The Hour of The Wolf
Chapter Ten

Will waited for the turbolift to stop and the doors to open. 'What is it Shelby?' he asked his new first officer. She'd summoned him to the bridge with a curt message just as he was about to turn in for the night.

'We have a Federation ship approaching at warp. It appears to be the USS Turner.'

With Data busy managing the Colonial Fleet's resupply that left Wesley alone at the conn. 'Mr Crusher, what have we got on the Turner?'

'Bringing it up now sir.' The young man reported. 'It's an old Miranda Class. Now attached to the Diplomatic Corps as a transport. I didn't think they were still in service.'

'A few still are.' Shelby told him. 'Mostly just as low priority intersystem transports.'

'Admiral Hanson did say he'd sent for an ambassador. I would have thought they'd be arriving with relief ships.' Will thought aloud. With most of his bridge crew scattered across the Fleet outside and the rapidly approaching night shift the Enterprise was operating on a skeleton crew. He went to the tactical interface and hailed the approaching ship:-

'Enterprise to Turner. This is Captain Riker. You're early, we weren't expecting you until morning.'

The view screen flickered into life showing an older man, obviously on the verge of retirement. He still looked every inch a Starfleet Captain, but like his ship his glory days were long behind him. 'Riker, this is Captain Frasure. The ambassadors were eager to begin negotiations. Something about not wanting Starfleet Officers dictating Federation policies.'

'Sorry to hear that. I can assure you we've all been too busy with medical needs and mechanical repairs across the fleet to even touch on policy.'

Frasure waved him off. 'They're spoilt dignitaries Captain. Just nod, make sure they're tucked in at night and get on with the important things.'

'Sounds like you've had your fill.'

'No, just jealous. That Enterprise of yours is a real beauty. The Turner used to turn heads too back in the day herself. I've served on her for almost all of my career. Don't know who they're going to retire first, her or me.' He chuckled. 'Until then we're just a shuttle service plodding the space lanes with a bunch of bureaucrats and loud mouthed ideas men in tow.'

Will laughed. This Captain might be jaded, but he wasn't one to hide his opinion. 'Better warn you though, one of the talkers knows what he's doing.' Frasure continued. 'They used to be like you lot, doing a proper job before the red tape jockeys got their hands on him. He's a diplomat, but he's still got his head on straight. Keep him on your side and the others will fall in behind you. We'll be there in half an hour. Just enough time for you to to get into those dress uniforms. Turner out.'

'What was that about?' Wesley asked with a frown.

Will scratched at his beard. 'Diplomatic Transports don't like to advertise who they've got on board. Pirates, Ferengi free loaders, even rogue Klingons see high ranking diplomats as prisoners or hostages.'

'Miranda Class ships might be old, but they can still pack a punch.' Shelby reminded the Ensign. 'Especially if they've been upgraded. That "old girl" might have as much firepower as an Excelsior class, or better.'

'Frasure went out of his way to tell us he's got someone important onboard.' Will said, rubbing his jaw. 'And that they have taken a personal interest in this.'

'Should I inform the Admiral?' Shelby asked.

'If you would Mr Shelby, I'm going to try and find Data. I need to see how things are going. The Ambassadors are going to request a full briefing and they'll expect me to give it.' Will sighed and left the bridge, heading for shuttle bay two. His second officer was using the bay as a staging area. Somewhere he could gather people and organise relief work away from the bridge. He was also making use of the shuttles there. They had learned early on that the Colonial's had a distrust of the transporter. That meant that they were sending their own craft over and needed somewhere to land.

The turbolift stopped next to the bay and as he crossed the hall the reinforced doors opened. People inside were moving in all sorts of directions. Carrying cargo and equipment. It looked completely random but Will had confidence that wasn't the case.

Data himself was standing by a small tool cabinet he appeared to be using as a table off to one side. He was briefing an engineering team from one of the other federation ships that had followed the Admiral. 'How much longer are we going to be standing around like cadets looking for their class? If you don't need us we'll head back to our own vessels.' the team chief snapped.

'I am awaiting reports from other ships in the Colonial Fleet. Without that knowledge there is no way of knowing exactly where your skills will be most efficiently utilised.'

The chief rolled his eyes. 'Most efficiently utilised.' He mimicked before seeing Will. 'Ah, Captain. Could you tell this jumped up processor that we are "most efficiently used in maintenance" on our own ship. You've got teams all over the place here…'

'Chief.' Will cut him off. 'Mr Data is my second officer. He is currently singlehandedly trying to manage relief efforts across more than two hundred vessels with limited available resources, personnel and equipment. Your lack of patience and self importance not withstanding. However if you want to return to your own ship I can arrange it. I can also arrange with your commanding officer that you spend the next year scrubbing plasma conduits with a micro-pulse degausser.'

