***
written by
Michael Gray
---
My Special Thanks To Joseph Manno
For A Couple Of Very Helpful Suggestions
***
***
Chapter 1 - New Orders
Try to see this as an opportunity.
Try to see this as an opportunity.
Try to see this as an opportunity.
Jack McCall repeated that mantra over and over again in his mind, but the admonition Admiral Fergus Simmons gave him a month ago wasn't helping.
My career is over.
As the endless parade of cargo containers passed overhead on anti-grav units, Jack couldn't help but see them each as one more stone in the wall of the prison Admiral Simmons was constructing for him and the Chamberlain.
His ship.
His prison cell.
Each day that passed of the last month convinced Jack the center seat of an Oceana class starship wasn't a place reserved for Starfleet's finest--- he was certainly proof of that, but a one point two kilometer long weight wrapped around a body that needed disposing of.
Jack certainly had the enemies for that fate.
Opportunity, my ass! After this they'll mothball the ship.
Though Jack saw a worse possibility. Starfleet might decide this mission was exactly what the Oceana class was best at.
I'll resign first.
The thought of ferrying the Starfleet Corps of Engineers around constructing starbases for the rest of his life was not what he had envisioned. But nothing in his life was going as planned these days.
Jack stared blankly at the cargo containers that passed with a momentary flash through the field restraining the atmosphere in the Chamberlain's Main Bay. He let his mind drift further into the darkness it tended to inhabit these days.
Why don't they just shoot me and get it over with?
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to rise out of his troubled thoughts for at least a while. He had an appointment with the ship's Counselor that afternoon and the last thing he needed was to go to the session depressed. That would finish his career.
A shuttlecraft passed through the restraining field and landed fifty feet away from where Jack stood brooding.
Hank Evans walked up to him. "Having fun?"
"Loads," Jack said.
"Loads are what I'm worried about. Do you know what having all of this crud in the ass end of this ship will do to our maneuverability?"
Jack let out a tired laugh. "I doubt we'll have much need of maneuverability, Hank. Simmons told me yesterday, we're to remain at Cajma for the next three months."
Hank rolled his eyes. "What the hell for?"
"To allow the Venture and Captain Gann the freedom to go on real missions."
Hank thought a moment. "Well, I guess I can spend the time running the Security Staff through simulations. They can certainly use it."
Jack grinned. "Have you always seen the bright side of everything or are you getting soft on me?"
"I've had my share of excitement for one life. A few months of calm boredom might do you some good too. Maybe you could spend it fixing your marriage."
Jack frowned. "Mind your own business, Hank."
"No."
"Look, my marriage is my problem. However I chose to deal with it is my call."
"When's the last time you two had sex?"
Jack was not amused. "Now that's really your business isn't it?"
"Well? I'm betting it's at least been since Yed Post Four."
Jack turned back to watching the shuttle that had just landed. Several Corps of Engineers personnel walked out of it carrying large backpacks of personal belongings.
Hank waited for an answer, but Jack wasn't offering any.
"You know Jack, a good night of sex will do wonders for any relationship," Hank said with a smile. "A bottle of wine, a romantic beach scene on the holodeck then before you know it you and Mei are..."
"Watch it, Evans." Jack interrupted.
Hank grinned. "I was going to say, my dear Captain, that before you two know it, you'll be happy and together again."
Jack shook his head. "I don't think it's that simple."
"This can be as simple or as hard as you two want to make it," Hank said.
Jack McCall closed his eyes a moment.
"Trust me, Jack. If you blow this with Mei, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. My guess is you'll never be able to get her back."
"It's probably already too late," Jack replied.
Hank put his hand on Jack's shoulder. "She's still here isn't she? You've got one shot at this. Don't screw it up."
Jack was about to say something when his eyes widened.
"Speaking of screwing things," he said with a wry grin.
Hank turned to see what Jack stared so intently at. Two tall, but bald women walked off the nearby shuttle wearing tight form fitting jumpsuits that other civilian members of the Corps of Engineers wore, but none of them attracted the attention of every male on the deck.
