March 2427, Stardate: 104192.9

Chapter 1

"Second Officer's Log, Stardate: 104192.9. I have recently come aboard the Enterprise from my extended away mission on the fourth planet in the Q-45 system. In my assessment, the system is fit for colonization. A Starfleet outpost or starbase in this system would also give the Federation an enormous tactical advantage over the Romulan-Klingon Alliance."

"Computer, activate the EMH." The computer bleeped its usual response and a hologram in a Starfleet medical uniform materialized.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," the hologram replied.

"We have got to change that greeting," Sonak replied. "You're not just for emergencies anymore. If I can get the captain's permission, I would do it." The Doctor sighed.

"Is this the only reason you activated me?"

"No, I actually do think that something happened on a recent away mission. In my ankle."

The Doctor pulled out a tricorder and held it over Sonak's ankle. "Several small fractures. I can fix them, of course."

….

"Do you feel better?" he asked after a couple minutes.

"Much, thank you Doctor."

"Just please turn the program off when you leave."

"Computer, deactivate the EMH." The Doctor vanished. It wasn't that Sonak didn't like the Doctor, or holograms in general. In fact, he preferred them to most humanoid life forms in the federation. Being half-Vulcan and half-Betazoid could be awkward sometimes, Vulcans being a race to push emotions away, and Betazoids often the other way around. But the holograms often seemed to have no manners whatsoever. He had to live with it. The Federation was still recovering from its loss of 40 billion officers, nearly fifty years ago. Holograms were installed in place of humanoids anywhere possible. And the Enterprise-F was full of them. In fact the only humanoids were the senior officers.

The turbolift doors opened and Sonak was on the bridge. "Sonak, good to see you," the captain greeted him. Sonak had been on an away mission with field emitable holograms for nearly two weeks. "You don't know what it means to me to have a humanoid back at the helm." Commodore Clarissa Glenn, commanding officer aboard the Enterprise. A fine captain and one of three humans aboard the ship. Sonak looked around the bridge. The Ferengi, Ensign Rom, at Ops, worked always on his left. He was a good officer, but Sonak was never sure whether or not to trust him. The tactical officer, a Cardassian named Rugal. Being the closest allies of the Federation, Cardassians served aboard Federation vessels, and Federation species served aboard Cardassian vessels quite often. Then, Sonak's good friend, the first officer, Commander Stewart, sat on Commodore Glenn's right.

Sonak sat at the helm. "Helm standing by, sir," he said.

"Set course for Starbase 18, Slipstream 2." Sonak entered the course and speed.

"Course plotted, Commodore."

"Engage," Glenn ordered, and the Enterprise disappeared into the slipstream tunnel.

….

"Sir, entering Federation space," Sonak noted from the helm.

"Slow to Slipstream 1," Glenn replied.

"Thirty seconds to Starbase 18 at our current course and speed." They waited. "10 seconds." The corridor opened and the Enterprise came to a full stop in open space, with starbase 18 in sight.

"Raise the starbase," ordered the commodore.

"Aye," responded Rom. "Onscreen." The image of the director flashed on the main viewscreen as well as on the semi-transparent screen that rose from Sonak's console, as well as Rom's.

"Greetings Enterprise. We look forward to your reports. Please dock, and you may give your presentation."

"Sonak, dock the ship."

"Yes, Commodore," replied Sonak. He keyed in a sequence, and the 1,500 meter ship moved gracefully through the door and into the vessel docking area of the starbase.

…

"Energize." The transporter shimmered and the figures of six humanoid life forms appeared on the pad. "Commodore, Commanders, Lieutenant, Ensign," said Admiral Riker, looking at each officer in order of rank. "Welcome to Starbase 18, central point of strategy against the Romulan-Klingon alliance. I am very excited to hear your reports. Especially yours, Commander," he said, looking at Sonak.

"Lieutenant Commander Sonak, Admiral. And may I say I am equally excited to give it."

"Well I won't keep you waiting. We'll show you to your quarters, then we'll proceed for the reports."

…...

"Q-45-4 is a K-class planet in the Beta Quadrant, approximately 100 light-years from the Romulan-Klingon border. A direct course through Romulan-Klingon space at slipstream 5 will get you there in approximately twenty minutes from this starbase. Its atmosphere is tolerable for approximately 24 hours for Vulcans (like myself) before it becomes toxic, however it will become toxic for humans in 1 hour. It can be successfully colonized using sealed chambers and environmental suits. My final recommendation is not only that we colonize this system, but that we establish a military outpost. This will give us a large advantage tactically over the Romulan-Klingon alliance."

…

The chime in Sonak's quarters went off. "Come in please, Commander." The doors opened and Commander Tom Stewart walked in.

"How did you know it was me?" he asked.

"Betazoid senses," Sonak replied.

"Oh," he said. "Forgot." He paused for a moment. "Sonak, I'm no telepath, but you seem depressed. Care to explain why?"

"I am hardly depressed, Commander. What reason do you have to suspect that I have a mental condition?"

"I don't mean the medical condition," he said giggling. "I mean the emotion. And by the way, call me Tom. We're friends, and we're not on duty."

"Fine, Tom. But I have no emotion currently."

It was the presentation wasn't it. Damn, you always sell yourself short. You did great."

"What reason do I have to believe that?"

"I'm telling you."

"You may also just be acting like a friend."

"Trust me. Admiral Riker was impressed."

"How can you say that? You have no way of knowing."

"You may not know, but we humans have a way of displaying emotions. These displays are very noticeable to other humans. The expression 'Poker Face' came from a human hiding their emotion behind their expressions, especially facial ones. Admiral Riker may be known for his poker face, but he wasn't using it tonight. Neither was anyone else in the room. Just wait."