From: tlb2665@usl.edu (Burleigh Thomas L)
Subject: ST:USS Cavalier, Chapter 4, "A Gambit Begins"
Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 03:25:26 GMT


(C) Copywrite 1992 by Thomas L. Burleigh. The following are the property
of Paramount Pictures, Inc: the characters of William T. Riker, Jean-Luc
Picard, D'Tan, and Spock; the Borg, Romulan, and Vulcan races; the
StarFleet organization; and, the USS Enterprise. This story is an original
work of fiction base on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a registered
trademark of Paramount. All rights reserved.

                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 4
                           "A Gambit Begins"


   Back on board the Cavalier, Riker was reviewing the data-chip Spock gave
him. He had filled Thompson in on his encounter with Spock, and told 
him to maintain preparations for the jump around Romulan space.
   (So,) Ricker thought, (THAT is why the Romulan's are more interested in
peace. They're gonna need our help against the Borg - probably in the near
future. Really should let the Federation know about this; or, should I see
how long it'll take the politicals to figure this out?) 
   He grinned at that last thought. There was no love lost between Riker
and the StarFleet politicals. As Riker considered his personal distaste for
his past diplomatic forays, he thought how politics seemed to be just a
grand diplomacy of the masses. How could anyone do THAT for a living?
  (Naw, better tell them about it. Fun as it might be, I'd really be
letting Admiral Picard down.)
   Admiral Jean-Luc Picard was now the StarFleet Chief-of-Staff, Operations.
   Riker thumbed the computer to continue and absorbed its last tidbit of
information. (Yikes! This IS bad! One of their planets nearer the Borg
border bit the dust - lost a colony too! Spock wasn't exaggerating, they
ARE in trouble with the Borg!)
   Riker considered his current StarFleet orders. The Cavalier was to
survey planets already done in by the Borg a good while back - strictly
reconnaisance. And to attack and destroy any Borg ships they ran into -
but not to LOOK for them! Now, he was considering going to a planet that,
in all likelyhood, the Borg were still around.
   Well, the cloaks should keep the Cavalier well hidden enough. But,
making attacks, as per orders would interfere with their survey. Okay, so
no attacks!  Orbital passes while maximum sensors, and camoflauged away
teams for ground recon if any Borg troops detected on the ground. No more
than an hour or two there, then we head off to our first OFFICIAL
destination - and advise StarFleet afterwards, if the game was worth the
candle!
   Riker keyed his computer then hailed Navigation, "This is the Captain.
Lay in a course THROUGH Romulan space to these coordinates. Tell Commander
Thompson I'll be on the Bridge in just a second. Captain Riker out."
   (Well, lets see just how much faith in command I've managed to instill so
far.)  Riker walked to his mirror, conducted the Picard Maneuver on his
red tunic, and strode onto the Bridge.
   Riker entered the Bridge and saw everyone at there stations working
copiously. Everyone except Thompson, who was doing something with Shaw at
the Engineering Station. Thompson, seeing Riker enter out of the corner of
his eye, came to attention and barked, "Captain on the Bridge!"
 "Carry on." Riker said before anyone else could jump up. "Computer,
inter-ship communications." The computer responded with an acknowledgment
signal and Riker addressed the crew of the Cavalier.
 "All hands, this is the Captain speaking.  We are going to make a jump
through Romuland space to a world recently "assimilated" by the Borg.
We've just been cleared to do so. We will remain cloaked and stealthy. We
will avoid confrontation with the Borg if at all possible. Away teams,
assemble with weapons and holo-corders, in camoflauge, to the transporter
rooms for ground reconaisance and surveying. Captain Riker, out."
 "Mr. Thompson," Riker said facing his First Officer, "I'm ready for the
jump when you are."
 "Yes, sir." Thompson replied. "And, Mr. Shaw and I have a pleasant
surprise for you."
 "I could use a PLEASANT surprise, Mr. Thompson. What is it?"
 "All the Captain needs to do is sit down and enjoy the ride."
 (Now, what does he mean by THAT?) Thompson wasn't given to assumed 
informality, like Shaw, so Riker new he was serious. Riker sat himself
down on his command chair, squard his shoulders, and said, "Very well,
engage!"
Then all of a suddend Riker was sitting alone in a starfield!

--
 _____           _                         | InterNet: tlb2665@usl.edu
   |   _  __    |_|     __  |  _  .  _  |_ | Voice: (318) 232-8298
   |  | | |||   | | | | | ' | |-' | |_| | ||"Reality is a collective
   '  '-' '''   '-' '-' '   ' '-' ' ,_| ' '|hunch." -- Lily Tomlin
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative