He slammed his fist on the console as he read the findings from the diagnostic. He had created a replica of the computers that he had used on the Xiezios home planet that scanned incoming equipment on his makeshift holodeck. His thirtieth idea of creating a hidden bomb had failed. If this would have been real, this finding would have cascaded up to high command and the Federation would be in all-out war. It would have been easy for them to trace back the items he used to Starfleet.

“Why did I think this would work?!” Asani yelled as he put his hand though his mop on his head again. He had been working almost non-stop for the last three weeks with little sleep. “The material I used was so easily detected. I am getting sloppy.” He sighed heavily and then clicked a button on the console. Everything in front of him vanished and reappeared once again, ready for a new idea.

“Asani?” came a familiar voice through his communicator device. Asani’s temperature was at a boiling point.

“What is it, Harry!? Are two Starfleet holograms not able to install a simple warp adapter?!” His teeth were grinding, and his mug of now cold coffee was flying through the air. “You wanted your precious Federation parts and that is what I got you!” He gave a heavy sigh. “Speak Harry or I will send your program to the next Klingon warbird as a gift to clean out their non-sanitary puchs!”

Silence was the response from the communicator, then a very nervous voice began to chime, “Maybe…maybe best you come see.” Asani slammed his fist against the console and stormed towards the ship.

When the door slid open to the engineering room of his pieced together vessel, he found two holograms waiting nervously with large smiles on their faces. Asani glared at them both and their smiles began to vanish. “This is the fifth time today that you have dragged me away from my work,” he said in an almost whisper. The dark circles under his eyes showed how tired he was. “Why are you two not able to install a simple warp adapter?”

“Asani,” said Harry nervously. The sudden glare from his “Captain” made him jump. Asani’s eyes made him look like a Salt Vampire. “We understand that what you are doing is diff-“

“Get to the point, Harry!” shouted Asani.

“We are getting cascading failures on the drive system-“

“I told you to override them and we will fix them when I am done helping Starfleet…destroy a enemy species,” Asani replied clinching his fists. His face showed anger as he put a hand through his greasy hair. He found the closest bench in engineering and plopped down with exhaustion.

After a few moments, Thomas said, “The failures also show that there will be radiation leakage all over the ship. You will be dead in less than fifteen minutes when you engage the warp core.”

“Then put a containment unit around the warp core like other starships,” said Asani in a raspy voice with his head arched. He appeared to be falling asleep.

“Your design of the warp core will not allow it,” replied Thomas. “Your idea of powering weapons and engines with this “pulse effect” idea makes it so plasma is running all over the ship.”

Asani nodded off, then jerked himself awake. He replied as if he heard everything Thomas said, “It will work Thomas. I just need to find a way to contain the flow of plasma.”

“If you do not kill yourself first,” said Harry.

“It is risky, I know, but without risk there is no reward,” answered a nodding off Asani.

“Not the first time you have said that,” responded Harry.

This last sentence appeared to have struck a nerve as Asani glared back at the hologram. Asani knew he had said this to her before tragedy happened. Knowing Harry could not possibly know this, he sighed to drain away the anger. Asani knew he had said it to them before. This “bomb” project was bringing back many memories. “I have plenty of ideas on getting it to work,” he said with a kind smile. “Don’t you trust me?”

Harry and Thomas both gave him the same nervous look. “We feel your chaotic and rebellious nature is going to get you killed,” said Harry with his “dad” face.

“Then you will have the whole ship for yourself,” said Asani as he stood and stretched his back.

“Asani!” both holograms said with sadness on their faces.

Asani gave them an apologetic stare. “Ok. Ok. I promise before we engage the warp core, I will correct all failures and do a full diagnostic. When you two are satisfied then we will take this ship on a test drive.”

Both holograms appeared to like his response. “You know, Asani,” said Harry with more motivation seeing that Asani was not as angry. A sudden glare made him raise his hands in an apologetic gesture. “Just one idea that I want to give you.” Asani arched his head and gave a small sigh which for Harry was a positive response. “The idea that I have,” continued Harry as Asani made his way to the closest replicator for another coffee. “It is a coolant system on the warp drive. Now all starships have them, but I think I know of a way-- “

“What did you say?” said Asani as he stopped suddenly from taking a large gulp of coffee.

