It's a long way to trip in a hallway, Pt 5

Posted on Thu Jul 17th, 2025 @ 2:43pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Commander Milani & Lieutenant Commander Dex

Mission: Delivering on the undeliverable.
Location: Portal planet
Timeline: Current.

Shon held the keys between her finger and thumb. "I take it you want me to use these to make the machine go......General?" she said as Milani smiled behind her. "I'm not sure how to do this?"

"Well, it can't be too difficult, it's an internal combustion engine, the moving parts are already put together and if those soldiers brought it here I can only assume there's enough of what fuels it to take it back to the base" Finchley said.

They found the jeep and stood in front of it, "So, does anyone actually have any idea how one of these things work?" Finchley asked, "I've seen them in old movies, but never been in one."

Milani walked to the front, lifted the bonnet and looked at the engine. "Actually my maternal grandfather had something quite like this. In fact he had something of a museum. She closed the bonnet. "Yes, I can drive this. Sir, you need to sit next to me, the rest of you fill up the back. She walked round and opened the door on Finchley's side and saluted.

Finchley laughed and moved around the side of the jeep. Returning the salute, he then climbed into the seat and sat down, feeling a little cramped as there wasn't a lot of room between his knees and the front of the inside.

Shon laughed and settled herself in the very back making sure her skirt was pulled down as far as she could.

Kilbane and Finnigan jumped up into the back and settled into the seats there. Karadis was trying to work out how to climb up in, and each time she lifted her leg up her skirt trapped it and stopped her from raising it to high. Growing more frustrated, she eventually hiked her skirt up to her waist, showing the full length of her legs, stockings, garter and heels but she didn't care.

"If any of you make so much as one comment, or so much as snigger, I'll make you regret it!" she raged.

Finnigan took her hand and helped her up into the back, his eye's following all the way down and back up her legs, his eyes almost on stalks. He said nothing as Karadis then stood there and forced her skirt back down again, all the time muttering to herself.

The sun was burning on the back of Shon's neck as she looked around at the desert they were travelling through. She found herself comparing it with Vulcan's Forge. Lifting her face to the sun she almost fell out of the jeep as she relaxed and the jeep bounced over a particular lump of stone in the roadway. The sun was relentless as she looked at the far off mountains. "You're doing well Milani!" she shouted above the noise of the engine. Looking at Karadis face she could not help but laugh. the Klingon woman looked as though she would be rather wrestling with Targs that bumping along in the jeep.

The town now far behind them they continued along the road the shimmer of a mirage in front of them. "Should be about another ten miles Milani, better stop before we get there." she shouted.

After about twenty minutes, signs showed them they were approaching the base and Finchley called out above the noise of the engine, "Stop here Milani!"

Milani brought the jp to a grinding stop looking exhilarated. "Better than a shuttle!" she almost shouted. for the last couple of miles a long high metal fence had sided the road carrying scull an crossbone signs exhorting STAY OUT. DANGER OF DEATH
and YOU WILL BE SHOT. "Not exactly a welcome waggon," Shon said.

"Ok, we're about to approach the base, here's what I've got planned" Finchley began, "This is a test base, so it should come as a bit of a surprise that a General has suddenly shown up. From their perspective, they normally get told this is going to happen, but what were called 'spot checks' did occur now and again...so we're going to use that as the reason we're here. They fawn all over us, trying to make sure everything we need to see is shown, but it's what they try to avoid to show us is what we'll be looking for. Look for anything that seems out the ordinary, anywhere they guide us away from, that will be where the sensitive tests are taking place and that is where we'll find this supposed ancestor of mine. She's our priority, she's the main reason we're here because she can show us where our bounty for the portal is. Ok, eyes open, mouths shut, let's get going" he finished, gesturing for Milani to head towards the guarded gate post that lay up ahead.

Shon jumped back on as Milani turned the key and the jeep roared into life. They continued on down as the road began to widen eventually leading them to a gatehouse with large roadblocks either side. As the jeep approached four guards appeared sporting rifles pointed at the Jeep. One of them held up a hand and Milani brought the jeep to a stop.

Shon jumped out and came to full height "Good afternoon. I am Lieutenant Dex, adjutant to General Kerr. We are making a surprise visit to the base."

One of the soldiers cocked his rifle, "We have no record of this visit Lieutenant."

Finchley, now wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and with a short stem pipe hanging out the side of his mouth, called out "What's the damn hold up Lieutenant Dex?"

Shon wasn't sure she should salute but decided it was better to do so than not so her hand snapped up to the side of her cap. "General Kerr sir, the soldiers say they have no record of this visit." she moved back behind him.

Finchley motioned for the soldier to come to him. Slowly, rifle now aimed skyward, the soldier approached the jeep.

"Listen son, here's how this works" Finchley began, "I work for the Pentagon, and they in turn work for the Senate, who in turn work for the President. Now, when the President orders a check to be made of this base, HE tells the Senate, who in turn tell the Pentagon, who in turn tell me that it needs to be done. I have here a Presidential order allowing me and my staff here to enter this base 'without' having to previously notify you. So, to recap, the President's told the Senate, who have told the Pentagon, who have told me...and I'm now telling you...OPEN THE DAMNED GATE BEFORE I GET ANGRY!"

Whilst Finchley had been explaining, the guard had taken the piece of paper and read it, going very pale the more he read. As he finished reading it, and had heard Finchley shouting at him to have the gate opened, he'd quite literally handed the paper back, turned round and ran back to the gatehouse to tell them to open the gate. Slowly, the gate pulled back allowing access for the jeep to continue.

Kilbane leaned forward and whispered, "How on earth did you manage to get a piece of paper signed by the President allowing you 'Access all areas'?"

"You see Kilbane, this is why I'm a Commodore and you're a Captain" Finchley whispered back, "I anticipated we'd need something like this so I had the portal produce such a letter and brought it with me."

Shon smiled as the jeep moved passed the guard station. "I bet he's going to call up ahead of us." said Milani. The jeep continued along a now paved dusty road that seemed to stretch for miles until a long range of buildings came into view. Aeroplanes now began to be parked up on a runway and another guard post came into view. However this time the barrier was lifted as they approached and a tall officer stepped out. Milani stopped the jeep.

The man stood to attention and saluted to Finchley. Lieutenant Charlston, welcome to Nellis Air force Base at Area 51 General Kerr." He looked at Milani and swallowed. Lieutenant please drive to the building on your extreme left." He then saw Karadis and a strange look appeared and his large adam's apple bobbed up and down once again. "Sir". Milani drove off and approached the building as directed.

Six people stood in front of the small building and all but one stood to attention as Milani stopped the jeep.

Finchley slowly got out of the jeep and approached the group. He took in those standing stiffly to attention nodding in their direction and then arrived in front of the one who hadn't.

"General Kerr, Chief of Staff at the Pentagon, who might you be?" he asked.

The man saluted I am Command Sergeant Major. Charles Browning. I am afraid Major General Cooper who has command of the base is away at the Pentagon General Kerr but we hope we can make you comfortable here and show you what you wish to see. I have arranged a dinner in the wardroom at 19.30 hours for you and your Officers General. I would be happy to escort you...." he took a first look at Milani and reddened. She smiled at the handsome man. "happy to escort you to your quarters." he finished.

Finchley acknowledged the salute, and as Browning spoke, he saw the sideways glance at Milani.

"Walk with me Sergeant Major" Finchley said, turning and walking off himself. Some forty or so yards later, he stopped and turned around to face the Major, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear to you sergeant Major Browning, you so much as glance at one of my female staff like that again and I'll rip your balls off and and give them to you to wear as earrings, am I clear?"

"I'm...I didn't...I..." Browning began replying.

"Are you calling me a liar sergeant Major Browning, are you actually telling me you didn't just give one of my Lieutenants a sideways glance, making your face turn a shade of deep red?" Finchley asked him, stepping up and standing eye to eye with the man.

"N...no General...what I did...I mean...it was purely..." Browning floundered.

"We're done here" Finchley said, and placing a hand on Browning's shoulder he turned the man around and began walking back towards the others. As they did, out of the side of his mouth Finchley said, "Smile for everyone sergeant Major, make it look like we just had a friendly chat."

Browning tried his best to smile as he walked, all he wanted to do was get as far away from Finchley as possible. Once they'd both got back to the group, Finchley turned to Browning and said, "We look forward to dining in the wardroom at nineteen thirty hours, and about the other matter we just discussed, I think we have a fundamental understanding of what will happen."

"Yes, General" Browning answered.

"Very good" Finchley said, "now, if you would be so good to show myself, the Major and Captain to our quarters, I'm sure you can find someone to take the Lieutenants to theirs."

Browning nodded just wanting to get away from Milani. Leading Kerr, Kilbane and Finnegan away. It took about fifteen minutes to arrive at their quarters, a small block with a kitchen, latrine, washroom and three bedrooms. "I would have put you in the Major General's quarters but they are being renovated currently Sirs. I will. leave you to rest, I see you have brought no luggage but I can have your uniforms laundered and returned to you by 18.00 if you so wish. Just hand them to the soldier outside. I will return to take you to dinner. The Lieutenant's will be dining in the female mess." General," He stepped back and saluted, turned on his heels and left.

Finnigan finally let out a laugh, "What did you say to him?" he asked Finchley.

"I saw the way he looked at Milani and explained to him the ladies are off limits and that if he tried anything I'd chop off his balls and give them to him as earrings" Finchley answered.

"Ok course you did..." Kilbane sighed, "sounds like you."

"Anyway gentlemen, seeing as there's bathrobes provided for us and slippers, I suggest we hand our uniforms over to get them washed dried and pressed for dinner" Finchley said.

Meanwhile Milani Karadis and Shon had been shown to a small bunk room where two lonely looking bunk beds and one bed stood. A small kitchen and bathroom were adjoining. The female Officer asked them if they wanted to eat in the mess or in their room. Shon looked at the two others. "We will dine with the other Officers in their mess sergeant. "Very good Lieutenant the mess opens at 19.00 hours although for those off duty there is a bar that opens at 18.00." She snapped a salute and left. Shon threw her cap on the bunk and sat down. "This is not conducive to relaxation." she said.

Karadis sprawled out on the freestanding bed and said, "This is absolute luxury to me, I don't know what you're complaining about, and besides, we'll be eating and drinking for free, trust me.

Milani laughed, "When we get home I will show you luxury Karadis and this," she indicated their surroundings "is not." She looked at Shon who was looking out of the window. "What can you see Shon?"

"Observing foot traffic, for some reason it looks like we have a guard outside our quarters, I wonder if that is normal?" she said. Dropping the curtain she said, I'm going for a shower then a sleep, I'm tired. She went into the bathroom and began opening cupboards looking for towels. "Hey" she shouted. "There are sets of new uniforms in here so we can change." She turned the shower on and stepped in. The warm jet of water felt wonderful running down her body and she used the soap that was already there. After a while she stepped out and turned the shower off beginning to dry herself. Walking naked back into the room she noted Milani was not there. Karadis seemed asleep so Shon chose a clean uniform and blouse, replacing her stockings, shoes and stock, grabbing her cap she stepped outside.

Nodding to the guard who saluted she began to walk hoping to explore the area. The sun beat down on the concrete reflecting back onto Shon as she walked. Leaving the main area she concentrated on trying to find the warehouse the 'alien' finds were located. the an arm shot out from a small alleyway and pulled her in. Milani stood there. "I think I found the place we are looking for." she pulled Shon down the alley until they came out into another courtyard. "see all those guards?" Milani whispered. Shon nodded seeing a wide high blue warehouse. "Let's go look at it?" said Shon.

The pair walked over to where the guards were. Shon smiled as they saluted and stepped to attention. "I'm afraid we are lost, we have newly arrived with General Kerr and do not know the base." she smiled winningly. Milani tall and glamorous smiled as well as the male eyes looked her over.

"This building is out of bounds Lieutenant," he said, "I will escort you back to your quarters." Shon stopped as she began to feel something. She leant onto the wall of the building bending down. "I feel a little dizzy." Shon exclaimed as she felt something akin to a vibration from something inside the building. Then she heard a whisper as though it was being carried on the wind 'help us, free us we are trapped here." Shon stood and allowed herself to be taken back with Milani.

Arriving back inside she turned excitedly to Milani. "That is the place we need to get into, I could tell that the place is full of artifacts and.....there is an intelligence in there, something that wants to be freed." she sat down on the bed. "I will say I am not feeling well when we go to the mess and I'll return here until dark then, I will go out and try to enter the building." Milani nodded. "I will cover for you maybe we can finish this quickly and return home.

It gradually went dark and a bell sounded. "I think that is the call to dinner. Milani, Karadis?"

Back in their own quarters, Finchley, Kilbane and Finnigan had all showered, shaved and rested up. A knock at the door was followed by someone on the other side saying, "Forgive the interruption General Kerr, it's Lieutenant Grainger, I've brought all your uniforms back. Finchley walked to the door, opened it and said, "Place them on the bed over there Lieutenant thank you, then you can go. Grainger nodded, placed the uniforms where he'd been asked to, turned, saluted Finchley and left. Quickly, all three got dressed in their uniforms again, and as Finnigan sorted his tie he glanced up at the wall clock, "Nearly seven thirty, they should be calling us soon for dinner."

Sure enough, a few minutes later a second knock on the door was followed by a, "General Kerr, it's Lieutenant Grainger again, dinner is about to be served in the wardroom, I've been asked to escort you there."

