Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/startrek/old-incomplete/donovansenterprise.p1.repost

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From: [e-mail] (Alan Sepinwall)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Donovan's Enterprise: _Spare Parts_, Part I
Date: 16 Dec 1993 20:04:14 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts and Sciences
Lines: 623
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <2eqevu$[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: mail.sas.upenn.edu

Well, I got a few letters so far about the inital installment of
"Donovan's Enterprise" though not as many as I'd hoped (though I realize I
did get a lot of responses in early fall when I first posted the prologue
for advice).  I always need the encouragement, so even if you just want to
say that you read it, I'd appreciate the letter! :-)

Anyway, here's part I of the first story of the series, "Spare Parts." I
realize that certain aspects are derivative, but it's like Shakespeare
said (paraphrasing), "There are only four original plots in this world.
The trick is to vary them."

After this chapter, I'm taking off for Winter Break, but may write and
post another chapter from home.  However, I'll repost everything thus far
in mid-January (when I'm back) for all those who either already left or
are too busy studying (like I should be) to read startrek stories.

Once again, any and all commentary (even negative stuff) is much appreciated.




             Star Trek: Donovan's Enterprise (Beyond TNG)
                                    _Spare Parts_
                               by Alan Sepinwall

CHARACTERS:
Capt. Kate  Donovan
Lt. Cmdr. John Daniels - First Officer
Dr. Steven M'Roko - Ship's Counselor
Lt. Cmdr. Sovek - Chief Engineer
Dr. Felix Runningbear - Chief Medical Officer
Lt. Gaia - Chief of Security
Lt. Mardak - Science/Operations Officer
Ensign Jen Weiss - Helm

CHAPTER ONE

Captain's Log: It's been two weeks since we arrived in the
Gamma Quadrant, and our work at the Kaleb Cluster has
been proceeding smoothly. On a more personal note - I
must confess, I missed doing this sort of thing over the
past few years.  There's probably nothing more thrilling
than exploration.  I sense that the crew feels the same
way - several people from Stellar Cartography have
offered to buy me a drink in Ten-Forward to thank me
for giving them the chance to practice their craft in
person again.

