Catching up on paperwork

Posted on Sat Apr 4th, 2020 @ 10:29am by Captain Jack Solomon

3,679 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 106 – Stalemate
Location: USS Ark Royal, en route to Deep Space Six
Timeline: Current

After attending the Senior Officers meeting and sending the latest status report from the Ark Royal to the Essex message to Jack had returned to his quarters to try and take some time to relax after recent events.

Having left Rhae in charge whilst he went off duty, Jack decided to take a long hot shower and afterwards change into some civvies. After getting changed, he ordered a double sweet Hot Chocolate and sat down in his armchair.

Next to him on the small coffee table were some PADD's that he'd been working through before going on shift. These included the book forms of the Deathstalker Saga that he had begun reading whilst on sick leave. With eight books in the series, Jack had downloaded all the books to separate PADD's and made sure that a stock of them was on board the Ark Royal, just in case.

The first PADD he picked up was a message from Starfleet Command relayed via SB400 regarding some new officers due to join the crew whilst the ship was at the station. Jack read on as he took a sip of the drink and instantly felt better from its effects.

Reading further he noted that the Ark Royal had received a new Assistant Chief Science Officer in the form of one Lieutenant Salek Morano and a new Assistant Chief Tactical Officer, a Lieutenant Raith Lokani.

Finally, there was confirmation that the Ark Royal was gaining a new Medical nurse officer as well, a Denobulan called Kessil. Jack was looking forward to meeting these newest additions to the crew on his next shift and was happy that there were more bodies arriving to help fill out the required positions on board. He still saw the ship as home with the recent evacuation and hoped that these new faces would fit in well with everyone else.

Making a note to meet up with each of the new officers once they were settled on board, Owen took a sip of his drink before moving to the next report. This was an Intel report that went into detail advising about the movements of Starfleet ships out of the combat area.

Soon after he had completed the various reports that were waiting to be approved and responded back to and for a moment, he looked out of the window at the stars as they moved by as a blur whilst the Ambassador Class starship was at Warp. He wondered how long this would be home for and he also wondered about when he would get to see Deela next. He missed her and the kids, but knew in this time of conflict, they all had a duty to perform.

However, what took his attention was the message received alert that was beeping quietly for him to pick up. Upon pressing the receive function, Jack saw a message from an old friend at Starfleet Tactical that had been sent to him recently.

The message contained a worrying content though. The title gave him chills as he saw "Andrea Madison" filled in. Jack recalled his meeting with the former Starfleet officer turned Maquis operative, many years ago. Reading on, she updated him on the rogue officer who had tried to kill him nearly a decade ago.

Madison’s last location was reported to be in the Alrakis Expanse, however, Starfleet Intelligence had since seen her working alongside Typhon Pact agents and this made increased her threat level within the organisation.

Jack took this seriously and knew that if Madison made her way to him, she would be a very dangerous threat to both himself and the crew. Captain Fawkes on the Memphis had attached a report to the message and once he had completed reading it, Jack was brought up to speed on Madison’s last reported whereabouts and what Starfleet believed her intentions to be...which they believed still involved him.

After taking this in and contemplating the situation, Jack decided that he needed a break, a serious break. Finishing his drink and filing off the PADD's, making sure all messages were sent, Jack sat back into the armchair and closed his eyes.

"I need some leave soon," he said to himself as he relaxed back in the armchair and thought about that first fateful meeting...

2384 serving under Starfleet Operations on Earth…

After his tour on Korriban Prime for Starfleet Intelligence, Jack had spent the next several months on Earth, re-assigned at Starfleet Operations, debriefing with some of Starfleet's best Engineers and Designers regarding various issues and problems that crews had encountered on the newer Luna Class Starships. Having worked on the project, his knowledge and experience on the class was to prove invaluable in updating and improving systems on board future Luna-Class vessels.

However, with non-stop meetings, debriefings and conferences on the matter, Jack was worn out and feeling like a change of pace was needed. He managed to convince Admiral Rendar that he needed some leave to try and unwind and relax and he granted him 3 weeks leave...in return for a favour. Jack was to play chauffeur to an Officer who had been assigned to Starbase 375 in return for then taking some leave on Bajor.

That seemed like a good idea at the time... but Jack didn't realise what was ahead of him and what he would need to prepare for...

