Captain Nat appeared in a bright flash, standing in front of Admiral Nat, facing the viewscreen. He looked around, then turned to the admiral. "Oh, there you are. I'm back. Bad news."
Admiral Nat deadpanned the captain. "I don't like where this is going."
The captain replied. "Me neither. Long story short, our plan was the worst possible idea ever. We're sure as hell not sending anyone there again, and I came back with the powers, luckily. We'll need a new plan."
The admiral sighed and laid back in his chair. "Well, the Firestorm is out of commission and victim to inactive Borg nanoprobes, so we're surely not storing the powers there right now."
Jim called in over the comms. "Actually, the Caitians are gone now. Also, we're not detecting Elric, either. He's gone."
Sarah sighed and facepalmed. "Of course not. Tag the rest of the drones and come back, huh?"
Captain Nat deadpanned Krystal. "Caitians kidnapping Elric? Welp, that was totally expected. What now?"
Admiral Nat turned to the captain. "We've got a changeling to talk to about a certain ship he's holding in one of those Dyson Spheres, actually. I think we should go find him or her about now."
Admiral Nat nodded. "This is one of them, I'd think. Besides, what else is there to deal with now? The Chronostorm? The Infamous on ESD? The changeling? I mean, getting that lost ship is pretty important; their crew needs to be back here with us rather than being out there needlessly."
"Chronostorm is one of them yes," Krystal replied. "Too risky to keep that tech lying around. But we do have control of that ship so it isn't an immediate concern."
Tes and Ta'Rrok enter the Admirals office. They both take notice of the two security officers standing on side of both doors. Quinn glares up at both of them from his desk and motions for the guards to wait out side and lock the door as they exit.
Quinn, "Have a sit. I want think you both for coming". Tes nervously takes the chair close's to the Admiral's desk. Ta'Rrok keeps standing. "I've read your reports,watched your simulations, and talked it over with the rest of the higher ups. An let me tell you right now" He cross's his arms on his chest and looks at Ta'Rrok. "If it was up to me. This project would be scraped and never heard of again."
Tes begins to jump up and speak but gets pushed back in her sit by Ta'Rrok and he begins to speak instead." Sir with all due respected. With all th_" Quinn holds up his hand. Prompting Ta'Rrok to suddenly stop talking. Quinn gave Ta'Rrok a dead pan face look.
Quinn,"Did it seem like i was done talking Jones?" Ta'Rrok felt annoyed an Tes had a bit of a concerned look on her face."I know star fleet has had its run of bad luck lately.The Klingons, Gorn, Tholians, and only god knows what else is coming at us next. An that was the argument i had to sit threw. Wile discussing your now approved project."Both Ta'Rrock and Tes's eyes widen and jaws dropped. Tes could barley contain her self and started fidgeting with the sides of her chair. "Don't celebrate just yet you two. Ta'Rrok, i can't help but notice those new Admiral bars on your collar." Ta'Rrok feels for them.
Ta'Rrok,"yes sir and i'm a bit confused at why I'm already wearing them. It feels too soon for these. Not that i'm complaining." Admiral Quin just sat in his chair smiling. Had never seen the Admiral smile before.
Quinn," Ta'Rrok let me give a little history lesson. Then tell me if you see a pattern" Ta'Rrok nods."Tom Parries, wile lost in the Delta quadrant. Designed and built the 1st delta flyer. Noonian Soong, designed and built the 1st positronic brain. Henry Archer designed the 1st warp 5 engine and before him. Dr. Zefram Cochran, The 1st warp powerd star ship. Do you see were I'm going with this?"
Ta'Rrok,"They all had ideas?"
Quinn,"That's only part of it!"
Tesla,"They all had a hand in building them?"
Quinn,"right Commander Tesla. Maybe i should put those bars on her in stead..haha." She smiled and started felling more relaxed."Point is! This is your baby and your in charge of it. An i don't need to tell you that all this.....Is classified information. Hints the guards and your new rank. No one else under the rank of V.Admiral is to know. So i suggest you keep your team small." Quinn hands Ta'Rrok a pad." If you haven't already picked them out here are few recommendations. You have 2 weeks to submit the plan and 4 months to put it all together. The EL Dorado should be completed and ready to test it by then. Dismissed!" They hear the door unlock as they start to walk out.
Tesla wait's patiently outside Club 42 for Ta'Rrok, She had been playing with one of her dark blue antennas and pacing the floor back in forth. "OK! He should done been here by now. Its been what....8."Her head slumps down in to her hand and lets out a slow sigh of frustration."Its only been 8 minutes. OK Tes com your self down. I'm just a little overly excited. Big project and lots of hu_" he brakes in before she can finish talking to her self.