          Kate was busy reading the latest report from
AstroPhysics when the door to her ready room chimed.
"Come on in!" she called.
          Mardak entered, looking sullen.  "You requested
my presence, sir?"
          "Yes, Mardak. Why don't ye come on in and have a
seat?" Mardak sat down. "The reason I asked ye in here
was because I was getting worried that there's some sort
of problem between you and me. Is there?"
          "Captain, I would never seek to undermine....."
          "Oh, by all means, Mr. Mardak! Undermine me! I
have a relatively secure ego. What's your problem with
me?"
          Mardak wasn't exactly sure how to say this - it was
against his customs to say anything negative to a
superior, yet here was his new captain *inviting* him to
criticize her. "Captain, it's just that I feel that you're
under-utilizing me."
          "And how's that, exactly?"
          "I am Chief of Operations, sir, as well as Science
Officer. Shouldn't I be overseeing all of the science teams'
efforts?"
          Kate was afraid something like this would happen.
She very often put a premium on ability over experience
when it came to choosing department heads. Very often it
worked, but Mardak was proving to be somewhat of a
disappointment as a leader. "Mr. Mardak, what you've got
to understand is that as Chief of Operations, I don't expect
you to do everything. In fact, very often I don't expect
you to do *anything*.  Your job in cases like this is
primarily to coordinate. The people in Stellar Cartography
know what they're doing - they've spent most of their
careers doing it. And while you might feel that you're
smarter than them - and you very well may be - that
doesn't mean that you should just take over the
particular job. You have to learn how to delegate. In cases
of first contact or initial survey, I definitely want you in
charge - but in cases such as these, you've got to learn
how to just sit back, watch, and enjoy the ride."
          Mardak still didn't quite understand, but he
nodded in agreement, out of respect for the captain.
"Thank you sir. Will that be all?"
          "For now, yes....."
          Daniels' voice came over the comm system.
"Captain, you'd better get out here. We've intercepted a
distress signal."
          "I'm coming." She and Mardak got up and walked
onto the bridge. "What's happening, John?"
          "Replay the message, Lieutenant."
          Gaia punched it up. "On main viewer, sir."
          The bridge of a ship appeared on the viewscreen.
The inhabitants were human in appearance. There were
several fires going on in the background.  The person
directly addressing Kate was a young male. He looked
very sick.
          "This is the Rhombosian freedom ship Vey'Tahl. I
am Largand. We are on the run from the slavers!  My
people are badly injured and sick! We can't hold on much
longer. Life support is failing! We need help, desperately!
If there's anyone who can receive this transmission,
please acknowledge." The screen went dead, replaced by
the external view of the Kaleb Cluster.
          "Gaia, have you got a fix on their position yet?"
          "I'm working on it, sir. Got it!"
          "Give me a long-range view."  A boxy-looking ship
appeared on the main viewer. It was heavily scarred by
what looked like phaser fire.
          Kate turned to the conn. "Time to intercept, Ensign,
maximum warp?"
          "Four minutes, sir."
          "Lay in a course and engage. Mardak, what do
sensors tell you?"
          The Benzite studied his readouts for a moment
before looking up and saying, "The ship appears to run on
an engine similar to our impulse drive, though not as
refined. They are adrift at the moment, but interference
is keeping me from determining whether the engines are
simply turned off or whether they are damaged."
          Daniels walked over. "In other words, you can't tell
us if we're walking into a trap or not."
          "Noticing parallels to the Kobayashi Maru, John?"
          "A few, captain, but then, I'm generally paranoid."
          "Try to work on that."
          "Will do."
          Gaia's fingers danced across her console, checking
out the tactical scanners. This didn't feel right to her.
"Captain, suggest that we raise shields. Whether he's
paranoid or not, Cmdr. Daniels has a point - this *could*
be a trap."
          Kate always hated decisions like this - should she
be overly cautious and risk offending a new race or play
it friendly and risk getting blown up? However, the
message's mention of a "slaver" attack made the decision
for her. "Okay, Lieutenant. Go to yellow alert and raise
shields."
          The image on the viewscreen grew closer. "Thirty
seconds to intercept, sir," announced Weiss.
          "Gaia, are sensors picking up any other ships in the
area?"
          "Give me a minute....no, nothing - but that doesn't
rule out a cloaked ship."
          "Well, keep a look-out. Trap or not, there's
probably a heavily-armed ship out there somewhere."
          The Enterprise made the subtle shift out of warp
space. Mardak checked his sensors again. "Captain, at this
close range I can tell that their engines are indeed
heavily damaged."
          "Good to know that the first people we meet aren't
liars. Gaia, open a hailing frequency."
          "No response, sir. Looks like....looks like their
communications system is down."
          "Well, it looks like we'll have to greet them in
person. John, prepare an away team."
          Daniels hopped out of his seat. "Got it. Gaia,
Mardak, let's go." He tapped an intercom button. "Dr.
Runningbear, meet me in Transporter Room One - there
look to be some injured people over there."
          "I'm on my way," came Felix's voice over the comm
system.
                            * * * * * *
          The Vey'Tahl was a relatively small ship, and the
sensors showed all of the life-signs concentrated in the
same place. The away team found themselves
transported into what appeared to be the vessel's bridge.
Smoke was everywhere, and the tricorders showed toxic
traces in the air. Fortunately, their bio-fields were
activated at the first sign of trouble.  Everyone aboard
the ship was either unconscious or dead.
          Felix whipped out his tricorder and scanned the
nearest crewmember. "Jesus!"
          "What is it?"
          "Well, if these readings are correct, then this is the
most unhealthy person I've ever seen. Broken bones that
healed wrong, rashes that didn't clear up, cuts that got
infected, various illnesses that haven't been treated, etc.
Don't these people have doctors?"
          "Can you do anything for him?"
          "Let me check on the others first. Why do I have
the feeling that they'll all be like this?" This whole thing
was starting to disturb Felix. His father had told him
stories of how his people had been treated, centuries ago,
when they'd been forced to live on "reservations". His
whole race almost died out due to lack of proper medical
care - not for the big problems, but for simple lack of
treatment of colds, fevers, and other easily curable
problems. As he checked each of these people's readings,
it was the same kind of thing - none of them had a
horrible disease, but it seemed as if they'd never had any
kind of medical treatment in their lives.

