Too Long a Soldier


                                         by
                                     Robert Roy


                                        Act I

                                       Scene 1

                 An exterior view of  an Ambassador class starship,  the
            Myrmidon, passing by for log entry.
            [Wells]:"Personal log,  stardate 46709.2,  Ensign  Cassandra
            Wells recording.   It's  still another  two days  before  we
            rendez-vous with the Enterprise.  Lieutenant Commander Flynn
            (Chief Engineer)  has  been  bothering me  about  fleeing  a
            sinking ship.  He says that  because I'm being reassigned  a
            mere two months before the Myrmidon is to be decommissioned,
            that I'm getting out while the getting's good.  He means  it
            as a joke, but in a way I suppose he's right.  However, it's
            regular crew rotation, and not my  doing.  The Myrmidon  was
            the first Ambassador  class ship put  into regular  service,
            and I wish I could've stayed to the very end, but  Starfleet
            has other ideas.  Sure it's a bit rickety compared to  newer
            starships, but, hey, it's home.   I guess I'll never  forget
            my first assignment.  Besides, I'm not the only one leaving.
            Commander  Maran,  the  first  officer,  has  already   been
            reassigned."

                                       Scene 2

                 Interior view of Wells' quarters.  Wells (Blonde  hair,
            5'-9"  tall,  slim,  attractive,  25  years  old)   finishes
            recording her log  entry when Wayne  Callahan (Medium  brown
            hair, 5'-8" tall, slim, average, 17 years old) enters.
            [Callahan, waves]:"Hi."
            [Wells]:"Hello.  How  was class?   Computer science,  wasn't
            it?"
            [Callahan]:"Oh, not  bad.   It's amazing  how much  computer
            science has regressed over the centuries."
            [Wells]:"Regressed?"
            [Callahan]:"Yeah.   We  were discussing  historical  aspects
            today.  Apparently, computer science progressed by leaps and
            bounds since  its  introduction,  but  at  a  certain  point
            computers became so easy to  use that anybody could  program
            them.  At the same time, the computer scientists had defined
            every practical problem that an application could be  broken
            down into, the computer elements as they called them.   They
            knew all the optimal solutions  and which problems were  N-P
            complete, and so on.   From then on,  all that was left  was
            for the engineers to think up applications.  All the science
            had been exhausted."
            [Wells]:"Okay, but that's hardly regression, Wayne."
            [Callahan]:"Sure, but the engineers  have let slide all  the
            major tenets of computer  science because they often  seemed
            inconvenient.  Now, by the twenty-fourth century, we've lost
            most of  the advances  that  computer science  made  through
            sheer laziness."
            [Wells]:"I find that hard to believe."
            [Callahan]:"It's true.   For  example,  we went  from  using
            functional techniques, back  to procedures and  now back  to
            subroutines.  Why don't we  just start using assembly  code,
            or punch cards, or abacuses?   I'm not kidding, just ask  my
            computer science  teacher,  Lieutenant Cartwright.    She'll
            tell you."
            [Wells]:"Sure, sure."
                 Callahan is  about to  reply, but  the computer  panels
            start flashing a yellow alert.
            [Wells]:"I've got to get  up to the bridge,  Wayne.  We  can
            finish this later, okay?"
                 Callahan nods yes.  Wells begins to leave.
            [Wells]:"Just remember  to stay  in our  quarters until  the
            alert is over."

                                       Scene 3

                 Wells arrives on the bridge  and takes her position  at
            the weapons console.  On the view screen, there is a Romulan
            warbird visible.    It  seems damaged  and  is  not  moving.
            Captain Lara Styles stood  from the central  chair to get  a
            better look.  Styles holds a riding crop in her left hand.
            [Styles]:"Any response to our hails, Mr. Richardson?"
            [Richardson, (Daniel,  Lieutenant, science  officer)]:"None,
            Captain.  I can't be certain whether they're receiving us or
            not."
            [Styles]:"Raise shields  just in  case, and  open a  channel
            anyway.  If they're  ignoring us, at  least they'll have  to
            listen to me, even if they don't respond."
            [Richardson]:"Aye, Captain.  Channel open."
            [Styles]:"Romulan vessel, this is Captain Lara Styles of the
            USS Myrmidon.  You have strayed  into Federation space.   If
            you are capable of returning to the Neutral Zone, I  suggest
            you do it now.   If you are not  capable, we are willing  to
            assist you.  Please respond."
            [Richardson]:"Captain, they're  powering  up  their  forward
            disruptors."
            [Styles]:"Idiots.  Romulan  vessel, power  down your  weapon
            systems and refrain from any offensive maneuvers, or we will
            be forced to defend ourselves.  Ensign Wells lock phasers on
            the warbird.  Load forward torpedo bays."
            [Wells]:"Aye, aye."
                 The image of  the warbird is  replaced by  that of  its
            bridge.  The Romulan bridge is damaged.  Debris is scattered
            around and smoke, from still burning fires, fills the air.
            [Romulan  Commander]:"Federation  ship,  this  is  not  your
            concern.  Do not interfere or we will destroy you."
            [Styles]:"Commander, from the look of your ship, you are  in
            no position to make threats.   I must insist that you  power
            down your weapons."
                 The view  screen returns  to an  external view  of  the
            warbird.
            [Richardson]:"Warbird firing, Captain."
                 The warbird fires a few feeble shots that are  absorbed
            entirely by the Myrmidon's shields.  The warbird then begins
            maneuvering at impulse power.
            [Styles]:"Ensign Faulkner, keep  us at  a constant  distance
            from the  warbird.   Try to  force  it towards  the  Neutral
            Zone."
            [Faulkner, (Samantha,  helm)]:"Aye,  Captain.    Maintaining
            relative position."
                 The warbird makes  a few evasive  maneuvers, trying  to
            break containment,  but Faulkner  counters every  one.   The
            warbird then  fires aft  disruptors, but  without the  power
            needed to penetrate the Myrmidon's shields.
            [Styles]:"Ensign Wells, I  don't think  they understand  why
            they shouldn't fire at  us like that.   Explain it to  them.
            Fire phasers, targeting weapon systems only."
            [Wells]:"Firing, aye."
                 The Myrmidon's phasers lance out at the warbird.
            [Richardson]:"Warbird's aft shields  have failed, and  their
            aft disruptors are out."
            [Styles]:"Nice shooting, Ensign, now ... what's that?"
                 Another ship uncloaks just in front of the warbird.  It
            is smaller than  a warbird,  and does  not appear  to be  of
            Romulan design,  but does  have  certain similarities.    It
            begins firing on the warbird.
            [Richardson]:"Sycaran veagtok (local translation, war horse)
            class vessel, Captain."
            [Styles]:"So that's  is  what  this is  all  about.    Helm,
            intercept course with the Sycaran  vessel.  Keep us  between
            the warbird and  the veagtok.   Ensign  Wells, lock  forward
            phasers on the veagtok, but keep aft weapons trained on  the
            warbird, just in case.  Mr. Richardson, hail the veagtok."
            [Richardson]:"Hailing frequencies open, Captain."
                 The view screen shifts to a  view of the bridge of  the
            veagtok.  Its  Captain, a Sycaran  male, is  central to  the
            view.
            [Styles]:"Sycaran vessel,  this  is Captain  Styles  of  the
            Myrmidon.   This  is  Federation  space  and  I  insist  you
            discontinue hostilities  immediately  and  return  your  own
            sector."
            [Sadran]:"You are speaking with Captain Sadran Bloodblade of
            the Arcane.  We are fully prepared to go right through  you,
            Captain, so  I suggest  you get  out  of our  way.   If  you
            continue to aid our enemies, you can be assured of your  own
            destruction.  Unless you are prepared to drag your so called
            Federation into a war, I'd advise a hasty retreat."
                 Styles has Richardson mute the transmission.
            [Styles]:"Dispatch a  message to  the Enterprise  to  inform
            them of the situation."
            [Richardson]:"Aye, Captain."
            [Styles]:"Ensign Wells, what is  the tactical assessment  of
            the veagtok?"
            [Wells]:"Essentially,  the  veagtok  is  comparable  to   an
            Excelsior class  ship.   We outgun  it  and can  outrun  it.
            Shields  about  comparable  field   strength.    Their   big
            advantage is their cloaking shields."
            [Styles]:"Richardson, what is the warbird up to?"
            [Richardson]:"Right now, I'd say  they're hiding behind  us.
            Probably  regrouping  and  preparing  to  attack.    Whether
            they'll attack us or the veagtok is unknown."
            [Wells]:"Captain, the veagtok is firing."
            [Styles]:"Evasive maneuvers, helm."
                 The veagtok's beam weapons  hit the Myrmidon's  shields
            before the evasive maneuvers can  be effective.  Unlike  the
            warbird's  disruptors,  the  veagtok's  weapons  are   quite
            effective.  The ship rocks from the impact.
            [Styles]:"Return fire."
                 Before Wells can fire,  the veagtok re-cloaks.   Phaser
            fire shoots out at infinity.
            [Wells]:"Complete miss, Captain."
            [Styles]:"Understood.   Lieutenant  Richardson, I  want  all
            sensors on maximum.  Hail the Romulan vessel again."
            [Richardson]:"No response, Captain."
                 The warbird fades from view.
            [Richardson]:"The warbird has re-cloaked also, Captain."
            [Styles]:"And without even saying thank you."

