Title: "Plausible Deniability" (Part 11 of 12)
Author: Major Johnny Chee
Stardate: 2461184
Earthdate: March 8, 2384
Location: Portanus V

"Personal Journal of Major Johnny Chee, SFMC: Day 553. Late last night it started raining. It's been raining continuously ever since. Ugly weather in which to fight a war.

"Not long after King Zdeev's accession speech, a bright blue-white beam impacted in the general direction of the crater. This was, of course, seen as an auspicious sign from the Unknown to finish driving away the demons.
So we began mobilizing almost immediately afterward.

"The trenches are manned, and I feel sorry for the poor bastards who are getting flooded out as we speak. Our forward units are reporting contact with the enemy; shots have been exchanged and apparently we're carrying
the day. A main force of 10,000 T'rais awaits us, however. These first units may be forward observers. Once the weather clears I'll order our planes up to see where the enemy encampment is so we can commence shelling it. Without clear weather, however, the artillery is going to have a damned tough time.

"Based on reports from runners (I wish we'd gotten that radio set to work!) the enemy lies to our north about ten kilometers from the city limits. They are armed with copies of our bolt-action rifles they somehow managed to
obtain. Fortunately our heavier weapons, like the mortars and rockets and Gatling guns, have remained out of their hands, but the T'rais are smart. There's no reason why they don't have these things on their own already.

"Waratz and I decided to hold the enemy as far away from the city as possible. Since Portanus V lacks proper riding mounts (their main domesticated animal is a large, dumb six-legged brute that looks like a purple yak) we have no way to mount cavalry to harass the enemy. What I wouldn't give for a few horses or camels or even the glap'ta from Xenon III right now. Or better yet, a tank or two! But riding beasts saw fit not to evolve here, and our one try at building a tank proved extremely unreliable and likely to get whoever drove it killed faster than the enemy could manage. The Portanans, I've learned, evolved from sentient toads millions of years ago and as such don't mind the wet weather terribly. I, on the other hand, am a child of the desert. They can keep this rain, thank you!

"But it is what we have, so we march ever on."
 ______________________________________

The front has advanced another four leagues," Waratz told Johnny. "The forward enemy line is disintegrating; if we keep pushing we can have contact with the main force by nightfall!"

"Excellent! If this weather lets up we can soften them up with the artillery!"

"And those new pieces of yours will make them really soft!" Waratz exclaimed, laughing. "Suppose the weather doesn't let up? We'll have to go in with rifles and bayonets, just like the old days!" That the old days were
less than a year ago had no impact on Waratz. Everything pre-Johnny was "the old days" these days.

Outside, amid the pouring rain, the snap of rifle fire could be heard, occasionally punctuated by bursts from Gatling guns. This was an infantry fight, for sure. With such poor visibility mortars and field pieces were worse than useless: the probability of a round landing behind one's own lines was extremely high. Lately, though, the sounds had abated. "We'll need to move our command post forward. Otherwise the runners won't get here in
time. Besides, I like to be able to see more of what's going on," Johnny told Waratz.

"Agreed. Orderlies!"

Within moments the tent containing the command post for the Armies of Flor was disassembled and packed on the backs of an eight-man squad. Johnny and Waratz donned helmets, drew their pistols, and moved forward.

Around him the sounds of the dead and dying on both sides could be heard, the purple blood of Portanans mingling with the deep red blood of the T'rais. Johnny looked upon the works of the mighty, and despaired. *Keep moving, or you'll be adding some bright red Human blood to that mess as well!*

The skies started to break two leagues closer to the main line; the storm was beginning to disperse. Johnny called up a runner. "Pass the word to all artillery commanders: as soon as visibility improves to one league,
commence firing on the main enemy formation at these coordinates," he ordered, giving the map grid coordinates of the location of the main T'rais body.

The runner scampered off, wisely keeping his head low as he moved along the ground at an amazing speed. Suddenly the world came crashing down!

Everything went silent for a moment, then Johnny looked up. Waratz had been torn to shreds by something; Johnny figured it was a hand grenade as he didn't hear it coming. Two of the porters were wounded. Johnny reached for the first aid kit on his belt and began treating the wounded porters. "Everyone, disperse! Drop the tent gear and disperse! That's an order!" he yelled, forgetting that he was now a general and not a major anymore. *We must be closer to the front than I thought!*

In fact, Johnny and company had wandered into No Man's Land during the rainstorm. The sun was breaking through the clouds, casting an eerie blue glow across the landscape. Artillery fire began sounding off up and down the Portanan lines. Loud explosions, followed by the screams of the T'rais troops, displayed the horrible efficacy of these weapons. Unlike Johnny's troops, the T'rais had not been drilled to respond to "modern" armament. Johnny almost pitied them. Almost.

Picking up his map case, Johnny moved back toward the Portanan lines as quickly as he could.

It didn't take long, as the Portanan lines advanced. The artillery was bogged down in the mud and could not advance forward with the lines. However, the weather had dried enough for the flamethrowers to prove reliable.

Platoon leaders ordered their troops out of the trenches to begin a massed bayonet charge into the T'rais formation, led by the flamethrowers. As much as he wished he could be with them, Johnny knew his place now to be behind the lines. He watched with horror as the flamethrowers did their work, and wished he'd never introduced those unholy weapons. One Portanan flamethrower carrier had been hit in the fuel tank by a T'rais bullet. The entire unit exploded, taking its operator with it. Other T'rais picked up the idea and soon the  flamethrowers had to fall back. The rest of the infantry, backed by the more portable mortars, waded in.

Within moments the battle was all but finished. The main T'rais formation broke and scattered. Johnny sent runners to send orders to the flanking units to close in and mop up. Korath pathfinders he'd secretly dispatched
to the T'rais rear would pick off the stragglers. Victory was in sight!

Then the landing craft appeared. Twenty of them! The T'rais reinforcements, awaited for a millennium, had finally arrived!
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Dawn

"Sir, the assault craft is discharging landing craft!" Bortu exclaimed.

Lataro pushed the engine as hard as he could to get the *Dawn* in range of the T'rais assault. "*Dawn* to *Virgo.* We need backup and we need it now!" he called.

[Acknowledged, Commander. We're on our way!] Captain Maruu responded.

"Are we in range of the planet at all?" Jenara asked.

"Just barely! We're out of weapons range, and just barely within transporter range. We can't risk a drop right now, ma'am!" Bortu responded.

"I'm not talking about a full drop; just send me! I can at least get word to Johnny, if he's alive, and get him out of there!"

"That's fine, but do we even know where he'd be?" Barek asked from the back
of the runabout.

"Long range scans indicated that there's only one continent on the planet, and only one city of any size on that continent. Put me near that city and I'll bet you fifty bars of gold-pressed latinum Johnny's going to be there!"

"Are we close enough to at least ensure she doesn't beam down into the ocean?" Lataro asked.

"Aye, sir. Targeting resolution for the transporter is at 50 meters and closing!"

"Okay, Lieutenant, prepare to beam down!"
 ______________________________________

Location: Portanus V

Johnny saw them high up in the atmosphere descending rapidly. They were well out of rocket range, which was just as well because the guided rockets were tasked to defend Flor anyway. On their current trajectory the T'rais landing craft would set down between the main body of the Portanan army and the walls of Flor. Not a good tactical situation for equal forces, but considering that the Portanans had 19th-century technology at best and the T'rais arriving were in many respects more advanced than the Federation, it only meant that the T'rais could kill two birds with one stone.

A bazooka team saw the landing craft as well. They were about 1000 meters up, near the effective range of the bazooka. The team fired, but the weapon's low muzzle velocity didn't allow the round to maintain altitude. It
instead followed a parabolic trajectory and annihilated a Gatling gun team 20 meters away from Johnny. Lacking a runner, Johnny grabbed the first infantryman he could find. "Get to as many bazooka teams as you can. Tell them not to fire on the incoming craft at altitudes above thirteen falk!"

"As you command, Sire!" the trooper, not knowing Johnny was no longer Dictator, replied.

As the craft grew closer, Johnny could see sparks as rifle fire glanced off their hulls. A rocket team from the city walls fired. The rocket slammed into the T'rais craft's cockpit and exploded. The landing craft heeled over and crashed before the city walls. More rockets were fired. Johnny noted with amazement that the guidance system was about 80% accurate. Three more landing craft were destroyed and five more damaged. But there were only
fifty of the expensive rockets available. The exhaustion of the entire supply only destroyed six of twenty landing craft. The rest had landed, more or less intact, and were disgorging their troops. And armored vehicles.

