Preparations for departure : USS Horizon

"Out of the question!"

Ensign Blackbird startled hearing the uncharacteristic outburst from her usually poised commanding officer. In fact, he had been his usual stony self since their return from the mission briefing in Fleet Captain Samji's office... until she brought one particular subject to his attention.

"Sir... the governor was especially... insistent and uncharacteristically... polite about the request."

Captain Kheren stood up abruptly and went to the transparency that allowed him to look out at the imposing starbase they were anchored to and at the unending field of stars spread beyond it's ringed, disc-shaped structure. From here, he couldn't see the USS Phoenix; despite her several hundred meters of length, she was comfortably berthed inside the starbase's docking area, like all the other ships of Lotus Fleet did... all except the immense one and a half kilometer long USS Horizon he commanded. For a moment, he looked out, saying nothing. Then, without turning from the vista outside, he spoke again to his yeoman.

"Is Commander Sisko aware of this... request?"

"Negative, Sir... well... at least, not from me, Sir."

Kheren tapped his combadge.

"Kheren to Commander Sisko."

A soft, warm voice answered him.

"Sisko here, Captain."

"Commander, can you spare a moment and come to the poopdeck?"

Despite being familiar with the captain's fondness for old Human naval terms, Miramanee Blackbird could not refrain from letting an amused smile cross her lips. The peculiar sailship term the Andorian used to name his ready room was well known to his crew; yet, it always elicited amusement to those who understood the reference, confusion to the others. She knew this was intentional; her commanding officer was also fond of keeping his people open-minded, alert and inquisitive. And despite his cold, aloof demeanor and inexpressive face, he was not above some humor in his command style... even when he himself failed to understand it. At least, that's what he said.

At this moment however, she knew he was not in a humorous mood at all.

In the middle of the spacious captain's office, a form shimmered and then coalesced into that of a middle-sized man with dark brown skin, black short cropped hair and beard and intense clear eyes with a small crease on his nose between his eyes. He was wearing a commander's grey, black Starfleet uniform and a small but elaborate earring dangling above the three golden pips on his red collar. The voice of the apparition was the same as the one that had answered the Andorian over the comm channel.

"I'm sorry to come to you through the holographic grid, Captain; I hope you don't mind... but Tess is undergoing recalibration with our grid and I don't want to interrupt it or leave her alone during this procedure."

"That will do fine, Commander. How is Tess today?"

"She is fine, Sir, thank you for asking. We have some trouble still confining without loosing any part of it the extreme complexity of her matrix to even our impressive holomatrix grid; even the massive computers we have on the Horizon are far below what her original computer  was on the Nemesis. We will manage eventually but it is a slow, delicate process."

"And only the beginning, if I understood your project correctly," added Kheren with a nod.

"Yes, Sir... and the easy part. We do have now considerable data and experience with sentient artificial lifeforms in general and sentient holograms in particular. Tess is more complex as an artificial lifeform than even Doctor Joe of Voyager ever was, born out of a living starship computer with no equal in this galaxy since V'Ger... Fortunately, the Horizon's computer network is as powerful as that of any starbase. Just... slower. Now, we are still far from having a portable holo-emitter like the one the Doctor got from the 29th century; giving her an actual physical form that would contain all of her programming and let her experience the full range of life, beyond what even Captain Data's positronic android body could..."

"If anyone can give her a 'life" of her own, outside of her original starship body, it is you, Commander," said Kheren with another nod.

"She says she is quite happy just to to be free now from her 'old' body and especially from the mad Khan AI that... shared it with her... and very grateful to all of us. In the meantime, she loves being part of the Horizon... even if it makes her feel... err... fat."

Kheren stood frozen, not comprehending. But the Amerind woman in the room with him struggled to refrain from giggling.

"Commander, I called you here to discuss something of a personal nature concerning you."

Sisko's hologram frowned at this and nodded.

"The Horizon Children."

