Misjudged Course

Someone was ringing the Commander Devore's door at 0123 and he wasn't happy. The late night shifts were starting to catch up to him where his sleep was very much so needed and the disrespect that this person had whomever it was was going to earn them a stiff dressing down. The buzzer rang again, 2 in under 10 seconds, "I am coming!" He yelled angrily. He slid the door open and was ready to yell some choice words at him or her, gender played no part of the level of the yelling, but what he saw wasn't what he quite had in mind. Devore originally thought it was Ensign Shaka for she is known to wake up Ensign Hansen in middle of the night with questions, suggestion, and even complaints about the set up of engineering. As a matter of fact, Hansen had discussed moving to get away from the mid morning interruption.

However, at the door stood a beautiful blond woman, with green eyes. She stood about 5'7 quite endowed and absolutely mesmerising. Devore's anger quickly went away and the cool, charming Marcus Devore came out. "Ummmm, yes" he quickly looked at her blue uniform collar where her pips of a Lieutenant JG were predominately displayed. "I am sorry. Lieutenant..?"

"Doctor," She said coldly. "I am Doctor Barbara Clairidge. This was the first time I had a chance to come see you."

"Oh really," Devore said with a warm smile. "Well please, Miss Clairidge, come in."

"Doctor!" She said again, equally as cold.

*Hmmmm this one is going to be interesting.* Devore thought. "So Doctor, what can I do for you at 0130." He said with a slight sarcastic tone.

"Sir I am sorry to disturb you so early, but I haven't had a chance to see you and check in because of sickbay. It is a total disaster. It is like they never had any intention of have a doctor on the Leviathan."

"What do you mean?"

"Sir, everything is cluttered and there is no room for my experiments or research equipment."

"Well we have been running the EMH quite extensively. Speaking of which when did you come on board?"

"I beamed aboard just as we left space dock."

"Oh I see, and you never had a chance to come see me and check in? Where were you when we actually turned on the EMH. I know that wasn't done till we were in the Larris System."

"Sir, like I said I have been busy setting up my research equipment...'

"Where?"

"Well sir, I have quite a bit of it so I commandeered cargo bay 3."

*Despite this girl good looks, she is forceful and forward. Hmm I like that.* "On whose authority," Devore said. He was playing the scorned Captain. He didn't like being kept out of the loop especially on his own ship but this doctor, who Devore found quite attractive, to say the least, was all ready pulling a few strings.

"Mine sir. As Chief Medical Officer, I can do just about anything as long as it doesn't endanger the crew or this ship. Starfleet regulation 356-UFP-10 section A para 1."

*My, My, My and knows her regs. I hope she doesn't remember the regulation about fraternising with superior officers.* He thought with a smile.

"I am sorry sir, Did I say something amusing?" Doctor Clairidge asked

"Oh I am sorry, Barbara. No not at all," He said almost embarrassed. "You must think I am a bad host for not offering a drink, white wine?" Devore said walking over to the replicator.

"Sir, this is not a social visit."

"Any visit, Doctor is a social visit when it is a visit from you. Computer, Bottle of Don Peron, 2240. chilled 55 degrees Fahrenheit."

"Commander. I think I had better go!"

Devore grabbed the glasses and the bottle of champagne and very suavely walked over to the door to block the doctor from leaving, "and let this go to waste. Please. Stay and have a drink with me. After all, you did wake me up from a fine dream, but you are even more beautiful than the woman in my dream."

"Commander. I mustn't stay. You are my superior officer." She said now a little more softly.

*I am getting to her.* "Please just one drink then after you finish then you are free to leave, if you want to," Devore
smiled warmly. Dr. Clairidge glanced at the smile and melted. "Okay. Maybe one drink, one drink only."

"Okay." He smiled. He knew that one drink meant two or three and possibly even coffee the next morning. The rest of the morning went just as he had hoped it would, the talking, getting along, and even stole a kiss or two.

It was 0530, when Devore noticed the time. He had duty at 0900 and really hasn't slept at all but here sitting next to him, on his couch was a a beautiful blonde, who was buzzing heavily, actually drunker than a skunk. He realised that this girl can't hold her liquor.

