Transporter Room

“Welcome to the Eagle,” said Captain Kirby.

Before Senior Commander Drixa Pem could reply, her eyes quickly moved to Lieutenant Iziraa.  With a fixed gaze, she stood motionless for a few seconds before stepping down from the platform, stopping in front of Iziraa.  “Your name?”  Her tone was commanding.

“I’m Lieutenant Iz’i’raa sh’Solom’aa, but everyone calls me Iziraa.”

“Your duties?” said Pem.

“Chief of security.”

“You’re part of the United Federation of Planets?”

“Yes.  We’re one of the founding members.  My people serve all over Starfleet and the Federation.  My world is a moon orbiting a gas giant.”

“When Captain Kirby and I have resolved the matter at hand, I would enjoy speaking more with you.”

“I would be honored,” said Iziraa.

Pem moved to Hok.

“I’m Ensign Hok, I work in security, I’m a Ferengi, and very few of us are in Starfleet.”

Kirby was watching his officers interact with Pem.  Iziraa was diplomatic and proper, but Hok was gruff.  He was about to interrupt.

Pem chuckled.  “I see that you’re an interesting people.”

“You have no idea,” said Hok.

Chuckling again, Pem turned to face Kirby.  “Thank you for allowing my escort to keep his klavik.  To lose it would be a humiliation and a failure of duty.  He would need to take his own life because of the shame.”

“The last thing I want is conflict and bloodshed,” said Kirby.  He gestured to the door.  “This way, please.”  Before following, he gave Hok a we’ll-talk-later look.

“Captain, if I may,” said Hok.

Kirby glanced at Pem.  “Make it quick.”

“Show strength, sir.  Don’t be unsure or hesitant.  She needs to respect you and she’s already insulted us once.”

Kirby studied Hok’s face.  It was interesting that he could discern their visitors so easily.  “Understood.  Thank you.”

Conference Room

Kirby was seated at the head of the table, with Pem in the center and to his right, her escort standing behind her.  Iziraa and Hok were seated on the left, with two other security officers standing, one on each side of the door.

“All right, Senior Commander, tell me what I need to know,” said Kirby.

“It’s simple, Captain Kirby.  Leb Minol is the leader of a dissident movement to destroy the unity and progress of the Shiya people.”

“I need more than that,” said Kirby.

“There are eighty-seven nations on my world.  It took decades and many conflicts for us to finally work through our differences and become one people.  There are those that don’t want that.  There was an attempted bombing at the world council building.  After an investigation, it was determined that Minol and his inner circle were behind it.  He was arrested, tried, and convicted.  His followers, with the help of traitors in government, helped him escape.  He steered his ship into an Underspace corridor and we followed him here.”

“I appreciate your position, Senior Commander, but it seems to me there’s more to it than that,” said Kirby.  “I spoke with Minol for a few minutes before we started talking here.  He told me your unified world is one of tyranny, where national sovereignty and individual rights are a thing of the past.”

“Do you make policy in your Federation, Captain Kirby?”

“No.”

“Neither do I in mine.  I follow orders and do my duty,” said Pem.  “Minol is a convicted criminal and it’s really not your business to interfere.”

There was no way to know for certain which side was right, but Pem did have a point.  Still, Kirby preferred to err on the side of caution.

“Bridge to Captain Kirby.”

“Go ahead, Roger,” replied Kirby, slight annoyance in his voice.

“We received an urgent message from Command that Underspace apertures are closing and corridors are collapsing all over the sector,” said Allen.  “Ships are being ordered to return so they’re not stranded.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander.  Kirby out.”  He looked at Pem.  “I suggest you leave before you’re stranded here.”

Pem laughed.  “I expected better of you, Captain.”

“I realize you don’t know us, but we value the principles of truth and honesty.  When I said Underspace is collapsing, it’s collapsing.”

Pem was clearly angry.  “I would contact my ship.”

Kirby nodded.

Pem activated a device on her left wrist, like an old time watch.  “Pem to Impexa.”

“Impexa here.  Go ahead, Senior Commander.”

“Scan the aperture and corridor.”

“Is there something in particular we should look for?”

“Just scan it.”

“Yes, Senior Commander.”

A few tense moments passed.

“Impexa here, Senior Commander.  We didn’t detect anything unusual.”

“Is the corridor stable?” 

“It is.”

“Fine.  Pem out.  You disappoint me, Captain.”

“Believe me or don’t.  Leave and make it home safely or spend the rest of your lives here.  I don’t care which.”

Pem gave Kirby a long, hard stare.  “We’ll leave, Captain, but if this is a deception, we’ll be back for our dissident and it won’t be just one ship.”

“Security, escort our guests to the transporter room.”

Pem stood up, but she spoke again before leaving.  “Perhaps you’re not a meeta kitten after all.”

Bridge

“The Impexa has entered the aperture,” said Iziraa from tactical.

“Helm, hold our position here.  We need to make sure they don’t circle back,” said Kirby.

“Sir, my scans of the corridor are off the scale,” said Iziraa.  “It’s collapsing.”

Kirby hmphed.  “Good riddance to them, though I hope they made it home.”

“What are we going to do with Minol?” said Allen.

“We’ll leave him at 93.  Let them decide where he ends up.  Iziraa, please find comfortable quarters for Mister Minol, and you can spend time talking with him, if you want.”

“Yes, sir, and I would like to talk with him.”  Her antennae bouncing, Iziraa left the bridge.  Hok took her place at main tactical.

A meeta kitten, thought Kirby.  Ha!  There was a satisfied smile on his face.