Big Bang Fic - To The Brink of War
Title: To the Brink of WAr
Author: Megan
Characters: JD, Chris, Buck - All Seven
Pairing(s): None
Word Count:15,581
Rating: FRT
Warnings: none
Summary:A missing shuttle, a peaceful planet on the brink of war... When the captain's shuttle doesn't show up to meet with the Maverick, the crew of the ship are in a race with time to find Captain Chris Larabee and Ensign Dunne's shuttle, while trying to figure out how to pull what was a peaceful planet back from the brink of war.... Meanwhile, Chris Larabee and JD Dunne are left crashed in a remote area of the planet, trying to figure out what shot them down and if they will survive until someone find them
Artist/Fanmix: Thanks to pe1804 for the great pictures for this fic.
Author Note - Thanks to Meredith for betaing the fic.
Part One
Chris eyed the gala in front of him. He had come to be the Starfleet represented to this Celebration. He had brought JD with him as a learning experience, but something just didn't feel right.
Moving thought the room, he avoided the servers that carried trays burdened with something that look like deviled eggs, but tasted like the marshmallows chicks and rabbits that were covered in sugar that he ate when he was kid. He spotted JD hiding near a lily covered column.
“You can't hide all night.”
With relief in his eyes, JD spoke, “Chris, I think they want to kill us.”
Chuckling softly, Chris shook his head. “And you figured this out with what?”
"Umm.... It’s just that, well... they ask a lot of questions about my life..."
Biting back a smile, Chris stared at the flowing crowd for a second. "Everyone is a bit older then you and every single one keeps asking you how school is going, or how a young man like you, are in Starfleet all ready?"
"How did you know?"
"Who do you think my Dad dragged to these meet and greets? He thought it was great training for my future. I hated them. I kept getting ask those questions by every single person. He finally stopped taking me after he figure out I was the one that...well lets just say he felt I did a better job with relating to other species outside of formal ambassadors parties."
JD gazed at Chris for a second, stifling his grin. “You as a diplomat?”
Cuffing the back of JD's head, Chris shook his head. “That is enough, now go back out there and meet and greet with them. Sooner you start, sooner this is over.”
Staring at the mass of people, JD sighed. “You sure about that? It looks more like a bunch of sharks waiting to feed.”
Chuckling, Chris nodded. “That they do, but just remember, they aren't after us.”
As JD nodded and was about to go back into the fray, several yells and screams erupted. As Chris yanked JD back against the wall, the two men watched as a group of women and men waving guns and screaming for everyone to get down appeared in the party. Watching the chaos, JD couldn't help but bit out, “You sure they aren't after us?”
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Two hours later, Chris shook his head, and turned to JD. “We aren't going to tell the others about this.”
JD, who was shaking his head in disbelief, sighed. “I don't think anyone would believe me. You took down the bad guys with a glare.”
“Not a word. No one got injured. We'll be able to leave on time and no one got in trouble.”
“But...”
“Not a word or you'll be walking back to the ship.”
Grinning, JD nodded. “I promise. So I take it we're heading to the shuttle?”
“Yes. Security is done with us and I don't want to give an excuse for the rest of the crew to worry.”
Nodding, JD took one more look at the mess in the ballroom and followed Chris to the ship.
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Having just left the shuttle port, JD was heading away from the city before he lifted into space. Out over the surrounding farmland, JD was about to ask Chris something when a shuttering of the shuttle craft, alerted Chris and JD that something wasn't right, the explosion that seemed to ripple through the ship moved them beyond alert to frantic activity trying to figure out what was going on. “JD? Anything?”
Scrabbling though the different sensor readings, JD could feel his mouth drying out.
Finally, he found something, “It was a missile. I don't know where it came from. It destroyed flight control. We're crashing.”
Chris looked at the readings,” JD! Strap in! This is going to be a very rough landing. Stay with the readings, I'll control the shuttle down.”
JD frowned. There was something in Chris's voice that worried him. Shaking his head, he ignored it as it wasn't the time to try to figure out. “Captain! Its just showing mountains, there isn't any good place to crash.”
“I know. Whatever happens, don't let the Arkenites capture you. We don't know what is going on, stay out of their way.”
“What do you mean...”
Before JD could finish the question, he felt the familiar tingle of the transporter beam. “Chris! No!”
Glancing over at the empty chair, Chris refocused on the shuttle. One of them had to get out of this mess alive to warn the Maverick, besides he was the captain of the ship. It was better for him to go down with the ship.
