S2 E5 Remnants of War

[Solluk]

Captain's Log.  Computer, Notate Stardate.

It has been six weeks since our arrival at Beta Ursae Minor.  Being towed here by a Starfleet tug was about as great an indignity as the Challenger crew has ever suffered.  However, it was the safest option given our condition, and it has opened unexpected opportunities for us.

Starfleet Academy has a satellite facility on Beta Ursae Minor II, and the Officer Candidate School was just beginning an intense six-week training course when we arrived.  As the Challenger has three enlisted personnel aboard who have expressed interest in a move towards becoming commissioned officers, our repair time here became the perfect opportunity for them to take these classes.

They will have to take further supplemental courses and pass an exam, of course, but the remainder of the process can be completed after we are underway via supervised holodeck instruction aboard ship.  In another few weeks, we may find ourselves with a few fewer enlisted personnel and a few additional officers.  Having undergone the process myself aboard the Tempest, I am contented to provide this opportunity to others.

Now our ship is fully repaired.  Our officers and crew are just now returning from shore leave and training.

The Challenger is finally ready to get underway.

End Log.

USS Challenger - Bridge

"Flight, once the last of the shuttles are aboard, plot a course for Sector 25712 and prepare to leave drydock."

"Ops, clear us from Blue Alert and release umbilicals.  We have been sitting still for far too long.  It is time to see if our girl remembers how to fly."

Solluk's mood had shifted from solemn to optimistic in recent days, as their departure became imminent.  Now he smiled softly, excited to be returning to the duty for which he'd signed on.  A passing Sovereign class ship had recently reported unusual long-range sensor readings coming from just outside Sector 25712, and the Challenger had been assigned to check it out.  The region had only ever been charted by long-range flybys, so it was an exciting opportunity for them to put their name on the map of Alpha-Quadrant exploration while there was still something left to find.  Most of the Alpha Quadrant had been explored over the past couple of centuries, but there were still pockets of space as large as 100 light-years across where no Starfleet ship had ever been.  It was exciting to imagine what they might find out there.

[Dylan Torngate]

[Bridge - USS Phalinx]

Several weeks had passed since Dylan had been reassigned, brainwashed, and molded to serve Leyton and his goals. But finally, they would reveal themeslves to the Federation. Finally, Admiral Leyton would have revenge. The fleet had taken up positions along the choke-point border between the Typhon Expanse and the Romulan Star Empire. Here, the fleet would strike and siege, and exert the dominance that the Federation always should have. Dylan closed the starmap he'd been looking at, and stood in front of the transmission area on the bridge In front and around him stood several other officers, all with the same blank looks on their faces, and all armed.

Deep Space Four had already fallen. Perhaps fallen wasn't quite the right word, seeing as the station had entirely been staffed by the loyal officers, and now stood ready to transmit the message that was about to come.

Leyton cleared his throat, nodded, and began to speak. Behind him, Dylan's expression was vapid, closed, and glassy-eyed. Anyone who knew him would know something was wrong, but the words themselves would be more jarring. He stood behind former-admiral Leyton, simply one of several captains in the background of the transmission.

"My name is Richard Leyton, of the USS Phalinx, and Commander of the 82nd Expeditionary Force. Years ago, I tried to save the Federation from itself. I was stopped, and now am here to continue the work that I started. This is a warning, and message, to the Federation and its member worlds," he said, taking a breath and continuing.

"It has become apparent that the Civilian Government is incapable, or unwilling, to do what is nessicary to defend and protect the Federation that we love so much. They have refused military aid in abating the recient terrorist attacks, and have proved to be weak and ineffective against the issues facing our Federation. As such, they have become incapable of leading."

"As such, it has been decided that there can be no peace without a military presence in the Government. An ultimatum was sent, received, and refused by the civilian government. In this action, the government declared itself enemies of the Federation. It is my duty to inform that twenty minutes ago, the civilian government of Gamma Hydrae was executed as traitors to the Federation, and we have declared martial law."

"We declare war against a Federation who has become weak, inept, and incapable with it's own plenty. Piracy, terrorism, and dissent have been allowed to run rampant. Enemies have been allowed to flourish and decay has infiltrated every aspect of the Federation. The 82nd, under orders, has seized control of the border and begun to pacify this region of space. Any ship attempting to enter without due authorization from the military government will be destroyed. We do this not because we seek power, but because we seek peace."

