Chapter 504

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

"Is there anything wrong with the T'Pal?" Jacobs asked

Hotchner shook his head, "No, it appears to be on course to us. Warp 4."

Jacobs turned to Lt Jareau, "Any responses to our hails?"

Jareau shook her head, "No sir. At present distance from the T'Pal, I have switched from interstellar to local transmission. The T'Pal's computers have registered our hails, they are simply ignoring us."

"Any signs of trouble?"

Hotchner said, "None that I can find."

Santini added, "I have been looking at the output of their engines, they have not been running hard, the engines are rather cool. No other signs of trouble. All is normal."

Jacobs asked, "Are they close enough for a visual yet?"

Hotchner nodded. Jacobs said, "Put it up on the big screen."

Hotchner pushed a button and the starfield on the big screen switched with a small moving white dot in the center. Jacobs stood up and walked forward to the screen. Stepping closer to the screen does not do anything useful, any picture can be blown up sufficiently. Jacobs sometimes liked to get up and stretch his legs, it sometimes allowed him to think as well. "Maximum magnification?"

"Maximum magnification without pixelation occurring."

"Fill up the screen then."

The screen changed to show a big, white, blocky blob. It looked like the entire ship was being shown with only about ten pixels. Jacobs chuckled a little, "Ok, thanks for humoring me. Back to maximum magnification without pixelation." The screen returned to normal. The big, blocky blob went back to just a small dot that was moving slightly.

Jacobs turned around, "Time until they arrive here?"

Agathon said, "One hour at their present speed."

"Sir, may I note that if communications aren't established…." Leonaidas prompted.

"Good point Leo, shields up. Karl, plot an intercept course, Warp 7. JJ, Hail the T'Pal, demand an answer. State that we are intercepting."

The two officers nodded. Jacobs stepped back to the Center Seat and asked, "Time to intercept?"

Agathon said, "Ten minutes."

Jacobs ordered, "Yellow alert. Prepare for boarding action."

BADGER DEN

USS WISCONSIN

The alert went up and Chief Warrant Officer Muldoon jumped up. "Come on meatheads! Time's a wasting! Move Move Move!" The Badgers that were in the room were all armed with personal weapons, but with this alert they immediately jumped to their individual closets and picked up their rifles, helmets, and various other items. The Badgers that were already on duty throughout the ship already were fully equipped and went to the nearest com panel to signal that they were ready.

The duty roster for the day had a designation for where each squad would go. Teams were assigned to go to Transporter rooms and one of the Raptors.

Lt Calvin happened to be in the Badger den and immediately started running out the door, "I'll have Raptor 1 ready for you!"

HANGAR DECK

USS WISCONSIN

LT Tyrol at the sound of the yellow alert jumped from the Hangar deck control room and pushed the Hangar deck PA Button. "Yellow alert! Prep Raptor 1 for immediate launch and bring Raptor two up to Ready alert 5 status. Prepare shuttles Slayton and Brandenstein up to ready 5 as well. Signal when ready!"

SIMULATOR BAY

USS WISCONSIN

The simulator bay had a briefing/ operations area in it. The alert went up and Lt Anders said, "Hornblower, you're up for Raptor 1, get to it." Hornblower ran out the door. "Chainsaw, Washburn, get Raptor 2 spooled up."

Anders pushed a com button that connected to the simulators that were presently in use. "Windlifter, Hoss, Hiller, Hotdog: Simulation over. Yellow alert. Windlifter and Hiller go to the Slayton. Hoss and Hotdog go to Brandenstein."

Anders could see the simulators come offline. Soon, the four men ran out the simulators, grabbed their flight gear, and ran out the door to the hangar deck. Anders checked a few other things, then noted that the Hangar deck signaled ready for the Yellow alert status. Anders logged the readiness, then signaled the bridge

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

The short message showed up on the ops panel. Leonaidas noted all the stations reporting in. "Captain, the ship is at Yellow alert."

Jacobs nodded. "Thank you."

BRIDGE

USS T'PAL

Ambassador Nucatola said, "What are they doing?"

Captain Broderick smiled, "Intercepting us. I told you he was reactionary."

"Are they attacking us?"

Broderick shook his head. "No, Jacobs just does not have patience. We have not been answering his hails."

