Chapter 3: Good Tides and Fair Winds (part 6)

Chapter 3: Good Tides and Fair Winds (part 6)

After confirming with helm officer Falcar that the Icarus was now approaching the perimeter of Starbase 39, Sterling stood up and stated to the counselor “Mr. Pasqual, once we leave spacedock, please assemble our team of officers to prepare a series of potential strategies for our upcoming acquisition of the two remaining delegates and our subsequent journey to Khii. We’ll need to figure out how to make this journey time-efficient without leaving ourselves open to further… complications… which will require us to also be thinking in terms of offensive strategies that our opponents may attempt to employ. We’ll need to try to anticipate and counter all conceivable maneuvers yet also be ready for the inconceivable ones as well.”
He then looked at the Counselor with a sneer and stated firmly “Let’s turn their timetables on their head and twist them about… shall we?”

''Aye, Captain Sir.''

With a simple acknowledgement, both officers turned and headed out of the Ready Room and back onto the main bridge. They had a dangerous package to deliver to Starbase 39 security personnel.

On her way to the bridge, Hartzer used a wall console and going through Counselor Pasqual’s main comm station to send a message to Admiral Kelek, encoded on a secure frequency, summarizing what had happened so far. Then, she moved at top speed, not quite running but walking quickly, to the turbolift.

Two minutes later, the door opened to admit the first officer onto the command center of the USS Icarus.

“We’re back on track, Boss, an’ I have sent a message t’ da Admiral, encoded an’ secure,” she reported as she took her seat.

“Thank you Number One… now let’s get ready to discard our saboteur shall we?” Sterling responded with a tone that clearly conveyed that he had been exposed to more than enough aggravation in many capacities as a consequence of this apparent turncoat.

John Drake, former Starfleet Officer and suspected Icarus saboteur, would be escorted under the highest security protocols and interrogated accordingly by Starfleet personnel. Once the transfer was complete, the Starship Icarus would then be officially underway on her first mission… barring any further delays.

Chief Brian Archer still sat silently at the tactical station as he had been when the Captain and the Counselor had left the bridge. He was still there when they returned. He was still silent.

He was beginning to wish that he'd never agreed to Admiral Janeway's terms to his reinstatement. He considered for a moment, as he watched the primary computer core progress through its memory dump and reset, calling Janeway and asking for a transfer; but he knew she'd never go for it. When Brian had contacted her about Thran, she'd told him that he was out of favors anyway; so he supposed he was stuck on the Icarus and stuck with this mess of a mission.

He shook his head and looked at his latest report from Lieutenant Callen. Fully armed security teams were posted in all vital spaces and the guards in the brig has been reinforced taking their number from two to four. Brian had also directed that Drake be kept sedated, so the guards were more to keep anyone who might want to spring the psychotic spy out than they were to keep Drake in.

The computer beeped at him, signaling that the core dump was complete and that the primary computer core was now back online. After scanning for signs of Drake's tampering and finding none, the security chief switched the ship's systems back to the primary core one by one and the computer functioned flawlessly.

Brian then turned toward Sterling and made his report:

"Captain, computer memory dump completed. I believe the system has been purged of any tampering. Also, armed security teams have secured all major spaces and remain on station and I've ordered that Drake be kept sedated until we reach Starbase 39."

“Excellent, Mister Archer,” Sterling acknowledged as he re-entered the main bridge and sat down, releasing a deep sigh as he sank into the center seat. “Engineering just confirmed that we now at last have full warp capability available.”

Sterling glanced slightly to the side of Archer and gave a quick smirk and a nod to the Romulan Helm officer whose ears seemed to perk up ever so slightly at that bit of information.

“Also, Mister Archer, Admiral Kelek has his security team on Starbase 39 awaiting our arrival to deliver us from our saboteur.”

He then gave a sharp look to the Security Chief.

“Would you do us all the favor of supervising this entire process of dispatching this menace from our ship without incident once we dock?” Sterling requested, knowing that the Security Chief was not going to leave anything to chance with this dangerous nuisance on the move.

Archer nodded as a wry smile crossed his face.

"I'd be happy to, Sir. I'd prefer we set him adrift in an escape pod and let the nearest starship come pick him up, but I suppose personally handing him to the admiral's security team will have to do. I will be in the security office until we arrive at the starbase."

Sterling grinned and understood the Security chief’s reaction to his treacherous detainee and his desire to literally dispose of him in the most efficient and unceremonious manner.

“Understood” was all that the Captain acknowledged in response, but with a grin still lingering on his face as the security officer departed the bridge.

Brian exited the bridge, leaving the tactical station vacant for the moment, and rode the turbolift back to deck 9.