                                       Act II

                                       Scene 1

                 A visual  of  the encounter  with  the Arcane  and  the
            warbird is being  displayed on the  Enterprise view  screen.
            The Enterprise crew watch the  footage with interest.   When
            the footage ends, the view screen  then shows Styles on  the
            bridge of the Myrmidon.
            [Picard]:"Most interesting, Captain Styles.  I suppose  that
            begs the  obvious  question,  'Why  were  they  fighting  in
            Federation space?'"
            [Styles]:"Well, there's at  least a trivial  answer to  that
            question.  Sycaran and Romulan space do not border with each
            other.  Why they chose  this particular sector, however,  is
            not known.  So little is known about the Sycarans, that  any
            explanations would be merely guesswork.   I suppose that  if
            anyone could be considered experts on them, it would be your
            people."
            [Picard]:"I don't think  anyone in the  Federation could  be
            considered experts on  these people.   Mr. Worf,  show us  a
            tactical overview of this sector, split screen."
                 The view of the  Myrmidon bridge is  shrunk to fit  the
            right half of the screen and the left is filled with a  grid
            and symbology to represent the sector.  The right most  part
            of the tactical is marked as Romulan territory, the left  is
            Sycaran, the bottom Federation and  the top is allocated  to
            the Arcadian Star Empire.
            [Picard]:"Interesting.    So  to  attack  each  other,  both
            Sycaran  and  Romulan   ships  must   sneak  across   either
            Federation or Arcadian borders."
            [Data]:"A tactical which is greatly facilitated by the  fact
            that both races  employ cloaking technology.   It is  likely
            that  any  combat   that  takes   place  within   Federation
            boundaries is incidental.  One side or the other was  taking
            advantage of a chance encounter."
            [Picard]:"Data, what do we know about Arcadia?"
            [Data]:"Virtually  nothing,  Captain.    The  Arcadians  are
            xenophobic,  preferring  to  remain  uninvolved  in  affairs
            beyond their  borders.   They became  a major  force in  the
            sector only within the past decade.  The only other thing we
            know about them is that their border is heavily patrolled at
            all times by the Star Guard."
            [Riker]:"If that's the case, then that might explain why the
            Romulans and  Sycarans choose  to cross  our borders  rather
            than Arcadian borders.  Comparatively, the Federation is far
            more lax about its borders."
            [Troi]:"I don't know whether it's  just me, but seeing  both
            of their  ships together,  they seem  rather similar,  don't
            they?"
            [Riker]:"Yeah, I was noticing that too."
            [Data]:"Now that you mention it, Counselor, there does  seem
            to be marked parallelism in their designs.  Also, there is a
            similarity in the naming of the vessels.  One is a  warbird,
            the other  a  war horse,  and  even in  the  local  tongues,
            veagtok and V-type  (I don't know,  whatever they call  that
            class of warbird).  I would  suggest the resemblance is  not
            due to coincidence or chance."
            [Troi,  to  Picard]:"Captain,  do   you  recall  our   brief
            encounter with Lord General Hjrad?"
            [Picard]:"Counselor, I do not believe I'll ever forget  that
            meeting."
            [Troi]:"Okay, well, Hjrad  mentioned alien  visitors to  his
            planet, right  about  the  time of  the  completion  of  the
            veagtok project.  These aliens could have been Romulans."
            [Picard]:"Possibly.  That would certainly explain much."
            [Worf]:"And, Captain,  when  we  encountered  the  Romulans,
            stardate 41986.0, they said that other concerns had occupied
            them for a time.  It could have been the Sycarans."
            [Styles]:"So the Romulans stumble across them, just as  they
            are developing major technologies.  They ingrain  themselves
            in the society and an exchange of expertise ensues."
            [Troi]:"But reactionary  forces like  Hjrad's warrior  caste
            object and effect a revolution.  They fight a brief war, but
            Romulus is too distant to retain control of the system."
            [Riker]:"Both sides then begin military buildups,  preparing
            for a  full scale  war.   Soon enough  there are  two  super
            powers, both bordering on  the Federation, with huge  fleets
            of war ships.  Ships of similar design and capability."
            [Picard]:"But in the mean  time, another power has  appeared
            in the space between them, the Arcadians.  Seeing themselves
            trapped between  two  warring nations,  the  Arcadians  also
            develop a fleet, designed to keep the Romulans and  Sycarans
            isolated from each other."
            [Styles]:"So, eventually, they turn to Federation space  for
            their battleground.    As if  the  politics of  this  sector
            wasn't complicated enough.  At least it's good to know we're
            getting out of the business, so  to speak.  That reminds  me
            of the reason  we were to  rendez-vous in  the first  place,
            your new officer."
            [Picard]:"Ah yes.   Commander Riker,  Counselor Troi,  would
            you care welcome Ensign Wells aboard?"
            [Riker]:"Of course, Captain."

                                       Scene 2

                 Riker and Troi enter the transporter room.  O'Brien  is
            there awaiting them.
            [O'Brien]:"The Myrmidon signals ready, Commander."
            [Riker]:"Energize."
            [O'Brien]:"Aye, sir."
                 Two  figures,  Wells  and   Callahan,  appear  on   the
            transporter platform, and  then step off  towards Riker  and
            Troi.
            [Wells]:"Ensign Cassandra Wells, weapon systems  specialist,
            reporting for duty, sir.  Permission to come aboard?"
            [Riker]:"Permission granted, Ensign.   Welcome aboard.   I'm
            Commander William Riker, and  this is Counselor Deanna  Troi
            and Chief Miles O'Brien."
                 Riker, noticing how attractive  Wells is, looks at  her
            in that  predatory way  that he  has, and  then extends  his
            hand.  Wells shakes it.  She also shakes hands with Troi.
            [Wells]:"Hello Counselor, Chief.   I'd like to introduce  my
            step son, Wayne Callahan."
                 Wayne steps forward and greets  Riker and Troi.   While
            Troi is shaking his hand, she  gets that look she gets  when
            she unexpectedly reads a  very strong emotion from  someone.
            She looks  from Callahan's  face, to  Riker's, and  noticing
            Riker noticing Wells, looks back at Callahan.
            [Troi]:"Welcome aboard, Mr. Callahan."
            [Callahan]:"Oh, thank you, Counselor."
            [Riker]:"Shall I show you both to your quarters?"
            [Wells]:"Thank you, Commander."

