No Good Deed

The Odyssey responds to a distress call from a scientist whose criminal connections place the ship in high danger.

No Good Deed – 1

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IV, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78620.2

“Fleet Captain’s log stardate seven-eight-six-two-oh point two. The Odyssey remains in orbit of the Entharan colony on Gerina Four. The Entharans have been excellent hosts in providing places for the crew to take some R&R and have been keen on engaging with us over trade. We plan to break orbit tomorrow to rendezvous with the Themis in a few days.”

Bathed in the soft glow of the transporter room’s ambient lighting, Jen looked around the room and was pleased to see that it was one of the junior enlisted crewmembers on duty. He thanked him and gestured for his companion to join him as they left the room together. Smirking somewhat, Rosle adjusted the strap from her bag over her shoulder as she quickly caught up with Jen as they entered the main corridor. 

The Odyssey appeared almost lifeless as they made their way towards the nearest turbolift. They walked side by side, and once they felt more comfortable, their fingers intertwined. Jen smiled at Rosle, and she reflected the same sentiment. Tapping on the turbolift’s panel to summon its next available cart, Jen chuckled a bit.

“What is it?” Rosle probed him.

“This,” Jen replied, looking down at them holding hands, “us.”

“Are you embarrassed?” Rosle asked, almost sounding hurt.

He turned towards her. “Not in the slightest,” Jen answered. “I just never thought we would…” The joined Trill paused as he tried to find the words. “You know, do what we did!”

Rosle giggled. “Hey, you were the one looking for a climbing buddy!”

“I know, but in all my lifetimes, I’ve never climbed an alien mountain nak-” Jen stopped speaking when the turbolift lift doors opened.

Standing in the cart’s centre with a PADD in her hands, Commander Tierra looked up at her two colleagues. “Lukiz, Rosle, welcome back!” She greeted.

 Glad he had stopped himself before Tierra had heard him finish that sentence, Jen turned to the Deltan chief engineer. “Thanks, Tierra. How’s things been here on the ship?”

“Oh, all quiet,” She replied as she made room for them to enter with her.

“That’s good,” Jen replied as he smirked at Rosle before calling for the decks their quarters were on. 

“How was the climbing?” Tierra asked them.

“It was good,” Jen answered.

“Yeah, really good.” Rosle enforced. 

“That’s…good,” Tierra said.

Jen noticed the awkwardness with Tierra and so quickly tried to change the subject. “I hear Craigen has completed some successful deals with the Entharans.”

“Yeah, he hasn’t stopped. It would seem several high-profile Entharan businesses were keen to be the first to open a rapport with us,” Tierra said. “I’m not entirely sure yet what the outcomes of their offers are, but Craigen tells me our cargo bays will be loaded with supplies to keep us going for the next five years.”

“Sounds like you’ll be busy over the coming days with the inventory, Commander,” Rosle said, winking at Jen.

“The joys of being a Chief Operations Officer,” Jen sighed. “What about yourself, Tierra? Did you get a chance to take a break?”

Tierra nodded back at him. “A couple of days visiting a lovely secluded beach on one of the tropical islands with Lillia and Jameel.”

“Ah, nice,” Rosle enunciated. “What did they think of the colony?”

“They liked it,” Tierra replied. “Jameel thought it was like a cross between Risa and Ferenginar.”

“The Entharans are as keen to make good business as the Ferengi,” Jen remarked. “However, unlike the Ferengi, they actually have a standard of behaviour they appear to follow for any business transaction.”

The turbolift eventually arrived at Tierra’s destination, “Well, this is me. I’ve got a subspace call with Abbej, so I’ll see you both at the senior staff briefing tomorrow morning.”

“Sure, give Abbej our regards,” Jen said as the turbolift doors closed after she stepped out.

The moment the lift resumed, Jen turned to Rosle and immediately pulled her into a close embrace. Within seconds, they were kissing one another. After a few moments, they pulled away, and both laughed. 

“That was the most awkward small talk I’ve ever had,” Jen admitted.

Rosle nodded in agreement. “I know, right?” She kept her hands around Jen’s neck. “Do you think she suspected anything between us?”

Jen shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know,” He then kissed her briefly. “And I don’t care.” He added before kissing her again.


The door chime went off.

It went off again.

It went off four times before Flemen eventually got out of bed and headed out of his room towards the main entrance. Under his breath, he grumbled and wondered who was calling in on him on the day he could sleep in. Without realising it, he answered the door, just wearing his boxers, and was met by the sudden embrace of his godson, S’Tem, jumping into his arms.

“Uncle Craigen!” The youngster squirmed as he tightly wrapped his tiny arms around Flemen’s neck. 

“S’Tem, this is a nice surprise!” He answered as he put his arms around S’Tem’s legs and saw his friend, Tomaz, standing in the doorway. 

Tomaz looked at his friend, “You weren’t still sleeping?” He asked.

Flemen nodded but ushered his friend in. “Yeah, I hoped to spend most of the day in bed.” As the doorway closed behind Tomaz, Flemen realised why they were there. “Oh man, I forgot. We were planning to go on that harbour tour today, weren’t we?”

Chuckling, Tomaz shook his head. “Well, someone,” He said, pointing at his son, who was still holding onto Flemen for dear life, “didn’t forget and has been up since oh-five hundred hours, bouncing around our quarters about it.”

“And visiting the Entharan zoo, and then you promised to book us tickets for their hovercar races!” S’Tem added, his tone laced with excitement.

“I did, didn’t I?” Flemen said, realising he couldn’t let S’Tem down, even if he wanted to go back to bed.

“Hey, we can come back later if you want, Craigen,” Tomaz offered his friend.

Flemen shook his head. “Nope. I made a promise to my godson, and I plan to carry it out.” He passed S’Tem back to his father. “Let me go and jump in the sonic shower, get changed, and then we can get going.”

“We’ll make you some breakfast while you get ready”, Tomaz offered.

Flemen appreciated it and quickly rushed back to the privacy of his room to get himself ready.

An hour later, after eating his breakfast, Flemen was walking down the corridor of the Odyssey with S’Tem on his shoulders as he and Tomaz made their way towards the transporter room. 

“So, I take it based on the briefing remarks I got from the captain this morning that yesterday’s meetings went well?” Tomaz questioned.

Flemen nodded with a sense of achievement. “That’s putting it mildly. We’re getting a hefty amount of supplies in exchange for our detailed scans of the Verkien System. The businesses we’ve shared that data with will work together to establish a new frontier outpost to expand the Entharan’s influence deeper in the region and begin mining the resources there.”

“Isn’t it a bit far away for them?” Tomaz asked as they turned down a corridor. “And what will the Benthans say?”

Flemen shrugged. “The Benthans aren’t that bothered, and the Entharans are thrilled with the prospect of developing the system further. They’ve already sent a scouting mission.”

“That soon?” Tomaz said, surprised to hear just how eager their current hosts were.

“One of the delegates, a wealthy guy called Korvain, wanted to ensure that no one else claimed it,” Flemen explained.

“You did explain that it’s in a really remote area with barely anyone else nearby,” Tomaz checked.

“The captain did, but Korvain insisted he didn’t want the Hirogen to turn it into another hunting ground,” Flemen shared. “That’s one thing I’ve heard the most from the Entharans these past few days. Hirogen this, Hirogen that.”

“Craigen, they do sit near the borders of the hunting territory,” Tomaz reminded his friend as they approached the doors to the transporter room.

“Dad, aren’t the Hirogen, the big scary guys you mentioned who like to hunt everyone?” S’Tem asked.

Tomaz looked up at his son and nodded. Before he could say anything more, he was stopped by the sight of the transporter room door opening in front of them. Jen and Rosle were walking out, almost hand-in-hand. Both Tomaz and Flemen stopped in their tracks; their eyes were wide open at the scene before them.

“I know they were going rock climbing with each other, but I didn’t think that would happen,” Flemen remarked in a low tone. 

“Me neither,” Tomaz whispered back.

“Good for them,” Flemen stated as they watched their colleagues head down a junction towards the nearest lift. 

“Are they in love, Uncle Craigen?” S’Tem asked as they approached the transporter room.

“Apparently so,” Flemen answered, pulling S’Tem off his shoulders.

“Damn, and I thought she had a thing for Gray,” Tomaz said as the doors to the transporter room opened for them.

“Obviously, the Entharans aren’t the only ones who are quick to move in on something good,” Flemen stated before they walked onto the transporter platform and asked the crewmember on duty to beam them down to the planet. 


“This is a really good exchange,” Banfield commented before sipping on her raktajino and continuing to read the contents of the deal that had been agreed upon with the Entharans.

“I know, right?” McCallister said, pleased with himself as he took a mouthful of scrambled egg.

“Craigen must be buzzing from this,” Duncan added.

McCallister could only nod as he swallowed his breakfast.

Sitting around in McCallister’s ready room, the three most senior officers on the Odyssey had met for breakfast so McCallister could update them both ahead of the senior staff briefing scheduled for the following day. It was an informal meeting as, technically, they all had the day off, but neither of them minded seeing the good news.

“I mean, this is a really good deal,” Banfield repeated as she placed her warm mug on the table they were sitting around. “The supplies we are getting are probably more than Starfleet gave the entire squadron before we left Starbase Thirty-Eight.”

“That’s only the first part,” McCallister said as he placed his fork down and picked up his glass of orange juice. “Once they have completed their own surveys and if they like what they find on Verkian, we will get a very impressive finder’s package.”

“I’m surprised they’ve not explored it themselves?” Banfield enquired as she picked up a slice of toast.

“I asked the lead Magistrate about this, and she told me that their people rely heavily on the trade of others. They don’t normally go out of their way to explore like we do,” McCallister explained as he took a sip from his drink. “She’s confident that setting up an outpost on Verkian will encourage many Entharan businesses to expand their operations, create more trade and jobs, and further improve Gerina’s economy.”

“I bet! The first businesses to invest in such a venture would have a powerful influence on Verkian’s development,” Duncan noted.  

“One of the more high-profile businessmen we met, a gentleman called Korvain, has already sent out a scouting mission. From what I’m told, he is very rich and very influential among many on Gerina; no one can rarely say no to him.” McCallister said as he put his glass down and tucked back into his breakfast. “I did invite him for a tour of the ship, but he wanted to see how lush the moon that Karyn and the cadets studied was.”

“Talking of cadets,” Duncan said after swallowing several mushrooms, “Tobias and I still can’t get anything out of Jordan about what’s happened between him and Alfie.”

McCallister rolled his eyes. Since the cadet training excursion last month, both families noticed a change in their sons’ behaviour towards one another. Neither of them socialised with one another anymore, and neither of them wanted to talk about what had happened. 

“Well, my two are keeping quiet about it,” Banfield added, mentioning Athena and Brook. 

McCallister sighed before speaking up. “Karyn and I have stopped pushing the issue with Alfie. He seems to be just focussing on his work and studies for now.”

“Same with Jordan,” Duncan shared. “Teenage dramas, hey?”

McCallister smirked. “Let’s hope it’s only that and not another Borg body-snatching plan.”

“Fingers crossed,” Banfield said, smirking. “Hopefully, whatever it is will blow over.”

“It’s been almost a month,” Duncan commented. “The counsellor in me wants to sit them both down and have a session with them, while the father in me thinks giving them their space is best for now.”

“Agreed,” McCallister said with an affirmative nod. “If not, let’s stick them both on duty in Cetacean Ops, scrubbing the air filtering system with their toothbrushes.”

“I’m sure Commander Quendez would appreciate that!” Duncan chuckled, mentioning the head of their cetacean operations before discussing a different subject. “Any news from Bexa?” 

McCallister nodded. “Yep, she sent me a message last night to say we will see them in four days.”

“That’s great news,” Banfield said. “You must be pleased to hear the Constitution is safe.”

“Safe but lost,” McCallister stated. He was happy that his brother’s ship hadn’t been destroyed; however, having him three years away wasn’t what he had planned. “If anything from their datastream is to go by, hopefully, it won’t be the whole three years, and they’ll be able to find an underspace corridor to get them back sooner.”

 “Any word from the Turei about that?” Duncan asked as he cut a piece of bacon in half.

“Not yet,” McCallister shook his head. “I’m doubtful they will know about any underspace corridors that far out. Their maps aren’t the most useful or reliable.”

“What is it that Mettex tells his aide?” Banfield asked aloud, mentioning Slyvex’s husband, who worked in the science department as a civilian specialist. “Ah, yes!” She clicked her fingers as she did an impression of the Denobulan man. “Optmisim!”

McCallister and Duncan both burst out laughing at Banfield.

“That was an awful impression, Corella,” Duncan retorted between his chuckles.

“It was a good try,” McCallister assured her. “I appreciate your positive outlook on it, and it’s nice to see you’re optimistic.”

Banfield joined her colleagues with their chuckling. “I only become an optimist after meeting you two!”

“Hey, it’s been over a year since you joined us, Corella. You’ve got to give us some credit for how we’ve influenced you!” Duncan jokingly said. 

“With the amount of trouble we’ve gotten into in the past year, optimism is the only course of action now!” Banfield smirked. What’s that famous saying: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?”

“Here’s to our second officer,” Duncan said, raising his mug of tea. “The newly reborn optimist!”

“Here, here!” McCallister said, lifting his glass.

Banfield sighed and joined in. 

No Good Deed – 2

Cloudbase, Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78620.34

“This is truly remarkable,” Mettex exclaimed, his eyes aglow with fascination and his voice filled with awe as they departed the astrology lab. “I’ve never encountered such precise data on subspace manipulation at the quantum level. Your research, Director Shenia, is nothing short of groundbreaking!”

Shenia, the epitome of grace, acknowledged Mettex’s enthusiasm with a nod, her dark eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and humility. “I’m delighted you’ve found our work intriguing, Professor Mettex. We’ve poured countless hours into pushing the boundaries of our understanding in all areas of the sciences. Cloudbase is here to continue to innovate our knowledge of the known universe.”

Walking behind her husband and their Entharan host, Slyvexs felt a thrill coursing through her veins. The opportunity to explore the Cloudbase research outpost, a marvel nestled within the cyclohexane layer of the ninth gas giant on the Gerina system’s edge, was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ (as described by the director when she told them about it). However, Slyvexs wasn’t the one who had been invited to it first. After meeting Shenia at a recent diplomatic function, she invited Mettex to tour this facility. Slyvexs couldn’t deny Mettex this unique opportunity, especially given his infrequent visits to alien laboratories. However, they were meant to be relaxing somewhere calm instead of doing more science work.

