"Jesus...this is a real mess..." The despondent comment was met with a small chorus of a affirming hums and frustrated sighs.
The oval conference room (aptly named for its elongated shape) had emptied over the last hour. Barely seventy four minutes earlier, the room had been filled to capacity with dignitaries and advocates from every quadrant of space. Representatives from a small handful of the United Federation of Planets, along with their translators and secretaries, had been packed into the oval room.
Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, Tellarites, Algolians, Denebians, and the newest species to join the Federation, the Rhozarians, had sat side by side to discuss a matter that had led to the very likely possibility that the UNP was now at war.
Seated near the center of the circular table, Commander Christopher Pike glanced with desperate longing towards the replicator opposite him. He would give his left arm for an Espresso. Heck, give him a pure coffee bean to chew on and he would be a happy man.
Earlier that morning, at the ungodly hour of 0432, he had been woken from a blissful sleep to be told he was to report for a sudden UNP Assembly. The automated summons had not given a reason why. There had only been a small note from Admiral Joss, stating that some serious contentions had arisen regarding the Rhozarians membership, and all senior Star Fleet personal were required to attend.
The meeting was due to start at 0500. As such, Pike had not had the time procure his much needed caffeine fix.
Although, the possibility of the Federation going to war was certainly shocking enough to keep him awake.
Sighing, Pike tore his eyes from the replicator and glanced towards the end of the room, where President Gural sat flanked by four of his councilmen. To his left, was Ambassador T'Pau. The Vulcan representative. She to, sat in between four Vulcan high-councilors. T'Pau met his gaze as he glanced towards her, nodding politely in greeting before returning to the hushed conversation she was holding with one of her advocates. Her presence of the conference had come as something as a surprise. She was seated near the President, yet she seemed to draw attention. Her robes were not particularly colorful – a deep purple with silver trimmings -, she was not adorned with the symbol of her house, nor was she wearing any markings that told of her high position. She had arrived dressed in the garments of a noble woman. She had not spoken to any of the other delegates either.
Pike knew that in usual circumstances, Ambassador Sarek would have been the one to attend, even though he had officially retired. T'Pau's presence was a very curious one indeed.
On President Gural's right was Gareb th'Zarath. The Andorian Ambassador. He sat alone, seeming deep in thought.
The last UNP founder, a Tellarite who addressed himself as Ther F'meph had left thirty minutes earlier, claiming that his mind could not work without a decent meal. Pike could recall envying him as he had left. Had he not had orders to remain in the room by Admiral Joss, he would have happily followed that hairy little pig snout towards the canteen. Probably snagging Spock on the way out.
Spock himself stood behind T'Pau. His posture stiff as he tried to keep his face impassive. Even though Pike could not hear what T'Pau was saying (even if he could he wouldn't understand a word) it was clear that Spock could. His friend's jaw was taut. His teeth clenched. He had positioned himself between T'Pau and President Gural. Not showing preference towards either one, but standing an equal distance between the two. Pike sighed, leaning forwards so he could rest his arms on the table. Knowing Spock like he did, he knew his emotionally compromised companion had probably calculated the exact distance between the two ministers. Making sure to stand between them. His Vulcan ancestry on the left, and his human commanding officer to the right.
If he knew he was being observed, he didn't show it. Spock kept his gaze forwards. His eyes fixated on the closed doorway on the other side of the room. Sighing once more, Pike turned his head away from the group and raised one hand to rub against the muscles in his neck.
This really was a god awful mess...
As of 0549, Stardate 14090.7, the Rhozarian Government has removed its application and acceptance into the United Federation of Planets. By noon later that day, every Rhozarian student currently studying at the Academy will be removed and shipped back to their home planet...along with every scrap of information they may have picked up about Star Fleet and the Federation whilst they were here.
And why? Because Admiral 'I-want-a-raise' Joss, stuck his foot in his mouth and started chewing on it. From what Pike could pick up between the Rhozarian General and President Gural, the Federation had requested permission to mine a very rich and fertile soil known as thareh from the Rhozarian home world. Apparently, the soil possessed a rare type of organic matter that if extracted correctly, could be used to enhance the response time of Resuscitative drugs such as Cortolin and Quadroline. Which could help save many more lives.
