'Computer' He said in a flat-toned voice, 'Release BioBed Field, Authorization Chiron Alpha 7 9.'

There was the distinct snapping sound, and the field disappeared. The Tamarian left the bed, and turned the corner... [This mission must fail] echoed in his mind. As he stepped around the partition, his eyes fell upon Blake and the Rihannsu woman. His eyes flared an even brighter red, and he launched himself at both of them. He pinned Blake up against the wall, and growled 'You will not win...'

He drew his arm back with the intent, not to just hurt, but to kill, when he got hit square in the back with a phaser beam, set on stun. Chiron drew back, and turned to the security guard. The guard quickly tapped at his phaser, and fired at Chiron, this time set to Heavy Stun. Chiron crumpled to the floor... 'This mission must fail... I cannot help....' Chiron fell unconcious again, this time, though his own mind had shown through. [You will not resist more] said the voice.

And Chiron was assaulted more... his own will fading away, and being replaced.

Eric Hanson, "The Schizoid Man"
Lt. JG Chiron, Assistant Cheif Engineer, USS Galaxy [E-Mail]
Lt. Cmdr. Varin Reix, Cheif Science Officer, Station Beta 2 [E-Mail]
Lt. JG Tal Breno, Assistant Cheif Science, USS Horizon [E-Mail, IRC]

[T’Lein to Casey]

"Casey here sir," Casey replied after tapping his comm badge.

[I see you didn’t get my message Lieutenant]

"I’m sorry sir, no I only had one message when I checked them. Is there something I can do for you sir?" Casey didn’t like this.

[No, but the meeting has been canceled until our current crisis is over. I know you were trying to give Ensign Freeman some time on the bridge and you should be commended for the hours you’ve put in the last month, but it’s imperative you report to your station on the Bridge Lieutenant.] T’Lein was sharp, commanding but, as always, he was polite or as polite as a Vulcan could be.

"Aye sir, one request sir?" Casey needed a favor.

[Yes, Lieutenant?]

"May I visit the captain first?" Casey asked, hoping that T’Lein would allow it.

[Yes, you may and then relieve Freeman and assume your station.]

"Aye sir. Thank you sir."

[T’Lein out.]

Casey looked around at the empty Arboretum and felt like a fool. He hated being out of the "know." He was upset with himself for not knowing that the meeting had been canceled. He brushed all that aside and started for the brig.

When Casey arrived at the Brig he was met by a young ensign, one he hadn’t met before, but he knew the ensign’s name.

"Hello Ensign Enquist, I’d like to see the Captain?" Casey said it more like a command and not as a request.

The ensign looked a little startled,"Yes sir, I’ll have to scan you first."

"Do it Ensign."

The ensign scanned Casey for weapons and when he cleared Casey, Casey walked into the Brig enclosure. "Ensign you may leave us," Casey commanded. The Ensign left Casey and the Captain alone.

"Hello Captain."

"Mr. Casey, how nice of you to visit ‘mate," the Captain said with a disguised half grin, half CO bravado.

"Sir, I want to express my support for you and how I disagree with the Admiral putting you here. I think he should be court-martialed, he had no right to put you here. He could have confined you to your quarters at the worst…but the brig?" Casey was visibly angry and Captain Price could feel Casey’s loyalty.

"Lt. Casey, I must agree with you. Let me add that you’ve taken to your rank quite well, you ordered Enquist around like he was a subterranean life-form. Ease up a little ‘mate," Captain Price was joking, but liked how Casey took charge with lower rank officers.

"Aye sir, I’ll do that. Sir, are you aware that the Admiral has moved us away from Outpost 53 and there are more Warbirds on the way to this sector and could easily overpower the station?"

"Aye 'mate, I was there when the Admiral gave the order. Right before I was relieved of my command."

"I’d like to organize a mutiny sir, nothing violent…but the Admiral is wrong and the entire ship knows that he is. He is a good officer sir, but he hasn’t been in the field for a long time and it shows." Casey was really going out on a limb.

The very fact that Casey even suggested mutiny showed the Captain that Casey was loyal to the point where it could hurt his career. The Captain was beginning to respect Casey a little more.

"No, I know that you want what’s best for me and this ship Lieutenant but I will not allow it. Do not mutiny!" the Captain emphasized himself, but didn’t yell.

"Are you sure Captain? I don’t want to hurt your career or the Admiral’s. But, Starfleet would rule in your favor and you know it."

