They say that heroes are born, but legends are made.
They also say that you can be a legend of greatness, or a legend of well? Not so greatness. Depending on whom you are speaking with at the time.
For one young Starfleet Officer, the door had swung both ways. A young Starfleet Officer known as 'The Ice-Queen of Long Beach'.
Chapter One.
I was born in the Earth year of 2350 in the city of Neo Angeles, Lunar Colony, an only child born to Doctor, my father and a Tactical Instructor at Starfleet Academy. In the year 2367 at the age of sixteen years old, I had entered into the youth training program for the Academy. Due in no small part to the training of my own mother, as a Tactical Instructor, I excelled at the Academy to the point where I had graduated from training four years later in 2371 with the rank of Junior Lieutenant and assigned to what for the majority of my career had been, the only vessel I had served onboard, one of the first of the Akira class starships to be launched, the USS Long Beach under the command of Captain Jonathon 'Jack' Harper the Fourth. By the outbreak of the brief Klingon war in early 2372, barely several months after I had graduated from the Academy, I was recognised by the Captain and Starfleet Command to the point of receiving not only a commendation for my actions combat, but promoted to Full Pip Lieutenant, and also elevated to Second Seat 'Assistant to the Chief Tactical Officer', a post in which I had served faithfully for another year and into the Dominion War.
By the year 2373, and serving faithfully as Second Seat at Tactical, I had developed something of a reputation amongst the crew as being ice-cold when on duty, I thought that I was just being professional as I rarely spoke when either not spoken too, or had nothing to say. I was just silent, but I was observing everything around me. By the outbreak of the Dominion War and with the Federation in dire need of experienced officers? My department Chief, Lieutenant Commander Paula Jones had been reassigned to another ship as First Officer with promotion to Full Pip Commander, as her second? Her vacant post had fallen upon myself to fill, along with her other posting as Second Officer. I guess that is where I truly developed the reputation as the so called 'Ice-Queen of Long Beach'. I wasn't horrible or anything? I just rarely spoke beyond my duty assignment, and when I had spoken, I was basically in the line of duty, giving and receiving orders.
By the time of the attempted Borg invasion of Earth, in the year 2373, I had received yet another promotion to Lieutenant Commander and after taking damage during that said battle above Earth? The First Officer at the time had eventually transferred to another vessel as Captain. Due to no one available at the time to fill the empty slot as First Officer? It had fallen upon myself as Second Officer to take over the roll until another officer was selected, a role which I took and shockingly enough to the remaining crew? I ran from the Tactical Station on the bridge, rather than the First Officer's seat. I ran both Tactical and the First Officer's position for the remainder of the Dominion war.
Now, when I said that I had developed a reputation? It was cemented before our re-launch after the repairs to the ship, when one Ensign, direct from the Academy had boarded the ship. As per the duties of the First Officer, I was to meet with the new arrivals in the forward hanger deck of the ship, prior to their boarding, I had received the news of my Father's death and had to return to my home on Lunar Colony to take care of the arrangements, as my mother was distraught. He wasn't even a Starfleet officer, he was a teacher at a local collage. There was an accident in one of the labs at the collage which had caused an explosion, my father was one of the casualties. At that time, I thought that I could split my attention between my familial obligations and my Starfleet career, and as such, I beamed back to the ship to greet the new crew replacements. A big mistake for myself, but not as big as that one Ensign had made, by catching me on my worst day.
I wasn't wearing my Starfleet uniform, when I eventually entered the forward hanger bay of the through-deck career. The internal bulkheads had been lowered, with the centre space now being used as a maintenance deck for several of the damaged shuttles which where currently being repaired and or upgraded, as the aft portion of the hanger deck used to recover what was needed to complete the repairs and upgrades throughout the ship. I wore a black dress as I was in mourning for my late father, I entered the hanger deck and I instantly saw many of the new replacements look in my direction, as I looked more than out of place, not only because of my clothing, but because I am short, a little over five feet two inches tall, long dark red hair, which I had always worn tied neatly, as per regulations and well, for my height? A large chest.
"Hailey, what the hell are you doing here? You should be home with your family"
"I have an hour or two free Sir, I thought that I would continue with my duties" I replied, before whispering. "I need to do this Jack, please?"
