Temporal Observatory

"We have a problem, Agent Daniels." Said Temporal Agent Philip Cray to his superior, "The agent we were going to send to the Defera system won't be able to carry out the mission before the situation deteriorates."

"Can we have one of our other agent's take him there to carry out the mission?" Daniels asked, already looking through the timeline interface to look for the best version of events that won't cause a temporal paradox or adversely affect the battle of Procyon V.

"Unfortunately, most of our covert Temporal Agents are preoccupied with dealing with the Envoy and his allies." Cray said regretfully, "And some of our agents are reporting that they're unable to return to the time we need."

"The Envoy's doing, no doubt, as well." Said a voice from the past, Captain Pavel Chekhov, as he stepped up to the two men, his face stern and in thought, "He most likely knows the significance of the mission and what it will mean for the Temporal Cold War." He rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Bozhe moi, what I wouldn't give to have the keptain's or Spock's insight right now."

"While I would never presume to be on par with one of the greats," A cultured voice said behind the men, "I might, however, have a solution to our problem."

"Again, I say Bozhe moi!" Said Chekhov as he and the other two men turned to the other member of their party, a smile on his face "Do forgive us, my young friend! We do tend to get involved with our own problems."

"Not to worry Captain, given the magnitude of your battle field, a little hyper focus is understandable and necessary." The man said, returning the Starfleet legend's smile. "But back to our shared problem, I think I have an idea."

Star Trek: Cold Case

Captain's Log stardate 86480.75 [Restricted access. Admiralty's eyes only]

It has been nearly one month since my crew and I aboard the Quinzel have been on our reconnaissance mission in [REDACTED] space and so far, we have nothing to report except that, as suspected, the loss of leadership has greatly destabilized the [REDACTED] to post-Hobus confusion. There have been no new factions formed and no assassinations have been committed or plotted, however, we have seen an increase in support for the [REDACTED]. Along with this report, I would also like to post a request for a new assignment. Again.

Vex was bored. She knew, logically and from the wisdom of the other hosts, that being an Intel officer wasn't going to be like the spy holodeck programs, but she thought that she would be doing something more interesting then listening to a bunch of stuffy Romulan imperialists squabble over Sela's throne.

The most interesting thing she'd done was helping Xavius recover that Borg data on Undine assimilation. Although, she did have the data on that odd temporal phenomenon that destroyed those Undine ships to go over, but as interesting as that was (to her and her science officers at least), it wasn't enough to alleviate the boredom she felt.

Which was why she found herself in the ships holo-deck, dressed in an impeccable grey suit from the very early twentieth century, the roaring 20's to be exact, looking at a group of murderers. The holo-deck was made to look like the dining car of the legendary train, the Orient Express, and she was playing the character of one of the greatest detectives in fiction, Hercules Poirot. She was even wearing a fake handlebar mustache to make up for her height and gender.

"I have assembled you all here," Vex said with an impressive French accent, her third host being a whiz at impressions, "to reveal not only who murdered Samuel Ratchett, who was in fact the vile kidnapper and murderer of Daisy Armstrong, Cassetti, but how the murder was committed.

"If we follow the evidence and the statements I and Monsieur Bouc, took from each of you, then a man posing as a member of the train staff quietly broke into his room and stabbed him twelve times, breaking his watch while he did so and causing him to cry out in pain. The man then disposed of his weapon, burned an article about Cassetti's crime, and left by going through the connecting door that led into Mrs. Hubbard's room, waking and startling her, leaving the train when we were forced to stop because of the avalanche."

"But Poirot, we know all this already," said 'Monsieur Bouc', his face confused, "why bring us together to reveal that?"

"Because that is only one scenario, my friend," Vex said, stroking her mustache, "and while most would say that is the only scenario, the great detective Hercules Poirot does not. The other scenario is that-"

"Rogers to Captain Vex." A feminine voice said from her combadge that she had put in her pocket before she started the program, cutting her off before she can reveal all.

"Damn it." Vex swore, shocking the twentieth century people at her profanity. "Computer freeze program." She ordered and as the people around her stopped moving, she pulled out and tapped her badge, "This had better be important, Vic, because you just stopped me from revealing that it was everyone that killed the kidnapper."

That statement was met with a beat of silence, before Lieutenant Commander Victoria Rogers spoke again, "Sorry about that, but we have a priority one subspace transmission from Commander Burgess coming in for you."

"Put it through to the holo-deck, Violet." Vex ordered, wondering what would cause the Commander to break radio silence and hoping that it was a new assignment.

One of the train windows changed from the snowy mountain forest to the inside of a Starfleet office with an elderly human male standing in front of the screen. "Captain…Vex?" Commander Burgess asked, his face showing clear confusion, "Is this a bad time or are you implementing a new dress code aboard the Quinzel?"