As Dylan stood, his gaze flickered briefly to confusion, and fear, before returning to a glazed look. Leyton held the stage, almost glowing from the sheer amount of power he commanded before repeating many of the same tenants, and again decreeing anyone who interfered would be destroyed. Finally the transmission ceased, and was sent via DS4 out into the galaxy.

The transmission was sent on all Starfleet bands across the Federation, as reports of several destroyed freighters and two Starfleet vessels began to filter in.

The battle lines had been drawn, and Starfleet had been caught flat-footed.

[Two Days Later]

Smoke hissed as the ship shook, burnt-orange beams lancing out from the two ships as they duked it out across the vaccumm of space. The Phalinx had been ambushed by two Starfleet vessels, a Defiant-class and Galaxy class, and had the Phalinx outgunned. The Phalinx could outrun them, but the Starfleet ships had already gotten off several damagaing salvos.

Over the past two days, the line that Leyton had drawn had held, with any force Starfleet could muster quickly being turned back or destroyed. It appeared, though, that this engagement was turning out differently. As sparks flew, and the sound of torpedoes peppered the hull, Dylan had quickly made his way to a runabout and jumped to warp, hiding in a nebula nearby. The implanted urge to fight and die for the cause was implanted, but it appeared human self-preservation instincts were stronger.

On the way, Dylan had narrowly avoided a falling beam, being simply thrown backwards instead of killed from the impact to his head. Dylan had treated it, but now floated in the runabout, trying to decide what to do. The little voice in his head of doubt had returned, and this time was louder than his conditioned responses.

He groaned, walking over to a console in the small cabin.

"Computer," he said, one side finally winning out. "Open a communications channel to the USS Challenger, priority one, Encrypted," he said, as he waited for a reply. Hopefully, they were still out there.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

Bridge

Lizzie was seated in the XO's chair only paying scant notice to the proceedings. Most of her concentration had been on the Federation-wide transmission received a couple of days earlier. She had immediately recognised Admiral Leyton, a man she had known through her Mother. Her Mother was closed mouthed regarding the man, but Lizzie had never trusted the man. However, more of a shock was the sight of Dylan standing behind him, armed and apparently in full support of what the man had said. She had discussed the contents of the transmission with Solluk, but since they had been ordered elsewhere, there was little to be done.

In the time since the transmission, Lizzie had reviewed the footage a number of times as something did not seem right. She had finally figured out what it was. Dylan and the rest of the officers standing behind Leyton all had the same blank expressions on their faces. It was almost like they had been 'brainwashed', as the old Earth term went, into doing as the Admiral wanted.

Her concentration was interrupted by an alert, she took one look and went white. It was an encrypted transmission on an isolated frequency, one that she had specifically given Dylan before he departed. She turned to Solluk.

"Captain. We have an encrypted transmission from Captain Torngate. He's using the frequency and encryption protocols that I gave him before he left. If he's using them, something must be very wrong!" She said as calmly as she could, though her expression was not as calm as her voice. "Whatever he may or may not have done, we need to hear him out!" She added.

[Solluk]

USS Challenger - Bridge

The Challenger's mission of exploration had lasted the whole of seven minutes, before Admiral Leyton's proud declaration of sedition had been broadcast to the entire Federation.   They'd only just barely cleared the moorings of drydock, and now they were in the midst of revolution.

New orders had come in quickly.

Hold position.

Then replacement orders.

Patrol a nearby sector.

Then a hasty correction.

Report to DS9, where fleet elements were gathering for a counterstrike.

They were still 24 hours from this revised destination, and casualty reports were continuously coming in from the front.

'The Front.'   It was ludicrous to have a 'Front' with fellow Starfleet ships and personnel.

It was clear that Starfleet had been caught utterly flat footed.  And who could blame them?  An old, disgraced Admiral had somehow gathered a secret fleet and launched a war against his own people.  And Dylan Torngate was backing them.   It was... unthinkable.

Now Vaughan was delivering the next piece of unbelievable news.

Captain Torngate.  On comms.

Solluk turned to regard her, his face wearing the impassive mask common to his people.   He had been grasping at every inch of control that he'd been taught during his childhood on Vulcan.  Grasping to present a face which he did not feel inside.  Now, it took every bit of his strength not to let that mask fall as he was told his old Captain was reaching out.  A Captain who had betrayed everything and everyone he knew.

"On Screen."

He should have taken such a message in his ready room, but there was no way he was going to leave his crew with the suspicion that he had aligned himself with this traitor.