"You know of their presence on the starbase... and that they will soon be coming aboard, as the colonists we will bring to their new home beyond the anomaly."

"Yes, captain. They attempted to contact me through a private subspace channel even before they arrived at Starbase Lotus."

"I see..."

"Sir, if I may make a personal request; I would like to avoid any... encounter with them as much as possible."

"They want to meet their... Prophet," the Andorian said with a tone of voice that said all about what he thought of the idea.

The voice and facial expression of Sisko spoke of the same feeling.

"Their... Prophet is dead. In fact, he never was; he was a lie, a fabrication of fanatic manipulating minds to lure them to a false promise. I am Joey Daystrom Sisko, Starfleet Commander, Engineer, cybernetic specialist and a son of Earth and Bajor; nothing more, nothing less... and nothing else. I beleive only in the true Prophets, those of whom my grandfather is the last chosen Emissary. I want nothing to do with the cult of the Horizon. I told them so... and I consider the matter closed... Sir."

"I hear you, Commander. As commanding officer of this ship, I grant your request and will give orders to ensure it. Your engineering section of the ship will be off-limits to them as well as the officers deck and the officers' messhall and recreational areas. Communication to you will be blocked unless you initiate it yourself. If one still manages to come to you and bother you, security will be at your disposal to free you from such... harassment."

"Thank you, Captain."

With a mutual nod of understanding, the holographic emission cut off and the image of Sisko disappeared. Kheren turned his silver eyes towards his yeoman.

"You may give back the Commander's answer to the governor... along with my orders."

"Oh joy..." grumbled the copper-skinned woman. Then she straightened herself. "Sorry, Sir. Affirmative, Sir."

"At ease, Ensign; it is not with you I am angry with."

"But she might be angry with you, Sir."

"I am looking forward to it. I love a good fight."

Returning behind his transparent aluminum desk looking as if it was cut out from a bloc of ice, the Andorian sat and lifted his eyes and antennae to her.

"Anything else, Yeoman?"

"Doctor Nasaro-Myth sent... another... reminder about your scheduled check-up; and there is the new chief of security and tactical..."

"Ah yes... send him here as soon as he is cleared by ship security. I look forward to meeting this... Jem'Hadar Starfleet officer."

As she nodded and turned to exit the office, she paused at the doorway to shoot a crooked smile back at him.

"We do seem to attract the... oddballs on your ship... if you don't mind me saying so, Sir."

The dark-blue, silver-eyed Andorian pointed to his antennae moving with their astounding in and out motion.

"Comes with the territory."

***

Lieutenant S'Tan Solius approached the Captain's ready room and awaited permission to enter. Due to the rush of the ship's prior mission and the temporary loss of her commanding officer, the Romulan felt that a dialogue was needed between the two men. He also brought with him a PADD of suggested improvements to computer systems to prevent sabotage and unauthorized access to systems. His recent experiences in Fluidic Space also allowed him to see his fellow officers in a new light, and he wanted to apologize to the captain for his argumentative position at the prior mission's briefing.

Upon entering he stood at attention and stated,

"Sir, I'd like a chance to speak privately about my actions during the events prior to your abduction by the Undine."

Kheren with one hand on his desk terminal locked his door and showed him a seat in front of his desk with his other callused hand. 

"What's on your mind, Lieutenant?"

"I would first like to apologize for my argumentative comments during our prior briefing. I am not used to...openness on a starship. Subterfuge and secret plans are what I have dealt with for my entire career. So to hear such a blunt plan made my instincts tell me that someone was going to betray us, and usually, my fellow officers would have agreed with me. This was not the case...It made me assume the officers were experienced, but naive. But after seeing the entire ship refuse to back down once you were proclaimed missing, I can see that it is not naivety, but hope to make the universe a better place. I am embarrassed to admit my initial opinions of the crew were so flawed."

