Chapter 19
Stardate 12403.03- USS Haida – Admiral's quarters
Richard's communication alert was continually beeping. Thankfully, his assistant prioritized his messages so that he could address the most critical first. When he sat down, he opened the terminal to find the first message tagged, "You owe me hazard pay. Answer NOW, Honey Badger".
"Not good." Richard sighed and hit the play button. Christine had left him a video message.
"Admiral Richard Skyler,
It had come to my attention that when Lt. Commander Jacob Holtz left Starbase 71, he used a code phrase that should have been unknown to him. While quite clever, it is highly doubtful that Lt. Commander Holtz would learn this code phrase independently. I need to know how he understood it." Christine's eyes bore into her father's. Her voice wasn't raised but calm. Her tone was not screeching but firm.
"Lt. Commander Holtz used the phrase 'Red Robin' to have me stand down when I was raising my concerns about his quick departure." Christine's eyes didn't leave his. "I understand that phrase is unknown to any outside our clan. I want to know who told him."
Richard couldn't help a slight gulp. Christine was channeling a perfect Lynn after someone stepped over her line, which did not bode well for anyone.
"Lt. Commander Holtz gave me one other clue. He said if he wasn't home in three weeks to contact Torbin. I am unclear what that means, given Jacob's wide background. I hope you can make more of it than I and certainly hope you were not the one that gave him the code."
Christine's sweet tone caused his injured shoulder to ache.
"When you have leads for me, please contact me directly, as you know this is highly important to me."
Christine's face went soft. "Daddy, I need your help. I love you." The screen then went blank.
It took a moment for Richard to gather his thoughts before he tapped his com. "Commander, please secure me a direct link with Admiral Scott on the USS Fleming. It's urgent."
"Any special designation, sir?"
"Mark it 'Red Robin.' Unless I'm in a priority one meeting when the admiral calls, I must talk to her."
"Aye, sir, right away, sir." The commander closed the link.
With the link closed, Richard steepled his fingers and asked no one, "What have you done, Robin?"
Stardate 12403.03- USS Flemming – Office of Rear Admiral Robin Wells-Scott
"Beep Beep"
"Admiral, I have a priority one request that has come in for you."
"Thank you, Kitto." Robin smiled. Commander Morgan Kitto had become Robin's right hand since Robin had come aboard. "Scott…"
"Wait, sir, this message is listed as Red Robin."
Robin paused, "Morgan, connect me to Skyler, now."
With a gesture, Kitto became Vice-Admiral Richard Skyler, "Vice-Admiral."
"Admiral Scott. I need to speak to you regarding a concern that has reached my desk."
"Which is Admiral?" Robin stood, hands behind her back, and faced Richard.
"Lieutenant Christine Skyler asked me about the name 'Torbin.'" Richard kept his eyes locked with Robin, "I need to know why she knows that name."
Robin raised an eyebrow at Richard's mention of Christine's promotion. "Richard…."
Richard held up a hand, "Robin, I know you wouldn't put the man your goddaughter loves in danger for no reason." Richard sighed but kept his voice firm but soft, "I need to know why because he has not returned to her as he planned."
"Computer, note that Vice-Admiral Richard Skyler is being read into mission Fomalhaut-704-Xray-Juliett." Robin began to pace.
"Confirmed."
Robin stopped pacing and faced Richard. "What do you know of the Fomalhaut system Richard?"
Richard sighed and crossed his arms across his chest, "The Fomalhaut system was the location of a Bajoran refugee colony. I assisted in expediting surplus medical and agricultural supplies following the war. Since then, they have become a hub for agricultural and cultural commerce in their sector."
"Vogi Yukim founded the colony. He brought his friends, family, and 300 Bajoran refugees to Fomalhaut Prime to establish a new colony to support the agricultural needs of Bajor, as it lost significate food production capabilities during the war."
"Noble goal."
"Not entirely," Robin sighed and split the screen so Richard could see a report. "Vogi Yukim wanted a Bajor, for Bajorans. He did not want the interference of any outside races or cultures."
"Given how much had been destroyed, it would be natural for the people to cling to their traditions and culture during their hard times."
"Rightly so, Admiral," Robin changed the document to another, "However, Yukim's group had taken the 'Bajor for Bajoran's' philosophy to an extreme."
"How?"
"Inter-species relationships are highly regulated. For example, procreation within those relationships is strictly forbidden within the system."
Richard's eyebrows shot up, "And the Bajoran government is ok with this arrangement?"
"They have been tolerant, as the government has not been oppressive to citizens."
"That is a matter of opinion," Richard grumbled.
"Yukim's government has been putting on a grand public face, but reports coming out of the system from others have said otherwise."
Richard nodded for her to continue.
"The Bajoran military, also with their Star Fleet cohorts, sent a team to investigate these claims."
"It is what I would have done, so what happened?"
"Fomalhaut-704-Xray-Juliett was a simple observe and report mission." Robin switched the document to the mission report. "The team was to enter the system as land surveyors preparing to construct a new school in a rural area."
Robin changed the screen to show the list of team members. "The team was commanded by Arsi Chalge of the Bajoran Army and Lieutenant Allyson Cedeno, our human Star Fleet representative." Robin brought up each member's image as she spoke about them, " The Star Fleet Science Office was Ensign Xonak. As this was a simple observe and report mission, two fourth-year Star Fleet Cadets and a Bajoran Military Academy student were included on the mission."
Richard considered, "This is a non-hostile situation with little risk. However, it would have been a good opportunity for cadets to receive hands-on experience."
"That had been the assumption."
"Until things went sideways." Richard shook his head.
"Precisely," Robin agreed, "We have only been able to get second-hand reports, but it appears that Commander Chalge discovered that local magistrates were harshly punishing those they found not adhering to the Bajor for Bajoran; rules."
"What happened?"
"A Bajoran man and a human part Romulan female were dragged from a home, naked, and publicly whipped in a village outside the main city."
Richard's jaw dropped slightly.
Robin continued, "Instead of reporting this to Star Fleet and Bajoran authorities, Commander Chalge decided to take judgment into his own hands."
Richard let out a curse.
"Chalge led a siege on the magistrate's headquarters to rescue the couple and any others that might be in their holding cells."
Richard put his hands behind his head and paced in a circle. "How bad was it?"
"Chalge went off on his own to deal with the magistrate himself while the rest of the team helped the prisoners escape."
"Casualties?"
"One dead, One captured, One severely wounded, but the rest managed to escape into the surrounding farms."
"Do we know who is who yet, or is it too early to tell?"
"Chalge is dead; Cedeno is in a holding cell at the main prison in the city proper. Xonak was badly injured but managed to get to the Vulcan enclave for medical treatment with the help of the remaining team members. The Vulcans couldn't chance being seen harboring the other team members but agreed to send word for help and protect Xonak until that help came."
"Which is where Torbin and Jacob come in."
"Torbin contacted me asking if I could help him get passage for his team off the planet."
"Can you?"
"I have a medical supply shuttle upgrading many village clinics on Fomalhaut prime. So their team could easily slip into the group as special needs patients being taken for more treatment and as medical team members."
"Seems straightforward, so what's the catch?"
"Cedeno." Robin displayed a schematic of the city. "The team will not leave without her."
"Loyal team," Richard said, impressed.
"She can not be released via normal means as she knows too much."
"So, going through the front door is out?" Richard sighed and wiped his face.
"Enter Torbin and his expertise."
"What was his plan?"
"Captain Varel's wife, General Neoma Saxona, is a well-known Bajoran Military Officer. Yukim has been itching for years to have someone of importance visit Fomalhaut to show off how well his 'Bajor for Bajoran's' philosophy is working to make Bajor and the Bajoran race so much better." Robin smirked.
"And, of course, he will want to show off?" Richard smirked back.
