Star Traks: Banshee "The Truth is Out There, Part One" By Brad Dusen "Well, the truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination." -Elim Garak "The what is the truth to us? Is it what is fact or what we believe to be fact?" -Laura Terry 'Damn, that's big.' Captain Jad Vorezze silently thought to himself as he stood in the darkness of his quarters, staring out at the stars. Into the blackness of space. Despite exploring them constantly, many officers are still taken in at watching the stars, contemplating the idea of something so vast, being such a small, insignificant part of the larger whole. For Captain Vorezze, he hadn't had much time for such contemplation. Space might be large and expansive, but it was also quite time-consuming, as well as often eager to try and blow him up. Still gazing at the vacuum, he couldn't help but get a strange feeling that overcame him. He paused for a moment, trying to figure out what it was; what his senses were telling him until he finally figured it out, figured out how he felt: He felt like he was being watched. "This is a big story!" A man named Paul Hoerbelt said as he slammed his fists down on the desk of the chief editor of the Federation Times. "Look, we already ran a story about the Starship Banshee earlier this year." The editor responded. "I know that you're obsessed with the idea that it's still in existence, but enough is enough!" "Look at this evidence!" Hoerbelt protested. "You can't tell me that this doesn't make it look like the Banshee is still out there somewhere." "I just did." The editor sneered. "There are so many things to point to that ship still being out there. The fact that when the USS Hokkaido went to search for survivors and found no debris. How do you explain that?" "The Dominion armada most likely tractored it away for analysis." "And the fact that this photo from last year's cyber- netics convention clearly shows Banshee crewmember Lt. Carn conversing with Enterprise crewmember Cmdr. Data?" Paul held up a PADD with an image of Data and Carn on it. "That android looks like any other Moong type android, including the one we have working in this office." The editor paused. "Speaking of whom, I saw him at a disco club last Friday..." "Mr. Potwora, you have to listen to me." Paul protested. "No I don't!" Potwora responded. "In fact I'm tired of listening to you obsessing over that one insignificant ship! Pack up your things and be out of the building before 1500 hours!" "But it's 1455 hours now." "Then you better hurry up. Good day, Mr. Hoerbelt." Lieutenant Commander Ben Rachow yawned as he raised his head up off his pillow. "It is now 0700 hours," The computer's automated alarm said in a monotone voice, "time to haul your lazy ass out of bed, Commander." Ben yawned again, getting up and stretching out. He looked in a mirror as he rubbed his eyes. His shirt and pajama bottoms were wrinkled and his medium length blond hair was messed up slightly. "Hey, I look pretty sexy like this." Ben said as he admired his reflection in the mirror. He took a moment to glance out the window. A docking pylon from Section 31 Refit Station Epsilon H-13 hung in the window, latched on to an engine nacelle that could be barely seen out of Ben's windows. The Banshee was currently undergoing a routine inspection. Ben was currently in the middle of changing, slowly undressing himself in front of the mirror while dancing and chanting "I'm too sexy for my shirt..." He continued his dancing until he had gotten himself down to only a pair of skimpy briefs with a starfleet emblem on the front and back. The door chimed. Ben glanced at the clock. It was probably the delivery girl, Nadine. Since all but the primary replicators were offline during maintenance, the kitchen in the Twilight Zone prepared food for door to door service. Ben was about to throw on his robe when he paused. The thought of Nadine, a sweet, charming and extremely attractive young ensign wandered into his mind. Ben smiled, thinking 'I'm so sly.' as he dropped his robe, walked over to the door and pressed the release. The door slid aside as Lt. Cmdr. Vince DiSanto stood on the other side. "Oh, it's you..." Ben said flatly. Vince paused for a moment, stunned by the sight of Ben standing before him in a nearly naked state. A state no one