Star Tracking. Part 3

[dimity_blue]

CHAPTER SIX

CAPTAIN'S DIARY
By the time we managed to return to Chrama, the Pilgrim had already left! Would you believe it? Apparently, Judith was in a hurry to get back to Earth, so she contacted her father and asked him to tell Captain Rogers that he had to go home immediately. I did give some thought to chasing the Pilgrim and forcing Rogers to hand her over, (women are always impressed by that gung-ho/I couldn't live another second without you stuff), but I decided not to. Rogers plays a mean hand of poker, and anyway, we've received orders ourselves to return to Earth. Maybe Judith's decided to get her father to order me to marry her - women in love will do anything!

~~~

Jason Steadfast sat in the Captain's chair and smiled, a satisfied look in his brown eyes. He'd worked out that they would arrive on Earth only two days after Judith. As they were on their way back, he'd decided that his plan to have the Captain declared insane should wait until they had reached headquarters; if Judith were there then Dashing's behaviour would surely show the Admirals and shareholders of Stellarfleet that Dashing was not to be trusted with a starship. And especially with diplomatic missions! The whole debacle over the Viganian Ambassador's wife was still fresh in everyone's mind - except Dashing's of course. His mind could barely retain enough knowledge to work the intercom, let alone remember his humiliations! No, the plan would have to wait. Luckily, since Dashing was such an idiot, He'd never realise anything was going on until the medics strapped him into one of those ever-so-stylish white jackets.

It was at this point that Steadfast was interrupted by Dashing himself coming to the bridge to take command of his ship. Dashing had decided that since this might be his last mission - he had never believed in long engagements - then he might as well finish off his starship career in style by bringing the ship home personally. Not by flying the thing (how many officers bothered to learn how to operate the navigation console?) but by supervising the lowly ensigns and lieutenants as they struggled to live up to Dashing's standards.

~o0o~

CHAPTER SEVEN

It was two days later that they came upon the wreck of the Pilgrim. None of the crew had been hurt, just stunned while the dastardly pirates who attacked it had carried out their evil plan. Even the Captain was physically unhurt. Apparently a group of Urgons, (who were not at war with Earth or humans in general) had contacted the ship and asked for assistance. Upon the Pilgrim's attempting to aid them in their non-existent distress, the Urgons had boarded the ship, taken everyone prisoner, kidnapped the daughter of a major shareholder in Stellarfleet, released everyone else and then left. They'd also sabotaged the ship so the crew could not even chase them.

It was part of Judith's charm that every single person on the ship, including the women, had been prepared to give their life to save her.

The Urgons had stated that they would contact Stellarfleet and offer their terms.

~~~

CAPTAIN'S DIARY
Judith has been kidnapped! I can't believe it. How am I going to manage to marry her now? If we don't get her back then I might have to find another eligible shareholder's daughter - and there's not that many of them!

Steadfast, of course, just over-reacted. He attempted to throttle Rogers for not protecting her better. It took three of the crew to hold him back. For some reason, Rogers is refusing to lay charges. Pity. I could have done without Steadfast's stupidity while we, no - I, save Judith. She'll be so grateful she'll insist on getting married immediately. Maybe I should let Rogers come along - he can perform the marriage ceremony!

Actually, I know a few Urgons. I know one Urgon very well. Maybe I can persuade them to let her go.