At first, the Rhozarian government had been happy to allow the mining to commence, on the condition that a Rhozarian citizen be in charge of the focused area to make sure the planet's crust was not damaged. In return all they asked for was for the resulting drugs to be made accessible to Rhozaria.
Then Admiral Joss, as the Secretary of Xenobotonical Affairs, had requested that a different and larger area be made available for mining. The area in question was in the center of Lilyihr, a Citadel that housed over six point four eight million Rhozarians. This request was denied, as it would force the entire population to relocate to another part of the planet. Admiral Joss had not relented, which had caused an argument between him and a young female Rhozarian.
When the yellow skinned race had joined the UNP, Pike had researched the herbivorous people as much as the academy's limited database had allowed. He could not name any Rhozarian foods, but he knew that to the Rhozarian people, women were treasured. They considered their females to be of higher importance than males, as they were the ones who provided children. To insult or raise your voice to a Rhozarian female, was considered a criminal offence. One that was punishable by death.
Pike had not been present at that particular conference, but he had heard that it had not ended well. Today's meeting had been called as an attempt to smooth over the relationship between the two races. All founding members of the UNP had also been called to attend.
The Rhozarians had left with a parting message. They had revoked their Federation membership, and as such were no longer obligated to allow any Federation ships near their planet. Should a Federation ship somehow find itself in Rhozarian space, it would be shot down, and the Rhozarian Government would take the invasion as a declaration of war.
Letting out a tired sigh, Pike pushed himself to his feet. Walking slowly around the table towards the replicator. With his much needed coffee in hand, he turned towards Admiral Joss – who had been seated next to him. The Admiral looked as though he were debating taking a running jump out of the nearest window. Pike was half tempted to hold it open for him...
Would it be considered a temporary mental breakdown if a person attempted homicide on an shuttle bay? Not in the literally sense of course, but perhaps if someone...found a large heavy pole and used it to break every plane of glass in aforementioned building?
As if sensing her thoughts, the overcast sky of Sao Miguel rumbled in response, dropping another blanket of rain upon her and her misery.
Uhura fought the urge to pout. What she had left of her professional composer was crumbling. It was only the thought of how ridiculous she would look that stopped her from letting out a loud whine in self pity and slumping her body down into her chair.
Instead, she contented herself with crossing her legs grumpily.
She shouldn't be complaining. The mere fact that she had arrived on Sao Miguel was a blessing.
Her departure from home had been heart-breakingly similar to how she had left over six months ago. Her family had traveled with her to the shuttle bay in Mwingi. Hanna had sulked through the entire four hour drive. Her bottom lip wobbling with the threat of tears. Even though her brother disapproved of Hanna being removed from her car seat, he had allowed Uhura to hold the little girl on her lap for the journey. The other children clinging to her arms with just as much sadness.
Saying goodbye to them had been harder then it had at the beginning of the year. Iris had wrapped herself around Uhura's leg, her little teeth gripping a hold of her skirt - and had stubbornly refused to let go. And Ari, her brave little nephew who considering himself 'to grown up' for public affection, had held her hand as the large family made their way into the shuttle bay.
Her mother had cried, her father had pretended he wasn't crying, and her brother had bawled like a baby onto her shoulder.
Uhura allowed a smile to brush across her features. Whilst her return to the academy was a sad and somewhat nerve wracking event, the memory of Heri dragging her child-like husband across the parking lot by the ear was an image Uhura was not soon going to forget.
She had hoped that actually getting onto the shuttle would be the hardest part of her day. At this moment, as the smile slipped from her face and her eyes rose to glare with annoyed anger towards the undeserving windows, Uhura found herself wishing she had stayed in Africa.
Two hours into the journey back to San Francisco, the shuttle had received a transmission that all Star Fleet vessels that were currently airborne needed to land. Immediately. The faceless voice on the audio-link had not stated why. Ever a Star Fleet member, the pilot had obeyed the order without question and asked for permission to land at a Star Fleet base in Lisbon, Portugal.
