Chapter Title: Thirty-One
Chapter Synapses: A radical Starfleet Intelligence agency that has approached Starwind in the past approach other members of the crew in order to make Hyperion serve Section 31, and are willing to go to extreme measures to enlist their services.
Written by: Seraph Koji
Previously…
"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." Operative Newberry explained, "You are a member of Section 31 now, Captain."
Starwind stared at his comm. badge before picking it up. He showed it to Admiral Ross, shooting him a cold glare, "This still stands for something, Admiral."
"Victor, you should not be forced to help 31, so I'll tell you now. " A female operative told him, earnestly, "They are after you. They want Hyperion and aim to get her at all costs."
"These guys think I'm their ace in the hole for the Hyperion." Starwind explained to a fellow Captain, "But I refuse to serve them."
And now, the continuation…
"Shore leave, Captain?" Ivano asked, eagerly, as the ship dropped out of warp
Starwind shook his head, "We're not at Angel One for the sightseeing, Ensign."
"Besides," Collins smiled, "You're not their kind of visitor."
"Just because it's a planet ruled by beautiful women?" Ivano laughed.
"Put us into standard orbit." Starwind ordered, "Collins, beam down and see what was so important?"
"Aye." Collins walked toward the turbolift, She stopped as she passed the Operations console, "Where's Lieutenant Talara?"
Starwind stared at the crewman taking her place, "Fair question." He looked about, as if expecting to see her at another console, "Computer, locate Lieutenant Talara."
Talara stood in a fighter bay talking with someone in the Engineering department, "I guess you could say I'm a little upset by it. It was my fault, though."
"Shame you never earned your position back." The engineer replied.
"It was a stupid mistake. I'm lucky my antenna grew back." Talara laughed, "But I get to fly her sometimes. And run those fighter drills." She turned, "I'm late for my duty shift, Ensign…?"
"Newberry." He smiled, "One last thing, ma'am?"
"Yeah?" Talara stopped.
"What would you do to be a pilot again?" He asked.
Talara responded instantly, turning to face him again, "Almost anything."
"Good." Newberry smiled, "Then I have a proposition for you."
There was stillness on the bridge. Ivano opted to break the silence, "Why didn't they hail us?"
"Mistress Beata would rather speak to a woman in private." Starwind answered, "Such matters are too important for men."
"Matriarchal society I take it?" Ivano asked.
"You have no idea." VonBach said, as if remembering a visit.
Talara entered the bridge, "Sorry I'm late. An engineer had a few questions about repair of the fighters."
Starwind nodded to her, "Take your position. Collins has beamed to the surface to speak to Beata."
"Miss Winters?" Newberry approached her as she ate in the lunge on the observation deck.
Winters turned her head, "Yes?"
"My name is Newberry. It's a pleasure to meet you." He sat with her, "I wonder, are you homesick for Zeon?"
Winters was caught totally off-guard. She was not from this universe, but from a parallel one. Of course, that was classified. How some Ensign knew that was beyond her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"The Section can help you, Sarah." Newberry smiled.
"Section 31?" Winters laughed, "You're kidding. Why would I help them?"
"Because you want to see your Earth again." Newberry suggested, "You feel like such an outsider here."
Winters leaned across the table, "Three words, Ensign. Go to hell." She rose, moving for the exit.
"Beata didn't call us." Collins entered the bridge, followed by Winters.
Starwind rose, "What?"
"She didn't send that hail. Someone else did." Collins restated.
Winters added, "Can we meet in your ready room, sir?"
Starwind nodded, and the three entered his ready room.
"I know who contacted us." Winters told him the moment the door closed, "Section 31 approached me."
There was a terrible silence.
"We can't tip our hand about this." Starwind shook his head, "We need to find out who they've talked to."
"The operative said his name was Ensign Newberry." Winters added.
Collins thought a moment, "How do we catch him?"
"We don't." Starwind sighed, "31 escapes every time."
"Breifing?" Collins suggested.
