Captain Williams sat back in her chair as she looked over at her former captain with a smug look. "We wouldn't have been able to do this without your contribution Mansfield," she patted the detached head as she looked at the former captain's body, cut to pieces in several display cases. "Your brave sacrifice to ensure that alien technology worked as Lieutenant Hanako described is truly commendable."
"When I become whole again, you're going to regret not killing me when you had the chance Claire!" Mansfield snapped back.
"Ah but you should be thankful that you might one day get the chance, you're the only captain I know that survived after losing their captaincy. And you really shouldn't threaten, you wouldn't want me to reconsider giving you a body again would you?"
Mansfield when silent, the thought of becoming whole again. "What's the catch Claire?"
"You know me too well," Captain Williams gave Mansfield a smile before walking over to a panel. "Lieutenant Thira report to my office at once, and bring Natla with you."
"At once Captain!" Thira replied.
"Lieutenant Thira? You made that Andorian a Lieutenant? To give an alien a high ranking position, I will see you kicked out of Starfleet for this."
Captain Williams picked up Mansfield's head, holding her under her arm, and pressed the console again. "Scratch that Lieutenant, meet me in the transporter room instead." She then made Mansfield face her. "I'm glad you have such a strong views against aliens in Starfleet, Mansfield." She tucked her back under her arm and headed towards the transporter. "For me personally, I couldn't care less, especially when they prove themselves, the Slice Drive couldn't be possible without Lieutenant Thira you know and that's why I rewarded her, not just with her rank but also..." The doors to the Transporter room opened before Captain Williams could finish that sentence.
Mansfield couldn't believe what she was seeing, the Andorian was bodiless like her, being carried around by Ensign Sasha White, at least that's who she was when Mansfield was Captain, now she appeared to be a Lieutenant.
Captain Williams placed Mansfield on the transporter pad. "Why do you have Sasha with you, Lieutenant?" Captain Williams questioned as she snatched away the Andorian head, placing it on top of the console.
"Sorry Captain, I get a little sentimental, besides I do like Ms White's company and despite being in her current position she enjoys mine too," Thira explained.
Captain Williams didn't press further. "Go get the rest of Mansfield's body while I make preparations," she commanded as she begun to adjust the transporter.
"Preparations for what? Why are you calling that Andorian, Sasha White and Ensign White, Thira. Wait you didn't... you couldn't..."
"Like you said I couldn't give an alien a ranking position, but I could promote a deserving Terran. I just rewarded Thira the correct body for her loyalty to the Terran Empire's cause. As for you, well I do respect you enough to not leave you bodiless for the rest of your life, I just can't have you threatening my position as Captain. So I'm truly glad you agree Aliens can't be promoted. Natla, get in here!"
"Yes ma'am," the Green Alien entered.
"Mansfield, meet Natla, another alien that has proven her worth to this ship, she's a wonderful medical officer and I intend to make her a part of the crew. But that's not why I'm introducing you, this is the body you'll soon be possessing. As a Terran, you'll always pose a threat to me, but as an alien, well everyone will look down on you," Captain Williams turned to face Natla. "You know what to do."
Natla began working on the transporter as Thira returned with Mansfield's parts, placing them onto the pad around her head. Captain Williams then excused Natla. "Be thankful I picked a female alien," Captain Williams taunted Mansfield. "Energise."
Mansfield disappeared with the familiar light of the transporter, only to reappear a few seconds later with an identical body of Natla's. "Excellent work Natla, as promised you will have Lieutenant Hanako's body by the end of the day, after the Slice Drive test of course." She turned to face Mansfield bemused by her reaction.
"What have you done to me Claire?!" She demanded as she looked at her Green skin. "This is a betrayal to the Terran race!"
"Terran, Andorian, I don't care, I just love testing the limits of science, of course the alien prejudices do allow me to promote and demote whoever I want in unique ways." Captain Williams then opened the door and called in two Crewmen. "I want that one in my quarters and that one in the servant's quarters," She instructed as she pointed to Natla and Mansfield. "Don't get them mixed up or I'll have your heads," she stepped aside showing them Ensign White.
"Right away Captain."
"Alright Thira, lets head down to Engineering and get this Slice Drive operational and yes she can come too."
* * * * *
Captain Williams and Lieutenant Thira entered Engineering and saw the place was chaotic. "How much longer Lieutenant Hanako?" Captain Williams demanded.
"I'm an archaeologist, not an Engineer Captain. You're going to have to ask Lieutenant Thira that." Captain Williams faced Thira.
"I'm an archaeologist, not an Engineer Captain. You're going to have to ask Lieutenant Thira that." Captain Williams faced Thira.
"Well assuming the Sword is fully integrated we should be ready now Captain," Thira confirmed as she looked over her console.
Captain Williams smiled, this was a good day for her. If this worked she would be the captain of the most powerful ship in the Terran Empire and with her, Thira and Natla's side project she could also be running it one day. "Selbit, this is your Captain, all stations Black Alert." Sirens began to wail as a computer's voice repeated the words 'Black Alert'.
The engine pulsed with energy, channeled into the sword Hanako discovered from an alien world and it began to glow, then sparks went flying. "Captain, the Sword's more powerful than we thought, it's overloading the Slice Drive."
"Shut it down! Shut it down now!" Captain Williams demanded.
"It's too late we're going to..."
The Slice Drive exploded in a blinding light, destroying the sword. Captain Williams was caught in the explosion and blacked out.
When she came two a few seconds later, she had been blown across the room. "Ugh, my head," she opened her eyes and found herself on the floor against the wall. "She couldn't move and it took her a brief second to discover why. The entire drive room was littered with detached body parts, trying to wiggle around to make sense of what happened and pull themselves back together.
Captain Williams saw at least a part of her leg and one of her hands. She willed her hand to move as she tried to find other parts of herself. "Is everyone alright? Report!"
"I'm alright captain," Thira responded. "Though I'm not exactly in one piece. Hanako is pulling herself together."
"What happened!" Captain Williams demanded as she found her arm and managed to get her hand to reattach.
"The sword seemed to contain more power than we initially thought, the Slice Drive is completely ruined and the sword shattered. What's worse is we could be anywhere."
"Captain!" a voice came over the comms. "We've got ship wide reports of people falling apart."
"Understood, I'm pulling myself together now, I'll be heading to the bridge ASAP."
"Ma'am?" The officer questioned.
Captain Williams, shot Thira a look as she finished putting herself back together. "I don't know Captain, it's possible that the energy of the sword exploding caused the same kind of affect it has when it's used to cut something, in a ship wide radius. So long everyone grabs their parts they should be able to put themselves back together, no problem."
"The Tribbles are loose! They're attaching themselves to people's bodies, oh god they're taking control!" Another voice came through the Comms.
"Okay that might be a problem."
"Captain, we're being hailed!"
"Can't this wait?" Captain Williams could barely focus on putting herself back together, without these growing problems.
"I don't believe it can, we're being hailed by Captain Mansfield of the U.S.S. Selbit."