Building The Hellcat"(Part 2 of 3)

Holodeck Sixteen

"You bitch !" Lieutenant Anderson yelled out as he tried to reach for the controls of his personal transporter.

"Areinnye'n-hnah, y'kllhe!"<<Go to Hell, you worm!>> Rashad growled at the top of her voice in Romulan, as she vaporized the momentarily horrified saboteur and would-be assassin.

*Phew,* she thought to herself, raising her eyebrow, in the same poetic language she had just used to curse Anderson, as the logic training could not control her muscles any more and she collapsed to the deck. *I surely haven't handled any one like this when I served in the JAG Department...*

"What did I tell you before, Lieutenant ?" The face of Commander Harris floated as the Executive Officer holstered his phaser... Then the face of Lieutenant Commander Toran floated past, and everything blacked out again.

SIckbay

In sickbay, Lieutenant Rashad was laying on the biobed when Captain Devore came in followed by his first officer. She had just had a grueling experience that demanded immediate medical attention and the EMH was sitting at her desk looking over the bioscans. It was amazing to Devore that the EMH was a woman. Normally, it was a man modeled after its creator Dr. Zimmerman of Utopia Research Center, but this woman was a welcomed sight. Unlike the doctor of the famed *Voyager*, this on had personality and fine bed side manner. Not to mention that the EMH was quite a looker. Devore wanted at one time to see who it was modeled after, that was until the re-entry of his wife, Sierra into his life. Inside Sickbay, Devore looked down at the groggy Lieutenant who looked up at the Captain. She laid there and smiled, uncommon for her.

"Well Lieutenant. I guess congratulations are in order ?" Devore said with a small smile

"Sir ? Well I was just doing my duty," She responded.

"No need to be modest. You did a fine job. You should have told us, especially me."

"I wasn't sure. Not until the final com signatures came back. They were what we used in Starfleet Intelligence."

"Lieutenant." Commander Harris interrupted. "I was in SI for a number of years and I never seen a signature like that."

"Classified Commander."

"Very well Lieutenant. As soon as you are released I want a full report on my desk as soon as possible, and by the way, when you put on your uniform, put this on it. I think that you have earned it." Devore said handing her a gold pin.

In a little shock and amazement, Rashad took the pip and smiled, "Thank you sir. However, I was just doing my duty."

"Well Lieutenant. If you don't want it, I will just give it to someone else."

"No sir."

"Good. Get well soon. Remember, report ASAP." Devore said putting his hand on Harris' shoulder leading him out. "Harris walk with me."

Corridor

In the corridor, the two officers evaluated the status of the ship. From one deck to another, Captain Devore pointed out things from every department. He was pleased with the performance of the first officer, but there was something else.

"Grant. You have been an excellent first officer. You are strong, highly motivated, and compassionate." Devore said as the turned the corner heading for engineering. "However, you have been taking a lot of things in your hands, which is good. It takes a lot of pressure off of me, but I would like to be kept appraised of what is going on."

"I am sorry, sir. I don't know what you mean." Harris asked stunned.

"Well, the Hellcat is a good idea. I would have approved it anyway, but I wished that you would have consulted me before giving Mr. Ambrose the go ahead."

"But, before he did any construction, he did come to you...."

"Yeah, at the meeting. It caught me off guard, but anyway.... it seems to be going fine. Just talk to me."

"I understand sir."

"You really are a fine officer. I think that that was a terrible thing to have done to you."

"What sir."

"Court Marshal"

"That is the past. I just hope that I have proved that I am worthy of the rank."

"Very much so. That is why I think that you should be a full commander."

"Sir ?" Harris stopped them in the corridor and turned to face Devore.

Devore smiled. "Grant you are fine instinct of Commander. You deserve more than that," Devore said pointing at his pips. "So I think these might be in order." He handed Harris the gold pip.

"Thank you sir."

"No. Thank you Grant. Computer effective stardate 0274.9, Lieutenant Commander Grant Harris is hereby promoted to the rank of Commander with all privileges thereof."

<Time in grade of Lieutenant Commander has not been met. Promotion not authorized.>

"To hell with time of grade. Computer promote Lieutenant Commander Grant Harris to Commander, command override Devore Alpha 311." Devore said a little perturbed.

<Command authorization accepted.>

"Sir I am not one to complain, but may I ask you something ?" Harris began as he removed his black pip and replaced it with the gold, "Why are your promotions so unorthodox ? I mean so far, each promotion has been different, no formal ceremony, no party, do you know what I am saying ?"