“Are you alright, my dear?” Mettex’s voice cut through Slyvexs’s reverie, filled with genuine concern.

With a soft smile, Slyvexs reassured him, “Yes, darling, all is well. I’m simply captivated by everything we’re seeing.”

Shenia, ever attentive to her guests’ needs, turned her gaze towards Slyvexs. “Doctor Slyvexs, if you are interested in visiting our medical research bays, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I can arrange for an assistant to accompany you.”

Slyvexs considered the offer briefly before graciously declining with a wave of her hand. “Thank you, Director Shenia, but I’m thoroughly enjoying our tour as it is. Please, continue to enlighten us.”

As the director of Cloudbase, Shenia exuded a palpable passion for their research endeavours. Leading them through the corridors lined with pulsating arrays and humming machinery, she painted a vivid picture of the innovative work being conducted within the outpost’s confines. Passing what resembled their own version of cetacean ops, Slyvexs couldn’t help but be intrigued. “Director, who provides the support for all of your groundbreaking work? Is it government-funded?”

Shenia paused, her gaze thoughtful as she considered Slyvexs’ question. “Actually, no, we are privately funded. Much of our research is supported by my father’s businesses.”

“Your father?” Mettex’s curiosity was piqued, his eyes gleaming with interest. “What kind of businesses does he oversee?”

Shenia’s lips curved into a subtle smile, a hint of mystery dancing in her eyes. “Oh, various enterprises spanning multiple sectors. But perhaps you’d be more interested in our temporal mechanics division. It’s truly fascinating.”

“I’m already intrigued!” Mettex exclaimed eagerly, his enthusiasm undiminished as they continued their tour.

Slyvexs couldn’t help but chuckle softly, her heart warmed by Mettex’s genuine engagement in their visit. She continued to follow from behind as Mettex’s curiosity piqued, and he fired question after question at Shenia about the work being carried out on Cloudbase.


Gerina IV, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant

 

Keli was enjoying herself as she bathed on one of the sunbeds on the pool’s edge. She was relaxed and enjoying the bright, warm sunshine. For the first time in a long time, the Odyssey’s chief security and tactical officer could not remember the last time she had been able to relax under an alien sun like this. 

A server came over and offered her a drink; Keli thanked them before she sat up and took it. Her companion, Marova, was beside her, sipping on a similar cocktail. 

“This is good,” Marova nodded as she finished sipping her drink.

Keli took her drink and sipped on it, too. “Oh, I like that. Nice and fruity. Quite exotic.”

“Talking of exotic,” Marova looked over the top of her sunglasses and gestured towards one end of the swimming pool. “Is it me, or does it look like Reuben is slowly coming out of that pool?”

Intrigued, Keli looked over to where Marova was pointing and saw Gray, Jonarom and Jaceon coming out of the swimming pool. The three men had just swam the pool length and were joking around with one another. Over the last few weeks, Gray had become like a big brother to Jaceon ever since they had rescued him from the Borg. Jonarom, on the other hand, appeared to be becoming more confident in social situations, so when Keli had organised for a group of them to visit one of the tropical resorts, she was surprised when Jonarom accepted the offer. 

Keli found herself unable to resist halting her steps to admire Gray’s impressive physique. Their bond had grown inseparable over time, forged through their shared dedication to Jaceon’s rehabilitation and the countless hours spent together off-duty. Yet, in that moment, as she watched Gray emerge from the pool, she couldn’t help but ponder Marova’s observation. Was Gray deliberately prolonging his exit from the water, or was he merely taking his time? Every contour of his well-defined chest and the marks left by his Borg implants on his biceps, back, and torso were starkly visible, drawing Keli’s gaze irresistibly.

“Reuben!” Maraova shouted at the top of her voice, “Can you go any slower out of that pool?” She then picked up a nearby piece of fruit and threw it towards Gray. 

Without hearing Marova, Grey had been shaking his head as the water dripped from it and hadn’t seen what she threw until the last second; as he saw the flying fruit approach him, he tried to catch it but instead fell backwards and back into the pool with a massive splash. 

His misfortune caused everyone to laugh. As Gray swam back up to the side of the pool, he got up and ran over to Marova. “Oh, you think that was funny, hey, lieutenant?”

Marova, who was still laughing, nodded. “It certainly was!” 

He turned to Keli, “Do you mind if I steal your drinking companion?”

“Go ahead, Reuben,” Keli said, smirking.

Maraova looked at her friend and then back to Gray but didn’t have much chance to respond when Gray picked her up, placed her over his shoulder, and ran straight back into the pool with her. They entered with a massive splash that caught almost everyone else.

Swimming back to the top of the pool, the two officers had huge smiles as they laughed. 

“Was that slow enough for you, Marova?” Gray asked. 

“You’ll regret that!” Marova said between chuckles. 

Keli finished laughing and went back to relaxing. This was perfect, she felt. She shook the thought of Gray coming out of the pool so quickly. There was nothing there. 

She hoped.

No Good Deed – 3

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IV, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78620.5

With most of the crew off duty and enjoying their time on the planet below, Court had decided to indulge himself in his weekly game of velocity with his son, William. He cherished his off-duty moments with William, and over the last few months, William was becoming a good player at it. Spending this time together, just the two of them had been an excellent way for them to always catch up with how things were going for William, and lately, Court felt like he needed to give William a bit more time, especially as it felt like recently everyone was more focussed on Jordan. 

His husband had commented on how adorable it was that Court would take William to the holodeck to do these things. Duncan remarked that William wasn’t like every other teenager on the ship who would have thought such activity was too embarrassing or uncool to do with one of their parents. 

Being the godfather to Fleet Captain McCallister’s sons had meant that over the years, Court had developed his paternal instincts, and now that two of them were no longer on the ship and Alfie was engrossed with his cadet studies, Court found himself wanting to spend more time with his sons when he could. He wished he had spent more time with his parents growing up. If neither of them were working, then they would be spending time doing their own research in their respective fields. Court had made that conscious decision that he wouldn’t be like that as a parent. He wanted to be there for his sons, whom he and Duncan had adopted over a year ago. William was starting to show an interest in a range of hobbies, especially the more physical ones, so Court was pleased to share his with his son when he could. 

Today, they found themselves in the holodeck where the room was configured to resemble a standard court for velocity. The air was alive with the hum of energy as the velocity disc zipped around, bouncing off holographic barriers with a faint crackle of excitement.

With his father’s unyielding spirit evident in every step, William dashed across the grid with agility and grace. His eyes were fixed on the disc, his movements fluid as he lunged and dodged, doing his utmost to outmanoeuvre his father. Seeing the determination in William’s eyes made Court chuckle at how much he reminded him of himself when he started playing velocity just over fifteen years ago with Fleet Captain McCallister. 

Court, clad in his off-duty sweats, matched William’s enthusiasm with a sense of paternal pride. His brow glistened with sweat, his heart pounding with the thrill of the game. Despite the pressure, he maintained a slight lead over his son, his focus unbroken.

“Come on, Dad, you can’t keep up forever!” William exclaimed, his voice echoing with both competitiveness and admiration for his father’s skill.

Court grinned, his heart swelling with pride at his son’s spirited challenge. “I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve, Will,” he replied, his tone playful yet determined not to let his son get anything past him.

Their phasers crackled with energy as they exchanged shots, the velocity disc ricocheting off the holographic walls with increasing velocity in their final round. Court could feel the intensity of the game mounting, each moment bringing them closer to the thrilling conclusion.

In a split-second decision, Court aimed his phaser with precision, sending a powerful blast towards the disc. William reacted swiftly, his reflexes honed by hours of practice, darting to the side just in time as the disc collided with the hologrid, rebounding off in a dazzling display of light and then smacking into the side of William.

“Full impact. Final round to Court. Winner Court.” The computer announced. 

William’s shoulders slumped in defeat, frustration evident on his face. “Damn it,” He cursed under his breath.

“Nice try, son,” Court said, his voice filled with warmth and his attempt to catch his breath. As he approached William, he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You almost had me there.”

William sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, almost,” he conceded.

Court chuckled, ruffling William’s hair affectionately. “Tell you what, how about we head to the Auditorium, and I’ll treat you to a milkshake? My treat.”

William’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, his disappointment fading as he nodded eagerly. “Sounds good, Dad. But next time, I’ll definitely beat you. You’re getting too old for this!”

Court grinned, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “I look forward to the challenge, Will. But for now, let’s go enjoy that milkshake together.”

With laughter echoing in the holodeck, father and son left the game’s intensity behind, relishing the simple joy of spending time together. As they exited the holodeck, Court put an arm around William’s shoulder as they continued to banter about their match. 


After ordering two chocolate milkshakes at the bar, Court and his son settled down at an empty table in the Auditorium. The atmosphere was relaxed, with the gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses providing a soothing backdrop.

The dim lighting of the Auditorium created an ambience of calmness as Court and William sat across from each other, sipping their milkshakes. Court watched his son closely, noting the furrow in his brow and the thoughtful expression on his face.

“Dad, do you know why Jordan’s been so moody lately?” William’s voice broke the comfortable silence, his concern evident in his tone.

Court paused, considering his son’s question. “Hmm, I think he’s just stressed with his work as a cadet on the ship,” he replied with a shrug, masking his own worries.

William shook his head, his expression serious. “It’s more than that, Dad. I found out something.”

Intrigued, Court leaned in, his interest piqued. “Oh? What did you find out?”

William hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice lowered conspiratorially. “Jordan is romantically involved with someone.”

Court chuckled. “Yeah, we all know he is dating with Beatrice.”

William shook his head furiously between sips and told his father he was wrong. “No, he is secretly dating Alfie now.”

Court’s eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. He knew that Jordan and Alfie were best friends, but recently, they had not seemed as close. They had all heard that both boys had a falling out recently and needed some time to get over it. 

“Are you sure?” Court checked with his son opposite to him.

William nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Yeah, apparently, they got together during the recent cadet training excursion. They were on a survival training exercise in some alien forest, and they kissed each other.”

Court felt a pang of concern gnawing at his chest. “I see,” he murmured, his mind racing with questions and uncertainties. Curious about how his son came across such sensitive information, Court asked, “Where did you hear this, Will?”

William shifted uncomfortably in his seat, a hint of guilt flickering across his features. “Uh, from a few sources,” he admitted reluctantly. “But it also explains why Jordan and Alfie have been avoiding each other during their off-duty time.”

Court placed a hand on William’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Listen, Will, it’s not our place to pry into your brother’s private affairs. If Jordan wants to tell us about his romantic feelings for Alfie, he’ll do it when he’s ready. Or if something else is bothering him, we can only reassure him we are here for him. You do not get involved in gossiping about his love life or any other part. Do you get that?”

William frowned, struggling to understand. “But what have I done wrong, Dad? I was just trying to understand what’s been bothering Jordan.”

Court offered his son a gentle smile. Sometimes, he had to remind himself of how naive William and Jordan were in certain social situations based on their backgrounds.  “You haven’t done anything wrong, Will. But sometimes, respecting someone’s privacy is the best thing we can do for them.”

“Fine,” William said, sounding deflated. “All I was going to say was if Jordan was dating Alfie, then I’m cool with that as I like Alfie and having him as another big brother is okay with me. Plus, I don’t like Beatrice; she makes Jordan look stupid.”

“Calm down, Will; we’re not preparing Jordan and Alfie’s marriage just yet,” Court remarked with a chuckle. Changing the subject, Court asked, “Do you have any homework from school?”

William nodded, grateful for the shift in conversation. “Yeah, I have revision for my upcoming exam on Earth literature.”

“Ah, literature. One of my favourites,” Court said with a smile. “How about I help you with your revision later? We can make it a father-son study session.”

A grin spread across William’s face. “Thanks, Dad. I’d like that.”

They returned to their drinks; however, Court couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling of concern. He couldn’t ignore the possibility that William’s words held the truth about Jordan and Alfie. His mind raced with worries and uncertainties about his son’s well-being. William’s logic made sense in explaining why Jordan was the way he was lately. Deep in thought, Court made a silent resolution. He would share what he knew with his husband when they saw each other. Together, they would find a way to support Jordan, whether it be in navigating his newfound relationship or addressing any underlying issues he may be facing.

“Bridge to Commander Court,” spoke Lieutenant Jisaraa over the intercom.

Court tapped his combadge that was attached to his t-shirt. “Go ahead, Lieutenant.”

“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we think we are picking up a distress call.”

Intrigued by that, Court asked her to clarify from where.

“It’s coming from the Entharan research outpost that Doctor Slyvexs and her husband are visiting,” Jisaraa answered, her worry evident. “The Entharans are reporting that they are under attack by the Hirogen.”

“Take us to red alert; I’m on my way, and get a message to Fleet Captain McCallister and Captains Duncan and Banfield to return to the ship immediately,” Court said as he got out of his chair. He knew he could take the ship into battle with its captain, first officer and second officer, but with over half the senior staff on R&R, Court wasn’t prepared to take that risk. 

“Understood, sir,” 

Court turned to William, and straight away, he could see that William was frustrated that this new emergency had stopped their time.

“I’ve got to go, Will, but once this is all over, you and I are hitting those revision notes,” Court said with an assuring smile.

“Thanks, Dad,” William said as the ship went to red alert.

Court, the only senior officer on the ship at the time, rushed out of the Auditorium and took the nearest turbolift to the bridge. 

No Good Deed – 4

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IV, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78620.52

Within the confines of the turbolift, Duncan, McCallister, and Banfield stood in a silence that was almost tangible. Duncan’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, his lips curling into a wry smile as he pondered the irony of their situation. How many times had they found themselves on the precipice of yet another crisis? And how many more times would they be thrust into such a predicament? The memories of their past trials and triumphs flooded his mind, each one a testament to their resilience and camaraderie. 

Considering this interruption to their diplomatic brunch, Duncan had assumed that McCallister would be more annoyed; instead, he appeared more relieved when the call came through. They had attended several functions over the last few days with their Entharan hosts. The call to red alert was a change of pace for them all. 

As Duncan’s gaze fell upon Banfield, he was struck by a wave of admiration. It seemed like she had joined the ship just yesterday, her purpose entirely different from where she found herself now. Her rapid integration into the crew was nothing short of a miracle. Banfield had gone on to stay with them to ensure that what was to happen (temporal mechanics and all) would happen correctly. Now, all of that seemed like a distant past. Banfield was part of their inner circle, which had been developed over many years among the senior staff. She had gone out of her way to get to know others and share a side of herself that made her relatable. Though there had been some hiccups along the way and a few disagreements in staff meetings, Banfield’s loyalty to the ship, its crew, and its commanding officer was unwavering. She and McCalister had developed a strong rapport over the past year, and McCallister had done what he had always done, proven himself to be a capable leader, and earned him her respect, from what Duncan could see. Her Klingon side had grown to see him as a man of his honour. Duncan had never second-guessed the notion that she would become loyal to McCallister. They had all been through too much together. 

Then, looking at McCallister, Duncan knew what was going through his commanding officer’s mind right then. What were they about to engage with? Would they get out of it alive? What implications would their actions have for them and their time in the Delta Quadrant? And a million other questions. Duncan knew every single dilemma that would be racing through McCallsiter’s mind, as they were rushing through his as well, adding to the suspense and uncertainty of their current situation. Then, as the turbolift started to slow down and approach the bridge, Duncan knew what would happen next. McCallister took a breath in, turned to Banfield and him, gave them a reassuring smile, and then turned around when their cart stopped and the doors opened. McCallister stepped out, shoulders back and ready to deal with the crisis before them, a clear determination in his eyes that ignited a spark of hope in the crew’s hearts. 

Following McCallister out, Duncan caught the eye of his husband, who was now rising from the centre seat on the bridge. Court gave him a wink as he gave McCallister an update on what was happening. A Hirogen hunting party were firing spatial charges against the Entharan’s research outpost. They were not quite directly assaulting them but doing their best to irritate them and cause some damage. The outpost, which had members of their crew on it, had sent out a distress call, but the nearest help from the Entharans wasn’t close enough. The Odyssey was, and it would be down to the Odyssey to distract the Hirogen long enough to hold the line so the Entharans reinforcements could eventually arrive.  

As he surveyed the rest of the bridge, Duncan noticed they were missing a few key people at their stations. He waited for the exchange between McCallister and Court to finish before getting to work. Though the bridge felt busy, especially with its crimson shadows bearing down on them, Duncan was reassured by the readiness he saw. He wondered how ready they truly were, but deep down, he knew they were prepared for whatever was about to come. 

“Is everyone back from their breaks?” He asked, moving behind McCallister to take his chair to McCallister’s right.

“Almost,” Court replied. “The last of those who were, let’s say, further afield, are now beaming up.”

“What about Rosle and the starfighter pilots? Are they all back?” McCallister probed as he noticed Jen, Marova, and a few others arrive via the other opposite turbolift they had used earlier.

Court nodded. “Yes, and she’s already got them ready to launch on your orders, sir.” 

“Give the order for them to get underway, commander,” McCallister ordered Court as he took his chair. 

“Bridge to engineering,” Duncan called down to their chief engineer. “Tierra, we’re about to take on the Hirogen, and we’ll need as much power as possible for the defence systems.”

“We’re already on it, sir. I’m re-enforcing the shields with the main deflector and increasing power to our phaser yield,” Tierra replied. 

At that point, the other turbolift doors to the bridge opened, and the final remaining members of the bridge crew arrived, all led by Tomaz. Duncan suppressed a smirk at seeing their chief strategic operations officer entering the bridge wearing his casual clothes. He wasn’t the only one; most of them were out of uniform and enjoying their time off. 

“Did we know the Hirogen were going to gatecrash our break?” Tomaz asked as he headed over to his station.

“I think they’re pretty upset we didn’t invite them, Tomaz,” Duncan replied.

Tomaz smirked as he pulled up a holographic display of the battle scene. “Two Venatic-class ships backed up by three escorts,” He reported. “This is going to be a tough one, sir.”

“Suggestions?” McCallister asked Tomaz. Duncan could see McCallister was considering whether this was a good idea or not. Going up against a Hirogen hunting party, even with how big the Odyssey was, wasn’t the greatest odds in their favour. 

“Voyager was able to disable one Venatic-class ship with a precise phaser assault and another with a full spread of photon torpedoes. They are big and bulky, and their hull plating is strong. We need to be quick if we want to get the upper hand,” Tomaz advised. 

Nodding in appreciation for Tomaz’s ideas, McCallister ordered Keli to load up the attack patterns that Voyager once used. He turned to Duncan, “We may need to prepare to separate the ship, Number One.”

“I’ll make preparations,” Duncan replied as he turned to his own console. He knew that it was rare for McCallister to want to engage the multi-vector assault mode, but McCallister would not shy away from using it. 

“Transporter Room One reports that everyone’s back, sir,” Court announced from the mission ops station. 

“Then let’s go,” McCallister ordered.

Moments later, the Odyssey approached the ninth planet. The massive gas giant almost resembled Saturn without its rings. The Hirogen ships were at a high point, firing their charges towards the planet. 

Banfield broke the silence that hung in the air on the bridge. “Their charges include a proximity sweep. Perhaps their sensors can’t detect Cloudbase.”

“The base does move its position often to help with its studies,” Marova shared from the helm. “Professor Mettex had shared that information last night.”

“Has Cloudbase moved? Can we find them?” Duncan asked Banfield.

“I’ve got their last known coordinates based on what the Entharans have shared with us before Doctor Slyvexs and Professor Mettex visited them today,” Banfield said. “But, if Cloudbase has moved itself, we may have the same difficulties. They are nestled within the cyclohexane layer.”

McCallister looked over at Jonarom at the communications station. “Any response to our hails, lieutenant?”

Jonarom shook his head. “Nothing, sir.”

“Then open a channel, all subspace frequencies,” McCallister ordered. Jonarom replied with a nod, indicating the captain was on. 

Duncan held his breath, wondering what type of threat McCallister would give the Hirogen. They weren’t known for being receptive or diplomatic; however, protocol required them to try before opening fire. 

“Hirogen vessels, this is Fleet Captain James Preston McCallister of the Federation starship U-S-S Odyssey; stand down from trying to attack this civilian research station,” McCallister warned. “Your hunt will not give you the trophy you seek. Furthermore, Entharan reinforcements are on their way. I recommend you leave now.”

McCallister gave it a few seconds before looking at Jonarom, who had just shaken his head. The Hirogen had ignored him.

“How far away is the nearest Entharan vessel?” Duncan asked aloud. He knew the same thought would be racing through McCallister’s mind.

Banfield was the first with the answer. “At least seven minutes away. There’s nine small craft all at high warp.”

“They may be small, but the Entharan weapon technology is more advanced than ours and the Hirogen,” Tomaz reminded everyone. 

“The last volley of Hirogen charges are getting closer to where the last known coordinates of Cloudbase were,” Kelli reported from tactical. “If we’re going to do something, sir, we must do it soon.”

Duncan turned to McCallister, “What are your orders, sir?”

Scratching his chin, McCallister appeared to be considering his options. “Keli, fire a full spread of photon torpedoes at the pathway of the Hirogen and then destroy each with a phaser blast. The photonic shockwaves they should create should be enough to blind their sensors long enough for us to hit their two lead ships hard. I want quantum torpedoes and phasers firing when those shockwaves occur. Let’s not give them a chance to blink.”

“Aye, sir,” Keli responded swiftly. 

“Marova, take us in, attack pattern omega,” McCallister commanded. 

She nodded in acknowledgement as she adjusted the controls at the helm and moved the Odyssey towards its targets.

“Bridge to Commander Rosle. The moment we launch our attack, I want the starfighters right behind us, opening fire on those smaller escorts,” McCallister ordered over the intercom to their lead pilot. “Annoy them long enough for us to get a firing pattern in place for them.”

“Acknowledged, sir,” Rosle replied. 

A full spread of torpedoes was released from the underbelly of the Odyssey towards the Hirogen ships, who were ignoring the one lonesome Federation ship for now. As the torpedoes crossed their path, each one was destroyed by a lance of phaser energy, creating the shockwaves that McCallister wanted. Each shockwave hit the hulls of the mighty Hirogen vessels. This move was soon followed by fifteen quantum torpedoes launched from the forward turret at one of the Venatic ships. It received all fifteen as they were slammed into its upper sections. 

“Direct hits,” Keli announced, “We’ve disabled one of them.”

“Good,” McCallister said, pleased, “Now onto the next one.”

Odyssey’s recharged phasers opened fire on the other Venatic, who appeared to be taking them as a serious threat as it moved to engage them. Multiple hits blasted against the Hirogen hull plating as the Odyssey glided over them, but the Hirogen then returned fire with its own phaser blast. However, it wasn’t prepared for the assault from the twelve Valkyrie fighters following in close formation behind their mothership. All twelve fighters were hitting it in a coordinated attack with their phasers. Explosions erupted over the hull of the Hirogen vessel after each precise attack. 

“Starfighters, break formation and engage the other Hirogen vessels,” McCallister ordered before telling Keli to give them support from their own weapon’s array.

“Sir, those other Hirogen ships are quicker than we are due to their size,” Tomaz replied as the ship shuddered from the assault. “If we’re going to do M-V-A-M, then we need to do it now, sir.”

“Alright,” McCallister agreed. “Max, get down to the battle bridge,” he ordered before tapping his combadge to call his wife to prepare to launch the Telemachus.

As Duncan rose from his chair and ordered Flemen and others to report to the battle bridge, Banfield called out, stopping him.

“Sir, the Entharan reinforcements have just arrived!” 

“Onscreen,” McCallister said as he rose from his chair. 

The image changed to show them being hit by the Hirogen fire with the arrival of the nine small Entharan vessels. All of them were opening firing with what looked like impressive firepower. The remaining Hirogen vessels all started to dart away in different directions.

“Talk about not messing around with the small guy,” Duncan said, impressed at how tough these little ships were. 

The Odyssey shook hard as the two Venatic class ships they had just disabled were destroyed.

“Sir, the Entharans have just used their isokinetic cannons to blast their way through the Hirogen hull plating,” Keli reported. 

“Let’s give them some breathing room, continue to fire phasers at the remaining Hirogen vessels and recall our fighters,” McCallister ordered, his expression showing how pleased he was that the battle was going in their favour. 

Duncan sat back down, sharing McCallister’s sentiments, but he was concerned about how ruthless the Entharans had been. Nevertheless, he considered that the Entharans were used to the Hirogen being on their doorsteps and taking no qualm in destroying someone who would attack them without provocation.

“Sir, the Entharans have destroyed the remaining Hirogen vessels,” Keli reported. 

The battle was over and was completed so quickly. 

“Wow, I wonder if they would let us look at those weapons,” Duncan said after a moment of quietness on the bridge. Knowing how deadly and swiftly the Entharans had dealt the Hirogen impressed and concerned him. However, he knew if they had similar firepower, the next time they engaged the Hirogen or even the Borg, the Odyssey and the rest of the squadron would be well-equipped to defend themselves easily. Looking at McCallister, though, he could see he didn’t share a similar train of thought. McCallister looked uneasy and concerned. Then Duncan realised why. 

If the Hirogen were that easy to defeat with Entharan weapons, how quickly could they disable or even destroy the Odyssey if they didn’t get their way in their trade talks?

No Good Deed – 5

Cloudbase, Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78621.8

“I thought we agreed Central Complex would be off-limits.” Director Shenia said in a double-edged tone. One part annoyed, another sounding pleading. 

Commander Tierra, her voice tinged with urgency, addressed Director Shenia. “Director, we’re in a critical situation. We need immediate access to your main fusion reactor assembly.” Tierra glanced at Gray, silently urging him to support her plea.

“Director, it’s crucial that we reconfigure the assembly,” Gray emphasised, his tone serious. “Without it, we risk not being able to restore Cloudbase to its full functionality. This could lead to severe complications.”

Appreciating the backup, Tierra turned back to Shenia. She knew the director wasn’t being difficult on purpose; however, she wasn’t making their repair effort any easier. It had been a few hours since the battle with the Hirogen, and even though the Entharans, with their unique expertise and advanced weapons, were able to come in and help in the final moment against the Hirogen, the Odyssey crew still needed to aid with cleaning up the mess the Hirogen had caused. Though Cloudbase had been saved, it was heavily damaged, and people were injured. Fleet Captain McCallister had agreed to help with repairs and beam their injured over to Odyssey’s more extensive medical facilities. Gray was leading the SCE unit, which was working extremely hard, but when he had hit a brick wall with the primary power source, he had called Tierra to lend him a hand. She was more than happy to beam over with other engineers and help him. 

Shenia gazed at both Starfleet engineers, squinting at them as if she were a Romulan agent, suspicious of their motives. “I’m sorry, we have classified research here. Consider your work here done.”

Gray sighed heavily, his tone filled with determination. “With all due respect, Director, we’ve come this far, and I don’t intend to leave what I and my team have started half-finished.”

Sensing Gray’s agitation, Tierra stepped in with a more calming and soothing tone. “Ma’am, if you check the plasma injectors, you’ll see they are repaired and ready to go. We are almost there.”

Director Shenia hesitated at first before turning to the nearest holographic control. She tapped a few buttons, and a new display showed exactly what Tierra said. “They are back online,” She said, sounding surprised. “And so quickly and efficiently.”

“You’re welcome,” Gray said, almost through gritted teeth.

“I’m sorry, Commander,” Shenia replied. “In the last few hours, your teams have turned our station upside down, and I’ve not seen any improvements until…” She paused. “Now.” She admitted. 

“Director, we understand that your work here is precious to you and your colleagues, and we didn’t mean to cause any chaos. But to get the work done, we’ve had to turn a few things upside down that weren’t already messy because of the Hirogen,” Tierra explained.

“Very well,” Shenia appeared more amiable and pressed a few more buttons on her display. “You have full access.”

“Thank you,” Gray said, his tone close to sarcasm.

Shenia thanked them again before leaving them to finish their work. 

After she was away from them both, Gray let out a huge sigh. “Thanks, Tierra,” he said in a low tone.

“What for?” Tierra asked back as she started to check over the assembly’s interface controls.

