The Bonds Of Friends And Family TNG Season 5: The Game Aftermath I

by BazzCatgirl03

After breaking the control the K'tarian rebel Etana Lol had on the crew, they realize that the side effects of the game are not over. Deciding to look at what his future holds, the senior staff check the tv show focused on them. As seeing the truth to what the traveler had planned, Wesley decides to bring in the members of his squadron and the descendants of SG-1 and their friends.

31. 31: The First Duty Part VI: Motives

The Bonds Of Friends And Family

Disclaimers: The characters don't belong to me, the story belongs to me and every else belongs to the movie company and the creator.

Warning: For this chapter it's foreshadowing the results of what could have been if they hadn't discovered the traveler's plans for him. As he goes through the situations leading into his dropping out of the academy. As they go through each scene carefully. And this one is the rest of the trial after the accident that caused him to drop out.

Chapter 31: The Future Foreshadowed And The New Journey Begins

As they saw him working with them as they saw the smile of pride in their eyes as his training, at the fact he pulled it off gently. "Lal, re-run of the incursion on the ship, after the attempt started and Etana Lol tried to take me next after getting to my friends. And crew, and Charlie and I did it together until Robin was freed from her control." he said and it switched course at that as they watched it gently.

"And finally, go to the plan and how we planned this out, before I returned to the academy, each piece, bit by bit, including my uniform." he said as they saw the quartet, Josh and Higgens preparing for it as they saw him create a cloaking chip. And fitting it to his uniform, as he tested it as they saw his real uniform as he tested it. Before it switched to his cadet uniform and the group nodded as the enquiry gave a nod.

"So rather then being involved in a cover up, you're really a plant on the team, young man?" Deladier said to him sternly and he nodded. "Aye Sir, Josh and I took the liberty to go on your unspoken orders regarding this. But I'm really the captain's man and yours, through and through, Sirs. On my loyalty to you, I had a duty to the truth and you, and I did my duty." he said and the group nodded.

"But in addition to that right now, I decided on a sheep lead in trick, directly into your trap. The last three days was so I could lead them into incriminating themselves by their own words now. As if they didn't have the forthright to come forward and tell you what happened, they don't deserve to wear these uniforms, Lal now." he said as his uniform switched forms and the trio paled at that.

"I got the uniforms in multi-layer, but the Continuum set it up, so dressed as a cadet like this, but they turned it into the cadet version of my uniform. Here on the ship, but I'm not a cadet 3rd class at all, I'm a lieutenant. I'm the leader of Gamma squadron here on the ship as to that, I think you know what I'm saying Nick." he said as the next flash appeared as Katie Higgins and Tommy Martell appeared.

As they saw his real uniform then in the same color as Deladier, Picard and Will, before they saw the two pips in his collar and swallowed hard at that. "You're a lieutenant, why the hell didn't you tell us?" Locarno asked and he crossed his arms. "You pay attention to my reprimand last night, or even the way I took command away from you after the accident." Wesley said sternly and he swallowed at that news.

"When I said I wasn't lying to my captain again, I meant it Nick, I'm his man through and through." he said sternly and they swallowed. "Where'd you come up with a chip to change uniforms to disguise the fact that this is your real uniform now?" Brand asked in bemused amazement to him. "Lal and I created a simulator chip to disguise my real uniform, I was wearing it after the team meeting."

"So when around them, I'm dressed like this, for the past six weeks now." he said it changed back to his academy uniform. "And when the accident happened, I activate the chip, to go back and forth, but I got on board and was dressed like this." he said as it switched to his full duty uniform then. "Nicely done Cadet, that was very nice thinking hiding that from them and with that right now."

"It was after we arrived, and before Locarno interrupted what you were going to tell me by barging in there. I just didn't realize or remember you had that chip on, so in order to throw him off, you had that chip activated. Activated it the second Deladier made contact with you after he came to get you down from there." Picard said and he nodded to him and he nodded as he answered him smiling.

"Dad you know me, I would never lie to you before, so why start now exactly, at the moment, if they expected to get away with this, they better think again. As to why it's because I was making it clear, I already took command away from him. And I was a full lieutenant, so reporting directly to Captain Deladier, that was the easy part and he accepted I was now in control of the team."

"The chip was linked to any and all senior officers from the nurse on campus directly to you Admiral. So only you could see past the facade of the training uniform, so when the captain made contact with me and brought me around. He could see my real uniform and as the senior officer now in charge. And of the four of us, and knew I was dragging him before the academy enquiry for it."

"But regarding when I got to you last night when Derek walked in, that's why he froze up, because Lal deactivated the cloak so he could see my real uniform. And as I was acting as who I really am, the lieutenant and team leader to Nova squadron's rivals at the academy now." he said and the entire group nodded as the trio looked at him in shocked disbelief at the news as he went further then firmly.

Looking at the scared looks on the trio he smiled as he said it. "I suppose you wonder why Derek never got back to you last night did he, Nick. You really thought I wouldn't know what it was you were trying to do, first coercion. But emotional blackmail and then you try to sabotage me at the time. Do you remember my exact words, before we hit that part now, ' I'm not sure I can do this.'."

"Peter said that he couldn't reach him, after the captain called me up here, correct, all of sudden it went to radio silence, for you. And after the captain called me up here and telling me he knows, correct. And wasn't that what you were thinking, when I told you I'd never lie to them. Again, when you said that, that you could try to frame me in this?" he asked and the other boy swallowed.

"Well the reason is because we caught him, he came in too soon, just as I was getting ready to tell them that truth. Yesterday's reprimand and ultimatum was a trap, for you and you walked right into my trap when you said that last night. 'I'm not sure I can do this', 'You'd do that, you'd let me throw away my career just to save your neck.'. By saying and answering in the manner you did."

"You both walked directly into the trap the committee and my crew set for you at the time this week. I was taught to be honest, a duty to the truth, well my duty to the truth is that to save the team, it was by coming forward together. If you just bothered to go with my suggestion you wouldn't be expelled. And the consequences are the same for all of us, but while you're doing it from earth."

"I'm doing it up here, but this was a test of leadership and honesty and you all failed the test by responding in the way you did. That was a trap, by my saying that to you and you responding in the way you did, both of you flunked the test." he said and the trio paled at as Worf crossed his arms sternly. "Trap, last night was a trap?" Sito said in shock and Picard crossed his arms as he went further.

As Worf rested his hands on his shoulders in pride, Wesley looked up at him and he looked at him with a warm fatherly look on his eyes. "After the game and the aftermath, if I was in the Air Force, I got my Purple Heart. And it's because I risked my life preventing an incursion, and the Alliance of planets that pulled it. They just barely killed me in attempting an incursion into the federation."

"And the captain promoted me to lieutenant when they kept me home at the time. But in total honesty now you three. I learned from the best, you three, my crew trained me in everything you could think of. But I just traded a foothold situation for a sheep lead in trick manner. And you played along like the pied piper of Hamlin by answering in the manners you did, you two."

"Let alone your arrogance in not bothering to check my dorm room for real by opening up the door. Or bothering to look outside, to check and see if the captain was really outside. Or opening up the door to see if my mother and I were really in there. And that's your fatal flaw, arrogance and assumptions, you fall for it and it gets you in trouble." he said and Worf smiled sternly as he said it.

" Well done cadet, you did me proud right now, and you three, you should know the difference between what is real. And what could be considered as the sheep lead in trick, as I see in your records, none of you lived on a ship all your lives. Being trained in infiltration, stealth and survival training, you're all planet borns recruits, none of you have parents who are Starfleet officers now."

"And with that the boys knew the rules, so now the question is why try to delay him." Worf said and Picard finished that remark. "But we gave you chance after chance, after chance to come forward and you still wouldn't take it right now. Well if honesty and rules don't mean a thing to you, I'd like to see what happened up there at the time here." he said the trio sternly then at that remark.

