Stardate: 60322.2003
Subject: For Those About to Rock, Part One
Author: Captain Khavok
Scene: USS Relentless
Time: During / after "Friend or Foe"


Damn I hurt. I can't remember a time I hurt worse. Those black ops clowns did know how to slap a beating on a body. A number of emotions coursed through me as Doctor Mathews began the work of putting me back together. I've been hurt enough times to know internal damage when I felt it. I caught my reflection in a polished surface.

*Great, I look as good as I feel*

It hurt to laugh so I gave it up. Ted stiffened slightly so I knew someone had entered sickbay and I sat up a bit further to see who it was. Dr. Mathews continued to work and having his medical instincts aroused was about to shoo the XO out.

Speaking of the XO, she is attractive, stunning really. I hastily reminded myself that I would probably have to depend on her to save my life. I saw the look in her eye, and I never felt so alone in my life. That's saying something. I've been pretty alone before, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't forget the time my shuttle was downed behind enemy lines and what it was like to make it back to friendly territory alone. The look in her eyes said "I don't think I trust you."

We spent a few minutes conversing then. I decided that I wouldn't try to hard to find a tactic to reach her or to try and persuade her in any particular direction. She would make her mind up either way regardless. I was touched by her concern and knew more than she would ever know what it felt like to make the decision she had been forced into. I would have liked to help but some things have to be done alone. I wasn't completely honest with her when I gave my answer about the why of the whole thing.

I had a very good idea what this was about. Bralor gave me a very important piece of the puzzle. I had the feeling that I was still missing a lot of the pieces but it was something to go on. I shook my head. I was beginning to think we'd find Bralor's body before we had the chance to talk to him again. It all kept coming back to system 814A. My gut told me that it was a serious slip on my enemy's part. I didn't have all the connections but I wasn't that concerned, it would fall together.

Darius' betrayal hurt worse than the beating. I was pleased to see Abby could take care of herself and that fact erased any doubts I had about her being my first officer. I sincerely hoped that the vicious sucker punch I dropped Kell with hurt him as bad as his betrayal hurt me. As I recovered Darius' weapon Abby asked me what our next move was. I turned to Dr. Mathews and said, "Doctor if you would, please sedate and restrain Mr. Kell."

"Captain, I uh..."

"Doc, you can stun him or I can, I'd kind of like the opportunity now that I think about it," I said.

I wanted to do worse than stun him. The betrayal stung, and I was getting tired of being hit where I lived. This is MY home. I'm not giving it up to anyone. Abby and Ted muscled the unconscious Kell on to a spare biobed and Mathews then sedated him.

"That will keep him out for several hours Captain, however I must officially register my complaint." He said.

I nodded, I was tired and the pain of my recent exertion was catching up to me, "understood doctor, just tell me where to sign."

Turning to Abby I asked, "who in the crew is with me?"

"Sir, I really don't know, I think we can count on Maxine but after that I'm not sure."

I was reassured by Abby's choice of words and her decision to stick by me. I leaned against a bulkhead to collect my thoughts and to rest a little. I'd seen in Abby's eyes that she could tell the pain I was in and that my confidence was shaken. I leaned against the bulkhead as nonchalantly as I could and tried to both ignore the pain and give the XO a coherent answer to her question.

I went over some the Relentless' weaponry in my head, a lot of the changes were so secret that even my tactical officers would not find out her full capabilities until we were underway. I just prayed that my chief engineer was loyal to me, if she wasn't. I couldn't think about that now. It was pretty clear that whoever my enemy was he could hit me at will and where I had thought I was most secure. One thing was certain if one or two competent agents got to me in my current condition it would be a short one-sided fight.


================
Captain Khavok
Commanding Officer
USS Relentless
NCC 11966
================