Hard Choices

Redding sat down and waited for his officers to arrive.

He had already went over every option he could come up with on their next course of action and knew he was almost certainly going to go with that option, but times had changed since he first joined starfleet.

It was expected of him to meet with senior officers and gain their incites and opinions on anything and everything that was the least bit questionable. Seeking the advice of others was of course not discouraged in the command structure,  after all, no one could be expected to know all angles of a problem.

But NOW it seemed it was considered standard procedure to do so, or else some councilor will start asking you about your relationship with your mother..

He took a breath and frowned.

He should be concentrating on his objectives but his mind decided to focus on Blacks Point, the monitoring station that disguised his 'return point' when ever he died..

He never remembered dying of course or even truly being 'reborn' on the platform, only that he would be confused and in pain from the broken bones in his left arm. Not long after that came the news.. that everyone he had ever known was now dead, and that the memories of his 'other lives' would be downloaded into his head, so he could go on being a good soldier for the Federation.

He refused once, or at least that's what he remembers. And lived among the Klingons for a few years thanks to a short but memorable wrestling career that made him well liked by the Klingons. That much he remember without any help as a smile crossed his lips, thinking about how he finally managed to pin the Vulcan champion Servan Nox. No human had ever managed to do it before.

But the time for reminiscing was over, the sound of the door sliding open meant it was time to get back to work.

The first person to enter was yeoman Blackbird. A PADD in her hand as always and her eyes on the large man on the side of the triangular conference table facing the door, she went straight to the replicator slot in the wall, ready to provide him with whatever nourishment or beverage he would ask for, just as she was ready to inform him and everyone of the administrative and legal consequences of the decisions they would be discussing. Many commanding officers could have felt mildly annoyed by that bureaucratic counselling, but, fortunately for Redding, the Amerind woman had been schooled by a captain who's motto was: do not throw the book away until the last page... but if you still find nothing, then it's time to write the next page.

Whatever Redding would decide, she would be there to take care of all the paperwork and administrative hassle for him... and help him find the best way to achieve his goal without  compromising his career; especially if, as rumor would have it, it meant finding again their lost captain.

The door had barely closed behind her that it swished open again, this time to admit the officers called for this meeting. With acting chiefs Tyvya and Lyrya in medical stasis, they were now replaced respectively by the black-furred Caitian woman Mrriish and the dark-eyed Betazoid Marleena Sirris. With them came in assistant chief of science Valencia Irksos and assistant chief of engineering Patricia Blakely. All these women hand been with Captain Kheren since his very first command, some even way back when he himself had started his career ans Ensign and chief of security and tactical aboard the original flagship USS Lotus. To say that they had personal interest in the rumored situation to be discussed was a certainty.

They all seated themselves around the three sided table as had been customary under their currently absent commanding officer. Counselor Sirris and Astrophysicist Irksos sat on the side at the left of where redding would sit with his acting Exec Commander Sisko, leaving seats for both Bynar doctors having yet to join them. On the opposite side to theirs and to the right of Redding sat Blakely and Mrriish, the technical lead officers who would soon be joined by chief of ops Elisha Leône.

Only one seat would remain empty, on the third side where the Command officers would be. And they all were keenly aware that it is that emptiness that would be at the center of their mind their words and their decisions in the next minutes.

The door slid open again and Lieutenant Leône came in, nodding to Redding before sitting between the Caitian and the blonde woman, her green skin slightly paler than usual. This was but her second deep space assignment since joining Lotus Fleet and already she had gone through astounding situations; but loosing one's captain was not something a junior officer was always prepared for, even less when two colleagues were severely incapacitated and on the verge of death after that loss. Elisha had grown fond rather quickly of the captain's wives as they had welcomed her readily as a colleague, nevermind her being an Orion woman and former slave. It was quite obvious the whole situation was upsetting her greatly. yet, she was there and ready to do her best as the best Starfleet officers could ever be.