"Sir, if it hadn't been for my computer program, I doubt I would have gotten to you, before they realized it. Because if I hadn't, I'd be toast and that would be it, but I just prevented them from preventing it by turning them in. And before you busted them, and it was last night that you did, thankfully though here. We already had this conversation, set 20 months in advance prior to this."

"I got to you, before they tried to prevent it, and it was thanks to Lal being in the system and my computer program." Wesley said and the trio paled at that. "Nothing changed between us, because as I said prior to this, that week during the game and even further back. We talked about what the consequences were going to be for something like this, so long as I never lost your trust."

"I could take the punishment, until we catch Derek, as he came in too soon realizing this was a set up, and instead of destroying my life, I destroyed his. With Derek off the ship for 18 months at the time here, it was enough time, that I implemented several sub routines into the program. And, as you know, I'm a computer expert and that program was enough to save the federation."

"Well the next step was using it as piece to catch a couple criminals in the act of a scandal later on. You and the crew, mom, matter more to me, I knew if there was anyway to remain at the academy it's by coming forward all at once. Evidently their fears of your decisions, regarding this is what caused this act of desperation, by half truths and omissions." he said and he nodded to him gently.

"Yes and you never let us down, nicely done Wesley, it doesn't matter what they say, you did the right thing and as you're the only one who did. That gets you off on only six months, but your license to pilot, in the starfighters and shuttles, though deactivated. Your license to pilot the Enterprise is not, and next on your regime is war game drills." Picard said and he nodded to him softly at that.

"Yes Sir, but as I made a promise, none of them realized I altered the program slightly with Hanson and Farley off the ship. And the ones that did were all part of our inner circle when I downloaded it into the system 2 years ago at the time. So their fears, arrogance and anger just became their undoing now at the moment." he said and the trio paled at the remark as the crew and committee smiled.

As Will hid a smile as he went to the question he knew was going to scare them out of their wits then. As he asked it looking at his young student gently, smiling. "I knew you'd never let us down son, in fact with this situation, you always knew the rules at the time. Alright what was this next little idea you used and put in if you got the news to us this soon, before we caught them in the act, Wes."

"Because if they thought they knew you, just like Derek made that same mistake and got arrested by Data for breaking orders. And even though we sent him to bed that night, he still got involved here?" he asked and Wesley hid a smile as he answered him. "With the Novas it's always the 'act before they think' type, but it's all athletics, not intellect here, but using that against the trio."

"I boosted the frequency, so they had their computers tampered with, giving a photographic image with audio. Just to make it seem like the 3 of us were on the grounds, mom, Captain, and they believed the image. To the point they never bothered to open the bedroom door, just to check. Or look out the window to see if you were out there or not." he said and they both nodded to him.

"Kind of like the computer simulations of the fire in the cargo bay and the holographic games Worf played on the Enterprise computer. Well I just used that against them and this time, I had added back up, but physics and science is not a game. To make it in the job you have to be smarter then your opponent, Case in point, I just created the barricade and emergency exit to top them all."

"And the trio, Hanson and his cousin all fell for it, but 1) trying to attack head on, try it and you're getting arrested, try to set the auto destruct, getting arrested, try to beam over to the opponent's ship, getting arrested as well. So I created a fourth option and it's by use of the computer program I created. My stealth training and survival and medical training and it just paid off again."

"And with Lal still in the system and you parked right over the academy, she downloaded herself into the A/V security room. And simulated the images into the quartet's computers, that by the time they realized they'd been had. I already told you what happened and we went to stage acting after that." he said and the trio swallowed as Jean said it for the three of them at his remark then.

"Who is Lal and what is this computer program you created, because we didn't know about either of them." Jean said as she tried to keep from shaking at the news. "Lal is Commander Data's daughter, she's the ship's A.I., my surrogate big sister. To Commander Data he sees me as a son, so in essence his daughter thinks of me as a younger brother, as we added her to the ship's A.I.."

"And the computer program is a friend and foe security lock out system I created in case we got boarded. Or the crew themselves were turned into drones, I used that when I prevented the foothold last year. And the antagonist just barely killed me in trying to get this thing out of the ship, Lal, I need the headset." he said as a flash appeared on the table as he picked up the headset then.

"If you thought we were in my bedroom yesterday, what you saw was actually a computer image of me in my quarters with my mother. While the captain was on the grounds talking to Boothby, but in reality the three of us were up here. And I dropped the bomb on them and the enquiry, before my crew caught you in the act." he said and they paled at the news as Picard smiled at the remark gently

"You know for someone as gifted as you, Nick, you should be able to tell the difference between what is real and what is faked. Because this is real right now, but this is faked, Lal, image of mom and me in my quarters at the academy." he said and they saw an image of her sitting next to him as they were talking, before another appeared as they saw Picard still in the garden.

"Did you honestly think I didn't know a way to make it believable to you three or that whoever tipped you off would think. Now, that I wouldn't know a way to get on board, and without tripping off the sensors, because if you do. Then you're not going to make it in this career, because to the crew and enquiry. And its mind over matter, mind over matter, brains over brawns now."

"But here's the truth, I learned over the two last years in how to get around undetected at the time. Disabling the tracking sensors and thermal sensors, false images at the time. And I used that against a criminal mastermind who was intending on a hostile takeover without violence, so this was easy." he said and they swallowed hard at that as Brand smiled at him as she said it to him gently

"The act of duty to the truth would have saved the team if they just listened to you, a duty to the truth. Or, in another wording now, if we were in the 20th century, 'you made a judgement call to the save the team.'. Sure you thought about us first, so here's the point to this if you hadn't. The entire team would've been destroyed if you'd been O'neill's former commander, if you went back."

"You made the only choice you could have to save the team and instead of going with you, they chose duty to their friends. And while Nicholas gets expelled, they're left dealing with the added side effects with being stuck at the academy. And having every member of the next three classes and the assorted staff know what they did, and never letting them forget it either now."

"But again 'what about your duty to your friends?', in 20th century terming, 'what about no one gets left behind?', well to answer that question Mr. Locarno. When you made that choice as an adult behind enemy lines and the results are, now. That it could get you killed or captured if you went back for the team mate that got shot and arrested by enemy forces, so if you were a true officer."

"You'd be thinking like he has regarding this and it's, and here's the piece that you're going to learn later in life regarding us veteran members of Starfleet. But there are a lot of things we do that we wish we could change and as sure as hell can not forget. But the whole concept to chain of command undermines the idea of free will, so as officers, we have to make some very tough decisions."

"Or following orders as you were trained to, it doesn't make it any easier and certainly doesn't make it right. It does put some of the blame on the person giving the orders, that's what being in the military back then does to an officer. But O'neill got himself in trouble for breaking the restrictions when he was your age and his attitude is the reason he's still a lieutenant rather then a captain."

"So the judgement was rendered at the moment regarding you, but now that with the fact that the truth is coming out. That the duration of 18 months just sealed their fates when you were up here with your mother and the rest of the crew, Ensign Crusher. You did as you were supposed to do, but as you were the only one who did, it's six months, regarding the sentence now, once it starts."

"So six months probation, and another 12 back on board the Enterprise, your flight status of the smaller crafts is suspended. And until you complete the six months you can't advance with your class, and with that Ensign. I'm giving you these 18 months, what of Ensign Lefler?" Brand asked and she moved to his side. "It's been confirmed, we're due in seven months." he said and she nodded gently.

"Well here's the next question, why didn't you come forward and tell us this sooner?" Jenson asked as he walked into the room. "It's because evidently whoever caused them to start screwing with my getting the truth out to all of you. Is evidently the one who got to them as Nick was deluding himself into thinking. That I'd stick with them, whoever did it I'm betting it's our conversation here."

"That I'm betting it was Derek Hanson, as his cousin is Peter Hanson, Derek told his cousin, who then told Nick. That I've gone Gamma and with me was Josh, and they decided they had to make sure. But when I said I wasn't lying to you for a second time, as the first was to get you to realize it. They realized he was right all along, Commander." he said and Jenson nodded to him at that remark.

