Title: "Regulus"

Author: NorJC

In association with: Albert Green Jr.'s "A Thin Veneer Universe"

Contact:

Rating: T+

Date began: September 19, 2010

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NOTICE: THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE BUT MUST NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM.

"Star Trek", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star Trek: Enterprise" and all related Star Trek related material, its characters and certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television shows and movies, may be or are registered trademarks of, and may be or are copyrighted by Paramount Studios and whatever corporation it may or may not be owned by.

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THIS STATEMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE STORY 'Regulus' IF DISTRIBUTED. THIS STORY IS FREE OF CHARGE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM. THIS DEDICATION MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DISTRIBUTION OF THIS STORY.

Dedication:

Both my lovely bride of nearly 20 years and our children have allowed me to hide in our office and write in relative peace. As I have said before and shall always say again, thank you, my beloveds. I also would like to thank Albert who galvanized me to get off my duff and start writing again with his wonderful stories, 'A Thin Veneer', its supplements and his 'A Universe of Change', 'Those who Stand' and 'the Evolutions-Ruination war series' and who helped me edit this story. I'd also like to thank my beta reader Ruth.

This story is the third in a series of short stories and novellas that focus on the life and times of the crew of the Constellation-class, USSValkyrie, NCC-2590, a single Federation starship engulfed in the war encompassed by the 'A Thin Veneer' ("ATV") series. I heartily recommend reading 'A Thin Veneer' in connection with this novella about the Valkyrie and her valiant crew.

Prologue

"This is the Emergency Broadcast System. All trivideo programming has been interrupted," the announcer said, "to bring you this important announcement from the President of the United Federation of Planets."

Moments after the UFP symbol faded from view, President Ta'w could be seen seated behind his desk. "My fellow citizens," he said, his voice somber yet strong, "three days ago, all communication with Starbase 25 and the Regulus star system inexplicably ceased. In response, we engaged in obtaining information from long-range tracking stations to determine the cause. Unfortunately, independent reports from starships, belonging to both the civilian sector and Starfleet, have confirmed our worst fears. It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you that Starbase 25 has been destroyed and the population centers of Regulus III have been virtually exterminated."

The President glanced down at his PADD for a moment then said, "Three colonies on Regulus IV were also destroyed and we have yet to find any survivors. During this unprovoked attack on the Federation, the frigate USS Taymon and the cruiser USS Mako, engaged the enemy. They managed to destroy one vessel and severely damaged another before the Taymon was destroyed by a superior force numbering twenty-one enemy vessels. The Mako was forced to withdraw but not before she was able to destroy another enemy battleship."

"Two days ago near the Klingon border, the Empire lost contact with four Klingon patrol vessels and a convoy traveling through the former Neutral Zone between our two territories. This is the same area where we first encountered the Minbari. The Minbari are a bipedal race located on the other side of the galaxy. Two of their ships managed to chase Humans from that part of the galaxy to our area of space through a sort of subspace channel. When the Minbari attacked the USS Enterprise A and Qo'noS One, the battlecruiser that ferried the Klingon Chancellor to Earth several months ago, the contact was disastrous for the Minbari; they lost two ships. During that initial engagement, we captured several of the Minbari before their comrades managed to activate their vessels' self-destruct devices.

During the interrogations of these prisoners, along with information provided by the people they had pursued, we have learned that the Minbari Federation is at war with these other Humans and their government called the Earth Alliance. The Earth Alliance operates from a world which is an exact duplicate of the Alpha Quadrant's Earth. These refugees insist the Minbari intend to exterminate all Humans in the galaxy and remarks by the captured Minbari appear to confirm this belief. Right now, this war is happening over sixty-eight thousand light-years away from Federation space."

"As for the survivors of Regulus, Starfleet is on the scene conducting search and rescue missions, providing relief, and performing security operations. As of now, we have found approximately three thousand refugees out of a population of twenty-seven million, five hundred thirty-three sentient beings. I can assure you that aid is being rushed from all across the Federation and several starships are in the area to provide assistance under the command of Jason Tynen, the captain of the USS Valkyrie. Captain Tynen's ship is one of the new Constellation-class star cruisers. She is one of the most advanced and highly versatile vessels in the fleet. Captain Tynen is also one of Starfleet's most able starship commanders. I am told he has a keen tactical mind."

Then the President's eyes narrowed down to slits as he stared into the lens of the camera. "There were seventeen thousand people on Starbase 25. There were more than twenty-seven million on the Regulus colonies. We've lost the gallant crew of the Taymon while the Klingon Empire lost the crews of four of its starships along with several merchant vessels. This wanton and senseless mass murder of Federation and Klingon Empire citizens shall not go unchallenged. To this end, the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets have declared war on the Minbari Federation. Both governments intend to prosecute this war to the point the Minbari Federation will no longer be able to attack anyone with impunity. In closing, please stay tuned for more information concerning the Regulus colonies and any announcements regarding our response to this infamous and barbaric act by the Minbari. Thank you for your attention, my fellow citizens, and please send your prayers and well-wishes to those who have suffered so horribly from this dreadful act of wanton destruction. Good day."