He paused for a moment before continuing. Kheren could see in his body language as much as in his eyes and tone of voice that he was not only sincere but possibly a bit awed at his own realization. It was something he could easily understand.

Long ago, while still a young angry duellist with blood in his eyes and fire in his heart, he had met a Vulcan at the ruins of P'Jem...

"There is no need to apologize, Lieutenant. A briefing is there to have us all benefit from comments and even arguments to try and make the best decisions before things happen. That is why we try to have them; because when we are on the bridge, when things are happening,  it is time for orders and execution, not comments and arguments."

He too made a pause, but it was only to give time for the point to come accross in the other's mind. This point... and the one that followed.

"As for preconceptions, misconceptions... we all have them, even as we try to live by our Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations ideal. I am sure you are aware many among us made the same mistakes about you as you did about us. You are not the one to be embarrassed; after all, you came from a homogeneistic culture where there is but one law, one rule one way of life. We on the other hand, with our IDIC philosophy, we should know better; yet, we too often fall into the same trap as you did... Only our rules and vows give us a chance to find our way back on the right track. I would state that it is rather a credit to you that you could do so as well as any of us and in so short a time. That is where your new pip comes from by the way."

"Aye, Sir. Thank you for the commendation. I am sure you are aware how Romulan Naval promotions work. Someone must die for you to advance. I am glad to see I no longer need to be ordered to schedule accidents." He said it with a joking smile, but the truth was that he had done it a few times....even without orders.

"I thought only Klingons worked that way," Kheren said with genuine surprise. "But just so you know, I do not beleive in accidents; there is always someone responsible, if only by negligence."

It sounded as much as a warning as a confession.

The Romulan smiled, "No, Klingons generally just shout at each other and one will kill the other outright. We Romulans tend to not want others to know we've split blood. That is not my way any longer. However, that experience did allow me to come up with these..."

He handed the Captain his PADD.

"While you were with the Undine and during our R&R, I took the liberty of playing the role of a White Hat. Our computer systems are highly protected from the outside, but they aren't nearly as strong if someone could implant themselves in a cozy nook of the ship. I've made minor hotfixes to holes, but I felt for the other hundred or so weaknesses, I should advise you of them and request permission to improve security. I am not sure anyone other than myself would ever be able to access ninety-nine percent of them, but it's never too late to improve systems."

"I am always in favor of productive initiatives, especially aiming at improvements, Lieutenant; but I am also aware of the typical engineer love to change things," Kheren said as he took the PADD and looked at it for a few minutes.

Finally, he handed it back to the Romulan.

"Good work, Lieutenant; looks fine by me, on a security standpoint at least. This is something of a particular concern to me as of late... But then again, I'm no engineer. Confirm validity with Commander Redding; he's much more competent at engineering than I ever could be. Proceed if he also gives you his green light. Please also advise everyone in your department about those modifications once they are to be implemented. And do not forget to inform ship security as well. Our new chief is due to arrive shortly; I understand that he may be of the very thorough kind... so, he might get nervous if he finds things not in the ship's manual."

"Very well, Sir. I will talk with Commander Redding when I get a moment. As for the new tactical officer, I'm sure he'll learn quickly that the manual gets thrown out the second the ship undocks... I suppose I will loaf about on the bridge until the briefing."

Kheren's antennae lowered right at the Romulan and his voice became just as threatening.

"Mister Solius; it is you who have to learn that, on this ship, you never throw the book away... unless and until you get to the last page; and then, and only then, will your job be to write the next page. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?"

The Romulan was dumbfounded. He was not expecting his off-the-cuff comment to be taken so seriously. "A...Aye Sir.  I never meant any disrespect. Nor did I mean to imply that we follow no rules. I simply wanted to express the idea that the manual does not have all the answers, and rigid inflexibility in certain situations are a recipe for disaster. Just look at our last mission. Only by disregarding the manual did we save you and the Undine. The manual would have told us to follow the direct orders everyone seemed to be ignoring and return to starbase. But that doesn't mean I want to fly around pirating civilian freighters because we've gotten rid of the manual. I know at least that much."

