As Cmdr Harkleroad sat in his quarters thinking about his ship what was about to ensue a voice came over the intercom, "Commander we tracking a
Dominion attack group on long range sensors...there course is headed directly towards the Mariner, Falcon, and Nazgul." The commander rubbed his forehead, and mumbled a curse under his breath. This Dominion group
could only mean trouble. "Harkleroad to the bridge, I will be on deck immediately." The commander dashed out of his quarters and to the turbolift. As he walked onto the bridge he said, "Let me see them!" On the view screen appeared to long range scans of a Cardassian warship accompanied by two Jem'hadar vessels. Falling back into his chair the commander started counting the ratio of ships on his fingers. Five Dominion ships bearing in on three USC ships...one of which is crewless!! He had a big decision to make. Should the Victorius enter Dominion space
to try and draw the Dominion group off of their intercept course with Mariner, Falcon, and Nazgul in the hopes the FAdm Cliff's reinforcements would join the Mariner et al. in time. If the Victorius could just lure the Dominion ships off their course in time, the integrity of our vessels could be protected.
"Helm, change course to take us inside Cardassian borders, lets try and get those Dominion ships to notice us instead of the RAdm Kbee. Open a comm channel priority-one to admirals Kbee and Cliff. Admirals, there are 3
Dominion vessels one Cardassian and two Jem'hadar heading through Cardassian space towards the Mariner's current position. I am entering Cardassian space into sensor range of the Dominion group in the hopes that
they might pursue me and give the MOC group enough time arrive at the Mariner's position. I will stay at safe distance from the Dominion group! Harkleroad out."
*******************************************
Rear Admiral Kbee entered tenforward, looked around for a brief moment, then came to the bar and to Noname, asked for a drink and asked him how he was. Noname turned around and answered "Would you prefer to know the truth, or would like a quiet, relaxed evening".
Kbee looked unsure and answered "Something tells me whatever I say its not going to be a quiet relaxed evening".
"As always, rear Admiral, your perceptiveness does you credit." Came the sarcastic response, that never matched the look of innocence in the eyes of Noname. "Look around, and tell me is their anything other than the usual that you notice".
"Not really". Said Kbee, as glanced around, looking more puzzled, by the second.
"Of course not, Rear Admiral. Everything is just as it should be"
Kbee knew something was wrong, but also knew that Noname would not explain until he had finished playing his little game.
Noname continued, "Of course you are absolutely right Rear Admiral, look to the front, to the left and to the right, nothing is wrong at all. It has all been my imagination. Excuse me for being so forward, but I suppose it must be the strains of life that a barman has put on him.
It was obvious Kbee was tiring of Noname's game, but realised that ordering him to say what was on his mind would offer no reward, so she carried along with the game, saying "And just what strains might they be Noname"?
Of course, they are nothing compared to yours, RAdm I spend my working life in here, each and every day listening to the happy chatter of a happy crew. But wait a moment Kbee, do I hear an end to that happy chatter coming from the happy crew. Well don't worry, RAdm I'm sure its just a temporary lull and will start up again, in a moment or two.
RAdm Kbee, no longer able to put up with Noname's teasing games leaned across the bar quietly said "Listen to me Noname, if there's something wrong on this ship, I've got every right to now, and your going to tell me. Do you hear"!
With a false look of hurt concern Noname began "O'h my dear RAdm Kbee I really didn't mean to upset you, perhaps your nerves are a little short. Have you tried this-" Quickly he turned around and reached from the shelf a bottle containing a thick purple-red liquid. "Its called Romulan Retail Whip-lash" Its very good for the nerves. In actual fact I'm not sure why I haven't sold more of it lately".
Calming herself, RAdm Kbee began again, "Are you trying tell me that my crew are getting 'Jumpy', is that it Noname"?
"Trying to tell you what's wrong on your own ship" said a shocked looking Noname "I would never be so forward. O'h tell me you forgive RAdm Kbee, I would never presume to say such a thing. Then with his usual fair for the theatrics he said quietly almost in a whisper "However, if there was such a nervous condition sweeping the crew I would have to ask myself what the cause of it could be. But of course, me being just a simple barman wouldn't really know what the cause could be, could I - that is of course unless it was something so large and noticeable that even a humble barman like myself couldn't miss it. But whatever could it be that has put the fear of God into your loyal crew. Let me think…"
RAdm Kbee jumped in and asked "Is it the Jem'hadar that the crew are scared of"?
Noname's face lit it as he said "Oooh, I just love playing twenty questions, but remember RAdm Kbee. I can only give a straight yes or no. And that was your first question and the answer is no - nineteen to go"
RAdm Kbee looked angry and said "Are you going to answer me, what's going on, Noname? And if you don't tell me I'm going to pull your transistors out stick them somewhere where you'll regret them being"
Noname looked as if he was about to laugh and said "No and that's 18 questions left. Don't you find these games such fun RAdm Kbee".
"Alright Noname, we'll play it your way, but don't I get a clue"?
With eyes twinkling with laughter Noname spoke "Well, if you promise to be a good girl , and not have any more trauma-tantrums, or threaten to do rude things with my transistors anymore I'll give you a clue".
"All right, then what is my clue, Noname". Asked RAdm Kbee.
With his eyes twinkling with mischief and amusement, Noname was certainly living up to his reputation as being the original Peter-Pan, the boy who never grew up. Speaking in a voice similar to a Father speaking to a naughty child he said softly "Not until you promise. Go on say after me 'I promise not be a naughty little girl, I won't have any more temper-traumas, or threaten to do anything naughty or rude with Nonames transistors - O'h and one more thing I promise to eat all my vegetables, especially those yummy Brussel sprouts".
At first RAdm Kbee looked as if she would burst with anger but then saw the humour of the situation, began to laugh then repeated the oath.
An ensign standing behind stared as he heard the RAdm repeating the child-like oath. He motioned to his crew members and they joined him, by the time she had finished taking the oath the whole of crew in tenforward had joined them. All stood in amazement, listening to the RAdm and watching Noname relish every moment.
As soon she had finished the oath Noname said "Ok. Here's your first clue, and remember you only have 18 guesses left. As he spoke a silence fell in 10 forward, and with a look of false hurt on his face he began. "Your crew are the most superstitious crew I have ever worked with in my life. Since we found the Falcon adrift I've heard nothing but jinxes and curses talked about in here…
Before he had chance to continue the crew began to interrupt saying "I said that but I was only joking". Another member said "Of we were joking, nobody believes in rubbish like that, do we". Within seconds every body was arguing with him, telling him that he was mistaken, or had read more into the situation.
With a convincing look of embarrassment (Convincing to all except those who knew him well) he said "Well, RAdm Kbee, it seems as if I must have been wrong again. Ladies and gentlemen and of course any officers here present, to make amends for my misinterpretation of the subject the drinks are on the house".
With a cheer everybody made for the bar, but just before they arrived Noname glanced at his watch and announced "O'h I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive me, but my shift is ended here, now, so the drinks on me are cancelled".
Followed by a few soft items thrown at him he ran for the exit.
RAdm Kbee smiled, and said "Well somebody's got to pay for them, the drinks are on me, even if it is going to be expensive". - But she knew that that thanks to Noname she had "gotten of lightly".
***************************************************************
"Commander Harkleroad, there are 7 Cardassian warships joining the group
that we are approaching....that makes the total number 8 Cardassian
warships and 2 Gem'Haddar in the Dominion group heading towards the
Mariner, Falcon, and Nazgul." Cmdr Harkleroad sat in his chairjust staring
at the viewscreen and tapping his fingers together. There was a dead
silence on the bridge of the Victorius, except for the beeps and tings made
by the computer.
"Okay, this is what we are going to do!" Cmdr Harkleroad stood up from the
command chair and walked over to tactical and began pressing the console.
On the viewscreen appeared a tactical map. "Admiral Cliff ordered us out
of Cardassian space, he didn't say which to take to get out! We're going
to head towards the Mariner's postion through Cardassian space...we'll get
there faster and we'll hopefully disturb the Dominion group headed in the
same direction!" The commander pressed the console again and the
veiwscreen zeroed in on a Cardassian outpost between the Dominion groups
postion and the postion of the Mariner. "I want you to prepare a mark IV
probe and configure its sensors to transmit information rather than
recieve. I want the probe to mask itself from being internally scanned by
the Dominion ship. Also, I want the main deflector configured to sweep the
Dominion group and the Cardassian outpost with and obvious...I really don't
care what you bounce against them I just want them to think that it means
something. As soon as you've sweeped the Dominion vessals and outposts,
slow the Victorius to impulse, launch the probe, and then immediatly
accelarate towards the Mariner's postion." The commander pointed to his
operations officer signally him to take the bridge and begin following the
orders.
