Chapter 21

Starbase 47

“Starbase 47, this is the shuttlecraft Woodlawn requesting permission to dock.”

“This is starbase control. You are cleared to dock at Pad E.”

Wiping the blood on his forehead away from his eyes, Elias Vaughn said, “Thank you, starbase control. We’ll need a medic to meet us-we’ve got wounded.”

“Acknowledged.”

Vaughn looked over at the still-unconscious forms of Special Emissary Tartovsky-who would no doubt be fuming when she awoke-and Commander T’Prynn-who would not be. “Oh,” he added, “and tell Chief DeMartis that I banged up his shuttle.”

“He’ll be devastated, I’m sure,” the starbase control officer said dryly. DeMartis was the one in charge of the team that built the Woodlawn, and Vaughn had spent the hour before the mission listening to the young man go on at some length about the pod’s capabilities, limitations, and, above all, the necessity of bringing it back in one piece.

After he brought the shuttle in for a landing on the designated pad, he opened the hatch to see three people in white medical uniforms, one in the red-and-white engineering uniform-DeMartis, with an expression on his face indicating that someone should draw a dark cloud over his head-and an elegant-looking older woman in a captain’s uniform, who was the last person Vaughn expected to see.

“Captain Uhura. This is a surprise.” And, given Uhura’s position at Starfleet Intelligence, which was arguably as high as it got, rank notwithstanding-Vaughn wasn’t the only one who kept a low profile, after all-probably not a good surprise.

“Walk with me, Commander,” she said in an almost musical tone of voice that couldn’t hide the fact that she was here on serious business.

Pausing only to give the medics a quick précis of what he knew of the damage T’Prynn and Tartovsky had taken, and to ignore the wails of agony coming from DeMartis, Vaughn did so.

They walked through the hallways of Starbase 47 in silence for several seconds. Finally, she asked, “Your mission went well?”

“About as well as expected.”

Uhura smiled. “That bad?”

Returning the smile, Vaughn said, “We did what we were supposed to. I had been hoping to extract Special Emissary Tartovsky without drawing any attention from the Cardassians, but I knew that was wishful thinking. I’m content with the fact that we got the emissary and ourselves-and Chief DeMartis’s precious shuttlepod-back in one piece.”

“More or less. How did Commander T’Prynn and the emissary-and you-get hurt?”

Vaughn told her. When he got to the bit in the cave, it prompted a pleasant laugh from the elderly captain that sounded like wind chimes. Elderly, listen to me. She may have passed her hundredth birthday, but she’s as formidable a presence as she was when I first met her. More, even. I hope I’m half as sharp when I hit her age.

When he finished his tale, Uhura said, “I’ve met several diplomats in my time for whom shooting would have been a useful option to have. In any case, this latest bit of Cardassian imperialism has a lot of people worried. They’ve made similar moves in the Bryma, Umoth, and Cuellar systems in the last year. The Cardassians are building their forces, and getting into more skirmishes with us and the Klingons. Did you hear about what happened with the Stargazer two weeks ago?”

Vaughn nodded. He had met Jean-Luc Picard a few months earlier, and knew that the younger man had a reputation for not ducking a fight-this one, though, he ran from. The Cardassians were definitely getting more aggressive.

Uhura continued. “To make matters worse, the Klingons are doing likewise, and starting to remember what it’s like to be a major power-and an enemy of the Federation-again.”

Vaughn frowned. “You think they’re gearing up for war?”

“I think they both wanted to fight a war fifteen years ago over Raknal V. Ambassador Dax managed to put that off by pulling a rabbit out of his hat, but now it’s coming to a head again. And if it does happen, we’ll all feel the effects.”

“Why are you telling me this, Captain?” Vaughn asked, though he suspected he knew the answer, given that he was at Raknal V when Dax came up with his so-called rabbit.

“To the point, as usual, eh, Commander?” Waving off Vaughn’s slightly abashed look, she said, “It’s all right. To the point, then: I want you to go to Raknal V and check up on things.”

Snorting, Vaughn asked, “Shouldn’t that be Ambassador Dax’s job?”

“Dax isn’t Starfleet. And he has a vested interest in telling us what we want to hear. I’d rather be told what I don’t want to hear-and you’ve always been very good at that.”

Vaughn smirked. “Is that a compliment, Captain?”

“A fact, Commander.” They arrived at Uhura’s office. The doors parted to reveal a small space, with a desk, workstation, and an entire wall decorated with various exotic sculptures, masks, and a Vulcan lute that looked to Vaughn’s eye as if it had to be at least eighty years old. As Uhura took her seat at the desk, she looked at the computer screen on her desk. “Your orders are to observe the situation and report back.” She looked up and fixed him with a penetrating gaze. “I want a full report, Commander. Not just facts-I can get those anyplace. I want your opinion as to the situation on Raknal V, and what it means for Starfleet, and for the Federation. Is that clear?”

“Crystal, sir.”

Then Uhura smiled, and the room seemed to brighten. “One bit of good news-you’ll be going back the same way you went there last time. The Carthage is in the area, and I had her diverted. Captain Haden will be by to pick you up tomorrow. That will give you enough time to make sure that Commander T’Prynn is well and is also soon enough for you to avoid Special Emissary Tartovsky’s wrath.”

“It’s appreciated, Captain,” Vaughn said, referring to both the consideration regarding T’Prynn and Tartovsky and the fact that he’d be back on the Carthage. Now I’ll get to see Ian without having to write the letter.