Operation Pushover

James K. Starska

Chapter I.

"The Deception"

Personal Log: Stardate 6603.6, Lieutenant James K. Starska recording.

With the completion of the mission codename 'Derelect', we are now enroute to the rendezvous with the Lexington at Sector 917.2, for a classified purpose. It is now two hours into A-shift, the Saratoga is presently on a course of 749 mark 6, Warp factor 5. I now believe it is time for 'Operation Pushover' to begin.

Yesterday, I had a talk with Captain Hilton and with much difficulty was able to get his cooperation. Some may say the end is near but I think not.

End Log.

"Status report, helm." Captain Hilton ordered.

"All systems working." James Starska turned to the Captain.

"All normal, at present speed we will be at the rendezvous with the Lexington in five days ahead of time, (sigh) sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Hilton turned to the science station. "Report on rendezvous sector, Commander."

Commander Thomas C. Davis turned toward the command chair.

"Sector 917.2 is an empty sector, Captain. Just a planetoid that is Class D. Nothing even worth noting in the computers."

"Thank you, Mr. Davis."

Starska fidgeted in his seat and cleared his throat. A perfect attempt to get the Captain's attention. And it worked.

"Yes, Mr. Starska?" the Captain asked, as if he knew what the problem was.

The helmsman looked straight ahead to the main viewer with a smile. His smile vanished as he stood and turned to the Captain. "Permission to speak freely, sir."

"I have a feeling I'm going to regret this." Hilton said, under his breath. "Go ahead, Lieutenant."

"Sir, may I suggest since the rendezvous sight is so... well... uh..."

"Unattractive, Lieutenant." the Captain said.

"Yes, sir, and we can make it to the rendezvous in one day..."

"Lieutenant," the Captain cut in. "Do I take it that you want me to lay over somewhere?"

"Well, not exactly... I was kind of hoping that..."

"Lieutenant!" The Captain stood up. "This is a Starship of the Federation, not a taxi! Is that clear?"

Starska stared at the Captain, in shock.

Lt. Commander Smith turned from watching the action to answer a inner-ship communication.

"Yes, sir. Crystal clear." Starska said, as he sat and manned his helm.

The Captain walked up to him, and placed his hand on the Lieutenant's shoulder. "Besides," the Captain whispered to Starska. "You love-struck romantic, I have no reason to enter in my log." Starska looked up at the Captain. "Otherwise, I would take you anywhere. Only if I had..."

"Captain Hilton." Lt. Commander Smith called out. "Chief Engineer Waldron wishes to speak with you."

"On Audio, Mr. Smith." Hilton said, as he stepped down from the helm and walked to the front of it.

"Captain," Lt. Commander Bill Waldron's voice said on the Bridge speakers. "We have a..."

"...problem, Engineer?"

"Aye, sir. We need to do some minor repairs to the port warp engine. We need to shut down for a day to work on it."

"How bad is it?" the Captain said, with concern.

"Well, we can make it for about ten days or so, but I would like to do it ASAP."

"Request received. Hilton out."

The helmsman slowly looked up from his controls to meet the Captain's eyes, and raised an eyebrow.

"IF I had something for the log." the Captain said to Starska and he winked.

"Mr. Smith." the Captain barked.

"Sir?"

"Have Assistant Helmsman John Schmidt come to the Bridge."

"Yes, sir." Smith turned to do just that as the captain returned to his con.

"Helm," the Captain took a little time to finish his order. "Shut down the warp drive, slow to sub-light."

"Aye, aye sir. Slowing to sub-light." Starska turned with a smile bigger than a super-nova. The mighty starship (not the taxi) slowed to a nice slow speed in a vast sea of stars in a endless void of space. A lot nicer, Starska thought, than the blur of the stars at warp speed.

Five minutes later, which seemed like five years to a lone Lieutenant, Schmidt entered the Bridge. The Captain waved him by. "Take the helm, Mr. Schmidt."

Schmidt walked down to the helm. "You are relieved, Lieutenant Starska."

"Received, Mr. Schmidt." Starska said, as he left the helm and passed the con on the way to the turbo lift.

