"Ambassador Guzman's warning" by Muma ===== Bridge, USS Chimera ===== After the little Intel meeting all three of them – Samantha, Rangi and Shane returned to the bridge. Rangi sat herself in the XO's seat and Shane in the CO's one. He was thinking about the involvement of the Section 31 into the Einhoften matter and what it will mean for the Chimera, paying little attetion to what was going on the bridge. He hardy noticed as Rangi stood up and went to the OPS station where she spoke for a moment with Andy. Then she returned to Shane and touched his shoulder gently. When Shane looked up at her he saw an amused expression on her face ... he knew that she knew that he (knew) was miles away in his thoughts: "Shane" she said, "Medical reports some strange medical data from the rescued crew from Einhoften, I'll go and help Ra'nar with this." For a moment ... beeing distracted from his thoughts ... Shane was a bit puzzled. Just two seconds later, he smiled at Rangi and replied: "Of course, keep me please updated". Rangi smiled and replied: "Sir, yes, sir ..." Shane looked at her a bit puzzled for moment. {Sir?} It took him another two seconds to get it ... and he just shook his head slightly and said while grinning slightly: "Off you goes Commander". Hardly ten minutes passed since Rangi left when LT. Foster announced: "Sir, the Warhammers report contact with the away team. They have pinpointed their location and are going to extract them". Shane looked back at the Ops officer and noded: "Very well". He felt a sourge of relief upon hearing that news. He almost feared that Walsh's part of the away team was ambushed and killed ... and was very glad that he was wrong. Taking a moment to consider his words he added: "Lieutenant, give the away team an hour to rest and then ask Major Walsh and 2LT Cortez to join me and Commander Summers in the conference longue." Foster noded and started to tap his console away. Now it was Ens. Dexter who spoke up from behind the tactical console: "Commander, there is a Code 47 message coming in". Shane looked at Dexter and wondered: {For the ship's Captain only?}. "Origin?" he asked expecting Dexter to say Omega System. "Sector 001, Earth, sir" he replied instead. Shane raised an eyebrow ...a custom he "learnd" from the Chief of Science, raised himself from the seat and said: "Patch it to my ready room Ensign please" Looking at Andy he added: "You have the bridge Lieutenant". ===== CO's ready room ====== Shane went over to his table and tapped the little conputer console. [Code 47 message coming in] announced the feminine voice of the Computer, [Voice print ID required] "Guzman, Omega – Omikron – Muchotravka seven" he said. The computer beeped in compliance and after a moment the face of Ambassador Guzman appeared on the screen. "Father?" Shane gasped in surprise. The last thing he would expect was a call from his father. Shane and his parents were not on very good terms. This little animosity dated back almost 10 years when Shane decided to enter Starfleet instead of becoming a diplomat like his father or a scientist like his mother. "This is a secure channel Shane, so we can talk open" Shane's father stated. "How did you get to use a Code 47 channel?" Shane asked frowning a bit. Shane's father frowned back and said: "Have you forgotten who I am, Shane? I have many friends on many places and that's the reason why I am calling you. It's the mission you are currently involved with" "How do you know about it?" Shane asked again rather surprised about his father knowing about top secret things. It was hard to even track the movements of SSF ships ... and by far harder to get knowledge about their missions. "The Marduk affair causes concerns in the highest levels" The ambassador stated, "If the Special Forces wont suceed in covering this up, some very high heads in Starfleet will be cut off and potentially cause serious troubles through the whole federation. Your SSF Commander, Colonel Cole is quite under pressure and some say that Starfleet Command will sacrife her if SSF will fail. Some of her staff has been already 'reassigned'. This is not a good time for Special forces" Shane noded, impressed again about his father's knowledge of Federation politics. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked. The Ambssador looked sternly at his son like he used to do when he was 15 ... but this time Shane was 30. "I want to make sure that you and your ship wont be sacrified as well, son. What do you know about Section 31?" he asked suddenly. Shane was prepared for a question like this ... he knew his father and his ways. He noded: "I know about their involvemt in this affair, father." Now it was time for Ambassador Guzman to be surprised: "Do you?" he asked. "Yes" Shane replied, "We have data and rescued personell from the facility". His father noded: "Do you know that you have dangerous good on board, dont you?" Shane shrugged: "Like too often" "This time its different Shane. If the Section decides that you are a threath to them, they wont hesistate and will eliminate you ... if neccessary the Chimera as well. It would be the best to leave the whole affair" Shane shook his head: "You know I can't, father. I have my orders" Ambassador Guzman shook his head: "Forget the orders son, get away from Sidos, you can always think up a reason, warp core troubles, medical emergency on board, whatever just get away from there" "You've just said that if SSF fail heads will roll, among them Cole's as well. You know it was her who appointed me as CO of the Chimera. Should i pay her this back?" The ambassador looked coldly back at his son: "Better her head then yours son. You are afterall in the Intelligence branch ... you should know better". Shane shook his head: "No, I won't do that father. I am no Intel operative, I am starfleet officer and I will fullfill my orders. I have to regain control of this facility and I will do just exact that. I won't mix up with the Intel side of things, let that be the concern of SSF Command, but I'll have the facility cleared and under my control untill SSF Command says otherwise." After a moment of silence Ambassador Guzman said: "Have it your way son, I warned you, but you will have it your way, dont you? Like you always did ..." Shane noded and replied coldly back:"I will. Anything else?" "Your mother asks about your brother. Do you have any news about him?" Shane knew that his father knew that Martin was on board, but knew his father good enough to realise he wouldnt ask directly. "In fact yes, Martin is still doing well on board" he replied. "What is he still doing on board your ships? Is there some woman involved? The Vulcan one?" Ambassador Guzman knew really quite a lot things, Shane saw that it was of no use to deny what he already knew. "Martin is my Diplomatic advisor as you know father and yes, he's involved with my Chief Science." "You have to stop that!" said his father. "Have I?" Shane asked, "Now YOU have forgotten to whom you are speaking. I am the Commanding officer of the Chimera and only I decide what I do on board my ship. And before you ask ... No, it's only up to Martin and Oriana and I won't mix up with their private life" The ambassador remained silent for a moment: "You know I could get him away from your ship." He stated. Shane noded: "I do, but you won't" he stated in the same tone. ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera - A