Nuans (Part 1 of 2)

Commander Harris looked around the Bridge and noticed that Toran was not to particularly pleased with Harris' remarks. Harris looked sternly at him and with a command presence said, "Mr. Toran in the Captain's ready room ."

Toran gave a look of uncertainty and disgust then followed behind Commander Harris. Grant walked in and turned around to face Toran. He wanted to make sure that there were no confusion as to what he had to say and what was going to be expected. "Mr. Toran why did you have me kept sedated ?"

Toran looked for the right words to say, "Sir, I am not comfortable with your command or your style of command. Your arrogant and self serving and should not be in command."

Grant was not expecting this from Commander Toran. In slight of aghast, Harris turned away and walked to Captain Devore's chair behind the desk. Sitting down he recomposed himself after being hit with the bombshell. "I want a real answer and I want it now !" Harris said upset, hurt but subduing a swelling anger in his gullet. Toran took a seat across from him and explained.

"I, as well as the rest of the crew, feel that your past experiences have taken away your will to fight any conflict, diplomatic or physical. In short, it almost seems cowardice. You are not acting like a Starfleet officer but rather a scared little boy."

Harris didn't like what Toran was saying and took great offence. He stood up and tugged down his tunic as tried to control himself. "Listen up, I have fought in two campaigns against the Borg, in every campaign that involved the 9th Fleet, and 56 battles in less than three years. In that time, I've seen many men and women die, many under my command. They died because of orders that were misconstrued, misunderstood, or even executed incorrectly. In any case cost thousands their lives." Harris scratched his head and continue."Listen, I lead by being careful and why because I won't risk the few lives that StarFleet feels is expendable. You are not a Bridge level officer you have never been. Your job is to secure this ship and it's crew. My job is to get the crew out of here and find the Devores'. I want Lieutenant Rashad on duty at 08:00 hrs tomorrow. Then I want you to perform your duties and find out why those people tried to kill me. Dismissed."

Toran said nothing but rose to leave the room.

"One more thing Commander, The Klingons are here to start a war. Don't interfere."

Toran walked out and left the Bridge, Harris followed him out. Harris walked over to Ops and transferred Tactical to Ops, then sat down. As he sat down, an Ensign at Tactical noticed that the Leviathan was being hailed.

"Commander Harris, we are being hailed from a planet eleven light years from our current position." The Ensign informed.

"On screen." Harris replied.

On the screen appeared an older looking female wearing a light blue uniform. [I am fleet Marshal Loris of the Nuan fleet. Why are you entering our space ?]

"I am Commander Grant Harris in command of the Federation starship USS Leviathan. A rogue Admiral has kidnapped our Captain and his wife and is headed into this sector of space. I am sending you the information about the ship and what it looks like and is capable of."

[Federation long time no see. You have come to help us end this Barien threat to us and ourselves.]

"Actually that incident is secret. Only recently our Klingon allies informed me of this horrible threat."

[ I see. Can you meet us here at Canton Prime ?]

"Marshal Loris. We would be honoured."

[Good. I am thinking at 12:00 hrs ?]

"That would be fine, Marshal."

[ I am transmitting the co-ordinates to you now.]

"We'll be there at 12:00 hrs."

The screen went blank. Harris sat in the command chair and looked around the Bridge and saw a bunch of unsure ensigns.

"Carry on!" Harris ordered.

Commander Harris was sitting in the ready room reading reports and trying to think positive on this coming meeting, when his combadge beeped.

[Sir we are approaching the Nuan home world.] Ensign Ambrose said from the helm.

"Very good. Enter standard orbit." Harris responded.

"Aye sir."

Harris walked out of the ready room and noticed Lieutenant Rashad just leaving the turbolift, stepping onto the Bridge. He gave her a smile and then turned to Ensign Mason just as he was beginning to say something. "What is it Ensign Mason ?" Harris said before Mason.

"Sir we are being instructed by Canton to have you and a few officers beam down to the surface."

Grant was happy now he was to be doing something fun no more fighting but rather diplomatic things- more to his liking

"Very well. Tell them I'll be beaming down with three other officers." Commander Harris said now turning to Rashad. "Lieutenant Rashad take a PADD. Ensign Ambrose go with her to transporter room one."

"Aye sir." Ambrose said

Harris tapped his combadge. "Commander Toran."

[Toran here. Go ahead.]

"Toran. You have command till I return and send Captain Phanan to transporter room one."

[Aye sir. What's going on ?]

"Intel gathering. We are beaming down to the planet surface."

[Acknowledged.]

Commander Harris and his delegation beamed to the planet's surface and was met by a group of Nuans all of whom were wearing light blue uniforms and carrying side arms at the hip. A younger female officer approached Commander Harris. "I am to escort you to the Fleet Minister's office. I am Major Maul." She said with a solemn bow.

"Hello. I am Commander Harris. This is Lieutenant Rashad, Captain Phanan and Ensign Ambrose." He introduced pointing at each respectively. Each in turn smiled as their names were called.

"It is a pleasure." Maul said smiling.

As the small group walked along the beautiful landscapes and intricately designed halls, they noticed that the Nuans looked very much human except their nose had ridges on it, and they were a little light skinned. The planets surface was almost completely covered by buildings some one story others twelve stories high. The weather was a quite comfortable. The delegation finally came to a building that seemed to be the centre of town. Immediately, Harris noticed that the building was similar to Bajoran design. The officers stopped at a heavy steal door and waited for a few minutes. Then the door opened to a big officer who stepped to the side giving a wide view to a big circular table and computer view screens. A old man walked out from behind a desk, wearing a very dark blue uniform with gold palm leaves on the colour.

"Greetings I am Fleet Minister Daris Maul. I am the central figure for the Nuan fleet. I report only to the Chief Minister. Now what can I do for you ."

"Hello sir I am Commander Grant Harris of the United Federation of Planets. I really don't have too much time so I am going to cut to the chase, but a renegade Federation Admiral with a grudge of sorts kidnaped the Leviathan's Captain and wife. The ship they used is a very small and powerful ship. It is what we call the Lynx. She headed this way and just now are aware of a race called the Bariens."

The fleet minister scratch his head. "The ship you describe was here a day ago and by the sounds of it was heading for Barien space. If so, then they will have entered Barien space in two more days. If the Bariens get to them first all is lost for your Captain. You are correct Commander. The Lynx was here for supplies and such, but it wasn't here for long. We tried to worn .... um, Captain Lighter I think his name was... about the Bariens. They are a barbaric, ruthless race who just recently took to space. They are totally bent on domination and have acquired the weapons to do."

"I don't like the sounds of that." Phanan whispered to Rashad.

"Well, we have fended off many attacks from them and think that we have developed some good tactic. If you would like we could help you, but you must help us against the Barien threat."

"Sir we really cannot be involved in your war. However, since you have asked us, we may be able to do something for you. Could you transfer everything we need to now to our ship's computer ?"

"Yes we can, However would it be possible I can have something in writing. You see we are not so trusting when it comes to alliances so with a formal treaty in hand it would be easier for my people. So Commander, I need a treaty to show my government."

Harris needed time. He shook his head, and tapped his combadge. "Harris to Leviathan. Four to beam directly to the Bridge."

In a matter of minutes the officers appeared on the Bridge and Harris went to work quickly. Time was not abundant to him so he had to work quickly. Ensign Ambrose get to work on plotting a course after the Lynx but maintain a standard orbit around Canton.

"Lieutenant Rashad, I need you to get to work on sorting those files." Harris then took this opportunity to take a breather and plopped down in the command chair.