Chapter 11
Return
Captain's personal log, stardate 57515.7. It has been four days since Commander Wilson stole a shuttlecraft. The motives for his actions are to locate the party responsible for the event at the signing ceremony. I must admit that after reviewing the evidence he has gathered it presents a strong case for his innocence. And although I wish he had gone about this search differently, I am nonetheless going to approach this on that basis.
Picard had been sitting in his ready room for the past hour. Placed in a saucer on his desk before him was second cup of Earl Grey tea from which he had just taken his final sip. Over the past few days sensors had detected more explosions at the same location as the original one they had detected en route to Vesuvia. In his gut he knew it not to be a coincidence.
Lieutenant Edwards had shared his thoughts with Picard. He himself now believed that the Romulans had a hand in or at least had foreknowledge about the disruption in the signing ceremony. It was included along in his report to Starfleet along with the rest of the evidence Alec had gathered. Their response was that Alec had indeed been set up and was justified in his decision to open fire. They were not to turn him over to Vesuvian authorities no matter what they decided. He was not to go without discipline however. He had stolen Starfleet property and conducted willful sabotage. By Starfleet Command's judgment, the means were not justified.
Picard could not take his mind off the bounty hunter that had gone after the Travioli. If Alec got drawn into a firefight he would most likely find himself outgunned. And he could not outrun the combat raider either, he was outclassed in that area by almost a warp factor. Alec's main advantage was his ability to improvise. That more than anything would save his life.
The veteran captain was also preoccupied with Vesuvian relations. He was hoping something could be salvaged. But that depended on the current president. He had not been a supporter of Federation membership, but he had not been a denouncer either. According to what information they had, it was he who originally suggested trade with Romulus. There was a good possibility that he might choose to explore that relationship rather than pursue what there was with the Federation.
"Captain Picard to the bridge."
"On my way, Number One." Picard exited his ready room in time to catch a glimpse of the Klingon ship on the viewscreen. It sped away and vanished in a warp flash. "Report." he said as he took over the command chair from Riker.
Riker took his own seat. "Just before the Klingon ship jumped out of warp we picked up a transmission from the Bajoran sector to Starfleet Command. It said that Alec was on Deep Space Nine and was getting help from Captain Sisko."
"So that's where the Klingon ship was off to." Luck was not on his chief of security's side. He now had two ships after him and both outgunned him. "How did we manage to intercept that transmission? Earth and Vesuvia are on opposite sides of Bajor."
Edwards fessed up. "I tapped into some of our listening posts in the hopes that I might hear something."
As a captain, it was something he did not approve of. But as a man who cared about his friends, he understood. "Mr. Edwards, I'd appreciate it if you'd check with me before doing something like that again." Picard wasn't mad, he was just asserting his authority as a captain must do from time to time.
"Won't happen again, sir."
"Should we lay in a pursuit course for the Bird of Prey, Captain?" asked Riker.
"No, we'll maintain orbit."
Riker couldn't believe his ears. How could his captain just sit idly by when one of their own was in trouble? "Captain, you heard John's assessment of the Klingon ship. You know it has as much firepower as a Vor'cha-Class attack cruiser. Alec doesn't stand a chance."
"He should have thought of that before he stole a shuttlecraft. The moment he left that shuttlebay, the Commander forfeited any assistance we might render. Admiral Nechayev has declared him a rogue. Like it or not, he's on his own."
Alec was actually looking forward to the trip back to Vesuvia. It would give him and Rene a chance to talk, which is something they hadn't done in awhile. Although her primary point of conversation would probably be Vesuvia and Tasmith, whereas he wanted to talk about the possibility of relocating after this was all over.
Whenever he was offered a new posting, he talked with Rene first just to make sure she was alright with it. And each time she went along with no argument. She simply told him that as long as it is what he truly wanted she would go with him wherever he went. But now he felt that since it wasn't just their lives that were affected but those of their children as well, that it was a choice they both should make.
