Assassination Attempt

*** Shadow *** had just stepped out of the sonic shower when his 'computer' began to beep. This beeping was only identifiable to those in Starfleet Intelligence because of the secrecy of their business. "Computer. Reroute power from environmental control of the room to secondary protocol... Command authorization 0012-Alpha-Theta." *** Shadow *** said.

<Command authorization accepted. Message from Starfleet command on communication link.>

"Thank you. Put it through."

[Officer 0012... ] It was Admiral Beard. There was a devilish almost sinister grin on his face as he spoke. Fortunately, this was a one-way communique so, the naked *** Shadow *** wouldn't have given the Admiral a nasty surprise.

[Your mission is a go. I will expect the results on my desk as soon as possible. You are hereby ordered to accomplish your task using any means possible including the ultimate destruction of the Leviathan. However, that is a final resort, seeing that the *Utopia* has been destroyed. We can still use the Leviathan, without its present command structure. Once Captain Devore is eliminated, we will re-establish communication. Good luck 0012. Beard out!]

"Computer. Secure from secondary protocol and re-establish normal power distribution."

<Communication line severed. All primary systems are back online.>

*It is about time. Now where to start ?* *** Shadow *** thought.

"Commander Harris. There has been a slight power drain coming from Deck eight section A." Ensign Michaels said just as his con panel blinked.

"Confirmed Commander. It looks like power was rerouted from.... from a secondary system to a primary system." Lieutenant Toran said.

Harris leaned over to Rashad who was sitting at her seat also monitoring the power fluctuations. "Lieutenant, could that have been caused by a redirection of power to the communication array." He whispered.

"As in someone from Starfleet Intelligence ?" Rashad responded.

"Yes."

"It is possible. But the power signatures are very different from what I am familiar with. You ?"

"No." Harris tapped his combadge. "Captain to the Bridge."

[On may way Mr. Harris.]

The crew began to investigate slightly the mysterious power fluctuation. Harris and Rashad continued their discussion about the possibility of it being a new prototype communication system, but Ensign Michaels and Ensign Ambrose milled the idea that with all the malfunctions going on it was just a neural gel pack malfunctioning. The theory was quickly disproved by Lieutenant Toran who pointed out that it was localized. Devore came through the turbolift.

"Captain. We may have a spy on board." Harris said as Devore took his seat.

"Really, Grant. I see a former one and a current one." Devore said smiling.

"Sir. Seriously. I think the reason we are having so many malfunctions is that this spy is also a saboteur."

"Tell me what you have got, Commander." Devore said. His smile disappeared.

It was 14:50 and *** Shadow *** was just finishing the final modifications to the replicator. *This is going to be perfect!* He adjusted the isolinear chips to act as a counter from this moment. The timer was set for 17:30, the exact time that Captain Devore was to eat!

"Lieutenant. Is that replicator ready yet. I am getting hungry," A voice said startling *** Shadow ***.

*** Shadow *** turned and looked at the command tunic and then the Lieutenant Commander pips. *Arrogant ass!*

"Yes sir. Just one more minute and it will be finished."

"Good. When you finish it would you mind replicating me a bowl of tomato soup ?" The commander asked.

*** Shadow *** glared at the commander and just smiled. *I am not a waiter.*

"Sure sir. My pleasure."

With a final tweak of the deoudenic coupler, the replicator was back on line, actually it never was off line. "Computer. Half tomato soup, half Andorian Red Chili Paste... Hot !"

The steaming bowl of 'tomato soup' materialized and *** Shadow *** heard the timer tick away barely audibly unless you knew what you were listening for. He picked it up and delivered the bowl to the commander.

"Here you go sir. As you requested."

*I hope you choke on it*

The *** Shadow *** left the forward lounge as he heard a large gasp come from within. "AHHHH"

A very large smile formed on *** Shadow's *** face.

It was 17:20 and Captain Devore's stomach growled loudly enough for Lieutenant Toran to hear it. Devore was standing by Toran examining the sensor logs and seeing if there were any planets out there. There were not any.

"Mark." Toran whispered. "Go get something to eat. It is getting late and you usually eat at about know don't you ?"

"I am hungry. Okay old man. I will see you in the morning."

"Fine Captain good nite." Toran said.

"Captain. We are picking up what looks to be subspace eddies." Ensign Michaels said.

"What ?" Devore asked surprised. "Lieutenant Anderson conf.... " Devore looked over to the SlipStream Drive station and noticed it was unmanned. "Lieutenant Toran, Where is Lieutenant Anderson ?"

"He never came on to duty today sir."

"Computer Locate Lieutenant Anderson."

<Lieutenant Anderson is in the Forward Lounge.>

"Lieutenant Rashad... Now where is Rashad ?"

"I don't know sir. She was here with Commander Harris just a few minutes ago."

"Damn !"

The Leviathan crossed another eddy.

"Captain. We are losing warp field containment." Michaels said.

"Yes sir. We have dropped out of warp and are now at full impulse."

"Well Old man. Looks like dinner is going to have to wait."

The *Leviathan's* internal security systems began to go off.

"What !" Toran yelled. "Captain. We have an explosion deck ten section A, the Forward Lounge ! Fire containment systems are operating. No hull breach."

"Medical and Damage Control Teams to the Forward Lounge." Devore ordered.

"What happened ?" Ambrose asked.

"Fly the ship Mr. Ambrose." Devore said. "Old man, as soon as the damage control teams say its safe I want you down there."

"Aye sir."

"Computer. Locate Lieutenant Anderson.."