Wonder why Steadfast over-reacted like that? He takes his duties so seriously.

~~~

Meanwhile, back at Stellarfleet headquarters, Christopher Elliot had just received the news that his daughter had been kidnapped. Needless to say he was rather angry, very worried and willing to blow up Earth if that's what it would take to get Judith back unhurt. Never make a seriously rich man desperate.

~o0o~

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Urgons and Judith were getting on quite well. Once she had discovered that they had no intention of hurting her in any way, and in fact only saw her as the means to a very desirable end, she enjoyed herself quite a lot.

The female leader, Bak'ton by name, had invited Judith to her very magnificent palace, and once the two females got together, they discovered that they had quite a lot in common. One of the things being madly in love with a Stellarfleet officer and a determination to marry the said officer.

To put it bluntly, Bak'ton (who was no fool, in spite of her love for Dashing), had decided that if Dashing were not prepared to return to Urgonia voluntarily, then she would have to force his hand slightly. She offered Judith the choice of a fast ship that would take her to Earth there and then, or a fast ship that would take her to Earth after the marriage ceremony. Judith was quite pleased to offer any help that she could, as long as it resulted in Dashing being removed from the Endeavour. Permanently.

The bargain struck, she contacted her father and told him the entire truth, not neglecting to mention the part about the burning table and Steadfast's rescue.

Mr. Elliot shook his head. "I can't agree, Judith - it's immoral."

"How?" Judith demanded.

"Well...with all due respect to Madame Bak'ton, surely getting Dashing to marry her is her problem."

Judith spoke very calmly, "Bak'ton is aware of that. But she feels that if she were to approach Captain Dashing directly, it could only lead to trouble between Earth and Urgonia." She allowed her impatience to seep through. "Oh, Daddy. You know what he's like. If he were cornered by Bak'ton, well, he'd order his crew to fire upon her ships. If they refused they'd be done for mutiny - including Jason! And, if they did fire, there'd be war between our planets. You don't want that. Do you?" Judith finished on a pleading note, and crossed her fingers behind her back.

Mr. Elliot gazed at his daughter through narrowed eyes. He had to admit she had a point. He also had to admit that her acting abilities were quite good. He sighed.

"I admit that Dashing is rather heavy handed with his torpedoes. But..." He stopped. He could not actually think of any argument against this, except that it was immoral. And he'd already used that. "Judith, it's not Stellarfleet's policy to get involved with their officers' private lives. What Dashing does is his business. Even if he is, well, no, if he is bringing Stellarfleet into disrepute, then we have to interfere. But not by forcing him to marry!"

"How would you stop him then?"

"His superior would have a word with him, possibly an official reprimand...If he continued, then it could even lead to a court-martial. But with his uncles being Admirals it wouldn't come to that." Mr. Elliot stopped. Thinking about it, there was no way to stop Dashing unless they shipped him off somewhere. His uncles...and his father...would be very pleased if Dashing were to become the consort of a world leader. So pleased they might not kick up a fuss over the methods used to persuade him.

Judith waited in silence. She knew that her father would come to see the advantages of this. He might even agree to point out those advantages to the other shareholders.

"All right." Christopher looked at his daughter and knew she was right. "I will put Madame Bak'ton's proposal, if you see what I mean, to the board." He straightened suddenly. "After all, war with Urgonia would only bring misery to thousands of people. If not millions. And it is the duty of every Stellarfleet officer to sacrifice himself in the line of duty, if necessary."

Judith smiled. "I knew you'd see it our way, Daddy. But I want you to tell Commander Steadfast and Dr. Lipton the truth. Jason will be furious if he finds out that it was all a ploy - unless you tell him first. And," she added triumphantly, "with Dashing gone, Jason is bound to be promoted - and I always wanted to be a Captain's wife!"

After consulting with the rest of the shareholders, who were all sick of Dashing making a laughing stock of Stellarfleet, Christopher Elliot informed Bak'ton that in view of the circumstances they had no choice but to hand Dashing over. Oh, there would be no reprisals.

Bak'ton assured him that her marriage would only bring them all closer together.

~o0o~

CHAPTER NINE

"Oh my God!" Dashing's screech echoed around his office and even reached through the doors to the bridge. He had just read Bak'ton's terms and conditions of handing Judith back - and he was the sacrifice.

The doors flew open and Steadfast burst into the room, followed by a security guard, with the rest of the bridge crew peering over their shoulders.

"Captain, are you hurt?" Steadfast had never felt so fond of his beloved Captain as he did at that moment.

Dashing cleared his throat. "Just tripped and banged my ankle. It's nothing." He rubbed his ankle and glared round at them all, a furtive look in his eyes. "Hadn't you all better get back to work?"

"Well, if you're sure you're alright..." Steadfast paused, then said, "Perhaps you'd better get the doctor to check out your ankle." And sedate you until we hand you over, he added silently.

"Good idea, good idea. I'll go down there now." He headed for his own private lift while Steadfast headed back to the intercom to ask the doctor what he thought of his brainwave.

The doctor loved it. Given a choice of Judith or Dashing, the doctor was prepared to perform a lobotomy on Dashing if that was what the Urgons wanted. Unfortunately, Dashing had other ideas.

At the very moment that Lipton was congratulating Steadfast on his forthcoming promotion, with the bridge crew hearing, and loving every word, Dashing was changing the schedule. Instead of heading for the medlab, he was a little bit busy stunning two ensigns and a lieutenant and stealing a shuttlecraft. He intended to head back to the nearest planet and beg a lift from any passing shipowner (male or female - he was prepared to go without sex to escape his destiny) and disappear into the vast universe.

He figured that the Urgons would not actually hurt Judith - it was stupid of Stellarfleet not to see that, the Urgons would never risk war with Earth! They would have to hand her over sooner or later and when they did, he would return and say he had been trying to raise his own ship and crew to go and rescue her. She would be impressed by that - so would Stellarfleet. And Steadfast would have to admit that he was a good Captain since he was prepared to risk his own life rather than damage their careers by asking them to disobey Stellarfleet orders. He flew on in his shuttlecraft, dreaming his smug, sad little dreams.

~o0o~

Once Steadfast realized that Dashing had gone, he swung into action, enthusiastically aided by the crew who were hoping to get invited to the wedding.

"Mr. Kirenkov!"

"Yes, sir!" The young ensign turned in his chair and regarded Steadfast. Andrei Kirenkov had only been on board for a few months but all of his youthful enthusiasm was turned towards delivering that son-of-an-Admiral to the marriage ceremony, plus Steadfast would make a really good Captain.

"Scan for the shuttlecraft. Let me know the instant you detect it."

"I've already scanned, sir. The shuttlecraft is out of range, but I am picking up its carbon-monoxide emissions."

"Well done. Feed the coordinates into the navigation console and follow. Top speed."

The good ship Endeavour sped after its errant Captain. The entire crew determined to bring him back - dead or alive.

Steadfast retired to his quarters, filled with fury. When he got that...that...Captain back he would throttle him. He didn't know that Judith was in no danger. So far as Dashing was concerned he was leaving her to whatever fate the Urgons decided to hand out. Steadfast had been ready to kill Dashing and offer to take his place if that was the only way to save Judith, however Christopher Elliot's private message had made it obvious that that would not be required. But if it cost Steadfast the whole ship he would get Dashing to Urgonia.

Definitely alive. Maybe in one piece.

~o0o~

CHAPTER TEN

"Commander Steadfast." Bak'ton regally inclined her head in greeting to him.

Jason was rather taken aback. Even considering her pale blue skin and antennae, the Urgonian leader was exquisite. The only question was, what had she ever seen in Dashing? Remembering his manners, he bowed to the viewscreen which showed her face and wished for the fiftieth time that he had Dashing on the floor in chains. "Madame Bak'ton. I fear that I have bad news."

Her brow puckered. "Captain Dashing. Is he unwell?" Her heart beat faster. In spite of all his faults she loved him, although she could not have explained why. (A fault common with most of Dashing's conquests - Stellarfleet was considering funding research to see if he used hypnotism).

"No, Madame Bak'ton. He is, so far as I know, extremely well. He is...missing."

"Ah." She smiled slightly and dismissed his euphemism. "He has escaped."

Steadfast smiled with relief. "Yes." His tone hardened, "But I give you my personal assurance that I will find him and bring him to you."

"I know you will, Commander. I have heard many things of you." Her eyes conveyed a sense of mischief, unusual in a world leader. "From a friend of yours, and mine. Perhaps you would like to speak to her."

"Thank you, Madame Bak'ton, I would like that."

"She has been sent for. One question, Commander. Why did you contact me yourself? You must have known that Stellarfleet would communicate this news to me."

"Yes, Madame Bak'ton. But it was my fault. I did not believe that he would be capable of betraying Miss Elliot - he doesn't know she isn't your hostage. I should have made sure he couldn't escape. I'm sorry."

"Judith was right about you. Do not apologise. Peter can be very cunning - he managed to fool me, too." She smiled wryly, then turned her head. "Here she is. Goodbye, Commander, I know that I can rely upon you to do your best." Turning to Judith she added, "We will leave you alone, my dear."

Judith waited until Bak'ton and her large entourage of servants had gone, and then turned to the viewscreen.

"Has Captain Dashing escaped?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes, we're following his carbon monoxide trail now." He smiled. "Madame Bak'ton didn't seem surprised."

"Oh, she knows him. She was worried that he might get away. I know you'll catch him, Jason. Do you think it will take long?"

"I don't know." Steadfast sat down so he could be closer to the viewscreen, and appear closer to her. "He knows a lot of places, and people. But I know them too. I'll find him." He paused. "How are they treating you?"

"Didn't Daddy tell you? I'm not a hostage. I can leave any time I want." Then she smiled. "Oh, doubting Jason. No, Bak'ton isn't going to throw me into her dungeon or have me executed. Disappointed?" She wrinkled her nose at him.

"Devastated," he smiled.

"Liar," she whispered.

"I know."

~o0o~

Part 4.