Star Trek: Dark Horizon

THE POWER OF THE VISION

Written by Michael Gray

Based upon Star Trek

created by Gene Roddenberry

Copyright 2003, 2011 by Michael Gray

=/\=

Chapter 1 - Departure

The starship Chamberlain sailed into orbit around Yed Post Four, a bright blue-green world, known to the local inhabitants as Gamala. Various Starfleet vessels and hundreds of other ships cruised about the planet, many on their way to the surface. Some moved toward repair facilities while others went to and from the orbiting spacedock– the ever present sign of Starfleet’s influence. The Chamberlain was far too large to enter that structure, so it slowed and followed a small shuttle to a preassigned place in high orbit for repairs.

The Oceana class Starship had only been out of the Delta Ophichus Shipyards for three months, but in that time its crew had made a discovery of such importance that nearly every archaeologist within two hundred light years had moved heaven and whatever world they called home to come to the planet below. They all waited to hear from a member of the Chamberlain’s crew and they expected her to change how they viewed everything they had previously believed about themselves and their place in the Galaxy.  She, however, was not yet aware of those expectations.

None of them knew that another had arrived who also wanted to see beliefs change. His goals were much larger than those of the Chief Archaeologist of the Chamberlain, but he needed the knowledge she brought to succeed at his quest. He had waited long for the moment now at hand, and would not let it slip from his fingers.

=/\=

Jack and Mei-Wan McCall exited a turbolift onto the flight deck of the Chamberlain and walked across the huge hanger where above them a large berth for the Defiant Class starship Abdiel stood empty. Mei-Wan looked at the ceiling seventy feet above where numerous members of the flight deck crew worked on power conduits and support grapples for the soon expected Abdiel.

Jack walked up to the young, brown haired Deck Officer who presented the captain a worried smile.

“Your shuttle is this way, sir.”

The McCalls followed the man to a craft which bore the name, Maxwell.

“A science shuttle?” Jack asked.

The officer forced a smile. “There must have been some mix up, Captain. This was the only shuttle left for you. The others have either left already or are undergoing repairs.”

Mei-Wan grinned as her husband fumed. “We only have to go down to the surface, Jack.”

“I know, but a science shuttle?” Jack asked. He was hoping for something with some power in its engines. He had a chance to get some real flight time in and he was stuck with a slow moving, sluggish science shuttle.

A haggard looking officer lumbered up to them. He smiled as he stopped a few feet behind Jack.

“Is there a problem, Captain?” Flight Deck Commander Lee McGuire asked, his voice thick with the accent of his Irish ancestors.

Both Jack and Mei-Wan turned to face McGuire.

“It seems the runabout I requested was not reserved, Mr. McGuire.”

The junior officer handed McGuire a PADD.

After a moment the Flight Deck Commander turned to Jack. “Yes, there does seem to have been a communications problem, sir. I’ll be sure to talk to Mr. Negev about it once he’s back aboard.”

Jack had heard through other officers that McGuire was still angry over the “communications incident” more than a month before. In some ways he didn’t blame the man, but this was petty even for McGuire.

“Well, I guess a science shuttle will have to do,” Jack said.

McGuire watched the captain and his wife stroll toward the Maxwell. After ten seconds he shook his head and walked away.

A voice called out just as the McCalls arrived at the open hatch to the shuttle, “Hold up, Jack!”

The captain of the Chamberlain knew there was only one man aboard who called him by his first name. He turned and saw balding fifty-eight year old Hank Evans running over to them followed by the graceful Commander Kadan Loftus.

“Mind if we catch a ride down with you?” Hank asked.

Jack smiled. “I thought you were staying aboard.”

“Not anymore he isn’t,” the lovely Bajoran woman, Kadan Loftus, replied.

Mei-Wan smiled as Jack waved them toward the craft. “I’m flying this time,” Jack said firmly.

“Yes, sir, Captain, sir,” Hank replied.

=/\=

The shuttle Maxwell left the flight deck of the Chamberlain and banked downward to join other craft making for the surface of the planet.

Jack McCall sat behind the controls with Hank next to him at the co-pilot’s station while Mei-Wan and Loftus sat in the seats behind them. Hank looked out at the large number of shuttles ahead of them and hoped the traffic would thin out by the time they reached the surface.

Mei-Wan watched her husband pilot the shuttle down through the ever thickening atmosphere of Gamala. An uncertain quiet had inhabited their relationship the last five weeks since she had received the offer to lead the expedition back to Hel’yra. She knew Jack didn’t want her to go, but he wouldn’t say it. Part of her wanted him to give her the excuse to stay, but the part of her that had dedicated her life to archaeology was glad for his silence.

Thirty thousand light years away by distance, but only five weeks away through the Tartarus wormhole, Hel’yra beckoned to her like no other world. Five billion years ago the race the Federation knew as the Ancient Progenitors walked upon that dusty little planet and left behind technology so advanced it bordered on magic. To uncover their secrets was akin to recovering some ancient magic art for Mei-Wan, and she desperately wanted to be the first person to look upon its long hidden enchantments.

She wanted to know why the Ancient Progenitors had seeded much of the Galaxy with their own genetic material resulting in the wide abundance of humanoids. She wanted to know where they had gone afterward and why they had left nothing behind, except a short message locked away in the very DNA of their progeny.

She looked at her own hands and realized there was more to her yearning than scientific reasons. Mei-Wan wanted something beyond that. It had become almost a religious quest. She hoped to be the first humanoid to learn the secrets of all beings like her– the secrets of her own existence. But even more, she wanted to understand ‘why.’

Mei-Wan watched glowing plasma fill the front viewport of the shuttle as air in the atmosphere was superheated by their craft’s descent. She remembered as a child being afraid of the fires of flying into a planetary atmosphere. It always reminded her of ancient stories and myths about hell. Her father, a scholar of ancient Earth cultures, would try to reassure her that’s all they were; stories. But deep in a dark corner of her mind those stories resonated.

She sometimes wondered if it was really fear of hell fire or just love for her father that sent her into his arms to hide. He encouraged her interest in archaeology at every opportunity even pulling strings to get Starfleet Academy where he taught to let her sit in on several classes in the Archaeology Department. Mei-Wan’s mother always thought she’d come to her senses and show interest in a “real” science. As the years went on and her interest in archaeology increased to a passion, even her astrophysicist mother seemed to at least tolerate her daughter’s career path.

And now that path led to the Archaeological Council Conference on Gamala where in less than forty-eight hours, Mei-Wan McCall would deliver the keynote address.

Jack turned back to look at Mei-Wan as the plasma fires outside the shuttle died away. He grinned.

“What?” Mei-Wan asked.

“You were smiling.”

“Just thinking of my parents.”

“You did send them that message, didn’t you?” Jack asked.

Mei-Wan nodded. “As soon as we made it back to this side of the wormhole.”

Jack returned to his controls as a gargantuan metropolis appeared though the clouds ahead. Thousands of small craft filled the sky buzzing about the city of Sylvanus in a semi-coordinated dance.

“Damn,” Hank Evans remarked. “That’s a lot of shuttle traffic.”

“This might take a while,” Jack said.

“What the hell are all these people doing here?” Hank asked, exasperated at the thought of wasting time in a holding pattern when he wanted to be down in the city experiencing various delights with his beautiful Bajoran friend.

Jack smiled and pointed back to his wife.

Mei-Wan’s eyes went wide. “Me?”

“For the last week and a half the Comm channels have been filled with requests to come here for the conference and there has been a fair amount of inquiry about your speech,” Jack said.

Mei-Wan leaned forward for a better view. “But all these people?”

“This has got to really piss off that jackass Zachary. A member of his department getting all the attention for a mission he commanded?”

“I tried to talk to him about co-authoring the report on Hel’yra, but he always seemed irritated I’d even asked.”

Loftus chuckled. “Mr. Zachary always struck me as the kind of person who’d be irritated by the need to take a breath or the beginning of a new day.”

“I bet he’s so mad he won’t even come down to the surface,” Hank chortled.

Jack shook his head. “He went down five minutes after we secured the ship.”

Hank frowned. “You sure about that?”

“Said he had someone to meet.”

Hank laughed heartily. “Just don’t tell me he’s meeting a woman. If that happens my opinion of females everywhere will drop.”

“He was married once, Hank.”

“And she divorced him. Bright woman.”

“I’ve got a friend in the Personnel Department who told me he’s been bothering them a lot recently,” Loftus offered.

“Hopefully he’s after a transfer.”

“Now, Hank… ” Jack started.

“Now Hank, nothing! The guy is an ass-wipe, Jack, and you know it.”

Mei-Wan covered her mouth to stop the laughter starting to well up inside. Hank’s description was just the beginning of interesting terms that her fellow “prisoners” in the Science Department used to describe their fearless leader.

The panel in front of Jack filled the shuttle interior with an obnoxious electronic bleating. The captain of the Chamberlain quickly touched a control ending the assault by the bothersome noise.

“Shuttle Maxwell, this is Sylvanus Port Control, according to your manifest, Lieutenant Mei-Wan McCall is aboard. Is this information correct?” asked a voice out of the shuttle’s speaker.

Jack looked back at his wife and smiled. “She is indeed aboard, Port Control.”

“Pilot, we are transmitting a course to your onboard systems. You will proceed immediately to landing station ninety-four.”

Hank looked at Jack. “A starship captain doesn’t get us anywhere, but an archaeologist does? What’s the Galaxy coming to?”

Mei-Wan watched as Hank turned back to her and said, “No offense, Mei.”

She replied with a grin.

=/\=

Jack and Mei-Wan McCall walked down a crowded street in Sylvanus as the bright midday sun warmed the crisp fragrant air. Landing Station Ninety-four stood in the heart of the city’s open mall district where merchants sold objects from across the Federation and beyond to the unknowing arrivals walking past. The variety of wares was enormous. Spican Flame Gems sold at one table while a strange orange liquid sold at another. One vendor insisted he had a map that would lead the buyer to a planet guaranteed to provide eternal life. The table next to that one sold holographic programs of women, men, and everything in-between who would satiate any and all desires.

Jack smiled and turned to watch the willowy figure that walked beside him with a backpack over her shoulder. No holograms for me, he thought. He was more than satisfied with the woman he shared his bed with.

He watched her dark flowing hair dance in the soft wind coming from the direction of their movement. There was a certainty she brought to his existence; a constant which he could measure everything else by. She was his life, but now he was afraid of losing her and not to some accident or act of war. His adversary lurked in the dreams she had for her career and life.

Mei-Wan’s soft luminous eyes glanced over at him and a wistful expression came to her face. “What are you thinking about?”

He looked down as the breeze caught only the ends of his short-cropped hair. “About us.”

She nodded and looked forward again. “Me too.” The wind blew a section of her hair across her face forcing her to reach up and pull it away. “I’d like to get a chance to talk about the expedition before I have to make a decision.”

“I don’t know what more there is to talk about, Mei.”

She closed her eyes and stopped walking. Jack turned to her.

“Please don’t do this,” she pleaded.

“What?”

“This isn’t easy for me,” she stated as her eyes opened to look at him again. “You know what this expedition means.”

“I do, but that just makes it more difficult.”

Mei-Wan pulled the strap of her backpack higher onto her shoulder. “Other couples deal with separate assignments, why can’t we?”

Jack looked at her with a face that had just recently started to show signs of aging with a few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. For the first time in his life the passage of days, weeks, and months had become an actual part of his thoughts. The realization he wasn’t immortal, that there were only so many years left to him, influenced how he viewed more and more of his life; especially his life with Mei-Wan. The thought of throwing a year of that away for any reason was terrifying. The only thing worse was the gnawing fear he had that she might leave him over the question of the expedition.

Jack couldnt think of anything to say that wouldn’t make the situation worse so he looked at the ground where they stood.

Fortunately, Mei-Wan solved the problem for him.  “I’m heading off to a café’ Melissa told me about to finish up my presentation.”

Jack looked at her, thankful the topic had changed. “Admiral Simmons wants to see me. With all the trouble the ship’s been having I don’t expect this to go well.”

“Design problems with the Chamberlain aren’t your fault, Jack.”

“Well, I’m glad there’s one person in the Galaxy that doesn’t think so.”

She frowned. “He can’t blame you for that.”

“I’m the captain, Mei. They tend to hold us responsible for everything under our command.”

She nodded. “Where do you want to meet later?”

“I got us an apartment across the street from the Conference Center and a couple of blocks away from Starfleet’s offices,” he said with a smile.

Mei-Wan’s eyes widened. “With all the people coming here, how did you do that?”

“It didn’t look like I would until I mentioned it was for you. Seems everyone on Gamala knows who you are,” he said.

“That’ll really help out not having to go back and forth between the ship and the surface every day. Thanks.”

“Sure.” Doing things to bring a smile to her face excited him more than travelling the stars.

Mei-Wan leaned towards him and gently kissed him; taking a deep breath as their lips touched.

Jack smiled a few seconds later as they separated. “See you about 1800?”

“How do I find the apartment?” she asked.

“It’s just south of the Conference Center in a place called Pierce Valley Apartments.”

Mei-Wan hesitated, but then said, “I’ll see you.”

Jack stared as she disappeared into the crowd down a side street. Every time he watched her walk away a part of him went with her– the best part.

A short ruddy faced merchant walked up to him. “Interest you in a tribble, Captain, sir?”

Jack turned and looked at the drab-clothed human and the furry thing that purred softly in his hand. “No thanks.”

The merchant grinned at him. “Women really enjoy having them around.”

“What?”

The stout man pointed the direction Mei-Wan had gone. “Your lady friend might like coming home to one of these sweet creatures.”

Jack laughed and walked away from the merchant. “Believe me, the last thing she wants is to be hip deep in those things.”

He briskly moved through the crowd in the direction of Starfleet’s Offices. He passed a group of four Nausicans pulling another seller of strange wares two feet off the ground while arguing about the prices he charged. The nearly seven feet tall fanged aliens would be the ones to win that dispute. If Hank hadn’t run off to the tram station with Loftus the moment they landed, his old friend would have insisted they break it up. Jack decided not to get involved in their business.

He made his way to a wider street where a crowd of several hundred had gathered, listening to a man on a six foot high platform. The man appeared human, but had an odd look to his eyes. Jack guessed he was probably fifty or more years old judging by the gray hair and worn features about his face. He paused a moment to see what the crowd was so interested in and noticed that behind the man stood two golden-winged, birdlike humanoids; each eight feet in height. Jack finally recognized them as members of the proud Skorr species.

The two graceful creatures watched the crowd as the man spoke. “My fellow humanoids, we stand at a moment of transition like no other in the history of the Federation. In two days an address will be delivered on this planet that archaeologists will attend, but the larger population of the Federation may never hear. But hear it they must! For they must know the truth about us all.”

Jack watched the ever growing crowd as it clung to every word the man said. When the speaker paused, the gathering collectively held its breath waiting for him to continue.

“We are not humans, we are not Vulcans, we are not Romulans, Klingons, Andorians, Ferengi, or Cardassians. We come from one source– one people– one blood. The differences we see are insignificant though others try to make them great. And for too long those differences have kept us apart like the feuding members of a family,” the man shouted.

“I say we cannot allow anything to separate us from this point forward! I say we must become the people we are destined to be. Destined by our genetics… destined by what we are… destined by those who came before.

“Billions of years ago a people ruled this Galaxy, not by strife, hatred, or arbitrary rules, but by the force of the goodness and justice that flowed in their veins pumped by the certainty in their hearts.”

Jack made his way through the crowd for a better vantage point to observe from. He was certain the man was referring to the Ancient Progenitors.

The speaker continued, “And from that proud line we all come… those of Earth, Vulcan, Andoria, Romulus, Betazed, Rigel, and thousands of other worlds, some we’ve never heard of and have yet to hear from us. But hear from us they shall.

“No longer can we allow the Prime Directive to keep us from our brothers and sisters just because some say they are not advanced enough! No longer can we allow them to live without knowing their true history and their true destiny! No longer can we sit silently while the Federation Council, the Klingon High Council or the Romulan Senate keep us fighting amongst ourselves and keep us from finding our brothers and sisters.”