He sat at the controls of the USS Thames whilst it travelled at Warp 4 towards Starbase 375. Beside him sat his passenger. Lieutenant Commander Andrea Madison, the officer he was ferrying to 375 and a woman of many stories and talents apparently. Jack had been listening as she had spoken of her time on board the USS Perseus and its role in the Dominion War. Jack had listened intently as the War was a subject he was skilled in, having participated in the war itself.

Jack came back from the replicator with two fresh Raktajino’s for himself and Madison, handing one to Andrea.

"I have to admit I never thought a Sabre-Class would take that much pounding from a Jem'Hadar Cruiser. A Sabre is just a bit bigger that a Defiant-Class, so you must've pulled off some tricks on the Perseus," He surmised.

"Either way, I'm glad that we and the Federation are back to being in peace time and back to being explorers again. I'd love to get my hands on one of the new Luna-Classes," Andrea explained.

Jack smiled. "I'll consider myself lucky then. I've worked on the project myself recently and I hope to serve on one of them. Word is that they will be exploring in the Gamma Quadrant charting unknown space and they are quite the work of art to serve on," he explained. He took more notice of Madison as he spoke, taking in her shoulder length curled blonde hair, her kind looking face and slender figure and wondered how lucky the staff on 375 were to serve with her.

"Well aren't we the Luna-Class expert," teased Madison after taking a sip of her drink. "So where are you headed after dropping me off at 375?"

Jack smiled. "2 weeks leave on Bajor. I've been in and out of briefings and meetings for months now whilst Starfleet's best learn how to fine tune the Luna's and I need a nice peaceful break," he explained.

Madison nodded as she got up from her seat. "Well you picked the right place to go, I hear its wonderful and peaceful there. Admiral Ross often spoke of it well and his time during visits there, you chose well, now if you'll excuse me...Raktajino’s go through me like water," She said heading to the rear quarters.

Jack smiled as he continued monitoring the course of the Thames. He noticed an increase in background subspace flux and wondered if the Warp field from the Runabout's engines were stable when the ship rocked from weapons fire.

"What the hell?" He cried out....

Jack checked the sensors as he increased the Runabouts momentum to maximum warp and was surprised to see that the attacking ship was a Talon Class Scout ship, the USS Jade. His confusion was building as he looked around.

"Cmdr. Madison? We're under attack by another Feder..." He started before realising she was holding a phaser to his head.

"Take us out of warp, Jack," Madison said calmly as she pressed the phaser into his neck. Jack brought the ship out of warp and to a full stop. He turned to look at Madison with confusion on his face.

"Why?" He asked.

"It’s simple. I was a member of the Maquis before being caught by Starfleet and used to turn out my cell. After the Dominion War and the Borg Crisis, I decided I wanted to join the winning team and the Typhon Pact is now the winning team," she explained, walking back slowly towards the transporter pad.

"You’re a Starfleet Officer! How could you?" Jack demanded as she setup the transporter.

"No Jack. I'm an officer of the Typhon Pact. When you wake up, you'll have five minutes to get off this Runabout," she explained before firing her phaser at him. As Jack slumped in the pilot’s seat, Madison went to the comms console and sent out a central distress call before returning to the rear compartment and setting the bomb she had constructed for ten minutes before detonation.

As she went back to the transporter, Madison took one final look at Jack before whispering, "Goodbye Jack, I'm sorry it was you," and then beamed across to the scout ship where her pilot Juno Deveraux was waiting.

"Is it done?" Juno asked as she laid in a course away from the Thames.

"It’s done. I have the plans for the Luna-Class Starship and Starfleet's Quantum Slipstream prototype," Andrea confirmed. Juno smiled as she took the USS Jade to warp and back to the Typhon Pact. Their mission was complete and all that it cost them was the life of one Starfleet Officer...

Five minutes later, Jack came around from his stun to hear two things. Firstly, the incoming beeping sound of a communications hail and secondly a ticking beep. Jack stumbled from the pilot’s seat to locate the ticking sound. His answer was soon clear when he found an explosive device attached to the replicator system with three minutes and counting...

Becoming more and more aware of his surroundings, he realised there was a hail waiting. Jack moved back to the pilot’s controls and acknowledged the hail.

"This is Captain Sophie Fawkes on board the USS Memphis, Runabout Thames, please respond," Jack heard the voice say as he looked around the main cabin, realising that Madison was gone. Jack pressed the comm button.