“For stepping in like that,” Gray admitted. “Perhaps I need to spend more time with Craigen or Captain Duncan to perfect the diplomatic vibe.”

“Not every away mission needs a diplomatic approach,” Tierra replied with a smirk. She knew Gray didn’t mean to almost lose his cool with the director, but they were meant to put Starfleet’s best foot forward with the Entharans – as per their captain’s order. “However, this one certainly needs it.”

Gray nodded in agreement. “Director Shenia is so precious over everything,” He shared. “Every time one of our engineers has tried to do something, either she or one of her colleagues has been there to either slow the process down or block us from trying to do our job.”

Tierra understood and empathised with Gray a lot. “From what I’ve gathered about the Entharans, though they love to trade with outsiders and make a big deal over every transaction, they are very possessive over what they create before sharing it with outsiders.”

“I get that,” Gray replied. “I do; I’m sure the same would be said if the Gorn tried to offer help to a Federation station like Deep Space Nineteen.”

“First off, I’m not sure if the Gorn know their way to the Alcott Sector, and secondly, I’m not sure the Gorn would help out,” Tierra replied. “Some people are happy to help others, while others…” She paused as she considered their current situation. “Well, it’s not in their nature to be there for others.”

Gray nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I suppose everyone is different regarding how they react to help.”

Tierra was about to say something when she noticed Jaceon’s arrival. The young Brunali man that Gray had saved from the Borg a couple of months ago was slowly returning to the life he knew before being assimilated. She smiled at him as he approached them. “Jaceon, I never knew you wanted to join Starfleet?”

Jaceon looked down at his outfit—a Starfleet excursion uniform minus the jacket. Dirt was smeared across his forehead, his hair was pushed up in different directions, and other grimy marks were smudged across his black undershirt. “I’m not officially with Starfleet, commander.”

“I gave him a provisional field appointment,” Gray commented. His focus was still on his work on the primary reactor. He picked up one tool and glided it across what they were working on. “Turns out that as S-C-E unit leader, I have the authority to appoint provisional members when needed.”

Impressed with Gray’s decision, Tierra showed her approval, nodding. “Nice,” She said. “So we get an extra pair of hands to get this work done.”

“No,” Gray replied with a grin, “I get an extra pair of hands as Jaceon is technically my engineer’s aide.”

“Provisional aide,” Jaceon reminded him. He turned to Tierra, “I wanted to be a bit more useful while on the Odyssey, ma’am, so if I can help out with what knowledge the Borg gave me, then I want to.”

Tierra liked Jaceon’s sentiments. “Well, I’m glad you’re here to keep Commander Gray in check.”

“Hey!” Gray replied in defence with a chuckle. “I’m keeping an eye on him!”

Jaceon laughed a bit before responding. “Yeah, yeah, we all know that the only one you’re keeping an eye on is Lieutenant Kel-”

“JACEON!” Gray almost shouted at the top of his voice before he realised where he was. “Not cool! Remember what I said about what happens on R&R stays on R&R!”

Tierra grinned even more. She knew Gray and Keli had been hanging out with each other a lot lately since they destroyed the Borg transwarp hub and saved Jaceon. She had wondered if something was happening there, and now she knew there might be. 

Odyssey to Commander Tierra,” spoke Lieutenant Jonarom over her combadge.

Tierra tapped her combadge. “Go ahead, lieutenant.”

“Sorry for the interruption, ma’am, but Fleet Captain McCallister wanted an update from you and Commander Gray.”

“The work is proceeding ahead of schedule, and we’re close to bringing the final parts of the main fusion generator online,” Tierra reported.

“Tell the captain we should be done within the next two to three hours,” Gray added.

“Understood. We’re preparing another flight of shuttles with additional supplies to head towards Cloudbase,” Jonarom said. 

“That’s great to hear,” Tierra stated. “If we complete the work sooner, we’ll be in touch.”

“Acknowledge, ma’am, I’ll let the captain know. Doctor Slyvexs has her hands full with the injured, so I promise we won’t leave without you.”

Liking his sense of humour, Tierra nodded to herself. “Thanks for the update, lieutenant.”

 If you need anything else, please let me know. Odyssey out.” Jonarom ended the call there.

“So, can we get this work done?” Gray asked his comrades. “I really want to be gone before Director Shenia tells us ‘no’ again!”

Agreeing with his suggestion, Tierra took a deep breath and returned her focus to the task at hand. Deep down, she was eager to know more about Gray and Keli; however, she knew she would have to get Jaceon on her own to get the details. She would certainly pull rank as the senior most engineer on Odyssey. 

No Good Deed – 6

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78621.8

“Mister Korvain, welcome aboard the Odyssey!” Flemen greeted their guest as he stepped down from the side door of his shuttle. Flemen’s demeanour remained formal but cordial, a facade hiding his true feelings about seeing Korvain again. Out of all the Entharans he had dealt with, Korvain was the most interesting. Yet, there was a lingering unease, a palpable conflict within Flemen, that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He reminded him of most Ferengi business operators he had known over the years; however, there was an attitude of superiority that filled the room whenever Korvain was in it. It was a whole new level of how someone could be enthralled with the pursuit of profit. Nevertheless, Flemen kept his calm, neutral facade in check as he stood still on the ship’s main shuttlebay deck, his internal turmoil threatening to break through. 

Like most Entharan businessmen, Korvain was dressed in a formal grey suit with fine maroon and gold striping. His almost bleached blonde hair was slicked back, and despite his age, he appeared unnaturally youthful, a testament to the wonders of cosmetic surgery. He made a Son’a look like a cheap parlour trick. His wealth was evident in the plethora of jewellery he adorned: a silver stud earring on his left lobe, a silver chain that dangled around his neck, several silver and golden rings on his fingers with various gems, and a silver bracelet around his left wrist. Flemen couldn’t help but feel that Korvain’s arrogance and vanity met the same level as his wealth, a discomforting sight that only added to his unease. 

“Commander Flemen, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Korvain said in what sounded like a cheesy attempt at being friendly. 

Flemen, ever the astute observer, couldn’t help but notice the insincerity in Korvain’s voice. He could also sense Korvain’s superior persona flashing through his emotions. Flemen’s reaction was immediate and instinctive, placing a mental block as he didn’t want to sense or feel anything coming from their guest, a clear sign of his discomfort with Korvain’s presence. 

As Korvain approached Flemen, he extended his hand to shake Flemen’s. Knowing this gesture was what Fleet Captain McCallister had taught him, Flemen entertained him and took it. As they shook hands, Flemen felt Korvain’s oily palms in his. “Fleet Captain McCallister asked me to escort you to the briefing room; he was currently preoccupied with overseeing the repair work for Cloudbase.”

“I understand how busy he is, and I want to say how much I appreciate the Odyssey’s involvement with the Hirogen,” Korvain remarked. “I have a lot of investment in Cloudbase’s many projects.”

“I hope your financial investments have not been affected significantly,” Flemen said, almost sounding like a concerned Ferengi over their precious latnium. 

Waving the concern away, Korvain shook his head. It was almost as if he didn’t care about what damage was sustained – this was Korvain’s meek attempt at showing off how humble he tried to be. It was a complete grand show that Korvain was putting on. Deep down, it was easy to tell he was concerned about what had happened, but he couldn’t display that in a public sense. It would be a bad image for him and his businesses. “No, thankfully, it isn’t something that can’t be fixed or restored.”

“If you come with me, I will show you the way,” Flemen gestured towards the exit of the shuttlebay. He was eager to get to the briefing room and spend as little time with this man as possible.


Flemen introduced everyone in the room and was pleased to sit next to Tomaz. He flashed Tomaz a look that he recognised immediately, indicating that he was not happy with their guest. Fortunately, Korvain had taken a seat close to McCallister and Duncan. Flemen noticed that several senior staff members were missing from the table. He knew that Tierra, Jen, and Gray were all on Cloudbase helping with repairs while Slyvexs was in sickbay, providing treatment to the injured. When Flemen arrived at the bridge, he saw Commander Court sitting in the command chair, which explained why Banfield was sitting beside Duncan. However, it did not explain why Keli, Jonarom, and a few others were absent.

Pushing that concern to the back of his mind, Flemen concentrated on the conversation that was now taking place between his superiors and their guest. He knew that at times like this, he would sit back, listen, observe, and offer his thoughts if he considered it worthwhile or if someone asked him. 

“As I was saying to your Commander Flemen, I cannot express my gratitude for your swift action in rescuing Cloudbase from the Hirogen, captain,” Korvain said with a sick, sweet smile. “My daughter is Director Shenia, and if I lose her, I do not know what I will do.”

Flemen wanted to sigh loudly at Korvain’s bold attempt to sound sincere. Instead, he bit his bottom lip, and instantly, Tomaz gave him a sideward glance that confirmed what he was sensing from his friend: that he was thinking the same. 

“Family is important,” McCallister remarked. 

“You have children yourself, captain?” Korvain probed.

McCallister nodded. “Yes, I do.”

Flemen could sense how much his commanding officer was holding back information. Over the last few years, he had noticed how much McCallister kept his private life to himself when dealing with alien visitors. If anything, what happened last year when the ship had to lie to the Hazari had proven not only to Captain Duncan and Commander Court but to them all how important it was to protect their family members who travelled with them with possible threats. 

“They are our future,” Korvain said. His level of creepiness continuing to rise. “And I feel so frustrated that I was leading that expeditionary group to that wonderful planet you’ve identified and that I wasn’t close enough to protect her and Cloudbase.”

Duncan then stepped in. Flemen knew his former mentor had a way about him, and he could cut through everything else and get straight to the point. “Well, as we said, we are happy to help out, but your message to us said you wanted to discuss repayment to us.”

“Oh yes, I certainly do,” Korvain replied with a massive grin as he placed both hands on the table. 

“We do not respond to distress calls in an attempt to be paid for our actions, Mister Korvain,” Banfield stated. “Surely, we’ve demonstrated that to you and your people since arriving at Gerina?”

“Yes, your humble and modest charm has impressed everyone, but as the chief investor and chairman of Cloudbase’s board of directors, I would be criticised if I didn’t offer you a gesture of our gratitude,” Korvain said, still smirking. “I cannot have my generosity questioned by my board or competitors.”

And there it was, Flemen thought. Korvain was all about reputation and his standing with Gerina’s business community. He took a deep breath, feeling more tense as he prepared for what the Entharan was about to offer them, for he knew it would probably be his job to oversee it. Before he did anything else, he felt Tomaz squeeze his knee under the table, a sign his friend was telling him to keep himself calm. 

“What did you have in mind?” McCallister asked. 

“Your ship is impressive, a palace among the stars,” Korvain said. “And how you dealt with the Hirogen was admirable, but I want to provide you with enhancements.”

“Enhancements?” Tomaz asked. “What type of enhancements?”

“Improvements to your weapons, sensors and engines,” Korvain remarked. “And for a modest extra fee, I’d be happy to enhance your computer core.”

“The Odyssey is one of the advanced ships in our fleet, and as you said, we dealt with the Hirogen admirable. What could your enhancements make better?”

“As you saw, Commander, my ships are much smaller than yours and hold double the firepower that your ship can put out,” Korvain said smugly. He turned to McCallister. “Captain, I can provide you with isokinetic cannons, self-replicating torpedo launchers, monotanium hull plating, and a multi-adaptive phasic cloaking device.”

“That’s very generous, but-” McCallister didn’t have a chance to complete his sentence when Korvain continued to share what else he could provide.

“That’s not to include a quantum multi-spectrum sensor array allowing you to scan almost anything without background subspace interference. Also, we could power all of this using a zero-point energy condenser and a tetryon reactor.”

“It all sounds fascinating technology,” McCallister said, trying to reassert his authority. “But what you are suggesting would require us to have the ship refitted for some time, and we’re not planning to stay around for much longer.”

 Ignoring McCallister, Korvain started to appeal to Banfield. “Surely, Captain Banfield, would you like to see how our sensor technology is used? Did I mention that the quantum multi-spectrum sensor array uses advanced quantum computing principles to scan across multiple spectrums simultaneously, allowing you to detect phenomena across a wide range of wavelengths and particle emissions with unparalleled precision and detail? Also, it can identify faint energy signatures, hidden cloaked vessels, and even minute changes in the fabric of subspace. Does that excite you, Captain?”

Banfield remained composed as she replied. “It does, however, as-”

Korvain ignored Banfield’s rebuttal as he turned to Tomaz. “And Commander Tomaz, surely you could see the advantages of having the Odyssey at its pinnacle when dealing with hostile ships? Our newest version of isokinetic cannons can rip through the shielding of most ships, you saw what we did with those Hirogen ships. And backing it up with torpedo launchers that do not run out of ordnance will surely provide further protection for you and your squadron?” 

 “Well, your firepower is impressive, nevertheless-” Tomaz tried to put him down once again, but Korvain ignored it.

Focussing on Duncan now, Korvain sounded like he was almost pleading. “And equipped with a multi-adaptive phasic cloaking device, you could easily avoid any Borg vessel and spend time focussing on your exploration mission.”

“Mister Korvain, please stop!” McCallister interjected with a raised hand.

McCallister’s forceful tone was enough for Flemen to smirk. He was glad that McCallister was putting Korvain in his place. Korvain froze as if he were a child being told off by his teacher. 

“We are not interested in such add-ons,” McCallister replied. 

“That truly saddens me to hear that, Captain,” Korvain replied, sounding like he was faking his response. He took out a PADD-like device and handed it over to the captain. “Please, I beg you to reconsider and review the technology I am willing to offer you and your people. All for free!”

For a moment, Flemen hoped McCallister would reject it; however, he knew that wasn’t McCallister’s way. McCallister gave in, nodded, took the device, and promised to have his chief engineer review it all. 

“In the meantime, I will have my people bring other resources to show our sense of repayment. Supplies of deuterium, gallicite, dilithium crystals.” Korvain stated.

McCallister looked tired from Korvain’s insistence. He looked at Flemen. “Commander Flemen will oversee your generous gifts.”

Flemen, remaining diplomatic, smiled and heard Tomaz hold back a snigger. 

“Excellent! Let me know once you have reviewed our technology,” Korvain said as he stood up, showing he was ready to leave.

“If you follow me, Mister Korvain, I can take you back to your shuttle,” Flemen offered as he rose from his seat.

