"Medium Of Exchange"
written by
Michael Gray
“I will get right to the point, Captain,” Admiral Sanol stated, not thirty seconds after his surprise arrival in Jack McCall's ready room aboard the USS Chamberlain. “We have undeniable evidence the antimatter processing station in the Goranidra system has been replicating gold-pressed latinum.”
The full implications of the admiral's statement began to flower into reality within Jack's mind. “Latinum? But that's not possible.”
Sanol gave a short nod. “Which is why we waited until we had confirmation.”
“Do the Ferengi know about this?”
“Not yet, but given the amount of gold-pressed latinum we've tracked leaving the Goranidran processing station, it won't take long for them to determine the truth even with their understandable denial of the possibility.” Sanol raised an eyebrow. “The result of course will be chaos... or worse.”
Jack fell into the chair behind his desk. He did his best to file the shock of this announcement to the back of his mind. “I assume you're telling me this because you intend to send Chamberlain on a mission to deal with it.”
Jack would have expected a smile, but Sanol was Vulcan.
“Yes,” Sanol acknowledged. “You are to take the Chamberlain to the Goranidra system and destroy the processing station.”
This was a bigger shock for Jack than the news about latinum. “But Admiral, that would be a clear act of war.”
“Given the Chamberlain's abilities, I'm sure you can provide a creative means of destruction which would be difficult to trace back to Starfleet.”
“That's not the point, Starfleet doesn't...”
“Captain, this is an unusual situation, one which, given their use of gold-pressed latinum as a currency, will likely destroy the entire Ferengi economy. We estimate there is a seventy-three percent chance this will result in a war which no one can afford.”
Jack didn't like being placed between two equally bad options. However, that was part of the job.
“You're leaving the specific means to my discretion?” Jack asked.
“Yes. Your orders, which will never appear in any official record or log, are simply stated as, 'You are to bring to an end the unusual replication taking place on the processing station.'” Sanol's eyes narrowed. “But do not misunderstand my intentions, Captain. That station is to be dust by the time you are finished with it.”
“And those aboard the station?”
“They have been using the replicated latinum to make purchases from the Ferengi and others for at least six months. They could not have set down this path without an understanding of the risks. Besides, if not us, the Ferengi would likely choose the station as their first target in a war.”
With that, Sanol turned and walked out of the room, leaving Jack to once again question his decision to return to the center seat of a starship.
***
Jack's self questioning didn't get any better an hour later at a meeting of his senior staff.
“I don't like it,” Chamberlain's XO, Kadan Loftus stated. “I find it hard to believe anyone has figured out how to replicate latinum. There's got to be another reason Starfleet Intelligence wants the facility shut down.”
Jack turned to their new tactical officer, Todd Nakano. “What can you tell us about the Goranidra station?”
A holographic display of a rough sphere appeared in the middle of the large table.
“It's five kilometers in diameter and primarily functions as an antimatter production facility used by various travelers in the region. Throughout its fifty year history it has remained neutral no matter the conflict, even the Dominon War.”
“Doesn't sound like a bunch who'd be big on upending the status quo,” Melissa Vargas said.
Jack caught a glance directed his way from her. He'd be sure to hear more later once they were behind the doors of their quarters.
The dark haired Nakano continued, “The station's population of roughly one million stays fairly stable with a third of that number working the processing facility. The rest are support staff and a small number of merchants running shops and other businesses.”
Jack did his best not to show surprise. “One million?”
Nakano gave a nod.
This was a fact Admiral Sanol had conveniently forgotten to mention earlier. And given how Jack felt about it now, he knew why.
“Can we disable the station without harming the inhabitants?” Jack asked.
Nakano shook his head. “There'd be casualties no matter how you did it. An attack on a facility like this runs the risk of rupturing antimatter containment. That happens... boom.”
Loftus turned to Jack. “Why do I suspect that's exactly what Starfleet Intelligence wants?”
“It doesn't leave witnesses for one thing,” Kristen Bishop said, looking up and down the table. “We aren't going to do this are we?”
“Our orders are to stop the station from replicating latinum,” Jack said. “But there was mention of leaving nothing but dust.”
Melissa turned to him, seemingly unable to hold back. “And did you tell them to go to hell?”
“I wasn't aware of the population of the station at the time,” Jack said. “I think that was intentional.”
“Captain,” the previously silent Dr. Taylor Preston finally said. “We're being asked to commit mass murder. I for one would do anything in my power to prevent that.”
“As would I, Doctor,” Jack said. “Look, I have no intention of vaporizing the station. We need other options.”
“But if we do nothing, the value of gold-pressed latinum will tumble, and in a horrible way,” Nakano said. “It'll wreck a dozen trading relationships across the quadrant, not to mention the Ferengi aren't likely to just sit by as their entire economy collapses.”
“So far, it appears no one has noticed the extra latinum on the market, but you're right, eventually it will have an effect,” Jack said.
“What if we got them to stop replicating it?” Loftus asked. “They have to understand the Ferengi will eventually figure it out and the response won't be a good thing for their station.”
“They may think they can get away with it,” Kyle Hoffman said. “It seems their antimatter production has been down by half for the last eighteen months. If they've been producing latinum all that time, they may feel safe especially given their history of neutrality.”
They were just spinning their wheels at this point. Jack needed real plans.
“We'll set course for the Goranidra system,” Jack said. “Before we arrive, I want more options.”
“And if Starfleet gives us a direct order to destroy the station?” Loftus asked.
Jack frowned. “Then we'll see how far we're all willing to go to uphold those ideals we swore an oath to.”
***
“Which admiral gave this order?” Melissa demanded with the stern look Jack had learned meant she wanted nothing but the full truth.
He turned to the replicator in their quarters, staring at the device, unwilling to make a selection.
“Sanol.”
“The head of Starfleet Intel?”
Jack nodded.
“You think he's got authorization from the President?”
“Given the current political turmoil in the Council, I don't know.” Jack turned to her. “I'm sure Sanol could produce it if asked.”
“This is insane, Jack. Expose him.”
Jack chuckled. “He'd just claim he never issued the order.”
“Then what the hell are we doing following it?”
