Star Trek : Wisconsin - 4 Mission to Maghreb

by Mashal Wisconsin

What happens when a pre-warp civilization is contacted by somebody other than the Federation, such as the Klingons? How does the Prime Directive apply? How does the Organian treaty regulate the interaction between the Federation and the Klingons? The USS Wisconsin must navigate these issues plus the fact that Maghreb has a large supply of dilithium. Join us now for this adventure!

10. Chapter 8

Chapter 408

USS EXCALIBUR

IN ORBIT AROUND MAGHREB

"Excalibur Captain's log, Captain Harold Jackson recording. Stardate 7769.9 We have entered orbit around Maghreb and have established contact with their government. Ambassador Mamet is currently down on the planet starting preliminary negotiations and we are getting ready to tractor down the two cargo containers we've been ordered to transport by the President himself via Admiral Clayborne. There were no further incidents with Admiral Clayborne since the cargo bay a few days ago, they have been very quiet. Admiral Clayborne has been quieter than the Klingons next door. I have to complement them, Kang has been letter perfect in his communication and behavior on the treaty and agreed upon protocols. I'm not sure, but he might even have a sense of humor. It's beyond my imagination to think that Klingons have a sense of humor, but Kang has said some things that are so ironic that would make it humorous if anybody else would have said it. Captain out."

Jackson was almost to shuttle bay 1 when Lt. Cdr Maxwell joined him in the hallway, "Captain!"

Jackson turned around, "Yes Commander, join me, I'm about to see that big pain-in-the-butt cargo leave."

"Yes, sir."

The two started walking again toward the bay. "What can I do for you Commander?"

"I'm still working on the recorded video from the bay."

Jackson stopped outside the door. "We're five minutes away from getting that stupid cargo that I never wanted off my ship. Do you have suspicions or something provable?"

Maxwell thought a little bit. "Nothing I can prove."

"Do I really want to hear your suspicions before they leave?"

Maxwell thought back to what Jackson told him about the video of the President's orders. Maxwell said slowly, "Sir, I think I need to think on the proper response to that question."

Jackson did not get it at first, "How long do you need to think?"

Maxwell said slowly, "Give me ten minutes sir."

Jackson nodded understanding. "Very well, I'll see you right after these stupid cargo containers are off my ship."

"I'll be right here sir." Maxwell walked over to the opposite side of the hallway and leaned on the wall.

Jackson nodded, turned, and went through the bulkhead door.

IKV KAH'LESS

NEAR FEDERATION NEUTRAL ZONE

The Captain stood up and walked around the huge bridge. This was the largest, most massive ship that Klingons have ever built. The idea was stolen from spies that they had inside the Federation. The most difficult aspect of engineering this ship was balancing four warp nacelles into harmonious output to form a stable warp field. Once that is done, not only could you move a large mass like this, but also move it fast. The Klingons were able to steal this very key element from the Federation, and along with the ability to move a large object fast, it also was very detectable to subspace sensors.

The Captain looked around and saw all was well. He proclaimed, "It's time to start rattling the Federation's cage. Navigation, set parallel course to the Neutral Zone. Helm, let's start off a little slow at first, better not let Starfleet detect us easily, set warp 4. Engage."

The huge ship turned, accelerated, and made the jump to warp.

USS EXCALIBUR

IN ORBIT PLANET MAGHREB

Captain Jackson came through the bulkhead door from the shuttle bay. Maxwell was still standing there. "The Cargo containers are on the way down. Ambassador Mamet's entourage is off the ship along with Admiral Clayborne. Now what do you suspect?"

Maxwell stood up and started walking with Jackson. Maxwell explained, "Taking the revised data on what Engineer Matthews worked up on that sound, we think it's roughly three feet long, metallic, and weighs nine and a half pounds."

Jackson said, "I already know this, Maxwell."

Maxwell smiled his humorless smile when he was thinking something through or explaining what was on his mind. "There is one object that comes to mind that fits that bill." He unslung his phaser rifle. "This."

