Based On STAR TREK Created by Gene Roddenberry
Original Characters created by Jason Cleaver and Derrick Ferguson
Eve was headed for Sickbay after supervising the cleanup of the mess hall, when her commbadge beeped.
=/\=Longtree to Mallory. =/\=
Eve tapped her badge as she walked. “Mallory here.”
=/\=I’ve just got a report on a fight in the mess hall. I understand you’re dealing with it. =/\=
Eve spotted a turbo-lift. “Yes sir. Lieutenants Dianora and O’Malley.”
A sigh. =/\=And they couldn’t wait to take it to the holodeck? =/\=
Eve grinned. A fight between the two new heads of Security and Marines was almost a tradition on Starfleet vessels. Normally though such ‘meetings’ waited until both parties were off duty and there was a free time on a holodeck. “Apparently not,” She replied. “I’m on my way down to sickbay now to talk to them.” She paused. “Unless you want to, sir?”
=/\=No that’s fine, =/\= Longtree’s voice had a smile in it. =/\=When you’ve finished, we need to talk. I’ll be in my Ready Room. =/\=
“Yes, Captain. Mallory out.”
She entered the turbo-lift and gave the instructions.
Entering Sickbay, she immediately spotted the two women being treated by the CMO, Doctor Victor Utchenko, a barrel chested Russian with a neatly trimmed salt and pepper beard, eyes the color of water and a perpetual smile. O’Malley saw her approaching before Dianora and stiffened into a sitting down attention.
“So, Doctor,” Mallory said by way of greeting. “What’s the verdict?”
Utchenko beamed at her. “Bruises, contusions, a couple of cracked ribs each and one broken jaw for Lt. O’Malley. They’ll be back on duty in a couple of hours.”
“Glad to hear it,” Eve said. “Can you excuse us?”
Utchenko nodded and moved off, leaving a pool of silence as the Commander regarded the Security and Marine Chiefs.
“Explain something to me,” Mallory said after a moment. “I was always under the impression that these ‘discussions’ always took place off duty and in the holodeck. Would that be right?” Her tone was mild as she raised red eyebrows in question.
No answer for a moment. Then O’Malley spoke up. “That’s right.”
“Thought so. So perhaps someone could explain why you two were mixing it up in the mess hall?”
A pause. Then Dianora slid off her bed into a rigid at-attention posture. “That was my doing, Commander. I started it.”
Mallory regarded her. “You did.” A question and a statement. “Wasted a perfectly good glass of tsasa juice too.” She turned her head to look at the hulking form of O’Malley. “Tell me, Lieutenant. Do you regularly disobey direct orders?”
Patience blinked, not expecting the question. “Commander? I..”
“I know I heard myself giving an order, Lieutenant,” Mallory cut her off. ‘“Okay, ladies, this fight is over and I mean NOW” were my exact words.” The mildness was gone now; her voice was as cold as liquid nitrogen. “Yet, you leapt at Dianora, who had stopped as per my order.” She stepped up to the taller woman who loomed over her even sitting down. “I’d like an explanation, Lieutenant.”
A silence from O’Malley. “I don’t have one, Sir.” was her final response.
Mallory nodded. “Fine. As of this moment, you are on probation. Any more problems and I will recommend to the Captain that you be relieved of your post.” She turned to Dianora. “The same goes for you.”
She took several paces away before turning back. “I am also declaring the result of your meeting null and void because of my interference. Take it to the holodeck next time.” Then she smiled. “And Lieutenant Dianora?” The Thymiscran straightened even further if that were possible. “Nice punch.”
And she was gone.
Captain Longtree chuckled and leaned back in his chair while JoAnn St. John regarded his amusement with a knowing air.
“You don’t seem very concerned that your officers have committed a serious breach of Starfleet protocol, sir. May I ask why?”
It might be said that JoAnn herself was overstepping her bounds by outright questioning her commanding officer’s motives without the traditional asking for permission to speak freely, but a Ship’s Counselor was allowed many liberties not enjoyed by other ship’s officers. In order to do her job, JoAnn could circumvent many of the protocols and regulations that normally bound Starfleet officers.
”Oh, I’m concerned, Counselor. I was concerned as to how my new First Officer would handle the altercation. You see, I ordered Chief O’Malley to start that fight in the mess hall just to see what Commander Mallory would do.”
JoAnn crossed her legs and folded her hands across her stomach. “Why is that, sir?”
Longtree got up and walked over the replicator, passing the huge oval plasteel window that showed the multicolored vista of warp space. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”
”A non-synthoholic banana daiquiri, if you please.” Longtree nodded and ordered a steaming hot cup of Denebrian coffee for himself. He sat on the edge of his desk and looked squarely in JoAnn’s eyes as he spoke:
“I’ve read Commander Mallory’s secure file, Counselor. I insisted on it in fact. To be frank, I think Mallory’s a hell of an officer and it won’t be long before she has a command of her own....”