"I'll be damned," Hank said. "I don't remember them being part of the Corps of Engineers."
"I don't remember us asking them much that night," Jack said.
The two Deltan women followed their fellow engineers with an unusual grace toward a waiting turbolift and a Chamberlain officer who would be their guide for the first few hours they were aboard. Deltans were renown throughout the Federation as an extremely sexual species and all Deltans who entered Starfleet still had to take an oath of celibacy not for themselves, but their fellow officers. Humans often suffered damage during intimate contact with Deltans. However, Jack didn't remember his and Hank's night with these two that way at all.
He watched the movement of every muscle in their bodies as they glided to the turbolift. Some of those muscles had done things to Jack he'd never imagined. But he certainly remembered.
"You're married now," Hank said softly.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, but you're not."
Hank raised an eyebrow. "True, but Loftus might not think that matters."
Jack turned to Hank, but was careful to keep his eyes on the Deltan women.
"You two that serious?"
"I don't know, but I'm not willing to piss her off by indulging in something I know might very well kill me. The last time was bad enough."
Jack grinned. "'Bad' isn't the word I'd use."
"You're sixteen years younger than me, boy. There's only so much this ol' body can take before it says 'enough'."
Jack's brow raised. "Don't tell me you're thinking of yourself as old."
"No, but a stable relationship appeals more to me these days than a night of orgasmic delight."
Jack laughed. "Kadan Loftus is only thirty, Hank. You telling me she doesn't send you into orbit?"
"No, but comparing any humanoid female, outside of an Orion animal woman, to a Deltan female, isn't anywhere close to a fair contest and you know it."
"It was some night, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, but it's better I think as a memory--- safer too."
Melissa Vargas walked up to them and the two men tried to pretend they hadn't been gawking at the Deltans, but the smirk on her face told Jack their effort failed.
She handed Jack a PADD. "Commander Purcell wanted you to see this right away, sir."
"Thank you, Commander," Jack replied as he took the device and began reading it.
"Looks like the formal transfer to Gann's Task Group..." Jack started. His voice froze as his gaze focused on a small, near insignificant part of the information. Normally Jack wouldn't have taken note of it. Personnel transferred on and off a ship all the time. And the Chamberlain with a crew of three thousand saw more than most.
But this was different.
He turned to Vargas. "Did you read this?"
Melissa hesitated. "Yes, sir."
"See to it that Commander Purcell notifies those involved," Jack said as he handed the PADD back to Melissa. He had known it was coming for nearly a month. He had even insisted on the transfer of personnel listed, but now that it was here he just wanted to scream.
He looked up and saw the reason he'd come to the Main Bay.
"If the two of you'll excuse me, Mr. Corsica is expecting me to see him off," Jack said as he walked away.
Melissa stood holding the PADD in one hand.
"Mei-Wan's transfer?" Hank asked.
Melissa nodded.
Jack crossed the deck over to Corsica who stood with an eight foot tall, dark blue-skinned female wearing a metallic looking top. Jack pushed his more somber thoughts to the back of his mind as he extended a hand to Corsica.
"Captain McCall, so good of you to see me off," the amiable man said.
"It was a pleasure to have you aboard, Mr. Corsica. I want you to feel welcome to come see us again whenever you like," Jack said.
"Quite kind, Captain. I enjoyed my time on your little ship. However, after getting to know the Kel-j'na I was thinking of taking some time off to relax and gather my thoughts a bit," Corsica said. "You're welcome to join me if you'd like. I could do with a travelling companion."
Jack smiled wide as Hank Evans made his way up to them. "Thank you, Mr. Corsica, but I think I'll stay in Starfleet just a little longer."
"We'd have fun. I know this place you'd really enjoy. The drinks are better than that swill you have and the music! Oh, you wouldn't believe the music!"
Jack shook his head. "Thanks, but perhaps another time."