"Only if you're sure of this. Proceed, Commander"
"Thank you Captain. I owe you. I am Hailey Dodge, Chief of Tactical and…"
That's when my reputation, was cemented, right at that moment when one young Ensign leaned towards the man next to him and whisper into his ear. Now, I recognised the Ensign at his side as he had served onboard of the Long Beach for a short time in Tactical and he knew myself also. His eyes opened wide as I instantly turned to face the two of them, his face turn pale in a heartbeat as I stepped towards the two and up into the eyes of the young Ensign, my eyes burning with anger.
"What was that, Ensign?"
"Um, Nothing Ma'am. Just a little joke" He protested, instantly.
"Oh, I've got one hell of a sense of humour, don't I Collins?" I called out, aloud as I looked to the now sweating Ensign by the side of the man stood before me.
"That's what I hear, Commander"
"So what is it, I'd love to unleash her torpedoes, dock in her hanger? What was it Ensign, I've heard them all"
"I believe it was, I'd love to see Hailey's Comets, Commander" Replied Ensign Collins, instantly out of fear.
"Wow, that's a good one. I thought I'd heard them all, but that's a new one. Don't you think so, Captain?"
"It is, First Officer Dodge"
"First, First Officer?" The Ensign called out, in instant fear.
"As I was about to say, before you rudely interrupted me. That bag of yours, by your feet. Looks heavy, got a lot in there I guess?"
"Yes Sir. Everything I own…"
There was a lot of new faces in that line-up, but several I had recognised and served with over the years, it the looks on their faces which had forced me to crack a slight smile, as they cringed instantly. They knew what I was about to say, something that I had done before, twice on the ship.
"Put it on your back, now Ensign. And take ten laps of the hanger bay. If you stop, just once? You'll restart. You will continue, until you complete ten laps of this bay. I don't care if it takes until this war is over, you will run ten full laps of this bay"
"Commander I…"
"Ensign, I recommend that you do as the Commander has said…"
"Thank you Collins, didn't bring anything with you this time?"
"No Ma'am, I learned that after the last time. Ensign? Start running, trust me on that"
So, that is exactly where my reputation began, more so as that Ensign ran fourteen laps around the hanger deck, whilst carrying his belongings on his back. The truth is? I actually liked the Ensign's comment, I thought it was funny, I hadn't heard that before, which surprises me considering my name. as for Collins, when he first came onboard, he really got to me to the point where I had him run six laps of the hanger deck, which at that time was open, the length of the entire saucer section of the ship. He never crossed me since, nor anyone on the ship.
After launch, we returned to the front lines and fought the deadly Dominion and their seemingly ever growing list of allies, the Cardassians, the Breen and so on. During one engagement, I assumed command of the Long Beach when the Captain was taken to sickbay, after an attack by four Dominion allied ships, before the Breen had entered the war. I commanded the ship, from the Tactical position, to cut down on the relay time for orders and forced those cloned bastards to withdraw from the region.
Unfortunately for the Long Beach, we had taken heavy damage and was forced eventually return back to Earth, for repairs to the ship, we missed the conclusion of the war and the Dominion surrender at Deep Space Nine.
This, is where my true story begins…
On the Earth date, April Twelfth 2376.
Starfleet Command Headquarters.
Starship Command, Selection Board.
Sustaining heavy losses, during the recent Dominion War, and with dozens of new and old starships about to enter service, very few officers of command level rank had remained within the service to take command of those soon to be, active service Starfleet vessels. With a long list of names of officers of certain rank and training, a list twice or three times as short as the list of vessels without a captain, a selection board of Admirals sat around a large table, as if to decide on the fate of said officers.
"So, we are all in agreement?"
"Yes Admiral, we are" Called out a two pip Admiral, from the middle left side, of the table.
