He tensed up as the doors slid apart…then relaxed when he saw who it was.  "Hi, Charley," he said, sitting back down.  Lieutenant Commander Charley McKariant entered, nodding and smiling to Chris.

"Heya Cappy, what's up?"  He frowned as he moved to the chair on the other side of the couch and plopped down in it.  "You seem tense."

Chris smiled nervously.  "Yeah, you could say that.  Remember what I told you after we pulled your crew out of subspace, on the holodeck?"

Charley thought for a moment, looking up at the ceiling.  He nodded.  "Yeah, you said you had information about Section 31 that would shut them down for good.  You said that's why you got command of the Dragon, they wanted to keep you silent."

Chris nodded.  "That's exactly it.  And commanding the Dragon for three years has, needless to say, boosted self-confidence.  I feel I can take them down…and because it's only been a month here, chances are that information might only have a slight error in it."

"Why would it have an error?" Charley asked, frowning.  Then realization hit him.  "Oh, because of Q messing with the time line and all?"

Chris nodded.  "Yes.  However…I'm sure I still have enough correct information.  I'm going to take them down."

Charley's smile widened as his eyes narrowed.  "I hate to say it, Cappy…but that's not going to happen."

Chris's eyes went wide as Charley pulled out a Type One phaser and pointed it straight at him.  Charley?!

"It seems, Cappy, that we can no longer trust you to keep our little secret…despite the fact that we've given you plenty of incentive."

Chris stared at him, wide eyed.  "So…you were the…wait a minute…"  He thought about it for a moment.  Charley couldn't be the Section 31 agent stationed aboard the Dragon.  He was stranded in subspace along with the rest of the Frontier's crew…  So then who was the agent aboard the Dragon?

"You're right, if you're thinking what I'm thinking," Charley stated easily, his voice still sounding comfortable.  "I'm not the agent stationed aboard the Dragon.  Your Chief of Ops was supposed to be…but you never did reach Deep Space Nine to pick him up."

Ensign Larry Como…another agent to add to my list.  That should make it exactly ninety eight percent of Section 31…

Charley tapped his comm badge twice, opening a secure channel to someone.  "Come on in, Admiral."

With that, the familiar hum of a transporter sounded.  A column of shimmering light appeared, and a couple seconds later, Admiral Shivar appeared.

"So nice to see you…yet again, Captain Harriman."

She was also comfortable, believing that she and Charley had the upper hand…which they did.

"I wish I could say the same," he murmured just loud enough for her to hear.

She grinned, pulling out her Type Two phaser and pointing it at him.  "Too bad it'll be the last time.  You see, I wanted the pleasure of killing you myself.  We've gone through a lot of trouble to protect the Federation…and you plan to destroy us.  We can't have that."

"You aren't protecting the Federation," Chris stated evenly, glaring at her.  "If you really did care about the Federation, you would care more about upholding its morals."

She scowled at him, moving closer to him.  Don't get too close…you'll screw everything up if you do…

"Federation morals…"  She shook her head.  "We don't just protect the Federation and Starfleet from outside forces…we also protect it from itself.  If we lived by the Federation's morals, the Federation would have died two decades ago!  If we weren't there then, the Federation's morals would have destroyed it!"

Chris looked at her calmly, trying not to show his agitation.  "Perhaps…but we live by our morals because we believe in our morals.  We are very much willing to accept what ever that entitles…including death.  Which is the very reason I was willing to sacrifice my life to expose you all."

She looked at him with clear venom and discontent in her eyes.  "You're mistake, fool.  I'm afraid, however, that you will now die because of your mistake in life."

She raised the power level on her phaser…then took aim.

Now would be a good time to fire…

And with no hesitation, she pressed the trigger.  A crimson beam full of deadly force shot out from it, lancing towards Chris faster than the eye could see…but to Chris, it was all in slow motion.  With one slight miscalculation on someone else's part, the plan could backfire…

The beam impacted on an energy barrier and quickly reflected back.  The barrier was meant to send the beam back at only a slight angle, but with a tremendous power drain.  When the beam hit Admiral Cherise Shivar, it did not disintegrate her, but it did throw her back hard.  She flew over another chair and landing hard on her back, either unconscious or dead…  Hopefully just unconscious.

Charley stood up in alarm, watching as Cherise's body went limp.  He probably thought she was dead…

Chris wished he could stun Charley himself, angry that someone he considered a good friend would betray him…

From out of the bedroom shot another crimson beam, impacting hard on Charley and sending him to the floor.  His feet twitched once, signifying a high stun beam.  He kicked the coffee table in front of Chris over, which hit the forcefield.  The forcefield fired to life, pushing the table away…but that was about the end of it.

A moment later, the forcefield flared once more, letting Chris know that it was deactivated.  He stood up and walked over to the limp body of Charley.  He knew very well that he was alive…

But what he needed to know was if Cherise was alive or not.  He moved over, not paying attention to the figure that emerged from his bedroom.  He bent over her limp body to check the pulse…to find it very strong.

Chris stood up and kicked her phaser away, then took out his own Type Two and pointed it at her.  As he expected, the reflected beam had been too weak in energy, if not in force.  She opened her eyes with a start, shot up…and found she didn't have a weapon.

"It looks like Captain Harriman was correct," Rear Admiral Claire Perkins stated, also pointing her phaser at Cherise.  "I always knew you were dirty…"

Cherise simply glared at the two.  Chris knew every Section 31 agent had a device in their mouth that, when activated would kill them.  He wouldn't let that happen this time.  Before she could activate it, he fired, stunning her yet again…this time for an extended period.