[Ocras Abisa]

[Bridge - Challenger - being towed into Space Dock]

The whole trip to space dock had been an embarrassing relief. It was horrible having to be towed into space dock, but the fact that they had survived the Coaxial mess kept Ocras thanking the Four Deities.

When they arrived, the ship was secured and the repair work began. After four weeks, the ship was mostly hale again, and things were beginning to look up again. Captain Solluk called him in for a meeting to discuss the repairs and health of the ship. After a thorough report where the Captain asked several probing questions that made the discussion feel more like an Academy test than a status report, Captain Solluk handed Ocras a small box. Inside was a second pip and a certificate listing the details of his promotion.

In addition to earning his second pip, Ocras was made Chief of Operations. It was sudden, but he felt like his time on the Challenger had been a trial by fire. From arriving during the boarding action with the Theia to working to survive Kwel's folly, his time on the Challenger was much more than anything the Academy had made him think possible. Fortunately, he was prepared for it.

Their next mission was going to be an exploratory one, with actual science and research, doing what Starfleet was meant to do.

Or so the plan had been. The sudden rebellion lead by a disgraced former Admiral changed everything. From a purely local point of view, it made managing operations much more intense. Ocras worked with the Tactical crew to make sure that all security systems and weapons were checked daily. The sensors were checked twice daily, and the crew were scheduled for drills regularly, preparing for ship to ship battles, boarding actions and more.

[Bridge - Challenger]

The fact that the old captain was reaching out spread around the bridge, and Ocras sat at the Ops station feeling a mixture of emotions, both his own and those from the people around him. He could tell that many of the crew were feeling betrayed/loyalty/pleasure at seeing their old Captain. Some were worried about Solluk... Ocras couldn't tell more without violating their privacy, so he kept his mind to himself.

The fact that the encryption was specific to Commander Vaughan meant that she would have to route it to the screen, so Ocras waited to see what the Captain and Commander would do.

[Lek]

[Engineering]

For Lek, the past month had been an unrelenting flood of activity. First, the repairs to the ship. They were more extensive than he thought and had taken longer than he liked. Then came the baffling transmission that the long disgraced Leyton, Lek refused to use admiral as the man had given up all right to that title for his treachery, was attempting to stage a coups. It was simply unfathomable that Leyton could have created the force he had and had done so in complete secrecy. It was all too much to take in.

However, the new orders to prep for combat operations was something Lek could understand and do something about. He'd set to making his preparations with an unmitigated vengeance. The Challenger would be ready for whatever happened regardless of cost.

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Beta Ursae Minor II - Officer Candidate School - day prior to Challenger departure]
It had come as a surprise to the Romulan that his training request had been approved the first time around.  He wondered if his request which he had submitted to the Captain a few days prior to their arrival in the Beta Ursae Minor system had been forwarded on to the Officer Candidacy School with a recommendation from the Captain and that was why it had been accepted?

This first level of classes had been rather mundane and repetitive of the courses he'd taken at the Imperial War College during his time with the Romulan Star Navy and the Tal'Shiar.  Not that he could openly transfer those courses to Starfleet course credit, so he had to retake the Leadership training and marvel at the differences in methods of training and overall expectations.

While he excelled in his knowledge of the class material, Rayek found that similar to his time at the Mars Academy his instructors seemed less than pleased with his presence in their classes.  He was reminded again of how long it had taken to have his shipmates learn to trust him.  Unfortunately, the six week course didn't give the instructors time to do more than tolerate his presence.  It likely didn't help that Rayek questioned the material quite constantly.   Starfleet officer protocols at times were completely ludicrous.  It would take effort on his part not to follow what Rayek deemed as commonsense in dealing with situations.

Despite this Rayek managed to pass the six-week course - again not with honors because of his difficulty comprehending some of Starfleet leadership protocols, but a pass.

....
[USS Challenger - Bridge]
Rayek, who's shift pattern had been switched from Beta to Alpha since his return from Beta Ursae Minor, was up on the Bridge at Tactical updating the hourly ship logs, while reviewing Admiral Leyton's video declaration for the umpteenth time since it was first received two days earlier.  Rayek had studied the video closely, finding it disturbing on many levels - the message of martial law, the execution of Federation members by former Starfleet staff, and most jarring of all - the presence of Captain Torngate in the background of the video, staring blank-faced throughout most of the message.

However, Rayek had picked up a brief moment where Dylan's glassy-eyed look had switched momentarily to what seemed like confusion or fear before transforming a second later back to the vacant stare.   It was that scene that he was replaying over and over in the background of his console while he worked.