"Admiral Andrews? There is one name, which I am surprised has not been raised. Commander Hailey Dodge. Her record, speaks for itself sir. During an engagement with Dominion forces, she destroyed three Dominion raiders, and heavily damaged the cruiser, before forcing it to withdraw"
"You mean, the Ice-Queen of Long Beach, Admiral Pollox? We've all heard…"
"Jim, her style of command is unusual. I'll give you that? But, she is effective. In eight years, she has gone from a former Cadet, to Commander and First Officer, and she's only twenty-eight years old, just two days shy of the fleet record for the twenty years"
"Craig, there is evidence to suggest that the Commander, is unstable. She had forced a new recruit to run…"
"Give her a break, Admiral Sir? Dodge, was dealing with her father's funeral at the time. She returned to duty, directly from the funeral home, after viewing his body and saying her goodbyes. Given her training and her knowledge. Training by her own mother, a Tactical Instructor at the Academy, I might add? It would be a mistake to pass her over for any command, a mistake for us!"
"This meeting, is adjourned. Admiral Franks, remain behind please" Called out the Fleet Admiral.
Akira Class Starship.
USS Long Bow NCC-63552.
McKinley Dry-Dock, Station Sierra Five.
Earth Orbit.
Launching a starship, either new of repaired, has often forced not only the crew of the vessel, but the repair and construction crews to work as swiftly as possible whilst under the every watchful eye, of the commanding officer of the vessel and his or her, right hand, first officer. As reports on the status of the ship had continued to fill the ever growing list of reports to read, one such order had fallen upon the deck of the Captain, an order which had turned his face pale, as he read the order, before leaping from his seat with the Starfleet issue computer tablet in his right hand, as he briskly walked from his ready-room, onto the bridge.
"Commander, Commander?"
"Crewman, that station should've been tied in, two hours ago. What the hell is the problem?"
"I'm sorry Ma'am? I don't know why? But this new helm, just isn't communicating with the central core" Called out an Engineer. "I've tried, everything"
"Have you tried seduction?"
"Ma'am? Um, no Ma'am"
"Then you haven't tried everything. This ship, has to launch in forty hours. I would prefer a working helm. Am I right guys?"
"Commander. Hailey?"
"Don't worry Jack, she'll launch on time, and she'll be ready. Am I right, Engineer?" Commander Hailey Dodge called out, with laughter as the nervous Engineer, instantly returned to his duties.
"Cut the kid some slack, Hailey. I've got some orders for you, from Command. You are to report directly to Admiral Pollox at Starfleet, to take command of your own ship"
"That's not funny, Jack!" Hailey Dodge called out, with a growing smile.
"No, it isn't. that's why the decoded it, four times. The orders, are authentic, congratulations Hailey. You'll make one hell, of a Captain"
Starfleet Command Headquarters.
0900 Hours.
Office of Vice Admiral, Francis Pollox.
"Commander Dodge, come in please… Coffee?"
"Thank you sir? But, no. I'm down to one a day, in the morning"
"Good to hear. It's been a long time, Hailey" The aging, grey heard human male replied, as he shook her hand with a smile.
"Not since Dad's funeral, Sir"
"He was a good man, the best. Did I ever tell you, that I was his best man at your parents wedding?"
"Many times, Frank. Many times"
"Of course, take a seat. You have a somewhat, dirty file Commander. I've never seen so many complaints about an officer from a single crew. Let me finish? I know that's a stretch for you, but let me finish. You're also a good officer, perhaps even one of the best to graduate the Academy in a long time"
"Thank you Sir. I know I've stepped on a few toes, over the years. But each member of the crew that I've worked with? Has gone onto some amazing things"
"So I've read. Down to business. What do you know, about the USS Mercury, Commander?"
"The Mercury, Sir? Umm, Nova class science ship. Sustained heavy damage during the war, returned to Mars for repairs, she sat out the last eight months of the war. Her Captain and the majority of her command crew had been killed, she was brought back to Earth by an Ensign, she had to fight her way out of a critical situation, under his command with a crew of just eighteen"
"Exactly. Now, what you may not know, is that the Mercury was…"
"One of three ships, designed and constructed, for the 'Attack Vessel', role. She didn't even make it out of dry-dock before the project was shelved with the failure of the first prototype and what became, the USS Defiant. I can read, Admiral. Shortly after the failure of the design? The class was redesigned and recommissioned as a science ship, to hopefully replace the old Oberth class vessels. The Nova Class, was born and Mercury, was rebuilt as a science ship. How am I doing so far?"
