We-e-ell.....a little later than anticipated. That's uni life for you I guess.
This would be the ending of this chapter in the Tigermoth universe. While I've been away, I got some more background written as to where I want to take this universe and it's characters....I'm just not that certain how to get there yet. But I figured that I'd better at least end this story, and foreshadow some of what is to come.
*****************
Recovery*****************
Starfleet Medical Facility.
Manchester, England.
1242hrs Earth Standard Time.
"Oh for crying out loud..."
Lisa grabbed hold of her husband's arm as he attempted to get up. "What did the doctor say?"
"Dunno, wasn't listening." Smithy shook his head, trying to clear some of the fog left over from the medication. "I'm alright."
Lisa let go, but remained close as he shakily walked over to the water dispenser. "Dave called earlier, said he needed to see you."
"Did it sound important?"
"He said it wasn't time critical."
"Then it must be important." Smithy sipped at the water, and grimaced. "I'll be glad to get back to the 'Moth. At least her water's safe to drink."
Lisa followed him back to the biobed. "Hopefully you'll be out of here soon. Mack wants to deal with your recovery personally, says he won't trust anyone else."
"Typical Mack."
"Plus, there's the small matter of defending the Federation. We lost a lot of ships...a lot of people."
Smithy brushed a strand of hair out of his wife's eyes. "You okay?"
Lisa smiled at him. "I'm not the one in hospital."
"I know, but...."
"I'm fine. Or at least, I
will be once you're out of here and we're both back out
there." She waved a hand up. "Don't think I've spent this much time on Earth since I was at the Academy." She turned and kissed him. "I'll go call Dave. Back in a minute."
Smithy watched her go, and lay back on the bed. He glanced over at the neighbouring bunk. "So, you wanna tell me what you're in for yet?"
Keiran opened one eye. "Hmm?"
"Come on, out with it. Starfleet wouldn't have kept you in here if it wasn't important."
"I'm fine, really. Just got a dose of radiation." Keiran shot him a glance, knowing that he hadn't sounded convincing and changed the subject. "What d'you suppose Dave wants?"
Smithy shook his head. "No idea. But I've got a feeling I'm not going to like it."
The door hissed open, Lisa crossing quickly to Smithy's bed. "Get up and dressed. Now."
Smithy raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
"Plenty. Get up, we need to get to the 'Moth."
"Alright, alright." Smithy grabbed his trousers out of the drawer underneath the bed, while Lisa fished his boots out of the cabinet. "Is Dave up there now?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Smithy shot a look at Keiran. "Look after yourself mate."
"You too."
*****************
USS Tigermoth-A.
Earth Orbit.
Harriman sat in the observation lounge, staring down at the planet. He never got tired of this view. Workbees floated by, heading for the dock scaffolds that contained ships that weren't badly damaged enough to have been sent to Utopia Planitia. He glanced down at the PADD in his hands, wishing that the news it had brought wasn't true.
"Dave?"
He turned, finding Smithy staring back at him. Concern was etched into his friend's face. "Hey. I'd have come down to you, but I figured this way we'd get you out of that hospital quicker."
"Not that I'm ungrateful for that....but you wanna tell me what this is about?"
Harriman motioned him over to the bar, fishing a couple of glasses and a bottle out from behind it. "My secretary handed me this PADD earlier. Take a read."
Smithy took the PADD, and glanced over it. "Special communique......all TacFleet divisions......security tasks now under control of new Special Operations Division? What the hell is this?"
"That....is what's about to be announced across the Federation network in about a half-hour's time. It goes on to say that they will be taking over TacFleet's ships, and that they will eventually be replaced with an all-new series of ships specifically designed for one thing only."
"Combat."
"Along with crews solely trained in combat. They're trawling for volunteers to help set this thing up as we speak."
Smithy stared down at the PADD. "It says here....'Special Operations Division will not be a part of the overall chain of command in Starfleet. It will instead exist as a seperate entity, that can call on Starfleet when situations require it.' So these people have ultimate say in the defence of the Federation, and TacFleet has effectively been put out of a job."
"Thats what it boils down to."
"But that's madness!"
"Quite true." Harriman handed him a drink. "It gets much worse. Not only does Starfleet have absolutely no control over them, neither does the Federation Council."
"Who
do they answer to?"
"The President. And only the President."
Smithy swallowed the drink in a single gulp. "So...the security of the Federation is effectively in the hands of a military that has no ties with the governments of the people they're supposed to protect. Oh, just wonderful. What have the other main players said about this?"
"Chancellor Martok went ballistic, predictably. The Romulans have said nothing, which can't be good news. The Cardassians have severed diplomatic ties." He sipped at his drink, and sighed. "Effectively, the entire galaxy is pissed off at the President for doing this. Which of course leads to the other big problem."
"Which is?"
"While you were under, the elections for the new President took place. You know a guy called John Maxwell?"
"As in, former head of Starfleet Engineering John Maxwell?" Harriman nodded, and Smithy groaned. "Yeah, we banged heads a few times."
"He's the new President. And upon his election, the Council extended the powers of said President. They've effectively made him a dictator with the power he has now."
"Fools." Smithy scowled at the PADD. "So, it boils down to this: 'Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?'." At Harriman's questioning look, he translated. "From Juvenal's Satires. It roughly means 'Who guards the guardians?'"
Harriman nodded. "Well, TacFleet is still here for now. And when this new outfit takes over there'll still be some ships that these guys don't want. Scroll down the PADD, there's a preliminary list of ships that they know for certain that they don't want in the new outfit."
Smithy skimmed it quickly. "The Jensen.....Levi.....Godfrey.....Doohan.....Herriott.....and what d'ya know? The Tigermoth."
"Official reason is that she's old. Unofficially.....the President was told in no uncertain terms - hands off."
"You have anything to do with that?" Harriman shrugged, and Smithy took that as confirmation. "Well, thanks for the heads up. What will you do now?"
"I've been posted to the new Spacedock III at the Antares shipyards. Overseeing construction of the new Starfleet. Start next week."
"Funny coincidence - the Tigermoth has to go to Antares for some final repair work." Smithy grinned at his former captain. "Fancy a slow cruise?"
*****************
Bridge.
"Captain on the bridge!"
"At ease." Smithy glanced around the new bridge module that had been fitted. "Nice. Very nice." He moved around, inspecting each console with a delighted grin. "All stations, confirm launch readiness. Ops?"
"Sensors and scanners show ready, sir."
"Helm?"
"All moorings cleared. Thrusters at station keeping."
"Communications?"
"Dock signals clear, Captain."
He keyed his comm badge. "Engine room?"
Orlatrel answered immediately. "
Intermix set. Impulse and warp power at your discretion."
"Any objections from the rest of you?" He looked around. There were none. "Alright. Helm, set a course for the Antares Shipyards." He glanced at Lisa, sat next to her, and flashed a smile at her before leaning forward. "Take us out."
*****************
*****************
Topic: ST:Tigermoth - Silent Enemy (Read 21458 times)