Finchley looked round at Kilbane and Finnigan, "Right, eyes and ears open, we need to try to get information on this whereabouts of the alien technology. Don't ask any obvious questions, try and steer any conversations you have around the subject and if you get anything, let me know."

Walking to the door, Finchley opened it and stepped out into the small corridor, followed by Finnigan and Kilbane. "Lead the way Lieutenant" Finchley said to Grainger. Soon after, all four entered the wardroom and Finchley was glad to see Shon, Milani and Karadis already there. He walked over to them and standing behind Shon he surreptitiously placed his hand on her behind and slowly moved it down over her tight muscular buttock, feeling the garter underneath. Putting his mouth next to her ear he whispered, "When we get back to the Thall, we're definitely trying some role playing games, you look so hot in that tight fitting uniform, and I have a present for you in my pants that I want to give to you right here and now."

Shon wiggled her buttock into his hand, moved hers back to feel his erection and wished they were alone together. It seemed a long time since they had been together in that way. she moaned softly smiling and turned towards him. In a while I am going to leave due to sickness. I think Milani and i have discovered our objective. I want to explore."

"General, please sit." the adjutant withdrew the chair for him and Shon moved to sit next to him. Her hand moved under the table and returned to the bulge in his groin and began to caress it.

Finchley had to work really hard to stop himself from wanting to take Shon there and then. Her slow rhythmic caress of him was driving him mad with desire, but one of the serving soldiers approaching them brought their desires to an end. Polite dinner conversation followed and half way through the meal, Finchley turned to Shon and asked, "Where did you find the objective, and what makes you sure it's there?"

She turned and spoke softly, "Milani and I found the warehouse where the objective should be found. There is also something in there, a presence," she looked around and turned back. "I think there are aliens trapped in there." It's dark, I want to go there."

She was happy to see Finchley eating if only a small amount.

Finchley knew he was so lucky that he and Shon were back together again, not only in the physical sense, but also as colleagues working missions together. She was fearless, intuitive, and....at this point he laughed inwardly....nosey!

"Thing is, will it be something you'll be able to handle on your own, do you want to go in there by yourself, it could be dangerous?" Finchley asked.

"And you're thinking I've never been in danger before?" she laughed. "I would rather we went together but that would look suspicious." she looked at him determining that when this mission was over they would take some time to be together.

"Well, just be careful" Finchley said, his hand settling on her upper leg. Moving it slowly up, he felt her strong thigh and then the garter belt again with the stockings fitting. He closed his eyes and imagined her minus her outer uniform, and that was something he really wanted to see.

"Ok" he whispered, "If you want to fake your not feeling well, it's probably time to do it now."

She reached down and touched his hand for a minute wanting the physical closeness. She stood putting her napkin down and pushed her chair back. "I'm sorry General but i will have to retire, I am feeling unwell."

Finchley at once stood up, as did Finnigan and Kilbane, customary when a lady at the table stood up first. "I'm sorry to hear that Lieutenant Dex, I hope you're feeling better soon. Perhaps Major Kilbane, you'll escort the Lieutenant back to her quarters?"

Kilbane nodded, "Yes, of course General, at once."

He moved around the table and stood beside Shon, "Quite the act you're putting on there Commander Dex" he whispered quietly, "but then you're used to putting on good acts, aren't you..."

"This way Lieutenant" he said much louder, and began escorting Shon towards the door.

Shon did not want to get into any discussions with Kilbane but she did say ""It was not an act, never an act when I was with you." they reached the female barracks. "I have feigned illness to explore where I think we need to go, Milani and I found what looks like a protected building. There is something in there, something that has a consciousness. Well, you had better get back to dinner and try, try to get Finchley to eat."

"You've always been the persuasive one with him..." was Kilbane's staring eyed parting shot as he left Shon alone and began to make his way back to the wardroom.

Shon sighed, she still had strong feelings for Kilbane but not like the love that she had for Finchley. She shook them out of her head and went into the barracks. changing into a pair of dark trousers she had found she tightened the belt, they were baggy but dark. she swore at having to wear the regulation shoes and jacket and she felt a fool. Covering her hair with her cap she left the building and walked quickly to the alley.

Exiting from the alley she noted the guards at the front and made her way across a grassy field to the rear of the building. Then she noticed a slow searchlight approaching her position and she threw herself down on the wet grass. Shon held her breath and, for a moment she was transported back to Romulus. If I can survive that then I can survive this she thought. the searchlight passed her and she got up and ran to the side of the building. Then she heard what she knew was a patrol and she blended into the darkness.

"what do you think about this flash inspection?" a southern drawl said.

"Not much man, they come and they go and never really see anything, although this Finchley guy has already chewed out a couple of uppers."

There was the clink of rifles and they moved on unaware of her. she stayed in place as the searchlight made another pass then ran to a small door. There was no key and it looked electronic. Shon took a picture of it in her mind and ran back to her hiding place. The last thing she wanted to do was trip the alarm. She waited long enough to time the guards and the searchlight and when they had made another pass she ran to the lock. Her training had told her she could open anything and using a hairpin there was a 'click'. Okay, she thought if there is an alarm it's now or never!

Pushing the door she opened it slowly slipping through and then closed it slowly at last she was in. Taking a deep breath she heard the patrol passing behind the door. checking for an alarm trip of any kind she moved slowly into the main building. What she saw made her heart race. A small alien ship stood, held in position by a wooden frame. she raced through the configuration of ships she knew. So many different alien races but she could not place it.

She moved nearer and then....a soft susurration of sound filling her ears and on to the frontal lobe of her brain. "Help us." Shon turned away determined to see if she could see where the artefact they were looking for was. There were piles of crates and boxes everywhere and she shrugged, the human phrase 'needle in a haystack' struck her but, not knowing what a haystack was gave her no help.

The alien ship kept calling her as she made her way round the outside of the structure. As she neared the front she noticed a stack of much smaller crates, these were very definitely alarmed and she knew she did not have the tools to disarm them. Suddenly she heard a step to the left of her and a male voice called "Who's there?" Shon kicked herself mentally. You should have checked the interior, flattening herself against a tall crate she held her breath and waited. The guard was nearing her position and he would see her any minute. She turned quickly and rushed him placing her hand on his neck. He went down immediately and Shon lowered him to the floor. "sorry" she said as she exited the building the way she came. Just as she reached her barracks an alarm began to blare and lights came on all over the camp. Undressing quickly she jumped into her bunk shaking her hair so it looked as though she had been asleep and waited.

In the wardroom, Finchley was having an in depth discussion with one of the Captain's on the threat of nuclear war with the Russia when suddenly an alarm sounded and he could see the camp around outside being lit up by floodlights. He jumped out of his seat and said, "What in damnation's going on, why is the alarm being sounded?"

Lieutenant Grainger entered the wardroom and hurried up to Finchley, "General, we need to get you to safety, there's been a breach in..."

"Yes Lieutenant?" Finchley asked questioningly, "There's been a breach in what?"

"...in the base Sir" Grainger answered hurriedly.

"Where about exactly has the breach been caused in the base son?" Finchley then asked, giving Grainger a hard stare, "it doesn't exactly bode well that I'm here for an inspection and a breach has occurred. Do you think the Pentagon's going to be happy, or the Senate...or The President!"

"No General Kerr, I doubt they will" Grainger replied, his breath now shallow and panicky.

Finchley turned to Kilbane and Finnigan and said in a comradely way, "The Lieutenant doubts they will."

He turned back to Grainger, "OFF COURSE THEY WON'T HAPPY!!!" he shouted. He shoved Grainger to the side and as three MP's entered the room, Finchley grabbed one by the arm and said, "Arrest Lieutenant Grainger, take him to the stockade, I'll question him later. You two..." and he pointed to the other MP's, "Take me to this breach, I want to see it for myself!"

One of the MP's was about to speak, but Finchley cut him off, "Don't make me give the order a second time Corporal, and have one of your MP's escort my Lieutenants back to their quarters, make sure their safe."

The Corporal called out into the hallway and another MP came in. He was given the instructions to take Milani and Karadis to their quarters, and he hurried past Finchley towards Milani and Karadis. "Lieutenants, if you'll follow me quickly please I'll take you back to your quarters."

Milani burst into their quarters, "was that you?" she asked Shon. Shon nodded, "what's happening out there?"

"sheer hell Shon, what did you do?" Milani laughed and looked at Karadis.

"I got into the place where the alien tech is kept but I got too involved with an alien craft that I forgot the main tenant of spying. Neutralise all the threats in the room. I had to knock a soldier out, don't worry I didn't hurt him". Shon got up and dressed quickly. "come on, are you coming Karadis?"

"You do realise that you've now endangered the mission, don't you Shon?" Karadis said, "not only that, but you've now compromised how Kerr is going to be able to get this 'thing' we're meant to take back to the portal, the place will be on high alert from now on."

"Oh pooh Karadis, live for the thrill, what's happened to your Klingon spirit?" Shon cried and flew out of the door followed by Milani. The courtyard was full of soldiers, who by the look of them were confused. Shon saluted someone above her pay grade and began to look for Finchley.

Meantime Finchley was in his element. He strode along between the two MP's who took him towards the building that the breach had happened in, and as they arrived he looked around. "You!" he shouted at a Major close by, "Who's in charge here?"

"Well General...eh, with the Major General being off base...it'll be Colonel Haskit" the Major replied.

"And where the hell is he?" Finchley demanded.

"I'm not really sure Sir, he should be here any moment" the Major gulped.

"We can't wait for him fannying around whilst Rome burns damn it!" Finchley said, then a thought struck him. "This base is now on lockdown, I'm taking command!"

"You...you're...taking command...General?" the Major openly questioned what Finchley had just said.

"Is there a problem Major?" Finchley asked, "If there is, just let me know and I'll happily have these two MP's escort you to join Lieutenant Grainger in the stockade."

"No, no, no....no, no problem at all General Kerr, it just caught me by surprise that you said it" the Major replied, "I didn't think you'd want to seeing as you're her on a flash inspection."

"And that flash inspection has just gotten very interesting Major, because your security has been breached whilst I'm here and I want to know why and who by" Finchley said, "and one sure fire way of finding out is for me to take charge of the base and of the investigation of what has happened. Now, Colonel Haskit isn't here, so as far as I can see that leaves you as the most Senior Officer from the base that i can find. Here's what's going to happen, my men here, Major Kilbane and Captain Finnigan will act as my adjutants whilst I run this investigation. You and everyone else on this base will answer any questions they have, look at it like it's me asking, but it's coming from them, that way there'll be no mistakes about not answering what they as you."

At that point, a Colonel came up to them and said, "What's going on here?"

Finchley slowly turned to face the Colonel, "Colonel Haskit is it?"

"Yes General, Colonel Walter T Haskit" the Colonel answered.

"Good, you're here...finally" Finchley said. He turned to the MP's, "Boys, arrest the Colonel for dereliction of duty, place him in the stockade with Grainger."

The two MP's grinned as they marched over to Haskit and took him by the arms and took him away.

"Wait a minute...hey...wait a minute...they can't do this...I'm in charge here...I'm in chaaaaaaaarge" Haskit called out as he was dragged away.

Finchley turned his back on him, "You were in charge, not anymore..."

Shon and Milani managed to catch up with Finchley and stood back so he could see them. Shon was desperate to tell him what she had found and she presumed he knew it was her mistake that put the base on lockdown. "General Kerr, may we have a word when you are ready?" Shon half shouted above the confusion. then suddenly a rifle was jabbed into her side.

"Come with us you are under arrest Lieutenant." a tall well set soldier dressed in some king of strange uniform spoke then Shon was surprised to see something that looked like a weapon from their era. She was dragged away and then felt something stick into her neck. Shon began to panic feeling dizzy. "the Lieutenant is ill" said a voice and she knew no more.

Finchley had seen and acknowledged Milani and Shon when they'd called to him, but he was also busy directing the search of the area around where they were. A few minutes later he saw Milani and walked over to her, "Sorry for the delay, but these people couldn't do a proper search to save themselves."

He looked around, "Where did Shon go, I thought she was here with you?"

Milani looked stricken, "Some men took her, it was over in a few seconds then they injected her with something when she struggled, pushed her into a black car and they drove off they didn't look like soldiers sir."

"Which way did they go?" Finchley demanded, extremely concerned for Shon's safety.

"They went that way Sir," she said pointing north which appeared to be a side road down the side of the base.

Shon woke in the dark, for a moment she was confused as to where she was then she discovered she was bound, her hands behind her and each leg was bound separately. she shivered realising she was naked. "Hello , Hello!" she called. "I think you have the wrong person, my nam....."

A male voice strong and cold came out of the darkness. "We know who you are Doctor Dex do not try to deceive us. We have travelled a long way to find your little group. We also came through the Portal and we have little time to spare. Tell us of the plans your little group have?"

"I have no idea what you are......"

A fist slammed into her gut knocking the wind out of her. "I told you we had little time now tell us or it will go ill for you?" The same fist hit her in the face splitting her lip and eye which began to bleed.

"I will tell you nothing!" Shon exclaimed spitting out blood. Then the beating began in earnest and she didn't know such pain existed, after a few minutes she was unconscious. "Take her back and tie her to the bed, Maybe I will try another way of questioning when she wakes," the man in the dark licked his lips lasciviously. Vulcan women were fun to play with. Shon was dragged to a filthy room and tied spreadeagled to the iron bed.