It was at this point, Vex remembered that she dressed in a suit…and fake facial hair. "No, sir," Vex said as she tore off her mustache, wincing at the sting of the adhesive coming off, and took her hat off, her hair coming free to fall into its proper place, "I was participating in a holo-deck program from Earth when your call came in. What can I do for you sir?"

"From your rather frequent requests, it's more like what I can do for you." Burgess said, his tone hinting at reproach, "I know it's not the most glamorous assignment, but you should know that it's still an important one. With both high ranking officials either dead or missing, the Star Empire is in chaos and needs to be monitored in case they attempt to go to war." His face grew even sterner as he said, "We are barely coming out of a war with the Klingons, Captain, we don't need another with the Romulans."

"I realize that, Commander," Vex replied, slightly chastised, "But I feel, given my numerous experiences and the calibre of my ship and crew, that simple recon and observation missions are a waste of our talents when we could be doing something a bit more suited for us. I mean, we're a science vessel and the only science-y thing we're doing is strengthening our firewalls and boosting and randomizing our subspace receivers to send our reports without the Romulans knowing."

Vex was a little worried when the answer to her little speech was the Commander quietly and thoughtfully looking at, but she held his gaze unflinchingly. 'I remember teaching him at the Academy,' Vex thought stubbornly, her mind going to her fourth host, 'so there is no way that I'm gonna lose this battle of wills.'

Finally, Commander Burgess conceded victory by speaking first. "It just so happens that I and a few members of Command agree with you. You and your crew are being reassigned to a special diplomatic mission to the Defera system, by special request no less." Said Burgess, a bemused lilt to his upper crust British voice.

"Someone recommended me to be part of a diplomatic mission?" Vex asked, bewildered. She was not the most diplomatic of captains, she never had been in all her lives. She was good at sneaking around and getting information, but unlike a crafty Bajoran she knew and a duplicitous bastard she wished she didn't know, she was not a master manipulator. "Forgive me saying so, sir, but has this person lost their mind?"

"I think you'll find my faculties have not yet left me, Vex." said another cultured voice, this one she recognized in a heartbeat. The screen expanded to include an average sized Valixian man, with yellow eyes, combed back black hair, and a very stylish mustache.

"Xavius!" Vex said joyfully, glad to see her old friend, "It's good to see you! I hear you had an interesting time in Fluidic Space."

"Not the word I would use, but I suppose it could be seen as that." Zevil said sardonically, his eyebrow raised, "If you find near death experiences as interesting."

"Xavius, you should by now that is my favorite definition for interesting." Vex said with a smirk, before getting back to business, her face and voice becoming confused, "But why would you volunteer me for this assignment? You do remember I almost flunked the diplomacy final, right?"

"How could I forget that particular study session? You were falling asleep from boredom and Tyufia kept pestering us to go out to meet Tynizi for the first time." Zevil said bemused, before he went serious, "Actually, the Deferi Ambassador, Ambassador Surah, contacted me and requested that I escort him back home to talk about possibly gaining an alliance with his people."

"You might not know this, Captain, but the Federation has wanted an alliance with the Deferi for quite some time now," Said Commander Burgess, coming back into the conversation, "but their adherence to what they call the Balance has prevented it. Now they are more open to the idea of ties with other worlds and we would like one of those first ties to be the Federation."

"I'm happy to be your escort, Xavius," Vex told her long time friend and superior, her confusion only moderately cleared up, "But I'm still a bit fuzzy on why you want to do so, why aren't you taking the Hades?"

"The Hades is still in dry dock, I'm afraid." Zevil told her, his face slightly pained. She understood that feeling, your ship gets hurt and you feel hurt yourself. The painful look on his face soon gave way to a troubled one, "And if we are to make it to Defera, we're going to need a stealth ship."

"We've recently been getting reports of increased Breen activity in that area of space." Burgess told her, "They've been leading raiding parties on planets and on freighters passing through or entering that section of space for reasons that are still unclear to us."

"I'm guessing you want me to make it clear, sirs?" Vex asked, liking the sound of this mission a little more. She always loved a good mystery, and this one sounded to be just up her alley.

"Yes," Burgess told her, "but until both Admiral Zevil and Ambassador Surah are on Defera and the Alliance is properly hammered out, that mission is secondary, Captain, and while Admiral Zevil has the security clearance to roam a Starfleet Intelligence vessel, Ambassador Surah does not, so keep a guard on him at all times and monitor his subspace use. We may become allies, but we must still maintain Starfleet security."

"Understood Commander Burgess." Vex replied, standing a little straighter, "We'll head back to ESD right away to pick up the Ambassador and the Admiral, will we be taking anyone else on board?"