Jackson stopped and looked at the rifle. He had seen many phaser rifles in the past, but somehow this one looked different. He took the rifle and started turning it over. It was just a standard Starfleet issue phaser rifle, but what if it was phaser rifles in the crate? His mind started imagining the possibilities. He turned and looked back at the shuttle bay. "How many?"

Maxwell shrugged and said with that humorless smile, "It is impossible to say for sure. I'd guess if both of them were filled to the brim, they could have up to twenty thousand rifles. That is a top number. They probably have hand phasers, communicators, tricorders, and maybe even some legit stuff. That of course would lower the number of rifles."

Jackson was thinking of the consequences. "What have we done?"

The humor returned in Maxwell's smile, "It is just a hunch, sir. I am still going over the recordings, but there is not much there that we did not see. We could test it though."

Jackson snapped back into reality, "How so?"

"Take the ship back to warp, drop a phaser rifle on that part of the deck, record and compare the sound."

Jackson said dryly, "With Kang hanging ten clicks off our portside, that's not going to happen. I can't leave the Ambassador defenseless down there."

Maxwell shrugged, "That wouldn't prove it anyway, just give us an indication that we are on the right track. But sir, Kang won't do anything while we are gone."

Jackson sarcastically said, "Don't tell me you think the Organians will stop him."

Maxwell shook his head, "No sir. As far as the Organians are concerned, I'd trust them about as much as a politician. They will never be around unless it suits them. Kang won't do anything because that will break his honor. Dahar Masters take their honor seriously."

Jackson looked hard at Maxwell, "Perhaps they do, but I'm not going to give him the chance. Well done Mr. Maxwell. Keep running over the videos, let me know if anything turns up."

SHADO BASE

ALONG KLINGON NEUTRAL ZONE

Commander Straker was actually Commodore Straker, and this base had been his baby for the last few years. His official cover was commanding officer of the USS Shadow, a stealthy reconnaissance ship but in reality, he also was commander of this forward listening base. Shado base was a 'black' project, only a few knew about it. It was positioned virtually on the border of the Klingon neutral zone and contained the most sensitive instrumentation known to Federation science. Its location and function were completely legal, but needed to be kept secret to not let the Klingons know that a listening post was so close to the neutral zone. Shado base was also the forward base of the USS Shadow. The gameplay in the base's name and ship's name, and Straker's public and secret rank was the source of inner humor to Straker. He thought it was clever.

The listening post was hewn out of the rock of an asteroid both for protection and camouflage. It had a large hangar bay, large enough for the USS Shadow to hangar in when it wasn't on a mission. It was connected to the sensor array above the surface, but the post itself was deep inside the rock, hopefully safely hidden. Commodore Straker climbed down a ladder into the small command center where the technicians were operating various instruments monitoring the neutral zone. The beauty of this post was that it operated passively, without transmitting any energy at all. Shado base was the modern-day equivalent of the sonar nets the world powers used back on Earth two hundred years ago to monitor submarine activity. It alone could monitor a large portion of the Neutral Zone and some of the space beyond.

"What do you have, Lieutenant?"

"I'm getting intermittent contact here, sir." The lieutenant pointed to a spot on the screen.

Straker looked over the display, and saw that the Lieutenant had done well in his analysis. "What do you think it is?"

"Well sir, it is barely detectable. Strange as that sounds, it helps figure out the type and range easier."

Straker blinked, "How?"

"I know the limits on what we can detect. We are detecting this ship farther than we should. The signature makes me believe we have a four-nacelled ship deep in Klingon space. The only way the math works on this is that he is paralleling the neutral zone. If he is as far out as I think, he is doing warp four or five, probably warp five."

The Commodore saw on the display what he was talking about. Straker's eyebrows furrowed at what the analysis showed. "Prepare a message dump for Starbase 5. Include all the data and your analysis as well. Put it in a message torpedo and launch immediately."

"Aye aye, sir."

STARBASE 5 OPERATIONS

Adama walked into the expansive room. "What do you have, Commander?"

Commander Williard said, "We just got a message from a message torpedo. It was transmitted from out near sector twelve."

Adama said, "What's the identity of the torpedo?"

Williard said, "Only identity is 'Harlington Film Company' There is no record of a company by that name, certainly nothing attached to Starfleet."

Adama said, "That is fine Commander. Treat the source of this message as code-word only. The location of the message torpedo is irrelevant, it has moved from its origin to mask the location of the source of the data. We will refer to this as the Harlington Film Company. What do they have to report?"

Williard worked the controls on the display table and pulled up a map of the area. "They think they have a large contact deep inside the neutral zone. The contact is acting like he is on patrol. Estimated mass is two million metric tons."

Adama looked up, "Two million?"

Commander Williard nodded, "Harlingon's estimate was a little lower, our experts upped the mass after working the data. This contact is more than twice as massive as an Enterprise class cruiser, bigger than the Excalibur. It's also has four nacelles. We got ourselves a Klingon battleship for sure. He's also now close enough to the Klingon zone for us to pick up."

Adama looked at the map, with the positions of all known starships. "Intel have anything about a Klingon heavy?"

Williard shook his head, "No sir. Biggest thing they have made is variants of the D-7 class."

Adama asked, "Opinion?"

Williard was accustomed to Adama asking for opinions, it was tough to know what the old man was thinking. The nice thing was Adama didn't want yes men around him, he wanted smart. "Sir, from our experience with the Excalibur, this ship would probably have twice the firepower of a heavy cruiser, twice to three times the shielding, twice the crew, and probably a power utilization curve that makes them more capable of moving, shielding, and of course shooting than heavy cruisers. Right now, if they decided to rush across the border, we wouldn't or could not stop them until they were a day inside Federation space. What we have in place now would not even slow them down."

Adama nodded, "Only enough for the Klingons to blow them to atoms, which the Klingons would do. We're spread too thin right now." Adama studied the map. Only one ship that was able to replace the Excalibur. "Commander Williard, send a priority message to the Wisconsin to make best possible speed immediately to Planet Maghreb, orders to follow later. Send another message to Excalibur that on arrival of the Wisconsin, they are to retask to this position of the Neutral zone, maximum warp."

Williard said, "The Klingons will detect the Excalibur coming if they go that fast."

Adama looked up and quietly said, "All the Klingons will need to know the precise ETA of the Excalibur is a calculator and a clock. Kang will report the moment the Excalibur leaves orbit of Maghreb to the High Command. Maximum warp Commander."

Williard nodded, "Aye aye sir."

Adama did some mental math, he wanted a confirmation, "What is the time factor for all this to happen?"

Williard typed up the calculations on the pad. "Excalibur receives orders tomorrow, two days for the Wisconsin to get their orders. Three days for the Wisconsin to relieve Excalibur, three days for Excalibur to arrive on station."

Adama shook his head. "Over a week to get something to stop this Klingon warship from coming across the neutral zone. That ship could be knocking the doors down on Vulcan, maybe even Earth by then. We need to rethink our whole deployment. Send a priority message to Nogura on these deployments." Adama looked around the map, "Send the Huron over to….." Williard started typing the positions. It looks like Starfleet is getting out of the exploratory business for now, at least for the time being. Of course, this Klingon battleship is only what they could see, the Klingons have a cloaking device too….

NEW HAVEN RANCH

STARBASE 5

George McGonagle had finished eating the evening meal with all the ranch hands downstairs and was now sitting at his desk upstairs in the Main Lodge study. He was going over all the important messages for the day and one coming from Captain Jacobs immediately caught his eye.

He opened it and read it quickly. McGonagle, being an astute student of history, knew immediately what Jacobs was trying to say. He checked the clock and made a snap decision; this information could not wait. McGonagle pushed the com button and said, "McGonagle to Admiral Adama."

The wait was short, Adama's raspy voice came through, "Good evening, George, how are you doing tonight?"

McGonagle was direct. "Bill, I need to talk to you immediately. I can be wherever you are in one hour."

A short wait, then Adama's voice came through. "I was just about to go home and get dinner, it has been a busy day here. I am assuming you cannot wait until morning?"

McGonagle emphatically said, "No, it cannot. And it cannot go over airwaves or through computers. We just had dinner; I'll bring leftovers."

Adama chuckled tiredly, "Come on over, land on pad 1. I'll let them know you are coming by."

