Episode Three-“Confrontations”

<Holodeck 2-Stardate 55279.26>

"Well Major this is what type of problems we can run into with the Jem'Hadar..." Ian was standing there with the Major and his Marines. "The best place to get them in a hand to hand combat. Try to take their tube at their neck. Computer! Jem'Hadar warrior hand to hand." Ian looked up as he spoke, “Acknowledge.” As a Jem'Hadar warrior appeared in front of him. "Now the first thing that all warriors from this race do is try to knock you down...try to throw them off balance and get to them first. Begin!" Setting into his fighting stance with a speed that even surprised the major. The Jem'Hadar warrior ran to Ian to try and knock off his feet, seeing this Ian quickly side stepped and caught the warrior with a stiff arm across his neck laying the warrior out flat. The warrior was obviously dazed and began to get up; Ian grabbed the tube that ran from a unit in their armor near their chest to their neck, with a swift yank and quick punch to the jaw the warrior as down for the count.

"Now if you have multiple Jem'Hadar around you, let them attack first and let them hit each other! Computer load program Hawkeye 3 echo 1!" The computer beeped and Jem’Hadar warriors, ranging in age and skill, immediately surrounded Ian. Ian stood there in his fighting stance waiting quietly. MOVEMENT! Ian saw it out of the corner of his eye, he leapt out of the way giving the warrior a push into an obviously younger warrior, quickly he jumped into the mess and leapt into the air, kicking one Jem'Hadar in the head and knocking out his tube at the same time. Two Jem'Hadar attacked at the same time and Ian kicked one into the other knocking both of them unconscious.

"Computer end program." Ian said breathing slightly heavy. The Marines looked around and saw that all four of the Jem'Hadar were incapacitated and not a threat any longer...Major Grischelm approached Ian, "Boy you fight harder then twelve Marine Drill Instructors!!" The Marines laughed and agreed. "Now Marines, I want you to take on a Jem'Hadar in hand to hand, use the throws and holds that I taught you. Careful, they are trained to injure not kill..." Ian paused as he swallowed "They want prisoners to talk to.
We need to keep that from happening. Understood?"

The Marines all sounded off in unison "HOORAH SIR!!!"

"Now Begin!" Ian hollered and told the computer to innate the program.

<Ian's Living Quarter's>

"Enter!" Ian replied to the doorbell.

"Hi there!" Ezri's beautiful smile and voice came in to the room. "Am I interrupting anything?" She asked. Ian looked down at the handful of data logs on his desk that he had been going over.

"Nothing super important that can't wait..." He smiled and gave her a kiss. He never knew how much he needed her to be near him.

"Mind if I make something to eat and stay with you? You will be leaving soon and I would like to be with you before you take off to honor and glory." She smiled and Ian sensed that she was worried but
tried not to show it. He hugged her and held her close.

"Ezri I promise I will come back to you. Not an entire Army of Jem'Hadar will keep me from you." Ian held her as he spoke. Ezri seemed comforted by his embrace.

"Well!" She said, "What do you want for dinner?"

"Anything is fine, surprise me." Ian said back and kissed her again. This time he made it more known that he needed her. She went to the replicator and got some cooking equipment and food from the
replicator to prepare dinner. Ian sat back down to his work; his Intel gathering had turned up great! Quarks leads came up true the Duras sisters had allied themselves with the house of Proth.

"Eurathoo, from the Sona is the main supplier. He smuggles the drug through the station using Klingon birds of prey." Ian started to think out loud. The Ferangi that started the bar fight spilled his guts when Ian grabbed his ear and slammed his head once on the table of the interrogating room. "The Klingons then take it to the Duras sisters and they in turn send it to a Breen supplier with ties to the Dominion. Now all I need is proof. And Eurathoo in my custody." Ian still thinking out loud sat back in his chair, rubbing his face 'this can wait until after we get back from the Gam.' Ian kept thinking. Ezri came to his chair and sat on his lap.

"I thought you might like a nice glass of Scotch." Dax always knew what Ian liked. He took it thankfully and took a sip. "What are you working on?" She asked.

"This Intel gathering on where the Dominion gets their main supply of Ketrisail White. The Jem'Hadar are breed to be dependent on it and will end up on the ground and not able to nothin!" Ian told her. She smiled and kissed his neck.

"Dinner is ready, and maybe if you a good boy I'll give you desert..." She smiled at him slyly.

"I will be very good, unless you ask me otherwise." Ian smiled back. Ezri had made some pasta and meat sauce. Along with some salad and other sides. Ian dug right in, "this is great food sweetheart." Ezri smiled and ate her food. Dinner went by with casual conversation, and eating. After dinner, Ian and Ezri sat down on the couch and held each other, Ian sat down and Ezri curled up next to him.

"You think that if we split up again that we will meet up after the war is done?" Ezri had a breaking tone like she was going to cry.

"Shhhh, don't talk like that." Ian said, "I have something for you, it will help you remember that I am with you." She let him get up and he went to his dresser. In a box on top there was a medallion
made out of pure Jade. It was a Hawk in full flight. "Here," He said as he put it around her neck, "Is a blessed Hawk from a Iroquois medicine man. He told me that as long as I am alive, until the day of my natural death it would stay together. If I die naturally, then it will stay together, because my spirit will be inside it. If I die a non-natural death it will break in half." Ian stopped for a second to sigh, "you see when a man is killed, his spirit breaks up. One side stays here to protect the ones he loves most. The other goes to he Spirit world and there too watches over his beloved ones." When he finished Ezri smiled through tear filled eyes.

