"Ship Personification's Log, Stardate 42923.4: Despite misgivings, Captain Picard has agreed to Starfleet's request that we divert to the Braslota system to take part in a war game exercise. I find the opportunity exciting as, although I remain dedicated to my position as an explorer, I am also a warship. Joining us as observer and mediator is the Zakdorn master strategist, Sirna Kolrami."
Dorothy stood beside Riker at the transporter pad as Kolrami was beamed aboard. The Zakdorn were a humanoid race with distinctive facial grooves and flappy cheeks.
"Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Mr. Kolrami." Riker greeted. "I'm Commander William Riker, and this is our science officer Lieutenant Dorothy Brahms."
Kolrami stepped off the pad full of energy, shaking each of their hands in turn. "I bring warm greetings from Starfleet command, Commander Riker. And you Lieutenant, you're larger than from when I last saw you. Prettier too."
"Well, sir." Dorothy blushed, charmed right down to her toes. She did not miss Riker's amused smirk but ignored it for the moment. "Mr. Kolrami was one of my instructors at Utopia Planetia." She whispered.
They led him to the captain who was equally pleased to greet the Zakdorn. "Would you care to be shown to your quarters?" Picard asked.
"I require little rest, captain." Kolrami replied. "I prefer that we commence with our mission." He found a chair to sit in at the table and Picard and the others followed suit.
"The Braslota system. In orbit around the second planet is the 80-year-old Starcruiser Hathaway. You will have 48 hours, Commander Riker, to prepare your vessel before the Enterprise attacks." Kolrami explained.
"And we'll experience full battle conditions?" Riker asked.
"Correct."
"Mr. Kolrami," Dorothy cut in. "Just how do you intent to simulate battle conditions aboard this ship?"
"An excellent question Lieutenant. As I recall, you were always the first to speak your curiosities. It's one of the things that made you an exceptional student." Kolrami said. "Now why don't you live up to that reputation and see if you can answer it for yourself."
Dorothy leaned back and considered. "A modified laser pulse beam in place of standard weapons and simulation circuits to record hits?" She asked.
"Correct!" Kolrami looked pleased as he walked the room. "Ten points to the Galaxy team." He exclaimed and Dorothy blushed.
"As I recall, these simulation circuits are supposed to reflect every possible effect of battle." Picard said. "Does that include injury to the Lieutenant as well?"
Kolrami was quick to reply. "The system is meant to distort the link, but the effect is different with each ship." He explained.
"Dorothy?" Picard and Riker looked at her.
It was a mark of how far the Federation had come and how strong Picard's own morals were that they were even considering her perspective on this. Once, no human would have asked this question of his ship.
"I think it's worth the risk, sir." She replied. "The training opportunity is one we can't afford to pass up."
Riker and Kolrami left leaving Picard and Dorothy alone. "Something troubles you, Lieutenant." He said.
"Yes, sir." She sighed. "Heather is aConstellation-class cruiser. In every conceivable way, I outclass her. I don't mind a bit of shooting practice, but this isn't a fair fight. If I am going to engage in worthwhile combat training, then I should at least have an opponent that I'm not going to walk over."
"Your concerns are the same that I brought to Starfleet command." Picard replied. "What is the use in training if the opponent isn't ready?"
"And here I thought you preferred to avoid a fight, sir." Dorothy smirked as they walked out.
"I will choose diplomacy over combat any day, Dorothy. But I understand the necessity of war. These are far from settled times for the Federation and we all could use some sharpening of our skills." Picard said.
Riker was given his choice, minus Data and Dorothy for obvious reasons, of 40 of the Enterprise's crew. Arriving in orbit, the first look at the Hathaway was not encouraging. Dorothy pursed her lips as she gave the starship on her viewscreen a once 'sage was one thing, but her condition was another. She had no warp capabilities, minimal armaments and even if she could go to warp, the Enterprise was more than capable of outmaneuvering her. Riker said it best when he told Picard he believed he was going to get his ass kicked.
When Riker beamed over to his new command, he was met by her personification, Captain Heather Harriman. "Welcome aboard sir." She greeted him cordially. She was a head and a half shorter than Dorothy's towering height and had blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her eyes were hazel-green and despite a few age lines crossing her face, like all kanmusu she was blessed with ethereal beauty.
"Captain Harriman." Riker greeted, a smile appearing on his bearded face.
"Just Heather if you please." She replied. "I don't stand on formality. The ship is yours, captain."
Riker followed her out of the transporter room and to the bridge. "I must admit, you are not what I expected." He said.
"Oh, used to the stuffiness of more modern ships I see?" Heather grinned. "Dorothy's a good girl but sometimes she forgets she can relax."
"You know Dorothy?" Riker asked.
"Mmm, I was attached to Sol Sector when they built theEnterprise. As a cadet, Dorothy was an excellent student. She was always very punctual and never causing trouble despite Irene's best efforts to get her into some." Heather shook her head as she recalled the Ship Academy's most experienced instructor. Age had not dampened Irene Franklin's tendency to soak her lectures on "Cultural Engagements" in a good helping of alcohol and weed with a chunk of old-fashioned swearing on the side, just for good measure. Once a battleship, always a battleship.
