From: ueh@pool.sunyit.edu (Eric Hausgaard)
Subject: ST: 3GEN  [6/9]
Organization: State University of New York -- Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 04:41:37 GMT

     "I was only trying to express my concern for..."  Konnu
ignored the voice as the turbolift came to a rest, and the doors
hissed open.  He began a fast walk towards the sickbay.
     "Uhhh...  What?!"  Jack mumbled.  As she opened her eyes, she
found a Klingon looking at her.
     "Sorry, I did not mean to startle you." Konnu apologized.
     "Uh, that's okay...  where are we?"
     "Just outside sickbay.  Your hands were burnt."
     "Thanks for reminding me.  I can't feel my fingers...  ouch." 
     "Here we are."  Konnu set the Captain on her feet.  "I would
not embarrass you, by carrying you into the sickbay." 
     "I don't understand."
     "You must show your strength and walk into the sickbay by
yourself." 
     "A Klingon thing right?"
     "Yes Captain.  You bear your pain well."
     "I'm trying to."  Jack tried to straighten her tunic but found
her hands completely bandaged.  "Get word to Mr. Slike to proceed
to Starbase 643 at Warp 2."
     "Aye, Captain."  Konnu turned to leave.
     "Lieutenant, thank you."
     "Qapla'!"

     Konnu made his way to his newly assigned quarters.  The
windows looked out towards the back of the ship, and provided a
view overlooking the shuttlebays, aft torpedo launchers, and the
room was filled with the reddish light of the Bussard Ramscoops on
the Warp engines.  Dark, red, and with a slight musty smell.
     "Just like home."  Konnu said to no one.  The room was
sparsely furnished, but that would change when he received his
personal belongings from the `Picard'.  He wondered if his brother,
Krador, knew that he survived the Borg...  They would have quite a
celebration during the Enterprise's layover.  Then there was the
unpleasant business of the memorial services that had to be planned
for Martinez, Wolffe and Morden.  That would have to wait for the
moment.  Konnu was tired.  When the Borg had appeared, he had
already completed two shifts in the Picard.  The Klingons had
chased the Borg for five hours after that, until meeting the
Enterprise...  Konnu hadn't slept for over a day.      Konnu paged
the bridge and relayed the Captain's instructions to Maverint.  He
yawned a growl and moved towards the bed.  He grunted in disgust. 
A mattress!  He flung the mattress off of the bed and lay down on
the hard surface underneath.  The Federation certainly made
comfortable beds...

     Konnu awoke to the sound of the alarm he had programmed to
wake him.  It was 0600 hours.  It was too early.  He sat up in bed
and the alarm turned off.  He had only gotten about 4 hours of
sleep, but it would have to do.  He wanted to start his first day
as Chief of Security early.  There would be some procedures to
familiarize himself with, actually, he had to become familiar with
the whole ship.  He groaned after realizing that the should have
given himself more time.  The humans seem to have this thing about
personal hygiene, which included...  bathing!

     Security station one: 0700 hours.
     Konnu walked into the Security Station.  He passed the empty
brigs, and came upon the only person on duty at the guard's post. 
The guard stood at attention.
     "At ease, Ensign..."
     "Sarah Hickock, sir."
     Konnu looked at the empty brigs.  "A most dangerous post,
wouldn't you say?"
     "The only danger is falling asleep and getting caught by the
new Chief of Security, sir.  Pleasure meeting you sir."  They shook
each other's hand.  "I'll show you to your office, sir."    The
slender Hickock led Konnu through an area of work stations, where
the security personnel worked.  Konnu noticed a plaque on the wall.
     " `The Precinct' ?" Konnu asked.
     "Oh, it's a bit of a joke around here sir.  A long time ago,
on Earth, Police stations used to be called `Precincts'.  Lt. 
Morden thought of it.  If you want me to take it down..."
     "No.  It will remind us of him, and of his valiant sacrifice. 
The plaque will stay."
     "Very good, sir." 
     Konnu noticed a bit of drawl in Hickock's speech.  "Where are
you from Ensign Hickock?"
     "New West Virginia, Earth, sir.  Here we are." A glass door
opened, and the two walked into the Security Chief's office.  There
was a box by the door, probably filled with Morden's personal
effects.  On the wall was a large tactical display of the
Enterprise.  From this room, all Security related functions could
be monitored and controlled.  Konnu picked up a hand held PADD
computer from the desk.
     "Ensign Hickock, I will need an assistant.  I would like you
to fill this position."
     "Really?" Her eyes betrayed excitement.  "Thank you Chief? I
can call you Chief can't I sir?"
     "That would be fine.  Assemble security division one in
holodeck three at 0900 hours.  I want to `assess' their combat
readiness."
     "Yes sir.  Is there anything else Chief?"
     "No.  Dismissed Ensign."  Konnu sat down behind a large desk
with many displays on it.  Ensign Hickock was a blur of shoulder
length black hair as she rushed to make preparations.  Konnu
concentrated on the PADD's display.  He was reading the recent
General Log entries:

     E.T.A.  Starbase 643:  56 hours, 34 minutes.

     Medical officer report:  Capt. J. Picard responded well
     to treatment.  Assigned to bed rest for 24 hours.

     Lt. Cmdr Nikctalos D'pyrann returned to active status.

     Engineering report:  All systems normal.  Level 1
     diagnostics being run on all systems.  Require dilithium
     crystal restructure at Starbase 643.  Require Cloaking
     systems maintenance at Starbase 643.

     Shuttle replacement scheduled in 64 hours, 12 minutes. 
     Location:  Starbase 643.

     Konnu added in a security report:

     Security report: Memorial services for Ensign Martinez,
     Ensign Wolffe, and Lt. Morden scheduled at 1600 hours
     today.  Holodeck 2.  

     He then concentrated on the headlines in the GNN database.

     Peace?  Federation, Klingons, and Romulans to sign joint
     peace treaty in 1 month.  Details on screen 4456-A.

     Who's the enemy?  The past century has seen the three
     greatest powers in this quadrant form peaceful relations
     with each other:   The Federation, Klingon Empire,
     Romulan Star Empire will be one happy family next month. 
     Who will our adversaries be?  Catch the   complete
     Adversary report on Screen 697856-B.