                                       Scene 3

                 Worf, on the  bridge, checks  his instrumentation,  and
            then reports to Picard.
            [Worf]:"Captain, sensors have picked  up a transporter  beam
            operating within the ship."
            [Picard]:"Can you localize it, Lieutenant?"
            [Worf]:"Deck 36, main engineering."
            [Picard]:"Raise shields, and get a security team down there,
            sound intruder alert.  Picard to LaForge."
            [LaForge]:"Go ahead, Captain."
            [Picard]:"Sensors  have   detected  someone   or   something
            transporting  aboard  in  your  section.    Have  you   seen
            anything?"
            [LaForge]:"Nothing, Captain,  but  wait  ...  No,  don't  do
            that!!!"
                 The  sound   of  an   explosion  is   heard  over   the
            communicator.
            [Picard]:"Geordi, what's going on?"
                 The channel goes dead.
            [Picard]:"Worf,     re-establish     communications     with
            engineering."

                                       Scene 4

                 In engineering, about a dozen Sycarans, all armed,  can
            be seen.  One of them, Sadran, has his weapon aimed directly
            at Geordi.    One  of the  others,  Tanere  is  accessing  a
            terminal.
            [Tanere]:"Captain,  I  have  re-lowered  their  shields  and
            locked out computer overrides."
            [Sadran]:"Good, now, let's  make that lock  out a  permanent
            one."
                 Tanere steps back from the terminal and blasts it  with
            his weapon.  Then he blasts a few other selected terminals.
            [Sadran]:"Now, I want no unexpected intruders, Tanere.  Seal
            off engineering with force fields, and disable the  internal
            security measures."
            [Tanere]:"I'm on it."
                 Sadran takes an object from his belt, presses a  button
            on it and then puts it to his mouth.
            [Sadran]:"Everything's ready over here."
                 Sadran replaces the object on his belt.

                                       Scene 5

                 Back on the bridge.
            [Worf]:"Sir, our shields have lowered."
            [Picard]:"Raise them."
                 Worf types something on his console, but it just  makes
            that annoying buzzing sound.
            [Worf]:"Shields not responding, Captain."
            [Picard]:"Computer,  recognize  Picard,  Jean-Luc,  Captain,
            priority alpha  one.    Override shield  control  and  raise
            shields."
            [Computer]:"Override protocol not available."
                 Riker arrives on the bridge.
            [Riker]:"What's going on, Captain."
            [Picard, pointing to view screen]:"I believe we are about to
            get an answer to that, Number One."
                 Behind the Myrmidon, a  veagtok ship appears,  markings
            indicating it to be the Arcane.
            [Worf]:"Captain, we are being hailed by the Sycaran ship."
            [Picard]:"On screen."
                 The bridge of the Arcane appears  on the screen.   It's
            commander is Jhron  Thale (dark  hair, mid-thirties,  5'-10"
            tall, slight build).
            [Thale]:"Federation ships, as  you are no  doubt aware,  the
            Enterprise no longer has shields available.   If you do  not
            surrender both  ships  immediately,  we will  be  forced  to
            destroy you."
                 Picard calls for a mute, and Worf complies.
            [Picard]:"Options?"
            [Worf]:"We still have weapons available, Captain.  We may be
            able to overpower them."
            [Picard]:"Without  shields,  Lieutenant,   one  shot   could
            possibly either cripple us or even destroy us."
            [Data]:"We could use warp  power to get out  of range.   The
            Myrmidon should be able to hold them off."
            [Worf, surprised]:"Captain,  the Myrmidon  has extended  its
            shields to envelop the Enterprise."
                 Picard, also surprised, turns to look at Worf, and then
            over at Data.
            [Picard]:"Mr. Data, how long can the Myrmidon's shields hold
            out like that?"
            [Data]:"Not long, Captain.   They could  only sustain a  few
            photon torpedoes hits."
                 As if on  cue, a volley  of photon  torpedoes seems  to
            appear from nowhere.  They strike the Myrmidon's shields.
            [Worf]:"The Myrmidon's shields are down."
                 Picard  notices   that  Thale   seems  agitated   about
            something.  He gestures for Worf to restore communications.
            [Thale]:"You were warned."
                 The Arcane begins lancing out with its beam weapons  at
            the Myrmidon.   After a few  sustained blasts, the  Myrmidon
            explodes in a  ball of  fire.   The force  of the  explosion
            impacts on the Enterprise, as do some of the larger sections
            of its hull.  The smaller pieces of debris are pushes  aside
            by the navigational deflectors (still in operation).  A  few
            reports of peripheral  damage come to  the attention of  the
            Captain.
            [Thale]:"Now that I  have your  complete attention,  Captain
            Picard, I repeat, surrender your vessel."
                 From the point  where the torpedoes  seem to have  come
            from, a second  Sycaran ship, a  kulibhrer class,  decloaks.
            Its insignia indicates that  it is called the  Swashbuckler.
            After a moment,  transporter beams  appear in  half a  dozen
            places around the bridge.  Worf quickly grabs his phaser and
            stuns two of them before they can respond.  A third one, who
            had appeared behind him, stuns Worf.  The rest of them train
            their weapons on the bridge crew.   After a moment,  another
            figure  appears  in   front  of  the   view  screen,   Kayne
            Bloodblade.
            [Kayne]:"Ah, Picard, we meet again."

                                       Act III

                                       Scene 1

            [Picard, shaking his head]:"King Bloodblade.  To what do we
            owe this honour?"
            [Kayne, admonishing Picard with a finger]:"Now, Captain, you
            know how I do so dislike the use of my title.  Just think of
            me as a fellow ship's Captain.  As to the honour, I  thought
            I'd offer you  an opportunity to  become our allies  against
            the Romulans."
            [Riker]:"You call  than  an  offer?   You  attacked  us  and
            destroyed another Federation ship."
                 Kayne begins walking towards  the centre of the  bridge
            as he talks.
            [Kayne]:"I guess you could call it ... what's the expression
            you use? ... oh yes, it is an offer you cannot refuse.   I'd
            say the  Myrmidon refused.   That  is the  second time  they
            defied us.  Anyway,  Captain Picard, you  should be glad  to
            have the opportunity to battle the Romulans.  You know, they
            don't think very much of you there on Romulus.  So, Captain,
            either you will agree  to join us in  our battle, or I  will
            find one of  your officers  that will.   So,  what say  you,
            Captain?"
                 Picard says nothing, but just meets Kayne's gaze.
            [Kayne]:"Fair enough, Captain."
                 Kayne turns  and begins  pacing back  towards the  view
            screen.  He then turns suddenly, blaster in hand, and  fires
            directly at Picard's chest.  Picard falls backward,  landing
            awkwardly in his chair.  Riker attempt to come to his aid.
            [Kayne]:"Ah, ah, ah,  now.  Don't  worry.   That was  merely
            stun setting one,  Commander.  Would  you like  to try  stun
            setting two?"
                 Kayne pushes a button on his blaster and then levels it
            at Riker.  Sadran emerges from the forward turbolift.
            [Sadran]:"Wait, brother, I have another idea."
                 Kayne, still with his weapon on Riker, looks at Sadran.
            Sadran motions to Data.
            [Sadran]:"I had  Tanere look  up the  specifications on  the
            android Data.   He believes that  the stun  settings on  our
            blasters will have little or no effect on him."
                 There is a certain amount of  relief at this news  from
            the bridge crew.
            [Kayne]:"So what are you suggesting?"
            [Sadran]:"The higher settings will affect him.  In fact they
            will kill him."
                 Sadran takes out his own blaster and pushes the  button
            on it a number of times and then aims it at Data's head.
            [Sadran]:"Prepare yourself for oblivion, android."
            [Kayne]:"So what will it be, Commander?  Your  co-operation,
            or your android's life?"
                 Riker looks at Data.
            [Riker]:"What exactly do you want?"
            [Worf, astonished]:"Commander?"
                 Riker silences  Worf with  a  gesture and  returns  his
            attention to Kayne.
            [Riker]:"What do you want of us?"
            [Kayne]:"It's nothing major, I assure you.  You will  simply
            be required to  cross the  Romulan Neutral  Zone and  attack
            whatever ships  you encounter  there.   Not  a  particularly
            difficult task."
            [Riker]:"Not  a  difficult  task?    You  want  me  to  make
            aggresive moves  against the  Romulans  that will  not  only
            start a war  between the  Federation and  the Romulans,  but
            will also likely result in our being destroyed, and you  say
            'Not a difficult task?'"
            [Kayne]:"When  you  consider   the  other   choice  is   the
            destruction of your ship, I'm sure you'll agree this is  the
            better option.    And,  I assure  you,  there  is  no  third
            option."
            [Sadran]:"And if you  consider how easily  we captured  your
            ship, it should be obvious that there's really little  point
            in resisting.  When the next ship comes to investigate  your
            disappearance, we shall just have to board it."
            [Kayne]:"Besides, I wouldn't  worry about war  the war  with
            the Romulans.  As our allies, you will, no doubt, end up  on
            the winning side."
            [Riker]:"May I at least have some time to think about it?"
            [Kayne]:"No."
            [Riker]:"Oh.  What about  our shields?   We won't last  very
            long against the Romulans without them."
            [Kayne]:"We disabled them, and we  know how to repair  them.
            You'll have them  by the time  you reach  the Neutral  Zone.
            And, in case you were considering any funny business,  let's
            not forget  that we've  got your  people in  engineering  as
            hostages."
            [Riker]:"Ensign Ro,  set a  course for  the Romulan  Neutral
            Zone."
                 Ro looks at Riker for a moment and then complies.
            [Ro]:"Aye, sir, course set."

