Star Trek: Fall and Rise by Jureth

[Kheren]

Author's Note: I will be posting this story in segments. This is my first Star Trek fan fiction that has actually gone past initial writing, but it is still a work in progress and constructive feedback is appreciated! 

Prolouge:

[i]Two months after the Battle of Vega Colony Starfleet is still licking its wounds and facing multiple threats across the galaxy. In the middle of all this a young flag officer Admiral Loren McCloud is dealing with her own demons.

***


“Captain Loren McCloud, by the authority invested in me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets I hereby promote you to the rank of Rear Admiral with all the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of that rank. Congratulations Admiral.”

Applause rang throughout the room and Loren, surrounded by family, friends, and her fellow Starfleet officers shook the hand of Vice Admiral William Ross. Ross fastened the new rank pips to the collar of Loren’s dress uniform and then stepped back. Loren smiled broadly as she stepped to the podium and proceeded to address the assembled men and women thanking them for their support and thanking Starfleet for its faith in her. It was one of the proudest days of Starfleet career[/i]…

That had been four years ago, and now Loren stood in the same room, but this time it was not for a promotion, it was for a sentence. This time the only people in the room were Loren, Captain T’Proll; her defense counsel, Captain Cole; the prosecutor from the Judge Advocate General’s office; and the inquiry board consisting of six admirals from Starfleet Command who were in an adjacent room deciding the fate of Loren’s Starfleet career.

Loren sat back in silence and wondered how it had all come to this. Her Starfleet career had been exemplary, and in her mind the only thing she had done was try to right an egregious wrong and take care of those people with whose well being she had been entrusted. After her promotion she had been assigned as the commanding officer of Starbase 355, a small, isolated outpost on the fringes of charted space near the beta quadrant border. It hadn’t been her choice, but she had been told the base needed a fresh face in the CO’s office, and when Loren arrived she discovered why.

Starbase 355 was in disrepair. The maintenance on the primary systems was poorly executed, primarily because the engineers were unable to get the tools and materials they needed. The computer and replicator software was years behind Starfleet standard, and all the upgrades the base needed were being provided to stations in more vital areas with higher visibility. Loren had tried going through the system at first, but it seemed every time she tried to get the things her command desperately needed she was stonewalled because some higher priority base, or higher ranking base commander needed it more than she did.

Finally, Loren had become fed up. She began circumventing the Starfleet supply chain anyway she could. She diverted shipments, she traded with traders passing through her area, and she called in favors to anyone she could think of that owed her one. Gradually Starbase 355 began to improve. Everything seemed to be going fine until a lieutenant at the Starfleet Supply Corps got curious as to why some of his shipments were being diverted. The resulting investigation is what landed Loren in the chair she was in today. It didn’t matter that her base needed the shipments more than their destination, what mattered was that Loren had gone outside the chain of command, and outside the system.

“All rise,”

Loren stood along with the two counselors as the group of admirals returned to the room. They walked in in silence and took up their positions on the dais facing the two opposing sides, and sat down. It was silent for only a moment and then Admiral Nellis, a human male with graying brown hair, with alert brown eyes that said his age had not caught up to him just yet, began to speak.

“Admiral McCloud, in the inquiry into your actions while assigned as commanding officer of Starbase Three Five Five this board finds as follows. On the charge willfully disobeying direct orders: guilty. On the charge of misuse of Starfleet resources: guilty. On the charge of willfully violating Starfleet regulations concerning involvement with outlaws: guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer…”

Nellis paused and leveled his gaze at Loren. She glared back at the admiral with intensity flaring in her deep emerald green eyes. Loren knew that Nellis knew his next words would determine whether her career died here and now.

“not guilty.”

Loren let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and had to force herself not to smile. A guilty verdict on the unbecoming charge would have meant she would have been forced out of Starfleet for good, but now she might have a chance of remaining in the service she loved.

“Admiral McCloud,” Nellis continued “It is the judgment of this inquiry that you be reduced in rank to commander, and be relieved of your command effective immediately. Furthermore you will be assigned to Starfleet Command until such time as a permanent assignment can be found for you. Commander McCloud, if you choose not to accept the judgment of this inquiry you do have the right to a court martial trial.”

