She needed to use the bathroom.
This simple fact was fast becoming a problem. Her earlier observation regarding the size and lack of manoeuvrability inside the shuttle had been proved correct.
They were forty eight minutes into their four hour journey back to San Francisco. At first, Uhura had been content to let her body drift into a light sleep, the warmth of the cabin and the deep continuous whine of the shuttles engine lulling her into a relaxed doze.
It seemed as though she had only slept for minutes however, before her bladder had loudly protested its discomfort. Torn from her sleep, Uhura had scowled unfairly at the control panels in front of her, letting out a loud breath in annoyance.
Now, she needed to calculate how exactly she was going to excuse herself and make her way through the small confined space towards the bathroom.
Her scowl planted firmly on her face, Uhura turned to glance over the back of her chair towards her sleeping shuttle-mates. Nabu had his arms folded over his chest. Head tilted towards the wall, with his legs stretched out in front of him as much as the limited space would allow. A position that told of his introverted personality. Hadehi however, was taking up enough space for the both of them. His legs were sprawled over his arm rest, facing towards the tiny isle. Arms askew, his head laying awkwardly on his shoulder.
He was snoring too.
This observation had no relevance to her predicament, but she was tired and uncomfortable, and for that illogical reason - his snoring annoyed her.
Sighing, Uhura reseated herself and frowned. In order to get to the bathroom, she would need to physically climb over Hadehi's sprawled legs. Something she did not particularly have to do as it would cause her skirt to ride up her legs. Plus, she did not want to be seen straddling another students lower half in front of a commanding officer, regardless of how unintentional and innocent the position may be. It did no help matters that that same commanding officer was the recipient of some very unprofessional romantic feelings.
Uhura sighed and grumbled under her breath. This was absurd. Perhaps it was her lack of sleep and proper nutrients, but she felt irritable. Something she wasn't used to.
Or perhaps, spoke a faint thought from the back of her mind, it was not irritability she was feeling – but apprehension. After all, they were flying directly towards Starfleet Academy. The place that had given her so much stress and emotional bruising for just over half a year? Was she really ready to return? Kuvuli Bado could not harm her any more. He was miles away from her, from Earth.
Actually, if she cared to do the math, he was one million, two hundred and seventy two thousand kilometres away from her. That was at least a seven hour shuttle journey, even on a Starfleet vessel. Should the unthinkable happen and Bado be released or escape (impossible) she would be warned in advance.
That thought should have eased her mind. It did not. And she felt foolish because of it. More than foolish...
Letting out a long, deep sigh, Uhura leant forwards in her seat. Grimacing as the muscles in her back groaned in protest at the sudden movement. For now, she would concentrate on the matters at hand. Which were getting to the W.C cubicle whilst trying not to humiliate herself. Maybe she could skirt around Nabu? She was small enough to squeeze through the small gap between his seat and the shuttle wall...
"Is something wrong Cadet?" A deep voice broke into her musings. Uhura started, and blinked guilty. Turning towards the speaker sheepishly. At some point during her inner monolouge, Spock had leant back in his seat and turned to observe her. Now, one of his perfectly shaped eyebrows had risen. A look of blank confusion on his face. Colour rushed to her cheeks, betraying her suddenly increased heart rate.
Uhura laughed quietly, the sound a little to high pitched. She waved her hand absently in the air in front of her and mentally ordered her skin tone to return to normal.
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just calculating how to manoeuvre myself towards the bathroom without waking the others" She supplied. The eyebrow raised slightly higher, and Spock turned his head to observe the two sleeping men. His lips thinned slightly as he took in Hadehi's sprawled frame. Uhura found herself grinning slightly. He was annoyed. The facial movement was so minute that to anyone else it would be unnoticeable. Yet she had learnt to read him pretty well over the course of the last semester.
A irritated sigh from behind her caused Uhura to turn. Sitting up, Uhura rested her hands on her knees and glanced around the cushioning of her seat.. Nabu's eyes had peeked opened, a scowl on his lips as he turned his head to frown at his friend. Muttering under his breath he sat up, took hold of Hadehi's feet and promptly flipped them away from the centre isle.