     To'ntro Blejabs wins the Galactic series!  Relive the
     Holo-ball Champ's roller coaster ride to the top.  See
     screen 445865-S(ports).

     Suddenly, a new entry was added to the newsbase.

     The latest Borg invasion repulsed!  U.S.S. Enterprise
     returns triumphant to Starbase 643, with no significant
     losses.  Experts hopeful that new strategies can be
     employed.  See the minute by minute details on screen
     321189-A.

     Konnu was disgusted.  No significant losses!  The news
travelled so fast it was `warped' far beyond the truth journalism
was supposed to represent.  
     Suddenly, Konnu's communicator was paged.  "Lieutenant Konnu,
this is Doctor N'dok.  Could you please report to the Sickbay... 
There's been a murder."


From:  Lt. (JG) Konnu

     Konnu had Ensign Hickock postpone the skills assessment, and
meet him in the sickbay.  Dr.  James N'Dok led the two into an
operating room, and sealed the doors.
     "The deceased is Lt. Surnal, from Engineering.  His current
assignment was in the Environmental systems team.  The time of
death was approximately 0230 hours last night.  Cause of death..." 
N'Dok pulled the sheet off of the top half of the body. 
"Projectile penetration of the upper brain.  Death was
instantaneous."  James showed Konnu the projectile which had been
removed from Surnal's head.
     "A...  bullet?" Hickock suggested.  "That's kind of
primitive." 
     "Yes, but with the proper type of delivery system, a gun, it
would be undetectable to the ship's computer.  A phaser would have
set off the alarms." informed Konnu.
     "Ah, but that isn't all Lieutenant.  A post-mortem scan
revealed high concentrations of UniTheriEdelene, or UTE in the
subject's body." 
     "UTE? The use of that drug is illegal in all but the most
barbaric cultures in the Quadrant..." Konnu remarked.
     "Its euphoric and strength enhancing qualities are quite
attractive for some." N'Dok said.
     "Yeah," Hickock started, "it's ability to rapidly cause
insanity or death must also be quite attractive.  1 in 3 go nuts
after permanent addiction."
     "The question remains:"  Konnu growled, "How did such a drug
get aboard the ship?  The transporters would detect any such
drug..."
     "Another question for you to ponder Konnu:"  N'Dok's face grew
quite serious.  "How are these people administering the drug?  It
has to be injected with a hypo-sprayer."
     "Did you check your stock of medical hypos?" Konnu asked.
     "Of course.  They are all accounted for." the Doctor replied.
     "A hypo is a very delicate instrument isn't doctor?" Hickock
said.  "It couldn't be replicated in conventional replicators."
     "Well, a hypo consists of four main parts.  Three of which
could be made in a common replicator.  But unless you had the
specific schematics and a hotwired replicator, there's no way any
one could make the injector mechanism."  N'Dok covered up the body.
     "Why don't we try?" said Konnu.

     Several hours later, the threesome had rewired one of the
sickbay's replicators, and had programmed it to replicate an
injector mechanism.  N'Dok began the process while Konnu and
Hickock monitored the procedure with their tricorders.  So much
power was involved that the replicator began to smoke.  Finally,
after several seconds of agonized humming an injector mechanism
sprang into existence on the now deceased replicator's terminal. 
N'Dok examined the instrument.
     "Hmm.  This thing is good for at best, four maybe five
injections." 
     "After which, a new injector unit would have to be made. 
Doctor, how frequently would an addict take an injection?" Konnu
asked.  
     "I'm not quite sure.  Perhaps two to three day intervals,
during the early stages.  I'd have to say every day after prolonged
usage.  Either that or a person would have to increase the dosage
to prolong the use of their homemade hypo."
     "Ensign Hickock..." Konnu called.
     "Chief?"
     "Take our tricorder readings and scan all replicator power
records since the ship's last layover in Starbase."
     "Why a Starbase layover?"
     "It's my guess that the last supply of narcotics was brought
aboard the ship not through a transporter, but through a docking
hatch.  No one would have been looking for contraband then."
     "Wow.  Do you think the underworld is involved?"
     "I do not know.  Also, look for any replicator replacements
ordered recently.  Go over all the logs and security records over
last night.  Maybe we can find out who killed Surnal."
     "I'll get right on it, Chief." With that Ensign Hickock left
the sickbay.  Konnu turned to James.
     "Doctor, this is a highly delicate investigation.  I'm must
ask you not to reveal anything that has happened to anyone, even
the Captain." 
     "Jack would never...!" N'Dok protested.
     "I know.  Nevertheless, procedure dictates that everyone is
under suspicion.  Hopefully this will be over soon Doctor."
     "Let's hope so.  I bring you an autopsy report later on today,
Lieutenant."
     "Thank you doctor.  One more thing, perhaps you can tell one
person...  The Borg."
     "Nikctalos?  Of course he's the only one on the ship who could
never be affected by UTE, but why?"
     "Perhaps Surnal knew too much for his own good.  You must
agree that we know too much ourselves...  If we should go the way
of Surnal, Nikctalos would be able to continue the investigation."
     "All right, enough." James said. "You're really depressing
me." 
     "Sorry.  I will see you at the memorial service then?"
     "Of course Lieutenant."

     Security Station One: 1530 hours.