“Because if we don't we'll all be up on charges of disobeying an order.”
“One that he'd claim he never issued?” Melissa asked with a grin.
“Something like that.” Jack turned back to the replicator. “I've used one of these hundreds of times, never thinking it could end up being such a menace.”
She leaned against him. “It's not the technology, just the people twisting it to evil ends.”
“Yeah,” he murmured. “Tell that to those likely to lose their lives in this mess.”
“Chicken sandwich,” Melissa told the computer.
A moment later her sandwich appeared in the alcove.
“Well, I'm going to eat.”
Jack watched her walk the food over to the small table they ate at most evenings. Without getting anything for himself, he joined her.
“You do know what exposing someone like Admiral Sanol would do, don't you?”
“Save a million lives,” Melissa said before taking a bite from her sandwich.
“I'd probably have to resign.”
She stopped, her eyes wide. “No, you'd fight them.”
“That might end up being more literal than you think,” Jack said, folding his arms. “I doubt Sanol is doing this on his own.”
“But once he's exposed, they'll run back to the shadows again.”
“I think this is bigger than the usual behind the scenes machinations within Starfleet,” Jack said. “If the Ferengi find out about this...”
“War,” Melissa said, setting her sandwich on its plate.
“Unless we can convince them we've made sure it won't happen again.”
Melissa reached across the table, motioning for his hand. “You'll figure it out,” she said with a smile.
Jack put his hand in hers. “I wish I had your confidence.”
“You found a way back from the nineteenth century,” Melissa said with a grin. “Who else has done that?”
“That seems so easy by comparison.”
Melissa held his hand tight. “You asked your officers for more options.”
He nodded.
“But it's not for them to find those options,” Melissa said. “They're looking to you to lead them. They're scared about what they've been told to do on this mission. I saw it in their eyes. They need their captain to find the way out of this.”
Jack looked down at his hand in hers. “I don't know if I can do that.”
“Jack...”
He glanced into her eyes.
“I believe in you,” she said. “And so do most of the rest of this crew. We trust you to do the right thing. Now do it.”
“That's easier said...”
She interrupted, “You're a good man. A good man wouldn't follow Sanol's order.” Melissa returned to her sandwich. “You'll figure this out when you stop moaning about the impossible position you've been placed in, and instead focus on what's the right thing to do, regardless of your orders.”
Jack took a long breath, and thought.
The calm Melissa now showed, the certainty he saw in her eyes, gave him an idea.
“I've got work to do,” he said, standing.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Go make things right.”
Jack headed for the door.
***
The Chamberlain dropped out of warp in the Goranidra system. In a tight orbit about the system's blue star was an object which didn't appear much more than a dirty metal ball, hanging in space.
But Jack knew this small station held the fate of his part of the galaxy in its grasp.
The Ferengi had been obsessed with economics for centuries. No one knew what they'd do if that were taken from them.
“We are entering a standard orbit around the station, Captain,” Zaylie Burton said from the conn station.
“Station control is signaling,” Melissa stated at the operations post.
“Open a channel,” Jack said.
A smiling, pale skinned humanoid appeared on the viewscreen.
“Well, an Oceana class starship... this is quite a surprise,” the male on the screen said. “I am Supervisor Lartac. To what do we owe the joy of your arrival?”
“I am Captain Jack McCall. I need to speak to you concerning a threat to your station, Supervisor.”
Lartac's smile didn't waver. “I highly doubt there is such a threat, but I am always willing to hear any concerns the Federation might have. Please come by my office whenever you like, Captain McCall. Joy to you all.”
The screen switched back to a view of space.
“So, what next?” Loftus asked.
“Now we find out how good my diplomatic skills are.”
Melissa took a long breath. “Uh...”
Jack smiled on his way to the turbolift.
***
“Latinum?” Lartac asked from the chair he occupied behind the large silver desk.
“Yes,” Jack said. “There are rumors you are replicating gold-pressed latinum here.”
Lartac's smile faded at that.
“I assume there's something to the rumors.”
“Latinum cannot be replicated, Captain.”
“Not through conventional means, but you draw a lot of energy out of that star, don't you?”
Lartac sighed. “I suppose there's not much point to denying it any longer. If you didn't have proof, you wouldn't be here, would you?”
“As I was saying before,” Jack began. “If the Ferengi discover this, they will certainly...”
“The rest of the quadrant will not allow the Ferengi to harm this station,” Supervisor Lartac said. “We're too necessary to all of you.”
“Perhaps, but don't you think it prudent to evacuate as a precaution?”
“No.” He smiled. “If we abandon the station, what would prevent even you from destroying it?”
“Then stop your production of latinum.”
Lartac shook his head. “Do you know what a necessary man does, Captain?”
“No. What does he do?”
“Anything he wishes.”
Jack was aghast at the total lack of concern in this man's eyes.
“We will continue our latinum production and we will drain the Ferengi until they can be drained no further.”
“Necessary or not, you can't just steal from the Ferengi like this and hope to get away with it!”
“We have been doing so for nearly a year. Yes, they will howl and scream about what we've done, but when confronted with the choice to allow our production to continue, or having us release the technology to the galaxy, the Ferengi will no doubt see the economic sense in leaving us alone.”
“You're insane if you think that will restrain them.”
“Oh, I know it won't. I'm certain the Ferengi will find someone to unleash their wrath upon.” His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps your Federation.”
That was it for Jack.
“I have been ordered to destroy this place,” Jack said. “You have twenty four hours to evacuate. After that, my ship will turn its weapons upon your station.”
Lartac stared at him for several moments. “You're bluffing.”
“No, I was ordered here to stop you. Specifically, I was told to turn this station into dust.”
Lartac shook his head. “You won't do it. The Federation would never follow through with such a threat.”
“Of course I won't.” Jack stood. “But the next captain ordered here might not be so enlightened in his thinking.”
“But you will protect us, won't you?”
“Are you requesting our assistance?” Jack asked.
Lartac paused, watching Jack closely.
“No,” he said. “Not at this time.”
“Then we will leave.”
Lartac jumped to his feet. “Now, Captain... no reason to leave so soon. I imagine your crew would like the opportunity to enjoy what our station has to offer.”
“Shore leave?”
“Of course,” Lartac said. “We welcome all here.”
“I don't know if that's such a good idea,” Jack said, shaking his head. Jack could see Lartac was playing for time. But Jack had gotten what he wanted--- access.
“Please,” Lartac pleaded. “Consider it a formal invitation.”
“If you put it that way, I suppose I can't turn you down.”
Lartac smiled as Jack left the office.
Now things were moving. It remained to be seen if they were moving the way Jack wanted.
***
“That was... do you think that was a wise thing to do, sir?”
Jack grinned at Loftus' quick turn of an insult into a question. “I think the truth is usually the last thing someone expects in a situation like this.”
“But how does this help us?” Melissa asked from the other side of the conference table.
Jack slid a PADD across the table. “That is my order approving shore leave.”
“Shore leave? Are you serious, sir?” Nakano asked, catching the PADD.
“Lartac knows I will in fact remain to protect his station, or rather the people on it,” Jack said. “I imagine about now, he's calling the other powers in the quadrant, and in those discussions he's going to have to provide some sort of explanation as to why his station is in trouble.”
Nakano smiled. “Not going to be easy for him to keep it hidden for very long.”
“No,” Jack said. “But then we're not here to make things easy for him.”
“But shore leave will diminish our ability to go to alert,” Loftus said. “If you're right, the Romulans, the Klingons, and who knows who else are going to be on their way here.”
“I certainly hope so,” Jack said. “I figure a meeting will be in order when everyone arrives.”
“What are you up to?” Melissa asked.
Eyes around the table turned to her.
But Jack let it pass. “Admiral Sanol wanted the station destroyed without news of the problem getting out. With Lartac's call for help, that won't be possible.”
Nods around the table.
“Besides,” Jack said with a grin. “Taking shore leave will allow certain members of this crew to investigate the station, perhaps even discover where they're replicating the latinum.”
“I could do with a bit of leave, sir,” Nakano offered.
“Me too,” Kristen Bishop said.
Melissa turned to Bishop. “Do they have any clothing shops?”
“I believe so.”
Jack smiled. “Try not to make it too obvious, but in addition to the production facility, find out exactly where they're storing the replicated latinum. Perhaps we can put it to good use.”
***
Jack sat on the bridge, watching the station eclipse the system's star for the fourth time. To say he was bored was an understatement. Only three other people inhabited the bridge, and they would soon be released from their duties with the coming shift change.
Jack had insisted Loftus take shore leave without thinking it would leave him as the only one to mind the store. In any other shore leave situation, he'd have let the conn officer get a taste of command, allowing Jack to work on reports in his ready room.
But this was far from an ordinary situation.
Ensign Anders stood from the conn station. “Can I get you anything from the lounge, sir?”
Jack shook his head. “No thank you, John. I'll get something later.”
Anders nodded as his relief entered the bridge.
Zaylie Burton made her way to the conn panel. “Anything interesting?” she asked.
“There was a solar flare a couple of hours ago,” Anders replied.
“Sorry I missed it,” she said with a frown as she sat down.
“There's an asteroid coming this way in three hours,” Anders said. “It'll actually pass within a million kilometers of our position.”
“I can hardly wait.”
Jack finally realized they were both being sarcastic.
God, am I really becoming that gullible? he asked himself.
After Anders left via the turbolift, Jack stood and walked over to Zaylie.
“Did you go down to the station?” Jack asked.
“Uh...” Zaylie seemed flustered. “What, sir?”
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn't mean to distract you.”
“My apologies, sir. I was configuring the controls.”
Jack grinned. “You have your own setup?”
She nodded. “The standard configuration isn't very friendly.”
“I'm going to my quarters for fifteen minutes,” Jack said. “I was going to pick up something to eat. You want anything?”
Again, Zaylie seemed nervous. “Uh, no, sir. I'm fine.”
Jack turned to her. “Is there a problem, Ensign?”
“Sir?” she asked, looking up at him, but failing to meet his eyes.
“You and I seemed to be pretty much at ease around each other, but over the last couple of weeks, you seem to either avoid me, or...”
“Really?” she asked. “I hadn't noticed.” She returned to her controls.
“I just wanted to make sure I hadn't offended you in some way.”
“Oh no, nothing like that, Captain.”
Jack decided to let it pass.
He had enjoyed his interactions with Ensign Burton. Her curiosity and quick mind indicated she'd rise rapidly in Starfleet. But ever since they'd had dinner together in the Deck Seven Lounge, she'd grown increasingly distant.
“Very well,” Jack said. “You have the bridge until I return, Ensign.”
Zaylie's eyes came alive at that.
“Thank you, sir!”
Jack was two steps from the turbolift when the alarm sounded.
“Romulan vessel decloaking!” Zaylie reported. “One five seven mark thirty-three!”
Jack spun about, taking position five feet in front of his command chair.
“Have they armed weapons?” Jack asked.
“Negative, sir,” Zaylie said, her fingers dancing across her conn panel. “They are maintaining position.”
Harold Milbank at the operations station looked at Jack.
“Sir, they are hailing us.”
“On screen,” Jack ordered.
The starfield was replaced by a sultry Romulan woman with dark hair.
“Commander Nari Vanth here on authority of the Romulan People's Council. We are responding to a distress call from the station administrator.”
“Captain Jack McCall,” he said, pausing a moment. “There is a threat to the station, Commander, but I suggest we discuss it in person as the matter is a sensitive one.”
“Most important matters are, Captain,” Vanth said with a smile. “May I come aboard your vessel?”
Jack hadn't expected that.
But then the Romulans had gone through a lot of changes recently.
“I would invite you to my ship,” Vanth said. “But I know how distrustful you of the Federation are toward my people.”
“Perhaps you can return the courtesy another time, Commander. I would be honored to have you come aboard the Chamberlain.”
Zanth nodded, and a moment later her signal ended.
“You have the bridge, Ensign Burton,” Jack said, this time heading to the turbolift with much more purpose.