Rene was behind him at the tactical console, her presence reassured by the beeping of the panel. Since they left DS9, she had been preoccupied with tactical simulations that he assigned her. It was just to give her more of a feel for it, and he could tell by the cursing under her breath that she wasn't doing so great at first. But after a time the cursing became more and more infrequent until it was replaced by outbursts of excitement.
He tried to include some variety in the simulation and also wanted there to be as much accuracy as possible. He included scenarios with Jem'Hadar attack ships, Tholian cruisers, Borg scout ships, and numerous other ships of comparable tactical capability. She was as ready for the real thing as she could get.
"Having fun, dear?" he asked.
"When you told me there was fun in the job I didn't know you meant this much."
"Just remember, it's not as much fun when the weapons can really hurt you." Now was as good a time as any to bring up what was on his mind. "Rene, do you remember what I said to you when I found out I got the Enterprise."
"You said 'we're going whether you like it or not.'"
Oh yeah, I did say that. Alec laughed to himself. He had forgotten about that until now. "Okay," he said, chuckling a little. "Do you remember what I said that wasn't a joke?"
"Yes. You said that whenever I want to stay in one place and pursue my own career that I shouldn't keep it to myself. Wait...What are you getting at? Have you been offered another posting?"
He heard the reluctance in her voice, maybe this wasn't the right time to bring it up. But he had already opened the door and put his foot through, it was too late to turn back. "No, and depending on what Starfleet decides I may never get another posting or even yet have one to go back to. But for the time being, let's work under the assumption that I will. I'd be lying if I said I wanted to leave the Enterprise, but I've been too focused on my career that you've had to sacrifice too much of yours. I think I've come far enough in this short a time to be able to slow it down a notch. And let's face it, as much as I love the Enterprise, it's not the most ideal place to raise two children."
Rene always knew that her and Alec were usually on the same wavelength, and she was relieved that this subject was no exception. She was also glad that she was not the one that brought it up. "I've been thinking about that too. But are you really ready to leave?"
"I wouldn't say I'm ready, but the time is right."
There was something about flying under cloak that gave Tasmith a certain jubilation. Maybe it was the fact that she could decloak in front of an unsuspecting ship and destroy them before they even had time to blink. That would not be the case this time. She would not fire on her prey, not yet.
A special sensor add on showed a blip on it's display. The blip indicated a homing device. The homing device was how she followed him to Deep Space Nine, and it was how she was following him now.
She had them dead center in her viewport, no more than a kilometer away. It may have the appearance and warp signature of an Andorian cargo runner, but she knew it to be a Delta-Class shuttle. The Bajoran and Trill lifesigns were also lies. On board were two humans, one male and one female. The female was immaterial, although she would catch a fine price at an Orion Syndicate slave auction. Or maybe she'd just keep the woman for herself, she could think of more than one thing that she'd be useful for. But she wanted him. The one million bars of latinum meant little to her. She would have accepted the contract if it were only one thousand bars, or one hundred bars, or even if it was only one slip.
For years she had heard stories of this particular Starfleet officer, wanted by every captain in the fleet that knew his name. One who destroyed a far superior Jem'Hadar Battleship with the weapons of a damaged Excelsior-Class starship, and the one who was coveted by the Borg more than Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise.
Upon returning to her vessel after dispersing with the human and Bajoran pests, she saw that her logs had picked up a transmission from Deep Space Nine to Earth indicating the presence of her new quarry. She had no doubt that the Klingon vessel in orbit of Vesuvia would now be on it's way to the general vicinity. There were no qualms about letting them find him either, for it would only mean their own demise. She knew of them by reputation. Two Klingon brothers, they had been working together since the youngest reached his second rite of ascension ten years prior. They were reckless, destructive. Their ship may outgun his ten to one, but his skills were far superior. Sitting back and watching her prey dispose of her competition was something she was more than willing to do.
The course she projected took them back to Vesuvia. It was a very foolish act to go all the way back there, which told her he knew exactly what he was doing. But she couldn't figure out what.
"Captain," said Edwards, his eyes still on the sensor display. "Two ships coming out fo warp. It's the Falcon and the Emissary."
"On screen." said Picard as he stood up and straightened is uniform.