                              * * * * * *

          While Dr. Runningbear was checking over the crew,
Daniels and Mardak were busy trying to get the ship's
computer to work so that they could find out who had
attacked the ship and why.
          Mardak was actually quite surprised by the
advanced state of the computer system - there were a
few features that the Federation was years away from
perfecting.  That bothered him - he was uncomfortable
with the idea that there were people who were smarter
than his own.  It was partly a matter of ego, but mainly
just a cultural stigma.
          "Lieutenant, how are we doing?" asked Daniels.
          "Unsure, sir, this system is fairly complex, and the
damaged parts just happen to be the ones I'm least
familiar with."
          "Well, try to get familiar quickly." He wandered
over to Gaia, who was busy trying to put out the
remainder of the fires.  "Keeping things cool, Lieutenant?"
          "Trying my hardest, sir."
          "Commander!" called Felix. "One of them's coming
around!"
          Daniels and Gaia rushed over to where Felix was
kneeling.  His current patient was a young woman,
roughly in her twenties.  She was still only half-conscious
when they got there, but after a minute or so of groaning
and mumbling she opened her eyes.
          John put on his best reassuring smile.  "Are you
okay?"
          At the sight of Daniels, the woman started
screaming, and wouldn't stop.
          "SLAVER! SLAVER!" the woman's screams repeated
over and over. Daniels tried to grab her and calm her
down but the closer he got, the louder she screamed.
          "Ma'am, just calm down! We are not 'slavers' and
we are not here to hurt you." All Daniels' words did was
frighten her further.  Suddenly, she lunged at his throat,
squeezing with both hands.

            * * * * * *

    Daniels did little to resist the woman's assault - he
merely flexed his neck muscles to keep her from
strangling him. He knew he was in no danger: the woman
was too weak to strangle a human, much less him.  He
was content to stand and wait for her to calm down.
    Gaia wasn't.  She had stayed out of the way before.
Sick people made her uncomfortable - too many
memories of life on Orion.  But the minute she saw the
commander come under attack, she was in motion.  She
raced across the deck plates and flung the alien woman
across the compartment, sending her crashing to the
floor.
    The woman was so frantic (Felix guessed that she
was running on her race's equivalent of an adrenaline
surge) that the blow and subsequent fall didn't stop her
in the least. She leapt up again and started to charge
Daniels when she saw Gaia standing in the way. She
stopped dead in her tracks and began to stammer, "But,
but...." Then she passed out again.
    Felix charged over to check her vitals again. "She's
alright, sir. Just a little exhausted."
    "Are you okay, sir? She looked pretty angry." Gaia
put her hand on Daniels' shoulder.
    He removed it. "I'm fine, *lieutenant*."
    "Something wrong, sir?" Gaia was confused. The
commander seemed angry with her, and she had no idea
why.
    "We'll talk later. Felix, how is she?"
    "She's just passed out. Too much energy expended
trying to kill you."
    "Look, I think we should just get everyone back to
the Enterprise. The stench of this place is starting to get
to me. Mardak, how's the computer coming?"
    "I have managed to get most of the essential
systems running, but retrieval of the data files will take
some time. Request permission to remain aboard, sir."
    "I'll do you one better. Daniels to Enterprise."
    The familiar lilt of Capt. Donovan's brogue echoed
through Daniels' head by means of the communicator
implant. "How're things, John?"
    "Well, aside from almost getting strangled, things
are pretty dull around here. We're going to need a tow
into the shuttle bay. Felix has a lot of patients here, and
Mardak needs more time with the computers."
    "Done. We'll have ye aboard in two shakes of a
lambs tail."
    "Excuse me, Captain?"
    "Oh, why do I bother trying to be colorful?"

        * * * * * *

    In all, there were thirty-four people on board the
Vey'Tahl - nineteen dead and fifteen living, and Felix
didn't expect four of those to live through the night.  Nine
hours after everyone was offloaded from the ship and
taken to Sickbay, no one had regained consciousness.
    "You look a little haggard, Felix."
    Felix turned around to see that Counselor M'Roko
had entered the room and sat in his chair without him
even noticing. "You're right, I am tired. I should've been
able to hear you coming from halfway down the
corridor."
    "Why don't you come grab a drink with me in Ten-
Forward?" M'Roko knew how Felix got when he had a
large group of sick people to deal with - he practically
spot-welded himself to the Sickbay floor. It usually took
a superhuman effort to get him to leave. "Have you done
all you can for these people?"
    "And then some." Over the past nine hours, Felix
had reknit nine broken bones, administered treatment
for thirteen different viral infections, and healed up
dozens of deep scars.  He was almost as exhausted as his
patients - whose vital signs showed that they hadn't slept
in days.
    "So they're not going to wake up any faster with
you standing over them like a mother hen. Remember, a
watched pot never boils."
    "What is this godawful obsession you and your wife
have with overused old Earth cliches?" Felix grabbed his
sweater and followed Steven out the door.