Jack knew the man’s reference to the Prime Directive requiring non-interference with developing cultures would not sit well with Starfleet Command once they found out about it. That one rule was at the heart of what the Federation stood for, but it had always been the most difficult to come to terms with. The crowd, however, seemed to like what it was hearing.

The man stopped as cheers erupted from the gathering of aliens from more than fifty worlds. The entire time the two Skorr stood unmoving behind the speaker.

As the cheering subsided the man continued, “We must take the message that we are all one, that we all come from a race known only to us as the Ancient Progenitors, to every world they seeded no matter if the Prime Directive says we can or not!

“We must break down the walls we have put between us! We must proclaim to every world where the blood of our ancestors runs hot that they are not alone in the universe! They must know the grand destiny before us all! They must join us to make that destiny a reality!”

The crowd exploded in cheers of excitement as the man looked out smiling. Jack McCall would have to report this to Starfleet. He was duty bound to, but something about the man made Jack want to hear more. However, that was not to be.

From behind Jack the crowd parted letting five husky men from Federation Security move quickly towards the platform. They stepped up and approached the man, but stopped when they saw the two Skorr standing guard. Most inhabitants within five hundred light years of the Skorr homeworld knew better than to agitate the tall golden creatures. They had few equals as warriors and were the single most deadly opponent someone could face in hand to hand combat.

Prior to four hundred years ago the Skorr had refined their warrior culture to a level only dreamed of by the Klingons, Andorians, or Cardassians. That changed when a religious leader taught them how to channel their violent natures toward building a civilization of peace and prosperity.

A single Guard stepped nearer to the man who had been speaking, but one of the Skorr moved to block him. The Guard peered slowly upward at the eight foot tall creature as it tilted its beaked head and watched the human as a bird of prey might size up its next meal. The Guard swallowed hard as his hand crept toward the phaser at his waist.

Jack was certain this wasn’t going to end well as the Skorr raised its talons as if to strike. Quickly the speaker turned to his Skorr companions and spoke too softly for Jack to make out the words. The giant creatures merely nodded as the man walked to the officers and allowed himself to be led away. A few moments later the man was taken through the crowd which stood silently watching the one who, a few minutes before, had held their attention so completely.

As the speaker and the officers walked past, the man looked at Jack and smiled, “Will they do the same when your wife speaks, Captain?”

It took several seconds for Jack to realize the crowd had begun to disperse. He was stunned by the man’s question. Though Jack knew nothing of the sort would happen to Mei-Wan it troubled him that a seeming religious zealot knew who Jack was and worse, knew who his wife was. He felt a tingle along the back of his neck as his surprise turned to worry. Something very wrong was going on and Jack McCall did not like that somehow Mei-Wan was at the center of it.

=/\=

Chapter 2 - Settings In Order

Hank Evans and Kadan Loftus strolled down a crowded street in the heart of Sylvanus where restaurants of nearly every kind of cuisine in the Federation lined each side of the wide path.

Hank frowned. “I really don’t think that’s fair.”

“McGuire thought the same about the way he was treated,” the lovely Loftus replied.

“Okay, maybe Jack went a little too far with McGuire, but I’m absolutely certain there is a spy aboard the Chamberlain.”

“What would be the point, Hank? Just to send secret messages?”

“There’s more to it than that.”

Loftus smiled and held onto Hank’s arm. “I think someone spent too much time working for Starfleet Intelligence during the war.”

Hank turned to her and grinned. “Well, somebody has to be paranoid so everyone else can live in ignorance.”

Hank’s face hardened as he looked behind Loftus toward a restaurant window. “I can’t believe it.”

Loftus turned to face the direction of Hank’s gaze and saw Duncan Zachary sitting inside an eatery with a beautiful dark haired woman wearing a Starfleet uniform.

“Don’t start with comments about females,” she said to Hank.

“I just can’t believe any woman would actually want to spend time with that…”

“Hank…” Loftus started.

=/\=

“Spending time with you is not something I look forward to anymore, Duncan. Can we please get this over with?” asked the woman across the table from the Science Officer of the Chamberlain.

Zachary smiled. “I’m surprised at the level of your antagonism, Kori. We’ve been divorced nearly two years now. I’d have thought whatever emotional impact I had was long gone.”

Commander Korrina Armenta, a worn looking woman in her late forties, glared at the man she used to call her husband. She had given so much to their marriage, but it never seemed to matter. Things never got better. And now he wanted something from her.

Zachary stretched his arm across the table toward his former wife and offered her a PADD which she cautiously took after several seconds.

“What’s this? More demands from your lawyers?” she asked.

Korrina read through the text displayed on the small device and laughed. “What the hell is this?”

“I think it’s fairly clear,” Zachary replied as he sipped a dark liquid from his glass.

His ex-wife set the PADD down on the table and stared at him. “What are you doing?”

“As it says, I’m turning over everything I own to you effective immediately.”

Korrina glanced at the device. “Including your parents’ home on Earth?”

“Yes,” Zachary replied as he lowered his glass down on the table.

“During the divorce you fought me over every book, every piece of paper, and even the plants. I find it hard to believe you’re giving me all your personal possessions.”

Zachary half smiled. “I’ve changed, Kori.”

She took a breath and frowned. “You’ve never changed in the almost twenty years I’ve known you– except for the worse.”

He leaned forward. “Now, do you really think that’s fair?”

“Yes.”

A wide smile came to his face. “I’ve got a new direction in my life. This assignment has changed my whole outlook. The Chamberlain is a great ship and I’m making new friends.”

Korrina shook her head. “You don’t make friends, Duncan. You only have acquaintances.”

“Well, then assume I’ve lost my mind.”

She touched the PADD and allowed the text to scroll on its display. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked back at Zachary. “The pictures of Cindy?”

He looked down at the table. “I’ve made copies for myself.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I want you to have them, so just say thank you and accept my explanation.”

Her features softened. “Thank you, Duncan.”

Korrina stood to her feet. “I wish… ” she started, but caught herself.

Zachary shook his head. “Its too late for all of that, Kori.”

She nodded. “I want you to know I never blamed you for Cindy’s…”

He closed his eyes.

Korrina continued, “It wasn’t your fault, Duncan. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

He looked up at her with a new coldness in his tired eyes. “No, it was someone’s fault— the Danorans.”

She forced the memory away before it consumed her and turned to him. “Take care of yourself, Duncan.”

“I will,” he replied as she walked away towards the entrance to the restaurant.

Zachary picked his glass up and took a small drink from it. His voice became deep and dark, “I’ll take care of everything.”

=/\=

Jack McCall sat silently while Fergus Simmons looked at a display on his desk. The gray-haired Admiral took his time reviewing the information on the screen.

“This is about what I expected,” Simmons stated.

Jack knew better than to say anything just yet. He would let the admiral make the first move.

Simmons switched the display off. “You probably know I’ve never thought very highly of the Oceana class, Captain. Your Chief Engineer’s report does nothing to change that point of view.”

“The Chamberlain’s current condition is more the result of an energy surge from another vessel than it is from a design flaw, Admiral,” Jack replied with as much conviction as he could muster.

“I doubt other starships would still be suffering from the effects of an energy surge after more than a month,” Simmons stated.

Jack took a breath and nodded. “Perhaps not, but the ship has only been out of the shipyard three months. Every new class has its initial problems.”

Simmons shook his head. “The Oceana still hasn’t gotten above warp eight and the Tethys had its shakedown cruise postponed for the second time just three days ago. And it is rather doubtful the Hyperion will meet its completion date.”

Jack hadn’t heard about problems with the Hyperion. The Oceana class Starships were the largest and most powerful Starfleet had ever constructed, yet none of them had performed as promised. Not even Jack’s ship, the Chamberlain.

The admiral leaned back in his chair. “Face reality, Captain. The Oceana class is a failure. A failure born of the political desire to wield power for power’s sake. A desire even the Federation had to succumb to eventually.”

Jack looked out the window in Simmons’ office and watched the shuttles coming and going in the sky over Sylvanus. His own doubts about the Chamberlain had grown the past few weeks. Coming back to Federation territory unable to achieve a velocity greater than warp nine had affected morale through his entire crew. Some had begun to openly speak of their “next assignment” and their interest to transfer before they were forced to by circumstances beyond their control.

Simmons watched Jack and a slight smile crept across the admiral’s face.

“Of course, until the Federation Council decides to mothball the Oceana class we in Starfleet must treat the vessels as an asset to be used. Assuming your Chief Engineer can get the Chamberlain’s systems in working order in the next two weeks, you will take your ship back to Kel-j’na transporting me and my staff so that I can begin my tenure as Commander-In-Chief of Starfleet Operations in the Region.”

Jack turned back to his superior officer and nodded. Four weeks ferrying Simmons to Kel-j’na had not been on his list of fun things to do. No doubt the admiral would make Jack’s life a living hell for a month practically taking command of his ship.  The thought of looking for another assignment sounded better with each passing moment to Jack McCall.

“Along with myself and my staff there will be another passenger accompanying us to Kel-j’na. The Federation President has requested we grant transit to a Mr. Corsica, a historian who spent the last year with the President, who now plans to interview me during the trip to Kel-j’na. You are to see to it he has the best accommodations available and has access to all areas of the ship.”

Jack shook his head. “Admiral, am I to understand that I am to ‘baby-sit’ this Corsica while he is aboard?”

Simmons smiled. “You are rather perceptive today aren’t you, McCall?”

Jack didn’t care if the admiral disliked his attitude. He was a starship captain, not a cruise ship director. “Admiral, wouldn’t a diplomatic vessel be better suited…”

Simmons interrupted before Jack could finish. “Yes it would, but the President himself felt the Chamberlain would be the appropriate starship to deliver me to Kel-j’na and be the best setting for Mr. Corsica’s interviews.”

Jack sat looking at the Admiral, knowing this cruise to Kel-j’na might be the last for the Chamberlain and he was almost glad. He thought perhaps it was time to choose another path for his life. He knew where he wanted that path to lead. It had to be possible, he thought. But what would she say? Could he really give up the life he had fought so hard to attain?

Fergus Simmons touched a control on his desk. “I have gone over the reports of your executive officer and he seems to think that the administrative tasks of a ship the size of the Chamberlain with a crew of three thousand to be far too large for himself, you, and your other senior officers.

“I have spoken at length with Captain Donato of the Oceana and he agrees. So, Starfleet Command has ordered that both you and Donato be given your own staffs to deal with the administration of your ships, freeing you to deal with the more traditional duties of a starship captain.”

Jack grinned. “Does that mean I am being promoted to admiral?”

Simmons smiled. “No. Though the question of assigning admirals to command Oceana class ships was discussed, it was finally decided that you would be left in command at your current rank and assigned a staff of twenty.”

The door to Simmons’ office opened and an alluring dark haired woman in her early thirties entered wearing a Starfleet uniform.  Simmons rose to his feet.

“Captain McCall, Commander Celeste Purcell, your new Chief Staff Officer,” Simmons said as Purcell extended her hand toward the now standing Jack.

“My pleasure, Captain. I look forward to working with you, sir,” the commander said with a smile.

Jack, while happy at the thought of having an end to the constant flood of personnel and status reports, was troubled by the idea that his Chief Staff Officer was someone hand-picked by Simmons.

=/\=

Chapter 3 - Encounters Of Interest

Mei-Wan sat at a table covered with PADDs in the café Le Choix. Located in the restaurant district of Sylvanus, the small establishment had six tables and only two others were occupied. A petite waitress walked over to her table and poured more tea in a cup sitting among the report materials.

Mei-Wan looked up and smiled at the young woman. “Thank you.”

“Working during shore leave isn’t a good use of your time. You should try to enjoy the city while you’re here,” the waitress said.

Mei-Wan took a sip of her tea. “I wish I could. This has to be done by tomorrow.”

The young woman grinned. “You should find yourself a young man and work at happiness instead.”

Mei-Wan returned to her report.

The waitress walked back to the kitchen passing a dark haired man of thirty-two wearing a Starfleet uniform as he received a cup of steaming liquid at the front counter. The waitress smiled at him as she breezed past.  He grinned at the young woman’s smile and turned Mei-Wan’s direction.

He glided over to her, but stopped a few feet away. “Hey, do you have to take up the whole place?” he asked.

Mei-Wan rolled her eyes, “I’m sorry, but there are other tables…” Her words trailed off as she looked up.

“I can’t believe it. Kyle?”

Commander Kyle Hoffman chuckled. Mei-Wan stood as he walked over, and gave her a warm hug. “Mind if I join you?” He asked.

She pulled a group of PADDs off the table and placed them in a chair as Kyle set his cup down and took the seat across from her.

She sat back in her chair and stared at him. His eyes seemed more alive than she remembered. “Sorry about the mess,” she said.

“Don’t apologize. You’re the most thorough researcher I ever trained,” he replied.

“I should blame you for that,” Mei-Wan said with a grin.

“Please do,” he said, taking a sip from his steaming cup. “My pride grew to galactic proportions when I heard you’d been the one to discover the Ancient Progenitor site on Hel’yra. I was really happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

“It must have been incredible,” he said.

“It was exciting to walk where no one else had for more than five billion years.”

“Every archaeologist I know is jealous as hell. It’s the discovery of a lifetime, Mei.”

She lifted her cup of tea and took a drink from it. Kyle’s eyes watched her every move. “I heard you had some trouble with the Science Officer and the CO,” he said.

Mei-Wan frowned. “You know Duncan Zachary?”

“I think I met him once. Looks like he’s been dead for a decade or two, right?” Kyle asked with a smile.

“That’s him. He actually connected a Starfleet power pack to a panel at the site,” Mei-Wan said.

Kyle’s eyes widened. “He didn’t damage anything did he?”

“No. Fortunately the Progenitors made their equipment idiot-proof.” Mei-Wan smiled.

Kyle nodded and took a long drink from his cup.  Finally his gaze settled on the ring on a finger of her left hand. “I can’t believe you got married. I never would have thought you’d slow down long enough for any man to romance you.”

Mei-Wan grinned and thought back to several years before when she was an ensign straight out of the Academy assigned to the Farragut and Kyle was her section commander. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

He laughed. “I guess not, but it works great for excusing why I never had the courage to ask you to dinner or a weekend away,” he said with a touch of regret in his voice.

“But you and Kelly…” Mei-Wan started.

“That wasn’t serious. We were just friends– had been since the Academy.”

Mei-Wan’s eyes widened as she looked down at the table lost in thought.  She had been certain Kyle and Kelly had been very much involved aboard the Farragut.

“I could kick myself for never asking you out,” Kyle said as he set his cup back on the table.

Mei-Wan fought to suppress the smile on her face, but it faded because of the regrets now filling her own mind. She thought back to those days aboard the Farragut and how well she and Kyle had seemed to work together and– how much she enjoyed spending time with him. How could I have missed this? she thought.

“Anyway, I guess congratulations are in order,” Kyle said.

“What about?”

“The Archaeological Council has named you to lead the expedition to Hel’yra.”

“They’ve asked. I haven’t accepted yet.”

Kyle grinned. “You’ll say yes. I know you. When you first came aboard the Farragut you had that hungry look in your eyes, the look every scientist should have. That’s why I knew you were that special one in a million who was not going to let anything stand in your way when you demanded the Universe give up its secrets.”

Mei-Wan shook her head. “I think you’re confusing me with someone else.”

He smiled wide. “You know I’m right. This site will answer all the questions we’ve ever had about ourselves and the Galaxy. No one with the love of discovery that you have could say no to that.”

She smiled at him as he leaned back in his seat.

“Of course, you’d have to get used to me being your commanding officer again,” Kyle stated.

“What?” she asked as her smile faded.

“My ship, the Ravenscroft, has just been named to the expedition,” Kyle said proudly.

“I’d heard you had been given a ship. A science vessel?”

“One like you’ve not seen before. It’s completely refitted with advanced sensor platforms and four decks of science labs most of which are dedicated to archaeology.”