Heather sighed. "She never spoke about it, but I think that on some level, being the nextEnterprisegot to her. She felt she had to be a step above everyone else, be different, isolated."
"The Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation." Riker reminded her. "And I have never seen her that way."
"Then perhaps you have succeeded where I failed, Commander." Heather replied.
The bridge was in a right state. Oh, it wasn't the worst Riker had ever seen but it certainly wasn't the cleanest either. Granted, Hathaway was an old ship, one of the oldest still in service. Only the first phase Excelsior's were older and even then just by a few years.
"A bit different than what you're used to, Commander?" Heather asked.
"Just a bit." Riker replied as he looked around.
La Forge had made his way to engineering and it was with a welcome jolt that the Hathaway's systems came to life. "That engineer of yours is a miracle worker." Heather said.
"He's certainly the best I've seen." Riker replied. He paused and Heather felt she knew precisely what the issue was.
"Commander, don't feel uncomfortable giving me orders." She said. "You are the captain, I am your ship."
"I must admit, it is unusual to have a ship who outranks me." He said.
"Where do you want me, sir?" She asked.
"I'm sure Lieutenant Worf would appreciate some help at tactical." He replied.
"Yes sir!" Heather made her way over the Klingon and proceeded to give him a crash course in knowledge of her 80-year-old systems.
With Lieutenant Worf over onHathaway, the position of tactical fell to Dorothy but she was keen to get some hands-on practice with her own weapons.
"Set course 223-mark 357 full impulse power." Picard ordered. "Initiate Kumeh maneuver." His choice to start with such a recognizable move was somewhat surprising but equally interesting as she knew he had something unconventional in mind.
"Kumeh maneuver?" La Forge asked. "Why would he start off with such a recognizable ploy?"
"He's teasing. He wants us to engage him with our tactics on his terms." Riker replied. "Miss Harriman?"
It took some convincing for Riker to stop calling her captain and Heather had compromised with the use of her given name. "Counter with the Talupian maneuver on instrument sighting." She said.
"Make is so. Mr. Worf, prepare your little surprise." Riker said and Heather grinned.
"Dorothy is not going to like this." She chuckled.
"Course 317-mark 73, present minimal aspect. Warp 1, prepare optimal spread of simulated torpedoes." Picard ordered.
Dorothy had her eyes locked on her displays and was the first to see the newcomer. "Captain, Romulan warship approaching fast from astern!" She exclaimed.
Picard was surprised but he acted instantly. "Bring us about Ensign, maximum shields!" He ordered the helm. As soon as the Enterprise came about, it happened. The beeps confirmed hits by the Hathaway.
Dorothy staggered under the simulated impacts, her link in full affect. She suffered bruising to her lower back and cuts to both her arms that even though they healed instantly, hurt like a bitch. "That was a dirty trick!" She growled.
"Warp 3, evasive. Disengage weapons and shields, reengage modified beam." Picard ordered as he returned to his chair. He tilted his head back to look at his tactical officer. "You alright Dorothy?" He asked.
"The link was unaffected by the simulation circuits, but none of the inflected wounds lasted longer than a few seconds." She replied.
"He's quite good." Kolrami said.
"He's the best." Picard replied as he refocused. Dorothy was inclined to agree. "Attack posture, circumvental attitude. Prepare beams for photon mode."
Dorothy grinned as she punched in the numbers. "Bye bye Hathaway." She sang quietly. That really was a dirty trick, one she intended to make Heather pay for.
"Computers report heavy damage to the Enterprise." Heather reported.
"They're moving off, sir. Why not go after them?" Wesley asked.
"Because they're not through coming after us." Riker replied.
"Our little trick pissed Dorothy off enough that she's going to try for an attack run at warp. She'll drop to impulse at the last second and fire a spread." Heather said, then chuckled. "I always wondered what she'd be like when she lost her temper."
Riker smiled as well. "Looks like we're all about to find out but we aren't finished yet. Wesley, Geordi prepare to warp jump!"
"There are no guarantees sir." La Forge replied as he came down the steps next to him.
"Miss Harriman?" Riker asked.
"Try it sir." She replied. "At best, it'll buy us a few more minutes."
When the Ferengi warship appeared, Dorothy heavily debated reporting it because she assumed it was just another of Worf's simulations. She eventually did say something and was very quickly woken out of her belief that it was part of the simulation when the bridge shook and the lights flickered. More wounds appeared, these on her back and they stung.
"Divert all power to shields!" Picard ordered. "Prepare to fire phasers on my mark."
But Dorothy knew what he didn't. "We can't sir. The circuits have fused." She cried.
The bridge shook again and this time a rather large cut appeared on her left arm. The shaking was intense enough to throw her against the consol. A grunt escaped her tight control but she ignored the blood now running down her arm in favor of trying to find a workaround to this problem. She needed to find a means to fire back.
"Sir, that's no ghost attacking the Enterprise, that's real!" Heather exclaimed.
"We must assist sir." Worf said.
"With what? We have no offensive weapons." Riker replied. His voice was calm, but Heather could see his frustration.