            * * * * * *

    "You requested my presence, Lieutenant?"
    "Aye, sir." After nine hours of trying to crack the
computer system aboard the Vey'Tahl, Mardak finally
acknowledged that he needed help and called for Chief
Engineer Sovek.  "This system is quite complex......I cannot
figure out how to retrieve any kind of vital information."
    "Well, I will do what I can to assist you.  Move
aside, please."  Sovek rolled up his uniform sleeves and
went to work on the computer.
    Mardak stood and watched him.  It was unusual to
say the least.  In the past, the few Vulcans that he had
worked with became so focused when working on a
problem that they were nearly oblivious to the outside
world.  But after a minute or two, Sovek began to whistle.
The tune was unfamiliar to Mardak, but as he began to
make progress, the whistling grew louder.  After fifteen
minutes, it built to a crescendo before stopping abruptly.
    "I believe I have mastered the information
retrieval system." He turned to face Mardak.  "How long
were you working on this before you called me?"
    "Over nine hours, sir.  How did you..."
    "You were looking in the wrong place, that's all.
Lieutenant, one thing you will have to learn now that you
are no longer aboard a Benzite ship is that there is
nothing wrong with asking for help.  This might be very
valuable information and you just wasted nine hours
before thinking to call for assistance."
    Mardak was extremely embarrassed.  "I am sorry,
sir. I...."
    "Don't feel the need apologize, lieutenant.  Just
remember what I have told you.  Now, get what you need
and inform the captain.  If any other problems arise, I
will be in main engineering."
    "Yes, sir. Thank you."  Sovek stood up to leave.  "Sir,
may I ask you something?"
    "Yes, lieutenant?"
    "What was that you were whistling?"
    "It was a piece by an Earthling named William
Cyrus, circa the late 20th century.  It is a love song, I
believe.  The captain gave it to me a few years ago.  I find
the tune very catchy."  With that, he walked out, leaving
Mardak to decipher the computer files.

        * * * * * *

    On the bridge, things were fairly quiet. Kate had
ordered Ensign Weiss to begin a sweep of the sector in
hopes of finding the ship that attacked the Vey'Tahl, but
so far the search had come up empty. Finally, as she
decided that she couldn't do anything useful by sitting
around and waiting, she headed into her ready room.  If
she wasn't going to be of any use now, she might as well
relax for a little while.
    She sat down on her couch.  "Computer.  Play
musical selection Donovan 13."  As the strains of Presley's
"I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" came over her,
she tried to picture herself in the green fields of
Ballyebeg, her home in Ireland.  Kate relished the
opportunity to be exploring an entirely new sector of
space, but there was a trade-off: it might very well be
years before she saw Earth again.  She got to return home
rarely enough when she was in the Alpha Quadrant, but
now she would just have to recreate it in her mind until
she got back in a few years.
    Kate's reverie was interrupted by a signal over the
intercom.  "Donovan here."
    "Captain, this is Lieutenant Mardak."
    "How is the computer system coming?"
    "With the help of Commander Sovek, I was able to
access a small amount of data.  Unfortunately, most of the
memory banks were damaged in the assault."
    "Well, meet me in the conference room in ten
minutes and ye can tell the senior staff what ye do have."
    "Aye, sir."
    Kate paged the senior staff and settled back down
on her couch to listen to the end of the song.