"This has been the Emergency Broadcast System. We shall now return you to your regularly scheduled programming."

#

USS Valkyrie, Regulus Star System

He walked into his somber quarters with the slow steps of a man old and weary. It took a few moments for Jason Tynen's eyes to acclimate to the dimly lit room. When he was finally able to recognize the shape of his desk chair, he flopped down onto it. Fixing his gaze at the scarred planet below through his transparent aluminum window, he sighed heavily while he pressed a button on his desk's control console.

Then he began to record his confession.

Captain's personal Log. Stardate 9-5-2 . . . 9-5-2-4 point . . . 2?

"Computer!" he snapped, his annoyance plainly evident in his voice. "What day is it?"

"Monday, Stardate 9-5-2-4 point 3," the pleasantly feminine artificial voice stated.

"It's only been a week," he whispered. Then, more forcefully, he added, "Resume log entry."

I need to deal with this. I have to make some sort of sense out of this mess . . . I can't tell anyone else . . . not Vox, especially not V'Lar . . . with her kind heart, she'd forgive me for what I've done. . . she'd forgive them . . . but we don't deserve her absolution. Maybe if I talk about it . . . maybe I can figure out how to protect my crew, protect her from the other life I lived so long ago.

I suppose it all started a week ago. It was two days after we'd warped into the Regulus system. Admiral Mendez had ordered me to take command of the relief operations on Regulus III. It was the only colony that needed one; the population of Regulus IV had been completely eradicated by the Minbari. Everyone was on edge; we'd been told that the Klingons were sending a task force to assist at Regulus. No one knew if the Minbari might double back or if they'd return to their side of the galaxy.

On that day, we'd come to the end of our first Incident Command meeting on board the Val with the three captains in charge of tactical, logistic, and medical operations. I was a little thirsty. So, I poured V'Lar a glass of water before I decided to pour one for myself.

Chapter 1

"Captain Tynen?"

He turned in his seat to regard the Vulcan captain of the Liberty-class freighter, USS Edmond Fitzgerald. "Yes, Captain Tevik?"

"Although I assume we have exhausted the agenda for our meeting, I request your forbearance regarding a sensitive matter. Unfortunately, the matter concerns your behavior toward your first officer."

Tynen shot a puzzled look at his fellow captain. "My behavior, you say?"

"Yes, captain. It is improper for a male to provide water to any Vulcan female unless that male is offering to court and, ultimately, become her mate."

"What?" Captain Antonio Silva, the master of the Miranda-class cruiser, USS Mako snapped. "You mean to tell us that offering a woman a glass of water signifies a man wants to marry her?"

Tevik nodded at them. "Even though you are human, you are most likely aware that Vulcan is a desert planet where water is quite scarce in comparison to your homeworld. On Vulcan, it is the obligation of a male to obtain water for his betrothed or mate. For any male who is not bonded to a female to act in such a manner is considered a serious breach of etiquette and, if the female is bonded to another, a challenge to that female's mate. Under those circumstances, a violent and, on occasion, lethal response is required on the part of her mate."

While Tynen considered the Vulcan captain's words, Captain Rebecca Hunter, M.D., the commander of the Hippocrates-class medical frigate, USS Elizabeth Dehner, snorted. "Oh, come now, Tevik! Are you saying Captain Tynen wants to 'marry' Commander V'Lar simply because he poured her a glass of water? Don't be ridiculous! She's a Vulcan and he's human, for God's sakes!" Tynen frowned at Hunter's words but said nothing while she continued to make her point. "Look, it's common for humans to offer someone a glass of water before serving themselves, no matter the sex of the other person. I mean, I poured a glass of water for both you and Captain Silva at the beginning of the meeting and I tell you, I certainly didn't think I agreed to marry either of you!"

"Actually-" Tynen began to say.

"In this case," V'Lar blurted out, interrupting him, "Captain Tynen was unaware of our customs, Captain Tevik. It was my error in failing to explain our ways to him. I ask forgiveness for my failure and in no way should the captain's courtesy be impugned against him."

The other Vulcan nodded graciously to her. "V'Lar, no apology is necessary on either party's part. Hopefully, Captain Tynen will avoid such mishaps in the future."

Tynen narrowed his eyes at the Vulcan captain. Hey! the captain of the Valkyrie protested inwardly. He almost gave Tevik a piece of his mind until V'Lar stared at him and he somehow heard her voice in his head. 'Jason, no!' Startled, he shot a questioning look her way and said nothing.

Minutes later, after the meeting had been adjourned and the others had left the conference room, he turned to her. "Would you kindly tell me what that was all about?"

His Amazonian Vulcan regarded him with an inscrutable look for several moments before she said, "I believe Captain Tevik was concerned that some would assume we are engaged in an intimate relationship."

"Well, that assumption would be correct," he noted. Then he felt the grip of uncertainty when she silently regarded him and failed to say anything. "Wouldn't it?"

She appeared to ponder his question for several seconds before she said, "I believe so."

"You believe so?" he parroted as his eyes shot wide open. How could she say that after their night of romance in the Troyian High Tribune's garden?

He'd said he desired her and she'd said she thought they were 'compatible.' Then they'd shared several surprisingly, at least to him, passionate kisses. Afterwards, though, they'd not had a lot of time to explore the depths of their new relationship due to the Minbari attack on Regulus.

Now, he gazed deeply into her brown eyes and said, "V'Lar, help me out here. I thought we'd agreed to start dating."

"That is correct, Jason. However, Vulcans do not undertake 'dates' in the human manner. In most cases, Vulcans are telepathically linked at a young age to our betrothed who is chosen by our parents after consideration of how the betrothed will complement their child. If the link is terminated either intentionally or due to the death of a prospective mate prior to bonding, we are free to seek a new mate. In seeking a new mate, it is illogical for Vulcans to engage in an extended courtship once the couple has determined a romantic relationship between the pair is both viable and desirable."

"I see," he lied. Then he recalled what had flashed into his mind just after she'd apologized to that Vulcan-with-the-stick-shoved-up-his-butt. "Hey! Moments ago, when I intended to tell Tevik we were dating . . . did you flash a message into my mind?"

She glanced down at the floor for several seconds. Although it occurred rarely, over time, he'd learned that whenever she shied away from direct eye contact, she was embarrassed to admit she was clueless about something. Several seconds later, she looked him straight in the eye and said, "Yes. Apparently, my mind called out to yours."

He regarded her with a stunned look on his face. "How in the hell did that happen?"

She blinked twice then said, "I am uncertain." He fought down the urge to smirk; he knew it was troubling for any Vulcan to admit they simply had no idea how something had occurred. Then she added, "During the dance we shared at the Troyian High Tribune's manor, I sensed the change in your emotions when I held you in my arms. That was when I realized we have a bond."

Although he simply stared at her and said nothing, his guts felt like they'd twisted into knots. Oh, crap! his mind screamed as he wondered whether she could submerge into the depths of his thoughts and study his dormant memories – his mother's disappearance; the enemy operatives he'd terminated; the love he'd once felt for Jezri Vox; a fantasy where he was naked with V'Lar in his quarters, kissing….

"I doubt I could encroach upon your thoughts," she said, startling him with a comment concerning what he'd just been thinking about. "Vulcans have found that humans are incapable of transmitting their thoughts to us outside of a meld. Even if you were capable of doing so, Vulcans would consider such an act an invasion of privacy."

As he tried to determine exactly how he was going to deal with this information, she softly added, "I would never harm you. Whatever impressions I glean from you shall always be between us."

He nodded. "I trust you, V'Lar. I just want to know when you were going to tell me about…this."

"After we had left Troyius, I had intended to study the possibility further and to discuss it with you; however, we have had little opportunity to do so due to our present circumstances." Well, that wasn't quite true, he noted to himself. He felt her fear in his mind and sensed she was concerned he'd want nothing to do with her. What she said, though, was, "I realized it would be a difficult conversation because I appreciate how much you value your privacy."

Now, he regarded her with a puzzled look. "So, if we share a bond, why did you stop me from setting Tevik straight? You're not ashamed of being with me, are you?"

At that, both of her eyebrows nearly arched toward the ceiling. Then she regarded him with a somber expression on her lovely face. "My Vulcan heart could never be ashamed of you, Jason." Then she extended the two fingers of her right hand toward him.

He glanced down at them for a moment. Then he briefly linked the matching fingers of his right hand with hers. He felt a small tingle race up the muscles of his arm while she shuddered slightly. When their fingers parted, he still reveled in the sensation of her. "I think we should explore this further, but for now, we need to mind the store. How about tonight? Meet me in my music room? Say 2000 hours?"

She clasped both hands behind her back in her customary manner and thrust her impressive bosom toward him. For the first time, he wondered whether her 'habit' was as inadvertent as he'd first believed.

A moment later, he was caught off guard when he sensed a teasingly coy sentiment from her flash into his mind. Meanwhile, her face simply expressed a look he'd categorized previously as 'bland bemusement,' while she proclaimed, "Your suggestion is acceptable, captain. I shall meet you there at 2000 hours."

He shot a quirky grin her way as they started for the door. "Then it's a date!"

In response, she sighed heavily and shot her 'why-in-Surak's-name-am-I-plagued-by-these-illogical-humans' look at him as they exited the conference room side-by-side.

#

You know, I didn't like Tevik from the first time I'd laid eyes on him . . . I'd probably never would've . . . but no matter how bad he was, he hadn't deserved the crummy deal he'd gotten from the bottom of the deck.

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