Personal log: Following the events within the Velorum Sector, both the Leda and the Xenius put in for repairs on Starbase 11. Cadet Rey Ford was immediately placed under arrest for mutiny, endangering the lives of her crew and a slew of minor infractions against Starfleet regulations. I have the unfortunate duty of appearing as a material witness to a board of inquiry. I know my duty, but I can’t help the feeling that I’m condemning a friend. I think I’ll stop by the bar first, just to calm my nerves.

“Vodka, neat,” Evelyn said to the ferengi bartender. When he reached for the synthohol, she tapped the laminate bar top. “I’d prefer the real thing, please. If you have it.” The ferengi nodded and knelt down to his private stock.

“This, I can’t give out for free,” said the barkeep. He held a stout, short necked bottle in his hand and waited for her reply.

“Oh,” she said. Ev felt like a deflated balloon and soon began to rise from the bar.

“Wait, wait.” The barkeep nodded and poured a shot straight from the bottle. “I was just joking. Just a bad …” he looked as if he was about to cry. “… bad joke.”

“Leave — could you leave the bottle?” Ev asked, her voice meek and wavering.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Just don’t put it away yet, please.”

The barkeep did as she asked and Ev downed the shot quickly. The burn caused her to cough. The ferengi turned away to hide his smirk.

“Another, please.”

Again, the ferengi poured another shot and Evelyn downed it as quickly as the last. She coughed after the burn. The LT tapped the bar indicating she wanted a third drink, but was flushed from the first two shots.

“I think you’ve had enough.” The barkeep grabbed the shot glass. Ev grabbed his arm.

“Just one more. P-please.”

Ev’s eyes diverted from the ferengi as she pulled her hand away. He poured a third glass.

“I know I’m going to regret this, but is there something wrong?”

The woman said nothing for several seconds while her fingers tapped the side of the shot glass. The bartender shrugged and reached for a rag to wipe the counter.

“I can’t talk about it,” she finally said.

“I can’t talk about it.” The barkeep laughed. “I hear that a lot around here. No worries, okay?” The ferengi began to wipe down the bar. Ev finally took the third shot. She coughed again and began to ask for a fourth, but stopped herself.

“It was cold in here when I came in, but now …” she looked around the room as if to seek out the hot spot. “N-now I’m sw-sweating from the alc-alcohol.”

“It’ll do that. Anything else?” asked the barkeep.

“Before, I said I couldn’t tell you what was going on, but hypno- hyponthetic — hypothetically speaking — I mean, we could discuss hypnotheticals, right?”

“Sure. I get lot of hypnotheticals around here too.” The ferengi placed the vodka bottled back with his private stash and took a seat. “Shoot.”

“O-okay. Say you had a friend that you tried to help, but they did something unethict — unethical and now you have to do something that will get them into trouble. A-and if you don’t do it, you’ll get into trouble.”

“You like this person?”

“Oh yes. She’s — their personality is an acquired taste, admittedly, but they’ll make a fine officer one — one day, if given the chance.”

“No. I asked you if you liked this person, not if they’re the next Picard.”

“Yes. I like — I mean, you would like — I’m very bad at this.”

“I can tell.” The ferengi rolled his eyes then thought for a moment, rubbing his temple as he did. “How much trouble would you — could I get into if I don’t do this hypothetical thing?”

“A lot. It’s a court martial offense … or could be, I think.”

The barkeep whistled. “Cut them loose and do your — I mean, I’d do my duty.”

Ev nodded sadly. “I knew that, but — no, I can’t lie. Wh-what I mean is, I physically can’t lie. I get fuster — I get flusterededed — my face goes red.”

“Don’t lie, exaggerate. Vulcans do it all the time.”

“I feel, I mean you would feel, that is … shit.” Ev sighed heavily and tapped the bar counter again. “Just one more, please?”

The ferengi also sighed heavily, but poured out another shot for his customer. “Last one. If you start a war or something because you were plastered in phaser control, don’t come crying to me.”