                                       Scene 2

                 Troi peers around a corner at a group of Sycarans  that
            are patrolling the  corridors of  the Enterprise.   Just  as
            they start  coming in  her  general direction,  she  quickly
            retreats back into the  relative safety of Wells'  quarters.
            Wells is there, as  is Callahan and  Ensign McKnight.   Once
            Troi enters, Wells, who is working on a piece of  equipment,
            motions to Callahan, who goes to the control beside the door
            and types a few commands.
            [Wells]:"What's the situation?"
            [Troi]:"They're all over the place.   It'll be difficult  to
            get anywhere  on the  ship without  being noticed  by  their
            patrols."
            [Wells]:"Wayne, are you  sure there's no  way to access  the
            computers from here?"
            [Callahan]:"They've got  all the  overrides locked  out.   I
            could've  made use  of  them, if  they  were available,  but
            without them, I'm afraid  I'd have to  get direct access  to
            the computer core."
            [McKnight]:"What can you do if you get there?"
            [Callahan]:"I have a certain amount of  magic I can work  on
            the computers."
                 McKnight waits a moment to see if Callahan is going  to
            elaborate, then turns to Troi.
            [McKnight]:"Do you know what he means by that?"
            [Troi]:"Personally, I'd rather not know, just so long as  we
            can regain control of the ship."
                 Wells finishes her work  on the equipment, which  looks
            like a small phaser.
            [Wells]:"There, now  at  least  we have  one  weapon,  crude
            though it is.  I think our first target should be cargo  bay
            three.  That's where my baggage was beamed aboard.  The rest
            of my supplies should be with them."
            [Callahan]:"I'm not sure we have time.  There's an  invasive
            security program running that is moving from computer system
            to computer system, gradually  taking over the entire  ship.
            If I don't get it stopped  soon, there'll be no way to  stop
            it."
            [Wells]:"We'll still need more than just a single phaser."
            [McKnight, to Wells]:"Then I guess  we'll have to split  up.
            You and Counselor Troi try to make it to the cargo bay,  and
            we'll take the computer core."
            [Wells]:"Okay.  Wayne,  have you  found the  best routes  to
            take yet?"
            [Callahan]:"Getting cargo bay three  shouldn't be too  hard,
            but you'll have  to climb  down five  decks to  get to  deck
            four.  You  can take the  air recirculation  duct from  this
            room.  It'll connect  up with a service  crawl ladder.   The
            only problem may be once you get to the cargo bay.  If there
            are any guards, you'll have to think of some way to distract
            them once you get there."
                 Callahan moves  to  the opening  to  the air  duct  and
            quickly removes the covering.
            [Callahan]:"You'd better get going.  You've got a long climb
            ahead of you."
                 Wells hugs Callahan for  a moment.   Troi makes an  odd
            face, presumably due to an emotion she is sensing.
            [Wells]:"You be careful, Wayne."
            [Callahan]:"You too."
                 Wells squeezes her way into the duck, followed by Troi,
            who gives one last puzzled glance at Callahan.
            [McKnight]:"What about the core?"
            [Callahan]:"That'll be  trickier.   I  can't see  anyway  of
            getting there without using the normal corridors.  We  won't
            have to do any climbing about,  but the ship is designed  so
            that all three  computer cores are  isolated.   If we  could
            manage some kind of disguise ..."
                 Callahan moves to the console at the door, and types  a
            few commands.
            [Callahan]:"Get ready."
            [McKnight]:"For what?"
                 Callahan types a few more commands and the door to  the
            quarters opens  quickly.   Outside the  door are  a pair  of
            Sycarans.  They are  startled by the  sudden opening of  the
            door, but soon recover and reach for their weapons.   Wayne,
            using the edge of the doorway for support, swings around and
            kicks the blaster out of one  of their hands, but his  hands
            slip and  he falls.    As the  second  prepares to  aim  his
            weapon, McKnight comes flying out of the doorway and  knocks
            into the first one, who falls back into the other.  Still on
            the floor, Callahan strikes out with  his leg and trips  the
            second Sycaran,  who  falls  on  his  head  and  is  knocked
            unconscious.   McKnight  and  the other  also  go  down  and
            struggle for  position,  while  Callahan grabs  one  of  the
            blasters.  McKnight gets the better position and knocks  the
            other Sycaran out  with a quick  blow from the  palm of  her
            hand.   She rolls  off her  adversary  and grabs  the  other
            blaster.
            [Callahan]:"Quick, we'd better get  these two inside  before
            another patrol comes by."
                 They begin dragging the Sycarans inside the quarters.
            [McKnight]:"You know, you  could have warned  me before  you
            did that."
            [Callahan]:"I said 'get ready', didn't I?"