Uhura, and the two other Academy cadets who were on the same shuttle, managed to catch a lucky break. A civilian cargo freighter was leaving the militarized area within minutes of her arrival. Her feet had barely even brushed Portuguese soil before she was being whisked skyward once more. That is when her real problems started. The shuttle she had been invited to stow away on was old. Very old. (Uhura was convinced she spotted the ships navigator using an old fashioned sea compass) As such, before the turbulent sky had even had chance to murmur the storms arrival - the shuttle had landed on the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel. Where, according to the directionally challenged navigator, she would be stuck. Overnight. As the shuttle that she had arrived on was the only vessel capable of carrying passengers on the island. And they would not be leaving until the storm cleared.
Exasperated, Uhura had asked when that may be...and had received a clueless shrug in response.
That had been three hours ago.
The other two cadets she had been traveling with lay sprawled in various positions upon the old chairs in the shuttle bay waiting room. She presumed they were both asleep.
Uhura honestly did not know what to do with herself. She had tried reading, but the insistent and uneven thumping of the rain had distracted her to much. She had even tried to sleep, but the seats were not made with young women wearing miniskirts in mind. So she had sat, glaring with increasing anger at the windows. Those large square windows that were taking great enjoyment in taunting her.
She could have gone for a walk to distract her self. But no, its raining - gleefully advertised by those blasted windows. She really wanted to try and sleep. But the rain showed no sign of letting up - hammering against panes of glass with pleasure.
...Maybe she could find a rock of some kind and break only one? She could say she was practicing her baseball skills and had lost control...
The sudden sound an alert tone from her PADD bought Uhura from her stupor with a small jump. She started, and glanced around her guilty. It really would not improve her mood if another member of Star Fleet spotting her sulking like a scolded child.
Frowning, Uhura pushed herself up her seat, cringing as her muscles yelled out in protest. Her PADD was placed on the seat next the her. The illuminated screen casting a pale blue glow onto the worn green chair covering.
With a sigh, Uhura picked up the appliance, and removed the stylus from its clip.
Oh. She had a new message. Probably from her mother asking if she had arrived back in America alright. Uhura allowed herself a small snigger. 'No Mama, I'm trapped on an Island over night that consists of two hills and a bewildered looking sheep...'
To: StarFleet:Student/Xenolinguistics/Uhura, Nyota/ID_ReF:041701
From: StarFleet:Staff/Spock_Commander,/Personal_ID_ReF:2 19378
Good Evening Uhura.
Are you in need of any assistance?
It has very recently come to my attention the grounding of all Star Fleet vessels. This is due to an unforeseen circumstance. However, I am able to procure a shuttle if needed. If you may inform me of you current location, I will be able to retrieve you and any other stranded students.
I hope you are well.
Spock.
Spock?
Uhura blinked, and fought against the bright smile that threatened to give away the sudden feeling of surprised happiness that rushed through her. Spock was offering to come and get her? As in, himself? Biting her lip, Uhura bent slightly, reading the message once more. Yes...he was defiantly offering to pick her up.
Raising her stylus, she quickly readied a reply. Then frowned. Words had always been her strong suit. She could write the softest and most delicate poetry in Klingon, write a harshly worded letter of complaint in Orion - an language that almost dripped from the tongue it was so fluid. And yet...she was at a loss with how to respond.
Spock had sent the message directly to her PADD...from his own personal account. She would not have to worry about her message being seen by other tutors at the academy. So why did this small blank page seem like an impossible to climb mountain made from data and binary code?
Letting out a soft sigh, Uhura placed her stylus firmly against the screen.
To: StarFleet:Staff/Spock_Commander,/Personal_ID_ReF:2 19378
From: StarFleet:Student/Xenolinguistics/Uhura, Nyota/ID_ReF:041701
Good Evening Commander
Here Uhura paused, before deleting the first line.
Tonk'Peh Spock.
I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could offer.
I am currently stranded in Ponta Delgada, on the Isle of Sao Miguel with two other Star Fleet cadets. Due to the severity of the weather, the only available shuttle will not be able to depart until tomorrow morning.