"I'm guessing I'm not going to like whatever I'm about to see in your memories right now. If Josh and you did this to prevent it from ever happening again, Wes?" Alberts said to him and he nodded. "Yes that's right, he tried to fix O'neill's mistakes in doing that maneuver and he caused a secondary crash. Killing Josh and nearly me with him here, I'm just explaining this from my own side of it."

"But the 'we' was really pointed at the trio, they pushed him into doing it when he wasn't ready for it. They thought we could do it finally, they thought we could anything, but we can't and we're not. And as a result he was killed by ill conceived timing, measurements gone wrong, and arrogance. But you never tolerated this anyway, and to quote your remark now right now, Sir."

"They participated in a cover up that impeded upon the official investigation into the death of a cadet, Captain. And admiral the reason I didn't come forward sooner is because Derek possibly got to them. In regarding the whole 'what about your duty to your friends' piece." he said as he saw Sito swallow then at that as they saw the group of adult officers cross their arms at the news as he went further.

"Commander Alberts, I was the only one who tried to save him after the maneuver backfired and set his engine on fire. But before I could put it out, the ignition went a second time and fried my controls, resulting in all three injuries at once. Before Captain Deladier brought me around, I tried to save him, but I wasn't fast enough, I'm sorry." he said and Alberts nodded to him gently then.

"That's what you really been trying to tell us, and they keep stalling you, why exactly, because they want you to be just like them. The 'one for all and all for one' catch, when we raised you and Josh to be honest with us. The 'we' being your mother, your crew, his mother and me and then you finally get the chance. And by pulling out your program and going on a security clearance raid now."

"But before you tell me and the committee what happened up there you tell your mother, the captain and the quintet. And just as you're ready to tell us, Derek Hanson walks in the door with a sadistic smirk on his face. Just before he sees you and freezes up, and knows you found a way around their stalling you by having Lal in the computer still?" Alberts asked him and he nodded to him.

"Aye Sir, as you said, you raised me to be honest and ever since you threw out the traveler's opinions, I've really come into my own. I've become more self assured and confident than I was when he just dropped that bomb on you. But it's not their opinions that matter to me, or their trust and respect. No it's yours and Derek was trying to sabotage me, and them with him as to that right now."

"I have reason to believe he was in on this and got to them in regarding my going Gamma, and they started first with the coercion. And then attempted emotional blackmail, before you caught them in the act. And I made it clear I'm never lying to you again and they realize he'd been right all along." he said and they nodded as he looked at the trio, who were frozen in fear at the news he gave them.

"Is there a reason they simply didn't ask you what the consequences were going to be at the time, because we did tell you a year prior to that. After William Potts was infected by those parasites after he ate the fruit of a cove palm?" Picard asked and he crossed his arms. "If they'd been smart after he asked me what we should do, they would have, but to them, they thought, now."

"That the results were going to be your decision for him, but no, if we were the federation in the movie, he'd get hit with the punishment of ten lashes. But if you didn't trust them to learn from salvaging this mistake, you'd have let them go. But evidently it wasn't just the fear of getting thrown that made them choose this, it's the test of trust, being a team now, that they chose the latter."

"But you know me, for several years, I was going through a case of trial an error, but I'm not invincible, I'm just a teenager. But we're just cadets, we're not full officers, we can't get it right on the first try, we can't do anything at the first shot. Sure my abilities were good and I learned that after the knack, I can't always get it right and this is no exception to the rule, I'm just getting started."

"On the small ships, but just because I've been flying a galaxy class ship, it doesn't mean I'm ready for this type of maneuver. Sure I'm good, but I'm not a master at everything, I'm just getting basic training here on campus. You were the ones that taught everything that came with the job to me, it doesn't matter. In what they say, you matter more to me, my mentors and since I came home."

"Since the pressure was taken off my shoulders since you barred him from me, and since you got the sextet off the ship. I became exactly the model teenage officer you wanted me to be now, and I'm finishing the job, but I think I know what happened. After I revealed the truth to you regarding the Hansons, he was so ticked he decided on political sabotage and told them I went Gamma."

"That Charlie and Robin were up here and I was turning them if they tried it a second time. To make sure that I got in trouble, he told them to keep stalling me in telling you the truth until you figured it out. But with the computer programme, I just created the perfect back door as he walks in. He gets caught by the people be never wanted to caught by." he said and they nodded to him.

Looking at the looks on their faces at the revelation he nodded as he exchanged looks with the trio. "Derek, he did get to them and told them I'm a traitor and that I'd turn them in if they chose this maneuver. Derek had an ulterior motive involved in this, I made my choice 20 months ago that I chose you over them. So he came up with an idea and that involved the 'all for one and one for all' cliche."

"Said motive was so they could delay long enough for you to figure it out, and I'm busted along with them. But evidently they never considered I'd get to you first before they pulled that stunt, because Lal is still in the system. I got to you last night before you busted them and I reported in to tell you. And before you cracked it, Sir, but they were hoping they could prevent it and long enough."

"That they could have me join with them, but no, I told them I wasn't lying to you and they crossed the line as he said the words he can't take back now. But I'm your plant, and I'm working for you, and thanks to my program we prevented it for real. I got to you first, before you figured it out and told you both and Commander Alberts the truth all because of my back up skills."

"But this is what you mean is it just possibly you don't make captain, or admiral without knowing the dangers of making the big decisions. As such, it's because I do, and I've been doing it for five years, if your in command training, so think about that you two." he said and he watched their faces pale at that. "And getting to me first was your only chance and before I realized what happened here."

"As your commanding officer, you had to get to me and tell me, your mother, Will and the enquiry first before we caught them in the act. By doing that you're off the hook, but they're caught red handed in several more felonies here at the academy." Picard said sharply and and Deladier finished that. "Crossed and double crossed in this case and you got to us, before they destroyed your career."

"Oh this just crossed a line alright, we clearly trained you well in infiltration and and your survival and stealth training. But this turned into a case of taking sides and had it not been for that computer program you created. And with it the fact you downloaded Lal into the system that your team, the Gammas just saved your career, and they lost." Deladier said to him sharply at that news then.

"Thanks Sis, I owe you one big time, you just saved my career and my bonds with your father and the rest of the crew." Wesley said and he looked at his own quartet and smiled as Robin pulled him into a hug in relief as Charlie and Jake moved to his side. "We did it, we just saved your career and you from having your life torn down because of the trio, we did it." Robin said and he nodded smiling as he turned.

"Not just the trio, but Derek as well, he decided if he can't tarnish my reputation by rumors, then he's going for political sabotage now. And it's by having the trio interfere in my telling the enquiry, and my mother the truth. Until the captain figured it out and I'm made to look like I'm also involved in a cover up." he said as he looked at the trio who were shaking in fear as he went on.

"That's what happened wasn't it, you three, Derek got to you, regarding my being a traitor and with me was Josh. As a Starfleet born, I was making sure that, if you just listened to me at the time this week now. You'd stil be leader of the team and you'd graduate next year Nick. It's simple, you just tell them yourselves, and you have a chance to earn both your credits and status back."

"But you wanted to make sure he was lying and decided to gang up on me, but peer pressure of the surviving team mate, coercion, emotional blackmail. Till I made it clear, I wasn't lying to them and you realized he was right and crossed the line. As I made it clear that your only chance of staying here was by coming forward now." he said and they exchanged panicked looks and the group nodded.

"Yes, okay we did, but we were afraid of what the consequences were going to be." Jean said to him quickly and Dayton looked at her coldly. "There a reason you guys didn't ask me simply, I could have told you the consequences. I mean we all come forward together, it's just six months probation. Our flight status deactivated, and loss of our credits for this year, and we get held back a year."

