The Triangle Incident

David C. Fernau

Chief Helmsman Proudhawk strolled casually onto the bridge of the Saratoga. Commander Scott, seeing him enter, reached out with her mind to "touch" her Soulmate. She was rather surprised to find that he did not allow her into his mind, as he usually did. He walked up to the officer at the helm and calmly said, "I'll relieve you now."

Curious at his strange behavior, Heather got up and walked over to the helm. Leaning over his shoulder, she glanced at the board.

"Proudhawk," she said, "I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but that's not the course the Captain wanted."

"I am aware of that, but I've got a definite reason for changing course," he replied.

Looking up at the Communications Officer, she said, "Call the Captain to the Bridge, please."

"Yes, Commander," was the instant response. Whatever else may be said about the Saratoga, her Bridge crew knew their jobs.

Barely a minute later, Captain Starska entered the Bridge. "What's the problem here?"

"James, Proudhawk just changed course. I wanted to know if you had authorized it," said Heather.

"He didn't," Proudhawk broke in, "But he will when he sees my orders."

"We'll see about that," Starska replied, "In my office. Now. Helm, put that course back where I ordered it."

In the Captain's office, Starska didn't hold anything back. "What the hell do you think you're doing, changing course without my knowing?"

"With all due respect, Sir, I received orders from a higher source. You know I can't tell you about it, so here's a data tape authorizing me to take whatever action is necessary to complete my orders. I'll be in my quarters," Proudhawk explained, and promptly turned and walked out the door. Heather turned and followed him, trying to create a link with his mind. This time, he didn't stop it.

<What's going on?> she asked.

<Simple. I got orders from StarFleet Intelligence Corps. You know my rank on Saratoga means nothing, that I'm one of their top agents, and have enough authority on my own to command this ship and 2 dozen more like her.>

<What's so important that it can't wait for the Captain to change course?>

They arrived in Proudhawk's quarters, where he started unlocking his personal closet, one of the things few people on board, even officers, had. He was pulling a large black box out of it when Starska showed up again.

"I'm sorry I countermanded your orders. I didn't realize SFIC was involved."

"At the moment, that is irrelevant. Has our course been changed back?" When he wanted to, Proudhawk could out-Vulcan even Vulcans.

"Not yet, but I'll do that right now," Starska said, turning to the intercom. "Starska to Bridge. Helm, resume the course Proudhawk set. Take us to the Triangle."

"Yes, Sir," came the response.

"Care to tell me what this is about now?" Heather asked.

"Simple, hon," Starska answered, "Our helmsman has to kill a man in the Triangle, but I don't know why."

"What?"

<You heard right, Soulmate. It's a "termination" mission.> Proudhawk sent.

"Who, and why?" she asked Proudhawk.

"Who isn't important. Why is simple. This man is attempting to start a 3-way war between us, the Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Empire. In order to stop it, he has to disappear. Permanently."

"What's that?" Starska asked, as Proudhawk pulled a very lethal-looking weapon out of the box.

"StarFleet Intelligence issue combat phaser. Twice the power and range of anything on this ship, except rifles. And this," he pulled an even more deadly-looking weapon out, "is an Intelligence issue termination pistol. Accurate at 1000 yards with the scope, noiseless and untraceable. Only drawback is it takes 5 minutes to recharge between shots. So you have to make the first one count."

"You really mean to kill that man?"

"Of course. Think of all the lives that would be lost in a 3-way war. One life can save all those. A fair trade, I'd say."

"Now, if you both will excuse me, I've got to make sure of the scope on this pistol. If you need me, I'll be in the firing range."

In the two days it took to reach the Triangle, Proudhawk was rarely if ever at his station. He was usually in the firing range or the combat arena, making sure he wasn't rusty. When they reached the Triangle, he again took the helm, and piloted the Saratoga to a planet, then went into conference again with Heather and the Captain.

"The planet we're at now is called Lanroche VIII. Sources indicate he's still here, and he shouldn't be hard to find. Your orders are this: Wait here for 24 hours. At that time, do a sensor scan of the exact spot I beam down to. If I'm not there, and don't arrive within 15 minutes, you are to warp back to Federation space, and order the computer to execute program 887655-66. It'll send a message to SFIC stating that I failed."

"We're to leave you behind?" Starska asked.

"To quote Admiral Kirk, if I'm not at the rendezvous, there won't be anything to leave behind."

Heather caught her breath at that.

<That's why you're going to do the scanning personally. I can't tell you to disobey orders, but if you think I'm still down there, and alive, you're going to have to find me and yank me back. I can't carry any communicator, so our mind-link is the only way I can reach the ship.>

<I'd much rather stay alive, thank you very much.> He smiled.

Walking to the main transporter room, Proudhawk set the coordinates himself, after dismissing the operator on duty. "Memorize these coords, because the transporter's set to erase them after I'm down."

Heather stared at the display, commiting the numbers to memory, while Proudhawk stepped up onto the platform.

"I hope it's not the last time I see this ship," he said. "Energize."

As Starska activated the transporter, Heather watched the other half of her soul turn into a pillar of light and disappear.

On Lanroche, Proudhawk quickly found his target's next speaking place, and found the perfect vantage point. There he waited, for 3 hours, until the target showed up. As he started his speech on how the 3 super-powers should be stopped, Proudhawk took careful aim. He knew there was no second chance. He gently squeezed the trigger, and saw the blue light come on that meant the weapon had fired. The invisible, silent beam hit squarely, and as Proudhawk saw him start to fall, he pulled his combat phaser and started to run in the other direction. By the time the man hit the floor, Proudhawk was nowhere near his firing point.

Phasering two guards that tried to stop him, he ran out of the theatre, and into an alley. Just as he was finding a hiding place, a disruptor blast singed the hair on the back of his neck. That gun was set to destroy, he realized as he fired back. True to his training, he hit what he aimed for, and the gunman went down. Summoning all his energy, he sent an urgent call to Heather.

<Hurry, dammit!>

He shot down 3 more guards, and one local policeman (he had wisely reset to stun for the cop; he simply killed the others) before he felt the familiar transporter effect start around him.

Back on the ship, Heather wanted all the details.

"Tell ya what. I'm gonna see how your telepathy's doing. I'm going to sleep. See if you can pull it out of my dreams."

With that, he closed and locked his cabin door.