Star Trek The Next Generation The Gift: A Star Trek SI

I finally had my ultrasound today. For those who don't know (I may not have posted about this in this thread) I had thyroid nodule surgery back in December (just before Christmas). They detected a very small amount of cancer in the nodule. This was on my left side. I'm still healing tremendously well from it, however the oncologist at the cancer agency wants to make sure that the right side doesn't contain any unwanted surprises, so he ordered an ultrasound and CT scan. Hopefully the ultrasound will be negative and I won't need the CT scan, should find out in a couple of days time.

Working on the final part of Deadwood. Westerns are one of my favourite genres, but easily my weakest skill as a writer. There are some references to other westerny themed films in this as well. Then we'll on to finish off Season Six, some bits and bobs with Seven Seven---then we'll be tackling this version of "Generations" which is a huge arc.

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Author's Note: Apologies to those who wanted to see this. I thought I could pull this off, but too much is going on right now, and I'm feeling lazy, so we're going to move on to more important things. Laren also leaves early for storytelling purposes in this.

The holo-program unfolded with all of us taking on Frank---who surprised all of us as Data and Geordi joined as Frank and his one hand man, in addition to several of his gang members.

"Data?" Deanna exclaims shocked from a point on the roof top. Great job exposing our point Deanna.

"No Data here. Name is Frank Hollander. I am surprised you do not recognize me as the Butcher of Bozeman."

Data is trying but his inability to use contractions is rather amusing in this case. I hold on to my modified Winchester. I had the computer replicate Doc Brown's from Back to the Future Part III, but the scope on it is a more refined version than he had the ability to make, it's probably more efficient than current generation Starfleet rifles.

"We know who you are Hollander. We're here to stop you." Worf bellows from the town square

Data as Frank laughs. It's not as chilling as in the episode. That's because that wasn't Data. It was actually Frank Hollander thanks to the systems failure. Data is trying though.

"You can not stop me. Open fire." he orders

There was a shootout between the two sides that lasted a grand total of about a half hour. It seemed longer at times, but eventually we got the upper hand as the programming took effect and we arrested Frank and Eli. Alexander at the end of it was absolutely elated by everything. Immensely proud of his father, and happy that we all took part. Afterwards we all went to dinner at Ten Forward in costume of course. I kind of enjoyed being a version of Arthur Morgan. Maybe I should program the Red Dead series, at least what bits of it I can remember into the holodeck.

We enter into May 2369. A major change has occurred as Captain Picard recommended Laren for the Starfleet Tactical Training program this cycle, and she was accepted based on glowing recommendations from Picard, Commander Riker, and Counsellor Troi. It was a bittersweet moment for the two of us as a kind of awkwardness set in. An apprehension if you will. This is the beginning of the end for us and Laren realizes that I am being more emotional than usual, and I can't tell her why.

"We'll talk a lot. I promise." she pecks my cheek one last time as I watch her leave for the shuttle. The beginning of the end, because when she returns....I'll only have a few days with her before she chooses to join the Maquis. I watch in silence as the shuttle doors close on her.

Speaking of the Maquis. The Cardassians have increased their activity along the Federation border, as I predicted they would.

"Admiral Shanthi is one of the wisest people I have ever known, and had the privilege of working with Mr. Young, surpassed in this era only by Admiral Satie---but Starfleet's policy on the Cardassian's has been rock solid for decades now. I have done my best to warn them, but they remain steadfast with their inane appeasement policy." Admiral Nechayev says on my monitor screen

"As I predicted they would. They are scared to rock the boat, even as Elizabeth's attempts to boost the Fleet post Wolf 359 continue at neck breaking pace. We're still not ready to engage anyone one that level. I understand, but Starfleet needs to know that this has been a mistake." I reply

"I've made it to clear them Adam, but the Federation Council is more than pleased with this stance as well. The two are on the same page about this. There's something else."

"I know...Celtris III." I reply and Alynna smirks

"The rest of the senior staff must not be made aware of the real reasons of this operation. Captain Picard, Lieutenant Worf, and Doctor Crusher's training must remain a secret, along with the real reason for Captain Jellico's presence on the Enterprise." she orders

"Understood sir."

"Very well. We'll keep in touch, Ensign."

"Aye Admiral."

The screen goes blank as I prepare myself to deal with Captain Jellico.

Prior to Jellico coming on board, Data and I are able to save the Exocamps. Dr. Fallon gives assurances not to abuse them in the future, and apologizes for any harm she has done as I explain to her what they eventually become. She's astonished that they receive Federation membership.

"The Exo's will be one of our most important contributing member states in less a decade Doc." I say

Including having a couple of them acting as little imp's....