The door slid once again to admit the last senior officers of the Horizon. Commander Sisko went to the same side of the table as Redding and nodded to him before sitting to his right. behind him, the diminutive form of both Bynar doctors trotted without aknowledging no one to the last two unoccupied chairs, beside the black-skinned woman currently leading the science department.

Redding noticed Yeoman Blackbird and requested a black coffee, took a drink and thanked her.

"I apologize for the short notice people, but a situation has come up and we literally have no time to work out a solution."

He stood up "As most of you are aware, the Horizon was ordered to return to Federation space in the event the diplomatic operation failed, and return immediately without her captain, if need be."

His face was rather grim. "We just received a order to further reinforce our return to Federation space that can't be ignored or interpreted, we have to leave within the next hour or face being the instigators for another klingon/ Federation war.."

"As we speak the Empire has tasked three Vor'cha battle cruisers and nine Birds of Pray from Adh'lara to intercept us and commandeer the Horizon." Redding decided to leave the part about the Andorians out of his briefing, at least for now. It might distract from the current problem and could place an undue strain on the crew, some of witch were Andorian.

"But this is of little concern because no matter what, we cannot be here when they arrive. This has been made our top priority by startfleet command even above the retrieval of the captain, the Polaris, or the destruction of the Horizon itself." He let the words sink in.

"Then, it is safe to assume, Sir, that calling us to this meeting means one of two things; either you have a way out of this situation you want us to be aware of, possibly approve, or that you wish for us to help you find one."

Valencia Irksos spoke with a detached, professional tone. Yet the intensity in her dark eyes could not be mistaken. She had been with Captain Kheren from the day he had inherited command of his first ship, the late USS Artemis. Like most of them, she had been witness, even part, of the ways the Andorian never broke the rules even when doing exactly the opposite of what was expected of him, do what was right even when the orders seemed to dictate otherwise. The way she looked at Redding, it was clear that she expected the same kind of stunt out of him.

The same look was discernible in the slitted blue eyes of Lieutenant Mrriish and those much rounder but just as blue of the assistant chief engineer Blakely. There was concern however in those of newer bridge officer Leône; in tose of Yeoman Blackbird as well,less apparent in those of the half-Bajoran commander and nothing at all in the bulging orbs of the Bynars; but there was  more than just concern for the situation in those of assistant chief counselor Sirris. She of all of them was most aware of who Redding truly was. He may certainly be just as competent and effective an officer as their missing commanding officer, but he was definitely more experienced... in very different ways... and a very different person altogether, and not just because he was Human and not Andorian...

She knew who he was... and now guessed what he might be capable of.

"You are correct in assuming I've formed my own plan lieutenant, but it's my hope that you and the others will come up with a solution that I had not considered."

He walked around the desk to join them more directly. "Here are the variables I can see, in the next hour, two at most, in that time we must decide to abandoned any hope of recovering captain Kheren, attempt to contact the Polaris to either tell them their on their own, or that they must return to us within the hour or they have to disappear without using their warp drive."

"In the mean time, we must try to erase any trace of our presence in this area as thoroughly as possible, and then leave with sufficient time for our warp trail to disparate, witch is no more than an hour for our transwarp drives, or two for standard warp drives. Alternatively, we can disappear right here anytime in the next 24 hours, before the Klingons come into sensor range."

He sat back down and looked around the room. "This is the part where someone needs to come up with a better idea than I have, because no one here will like that one."

There was a moment of silence before Valencia irksos finally spoke, her voice, soft and husky, nevertheless filling the room.

"I may have another option, Sir... but it is you who might not like it."

Everyone was looking at her. The black-skinned woman for her part was looking outside, through the transparency, at the greenish, luminous rift that separated this universe from another.

"Not being a 'Q' and knowing everything, I'm willing to entertain any idea at this time, Irksos. My 'liking' it or not is the least of my concerns." Redding said with a hand gesture to go on.