"This is Lt Cmdr. Jack Solomon. My Runabouts propulsion system has been sabotaged and there's a bomb on board counting down to detonation! Requesting immediate beam-out!" he urgently explained. Without any more hesitation, he soon felt the shimmer of a transporter beam and Jack found himself on the bridge of an Akira Class Starship. A medic helped him stabilise himself as he looked around to get his bearings. A woman in a command uniform approached him as he was sat down at a nearby station.

"Mr Solomon, are you ok?" She asked him. Jack looked up as the medic cleared him.

"All I wanted was a nice quiet holiday... Yes, I'm fine Captain, but that Runabout is due to explode in the next 30 seconds," Jack explained. Fawkes turned to her Tactical Officer.

"Reese, raise shields," she ordered, and the Tactical Officer followed and complied with her command with a nod. On schedule, the Runabout exploded, with the device reaching its potential. Jack buried his head and sighed for relief. "Captain, I need to speak with you," he said. Fawkes nodded to her XO and took Jack to her Ready Room.

Captain Fawkes ordered two coffees from her replicator as she directed Jack to take a seat. He took the coffee from her and nodded thankfully. Sophie took a seat behind her desk. "So, what’s going on here Mr. Solomon?" she asked him.

"I was on Earth, briefing top level starship engineers and designers on the Luna-Class starship improvement project. Admiral Rendar allowed me some shore leave as long as I transported an Officer to Starbase 375, which made sense as I was headed for Bajor," he began.

"Nice choice. Carry on," said Sophie.

"Once we were underway and entering the Bajoran system, Madison sabotaged my warp engines and she was beamed on board a scout ship that attacked the Runabout. Before stunning me, she explained she was leaving Starfleet to join the winning side... Something called the Typhon Pact," he finished, taking a deep mouthful of coffee and starting to feel better.

Fawkes nodded at him and sat back with a sigh. "This isn't the first time I've heard of this happening...Starfleet Officers leaving to join the Typhon Pact... It’s like the Maquis all over again but this time it’s the Romulans, Tzenkethi, Breen, Gorn and the Kinshaya all tempting good officers away," Sophie explained.

She put down her coffee and got up from her chair and walked around to Jack. "I've heard about you Mr Solomon, your reputation was well known in Starfleet for some time until you went off the sensor grid, it’s good to have you back. We'll return you to Earth straight away. We're headed back for a refit after charting the Beta Quadrant for the past two years," Sophie told him, “We’ll get you some comfortable quarters though whilst we get this investigated Jack, both on board the Memphis and back on Earth. You’re in safe hands," she reassured him.

Jack stood up and smiled. "Good to know, Captain. Although if you need any help on here, I'm able and willing to. I always wanted to get to grips with an Akira class," he offered as Sophie walked him out of her ready room.

"Careful, I may take you up on that, Commander," she answered as the Captains Yeoman met Jack and took him to the turbolift and his quarters. Sophie smiled and decided to keep in touch with Jack once he had left. Something about him said he was fun...

After his incident with Andrea Madison and his subsequent rescue by Sophie Fawkes and the USS Memphis, Jack found himself working on board the Memphis as she returned to Utopia Planitia for a refit and upgrades. Whilst working on board, Fawkes had begun an investigation into the incident involving Madison’s defection from Starfleet to the Typhon Pact and she relayed her information to Admiral Rendar at Starfleet Command. Rendar had been overseeing the Luna Class debriefings with Jack and he was glad that the experienced officer was in one piece and safe.

After the Memphis docked, Rendar sent orders for Jack to be brought to Earth to be further debriefed on the matter and Sophie accompanied him. Over the next couple of months, Jack and Sophie grew close as they investigated what turned out to be a growing, concerning issue with Starfleet Officers defecting to the Typhon Pact.

Jack was also assigned to the refit crew to work on the Memphis which meant when he wasn't on Earth, he spent his time on board the Akira Class Starship and spending time with Sophie, something they both enjoyed.

About two months later, Jack reported to Admiral Rendar several days after his final briefing...

"Come in Mr Solomon, take a seat," Rendar directed as Jack walked into his office. Jack sat down as offered. "Thank you, sir."

Rendar took a sip from his tea before starting. "Jack, we've completed our investigation on the incident and I wanted to tell you that we're keeping a more open eye about Officers leaving in the way Madison did...of which her methods are questionable," he explained before carrying on.

"Lt Cmdr. Madison is now considered a fugitive and is also responsible not only for the destruction of Federation property, as in the USS Thames, but also the theft of a scout ship, the USS Jade. We also believe a Lt Deveraux has also conspired with her in this matter and Starfleet Security is now working on the matter," Rendar explained.