"Commander. Each promotion is different because each of you are different. The crew of the Leviathan has proven to be one of the best crews I have ever served with. I am proud of each and everyone of you. Therefore a little originality, and spontaneity is good for morale. Look at you. How do you feel ?"

"Good. Proud. Surprised."

"And deserving. You have done a great job. Keep it up."

[Toran to Devore.] Devore combadge beeped.

"Go ahead."

[Captain. I think that you may want to come down to Anderson's quarters.] Commander Toran said urgently.

"What is it ?" Devore asked.

[I think that you might want to see this rather than I explain it.]

"Okay on my way." Harris and Devore headed for the nearest turbolift and proceeded to Deck eight. "Commander ? What is Toran doing there ?"

"I told him to check out Anderson' quarters so that we can get some kind of clue as to why he was bent on doing this." Harris informed.

"Look there. See I told you, one step ahead of me. Outstanding. I guess I had better keep an eye out for you. Next thing you know you are going to be after my job." Devore said with a smile.

"Never sir, but you chair is awfully comfortable."

They laughed as the turbolift doors opened. A few doors down was Lieutenant Anderson's room where Commander Toran and a small detail were looking around.

"Captain." Toran said as Devore and Harris walked in. "Look at these PADDs." Toran handed Devore the PADDs and acknowledged the first officer. He saw the new pip on Harris' collar and smiled.

Devore began reading the PADD and his mood changed to anger. "You mean Lieutenant Anderson was out to kill me!"

"That is what it looked like, sir."

"So I take it that the replicator accident wasn't really an accident."

"No sir. But we all ready knew that. I figured that all the 'malfunctions' around the Leviathan was actually things he had done to destroy her and you."

"But why ?"

"Well going through Anderson' s personal logs, we found that there were some highly encrypted messages going to an officer 001. I don't think that whoever this person was they are not on board."

"No I don't think so Commander." Devore said in a slightly sarcastic tone. Devore didn't mean to take out his feelings on Toran but an assassination attempt made on him really angered him. "So where were these messages coming from or going to ?"

"It looks like back to Starfleet Command." Harris said. "On top of it, it looks like this is the work of Section 31."

"This is just getting better and better." Devore said slamming the PADD down destroying it. "I want a full sweep of the ship from back to front. I want you to make sure that there are no more 'booby traps' left on board this ship."

"Yes sir." Toran said

"Commander Harris, I want a detail background check made on every crew member on this ship. Any affiliation to Section 31, I want to know about it, understood."

"Yes sir. but I all ready did that when we first came on board. It turned up nothing."

"Then do it again. I want that report yesterday."

"Understood." Harris said. He quickly left the quarters and headed for the Bridge.

*I can't believe this!* Devore thought. "Old man. I am going to my quarters. I am through for the night."

"Aye sir."

Captain's Quarters

Captain Devore entered his access code and went in to his quarters. The darkness hid the box that was just inside the door, causing Devore to trip on it. He fell on his knee and screamed a few choice words. "Computer! Lights full illumination !" The lights came on and immediately, Devore noticed that there were boxes all over his quarters to include his table, couch, and in bathroom. The only area that was not cluttered with boxes was his bed. Rubbing his knee, Devore got up and limped to his bed unzipping his tunic along the way. *What is all this ?*

He was too tired to really investigate the boxes, but there was a box partially opened. He opened it and saw a holopicture of Sierra and himself on a beach. Devore remembered the picture well. He and Sierra had spent a two day 'vacation' on a holodeck at Thaddeus Prime. Since they couldn't really have honeymoon, they had decided to spend a day on a beach. Marcus wanted to go to Riza, but Sierra wanted Cancun. So they compromised. The sandy white beaches of Cancun, and the crystal blue fresh water of Riza to include Rizan beach bunnies in search of pleasure and to please. Devore smiled. Sierra was too much pleasure to even have the captain search else where.

Devore had almost dozed off, when Sierra came into the door sidestepping the box. "Hi. I guess you saw that I am moving in." She said with a huge smile.

"Sierra! I told you that we should wait for a few weeks till things settle down." Marcus said getting up. Immediately his hurt knee began to throb as he limped towards her.

"You okay ?"

"Yeah ! I just tripped over one of your traps."

"I am sorry, babe." She said coming up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better."

