Acknowledgements
Thanks to my usual FFN supporters: Kehlan, AmandaG96, and Biku-sez-Meow.
Prologue
Field report, Centurion Loxus i'Aehv tr'Fvuras - Day 22 of re'T'Khutai, Year 993 AS
Encrypt for transmission - scramble code 224717904-red
This will be my last report before I return home. I feel that I have learned all I can about Humans and their allies, and must deliver my findings to my superiors so that we may plan our revenge. The United Federation of Planets will be founded in a few days, and this increase in Terran political and military power may make it more difficult to cross the Neutral Zone. If I do not return, assume I am dead.
Loxus placed the covert communications device back into his facsimile of the Kir'Shara, the weight of it feeling heavier now, hiding it in plain sight on a shelf in his quarters. In his undercover persona of Lt. Sylor, Vulcan Chief Comm Officer of Starbase 1, he would easily transmit his message towards the Romulan Star Empire without it being detected by Starfleet. That was not what he was concerned about.
Over the past year at the base, he had grown closer to the Humans and other aliens with whom he worked alongside. Lived alongside. Grown to understand. He had not experienced such a connection in the prior six years he spent assigned to a Vulcan ship, for there a professional distance was maintained with his colleagues. Not so much here.
He knew now that this was brainwashing, albeit unintentional. What Tal Shiar operatives referred to as "going native." Although he had only been an Imperial Fleet officer, recruited for his expertise on Vulcan protocols, he still cursed himself for the amateur way in which he had succumbed to alien influence.
It was the football game last month that had opened his eyes. He saw himself playing alongside Humans in ritual sport, and he was actually enjoying himself. It was disgusting. He had realised that all his sympathy with the hevam and approval of the way they did things were merely a result of his pure Romulan spirit being eroded over the year. That must be it.
He knew then he needed to leave as soon as possible. Not only to prevent further corruption, but because it was his duty as an officer and citizen of the Empire. And because he was afraid of how much he had changed, and how he might be changed further.
While the Federation would indeed result in increased space security, the initial festivity around the founding ceremony would provide the perfect cover to slip away unnoticed - at least, before it was too late.
Loxus resolved himself to this plan, to stop thinking about the Human way and to focus on his return.
Soon he would see the stars of home again.
STARBASE ONE
"For Better or For Worse"
Chapter 1
In his private mess, Commodore Zachary North sipped at his coffee while looking out the window at the lush greenery all around, tinted slightly orange by the two rising red suns, the vast forest in one distant direction, the mountain range in another. He marvelled at how the natural world continued its day-to-day business unaware of what was happening elsewhere. Big changes were coming, but they wouldn't affect how the grass grew or the rain fell. North had grown to admire this view every morning, and partly wished he could be as blissfully ignorant as the beasts and plants out there.
But there was no rest for the wicked.
He turned back to his aide, Lt. Vaughn, standing ever-attentively by his side, going over a padd. "How are the Federation Day preparations coming along?" he asked.
"Splendidly, sir," Vaughn beamed, his cherubic features lit up. He started to check off items from his padd. "Celebrations are planned in the Mall and all the function rooms. The paperwork has been arranged for the integration of our new staff. We have several civilian vessels scheduled to arrive for F-Day, but a few of our allies too. Well, our soon-to-be fellow Federation citizens!"
North nodded. He knew about some of those arrivals already - ships from the Andorian, Tellarite and Vulcan space forces. A happy coincidence, he was sure, that there was one from each UFP member. He still felt the need for a quick reminder. "Go through them again."
Vaughn checked his list. "There's the Vulcan ship Kir-alep - once a battlecruiser, now repurposed as a long-range transport following the Syrranite Reformation. They will be dropping off some passengers; mostly merchants or scientists."
North recalled that the Syrranite Reformation, led by T'Pau, had been a pacifist movement which had uncovered the Kir'Shara - the original writings of Surak, father of Vulcan society. The Kir'Shara had shown the people of Vulcan that the militaristic, xenophobic ways of the High Command were wrong, and to embrace peace and tolerance. The revelation had come just in time, for the leader of the High Command, Administrator V'Las, had been orchestrating a war with Andoria based on falsified evidence that Andorians possessed weapons of planetary destruction. V'Las had been exposed and arrested, the High Command dismantled, and T'Pau installed as First Minister of a new civilian government.
As a result, the Vulcan Defence Force was rapidly diminished, with most Vulcans no longer pursuing a military career, and their vessels being reassigned to benign purposes.
Vaughn continued his list. "Then there's the Andorian warship Loknar - apparently quite famous in the Imperial Guard."
