Chapter III.

"Starska's Bluff Is Called"

James entered his office. "Lights." The lights came on to his command to light up the entire helmsman's office.

James took off his red duty jacket and tossed it onto a chair then sat down to his desk, leaned back in his chair, and with a moment of thought and a deep breath, he spoke.

"Computer."

"WORKING."

"Computer, I wish to access the programming systems of the Recreation Deck."

"THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH YOUR ACCESS."

"Oh... one moment."

"STANDING BY."

The Lieutenant punched the desk communicator. "Starska to Bridge. Commander Davis."

Davis came on. "I'm still working on it. Hang on, Lieutenant."

Two minutes later. "There. Try it now."

"Thanks, Commander." he then turned off the communicator and tried again.

"Computer, I wish to access the Recreation Deck computer systems, please."

"ACCESS ACCEPTED. WHAT IS YOUR NEXT COMMAND?"

With the computer's question, James wiped the smirk off his face.

"Oh, shoot... where did I put it?" he looked around until he found a computer tape. "Here it is."

He then placed it into the computer terminal. "Computer, access Tape A and execute."

"PROGRAMMING IN PROGRESS."

While the computer was working on the program, Starska picked up some helm reports, kicked his feet up on his desk and stared to read them.

A couple minutes later, there was a buzz at the door.

"Come."

The door opened and in walked Bill Waldron.

"Okay, what is it?" Starska asked.

"Well, I was able to get you that psi-shield."

"Great!" Starska sat up and waved Waldron to approach him.

Starska pushed a button and a diagram of the rec-room appeared on the wall screen.

"Now place it right about here." he pointed out a spot in the lower left corner. Then he turned to Waldron. "Can do?"

"Can do."

"Good." Starska replied, as he went to his quarters. "Now, you're going to need something."

Waldron stood in Starska's office looking at the deck layout, while Starska was looking for another computer tape.

"Here you are." Starska said as he walked back in with the tape and handed it to Waldron. "You'll need this code to get into the rec-room. And don't be alarmed of anything. The computer is being reprogrammed. Okay?"

"You owe me one."

"I owe you five." Starska replied with a big smile.

Waldron walked to the door and as it opened, he walked out and in walked Tom Davis.

"Mr. Starska." Davis said.

Starska turned from turning off the viewer. "Yes, sir."

The door closed behind Davis.

"I came to talk about 'Operation Pushover'."

"If you came for a status report, everything is running

smoother than I thought. I had a small run-in with Lieutenant Scott, but no..."

"...That is not why I'm here, Lieutenant."

"Oh..." Starska said, with a look of puzzlement. "Well, in that case... what can I do for you, Commander."

"Uh... sit down, Lieutenant." Davis motioned to Starska's desk chair.

Starska walked around his desk and sat down. He gave the expression as if to say 'Yes, sir' but did not verbalize it.

Davis slowly walked up to the desk and began to speak. "Mr. Starska, I and some of your other... well, shall we say...conspirators, would like to have some kind of... well... proof of your..."

Starska started to get an idea of what Davis was wanting and was feeling a lot more at ease.

"...ability to keep your end of the operation." Davis said.

"Commander," Starska replied. "Am I to take it that you and the others..." Starska smirked. "...do not, trust me?"

Davis leaned forward placing his hands on the desk. "No." he continued. "Are you kidding, with your reputation, Lieutenant Bluff."

Davis stood there nose-to-nose with Starska. Starska tried three times to say something in his defense. But the words just couldn't come out. It was obvious that Starska was deliberately acting and doing a bad job of it.

"I can respect that." Starska said, with a smile.

"Well... we're calling your bluff." Davis said. "What do you say?"

"Don't worry?" Starska said, as if asking 'How's that for an answer?'.

"I want to see it. Every man I have met that said he had some Romulan Ale, had what turned out to be Saurian Brandy with Scotch." Davis said. "On top of that, with the number of officers you have 'promised' it to, there is no way you can have enough for it to be more than a sip for everyone." Davis and Starska stared at each other.

"Commander Davis... uh... may I call you Tom?"

"No."

"Oh... well, since I still need some help I guess I'm going to have to show you my hand." Starska turned to his wall safe. "I suggest you sit down, Commander."

"No thanks, I'll stand."

Starska turned his head back. "I do think you should sit down for this."

Davis did nothing.

Starska opened the safe and put a bottle on the desk. The bottle was one third full, with a blue liquid.

"I knew you didn't have enough..." Davis said, with the sound of victory as Starska put a full bottle next to the first one. Davis' eyes opened wide. "You... have... two bott..."

Starska placed a third on the desk and Davis' mouth fell open.

"Th... three... bottl..."

Starska then stood up and placed a fourth bottle on the desk. Davis was unable to speak. "The exact count, sir, is four bottles." Starska said with a cocky smile.

Starska noticed that Davis was having some trouble remaining on his feet. "The chair is to your left, sir."

Davis then fell back into the seat. "They can't be real." Davis said, with a little sign of shock in his voice.

"Try it." Starska said, and reached for two glasses. "Pick a bottle."

"This one." Davis picked up the third bottle, and read the label. "2127?"

"Good choice." Starska replied, as he took the bottle and opened it and started to fill the glasses.

"Did you drink all that?" Davis asked, as he pointed to the one third full bottle.

"No, Captain Hilton insisted on payment first." Starska handed Davis a glass. "To Operation Pushover." Starska raised his glass.

Davis stood back up. "To Operation Pushover." Davis toasted. He was hesitant to try the concoction in his glass.

Starska drank and was able to recover with a little difficulty, but then again he had had some before.

Davis, like any other officer in the fleet, say that they have had some, but Davis has not. But, knows what it is, but could not believe it. Until now.

"Here it goes." Davis said, as he drank the complete glass with one gulp.

Starska watched as Davis' head shot back. Davis dropped the empty glass, his eyes closed tightly shut, then opened again into a glassy stare. The commander was not moving, except for the shallow breathing, there was no signs of life.

Starska looked at him, with a smirk, as if to say, 'You stupid idiot'. "Well... what do you think, Commander?"

There was no response.

"Commander?" Starska said again. "Commander?" There was a little sound of concern in Starska's voice now. "Commander Davis? Sir? Commander?" Starska said, while he waved his hand in front of Davis' face, with no response from Davis.

"Ah... SHIT."

Starska quickly went to the sink in his quarters and got a glass of cold water. He then returned to see no change in

Davis, Starska then threw the water in Davis' face.

Davis did not move.

"COMMANDER!!!" This was his last attempt. Starska knew he had no choice. "Sorry, sir, but desperate situations..." Starska placed the empty glass on the desk, and went back in front of Davis. "...require desperate measures."

Starska then delivered a hard right-cross to Davis' jaw. The force of the blow threw the commander back into his chair. The chair then fell onto the floor, with Davis in it. Starska stared at the commander, as he stood half bent over from throwing the punch, waiting to see what will happen next.