“Excellent!” Korvain said. “I cannot wait to share with everyone the news you may have my exclusive technology on your ship!” 

“Oh, I’m sure you can’t,” Flemen said with a pretend smile as he looked over his shoulder to see McCallister, Duncan, Banfield, and Tomaz grimacing at their guest. He quickly wanted to return to the shuttlebay without further delay before returning to hear what McCallister had decided once Tierra was free to review Korvain’s list of marvels. Flemen hoped that Tierra would come up with why they were incompatible.

No Good Deed – 7

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78623

As Captain Duncan handed her the alien PADD, Tierra’s frustration and exhaustion were palpable. She had spent the previous day tirelessly repairing Cloudbase, hoping for a quiet day in engineering to catch up on the mounting reports on her desk. Yet, here she was, faced with yet another task. 

“Thank you, sir,” She said, sounding almost sarcastic. 

Duncan smirked at her, a playful glint in his eye. “Don’t say I’m not a caring superior officer!” he teased, winking at her before leaving her office. Their banter was a testament to their unique relationship. 

The moment the executive officer was gone out of the door, and it was shut behind him, she gave out her sigh.

“Is it that bad?” Westerham asked as he moved from the replicator with their drinks to Tierra’s desk.

She nodded, “Knowing what I’ve learnt about this Korvain guy, he is certainly someone who has his hands in some of the seediest deals known in the system.”

Passing her coffee over to her, Westerham looked at her. “Really? And how do you know that?” 

“Well, based on how over the top his daughter was yesterday in protecting her secrets and the fact her father is one of the wealthiest and most influential individuals on the colony, I put two and two together and made my own answer,” Tierra responded as she took her drink and had a sip from it. “I’ve known guys like Korvain before. They only think about themselves first, above anyone else. They must always prove themselves to the best, whatever the cost.”

“So Corella is right; he is worse than a Ferengi,” Westerham remarked with a chuckle as he sat opposite Tierra’s desk in one of the armchairs. 

“At least with a Ferengi, you can bargain with them, and then they will leave you alone once the transaction is complete. Korvain is in a completely different league.” Tierra said as she connected the PADD to the office’s holographic systems so she and Westham could review what Korvain wanted to offer them. Within seconds, previews of schematics and demonstrations of the systems, if they were attached to the Odyssey, began to play silently across the room. 

“Why is it always weapons with these guys?” Westerham said, shaking his head as he looked at the demo for the new and improved isokinetic cannons. 

Tierra chuckled. She had been looking at the tetryon reactor schematics. She wasn’t impressed. Nothing stood out that amazed her or made her think it was worthwhile. The Odyssey was already a fine ship in her eyes. “I don’t know, Carter, most of these just look like gimmicks to me.”

“Some of this technology is advanced compared to our standards, but what happens when it breaks?” Westerham posed as he crossed his arms. “It’s us that needs to fix it.”

The door chime went off, and Tierra spoke up, permitting their visitor to enter. The doors hissed open, allowing Jen to enter. He held a PADD in his hands. 

“Lukiz, what do we owe the pleasure?” Tierra said, looking at the joined Trill.

Jen greeted them both with his usual boyish smile. “I come bearing gifts from our newest fan.”

“Korvain?” Carter assumed.

Nodding, Jen confirmed as he passed Tierra the PADD. “Mister Korvain’s generous supply of deuterium, gallicite and dilithium crystals have arrived. Craigen asked me to oversee their arrival. I’ve put them in the usual reserve storage, ready for engineering to use them.”

“Thanks, Lukiz,” Tierra said as she took the PADD and reviewed the latest inventory update. 

“What are you guys working on?” Jen asked as he looked at the holographic projections dancing across the room.

“Our benevolent benefactor’s possible extra gifts,” Carter stated. 

“Oh, Craigen and Tomaz told me about these,” Jen said, placing his hands on his hips to look at it all. “Self-replicating torpedo launchers and quantum multi-spectrum sensor array, is this guy for real?”

Tierra stood up from her desk and moved around it before sitting on its edge. “Apparently so,” she said, still holding her coffee. The boss wants us to review everything Mister Korvain has offered to install on the Odyssey.”

“Seriously?” Jen asked as he looked at other schematics. “Do we really need a multi-adaptive phasic cloaking device?”

“I’m not sure where we stand on the political and legal ramifications regarding the Treaty of Algeron, but if it is something that can defend us against the Borg, the boss wants us to take this review seriously,” Tierra answered. “Fancy joining us?”

Jen looked back at Tierra and nodded to offer. “Sure, and if we end up installing any of this, then I suppose it will be my job to ensure we have the resources to maintain them.”

“That’s spirit, commander!” Westerham said with a smirk. He looked at Tierra. “Shall I rally the troops and start getting some teams together to review each piece of technology?”

Tierra bobbed her head in agreement. “Seems like a good place to start. Maybe once Gray returns from Cloudbase, we can borrow him, Jayshon and Jaceon to help us, too.”

Agreeing to that idea, Westerham excused himself as he left Tierra’s office to head back into main engineering to assemble their teams.

“Do we really need to put so many people on this task? The way Craigen spoke earlier sounded like Fleet Captain McCallister wasn’t interested in accepting any of this,” Jen gestured to the holograms. 

“I know,” Tierra said as he got up from the desk’s edge and headed to the replicator to fill up her coffee mug. She offered Jen a mug of raktajino, which she knew he liked. He accepted the offer before she continued to clarify her thought processes. “I also know that the boss wants a fool-proof response that he can use as he declines diplomatically.”

“So he doesn’t want to offend Korvain but leave, keeping him sweet,” Jen said, grinning at their commanding officer’s plan.

“Exactly,” Tierra confirmed as she passed Jen his raktajino. “Talking of keeping people sweet, how are things going between you and our ace fighter pilot?”

Jen almost spat out his Klingon coffee at hearing that question. “What do you mean?” he replied as he composed himself.

“I’m married, Lukiz, and I know you have been in the many lifetimes you’ve been around. So I’m no fool when I say I noticed a spark between you and Rosle the other day in the turbolift.” Tierra answered. She smiled at her friend. “I think it’s great if you two are taking things further.”

Jen went a bit red from embarrassment. “It’s going well; we’re taking it slow and keeping it fun.”

“Hey, that’s how Abbej and I started out,” Tierra winked, referring to her wife. 

“How are you two finding working a long-distance marriage?” Jen asked. “My eighth host, Razrim, struggled with that.”

“It’s taking time to repair, but it’s going in the right direction,” Tierra replied with a smile. “Once the Themis is back with us, perhaps we can have you and Rosle over for dinner.”

“Hang on, I didn’t say we were exclusive,” Jen said, worried he had given off the wrong idea.

Tierra chuckled; she knew how to wind Jen up. He was too easy sometimes. “Then come to ours as friends. But no excuses!” 

Jen surrendered to her and accepted the offer.

“Right, shall we get on reviewing technology that could be nice but also be a pain to maintain?” Tierra signalled for them to follow in Westerham’s footsteps.

Jen nodded and took his raktajino with him after Tierra told the computer to transfer the alien PADD’s contents to the engineering central command console. 

The alien PADD on Tierra’s desk sprang to life the moment they departed. Sinuous robotic tentacles unfurled from its casing, moving with the eerie grace of an octopus gliding along the ocean floor. Silently, the device slithered across the desk until it reached Tierra’s computer terminal. It coiled tightly around the console, its appendages probing with precise intent. Within seconds, it effortlessly bypassed the security encryption, infiltrating the ship’s computer mainframe with unnerving efficiency.

No Good Deed – 8

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78624.1

McCallister and his wife, Reyas, were indulging themselves in a rare, tranquil evening together in the serene seclusion of their quarters. The gentle glow of candlelight enveloped the room, casting soft, dancing shadows on the walls. The table was meticulously set with a pristine white tablecloth, gleaming silverware, and delicate crystal glasses brimming with rich, ruby-red wine. The scents of a gourmet meal wafted through the air, mingling with the subtle fragrance of fresh flowers that graced the centre of the table.

The gentle strains of jazz music played in the background, the mellow tones of a saxophone blending seamlessly with the piano. McCallister took a sip of his wine, his eyes sparkling with contentment as he looked across the table at Reyas. Her face, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared serene and radiant. The soft, velvety texture of the wine on his tongue, the warm, comforting scent of the food, the gentle touch of Reyas’ hand as they reached for their glasses-all these sensory details added to the richness of the moment. This was a rare moment for the two of them. Earlier that day, McCallister visited her while she was finishing a training exercise with the cadet unit and told her he would prepare a romantic dinner for them both. No one else was going to be around. Intrigued by it, Reyas had agreed to her husband’s proposition, and after both of them had gotten off from duty, they quickly got out of their uniforms and into something a bit more casual. Even their son, Alfie, had given them some privacy. As they continued their meal, speaking about their day, it felt like they had gone back in time from when they had first met and started to couple. 

It was nice. 

It was perfect.

It was relaxing. 

“I can’t wait for us to be back on our journey exploring the rest of this area,” McCallister confessed, his voice filled with a boyish enthusiasm that reminded Reyas of their early days together on the Triton.

Reyas chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I take it then that you have had enough of our time with the Entharans?” she teased, arching an eyebrow in mock inquiry.

McCallister gave her a look that spoke volumes, a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “It’s more one particular businessman, but yeah, enough is enough.” His expression seemed to be saying more than his words. McCallister knew she could read him like a book when he did that look.

Reyas laughed, a melodious sound that blended harmoniously with the jazz in the background. “Well, I must admit, it’s been nice to explore another culture.”

“You’re such an optimist,” McCallister chuckled as he topped up her and his’ glasses of wine. 

They shared a smile, enjoying the comfort and intimacy of the moment. The conversation flowed easily, touching on the day’s events, the ship’s business, and light-hearted anecdotes. The tranquil evening was a much-needed respite from their command duties’ usual hustle and bustle. Their fingers occasionally brushed as they reached for their glasses, each touch a reminder of the bond they shared. Outside the large viewport, the stars streaked past a silent witness to their peaceful evening.


Elsewhere on the Odyssey, Duncan and his husband were wrapped up in their own private moment of bliss. They had just finished a vigorous game of spring ball and found themselves alone in one of the ship’s smaller, more secluded recreation rooms. A soft, dim light was casting gentle shadows, creating an intimate and cosy atmosphere.

Duncan, still catching his breath, pulled Court close. His fingers wove through Court’s damp hair, pulling him into a series of tender, passionate kisses. The thrill of the game and the exhilaration of their closeness heightened the intensity of their embrace. Court, laughing between kisses, gently pushed Duncan away for a moment. His chest heaved with exertion and amusement, his eyes bright with playful energy.

“You’re aware we’re acting completely irresponsibly right now? As senior officers of the ship, James would have our heads if we were caught in an awkward position.” Tobias remarked, his voice a breathless whisper as he glanced around the empty room.

Duncan grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “We haven’t had any private time, just the two of us, without either Jordan or William being around or the galaxy demanding our attention,” he pointed out, his tone a mix of longing and justification. His fingertips traced gentle patterns along Court’s jawline, eliciting a soft sigh from his husband.

Court’s laughter softened, his eyes reflecting the same desire and love. “True,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around Duncan’s waist and pulling him closer. “We’ve earned this, but to play it safe,” Court paused and told the computer to lock the doors to the room and deactivate the internal sensors. 

The two men chuckled as they continued to be close. Their lips met again, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of deep love and longing. Everything outside was forgotten as they revelled in their intimacy. 

Court pulled back slightly, his lips curling into a soft smile. “You know, we should do this more often,” he murmured, his breath warm against his husband’s ear.

Duncan chuckled. “Absolutely,” he agreed, his hands caressing Court’s sides. “No interruptions, no responsibilities—just us.”

Court’s laughter returned, filled with warmth and affection. “I like the sound of that,” he said, leaning in for another kiss.


In the Auditorium, Jen and Rosle were enjoying a much more public but no less delightful evening. The Auditorium was bustling with activity, the lively hum of conversation and laughter filling the air. 

Seated at the bar, Jen and Rosle were engaged in easy conversation, their drinks in hand. Jen leaned casually against the bar, his eyes never leaving Rosle. She had an infectious smile and was sipping her drink thoughtfully.

“So, Commander Tierra offered to have us over for dinner with her and Abbej soon,”  Jen mentioned, his tone casual but curious as he watched Rosle’s reaction. He was curious to see what she thought about the idea of them going more public with their newfound relationship. The background chatter and clinking of glasses seemed to fade as he focused on her.

Rosle smiled, setting her glass down. “That sounds nice,” she replied, her eyes warm with affection and a hint of excitement. “I think it would be a lovely evening. Besides, it’s about time we started socialising as a couple.”

Jen nodded, his expression grateful yet relaxed. “It’s still early days, and I don’t want to push you into anything, but I like the idea of us taking the next step,” he said, his voice gentle yet earnest, reflecting his inner emotions.

Rosle reached out, her fingers brushing against his in a tender gesture. “Me too,” she agreed, her smile widening as she looked into his eyes. “I think we’re ready for this, Lukiz.”


In their quarters, McCallister and Reyas were swaying gently in each other’s arms, slow dancing to the soothing strains of jazz music after finishing their meal. McCallister’s hand rested on Reyas’ waist while her head leaned against his shoulder, their movements perfectly synchronised.

Suddenly, the gentle hum of the ship’s engines faltered, the lights flickered, and the music skipped a beat. McCallister lifted his head, his brows furrowing in concern, just as a violent shudder ran through the ship, causing the entire room to tremble. 

Before they could react, the ship was rocked by a series of explosions, the force of which threw them apart. The music cut off abruptly, replaced by the blaring of emergency alarms. The lights flickered and went out, plunging the room into darkness before the red emergency lighting flickered on.

“Computer, report status!” McCallister commanded, his voice steady but urgent as he helped Reyas to her feet.

The computer’s response was fragmented and delayed. “Multiple systems failures… explosions in… sections.”

Reyas reached for her combadge, her fingers tapping it quickly. “Bridge, this is Captain Reyas. What’s happening?” she demanded, her tone sharp.

Another explosion rocked the ship, the shockwave sending them stumbling. They shared a brief, intense look, their romantic evening shattered. There was no response to Reyas’ call. 