"I think that it is time for me to take a shower and get you too bed." She smiled. Ian finished his Scotch and went to his room, got out of his uniform and into a pair of black boxer shorts, as he got into bed and started to get comfortable to sleep he heard Ezri come in. She was wrapped in a towel, "You’re not going to need those." She said as she dropped the towel. Standing there naked in the starlight she looked like a Goddess to Ian, "Make love to me Ian, I want to be with you all night and love you." Ezri approached the bed and got in. The night went on and morning came.

"I have something to ask you." Ian said shortly before he fell asleep, "Will you marry me Ezri?" He finally asked. Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged and kissed him.

"Yes Ian I will. Only if you promise to come back to me." She said
through tearful sobs.

"I will do what ever it takes to see my friends and me home." Ian's eyes were locked in hers. "To you I swear it, with all that I have and can swear by." The two took a shower and got dressed. Ian left for work and Ezri followed suit. Ian was in his office a few days later. His comm. pad blipped up with Ezri's smiling face.

"Honey I have something that you need to know." She said with a
great big smile...

<Commodore’s Ready Room>

Alex sat behind his desk reading over some paperwork. Rebel was sitting down next to his desk taking a nap. As he looked over the list of the new crew the door chimed. "Enter" Alex said without even
looking up from his paperwork.

"Commodore Winger," A new voice said as the door closed "I am Ambassador Trelan."

Alex looked up from his paperwork to see a gorgeous black haired Vulcan standing in front of his desk. She just stared back at him looking him over.

"How can I help you Ambassador." Alex said

"I am here a you diplomatic Head for the Task Force." She said "I will be sharing your command with you Commodore. Any decisions you make I will be a party of and will have a deciding factor in."

Alex's face turned bright red as his tempered fueled "Like Hell you will. This is my command and I share it with no one. Do you understand that Ambassador? NO ONE. If I have to I will talk to Starfleet about this."

"Well Commodore you can talk to Starfleet all you want but I belong to the Federation and you are nothing but the military arm of them." With that she turned and walked out of the ready room.

'Who the hell did the federation think it was telling him to share his command?' He thought to himself. "Comm. get me Starfleet Headquarters NOW." Alex said to the communicator.

Alex was not in a good mood at all anymore his day had been shot. He stood up and began to walk out of his ready room. It was time to go kill another Razor Beast.

<USS Stonewall Jackson Intel Section>

Ian was finishing up his Intel report about the Jem'Hadar and the Ketrisail white...'This was some good stuff' Ian thought 'The Jem'Hadar will never now what hit 'em.' Smiling as he began to leave he told one of his people that he was going to the Ready Room to give this report.

"Yes sir, don't have to much fun." His personnel knew when he was working or just trying to get out of the office. Ian never really wanted to become and Intel office but he was pretty good at it and never seemed to have to much of a problem getting what he wanted out of people. In the turbolift he was going over in his head what points were more important...the Klingon houses that were Supporting them or the Ferangi that thought that they could get away with smuggling it through the station. As he left the lift a Vulcan woman walked past him, he nodded in acknowledgement nodding back she walked past him without a word.

'Typical Vulcan' he thought 'not even a word and no emotion.' Walking to the Ready Room, Ian narrowly escaped from bumping into the Commodore...he looked ticked.

"What!" regaining his composure "is it Cmdr?"

Ian looked at him and asked "Sir are you alright? I was just bringing this report for you to look at and to brief you as you asked."

The Commodore nodded and said "Put it on my desk Cmdr and I will call you about it. After.... right now I need to go and kill me a razor beast."

"Sir?" Ian said just before the Commodore left "Who was that Vulcan?"

"Our new ambASSador." The Commodore acted a little snooty towards the comment putting emphasis on a certain part of how he thought of her. "You know Hawkeye, after I get done killing a razor beast or two...maybe you could let me have a little bit of that Scotch that you got in your quarters." Ian agreed and left the report on the Commodore’s table.

Back at the Intel Section Ian got a call from Ezri, she told him how she couldn't have children because of the Simbiant and how it would kill her and Dax as well. Ian figured as much, so he took in stride
and said "I love you" before she clicked off the screen.

An hour passed by and Ian's comm. went off tapping it he said "LtCmdr MacMahathain." It was the Commodore. Basically said it was time and to meet him at Ian's quarters...in five minutes.

Ian looked at his Chrono and figured he could take off early anyway, he had been working late. Telling his people to leave as soon as they could and let the next crew take over a little early maybe he left. The Commodore was waiting patiently at Ian's door. Ian walked in and grabbed two glasses of ice from the replicator and popped the bottle...the bottle was almost 50 years old...Ian figured, 'why not' he poured the Commodore his drink and then his own.

Offering a seat to Commodore Winger "What is the matter Commodore?" Ian said.

"Hawkeye this woman tells me...(sip) ahhhhhh...good stuff." the Commodore looked at his glass as he said it. Ian nodded "Well anyway she had the nerve to tell me that she was SHARING MY command of this vessel! And that I am just the Military arm of this mission...I hate her."

Sipping once again, Ian could tell the Scotch was taking hold, the Commodore was relaxing back into his seat...he had brought Rebel as well, and he looked thirsty so Ian got him some water...Rebel drank the whole dish very quickly, slopping some on the carpet. Ian didn't mind the carpets were self-cleaned anyway. After an hour of talking about the new ambASSador Ian laughed every time the Commodore put the emphasis on that part of her title. They also talked about the escorting of the Changeling...what problems they may run into, what good things may happen...