     Maverint Slike walked into Konnu's office.  He was wearing his
ceremonial uniform for the memorial service to be held in half an
hour.  Konnu, in his ceremonial uniform, with his warrior's sash
proudly displayed across his chest, rose and offered his good
friend a seat.  Konnu polarized the windows to his office so that
no one could look into the office from outside.  Privacy was
assured.  Konnu, knowing that his friend was completely
trustworthy, gave Maverint a brief description of the drug problem
onboard the ship.  Konnu took the slug that had killed Surnal from
a drawer in his desk and gave it to Maverint.  Maverint shared his
father's interest in marksmanship and the collection of rare and
antique firearms.  Slike investigated the bullet.
     "Hmmm...  Looks like a 5.56 mm.  Here!  See these grooves here
in the side?"  Maverint showed Konnu.  "They are from a device
called a silencer.  Good silencers completely muffle the explosive
noise of a gun.  This was used at point blank range...  the
silencer really reduces range." 
     "Well, so far, that's all that we could discern.  Can you see
anything we missed?"
     "Uh....  I don't think so...  wait!  Here!  There's a small
burn mark at the back end of the bullet.  A gun made of composite
materials really heats up a bullet when fired.  That's the only way
a bullet could be scarred like that.  The murder weapon must have
been quite a piece of work.  No metal parts to be detected by.  It
probably separates into pieces that can be easily concealed.  Good
luck trying to find this gun buddy." 
     "You should wish us both luck Maverint." said Konnu grimly. 
"My aide has found some log evidence which point to 8 people
possibly involved in this unpleasant business.  We need evidence
before we can make any charges though, and the best evidence we can
get is the next shipment of UTE into this ship."
     "Well, that should be no problem.  There are only two ways
into the ship.  The transporters would be out of the question, and
no doubt you'll have personnel scanning at all the docking ports
while we're at Starbase 643.  I don't see how any UTE could make it
into the ship."
     "Surnal was killed for a reason.  Perhaps he was going to
reveal his problem to us, and to avoid implication, someone shot
Surnal.  There's just too many possible explanations for his death
right now, but two things are certain.  1 - We aren't scheduled for
another Starbase layover for 5 months.  The addicts will want to
stock up on UTE before we leave Starbase 643.  2 - The killer knows
the death of Surnal has alerted us.  He knows that the docking
ports will be guarded.  However, Starbase 643 presents a unique
opportunity for him to get his shipment of UTE."  Konnu passed
Maverint his PADD computer.  The shuttle replacement time was
displayed.
     "Oh, smooth.  Real smooth.  They're going to bring the drugs
in on the new shuttle!" Maverint deduced.
     "As soon as that shuttle touches down, you are going to board
it to perform a `routine' flight safety inspection."
     "Oh really?  And where are you going to be?"
     "Don't worry.  You'll have a tricorder to record everything
you find.  I'll get you a concealable phaser..."
     "Wait...  I said where are you going to be?"
     "Don't worry Maverint.  I'll have you covered."
     "Well, it's not like I have anything else to do..." A sudden
beep emanated from Konnu's desk.  It was 1550 hours.  Time to go to
the memorial service.
     "We'll talk about this later." Konnu said.  Together the
friends left for holodeck two and the memorial service.


From:  Capt. Jacqueline Picard

     Jack swam out of unconsciousness slowly, to find herself lying
on soft grass in the warm sunlight.  The sky above her was
cloudless, as blue as any sky she had ever seen.  Close by, a
troupe of beech trees, graceful as dancers, stretched out their
arms and rustled their green leaves at her as if in welcome.
     She could feel the grass beneath her hands, feel it prickling
through her uniform.  But her head was raised up, pillowed on
something firm and smooth and oddly warm.  She tilted her head
back, opened her eyes, and found herself looking up at Moriarty. 
He smiled down at her and brushed a strand of hair from her face
with a quick but strangely gentle gesture.
     "Where--where am I?" she asked.  She wanted to move, but her
body ached all over; she couldn't make her muscles work.  And
somehow it was good, too, to lie here with her head in Moriarty's
lap, feel his strong hands stroking her hair, watch the familiar-
unfamiliar face he had chosen for himself in all its subtle nuances
of expression.
     Why had he chosen that face?  It was not a handsome face:  the
eyes were too narrow, the nose too hooked, the mouth thin-lipped
and almost cruel, hidden in the close-trimmed beard like a
dangerous secret.  It was a face with character rather than beauty,
its aspect one of powerful, almost ruthless intellect.  Yet it had
life, and humour, and by some miracle it could even be tender --
like now.
     "Jacqueline," he said.  The voice was deep, clear, perfectly
enunciated as a trained Shakespearean actor's.  And yet there was
nothing artificial about it, nothing forced.  "I persuaded your
crew to let you rest here a while.  They would have preferred Sick
Bay or your quarters, of course, but I suggested you might benefit
from a more fully relaxing environment.  I hope, Madam, that I have
not been presumptuous in anticipating the sort of thing you might
find most pleasant to wake up to."
     She was too exhausted to argue about anything with anybody. 
"It's... fine," she murmured.  She wanted to ask what he thought he
was doing here, what made him think he had the right to hold her
and to look at her like this, but she couldn't find the words. 
"Moriarty," she said, "what... why are..."
     The dark eyes hypnotized her then, and she forgot what she'd
meant to ask.  Suddenly it just seemed eminently sensible for her
to be lying in the middle of a field of daisies with her head in
the lap of the ship's computer.  No, no, she shouldn't think of him
that way; he wasn't, not really.  What was Moriarty, anyhow?  Part
fictional creation, part holographic persona, partly a character of
his own invention, and possessing control of the totality of the
Enterprise's computer functions... there had never been anyone else
like Moriarty, and never would be again.
     Was that why she found him so fascinating?  Perhaps.  But how
did that explain his fascination with her?  Why did he speak her
name in a way that nobody else on the whole ship, nobody else in
her whole life, had ever spoken it?  What did he want from her?  
     And why was his face suddenly so close to hers?
     Jack sat bolt upright in her bed, clutching the covers against
her, the memory of Moriarty's kiss burning on her mouth as if it
had been real, and not a dream at all.  She shook her head and
pushed her hands through her hair, staring at her own white, scared
face in the cheval-glass opposite.  What on earth was she thinking
of?  Where had she managed to come up with a crazy dream like
*that*?
     Obviously she had been under far too much pressure lately.  To
dream about being kissed by Moriarty, she'd have to have something
seriously wrong with her mind.  She resolved to ask T'Pryn about it
tomorrow.  The great advantage in Counsellors, especially Vulcan
ones, was their complete confidentiality.  And the most comforting
thing of all was that she could be absolutely sure T'Pryn wouldn't
laugh at her.  Which was more than she could say for herself.
     With a little, rueful grin at her own weird imagination, Jack
lay down again and pulled the covers over her head.  By the time
morning came, she'd have forgotten the whole thing.
     She hoped.