The other man's legs flew sideways, flopping over the side of his seat to land on the floor with a heavy thud. In response, Hadehi snorted in his sleep, mouth dropping open. But he didn't wake up, instead he rubbed his head against the back of his seat, breathing out deeply through his nose. Nabu rolled his eyes, shrugging sleepily towards Uhura who chuckled and responded with a amused shrug of her own.
"Well, that solved that problem" She laughed. Grinning in amusement, she stood (making sure to pull her skirt down as she did) and nodded respectfully towards the commander.
"Excuse me" She said.
She considered it a personal best that she did not sprint to the bathroom. Her bladder had been screaming it annoyance for over ten minutes. By the time to commodes door slid shut, it was threatening to explode. As such, she managed to complete her business in a suitable amount of time and keep her dignity.
She was checking her reflection in the small mirror when she heard the sudden sharp tone of a proximity alarm. The commode's light above her dimmed, mixing with the dull glow of the red alert strips adorning the wall.
Pulling the commode's door open carefully, (a small trick Hoshi Sato had taught her during her time as a college student. During Red Alert, all doors inside a vessel or ship locked but were capable of being opened by hand. Opening such a door too quickly could cause an alarm to activate in the immediate vicinity. Something that could cause a distraction during for personal during a tense moment) Uhura strode back into the cabin, her eyes instantly focusing on the view screen at the front of the shuttle.
"Commander?" She called out questioningly. Spock did not turn to look at her, seeming focused on the screens above him. The shuttle suddenly titled as as abrupt course was programmed in. Uhura staggered forward, her hands gripping the back of Nabu's chair to steady herself.
"Take your seat Cadet" Spock ordered quietly. Uhura did as she was told, moving through the small isle space slowly as to keep her balance. Shuffling forwards, she stretched out her hand towards the back of the co-pilot seat, intending on swinging herself around, when the unmistakeable silhouette of a large shuttle blacked out the main view screen, flying dangerously close the the nose of their ship. They banked once more, the nose diving rapidly towards the ground, forcing everything – and everyone – inside it to dart forwards.
With a startled gasp, Uhura flinched. Her eyes squeezing shut as her equilibrium lurched and she was sent flying forwards. Through instinct she moved her right arm upwards, an attempt to cushion what she was sure was going to be a painful blow.
Her body fell, titled, and was suddenly span in mid air. Her left side impacting rather heavily with something...soft?
Dizzy, Uhura's eyes popped open. Only to find herself inches away from another set. Deep coal brown eyes, surrounded by pale green tinted skin. Spock blinked back at her. Surprise and concern filtering through his gaze, before he quickly stood, lifting Uhura with him. His left arm wrapped firmly around her waist. The other hand gripping her elbow.
Her counterbalance still off kilter, Uhura did nothing but blink. Her mouth slightly agape as blood rushed towards her brain, momentarily blinding her with light-headedness. Her own hands raised unconsciously to grip Spock's forearms, a small crease marring her forehead as a wave of dizziness engulfed her.
"Wha-!?" The shout came from behind them, mixed with a started snort as Hadehi was jerked awake. It seemed to have a similar effect on the motionless Vulcan stood not one foot away from the startled man.
With startled blink, Spock abruptly released her. Turning away so quickly that she stumbled. The back of her thighs knocked against the side of her seat, threatening to topple her over.
In the same millisecond, Spock's hand returned to her elbow, yanking her upright and forcing her to fall onto the back of the captains chair. Whilst his other flew across the control panel at a startling speed.
"What's going on!?" Hadehi gasped, his eye wide and disorientated as his gaze darted around the small shuttle. His body had been pitched forwards during the sudden nose dive, now he lay half sprawled, one hand gripped tightly onto the cushioned arm of his seat stopping him from falling face first onto the floor.
Still somewhat disorientated, Uhura forced her eyes to focus on the view screen in front of her, gaze darting around the endless blanket of clouds in front of them for any sign of the phantom shuttle.
"A civilian vessel?" She asked.
"Unclear" Spock replied, both hands now dancing intricately on the sensor pads before him.
"I thought all air traffic had been grounded?" Hadahi voiced, pulling himself upright to stand next to the female cadet.
