The Crack Of Dawn

 He opened his eyes to the blurry image of the alien hybrid woman's face.

''Captain? Captain Redding?''

''Yes... yes, Ensign... Tessa?''

The numbness of his body took longer to dissipate than the one in his mind.

''Are we through, Ensign?''

''Affirmative, Captain; we are twenty-nine point five-three days away from the galactic barrier of the Milky Way galaxy. ''

That jolted him up and widened his eyes.

''One month away? How come we have emerged this far? Or have we flown all this time...''

''Negative, Captain; this is the current duration of our return trajectory, not the actual distance, which is zero point forty-seven light year at current full impulse speed.''

He looked at her as if she was speaking Klingonee without a universal translator. 

''Full impuse? Have we damaged warp propulsion?''

''Negative, Captain; in the area we are currently moving out of, subspace has been destroyed by the detonation of an Omega particle.''

The stunned expression was frozen on his face.

''Omega... the Intruder?''

''Affirmative, Captain; the Iconian ship from the Andromeda galaxy sacrificed itself to buy time.''

He stood up on wobbly legs but raised a hand to refrain her from jumping to help him. He straightened his uniform and looked suqarely at the holographic officer.

'' Report, Ensign; but first, do we have a fix on the Alsea's position? ''

''Affirmative, Captain; the Alsea is in tow, along with the Achilles, condition blue.

''In tow? The... Achilles? What the hell...''

''Sir, before I give you a full report... or revive the crew... you need to come down to the brig.''

She whisked herself away, her face blank yet a bit pale. Blinking for a moment, Redding looked at the other stasis pods still closed and active around him, then straightened his legs to walk out of sickbay, straight to the nearest turbolift.

When he reached the security area of the flagship, Tessa was waiting for him, right in front of an activated cell.

In fact, it was but one of several in the circular brig area of confinement that were now occupied. Redding glanced at the one behind Tessa and recognized the one and only Cardassian in Starfleet calmly sitting on his bunk, looking straight at him. In the others, just as calm and composed he found the most celebrated Vulcan of Lotus Fleet in Vulcan clothes and the most respected Bajoran commanding officer in the fleet.

But his attention focused on the one before the holographic officer. The one in Andorian civilian garb standing there, hands behind his back, he knew all too well.

''Kheren? ''

''Captain Redding ''

''What the hell are you doing here? What happened? ''

''I am here for my report, Captain; and to face the consequences. We all are; including you.''

“Of course, we will face consequences.” Sorripto chimed in.

Still sitting calmly on his bunk Sorripto was the least agitated of the bunch, and the only one who might give off the aura that he was enjoying being confined.

“Starfleet hates when people go against orders and end up saving the galaxy or something.”

Looking around at the rest of the confined crew Sorripto lightly smiled.

“They hate it even more when those people prove they were right to do so.”

David couldn't reach the controls! There they were, mere centimeters from his outstretched fingertips, but every time he extended closer they retreated away. Stretched away, as if a convex lens were passed between his fingers and the LCARS panel. And he had to reach the controls! He had to stop them!

Glancing back quickly David looked again, for the hundredth time it seemed, at the menacing swirling mass that coalesced in front of the ship, drawing her down toward it. David knew what it was, but the name was frozen in his memory, not quite coming to the fore to be thought of. Or even spoken. But this maelstrom wanted him. He could feel its menace, as if sight were thoughts. 'I have you now', it whispered. And the growing tendrils, like impossibly long skeletal hands reached out of the swirling edges toward David, passing through the view screen to snatch him away! Rogers screamed it terror.

With a jolt of fear David awoke, sitting up forcibly and rammed his forehead on the forcefield surrounding him. With a curse he tried to massage his head, but the forcefield prevented even that close of a movement.

Looking left and right he studied his surroundings. The bio-bed was against the rear wall of a sick bay, to his right were dozens more beds, each with occupants encased in stasis. Realization slowly dawned on him as he became aware of where he was. Detained in sickbay on what could only be the Horizon.

"Hello!', David croaked. Then louder, after he cleared his dry throat. "Anybody home?"

