The Truth Revealed

The new USS Leviathan-A was even more massive on the inside than it was on the outside. The bio-neural gel packs, the upgraded computer and the even more enhanced Quantum Slipstream Drive were all quite impressive. Going over the schematics, Devore noticed that the refractive shielding that they had used on the original Leviathan was implemented here then to augment that, in case of any entanglements with the Borg, the multiphasic shielding that the Voyager brought back from the Delta Quadrant was also integrated. The Leviathan-A could rival even the Enterprise-E, however their missions were totally different. The Akira class was a war-time vessel equipped to take out the Dominion and Borg alike, but the Sovereign and Galaxy classes were for exploration. Both were equipped to handle deep space missions only one had a full compliment of science laboratories. The Akira had enough for standard studies.

Devore sat back in his quarters while the counsellor was getting herself acclimated as well. Brayden had been taken to DS9s sickbay where Dr. Bashir was stabilising his condition. The coma broke as soon as they arrived and the good doctor was able to get him back into consciousness. Admiral McCaffee's medical team assisted the doctor and it is believed that Brayden will make a full recovery.

"Sierra I am going for a walk before the ceremony." Devore yelled out to his wife who was in the bathroom.

"That is fine, Marc." She called back.

He put on his dress whites for the change of command ceremony that was to be held in a few hours. The order had been given as Admiral McCaffee came aboard Deep Space 9. She was forceful and demanding but a great officer. What she wanted, she got. Captain Devore walked into the hallway and down the corridors. He noticed immediately the absence of his friends and colleagues, Commander Soliel and Major Phanan. He swore to himself that he would never abandon his crew members and he wasn't going to start now. As soon as they take off, they were going back for his missing crew. Suddenly from behind a bulkhead, he heard some language that he didn't understand. A woman's voice was screaming and hollering. The door was opened as he turned the corner and smiled. Inside the adjourning quarters, he noticed Lieutenant Shaka throwing things around and cursing in Andoran. Devore propped himself against the door jam and crossed his arms.

"Where is it ?" She yelled. "I can't believe that Captain. We are getting ready for a war and he wants to have a party for himself. That pompous, arrogant...."

"Lieutenant. I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you." Devore said with a smile.

Shaka squinted as she stood up straight at looked at the Captain. "That pompous, arrogant, self-gratifying human." She retorted in defiance. That is one thing that Devore liked about her. She was to the point and straight forward. He just wished she would show some respect.

"I take it then that you aren't me."

"NO !" She yelled as she continued to look through her things.

"What is it that you are looking for ?"

"My pips for my dress uniform. You and your gala's. Can't you just have it in regular uniforms ?"

"Lieutenant......." Devore said sternly. He then looked at her as she looked back in shock. He had never been so stern. He smiled. "You will get over it !"

"What !"

Devore said nothing, but turned and walked away to the continued cursing and yelling of the Slipstream Officer.

He found turbolift that took him to the Bridge. The Bridge was empty except for a maintenance crew who were putting the finishing touches to the conn panel. He walked down into the "pit", the area where the conn, ops, and command chairs were, and sat down in his chair.

*Nice !* He thought as he noticed that it was just as, if not as comfortable as the chair on the original Leviathan.

[Captain Devore. Can you please come to Deep Space 9s Sickbay. There are a few people who would like to see you including a young cadet.] Dr. Bashir said.

"On my way." Devore said darting up. He ran to his quarters and grabbed Sierra who was putting her finishing touches on her make-up. "Come on !"

"Where are we going ?" Sierra asked.

"Sickbay. Brayden is asking for us."

"Let's go."

Deep Space Nine : Infirmary

Inside the DS9 infirmary, Brayden was sitting up in his bed when the Devore's arrived. Admiral McCaffee was all ready there stroking his hair talking to him. Sierra slowed down as she entered and saw this site. It hurt her heart to see Brayden smiling and talking to McCaffee like it was nothing. Even the actions that should have been reserved for her was now being displayed towards the Admiral.

"Captain, Counsellor" Brayden said with a smile. Admiral McCaffee turned toward the couple and smiled.

"Yes Brayden." Captain Devore said. "I am glad to see you awake. You had quite a time."

"Yes sir."

Sierra went to the other side of the biobed and smiled.

"Counsellor There is a tear in your eye. Why ?" Brayden asked.

"I am just...." Sierra said looking up at the Admiral. "I am just glad to see you."

Admiral McCaffee looked at Sierra. Somehow she felt how she was feeling. Devore looked over at the Admiral and noticed her looking at him. "Captain. You had something to talk to me about ?"

"It can wait ma'am."

McCaffee looked at Brayden and Sierra who were looking at one another. They were smiling at each other which made Admiral McCaffee smile. "Captain. I think this would be as good a time as any."

Devore looked around sick bay and noticed the extra room just off the main chamber. "Dr. Bashir. May we use that room over there ?"

"Of course sir." Bashir said.