"That is exactly what I mean when I say, don't throw the book away until the last page... and then, it is time to write the next one."

Composing himself once more, the Andorian spoke with a softer tone but no less serious.

"Would have I done what you suggest when I lost my first command, you, I, this whole universe, would not even be here today. You, Lieutenant S'Tan Solius, a Romulan defector, you were selected among how many excellent and more experienced officers to be nothing less than the chief engineer of the flagship of the elite division of Starfleet. Do you know why?"

"I've never put much thought into it, Sir. I am a soldier. I go where I am told."

His response was short, but truthful. He never really had questioned ship placement orders before. It really wasn't his place to think about such things. He just assumed that Starfleet felt safest with him on a ship that couldn't vanish without thousands knowing instantly.

"I will tell you then; it is because you are not only an excellent engineer and an experienced officer, but because you are not only Starfleet, you are also  Rihannsu... Romulan; that means you are disciplined and crafty. The trick for you now will be to know how to be one and the other; use everything in the book... then go beyond it if it is found still wanting. That's what my crew has learned to do... as you saw the last time."

Kheren nodded to him in dismissal.

"Food for thought, Chief. Carry on."

"Aye Sir." The engineer responded, turning to leave.

After he was dismissed, the engineer turned and exited the room, taking his place at the engineering console, examining the system diagnostics

* * * *

Aron'Son waited impatiently on the transporter pad on Starbase Lotus for the Horizon to beam him aboard. Despite the delay however, he was still impressed by the security protocols in place aboard a Federation ship. He had not seen such precautions anywhere else he'd been on Earth, even Starfleet Command did not have such strict security. The Jem'Hadar leveled his gaze at the transporter operator who attempted to give him a friendly smile.

"I'm sure it won't be much longer." 

Aron'son's only response could only be described as an annoyed grunt, but then a beep came from the operator's console.

"Ah, the Horizon is ready to beam you aboard." 

The transporter beam took him then and when he materialized he was greeted with another sight he'd never seen before. Standing in front of him was a giant Andorian woman with two security officers behind her, and off to the side a human woman whose racial makeup he did not recognize. It was the Andorian woman who greeted him.

"Please stay where you are, Ensign." 

"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" Aron'son asked her coldly. "My proper rank is Lieutenant." 

"Of course," the woman said with a smile "My mistake. I am Lieutenant Tyvya, acting chief of security." 

"I am Lieutenant Aron'son, I am assigned as the Chief of Security of this vessel." 

Tyvya's tricorder beeped and she looked up at him.

"So you are. Welcome to the Horizon, Sir."

Aron'son responded with a nod and the human woman spoke up "Lieutenant I am Ensign Blackbird, Captain Kheren's yeoman, he would like to see you. If you'll follow me Sir."

Aron'son stepped down of the transporter pad and fell into step behind the woman as she led him down the corridors of the largest ship he had ever been aboard. He didn't even know Starfleet made ships of this size. The Horizon would dwarf any Dominion vessel, and he suspected outgun them as well. 

"What do you think of the Horizon, Sir?" Meeramanee asked attempting to make conversation with the unusual officer

"It is the largest ship I have ever seen. Even my people do not have ships this large." 

"She is big, but I'm sure you will get used to the size; and the computer can help you navigate."

"Indeed...what nature of name is Blackbird? It is unusual..for a Human" 

"And it is not even the real name of my ancestor," answered the copper-skinned woman with a smile, semingly unconcerned with the abrupt change of subject... as much as for the startling fact that he was Jem'Hadar and a Starfleet officer. "Wash-Ing-Guhsa-Ba, Chief Black Bird, was the leader of the Omaha tribe, the first one of the North-American plains to deal with the White tradesmen somewhere in the eighteenth century on Earth. The native tongue and thus real name were lost with time... Only the translation to the old English language remained when his descendants, my forebears, grew in the new society that developped there afterwards."

