Epilogue

PARIS SPACEPORT

PARIS, EARTH

Eli Gold stepped off the shuttle and started making his way to the transport to the Capital. Senator Jameson was hopping mad when Gold had started answering the communicator. Overall, Gold had a very nice cruise back to Earth from Starbase 5. He had followed the progress of the battle as best as he could, but information from Starfleet was sketchy at best. As he was walking through the terminal, a large viewscreen switched to the news agency IGN.

"This is IGN News, Kathy Korlin reporting. Starfleet has just reported that they have had a huge victory against the Klingons. This follows the battle of Starbase 5. Reportedly, the leftover of the Klingon fleet was chased and destroyed. This is all the details concerning the action that we know. As we get more details, we will report it to you.

"Starbase 5 and the surrounding city is in a reconstructing mode right now. Damage has been heavy and many reported casualties. There is some debate as to how many casualties have been reported, the Klingons are reporting that they inflicted many casualties while the planet is reporting relatively few. On the political front, the Senate is still in debate over declaring war with the Klingons. Senator Jameson is advocating a diplomatic solution over more action against the Klingons. There are others that are saying more military action against the Klingons would be appropriate. There is also some reporting that the latest battle happened in Klingon space. Senator Jameson, who is running for President, has stated the need for clarity on where the battle happened. The President has not commented on where the battle was or what were the casualties of the action.

"In other news, Senator Jameson has introduced a bill that will…."

Gold's mind tuned out the news. Like always, they only report only half the truth. The battle was intense and while they did not have the casualties the Klingons claimed, they did have more than just a handful of casualties. Gold remembered being scared silly over the invasion. Gold stepped on the transport for the capital.

SENATOR JAMESON'S OFFICE

PARIS, EARTH

Gold walked in, instantly repulsed by the place. It was large, ornate, and reeked of luxury. He did not see one office like this back on Starbase 5. Well, he had, it was in the offices of the 'clients' of the Senator there.

"Eli! It's about time! We have work to do." Jameson said.

Gold walked in and sat his briefcase down. Jameson started with the questioning. "Eli, I'm glad you're back, but why didn't you contact me before leaving the Starbase?"

"As I told you on the ship, it was an opportunity to get home and I wanted to get off that planet."

Jameson nodded. "I can understand that but I have been hearing nothing but nonstop complaining from our friends there. They feel like you abandoned them."

Gold scoffed. "Abandoned. That is a word."

Jameson blinked, "How do you mean?"

"They abandoned me. I would not have had even a room to be in during the whole attack. They dropped me like a hot potato. It was our opponents that extended their hand."

Jameson was not even phased by the info. "Speaking of that, you mentioned you were in bunkers built by Indefatigable? Where did they get the money for that? There must be a bunch of money the colony dropped on those businesses for preparation. Like the communications that were set up in record time."

Gold nodded, "You mean Windtalker Communications?"

"Yes, you mentioned it was first-rate equipment they put in, the whole city. In record time."

Gold nodded, "Yes, it was. The purpose was to provide the militia command and control structure."

"Military grade? That had to cost a boatload. They must be gouging the colony for that. We should launch an investigation of that, along with Zur mining, and all those other corporations. They must have been paid from somebody." Jameson said.

"They did it pro bono. We were in a fight for our lives."

Jameson said, "Nonsense. Nobody does that. This was an opportunity to get some lucrative contracts. Under the table money?"

Gold shook his head, "No, I would have seen that. I was with Cogley the whole time. Senator, we were in the fight for our lives. If we lost, they would not be able to spend any of it! They donated the work and equipment. They all incurred great losses. More than any of our people have. Senator, I did not see one of our clients contribute anything to the defense of the Starbase. Why?"

"Why should they? There was nothing in it for them!" Jameson said.

"We all could have died or ended up as Klingon slaves." Gold stated.

"Nonsense! We always win. That was an opportunity to do some gouging. Never mind. The first thing I want you to do is draft up some press releases questioning Starfleet's actual orders into…."

Gold was listening and started typing on his pad. He had all the files accumulated over decades of working for the Senator. He knew how the Senator worked. Jameson would want to start publicly questioning what was happening, trying to throw doubt in wherever he could. Jameson fully knew what happened, but now was the 'shape narrative' portion. Gold typed in the quick notes then Jameson dismissed him. Gold went back to his office and started on his office computer. Strange, how many times had he done this before. Ask questions he fully knew the answer to, but the way you ask it would start shaping the public opinion. In short order he had the necessary plan drafted.

Gold started looking at what was on his computer. All those files. Gold started thinking of all the innocent people he helped Jameson ruin in his career. How many was it? No telling. Out of regretful curiosity he started to look. He quickly saw the selfishness of Jameson versus the selflessness of the colonists. Many sacrificed their fortunes and their lives.

Gold's count was above ten and he was still in the first year. Hmmm, Captain Torgy's story could not be told. It was classified. Gold needed an easier way to count how many people's lives he ruined, how much ill-gotten gains that Senator Jameson made. OK, he started organizing the files by the situation. That folder will be the Oberth class ship selection, which ruined Captain Torgy's career. It also must go in a CLASSIFIED section as many classified items were in it. Come to think of it now, there were several other Starfleet Officers that were ruined as well. Another folder he named FARGO AGRICULTURE, an operation to run out a bunch of farmers on the colony FARGO. The unusually rich land they had he was able to manipulate to be sold to the corporation Fargo Agriculture. That folder went into the NON-CLASSIFIED folder.