***
Jack watched the Romulan shuttle come to a rest inside Bay Two. He was a little surprised by the Romulans' insistence that their commander come aboard by shuttle, but Jack wasn't in the mood to argue it with them.
Vanth glided out of the shuttle, quickly making her way to Jack.
“Captain McCall.”
“Commander,” Jack said. “If you would accompany me to the conference room, we can...”
“I am starved,” she said with a smile. “Is there any chance we might discuss the matter over dinner?”
Jack couldn't help grinning. “You are full of surprises, Commander.”
“From what I've read, so are you, Jack McCall.”
***
“The more interesting question is who is behind this.” Vanth said, sipping her wine.
“You don't think the Goranidrans came up with this on their own?” Jack asked.
“No. Producing antimatter is relatively simple, and they have been doing that for more than a century. No one in this part of the galaxy has been able to replicate latinum. Are we really to believe a group of one million technologically stunted Goranidrans accomplished this miracle on their own?”
“You think someone is out to ruin the Ferengi?”
“Perhaps. But it also could be the Ferengi who are behind it.” Vanth stated, setting her wine glass on the table.
“How would this help them?”
“Assume for a moment they came across this technology either on their own or through some third party. They would likely replicate gold-pressed latinum as fast as they could, but would know eventually the secret would get out. How better than to have the Goranidrans take the blame while the Ferengi spent perhaps years profiting from their replicated latinum.”
“Hmmm... The Ferengi never struck me as that inventive.” Jack said.
“Agreed, but if they found the technology somewhere else, they would use it.”
“Yes. I can't imagine them not using it.”
She smiled. “Of course, there are numerous worlds which would benefit by the collapse of the Ferengi... Your Federation and we Romulans included.”
“The ramifications of a Ferengi economic collapse is what concerns the Federation. It could plunge us into war.”
“Yes, very likely.” Vanth said, frowning. “Though the wider implications trouble me too.”
“Which ones in particular were you thinking of?” Jack asked.
“First, this appears to put a final end to the concepts of value and wealth. No currency can stand when someone can with the push of a button devalue it in mere seconds.”
Jack nodded. She's not the typical Romulan.
“But when I think of Karsal's masterpiece, the Nelrosa, which has been revered for two thousand years, it saddens me to think someone with this technology might make a million perfect copies of it.”
“What's important, the physical object, or the art?”
Nari smiled at Jack. “Are you a romantic, Captain?”
“Depends on who you ask,” he said leaning toward her.
Jack expected her to continue along the same line of banter, but she surprised him by sitting up in her chair.
Playful, isn't she? But careful.
“Don't you find it odd that at a time when we Romulans are still dealing with the aftermath of our... recent government problems, and your Federation President is mired in multiple scandals, that someone is seeking to destabilize the Ferengi economic system?”
Jack nodded. “It does seem a strange coincidence, doesn't it?”
She smiled. “The question is, who would benefit from such events.”
“And who would be capable of coordinating them?” Jack asked.
“And what will it mean to both the Federation and the Romulans if this spreads.”
“Unless we can contain the problem here.” Jack said.
“What did you have in mind, Captain?” she asked with a grin.
“I thought perhaps an inventive human, and a creative Romulan might come up with something.”
Her smile widened. “I imagine you and I might achieve a number of things together, Captain.”
“Please... Jack.” he said, offering his glass.
She gave a nod as she raised her glass. “Nari.”
Jack touched his glass to hers.
***
The tractor beam released its charge to the deck as Sub Commander Telph Khell watched his commander's shuttle return to their ship. He could finally relax.
Nari Vanth strolled up to him. “You see, Telph. Back safe.”
“It was still an unnecessary risk, especially given two Klingon vessels and three Bajoran light cruisers have arrived.”
“You have become quite the worrier lately, haven't you?” She stopped and turned to him. “I have made an important connection with Jack McCall. Was it not our mission to build alliances?”
“Is this a part of our mission, or something personal?”
Vanth stepped closer to him, emphasizing her taller frame over his, but Khell stood his ground. He knew of the rumors of her sexual conquests. In his mind, it was duty which compelled him to ask.
She smiled as she leaned ever closer to him. “And if it is personal?”
Khell knew he couldn't win this confrontation... not yet. “My concern is that you were aware of the difference.”
“Of course.” Her smile widened. “Prepare a team to transport to the station. Full scans of everything.”
“To what end?”
“Indulge me,” She said, her nose almost touching his. “Or, consider it an order.”
***
Todd Nakano peered through the window of the jewelry shop, frowning at the memories the rings in the window brought up, painful events he'd just as soon forget... if he could.
“You okay?” Melissa asked, tapping him on the shoulder.
Nakano spun about. “Yeah, just browsing.”
He joined her and Kadan Loftus as they did their best to appear as tourists, strolling through the half mile wide and hundred foot tall corridor lined with shops and restaurants.
“Notice the power conduits in the ceiling?” Nakano asked both women.
They glanced up.
“Yes,” Kadan said. “What about them?”
“Overly large just to provide power for all these stores, don't you think?” he said.
Melissa Vargas looked again at the structures in the ceiling. “You think they have something to do with the replicating facility?”
“They don't fit with the rest of the ceiling structures. Seem to me they've been added recently.”
“Which they'd have to do if they set up a new processing section,” Kadan said with a smile.
Kadan's comm badge chirped. She tapped it.
“Kadan here.”
“Bishop,” the female voice said over the badge. “There's a new set of power collectors on your side of the station.”
“We seem to have found the power conduits leading from them.”
“Sounds promising,” Bishop replied. “About five hundred feet from your location there's a section of the station with a lot of shielding.”
Nakano smiled. “More than promising.”
“Send me coordinates,” Kadan said.
***
Nari Vanth sat on the bridge of her vessel, bored out of her mind.
This was not what I had in mind after I met Jack McCall, she thought, grinning at the possibilities which had drifted through her mind during their meal together.
He'll be a new notch in my belt soon enough, she assured herself.
Sub Commander Khell walked over to her. “We have received a message from the Chamberlain.”
Vanth sat up in her chair, unable to fight back the hope McCall wanted to meet again. “Yes?”