Johnny found another runner and sent a dispatch with him ordering all artillery, mortar, and bazooka teams to commence firing on the landing craft. They really didn't need the order, though. As soon as the craft hit the dirt the howitzers opened up with fragmentation rounds. Then the mortars started to fire. The troops manning the city walls began sniping at the disembarking T'rais. For a moment, it looked as though they'd accomplished the impossible as a T'rais tank was destroyed by an armor-piercing bazooka round. Good to know they're adequate for their intended purpose.

But only for a moment. The T'rais troops gathered their wits. Their wand weapons were useless against projectiles but the phaser rifles they'd started carrying were extremely effective against the Portanans. Within
seconds the T'rais fired phaser rifles and destroyed five of the howitzers. Their ammunition supply cooked off and killed dozens of Portanan soldiers. The Portanan soldiers were frightened but did not break their lines. This
time they were determined to ensure that the demons would have no place in their world, or they'd die trying.

It looked distressingly like the latter option was being observed.
 ______________________________________

Jenara beamed down amid a scene of chaos. Portanan soldiers running everywhere, the muddy ground littered with the dead and dying. It was a scene of total carnage. The T'rais had landed. The native troops were
surprisingly better armed than she'd expected. Johnny's alive, or at least he was!

Jenara saw a Portanan soldier wearing a red and gold surcoat and carrying what looked to be a bag like those mail carriers used to use. She read his thoughts and determined he was a messenger of some sort. That'll give me a way to get to Johnny, assuming he's still here! She shifted into a copy of the dispatch runner and followed him on his errand.

As she followed the runner, she found herself surprised by the amount of noise and poor visibility on the battlefield. It took twenty minutes to reach Johnny, whom Jenara recognized immediately. He was looking over a
map and sending messages via other runners to unit commanders.

Jenara ran up to him. "Sir, I have a message for you!"

"Go ahead, runner!" Johnny answered.

Jenara shifted back to her usual form.

The look on Johnny's bedraggled, scarred, tired, dirty face could not have been more priceless!

"We'll talk later, dear. In the meantime, here's something you might find of use!" she said, handing him a phaser.

"Jenara you have never looked more beautiful" Johnny yelled above the battle. He took the phaser, its feel suddenly comfortable in his hand, and fired on the closest T'rais landing craft. A direct hit to the engine! The
craft exploded immediately.

Jenara took aim at a T'rais fire team that had been systematically butchering Portanan artillery and mortar crews. They vaporized instantly.

"Keep moving, honey, or else they'll get a fix on us! Any reinforcements on the way, by any chance?" Johnny asked.

"You could say that!" she answered. "Chee to *Dawn.* Begin the drop!"

Immediately, fourteen Starfleet Marines beamed down in a line across the front. Johnny's tactical helmet appeared at his feet. He slapped it on immediately.

"Barek, did you set this up?" he asked.

<No, sir! You know it requires an officer to authorize an assault like this!>

Johnny looked at Jenara. She shrugged and gave Johnny a mischievous grin.

"You've got a good skirmish line there! I'm sending runners out to inform my troops here not to shoot at you guys!" Johnny replied, giving a written order to a dispatch runner.

"We've got them pinned against the city walls but if their armor really gets going, or if they get any more phasers on the field we've had it! Aim for officers, heavy equipment, and anyone not one of you carrying a phaser!" Johnny ordered.

A bright flash to his left, followed by the explosion of an entire landing craft, marked Private Maxon's  appearance with the photon antitank weapon. Another to the right signaled van der Merwe's entry into the fight.

The Portanans rallied and began a charge back toward the city walls. The thoroughly confused T'rais began activating their "laser sword" wands to fend off the sudden appearance of opposing phasers. For every phaser shot a T'rais deflected, however, twenty rifle rounds ripped the enemy soldier apart. An initial landing force of well over a thousand T'rais was decimated inside of half an hour.
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Virgo

"Captain, we're within range of the T'rais vessel," Ensign Arlita reported.

"Excellent. Hail them!" Captain Maruu replied.

"Attention T'rais vessel. This is Captain Stephen Maruu of the Federation starship *Virgo.* Why are you initiating combat activity in this system?"

[This is Sector Commander Krax. We are dispatching a punitive strike to end a rebellion on one of our colony worlds. This matter does not concern the Federation!]

"Please be advised, Commander Krax, that we do have a runabout performing scientific research in this sector. Any action against that runabout will be viewed as an overt act of hostility against the Federation and will be
answered with deadly force," Maruu answered.

[We are not responsible for your lost vessel. You should perhaps interrogate its master once you locate him!]

"Captain, the T'rais vessel is dispatching fighters!" Arlita reported.

If that's not an admission of guilt I don't know what is! "K'Lara, plot an intercept course. I want that transport!" Maruu ordered.

"Aye, sir!" K'Lara acknowledged, resisting the urge to open fire on the T'rais.
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Dawn

Lataro saw the fighters deploy first. "Ensign, as you know it requires two people to adequately fly this runabout in combat," he told Bortu. "We only had two combat-qualified pilots with us, and one of them is on the planet's
surface. You're about to get some on-the-job training!"

"Aye, sir! Ready to initiate countermeasures on your mark!" Bortu replied.

"Initiate countermeasures. We can count on the T'rais trying to use the original protocols they got from the *Virgo.* That will give us a little bit of time, and some more before they figure out how to defeat these new
countermeasures."

"Aye, sir. Tachyon field deployed," Bortu acknowledged.

"What's the disposition of the enemy force?"

"Fifteen fighters escorting three medium bombers. The fighters are identified as the Type Seven; the bombers are older Type Threes. The bombers appear to be slowing down the formation," Bortu reported.

"Good. Now, Ensign, do we go after the fighters or the bombers first?" Lataro asked.

"Destroying the fighters would protect us but expose anyone on the planet to attack, while attacking the bombers exposes us. I recommend going after the fighters. If the fighters are taken out of the battle then the bombers will be vulnerable and we can mop them up later."

"Yes, but the people on this planet won't be able to defend themselves from the bombers. Remember, they don't have adequate air defense," Lataro replied.

Bortu thought for a moment. "Unfortunately sacrifices need to be made. We stand a better chance of stopping the bombers if the fighters escort is eliminated. If the bombers are targeted first, then the fighters will eliminate us and still be able to initiate a strafing attack on the planet, creating an opening for a second wave of landing craft."

"Now you're beginning to understand, Ensign," Lataro replied as the *Dawn* blasted into the enemy formation. The fighters dispersed, their targeting computers blinded by the tachyon field surrounding the runabout. Two
fighters hooked on to the tail of the *Dawn*.

"*Dawn* to *Virgo.* K'Lara, I could use some help here!"

A phaser volley from the *Virgo* destroyed the two fighters. Three more took their place. Lataro brought the runabout up into an Immelmann and blasted them with phaser fire as he completed the loop.

"Major Chee showed me that! It's an Immelmann!" Bortu exclaimed.

"Just one of many acrobatic maneuvers useful in combat," Lataro replied. Tapping a few commands, he caused the runabout to heel over and execute a 180-degree flip, leaving yet another fighter behind at a higher altitude
relative to the *Dawn.* "That was a barrel roll. It's primarily a defensive maneuver and a good counter in case someone uses an Immelmann against you! I'll fly for now, and you shoot!"

Lataro and Bortu continued to work their way through the T'rais squadron. The bombers continued on their way, seemingly oblivious to what was happening to their escort. Soon they settled into orbit around the planet.
The *Virgo* destroyed two of them before the third entered the atmosphere.
 ______________________________________

Location: Portanus V

The Portanan troops were mopping up the remnants of the original T'rais attack force. Under instructions from Johnny they were salvaging what they could of the weapons and other equipment the invaders had brought with them. Prisoners were being marched to the dungeon in Flor. As they passed through the main thoroughfares, the citizens of Flor, hearing that victory had been achieved, began cheering and throwing garbage and emptying chamber pots on the procession of prisoners. The "demons" had been rendered mortal!

"We've got plenty of cleanup work to do after this as it is," Johnny replied to one of his officers upon hearing this news. "Flor has put up with too much from these people. A little garbage and manure on the streets isn't something we can't handle!" *Besides, the streets'll probably still be cleaner than they were when I came here!*

Johnny activated the com circuit in his helmet. "Platoon, sound off!"