                                       Scene 3

                 Troi and Wells  are climbing down  a ladder  in a  long
            shaft.  Then talk as they climb.
            [Troi]:"Ensign, may ask speak to you about something?"
            [Wells]:"I suppose."
            [Troi]:"It's about  your  step son,  Wayne.   What  kind  of
            relationship do you have with him?  Are you close?"
            [Wells]:"Yeah, I guess you'd say so.  It wasn't always  like
            that, but now I think we've grown really close."
            [Troi]:"What was it like in the beginning?"
            [Wells]:"I first met  Frank, that's Wayne's  father, when  I
            was in the Academy.  Frank was a doctor, working in a  local
            hospital.  Wayne's mother had died  some years earlier.   We
            dated for  a couple  of years  and  then decided  to  marry.
            Wayne had been against it.  He thought his father was trying
            to throw away the memory of his mother."
            [Troi]:"How long did it take until he accepted you?"
            [Wells]:"It seemed like  years, but  really, it  was only  a
            matter of months."
            [Troi]:"What turned things around?"
            [Wells]:"I guess it was his thirteenth birthday.  It was odd
            really.  Frank had started working late a lot.  He'd  gotten
            involved in  an  important  research project  and  that  was
            taking up most of his free time.  Anyway, Frank was supposed
            to meet us for dinner at  a restaurant to celebrate  Wayne's
            birthday, but he never  showed up.  It  seems they'd made  a
            major breakthrough on the project that night."
            [Troi]:"And so he forgot about his son's birthday?"
            [Wells]:"Exactly.  After that day, Wayne's relationship with
            both of us changed.   Suddenly, he started  to trust me  and
            not his father."
            [Troi]:"So, what happened to Wayne's father?"
            [Wells]:"Nothing.  Oh,  Frank is still  alive, as  far as  I
            know.  By  the time I  was ready to  leave the Academy,  our
            marriage was basically over.  He had gotten far too involved
            in his work  and I wasn't  willing to accept  a position  on
            Earth.  I  didn't spend years  in the Academy  just to  stay
            grounded on Earth.  It turned out we didn't have as much  in
            common as we thought we had."
            [Troi]:"But if Frank is still alive, why do you have Wayne?"
            [Wells]:"Well, my  relationship  with  Frank  was  bad,  but
            Wayne's was totally shattered.   They could barely stand  to
            be in the  same room  with each  other.   When we  divorced,
            Frank and I decided that it  was best for everyone  involved
            that I take Wayne with me.  A starship isn't necessarily the
            best place for a teenager to grow up, but at least he'd have
            one parent  he could  relate to  and  he'd have  a  somewhat
            stable home life.  We were  afraid he'd just run away if  we
            left him with his father."
            [Troi]:"It must have been difficult."
            [Wells]:"Not really.  Wayne  was sure glad  to be away  from
            his father.  Of course, I got a few strange looks from  some
            of the people on the Myrmidon.  I guess it was a bit strange
            to have a new  ensign, fresh from  the Academy, beam  aboard
            with an almost full grown son."
                 Wells smiles slightly at the memory, but then adopts  a
            more wistful appearance due to the mention of the Myrmidon.
            [Wells]:"So, why did  you want  to hear  about this  anyway,
            Counselor?"
            [Troi]:"Is Wayne very protective of you?"
            [Wells]:"Yeah, sometimes."
            [Troi]:"When you beamed  aboard and met  Commander Riker,  I
            sensed a great deal of jealousy from him regarding you,  and
            anger directed at Commander Riker.   I was frankly  startled
            by the intensity."
                 Wells stops  her climb  for a  moment and  looks up  at
            Troi.
            [Wells]:"So, that's  perfectly  natural, wouldn't  you  say?
            Counselor, in a sense,  Wayne has lost  both his mother  and
            his father.  I'm not surprised he's jealous, because I'm all
            the family he's got."
            [Troi]:"Of course, but it's more than  just that.  When  you
            hugged him  before we  entered the  duct, I  felt a  mix  of
            emotions from him.  Not just protective feelings, but, well,
            I guess I  sensed feelings associated  mostly with  physical
            attraction."
            [Wells]:"What do you mean by that?"
            [Troi]:"You are a very beautiful woman and Wayne is strongly
            attracted to you, on a physical level.  He doesn't just love
            you, he's  in love with you  as well.  You  see, you're more
            than just a surrogate mother to  him, he thinks of you as  a
            mate as well.
                 Wells seems generally flabbergasted by the notion.  She
            re-begins her climb, and Troi follows.
            [Troi]:"And, of  course,  there's nothing  really  unnatural
            about that, really,  if you  think about  it.   I mean,  you
            aren't really related, or  anything, and you're ages  aren't
            really that different.  The only reason I brought it up was
            because I didn't think  you were aware  of the fact,  that's
            all."
                 Wells stops again.
            [Wells, angry]:"You're asking me  if I encourage it,  aren't
            you?  Isn't  that what you  really want to  know?   'Am I  a
            cradle robber?'"
            [Troi]:"No, of course  not.  Calm  down, Ensign.   I  didn't
            mean to suggest anything  of the like.   I'm only trying  to
            help."
                 Wells starts climbing down again.
            [Wells]:"I don't know why  we have to  talk about this  now?
            We do have more important things to think about."

                                         Scene 4

                 In Wells'  quarters,  Callahan  is  wearing  a  Sycaran
            uniform that is just slightly too  large for him.   McKnight
            enters from the other room wearing  a uniform that is  about
            the correct  size,  but  not the  correct  form.    Callahan
            snickers slightly, and McKnight returns an admonishing look.
            [McKnight]:"Okay, Mr. Callahan, if we're going to get to the
            computer core, we'd better look as though we're supposed  to
            be there.  Are you ready?"
            [Callahan]:"As I'll ever be."
            [McKnight]:"Let's go."
                 Callahan releases the door  control and the two  stride
            purposefully out of the room and down the corridor.

                                       Act IV

                                       Scene 1

                 Troi and Wells hide behind a group of cylinders in  the
            cargo bay.  They watch a pair of Sycarans that are  guarding
            the entrance and the  transporter.  One of  the guards is  a
            Sycaran male and the  other is a  quite large Solinae  male.
            The Solinae is dressed in white  armour similar to the  kind
            worn by Hjrad.
            [Wells, whispering]:"I can see my stuff, but there's no  way
            to get  to it  without being  seen.   We need  some kind  of
            diversion."
            [Troi, whispering]:"I think I can manage that."
                 Troi begins moving  away from  Wells', still  remaining
            behind cover, and begins heading toward the doorway.
            [Wells, stressed whisper]:"Troi, wait!"
                 Troi waves off Wells and continues heading towards  the
            doorway.  When she gets as far as she can behind cover,  she
            stands straight up and waves to the guards.
            [Troi, calling]:"Hello."
                 The guards seem startled by  her presence.  They  begin
            moving towards her and drawing their weapons.  When  they've
            moved close enough to her, she gives a subtle sign to Wells.
            Taking the hint,  Wells edges  out towards  her baggage  and
            then begins a mad  dash towards it.   The guards notice  the
            motion and turn to look at Wells.  One of them, the Solinae,
            then turns back to fire at Troi, but she'd had time to  dive
            behind cover.  The other, the Sycaran, tries to draw a  bead
            on Wells, but she dives too,  grabbing the handle of one  of
            her bags and sliding behind cover.  The guard that fired  at
            Troi runs toward the cylinders  that she was hiding  behind,
            pauses to  avoid  running into  an  ambush, and  then  spins
            around, expecting to find Troi hiding behind the  cylinders.
            He sees Troi running away, hoping to get around to the other
            end of the cylinders.  He fires low, but clips her heel just
            as she's turning the corner.  Troi trips and falls  heavily,
            her body sliding into the wall.  Meantime, Wells had  opened
            up her luggage  and grabbed what  appears to  be a  modified
            hand phaser.  The other guard was rushing her position.  She
            spins out from  behind the cover  and fires  in one  motion,
            connecting with his  upper torso.   The force  of the  blast
            knocks him backward off his feet.   Wells then notices  Troi
            having fallen  and the  other guard  going for  her.   Wells
            fires at the Solinae, but he drops to the floor and the shot
            goes high.  Troi attempts to scramble away from him, but  he
            grabs her by the foot and  pulls her back towards him.   She
            attempts to kick him with her  free leg, but because of  his
            strength, he is able to knock  her blow aside, pin her  free
            leg  to  the  other  and  begin  dragging  her  behind   the
            cylinders.  Wells fires at him again, this time hitting  him
            in the  shoulder.   The  force  of  the blow  is  enough  to
            dislodge the grip of his left hand, but he is otherwise  not
            affected.  With a swift motion, he draws his weapon with his
            off hand and fires at Wells, forcing her behind cover.   The
            Solinae  stands,  still  holding  Troi's  leg,  and   starts
            dragging her faster.  Wells resets her weapon and then steps
            out of cover to get a good shot.  The force knocks him over,
            but he does a  tuck and roll and  comes up shooting.   Wells
            narrowly escapes a  number of  blasts while  trying to  duck
            back under cover.  Troi struggles to her feet, attempting to
            run away, but because of her bad foot, he is much faster. He
            grabs her and holds her between himself and Wells.   Pinning
            her arms to her sides with  only one hand, he lifts her  off
            the floor.   His  other hand  trains  the weapon  on  Wells'
            general area.
            [Solinae, mockingly]:"Come out, come out, wherever you  are.
            Come out or we'll find out  what a blaster does to a  person
            at close range."
            [Troi]:"Don't listen to him!  Get out of here!"
                 As if on cue (because, of course, she is), Wells  grabs
            the bag with the rest of her weapons, jumps out from  behind
            a crate  and  fires at  the  Solinae.   She  fires  high  on
            purpose, making him (and Troi) duck, but without the risk of
            hitting Troi.    Wells  then  runs  full  tilt  towards  the
            accessway to the ventilation  shaft.  After recovering  from
            the near  miss, the  Solinae begins  to get  a good  aim  on
            Wells.   Troi, who  is  back on  the  floor, stomps  on  the
            Solinae's foot.  He fires wide,  and lets go of Troi.   Troi
            attempts to run away, but he reacts faster, grabbing her  by
            the neck and pulling her towards him again.  He tries to get
            off another shot, but Wells is already gone.
            [Solinae]:"I thought she'd never leave."
                 The Solinae grabs Troi  by the back  of her collar  and
            begins pushing her forward towards the door.  All the  while
            he keeps his eyes open, looking for Wells.