     By the next day Jack's hands seemed to be mostly healed, if
still a little stiff.  She could still feel fatigue tugging at the
edges of her mind, and according to James she was supposed to spend
another 12 hours in bed, but the inescapable, ruthless sense that
she was abandoning her duty to the Enterprise forced her out of bed
at a tidy 0700 hours.  She read and made notes on a couple of
Psalms, whispered a prayer, dressed herself carefully, ate a light
breakfast and then headed for the bridge.
     "Captain!" said Barnabas in surprise when she appeared in the
turbolift door.  "You're--"
     "Yes, I know," said Jack.  "But I couldn't stay in bed.  You
know me."
     "All too well," said Barnabas dryly.  But he did move out of
the Captain's chair and let her sit down.
     "So, what's the current state of affairs?" she said.
     "Commander Scott reported all computer functions back to
normal as of 0600 hours.  The Borg didn't do the computer any
damage, they just rerouted or blocked some of the bitstreams to
suit their purposes."
     "Good," said Jack.
     "Lt. Surnal failed to report to Engineering for duty.  Dr.
N'Dok has him down in Sick Bay.  He's dead, but we don't know what
of yet.  The Doctor says he's still working on the report, but that
he is certain there is no threat of contagion."
     "That's a relief, anyway."
     "Yes.  The only other major event is the funeral for Lt.
Morden and Ensigns Wolffe and Martinez to be held on Holodeck Two
at 1600 hours.  I was going to conduct it, but since you're up..."
     Jack nodded.  "I will take that responsibility.  Thank you for
your report, Number One."

     The funeral was a brief and simple one.  Jack chose
Westminster Cathedral as the setting, as befitting officers who had
died valiantly in the line of battle.  Well, perhaps it was a
little extravagant, but it wasn't the _real_ Westminster Cathedral,
and she was sure the families of the deceased would be touched by
the gesture.
     The officers, in full dress uniform, surrounded the three
caskets--which were purely symbolic, of course, as the bodies had
been vaporized in the Borg attack.  Jack gave a brief speech about
the finer qualities of each officer, and how the crew would miss
their presence on the Enterprise.  There really wasn't anything
more she could say than that, but as the crew filed silently out of
the holodeck she couldn't shake the feeling that she ought to have
said _something_.
     "You shouldn't be here," chided James as he followed her down
the hall toward the turbolift.  "I told you to stay in bed."
     "I am sufficiently rested to carry out my duties," Jack told
him.  "And my hands are healing well.  Don't worry.  I know my
limitations, and I *am* pacing myself, James.  I know as well as
you do that a ship can't function too well with a burned-out
Captain."
     James looked dubious.  Jack decided to change the subject: 
"How is the report on Lt. Surnal going?"
     The Doctor blanched.  "Um... fine.  I'm just compiling the
report.  I've had a lot of other things to do, so it may be a
little while."
     "But there's no threat to the rest of the crew."
     "What killed Lt. Surnal," said James a little too carefully,
"wasn't something anybody else could catch, I can say that much."
     He was hiding something.  "James, what have you found?"
     "I can't tell you yet.  Please--" he lowered his voice-- "just
trust me, okay?  I swear I'll tell you as soon as I can.  This *is*
according to Starfleet Regulations, Jack.  I'm not out of line."
     "I trust you," said Jack.  "I'll await your report."  She
quickened her stride, leaving him behind so that she could be alone
with her thoughts.  He hadn't needed to tell her what was going on. 
She could guess.  There was really only one kind of death that
would produce this kind of reticence in a Chief Medical Officer.  
     Jack was just glad James knew her well enough not to take her
seriously as a suspect.  She was also glad to have found an
explanation for all the skulking around Lt.'s Konnu and Slike were
doing.  
     Well, she'd leave them to it.


From:  Capt. Jacqueline Picard

     Three days had passed since the end of the Borg encounter. 
Jack, alert and well-rested, her hands now completely healed, sat
in the Captain's chair and watched as Maverint Slike expertly
piloted the ship toward the Starbase sprawling out before them.
     Starbase 643 was one of the Federation's largest bases,
equipped with full starship repair facilities and a docking bay so
huge it could accommodate four or five Enterprise-sized ships and
still have room to spare.  It housed several scientific facilities
of great renown, including the Federation's foremost propulsion
lab, where the newest warp technology was tested.  Admiral Hethor
and his staff presided over the Starbase with an efficiency that
had made Hethor one of the most respected officers in all of
Starfleet.  It also meant that the crew of the Enterprise was in
for a tough review.  
     Jack closed her eyes.  Just as she was getting used to being
Captain, too... just as she was starting to like it.  It hardly
seemed fair, but then, it was not her place to question Starfleet's
judgment in these matters.  She only hoped the new Captain would be
easy to get along with.
     Since Gabriele had been summoned back to HQ for review, her
judgment in selecting officers for the Enterprise was also in
question.  What would happen to Nikctalos, Salek, and T'Pryn?  Jack
would stand behind them 100%--especially after how invaluable each
one of them had proved during the Borg crisis--but she wondered if
Hethor and his staff would be as impressed with them as she was.
     Well, at least Barnabas, James and Mac had nothing to fear. 
Their sterling reputations and non-controversial background would
make their part of the review a breeze.  Barnabas would have to go
back to being at Ops when Jack resumed her duties as First Officer,
of course... would he feel the same way she felt when that
happened?  He had been a fine First Officer, and she had been
almost positive he'd enjoyed it--as much as Barnabas Cole could be
said to enjoy anything.
     "The Starbase is hailing us," said Salek, interrupting her
thoughts.
     "On screen, Mr. Salek."  Jack straightened the tunic of her
uniform and sat up stiffly in her chair as the yellow-eyed, vaguely
feline-looking face of Admiral Hethor appeared.
     "To Starbase 643 you are welcome," trilled the Admiral. 
"Heard we have of your battle with the Borg.  Our safety to you we
owe, Brevet Captain Picard."
     "My crew responded most bravely to the unexpected crisis,"
said Jack.  "I am very pleased with their performance.  I trust
that you will find likewise."
     The almond-shaped eyes narrowed.  "That shall we see,
Commander."  There was a very faint emphasis on Jack's proper
title, and inwardly she groaned.  No, this wasn't going to be easy.
     "Cleared you are for entry to Docking Bay 1," said Hethor
crisply.  "Report you will to me all senior officers at 1300 hours. 
Hethor out."
     The image faded.  "Take us in, Lieutenant," said Jack to
Maverint.  The Lieutenant nodded, flicked a hand over the touchpad,
and the Enterprise glided toward the open docking bay under impulse
power.  As they headed in they met another ship coming out, the
U.S.S. Bonaventure.  It was an old Olympus-class ship, and quite
disconcertingly huge.  
     Jack had seen Olympus-class ships before, but there was
something different about this one--a number of things different,
actually.  Still, not until it had lumbered past them and all but
vanished in the starry blackness did she remember what she had read
about the Bonaventure:  Starfleet was using it to test the new
Gravity-Warp technology.  Not that long ago she'd read a paper by
the renowned Dr. Kethkin, head of the team that developed the
drive, in which he spoke of how the Bonaventure's overhead warp
engine made it ideal for projection of the warp field necessary to
initiate G-Warp.  
     It looked as though the Enterprise had arrived at Starbase 643
just in time to witness G-Warp testing in its final stages.  She
exchanged a glance with Barnabas and knew that he was thinking the
same thing.  Then the Enterprise swam into the immense docking bay,
and the Starbase swallowed it up.


