberry, "Who are you really?"
"I am really Operative R. Newberry from Section 31, commanding officer of the starship Specter. And I'm sure you want to know what Section 31 is, and to be put simply, we are an agency of total secrecy within Starfleet Intelligence and Starfleet Security. We act in the interest of the future prosperity of the Federation. We exist in shadows only. Our ship, the Specter, has no registry information and is equipped with a cloaking device. Our agency is dismissed as a group of terrorists by the Federation, who always vow to 'investigate immediately'. We report to no higher authority than ourselves, and operate in small clusters. I command this division of the Section." Newberry explained.
"Just how long has 31 existed?" Starwind asked, intrigued, and noticing a bridge full of people dressed like Newberry.
Newberry smiled, "Since before the Federation. Since the days of Starfleet serving as Earth's space armada, we have protected the interest of everyone within out jurisdiction and beyond."
"Your vigilantes?" Starwind asked.
"Such an ugly word. I prefer just to be 'the Section'." Newberry smiled, "And the Section wants you, Captain."
Starwind shot an odd glare at Newberry, "Come again?"
A few moments later, Newberry and Starwind sat in the Specter's ready room, as Newberry droned on about Section 31, "We have operatives within the heart of Romulus and the Klingon Empire, the Cardassian Union (rather what's left of it), even the Breen Confederacy. We have had men in the cabinet of the past five Federation Presidents. Admirals, Doctors, we have a lot of influence, Captain. And we are expanding. For all our efforts to protect the Federation, we have lost a number of men, including my former commander, Operative Sloan. We need strong, resolute, men and women to serve the Section, and we have accepted you."
"And if I say no?" Starwind asked.
"There is no saying no. You are a member of Section 31 now Captain. You will do your countrymen a great favor by following us. We will return you to Deep Space Three, there you can rendezvous with Hyperion as scheduled." Newberry paused, "And Captain, tell no one what transpired here."
Starwind turned to exit the ready room when he felt a beam from a phaser hit him in the back.
Starwind opened his eyes to find himself in the Sick Bay of Deep Space Three. A Starfleet admiral stood next to his bed, one he knew. "Admiral Ross." He sat up, "What can I help you with, sir?"
"Just checking on you, Victor. I was aboard D.S. Three and heard your shuttle had been attacked by the Orion Syndicate. You're a lucky man, you know. Being captured by the Syndicate twice in one year would have been very unfortunate." Ross explained.
Starwind nodded, "Yes, sir. Agreed." He rose to his feet, "If you'll excuse me, I should be in uniform for when the Hyperion arrives."
"I'll send your regards to Captain Grason of the Sao Palo, since he saved your life and all." Ross smiled.
"Thank you sir." Starwind, a little puzzled, dismissed himself.
A few hours later, a fully-uniformed Starwind sat in his ready room, waiting for the moment that just arrived. West entered the room.
"Counselor, I question my sanity." Starwind said, point blank.
West found herself caught off-guard, "Hello to you too."
"I vividly remember a group of people which is disavowed totally by the Federation. I have no proof, but I feel like I was there." Starwind explained, "Section 31. A rouge Starfleet agency."
"Actually, Captain, I have heard rumors that they approached the Deep Space Nine doctor who cured the Founders' Disease at the end of the Dominion War." West reported, "What did they want?"
"Me." Starwind shot her a glare.
"Captain's Log, the idea that Section 31 exists has me rather spooked, as well as my senior staff, who are now apprised of the situation. They're a tidy bunch, difficult to track, but Bronski and his associate, a Denobulian named Phral, are seeking any signature belonging to the Specter. What is it about me? Am I a rouge agency magnet?"
"Got it!" Phral, a Denobulian male, exclaimed on the bridge, "Nutrino emissions. Very faint, but present nonetheless!"
"Talara, you reading it?" Starwind asked.
Talara looked over her console, "No sir."
"Try now." Phran suggested.
"Got is." Talara nodded, "Setting course, warp eight." Hyperion streaked away from Deep Space Three.