"Surprisingly, perfect actually. Since she was conceived as a science ship, technology has moved on. Six months ago, with little left to defend the Federation, beyond obsolete vessels? I instituted a new project. We had the Mercury undergoing repairs in dock, and… equipment from a heavily damaged Defiant class ship, which would take far to long to rebuild and launch…"
"Let me guess, you rebuilt the original design, with parts from the Defiant class, into the Mercury?"
"Yes, I did. But the war, had ended before she was launched and now she just sits, in the mothball fleet yard. I want you, to command her, Commander Dodge, for a series of War-Games which have been designed to push the limits of that new design. Follow me, and I will explain further"
Utopia Planitia Ship Yards.
Mars.
War games, they wanted to run war games, this close to the end of one of the most, costly wars in the history of the service. And with all things, a refit science vessel? I almost said No. or, Hell No! but, my ego leapt up several levels, once I saw the ship with my own eyes, once I had seen the full schematics of the design. A small and agile ship, by any accounts, but damned, she was faster than anything in her class. Almost warp nine capable, not only that? But, two forwards facing, pulse phaser cannons of similar design, just not as powerful as the Defiant class escorts. Two forwards torpedo tubes, capable of launching both Photon and Quantum torpedoes and two aft. Multiple phaser banks, across the entire ship and covering all angles. It was as if the original design of the ship, had been realised, brought to life before my eyes.
The moment I saw her, I instantly fell in love with that little ship which an old friend of my family had wanted me to command for a series of experimental war-games. How could I refused once I heard the full extent of the scenario? I would have been crazy to turn him down, so? I didn't actually. I accepted. There was just one major problem, my reputation amongst the fleet, the instant I had accepted command of the USS Mercury, over half of the seventy-eight crew members instantly put in for a transfer to other ships across the fleet, which left me with a crew of just forty officers an enlisted and none over the rank of Senior Lieutenant. I guess that I disserved that, I wasn't even surprised nor shocked at their response to my assignment as the acting commander of the ship. The problem is? They should've stuck by the ship, they would have seen what the assignment was, which I eventually told the remaining forty members of the crew, which had gathered in the messhall once we where out in the vastness of space.
"Thank you all for staying, and for coming to this little briefing. I know that I have something of a bad reputation amongst the fleet, and it is well deserved actually. But, Admiral Pollox has specifically requested myself and this ship, for this assignment. In eight days, we will rendezvous with the USS Enterprise which will escort us to Starbase 47 where we will participate in a series of War-Games designed to test the capabilities of this very vessel. The thing is? The Admiral, Captain Picard and his command crew, and this crew will be made aware of the full extent of the scenario, to make it an even test. Yes, Lieutenant?" I asked politely, as a young officer raised her hand.
"Lieutenant Junior, Sara Harrison, Junior Doctor. Actually? The only Doctor onboard, thanks to your reputation. Why are you on this ship, Hailey?"
"I remember you from the Academy Sara, it's good to see you again. In answer of your question? I am a tactical officer, trained since before the Academy by my own mother, whom is still an instructor. During the war, and along with the crew of the USS Long Beach? We devised a series of, unusual tactics to fight the Dominion forces, tactics which work. As Pollox said, I think not outside of the box? But outside of the star system. Now, upon our arrival at SB-47? The scenario will begin against the entire eighth fleet…"
"The Eighth Fleet? That's thirty two ships of assorted classes. What can one ship, do against those kind of odds Commander?" Asked an Enlisted Officer, with laughter echoing within his voice.
"It's simple Petty Officer? They have no idea that we're their target. Since the entire Starfleet, is undergoing a reshuffle, I've had us assigned to the eighth fleet as a tactical science escort. The official designation of this prototype. The capital ship of the eighth is the Orlando, an Akira class cruiser…"
"Sir? Ensign Channing, Engineering. What is the target or targets, I mean what is the scenario? I think we'd all like to know"
"I'm glad that you asked, Channing thank you. This is where the real fun begins. The scenario is, a single Rogue ship is believed to mount a devastating attack against a nearby planet, some bio-weapon is to be launched against the surface, their job is to stop that ship, which they have no idea of what ship it is. Once we're in position and ready to make our move, we'll break away from the pack under their orders, since we'll claim to have spotted a potential target on our sensors. We'll then double back? And destroy a drone which is in orbit of that planet, signalling the would-be attack has happened. The only problem is? We'd have to run like hell afterwards, because they will be on top of us very quickly"
"Interesting idea, what about weapons. We're not going to fire on our own ships, are we Commander?" Asked a nervous young Ensign.