“We need to get to the bridge,” McCallister said, his voice firm with resolve. It covered his concern as to what was happening to his ship. 

Before she could move, the door to Alfie’s room burst open, and Alfie rushed out with Jordan beside him.

“Dad, Mom, what’s happening? Is everything okay?” Alfie asked urgently, his eyes wide with concern as he looked between his parents.

McCallister and Reyas exchanged a quick, worried glance before McCallister spoke, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them. “We don’t know yet, Alfie. Something’s gone wrong with the ship. The intercom is down in this area. We’re going to the bridge to find out.”

Jordan, standing by Alfie’s side, looked equally worried. “Should we come with you?” he asked, his voice earnest.

Reyas nodded, her maternal instincts taking over. “Yes, let’s all go together,” she said decisively, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on Alfie’s shoulder. She glanced at Jordan with a grateful nod, appreciating his solidarity with Alfie.

McCallister quickly retrieved his combadge from where it lay discarded on a nearby chair. “Let’s go,” He said firmly, leading the way as they made their way through the now dimly lit corridors towards the bridge. The ship trembled occasionally under their feet. 

This wasn’t the romantic evening that McCallister had planned. 


Duncan and Court were in the middle of a passionate embrace, their lips locked in a deep, fervent kiss. Just as they were lost in their kiss, a sudden, violent jolt shook the room. They pulled apart, their faces inches from each other, breaths coming fast. Duncan grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief despite the alarm.

“Wow, Tobie, you sure know how to rock my world,” He joked, his voice breathless and teasing.

Court laughed, but the sound was cut short by another, more powerful explosion that rocked the ship, sending them stumbling. The lights flickered and went out, leaving them in near darkness before the red emergency lighting activated. The alarms blared, a stark contrast to their earlier intimacy.

“Bridge to Captain Duncan! We’re experiencing multiple systems failures and explosions in several sections!” The urgent voice of Commander Tomaz crackled over the intercom. “I can’t get through to Fleet Captain McCallister, sir.”

Duncan’s expression turned serious as he grabbed Court’s arm. “We need to move now!” he said urgently before he told Tomaz to stay calm and that they were on their way. Deep down, he hoped nothing terrible had happened to his commanding officer, but he had to put that concern to one side right now. He needed to deal with the bigger picture in the here and now. 

They bolted out of the recreation room, and their private moment unexpectedly ended with the crisis. The corridors were chaotic, filled with crew members rushing to their stations. Duncan and Court navigated through the confusion, their faces set with determination as they headed towards the bridge, ready to tackle whatever disaster had befallen the Odyssey.


In the bustling Auditorium, Jen and Rosle were deep in conversation, their drinks in hand. The first sign of trouble was the sudden dimming of the lights, followed by the sound of power surges. The room’s chatter quickly turned to murmurs of concern as everyone noticed the unusual behaviour of the ship’s systems. Jen and Rosle exchanged worried glances.

“What’s happening?” Rosle asked, her voice tense.

Before Jen could answer, the ship was rocked by a series of violent explosions. The force of the blasts knocked over tables and sent drinks flying. Jen instinctively grabbed Rosle, pulling her to the floor as debris rained down around them. The once lively lounge was now filled with the sounds of alarms and the panicked shouts of crewmembers.

“We need to get to our stations,” Jen said urgently, helping Rosle to her feet. His eyes scanned the room, ensuring other crew members did the same. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Rosle nodded, her face determined. “Let’s go,” she said, gripping his hand tightly for a brief moment before they rushed out of the Auditorium. Their romantic evening was suddenly ended, replaced by the harsh reality of a ship in crisis. As they navigated the chaotic corridors, their minds were focused on the immediate need to stabilise the ship and protect their fellow crew members. Jen was worried about what they would find once they reached the bridge. How badly damaged was the ship? Were they under attack? Who was responsible? He tried to close these questions down as he approached the nearest turbolift; still holding on to Rosle’s hand, they entered the lift and found both Duncan and Court in it. 

“Looks like we’re not the only ones who had their night interrupted,” Court remarked as he looked at the intertwined hands between Jen and Rosle.

“Bridge,” Jen called out to the computer, ignoring Court’s attempt at teasing him and finding out about him and Rosle. Their focus had to be on securing the ship. 

What was left of it. 

No Good Deed – 9

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78624.12

Banfield had felt the rhythm of the music, the warmth of her husband’s hand in hers, and the carefree joy of dancing on the holodeck fade abruptly as the alarms blared. The song “This Will Be An Everlasting Love,” a cherished melody from their wedding, had abruptly been cut off as red alert klaxons filled the space. Now, rushing through the smoke-filled corridors of the USS Odyssey, she could barely remember the last peaceful moments they had shared.

Hand in hand, Banfield and Westerham sprinted through the ship’s twisting passages, their minds racing as fast as their legs. The Odyssey had taken severe damage, and the journey to Main Engineering felt like an eternity. Banfield was wearing a long navy blue silk dress. As she started to sprint from their date on the holodeck to Main Engineering, she tore the slit that ran up the side of her left leg a bit further so that she could move better in it.

As they rounded the final corner, the imposing shutter doors of Main Engineering loomed before them, sealed shut against the chaos within. Banfield’s captain’s instinct kicked in as she took charge. 

“Manual override,” she ordered, her voice steady despite the urgency. 

Westerham nodded, and together, they pried open an auxiliary access panel. It took all their combined strength, but they managed to force the heavy doors apart just enough to slip through.

Inside Main Engineering, the scene was apocalyptic. Sparks rained down from broken conduits, fires crackled from shattered consoles, and acrid smoke filled the air. The usually pristine heart of the Odyssey was now a wreckage-strewn battlefield. Whatever had hit them had some how overloaded a number of power conduits in engineering. 

Surveying the entire room quickly, Banfield knew what they needed to do first. “Help those who can still walk!” Banfield commanded, her voice cutting through the din. She spotted Tierra, the chief engineer, pinned under a massive beam. Banfield raced to her side and knelt, trying to lift the heavy metal.

“Corella, it’s the alien PADD we were working on,” Tierra explained, her voice strained with concern. She was trying her best to keep it together in her current state. “It’s somehow come to life, infected the computer core, and taken control. It overloaded the power grid.”

Banfield’s brow furrowed. She had heard of such phenomena before—alien technologies with a mind of their own, wreaking havoc aboard unsuspecting starships. The scientist in her wanted to find out why, but she knew if it posed a security threat, she had to deal with it now. 

Tierra pointed towards her office, where the door and the wall that separated it from the rest of engineering had all been blown away. Now, the entire office was part of Main Engineering. Banfield turned to see Jaceon, his cybernetic implants glowing faintly. He had somehow connected himself through his assimilation tubule, which was now active from his wrist. They were accessing the alien PADD, and it looked like he was in a deep trance. Whatever he was doing was keeping the device, which had connected itself to the console in the room, from causing any more harm to them. However, Banfield knew that If the alien PADD gained full control, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Not wasting a moment, Banfield sprinted to the nearest weapon locker in Main Engineering. With practised efficiency, she retrieved a phaser rifle, quickly scanning it to ensure it was operational. Satisfied, she aimed it at the rogue PADD, her finger hovering over the trigger.

Jaceon, his face a mask of concentration, barely registered her presence as he battled the alien intelligence within the ship’s systems. She could see that whatever Borg technology was left in the former drone, the young man was adamant about keeping it at bay. The PADD had ensnared him in a digital duel, its tendrils of code reaching out like tendrils, probing for weaknesses in his defences. Banfield was not going to let him loose. After taking out a tricorder and scanning him and the device, she could see that it was safe to do what her Klingon side wanted to do.

“Jaceon!” Banfield shouted, her voice cutting through his trance. “Move away from the PADD!”

Jaceon hesitated for a split second, torn between the fight and Banfield’s command. With a surge of determination, he disconnected his Borg implants from the device, severing the link with the alien PADD.

Banfield didn’t hesitate. She fired the phaser rifle, the bright beam lancing out and striking the PADD with precision. The alien device sparked and sputtered; its insidious presence was finally neutralised. How it had come to life didn’t matter; it was now dead. 

As the smoke cleared, Jaceon blinked, disoriented but free from the PADD’s influence. He turned to Banfield with gratitude in his eyes, knowing she had saved him from a fate worse than assimilation.

“Thank you, Captain,” Jaceon said, his voice steady as he refocused on the task at hand. “I didn’t know what else to do, but it was a sophisticated computer program that was able to get through a lot of our computer’s security programs.”

“You did good, Jaceon,” Banfield assured him as she dropped the rifle on the desk before them. “I still need you to help us here. Are you okay to lend a hand?”

He nodded to her. 

Smiling at his courage and determination, Banfield squeezed his arm gently before returning to where Tierra was trapped. 

After returning to Tierra’s side, Banfield tried to assess how they would free her friend. Before she could work out the best plan, Tierra interrupted her. 

“Corella, I’m fine, but the warp core…” Tierra gasped, wincing in pain. “It’s unstable. You need to check it before it’s too late.”

Banfield hesitated for only a moment before making a decision. “Carter!” she called out. Her husband turned, his face streaked with soot and worry. He had been helping those who he led to safety. “Stabilise the core. I’ll handle the rest here. Jaceon, help him!”

Both men nodded and dashed towards the central control area, frantically working together to keep the core from breaching. Banfield watched them go, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach, before refocusing on Tierra.

“Don’t go anywhere,” Banfield said with a forced smile, trying to keep the chief engineer’s spirits up as she carefully lifted the beam. With a grunt of effort, she managed to shift it enough to free Tierra. “Can you move?”

“I think so,” Tierra replied, wincing as she tried to stand. Banfield quickly supported her, leading her to a safer area before moving on to assist others.

“Bridge to Engineering,” spoke McCallister over the intercom. The captain didn’t pause to hold back his frustration in his tone. “What the hell is going on down there?”

Tapping her combadge, Banfield answered his call. “Corella here; we’ve got injured and are attempting to stabilise the core. I could do with a couple of extra pairs of hands.”

“I’m sending help to you now, Corella,” McCallister responded. “What caused the overload?”

“The PADD that our dear friend, Mister Korvain, left behind has somehow interfaced with our computer controls. It overloaded the power grid, sir. Jaceon was able to slow its ability to take control before I destroyed it completely. But I don’t know what else it’s done.”

“Alright, do what you can do there,” McCallister ordered.

“Aye, sir, Banfield out,” She tapped her combadge before closing the channel. Banfield tapped it again and called to sickbay. “Banfield to sickbay,”

“Go ahead, Corella,” replied Slyvexs. “Though, make it quick as I’m in surgery, and casualties are overrunning sickbay.”

“Slyvexs, we’ve got multiple people injured down in Main Engineering. Can you spare anyone?”

“I’ll send one of the E-M-Hs to you,” Slyvexs replied. 

“That’ll do, thanks!” Banfield said. 

At the warp core, Westerham and Jaceon were in a flurry of motion, hands flying over controls, rerouting power and stabilising systems. The core hummed ominously, its pulsing light casting eerie shadows across their determined faces.

“Captain!” Jaceon shouted over the noise. “The antimatter injectors are misaligned. We need to reset them manually.”

“Do it,” Banfield commanded. She had returned to their side after ensuring the most critically injured were being tended to by the activation of one of the EMHs.  Looking at the engineering controls, she could see the issues. Her husband and the young former Borg drone were working well together.

“I’ll handle the injectors. Jaceon, get ready to recalibrate the plasma flow.” Westerham ordered as he walked away from the console and headed to the maintenance shaft to access the injectors. His fingers moved with practised precision, every adjustment crucial. The seconds felt like hours, each one bringing them closer to a potential disaster.

“Injectors realigned!” Westerham called out.

“Plasma flow recalibrated,” Jaceon confirmed, his voice steady despite the tension.

“Initiating warp core stabilisation sequence,” Banfield said, her fingers dancing over the control panel. The core’s hum began to normalise, its threatening glow dimming to a more reassuring, steady pulse.

Then, an explosion erupted above them, catching them all off guard. Their relief at stabilising the warp core was short-lived as a new crisis unfolded. The containment field began to fluctuate, ominous warnings echoing through Main Engineering. 

The computer’s chilling announcement cut through the chaos. “Containment field integrity at critical levels. Warp core breach imminent.”

The colour drained from Banfield’s face as the gravity of the situation sank in. She glanced at Jaceon and her husband, who exchanged a look of grim determination. They knew what was at stake—the lives of everyone aboard the USS Odyssey.

“Corella, we need more time,” Westerhamd urged, his voice urgent but steady as he and Jaceon tried to resolve the problem in unison. “We can fix this.”

“Do what you can, but we can’t risk the ship,” Banfield replied as she barked her next set of orders at the computer. “Computer, prepare to eject the warp core, authorisation Banfield-three-seven-gamme-echo.”

“Warp core ejection system online.”

Seconds stretched into an eternity as Banfield watched the progress of Westerham and Jaceon. The Odyssey trembled around them, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Every moment counted, every adjustment critical to their survival. She heard the frustration coming from her husband’s voice. Then she knew she had no choice. 

She took one breath and then spoke. “Computer…”

No Good Deed – 10

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina IX, Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78624.12

As McCallister strode onto the bridge, he was jolted by the commotion that greeted him. “Status report,” he barked, his voice cutting through the clamour. 

Tomaz knelt on the deck, the cool metal pressing against his knees as he worked feverishly to treat the injured person lying flat beside him. His brow furrowed in concentration. He didn’t immediately respond to McCallister’s inquiries; instead, he focused on the readings from the medical tricorder on his side. A heavy sigh escaped Tomaz as he reluctantly abandoned his efforts to aid the person before him. McCallister peered around Tomaz and quickly identified the individual who had been the focus of Tomaz’s attention. 

Marova. 

McCallister came to a sudden halt as the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. Marova, their helm officer, was no longer among them. She lay motionless on the floor, her face marred by a severe burn. Her vacant eyes stared into the distance, devoid of the spark of life. Meanwhile, Reyas hurried to Tomaz’s aid, enveloping the grief-stricken young commander in a tender embrace to provide solace in the face of their profound loss.

“Tomaz, she’s gone,” Reyas whispered to him.

Tomaz nodded as he stood up and looked at McCallister. His expression was solemn and apologetic. “Sir, she didn’t have a chance.”

