Captain Watt and Commander Pendragon stood in the transporter room of the Valkyrie. They awaited the arrival of a very special guest, an old friend of theirs. Watt gave the order for the transporter beam to be energised, and it duly was. A few seconds later the pattern was fully formed. A disfigured man in a wheelchair sat on the transporter pad. The man was Captain Connor McCloud. McCloud had been severely injured during the test rungs of the new Lohengrin starship. An explosion in the ship’s engine room had left McCloud paralysed from the chest down. Plasma burns to his face had left him horribly disfigured. He now could no longer talk, the explosion having caused irreparable damage to his vocal chords.
Watt stepped onto the transporter pad.
“Welcome aboard Connor. I trust your journey was without incident.”
As he was now unable to speak McCloud now spoke using a small device which was operated by his eyes. On the small panel in front of him a light flashed and there was a beep. McCloud was using the old one beep for yes and two beeps for no routine.
“Your quarters are ready.” said Watt. “We’ve given you your old ones, but they’ve been adapted so that you can use them.”
McCloud’s panel made another beep, this time meant as a sign of gratitude. He then moved the wheelchair off the transporter pad and left the room. While Pendragon returned to the bridge Watt accompanied McCloud to his quarters.
“I was sorry to hear about your accident, Connor.” said Watt. “It shocked us all. Even Sutek was a bit upset.”
McCloud gazed at Watt as they moved along the corridor. A short time later they were at McCloud’s quarters. McCloud entered first.
“I’ll give you time to settle in.” said Watt. “They said you’ve got a sort of communicator installed on your panel. If you need anything just call me or Doctor Singh.”
Watt then left the room. McCloud now sat alone in his quarters, but only for a short while. A few minutes later Sutek entered. He stood in front of McCloud. The friendship between McCloud and Sutek stretched over many years. When Sutek first graduated from Starfleet Academy he was first posted to the Valkyrie when McCloud was in command. As a young ensign McCloud made a few mistakes, but McCloud helped him out quite a bit. Sutek never forgot this.
“Your accident aboard the Lohengrin was most…unfortunate, Captain McCloud.” he said. “But do not worry. I have a plan that will make you forget your pain and suffering.
While Sutek had been visiting McCloud Watt had returned to the transporter room so he could greet someone else who was beaming aboard. He again gave the order for the transporter beam to be energised. A few seconds later Commodore Jose Throne, commanding officer of the Tantalem starbase, was on board. Throne stepped off the transporter and shook Watt’s hand.
“It’s good to see you again James.” said Throne.
“Likewise Jose.” said Watt. “I only wish it could have been under better circumstances. How is the investigation into the Lohengrin accident going?”
“So far we have reached only one conclusion.” said Throne. “There must have been a design flaw in the new warp engines. That’s the only explanation the investigators can come up with! Is Captain McCloud on board yet by the way?”
“He arrived a few minutes ago.” Watt replied. “Tell me, why didn’t you send him back to Earth?”
“Because if he returned to Earth he would stop ageing again.” said Throne. “Can you imagine spending a whole eternity paralysed and disfigured?”
“It’s not a pleasant though.” said Watt.
“That’s why I’m taking him to the Morgan Medical Facility.” said Throne. “I want to see if Dr. Russell can do anything for him. She knows of his injuries but she doesn’t hold out much hope.”
“I hope she can find some way of helping him.” said Watt. “I hate to see him suffer like that.”
A short time later McCloud was in Sickbay receiving a full medical scan from Dr. Singh. Watt, Pendragon and Sutek were also present.
“I’ve never seen damage like this before.” said Singh. “It’s as if you took the full brunt of the explosion.”
“He did.” said Watt. “But if it hadn’t been for him that whole ship would have been destroyed.”
“Well there’s nothing more for me to check on.” said Singh.
“Then I’ll show you back to your quarters Captain McCloud.” said Pendragon.
Pendragon and McCloud left Sickbay. After they left Sutek turned to Watt.
“Captain, may I have a word with you in private?” asked Sutek.
“Sure.” said Watt.
A few minutes later Watt and Sutek were in Watt’s quarters. Watt stood at the table pouring a drink.
“Will you join me?” asked Watt. “I always find it better to discuss a problem over a drink.”
Sutek walked up to Watt, who had his back turned to the Vulcan.
“Unfortunately this is a problem I cannot discuss with you.” said Sutek.
Sutek raised his arm and grabbed Watt by the shoulder. Then, a Vulcan neck pinch rendered Watt unconscious. He slumped to the ground.
“I did not wish to follow this course of action.” said Sutek. “But I must.”
A few minutes later Sutek walked along the corridors of the crew’s quarters deck. He soon found the person he was looking for, Commander Pendragon. Sutek stopped him.
“Commander, the Captain wishes you to report to Holodeck Four.”
“Why?” asked Pendragon.
“He will explain once you get there.”
Soon Sutek and Pendragon stood outside the door of the holodeck. Pendragon pressed the com-panel and the door opened. Pendragon walked inside and looked around. The holodeck was empty.
“What the devil is going on here?” said Pendragon.
Before Pendragon could get his answer he, too, was rendered unconscious, thanks to another Vulcan neck pinch.
A few minutes later Sutek entered the bridge. The bridge was currently under the command of Lt. Amarus, who was sitting in the captain’s chair. Sutek walked over to him.
“Mr. Amarus, I relieve you of command.”
“Of course Commander.” said Amarus.
Amarus retook his position at tactical.
“Mr. Tompkins, estimated time of arrival at the Morgan Medical Facility.” said Sutek.
“At current speed of warp four twelve hours and seventeen minutes.” Tompkins replied.
“At a speed of warp nine how long would it take us to get to the nearby Epsilon-Beta system?”
“Twenty minutes.” said Tompkins. “But that system is now off-limits, Starfleet orders.”
“Mr. Tompkins, please plot a course for the first planet of the Epsilon-Beta system, ahead warp nine.”
“But Commander!” said Amarus. “This is highly irregular. We must get clearance from Starfleet Command before entering that system.”
“Clearance which we have Mr. Amarus.” said Sutek. “You have your orders Mr. Tompkins. Ahead warp nine.”
Tompkins did as he was ordered. A course was set for the Epsilon-Beta system, the system that had been deemed off-limits since the Valkyrie’s last visit there.
In the holodeck Pendragon was just starting to come around. He rubbed his shoulder, it was still smarting from Sutek’s neck pinch. He then walked over to the control panel and pressed the button Nothing happened. The door to the holodeck was meant to open, but somehow Sutek had managed to disable it. He then pressed his communicator.
“Pendragon to bridge.”
There was no answer. He again pressed the control panel but got the same result as before. He then began to slowly remove the panel from the wall in an attempt to get out of the holodeck.
Meanwhile in his quarters Watt too was just about regaining his senses. His shoulder felt like it had been hit with a sledgehammer. He pressed his communicator.
“Watt to security.”
The same result as with Pendragon’s communicator, no response. So he walked over to the com-panel near his door and pressed it. The door did not open. He pressed it again, the same result. Sutek had locked the door behind him.
On the bridge Singh walked on. His instruments in Sickbay had told him of the course change.
“Mr. Sutek, why are we moving away from the Morgan Medical Facility?”
Sutek did not answer.
“Well answer me then!” said Singh.
Singh then walked over to the tactical station.
“We’re heading for the Epsilon-Beta system!” said Singh. “Are you mad? This system is off-limits!”
Singh then activated his communicator.
“Singh to Watt.”
“There is no use in trying to contact the Captain or Commander Pendragon for that matter.” said Sutek.
“We are coming up to Epsilon-Beta One Commander.” said Tompkins.
“Where is Captain Watt?” said Singh.
“The Captain is indisposed, as is Commander Pendragon.” Sutek replied.
“We are one minutes away from the planet.” said Tompkins.
Then Commodore Throne entered the bridge.
“Commander Sutek, who authorised this course change?” he asked.
“I did.” said Sutek. “If my calculations are correct we should now be in orbit around Epsilon-Beta One.”
“This world if off-limits by order of Starfleet Command!” said Throne.
“I know.” said Sutek. “You will find Captain Watt locked in his quarters, and Commander Pendragon locked in Holodeck Four. Doctor Singh, as you are senior ship’s officer currently on the bridge will you place me under arrest for mutiny?”
Singh paused. He did not know what to do.
“You’re…under arrest.”
“Your career is over, Commander Sutek.” said Throne.
An hour later Watt sat in his ready room. A short time after Sutek was placed under arrest Watt and Pendragon were released. As he sat studying the files at his computer terminal Commodore Throne entered.
“Where is Commander Sutek now?” he asked.
“He us under house arrest in his quarters.” said Watt.
“Why didn’t you throw him in the brig?”
“I hardly consider Sutek a danger at this moment. He did surrender willingly!”
“He commandeered your ship Captain, and took us to a system that is deemed off-limits to all Federation starships!”
“Up until now Commander Sutek has been one of my most loyal and respected officers. By throwing him in the brig I would have taken his dignity away from him. I won’t do that.”
Throne walked away from the desk and rubbed his head. He then turned to Watt again.
“Of course you realise he will have to face a court martial.”
“Federation rules state that there must be at least three high ranking officers at such a hearing.”
“We have three here, Captain McCloud, you and I!”
“McCloud and I are too close to Sutek to be able to give an unbiased judgement.”
“We are the only three present. The nearest starbase is seventeen hours away. We must hold the hearing here.”
“But we have no defence or prosecution counsel aboard.”
“I believe that Ambassador Magus as the needed qualifications.”
A short time later Watt entered Magus’ quarters. He had been kept well informed of the proceedings.
“I knew you were coming Captain.” said Magus. “I am already preparing Commander Sutek’s defence.”
“That won’t be necessary.” said Watt. “Commodore Throne wants you to appear for the prosecution.”
Magus was shocked. He walked up to Watt.
“Then who is going to represent Sutek?” he asked.
“That’s for him to decide.” Watt replied. “But the thing I’m most worried about is the three judges at this hearing. How can Connor and myself pass judgement on someone we have known for nearly ten years?”
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