Ev downed the shot and coughed. “Y-your name will never come up.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.” The bartender rolled his eyes again and wiped the condensation from the bar table. “Rules of Acquisition number 21. Never place friendship above profit. Your friend did something very bad, I mean my friend or whatever.” The ferengi waved the hypotheticals off like a gnat in his face. “Anyway, just do your duty and live a good life. It may be that your friend is screwed, but you can take comfort knowing that the system works.”

Ev noticed the room was starting to sway. She grabbed onto the bar and held tight. “B-but what if my friend did something go-good by doing something ba-bad?”

“Rules of Acquisition number 285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.”

“That d-doesn’t seem right.” She glanced back at the ferengi and smiled sheepishly. “Just one more?”

“That’s life,” said the barkeep. He grabbed a bottle of synthohol and poured. Ev didn’t notice as she downed the final drink. The burn felt the same; she coughed. Lt. Sommers then placed her head on the bar top. The cool laminate soothed her burning forehead.

“Lady, I just wiped that. Do you mind?”

“It’s okay,” said Ev as she raised her head from the bar. “I have to — I have to be at a board of inquiry in an hours — an hour.”

“Somehow, I don’t think you’re going to make it. Do you have someone you can call?”

Ev fell forward; her face hit the bar. “Ughhhh …”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“I hope the quarters are satisfactory, Commander,” said the LT. He placed the woman’s baggage next to her bed and moved to the door.

D’thea gave her human escort a nod. “They are fine, Lieutenant.”

“The replicator is over here,” said the LT as he politely motioned toward the western wall. “If you need anything, the computer will assist you.”

D’thea nodded again, but remained silent. Her eyes scouted the room for possible dangers. She found none that she couldn’t overcome.

“Have a good day, Commander.”

The Romulan paid the human no mind as she moved to the window; a glimmer of light suddenly caught her eye. The burst of light from a starship as it entered warp was unmistakable. Longing and regret washed over her. The door chimed.

“Come.”

Mira stood rigid in the doorway, her hands folded behind her back. “May I enter?”

“Do I have a say?” D’thea became focused on a new ship that entered her view from the window; Her back was to her daughter.

“You’re not a prisoner.”

“Aren’t I?” The Romulan Commander spun toward her daughter, a harsh scowl written across her face. “The bed may be soft, the pillows plush, the amenities tempting, but this is still a prison.” A smile crept across her face as she motioned to the door. “Or can I just walk out of here on my own?”

“Do you wish to tour the starbase? I find the arboretum can be relaxing.”

“What do you want?” the elder Romulan asked curtly.

Mira stepped closer toward the Commander. “I have a question. How did you know I was a crew member on the Leda?”

“How did I know —” D’thea frowned, but only for a moment. “I am a Romulan Commander who failed in her duty to the Empire. Now I am a prisoner of Starfleet. That is all you need to know.”

D’thea turned back to the window. A Miranda class starship maneuvered away from the station. The running lights on the back of either nasal blinked every two seconds. The ship’s thrusters hit maxim and switched to impulse. Soon, it was gone from view.

“The empire is gone,” Mira emphasized. She hoped reality would jar the Commander into an answer. Mira stepped forward, though made no effort for physical contact.

“I need an answer, Commander.” The young Romulan said calmly.

“Commander?” D’thea smirked “What happened to calling me mother?”

“I admit that I am curious why you went to such lengths to find me, but my priority is to Starfleet. I cannot allow Romulan spies to stay hidden in its midst.” Mira walked across the beige carpet; she broke the gap between her and her mother. Both stared at one another for over a minute, though neither flinched. Mira broke the silence. “I ask you again, Commander. How did you know I was on the Leda?”

“You could have asked me this on the ship. Why didn’t you?”

“I felt it necessary to review the events that transpired on the Xenius with Captain Fawkes. Cadet Ford will face a general court-martial for her actions. In fact, I am due at her board of inquiry shortly.”

