Catching Up

Captain's Log Stardate: 60647.9

We have put to the nearest space dock for repairs. Thank God that there are such nice people in the universe as the Nuans. From the reports that I have just read, in the matter of a couple weeks that my wife and I have been gone, a lot has happen.

The Nuans.. mainly made up of young female. I take from what Ambassador Maul has been telling me they have evolved to where their ageing process has been slowed down to a rate of 5 to 1, 5 of human years equals to 1 of their at least in the ageing process. The women are 17, 16 , even as young as 13 who command ships, Starbases, etc., but the knowledge they have is astronomical. I have noted that the male counterparts are just as smart, but as old as we are. I can't understand it. I have also noted that there youth and vigour has caught the attention of my male crew, especially a young McCaffee who has been "googy-eyed" over a one Commander Loris. She is young and beautiful and Brayden is a teenager. I hope there doesn't become a problem.

The Bariens have proven to be a powerful race. According to Maul, they have been a powerful element in this region of space and considers a great deal of the Beta Quadrant theirs. They even have had skirmishes with the Klingons and the Romulans, but full scale looked like never availed. Surprising with the Klingons...

Speaking of which.... this totally amazes me ? What is going on here !

Devore begins to download the security logs for Stardate: 2460429, June 5, 2383

............Captain Phanan entered the brig and looked around for a moment. In the cell were two "guests" of the Federation that Phanan was checking to see if they were still there. One had his arm in a sling, the other a big lump on his head. As Jon walked over to the table, he unzipped the front of his dress uniform jacket, and took it off and slung it over the chair. He affixed a normal Starfleet communicator to his shirt, and then looked at the two Klingons. The one with the broken arm sat, looking down at the floor. The other one, in a different cell, was asleep on the bench/bed that was in each brig cell.

Jon walked up to the sleeping Klingon's cell, and pressed a button on the touchpad. A horribly loud klaxon sound started to sound in the Klingon's cell. He immediately rose to attention, disgruntled. "Wake up sleeping beauty." Jon said coldly. "I hope you find your accommodations quite nice. Now, it's down to business. Who do you work for ?"

The Klingon gave Jon a menacing stare. "I wouldn't tell you human."

"Really ?" Jon said, as he walked back over towards the desk in the brig. He tapped a button on the desk's console. "Why's that ?"

"You can not know of the Leader's plans." He snarled.

"I tell you what you Klingon animal. You and me, right here. You win, I have you transported off this ship, I win, you tell me everything I want to know." .......

*What was Phanan doing ?*

............... " Your proposal appeals to me," the Klingon said with a glimmer in his eye

Jon nodded, and pressed a button on the desk. The forcefield dropped, and the Klingon immediately jumped out of his cell, going into a fighting stance. Jon jumped onto and off the desk, aligning himself across from the Klingon warrior. The two sized each other over. Finally, the Klingon made his move first, charging at the Marine.

Jon moved slightly to the side, and caught the Klingon in a headlock. He gave two quick blows to the Klingon's torso, and pushed him aside. Then, did a roundhouse kick to the head. The Klingon staggered back a step and regained his stability, then lunged. He caught Jon in the gut, and drove him to the floor. One hand held Jon's shoulder in place, while the other gave Jon a quick punch to the side of the face, and another in the chest. With his free hand, Jon gave the Klingon a massive backhand, rolling the Klingon off him.

Rubbing his chin, Jon rose again, and gave the Klingon a kick to the gut, and then a swift uppercut, driving the Klingon into a nearby bulkhead. The Klingon hit hard, and then fell to the ground. Jon walked over, and put the Klingon in a sitting position.

"Do you admit defeat ?" Jon said, preparing to strike again.

"You are the victor." The Klingon replied, disgustedly.

"Now tell me who you work for !" Jon yelled.

"One of your people. An Admiral."

"Name ?"

"I don't know."

"NAME !" Jon was losing his temper.

"I don't know."

Phanan looked at the Klingon in the other cell, then lurched at the throat of the Klingon and grabbed a huge hunk of what felt like flesh, then tore upwards, and sure enough, it was a latex face mask. The mask was removed to reveal a human officer. "Who in the hell are you ?"

"Name, Mark Jazek. Rank, First Lieutenant, Starfleet Marine Corps. Service number 94023."

"Who do you work for ?"

"Name, Mark Jazek. Rank, First Lieutenant, Starfleet Marine Corps. Service number 94023." Mark looked forward blankly, only giving off the standard information that each Marine gives away if captured by the enemy.........

I don't understand what is happening but I need to get this information to Starfleet Command. I don't know where it could go. According to this security log, the Klingons here in the Beta Quadrant are not Klingons at all and in fact they are humans and Starfleet officers. Starfleet Officers the now seems to generate a stigma!!! Why are we interfering here. What is going on !

The repairs on the Leviathan are going according to schedule. The Nuans have informed me that they will be completed in no time. Approximately two more weeks. I am excited. I am back on my ship and ready to take her back out!

End Captain's Log

Devore left his ready room and entered the empty Bridge. The crew was taking advantage of the space station on their off time. They were trying to upgrade, repair, whatever, to make the ship back when it first left dry dock. Running his fingers along the consoles and the wall, Devore made his way to the his command chair and then sat down. It had been a long time. He had been travelling back and forth throughout the Nuan station and the Leviathan, but he couldn't get enough of his baby. This was his baby and he loved her more than anything, but and eerie feeling came across him. The feeling of loss, and remorse. He for some reason was feeling that he was going to lose her.

[Lt. Hansen to the Bridge.]

*I wonder what he wanted ?*

[Go ahead Lieutenant.] Devore answered.

[It seems that we've found an interesting piece to the puzzle.] Lieutenant Hansen answered.

"Good. What is it ?"

[Well sir...] Hansen began.

He went into what Taline found and relayed the information directly to the Captain. Devore listened intently and heard in the background ever so faint.

[Sir's, I don't think we've won the battle yet. I think we should check for alien spacecraft nearby. Captain, Lieutenant Taline suspects that we may have company. Recommend increased scans of the area.] Lieutenant Hansen suggested.

"Yes. Make sure to let me know what is going on out there. In the Beta Quadrant, what we don't know can kill us. Devore out."

The com channel died.

*Oh boy I don't want another battle. The Leviathan isn't ready.*

Devore walked over to Ops and looked at the scans which were running continuously. He wanted to make sure that all was well, and sure enough there wasn't anything on the scans.

"Computer. Increased scans to 100 billion km."

<Acknowledged. Sensor scans increased to 100 billion km.>

Suddenly from behind the turbolift doors opened and out walked Commander Toran. "Sir. I am sorry was I interrupting something ?"

"No old man. Our chief engineer and his assistant thinks that we are not out of the woods yet." Devore said.

"Interesting. You see that is why I can to see you. I have been thinking of what is going on and it looks like that their tactics of hit and run is something that the Klingons would do."

"You don't say ? You I was just thinking about those "Klingons" in our Brig. Any ideas what is happening ?"

"I am not sure. It looks whoever is trying to start a war."

"Between who and why ?"

There was a moment of silence. Then the lift doors entered again. It was Brayden and Commander Loris. Loris exited the turbolift followed by the young teenager who as he stepped on the Bridge ran to the opposite side. Loris just walked down towards the command area.

"Captain Devore, Commander." She said politely.

"Yes Commander. What can I do for you ?"

"I was just informed that the repairs will be complete by tomorrow afternoon." She said.

Brayden looked at her and smiled. *She is so beautiful!* Brayden thought starry eye.

Toran looked over at Brayden. "Cadet McCaffee come here."

"That is great Commander." She turned to leave gently smiling at Brayden as they passed each other. His head turned to watch her as she entered the turbolift. A smile from ear to ear showed as the doors shut cutting Loris from the Bridge.