"Part of your rattling his cage?"

Broderick nodded, "Partly, also partly to show how reactionary Starfleet trains its people. Jacobs is following regulations. If you have not established contact with an approaching vessel, you are to raise your shields. I bet he has gone all the way to Yellow alert as well."

"Will he shoot us?"

Broderick shook his head, "No, and right now he has not charged his weapons. Defensive measures are fully activated, weapons are given a final quick inspection then some safeties are removed. His offensive weapons will not be charged yet but can be charged in a minute. I think we have sufficiently rattled his cage." Broderick motioned to his com Officer.

BRIDGE

USS WISCONSIN

Jareau turned and stated, "T'Pal is hailing us."

"Onscreen JJ."

Broderick's smiling face came on the screen. Beside him was Ambassador Nucatola. "Captain Jacobs, how nice of you to meet us."

"You could have answered our hails earlier, Captain."

"I was rather busy, Jacobs. You will have to wait your turn."

Jacobs could see Leonaidas in his peripheral vision being a little agitated. Jacobs stated flatly. "Captain Broderick, you are four hours late without a stated reason. We have hailed you numerous times without answer. Your approach without communications has dictated that I raise my shields. Your inaction has forced me to take these measures, which will be entered in my log."

"And I note that you have gone to Yellow Alert. Why this provocative stance Jacobs?"

"As you well know, yellow alert is a purely defensive status. I will enter that in my log as well. I did not know if your ship was compromised."

Broderick laughed. "Are you concerned that somebody may use my ship against your battleship?"

Jacobs said evenly, "No. I was concerned for the safety of the Ambassador and your crew. We might have had to launch a rescue. And just so you know, the Wisconsin is a Cruiser, not a battleship."

Santini added, "A heavy cruiser, Captain."

Jacobs did not take his eyes off Broderick's. "Thank you, Commander Santini, I stand corrected. Captain Broderick, prepare for rendezvous in two minutes. Jacobs out." Jacobs pushed the com button on his armchair.

Leonaidas said simply, "Jerk."

Jacobs thought about responding, then quietly said, "Let's keep it professional. Hotch, what is your professional opinion on their body language?"

"Captain Broderick was trying to provoke you; the Ambassador is conspiring with him."

Jacobs nodded. "Any sign that they are under duress? Being coerced?"

Leonaidas added, "Under alien influence? Acting irrationally?"

Grimm added with his sarcastic, Brooklyn accent, "Being self-important, being a pain."

Hotchner looked at each of them, "No sir, no sir, and yes sir."

Carter chimed in, "What about bad parentage?" Everyone had a chuckle.

Hotchner said deadpan, "Most likely sir."

Jacobs laughed. "Ok. Let's get set up for a rendezvous. JJ, call the galley, let's serve them dinner, maybe that will get us back on track. Hotch, can you find out what the Ambassador likes?"

Hotchner nodded. Jacobs said, "Let's get this mission over with."

BRIDGE

USS T'PAL

Ambassador Nucatola asked, "I just wanted you to rattle his cage a little, not create an incident."

Broderick said, "This is nothing. It will go against him. Jacobs has always been a reactionary. Those Raptor pilots were usually the type to shoot first then ask questions later. I must let him know who is in charge."

"You are of course."

Broderick nodded. "Yes, but I need to make sure he knows that. I am proving to him that we are in control. I have made him come warping over to me because he is concerned about our wellbeing. My plan is to keep making him respond to my whims."

Nucatola smiled, "Keep him off balance? I can help with that too."

STARBASE 5 OPERATIONS

STARBASE 5

Adama was looking over the current deployment of the fleet. The first wave of nanotube was heading out of system for their designated ships. Adama looked at the positions of the ships and did some mental calculations. "Captain Williard."

Williard walked over from a console on the other side of the room. "Yes sir."

"It's time to notify the first wave of recipients."

"Aye aye, sir."

BRIDGE

USS HURON

The communications officer turned around with a datapad. "Incoming orders from Starfleet sir."

Captain Dan Hammel read them. "What is this? Rendezvous with a cargo ship in the middle of nowhere? Why?"

"Nothing was said."

