Stardate: 60515:2330
Title: Politics
Author: Admiral Elizabeth Foster
Time: Current
Scene: Admiral Foster's Private Shuttle


She remembered the ceremony vividly and a smile lingered on her lips. There had been a big band that seemed to translate the jubilant feelings of the crowd into the rhythm of the music. At the time her hands had been clammy and she must have adjusted her dress uniform about fifty times. Thinking about it now it was ludicrous really that a woman of her age was behaving like a cadet on their Graduation Day, but it wasn't every day that you got promoted to Admiral. After the event, and even now, Libby couldn't remember one word of the speeches that people had made about her.

Looking back she didn't just smile at the celebrations but at her naivety. Libby had captained her own ship for over a decade and many times she had dealt with the bureaucracy that clogged the big Federation wheels. It was, however, a completely different ball game as an Admiral - the bureaucratic nonsense, the secrecy and the deception was evident in every decision and order that she received or made. Every time she thought she had scored a point for the 'good guys' someone came along, wiped her mark off the chalk board, and put a couple of extra points on the side of the 'bad guys'.

Her position at Starbase 9 was just the type of challenge that she had in the past thrived on. She had hoped that she could turn the tide and reclaim the station and instil some principles on which the Federation had been built. At the moment she sat in her private shuttle and wondered whether she had taken on more than she could handle. The location seemed to encourage every type of disreputable dealer and if that didn't cause enough problems Libby was faced with the bigger issue that the base seemed to attract many disaffected Federation crew. 

Libby had to admit that she thought it would be a lot easier than it had been. She imagined that she would take control as soon as she got into the position. With her new Admiral power she would sack the polluted souls on the staff and then hire in a top team to take back the station from the illegal traders and racketeers. The reality had been much different - the evil that had infested the station had deep roots. High-level politicians made it difficult for Libby to fire anyone who they could surreptitiously give a quick back-hander too for whatever illegal service they required. The problem with the rest of the station was that as soon as you got rid of one illegal faction another one popped up in its place.

The Admiral could have asked for a new position but she knew that she wouldn't. Many times she had walked through the station and saw that for many ordinary citizens this Starbase was their last place of refuge. That thought kept her awake on many a long night.

One outstanding plus point was that her authority at Starbase 9 also put her in a unique position to oversee the missions of the Starfleet's newest ships - the USS Horizon and the USS Relentless.

Libby had used all the influence and power she had, she had called in favours, bribed those who couldn't be persuaded and worked non-stop to ensure the right people were picked to captain these important vessels. There had been stiff competition for the command of these ships and after many weeks a shortlist was produced and as Libby had carefully studied the list a feeling of dismay had settled in her very soul. The Admiral had laughed in disgust at the names put forward for the USS Horizon as the list contained some very bad people. No arguing that they were brilliant but nevertheless very dangerous and the rest were competently mediocre. Then there was a lucky break, a bright spot, perhaps even a near miracle - Scott Deadilus.

Deadilus was an excellent candidate- a man without ill reputable and a scientific genius to boot. Of course there were objections but the forces of good rose to the challenge and Libby got the break that she had desperately been praying for. The Horizon was lucky to have a Captain who wouldn't be afraid to take light into the darkest of places and could be trusted to do the right thing and stretch the rules if need be.

The Relentless had been a much harder battle to win and there had been times when Libby had contemplated the destruction of the vessel rather than let it fall into some of the suggested contender's hands. Much like the Horizon the list could be split by good, bad and just not up to the job. The Admiral sighed as she remember that she had actually considered Commander Frank Burgle for the position after a high ranking official had nominated him. After what had happened at the Starbase in her absence she thanked her lucky stars that she hadn't chosen him.

Captain Khavok was so right for the Relentless his service record alone spoke volumes about his good character and suitability for such an amazing ship as the Relentless. Libby also held a certain amount of affection for him that she knew to be risky and perhaps unhealthy. Getting him approved for the position had relied on a campaign of misinformation being spread about his character - she had subtly started a rumour that suggested Khavok was a man who could be persuaded to change affiliations. The Admiral had done this whilst assuring the 'forces of good' of Alex's true nature. The whole job had drained Libby more than she cared to admit but she assured herself that it was worth it. 

Starbase 9 came into view and she had no doubt that Frank had concocted a cover story for what had happened on the station in her absence. She was pleased that already Deadilus and Khavok had shown their worth by escaping the Starbase without any loss of life or any expensive damage to the Station.

Both of their missions that they were currently engaged on were potentially dangerous and Libby wondered whether she would ever be able to stop worrying about those she sent on assignments. After thinking about it she decided that if she did she should retire.

The mission to the heavily financed research facility on Tharan 3 was the first official assignment Libby had given Captain Deadilus. It was the perfect task for the USS Horizon, which was equipped with all the latest scientific equipment. The USS Relentless' unofficial first orders were to find some answers to what had happened on the station and evidence to clear Khavok's name.

No doubt both ships would run into their fair share of danger and trouble that seemed to litter the vastness of space. 

She sighed; maybe infinity might just be long enough to make everything right.


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Admiral Elizabeth Foster
Commanding Officer
Starbase 9
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