We all gather in Ten Forward for the change of command ceremony. Alynna has already been here. Everyone immediately turned to me for explanation but I told them I was ordered to give none. The tension has been palatable for weeks now. The increased Cardassian presence has folks whispering about another war with them. Jellico's presence now has everyone on edge, and it's going to get even worse when he actually is in command. The boson whistle goes off and Commander Riker orders us all to attention. Captain Picard raises the PADD with his orders and reads it formally.

"To Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commanding Officer USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D, Stardate 46358.1. You are hereby requested and required to relinquish command of your vessel to Captain Edward Jellico, Commanding Officer USS Cairo effective this stardate, signed Vice-Admiral Alynna Nechayev, Starfleet Command. Computer---transfer all command codes to Captain Edward Jellico, Picard Delta Five."

There's a slight pause.

"Transfer complete, USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D is now under the command of Captain Edward Jellico."

"I relieve you sir," Jellico formally says

"I stand relieved." Picard replies

"Dismissed!" Jellico bellows

The others start to gather around me and try to pry anything out of me.

"What's going on here Adam? What's this all about, and why can't you tell us?" Riker asks

"I already explained that sir. I was given explicit orders not to." I reply

"By who?" Worf asks

"Admiral Nechayev." I reply

After Picard and Jellico have their brief chit chat I see the two of them head towards us. Picard makes informal introductions. Jellico points to me.

"I want to see you in my office at 05:00" tomorrow morning he says gently but firmly

"Aye Captain." I reply nearly gulping

"What was that about?" Geordi asks

I hand my empty drink to a waiter and excuse myself from everyone and head back to my quarters. This isn't going to be good for me.


I come off duty and report to the Captain's ready room at exactly 05:00 hours the next day. A slew of PADD's and iso chips are scattered across Jellico's desk. He doesn't even look at me as I report and motions for me to sit down. I do so. I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. No selling Jellico all the way.

"I'll be blunt with you, Mr. Young. I don't like you. I don't like the influence you've had on Starfleet. I am here for a singular reason. To execute my mission. I'm going to do exactly that. You are hereby confined to quarters until further notice. Dismissed." Jellico wastes no time

In a near single motion I stand up and turn to leave. Data sees me stride with purpose and does not say anything for which I'm glad. I try not to show my unrestrained glee. I was just dressed down by Captain Jellico!!! Holy Shit! The door swooshes close on me.

I got the ultrasound results two days ago. They did indeed find another nodule on the right side glad. It is significantly smaller than the first one, 1.7cm. However the radiologist is concerned about it, so they've ordered a biopsy for next month. Hopefully they are able to do a biopsy on this one, because with the original---it was so big and was hiding behind my voice box, that they couldn't get the needle so they opted for surgery instead. So here's hoping it goes well and they're able to find no cancer in this one, this time.

I am having keyboard issues. So am waiting for a USB keyboard. Then will be restructuring the conclusion to Chain of Commander. Thanks to @Goku_san we're heading in an interesting direction.

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A full week. The entire duration of the talks with the Cardassians. I am restricted to quarters. My security access revoked by Jellico. He thought of everything that I knew how to access and restricted it. So I replicated a punching bag and hooked it up to the ceiling. I wrote. I read. I watched vids. I listened to my hardstyle music to let the stress out. But I couldn't stop thinking about why I had been confined to quarters. I understand Jellico not wanting me to interfere, but he also knew that I understood what the goals and stakes of this mission were. Something about this has not sit right with me the entire time. The Cardassians specifically targeted Captain Picard. They used the data with Celtris III to lure him out so they could capture him. They wanted the "defense plans for Minos Korva". Starfleet Command has long theorized that Minos Korva would be the entry point of a Cardassian invasion into Federation space and spent the last few years building up defenses for it. Starfleet Intelligence---for all the jokes about them, don't make mistakes like this. This reeks of Obsidian Order planning, the Cardassian military don't operate like this. They would have just gone ahead and planned a strike---I'm distracted by this now. My door chime goes off. I already know who it is.

"Counsellor."

"Captain Jellico has departed the ship. The mission was a success. The Cardassians have withdrawn their forces." Deanna says as I get up from behind my desk

"The Captain?" I ask with concern

"Is recovering in his quarters. He has requested to see you." Deanna reports as I blink in surprise

"Understood. Deanna....I"

"Something is wrong?" she observes

"I think something is very wrong yes. I think all of this is hiding a bigger picture that we're missing." I explain

"I recognize that look." she states and I gesture for the couch

We both sit down. I struggle to start to voice my concerns.

"I've had a lot of time to think since being benched. I understand why Jellico did it. He didn't want any unknown variables to interfere in achieving the main objective...but there's something else about this that has been majorly bugging me this whole time."