"But lesson learned and we learn never to try it twice till we have more training under our belts. But that's duty to the truth, duty to your friends is what you guys chose and here's the results now. You get expelled, and you two, and the Hanson Cousins are placed on twice in probation, and you don't graduate. Until you're 22, so tell me, what's better right now." Wesley asked and they paled then.

"Why didn't you tell us this exactly?" Sito said in shock and he crossed his arms as he answered her, as they saw the pale look on Locarno. "Why didn't you ask me, I'm a Starfleet born, I know and knew the rules and the time here now, so go ahead, say it it. You leaped, before you looked, if you just thought this through and asked me that, this wouldn't be the result." he said and she swallowed then.

"I was afraid, we were afraid of what the consequences were going to be, we knew we should have come forward. But we were afraid of what the consequences were going to be in this!" Jean said and he looked at her firmly. "And I supposed you thought that gave you the right to ask me something. You never have had the right to ask me, Jean, Sito." he said and they swallowed hard at that.

"We know we should have thought this through, but we didn't know, he never told us when he was with us." she said desperately to him. "Don't give me that Hajar, you used him to get back at me for breaking up with Nick. Nick is Rico after getting the dear john letter, and he never learned from one lesson. And he makes another, you know who Charlie is here?" Robin said to her at that firmly.

"Charlie happens to be his best friend at high school while I'm Flores as she talked some sense into him and I prevented him from wrecking his career. Prior to their hometown getting destroyed and their parents being murdered. I'm his new girlfriend and I'm furious at you for nearly causing him to wash right out of the academy and with that in mind right now and with that in mind here."

"Just what right do you have to pull this, when you're not even dating him, you're just stringing him along?" she said to her coldly. "Before you say it, you just insulted Josh, you saw what happened up there. It's that the blast knocked him unconscious, and you convinced yourselves he pulled away and caused a collision, Jean." Wesley added to her sternly and she swallowed at that remark.

"So that's what happened: the blast knocked my son unconscious, you tried to put the fire out, before you could do anything here. The blast went a second time, the engine exploded and he was killed." Alberts said and Wesley crossed his arms. "Tell them the truth, the fact you did the star formation too close together, and it was your engine that set his on fire, Jean, tell him the truth."

"Tell them the truth Jean, you went with Nick's idea on the starburst, I told you Josh and I weren't doing this when it was that close together. And you popped off like 'his' third female bunk mate to me, before she killed their eighth by accident, so tell him the truth. It's your fault he's dead, you popped off to me, before it was your engine that killed him." he said and she swallowed hard at that.

"Is that true Cadet Hajar, it was your engine that set his on fire, even though Cadet Crusher was working on a ship and knew more then you did. You still went with Locarno's measurements at the time, I'm giving you one chance. Right now, to save yourselves ladies, is what he told me just now true, or not?" Brand said to her sternly and she looked at Wesley and he shook his head firmly at her.

"Don't bother you two, I'm not sticking up for you anymore, as you're the one who destroyed this friendship. I had no compunctions whatsoever, of turning you three into her and the captain. Because this crossed a line you can't take back, I'm his man through and through, and you can't change that. But I'm a Starfleet cadet and I had a duty to the truth, to him, my mother, Josh."

"And the crew, it's simple you tell the truth and come forward all at once and you get to stay. But you pull what you did and you're under probation and scrutiny till they decided to lift it. Well you destroyed your career in your case Nick, and you two just barely did the same in your case. As far as I'm concerned here, if this was an alternate version for the teenage wizard now."

"It's you sold out, you two are the trio of supposed friends and Derek the rival, so jealous that he's determined to make me look bad in front of the headmaster. But then why should I be surprised here right now, regarding you. Because I'm the one destined for greatness and I have friends, but you won't once this gets out all over the academy that a team mate is dead here."

"You sold out yourselves to the NID, which is the organization that Maxwell is the descendant of, they're all full soldier, athletic types. You're just a helm jockey, trying to get the attention of one captain, and said captain is mine. But you blew it and it's by every charge in the book." he said and they swallowed hard at that as Hajar answered him, desperately at his remark as she looked at him.

"My ship, my crew, my captain, this is my life and the fact you're trying to cheat by daredevil stunts to on my ship. It's not going to happen, you don't know the crew, my mother or even the senior staff crew whatsoever. So answer this: how do you expect to score points when you don't make a good first impression. Huh, just explain how, all it took was one year and that does it in my case."

"But did you not hear the tone of emphasis and claim in my voice when I spoke of him and the others, 'my' ship, 'my' crew, 'my' captain. Fact as which was a matter of weighing the scales between you and them. But come on, it's no contest at all here, they raised me, saved my life, rescued me. So when it comes right down to its a matter of the scales in time periods, them 5 1/2 years."

"You only one year now, so with that in mind its if you're wanted this, me to choose sides. Well I chose sides after my mother kept me home on sabbatical, strengthening up the bond for another 18 months so by the time this happened. It was already to late for you, because 18 months can make or break a friendship and this was no friendship whatever, you three used to me now."

"But before you say it, don't bother, nothing was changing my mind when you three tried to gang up on me, regarding this. I said, repeatedly, that the only way to stay here at school was by coming forward together. I never lied to my mother, or the crew, let alone the captain, once in my life. Not since we've been together, now you're asking me to go along with your decisions, forget it."

"It's not going to happen, I was already intending to come forward when you gave me that line, before you gave that remark to me in Nick's voice. To repeat Colonel Jackson's remark, "No, you look, I've got everything under control. God you guys never show me any respect in our opinions. Now I'm handling this, all you have to do is hang in there.', but no you didn't, to you now in this."

"It's 'one thing, you only have to do one thing, and if you can't handle it, we're going to break out of here without you.'. Do you know what's those remarks sound like in a teenage, cadet version of that same argument now?" he asked and she and Sito shook their heads as were shaking at the look in his eyes. "It's we don't want to come forward, we don't have a problem with this, but if you do."

"Then resign your appointment to the academy and walk away, but don't make us pay for your guilty conscious.'. 'You'd do that, you'd let me sacrifice my career just to save your neck.'. 'To save the team, that's more important then you and it's more important then me. And if I was in your position, I'd do so, and without hesitation, but that's just me.'." he said to them firmly as he went on.

"Well I did, and it's my duty, a duty to the truth, you wanted to save this team, you should have gone with my decision. Because it's just been dismantled as a result. I chose duty to the truth and the results are what she gave us now. Just a black mark in the record, six months on probation and loss of our credits. And our flight status revoked, that's what duty to the truth, for a cadet results in."

"But duty to your friends, lying to a superior officer, emotional blackmail, coercion, half truths, in order to try to cover up the truth of the death of cadet. And the results are it gets you expelled and the others the same consequences as we have right now, if you'd chosen duty to the truth. You wouldn't have been expelled Nick, and the team is still in one piece, but I'm not apart of it."

"And neither was Josh, oh no, Josh and I went Gamma, and your team mates the ones that are in this. Just as much as you two are-are the Hanson cousins at the moment so with that, Nick gets expelled. And you four all get the same sentence, but your career is none of my business. Our lives are what we make of them and you chose this, so deal with it now, because I don't care now."

"The crew matters more to me, I did my job, and you have to face the consequences, you lied to them. But 1) you broke the restrictions given to you by the senior council and the school committee on a banned maneuver. And 2) you fully participated in a cover up that impeded on the official investigation. And into the death of a cadet, so you chose the decisions, regarding this."

"And you're taking the consequences for it now, because your choices in your careers are your own making. I'm not sticking up for you and not when I made a promise to my captain, my mother. That if I was in trouble, I'd tell them immediately, and instead of destroying my life, you wrecked yours now." he said and she said it quickly at that in desperation as she answered his remark then.

"Wesley please, I didn't want the team to be split half at the time, we were a team, we should stick together, not be taking sides in this." Hajar said and Dayton crossed his arms as he answered her, before Wesley stopped him. "Hold it Charlie, was it your idea or Derek's that you decided to try this. Derek, I know, wanted to destroy my reputation with the crew, and so that I'm no longer the JCL."