"Fluidic Space, Sir," she then said explicitely, her head nodding in the direction of the transparency. "If we go through the opening, we will vanish from this universe.. and our impulse trail will dissipate much more quickly and rapidly than a warp trail.

Mrriish's large slitted eyes lit up.

"If we go in therre, we would escape the Klingons without being noticed, rretrieve the Polarris... and possibly the Captain!"

"That may be... but what about the remains of the battle?" then said Patricia Blakely. "Analysis of the debris or even just the surrounding radiation residue will reveal to the Klingons our weapons signature and thus our presence just as readily as any warp trail."

"Going into..."

"... Fluidic Space will..."

"... also have us..."

"... risk encountering..."

"... hostile Undines..."

"... beleiving we are..."

"... invaders."

The unusual tandem speech of the Bynar doctors brought  a moment of silence.

"And once we are in Fluidic Space, how are we to get out of there without being caught in the act if they stay around just for that purpose?" then added Elisha Leône. "I don't know all that much about Klingons, but I can tell you that Orion slavers would keep watch for days, weeks even, if they smelled a potential prize nearby. Seeing that a battle occured here, they might conclude that we escaped in the nearby opening... or went in there to avenge ourselves from the attackers... or to flee..."

"We may also encounter Undines sharing the sentiments Boothby had," answered Valencia Irksos, turning towards the Bynars. Then she looked at the Orion chief of ops. "According the Voyager logs, Undines know how to open temporary rifts between their universe and our own. If we found one of those sympathisers, it might be willing to open a passage for us somewhere else... safe in Federation Space."

"But the Klingons will still know that we were here," insisted the blonde engineer.

"Most assuredly," now said Conselor Sirris, looking at her then at Redding. "But if we are gone, I mean utterly gone, then they will have no tangible proof of it... or that it was the Horizon specifically... and only they would know that Starfleet fought a battle at their backdoor; in crude words, saving their butt."

"They would not like that to be known for surre," Mrriish growled with a display of fearsome theeth.

"Klingons, most of all, would not easily admit they owed their safety to the Federation, that we fought their battle for them," Sirris agreed. "But they might also beleive that we sacrificed ourselves to prevent the very invasion they would have accused us of orchestrating."

"Like at Narrenda Thrree, when the Enterrprise C sacrrificed herrself to deterr a Rromulan invasion forrce of Klingon Space," Mrriish recalled outloud.

The Betazoid counselor nodded, still looking at Redding.

"My estimate is this: Klingon Honor would demand that they aknowledge this sacrifice and at worst forget their accusations, at best possibly reconsider their current enmity with the Federation as they did back then. Still, if we have not so honorable Klingons coming here,  then they would discover the proof of the battle, possibly of our involvement, and if so erase those traces and claim the victory for their own. Either way, we can get away clean... if we get away without leaving a trace."

"That does not seem very honorable where we are concerned," Blakely then commented somberly. "We did after all violate Klingon Space coming here. That at least is true. Now, Captain Kheren certainly knew this when he ordered our course here. Why did he do that? I can't beleive he didn't knew what the consequences could be... and then would play some cover up game afterwards... That's not like him at all."

They were all looking at Yeoman Blackbird. Because of her position and because of both Kheren's wives in a coma, she alone, of all people, would know about the Captain's intentions or orders or any possible explanation to this mystery.

The Amerind woman simply returned their blank stare with her own dark eyes.

Then, they all looked at the only other person left who might possibly know or understand something.

Executive Officer Neil Stanley Redding.

"I suspect he did know the consequences of coming here, Sirris, given his final orders that we return without him." Redding mused. "But I don't think you understand Klingons very well. The fact that the Enterprise C died protecting the colony itself held very little meaning to them. It was the way they did it, taking overwhelming odds before going down, that is the stuff of Klingon legends." 

"We didn't 'die gloriously' for their sake... point taken, Commander."

He shrugged.

"Regardless, the very fact we survived the battle means they could have done it themselves. As far as their concerned, We just stole their kill. Off the record, Blakely, I agree with you; but our personal feelings must be set aside as we do our job. They say 'cover it up,' then that's what we do. Anything else is to think we know better than every one else above us, and I'm just not that sure that's the best way to make decisions."

"Aye, Sir," the blonde woman said. There was little conviction in her tone, more like resignation. But she was a Starfleet officer and she would behave as one.

He took a deep breath and stood up.

"Very well then; we shall join the Polaris in Fluidic Space and toss our fate to the currents of another universe. Given the nature of this decision, it will be on my order alone that this is done. Since it won't be possible to allow any of the crew to remain behind that don't agree with it, no general notice will be given."

"Aye, Sir," they all said as one.

"Since we are not in a hurry to warp out anymore, we have twenty-four hours to cover our tracks before the Klingons come into sensor range. In that time we have two objectives; One: cover our tracks. We need to find a way to scrub this area clean of our presence here. When are ready to leave, I don't want more than background radiation left in this area and a few scattered particles. Find a way to make it work, people."

"If we cross our warp and impulse trails with thrusters only within this whole timeframe, we will have enough time to break up those patterns sufficiently so as to make them effectively unrecognizable accross this whole area," suggested Patricia Blakely. "I can work with Lieutenant Snow to plot the best flight course in this area to achieve this. Moreover, moving on thrusters only will considerably reduce our presence to their sensors."

"Removing all traces of the battle would take too much time and effort for us to accomplish," then added Valencia irksos. "But if they only find Undine traces, they will only be left with what appeared as it truly was; the result of some internal conflict spewing out of the confines of their space."

Redding continued after them.

"And two: close the gateway to Fluidic Space behind us. They can't confirm anything if they can't follow us... and I'm sure they will try. If there's any way possible to do this, find it,.. and by any means necessary."

He paused looking around at the faces in the room.

"Our course is set so, if you have any complaints, keep them to yourselves. But I'm always open to constructive criticism. So if you have anything of value to add, now's the time."

There was a brief moment of silence before the assistant chief science officer spoke with a frown on her dark brow.

"Closing such a vast aperture can only be done one way, Sir: with a massive ouput of energy. The only way we could possibly do it with the ressources that we have would be to enter the rift and then, once on the other side, sacrifice our spare warp core by detonating it with every and all the quantum torpedoes we have on board simultaneously."

"And that, Sir, would register instantly on the Klingons' sensors..." added Elisha Leône,  "and those of every other sensor grid oriented properly from here to the other side of the galaxy.... and on the other side as well, in Fluidic Space. Not a 'covert action' to be sure."

Redding listened intently to his officers "Well, at least Starfleet would know we were successful in covering our tracks." He said with a bemused look.

"Detection is for the most part irrelevant, they already know where to look and will find something when they get here. If anything it will back up the idea it was infighting between them OR that we died gloriously in battle."

"But I do believe I have another option for closing the rift.. or at least an idea." Redding was always a bit hesitant suggesting ideas involving science or engineering solutions. Being from the 23ed century holodecks and multiphasic shields were hard enough to grasp.

But if it's one thing he did understand, it was Transwarp theory. 

"What if we create a static Transwarp bubble around the aperture using the warp core as a focusing point/anchor for the effect? and then collapse the bubble in a controlled reaction that should collapse it into a pit point 'hole' between the two dimensions."

Redding demonstrated this simply with his hands, ending with his hands clasping together.

"This effect already happened aboard the USS Enterprise sometime around star date 44161, everything inside the bubble was crushed or destroyed, their not sure really, but the point is we may be able to duplicate this effect but on a 5 fold scale using our Transwarp drive."

"It shouldn't destroy it, but no ships will be using it any time soon, and it may be possible in the future to reopen it as well." Redding let them think his idea over knowing that what he suggested might not even be possible.

Irksos, was an astrophysicist; Blakely was a starship propulsion specialist; they instantly grasped what Redding was talking about. The look and the nod they exchanged spoke as clearly as their words.