Captain T’Proll had already told Loren that the chances of a court martial being more lenient than the inquiry board were very slim. The double rank demotion was painful for Loren, but she felt confident that she could earn at least her captain’s pips back though she knew it was unlikely she would ever be a flag officer again.

“A court martial will not be necessary Sir,” Loren said in her light Scottish brogue. “I accept the judgment as decided by this board of inquiry.”

Nellis nodded “In closing Commander McCloud I would like to say that having to pass this sentence on you is distasteful to all of us. We have all been in command at one time or another and we understand why you did the things you did. However, Starfleet has rules and those rules exist for the good of all Starfleet officers everywhere. I do not doubt that Starbase Three Five Five is a better place than it was when you arrived, but the example you have set for the men and women underneath you is unacceptable. On that note, this inquiry is concluded, you are dismissed.”

The admiralty panel rose in unison and exited the room. Loren turned to Captain T’Proll who had not broken his typical stoic Vulcan demeanor.

“This outcome is regrettable Commander,” T’Proll said

Loren offered him a small smile “It’s okay Sir, I’m sure that you did your best.”

T’Proll offered her the Vulcan salute “Live long, and prosper Commander.”

Loren returned the gesture “Thank you Sir.”

From her dress uniform Loren unfastened the admiral’s pips and with only a little hesitation laid them on the table in front of her. Then, holding her head high, she left the conference room.

[Kheren]

The Cardassian diplomatic transport Union passed from Cardassian Union space into Federation territory at her cruising speed of warp 6.5. The Union was the latest in Cardassian transport design and featured all the amenities that an ambassador would expect to have. In his quarters Cardassian Ambassador Teranek went over the speech he would be making to the Federation Council regarding the progress of the Cardassian Union since the end of the Dominion War. He would tout their advancements toward peace, their rebuilding efforts, and their efforts to establish normal diplomatic ties with their former enemies and neighbors.

Teranek sighed as he made another set of revisions to the speech. When he entered the Cardassian military twenty years ago he never saw himself as a politician let alone a diplomat. He always thought he was meant to command Galor Class starships, not make rhetoric speeches, but yet here he was on his way to meet with the idealistic Federation and their diplomats. Teranek’s aspirations of command had vanished when Cardassia Prime had been razed by the Dominion as the Federation Alliance bore down on them. He knew then that he wanted to help his people rebuild, and if it meant making speeches and playing nice with career politicians then that is what he would do.

***

Unknown to Ambassador Teranek, he was being followed. The True Way cruiser Vengeance, a state of the art cruiser of Jem’Hadar design had begun tailing the transport ship the moment it left Cardassia Prime. The ship’s warp core was designed to reduce emissions thus making it harder to track. It was also equipped with the standard cloaking device and the latest in Dominion weaponry. On the bridge of the Vengeance Gul Celek sat in the warship’s command chair intent on only stalking his prey. Standing next to him was the Vorta Sarron.

“How much longer Celek,” Sarron demanded

“Patience Sarron, we will strike the ambassador’s ship only when the time is right.”

“You know as well as I do the further we get into Federation territory the greater the risk we are detected.”

“Not this ship,” Celek said with a wicked smile “The Federation will not see us coming until it is too late, and by then the ambassador will either come with us, or he will die.”

“I do not share your confidence in this technological terror you command Celek.”

“That is your job Sarron, you worry and I command the ship, that is why I am here.”

Sarron gave Celek a disgusted look and stalked off the bridge. Celek smiled and then addressed the bridge crew

“Status of our quarry?”

“Steady on course at warp six point five,” The Jem’Hadar soldier at the weapons station replied.

“Good,” Celek said “Enjoy it while you can ambassador, it will be the last trip you ever make.”