She looked at the viewscreen which had a clear display of both the Enterprise and the Ferengi vessel. The Federation flagship had positioned herself between the attacker and her fleet mate but she wasn't returning fire. Heather, a veteran of these types of games, feared she knew why. She winced as another volley from the Ferengi lit up Enterprise's shields which weakened significantly under the onslaught. "Hang in there, Dorothy." She thought.
"Captain, you must retreat!" Kolrami exclaimed.
Dorothy did not care if the man's exclamation was meant for Picard, she had seen and heard enough of him. He'd insulted Data, belittled Riker, questioned Picard, and made more than a few passing remarks at her own intelligence. And now, with her most trusted officers stuck aboard another starship that couldn't defend herself, she had reached the end of her patience.
"Out of the question!" She snapped. "Hathaway can't defend herself and we are not going to leave her for these pirates to scavenge! Clearly, they were attracted here by this little war game of ours. Now, I respect your expertise, but this is no longer a simulation this is real. So, I highly suggest you take a step back and leave this to those clearly more capable than yourself!"
When she wasn't reprimanded, Dorothy knew that Picard approved of her act even as Kolrami stormed off the bridge in a tizzy. If Pulaski had also been up here, she had no doubt the good doctor would be clapping. As it was, she was sure she heard some whistles of approval all the way down in sickbay. That man's ego taken care of, Dorothy turned back to her station. "Orders captain?" She asked.
"Keep searching for a workaround, Dorothy." Picard ordered.
"Aye sir." She replied, staying focused on her task. Even when Picard hailed the Ferengi and engaged in a quick conversation with the other captain, she didn't divert from her task.
"Lieutenant." Picard's gentle tone got her attention.
"Yes sir. I think I have a workaround sir." She replied.
"Can you signal the Hathaway without the Ferengi noticing?" He asked.
"In theory, I could send a message through one of the warp nacelles, sir." She replied. "By adjusting the circuits slightly, I can create a blinking effect. In essence, an old style Morse code."
"Make it so."
Riker was growing more impatient by the minute. Clearly whatever Picard was doing wasn't working as the Ferengi hadn't budged an inch from their position. Granted, neither had his commanding officer. It was a standoff and just when Riker was seriously considering using Hathaway's warp jump capability to break said standoff, Heather interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, the Enterprise's starboard nacelle, it's blinking!" She exclaimed.
Riker looked and sure enough it was. But this was not the typical display of damage. As he watched, he recognized some kind of pattern. "Analyze!" He ordered. "It looks like a signal of some sort."
"It is sir. Morse code. I remember it from my own time at the Academy." Heather replied. "Irene insisted we learn it. She always said it might come in handy one day. Never thought the old drunken hag would be proven right."
Riker chuckled. "And clearly she was but we must also thank Dorothy for being such a diligent student." He said.
Heather quickly pressed a few buttons and responded in kind withHathaway'srunning lights. A minute went by and again, the nacelle flickered out a message that left Heather stunned but also impressed with Dorothy's strategic prowess.
"Can you translate?" He asked. Heather did and both were very surprised and what Dorothy was telling them to do.
Dorothy had the coordinates locked in and ready for the photon torpedoes and she was grinning as Picard hailed the Ferengi. "Have you made up your mind, Enterprise?"
"We have, yes." Picard replied. "You believe the Hathaway has value? We deny you, your prize! Now Lieutenant Brahms, fire!"
Dorothy hit the appropriate command and closed her eyes, praying that Heather had gotten her message. If not, she would have killed 40 of her own crew and a member of her fleet. The torpedoes detonated and theHathawaydisappeared. Dorothy swore she'd gnawed off all her fingernails in the weight but at last it was with great relief that she heard the Ferengi captain exclaim another starship was coming in, part of Worf's rouse that he worked so well on her during the war game.
"Still in one piece Heather?" She asked.
"Still in one piece, Dorothy. Although I would appreciate a tow." Heather replied.
"Coming right up!"
As the Enterprise towed the Hathaway to the nearest Starbase, the two kanmusu took the opportunity to catch up. They sat in Ten Forward, sharing a bottle of whiskey between them.
"I hear you put down a certain Zakdorn." Heather said.
"He had it coming." Dorothy replied. "His ego needed readjusting."
"More like deflating. And don't tell me you didn't enjoy doing it." Heather said.
Dorothy sighed. "I will admit, I found the event somewhat satisfying." She admitted. "So how was it, getting warp travel back?"
Heather chuckled, taking a sip off her glass. "You have a brilliant first officer and an even greater engineer. Perhaps the best Starfleet has ever seen next to Montgomery Scott."
Dorothy was pretty sure La Forge would have blushed bright red if he heard Heather's comment. Fortunately for him, he and the rest of the bridge staff were busy watching Data and Kolrami engage in a game of Strategema. The android was giving as good as he got and Dorothy noted his strategy was not one of offense but strictly defense. The game continued for several minutes before Kolrami stood up in disgust and walked away.
"Now that is a sight I find most enjoyable!" Heather said.
Dorothy sighed and rolled her eyes at the other starship's unprofessionalism, but she was inclined to agree.