"Weapons will be set on their lowest possible setting, barely even a stun setting, as will all ships and the computers, will record damage if taken and shut down systems accordingly, to simulate damage"
"Sounds like fun, actually Commander. So, Picard and his crew will know it's us, what are their orders? Oh, sorry Ma'am. Petty Officer First Class, Christopher Jones, Tactical"
"Observation role only, Jones. They must not interfere with us in any way. All communications incoming calls and outgoing calls from us and the fleet, will be monitored by Enterprise and logged accordingly. If we succeed in destroying that drone, and survive long enough to make it out of the system and evade capture? There is one more target, orbiting an uninhabited world in a nearby star system. A drone ship in an obsolete dry-dock, which we have permission to destroy by any means possible. That destruction? Will signal the completion of the scenario, after which? We will return to SB-47. If we complete these tasks, everyone left on this ship? Will have their choice of assignments, anywhere in the fleet along with a promotion. I know it's a tall order, but I believe that we can do this. The first part, is the easy one, the second? They will know that we are their target and they will begin actively searching for us"
"Umm, Commander? I may have an idea that could work, give me a few days to work out the kinks…"
"Of course Channing. Now, this is the part where I need to speak with the elected officers, from each department, regardless of your commissioned status. Figure out whom you are, and report to the bridge in shall we say, one hour? Sara, a moment of your time please…?"
I remembered Sara Harrison, from my time at the Academy, she had really not changed one bit since graduation, very shy and rarely looked up nor spoke out, unless she felt comfortable with her surroundings. An unusual trait for someone whom had wanted to be a Doctor. As I left the messhall with the Doctor stepping to my side, her eyes instantly fell to the deck-plating as she nervously shuffled her feet whilst walking at my side.
"I must admit, I was surprised to see you on this ship, of all things. How have you been?"
"G-Good. After graduation, I entered medical school as I had always, I mean as I had wanted. Four years at the academy, four years in medical school and four years as a junior doctor at S-F Medical. This is my first time out in space, since training"
"Sara, you have got to look up at me, please? I thought you'd have gotten past this shy thing. Anyway, I know that you're the only Doctor onboard now, so that makes you the Chief of Medical, so you're going to need a staff…"
"I don't want that position, Hailey. Please, find someone else?"
"There is no one else, not at the moment anyway. When we reach Enterprise, I'll ask Picard if he can spare a few of his medical team, but until then? You're the head of that department. I know that you're not happy at seeing me again, after all these years, but can we please put the past behind us and move on?"
"Move on, you want to move on? You knew that how I felt about him Hailey. And you moved in on him just to spite me" Sara Harrison whispered, softly as a tear rolled down her face.
"Is that what you think?" I asked with shock, as we both stopped in the middle of the empty corridor.
"I saw you dressing, in his quarters, Hailey!"
"I-I give you my word, nothing happened. We where studying the night before, Andy never could get his head around the displacement theory. He asked me to help out. It was late, and after lockdown. I knew that I would get a reprimand for being out of my bunk so late, if I was seen. Hell, it happened enough times. I slept on his sofa that night, one of the worst night sleep of my life, he snored like a Klingon with a bad cold. Sara, you where my best friend at the Academy. I would never have betrayed you, unlike Andy. You do realise that he was also sleeping with Jerry at the same time as you, right?"
"I know. I found out after they left the Academy, they started dating when they where assigned to the same ship together. All this time? I guess, I guess I blamed you Hailey"
"I'm so sorry. Can we start again? I don't know anyone on this ship but you. More than ever, right now? I need a friend, can we at least be friends until this is over, whatever the out-come?"
"Hello Commander Dodge? I am Doctor Sara Harrison, acting Chief Medical Officer" Sara replied as she looked up from her feet, finally with a slight smile.
"Hello Doctor, I am Hailey Dodge, acting Captain of this little beauty. It's good to meet you"