Mei-Wan stared at her report, thinking. “We always used to dream of a ship like that.”

“I’ve done more than dream,” Kyle started. “After the war I submitted a proposal to Starfleet for a ship with the primary mission of an archaeological survey vessel. I got several people from the Archaeological Council to put their names to it and six months later they gave me the Ravenscroft.”

“I can’t believe you got Starfleet Command to agree,” she said.

“I’ve been at it for more than a year now.” He leaned forward in his seat. “You’d love it, Mei. I’ve got a crew of mostly archaeologists. For the last five months we’ve been excavating an Iconian world discovered last year. We found things you wouldnt believe about their empire. It was the best experience of my career.”

Mei-Wan smiled. “It sounds wonderful.”

“It’ll be wonderful when you come aboard to lead the Hel’yra expedition.”

“I don’t know yet. I’m still not sure.”

“What is there to be sure about, Mei? What could possibly be more important to you than this?” he asked.

She stared at a PADD in front of her on the table. “It would mean a lot of changes for my life right now, Kyle.”

He watched her as she refused to make eye contact with him. “Tell you what, how about I give you a tour of my ship and let you meet my senior officers. The ones that don’t know you are already dying to meet you.”

A quick smile came to her face and she looked up at him. “Really?”

“Yeah. Martin Baylor, Todd, Vicky, and LeAnn are all part of the crew and all they can talk about is you coming aboard. Jean, Susan, and Sedak from the old Farragut section are due in tomorrow. They just got transferred.”

“LeAnn and Susan?” Mei-Wan asked. LeAnn Goodwin and Susan Tanega had been on the same floor at the Academy as Mei-Wan and her roommate Robin Nelson. They had all been assigned together to the Farragut what seemed like a lifetime ago. The four of them had been inseparable.

Kyle took the final drink from his cup. “How about you come up for the New Year’s party we’ll be having Tuesday? It’d be a great way to welcome in 2378.”

Mei-Wan smiled. “Okay.”

Kyle returned her smile and stood. “Great. The party starts at 2100 Tuesday. I’ll send an ensign down with a shuttle to bring you up to the ship.”

“That sounds fine,” she said.

Kyle nodded and looked at her for several seconds. “Its good to see you again, Mei.”

“You too.”

He turned and walked away leaving the café.

Seeing Kyle Hoffman again brought back memories of feelings and old dreams Mei-Wan thought had died quietly years ago. Wistful thoughts last known to her in passing daydreams struggled to life once again. They had not died, but slept hidden in the darkness of unfulfilled desires Mei-Wan. It had taken only the slightest chance of realization to rouse them from their slumber.

They whispered things in the softest of voices– things Mei-Wan had always assumed she was impervious to. They worked their way through her mind telling her how her life had been taken from her by the whims of a Glazyalan commander named Abolas. Those twisted whims and Fate itself had chosen the life she now lived and finally she had the chance to make her life her own again. The unhappiness and pain would finally end.

Fate had chosen Jack McCall for her. Now Fate had given her an opportunity to make her own choices.

=/\=

In an elevator inside Starfleet’s Headquarters on Gamala, Jack McCall stood looking at Commander Celeste Purcell.

“Is there some reason you want me to check on the procedures for that particular ship, Captain?” Purcell asked.

Jack hesitated a moment, unsure how much he could trust her. “Just curiosity, Commander— nothing more.”

Purcell nodded slowly. “I’ll get right on it, sir.”

Jack watched how she responded to him. His first reaction when they were introduced was to like her. She was physically quite attractive, but it was more than that. He sensed a deep certainty of purpose from her. The question that concerned him was what that purpose was.

“Commander, how do you see this assignment?”

Purcell’s eyes narrowed. “Sir?”

“In your mind, what are your responsibilities?”

She took a breath. “To keep you informed of the situation of your command, to supervise administrative duties aboard the Chamberlain, and organize the staff, sir.”

Jack grinned. “That’s a good textbook answer, Commander.”

Purcell smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

Jack laughed. “I guess my question wasn’t clear enough.”

Purcell’s eyebrow raised. “I think it was about as clear as you could make it without being accusatory, Captain.”

Jack’s eyes widened. “What?”

“The real question you wanted answered was about where my loyalties lie– with you or Admiral Simmons?”

“That obvious?”

Purcell chuckled. “You don’t think I took this assignment without checking out your relationship with the Admiralty, did you sir?”

Jack smiled again.

Purcell looked at the display above the elevator door. “I’m aware that Admiral Hancock, who has been very supportive of your career, and Admiral Simmons don’t agree on much and would argue about the time of day if clocks hadn’t been invented.”

“That’s probably accurate.”

“I’m also aware that Admiral Simmons has submitted plans to Starfleet Command for the mothballing of the entire Oceana class. He is on record as having been against the very idea of the class.”

“And do you agree with his assessment?” Jack asked.

“May I speak freely, sir?”

“Always.”

Purcell took a short breath. “I think construction of starships like the Oceanas, which are obviously battleships, is a huge mistake for the Federation and puts a military emphasis on Starfleet that it has resisted for the last seventy-five years. However, my personal opinion of the Chamberlain and its purpose are irrelevant to my assignment.”

“How can you separate the two?” he asked.

“Quite easily, Captain. I’m a Starfleet Officer who has been ordered to serve as your Chief Staff Officer, not as the Chamberlain’s. My duty is to the ship’s captain and I intend to fulfill that duty to the very best of my abilities.”

“I see,” Jack replied.

The elevator door opened and Purcell stepped out and turned to face Jack. “And in answer to the question you were reluctant to ask– My duty is not to Admiral Simmons, but to you, Captain McCall.”

Jack nodded. “Very well, Commander. Contact me at 2100 this evening and we’ll set up a time tomorrow we can go over the rest of the staff assignments.”

“Aye, sir,” Purcell said. She turned and walked down the hallway of the ninth floor and the elevator door closed.

Jack hoped she was as straightforward as she appeared. He could learn to enjoy the break from the endless administrative tasks he’d been drowning in the last three months.

The elevator stopped as the number seven illuminated over the door. A moment later the door slid open and Jack walked forward.

He stopped. He was not on the seventh floor of Starfleet HQ on Gamala. Instead Jack McCall stood in a completely white twenty by twenty foot cube. Light illuminated the room, but didn’t seem to come from any source. He turned completely around, but the elevator door closed and a moment later faded away.

“Great,” He said. He waited for the disembodied voice he and his Executive Officer, Lak Negev, had heard two months before when they found themselves in the same room.

To Jack’s right he noticed a figure walking towards him through the whiteness. Perhaps he’d actually get to meet the mysterious beings who had sent him and the Chamberlain to the planet Hel’yra. After several moments the figure became clearer and he frowned.

“Hello, Jack.”

“Admiral Hancock?”

“Afraid so,” Christopher Hancock said with a wide smile.

Jack noticed the admiral’s hair and beard seemed a bit whiter than they had the last time he met with his fifty-seven year old mentor. “What the hell is going on, Admiral?”

Hancock pointed at the interior of the twenty by twenty cube with his right hand which held a PADD. “I take it you don’t like the accommodations?”

“I didn’t like it much the last time I was here– assuming the word ‘here’ has any real meaning,” Jack said.

Hancock smiled and waved Jack toward him. “Let’s go somewhere a bit more pleasant.”

The Admiral walked over to a wall and hesitated a moment before walking straight through it and disappearing.

“Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse…” Jack said.

He closed his eyes and walked through the wall Hancock had disappeared through moments before.

Jack found himself in a grassy glade surrounded by tall trees. He heard a bubbling creek in the distance and felt the brush of an agreeable breeze. After taking a deep breath he turned to face Hancock.

“This better?” the Admiral asked.

Jack took another deep breath. Something wasn’t right. He smiled as it finally registered. A place with this much vegetation should be assaulting his nose by now, but he couldn’t smell a thing. “Is any of it real?”

Hancock shook his head. “I’ve asked, but they won’t tell me.”

Jack frowned. “Who are ‘they’, Admiral?”

Hancock leaned against a tall tree. “Ever hear of the Vedala?”

“Aren’t they just a legend?”

“No, in fact a century ago Starfleet had regular contact with them.” Hancock replied.

“The stories I heard say they’re the oldest known spacefaring species and they wander among the stars.”

The Admiral nodded. “In the early part of this century they suggested to the Federation that it would be in our best interests to stage an attack against the Romulans. Of course, the Federation Council rejected that idea out of hand. After that the Vedala refused to respond to any attempt to contact them.”

“Encouraging a war sounds out of character for the Vedala that I’ve heard about.”

“That’s what most everyone thought at the time as well. When the Borg attacked at Wolf 359 we sought the Vedala out again, but there was still no response. No matter what threat we faced, there was never a response.

“Finally about five years ago I was sent to try to contact them again.” Hancock smiled. “This time they actually responded. They indicated their disappointment with the progress of the Federation and didn’t see much point in contact with us.”

“So, what changed their minds?”

“They’re not big on explaining themselves.”

“But they’re the ones who wanted Hel’yra checked out?” Jack asked.

“Yes. About ten months ago they asked us to investigate that planet.”

“But why not just go there themselves?”

At the moment Hancock started to answer a strange five and a half foot tall fur covered creature walked toward them with an odd stride that did not seem to fit the structure of its body. It wore a nondescript sort of uniform that covered most of its torso. The Vedala stopped a short distance away from Jack and Hancock and observed them for several moments.

Jack scrutinized the being in front of him and couldn’t decide if it looked more like a cat or one of several small arboreal primates he’d seen before on Earth. Everything about the Vedala’s body didn’t make sense, even its bluish-white fur appeared out of place. He wondered if this was its true form. Its piercing eyes, however, grabbed Jack’s attention and did not let go.

“Captain McCall, we cannot go to the world Hel’yra,” the creature stated with an unemotional yet lyrical voice.

Jack couldn’t decide if the creature was male or female from either its appearance or its voice. Suddenly, as if a switch had been activated, he felt completely at ease around the being. “But with your level of technology you should easily be able to go to Hel’yra.”

“It is not a matter of technology. The few Vedala who have entered the nebula have gone completely insane.”

“A member of my crew had his mind altered by something on that planet,” Jack said. “He killed himself to escape it. We discovered it only affected us when we slept. Our doctor found a way to finally block the effect.”

“We have no such defense,” the Vedala stated.

“I don’t understand,” Jack said.

The creature paused and almost seemed to smile. “The forces on Hel’yra operate in ways and on levels your minds cannot comprehend. The Vedala also operate on those levels of existence, thus making us susceptible in ways you are not.”

“Which is why you had us check the planet out for you,” Jack said.

The Vedala nodded.

“What’s inside the subspace field on Hel’yra?” Jack asked.

Hancock motioned for Jack to be quiet when he saw the Vedala’s eyes widen.

“Why does it concern you, human?” the Vedala asked.

“The Federation is sending a full scale archaeological expedition to the planet. I think we need to know,” Jack stated.

“As long as nothing happens to disturb the mechanism there should be no harm done.”

“What about harm to those who go there? Are they in any danger?” Jack pleaded.

“That depends on factors outside of our control,” the Vedala stated coldly.

“Damn it! Will whatever’s in that subspace field kill them? Is it dangerous?”

The being looked directly into Jack’s eyes. He felt as if it were looking into his very soul.

“It is dangerous beyond your ability to comprehend.”

The Vedala turned and took several steps away from Jack. “However, as long as the star remains stable the danger should remain within your meager means to deal with it.”

Jack frowned. “I’m getting a little sick and tired of so called advanced species like yourself and the Q never giving a direct answer to a direct question.”

The Vedala turned back to him. “The Q are irrelevant.”

Jack grinned. “Really? They seem to see themselves as important.”

“They will never be a major factor in Galactic events.”

Jack glanced at Hancock who still held the PADD in his right hand, but seemed quite nervous. “So, why not answer my questions?” Jack asked.

“Beware human. Once knowledge is known it cannot be unknown,” the Vedala stated.

Jack crossed his arms across his chest as Hancock walked up next to him. “Jack, the Vedala have been quite helpful to us. Now is not the time to be demanding anything from them.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Hancock. He had never seen the Admiral like this before. He actually appeared terrified. Sweat covered his forehead despite the cool breeze blowing through the trees.

“Admiral Hancock, I believe you requested assistance with the power distribution systems of one of your vessels,” the Vedala said.

Hancock slowly crept toward the Vedala with small steps. “Uh, yes. The Oceana class has had some problems.”

The creature raised its hand and a flash of light filled the area and then struck the PADD in the admiral’s hand.

“That should solve the problem,” the Vedala said.

Hancock held the PADD up and reviewed the data on it. He smiled wide.  “Yes, oh yes. I think that will definitely solve the problem.”

Jack took several steps toward the Vedala. “So, we do as we’re told and then we get our reward?”

The Vedala’s reaction surprised Jack. Instead of getting agitated, the creature actually seemed sad.

“It is time for you both to return,” it said.

“What is in that sub-space field on Hel’yra?” Jack insisted.

The Vedala hesitated for several moments. Jack thought he saw it actually slump its oddly structured shoulders.

“Something that should never have been,” the Vedala said softly.

“The Ancient Progenitors?” Jack asked.

The Vedala walked toward a small hill and Jack followed it. They left Hancock behind as he continued looking at the data on the PADD.

“No,” the Vedala started. “The ones you call the Ancient Progenitors, we knew as the Beota. They had a vision of the Galaxy at peace and unified– working for the betterment of all. Their sacrifice prevented darkness and destruction from ruling this Galaxy. But the price…”

The Vedala seemed lost in thoughts old and painful. “So terrible. Only now has the Galaxy begun to recover from those times.”

Jack waited until he thought the Vedala had nothing more to say. “The Ancient Progenitors, or Beota as you called them, they were our ancestors?”

The Vedala turned to Jack with a brightness in its eyes he had not seen before. “Yes, you and all those like you are the legacy of the Beota.”

The Vedala’s eyes narrowed. “However, you must get past your rather limited ways of relating to the universe before you can hope to build upon their achievements.”

“Perhaps we’re not as limited as you might think.”

“You are as limited in your thinking as the Borg are in theirs.”

“That’s not true.”

“The Borg believe their crusade is proven right by the size and power of their vessels– shouting ‘resistance is futile’ more to convince themselves than whoever they happen to be attacking. Your Federation builds the ship you now command to prove to the Galaxy that they truly did win the war against the Dominion. Their pride cannot allow them to accept that it was the Founders who ended the hostilities,” the Vedala said. “The Beota would be disappointed in both of you.”

The next moment the Vedala was gone. Jack turned about looking for the strange creature, but found himself alone on the hill. He looked out at a green valley a short distance away.

Admiral Hancock walked up to him and handed the PADD to Jack. “Here. You’ll need to get this to your Chief Engineer, Jack.”

Jack took the PADD. “Don’t you want to check this out first, Admiral?”

Hancock smiled. “No. I think the Vedala would want you to have it anyway. I think they like you, Jack.”

“Lucky me.”

“No, lucky us. This is the most talkative I’ve ever seen one of them,” Hancock said.

“So do we just stand around here? How do we get back?”

“Well, I’ll return back to Earth where I was before this started.” The admiral looked about the area. “I usually just pick a direction and start walking. I always end up back where I was before.”

Hancock walked away toward a group of trees and suddenly vanished. Jack looked at the pristine land around him and decided he would wait a while before going anywhere. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths of the strange odorless air.

“Sorry, sir,” said a young female ensign as she bumped into Jack McCall in the hallway of the Starfleet Offices on Gamala. Jack opened his eyes and frowned. The next time he wouldn’t close his eyes.

He checked his hand and found the PADD still there. He decided it was probably best to get the information to his Chief Engineer, Kristen Bishop. He hoped it would help with the repairs on his ship.

Jack turned a corner and found himself in the lobby on the ground floor of the building.

He stopped and looked up at a clock in the lobby. Mei-Wan would be expecting him soon, but he needed to get the information on the PADD up to Bishop. He’d need to have some story to send along with it so that Bishop didn’t ask too many questions about who the information had come from.