"Incoming from D.S. Three, Admiral Ross." Winters reported as Ross appeared on screen.
"Captain, where are you going?" Ross asked.
Starwind felt confused again, Admiral Ross seemed nervous, "Probably just chasing a sensor ghost, but we detected emissions from a ship operating under cloak, and are investigating. It might be a Romulan scout."
"Come bask to Deep Space Three, Sao Palo will investigate." Ross ordered.
"Admiral, with all due respect, we are equipped better to handle-"
"That's an order." Ross was sweating.
Starwind stood, "Talara, increase to maximum warp." Starwind ordered, "Something wrong, Admiral?"
"Stop, Vic!"
"You're risking your career on this, sir!" Collins stood.
"Commander Collins, contain the situation!" Ross ordered.
"Found the end of the emissions, sir." Phron called.
"VonBach, disable their cloak!" Starwind ordered.
A phaser blast shot from Hyperion, crashing into the hull of a Defiant class.
"Direct hit. Specter's cloak has fallen." VonBach smiled.
Starwind sat down, "Now we'll head back, Specter in tow. Lock tractor beam!"
"Sir!" Winters called.
The Specter vanished again.
"No emissions this time, Captain." Phran looked supprised.
Starwind sighed, "Set course for Deep Space Three, warp six."
Starwind lay in bed with Hyperion docked that night, and awoke with a start, "Computer, lights!"
Sitting in a chair near the foot of Starwind's bead was Newberry, "You are resourceful, Captain, but so are we, as you noticed."
"How did you slip away?" Starwind asked.
Newberry smiled deviously, "That's for me to know, Captain."
Starwind scowled, "Why are you here, Newberry?"
"Easy, to remind you that you work for the Section now, so next time you fire upon us, think twice." Newberry walked out of the quarters. Starwind quickly grabbed a hand phaser and ran into the corridor. Nothing. "Computer, who was in Victor Starwind's quarters a minute ago?"
"Victor Starwind, Captain." The computer replied.
Starwind lowered the hand phaser, "He's good." He returned to his quarters and took a small camera from his wall, and projected the holographic image it captured of Newberry sitting in his quarters, "But so am I."
The following morning, after giving his report to Admiral Ross, showing the holographic image of Newberry, and explaining his ghost hunt the previous day, Starwind asked a question he felt altogether stupid but remarkably important, "Admiral, how long have you worked for Section 31?"
Ross' eyes narrowed, "If we have this discussion," he removed his comm. badge, "it's off the record."
"Fine." Starwind removed his, "How long, Admiral?"
"Since the Dominion War." Ross seemed to feel powerless, "Once they sink their claws into you, the Section doesn't let go."
"Newberry?" Starwind asked.
Ross shrugged, "All I know is he took Sloan's place as lead operative of his division."
"Who is Sloan?"
"An operative who committed suicide attempting to prevent a cure to Founders' Disease." Ross explained, "Section 31 has committed attempted genocide in the name of the Federation, not to mention murder, robbery… but they tend to do Starfleet's dirty work. While we sit, publicly abhorring their tactics, we watch them gather intelligence through questionable means and kill our enemies."
"A tidy arrangement." Starwind scowled, "How could you? How dare you support these thugs and terrorists!"
Ross slapped his badge back on, "Dismissed."
Starwind stared at his comm. badge before picking it up, he showed it to the Admiral, shooting him a cold glare, "This still stands for something, Admiral." He placed his badge back on and walked out.
"Captain's log. Well, the last few days has been interesting, and off-the-record. All I can say is that the Section 31 threat is eating away at the heart of Starfleet. And once the time comes, I plan to bring 31 down in flames. I did a lot of scrounging for oddities in records and have found a short list op possible unwilling operatives in the Section 31 network who might aid in an anti-31 operation. As for now, though, it may be best to bide my time."
Newberry sat on the bridge of the Specter, Hyperion on the view screen. He motioned to his helmsman, "We'll come back for them. Set course for the Bajorian Wormhole, maximum warp." He ordered.