                                       Scene 2

                 McKnight and  Callahan  stride  purposefully  down  the
            corridor towards the computer core, attempting to look  like
            they are supposed to be there.  They arrive there, and their
            path is blocked by  a pair of guards,  one Sycaran male  and
            one Solinae female (dressed  in the familiar white  armour).
            McKnight and Callahan come  to a stop in  front of them  (in
            respective order).
            [McKnight]:"We require access to this computer facility."
            [Sycaran]:"Where are your orders?"
            [McKnight]:"Right here!"
                 McKnight suddenly  lifts her  knee into  the  Sycaran's
            abdomen, doubling him over, and then brings her forearm down
            on the back of his head.  At the same time, Callahan  brings
            his elbow up and strikes the Solinae in the head, and then a
            second blow with the other elbow  knocks her to the  ground.
            Quickly, Callahan sets  to breaking the  access code on  the
            door, and he has it  open in a few  moments.  They drag  the
            guards inside and secure them.
            [Callahan]:"Stand guard.  I'll work on the computers."
            [McKnight]:"Right."
                 McKnight exits the computer room while Callahan goes to
            a panel and begins working.

                                       Scene 3

                 On the bridge,  the turbolift doors  open.  Many  heads
            turn as Troi walks onto the bridge in the grip of her guard.
            Most of the bridge  crew are still  in their positions,  but
            Picard is not  on the bridge.   Riker  occupies the  command
            chair.  Sycaran and Solinae guards are positioned around the
            bridge to keep the officers in line.
            [Solinae]:"Captain Bloodblade?"
                 A Sycaran guard points to the observation lounge.   The
            Solinae shoves Troi in that direction.   Riker stands as  if
            to make an objection, but the guard watching him points  his
            weapon in a way that serves to discourage any  interference.
            Troi enters the observation lounge, followed by her guard.

                                       Scene 4

                 Troi  and  the  guard  enter  the  observation  lounge.
            Already present are  Picard and Kayne,  who sit across  from
            each other at the table, and a nearly six foot tall  Solinae
            female guard who seems prepared  for action.  Picard  stands
            quickly when he sees Troi, and moves towards her.
            [Picard]:"Troi?"
            [Troi]:"I'm alright, Captain."
                 The male Solinae guard has her sit down.
            [Solinae, to Kayne]:"I  caught her  down in  the cargo  bay.
            She and another  woman tried to  steal something, weapons  I
            think."
            [Kayne]:"And the other?"
            [Solinae]:"Got away.  This one distracted me.  The other  is
            now armed with a phaser."
                 For emphasis, the  guard points to  some of the  phaser
            scarring left on his armour.
            [Kayne]:"Alright, soldier.  Leave the woman here, and return
            to your post."
            [Solinae]:"Yes, Captain."
                 The Solinae male  leave the observation  lounge by  the
            opposite door from where he came in.
            [Kayne]:"Greetings, counselor.  It has been a while."
            [Troi]:"Captain, what's going on?"
                 Kayne feigns  insult  because  of  Troi's  rudeness  in
            ignoring him.
            [Picard]:"They've  taken  control  of  the  ship.    They're
            planning on involving the Federation  in their war with  the
            Romulans."
            [Kayne]:"It's quite  elegant.   Once your  ship engages  the
            Romulans, they'll be convince  we've forged a peace  treaty.
            They'll begin  attacking  Federation targets,  and  possibly
            even Klingon ones.  The Federation will have not choice  but
            to defend themselves, and together we'll defeat the Romulans
            quite handily."
            [Picard]:"Captain Bloodblade,  you'll  find  warfare  seldom
            goes so smoothly, or predictably.  But even if things go  as
            you say what happens once the  war is over?  What's to  stop
            the Federation from taking the war to you?"
            [Kayne]:"Simple.    The   Federation  is   not  a   military
            organisation.  Your Federation  Council will be assuaged  by
            our offers of peace.  And  if they aren't, you'll be  facing
            war on two fronts  once we've taken  control of the  Romulan
            empire.   Why  do you  resist,  Captain Picard?    The  Lord
            General is only trying to  make things better for  everyone.
            With the  Romulans out  of the  way,  this quadrant  of  the
            galaxy has  a real  chance for  peace.   Think of  it.   The
            Federation and Klingons  are already allies.   The  Romulans
            will be out of the picture  and it will be perceived by  all
            that  we've  also  thrown  in   our  lot  with  the   mighty
            Federation.   Who would  defy  such an  order?   It  is  our
            destiny.  It is inevitable."
            [Picard]:"Do you  really  believe that  your  precious  Lord
            General is trying  to bring peace  to the  quadrant?   Think
            about it, Captain.  What would a man like Hjrad do in  peace
            time?  Lord General Hjrad may have the finest military  mind
            it's been my misfortune to meet, but he is a warrior, to the
            core.  Consider  his history.   The warriors  on his  planet
            stopped fighting each  other and began  fighting for  unity,
            thus forging the Dominion.   However, as  soon as there  was
            peace, the warriors were considered out  of date.  Hjrad  is
            not the kind of man to repeat a mistake.  There's no pot  of
            gold at  the end  of the  rainbow, just  another rainbow  to
            follow.  You are not fighting a war that will lead to peace.
            It will simply lead  to the next war,  and the next, and  so
            on."
            [Kayne, heavy sarcasm]:"Oh, I see, Captain Picard, and  this
            is the part  where I burst  into tears,  cursing myself  for
            having been so easily lead in, beg your forgiveness and  ask
            what I can do to help remedy the situation."
            [Picard]:"Well, if you want to know  what to do, I'm sure  I
            can help you ..."
            [Kayne]:"I do not  want to know.   I  am impressed,  though.
            How easily  you  turn  your  imprisonment  about  upon  your
            captors.  Really, Captain, an effort  to be a applauded,  to
            be sure."
            [Troi]:"You know,  don't  you,  that  Hjrad  doesn't  really
            respect you,  or your  people for  that matter?   Your  just
            another tool for his military conquests.  He sees you all as
            simple soldiers, and those  are his words,  not mine.   Your
            people are meaningless to him."
            [Kayne]:"Ah, yes, now we come back to you, Counselor  Deanna
            Troi.  You know, the Lord General and I had quite the  laugh
            about your little ruse after we  dropped you off last  time.
            I particularly like  the choice of  name,  Helen.  That  was
            priceless.  Hjrad wanted  me to tell  you that your  husband
            can't hide from him forever.  He says he will hunt Wes down,
            and repay him for his crimes against Solinae with  exquisite
            pain and a death that will never be quite quick enough."
            [Troi]:"Wesley isn't my husband, Kayne, he never was."
            [Kayne]:"Really?  I guess it depends on your point of  view,
            of course,  but  as  far as  Hjrad  is  concerned,  you  are
            bonded."
                 Kayne takes an  all to  convenient datapad  out of  his
            pocket and slides it down to Troi.
            [Kayne]:"You see,  by Solinae  law, you  are bonded.   If  a
            couple seriously  intends  to  become  bonded,  as  you  two
            obviously did, and the ceremony cannot be completed  because
            of something  beyond their  control, the  law considers  the
            bonding to still have taken place.  It is, after all, only a
            ceremony.  Whether you wish to abide by this bonding is,  of
            course, entirely up to you, but the fact remains that he  is
            your husband."
            [Troi]:"And if we didn't seriously intend to become bonded?"
            [Kayne]:"Then you wouldn't have begun  the ceremony.  It  is
            fait accompli, as someone of Captain Picard's heritage would
            say.  There are many facts  that one must deal with in  this
            life.  There will be peace, if we have to defeat everyone to
            accomplish it, Wes is your  husband, and Hjrad will  destroy
            him.  Things would be so much easier in this life if  people
            would simply learn to accept their fates."
            [Picard]:"I have never been one for accepting the roles that
            others would create for me.   I have the right to control my
            own destiny, and I do not intend to abrogate that right."
            [Kayne]:"Captain, those that  cannot live in  the new  order
            will die in it."