“They have asked us to cloak our vessel.”
She smiled. “Interesting.”
“Your orders?” Khell asked.
“Do as McCall has requested,” she said, standing. “Let us see if he is as cunning as I hope he is.”
“Commander, I do not like taking orders from...”
She cut him off. “From me?”
“That's not what I...”
“But that is the order you have been given.”
He nodded. “Yes, Commander.”
This was unusual even for Khell's standard passive aggressive snarkiness. Something was going on with him.
Too bad, she thought. He seemed like he might have a future aboard this ship.
***
Kyle Hoffman sat at the large desk in his office, going over reports from the Science Department. He was a little irritated the Captain hadn't asked him to join the other officers investigating the station. Given his scientific knowledge he was the perfect candidate for the mission. But McCall obviously still held a grudge over that business with Mei-Wan.
Kyle shuddered. He wasn't proud of his past behavior. He wished that everyone else could learn to trust him now.
His comm screen went blank.
Kyle tapped it, hoping it would activate again. He didn't want to have to redo all the work he'd just put in.
Then a simple line of text appeared on the screen.
HELLO, KYLE HOFFMAN.
It was his Orion contact.
He typed a response. “What do you want?”
INFORMATION.
“What kind of information,” he typed in reply.
HAS THE STATION BEEN DESTROYED?
“No,” he typed.
A long pause made him wonder if they were done.
WE MAY ASK A FAVOR OF YOU LATER. “NO” WILL NOT BE AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER.
With a flash, his reports filled the screen once again.
“What the hell is this about?” Kyle murmured to himself.
***
Todd Nakano kept watch as Melissa Vargas and Kadan Loftus did their best to force open a maintenance panel they'd found off the main corridor.
“You two need to hurry,” Nakano pressed.
Both women turned to him with frowns.
“Uh... sirs,” he added.
Loftus and Melissa chuckled.
“Much better,” Melissa said.
“I've almost got it,” Loftus said as she gave the panel a yank.
Metal gave way with a groan and the panel came loose.
Melissa took over, giving the exposed circuitry a quick glance. “I think this one.”
She jammed the corner of her comm badge into the circuit.
A nearby security door opened.
The three Chamberlain officers quickly passed through the open portal into a narrow passageway.
“Shouldn't we secure the panel and door again?” Nakano asked.
“We might need a quick escape,” Loftus replied. “But if you want to go back...”
“No, I'm with you.”
Five minutes and two secured doors later, they entered a large chamber filled with smoke and noise. Loftus peered over the five foot tall energy amplification unit they were hiding behind.
“What do you see?” Melissa whispered.
“Two large platforms, each about two meters square,” Loftus said. “They're wheeling a metal cart onto the first one. It's loaded with gold-pressed latinum.”
“What's on the second platform?” Melissa asked.
“Nothing.”
Nakano chimed in. “Are they wearing protective suits?”
“Yes.”
Melissa turned to him. “Why?”
“Whatever process they're using probably releases a variety of nasty particles.”
“We should leave,” Melissa said.
“We're safe behind this,” Nakano said. “But that particle release might give us a means to determine when something is a copy made by these people.”
Loftus turned to them. “A signature?”
“Maybe,” Nakano said. “Unless they have a way to eliminate it post replication.”
A loud whine filled the room.
Loftus returned her gaze to the two platforms. “They're starting it up.”
“You better get down,” Nakano said.
Flashes of light spilled over the unit they were hiding behind, brighter than the brightest sunlight.
Then the noise subsided and Loftus looked again. “They did it. An exact copy, cart and all.”
“We need a sample,” Melissa said.
“Too dangerous,” Nakano said. “They'll catch us.”
“We'll have to risk it,” Melissa replied.
“They're walking over to some control panel,” Loftus said. “I'll try to grab a few pieces of gold-pressed latinum.”
Loftus left them, and Melissa took her comm badge off her jacket.
“What are you doing?”
She attached the badge to the energy amplification unit. “Just in case.”
“In case of what?”
Before Melissa could answer, shouts filled the chamber.
They both looked up and saw Loftus running back, dropping pieces of gold-pressed latinum like a thief running out of a casino dropping poker chips. Five men in contamination suits chased her.
“Go!” she yelled.
The three of them bolted past the first secure door.
“We should seal the door!” Nakano said as they ran.
“No time!” Loftus said, handing pieces of latinum to Melissa and Nakano. “When we get out, take off in separate directions and get back to the ship!”
They approached the second secure door to find six station guards pointing weapons at them.
The three Chamberlain officers slid to a stop, but Melissa ran into Nakano and tumbled to the floor, her handfuls of gold-pressed latinum scattering in front of her.
Nakano helped her up as the men approached. “Now what?” he asked.
Loftus raised her arms as the guards ran to them. “We figure out how to explain this.”
“Good luck with that.”
***
“I find this completely indefensible, Captain!”
“As do I, Mr. Supervisor,” Jack said.
Lartac pounded his fist on the desk. “Your officers tried to steal our property!”
Jack smiled. “Don't you mean your replicated property?”
Lartac shook his head. “I thought Starfleet had better officers than that.”
“I do share your concern over the theft, Supervisor,” Jack said, holding back a smile. “But obviously after hearing about the replicated latinum, they thought they'd grab some for themselves, probably thinking you'd never press charges as that would require you to acknowledge what you're doing here.” Jack let that sink in.
Lartac sat at his desk. “Obviously.”
“As it is, you caught them and retrieved their ill gotten gain,” Jack said. “If you would turn them over to me, I will see to it they are punished for this.”
Lartac lifted his brow. “Then you do intend to punish them?”
“Most certainly.”
***
“And I'll place a commendation in each of your records for this little mission,” Jack said as he walked with Loftus and Nakano toward sickbay.
“Thank you, sir,” Nakano said. “But we failed. We didn't get any of the latinum.”
“And,” Loftus added. “While we might be able to reconstruct where we were, we can't be sure due to the passageways we had to go through.”
Jack smiled. “Oh, I don't think that'll be a problem.”
They entered sickbay and walked over to Melissa resting on the bed in the center of the operating room.