From:  Lt. Konnu

     Maverint skillfully piloted the Enterprise through the vast
interior of the space dock.  Mav stopped the ship in its designated
berth, right beside the U.S.S. Kirk, a Pike class carrier.  The
Kirk was easily a match for size with the Enterprise.  The carrier
had a contingent of 90 space fighters aboard which made it very
obviously to see why it was one of the most powerful ships in the
fleet.  
     Presently, the Kirk was ferrying the Brass around.  Things
were really moving quickly for the peace treaty signing in a
month's time.  When the time came, the Kirk and the Enterprise
would be escorted into Romulan space, through the Neutral Zone and
all the way to Romulus, the homeworld of the Romulans.  Then, all
of the Brass would be aboard the Enterprise, including the
President of the United Federation of Planets.  Tradition dictated
that such a historic document should be signed on the Flagship of
the fleet.
     "All moorings secured.  All gangways, locked on and
pressurized." reported Nikctalos.  "Wait..."
     "What's wrong?" said Barnabas as he walked over to Nikctalos
at Ops.
     "Security teams have taken position at all exterior gangways. 
No order for such activity has been given by Acting Captain Picard
or yourself, Commander Cole." informed the Borg.
     "What's going on?" Cole thought aloud.
     "I think this has something to do with our new Chief of
Security," said Jack.  The turbolift door hissed open and Ensign
Stone walked onto the bridge.
     "Captain, Commander..." Stone began.  His face was covered in
perspiration.  "I'm sorry to disturb you, but has anyone seen
Lieutenant Konnu, or Ensign Hickock today?  I've looked all over
the ship, and I found their communicators on the Lieutenant's desk,
in Security." 
     Barnabas shot Picard a blank look.  Jack turned towards Stone
to reply.  "Sorry, Ensign.  The Chief of Security is probably hard
at work someplace where he doesn't need interruptions.  If he needs
you he'll most likely come for you.  Can you tell us why security
teams are in place at all of the gangways to the Starbase?" asked
Jack.
     "uh..  Sorry Captain.  When we all showed up this morning in
Security.  Our orders of the day were already posted.  Searching
for contraband at all exits was on the list of things to do..."
answered Stone.  "Permission to be dismissed Captain? The new
shuttle is coming over shortly, and I have to do a flight check on
it."
     "Very well.  Please tell us when Lieutenant Konnu wants to
search the ship and interrogate us all." Jack quipped.  She never
liked being in the dark about anything.  
     Stone was almost at the turbolift when Maverint spoke. 
"Captain, may I inspect the shuttle?" asked Maverint.
     "May I ask why?" said the Captain.
     "It's alright Lieutenant Slike...  uh, I can take care of it."
stumbled Stone.
     "No, I insist.  I think that if the shuttles were inspected
more frequently by the people who have to fly them, problems might
be picked up better than by a regular sensors scan.  No offense,
Ensign, but Security officers don't fly shuttles, I do.  Martinez
did," said Maverint.  
     Konnu was right.  The reference to Martinez struck home with
the Captain.  It was imperative that Maverint was the first person
to look at the shuttle, but Picard did not know that.
     "Ensign, we have to give Mr.  Slike something to do now that
we're docked for awhile.  Go about your other duties Mr. Stone. 
Maverint, go look at your shuttle." decreed Jack.  
     Maverint followed Stone into the Turbolift.  Jack sighed. 
When was she going to find out what was happening?  
     A beep from Salek's position.  "Captain, a message for you
from Admiral Hethor," reported Salek.
     "In my ready room please." said Jack.  What could the Admiral
want now?

                       *           *            *

     Jack sat down at her ready room's desk.  How long would she be
able to remain on this side of the desk?  Would she be the Captain
of the Enterprise when it pulled out of the Starbase? Admiral
Hethor would have the answers to those questions.  It was still
thirty minutes away from the Admiral's original meeting scheduled
for 1300 hours.  What could he want now?  Jack accessed the
terminal on her desk.
     "Once more Commander, greetings." began the Admiral.
     "Hello Admiral.  Do you want to begin the crew review early?"
asked Jack.
     "Anxious you are." Jack thought she saw a smile trickle from
the Catian Admiral's mouth.  "1300 hours is our meeting scheduled. 
Deviate from schedule will we not.  Unexpectedly some free time
have I found.  Never before have I seen a Class-Nova Starship."
     "I see...  You want the nickel tour of the only active Nova
Class starship."  Jack was somewhat relieved.  "I am prepared to
meet you at Gangway-2, for your visit."
     "Much thanks, Commander.  Awaiting you will I be.  Hethor
out..." 
     The display screen flickered into blackness.  Picard got up
from her seat and looked out the window.  The replacement shuttle
`Kepler' was flying to the shuttle bay.  Off in the distance, an
old Excelsior class starship was being scuttled.  Jack noticed two
of the workers in their EVA suits begin to move towards the
Enterprise.  Curious...  
     Suddenly, Jack remembered about the security teams in place at
all of the Gangways...  Some welcome the Admiral would receive... 
getting frisked as he came aboard!  She hurriedly left the ready
room and made for Gangway-2.

