Soriana immediately noticed her captain's increased tension and confusion after the unusual Code 47 message. Picard was being asked to do something clandestine without understanding why, and he disliked it.
"Mister La Forge, chart a course for Dytallix B immediately. Warp seven. And there will be no records or logs mentioning any aspect of this diversion."
"Captain," Yar objected, "they're expecting us at Pacifica. Shouldn't we contact them and let them know-"
"Negative. Nothing goes out without specific orders from me. Hopefully the delay will be minimal."
The tension remained high during the relatively short voyage. The crew trusted Captain Picard; he'd earned it. At the same time, it was difficult for a ship of habitual explorers not to set their minds to unraveling a mystery.
"Captain, we are approaching Dytallix B," Worf announced. "Sensors are detecting three Federation starships already in orbit around the planet." He punched several buttons at his station. "Two are frigates. The Renegade commanded by Tryla Scott, and the Thomas Paine, Captain Rixx commanding."
Data added, "The third is just coming into range now, sir. It is an Ambassador Class heavy cruiser, the USS Horatio."
"Attempts at communication have been ignored by all three vessels," noted Worf.
'Make no further attempts," Picard ordered. "Any life form readings on the surface, Data?"
"Three, sir. All gathered inside what appears to be the entrance to a mining tunnel."
"Very well. Relay those coordinates to the transporter room. We're beaming down."
"Who, Captain?" Yar asked.
"Just two," he stood and turned to the counsellor's chair. "Soriana, you're with me. You have the bridge, Number One."
Yar sat with increasing uneasiness as they waited for their officers' return. "Data, is there anything notable about Dytallix B?"
He considered for a moment. "Nothing that stands out to me, sir. It is the fifth of six planets circling its red giant, a tidally locked world previously mined by the Dytallix corporation. This system is claimed by the Federation as within our territory but contains no inhabited worlds nor viable terraforming candidates."
"The middle of nowhere," Geordi quipped.
"A good place for a secret meeting," Yar agreed.
It was more than an hour later when Worf reported that Picard and Turhal were both back aboard.
"Resume the journey to Pacifica," the first officer immediately ordered. "Warp 8."
"So who is he?" Mia asked. They were performing routine maintenance checks in sickbay at a time when no patients were evident.
"Who is who?" Doctor Crusher replied to her nurse. She could already feel the blush coming, but she mentally reached frantically for a way to head it off at the pass.
"Who's the mystery bloke?" Mia grinned and winked. "It's been at least two weeks, Doc, and we've all noticed. Less overtime and night shifts, far more humming during clinic hours. You're seeing someone."
"I'm… not at liberty to say," the doctor reponded, and immediately bit her tongue.
"Not at - what, your love life's a matter Federation security now, is it? Voice print, captain's eyes only…"
Beverly flinched when she said that, and Mia exclaimed, "Aha! Thought so. Captain finally got the balls. Good for you both."
"No!" She blushed even deeper. "I mean, we agreed not to say anything… Soriana! What can I do for you?" She jumped on the excuse like a drowning woman.
"Doctor Crusher," the counselor said, with none of her usual warmth. The Haliian carried an equipment case that Beverly didn't immediately recognize. "I have something urgent to show you. Can we go somewhere private?"
"Of course," Crusher agreed. "What's wrong?" She asked as they moved into her office and she locked the door.
Worf barked, "Sir, internal sensors detect a phaser discharge in sickbay."
"Go," the XO ordered immediately, and Worf ran for the turbolift. "Bridge to sickbay. Is everything all right?"
"Nurse Hanare here. Nothing to report, sir. Sickbay's empty; Doctor Crusher and Counsellor Turhal are in the doc's office."
"Yar to Crusher."
"Turhal here," Soriana's voice answered. "Doctor Crusher is recovering from a stun. My fault, sir - I was asking her a medical question about phaser recovery and accidentally fired."
"Ow," Crusher's voice came over the comm. "This is the doctor. I am okay. Just an accident."
"Acknowledged," Yar finally sent. "Make sure to submit a report of the incident right away."
But Tasha made a mental note to investigate further after her bridge shift was over. Something felt… off.
Worf keyed in his security override on the door to Doctor Crusher's office. He found the doctor recovering at her desk; the offending phaser was set in front of her as though in offering. Counsellor Turhal looked up latching a steel equipment case. "Security check, Lieutenant?" she asked.
"Yes. Is everything all right here?" Worf attempted to use his Security Chief voice, despite both women outranking him.
"I am okay. Just an accident," the doctor explained.
Turhal picked up her phaser, making a show of double-checking that the safety was on before re-holstering it. Worf didn't think Turhal was usually in the habit of carrying a phaser, but she had just returned from an away mission with the captain.
The counsellor nodded to him as she left, and Worf made to follow when the doctor stopped him. "Lieutenant, could you report here at the end of your shift, please?"
"For what purpose, doctor?"
"Starfleet has asked ship medical officers to update its crew species records. You're the only Klingon on board, so I need to run some detailed scans."
"Of course, doctor. I will… happily… assist." He over-emphasized the words to make it clear that his assistance was anything but happy.