With a shake of his head, he glanced at the readings, frowning, he strapped himself in and hit a few buttons. There was one more thing he could try to soften the crash. Without a spare thought he tried one last trick.
Just as he finished he smiled slightly, it worked, and before he could really celebrated it, the shuttle shuttered one more time then his world went black.
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He remembered materializing, then almost immediately falling down a small hill. The instinctual scrabbling for purchase to try and slow his fall, did nothing but dislodge some stones and dirt. After what seemed like an hour but was less then minute, he came to the bottom of the small hill, where he laid and didn't move.
After several minutes, he opened his eyes and stared at the green expanse of grass in front of him. JD struggled to sit up. After a few minutes, he was able to get his sore and bruised body up to a sitting position. Wiping his hands across his face, he frowned when he felt something wet. Pulling his hand down, he started at the blood on his hand.
Wiping the blood on his pants, he looked around the area, wondering where Chris and the shuttle craft had gotten to. Knowing better then to spring to his feet, JD slowly stood up. Staring around the area, he thought he saw a glint of metal off to his left.
Looking at the glint of what he thought was the shuttle. JD wanted to scream. Chris shouldn't have done it. He was the Captain, Chris should of saved himself. Taking a deep breath, he straighten up and headed towards the reflection of light. Chris better be alive, cause there was no way that he was going to explain to everyone what happened.
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The puff of frigid winter air over his face shock Chris out of his unconscious state. His eyes opened wide, then they slammed shut. The brightness of the sun had darted into his eyes, awaking what felt like a hundred groundhogs who suddenly shriek as if they had seen their shadow.
After several minutes, Chris cautiously open his eyes. Taking a breath, as the groundhogs seemed to have gone quiet, he looked around at the crashed shuttle. Something though was missing. It took a minute for it to register. Opening his mouth, he bellowed out, “JD!”
For a long minute, Chris strained trying to hear a yell in response. Silence was the only thing he received in return.
Taking a step he almost fell down. Going down to one knee, closing his eyes, he could feel the groundhogs coming back with a vengeance. With a growl, he shoved the pain away and struggled to stand up.
That was a mistake as he took one step forward and stumbled. Catching himself for a second, he shook his head, took one more step and slowly collapsed as he fell into darkness.
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Closing his eyes for a moment, he tried to shake off his exhaustion. He didn't see the rut that his foot stepped into. Unable to catch his balance he fell, rolling down the slight incline coming to a stop with a thud.
For several minutes, he just laid there, trying to get his thoughts together. Finally, he shook his head, reached out a hand and pushed against what had stopped. Stopping in shock, he slowly turned his head ands stared. It was the shuttle craft.
Scrabbling to his feet, he couldn't believe his luck. He quickly moved along the shell of shuttle and finally found a gash in the side of the shuttle. Moving closer he realized it was more then a gash, it was the entire back panel had been sheared away.
Nervously, he took a deep breath and peered into the shuttle. And what he saw almost took his breath away.Chris was laying between what once was the pilot seat and engineer seat. JD could see the blood trail that lead down Chris's face from a cut on his forehead. The Captain looked so white, he matched the clouds that were floating up in the sky.
Taking a deep breath, he took an a couple of unsteady steps forward. Stopping just as he reach Chris, he kneel next to the Captain, reaching out to feel for a pulse.
After several minutes of pressing his fingers against Chris's neck, he felt a strong pulse. Rolling back on his heels, he took a deep breath, the Captain was still alive.
For the first time in what felt like days, JD felt he could breath some. He had been dreading having to tell the rest of the crew of the Maverick that their Captain was dead.
Looking around at what was left of the shuttle craft, the young ensign wondered how Chris had survived the crash. Standing up, he moved to the back of the shuttle, where the first aid kit and the emergency supplies were located.
Reaching the panel that held the supplies, JD stopped and stared. For a second, he could feel the sense of panic raise in him. The supplies weren't there. They must have fallen out somehow.
He pushed down his worry, as he stared around the shuttle craft, wishing that the emergency supplies would appear in front of his eyes. When nothing showed, JD stumbled towards where Chris laid, as he settled down next to the unconscious captain, he felt the weariness that had been dogging him the last few hours, crash on him. Between one blink and the next, he was sound asleep.
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A tug on his shoulder, roused JD from his exhausted sleep. For a second he just wanted to shake his head and tell the person he wanted to sleep, then what had happen in the last day rose up in his mind. With a gasp, he pushed himself up to sitting position and stared around at the broken shuttle. His eyes landed on Chris. “You're awake! You shouldn't be moving, you should be resting, you’re hurt.”
Chris winced at the volume of JD's voice, “Its fine JD, just relax.”