“I said what would help your warp core would be a coolant system.” Asani slammed the palm of his hand on his forehead and shook his head. Harry stopped talking for a moment but then continued, “I know it is an easy thing to forget, but this will help tremendously.”

“You are a genius, Harry!” shouted Asani.

“Well…” stammered Harry. “I only do…what my—”

“They used a coolant to freeze the ‘death’ mineral before they mined it!” Asani continued to shout. He gave Harry a huge hug and raised the hologram in the air. Harry’s face expressed great surprise. Asani placed Harry on the ground and began to dance around excitedly. “That is the answer I have been looking for!”

“Asani?” asked Thomas. “Are we talking about the warp core still?”

Asani gave him a confused face. “Not the warp core…but yes, it is a good idea for the coolant system…but the coolant that Xiezios use to mine the mineral is the perfect cover for the bomb.”

Both Harry and Thomas looked at him as if he had lost him mind. “Asani? I don’t think I understand,” replied Harry.

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Asani gave them a face saying, “Are you serious?” He then raised both hands which meant he had his “engineering hat” on and was going to explain something technical. “This mineral that they mine is highly unstable. Any type of temperature change, increase pressure or liquids will make it explode and the explosion can be nuclear if there is enough of it. The only way they can stabilize it, is to freeze it quickly. Within less than a second. They first drill carefully to expose the mineral with a gap no bigger than half an inch. Then they cautiously disperse this powerful coolant which freezes the mineral and allows them to dislodge it from the ground without exploding.” He then gives them both the “see how simple that was” face and a slight shrug.

Harry and Thomas lock eyes and then look back at Asani. “And how is that a perfect cover for a bomb?”

Asani’s face showed shock. “The coolant comes in a gas form. I fill one of the containers with modified plasma gas and then store the container in subzero temperatures. That way it becomes undetectable. When released, it will do the opposite of what the coolant does. It will heat the mineral which will then explode and with the plasma gas, the explosion will be nuclear.” Asani gave the largest smile.

“Congratulations,” said Harry sarcastically. “You have given the Federation the perfect way to end thousands of lives.”

Asani’s face turned to sadness. His face turned serious. “Harry. I have seen the weapons that they have made with this unstable mineral. If they are not stopped now, they will become unstoppable.”

“Asani, there has to be another way,” said Thomas with a pleading face.

“You both are the ones that ‘bleed’ Federation red,” said Asani with a confused face. “This was their decision. I am helping to prevent war.”

“And a new BIOS Warp adapter,” said Harry with a grin.

Asani gave him an angry glare then he sighed knowing what he said was true. “You are correct, Harry. But I think of it more as buying my freedom.”

Both Harry and Thomas gave him sympathetic looks, knowing a little of Asani’s pain. “Sorry, Asani,” said Harry. “It is a big price to pay to earn that freedom.”

“I want both of you to know that I take no delight in what I am doing,” explained Asani. “It is just excitement finding an answer to a problem that I thought was impossible.” Asani placed a hand on one of each of their shoulders. “Live is filled with difficult choices. I only do what I think is right. I promise you both that this decision was made with great thought and anguish.”

Both Harry and Thomas could see the sincerity. “We will follow your lead, Captain Asani,” said Thomas.

Asani rolled his eyes, but a small smile appeared on his lips. He turned and headed straight to the holodeck to finally finish creating a bomb.

Admiral Richards and Commander Kili appeared as the bright blue transporter light faded. Upon seeing Asani standing in front of them, a smile came to the face of Admiral Richards and a small grunt from the Klingon.

“Welcome back to my humble abode,” said Asani through clinched teeth. He still felt uneasy with them here. He held up a PADD which made them both approach.

“It was wonderful to get your message, Lieutenant Nasos,” said the Admiral as he gently took the PADD from Asani’s hands. “The Xiezios have attacked a fourth planet near the Romulan border. Soon they will stop all trade routes between Federation, Romulan and the Ferengi.” He looked at the PADD and gave a confused face. “What is it that I am looking at?”

“It is the blueprints to what you requested,” said Asani calmly.

“I was expecting more,” said the Admiral in a slightly angry tone. “This looks to be a coolant container filled with plasma. Their detectors will easily pick this up.”

“It is plasma, but it has been deionized into gas and then quickly frozen, so it does not lose its molecular structure,” replied Asani with his “engineering hat” on. “That way it becomes undetectable. It will be scanned as any ordinary subzero coolant container.”

