Though she had had her share of break time in the past day, it didn't feel like it. Yilaan paced about the Bridge, wired on her sixth cup of coffee, and waited impatiently. At length, Lt. O'Shea leaned forward on the tactical panel, which overlooked the forward part of the Bridge. "Commander?"
Yilaan stopped in her tracks and stared at him. "Yes, O'Shea, what is it?"
"You're making me dizzy."
Yilaan made a face. "Get me the Klingon border commander. That freighter was supposed to be at that planet two hours ago, checking in on our people. I want some answers," she commanded forcefully as she straightened her uniform.
"Aye Commander," O'Shea replied. A moment later he added, "On screen."
The background stars were replaced by the image of the Klingon. "What Commander?" he asked rudely.
"What news from your freighter on our missing ship? The thing was supposed to be there two hours ago!" Yilaan asked brusquely.
"I'm sorry Commander, I should've contacted you sooner. There are vicious animals on the surface of that planet. Our freighter's landing party was lucky to get back alive. We found no trace of your people," the Klingon replied carefully, with a vicious sneer.
"I see," Yilaan responded calmly as the rest of the Bridge crew gasped. Her empathy was screaming, 'He's lying!' at her, so she wasn't particularly upset by the 'news.' "What has your freighter done with our Runabout then?"
The Klingon rubbed his chin. "We didn't see any evidence of a ship, Commander, but perhaps they landed it on the surface somewhere non-detectable," he lied.
"I see," Yilaan said again, walking slowly towards the front of the Bridge, until she was standing only a few feet away from the viewscreen. "Well, thank you for your time. Bristol out." The Klingon looked confused at her lack of emotion, before his image was replaced with stars.
"Commander, I," O'Shea began in a weak voice, before Yilaan interrupted him.
"Lieutenant, he was lying. Don't get upset about the captain and landing party just yet. Get me Starfleet; Admiral Lowery," she commanded.
A moment later Lowery appeared on the screen. "Commander Yilaan! Greetings. What I can do for you?" Yilaan brought the admiral up to speed on recent events, including her latest conversation with the Klingon border commander and her empathic feelings. She knew that, as a Vulcan, Lowery would put more stock in her abilities than a non-empath would. After listening to her monologue, Lowery said, "So what do you want to do about this?"
"I want to take the Bristol there myself and find out what's going on," Yilaan stated.
Lowery shook his head, "You know I can't authorize that. The treaty is specific that a Federation vessel would need Klingon permission to enter their territory. I'm certainly not qualified to give that." Yilaan sighed heavily while Lowery continued, "I sympathize, Yilaan. Freeman is my friend too, but this treaty is too important for us to start taking chances. Now, I'll put this to the Council and maybe we can get some help through diplomatic channels."
"Very well Admiral," Yilaan replied neutrally. The down side of Lowery, she realized, was that he wasn't much for risk taking.
"If the captain hasn't returned in twenty four hours, signal me again," the admiral said. "Lowery out."
"Get me that Klingon again," Yilaan commanded to O'Shea. The Klingon border commander appeared on the screen again. Before he could say anything, Yilaan ripped into him. "I want permission to enter your space and conduct our own search."
The Klingon sneered at her, "Really, Commander, don't you trust us? We're your allies after all."
"No, I don't. I know you're lying. What have you done with our ship and crew? Where are they?" Yilaan said, raising her voice.
The Klingon pounded his fist into his desk. "You dishonor me with your accusations!"
"And you dishonor me with your forked tongue!" Yilaan retorted. "I'm going to conduct my own search whether you like it or not!"
The Klingon swore and snapped his fingers. He then sat back and exposed his uneven set of teeth in a smile of confidence. "I think not," he said calmly, "but violate the treaty if you really want to."
"Commander, Klingon vessel decloaking ahead of us. Now another. Three in all now; one K'Vort class battle-cruiser and two birds of prey," O'Shea said, alarmed.
"Red alert," Yilaan commanded, moving quickly to the command chair and sitting down. "Shields up. Status of vessels?" she asked while the Klingon on the viewscreen laughed.
"All ships have their shields up and weapons charged, Commander," O'Shea replied.
Yilaan tapped her comm-badge, "Reiv and Gates, to the Bridge please!" She then looked at the Klingon still on the viewscreen, "This isn't over. Not yet!" The Klingon merely laughed again and severed communications. Yilaan contemplated for a moment, before another report from Lt. O'Shea interrupted her thoughts.
"Commander, I'm detecting another ship on long range scan," he began. "I think it's our shuttle! It's headed on an intercept course for us."
"Try to raise them," Yilaan said, as Lt. Reiv and Ensign Gates arrived on the Bridge, replacing the duty officers at helm and navigation.
"No response to our hails, Commander," O'Shea replied.
"How long to intercept?"
"Less than an hour," O'Shea reported.
Time passed agonizingly slow for the crew of the Bristol as they waited for their Runabout to arrive. When it finally did, thankfully unmolested by the nearby Klingon cruisers, Yilaan was prepared. Not knowing if her shipmates would be inside, she led three security teams to the shuttle bay in which the Runabout would dock. Her elated expression upon seeing the captain and the others slowly file out of the craft was replaced with one of concern as they brought forth the litter containing Lt. Ivanovna. Freeman ordered some of the security to help the remaining shuttle crew to Sickbay. He walked over to Yilaan and smiled.
"Good to see you Commander," he said, still in the clothing given to him on the planet. His face was bruised and he bore a few obvious nicks and scratches.
"And you Captain," she replied, looking him over. "I take it you found more than you bargained for sir?"
"We did indeed. I think I'd like to have a little chat with a Klingon," Freeman replied grimly.
Freeman and Yilaan made their way to the Bridge. "Good to see you Captain," O'Shea said happily when the two exited the turbolift.
Freeman nodded in acknowledgement, "Lieutenant, get me that Klingon on the viewscreen."
The border commander appeared and had trouble containing his initial surprise at seeing Freeman again. "Uh, Captain! We were worried for your safety! Good to see you made it back in one piece!"
Freeman walked slowly towards the viewscreen. "Save it! You led us into a trap and you know it. I shall not forget the favor you granted us by allowing us to proceed as you did," he stated harshly, referring sarcastically to the Klingon's seeming good nature in allowing the journey to proceed in a Federation shuttle. Freeman's threatening posture was thinly veiled at best. "Lieutenant, get this lying p'tak off my viewscreen," he ordered O'Shea, insulting the Klingon with his comment.
"Lt. Reiv, get us back on patrol," Freeman ordered, the tone of his voice returning to normal. "So, Yilaan, any problems here?" he asked, settling into the command chair.
"None that I can think of sir. Anything you can think of, Lt. Reiv?" she asked the Bajoran helmsman.
He swivelled in his chair to face her. "No problems, Commander."
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