Sterling then turned his attention back toward the main viewscreen of the bridge.

Within a short period of time, Sub-lieutenant Falcar notified them that they were now once again in range of Starbase 39. He then began slowing down the vessel as they approached the station.

“Open a channel to the Starbase” Sterling commanded as Janus Falcar piloted the craft back toward the wide docking bay doors.

The first officer’s fingers danced across the console buttons.

“Openin’, Suh.”

Without the Captain uttering a syllable, a voice came almost immediately across the channel.

“Well, Captain Sterling… back so soon?” was the sarcastic jab coming from the Starbase commander.

Then without even the slightest pause, Sterling replied:

“Well, Captain Walsh… who could resist returning back to such charisma?''

Frazetti didn’t quite snort, but she did smile.

Ha! Take that an’ shove it up yah impulse port, ya grouch.

She didn’t like him one bit.

With an indistinguishable grunt as a first response, Walsh then announced:

“Icarus, you are clear to come in though dock number three” just as the huge doors blinked with lighted beacons along the perimeter surrounding both doors and a silent separation began to occur in the center between them.

Spacedock, sweet spacedock,First officer Frazetti Hartzer mused. They needed to be going and get on with their mission, but it was one thing after frigging another…

Sitting beside her, Sterling looked at Falcar and stated nonchalantly:

“Remember, Helmsman, there are no scratches anywhere on the exterior of this vessel... Let’s keep it that way… shall we?”

As his gaze then switched back to the view screen as they were now approaching the threshold back into the spaceport.

Sub-Lieutenant Falcar piloted the ship back into the space dock under thruster power. Once inside, he noticed there was enough room in the spacedock, so he tapped the console and swung the ship around and then backed it up to where they were previously docked at. Finally the ship stopped, and the docking ring connected to the ship.

"We are now docked, shutting down all engines and putting them on standby."

At that moment, Lieutenant Commander Archer sank down behind the desk in the security office and he sighed heavily. It was about time to get this mess over with. Brian contemplated what he should do about the possibility that Drake knew about his work with Section 31. After several moments, he decided that the best course would be to do nothing. Drake could rant and rave all he wanted as it was highly likely that no one would believe him. Even if Starfleet Intelligence did and investigated Brian, they would find nothing. Section 31 covered their operatives with expert precision, and there wasn't a single shred of evidence linking Brian Archer to them. All that Starfleet Intelligence would find was that Brian Archer had been living quietly in a small apartment in San Francisco for the last thirteen years.

With that matter decided for now, Brian had the computer place a call to the one person he hadn't talked to since arriving on the Icarus.

"Computer, open a secure channel from this station to Captain David Archer, San Francisco, Earth."

"Working..."

Even with the advanced subspace communications relays that were being developed, it still took the computer several minutes to open a direct link to Brian's father. Finally, the UFP emblem was replaced with the weathered face of Captain David Archer, retired.

"Brian! This is surprise! Where are you? The commlink was coded from a Starfleet channel!"

"Yes, Sir," Brian replied evenly. "I asked Admiral Janeway to reinstate me, and she agreed. I've been assigned to the USS Icarus."

Brian's father contemplated his son's announcement for a moment before replying.

"You couldn't come say hi before you left? Talk to me about this in person?"

"There was nothing to talk about, Sir. It was my decision."

"You think you're ready?"

"I want to be here now. Sir. I don't feel like I have to be anymore."

"Its a good thing Kathryn didn't ask me before she reinstated you."

"You would have told her not to?"

"I'm still not happy with the way you left."

"I had my reasons. I needed time."

"Thirteen years is a long time."

Brian nodded, but didn't reply. It had been a long time, but it had given him perspective, something he lacked coming out of the Dominion War.

"I'm glad you did it son," the elder Archer said after a few moments. "Are you staying this time?"

"Yes Sir, I'm back for good."

"Who's your CO?"

"Sterling."

David Archer stroked his chin.

"A good kid. A little green, but I understand why they chose him."

"You know him?"

"Only by reputation. He was just an ensign when I retired. You'll be fine; and, Brian, I'm glad you called."

"I'll come by when we get back."

"Where are you headed?"

"I can't say Sir, sorry."

David Archer nodded.

"I understand. Good luck, Son. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad. And I promise, this time, I'll make you proud."
David smiled.

"You already have."

With that, the call ended and Brian smiled. That was less painful than he thought it was going to be. David Archer had been hurt, angry, and disappointed when his son walked away from Starfleet and they had not spoken for almost a year afterwards. Even when they started speaking again the conversations were vague and impersonal. It gave Brian a measure of satisfaction that his father was more receptive and forthcoming. With that hill overcome, Brian began making preparations for handing their uninvited guest over to Admiral Kelleck's staff.