“How is she, doctor?”
Doctor Taylor Preston turned to them with a smile on his face. In his hand he held a small transparent container which held...
“Gold-pressed latinum!” Nakano shouted.
“But how?” Loftus asked a now smiling Melissa.
“They'd caught us and I knew we needed it,” she said. “So while I was on the deck, I swallowed it.”
“And fortunately Lartac was so angry he didn't think to scan any of you internally,” Preston said. He handed the container to Loftus who gave it to Nakano.
“Mr. Nakano, get this to Hoffman, have him scan it for that signature you suggested,” Loftus said.
“Aye, sir!” Nakano said with a smile. A moment later, he left sickbay.
“But what about the replication facility?” Loftus asked.
Melissa smiled. “I left my comm badge on that unit we were hiding behind.”
“Good thinking,” Loftus said.
“But terrible thinking if we'd had to locate you,” Jack said. “Fortunately Lartac wanted to rub my face in the incident instead of tossing the three of you out an airlock.”
Both women smiled.
“She ready to go back to work, Doctor?” Jack asked, pointing at Melissa.
Preston touched a hypo to Melissa's neck and activated it. “That'll eliminate any worry about latinum poisoning, but yes. She can return to duty.”
“What not even a day off?”
“I'll owe you,” Jack said.
***
Five minutes later, Jack stood in Science Lab Four, wearing a frown.
“What happened?”
Hoffman took a long breath which appeared to calm his nervousness. “It evaporated.”
“How could it do that?” Loftus asked.
“Evidently there is more to the replication process than you saw,” Hoffman said. He pointed to the transparent one foot diameter chamber on the lab table. “It's all still in there, but it's a fog of quarks. Something similar to what happens in a transporter malfunction when the pattern isn't stabilized.”
“So there's more to the facility then?” Jack asked.
“There could be two, three, even ten more steps beyond replication. Given what we used to believe about latinum, we shouldn't be too surprised.”
“Damn,” Jack said.
“No wonder Lartac didn't bother to search us,” Loftus said, frowning. “He knew it wouldn't matter if we had any of it.”
“And now that he canceled all shore leave for the Chamberlain, we have no way to go back,” Jack said.
“So, time for plan B?” Loftus asked.
***
Jack was on the couch, staring at the wall of his and Melissa's quarters. An hour ago, he thought he'd made some progress. Now, his frustration was rising with each moment. His plan hadn't worked out and there seemed few other options available.
Things were so much simpler in the nineteenth century. Nothing of galactic importance to worry about.
Melissa walked out of the bedroom wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She joined him on the couch.
“It's only a temporary setback.”
Jack shook his head. “If you're trying to make me feel better, it's not working.”
“We still have the comm badge,” Melissa said.
“Which tells us where the equipment for the first step in the process is. We have no idea about the rest of it.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Take a night off. Come to bed.”
“I've accomplished nothing here.”
“What was the rest of your plan?”
“Does it matter?” he said more than asked.
“Tell me.”
Jack knew it was pointless to fight her on this. “Once we had the signature, I was going to demand Lartac stop all production of the replicated gold-pressed latinum or I'd release the signature to the Ferengi.”
“And if he didn't comply?”
“Take out the chamber you tagged with your comm badge.”
She sat up and looked at Jack. “Then do it.”
“But he'll know I'm bluffing.”
“Will he?”
Jack thought a moment, then turned to Melissa. “I need something to back this up, to give it at least the appearance of being true.”
Melissa smiled. “You do have a science officer, don't you?”
***
“I don't know of any way...”
“Not in reality,” Melissa said. “But enough to pull off a short term deception.”
“How short?” Kyle Hoffman asked.
“We have to get them to power down their replicator systems,” Jack replied.
“At least twenty minutes,” Todd Nakano added. “We'll need enough time to locate the change in power usage.”
Kyle nodded. “And from that difference, locate the replication equipment.”
“Exactly,” Jack said. He walked up to Hoffman. “I know you and I have had our differences, Mr. Hoffman.”
“Mostly my fault, sir.”
“Only mostly?” Jack asked, a grin on his face.
Hoffman smiled. “Well...”
“But I need you to be more than I've asked you to be before.”
After a few seconds, “Yes, sir. I'll have something for you in an hour.”
Jack looked at his other officers. “All right... let's get out of here and let the man work.” Jack headed toward the door to Science Lab Four. “See you in an hour, Mr. Hoffman.”
After they had left, Kyle Hoffman looked about the lab, thinking.
But a flashing screen took his attention away from the task at hand. On it were the words:
STANDBY FOR NEW MESSAGE...
***
Forty-five minutes later, Kyle Hoffman passed a small golden chip down the conference room table to Jack.
“It does look like the sample retrieved from Melissa,” Jack said, grinning as he examined the object.
“They can scan it and it will read as gold-pressed latinum,” Hoffman said, causing raised eyebrows around the table.
“How did you accomplish that minor miracle?” Kristy Bishop asked with narrowed eyes.
“I placed a five atom thick intelligent resin between the gold, which is real by the way, and the false latinum.” Hoffman smiled. “Of course, if they take it apart, they'll know, but it should get you the time you need.”
“Is there any other way for them to tell?” Melissa asked.
Hoffman thought a moment. “If they use a standard replicator it will replicate. But given what they're up to, I doubt they'd consider testing it that way.”
“Using a fake of a fake,” Doctor Preston said with a grin. “I like the symmetry.”
Jack flipped the thin strip over with his fingers. “I guess it's showtime.”
***
Jack stood in front of Lartac's desk and tossed the fake gold-pressed latinum through the air to the station supervisor.
“Impossible!” Lartac cried as he examined the shinny object.
“Most of the other samples my officers brought back evaporated in a quark fog, but fortunately, this one didn't,” Jack said, using his best poker face. “And as a result, we have determined this replicated latinum has a unique quantum signature which can be used to identify any of your forgeries.” He placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward. “It's over, Lartac.”
“And I take it you intend to give that signature to the Ferengi?”
“It solves all my problems,” Jack said. “The Ferengi will thank us, especially once we agree to keep it confidential, and it prevents you from upending their economy.”
