Captain Grasmick sat down in the living room of his house, the house he grew up in. He stared at the computer console, which had the local news on it. He was glad there was a Twenty-fourth century equivalent to television.
"Computer, off television." Grasmick said.
"Television program disengaged."
"Display repair schedule for USS Sovereign. Link with Starfleet computers, authorization Grasmick Three Seven Charlie Alpha."
The computer displayed it on the viewer. Grasmick thought to himself, "Ok, if they moved this around, and put that in here..." The computer interrupted his thoughts.
"Incoming transmission from Admiral Robert Bennett."
"Put it on screen," it took a couple of seconds, "What's up, Bob?"
"What does the Big Sov's repair schedule look like?"
"You are taking away our shoreleave from us, aren't you?"
"You've been sitting on your ass for three weeks, AND basically pulling diplomatic duty since we finished off the Dominion 5 months ago. I thought you would be aching to get back to the missions of the good 'ol days."
"Excuse me?"
"Do you remember when we used to be explorers?"

"Control, this is SS Gary, approach to Spacedock, over."
"SS Gary, you are clear to deliver yourself to NCC-74222, over."
Grasmick flew his runabout into Spacedock. When he approached the Sovereign, he saw something he never thought he would ever get used to, NCC instead of NX painted next to the registry number.
"Grasmick to Sovereign, I'm approaching Shuttlebay 2."
"You are cleared for approach, Captain. All senior officers have been recalled, and only 3 aren't here. We are waiting for only 97 other crewmembers, and they are expected within the hour." Tumok said.
"Thanks, Tumok."

"No, Anne, I said no," Tac Wilson was having an argument with the ships counselor, "My old man would NEVER, not ever, allow the skipper to let us have free run over the lounge in Spacedock."
"He's your Dad. And why wouldn't he let Captain Grasmick do…" Grasmick interrupted Hathaway.
"Won't let me do what?"
"Oh hey Brando," Tac said, "My Dad won't let you have a party over in Spacedock's lounge with you grilling burgers."
"You two are arguing over THAT?"
"Yes." Hathaway replied.
"Oh boy. Get to the observation lounge, both of you."

Grasmick walked into the observation lounge with Tac. "Alrighty people, Admiral Bennett says we get to go exploring."
"Exploring? What's that?" Tac asked.
"What we always used to do. Anyway, we are going to the unexplored area near Sector 995. The Oberon made a pass through there about 75 years ago and charted a Class-M planet in the Torma system. It appeared to have a technologically advanced humanoid society. Who knows how far they have gotten along since. No probes have made it back for unknown reasons. Your take on this?"
"Captain, I find it odd, that after all of these years, Starfleet is sending in a ship. If some sort of civilization was found, why has it not been studied?" Tumok said.
"I guess that was being saved for people like us." Grasmick replied.
"Brando, you know what happens when the top brass sends us in." Tac said.
"We end up in a fight, I know. Kindly not start one for me."

"Approaching the outer edge of the Torma system, Captain." Ensign Tobin announced.
Grasmick replied, "Slow to one-third. What do preliminary scans show, Tumok?"
"Nothing valuable on the short-range scanners. Wait, we are picking up a patrol vessel of some sort, it is headed our way." Tumok said.
"Damn," Grasmick said to himself, "Tobin, can we hide anywhere?"
"Behind this little Class-D planet."
"Do it."

"Is the sensor anomaly still here?" the ships commander said.
"No, Commandant, the anomaly has disappeared," an officer said.
"The outer planet is nearby, could it have crashed there?"
"Yes sir, it may have."
"Move us into position to investigate."

"It didn't work, skipper."
"Oh craptacular. Warp 5, get us out of here!"

"The anomaly has reappeared, Commandant! It would appear to be an alien vessel. It has left the system at 5 FOL," an officer said.
"Take us to 6 FOL. Overtake it. I want to know who they are, and what they want."

"Captain, they are pursuing us. They are accelerating to Warp 6. I find this highly illogical." Tumok said.
"Go to Warp 9."

"Commandant! The alien vessel has accelerating to 9 FOL," an officer said.
"Then so shall we. Use the main energy weapon and see if it will slow them down. Realize that we have gone farther our of our home system then anyone has before."

