"Connecting"
Ensign Monica Gainsborough
Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Captain Matt Salinger
Raj Daheel
Der-Raj Monil
Nolana
Fortin
Metah

Location: USS Sulu; Castari Alpha
Stardate 57911.05, 09h45

***

Monica Gainsborough raced through the corridors of the Sulu. Her boots rang loud against the carpeted deckplates as she left the turbolift and hurried down the corridor for the main science office. She burst through the door out of breath. The Lieutenant looked up at her with a quizzical look as her hair was going everywhere with the headlong race to get here. She smoothed the skirt she'd chosen today back down over her hips. She'd hoped to wear it so the captain could get a good look at her legs, and while he hadn't Jeff seemed to approve. But none of that was important, and she angrily thrust the thoughts from her mind and took another step forward.

"The shuttle!" She held up an isolinear chip as her brain tried to catch up to feed her mouth the right words to say. "Problem. There's...there's been a problem!"

Impatiently, Xayella Tagliesh stormed up to the officer and snatched the rod from her fingers. "Of course there's a problem," she replied testily, moving towards the nearest terminal. "When isn't there?"

"They crashed on a planet inside the nebula," Monica said quickly. "It looks like there was some sort of plasma discharge. There...there were casualties, but...but most of the crew survived. There are coordinates in the message."

Activating the isolinear chip, Xayella listened to the static-garbled transmission. It was as Monica had described, and Xayella looked upon her with surprise. "When did this come in? Have you told the captain yet?"

Monica shook her head. "No," she said. "He's still off the ship, meeting with the Rajs again. I came directly to you."

"Good." Xayella hastily recorded the isolinear chip's data, then snatched it from the computer console and hurried for the door. "Use that to triangulate their location!" she called back. "They could be anywhere in that nebula!"

"Lieutenant," Monica said as she stared at the chip, "where will you be?"

Xayella stopped in the open doorway, glancing back at Monica. "On Castari Alpha to inform the captain of this. His crew are alive, Lieutenant. I don't think he'll mind being interrupted for that." And with an almost friendly smile, she slipped out.

***

"I still do not know." Raj Daheel emitted a ponderous sigh and watched his son across the table, stroking his lover's hand in clear view. He shook his head and regarded Matt once more. "There must be a vote. That...should be how things are done."

"A vote is a good start," Matt said. "You are referring to a popular vote of the people, am I correct?"

Daheel nodded his head equivocally. "Perhaps...or a vote by my councilors."

"Would you say that your councilors represent the views of the people as a whole? Or would you consider them to be more conservative in their views?"

"They are..." The Raj sighed, and relented: "They are old men who have a small grasp of those issues affecting Castari's youth. But a public vote...that is unheard of."

Matt nodded his understanding. "Another possibility would be to select a random sampling of the populace. That will give you a gauge of what the people think without alerting everyone to the situation."

"Perhaps," Daheel mused without giving insight into what he truly thought.

"And how long might that take?" Nolana interjected, drawing her attention away from Fortin for a moment. "Father" --she addressed Monil now-- "I will begin showing soon - the people will wonder who the father is. And besides, Fortin and I wish to be joined before the child is born."

Fortin leaned forward as he glanced between the Rajs. "I know you don't wish for this to happen, Your Greatness, but the process is already begun. To turn back now, it will only cause greater problems in the future."

Monil nodded. "They are correct," he said as he turned to Daheel. "The fallout of their illicit union will be known before long, and that may end up being worse than relaxing our age-old rules ever could be. We will need to, what was the word Captain Salinger used before? Test the waters? We will need to test the waters of our people and find out what the common feelings are. How many would strongly object? And, how many would welcome this change with open arms? Would this bring about another war? Or bring our peoples even closer together? We need to know, but even then...it will not stop the inevitable from happening. That is, unless your plans include removing the problem before it is visible." He cast a loving glance at his daughter. "And, my feelings are that would renew the old hostilities like you wouldn't believe."

"Or create new ones," Daheel reminded him. "But..." he sighed, "as you've said, the process has already begun. We've no choice but to go forward with this." And despite his previous displays of bitterness and spite towards Matt, Daheel now bowed his head at him. "We thank you for intervening, Captain. I know Der-Raj Monil and I can handle these affairs from here. It certainly would not do for our people to know this change was partially motivated by a foreigner."

"I understand," Matt said. "And, now that you're truly speaking about the problem, I think you've taken steps past where I can be truly helpful. I can show you the door, but that's all I can really do. I'm certain we'll be here for a couple more days as repairs are finished, but if you need anything further, please know that you can call on me."