“Cadet Ford.” D’thea spoke the name with a hint of fondness that surprised even her. “Isn’t that the woman who saved the day and now is on trial for mutiny?”

“She is —” Mira paused momentarily to fight off a smile. “Rey insults me quite often, because of, as she puts it, logic. I find it gratifying that she is so comfortable around me. Many are not.”

“A good friend is rare,” whispered the Commander.

“On that, we agree.”

Mira finally placed herself at ease. Her hands remained behind her back, fingers locked in one another. “Mother, please tell me how you knew I was on the Leda.”

D’thea laughed. “That almost sounds like concern. Not a Vulcan trait.” The woman casually collected her bags and tossed them onto the bed. “I have something for you.”

Mira shook her head and faced the replicator. “Tea. Chamomile. Hot.” The machine spun particles into a cup of relaxing tea. Mira took a long sip.

“Here,” said the Commander. She held out a disc for her daughter. “My thesis on Romulan culture in the Time of the Awakening. Not much is known of this time from our perspective. I studied what I could, but found little.”

Mira took the disc. Genuine surprise flashed upon her face. “Thank you. I’m certain this will be enlightening.”

“Don’t look so shocked, daughter,” said D’thea as she unpacked. “I had an interest in archeology when I was very young.”

“Thank you for the gift, mother, but I need an answer to my question.”

“Why do you require an answer, Mira? Won’t a nameless Starfleet drone interrogate me eventually?” D’thea knew the answer, but needed her daughter to vocalize it.

“Yes. If I do not receive a satisfactory answer to my query, you may be questioned by less sympathetic individuals.” Mira dug her nails into her hand behind her back.

“That would bother you?” asked the Commander. “Your Vulcan mother would be disappointed.”

“The woman who raised me is dead.”

“That’s right,” began the Commander. “You turned in your parents when you were a child.”

“That’s a Tal Shiar lie!” spat Mira.

“There’s my daughter.” D’thea grinned. “Thousands of years of conquest, passion, art, hate and love surges through that green blood of yours. No philosophy can hide it.”

Mira dug her nails deeper into her hand to fend off another outburst. Green blood trickled onto the floor. Her jaw clenched. Her body shook.

“You’re bleeding. I’ll get you something for that.” D’thea made a beeline toward the lavatory and a first aid kit.

“Tal Shiar. You still have ties to them, don’t you?”

The girl was smart, thought D’thea. She stood in the doorway of the washroom, a hypospray in her hand. “And now you have your answer. Give me your hand.”

“Mother, I will be fine —”

Mira watched as her mother held her hand and administered the spray. “Get that looked at in sickbay.”

“I will,” said Mira. Her mother still held her hand. “For now, I need to attend to my friend and contact the Captain.”

D’thea felt her lips curl into a hint of a smile. “I’ll be here.” 

The cell was clean. Charlotte approved of that much. To see her fiancée behind the security screen was heartbreaking. Rey hated the sterile smell of the brig. The disinfectant triggered her allergies. She wiped the sleeve of her gray jumpsuit across her nose.

“There’s tissue in the bath, Rey.”

Ford eyed her fiancée for a moment. After a deep sigh, the cadet rose from the small bed and violently snatched a tissue from a tiny lavatory in the corner of her cell. “Yes, mom,” she replied.

“Rey … I’m sorry that —”

“Don’t.”

The cadet turned away. She knew the consequences of mutiny would be brutal. Prison for life or worse. “I did what I did and I don’t regret it.” She meant it.

“My crew and I would be dead if you hadn’t come to our rescue. They should give you a fucking medal. Not, this —” Fawkes eyed the octagonal doorway with disdain. She glanced at the guard next to the cell. Rumors and conjecture ran rampant through the starbase and Rey’s tale was juicy fodder for the mill. The guard seemed at ease, but said nothing.