***

The morning after her hearing Loren awoke in her San Francisco apartment. She dressed in a new command officer uniform and attached her commander’s rank pips. Then she pulled her red hair from its down position just below her shoulders up into a neat bun behind her head. As she evaluated herself in the mirror she did so with a little sadness for her lost rank, but no regrets. In her mind she had done what she had to do to make life better for her people under her even if Starfleet disagreed.

Satisfied with her appearance she left her apartment and took a public transport to Starfleet Command. She’d been given orders to report to Admiral Nellis first thing. As she walked through the halls of the main building she smiled at several familiar faces and only a couple did not smile back. Loren knew there were those that would be disappointed in her actions, and she knew that it was times like this that you found out who your real friends were.

As she entered the admiral’s office his aide, a young lieutenant named Burton, greeted her with a smile.

“Good morning Commander, how can I help you?”

“Admiral Nellis is expecting me Lieutenant, can you let him know I’m here?”

“Of course Ma’am, just have a seat.”

“Thank you Lieutenant.”

Loren sat in one of the chairs in the reception area and wondered what Admiral Nellis might have in store for her. She only knew Nellis by reputation, at least before her inquiry, and from what she’d heard he was a fair man to work for. The admiral only kept Loren waiting a few minutes before he emerged from his office and greeted her.

“Commander McCloud, please come in.”

Loren stood and followed Nellis into the office with the door shutting behind her. He took a seat behind his desk and motioned for Loren to sit across from him which she did taking the chair directly across from him.

“How are you today Commander?”

“I’m holding up okay Sir.”

“That’s good to hear. Let me ask you something, do you regret what you did?”

“Regret? No Sir. “

“Why is that Commander?”

Loren could tell that the admiral hadn’t been expecting her response, but she was only being honest.

“Sir, the system let me down, and let my people down. I did what I had to do.”

Nellis was silent for a moment as he contemplated her response.

“Yes, I see that as a common thread in your service record.”

“I don’t second guess myself Admiral. Once I determine what I believe is the correct course of action then that’s what I do. No more, no less.”

“Even if it violates the rules?”

“Hang the rules Sir. I’m not saying they don’t matter, but they should be there to guide an officer, not hamper her.”

“So you believe an officer should be able to go outside the rules if they so choose?”

“At times..yes Sir, I believe its necessary for an officer to interpret rules on the fly and apply them to the situation at hand.”

Admiral Nellis studied the officer in front of him carefully. He knew from looking at Commander McCloud’s record that she had a tendency to play fast and loose with the rules. Fortunately for her, her decisions had worked out in her favor, at least until she took command of Starbase 355. Her philosophy was an interesting one, but he was glad there weren’t more officers like her. One or two wildcards was one thing, but a whole fleet of them would be disastrous.

“Regardless of our philosophical differences Commander, and against my better judgment, I am assigning you to a starship.”

“Your better judgment Sir? You don’t believe I should be here?”

“Honestly, Commander, no. I believed you should have been found guilty of the conduct unbecoming charge and removed from Starfleet.”

Loren was stunned at this revelation; she had thought the admirals had voted unanimously on the counts against her.

“Then why wasn’t I Sir?”

“Because there are those who believe you still have something to offer Starfleet. Now, may I continue?”

Loren only nodded; she hadn’t realized how close she had been to being kicked out of Starfleet.

“Good, as I said I am assigning you to a starship. The U.S.S. Midway is an Akira Class starship. She was heavily damaged in our most recent confrontation with the Borg and her refit is nearly complete. Your job will be to take her out, and conduct a full systems test in preparation for her new crew. You will test all the major systems, and make recommendations to the shipyard for any further work that needs to be done. Understood?”

“Yes Sir,” Loren replied.

“Good, your shakedown team is waiting for you, and I have a shuttle standing by to take you to the Midway, dismissed.”

Loren stood up and walked out the office collecting the shuttle information from the admiral’s aide as she did so. Walking out of Starfleet Command’s main building she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. When Admiral Nellis had said he was assigning her to a starship she had hoped that it was going to be a department chief or even an XO on an operating starship not be testing the effectiveness of a refit. She supposed that she ought to be grateful that she had an assignment at all.