Star Trek Crystalis: Retribution

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**For those of you not aware, similar to how Star Trek Cathexis focuses on Captain Katharynn Reid, and Eve Eden, Star Trek Crystalis typically focuses on Admiral Laurent Van den Hause, who is often part of both, not just Crystalis, storylines.
While Kat is working on a new Cathexis story, she has decided that my input in regards to incorporating Laurent Van den Hause is not... quite what her story needs, and I respect that. However, the storyline that I came up with is at least partly associated with, but should not be taken as part of, that storyline.**

Chapter 0 One year ago

Admiral Grace Nicholson wasn't pleased. At all. But then, she, and Admiral Whittenhouse, were sitting in an extremely unwelcome position.
And this damn Naian Admiral was nearly impossible to read, from her point of view. Partly because his biology was so alien, and partly because his psychology was not.
"What... exactly... is this?" Admiral Van den Hause demanded.
Admiral Nicholson's eyebrow rose. Was it possible that the Admiral didn't read english? Or was he implying something else.
Deciding to clarify, she frowned.
"It's the last known report of what the USS Cathexis was doing." She said, in a sharp voice.
"I KNOW THAT'S WHAT IT IS. What I'm ASKING is what is this, in regards to a plan of action, you stupid twit." Admiral Van den Hause exclaimed, clarifying his side of the situation.
Whittenhouse shook his head.
"Well, Laurent, I am afraid that this is a little out of my territory. However, Admiral Nicholson, I warn you that you are in dangerous territory here." Whittenhouse said softly.
Grace knew that Whittenhouse had no idea what she was about to say. And she was annoyed that such a man would give her advice.
She decided to say so.
"Admiral Whittenhouse, as director of Starfleet Medical, your' advice here is pointless, so please keep any unintelligent little side-notes to yourself. And as to you, Admiral Van den Hause..." Grace started.

Whittenhouse immediately noted the biological changes in Admiral Van den Hause. Contrary to popular belief, Naians were easier to read than humans, if you knew how. Naian emotions tended to be reflected in the color of the 'shimmer' of their' metallic colored skin. Laurent's had turned a soft aquatic color, indicating that he was excessively annoyed. Likely with this new Commander and Chief woman, who enjoyed being excessively condescending.
"Ah... Admiral Nicholson... perhaps you should... be a little more polite?" Whittenhouse asked.
Unlike Grace Nicholson, who was a ripe old 35, Whittenhouse was 73, and Van den Hause was nearly 90. However, it was apparent to Whittenhouse, that age held no respect in this matter.

"Shut up. Since Whittenhouse seems insistent on interrupting, I'm going to come straight to the point. There is no plan of action, in regards to the USS Cathexis, because frankly, we have better things to worry about." Grace Nicholson said sharply.

Admiral Van den Hause had decided that this woman, C&C or no, had crossed one too many lines.
However he wasn't really in a thinking mindset. At his age he decided, he'd damn well let his temper get the best of him.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, NOTHING? HOW CAN SHE NOT MATTER TO STARFLEET?" Van den Hause yelled.

Grace Nicholson was taken severely aback by this. She was left speechless, and had no clue what to say.

Whittenhouse silently slipped a folder marked 'Personnel: Admiral Van den Hause' across the table to her, and smiled.

"As I said before," Grace said, not bothering to read the file name, or it's contents, "The USS Cathexis, and Captain Reid, are not relevant. We don't have time to go hunt down aging ships, and Captains, when the damned Romulans are planning, and implementing, such daring raids on our' frontier worlds."

Whittenhouse shook his head. Sitting on the top sheet of that file, was a psyche report on Admiral Van den Hause, warning against exactly such phrases. He simply sat back, well out of the way. He decided it was time for this stuck up little... female dog... to enjoy some fireworks.

"HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE, BABBLING THAT CRAP! IF IT WERE NOT FOR CAPTAIN REID UNCOVERING THE HOST OF MALCONTENTS IN STARFLEET ADMIRALTY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE YOUR BLOODY JOB!" Van den Hause yelled, his fists leaving indents in the PADD's touch screen.

Admiral Nicholson frowned.
"How dare YOU state that one ship, or more specifically one WOMAN is more important than a Romulan invasion?" Nicholson demanded.

Whittenhouse had decided that as Nicholson hadn't bothered to read up on Van den hause, it was likely she hadn't read up on the Naians, either. Which was interesting, considering the increasing possibility of war with them, after Admiral Van den Hause, and Captain Reid had kept it at bay, and had saved Starfleet's C&C at the time, from a rather embarassing event. It was plainly evident that the woman did not realize that arguing about a Naian's Tr-lithra, or "forever love" was not a good idea in Earth gravity. As Naia was a Four-G planet. Whittenhouse was not left unimpressed, when Van den Hause finally let loose his temper.

Admiral Van den Hause glowered.
"HOW DARE YOU? Do you not know how important she is to me? Do you not care about how you inform people? Do you not even bother to READ files that people put on your' desk? Are you TRUELY that ignorant?" Van den Hause demanded. The PADD was now in two pieces, however it was apparent neither of the other admirals had noticed this yet.

Grace Nicholson laughed.
"She doesn't matter. You don't matter. Even Admiral Gramps, here, doesn't matter. You are all OLD material. Inconsequential. I was actually looking forward to replacing you as InOps section chief next fall, but I may have to do it sooner." She said, taunting him.

Van den Hause glowered.
"You won't be the one doing it. And it won't happen quite the way you think, either." Van den Hause growled.
"Oh? Really?" Grace Nicholson asked, standing up from the table.
"Really." Van den Hause replied.
He whiped the two pieces of the PADD across the table at what would be recorded, in Earth Gravity, at Mach 7.
One piece missed her altogether, and imbedded itself in the replicator behind her. The Replicator exploded, flying pieces of it out, striking Grace Nicholson in the back.
Those pieces, she could have continued functioning normally with, however, it was the second piece of the PADD, which struck her fore-head, at Mach 7, causing severe brain damage, that left her permanently physically, and mentally, disabled.
Whittenhouse simply shook his head.
"Indeed. Not the way she thought." Whittenhouse muttered.
Van den Hause looked at him, and nodded.
"Admiral Van den Hause, I hereby place you under arrest for Assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious bodily harm." Admiral Whittenhouse said, in an authoritative voice.
A security team came in, phasers pointed at Admiral Van den Hause.
"And may the powers that be have mercy on your' soul." Whittenhouse said, in a much quieter voice.
"They usually do." Laurent replied, as he was escorted out of the briefing room of Starbase 51.

Chapter 1 - Heroes on trial
Van den Hause sat there, in the prison cell, orbiting earth. It was one of four such facilities, which, unlike the Penal Colony in New Zealand, was designed for serious offenders.
The facility was laid out in a spider-web formation, which had no windows, or air-locks. There was not even a transporter platform. The doors were made out of nine-inch thick Duranium, and the only way on, or off of "Starbase Alcatraz" was by a transporter beam, controlled by Starbase 1, nearly half a million kilometres away.
Sitting across from Admiral Van den Hause was a petite Orion woman, who, oddly enough, wore a Starfleet uniform. Although the rank pips, and comm-badge were not present, as typical with any other prisoner.
"Go fish." The woman said softly.
Admiral Van den Hause laughed.
"I wish we had such abilities, either to actually GO fishing, or to at least play the card game." He said, in between laughter.
Van den Hause found it slightly amusing that, despite being cell-mates for nearly a week, this was the first thing either had said to each other.
"What are you in for?" She asked him.
"Assault with a deadly weapon, Assault on a commanding officer, and contempt of court. Seems that most judges are completely immune to sarcasm." Van den Hause said, smiling. "And you?"
She frowned.
"A murder I am not guilty of. Are you guilty?" She asked back.
He frowned.
"Assault on a commanding officer, and contempt of court, most likely, but is a PADD REALLY a deadly weapon?" He asked.
The woman looked thoughtful. It was a strange thing to see on the face of a being, who's female population usually only had one use. It made Van den Hause realize exactly how many stereotypes there were of people, and aliens. Like Naia, Orion was a much more gravity-rich planet than Earth, and so it was not surprising to see an Orion, or a Naian, in a penal center, such as this. Why endanger guards' lives, when there are easier ways of containing 'dangerous' people?
He frowned.
"Who do they claim you killed?" He asked.
"Some scientist. I think he was working on some new kind of propulsion. I really don't know. I was just one of the two security guards guarding him." She replied.
"Do they have any conclusive evidence?" He asked.
She shook her head.
"Do you have a lawyer?" He asked.
Again, she shook her head.
Laurent handed her a business card.
She looked at it.
"He's an Admiral." She said, frowning.
"He's not just ANY Admiral. He's Admiral Backhouse, director of Criminal Investigations at Starfleet Headquarters. He also owes me a few favors. I'll be sure to mention you to him, when I see him in court in a few minutes." Van den Hause said, with a smile.
"He owes you a few?" She asked.
"Well... he owes my adopted mother a few... million... favors. He passed on the 'line of credit' to me, when she died." Van den Hause said, frowning.
"Your' mom... she's dead?" The Orion woman asked.
"Both my adopted mother, Captain Lauren Van den Hause, and my actual mother, who's name doesn't make any sense what-so-ever in English, are both deceased. Yes. For about 50 years now." Laurent said softly.
"Must be lonely." She commented.
"Only for the past year." Van den Hause said, thinking about the Cathexis, and Captain Reid.
"Wait... Captain Lauren Van den Hause... hold up... you... you are Admiral Van den Hause? Like... the guy who helped Captain Reid end that Naian war? The guy who fixed 19 seperate temporal incidents that either your' mother, or Captain Reid, or Admiral Morrow, the Ex-Commander and Chief started? One of the primary members of the crew who took down that cabal of rogue officers a few years ago, when they tried to over-throw the federation? And they locked you away as a criminal? What the hell did you do?" The woman asked.
Van den Hause shrugged.
"I imbedded a PADD into the forehead of the Commander and Chief of Starfleet at mach 7." Van den Hause said, frowning.
"Oh... I suppose that would do it." She said, staring at him.
"Humans are much too frail." Van den Hause said, as a tingling sensation began to over-take him.
"Indeed." She replied.
"What is your' name?" Van den Hause asked.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade Castoria, sir." She replied, without thinking.
Van den Hause nodded. And the Transporter beam over-took him.