Hammel shook his head. "This is stupid. Helm! Set course 035 mark 2, warp 5. Looks like we are going to be ferrying some cargo around."

TRANSPORTER ROOM 1

USS WISCONSIN

Captain Broderick and Ambassador Nucatola materialized. Jacobs and Leonaidas were there to greet them. Against good etiquette for starships, Broderick stepped down from the transporter platform without asking permission to come aboard. Jacobs ignored the slight and said, "Captain, Ambassador, welcome to the Wisconsin."

Broderick said, "Thank you very much. Nice warship you have here Jacobs."

Jacobs motioned to the door. "If you would like, I can give you a tour. This is the first Enterprise class Heavy Cruiser built from the…."

Broderick started walking out the door. "I am familiar with warships Jacobs. Maybe the Ambassador would like a tour."

Jacobs and Leonaidas ushered the Ambassador out and into the hallway. "Ambassador, we'd be glad to give you a tour."

Nucatola shook her head. "No thank you, Captain. I have more pressing duties. Dinner will be fine. Tell me, what is that smell?"

Jacobs turned to Leonaidas, who shook his head. "I am afraid I'm not sure what you smell. The ship's air conditioning removes all forms of odors in the air. You should not smell anything."

Nucatola's brow furrowed, "I'll figure it out later."

Jacobs led them into the turbolift and said, "Briefing room." The turbolift started on its way. "This will not take long, Ambassador. It is just a short distance away. "Just then the turbolift opened.

Nucatola said, "This ship is not that large then? I have had turbolift rides longer on the T'Pal."

Jacobs led them to the Briefing Room suppressing a comment. "The dinner is being served in the briefing room. The briefing room is just a short distance from Transporter 1." The doors opened to the briefing room. "Please come in."

In the Briefing room, the rest of the staff was waiting. Jacobs made a slight nod to Jareau, who discretely pushed a button. Jacobs smoothly transitioned and made the introductions around the room. "Ambassador, Captain Broderick, this is my senior staff. Commander Carter, head helm officer. Commander Santini, Chief Engineer. Lt Cdr Jack Bauer, Security." The two guests clearly were not comfortable with Bauer. Jacobs continued, "Lt. Cdr Ben Grimm, Weapons officer. Lt Karl Agathon, Navigation. Lt Cdr Jennifer Jareau, Communications. Dr. Donald Mallard, Chief Medical Officer. And finally, Commander Ian Octavian, ship's Pastor."

Broderick exclaimed when Octavian was introduced. "Pastor?"

Octavian smiled, "Pastor. You have heard of clergy?"

Broderick nodded, "Yes, but I thought you guys were being phased out. The new ship's counselors are supposed to be standard. Trained Psychologists."

Octavian shrugged, "Captain Jacobs likes to do things old-fashioned."

Broderick nodded, "I have heard of that. Word is this is the Amish Starship?"

Jacobs smiled disarmingly. "We have been referred to as such."

Nucatola asked, "How are you supposed to protect us with an outdated starship?"

"It is not outdated. The ship just has a capability to still be operated without electrical power, that is all. The food is here. We have selected various dishes including some Vulcan salads. We heard that you like them." Jacobs stated.

Nucatola smiled. "I do. I got the taste for them when I was stationed on Vulcan."

"Good. Pastor?"

Octavian stood up and prayed, "Dear Lord, we come humbly before you and thank you for your protection and your blessings on us." Nucatola noticed that all the Wisconsin officers had their heads bowed. She looked at Broderick who shrugged. Octavian continued, "We ask you to bless this meal and thank you for your provision. In Jesus' name, Amen."

The food was served by stewards. As one of them came over and started handing out plates of food, Jacobs said, "Thank you James."

Broderick noted, "You know all your crew, even the junior crewmen?"

Jacobs nodded, "I try. Ambassador, I…"

Nucatola interrupted, "I just figured out that smell!"

Santini asked, "What smell?"

"The smell of this ship! It smells like oil, or grease."

Santini said, "Not hardly! There is not any of that around."

"Now Mr. Engineer, no need to take offense. I am sure that you can't keep a warship perfectly clean." Nucatola said condescendingly.

The Wisconsin crew traded looks and Santini smiled his big toothy smile, but he was not happy about the comment. "Ma'am, I…"

"Its Ambassador."