Finchley had grabbed the others and commandeered a jeep from the Major he'd spoken with earlier. He told the officer that he and his team were heading off to a meeting and would be back for the spot inspection later.

Having watched Milani drive earlier, he worked out how the jeep ran, and though not as proficient as Mil, he soon got the hang of it. Getting to the main gate, he questioned the soldiers on duty as to whether or not a black car had recently left the base. The Corporal in charge said yes, and told him that they'd asked for directions the nearest town and he'd given them. Finchley nodded and drove off again at greater speed, "They're heading back toRachel, we've just got to work out where they went after getting there.

"It'll be somewhere quiet, inconspicuous, a place nobody bothers to go to" Finnigan replied. Not to long after, the jeep entered the town, again, there was nobody about, so Finchley stopped.

"What about asking at the store, they'll know all the places around here" Kilbane said.

"Good idea Kilbane" Finchley replied. He jumped out the jeep and ran over and into the store, then about three minutes later he came back out and ran back to the jeep.

"The store owner said a Captain came in and asked her if there was anywhere around the area they could find 'somewhere quiet' they could party off the base" Finchley told the others, "they gave some excuse about it being a stag do and because they couldn't hold it on the base they wanted somewhere they could chill out and have a few beers in. The lady in the store told them that the old sawmill was probably the best place as no-one went there after it shut down years ago. I think that's where the car with Shon in it went, it's down a dirt track we take about two miles out of town."

He jumped back into the jeep and took off at speed, now used to the feel of the vehicle. Sure enough, two miles out of town there was a turn off that looked like a dirt track and he took it, not slowing down. The rest hung on for dear life as he continued at speed down the track, the jeep bumping and jumping as it went. A mile or so later some buildings came into view and Finchley slowed down till they were virtually crawling along and he eventually brough the jeep to a halt in a yard. There they saw the black car, and drag marks leading away from it and into a building to their left.

"Ok, Karadis and Finnigan, you circle round the back and see if there's a way in" he instructed them, "the rest of us will enter from the front and start looking for Shon. Right, let's go!"

Shon woke in the dark shivering. Her head and body felt like jelly but she attempted to get up. A light flickered in the corner of the room then smoke curled up towards the roof. "You're awake, sleep well?" an unconcerned voice said. "I've never seen a naked Vulcan before." He stood and flicked hot ash on her breast. Shon winced. "I am prepared to do much more unless you tell me what you and your people are doing here.

"We are a road sweeping crew."

He hit her again fracturing her jaw. "you're wasting my time Doctor we know you are with the Commodore, we are on the same side you and I."

Shon tried to laugh bloody spittle coming from her mouth. "If we are your friends then what in Surak's name do you do to your enemies?"

His hand traced her inner thigh with his lit cigarette. Shon screamed.

Finchley heard the scream and was about to take off when Kilbane grabbed his arm and stopped him, "You don't know what you're diving into Bird, take your time, we need to do this right."

"Didn't you hear the scream!!" Finchley hissed, yanking his arm from Kilbane's grasp, "we need to get in there and save Shon!"

"And what if you go in there and there's ten of them armed to the teeth and only three of us with no weapons?" Kilbane asked.

"Do what we always do, fight like dervishes till we're the only one's standing!" Finchley replied.

"What, you think you're fast enough to dodge bullets if they have guns?" Kilbane asked.

"Stop coming up with sensible questions" Finchley said.

"Someone has to!" Kilbane answered.

Finchley gestured for them to head towards where the scream had come from and he and Milani went along one wall whilst Kilbane went along the other. Soon, they came to a door at the end of a corridor, nobody in it which had Finchley on edge. Stopping by the door, he silently gestured that on the count of three, he opened the door and they all piled in.

He held up his hand and counted down from raised fingers...three, two, one...and he hauled the door open.

Shon was struggling tied down on the bed as the man was about to burn her once again. The man turned, surprised beyond measure to see then standing there. Shon forgetting about protocol shouted "Finchley don't kill him he is a Romulan."

Finchley stopped short, seeing Shon naked tied spread eagled to the bed. He turned and faced the person in the room with her, and as rage took hold he dove at him and knocked him to the floor. His fists reigned punches down on the man's face, "Bastard!...Bastard!!...YOU BASTARD!!!"

Kilbane hurried over and tried to pull Finchley off. He in turn turned to Kilbane and shouted "FUCK OFF, YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN AND I'LL DO THIS TO YOU, SEE TO SHON!!!"

Kilbane was taken aback at the ferocity of Finchley shouting at him, but backed off and got Milani to help him free Shon and see to her wounds.

He turned back to the man on the floor, his face now a bloody mess, "Tell me who you are and why you've DARED to torture one of my crew...NOW!"

The surgically altered Romulan cradled his jaw and spat blood onto the floor. "I will tell you nothing human trash, our plan is in motion and soon your history will be erased." He then appeared to bite down on something, "No IT'S POISON!" shouted Shon the best she could as the Romulan died in front of them. His body imploding and turning to dust. Shon passed out as Milani cradled her using her med kit to heal some of her wounds. "She's pretty bad Sir, we need to get her to a medical facility?"

Shon returned to consciousness, "Bomb.....there's a bomb at the base....set to destroy the artefact the portal wants, soon....leave me here, not ....important.....she passed out again.

"I can carry Shon sir, the base has a medical centre, maybe they have what is needed for Shon, she obviously has more information about this, and we can search for this...bomb. Karadis help me.

Karadis and Finnigan had entered the room hurriedly when they'd heard Finchley shouting, and came to an abrupt halt when the saw Shon tied to the bed, Milani helping her alongside Kilbane, and Finchley crouched over what looked like a pile of ash on the floor. Not questioning Finchley on what had happened, she reacted to Milani telling her to help with Shon. She quickly untied Shon's binds and helped Milani get Shon off the bed, "We'll head back to the jeep with Shon" she told Kilbane, "you help him" she nodded towards Finchley.

Finchley was staring at the pile of dust on the floor. Why were the Romulans here, how did they know that he and his team were here, and in this particular time zone, how did they know of the existence of the artefact and why would they want to destroy the artefact and what history were they trying to erase...'his' or the Federations?

To many questions that needed answers swirled about in his head. He looked at Finnigan and Kilbane, "He said 'our plan is in motion', which means he has accomplices, and they must be on the base with the bomb. We need to get back to the base to get Shon to the medical facility and then we need to try and find the other Romulans and get them to tell us where their bomb and why they want to destroy the artefact."

Standing up, he left the room, Kilbane and Finnigan right behind him. They got back to the jeep to find Milani and Karadis had got Shon into the jeep and made her as comfortable as possible. With all of them in the vehicle, Finchley started the jeep up and drove as carefully as he could back towards the base.