"Thank you, sir." Starska said, under his breath, as he passed the Captain.

As Starska neared the turbo lift the doors open.

"Lieutenant!" shouted the Captain.

Starska froze between the two doors and turned slowly at attention. "Yes, Captain?"

Hilton smiled. "Good luck with Operation Pushover."

"Thank you, Captain." Starska said with relief. "I'm going to need it." he stepped back two steps. "Deck Five."

The doors closed as the Captain turned to the viewscreen and started to whistle the wedding march. Lt. Commander Smith and Commander Davis join in as the rest of the bridge crew share puzzled looks.

Chapter II.

"The Run-in"

The turbo lift doors opened on Deck Five. James Starska

started down the semi-empty corridor to his office. He seemed not to notice anyone pass him, nor did he answer their hellos. He came up to a window and stopped for a second to take in the view of the stars.

As he drifted into thought, he was thinking about the first time he met that computer specialist at Starfleet Command in San Francisco, California on Earth.

James knew he was always a sucker for dark haired women especially one with the looks she had. He never liked the new uniforms, he would still prefer the old tunic over the heavy jacket anytime. But when he saw her, in that burgundy colored jacket, and of course, he couldn't help notice how she filled it so well, but the most pleasant thing he saw was her face and those eyes of dark blue. When he saw those eyes, he knew that he...

"...ames... James!" A voice called out and broke James' consentration.

"Lieutenant Starska, are you deaf or are you playing hard to get again?"

As soon as James turned away from the window, he was greeted with the lips of a 5'8" female officer.

After they were finished with a rather obvious enjoyable moment, James said, "Heth... I was just thinking of you." with a big smile.

"I'll just bet you were." she said with a slight smirk on her face as well. "And for the last time, Lieutenant. The name is not HETH. It's Heather, H-E-A-T-H-E-R Scott, got it?" she said, in a commanding voice.

"I got it, Heth. Hey, what are you doing here? Aren't you on duty?"

"Yes, that is why I must go. See you tonight." she said, with a kiss and walked away.

"Yeah..." James said, then paused a moment. "Wait a minute! What do you mean, tonight?"

Lieutenant Scott stopped and turned around. "What do you mean, 'what do I mean'? We have a date. I got the zero-G room, remember?"

"Oh, shit!... Oh, no... Heather, I'm sorry... I forgot."

"So you forgot, it wouldn't be the first time you did. After all, if it weren't for my computers, you'd forget where Earth is, let alone where the stern was. So, as usual, I just reminded you."

"No, I mean I can't make it." he said, with the look of a helpless tribble.

"Why?" Heather asked with a sigh, and a little obvious disgust.

"I just have something I have to do."

"What?" commanded Scott.

"I can't tell you, you'll just have to trust me. But it is a good reason."

Scott walked up to him. "Well... okay." Starska sighed with relief. "Just this time, James. It's not easy to get that room, you know."

"Yes, I know."

"Well... I still love you, Lieutenant James Kilo Starska." she put her hands on his shoulders.

James put his arms around her waist. "And I love you, Lieutenant Heather Rachelle Scott."

They kissed again and Heather looked into James' eyes, and said, "Besides, I should have no trouble at all finding some other strong man to go with me tonight."

James' mouth fell open.

"See you later." she said, as she left.

James stood there for a moment then closed his mouth with a look of deep thought.

"She wouldn't." he said, under his breath, and started down the corridor. Then stopped and turned around with a puzzled look on his face, then asked himself, "Would she?... Nah." he then went down the corridor.

"Helmsman Starska to Communications, Helmsman Starska." The ship's intercom broke the silence of the corridor. James approached a communicator on the wall and activated it.

"Bridge, this is Lieutenant Starska."

"Lieutenant." said Lt. Commander Smith. "Lt. Commander Waldron needs to talk to you about 'Operation Pushover'."

"Pipe it down here, please, Commander."

"Lieutenant Starska?" Waldron asked. "Can you talk?"

"Not here, can you come to my office?"

"Yes, that's perfect. I'll be there in a few."

"Starska out."

James deactivated the communicator and went to his office.

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