“But her Replicant status troubles you.”
“A human transformed into a synthetic being by an unknown race with unknown motives? You bet I’m troubled.”
“Captain, Eve underwent what was probably the most grueling debriefing in Starfleet history. She was examined and tested in so many different ways it’s not even funny. In fact, to this day, I’m pretty sure Starfleet Intelligence still has her under surveillance. As long as she’s with Starfleet, I don’t think there will ever be a day when Eve Mallory isn’t under SOME form of scrutiny.”
“You trust her, then.” It wasn’t a question.
”Without reservation. If you’ve read her file as you say you have, then you should as well. Eve’s come through not only her Replication but she also had some pretty hairy times on The Grail. “
Longtree’s lips pursed as he nodded slowly. ”I know all that. Hell, I asked for her as my First Officer. “
JoAnn’s head cocked to the side. ”Yes, I must admit, if you have these reservations, why DID you request Eve?”
Longtree sipped his coffee thoughtfully. “Look at your Starfleet history. Spock of Vulcan was the first of his race to serve with Starfleet. During his career with James Kirk, much of the myths and suspicions surrounding Vulcans were dispelled.”
“But Spock was half-human, remember....”
“Irrelevant. Spock thought of himself as a full Vulcan and was raised as such. Then look at Worf, the first Klingon in Starfleet, who served with Picard. Again, due to that unique relationship, a greater understanding of the Klingon race. It could be that Mallory was Replicated as a sort of ambassador and this Machine Race is interested in an alliance with the Federation.”
”Intriguing theory. And one that was debated thoroughly. The consensus was that there are probably more Replicants we don’t know about and this Machine Race is seeing how Eve is treated before making themselves more fully known.”
“Exactly my point. The Federation has never been in greater danger than it is now. The war with the Dominion has been costly and could go either way. And then there’s the Breen and we can’t forget that the Borg are still out there. They could just be waiting to see who wins and then come in and assimilate everybody in sight while they’re still putting back the pieces.”
“You see yourself as aiding in cultivating a possible ally?”
“The Federation is going to need every friendly race it can contact if it’s going to survive the war and what comes after. And if Mallory IS being monitored by this Machine Race, I want her to be treated exactly as any other Starfleet officer would be. I think that’s the best way of showing whoever Replicated her our intentions.”
“I’m glad you said that, because if you treat Eve Mallory any different from any of your other officers, she’ll ask for a transfer faster than the Crazy Horse can go to warp. And she’ll get it, too.”
“I understand that. And I’m pleased that she handled that fight just the way I would have. With her enhanced strength, it would have been easy for her to simply jump in and throw Patience ad Dianora around. She didn’t do that. She relied on the authority she knew she had earned. I respect that.” Longtree finished his coffee. ”It’s going to be interesting working with her.”
JoAnn stood up. ”You don’t know the half of it. Get her to tell you some of her Grail stories sometime.”
“I intend to. You’re leaving?”
“Got to settle into my quarters and then do a little research on the Hebigon, just in case we go there. You think that’s liable to happen?”
Longtree shrugged. ”Where Starfleet Intelligence is concerned, nothing would surprise me. And also, I thought Commander Mallory would settle in more quickly if there was a familiar face aboard ship.”
“You’re a man of unsuspected levels, Captain Longtree....”
“That’s why I’ve got the Big Chair, Counselor St. John....”
Eve stepped onto the bridge and said crisply, “Report.”
The Ops Officer stood up and answered, “Ship status normal, Commander. We’ll be dropping out of warp in fifteen minutes to begin our search pattern.”
”Fine. The bridge is still yours. Captain Longtree wants to see me. Notify me two minutes before we drop out of warp.”
”Yes, Commander.”
Actually, Eve had no such need of a reminder. Ever since her Replication, she always knew exactly what time it was, right down to the nanosecond, no matter where she was. However, her asking for the time was one of the ways she kept her Replication her business.
JoAnn was just leaving the Ready Room as she walked up. JoAnn winked at her and Eve touched her on the arm gently.
“Everything okay, Jo?”
“Sure. Just making sure the Captain’s got his head on straight. Did you enjoy the fight?”
Eve grimaced. ”If those two ever teamed up, they could probably lay waste to a cadre of Jem’Hadar all by themselves. Are you going to be in your office later?”
“Why? Is everything okay?”
“I’ve got to talk to you. Something’s happened that may change this entire mission profile. And we’ve got to talk in your office.”
JoAnn nodded. Aboard any starship, there were a number of offices and conference rooms that were especially shielded against any and all types of technological or telepathic eavesdropping and the Counselor’s Office was one of these.
“If I’m not there, just commlink me and I’ll meet you there.”
Eve nodded and went on into the Ready Room.
Malarion Mi Marl floated in air three feet above the beige carpet of his quarters aboard the USS Relentless, twenty hours away from his homeworld. The Justicer of The High Lords was in deep meditation, his obsidian eyes staring deep into the depths of a swirling multicolored orb that hung in mid-air before his eyes.