"Cadet. Why are you here ?" Toran said sternly.

He wasn't stupid, he knew exactly why McCaffee was on the Bridge, Loris. Actually the whole ship knew, he wasn't subtle that's for sure.

"Sir. I was, I was, ..." McCaffee began.

"... just coming up here to look at your station." Devore said finishing his sentence.

"Sir ?" The El Aurian and McCaffee said simultaneously.

"You are our new helmsman. Commander show him how to do it, then join me down in the lounge."

"But sir." Toran said reluctantly.

"Just do it Commander." Devore said heading for the turbo lift.

"Aye sir. Come on cadet. Take the helm."

In the Forward Lounge, Ambassador Maul and Counsellor Devore were sitting having drinks. Captain Devore smiled and walked up to the lovely ladies. "Hello. I hate to see two very beautiful ladies unescorted."

"Well, find us an escort and then go away." Sierra said with a smile. Maul smiled.

"Ow !" Marc said as he sat down.

"Marc, Maul was just telling me more of her people. They were once like us, but due to some experiment....." Sierra began.

"Yes Captain. Once we were a slave nation, the Nuans and the Catatonians were once slaves to the Bariens. If you notice we are mainly female, as are the Catatonians The Gaawns are our male counterparts but they have a few females as well."

"The Gaawns ?"

"Well there are not much left of the Gaawn, just a few colonies on the Nuan homeworld. They have pretty much do not want to be integrated into our society, so only a small handful actually reside here. Mainly the Gaawn have totally interrogated with the Catatonians Their offspring are known as the Kirn which help protect the Catatonians from the Bariens. I just wish they would help us."

"What about you ?"

"Well, there are some male species in the Nuan society, but you see we were a 'pleasure' race."

"Pleasure Race ?" Sierra questioned.

With her eyes down trodden."Look at us Counsellor. We are young, beautiful, vibrant. Our average life expectancy is only 30 years."

"Oh."

"For you whom ?" Marc asked.

"The Bariens."

"Why the Bariens ?"

"They are a warlike race. They don't have a lot of females and very little offspring. We were to be breeders. But an ion ago, our ancestors rebelled and fought for our freedom. They died, were killed or even captured and executed some of us, like my family left during the wars and resettled on Nuan where we thrived, developing ourselves We have developed space travel and defences but they are no match from the Bariens."

"How is it that they have never found you ?"

"That is just it. They haven't until now. You see we lived in caves, hillsides, whatever and developed. We were scared for the longest times. But after so many years, a generation really, came out of hiding and built a society. The Bariens never came out and looked so we never had a problem until a few years ago when a ship similar to yours ... the Utopia I think that name, came and made contact with us. They were nice and friendly and even traded supplies. That is how we have developed certain things like replicators ablative metals, and even trilithum. I suppose that the Utopia came in contact with the Bariens and somehow learned of our existence. So now they are coming for us."

"What about the Catatonians ?"

"Like us ! They escaped, but they are better defended."

"The Gaawns won't help you ?"

"They want to be just left alone."

"Nice. The Catatonians are closer to the Barien Empire then we are. So that has bought you a great deal of time, but from my understanding the Kirns are just fighting a losing battle."

"It is true Captain. The Kirns fighting are second generation. Once they die, then the Catatonians die."

"Genocide Marc." Sierra said to her husband.

"And with Beard on their side, God knows why, that draws us into it."

"You fight for us !" The Ambassador said perking up.

"I have no choice. The Prime Directive normally keeps us out of internal wars, but because the Federation is responsible, we must do something. Yes we are going to help you defend yourself."

"Thank you Captain. I must tell my people," Maul said jumping up and hurriedly leaving the lounge.

"Marc. You sure about this."

"Yes. I need to get this to Starfleet Command. I will see you tonight." Devore said kissing her gently. Devore rose and ran to the Bridge.