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+ | **Location: main bridge, USS Republic** | ||
+ | |||
+ | The confusion on Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you, Chief." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth nodded grimly. "I see," the captain offered. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Despite the ordeal of the last few hours, Leon felt an easy smile cross his face. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Snyder stood up from the helm station, the COB was already in motion before the captain finished the order. "Leave it to us Captain," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Location: Cargo Bay 2, USS Republic** | ||
+ | |||
+ | The cargo bay's stillness was broken by the telltale whine of a transporter matter stream. An instant later, two space-suited forms hit the deck with an uncomfortable sounding thud. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sure thing, Bruce," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Burke coughed as he gulped fresh, albeit recycled air. "I set the station' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seeing Burke' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Could have, but didn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Burke was confused as he felt the tingle of a newly forming transporter field around him. "Wait . . . where are you . . . " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat Hawk shook his head. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Location: Starfleet Headquarters, | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the richly appointed halls of Starfleet HQ, Vladimir Kostya was weighing his options. He'd hoped that Kim Roth would play ball. Why wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next move would be crucial, Kostya knew. He'd have to play things closer to the vest then he had with the Cestus III affair. In that case, he'd relied too much on outside agencies. `Too many variables', | ||
+ | |||
+ | A chirp from the comm. system brought Kostya back to reality. Annoyed, he leaned forward and angrily stabbed at the control to take the call. "This better be important, Purvis!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | //" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya went ashen. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | //" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "1640 . . . that's over two hours ago! You're just telling me this now?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | //" | ||
+ | |||
+ | `Good', | ||
+ | |||
+ | //" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kostya slammed his fist to the desktop. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | //"Not sure Sir. I'll look into that for you."// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rather than answer, Kostya simply punched the channel closed and fumed while the sun from a beautiful San Francisco day flooded through his office windows. The light didn't improve his dark mood. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Location: main engineering, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nat Hawk couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't want excuses, damn it!" Maria Pikita yelled from the upper observation platform, "just get those crystals re-aligned." | ||
+ | |||
+ | She blinked in surprise. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The one and only, darlin'" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pikita blinked. "Why do you want to know? And . . . " she looked Hawk over again, "why are you wearing an environment suit?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No reason really," | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Location: USS Republic, Main Bridge** | ||
+ | |||
+ | John Carter, after relieving Lieutenant Snyder to help Chief Rainier with their guests, was pleased that he hadn't lost his edge as a helmsman. It had been months since he'd actually had to use the controls to steer Republic, but he always wanted to believe that he never stopped thinking like a helmsman. Apparently, he still was one. He checked the conn station' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kim Roth waved her hand casually toward the main viewer. Set course for DS9. Maybe we can hide there for a while, seeing as how I just told our boss to go to hell." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I hear there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth laughed out loud, an emotion she was surprisingly grateful for, considering the last few days. "You might be right XO," she said. "After all, you're already dressed for it." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter smiled. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Location: Captain' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kim Roth sipped at her cup of mocha. It was late in the afternoon, ship time, and normally she limited her use of caffeine, to say nothing of chocolate, but she was a woman without a career, and damn it, she was entitled to treat herself. Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Smoke bleaked in the affirmative. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Is that all, XO?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Across the table, John Carter rubbed the back of his neck, a clear sign that, even though Republic was out of danger for the time being, he was still finding it hard to relax. "Well, I'm still waiting for Hawk's official report on what went on down in Engineering, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kim closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of her drink, allowing herself to smile. "I think you just summed up the man himself." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I suppose so, Carter agreed. Then he mentally brushed the thought aside as his face turned more serious. "In all seriousness Captain, what's our next move? I have to tell you, I don't like the idea of `hiding' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth calmly set her china cup down beside her, on the desktop. "Point taken, Number One, and we're not going to be alone when we do move against Kostya, but we have to get our own house in order first. That means fixing the ship and getting the crew squared, and DS9 is the best place to do that. I signaled them to expect us just after my conversation with Kostya during our Tholian engagement. After that fiasco, there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter nodded. He knew she was right, but the thought of inaction made part of him want to scream. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Roth continued. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Again, Roth nodded. She noted that she seemed to do that a lot in her First Officer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth's explanation was cut short by the door chime. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Zoë looked at Carter, giving the monocular officer a polite nod. "Sorry to intrude ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Instead, Roth waved the young Lieutenant in. "Not at all, Lieutenant," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Zoë put that information at the back of her mind. The wound on her forehead was itching, but tolerable. The medics had enough on their hands with everyone else mysteriously showing up on the bridge all at once. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth rolled her eyes. Much as she disliked the political state of the Federation at the moment, and despite the fact that she'd ignored orders from her immediate superior, Republic' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not for a while, Ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter laughed out loud. "You used the radio?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, Sir," Zoë smiled. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well that should buy us a couple of centuries." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth nodded. "That sorts Doctor Beckett until we can transfer her DS9. I think it's best if we keep that particular ace up our sleeve for now." Captain Roth gave the young Tactical Officer an appraising look. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth nodded. "Fair enough," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter pivoted to look the Lieutenant in the eye. "I swear Lieutenant, this isn't personal. You did a hell of a thing, stepping up when you came aboard, and I do want to thank you for that." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "But we've had nothing but trouble getting anyone other than myself and McTaggart up to speed at Tactical, and frankly, the kid deserves a shot." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Roth nodded. "I agree," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Why the hell not!? . . . Ma' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Aside from Doctors Cromwell and Virtus, is there anyone onboard you trust more than McTaggart?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "No, Captain. Which is why I want him at Tac." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I understand that," the captain affirmed, "but since we can agree that Lieutenant McTaggart is above reproach, and given how fond you are of Mister Forrest, it seems to me that McTaggart is the perfect choice to watch over your favorite Black Shirt." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter nodded, seeing the logic of Roth's position. "So you're figuring?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter nodded, exchanging glances with Zoë, who felt a little like a fly on the wall. Meanwhile, the Captain continued. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter once again folded his arms across his chest. "So, you've already made your mind up about this?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Not at all," Roth shook her head. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter smirked. "Well, I do appreciate that." The XO added. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I thought you might." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Carter turned to Zoë. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Hill, sir?" she asked quite curious. Through all the years of battle, she had seen many different uses for the term, 'The Hill'. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "This ship was the Saratoga?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I hope you're up to making some, Lieutenant." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I can do that. Just let me stop by sickbay first and get myself attended to, Commander. Shall we say, 1700?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||