From: ueh@pool.sunyit.edu (Eric Hausgaard)
Subject: ST: 3GEN [5/7]
Organization: State University of New York -- Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 07:59:50 GMT


----------------------------------PART FIVE--------------------------------
to you!  My pardon!  Moriarty out."
     "Mr. Scott," said Jack.  "I want an Engineering team working
on restoring sensor functions.  Give Moriarty all the help you
can."  She touched her communicator.  "Mr. Salek, you may find a
Borg unit in Holodeck One."
     "...Aye, sir.  Proceeding."
     Jack took a deep breath and sank down into the captain's chair
at the head of the table.  "Well, Mr. Cole," she said to the
silent, brooding figure beside her, "any further suggestions?"
     "If you don't mind, Captain, I'm going to steal James, and
we'll go have a look at Nikctalos's internal schematics.  We might
be able to figure out some sort of chemical compound to release
into the ship's atmosphere which would paralyse or kill any Borg on
board, but leave us unharmed."
     "Of course we'd have to put Nikctalos in a quarantine unit
first," put in James, with a lopsided grin.  "Can't forget that,
can we?"
     "I should say not," said Jack.  "But the idea sounds an
excellent one.  Make it so.  Counsellor T'Pryn, you may accompany
me back to the bridge...  This meeting is adjourned."


From:  Lt. (JG) Konnu
  To:  All
Subj:  The End of the Borg Saga?

     Konnu could feel his adrenaline rush as he and Salek ran into
the first armoury they came across.  The two began selecting
several weapons they could use to remove the Borg from Holodeck
One. Konnu wedged a Type IIB phaser into his belt, and picked up a
Klingon combat blade from the ship's limited supply of Klingon
weaponry. Salek holstered a Type III phaser rifle.  Salek looked
from his rifle to Konnu's blade and smiled. 
     "The knife is a good weapon!" Konnu growled. 
     Salek's smile turned into a small chuckle.
     "Bah!" Konnu turned and began running down the deck towards
the Holodeck.  Salek followed, trying not to laugh.
     The two were met outside the Holodeck by a small security
force.  "Lieutenants!" the leader of the security team, Ensign
Stone, shouted. "The Borg is inside... jacked into the computer!"
     "What is he doing?" asked Salek.
     "Nothing sir. He's just ignoring us." Stone answered. Indeed,
as Konnu and Salek stared into the open holodeck, the Borg was
standing just inside the `arch'. A small cord was connecting his
sensor arm to the computer console. Konnu and Salek prepared to
fire.
     "Sirs!" Stone protested. "Aren't we supposed to give a
warning..." 
     "FIRE!!!" Konnu and Salek said in unison. The Klingon,
Romulan, and five-member security team fired at the Borg. To
Konnu's dismay, the familiar Borg shield sprang up and absorbed the
phaser blasts as if it had been water hitting a thirsty sponge. Not
to be daunted, Konnu ordered the computer to clear the safeties on
their phasers. All Federation issue phasers and phaser rifles were
tied into the ship's computer system, and an automatic safety
program would not allow any of the phaser's to fire on a setting
greater than a setting of 7, unless overridden.
     "Maximum power!" Konnu shouted. "FIRE!" Once again, the
yellow-orange beams of energy lashed out at the Borg, and once
again the blasts were absorbed by the Borg's shields.
     "What!?!" Salek said in disbelief. He switched the rifle to
rapid fire and began peppering the Borg with phaser blasts. The
Borg shields annulled them all. The Borg continued his assault on
Moriarty, totally ignoring the trigger happy people outside of the
Holodeck.
     "Are you quite done, sir?" Konnu barked.
     "I don't understand! Even on maximum power..." Salek looked at
the rifle. It had overheated and had automatically shut down.
     "The Borg is tied into our computer. It knows the frequencies
of all our weapons." Konnu explained.
     "Of course... why didn't we think of that. What now?" Salek
asked. He had thought about trying to rush in and use physical
force to remove the Borg, but he had heard what could happen in a
holodeck when the safety measures were overridden, and no doubt,
the Borg knew about such things now.
     "Well," The Klingon turned his back to the Borg and drew the
Klingon blade from the ceremonial sash he wore over his uniform.
"We could surrender and prepare for assimilation..." Konnu pressed
a button on the knife and two smaller blades popped out from either
side of the sharp, larger blade.  The Borg spoke:
     "Assimilation is relevant."
     "Yaaagh!"  Konnu spun and quickly threw the knife, not at the
Borg, but at the Borg's lifeline to the Enterprise's computer. It
neatly sliced the cord in two.  The Borg shorted out.  Electricity
arced all over the cyborg's body for a brief moment, and then the
man/machine fell immobilized to the floor. Small puffs of yellow
smoke rose from his ears. Konnu looked at Salek.
     "The knife IS a good weapon." Konnu cracked a rare Klingon
smile. 
     "I still liked the rifle." Salek pouted.
     "It isn't bad..." Konnu tapped his communicator. "Konnu to
Captain Picard..."
     "Picard here. Report Lieutenant."
     "The intruder in Holodeck One has been... dealt with." Konnu
noticed that Salek smiled at this interpretation of events. Perhaps
this Romulan was different from the rest of the lowly race...