“But causes severe problems for this station,” Lartac grumbled.
“Which you brought on yourselves.”
“I guess we did,” Lartac chuckled. “You don't mind me verifying this is indeed real, do you, Captain?”
“Not at all. But given you should be able to do that in about ten minutes, I want your facility here shut down in twenty.”
Lartac nodded. “Of course.”
Jack turned to leave.
“You do know we will eventually solve the signature flaw.”
Jack stopped at the door. “Perhaps, but now we know to watch you.”
Lartac laughed. “I think you'll find that more difficult than you might imagine.”
***
Jack looked through the report on the PADD in his hand, a listing of engineering component efficiency.
He let the device fall to his ready room desk.
“And now back to this crap?” he murmured to himself.
Melissa entered with a smile. “You could give yourself a few hours to enjoy your win.”
“The pile of reports would just be larger by tomorrow,” Jack said, picking the PADD up again. “What did the Romulans say?”
“Commander Vanth said her vessel will remain cloaked and follow the replication equipment to its next destination,” Melissa said, sitting on the corner of Jack's desk. “She indicated it would likely encounter some sort of mishap on the way.”
“I expected no less of a Romulan,” Jack said with a grin.
“Is that why you changed your mind about destroying it?”
Jack nodded. “This way we discover where another of their bases is.”
Melissa cast an odd glance Jack's way. “Commander Vanth also said to inform you she hoped to have a chance in the future to join you in other... covert activities.”
Jack looked up and saw the frown on Melissa's face.
“Any idea what she meant?”
Jack's gaze returned to the PADD. “She seems to enjoy intrigue.”
“Uh huh. Right.”
“Really, that's...
“Captain!” came a yell from the entrance.
Both Melissa and Jack looked up to see Hoffman running into Jack's ready room. “Captain, you have to warn them!”
“What the hell are you bothering me for, Hoffman?”
“Contact the other ships! There is an officer aboard each who will try to disable their ship so several Ferengi vessels on their way here can fly in and destroy the station!”
“In case you didn't notice, the crisis is over.”
“The Orions contacted me, wanting me to do the same here. When they finish with the station, the Ferengi will destroy our ships as well!”
“The Orions? What the hell do they have to do with this?” Jack rose out of his chair. “You're not drunk, are you?”
“Sir, I just received the order. The others are on the move now.”
“Since when do you receive orders from the Orions?” Melissa asked with narrowed eyes.
Hoffman had finally caught his breath. “It's... work for Starfleet Intel.”
“The same Starfleet Intel that sent us here in the first place?!” Melissa demanded.
“We can sort that out later,” Jack said, reaching for the comm panel on his desk. “Commander Vanth, this is Jack McCall. Please come in.”
He waited for a reply.
“You better be right about this, Hoffman.”
The comm crackled to life. “Nari Vanth here, Captain.”
“We have a problem,” Jack said.
***
Outside main engineering sub-conduit one, Sub Commander Khell looked about the corridor until he was satisfied no one lingered about. He touched a control and the hatch opened.
Just as he pulled out a long tool and brought it to the circuitry inside, a voice spoke into his ear.
“Did you think a traitor could actually disable my ship, Khell?”
He hesitated for a moment, trying to come up with some explanation which might give him a few more minutes of life, but nothing came to him.
He turned to face Commander Vanth and a team of ten heavily armed guards. “My family was to be rewarded with power and position in the new order.”
Vanth smiled. “And now they will have neither.”
“Perhaps not today,” Khell said, defiantly. “But one day.”
“That is a day you will never see,” Vanth said, pressing the end of her gun against his temple.
***
Jack stood on the bridge, watching the Klingon and Bajoran ships in orbit about the station. So far, none of them had begun to drift off course.
“Confirmation from Commander Vanth,” Melissa said from her ops station. “They stopped their saboteur before he could act.”
“So we're six for six,” Jack said. “Now, to stop the Ferengi.”
“They still haven't powered up weapons,” Nakano said from tactical. “But their shields are up.”
“Probably worried about all of us,” Ensign Burton chimed in from the conn station.
“How much were the Ferengi told by the Orions, Mr. Hoffman?” Jack asked his science officer.
“I have no idea, sir,” Hoffman said while briefly turning from scans at the science station. “The plan was to enrage the Ferengi into attacking the station and us.”
“Leaving the Orions to remain neutral with both sides in the resulting war,” Nakano said, frowning. “Nice for them.”
“Time till the Ferengi are within firing range?” Jack asked.
“Five minutes,” Nakano answered.
“Hail them,” Jack ordered.
After a few seconds, the large eared Ferengi commander filled the viewscreen. “Out of our way, human! We intend to strike!”
“For what reason?” Jack asked, stalling for time as he tried to think of a way out of this.
“Some Orion animals refused our payment in latinum one day ago, claiming it was replicated! Since we had received it from this station in payment for special items one week earlier, we knew where to train our weapons!”
“You know about the tradition of protection this station has enjoyed for decades,” Jack said. “What profit can there be in a battle you cannot hope to win?”
“Our entire fleet is on its way here,” the Ferengi, now calmer, said. “The ship that deals the fatal blow will be paid a century's wages!”
“What value can that have when a war your people cannot win ravages your fleet and your world?”
The Ferengi hesitated.
Jack took the opportunity he'd created. “But imagine the profit to the commander who brings the replication of latinum to an end?”
The Ferengi thought a moment, then smiled. “But I would need assurances that I, and only I, had the technology used to accomplish this horror. Destroying the station is the one sure way.”
Jack looked at Nakano. “Do we still have coordinates for all the station replication equipment?”
“Aye, sir,” Nakano answered.
Jack turned back to the viewscreen. “You can pick them up once you have arrived.”
“Not enough, human.”
Jack had a few more chips left to bet. “The station Supervisor, all of his staff, and all of the scientists who worked on the project will be turned over to you, as well as all equipment used in the replication of the latinum.”
“But what is to stop this station from once again being used in this way, human?”
Jack knew he had it... just a few last details to close the sale. “The Federation, Klingons, and Romulans will now administrate the station. And we invite the Ferengi to place as many observers here as you wish, all expenses paid by the Federation.”