Starfleet Judicial Court, San Antonio, Earth.
Judge Clarice Mathers was not impressed.
The defendant's name was one she had heard several times before.
This time around, he managed to collect only one contempt of court charge.
"Admiral Laurent Van den Hause, please rise." She demanded.
"I think I'll remain sitting, thanks. My leg muscles atrophied during the time I spent in Starfleet's roomy 'accomadations' for me." Van den Hause replied.
"Admiral Van den Hause, I, and every other member of this court are all well aware that your' sarcasm muscle is working perfectly. If you do not stand, I will have members of the court lift you to your' feet." Clarice retorted.

Van den Hause shrugged, and stood up, taking the time to stretch and yawn, garnering further frowns from the Judge.
He had done it on purpose, of course.
"You have been charged with Assault with a deadly weapon, Assault on a commanding officer, and Contempt of court. Your' lawyer, who, by the way, is the only reason, you are getting off so easy, has successfully proven that a PADD is not considered a deadly weapon, and thus, this charge, you are found not guilty of. However, before I read the remaining findings, and their' punishments, is there anything you want to say to Admiral Nicholson?" The judge asked him.
His lawyer frowned.
"Don't do it, Laurent." He muttered.
"You are a back-stabbing prostitute from Rigel, who deserves everything she got." Van den Hause said in the strange binary-sounding language of the Naian people, but said nothing in English.
"What was that?" The Judge asked.
"Ask someone to translate it for her later, let's get on with it." Admiral Backhouse said, frowning in disapproval at Laurent. Admiral Backhouse, unlike the Judge, or Admiral Nicholson, understood Naian perfectly.
"Admiral Van den Hause, you have repeatedly made fun of this court. As such, you were barred for much of the proceedings. However, in your' absence, your' lawyer has made a very decent defence. Are you ready to hear your' fate?" She asked.
"Can you make it sound cornier? Like... sort of dramatic?" Van den Hause asked.
Backhouse shook his head.
"Very well then. Admiral Van den Hause, on the charge of Assault on a commanding officer, you are sentenced to time already served, and a demotion in rank to Captain. On the charge of contempt of court, provided I never see your' face again, I say GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COURT ROOM." She exclaimed.
There was a large amount of laughter, and cheering from much of the court's audience. This only increased when Van den Hause frowned.
"Never see my face again? And here I thought I was going to ask you out to dinner sometime." Van den Hause said.
"GET. Out. of. My. Court." the Judge said slowly, between breaths.
"So that's a no?" He asked.
"NOW!" She yelled.
He didn't argue the point, and simply shrugged, turning to leave.
Admiral Backhouse laughed.
"Not bad, Laurent. But you didn't flex your' sarcasm muscles enough. You probably could have wooed her with a few more witty remarks." The Admiral said, with a laugh.
Van den Hause laughed, and shrugged.
"Oh... Johnny, could you do me a favor?" He asked.
Backhouse frowned.
"Could you represent someone for me?" He asked.
Backhouse smiled.
"Trying to impress a chick, by getting her off the hook?" Backhouse asked.
"Look, Johnny, I know I've done that before, with Captain Reid, but this is different. They arrested some poor Orion Security officer for murdering a scientist. And she didn't even do it." Van den Hause said softly.
"Orion security officer? Can't be a chick then. What's his name?" Backhouse asked.
Laurent shook his head.
"Castoria. Lt. JG Castoria." Van den Hause replied.
"I'll look into it." Backhouse said, as he left Van den Hause's side.
Van den Hause laughed. For not the first time, since meeting Johnathon Backhouse, he had pulled a practical joke on his friend.
He knew Backhouse would get back at him for it sometime.
"Captain Van den Hause, over here please." A commanding voice said over the crowd.
"Yes Admiral, what can I do for you?" Van den Hause asked.
"Well, Captain, for starters, you can report to your' new command, the USS Uniden, and you can treat me to a drink in your' new ready room, while you tell me how the hell you got away with making that Nicholson wench no longer the Commander and Chief, and I can tell you about your' first mission. Fair enough?" The Admiral asked.
Van den Hause smiled.
"Certainly Admiral."

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Chapter 2 - Space. The well-known frontier. These are the voyages of the pathetic science ship Uniden, as it flies sarcasticly into...wait... haven't I heard this before somewhere?
USS Uniden, Captain's Quarters

Captain Van den Hause materialized in his Ready-room, next to the Admiral.
"I'm afraid, Captain, you won't be going out just yet. You have a week or so, for them to finish rebuilding your' ship's warp drive. Seems that the test-drive didn't go so well." The Admiral said.
"Indeed, Admiral. What can I get for you?" Van den Hause asked.
"Rum. Hard plain boring Rum." The Admiral said.
"One extra-tall glass of Orange Juice, and a bottle of Bacardi." Van den Hause instructed the Replicator.
"Syntax error. Glasses come in either 'small', 'medium', or 'large'. Menu Item error. Substance 'Bacardi' not recognized." The Replicator responded.
"You son of a... " Van den Hause started.
The Admiral smiled.
"Computer, one 84 oz glass of orange juice, and one 84 oz glass of unflavored, unadulterated rum." The admiral instructed.
Two glasses appeared. One orange, one clear.
"I'm getting that thing fixed." Van den Hause said softly.
"Actually, it's to Starfleet code." The Admiral replied.
"Indeed, I suppose it is." Laurent commented.
"So... that stint with Admiral Nicholson?" The Admiral asked.
Laurent sipped the orange juice, and choked.
"This... is SWEET. Who the hell put sweetners in Orange Juice?" Laurent yelled.
The Admiral frowned.
"You are used to unsweetened drinks?" The Admiral asked.
"Unlike human biologies, Andorian, Vulcan, and Naian physiologies interpret most forms of non-natural, refined sugar, as alcoholic." Laurent said, spitting out orange juice into a tacky little fern sitting next to his desk.
"I see. Well... anyways, skipping the whole Nicholson incident, I am Admiral Montage, your' ship's director, and as a shake-down cruise, I'm sending you on a charting mission." Montage said softly.
"Montage... any relation to Alexis Montage?" Van den Hause asked, frowning.
"Aunt. Not the point. Your' mission sends you to a newly accessible portion of the Gamma Quadrant, on a charting mission. We've got some intel that apparently the Dominion refer to the sector, and much of the area behind it, as an almost religiously evil area, and we've lost two ships already in charting... The USS Intrepid, and- " Montage started.
Van den Hause noted the co-ordinates.
"The USS Cathexis." Laurent finished before Montage could finish the sentence.
"Yes. It shouldn't take long. You are only cataloging three quadrants. That's all your' ship really has the power for." Montage said softly.
Laurent nodded.
"I'm a bit of an expert on Naian physiology, and heritage, so I am, actually, aware of the oddness of Naian diets, and nuances. Who the heck thought of having Titanium as a primary blood component... but then again, someone probably said the same thing about iron, copper, and cobalt based blood, but I am also aware of the color changing skin auras. Typically a green color like that means you are lost in contemplation... what's up?" Montage asked.
Laurent raised an eyebrow. A little thing he had picked up from his adopted mother, and frowned.
"The Cathexis... what if we find it out there?" Laurent asked.
"Rescue it, bring it back. If you find any starfleet vessels in need of rescuing, the over-ridding rule of any ship in that area is to return it safely home." Admiral Montage said.
"Alright." Laurent said softly.
"At any rate, I have a briefing in 20 minutes, so if you'll pardon me..." Montage said softly.
Laurent nodded.
The Admiral tapped his comm-badge, and shimmered away.
Laurent stared into the spoiled-sweetened orange juice, and sighed.

