Captain's Log

[Cptn Elias Moore 0]

"We are *not* giving this system up, Mr. Moore!" Admiral Gardner barked over the head of the MACO accompanying him and Elias to the turbolift. "Why is the fleet pulling out?"

 

"We're stalling for time." Elias answered. "My scientists are working on evidence that the L'Traisans were involved in genetic research on their own people. It could be enough to scare them out of this system. Or not. We might have no choice but to give Nequencia up."

 

"Unacceptable!" Gardner practically shouted as the group moved into the lift. The MACO escort tapped the control panel, indicating the launch bay. "The L'Traisan government has never made an official claim to this world. Our claim, however, is quite valid."

 

"That is debatable, at best." Elias said. "The remains of L'Traisan soldiers are buried down there. But as I said, if we can prove--"

 

"You *want* to abandon this world!" Gardner cut him off. "You've already said so! You want to tuck tail and run before the Romulans can show up investigating their lost spy ship. And now you're getting rid of me so that I can't stop you!"

 

Elias stepped off the lift as it arrived and turned to face Gardner. "I am serving Starfleet! I have been doing nothing else since Challenger arrived in this system! Right now I have people working very hard to strengthen your hold on this world, as foolish as I think it is at this point. And I am moving you out of this system for your own safety because this may turn to violence. I would like nothing more than to make a Romulan backlash someone else's problem, but they obviously know we've established a presence here, so they'll be coming after us one way or another. Don't worry, Admiral, your war will be safe no matter what happens here."

 

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Gardner was fuming as he shoved the MACO aside and exited the lift.

 

"You know damned well." Elias turned and walked toward the waiting shuttle pod. He didn't want this argument to delay Gardner's departure. "All you care about is weapons and fleet expansions. And if you don't have war on your mind, why do your friends in the Senate keep throwing words like 'retaliation' around?"

 

"My friends in the Senate!" Gardner scoffed loudly. "You're practically never on Earth, and you think you know everything there is to know about Earth politics. I've grown bored of these 'shadow conspiracies' of Admirals running United Earth through their Senate puppets... and I am dismayed that one of my starship commanders gives any sort of regard to such nonsense. Be careful about throwing around such accusations, Mr. Moore, because my tolerance for you is waning fast."

 

Elias stopped next to the shuttlepod's open hatch and stared back at Gardner without saying a word. The Admiral smirked cryptically before climbing aboard the pod.

 

"Captain," Lieutenant Westler's voice emerged from Elias' communicator as he made his way back to the lift. "The L'Traisans are demanding that the fleet leave the system now."

 

"Inform them once again that we're transferring personnel and that they'll have to wait--"

 

"We did, but they just--" Aaron was cut off by a sudden flurry of voices in the background.

 

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Elias asked as he reached the lift, but Aaron now sounded as if he was conversing with the Bridge crew. As Elias tapped the lift's control panel, it became clear what the problem was. There was no mistaking the tingling at the back of his neck. He'd felt it enough times by this point to recognize it at once.

 

Aaron turned to face the lift as it arrived at the back of the Bridge. It was empty.

 

T'Parek looked up from her station to report. "The L'Traisans have transported Captain Moore to their flagship."