Everyone checked in. "All right, people, it looks like this fight is over!" Johnny yelled. The Portanan troops began cheering. A runner from the Korath scouts in the rear lines reported that the remnants of the native T'rais force had been neutralized. *I'll just bet they have!* Johnny thought. *There was even less love lost between the Korath and the T'rais than between Flor and the T'rais!*

"Well, it looks like you've been busy here!" Jenara told him. She rushed forward to embrace Johnny, who suddenly yelled in pain. They both looked down at his right arm. His arm, in fact, his whole right side, had been
riddled with shrapnel from the grenade that had killed Waratz. For nearly an hour Johnny had been running the battle while severely wounded. He collapsed.

Jenara tapped her com badge. "Zelansky, get to my position with your medkit now!"
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Dawn

Between the *Dawn* and the *Virgo* most of the fighters had been destroyed. One fighter, however, had managed to get off a lucky shot. The *Dawn* rocked with the blast. The runabout controls shorted and electrocuted Jon Lataro.

"*Dawn* to *Virgo*! Commander Lataro is down!" Bortu reported. "He needs immediate medical attention!"

[Ensign, you'll have to hold your own. We can't drop the shields right now!] Captain Maruu replied. The assault transport was firing on the *Virgo.* [We'll do what we can for you as soon as possible but try to remain calm
and keep your vessel out of the line of fire as much as possible!]

The young ensign was on his own. Suddenly his wits came about him. The bomber had made it into the atmosphere!

Immediately Bortu took helm control and brought the *Dawn* about, heading for the planet's surface. If I don't stop that bomber all this will have been for nothing!

Meanwhile, fifteen kilometers above the surface of Portanus V, the T'rais bomber launched a cruise missile. Bortu saw it. Even if I could warn them there's nothing they can do, and transporter control is gone! Only one thing
left to do!

Bortu tapped in a command to the *Dawn's* helm. The runabout's computer plotted a tractrix to intercept the missile.
_______________________________________

Location: Portanus V

Johnny's platoon had gathered around their fallen leader. Zelansky ran his tricorder over Johnny's wounds, administering a hypospray of cordrazine. "It looks like he's taken shrapnel in his arm and his upper thigh. I've
controlled any infection and most of the bleeding but we'll need to perform surgery to get the metal fragments out. If we had a transporter available I could probably pull it off but we don't just now."

Two Portanan healers approached. "If you'll permit us, we can help you. Our skills may not be as advanced as yours, but we have treated Johnny before," they said, showing where Johnny had cut his hand open months before. The suture work had been very neat and there was little scarring. "We know of how to control infection and of the need for sterility in surgery. But we will need help with effective anesthesia and his overall physiology."

"Ma'am, it's your call. You're the senior officer on the ground now, and his next of kin. For some reason we can't raise the *Virgo,*" Zelansky said.

"Do it," Jenara said. "But you go with them, Private." She still had her doubts about the once miscreant young man but upon closer acquaintance with him had seen the change in his character.

"Yes, ma'am. All right. Let's get him up on a stretcher, but keep his back straight! Do you have a medical facility in that city?"

The Healers nodded. "Our facilities are the finest on the planet!" they boasted. That they were the only facilities on the planet was immaterial.

"I've got him stabilized, and he should keep long enough to get to the city. Once we get him there, though, we'll have to start operating immediately!"

The Portanan commanders had the situation outside the walls well under control. Jenara was ready to order the platoon inside the city walls when an alarm in Johnny's tactical helmet sounded. Jenara put it on, struggling
with the unfamiliar displays.

"Dear God! There's a cruise missile headed toward the city! Estimated yield five megatons!"

Everyone looked at one another. There was no way they could get far enough from the city in time!
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Dawn

Bortu killed the communications circuit. Captain Maruu was ordering him back to the ship. But he couldn't do that just now. Commander Lataro needed help, but there were sixteen more Starfleet personnel on the planet who were in danger. To say nothing of a large city!

The *Dawn* vectored in on the bomber while Bortu grabbed a medkit and stabilized the commander. He'd live, but he would need proper medical attention soon. One thing at a time! He retook the controls of the runabout
and targeted the bomber. Defensive phasers shot out from the bomber but Bortu dodged them, using the techniques Lataro had explained. Soon he got a lock on the bomber and fired a full-strength phaser blast. The bomber exploded.
 ______________________________________

Location: Portanus V

The explosion of the bomber could be heard in and around Flor just about the time that the contrail from the cruise missile became apparent. Suddenly the city was in panic! The signs were just as they had been in the Day of the Demons!

Only Jenara and the Marines knew the significance of a small, bright dot moving rapidly behind the contrail, however. "Chee to *Dawn.* Please respond!"

[This is *Dawn,* ma'am!] Bortu replied. [I have acquired the missile!]

A bright flash was followed shortly by an even brighter flash. For a moment, they thought the warhead on the missile had detonated. But the flash was not big enough or bright enough, and was soon followed by a sonic boom as the runabout passed overhead!

[Target destroyed! If you'll clear me a landing area I'll set this thing down! I have wounded aboard!] Bortu reported.

"Acknowledged! Set it down at my coordinates!" Jenara replied. "Everyone, clear a landing zone!" The Marines dispersed and began clearing out the debris of battle to form a place for Bortu to land. Once the runabout set
down, Zelansky left Johnny to the healers' care and treated Lataro.
 ______________________________________

Location: USS Virgo

Back in space, the T'rais transport was in serious trouble. A hit by the *Virgo* to its docking bay had disabled its ability to disgorge more troops or fighters. Most of the rest of the ship's systems had been damaged. The *Virgo,* on the other hand, thanks to its ablative armor, and its new tactical and countermeasures programming, was almost completely undamaged.

"*Virgo* to Krax. Strike your colors now, and we'll help your wounded!" Maruu offered.

[This is Sector Commander Krax. I do not want to surrender but neither do I want to see more of my warriors killed. I accept your terms.]

"Bridge to Sickbay. Prepare to receive wounded! All hands, secure from battle stations!"
 ______________________________________

Location: Portanus V

Upon hearing the news, the city of Flor broke out in celebration the likes of which it had not seen in its entire history. The demonic legions of the Ghann had been destroyed!

Everyone, that is, except for a few individuals. Two Healers and a Starfleet Marine corpsman who were working to save the life of the man who had made it possible. That man's wife, who was anxiously awaiting the outcome of thesurgery. His associates, Human, Bajoran, Vulcan, Betazoid, and Ferengi, who were grateful for the outcome of the battle and the unexpected news that their leader had not been killed after all. A Portanan monarch and his wife, concerned about the life of a man who was at once their mentor and a valued subject. And a Starfleet ensign who had just returned a very big favor.

One of the Healers stepped out of the operating theater, which looked much like an early 20th-century operating theater on Earth. "We've managed to remove the shrapnel and close the wounds. Your man Zelansky is using some eldritch device to regenerate his blood. He's awake and talking!" the surgeon exclaimed as he hurried passed the waiting throng.

"What's he saying?" Jenara asked.

"I quote: 'Why the hell are you worried about me? Get to working on the real wounded now!'" Punctuating his remark were a number of stretcher-bearers carrying in horribly wounded Portanan soldiers.

Johnny walked out, dressed in a light robe. Everyone stared at the man they though was dead. "What's everyone looking at? You look as if you've seen a ghost!"

"You could say that," Jenara said as she rushed into his arms. The rest of the party decided to give them a moment alone.
 