Ta'Rrok," I don't mean to be rude. But is this a privet conversation? OR can anyone just jump in?HAHE"smiling at her as he walks up from behind.
Tesla,"So were...have..yee biin?"
Ta'Rrok, "Haha yee biin.Haha What ha kinda language is that?Who talks like that?Were have yee biin". mocking her just a bit."I have BIIN! Doing a little research on some the people Quinn suggested as a part of our team."
Tesla, "ANNNND! What have YEE decided?" She glances at pad he was holding.
Ta'Rrok, "Yes Tes i have. I've decided.....That Club 42 is NOT the best place to talk about classified information."
Burt turned to Krystal. "Actually, we already locked down the Chronostorm's main computer, so it should be safe for now."
Admiral Nat slowly got up. "Well, let's go back to ESD and have a chat with that changeling..." he finished walking over to the turbolift, motioning for Captain Nat, Sarah, and Krystal to follow, then turning to Burt. "Oh, and let Jim know to hurry up with the drones and then get up here and keep an eye on things, alright?"
Burt nodded in reply and turned back to his station. Nat, Nat, and Sarah entered the turbolift, waiting for Krystal.
The older human and Starfleet officer brushed his greying goatee for a moment and stepped forward on the Bridge of the Odyssey-class vessel. The view of Spacedock's lower section filled the large display screen.
"Lieutenant Arkane," he said. "Please contact Admiral Nat."
His Tellarite tactical officer nodded and tapped a few controls. "Sending sir."
Admiral Nat's combadge chirped, and he tapped it in response. Burt's voice came over the comms. "Sir, Admiral Cid of the U.S.S. Valhalla would like to speak to you."
Admiral Nat responded. "Well, I'll probably have to take the transmission en-route, so put their transmission through."
Captain Nat and Sarah glanced at each other, then to Krystal, then to the door as it opened on deck 5, near transporter room one. The admiral wasted no time and walked out, followed by them, while waiting for a reply.
"Admiral Nat, this is Admiral Cid. It's come to my attention the Valhalla has a visitor. I just wanted to let you know Captain Elric is in our Sickbay undergoing surgery. I'm told he's going to be okay. It would seem an overzealous Doctor on my ship had transported Elric off Spacedock during a chance discovery of his presence there. Just wanted to keep you in the loop."
Admiral Nat raised an eyebrow. "Well, finally some good news. Be sure to let us know when and if he condition changes; I'll be out on a bit of a mission, so you can keep in contact with my first officer, Captain Dennison, who'll be on the bridge shortly. He'll keep me informed."
"Will do. Good luck on your mission, Admiral. Valhalla out."
When the transmission cut, Admiral Cid nodded to Arkane that his task was over. Cid turned and sat in his command chair. He didn't approve of that Doctor making moves without his consent, but saving a Starfleet Captain definitely was a result he wanted. Either way, Cid would assist Spacedock in any repairs required during their crisis, drop the medical officer and the G'arto survivors off, and then return to the Valhalla's deep space missions.
Admiral Nat walked into the transporter room and motioned to the transporter officer. "Beam us down to ESD."
Nat, Nat, and Sarah stepped onto the transporter pad and were beamed to ESD, then headed for the changeling's quarters as directed by the station's main computer.
They arrived at the changeling's quarters, and Sarah pressed the doorbell button on the control panel. A few moments later, the changeling emerged, looking just like Admiral Nat, but in a Jupiter uniform. "What is it?"
Admiral Nat deadpanned the look, but answered anyway. "Word has it you have the alternate universe's U.S.S. Sally, and the ship's crew in one of your Dyson Spheres?"
The changeling stopped for a moment. "I didn't think you knew that. Oh well. Galaxy Xs are a dime a dozen, so you can have the ship. The crew, on the other hand, will wait."
Sarah glared. "How come?"
The changeling replied calmly. "If I give them to you, how else can I guarantee you won't betray me? The Alliance's Dyson Spheres may have been modified to be immune to Q powers, but an invasion force certainly wouldn't be, especially since you and your people stole my powers..."
Admiral Nat focused on the changeling. "Not that you should've had them to begin with, but that's besides the point. We'd appreciate the ship back, especially as an indication of good will, but it's the crew we're looking for in particular. When should we negotiate for them?"
The changeling reached for a remote of some kind and placed it in the admiral's hands. "You can have the Infamous, by the way. As for the crew, I'll have my people deliver them to you... when you give me undeniable proof of the Infamous armada's complete destruction and total freedom of the Dominion."
Admiral Nat turned to Captain Nat and Krystal, as though between a rock and a hard place.
"Hold on a second," Krystal spoke up. "I was planning on setting up the armada to be more of a response unit type thing at some point. Helping out with disaster relief, and if necessary be ready to help defend our galaxy if needed. I'm willing to negotiate the Dominion's freedom, but I don't think scrapping a viable resource is the way to do it."
Krystal crossed her arms across her chest.
"Starfleet can only cover so much territory, and wouldn't be welcome in certain regions," she countered. "And I would rather not have to rely on a single person to save the day all the time."
The changeling crossed their arms as well. "Then maybe the Federation should expand and take over those regions and expand."
Admiral Nat spoke up. "No, the Federation wouldn't do that. Besides, why does the Infamous armada need to be destroyed? All you want is freedom of the Dominion, and Krystal can probably give them just that. Why isn't that enough?"
The changeling replied sternly. "What if they come back, or use those nanites to control our Vorta and Jem'Hadar like they already have been?"
Sarah replied to herself. "Guess the nanites don't work on changelings, huh..." she spoke up to the changeling. "Our crew found a way to remove the nanites, actually. We can give you that knowledge."
"I would never allow the use of those nanites to force anyone to do anything," Krystal said with certainty. "I am not The Infamous. I don't subjugate anyone."
Krystal just put her hands on her hips.
"And how long have I been in charge and able to do anything without some end of the universe event getting in the way?" she countered.
Sarah shrugged. "You never were, actually, cuz there's always an admiral somewhere." She turned and winked at the admiral.
Admiral Nat sighed. "Ok, who says you even need the permission of the Infamous armada to even be free? If we give you the information on how to remove the nanites, you'll be free already, you'd just need Krystal to order away any Infamous ships that come to reinforce their control."
Sarah replied. "What if they say no?"
Captain Nat sparked up. "Then I'll whisk them away to a pocket dimension and bring them back out when we find a place for them."
"Look... all I ask is that if some galaxy threatening event happens, the Dominion helps to protect the galaxy," Krystal said. "So if we somehow have some extragalactic invasion fleet or something on that scale come up, you stand with us in defense of our home galaxy. That's it."
The changeling deadpanned Krystal. "We may be strict, but we're not stupid. If some galaxy threatening force shows up, we'd fight them anyway. Didn't you see us out helping around here when the Iconians attacked Earth?"
"I did," Krystal replied. "However sometimes the Dominion can be difficult to get a hold of. I'm hoping that you continue to help with defending this galaxy like you did in the last days of the Iconian War. When we work together, even on a temporary basis, there's nothing we can't do. Consider it a conditional Mutual Defense Treaty if you want. Only activates in the case of a major threat like the Iconians. Not conflicts between neighbors."
"While I agree anything official would have to go through the proper channels," Krsytal said. "We can at least make an informal agreement between us for now. We'll let the diplomats hash out the real thing between governments. I may be in charge of the Armada, but I'm just a starship Captain at the end of the day. I don't do politics."
Admiral Nat deadpanned the captain. "I don't like where this is going."
The captain replied. "Me neither. Long story short, our plan was the worst possible idea ever. We're sure as hell not sending anyone there again, and I came back with the powers, luckily. We'll need a new plan."
The admiral sighed and laid back in his chair. "Well, the Firestorm is out of commission and victim to inactive Borg nanoprobes, so we're surely not storing the powers there right now."
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Sarah sighed and facepalmed. "Of course not. Tag the rest of the drones and come back, huh?"
Captain Nat deadpanned Krystal. "Caitians kidnapping Elric? Welp, that was totally expected. What now?"
Admiral Nat turned to the captain. "We've got a changeling to talk to about a certain ship he's holding in one of those Dyson Spheres, actually. I think we should go find him or her about now."
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"Got some loose ends all over the place," she replied. "Probably should tie some of them up before something bites us."
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Tesla wait's patiently outside Club 42 for Ta'Rrok, She had been playing with one of her dark blue antennas and pacing the floor back in forth. "OK! He should done been here by now. Its been what....8."Her head slumps down in to her hand and lets out a slow sigh of frustration."Its only been 8 minutes. OK Tes com your self down. I'm just a little overly excited. Big project and lots of hu_" he brakes in before she can finish talking to her self.
Ta'Rrok," I don't mean to be rude. But is this a privet conversation? OR can anyone just jump in?HAHE"smiling at her as he walks up from behind.
Tesla,"So were...have..yee biin?"
