SQ: Infiltration by Phatt *** Chapter 1 Thick clouds of cigar smoke danced through the light above the conference table, and the ashtray in the centre had begun to overflow with stale cigar butts. The StarCon Governing Council had been sitting deliberating several matters for 6 hours now, ever since the Sarien strike on the remote StarCon outpost of Starbase 34. Admiral Hawk, the new leader of the council since Admiral Toolman was forced into retirement after the Golden Lightyears incident, took a huge pull from his 20th Keronian cigar of the meeting and blew out a string of smoke rings before beginning to speak. "Well gentleman, the fleet is mobilised, and all Deepships have been called back to join the fleet. Reports of the Sarien Fleet massing at the Earnon border are confirmed, and the fleet is moving to meet them." "Sir" piped up Sub-Admiral Buckman, "is there any breakthrough with the talks?" Hawk took another drag "None at all, our diplomats have been pulled out of talks. Seems the Sariens have taken a hypocritical stance after the retaliatory strike on a Sarien patrol on the Outer Fringe." Hawk looked back to his brief screen built in to his desk-place. "We have one more item to discuss, which I believe needs attention. The review of Janitor 2nd Class Wilco's disciplinary hearing regarding the Pukoid Incident." Hawk went to take another puff of his cigar, but discovered it was finished. Stubbing it out on the floor, he tossed the butt onto the small mountain in the centre of the table. "I believe the charges levied against him were simply a cover for Toolman's inability to do his job and check up on Quirk. His ability to take a small ship and utilise it to successfully defeat the renegade Goliath against all odds shows his prowess as an officer." Hawk paused, took another cigar out his box and lit up, "For this reason I believe we should promote him to Captain, as he will be invaluable in times of crisis. We have a new Liberty Class ship, the new SCS Eureka, to launch and it needs a Captain and a command crew. I believe the that Wilco could use this ship well to infiltrate Sarien lines and put an end to this new wave of aggressive Sarien action, before all-out war becomes inevitable. All in favour?" A unanimous cheer rose from the council. Hawk pressed a button on his compost to connect with StarCon Central Comms "Yes Sir?" "Get me Deepship 86 pronto". *** Chapter 2 The beeping grew louder and louder, repeating the same shrill noise until..... Roger awoke with a start. His room slowly came into focus, and if Roger hadn't wanted to be sick from chugging 12 Keronian Ale Pitchers the night before, the sight of the worst kept room on Deepship 86 gave him little choice. Roger made a quick dash to the sink in what could be loosely described as a kitchen (since his replicator gave up the ghost, Roger had resorted to eating in 8-Rear and left his kitchen to rot), and let nature take its course. After finding the least mould-encrusted towel in his kitchen to clean his face off with, Roger walked back into his room, and was startled by another bout of beeping from his com post. Roger staggered over to it and pressed the recieve button. Commander Kielbasa's face appeared on screen. "Wilco, you look awful!" Roger sighed "Thank you Sir." Ignoring Roger's attempt to gain sympathy "Wilco, get yourself cleaned up and report to my ready room immediately." "Yes Sir." Kielbasa's face disappeared from the screen. As Roger pulled on his Janitor's uniform, it suddenly occurred to him that he never knew Kielbasa had a ready room. Having made himself look as presentable as possible, Roger stepped to his com post and punched in a transport request to go to the Bridge, and heard the suction motors begin. "Here we go ag..." Rogers words were cut off as the transport tube pulled him up and shot through the Deepship's intricate tube transport network and dropped him onto the bridge in a not-so graceful position. "Wilco, what are you doing down there in here?!" Roger looked up to see the not-so-friendly face of the navs officer. "I'm here to see the Commander, where is his ready room?" The navs officer chuckled. "You silly little janitor, his ready room is in the holocabana, StarCon wouldn't give him a real one, they designed him a virtual one instead." "Oh....righty ho then." Roger picked himself up and turned to face the com post and took himself to the holocabana, again being sucked up into the network. Roger thought to himself (a rare occurrence) "I hope I can have a better exit this time" Nope, yet again Roger landed in a not -so graceful position. "Ah Janitor Wilco, pick yourself up and take a seat will you?" "Thank you sir." Roger dragged himself off the floor and took a look around. The holographic ready room's decor was the same as the Bridge's, and the walls were filled with pictures of older Deepship's, and member's of Kielbasa's family. At the other end of the room was a shorter, wider version of Kielbasa's command center/scratching post, and facing them, two chairs for visitors. Roger strode over and took a seat. "Now Janitor Wilco, today I recieved a message from StarCon, a message about YOU." Roger gulped, wondering what he'd done this time. Kielbasa continued "The new Council have reviewed the disciplinary action taken against you after the Pukoid Incident. They've decided that Toolman and his cronies were unjust, and have promoted you back to Captain, and have given you command of the new SCS Eureka, a Liberty Class Stealth and Scout ship. We will be docking at Starbase 22 in 12 hours time, please run down to the stores and get a Captain's uniform, they're expecting you." Roger stared at Kielbasa for a moment. "Sir, are you serious?" "Yes Wilco, I am. Now hurry to the stores and pack up your belongings, you have 12 hours." "Yes Sir. Thank you Sir." Roger began to walk over to the com post when Kielbasa called him back. "Sir?" "Wilco, I almost forget, here's your command crew list for the Eureka." Roger took the list and scanned it. It read: Navs and Weapons Officer - SubCpl Droole Comms Officer - Specialist F. Qwerty, Grade 4 Chief Engineering Officer - Engineer 1st Class Clifford Crawford Security Officer - Lieutenant 2nd Class S. Santiago Science Officer - Android Officer 2nd Class WD40 "Thank you Sir." Roger walked back to the com post and punched in transport back to his quarters. As he flew through the tube, still looking at the list, he decided this would be the best day of his life.