on the ship really wanted to see. "Oh you sick bastard!" Ben shouted when he realized Vince was staring at him. He ran into his quarters as Vince followed him. "How can you look at me like that?" "Actually, I was only looking to see if that nasty mole on your thigh has become sentient yet." Vince mused. "Ugh." Ben groaned as he quickly put on his uniform pants and extremely dark gray turtleneck. "What do you want, besides a chance to be in my bed?" Ben zipped up the front of the turtleneck and fastened his rank pips. "I'll ignore that last remark." Vince said coldly as he held his hands in front of him, clutching a PADD. "Since the comm system is down for maintenance, Captain Vorezze asked me to round up the senior staff for an emergency meeting in the observation lounge as soon as we're assembled." "Why?" Ben pulled on his outer shirt and zipped it up to the start of the leather shoulders. "He hasn't said yet, but he does say that this is an extremely important issue." Vince turned away from Ben as the helmsman grabbed a stick of 'Wild Klingon' brand deodorant, reached up under his shirt and applied it. "I'll be there in a second. In the meantime, GET OUT!" "With pleasure." Vince darted out of Ben's quarters. "Commander Donovan, what do you have to report?" Captain Jad Vorezze asked as he leaned back in his chair in the observation lounge. "These people are relentless." Section 31 agent Commander Ashley Donovan said on the viewscreen mounted on the wall near to him. "They're last seminar recruited 5 new members into the organization." Vorezze huffed. "When do they head to their next planet for recruitment?" "It's hard to say. The SPT transport should be leaving sometime in the next week. I'll be in contact once we reach Saranta II. Donovan out." He was not a happy Hoerbelt. Not happy at all. He repeatedly cursed under his breath as he packed up his belongings. Without his job at the Federation Times, he could no longer afford to keep his apartment. "Stupid editor..." Paul muttered under his breath. "Thinks he's so big just because he's my boss... I'll show him..." There was a knock at the door. Paul set down one of his awards and hit the open button. It slid aside to reveal a Trill male about 40 years of age. "Hello, are you Mr. Paul Hoerbelt?" Paul nodded. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arigo Kolem, president and chairman of the Society for the Pursuit of Truth." The man extended his hand. Paul shook Arigo's hand. "Paul Hoerbelt," he said hesitantly, "former reporter for the Federation Times." "Yes, we at the SPT heard about your unfortunate dismissal." Arigo said. "You have?" Paul asked, half frightened, half intrigued. "Of course." Arigo said. "The SPT has been following your investigation of the USS Banshee ever since it began." "Really?" Paul was astonished. "Would you like to come in and talk?" "Certainly." Arigo walked into Paul's apartment, then glanced around at the stacks of boxes. "Going somewhere?" "Unfortunately." Paul said. "I've been evicted for not being able to pay my bills." "A shame." Arigo said. "Perhaps, then, now that you don't have a place to live, you would be interested in joining our little... operation." "What is that?" Paul was intrigued now. "I have dedicated my life to exposing the truth behind one of the biggest cover ups in Federation history." Arigo began. "A cover up that I believe the Banshee has something to do with." "What?" Paul shouted out. "You heard me." Arigo replied. "Well what do you want me to do?" Paul asked hesidently. "You know more about the USS Banshee than any other civilian in the Quadrant." Arigo said. "We want you to help us find that ship." "I don't know..." Paul said hesitently. "If you can expose Section 31, Mr. Hoerbelt, think about it... You'll be the greatest reporter in the Federation." Paul smiled and shook Arigo's hand. "I'll do it." "Since the beginning of the Federation," Captain Vorezze began as he paced around the conference table, "Section 31 has existed to preserve the peace in the Federation by any means necessary." The command crew sat silent as Vorezze delivered his speech until Ben finally spoke. "Well we prettymuch knew that anyways, ya know." "Something as dramatically changed, however." "They're changing our name to Division 31?" Ben asked. "Commander, please