Jack looked down at the floor and wondered where his wife was at that moment. He wished the Vedala could take them both to that forest he had just walked through. He wouldn’t have minded spending several weeks in that place with Mei-Wan.

=/\=

Chapter 4 - The New Dance

Shafts of sunlight covered the room inside a unit of the Pierce Valley Apartments, illuminating the table where Mei-Wan sat working on her report. She looked at a clock on the wall and sighed. She still had a quarter of her presentation to prepare and it needed to be finished by three the next afternoon so she could load her materials into the computer system at the Conference Center.

She had come to the apartment to be alone after her talk with Kyle. Too many of her thoughts afterward had troubled her, but the ones that tantalized her and caused her heart to beat faster truly disturbed her. Most reached her consciousness for mere moments before being pushed back into the turbulent sea of the darker parts of her mind. She tried passing them off as memories of an old friend– mere echoes of a life long gone. A part of Mei-Wan McCall was afraid it was more than that.

The chime to the front door sounded causing her to stop her work.

“Will I ever get a chance to finish this thing?” she asked herself as she walked to the front hall. “What is it now?”

The door slid open revealing an Asian man of about sixty with graying hair. “You used to hate being sent to your room to do homework. Don’t tell me you like it now.”

Mei-Wan’s eyes widened as she wrapped her arms around the man in the doorway. “Dad!”

Sheng Lau hugged his daughter tightly and smiled. “That’s more like it.”

They ended their embrace and Mei-Wan motioned her father into the apartment. “When did you get in?”

“Well, the transport vessel entered the system last night. I was only able to make it to the surface three hours ago.”

“Sorry. A lot of people are here for the Conference,” she said as they both sat down on the couch in the living room.

Sheng smiled. “That must be some presentation you’re going to give for all these people to come here.”

Mei-Wan rolled her eyes. “That is if I can ever get it finished.”

“Am I keeping you from it?”

“Not really. I needed to take a break anyway,” Mei-Wan said. “Where’s Mom?”

Her father looked down. “On Earth, back in the hospital.”

“Again?” Mei-Wan asked.

“I’m afraid so. The doctor detected more nerve damage last week, so he’s got her in for treatments again,” he said with more than a touch of worry in his voice.

“Dad, is there more to this than you’re telling me? This has gone on for more than twenty years. It can’t be a case of radiation exposure.”

Sheng leaned back in the couch. “It was a warp field generator, Mei. The doctor thinks there may have been subspace fields generated in the explosion that humans aren’t usually exposed to.”

Mei-Wan nodded, but wasn’t satisfied. She never liked how her parents kept her mother’s medical condition hidden from her.

“She wanted me to tell you how sorry she was she couldn’t make it out,” Sheng said.

“That’s okay.” But Mei-Wan knew it was just her father covering. If it hadn’t been the hospital, it would have been something else. Bao-Yu Lau had never shown any real interest in her daughter’s career. “I just hope the doctor finally figures out what the problem is.”

“As do we all.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” Mei-Wan asked.

“No, I’m fine. I had a lot of coffee waiting in orbit.” His eyes searched about the apartment. “Jack isn’t here?”

Mei-Wan looked down. “No. He had meetings over at Starfleet’s offices.”

“Is everything alright?”

“There’s evidently quite a bit of political disagreement in Starfleet about the Oceana class and I think Jack’s getting caught up in it.”

Sheng nodded. “I heard the Federation Council had a few heated debates about those ships last month.”

“Jack’s afraid they’ll want to decommission the ship.”

“I hear that won’t be much of a concern for you in about a week or so,” Sheng stated.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re leading the expedition back to that planet, right?” her father asked.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Mei-Wan said without making eye contact with him.

“Why not? It’s what you’ve dreamed about your whole life, Mei.”

She stood and walked to a window. “I just haven’t decided yet, Dad.”

He took a deep breath. “Is Jack trying to talk you out of going?”

“No, he isn’t.”

Sheng walked up next to his daughter. “What has he said about it?”

“Almost nothing.”

“I would think he would be supportive.”

Mei-Wan looked down. “It would mean more than a year of us being apart.”

“I realize that, but if he cares about you, Mei, he’ll accept it as a part of your career.” Sheng turned back into the room. “Perhaps you should…”

He didn’t finish whatever it was he was going to say, and for that Mei-Wan was glad. She suspected another lecture on the rashness of her and Jack’s marriage.

Mei-Wan stared out the window as the sun set behind the taller buildings of the city. She knew she wouldn’t be able to put off the decision about the expedition for much longer. She would have to make a choice, but she was afraid it would be the wrong one no matter what she decided.

=/\=

Hank Evans made his way back to the table where Loftus waited for him to arrive with their drinks. The Warp Nine Club had been her suggestion for their first stop of the evening. Hank thought that title was the most absurd name for a club he had ever seen, but it wasn’t targeted at thirty-six year space veterans like him. This was one of those all show and little substance establishments meant to appeal to recent Academy graduates on their first assignments. The music was loud and the drinks overpriced. Fortunately, Hank had money to burn and he didn’t at all mind spending it on the lovely Bajoran woman he spent much of his free time with.

The music that blared loud enough to make Hank’s skull rattle was worse than he had expected. The atonal pounding rattling his teeth made him want to kill someone. If it came to that, his first target would be the imbecile who chose the music.

He made his way through the shoulder to shoulder crowd and reached the table where Loftus rocked back and forth to the rhythm shaking everything else in the club. He sat down and handed her a drink.

She took a large drink from her glass. “Isn’t this place great?”

“I’ve had more fun under torture,” he replied.

She shook her head. “Don’t start showing your age with me, Evans.”

“It has nothing to do with age,” he shouted over the din. “I just like to be able to think straight.”

She smiled and edged neared to him. “Who needs to think?”

Hank grinned as he noticed the closeness of her body to his. “I see your point.”

She finished her drink and set the glass down on their table. “Let’s dance.”

“To that noise?”

She smiled slyly as her eyes gazed at him intensely. “Not worried about getting worn out?”

“I’ll accept that challenge,” he said as she slid out of her chair and out to the dance floor.

Hank downed the remainder of his drink. “This woman is going to kill me.”

He followed her toward the center of the floor, but was stopped by the lithesome Ensign Natalie Fowler who wore a tight one-piece outfit.

“Commander Evans?” she said as she smiled.

“Hello Ensign,” Hank replied.

“What are you doing here, sir?” Fowler said as she started moving to the pulse of the music.

“Enjoying myself, I think.”

Loftus came up behind Hank and put her arm around him. “Trying to duck out on me, Hank?”

Fowler turned to the Bajoran woman. “Commander Kadan? Is the whole Chamberlain crew here tonight?”

A young Andorian walked up to Fowler and handed her a tall glass of glowing orange liquid. She took a small sip and her eyes widened.

“That’s great!” she shouted to the Andorian.

Loftus smiled. “Don’t drink that too fast, Ensign. It’s not synthehol.”

Natalie laughed. “It’s okay. I don’t have to be anywhere until 0900.”

“You’re not on shore leave?” Hank asked.

The young Ensign frowned. “Technically no. I’m helping Lieutenant McCall prepare for her presentation for the Conference.” She smiled. “You two coming to hear her speak?”

Hank nodded. “Yeah, if we can get in.”

“Come by the Center about forty-five minutes early and I can get you good seats,” Fowler said.

“Thanks,” Loftus replied.

Hank saw his lady was getting impatient. “We’ll see you around, Ensign.”

Fowler nodded as the Andorian put his arms around her. “Oh, Starfleet is requiring all officers who come to the Conference and the reception afterwards to wear dress whites.”

Hank rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the warning.”

Fowler and her friend wandered off into the crowd while Loftus nudged Hank. “You owe me a dance, mister.”

=/\=

In the officer’s lounge on Deck Nine of the Chamberlain, the half-Human, half-Vulcan, Lieutenant Commander Melissa Vargas, and Chief Engineer Kristen Bishop walked to a table near the window of the otherwise empty room, each carrying a tray of food.

“I’ve never been here when it was this quiet,” Vargas stated as they sat down.

“I’ve never been to this lounge at all,” Bishop said.

“You spend far too much time in Engineering, Kristy.”

They both started to eat their food. Bishop watched Vargas closely.

“So, have you talked to Lee McGuire?”

“No, I haven’t. What exactly am I supposed to say to him?” Vargas asked.

Bishop shook her head. “I just think it would be a shame to let what happened ruin your relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship anymore,” Melissa stated as she took a sip from her glass.

“You aren’t giving up that easily are you?”

“It doesn’t look like I have much choice.”

“He’s a man, Melissa. He’ll get over it eventually.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You were following the captain’s orders. Can’t he understand that?”

Vargas took a bite of her salad. “I searched through his private communications, Kristy. I don’t think any kind of excuse is going to help him get over that.”

Bishop ate a portion of her potato and decided to let the subject drop. She could tell she wasn’t going to get much of anywhere while Melissa remained resigned to things as they were.

“So how’s the repair work going?” Vargas asked.

“Its not. We’ve taken the entire plasma synchronization system apart and I still can’t figure out what the problem is.”

“This sounds like its more than that power surge we were hit with,” Vargas said.

“The crew at Delta Ophiuchus Shipyard are beginning to think its a design problem, but we had the system working perfectly for a month and a half,” Bishop said.

“That doesn’t make much sense.”

“I know. There’s got to be something we’re missing.”

The two women sat silently eating their food for nearly a minute. Bishop took a deep breath. “So what’s the deal with the captain lately?”

Vargas lifted an eyebrow. “Why ask me?”

“You are friends with his wife, right?”

“Yes.”

Bishop waited, but with no answer forthcoming, “So, what’s his problem? He’s been real moody the last month or so.”

“Mei’s had an offer to lead an expedition back to the planet we explored a few months back and I don’t think either one of them is looking forward to being apart for a year or more.”

Bishop nodded. “When’s she supposed to leave?”

“I think before we’re scheduled to depart,” Vargas replied.

“I hope I’ve got the engine problem worked out before then. I’m not looking forward to a depressed captain riding my ass for the next year.”

Melissa grinned and returned to her food.

A young male lieutenant entered the lounge and walked up to their table carrying a PADD.

“Commander,” he said as he handed the PADD to Bishop. “This just came from the captain.”

“Thank you,” she said as the lieutenant left the lounge. “He’s kind of cute.”

“Be my guest,” Vargas said.

“I meant for you, Melissa,” Bishop said as she started to read the text displaying on the PADD.

Vargas smiled. “So what’s that all about?”

Bishop’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe it.”

“What?”

Bishop smiled. “Someone has figured out how to fix our synchronization system!”

The Chief Engineer stood from her chair with the PADD in hand. “Excuse me, but I have to get back to Engineering. Want to get together for drinks later?”

Vargas nodded. “Sure.”

Kristen Bishop sped out of the lounge, leaving Melissa alone to finish her meal.

=/\=

Chapter 5 - Frames Of Reality

Mei-Wan sat entering information into a data storage device in her and Jack’s temporary home on Gamala. Two lamps gave the room a warm glow Mei-Wan barely noticed. She picked up a PADD as the front door opened and Jack strode into the dinning room where she worked.

“Still at it?” he asked as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

She hardly reacted to his affection as she continued working. “Another hour and I’ll finally be finished.”

“Great,” he said with little emotion as he walked to the kitchen and got a glass out for himself.

Mei-Wan set the PADD down. “I’m sorry, Jack.” She stood up from her seat and walked over to him as he poured juice into his glass.

“Sorry about what?”

“When you walked in and kissed me and I ignored you,” she said.

Jack grinned. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Jack, I don’t think we can just pretend things like that don’t matter. In a week I may be on my way back to Hel’yra and we might not see each other for a year.”

He looked down at his glass refusing to make eye contact with her. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“Damn it, when will we talk about?” she demanded.

He walked out of the kitchen. “Not now, Mei, okay? I’ve had a very strange day and dealing with this right now wouldn’t be a good idea.”

She followed him to the living room where he sank down into the couch. She sat in the chair across from him. “Admiral Simmons?”

“What?” he seemed confused.

“Your meeting with Simmons.”

Jack smiled. “I almost forgot about that.”

Mei-Wan frowned. “Then what exactly did you do today that made you forget about the admiral?”

Jack started to speak, but stopped. “I’m afraid its classified, Mei. Please don’t ask.”

“Okay.” She tried to convince herself that he was telling the truth and not just trying to dodge talking about her going back to Hel’yra.

“Actually, Simmons wasn’t as bad as I thought he’d be today,” Jack said. “He’s given me a staff of twenty to deal with the administrative work on the Chamberlain.”

“I thought flag officers were the only ones who had a staff.”

“Usually they are, but the size of the ship and the crew are a bit out of the ordinary,” Jack said.

“At least you won’t be spending four to six hours a day dealing with all that busy work anymore,” Mei-Wan said.

“I’ll actually have some free time for a change,” Jack said with a frown.

Mei-Wan realized they wouldn’t get a chance to enjoy that free time if she went on the expedition. She hated how they were wasting the time they had left.

Jack turned to her. “There was something I needed to ask you about.”

“Okay.”

Jack continued. “On my way to the Starfleet Building today I heard a religious kook rattling on about some craziness about the need to violate the Prime Directive…”

She interrupted. “I’ve never heard any religious objections to the Prime Directive.”

Jack smiled. “Me either, but he went on about that and he mentioned the Ancient Progenitors too, so I listened to him for a bit until Federation Security showed up and arrested him.”

“They arrested him just for speaking?” Mei-Wan asked.

“No, it seems this particular nut has already violated the Directive on three worlds. One of the planets he went to was a society that had just made its first few spaceflights and he gave them warp technology supposedly so they could join their ‘humanoid brothers’ elsewhere in the Galaxy.”

“You sure this is a religion and not a mental problem?”

“Maybe,” Jack said. “There was something about this guy that really bothered me. He knew that you were my wife and he spoke directly to me.”

“I suppose I should have been prepared for things like this,” Mei-Wan said. “Usually questions of origins become a religious issue.”

“I’m going to do some checking. I’ll let you know what I find out about this Janus Osmand and his strange religion.”

Mei-Wan took a deep breath and stood.

“I was thinking if your parents were here by now we could…” Jack stopped as he noticed his wife was standing.

“Jack, are you sure his name is Janus Osmand?”

“Yeah, I checked with Federation Security after they picked him up.”

She turned to Jack. “Where is he now?”

“In the Security Station Lockup about three blocks away from here,” Jack said. “You’ve heard of this guy?”

“Janus Osmand was one of my Archaeology Professors at the Academy.”

=/\=

A tall dark-haired Federation Security Officer led Jack and Mei-Wan down a corridor toward a visiting room in the heavily guarded area. They entered a small room divided by a large transparent barrier. Three chairs and a table sat on their side of the divider.

The officer turned to them. “He’ll be brought to the other side in just a moment, Captain. Your conversation will be monitored.”

Jack nodded as the officer left. Mei-Wan was already in one of the chairs as Jack moved to one next her and slowly sat down. A loud electronic click sounded in the room as the two-way communication system activated to allow them to speak to someone on the other side of the barrier.

A door on the other side opened and three guards led the man Jack had watched mesmerize a crowd of hundreds earlier that day.

Mei-Wan’s eyes went wide. She could hardly believe what she saw.

“It’s so nice of you to visit me, Mei-Wan,” Osmand said as he sat in the chair on his side of the transparency.

“Professor Osmand?” Mei-Wan asked hoping it really wasn’t him.

“I thought my little comment to your husband might get you to come by.”

Mei-Wan couldn’t believe that the person she respected most out of all her instructors at the Academy sat accused of violating one of the Federation’s most important laws.

Janus Osmand turned to Jack. “Your wife was one of the brightest students I ever taught at the Academy, Captain. I knew she’d make an important contribution to the Galaxy one day, but I couldn’t have imagined she would actually discover a world once inhabited by the Ancient Progenitors.”

Jack didn’t respond.

Janus smiled. “I take it you think me insane, Captain McCall?”

Jack grinned. “Something like that.”

