*sneak, sneak, sneak*
Reckon I can get away with simply posting some more story rather than explaining my absence?
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Chapter 8 - Stiffen The Sinews, Summon Up The Blood (part 1)***********
USS Tigermoth-A
26th July 2395
1205hrs EST
Captain's Quarters
Smithy tapped at the control panel. "Captain's Log, stardate 71417.2. Following a fortnight of.....
delicate negotiation, the Dominion forces have finally accepted that there are Andromedan incursions in their space. Damage from our encounters with the Jem'Hadar ships is being repaired. Sickbay reports that all injured crewmembers will be fit for duty again soon. We've returned to Antares, and once again I find myself heading for a confrontation with our President."
Smithy glanced up as the door opened. "Hey hon'. How far out is he?"
"About an hour." Lisa crossed over to him and dropped onto the couch, staring glumly out of the window. "My parents have arrived on Earth."
Smithy raised an eyebrow at that. "They moving back there for good, or until we win?"
Lisa shook her head. "Dunno. Mum reckoned that they were too close to the firing line out on Ventara, but to be honest I think she's been looking for an excuse to leave there for a while. They've both retired now, so no real need to stay there." She got up and headed for the replicator. "Coffee, strong, hot."
Smithy took the cup from her and sipped at it. "Cheers. Orlatrel sent a report up yet?"
"Yeah. Remember that shot in the last battle? The one that sent us both to the deck?"
"Not likely to forget that for a while. The landing hurt me so much that Al managed to keep me off-duty for nearly an hour."
Lisa smiled, but sobered quickly. "Weakened the tritanium skeleton in the port nacelle strut. Dave is trying to find a free drydock so we can get it bandaged. No chance of a replacement, unless we steal the one being built to fit to the Typhoon."
Smithy pondered for a few seconds, finished the coffee then tapped his comm badge. "Smith to Orlatrel."
"
Orlatrel here."
"Port nacelle strut."
"
Yeah, sent a report up. Was planning to come see you when my shift ends. Any advice on how we can patch it up would be muchly appreciated. I've drawn up a plan of sorts, but it'd be nice to get another engineer's input."
"You planning on supervising the Antares guys?"
"
After the performance last time we let them anywhere near this ship, I'm not letting them out of my sight."
Smithy grinned at that. "Page me when the daft beggars arrive. I'll take a look at the damage then. In the meantime, maybe you ought to put in a call to the production centre and enquire just how long it would take to fabricate a new skeleton. I can't see any kind of bandage lasting too long in a war." He closed the connection, and stood. Immediately a stab of pain went through his knee. "Ugh. I'm gonna have to get Al to up my dose."
"You're already at the maximum." Lisa gently pushed him back down onto the couch. "Maybe we need to make that trip out to Vulcan a bit sooner than planned."
"Not like I can take a month off right now, is it?" Smithy shook his head. "I'll survive. I might not be happy about it for a while, but I'll survive." He got back up onto his feet, testing the joint. The pain had eased somewhat. "I'm gonna go walk it off planetside before the meeting. See you there."
***********
Antares Command Post
26th July 2395
1315hrs EST
Briefing Room
Harriman watched as Federation Council members, Starfleet captains and admirals, SOD captains, Klingon DSF commanders and ambassadors to the major powers of the galaxy slowly began filling the seats. A seriously important crowd. He spotted Lisa in the crush, motioning her over. "Did your husband re-appear yet?"
"Checked in with me five minutes ago, he was waiting for a beam-up." Lisa stared around the room. "Don't think I've ever seen so many politicians in one place."
Harriman nodded. "Maxwell invited them. Apparently he has an announcement to make. Harrison is meeting him at the docking bay, figured I'd leave him to deliver his spying report to Maxwell in peace. Not as if it makes a blind bit of difference what Special Operations knows about Starfleet." He glanced to the door just as Smithy limped in and made his way over. "You alright?"
