Chapter 2

Just after lunch, they arrived at Lorta Prime, assumed a standard orbit, and contacted the surface. Captain Rabb instructed Bud to take a landing party of their Chief of Security and one other security officer and escort the soon-to-be President of the Federation safely back to the ship.

The Phoenix' Chief of Security was Lieutenant Commander Sarah (Mac) Mackenzie, and she chose Lieutenant Victor Galendiz to go along with them. He was her second in command and even though they'd been romantically involved for a few months he was still her most reliable officer. The fact that she'd broken things off between them two weeks before had caused a great deal of tension in their working relationship. Victor hadn't wanted to end things and was still hoping to get her back.

Vice President Chegwidden was a man that had come up through the ranks, before going into politics he had risen to the rank of Admiral, having commanded his own starship for nine years. Putting his law degree to good use he'd become a mover and shaker in the political arena as well. As Turlock's Vice-President, it was said he was a shoo-in to be the next Federation President when Turlock retired.

No one had expected Turlock to be murdered. Chegwidden had been on Lorta Prime for a week assessing what the Federation could do for the survivors of the massive planetary earthquakes that had taken place there because of the destabilization of the tectonic plates.

The three of them beamed down to the coordinates they were given. They found themselves in a tent city full of refugees that had fled the devastation caused by the earthquakes. Prime Minister Gillie and Vice President Chegwidden were there to meet them. The two men were a study in contrasts; Gillie was a small elderly man with flowing white hair and twinkling blue eyes filled with hope even after the catastrophe that his planet had suffered. Chegwidden on the other hand, was an imposing figure of a man standing several inches over six feet tall, he was almost bald with a fringe of white hair, his deep coffee-colored brown eyes were filled with sorrow for the sights he had seen on the planet in the last week.

Bud approached the two men and introduced himself, "Good afternoon Prime Minister, Mr. Vice President, I'm Commander Bud Roberts from the USS Phoenix. This is our Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Sarah Mackenzie, and security officer Lieutenant Victor Galindez."

The Prime Minister shook everyone's hand and then left them to talk to Vice President Chegwidden. After greeting Commander Roberts, Chegwidden turned to Mac and after shaking her hand, said, "So you think that it will take two security officers to see me safely to the ship, Lieutenant Commander?"

"Considering the circumstances, I recommended there be four of us Mr. Vice President, but Commander Roberts believed that two of us would be adequate."

"Well, I would hate to prove such a lovely lady wrong. Maybe I could get injured on the way, so you could tell him you told him so," he offered with a flirtatious smile.

"Actually, Sir, that wouldn't work," Mac told him.

"Oh? Why not?"

"Because if you were injured and we still managed to get you back to the ship alive, the Commander would have been correct that two of us was enough to get you there."

"So as long as I arrive with a breath left in my body, Commander Roberts would be right?"

Mac was enjoying the look of consternation on the First Officer's face at the turn the conversation had taken and she just couldn't resist seeing how much further she could get his eyes to bug out. "That's correct Sir. Nothing short of your death would prove me right."

"Lieutenant!" Bud protested as the Vice President burst out laughing.

"Well, I always hoped that my death, when it came, would serve some worthwhile purpose…"

"So you're saying you'd be willing to get killed to prove me correct?" Mac asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"I always aim to please a lovely lady!" AJ claimed.

"Well I might be able to accept being wrong on this one occasion," Mac conceded with an exaggerated sigh.

"Thank you Sarah. I'll try not to let it happen again."

To be continued…..