     Maverint cast a sideways glance at Ensign Stone.  The man was
sweating as if he were a raincloud.  His uniform was practically
soaked.  The turbolift stopped one deck above the shuttlebay. 
Stone quickly moved out of the transportation device.  Maverint
noticed an oddly shaped bulge underneath the back of Stone's tunic. 
The doors hissed shut and Maverint continued down one deck to the
shuttlebay.
     As Slike entered the shuttlebay, the door-hatch on the new
shuttle, `Kepler' opened and the pilot walked out.  The pilot from
the Starbase gave Maverint a scrutinous look.  The man walked to a
small lift and rode it up to the control booth which overlooked the
shuttlebay.  Strangely, the windows of the control booth had been
polarized.  Slike could only make out a few shadowy forms moving
around in the booth...  about six or seven.  Hadn't Konnu mentioned
something about nine or ten possible suspects?  Maverint silently
wondered where Konnu was.  He walked into the shuttle and closed
the hatch.  
     As soon as the hatch had shut, Maverint walked into the
cockpit area and began to scan the craft with his tricorder.  He
passed the device over the pilot and copilot seats.  Nothing.  He
moved towards the back of the shuttle.  The tricorder beeped a few
notes.  Maverint passed the scanning tricorder over the passenger
benches.  The tricorder bleated out a confused symphony of beeping
and shrieking.  Maverint pushed back the starboard seat to access
the storage area which should contain survival gear.  Instead of
enviroment suits, medical kits and ration packs, there were dozens
of vials of U.T.E. suspended in small racks.  Maverint's eyes
widened...  there was at least 3 Mega-Credits worth of UTE in this
shuttle! 
     He double checked to make sure the Tricorder was recording all
of this.  Maverint picked up a vial of UTE.  The substance looked
like Mercury.  It was silvery, opaque... like a tiny mirror. 
Maverint regarded himself in the liquid.  Suddenly, he noticed a
figure moving in the liquid's relfective surface...  There was a
person behind him! 
     Mav wheeled around and hurled the vial into the assailant's
face.  The woman shrieked in pain as shards of glass splintered
into her eyes.  The blonde-haired woman was clad in an EVA suit. 
Maverint noticed that she had been hiding in the storage area on
the port side of the shuttle.  
     The woman was on the floor grasping her face.  Maverint picked
up her weapon, a stun phaser.  Thinking quickly, Maverint stunned
the woman with the weakly powered phaser.

                       *           *            *

       Konnu stared into the shuttle bay.  Through the visor of his
EVA suit's helmet he could see a person exit the shuttle that
Maverint had entered.  That person was also wearing an EVA suit. 
The mystery person's helmet was polarized, his, or her identity a
secret.  
     This was not good.  Maverint had entered the shuttle, then
five people had come down from the control booth to surrond the
shuttle's hatch.  They were clearly brandishing weapons.  To add to
the mayhem, this mystery person in an EVA suit had appeared... 
What had happened to Maverint?  Konnu saw one of the five that had
descended from the control booth approach the mystery person.  The
person, obviously from the science division due to his blue and
black tunic, offered a small case to the EVA person.  The EVA
person took the case and made for the still open hangar door. 
Suddenly a man in a yellow and black tunic began pointing at the
EVA person.  It was Ensign Stone! 
     Without warning, the EVA person threw the case into the face
of the man who had originally offered the case to him, and
skillfully shot two of the other people on the deck.  The EVA
person then ignited the thrusters on the EVA suit and flew across
the deck and behind a pile of heavy cargo containers, all the while
the other persons were firing at him.  
     Konnu gave the signal to Hickock who was also in an EVA suit
not more than 5 metres from Konnu.  Together, they rocketed towards
the shuttle bay.
     Konnu hit the deck of the shuttle bay and rolled.  when he
came out of the roll he fired his phaser on heavy stun and nailed
the fourth attacker on the deck.  The Klingon saw the fifth person
fire and hit Hickock in the arm.  Konnu growled an ancestral war
cry and fired at the fifth person.  His shot, combined with the
shot from the wounded Hickock threw the remaining attacker into the
wall, and after a loud cracking noise, the attacker fell limp to
the floor.  
     Konnu threw off his helmet and ran to Hickock.  "Are you hit
bad?" asked Konnu.
     "I'll make it, Chief.  Just a burning phaser." said Ensign
Hickock as she struggled to remove her helmet.  "I think there's at
least two more of them in the control booth..." 
     Konnu looked up and saw Stone and the shuttle pilot taking aim
with their phasers.  Three phaser shots hit the control booth, the
resulting explosion sent razor sharp pieces of instrumentation
flying into the shuttle pilot.  The blast knocked Stone to the
floor of the control booth.  Konnu and Hickock looked towards a
pile of cargo containers and saw that their attack was supplemented
by Maverint.  Slike ditched his EVA's helmet and walked towards the
security officers.
     "Next time, tell me to look for assasins hidden onboard a
shuttle loaded with narcotics!" yelled Maverint.
     "You whine too much!" growled Konnu.  "Besides, that was no
`assassin'.  Judging from the stunner you took from the person, I'd
say our unexpected friend was a courier.  That case you were
given..."  Konnu retrieved the case and opened it.  It was full of
credit chips, and data crystals.  "They pay for their drugs with
credits and information.  These data crystals most likely contain
confidential information about the Enterprise."  Konnu set the case
down.
     "Alright, if I was supposed to be the `courier' why did they
start shooting at me?" asked Maverint.
     "That's easy, sir," drawled Hickock.  "You didn't open the
case to inspect its contents.  A courier would always check to see
that the payment was there." 
     Maverint nodded in agreement to Hickock's explanation.  It
made sense.  You would want to know you were being paid 3,000,000
credits for the UTE.  
     A bizarre laugh suddenly filled the shuttlebay.  The three
looked up to the control booth to see Stone drop something to the
floor below.  Stone turned and ran into the hallways, laughing like
a maniac.  Maverint dove and slid across the floor to where Stone's
object had dropped.  He fiddled with something, and then got up. 
He was holding Stone's phaser.  Konnu and Hickock could tell from
the way that the phaser was smoking that it had been set to
overload.  Maverint dropped the burnt-out phaser to the floor.  
     Konnu turned to Hickock.  "Get down to the security station. 
Sound red alert, and seal all of the gangways...  deactivate all of
the transporters...  seal off the saucer section, and monitor Lt. 
Slike and myself."
     "Right away chief!" responded as Hickock ran ot of the
shuttlebay clutching her wounded arm.
     "Monitor us? Where are we going Konnu?" Maverint nervously
asked.
     "After Stone, of course."
      Slike and Konnu ignited the thrusters on their EVA suits and
flew up and into the control booth.  They then began to hunt for
Stone.

