Chapter 19

Skaal and his followers, including Rophec, had all been arrested and detained on the base. Captain Cross had actually ordered the Victory to fire on the Loknar, disabling its weapons so it could not attack the Kir-alep, then contacted Commander Charal directly, advising her that there was a traitor on her crew. North had been wrong; neither Cross nor Kyzo had been in league with Skaal.

It had been a very confusing, stressful rollercoaster this past few hours, so North had called a briefing with Cross, Charal, T'Nox and Groll to straighten everything out.

Cross was leading the explanation. "As the Commodore knows, I used to work for Starfleet Intelligence in my youth."

The others were surprised by this, but, as Cross said, North was already aware. Her intelligence connections had proven useful during the war.

"And, as they say," Cross continued, "once an operative always an operative. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by an old colleague in SI. They had been tracking a group of interest, led by Skaal, for some time, due to anti-Federation sentiments expressed by some members, most of whom were already on various watchlists. After they broke into an automated depot on Mars to test the transporter there, SI was closing in on them, but suddenly found the trail had gone cold.

"SI then uncovered a mole in Starfleet Security - someone also opposed to the UFP who had been feeding Skaal's group info on the investigation into them. An undercover agent exposed the mole by pretending he was of the same opinion.

"This mole revealed that he had tipped off Skaal that SI knew his whereabouts on Earth, allowing him and his pals to flee. With security tightening around the Federation founding ceremony, they had relocated off-world. The mole also told us that Skaal had since roped someone into working for him on the Loknar but didn't know who, nor what he was actually planning."

"But you tracked Skaal here," North said. "To Berengaria."

Cross nodded. "Hence why Starfleet Command arranged for the Victory to take a little detour, make it look like a reunion with our old CO. They asked me to determine Skaal's plan, identify all his co-conspirators, and to stop them before they could do any damage."

"This is why you seemed so passionately against the Federation," Groll said, almost in admiration.

"Right," said Cross. "I had to play up the anti-alien sentiments, and publicly, so that it would get back to Skaal that I might be on his side, and he'd bring me into the fold."

"Which he did," said T'Nox.

"After my little outburst at the party - sorry about that, by the way - he approached me in my quarters on the base. He told me to order my crew to attack the Kir-alep on his signal, and that the Loknar would join the attack. He still wouldn't tell me his full plan nor who his contact on the Andorian crew was. He was that smart, at least."

Charal nodded, her antennae bent in awe. "So to find the culprit on my ship, you had to wait until we actually charged weapons."

"Exactly," said Cross. "If I tipped them off too early, they would have hid themselves. Had to cut it pretty close, but it also made it easier to convince my crew to fire on an ally." She winced. "Sorry about the damage."

Charal waved it off. "Already repaired." She turned to others. "I then received Captain Cross' message, telling me there was a traitor on my bridge. When I got up there, Lieutenant Rophec was doing a lot of shouting, heard it through the door, so I took a guess it was him. Rigged the EM generators to knock him out." She shook her head. "I know there's a lot of anti-imperialists among the Arkenites - and they do deserve their independence - but I never thought any of them would resort to something like this, especially not Elben. He's been an exemplary officer."

"It seems Mr. Rophec was recently recruited into a pretty zealous independence group on Arken Two," Cross said. "Probably why Skaal targeted him."

Charal looked down in shame. "We took advantage of the Arkenites' sense of debt for too long. That's no excuse for what he did, just an explanation. Hopefully the Federation treats his people as better citizens than we did."

North let out a long sigh. "It's certainly quite a story anyway. Perhaps one best kept quiet until after the ceremony tomorrow, so as not to encourage any more opposition to the union."

Charal looked up again. "Commodore, I hope you don't think all of us are like Rophec and Kyzo." She looked to Cross. "At least you had an excuse for your behaviour; Kyzo's just an ass." Back to North. "But I assure you, most of my crew - most Andorians in general - are in support of the Federation. We see the value of strength in unity. Uniting disparate clans is how the Andorian Empire came to be in the first place!"

"Indeed, I would also hope that not all Vulcans are equated with Skaal and his ilk," said T'Nox, folding her hands on the table. "The majority of us also support the union - a logical extension of Surak's true vision for peace and cooperation. I believe that even some of the protestors on the base compound have withdrawn from their demonstration, after finding out that their lives were threatened from their own kind, while they were defended by other species. They see that we do need each other.

"It is only unfortunate that such small groups like Skaal's often seem larger simply because they are more vocal."

North raised his brow. "Actually, I was thinking that Skaal and Kyzo, and those like them, might be right about 'Human supremacy.' I worry sometimes that maybe we are taking too much control of this Federation."

T'Nox cocked her head. "We Vulcans are known for our scientific expertise. Andorians for their martial prowess. Tellarites for their debate skills. But, while Humans seem determined to take on all aspects of life, the one area you seem to excel at more than any other race in the quadrant... is in unity."

"I think the Commander is saying... you're the best people for the job," Charal said with a smile.

North nodded his thanks. "I suppose, at the very least, we can all take equal blame for these events."

"Speak for yourselves," Groll said with a haughty snort. "My people had nothing to do with all this."

They all laughed (save T'Nox). Then pleasantries were exchanged and everyone filed out, but North asked Cross to hang back. He remained in his seat while she stood by the door.

Once it closed, he asked her, "Why didn't you tell me about your mission? I could have helped."

Cross' face screwed up. "I wanted to, sir, I really did, but I had my orders. SI felt that bringing anyone else into the loop risked exposure. Even you."

North stroked his chin. "Hm. You probably wouldn't have told me anyway, and that's my fault."

She frowned. "Sir?"

"I never did earn your trust, nor that of the rest of the crew. The Victory crew. Kept my distance. I see now that was a mistake, and I wish I could amend it."

Cross moved to sit next to him at the conference table. "Commodore, we adored you."

Now he frowned. "What?"

"Okay, maybe not adored, but we looked up to you. I mean, I'm not gonna lie; we weren't sure of you at first - you did come to us out of a ten-year desk job, after all - but you led us into battle like some... some ancient, noble knight! You showed no fear and never let your - no offence - lack of experience hold you back. You built us up with you; earned your respect. And, in those rare moments between combat where we got to be explorers, you showed us the wonder of the cosmos through your eyes, and made us forget about the war for a little while.

"If you never felt this, sir, then that's our fault, not yours. We just revered you so much, I guess we were afraid to get too close. But we would have followed you to Hell and back. And, in a way, we did."

North was shaken. He'd had the admiration of his crew all along and never known it - another mistake of his, certainly, but not as bad as never having that admiration at all.

"I... I'm touched, Cross..." He put his hand on her arm, and she put her hand on his, both of them smiling each other. Now he saw that respect in her eyes.

"I just hope I can live up to your example, sir," she said. "You're a tough act to follow."

He swallowed his emotions, now that he knew he had a noble reputation to maintain. "The Victory is in safe hands. I'm sure of it."

"So is Starbase One, sir."