"No." Smithy shot him a grin. "Business as usual on that front. Look, I have a quick favour to ask."
"About a port nacelle strut?"
Smithy nodded. "Orlatrel is checking with your production department on the build time for a new tritanium skeleton. He's drawn up a plan to bandage our damaged one, but the stresses of combat added to the stresses of transwarp travel are going to seriously challenge any kind of bodge-up. What are the chances of you getting your guys to build a new one?"
Harriman scrunched his face up. "With the work on the Typhoon, the other shipbuilding operations here....I'll try Smithy, but I can't guarantee it before the end of August. And that still leaves you with the amount of time to remove the port nacelle, strip all the components out of the old strut, swap out the skeletons....it's a helluva job."
"I know, I know. But we've got a good crew, we can get all that done in a week once we have the new skeleton. Don't even need an exotic repair dock, just a bog-standard box dock would be fine."
"Alright, we'll continue this later. Looks like Maxwell has arrived."
The three officers took their seats as Maxwell walked past to stand at the head of the table. Smithy watched him glance around the room.
Checking to make sure all your supporters are in the room, Maxwell? I'll bet they are. I've got a horrible suspicion I know what you're about to say."Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I thank you all for attending all the way out here at Antares, and thank Admiral Harriman for the use of his facility. I doubt we'd have squeezed everyone in back at Federation headquarters."
Harriman cocked an eyebrow at that. "I'd say 'any time', but you might think I meant it."
Maxwell paused, sensing the anger buried in Harriman's tone, before smiling. "Always ready with a one-liner, you Starfleet people. I've asked you all here today so the Council can make their announcement to you all. Council Leader T'Preth?"
The Vulcan woman stood, moving to stand at the head of the table next to Maxwell. "As of 1400hrs Earth Standard Time today, the Federation Council will no longer be involved in decisions regarding the conflict with the Andromedans. President Maxwell has full say over how Special Operations fights this war."
Angry murmers immediately filled the room, many from the ambassadors and Starfleet people. Smithy let out a hollow, mirthless chuckle. "Imagine my surprise. And post-war, no doubt those powers will remain."
Harriman shook his head. "Well, it's not like we didn't see this one coming is it? What of Starfleet, then? Are we to submit all our plans for Presidential approval before engaging the Andromedan forces?"
"No, Admiral. Starfleet can do as it pleases. Special Operations will however be leading the attack on the Andromedan forces. That much we are stipulating."
Sheehan vaulted to his feet. "Well, you can be damned sure the Klingon DSF won't be following orders from the Federation President!"
"Captain Sheehan, you are being ordered to return to Earth. Your assignment with the Klingon fleet is over."
Now Smithy was standing, his chair flying back out from underneath him. The pain in his knee was completely forgotten. "On whose authority is Captain Sheehan being recalled?"
Harriman leaned forward. "I'm Sheehan's commanding officer at Starfleet, and I've heard nothing."
T'Preth regarded the officers coolly. "Gentlemen, the order comes from Fleet Admiral Wallace. Do your reputations for disobeying orders that you don't agree with extend to defying the head of Starfleet Operations?"
"Depends on if he's wrong or not." Sheehan shook his head. "Damned if I'm sticking around for this crap. See you out in space sometime, Smithy. I've got a ship to get back to." He stalked out of the room, followed by the Klingon ambassadors.
Thulinuk stood. "I must apologise for my first officer. He should have used many more expletives. I should as well, but I can't think of any right now that do this situation justice." He headed for the door, pausing just before it. "The DSF will link up in co-operative missions only with Starfleet forces under the direct command of Admiral Harriman. That may be the only thing holding the Khitomer Accords in place right now. The Federation Council should consider this a warning of what is to come if they continue on this course."