"That is a correct observation" Spock agreed, his eyebrows narrowing in thought. Uhura frowned, trying to think of a logical reason another shuttle would be in the sky, let alone one that did not seem aware of the flight regulations surrounding Starfleet vessels. Particularly Embassy ones. It was considered a criminal offence to fly within twenty five feet of an Embassy shuttle. The only exceptions were escort ships or if a mayday is issued.
"...Perhaps it's another Embassy shuttle?" She queried, the question light. That was improbable given the erratic nature of its piloting. Spock vocally agreed with her thought. No self respecting Starfleet pilot would fly in such a manor.
Her mouth tilting with thought, Uhura pushed herself upright, and swung herself to the right, buckling herself firmly into her seat with the provided safety straps.
"Hadehi, sit down and strap yourself in" She ordered carefully. The man in question turned his head to gape at her.
"Why? Are we under attack?" He asked, his eyes widening.
Uhura scowled and resisted the urge to snap at him. Not at the blatant ignoring of her order, but at the man's idiocy.
They were in red alert, the shuttle had taken to abrupt course changes that had nearly caused a passenger injury (she would not think of how that particular accident had been averted. This was not the moment to notice that her body still felt warm where a certain Vulcan's hands and body had touched hers) and staying where he was, stood without any means of support was just foolish.
They may not be under attack – unconfirmed – but this was not the time to be asking questions. Scowling, Uhura moved to turn her body, intending on voicing her thoughts, when Nabu suddenly leant forwards, gripping the back of Hadehi's uniform and forcefully pulling his backwards.
"Kukaa chini wewe mpumbavu!" He snapped. Thankfully, Hadehi did was he was told and slowly backed up until he was once again in his seat. His mouth still hung slightly agape as he pulled his safety straps around his shoulders. Uhura gave Nabu a thankful nod, before turning towards their silent commander.
"Is there anything I can do Commander?" She asked. Spock's gaze momentarily flickered in her direction before he gave a small nod.
"Access the command console to your right and attempt to hail any vessels within the immediate vicinity" He ordered. Uhura nodded, and reached for the ear piece secured inside the glass box beside her, all the while trying to push down the surge of excitement that rushed through her. This was her first experience as a communications officer, of field work. Cadets at the academy very rarely were permitted to participate in field work until their second year, or for those who were particularly gifted, when they had promoted to an advance course of their chosen career. And even then, the 'field work' was either simulated or overseen by several higher ranked officials.
She hadn't expected to be anywhere near a command console until the beginning of her second year, let alone in charge of a small vessel away from academy grounds.
Controlling her excitement, Uhura fastened the earpiece securely, and took a quick note of the shuttles number, name and their current location printed on the computer screen besides her. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened an audio channel and spoke clearly into the earpiece.
"To all civilian and Starfleet shuttles currently airborne over the North-Atlantic ocean, this is the Starfleet Embassy vessel, Mari-Hen, please respond"
A strange static met her sentence. Unusual. Uhura frowned. Someone out there could here her. The absence of any noise was an indication that there were no hailing frequencies within range. Thinking carefully, Uhura repeating her request.
"To all shuttles currently airborne over the North-Atlantic ocean, this is the Embassy vessel Mari-Hen, identification code, zero-one-seven- alpha-detla-lima, please respond"
As before, the only response she received was that unusual static. She was aware of Hadehi and Nabu watching her closely, she ignored them and momentarily focused her attention on broadening the range of her frequency. Perhaps the other shuttle was out of her range? As an after thought, she enabled video and text transmission.
Determined, she spoke one more time. This time, she would not be as polite.
"Unidentified shuttle currently airborne over Bermudan airspace. This is the Starfleet Embassy Shuttle Mari-Hen. Respond"
The faintest whisper of a crackle echoed through her ear piece, causing her heart to jump a little. Not exactly a response, but it was something different from that questionable static.
"Commander, I am not receiving a response from any shuttles in the area. I am getting a strange static though" Uhura said. She felt rather than saw Spock glance towards her. She knew he would understand the significance of the absent radio silence.
He said nothing for a short moment, before leaning towards her, the sleeve of his uniform brushing over the tip of her breast as he entered a code into her console. Her heart jumped a little again, the same feeling of excitement washing through her. If for completely opposite reasons. Uhura ignored the feeling, focusing on the what the Commander was doing.