                       *           *            *

     "Sorry Admiral.  Orders say every person entering or leaving
the ship must be searched." Said Ensign Gerrold.  He passed his
tricorder over the protesting Admiral, just as Picard rounded the
corner to meet the Admiral.
     "Alright, Admiral.  You're clean sir." reported Ensign
Gerrold.
     "Inform you of that myself, I could have.  Hmmmph!" spat the
Admiral.  Catians really hated being scanned, it was against their
religious beliefs.  Admiral Hethor turned to Picard.  "This
indignity, the nature of which you will explain!"
     "My apologies Admiral.  My security officer is currently
involved in a sensitive investigation.  This is only a routine
precaution, I assure you." said Jack.
     "An affair internal presume I.  Unbroken are laws at Starbase
643." stated the Admiral.  Jack was somewhat shocked by the
Admiral's implication that the 120,000 people on the Starbase were
uncorruptable.
     "I will file a report to you, Admiral, as soon as I receive a
report myself.  Now if you will follow me, I will take you to the
bridge."
     "Acceptable that is.  Oh, Admiral Data, his greetings conveys. 
Visit you he would if he was not preoccupied extremely."
     "Well, maybe he might find some time for a visit.  I haven't
talked to the Admiral for quite some time." said Jack.  They had
left the gangway far behind and were coming to the turbolift. 
Suddenly, the hall was illuminated with the all too familiar glare
of Red-Alert.  The Klaxxons were blaring their usual song.  A
strange, laughing sound came from down the hall.

                       *           *            *

     Konnu and Maverint had an easy time of following Stone.  He
was obviously bleeding.  Maverint and Konnu rounded a corner and
saw Stone running down the hall in front of them.  they raised
their weapons and fired.  The heavy stun beams hit Stone in the
back.  There were no obvious effects.  Stone continued running. 
Maverint threw the useless stun phaser to the floor.  Konnu
adjusted the power level on his phaser to setting 7.  Setting 7 was
the heaviest setting a Federation issue phaser could fire at while
onboard a Starfleet ship.  The phasers were all tied into the
computer.  A phaser could fire at full power, but its security
protocol would have to be overridden by the Security office.  Konnu
hoped that Hickock would get to the Security station, and overide
his phaser.  
     Suddenly, Red alert was initiated.  The hall was bathed in a
red glow, and hunters and hunted were serenaded by the klaxxons. 
Stone was obviously affected by his addiction to UTE.  Konnu
doubted if setting 7 would get to Stone.  Konnu fired.  His beam
hit Stone in the back of the head.  Stone flew to the floor, but
did not stay there long.  The crazed Ensign quickly got up and drew
a strange looking weapon from the back of his tunic.   Maverint
recognized the weapon, and kicked Konnu into a doorway, and threw
himself into a doorway on the other side of the hall.  Four loud
shots rang out, as four bullets whizzed by the spot where the
Klingon and his human friend had been standing only a moment
before.  It was obvious, by the noise, and increased range that
Stone was no longer using the silencer on his gun.  
     Stone laughed and turned down another hall.  Konnu and
Maverint gave chase.  Suddenly there was shouting and a general
commotion around the corner where Stone had gone.  Konnu and Mav
leaped around the corner and found that Stone had bumped into
Admiral Hethor and Jacqueline Picard.  Stone had grabbed the
Admiral and was holding his gun to the temple of the feline like
humanoid's head.  Picard picked herself off of the floor, and
joined Konnu and Maverint.  She decided that she would comment on
the EVA suits later.
     "Let the Admiral go Stone!" shouted Picard.
     "No way! I want a warp shuttle... and... and 4 million
credits...  and the UTE from the shuttle!"
     "Alright, we'll play it your way Stone." Picard stalled.  "But
the Admiral's health isn't too good...  take me as your hostage!"
     "Tough luck!  Hehehe...  The good old Admiral's health is
gonna be real bad if ya don't start listening to me!  Now call off
your guard dog there!" yelled Stone as he motioned towards Konnu.
     "...Dog!  Let the Admiral go Stone so I can rip your arms off
and beat you to death with them!" roared Konnu.  Stone fired his
gun at Konnu and hit the Klingon in the knee.  Konnu fell in a heap
on the floor.
     "Awwwww....  gee did I hurt the mean little puppy?
Hahahahah!!!" laughed Stone.  "Surnal was gonna come to you, you
Klingon dog....  but looks like your gonna go to him!!! Hahahaha!"
     "Stone, let the Admiral go, please...  no one else has to get
hurt!" pleaded Picard.
     "Give me what I want by the count of three, or..BANG!!!!
Instant kitty litter! Heheheh!!"
     "Stone! Don't!" shouted Jack.
     "One....."
     A strange beeping noise from Konnu.
     "Two!" shouted Stone.  His finger tensed on the trigger. 
Suddenly, Konnu's phaser flew into Maverint's hand.  Maverint took
aim....
     "Three!"  yelled Maverint as he fired.  His phaser blast hit
stone in the center of the forehead. Stone shrieked as flew into
the air, glowed orange-red and then dissipated into atomic
mist.  
     Stone's gun fell steaming to the floor.  Jack rushed
to the Admiral, who was badly shaken.  Maverint sighed as he picked
up Stone's gun and placed it into a utility pocket
in his EVA suit.  Then Mav looked at Konnu's phaser.  Setting 16.
A maximum power phaser shot that would have no problem dissolving
50 cubic metres of tritanium ore.  Slike thanked the powers that be
that his aim was true-- two centimetres to the right, and the whole
deck would have smelt of burnt cat hair.  
     Jack turned to Slike and Konnu.  The Klingon was barely able
to stand.
     "Lieutenant Slike, take Mr. Konnu down to sickbay, and remain
there yourself. I will take the Admiral to the conference room, and
come down in 10 minutes for a VERY GOOD explanation for all of
this!" shouted Picard.  She and the Admiral stormed away.
     "Do you need a hand?" asked Maverint.
     "I am fine.  It is only a small cut. I can.. whoah!!!!"
Konnu promptly fell flat on his face.  "Very well. You can help
me."
                     *           *            *