Marl had been attempting to contact Hebigo...however, with the Relentless being in warp space, it was most difficult. Warp space changed most of the normal rules of reality and even the powers of the mind were subject to the peculiar rules warping space operated under.
He dimly heard the doorchime and sighed. Contact with his homeworld would have to wait. Marl reached out a wide grey hand and the orb twisted and flowed and became his staff. Marl gripped it firmly and used it to help him get to his feet. “Come.”
The Ally entered his room and coolly examined the Hebigo High Lord with an expert eye. “You were attempting to contact your homeworld, I gather...”
Marl seated himself, laying his staff across his thighs. “I thought it prudent, since your plan of having the Crazy Horse take us to Hebigo did not come about...there must be changes made...”
The Ally shrugged. “A small change must be made, yes....but the Crazy Horse will go to Hebigo...”
Marl’s obsidian eyes fixed on The Ally with something quite close to hatred. “I cannot understand your fixation with the Crazy Horse! Any Federation starship would do for our purposes!”
The Ally smiled. “The only thing the Crazy Horse has that is important to me is Commander Eve Mallory...we share a bond she is unaware of...she has a potential she does not even know she has.” The Ally’s face took on a satanic cast as he said, “Once I have made my identity known to Eve Mallory, we shall have an alliance that will shake the stars out of their orbits...”
“As long as your plans do not interfere with mine....” Justicer Marl snarled. “Hebigo must be unified under ONE law and ONE rule and that will be mine...”
The Ally smiled and nodded. “Of course, my friend, We all want something and if we remember our plans, we will get them...You want control of a planet and I want control of a galaxy....”
Eve Mallory accepted Captain Longtree’s invitation to join him in a mint julep. Eve was curious as to his choice of that drink.
Longtree chuckled. “I developed a taste for them while studying under Admiral Leonard McCoy at Starfleet Academy. You might say I was one of his prize pupils. He even invited me to his old family estate in Mississippi for a couple of weekends.”
“McCoy from the Enterprise?”
“The same. He always maintained that an old fashioned southern gentleman from Earth should drink mint juleps.” Longtree’s eyes grew wistful. “I loved that old man. The stories he told me...”
Eve sipped on her mint julep. “I met him once,” She said. “When I was interviewing the crew about the V’ger incident.” She smiled as the memories of their meeting came back to her. “He was a character all right. They all were.” She refocused on Longtree.
Longtree nodded. “Don’t think that I didn’t think of that when I asked for you to be my first officer, Eve...may I call you Eve?”
Eve blinked. “Usually it takes some time before a Captain and a First Officer develops a relationship where they can use each other’s first names freely, sir....”
Longtree nodded. “That’s true...but sometimes, and when you get your first command, you’ll run into individuals who you will trust and you don’t know WHY you trust them...you just do...I get that feeling from you, Eve...one day you may feel that way about somebody else....”
“Kirk said that too,” Eve said with a faint smile. “I was curious how two people so diametrically different as he and Spock were could become such good friends.” She paused. “I...”
=/\=Helm to Captain=/\=
Longtree tapped his commbadge. “Captain here. Go.”
=/\=Sir, we’re about to drop out of warp and preliminary scans show a Pakled ship in our search pattern, Should we engage?=/\=
Longtree looked at Mallory. “You’re my Number One...what’s your call?”
Eve sipped on her mint julep again...”Sir, any ships in our search pattern should be questioned and scanned....”
Longtree nodded and tapped his commbadge. “Ops, ask the Pakled ship to stand to for routine ID as per Federation Trade Regulation Standard Procedures. Commander Mallory and I will be taking the bridge shortly.”
Aboard the disguised Platinum Hook, Denys Fotheran had to literally yell at Courtney and Cooper to sit down at their stations.
“Denys, that’s a Galaxy class ship we’re up against!”
“Shut up and drop out of warp.” Fotheran was in the pilot’s seat, punching in co-ordinates. “I’m sending the transponder signal for a Pakled ship. Just do your jobs...”
The Crazy Horse came out of warp and normal space formed around the ship. Longtree and Eve had taken the bridge and Longtree said, “Give me a Level Two Scan of the ship.”
The helmsman came back with: “A Pakled freighter, Captain....standard configuration.”
Longtree crossed his legs. “Visual.” The main viewer came to life and Longtree examined the ship. “Looks okay...let’s give her a standard hail, if you please.”
Eve leaned over and touched Longtree’s arm. “Captain...that Pakled ship is a little larger than a normal freighter...may I advise a Level Five scan?”
Without hesitation, Longtree snapped, “Give me a Level Five Scan...”
The helmsman answered, “Sir, the readings I’m getting indicate that the Pakled ship is just a shell...there’s another ship inside there!”
Longtree snapped, “Red Alert! All hands stand at battle stations! “ He looked at Eve and said, “This is where the fun starts....”