The Hour of the Wolf
Chapter Thirty-Two

Authors note:-

Sorry this chapter has taken so long. This story is getting too big and I needed time to stop and reassess things. Most importantly I needed to start compiling a cheat sheet of character names so I don't lose track of everyone!

If you want I'll post this Dramatis Personae for you and other readers to keep track of too.

That bit of house keeping done here we go, at long last, with the latest chapter!

Will couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'You had no right to arrest him.' 'The security of the Federation is at stake. Peoples lives are at stake…' The retired Admiral began.

'That we agree on, but you're the one putting them at risk.' He told her. 'You are ruining lives on a witch hunt with no proof of anything. Do you even see the damage you're doing?'

'Commander Riker…'

'Captain.' Will corrected her pointedly.

'Captain then, for now. Both Captain Jellico and Picard would agree with me. It's not your fault your Klingon Officer is a traitor. Work with me and we can find who he was working for.' She tried to reason.

He stood up and straightened his tunic. Bringing his full hight to tower over her. 'Lets get something clear right now; Edward Jellico is not in command of the Enterprise, nor will he be again. I am. And I promise you if Captain Picard was here he would have thrown you off this ship on your ass already.' Satie blinked at him in shock, but he hadn't finished yet 'Now this was not about Worf, this is about Adama.'

'That Commander person? What about him?'

There was a chime and the door opened. In walked Worf quickly followed by Adama. Neither of them looked that concerned that they should both be several decks down and in the brig at that moment.

'What is going on here?' Satie took a step backward. 'Who let these people out?' She spun on Will. 'You can't do this.'

'Captain Riker didn't do anything.' A unfamiliar woman with light blonde hair in a red officers uniform followed the pair of former prisoners. She looked angry enough to chew on neutron stars and spit out stellar fragments. 'I did. Commander Abigail Sparks, Judge Advocate General's office. Starbase 43.'

Will recognised the name, he'd made several official complaints to her regarding Satie's investigation, but he had never met her in person. 'Welcome aboard.'

'Thank you.' She nodded quickly at him. 'I would have told you I was coming, but I was in a bit of a rush. When I heard what had happened I had to come right over.'

'You? You released them?' Satie asked 'But the investigation, the hearing?'

'Has been cancelled. All charges dropped effective immediately.' Sparks snapped.

'Why?' Will asked before anyone else could.

The JAG officer turned to Satie, 'Because the lead investigator botched the case from the beginning. Ignoring evidence, violating the privacy of members of this crew. I was all ready to read the riot act in the hearing, stoping this farce before it reached a trial when you, retired Admiral Satie, had a visiting dignitary arrested!'

Will glanced to Adama, who had an unreadable expression. 'Him?' gasped Satie. 'He's a Commander…'

'That is my military rank. Commander of the Fleet, comparable to your Commander of Starfleet.' Adama informed her without a trace of emotion. 'I also currently hold the position of President of the Council of Thirteen. Our full membership of the Federation should be confirmed as soon as final talks are concluded.'

'Fortunately President Adama has been very understanding.' Sparks explained from between clenched teeth. 'And has agreed not to make a diplomatic incident out of this.'

'We can all make mistakes.' He said, again without a hint of a smile. 'I am sure there was no maliciousness involved.'

'What of Worf?' Satie asked desperately, she could see how this was going.

'Like I said the investigation was sloppy, basing Commander Worf's guilt on the prediction of his family history is not only sloppy, but against Federation law.'

'I had other evidence…'

'Based on his guilt.' Sparks pointed out sharply. 'From an unbiased position it proves nothing and unless Federation law has changed since I've been out here we still believe a man is innocent until proven guilty!'

'He has been proven guilty' Satie protested.

'His Father has. By a Klingon court. Which is, with all due respect, still stuck in the dark ages. They rule by decree. We are supposed be slightly more civilised.' Sparks ground out. She was obviously keeping tight control of her anger. 'After the unfortunate incident with President Adama I am not only required, but overjoyed to throw this investigation out! As for you, Retired Admiral Satie, you're on administrative leave as of right now. Until a competency hearing can be arranged you are relived of your duties as a special investigator. I would suggest you resign before then, to save what's left of your reputation.'

'You can't do this. I'll protest to the highest authority!'

Sparks pulled herself straight and glared at the older woman 'You really want to make a fight of this? Good luck.' With that she nodded to Will and then Adama. 'Captain, President Adama if you'll forgive me I have some reports to file.'