"The trap to take Picard?" Deanna asks

"Exactly. That's an Obsidian Order ploy. This was thought to be a Cardassian Central Command operation by Starfleet Intelligence. The data recovered on the bio-weapon---I don't think that was faked. I think that is real. What was faked was the location. I don't need to read the report to know what happened to Jean-Luc. I've already seen most of their interrogation sessions from the show. I know what Madred wanted...specifically the defense capabilities of Minos Korvas. Why? The Central Command could simply have planned a regular military operation to invade if they wanted."

"Adam...I'm not sure I like where you're headed with this." Deanna replies

"I certainly don't like it. But there's something going on here. Something we don't know about that we need to know...I think this goes back a long time Deanna. I'm going to find out what that is, and why." I say determined


Deanna is silent for a few minutes. She's only seen me like this a couple of times before. I let her process what I have just proposed.

"You're talking about a conspiracy with the Cardassians...between Starfleet Command and Cardassian Central Command. Over what though?" she asks

"That's the part that I don't know. We know through my exposure of Admiral Kennelly last year that there HAVE been collaborators. That was just about Bajor, the Occupation is in the midst of ending. They're just starting to withdraw their forces from Bajor as well. I can't help but feel like all of this is connected somehow. There maybe more that we don't know about."

"Adam hold on, I know you've been couped up here...but you're going to need proof before making an accusation or attempting to do any exposing. Captain Picard is in no condition right now to talk about any of this with you." Deanna replies

"No he isn't. I'm not going to press him on this right now. But Deanna, if I'm right, and I'm not just reaching here and playing Sherlock---we've got a major problem that has been kept from boiling to the surface for a very long time. I still intend on figuring out what that is..."

"The Captain still wants to see you...just don't bring this up with him right now." she pleads with me and I nod

I put on my uniform for the first time in a week and head to Jean-Luc's quarters, and prepare myself. I press the chime.

"Come."

I hear and enter. I see him sitting in civilian clothing. PADD in hand.

"Ah Mr. Young. Please come in." he says and I do so


"Yes sir...are you...okay?" I ask instead

"I've been better...please sit. Do you want anything?" he asks

"No sir, I'm fine. I just came to see how you are doing."

"You know exactly what they did to me, don't you?"

"I do yes." I say carefully

"You are wondering why Starfleet Command ordered Captain Jellico to confine you to quarters?" he asks as he sips his tea

"It did cross my mind." I reply

"Starfleet doesn't want to expose you to the Cardassians. They felt if the Cardassians found out about you that---" I interrupt him

"That doesn't make much sense. The greater galaxy already KNOWS about me due to Locutus. Was this just because Jellico didn't like me?" I ask

Picard puts his tea down and has that serious face.

"I'm afraid so."

It's not in his nature to lie...must be the toll of the torture.


"I'm sorry you had to go through this sir. This was what I was trying to avoid. Starfleet chose not to listen to me. This wouldn't have happened had they." I state

Picard is silent for a long while. He's distracted. No doubt by his ordeal.

"You wanted to see me though sir?" I ask bringing his attention back

"Yes. I wanted you to know that what happened to me, was not your fault. You shouldn't blame yourself for what happened." he states and I frown

No. It was someone in Starfleet's fault.

"Yes sir." I reply and for the rest of the time we just sit together.

This is bothering me more than I thought it would. I don't like surprises, and this potentially is a major one.

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It is a week now after the talks with the Cardassians. They have completed their withdrawal from Bajor. It actually has been going on for the past three or four weeks, and they've taken their time doing it of course kicking and screaming. The Minos Korvas incident was in part a response to what was going on with Bajor as Central Command reassigned a good portion of their forces from the Bajoroan Sector to Minos. They of course left Bajor itself in ruins. Quite literally. They destroyed, pillaged everything they could on their way out. The Provincial Government only has just formed and contacted the Federation Council two days ago requesting Starfleet assistance. If you thought Deep Space Nine looked like a complete wreck when we first saw her, then the planet itself is a macrocosm of what the Cardassian's left Terok Nor in.

My suspicions over the true nature of Celtris III and Minos Korvas will have to wait for a little while as the Enterprise docks at Deep Space Nine. It is May 20th, 2369. I did what I could to try and push this forward, however the amount of pushback that I got back on this---again I'm starting to see things in a new light where Bajor is concerned, things that I hadn't considered before hand. I notice the USS Gorkon already docked, so that means Admiral Nechayev already been here for a little while, she was most likely the first senior Command officer to arrive after Starfleet agreed to help the Bajorans.

I've been summoned to the main conference room where I enter without beeping the chime, and I see Captain Picard seated at his usual spot. Alynna is also there to to his immediate right where Will usually sits, and someone I wasn't expecting to see for quite some time is now standing to his immediate right.

"Ensign Young. I'd like to introduce you to Admiral William Ross, who has been assigned to assume command of Starbase 375 and will oversee the Bajoran Sector." Picard introduces as I grasp the older man's hand and it's a firm grip as I expected.