“Its not good, you had blood on your face and you were unconscious and pale and there is no medical kit and no blankets and I fell asleep and....”
Reaching over, Chris clamped his hand over JD's mouth, temporarily shutting the young man up, and softly growled out, “Quiet.”
JD nodded, and Chris, after a moment of making sure JD had gotten the hint, dropped his hand. “Its fine, I've been hurt worse.”
“But...”
“JD, it doesn't matter right now. We have bigger worries that we need to think about. We have little shelter, almost no rations and even less water.”
“There's a stream nearby, I splashed through it earlier trying to find the shuttle.”
“Good, we need to see if we can seal some of these holes on the shuttle. Its going to get cold at night, and we need someplace to keep the warmth in. Once we get that done, we'll go out and search nearby, see what we can find from the shuttle.”
“I'll go search for the supplies, Sir.”
Chris stopped, and glared at JD. “Ensign there are two of us here, we'll both go looking for the items.”
Swallowing, JD took a deep breath and shook his head. “No, I'm going out. You're hurt, and Nathan would kill me or make me eat supremely healthy if I let you walk around. You have a concussion at least and you need to rest not walk around searching for stuff.”
Staring at the young ensign and ignoring that fact that being reminded about the concussion didn't start up the groundhogs again pounding in his head, he took a step forward, towards the crack in the Shuttle. He suddenly stumbled and barely caught himself by falling into one of the still standing shuttle chair.
JD moved into his sight line. “I can go and search for the stuff. Besides maybe I'll be able to find the first aid kit.”
Rolling his eyes slightly and with a soft huff of breath, Chris nodded. “Sounds like a plan, see if you can find the first aid kit, but don't go too far. We don't know what else is out here.”
Seeing JD getting riled at the thought of not being able to keep himself safe, Chris growled softly and stated, “We don't know about what animals are out here or if the people who shot us down looking for us. You go to far, and if something happens, I won't know where you are or you won't be able to get back here in time. So, stay close and check in.”
Taking a deep breath, JD nodded. “I will. If you feel worse or something call out also.I'll head out.”
With a sketched a salute, JD scrambled out of the shuttle. Chris watched JD leave the shuttle and smirked slightly. Even with a concussion and more bruises then he thought possible he could still shock younger officers.
With a shake of his head, he turned to the console in front of him and wondered if he could find anything on the shuttle that stilled worked.
Staring at the grass hoping to find the first aid kit, all JD could think about was telling Chris no. Then the misunderstanding that Chris didn't trust him to find the items.
Blushing slightly at the memory of him scrambling out of the shuttle, he promised himself not to tell Buck about any of the conversation.
Stopping at a short rise, JD took a second to glance at the landscape in front of him. If it wasn't for the life and death situation, the area they were in wouldn't have been bad as a vacation spot.
With a shake of his head, the young ensign turned away from the view and continued the circle he was walking around the shuttle. Feeling more discouraged as he kept walking and didn't find anything.
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When he finally almost fell over a box, he stopped in shocked when he saw it was the missing first aid and survival kit. Reaching down he picked it up, and turned towards the shuttle, and started off at a quick jog. It was the first piece of luck that they had all trip.
Reaching the shuttle, JD burst into the busted shuttle and stopped short. Forgetting about the survival kit, he stared at Chris. “How did you get it working?”
Chris turned to look at JD. “I whacked it and messed with a couple of wires and got very primitive sensors. You find anything good?”
“I found the survival kit, so we won't go hungry at least and I can tend to your wounds.”
Chris grinned. “I'm fine. But the food would be good. Anything else interesting out there?”
Moving over to the Captain, JD shook his head. “No, nothing for miles. Do you think we should stay here?”
Rubbing his head slightly, Chris sighed. “Yes. We have shelter and food; we can see if anyone comes at us; and we shouldn't be here that long. Once the others don't find us at the rendezvous spot, they'll start searching for us.”
Settling down in the other upright seat, JD sighed. “You think it'll take them long?”
Looking down at the console in front of him, Chris sighed. “I don't know. Whatever shot us down is still out there, and I have a feeling that the ruler of this planet isn't going to be happy to have a Star Fleet vessel scanning it.”
“I hadn't thought about that. Do you think they won't look?”
Chuckling softly, Chris shook his head. “Oh, I think they'll keep searching ‘til they find us. They aren't going let something as planet's bureaucracy’s red tape stop them.”
Grinning at the thought of the rest of the crew letting something like red tape stop them made JD shake his head. “Should we feel sorry them?”
Chris winced as he moved slightly, feeling his ribs give a tug. “Nah...I'm pretty sure they deserve it.”
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It had been a long couple of days. After Chris and JD had left for the Arkenites reception, the Maverick had been called to help deliver supplies to a mining outfit. After dropping off the supplies and settling a couple of disputes, they had been able to leave and head towards the rendezvous with Chris and JD.
Arriving at the rendezvous, Buck frowned as there was no indication that the Captain's shuttle was anywhere near by. “Vin? We’re at the right place?”
Vin nodded. “Yes, this is the right place. They aren't here.”
Sighing, Buck turned to Ezra. “You have any answers?”
Running a few scans, Ezra finally shook his head. “No. There is no sign that the shuttle that Chris and JD are in ever came near here. Could they still be on the planet?”
Buck growled softly. “Well, lets find out, its at least a place to start.”
Vin frowned. “You think it'll be that easy?”
Snorting slightly, Buck shook his head, “I would love it if it was just a case of a hangover or slept in and left late, but I have a feeling it isn't anything that easy.”
Ezra frowned. “What trouble could they find in going to a simple party on a planet that is considered very safe?”
Staring at the view screen, Buck shook his head. “Do you really want to see what could happen at something like that? For all we know, they could have discovered some sort of plot to take down the federation and are now running for their lives, or knowing Chris's record he somehow crashed the shuttle craft.”
Vin frowned. “How many shuttle-crafts has Chris wrecked?”
“Since I've known him? At least ten…or is it twelve....”
Ezra stared, “How?”
Shaking his head, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know, but for some reason its never his fault. Seems people just like firing and putting explosives on his shuttle.”
“You think someone decided to take another shot at Chris?”
Shaking his head, Buck sighed. “I wish it would as simple as just them having trouble with the shuttle. Knowing our luck, something much worse has happened and the sooner we can get to the planet, the sooner we find them and find out what went wrong.”
Turning back to his console, Vin punched in the coordinates for the planet, with a little more force then necessary and engaged the engines. Turning back to Buck, Vin smiled. “We'll find them first and make sure the Arkenites haven’t done anything to Chris or JD.”
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JD rummaged through the survival kit, and frowned. “They really like to punish you if you need to use this don't they?”
Chris grinned at the young ensign. “JD, the rations are suppose to help us survive in case we crashed anywhere, usually you don't crash on the side of a mountain, in a field of flowers with easy access to water.”
Huffing, JD sighed, “I still disagree. The title of these don't even sound good. Most of them seem to be some type of freeze dried chicken.”
Chuckling slightly, the Captain sighed. “Just grab one. I don't really care, they all pretty much taste the same.”
Closing his eyes, JD reached out and grabbed two of the dinners. Opening his eyes, he frowned. “Liver and onions?”
Taking on of the dinners from JD, Chris active its healing element. “We're lucky. For some reason liver and onions taste like pizza.”
JD eyed Chris for a long minute, “you can't be serious.”
“Yes, I am. Why do you think Buck trades for these things every chance he gets.”
With a deep breath, the young ensign tore up into his dinner, not thinking about it, he grabbed a spoonful and placed it in his mouth.
Chewing for a long moment he smiled, “I wouldn't believe it, but it does taste like pizza. How did Buck figured this out?”
Taking a bite of his own dinner, Chris shrugged his shoulders, “I don't really want to know. He just showed up on my quarters one day, and said if we ever crash he gets all the liver and onions rations. When I asked why, he wouldn't tell me. Next time I crashed though without him, I tried them and well...I found out.”
JD shook his head, “out of curiosity how many times have you crashed?”
Smiling, Chris poked at his meal, not really hungry. Looking over at JD, he admitted “a couple of times.”
“How do you crash a couple of times?”
Smiling slowly, Chris tossed his half full container of food to the side. “It takes lots of practice.”
Taking the last bite of his dinner, JD tossed his own empty container away. Eying Chris, JD frowned. “Are you sure you're okay? You didn't eat a lot of your food.”
Grunting slightly, the Captain shook his head, “I'm fine. Nothing I haven't had before.”
With a slight groan, JD got up and rummaged through the equipment, pulling out a medical scanner. Quickly scanning Chris, JD frowned. “You have a couple of busted ribs, a concussion and some really bad bruises. You aren't all right.”
Glaring at the young ensign, Chris grunted. “It isn't anything I haven't had before and we might have a scanner but the med supplies we aren’t going to solve my problems.”
Stammering for a second, JD gathered his courage and spoke up, “We're the only ones around here. You can't hide injuries from me”
Eying the young ensign, Chris didn't want to say anything ,but sighed. JD did have a point. “Its just a headache. Makes me feel nausea.”
Staring at the Captain for a long moment, JD wasn't sure that was everything that was bothering Chris, though he also had a strong feeling calling Chris on it wasn't going to get him any more information on the question.
With a deep sigh and a promise to himself about keeping an eye on Chris, JD nodded. “All right, though since you aren't feeling well, I'm taking first watch.”
Chris open his mouth to protest, but one look at JD changed his mind. With a slight nod, the Captain found a place to lie down and get some sleep
JD turned his eye to the crude sensors that Chris had created, and hoped that the others would find them soon.
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Part 2
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Starting at the now blank view-screen, Buck turned to look at Ezra. “Tell me you've found them?”
The security chief sighed. “No matter what you think regarding my superiority of my search abilities, I haven't located them yet. If they crashed in those mountains. I was telling you about, then it will be difficult and slow to find them.”
Buck sighed, “I'm not really surprised. Do the best you can. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to have a little talk with the rulers of the planet.”
Vin grinned. “Sounds like you're thrilled to talk to them.”
Growling softly at the Vulcan, Buck straighten up and called out to Ezra. “Get Mr. Logrunner on. We have to have a discussion that about what happened to Chris and JD.”
Ezra grinned, “I'll have him up in a minute, Do you want him out here or in the Captain's room?”
Buck sighed, “Here.”
It took several minutes but finally Ezra had the Mr. Logrunner on the screen.
Buck glared at the man in front of him. “Mr. Logrunner, I heard that your soiree was wonderful, so great, that it seems my Captain and the ensign that was with him seemed to disappear.”
The leader of the planet frowned at Buck. “I don't know what you are talking about. Your Captain left here before the festivals were over. I don't care where he went.”
Buck looked at Logrunner, then quietly spoke. “You should worry. I'm not a diplomat, I don't care what is going on that you're trying to hide from us. But I intend to get my Captain and ensign back, so I suggest that you make time.”
Logrunner looked at the first officer, sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Look, I understand you want your captain ,but at the moment I'm busy. I have people calling for my head, my government getting divided into fractions that want to go to war. I don't have time for you or your crew....Actually....”
Buck frowned, he didn't have a good feeling about this. “What?”
“I need a neutral site, where the leaders of the various factras and I can talk with a neutral party. Usually we would call Starfleet for someone to mediate, but since you're here, you can act as our mediator for the talks. “
“What do you mean mediator?”
Logrunner grinned. “You want to find your Captain, To do that, you need to scan our planet. While you're helping us with our problem, you can scan the whole plant without interference.”
Staring at the leader, Buck had a strong feeling that the leader wasn't telling the whole truth, but if it cut though the red tape, he was willing to do it. “All right. Give us an hour or so to get ready for you.”
Logrunner nodded, “Great, we'll be ready.”
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The loud rumbling of thunder had JD peering out of the shuttle-craft, Seeing the low clouds that were swelled with rain, the young ensign frowned; it didn't look good. Looking at the shuttle-craft, JD stared at the small holes and other jagged slits open in the roof of their shelter.
When a hand landed on him, JD jerked and turned around. An amused Chris was staring at him. “Little jumpy?”
Wiping a hand over his face, JD smiled at Chris. “No, not at all. Just that I heard some thunder and it looks like its going to rain.”
Nodding, Chris peered outside, “You're right, it does look like it. Did you by any chance find a tarp or blanket?”
“No.”
Glancing around the shuttle-craft, Chris growled softly, “Can you go out nearby and get some branches with leaves? We're try to keep the rain out with those.”
JD sighed, “Okay, what about you?”
“I'm going to see what I can do in here while you get those, and keep an eye on a storm.
Don't go to far away.”
JD nodded. “All right, I'll be back soon.”
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Buck tugged on his formal uniform. They were transporting all the parties involved with the dispute on the planet one at a time to the Maverick. Biting back a growl of frustration at not being able to be involved with the search for the captain, instead he was going to be stuck in a meeting and making nice in order to try and figure out what was going on the planet. With a last tug at his uniform, Buck nodded to the transporter chief. “You might as well let them know and beam them up.”
With one last thought and wish of luck to Ezra and Vin in finding Chris and JD, the first officer plastered a smile on his face, he would find out what this planet's problem and figure out how a peaceful mission turned into a planet that was in turmoil and two crew members missing.
As the first forms started to materialize on the transporter platform, Buck hoped that this would be quick.
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Ezra looked up from the scan of the planet and frowned at the closed door of the conference room. It had been several hours since they started scanning the planet. The problem with scanning this supposed paradise planet, was that the mineral contents of the soil seemed to enjoy screwing with their sensors. Sending them false readings and false hits.
Growling, Ezra was about to thwack his console in hope of getting the sensors to work. Before he could do anything, Vin spoke up. “Don't hit it. Remember what Chris said, we can't abuse the computer if we want it to work.”
Ezra sighed. “We should of found them by now.”
Vin shook his head at the flustered security chief, “Breathe. Killing the computer isn't going to help.”
Closing his eyes for a moment, Ezra took a deep breath and sighed, “I know. Its just...we don't even know if they're alive.”
Vin smirked, “Oh, they're alive.”
Staring at the Vulcan for a long moment, Ezra said “You're right, I just wish this planet was easier to scan.”
Moving back to his chair, Vin grinned. “Ah hell Ez, when did we ever do anything easy?”
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Inside the conference room, Buck was ready to shoot the group of supposedly highly important people for the planet below. They all really sounded like five years-old battling over their favorite toy.
Grinding his teeth softly, Buck took a deep breath, and unclenched his jaw. Clearing his throat, the first officer spoke softly, breaking through the yelling accusations that were floating through the room.
“Everyone, sit back down and take a deep breath. Your screaming isn't doing anything, besides giving all of us a hoarse voice.”
Slowly, everyone sat down, closing their mouths and looking at the first officer. Grinning slightly at the men and ladies, Buck continued to speak softly, making sure everyone had to strain to hear him. “I understand everyone is angry and everyone feels that the other is at fault. The problem is, none of you have clarified what you're angry about or accusing the others of doing.”
Mr. Pigionville the leader of the Seacross clan spoke up. “You are an outsider. You don't need to know what this is about. Its enough to say that something of great value has been taken and everyone knows that Mr. Carvarn's associates were planning on taking it and have done it.”
Mr. Carvarn of the Platipus clan frowned at the other man. “We did not do this! Unlike some clans, we understand the importance of honor. We would never go so far below and do an unhonorable thing as take the item. If it was anyone, it was the band of thieves of Ms Tanglewood's family.”
Ms. Tanglewood, of the Hoffer clan, a rather tall and angry looking woman glared at the Mr. Carvarn, who had brought his mother along as an adviser.“My clan and those associated with it wouldn't stoop to steal such a bauble. We have more important things to do like keeping the planet fed. Unlike some clans that just sit around all day and don't produce a thing besides useless books.”
“How dare you! I would let you know that those useless books are read throughout the galaxy and brings in more money then your useless low brow farming.”
Staring at Mr. Pigionville, Ms. Tanglewood open her mouth to refute the claim or just yell, Buck didn't want to know which. “All of you need to stop these petty insults and arguments. Fighting and blaming each other isn't going to solve anything. “
“Mr. Wilmington is right. We are not producing anything but dredging up minor issues that have nothing to do with the problem that we seem to find on our table. We need to focus on what is truly important, not who did it, but where it could be and how to get it back.”
Logrunner settled back against his chair after his short talk. Sadly, his words had little effect except it seems to unite the other three clan leaders turned on him.
Staring at the sniping that was getting thrown onto Logrunner, Buck wanted to take a phaser to them all and start firing. This wasn't getting them anywhere besides raising his blood pressure and making him learn the entire history of the planet.
With a deep sigh, Buck listened to the accusations being thrown about and waited for another pause to try and get things back on track.
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Chris stared at the dark clouds. Hearing the thunder even closer, he leveraged himself up , hissing with pain as all of his bruises and lacerations made themselves known to him. He limped over to the largest rent in the shuttle-craft and called out to JD. “Get back in here. The storm is almost on us. Don't need you getting sick.”
After several minutes, Chris spotted JD slowly coming towards him dragging several branches. Before he could call out again, the young ensign waved and called out, “I'm almost there. Just these last few branches.”
The Captain nodded. “Good, get them over the roof and get inside, it looks like it will be raining soon. Rather you weren't outside and get struck with lighting.”
Reaching the shuttle, JD smiled. “I'll be but a second. You sure that the storm will be here any minute?”
“Yes. I can see it coming in behind you.”
Placing the branches over the shuttle, JD then moved inside the shelter. “You think it'll keep the rain out?”
Chris settled himself back in the chair he had spent most of the afternoon in, shrugging his shoulders he sighed. “I hope so. We don't have much choice about shelter around here.”
Settling himself done, in the other chair that had survived the crash mostly intact, JD frowned. “What if it doesn't?”