“I speak of a truth from ages long since past. A truth that now only comes by revelation. Is it insanity to speak the truth? “

“I guess that depends on how you define truth,” Jack replied.

Mei-Wan shook her head. “What happened to you? How could you give warp technology to a primitive world?”

Janus leaned back in his chair. “How could I not, Mei-Wan? They were at the same point Earth was about four hundred years ago. Imagine what it would have done for Earth to have learned a century earlier that humanity was not alone in the Universe. Think of the wars that would never have happened.”

Mei-Wan glared at him. “You know damn well that’s not up to us to decide!”

“Isn’t it? Arent I responsible for how I live my life? Don’t I have a responsibility to do what is right?

“You’re playing games with logic. You know that not interfering with less developed cultures is how we keep ourselves from exploiting them and harming their normal development.”

Janus laughed. “The philosophical poison from the mind of Frank W. Erodius has damaged this Federation from its beginnings. His lofty morality was nothing more than an excuse for inaction and lack of responsibility for the plight of others.”

“It has allowed other cultures to develop naturally,” Jack said.

“And did we allow the Klingon culture to develop naturally after Praxis exploded? No, we came to their aid,” Janus said. “And it was the right thing for us to do. Just as it was the right thing for me to do in coming to the aid of the humanoid culture on Undal Three.”

Mei-Wan closed her eyes. “I never would have believed this kind of insanity could come from you.”

Osmand smiled. “I don’t blame you for thinking me insane. Ten years ago I would have thought the same, but the discovery of the Ancient Progenitors changed everything, Mei-Wan. You know that.”

Mei-Wan opened her tear filled eyes. “All I know is that a man I respected is very ill.”

“When did having a different point of view from the accepted norm become the a priori indication of insanity?”

Jack shook his head. “Spending your time with Skorr warriors isn’t my idea of the action of a balanced mind.”

Mei-Wan turned to Jack. “What?”

Janus smiled. “Evidently all you know of the Skorr is what frightened ignorance produces in Federation propaganda. The Skorr are a very spiritual and proud people.”

Mei-Wan turned back to Janus. “The Skorr are a warrior race. What are you planning? A crusade?”

Janus frowned. “I am working to bring all of the descendants of the Ancient Progenitors together to fulfill a common destiny as was revealed to me. It will be a destiny of unity and greatness for all humanoids.”

Jack looked down for a moment and then back to Osmand.

“Is that such a horrible thing to dedicate one’s life to?” Janus asked them.

“Perhaps the goal isn’t, but the means to achieve it might destroy the very thing you’re trying to create,” Jack said.

“Stop thinking in the limited way the Federation allows, Captain. Consider the large scale view of the Galaxy as a whole.”

Mei-Wan stood. “You’re using the Ancient Progenitors as an excuse. History is full of examples of religious zealots who claimed higher goals, but spent their time spreading misery because the means to their goals were just the same old crusade for personal power. You were the one who taught me about that, remember?”

Janus nodded. “You’ll understand eventually, Mei-Wan. When you discover more about the Ancient Progenitors you’ll see why they seeded this Galaxy with a diverse collection of different versions of themselves.”

“I don’t think I can ever understand what you’re doing or why.” She turned and left the room.

Janus looked to Jack. “You’re curious, aren’t you Captain?”

“I think I’ve had more than my fill of revelations about the Progenitors for one day,” Jack said. “It doesn’t really matter anymore what you have to say. I seriously doubt you’ll get many followers in the Federation prison you’ll spend the next ten to twenty years in, Professor.”

“You might be surprised how even imprisonment has its uses for someone like me,” Janus said with a smile.

“You’ll just keep re-framing reality to fit your religious views won’t you, Osmand?” Jack asked as he walked out of the room.

Janus smiled. “We’ll see who re-frames reality, Captain McCall.”

=/\=

Chapter 6 - Friday, 27 December 2377

The Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Chamberlain walked through the entrance of the small drinking establishment The Wild Gander and took a moment to look around the dimly lit bar with its series of tightly arranged tables. Lak Negev’s antennae twitched ever so slightly as he looked for those he had agreed to meet. Not finding them, the Andorian strolled toward the long bar where only five people sat on stools imbibing whatever strange concoctions gave them some peace.

Negev leaned up against the bar and asked the Tellarite behind it if those he was meeting had arrived. The snout-nosed bartender simply shook his head and returned to serving a drink to a man seated a few feet away from Negev.

“What brings you here, Mr. Negev?”

The Andorian turned and saw Duncan Zachary smiling next to him. “Mr. Zachary, are you waiting for McGuire and the others?”

“I’m afraid not. I just came by here to relax. This place is always quiet this time of the evening.”

Negev nodded and hesitated as he considered a course of action. Finally he looked at Zachary. “We were meeting here to welcome back Paul Falco. The Abdiel just returned and Lee McGuire thought of getting together a few of the officers from the Chamberlain to celebrate. You’re welcome to join us.”

Zachary took a drink from his glass and forced a smile. “Actually I think I might enjoy that.”

Negev pointed toward a table near a window and Zachary stood to his feet and walked through the bar toward it as the Executive Officer followed. The two officers sat down and Negev waved a waitress over and ordered his own refreshment.

After the woman left, Negev turned to Zachary. “I think the others were planning on getting something to eat, but I’m not that well informed about human foods. Do you have any suggestions?”

Duncan pulled a menu from its holder on the table and glanced at the overly colorful display of items. “I’m not certain what McGuire might have in mind, but usually for occasions like this its hard to go wrong with some sort of pizza.”

Negev looked at the menu. “I’ll leave it to you then.”

The waitress returned with Negev’s drink, a thick bright red liquid. Zachary looked up at her and ordered two large pepperoni pizzas with extra cheese. Negev hoped he was doing the right thing leaving this to the Science Officer.

A few moments later the Andorian took a small drink from his glass and smiled. “From what Mr. McGuire has told me this is Falco’s favorite bar in Federation territory.”

Zachary raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have thought a quiet place would appeal to Falco’s personality.”

A loud commotion at the front door of the bar caused both of them to turn that direction. Lee McGuire led a group of Starfleet officers which included Doctor Taylor Preston, the green-skinned M’naran Akala Wilmarza, the red-haired Cynthia Pederson, and the stocky Paul Falco. Arm in arm with Falco was a beautiful dark-skinned woman with piercing eyes, Commander Tamika Hayden. McGuire noticed Negev and the group walked over to the table he and Zachary sat at.

Lee smiled as Falco yelled at him. “Total incompetence, McGuire, pure and simple!”

McGuire pointed to Negev as the others spread out around the table. “Here’s the one you should complain to, Paul.”

“What about?” Lak Negev asked.

Falco and Hayden sat down next to each other as everyone else took their seats. “I’ll tell you what about. I barrel-ass my way back to Federation space to meet back up with you losers and what kind of greeting do I get?”

Falco let that hang a moment in the air as Pederson and Wilmarza smiled. “I’ll tell you,” Paul Falco continued. “The main bay is in such a mess that I can’t berth my ship. And now McGuire tries to tell me there’s nothing he can do about it.”

Lee leaned forward. “Explain it to him, Lak.”

Negev grinned as the waitress returned to take orders for drinks from the new arrivals. “I’m afraid I can’t help you, Lee. I’m on shore leave. I’m not in charge of the repairs aboard the Chamberlain.”

“But you’re the Exec. That’s your job,” Lee stated.

“Not this time. Melissa Vargas volunteered to take charge of the repairs.”

McGuire rolled his eyes. “There’s the explanation right there.”

Cynthia Pederson turned to Negev. “Why’d Melissa volunteer? I’d have thought she’d be looking forward to some shore leave.”

Negev tilted his head slightly. “So would I, but she went to the captain a full day before we arrived and offered to do it. It worked out well for me. I had some family business to attend to last night.”

Falco grinned as he watched McGuire sigh. “You got something against Vargas, Lee?”

Pederson, Akala, and Preston all glanced over at McGuire. They knew what had happened five weeks earlier between Lee and Melissa.

“Let’s just say we don’t get along,” Lee stated.

“I’d think she was about your type, McGuire,” Falco started. “Ambitious and blonde.”

Lee started to get angry, but quickly forced himself to let it go. A smile came to his face. “You ever try having sex with a Vulcan?”

Falco smirked. “Not recently.”

“It’s not near as much fun as you might think,” Lee said.

Cynthia Pederson and Akala Wilmarza frowned. They both considered Melissa their friend and didn’t like what they were hearing.

Paul Falco turned and smiled at Tamika Hayden and put his arm around her. “My heart bleeds for you, Lee.”

McGuire shook his head and chuckled. “Go to hell, Paul.”

Their waitress brought drinks to the newly arrived members of their party and before she left told Zachary the pizzas would be ready in ten minutes.

McGuire nodded to Zachary. “Excellent choice, Duncan. Good thing you were here to order the food. Hard telling what Lak would have ordered.”

Most everyone snickered as Negev grinned. “I’m sure it would have been delicious for Andorians, but deadly for humans.”

Akala turned to Lak. “Its a good thing M’naran physiology is different from humans.”

Doctor Preston turned to Akala. “That would have made you and Negev the only ones left to enjoy the evening.”

Falco snickered. “Now what would the two of you done without the rest of us?”

Negev glanced over at the beautiful Akala. “I’m sure we would have thought of something.”

She looked over at the Andorian and raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps we’ll need to investigate that possibility sometime, Mr. Negev,” Akala said in a sultry voice.

“Ohs”, “ahs”, and a lot of laughter erupted around the table from everyone but Zachary. He looked blankly down at the table as everyone else enjoyed their evening.

After the laughter died down and everyone took sips from their drinks Doctor Preston nudged Cynthia Pederson’s arm. “Go ahead,” he whispered.

She shook her head.

Lee McGuire grinned and looked over at the Doctor and the Communications Officer. “Okay, what the hell’s going on with you two?”

Preston sighed. “Cynthia has been organizing a ship’s symphony and was going to ask if anyone played an instrument.”

Pederson smiled. “I’ve been trying to contact everyone from the ship while we were here on Gamala in case anyone needed to get an instrument.”

Tamika nodded. “Well, I do play an instrument, but since I’m not assigned to the Chamberlain, I guess that doesn’t help you much.”

Falco twisted in his seat toward the woman he had his arm around. “What instrument do you play?”

“I’ve played the violin since I was five,” Tamika said.

Cynthia smiled at her. “Too bad you’re not assigned to the Chamberlain. I’ve had a hard time finding enough violin players.”

Paul Falco turned to McGuire. “You play an instrument, Lee?”

The Flight Deck Commander grinned. “Does a tricorder count?”

Cynthia shook her head. “I doubt that will help.”

Their waitress returned with two pans of hot steaming pepperoni pizza and passed plates and forks out to everyone. She took orders for more drinks as the group tore into their food. A moment later she walked away.

“Can someone explain to me what all the transports and shuttles are doing up in orbit?” Falco asked as he picked up a large slice.

Preston turned to him as he cut into his own piece of pizza with a fork. “I know you’ve been away for a bit, Paul. But you had to have heard about the Archaeology Conference.”

Falco shrugged his shoulders as he washed down a mouthful of pizza with some red wine. “I heard something about some conference, but I’ve never seen this much transport traffic for one of those.”

Akala Wilmarza usually did her best to block out the thoughts of others at social gatherings like this one, but her telepathic abilities picked up a definite reaction to Preston and Falco’s comments. She glanced about the table searching for the source of the strong emotional response she sensed.

Lak Negev picked at his pizza with a fork. “This conference is to take up the issue of the planet Hel’yra.”

Falco frowned. “You mean that speck of dust I guarded for a month and a half?”

McGuire grinned. “You didn’t know you were protecting something that important did you Paul?”

“Its a worthless piece of rock if you ask me.”

Akala felt a definite burst of thoughts to that. She was certain the strong emotions she detected were from one of the males at the table, but she still couldn’t decide who from. Then she realized, whoever it was had the ability to hide their thoughts from her. But she was positive no one present had that capability.

McGuire took a long drink from his glass and leaned forward. “Guess who’s at the center of all this Hel’yra garbage, Paul.”

Falco shook his head. “I have no idea.”

Lee smiled wide. “She’s married to one of your favorite people in the Galaxy.”

Paul rolled his eyes. “The captain’s wife?”

Akala was certain now. Whoever was blocking her was good, but the statement by Falco almost broke their concentration.

“Our plucky Lieutenant McCall is giving the keynote address tomorrow,” Lee stated.

The Commanding Officer of the starship Abdiel looked at Duncan Zachary. “So why aren’t you the one giving the address instead?” Falco asked.

Zachary frowned. “I have no interest in giving support to delusional theories. I have yet to see any conclusive evidence of these Ancient Progenitors that Mei-Wan McCall is so excited about.”

“What the hell’s an Ancient Progenitor?” Falco blurted out.

Several at the table chuckled. Negev turned to him. “Supposedly they were a race of creatures that seeded much of the Galaxy about five billion years ago resulting in the wide dissemination of humanoid lifeforms.”

Falco laughed. “You have got to be kidding! People actually believe crap like that?”

Zachary smirked. “Mei-Wan McCall certainly does.”

Taylor Preston looked at Falco. “It’s been a major issue in archaeology for the last eight years. Get ten archaeologists together and you’ll hear ten different theories about the Ancient Progenitors.”

Falco shook his head. “Sounds like some silly fairy tale to me.”

Cynthia Pederson spoke softly and said, “Sometimes I don’t think we have enough fairy tales and tall stories anymore.”

Lee McGuire’s eyes widened slightly. “I think that’s a good thing. A lot of blood has been shed over the years because of strange notions of where we come from and what our purpose is.”

Pederson sighed at McGuire’s response. “Well, we’ll find out more about the Ancient Progenitors over the next year or so. Starfleet is sending an expedition back to Hel’yra in about a week or so.”

“Back to that cruddy planet?” Falco asked. “I’m glad I don’t have that assignment.”

Zachary grinned. “But Lieutenant McCall does. She’s been asked to lead the expedition.”

Negev watched Zachary carefully. He knew their Science Officer didn’t get along very well with the captain’s wife and suspected it must have been difficult for him not to have been asked to lead the mission back to Hel’yra.

Falco smiled wide. “Please tell me that means our captain will be transferring out!”

Preston shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”

Falco’s smile collapsed into a frown. “Damn.”

Tamika Hayden turned to Paul Falco. “Jack McCall is your captain?”

“Lucky us, huh?”

Tamika shook her head. “I hear he’s a mess. My CO told me that half the admirals in Starfleet thought McCall should never have been given another command after being locked up in that prison camp.”

Falco raised his glass into the air. “I’ll drink to that!”

Negev frowned. “Captain McCall is a competent commanding officer.”

“Oh come on, Lak,” McGuire said.  “You’re on shore leave. You can drop the faithful Exec routine.”

“I’m serious Lee,” the Andorian replied.

McGuire chuckled. “Well you haven’t been the target of one of his inquisitions yet. Just wait. McCall will get around to everyone at this table eventually.”

Taylor Preston looked over at their ship’s Counselor and saw her staring down at the table. He guessed Akala was thinking the same thing he was. They were the two people most responsible for keeping an eye on the captain’s physical and mental health. Preston knew they would probably be required to force him into some sort of therapy with her soon.

Akala Wilmarza might have shared the same thoughts as the doctor if she wasn’t focused on the mental projections of someone else at the table. The individual was skilled at blocking her gentle probes into the nearby minds. Normally she wouldn’t do such a thing, but in the last few minutes she had felt such strong emotions that whoever she was looking for was consumed by anger and rage to such a degree that she feared they might act on those emotions.

McGuire looked out at the rest of the bar and lowered his voice as he leaned back toward the table. “I heard the ship that’ll be assigned to that expedition is the Ravenscroft.”

He leaned further forward and lowered his voice to a near whisper. “And guess who I heard was being almost too friendly with the CO of the Ravenscroft yesterday in a café on the other side of the city?”

Most everyone at the table simply shook their heads. Paul Falco, however, started to grin wider than perhaps he ever had before. “The captain’s wife?”