"Well, my dear Captain, " she said drunkenly. "You going to take me to bed or am I going to have to ravish you right here." It hit him catching him off guard, but something did. Mark stepped back and realised that he shouldn't be doing this. His womanising days must end at least with these women on the Leviathan. Yes, he was attracted to Barbara. Yes, he wanted to sleep with her maybe even more, but No, he couldn't.

"Listen Barbara. I am sorry. I can't do this. Not with you."

"Why? You don't find me pretty?"

"I find you more than just pretty, but like you said. I am your commanding officer. I can't do this."

"Well fine then," she angrily said as she stood up and immediately lost her balance and fell back on to the catch. She passed out before she even hit the couch. *Oh boy!* Devore picked her up and carried her to his bedroom where he laid her down and covered her. "My dear doctor. I wished I could have but....." He picked up the other pillow and got a spare blanket and went to the living where is slept on the couch. "Computer Lights Off."

A large scream startled Marcus Devore which caused him to roll of the couch. "Ouch!" He screamed as the floor suddenly met his face.

"Commander Devore! What happened here?" Dr. Clairidge screamed as she came into the living room, her uniform tunic was unzipped. "Nothing Barbara. Nothing!"

"Then what am I doing here, with a splitting headache, almost out of uniform!"

"Lieutenant,"

"Doctor!'

"Lieutenant Clairidge. You had a little too much to drink, passed out and I carried you to my bed where you slept, ALONE, and I slept here on the couch. Nothing happened."

"Really?" She started to cool down. "Really, Barbara. Nothing happened. First of all I couldn't do anything with you because I am your commanding officer and second, you were drunk. You wouldn't have remembered anything anyway.... and trust me if something was to happen, I want you to remember!"

Barbara smiled and zipped up her tunic and headed for the door, "My dear Captain, if something was to have happened, YOU would have remembered it!" She left the Commander alone. He put his face in his hands and began to cry.

[Captain to the Bridge!] Lieutenant Harris said.

Guzzling down the last of his morning coffee, Devore got up from his chair in the forward lounge and went to the nearest turbolift. "Bridge," he said brushing off the crumbs of the toast he had for breakfast. He wanted to make sure his uniform was impeccable as he expected the very same from his officers. The doors open and Devore entered the Bridge. On the screen was a warship, a configuration he has seen before but didn't recognize as yet. Ensign Toran was at tactical and politely nodded as Devore's and his glance met. Ensign Shaka was at the SS station where she was still fine tuning a few things, however now her attention was directed at the screen.

Lieutenant Ro Joreen, the ship's counsellor sat to the left of the Captain's chair looking at her console trying to help Lieutenant Harris get an idea of what was going on. Harris was standing up over the new Chief Ops officer Lieutenant JG Lynn Whitmore, who like the doctor, just reported to duty a few days ago. *They must be sisters.* Devore thought as he came around and sat in his chair. Lieutenant Whitmore and Dr. Clairidge were both blondes, beautiful, and buxom. Devore was loving every moment of this. Surrounded with beautiful women, and a crew of men that were fantastic what more could a young, viral Captain want. However at the present time, Devore was concerned now at what was happening here. The ship was poised defiantly seemingly ready to attack. The Leviathan was at yellow alert, but shields has not been raised. "Lieutenant Harris give me a status report," He said turning to Harris who had sat down in his chair as Devore sat in his.

Captain, the Lorean Vessel claims that we have violated their sovereign space and is ordering us to stand down and prepare to be boarded," Harris said.

"Captain, " Toran said. "The Lorean Empire is 2700 light years from our intended flight path. It looks like somehow we deviated that far and are in their space."

"The Lorean are not members of the Federation and oppose the entry of any of their planets. They are a warp civilization and have agreed with the Federation no interaction between our peoples," Lieutenant Ro reported. "However our presence here threatens them and are willing to go to great lengths to end the threat even go to war."

"I am not prepared to start a war today, Lieutenant. Ensign Toran, what is the specs of their vessel."

"Comparable to a Galaxy Class Starship, with phasers comparable and photon torpedoes. They shielding is considerable less than their weaponry."