The chief stepped back. 'Sir…'

Data, unfazed as ever, received a padd from an Ensign and thanked them. 'Your team specialises in hull and structural repairs. There is a ship experiencing problems in that area.' He tapped a few commands onto the pad. 'Please follow Ensign Chambers, she'll take you to your shuttle. Please have her return to me with a list of resources you feel you require.'

Embarrassed, the enlisted engineer took the padd, mumbled an acknowledgement and left. Chambers, who'd seen the whole thing, gave Will a sly nod and headed off.

'It's a good thing you don't have emotions like we do my friend.' Will shook his head. Prejudice was supposed to be dying out, but every so often it came back.

After a pause, where he sharply tilted his head, Data nodded sharply. 'Indeed. Has there been any information regarding supply ships Captain?'

'None yet. I know the request has gone through, but the quartermaster's office is nowhere near as efficient as you are.' He told him. 'How are we doing without them?'

'Not as efficient as I would be otherwise Captain. While I was able to request a number of repair crews from the Admiral's ships their skills do not appear to be on par with Geordi's staff.'

Will smirked. 'I won't tell the Admiral if you don't. Until then I would just make their teams larger.'

'Practical, however I have been cycling all crews on a high rotation. A rest period would be required for many of them soon.'

Will knew how they felt. 'We should have dealt with most of the critical issues by now. Start assigning down time. I'll have a word with Colonel Tigh on the Galactica, see if any of their guys can pick up the slack. Then I've got to get into my dress uniform to greet the Ambassadors.' He sighed. 'Lucky for you you'll be tied up here.'

'Yes, thank you Captain.' With that Data turned to another Ensign who was being followed by a Colonial pilot.

'Captain, Commander. This is Xavier.'

The pilot looked back and forth. 'I'm from the orphan ship. I was told you had some supplies for me to take back.'

'Affirmative. Food, water and warm clothes are in cargo bay four. You landed in the main bay?'

'The big hanger up top. That sounds right' Xavier told them.

Data tapped his comm badge. 'Commander Data to Lieutenant Van Mayer, please have supplies identified as lots four-ten through four-twelve in the main shuttle bay as soon as possible for loading onto a colonial shuttle. Please follow pilot Xavier's instructions on how best to load the supplies.'

Data had everything under control here and Will knew what he needed to so with a nod he headed for his quarters. Even though he was now Captain he still used the quarters he had as first officer, and would so until Jean-Luc took command again. Once inside he took off his own badge and dropped it on the nearest table. 'Computer, open comm-frequencies. Hail the Galactica, audio only.'

The computer beeped and did as it was told. There was a moment before a young woman's voice answered. 'This is Galactica core control.'

'Captain Riker here, onboard the Enterprise. I need to talk with Colonel Tigh.'

'One centon Captain.'

After another pause where Will found his dress uniform, hung at the back of his wardrobe, he was put through. 'Tigh here Captain. Can I thank you, and your crew for the help. Some of the work they've done is even better than new.'

'No problem colonel, we're happy to help. Besides we owe you one. Unfortunately I've just talked with Data, most of our repair teams are coming off a double shift. Until we get some much needed new personnel we're going to have to slow down.'

'You've already done more than enough Captain. It is us that are in your debt.'

'We should call it even. The real reason I'm hailing is that our ambassadors are already arriving. They should be her soon. If you can inform your Commander, I'm just getting into my dress uniform to meet them. I don't know if they'll want to meet with me first or visit with you.'

'Captain William this is Adama. I'm here. I thank you for the information.' From the sound of things he must have been standing next to Tigh when the hail came through. 'The Council has already voted unanimously to meet with your ambassadors. If you could inform us the moment they arrive.'

'Of course. I will also pass on the message, if you want.'

'Captain, as Tigh said you and your crew have gone above and beyond what we could have hoped for. Thank you.'

'Well it's up to the diplomats now, so you might regret it before the end of the day.'

Adama chucked. 'I've been dealing with politicians and diplomats for longer than you've been alive Captain. They're the same all over the universe.'

'That's depressing.' Will joked back, picking up his badge. 'We'll keep you in the loop, Enterprise out.'

Straightening his collar Will left his quarters and headed to the nearest Transporter Room. After affixing the badge in place he contacted the Bridge. 'Riker to Shelby. Has the Turner arrived yet?'

'They're just dropping out of warp now Captain.'

'I'm on my way to Transporter Room two. I'll meet the Ambassadors there.'

'Understood.' She answered and closed the comm.

A turbolift later and Will entered the room, only to stop in his tracks. 'Captain?'

'Number one.' Captain Picard was standing there, waiting in that same white duty uniform.

'I thought you were in your quarters.' He was stunned, the last thing he expected was to bump into his Captain here.

'I decided to greet the Ambassador myself.'

Will blinked, 'But how did you know they were coming now, or that I was going be here?' Even he didn't know, until he contacted Shelby, where he was going to meet the Ambassador.

