"SPLASH ONE BREEN CRUSIER!" Tac shouted as the
Sovereign destroyed a Breen ship.
"Don't get cocky, Tac. Hit the next one." Grasmick
said.
"Captain, this particular ship is rather elusive, and its
shields have more power then ours." Tumok said.
"Tobin, keep us on that ship's behind. Captain to
Enginnering."
"Peterson here."
"Aaron, increase power to phasers."
"I'm on it."
Grasmick was beginning to get annoyed at the two remaining Breen
ships his ship had to fight off alone, "Tac, throw a quantom
torpedo at that SOB."
"Aye sir," Tac's voice then became surprised,
"Captain, there is a Federation assault ship DECLOKING
70 meters under that Breen ship. It is firing its phasers at the
Breen ship we are after."
"Let's help whoever this is. Fire torpedoes." Grasmick
said.
Tumok announced, "Direct hit, from both vessels. The Breen
ship is destroyed."
"What do you make of that assault ship, Tumok?"
Grasmick asked.
"It is the USS Oakland. There is one person
onboard. The ship has markings that suggest it is with
SSOS."
"Oh great, the Starfleet 'Special' Operations Service here
to steal our thunder," Grasmick seemingly made fun of SSOS
when he said special, "Tobin, plot and engage a course to
intercept the remaining Breen ship before the Oakland
does. Tac, get the Tri-Cobalt torps out."
"Oh gee, you must really want to stick your thumb up to your
nose at SSOS."
"That's right, Tac."
Grasmick was dismayed when the Sovereign and the Oakland
got to the retreating Breen ship at the same time.
Tumok announced, "Captain, the Breen ship is firing on the Oakland."
Commander Ryan looked at her computer panel, "The Oakland
is losing life support."
"Bridge to transporter room 2, beam the Oakland's
pilot aboard." Grasmick ordered.
"Aye, sir."
"Alex, go to the transporter room and greet our guest. Oh,
and Tac?"
"Yeah?"
"Two tri-cobalt torpedoes, lock onto the Breen ship
please."
"Ready."
"Fire!"
The torpedoes blew the final Breen ship apart.
"Well that was interesting. Cancel red alert." Grasmick
said.
"Ryan to Grasmick, I think you better get down here."
"Why? Does it concern our guest?"
"Yeah, get down here before she pulls some wacky SSOS
crap on us."
"Can you bring her to my ready room?"
"Let me ask," Alex took a minute to ask the
'guest,' "She is willing to make the trip up there,
skipper."
"Very well, have her meat me in my ready room,"
Grasmick closed the comm line, "Tumok, the bridge is
yours." Grasmick then went into his ready room.
Grasmick was looking down at the PADD he had in is hand when the
doorbell chirped.
"Enter," he said as the SSOS operative walked in a
stood in front of his desk, Grasmick was still looking at the
PADD, "This is interesting, the Federation and the Romulans
have signed an agreement allowing Starfleet to equip certain
ships with cloaking devices."
The SSOS operative said, "Why is that surprising?"
Grasmick nearly slipped out of his chair when he heared a
familiar voice, he was nearly shocked when he saw her face.
"Teahon!" Grasmick jumped out of his chair and greeted
his old friend.
"Surprised to see me as much as I am surprised to see
you?"
"Damn strait! What are you doing out here anyway,
Melissa?"
"That's classified. Come on, let's catch up a little. I bet
you didn't even know I was in Starfleet."
"Oh, I knew. I found out when I looked searched for
information on you in the Starfleet database, just after you,
your sister, and RJ left after our little trip to the Delta
Quadrant. The file said you were in Starfleet, but your
assignment was classified."
"Yeah, we were working on some extreme high-end INTEL
missions at that time. What else did your search find out about
me?"
"You graduated from Starfleet ROTC at the University of
Nebraska, but most surprisingly, Jean-Luc Picard REQUESTED you be
assigned to the Enterprise after you graduated, but you
turned that down. Even I didn't get that kind of request. Hell, I
didn't get assigned to the Enterprise until about a year
after I was promoted to Lieutenant j.g."
"You'll be glad to know I've never outranked you, Brandon,
and I probably never will. I've seen your sevice record. About a
month after you were transfered to the Enterprise, Data
was 'kidnapped' by his brother. They left you in charge of
engineering when Picard discovered the major Borg involvement.
The Enterprise fought off a funky Borg ship, you did
your job extremely well in engineering, and you earned a
promotion to Lieutenant for you trouble."
"WRONG, Melissa! I was promoted to Lieutenant BEFORE I was
assigned to the Big E. I was there untill a year or so later when
the Enterprise was destroyed at Veridian III. I was
thrown into a bulkhead when the saucer impacted on the
surface."
"Ouch. Anyway, I chose special ops for the heck of it. That,
and the fact that a few of my college friends did, too. Look at
me, I'm just a Lt. Commander, but look at you Crazy Boy, a
Captain in charge of the prototype starship of what is looking to
be one of Starfleet's most successful ship designs. For that
matter, why does the Sovereign still have NX as its
registry number prefix? The class is in full production, with,
what, 4 other ship currently active?"