He nodded, satisfied that he could at least shoot someone, and placed his phaser in its holster.  He turned to Claire as she did the same…but did not smile in triumph.  "Admiral…thank you."

She nodded her eyes.  "Least I could do for you, Captain.  After all, you did look after my daughter."

This he smiled at, only glancing at the Starfleet security that rushed in to place the two Section 31 agents under arrest.

"So you never guessed that it was Charley," she asked, motioning for him to leave the room.

He moved out of the room, Claire following.  "No…and I never would have guessed, either."

She smiled.  "The wolf always does take on the sheep's form.  Best way, really."  She looked ahead down the hall, the security escort around them staying close.  "We'll have you under trusted protection until we take care of the list."

Chris nodded.  "Thank you, Admiral.  It's too bad, though…some of those people were such seemingly good people…"

She smiled and shook her head.  "Like I said, wolf in a sheep's cape…"

Two weeks later…

"That accused will now stand," Admiral Paris ordered, "and fall in."

Chris looked to his crew and nodded.  They all stood up and filed quickly out of the jury stands.  There, they stood erect in front of the Admiral and the Judge…afraid…but also confident in themselves and the decisions they had made.

"As I'm sure everyone has heard by now," Admiral Paris started, "Section 31 was recently all but destroyed, thanks to information provided by Captain Harriman.  Not to mention the fact that the USS Dragon and crew literally saved Earth…as well as the entire Federation.

"Furthermore, the crew has proven itself, and proven itself well.  They survived in a galaxy where they were hated…where just about everyone even feared them.  They survived…and even managed to make friends along the way.  They even established the first Federation outpost in another galaxy, making a spot in history for themselves."

He did not smile has he prepared to make his announcement…  "We have taken this into consideration.  As such, almost all charges have been dropped."

He frowned hard at Chris.  "We can not, however, ignore one charge.  That is a breach of security…where you, Captain Harriman, gave the Kiklar a huge advantage over us.  Under normal circumstances, you would be reduced to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, if not lower…but as I said, we have taken all things into account."

A security officer walked over to the crew as the Admiral prepared to state his final decision.  "Without further digression…I'm afraid I must reduce you to the rank…of Commander."

With that, the security officer pulled one rank pip from his collar…one rank pip.  One always made a difference…one person, one ship…and one rank pip.  He felt stripped.  For three years, he had enjoyed command…and now, it was gone…

The security officer walked to the Admiral and handed him the rank pip…then walked away.

The Admiral hesitated for a moment, then handed the rank pip to Admiral Perkins.  She was seated beside them as she had helped Chris with Section 31…

She then stood up, preparing to talk.  She also hesitated…

"When a crew performs so well together," she stated, "we generally like to keep them together.  And for the most part, this will be the case with at least a small portion of the Dragon crew.  However…because of the engineering team's experience with highly advanced technology…a position for each and every one of them is now open at Starfleet's R&D section.  None of them are ordered to go…it is just an offer."

With that, a large smile overcame her face.  She looked directly at Chris…and then at her daughter, Vendar.  "You all have performed so well during your voyage.  Where many would have given up…you pushed on, you survived.

"With that in mind, much of the Dragon's crew will remain together.  You will be given a starship, and a new Commanding Officer.  I hope you continue to have such unprecedented success…but please, Commander Harriman…try not to violate the Prime Directive any more."

A huge smile over came Chris's face as he stared at her, thankful…that his family would be together.

"For now, however," she finished.  "…You all have been given shore leave until further notice…  Dismissed."

With that, the crowd that had gathered in the courtroom erupted in cheers.  All wanted to see the final decision, the decision that decided the fate of a crew…that had earned a place in history.  They had become living legends, something people so young rarely did.

They looked at each other, smiling, patting each other's backs…but then they all turned their heads to Chris.  He looked at them, curious as to why they were looking at him…

But before he could begin to worry about anything, smiles crossed their faces again…as they began to clap their hands.  After only a few moments, more people began to clap their hands…and even more, until the entire courtroom was nothing but applause.  Even the Admirals and the Judge were standing respectfully, clapping their hands.

A feeling of exhilaration filled Chris, one he had never felt before.  They had all accomplished something…something amazing.  But to them, he had been the leader, the one who pulled them all through…  And, in fact…he was the one who had pulled them through.  He was their commanding officer…and they were his family.

He expected the applause to die down, but it never did, it simply grew stronger.  Whistles and cheers echoed throughout the courtroom, but were easily drowned out by the hundreds of people applauding him.

They all finally moved, not caring about any security officers, and streamed around the Dragon crew, looking not at the Dragon crew…but past them, at Chris.  The crew…his family, formed a barrier around him, not letting anyone get through…  The smile on his face was larger than any other smile he had ever put on…he may have just lost his command…but that no longer mattered.  What mattered…is that he had brought his family home.  What mattered…is that he had done what he had only dreamed about doing…he had made a difference!

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.  Expecting it to be someone from the crowd, he turned around to smile at them.  To his surprise, it was Admiral Perkins.  Somehow, she had made it through the crowd.

She held up the rank pip that had been taken from Chris…and smiled at him.  "I'll be holding onto this for you!" she shouted above the applause.

He smiled back at her…and nodded his thanks.

This moment…was a moment he would always remember.  A moment he wished would last forever.  It was a moment of triumph…a triumph he had never expected to live in.

They were heroes…all of them…  And like many other heroes…they had a hero's welcome…