The Commodore got up after one, "Save that bottle Cmdr I may need it again." Ian nodded and
showed him out....saying goodbye he decided to turn in early seeing as Ezri was going to come by later, she would let herself in anyway.

<Intel Section-Stardate 55282.37>

"Honey I got some news for you, I am not pregnant because the simbiant will get hurt." Ezri said with a smile. Ian's heart sank a little but he was happy that Ezri was ok.

"It's ok, as long as you’re ok." Ian smiled back "See you at dinner." She winked and her image clicked off. Ian thought for a second and wanted to get some killing on. At the holodeck he was fighting three Jem'hadar on level 8. Doing rather well in hand to hand and they had a knife, a couple times the Jem'Hadar's blade would come a little closer than Ian wanted...so he ordered up his favorite sword.... a
Kitana and began going at it...then he wanted to have fun so he paused the program and made a custom staff that he saw in Highlander End Game, it had a blade on either end.... he began again with five Jem'Hadar with their clumsy swords and knives.

'Yes this is much better' he thought as he began to fight with the fury of his Scottish ancestors....'I need to get a Kitana and this staff customs made so I can fight with them.' Ian thought. One Jem'Hadar slashed at Ian who in turn simply rolled it around his staff and came back around with a slashing blow that cleaved the Jem'Hadar in two...the behind him bame after him with a thrust, Ian simply side stepped and parried the blow coming from the beside him, hooking the one that he blocked with his curved blade he used it to slice through the other Jem'Hadar's neck with ease...back slashing he hit still standing Jem'Hadar with the other blade slicing his stomach wide open letting his innards fly out as Ian whirled around with the finishing blow...no matter who his enemy was...Ian believed that, that didn't make it right for him to suffer...he would kill his enemies quickly and cleanly to hope that if that happened to him they too might show mercy and make it swift.

That was Ian's only fear was a painful death alone. Another Jem'Hadar hit Ian with the Blunt end of his blade knocking Ian a couple steps forward, planting his feet he whirled around the staff hitting not only the Jem'Hadar that hit him but the others in his range...they fell dead quickly and silently. 'Yes. I will need to get this and Kitana for battle...I will need to find a way to transport it easily and efficiently. I need to keep space in mind too.' Before Ian looked up and saw who opened the door, he heard the Commodore,

"Bravo Cmdr. Great display of not only skill but courage and endurance." Ian nodded and sighed.

The blow to his head knocked his vision a little blurry so he knew he had a concussion..."Sir I need to go to see the doc, I got a concussion and need to get checked out. Will you help me get there?"

<Sick Bay>

Karen was they’re talking to Major Grischlem, looking up and seeing Ian, she smiled...Ian could hardly walk now. Karen's smile turned quickly to a frown of concern, "Brandon help out him to that table there!" Karen said quickly getting some equipment...Ian started to tell her before he got to the table,

"Jem'Hadar SIM hit me pretty hard with the blunt end of his handle. It knocked me around a little, but I was in battle so I didn't notice until now." Lying down he passed out...Karen worked on him for an hour and he was as good as new. "I guess you will learn to pay more attention to your surroundings huh?" Karen knew that Ian was good, but he was even prone to being human Ian was ordered to his quarters for a day, he still had a headache but he just shrugged it off.

"Computer where is the weapons smith on DS9?" Ian asked, "Weapons smith is on the Promenade, section three." the computer replied. Ian would see him tomorrow for the weapons he wanted.

<Intel Section-Stardate 55285.57>

"Cmdr MacMahathain," Trelan's voice came over the intercom, "Report to me with a full Intel report and all of your info on the Jem'Hadar. I am in the Ambassador's section."

'No Kidding' Ian thought, he hated Vulcan conversation, everything is logic and nothing is good enough. Tapping his comm unit, "Commodore, this is Cmdr MacMahathain," waiting for a response, "Sir Ambassador Trelan has requested a full Intel report from me and all info regarding the Jem'Hadar, I just thought you might want to know, because I am confused...do I go or wait for you to tell me?"

The Commodore said goes, but wait for him to get there to ensure he gave them the right info, but not too much. Ian compiled all the info he had and a full Intel report from a month ago and just redated it...he thought that is was funny he hadn't heard anything from Intel lately, "Have to talk to them guys." He said out loud.

"Sir?" his Intel officer Chantelle Williams said.

"Oh nothing!" Ian replied he was caught off guard that she was there, because he thought that he was the only one in the Intel section, "Talking to myself again."

She smiled and went back to work, she was finishing up some possible covert ops that they might be able to do against the S'ona if the time were to arise.

Leaving the Intel Section, he thought he had better take his time to ensure that he got there after the Commodore to allow him time to breathe...once he got to the Ambassadorial section, the Commodore was no where to be seen, but from inside the doors Ian heard.

"HE IS MY INTEL CHEIF!!! YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU WANT HIM TO REPORT TO YOU, AND I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!"

"Uh oh." Ian thought, "I will wait out here for a few more seconds and let the fire cool off in there...."