As she guided him into the nearest turbolift, she ordered it to deck 1 and then returned the question to the grey-scaled officer.

"Is Aron'Son a genuine Jem'Hadar name or did you adopt it for our convenience?" 

"You are of a unique heritage compared to other Humans I have encountered, but I have read Human history and know that your ancestors were treated dishonorably," Aron'Son commented before answering her question. "My name is that given by my First when I hatched, so it is the name I bear. Jem'Hadar do not have ancestors, each First is responsible for naming the young... as I once did." 

Miramanee nodded gravely despite her smile.

"There is a very old saying among my people; when you look behind, you can only stumble forward."

They exited the turbolift and she led her new crewmate around the rim of the vast bridge of the Lotus class capital ship.

"No ancestors... that is something our captain share with you, I was told. You two may have more in common than even he or you or anyone else might yet realize. Born of the same animal spirit my ancestors once might have said..."

They stopped before one door where she activated the chime.

"Come," said a deep, soft, yet powerful voice from beyond the sliding panel.

The black-haired woman stepped before the entrance to speak.

"Lieutenant Junior Grade Aron'Son reporting for duty, Sir."

"Thank you yeoman; let him in."

She stepped back to let the door slide close behind the Jem'Hadar. He now stood alone with the commanding officer of Lotus Fleet's flagship.

Aron'Son examined the captain of the Horizon as he stepped into the room. Clearly the man was Andorian, Aron'Son knew what they looked like, but this man was unlike any Andorian he'd ever seen. The man's eyes themselves appeared to be unseeing, but Aron'Son knew that was not the case and he suspected the large blue-skinned man before him saw many things that others did not. Perhaps this assignment would be more challenging than he had initially believed. 

"I am Lieutenant Aron'Son Sir, I have been assigned as the Chief of Security of this vessel." 

Kheren looked at the imposing officer before him with more than professional interest. Having trained on holodecks against simulated warriors of his kind, he was keenly aware of their power and inbred warrior nature. What Andoria had produced through millions of years of evolution and thousands of years of societal developpement, the Dominion had achieved through genetic engineering... and then beyond; Andorians had turned out as controlled homicidal killers in a ritualistic society where even one's children or parent could slit your throat for just a pierceived slight... but Jem 'Hadar were professionnal soldiers through and through, obedient, efficient, perfect teamplayers and unburdened by social or familial attachment, emotion or even the need for food and rest.

Having one, the only one assuredly in the whole of the Federation, report to him as a genuine officer to assume tactical and security on board his ship was an unheard-of opportunity and privilege. 

And, in the current circumstances of his upcoming mission, one he was not going to waste.

Thus, he did not offer Aron'Son any food or drink; the study through food choices and the simple fact of taking or not some during an official meeting would be lost on him.  Neither did he invite him to sit down; Kheren knew they never did unless seriously hurt. Their famous "bug ship" attack cruisers didn't even have seats. This one certainy would, as Starfleet vessels were manned almost entirely from seating arrangements and his file stated that his uniform was not a gift but one he earned through Starfleet Academy like all of them; but that would most probably be the only instance that he would. Kheren for his part could stand for hours without any discomfort, like any Andorian; yet, here he remained seated. As born soldiers, Jem'Hadar were said to be most responsive to hierarchy; thus, he had to feel as much as to know who was in charge and remaining seated before a standing subordinate was a clear sign of authority he sure would have caught on.

Between the both of them, children of a warrior people, the Human custom of handshaking would have been ackward at best. Kheren was not in the habit of doing it in the first place unless directly invited to; and so, he did not. For a moment, they eyed one another from accross his desk, covered and just out of reach of any sudden move. All in all, it made this first meeting a very cold, austere one to be sure... but at the same time, a significant, respectful one, like that of two duellist sizing up each other and finding without a word where each other stood in relation to the other.