The two newly arrived Starfleet vessels appeared on the viewscreen in all their streamlined, tritanium glory.
On her own, the Akira-Class falcon appeared as if she were a small vessel, but such was not the case. She was actually longer than the Nebula-Class U.S.S. Emissary. The Falcon flew along her fellow ship as gracefully as her namesake. Not from the most intimidating looking line of ships, but she was of the more exotic designs that Starfleet had chosen to commission in the past decade. Her general appearance harkened back to the NX-Class in the sense that a catamaran hull connected the perfectly circular saucer section tot he warp nacelles. The main difference being that the warp nacelles protruded at a downward angle rather than upward and the nacelle pylons continued upward from then hull in an arch with a powerful torpedo launcher in the center.
The Emissary entered orbit just aft of the Enterprise. Her large saucer section was of the same used in the construction of a Galaxy-Class starship, only it was fully integrated into the secondary hull and could not be separated. As a little cousin to the Galaxy-Class, she had a much smaller secondary hull with a weapons pod on top and warp nacelles arching outward from the sides.
"Hail both ships, Lieutenant." said Picard. "Split screen mode."
"Aye, sir."
The display of the two starships was in moments replaced with two captains sitting on their respective bridges. Both of which were no doubt seeing the same viewscreen image, only with Picard where they themselves would otherwise be. On the left was a human male, who looked like he had seen his fair share of duty during the war. Captain Charles Anderson acknowledged him with a smile and bowed his salt and pepper crown.
On the right was the crafty, dignified looking woman Picard had come to know so well. Her shoulder length red hair complimented the wide smile that spread across her face. "Greetings, Jean-Luc. It's good to see you again."
"The feelings mutual, Kathryn." said a smiling Picard. "Captain Anderson, it's good to meet you."
"The pleasure's mine, Captains." said Anderson as he raised his hand. "It's an honour to be alongside officers of such prestige."
"You flatter me, sir." said Janeway, her smile growing brighter. "But thank you."
"Would the two of you be interested in coming aboard the Enterprise?"
"I'd be delighted." said Janeway sincerely. "I wouldn't mind seeing her again."
"Come aboard the flagship?" Anderson acted jokingly as if it was a stupid question. "You won't need to twist my arm."
"I'll arrange for you transport then." said Picard. "See you shortly." The default forward view reappeared on the viewscreen. "Number One, you have the bridge."
"Picard to Ambassador Neelix." he said as he walked to the turbolift. He hoped that the Talaxian hadn't heard about his former captain's impending arrival. "Please report to transporter room three."
"Right away, Captain."
The Enterprise had just shown up on long range sensors. Sensors also picked up two more contacts, both Starfleet. Their subspace transponders identified them as the U.S.S. Falcon and the U.S.S. Emissary. Alec had only heard of the Falcon once or twice before, but he was more than familiar with the crew of the Emissary. He very much wanted to say hello and catch up with them all but doing so would not have been wise.
In five minutes the Travioli would drop out of warp and enter orbit of Vesuvia. Alec was curious as to whether or not his friends would see through the ruse. He would soon find out. There was no sign of the Klingon ship. Which meant it had cloaked or left the system, probably both. No doubt it had gotten the message that Jones had sent to Starfleet.
That damn Jones. Alec had the perfect idea for retribution. He'd suggest to Captain Sisko that Jones be forced to take part in Starfleet's cultural exchange program. Commander Riker had once taken part in the program. He was placed on board the Klingon vessel Pagh as first officer. He said he had learned a great deal about their culture from his experience. That's exactly what Alec wanted with Jones, except he wanted him to learn a different kind of lesson. A Klingon posting was exactly what he had in mind, but it wouldn't be a ship, he had a much better idea. There was a penal colony and dilithium mine deep inside Klingon territory on a planetoid called Rura Penthe he had his eye on. It was known across the galaxy as 'the alien's graveyard.' It was very cold there, one would die of exposure outside if they did not wear sufficient clothing. He could think of no better place.
"What is so funny?" asked Rene in an amused tone.