<Commodores Ready Room>

Alex sat at his desk going over the service records of his new command staff that was going to be arriving in the next few months. He had 11 Captains, 1 Colonel, 11 Commanders, 1 LT Colonel, 1 Chief Warrant Officer 4, 1 Master Chief Petty Officer, 1 Task Force Sergeant Major, and his Task Force Chief Petty Officer. All in all there was just way too much brass. Alex's communicator beeped, so he
reached up and touched it.

=^=Commodore, this is Cmdr MacMahathain, =^= Ian said.

"Go ahead Commander." Alex replied.

"Sir Ambassador Trelan has requested a full Intel report from me and all info regarding the Jem'Hadar, I just thought you might want to know, because I am confused...do I go or wait for you to tell me?"

The Commodore said "Go ahead Commander, but wait for me to get there to ensure you give her the right info, but not too much."

=^=Roger sir, Hawkeye out =^= Ian said.

Alex stood from his desk and straightened his uniform. "He was going to have to go and straighten the upstart ambASSador out," He thought to himself. He walked out of his office and headed for the diplomatic offices.

<Ambassador Trelan's Office>

Alex walked down the corridor of the diplomatic section and walked straight into the ambassador's Office. Trelan sat behind her desk reading some papers. As Alex entered she looked up with a disturbed look on her face.

"Who do you think you are just barging into my office like that," Trelan said.

Alex not missing a beat said "I am the commander of this ship and the commander of this task force. I go where I damn well please and do what I damn well want to. You are a guest aboard my vessel if you don't like it I can leave you here at DS9 or drop you out of an airlock somewhere in the Gamma Quadrant."
Trelan's face showed only the calmness a Vulcan could have, "COMMADORE, I told you that I have orders saying that I am to share responsibility in this fleet with you."

Alex's blood pressure rose at the way she was being calm "I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR ORDERS. THIS IS MY SHIP AND MY COMMAND, AND I AM NOT GOING TO SHARE IT WITH SOME DAMN VULCAN AMBASSADOR," he said and empathized the right area of her title.

"Commodore there must have been some other reason you have come to see me so promptly." She replied.

The Commodore took a deep breath and relaxed a little, "I came in here to ask you why you wanted to talk to my Chief Intelligence Officer, and to make it clear that no information will be passed out without my explicit knowledge of such."

"Well Commodore I am assembling a report and requested to bring me the information I needed. I thought it would be ok to go straight to him. It is my right to do so Commodore." She said with the calmness of any Vulcan.

"HE IS MY INTEL CHEIF!!! YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU WANT HIM TO REPORT TO

YOU, AND I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!" Alex said. He was getting very aggravated with the ambassador. "DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR AMBASSADOR?"

"Yes you have Commodore. This will go into my report to Federation Command. Is there any thing else?"

"NO," Alex said as he turned and walked out of the office and almost ran into Hawkeye. "GO AHEAD COMMANDER." Alex said as he walked down the hallway.

"Well ma'am that is about it...there hasn't been any Intel reports for a week or two so the best I can give you is this." Ian said at the end of his report” Yes Cmdr I know that the Intel reports haven't been coming through, I have had them sent to me for screening before I had them sent to you." Trelan's calmness made Ian Scottish tempers flare, but his Native American side kept control.” What?! Your telling me that I haven't been able to brief the Commodore because you kept Intel from me?!" Ian could feel the blood begin to rise in his face all the way to the top of his shiny baldhead.

"LtCmdr MacMahathain, you are dismissed, thank you for your report." the ambassador was basically brushing him off in the way Vulcans do.

"NO MA'AM! I am the Chief Intel Officer of this ship and any Intel goes through MY hands first! I really want to know by what authority you have to do that?" Ian was really having a hard time keeping his Scottish tempers in check.

"By Starfleet Regulation, 94 Chapter 5 line 3a. I memorized the section before I had the Intel sent to me." Trelan looked at Ian calmly and he knew that reg was wrong...so he cracked his neck.

"If you think that ma'am, go ahead, but...your logic forgot to look in the Intel manual. YOU are an ambassador, and Intel is not your section of fire as my father used to say. I AM THE CHEIF INTEL OFFICER, and again. I will tell you ANY!! and I mean ANY Intel comes through me, and I will inform you. If you don't like it...to bad, GOOD DAY!" Ian turned about and stomped out the door...almost running
the Commodore over...his face as red as Ian's..."SIR! I AM GOING TO THE HOLODECK...I GOT TO ILL SOME JEM'HADAR!!! CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME." Ian's eyes were wide and full of anger.

“Cmdr" Trelan's voice stopped Ian in his tracks out of instinct. "Your uniform is not within regulation Starfleet..." Before she could finish, Ian whirled around.

"Ma'am you have obviously no experience in talking to a Scotsman do you? Never ever tell him about what is regulation, I am authorized this by Admiral Daugherty, my former teacher due to the time my father spent in the former SSOF! Now get off my back!"

Walking off the Commodore walked back in, Ian knew it was going to be a long day....

<Holodeck 3>

Stopping at DS9 before he went to the holodeck, the weapons master had made his weapons to his satisfaction and expectations. Light weight and able to be compact very easily. His Kitana sword could be
broken down into three parts for easy carrying. His Staff with the blades had a button on it, that could make the staff break into halves and be used as two one handed weapons, and this was instant. Ian loved it, he had a case set up for his sword and his staff he would carry on his back, painted all black for better concealment, also he had it made so that the shaft could retract into itself making carrying the two halves on his back very easy and quick to put together. The doors opened and Ian was in the Roman Coliseum. It was marvelous it was at the height of the Roman Empire and was in full swing for a gladiatorial fight. Ian walked out in his tactical black SOF uniform. His Kitana he left in his quarters. He wanted to fight and make it ferocious!!! "Computer, Jem'Hadar, highly skilled, swords and staffs for weapons...I want ten of them!!!" Ian barked.