The question was innocent enough, but she had a feeling Zevil knew where this was going. "Yes, Vex," He said, confirming her feelings, "Tyufia will be coming with us. Lieutenant Commander Six will be staying to see that the repairs are completed on schedule."

"Good, it'll be nice to have the gang back together." Vex told him with a smile before she got back to business, "If that's all, I'll get my ship in order and head to ESD."

"That's all, Captain. Burgess, out." The Human told her, and the transmission was cut, making the window return to the mountainous view it was before.

"Computer, activate door way and end program." Vex ordered as she made her way to the door that lead to the rest of her ship, the train and people fizzing out around her. As she loosened her tie, she got her badge out and tapped it, "Vex to Islop."

"Islop here, what is it Captain?" said the voice of her Aenar First Officer.

"Prepare the ship to leave, we're going back to Earth Space Dock for our new mission." Vex said, not able to suppress the smile from her face as she did.

"I'm sure you're happy about that." Came the reply and Vex knew that her first officer was smiling serenely like she always did when she was amused at something, "We'll be ready to go on your order."

"Very good, I'll just get changed and be on the bridge in a moment. Vex, out." She said as she entered the turbolift.

A short time later, Vex was back in her all black uniform as the turbolift opened to the Bridge and she stepped out. The Bridge of her ship was like that of an Emissary-class cruiser, large and open, but the consoles scattered near the center of the bridge had holo-screens instead of the large glass screens that the Emissary-class Bridge had, and in the very center were the first and second officer's chairs, with the Captain's chair in the middle.

"Captain, preparation have been made and we are ready to leave on your order." Zasva told Vex as she got up from the Captain's chair and returned to the one next to it.

"Very good, number one." Vex said before turning to the woman at the helm controls, "Dinah, set a course for Earth Space Dock and engage Slipstream Drive."

"Yes, Captain." Said the woman as she laid in the course and then activated the faster than warp engine. As they shot through space, Dinah turned her chair around to face her captain. "We will arrive in the Vulcan sector in ten minutes and in the Sol system in fifteen minutes. If I may ask, Captain, why are we returning to Earth Space Dock? Have we been reassigned?" As she said this, Dinah tilted her head, much like a bird, and her bright violet eyes held the semblance of confusion.

Although she looked human, Lieutenant Dinah Violet was not a human, she was in fact an android. She was created by Dr. Beatrice Violet, a student and admirer of the Soong type Android. While not as advanced as Data, Lore, Lal, or the Juliana Tainer android, Dinah was no less a capable Starfleet officer. Like the Soong androids, Dinah's appearance was human, but unlike Data and his 'brothers', her skin was flesh colored. She was average in height and in proportions and had long auburn hair. The only thing that set her apart was her violet positronic eyes.

"We have indeed, Dinah," Vex informed the android, "We'll be playing taxi service to an Ambassador, an Admiral, and his First Officer."

"Which Admiral will we be retrieving, Captain?" Asked Commander Toros, a Vulcan male sitting in the Second Officer's chair next to her. He was well built and had the triangular cut hair style that many Vulcans had, and he wore not only the Intel glasses, but the wrist and belt Intel devices as well to be constantly up to date on the security of the ship. "I would also like to add that I doubt we are merely a 'taxi service', due to the fact that is an illogical use of this crews' abilities." He added bluntly.

"As usual, Tor, you are correct." Vex told the Vulcan with a smile. Toros had served with Thaxci, Vex's previous host, for many years before her death. In fact, it was through a mind meld that Thaxci told him her wish to make Jicsi the next Vex host. "We'll be doing a lot more than that, but I'll let Xavius fill you all in on the particulars when he and Commander Utprut come on board."

"Fia's coming onboard?!" asked Tynizi in shock as she spun in her chair at the tactical station. She blushed as all eyes were now on her, she cleared her thought and changed her tone from shocked to a more professional one. "I-I mean, Admiral Zevil and Commander Utprut are coming on board, sir?"

"Smooth." Said a Caucasian woman at the station next to hers. She had chestnut colored hair that had the sides cut close to the scalp and blue eyes. This was Lieutenant Commander Victoria Rogers, Chief of Operations on board the Quinzel and the self-proclaimed and unofficial officer of sarcasm.

"They are, Tynizi, which reminds me," Vex said before turning back to Solet, "the Ambassador we'll be ferrying will need to have a baby sitter and we'll need to monitor his transmissions." Vex thought about that for a second before adding, "but since we're, ya know, secret agents, let's do it quietly. Burgess made it clear that we can't jeopardize this alliance."