McCallister placed a reassuring hand on Tomaz’s shoulder as medics arrived to remove their helm officer’s body and take her to the morgue. “What happened, Tomaz?”

“All systems were fine one minute, and then the next, we started to register computer malfunctions, then explosions erupted in the storage bays.” He answered, trying to compose himself. “With the malfunctions, we had systems overloaded by the power grid. That’s what happened to Marova. She was by the helm, then a surge went through it and blasted across the bridge.”

At that point, the other turbolift doors opened, bringing Duncan, Court, Jen and Rosle to the bridge. All four stopped in their tracks as they took in the mess that was now the bridge. Rosle made a shock inward noise as she saw the medics take Marova’s body, now draped with a sheet over it, off the bridge. 

Realising he needed to take command of the situation, McCallister assured Tomaz one more time before he started issuing orders. 

“Lukiz, we need to know what is causing our computer malfunctions,” McCallister ordered his ops officer. 

“I’m on it,” Jen said as he rushed across the bridge and took over at ops. 

“Max, Tobias, I need a full damage report; get me some answers to what is working and what isn’t,” McCallister told his faithful first officer and senior officer of the watch.

He turned to his wife next, “Karyn, see if the sensors are up and running; we need to know what’s happening outside the ship and if we can get anyone from the Entharan colony to help us.”

“Tomaz,” McCallister looked at the commander and realised that, at that moment, his Barzan strategic operations officer probably needed to be elsewhere. “Who has your son?”

“Craigen, sir. He was babysitting for me tonight.”

“Then go see him and make sure S’Tem is okay,” McCallister said, knowing that Tomaz would likely be worried about what state S’Tem is in.

“Thank you, sir,” Tomaz was grateful as he almost sprinted across the bridge.

Turning to his Rosle next, McCallister told the pilot to take the helm. “I know it’s not your normal station, Commander, but I need someone to help secure the ship.”

“Aye, sir,” Rosle said. She hesitated initially, knowing she would be stepping into Marova’s position. However, she also knew this was a state of emergency, and she needed to be where her captain put her. 

“Alfie, Jordan, make yourselves useful, find a station that’s not being manned and man it!” McCallister told his son and son’s best friend. 

As the two cadets dashed over to the auxiliary stations, McCallister looked at his chair in the centre of the room. He wouldn’t sit in it; he didn’t have time to do that. 

“Sir, I’ve isolated the main computer core, along with the secondary and backups,” Jen announced from ops. “But I can’t determine what is causing the malfunctions from up here.”

Frustrated to hear that, McCallister looked at his first officer. “Max, how bad is it?”

“We’re in a pretty bad state,” Duncan announced from the engineering station. “Most primary systems are offline, emergency systems are operating.”

“We’ve got hull breaches in the stardrive section; emergency forcefields are in place and are holding,” Court added.

McCallister gave out a long sigh. He was about to tape his combadge when his son spoke up.

“Captain, Doctor Slyvexs is reporting forty-seven dead and a hundred twenty-one injured so far,” Alfie said in a concerned tone.  

Flashbacks to Frontier Day raced through his mind; McCallister, like so many other Starfleet captains, had lost a number of their crew on that day. Now, several months later, he was dealing with more. He tapped his combadge; he would speak to Slyvexs shortly; in the meantime, McCallister wanted to know what was happening in Main Engineering. “Bridge to Engineering. What the hell is going on down there?”

He was surprised by who responded; McCallister wasn’t expecting to hear from his second officer. 

“Corella here; we’ve got injured and are attempting to stabilise the core. I could do with a couple of extra pairs of hands.” Banfield answered.

Instantly, McCallister looked at Duncan, Jen, and Court and signalled for them to go. “I’m sending help to you now, Corella,” McCallister responded. What caused the overload?”

“The PADD that our dear friend, Mister Korvain, left behind has somehow interfaced with our computer controls. It overloaded the power grid, sir. Jaceon was able to slow its ability to take control before I destroyed it completely. But I don’t know what else it’s done.”

“Alright, do what you can do there,” McCallister ordered through gritted teeth.

“Aye, sir, Banfield out,” 

Hearing that Korvain’s device had caused this damage frustrated the hell out of McCallister.

“Sir, the storage bay where the explosion took place, it’s where the resources from Korvain were placed,” Rosle remarked. “Do you think this is some sort of plan for him to destroy us?”

“Or disable us,” Reyas said from science. James, look at this,” she said, indicating to her husband to join her. “We’ve got partial sensors, but I’m detecting a small group of ships leaving Cloudbase and making their way here.”

McCallister had moved to stand behind her to see the readings. “Why do I feel they’re not coming to help us?”

“Probably because they’re coming with their shields raised and weapons charged,” Reyas added. 

“Damn it,” McCallister cursed. 

“Let me take over at tactical,” Reyas told him, indicating that no one was there when she got up from her station to take over.

“Rosle, where do we stand with engines?” McCallister said as he returned to the centre of the room. 

“We’ve got half impulse and some thrusters, no warp drive, though,” She replied. “Sir, I would suggest that we launch our fighters, but the hanger door isn’t opening, and from what I’ve just heard from the hanger chief, it’s a mess down there, and some of our fighters are damaged from the explosions.”

“That’s fine, Rosle; I wouldn’t want to launch only a few fighters, especially against the Entharans; remember how much of a punch they threw at the Hirogen,” McCallister replied. “But, engage impulse engines and see if we can distance ourselves from them.”

Rosle nodded with an ‘aye’ as she brought the Odyssey away from the approaching craft. 

“Where do we stand with shields and weapons, Karyn?” McCallister asked next.

“Shields are at seventy-two per cent; we have a few phasers working and one aft torpedo launcher; however, targeting scanners are offline,” Reyas replied.

“Then prepare to fire manually,” McCallister said. 

Reyas called for Jordan to join her at the tactical station so she could have an extra pair of hands if needed. 

Walking down to the ops station, McCallister sat in Jen’s vacant seat. It had been years since he had been at the ops station. Though his first posting on the USS Audacious, where he was chief operations officer, had a different layout to the Odyssey, it felt good to be back in something familiar to him.

“Captain, there’s an issue with the warp core,” announced Rosle.

“What kind of issue?” McCallister asked as he brought up the ship’s status readings on his main console. 

“The containment field is beginning to fluctuate,” Rosle shared.

Localising the problem on his display, McCallister was about to call engineering when he saw that Banfield had activated the emergency ejection systems. He had to trust that she knew what she was doing, whatever was happening. In a split second, something changed. Checking the readings, he saw that her husband and Jaceon had re-established power in the containment field, and the warp core was stabilising. Relieved they were saved from having to dump the core or from it breaching, McCallister turned his attention back to their incoming ‘guests’.

“They’re still coming,” Reyas announced from behind him. She knew what her husband was thinking and anticipated every possibility he could take. “Shouldn’t we hail them?”

If he was younger, if this was his first command, if the ship hadn’t been badly damaged, then McCallister would have gone in phasers and torpedoes blazing. However, McCallister was older; he had commanded the Odyssey for over fifteen years and knew the chances of the ship surviving would increase if he could find a diplomatic solution. He agreed with Reyas’ suggestion and immediately pressed the button on his console to open a channel to the lead Entharan vessel. They acknowledged they were responding. Deciding to take a firmer stand, McCallister stood up and indicated for Alfie to take over for him at ops for this bit before he ordered the computer to put the incoming call up on the main screen. 

Korvain’s face appeared across it. “Fleet Captain McCallister, you appear in quite the disarray.”

“Indeed we are,” McCallister replied. “But we have things under control.”

“Why don’t you slow down and let my teams board you to provide assistance?” Korvain offered with a smile. 

“Thanks for the offer, but we’re good,” McCallister answered politely. 

“Please, captain, I must insist.”

“And I politely decline; please tell your ships to break away to avoid them receiving any damage,” McCallister stated. McCallister was trying his best to keep his temper in check.

“I appreciate that you must be under a lot of stress, captain, so my ships will dock, and my support teams will help you,” Korvain said. “If you don’t accept, you will cause a massive diplomatic incident.”

“If you want to avoid a massive diplomatic incident, then I suggest you fall back, especially as it was your PADD and your resources that caused the damage to my ship,” McCallister countered.

“You can’t prove that, captain,” Korvain replied. “Please do not insult my generosity.”

“Your generosity has killed forty-seven of my crew; I promise you that you’ve not heard my insults yet,” McCallister said in a firmer tone. “Now, as I said, tell your ships to stand down and leave us alone.”

Korvain smirked. “You honestly think your lies about my good nature will bother anyone else?”

“My crew are preparing to send a message to your government now; I’ll let your local law enforcement agencies decide on that,” McCallister replied as he crossed his arms against his chest.

“Ha!” Korvain chuckled deeply. “Captain, I own them all; you really think someone with my wealth and connections won’t get what he wants? Please don’t insult your intelligence, captain. Now, I suggest you slow down and allow my teams to be on board so we can peacefully take your ship without anyone else dying.” 

“What’s wrong, Korvain? Asking someone to surrender isn’t in your wealthy terminology?” McCallister argued back. 

Korvain remained amused by his exchange with McCallister. “I get what I want, captain, and after seeing your ship in action against the Hirogen, I promise that once I’m done with it, it will become the flagship of my business empire. Now, stand down, and I will ensure your crew won’t be harmed when they become my company employees at our dilithium mining facilities.”

“Employees? Is that what you call slaves? Prisoners?” McCallister shook his head as he finally saw Korvain in all his colours. “You really are something, Korvain.”

“Thank you, captain.” He proudly replied. “Now, what about those shields?” 

McCallister shook his head. “I’ll destroy this ship before you get your hands on it.” 

“I don’t think you will, especially as your family reside on it,” Korvain pointed out. “And with so many Federation lives at risk. I also don’t think you understand that once your other ships come to find out what happened here, they will be easy to enlist into our ranks. Now, do we have a deal or not?”

“Never,” McCallister said before he gestured to Alfie to close the channel. 

“He’s charging his weapons,” Reyas announced. “James, we’re no match against them, even in our best state.”

“I know, Karyn,” McCallister huffed as he slumped into his chair and considered his options. There weren’t many left. “I know.”

No Good Deed – 11

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78624.2

McCallister’s mind raced, a torrent of fear and determination. The weight of his crew’s lives bore down on his shoulders. A minor explosion from below jolted the bridge, another hit from Korvain’s fleet. The Odyssey shuddered, and McCallister felt the urgency of time slipping away.

“Captain, there’s a nearby asteroid field. It’s risky, but we could use it for cover,” Rosle suggested from the helm.

McCallister’s voice was firm, his eyes reflecting the weight of his decision. “Do it.”

The Odyssey strained, its engines roaring as it hurtled towards the asteroid field. The crew held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. 

“Shields are at fifty-three per cent,” Reyas declared.

As they neared the asteroid belt, McCallister ordered Alfie to send more power to the deflector dish. “We need to ride it rough for a bit,” He added before turning to Reyas. “Karyn, the moment we pass any large asteroids, open fire on them. If we can create some larger dust fields, it may slow Korvain’s fleet down.”

“On it,” Reyas responded.

The ship continued to shudder as Rosle did her best to avoid not just Korvain’s fleet but also the asteroids. 

“We need a way out of here, sir,” Rosle said urgently, her brow furrowing as she manoeuvred the giant starship away from danger.

Tapping his combadge, McCallister called down to Main Engineering. 


“That’s the last of the injured on their way to sickbay,” Duncan said as he re-entered the heart of the ship. They had helped those who were hurt after the main explosions in engineering. However, engineering still looked like a mess. It looked more like a battlefield than an engineering room. Emergency lighting was on, most of the fires had been put out, but not everything was working. 

“We’re not out of the fire yet,” his husband said as he approached him. Court gestured for Duncan to follow him back to the centre of the room, where the others who had helped the engineering staff stood. They were all working around the long ‘pool table’, the primary operations console for engineering. Everyone was busy trying to keep the ship together. 

“What’s happening?” Duncan asked as he returned to the group.

“Korvain is chasing after us,” Banfield replied; she had transferred the readings from the ship’s sensors to a nearby holographic display. “We need to jump to warp to get out of here.”

“We can’t do that, Corella,” Tierra said from where she sat on one of the small stools. After being partially treated, the chief engineer had been injured but refused to leave her engineering room. Instead, she sat, holding her left shoulder with her right hand, demanding she could help. “The ODN conduit between here and the antimatter storage deck has been severed.”

“What about the chevron’s warp drive? Isn’t it meant to serve as a backup to the primary warp core?” Duncan asked. “Is it still operational?”

“Let me check,” Carter said, tapping away at the console nearby. The deputy chief engineer was quick in his assessment. “It’s not damaged, but it is offline.”

“Can we get it online?” Court asked, an edge of frustration seeping out of his voice as he posed his question.

“Yes, but for it to be the backup drive, we need to deal with the ODN conduits,” Jen remarked as he rubbed his forehead. “Without them, we couldn’t modify the subspace field to jump us to warp safely.”

“Lukiz, Carter, start looking into it,” Duncan ordered Jen and Westerham. Both men just nodded and moved away from the group towards one of the other stations in engineering. 

“Bridge to Engineering, Max, I need to know where we stand with getting out of here,” McCallister called from the intercom.

Tapping his badge to respond, Duncan spoke up. “Captain, we’re working on a plan to get the chevron’s warp core back online and see if we can jump out of here with it.”

“That’s great news. Keep me posted. We’ll do our best to keep Korvain’s fleet occupied.” 

“Even if we restore the chevron’s warp core, the structural integrity field is still damaged from the massive hull breach we have,” Banfield pointed out to the holographic representation of the Odyssey floating above the pool table. “If we attempt to warp out of here, we’ll take further damage to the outer hull.”

“Can we transfer more power to the SIF?” Duncan asked. 

Tierra shook her head. “We’re already operating on emergency power; we don’t have enough.”

“Then we need to let people know we need to evacuate the outer hull of those affected areas,” Duncan said as he turned to Court. “Tobie, get the word out that we must evacuate the outer hull. Emergency forcefields must be activated on every deck and every section that will receive the most damage.”

Court nodded and wished Duncan the best before he rushed out of engineering to get on with his task. 