"Sir, they are approaching Warp 9. Our warp engines are being targeted by some kind of laser weapon. They can't do anything to us. Crazy morons." Tac said.
"You said that so eloquently Sammy." Grasmick said.
Tac replied, "Why are you using my first name?"
"Who cares? Tobin, full stop. We are going to humor them for awhile."
The Sovereign came to a stop.

"The alien has stopped, Commandant," an officer said.
"Open the communication channel," the Commandant waited a moment, "This is Commandant CE'Thraw of the Tormae Starvessel Lea'ting. Our energy weapon has disabled you. Identify yourself."

"What do you think, Brandon?" Commander Ryan asked.
"I don't know, they think we are disabled. We will play this out. Open a channel," Grasmick waited until the comm line was open, "This is Captain Brandon Grasmick of the Federation starship Sovereign. Explain why you attacked us."
"Why were you in our star system?" CE'Thraw asked.
"Exploring the areas just beyond the Federation. Now, why were we attacked?"
"Why did you run from us?"
"One of our laws prohibits contact with a species that isn't warp drive capable to prevent contamination of their society. We had no idea you had warp drive, or we wouldn't have left."
"I have two questions. What is warp drive? And did you have previous knowledge of our existence?"
"Warp drive permits us to propel our ship beyond the speed of light, perhaps you call yours something different. One of our ships discovered your planet about 75 years ago. You must not have had warp drive capability yet."
"No, we didn't. So, you have no harmful intentions towards us?"
"Of course not. The Federation strives to make peace with EVERYONE. Yes, we have fought our share of wars, but we were never the aggressor in any one them unless we were starting the final battle that would end the war. In fact, we did that only 5 months ago. Why do you ask?"
"We thought your ship might have been one of our enemy's ships. We are fighting a war of our own at the moment. We shall engage a transport beam and tow you to our planet, you can carry out your repairs there."
"No need for that. We can head there on our own power."
"How is that possible? Our weapon disabled you."
"CE'Thraw, there are a few things you need to know about our ship," Grasmick sighed, "Till we meet again. End transmission," Grasmick waited a minute, "Plot course for their home planet, Warp 7."
The Sovereign left for the planet, leaving CE'Thraw and his crew astonished.

"Captain we are approaching Torma 4." Ensign Tobin announced.
"Standard orbit, Emony. Tac, is our escort still with us?" Grasmick said.
"Yes, sir, they are. DAMNIT, I don't like calling you sir." Tac said.
"Don't start that now, wait a few hours first. I hate first contact situations by the way."

"Ok, contact the Excelsior and have them check out the new subspace relays in Sector 441. What is next on the list?" Admiral Bennett hated briefings.
"An intelligent Intelligence report, believe it or not." Captain Robertson chuckled, "We have more information on that newly discovered terrorist organization. They call themselves the 'Shadows.' Also, they have gotten their hands on some Dominion equipment."
"Oh great," Bennett wasn't happy, "It sometimes seams like everyone and their dog wants to overthrow the Federation. What else is in the report?"
Robertson looked at a PADD, "They are currently concentrating their efforts, which we don't know what they are, in sector 995-R, out near the Torma system."
"Damn," Bennett said to himself, "Well, let's hope Captain Grasmick can handle himself and not have to change his pants if they run into a fleet made of slightly modified Dominion ships."

Grasmick stepped into Transporter Room 2, "Energize."
CE'Thraw and two of his aides materialized on the transporter pad. Grasmick walked up to them. CE'Thraw spoke first
"Captain Grasmick, I presume?" he said, "I am Commandant CE'Thraw of the Tormae. This is my senior aide, Paden JO'Tran. This is my other aide, Sub-Paden Lu'Tier.
Grasmick was actually getting exited, "Welcome aboard the Sovereign. I'm Captain Brandon Grasmick. This is my first officer, Commander Alexandra Ryan. This is my operations officer, Lt. Commander Tumok. And this is my tactical officer and chief of security, Lt. Commander Samuel Wilson. Would you care for a brief tour of the ship?"
"We would be delighted." CE'Thraw replied.
"Good, we will start with the engine room. You might find it interes…" Grasmick was interrupted be the intercom.
"Bridge to Captain Grasmick, we are detecting three large fields of radiation in the vacinity." Ensign Tobin said.
"I'm on my way," Grasmick turned towards his guests, "Well, I guess we'll start with the bridge."