“Stop it!” Ford growled. She stood from the bed, her eyes pained. “No. Regrets,” she said proudly.

Captain Fawkes inched closer to the security screen. Her hand hovered close enough to feel a tingle from the screen’s EM field. Rey did the same. Charlotte gave her girl a smile that reached her eyes. “I have some errands to run,” she said, primping her uniform.

“You’re lying, Fawkes. You primp when you’re lying.”

“Do I?” asked the Captain as she straightened her cuffs. Rey stared directly at her fiancée’s cuffs as the woman worried over them.

“Yeah and you’re still lying. That’s what got us here in the first place.”

Charlotte let go of her cuffs. “I didn’t have a choice, Rey.”

“Really? Is that what you tell yourself?” Ford huffed.

Fawkes felt her fiancée’s words as they hit. Rey sat back onto the bed. She held herself tight. “I think the lawyer’s coming soon. See you later?” Hope and regret tinged Rey’s words. She didn’t look up.

“Of course, Rey. As I said, I have errands to run.” Charlotte smiled. “I’ll see you later.” The Captain gave a nod to the guard as she walked away.

Charlotte left Ford’s cell just as the cadet’s advocate stepped through security. She waited just out of Rey’s sight for the Vulcan lawyer.

“Captain Fawkes, I am Lt. Mauk and will be Cadet Ford’s counsel for her board of inquiry and inevitable court-martial. It is fortuitous that we meet.” He held up a PADD with the Captain’s report. “Thank you for the report, but I have a question.”

“Inevitable? That bad, huh?”

“She mutinied, Captain. I will do all I can for the cadet, but the evidence of her guilt is overwhelming.”

“You said you had a question?”

Mauk glanced at his PADD. “Your ship, the Leda, was ordered into the Velorum Sector to study spatial phenomena, however portions of your report were redacted and the data was marked classified. I may need that information to assist the cadet.”

“I’ll do what I can to obtain that information for you, Lieutenant, but don’t get your hopes up.” Fakes nodded once. “Good luck.”

“Thank you, Captain. I will anticipate your response.”

The Vulcan gave Fawkes a polite nod, but an ever so slight frown indicated he wasn’t pleased with her response. As the two parted, Mauk was puzzled by the Captain’s lack of interest in the matter. For the time being, he put the thought away and headed for the brig.

Rey was ordered to stand back as the screen was dropped momentarily. “I am Lt. Mauk, your defense counsel. May we speak?”

“Are you asking me? I’m a prisoner. I didn’t think I had any rights.”

“You are a prisoner, yes, but you have yet to be convicted of any crimes. Also, I was being polite.”

Ford shrugged and curled up into the corner of her bed. “Have a seat if you want.”

“No, thank you. I will stand.” The Vulcan opened his PADD again. “I have a few questions.”

“I’ll bet,” chuckled Rey.

“Describe, in your own words, what happened on the Xenius, stardate 75219.61.”

Rey rolled her tongue around her mouth as her fingers twirled through a lock of brown hair. “Well, I took my ship and went to get Charlotte.”

“I have no time for amusement, Cadet Ford and neither do you. Please answer my question.”

“Did I say something funny?” Ford sat up and huffed, genuinely perplexed. “You asked me what happened and I told you.”

The Vulcan stared blankly back at Ford, uncertain of her truthfulness. He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Allow me to rephrase the question. On stardate —”

“I stole the fucking ship, okay? I’m guilty. Toss me in the hole.”

Mauk paused, uncertain the cadet fully realized the gravity of her situation. “How old are you, Cadet?”

“What?” Ford rubbed her nose against her sleeve again as the Vulcan glared down at her.

“How old are you?”

“I’m 26. What does that have to do with anything?”

“The average human female will live approximately 141 years. If you plead guilty to this charge and assuming you live to an average age, that means you will spend the next 115 years in a cell similar to this one. Do you understand what I have explained to you?”

“Y-yes.” For the first time, Rey was scared. She didn’t fear death, but incarceration for that length of time seemed too cruel.

“Do you wish to plead guilty? We can do that, however, I still would like to hear your story in your own words.”

“I don’t know!” she screamed. Ford chewed on a lock of her hair as she thought. “I need time. Okay?”

“You have very little.”

Mauk sat next to the cadet and reviewed his notes while he waited.

“Okay,” Rey said. “I’ll —” The cadet stood from the bed. Mauk watched her movements. “Hey you!” She called the guard. “You heard what Ch — Captain Fawkes said. I should be getting a medal.”

Mauk looked to the guard for confirmation.

“The Captain did say that, sir.”

“Yeah, she did,” stressed Rey. The girl sat back on the bed, fired up by the fear of a century in prison. “Not guilty. That’s how I want to plead.”

“Understood, Cadet. Please be aware that our chances are not favorable. Now, would you please describe, in your own words, what happened on the Xenius, stardate 75219.61.”

Rey frowned, still overwhelmed by the possibility of life in prison. “Sure. Char lied to me about a mission. I knew that meant trouble, and I knew I had to go find her.” 

A stall in the women’s lavatory was not the most dignified hideout, but it was clandestine enough for Charlotte’s purposes. The plan was for Rey, she told herself. Her and Rey. No, it was selfish and if she failed, Fawkes would lose much more than a career. The light from her PADD lit up her face while she stared at the data. Her finger hovered over send. Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment. Why hesitate? Rey was her everything. Fawkes swallowed and pressed send.

“Done.”

A moment later, warm water washed over Charlotte’s lathered hands in the sink. She glanced into the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes were more evident than she thought. She wondered why Rey didn’t mention them. A quick run to her cabin on the Leda and she could rid them with concealer. The Captain looked closer. Minute, jagged red veins crept across the whites of her eyes. Fawkes needed rest, but there was no time. Rey’s board of inquiry was soon. Besides, she had already set her plan into motion.

A splash of water on her face followed by a few pats of a paper towel and Char was revived for the moment. She was about to go to war, but not on the bridge of a starship. No phaser banks, photon torpedoes or quick maneuvers would aid her. Armed only with information and the knowledge she would likely lose, her battlefield was Starfleet bureaucracy.

Fawkes let out a breath and pressed forward from the lavatory to the hallway. She quickly maneuvered through the crowd toward her destination, a small bar opposite the observation lounge. She ordered a synthol sazerac and watched as the bartender created the cocktail. Her mind drifted back to Rey. The attorney was likely still with her. Char glanced at her PADD. She still had the advocate’s number. The bartender slid her drink over.

“Thank you,” she said and took a sip.

The crew from the Leda had gathered in the observation lounge. She slowed to view her ship outside the observation window. A smile claimed her as she was assaulted by memories of her command. She looked up when Yeoman Marihino, a Bolian Ensign, called her from across the room.

“Captain.”

Fawkes waited for the somber Bolian jogged toward her. “I wanted to express my solidarity with Cadet Ford. The crew is behind her and you. If there is anything you need, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

A subtle smile eased onto Charlotte’s face. “Thank you, Yeoman. Your message is much appreciated. Please thank the crew on my behalf.”

“I will ma’am.” Marihino’s attention was suddenly caught by three security guards marching in the Captain’s direction. Fawkes noticed them as well. “If there’s anything I can do, Captain …” Marihino gave the guards a stern look as they approached.

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Please tell Commander Mas to have the crew back on board by 0600 tomorrow.” The Yeoman gave a quick nod and scurried away.

“Captain Fawkes?”

Charlotte spun around from the bar to find three security officers beside her. The leader was an Andorian, stoic and tall. The others were human and silent, their arms crossed over their chests. She took another drink.

“Captain Fawkes,” began the Andorran, “If you will please accompany us, your presence is required by Admiral Winthrop Ballard.”