What was even more disturbing to Rayek was the lack of open discussion by the senior officers to the crew as to what Captain Torngate's presence in the transmission meant for the ship.  Rayek discreetly reviewed the ships open forums for any anonymous posts of open support for Dylan or even Leyton and likewise words against Leyton and his followers.  Rayek needed to know who were aligned with who on the ship.

"Captain. We have an encrypted transmission from Captain Torngate. He's using the frequency and encryption protocols that I gave him before he left. If he's using them, something must be very wrong!" She said as calmly as she could, though her expression was not as calm as her voice. "Whatever he may or may not have done, we need to hear him out!" She added.

Rayek glanced up from his work to look first to Liz and then to Commander Solluk.  It didn't surprise him in the least that Liz would be open to communications with Captain Torngate.  She had been one of the first to accept him - a Romulan on a Federation ship.  But being that trusting could be used against her and Rayek despite his own mixed feelings of loyalty towards the young human Captain found that he hoped that Commander Solluk would deny the incoming comm just so that Liz wouldn't be put into a position of having to risk herself or her career.

USS Challenger - Bridge
"On Screen."

Rayek turned back to his panel and messaged Commander Solluk informing the ships current Captain that he was going to attempt to run a trace program on the incoming message.  If they kept Dylan on the comm long enough Rayek was certain he would be able to locate where the transmission was coming from despite the encryption and any rerouting that the Captain Dylan may have attempted.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

Bridge

When Solluk gave the order to put the call from Dylan on the the main screen, she had a brief internal debate on the merits of doing it this way instead of taking the call in private, something that Lizzie would have chosen herself. However, now was not the time to debate so, using the command console, she activated the encryption protocol that she had created and opened the little used channel. She then held her breath.

When the screen activated, she saw Dylan was in a small ship, likely a runabout and did not look his usual self.

[Scott Bradley]

[U.S.S Challenger Bridge]

Scott had been busy with the repairs to the ship, the coaxial warp drive had done a number on the ship and he was lending a hand to engineering where he could. He hadn't seen Riley in almost a week, so busy was she with the repairs. It seemed like just as soon as the ship was in order Admiral leyton had made his announcement. Scott had been enjoying some rare time off and watched the full transmission in horror. Tactically and militarily speaking, the former admiral was brilliant. Scott had studied his past and attempted coup while in the academy. The Crew of DS9 had managed to stop him, but not before two federation ships had nearly destroyed one another, and now it was happening again.

Something told Scott that Leyton would not be as friendly as the federation council had been to the Iconians. Scott closed his eyes and remembered the horror in the aftermath of the war. Back when he was in command of the Discovery, he was put on public trial, several of his crew mutinied and he was eventually drummed out of Starfleet. He felt his stomach sink, hoping this wasn't the beginning of something similar.

For now, he was sat at his station looking at the figure of the Challengers former captain. He could feel the tension among the longer serving members of the crew.

[Dylan Torngate]

[Runabout]

Dylan quickly glanced at the figures on the screen. It appeared he'd been brought online on the bridge. Which meant everyone could see him. He exhaled, his and going up to his forehead where a rather large bump and a slight trickle of blood could be seen. He glanced at his fingers, palming around the crimson liquid before wiping it on his burnt uniform. It could be noted he no longer wore his Captain pips.

"Captain," he said, nodding to the man with a grim expression on his face. He seemed... more himself, with his eyes clearer. However, that wouldn't be noticed by many. "I know what you're about to say, so I'll save you the speech.  Embedded in this transmission is the schematics of a device. It's being used to influence those susceptible, and unfortunately for myself, it's not the first time I've had a hand in my head, so to speak. I know you have no reason to trust me, and I understand that you think I'm a traitor. In fact, you're right. What I've done is tantamount to Treason."

He paused, reaching over to a console and pressing a few buttons, sending the data packet. "Let's just say I've experianced some... Cognitive recalibration. In other words, I got hit really hard in the head."

He looked down to sensors and saw two contacts. Leyton's rescue ships. He needed to leave.

"I'll put it briefly, Captain. I need your help, and I need to get out of here. Don't waste your time trying to trace this signal, I won't be here long enough for you to get here. I'll be at these coordinates in two days, though I understand if you don't want me around. I just know I'm not going back. They've got two ships out looking for me, so I'll need to get moving soon."

He leaned back and waited, knowing that there would likely be questions soon. He sent the new coordinates, indicating an area just inside the blockade's lines.