Ta'Rrok, "Haha yee biin.Haha What ha kinda language is that?Who talks like that?Were have yee biin". mocking her just a bit."I have BIIN! Doing a little research on some the people Quinn suggested as a part of our team."
Tesla, "ANNNND! What have YEE decided?" She glances at pad he was holding.
Ta'Rrok, "Yes Tes i have. I've decided.....That Club 42 is NOT the best place to talk about classified information."
Admiral Nat slowly got up. "Well, let's go back to ESD and have a chat with that changeling..." he finished walking over to the turbolift, motioning for Captain Nat, Sarah, and Krystal to follow, then turning to Burt. "Oh, and let Jim know to hurry up with the drones and then get up here and keep an eye on things, alright?"
Burt nodded in reply and turned back to his station. Nat, Nat, and Sarah entered the turbolift, waiting for Krystal.
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The older human and Starfleet officer brushed his greying goatee for a moment and stepped forward on the Bridge of the Odyssey-class vessel. The view of Spacedock's lower section filled the large display screen.
"Lieutenant Arkane," he said. "Please contact Admiral Nat."
His Tellarite tactical officer nodded and tapped a few controls. "Sending sir."
Admiral Nat's combadge chirped, and he tapped it in response. Burt's voice came over the comms. "Sir, Admiral Cid of the U.S.S. Valhalla would like to speak to you."
Admiral Nat responded. "Well, I'll probably have to take the transmission en-route, so put their transmission through."
Captain Nat and Sarah glanced at each other, then to Krystal, then to the door as it opened on deck 5, near transporter room one. The admiral wasted no time and walked out, followed by them, while waiting for a reply.
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When the transmission cut, Admiral Cid nodded to Arkane that his task was over. Cid turned and sat in his command chair. He didn't approve of that Doctor making moves without his consent, but saving a Starfleet Captain definitely was a result he wanted. Either way, Cid would assist Spacedock in any repairs required during their crisis, drop the medical officer and the G'arto survivors off, and then return to the Valhalla's deep space missions.
Nat, Nat, and Sarah stepped onto the transporter pad and were beamed to ESD, then headed for the changeling's quarters as directed by the station's main computer.
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Admiral Nat deadpanned the look, but answered anyway. "Word has it you have the alternate universe's U.S.S. Sally, and the ship's crew in one of your Dyson Spheres?"
The changeling stopped for a moment. "I didn't think you knew that. Oh well. Galaxy Xs are a dime a dozen, so you can have the ship. The crew, on the other hand, will wait."
Sarah glared. "How come?"
The changeling replied calmly. "If I give them to you, how else can I guarantee you won't betray me? The Alliance's Dyson Spheres may have been modified to be immune to Q powers, but an invasion force certainly wouldn't be, especially since you and your people stole my powers..."
Admiral Nat focused on the changeling. "Not that you should've had them to begin with, but that's besides the point. We'd appreciate the ship back, especially as an indication of good will, but it's the crew we're looking for in particular. When should we negotiate for them?"
The changeling reached for a remote of some kind and placed it in the admiral's hands. "You can have the Infamous, by the way. As for the crew, I'll have my people deliver them to you... when you give me undeniable proof of the Infamous armada's complete destruction and total freedom of the Dominion."
Admiral Nat turned to Captain Nat and Krystal, as though between a rock and a hard place.
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"Starfleet can only cover so much territory, and wouldn't be welcome in certain regions," she countered. "And I would rather not have to rely on a single person to save the day all the time."
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Admiral Nat spoke up. "No, the Federation wouldn't do that. Besides, why does the Infamous armada need to be destroyed? All you want is freedom of the Dominion, and Krystal can probably give them just that. Why isn't that enough?"
The changeling replied sternly. "What if they come back, or use those nanites to control our Vorta and Jem'Hadar like they already have been?"
Sarah replied to herself. "Guess the nanites don't work on changelings, huh..." she spoke up to the changeling. "Our crew found a way to remove the nanites, actually. We can give you that knowledge."
The changeling answered. "Curious..."
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Admiral Nat turned to his captain counterpart. "Now that, is slightly concerning."
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"And how long have I been in charge and able to do anything without some end of the universe event getting in the way?" she countered.
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Admiral Nat sighed. "Ok, who says you even need the permission of the Infamous armada to even be free? If we give you the information on how to remove the nanites, you'll be free already, you'd just need Krystal to order away any Infamous ships that come to reinforce their control."
Sarah replied. "What if they say no?"
Captain Nat sparked up. "Then I'll whisk them away to a pocket dimension and bring them back out when we find a place for them."
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