<USS Avalon> "The Only Option"

“The Only Option”
by Captain Keith Ketchum
& Commander Javan Sierra



After having beamed up from Crusher's office, Keith's butt was in a sling. He hoped that Mr. Sierra was having some luck on his search. If that didn't play right, the Avalon might need another new captain; and Keith would be bumped down to Ensign. Making his way to deck two, he walked into his office. He rubbed his eyes as he took a seat, seeing the new pile of PADDs on his desk. "Will it ever end. We're on shore leave after all."

"Michaelson to Ketchum," a female voiced echoed over the communications system, "we have an incoming message from Starbase 33, it is Commander Sierra, sir. Shall I route it to your office, sir?"

"Of course, Ensign." A moment later the Starfleet insignia changed and Sierra's face appeared on his viewer. "I hope you have good news for me, Commander."

"A little bit of bad news too, Captain. It would seem that Mr. Kendrick has eluded Starbase security," he held up a small holographic projector, "However, he dropped this in a berth in a Ferengi docking port. We've determined that he's heading for Ferenginar. Because of that, sir, I need to know if you want me to go after him anyway. It's not longer our jurisdiction."

"Command is already breathing down our neck about Flubb's death, and the Anticans want some sort of retribution. Find Lol, and bring him back at all costs. I'll talk to command and get it cleared with the Ferengi. I'm sure they can arrange a little persuasion with the Ferengi that will take care of it." He started to prepare the information for Command.

"Shall I go through diplomatic channels, Captain? Or, since it is convenient that I have two Covert Op specialists on board, shall I go tactile and covertly?" He smirked slightly at his redundancy. "And, I don't trust the Ferengi to hold up their end of the bargain. Lol could be quite profitable to them with the Anticans."

"I'm sure that command will be diplomatic, if not, we'll got the other way. Contact me if possible before entering Ferengi space. I'm sure command will have an answer by then. If they don't want us in, you'll go covert. Whether the Ferengi like it or not. This is too important to the Federation."

"Sir, with all due respect, Mr. Kendrick is not some stupid teenager. Yes, he's young, but he is not new to camouflage and espionage. If we don't go after him now, he'll have time to get away. I'm requesting permission to go in covertly immediately upon arrive at Ferenginar." He cracked his knuckles off screen, "I don't think we can track him if he leaves the Ferengi homeworld."

"I completely understand, Commander, go covert. However, I will still call command to see if we can get permission to possibly avoid another diplomatic fiasco."

Javan nodded, "Aye, sir."

"Godspeed, Commander. And remember, try to bring him home intact. Anything else, before I call down to command?"

"Negative, sir. How is shore leave treating the crew?" Javan tried to hide that he wasn't disappointed having to forfeit his shore leave for a high-priority mission, but it seemed appropriate being who Javan was. "I trust that you, as most Captains, are doing everything they can to not relax."

"Shore leave is, well... shore leave. And relax is not what I can do either on this, with command breathing down my neck about the Rydyns and Lol... I would do better being in the middle of space." He chuckled quickly. "Ketchum, out." He closed the viewer, and began to talk to the Commodore.

Javan sighed through a smile and leaned back in his chair. All right, on to Ferenginar.



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