"From your reaction to me, I take it you are already familiar with me?" Ross asks

I might've had some influence in steering Ross here. I just wasn't sure Starfleet would comply with my requests


"I am sir, it's a honor to meet you." I reply and everyone sits down. I'm curious as to why I've been called


Picard starts.

"As you know, we have been requested by the new Bajoran Provisional Government to provide assistance as they rebuild and recover from the Cardassian occupation. Starfleet has been specifically asked to oversee operations on the space station, now designated Deep Space Nine. We will also over the course of the next 18 months be providing whatever assistance and support the Bajorans need. Starfleet has been...following the guidelines you have suggested on your classified report on the Bajorans, but there's one issue that they need clarification on."

Okay. Alynna turns to me

"You have been insistent on the assignment of Lt-Commander Benjamin Sisko. Admiral Leyton has recently recommend him after we submitted several candidates as well. Command is hesitant on assigning someone with the lack of command experience Sisko has...even based on such lofty praise. Explain why we should follow through with this?" she states

In the show I believe Sisko was assigned to Deep Space Nine because Starfleet believed the assignment to be just a regular mundane fringe thing. That's no longer the case now since I informed them about the wormhole already and it being vital that we get to it first before the Cardassian's. It's amazing that they never discovered it at all to be quite honest.


"Lt.-Commander Sisko is the perfect person to command Deep Space Nine. I don't just have my foreknowledge of events, I've read his profile. He has been on the command track for a long time, the death of his wife---"

I pause for a second as the three of them exchange concerned looks with each other. I AM LOCUTUS OF BORG. YOU WILL LOWER YOUR SHEILDS AND ESCORT US TO SECTOR ZERO ZERO ONE...I gather myself and continue.

"The death of his wife obviously has deterred that track, however he has distinguished himself at Utopia Plantia, helped fast track the Defiant Project, and been instrumental in Commander Shelby's efforts to rebuild the Fleet. I believe that experience will only help him evolve as he grows into command of Deep Space Nine, and interacts with the Bajoran people."

"You also stated in your report that Sisko will command Federation forces during this...Dominion War." Alynna states

"That's correct. That's the foremost reason why I recommended him to the post out of anyone else, because he leads us to victory over the enemy."

I watch as the three of them exchange looks again. Unconvinced. I understand their position. At this junction Benjamin Sisko has been no different than any other Joe or Jane officer, but that will change---and in the next few weeks as well. Curzon would have stated this in a much more eloquent manner than I have. I'm not suited for this kind of stuff.

"Admiral Leyton has nothing but glowing remarks concerning Commander Sisko. The same with Commander Shelby." Picard places down the PADD on the table and tugs his uniform

"What are your concerns with him Captain?:" Alynna asks

"Mainly the reason he has been on Utopia Plantia. He is raising a young son. I'm concerned that...he won't commit to the assignment if we give it to him."

A reasonable concern since Ben refuses the assignment in first place, and will again when he gets there.

"Commander Sisko will eventually change his mind over time. He just needs the time to adjust to his new surroundings." I reply

They all look at me again, unconvinced.

"There's also a matter of a first officer. The Bajoran Government has requested that a member of the Bajoran Militia be assigned to that post. We're considering their request, but have an alternate suggestion we have yet to make." Picard says surprising me

"Oh? Who?" I ask---but a part of me already knows the answer

"Ro Laren." Alynna answers and all three of them watch for my reaction---I have my Batman face on though.

This is something I should have anticipated. I've changed things for Laren. Opened up a new path for her career. Given her confidence and self worth. She has friends in Starfleet. Doing extremely well at Tactical Academy. I turn to look out the port as space is vast. Bajor looms large. I then turn back to them.

"Ensign Ro will make a remarkable executive officer. Might I make a suggestion however, in order to further good relations with the Provisional Government?" I ask

"Go ahead." Picard says

"I suggest that we allow them to also appoint a liaison from their Milia as well. Deep Space Nine will be mostly staffed BY the Militia. Ensign Ro is mostly familiar with Starfleet tactics, and doesn't have a lot of experience with her people, a liaison though could work to bridge the gap. Perhaps rekindle Ro's interest in her people and religion." I say

"We will consider the suggestion." Admiral Ross states speaking for the first time

"Is there anything else then?" I ask them

"Not for the moment. You're dismissed Ensign, thank you." Picard says and I nod and head on out of the conference room.

Laren is going to be shocked when she get gets word of this. I'm not sure why I didn't anticipate this. I was so locked into a singular way of thinking her career and life would go because it happens on the show, but I've definitely changed enough again to alter her path for her. Kira doesn't necessarily have to still be on the station, but I feel like I need her on there still. This is going to fascinating indeed. The DS9 theme song plays in my head as I reassume my post at tactical.