Alec did not even notice he had been laughing. But now that he did he just went with it. "Oh, just planning a little surprise for an old acquaintance."
"This acquaintance wouldn't happen to go by the name of Eric Jones would he? What did you do to him anyway?"
"I gave him a break." The joke was awful, he knew it, and if Rene knew the full story she would have groaned, but he laughed at himself regardless. Glancing down at the navigation panel he saw they were about to enter Vesuvian space. He took a deep breath before placing his hands on the console. "Time for a test."
After spending an hour in conference getting updated by Picard in his ready room, Janeway and Anderson returned to their respective ships and Picard returned to the bridge.
"Captain," said Edwards, his eyes on the sensors. "A ship just came out of warp."
"What kind of ship?" asked Picard as he sat down. He was hoping it might have been Alec, coming back to turn himself in and save himself some disgrace, but he didn't think Alec would make such a move. His chief of security always saw things out to the end.
"Checking. It's an Andorian cargo runner, Captain. Registered as the 'Shran.'"
"Lifesigns." asked Riker. He couldn't help but wonder.
"Two. One Bajoran, and one Trill."
Picard's gut instinct was nagging at him. But he didn't have much to go on. All his gut had was the fact there were two lifesigns on board, and they weren't even human. But that could be easy to falsify if one had the resources. Although he couldn't think of anywhere Alec could get his hands on such a ship. Unless he obtained it at Deep Space Nine. "Mr. Data, establish a subspace link with Deep Space Nine. I want to know if any Andorian cargo runners have docked there in the past week."
"This will take a moment, sir."
Alec's stomach churned. He desperately wanted to know what was going on over on the Enterprise. "To be a fly on the wall."
Rene was easily able to read the console before her thanks to the training she had gotten over the past two days. "They're scanning us."
He held his breath without realizing it. Within seconds they'd know if they had fooled their friends. It was not a pleasant feeling. "If we're discovered I want you to let me take all the blame."
"Like I wouldn't anyway? You practically kidnapped me!"
He had to turn around just to make sure the other person in the room was still the woman he called his wife. Only when he saw the smile on her face did he realize she was joking. He turned right back to the navigational display. "Next time you want to try out for a play remind me not to question your acting skills."
"If you think I'm going to let you ride any of this out by yourself you can forget it. I took a vow to stay with you through good and bad. I think this counts."
"You might want to wait and see how bad it gets first."
A subspace message regarding Data's request appeared on his console. The information contained within discredited the idea that Alec and Rene were aboard the Shran. However, he did not rule out the possibility that the record might be falsified. After all, the crew on board DS9 did shelter them. It was by no means out of the question they would take this measure to protect him.
"Captain, I have received the log you requested. According to Deep Space Nine's records, the cargo runner Shran docked for repairs two weeks ago before departing for destinations unknown."
"It hasn't been back there since?"
"Negative, Commander."
"Should I hail them, Captain?" asked Edwards.
Opening a channel was the most sensible idea. But it was most likely futile. If it was Alec on board he had undoubtedly prepared for such a thing and come up with an appropriate course of action. The only way to truly find out who was on board was to either beam someone over, which there was currently no justification, or to bring the ship into a shuttlebay. If they were in Federation space they could use a health and safety inspection as a cover for the latter, but they were out of their jurisdiction.
Besides, if it really was Alec, he had a greated chance of getting to the bottom of things without interference. "Leave them to their business. But keep an eye on them with the sensors just in case."
Alec had been anticipating the hailing chime to sound from the communications console, but there was nothing. The Enterprise did not try to contact them, they did not come around on an intercept course and they didn't initiate more thorough scans. She just maintained her orbit around Vesuvia. If they were onto the ruse they certainly were making no indication. "So far so good." They seem to be going out of their way to leave us alone, maybe they're onto us.
"What now?"
"Now," said Alec as he established a stationary orbit. "I go back to the scene of the crime." He stood up from the helm and made his way up the incline, grabbing his tricorder and katana from the ops station.
"What do you need that for?" she asked, pointing at his katana.
