Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 23:38:17 GMT In: alt.startrek.creative From: "Jay P Hailey" Title: Star Trek: Outwardly Mobile Author: Jay P Hailey (JayPHailey@hotmail.com) Series: MISC - TNG OCs Codes: None Part: 44/342(?) Rating:[PG] Archive: Fine with me, just tell me where. Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Star Trek. I claim Original Characters and Situations for me. Webpage HTTP://jayphailey.8m.com The Zantree: Episode 44 by Jay P. Hailey And Dennnis Washburn I was briefing the command staff of the Harrier about what I had learned of the Kliges'chee and the Zantree. The news was greeted about like I would have expected. If the Romulans or the Zantree couldn't hold, then the Klingons and the Federation would be facing the Kliges'chee. If we reported to the Federation, and they believed us, then we might have a chance. The experience of the Borg was illustrative. The Enterprise-D had encountered the Borg. They warned Starfleet Command. Starfleet Command messed around and dithered until the Borg were on the door step. The result was Wolf-359, the worst massacre in Starfleet's history. "That's why I have decided to trade certain technologies to the Zantree Alliance in exchange for a refit." This caused a sensation. Li'ira bored through me with her eyes. "Captain, you know that this would violate the Prime Directive." "I don't think that it's especially relevant here. This isn't interference so much as it's a military alliance." This was a cheesy old argument. In the Academy it was a common debate question. How can a Federation devoted to non-interference justify having military alliances with races who were not as advanced? The answer again is convenience. Most of the time the Federation will avoid conflicts between races that are less advanced. However, if the Federation's over all security is involved then the question will be considered a little more deeply. "What are you going to trade to them?" Patricia Flynn, my Chief Medical Officer asked. I took a deep breath. This was going to be tough. "Photon torpedoes, launchers and sensor schematics." "Why?" This was Lt. Colonel Flagg. He was in the briefing as a courtesy. As a flag officer he might wind up in command of the Harrier if I were disabled. I wanted him up to speed on what was going on. "The photon torpedoes will give the Zantree Alliance a serious tactical advantage. The Kliges'chee don't have anything comparable. The sensor specs will neutralize the main Kliges'chee strategic advantage. Remember that their stealth suite makes them hard for long range sensors to detect. With sensors as good as ours, the Zantree will enjoy a good strategic advantage." "What if it turns out that they are enemies of the Federation?" Flagg was looking at me oddly and I didn't enjoy it. "I think that their main problem is the Kliges'chee at this point." "Why not give them the whole works?" Harksain Varupuchu said. "Your logic is clear. You would like the Zantree Alliance to win their war with the Kliges'chee. Why not go all the way?" "I don't think that the Zantree could profit by the whole raft of Federation technology. What would happen if they tried to produce new ships with completely new technology? I think that they would fall behind the Kliges'chee and never recover. The Kliges'chee built ships that they have could be refit with new sensors and photon torpedo launchers relatively quickly." "Good point." Flagg said "If the Kliges'chee ships in Zantree hands are so easily refit, then so are the ones in Kliges'chee hands." "Yeah, well, I can't help that. There are other reasons, too." "Such as?" "If we get this refit, then it's almost guaranteed that we can get home. A lot of the data that we have is one of a kind stuff. Then there's the warning to Starfleet Command about the Kliges'chee. All of these things together I find quite persuasive." "I don't. What you're about to do is treason." Flagg was as cold as ice. "I don't agree, Colonel. My decision is made." A phaser appeared in Flagg's hand. "Then I must relieve you." I was shocked. "What? Flagg, put that thing away!" Stephanie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, but remained seated. Li'ira remained calm. Harksain Varupuchu just shook his head ruefully. Patricia's face drained of color and her eyes were focused on Flagg's phaser. I was unhappy. Either Flagg would lock me up and do paranoid, stupid things with my ship, or he'd just kill me and go ahead. If none of that happened, then I'd have to space him as a mutineer. "Computer secure this room." Flagg said The Computer beeped "Briefing room number three is secure." I said "Computer, over-ride. Code: Vrendeemok." The Computer beeped and said "Over-ride accepted." Varupuchu and Li'ira looked at me. The word was a very obscene Vulcan concept. "Computer, master over-ride. Code: Federation forever. I tell you three times." The Computer asked "Does Lieutenant Colonel Flagg concur?" "Yes, I do." "Master over-ride confirmed." If the computer asked for confirmation, then it was somehow tied into the self destruct system. Guessing, I said "Computer, end self destruct, code zero four nine five destruct five." The computer said "Does the First Officer concur?" Flagg said "Son of a bitch!" Then he shot me. I tried to scramble out of the way. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. I could see his phaser aimed right at me. I wasn't moving quickly enough. I could see Stephanie's' phaser whip up from under the conference table. I really didn't want to die. At least I had some consolation. Stephanie had him dead to rights. Then there was a bright flash. -*- I woke up on the deck. I was alive. The thought made me indecently happy. Almost enough not to mind the headache and nausea from being stunned. "Ugh." I said. "Captain, Are you all right?" Li'ira was peering over Patricia's shoulder. "Ow." I said "My head hurts." "You are incredibly lucky, do you know that?" Patricia's face was drawn and she was obviously unhappy. "Oh, yeah. Where's Flagg?" "In the Brig. After Stephanie stunned him, the Marines came and took him away." "Is everyone else okay?" Patricia was grim. "That depends on what you mean by `Okay'." "What do you mean?" She showed me her hand. It was still shaking from the adrenaline reaction. "That maniac could have killed all of us!" I took her hand "It's okay. He didn't." Patricia gave my hand a squeeze and then resumed her professional demeanor. She scanned me and told Li'ira that I was okay. I would feel ill for a couple of hours, but otherwise I would be fine. I got up and immediately regretted it. I sat down in a chair, but what I really wanted was to lie down on the floor and command the ship from a prone position. "Did you complete the over-ride?" I asked Li'ira. "Yes, Captain. I have Ensign Bruce rebuilding the self destruct circuits now." "Doctor," I said to Patricia "In my layman's opinion it seems as though Colonel Flagg was as mad as a hatter when he flipped out, just now." She looked me in the eye. "What's the penalty for mutiny, Captain?" "The Harrier is running under emergency conditions, Doctor. If an officer was convicted of willful mutiny, I would have to space him." Patricia thought it over. "I will confirm the diagnosis of the Ship's Counselor. Father McTague is better suited to make that determination." Her expression made it plain. Patricia wouldn't mind if Flagg was spaced. I went to see McTague. The red headed priest was his usual over stuffed, jolly self. "Captain, if you've been stunned recently then there is only one prescription to make." He opened a small cupboard and drew out a flask of amber liquid, along with two glasses. He poured a certain amount of the liquid into the glasses and then handed me one. I took a cautious sip. It was brandy. I am no judge, but it was definitely alcoholic. I took a delicate sip to be polite. McTague shook his head sadly. "Ah, I can see we have some more work ahead of us before we turn ye into a drinker, sure enough. What brings ye to my office, this fine afternoon?" "I need you to interview Colonel Flagg, and assess his mental competence." "Oh, and this'll be the mutiny he pulled earlier this afternoon." "In my opinion, he was not stable when he did it." I emphasized my opinion. "Aye, It's a possibility. What's the penalty for mutiny, then?" "If he's competent and found guilty, then I'll have to space him." "Aye, and a miserable task that would be." "I'll do it if I have to, but I'd like another option." "Captain, let me ask ye one more thing. How many people have been convicted of mutiny and then spaced on Starfleet vessels?" I racked my brain for a moment. I couldn't remember my space law classes worth a damn. "I don't recall. I don't remember any." "I've been looking it up, Captain. There have been none. Tell me are ye asking me this to preserve Starfleet's perfect record? Or are ye protecting yer queasy stomach?" I got mad "I'm not going to kill a man unless I absolutely have to. I'm not going to use the letter of the law to stuff a man out a goddamned airlock. Have you ever seen someone die of decompression? I have! If he's got to die to protect the ship then I'll take a phaser and do it myself, but not until the last option has been exhausted! Is that clear?" McTague grinned "Yes, Captain! Sorry, I had to make sure what you were about." --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.639 / Virus Database: 408 - Release Date: 3/22/2004 -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. 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