Starfleet Judicial Court, Starbase 1, Earth Orbit
Judge Janet Walsh was impressed.
This lawyer apparently knew his stuff, and the woman he was defending, also appeared to be actually innocent. However, she could sense that they both had someone out there, serving the stars, that they were worried about.
She looked over the last of the evidence reviews, and frowned.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade Castoria, please rise." The Judge instructed.
The Orion woman nodded, and stood up.
"I have no idea what the investigating officer was thinking, when he arrested you, however, I am very glad that Admiral Backhouse brought conflicting evidence, and possible other suspects to the investigating officer's attention. The fact that another officer is now implicated by the chief of Investigative Services, who also happens to be your' lawyer ALSO lends credit to the fact that you are innocent. And I would like to express my gratitude to whatever stellar force brought him to represent you." The Judge said softly.
Admiral Backhouse smiled.
"It was not a stellar force, your' honor. Simply a man named Laurent Van den Hause." Castoria said softly.
"Indeed? Well he is to be praised then, for being so helpful in this case." The Judge replied.
Castoria burst out laughing, and Admiral Backhouse merely shook his head.
"What is so amusing, Lieutenant?" The Judge asked.
Admiral Backhouse smiled.
"Your' honor, Admiral Laurent Van den Hause was recently demoted, for assault on a superior officer." Admiral Backhouse said softly.
The Judge raised her eyebrows.
"They only demoted him?" She asked.
Admiral Backhouse nodded.
"Two reasons. One, the man is rather... abrassive, and two, I was representing him." Admiral Backhouse said, in reply.
"Oh... and he was found guilty of assaulting that Admiral Nicholson lady." Castoria pointed out.
"Oh! THAT Admiral Van den Hause. I thought somebody gave him a medal for it, and then let him retire on a moon somewhere. I hadn't realized they actually charged him with a CRIME." The Judge said.
"I'll be glad to tell him that. Although, I hear that's a common sentiment." Admiral Backhouse noted.
"Well, whatever that may be, I find your' client not guilty. And I hope that wherever it is she is sent, that she can do as much good for that place, as you have done for her, Admiral Backhouse." The Judge said softly.
Admiral Backhouse smiled.
"I'll see what I can arrange." He said with a nod.

USS Uniden, 1 week later.
Captain Van den Hause had finally gotten used to the literal-minded computer system, and the literal-minded crew.
What he couldn't get used to was the absolutely useless chief of security he had.
"Listen, lady, I haven't, nor will I, bother to learn your' name. If you don't like the fact that I put in a transfer request for you, you can shove it. I don't like having a Chief of Security that has no impulses, and no creative side. If you want to be a mindless soldier, go be someone ELSE'S mindless soldier. I need someone I can rely on, in a tactical situation, for assistance. I'm flying a science ship. Scientists suck at battle analysis." Laurent said across the desk from the woman, in his ready room.
"And I'd be happy to do that for you sir." She said.
"And yet, you haven't even won a match of chess against me, or any other crew member here. You don't even understand how the game WORKS!" Laurent yelled.
She shrugged.
"I don't see the point in pathetic board games." She replied.
"AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM GETTING AT. You can't accept a game of tactics. You won't even play it! How the hell am I supposed to rely on you, in a tactical situation, when you AVOID having to take on tactical situations!" Laurent yelled.
"Well -" She started.
"WHEN I ASK YOU RHETORICAL QUESTIONS, YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO ANSWER THEM!" Laurent yelled.
"What... exactly am I supposed to do, sir?" She asked.
Laurent narrowed his eyes at her.
"Sit there, listen to me yell, keep your' mouth shut, and at the end of my berating, you sign the transfer slip, and get the hell off my ship." Laurent instructed.
"Yes sir." She said.
"I SAID KEEP YOUR' MOUTH SHUT. NOW JUST SIGN THE DAMN THING." Laurent yelled, exasperated.
She allowed a single tear to go down her cheek, as she signed her name on the PADD, and left his ready room.
He noted that she didn't ask to be dismissed, but he frankly didn't care.
"Computer, call up a three dimensional chess board, and bring in the assistant chief of security." Laurent said, frowning.
A young man, perhaps 19, with an ensign's pip on his shoulder entered, looking weary.
"You... were her assistant chief of security?" Laurent asked.
He gulped, and nodded.
"She was the only one out-ranking ensign, sir." He said softly.
Laurent frowned.
"Do you play chess." Laurent asked him.
The man looked at the chess board, and realized he was expected to pick a color.
"White." He said softly.
Laurent nodded.

--two and a half minutes later... --
Laurent moved a rook to King's level.
"That's... check-mate." The man said, frowning.
Laurent nodded.
"At the very least, you know when you are beat." Laurent said with an exasperated sigh.
"You... have an issue with me?" The young man asked.
Laurent sighed.
"I have an issue with this SHIP. It's got the armament of a fighter, enough shielding to with-stand the explosion of a star going nova, and yet, I have no one on-board with whom I can rely upon to give me tactical data, to defend it with. I've got 27 different scientific departments, three of which, I can't pronounce the names of, 7 of which, I can't spell, I've got an engineering crew of 9, and a security crew of 11, none of either department outrank Ensign first grade, and Starfleet expects me to go out into the 'great unknown' with a ship full of ensigns." Laurent said, frowning.
"And a lieutenant junior grade." A soft, somewhat familiar voice said, as the doors to Laurent's ready-room opened.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
The ensign's attention span became so focused on the young woman, as she entered the office, that Laurent actually had to tap him on his shoulder to remind him that Laurent was in the office.
"Castoria." Laurent said softly.
The Orion woman smiled.
"Who...?" The young ensign asked.
Laurent smiled.
"Your' new Chief of Security. As requested." Castoria said with a smile, that even Laurent, had to admit, was a little on the seductive side.
"Ensign, would you mind vacating my office, please." Laurent asked.
The young man was not paying attention to him, but to the rather form-fitting uniform of his new Department Chief.
"ENSIGN." Laurent said, allowing his rather booming 'angry' voice to take hold.
The ensign snapped around to look his Captain in the face.
"Sir?" The Ensign asked.
"Please. Leave. My Office. Now." Laurent said, enunciating the entire command.
"Yes sir." The ensign said, and quickly left, while taking a close look at the 'rear view' of his new department chief.
Laurent shook his head, and motioned to the chair opposite his desk.
"Please, have a seat." Laurent said softly.
She nodded, and sat down, gracefully, in the chair.
"Lieutenant, I'm greatful that Starfleet sent me someone who actually has investigative knowledge, but I must admit to being curious, how are you at tactics?" Laurent asked.
She smiled.
"Captain Van den Hause, I did pass at the top of my class, when it came to both Security, and Starship tactics. I believe, I even beat out your' protege, although I forgot what her name was." She said, in a not-so-soft voice.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
"You beat Alexaryne in 3-D chess?" Laurent asked.
"As well as 2-D, 4-D Chess, and rocket-ball." She added.
Laurent frowned.
"Prove it." Laurent said.
"I can pull up the games. They are on my record, somewhere. Apparently they are grand-master level." She said softly.
"As I said, prove it. I play at extreme-grand master level. If you really are THAT good, let's play a game." Laurent said, pressing the 'reset' button on the board.
She looked at the color chooser, and frowned at him.
"Ladies first." Laurent said softly.
She nodded, and chose black.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.

--Two and a half hours later--
"Stalemate." The display read.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
"You know, I've never actually seen that screen before." Laurent said softly.
She laughed.
"Bridge to the Captain." A stoic-sounding voice said over the inter-comm.
"Van den Hause here." Laurent replied.
"Starbase 1 shows ready for departure. All hands on-board, sir." The voice stated.
"Very well, get us out of here. I'll get there, when I get there." Laurent said, in reply.
"Sir, regulations stipulate that the Captain must be present during any departure from a starbase, or planet-based interstellar repair center." The voice replied.
Laurent tapped his comm-badge, cutting the line.
"Well, they do." Castoria said softly.
Laurent frowned.
"Shut up."