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek tr'Lhoell
[USS Challenger - Bridge]

[Runabout]
Dylan quickly glanced at the figures on the screen. It appeared he'd been brought online on the bridge. Which meant everyone could see him. He exhaled, his and going up to his forehead where a rather large bump and a slight trickle of blood could be seen. He glanced at his fingers, palming around the crimson liquid before wiping it on his burnt uniform. It could be noted he no longer wore his Captain pips.

With the communication decrypted by Liz's code and up on the mainscreen, and the trace program being run, Rayek did a quick 'hijack' of the transmission sending a copy of it to his console for closer study and noticed almost immediately the embedded file, even as Captain Torngate mentioned its' presence.  Rayek ran a virus detection program on the embedded file before downloading for review later.

[Runabout]
"Captain," he said, nodding to the man with a grim expression on his face. He seemed... more himself, with his eyes clearer. However, that wouldn't be noticed by many. "I know what you're about to say, so I'll save you the speech.  Embedded in this transmission is the schematics of a device. It's being used to influence those susceptible, and unfortunately for myself, it's not the first time I've had a hand in my head, so to speak. I know you have no reason to trust me, and I understand that you think I'm a traitor. In fact, you're right. What I've done is tantamount to Treason."

He paused, reaching over to a console and pressing a few buttons, sending the data packet. "Let's just say I've experianced some... Cognitive recalibration. In other words, I got hit really hard in the head."

The Romulan security chief checked the progress of the trace program.  It was narrowing down the area quickly - and that area seemed to be right in the midst of the battlefront, the choke-point area between the Typhon Expanse and the Romulan Neutral Zone.  Not unexpected but disappointing still. It would take them over a full day at current speed to reach that sector.   The Captain would be long gone unless he was calling on them because he was stranded.

But Dylan's next words clarified that.

[Runabout]
"I'll put it briefly, Captain. I need your help, and I need to get out of here. Don't waste your time trying to trace this signal, I won't be here long enough for you to get here. I'll be at these coordinates in two days, though I understand if you don't want me around. I just know I'm not going back. They've got two ships out looking for me, so I'll need to get moving soon."

He leaned back and waited, knowing that there would likely be questions soon. He sent the new coordinates, indicating an area just inside the blockade's lines.

He glanced up to the mainscreen briefly in surprise when Captain Torngate commented that he would be at a certain set of coordinates in two days.  Was the man surrendering - having truly 'come to his senses'?  Or was this a trap set specifically for the Challenger and her crew?  Moments later a set of coordinates were received. Rayek made a copy of these as well.

Rayek frowned at noting the location.  It was just inside the blockade lines - giving more credence to the trap theory.  It was also disturbingly close to the Romulan Territory, located within the Neutral Zone.  Rayek knew his people would not sit idle forever while battle waged on their doorstep.  No doubt the provisional government would have already sent extra ships under cloak to patrol the border.

Rayek forwarded to Commander Solluk the coordinate location.  Rayek didn't have a good feeling about the proposed meet up and hoped Captain Solluk would seek advice before committing the ship to such an action.

[Solluk]

USS Challenger - Bridge

It was everything he might have wanted to hear.

The Captain had been brainwashed.  The traitors were being mind-controlled.  This revolution was just the fault of one crazy ex-Admiral who had used technology to sway the masses of loyal Starfleet personnel.

It was a story that absolved everyone of sin, in a magical and neat little bow.

But was it true?

He studied the face of the man he'd known.   Was it true?

"We will make the rendezvous," he told his former Captain at last, "Two days."

Information was coming in on his command console.  tr'Lhoell's craftiness would be useful in the days ahead.

Solluk signalled Ops to cut the channel.   When that was accomplished, he declared, "Contact Starfleet and advise them that we are conducting Operational Drills while enroute to DS9, and will be running silent for the duration.  Then notify all department heads or their designated representatives to meet me in Conference Room 1.  Commander Vaughan, I'll want you there, as well."

With that said, his mask was worn away.  Agitation showed on his features.  His jaw was clenched.  Part of him wished that Jada was on board, so that they might engage in a good half-hour of combat practice to work out his stress, anxiety, and anger.  He realized at that moment, with a sudden sense of disappointment, that there would never be another Jada.  Nor any friend of any kind that he could share his troubles with.  It was now his job to be in-control at all times.  There was no one he could share his fears or problems with.  No one to whom he could show frailty.

Captains were... alone.

Is that what happened to you, Dylan, he wondered to himself, when trouble came for you, did you find yourself utterly alone?