It seemed to Shon she had been asleep for a long time but it had only been a few minutes. She woke in the back of the jeep cradled by Milani who was stroking her hair. She could see Finchley's back as he drove. She wanted only him but she had information the team, Finchley needed before anything else. "Hey, " she said slowly as they bounced along. A sudden bump made her cry out. "Hey, she said louder.

Milani shushed her. "You need medical attention, it can wait we are on our way back to the base."

Shon nodded and passed out once again. Arriving at the base it was in uproar. Everyone had been looking for Finchley as he had put the base on lockdown.

Approaching the gate, Finchley shouted to the guard to open it quickly as he had an injured person with him. The guard saw Shon in the back, blood on her face and he immediately ordered the gate open and waved Finchley through, recognising his as the General from their previous meeting. Finchley drove through the gate, and seeing a sign for the base hospital he headed towards it. Moments later he stopped the jeep and saw a couple of nurses outside, "You two, get my Lieutenant inside now, have a medical team examine and treat her wounds!"

One ran over to Shon to give her a pre-check whilst the other ran inside for help and soon a whole team ran out and got Shon on a stretcher and inside the hospital. Finchley and the rest hurried inside after the medical team, but were stopped short by one doctor who told them that they couldn't come through to the examination area, Shon would be quickly examined and someone would come back and tell them what was happening. As hard as it was for Finchley to not want to go inside, he bit his lip and nodded his understanding. The doctor rushed off and Finchley began pacing back and forth, his mind going back to the questions he had been asking himself in the saw mill.

After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor from before came out and walked across to Finchley.

"How's Sh...how is the Lieutenant doing, is she badly hurt, do you need to operate, will she..." he asked, the questions tumbling out of his mouth.

The doctor held up his hand, "Slow down General, your staff member has been badly beaten and has burn wounds, but we don't think her life's in danger. She has a jaw fracture and a lot of bruising as well as the burn on her leg, but we're treating all those things as we speak. Once we're done you'll be able to see and speak to her...probably in about half an hour."

Finchley hung his head, glad to hear that Shon's life wasn't in danger, but he raged at the fact she'd been hurt the way she had been, he wanted revenge. "Thank you for letting me know doctor, it's much appreciated and I'd be very much obliged when we can be told we can see her."

"Not at all Sir, I'm just sorry that it's happened to her, in time she'll be fine" the doctor acknowledged, then turned and walked back through the doors he'd come out. Finchley relayed the news to the rest, then put his mission head back on, "Right, we know there are Romulans here, they'll be disguised like us, in uniform. We know where the artefact is, I'll presume they do too, I want them found and I want them captured...alive!"

Milani nodded, "It's time to go back into the warehouse that Shon said contained the artifact and now," she reached behind her waistband and produced a Romulan disruptor, "we have this. I suggest we get this done as soon as possible. I am presuming they will be posing as Lieutenants and above so as to have access to the whole of the base." She looked at Finchley, Sir I would like to volunteer with Karadis to explore the warehouse?"

Finchley considered what Milani had just said, but then a thought occurred to him. "Officers entering a restricted area would still be watched, but do you know who isn't...technicians. I'm going to assume that whatever this artefact is, the people on this base will try and deconstruct it to try and find out how it words, and who better to do that than base technicians. They'll be guarded, yes, but watched, I don't really think so Mil."

He didn't want to leave Shon alone and he certainly wasn't going to leave Kilbane alone with her, not with the way he acted towards her. He'd stay in the hospital and talk with Shon when she awake, and Kilbane would guard them.

"Ok" he said to Milani, "take Karadis and check out the warehouse. If you find out what this artefact is, assess the situation and use your initiative as to whether or not the two of you can extract it and bring it here, if you can't report back here immediately and we'll work out a plan."

Milani nodded not surprised that the Commodore wanted to stay near Shon however she had been surprised at the depth of feeling he had for her. She shook the thought off as the pair made their way to the warehouse. Two guards were at the door. "Okay Karadis, any idea how we are going to get inside?"

Karadis thought for a few seconds, then a moment of madness took hold, "Follow my lead, just don't get mad at me afterwards, ok."

She took a hold of Milani's arm and pulled her round the corner, in view of the guards. She took a hold of sides of Mil's head with her hands and moved her own head forward, kissing Milani straight on the lips. Her tongue dived deep inside Milani's mouth and her hands dropped to Milani's arm and then round onto her jacket, opening the buttons of it and pushing it back over Milani's shoulders and onto the ground. Her hands then reached up and began massaging Milani's breasts and she felt her nipples harden.

The two guards were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the two women, and they immediately lowered their weapons and aimed them at Milani and Karadis. Before either of them could speak, they saw the embrace Karadis gave Milani and how suddenly they were watching something they'd never seen before.

One of them suddenly snapped out of the fantasy he was watching and said, "Excu...excuse me...erm...ladies...this is eh...this is a restricted area...you really shouldn't ehm...be he...here."

Karadis stood back from Milani, faking fright, "Oh...oh...we...we didn't realise where ehm...where we were...we were trying...to uhm...get some privacy..."

The two soldiers walked over and stood in front of Karadis and Milani. One of them said "Well ladies...this is your lucky evening...we could escort you to the tech block, just around the cor..." and that's as far as he got before Karadis grabbed him by the collar and punched him hard in the stomach and as he doubled over, she brought her knee up fast and connected perfectly with his chin, sending him sprawling backwards, landing out cold.

Milani took the other kicking him in the balls and, as he went down she balled her fists and hit him hard on the back of the neck sending him into dreamland. She looked at Karadis as she put her jacket back on. "Tell me we will continue that?" she said as she grabbed his rifle and keys.

Karadis smiled at Milani and replied, "I'd be very glad to Mil, very glad to."

She grabbed the other soldiers rifle and grabbed him by the ankle, dragging him towards the door that Milani had now opened with the keys she had. Dumping the body inside, she returned to the other soldier and dragged him inside as well, dumping him next to the first. She saw that they both had a set of cuffs on their belts so removed them and cuffed both the soldiers hands round a pipe and then back to each other.

"There, at least they can't follow us" she said to Milani. "So, now we're in, what's next...Madam?"

Milani smiled, "if Shon was right the artifact is in the middle of these stacks in boxes marked with Uncatalogued, She set off between the tall sets of crates then stopped her hand going up to stop Karadis. Two men were talking. "The Centurion will be pleased we have found it at last, then we can leave this benighted world. The other one laughed a hard guttural laugh. Once we leave and access the artifact the humans and their world will cease to exist leaving us the rulers of the quadrant," "and the rest of the galaxy." the other one said.

Milani indicated Karadis to make her way to the right of the crates hidden by their height as she slowly made her way around. She figured they had portable transporters and could disappear at any minute.