"Attention, that amount of fighters is not recommended." The computer replied.

Ian looked up with a large frown on his face, "JUST FRACKING DO IT!!!!" Ian yelled. His staff was ready and so was he...the computer beeped under protest and put them in the arena...they looked ready for him with staff in hand he took off at a dead sprint, Hollering his clan motto "FAC ET SPERA!!!" He engaged the Jem'Hadar, his blades whirling and singing with screams of the Jem'Hadar...before he had gotten through them all the ones with swords had been dispatched with little effort, pressing the button to
dislodge his staff into two halves.

He began fighting with almost perfection, "Attention, difficulty level has been upgraded. Three fighters expert level uploaded. Weapons are swords." The Computer out of nowhere said.

Ian thought while fighting, 'uh oh, I am challenged enough as is, but a Scotsman never gives up!' he whirled around catching two of the Jem'Hadar right in the throat ripping them out with his hook blade, continuing to spin he saw the three Jem'Hadar attack him with their swords, reacting quickly he reattached his staff together and began to block their attacks, he was doing well until he blocked two of them, and the third caught his torso, it put a light cut from his left shoulder to his right hip! He spun back and put his hand on his chest...looking down he say his uniform torn and blood beginning to flow out of his wound!

"This is just great!" Ian said out loud, shouting in Scottish he called for strength and speed!!! “YELLYA ADI!!!!"

He began to fight again with the strength of 10 men. His staff whirled and sang as it cut the Jem'Hadar, but to no avail, he was getting tired and slowing down to fast and the Jem'Hadar were speeding up..."Computer End Program!!!" the Jem'Hadar disappeared just before they were going to strike, at the end of it all Ian had three pretty good sized wounds, the one across his torso, one across his left arm, and one across his right thigh, he wasn't bleeding badly, but he had lost enough blood to make it hard to get to the medical area.

The doors opened, and Trelan walked through with the same calm Vulcan look, "Well one Cmdr, I commend you on your fighting skills they are better then most humans. You definitely are a warrior."

Helping him to his feet, he felt when he stepped on his right leg. Tapping her COM unit she asked for the transporter to beam Ian and her directly to sickbay. Ian closed his eyes.

He hated that. When he reopened them he was lying on a medical bed, Karen's face was looking down at him, along with Ezri..."your fine Hawkeye, your real lucky that your weren't killed." Karen smiled as she said it. Ian sat up, against the will of Ezri and Karen to try and keep him down. "Where is Ambassador Trelan? Where is my staff?!" Ian was now thoroughly disgusted with that woman. Ezri assured him that she had taken his staff to his quarters and that his new uniform was done Garak was so worried when he saw the last one he made an three more. "Cmdr MacMahathain, when you have the time come to my ready room." The Commodore sounded a little upset.

<Commodore's Ready Room>

Alex was sitting at his desk when the report came in that the Ambassador tried to kill Ian by removing the safety on the holodeck. Alex was extremely pissed off. "Ambassador Trelan, report to my
ready room immediately."

"Cmdr MacMahathain, when you have the time come to my ready room."

Minutes later the Ambassador walks into his office and takes a seat. She just looks at him with a smug smile on her face. "Ambassador I want to know what you were thinking about. Why would you remove the safety? You could have killed him." Alex said after a long moment of silence.

"I was testing him. I wanted to see if what they said about him was true," the Ambassador replied.

"YOU RISKED THE LIFE OF MY INTEL OFFICER FOR WHAT??!!" Alex said. At that moment the door chimed "Enter."

Ian walked in looking very rough and roughed. Ian took a seat as far away from the Ambassador as he could get. Ian gave the Ambassador a cold hard look.

"I have you both here because I want you to know that I will not put up with this SHIT. Is that understood? I am going to press charges against you Ambassador for attempted murder." Alex said in a cold voice.

"You can't do this Commodore. I have more power………" Ambassador began to say but the Commodore cut her off.

"I have already contacted Earth and informed them of what has happened. They have told me I have full authority in this situation and you are now under house arrest. You will stay in your quarters
and not move. All of what you had as authority is officially over."

"You can not do this." The Ambassador tried to rebuttal.

"No the President has stated that you have forfeited all of your abilities. YOU ARE DISMISSED AMBASSADOR." She didn't leave "GOOD BYE AMBASSADOR." Trelan got up and left the room. The Commodore turned to Ian and said "Ian are you okay?"

"Yes sir," Ian replied.

"Go get some rest Hawkeye." Alex told Ian. Ian got up slow; he had picked the couch in the Ready room, as it was the furthest seat from Trelan. She had put under house arrest. The Commodore was very upset with her for testing Ian as she put it. Ian stood and winced a little; he was still very sore and in a lot of pain. The pain inhibitors had worn off a few minutes ago so now he knew the full extent of his injuries. Alex stood and came beside him, placed his hand on Ian's shoulder. Ian was happy that his shoulder was the one thing that didn't hurt.

"You ok son???" Commodore Winger asked Ian nodded and limped out the door

The Commodore sat at his desk. "Maverick report to my ready room immediately. I have a job for you."

"On my way sir," cam Mavericks voice.

<Living Quarters Corridor>

On his way back he bumped into Major Grischlem, literally, he rounded the corner and bumped right into him, Ian fell right on the floor, the cellular regenerators that the doctor shot him up with was draining the energy right out of him.

"Sorry Cmdr...You ok?" Brandon asked, helping Ian to his feet.

"Brandon I need some help to my quarters. I am not doing so well." Ian said that as he lost consciousness, Brandon caught him and brought him to the medical area.

<Commodore’s Ready Room>

Commodore Alexander Winger, seated at the ready room table watching Lt. Commander Ian MacMahathain stumble out the door on the way to relax in his quarters, hears the computer announce an incoming transmission. The Commodore turns in his seat and says "Receive Transmission."   

"Commodore, this is Lt.Commander Kyeria Heltsley," a young woman on the view screen replies." I am happy to report that I will be arriving on board the Stonewall Jackson as soon as I am sure of plans readied for my arrival. I am awaiting instructions."

"Yes Commander, We will have a team ready for your arrival. They
will assist you on your way through the ship to the bridge."

"I thank you so much Commodore and look forward to my arrival. Lt
Commander Heltsley out."

As the view screen goes blank the Commodore pushes his communicator. "Chief Matthews can you report to my ready room."

"On my way Commodore." a voice says back.

All of a sudden Alex’s communicator beeps again, “Commodore this is MAJ Grischlem.  Hawkeye has passed out sir.  I am taking him to the sickbay now.”

                “Understood, Maj” Alex replied.  This had not been a good day for Hawkeye at all.  Alex called down to sickbay and told them to make sure that he was kept informed of Ian’s condition.  Ian was currently in a comma.  No one knew how long he would be in it.  Alex sat back for a minute and wondered what he was going to do now.

He had to deal with an Ambassador that had tried to kill his Chief Intel Officer and that his Chief Intel Officer was now in a comma.  Some things were going to happen that he was sure he wasn’t going to like.  At that moment the door chimed “Enter” Alex said.

LT Hines walked in and over to the Alex’s desk.  “Sir, you wanted to see me.”

“Yes, I did LT.  The Major will be leaving to escort the changeling back into the Gam.  I want your squadron to pursue his team just incase he gets into trouble.  You will leave about 10 minutes after he does.”

“Yes sir,” Lt Hines said, “Do you want us to keep out of sight.”

“That would be smart LT.  Please keep as far out of the MAJ sight as possible.  You are dismissed Lt if you have no further questions.”  Alex said. The Lt had none so he turned and left the room.

A few minutes later Chief Matthews walks into the ready room "Sir you called for me."

"Yes, I would like you to report to transporter room 1 and meet Lt.Commander Heltsley. She will be arriving later and is in need of someone to escort her around the ship. Show her to her room and let her settle in.  I want to see her at 1300 tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes Sir on my way." Chief Matthews makes his way down the corridors to transporter room to await Commander Heltsley's arrival.

<Transporter Room 1, DS9-10 mins later>

Commander Heltsley steps onto a transporter pad on DS9 and says "Energize."

Seconds later she materializes onto the USS Stonewall Jackson and is greeted by Chief Matthews.

“Good day Commander. Welcome aboard. I am Chief David Matthews, here to escort you to the bridge."

"Hello Chief Matthews. It is a pleasure to be aboard."

Chief Matthews walked around the ship giving Commander Heltsley a tour.  He decided to show her to her room and let her get settled. “I will be back to get you around 1300 tomorrow Commander, so you can go report to the Commodore. He wont mind if you get settled in before you report.”

<Heltsley’s Quarters-Stardate 55288.54 >

                Chief Heltsley didn’t have to wait long for the Commander she was fresh and ready to go.  The Chief explained his exact job aboard the ship and about the Task Force to the Commander as they walked into the turbolift.  Minutes later they were on the bridge.

                “The Commodore’s Ready Room is over their Commander.” The chief said as he pointed to a corner of the bridge.

                “Thank you Chief,’ Heltsley replied as she headed in the direction he had pointed in.

<Sickbay-Stardate 55290.28>

.               Ian’s eyes opened two days later. He was in a coma, apparently the effects of the fight had really wore him out.

“Welcome back Hawkeye,” The Commodore put a hand on his shoulder “You have been out for two days, what did you do to use that much energy?”

Ian smiled and looked to his right, Karen was near his feet, and Ezri was next to him holding his hand. She had a few tears in her eyes, “I am glad that you are ok.”

<Intel Section USS Section>

Ian walked into the office and his Intel officer gave him the two Intel reports that came in. Nothing new or anything looked like any problem. Ian sat in his office he began to go over some paperwork that had piled up. Trelan’s message request came up…he ignored it and transferred it to his Intel officer asking her to take it, and to tell her that he is not there. Lt Williams came back and told him that she wanted to express her apologizes about the incident, but she was told that he was a true warrior and wanted to test the story. Ian shrugged and blew that off…she had tried to kill him, if she had made it any harder his head would be rolling around somewhere in a holographic Coliseum. The day went by without too much problems, just that the Ambassador kept sending him messages about her apologizes, tapping his COM unit on his chest.

“Commodore Winger may I meet you in your ready room?” Ian waited for a response.

“No Cmdr come to my quarters, you sound like you could use a drink.” The Commodore had it right. Ian got to his quarters about ten minutes and he pushed the entrance bell. “Enter” he heard. Walking in he saw the Commodore fixing a glass of Scotch with ice. “Have a seat Cmdr. you look like you’re tired.”