"The model student officer, the captain's pet, in his eyes, his rumor caused a few problems and we threw three Ensign's off the ship, medical ensigns. As well as Derek's cousin and his clique, because they're the ones responsible for a trauma when I was 16. While in your case, it's no matter what happens, we'd come through it as a team, what the heck do you take me for here exactly."

"When you said previously, in his voice, that if I can't lie to save this team, I should just drop out. You're just as selfish as Maxwell is and with him, Colonel O'neill. But let me make this clear he sold out Jackson's grandfather to the planet leader and Jackson was turned into POW. But you know what he told him, it's 'one thing, you only have to do one thing, and if you can't handle it.'."

"We're going to break out of here without you.', do you know what it sounds like in a student version exactly?" he said and she swallowed hard at that. And they shook their heads as he went further. "We don't want to come forward and we don't have a problem with this, but if you do, then resign your appointment to the academy. And walk away, but don't make us pay for your guilty conscious.'."

"Well now you know who it is you're sounding like in Nick's voice, but you look, I have everything under control, God you never show me any respect, now I'm handling it, all you have to do is hang in there.'. In a student version that's 'you'd do that, you'd let me throw away my career just to save your necks. Added response, 'to save the team, that's more important then you.'."

"And it's more important then me, and if I was in your place, I'd do it, and without hesitation, but that's just me.'. And you know what, I did, but you just exposed yourselves to the general and the joint chiefs. As well as the rest of the team's closest to our unit you're screwed here. I made a judgement call to save the rest of the team and you sold me out, so why should I help you."

"If you tell me I can't hack it, I should just leave." he snapped at her coldly as he backed into Robin and Dayton as she swallowed at that. "I didn't mean it like that Wesley, you can't really believe that?" she said and he shook his head. "Not only do I believe that remark, if you want to take sides as well. Then I took sides, but I'm a Starfleet cadet, I had a duty to the truth, I'm saying it to you."

"And what's your response, that even though I turned you in for lying to them. We'll always be friends, but you stabbed me in the back." he said and they swallowed at that as he went further in digging the knife into the remark. "So no Jean and it's because you ripped my heart out and you expect me to stick by you. All for one and one for all, 'duty to your friends', 'nobody gets left behind.'."

"No, forget it, my remark is what about Josh and me, you guys are Nova squadron. I'm Gamma, I'm already apart of a team, and it's with Charlie, Kate, Tony and their friends. The flight team I wanted to be apart of was the next generation of Gamma, following my mentor, Commander Riker. But first you stabbed me in the back and then say if I can't lie to save the team."

"Then resign my application to the academy and walk away, but don't make you pay for my guilty conscious. You remember what I said to him, you'd let me throw away my career just to save your necks. But to you, it's to save the team, and that's more important then you and more important then me. Well if I was you, I'd tell them on the very first day, but that's just me and with that."

"You guys are nothing to me as of now." he said and before she could answer, he finished it. "So don't give me this crap that I should stay with the team, I have a duty to the truth, you tell the truth and you stay. You lie and it gets you expelled, they told me the consequences, what they'd be. Before the admiral took my training out of the crew's hands." he said and she said it quickly at that.

"I know we should have asked you before we pulled this stunt, but we were afraid of what they were going to be." she said and Dayton said it coldly to her at that remark. "And that gave you the right to use peer pressure, coercion and emotional blackmail on him Jaxa, Hajar. That's illegal in the academy, Hajar, as a Starfleet officer in training at there, we have a duty of reporting things."

"As we see this as illegal and uncouth, and it's our duty to report these things directly to the academy staff and the admiral. Josh was killed. because of your breaking restrictions and it's due to in-exact measurements, ill conceived timing and your arrogance and bravado. How many times have we heard it at the academy: never get cocky or it'll be your undoing, and now it has been."

"But why should he have to stick by you, when he and I knew this was going to happen, to save his career. I decided I was nipping this in the bud, but the way I see this as you're Ibenez, and her new boyfriend at fleet, is Nick. But Robin and I are his new best friend and his team mate Flores. As this is a reimagining of what Rico dealt with, and I managed to talk some sense into him."

"Before he destroyed his career, but to quote his mother right now, regarding you, Hajar. I'm not having him destroy his life and career over some silly little girl who wants to look handsome in her uniform. But Robin and I just saved his career by pulling this together, you're no friend of his. If you think he should quit, because he can't lie to them." he said to her coldly as he pointed at the group.

"Back up plans were in place long before I returned to the academy, but I have a duty to the truth, to Josh, his parents, my parents, my crew, the committee. You murdered the heir to the Alberts family name, what was it you said, oh yes, 'I know you want to protect his memory. But we have to think about ourselves.'. Screw that, he's my best friend, I'm getting justice for his death."

"For him and his parents, and by turning in the people responsible for his death, I've been working for them as their plant all this time. Just so I can make sure you all get the consequences in the way you deserve them. Hate me if you want I don't care, because this is my job, but there are a lot of things we do. That we wish we could change as and sure as hell can't forget, but the whole concept."

"To chain of command undermines the idea of free will, so as officers we have to do some awful stuff, or the right thing. And follow orders as we were trained to, it doesn't make it easier, and it certainly doesn't make it right. But it does put some of the blame on the person, or people, giving the orders. You want someone to blame, blame them, but don't get on my case, because of it."

"When I was just following orders, I'm a Starfleet officer, I had a job to do, and you disobeyed a direct order at the time. But just to prevent another death out of reckless endangerment, I'd do it again in a heartbeat." he said and they swallowed as he looked at the group surrounding them. "Alright Admiral, they're all yours now, Commander, I'm making sure his death wasn't in vain now."

"But we did this and his sacrifice was just so we never lost another cadet by pulling the Kolvoord starburst. We did the right thing, but your son was my best friend, I'm making sure his loss was not in vain now. This is never happening again, but that's what I mean, that remark was an attempt of peer pressure." Wesley said and she crossed her arms as she answered him at that remark.

"Uh huh, peer pressure of the surviving team mate was and is illegal in the academy, as is coercion and emotional blackmail. And of the four of you, only you came forward and did the right thing, like you were trained too. But my decision on what I gave you and the girls. It was what the original decision was going to be if you all came forward, together." Brand said sharply and they paled.

"Aye Sir and the charges just got upped right now, but reckless endangerment, coercion, emotional blackmail, conspiracies in conspiracies. Attempted murder, peer pressure and ten other charges on the list here, well games up." Dayton said and they nodded. "As Hanson is involved in this, he's ending up at the damn table, right now." Will said sharply and tapped his communicator as he said it then.

"Derek, Jack, Eric, get Derek Hanson out of detention and bring him here, he's under arrest for attempted murder and murder. The cover up just revealed some new information and I want you guys in here to head off a fight right now. As to why, it's because the results just got worse here. We're on holodeck 1, but he's hereby under arrest here." he said and Wesley looked at him firmly.

"Derek still up here?" he asked as Greyson dragged him into the room and he went to attention in front of Brand. "Is what he just told me true or not Cadet, that you told them that he was working for us in this. And you had to make sure he never turned on you and you ganged up on him. So to you our creed doesn't mean a thing to you?" Deladier said to him sternly and he swallowed and nodded.

"If you ended up learning anything at the academy you should have learned the act of honesty, Cadet Hanson. As to him, living on the ship was the straight and narrow, but as Starfleet officers when on earth, your job, if someone pulls this stunt. Is by reporting it to us as the senior officers, and yet instead of doing your duty as a true officer of Starfleet that entire 18 month basis now."

"You instead got involved in peer pressure, coercion and emotional blackmail to the surviving member of the explosion. So just 18 months later and you still haven't learned anything in my eyes right now. If you see this the same way Mr. Locarno does, Cadet Hanson." Picard said sharply to him and he swallowed as Wesley answered him as he looked at the quartet with a stern, but firm look on his face.

