The Andorian’s Oath – He Meant Every Word – Star Trek Fanfiction (Red Directive #06)

Hearing my last words and remembering there were still phasers pointed at him, the Andorian frantically turned around and started shaking his hands.

“Captain, please! I promise you, I’m not here intentionally.”

My bridge officers immediately spoke exactly what I was thinking.

T’Varen spoke first in her usual Vulcan bluntness.

“Explain.”

“No civilian shuttle survives passage through the wormhole by accident,” Kurn interjected.

“I wasn’t trying to go through the wormhole,” the Andorian said quickly. “I was charting mineral deposits in the Denorios Belt when the aperture formed. Tal’kir was not the name of my shuttle. It was the name of a small Andorian survey vessel I was serving on.”

“Was?” I immediately questioned.

“Yes! Was! We were too close to the forming aperture, and the sudden spatial distortion pulled us toward the wormhole. Our engines were damaged and the vessel was dragged through before we could escape.”

The little bit of his story we had heard so far was believable. The Denorios Belt lay directly around the wormhole aperture, and many science vessels studied the asteroids there regularly.

He continued.

“Our engines were badly damaged by the time we reached this side of the wormhole. Our warp systems were offline and life support began failing.”

Lieutenant Darak spoke up from behind his console.

“I thought you said you were in a science vessel.”

“We were! We were attempting repairs when we encountered unknown patrol ships that ordered us to leave. When we couldn’t comply, they attacked the ship. I barely managed to escape with the shuttle. The captain was with me, but he was badly injured and died just yesterday from his injuries aboard the shuttle. I couldn’t save him…”

He tilted his head down. I could see a hint of sadness in his eyes. Andorians were a proud species and tended to hide their emotions—almost like Vulcans, though not nearly as perfected at it.

I motioned to Commander T’Varen and Kurn to lower their phasers. I did the same.

Lieutenant Darak spoke again.

“Your shuttle was not equipped with proper medical supplies?”

Leave it to the scientist to ask all the right questions at the wrong time.

“Like I said, we were attacked. The shuttle sustained damage as well. We’re lucky we lasted as long as we did.”

Attacked right inside the Gamma Quadrant? By whom?

Kurn must have known exactly what I was thinking.

“How did you last that long out here in a damaged shuttle when there were unknown attackers all around?”

“I managed to pilot the shuttle into that debris field you found me in. The radiation from the Tal’kir explosion masked our warp signature. Like I said, we were lucky.”

Lieutenant Darak suddenly began moving frantically around his console.

“Captain, long-range sensors do show debris consistent with a larger vessel.”

The tension on the bridge began to ease slightly.

I still felt tense.

Who were these attackers he spoke of?

“Zh’lek Ren, you said your name was?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Are we in immediate danger here? I have a large ship full of many civilians. I need to know right now if we need to move.”

“I honestly don’t know, Captain. I haven’t seen the attackers since they destroyed the Tal’kir.”

I decided to take that with a grain of salt.

“Computer, maintain Yellow Alert. All hands remain at their stations. Until we know exactly what’s out there, we stay prepared.”

I paused for a moment before continuing.

“We have three and a half days before we reach EOS Prospera. And we will be reaching it.”

“EOS Prospera? Wait… what? You’re going further into the Gamma Quadrant?”

The frantic Andorian followed me with his eyes as I sat back down in the captain’s chair. The rest of the bridge crew returned to their stations and resumed their duties.

“Sub-Commander, I understand you’re probably eager to return to the Alpha Quadrant after being stranded here following such an aggressive attack in an unknown region of space.”

I leaned forward slightly.

“However, I did not just command this ship full of seven hundred Federation citizens through that wormhole for nothing.”

I looked him directly in the eyes.

“Since we both know there’s no way that shuttle could make it back to the Alpha Quadrant, I’m sure your captain advised you to remain near the wormhole and continue emitting that distress signal in hopes someone from the Federation would eventually arrive.”

He nodded.

“That’s what any loyal captain would do.”

“As such, you cannot expect a crew of this size to immediately make that journey back through the wormhole for one person.”

T’Varen spoke calmly.

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… or the one.”

The Andorian straightened proudly.

“You speak the words of legendary figures, Vulcan. Do not forget—the Andorians were among the first species to help create the Federation of Planets. Every Andorian child knows the name Shran.”

He placed a hand over his chest.

“Hero of the Andorian Guard. Defender of Andoria during the early Federation years. I too proudly belong to the Andorian Imperial Guard.”

“Imperial Guard ranks are not commonly assigned to civilian survey vessels.”

Leave it to the Vulcan to know every fact.

She was starting to grow on me.

“Correct, Vulcan. I was assigned to oversee the mineral survey in the Denorios Belt aboard the Tal’kir.”

“My name is Commander T’Varen. Formalities are only logical now, as it appears you will be remaining aboard the USS Cairo.”

For just a moment, I almost sensed a hint of emotion from her, though she maintained her composure and offered him a small bow.

The Andorian returned the gesture.

“My apologies, Commander T’Varen.”

He turned back to me.

“Captain, you’re both correct. I do not expect you to take this ship back through the wormhole for me. I would like to request asylum aboard the USS Cairo.”

I looked up at him curiously.

“You don’t need asylum. Eventually we will return to the Alpha Quadrant and you can return to Andoria.”

At least I hope so.

“I do not wish to return to Andoria.”

Every gaze on the bridge turned toward him.

He dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

“As Sub-Commander of the Andorian Imperial Guard, I am willing to dedicate my life to this ship and its mission.”

My eyes widened.

“That’s a lot to take in, Zh’lek Ren. I do not expect you to do such a thing. You are a Federation citizen. We will return you to Federation space as soon as we can.”

He stood again, his expression still completely serious.

“I want to, Captain. You saved my life. I cannot return to Andoria until that debt is repaid. Nor do I wish to. I have taken assignments like this for the Imperial Guard for many years now. Irregular missions. Dangerous missions.”

He placed a fist over his heart.

“I have been searching for something greater to dedicate myself to. I believe this is fate.”

I considered that for a moment.

“Very well, Sub-Commander. What kind of skills do you have that would be useful to this ship?”

“In the Imperial Guard, I specialized in pattern buffer stabilization and quantum phase alignment.”

I thought about it for a moment.

That could be extremely valuable to this frontier mission. We would be conducting many away missions in unknown environments, and emergency beam-outs would be critical.

We also didn’t currently have a transporter chief.

I stood and extended my hand.

He took it immediately, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, and shook it just as eagerly.

“You’ve joined us at the perfect time then, Sub-Commander. We happen to be in need of a transporter chief.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

He released my hand and offered a crisp salute.

“Andorians are very loyal to those who are loyal to them.”

I nodded.

“Welcome aboard, Zh’lek Ren. Please report to Sickbay for a full medical evaluation.”

I gestured toward the bridge doors.

“Drim, please escort Mr. Ren to Sickbay and ensure he is assigned appropriate crew quarters.”

Drim stood from his console and slowly scanned the Andorian up and down before motioning for him to follow.

“Please replicate a Starfleet uniform after your medical evaluation and return to the bridge.”

“Yes, Captain.”

I leaned slightly forward in the chair.

“And I want to hear more about these unknown attackers.”

He nodded and followed Drim out through the bridge doors and into the antechamber.

I sat back down and noticed Ensign Jaxa had been staring wide-eyed at the entire encounter before quickly turning back to the helm.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

I glanced toward Commander T’Varen.

“Commander, set a course for EOS Prospera. Warp 6. If we want to arrive in three and a half days, we need to get moving.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“Ensign Jaxa… take us out.”