Hidden Agenda

At StarFleet Command, Admirals Ross, Sloan, and Beard were sitting in Beard's office chatting about the old times when a message came through. "Yes, Sheri ?" Beard said punching a button on his screen.

"I am sorry to disturb your meeting Admiral but there is a secure message for you," the redheaded commander said from her desk.

"Very well. Patch it through. Did it say who it is from ?"

"No sir."

"Fine. Patch it through. Excuse me sirs."

Beard directed the com screen towards him and ever present Starfleet Intelligence logo changed into the Section 31 logo for a few seconds, before being replaced by the figure of Lieutenant Rashad. "Ah, Rashad !" The Admiral smiled. "I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. I heard that Leviathan suffered quite a damage in the last battle. What have you got to report ?"

[Sir, so far this crew appears to be coherent and adequate for the running of this ship.] Immediately, files began coming in. They were personnel files from the Leviathan. [They prepared well for the battle at the short notice that they were given about the Borg, and they have executed the battle plan with a degree of Romulan perfection...]

*Please ! Lieutenant. "Romulan Perfection" my butt.* Beard thought. "Of course... But what of the damage to the ship and the crew casualties? How could they have allowed the Borg drones to board the ship in the first place?"

[With all due respect, Sir,] Beard noticed a slight nod of Rashad's head and her eyebrows slightly rising.. a mannerism of both Vulcans and Romulans that he despised. [The crew was anticipating that probability also. That is why all of them, and I, were armed with the ancient projectile weapons. What happened aboard the ship was not the fault of Captain Devore or any of his officers.]

"All right, 25007." Said the Admiral frowning slightly. "I am expecting further reports every 24 hours. But you already know that, don't you? This is what we recruited you for." [Aye, Sir] responded Rashad.

"Beard out!" He said nanoseconds after the Section 31 Logo reappeared. "Damn. This girl can be a pain I see."

"So everything going according to plan, Tom ?" Ross asked.

"Well, so far Admiral, it looks like Devore is pulling it off." Beard said leaning back into his chair. Admiral Ross smiled. He was glad that the rogue Captain was proceeding as planned. His choice for the commanding officer of the Leviathan was a good choice. "But I don't want him to 'pull it off'," Beard continued slightly annoyed. "He has been a thorn in my side ever since the war and I want him/it plucked out."

"Sir ?" Sloan asked puzzled at the remark.

"Never mind."

Sloan spoke up. "Admiral. If you want to get rid of Devore then why assign him to the Leviathan ?"

"Mr. Sloan, the SlipStream Drive is a bunch of crap and Devore's command ability is also a load of manure. I want him to fall face first in the biggest pile of cow dung I can find. So when the Leviathan fails, so does Devore." Beard replied

"Tom !" Ross said sitting down. "Devore has done a good job up to now. I haven't seen any reason why he ....."

"Admiral Ross !" Beard yelled cutting him off producing a glare from the superior officer. "With all due respect, he was chosen for this command because of the ship and I needed my more experienced officer elsewhere. The ship is due to fail and he will too."

"Why the hatred ?" Sloan asked. Instead of answering, Beard got up and headed for the door. "Admiral ?"

"I have my reasons."