[squiggy]

Chapter 3.0 - A warrior who fights a war he does not believe in has already lost the battle, for he has already lost the fight for his own beliefs But what if you have no beliefs? Or your' religion has ceased to exist, except in your' own mind? Then, my little friend, it's quite simple. You keep on fighting for your' beliefs. The rest of the universe be damned. -((Soj the 4th, the 9th, and the 8th, respectively.))

USS Uniden, Bridge Laurent Van den Hause, Castoria, Ensign Junior Grade T'sara

Laurent sighed, as he sat in the central seat. The bridge was so small, that the Captain's chair had the Helm attached to it. The Tactical and Ops consoles were likewise fused, the bridge had no engineering terminal, and the Science terminal was built into the rear wall between the turbolift door, and the door to the Captain's Ready Room.
"I see why you were unable to leave without me being here." Laurent noted.
"Indeed." The stoic-sounding woman said from behind his chair.
Castoria quickly took the Tactical/Ops station, and transfered sensor readings to the Captain's console.
Laurent nodded, as he noted the station had cleared them for departure.
"Clearing all moorings, preparing for 1/4 Impulse. All engines are go, All departments check in ready to go." Laurent said, mostly to himself.
"Tactical Operations checks." Castoria said softly.
"All science departments check." The Stoic-sounding woman added.
"Engineering checks." A voice from engineering said.
"Executing course a 141 mark 3, 1/4 Impulse. Engineering, please start Warp Core start-up." Laurent said, with a ship-wide open comm-link.
"Engineering checks. Warp Core is already started, Captain. All systems, except the Holodeck are go." A voice replied.
Laurent nodded, forgetting that the voice came from a comm-panel, and could not see him nod.
"Tactical Operations notes several odd disturbances to the port." Castoria said softly.
"Clarify, please." Laurent asked.
"Odd gravity readings, minor traces of Neutrinos." Castoria said softly.
"Countermand." Laurent instructed.
Castoria raised an eyebrow.
"The USS Monitor is docked at Starbase 1, with a faulty Cloaking device. Disregard readings, and continue sensor scan ahead of the ship." Laurent clarified for her.
"Tact/Ops Checks. All readings are clear." Castoria said, noting that Laurent had yet to look up from his console.
"Plotting course for Deep Space 9. All stations prepare for Warp speed." Laurent instructed.
"Tact/Ops Checks. No training drills in place, and no lectures in place." Castoria noted.
"Science Checks. All Labratories are holding any experiment on hold until we have secured Warp Speed." The Vulcan woman behind Laurent noted.
"Engineering Checks. All warp systems check out. Ready when you are, Captain." The voice from the Intercomm said.
"Roger that, all systems are go. Warp .99, Warp .999, Warp 1. Attention Starbase 1, Warp test cleared. Repeat, Warp test cleared. Preparing for standard warp cruising speed." Laurent said into the inter-comms.
"Roger that, Uniden, Starfleet checks successful transition into Cochrane-Space." came a voice from the inter-comms.
"Setting Auto-Pilot to target: Deep Space 9, Warp Factor 5, Estimated time of arrival 1.1 days." Laurent said into the Bridge log recorder.
"Auto-pilot engaged. Dis-engaging Helm activities of the Captain's Chair." The chair's screen displayed.
Laurent clicked the "Confirm" button, and got up.
"Excuse me... Lieutenant... uhm... whatever. Lieutenant, is there a mess hall aboard, and does it have a chef?" Laurent asked.
The Vulcan turned around.
"It's Lieutenant T'sara, Captain. And Yes, there is a mess hall, although it does not have a chef." T'sara replied.
Laurent sighed.
"Joy. I still have to deal with the replicator." Laurent muttered.
"Or you could cook something yourself." Castoria said teasingly.
"Or YOU could." Laurent retorted.
"You wish." Castoria said, as Laurent stepped into the turbo-lift.

Mess-Hall
Laurent sighed, as he looked around.
There was a small bar, which held a small element, a similarily sized oven, a refridgerator, and a rather dismal looking alcohol cabinet behind it.
Laurent stared at it, blankly.
A kitchen, without a Chef.
It seemed wrong.
Sitting next to the bar was a replicator.
As Laurent opened the Refridgerator, he noted that there was nothing in it. He sighed.
"Computer... refresh my memory, how many personnel are on-board?" Laurent asked.
"According to Personnel log, there are 199 people on-board. In addition, there are several medical experiment animals, and an unknown entity aboard." The system said.
"Including the unknown entity, how many people are aboard?" Laurent asked, now confused.
"199." The computer replied.
"Check that computer, where is the unknown entity?" Laurent asked.
"The Mess Hall." The Computer replied.
"Computer... there is no one else in the mess hall but me." Laurent replied.
"Correct. Unknown entity is estimated to 99.9% probable to be Captain Laurent Van den Hause, as Naian physiology does not show up properly in life scans/photographs." The Computer clarified.
Laurent sighed.
An engineering ensign entered, and noted the strange shimmering person behind the counter. She frowned, and walked up to the counter.
"What's on the menu, chef?" She asked.
Laurent said nothing, as he looked through the refridgerator.
"Try the replicator. We need to buy some supplies." Laurent muttered.
"Maybe you should talk to the Captain about that. That's supposed to be his department. I'd complain if I were you. Somebody upstairs is not doing their' job." The ensign said, sighing.
Laurent raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Lieutenant T'sara to Captain Van den Hause." A voice came from his comm-badge.
The ensign's face drained of all color.
"Van den Hause here, what do you want?" Laurent asked, laughing slightly at the look on the ensign's face.
"We're getting a news broadcast from Fleet-net. Shall I save it for you later?" the voice asked.
"File it somewhere. I don't care. Actually, as a better idea, have Castoria read it, so she can filter out the bureaucratese, and give me the two minute scoop on the twenty minute long update." Laurent said, shaking his head.
"Alright. I guess?" The voice said, clearly sounding confused at Laurent's syntax.
Laurent tapped his comm-badge, closing the channel.
"Why didn't you want the Fleet-net notification?" The ensign asked.
Laurent shrugged.
"I'm a cook, not a Captain." He said with a laugh.
"Uh... actually... you are a Captain, sir." She said softly.
"Oh right. Forgot." Laurent said, as he found a computer terminal embedded in a wall, next to the element.
He called up a few things, checking out the functionality of the terminal.
"This thing is useless." Laurent muttered.
"Uh... yes sir. It's just a Kitchen Inventory and Recipe Terminal." The ensign said softly.
"Get someone in here to get me a terminal that I can use as a replacement for the Captain's chair." Laurent instructed.
She rose an eyebrow.
"You want to command... from the kitchen?" She asked.
"Why not?" He asked softly.
"Other then about 19 regulations stipulating that the command chair must be on the bridge, I can't think of any." She said softly.
"But I don't want a command chair. I want a terminal that has Command-Chair capabilities in this Kitchen." Laurent countered.
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'll see what I can do." She said, as she left, without getting a plate of food.
Laurent smiled.
"Computer, Command over-ride. Van den Hause Alpha one Beta Reid. Over-ride this terminal to have sensor reading, and piloting access." Laurent asked.
"Command over-ride of Regulation 28199-Alpha accepted. Terminal requires Captain's personal code to access program. Code recognizes. Uplinking." The Computer replied.
The terminal blinked out, removing the list of recipes for Andorian crab-cakes, and instead, the words "Auto-pilot" were sitting on the top-half of the screen, while the bottom half displayed the sensor readings that Castoria was collecting.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
This actually had promise.
But since the Kitchen was empty, he frowned.
"Computer, end program, close connection." Laurent instructed.
"Affirmative." The Computer replied.
"I'm going to go lay down for a while..." Laurent muttered.
He would have slept, except that he couldn't fall asleep anymore.