Karadis slowly slipped off her heels and padded around to the right as Milani had indicated. She unslung the rifle and looked at it, in their own time, it was a museum piece, however here, it was state of the art...for the military that was. It was a semi automatic rifle with a clip that held six rounds, light and easily aimed. She found the perfect spot between two crates, giving her a perfect view of both Romulans, and slowly lowered the rifle till it was resting on the edge of one of the crates. Closing her left eye and looking down the sight, she aimed the shot at the right hand Romulan.

"Take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger..." she said quietly to herself. The first shot rang out and the right hand Romulan dropped instantly as blood spurted out the side of his head. The Romulan on the left didn't have much time to react, all he could do was look surprised at what had just happened before the side of his head exploded as Karadis' second shot found it's mark.

Karadis walked back to Milani, and once she had put her heels back on, she said, "Right, let's get whatever it is they found, hopefully this artefact, and see if we can get it back to Bird and the others."

Mil smiled, "you know you have style Karadis, real style." One of the deceased Romulans had dropped a wooden box about twelve inches in length. It emanated a faint hum. Mil picked up the box, "let's leave it in the box in case handling it does something. Ooh,!" she exclaimed and jumped as both the Romulans exploded into green dust. "Maybe the Commodore would have liked one left alive to interrogate? but, there are probably more and a ship in orbit." She slung the rifle she had not used over her shoulder.

Passing back by the two soldiers they'd incapacitated earlier, Karadis noted a box with 'ammunition' written on the side. Opening it, she saw the four by two linen on the top and pulled a strip out and tore it into four parts. Taking it, she stuffed one piece inside each soldiers mouth and gagged them with the other two pieces.

"There, even if they wake and try to call for help, it'll be muffled" she grinned. They made their way slowly out the door, and Karadis checked to see if the way was clear for them to leave.

"Dump the rifles inside, it'll look strange if we're walking around with them" she said to Milani, tossing hers just inside the door but well out of reach of the two soldiers they'd knocked out. Casually, they both made their way back to the hospital and to the others who were still where they'd left them.

As Karadis and Milani walked in, Finchley looked up and asked, "Did you get the artefact?"

"Yes Sir, we did," She handed him the box which was still emanating a faint hum. "We did not open it but we are sure this is it as the Romulans had it. We overheard them talking about the Centurion being pleased with them, and, 'they would be able to leave this benighted world and used the artefact this world and the human race would cease to exist leaving then free to conquer....yada yada." However," she looked at Karadis, "we were unable to capture either of the Romulans alive. However," she reached into her pocket "I found this." Mil handed him a Romulan communicator. How is Shon?"

Finchley took the communicator and looked at it, "It's a short range communicator, a few miles at most so they didn't travel here by ship, they didn't time travel that way. No matter, what's important is that we have the artefact, all we need is Shon to be released and we can get back to the portal and then give it over so we can go home."

At that point, the doors the doctor had gone through opened and the same doctor as before came through. He walked up to Finchley and said, "I don't know how you train your staff General, but your Lieutenant is improving all the time, it's quite remarkable, I'd love to know her secret. She recovered enough that she can be released back into your care, providing she gets rest and time to recuperate. Her superficial wounds are healing nicely, the deeper wounds and bruising will take longer."

"Thank you doctor, can you have her brought out so we can be on our way please" Finchley replied.

"Certainly Sir" the doctor answered and went back the way he'd come. A few minutes later, the doors opened again and a nurse came through with Shon. Finchley went straight to her, "Hey, how's my g..." he began to say, then altered it, "it's good to see you up and about Lieutenant Dex, we're glad you've recovered enough to be able to come with us."

Shon smiled if not a little wanly. "I am very glad to be here sir, can anyone bring me up to speed?

"Long story short, Romulan Senior officer torturing you killed, his two subordinates killed, artefact found and recovered thanks to Milani and Karadis" Finchley replied, "now we go back to the shack and take it to the portal and we go home...home Shon."

"A look of bliss came over her, "Home, that sounds so good."

Milani walked to her and hugged her, Shon winced. "I'm so glad you are back with us, if you need...anything I will try to help. Even carry you."

Shon snorted then held her stomach. "Now that's funny....so how are we getting back, it looks like this place is a war zone, goodness knows what has gone on?" she looked at them all one by one. We need transport?"

"We're going to do what we done when we came in here, but this time driving out the gate" Finchley began his reply, "Then we'll head back to the shack in Rachel where we arrived through the portal, I have a hunch that this", and he held up the box with the artefact in it, "will help us get back to the cave and the keeper."

Milani put her cap on and saluted, "I will get our transport General." she said and stalked off. Moments later she had returned with a Jeep. "there is a great deal of activity around the warehouse, looks like they have discovered the downed soldiers. They will recognise Karadis and me so jump in and let's get out of here."

Finchley led the way out of the hospital, the he stopped. He'd caught something out the corner of his eye, and he smiled a lopsided smile. Karadis saw it and face palmed herself, "Oh no, what are you thinking Bird, this is going to be one of your hair brained idea's isn't it."

He turned to Kilbane and Finnigan, "Just inside the hospital door back there is a locker room, would both of you be so kind as to run back in there and collect two ambulance drivers jackets and come back please."

"Ambulance driver jackets???" Kilbane queried.

"Yes Kilbane...ambulance driver jackets" Finchley replied, and then he pointed, "That, ladies and gentlemen, is how we get out of here!" he said triumphantly, pointing to a nearby base hospital ambulance.

"Oh my Go......." Finnigan began, but then was grabbed by Kilbane and dragged back through the hospital doors. Moments later the two of them came back out with the jackets and also ambulance driver caps. Everyone hurried as best they could to the ambulance and got in, Milani in the drivers seat, Finnigan in the middle seat up front and Finchley next to the door seat. Everyone else climbed in the back and closed the door. Karadis had an inkling of what Finchley had plan so had Shon lie down on one of the side cots and covered her with blankets. She then shoved Kilbane in a seat next to her and told him to pretend to be monitoring Shon whilst she wrote down the readings.


Finchley looked at Milani, "Driver, if you will, take us out the base please."

Milani nodded and started the engine. "Here we go'" she said as she approached the main gate. "The barrier is down." she said as the ambulance came to a complete halt. Two guards exited the guard house. "the base is on shutdown, minimal transport, what are you carrying, open the back. Milani nodded, "We have a wounded soldier who we are taking to the hospital." they indicated with their rifles that they wanted to see. Milani jumped out and rounded the back giving two quick raps on the door. She took a deep breath and opened it up. "As you can see our wounded soldier is unconscious."
Shon, who was nearly asleep anyway lay still her arm on a rifle to the side of her.

Finchley jumped out the ambulance and came around the back, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THE HOLD UP HERE, I HAVE AN INJURED OFFICER IN NEED OF URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE!!!"