Corsica thought a moment and then nodded. "Well, suit yourself."
Hank stepped next to Jack as a wide grin formed on the blue face of the Kel-j'na with Corsica.
"Hank Evans, my friend," the high pitched, but soothing voice said.
"Pelosil, it's good to see you once again. How's the family?" Hank asked.
"Quite well, they ask of you often."
Corsica turned to Pelosil. "You know Mr. Evans, Prime Minister?"
"Hank has been a true friend on many occasions to the people of Kel-j'na. We shall be forever in his debt."
Hank smiled. "It was my pleasure to help."
Another Kel-j'na walked out of a nearby shuttle and looked only briefly at Pelosil. The Prime Minister turned to Corsica.
"Our pilot tells me our departure time draws near. We should board."
Corsica nodded and turned to Jack again.
"Goodbye, Captain Jack McCall."
"Mr. Corsica."
The Prime Minister and Corsica boarded the shuttle leaving Jack and Hank alone.
"They telepathic?" Jack asked.
"Some are, but only with their own species," Hank replied.
The two men turned as the shuttle's engines came to life. They walked toward a turbolift.
"So, do you know everyone in this region of space or what?" Jack asked with a grin.
"No, just the right people."
Melissa Vargas remained where Hank Evans had left her several minutes before. She read the PADD again for the tenth time. She had known Mei-Wan would be leaving, but it didn't make it any easier. At least they'd have another two weeks.
Only two weeks.
"You look like someone just kicked your cat," an Irish sounding voice asked her.
Melissa looked up and saw Lee McGuire nearby.
"I usually charge people to come down here and stand in my bay," Lee said with a warm smile.
Melissa shook her head. "I'm sorry, Commander."
"Now, how about we do away with the mention of ranks, Melissa. I think we've been a little closer than that."
She frowned. "That was a mistake."
He leaned toward her. "It didn't feel like it at the time."
She fought the grin coming to her face, but surrendered to it in the end. "No, it didn't."
"I hadn't gotten a chance to tell you how sorry I am about Cynthia Pederson. I know you two were close."
Melissa nodded, the grin gone from her face. "Thanks, Lee."
"Listen," he started. "You were right about this spy business. I guess McCall was too. Seeing that Zachary was tied up with these G'voda I suppose searching through my comm logs wasn't all that out of line."
Melissa shook her head. "No, you were right. I shouldn't have been the one to do it."
"Well, if I'm going to have someone search through my private life, I suppose you're better than some young ensign trying to make points with the captain."
She looked down. "How do you know that's not why I did it?"
"Then I can be glad I helped your career out," he said with a smirk.
She looked up at him sternly. "What's this 'You ever try having sex with a Vulcan?' crack I heard about?"
Lee took a step back, half afraid she might hit him. "You heard about that?"
She grinned. "Yes and something about 'It's not near as much fun as you might think.'"
He looked down at the deck trying to think his way out of this one. Melissa's smile was near bursting into a laugh at the ways she imagined his mind was racing to save him.
Lee looked at her. "I should apologize for that."
"That might be a good start."
"But an apology for such a terrible and loathsome remark can't be one of simple words," Lee said.
Melissa tried her best to frown.
"A worthless piece of space junk like myself should be forced to tend to your every need."
Melissa shook her head. "If you think you can smooth talk me back into bed that quickly, Commander, you're out of your mind."
"Dinner then."
She thought a moment, just to make him suffer a bit longer. But she wanted this, perhaps more than him. She had missed Lee McGuire more than she would have ever imagined.
"Okay, but just dinner."
Lee smiled wide. "Dinner is fine."
She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. "We'll take it a little slower this time."
Melissa turned toward a nearby turbolift. He watched her go.
"I'll come by your quarters at 1900," he said.
***
Ensign Natalie Fowler rambled into Archaeology Lab Four for a meeting she hoped wouldn't take too long. The young ensign had plans for her day that didn't include any of her fellow section mates and most especially didn't include her supervisor, Lieutenant Mei-Wan McCall--- the woman who had shot her career in the head.