A week later...
"Attention Captain Van den Hause, the Engineering department reports that the Kitchen renovations are complete." T'sara's voice said, apparently confused at the reference.
"Thank you, T'sara. How much longer till we reach unknown territory?" Laurent asked.
"2.9 hours, sir." T'sara's voice said again.
"Very well. Van den Hause out." Laurent said, as he left his quarters.
Walking into the turbo-lift, he noted that the machine did not ask for a level, instead the lights on the turbolift simply lit up "1", indicating he was at bridge level. It appeared that someone in the engineering department had read his psyche profile, and had removed some of the system's more irritating tendencies.
As he walked into the mess-hall, he smiled.
"Wow. It looks the same." He said to the ensign, with a laugh.
She laughed along side him.
"Computer, Activate the Holographic Command Display System." She said.
Suspended in the air, infront of the elements, were the displays of the Tactical, Ops, Science, and Captain's terminals. The controls could be controlled via touch, or by voice. As he stepped behind the counter, he noted that the machine required a finger-print ID to pass the barrier to the 'kitchen' part of the mess hall.
"The only person cleared for entry is you, sir." She said, as she watched him look at it curiously.
He nodded.
He noted that the element, stove, and fridge had a new companion. Sitting next to the element was a sink, and above the sink was a built-in helm-control console.
"Is it... to your' liking sir?" The ensign asked.
He smiled.
"My dream kitchen." He said with a laugh.
"Ah... sir, I also picked up a few supplies at Deep Space Nine... I knew you forgot, so I made sure we had them." She said.
As Laurent opened the cabinet, and fridge he raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed, you have. Ensign... what is your' name?" He asked.
"Uh... Alantra... Alantra Morrison sir." She said, clearly surprised she had impressed him.
"Who is in command of Engineering at the moment?" He asked.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade T'Rimira, sir." Ensign Morrison said.
"Mmm. Vulcan. Why are there so many Vulcans aboard?" He asked.
Ensign Morrison shrugged.
"Odd, isn't it?" He asked.
She shrugged again.
"The part I found odd, actually, sir, is that there are only 5 males, including you, aboard." Morrison noted.
"Mmm. I've met some little kid from Security. Where are the other three?" He asked.
"Uh... Science, Science, and Science. All in different varieties. And with the exception of the Andorian, they are all Vulcan." Morrison said softly.
Laurent laughed.
"So, aside from two Vulcans, an Andorian, an a 19 year old kid who'd probably crap himself if he ever met a Romulan, I'm the only male. How many humans, andorians, and other non-vulcans are aboard?" Laurent asked.
"Uh... wow. Uhm... Well... there's that Orion lady on the bridge, and there's the kid in Security... and the Andorian and science... and me... and you... and uhmmmmmm" She trailed off.
Laurent frowned.
"Computer, with the exception of Captain Van den Hause, Lt. Junior Grade Castoria, and Ensigns Alantra Morrison, and Robert Johanson, how many non-vulcans are aboard?" Laurent asked.
"Ensign Juuhma, Andorian, Linguistical Analysis, and Afredhsymna, Ornaet Polymorph, XenoPsychology." The computer replied.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't aware there were any Ornae in Starfleet." Laurent said.
Alantra looked confused.
"What is an Ornae?" She asked.
"The singular form is Oranaet, with an audible T on the end." The computer said, in clarification. "They are one of three species from 1212 Muscae IV, the most social of the three. They are essentially big amorphic blobs of undifferentiated proto-plasm, which they can mold into practically any apendage, or sensory organ that any other biological entity uses on a daily basis. Oddly enough, they are single-celled organisms, but can construct organs with multiple cells. They are capable of drawing energy from nearly any source, and require no sleep. They have a rather unique psychology, as do most polymorphs, which makes them quite suitable for xenopsychology, as their' point of view constantly changes. Would you like to hear about the other two species from 1212 Muscae IV?" The computer asked.
"That is enough, computer." Laurent said.
"Wow. A polymorph." Alantra said softly.
"Actually, based on the first contact reports, that's pretty much what they thought of us. 'wow. Someone who can't change their' form'." Laurent said in reply. He had long ago learned that humans had a strange point of view on the universe.
"Really?" Alantra asked.
Laurent nodded.
"The other two species reacted quite differently. The Lahit were rather bored with the Starfleet team, while the ;At only wanted to talk to either Captain Kirk, or Commander McCoy." Laurent clarified.
"Were the Lahit and the... uh... ;At also polymorphs?" Alantra asked.
Laurent shook his head, and laughed.
"The Lahit were moving, talking trees, and the ;At... they were just odd. They made the Guardian of Forever seem normal. Q as well, I suppose." Laurent said softly.
"The guardian of forever? Q?" Alantra asked.
"Starfleet General Order 17, Reminder, The Guardian of Forever is considered a classified subject. Starfleet Temporal Order 2, Reminder, the Guardian of Forever is considered a classified subject. Starfleet General Order 198, Reminder, Q is considered a classified subject." The Computer interjected.
Laurent sighed.
"Computer, Van den Hause one Beta Reid, over-ride." Laurent instructed.
"Command-over-ride accepted." The computer said softly.
"Alantra, sometime, on a starbase, somewhere, over dinner, I'll be glad to discuss either of those. However, you need to get back to Engineering, and I need to activate all these toys, because we're leaving known territory." Laurent instructed.
"Yes Captain." Alantra said, as she left.
Laurent sighed.
"Why does everyone have to call me Captain?" Laurent asked.
"Several hundred starfleet regulations notate that the commander of a vessel, or a person of the rank Captain must be called Captain by any member of their' crew, while that person is in comm-" The computer started.
"Computer, shut up." Laurent muttered.
"Affirmative." The computer replied.
Laurent stared at the terminal.
"Auto-pilot off-line. Engage terminal?" It asked.
Laurent pressed the confirm button.
"Computer, activate the Holographic Command Chair Interface. Vocal mode only." Laurent said.
"Activated. Re-routing Command Chair and Helm functions to Vocal receptors in the Kitchen. Activating Holographic display uplinks." The Computer said.
"Activate ship-wide intercomm." Laurent instructed.
"Channel open." The Computer instructed.
"Alright, ladies and gentleman, this is the Captain speaking. We're starting this expedition in exploration sector A, and will flow in a circular charting pattern. We will not be doing any planet-falls during this mission, and first contact procedures will not be observed. If we suspect a potential spacefairing society, we will merely note it in the star-chart. Is that clear?" The Captain asked, as he began plotting the first portion of the chart.
"Tactical Operations checks." Came Castoria's voice.
"Science departments check." Came T'sara's voice.
"Engineering checks!" Alantra's hyper-active voice added.
"Ensign, you are not in command of Engineering." Another voice countermanded.
"Check that, Engineering. Lieutenant Junior Grade T'Rimira, you are relieved of duty. Ensign Morrison, please take command of Engineering." Laurent instructed.
"On what grounds, Captain?" T'Rimira's voice asked through the comms.
"On these two simple grounds: One; I like Alantra's voice better than your's, because she actually lets emotions seep into her voice, and because I like what she did with my kitchen, and Two; because I said so." Laurent clarified.
"Captain, Need I remind you that you cannot remove a Department head from their' station just because you feel like it?" T'sara asked.
"T'sara, need I remind you that humans and Andorians, and Naians alike typically hate regulations stipulating what they can and cannot do?" Laurent asked.
"Liking of regulations is not relevant, Captain. They are there for a reason." T'sara countered.
"Very well." Laurent said, annoyed, as he finished plotting the course on the holographic screen.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade T'Rimira, for reasons that I refuse to disclose, you are hereby removed, as Department head of Engineering, and are re-assigned to Department head of Maintenance. Ensign Alantra Morrison, you are hereby given a temporary field promotion to Lieutenant Commander, granting you Department head status of Engineering. If anyone has any issues with this, please bring it up at the briefing in one week at 09:00 hours. Ladies, please assume your' new posts. Maintenance, would you PLEASE get the holodeck running? There are several complaints that it has been neglected from several human and andorian members of the crew." Laurent said, effectively countering the argument.
He wouldn't have known how to do it, of course, except that he had library computer access, and had brought it up on a holographic screen infront of the fridge.
"Simple, yet effective." T'sara noted.
"And likely bad for morale." Another Vulcan, according to the screens, from medical, noted.
"Morale is not relevant among Vulcans." T'sara noted.
"True, however, this is showing a preference to having human department heads..." The Vulcan from medical started.
"Countermand, computer, please link T'sara, the Vulcan from medical, and I on a private link." Laurent instructed.
"Affirmative." The Computer replied.
"I do not care where you are, Vulcan woman. Where do you step off, saying I have a preference for human department heads? Need I point out that the Chief Science officer is Vulcan, and the Chief of Security is not only ORION, but an ORION FEMALE?" Laurent exclaimed, annoyed.
"I was not aware of this..." The Vulcan from medical started.
"EXACTLY. You were not aware of this. Now cram your' medical logic, and your' other logic, and your' complaints in your' gluteus maximus. I disliked the fact that Lt. T'Rimira called Lt. Commander Morrison on making a minor error on the ship-board comms, and made a ship-wide incident of it. While Vulcans do not have a sense of morale, Humans, Andorians, orions, Ornae, and Naians DO. And I don't care what YOU think about it. This was done partly because she violated several of my 'rules', but also partly because Maintenance is not a creative Engineering department, however, thinking creatively is a human art, and much of the rest of engineering may require a creative way to repair things. Do I have to make my self clearer by taking you to the exercise mats, Doctor?" Laurent asked, upon clarifying his position.
"Captain, while I admit that your' decision makes some sense, it does not follow regulations, or fairness. As to your' threat to take me to the mats, need I remind you that Vulcan is a Two-G planet, and that most humanoids cannot take Vulcans on one-to-one combat?" The Doctor asked.
"Are you so ignorant... " Laurent started, remembering a very similar conversation a year or so ago. "...That you have failed to read up on your' Captain? I'm NAIAN."
"I have, in fact, read up on your' files, however, I fail to see what being a Naian has to do with -" the vulcan started.
Laurent glowered at the display.
"T'sara, would you mind informing her on the technical specs of Naia?" Laurent asked.
"Very well, Captain. Naia is the Capital of the Naian empire, located in the Beta Quadrant. The Naians are loosely affiliated with Starfleet, and the Federation, however, the relationship is very strained, due to an event some 20 years ago, notable parts including the 'betazed massacre', in which Admiral Van den Hause's first wife was killed. Naia itself is a Vulcan/Earth cross planet, with a gravity factor of 4 earth gravities. It is well known that many Naians are capable of denting, and often actually destroying, most Earth construction metals, with relative ease, when they get annoyed. There are side notes that are in the Naian medical files, which I recommend you read, AS WELL AS the personal patient files, before you start thinking that the Captain would not be a worthy mixed martial arts opponent; indeed, I believe I would place wagers in his favor." T'sara said, abbreviating much of what was in the files.
"Now then, as I was saying, do we have to make this a physical issue, or is it good enough where it is now?" Laurent asked.
There was no sound from the medical inter-comm in question, so Laurent simply selected it, and removed it from the inter-comm connection he was using.
"Computer, switch back to all-call, excluding the comm-link in question." Laurent said.
"Affirmative." The Computer reply.
"All stations, please check in." Laurent said, hoping the personal issues were now dealt with.
"Tactical Operations checks. Proximity alert activated. Starfleet-recognized ionization trails noted approximately .9 light years off of our' course." Castoria's voice came over the intercomm.
"Computer, give me an enhanced scan of that ion trail." Laurent instructed.
"Estimating 99.75% chance that this is the ion trail of the USS Cathexis. The ship, however, is not in scanning range." The computer instructed.
"Redirect course, abandon scanning course. Follow that Ion trail." Laurent said.
"Countermand, Our' mission is to play this area of space." T'sara said.
Laurent frowned, as he thought back to the words that an Admiral had once passed down to him, when he was in the academy.

