CHAPTER 8: BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

      As Captain Ridger and Counselor Ray’n exited the turbolift, they were greeted by Lt. Adams' hail, "Captain on the bridge," and the bridge crew rose to their feet.

      "As you were," the Captain replied as he walked around the edge of the bridge to his office, beckoning Kai to follow him.

      When they entered his office, Ridger motioned to the sofa for Kai, and he sat down in his chair behind the desk. 

      "I'll have to contact Starfleet about the personnel transfer, and,” he paused, “update your status with them.”  Lt. Ray’n didn’t have to see him to know that meant updating her medical files as well.

      “It’s all right, Captain.  I guess I always knew it would have to happen.  I just ask for discretion as far as the general public is concerned.  I don’t want to be treated differently.”  She looked at him straight in the eyes and he wondered if she could see him.

      “I see no reason that medical files should be made public knowledge. It will remain confidential.”

      Kaimana smiled appreciatively, but a frown quickly replaced it. “Captain?” she asked.  “What is the status of your repairs?”

      Captain Ridger rose from his chair.  “Why?” he asked.

      “Because they’re back.”

      Captain Ridger rushed out the door to the bridge and yelled, “Raise shields!” just seconds before the ship rocked with the explosions of disruptor fire.  “Damage report!”

      “Shields down to 86 percent, Captain,” Lt. Frank reported.

      “Sickbay reports minor injuries on lower decks,” Lt. Adams added from her communications console.

      “Lieutenant Adams, open hailing frequencies.  Let me talk to that Klingon!”

      “Channel open, Sir,” she replied.

      “Klingon vessel, this is Captain Ridger of the Federation Starship Dawntreader.  You have violated Federation space and have fired on a Starfleet vessel.  Declare yourselves now or risk galactic war.”

      Lt. Adams checked her board again before she confirmed that no reply was given.

      “They’re circling for another pass,” Lt. Frank called from his tactical console.  The ship rocked from the next weapons volley.

      “Target his weapon banks and engines, Lieutenant.” Captain Ridger was becoming aggravated.

      “Aye Sir. Firing phasers. His shields are holding, Sir. He’s cloaking.”

      “Arm photon torpedoes! Lt. Adams, try to raise the Klingon High Council. I want to talk to someone about that ship!”

      “Captain,” a quiet voice said from behind him. He turned suddenly remembering the Mikellan. “They are not authorized to be here. He is here because of me. It’s a personal matter.”

      “Explain!” Ridger demanded.

      “Now is not the time for that, Sir.” She was quiet for a few seconds as the amulet on her forehead gleamed a ghostly blue.  Suddenly she opened her eyes. “De-cloaking off the starboard side.”

      “Confirmed,” Lt. Frank echoed.

      “Fire photon torpedoes!” They all watched the little blue torpedoes speed across the screen.

      “Direct hit! Their port nacelle is disabled, Captain,” Mr. Frank said excitedly.

      “They’re hailing us, Sir,” Lt. Adams said.

      “On-screen,” the Captain ordered and the picture changed to that of a battle-scarred Klingon bridge. “This is Captain Ridger of the Fed…”

      “Silence, Human,” the Klingon captain demanded as he interrupted the Captain’s speech. “Where is that bIHnuch Mikellan spy?”

      “I’m right here, Krug,” Ray’n said in Klingon, stepping out from behind Captain Ridger.

      “You do dishonor to your family with this attack,” Kaimana said boldly, moving forward as she spoke, still in Klingon.  “Have you not disgraced yourself enough in your cowardly attack on my planet you now attack a Federation Starship?”

      “When Klingons attack, we fight with honor.  We do not sneak around in people’s minds!” Krug spat in return.

      “I fight to survive. You leave me no other choice.”

      “Captain,” Krug spoke through the translator again, “I demand you hand over that petaQ and we might leave your ship intact.”

      “Lieutenant Ray’n is a Starfleet officer and therefore under Federation protection. It is you who are trespassing in Federation Space and have fired unprovoked on a Starfleet vessel, or have you forgotten your attack back at the planet? You are not in a position to demand anything.” The image quickly faded to normal view mode.

      “Captain,” Mr. Frank interrupted from tactical, “There’s a Klingon Battle Cruiser de-cloaking directly ahead. They’re hailing the Bird of Prey!”

      His attention no longer focused forward, Captain Ridger turned back to face Lt. Ray’n. She had moved back and now leaned up against the command chair.  “What was all that about?”

      “Telepathy, Captain,” Ray’n replied, sounding very tired. “I simply told him to de-cloak where and when I wanted him to, just as I did back on the planet. Not ‘honorable’ fighting, according to Krug.”

      “I have the Captain of the Battle Cruiser on Comm, Sir,” Lt. Adams interjected. He was onscreen mere seconds later. He appeared to outrank Krug.

      “Our apologies, Captain,” the Klingon commander snarled. “Krug was not authorized to be in this sector. He will be disciplined. The Klingon High Council has no desire to declare war of the Federation at this time.” The image abruptly disappeared from the view screen.

      “Signal lost, Sir,” Lt. Adams reported.

      “Apology accepted,” Captain Ridger said to the screen as the two Klingon vessels vanished from sight.

      “Engineering to Bridge,” Chief Engineer Jason Kent called over the intercom.

      “Bridge here,” the Captain replied from the intercom on his chair.

      “Captain, we’re going to have to make for Starbase soon to effect some of these repairs.  Warp engines are down to 78 percent, shields are stable at 83 percent.”

      “Acknowledged, Mr. Kent,” the Captain replied.  “We’ll be on our way as soon as Stellar Science can finish up their reports. Be ready to make way in about ten minutes.”

      “Aye, Sir,” Mr. Kent acknowledged and signed off.

      “Captain,” Lt. Ray’n said, “with your permission, I’m going to head back to my quarters. One chapter of my life has ended and another begun. The whole experience seems to have worn me out.”

      Captain Ridger nodded his ok and turned to his First Officer, who had been watching the whole affair from the side. “T’Lenn,” he said, “you have the Bridge. I’ll be in my office preparing a report for Starfleet.  Let Stellar Science know we’ll be leaving in ten minutes, then set course for Starbase 12 at best speed.”

      “Aye, Sir,” T’Lenn replied, taking the center chair again.  As everyone took up their positions again or left the bridge, it was almost as though everything were back as it should be.