"Repeat the transmission. I have allowed for broadcasts on a higher frequency" Spock explained, reseating himself. Uhura nodded, focusing on the illumined console.
"Admiral! There in an Embassy Class ship two thirds of mile ahead of us, identification code zero-one-seven- alpha-detla-lima. It is Advocate Maristo's private shuttle sir"
The sentence was spoken clearly, yet the tone of the speakers voice was strained and agitated. From his position within the only command seat inside the Wells Class starship, Admiral Caspar Joss swore.
To the three individuals placed around him, the sudden outburst of profanity was not unexpected. The colourful...descriptions, he was using were however, very new. Not to mention boarding on xenophobic. Yet, not one of the people sat inside the vessel commented. The ship they were current sat inside did not exist. They were not in mid-flight over the North-Atlantic ocean. There would be no record of this exertion on any Starfleet records or in any Federation database. They were not here.
Because of this, not one of the three human students inside the ship questioned their commanding officers actions when he suddenly leapt from his seat. Striding across the short distance between the Captains chair and the Helmsman's console and physically pulling the passive man from his seat and throwing him away from him.
The shuttle abruptly changed course, the nose turning as it made a sudden accent to the left. Its heading directly towards the embassy ship.
"Woman!" The admiral suddenly barked, his head jerking towards the only female crew member aboard. She squeaked in response, her eyes wide and uncertain as she watched the distance between the two shuttles closing.
"Block out all hailing frequencies. I don't want a single watt of RF to come from this ship, understand?"
"Y-yes sir!" She replied, her hands shaking as she moved to complete the order. She screamed when their ship came within metres of the other shuttle. Her eyes closing in fear as the two ships twisted in mid air, the embassy shuttle making a sudden and dangerous bank towards the ground at the last possible moment.
"Shut up!" Joss snarled, a unstable expression marring his face as he swung around in his seat. The young woman instantly silenced, one hand closing over her mouth.
Damn damn damn! This should not be happening!
Joss was livid. He had been made a fool of. In front of his co-workers, his superiors, even those who worked beneath him, like that blasted Commander Christopher Pike! He was an Admiral. The head of the Xenobotanical department, a prized member of the tribunal council. Nothing happened at Starfleet Academy without him knowing about it first.
His mere reputation and rank alone should have told those piss-skinned herbivores that they should not oppose him. So what if he wanted a bigger area to mine in? They had agreed to his terms, the Federation would excavate the soil from their planet, as much as is needed - in return for a free and unlimited supply of the medication it provided.
It was a simple fucking agreement with a simple fucking result.
So why had it come to this? His rank being removed from him, due to 'gross misconduct'. He was now Lieutenant-Commander Joss, deputy second assistant to the new head of the Xenobotanical Department, Commander Spock. They had demoted him to a god-damn rookie!
No...
The Rhozarians would not be out of their solar system yet, their home planet was in the Archanis Sector of the Beta Quadrent. He knew it would take nearly a week of travel at warp four to simply leave Federation space. The species were no longer members of The United Federation of Planets. As such, as soon as they left the Earth's atmosphere, they were trespassing. They were a threat to the people on Earth.
'No Federation Ship may enter Rhozarian space?'
Joss sneered, his lip curling in delight as he stood, ignoring the young student sprawled at his feet. With his eyes glazed, he crossed the short distance towards his seat. Turning and lowering himself slowly. Ah, yes...in the Captains chair. The position of command. Where he belonged...
A threat of War works both ways. The Federation agreed to not cross into Rhozarian space...but they forgot to mention the other side of that little deal. Rhozaria was no longer permitted within Federation space. Which they would be doing for the next week.
Caspar Joss would be remembered by History. As the Admiral who saved the Earth, saved the UNP!
A female voice rasped from the intercom, familiar, young.
Frowning for a short moment, Joss listen carefully. Then smiled. He knew that voice. If she was on that shuttle, then there was no doubt his 'replacement' was to.
Letting out a deep sigh, Joss reclined in his seat, a long breath leaving his lungs.
His luck had changed.
"Helmsman...open fire"
kukaa chini wewe mpumbavu – sit down you fool.