Light shimmered an instant and coalesced into the hourglass form of an Ensign with singular features on her face belonging to at least three species; pale skin and hair, bony ridges on her nose, antennae on her head, silvery eyes. Her voice was oddly juvenile and professional at the same time.

''Commander Rogers; I am Tessa. You are aboard the Horizon. Your vital signs are now stable and you need only some rest to complete your treatment. I must inform you, Sir, that you are to be maintained under restraint, until Captain Redding orders your transfer or your release.''

Her eyes glazed for a brief moment, then she smiled thinly.

''Which is now, Sir.''

The entire sickbay, full of occupied stasis pods, all except for one, dissolved with the familiar tingling of a transporter beam. He found himself into a small but comfortable cell in a large circular brig, like those usually found on stations rather than ships. His first glance from his bunk showed him Tessa between cells, one containing Sorripto, another Syntron, a third Jureth and the last one Kheren. Ensign Tessa and Captain Redding were facing the Andorian.

Sorripto waved at Rogers when they made eye contact.

“Well look who finally decided to join us.”

David glanced once around the sparse, standardized cell he now occupied while he rubbed his temples briefly. When the Cardassian spoke Rogers cracked a small grin, relieved to see the others alive and well. He stepping up to the pale line on the cell floor, a visual reminder of the force field just inches beyond it, and replied to Sorripto.

"I guess I'm late to the party, huh?", David joked. Then with widening eye's he spat the question lingering at the back of his mind. "And the Planet Killers?"

"We won." Sorripto responded.

Looking around the cell and gesturing that the rebellious few were now incarcerated.

"I mean we did the right thing and they threw us in cells. I feel like the two of us have done this before."

Kheren chuckled.

''No one threw me here. I walked in and had to order Ensign Tessa to confine me.''

Although he was replying to Sorripto, he was looking straight at Redding.

Smiling, Sorripto continued.

"As for the planet killers, they were destroyed. There was some self sacrifice, a giant hole in spacetime, and then a long slow trip back. I hope you did not miss all the fun."

''Well I for one certainly did.''

That came from Redding, looking at each one of them in turn, frowning. While they were conversing, Tessa was showing him her PADD and speaking softly, all the while keeping her eyes on him. He looked down a few moments more on the display she had given him, then straightened his shoulders, looking straight ahead as if trying to see through the hull.

''Ensign; deactivate the cell doors.''

The glow was barely off that he turned around and headed for the entrance.

''To the main briefing room, if you please gentlemen.''

It didn't sound like a request.

He didn't speak a word nor even looked at them all the way to the large meeting room. At it's antiquated triangular table, he took a seat with Tessa behind him while the three captains, Jureth, Syntron and Kheren, occupied the side to his right and the two last officers, Rogers and Sorripto, sat on the left. he placed the PADD on a lighted square and a holographic image floated above the table. It showed the Horizon towing both the Alsea and the Achilles, while receding behind were three tubular husks drifting farther and farther in their wake.

Redding sat straight, looking finally at each one in turn once again.

''Alright; who's going first?''

Syntron gazed stoically around the table for a moment before he spoke.

“From an outside perspective, it would appear that we acted capriciously. Yet it was the orders emanating down the chain of command that were erratic and out of synch with even the most fundamental constructs of federation directives. It is why we determined that our only course of action was to follow the overall intent of Starfleet and the Federation of Planets rather than obey orders that were in opposition to those intrinsic policies and guidelines.”

His gazed focused directly at Redding.    

“We garnered verifiable evidence of sabotage imbedded into federation computer systems that resulted in false threats confronting our galaxy. That misdirection masked the true menace arriving from beyond the Great Barrier and put a perceived threat from the Iconians in its stead.  Paradoxically, it was their ultimate selfless sacrifice to assist in our efforts that allowed us to eventually defeat three lethal doomsday mechanisms intent on destroying everything in their path upon crossing beyond the Great Barrier.”

Redding produced a PADD and slid it like a professional bartender right in front of the Vulcan.

''We need that evidence on record.''

With the same practiced ease, Kheren produced another PADD from the table and slid it between Redding's hands.

''And here is the log extract of your ship regarding the entire confrontation, unedited and purged of any corrupting influence, courtesy of Ensign Tessa. I am sure Captain Jureth can do the same from the Alsea's logs and Commander Rogers from those of the Achilles. All three will corroborate our personal reports and each other.''

Redding looked at him with his trademark smirk.

''This is required at a board of inquiry... or a court martial.''

''And whoever is responsible for this whole scheme undoubtedly will alter it all once submitted. So I want you to personally review them and have a back up hard copy, before it happens.''

So saying, the Andorian's silvery eyes swept around the table.

''Anyone else wants to chime in?''

Sorripto spoke up pointing at the PADD.

"If you want to confirm what we are saying compare the records we produced to the official ones you have access to. I found several instances of tampering and edits done by someone with knowledge of Federation codes and log parameters. If I was not so experienced in, shall we say certain aspects of computer manipulation, I might have missed it."

Tapping the PADD Sorripto continued.

"On a personal note, whoever edited the information left a distinct signature to make it appear as if I was the one behind some of the less than legal activities. This could only be done by someone who knows enough about doing the job, but is also familiar with the specifics of my old case files from that little incident with the Horizon Children cult."

Sorripto pointed to each of his cohorts one at a time.

"The fact is that other than saving the galaxy and all your lives, our little adventure revealed a traitor with some of the highest levels of access."

 David chimed in then after the Cardassian finished his sentence.

"This 'traitor' wasn't alone. They had assistance. The amount of nonstandard equipment I found covertly installed on this ship was not put there by one so-called high rank officer. A capable engineer on par with myself or my esteemed wrenchtwister here would be needed to install the tactical override equipment."

Rogers concluded while gesturing toward Sorripto.

"Furthermore, that non-standard equipment is available for inspection, at your convenience Captain, in the Alsea's main cargo bay."

Redding again smirked. But his eyes were like slivers of ice.

“And so you guys found all that out.''

Kheren's antennae curved. His tone matched that of the flagship captain.

“We are Starfleet officers. And these four are among the best, if not THE best officers in Starfleet. ''

Redding lifted an eyebrow towards the Andorian.

''This also could be a conspiracy theory from mutineers to save their hide.''

''Indeed, it could. But it's not. We have the hard evidence to prove it. That's why it is crucial that you see and evaluate this evidence. The first thing these very efficient conspirators will do will be to destroy it. Or worse; twist it also to fit their plans.''

Redding looked at them all in turn.

''And what are those plans?''

“At this juncture we may not know what their end game may be,” Syntron replied. “However, we did unveil evidence of sabotage during the training mission for the newest Lotus Fleet cadets that were aboard the Alsea.”

"The fact is we do not have to be here." Sorripto added. "Like he said, we are the best in Starfleet and we showed that over the past few weeks."

Gesturing with his thumb to the rest of the officers, Sorripto continued.

"We stole a starship, rescued another one, made peace with an alien race, and destroyed not one... but three planet killing machines, thus saving all life in the quadrant. Do you really think we would be sitting here if we wanted to stay on the run?"

Sorripto's fist hammered the table with a thud, but in a fluid motion ending with his finger pointing right at his accuser.

"Do you think we are sitting here right now if it was not obvious that the information which was just laid out was not more important? Think logically for a moment! What is more likely? Did a room full of some of the most decorated, respected, and talented officers Starfleet has had in decades suddenly all became incompetent liars after proving we are better than that, or are we telling the truth?"

Redding smirked, looking him straight in the eye.

''Exactly what my... admiral self pointed out to both Rear Admiral Kotari and Fleet Captain Samji.''

He then looked at each other in turn. he was not smiling anymore.

''But what was needed was more than just votes of confidence. What was needed was evidence. It could not be found quickly enough without raising alarms... and opposition. Especially when you people flew away with the single most crucial piece of hard evidence.''

He gestured to the projected image of the Alsea.