McGuire smiled as he nodded. “I did some checking and this guy, Kyle Hoffman, was in charge of her section on her first assignment out of the Academy.”

This was almost too good for Falco. His mind raced with all the salacious possibilities. “Well, perhaps she’s doing more than just transferring to another ship. Sounds like a transfer of sleeping arrangements if you ask me.”

“Just because a woman gets assigned to a ship commanded by someone she used to know doesn’t mean she’ll end up in his bed,” Cynthia said.  “Come on guys. Give her a little more credit than that.”

Falco snorted. “I’m not saying it to criticize her. Hell, ending up in this Hoffman’s bunk would be the best move she could make. Anything to get her away from Jack McCall.”

Lee McGuire nodded. “She needs to get away from him before he self-destructs. All of us do.”

Akala turned to look at Lee McGuire and slowly and subtly looked at his mind. She knew he had a lot of animosity toward the captain. Could he be the one she was looking for?

=/\=

Chapter 7 - Saturday, 28 December 2377

Mei-Wan stood back stage at the Conference Center wearing her Starfleet dress-white uniform and listened nervously to Andrea Lofgren, the Chairperson of the Archaeological Council, introduce her. Lofgren had already spent more than five minutes with the introduction and Mei-Wan had been given just enough time to start worrying about her presentation. She had sent Fowler to check on the files and diagrams she had placed in the auditorium’s computer system and the young Ensign had not yet returned.

Her breathing got deeper the more Lofgren prattled on about Mei-Wan’s days at the Academy and how she had shown such promise even then. The one professor she knew wouldn’t be mentioned in Lofgren’s remarks was Janus Osmand. Mei-Wan had spent much of the previous day trying to find out what had happened to drive one of her favorite instructors to drown himself in a tangled web of religious zealotry. Few would even discuss him, but Mei-Wan had gotten her father to finally talk about Osmand.

Sheng Lau thought it was a result of the pain Osmand went through when his wife died, but he had seen signs of his obsession with the Ancient Progenitors more than two years prior to her death. Four years ago Osmand had left his teaching position at the Academy and more or less disappeared from sight. Sheng had received only one communication from him six months after leaving, but it was mostly filled with idle conversation. He never suspected Janus had started a new religion.

Ensign Natalie Fowler wearing her dress uniform walked up to Mei-Wan and whispered to her, “It’s fine, Lieutenant. I checked everything.”

Mei-Wan nodded. “Thanks for all your help, Natalie.”

Fowler smiled. “I’m glad I could help.”

Mei-Wan took a deep breath and tried to relax as best she could. Her keynote address would be heard not only by those assembled in the auditorium, but by millions of others at universities and other institutions throughout the Federation. However, the one person she most wanted to be there had been called to another meeting with Admiral Simmons an hour before she left their apartment. Jack had told her he would do his best to make it, but he somehow thought Simmons had more in mind than a quick chat. They had almost argued about it before he left, but she knew it wasn’t his fault.

Mei-Wan had grown tired of the tension between her and Jack. She knew it would end within another week if she made the decision she was leaning towards about the expedition, but she didn’t want to leave things this way between them.

Fowler nudged her and she took a deep breath as applause filled the huge auditorium.

“Good luck, Lieutenant,” the young Ensign told her.

Mei-Wan nodded and walked out onto the stage.

The crowd of fifteen thousand continued their applause as she made her way to the platform. She glanced up quickly to make sure the large fifty foot display screen was active. As she reached the podium she smiled wide as Lofgren shook her hand and then departed the direction Mei-Wan had come out.

The crowd became quiet as Mei-Wan looked out into the auditorium. It was difficult to make out faces from her position, but she did notice her father seated with Raymond Saselo, the Chairman of the Archaeology Department at the Academy. A few rows behind them Kyle Hoffman sat with LeAnn Goodwin and Susan Tanega as well as a number of other Starfleet Officers who she guessed were part of Kyle’s crew on the Ravenscroft. However, she couldn’t find Jack anywhere. Perhaps he’s toward the back of the auditorium, she thought.

Mei-Wan took a deep breath and began her presentation.

“Eight years ago, Archaeologist Richard Galen started one of the greatest adventures for the science of Archaeology in this century. On the planet Hel’yra in the Kel-j’na Region of the Alpha Quadrant that adventure continues and the mystery surrounding the Ancient Progenitors has deepened,” she began.

The large display behind her changed to show the planet Hel’yra from high orbit. “The planet and its solar system lie hidden within a nebula which has kept their secrets from the rest of the Galaxy for more than five billion years.”

Mei-Wan glanced back at the auditorium crowd and paused as she looked at the fifth row. She saw Jack with a smile on his face seated next to Admiral Simmons and a female officer. Mei-Wan grinned for a moment and returned to her presentation.

=/\=

Shortly before sunset that evening, Lieutenant Mei-Wan McCall continued to be the center of attention at a reception in a large hall in Starfleet’s Headquarters Building on Gamala. Nearly two hundred people filled the huge room while drinks and small plates of various delicacies were served. All the Starfleet Officers present wore their dress white uniforms while the civilians wore clothing that covered the entire spectrum of fashion across the Federation.

Andrea Lofgren and Raymond Saselo stood with Sheng Lau talking to Mei-Wan. Each held a glass of wine as they conversed with each other and with those who came by from time to time to congratulate Mei-Wan.

Jack watched his wife as he stood with Admiral Simmons and his own father, Admiral Jeremiah McCall. The two Admirals discussed fleet deployments while Jack pretended to listen. He was grateful when his new Chief Staff Officer, Commander Celeste Purcell, walked up and asked, “Captain, may I have a word with you?”

“If you’ll excuse me, Admiral… dad.”

Jack followed Purcell as she walked to a less crowded section of the large hall.

“What is it, Commander?” he asked.

“I got that information you were asking about,” Purcell said.

Jack only nodded as she paused a moment.

“The ship you asked about has no openings for officers or command pilots,” Purcell said in a lowered voice as Jack sighed.

“And,” she continued. “Because of their mission profile they don’t allow for civilian members of the crew.”

Jack shook his head. “Not even for spouses?”

“No, sir.”

“Damn,” he said under his breath. That was it. His last option was gone. Now all that was left was to accept reality as it was.

He turned to Purcell and smiled. “Thank you, Commander.”

She watched him closely. “Is there another ship you’d like me to check on, Captain? I know there’s one of the new Pioneer Class starships about to be commissioned in the next few months. I could check on the crew roster for it if you’d like.”

Jack smiled and shook his head. “That won’t be necessary, Commander. I was just curious about that particular vessel.”

Purcell nodded.

“Again, thank you for your help. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Jack said. He walked toward Mei-Wan and those assembled about her while Purcell watched him, confused by the odd behavior of her new CO. Everyone had warned her that Jack McCall had an interesting personality. She just hoped that strange requests for information was as far as it went.

Across the hall near a serving table Natalie Fowler stood with three other members of the Chamberlain’s Archaeology Section watching their immediate superior receive congratulations from everyone that made their way past her.

“At least she seems happy today,” Lieutenant j.g. Sunita Mahajan said to the others.

Ensign Todd Duarte, a tall brown haired man of twenty-three took a sip of his wine. “Anybody know if we’re going with her to the Ravenscroft to be part of the expedition?”

Fowler turned to the others. “She told me that the Council was allowing her to take up to four of us from the Chamberlain with her if she wanted. She already asked me if I’d be interested.”

Ensign Jalel Nelith, an Arcturan, grinned. “What is the Earth phrase?”

Duarte smiled. “‘Suck up’ is the one you’re looking for, Jalel.”

Fowler frowned. “At least I’m trying to take charge of my career.” She pointed at Duarte and Nelith. “You two couldn’t wait to come down here and take shore leave.”

Sunita grinned. “That’s all they ever think of.”

Duarte placed his empty glass on the serving table behind him and picked up a full glass of wine and took a long drink of it. “Hey, we invited you two to come along.”

Fowler rolled her eyes. “Sampling the pleasures of the local holodeck shops isn’t my idea of fun.”

Duarte tilted his head and smiled. “It was for us.”

Natalie turned to Sunita. “What about you? You coming along for the adventure?”

The dark haired Lieutenant Mahajan shook her head. “No, I’m staying on the Chamberlain. If Lieutenant McCall transfers I figure I’ve got a good shot at taking her place to command the Archaeology Section.”

Duarte turned to Sunita. “What do you mean ‘if’ she transfers? Hasn’t she accepted the position yet?”

Fowler shook her head. “Not as of this morning she hadn’t.”

“Do we still have the option of going if she doesn’t?”

Sunita grinned. “Nope. Members of our Section can only transfer to the Ravenscroft if she does.”

Nelith and Duarte turned to look at each other. “We need to have a talk with her, Jalel,” Todd said to his friend.

“Don’t bother,” Natalie replied. “I’ve been trying to talk her into it for the last five weeks and all she does is get mad every time I try to push her into accepting.”

Duarte looked down at his empty wine glass. “So are we just supposed to wait around until Lieutenant McCall decides if our careers get the best break we could ever dream of?”

“Pretty much,” Fowler replied.

Raymond Saselo stood talking to Mei-Wan as Andrea Lofgren walked away with a tall Vulcan.

“I understand no one has yet to translate the language the Ancient Progenitor spoke in that holographic message.”

Mei-Wan shook her head. “No and the Federation has had some of the best linguists we have working on it the last three months. No one seems to have found the key to it yet.”

“It just seems strange that the message locked away in the combined genetic information of many of the quadrant’s humanoids would be easily understood by the universal translator, but the message you found is still resisting any attempt to decipher it,” Saselo said.

Mei-Wan nodded. “I agree.”

Jack walked up to them and smiled at his wife. She turned to Saselo.

“Professor, I don’t think you’ve met my husband– Captain Jack McCall,” she said.

“Captain McCall.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Doctor Saselo.”

Mei-Wan turned to Jack. “Raymond was the first instructor who let me sit in on classes at the Academy when I was twelve.”

“I think the Academy and the Federation has been rewarded far beyond anything we could have imagined for my agreement to that arrangement,” Saselo said.

“It appears a number of Mei’s instructors from the Academy made it to Gamala to hear her give the keynote address.”

Mei-Wan turned to Saselo. “Did you know that Janus Osmand was here?”

Her old instructor nodded. “I’m not surprised. Ever since he resigned he’s been obsessed with the Ancient Progenitors.”

“Now he’s decided to share that obsession with some Skorr warriors and with a couple of planets in violation of the Prime Directive,” Jack said.

“I hope he didn’t do too much damage,” Saselo said.

“He only gave warp technology to a species just beginning their move into space,” Jack replied.

Saselo took a deep breath. “I hadn’t heard about that.”

Mei-Wan nodded. “We went and talked to him a couple of days ago at the Federation Security Building. He went on about how wrong the Prime Directive was.”

“He mention his dislike for Erodius?” Saselo asked.

“Yes, he did. You knew about his views?” she asked.

“He always had a problem with the founding philosophy of the Federation. He thought the Prime Directive especially problematic. We used to argue about it all the time.”

“Well, now he’ll get to argue about it in a Federation prison or mental facility for some time,” Jack said.

Saselo turned to Jack. “There is such a thing a dissent, Captain.”

“Disagreement is one thing professor, acting out against a principle we’ve lived by for more than two hundred years is another.”

“Starship captains have been known to violate the Prime Directive from time to time throughout our history. They always seem to find an excuse for them at the ready when they do so,” the aging Academy Instructor replied.

“Sometimes starship captains are faced with the need for a quick decision that lives will depend on. There have only been a few reported cases where a starship captain actively sought to violate it,” Jack stated.

The professor grinned. “It seems captains tend to fall back upon ‘lives are at stake’ whenever there’s a rule or procedure they don’t wish to be bothered with.”

“Sometimes there are issues that demand a larger view of the situation at hand.”

“I think that’s what Janus Osmand might say, don’t you, Captain?”

“That’s completely different,” Jack said forcefully.

“You mean like your disregard for archaeological protocols on Hel’yra?”

Mei-Wan took a deep breath. She knew why Jack made the choices he did on that world even though she thought he was wrong.

A grin came to Jack’s face. “I’m afraid that’s still a classified matter.”

Saselo did his best not to frown. He had heard enough stories of what had happened on Hel’yra to know that Captain McCall was not the kind of person who should have been making decisions about the treasures on that distant world. For the life of him he couldn’t understand why Mei-Wan, one of his most brilliant students, had married such a man.

Sheng Lau walked up to them and turned to Sasleo. “Raymond, Andrea asked if you could come over and talk to Stenan from the Vulcan Science Academy for a few minutes.”

Saselo nodded and left Mei-Wan, Jack, and Sheng alone together. Mei-Wan’s father turned to his son-in-law.

“So how have you been, Sheng?” Jack asked.

The older man took a deep breath. “I’d be doing better if I thought my daughter’s husband was encouraging her to go on the expedition to Hel’yra rather than playing some silly passive aggressive game with her.”

Jack rolled his eyes. What is it with Academy professors tonight? he thought.

“Dad,” Mei-Wan started. “I really don’t think this is the time or place for this.”

Sheng turned to his daughter. “Andrea and Raymond won’t say anything to you, Mei, but they’re worried.”

“It’s her decision,” Jack interrupted.

“That’s right, Jack. It is. And you should support her in that decision.”

Mei-Wan looked down at the floor. Jack and her father rarely saw eye to eye about anything, but they had never openly argued like this and she couldn’t believe they were getting into it now.

“I will accept whatever choice she makes,” Jack said.

Sheng turned to Mei-Wan. “Raymond thinks it would be the biggest mistake of your career if you turned down the opportunity to lead this expedition, Mei-Wan.”

She turned to her father. “Then it will be my mistake, won’t it dad?”

Sheng’s eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to say more, but stopped, realizing he was pushing Mei-Wan in exactly the opposite way he wanted to. He turned to Jack and glared.

“If the two of you will excuse me, I think I need to go out on the balcony for a few minutes,” he said.

A smug look came to Jack’s face as Mei-Wan’s father walked away. She watched him go while Jack made sure his face was a blank slate by the time his wife turned back to him.

“I really wish the two of you would at least try to get along.”

“What did I do?”

“You could have just let it drop, Jack.”

He shook his head. “Fine. Next time I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

Mei-Wan looked at him and after a moment a smile came to her face. Within five seconds Jack found himself smiling as well.

“Okay,” he said. “I know that’s a lie.”

Mei-Wan laughed. Jack’s smile widened. It feels good hearing the sound of her laughter, he thought.

Mei-Wan took a drink from her nearly empty wine glass as Jack looked down at his own.

“I found out which ship has been assigned to the expedition” Jack said.

“The Ravenscroft.”

Jack’s eyebrow raised and he grinned. “And do you know who the CO is?”

Mei-Wan hesitated and then spoke. “Commander Kyle Hoffman.”

“I guess my sources aren’t as good as I thought. That information was released only a few hours ago.”

“Kyle,” Mei-Wan started. She thought better of using his first name. “Commander Hoffman told me two days ago.”

Jack’s grin faded. “You know him?”

“Yes,” she said as she paused a moment too long. “We served on the Farragut together. He was in charge of the Archaeology Section when I came aboard.”

Jack slowly nodded. “Oh.”

Mei-Wan looked up and took a deep breath as Kyle walked up to her.

“Well there you are. Getting a chance to see you tonight is near impossible,” he said.

Jack turned to look at the person intruding on their conversation.

“That was an incredible presentation, Mei,” Kyle said ignoring Jack.

Mei-Wan smiled. “Jack this is Commander Kyle Hoffman.” She turned to the new arrival. “Kyle, I’d like you to meet my husband, Captain Jack McCall.”

Kyle looked at Jack with a quick glance. “A pleasure, Captain McCall.”

“Commander,” Jack said closely watching the younger man.

Hoffman spent only a moment sizing up Jack McCall. He turned his attention back to Mei-Wan despite addressing a question to Jack. “Did you see Mei’s presentation today, Captain?”