"McGonagle out." McGonagle printed out the message and ran downstairs. He saw Charlie Waite and said, "Charlie, prep shuttle 1 for immediate launch. I am going to be gone for a few hours."

Waite drawled, "Planetary flight or spaceflight?"

McGonagle was quickly packing some of the leftover food into thermal containers. "Planetary. I'm heading to the Starbase. Quickly!"

Waite double-timed it out to the shuttle.

McGonagle was already thinking about the next step that is going to be done. As he was heading out the door he stopped. If communications were compromised, how to communicate? An old idea came to him and he ran back upstairs and grabbed a book. By the time he got to the shuttle, Waite had it prepped and all set to go. "Thanks, Charlie. Run the shop for me. I should be back late tonight, but it may be longer."

"Yessir, I got a day's worth of clothes for you in the back plus your suit."

Waite got out and McGonagle jumped in, "Thanks Charlie." He closed the hatch and Waite stepped back. The shuttle lifted off and McGonagle immediately went to full thrust. He was supersonic and climbing within thirty seconds. Wonder what the hurry is? Must be important.

STARBASE 5 COMMANDER'S OFFICE

STARBASE 5

McGonagle strode in with a large bag full of food. Adama smiled, "You didn't have to George…"

"Glad to help. We have roast beef, potatoes, gravy, green beans, and some baked bread. All made from scratch."

Adama chuckled, "You guys sure do know your food. Where do you get your cooks?"

McGonagle was setting up and said, "A couple of our guys went over to the Amish community about a hundred miles east of us and spent a couple of months learning how they do food. We help each other out from time to time."

Adama sat down and said, "Sounds like a good arrangement. Now what is so important?"

McGonagle slid the message over to Adama. "Josh just sent me this message."

Adama read it. He vaguely remembered World War II, but the message was lost on him. "I don't understand."

"The first part is a reference to the United States cracking a decoding machine called Egnima by the Germans. He's trying to tell us that his communications are compromised. The second is a reference to a spy ring in the late twentieth century. They had operatives steal decoded messages from the US Navy and send them to the Russians."

Adama blinked, "How?"
"Low grade personnel on board ship would literally steal the decoded message out of the trash before it was burnt and give it to Russian spies when they docked."

Adama sat back and thought. How bad is the compromise? He just did a major fleet shift, who knows? Is it Jameson or the Klingons? "George, what do you think Josh is trying to tell us?"

McGonagle said in an extremely serious tone, "Your messaging with the Wisconsin is compromised for sure, there is an agent on board getting information off ship somehow, and they are into our machinery, probably software, somehow."

Adama felt the blood rush from his hands. This is the worst possible case concerning communications. He pushed a button on the desk and said, "I have killed all pickups in the room. There is no chance of the computer eavesdropping on us. This is top secret info. I just had to do a major fleet shuffle today and the message just went out."

"Why?"

"The Klingons have a battleship, and it's patrolling near the neutral zone."

McGonagle said evenly, "Fleet deployment?"

Adama said, "From what our estimates are, we could not stop it until it hit Vulcan. Per the Great Exploration mandate from the Administration, we are currently out of place for this threat."

McGonagle exclaimed, "How could you let them do that?"

Adama explained, "Intel had nothing on this ship, they still do not. We are taking some major educational guesses here. I had the fleet deployed ready to stop a surprise incursion, assuming we would detect the warp trails of other ships travelling to the neutral zone."

McGonagle nodded, "The Klingons still can't mask their warp trails?"

Adama shook his head, "Not yet. But even knowing you have a Klingon nearby; space is still awfully big. And now we have compromised communications. Is it Klingon or somebody else?"

McGonagle guessed, "I think it's Jameson."

"How sure are you about that?" Adama asked.

"Not sure enough to be actionable, just a hunch. I got something for you." McGonagle took out a black, leather-bound book and handed it to Adama.

Adama took the book and looked at it. It said, 'HOLY BIBLE.'

"You expect me to pray?"

McGonagle shook his head, "No. I'll tell Josh that I gave that to you. He will know what it's for. It is an old code. You and him now have exactly the same book, same printing. You can send him a message by simply referring to a page, line, and either word or letter. It is nearly unbreakable unless the bad guy has the same book."