From:  Capt. Jacqueline Picard
  To:  Lt. (JG) Konnu
Subj:  End?

     "Good work, Lieutenant," said Jack from her seat on the
bridge.  "Centurion, have you found any other Borg units on the
ship?"
     "I've ordered the Security teams to do a full-deck sweep,"
said Salek.  "So far we have received no reports of Borg
encounters, but there are still several decks to be explored."
     "Acknowledged.  Keep me posted."  Jack turned the intercom off
and raised her head.  "Moriarty!"
     There was a long pause.
     "Moriarty!  Respond, please."
     When the silence persisted she rose from her chair and headed
over to the empty Ops station.  Her fingers flashed across the
touchpad, and her lips tightened in a frown.
     "It would appear that the Borg have rendered Moriarty deaf as
well as blind," observed T'Pryn.
     "More or less.  He's suffered full sensor shutdown."  Jack
tapped her badge.  "Picard to Scott."
     Mac's voice echoed in the stillness of the bridge.  "Captain?"
     "What's the status in Engineering?  Have you been able to
isolate any further Borg intrusions into the system?"
     "For all we know there might still be a Borg somewhere in
here.  I've got a couple of ensigns crawling around the power
conduits with randomized phasers, but they haven't found anything
so far.  We're working on restoring sensor functions, but there
still seems to be a lot of butter in the works."
     "Some crumbs must have gotten into it," murmured Jack.  "You
shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife."
     "But it was the *best* butter."  She heard the laugh in Mac's
voice.  "Didn't think you'd pick up on that one so fast."
     "I must have played _Alice in Wonderland_ on the holodecks
about a thousand times as a child," said Jack.  "I could hardly
miss it.  Very well, Mr. Scott, proceed.  Keep me informed on your
progress.  I _need_ Moriarty back."
     Mac sounded faintly surprised.  "Okay, Captain... Scott out."
     Jacqueline sat down at the Ops console, lips folding between
her teeth as she concentrated.  If she could just get some sort of
line of communication open between Moriarty and herself, he might
be able to tell her where the rest of the Borg might be, or how
many there were, or something.
     She rapped out:  PICARD TO MORIARTY.  RESPOND.
     A long moment passed.  Then the reply crawled hesitantly
across the screen:  -- MORIARTY HERE -- HOW MAY I ASSIST YOU? --
     WHAT'S GOING ON?
     -- I AM TRYING TO BREAK THE CODES INTRODUCED INTO MY SYSTEM BY
THE BORG -- BUT THE BORGLINK IS STILL IN USE --
     YOU MEAN THERE'S A BORG STILL ALIVE?  OR MORE THAN ONE?  HOW
MANY, MORIARTY?
     -- I AM UNABLE TO DISCERN HOW MANY THERE MAY BE -- PERHAPS
ONLY ONE -- JACQUELINE -- I MUST GO --
     << END OF LINE >>
     Jack touched her communicator.  "Mr. Salek!"
     "Yes, Captain?"
     "Have you found anything yet?"
     "Nothing, sir.  So far all teams have reported the decks
clean."
     "Moriarty says there's still a Borg jacked in somewhere.  Keep
looking, Centurion!"
     "Aye, sir.  Salek out."
     Jack took a deep breath.  She needed to relax a little.  She
needed to think.  There was nothing more she could do now; her crew
was doing everything that could be expected of them.
     "Lieutenant," she said to Maverint Slike, "You have the bridge
for the time being.  I'll be in my Ready Room."
     Slike nodded, rose from his seat and moved toward the
Captain's chair; Ensign Yarno took his place at the conn.  Jack
took one last glance at the bridge to reassure herself that all was
well, walked into the Ready Room--
     --And came face to face with a Borg.  
     It was jacked into the mini-console on her wall, and it paid
her absolutely no heed.  Jack whacked her badge so hard she just
about stabbed herself to death and barked "Security to the Ready
Room on the double!"
     The Borg's head swivelled around.  "Acting Captain Jacqueline
Marie Picard, offspring of Locutus of Borg.  You will be
terminated."
     "I think not," said Jack between her teeth.  But the Borg had
jacked out.  It moved between her and the door.  She backed up
slowly as the Borg approached, reaching for the emergency phaser
clipped to the side of the desk.  Then she remembered that it would
be of no use to her whatsoever; the Borg was shielded.
     _Think, Jack!  Think!_  But her thoughts were in fragments. 
She took another step back and bumped into the wall.  The Borg
reached out--
     Then all at once she knew what to do.  With a sudden surge of
adrenalin she ducked away from the Borg's grasp, darted behind it,
grabbed the two power couplings at the base of its neck and pulled
with all her might.  The Borg screamed--a high, inhuman, metallic
whine--and convulsed.  Sparks flew, burning Jack's hands, jolting
her away from the Borg.  She fell to the floor, just as the door
burst open and Konnu rushed in, wielding a huge Klingon dagger.  He
hefted it and threw it with full force at the Borg unit.  It buried
itself in its back.  The Borg dropped to the floor, still twitching
but otherwise lifeless.  They stared at it.
     "Captain," came Mac Scott's voice through her communicator,
"the Borglink has gone off-line.  We're breaking up the new code
and restoring normal computer functions.  Internal and external
sensors should be on-line within the hour."
     Jack had to take a few deep, heaving breaths before she could
reply.  "Acknowledged... Mr. Scott.  Good work.  Picard out."
     Salek reached out to help Jack to her feet.  She shook her
head and stood up on her own, brushing dust from her uniform.  She
felt eerily calm, but when she looked down at her scarred and
bleeding hands she saw that they were shaking.
     "Well done, Lieutenant," she said to Konnu.  "Mr. Salek, I
would be obliged if you would accompany me to Sick Bay--"
     And then, for the first time in Jack's life, she fainted.


