"Drago to Cole, Security team required immediately. Astrometrics."
"They won't hear you Commander." The figure snorted. "I am most surprised, I would have thought that you would have wanted to sort this out by yourself, if your service record is anything to go by."
Luke frowned. "Those things can often be misleading." He was stalling for time, he had no idea who this man was or why he was here.
"I know what you're doing Commander."
Luke looked round the room, Longe was in a heap on the floor but other than that everything looked like it should. The Scavenger rocked once again and Luke was brought back to reality with a jolt.
"Well if you know then why are we standing here." He replied. "I am sure you have some form of telepathic ability if you are so confident of what it is I am doing. If that is the case then you know what I'm thinking now and you know that you could quite easily end all of this now. But that's not what you want, is it?"
The man laughed and clapped slowly. "Oh bravo Commander. I thought I was to be dissapointed but sure enough you have once again lived up to expectations. I bet it was KezTrek who taught you to think on your feet like that."
Luke frowned. What was he playing at? There was no obvious link to what he was talking about and the situation at hand...
"Do not try and reason this Commander." He smiled, not a healthy young smile you would expect to see of a man so attractive, but a grimace that could only just be taking as a smirk. His eyes showed nothing.
"As far as you can see there is no logic in this situation and as any good Vulcan would tell you, you can't reason without logic."
"I never was a fan of Vulcan philosophies." Luke replied. "I often find them too narrow minded. In my opinion you can always reason without logic, sometimes that's what gives you the answer and sometimes another question."
"And you want the answer?"
"Not if there is a question that I need to ask before I receive the answer." Luke replied.
A silence filled Astrometrics, the only noise was the creaking of the hull as yet again the Scaveneger took another beating.
"Your ship cannot take much more of this Commander."
"Then perhaps we should skip straight to the point." Luke said potently.
The man nodded. "Indeed."
Luke stared intently and when he didn't say anything he spoke up again.
"Well?"
"You are to come with me Commander."
Luke snorted. "That's it? You want me to give myself over to someone who has one Ship and apparantly no signs of any real power or else we wouldn't be here now." He paused. "You must know I won't do this."
"Of course, that is why we've had opperants working here since your arrival."
"I know all of this." Luke snapped. "I'm not a fool. Command gives me a Starship, of course they're going to keep an eye on me but you got to them. You, and whoever you work for, want something more."
The man began to walk around Astrometrics, a casual flick of the hair re-emphasing his apparant relaxed nature. Luke disagreed entirely, it was all a facade. He was good, but Luke was better.
"You will come with me Commander, and tell us all you know of the War that forces the Federation to seal it's Borders."
"And why?" Luke asked. "I won't tell Command, I'm certainly not going to tell a nut like you."
"But you will." The man grinned, this time it was sincere. He knew he had control, Luke felt as if his stomach had come up to his throat and was trying to force its way out. "You see Commander. You have the hero complex. All you want to do is make sure the lives of those around you are safe, even if it means hurting yourself. Your service record and Personal files prove this."
This guy had control, if he had access to all this. "You still have not got to the point I believe." Luke replied, trying to remain composed.
"Indeed. The Scavenger, thanks to Ensign Longe, is heading further into the unstable part of the Nebula, the "Urn Zone" as you put it." He paused, clearly from dramatic effect as yet again he flicked his hair. "You thought you were so damn clever, taking the Ship into the Zone, no one in their right mind would attempt a confrontation with you in here, you thought you were safe to bond with your crew. Well why you live Commander you will never be safe!"
"Oh give me strength." Luke said. "There's nothing like a melodramatic ego-trip."
"But this is so much more Commander. Of course I want to be the one that brings you in but that is of no consequence if I don't. What matters now is whether you are going to allow your crew to die out here. Your Helmsman has no idea, your Science Officer is oblivious. Even your fiesty FO thinks you're just crazy and that this is all some giant test.
Well to an extent she's right, we're testing you. The only question left is will you pass the test?"
"This is all just a game? A simulation?!"
"If you want to put it like that, then yes, I guess so." He paused. "But it was a game you never were going to win. The fate of the matter was decided long before you stepped into this room, long before you entered the Nebula."
"I don't believe in fate. I am a living testament of that." Luke replied.
"No, you are a living testament to the meddling of the human race!"
"You yourself want to meddle! By finding out about what is to come for the Federation!"
"No! We are doing this to save the Federation!"
"It already is, the sacrifice of those I love have seen to that! My presence here has seen to that!" Luke could feel himself becoming more and more angry. This man knew nothing of what he talked about.
"We are neglecting the point Commander. It does not matter what I need you for, rather are you going to give it to me? You can feel and hear the Scaveneger she will not last much longer. Soon those on the Bridge will realise that something is wrong. That you are not leaving the Zone and that they have no way of escape.
They will die here because of you."
"No." Luke replied. "Because they're not stupid. I am confident that Cole and her team are on their way now. Scans sent by Apirana will confirm that I am not alone here."
"Even so, you will not be able to release normal navigational control."
"Ha! I'm a Pilot. A much better one than Longe, anything he's done I can undo."
"Confidence is often a man's downfall."
"Then you will fall far."
=^= Bridge to Drago =^=
"Do not answer." He hissed.
"This is Drago." Luke said, in response of tapping his comm badge.
=^= Sir this is Apirana, we have restored communications but appear to be making no progess with the escape from the Zone =^=
"Inform Mr. Pride to keep the Ship moving, I will be on the Bridge shortly."
=^= Is everything alright Commander? =^=
Luke turned round, the young man had gone. "Yes." He replied. "Everything is fine."
*****
Four days had passed since the departure of the Scavenger from the Nebula. They were almost back at Assailant and Luke had called the Senior Staff to the Briefing Room. Most were disturbed by the news that Luke had told them, but all showed signs of acceptance towards Luke.
"I know I placed all if you in great danger." Luke said after he had told them exactly what had happened in Astrometrics. "But at least now we know what we're up against." After the mysterious figure had dissapeared the persuing vessel had broken off persuit. Drago and Pride had restored the Nav. systems and the Scavenger had slowly left the Nebula.
"It was all a test?" Apirana questioned.
"It appears so. They, whoeever they are, wanted to determine to what lengths I would go for my Ship and Crew, even those who I have yet to become fully acquainted with."
Luke could not decide whehter the Staff accepted this or not, whether they showed any signs of understanding.
"So you took us into the Nebula knowing we had operants onboard?" Cavit asked. Luke nodded in response.
"Next time tell us." She snapped.
Luke frowned. It was unlikely that all this was going to get easier anytime soon.
"You are dismissed." He said. "All this will be in my full report, as will all the objections made to my Command decisions. I am sure those 'Higher-ups' will have a field day deciding whether I get to stay here."
They all got up to leave but before they exited Luke cleared his throat.
"If it means anything, I am extremely proud of all of you."
And then they left, leaving Luke to his thoughts.
OOC:
This is the end of our first mission together. I wrapped it up in one post because I am away for a week.
If you wish to post what is happening to you during my time in Astrometrics please go right ahead.
If not I leave the Scavenger in the capable hands of the our FO. I am sure she will set up a Shore Leave thread so enjoy some free time while I am away and then we will look at mission options when I return.
Well done all!
Luke.