“Captain,” Jen called out to Duncan. “We’ve got some good news and some bad.” He waved for Duncan to join him and Westerham on the other side of the room.

“Good news first, commander,” Duncan insisted as he moved over to where the two engineers were.

“The conduits are easily repaired,” Jen shared.

“And the bad?” Duncan probed. 

“The crawlway is in a warp-plasma shaft,” Carter replied. 

Jen turned to Duncan. “That means that anyone we send would never survive the radiation.”

“Can we send our holographic engineers to fix it?” Duncan quizzed.

“Yes, but the radiation may affect their programs; we won’t know until we try,” Jen answered.

The ship then shuddered a bit more. A few more explosions went off around them.

“Korvain is getting close,” Banfield said above the commotion. She moved herself to operate the console, which showed the latest information from the bridge about their ongoing battle. “Shields are down to thirty-one per cent.”

“Damn it, that last blast knocked out three power transfer couplings in the chevron section,” Jen cursed. 

“Meaning we can’t use the chevron’s warp core?” Duncan asked.

“Let me get up there and see if we can repair it,” Jen said; he called for Jaceon to come with him before he tapped his combadge. “This is Commander Jen to all hands. Is anyone near to the chevron’s engineering section?”

“Lieutenant Jonarom here, sir,” replied their chief communications officer. “I’m nearby, treating Commander Keli.”

“Is she stable, lieutenant?” Jen said as he went to the nearby engineering locker and retrieved a repair kit with the necessary tools. 

“Yes, why?” 

“Jonarom, I need you to go into the engineering section and get me an update on the chevron’s warp core, mainly the transfer couplings. Jaceon and I are on our way to you now.” Jen ordered.

“Keli here, sir; I’m sending Jonarom there now,” Kellis said between short, sharp breaths.

Jen smirked, knowing that Keli would have glared at Jonarom and told him to leave her where she was and do as he was told. 

 “I’m on my way,” Jonarom said after a second. 

Jen gestured to Duncan that he was on his way with Jaceon. They rushed towards the nearest turbolift doors. “Carter, take over sorting out those conduits,” Jen called over his shoulder. 

Carter just nodded and went back to their previous work. 

“Even if we do get warp drive up and running, we need to assume that Korvain can chase after us,” Banfield said to Duncan as he returned towards her. “We need to find somewhere to avoid them.” 

“What have you got in mind?” Duncan asked, intrigued by her thought process.

“We make it look like he has destroyed us by detonating a number of our photon torpedoes, venting plasma from the nacelles and opening up all of the shuttle bays and hanger deck. Then, just as our shields appear they’re about to collapse, we jump into high warp and head here,” Banfield stated as she pointed to a class nine nebula on a map of the local space. “This nebula should cover us while we make repairs and rendezvous with the Themis.”

Gazing at the pink and purplish balls of gas, Duncan momentarily considered the idea. He couldn’t suggest anything else. “Let’s tell the captain.”

Meanwhile, across engineering, Westerham reviewed the work coming in front of him from their holographic engineers. They weren’t being fast enough, and the radiation was affecting their ability to move faster. It was interfering with their projectors. Considering there was so much at risk, he wasn’t prepared for their plan to use the chevron’s warp core to fail. At that moment, he looked over at his wife and smiled. He knew what he needed to do. Picking up his tools, he made his way towards the crawlway. 

No Good Deed – 12

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000), Gerina System, Swallow Nebula region, Delta Quadrant
Stardate: 78624.25

It only took her a few seconds, but Banfield knew something was off in those few seconds and instantly looked up from where she was standing beside Duncan. “Carter,” She whispered. 

Duncan’s brow furrowed in deep concern as he turned to her. “What’s wrong, Corella?” he asked, his voice filled with worry, mirroring the growing tension in the room.

“Carter,” She said, her voice now trembling with panic as she moved from where they were in the centre of Main Engineering to where he had stood only moments ago. 

He wasn’t there.

She gulped heavily as she felt her heart begin to beat heavily. “Where is he?” Banfield called out. 

Duncan shook his head. “No idea,” He looked around main engineering, “I can’t see him.”

Though still injured, Tierra tried to lift herself up from the stool she was on. “I thought he was working on the conduit-” She paused as she stopped mid-sentence and looked at Banfield.

Banfield shook her head in disbelief, “He wouldn’t. Would he?” She asked Tierra.

Tierra wasn’t sure how to respond; she was in shock. “If he did, he has only moments.”

Without hesitation, Banfield dashed the access door that would take her down to the crawlway—ignoring both Duncan and Tierra behind her. She was too fast for them. Her Klingon heritage kicked in as she moved swiftly.

After entering the first section, Banfield approached a nearby operating console and quickly accessed the internal sensors. She saw her husband heading down to the ODN conduit within the warp plasma-shaft crawlway, and more panic surged through her. The radiation levels in that area were dangerously high, and the repairs he intended to make were beyond risky.

“No, Carter,” she muttered, her heart pounding. “You can’t do this alone.”

Opening the next hatch, she knew every inch of the ship, but the crawlways were a claustrophobic nightmare even for the most seasoned officer. As she entered the tunnel, the radiation detectors on her tricorder began to beep urgently. She forced herself to push on, the tight space pressing in on her from all sides.

“Carter! Carter, can you hear me?” she called out, her voice echoing in the narrow confines.

Ahead, she saw the faint glow of his work light. Westerham was hunched over the conduit, his movements sluggish and slow. He looked up as she approached, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

“Corella, you shouldn’t be here,” he croaked, his voice weak.

“Neither should you,” she retorted, crawling closer. “I’m not losing you.”

She watched as he completed the last of the repairs, his hands trembling. The holographic engineers flickered nearby, their forms unstable due to the radiation interfering with their projectors. As the final connection was made, Westerham slumped against the conduit, his strength failing.

“Hold on,” Banfield urged, turning to the holograms. “Help me get him out of here!”

The holographic engineers moved to assist, their translucent hands carefully manoeuvring Westerham. Just as they managed to pull him free of the conduit, their projectors failed, and they vanished, leaving Banfield alone with her barely conscious husband.

With sheer determination, she draped Westerham over her shoulders, his weight nearly overwhelming her. Once again, she depended on her Klingon heritage; half of it gave her the boost she needed. The radiation alarm on her tricorder was screaming now, but she pressed on, crawling back through the tight space, every inch a struggle.

“Stay with me, Carter,” she whispered, gritting her teeth against the pain and exhaustion.

Finally, she emerged from the crawlway into Main Engineering, gasping for breath. Duncan rushed over to them both and pulled them through the access door to where Tierra was. 

“He needs medical attention,” Banfield panted. She was starting to feel weak herself. She staggered towards Tierra and took one more glance at her husband before she felt her body start to go limp. Tierra caught Banfield in her arms; Banfield could barely hear what Tierra was saying to her as the darkness began to close in. 

The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Westerham’s hand reaching for hers. 


The Odyssey buckled under another barrage from the Entharan attackers, the lights flickering as the ship fought to stay operational. Jen sprinted down the corridor, his mind laser-focused on the task ahead. Beside him, Jaceon moved with the eerie precision of his former collective, his cybernetic enhancements making him an invaluable ally in these critical moments.

“The chevron section’s main engineering is just ahead,” Jen shouted over the ship’s alarms. 

Jaceon nodded, his expression unreadable. “Understood, commander.”

They rounded the corner and burst into the chevron section’s engineering room, only to find Jonarom hunched over a console, his face twisted in frustration.

“Come on, come on,” Jonarom muttered, slamming his fist against the panel. “Why won’t you work?”

“Jonarom!” Jen called out, hurrying to his side. “We’re here to help.”

Jonarom’s eyes lit up with relief. “Commander, thank you! I’m way out of my depth here. I’ve been trying to get the warp core back online, but nothing you told me to do over the com is working.”

“You’re doing fine, Lieutenant,” Jen reassured him, quickly assessing the situation. “Let’s work together,” He suggested before gesturing to Jaceon to check the ODN conduit status and see if they had a path to reroute power.

Jaceon moved to a nearby terminal and undertook the work efficiently. “The ODN conduits are operational. The repairs made have stabilised the network.”

“Good,” Jen said. He was impressed at how quickly their holographic engineers had fixed that issue. He turnied back to Jonarom. “We can do this. Follow my lead.”

Under Jen’s direction, the three men worked with urgency. Jen’s experience with the ship’s systems allowed him to diagnose the issues quickly. He rerouted power, stabilised the plasma flow, and initiated a diagnostic sweep of the warp core’s subsystems. 

Jonarom followed Jen’s instructions, but his initial frustration gave way to a determined focus. At the same time, Jaceon monitored the core’s structural integrity to ensure there were no hidden faults.

“Jaceon, adjust the plasma injectors to compensate for the power fluctuations,” Jen instructed, his fingers flying over the console. “Jonarom, monitor the antimatter containment field. We can’t afford any instability.”

“Plasma injectors adjusted,” Jaceon confirmed. “Power flow is stabilising.”

“Containment field holding steady,” Jonarom reported, his voice steadying as the warp core hummed to life.

Jen’s eyes scanned the readouts. “We’re almost there. Initiating warp core start-up sequence now.”

The room was filled with the deep thrum of the warp core as it came online, the power surging through the ship. Jen’s fingers danced over the controls, fine-tuning the subspace field parameters.

“Warp core online,” Jen announced, relief evident in his voice. “Now, let’s modify the subspace field to encompass the entirety of the Odyssey. Jaceon, bring up the field modulation matrix.”

Jaceon’s fingers danced across the terminal, his eyes staring intently as he processed the data. “Field modulation matrix engaged. Adjusting parameters now.”

Jonarom watched the readouts, his hands ready at the controls. “Field integrity is holding. Modulation complete.”

Jen nodded as a determined smile appeared on his face. “Excellent. Let’s get us moving.” Immediately he tapped his combadge and called the bridge, telling the captain the excellent news.


The bridge was a flurry of controlled chaos as Fleet Captain McCallister held on tightly to the arms of his chair. The ship rocked under the relentless assault from the Entharans. McCallister’s mind was racing with the plan Duncan and Banfield devised to outmanoeuvre their enemy.

“Captain,” came Jen’s urgent voice over the comm. “The chevron’s warp drive is online and ready to go.”

McCallister’s lips curved into a determined smile. “Good work, Lukiz. Stand by for further instructions.”

As he cut the channel, the bridge was filled with a tense anticipation. The plan was audacious, but it was their best shot. They would make it look like the Odyssey had been destroyed while slipping away at warp speed.

“Captain,” Alfie McCallister, his eldest son, called out from the ops station. “Korvain is hailing us again.”

Looking at everyone else around him, McCallister told them to stand by to implement the plan. “Open a channel,” McCallister ordered, his voice steady.

The viewscreen flickered, and the visage of Korvain, the Entharan businessman, filled the screen. His eyes glinted with malevolent glee. “Fleet Captain McCallister,” Korvain sneered, “I see you’re still stubbornly refusing my offer. Please surrender before any more of my future employers are hurt.”

“Korvain,” McCallister responded coolly. “This ends now. If you don’t cease your attack and leave us alone, I’ll destroy the Odyssey.”

Korvain’s laugh was a harsh, grating sound. “As I said, I don’t think you will. You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?” McCallister’s gaze was steely. “Keep firing at us, and you’ll find out. Our warp core containment is already compromised. One more hit might be all it takes.”

Your threats are empty,” Korvain said dismissively. “We both know you lack the resolve.”

At tactical, Reyas glanced up from her console. “James, our shields are at twenty-one per cent. We can’t take much more.”

McCallister gave a slight nod, keeping his eyes locked on Korvain. “You’ve left me no choice, Korvain. I warned you.”

Korvain’s ships fired again, the Odyssey shuddering under the impact. McCallister waited, his muscles tense, as another volley rocked the ship. Alfie cut the channel with Korvain. McCallister was pleased his son knew what he wanted.  

“Rosle,” McCallister called the pilot, “prepare to engage the warp drive. Get us to that class nine nebula.”

“Aye, Captain,” Rosle responded, her hands moving deftly over the helm controls.

“Alfie, prepare to eject all shuttles, runabouts, and fighters,” McCallister continued. “Karyn, Jordan, fire our remaining torpedoes at them the moment I say so.”

“Ready, sir,” Alfie said, fingers poised over his console.

“The last torpedoes are armed, sir,” Jordan announced. 

“They’re locked and loaded,” Reyas confirmed, her eyes hard with determination.

McCallister waited for another heartbeat. “Now!” he barked.

In perfect harmony, Rosle engaged the warp drive. The Odyssey surged forward, the subspace field enveloping the ship. Alfie initiated the command to eject every shuttle, runabout, and fighter from the ship’s bays. Simultaneously, Reyas and Jordan fired the last torpedoes. A massive explosion took place behind them. 

The bridge was filled with the roar of engines and the deafening blast of explosions. The viewscreen showed a massive burst of light and debris as the ejected craft detonated, creating the illusion that the Odyssey had been obliterated.

The Odyssey vanished into the depths of space at warp speed. The crew held their breath, the bridge eerily silent as the stars streaked past.

“We’re clear,” Rosle reported a note of awe in her voice. “We’re approaching the nebula.”

“Take us in!” McCallister ordered.

Alfie let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. “The decoys worked. The Entharans believe we’ve been destroyed.”

McCallister leaned back in his chair, relief washing over him. “Excellent work, everyone. Rosle, can you find the best spot for us to hide?”

“We’re already on our way, sir,” Rosle shared. “We can wait here until we need to contact the Themis.”

Reyas moved from tactical to approaching her husband. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “We did it, James.”

He looked up at her, his expression softening. “We did. But we’re not out of the woods yet.” 

“You seem more worried?” Reyas noted.

McCallister nodded as he stood up and pulled on his jacket. “I am, as I don’t think Korvain will rest until he finds us again.”

“We’ll be ready for him,” Reyas assured him.

“I hope so, Karyn,” McCallister replied. “Because there was something in him that made me think he’s the not type to give up easily.”

“You make him sound like the Borg, Dad,” Alfie remarked as he stood up from his station to stand with his parents. “But we beat them. We can beat Korvain, too.”

“The Borg aren’t hell-bent on profit margins and business reputation. Korvain is. That makes him more dangerous than ever.” McCallister remarked, worried for awaited them now.