                                        Act V

                                       Scene 1

                 Wells emerges  from  the  ventilation  shaft  into  her
            quarters.  While searching for a hiding place for her  cache
            of weapons, she comes across the bound guards that  McKnight
            and Callahan left.  She takes a moment to make certain  they
            cannot escape, grabs  weapons for  the other  two, and  then
            heads out the door.  Keeping on her guard, she makes her way
            down the corridor towards  the computer core.   A couple  of
            times she has to duck hide while Sycaran guards pass.   When
            she gets  within  sight  of  the  core,  she  sees  McKnight
            standing guard in  her new Sycaran  uniform.  Ensuring  that
            there are no other guards in the area, she approaches.
            [Wells]:"Nice outfit."
            [McKnight]:"Yeah, well, it's not exactly my style.   Where's
            the counselor?"
            [Wells]:"Captured.  She decoyed  the guards.   It was all  I
            could do to get away with the weapons."
                 They go inside the computer room to be out of sight.
            [McKnight]:"And you just left her there?"
            [Wells]:"It was either that or get caught as well."
            [McKnight]:"But if you were armed?"
            [Wells]:"Yeah, but so  was he, and  some of  them have  this
            kind of armour  that absorbs phaser  fire, at  least on  the
            stun settings.  With him using Counselor Troi as a shield, I
            couldn't get  an  accurate  head-shot without  the  risk  of
            hitting her.  I brought weapons  for the both of you, but  I
            see you've managed to scrounge some up for yourselves."
                 Without their noticing, Callahan had moved next to them
            and is listening to their conversation.  He seems to have  a
            better fitting uniform on.  He startles McKnight a bit  when
            he begins speaking.
            [Callahan, to McKnight]:"You should get back out there.   It
            might look suspicious if the computer room is unguarded."
            [McKnight]:"Good point."
                 McKnight returns to  her post and  Callahan returns  to
            the consoles.
            [Wells]:"How's it coming?"
            [Callahan]:"Not bad, but it's not easy.  Whoever  programmed
            these security interrupts  sure knew what  they were  doing.
            My guess is that either the  Sycarans have some pretty  good
            spies, or this is  an inside job.   Otherwise there'd be  no
            way they could've managed such perfect sabotage."
            [Wells]:"Neither  of   them's   a   particularly   appealing
            prospect.  I noticed  we've gone into warp.   Any idea of  a
            heading?"
                 Callahan points to one of the consoles.  Wells looks at
            it in a moment in disbelief.
            [Wells]:"The Neutral Zone?"
            [Callahan]:"Yep."
            [Wells]:"E.T.A.?"
            [Callahan]:"Three minutes."
            [Wells]:"Will you have their interrupts bypassed by then?"
            [Callahan]:"Not a  chance.   There's just  so much  invasive
            programming and I have to engage all my counter-measures  at
            once, or they'd detect what I'm  doing.  It's just going  to
            take as long as it takes."
            [Wells]:"I just hope we have that long."
            [Callahan]:"You'd better get out there and stand guard  with
            McKnight.  There were supposed to  be two guards out  there.
            We managed to get you a uniform that's about your size,  and
            there's a set of that armour.  I think you'll like it."

                                       Scene 2

                 On the bridge, they go to  red alert as they enter  the
            Neutral Zone.
            [Ro]:"We've just entered the Neutral Zone, Commander.  We're
            now officially in violation of treaty, again."
            [Riker]:"Sensors on maximum, Lieutenant Worf, raise  shields
            and arm weapon  systems.   If we're  going to  be forced  to
            fight, I want to be ready."
                 Kayne and Picard emerge  from the conference room  just
            in time to  hear Riker's comment.   Kayne is  now wearing  a
            control device on his left wrist.
            [Kayne]:"And I  assure  you that  you  are  being forced  to
            fight.  If I detect any chicanery, I'll give the order,  and
            your precious Counselor Troi  will be killed instantly,  and
            she will not be going into the afterlife alone."
                 The Sycaran guards come further to attention with their
            weapons trained on the Enterprise  crew.  Picard moves  down
            to the  centre of  the bridge,  and Kayne  follows.   Picard
            takes the centre seat, Riker  his familiar position.   Kayne
            crosses in front  of both of  them and stands  where he  can
            keep an eye on both of them.
            [Worf]:"Captain, Romulan warbird uncloaking."
            [Picard]:"On screen.  Hail them, Lieutenant."
                 Worf keys  in the  hailing sequence,  but the  computer
            buzzes in non-compliance.  Kayne  makes a clucking sound  in
            disapproval.
            [Kayne]:"Captain, don't  forget we're  out here  to start  a
            war, not to make  peaceful contact.  What  do you need  with
            hailing frequencies?"
            [Worf]:"Their are firing."
                 The Romulan disruptor fire  arcs out at the  Enterprise
            shields.   The  Enterprise  is rocked  slightly.    Suddenly
            bridge power  levels drop.   The  crew and  Sycarans  begins
            looking around in some confusion.  The bridge then begins to
            fill with anesthetizine  gas.   Kayne looks  at Picard  with
            anger.
            [Kayne]:"Your people will pay for this treachery."
                 Kayne  brings  his  left  arm  up  and  begins   keying
            something into it.
            [Picard]:"No, don't!"
                 The sounds of weapons fire  and screaming can be  heard
            from within the  conference lounge.   Next, the ship  shakes
            again and then drops out of war speed.  Kayne and the guards
            beam off the bridge.  The bridge crew succumb to the effects
            of the gas.