''Still, we were confident enough in you all to find it and bring it back; hopefully with that fine ship as well. I was not sent here to arrest you; I was sent here to retrieve you... or whatever you would leave behind. Help you if possible; so that you could help us do the unthinkable.''

He stood up, straightened his uniform and stared at them with a hard, unblinking stare.

''Defeat Starfleet.''

The astounding declaration reverberated within the thoughts of the Vulcan for a while before a response coalesced.  

“An old Terran adage comes to mind,” Syntron began. “Out of the frying pan, into the fire.”

He stood up and fixed his gaze directly at Redding.

“Are you proposing that a mere handful of Lotus Fleet officers are now tasked with the dismantling of Starfleet?”

 David interjected Syntron's question with a statement of his own, before Captain Redding could reply.

"Captain Redding, I am concerned with the use of Kheren's and my ship in your plan!"

Rogers referred to the particular case of salvage law that, in this instance, allowed both himself and Kheren ownership of the derelict Achille's when they had boarded her.

"Not that her use wouldn't be helpful, mind you. Just that, currently, the Achilles' Gamma computer is unavailable. I put her in a diagnostic loop in order to save two programs."

David glanced once at Kheren, who also knew what those two programs were.

"If we wish to use her full functionality, and I suggest we should, then I would need some assistance to retrieve one of those programs and delete the other, if possible."

Roger's shifted his gaze toward the other engineer in the conference room and added to his comments.

"I don't quite have a solution to this ... dilemma yet, and could use some assistance if possible", David said slightly abashedly. Glancing again toward Kheren, David finished with a small shrug. “Unless your original course of deleting both is still your advice, Kheren."

The Andorian's silvery eyes were as cold as ice.

''If there is no other option. One is but a copy of an actual living person; the other is the imperfect ghost of a dead tyrant. But for the sake of anyone's sensibilites, I would not oppose other safe and secured means than simple deletion. Regardless, despite my, now revealed still active rank, I am not the one in command here. ''

He glanced at Jureth who, like Syntron and Tessa, knew full well the implied risk, but ended his stare of both eyes and antennae on Redding. The tall commanding officer of the flagship frowned as he spoke.

''First, answering your question, Captain Syntron; what you delineate would be... illogical. But, a handful of officers, at the right place at the right moment with the right tools, could succeed in a surgical strike against the enemy directly; if that enemy is located... or goaded into revealing itself sooner than it wishes for. That, is what Admiral Redding, Rear Admiral Kotari and Fleet Captain Samji are working on. Then it would be up to us.''

He looked at Kheren next.

''Whoever schemed all this wants to bring Starfeet on a war footing; and currently succeeding. At first glance, this whole alien intruder threat was a red herring; something to occupy Starfleet with... and three doomsday machines at the edge of the galaxy certainly would be quite the distraction, at worse; at best, succeed in depleting Starfleet significantly. Their real plan then could be set into motion.

He then stared at Rogers.

''Whatever their plan, if it involves mobilizing most ships far away from Federation Space, it must involve also some space action of their own. So, we need the means to intercept whatever they will bring up. The Horizon and the Alsea alone however might not suffice. Commander Rogers, we need the Achilles. A heavy siege destroyer is an unexpected bonus no one anticipated; certainly not our mysterious adversary. It's our ace-in-the-hole; especially that, even with it's massive firepower added to the powerful versatility of the Alsea and my formidable flagship, we are still short of one ship for a full task force.''

Kheren then perked his antennae.

''That could be arranged; if you lend me one of your Delta Flyers, a few very specific people... starting with Ensign Tessa.''

No one frowned more at him than the holographic officer and the flagship commander.

''Captain Kheren; even the Polaris would be hard-pressed to keep up if the opposition is overwhelming. A mere shuttlecraft cannot be the fourth ship of a task force.''

''No, but it can get me to one.''

Syntron processed the dialogue as it transpired. It evoked an idea.

“The Phoenix was anchored in space dock. Its crew was ready to proceed on a test flight before we were summoned to that inauspicious meeting that resulted in the resignation of Kheren and I.”

He glanced around at the officers around him for a moment before continuing.