The two guards gulped and looked at Finchley, and he nearly broke his cover as it seemed to him like both of them were about to wet themselves.

"We were told the base was on lockdown General and that minimal transport would be allowed to leave the base" one of the answered in a low tone.

"WELL THIS AMBULANCE IS LEAVING NOW AND IF YOU TWO FUCKWITS DON'T GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER THERE'LL BE TWO MORE PATIENTS IN THE BACK OF IT, YOU AND YOU!!!" Finchley carried on shouting at the guards as he pointed at them.

"Yes General, sorry Sir, of course, please, be on your way...we hope your patient gets the..." one of them said, but Finchley had slammed the back doors shut and marched back round to the front of the ambulance and climbed back in, waiting on Milani to do the same and drive off.

Milani smiled as she drove off down the dirt road along the rusty fence. they were leaving the base in absolute lunacy, alarms were blaring, soldiers were running everywhere and anywhere. Milani began to snort and then laugh as she turned onto the larger road and floored it back to the bitty little two street town of Rachel. The place looked exactly the same as they had left it and Milani parked it up next to the place they entered the time frame. She jumped out and banged on the back again, "We're here," she called as Shon appeared at the door. Milani noted she looked pale and picked her up off the step. "I don't know if I can move Mil?" Milani nodded and picked Shon up.

Finchley waited till everyone was in the shack before he entered it himself. He looked around everyone, then down at the box he was holding, "Ok, let's get this over and done with."

He walked over to the wall that had been their entry point when they arrived. He wasn't sure it would work, but he held up the box and put it against the wooden wall. At first, nothing happened, then the hum from the box began to get louder and as it did, the wooden wall distorted and a portal appeared.

Turning to the others he said, "Well, who's first?"

Shon said, "I will go first, anywhere is better than this world, it's a good job I know it gets better." she pushed away from Milani giving her a thankful smile and limped towards the portal disappearing.

Milani said, "I will bring the rear up sir and......" the screech of tires outside pre-empted frenzied banging on the doors of the shack. Milani raised her rifle, "Romulans, GO," she shouted I will cover you!"

Finchley gently took the rifle from Milani and handed her the artefact box, saying in his best-worst Texas drawl "Thank you kindly Ma'am, but a true Southern gentleman would never allow a lady to dance on her own. Best you get yourself skedaddled through that portal whilst I deal with the ruffians outside" and he tipped his imaginary cowboy hat.

Milani was about to protest as Shon was trying to grab the rifle, "as the wounded one I should stay." Milani laughed, "as if the Commodore would allow that, no," she picked Shon up in a fireman's lift, Karadis, Kilbane Finnegan let's go." She stepped through the portal back into the cave. Laying Shon down who had eventually passed out again she watched as the others came through. There was silence as they waited for Finchley hearing gunfire and shouted commands.

Finchley stood waiting on the door being kicked in, and he didn't have to wait to long as it suddenly burst open. Three people rushed in, guns firing, but Finchley had already moved to the side. "Enough! Lhiu, hveolhaonn am Subcommander Mag'Dar hvaedroalh ehdhihss rihanha ih'rhadem guards hvaedroalh ehdhihss fvillhaih rei'karanha galae, division aihrifv peraere khi khi tho dash io tho io tho thi, aodaet 'nhqh 'Cobra'."

The three Romulans stopped firing and one stepped up to Finchley and said "Aeheidau ta'hwswai iudaiht ahefvi, arrie ahefvi ieiuqh ahtma. S'tivh ya"

Finchley pulled up his sleeve and showed his forearm to the Romulan. He looked at it and then looked at Finchley, "hwiiy ta krenn hevam."

Finchley switched back to English, "I had to blend in, make myself look and talk like them, I have been...altered."

"To what purpose Subcommander?" the Romulan asked, also switching to English.

"In order to gain their trust and have them help me find the artefact so we can finish this mission once and for all and rid ourselves of ALL humans" Finchley replied.

"You have it?" the Romulan asked.

"I will have it soon, but I need them" and he pointed to the portal, "to still think I'm one of them and working for the portal. Once I'm through it, I'll kill them all and come back here with the artefact and we can complete 'our' mission and get out of here."

"Very well Sir, we shall await your return" the Romulan replied, stepping back and gesturing to the two others to lower their weapons. Finchley stepped towards the portal, then turned around.

"There is just one thing" he said.

The Romulan who had spoken to him looked at him and asked, "What is that?"

"I lied!" Finchley replied, raising his rifle and emptying the magazine into the three Romulans. He watched as the three of them 'danced' as the bullets hit them, killing them instantly, then slide to the floor dead.

"You can't trust anyone...can you..." he mused as he turned and walked through the portal. Moments later he found himself in the cave and he looked around at everyone. Shon was out cold on the ground and he walked over to her, kneeling and watching her breathe rather shallow.

He turned back to the portal, "Ok, we have your precious artefact, what happens now?"

The portal closed his eye on Rachel and the scene became rock once again. the portal was very respectful and it seemed as though he was not expecting them to return. "Please remove the artifact from the casing and place it in the hole to the left of this arch. Once activated it will free the people from their overseers who will be destroyed, I make this promise that their land will be green and fair and there will be no more slavery. I will place a dome of Barontacinite around the planet so it cannot be found."

The portal stopped for a minute as if considering something. "you have a wounded companion, quickly place the artifact into the hole, your crew member is near death and you need to get home."

Finchley grabbed the box, opened it and removed the artefact. Rising again, he hurried over to the hole and placed the artefact inside, "Ok, artefact's in the hole" he shouted, stepping back.

The portal made what sounded like a sigh. "Everything is as it should be, suddenly the view of the cargo bay of the Thall came into view. It looked quiet and peaceful without the bomb. you will step through into your reality now go, quickly, thank you I will return home after you pass through and this portal will no longer be active. Be safe Commodore Finchley Kerr, now go!"

In a way, Finchley was sad that he wouldn't be able to find out more about, and from, the portal, but his immediate concern was to see his crew home and get Shon into Sickbay so she could be seen to.

"Thank you...portal" Finchley said as he gestured to Finnigan to pick Shon up and take her through to the Thall. He watched them go and then gestured for the others to follow. Once they were through, he took one last look at the cave, and at the entrance, he saw sunshine and could hear the sounds of the wildlife outside. Glad that this world would once again be free and safe thanks to their work and the portal, he himself stepped through it and was back on the Thall again.

He saw the others hurrying to get Shon to Sickbay, but he turned round and let out a huge sob and his shoulders heaved. It was good to be back 'home', but there was one thing bothering him and his concern was real. Rolling up his sleeve, he looked at the marking there, "I hope none of them heard what was said back there, because I don't know how I'll explain about being 'Cobra' or about the past."

Another sob wracked him then he pulled himself together, turned and hurried after the others.