“And how will frozen plasma gas destroy the mining colony on their moon?” asked the Admiral with a higher octave tone. He was closed to angry. “If you are planning to ignite this plasma, you will need to install an igniter or some other explosive device. Anything like that will easy be detected.” Commander Kili gave a small smile as he enjoyed seeing the Admiral’s temperature rise.

“It will work because it will have the opposite effect in what they will use it for,” said Asani with his annoyed tone.

“And how will they be using it?” asked the Admiral in a slightly less agitated tone. His face showed more enthusiasm feeling Asani was about to surprise him.

“They use this subzero coolant to freeze the ‘death’ mineral before they dislodged it from the ground. This will prevent it from exploding,” replied Asani. His eyes glanced at the Klingon who was now replicating another batch of gauh. Commander Kili’s face showed confusion on where Asani was going with this explanation. The Admiral however was beginning to see his plan.

“The plasma gas will heat the mineral instead of cooling, causing it to explode,” explained the Starfleet officer with excitement. A giant smile on his face. He began to rub his hands together.

“Correct,” replied Asani. “And with the amount of modified plasma plus any surrounding minerals, the blast will be nuclear.” Asani’s face showed no emotion. He was starting to feel that he should have listened to his two holograms. He was feeling uneasy with Admiral Richards’s reactions.

“You were right about him!” shouted the Admiral to Commander Kili. The Klingon was slurping up more of his gauh when he gave a large smile showing his sharp teeth. The Admiral looked back at Asani. “It is so simple, but only you would have found this weakness.” There was a long pause as the Admiral’s face showed he was pondering on something. His face then showed hatred. He then locked eyes with Asani and his expression quickly changed. “Sorry, Lieutenant. I was just remembering the destruction these monsters have caused.”

“If I may be blunt, Admiral?” asked Asani.

“Please, Lieutenant,” answered the Starfleet officer with a friendly expression. “Do not hold back.” The Klingon gave another smile.

“This seems to be very personal for you,” said Asani. “Your reactions are not what I expected— “

“From an Admiral of the United Council,” said Richards with an understanding face. “It is personal for me, Lieutenant. You see my daughter was on one of the planets they attacked.” Asani’s face changed to sympathy. “I am actually surprised that you are not excited about this more,” continued the Admiral, “after what happened to— “

“Not something I like to remember or discuss,” interrupted Asani with a stern tone. The Admiral shot back a sly smile. “But there was a lot more that happened that is not on any Starfleet reports.” Asani’s face showed anger. He was not happy that the Admiral was trying to get him to talk about that horrible day. This was a business relationship and nothing more.

“Yes,” stated Admiral Richards. His expression scared Asani. It made him think he knew everything that happened that day. His expression quickly changed. “We all have difficult decisions to make in our life.” Now the Admiral had the face of a true Federation officer. “For me, to use this weapon that you have given us, to stop war…does not bother me a bit.”

“Me as well,” said the Klingon as he finished the gauh.

“Looking through these designs,” said Richards with a stoic face, “we have everything we need to send the Xiezios a message. Do not mess with Starfleet.”

“Or Klingons,” replied Commander Kili. The Admiral gave him a nod.

“So, my part his finished?” asked Asani.

“You have done us a great service,” answered the Admiral. “I promise you that when this is over, Starfleet will want you back.”

“As I mention before, I am not looking to come back,” replied Asani.

The Admiral gave him a nod. “I will respect your decision. But I am sure this will not be the last time we meet.” The Admiral’s face made what he said appear genuine and friendly. “We may have more great work for you to do. You’re an important asset to the United Council and Starfleet.”

Asani only smiled. He knew anything he said would only hurt his status with Starfleet. Being on the Admiral’s good side could be beneficial down the road.

“For now, this is perfect,” said the Admiral as he scanned the PADD once again. He seemed to grow more excited each time he read the blueprints. He then tapped his communicator and said, “Two to beam up.” Commander Kili quickly stood by the Admiral. “Thank you, Asani!” stated the Admiral as their bodies separated into millions of atoms. His voice fizzled as the Admiral and Klingon were transported away.

The last thing Asani saw was the expression on Commander Kili’s face. He was expecting happiness but what he saw was anger and it seemed to be directed at him.