"I could rephrase that, in the commander's words right now the day we shipped out, but to him an officer rank mean's nothing to him. We had this discussion in sickbay after the aftermath of the game got started and I made a promise to the captain. But I have a duty to the truth and he shot back at me at that of what about your duty to your friends, but here's the point of this right now."

"But there is no duty to your friends when they are trying to get you to be dishonest with a commanding officer. I'm been serving in a pre academy career since I was 15, I know the rules and unknowing or not to the senior staff crew. By that I mean the ones infected by the game, I suggested we turn this into a training game, mom ordered all weapons to be put up at the time."

"But he was under medical watch, drunk and stoned and carrying a phaser that was set on high even though mom said no weapons. And barely after two hours searching the halls for me, he gets caught and arrested by Commander Data. So to him the rules and regulations mean nothing, simply because he's trying to get out of my shadow and he's thinking I'm sucking up to you right now."

"But adult crew's honor roll student, trying show off for special attention to that point he's crossing lines not meant to be crossed. But I think he wanted this to happen that I get in trouble with you for breaking your restrictions. But again the jokes on him, because I had Lal and my true squadron here. At my back in getting you the truth now, and I saved our bonds from getting destroyed now."

"So though they think I let them down, it doesn't matter, because you matter even more to me. Yes I'm a Starfleet cadet, but I'm still human and what matters to me even more then my grades or flight status. Is keeping our bonds the way they are, sure it's six months probation, I can do that. But so long as nothing ever gets between us is what matters, and with that in mind now."

"That's the act of a true Starfleet officer, you got to make choices you can't always stomach. You wanted to destroy my life so I could drop out of the academy, lose the trust and respect of the senior crew. Well my how the tables have turned, because instead I turned the tables on you. And with the fact that Lal was still in the system and the trio were here, we just destroyed yours."

"Loss of your credits, your original title, flight status and most importantly their trust, it's gone. And you just sentenced yourself to probation Derek, 18 months probation at the academy and your family name is tarnished. Your parents are science and technical crew, but you just destroyed your family name now. You and Peter just destroyed your family name if this was a family business."

"So once it gets out that you, the Hanson cousins, were involved in a coverup, your parents are never going to live down the shame now. That you, their son, who, prior to this was arrested twice for speedballing, attempted murder. You were in enough trouble regarding the Potts brothers and now this. So to them they're never going to trust you again, but that's the scope of it now here."

"That you just did one thing wrong here and that's it, and you're branded for life after that. As your parents are assigned to the ship, so once you return to the Enterprise everyone on the ship is going to know what you did. And they're never going to trust you around the helm or in ten forward, again." Wesley said and the quartet nodded sternly to that remark in agreement and he swallowed at that.

"The Lieutenant, and the others, they helped raise me, with my mother off the ship, to me it's why should I disappoint them. Why should I, but you, you've just destroyed any chance you had of ever getting back on their good sides. But my reputation is fixed finally, your image is destroyed after that now. And no one is ever going to trust you again, but you do one thing wrong and that it."

"And you're branded for life after that point and everywhere you go, someone going to drag it up. They heard about you, that you tried to destroy the reputation of the Enterprise Chief medical officer's son by setting him up in a cover up. Said cover up regarding the death of a friend of his and instead of destroying his life, as he catches you and as a does a member of the team."

"Well this is that one thing, and no one is ever going to let you live it down on the ship when you get back up here. Your parents are never trusting you again, and you're still on probation no matter how many years go by. It's like that movie focused on a kid trying to run from his reputation. Until he starts over again after a lawsuit, well that's you all over now." he said and the boy swallowed.

As Worf walked up behind him he left his hand on his shoulder at that. "You know for a cadet in training this 'leap before you look' tendency. And that could very well be your undoing. And is going to get you into trouble one day, well that day was long in coming. Repeated arrests for speedballing, near accomplice to a close call, and then comes starting a riot, because of your rumors, well too late."

"Your lies and trouble making days for us clean cut members of the junior crew is over, you pressed your luck so far it snapped, but it has. But just because you're jealous doesn't give you the right to destroy someone's life." he said to him sternly as Worf finished that. As Wesley backed into him gently and in response he left his hand on his shoulder as Picard crossed his arms at the declaration then.

"Indeed and he's very correct, after the amount of times my security teams and I had to arrest you. You're being shuttled to security patrols and you're being in command training is at an end as of now. But as I'm the security chief, you're under my watchful eye starting the day you complete training and return to the enterprise, Cadet Hanson." Worf said with a stern growl as Wesley went further then.

"While Cadet Crusher is in dual process both as a pilot and in command training at the current moment he was your team leader. If I have to separate training teams to insure you're not around each other. Then I will, but as of this moment, your hands on training, this is on a hold. Till after your probation is up and you're all getting the same sentence, young man, ladies, and I mean it."

"Cadet Crusher is my JCL, and he and his team are the ones I pay more attention to, and it's because they follow my policies and rules. But rules don't change, just because you think they should, as such, he did his job. But my bonds to him are that of a family friend, his parents are my best friends. I watched him grow up, to me he's like my son." Picard added and Wesley finished it.

"But here's where the truth comes back to haunt you young man, you understand that some rumors are true and others are false. Well get a very good look at my hand right now, Cadet Hanson." Picard said and the boy looked at his finger and saw a gold wedding band on it it and then looked at Beverly's and he saw a diamond ring and paled at that as Wesley nodded coldly to him as he said it then.

"Your rumors have just come back to haunt you Derek, having an affair and he got me in on a case of quid pro quo, in the sexual sense. Don't think so, you just got caught by my parents when you came into the engineering way too soon right now. He's my stepfather, has been ever since they kept me home and you, Rick and Tony were at the academy, but your attempts rumors are shot."

"You know the hard thing about rumors, once their created they can be hard to live down. Like you created that rumor about me and my familial connection to the captain. Well how about the fact you were involved in the accident of one cadet and involved in a cover up that impeded upon the official investigation. And into the death of another, so tell me, how are you going to live this down."

"Your rumor was created by gossip, well mine is created by hard cold evidence and once it gets out all over the academy and the ship. That you were involved in said cover up and that my squad, right here, turned you in. You're never going to live it down, and to them, they're not going to let it go. Until you can show, that you can act like a real officer and do the job, without showing off."

"And sure Taurik can say, however many years it's been, that it's illogical to hold this over you and whoever ends up on the ship later. But that's not illogical when 3/4's of the academy committee and the committee at headquarters, as well as the crew here. Want to be sure you learned your lesson and don't try it twice." he said and the other boy swallowed hard as Brand said it firmly then at that.

"Indeed, well then like them, you're the one ending up with the very same punishment they are, as Crusher was the only one who did the right thing. And it nearly costs him everything that matters to him, because you were pulling peer pressure and coercion. Well you're in this as much as they are cadet, so get over there right now, Cadet Hanson." Brand said sharply and he quickly did it.

Watching Wesley as he backed into Will then, Will rested his hand on his shoulder in response. As the quartet paled at that and Wesley nodded. "If you thought this was all a lie guess again you guys. And it's because I wasn't lying about my bonds with him, the captain or the rest of the senior staff crew. And the assorted members of, and to answer your remark, though Sir, as I knew the rules now."

"I knew you were going to say that Admiral, he asked what we should do, I didn't have say the words. But we came forward right then, and it's loss of this year's credits. Our flight status revoked for a few months and we can't advance with our classes. And if you guys bothered to ask, I could have told you what the consequences would be." he said and they exchanged panicked looks at that.

"I never had to ask you, Admiral, as a pre academy cadet in my career, it's enough that I knew the rules and regulations. Commander Riker and Captain Picard told me what they would be after Willy got infected by parasites from the fruit of a Cove Palm. I knew the rules, I knew what had to be done, and I decided that screw waiting until they realized it, I was telling you yesterday."