"There are 6 other Sovereign-class starships in
service. Anyway, they were going to change the prefix to NCC, but
I requested that they didn't. It gives my first ship command
character."
"I see. It must be nice having two high-up admirals, as well
as Captain Picard, as friends."
"I know Vice-Admiral Wilson because his son, who happens to
be my chief of security and tactical officer, has been my friend
since pre-school. And Admiral Bennett, well, that goes back a
long way."
"How far back?"
"My Dad was still in the Starfleet Reserve."
"Oh yeah, your Dad was the guy who flew a New Orleans-class
in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant."
"Yup. Now, don't you think I owe you a tour of my
ship?"
"So how are things on the Avalon?" Commander
Ryan asked her sister.
"Fine, I guess," Ensign Kimberly Ryan said,
"Although with the whole Breen thing now, we are staying
close to DS5 incase the make a fool-hearted attempt to attack our
brother's space station."
"Have you heard from Mike lately?"
"Well DUH! Didn't you hear me tell you where we will be
on station? Where do you think we are docked at now?"
"Enough, Kim. I outrank you."
"Grrrrr. Have you heard anything about what is going on
in the Omega Triagalon sector?"
"Only that it is vulnerable to Dominion attack. Why?
"I heard a rumor that the Dominion already has a secret
base or something there, some kind of spacedock for its ships for
when they sweep through that area of space. I thought you might
know something because your captain is a friend of a 5-star
admiral."
"There are always rumors floating around in wartime, Kimmie,
you know that as much as I do, but if it will make you feel
better, I'll ask Captain Grasmick about it."
"Thanks, sis. End transmission."
Alex wondered if there might actually be truth to this rumor. She
deceided she had better ask the Captain.
"And this is Shuttlebay 2." Grasmick said as he was
finishing giving Teahon the tour.
"Who's Danube-class?"
"Mine."
"Starfleet or civillian version?"
"Civillian, first one that roled off the assembly lines at
the San Fran yards. I've made a lot of special modifications
myself."
"Such as?"
"Well, don't tell anyone, but I've gotten the thing up to
Warp 9.65."
"What? How did you do that?"
"If you would have accepted posting on the Enterprise,
you would know."
"Do you want to command a Defiant-class for us as
SSOS?"
"NO! Absolutely not! I'll stay in Starfleet proper, thank
you," Grasmick then noticed Commander Ryan walking into the
shuttlebay, "Hey, Alex. What's up? Talk you your
sister?"
"Yeah, and she heard a rumor she wanted me to ask you about.
Do you know anything about what is going on in Omega
Triagalon?"
"No I...." Grasmick stuttered as he noticed shock in
Teahon's face, "I don't know anything. Let me guess, Kim
thinks because I know Bennett that I know a little of everything
that is going on in the Federation."
"Something like that, Brando. I'm going to go take batting
practice on the holodeck. Those new baseball programs of yours
are addictive.
"See ya later, Alex."
Grasmick took Teahon into his runabout, "Computer, enable
all security systems, authorization Grasmick
Four-Seven-Charlie-Alpha."
"Security systems engaged."
"That will prevent anyone from listening in on us, Melissa.
I've been in the command sector for a long time. One of the
things they teach us at command school is how to know when
something is wrong with a member of your crew by looking at their
face. Now, what is going on in Omega Triagalon?"
"That's...that's classified."
"Bull. You just as well tell me, otherwise it is just one
subspace call away from me when I ask Bennett."
"I still can't tell you without killing you."
"You'd need a phaser for that, because you and I know that
the special hand-to-hand stuff they teach you SSOS clowns won't
work on me, I'm much bigger then you, AND I've fought off Borg
hand-to-hand."
"Wilson to Grasmick, incomming message for you from
Command."
"I'll take it here in my runabout, Tac." It took a
minute for Tac to route the message to the Gary.
"How can I help you, Admiral?" Admiral Ric, a Bolian,
was calling.
"I have an important job that needs to be done, and 'ol
Bob Bennett says you are the guy to talk to. An SSOS INTEL
mission to Omega Triagalon discovered a massive Dominion
spacedock there. Scans indicated it was un-occupied, but it is
believed they will use it as a foward base in an attack of the
area where the Rigel system is located."
"Why would they risk building such a massive facility in
Federation space?"
"We don't know. SSOS chief, Admiral Fugisaki, wants an
SSOS operative by the name of Teahon to cordinate with you in the
destruction of the damn thing."
Grasmick stared at Teahon for a second, "Well, it seems she
is already here with us."
"So I see. Try not to need 'help' from SSOS. I've heard
you are capable of destroying a Borg cube with your barehands if
the situation would present it self. Ric out."
"I see Starfleet proper still doesn't completely trust us
SSOS people." Teahon said.
"Can you blame us, Melissa? I know people who were hurt in
the little blunder a couple of years ago."
"SSOS wasn't involved, you know that as much as I do."
"You forget, I know Bennett."
"Don't use that against me."