Anna watched from her refurbished Captain's chair as the newly relaunched Akira glided towards the asteroid belt. 'Helm, how's she handling?'

Lieutenant Troken, Anna's most experienced helmswoman, tapped away at the LCARS screen. Though the view screen you could tell the Akira rocked from side to side but the inertial dampeners cancelled all sense of movement. 'Manoeuvring thrusters are more responsive, but there's still a bit of lag from the port impulse thruster. I'm compensating, but I don't trust it to do high speed banks.'

'I'll have Mackie look at it.' Anna promised. Part of her new chair was a small hand console to her right. More than the usual controls she now had her own monitor screen. Independent of the main viewer she could tap into any feed on the bridge stations.

Right now she hailed the Akira's sister ship, the Thunderchild, on a private channel. 'Everything okay over there Anna?' The unconventional Vulcan Captain asked, his face on her monitor.

She first met Nurock when he arrived at New Kobol. She'd heard about him, he was sort of infamous among starship captains for his attitude. Abandoning logic for a more emotional perspective. This was her first real mission with him and didn't know what to expect. 'We're good. Just ironing out a few bugs. Yourself?'

He smirked. 'I'd like to find the lazy Ferengi that built this thing and have him fix everything that's wrong. That, or just hang him by his ears.'

'I know what you mean.' Officially the Akira Class was recalled due to design flaws. It provided a reason for the refit that included installing Colonial technology but it wasn't a lie. A lot of components on the Akira was highly experimental and there had a number of difficulties. Anna's crew had been able to address most of them on the original shake down run.

That just left the new ones that the refit created. 'I'll have Mackie beam over.' She told her fellow Captain. 'He can go over what we did to get this beast working right.'

'My engineer will probably eat him alive, but I'll tell her to play nice.' He chuckled. 'We're approaching the mission co-ordinates. As they say on your world; Ladies first.'

Anna knew what he was doing, letting her make all the mistakes first. A friendly rivalry had grown between the two crews and it had almost become a game for them. 'They also say age before beauty. After you.' She challenged.

'Don't mind if I do.' He looked up, past the screen, to talk to his own first officer. 'Jason, we're taking point. Red alert, all hands to battle stations. Tactical, give me a target.'

Anna nodded to her XO and he changed the main screen to show a standard tactical view. It showed the two ships and just beyond them a number of asteroids. All different shapes, sizes and compositions.

Their mission was simple, test out the new refit. Specifically sensors, weapons and Viper launch racks. There were other modifications, but those were the most extensive and most in need of testing.

Four large asteroids, those nearest to the Thunderchild, changed colour. For the mission both the Akira's and Thunderchild's tactical systems had been networked. In other words they could see what the other was doing in real time. The colour change meant they had been identified as targets. After another moment one shifted again, from orange to a deep red.

'I'm going to start with a phaser test.' Nurock said over the comm line. 'Controlled bursts; one, three and five seconds progressive. Forward arrays. Begin when ready.' On the tactical display a circle appeared around the Thunderchild, showing the range of the chosen weapon. A scroll of text next to it reported phasers firing and their duration.

The targeted space rock was quickly broken apart under the bombardment. Anna looked to Jamie, her operations officer. 'Status of Thunderchild's target.'

'Three direct hits Captain. The asteroid has shattered into five distinct fragments.' He reported.

'Nurock, tell your tactical officer good shooting.' Anna nodded to her console.

He was looking elsewhere, but she didn't hear what he did. 'Phaser efficiency was only seventy-one percent.' Nurock told her. 'We can, we should do better.'

Seventy-one percent was within Federation guidelines, but Anna agreed. She would have been more comfortable with eighty or above. 'I read you. You want us to take point?'

'No, let us finish our attack run. You wanted a show, we'll give you one. Alright bring the new turbo-lasers to bare. Track new target fifty-seven by foury-five degrees, all turrets. I want a staggered attack, two blasts from each in sequence. Let's see was these things can do.'

The turbo-lasers were part of the refit. Three heavy turrets, two mounted at the end of the ships forward pylons and the third at the very top, above the torpedo tubes. Colonial weapons technology, equal to phasers in output. The heavy weapons, however, had two advantages; they delivered their destruction in a single pulse rather than a constant beam and had a faster recharge rate. While a phaser was like a scalpel turbo-lasers were more along the lines of a club.

