The Eagle's Spawn - Part Three        Stiles looked around the quarters assigned. Official First Officer suite. It was a tad on the bare side. The former occupant had departed only two days ago, and no one had taken time to return the room to standard issue. Well, that wouldn't take long. He had been dropped into a hornet's nest, so he better get started.        "Computer. Where is Commander Tathilan?"        "Speaking."        "Ah, what?"        "Commander Stiles, 'Computer', and 'Commander Tathilan' are synonymous. When you speak to one, you speak to the other. I prefer to be addressed by name and without title."        "Name and without title."        "That is my preference."        Stiles scratched his head. An AI computer on a Starfleet ship? No one warned him about this. "I was instructed that you would have my duty briefing."        "That is correct."        His terminal came up of its own accord. Stiles looked at it as if it was a venomous creature.        "Number one on the list; Admiral's Inspection 0900 tomorrow. This will not require action from you. The ship will be ready without your intervention. You only need to stand in the right place and say the right things. Wear an ear plug, I'll coach your thorough it. Captain Kirk has posted the duty roster as he prefers it. It is designed to integrate the new crew into the existing structure, sans yourself. This would normally be the first officer's duty, however, you had not yet been assigned, and you are not yet familiar with the crew. You will need to fit yourself into the usual places. It is customary on the Kongo that the First Officer does not stand a duty watch. You are considered on call. Commander Ap Owen's schedule is on the screen at the right. Personal items have been removed. I have arranged for you to meet each of the department heads."        "What official duties do you hold?"        "Computer Operations officer, Captain's Yeoman, and First Officer's Yeoman. If you prefer a biological Yeoman, I can arrange it."        "Yes, please."        "You have been assigned Petty Officer 1st class Maya Cleest. I will brief her and she will be on duty tomorrow.        "Thank you. I do have one question."        "Yes?"        "Are you considered a fully sentient being?"        "Yes Commander, I am."        "Thank you, Tathilan. I'll take the time to study the information you have given me."        "You're welcome Commander."        Stiles sat at the console, he looked around a few times. He blew out his breath. That was an experience. A computer that knows your job better than you do. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and got to work.        The Admiral's Inspection went off as planed. Picard spent four hours looking the ship over, hitting all the traditional high points of such a tour. Lunch was served in the lounge.        Stiles didn't get free until several hours later. The presence of the first officer is expected at these functions. He dashed into his cabin and striped his dress uniform, and grabbed a duty suit. After that he headed down to the gangway, and out of the ship. He had to pick up the rest of his kit, and talk to the Admiral, his Admiral.        "Sir, I don't see how what you want is going to work. How can I get anything to you passed a sentient computer system?"        "Do you think it reads every piece of mail that goes out?"        "I don't know sir, I have been stationed on the Kongo a little over 24 hours. Never mind that the idea of spying on my fellow crewmen leaves a bad taste in my mouth."        Admiral Necheyev paced the length of her office. "It is not spying on your crewmen. In spite of being the next to worst zoo ship in the Fleet," Necheyev made a face at the thought, "the Kongo has a remarkable record of not breaking any rules. Kirk manages to get the 27 disparate species on the Kongo to work as a nice normal team. For that I value him. He even managed his big discovery without breaking any rules. Simply amazing."        "So sir, what is the problem? Captain Kirk sounds like the idea commander."        "The exact details are classified Commander, what is discussed cannot leave this room, do you understand?"        Stiles sat a little straighter in is seat. "Yes Sir."        "Something happened during Kirk's last leave. I can't get any details. However, The Admiral of the El Nanth space dock was reassigned, supposedly at his own request. Admiral Picard traveled to El Nanth himself. All of this while Kirk was on leave, and no reports were generated explaining anything."        "Why is this a problem sir?"        "You have seen Captain Kirk?"        "Yes Sir."        "Anything, remarkable, about his appearance?"        "No sir, he looks fortyish, in good shape."        "Kirk's skin tone change dramatically during his leave. He was very pale, the almost transparent look you get with redheads. Now he is about as dark as humans come."        "I don't understand sir, it's only skin tone."        "It is how you get that dark Mr. Stiles, and why. Kirk must have spent almost his entire leave on one of the Rosette worlds. The worlds the Ane call home."        "By your leave sir, but, so?"        "Mr. Stiles, you do not yet understand the danger the Ane are to the Federation at large. They move about all but unseen. They talk little, but listen much. Their government is kept a secret from the rest of the Federation. I have to wonder what loyalties they really have. Kirk spent three months on an Ane world, in the open from the look of it. After this he legally changed his world of residence from Earth to Savanna, and is now listed as an El Nanth citizen, an Ansisi. I fear we may have lost Captain James Kirk to, other interests."        Stiles was starting to look exasperated. "Sir, I really don't understand what any of this means to our mission."        "Mr. Stiles, you are a straight shooter. I have watched you on your last two tours of duty. You know the rules and understand them. You take action when someone is less that forthright with their duties."        "Yes sir, I don't count that as my proudest moment."        "Doing what you should do isn't always pleasant Mr. Stiles, but I can admire a man that will do what he must. I trust you can identify anyone else that is trying to make an end run around the rules?"        Stiles looked uncomfortable. "Yes sir, I could do that."        "I want you to watch your commanding officer, and make sure we haven't lost Captain James T. Kirk to those other interests."        "Is that ethical?"        "Perfectly ethical Mr. Stiles. It is a first officer's duty to see that his Captain is working within the rules, and for the Federation, not against it."        "Yes Sir."        "Good. Now get out there and do you duty."        "Yes Sir."        Admiral Necheyev watched the younger man leave. She didn't even move when a door whisked open at the back of her office. A thin human walked up behind her.        "Do you think he will learn anything?"        "I doubt it. Too earnest, too forthright."        "Then why did you send him?"        "Because you can't get Intelligence officers passed the Ane. It's like they have garlic on their breath or something."        "Why not question Kirk directly?"        "That would tip the Ane off that we are on to them. Who knows what they'll pull out of the hat."        "Sir, are you certain the Ane are a danger?"        "Positive, they tipped their hand with that Builder nonsense, and they didn't even detour to help the Harrier. They have a greater agenda, and it is not Federation friendly. He did pick up his comm badge?"        "Yes sir, and didn't notice the change."        "Good, we might get somewhere."        The Kongo floated two clicks off the Mars Utopia space dock. Every eye was on the space dock doors. The tension mounted as the great portals rolled open and a shining ship issued forth. The USS Hadrian moved out on thrusters.        Kirk turned to his XO. "Mr. Stiles, make a five gun salute, by the numbers."        Stiles said. "Tactical, five gun salute, photon launchers, port and starboard. Execute."        Mr. Mriitath nodded to his junior officer at the weapons controls. "By the numbers Mr. Stiles."        He began to recite a curious little poem that Captain Kirk had given him from deep in the historical files. Mriitath didn't under stand the reason for the poem, it had to be a human thing.        "If I wasn't a gunner I wouldn't be here, port gun fire."        Lt. Failee tapped the torpedo control and the port turret fired a saluting shot.        "Away from my home and family dear, starboard gun fire."        Tap. Mriitath recited the ancient rhyme until five saluting shots and been fired. As the last of them died away, the Hadrian likewise fired five saluting shots. Kirk turned to tactical        "Very good gentlebeings. Make our compliments to the Commander USS Hadrian, and to all crew. Have a safe and successful space trial. Good sailing."        "Message sent sir. Reply coming in. From Commander and crew USS Hadrian, to Commander and crew USS Kongo. Good sailing, and a safe voyage."        "Send receipt. Mr. Solin, give me warp 8 to the Freisan sector."        "Laid in sir."        "Engage"        The Kongo pirouetted and flashed from sight as the Hadrian continued to the trial zone under impulse.        "UbenFuhrer, we have a Federation ship on the Sensors."        "Type, and registration?"        "Liner, The Skylark, Tellar registration."        "Pigs."        "Sir?"        "Tellarites, they are pigs."        "Yes Sir."        "Naf-Fuhrer, it is well time we demonstrated who can and who cannot pass through Ekosian space. Order the ship to general quarters. It is time we took our first prize."        Men moved about the bridge and klaxons sounded thorough the ship, feet pounded stations manned and the ship came to order about them.        "Shields at 100%"        "All weapons armed and ready"        "All stations report General Quarters UbenFuhrer."        The commander of the frigate Pride of Ekos stiffened his posture. "Close with the target. Fire a warning shot and demand their surrender."        It was a sharp, deep sound, Edith woke. She listened. Another bang, different, but not the normal sounds of the ship they had been on for little over two weeks.        "Archie, wake up."        Another bang. Archie came awake at once.        "What?"        "Listen."        More thumps, bangs, then the klaxon sounded for abandon ship. The Breeds were out of bed in a flash.        "Archie, what do we do."        Archie was grabbing some pants. "Follow the drill Edith."        "What's happening?"        "Like I have spent my life on ships. I knew this trip was a bad idea. Quick, don't stand there, get some clothes on and lets get out of here."        The Breeds bustled about, and the klaxon was suddenly silenced.        "Archie?"        "I don't know Edith, I don't know. We hang tight."        The door to their cabin opened suddenly. Two men in strange angular uniforms filled the door. Both of them armed. Archie stepped in front of Edith.        The shorter man spoke, his standard stilted. "Any one else here?"        "Who's askin'?"        The man moved to strike Archie.        "NEIN!" A commanding voice from the hall stopped him.        An obvious officer stepped into the door.        "Humans, our guests private. We do not harm guests. You will return to the Hanger."        The soldier left, cowed. Archie still hovered in front of his wife. The officer turned to the two of them.        "Please accept my apologies. Training is so lax in these 'latter days'."        "Who are you? What is going on?"        "I am Naf-Fuhrer Hendric, your vessel is in violation of Ekosian Space. Not your responsibility. Cooperate, and nothing harmful will befall you."        "What do you mean..."        He interrupted. "No questions now. You and the other passengers will be briefed. You will come with us."        Archie looked the soldiers over.        "Come on Edith."        The soldiers lead them to the hanger deck, one of the locks was open. Several passengers and crew were held apart, none of them human.        Archie looked back and said, "What's going on here?"        "No question."        The soldier shoved him into the lock. Archie looked back again as the guards raised their slug-throwers. He pushed Edith around the corner as the popping sounds echoed around the cavernous deck. Continued in Part Four   Comments or questtons on this file? Mail Here Download a zipped RTF version of this story. Return to -- Epiphany Trek: The Stories The Above is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Copyright © Garry Stahl: May 1999. All rights reserved, re-print only with permission.