“Ballard? I’ll make a point to drop by,” chimed Fawkes casually. Both guards flanked the Captain. She could smell onion on one’s breath.

“Please, come with us, Captain.” The Andorian shifted his eyes toward the longe. “We don’t want to make a scene in front of your crew.”

“Honestly, I think it’s too late for that given the drama.” She glanced at the lounge area where several of her crew were already on their feet, ready to come to her assistance. Fawkes waved them down. “However, if you say so, please lead the way.” She slid her unfinished drink back to the barkeep and gave him a polite nod in thanks.

“Thank you. Follow me.”

The Andorran guard led Fawkes, flanked by the two others, down the hall. Fawkes sensed the eyes that followed her to the turbo lift. Rumors would soon spread over the station, but there was nothing she could do about that.

“What does Ballard wish to discuss?” Charlotte asked as the foursome entered the lift.

“I’m not at liberty to say, ma’am.”

Fawkes wrapped her hands behind her back and waited. Soon, she was escorted to the Admiral’s assistant. The guards waited until the Vulcan sent them away.

“You are Captain Fawkes?” asked the Vulcan.

“I am.”

“I am Imeng, the Admiral’s chief assistant. I’ll show you to his office.” Fawkes followed the woman to the Admiral’s office, where he was already on a call.

“If you need anything, a refreshment or a bite to eat, please don’t hesitate to call me,” said Imeng before she left.

While she waited, Charlotte screened the office. It was unlike any on the base. Dark wood paneling lined the room; pipe smoke, cherry flavored, smudged the upper molding. Books, some as far back as the 18th century, stacked on two heavy, ornate shelves. Between them was a mounted mugato head in mid roar. Above the Admiral’s large oak desk was a copy of Jackson’s speech on manifest destiny. Ballard’s eyes lit up as Fawkes saw the framed speech and held up a finger as he continued his call.

“I’ll do what I can, Commander, but I won’t make any promises. I’ll recommend more aid to help the Romulans, of course, but I want to see projections on how many potential enemy ships still reside in that sector. I won’t send our people out to get bushwhacked. Get on it! Now!”

Ballard reached for his pipe, lit it and puffed a few times. “Politics,” he said with a chuckle in his voice.

“The bane of our existence, but necessary at times,” Fawkes replied.

“Yes, well that’s a matter of opinion.” The Admiral waved the notion away. “That’s not why I called you here, Captain Fawkes.” The crusty old man eyed her for a moment, sizing her up as a commander. “I knew your old man back during the Dominion war. He’d be proud his little girl made it so far.”

“That you sir. I knew you were close.”

“Yeah.” Ballard sat on the edge of the desk, his pipe grinding between his teeth. “Your father was XO on the Jamaica and I was head of security.” His eyes glazed over. “We went through a lot of shit together.” Ballard cupped the bowl of his pipe and chewed further on the bit. For a moment he seemed lost in memory.

“You had quite a time in the Velorum Sector, Captain. Captured, interrogated and almost executed.” The Admiral smiled through his pipe. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I would hope so. You, among others, sent me out there.”

The two stared at one another. Ballard’s left eye twitched.

“It’s a good thing Rey showed up when she did. She saved us all.”

Fawkes glared at the man.

“Now, now. I realize you’re upset about your little girlfriend, but regulations are clear. There’s nothing we can do.” The man let out a puff of smoke and moved to the console. He spun it around so Charlotte could see. “Care to explain this?”

The Captain eyed the console, but said nothing.

“This is your Velorum report, unredacted. Why send this to me? Did you send it to anyone else?”

Again, Fawkes said nothing.

“I’m sure you are well aware that much of this data is classified information.” Ballard glared back at the Captain. “That’s against regulations.”

“It is,” replied Charlotte. “So is conspiracy. We knew the Romulan Empire was going to fall before it did. What would the Federation think of that if they knew?”

Ballard eyed Fawkes as he leaned across the desk. “We all agreed it would be prudent to keep an eye on things in that sector. You agreed.”