The circle showing the weapons range of the Thunderchild shrunk to show the shorter range of the turrets. They were still well within the circle though and opened fire. The target flashed, once to show a hit, but didn't disappear.

'Tactical?' Anna snapped sharply.

'Checking.' Soren was busy going over readings. 'One glancing hit, five clear misses.' Her Bajorian tactical officer reported.

'You want to try again Nurock?'

He didn't answer at first, he was listening to his own officers. 'Then recalibrate.' he said snarky. 'Turns out there's something wrong with our targeting sensors. Can you confirm Anna?'

She gave Soren a nod and he opened his own channel. 'Theo, it's Lee. What happened over there?' Anna couldn't make out what was being said, but she saw Soren's reaction. He wasn't happy. After checking his own console he actually swore. 'Frack it!'

It was worrying just how well Colonial curses were being adopted by Federation crews. 'What's the matter Lieutenant?'

'Thunderchlid's targeting computer is wrong. Phaser's are mounted flush with the hull, so that's the zero point. The turbo-lasers stand proud on turrets. We didn't think of that. The targeting sensors are tracking from the base of the turret and not the barrel. It's like shooting from the hip, it's not going to work. We've got the same error. It's my fault Captain.'

'That's not true sir, I first calibrated the sensors.' Lancaster stood up. 'It's my fault.'

'Sit down kid, before you talk yourself into a job.' Anna's first officer shook his head. 'No one saw it.'

'I don't know, making him upgrade the entire sensor network by hand might teach him not to volunteer for once.' Anna joked and the kid sat back down sheepishly.

'We're ready to try again.' Nurock said over the comm.

Anna glanced over to Soren, who just shook his head. It would take more than a quick fix. This was a problem deep within the targeting computer programming. 'Go for it.' Nothing ventured nothing gained.

On the tactical again the weapons flashed. Three shots, two hit this time but the astroid remained. 'Two more glancing blows. One miss.' Soren reported. 'This is going to take a while.'

Nurock looked frustrated, 'It's always the little things. You up for your turn?'

'Is it worth us trying?' Anna asked her staff.

'Sorry sir, I'd have to reformat the whole system. We're talking a couple of days at the least.' Soren supplied.

'I'd like Mackie to have a look at that impulse thruster.' Troken added.

Anna shrugged, 'I don't think it's going to be worth it. We've got the same problems you do. Helm, set new course. Take us away from the asteroids. We're going to skip weapons test and move on the Viper launch phase over here.'

'Good luck Anna.' The Vulcan grinned. 'The way the day's going you're going to need it.'

Sheba was in the main hanger. Before her the large shuttle bay door was sealed behind a powerful force field. Unlike the magnetic containment field back on Galactica or Pegasus the force field held heat as well as atmosphere, but they still kept the large bulkhead in the way.

It was an odd quirk of Federation technology, they always had a number of redundant backups in place. A lot more than was needed. Sure she was the sort of warrior that always had a back up laser pistol in case of emergencies, but the Federation would probably insist on having eight. Creating more and more unnecessary work.

While she was musing on that the klaxon over head chimed and Captain Annabelle's voice came over, 'Bridge to main hanger, launch test authorised.'

Sheba jumped to action. 'Silver Spar squadron, to your Vipers!' She ordered, picking up her helmet. Her old squad, the last one left from the Pegasus, had transferred over to the Akira for this test.

Normally there would be two squadrons onboard one of these pocket battlestars, but the Federation crews were still in the early stages of training. While some might be hot hands in the simulators they needed a lot more practice before anyone felt comfortable with them taking a test launch like this.

Sheba herself might be out of practice, but she was still one of the best pilots they had. other than that she needed to fly again. She loved Hope with all her heart but no one expected her to become a home body. Well no one other than Apollo but she'd quickly changed his mind about that.

Right now her beautiful little girl was with Sheba's own father, and the pair of them couldn't be happier. Climbing into her cockpit Sheba took a second as Captain to check the rest of her pilots were in their cockpits. Dropping into her seat she closed the Viper and tapped the intercom. 'Silver Spar ready to launch.'

Pit crews were already moving the access ladders to the far sides. The Akira's hanger hadn't been originally designed for Vipers, with recent modifications it could. The centre of the ship had been a large hanger already, with a single door at the front and two smaller ones at the back of the main hull. Federation engineers and Colonial crews had installed the standard catapult launch ramps in the front of the bay, with the aft being designated for landings and shuttle launches. It was a little cramped both ends, but it should work.

