CHAPTER 11
Truth will out.
- Proverb, many species.
FEDERATION HEAVY CRUISER USS YORKTOWN, MANEUVERING, TOULAGAI
SEPTEMBER 2269
The big bay at the aft end of Yorktown's secondary hull had barely completed the landing cycle before Jons was out of his shuttle, screaming bloody murder. "I am a diplomatic officer on a diplomatic mission. You have absolutely NO right to kidnap me or interfere with my mission. I will see to it that you are all broken in rank. This is an act of WAR!"
As he paused for breath, Thelev and Wilkes piled out of their own shuttlecraft.
Catching sight of Wilkes in his rather outlandish mix of uniforms Jons said, "I will be damned. A handsome, heroic pirate flying to the rescue in a shuttlecraft."
"What?" Thelev asked.
"Nothing, just a conversation I once had with someone I thought quite silly at the time. I may have underestimated her. A bad habit of mine." Looking more closely he recognized him. "The dashing Lieutenant Wilkes, is it not?"
The Yorktown bay crew looked at both groups in bewildered silence. One tech by a com panel frantically continued trying to signal the bridge.
"Good to see you again, Colonel."
"How is your lady?"
"Doing well, sir and safe aboard the Hood. We still have high hopes."
Thelev had finally had enough, "Well, if you two are finished playing just-folks, perhaps we can get to the bottom of this mess."
Colonel Jons smiled, "Why Commander, there is no mess. I am a diplomatic officer of the Hydran Kingdom, in a fully marked, unarmed shuttlecraft on a diplomatic mission according to treaty, custom and law and you have unlawfully detained me. I hereby require and demand that you release me and my ship or be considered in violation of several treaties and Starfleet regulations besides."
Thelev said, "Colonel, our belief is that you are a murderer and a spy in possession of illegally obtained classified information belonging to the Federation."
"That's nice, Commander. And it means nothing. I have full diplomatic immunity and you have no proof of anything whatsoever, not that it would matter if you did."
Captain Kamov stepped into the bay with Sooth just behind him, her helmet off and her armor still smoking along the gouges, a phaser-rifle slung across her back and her hand-phaser holstered at her side. "Ah, you must be Colonel Jons." he introduced himself and before Jons could begin his demands again, Kamov continued. "Colonel, I must apologize for the atrocious conduct of my officers and those of the Hood. There has been a tremendous misunderstanding due to the highly-charged situation here and back on Earth."
Slightly taken aback, Jons said cautiously "Of course. With your permission then, I shall be on my way."
Wilkes was stunned. Both by the appearance of Sooth and by the utter failure of their mission. He was going to get away with it.
"One moment please, Colonel. It has come to our attention that a biological weapon has been placed aboard your shuttle by terrorists on Earth who have some strange objection to the Hydran Kingdom's well-known business dealings."
"Ah, I'm quite sure that there is no such..."
"Nevertheless, Colonel, for the safety of yourself and my ship, I must board and search your vessel for contaminants or disease organisms. As you know, I am allowed to do so by Starfleet regulations to ensure the safety of my vessel now that yours has been opened inside mine, exposing my crew to who knows what."
"Captain, that is a violation of treaty an..."
"No, no, Colonel, We are only seeking a terrorist device, nothing else shall be disturbed." As he was speaking two Yorktown crewmen in Science blue boarded the shuttlecraft.
Colonel Jons looked from them to Captain Kamov. He knew when he was outmaneuvered. But he still held the high card in the end. "Why thank you, Captain! I appreciate your concern for my safety, and that of our clients. No doubt this entire...misunderstanding was simply the result of misplaced zeal?"
"I'm sure that will be the case, Colonel." Kamov smiled as the two men came out of the shuttle holding the diplomatic pouch.
"Found it, Captain." the leader said.
"Captain, "Colonel Jons interrupted, "That is a diplomatic pouch and as such, sacrosanct. It must NOT be opened or examined in any way."
"Have no worries, Colonel, We wouldn't want to allow that device to get loose." he turned to the team holding the pouch, "Put it in a disposal chute immediately."
"Ah." Jons sighed watching the diplomatic pouch disappear into the opening, heading into the anti-matter reaction chambers. "Well then." and he looked at Sooth. "M'lady." he shot a quick smile at Wilkes, "Safe aboard the Hood?"
Wilkes shrugged as Kamov asked, "What on EARTH are you wearing, young man...Lieutenant?"
The Colonel laughed, "I'm sure there's a logical explanation, good Captain. If you would release me, I find my mission concluded and myself without a destination at the moment and I am quite famished. If I could perhaps take these two officers to your mess hall for dinner?"
Captain Kamov said, "Of course, Colonel. Allow me to provide you with two security guards to ensure that no one further interferes with your diplomatic movements."
Glowering from Wilkes to Sooth he said, "And when the Colonel has quite finished with you both, you will come see me. Bring your supervisors. And Marine, you will get your team the hell off my bridge immediately."
They both echoed "Yes, sir!"
Kamov stalked out of the bay, the bay crew still staring in utter bewilderment.