Captain's Log

[Cptn Elias Moore 0]

"Mr. Nagen?"

 

The Bolian engineer ceased his whispered conversation with his assistant and turned to look at the person who had addressed him. It was a young woman, short but surprisingly built, wearing the pips of a noncommissioned officer. "Yes, I am Nagen." He replied, wondering how long the woman had been standing there.

 

"Our field team is returning to the ship. We need to make room in the bay for their shuttle pod."

 

"Oh, yes! Of course." The Bolian replied, almost looking relieved. "Our business here is finished anyway, we were just departing for the Achilles."

 

The turbolift hissed to a stop behind the woman and two more enlisted officers, both larger men, stepped off and approached. "I'm sorry Mr. Nagen." The woman said as the two men stopped on either side of her. "Lieutenant Westler has ordered me to retrieve you. Your presence is once more required by the command staff."

 

"What?!" Nagen's voice was barely more than a whisper. "This is beyond belief! Have we not already settled this? Am I going to be convicted for an engineer's curiosity?"

 

"They only wish to question you. You may have one of your staff members take your pod out, or we could. Will you come with us?"

 

Nagen realized that the question had just the right tinge of a threat in its tone--he could come freely if he so desired, but he would be dragged if he refused. They had something else on him, but not enough to treat him outright as a criminal. He looked at his assistant. "Ardyus, gather the rest of the team and take the pod back to the Achilles. I shall be most inconveniently delayed."

 

* * * * *

 

It was approaching the end of Alpha shift, but sleep was not a priority on the Captain's mind. He watched the shuttle pod get pulled into the bay on the viewscreen, the first officer and security chief on board. What would he say about Connor's stunt? What would he not say?

 

Connor was refusing to stop playing the rebel. Just like Elias during the early days, the Ensign had talent, but there was no devotion to commander, crew, or fleet in his manner. He was perfectly willing to throw away his Starfleet career. Why? Because he got caught in one of his miscreant acts and it stung his pride. His refusal to be truthful, the attitude he was throwing around... just his ways of keeping his chest puffed out. All his talent could end up being wasted if he didn't wizen up.

 

Once Elias submitted the names of the seven crewmen who were to be exchanged for the MACO's waiting on Transport M-7, the Transport would head back to Earth. If Connor did not take the opportunity the house arrest was giving him to cool off and come clean, he would be on board the Transport when it left. Elias was putting off the selection of crewmen, using the excuse that it was difficult to single out which people would be asked to leave the ship. He was really buying time, however, time for the Ensign to realize that Elias was protecting him, not punishing him.

 

Connor could not serve on this ship if he had no compunctions about lying to senior officers, and, with General Order S8-A5 in place, his deception and refusal to cooperate could cost him his career. Maybe, like a young Elias, this possibility would mean nothing to him. But years of experience, friendships with fellow officers, and the tutelage of good mentors allowed Elias to gain a better appreciation of the Starfleet life... he didn't want Connor to be denied the same growth process.

 

There was little room for the Captain to maneuver. The new general order targetted him as surely as it targetted anyone else on the crew. Part of it, he was sure, was Gardner's way of challenging him to either play ball or deal with the disgrace of a court-martial. His own job could end up on the line if he threw warnings about the order to Connor or asked Sergio and Cole to look the other way. Connor's career could end up in jeopardy if this mess was simply allowed to run its course. So he had the Ensign ready to head back to Earth for reassignment, hoping that as little fuss as possible could be made about this if Connor chose to remain bullheaded.

 

Nagen, the Bolian engineer at the heart of it all, was waiting most impatiently in guarded guest quarters. He would be the focus of Sergio's attention, but Connor's name would have to come up. There would be one more dive into the crucible before all this was settled. Elias knew that, as Captain, he would have to get used to the heat.