Listen, son. And Listen well. Starfleet may require you to fight a war you don't believe in. It will likely happen more than once. And if you fight it, without fighting the reason for that war, you will never win. Because a warrior who fights in a war he doesn't believe in has already lost the war. So before you make a choice that might put your' security team, or your' starship in danger, think about this moment. If you were that warrior, who had to fight a war he didn't believe in... would you do it? The voice came, unbidden from his memory.
His response came back just as clearly.
What happens, though, sir, if I choose to not have beliefs. What if I have no belief system to judge it by. What if my belief system is faulty? What if my belief system says to go do something else, when Starfleet Command tells me I have to keep on fighting?
He remembered the laugh of the old admiral clearly.
Well then, young man, you do what you need to do. Because you can't fight Starfleet's fight, when you have a battle of your' own. Just remember that Starfleet might call a court-martial, if they don't agree with your' battle.

Laurent glowered around the kitchen.
He left.
For the bridge.

Bridge
Laurent glowered, as he the turbolift doors open.
"Computer, Command over-ride Van den Hause Alpha one Beta Reid. Redirect course to follow the USS Cathexis' suspected Ionization trail. Lieutenant T'sara, you are relieved of your' post. Please restrict yourself to quarters, or I will be forced to call security." Laurent commanded.
"On what grounds?" T'sara demanded.
"Failure to follow the orders of your' commanding officer. Castoria, if you please?" Laurent asked.
"No, I will leave the bridge. However, this constitutes a mutiny against Starfleet's orders. All personnel who don't agree with what you are doing should likewise leave their' posts." T'sara said over the still-open comm-link.
"Let them." Laurent muttered.
Laurent took the center seat, as T'sara left the bridge.
"All available teams, report in." Laurent said into the inter-comm.
"Tactical Operations checks, Captain. Security is down two officers, who have voluntarily left their' posts. Actually, Captain, if I'm reading this right, only 5 of the 150+ Vulcan officers are at their' posts." Castoria said softly.
Laurent frowned.
"Engineering checks." Alantra's voice said, sounding somewhat panicked.
"Ah... Alantra, you don't have any non-vulcan section workers, do you?" Laurent asked.
"Correct Captain. And nobody is at their' posts, either." Alantra said softly.
Laurent frowned.
"XenoPsychology checks in." A strange, staticky voice came through.
"As does Linguistics." Came a somewhat-brittish sounding voice.
Laurent frowned.
"Weapons Control checks." came a vulcan sounding voice.
"Chief Medical officer T'wil reporting in, Captain." came the voice he had had an argument with just minutes ago.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
"Alright, ladies, and gentleman, and polymorphic non-gendered blob, we're running a ship which normally runs on 200 people using just... uh... let me count... that's... 3 humans... an Orion... an Andorian, an Oranet, and 5 Vulcans... that makes... 11 people?" Laurent asked.
"Correct, Captain." Castoria said softly.
"Captain... why do you need to find that ship?" Alantra's voice asked.
Laurent frowned.
"Because she'd do the same for me." Laurent said, looking into the main monitor.
"Captain... are you referring to Captain Katharynn Reid?" T'wil's voice asked.
"Yes." Laurent said.
"She was one of my inspirations to go out into space..." Alantra's voice said over the intercomm.
"The medical papers that her protege wrote on Naian physiology were fascinating. However, Alexaryne commented that without her, she wouldn't have found her path. We can't just leave her." T'wil's voice added.
"And she helped save Andor from that Naian attack!" The Andorian's voice chimed in.
"Well, you all seem excited, so I'm pulling something random from the library... here we go. Oh my... She's very attractive. Let's go!" The Amorphous blob's voice came over the inter-comm.
Laurent looked at Castoria.
"She... you... love her... don't you?" Castoria asked.
Laurent simply nodded.
"Then, in order for you to be happy... you need to find her?" Castoria asked again.
Laurent didn't understand why the questions were asked, but nodded anyways.
"Let's go find her then." Castoria said.
She was glad that the command chair did not have a view of her face, as a single tear slid down it.

USS Cathexis Unknown territory, Unknown Starbase
"This is the hewmain's command center, Sir." Came a strange, hissing voice.
Captain Reid could not see anything, as these creatures were nocturnal, and had turned the lights off.
"Ah. I see. And it is normally brightly illuminated?" Another hissing voice asked.
"Yes, Sir. Their' armaments seem seriously capable of damaging us, however their' shields did not stand up well to the plasma mortar." The first hissing voice whispered.
Captain Reid pulled at the bondages, keeping her tethered to the Command chair.
"This one is the hewmain's leader." The first voice said.
"She looks rather bland. Perhaps with some spices?" The second voice asked.
"Mmm. Perhaps. Several other crew members were rather delectable. The Andooreans, were the best tasting." The first voice noted.
Captain Reid screamed. A name. She hadn't spoken since their' divorce, several years ago.

[squiggy]

Chapter 4 - Covert Operations

USS Monitor - trailing USS Uniden on Section 31 mission.
Captain Denizen was not impressed.
As Starfleet predicted, Van den Hause had found some remainder traces of the USS Cathexis, and jetted off after it like a bat out of hell.
"Intercept course. Prepare the Uniden's command codes. Prepare to bring down all systems, and get boarding parties ready!" He yelled.

USS Uniden
Laurent had been keeping a close eye on the sensor readings.
"Castoria... do you see the odd duplicate Ion trail we seem to be leaving?" He asked.
She frowned at her station, and double-checked the systems.
"Apparently so. In addition, the other one doesn't start until approximately 30,000 KM behind us. And whenever we make sudden course adjustments, it takes a while to sync up again." She noted.
"Van den Hause to Engineering. I've got a bad feeling about this, but could you please try altering our' command codes." Laurent said into the comm-link.
"Aye Captain. Attempting command code alterations now." Came Alantra's chipper voice.
A few moments later, everything stopped.
Life Support, Warp drive, everything.
"Starfleet Section 31 Operations code violation - The USS Uniden is not permitted to alter it's command ciphers without express permission of Admiral Sanchez." Came a strange computer-voice.
Laurent frowned.
"GET IT BACK. I DON'T CARE HOW!" Laurent yelled at Castoria.
"I'm trying! We don't even have inter-ship comm-link!" She said, attempting to access her terminal.
However, like Laurent's, it simply read "Sorry. Terminal out of service."
"Damn." Laurent muttered.
And time stopped.

USS Monitor
"He suspects something!" Denizen shouted, as he noted the S31 interference of all the Uniden's systems.
"He's not completely stupid sir." One of his sub-ordinates pointed out.
"Shut up. He's dead in the water now. Prepare the boarding parties!" Denizen yelled.
And time stopped.

Nowhere, no time.
Laurent stared around the vast blackness of nothing. He had been here before. He expected to be here again.
"What is it, Guardian?" Laurent asked.
Starfleet has failed you, again, Crystalis. Why do you continue to allow them to put you in positions you can't get out of? came the reply from everywhere, and nowhere.
"I have too. It's the only way I can fly a starship." Laurent pointed out.
While that is, indeed, true. However, now, you have a large problem. How are you going to continue, when Starfleet is determined not to allow you to rescue Captain Reid? the voice replied.
"I... don't know. It certainly feels like everyone is out to get me, however." Laurent replied.
Then perhaps, I can give you a little push. The voice said.

USS Uniden
And time resumed.
"Section 31 commands over-ridden. Unknown ships inbound. According to Starfleet General rules and regulations, if the commander of listed record claims this is a vital emergency, and moves the ship to red-alert, then the computer will have full access to all ship's systems." Castoria commented.
"RED ALERT! ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!" Laurent yelled into the comm-system.
Instantly, his command chair came back to life.
"Captain, the command ciphers have been successfully altered. Whatever you did, it did it on it's own." Alantra's voice came through the comm-link.
"Who cares. Alantra, try and find an electronic countermeasure for most sensor systems." Laurent instructed.
"Like... a cloaking device?" Alantra asked.
"Exactly. Except something more targeted at Starfleet sensors." Laurent said softly.
Castoria laughed slightly.
"You aren't worried about the enemy ships?" She asked him.
"Look, Cass, the unknown, I'm trained to handle. It's when I'm fighting the known, and it's not supposed to be the enemy, that's when I find my oath to protect my ship, and crew, conflicting with my oath to stand for Starfleet's ideals, conflicting with several OTHER oaths that I have sworn, including, believe it or not, the Vulcan version of the Hipocratic Oath." Laurent said, frowning at his sensor readings.

USS Monitor
And time resumed.
"CAPTAIN! The UNIDEN'S SHIELDS ARE RAISING?" An ensign to Denizen's right exclaimed.
Denizen cursed, and turned to a Binar, who was sitting at Intel-Operations, to the right of the Science terminal.
"You said it was fool-proof!" Denizen yelled.
"It would have been, had it not been for several Starfleet Operating System conflicts!" The Binar clicked back.
"You told me you could solve those!" Denizen exclaimed.
"However, I was unable to counter something hidden deep within. Something to do with emergency situations." The Binar responded.
"Expand sensor scans. Look for enemy ships." Denizen demanded.
"Two unknown warships are converging on the Uniden, sir." Another ensign said.
Denizen stared at the sensor display. He had very little Intel on this sector, however he had picked up information about these ships from the Dominion. The dominion forces, with the exception of the Founders themselves, had a healthy respect for these mini-dreadnoughts. A lot of it had to do with the fact that their' odd weapons could disable artificial energy sources.
"Keep the cloak up! Do not raise shields, do not arm weapons. Stop all engines, and de-activate the warp drive. I don't care what they do to the Uniden, as long as they don't do it to US as well!" Denizen yelled.

USS Uniden
"Sir, the second Ion trail has stopped following us." Castoria commented.
Laurent nodded.
"Alantra, do you have anything FAST that you can devise to hide our' ship?" Laurent asked into the comm-link.
"No." Alantra said, frowning.
"I do." Said a voice, as it entered the Bridge.
"T'sara, I told you to stay in your' quarters." Laurent said, recognizing the annoying stoic-sounding voice.
"And I'm not agreeing with your' orders. Either I can help you, and decide to co-operate with your' previous order, or I can go back to my quarters, and co-operate with your' current order. Take your' pick." She said softly.
"Fine. Take Science." Laurent said softly.
"Attention all staff. Code Vulcan Alpha Three Beta." T'sara said softly into the inter-comm.
Laurent raised an eyebrow.
"It's a Section 31 code, instructing everyone to return to your' post, as you've proven that your' initial gut-feeling was correct." T'sara said, as she began tweaking buttons, and settings.
"Bridge, what the hell are you doing? Our' shields are acting funny." Alantra's voice said over the comm.
T'sara frowned.
"Lt. Commander Morrison, please divert more power to the shields, and deflector dish. We are going to pretend we are not here, by altering the way incoming scanners view our' ship. It won't cloak us, per say, however, it will obscure our' readings, or at the very least, give faulty ones." T'sara said softly.
"Aye bridge, re-routing power from warp drive now." Alantra said, as the comm-link turned off.

USS Monitor
"What the hell?" Denizen asked, as the Uniden disappeared off the scanners.
And then it re-appeared. 20,000 KM behind the Monitor. And then again, 20,000 KM in front of it.
And then there were three of them. And then nine. And then none. And then seventeen. And then none again.
"Uh..." Denizen muttered, unable to grasp what was happening.

Unknown Ship 1
"What isss thisss?" The first voice asked, in the pitch-black control room.
"I do not underssstand it either, Sssir." The second voice hissed in reply.
The ship they were investigating had become seven different ships for three seconds, disappeared altogether for 10 seconds, re-appeared in a completely different place fourteen times in as many seconds, and then dissolved once again.
"Where are they?" The first voice asked.
"I don't know. But there are some odd readings coming from over THERE." The second voice said.
The first voice consulted with his computer, which relayed visual information via a sonar message.
There was an odd Neutrino reading coming from roughly 30,000 KM from where the ship they were tracking had been.
"Target it. And fire." The first voice said.

USS Monitor
"CAPTAIN! THEY HAVE A WEAPONS LOCK ON US!" An ensign yelled.
"De-cloak! SHIELDS UP! ALL WEAPONS, PREPARE TO FIRE!" Denizen yelled.

USS Uniden
Laurent stared at the sensor readings. It appeared as though the unknown ships had misplaced THEM, but had FOUND the Monitor.
"1/10th Impulse power. Keep following the Cathexis' readings. The Monitor should not have been tracking us in the first place. They can get out of their' own messes." Laurent commented.
T'sara scowled.
"Captain, may I remind you that your' orders stipulate that ANY Federation ship you find out here, you are to return home, as well as you can?" T'sara asked.
Laurent glowered.
"I've already committed to breaking one order. Either do as I say, or return to your' quarters. You don't work for Starfleet anymore. Not until I say so. If this is what Admiral Sanchez was worried about, he should have know that having a crew that would mutiny on me without a second thought, and a cloaked S31 tail would be the only thing that would set it off." Laurent said, in warning.
Castoria stared at T'sara.
"And you. Why do you follow him without question?" T'sara demanded her, noting her look.
"Because he has the gall to stand up for what he believes in. Because someday, if I'm in trouble, I hope I'm lucky enough to know someone like him, who would risk their' entire career, just to get me out of a pickle." Castoria said, glaring down at the Vulcan.
"And you expect that to be good enough reason for ME to follow him?" T'sara asked. Clearly the situation was beginning to strain her control.
"No." Castoria said, as she turned back to her terminal. "I expect the threat of having a 5'3, 127 pound Orion woman disembowel you with her bare hands to be a good enough threat."
Laurent simply snickered, but kept on focusing his attention on the Helm's control board.
"I do not take threats lightly, Lieutenant Commander." T'sara commented.
"I don't take mutiny lightly either, T'sara. I don't care what you think. You want to betray your' Captain? Do it. But don't expect me to let you do it without a fight." Castoria retorted.
T'sara sighed.
"The illogic of waste, T'sara. You can't win this fight. It is therefore illogical to attempt to fight at all." Laurent commented.
"It is also highly unlikely for you to successfully shake the Monitor, both alien ships, and find the Cathexis, and Captain Reid, both safe and sound. Therefore, it is illogical for YOU to continue searching for them." T'sara countered.
"However, T'sara, if I leave on docking thrusters, as we are currently doing, we leave very little trace. And although we are moving at a very slow speed, we are also not quite detectable, thanks to your' tinkerings. The USS Monitor, and the Alien ships, are in a bit of a fire-fight. Therefore, one will defeat the other. I really don't care which, because the odds of either one finding us, after the battle is finished, is unlikely. Therefore, I only have to handle one, or at the most, two ships. Those are odds I can handle." Laurent countered back.
"You have on flaw in your' logic, Captain." T'sara said, softly.
"Oh really?" Laurent asked.
"Yes. How do you know that these are the only ships these aliens have?" T'sara asked.
Laurent frowned.
"I don't. I just decided to trust fate. And time. Time usually tends to help me out more often than fate, however." Laurent commented.
T'sara merely raised an eyebrow, unsure of what Laurent meant.

[squiggy]

Chapter 5 - Crossing the line.
Laurent watched, as the un-powered hulk of the USS Cathexis, and an odd Alien starbase sat there in front of the Uniden.
"Readings?" Laurent asked.
"Very few life signs aboard the Cathexis. A few can actually be identified from here. I note Captain Reid, and several Vulcanoid crew members appear to be restricted to the bridge. I've also got conflicting readings about who, or what, is on that starbase... Captain... did you ever read up on the 'stargate' mysteries on both Earth, and Vulcan?" T'sara asked.
"And Orion." Castoria added.
Laurent frowned.
"And Naia." He added with a nod.
"It was theorized that whoever built them used them to visit, and possibly abduct persons from those planets for unknown reasons. A few of them even had 'shadow people' coming out of them. There was a single active one found on the remains of Betazed, after the Betazed massacre, which I'm sure your' aware of. It seems that the Omega Particle weapon that the Naian force attacked with triggered it. The readings that came out of that thing would closely correspond with these readings. It LOOKS like something is there. What it is, and why it is there, and whether or not it's alive is debatable." T'sara responded.
Laurent frowned.
"The... what?" Castoria asked.
Laurent turned to her.
"You didn't follow the Naian war missions?" Laurent asked.
Castoria frowned.
"I was 12." She commented.
"Point taken. The Naian people assumed that humans had kidnapped one of their' children, on a colony world. Yes, it was me. That Colony world was destroyed, as was the Starbase orbiting it. More to the point, to prove that the Naians meant business, they interrupted the Babel Peace conference by obliterating the Betazed Capital city with an Omega Particle cannon." Laurent said softly.
"A what?" Castoria asked.
Omega directive insert. Captain Van den Hause is reminded that the Omega particle is technically a classified subject. The computer commented.
"Computer, program Laurent Alpha one." Laurent instructed.
Program activated. All generic starfleet warnings will be automatically disabled. The computer commented.
"Thank you. The Omega Particle cannon was a weapon designed by the Naian people. It was expressly useful against Starfleet ships because the detection of the Omega Particle set off the Omega Directive, which disabled Starships, except their' shielding, until the Captain over-rode it, and contacted Starfleet, with regards to it. It was later revoked, as it was evident that this was a severe flaw in Starfleet policy, as Starfleet lost 23 Starships, when said ships, whose' Captains were killed, down-planet on betazed, were unable to de-activate the Directive, essentially leaving them defenceless against the single Naian destroyer." Laurent finished.
"You have a problem with Starfleet policies." Castoria noted.
"Yes. Most of them." Laurent said, frowning.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I've broken most of them, when I've needed too. Hell, Captain Reid forced me to violate the temporal directive, and at least 17 other directives, just to keep her from either dying, or being court-marshaled." Laurent said, still looking at the screen.
"So what do we do?" Castoria asked.
Laurent frowned.
"Hail them." Laurent said, having finally made his decision.
"Aye Captain." Castoria said softly.
Attention unknown vessel, you have crossed into Annunaki space. You are hereby ordered to withdraw immediately. Came a voice in a language translated by the computer voice.
"Whatever that language is, the computer has heard of it before." Castoria noted.
"Computer, specify incoming language." Laurent instructed.
Unable to comply. Information is classified under Starfleet General order 187-B, 'the annunaki directive'. The computer said softly.
Laurent frowned.
"T'sara?" Laurent asked.
T'sara sounded mildly puzzled.
"Captain, from the name, I can infer very little. However, there was theory, in the 2000's, on your' planet, of a 'dark star', and a planet named 'nabiru', which at one point was part of the Sol Solar system. Upon later examination by Starfleet scientists, much of these records were classified. It is theorized, however, in some Vulcan research centers, that Nabiru DID, in fact, exist. And that the people who lived on that planet, the Annunaki, were real. The disturbing part is that their' language was instantly translatable when a Dominion ship passed through this territory some 30 years ago. They passed on the translation algorithyms under the Peace treaty exchange, and it flagged just about every regulation under 187-B." She said, reading her display.
"Computer, over-ride general order 187-B. Give me all information available on the Annunaki." Laurent said, thoughtful.
Unable to comply. Said data, and general order, require a level 17 security clearance. The computer replied.
Laurent frowned.
"I thought there were only 15 levels of security clearance in Starfleet." Castoria noted.
That is classified information. The computer replied.
Laurent frowned.
"I'm going to do a complete no-no here. I remember a few In-Ops command over-rides. I hope Starfleet didn't have time to think up counter-points for them, as I haven't been head of In-Ops for nearly 11 years now." Laurent said, annoyed.
T'sara looked at him.
"You worked in Intelligence Operations?" She asked.
Laurent shot her a look.
"I was department head of In-Ops for 24 years, T'sara." Laurent commented.
She simply nodded.
"Computer, In-Ops command over-ride Van den Hause Alpha Beta Omega seventeen. Situation Orange." Laurent said softly.
Command authorizations accepted. The computer noted.
"Over-ride General order 187, and give me all available information on the Annunaki." Laurent instructed.
General order over-ridden. The computer simply said.
His command chair's display lit up.
"Holy hell." He muttered, as he read through it quickly.
"What?" Castoria asked.
"They were like the preservers. Just a little twisted about it. Their' entire SOLAR SYSTEM fell through a worm-hole that collapsed not long after their' departure. Starfleet's not sure whether or not they CAUSED the wormhole, because they were afraid humanity might discover them... They did, however, abuse 'stargates', or quantum ripples, which are known to occur on several planets, to continue visiting Earth, and a few other planets. The humans call them the Annunaki. The Vulcans do not have a name for them. The Orions call them Tesh'Chriva. The Naian name for them translates literally into 'The Dark ones.'" Laurent read aloud.
"And... they are out here. So what?" Castoria commented.
"It was theorized at one point that the Annunaki created humans, by bio-engineering apes. However, nobody knew why they did it." Laurent said softly.
"And...?" Castoria prodded.
"A section 31 operative discovered, some 50 years ago, that the Annunaki did this for one purpose." Laurent said.
"Enough with the suspense already." Castoria frowned.
"It was theorized, by the way that this operative, and his now deceased co-operative were treated, that the Annunaki just enjoyed torturing intelligent individuals. Especially if they could derive something of actual interest out of them after the individuals died. The Annunaki developped a taste for some of the Primates on earth, but decided that they were too hairy." Laurent said softly.
Castoria's frown deepened.
"I do not like where this is headed." She said softly.
Laurent nodded.
"I don't either. Put me on that frequency." Laurent said.
T'sara nodded.
"You are on, Captain." She said softly.
"This is the Federation starship Uniden. By capturing the USS Cathexis, and abducting it's crew, likely for cooking and eating purposes, you have declared war on Starfleet, and Earth. You will release them immediately, or we will open fire." Laurent said into the microphone on his console.
Attention Earther ship. You, and the ship you call Cathexis, have invaded our territory. The Cathexis was seized. However, We will allow you to take it's survivors, and the ship, and go home, if the commanding officer of your' ship stays here. Came the reply.
Castoria looked at him.
"Don't do it." She said softly.
"He will. He has too." T'sara replied.
"Why do you want me?" Laurent asked.
The one named Reid was not willing to give away Starfleet's secrets. We need someone who knows the ins and outs to help give us a tactical advantage. Came the reply.
Laurent's eyebrow rose.
"No." T'sara whispered.
Laurent keyed a few instructions into his chair.
And dissolved into a transporter beam.
A few moments later, the unconcious form of Katharynn Reid materialized on the bridge of the Uniden, and T'sara quickly put a tractor beam on the Cathexis.
Castoria frowned.
"What the hell just happened?" She asked.
T'sara looked down at her board.
"They just made Laurent an offer he could never refuse." She said softly.

Series End
Stay tuned for the follow-up series: Star Trek - Darkness.

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