McCaffee and Devore walked into the room. As Devore passed Ensign Katts who was assisting the doctor, she smiled. Devore returned the gesture. He motioned for the Admiral to enter the room with his hands as he followed behind her.

"So what is it ?" McCaffee said. Somehow, Devore noticed that she knew what he was going to say. How ? He didn't know, but she knew some way.

"Admiral. " Devore stopped.

"Yes."

"Ma'am. How did you adopt Brayden ?"

"I was registered with an agency who had obtained a few refugee children. Captain Penn, who was also a friend, knew I was registered. He knew of a woman who was having a baby, but couldn't keep it. He knew their background and thought I would like to have the baby. His parents were assigned to Thaddeus Prime when the Jem'Hadar attacked. After the attack many children were orphaned and Beard took it upon himself to find their families. For some unknown reason Beard didn't know about Brayden's actual birth mother and I was told never to speak of it. I was told Beard was to think that he was a refugee child. It was almost a year after the attack and Beard never found Brayden's family, so he put him up adoption and Steve and I adopted him and raised him as our own."

"I see. So Beard never found Brayden's mother and father."

"No. It was assumed that they were killed."

There was a moment of silence. Devore went to a terminal and punched a few buttons. The crew manifest of the Thaddeus Prime colony was displayed. "Ma'am. Please. Look at this manifest."

"Okay." She walked to the screen and started to look. Immediately she noticed the names of Sierra and Marcus Devore. "Oh. You were there ?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay, Captain. I am not following you. So what does this have to do with me ?"

"Actually ma'am. It doesn't just concern you, but also Brayden."

"Brayden ?"

"Ma'am. During the attack both Sierra and Brayden were hurt and there were some DNA scans performed."

"...and ?" McCaffee said knowing where Devore was going with this.

"Ensign Katts. Please come in here." A moment later, Ensign Katts came in. "Lyn. Explain to the Admiral what your findings were on the DNA scans." She looked at him then to the Admiral.

"Yes sir. On stardate 61044.1, I performed some medical scans on both Counsellor Devore and Cadet McCaffee. I assumed that they were related because..."

"Related how ?" McCaffee asked.

"Ma'am, they have the same DNA. When I performed a DNA exam on the Captain, it was a 99.8% match. There is know refuting it. Brayden is the Captain's son." Lyn said.

Admiral McCaffee plopped down in the chair and looked in amazement.

"Ensign. That will be all." Devore said.

"Aye sir." Ensign Katts said turning out of the room.

"So, Marc, what are your feelings ? What are you going to do with this information ?" Admiral McCaffee said finally.

"Ma'am. So far there are only four people that knows. You, me, Sierra, and the doctor. No one else knows."

"I see. Well I guess I should tell you that I was expecting this sooner or later."

"Ma'am ?"

"Marc. I knew that at least Sierra was his birth mother. I did some checking and came up with the same things that you found, but I didn't find that you were married to Sierra. I just hoped that you wouldn't find out."

"Admiral ?"

"Yes Marc. I didn't want you to find out. It just complicates a lot. At any rate, that is why I had him assigned to your ship. I didn't want her to think that I was trying to be mean or even uncaring like Section 31 was."

"Section 31 ?"

"Beard is part of Section 31 and was directly responsible for keeping Sierra from you. On top of that, she was pregnant, but he didn't know that. So when she gave birth to Brayden, Captain Penn followed her and when he saw she was in labor, he helped her. He told Beard that he found the baby amongst the refugee children. Beard allowed me to keep him in my house until he found the baby's parents, but he never did. I raised him and he is my son, sort of."

"Yes ma'am. I understand that." Devore said. "Ma'am. Brayden is our son, but I don't want to pull him away from you. You do have more to offer, but he is my son."

"What are you suggesting ?"

"He will be told that he is our son, but if the rest of Starfleet knew, then he would be in danger from Beard and any other enemies from within. He should be considered your son for record purposes. At least that fact that he is an Admiral's son may protect him for some time."

"I see."

"Yes ma'am."

There was silence.

"Computer." Admiral McCaffee said. "Begin recording. From this date, Brayden McCaffee birth parents are alive. They are Captain Marcus Devore, commanding officer, USS Leviathan-A and Lieutenant Commander Sierra Devore, Counsellor, USS Leviathan-A*. From this date forward. All records will reflect that only those with Omega clearance will have access to those modified records. Any and all records now will reflect that Brayden McCaffee parents will be Rear Admiral Kyrie McCaffee and Steve McCaffee. Authorisation Omega 3-5-Alpha."

<Authorisation accepted. All records have been modified and encrypted.>

"Okay Marc. It is done."

"Thank you Admiral."

They walked out into the main chamber where Brayden and Sierra were talking. It looked like Brayden was doing better.

"Mom." Brayden said as McCaffee stepped out. The word caused Sierra to look at Brayden then looked away. Admiral McCaffee just smiled.