Starwind shook his head, "No telling whom they've talked to. Winters, send security teams to apprehend Newberry. Collins, scan for a cloaked ship. Trust no one."
VonBach shot at a Velocity Disk in the holodeck. The disk changed color and flew toward Newberry.
"Full Impact. Point, VonBach." The computer chirped.
"Make it a challenge, Ensign." VonBach smirked, victoriously.
"You got a good aim." Newberry readied his phaser, "We need people with a talent like that."
VonBach fired, "Who is 'we'?"
Newberry shot, "Section 31."
"Captain's log, stardate 57581.2. It has been brought to my attention that Operative Newberry has boarded my ship. He seems to be trying to turn my crew into operatives. I can only assume it isn't the crew he's after, but rather the ship. Hyperion is one of the most modern warships in the fleet, armed with two unique weapons. I would wager that the same thing that interests 31 is what seems to interest every other crazy sect in Starfleet."
"What are they after?" Collins whispered to Starwind on the bridge. She had relieved Talara.
"Someone on this boat that'll do their bidding." Starwind responded with a note of disapproval.
Collins looked up from the console, "Better hope they don't offer VonBach membership."
"I do." Starwind replied.
"Why are we after this ensign?" a security officer asked Winters.
Annoyed, she responded "Insubordination."
"You need five teams of three armed officers for insubordination?" the officer asked.
She stopped and glared at the officer, "A lot of insubordination."
"You're after the Section, aren't you?" the other officer said.
"No." Winters responded, noting the operative in her ranks.
The operative shot Winters, "Lies!"
Without hesitation, the other officer shot the operative, and shot to kill.
"I'm not reading anything." Collins reported.
Starwind nodded, "Ivano, set course away from here, maximum warp. Collins, keep scanning."
"Aren't we going to find out who called us?" Ivano asked.
"No." Starwind replied coldly.
"Ensign Culver to Bridge, Winters is down. Our third stunned her. He was an operative for Section 31."
"Damn." Starwind gritted his teeth. Newberry would know soon they were on to him, "Collins, sound the intruder alert."
"What do you think of my offer, Doctor?" Newberry asked Sen.
Sen walked across sickbay "Inciting, but I'm going to decline."
"You don't decline, Doctor." Newberry said, forcefully.
The lights in the room fell red, and an alarm sounded. The computer chirped, "Intruder Alert."
"Looks like someone did." Sen walked up to Newberry, "I won't tell them I saw you here." Newberry turned to leave. As he did this, Sen hit him with a hypospray, and he fell to the ground, "Oops. Well, I should let the Captain know I sedated someone accidentally." Sen stared at Newberry, collapsed on the floor, "Security to Sickbay."
When Newberry awoke, he was in the brig. Starwind stood just outside the forcefield, "Got you."
Newberry laughed, "Very good, Captain. Was it Winters who told you? Shame she didn't have any family to threaten. That's how I got Lieutenant Commander Oneria."
"Oneria is being transferred to the Stragger in a day's time." Starwind replied.
"You'll never find all the crew I've turned." Newberry laughed, "And I still have you."
"Talara has come to me. As well as dozens of others, turning themselves and others in." Starwind said, emotionlessly, "Amazing what happens if you catch a ringleader."
"You'll never catch them all." Newberry reassured Starwind.
"I'll catch enough." Starwind left.
An hour or so later, Winters entered Starwind's ready room. "Newberry's gone."
Starwind sighed, "Someone got past our security protocols, Sarah. Who would do that without setting any alerts off?"
"VonBach." She said, now sure he was working for Newberry.
Starwind nodded, "VonBach."
"What are you going to do?" Winters asked, curious.
Starwind thought a moment, "Nothing noticeable." He paused again, "I want you to write reports weekly on his activities. Any unauthorized activity, from communications to overusing holodeck hours. Also, any sensitive tactical information or security information goes to you, and not him."
"Seems easy enough."
"Do you have any idea how much he does in the way of unauthorized weapon replications?" Starwind asked, "Not as easy as you think, Lieutenant."