Jack’s jaw moved ever so slightly. Something about this man didn’t sit well with him. “Of course I did.” He looked at Mei-Wan. “She was brilliant.”

He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders and for the first time that she could remember, she didn’t like it. Kyle fought back a frown.

“I can’t wait to see what she does with a fully dedicated mission to Hel’yra,” Hoffman said. He turned to her. “You’ll change everything we believe about ourselves and the Galaxy, Mei. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. That was it, he decided he really didn’t like this guy. “She still hasn’t decided to accept the offer to lead the expedition.”

Mei-Wan wished he hadn’t said that. Jack was starting to really irritate her.

“I know you, Mei. You’ll accept it. Someone with your hunger for knowledge cant walk away from an opportunity like this,” Kyle said.

“I’ve still got time to think about it,” she replied.

Celeste Purcell walked up to Jack. “Excuse me, Captain McCall.”

Jack, Mei-Wan, and Kyle turned to her as she continued. “Admiral Simmons requests you meet him in his office.”

“What’s this about, Commander?”

“There has been an incident in the Izar Sector, sir.”

Jack turned to Mei-Wan. “If I’m not back before the reception ends, I’ll see you back at the apartment.”

Mei-Wan smiled and nodded. Jack left with Purcell and Kyle grinned at the thought of finally having Mei-Wan’s undivided attention.

“He’s rather uptight, isn’t he?” Hoffman asked in a way that came off more like a statement than a question.

Mei-Wan didn’t want Kyle and Jack to be antagonistic toward each other. “He’s had a lot on his mind lately.”

Kyle smirked. “I’m sure he has.”

She started to say something, but was interrupted by the voice of Hank Evans as he approached with Kadan Loftus.

“Excellent presentation today, Mei.”

Mei-Wan turned to the pair. “Thank you, Hank.”

“You even made an old space traveler like me interested in Archaeology,” Evans said. He turned to Kyle and handed him an empty wine glass. “How about getting me a refill, sonny?”

Kyle looked at the glass forced into his hand and started to say something, but instead nodded and walked away. Hank smiled.

Mei-Wan shook her head. She guessed Evans purposely walked over to give Kyle a hard time. “What are you doing, Hank?”

Evans’ eyes went wide with a ‘who me?’ look.

Loftus grinned. “He does outrank you, Hank.”

Evans turned to her. “Who? That kid?”

Mei-Wan rolled her eyes. She thought perhaps it was time she went back to the apartment and called it a day.

=/\=

On the twelfth floor in Simmons’ office, Jack, the Admiral, Jack’s father Jeremiah, Celeste Purcell, and a Vulcan named Tavak– Simmons’ Chief of Staff– all stood facing a large wall display.

“We just received this transmission from the Burbank about fifteen light years from Izar,” Simmons said as the display illuminated.

On the screen an image of a roughly cylindrical object bristled with structures along its surface moved across the starfield. Its hull had wide gaps where glowing energy blazed so brightly it seemed more a shiny solid than non-material energy.

Jack McCall had seen this ship before or at least one that looked like it.  “Its a G’voda vessel,” he said.

Everyone else looked at him. Simmons frowned.

“Are you sure?” the Admiral asked.

Jack nodded. “I’m certain. You don’t forget a ship like that.”

Jeremiah McCall took a step closer to the display and observed the spacecraft.

“One of these things took out four Borg cubes?” he asked.

“Tore into one of them,” Jack replied.

Jeremiah grinned. “Sounds nasty.”

Celeste Purcell turned to Jack. “But that was in the Kel-j’na Region. How did it get here without Tartarus warning us?”

“Those ships can generate their own wormholes. The real question is why is it here,” Jack said.

Simmons watched the G’voda craft as it moved out of view. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. We have to find out why it’s here.” He turned to Jack’s father. “Jeremiah, I’d like you to take the Third Fleet out to the Izar Sector and find out what its doing there, but avoid engaging it unless absolutely necessary.”

Admiral McCall nodded. “I’d like to take along any other available ships. It might be a good idea to have as much firepower as we can, Fergus.”

Simmons thought a moment. “I agree.” He turned to his Chief of Staff. “Commander Tavak, contact all functional starships in orbit of Gamala and have them assigned temporarily to the Third Fleet and under Jeremiah’s command.”

Jack turned to his father. “Have your engineer contact Kristen Bishop aboard the Chamberlain. She was working on a defense against the energy surge that thing puts out when it uses its weapon. You might need it.”

“Let’s hope my fleet isnt anywhere near that thing when it fires its weapon,” Jeremiah replied. He patted his son on the shoulder and exited Simmons’ office.

The Admiral turned to Jack, “Any chance Chamberlain could go with them?”

Jack shook his head. “Last I checked with Bishop she said it would be another five to seven days before the ship would be functional.”

Simmons walked to the chair behind his desk and sat down. “Let’s hope the Third Fleet can get by without you.”

Jack thought about his father confronting the G’voda vessel. He didn’t like what he imagined might happen.

Outside Simmons window a small four millimeter square chip of metal hung on the outer surface of the pane. A tiny near imperceptible light slowly flashed on the chip.

A few hundred feet away on the roof of another building, a winged, golden Skorr knelt listening to Simmons voice come out of a small receiving device. After a moment he touched an electronic unit attached to his head.

“Notify the others. An opportunity has presented itself,” the Skorr said.

He placed the receiver on his belt and spread out his wings as he stood to his full height. He stepped off the side of the building and took flight into the night sky.

=/\=

Chapter 8 - Taking Flight

Jack walked out to the balcony of the apartment where he found Mei-Wan drinking a glass of wine.

“Sorry it took me so long,” he said.

“I was a little worried,” she said. “Anything wrong?”

Jack took a deep breath as he watched the cool night breeze blow Mei-Wan’s hair about.

“The starship Burbank detected what appears to be a G’voda vessel about fifteen light years from Izar. Dad’s taken the Third Fleet out to investigate,” Jack said.

“But why would a ship from the Kel-j’na Region be that deep into Federation territory?”

Jack shook his head. “We haven’t been able to figure that out yet. I just hope an appearance by the G’voda doesn’t mean the Borg are on their way.”

Mei-Wan stood silently and took a sip of her wine as Jack walked to the railing and looked out at the star filled night sky.

“We should know more in a couple of hours. The Burbank was going in for a closer look,” Jack stated.

Mei-Wan watched her husband closely. She wanted to say something to him about the way he acted towards Kyle at the reception, but she knew it would probably lead to an argument and that was the last thing she wanted now. She just wanted a day or two to relax before she had to decide about going on the expedition back to Hel’yra.

Jack stood looking up into the sky. “I’ve been thinking about some things, Mei,” he started. “I know I’ve avoided talking about you going on the expedition.”

FOr once Mei-Wan was the one who didn’t want to talk about the subject he had avoided for more than a month. “Jack, I know I’ve been insisting we talk this out, but…”

He interrupted her. “Mei, please. I really need to say this.”

She turned to look at him. “Okay.”

“After watching you address the Conference today and seeing you at the reception I think I finally realized how much something like this really means to you.”

She smiled softly and took a step closer to him.

He took a deep breath. “And while I can’t stand the idea of being apart for a year or more I don’t think I can be the one to stand in your way. So…”

He turned to her and forced a smile to his face. “I want you to go on the expedition.”

Mei-Wan watched every nuance in his face looking for some indication about why he was saying this now. She looked down into her wine glass. “Is that how you really feel about it, Jack?”

He thought for several moments. “I think you know how I feel about it, but I don’t want you basing your decision on my feelings. This is the best thing for your career and I think for you.”

She turned to look out at the city with its tall metal buildings. Part of her was happy he had realized how much the expedition meant to her, but another part of her was suspicious he was trying to manipulate her– trying to make her feel guilty for wanting to go. She wondered if it had anything to do with how Kyle acted towards her at the reception. Though perhaps there was something else.

She started to feel that there was a sense of resignation in his attitude. Was he giving up trying to influence her decision or was he giving up on their relationship as a whole?

Mei-Wan closed her eyes to try to fight back the thoughts she had struggled with for the last three days. Those thoughts had made her consider the possibility that it was time for her and Jack to go their separate ways. Before the last month the very idea would never have occurred to her, but more and more she questioned things about their relationship, and about what she wanted out of her life.

She turned to Jack and fought back the tears wanting to erupt. She took a deep breath and struggled against the conflicting emotions in her heart.

“Jack, perhaps we should…”

Her words stopped as a bright flash of light forced her eyes closed.

Jack looked out at the city and watched as a ball of expanding gases rose into the air toward the outskirts of Sylvanus.

“What the hell was that?”

Mei-Wan looked the same direction. “Is that the power station?”

Her question was answered as all the lights in the surrounding buildings and their own apartment joined the darkness of the night.

“There’s almost nothing that could cause a power station to explode like that,” Jack stated.

Finally the sound of the explosion reached them and caused the floor to shudder.

Mei-Wan looked up into the sky. “Look Jack.”

He followed her gaze up and saw several small lights moving down from above. “I don’t like the look of this.”

The small lights became larger and after a few moments became recognizable to Jack McCall. “Damn. Skorr fighters. It’s an attack!”

Seven of the craft cruised downward to the city and pulled up only at the last moment sailing over the tops of the city of Sylvanus’ now darkened buildings. They fired bright blue bursts of expanding energy that struck certain structures but did not cause explosions. The energy blasts caused their targets to glow for a moment, but quickly dissipated.

Jack and Mei-Wan watched the attack as twelve more fighters came down from the starry sky and then were followed by forty more not longer than ten seconds later. Bright blue flashes illuminated their faces as the attack continued.

“They’re using some form of energy disruptor,” Jack said as Mei-Wan edged closer to him.

He looked into her eyes. “Get to the most interior room of the apartment.”

Mei-Wan moved without question as Jack walked up to the large Comm unit on the living room wall and tried to activate it, but it remained dark. “Damn,” Jack said as he tried the unit again.

Mei-Wan walked back into the room. “I tried the Comm unit in the bedroom, it’s dead.”

“So’s this one,” Jack said as the room shook from a fighter that flew only twenty feet away from their balcony. Jack ran back to the window and stopped as he watched more than fifty Skorr fighters descend from the sky. Mei-Wan ran up to him and held onto his arm.

“What’s happening?” she asked with a tremor in her soft voice.

Jack frowned. “Janus Osmand.”

=/\=

In the Captain’s Ready Room of the U.S.S. Chamberlain, Melissa Vargas and Kristy Bishop walked toward the forward windows and saw wave after wave of fighters fly past and down toward the planet.

“What the hell is this?” Bishop asked.

“Skorr fighter craft,” Vargas stated. She tapped her Comm badge. “Bridge, get me Sylvanus Spaceport.”

The voice of a young male Ensign came over the intercom. “Lieutenant Commander, I’m not getting anything from Sylvanus. Sensors indicate that the primary power station just exploded.”

“An attack?!” Bishop asked.

Melissa took a deep breath and turned to the ship’s Chief Engineer. “Please tell me we at least have impulse engines.”

Bishop shook her head. “They’ve been offline for three days. It would take more than an hour to power them up.”

The intercom came to life again. “Commander Vargas, I’m receiving a signal from the Captain.”

“Pipe it up here,” Melissa said.

After a few moments of static Jack’s voice came over the intercom. “Ms. Vargas get a signal to any operational starship in orbit and have them engage those fighters.”

Melissa took a deep breath. “Sir, outside of a few science vessels there are no operational starships up here. They all left two hours ago with the Third Fleet.”

“Commander, we are under attack down here! Can you launch fighters?!”

“I’m afraid not, Captain. All the fighter craft as well as the main bay itself are undergoing extensive maintenance. We can’t even launch a shuttlecraft in our current condition.”

More static came over the intercom. “Then start powering up the impulse engines. I’ll try and find a way to get back to the ship. If I don’t, I want you to use any and all means to stop those fighters!”

“Aye, sir.”

The intercom went dead and Kristy Bishop turned and walked toward the exit. “I better get to engineering.”

Vargas shook her head. “This will be over before we can get the engines operational, Kristy.”

Bishop shrugged her shoulders as she continued down the stairs, but after getting halfway she stopped and turned back to Vargas. “Melissa, the Yacht.”

Vargas’ eyes widened as a smile came to her face. “I can power it up in ten minutes.”

Bishop smiled as well. “And it has phasers and torpedoes.”

Melissa walked towards the exit herself and tapped her Comm badge. “Bridge, start the power up procedures on the Captain’s Yacht.”

=/\=

Back on the surface, Jack pulled out connections running from the back of a PADD to the active wall unit display. A moment later the screen went dark. He walked over to Mei-Wan, who stood near the window, and watched as now more than two hundred Skorr fighters filled the sky over Sylvanus. The frightened screams of people down on the streets permeated the air as they watched the attack continue.

Jack’s eyes narrowed. “They’re using energy distruptors on the city’s sensors and defense systems.”

“Why not just use phasers?” Mei-Wan asked.

Jack smiled. “Because they aren’t interested in damaging anything. They’re generating a distraction to keep everyone occupied.”

He turned and looked in the direction toward the Federation Security Station.

“See, those five craft?” he asked his wife.

“What’s the large one?”

Jack frowned. “A transport. They’re breaking Janus Osmand out of the lockup.”

Jack ran back inside and toward the front door. Mei-Wan followed and grabbed his arm stopping him. He turned to face her.

“Mei, I have to go. If I can get there soon enough I might be able to stop them.”

“Without a weapon?”

He grinned. “I’ll figure out something.”

She looked into his eyes and knew she couldn’t stop him. Rushing into danger like this was part of who Jack McCall was. He considered it his duty to try to stop the Skorr.

Mei-Wan released his arm. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said.

She nodded.

Jack stopped and turned to her. He hesitated briefly before leaning toward Mei-Wan and gently kissing her.

A moment later he was gone.

=/\=

Inside the Federation Security Building where Janus Osmand was being held thirty Skorr warriors fired large rifles at the Security Personnel striking them with bright flashes of energy. The Guards once hit, fell to the floor. After two minutes time all the Federation Sentries were unconscious.

Five of the tall creatures ran into the central area where more than forty holding cells were located. They moved toward a specific one and blasted away at the door controls. A moment later Janus Osmand walked into the hallway.

He approached one of the Skorr. “Are you certain no one has been killed in the operation?”

The Skorr warrior nodded to the much shorter human. “Yes, Janus. The power station showed no life signs when we fired the torpedo. For everything else we have only used disruptors at stun setting.”

Janus nodded and walked up to the Skorr and patted him on the back. “Well done, brother. This day will bring the people of the Federation closer to an understanding of the truth.”

He walked past the Skorr and down the hallway. The winged golden creatures followed him.

In the courtyard in front of the Security Building four fighters and the larger transport hovered more than fifty feet in the air. Jack McCall hid behind a corner of the building and looked up.

“Come on, guys, land,” he whispered to himself. He pulled out a small hand phaser unit from a weapons’ belt he had picked up from a guard at the Starfleet Building a few blocks distant on the way to his present location.

Out of the front of the Security Building Jack saw Osmand and the Skorr walk into the Courtyard. Then all of the Skorr spread their wings and took flight.

“Damn. I forgot. The Skorr can fly.”

He came from around the corner and took aim at Osmand as several Skorr moved toward their leader, but one of their number turned and saw Jack. The Golden creature moved quickly as Jack’s phaser fired its energy and caught the stun blast intended for Osmand.

The other Skorr warriors rushed in toward Osmand and picked him up. Jack took aim, but didn’t fire. If he hit them even with a stun phaser blast they’d fall and probably die from the impact. Jack watched helplessly as Osmand looked down at him and smiled before being flown into the open rear door of the transport craft.

Jack grinned and readjusted his phaser. “Nothing says I can’t damage your ship, Osmand.”

He took aim and a more intense phaser blast struck the port nacelle on the transport sending a shower of sparks into the air as the craft rocked back and forth.

Jack took aim again, but stopped and ran behind the corner of the building just before several disruptor blasts struck the ground he had stood on moments before.