"Well now that you mention it." He said with a huge smile. "Computer. Lights off !"

Devore swooped Sierra into his arms and headed for the bed, but as he got next to it he fell, tripping over yet another box. There was a large thud as the two lover fell flat on the floor. "Ouch !" Sierra yelled as she fell butt first.

"Damn boxes." Marcus said. They both began to laugh and after a few moments found each others lips and kissed.

The clock buzzer rang 05:30, and it was time for Captain Devore to get up. In his arms lay his wife whom he thought was missing. Reality was just now hitting him. She was alive, laying next to him, and finally they are together. It took many years, many years of searching, and finally just giving up, but those years were not in vain. Those years apart gave both of them to grow, and build an excellent starfleet career, and atleast now one of them were in a position to control their destiny and future.

Captain got up and headed for the sonic shower. On his way he cursed a few choice Klingon words after stubbing his toe. *She has to take care of these. I am going to end up with a whole lot of bumps and bruises.* He thought as stepped he stepped into the sonic shower. The shower felt good, and he was hurrying just slightly he wanted to go by the Hellcat to see how that was progressing before duty.

He finally finished and dressed in his casual uniform. Devore seemed to like it best because of the fact that he could take off that suede jacket when it got uncomfortable. The rest of the crew hadn't said anything about it, probably just writing it off as captains prerogative.

Sierra still was asleep. That surprised him. Usually, she was up and all ready making coffee or tea, but this time she was out like a log. He attributed that to the fact she was busy moving and was probably really tired. Devore leaned over and kissed her gently which caused her to stir.

"Good morning." He said softly.

"Hi." She said stretching. "Is it time to go to work ?"

"Not for you. I am giving you the day off so that you can get situated here. I am tired of tripping and getting hurt here in my quarters."

"Is that an order Captain," Sierra said with a smile.

"Yes. So go ahead and get some rest then get these boxes taken care of okay ?"

"Yes sir." She said sleepishly.

Devore smiled and rose from the bed heading for the door. On his way out, he stopped by the replicator and got himself a cup of coffee that accompanied him into the corridor. He walked the corridor again looking around sipping his coffee, and when he finally reached the turbolift entered. "Deck ten ,Cargo bay three."

<There is no Cargo Bay three>

"Excuse me ?" Devore said amazed. *Ensign Ambrose must have already changed the name of Cargo bay. Mental Note: talk to Kirk about his initiative.*

"Hellcat"

The turbolift proceeded.

Hellcat Hanger

Captain Devore entered the hangar bay where the Hellcat was starting to take shape and the frame was well completed ahead of schedule. With the expertise of Ensign Ambrose and the volunteering of Lieutenant Hansen, the hull was almost complete. Hansen determined that Hellcat was ready for the warp nacelles to be attached to the ship.

Ensign Ambrose was ready stop for the day. He had been working all night when the Devore walked in and as usual was the last person to leave. Devore approached Ambrose who was just finishing a few touches to the outer hull.

"So Mr. Ambrose how is it coming along ?"

"Sir !" Ambrose said startled by the Captain's presence. After his nerves returned to normal he took a deep breath. "Well Captain. Everything is going fine. We are proceeding well ahead of schedule. We should be up and running in a few weeks."

"Good job." Devore looked at the ship. "She is a beauty huh ?"

"Yes sir. She is my baby."

"Good. How would you like to be her chief pilot ?"

"I don't understand."

"Well every ship has a commanding officer. I was thinking that unless there was a higher ranking member of the senior staff aboard, you would be the 'Captain' of the Hellcat."

This announcement stunned Ambrose. He thought that chief pilot or helmsman would suffice but to actually command her... well that was a dream come true. "Yes Sir." Ambrose shouted.

"You needn't shout." Devore said smiling. "The Hellcat is your ship. But once the ship is completed and on active duty, you will need to look over the command protocols. Understood."

"No problem sir."

"Good." Devore headed for the door. "Oh and by the way, good work."

"Thank you sir."

The excitement finally hit him and hurried to clean up and celebrate. It was 06:00 when he left so he decided to go the staff lounge for a drink. Food was also on his mind but because the mess hall is still closed, he had to settle for the "bar food". Kirk walked in and saw only five people in the lounge and sat at the bar where he ordered coffee and a sandwich. While sitting there he began thinking about his family, something that he hadn't done too much since he had been gone and he was beginning to feel homesick. He knew that his sister was trying to find out some sort of information of her baby brother.

Also while he sat at the bar, Kirk thought also about his career and how the exploration of the Beta Quadrant and his development of the Hellcat would be a very prudent career move or rather jump-start !. He felt quite confident in himself. He only went to warrant officer's school and now he was an Ensign piloting one of the most advanced starships in the Federation and building a new ship. What more can you ask for ?

"Care if I join you Ensign ?"

Kirk turned and saw Commander Harris with a steaming cup of coffee.

"Be my guest sir."

Grant sat down and took a sip of coffee. It was early and Grant always had his morning coffee in the lounge before reporting for duty. "You are up early."

"Haven't been to sleep just yet sir."

"Really. Working on the Hellcat ?"

"Yes sir."

"So how is the ship coming along ?"

"Faster then expected Commander. We'll have the hull completed in about three days."

Harris sat back and didn't like being addressed as Commander on his off hours.

"Listen Kirk we're not on duty you can call me, Grant."

"Yes s......," Ambrose paused and then spoke casually. "Man, I feel great."

Harris smiled and looked at Kirk . "Why are you so cheery, Ensign."

Kirk couldn't understand the Commander's emotion. "Sir what's wrong with being happy about my situation."

"I feel that we are to become a forgotten ship and crew."

*What was he thinking ? This ship will be the talk of the academy for years to come*

"Ensign I was younger then you when I accepted my field commission. Yet I have been unable to achieve the goal of many of my class mates. Why you ask... because I don't hold a major in command."

Ambrose didn't like the conversation it was starting to change his mood. "Commander I was wondering if you'd like to see the Hellcat so far ?"

Harris agreed and the two walked down to the hanger. The *Hellcat's* hull covered the sides of the ships and was starting to take form. The warp engines were on a stand next to the ship.

"Sir would you like to step inside ?"

"No I want to wait till the ship is complete. I had better report to the Bridge. Go get some rest ensign." Harris said as the alpha detail walked in and went to work finishing up the hull.

Bridge

The Captain walked on the Bridge and took his seat. The seat was comfortable as he remembered. It had been a long time since he was there. He seemed to spend most of his time in the ready room, a habit that he must stop.

"Well Captain. It is nice to see you again," A woman's voice said from behind him.

Devore looked over his shoulder and saw Lieutenant Shaka at the SS station. "Shaka. It is great to see you again. How are you feeling ?"

"I am fine. I was conducting a level five diagnostic of the Slipstream drive and all seems to be fine sir. I don't know why Anderson was doing all that he did, but I didn't want to take any chances."

"Good thinking. Did you find anything ?"

"No. Just a few improper calculations and such that I effortlessly corrected."

"That is the Shaka we all know and missed, efficient and to the point.. not to say modest." Devore said.

"Sir ?"

"Nothing Lieutenant. Carry on." Devore looked around the Bridge and smiled. A fine ship with a fine crew. Then he noticed a young officer at Ops who he didn't recognize. Devore approached him. "Ensign. I have never seen you before."

The young ensign smiled and looked up at Devore. "Ensign Johnathan Mason, sir. I was spending time learning the Leviathan and was cleared by Commander Harris."

"I see. I take it then you are the new Ops officer ?"

"Assistant sir."

"Ok good. Well then Mr. Mason what is the overall status of the Leviathan ?"

"All systems are back to full operation and I took the liberty of enhancing the long range sensors."

"Enhancing ?"

"Yes sir. I increased the over all range of the sensors by ten light years."

"Very nice. I would like to hear how you did it ?"

"It was quite easy sir, I just......."

"Some other time ensign." Devore said cutting him off.

"Yes sir."

Devore returned to his seat and looked at the sensor readings of the new sensor relays.

*I had better have Lieutenant Barker take a look at this. Maybe even Lieutenant Hansen. I don't want anymore surprises.*

On the sensor report, Devore notices an argoliaan cluster which may contain some interesting data for the scientists, so he figured to check it out. "Ensign Rodriguez." She had been reassigned while Ambrose worked on the Hellcat. "Lay in a course 312 mark 4 warp 15."

"312 mark 4, all systems register warp fifteen," She said. *It is about time we go and do something.*

"Enter the stream !" Devore ordered.

"Slipstream drive coming online." Shaka confirmed.

The Leviathan generated a small polaron burst and accelerated to warp fifteen.