"But I come forward now, and by that I mean before you realized it, turn them in and all it costs me right now. As I waited till now to tell you about my undercover operation, is six months loss of my credits. My flight status on the smaller crafts and I'm earning that back. And by doing it under the captain and commander, but so what if I lose those things, they can be earned back."

"And very easily, so long as I never lose your trust, I'll take it, and I can do the however many months it takes to earn both of those back. But what matters to me even more is I never lose your trust now, mom, Sirs. And as to why you four, it's because trust once lost takes time to earn back and even then. It may never be the same again after that, well you guys just learned the point."

"Of this in the Admiral's lesson, you three destroyed everyone's respect in you and you, Derek. You just destroyed any chance you had of keep the Captain's respect at the moment, though when your folks, find out, you're in big trouble. And this was the captain's direct message here, but with you at the academy your guardians are your R.A.'s, her and Captain Deladier, but my commander."

"The captain gave you a chance to save yourself you three, but you were hearing his lecture given to you in my voice, Nick. Fact of the matter is that being honest and telling her the truth is the only way to stay. Well you just blew your chance at that, because I told him the second he called me up. As he forwarded his reprimand, lecture and ultimatum to you, through me, Nick."

"As I said, repeatedly, I never lied to him, my mother or the crew not once in my life and I'm not going to start now. But the bonds between me and them are beyond strong, but let me make this clear now, being honest. Having a duty to the truth results in keeping the team together and making a good. And I mean a very good, first impression on the senior staff and crew of my ship you three."

"But duty to your friends, it results, if we're adults, in getting you captured, or, in this case, expelled. Had you just listened to my opinion, you could have saved this team and you'd still be in training, Nick. Your hero chose the same decision, that his grandfather did and it gets him captured by enemy forces. Mine chose to tell the truth and I get a second chance, and it's by doing it up here now."

"But you chose the coward's way out and you lied to her and the enquiry this week. But you, you participated in a cover up that impeded on the official investigation into the death of a cadet. Did you really expect him to not catch it on the fact you broke the restriction. And by saying that, you just insulted him, and that's another way to loses point here with the career placement."

"But honesty, good grades and your academy records are your ticket onto the ship, what aren't is you're trying to show off your skills. Attitude and your choices on doing the right thing, well you blew your chance at a good first impression with the captain. Before accepting a new acquisition from the academy, he looks into the records, at grades, your honesty and attitude."

"Before you say how could I know that, it's because he and I had this discussion. Just after Peter's cousins, Derek and Colin Marks, got themselves arrested. By the security crew, but the captain doesn't look at skills, the 'leap before they look' attitude. As he looks at the 'think their way out of the box' attitude, good grades, the ability to follow orders, helping the adult crew."

"When they need it, but in short the model student officer, but our job was looking after the kids younger then we are by seven to ten years. If we had a intruder, like Danar on board, keep the channel clear and stay out of it. And leave it to them and finally, though we're adults by Starfleet standards. We're still kids by their's and we keep to the regime they set for us, so model officer."

"To which I was when I was up here, so yeah I was on the enterprise and I know what it's like to trust others with my life. But the difference is the amount of time spent together, I spent less then 10 months with you. But just short of six years with him, come on its no contest, I would gladly give my life for him. Or any of the members here in this room right now, why because it's simple."

"The ship is my home, the crew my family, and here's the added point to this, but a crew is a team, a team is a family and though we already have family. Once out of the academy and up here where it gets more dangerous, we become each other's family, I have more than once surrogate parent. And in addition to my real one, but like the wizard novels, in that young man."

"I'm his man, through and through, in total honesty with that, it's that the jig is up, I warned you that if you told them the truth in there. Then we could have prevented your expulsion, Nick, sure you saved the team. But you've been expelled for breaking orders, you know what your problem is right now. You let a single thing control you, you joined up for the wrong reasons here."

"You got a man killed, and then you try to cover it up by making it sound like he was the one that caused the accident. Uh uh, you just made it clear you don't have what it takes to be in Starfleet right now. And as a true officer in Starfleet follows our creed and we have a duty to the truth. So if you just went with my idea, the three of you'd be dealing with this as one now, while I did mine."

"And up here, but you just demonstrated several catches that the narrator took into his training. You never learned from one mistake and you make another, followed by another and it kills a team mate. And as you never learn from it you make another and another. So the harder you try and the deeper you sink, because you're in over your head now in life lessons, shall I go on here."

"Your first mistake was not suggesting to Robin you set things on hold in training and she breaks up with you. The next is you never learned from that situation and you decide to try a beyond dangerous and, in their eyes a daredevil stunt. You use calculations that are completely off and it kills a team mate next, you decide, despite the fact we agreed to tell her the truth in this."

"To tell the truth in half truths, he catches you in the act, and you decide on a decision that not only insults him, but it is your undoing. As he raised me when my mother was gone here on earth, he saved my life, rescued me. And you cross a line in asking something you never had the right to ask me. Well it's too late, you don't have what it takes now." he said firmly to him and they paled then.

"You asked me to choose and I chose early, but it's the act of they mean more to me then you ever could when you make statements like that. You remember what you said to me Nick, Sito, well by saying it you just destroyed this friendship. So I had no compunctions whatsoever into turning you into them, you signed the death warrant in that decision in asking me to do that."

"So tell me, why should I worry about my duty to my friends, when it's clear they don't feel the same about me. I can't lie to 'them', I can't live with this, I have to be the one to decide, who the hell am I. Well to answer you, I'm Senior acting Ensign Wesley Crusher of the USS enterprise, and I'm doing my duty. And said duty is a duty to the truth, to Josh, to his parents, to my parents."

"And to Starfleet by turning in the trio, or rather, the quartet, that committed a dangerous stunt and then lied to cover it up. If you decided to do this as a way to destroy my image in the eyes of the crew, nice try it didn't work. Because you just got exposed yourself, but attempted murder in the case of Charlie. And it's because you never wanted to lose me to him after losing Robin to him."

"And with that, well I could ask you the very same question, so just who the hell are you exactly?" he asked and they swallowed at his remark as Will crossed his arms at the remark as he looked at the trio sternly. "Don't bothering answering that, I stripped you of your rank and command here of the team. Nick, but you're no longer Cadet first class Nicholas Locarno, you are now Nick Locarno."

"You tried to keep from losing me in your case you three and in yours, Derek, try to destroy my image in front of the senior staff crew. And the added support staff at the moment right, it just failed, so if this is payback. For my humiliating you in front of the senior staff, the security and support crews. You just failed, Derek, because as I said, repeatedly, you want to beat your opponent here."

"You have to get inside their heads and sure you think you know how I think, but the fact is you don't know. Because you never found where I hid that chip, so you could deactivate the program so I can't get up here and turn them in, and you with them. But you just got yourself in over your heads, by these choices now, and it's game over." he said and they swallowed at his remarks then.

Looking at him proudly the enquiry and the entire crew smiled gently as Picard said it for all of them as he rested his hand on his shoulder gently. "Nicely done Lieutenant, that was a very well thought out plan right now. In fact this is enough that with the fact you pulled it off, you're getting that probation. And by doing it up here, I know that your flight status of the shuttles and fighters doesn't matter to you."

"Let alone your grades, those can be earned back easily, but trust that takes more time and you never lost it. But we do matter more to you now and with that, that's the type of dedication I look for. And when it comes to young officers just entering their training period on the Enterprise. So tell me, what's the point of this test exactly, Wes?" he asked and and Wesley explained that firmly.

"It's the act of being honest, as a Starfleet officer we have a duty to the truth, be it scientifical ethical or responsible. You tell the truth and though you get a small consequence that's alright, because you learn from it and never do it again. But you lie and it destroys everything that mattered to you, duty to the truth, and you get to stay, duty to your friends and it does permanent damage."