Commander Harkleroad took a walk through the ship ending up in the
arboretum. In the arboretum he sat down under an oak tree and stared out
the observation window. He doubted that this stunt would stop the Dominion
ships but he hoped that it might confuse them.
"Commander, the Dominion ships are changing position to head towards our
postion," the voice came over the intercom. "Is the probe ready to be
launched?" the commander asked the voice of the intercom. The response
came back, "Affirmative." "Okay, slow the ship to impulse and launch the
probe...let's see how curious they are!" "Probe launched sir...preparing
to return to warp speed." The commander looked out the window and saw the
starscape speed past him and he knew that the Victorius was now at warp
speed again. The Dominion had been curious enough to change course would
they be suspicious enough to think that probe was dangerous? "Bridge, keep
me informed of the postion of the Dominion group...let me know immediately
if any of those ships change course towards the probe or the Cardassian
outpost. Also, let me know the course of Admiral Cliff's fleet. I will be
here in the arboretum. Harkleroad out."
***************************************************************
Having paid for the drinks and talked to many of her crew members Kbee returned to the bridge. She was still trying to work things out with the Vorta. It was a times like this she really disagreed to be a half vulcan, half bajoran. The two sides loved to argue and today they seemed to be holding their own little war. Kbee sat in her ready room, thinking hard. Captain Taylor was not only a man under her command he was a close friend. She had lost too many friends and was not about to lose another. And Lt. KeHLi, a dedicated officer, another friend. Her mind drifted back to that of tenforward. The loss of hope, the thoughts of betrayal if the Federation did not win through, the thoughts of giving up. Restless and weary, Kbee rose and looked up out of the window at the USS Falcon. As she watched the ship follow orbit with the Nazgul, the pieces began to fall in place.
She knew that the USS Falcon was not here when the incident occurred,
she knew of the deception of the Dominion. Captain Taylor was a pawn
in a game, only the Dominion were losing, even if they did not know it
yet. Kbee swung round, smacking her fist against the wall, as she did
so. The pain made her reconise her next movmove.
Walking out onto the Bridge, she saw her crew sat at their positions. Their faces showed no sign of expectation but the atmosphere showed it instead. Commander Gibney left the command chair, and handed her the PADD he had been reading. Walking to her seat, Kbee nodded at Captain Sati who was also present on the bridge. Kbee studied the PADD closely. She sighed, remembering her conversation with Toby - the Commander of the Victorius - warning not to go into Dominon space. But he decided that the saftey of Nazgul, Falcon and Mariner outweighed that. She shook her head as she read on. The Fleet Admirals Task Force had changed course to save the Victorius. That meant another few hours with out any assistance.
" Open a channel to the Nazgul and the Jem'hader"
"Channel Open"
" Greeting Vorta. I have a trade a agreement for you, which I hope you will find to your advantage. In return for the entire crew of the USS Falcon, you can have me."
Amognst his laughing the Vorta spoke, " And what advantage would that provide me?"
" I am a Rear Admiral, I have higher security clearence. A more noble prize, don't you think?"
A long silence. Then "Agreed. Transport has begun. For your benefit, we will wait until all the crew are accounted for before we take you".
Kbee left the bridge and went down to the Transporter room. "Beam me to the Falcon's Bridge."
****************************************************************
She materilised the left of the command chair as Captain Taylor arrived on the right. She nodded at him, " welcome back."
Lt. KeHLi had returnred to her post at Ops gave out a report, "All crew present and correct. "
Kbee gave a sigh of relief. Then a Dominion transporter whisked her away.
****************************************************************
As the FAdm seat in his Command Chair, Sir in comming message from the
Victorius, They have changed course and are on a intersept course to the
Cardassian Fleet heading toward the Mariners battle group, Dam him the FAdm
thought out loud, Tactical display on screen, the FAdm looked up, and saw 8
Cardassian Warships and 2 Jem'Hadar ships heading that way, one Jem'Hadar
ship near the Marnier,Nazgul, and Falcon, 2 to one, they can handle that
till we help the Victorius, Send a message to Adm A, Tell her to hang on we
need to help the Victorius, Open a Channel to the Victorius, Channel is open
sir............Victorius, Return to Federation Space, We will change course
to help you, it would be better if you can get to the Marniers task force we
should be there within the Hr, that is a Dir Order.........the Channel
Closed, Open a Channel to DS9, Channel is open sir......This is the FAdm,
send the other 3 ships to our location, DS9 acknowledged the signal
.........scan for any other Federation ships in the
area.........scanning........
****************************************************************
Main Page
Next Page