be quiet!" Jad snapped. "For the past 5 years, we have been monitoring an organization known as the Society for the Pursuit of Truth. Their leader, a former Starfleet technician named Kolem Arigo, is known to have one life goal: to expose Section 31." Charlotte almost laughed. "Captain, is it just me, or does everyone in the quadrant seem to know about Section 31 anyway? I mean we can't set foot on Deep Space Nine without Doctor Bashir calling security because he knows what many of us look like." "Yes, well those are all unconfirmed and treated by most as idle speculation and paranoia." "But it's all the truth." "That's beside the point." Vorezze paused. "What was the point?" Everyone shrugged. Vorezze sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Meeting adjourned." The Sinclair was an Axis Class starship. A relatively new design of Federation craft. The ship was a small saucer with engine nacelles flowing out from the back, looking somewhat like a rounded letter A. While Starfleet already had scores of the new small and agile craft in service as scouts and couriers, but many more private industries have taken up the new ship design for use as transport vessels, seeing as though the ship carries a fair armament and powerful shields. In a time when forces from the Vorans, the Multeks and in some areas, the Starshine Kids threatened the safety of civilian operations, such a craft was needed. The Sinclair was Arigo Kolem's pride and joy. His own personal flagship. Arigo feared that Section 31 may one day come and "erase" him and his followers. He had heard stories all over the galaxy of mysterious men in black coming in the middle of the night to 'talk' with people who had been muckraking, trying in a vain effort to expose them. Many of those people would never be seen or heard from again. For that reason, he kept the headquarters of his operation on a mobile ship. One that couldn't be obliterated by a quantum torpedo that suffered from a rather mysterious 'weapons malfunction.' Nonetheless, he still worried that Section 31 was watching him. With reason... "Ms. Donovan," Arigo said, leading one of his most trusted members into his office. "I'd like you to meet our newest ally, Mr. Paul Hoerbelt of the Federation Times." She was still hesitant about being alone with Arigo, but she entered the office anyway. Ashley Donovan was an agent of Section 31 assigned to monitor the SPT. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Donovan smiled and extended her hand. "Nice meeting you too." Paul extended his hand while obviously staring at the extremely attractive Donovan's chest. He continued shaking her hand all the while staring. "Mr. Hoerbelt?" Ashley quickly yanked her hand away. "Oh, right, sorry." Paul paused. "Well," Arigo said, opening a bottle of Bajoran Spring Wine, "I think this new, important addition to our organization deserves a toast, don't you?" "I suppose it does." Donavan smiled. "Bridge to Kolem." The voice of Arigo's head flunky, T'Rika, a strangely illogical Vulcan, said over the com-badge. "What is it, T'Rika?" "We are just detected a piece of space debris that might be of interest. It appears to be a bridge module scarred by a torpedo blast." "From what ship?" Arigo asked. "The Banshee." Paul's eyes widened. "We're on our way!" It spun slowly in space, the small circular piece of hull, it's top blown off with burn marks across the remaining ceiling portion. "Bridge Module 47-SOV." T'Rika said from the Ops position. "It was installed on the Banshee when it was launched on stardate 50987.2." "What sector are we in right now?" Hoerbelt asked. "The Orium Sector." "The Banshee was believed to have been destroyed in the Backia Sector, though." Paul rubbed his chin. "Ummm..." Donovan began nervously, "Maybe it just drifted over here?" "The Backia Sector is more than 800 light years from here. It couldn't have drifted that far in this amount of time." Paul snapped. "Not unless it was blown off here." "Umm, yeah, maybe it was destroyed in a skirmish with the Vorans and not the Dominion." Donovan offered. "Vorans?" Paul turned to her. "Umm, nevermind." She quickly remembered that no one outside Starfleet knew about the Vorans, as it would not have looked good if Starfleet had to fight two wars at once. "Mr. T'Rika, is that bridge module safe to be boarded?" "About as safe as boarding the Titanic." Arigo shrugged. "That's never stopped me before. Ashley, Paul, come with me." He lead the way off the Sinclair's bridge. Commander Charlotte Burns sighed as she plunked down at the primary communications terminal. She picked up a PADD and hit the button for a general announcement. She began rattling off her daily Morning Announcements. "Good morning, Starship Banshee! Please hold for the announcements. The engineering department is holding it's annual bake sale today to raise money for the 'Mangled Nameless Yellow-Shirt Engineers Charity Fund.' The menu includes fresh pies, cakes, breads and 17 different kinds of tofu. The sale will be on Deck 11 between 0900 and 1800 hours." Captain Vorezze emerged from his ready room and looked over at Vince. "Still no word from Commander Donovan?" Vince shook his head. "No, sir." Vorezze sighed. "Attention all crewmembers on Deck 21. A disgruntled Klingon targ has escaped from the zoology lab. Please be on alert." Charlotte continued. "I'm sure she's fine." Axik offered. "Commander Donovan is one of our most skilled agents. She would never be caught." "I know I'm worrying over nothing," Jad paced the bridge, "But I can't help but think that there's something wrong." "Lieutenant Kenny Hayes, Doctor Issac has finished analysis of the rash on your buttocks, you may pick up the results later today. That is all." Charlotte turned the comm channel off and got up. For the first time in two and a half years, there were people on the Banshee's bridge. The ceiling was blown off to reveal open stars. Hoerbelt, Donovan and Kolem trudged around the beat up piece of spatial debris wearing white Federation environmental suits. Donovan clutched her phaser rifle, shining the light around the floating debris. "Okay, what are we looking for here?" "Anything out of the ordinary." Hoerbelt said as he slowly walked towards one side of the bridge, the sound of his footfalls making a humming sound as the gravity simulators holding him to the floor. Donovan pulled a book out from underneath the helm console that read "How to Seduce Beautiful Women Into Having Sex With You." "Does this count?" She held up the book. "No, but save it anyway." Paul said as he opened up a panel at the base of the wall. "This must be the door to the captain's ready room." Kolem said. He opened the door with a door trigger and walked in. "Arigo!" Paul shouted, "That's the-" There was a splash. "Bathroom..." Paul finished. "Thank you, Mr. Hoerbelt." Arigo huffed as he emerged from the dark bathroom with water droplets stuck to his environmental suit. "And apparently no one remembered to flush when this module separated from the rest of the ship." "Can we detach this?" Paul ran his fingers along the dedication plaque that clearly read 'U.S.S. Banshee, NCC-9561-C.' "That would be best, as it is the only accurate proof that this module was, indeed, part of the Banshee." Paul read the script on the plaque, making sure it was all accurate. "Sovereign Class, Launched Stardate 50897.2, San Francisco fleetyards, Earth..." Then he paused. "Mr. Kolem, come look at this!" Arigo rushed over to see what Paul was reading. "What is it?" Paul pointed to a line near the bottom of the plaque. It read "United Federation of Planets, Section 31." "Oh my..." Arigo muttered. "I think that proves it even farther." "I'll say." Paul nodded. "What are you two ranting on about?" Donovan walked over to them. "We have just found undeniable truth that the Banshee is in Section 31." Arigo said excitedly. "Ummmm..." Donovan stuttered nervously as she read the plaque. "That's probably just a typo. It's probably supposed to read 'Section 30.'" Arigo furrowed his brow. "Section 30 is the Starfleet Bowling League." "And I heard the Banshee was one of it's best crews." Donovan nodded along. Arigo detached the plaque from the wall panel and stowed it away in a retrieval chest. "Mr. Hoerbelt, you check the observation lounge. Ms. Donovan, you're with me. We'll stake out the ready room." The ready room's ceiling was still completely intact, leaving it un-illuminated by starlight. Donovan glanced around. The shelves were completely barren, odd, since when she had first been in this room before it had been torpedoed to receive her orders