Conference Room

Solluk had replayed two communications for everyone.  First, the Leyton announcement, then Dylan's most recent message to the Challenger.  Once both had played, he sat at the head of the table and looked upon the ship's brightest minds.

"Thoughts?  Opinions?"

[Lek]

USS Challenger - Bridge

It was everything he might have wanted to hear.

The Captain had been brainwashed.  The traitors were being mind-controlled.  This revolution was just the fault of one crazy ex-Admiral who had used technology to sway the masses of loyal Starfleet personnel.

It was a story that absolved everyone of sin, in a magical and neat little bow.

But was it true?

He studied the face of the man he'd known.   Was it true?

"We will make the rendezvous," he told his former Captain at last, "Two days."

Information was coming in on his command console.  tr'Lhoell's craftiness would be useful in the days ahead.

Solluk signalled Ops to cut the channel.   When that was accomplished, he declared, "Contact Starfleet and advise them that we are conducting Operational Drills while enroute to DS9, and will be running silent for the duration.  Then notify all department heads or their designated representatives to meet me in Conference Room 1.  Commander Vaughan, I'll want you there, as well."

With that said, his mask was worn away.  Agitation showed on his features.  His jaw was clenched.  Part of him wished that Jada was on board, so that they might engage in a good half-hour of combat practice to work out his stress, anxiety, and anger.  He realized at that moment, with a sudden sense of disappointment, that there would never be another Jada.  Nor any friend of any kind that he could share his troubles with.  It was now his job to be in-control at all times.  There was no one he could share his fears or problems with.  No one to whom he could show frailty.

Captains were... alone.

Is that what happened to you, Dylan, he wondered to himself, when trouble came for you, did you find yourself utterly alone?

Conference Room

Solluk had replayed two communications for everyone.  First, the Leyton announcement, then Dylan's most recent message to the Challenger.  Once both had played, he sat at the head of the table and looked upon the ship's brightest minds.

"Thoughts?  Opinions?"

[Conference Room]

Lek listened to the Captain's briefing about Torngate and was... conflicted about the whole story. Perhaps not having grown up within the Federation and having to claw his way into Starfleet, he didn't take the ideals of the Federation for granted the way someone who was native born might. The whole idea of betraying the Federation charter appalled him and he was fully committed to condemning Torngate for all time for his treachery, but now, it seems he wasn't at fault.

"Or was he? This could easily be a trap."

He thought, but that thought led to another.

"However, if this was a trap, sure he was the former commander of this ship and was bound to have someone that would believe him, but, even with her upgrade to Trailblazer-Class, the Challenger was not the leading edge of Federation technology and the rest of Leyton's fleet were just that, the very best Starfleet had to offer."

Out loud, Lek spoke up with confidence once he'd reached his conclusion.

"It makes no sense to me that Leyton or Torngate, for that matter, would bother to lure a less than top of the line vessel into a trap. No, I'm going to trust my gut on this one and say he's for real."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

USS Challenger - Bridge

It was everything he might have wanted to hear.

The Captain had been brainwashed.  The traitors were being mind-controlled.  This revolution was just the fault of one crazy ex-Admiral who had used technology to sway the masses of loyal Starfleet personnel.

It was a story that absolved everyone of sin, in a magical and neat little bow.

But was it true?

He studied the face of the man he'd known.   Was it true?

"We will make the rendezvous," he told his former Captain at last, "Two days."

Information was coming in on his command console.  tr'Lhoell's craftiness would be useful in the days ahead.

Solluk signalled Ops to cut the channel.   When that was accomplished, he declared, "Contact Starfleet and advise them that we are conducting Operational Drills while enroute to DS9, and will be running silent for the duration.  Then notify all department heads or their designated representatives to meet me in Conference Room 1.  Commander Vaughan, I'll want you there, as well."

With that said, his mask was worn away.  Agitation showed on his features.  His jaw was clenched.  Part of him wished that Jada was on board, so that they might engage in a good half-hour of combat practice to work out his stress, anxiety, and anger.  He realized at that moment, with a sudden sense of disappointment, that there would never be another Jada.  Nor any friend of any kind that he could share his troubles with.  It was now his job to be in-control at all times.  There was no one he could share his fears or problems with.  No one to whom he could show frailty.

Captains were... alone.

Is that what happened to you, Dylan, he wondered to himself, when trouble came for you, did you find yourself utterly alone?

Conference Room

Solluk had replayed two communications for everyone.  First, the Leyton announcement, then Dylan's most recent message to the Challenger.  Once both had played, he sat at the head of the table and looked upon the ship's brightest minds.