'Maybe you're just that predictable.' He told him and Will just shook his head. There was something he wasn't telling him, in fact there was a lot the Captain wasn't telling him.

Taking breath he decided to grab the bull by the horns, so to speak. 'Captain, why aren't you on the bridge? This isn't my ship, it's yours.'

'It was mine, Will. It's now yours.' He shook his head sadly. 'We both know you'll never want to leave the Enterprise and as long as I commanded her you'd be first officer. You'll throw your career away because you have everything you ever want here. So did I, but now I'm needed elsewhere and you have a responsibility. To the ship, to the crew and to yourself.'

'What about your responsibility Captain?' Will tried to turn that around.

Picard smiled that same sad little smile. 'My responsibility to you is to stand aside. To the ship, it was to make sure you were ready and you are. To the ship and crew, exactly the same. To the Federation? I have to follow the path laid out before me.'

Will shared a look with the transporter operator, who just gave him a helpless look back before his console bleeped. 'Sir, I've got co-ordinates for transport. Three Ambassadors. No, one Ambassador and two aides.'

'Only one Ambassador?' Will frowned. 'I know the Admiral wanted to keep this classified but this is a big duty for one man.'

'Don't be so sure Number One.' The Captain told him.

'Should I beam them over sir?'

Will caught himself looking to Jean-Luc for permission before realising this was it. He wasn't going to come back to command and now they both knew it. 'Energise.' he ordered.

Three figures materialised on the transporter pad. A veteran looking Vulcan and two younger humans, one a pretty girl and the other a somber faced man. Will immediately recognised him. 'Ambassador Spock, welcome to the Enterprise-D.'

'Captain Riker, Captain Picard. It is agreeable to be here at long last.'

They were a mining colony, on the edge of Dominion space. Their species were called the Yaderan, more than twenty five years earlier their world was accepted into the mighty Dominion. By force. None of their people liked the idea and many, like those of the colony fled. Scattering across the quadrant they were reduced to vagabond traders and desperate refugees.

The colony didn't have a name, It was just their new home. Those Yaderans that had settled there traded ore with the Karemma in exchange for medical supplies and the simplest of tools. They did not openly defy the Dominion and in exchange they were allowed to survive.

There were others they traded with. Some honest, that felt sorry for their troubles, and others that came with weapons and took what they wanted. Even so they were not prepared for what was to come.

At first they saw what appeared to be a new star in the morning sky. As it hung high above the colony they knew it had to be a ship, only no one had ever heard of a ship so huge.

Then, from out of the clouds, came dozens of smaller ships. Thinking it was a raid they prepared themselves. Men and women began pulling raw ore and materials into the open, hoping that the raiders would take them and leave the rest as others had done so so often before.

Instead sapphire bursts of light rained down. Destroying homes and farms without care or reason. The Colonies Protector ran for the communicator in her office, desperately hailing the attackers. She tried to surrender, begging them to stop killing the people she'd been elected to defend. Her transmission was responded to in the only way it could. Two of the attacking ships swung around and strafed the small building, detonating it in a fireball that destroyed what few weapons they had.

Then they were gone, as quickly as they had come. Leaving death and destruction in their wake. Slowly, timidly the miners crept out of hiding. Finding their homes, their warehouses and spaceport all burning. The fires were out of control, consuming everything they had built and work for over two decades.

Then, from out of the cloying clouds of smoke, they came again. This time they were on foot, but still just as ruthless. Tall figures in shiny chrome armour and back piping. A single cyclopian red eye in the middle of their faces, moving back and forth as they scanned the wreckage. Their large laser rifles picking off survivors, slowly, methodically as they advanced. Those they didn't kill instantly they dragged them into the square. Dropping them next to the discarded ore.

In the distance the wounded could hear the crackling of fires and the screams of the dead. Children cried, their mothers and fathers desperately tried to protect them. Singing lullabies and hugging them tightly.

Eventually the screams finished and as the sun set all that was left was the terrible glow of everything they knew burning. All the while guarded by the monsters that had slaughtered them. They stood like statues, unmoved by any pleas or offers of bribes. Under the blood red sky, clogged with foul smelling smoke, a new monster walked into the square. It was shorter than the others and wore a long set of shimmering silver robes that covered it's entire body and had a high collar that was lined with a dark purple. The only other thing visible was the head.

There was no flesh on the creature, just steel and glass. Unlike the others it's face was humanoid, with two eyes and a nose. It's forehead was a transparent cone, filled with wires and flashing lights. At first it looked at the ore, the lights flashed faster as it's mouth lit up. 'Adequate quality. Centurion report.'

One of the killers stepped up; 'The inhabitants have been killed, these are the only survivors. They offered little resistance.'

'Excellent work Centurion. Eliminate these and prepare the site. I will send for the equipment.'

The Yaderans cowered against the floor, begging for mercy and offering to serve their new masters.

The Centurion paused and then drew a short sword from his waist. 'By your command.'

End Chapter Ten