Adama opened it up and paged through the Bible. "And it's a good bet neither the Klingons or Jameson have a Bible?"

McGonagle nodded. "Try never to use the same combination twice. Even try to never use the same page until you have gone through it all. And never reference this on any computer, ever."

Adama said, "So do not do a computer search for 'q' or 'quick'."

"Nope. Assuming that they are into our computers, you would be giving them the codebook."

"Thank you, George. At least I have a way to communicate with him. I know he was under you for a while, and you think quite highly of him, but you guys were really close, weren't you." Adama motioned with the Bible.

"We are. That's the book that binds us together. We both have a relationship through God's word."

"You know that I don't believe in that stuff, George."

McGonagle nodded, "Yes, but that doesn't change facts."

"Facts?"

McGonagle said, "The Fact that God loves you, that he sent his only Son to die for you, and that salvation is a free gift. It's all in that book. Keep an open mind as you encode your messages."

Adama nodded politely, "I will. As long as we're here with some food, care to join me?"

McGonagle smiled, "I've already eaten, but missed dessert. I'll join you for Amish Apple Pie." The two continued to talk about the Wisconsin and the concerns of Starfleet.

SECONDARY BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Cdr Carter was doing the instructing for the day. The secondary bridge was in the stardrive section, just behind the main deflector dish. Today's exercise had Pell and Mitchell working the helm controls and the rest of the bridge staffed with junior officers. Pell was in the helm seat at first as Carter did his description. "The secondary bridge is identical to the main bridge except in two important features. The auxiliary bridge doesn't have periscopes or the door to the Captain's ready room."

Pell asked, "Periscopes?"

Carter smiled, "Yes, Periscopes. On the main bridge there are two periscopes. Very similar to the periscopes on the old historic submarines, with a couple of important exceptions. They can tilt up and down as well as pan left and right, also they have very powerful magnifications for optically tracking objects at large distances."

Mitchell disbelievingly asked, "Why do you have them?"

Carter explained, "This ship has a mode of attack called EMP, you will get some more schooling on that later. Basically, we can cause another ship to lose all power for a period of time, but it will cause us to lose power as well. We must have some method to sense outside the ship as well as maneuver it."

Pell pointed at the sticks on the helm station, "That's what these are?"

Carter nodded, "Yes, they have the same basic function as the manual controls on the shuttles and Raptors, but the rate of rotation is significantly less. It takes a lot to turn a big ship like this. First, I want to show you the helm and navigation consoles. The basic controls and instruments are here and are in more or less the same places as standard Starfleet. Menu commands are also the same as what you were taught at the academy. We will start with something basic." Carter touched the com button on the command seat. "Computer, initialize lesson 01." The computer beeped that the lesson was ready.

The main screen came alive to show the ship in orbit around Earth. Carter sat down in the command seat and said, "Ok, for you both, all these exercises will be at Earth's star system. Lay in a course for the Moon and enter orbit around it."

Pell looked over to Ensign Valerii, who was manning the Nav station. She plotted the course and nodded to Pell. Pell saw the course plotted on his screen, and the necessary velocity to accomplish the trajectory. "Course laid in, engaging at 3000 miles per second. ETA 79 seconds." Pell worked the necessary controls and the simulator responded. At the appropriate time Pell worked more controls and the simulator slowed into orbit, "We are now entering standard orbit around the Moon."

Carter nodded, "Very well, adjust orbital angle to inclination of forty-five degrees, lower our altitude to fifty miles."

"Aye aye sir, forty-five degrees, fifty miles." Pell worked the controls. Carter gave him some more exercises, which Pell did well.

After a half hour of work, Carter said, "Very well Mr. Pell. Mr. Mitchell, care to take a shot?"

Mitchell said, "Sure, no problem. It's just basic stuff from the Earth to the Moon. We've been doing that for three hundred years."

Carter nodded, "If you choose, we can step it up a bit. Set a course for the Main Space Station."

Valerii worked the course up and nodded at Mitchell. Mitchell smiled and winked at her. She ignored the look. Mitchell said, "Course laid in, engaging at 3000 miles per second, ETA 79 seconds."