"I've got a psychotic woman and who knows how many Klingons after me." Alec pulled the strap of the katana's scabbard over his head and placed it across his chest so the scabbard sat diagonally across his back, the handle of the sword sticking up over his right shoulder. "I'm not taking any chances."
"I want to go with you." said Rene as she stood from the tactical station and approached him.
"Ohhhhh no." He put his hands on her shoulders and walked her back to tactical, seating her gently. "I don't want to worry about you down there."
"As opposed to worrying about me up here all by myself?"
"That won't work." he said, kneeling down so they were face to face. "Rene, they will not be interested in you because I will be an easy target down there. There's little point in using you against me when I'm practically in plain sight. That's if, if, by some means they find us. And there's also your unwitting guardian angel."
"Who?"
Alec pointed out the viewport. She saw the Enterprise orbiting ahead of them. "They won't sit idly by and let a defenseless ship with a Federation citizen on board get attacked. And I doubt anyone would try anything with the Enterprise there. You're far safer up here, away from me."
"What if the Enterprise starts hailing?"
"Activate the interactive response program that Nog installed as part of the package." He saw the apprehensive look on her face. He wasn't without compassion, he desperately didn't want to leave her alone. But she was truly safer aboard the shuttle than down in the caverns with him. "Hey, don't worry. I'm just a comsignal away." he said as he pinned a combadge on his chest. "If you get scared just contact me. He lifted her chin gently with his finger and leaned in to kiss her. It was one of the most tender moments they had ever shared, he did not want it to end and neither did she. But he had to move quickly. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I love you, Alec. I haven't said it enough lately."
"Neither have I."
Alec materialized in the hallway of the Presidential Forum. He was right next to the wall that concealed the passage to the underground cavern. He had performed a scan of the corridors to ensure there was nobody nearby when he beamed down. Pulling his tricorder from his side he opened it and held it up against the wall. Contained within the tricorder's memory was the signal and audio cue that Jobra used to open the door. He intended to replay them in order to gain access to the cavern.
Once the signal had been recreated he replayed the recording of Jobra's words. The door opened just as it had before. Looking back on the first time he went down there he was pleased he had thought to open his tricorder before Jobra opened the door.
Stepping down the stairwell he was enveloped in darkness. There was light down at the bottom of the stairs making it unnecessary for him to activate his wrist beacon for illumination at the moment. Before reaching the bottom he exchanged the tricorder in his hand for a trusty phaser.
The same dim lamps as before shed some light on the cave, be he chose to turn on his wrist beacon. He was following the map his tricorder created when he perused the caves the first time, it led him shortly to the spot where he discovered the bodies of Sha'Gra's guards. After replacing the map with a standard scanning display he took the opportunity to scan the area. He detected no biosigns, but he did detect traces of cellular residue in the dirt. Closer examination revealed it be Vesuvian. He surmised it was a result of their phaser wounds.
He stepped into the next chamber, back to where the tragedy occurred. Anger swelled from within. He had been used in this room. Used to kill, used to further someone's agenda, and used to damage the name of the Federation.
Floodlights filled the once dark cavern, Looking closer at the walls he he saw what he believed to be raw, unrefined dilithium. He had been unable to see it before because of the lack of good light.
Without even noticing it he had his tricorder open and was scanning the area. Apparently he wanted this over with more than he realized. As before there were no biosigns. This scan differed in that there were dilithium signatures present. A vein of ore was most likely running through the cave. More mysteriously, there were no traces of cellular residue. He checked again to be sure, but once more there was nothing. There should have been some kind of genetic material in the dirt.
A phaser blast of level 7 was sufficient enough to cause a significant amount of cellular residue to settle in the immediate vicinity. But there was nothing, not even a single DNA molecule. The only reasonable explanation was that the investigators were meticulous enough to have collected every piece of genetic material for evidence. But if that were the case why would they not do the same for the guards? Unless there was something they wanted to hide.
He closed his tricorder in frustration and stared ahead at the rock face. What the hell was going on? Just when he thought he was close to the answer, another question was asked, increasing the mystery.