Title: "Plausible Deniability" (Part 12 of 12)
Author: Major Johnny Chee
Stardate: 2461184
Earthdate: March 8, 2384
Location: Flor

*Peace Treaty of Portanus, Article One:*

*Whereas further armed conflict between the T'rais and the United Federation of Planets, as represented by the starship *Virgo,* is in neither party's interests and will only result in further loss of life, all hostilities between the T'rais and any and all Federation elements are hereby declared over. Neither side claims victory.*

*Peace Treaty of Portanus, Article Two:*

*Both the T'rais and the Federation recognize the independence of Portanus V, referred to by its inhabitants as Flor, and the right to its inhabitants to self-determination. The Federation and the T'rais recognize the sovereignty and authority of the reigning monarch of Flor in all manners pertaining to this planet and will in no way undermine the monarchy. Unless specifically requested by its reigning monarch and upon the approval of
its duly-elected Parliament, neither the T'rais nor the Federation will maintain any settlements or bases on this planet. The T'rais who had been inhabiting the planet will be relocated by their government to legitimate T'rais
territories. All prisoners held by all sides shall be repatriated immediately upon the execution of this treaty.*

*Peace Treaty of Portanus, Article Six:*

*The T'rais formally apologize for their illegal invasion and occupation of Portanus V and will pay reparations in the form of all military, engineering, and logistical support equipment used by their forces in said invasion and occupation, along with no more than five hundred unarmed advisors to train local personnel in the use of said equipment for a period not to exceed six months. In addition, the T'rais agree to supply Portanus V with three automated manufacturing facilities and a fusion power plant. Any and all space vehicles manufactured and commissioned by the legitimate government of Portanus V will be granted free passage through T'rais space
upon displaying appropriate identifying credentials.*

*Peace Treaty of Portanus, Article Eighteen:*

*In the event that the T'rais should attempt to reoccupy Portanus V by force or calumny, the treaty shall be declared null and void. The inhabitants of Portanus V may call upon any Federation assets available to assist in their defense should this occur. Unless supplanted by any future treaties, this provision does not apply to conflicts between Portanus V and other worlds. In no way shall it be construed to apply to any acts of aggression perpetrated by Portanus V upon other worlds, including those occupied by the T'rais.*

*Peace Treaty of Portanus, Article Twenty:*

*This treaty shall be lodged in the seats of governments of the Federation, the T'rais, and Portanus V and shall be considered binding in perpetuity upon all parties herein named.*
 ________________________________________

In a ceremony in the Great Hall of Flor, before the Assemblies of Nobles and Commoners, the principals of all three sides; Captain Maruu, Sector Commander Krax, and King Zdeev; signed a hard copy of the treaty. Maruu
showed Zdeev how to execute the treaty on a PADD, and the deal was done. Portanus V, now called Flor, after its first city, was officially an independent nation!

Beyond the city walls, Johnny, in his last official day as General of the Armies of Flor, was training a group of Portanan, now Floran, officers in the use of the T'rais weaponry. Most of it was similar in operation to the older equipment they'd been using, but lessons on tactics and strategy were needed as well. Among these officers was Machi, a cousin of Vinzi and now leader of the Soldier's Guild. Machi would replace Johnny as General. A
transport awaited the release of the T'rais prisoners from Flor's dungeon, while unarmed T'rais shuttles looked for what was left of the enclave that had been stranded for either a thousand years or six months, depending
upon what side of the time anomaly one was on.

Using a tricorder to analyze the science texts in Johnny's former library, now the official library of the University of Flor, Jenara determined that the Florans had been testing a warp field in the city that once stood on the
site of the crater. The Florans had no particular interest in space travel at the time although they'd developed a rudimentary warp drive and had visited all the planets of their solar system with it. However, they were fascinated by time travel and interdimensional travel and had built up a large body of fiction on this topic. Ground Zero of the blast had been at a research lab where a warp-powered interdimensional doorway had been generated. That would explain why the T'rais were assumed to be demons, Jenara thought. The Florans must have thought they'd inadvertently opened a door to the underworld! It also explains the time distortion.

A knock at the door disturbed her studies. "Come in," Jenara said.

At the door was Taya. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I'm told you're the wife of Johnny," she said.

"That's correct. How may I help you?"

Taya suddenly looked embarrassed. "I don't know how to tell this to youS"

Jenara could already sense what she wanted to say. "Just go ahead and say it. That usually is easiest," she said, in as friendly and welcoming a fashion as she could.

"There was a day, a few months after Johnny arrived, when I did something inappropriate. I knew he was married and was feeling alone and I..."

"I know nothing happened between the two of you, Taya. He wouldn't let it happen and I don't think you really wanted it, either. If nothing happened, then there's no need to apologize," Jenara answered. Explaining Tiadara
might be a little more than this peasant woman turned royal consort could handle.

"Thank you!" Taya said, relieved. "Would you like me to show you around the city? If you're not too busy, that is."

"I'd like that very much!" Jenara answered.
 ________________________________________

Location: USS Virgo

Alysa was going out of her mind in the brig. Not because of the incarceration, but because of something she kept seeing. At his own request, word that Johnny had been found alive had been kept from Lieutenant Sinclair.

But this damned dog kept staring at her! She recognized the breed eventually as a coyote.

"Lieutenant," she said, addressing Sitto. "Are you sure you don't see anything in this corridor?"

"Absolutely, ma'am." Sitto was one of the few who knew what was going on. He knew what Sinclair was seeing, but his own perverse sense of humor didn't permit him to say anything.

It had been like that for three days. Finally she couldn't take it. There was no way she could ever tell the entire truth, not without compromising something larger, and something more promising. But the right deception
might work.

"Guard, could you get Commander Benton for me, please?" she asked the security crewman standing watch in the cell block. "I wish to make a confession."

Benton, who was also aware of what was going on, kept a straight face. Then again, that wasn't hard for Benton to do anyway. "Yes, Lieutenant. Computer, record Ms. Sinclair's statement and place it under Security seal.
Authorization Benton omega three four. Please begin your statement with your name, rank and service number."

Sinclair did so, and gave her explanation. "I am responsible for the death of Major Johnny Chee, the attempted murder of Lieutenant Jenara Tomme-Chee, Ensign Bortu, Adrianna Chee, and fifteen other Starfleet personnel, in
addition to the assault on Ensign Francesca Milano, the crime for which I am currently being held.

"My motivation was love. I wanted Johnny since we rescued him from the *Ilion,* but he never paid attention to me: it was always Jenara. After they were married I couldn't tolerate it anymore. If I couldn't have him, nobody
could! So I arranged for Johnny to end up in a runabout in space my intelligence intercepts indicated was very hostile. Ensign Bortu was little more than collateral damage. I did not know him and had no reason to kill him.

"But it wasn't enough for Johnny to die; everything that had ever had claim to his heart had to die. That meant Jenara. I mined Johnny's office and their quarters to ensure that I got at least one of them. The Marine barracks were mined because I knew Johnny was there frequently and because I feared they may avenge their commanding officer once my guilt was
discovered.

"I need help, and with this statement I wish to plead for clemency," Sinclair finished.

"Very well. Your court-martial is scheduled for Stardate 61189, two days from now. Your statement will be entered along with the rest of the evidence," Benton said before leaving.

He returned to his office to find Kalmar there. "It worked," he said. "How did you know what to do?"

"Many Starfleet officers are conditioned to think on a purely rational level. In fact, they tend to avoid the realm of superstition entirely. Johnny, however, retained the superstitions of his people and is well-known for having done so," Kalmar explained.

"Sinclair is purely interested in rational explanations. Anything on a spiritual level is suspicious to her, in fact, it unnerves her. All I did was confront her with a superstition that, if she cared to research it, could be connected with Johnny. The rest was just a matter of time. Jenara gave me the idea."

"So she confessed thinking she was being confronted by Johnny's spirit in the afterlife. Brilliant!" Benton exclaimed.

"No, she has not confessed," Kalmar said. "She gave you a very convenient lie designed to ensure clemency on the part of a court-martial. However, you should go ahead with this statement. Her true guilt, of attempting to
twist the principles of your Federation, among other things, will be revealed soon. And she'll receive the punishment she deserves. For now, though, use her so-called confession."

"Why, if it's not the truth?"

"As the philosophers of thousands of worlds have discovered, sometimes even a lie can be made to serve a greater truth. Plausible deniability is one of many terms for this that humans have developed. It's also the principle under which Sinclair had hoped to operate. By accepting her statement as truth, we can flush out an even greater evil and save thousands, if not millions, of lives."

"I see," Benton replied. "But if you knew all this, why didn't you prevent what happened?"

"Believe me, I've prevented a great many tragedies surrounding this incident. You will never know just how bad things may have gotten," Kalmar said before leaving. "Some things must forever remain in the realm of the
gods."
 ________________________________________

Location: Flor

Jenara was amazed at what Johnny had done since coming to Flor. Young children were being instructed to read using their people's holy book. Chamber pots were being carried to centralized septic tanks for emptying
rather than being dumped in the streets. Jenara overheard two Florans discussing how to contain the methane from the septic tanks as an energy source. Healers were vaccinating children and adults. And the city, even
after the war and the subsequent celebrations, was so clean!