From:  Lt. (JG) Konnu
  To:  All
Subj:  Lots of Stuff

     Konnu managed to catch Jack as she fell faint to the floor. 
Konnu rested her head gently on the floor.  He tapped his
communicator.  "Lt.  Konnu to sickbay..."  He waited for a reply. 
No reply.  "Konnu to sickbay..."  Still no response.  
     Konnu turned to Salek.  "Communications must still be out.  Go
to sick bay and tell them I will be bringing the Captain down." 
Konnu looked down at Jack's burnt and bleeding hands.
"Tell them she has incurred electrical burns to her hands and
forearms."  
     "Right.  I'll get Ensign Stone to remove the Borg...  trash." 
Salek pivoted and ran out of the ready room.  
     Konnu took what was left of his tunic and ripped it into long
strips and carefully bandaged Picard's bleeding wounds.  Then the
Klingon heaved her into his arms and made for the door.
     On the bridge, Maverint looked with concern at the sight of
the bare-chested Klingon carrying the motionless form of the
Captain.  "Konnu!  What happened in there?" Slike asked.
     "Later." Konnu walked into the turbo lift.
     "Destinaaaashun-n-n-n?" The still malfunctioning computer
blurted out as the doors closed.
     "Sickbay."  Konnu growled.  Suddenly, that male voice spoke
again.  
     "Oh dear...  What has happened to Jacqueline?"
     "Look, whatever you are, " Konnu barked.  "I will publish a
novel about it after we get to sickbay."
     "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
  To:  All
Subj:  Murder, I Wrote

     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
  To:  All
Subj:  Strange Dreams, Unpleasant Realities

     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
  To:  All
Subj:  Starbase 643

     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
  To:  All
Subj:  Adventure!

     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.


From:  Lt. Konnu
  To:  All
Subj:  Continued

     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
-- 
 "Seize the moment, Mirabor...Seize the moment" -- Picard 
   "The closer to the solution, The more problems occur"   
              Even *I* don't want my opinions
    All Flames/E-mail to ueh@sunyit.edu until I graduate.... 
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative