Chapter 6

Dr. T'Ling held up a sprig of mistletoe. "Children, be advised that this plant is toxic to Humans if ingested, despite its use in seasonal courting rituals."

Some of the gathered children looked up wide-eyed at the elderly Vulcan woman, but most of them continued running around, playing with the recreation room's decorations.

Kostopoulos watched from afar as T'Ling went on to lecture the kids on the various nutritional hazards of Christmas food. She couldn't help a small smile forming on her face. It was good to see the base children taking an interest, however frivolous, in the holiday, as well as having something for them to do in general. Life on the starbase, almost 100 light-years from Earth, could be a little drab for them most of the time.

She just wished things could have been kept a little more dignified. Commander McQueen had now covered the rec room in more garish apparel, with a bright, lit-up tree in the corner, and glittering tinsel all around. Pictures of Santa Claus, snowmen, and reindeer - all irrelevant to the actual religious purpose of Christmas - lined the walls, while the children ran amok with baubles and colourful bunting. McQueen herself seemed to be having more fun than anyone else, rummaging through a box of decorations while wearing a pair of foam antlers on her head.

Certainly, she was enjoying herself more than Kostopoulos. Or her other two senior officer assistants, T'Ling and Commander Patel. Kostopoulos suspected they had been threatened, bribed or guilted into helping out.

Patel, at least, seemed amused by both McQueen and T'Ling's broadly different approaches to the festivities. Chuckling, she put aside a box of something called 'Christmas crackers' and moved over to the statuesque MACO.

"It's a great thing you've done for everyone, Colonel," Patel said. "Really brightens the base up."

"Little too bright if you ask me," said Kostopoulos. She was glaring as McQueen threw yet more tinsel onto the tree.

Patel smirked. "I guess it is a little cheesy…"

"It's belittling a sacred occasion," said Kostopoulos. She sighed. "Religion was always very important in my family. We struck devoutly to tradition. I mean, I'm open to other beliefs, it just… upsets me to see someone make a mockery of my own."

Patel was surprised by such a strong reaction. "Are you sure that's what you're upset about? Not that she's 'taken over' from you?" At Kostopoulos' offended look, she continued. "Listen, I know how it feels to have someone muscle in on your own… pet project… but I'm sure Jess means well." She gestured across to McQueen, who was gathering the children and T'Ling around her.

"Kids, kids," McQueen was saying. "Can anyone tell me who Santa Claus is?"

A few of the younsters' hands shot up. McQueen picked one of them.

"He's a big, fat, beardy man!" the boy proudly declared.

"Right!" said McQueen. "What else?" She picked a girl this time.

"He brings presents," the girl said.

McQueen pointed at her. "Bingo! Santa Claus visits all the little boys and girls on Christmas Eve, while they're all sleeping, and brings them presents. If they've been good, of course. If you've been naughty, you only get a lump of coal!"

The children giggled at this.

T'Ling raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating. How does this individual visit every Human child in one night?" She seemed completely serious, although it was difficult to tell.

The children looked to McQueen expectantly.

"Uh… His sleigh can travel at warp ten," McQueen said.

"Highly improbable," muttered T'Ling.

McQueen put a hand up alongside her face, in a theatrical aside to the kids. "Looks like somebody's getting coal in her stocking."

The children laughed uproariously.

T'Ling looked away, acting unaffected. "A wasteful use of carbon..."

Patel chuckled along with the others. When she saw Kostopoulos' stern features, she asked. "Didn't you believe in Santa growing up, Colonel?"

A mild smirk grew on Kostopoulos' face. "In Greece, we have Saint Basil, who brings us gifts on January first. I suppose everyone has their own celebrations. How about you? Did your family do much for Christmas?"

Patel shook her head. "Nah. They weren't very religious. Living on a freighter, you tend to make up your own traditions." She grinned at a memory. "The captain of the Cleopatra made up Halfway for us kids."

"Halfway?"

"Yeah. It was the day when we were exactly halfway in our journey, whatever trade route we were on. We made it into a holiday. We'd all get a half-day off from lessons, and half of a small cake." She chuckled. "Haven't thought about that in a while."

"These things are important," Kostopoulos said.

"Well, you know, there's nothing stopping you telling these kids about your take on Christmas as well."

Kostopoulos thought about this a moment, then nodded. "You're right."

She marched over to the assembled children. "Hey, everyone, who wants to hear about another important Christmas figure?" Her tone was nowhere near as warm as McQueen's, but she had the children's attention as they turned to face her instead.

"His name was Jesus, and he was born a long time ago on Christmas Day," she began. "He is considered very important to some people, even today, so we celebrate his birth. It all started over twenty-one hundred years ago when his mother Mary was visited by an angel…" She was speaking as if giving a lecture, and it didn't take long for the children to become restless.

"Can we hear more about Santa?" one kid asked McQueen.

"How does he know what presents to give?" another called out.

"Where does he live?" yet another enquired.

McQueen gave Kostopoulos a sincere, apologetic shrug. The colonel sighed, turned on her heel and stormed out the rec room. Patel watched her leave, concerned, and an awkward silence filled the air.

T'Ling broke it. "How does this 'Santa Claus' get into everyone's dwellings, Commander?"


North and Mamao'lani sat around the desk in the former's office, listening to Captain Thorpe's weak transmission.

"Still - strong bioelectric - just above the pit. The Draco - still up there," the First Officer reported.

He had filled them in on the situation; how a gigantic Draco had forced them underground, wrecking both a shuttlepod and the EMP generator. It was still waiting for them to resurface as well, apparently. Even if it departed, some of the polar group would still be stranded, due to only one 'pod being left. There were over twenty of their people up there now, and the shuttlepods could carry a maximum of twelve each.

"It seems we need a rescue plan," said North. "Some way to subdue or otherwise neutralise the threat posed by this large Draco."

"The MACOs - it withstood a high - from the EMP, sir. It's a tough son of a -"

"Increasing the intensity of the EMP could work," said North.

"Commodore," Mamao'lani interrupted, "I recommend seeking a diplomatic solution first. It worked well with the other Draco."

"Of course, that will be our primary objective, Ambassador," said North. "But this is not Caeldon's friendly Redscale Clan we are dealing with. We don't know how this... distant relation will react. We must be prepared for the worst."

Mamao'lani reluctantly nodded.

"We haven't detected - other bioelectric - for kilometres. It might - only one," said Thorpe.

North stroked his chin as he considered this. "A lone Draco…"

"If it's been on its own for who knows how long, it might be feral," said Mamao'lani.

"All the more reason to proceed with caution," said North. "Ambassador, we will shuttle you to the polar region along with a full squad of MACOs armed with grenade launchers and another EMP generator. Commander McQueen will accompany you. She knows a lot about Draco anatomy, she may be able to tell us something about this one.

"You are to attempt to communicate with it, but if that proves difficult or impossible, the goal becomes to ward it off or otherwise eliminate the threat it poses so that we may recover our people. Whatever that may take."

Mamao'lani opened his mouth to protest the violent alternative, but shut it again, and simply nodded. He would try his best to establish a dialogue with the Draco, but he also accepted the reality of the situation.

North spoke into the intercom. "Captain, do you think you and your team will be safe for another while longer?"

"Should - sir," came Thorpe's static-filled response. "The caverns - old but stable for now. The science - are enjoying themselves - least."

North smirked. "I look forward to hearing all about their discoveries. Base out."

I just hope I get the chance, he thought grimly.