"Johnny showed us much about ourselves and our true place in the universe that we'd forgotten," Taya explained. "Yet he always was careful not to give us too much at once. He didn't want us going beyond what we could handle. Even when he was Dictator of the city he showed incredible restraint; far more than any other leader we've had!"

*Johnny as Dictator?* Jenara thought. *This I've got to hear about!*

"He's a remarkable man," Taya finished. "Hold onto him as tight as you can!"

"After these past few days, I don't intend to let him out of my sight!"
 ________________________________________

Stardate: 2461189
Earthdate: March 10, 2384
Location: USS Virgo

Two days later, after all personnel from the *Virgo* had beamed up, the *Virgo* left the Flor system to its own devices. For the first time in well over a year the T'rais conflict wasn't a major threat. Other issues, however, still had to be dealt with.

A court-martial, the first in *Virgo's* history, had been convened. Captain Stephen Maruu presided. Given the circumstances, and Sinclair's confession, the trial was open-and-shut. It took only a few minutes to cover the
evidence.

"Lieutenant Sinclair, you have confessed to all the particulars of this court-martial. An examination by this ship's Chief Medical Officer has determined that you have a serious mental instability that contributed, if not prompted, your crimes. Ordinarily you would be consigned to a Federation rehabilitation facility, but there does not happen to be one nearby," Captain Maruu stated. "And the nature of your crimes, while heinous, is mitigated by your mental condition. Our brig is not an appropriate place to incarcerate a mentally ill individual.

"Checking the precedent records, I find that Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship *Voyager* was presented with a similar situation in crewman Lon Suder thirteen years ago. At the time, *Voyager* was stranded
in the Delta Quadrant, decades away from any Federation facility, and forced to deal with a psychotic crewman. Janeway responded by confining the crewman to quarters for the duration and ordering him to undergo intensive counseling. Given the similarities between these situations, I hereby impose the same sentence. You will be confined to quarters for the duration of our tour in the Gamma Quadrant, and remanded to the custody of a rehabilitation facility if and when we return to Federation space. In the meantime, you will undergo counseling at the direction of Chief Medical Officer Dana Maruu. Crewman Suder eventually was rehabilitated and was instrumental in saving the lives of *Voyager's* crew before he was killed in the line of duty. It is my hope that you can be rehabilitated and returned to a position of honor.

"Due to the charges, I have chosen to strip you of your position on this vessel. You will be assigned no duty until further notice. Additionally, your rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade will be removed, also until further notice. All secure and nonsecure files must be turned over to Security Chief Benton immediately. All requisitions beyond food, clothing, and toiletries must be cleared by either Commander Benton, Commander Lataro, or myself.
Computer, enter the judgment into the record!"

<Acknowledged. Judgment entered at 1230 hours on Stardate 61189.>

"Commander Benton, escort Ensign Alysa Anne Sinclair to her quarters and execute the judgment of this court-martial."

Benton led Sinclair away in restraints. As the door slid shut, Captain Maruu and the assembled senior officers laughed. They knew what was coming.

Benton and Sinclair arrived at her quarters. He keyed open the door and scanned the room with a tricorder for weapons. Benton retrieved two phasers and several hand-to-hand weapons. "Naughty, naughty!" he said as he ordered the weapons beamed to the armory.

"Oh, stuff it!" she said.

"Let's not be bitter. The sooner you start working on your rehabilitation, the sooner you'll be able to get out of here," Benton told her. "Now, transfer those files to Security."

Sinclair tapped some commands on her console and transmitted everything. *Soon, very soon, it's not going to matter anyway,* she thought.

"Is that everything?" Benton asked. "Remember, you are under the order of a court-martial and in exchange for your cooperation you are being given extremely lenient treatment. That treatment could become much worse if it
is found you're withholding evidence."

"That's everything, Commander," she said through gritted teeth.

"Very well. Dr. Maruu will be here at 1600 hours for your counseling session," Benton said before leaving. "Computer, Security seal on this door in accordance with the order of the general court-martial entered at 1230
hours on stardate 61189. Admit only individuals specified in the Captain's general order number 13720. Erect a Level Five force field should Ensign Sinclair attempt to leave. Authorization Benton omega three four."

<Acknowledged. Orders implemented.>

Benton then left the room.

As soon as Benton left, the lights went out.

"Computer, lights," Sinclair requested. The lights went on. Sitting in front of the door was a coyote.

"Computer, is there an unauthorized life form in my quarters?"

<Negative.>

"Display library file regarding the Earth life form known as a coyote. Highlight all cultural and historical references."

The file scrolled up to the indicated section. Sinclair read the entry with alarm as she sat down. A very audible click sounded as she placed her weight on the chair.

"What do you want from me?" she pleaded. "I've been tried and convicted, and I may end up spending the rest of my life here! Must you torment me as well? I never thought they'd actually kill you!" Sinclair pleaded with the
coyote.

"They didn't," a voice behind her said. She swiveled in her chair to see Johnny standing behind her. He was dressed in a Starfleet uniform once again, his hair cut high and tight. The scars he bore both inside and outside made him look much older and more menacing. "I'll give them credit for trying, though. Your days, however, are numbered."

Sinclair was confused. "What do you mean?"

"My time on Portanus V, or Flor, I guess we should call it now, gave me a lot of time to work with my hands. Making simple machines, fixing things, stuff like that. Something I find I enjoy doing, which is good because
Jenara's been after me to find a hobby that doesn't involve a holodeck. I also learned about a number of ancient devices that are still useful today. You're sitting on one of those now. It's called an antipersonnel mine.
That click you heard was the trigger. If you try to get up, the mine will detonate. It's not much of a charge, I may have to shower off the blood, but I'll be unhurt. You, on the other hand, will have to be sponged off the overhead by Maintenance."

Sinclair's face went white.

"That whole court-martial proceeding you just went through? It's a sham. With the exception of a few thousand Florans and T'rais who would've probably killed each other anyway, nobody died. Not me, not Jenara, not Ensign Bortu or any of my Marines. And the Florans are actually better off than they were before your little scheme. Someday they may even join the Federation voluntarily. I hope so. We need people like King Zdeev and Vinzi the Wizard a hell of a lot more than we need manipulative Intelligence pukes!"

Johnny continued in a casual tone. "Those of us who were trapped in your little web have decided not to press charges. Your "confession" was a nice touch, I'm flattered, really, but everyone knows it's a lie. There's very
definitely grounds for attempted murder, coercion, interfering with the chain of command, assault, unauthorized use of explosives, and willful damage to Starfleet property. I'm really upset about that one, you destroyed the parchment High Mage Glybothar gave me back on Xenon III! And then there's that nasty little problem involving General Order Number One, better known as the Prime Directive.

"But you're not going to be charged with any of these things. Even the Prime Directive violation, thanks to our new-found friends the T'rais, and the fact that the Florans actually were warp-capable six months ago, the PD
doesn't apply. I discussed this with the Captain, and he agreed, all charges are being dropped in exchange for you getting psychological help!

"I hope you do get help, Ensign. And I hope you recover, I really do. But you don't belong in Starfleet. If you represent the real Starfleet then I think I'll call up the T'rais and sign up with them. They may be bastards, but you always know what to expect from them. I don't know what your future holds. But one thing is true:" Johnny said, his tone suddenly going flat, his eyes staring straight into Sinclair's.

"I still reserve the right to press charges, and thanks to the nature of the crimes there is no statute of limitations. If I find out you are pulling any more crap like this with any member of the crew, or any member of Starfleet, for that matter, I will press these charges. And if you ever threaten my wife or any member of my family again, I will find you and rip the living heart from your body. Do I make myself clear, Ensign?!"

Sinclair nodded, her brow wet with sweat.

"Now, get up!" Johnny ordered. "Go ahead; it's perfectly safe."

Slowly, Sinclair got up. Something popped out of her seat. Someone behind her caught it. It was a wooden object, shaped and painted vaguely like an insect, with a metal spring inside.

"This is cute! What is it?" Jenara asked.

"It's a jumping toy I designed for the kids on Flor. It was an instant hit there. I thought the baby would enjoy it," Johnny answered, matter-of-factly.

"You haven't seen her yet, have you?" Jenara asked.

"You know, you're right! I think I've put that off a little too long. Shall we go?" Johnny said, walking over to Jenara and taking her arm.

"Why, yes! I think Maintenance is finished rebuilding our quarters, too! I might need some help redecorating, though," Jenara said as they left Sinclair's quarters.