Smithy fixed Maxwell with The Look. "Just once, I'd have loved to be wrong. But no....you've made your grab for power and succeeded. You've got your little helper in the background, manipulating things behind the scenes. Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if it turns out he really
is behind the Andromedan attack in the first place. Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time he invited invaders to do his dirty work. But I tell you what does surprise me." He turned his gaze to the council. "It surprises the hell out of me that you all caved in so quickly, letting your fear of this situation rule you. You all decided that you didn't want to make the decisions, fearful that you'd get it wrong. So you handed the power to make those decisions over to someone who effectively wants to rule the galaxy. Congratulations. Really, I mean it. Congratulations on tearing down democracy. You've accomplished in one short move what so many dictators and evil-doers have spent years and years trying and failing to do."
***********
USS Tigermoth-A
26th July 2395
1530hrs EST
Bridge
"James?"
Smithy looked up. Lisa was standing in front of him. "Hey hon'. How'd it go after I left?"
"About as well as it could, given how the rest of the meeting had gone. One of the journos there was recording that speech you launched into, it's getting serious airplay on the Federation News Network."
"Can't wait to see the headline tomorrow, then. Maxwell will be attempting to bury it, will be interesting to see what he comes up with."
Lisa dropped into her chair. "Thulinuk and Sheehan took off back to Klingon space to meet up with the fleet. Sheehan resigned his Starfleet commission."
"Smart move. Wallace can hardly threaten him with anything if he's not in Starfleet. Sad, though....I always thought I'd get him back onto the Tigermoth crew roster one day. I take it he's getting a full Klingon DSF commission now then?"
"Yeah."
Smithy shook his head, sighing. "Oh God, what a mess."
"Sir?" Riggs turned to face him. "I've got Council member Shrelen on the comm link. Audio only."
"Wonder what the hell he wants? On speakers, kid." Smithy tapped the control on his chair to unlock the system. "This is Captain Smith."
"
Captain, I must speak with you. In person. It's urgent."
Smithy and Lisa exchanged glances. "Very well. Where shall I meet you?"
"
I can come to your vessel. If you could arrange a quick transport, I would be grateful. They are about to notice that I'm missing. Please, hurry!!
Smithy shrugged, and tapped another control on his chair. "Transporter room."
"
Benton here."
"Lieutenant, tie into the comm system. Transport whoever is on the end of the current call."
"
Aye, sir....tying in. One lifeform, energising now."
Smithy levered himself up. "This better be good. I was enjoying that sit-down."
***********
1535hrs EST
Transporter Room
Lieutenant Broxton tapped in the energising sequence, expecting a normal beam-in. Immediately warning lights began flashing. "What the hell?" He quickly scanned the board. Someone was trying to interrupt the transport. "Oh no you don't, not on my watch." He began engaging the emergency systems.
He glanced up as Smithy entered the room. "Someone's trying to scramble the transport cycle, sir. Compensating."
Smithy joined him at the panel. "You need any help?"
"Think I got it....could use a little more power though, sir."
"Ask and ye shall receive." Smithy quickly headed for the other panel, re-routing the emergency power supply to the transporter. "That enough, or d'you want me to call the engine room?"
"That should be enough, Captain."
Smithy glanced at the panel Broxton was feverishly working on. "Woah....that's not like any scramble I've seen before."
"Yeah....I've never come across anything like this, sir." Broxton tapped deeper into the emergency power. "The scanner lock is perfect, it just seems like we need....well, we're up to three times the normal power draw. Think I've got it back now....right, pattern is in the buffer. Materialising....now."
Smithy turned to the transporter chamber as a shaken and distinctly queasy looking Andorian formed. "Nicely done, Broxton. It was about time we tested the emergency procedures you wrote for the new transporter. Welcome to the Tigermoth, Mr Shrelen. Sorry about the rough ride, it seems someone didn't want you to make it over here."