     Maverint and the wounded Konnu were almost at the Sickbay.
     "Do you think she's...angry?" asked Konnu.
     "What do you think?" replied Maverint.
     "She's mad."  Konnu grunted.  His knee was really banged up. 
"By the way, why `Three'?"
     "What are you talking about?"
     "You said `Three' before you shot Stone."
     "Well, it was a tense moment...."
     "`Three!'  Hahahaha!" laughed Konnu.
     "You're just jealous because Klingons are too dense to think
of things to say in...  I hope they have to cut your leg off!"
     "NO!  They wouldn't!"  For a moment, Konnu almost thought that
his leg would be amputated, but then he realized Maverint was only
getting back at him. "`Three'!"
     "Hack-Hack!"
     "`Three'! Haw-haw-haw!!!"
     "Hey! We could have tlhIngan'uS* for dinner tonight!"
     "The meat would be too tough for your weak human jaws to
chew!" laughed Konnu.  
     Dr. N'dok turned in surprise from attending Ensign Hickock's
arm as Konnu and Maverint entered the Sickbay laughing
hysterically.

     * tlhIngan'uS is Klingon for `leg of Klingon'.  -Author.


From:  Maverint Slike

     Maverint bid his friend Konnu goodbye, as his slight injuries
allowed him to leave the sickbay soon after a simple inspection by
the good doctor.  Maverint snickered to himself thinking back on
his comment to Konnu and his friend's surprisingly good natured
reaction to it.    
     "I never thought he'd be one to laugh at himself like that..." 
Mav smiled to himself as he walked down the corridor on his way
back to his quarters.
     The doors to Maverint's quarters hissed open and he walked
through into the living area.  Mav threw himself down into his easy
chair, snickering just a little more, letting his arms and legs
relax and fall over the sides of the chair.  His laughter subsided
quickly, but Maverint still felt the rush of adrenalin through his
system.  Immediately a trip to play his custom holodeck program
popped into his mind...

     While Maverint was growing up, his father had made sure his
son had been given a taste of everything life had to offer.  He
would take Mav to play sports, out to listen to classical music in
the grand halls in their colony, and any other culturally enriching
activity he could expose Maverint to.  Maverint grew to appreciate
the arts and develop the desire to try as hard as he could at
everything he tried, but of all the goings-on in Maverint's early
life, he had only one great fascination.
     Maverint's father was an avid collector and part-time
practitioner in the use of weapons and his collection was something
fantastical to Mav.  Among his father's vast collection could be
found swords and knives used in some of the greatest assassinations
in recorded history, as well as firearms that had brought peace, or
war, to worlds.  Some of the pieces dated back as far as the early
twentieth century, but there was one piece in particular that
captured Maverint's attention.
     Maverint's favourite piece was an old Mark I Phaser Rifle,
according to his father to have been used by the famous Captain
James Tiberius Kirk on the planet Delta Vega.  Seeing his son's
interest peeked in something, even if it was something as
questionable to Mav's mother as weaponry, he didn't discourage it,
knowing the value of being able to defend oneself in the depths of
space.  Maverint's father agreed to teach his son the use of the
weapons when he proved he could handle the responsibility. 
Maverint thought that everyone had one thing that they were the
best at, and he decided that he was going to be the best phaser
marksman in the quadrant...  to start.
     After a couple years, and at an age that was 'far too young'
as far as his mother was concerned, Maverint went for his first
trip to a target range.  The first time Maverint used a hand held
phaser at that target range, his father could see his son had a
truly uncommon 'eye' for it.  With his father's encouragement and
support, as well as years of self-imposed, relentless practice and
entering sharp-shooting competitions, Maverint earned enough
trophies to start a collection of his own.  
     After his marriage to Kate and subsequent appointment to the
Enterprise, Maverint only kept with him the Mark VII Phaser Rifle
his father gave him when he graduated the academy, leaving his
collection of markmen phasers and trophies in his room at home for
his father to take care of...  and proudly show off to his friends.
     Maverint jumped up from his chair and walked into the bedroom. 
He walked over to his dresser and depressed the lock release on the
drawer, the drawer opening silently and the black metal case inside
gathered the dim light of the room into a glint.  Maverint moved
the case over to the bed and opened it gently, like a monk would
care for an age-old manuscript.  Lifting the Mark VII Laser Rifle
out of its moulded foam casing, he ran his usual checks over the
frame for scratches as well as the inner mechanics for any
problems.  Satisfied with his diagnostics, Maverint changed into
his exercise suit and shortly ended up standing in front of the com
panel for Holodeck 5.    
     "Computer, load program Slike 1." Maverint said quickly,
almost tripping over the words in his rush.
     "Program loaded.  Override for grav coils required."
     "Personal override code 8852."
     "Personal override code accepted.  Adjusting internal holodeck
grav coils simulate 1/6 normal gravity..." A few seconds passed. 
"Enter when ready."
     Maverint stepped in front of the doors as they opened, walked
through the arch and stepped up to the ceiling...  
     Maverint turned around in the air as the holodeck doors shut
behind him.  He had discovered the workout of his original program
had become too boring with just the standard 'run-around-pick-them-
off' style program locked into the computer memory.  So Maverint
engineered his own program designed around the jungle-like
vegetation of Ordan but with the gravitatonal pull of the earth's
moon.  Having the backlash of the rifle to deal with, albeit very
small but enough in the reduced gravity to push him forcefully
backwards, helped to increase the demands of his agility and aim
when dealing with the holographic monsters he had borrowed from his
friend Konnu's library of Klingon mythology.      Time never had a
-- 
         "Seize the moment, Mirabor...Seize the moment" -- Picard 
==============================================================================
    Even *I* don't want my opinions      |  Eric Hausgaard VP Comp Sci Club  
    All Flames/E-mail to ueh@sunyit.edu  |   SUNY Institute of Treknology 
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