                                       Scene 3

                 In the  conference room,  Troi and  Wells look  at  the
            viewscreen and monitor the effect of the gas on the  bridge.
            Wells hits her  communicator.   Troi still  has the  datapad
            that Kayne gave her in her hand.
            [Wells]:"Wells to Callahan.  Wayne, the bridge is clear, you
            can counteract the gas."
            [Callahan, over communicator]:"Okay."
            [Wells]:"And you should make sure  the shields are up,  just
            in case."
            [Callahan]:"The shields aren't  responding, and neither  are
            helm control  nor weaponry.   I  think they  sabotaged  them
            before leaving.  We're sitting  ducks for both the  Romulans
            and the Sycarans."
                 Wells' communicator beeps.
            [McKnight]:"McKnight to Wells.   The Sycarans are gone  from
            engineering, too.   They set off  some kind  of bomb  before
            leaving, though.   We've got a  number of  dead and  injured
            down here, sickbay's been alerted."
            [Wells]:"Wayne, how are external communications systems?"
            [Callahan]:"They were  disabled,  but I'm  working  on  them
            right now.  I'll have them back in a moment."
                 On the monitor, it can be seen that the bridge crew are
            getting up and moving about.   Troi and Wells begin  walking
            towards the door to the bridge.  Wells notices the datapad.
            [Wells]:"What's that?"
            [Troi, flatly]:"A copy of my marriage licence."
            [Wells]:"I didn't know you're married."
            [Troi]:"Neither did I."
                 They walk out onto the bridge.  Wells walks right up to
            Picard and stands at attention in front of him.  Troi  walks
            down to her normal position.
            [Wells]:"Ensign Cassandra Wells, reporting for duty, sir."
            [Picard]:"Welcome aboard,  Ensign.   Is it  you we  have  to
            thank for this rescue?"
            [Wells]:"Just part of the team, sir, and I wouldn't thank me
            just yet.  We're still helpless in the Neutral Zone."
                 Wells' communicator beeps again.
            [Callahan, over communicator]:"Callahan to Wells.   External
            communication restored."
            [Picard]:"Thank you, Mr. Callahan.  One of your team, Ensign
            Wells?"
            [Wells, with pride]:"My son."
                 Picard looks incredulous, so Wells elaborates.
            [Wells]:"Step son."
            [Picard]:"Ah.  Mr. Worf, hail the Romulan vessel and  inform
            them  that  our   breech  of  the   Neutral  Zone  was   not
            intentional.  Let them know there is a cloaked Sycaran  ship
            in the  area.   Despatch  a  subspace message  to  Starfleet
            Command with a full report of this incident."
            [Worf]:"Aye, sir.   Sir, Sycaran ship  uncloaking.   They're
            hailing us."
            [Picard]:"On screen."
                 The bridge of the Swashbuckler is displayed on the main
            viewscreen.  Kayne stands in the foreground.
            [Kayne]:"That was a futile maneuver, Picard.  Now, you  will
            all die for nothing."
            [Worf]:"Sir, Romulan ship uncloaking."
                 The communication with the Swashbuckler abruptly  ends.
            Now displayed on the viewscreen is the Swashbuckler and  the
            Romulan warbird.   The  warbird fires  at the  Swashbuckler.
            They exchange  a  few  volleys of  torpedoes  and  then  the
            Swashbuckler cloaks.  The warbird then turns to come nose to
            nose with the Enterprise.
            [Picard]:"Mr. Worf,  did  you  inform the  Romulans  of  the
            situation?"
            [Worf]:"Yes, Captain."
            [Picard]:"Hail them again."
            [Worf]:"Aye, sir.  They're responding visually, Captain."
            [Picard]:"Put them on screen."
                 The  bridge  of  the  Romulan  vessel  is  now  on  the
            viewscreen.  The commander  of the warbird  is the same  one
            that encountered the Myrmidon earlier.
            [Romulan  Commander]:"Federation  starship.     Because   of
            earlier assistance rendered  by another of  your kind, I  am
            predisposed to assist you.  Our scans indicate that you  are
            disabled.  You will  be given time to  restore power and  we
            will then escort you out of  the Neutral Zone.  I will  then
            considered the account settled."
                 The communication terminates and the viewscreen returns
            to an external view of the warbird.
            [Riker]:"Short and sweet, and to the point."
                 Picard taps his communicator.
            [Picard]:"Picard to LaForge."
            [LaForge]:"LaForge here, Captain, go ahead."
            [Picard]:"What's the situation down in engineering?"
            [LaForge]:"Not great,  Captain.   The damage  from the  bomb
            they planted  down here  is extensive.   I  may be  able  to
            restore emergency impulse power in about ten hours.  That'll
            at least be enough to get us out of here."
            [Picard]:"Ten hours then,  Picard out.   Ensign Wells,  have
            your team report to my ready room in five minutes."
            [Wells]:"Aye, sir."
            [Picard, to Riker]:"You have the bridge, Number One."
            [Riker]:"Aye, sir."
                 Picard strides into his ready room.
            [Wells, to Troi]:"Counselor, I take it you heard that."
                 Troi nods affirmatively.
            [Wells]:"Wells to  McKnight,  Wells  to  Callahan.    Please
            report to the bridge, on the double."
            [Callahan, over communicator]:"What?  Did I hear you right?"
            [Wells]:"Yes, Mr. Callahan.  I hope  I don't have to  repeat
            myself."
            [Callahan]:"Nope, I'm on my way.  Over and out."

                                       Scene 4

                 Picard sits in his ready room.  The door chime sounds.
            [Picard]:"Come."
                 Troi, Wells, McKnight and Callahan enter the room.
            [Picard]:"Please, have a seat."
                 Wells and McKnight sit across  the desk.  Callahan  and
            Troi get the couch.   Picard continues  working at his  desk
            for a while.  After a moment he looks up.
            [Picard]:"Counselor Troi,  Ensigns  Wells and  McKnight,  in
            recognition of your recent outstanding service to this  ship
            and her crew, you will  all be receiving official  citations
            for bravery, self-sacrifice and resourcefulness in the  face
            of danger and overwhelming odds,  which will be recorded  on
            your service records."
            [Troi, Wells and McKnight]:"Thank you, sir."
            [Picard]:"Now, Mr. Callahan, we come to  you.  I must  admit
            I've had some difficulty deciding how to reward you."
            [Callahan]:"It's really  not necessary,  sir.   I  was  just
            helping out my Step Mom."
            [Picard]:"No, Wayne, it  was much more  than that, and  it's
            because you're not  a member of  my crew  that your  efforts
            were so special.  We're trained to deal with situations like
            this.  As  I understand it,  your computer  skills were  the
            lynch pin of the operation,  and you also displayed  heroism
            and leadership skills as well.  I cannot in good  conscience
            let this go unrewarded.  I spoke with Ensign Wells, and  she
            says you're  not particularly  interested  in a    Starfleet
            career."
            [Callahan]:"Yeah,  I'm  really   more  interested  in   pure
            computer science.   Starfleet duties would  leave me  enough
            time to pursue my interests."
            [Picard]:"Well, on a starship, we're in constant need of new
            and updated  programs.    It's  not  exactly  pure  computer
            science, if there is such a  thing, but we really could  use
            your expertise.  If you'd be  interested in a job, for  most
            of it you can work at your own pace, and it's not like you'd
            have regular duties.  Plus, you would also be allowed to use
            the Enterprise  computer  for  your own  research,  if  it's
            appropriate, of course.  The pay's lousy, but the hours  are
            okay, and when you're ready to  move on, it'll look good  on
            your resume.    You'd  consult  with  Commander  LaForge  to
            determine what needs to be done.  Would you be interested?"
                 Callahan considers it  for a  moment.   He exchanges  a
            glance with Wells, then shrugs.
            [Callahan]:"Okay, sure, we can try it for awhile, at  least.
            I guess we have  a deal, but no  military stuff, okay?   I'm
            not an officer  and I'm not  crew, just  a civilian  worker,
            right?"
                 Callahan  stands  and  moves  towards  Picard's   desk.
            Picard stands.
            [Picard]:"Okay, deal."
                 Callahan and Picard shake hands.
            [Callahan]:"Well, if  there's  nothing else,  I'll  see  you
            around, boss."
            [Picard]:"See you  around,  Wayne.   The  rest  of  you  are
            dismissed as well."
                 The four of  them file  out of  the ready  room.   Troi
            takes her normal position, and McKnight takes over for Ro at
            the helm.  Wells  puts her arm  proudly around Callahan  and
            walks him into the turbolift.