"Understood Captain. I will covertly monitor the Ambassadors transmissions from the ship and have the Security officer use a cloak while another acts as his escort around the ship." Toros informed Vex, not even raising a brow at his captains' quirkiness.

"Very good, Dinah," Vex said turning back to the android who was still turned to face her captain, "What's our ETA?"

Not even looking back her console, Dinah said, "We will be arriving in the Sol system in four…three…two," she then turned in her seat and imputed the necessary commands to drop out of warp, hands moving almost two fast to track, and the next second, they're the view screen is showing Earth Space Dock.

"We have arrived at Earth Space Dock, Captain." Dinah needlessly informed Vex.

"I can see that Dinah," Vex said, voice amused before it turned slightly scolding. "and we talked about showing off."

Dinah tilted her head in confusion, "Was I showing off ma'am?"

Soon they were docked and Vex, along with Zasva, Toros, and two security officers, waiting for their new passengers at the Quinzel's airlock, when they heard a jingling sound, like little bells. Vex and Toros turned (Zasva being blind and psychic didn't need to) and saw that Tynizi was holding a bouquet of blue roses with muktok flowers circling around them, coming their way.

"Those are pretty, Tynizi," Vex commented as Tynizi joined them, and then asked innocently "are those for our guests?"

"Um," Tynizi said dumbly as she looked down at the flowers in her hands, "technically, yes." Tynizi said as she looked back up an uneasy sheepishness on her face.

"Don't tease her, Captain," Zasva scolded good naturedly, "She's a woman in love."

"Has it occurred to you, Lieutenant, that Commander Utprut might not wish to have her personal life broadcasted in front of the Deferi Ambassador?" Asked Toros with a raised brow.

"No." The three woman answered in unison. Any more conversation was cut short as the airlock doors opened to reveal, not only the three expected guests, but the also the form of Lieutenant Commander Six of Nine.

As soon as Tyufia saw her lady love, she smiled wide, ran up to the muscular woman, and jumped into her waiting arms to be held bridal style and kissed her. This having happened multiple times during their courtship, Tynizi had braced herself and readied her arms to catch and carry her spontaneous and amorous love.

"I see you were not exaggerating, Fleet Admiral Zevil." Commented the Deferi ambassador, his voice sounding amazed and amused, "The Commander did 'jump into her lover's awaiting arms'."

"My First Officer seldom disappoints, Ambassador." Zevil said, his voice just as amused but with a touch exasperation mixed in. He ignored the two women in favor of Vex and her Command staff. "Captain Vex, Commanders Islop and Toros, it is good to see you and may I introduce Ambassador Surah of the Deferi."

"Welcome Ambassador," Vex said to the diplomat, her voice welcoming and warm, "It's in honor to have you aboard the Quinzel and act as your escort."

"The honor is all mine Captain." The Ambassador said, give them a small bow as he said this. "But, after all the excitement, I think I would like to rest in my quarters."

"Oh! Of course, Ambassador." Vex said, eyes cutting to Zevil in curiosity before she motioned to the two security officers, "These officers will escort you to your quarters and one of them will act as your guide on the ship in case you want to explore or go to our Ten Forward lounge. We'll inform you once we take off."

"Thank you, Captain, that is most kind of you." The Ambassador said with another small bow as he followed his escorts to the guest quarters.

As soon as he was gone, Vex turned to Zevil, "'Excitement'?" She asked.

"The Ambassador's ship and escort was attacked by the Breen on their way back from New Romulus." Zevil told her, his face and voice showing the seriousness of the situation, "The fact that the Breen crossed into our space to attack the Ambassador was why the Admiralty approved my recommendation for your ship to be the one to take us to Defera, despite this being an Intel vessel, but I would prefer to discuss this somewhere more private. That of course means," Zevil said raising his voice slightly as he continued to say directly to the kissing couple, "you two need to ccut it out!"

Breaking from the kiss, but not out of the hold that she was in, Tyufia turned to Zevil as her paramour blushed profusely, "Can you blame me?" she asked sweetly as she took the flowers that Tynizi was, miraculously, still holding from her grasp and smelt them.

"I could, but it wouldn't matter anyway." Zevil said sardonically, before turning back to the Quinzel Command Officers, "If you could escort us to your conference room, we can brief you on all the particulars."

"Of course, Xavius," Vex said, her laughter barely restrained, "If you three will follow us, we can get this show on the road."

'Don't react, Captain, but something is wrong,' said Zasva in Vex's mind, and her next words shocked her and sent her investigative mind into warp speeds: 'Xavius just lied to us.'

AN: Salutations and bienvenue! A different sort of intro for this story then what I've done in the past, just to keep you guys on your toes. While this will haver the spot light on Vex, this will in fact be the next instalment in the Endeavour series. There will be more, but until then, I bid you adieu!