Ian took the seat, he took off his SOF Top and laid it on the back of the chair, his body was still tense from the fight and he was still sore, he forgot what it was to fight for his life, he hadn’t had to since the first fight that he had with a man who had tried to kill his mother. He had a staff, it had no blades but the ends were sharp enough to pierce and cut. Before Ian was done his body had been cut so much, that his body was nothing but blood, he won that fight too…in a final surge of fury and energy he slashed at the mans throat and cut it so quickly that he didn’t even notice until his head rolled off his shoulders. Taking a sip of his drink, Ian relaxed back into his seat.

“Sir? Why did Trelan try to kill me?” He finally said.

The Commodore shook his head and replied, “She said that it was a test, you are a great fighter Hawkeye, you should be lucky that she wanted to see you fight rather then die…you should have called off the program when you first got wounded.” Ian nodded, the Commodore continued, “I watched it too, the Computer recorded it…your really good. I can sort of see why, but it was not good for her to just do it and not tell you.”

They continued to talk and Trelan requested to speak with Ian and the Commodore at once, not official come as you are she stated.

<Transporter Room, DS9>

Lieutenant Crellok stood atop the transporter pad and muttered absently, "Energize." Moments later he rematerialized in Transporter Room 1 of the USS Stonewall Jackson, where he saw two Starfleet personnel awaiting him, wearing the same yellow jacket as he. One, standing behind the control kiosk, was obviously the Transporter Chief. She seemed... surprised, was it?... at his arrival. Perhaps she was not expecting the Vulcan now before her to have arranged the transport from aboard DS9. Then again, Crellok was to be the Chief Engineering Officer aboard the Stonewall Jackson, perhaps the reason why the look on her face softened after only a few short moments. The other one's position he might have had to guess at, had he not instantly recognized the man.

"A pleasure it is to serve with you again, Michel," the Vulcan said, mustering as much of a smile upon his face as any of his race could. "I trust you are to be my assistant Engineering Officer?"

A warm smile formed on the human's face. "Yes, sir, Lt. Junior Grade Michel Bellingham, here to escort you to your quarters."

Crellok looked fondly upon his colleague. "Promoted, I see. Congratulations. I still think Starfleet should have listened to me three years ago; you'd be a full Lieutenant now. But enough chatter, let us proceed directly to the bridge. I'd like to report to the Commodore before anything else."

"Sorry, Sir, the Commodore is currently in a meeting with Ambassador Trelan... however, the XO is on the bridge."

Crellok muttered to himself the name. Trelan was about the only fellow Vulcan he had ever met, no matter how briefly, that he did not bother hiding his feelings toward. She meddled in affairs when she
shouldn't, and almost always seemed to result in someone he knew getting injured. He did not like the woman, and was quite open about it.

"Sir...? Is there a problem?" asked Lt. Bellingham.

"Not at all," Crellok answered. "Let us proceed to the bridge."

<Corridors of Stonewall Jackson-Fifteen minutes later>

After strolling through the corridors, reminiscing about their past aboard the USS Monitor, the two Lieutenants entered the turbolift. In unison they told the computer that their destination was "Bridge". As the humming of the lift grew high and then low again, Crellok fell silent. Knowing his superior for as long as he had, Bellingham knew better than to ask. Crellok simply wanted to listen to the motors of the turbolift.

A few more seconds passed, then the lift doors whisked open to reveal the bridge of the vessel. He stepped forward, Bellingham at his heels, and approached the command seat. A young woman with a slight build was sitting there... a human, and not possibly older than thirty years. Crellok made a mental note to ask her when they had time to talk about how that was possible then raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan greeting. "Live long, and prosper," he intoned, ignoring the background noise of the bridge crew chuckling, the only sign of his having heard being a slight twitching in his pointed ears. "I am Lt. Crellok, Commander, reporting for duty. I understand that the Commodore is in a meeting currently, so I proceeded here. I am assigned to the USS Stonewall Jackson as Chief Engineering Officer."

<Ambassador Trelan’s quarters>

Her Vulcan face didn’t show the slightest amount of emotion when they walked in. “Cmdr, Commodore, welcome.” She said as they walked in.

Ian sat directly across from her, the Commodore stood right beside him, and Ian figured he was doing that to ensure that Ian didn’t pounce on her.

Trelan began by saying “Cmdr, I want you to know that I meant you no harm, you fought better then anyone here, I have asked for the Marines to look at it…”

The only images Ian could see was jumping on top of her and snapping her neck. He looked up at the Commodore for instructions….

                Alex just sat there and gave Ian the calm down look.  It had been hard for the crew since the Ambassador had shown up.  It was almost like she was testing the crew and Alex didn’t like it.  He was glad that he could delegate some power now that his XO was aboard.  She had seemed like a very talented woman, but of course that is why he picked her for the position. 

                “Well Ambassador, why have you invited us to your quarter.” Alex said to Trelan

                “I wanted to apologize to the Commander and see if he would forgive me.  I also wanted to get back to work sir.  As you humans put it I am going crazy.”

                “Well if the Commander will except your apology and we can put all of this behind us Ambassador I will let you return to work.  If I do this though I want you to report everything you are going to do before you do it.  You will be on probation Ambassador.  Is that clear.”  Alex said in a stern voice.