Grasmick and company walked onto the bridge, "Report."
"We are tracking three large radiation fields, they are moving into orbit around the planet near here." Tobin said.
Grasmick was curious, "Know anything about this CE'Thraw?"
"No Captain, I do not. Although, our enemy has appeared from the blackness of space surrounded by radiation."
Grasmick and Tumok knew instantly what they were facing as they turned to face each other. "Cloaking devices." Tumok said.
"Battlestations." Grasmick replied.
The red alert sirens went off as the shields went up. "Remember people, this isn't our war. The Prime Directive says we can't fart in their general direction unless they attack us first. Sorry CE'Thraw." Grasmick said.
"I understand perfectly. You can't interfere with the normal development of our society," he replied.
"Exactly."

"Shit, where did the Federation starship come from?" James Baker said.
"Who cares, we'll just have to destroy it, too," one of his aides said.
"We will, but that is the Sovereign. If we destroy it, we kill Grasmick and risk turning him into a Martyr." Baker replied.
"I take it your mission failed, James?"
"The mission of mine and two others to rid the galaxy of Grasmick's existence is no concern of yours. Our time travel was off by at least 11 years."
"Why were you traveling back in time?"
"Think about it, Grasmick was close to his father. You kill a father before his child is conceived, the child is never born. We were so damn close of ridding the Federation of one of its heroes. Grasmick was 11 when we made it appear that his Father had a heart attack."
"God help you if he finds out."
"He won't. Decloak the ships, initiate attack. KILL THE SOVEREIGN FIRST! The Federation will rue the day they ever heard of the Shadows!"

Tac made the announcement, "SIR, THREE DOMINION SUPERCRUSIERS DECLOAKING OFF OUR STARBOARD AFT!"
"That's our cue. Quantum torpedoes, full spread to the closest ship." Grasmick said.
"Brando, you know that alone won't work." Tac replied.
"Pick a spot on it, and fire all weapons. Call CE'Thraw's buddies and have them help out."
The Sovereign fired; with torpedoes, phasers, everything.
Tac was the first to make a remark. "Holy crap, we cracked a big hole in it."
Grasmick asked, "How many Tri-cobalt torpedoes do we have?"
"Thirty. How many do you want shoved in that hole?" Tac replied.
"Oh, 15 should suffice."
The Sovereign fired the torpedoes. All hit their mark. The supercrusier exploded in a great ball of fire.
"Tumok, what is the status of the other two ships?" Grasmick asked.
"They are leaving the system at high warp speed. They are also engaging their cloaks. Also, I believe that those were not Dominion vessels." Tumok said.
"Explain."

"So you see, Admiral, this apparent terrorist organization managed to get Dominion supercrusiers and used them in their war against the Tormae." Grasmick was briefing Admiral Bennett.
"You wouldn't be surprised if you saw the intelligence report I saw earlier. The Shadows want to overthrow the Federation. We think they wanted to capture the Torma system to build a major base to begin an invasion of us. Where they are hiding now is anyones guess. Admiral Holt is forming a task force to help the Tormae defend themselves," Bennett said, "The Diplomatic Corps is having a hayday with this, they've almost got the Tormae at the point where they want to either join or become a protectorate."
"CE'Thraw and I promised to maintain correspondence, pen pals if you will. Need anything else, Bob?"
"Not yet. I'll inform you if I do. Bennett out." Grasmick watched the Federation symbol appear on the viewer in his ready room.
"Oh great," Grasmick said to himself, "Just when I thought I'd get to be an explorer again."

"Sir, we have an intelligence report on how the Shadows have apparently done so, and plan to carry out assassinations and murders in the Federation." Bennett's senior aide said.
Bennett looked at the PADD, "Oh God, if Grasmick finds out about this, he will go after they leaders of the Shadows himself."
"Why is that, sir?"
"Number 45 on the list of confirmed dead. It's Grasmick's father."

Author's notes: In case you were wondering, my Dad WAS NOT murdered. He died of natural causes in 1993.

This episode of "Star Trek Sovereign" and the SS Gary: in memory of Gary Grasmick, 11 Jan. 1943 - 13 Feb. 1993