Closing his eyes for a second, Chris opened them and looked at the JD. “Then we get wet. Hopefully, it holds enough so we don't get wet. With how the temperature is dropping, if we get wet, we're just asking to get sick. And I for one don't want to get yelled at by Nathan for getting sick.”
Biting back the comment, that Chris would most likely see Nathan no matter what, JD just smiled. “Well then, we better not get wet.”
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Buck never thought that he would come to hate a planet. There were planets that he disliked and ones he wouldn't really want to go back to; but hate a planet and everyone on it? He never really thought he would find one. Until now.
Rubbing his hand over his face, he pressed both hands firmly against the table and slowly counted to ten in several languages. When a pause happened, in-between the mud slinging, Buck quickly spoke up. “I think everyone needs a break. Its late, and all of us need some food and maybe some time to reflect on what we really want to get done here. Now, as I told you when we invited you up we have set up quarters for you all for the duration of the talks. I know we all could use a breather, so if you would follow the escorts outside to your rooms we will reconvene tomorrow morning.”
The various clan leaders and Mr. Longrunner stared at Buck. Slowly everyone agreed. And the clan leaders and their aids stood up and one by one left the room. When the room was empty, Buck looked around at the silent room. He couldn't help but wonder what he was missing.
Through all of the accusations that were flying around the room, no one had actually stated what they were blaming the others for.
All it had been was that it was the other groups fault. He felt that for some reason he was caught in something that he knew nothing about and that no one was actually going to tell him for fear they would then be focused on as the guilty party.
Turning, he stared at the stars for a long moment as if he was searching them for an answer about what he was missing.
He finally shook his head, stood up from his chair and headed out of the room. The stars didn't have an answer. Hopefully, Ezra and Vin had some good news for him, but the way his day seemed to be going, he wouldn't be surprise if the planet had decided to move its orbit to the other-side of the galaxy.
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Watching Buck march out of the conference room, after the clan leaders from the planet below had left the room some time ago, Josiah stood up and walked over to the frustrated first officer. "Buck?"
The first officer turned and growled softly. "Shove them all out of the airlock. Who brings their mother with them? When they're trying to convince someone that they aren't involved in firing on a Starfleet shuttle."
Josiah smiled softly at that, “She any trouble?”
Buck shook his head. "No, personally I'll shove everyone but her out the airlock and talk with her. She at least seems to have grasped what the consequences of incident could be. Getting it so she can talk, doesn't seem to work. Her son, just starts yelling at one of the others about whose fault it is.”
Josiah shook his head. “Maybe tomorrow will be better.”
Snorting slightly, Buck eyed Josiah. “You really think so?”
Shrugging his shoulders, the betazoid sighed. “No, but we can hope.”
Shaking his head at the older man, Buck turned to survey the bridge. Spotting Ezra, he walked over to the security chief, “Tell me something good. You find them?”
“No, and what's worse is a storm has blown in over the area we're trying to scan. Through the lighting and whatever those mountains are made of we can't get a reading back from the sensors. I have to go slowly, what should have been done in an hour is taking longer then it should.”
Eying the green eyed man, Buck gently laid a hand on the man's shoulder and pushed Ezra away from his console. Taking a look at the man, the first officer frowned. “Take a break.”
“I do not need a break, not till we find them.”
“Ezra, take a break. You aren't doing them or me any good if you fall asleep or miss something because you're tired. You can have someone else take over long enough to get something to eat and some rest. You're crossed eyed. You need a break.” Barked Buck.
Ezra eyed the first officer. “But...”
“No buts. Don't make me call Nate up here, that includes you, Vin. I don't want to hear about Vulcans and the lack of rest you need. We all need a break and to give our eyes a chance to rest. So, we can come back with fresh eyes.”
Ezra was the first to protest, “I'm fine, Mr. Wilmington.”
Snorting, Buck glared at the Security chief. “You aren't fine. The only reason you aren't swaying is because you're holding onto that console. I know that you two have been on duty longer then me.”
Vin frowned. “What about JD and Chris? We can't leave them on the planet. What if...”
Taking a deep breath and letting it go, Buck answered the unfinished question. “Chris and JD will be fine. We won't be able to do anything for them if we all collapse at our stations because we didn't take care of ourselves.”
It seemed for a minute Vin and Ezra were going to complain, but after looking at Buck they both nodded. “All right, I'll have Lieutenant Scott take over the search. Happy?”
Buck grinned, as it seemed finally something was going his way. “Yes, Now go. Get some rest for at least four hours. You need to eat and sleep.”
As the two men left the bridge still grumbling about tyrants and that it wasn't fair, Josiah turned to the first officer. “I assume you're going to do the same?”
A short snort, the first officer looked at the older man. “No, unlike those two, I wish I could. I have to report to Travis about this mess and let him know our status.”
Josiah eyed the Risian. “Then you will get some rest.”
“Maybe, though I have some other things such as reports and odds and ends that need to be done. And then I will most likely have a meeting with a quiet and mysterious woman.”
Eying the younger man, Josiah frowned. “With all of this mess you're keeping a date?”
Smirking a little at Josiah, Buck shook his head. “No, not that kind of date. First off she is little too old for me and second I don't think that would help the situation.”
Frowning, Josiah suddenly understood. “The mother?”
Nodding, Buck looked out over the bridge for a long second at the view-screen that showed the planet below. Finally, he turned back to Josiah. “Yes, the mother. She out of all them looks like she is disgusted with what is going on. I have a feeling she will be willing to tell me the truth of what this fuss is about and who might have shot down the shuttle.”
Josiah eyed the younger man. “You don't think this was just an accident?”
Shrugging his shoulders, the first officer sighed. “No. The shuttle didn't crash by accident. Listening to that group in the conference room, they're hiding something. Their planet isn't as peacefully as they would like us to believe and what or whoever took a shot at the shuttle isn't going to come out and volunteer why they did it.”
“You think talking to his woman will get you your answers?”
“Yes, at least some of them. Once I know what this lot is actually after, I'll be able to get them to shut up and talk, and get down to the bottom of this quarrel. Till then, it'll just be them slinging mud at each other.”
“You do know that you running yourself into the ground isn't going to help anyone?”
Buck grinned, “I'm touched that you're worried but unlike Ezra and Vin, I don't have someone who I can hand this off to. If the price in finding JD and Chris for me a little missed sleep, it won't be the first time. I've had to do that.”
With that, Buck turned and headed into the Captain's room to contact Travis and give him a report.
Josiah watched the first officer leave. Shaking his head, he sighed. Buck collapsing wouldn't be any good, and Nathan didn't need to find himself with an extra patient in sickbay who never left the ship.
With a look around the bridge, Josiah headed off of it and down to Ten-forward. If he was lucky Inez would still be there and willing to make something for Buck. Something that would get the first officer to eat it and not just push it around till it got cold.
As the turbo-lift doors closed, Josiah sent up a quiet plea to anyone who might be listening that JD and Chris were as safe as they could be and would be found soon. Also, to give the leaders of the planet below some common sense to sort out this matter before those people found themselves throw off the ship via the airlock that was missing its shuttle.
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The thunderstorm had rolled up on the two starfleet officers before they could create a better shelter then what was left of the shuttle.
As the rain pounded down, JD shivered slightly. “You think they'll find us?”
Chris stared at the rain for a few seconds, then smiled softly. “We're talking about Buck here, not even including Vin, Ezra, Nate and Josiah. I don't think those guys will give up finding us. I bet they are scanning the whole planet for us.”
“I hope they find us soon.”
Coughing slightly, Chris cleared his throat. “I'm sure they will find us soon.”
JD stopped what he was doing and stared at Chris. Taking a deep breath and a second to gather his courage, he asked the captain. “Are you sure you're all right, I don't like the sound of that cough. We could try and make a fire.”
Stifling another cough, Chris tried for a reassuring grin towards JD, which came out
more like a pain grimace. “Just a cough nothing else.”
Not believe the older man for a second, JD pawed through their supplies for a moment. Finding an item he wanted, he moved over to Chris. “Put this on.”
Looking at the rather heavy long sleeve shirt, the blond stared at JD. “You want me to put that ugly thing on. I don't even want to know why out of all my clothing that survived.”
Shrugging his shoulders, JD grinned slightly, “I don't know, but still put it on you need the warmth.”
Eying the ugly thing, Chris sighed, and slowly pulled it on. Wincing slightly as he felt his ribs protest the movement. “Happy?”
JD bounced slightly, “Yep. Now hopefully you won't get sick.”
Rolling his eyes, Chris settled in the nearby chair. “I wouldn't get sick. In fact I haven't gotten sick in years.”
Settling in his own, and trying to ignore how loud the thunder was getting, JD raised his eyebrow. “Really? How did you do that?”
Smirking slightly, Chris turned back to the one working console. “Germs are scared of me.”
Snorting, JD shook his head, and turned his attention back to sorting the supplies he had found when he was looking for branches.
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: http://issolafox.livejournal.com/4354.html