"Big Bang theory will agree with your proposal ,Sir," the black woman said, especially if it has been demonstrated once. The trick would be to clear away before getting caught ourselves in the collapse."

"It might at worse knock out our transwarp for thirty minutes, the time needed to restart it again after the full energy release, " added the blonde engineer. "But our standard warp propulsion, requiring relatively much less energy, would remain operational for at least several seconds; enough to clear away a few million kilometers."

"The added benefit," then said acting security chief Mrriish, "is that the Klingons will not be able to rreopen it anytime soon; unless they eitherr develop Trranswarp drrive or sacrrifice the warrp corre and all the torrpedoes of severral of theirr ships... weakening significantly any thrreat of purrsuit and confrrontation."

At that moment, the ship's intercom came alive.

"Bridge to Commander Redding! Baoule here, Sir. Our long range sensors are picking up a faint signal, bearing 180 mark 125, closing in at warp 9.965. ETA twelve hours."

Everyone in the ready room knew what lied at those coordinates; the Klingon Empire.

"They must be burning up their engines to go that fast with Vor'Cha attack cruisers," Blakely understood immediately. "They're on a no-return run."

"But Birrds of Prrey can't keep up such a pace, even with overrtaxed engines, " the Caitian woman declared. "They will not have theirr escorrt squadrrons when they'll arrrive."

"And this also means they are desperate to catch the Horizon," Marleena Sirris concluded, " for obvious reasons."

Elisha Leône then looked pointedly at Redding."

"Sir, the sensor suite of the Horizon is much more advanced than the best ones Klingons currently have; this means that, for the moment, they ae not yet aware of us... and will not be for the next six hours."

Redding stood up.

"Then proceed with the area clean up immediately. Use the Delta fliers if necessary to speed up the process. Mirrish I want you to have a fail safe in place in the event the warp bubble fails, this would include using our own warp core if it comes down to it."

"Aye, Sirr. We will prrepare the jetisonning of the rreserrve warrp corre along with all ourr complement of torrpedoes except forr one full salvo. Lieutenant Irrksos basic prroposal will follow if ourr firrst attempt fail with the main warrp corre collapsing effect you prropposed," the felinoid woman answered Redding.

He then looked to his engineering team "Sisko and Blakely, you know your assignment. Let Mirrish and myself know when its a go."

Aye, Sir," answered Sisko in turn. " I suggest we also use all the other auxillairy crafts we have along with the Flyers. This would accelerate the clean up procedure by a factor of three."

"Agreed, make it so. All but Lt. Leone are dismissed."

As everyone went to their assignments he spoke to Leone.

"Lieutenant, I'm requesting you to take a shuttle along with Mister Moore into Fluidic Space to see if you can raise the Polaris and get an update on her siltation. The element of risk is high so I wont order you to do it, but your the best qualified for the job. Please feel free to ask questions or make suggestion before answering."

There was barely a wrinkle on the gree-skinned face as the young chief of operations pondered what was asked of her. Then she took a deep breath and looked straight into the big man's eyes.

" Risk is our business... isn't what Captain Kirk once said?" Elisha said. "I joined Starfleet to make a difference in this universe with my own life, Sir. I'm ready and eager to serve."

A smile then crept on her plush lips.

"And if the Undines object, I know Mister Moore will fly us out fast and safe, just like the last time."

"Moore's a undisciplined character to be sure, but I've learned over time that their the best at doing things others would rightly back away from. But my patience only goes so far, I'll not tolerate disrespectful treatment of a fellow officer." Redding said with a serious tone.

"Not to worry, Sir; managing unruly males is what us Orion females are most famed for," she said with a smile to melt a planet's core.

"I sure you can handle yourself, but if a situation becomes disruptive, I expect you'll inform me."

"Aye, Commander," she said more seriously but still with the shadow of the seductive smile on her lips.

He gave her a half crooked smile of his own.

"I'm glad you stepped up for this assignment, Lieutenant,. Good luck out there."