"So they intend to shoot first and hope to destroy on a first volley rather than take hits," Devore said silently. "That doesn't make for good strategy. Open a channel, Mr. Toran." The view screen showed the Bridge of the Lorean Vessel. The humanoid creatures called the Lorean were very much like humans but had larger eyes and smaller mouths. Their skin are naturally darker, with large heads and very little to no hair. When they speak, their mouths hardly move giving evidence to a telepathic ability.

"I am Commander Marcus Devore of the USS Leviathan. We seemed to have strayed into your space on our way back to our own planet..."

~That is of no consequence to us. You have violated our space. By our laws you are to surrender your vessel and crew. Your vessel will be scrapped for technology and you crew interrogated then executed for being enemies of the state~

"Who might you be?"

~That is of no consequence. However if you must... I am Telik N'mker.~

"Okay Telik. Let me tell it to you like this- I have no intention of surrendering my ship or my crew nor will I continue to let you intimidate us. We are going to reverse course and continue home to Earth."

~Unacceptable. You are to prepare to be boarded and to surrender your ship!~

"Over my dead body."

~That can be arranged.~

"Ensign Toran. Red Alert. Arm phaser banks and load torpedo bays 1-4."

"Telik, as you can see we are quite capable of defending ourselves against attack. Like I said I don't have any intention............." A psionic blast pulsated from the Lorean vessel. It came on the Bridge and knocked the entire Bridge crew down, if standing, and out of chairs. Devore shook off the massive blast and stood up. Blood trickled from his nose as he noticed that most of his crew was stirring, except for one- Ensign Ro.

"Jorenne, " Mark yelled going over to her and tried to revive her. No movement. "Doctor Clairidge. Medical emergency to the Bridge." He said tapping his comm badge

"Damage Report!" Lieutenant Harris said. Reports starting coming in from all around the ship.

The doctor came running on the Bridge and immediately pulled out her tricorder. Clairidge said to Devore, "I am sorry Captain. She is dead. It looks like a number of her mental synapses were burned out, fried if you will."

"Captain, " Harris said. "I am getting reports of 3 other casualties. All of them telepathic or Betazoid"

Devore banged his hand on the floor and stood up yelling. "Listen here you Lorean bastard. That was an unprovoked attack that I will respond to with deadly force. You want a fight then by god you got one. End Transmission. Ensign Toran target that ship's Bridge level. They hit mine I am going to hit theirs."

Ensign Torah targeted the phasers at the Bridge level and reported to Devore that everything was ready and waiting for the word. "Fire phasers!"

The intense phaser blast came from the forward phaser array. It connected with the Lorean Vessel and an intense explosion was seen coming from the ship. It looked as if the Bridge absorbed the entire blast and detonated like a bomb. "Direct hit!" Toran yelled.

"Yes!" Devore yelled.

"Sir!" Toran yelled. "I have two more Lorean Vessels bearing 100 mark 000 closing very fast, range 10000 km. What?!"

"What is it?"

"There are two torpedoes headed are way. It looked like the torpedoes came from the ship just before we destroyed it."

"Brace for impact!" Harris yelled.

The torpedoes seemed to penetrate the shields and detonated on the hull of the *Leviathan.* Lieutenant Whitmore's con exploded sending shards of metal and glass flying everywhere. The shards acted like shrapnel and turned Whitmore's face into a pin cushion with a long piece protruding from her forehead. Devore was thrown from his chair so hard that he hit the railing on the left side of his chair and broke it in two. Commander Devore now was unconscious laying on the ramp. Lieutenant Clairidge immediately tried to revive him as the explosion rocked the Bridge and the Leviathan. Ensign Shaka was also thrown but as she neared the wall, like a cat turned and broke the impact with her feet. Toran held on tightly and was just rocked slightly as the impact rocked the Bridge of the Leviathan*

"Captain?" Harris yelled seeing the Devore unconscious.

"He'll be fine," Clairidge yelled. "I'll take care of him."

The ships were now 5000 km away and Harris took the con. Ensign Toran was at tactical and ready to fight. The Lorean ships took strategic position on each side of the Leviathan.

"Lieutenant Harris," Ensign Toran yelled. "Their weapons are charged. Shields are up. Our shields are down to 70%, and our phaser are off-line"

*Oh Great!* Harris thought.