Sinclair fainted once the door shut behind them.
 ________________________________________

"She's beautiful!" Johnny said, holding his daughter for the first time. He could have been with Adrianna much sooner but wanted to clean himself up first. Adrianna looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. She rooted as Johnny touched her cheek with a callused finger. "She looks just like her mother!"

Jenara put her arm around him. They stood in their newly-rebuilt quarters. They were bare of everything but standard-issue furnishings, but more elaborate decoration could wait. The door chimed. "Enter," Jenara said.

In walked Kalmar and Benton, each bearing objects in boxes. "We thought you might enjoy some  housewarming gifts," Kalmar said. He handed a box to Johnny.

Johnny opened the box. Inside was a rolled parchment scroll. He unrolled it and found the Nine Sacred Glyphs of the Nirkno.

"Of all the things you had, I knew that one was the one you valued most. So, in a spare moment, and let me tell you, there weren't many, I paid a visit to Glybothar, told him what happened, and he made you a new copy! By the way, everything is going well on Xenon III and the High Mage sends you his best wishes," Kalmar told him.

"You didn't have toS I could have replicated a copyS" Johnny said, speechless.

"Hey, I'm a god! It's my job to think of the little things!" Kalmar said.

"Francesca wanted to give this to you at the baby shower, but with everything that happened you never had one," Benton said, presenting a box to Jenara. She opened it to reveal a tribble.

"Its name is Snarf. It's one of Spot's progeny, but don't worry!" Benton said as Johnny and Jenara looked alarmed. "Dana assures me it's completely sterile."

Jenara took the baby from Johnny and set her in the bassinet along with Snarf. The young tribble sidled up to the baby and began purring. The baby curled around the tribble. The gift was a definite success!!!

[Barek to Major Chee, come in please,] Johnny's com badge sounded.

"Sergeant, I'm not to be disturbed unless it's an emergency. What's happening?" Johnny asked, irritated that his first break from business in over a year had been interrupted.

[I can't get into it right now, but you'd better get to the quarterdeck immediately!]

"Uh, folks, it looks like duty calls again," Johnny said reluctantly. "Hopefully this won't take long."

"Go ahead; take all the time you need. We'll be here," Jenara said as Johnny left.

The three waited a few minutes as Johnny went further down the corridor. Jenara picked up Adrianna and all of them headed to the quarterdeck as soon as Johnny was out of sight.

Johnny entered the quarterdeck, also completely rebuilt, to see the platoon assembled in formation. With them was Commander Lataro and Ensign Bortu. Bortu was holding a large, flat, wrapped package.

"Sir, compliments of King Zdeev of Flor," Bortu said, presenting the package to Johnny. Johnny unwrapped it. It was the old T'rais poster of him, in a gilt frame from the Artists' Guild of Flor. An inscription along the edge,
in English, read: "WITH THE COMPLIMENTS AND GRATITUDE OF THE PEOPLE OF FLOR."

Johnny laughed. "Not everyone has their own 'wanted' poster in a frame!" he said. "Who did the inscription? I was careful not to speak any Earth languages while I was there."

"I helped them out," Jenara said, as she walked into the room with the baby, making a rare appearance on the quarterdeck. Kalmar and Benton followed her. "They told me what they wanted to say and asked me to translate it into your language. I don't know Navajo so I settled for English."

"Wise choice. Do you know how long that inscription would have been otherwise?" Johnny said, laughing, once more amazed by his wife. "They'd still be engraving it!"

"Two more things," Lataro said. "Minor personnel things, but things I thought you might like to be aware of. First of all, Ensign Bortu is now a combat-qualified pilot, with two kills on his record: one T'rais bomber and one cruise missile. Good work, Ensign." Everyone in the room applauded.

"Just doing my duty, sir."

"Secondly, Major, you may notice a slight difference in Private Zelansky's uniform." Johnny looked closer and noticed that Zelansky was wearing a blue collar: medical blue. "His test scores are in, and given his successful
record in the role he is now officially a Starfleet medical technician, attached to your platoon. Your recent evaluation of his performance played no small role in the decision by Dr. Maruu to confer that status." Before
the time loop Johnny had given Zelansky a performance rating of "excellent," the first one he'd earned honestly in his entire career.

"Good! Now I know who to go to for my next hangover!" Johnny said. Jenara gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs.

"Major," a voice behind the group startled everyone. "I, too, have something for you."

Everyone turned around to see Captain Maruu standing in front of the door.

Stephen tossed a small black box at Johnny. He spoke as Johnny caught the box and opened it. "For your valor, bravery, leadership skills, and pretty much all the rest of the values you demonstrated on Flor which, if I were to mention them all, we'd be here as long as this mission lasts, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Colonel. Congratulations, Colonel Johnny Chee."

"And finally," Barek said, turning all eyes back to the front, "some bad news: in the destruction of your office the unit colors were completely destroyed. The mine was placed directly behind them. So, we've had to commission new colors. Upon discussion with certain interested parties, and given the nature of recent events, we came up with an appropriate design. Gentlemen!" Two Marines stepped forward and held up the new flag between
them. The flag bore a silhouette of a coyote howling at a full moon.

"Major, may I present the *USS Virgo* Marine Detachment: Chee's Coyotes!"

"Beautiful!" Johnny exclaimed. "I love it! One question, though," he said, looking around.

"What might that be?" Jenara asked.

"If everyone's here, who's watching the tribble back in our quarters?"

Benton rolled his eyes.
 

Title: "You Are What You Say"
Author: Lt. Commander Benton
Stardate: 2461200
Earthdate: March 14, 2384
Location: USS Virgo

"Benny?"

"Yes, Sitto?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did, Sitto."

Sitto made a face. Benton was too literal. "I mean, can I ask you a question after this one?"

Benton smiled inwardly. He enjoyed messing with Sitto's mind. "Yes, of course."

Sitto thought for a second how to best ask his question, but in the end couldn't come up with anything tactful, so he just asked it flat out. "How come you always say, 'Oh dear'?"

Benton's eyebrows went up. He was actually taken a little aback by Sitto's unexpected question. "What do you mean? Isn't it a proper expression?"

Sitto shrugged. "Well, sure it's proper. If you're a little old lady!"

"That's just silly, Sitto," said Benton.

"Okay, have it your way. Just don't blame me if people start losing their respect for you."

"What are you talking about? Could that really happen just because I choose to say 'Oh dear'?"

"Oh you bet!" said Sitto. "He stood up from where he'd been sitting at the main security console and came over to stand directly in front of Benton. "What you need is a *cool* catch-phrase," he declared.

"Well, I don't think..."

But Sitto was still on a roll. He scratched his chin and screwed his eyes up as he bent his thinking to devising a suitable utterance for Benton. After a few seconds, he snapped his fingers and said, "How about, '#%@& you $&#!* @#&%!# and the horse you rode in on!'"

Benton's eyes widened at hearing Sitto's rather colorful suggestion. "Do you really think that would be appropriate, Sitto?" he asked skeptically.

"Well, maybe that's a little strong for somebody like you, Benny."

"I would tend to agree."

"Okay." Sitto thought for another second. "How 'bout, 'Fiddlesticks!'"

"Now you're just being silly again, Sitto," said Benton. "Are you really trying to help me or are you just trying to keep yourself amused because you're bored?"

"Who me?" asked Sitto innocently. "We're pals, Benny. I wouldn't do that to you."

Benton looked at Sitto skeptically. He suspected that Sitto was just messing with him, but decided not to press the issue. Instead, he just said, "Hmm... I'll tell you what, Sitto. I'll give the issue some thought."

"Great." Sitto patted Benton on the shoulder and went back to sit down at his console. "That's all I ask," he said with a smile.

"Right. Well, I'm off to the bridge," said Benton. "My shift starts in ten minutes." With that he walked out of the security office.

Sitto leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk. He chuckled mischievously at Benton's retreating back. "Sucker."
 __________________________________

Benton's shift on the bridge passed uneventfully. After leaving security, he had quickly dismissed Sitto's suggestion that his word choice rendered him a "little old lady," as Sitto had called him. But now, at the end of the day, as Benton lay on his bed in his cabin, the seed planted by Sitto sprouted again.

According to the research Benton had done, the phrase "Oh dear" indicated consternation or frustration, but could he have missed the more subtle connotations of the idiom? Did indeed only old ladies use the expression? Could Sitto actually be correct for once?

*Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt to try out a few new phrases,* decided Benton. He got off the bed and crossed his tiny cabin to the computer terminal on the desk in two steps. He sat down on the chair and activated the screen.