“It would seem logical to bring this vessel into use in some capacity if we are contemplating a mobilization of available starships before proceeding on a mission of impossibility.  For example, it could initially aid Captain Kheren with procuring a fifth vessel… even if were to merely shadow a Delta flyer. Beyond that it could serve in a range of functions deemed essential as the layers of the mission begin to unfurl.”

Redding's brow furrowed.

''Officially, the Phoenix has been given a new commanding officer. I don't know who. I left before it was announced. Most probably someone outside of Lotus Fleet. The only experienced commanding officers the fleet still has available are Captain V'Rell Gould and Captain Felez Connora'tu; both unfamiliar with such a new class. And both were suddenly drafted by Admiral Redding and assigned to his... special logistics division, whatever that is... before they could be given any ship command.''

He looked at Syntron.

''The Phoenix would be a formidable asset. But if some Starfleet brat is already in the command chair, getting her might involve more of your... shenanigans, gentlemen. But the Fleet is well aware of what you did. They won't be caught flat-footed again. And that, if the crew would welcome you, Captain Syntron. Officially, your are all still dangerous mutineers and going against legitimate orders from Starfleet Command.''

The familiar smirk returned.

''That being said, I might be able to get you... close enough, if you wish to try.''

“Resuming command of Phoenix is not a priority for me nor is it relevant,” the Vulcan stoically countered to the human. “I will serve in the mission in whatever capacity is deemed most suited.”

By the reactions deciphered, he recognized that he needed to elaborate.

“However, that ship is too invaluable not to at least attempt to determine its status and location. Once that has been established, what is paramount is that whoever is delegated to serve as its captain is competent to skillfully manage the challenges ahead for this impending mission. It must be someone that understands these complex circumstances and has the knowledge and experience to utilize the capabilities of that Avenger-class Star Cruiser in conjunction with the other members of this emerging task force.”

"The person you just described is in this room" Sorripto interjected. "Sounds like we are stealing another ship for you Captain."

Redding nodded to the Cardassian.

''Whoever it will be, he will be exactly the opposite of what you said, Captain Syntron. He will be fully in the service of whover is leading this whole scheme.''

He then pointed a waging finger at Kheren.

''And you, I hope your scheme is not to get the Horizon back.''

The Andorian's antennae curved inward.

''Comes what may, the flagship is yours, Captain Redding, for as long as you want it; you and those who expect you will bring us back in irons."

Syntron contemplated the scope of what they were facing. Calculating their odds of success did not bode well considering their current status. He faced Redding once more.

“We may want to contemplate adding new personnel into this endeavor,” the Vulcan proposed. “Not knowing who sides with the nefarious saboteurs, we may need to carefully sift through those we may trust and perhaps reach out to those who may yet be untouched by the corruption.”

Redding sighed.

''Those would be few and far between... except for my crew, a few you may know personnally well enough... and those instructors and cadets that were used in the scheme at the very onset of this whole thing. Oh, and virtually all the Andorians in Starfleet, who resigned right after you did, Captain Kheren. Many tend to forget your people is a very gregarious one.''

He looked at Syntron with a renewed smirk.

''It also seems that many Vulcan officers found the Federation' s... war footing to be, of course, quite illogical. More than a few requested those long leave of absence they had accumulated over the years.''

The Vulcan nodded an acknowledgement as he responded.

“To use an old Earth idiom, perhaps from among that small number available, we cherry-pick a select few to serve aboard each vessel, once a ship and crew has been established. This could be determined by need and skill sets of the chosen individuals.”

Kheren'antennae wobbled in synch with his words.

''To do this right under the nose of Starfleet will be quite an undertaking in itself. And the more people we try to involve, the risk of being found out increases proportionately.''

He looked at Redding.

''Ensign Tessa told me my wives are aboard. I'll take them along with the Ensign; and those four cadets that we spoke of which so conveniently also joined your crew. As soon as the Horizon gets back to the Hromi sector, we'll be on our way. With your leave of course, Captain Redding.''

''Where to?''

Kheren's silvery eyes shone.

''Where it all began.''