The simulator took off, Mitchell made the corrections necessary for the approach, "Entering standard orbit, approaching Main Space Station now and slowing for approach."

Carter nodded, "Miss Reeves, signal ready for approach."

Reeves turned and said, "Station responds clear to dock at bay four."

Carter ordered, "Dock Bay four Mr. Mitchell."

"Aye aye sir. Bay four."

The ship slowed as the large bay doors opened. Mitchell was working the controls as Valerii said, "Bay four is on the far side of the hub."

Mitchell said, "I know."

Once the ship was inside the doors, Mitchell slowed down and started moving the ship sideways to go around to the far side of the hub. It was a complex maneuver, but he was performing it very well. The maneuver Mitchell chose was to move the ship sideways and keep the bow pointed at the hub making a semicircle. Mitchell was thinking this was too easy, so he decided to speed things up a little bit. He increased his velocity around the hub, and once he was in line with bay 4, stopped the sideways motion and started forward into the bay.

Once he stopped, Carter said, "Good, a bit quick around the hub and into the final spot."

Mitchell retorted, "It was fine, I didn't crash."

Carter calmly said, "Remember, there are speed limits inside the spacedock. You were coming too fast around the hub."

"I didn't hit anything."

Carter shook his head, "No, but you were at the limit of your thruster controls. Be sure to keep an eye on your thruster activity monitor. If you did one foot per second more, you would not have had enough thrusters to maintain your arc in the spacedock. That's why limits are set inside the dock."

"I could compensate with impulse engines."

Carter shook his head, "Not a good choice, they are too powerful for one, you would find it very difficult to control. Also, we are inside an enclosed spacedock, impulse thrusters inside a spacedock would create damage on the walls. If you made a mistake, you would either burn a hole in the wall, or cause nine hundred thousand tons of ship to hit something."

Mitchell held his tongue, but thought he could control the ship under impulse in spacedock. Carter checked the clock, "This is a good break time, half hour for lunch."

HALLWAY A, DECK 12

USS WISCONSIN

Jacobs just finished climbing up one of the ladders in the Jeffries' tube system. It took a lot longer to get from point A to B, but occasionally he tried to get from one end to another by the Jeffries' system just for practice. Never know when it will come in handy. Jacobs stepped off the ladder out of the tube into the hallway and started walking when he heard Anders call from down the hall. "Captain!"

Jacobs turned and smiled, "Hattrick, what's up today?"

Anders trotted up, "I got bridge duty in thirty minutes. Can I talk to you for a second?"

Jacobs nodded, "Is it about your match tonight?"

Anders embarrassingly said, "Yes sir. I just wanted you to understand why I'm taking him on."

"Why? I thought you had it pretty well resolved that you weren't going to take Mitchell on. What changed?"

Anders explained, "He started wrapping up the Badgers in his insults. I can take the hits, but Lt. Teal'c was right there, he would confirm everything."

Jacobs chuckled, "He already did. I happened to be going over some potential Badger training with him and Mr. Bauer when the word came in. I hope you understand what you started, Mr. Anders."

"What do you mean sir?"

Jacobs smiled, "That 'Maverick' in the short time he has been on board has pretty much ticked off everyone on board. Everyone is looking forward to you pounding him. Good thing this is Parrises Squares and not Basketball. I think the crew is looking for a good smack-down."

Anders nodded, "I've got some of that word back. Do you understand what I'm concerned with sir?"

A com panel whistled and Jareau's voice came over the speaker. "Bridge to Captain Jacobs." Jacobs nodded and held up a finger, signifying he is going to finish that thought. He walked over and pushed the button.

"Jacobs here, what is it JJ?"

"Mr. Carter reports all survey shuttles are on their way to their targets in the solar system. No problems."

"Very well, tell him I am heading to his office to get a progress report on Pell and Mitchell's orientation. I'll be there in five."

"Aye aye, sir."

Jacobs pushed the button and looked back at Anders. "I'm going to throw political correctness aside. Sam, for the good of the ship and Mr. Maverick. I'm looking forward to watching a good smack-down tonight. Who do you have officiating?"

Anders was surprised. "It was just supposed to be a 'friendly' match."

Jacobs shook his head, "I would not do that, it has grown too big. I suggest you get one that appears to be neutral. Also, get Mitchell to agree to the rules before the match, on air."

"On air?"

Jacobs smiled and said as he walked away, "On air. Maverick made a pass at Lt Reeves, ticked Agathon and her off royally, they talked to JJ who was ticked off along with half the women on this ship. You are on live tonight. I hope you have a flair for the dramatic."

CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

USS EXCALIBUR

Commander Morrow walked in, "You asked for me sir?"

Jackson motioned to the seat across from his desk, "Please, Paul, sit down."

Morrow sat down, "What is it?"

"We just got tasking orders."

Morrow asked, "What about the current mission? The Ambassador?"

"We are getting replaced by the Wisconsin."

Morrow shrugged, "At least it is a heavy-hitter. I would not want just anybody to sit in orbit with Kang over there." Morrow pointed out the window to where the Klolode was hanging in the distance. "Why the change in orders?"

"Klingons have a heavy, and it's patrolling near the neutral zone."

Morrow exclaimed, "A Battleship? Impossible! We would have heard something about it by now."

Jackson handed over a datapad. "They have a Battleship, initial estimates are that it is at least as massive as us, probably a little heavier. These power output curves also mean it has more power than us."

Morrow looked at the data. "This is the reason for the retasking. They want us there as soon as the Wisconsin arrives, best possible speed? Why not a more covert speed?"

Jackson looked at Kang's ship, "Because just after we leave, Kang is going to report to his good buddies at the High Command that the Federation Battleship has left. Kang may not know why, but they will. They'll be waiting for us. I want you to take the data on that pad to the division officers, have them draw up what they would think would be a nightmare scenario of capabilities of that ship. After that we'll start battle simulations."

"How long before we leave?"

"Starbase 5 estimates four days." Jackson started thinking on how he was going to break this to the Ambassador.

Morrow looked up, "I'll get them on it sir."

"Very well." Morrow got up and left, Jackson leaned back in his chair and started thinking on all that was going on. Coincidence? Hardly. The Klingons may be fierce warriors, but they exercise strategy too. Question is, is this the diversion or the real event?

AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE

FEDERATION COMPOUND

PLANET MAGHREB

The work was proceeding at a feverish pace. Jackson walked past a lot of his engineers who were setting up a lot of the support systems inside the building. They already had the shell of the embassy built, the Maghrebians or whatever they were called did a nice job prepping the embassy compound. The interior was in total disarray. The one thing his engineers did not touch were those stinking containers. The shuttles had sat them down and just after that, the security contingent that came with the Ambassador worked up walls and a roof around the containers. By now, you could not tell where they were in the Embassy building, but Jackson knew where they were. The containers were protected like a bank vault.

Jackson stepped up to the Ambassador's secretary's desk and said, "I'm here to see the Ambassador."

The secretary was an attractive human, "Just a minute, Captain." She pushed a button, got a response light and said, "Go right in sir."

Jackson walked in with an abbreviated copy of the orders. Ambassador Mamet, Admiral Clayborne were sitting at the Ambassador's desk. It was a stark contrast to what was happening outside. Inside the construction work was finished and it was clean, attractive, and quiet. Mamet asked, "What can I do for you Captain?"

"The Excalibur has been retasked, here is a copy of the orders."

Mamet took the orders and Clayborne exclaimed, "Impossible! We'll be at Kang's mercy!"

Jackson looked irritatingly at Clayborne, "According to you and your Patron Senator, that's impossible with the Organian treaty in place." Clayborne of course knew the truth, but knew that they could not discuss it here in front of the Ambassador. Clayborne just glared at Jackson. Jackson looked back at Mamet, "Ambassador, we are retasked when the Wisconsin arrives on station, about four days from now. I will help however I can to finish whatever you need, but you should be ready to have the Wisconsin be the prime support in four days."

Clayborne interrupted, "I'll order Adama to change his orders. I want the Excalibur here!"

Jackson looked dryly at Clayborne, "Sir, you do not have a copy of the whole orders. That is on the ship. If you want to come up and view them, you can. All I can say here is that there is a good reason for this."

Mamet said, "You can talk here, it's secure."

Jackson shook his head, "Not until I'm sure it is. My engineers built this place, but until I've had it swept for listening devices, I'm not discussing it down here."

Mamet asked, "Are you concerned about the Maghreb or Klingons?"

Jackson kept his eyes on Mamet, "I'm concerned about everybody. Full orders are available on the ship. We have the transporter pad down here operational, able to link up with the ship in orbit. If nothing further is needed, I need to get back to the ship."

Mamet waived his hand and Jackson left. Clayborne said, "I'll talk to Adama, he's overreacting. We can get a reversal to these orders."

Mamet said, "That's what I have you here for. Do what you need."

C IN C STARFLEET'S OFFICE

STARFLEET COMMAND

EARTH

Admiral Nogura looked at the data that had been sent from Starbase 5. He was standing in front of a large screen and typed in the changes to tasking orders Adama sent. He saw that Adama did a very nice reordering of the fleet to counter this possible threat. Nogura was impressed that Adama did this in a matter of a few minutes too, and was glad Adama was at Starbase 5.

He typed in a response to the message in typical Nogura fashion.

APPROVED.

Now on to other matters, the Romulans have been quiet lately. He'd rather have open antagonism, when they go quiet, they are up to something.

HALLWAY OUTSIDE SECONDARY BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Pell and Mitchell were just about to step back into the Secondary Bridge when Anders called to them from down the hallway. Mitchell turned to see Anders and Teal'c walk up. Mitchell said, "You ready to get your clock cleaned tonight, Anders?"

Anders blew it off. "Mitchell, I think it may be best to have a referee for tonight's match."

"Suit yourself. I thought you wanted a friendly game."

Anders calmly said, "I never wanted the match, you did. I am just thinking that a ref will keep it fair."

"Who do you have in mind?"

Anders indicated Teal'c. "Lt. Teal'c and I have sparred numerous times. He's a Parisses' Squares aficionado."

Mitchell sized Teal'c up, "Ever play before?"

Teal'c said slowly and formally, "Only 'friendly' matches Mr. Mitchell."

Mitchell did his sneering laugh, "Sure, Teal'c will be fine. What time?"

Anders said, "How does 1800 sound?"

Mitchell nodded, "We'll be off duty by then. As long as you are insisting on a ref, I want a full match. Three fifteen-minute rounds."

Anders graciously accepted, "That will be fine with me. 1800 then."

Anders and Teal'c walked down the hall. Teal'c said, "Does Mr. Mitchell realize what he's asking?"

"Obviously not. What do you think Teal'c?"

Teal'c's demeanor was always stoic, formal, like a Vulcan. He said to Anders in a matter-of-fact tone, "It has put you in a bad situation. You have little to gain, but much to lose. He is much younger." Anders looked at Teal'c with a wry smile, and Teal'c continued, "And therefore has the beneficial effects of youth, more stamina, and being able to accept injury better."

Anders answered, "You're no spring chicken either Teal'c and we play all the time."

Teal'c nodded slowly, "But I am Jafar. My symbiont maintains my blood chemistry, I do not fatigue like humans. It also enhances muscle growth giving me superior strength and agility, and provides adrenalin control."

Anders smirked, "Have you been going easy on me?"

Teal'c said flatly, "Quite the opposite, but are you cautious playing me?"

Anders nodded, "Absolutely, I know that one small wrong step and you could hurt me, seriously."

Teal'c nodded slowly, "That is wise. It will also be wise not to underestimate Mr. Mitchell."

Anders nodded, "I hear you. How do you think I should play this?"

"Be careful of surprises. Don't assume he's an inferior opponent."

Anders and Teal'c stepped into the turbolift at the end of the hallway, "Thanks Teal'c. Point well taken. Anything else?"

The turbolift closed, "I would talk to Mr. Hotchner. He might have a psychological profile that you might be able to exploit. You are the pride of the ship in this match. Do not disappoint."

Anders said, "Great. It was just supposed to be a friendly match."

Teal'c said dryly, "Nothing is ever as it seems, Lieutenant."