“I did and it was a mistake. I hoped we could negate the damage if we acted early. Instead, we should have reached out.”

Fawkes turned away in shame for her part. Ballard grinned. His pipe hung from his mouth. The Admiral was cunning and potent. More than that, he had friends in Starfleet.

“I’ll send that information to Ford’s attorney. He may be able to use it in her defense. It’s doubtful it will help, but we can’t know until we try.” Char smiled briefly to underscore her point.

“You’ll send this info to that pointy eared — look, I’ll call in a favor, get your girl placed somewhere relatively safe and you just delete that info.”

“No.”

“No?” Ballard was dumbfounded. “No?” He rushed around the desk and grabbed Fawkes by the arm. “Are you out of your mind? You released classified information. I’ll see you buried under the brig and your little girlfriend … I’ll have her hauled to Rura Penthe if I have to pull every favor I have.”

Fawkes remained steadfast, though the thought of Rey in such a hellhole was terrifying. She was playing with fire.

“How did you know the empire would fall? How did the Romulans know where I would be?” Fawkes yanked her arm out of Ballard’s grasp. “Maybe your Vulcan assistant isn’t who she claimed to be and maybe, you knew.”

“You’re bluffing. All you have is conjecture.” Beads of sweat moistened his upper lip. He turned and laughed. “It’s nonsense and even if it was true, this wouldn’t help your girlfriend. She mutinied. It doesn’t matter why.”

Ballard was right, but Charlotte had to roll the dice for Rey’s sake. She knew the Admiral wasn’t alone in his scheme. Hopefully, he wasn’t the biggest fish in the sea of conspiracy.

“No, this won’t help Rey at all, but you can stop her court martial. You and whoever you’re in cahoots with. You will stop it or else we’ll all go down.”

Ballard laughed again. “You can’t be serious.”

Fawkes stood firm. “I’ll go down for espionage, Rey for mutiny, but you will take the fall for treason.”

“Bitch. I’ll call my guards back in here and —”

Fawkes grabbed her PADD and pulled up Mauk’s information. “I’ll do it,” she threatened.

“Wait …” Ballard combed his hand through his hair. “Your girl mutinied. She can’t walk on something this big. Forget the academy, she’s going down for life. The best you can hope for is where Ford does her time.”

“Blame me. Cadet Ford was part of my crew, and thus my responsibility.” Fawkes stiffened and waited on the shaken Admiral. The two eyed one another.

“You must really care for this girl.” The Admiral sat at his desk, weighing his options. Part of the man wanted Fawkes to disappear and he could easily make it happen. Their eyes met again. “There’s a ship. A Norway class vessel called the North Sea; Commodore Newsome’s boat. Newsome passed a couple of weeks ago of natural causes. I could make some calls — she’s a good ship, not as prestigious as the Leda by any means, but she’ll serve you well.”

“Lose the Leda?” Charlotte rocked back for a moment.

“Took you a pretty long time to get that commission, didn’t it? How many years?” Ballard tapped his pipe against the trash bin. “Well, what do you say? Lose the Leda or lose your girl?”

Charlotte knew she might lose her ship on this gambit, but the reality hit harder than expected. “I … I don’t have a choice.”

“Your skills won’t go to waste on the North Sea. If Starfleet hates anything, they hate wasted potential.” Ballard wiped the sweat from his upper lip and placed his pipe back on its stand. “Do we have a deal?”

“We do, sir.”

“Good. I’ll get on the horn and make a few calls. Your — Cadet Ford should be released in a couple of days.”

“Thank you sir. I’ll have to inform my — The crew of the Leda of my departure.”

Captain Fawkes walked slowly out of Ballard’s office. Imeng, the Admiral’s chief assistant, was nowhere in sight. Neither were the guards. Rey would be livid, despite her freedom. She would not approve of Fawkes’ sacrifice for her. The two would deal with it in time. Charlotte headed back to the brig and to Rey.