Santini nodded, his smile melting away. "Ambassador. Our filtration systems filter that out of the air."

"No need to get defensive."

Santini was working on not getting angry, and he was starting to lose the fight. "You do not understand Ambassador. First, we do not have many things that require lubrication that smell like what you are saying it smells like. Lubrication of parts on a starship must be able to operate in a vacuum, under cold temperatures, with…"

The Ambassador said, "But we're inside, that's all outside."

Santini nodded. "Yes Ma'am…I mean Ambassador. But parts of the hull may be breached. This very room could be exposed to vacuum. It all must work when the situation demands. Besides, something like oil would be very flammable in a starship."

Nucatola shrugged. "Very well, I will tolerate it. This ship is just a warship after all."

Santini's face instantly showed that he was angry, "Now listen!..."

Jacobs cut him off. "Ambassador, how many times does this make it for your visiting Organia?"

Ambassador Nucatola said, "Three times. All with significant results. One of the times was because of you."

Jacobs blinked, "Me?"

Nucatola said, "You got the Klingons pretty mad when you used asteroids defending the Enterprise."

Santini turned to Jacobs, "You defended the Enterprise?"

Jacobs quickly turned to the Stewards, "James, Calvin, I am giving you a direct order not to discuss anything that has just happened in this room, not even with each other. I will talk to you at 2200 hrs. Dismissed and thank you for your service."

The two stewards snapped to attention and said, "Aye aye sir." They both turned and left the room."

Nucatola said with a smirk, "That was rather melodramatic, Captain."

Jacobs turned his gaze to Nucatola, "First, Ambassador, that is classified. If you know about that, we should not be discussing it here."

Broderick said, "You have not told your crew about that adventure? Your Captain is responsible for a side agreement to the Organian treaty not to use asteroids in combat!"

Jacobs said sternly, "We will not discuss that here!"

Nucatola continued, "The Klingons were so riled up by a cowardly act to use asteroids as weapons."

Grimm blurted out, "IT WASN'T LIKE THAT! We were outnumbered!"

All eyes turned to Grimm. The staff knew that Grimm and Jareau were on the Wolverine with Jacobs. Jacobs said quietly, "As you were Ben. Recognize when you are being baited." Jacobs shifted his look to Nucatola, "Ambassador, I can't discuss certain aspects of my service record."

Nucatola took a sip of tea. "I understand why not. Such actions are now criminal according to the side agreements that we have negotiated."

All was quiet for a minute. Octavian decided to turn on his royal British accent with extra Royal in it. "I don't know anything about that part of the Captain's past." Octavian and Jacobs traded looks. Octavian gave Jacobs a 'trust me' look. "So, the Captain did something with asteroids that made the Klingons mad…"

Nucatola ate a little bit of salad, "Yes."

"To the point that they called the Captain Cowardly…"

"Yes."

Octavian continued, "And you agreed to the side letter because…"

"I thought it would promote good will."

Octavian thought for a minute, "And now starships can't do what with asteroids?"

Nucatola between bites said, "We agreed that neither Klingon or Federation starships would push the other into asteroids or change the path of an asteroid to go into a starship."

Octavian sat back. "That is impressive, you had the Klingons agree not to use something as a weapon? Remarkable."

Nucatola beamed, "I thought so."

"Interesting concept. I've done some bridge simulations, it never would have occurred for me to use an asteroid as a weapon. Seems to me that you would need a very powerful tractor beam to do that. Tell me Ambassador, what is the state of Klingon tractor beam technology?" Octavian asked.

Nucatola froze in her salad eating. "I'm not sure."

"So, you never decided to find out, but you researched what the Captain did."

"I did not research that."

Hotchner corrected, "Yes you did. Records show you dug significantly into the Captain's past. And, for the record, Klingon tractor technology is almost a hundred years behind ours."

Broderick saw that this was spiraling out of control. "Point is, Captain Jacobs, one of Nucatola's visits was to repair something that you damaged. You so seriously made the Klingons mad that they were ready to start a war!"

All was silent. The tension was thick in the room. Octavian said, "How can that possibly be with the all-powerful Organians ready to stop any fighting between us?"

Nucatola shot back, "Octavian, you're just offended because there are all-powerful beings out there protecting us, not your god!"