I am also unsure to how far the shuttle will take us. However, I presume that we will only be able to make it as far as Brazil.
My mood is pleasant, considering the circumstances.
Uhura.
Without allowing herself time to hesitate, Uhura quickly sent the message. Her breath leaving her lungs in a loud whoosh. Why did she feel like a hormonal teenager sending secret love letters to her high-school crush? Uhura didn't know how long it would take for Spock to respond, but she felt she had enough time to take a quick walk to the tiny canteen and order herself a coffee. The canteen was the only room in the building she would have left alone had she decided to go on a rampage. There was no replicator, which was surprising considering the building was owned by Star Fleet. Instead, there was an unbelievably sweet woman named Constancia who came armed with a kettle and a gift with hot beverages that nearly rivaled her mothers.
Her mood considerably elevated, Uhura bent to pick up the satchel (her other belongings, a medium sized suitcase and her overnight bag, were placed in an unceremonious pile in the corner of the waiting room) and wedged her PADD under her armpit as she stood. Taking care to pull down her skirt as she did so. Walking around the row of seats she paused and glanced back at her stranded companions. They both appeared to be unconscious. She considered walking them up to ask if they wanted her to get them anything, then thought better of it. Whilst the thought would be appreciated, she wouldn't be to happy if someone woke her up.
She had only just managed to sit herself down at one of the small tables in the canteen, coffee in hand, when her PADD dinged once more.
To: StarFleet:Student/Xenolinguistics/Uhura, Nyota/ID_ReF:041701
From: StarFleet:Staff/Spock_Commander,/Personal_ID_ReF:2 19378
Nashaut Nyota.
A shuttle has been secured.
I shall be departing from San Francisco within the next thirty minutes. The shuttle is scheduled to arrive in Sao Miguel at 0032.
For your enjoyment, I have attached a Vulcan transcript written in a traditional golic dialect. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Spock.
Standing on the other side of the canteen, Constancia paused, a cloth held in one hand. She let out a knowing chuckle at the sudden bloom of color that rushed across the young African woman's cheeks.
"Uma carta de seu amante?" She asked. Uhura glanced up, her cheeks darkening as she shook her head.
"My lover...? No! No...a message from my commanding officer" Uhura laughed. Constancia shrugged her shoulders with a smile.
"You have getting good news?" She asked, her brows furrowing in concentration as she spoke. Uhura smiled, placing her PADD softly onto the table before lifting her drink to her lips. When she had originally wandered into the canteen, the plump woman had been overjoyed Uhura could speak and understand her language. It made serving her a little more easier, the older woman had laughed. Uhura had assured her that she did not need to attempt to speak English around her, but Constancia had simply smiled and said it was a great opportunity to practice.
"Yes, I have received some very good news" Uhura replied. Constancia grinned, draping her wash cloth over her shoulder before circling the counter to take a seat opposite Uhura.
"What is good news?" She asked. Uhura tapped her finger against the screen of her PADD.
"Transport has been arranged for us. So we don't have to wait until tomorrow morning to catch a shuttle"
"Ah! That is very good news. It is your man friend who is coming?"
Uhura nodded.
"My commanding officer, Spock"
Constancia chuckled, her eyes brows raising suggestively.
"He come all this way for you?" She teased. Uhura scowled and shook her head.
"He's coming to collect all of us" She replied quietly.
Constancia chuckled, a cheeky smile adorning her lips.
"Apenas uma carta de amor pode fazer uma mulher corar assim minha cara...."
Uma carta de seu amante? - A letter from your lover?
Apenas uma carta de amor pode fazer uma mulher corar assim meu cara. - Only a letter of love can make a woman blush like that my dear.
Cortolin - Helpful in resuscitating patients who had stopped breathing.
Quadroline - Used on to treat cardiac arrhythmias
AN: So, the second arc of AMOC has begun! Rather dull isnt it? I need some honest opinions my dearies. Should I continue with this arc (and the story) or finish it with Bado's arrest and Uhura's return to the academy? With added Spyotaness of course...