The rock face, something was wrong with it. Rather more precisely, nothing was wrong with it. He shined his wrist beacon on the stone wall. A phaser blast of the intensity that killed Sha'Gra would have punched through her body and continued until it was stopped by something of sufficient density. The rock face should have suffered some degree of visible damage. But there was no heat scarring anywhere to be seen.
Alec approached the rock face with his tricorder once again open. The readings matched with the surrounding rock, nothing was out of the ordinary according to his sensor device. But as he knew first hand, sensors could be lied to.
The next course was fairly obvious. He put his tricorder back in its holster and reached out to touch the rock face.
Apparently he wasn't the only one using a hologram for deception. His hand passed through the rock face. What was on the other side he could only assume. Phaser now in hand, he took a breath and stepped through.
Rene felt alone. It was the worst feeling possible, and she wanted it to go away. Hurry up, Alec. What's taking you so long? She was tempted to open the comline and talk to him, but he had enough to think over at the moment without his fraidy cat wife adding more wood to the fire.
She leaned back and tried to relax, breathing in and out in an attempt to slow her heartrate. It was starting to work until the tactical sensors registered something. Her heartrate jumped once more. She watched the display closely. Whatever was there was gone now. "Computer, what just appeared on the sensors?"
"Sensors detected a momentary increase in chronitons."
That was nothing but gibberish to her, but it didn't sound good whatever it was. "What can do that?"
"The most likely source is a cloaked vessel."
"Alec!" Rene frantically accessed the communications system. He'd have no way of knowing until it was too late. "Rene to Alec! Come in!" There was no response. "Oh please, God. No."
Concealed behind the fake rock face was the exact opposite of another cavern. There were several computer consoles in the small manmade chamber. "What the hell?" He looked around the room. It almost looked like an observation post for a duck blind mission. It wasn't Federation technology, he could tell that much.
The computer monitors were all blank. He approached the nearest console and touched the panel to activate it. All the monitors in the room came to life. On each and every one there was the same image. A fierce avian set against a black background, green on the left and blue on the right, with wings spread, and an orb gripped in each talon. Every officer in Starfleet had come to know that insignia, and know it well. It was the insignia of the Romulan Star Empire. The two orbs represented the twin worlds in the Romulan system, Romulus and Remus.
He glanced around the room once again. On the wall opposite the hologram was a scorch mark. His phaser had found its mark by the looks of it. The wall wasn't important, he turned his attention back the monitor. During the war, when ties with the Romulans were less tense, he took the opportunity to study their language. As a result he had learned to read their text to a certain degree. He wouldn't be writing soliloquies in Romulan anytime soon, but he could certainly find his way around a computer. He was thankful for that particular skill now. It was his hope to use it to find out what the Romulans were up to.
It took him a minute to refresh his memory, but once he did he went through the directory with ease. He believed that his best shot was to call up whatever data was in use before the terminals were shut down. Accessing the active memory didn't take long. And while a fair amount of the information contained within was fairly mundane, there was one part that interested him.
He just skimmed the file for important words, the sooner he knew what was going on the better. He found something soon. Four words in particular caught him: Ty'brel, Farius Prime, and eliminate.
Ty'brel was still alive. For two years he had been missing, and now he appeared to have been so of his own volition. Something had driven the man to leaving his life behind without telling a single person. There were only so many things that could make someone abandon their life so abruptly and the most obvious stuck out in Alec's mind: Fear for one's life. Ty'brel must have discovered something so frightening that he took refuge in one of the most dangerous sectors of the quadrant.
Whatever the man knew, it was enough for the Romulans to want him dead, which was enough for Alec to want him alive.
Although it wasn't exactly what Alec had been looking for, he'd take it. If there was a chance that this man could help him clear his name he'd have to get to him before the Romulans did.
He was done here. There was more in the file but he believed he had enough. As soon as he deactivated the console he ran back through the hologram.
"Alec! If you can hear me please answer!"
Rene's frantic cries came from his combadge. But that was not why he stopped in his tracks. It was because of the two Klingon warriors standing before him, bat'leths at the ready. My luck cannot be that bad. Level three.