Octavian said, "This ship has experienced God's protection on more than one occasion. I would far more trust His protection than the Organians. God has never failed us, but the Organians have."

Nucatola stood up, "I would rather trust the Organians! I have met them! I know them! They will protect us! Captain Broderick, let's go!"

All stood up and Broderick sneered, "I would trust the Organians also. Tell me, why did you give your god thanks for the food? That food came from your storage, your aeroponics bays, your protein resequencer. Why give him thanks?"

Jacobs looked him straight in the eye. "Because he has given us a ship to provide that for us. My other officers do not need to spend a week starving in Raptors to know that God has provided us food through this ship."

Broderick was so mad as to be red in the face. "Jacobs, remember that I am in command of this mission! You will respect that and follow that! Remember that I was a Captain when you were a Lt Commander!"

Jacobs kept the gaze, and looked evenly back at Broderick, "Captain Broderick, I respect that Starfleet has given you command of this mission and I am your protection. I also respect the fact that ever since I was a Raptor pilot, you were a Captain!"

Broderick did not know how to finish off. He turned and stormed out of the room. Jacobs pointed to Bauer and said, "Be sure he knows how to find his way back to the transporter room."

Bauer jumped up and jogged out the door. All eyes were on Jacobs. Jacobs looked back and said, "Ok, so I did push a few rocks around out there. It was a common tactic until the treaty side agreement came around."

Carter asked, "I do not understand why they call it 'barbaric'."

Grimm said, "It is not any more barbaric than destroying a ship with phasers. Often, we used whatever means we had."

Octavian thought aloud. "I wonder what is on the agenda this time?"

Jareau, who is normally quiet, said, "Nothing good. I do not like them. Sir, shouldn't we set the record straight with everyone?"

All were quiet, and looking at Jacobs. "I am sorry, but we cannot say anything. Ben, JJ, and I are under very strict orders."

Bauer walked back in, "They've beamed over."

Jacobs nodded. "JJ, you can stop the recording now. Classify that recording as my eyes only. Make an encoded copy and give that to me afterwards. As for the rest of you, what was discussed was never supposed to be discussed in the open. I cannot comment on it and you may not talk about what was discussed here with anyone or among yourselves."

Carter asked, "You mean the part that you saved the Enterprise once?"

"Exactly. That bit of information I know Captain Broderick is not cleared for, I thought that the Ambassador was not cleared but perhaps she is. Point is that they never should have discussed that openly. Now I am in the difficult position of telling you not to talk about something that you never should have known about to begin with. I cannot even offer an explanation as to why you can't talk about it. I will log this appropriately."

GALLEY

USS WISCONSIN

Stewards Eierton and McInney were working on cleaning up the galley. Jacobs walked in and the two snapped to attention. "As you were. I know I am early but I did not know how long the dinner was going to go."

Eierton answered first, "No problem, sir. Did the dinner go well?"

Jacobs shook his head, "No it did not. Tell Chef that the meal was great and the two of you were excellent stewards, as always. What I wanted to tell you is that it is imperative that you do not discuss what you heard with anyone."

McInney smiled cheerfully, "James and I never talk to anyone about what goes on during your meals."

Jacobs smiled, "I know that Calvin, it is just the stakes are very high this time. If you slip, it will be backtracked to you and there will be serious consequences. That is all I can say."

Eierton said confidently, "Mum's the word sir."

"Good. Thank you."

CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

USS WISCONSIN

Jacobs was thinking about dinner. Finally, he looked at the dispatch that was going to be sent to Adama using the Bible as code. It will be great when secure transmissions could be done again. This method of code was time consuming.

ADMIRAL ADAMA,

WE HAD NUCATOLA AND BRODERICK OVER FOR DINNER TO TRY TO BREAK THE ICE. DURING DINNER NUCATOLA AND BRODERICK SAID THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH MY RESCUE OF ENTERPRISE ALONG WITH SOME ASPECTS OF CODE FILE PEANUTBUTTER. FROM WHAT YOU TOLD ME, BRODERICK CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT PB.

