Back again Pt IV

Posted on Wednesday September 7th, 2022 @ 9:04am by Lieutenant Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant JG Talerian Maxx

Mission: New Worlds
Location: USS Oberon
Timeline: Current.

Tor nodded and his eyes and weapon remained on Valev. He wanted to kill him but he realized he was so tired of killing. All he wanted to do was become a husband and father once again and serving his time.

Valev realised the game was up and, in defeat, lay looking daggers at Tor.

Finchley stood up slowly and made his way across to where Steven was tending to Niali "I think things will calm down now Doctor, beam yourself and Niali to Sickbay and Karadis and I will catch up with you in a little while."

“ Please see that you do Commander. With the Captain still out cold. We can’t afford to loose you too.” Steven said

Coming back to Tor, Finchley gestured for him to hand the phaser back to him so he could see to it Valev was covered till Security arrived and took him to the brig.

Tor handed it back. “Thank you…thank you for trusting me Commander Kerr.”

As he took the phaser, Finchley said "Tor, call off your peoples attempt to take the ship, tell them to lay down their arms and allow Security to take them to the holding cells in the brig. Once that's done, go and see your wife, new born son and your mother."

Tor nodded and pressed behind his left ear. “This is Tor, it is over, lay down your weapons immediately you will not be hurt.”

Immediately all over the ship Tors rebels began to lay down their arms and submit to the Oberon’s security teams.

Tor disappeared into the bedroom where First Minister Ara could be heard crying as she clasped her arms around her son. A babies cry could be heard as Tor picked up his son.

Back in the main room, Finchley watched as three of the ships Security department entered Ara’s quarters. Pointing to Valev he said “Take him away, lock him in a cell in the brig, the ONLY people allowed to gain access to him are myself, Lieutenant Korial and Lieutenant Karadis, is that understood?”

“Absolutely Sir” the three Security staff answered in unison.

He watched as Valev was picked up and taken out.

“Hey Bird” Karadis said.

“Mmmm?” Finchley replied, looking round at her.

“You do realise you moved like a geriatric old troll during all that?” Karadis said.

“Maybe, but trying to insult me so I won’t go through with your promotion won’t work. The more you try, the more determined I am to see it stick” Finchley replied.

“Damn…” Karadis muttered under her breath.

[Sickbay]

Four of the bio beds in sickbay were occupied with the Command staff of the ship. The Captain was still unconscious and the XO Niali was critical. In the next bed the Acting Captain Finchley Kerr was badly injured.

Steven shook his head.

“ Great the whole of the Command team is out cold!” He said

“ Actually the Captain is awake.” McTaggard said

“ No Ensign he is out cold.The bio bed readings say he is!” Steven muttered.

“That bio bed is faulty. See he’s pulling himself up.” Penny pointed out.

“ Well smack my bum and hand me to my mother!” Steven said.

"Actually Doctor, I'm still conscious" Finchley said, his eyes opening "I was just resting up. I need you to fix me up so I can get to the Ready Room and make a report. I promise you I'll return so you can see to me properly, but w can't have the whole Command Team here, one of us needs to make that report. If it makes you feel any better, you can accompany me, but when I speak to the Admiralty, I will need you to step outside for a brief few minutes while I discuss something with him" he finished.

Steven did not like this. But Finchley was his Commanding Officer. So after a quick look at his readings. Edgeware picked up a hypo. Then pressed it in his arm.

“ Ok. Your good to go for now. Take this extra hypo with you. If you begin to feel faint use it. But only if you feel faint. Then once this is over. Get back down here ASAP.” Steven said

Niali was dreaming, deep colors swirled around her pulsating like heartbeats. Red, blue, yellow, green it seemed like they were alive and she knew them as old friends. Faces of people she knew who were no longer here, even her old pets whom she had loved and mourned seemed to be contained within the swirl. Their souls pulled at her begging her to go with them, to play again in the sun, no cares and no death to separate them. She was deciding whether to go with them she knew that. Was it a dream? She did not know, what if anything or anyone was calling her to stay?

[Brig]

Nearly every cell was full. Tor’s soldiers sat quietly watching what was going on. Valev had cell to himself and was pacing up and down trying to create a plan that would save himself.

The door opened and Tor walked in with two of the Oberon’s security with him. “Place me with my men, please?” He asked his captors. “It is where I should be.” They nodded and he entered the cell, the force field zapping up behind him. In few seconds he was surrounded with voices asking him what was happening?. He held his hands up and spoke. “I asked you to lay down your arms under no duress. It is time we came home even if it is to prison. I have been promised that we will have help to remove our genetic ‘upgrades’ but we will need to serve our time before we can go home.” He pointed to the cell containing Valev. “As you can see Minister Valev has been arrested. He tried to facilitate a coup against my mother First Minister Ara and the Quorum. He has been behind the movement to keep us as soldiers, killers, away from our families and a life at home, a peaceful life which I know you all want.” A swell of voices asked what would happen to Valev and Tor raised his hands for silence. “ Minister Valev and his cronies will be tried and if found guilty will be punished.”

[First Minister’s Quarters]

Ara had spoke to the Quorum and informed them of what had happened. Valev had implicated several members and they had been arrested and imprisoned each one of them having no trouble implicating each other and Valev.

Ara had spoken at length with Tor and Arle and the couple had decided that Arle and the baby should go home with Ara. First Minister Ara waited to talk to Commander Kerr before decamping for the planet.

Having left Sickbay, and before going to the bridge to make his report to Admiral Horn, Finchley went to see First Minister Ara and escort her and her officials to the transporter room. He stopped by the door, took a deep breath, pressed the chime and waited.

“Yes” asked Ara holding and rocking her grandson his mother Arle now standing with her.

The doors opened and Finchley walked in "First Minister" he said, nodding to her "I've been informed that the transporter room is now ready to beam yourself and your staff back down to the planet surface. Separate plans have been made to transport Tor, his rebels and Valev, but rest assured we'll make sure none of them can escape before they're arrested planet side. After they're down, it's then your jurisdiction as to how things go. Shall we?" he said, gesturing towards the door.

Ara nodded. “Thank you for everything Commander Kerr, for saving our lives, capturing Valev and believing that there is some good in Tor. I hope that once the government has again settled and we have begun to reverse the genetics and welcome our soldiers home unless they are to be imprisoned. Actually Commander our ‘prisons’ are well guarded facilities where our ‘incarcerated are allowed their own rooms, chances to see their loved ones and help to reintroduce them into society. Even our citizens deemed unable to rejoin society are treated well. In every event Commander the Akaru still want to join the Federation and will welcome a delegation back.” She looked at Arle. “Arle do you want to say something?”

Arle nodded, “I wish to thank you Commander and especially your Doctor Edgeware for the care and compassion you have treated me with. My husband will return to society and to me after he serves his time.” She paused, “I believe my sister is still unconscious in sickbay, please tell her I love her?” She smiled “in fact we would like your permission to use your name for our son. He will be named Aruson Finchley?”

Finchley nodded at the kind words Arle said to him, and replied "You're welcome and I'll pass your thanks on to Dr Edgeware. As for Tor, looking at the circumstances under which this all took place, I can't say I blame him and his soldiers for their course of action, I would probably have looked for a way out of it myself if it were me and this crew. If it will help, I can offer to be a character witness in regards to how he acted in the end, it may help him a little, but I can't be sure. I'll also tell Niali what you've said about her as well."

He pondered a minute on the last thing Arle said, then replied "I'm very touched that you would like to use my name in your sons name...very touched, and of course, I'd be honoured."

With that he looked at Ara as she said

“Please lead the way to your transporter Commander. We are eager to get home.

"Of course" Finchley said "If you'll all come this way please" he added, gesturing towards the door.

After about twenty minutes, everyone was safely transported down to the planet surface, and the USS Oberon once more had only her own crew onboard. Finchley made his way to the bridge and then to the Ready Room. Once inside, he contacted Admiral Horn and made out his report and as he was finishing said "I'd like special commendations to made out for Lieutenant Niali Korial, Lieutenant Shr'Nesh Karadis and Lieutenant Junior Grade Steven Edgeware Sir, for actions above and beyond the call of duty."

"Sure thing Finch, that'll all be put to the relevant people" Horn replied.

"Thank you Sir" Finchley replied "I will of course put all of this in a written report, I just wanted to give you a verbal report on what's happened."

"I look forward to receiving it" Horn replied "Starfleet out."

The link closed and Finchley sat back in the chair he was in, now feeling very tired. The written report could be made out later, right now he had to make good on the promise he'd made to Steven on going back to Sickbay to get checked over thoroughly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------