This was the first real test. 'Bridge to Silver Spar. We're in position.' Annabelle announced and the hanger doors opened.

'Spar launching.' Sheba forced herself to sound calm and professional. it was the first time she's been able to fly in quantrons and she was looking forward to feeling space beneath her again. Hitting the three activation buttons in sequence she gave a quick nod to her wing. The squadron was waiting for her to launch first.

Taking a deep breath she squeezed the accelerator and then mashed the turbo control. Sheba was slammed into her seat with a familiar burst of incredible speed.

It was a little strange, launching without a tunnel. Still it worked. She lead the way but was not the last the Squadron to take off. In her mind Sheba imagined them swarming from the front of the Akira, like a cloud of angry insects exploding from a hive. 'All Vipers report.' she ordered.

One by one they sounded off. No one reported any problems. Taking a moment to check her sensors she confirmed it and opened a Comm line to the Akira. 'Launch clear Captain. Any problems on board?'

'Surprisingly enough no. I'm sure your thruster backwash left some burns on the deck but that's about it.'

'Well if you're not going to be needing us for anything I'm going to take the squadron over some manoeuvres while Boomer launches Blue Squad'

Annabelle laughed. 'Don't have too much fun or we'll all be jealous back here.'

Sheba didn't trust herself to answer. Instead she pulled of a tight aileron roll, corkscrewing in space, before swinging in a random arc. The squadron peeled off and headed to follow. This was what it meant to fly.

In Ten Forward Adama rolled the sythahol concoction around the glass. He appreciated the idea of a drink that didn't have intoxicating effects. He couldn't help but feel it was missing something.

'To disasters averted.' Captain William toasted. He, Adama, Admiral Hanson, Lieutenant Worf and Ambassador K'Ehleyr were holding an impromptu meeting in the Enterprise's lounge.

'I'd say postponed.' Hanson disagreed. 'Satie might have been… Unbalanced but that doesn't change the evidence. I believe you mr Worf, but if your people declared you guilty.'

'I cannot speak of it.' The imposing Klingon grumbled.

K'Ehleyr scowled. 'You might not, but I can. It was Duras, he stole Worf's honour and then forced him to withdraw the challenge.'

Worf growled, but Adama held up a hand. 'It was this same Duras that killed your son. It was his father's guilt he tried to hide by blaming yours.' The pieces fell into place. 'Why did you not bring this before your government? I assume you have the proof.'

'They already knew, Duras's house was too powerful.' Worf snapped. 'He had many supporters in the High Council.'

Adama shook his head. 'Yours is not the only race who fail to live up to their own ideals. Fortunately there are always warriors like you who know the meaning of honour.' Putting the glass down he looked out of the window. 'In less than a quantron Jean-Luc is required to travel to your klingon homeworld, to complete his duty as adjudicator. After what happened last time I was considering sending a full squadron of warriors as escort.'

'That could be considered an act of aggression.' K'Ehleyr warned him. 'Klingons don't take that story of thing well.'

'I suspected as much.' he admitted. 'Ambassador Jean-Luc told me of how helpful you were as an advisor. If my people are going to continue to interact with Klingons I'm going to need to know more. Would you be willing to come back with me to New Kobol?'

She frowned at him. 'Worf and I must discuss this, between us.'

'If you will excuse us.' the security officer stood, his alien expression unreadable. The two of them quickly finished their drinks and left.

'You think that's a good idea?' William asked.

Adama nodded, and noticed the other door open. 'It's their decision. Speaking of our other issue is about to be resolved.'

It was the young Admiral Nechayev, she made her way to their table. 'Captain, Admiral, President Adama.' She nodded to each of them before dropping the PADD she carried on the table. 'I want you all to know I still think you're all betraying the Federation. Everything it stands for. This military of yours, if you aren't careful its going to destroy it all. So I'm going to take you up on your offer. An overview body. If you, any of you, do anything to threaten the Federation I will tear you down. I'll expose you and all your dirty secrets.'

Adama grinned as stubborn as she was he could tell the young woman had the best intentions. 'If you feel that's how it should be then I still hope I can change your mind. I'll prove that we only want to help protect our brothers of Earth and her allies.'

'I'll hold you to that.' she promised.

End Chapter Thirty-Two