He peered back around the corner as the fighters and transport moved up and away from Jack’s location.

“Damn.”

Ten seconds later, twenty Starfleet Security Officers ran up to Jack’s location with weapons in hand. Jack turned to them.

“You’re a little late guys.”

=/\=

Aboard the Captain’s Yacht on the Chamberlain, Melissa Vargas sat at the controls as the systems of the craft came alive. She touched a control for the intercom.

“Bridge, I’m ready to go.”

“You have clearance to depart, Commander,” a voice said from the intercom.

The Yacht shuddered as it disengaged from its moorings and fell from the Chamberlain into space. Melissa looked out the forward viewport and saw the Skorr fighters sailing away from the planet Gamala.

“Not so fast,” she said as she activated the Yacht’s targeting systems.

She touched another control and the Yacht’s impulse engines came to life and the craft moved toward the escaping fighters which were now joined by a larger transport craft.

Vargas leaned over the sensor display and smiled. “I’d guess that’s the ship that I really need to stop.”

A loud chirping came from the sensor display as another ship showed up on the field of view. Melissa touched a control and a set of text and numbers appeared next to the new arrival.

She activated the Yacht’s communications. “Starship Ariel, this is the Yacht Bucephalus. I didn’t know there was anyone else up here.”

“Ariel here, Bucephalus. We were supposed to go out with the Third Fleet, but had some engine difficulties. We were just about to go to warp before we got the Chamberlain’s distress call,” the male voice said. “What’s the situation?”

“About two hundred Skorr fighters attacked Sylvanus and are now leaving. There’s a transport vessel with them.”

“That’s probably the ship we want,” said the voice from the Ariel. “We’ll try clearing a path through the fighters for you. Get that transport.”

Melissa touched the Comm control and increased the Yacht’s velocity.

Aboard the transport vessel Janus Osmand stood behind two Skorr at the vessel’s controls. One of them pointed to a display.

“Scanners indicate two vessels approaching at impulse velocity. One is an Ambassador Class starship,” the winged creature said.

Another Skorr walked up next to Osmand. “Should we turn and attack?”

Janus’ eyes went wide. “No. We shall not harm our brothers. I will surrender before attacking with lethal force.” He leaned down to one of the Skorr at the controls. “Signal everyone. We move now.”

The creature nodded as Janus turned back to the eight foot tall Skorr standing at his side. “Now we find out if our Romulan brothers were successful with their work.”

Melissa Vargas armed her weapons as her sensor display showed she was mere seconds from coming into range to attack. She frowned as she noticed the fighters had stayed in tight formation about the transport. She would have thought that a few would have dropped back to attempt to slow her and the Ariel down.

The display indicated the Yacht’s phasers were locked onto the engines of the transport. Another five seconds and the Ariel would begin attacking the fighters.

Melissa took a deep breath and glanced over at a display which indicated her shields were at full power. A loud alarm made her head snap back to look at the tactical display.. Her eyes widened as she saw that all of the contacts were gone except that of the starship Ariel.

“What the hell happened?”

She immediately ran a quick diagnostic of the sensors, but it indicated everything was in perfect order. The Comm system chimed. She suspected she knew who it was.

“Ariel to Bucephalus. Please tell me those ships didn’t just cloak.”

Melissa sighed and leaned back in her seat. By now the cloaked vessels would have dispersed and probably gone to warp.

“I’m afraid so, Ariel,” she said as she touched the drive controls. “I’m heading back to the Chamberlain.”

=/\=

Chapter 9 - Tuesday, 31 December 2377

Three days later Mei-Wan McCall stood in the Captain’s Ready Room of the Starship Ravenscroft waiting for the ship’s CO to return to discuss when she would transfer to his crew. She was pleased to be back in her standard duty uniform after four days of wearing her dress whites now that the event she had traveled to Gamala for was over. The Archaeological Conference had ended on a successful note despite the interruption of the Skorr attack to free her former Academy Instructor, Janus Osmand, from the custody of Federation Security. Somehow she suspected that getting arrested and then breaking out during the Conference had been carefully planned by Osmand to highlight his own beliefs which were now being discussed openly not only on Gamala but across a number of Federation worlds since his escape.

The other item of concern to Starfleet, the appearance of the G’voda vessel in Federation territory, was still keeping the Third Fleet busy. Jack had told Mei-Wan that his father continued looking for the large craft despite the fact that the U.S.S. Burbank had lost the trail of the intruder. A G’voda ship was too much of an unknown to let it wander through Federation space without keeping a close eye on it.

Mei-Wan looked out the windows at the curve of the planet below and the drydock structure the Ravenscroft still resided in. In a few days the ship would cruise away on its journey to the Tartarus wormhole and then on to the planet Hel’yra for a year or more. She took a deep breath and knew that she had to finally make her decision about whether or not she would make that same journey. She knew what she wanted. All she had to do was say it.

In less than fifteen minutes the year 2377 would come to an end and 2378 would begin. Mei-Wan feared what else might end. She thought back to all that had happened in the past year. She and Jack McCall had started their marriage just a few months before 2377 and enjoyed their time together.

The most important event of 2377 for her, aside from being assigned to the Chamberlain with Jack, had come when they went down to the planet Hel’yra and discovered an Ancient Progenitor installation on the surface and beneath it. It was everything Mei-Wan had ever hoped for as an Archaeologist and more. However, that discovery now called her back to it and she didn’t want to think what a year or more apart would do to her marriage to Jack.

She let her breath slowly leave her lungs and thought about the choice before her. She had enjoyed the New Year’s party aboard the Ravenscroft and the chance to see a number of old friends like LeAnn Goodwin and Susan Tanega. Mei-Wan was surprised at how members of the crew she hadn’t known had welcomed her. They treated her as if she had been a part of their tight knit group for some time already. The crew, the ship itself, and its mission were everything she had ever dreamed of for her career. Why was she having such a hard time making the decision she wanted to make?

Dreams… This ship had something– someone else she had once dreamed about. Six years ago he was almost all she thought about.

Commander Kyle Hoffman entered his Ready Room and took a deep breath as he walked towards the woman looking out the window.

“Great view isn’t it?” he asked.

Mei-Wan watched the surface features of the planet Gamala slowly rotate away one after the other.

Suddenly her attention focused on something else.

Kyle stopped just behind her– so close she could feel the warmth from his body. She tried not to notice, but she couldn’t help herself. Nor could she help that her breathing had become deeper.

Kyle gently placed his hands on Mei-Wan’s shoulders. She closed her eyes trying not to react. You know how he feels about you, a thought shot through her mind.

“My officers love you, Mei,” he said. “They want you as part of this crew.”

Mei-Wan turned to face him.

His voice lowered to a whisper. “And so do I.”

She looked into his eyes remembering six years ago she would have given anything to see the desire she saw there now. More and more she wanted to give in to this moment– to what she felt for him.

Mei-Wan wanted to be part of this ship’s crew and she wanted the man who stood just a few inches away. There were few people she respected more than Kyle. She had been in love with him once– a one sided, unrequited love– her first real love.

Somehow everything had changed. Now he felt just as strongly for her as she had once felt for him.

Kyle ever so slowly leaned his face toward Mei-Wan, his eyes closed.

Let him! her mind cried out.

Her breathing grew ever faster knowing that in a moment their lips would touch and everything would change.

Nearer…

She could feel the warmth of his exhaling breath touch the skin of her face. She smelled the sweat beading on his skin.

Almost…

No.

Mei-Wan put her hands up against Kyle’s chest, holding him back, his lips less than an inch from hers.

“Kyle, I…”

He sighed heavily and moved away. “Sorry.”

Mei-Wan looked down at the deck and breathed for what seemed the first time in years.

Kyle turned and took a step away from her.   “No, I’m not sorry,” he said.

He turned to face her. “Mei, I’ve loved you from the first day you came aboard the Farragut. You are the brightest and most gifted scientist I’ve ever met. You’re also the kindest and most giving person I’ve ever known. I made a mistake six years ago not telling you how I felt about you.”

He smiled and looked into her eyes. “I want you in my life– professionally and personally.”

Mei-Wan took a deep breath and slowly let it exhale. She looked up at him. “Kyle… I…” She stopped. “Six years ago if I had heard you say that I’d have been the happiest woman in the Universe. I loved you so much.”

She closed her eyes to fight back the tears. “I used to make up reasons to come by your office and your quarters…”

She laughed.

“I remember coming by late one evening with a set of readings on an artifact that I knew were something you’d already seen, but in the back of my mind I hoped you’d ask me in and we’d talk and…”

She turned to look out the window again, her back to him. “I can’t– I…”

Kyle took a step closer to Mei-Wan. “Me or the expedition?”

She shook her head. She tried to convince herself the two were separate, but she knew that was a lie. They had become tangled together so much over the last six days that she had used one to give her an excuse to indulge the other. I want this… all of it, she told herself. The expedition and… and Kyle.

“Don’t give up on the expedition because of me, please,” he pleaded.

She turned to him and looked in his eyes. He walked up to her and slowly reached out and lightly grasped her arms.

Her thoughts raced. All I have to do is say yes!

“You can’t say no to this expedition to Hel’yra, Mei. We need you.”

She looked at him. “We?”

He took a breath. “Yes, I’ll admit it. I need you– I want you here.”

She shook her head trying to fight the growing rampage of thoughts in her mind.

He smiled. “We can go back to six years ago and get it right this time.”

Mei-Wan looked down. “Things aren’t that easy.”

He pulled her nearer. “We were meant to be together, Mei. You know that.”

Her eyes were full of tears, but none had fallen yet.

His voice softened. “You love me just as much as I love you.”

She closed her eyes. “I’m married to Jack. He’s my husband.”

“Does he want you to go to Hel’yra?”

Mei-Wan hesitated and then shook her head. “No. He won’t say it, but I know he doesn’t. He’s…”

Kyle tilted his head. “He’s afraid he’s going to lose you isn’t he?”

She nodded.

“He knows your marriage is over. You do too,” Kyle said. “Its time to accept it and choose the life you’ve always wanted.”

He’s right… NO! Her thoughts swirled about her like a storm full of life and energy tearing across a once quiet countryside. Jack is self-destructing do I have to let him destroy my life too? I’m lost and alone on the Chamberlain. Here I can be with Kyle and live the life I’ve always wanted!

And then in her mind, almost as if another was speaking, You know you’ve never really loved Jack. The Glazyalans put you together– the same ones who murdered Robin. Should they now finally destroy you too?

Kyle looked in her eyes. “You know if you walk away from this you’ll always regret that choice, Mei.”

Yes, you’ll always regret it. Now is the chance to put things right! she thought.

She looked down and took a deep breath. She had to choose. She knew what she wanted.

Mei-Wan looked up at Kyle. She looked over his face and then to his seductive eyes. They drew her in just as they had six years before– before Jack.

For a moment she thought of Jack’s eyes and then his smile. It was time to choose.

Goodbye, Jack, she thought.

She started to rest her head against Kyle’s chest, but stopped. No!

A faltering thought struggled its way to the surface of her mind. Jack still loves me. I can’t give up yet.

She stepped away from Kyle Hoffman. He sighed heavily as she turned and stepped toward the door that would take her out of the Ready Room and lead her off the ship.

“Mei, wait.”

She stopped at the door.

Kyle took two steps toward her, but stopped when she didn’t turn to him. “Please, think about this– think about us.”

She did not move or speak. Kyle sighed and his face became hardened. “Can you honestly look at me and say you don’t love me? If you can, then leave. But if you can’t…”

Her shoulders slumped, but she didn’t turn to him. “I don’t know which is worse,” she whispered. “That I can’t tell you, or I won’t.”

She moved toward the doors and they parted for her. She hesitated but a moment and then walked through the portal just as a chime sounded.

The year had just changed. 2377 was gone forever.

=/\=

Chapter 10 - Myth Of The Eternal Return

The first day of the year 2378 found Mei-Wan seated at a display in Archaeology Lab Four on the Chamberlain going over the Ancient Progenitor message from the holographic recording on Hel’yra. She had already had a long day by late afternoon, but found little comfort in anything but her work. She buried herself in it completely.

The message of the Ancient Progenitor female played on the display. Mei-Wan closed her eyes to listen to the language spoken by the long dead being.

“Gupumoi egeme womfazawog oda liolula. Fada gego-ru go zere fada ludi tefwu remece egu zahu loleo jugu ufeida cemefwomekwo lilo wudhu,” the voice on the recording said.

Mei-Wan played it again. There was something about this portion of the recording that had been bothering her for weeks, but she could not figure out what it was. Perhaps it was an inflection or a subtle change in tone, but she knew there was something important here. She watched the holographic figure continue to speak and tried to gain some insight from the facial features.

The door to the lab opened and Jack walked into the room and up to the station where Mei-Wan worked.

“Still no luck with that?” he asked.

She touched a control and the recording paused. She watched Jack for several moments. Could he tell what had taken place between her and Kyle? Could he tell how close she came to…

She took a deep breath and forced a weak smile to her face. “No. I think I’m close to finding a word or phrase that will break it open for me, but then nothing.”

He walked to a panel and ran his finger along the edge of it avoiding looking at her. “Maybe when you get to Hel’yra you’ll find something there that will help.”

Her eyes widened at the tone of his voice. He’s given up on me staying. He’s given up on us.

She turned back to the display in front of her. “I went to see Andrea Lofgren this morning. I told her I was staying on the Chamberlain. I turned down leading the expedition.”

Jack turned to Mei-Wan and a million emotions went across his face at once. She refused to look at him.  She knew one of those emotions would be joy and she knew if she saw that the anger she had fought against all that day would explode into a rage. She was angry, but not at him. Mei-Wan McCall was angry with herself.

“Why?” he asked.

“I have my reasons.” She reached for a PADD and kept her eyes on its display.

He took a deep breath. “Would you mind letting me in on them?”

“Right now… yes I would mind.”

Jack stepped up to her doing his best to hide the joy he felt. After a moment that joy turned to sadness. He knew what going back to Hel’yra meant to Mei-Wan. He knew she had to be agonizing over that loss.

“I don’t know what to say.”

She set the PADD down on a table and closed her eyes. “You spent the last five weeks not talking about this. Why don’t you just continue with that.”

She opened her eyes and touched a control activating the Ancient Progenitor recording. “I think that works well for us, Jack.”

She focused on the recording as the odd alien words filled the lab again.

“Cemefwo murujekwo go, rufwo egeme romfalida ludi…” the voice said.

Jack stood watching her for a full minute as the ancient language reverberated off the walls of the room.

He turned and left the lab wondering if he had still lost her even though she had chosen to stay.

After he was gone she turned to the door and her eyes became vacant as she thought about the choice she had made.

“Egu ladehero jutamfa oda muzolurida…” the Ancient Progenitor’s voice continued.

Mei-Wan turned back to the display.

=/\=

Four days later, Mei-Wan stood alone in the officer’s lounge on Deck Nine of the U.S.S. Chamberlain at 0634. She was dressed in her regular jogging clothes as she had done each day for the last three months aboard the Oceana Class Starship. In twenty-six minutes she would arrive on Deck Five outside Melissa Vargas’ quarters and they would jog before starting their day.

But this day was different. She awakened early to be where she was at this exact time.

She stared out amidst the various drydocks in the distance and located the one she was looking for. She noticed the ship moved slowly away from its cage and sailed free into space on its own power.

Mei-Wan watched as the vessel cruised away from the planet Gamala in the Yed Post system– the planet she would be tied to by gravity for the next five days until the Chamberlain’s repairs were finished.

The starship she watched was nearly too small to be seen when its warp engines flared to life and in a flash the ship took flight away into the unknown. The Intrepid Class Starship, Ravenscroft, had gone to find its destiny and make discoveries that would change everything Mei-Wan McCall had ever known.

She continued to stare out the large transparent aluminum windows as a single tear fell down her cheek for her life that might have been.

TO BE CONTINUED…

=/\= =/\= =/\=

Discover more Star Trek fan fiction by Michael Gray at:

http://darkhorizon.4mg.com/

Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2003, 2011 by Michael Gray