"To your life, and though I waited until after the hearing to reveal the added evidence, I know that I'm doing the right thing. And making sure that the real criminals in this get justice, but so long as I never lose your trust. Or my mother's, I accept the consequences for not telling you sooner, Sirs." he said and Picard and Brand nodded gently as he answered him gently at his remark.

"Yes that's exactly the point to this decision Mr. Locarno, these decisions you came to just caused you to dig yourself into a very deep hole. In fact young man, I'm seeing this as only one way at the moment here. But you never learned from one mistake and you made another, young man. Your mistakes and jealousy, your envy, have now just destroyed your life at the moment."

"But that's the point of his remark in this, could you have learned from that mistake, before you made another. But it's the way in life, but you think things are going fine in your life at the academy, but then one thing goes wrong, and then another, and another. And you try to fight back, but the harder you fight back and the deeper you sink, because you're now in over your head now."

"He didn't have to hear me explaining this to him, because he reads my mind, in fact we're beyond close. That he knows my advice and he knows my thought patterns very well you three, young man, ladies. But if you just came forward, together, and told her the truth, you'd all get the very same sentence. And you'd still be together, right now at the moment as well young man."

"But though you three came forward in the end what's the cost exactly as though you get to stay, you are no longer a single team together. But at what cost exactly, the price you pay for being honest in this case. So if you just told us the truth sooner, you still be together, serving your probation together. And as a single team, but look at what waiting till the last minute has done now."

"You're being expelled young man, and you two are suffering the humiliation that every child on campus knows what happened. I know you think he sold you out, but he did exactly as he was supposed to do and came forward early. That just saved his career and what matters more to him, then his reputation, grades or flight status, is his bonds with us." he said and they swallowed as Sito said it.

"You mean if we just said it right after the first portion of the hearing was done this would be the result. The team would be in one piece and we get to graduate next year after we completed our probation?" She said quickly and Wesley nodded to her. "Yes I knew what the consequences for breaking that was going to be here Sito, you asked me what I think we should do the other day."

"As such, if you just went with my decision, you wouldn't have been expelled from the academy Nick, you did this to yourself. I made a command decision by coming forward and telling them the truth, sure I'm on probation. But so long as I'm able to repair the damage between my mother, the crew and myself. I can accept the consequences here for breaking a restriction they gave us."

"But you chose to tell the truth in half truths and then made a decision you can't take back and it gets you expelled and the girls lose their flight status. Get their points for this year revoked and they can't move ahead with the class. Well it's too late now, but what I'm showing them is enough you're not graduating till you're 22 and branded as a liar and cheater you two, so tell me."

"Is not coming forward till now worth getting branded by everything you're about to get branded by?" he asked and she swallowed at that. "Wait Wes, I know I should have come forward sooner, but I was afraid of what the decision was going to be." she said and he crossed his arms. "And that gave you the right to try to force me into silence, I never lied to him or my mother, ever, in my life, Sito."

"I never lied to him since he activated me and I wasn't going to start now, but you participated in a cover up. That impeded upon an official investigation, into the death of cadet." he said to her firmly. " I know I should have come forward." she started to say and he interrupted her. "Yes you should have, but you didn't, instead you joined with the others and pretended this was just an accident."

"So tell me, just what does that says to him, regarding your character, he knew he could trust me, and it's because he helped raise me for close to six years. But you, he doesn't even know you yet, but you want the best it's by three categories, but 1) it's by following orders, 2) it's by being honest. And 3) it's by not trying to show off to him or the crew, isn't that what you were trying to do."

"When you chose this one, so you could get him to notice you when it came time to graduate, Nick. And in regarding wanting to a make a good first impression if you wanted the best ship, and commander in the fleet. Then it was by being honest and telling the truth, by following orders. To him, it's not about skills or piloting, it's by your ability to follow orders and good grades."

"He told us this when I showed him what started a riot on the ship, regarding Hanson's other cousin, Colin Marks, and his friends, his squadron. But he doesn't look at skills or confidence in this job, let alone showing off like you tried to do. He looks at good grades, the ability to follow orders and a very clean academy back ground, I'm a Starfleet born cadet, but I'm a ship cadet."

"But in truth now, I'm his JCL, his junior crew leader, but do you know what that is, if we were fully activated crew man?" he asked and she shook her head shaking. "The junior crew is the cadet version, the training ensign version in advanced, to the senior staff crew themselves. As the leader of the team, I'm the commander, Charlie is next in command, followed by Robin and Jake."

"But if you wanted a shot at joining the crew you should have considered how he was going to take this when he caught you in the act. Trying a daredevil stunt like this and lying to cover it up was not the way to impress him. But while I'm staying under his command and I have my future placement. It's ready and waiting, you two are getting hold back a year and with that in mind."

"So yes you should have come forward immediately, but you didn't, instead you joined with the others and pretended that was just an accident. So tell me, just what is this saying to the crew right now about your character?" he asked her sternly as Picard crossed his arms, with a bemused, but stern look on his face. "Just using my exact words right now Lieutenant, for telling them off right now."

"Are we, son, and I assume that you used my exact words when you forwarded the warning to the trio for me." he asked and Wesley nodded. "Aye Sir, word for word, and he threw it back in your face, you gave him a chance. And he decided he was going to try and lie his way out of this. But that's why I said that to them, they crossed a line they can't take back." he said and Picard nodded sternly.

"What line got crossed if you turned them in and are just dropping the act right now with us, son?" Deladier asked and he crossed his arms. "I said, three times that I can't lie to you, and she said, and I quote, 'You don't have to lie, just don't volunteer any new information.'. Before he laid a case of emotional blackmail on me, and I'll show you the conversation in a few minutes."

"But after you and the duo caught them in the act and I forwarded your warning to him. He cross the line between emotional blackmail and right to real blackmail. Saying and I'm quoting this word for word, 'That if I had a problem with continuing to lie to you, then I can withdrawal my application from the academy. And walk away, but don't make them pay for my guilty conscious.'."

"Which, in my eyes, signed his own death warrant at the academy, because I'd never, ever, do what he's asking me to do. And not when I'm considering everything you ever did for me, Sir. But that's the result of your ultimatum to him." Wesley said and they both nodded as Data said it for all of them at that. "So that's the remark in that, you can't lie to us again and I understand why."

"But they don't want to come forward and tell us the truth, they don't have a problem with lying to stay at the academy. But if you do, then just drop out of the academy and leave, well there's no taking those words back now." he said with a stern tone at that and Picard finished that remark with a firm look. "Well if he thought you'd do that, then he's wrong, and as to why exactly as well."

"It's because you're not a training ensign, you're a full in training." he said and the trio paled at that. "Full ensign, he's a full ensign?" Hajar said in shock and they nodded to her. "Yes that's right cadets, he's been serving on the enterprise under me since he was 15. He knew the rules and decided to say my lecture for us to you, when he said that to you, Mister Locarno, he was using my exact words."

"As he said it, but either you come forward and tell her the truth about really what took place or I would. He wasn't kidding when he said that, he knows everything about me, and it's because we spent six years together. Those six years resulted in his acting like my son, but you want to get to know someone, it's actually stop and talk to them, get to know them, before accepting rumors."

"But you just know me by reputation, cadets, everything you ever hear about me, about Commander Riker. About Commanders Data, La Forge, Lieutenant Worf, none of its true, but as this is now, cadets. As I understand it, and if I'm reading my theory correctly into why you chose this one. It's because you wanted to end your career in a blaze of glory, at the time here."

"And you pushed them into learning and attempting the Kolvoord Starburst, and if it worked. It would thrill the spectators and you would graduate a living legend. Only it didn't work and Joshua Alberts paid the price and nearly Wesley Crusher with him. Is that correct, cadet, I asked you a question, cadet, is that correct?" he said with a warning tone and he swallowed and nodded to him silently.