NUCATOLA SAID IN FRONT OF MY STAFF AND TWO STEWARDS THAT I 'MADE THE KLINGONS MAD USING ASTEROIDS WHEN I DEFENDED THE ENTERPRISE.' I IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED THE TWO STEWARDS AND TOLD THEM TO REMAIN SILENT. TALK CONTINUED AND THEY REVEALED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CODE PEANUTBUTTER.

PLEASE BE ADVISED ADMIRAL NOGURA THAT PB HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. BOTH NUCATOLA AND BRODERICK MENTIONED DETAILS THAT ARE IN FILE PB. I HAVE TAKEN WHAT PRECAUTIONS I COULD TO PRESERVE SECRECY.

JOSHUA

CHO'S SZECHUAN RESTAURANT

SAN FRANCISCO

EARTH

Eli Gold walked in to meet his contact. This restaurant was one of the most exclusive in San Francisco, it was built just after World War III. His contact was an old college friend and now a senior executive at Universal Systems, a software company that did a lot of business for both Starfleet and the Federation Government.

Gold saw the Maitre'd and walked up. The Maitre'd instantly recognized him, "Mr. Gold, very nice to see you. Mr. Halls is waiting for you."

Gold nodded and walked back to the exclusive part of the exclusive restaurant. The restaurant was located on top of one of the buildings in downtown San Francisco and revolved around, allowing the patrons to view the entire San Francisco valley once an hour. It also made it very difficult for others to spy on the patrons. The restaurant had floor-to-ceiling glass that was mirrored on the outside, making it impossible to view the inside from outside. Inside, it had many plants set up to make the interior look like a forest, and that you were in a giant treehouse looking outside. There were also many recordings of forest animals, including crickets. The cricket sound was the patented anti-eavesdropping device spread around the restaurant. To the uninitiated, it was a very organic atmosphere. To those in the know, this restaurant was the most secure anti-spying area in San Francisco outside Starfleet Command itself.

"Frank, good to see you again." Franken Halls stood up and shook Gold's hand. The two sat down.

The exclusive portion of the restaurant had tables set up in isolated cubicles facing the glass wall. It made it possible to have privacy and patrons were assured that their conversations were secure. "As you, Eli. To what do I have the pleasure of you buying me dinner today?"

Gold asked, "First, is it too hot for you to do some work?"

Halls shook his head. "No. I am careful. All my life I have been working in the software industry and have backdoors everywhere. Part of my self-preservation habit is to keep an eye on who the watch dogs are monitoring. So far, nobody is looking after me or the work I have done for you."

Gold nodded. "Good. I need you to do some digging for me."

"What kind?"

Gold said, "I need everything on the USS Excalibur."

Halls asked suspiciously, "What do you mean, everything?"

Gold explained. "I need schematics, logs, crew complement, capabilities, most specifically data concerning an incident that crippled the ship."

"When?"

"The incident? I cannot remember. It was several months ago. You will find it in the logs then expand from there. I did not want to write it down because it is something I am not even supposed to know about." Gold explained.

Halls sipped his wine glass. "That will take a while. There are numerous systems I must penetrate with care. How long before you need it?"

"A week."

"A WEEK? Impossible!" Halls nearly choked on his drink.

Gold pressed. "You just said you got back doors everywhere and no one is looking."

"I oversimplified. It is not that easy. There's bookkeeping to do. I must falsify records of file access. I must make sure that everything cross-references. One mistake and the whole web unravels." Halls started to eat his food. "A month, minimum."

Gold exclaimed. "I actually need this yesterday!"

"Why? You should be able to get this all through the committee! Why does Jameson need this that badly?"

Gold could not tell him that the information was for the Klingons. "I cannot say. It is for your own best interest." Gold thought a minute, then lied, "Remember all that work I had you do on the Wisconsin a while ago? We are tracking down a conspiracy, at the highest levels of Starfleet. I have said too much as it is."

Halls nodded. "This is going to be very, very, dangerous. Think of it like a burglary. I can get into the house easy, but my trick is to get in, copy documents, and leave without so much as leaving a footprint on the carpet. No one will know I am there. That takes time."

Gold nodded. "I know. As soon as possible. Lives are at stake."

"And my company's bid for the new Federation Government Standard operating system?"

"I will make sure your company gets the bid. All this helps." Gold smiled when he sipped his drink.