"Dr. Bashir. Is Brayden ready to be released ?" Admiral McCaffee asked.

"I don't see why not. Just take it easy. No hard labour." Bashir said directly to the cadet.

"Yes sir." Brayden said getting out of bed slowly.

"Come on Brayden. We have to talk." The Admiral said. The two walked to an adjoining chamber.

"Sierra. Come on. Let's go get a drink before the ceremony." Devore said to his wife.

"Fine." She said watching Brayden disappear out of sight.

The crew was assembled in Quark's. Captain Devore did have a flair for the dramatic and decided that since they, speaking of the crew, would be on the Leviathan for some time, a party would be best served in Quark's. On top of that, Quark always loved a good party even if it was all Starfleet and humans. Even though he had to shut off the bar to the rest of the guests of the station, Quark figured that in some ways he could turn and even greater profit with this particular crew.

Everyone sat at various tables all dressed in their dress whites. Some personnel were not dressed in whites, but the command crew all were in their formal. Admiral McCaffee was standing at the podium addressing the entire audience with both Captain Devore and Lieutenant MacLeod sitting just to her right. Fleet Admiral Ross and Commodore Sisko were sitting on her left just smiling at her oratory, a very precise and well written speech commemorating the courage and bravery of those of the crew that made it back. The new additions to the crew only related to the spirit of the speech and not to the actual words, but soon each of them would contribute to the legacy of the USS Leviathan.

"..... and now." McCaffee said ending her speech. "We must turn attention to the business at hand. Lieutenant MacLeod." She said looking down at the Jem'Hadar. He just politely smiled and stood up.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I must first offer my extreme gratitude to the kindness you have shown towards me since I have arrived here. I know that it is difficult to embrace one such as myself a previous member of the Dominion and now a Starfleet Officer. However, each of you have extended me the dignity of proving myself loyal to the cause of peace and the true nature of Starfleet and the Federation."

"Here, Here !" Admiral Ross said clapping his hands. The head table followed suit as did the crowd.

"Now. For the business at hand," MacLeod said smiling at Captain Devore. "Computer establish link with the USS Leviathan-A."

<Link established.>

"Computer. This is Lieutenant MacLeod, Senior Operations Officer, USS Leviathan-A."

<Identity confirmed.>

"Attention to orders." All the Starfleet personnel rose and stood at attention. MacLeod continued. "The Akira class starship, USS Leviathan-A is hereby placed under command of Captain Marcus Devore to continue the mission of the her predecessor and uphold the mission of the Federation. Effective this date. Computer. Transfer all command codes and function from Lieutenant MacLeod to Captain Marcus Devore, Gamma 1-1-9."

<All command codes are now transferred.>

With that Captain Devore stood and approached Lieutenant MacLeod.

"Lieutenant. I relieve you." Devore said grabbing the PADD from the Jem'Hadar who had a slight problem releasing it. It was his first command even if it was short, but MacLeod knew what he had to do.

"I stand relieve." MacLeod finally said taking his seat.

Devore looked over the assembly and smiled. "We are to continue the mission of the Leviathan to the ends of the quadrant. I am proud of the accomplishments that we have made and am especially expectant of the accomplishments we are to do. We have a fine ship, and as far as I am concerned the best crew. What more can a Captain ask for ?" From the crowd he heard a Marine deep, 'hoo haa' as the assembly hooped and hollered. "Now enjoy the party and be ready to report for duty tomorrow morning. Dismissed."

The party was full of debauchery and fun, but the night ended early for the Devores who couldn't wait to sleep in a bed.

"Marc. That was a great speech," Sierra said as she began to remove her uniform.

"Yeah but I felt bad. My friends aren't even here to celebrate with me. Without them then I wouldn't be here and for that matter nor would you," Marc said as he removed his boots and tunic.

Sierra walked to the bathroom and disappeared behind the wall. "Well don't worry. I know Jon and he will be great ! He will keep all of them alive. Rashad isn't a slouch either. They will be just fine."

"I hope so." Marc said taking off his uniform and crawling into bed.

"Now enough talk." Sierra said coming out with nothing but a towel on. She smiled seductively and crawled into bed.

"Sierra! My aren't you a little frisky."

"You haven't seen anything yet. Computer lights off."

There was blackness.

Captain Devore had woke early probably from the excitement of his new ship. He left his quarters with his young bride still asleep and headed directly for the Bridge. Devore beat all personnel their and quickly ducked into his ready room. He figured that this was his opportunity to catch up on the specifications of the Akira class and in particular the Leviathan-A. The data and numerous PADDs made Devore gasp.

"Oh boy." He walked over to the replicator. "Coffee black." A small mug materialised."I think not. Computer large mug of coffee, black." The small mug dematerialised and an even bigger mug appeared. "All right. Now we are talking."

He grabbed the mug and headed for his desk. Devore sat down and made himself comfortable. *I guess I had better start reading.*