The Test

"Ensign Toran, go ahead and raise shields," Devore ordered.

"Aye sir."

Devore glanced back at the newly reconfigured slipstream station, "Ensign Shaka, what is the status of the slipstream drive?"

"Available at your command sir," Shaka replied flatly.

Then the Captain looked at Lieutenant Harris, "Harris, what does Intel know about the Thalonians?"

"Sir," Harris began somewhat nervously, "last we heard, the Thalonians had lost nearly all of their ships. The Thalonians that are left have integrated with other cultures and are now using that technology, any Thalonian ships left would be extremely outdated by now."

He can't treat them like criminals just yet, Toran thought. "Captain, you do realise that we can't force the Thalonians to go anywhere unless they violate the law," Toran remarked, stating a point more so than asking a question.

"Yes Ensign, but I still think we should find out why they are here. Open a channel."

"Aye Captain, channel open."

"This is Captain Devore of the Federation Starship Leviathan, may I ask what you are doing here?"

A harsh voice returned from the *Leviathan's* speakers, "I am Si Cait of the Thalonian Empire, and you may NOT ask why we are here! Do not bother us again Leviathan!"

"Channel closed sir," Toran said while his hands flew across his console, "Sir, they've raised shields, and their weapons are powered, they haven't moved yet though."

"Mr. Toran, I want a tactical report on that ship, and I need it five minutes ago," Devore barked. *My second mission in the Captain's seat, and already it's turning bad.*

Devore's thought was interrupted by Toran's voice, "Sir, tactical report ready."

"Let's have it Ensign."

"This isn't a typical Thalonian ship, her phasers are a match for ours, and she has fifteen quantum torpedoes aboard."

"This isn't getting any better is it Ensign," Devore remarked dryly, "something else is going on here, I can feel it. Lieutenant Harris, see what you can pull up on Si Cait."

"Aye aye sir," Harris replied dutifully.

"Captain!" Toran cried, "they've got Klingons aboard, 23 of them!"

"What, Klingons, how many Thalonians," the Captain demanded.

"There are 14 Thalonians," Toran replied.

"Captain," Harris began, "I have the information on Si Cait. He is a fallen noble of the Thalonian empire, last anyone had heard, he was dead along with his family at the hands of the Klingons. Also, a similar ship was reported to have attacked a Klingon civilian transport almost a month ago. They took hostages."

"Well, that explains why he has Klingons aboard," Toran remarked, "but what is he doing here, committing suicide."

A voice piped up from the rear of the Bridge, "If I may Captain," the voice belonged to Shaka, "the Thalonians are almost as fanatical about honour as the Klingons. This would be an honourable death for him. He would die avenging the death of his family."

Devore sank reluctantly into his command chair, the only way to save those Klingons is to take that ship, an away team is too risky, and if we attack, it would endanger the Klingons, I'm between a rock and a hard place here, Damn it!

"Captain, this is odd, their shields just changed," Toran began, "the ships power consumption didn't though, it's as if their shields just became a newer design, right before my eyes."

"Shaka," the Captain began looking back at his slipstream specialist, "you're the closest thing I have to a chief engineer, or chief science officer for that matter, see what you can make of those readings, meanwhile, I want contingency plans!"

*This is beginning to feel like a game of hurry up and wait, * Toran thought. His daydream was interrupted by Shaka's report, "Captain, that ship has a federation warp signature." "A federation signature, how is that possible? Toran, how does the warp drive read on your console?"

"As an antique Thalonian warp drive, suitable for a museum."

"Never the less, it is a federation signature," Shaka retorted, "I think someone is trying to fool our sensors."

"Sir, we're being hailed, it's Admiral Ross."

"On screen Ensign," Devore ordered.

Shortly thereafter, the Admiral's weathered face appeared on the screen, "Looks like your crew saw through our little charade Captain, congratulations."

Devore stared at the screen with a confused expression, "This was a test?"

"Yes," Ross replied, "but it didn't go as well as we had planned, someone on the Thalonian ship was a bit careless, and changed the shields hoping Toran wouldn't notice. Still, your crew did well."

"Thank you Admiral."

"Continue with your original mission Captain, Ross out," Ross's picture faded from the screen.

"Good work people," Devore said as he eyed his crew, "you've done well."

"When did Starfleet start doing unannounced tests on it's COs, Captain," Toran asked extremely disgusted, *certainly didn't used to happen!*

"I didn't think they did," Devore replied flatly, "I'll be in my ready room if anyone needs me, Harris, you have the Bridge."

"Aye sir," Harris replied as Devore made his way to the ready room.