Grand Tour

Posted on Fri Mar 31st, 2017 @ 1:01am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Captain Elijah Michaels

Mission: All the Kings Men: Wargames
Location: The Archives, Gallery level

It took only a matter of seconds for the transporter to finish the materialisation sequence, but for Elijah it seemed like an eternity. The Captain took a moment to gather his focus and examine his surroundings. He hadn't been specific when he asked Cor to beam him over to the Archive but it took a second to realise where he had ended up.

The Archive seemed like a sprawling museum exhibit, the kind you would find on Earth in the Centuries prior. Display cases housing exotic items from worlds and locales that many never knew existed. For Elijah it was a jaw dropping sight. As a Captain he had been privy to some sensitive information throughout his career but this? This was something totally new to him.

He checked his Rifle and proceeded forward into the exhibit. His eyes flickered from left to right as he tried to make sense of what was on display. Some seemed familiar to him, Klingon Disruptors, Breen Refrigeration Suits locked in a display case and even a Borg vinculum from a destroyed Cube. But then there were some things that he did not recognise, a large robotic torso with a human like skull and piercing red eyes, an exotic egg with strange hyroglyphs etched on it and even a 5 foot tall red machine with lights on top that resembled a salt shaker.

Everything was locked down tight, he could see. Keypads and forcefields. Genetic samplers and... well, other samplers. This was where SFI brought items that had slipped between universes and been deemed to dangerous for release or use.

He was standing by a device labeled "Agonizer" when he head the movement ahead of him. Peering cautiously around the corner he saw a familiar figure working on a containment unit. He couldn't make out the label on the unit, but he had seen Cloak technology from the old Klingon BOP and this was similar and yet significantly different.

Gates was working at the catches, having overridden the safety locks. He had the first two off, but was struggling with the last catch and swearing at it eloquently.

He stopped suddenly and without turning around called out clearly, "I know it's not Smith. There is no way he could have been promoted in time. So why don't you step into the open and let me see who he convinced to help him?"

Elijah aimed his rifle at Gates. The Captain had him dead in the sights of the weapon and then pulled the trigger....It didn't work. "Bollocks......" He then stared at Gates. The man he had been linked with for most of his Careeer. The Admiral and he were now face to face.

Gates turned when he heard the exclamation.

"You again?" he said in an irritated voice. "I thought they locked you up and threw away the key. Figures Smith would pull you out of a cell to go after me."

He pointed to the weapon in Elijah's hand, "That won't work here. There is some sort of field generated that renders energy weapons and transporters inoperable. So... do you want to resort to fisticuffs? Or are you going to try and wear me out with words? Either way, I am leaving with the phase cloak."

Elijah put the rifle down onto the deck. "It doesn't matter to me I'll still be dragging you to your Court Martial either way." He said as he stared down his adversary.

"Court Martial?" Gates scoffed incredulously and laughed. "You think this is a matter for the courts? We are at war, Michaels. The Jenarrii are a threat that is growing ready to steam roller over us. Starfleet command are, for the most part, to busy fondling red tape and considering deputations to do anything. These are not people you can reason with, they are fanatics, dedicated to the eradication of anything that does not meet their doctrine. You've seen their "Divine commandments"; you know what they are asking for. Total subjugation of the Federation. Extermination of all races and cultures that are not theirs."

He turned his back on Elijah and returned to unbuckling the device he was in front of, a phase cloak.

"Last time we faced a threat like this the Borg walked through our entire fleet without pausing. I will not let the Federation be caught napping a second time, while there are any options available."

"You took an oath!" Elijah barked at him. "You swore that you would defend the Federation and its ideals until your dying breath if needs be." Elijah grabbed him by the shoulder. "You blew up USS Madison in the War and over 425 men and women."

Grabbing him was a mistake. Gates had been counting on it.

With a quick gesture Gates grabbed the hand and twisted. Elijah found himself with his arm behind his back and Gates voice in his ear.

"Still harping about the past, Elijah?" he hissed. "Think on this. Four and a half billion people lost on Provas 4 to the Jenarri. They burned it., The whole world. 79 Million at the Jaranax colony. 249 thousand refugees torched while trying to flee the Bofnam system. These Jenarrii don't care for our ideals; it is the very inclusivity and embracing of diversity that offends them. You want to protect the Federation and its ideals, you have to stop the Jenarrii."

He was suddenly released and pushed away, "You've been in the war games. How many times did the Federation win in any simulation you ran? You have faced the Jenarri yourself, in a Sovreign class. What do you really think our chances are if we play by the standard rules?"

He pointed to the Phase cloak, "The Narendra treaty with the Romulans say we can't use cloak devices, but what will that matter when the Romulans and Narendra III are scorched? This facility, and many like it, hold weapons that can halt the Jenarii, maybe even push them back. And when the Jenarii find this place, do you think they will hold off using it?"

Gates eyes flashed fire, "So you tell me, Michaels; exactly how much is that oath worth to you? How far are YOU willing to go to protect the Federation and it's ideals? I am willing to give everything for it."

"I'd give my life for the Federation." Elijah said bluntly to him. "But I wouldn't betray those ideals in the manner that you have." He said coldly to Gates. "That makes you no better than them."

"Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal," Gates mocked. "Get a new line, Michaels. I have betrayed nothing. We stand for unity in diversity. The Jenarrii do not. So we must resist the Jenarrii if we are to uphold the Federation ideals. You talk about giving up your life, but you can't even see beyond your pride and personal vendetta.
Aha!"

The last was given with a cry as the final restraint came loose from the cloaking device.

Elijah leapt at the Admiral. If he was going to get this Phase Cloak off the Archives then he would have to do it by going through Elijah. The two men wrestled around as punches were thrown.

Elijah was younger, but Gates had been preparing for war and, Elijah suspected as the fight began to turn against him, may have taken some illegal augmentation.

With a sweep of a leg Elijah found himself on the ground. Gates was on top of him and choking him. Elijah knew Gates was unlikely to kill him.. but he couldn't be sure. Purple spots swam in his vision...

"Hey!" a new voice called out.

Gates glanced up and received a metal fist to the face.

The Admiral flew backwards and slid, his nose broken and bloody. He looked up at Bertrand who was moving quickly towards him.

"You are under arrest for..." Bertrand began but didn't get to finish. Gates launched himself at the new opponent.

Elijah had not seen Bertrand fight before, but had heard rumours. Now he could see what they were based on. Every time Gates went to swing a punch Bertrand was a fraction of a second ahead. In fact it was almost like Bertrand knew which blow Gates was going to try before it was thrown, as if he was....

... reading his mind.

Bertrand brought his own bionic right arm down in a savage shop to the Admiral's neck, sending him spinning and unconscious to the floor.

"For various charges that will be read to you when you wake up," Bertrand finished. He turned to Elijah to help him up. "Are you alright, Captain?"

Elijah got up off his feet. The Captain rubbed his neck. "Only my pride but thanks Number One." He looked curiously at Bertrand. "How did you get in the Archive? It's access is restricted to Captain or above."

Bertrand smirked with a smug air, "I think you will find that it is 'Acting Captain' Bertrand, given your listed as AWOL. Because of that, I was able to beam down here as well. We are secure Topside, but I suggest we make a move back to Starbase 117 as quickly as possible. We don't want any reinforcements to arrive."

"Very good." Elijah said as he looked around at the Archive. "Ready when you are."

Cuprum put a hand on the recumbent Gates, "Away team to Victory. Three to beam up."