“All?”
Jack hesitated. “Yes, even entertainment expenses.”
The Ferengi smiled wide. “We accept.”
The viewscreen flickered back to a view of the station.
Jack turned to Melissa who was smiling wide.
“Well done!” Zaylie Burton blurted out.
Everyone else on the bridge turned to her.
Burton shook her head. “Sorry, sir.”
“Take us to yellow alert until we know the Ferengi haven't changed their minds, Commander Kadan,” Jack said on his way to his command chair.
“Yellow alert, aye,” Loftus said with a grin.
***
“You violated my order!” the Vulcan on the comm said.
“Damn right I did,” Jack proclaimed with more than a little pride. “However, only the spirit. The letter is still being observed.”
“You are hereby relieved of your command.”
“No I'm not.”
“What?!” Even Sanol's Vulcan lack of emotion couldn't protect him from the shock of complete disobedience.
“You don't have the moral authority to do so.”
“I do have the legal authority,” Sanol countered, his reserve back in place.
“I won't step down... I believe that's a court-martial offense, isn't Admiral?” Jack asked, leaning forward in his seat toward the comm panel on his ready room desk.
“Indeed it is.”
“Good. I look forward to explaining why I refused to follow your order to murder a million people.”
Sanol took a long breath. But before he could get a word out...
“And don't bother issuing me any other orders... sir. My suggestion to you would be to resign.”
“How dare...”
“How dare you expect me to kill a million people?!”
“A million is a small price to pay for the billions if not trillions who will now suffer as a result of your inaction,” Sanol said.
“You are a monster, and after this mission, I will make it my primary duty to see to it you never wear that uniform again.”
The screen went black as coal.
“That solves that problem,” Jack murmured to himself. “At least for now.”
***
Jack stood in Supervisor Lartac's now empty office. The Ferengi had stripped it bare, taking even the silver desk with them, three hours earlier. And like some big game hunter from centuries ago, the Ferengi had left with their prize, shouting their conquest to everyone with a communication device back on their homeworld.
Let them have their moment, Jack thought. Eventually this replication problem would rise again. Now that the knowledge of its possibility existed, other scientists would attempt it. Jack just hoped he wouldn't be around to see the resulting consequences.
Jack heard the door open. He smiled as he turned. He knew the Romulan Commander would have something more to say. And what better place than in Lartac's office?
But it wasn't Nari Vanth who stood, silhouetted in light from the outer office.
“Lartac?” Jack asked, barely able to get the words out. He'd personally watched as the station supervisor, in shackles, had been turned over to the Ferengi.
“Surprised, Captain?”
“But how?” Jack asked.
“Come now, a man of your abilities should be able to figure it out.”
Jack's mind raced. He'd watched the Ferengi leave. There was no way they would have allowed Lartac to escape.
There was only one answer. But it made Jack sick to consider it.
“Perhaps I can help,” came a voice from behind Lartac.
The new arrival stepped into the office.
“No,” Jack murmured, frightened by what this meant for the world he knew.
The new man looked exactly the same as the first. And then a third joined them.
Lartac One smiled. “Did you think latinum was the only thing we were replicating here?”
Lartac Two walked up to the first. “We immediately turned this technological breakthrough to more exciting possibilities.”
And the third, “Of course, we realize there are some who might object to this particular use, but I find it quite fascinating. Oh, the discussions I've had with myself, and...” He grinned wide. “Other activities I never imagined.”
The three Lartac's laughed in unison.
“Once the people of the Federation find out...” Jack began.
“And who will tell them? You?” Lartac Two asked. “I think not. You will likely receive instruction ordering this whole incident classified.”
“There are some secrets which need to be told, regardless of what Starfleet says, or what personal consequences I might face,” Jack said, still reeling from the revelation standing in triplicate before him.
“But think of it, Captain. A fighting force which is of one mind, yet still individual, going up against the Borg.” Lartac One turned to his copies. “And consider the immortality aspect. My pattern can be saved and replicated decades, even centuries later.”
“But you... the real you will be gone.”
“Will I?” Lartac One smiled. “There are ways to transfer consciousness from one body to another.”
“I viewed what you were doing with latinum as only an economic problem, one which could eventually be sorted out, but this... this is wrong.” Jack suddenly wondered if this was the real reason Sanol had wanted the station vaporized. Why didn't he say something?!
“Consider the greater good,” Lartac Two said. “We can end death. Isn't that worth whatever wrong you perceive?”
“No,” Jack said. “Evil can never be excused. You'll make people as replaceable as chairs.”
“Go ahead and announce this to the people of the galaxy then,” Lartac Three said. “I think their desire for immortality will only encourage what we have done here. Of course you'll also have to explain to the Ferengi how their economy is still at risk.”
Jack's mind began to recover. “You planned all of this... this crisis was your doing.”
“We knew eventually the Ferengi would find out, so we planned a dramatic exit off the galactic stage, one in which they saw the coming doom of their economy, but leaving them no clear target upon which to take out their anger. We only needed someone to bring this to a head. You just came a little earlier than we had expected.”
“But if the Ferengi interrogate the people you turned over to them, they'll learn what happened.” Jack asked.
Lartac looked at his watch. “In about two hours, along with the equipment, those people will evaporate into a quark fog.”
“You purposely made unstable copies of people?! That's murder!”
“You have no idea what it is like to be replicated, Captain. The concept of personhood is transformed completely from your limited sense of the idea.”
“But those people...” Jack wanted to throw up.
“They knew what was being asked of them even before they were replicated.” Lartac looked at his copies. “I thought about it long and hard before I was replicated again for this mission. And I went willingly.”
“But that Lartac... he didn't have a choice,” Jack said.
“His choice was my choice.”
“We'll stop this madness!” Jack barked, despite having no idea how. “You'll never get off this station!”
“The original Lartac, the scientists, and all the equipment left a day before you arrived, Captain McCall.”
Jack finally realized his mind wasn't comprehending all the possibilities. “Then you...”
“I am merely another copy of a man you have never met.”
* * *
Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2012 Michael Gray