on this assignment, the shelves were full of books and pictures. "This room almost looks too sparse." Arigo said, looking at the empty fish tank that, as far as he could tell, was not broken. "Perhaps the captain wasn't much of an interior decorator." Donovan offered. She moved a pillow over on the couch/bed and found a pair of handcuffs. She shuddered and set them down. "What's this..." He picked up a PADD that was floating next to the desk. "Orders issued to Captain Jad Vorezze, U.S.S. Banshee, Stardate 51403.6: In response to the growing popularity of the Society for the Pursuit of Truth, you are hereby ordered to open an investigation into the matter of disbanding the organization. To assist you, we have assigned a field agent to assist you, Commander..." He trailed off as he read the name, then looked up at Donovan, who was sorting through a stack of "Modern Telepath" magazines in the corner. "Captain's log, Stardate 53466: The Banshee has completed our refits and is embarking for a scientific survey of the Collaga Nebula, which some observers say may be becoming a sentient entity, mostly because the gas cloud has formed into the shape of a hand extending it's middle finger at a nearby starbase." "Personally, I think it's just a prank by some local cadets." Velorn huffed as he sipped his Vulcan Herbal Tea. "Maybe so, but we still have to check it out. Stranger things have happened." Vorezze said as the stars streaked by on the viewer. "Like that time the witch-people of Harappa VIII turned me into an iguana." Charlotte muttered. "Sir, we have a message on an encoded frequency coming in from Saranta II." Vince said. It appears to be Commander Donovan. "On screen." Commander Donovan's face appeared on the view screen. "Commander, what is your report?" Captain Vorezze asked. "I am in need of assistance." Donovan said. "I will need a database computer and personal assistance from you, Captain Velorn and Commander Burns." Vorezze frowned. "What's wrong, Commander?" "I cannot elaborate on an insecure frequency. I need help in person. Please be at Saranta II as soon as you can. Donovan out." The screen went to stars as the bridge was consumed with a period of silence. "There's something wrong, I could sense it." Vorezze plunked down in her chair. "I'll say." Ben drooled. "Someone who looks like her should be working with me!" "Ben, set a course for Saranta II, maximum warp." Vorezze said. "With pleasure." "Engage!" Captain Vorezze sat in his ready room, busily working on compiling a document when his door chimed. "Enter." Jad said, not looking up from his display. Commander Rachow came trotting in. "Hello Captain." He smiled at Jad. Vorezze raised his eyebrow at Ben. "If this is about me disabling your holodeck brothel simulation, the answer is no." "No, I think I'm interested in becoming a field agent." Ben smiled. "Perhaps working with someone like, oh say, Commander Ashley Donovan." Jad felt a chill run down his spine as his mind vaguely picked up a cowboy and horsey fantasy that Ben was acting out in his mind with Donovan. "What is your reason for this, if I didn't know?" "Well I figure it would help me to get out and see the galaxy. And moreover the most incredibly succulent blond in the galaxy." "Commander, if I were to make you a field agent, I would be fired for attempting to expose the agency." Vorezze said. Ben pouted. "Well maybe I should become a mentor to an officer who wants to start doing bridge duty. Someone like, oh say, Ashley Donovan." "Bridge to Vorezze, we've arrived at Saranta II." Vince said from the bridge. "We'll continue this later." Jad patted Ben on the shoulder and hurried out. Donovan stood nervously in the middle of an empty convention hall. It was the meeting place. "Remember..." A voice said to her from the shadows. "Get the computer, we'll do the rest. If you don't, you will die." "Yes, sir." Donovan sighed. Saranta II was a standard M Class planet with a large Federation colony of a good 1 billion people on it. They materialized in the foyer of the convention hall. Donovan had assured them it was empty, so they wouldn't have to change into civilian attire. "Lieutenant Cellis is keeping a lock on us, right?" Charlotte said nervously as the three walked forward slowly in a Wizard of Oz like scene. "Yes." Velorn said, clutching the small computer unit in his hand. "We have the concealed phasers, right." Jad opened the door into the main room. "Yes, sir." "Good." "This is odd..." Rayhan looked at his display at ops. "What is it?" Axik asked. "A scattering field has just been erected over the convention hall." Axik turned her head to the screen. "What the hell is going on down there?" Commander Donovan stepped forward. "Greetings, Captain." "You rang?" Vorezze smiled at Donovan. "How are you." "Oh I'm just dandy." Donovan said as she swayed uneasily. 