"She and a group of dignitaries were sent to Fomalhaut Prime to see how this marvelous colony is doing and to escort once hidden Bajoran artifacts and the remains of the colony's honored dead to be returned to Bajor for burial."
"Artifacts?"
"When Yukim left Bajor, he and his, let's call them associates, took works of art, historical pieces, and other items of importance from Bajor for safekeeping. "
"The war has been over for twenty years; why haven't they been returned?"
"I guess they were using them to entice people to come to the colony." Robin changed the screen to show a series of paintings and sculptures. "Yukim is having a grand gala to display these wonderful Bajoran art pieces and has invited many of the most cultured art aficionados in the Federation to attend."
"Too bad you don't have a cultured but well-trained operative that could be slipped into that group unnoticed."
"Unfortunately, finding someone who knows their way around fine culture and art, yet could easily command a group to infiltrate the prison and extract Cedeno, was not easy."
"Which is why you told Torbin about Jacob."
"Initially, no." Robin closed the displayed documents, "Jacob made it clear that he wouldn't take any assignments that would jeopardize his relationship with Christine and the children."
"Boy is smarter than I was at that age."
Robin smirked in agreement.
"As I have a distraught Christine who is scared for Jacob, he didn't follow his advice."
"Torbin tried to find someone else, but no one better qualified than Lieutenant Commander Holtz, but I told Torbin to give Jacob a choice. If Jacob said no, I would find a different way to get the team out, but it might take a little more time. If Jacob said yes, Torbin would speak on Jacob's behalf at his reinstatement hearing in April. "
"Devious Admiral."
"I have confidence in Jacob. Torbin's endorsement will give the panel an outside opinion on his abilities. Jacob is not just a good officer but a good leader and mentor. This is a chance for him to prove it."
"You are right; it is." Richard sighed. "I don't like the idea of Jacob being out there, but as an officer, I can understand it. But I have one question?"
Robin gestured for him to continue.
"What is Torbin's stake in all this?"
"He has more at stake than you would think," Robin explained.
"Why would an officer of his stature be involved in something like this? It was a joint Bajoran Star Fleet operation, but Captain Torbin has better things to do than oversee what was initially an observe and report mission."
"For the same reason, you called me today, Richard." Robin gave him a slightly humorous look. Richard looked back at her, confused.
"His son," Robin smirked. "Cadet Neoma Varel, along with cadets Hiti Gluwiy and Brodrick Holbach, are the three remaining members of the team."
Richard's eyes grew wide as he fully understood what Robin was telling him.
"Cadet Neoma is stubborn, hot-headed, and a very well-trained security officer, but he needs someone to point him in the right direction and guide him on how to get his command officer and his team out of there alive."
"Damn!" Richard tipped his head downward. "A father asked another father to save his son."
"Could you see Jacob turning that down, even for Christine?"
"No, I couldn't." Richard began pacing. "So, where do we go from here? Jacob told Christine that he would be back in three weeks; it's been three weeks. She is scared, and if anything happens to him, I assure you she will maim anyone who gets in her way to save him."
"Four days; he needs four more days and a fast ship with a good teleporter." Robin clocked her head to the side, "Know anywhere he can get one of those?"
"I can have one to SB 71 in 14 hours." Richard smiled.
"Good, because his extraction team is waiting for it there."
"Anything I can tell Christine to get her to stop panicking?"
"Tell her…" Robin thought, "To have Vicky pack an extra bag because she is hitching a ride on the white rabbit. Scott out."
Richard steeped his hands over his face as the screen closed and let out a big sigh as he tapped his communications panel. A moment later, the image of Captain Turner in his ready room appeared.
"What can I do for you, Admiral?" He asked.
"Casey, there has been a change of plans. We need to return to Starbase 71. There will be a briefing in the Admiral's conference room at 1730 hours. Bring your XO, chief tactical officer, and chief medical officer. We have a sensitive mission so let's keep it under wraps for now." Turner nodded.
"Anything else for now?" He asked.
"I think that will be all for now. Skyler out."