This was going to take a bit of time. He was digging up some old, nasty stuff. The recent and current scandalous items will take some time to get to… He had plenty of that. He did not know why he was doing this, but he seemed compelled to find out exactly how many people he had ruined.

RAPTOR 1

DESCENDING TO STARBASE 5

Captain Jacobs was flying, with Admiral Adama sitting in the co-pilot's seat. Adama was quiet. Jacobs said, "This layer of clouds at thirty thousand is thin. We'll see the base as we punch through."

Adama nodded. Sure enough, they punched through the cloud layer and they could see the whole base up ahead. Jacobs chose a much more gradual descent path so they could have a better view. Jacobs said, "Eight miles."

At eight miles, they could see the whole landscape from the mountains to the north to the now-wet river draining to the gulf to the south. They were coming in from the west. As they got closer, they could see where the second Klingon landing took place, the vast lakebed with various Klingon vehicles either stuck or blown up. There were also divots or burn marks where there were bodies. It looked like thousands. Adama said quietly, "The Klingons do not want the bodies back. We've made a mass grave and are dumping them in there."

Jacobs nodded quietly. He then keyed the mike. "Raptor One to Starbase 5. Request circling at ten thousand."

"Welcome home Raptor one. You have the airspace. Cleared to do whatever you want."

Jacobs replied, "Thank you Starbase 5."

They circled around and looked at the damage. Adama said, "It looks like the colonists did well."

Jacobs nodded. "Let me get down to a thousand feet."

"I see some landing craft there." Adama said.

Jacobs nodded. "Some landed, I can see wreckage over here by the mountains. I heard that Lt Gibbs actually popped one of the pilots in the head while it was landing."

Adama nodded somberly. "Nothing would surprise me about him anymore. I want a detailed action of him and Commander Octavian's activities. I'm going to recommend them for the Starfleet Star."

Jacobs nodded. They were over by the entrance to the bunkers. Adama said, "They held."

"They held."

Adama said, "Ok, time for me to get to work. Let's get back to base. We have a replacement nacelle for your ship. It'll be here tomorrow."

Jacobs nodded, "That strike was too close. Any idea what they are going to do with the nacelle?"

"Science wants it back Earthside. They want to figure out exactly what the physics of that weapon are." Adama said. "I've also heard from our listening post." Jacobs knew he meant SHADO. Adama continued, "It seems like your buddy Kang has been busy."

Jacobs raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"There has been a lot of chatter, and we have a pretty good idea what happened. Kang killed the Chancellor for his operation against you." Adama looked at Jacobs. "You've had an effect."

Jacobs felt uncomfortable. "I just was…"

Adama chuckled. "I'm not chewing you out. Too bad nobody will ever know what effect you have had on Klingon politics. That is not the only thing. Then Kang and Kor challenged the High Council members that authorized the operation on you. They killed eight members of the High Council I think."

Jacobs was dumbfounded. Adama continued. "We think the Black Fleet is history now. For the Wisconsin's first year, you have had quite an impact. You not only took out the Chancellor, but also the most contentious part of the High Council that we know of. All these guys voted for the attack on the Starbase. When the High Council reconvenes to choose a new Chancellor, Commander Straker thinks that it will be someone that will be less belligerent to the Federation. Congratulations, Josh. Too bad nobody will find out."

Jacobs shrugged. "I'm fine if nobody ever knows the backstory."

Adama nodded, "Jameson will probably have the President slap this whole thing as classified anyways."

IGN HEADQUARTERS

PARIS, EARTH

"Today we have Senator Jameson, head of the Starfleet Oversight Committee, and also candidate for President with us. Thank you for coming, Senator."

"Thank you very much Shelly."

"You've been an outspoken opponent for Starfleet in the past, and now you are raising serious questions about the battle of Starbase 5."

"I am, and we need the answers right now, but Starfleet has been reluctant in answering questions." Jameson said pompously. "For instance, I've heard reports that the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Adama left their position that was explicitly ordered by the President before the battle."

"Are you saying Senator that the Fifth fleet could have intercepted the Klingons?"

"I'm not sure, but it does beg the question. Where was the Fifth Fleet?" Jameson asked supposedly sincerely. "And add to that, they did cross over into the Neutral zone and beyond. Who gave them authorization for that? There are a lot more questions. All I want to make sure is that this was an authorized action. The Klingons are already mad enough over this."

"Have you been in contact with the Klingons?"

Jameson shook his head, "No, but it doesn't take a genius to see that a defeat doesn't sit well with Klingons."

"What do you intend to do?"

"I'm going to ask the committee to start investigating this action. We have a lot of questions concerning Starfleet's action. For that matter, we have a lot of questions about Starfleet's actions over the last year." Jameson said with a serious concerned look on his face. Then he could not help in adding, "And if needed, we will conduct hearings concerning Starfleet's actions." Jameson also could not help in letting out just a hint of a smile.