Shrelen nodded. "Yes....yes, Captain." He straightened his tunic. "I must speak with you about the Council. President Maxwell's influence on them. "
Smithy glanced at the yeoman stationed in the transporter room. "Yeoman, escort Mr Shrelen to the bridge. I'll be up in a moment, I just want to go through the transporter error log with the lieutenant briefly." He watched the two leave. "Something very odd is going on here." He tapped his comm badge. "Smith to bridge."
"
Lisa here."
"Better have the crew recalled. I get the feeling we'll be needing to get moving soon. Tell Orlatrel we'll need to shore up that nacelle strut on our own, we can't wait for the Antares repair crew. Also, I need to talk to Dave. Secure line."
"
Riggs is on it."
"Cheers, see you in a couple of minutes."
***********
1545hrs EST
Bridge
"It all started a few months ago. Council members who had been opposed to the President having so much power, with the Council having so little say, began to change their minds for no apparent reason. Soon the President had the majority of the Council on his side. And then...."
"And then, he began to push through his plans." Smithy leaned against the bridge rail, eyeing Shrelen with a searching look.
What the hell aren't you telling me? Lisa was perched on the rail next to him, Shrelen in her seat. Most of the prime shift bridge crew were back at their stations. "So, he has the Federation Council under his thumb. He has SOD as his own personal warship fleet. And the ghost of Robert Metcalf hangs over all of this."
Shrelen's antennae wiggled in surprise. "Robert Metcalf? He's the man you were talking about in the meeting earlier?"
"Yep."
Shrelen tilted his head. "But he's dead, isn't he? I thought
you killed him."
"So did I." Smithy sighed. "I blew the guy up with an overloaded phaser. You'd have thought that would be enough."
"Nearly killing yourself in the process." Lisa shuddered at the memory of seeing her husband that badly injured. "If he left an echo of himself when he went into the Nexus, and that echo was able to make it back into normal space....then he might well be even more dangerous than he was before."
Smithy rubbed at his knee. "He will be. You heard him after his little trip to the Nexus. He wanted me to tell him how to use the power it gave him. His echo will
know the truth of that power." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm not ready to face him. Not yet. Riggs, is Dave ready on that line yet?"
"Five minutes, sir. He's currently in a meeting with the production engineers."
"Alright, that'll be important. I'll wait." Smithy turned to Shrelen. "Well, you can stay here....but I wouldn't recommend it."
"No, that's quite alright Captain. I'll rejoin the Council, see if I can persuade a few of them to turn away from the path we are on right now."
Smithy nodded, tapping his comm badge. "Transporter room, beam Mr Shrelen back to the Council ship at Docking Bay 14."
"
Aye, sir."
Smithy watched Shrelen dissolve, before turning to Lisa. "What d'you think?"
Lisa shrugged. "I'm not sure. Something about Shrelen just doesn't ring right. And you're thinking the same thing."
"Shrelen was hiding something. Something big." A thought popped into his head. A horrible thought. "You don't suppose....oh, bollocks to it. I need to talk this through with Dave. Winchester."
"Sir?"
"Call up the transporter log. The beam-in and beam-out of Shrelen. Send the files down to the computer terminal in my quarters. Take a look yourself, see if anything....
odd jumps out at you. Riggs, when Dave is available route the call down to my quarters as well. Elkins, as soon as all personnel are aboard take us out of the dock." He swung over the bridge rail and headed for the turbolift, Lisa following a half-step behind.
***********
1555hrs EST
Captain's Quarters
Smithy stabbed at the computer terminal controls, calling up the files Winchester had sent down. "That's the moment Broxton locked in on Shrelen, and immediately the Level 4 warning starts. Power draw required is three times nominal....signal degradation negligible....makes no sense. If someone was using any normal kind of transport scrambler or blocker, we'd get signal degradation. At least five or six percent. The beam out....completely ordinary. And sending is harder than receiving for these machines."
Lisa looked over his shoulder at the screen. "So what about abnormal kinds of scrambler?"