                “It is Commodore.  I will be on my best behavior.” Trelan replied.

                “Well Commander it is your decision.  Will you forgive and let her go back to her duties.” Alex said and sat there as he waited for the Commanders reply.

Ian thought for a second, he didn't like the idea of this woman going back to work anywhere near him. After a long silence, "Sir." Ian paused to look at Trelan, "I do not like the idea of her working near me, I except you apology, but if you want to test me again..."

The Commodore stopped him there, “Put it in your report Cmdr." Alex looked a Trelan, "Well Ambassador looks like your back to work. Your charges will be filed but they will be dropped from current record."

Trelan nodded. Ian walked back to his quarters and began to file his report and give a full med brief. "Alert, Priority one message from Intel head." The computer said all at once.

"MacMahathain LtCmdr 759Tango Romeo Alpha Charlie! Play message." Ian said.

"This is an Intel message you are going to want to see Hawkeye, The Duras Sisters have began small confrontation with the head house. They are putting a hurting on the Klingons!" The Intel message clicked off.

Ian recoded the message and had it recorded and put it on a data pad for the Commodore. Tapping his COM unit "Commodore. Hate to bother you, but you need to meet me in the Intel Section...Priority level
Alpha Zulu! So not to order you but move there I will meet you there, bring the head command and staff too." Ian was already in the turbolift when he finished. "Acknowledged." The Commodore replied.

 ‘Out of the frying pan' Ian thought 'this is going to be a long day.'

<Commodore's Ready Room>

Alex after hearing from Ian ran as fast as he could through the ship. As he ran he hit his communicator "All Department Heads and Ambassador Trelan report to the Intel section immediately." Alex was ready to get away from the station and finally start on a real mission. Just sitting there made him a little jumpy.

<Intel Section Briefing Room>

Alex ran into Ian's office and asked, "What's going on Ian."

"Uh sir…you’re going to want to get the command here." Ian replied.

At that moment the rest of the command crew came in. They all looked a little confused. Alex recognized most of them except two but he knew the other two's names even though he had never met
them.

Alex walked up to a very young female Lt Commander and said, "Commander it is very nice to meet you at last. You just arrived right on time it seems," Alex turns and faces LT Crellok and says "LT it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoy this fine ship. Well Ian go ahead with your brief."

"Well ladies and gentlemen, for lack of a better word..." Ian paused to give a second to breathe. His briefing consisted of threat to the Jackson and DS9, what weapons were used and Starfleet's position, he had been talking with Ambassador Worf and telling him that he would brief everyone soon and needed info on what was going on.

"It is a great big crap sandwich and we all have to take a bite." The XO swallowed hard and looked kind of pale, but she kept professional, Ian figured the thought of the sandwich is what got
her. "Commodore, Starfleet's position is that we stay on alert and maintain our current fire lane." Ian took a breath, "I think that the final word is yours, Ambassador Worf said that you and Ambassador Trelan should talk to him, I apologize for the cliché, but it is a no bull assessment. This is the real deal, but it shows promise." Ian stopped there, he looked at the Commodore, "I would like to brief you alone sir about that if you don't mind, and those you feel are in need of the Intel about the Jem'Hadar and the Intel I have been gathering."

The Commodore looked at Ian and nodded, waiting for a response from the Commodore Ian took a seat on the couch. "Well Ian I think every one here can stand to here this. "Ian took a deep breath, this Intel was not good news at all, and he didn't want everyone to hear it because it was not info that was everyone's business.

"Cmdr?" Trelan said after the silence, "Are you ok?"

Ian nodded and began, "The Klingons have been studying a way to fire their torpedo's and phaser's without having to de-cloak. Well they had a prototype in the year 2225, the Enterprise A destroyed it upon
a count of luck. Mr. Spock" With that word, Trelan straightened and began listening intently. Ian noticed but didn't even bat an eye "He found a way to configure the torpedo's of the time to seek out the plasma trail of the war birds. That was then, this is now." Ian stopped and took a breath, sitting on the table he pulled up the specs for the new prototype, taking a deep breath and sighing "As you can see, they have figured out how to hide that…but their tacion trail will never be able to be hidden, now here comes the problem is can we configure quantum torpedo's to find that?" Looking at the Tactical chief Ian got the nod, "Then Commodore you should get someone on it, but here is the thing… the trail might be a friendly ship hiding…that is the problem with that…I will leave the rest for your ears only sir…and that is not a request, I'm sorry but you need to know and then tell the rest if you wish." Ian finished by turning off the monitor.

"Well ladies and gentlemen I think we have a big issue here. Not only are the Klingons having problems but I have to take this changeling back into the Gamma Quadrant." Alex paused a minute and thought about what to do. "Well this is what we are going to do. MAJ Grischelm I want you and your Marines to take the changeling into the Gam."

"Roger sir." The Major replied

"Lt Hines I want you and your squadron to run cover for the MAJ. Commander Heltsley the ship will be going to the Klingon homeworld to help out in that situation and we will deal with this as fast as
possible so we can get back to help you MAJ. Lt Sithdar I want you and LT Crellok to work on this torpedo modification. We will be departing immediately. As soon as we can get all the crew back on board. " Alex barked to his officers. "Lt Commanders, and Chief right after this meet me in my Ready Room."

"Yes sir," they said in unison. Alex turned and headed for the bridge as the others departed to
start their missions. Alex walked down the corridor and knew immediately that the officers he had indicated where right behind him.