Finally, the commanding officer of lotus Fleet's flagship spoke.

Tell me, Lieutenant; what do you know about Starfleet's Rules of Engagement?"

Aron'Son was silent momentarily as he evaluated the question, but quickly came to the conclusion that his new commander was testing him.

"Directive 010: before engaging alien species in battle any and all attempts to make contact and achieve non-military resolution will be made. Directive 012: When engaged in conflict with an unknown species all attempts are to be made to resolve the conflict using the minimum necessary force. Regulation 46C: if communications are being monitored no transmission on an unsecure channel is to be made. Regulation 191 Article 14: in combat command falls to the vessel with tactical superiority...." Aron'Son stopped there attempting to ascertain if his answer had been satisfactory. "there are many more Sir...though I am certain you know all of them, but if it is required I am able to continue to cite them. " 

"I am sure that you know the wording of them all perfectly," the Andorian agreed. "But what do you know of them? What does it all say to you?"

Aron'Son thought about the question, he was a soldier, because he was bred to be one and many of the things he had been taught at Starfleet Academy had gone against his very being. Yet, he had agreed to uphold them, and follow them just the same. The more he learned about the Federation the more he began to question all the Dominion had ingrained in him. He had seen it before, his own First had acted strangely before being killed on a battlefield, and there were stories of other Honored Elders revolting even leading their entire squad in revolt only to be put down by other Jem"Hadar. Still, Aron'Son had given his word, to uphold the values these people held dear and he would do so...to the death.

"Sir, I was well versed in the values of the Federation long before I was...exiled. My people are bred for war, trained to know our enemies better than we know our own self. The Federation, and by extension Starfleet wishes peaceful coexistence even when it's enemies would have anything but. It is as foreign a concept to me as anything I have ever encountered. In spite of that, I have sworn to uphold those values even when they go against my very existence. I still have much to learn about the way of things here, but you asked me what I know. Those are things I know." 

Kheren of all people, as a mutated Andorian master duellist ostracized and self-exiled from a species, a culture and a society of violence he had rejected, certainly knew what going against the grain meant. And as a Starfleet officer, he knew what a warrior's word meant to oneself; and this one had been literally made as one.

"Fair enough, Lieutenant. Starfleet's Rules of Engagement are what we strive unheeringly to follow on board this ship. And here it is in a nutshell; always follow the path of reason; talk to resolve a situation rather than fight, because violence is the last argument of the imbecile. Then, if you do have to fight, always follow the path of life; avoid rather than check; check rather than hurt, hurt rather than maim; maim rather than kill. For all life is precious and none can be replaced."

His four oculars darted directly into the eyes of the powerful newcomer.

"Do you think you can do that, Lieutenant?"

"Captain, all that I was is no longer. My so-called gods abandoned me, my squad was taken away... I was dead. The Federation and Starfleet have given me another chance to attain victory even if it is not through the way I was bred for; and so, I will uphold that way because victory is life." 

"Yet," the Andorian retorted, "once a Master said that, since we will inevitably lose the final battle against death, can any lesser victory mean anything after all? To that, my personal answer is; yes, if it means life for others."

Looking up at his new officer, Kheren gave him a nod.

"As long as we agree on that, then welcome aboard, Lieutenant Aron'Son. Do you have any question at this time?"

"No Sir, I will seek a briefing on current procedures from Lieutenant Tyvya." 

"She will make a fine assistant to you, Lieutenant; she's quite familiar with the ship and the crew, her protocols and my style of command from the days I myself started like you on the flagship Lotus. So are all the senior officers in your department in fact. Whatever you need to know or do, she and the rest will be there for you. Not quite a Jem'Hadar squad... but they have worked as a team for the past five years; you should find them adequate. See you on the bridge at launch."

"Aye Sir."

Aron'Son came to attention out of respect for his commander, and executing a perfect about face exited the room.