“Let her dock.”, John looked out at the black Section 31 shuttle entering the Quasar Quest.
Agent Caitlin Wu had identified herself and approached weapons down. John joined Sgt. Leo and several Dogs as the marine walked with the Captain down to the shuttle bay.
“How did you find us?”, John snapped as Caitlin exited the ship.
“Oh please, John, you can’t be that naive.”, Caitlin mocked.
“Do you think that Starfleet or Section 31 has not known all along where the Quest was?”, Caitlin snarked at the Captain.
“Monica and Starr are on this ship. It is the only reason you were not destroyed leaving the Badlands.”, Caitlin lectured.
“You are not the superstar you think you are, Captain John Warren.”, Caitlin looked at Robert, Bell and others who had joined the Captain in the shuttle bay.
“None of you are.”, Caitlin slammed the King’s Fleet crews.
“You have more in common with the lucky Nicole Branson then with James Kirk.”, Caitlin frowned.
“Did you come here to spit on us or do you have a reason for being here?”, John frowned. He thought of himself as like Kirk. The comment hurt.
“What i'm about to tell you is off the record and strictly confidential.”, Caitlin began.
John perked up.
“The rumours are true. The Romulans did play a part in getting President LaBarbara into Federation One.”, Caitlin dropped a bombshell.
“Up until now, they have not truly used that influence.”, Caitlin explained, “In fact, the influence has been the other way as President LaBarbara and Admiral Wilson were able to use the Romulans to remove evidence of the Multiverse Rift without getting their hands dirty.”
Starr and Dawn came into the shuttle bay. Starr covered her mouth and then her face in shame when she learned of her father’s actions. She was so embarrassed. The Romulans. Why did it have to be the Romulans?
“The Romulans came to Earth to inform President LaBarbara of their intentions to take New Vulcan.”, Caitlin was lighting the air on fire with her words. The room erupted in shock.
“Of course, Earl recused.”, Caitlin responded.
“On March 20, 2296, President LaBarbara was taken by the Tal Shiar.”, Caitlin looked genuinely scared, “No one knows the President is missing. It must stay that way.”
John rubbed his nose. The stress was very real.
He looked at Agent Wu, “So what does this have to do with us?”
“Section 31 may know where the Quest is but the Tal Shiar does not.”, Caitlin looked at Captain Warren.
“When Commander Branson coordinated the rebuild of this old Sovereign it was done without a transponder.”, Caitlin announced.
John looked at Tania and nodded his approval. The Borg Disconnect had saved them now and in the past.
“We cannot move on the Tal Shiar. Starfleet cannot move on the Romulans. It would provoke war.”, Agent Wu explained.
“Section 31 has learned that the Romulans are going to move the President back to Romulus and we would like the Quest to intervene.”, Caitlin looked at John.
“And what’s in it for us?”, Vincent came walking into the shuttle bay.
“Admiral Viceroy or should I say Rear Admiral Viceroy, I did not know you were here.”, Caitlin mocked.
Vincent just huffed in response.
Caitlin looked at John, “A successful retrieval would bode very well for free movement for the Quest and her crew.”
Vincent frowned, “Not enough.”
“Please Vincent, you are embarrassing yourself. You have no authority here.”, Caitlin snapped, “You have no authority anywhere.”
Vincent was deeply hurt. John could see his mentor and best friend crushed by the arrogant officer. Vincent has his back when he entered the Mirror Universe. Vincent always had his back. He was a hero. He deserved better. John gave Caitlin a death stare.
She did not care. She had a mission.
John stood for a long time. He looked over at Starr. She had her face buried in the shoulder of Commander Dawn Keystone. She was crying. John looked around the room and then at Russia. She was just starting to bulge in the front. He looked at Christian. Captain Moyer was in way over his head if this went down.
John looked back at Robert and Bell. He would need everyone if they were going to take this chance. John looked at Caitlin, “Free movement?”
Caitlin smiled, “Free movement. Open mission designation and Starfleet designation number.”
She knew she had him. She looked at John, “Can we count on you Captain?”
John looked at her and then at Vincent. He waited for Vincent to raise his head. The admiral should hold his head high. John looked at Caitlin, “Agent Wu, you can always count on us. In a universe filled with soldiers and shipmates, we are Kings.”
Some 25 people in the room snapped to attention and saluted the Captain.
“Godspeed, Captain.”, Caitlin saluted.
For the first time since she landed, John felt like the Agent was truly wishing them well.
John turned around, “Ok, people. We are go for a quest. Let’s do this great bird an honour to its legendary history.”
“With pleasure, Captain.”, Dawn looked at John.
Posted by
Agent Caitlin Wu
Section 31