        * * * * * *

    The conference room had undergone quite an
overhaul since the Cardassian War, when it had consisted
of a few chairs and a few dozen tactical displays.  When
the Enterprise had been refit prior to this mission, Kate
had specifically asked the engineers to remove as many
of the warlike elements as possible, but there were still a
few screens on one wall with specs on Cardassian
warships and maps on the sector.  But at least Kate had
her old table (which had been removed during the war to
make room for the displays) back.
    The entire senior staff was present, with Kate at the
table's head, Daniels to her right, Sovek to her left, and
Mardak, Gaia, and Felix further down on both sides.
    "Okay, what do we have people?  Mardak, we'll
start with you."
    "Well, Captain, most of the memory fragments I was
able to retrieve from the ship's computer deal with their
mission.  From what I gather, they are some sort of
revolutionary group, though what exactly they are
rebelling against is unclear.  They were rescuing several
of their members from imprisonment when they were
attacked by a "Slaver" ship, whatever that may be.  The
one impression I did get was that their movement has
something to do with religious beliefs."
    Kate sighed.  "Wonderful.  We're dealing with
potential criminals here, and maybe zealots to boot.
Should make First Contact with their species interesting.
Felix, how soon till any of them come around?"
    "I really have no idea, Kate.  These people are all
exhausted beyond belief, and none were in remotely good
physical condition when we found them.  Their bodies are
going to take a while to recuperate before they come
around.  My best guess is at least another few hours,
maybe even a day."
    "Is there any way you can rush somebody along?  I
need to know whether these people really are criminals
before we run into any more of them."
    "I'd prefer not to, but if you think it's necessary, I'll
do it."
    "Captain," Gaia said, "request permission to have a
security team present in sickbay for this. One of them
tried to kill Commander Daniels."
    "Agreed.  And I want ye there too, Lieutenant.
According to your report, she stopped attacking when she
saw you."
    Gaia smiled. "I guess she'd never seen a green
woman before."
    Daniels piped in.  "Sir, I'm not sure this is a good
idea, either from a medical standpoint or a safety one.
When that woman woke up, she was severely maxed out
on adrenaline.  And now that they've all had some rest,
they could do some severe damage if they go nuts again."
    She smiled. "Thanks for caring, Number One, but
that's why I'm bringing a security team.  You're welcome
to come along."
    "I wouldn't miss it."
    "Well, then, we're adjourned.  Gaia, meet me in
Sickbay with a security team in ten minutes. I need time
to send a log buoy back through the wormhole to keep
Starfleet apprised."
    After everyone had left, Kate stared out the
observation window and gazed at the stars.  "Couldn't ye
have given me something easier first time out?"

        * * * * * *

    Fifteen minutes later, Kate, Daniels, Gaia, and four
security officers stood by and watched as Dr.
Runningbear and Dr. Patel prepared a hypospray that
would be strong enough to revive one of the patients -
the one who had sent the distress signal, Largand.  There
was a diagnostic forcefield over his bed so that he would
not be able to do more than sit up.
    "Okay," said Felix, "I think that should do it." He
turned to face the others.  "Now, judging from the
reaction of my last awake patient, he could be jumpy.
Don't you be.  Dr. Patel, administer the hypo."
    Patel injected the spray into Largand's neck.  His
eyes flew open immediately, and his gaze focused on
Felix.  "Who are you?  Where the Nass am I?"
    Felix smiled.  "Just relax.  I'm Dr. Felix Runningbear
and...."
    "'Dr.'?  Get away from me, you pervert!"
    "Pervert?  I've been called a lot of nasty names in
my life, but that's not one of them."
    "I'm surprised, you sick little...." As he spoke, his
gaze moved around the room.  It stopped abruptly when
he saw the Andorian Patel.  "Wait a minute.  You're not
Rhombosian, are you?"
    "No, we're not," said Kate as she moved closer to
him.  "My name is Captain Katherine Donovan of the
Federation starship Enterprise.  We all come from a
quadrant halfway across the galaxy."
    Surprisingly, he took this news in stride.  He looked
up towards the ceiling and said, "Thank you, Rao.  My
prayers have been answered."  He turned back to Kate.
"Captain Katherine Donovan, my name is Largand.  Are
my compatriots well?"
    Felix spoke up. "I'm sorry, Largand, but only fifteen
of you survived, and four of those are in critical
condition.  I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for them."
    Largand took a moment to contemplate this.  "So
that means that you cannot........excellent."
    Kate gave him a look of disbelief.  "Did ye just say
'Excellent?'"
    He chuckled slightly.  "I realize this may be difficult
to comprehend, Captain Katherine Donovan, but the very
fact that your medicine is unable to treat them is a sign
that you will be able to help us and our cause."
    "Would ye care to elaborate on that just a bit?  And
start with why you were on the run from your planet's
authorities.  Your logs seemed to indicate that you had
just staged a jailbreak."
    "Captain Katherine Donovan...."
    "Look, just call me 'Captain' or 'Kate' if ye like."
    "Very well.  The Rhombosians were once a spiritual
and holy people.  But in the past two hundred years, our
culture has turned into complete and utter sacrilege.
What my people are doing now is an abomination to Rao
and to all the laws of nature."
    Kate was definitely beginning to get frustrated.  "I
think I've grasped that part, Largand.  Can we have some
specifics, please?"
    "My people have begun to recreate life artificially
by duplicating the bodies of people."
    Daniels, who had been standing quietly in the
background up to this point, stepped forward.  "You mean cloning?"
    Largand seemed puzzled for a moment as he waited
for the Universal Translator to render the word "cloning."
"Yes, of course.  Two hundred years ago, a Rhombosian
scientist named Tenzil discovered a way to clone our
people.  Originally, it was as a means to assist infertile
people in having children, but it has become incredibly
perverted.  Because of these clones, my people have
turned into degenerates and heretics."
    Kate was about to interrupt his religious rhetoric
again when the voice of Lt. DeSilvan, the Beta watch
commander, piped over the intercom.
    "Captain, sensors are indicating a large vessel
approaching.  Sensors indicate it is of the same origin as
the Vey'Tahl."
    "I'm on my way."  She turned to Largand.  "Those
are probably the authorities coming to take you into
custody."
    Largand's face, which had been full of confidence a
moment ago, dissolved into a mask of sheer panic.  "You
cannot let them, Captain!  My group of followers are not
looked on kindly by the authorities!  You could be
sending us to a death sentence!"
    "I'm not going to send *anyone* to a death sentence without more
information, Largand.  Understand?" He nodded, but he still looked
terrified.  "Good.  John, Gaia, you're with me.  Felix, see what more Mr.
Largand has to tell you."