She turned to see Mei-Wan leaning against a table holding a PADD.
Probably the new shift assignments, Fowler thought. As long a she could get out of the lab without talking to McCall, her day would be fine.
"Looks like we're all here now," Mei-Wan said.
She tried to make eye contact with Fowler, but the ensign seemed occupied by the whispers between the young Arcturan, Ensign Jalel Nelith, and the brown haired, Ensign Todd Duarte.
Sunita Mahajan jabbed Duarte in the ribs to get his attention. He frowned and ended his conversation.
"We've received new orders," Mei-Wan began.
Fowler frowned. New orders at this point weren't likely to be good news. Since the rest of the ship would be tied up with constructing the starbase at Cajma, there wasn't much for a group of archaeologists to do. She was afraid they'd be sent off to help some museum catalogue its antiquities.
"Upon arriving in the Cajma system the following will transfer to the U.S.S. Venture and report to Executive Officer, Commander K'lremi."
She looked up at her charges. "Lieutenant Mei-Wan McCall, Ensign Natalie Fowler, Ensign Todd Duarte, and Ensign Jalel Nelith. Upon this transfer, Lieutenant j.g. Sunita Mahajan will assume command of the Archaeology Section of the U.S.S. Chamberlain Sciences Department."
The other three turned to the beautiful, dark skinned Mahajan and smiled.
Mei-Wan joined them. "Congratulations, Sunita."
Duarte looked at Mei-Wan. "Excuse me, Lieutenant, but why the hell are we being transferred to the Venture? They run out of archaeologists or something?"
Mei-Wan grinned and continued reading. "After arriving on the Venture, the previously listed officers will depart for the planet Hel'yra where they will join the expedition investigating the artifacts left behind by the Ancient Progenitors."
Fowler's eyes went as wide as they could while Nelith and Duarte turned to each other and cheered, "Yes!"
Fowler turned to Mei-Wan, "But I thought we, you weren't going."
She hesitated only a moment. "A number of things changed. The point is, in four weeks we'll be back on Hel'yra with the crew of the Ravenscroft."
Fowler finally let a smile break out on her face. Duarte and Nelith ran up to her and pulled her into a group hug with them.
Mei-Wan walked up to Sunita. "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with before we leave."
"Your recommendation was already help enough, Lieutenant. Thanks."
Duarte pulled out of the group hug with Fowler and Nelith. "Okay, this requires a celebration. How about we all go find a lounge tonight and drink ourselves silly?"
Nelith smiled. "I'm in."
Fowler grinned. "Me too."
Todd whispered into Fowler's ear. She thought a moment and then nodded.
Sunita turned to them all. "Congratulations, guys. Just do me a favor and clear out all of your personal equipment before you leave, I don't want to start out my section having to clean up after you."
Mei-Wan turned to her. "Oh, and our replacements will arrive at Cajma aboard the Abdiel just before we leave."
Duarte and Nelith walked up to Sunita and each took an arm. "And you're celebrating with us. We can't let all that power go to your head just yet."
She pretended to be angry as the two carried her off through the doors leaving Fowler and Mei-Wan alone. The ensign walked up to her as she stacked containers on the desk.
"Anything I can help with?" Fowler asked.
Mei-Wan smiled and turned to her. "Sure, there's some small crates in the storage room. If you could get them that would be great. I'll need them to pack my collection away." Mei-Wan said as she pointed to the wooden shelves filled with artifacts on the other side of the lab.
Fowler nodded and took a step toward the storage room, but stopped. She turned back to Mei-Wan.
"Lieutenant, I'm really sorry about some of the things I said to you a month or so ago. I was really out of line."
Mei-Wan grinned. "Forget about it. I have."
Fowler nodded. "And thanks for still including Duarte, Nelith, and me on the expedition."
Mei-Wan returned to her packing as Fowler walked away toward the storage room.