'Run as fast as you can, it's an ambush!' Ashley thought to herself, praying that Vorezze had his mental powers in the "on" position. "I am in need of the computer database." "Of course." Velorn handed it to Donovan. "FREEZE!" A voice shouted as 20 armed guards rushed into the room, pointing their phaser rifles at them. Chuckling happily, Arigo walked in with Hoerbelt at his side. "Greetings, Captain." He smiled at Vorezze. "Welcome to the convention hall of the Society for the Pursuit of Truth." "You're Arigo Kolem, I take it." Vorezze glared at the middle aged Trill. "That would be me, Captain. I'm so flattered you know my name. In fact soon the whole galaxy will know my name." "You're going on the Jerry Springer VII show?" Vorezze asked. "No. I am going to expose one of the greatest lies in the history of the Federation. And you're going to help me do it!" "Over my dead body!" "If you don't, then you will only BE a dead body." Vorezze raised an eyebrow. "If you kill us, you have no evidence." Arigo paused. "Okay, well then we'll just torture you for a few years. And incidentally this building is surrounded by a scattering field, so the Banshee will not be able to rescue you." "Thanks Cappy." Charlotte patted Jad on the shoulder. "Just what I wanted, a few years of torture." "Think of it as retribution for what you put me through." Jad sighed, then whispered, "Listen carefully. Velorn and I will make a diversion, you get the computer from Donovan and run out of the building. Tap your combadge twice, that's the emergency beamout signal. When you get back to the Banshee, log onto my computer and access the file labeled Emergency Plan 1. Follow it precisely. Got it?" "Everything up to 'Listen carefully.'" Charlotte said. "Just run and get back to the ship." Jad looked back at Arigo, who was ranting about the injustices of Section 31 over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. "Arigo, can I just say something?" Captain Vorezze asked. "Pleading for your life won't do any good." Arigo said smugly. "No. I just wanted to say..." he pointed behind him, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" Arigo turned as Velorn and Jad whipped out their phasers and opened fire on the crowd. "Now, Commander!" Jad smacked Charlotte in the shoulder. "Here!" Donovan gave the computer to Charlotte as she bolted for the exit. "Stop her!" Arigo shouted above the phaser fire. She made it through the doors and was now outside. Charlotte ran faster than she thought she ever could, reaching up to tap her combadge twice. After running a few more meters, she was engulfed in a stream of blue light. "What happened?" Axik asked frantically as Charlotte came running onto the bridge." "We were right, it was a trap." Charlotte said, panting as she set the computer down. "Jad and Velorn?" Axik asked nervously. "I don't know." Charlotte shook her head. "You think this is going to look bad on our record?" "I would say so." Axik nodded. Disarmed by the guards, Vorezze, Velorn and Donovan stood, holding their heads down as Arigo circled them. "My, how the tables have turned. Your precious starship is unable to retrieve you. We now have solid evidence that Section 31 exists and now, we will show the galaxy your wrongs." "That's not very likely, Arigo." Vorezze said. "We will find a way to stop you. You'll never get away with this!" "Surely you can think of a more original line than that." Arigo chuckled. "Face it Captain," he stared at Jad in the face, "It's over." TO BE CONTINUED... NEXT: Trapped by a hostile enemy, Velorn, Vorezze and Donovan must figure out a way to stop them while Charlotte leads the Banshee into the deepest infrastructure of Section 31 to try and rally all the help she can get in "The Truth is Out There, Part Two."