Misplaced Loyalty

[Cptn d'Ka 0]

USS Missouri

Undisclosed Mission

Sector 51, Grid Omega

 

Captain d’Ka stared at the screen as he had for the last few hours. USS Missouri and its task force had been stationed there for a week and had seen nothing except for a few distant cargo ships headed in various directions: to Federation space, to Ferengi space, or to the basic cargo waypoint, Starbase 287. The cargo ships were all on standard courses within standard flight corridors. The small Starfleet task force had seen nothing out of the ordinary, nor had they detected any suspicious signals in subspace or otherwise. A few of the task force had broken off for reconnaissance beyond their area of responsibility to see if anything could be found, but they came up with nothing. Absolutely. Nothing.

 

“Captain,” said Commander Lei’ri, pensively, breaking the long silence, “what exactly are we doing here?”

 

Without turning, without losing his stoic expression, d’Ka replied, “My question as well, ‘Ri.”

 

No one on the bridge stirred. All attended to their assignments as they had for the last week, as though this would be their life from now until doomsday. It was a strange kind of resignation, one that was simultaneously disconcerting and comfortable, if that were possible. They were obeying orders, performing their tasks to the best of their ability, as sworn Starfleet officers. Doing nothing.

 

Missouri's commander turned to watch his captain closely but drew no response. After some minutes, he broached a subject he seldom did, but he believed it was time.

 

“Do you sense nothing, Captain. Hear nothing?”

 

D’ka turned slowly and raised a weary brow. “I sense and hear many things, ‘Ri. To what do you refer?”

 

“Anything to do with this mission. Anything to do with why we are here and why, when there is nothing here, we stay.”

 

The slightest of ironic smiles appeared. “I do, ‘Ri.” He drew in a deep breath. “Can I tell you? No. Should I tell you anyway? Probably. Will I tell you?” He sighed. “Of that, I am not sure.”

 

“You are bound by your Sindar code.”

 

D’Ka nodded, his eyes the slightest shade of gold, a sign of indecision.

 

“And what, if I may be so bold to ask, sir, would make you break that code?”

 

“Something extraordinary.”

 

“Such as?”

 

The captain’s smile broadened, as though he were enjoying the exchange, or possibly challenge. “The end of the universe as we know it,” he countered, ironically playful.

 

“Then may I suggest, Captain,” replied Lei’ri, eyes locked with his superior’s, “that the universe as we know it is coming to an end.”

 

“It does every day, ‘Ri.”

 

“Indeed, Captain, but this time it is different.” Lei’ri leaned toward him to speak in confidence. “Something is drastically wrong.”

 

The captain’s eyes returned to the screen as he resumed his previous posture, the gold of his eyes deepening. “I know, ‘Ri,” he whispered. “I know.”