"Thoughts?  Opinions?"

Bridge

Lizzie listened to what Dylan had to say but her normally expressive face remained impassive. The story sounded too good to be true, but when she pulled up the data file that Dylan had sent along with his transmission, there was something eerily familiar about it. When Solluk closed the channel and called a meeting in thee conference room, she simply gave a nod.

"Aye Captain." She replied.

Making sure the duty Watch officer was briefed, she headed to the conference room, studying the schematics win detail. By the time she arrived, she had remembered where she had seen technology like this before,

Conference Room

Lizzie took the seat to the the right of Solluk and after re-watching both transmissions, she had come up with a theory. Lek was the first to speak, then she decided to put her ideas forward.

[Conference Room]

Lek listened to the Captain's briefing about Torngate and was... conflicted about the whole story. Perhaps not having grown up within the Federation and having to claw his way into Starfleet, he didn't take the ideals of the Federation for granted the way someone who was native born might. The whole idea of betraying the Federation charter appalled him and he was fully committed to condemning Torngate for all time for his treachery, but now, it seems he wasn't at fault.

"Or was he? This could easily be a trap."

He thought, but that thought led to another.

"However, if this was a trap, sure he was the former commander of this ship and was bound to have someone that would believe him, but, even with her upgrade to Trailblazer-Class, the Challenger was not the leading edge of Federation technology and the rest of Leyton's fleet were just that, the very best Starfleet had to offer."

Out loud, Lek spoke up with confidence once he'd reached his conclusion.

"It makes no sense to me that Leyton or Torngate, for that matter, would bother to lure a less than top of the line vessel into a trap. No, I'm going to trust my gut on this one and say he's for real."

Standing up, she addressed the room.

"When I first saw Leyton's transmission, there was something familiar about what he was doing so I looked it up. In 2372 Vice Admiral Leyton, convinced that Starfleet was not being aggressive enough towards it's enemies, headed a conspiracy to create panic on Earth about the fear of a Dominion invasion. Using hand picked individuals, he attempted to stage a military coup to take over the Federation. Thanks to the efforts of Captain Sisko, who had served under Leyton when he was a Captain, the plot was foiled. Admiral Leyton was sent to prison and stripped of his rank and privileges."

She paused and poured a glass of water before taking a sip.

"He was released from prison just under two years ago and his location since has not been known. When I looked further into the situation, I noted that most of the senior officers involved in the coup, apart from the Admiral, were never punished. Most even retained their commands and only one was forced to leave the fleet. Also the band of Cadets that he used to sabotage Earth's power grid, all went on to graduate and every one of them now holds a senior position within Starfleet. So while Leyton was punished, he has lost none of his resources and he still holds the respect of a large group of officers."

She paused again and looked round the table.

"That brings me to this." She continued, pulling up the data file that Dylan had sent them onto the main screen. "When I saw it, it looked familiar to me and now I remember why." She took another sip of water. "More than 20 years ago, there was a group of Ferengi who seemed to not only be unusually successful, but every time someone went to investigate, they would either find nothing or end up a full supporter of their actions and begin working for them. Eventually they crossed paths with the USS Excalibur, an Ambassador class vessel that was investigating the area. The Ferengi kidnapped the ship's Captain and subjected him to a this device."

She paused and put another image up on the screen. The screen split in half, one showing the schematics Dylan sent, the other showing a similar device.

"To put it simply, it modifies brain chemicals to make the subject subject to suggestion. Once the ideas have taken hold, it is almost impossible to override them. Now as you can see, the plans that Captain Torngate sent us is clearly of a similar device, though several obvious modifications have been made. The Crew of the Excalibur rescued their Captain before any damage was done and managed to capture both the device and the Ferengi."

She paused again and took another sip of water.

"This information, while not conclusive proof, does seem to support Captain Torngate's message. On the basis of this alone, we should go to those co-ordinates. If he is there, then we will finally be able to get some answers. If not, then we will know the truth. We should be prepared for the possibility of a Trap, but at the moment the need for good information outweighs other concerns. Plus, I've known Dylan Torngate for a long time. He is many things, but a traitor is not one of them. If he is involved he was coerced into doing so as even orders do not cover this!" She finished.

Taking her seat, she looked round at the rest of the team to hear their thoughts.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Conference Room

Solluk had replayed two communications for everyone.  First, the Leyton announcement, then Dylan's most recent message to the Challenger.  Once both had played, he sat at the head of the table and looked upon the ship's brightest minds.