"We thank you, Captain," Daheel said, and Nolana chimed in with a similar expression of gratitude. Her hand was now linked with Fortin's affectionately.

As had become the norm recently, a small commotion could be heard outside the meeting chambers, and above it all was a wholly recognizable voice to Matt, shouting insults and invectives.

Matt sighed. "Xay," he rasped. "Please, if you'll excuse me. I believe my chief science officer requires a moment of my time." With that, he rose and started toward the door.

Both wood panels were flung open before Matt was within reach. Stumbling backwards into the room was Metah, and advancing on him was the tall, rampaging chief of science. When her eyes caught Matt's, they conveyed apology and urgency, then her arms were seized from behind by the Rajs' guard. At once Xay's features twisted rabidly and she spouted a string of curses at them.

"Captain Salinger?" Daheel questioned warily. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm about to find out," Matt said, then turned to the guard. "Please release her; she happens to be a member of my senior staff. Metah can tell you the more sordid side of our relationship, I'm sure." He moved to Xay, noting that the urgency in her eyes was an indication that something big was happening. "What is it, Xay?"

Sparing a last, scathing glare at her man-handlers, Xayella smoothed out her uniform, then regarded Matt. "This," she told him, holding up the isolinear chip. "Matt...they're alive. Lyrr and the shuttle crew...they've managed to get a message to us, and they're alive...." Her features wavered as she added softly, "For the most part."

Matt nodded. "That's good news," he said with obvious relief. "What happened to them? Does the message say?"

"They crashed," she replied, and by now all those in the room had gathered round to listen. "Luckily for them, a class-M planet was nearby. Matt..." Xayella gripped his arm gently. "We lost Marp and Ensign Johnstone. I'm sorry."

"Damn," Matt whispered. "We should send out the runabout. Give me one moment to let the Rajs know we have a situation, and then we'll beam back to the ship and get a rescue team on the way."

Xay nodded and stepped back as he turned to the planet's leaders.

"What is the matter, Captain?" This from Nolana, who had observed their conversation with much concern.

"The other day, we sent out a shuttle to examine the nearby nebula. But we lost contact with the shuttle. We have recently re-established contact, and it appears the shuttle has crashed on a planet within the nebula. If you'll excuse me, I must go see what I can do in the matter."

"If we can be of any assistance..." Daheel offered. "After all, Captain, you have aided us in this."

"If you have any maps of the nebula," Matt said, "they may be of assistance. Otherwise, I believe our runabout should be able to make it in and extract our people with little danger."

Daheel bowed his head, then gestured to Metah, who understood the unspoken order and took his leave to retrieve the information Matt had requested. "Thank you, Captain," he spoke again to Matt, "for your help...despite how stubbornly I initially refused it."

"It looks like everything will be alright now," he said. He gestured after Metah. "And, thank you for the information. I'm certain it will be invaluable in rescuing our people."

"As your assistance will be in rescuing my own," Daheel granted with the faintest of smiles. "We will speak again before your ship departs."

"Thank you," Matt said with a genuine smile. Then, he bowed to Daheel, and then to Monil. He turned back to Xay, and nodded to her as they started out of the chamber. He gave her a smile. "Good work, Xay. We're making progress in there, but yours is definitely the best news I've heard all day."

She grinned back and slipped her arm through his. "Gainsborough's pinpointing their location as we speak. Though, if the shuttle crashed to begin with, will it be wise to send another vessel in there?"

"It's the only way to get them back," Matt said. "Though, I'm hoping the information Metah's gathering will be of some help. And, I'm planning to send the Rio Grande. It should have a better chance of withstanding whatever forced the shuttle to crash."

Xay nodded slowly, not at his suggestions, but at her own decision. "I should be aboard. It's only right that I aid in the rescue after very well sending them there."

"Are you sure," Matt asked. At the look she gave him, he nodded. "Very well," he said. "Assemble your team; I'll make sure you're cleared to leave as soon as you're ready."

She sighed, relieved. "Thank you." And together they strode towards the foray, awaiting transport back to the Sulu and the beginnings of a plan to rescue their stranded crew.

Once they were in place, Matt tapped his communicator. "Salinger to Sulu," he said. "Two to beam back. Energize." And, with that, they were whisked away from the Castari capital building and the new path being forged there. As his molecules sped their way back toward the Sulu, Matthew Salinger could finally see some hope on the horizon.