Making Trouble

[Cptn Corizon 0]

The man starring at him on the view screen across the light years was clearly unhappy. It had been the first time they’d been in visual contact since Excalibur left orbit of Granar Minor and given this wasn’t a social call, Corizon could imagine why the sour demeanor had formed on the Vice-Admiral’s face.

 

“Captain,” Abronvonvich said, his standard dipping into his native Russian. “Do you find ways to make trouble, or do they find you? Because I swear I am never letting you leave the station again.”

 

“It would likely just then visit you on the station.”

 

“Good point.”

 

The two men exchanged smirks before withdrawing into a more serious candor. “I just got handed a status update. This isn’t good, is it?”

 

The Dameon frowned and shook his head, ears pinned back to either side. “No, Admiral, it’s not.”

 

“Well if you want me to make things worse,” Abronvonvich said soberly, “We’ve got a leak.”

 

His ears perked into an alert position, and the steadily souring expression on his face worsened. “A leak?”

 

“I just got a call from Admiral Thomas,” he said. “And she…”

 

“Keri? I thought M’Snia was handling this.”

 

“He was, until the story broke in FNS about half an hour ago. The President’s office is now personally involved.”

 

“For the love of…”

 

“I know, I know. I’ve assured Admiral Thomas that no communications from this quadrant will pass directly to anyone else outside of the quadrant without being cleared until this crisis is over. That seemed to abate it for now. When this is over, they’ll want an investigation I am sure.”

 

“Well,” Corizon said, “Let’s try to just get through this first. I have trouble believing any of my people would have done this, they all know better. Maybe they just let something slip on accident?”

 

Abronvonvich shook his head. “Not likely. The FNS report said that it had been disclosed to them directly by a ‘member of the military with knowledge of the situation.’”

 

“That doesn’t mean it was one of my crew,” Corizon protested. “That could be anyone at Command, or hell even Camelot.”

 

“I know that,” Abronvonvich said, aiming for a neutral tone. “Like I said, when this is over we’ll have an investigation.”

 

Pursing his lip, Corizon’s frown deepened. He didn’t like the idea of an Starfleet Internal Affairs officer poking his nose around looking for information; he liked the idea of finding out someone on his crew was leaking information to the press even less.

 

“Yeah, in the meantime I’ve got a cruiser, two interceptors and a squadron of Darts parked off my forward bow demanding I turn over the Al-Ucard, Eratians and Scorpiads in less than two hours or they’re going to open fire and take them by force.”

 

Abronvonvich’s already wrinkled face contorted. “I know,” he said. “I’ve sent along your report to Thomas and the President’s office. I would hope to hear back from them before your deadline, but we are kind of out in the middle of nowhere.”

 

“It gets worse,” Corizon interjected. “Lieutenant Victira identified the commander of the group as an Elder, a member of their ruling council. According to her, they’re rarely if ever off-world and if he’s here he likely has a fleet backing him up. It also means that these aren’t run of the mill rabble we’ve got on our hands.”

 

“Damn. This just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it?”

 

“Basically.”

 

“Well hell,” the admiral said. “Find out what the hell makes them so important. What have the Scorpiad said about all this.”

 

“I just sent someone down to tell them. I have Victria on her way to find out what the other guests have to say.”

 

“Good. Alright, well… if in two hours you haven’t heard from me, assume I have not gotten marching orders from the President or Admiral Thomas. I am authorizing you to take whatever actions you deem necessary to maintain the integrity of the Federation but also to maintain the safety of the crew. As we’ve given them full diplomatic courtesy, I cannot authorize you to turn over the Scorpiad.”

 

“Of course, Admiral. I’ll do my best, but I am not a diplomat.”

 

“I am aware of that. However, as long as you act generally in the spirit of Federation law and Starfleet regulations I will support whatever action you take. The politicians might not like it, but it’s not our job to make their job easier. It’s our job to make sure that Federation law is observed.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

[Cptn Corizon 0]

There was a long silent pause in the Captain’s Ready Room.

 

“So just what do you plan to do about it?”

 

“I’ll figure something out.”

 

“Why doesn’t that make me rest any easier, Ah-Windu?”

 

“Because you have more pips than me?”

 

Abronvonvich demurred and leaned back into his chair. “Very well. I’ll let you handle this, but for the love of god don’t get me into any more trouble.”

 

“I thought that was my mission objective in the quadrant, sir.”

 

“You’re insufferable,” the white-haired admiral groaned.

 

“How are things going at Granar Minor? I’ve not had time to catch up with anything, little busy you know.”

 

Exhaling, and wondering just why in god’s name he’d signed on for this assignment and not just taken retirement to some tropical local, “Better than your mission,” he said finally. “Ambassador t’Salik has managed to negotiate a loose armistice between the rebels and the Dominion, laying the ground work for a larger agreement on sovereignty and autonomy.”

 

“That’s good to hear, though I am sure not if you’re a Vorta.”

 

“Yeah, they’re afraid to open Pandora’s box, but I guess they’d rather do it slowly than have it swung open on them without time to prepare for whatever comes out.”

 

“We’ll get caught in the middle either way.”

 

“Well yeah, nothing in this quadrant ends well for us, I am fairly convinced; anyway, it’s especially good news for you because it’s given the President something to distract the media. There will, I am almost certain, be an inquiry about this and every command decision you’ve made will be questioned, so keep that in mind as you proceed. You’ve already got a reputation as something as cowboy you know.”

 

Corizon grinned, fangily. “Yes, but I also know that it’s not my job to make decisions out of political expediency.”

 

“You’d better hope so.”

 

“So just who are you planning on pawning off your cargo?”

 

“I thought you didn’t want to know, you know… plausible deny ability.”

 

The crags on Abronvonvich’s face deepened as he frowned. “Off the record then, I’d like to know what I am going to be responding to when the higher-ups get wind of whatever little scheme you have going, Captain.”

 

“Fair enough.”

 

“So?”

 

“I’ve been in contact with Semil.”

 

“You’re joking, right?”

 

When it was clear he wasn’t, the Admiral considered shooting the Dameon and putting him out of his misery. “Oh god you aren’t.”

 

“I haven’t heard anything official back from him yet, but Semil has always been willing to help us. It’s part of a ploy, of course, but might as well use him when we can.”

 

“They’re going to kill you. We don’t recognize the Hundred, we can’t turn…”

 

“Technically we consider them to be part of the Dominion, right?”

 

Stopping, and with ever deepening frown. “That’s an awfully difficult argument you’re trying to make.”

 

“I know, but it’s the only good choice.”

 

“The Scorpiads are going to be pissed.”

 

“They were going to be pissed regardless.”

 

“Yes well, you’re not the one who has to have their Ambassador in your office, or have the Secretary of State and the Admiralty bitching you out over this.”

 

“I will take full responsibility for this.”

 

“Oh, you will.”