"Computer, display list of Earth idioms similar in meaning and usage to the phrase, 'Oh dear.'"

Benton directed all his mental streams to absorbing the information scrolling up the computer screen. After a few minutes he absently mumbled, "Oh dear..."
 

Title: "From Afar"
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2461205
Earthdate: March 16, 2384
Location: USS Aquitania

The *Aquitania* came around for another volley of fire at the huge fireball.

Captain Diogenes yelled at his com badge, "Mr. Brosgarth! Where are those phasers?!"

Another explosion shook the ship as the Chief of Operations, Carol Magnus, flew back against a console with burns all over his face.

[I'm trying, sir! The power relays are overloading! There isn't much I can do!]

Captain Diogenes dropped his head. "Helm, prepare to ram that thing. I want to damage it as badly as we can before we go!" He sat down in his chair. "Attention all hands, this is the captain. Abandon ship! Stop what you are doing and leave this ship now!"

"Captain?" asked Captain Myn Donos, his first officer.

"You heard me. We're getting out of here."

The two friends left the bridge of the *Aquitania* for the last time.
 _________________________________

Location: USS Seth

"Kat, I need more power to the forward shields!" yelled Lt. Commander Jovan Kalimar, called Jovo by his friends.

Commander Katianna Nadira made her way to the engineering console. "Got it!"

The *Seth* came around for another volley. Explosions raged the surface of the moon-sized fireball as it seemed to groan and weaken.

Jovo and Kat suddenly noticed a ship firing escape pods and going full-speed against the fireball.

The *Aquitania* rammed full-force into the fireball. The ensuing explosion caused a shockwave that shook all of the ships involved in the battle.

"What the hell what that?!" demanded Jovo.

Kat looked at a console. "I don't know, but it worked! Luther has weakened severely. A little more of this, and he'll be defenseless! We can move in for the kill!"

The fireball began to turn a darker red.

Suddenly, a com signal came in. Admiral Charles Doyle popped on screen. [Sloan is moving! He's heading for Earth!]

Kat looked at Jovo. "He must be planning on taking as much as he can with him when he dies!"

Jovo was staring into space.

"Jovo? Jovo? Jovan!"

Jovo suddenly looked at Kat. "Sorry." He looked at the screen. "Charlie, we'll take care of it! Wish us luck!"

Admiral Doyle smiled. [Thank you. For everything.] He shut off the com.

Jovo set some coordinates in. "We'll intercept Sloan just before he hits Earth. The Prophets gave me an idea."

Kat nodded. "Let's finish this!"

The *USS Seth* went to transwarp.
 _________________________________

Location: Earth

Hundreds of ships took off the surface of Earth in expectation of a disaster that would destroy the capital of the Federation.

A reporter could be seen and heard on a huge screen above New York City. [Authorities are asking civilians to stay calm as this problem is dealt with. The situation is not, I repeat, is not as grim as it seems.]

Above, the panicking crowds could see a fiery dot clouding the zenith, threatening annihilation.
 _________________________________

Location: USS Seth

The *Seth* came out of transwarp between Earth and the fireball.

"Position the ship facing the fireball, then disengage the force field and hold on to something!" ordered Kat.

Kat quickly set the instructions into the computer and ran to a corner. A force field activated around her while the one in front of the ship disengaged.

Jovo stood in the center of the ship, glowing a bright blue, and exposed to the vacuum of space.

The fireball began to approach the ship quickly.

Jovo began to concentrate a huge ball of energy into his hands. He released the ball of energy, creating a constant stream of light between his orb and the fireball, within which lay the Orb of Creation and the life force of
Luther Sloan, former head of Section 31.

The stream of light from Jovo's orb, the Orb of Kalimar, slowed the fireball's approach.
 _________________________________

~He is strong,~ said Captain Diogenes as he moved around Jovo.

~Not strong enough,~ added Captain Donos.

~Let us help,~ offered Kat.

~Agreed,~ said Admiral Doyle.

The four Prophets approached Jovo, who was struggling. They each touched him on the shoulder. Suddenly, Jovo's eyes filled with a light purple flame.
 _________________________________

The beam of blue light turned a light purple and shot out continuous bursts of energy that caused the fireball to groan with each one. The fireball began to turn a dark blackish-red color.

Then, Jovo took the energy from his orb and focused it into an immense light purple ball of pure energy. When the ball was as large as his own body, Jovo lunged it from the ship. Quickly, he used that same lunging forced to throw himself at the console and reactivate the forward force field.

The *Seth* filled with oxygen, and Kat went up to take a seat next to the nearly-unconscious Jovan.

The purple energy ball hit the fireball just five kilometers before the whole thing struck the *Seth* and about 15 kilometers before it struck Earth.

A huge shockwave shook the *Seth* as the fireball engulfed it.

Then, the fireball disintegrated, leaving nothing in its wake.

Earth remained safe and beautiful as ever.
 _________________________________

Location: USS Virgo

"Captain?" the helm officer on duty said, awkwardly.

"Yes," said Stephen.

"I have something weird on sensors."

Stephen smiled. "What is it, Ensign?"

"Well, it's a ship, but its warp signature seems like it's Federation. The thing is, it's way too advanced..."

Jon got up. "What is a Federation ship doing all the way out here?"

"No idea. Ensign, try hailing it."

The ensign looked at the console nervously. "No response."

Benton added, "The ship seems very well-equipped, but it's damaged. There are two life signs onboard. Both are weak."

Stephen turned to him. "Beam them to sickbay but keep force fields around them just in case. We don't know anything about them. Jon, do me a favor and tractor the vessel into Shuttle Bay Two. If I remember correctly, the only ship in there is the *Dawn.* Have Jennifer take a look at that ship if she's not too busy with the *Dawn's* damaged power relays. I'll be in sickbay with our new arrivals."
 _________________________________

"Ugh." Jovo opened his eyes and groaned. "Where...?"

A beautiful young doctor was standing over her. "You're on the Federation Starship *Virgo.* I'm Doctor Dana Maruu. Your ship was damaged, and you and your friend were unconscious when we found you."

"Is she...?"

"She's okay. She's hurt, but she'll be fine."

"Good."

Suddenly, the door to sickbay opened. Captain Maruu walked in. "How are they?"

Dana turned to face him. She handed him a PADD. "She's good. Thanks to Jenara and our tiny database, I know enough of Tanzaran physiology to treat here properly."

"She's Tanzaran?"

"Yup."

"What about the male?"

"Well, he's could be rated as okay, depending on your definition of 'okay.'"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he's Human, but he has some non-Human characteristics."

"Such as?"

"Where do I begin?" She took the PADD back. "Isotope testing reveals he is eleven years old. He's got triple-helix DNA strands. Enough energy to power half the ship coursing through his body. Regenerative cellular structure. Kind of reminds me of Kalmar in many ways."

"Why is that so strange?" asked Jovo, sitting up. "Starfleet briefed all medical personnel on my physiology just before we went up against Sloan."

"Sloan?" asked Stephen.

"You have to be kidding. The former head of Section 31? He was removed from his position when Section 31 was made public knowledge."

Stephen and Dana looked at each other quizzically. Stephen approached Jovo. "What is the last thing you remember?"

"We were fighting Sloan, who was headed on a collision course for Earth. I fired an immense amount of energy at it, and we were engulfed by it. Then, I'm here."

"Thank you. Hold that thought." Stephen pulled Dana away from him. "So? What do you make of this?"

"Well, it does look like he's been drained of an immense amount of energy," said Dana. "I just don't get what he's been talking about Sloan and Section 31 and the destruction of Earth."

"Well, with what's happened recently concerning Section 31 on this ship, I'm not really interested in living another drama. Keep them under lock and key until we know more." With that Stephen left.

Dana looked at Jovo. "Yes, sir," she said, absentmindedly.
 _________________________________

Commander Lataro entered Shuttle Bay Two where Jennifer was working on the torn runabout. "So, what do you have?"

Jennifer stood up and sighed. "The strangest machine I have seen in my life."

Jon walked up to her. "What do you mean?"

Jennifer picked up a few PADDs she had on the floor and looked through them quickly. "Allow me to introduce the *USS Seth.* It runs cleaner and more efficiently than any ship I've ever seen. Its transwarp core is about the
size of a stack of PADDs."

"What?!" Jon said, incredulously.