"Thoughts?  Opinions?"

Seated at the conference table a few chairs down from Liz, Rayek rewatched both Leyton's message and Torngate's request to meet.  The Romulan security chief saw again the brief nuance of fear and horror in Torngate's expression while the Admiral spoke, and Dylan's more normal mannerisms while the disgraced officer spoke to Solluk two days later.  Torngate's expression bore signs of exhaustion and grim recognition as to what he'd done.

[Conference Room]
"It makes no sense to me that Leyton or Torngate, for that matter, would bother to lure a less than top of the line vessel into a trap. No, I'm going to trust my gut on this one and say he's for real."

Conference Room

Lizzie took the seat to the the right of Solluk and after re-watching both transmissions, she had come up with a theory. Lek was the first to speak, then she decided to put her ideas forward.

Standing up, she addressed the room.

"When I first saw Leyton's transmission, there was something familiar about what he was doing so I looked it up. In 2372 Vice Admiral Leyton, convinced that Starfleet was not being aggressive enough towards it's enemies, headed a conspiracy to create panic on Earth about the fear of a Dominion invasion. Using hand picked individuals, he attempted to stage a military coup to take over the Federation. Thanks to the efforts of Captain Sisko, who had served under Leyton when he was a Captain, the plot was foiled. Admiral Leyton was sent to prison and stripped of his rank and privileges."

She paused and poured a glass of water before taking a sip.

"He was released from prison just under two years ago and his location since has not been known. When I looked further into the situation, I noted that most of the senior officers involved in the coup, apart from the Admiral, were never punished. Most even retained their commands and only one was forced to leave the fleet. Also the band of Cadets that he used to sabotage Earth's power grid, all went on to graduate and every one of them now holds a senior position within Starfleet. So while Leyton was punished, he has lost none of his resources and he still holds the respect of a large group of officers."

She paused again and looked round the table.

"That brings me to this." She continued, pulling up the data file that Dylan had sent them onto the main screen. "When I saw it, it looked familiar to me and now I remember why." She took another sip of water. "More than 20 years ago, there was a group of Ferengi who seemed to not only be unusually successful, but every time someone went to investigate, they would either find nothing or end up a full supporter of their actions and begin working for them. Eventually they crossed paths with the USS Excalibur, an Ambassador class vessel that was investigating the area. The Ferengi kidnapped the ship's Captain and subjected him to a this device."

She paused and put another image up on the screen. The screen split in half, one showing the schematics Dylan sent, the other showing a similar device.

"To put it simply, it modifies brain chemicals to make the subject subject to suggestion. Once the ideas have taken hold, it is almost impossible to override them. Now as you can see, the plans that Captain Torngate sent us is clearly of a similar device, though several obvious modifications have been made. The Crew of the Excalibur rescued their Captain before any damage was done and managed to capture both the device and the Ferengi."

She paused again and took another sip of water.

"This information, while not conclusive proof, does seem to support Captain Torngate's message. On the basis of this alone, we should go to those co-ordinates. If he is there, then we will finally be able to get some answers. If not, then we will know the truth. We should be prepared for the possibility of a Trap, but at the moment the need for good information outweighs other concerns. Plus, I've known Dylan Torngate for a long time. He is many things, but a traitor is not one of them. If he is involved he was coerced into doing so as even orders do not cover this!" She finished.

He was impressed by Liz's presentation of so many facts - from Leyton's past attempt at a coup, her following of the careers of Leyton's former compatriots to show how his influence could still be so powerful and even her discovering what the device was that Leyton had apparently used.  A 'thought-maker'. Rayek recalled hearing of the device before in his former work but none in the Tal'Shiar had managed to locate anyone who knew much about them.

Rayek found himself tending to want to believe his former Captain same as Lek and Liz.  But was a few, more normal facial expressions enough to suggest that whatever brain-washing the man might have gone through was out of his system?  Rayek had doubts.

"I too find that Captain Torngate's actions have not been in character with the man I have come to know. But if it is true that his thoughts have been coerced then what proof do we have that this plea to meet is not part of Leyton's plan?  Torngate was certainly not one of Leyton's compatriots over 20 years ago... so why was he selected to become part of their activities now? Why him?  What does he bring to their cause?  This reeks of a trap, Captain.  I advise against bringing the ship beyond the blockade."

He paused unsure how wise his next words were.  "If you insist on wanting to meet with him.  Send me.  I will go to these coordinates to meet with him, if he shows and it is not a trap, I will bring him back to the Challenger undetected."