        * * * * * *

    "Damn, but that's a big ship, John!"
    "I'd have to agree, sir."  The approaching vessel,
which had identified itself as the Rhombosian Defense
vessel Chun'Mot, was at least three times the size of the
Enterprise, and looked more than capable of defending
anything - it was hard to spot something that wasn't a
weapons port.
    "So, Captain," asked Daniels, "what are you going to
tell them?"
    "To tell ye the truth, John, I don't know myself.  I
wish I'd had a chance to hear Largand's whole story."
    Gaia's console chimed.  "Captain, we're being hailed."
    "Put it onscreen." The main viewer changed from
the image of the big ship to that of a squat, muscular,
bearded man.  "Greetings.  This is Colonel Devem of the
Rhombosian Defense Force.  Whom do I have the pleasure
of addressing?" The tone of his voice made it quite clear
that this conversation was going to be anything but
pleasurable.
    "I'm Captain Katherine Donovan of the Federation
starship Enterprise."
    "Federation?" The name sounded like a swear word
coming form his mouth.  Then again, so did his own name.
"We had a Federation ship visit us once, but that was
nearly forty years ago."
    "Really?"  Starfleet didn't have any records of this
planet, but that didn't rule out the possibility of a
commercial vessel.  "Well, we've been away from this
quadrant for a while.  I assume you're here about the
occupants of the ship we towed aboard."
    "Yes."
    Well, thought Kate, so much for letting the informed
party lead.  "What are your intentions, exactly?"
    "My intentions are to return them to the prison
from which they escaped. I want them turned over to me
at once."
    Under her breath, Gaia muttered, "Well, he sure is
charming."
    Kate ignored the comment.  "I'm afraid there may
be some difficulty with that, Colonel.  Largand has
requested asylum for his people."
    "And you're going to give it to him?  That man is
the worst criminal Rhombos has seen in over a century!"
    "I haven't decided yet, Colonel.  What I would like
is the opportunity to visit your planet and see what it is
that Largand and his people are so fired up about."
    Devem smiled.  It was not a pleasant sight -
somewhere between the smile of a hungry Klingon and a
dead Vulcan.  "Of course, Captain!  Once you see the true
beauty of Rhombosian society instead of whatever lies
he's been filling your head with, you'll realize what a
twisted individual he is and turn him over to us."
    Kate wasn't sure if she should trust him -
everything about the man rubbed her the wrong way -
but she had to have more information, and anything
Largand would tell her would be biased in his favor.
"Very well, Colonel.  We'll just follow your lead."
    "Of course.  Devem out."
    The screen flickered and shifted back to a view of
the Chun'Mot.  Kate turned to Daniels.  "Why do I have a
feeling things are about to get very complicated?"
    "Probably because they are, sir."
    "I was afraid you'd say that."

TO BE CONTINUED