Jack sat forward upon hearing this and was relieved the matter was being taken seriously. "Sir, may I ask, what happens to me now? I have been enjoying my work in the Memphis during her upgrades," he offered. One thought was the fact he would still be around Sophie, which he was enjoying.

Rendar smiled at Jacks comment. "I know, it’s obvious that you and Captain Fawkes are getting along very well," he said with a smile," but I need your talents on a Luna Class Starship that been made operational and is being prepared for sending out: The USS Charon-A," he explained.

"She has a shakedown crew working on her now, but I need someone on board with knowledge and after all our meetings here on Earth, added to your previous experience on board you’re the man for the job," he finished.

Jack felt a shot of excitement flow through him at the chance to serve on a Luna again and he was hard pressed to say no to another opportunity to serve on one. "When do I leave?" He asked enthusiastically.

The Admiral smiled from behind his desk. "You leave in one weeks’ time. You'll report to the ships CO, a Commander Heredia, as the Charon-A 's Chief Operations Officer once on board," he explained. He passed Jack a PADD with the confirmed orders and other information stored on it. Rendar stood up and shook Jack by the hand. "Congratulations and good luck."

Jack shook his hand after standing up to leave the Admirals Office. "Thank you, sir," Jack said before turning and leaving the office. He headed for his quarters to read the PADD and prepare Sophie for the news...

Once he was arrived at his quarters, Jack found her waiting outside the door. He half smiled as he walked up to Sophie and kissed her on the cheek. "Hey you," he said.

"Hey...are you ok? You look like someone just kicked you in the gut," Sophie observed as they walked into his quarters. Jack sat down on the sofa.

"I've just been given new orders from Admiral Rendar... I've been assigned to the Charon-A. I sign on board as the new Chief Operations Officer in 2 weeks’ time...," he began.

Sophie could tell that there was more. "But..."

"I thought I would get more time with you, together and on board the Memphis..." Jack whispered.

Sophie took him into her arms. "Hey, listen, this isn't the end of you and me. This is just the beginning. We can keep in touch via subspace and from what I'm hearing the Memphis is headed to new territories once her refit is done," Sophie whispered to him, holding Jack tight.

"I was worried I was going to lose you that's all," he said to her. In that moment their embrace tightening, and they shared a lingering kiss together. "Never," Sophie said after they broke the kiss.

2 weeks later, Jack was aboard the shuttle Orion as he made his way from the Memphis to where the Charon-A was berthed. He couldn't hold back the smile on his face as he circled the drydock where she sat, and he took in all her features, realising with a tinge of excitement how much he'd missed being on a starship again. Minutes later Jack had docked the shuttle and was on board the Charon-A, looking for his quarters...

The Present

Jack opened his eyes as he looked around and realised that he was still on the Ark Royal and not the Charon-A. He smiled as he realised how much he missed being on that Luna Class starship, being out in space and exploring space. As he sat himself up, he realised that there was a video message on the PADD that had the report. He opened the message from his friend, Jade Smith who worked at Starfleet Tactical. The time stamp on it showed that it had been sent a while before the attack on SB400.

" Jack, first of all I hope you are well on board 400, I still miss our days on the Wildcat" she started. "However, the reason I'm contacting you is very serious. Andrea Madison was spotted in the region several weeks ago along with her accomplice Deveraux," she explained. "I have the sad duty to report that they are responsible for the death of two security officers from a Federation outpost which was in the area."

"Starfleet has assigned the Memphis under Captain Fawkes to the pursuit and capture of these two Typhon Pact agents, however be on your guard. The USS Jade has been seen in the area and we suspect that they are looking to capture anyone who was working on either the Luna Class Project or the original Quantum Slipstream project to gain more information," she explained.

"Keep your guard Jack, I know that things are bleak right now but stay strong, always know that you have friends dotted around the universe, including me, but keep a guarded eye over you and those that you trust and keep close. Take care Jack. Smith out."

Jack sat back for a moment as he took in what his friend had explained about the two officers killed. It was obvious that both Madison and Deveraux were looking to send him and others a message, knowing that he had been close to the various projects that they had stolen plans for.

Sipping on his drink, Jack smiled as he spoke to himself. "Yeah, I definitely need some leave soon and I need to take it with Deela and get us both away from it all," he said to himself as he relaxed back in the armchair and drifted off to sleep.

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