"Yeah. And the ship also has a perfected form of the co-axial warp drive."

"Co-axial...?"

Jennifer threw him a small PADD. "It's a hypothetical drive that can travel through space and time by causing a small tear. The prototypes were unstable until Lt. Thomas Paris of the *USS Voyager* developed a co-axial
carburetor which softens the effects of that form of travel."

Jon nodded. "So, it works by creating a tesseract?"

"A tear in space and time. Should be interesting to see. I've only seen it in books."

"I saw it firsthand."

"What?!" Jennifer turned to look at her superior.

Jon nodded his head again. "Before the whole deal on Xenon III, Captain Dernom and his Kelvan buddies were brought in from the Andromeda Galaxy via a tesseract. That's how Colonel Chee and Commander Wallace were able to join us."

"Commander Wallace?"

"Promoted and now in command of Starbase 901," said Jon, smiling with a sense of pride.

"Incredible."
 _________________________________

Kat's consciousness returned slowly. Her thoughts were fuzzy. As her eyes opened she found herself staring up at the overhead of a ship. Suddenly a friendly face looked down at her.

"Hi, there, I'm Dr. Maruu. How are you feeling?" the woman asked.

"I have a headache, among other things," she replied. "What ship am I on? How did I get here?"

"You're on the *USS Virgo,*" she was told. "We found your ship adrift and beamed you aboard."

Kat was shocked. Her memories were slowly coming back. The battle with Sloan. The fireball, the energy... Jovo...

"Where's my..."

"Your friend is fine. He's in another area, but doing well. You both should recover quickly."

"Was anyone rescued from the *Aquitania*?" she asked.

Going over Jovan's story, she decided to ask Katianna what the last thing she remembered was. She got the identical story.

"I need to get out a message for my daughter and her nanny. They need to know I'm all right," Katianna replied.

"I'll see what I can do," Dr. Maruu replied with a soft smile and left. She needed to talk to the Captain once again.
 _________________________________

"I ran a background check on Katianna Nadira," she said, "What I came up with was a photo of this woman and a long history, of which there is no mention of a daughter. However, there is mention of a son by Doctor Julian
Bashir. Last thing that was heard from her was that she was transferred to an undercover operation somewhere in the Gamma Quadrant, taking her son with her. But she has been out of contact for the last year."

"Do you think this could be her?"

"I don't think so," Dana replied, "I just... feel, like this isn't the same person. And yet the photo is the same."

Stephen was silent for a moment. There was another possibility that accounted for their new guests. But was it too farfetched? After all, hadn't they lived through stranger things? "What about Jovan Kalimar?"

"Not on file."

"There's a reason for that," said a voice behind them. It was Kalmar. "That man is my father."
 

Title: "From Within"
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2461205
Earthdate: March 16, 2384
Location: USS Virgo

"There's a reason for that," said a voice behind Stephen and Dana. It was Kalmar. "That man is my father."

The two officers' mouths dropped. Stephen yelled, "What?!"

Kalmar looked down for a second, then regained himself. "Not exactly my father. Rather, the energy he holds is that of my father. I felt it as soon as he entered our reality."

"Our reality?" asked Dana.

Kalmar materialized a chair just below him as he sat. "My father was a very powerful Prophet. He was known as Kalimar. When the Kosst Amojen first threatened the Temple of the Prophets, a great war was waged in the
heavens. A war very similar to the Q Civil War which occurred about 11 years ago and was solved by the birth of Jovan Kalimar himself. Since his birth, he had a destiny; this was it."

Stephen gasped. "Commander Kalimar is a Q?"

"A former Q. Today, one would more properly describe him as half-Prophet."

"Why don't we have a Jovan Kalimar in this reality?" asked Dana.

"In this reality, Jovan Kalimar is still known as Q and still lives in the Q Continuum. His destiny is a different one."

"Do we have a destiny too?"

"Along the way of life, you have free will. When you reach the goal, you will realize that all was destined. No one can pretend to be at the goal when they are still ambling along the way. Now, allow me to finish." Kalmar
took a breath. "When the Kosst Amojen first threatened the Temple of the Prophets, a great war was waged in the heavens. The Pagh'wraiths became very powerful and nearly invincible. That's when my father decided to take action. A ritual which would give Kalimar the power of the cosmos was begun. This ritual created the Orb of Creation. That is the same orb which that reality's Sloan used to try to destroy Earth. With the orb, Kalimar more
than tripled his strength. He went up against the Pagh'wraiths. With his entire energy stream, Kalimar was able to destroy the Pagh'wraith forces and trap them deep within the Fire Caves on Bajor.

"After Kalimar's sacrifice, the Prophets took his essence and made a new orb, the Orb of Kalimar, which was to be used if necessary. The Prophets also knew there would be a day when they would need an Emissary to rid the world of the Kosst Amojen permanently. For this purpose, the Orb of the Emissary was created.

"The Orb of the Emissary has been discovered and has been used to serve its purpose. The other two orbs are out there. The Orb of Kalimar belonging to the alternate reality is within Jovan Kalimar's body. It is where his
power comes from. The orb is phased into his solar plexus. The Orb of Creation in the other reality has been destroyed. In this reality, it is also hidden."

"So, can we trust them, him and Commander Nadira?" asked Stephen.

Kalmar smiled. "They are what we call warriors of the light. In many ways, they are like you two. Give them a chance. You'll be pleasantly surprised." Kalmar disappeared without notice.

Dana smiled at Stephen. "Do you enjoy his visits as much as I do?"
 __________________________________

"Wow." Jovo looked at Kat.

Kat forced a smile. "Well, we've heard weirder."

Stephen smiled. "All right. We have set up quarters on Deck Two for both of you. I hope you find yourselves well-accomodated. Until a course of action can be taken, you two will be filling in as our Starfleet Intelligence
Officers. You will also be granted the same rank you held in your original reality. Dismissed."

Johnny and Jenara passed by the two newcomers' sides on the way out. "We were wondering if you'd join us for dinner. Consider a kind of 'Welcome to the Family' dinner," offered Jon.

Kat faced Jovo, then Jon. "We'd love to... um... Colonel..."

Jenara smiled. "On this ship, we all refer to each other on a first name basis. Ever since we went through a small war on a planet called Xenon III it's been that way." She paused. "I'm Jenara. This is Johnny."

Kat smiled. "Nice to meet you two. And thank you."

The conference room soon emptied out.
 __________________________________

Kat sat in front of her computer. "Let's see..."

Jovo stared at the screen anxiously as Kat typed in a few passwords.

Finally, the Section 31 logo appeared on the screen.

Jovo jumped up. "Yes!"

Suddenly, someone appeared on screen. It was Charlie. "Charlie!"

Charlie almost yelled out in glee. [Commander Nadira! You're alive!]

"Actually..." Kat and Jovo told him the whole story.

Charlie only put up an eyebrow as the story came to a close. [Well, you must understand my skepticism. However, only a Section 31 agent would have been able to gain access to this frequency. It is impenetrable. Allow me to confer with my team, then I will get back to you. Charlie out.]

Jovo nudged Kat. "I noticed you failed to mention the *USS Seth.*"

Kat reclined in her chair. "Remember how Section 31 used to be back home? I don't trouble I don't need. Plus, that ship is our only way back home, and my daughter is there."

Jovo sat down on the bed. "We have to get that ship working if we expect to get back." He laid back. "Should we let Captain Maruu in on our plans?"

Kat shook her head. "Not yet. He seems like someone we can trust, but let's keep quiet for..."

"You may want to rethink that." Kalmar had suddenly appeared in the entrance to the shower.

Jovo and Kat pointed their phasers at him.

Kalmar only smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself."
 __________________________________

Location: Somewhere in Arizona, Earth

"That's what they said," ended Charlie. "I believed them."

Admiral McCaffee looked around him at Sloan and Charlie. "They sound genuine, Mr. Doyle," said McCaffee, referring to Charlie.

Sloan nodded. "Plus, we need an operative on the *Virgo.* Now we would have two. Though we do need an operative who is more objective. Sinclair proved to be too much even for herself. We have cleaned our hands of her. These two may prove useful."

Charlie looked around. "So, we give them a chance then?"

"Yes," Sloan and McCaffee said at the same time.

"Very well. I'll let them know. I guess I'll be in contact with the *Virgo* from now on instead of you, Luther."

Sloan smiled. "I don't mind one bit."

The meeting quickly adjourned, and the three men began to walk away in opposite directions.