"Any equipment powerful enough to give the 'Moth's transporters this kind of trouble would need a decent power supply. And the internal sensors on the Antares Command Post would start jumping up and down and screaming if they spotted anything like that. And whatever it was wasn't using the Antares power core because
our sensors didn't pick up any major power draw. Which leaves me hoping that this biocode I'm about to look at is completely normal." He tapped away at the terminal. "Well....it
does look normal. That's a relief."
"What were you expecting?"
"I'm not sure....I'd have known it when I saw it." Smithy leaned back in the chair, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "I'll let Winchester continue to look at it, maybe he'll spot something untoward. He's a bit better at dissecting these logs than I am."
The comm system chirped. "
Bridge to Captain Smith."
"Here, Riggs."
"
Admiral Harriman on secure channel, code six."
"Thanks." Smithy tied into the comm system. "Dave, how'd the production meeting go?"
"
Not bad, we're on target to finish the Typhoon by early September. All our other projects, plus the re-work of some Special Operations ships are on-time as well. Why the need for a coded line to talk about starship production?"
"I need the coded line for the next subject. One of the Council members, Shrelen, was here. He told me that a few months ago many of the Council members who opposed Maxwell changed their minds. No reason, they just simply did a one-eighty."
Harriman frowned at that. "
Strange that they'd do an about-face like tha-....wait, who? Shrelen?"
"That's the guy's name."
"
There's no-one on the Council by that name as far as I know, unless he was appointed in the last two or three months."
Smithy sat back, and smiled. "Well, there you go. This Shrelen is appointed to the Council, and suddenly folks are queuing up to be on Maxwell's side. You're the one who likes to see links between events like that."
Lisa tapped her comm badge. "Smith to Winchester."
"
Winchester here, ma'am."
"Log onto the Federation Worlds Wide Network, see if you can get any info on Shrelen."
"
I'm on it. I also have the computer running a few processes on that transporter log. I'm seeing something odd, but I don't have anything concrete to report yet. I'll get back to you as soon as the computer finishes up."
Smithy gently tapped out a rhythm on the table with his fist. "If this Shrelen is up to something, then why would he ask to meet me?"
Harriman shrugged. "
Keep you off-balance? Mis-direct you?"
"He didn't do his homework, then. Not as if James is easy to throw off." Lisa glanced up as the door chimed. "Come."
Winchester hurried in. "Sorry about this, sir, ma'am. But I thought you should see this now." He switched the other screen on, and slotted in the IL chip that he'd been carrying. "Sending a copy over to you as well, Admiral. This is the transporter log. Take a look at the energy signature in the buffer."
Smithy peered at it. "It's a tad high, isn't it?"
"These peaks here and here
are far too high." Winchester stabbed at the screen with a finger. "The energy levels shouldn't be that high, not for a single person transporting."
"
What are you saying, Winchester? That something more than just Shrelen was being transported?"
"Well, here's where it goes from 'odd' to 'really odd'. I had the computer play with the data, trying to generate some kind of 'picture' of the energy. I wanted to see it in a form that would make comparison with other energy forms easy. I found no matches in the library, except to a sketch. A sketch drawn by the commander." He split the screen in two, placing the energy signature on one side and calling up a file on the other half.
Smithy heard a sharp intake of breath next to him. He stared at the picture. "The pattern you keep seeing."
Lisa stared at it for a few seconds. "Yeah....it's exactly the same."
Winchester nodded. "I'm not going to pretend I know what this means, sir. But there is definitely more to Shrelen than an Andorian politician."
Smithy nodded, tapping his comm badge. "Bridge."
"
Riggs here."
"Lay in a course for Earth. Maximum transwarp." He waited for Riggs to relay the order to Elkins. "Engage." He turned back to the screen. "Back soon, Dave. I've got to check something out."
"
Alright. Make sure you're ready to head back out at the drop of a hat though. No telling when or where the Andromedans will strike next."
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Not entirely happy with it, but it'll do for now. I may be revising part of it at a later date.