"Don't start an arguement with me, friend."
"I just don't get it, why would they build it there, where
we could discover it. It IS in our space." Commander
Peterson asked after Grasmick briefed the senior staff.
"Neither do I, Aaron. The Dominion hasn't always proven to
be the most senseable organization."
Tac spoke next, "I'll tell you what I don't believe!
Fugisaki and the whole SSOS just thinks they can order us around
and...."
"Tac," Grasmick tried to stop Tac.
"They just come rolling on in, trying to take
credit...."
"Tac,"
"Just who the hell do they think they are that they..."
"TAC!"
"Yeah?"
"Enough. We have orders to coordinate with my good friend
Melissa here, weather we like it or not, weather we do or don't
know that we can do I better job then SSOS."
"Wait a damn minute here." Teahon said.
"Yes, let's wait a minute here. Mo, keep your medical teams
on full alert. There is a high chance that we will be seeing some
combat here."
"I'll have them and a chill pill for you standing by."
Teahon interrupted, "Wait, we won't see combat. I know they
guy that went into Omega Triagalon, there was NO SIGN OF LIFE on
the dock, nor were there ships nearby."
Grasmick was damn near furious that Teahon interrupted him,
"Well, didn't you ever stop to think that the report might
be wrong, or that the Jemmies might have moved back in? Alright
everyone, you know what we need to do, so keep your departments
on their toes. Dismissed. NOT you Melissa. I'm not done talking
to you yet."
Grasmick waited until everyone else left the observation lounge.
"Melissa, I've known you for a long time, and I respect the
job you people at SSOS do, but for crying out loud, I've seen the
report. That INTEL mission was run over a week ago. I KNOW
something has changed since then."
"Now how do you just KNOW these things?"
"Because the Dominion doesn't abandon a highly strategic
outpost for long, and certainly not one in our territory.
Grasmick to bridge."
"Ryan here."
"Set course for Omega Triagalon, maximum warp."
"Aye, sir."
"Anything you want to ask me Melissa?"
"Have you ever considered running for President of the
Federation?"
"I did, actually, for about three seconds."
"And?"
"AND I want to stay in Starfleet, maybe even stay in command
of this ship for the next thirty-some years, or more if whoever
my superior is will let me."
"I still think you should come and work with us at
SSOS."
"What? And command one of those new black-ops Defiant's?
No, I think that the Big Sov will do just fine."
Grasmick and Teahon then went on telling stories of their
Starfleet carreers.
"Captain we are approaching Omega Triagalon." Tobin
announced.
"Slow to impulse, take us to where the dock is,"
Grasmick ordered, "Teahon, where should we drop our
torps?"
"The thing is so big, I bet we could fly into these set of
open doors, drop a few torps inside, and get the hell out of
there." Teahon said as she was going over a schematic.
Tac got agitated again, "Are you nuts? That will get us
blown to pieces!"
"Except I like the idea, Tac." Grasmick said.
Tac changed his view, "Then it will work."
"Tobin, take us in..." Tac interrupted Grasmick.
"Hold it, my God, 30 bugships are on an intercept
course."
"I think you know what buttons to push now, Tac." After
Grasmick said that, the red alert alarms came on, and the shields
went up.
"Tobin, head for those open doors, evade those ships if you
can. Tac, throw Tri-Cobalt torps at the ones that don't want to
move out of our way." Grasmick ordered.
The Sovereign headed for the open doors.
"TAC!"
"I'm on it! I'm on it!"
A large Jem'Hadar crusier was blocking the door, but it wouldn't
for long.
"Splash, what, 9?"
"I lost count too, Tac. Tobin, ease us in."
"That is what I plan on doing, Brando."
The Sovereign flew on in, and Tac fired the torpedoes. They
turned around and flew on out, the dock exploding around her.
"EMONY!"
"I'm pushing these engines as hard as you can! And only you
and I know how hard that is. Need I bring out the Valley
Forge?"
"No, just drive the damn Sovereign, thank
you."
The Sovereign cleared the doors. "Warp 9! Get us
out of here!" Grasmick ordered.
The Sovereign flew off, and the dock exploded.
"Melissa, there is one thing I don't get."
"What would that be, Brandon?"
"You lose a ship for SSOS, and we were gracious enough to
beam you aboard before it blew up, and then SSOS gives you a
runabout to go back to your secret base or where ever you people
go."
"I'm going home."
"Then you are lucky. I need to go help win the war, on the
FRONT LINES."
"Why are you so critical of SSOS?"
"I knew people who were killed in that little blunder. I
don't blame SSOS operatives personally. Besides, if you want, I
can get you transfered out of SSOS and onto a ship if you
want."
"Such as, the Sovereign?"
"If you wanted to, sure. Tac is short a few officers in his
department, I'm sure he'd love to have you in there, and here on
the Big Sov for that matter."
"I have a few loose ends to tie up. After the war,
perhaps?"
"Sure."
A few minutes later, Teahon left the Sovereign on her
runabout, and Grasmick and the Big Sov went about their business,
but Grasmick knew that Teahon was up to something.