Captain Sterling then hailed the Security Chief.

“Mister Archer… be prepared to haul out the rubbish!”

Brian Archer walked into the Icarus brig and glanced around at the assembled security officers. Callen, Strider, Kurgan, and Cadet Thran all stood ready with phaser rifles in hand. Brian had elected to use this group because he knew that he could trust all of them. He'd directed other security officers to clear the decks they'd be traveling on and remain on station until the prisoner was off the ship. Also standing by was a crewman from medical ready to counter the effects of the anesthezine they'd used to keep Drake sedated. Brian had taken Drake's combadge and bound his hands behind him with magnetic binders.

"Kurgan, Callen, with me. Cassie, Thran, wait by the door."

The instructions were followed without conversation and Brian looked at Kurgan.

"Lower the field."

Kurgan nodded and used the control pad on the bulkhead by the cell to drop the security force field. As the field shimmered and vanished Brian looked over at the medical crewman.

"Wake him."

The crewman stepped forward and pressed a hypo into Drake's neck and then stepped back. It took a few seconds for the prisoner to come around but when he did his eyes focused first on Archer and then on the phaser rifles pointed at him.

"What's the matter Commander Archer, afraid of me?"

"Afraid of you, no." Brian responded. "Tired of having you on my ship, yes. Now step forward."

Drake actually did as he was commanded and Brian figured it was because he knew that he wasn't getting away. Brian grabbed Drake by the arm and began to lead him forward.

"Let's go, I'm sure Starfleet Intelligence has a few questions for you."

Then he tapped his combadge.

"Archer to bridge, we are exiting the brig and heading for the umbilical."

Sterling then got up from the center seat and stated to the First Officer:

“Hartzer, you have the Con” as he turned and headed toward the turbolift.

He was going to witness for himself the exchange of the prisoner from his security team literally into the hands of the Starbase 39 security team. Only then would he feel that this part of the journey had truly concluded.

This, of course, made the Iotian girl perk up immediately.

Take the center seat? Hell yeah!

She rose, handed off her post to another ops officer. Then she went to the chair and sat without hesitation. Another commander may have mused on the significance of the moment, or the responsibility; but Frazetti just didn’t roll like that. She knew the responsibility, was learning it and absorbing it and committing every bit of it to memory from Sterling... and, oddly enough, Pasqual; for an Orion hybrid and a general joker in nature, he wasn’t half bad when it came to knowing the rules; probably because he broke them so often.

Thus, to her, there was no insignificance to the moment. It was the inevitable conclusion of her career in Starfleet.

There was a saying on Iotia, regarding the ancient human sport of baseball, copied like many things from human culture: when you hit a home run, don’t dance your way down the baseline. Act like you’ve been there before.

The chair itself was comfortable and soft and fit, she thought, rather well. Yes…. She could definitely get used to sitting in this chair.

Several moments passed, oddly quiet for the Icarus, which she was beginning to see was always in the thick of it. She liked that, liked being in the middle of the action. Albeit there had been perhaps a bit too much action for a ship not even being officially out of Spacedock!

But the latest action had now been drawn to a close, down in the passageway between the ship's brig and the starbase dock. With Kurgan and Thran behind them, and Cassie and Callen in front, the group proceeded down the passageway and into the turbolift. The ride to the docking umbilical was done in silence, and when the doors opened, Cassie and Callen exited first, ensuring that the deck was clear.

Near the docking umbilical were two more security officers. Brian grabbed Drake's arm and led him down the passage and through the docking umbilical. As he exited, on the other side was a group of five Starfleet security officers from the starbase waiting and one of them stepped forward.

"Commander Archer, I am Commander Benton, Chief of Security, Starbase 39."

"A pleasure to meet you, Commander. I have a present for you," Brian replied nodding to Drake.

"So I heard; good work catching him."

"Thank you, Sir, but he didn't make it easy, and I'm ready to be rid of him."

Brian tugged Drake's arm and pulled him toward Benton who took possession of the prisoner.

"Thank you Commander Archer and I assure you he is not going anywhere for a very long time."

Brian nodded and Benton led his Drake followed by his team away from the Icarus. Brian turned to his people.

"Good work; you're all dismissed. Return your weapons to the armory."

As they walked away, Brian tapped his combadge again.

"Archer to Captain Sterling; Sir, it's done."

“Thank you, Mister Archer,” Sterling responded as he heard the message through his combadge and from the voice of the security chief himself standing only about a meter away as he turned to face the Captain. “Now that this miscreant is off of our ship, Lieutenant Commander, let’s tie up all of our loose ends quickly and head back out again. We’re already late for our rendezvous… Let’s see if we can make up some lost time now that our warp engines are back online.”

Sterling tapped his communicator as he headed back toward the turbo lift.

“Mister Falcar… you know the drill now. Prepare to head out again. Commander Hartzer… the word is given… lead us out of here! Sterling out.”

“Bridge” he commanded to the turbolift cabin.

Hopefully, this departure would go accordingly he thought as it began its ascension toward deck 1.

Hartzer straightened in the Captain’s chair.

“Aye, Suh. Mistuh Falcar,” She grinned, Take us out.”

Falcar tapped his console and readied the ship for launch, once again. With the orders from the First Officer, he piloted the ship out of the space dock. The ship rounded the starbase, and made its way into space.

"We've cleared space doors, again. I've set courses for the first way-point."

* * *

"Centurion, send to Admiral Veral: Station secured. Long range sensors online. Operation commencing.''

Having confirmed to his immediate superior back on Romulus that his mission was proceeding as planned, Commander Setal of the Romulan Star Empire Fleet took a moment to look over his bridge with his keen dark eyes under arched eyebrows that angled almost to his pointed ears under his thick brow and straight-cut jet black hair. The roughly circular deck around him comprised fully manned stations, all bustling with activity under the shiny Imperial symbol of the raptor bird holding two planets, one in each talon under its spread wings.

Setal had made it known the moment he had stepped onto the Warbird that he would tolerate no ineptitude from anyone under his command.

Satisfied that all was running to his wishes, Setal gave orders to get underway. The cloaked tracking mobile station on Nelvanna III had been recently built and brought up to operational status with great care for secrecy. The planet's proximity to Federation space, right into the Neutral Zone, made it ideal for intelligence gathering, but also a clear violation of Treaty that could lead to a general war if it was discovered.

He was not too concerned personally; the weakling United Federation of Planets was too dulled and blinded by its own wimpy peace rhetoric to go up in arms over a mere surveillance outpost, even in clear violation of Treaty. They would fight with words, not with swords.

Noting that all ship systems were ready, Setal gave the order to move out.

"Ahead warp one Sub-lieutenant. Course, bearing 115, mark 12."

Powerful maneuvering thrusters swung the nine hundred plus meter wing span of the one point two kilometers long, well over four million metric tons bird-headed Warbird through one hundred twenty degrees. Then, the huge grey-green warship streaked away from the Nelvanna system and entered warp. The powerful artificial microsingularity driving her systems pulsing rhythmically as the IRW Leahal headed toward her next rendezvous.

Settling back in his command chair near the center of the bridge, Setal barked an order toward his tactical officer.

"Bring torpedo launchers and disruptor banks to full readiness. Prepare to cloak when we exit warp."

The warbird Leahal streamed through sub space, her talons extended and beak ready, she headed toward her prey.

Several days later, the ship reached the Algeron star system, in what had been for centuries known as the Neutral Zone... before the Hobus catastrophe crippled the Romulan Star Empire and everything it stood for.

"They are here Commander."

Setal sat up in his chair. The expected rendezvous they had been waiting upon for six hours was about to happen.

About time, he thought laconically.

"Drop cloak," Setal ordered.

In the view screen, the backdrop of scattered stars and nebulae shimmered slightly as the Klingon Vor'cha decloaked in front of the Warbird. Setal barked a command at the centurion manning the comms.

"Open channel!"

Appearing on the viewer was the Klingon intelligence operative, Brigadier Atul. His glaring countenance denoted an air of confidence. not wasting time, Atul began at once.

"Commander Setal. We have gathered the itinerary of the upcoming talks. Prepare to receive our transmission."

Getting a nod from the centurion, Setal acknowledged the message receipt, and then faced toward the screen again.

"The Romulan Empire submits it's gratitude for your assistance in this matter, General. Perhaps one day, after the Federation is brought to its knees, we can share some blood wine and regale each other with tales of battle and honor."

Atul shrugged nonchalantly, brushing aside the offer.

"Once our empires have carved up the alpha quadrant to our mutual desires Commander, I expect we'll be at each other’s throats. This little adventure is but a prelude. Until we meet again in battle, Commander, Qapla."

The screen dropped Atul's image and showed the Neg'var start to swing away, cloaking as she moved. With a non-committal shrug of his shoulders, Setal gave orders to get underway.

"Engage cloak. Course 228, mark t10, warp 3."

The Leahal disappeared from normal space and jumped to warp, streaking toward Atul's listed location to intercept the Klingon diplomat.