"I heard of some of their exploits during the war," North said. "Quite a celebrity guest for us. I understand they're stopping off here before being reassigned to border patrol." Most battleships were being relegated to watching the peaceful Federation's borders.
"That's right, sir. Finally, we have the Tellarite cruiser Shallash, here to drop off supplies and personnel for the mining operation in the Round Table Mountains, as well as to guard the Draco."
It had been a bumpy road, North reflected, establishing a friendly relationship with Berengaria's dragon-like natives, but now all the Draco clans were in agreement that the "Human clan" were beneficial to them. The Tellarites had even reached an accord with them to mine the priceless rodinium in their mountains in exchange for protecting them from predators during their hibernation cycle. While the Draco had no firm calendar, they had assured that their next hibernation was due to start soon, with the approaching winter.
"Remind me to visit the mountains before the Draco go to sleep," he said, hoping he'd find the time. Their hibernation would last decades; he felt he should say goodbye. It had been him who had convinced the Draco to let Humans share their world, after all.
"Yes, sir." Vaughn made a note, still beaming.
Even by his usual standards, Vaughn was cheerful, and North knew exactly why.
"Now," he said, "onto the most important business... How is the wedding planning going?"
Vaughn's smile nearly wrapped around his head. He and his fiancée, Angie, had decided to get married on the base on Federation Day, further adding to the celebrations.
"Great, sir! We've got the venues sorted for the ceremony and the reception. Just need to organise our stag and hen parties now... Actually, on that note..." Although still smiling, Vaughn's face turned as red as his hair.
"What is it?"
"I was wondering, sir... I know it's late, with the wedding just a few days away, but I've been working up the courage to ask..."
"Go on, Lieutenant."
"Would you be my Best Man?"
A year ago, North would have refused such a sociable request, but now, after promising himself he'd try new things and come out his shell, which had led to him accepting this position and forming a friendship with Vaughn, he found himself genuinely humbled.
He stood up and grasped the younger man's shoulders. "Rhys, I'd be honoured."
Vaughn almost hit the ceiling. "Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you! It would mean a lot to me. I-"
As much as North enjoyed Vaughn's company, he was grateful that the impending emotional tirade was interrupted by a voice from the intercom.
"Comm Hub to Commodore North."
He hit the button on a wall panel. "Go ahead."
"Sir, we're receiving an incoming transmission for you from Starfleet Command."
North looked to Vaughn, who nodded and dismissed himself. "Put it through to my private mess, please."
He smoothed his uniform down and stood before the wall monitor. He exchanged frequent written reports with Starfleet Command, but they rarely called directly. Obviously, this was related to the upcoming festivities. Federation Day, he assumed, not Vaughn's wedding.
The screen displayed Fleet Admiral Samuel W. Gardner, Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet, and North's former CO. "North! You're looking well," the head of Starfleet said to him, a smile on his round face. It was a rare sight, the Admiral normally being quite stony.
"Thank you, sir," North said, instinctively standing at attention. "As are you."
Gardner snorted. "You're not my adjutant any more, can the ass-kissing." He rubbed at his short, iron-like hair, which matched his beard. "The stress of this Federation - integrating all these different groups into Starfleet - has aged me."
"It doesn't show, sir." North smiled, letting the Admiral know that particular 'ass-kissing' was added on as a joke.
Gardner returned the expression. "I meant it, North. You look well. You even got yourself a sense of humour. This assignment's been good for you - and you for it. That's actually why I'm calling..."
North grew concerned. "Oh?"
"Relax. Your evaluation is complete. Despite initial difficulties with the natives, as well as subsequent hallucinogenic plantlife, memory-altering storms, cometary lifeforms, Klingon pirates and Orion raiders, Starbase One has officially been considered a success. You should be proud of all the good work you've done out there."
Now North beamed like Vaughn. "I'm proud of my crew, sir. I couldn't have weathered it all without them."
Gardner nodded. "We've already started scouting locations for Starbases Two and Three. We're hoping to have two bases built a year."
North considered this with awe. "To think how far we've come... We could barely get out of the Sol System when Starfleet began, and now we're spreading out, building permanent outposts on other worlds..."
"The final frontier gets closer and closer," Gardner said with a chuckle, then held up a finger. "And I have a couple of surprises for you."
That snapped North out of his wonder. "Surprises, sir?"
"First, a familiar starship will be paying you a visit for F-Day - the Victory! Lucille Cross, your former first officer, is still in command. I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing your old ship and crew again."
It was quite the contrary for North, who tensed up at the news. "I see..." He put his feelings aside for now. "What was the second surprise, Admiral?"
Gardner grinned. "That's also to do with a starship..."