"Yes Lieutenant, I know. There are other ways of rectifying the situation and I’m sure my crew can find another, more suitable course of action," Captain Price felt good that his officers were loyal to him and watched as Casey picked up on the clue.

"Okay Captain, as you wish sir. Can I at least try to stop this abortion?" Casey was visibly upset over an abortion even being mentioned on a Federation Starship much less one being performed on a ship he served on.

"No Lieutenant, we can only leave that up to Dr. Rousseau’s conscious. It his up to her and the medical team now."

Casey wasn’t happy. His hands were tied and there was nothing he could do and he hated feeling that way, it was totally foreign to his character and personality. Casey believed that he could always do something in any kind of a situation, no matter the odds. "Is there anything I can do for you sir while you’re here?" Casey asked.

"No thank you ‘mate. Just do your duty as a Starfleet officer." The Captain smiled. The Captain paused and looked like he thought of something else and continued,"You might want to keep an eye out for the comm traffic. I wouldn't be too surprised if a Federation distress call came through shortly." The Captain's smile faded as he finished the sentence. It wasn't exactly a pleasant thought.

"Aye, Captain. I'll let the others know. Perhaps that will get the Admiral to change his mind."

"Perhaps 'mate. Perhaps."

Casey gave the Captain an old fashioned Navy salute, smiled at the Captain and exited the Brig enclosure.

***Main Bridge***

Casey arrived on the bridge, dismissed Freeman and took his place at Ops. Casey had impeccable timing, as he sat down he picked up the Federation Distress call from Outpost Station 53.

"Commander, I'm receiving a distress call from Outpost 53, they're requesting our assistance sir."

" Damm it!!" Coe shouted as Commander Jamson entered the turbolift on his way to meet the admiral in sick bay.

" Commander!!" But it was useless, Jamson just gave Coe a sorry look before adding.

" Orders are orders my friend." The turbolift doors closing behind after he said it. Coe punched the wall, fury building inside him. Coe calmed down slightly and took post in the command chair. He began slowly rubbing his chin as he began to think, the obvious outcome becoming more apparent on each thought. He stood from the command chair and began to place slowly around the bridge, his head still down in deep thought.

" Commander, we are being hailed by outpost 53." Lt Blair spoke roughly, obviously trying to hide his pain. Coe felt sorry for him, this would not have been to easy on him either.

" On screen Lt." Coe spoke softly and gently. He turned to face the viewscreen and took his place in front of the captains chair. Within seconds, the view of passing star systems, was replaced by the face of an unknown Commander. Coe placed his arms behind his back.

" This is Commander Harrison of outpost 53. Why have you left us here with 3 d'deridex class romulan warbirds breathing down our throat?" The Commander seemed stressed as he yelled the words in agony.

" Im sorry Commander, Admiral Blair ordered us to return to earth. Immediately. "

" But what of the romulans? This station could not withstand an attack by 2 warbirds, let alone a mini fleet!! " Coe paused for a moment and took in the con of the space station, a tactical officer sat in a chair behind Harrison and multiple people hurried around the bridge, the red alert klaxons sounding in the background. The tactical officer turned and spoke loudly, loud enough for Coe and the rest of the Galaxy crew to hear.

" Commander Harrison, the romulan's have crossed the neutral zone and are headed for us." The officer punched a few keys on his console before adding. " ETA at present speed......1 hour, fifty three minutes." Commander Harrison turned back to face Coe,

" Damm you, we need your help. Dont leave us to die!!.......Are.....hello...."

" Lt Blair, whats happening?" Coe asked with urgency as the signal on the screen began to break up.

" It's being jammed sir, must be the Romulans...."

" Damn!" Coe muttered to himself. But then he realised what he had to do. He didn't worry about the consequences or the reprimands, he knew he would never forgive himself unless he did. Did what had to be done.

" Lt Ti, full stop, bring us about, heading 423 mark 115 warp 7 and.....Engage! Lt Blair, bring the Galaxy to red alert and get Jamson up here now! Senior staff including Lt Blair report to conference room now! " Coe sat there in the chair, considering what his occupation would be now that his starfleet career was over. After a few seconds of thought, he stood from the chair.

" Lt Casey, you have the conn. Oh, one last thing.... tell Lt Sterner to release Captain Price from the brig and reinstate him as the commander of this vessel. " He said before leaving the bridge en-route to the senior staff meeting.

**** Conference room ****

All the senior staff were present except Commander Jamson and Coe stood above the XO's chair, waiting, a small murmur rose from group as they discussed the ships current situation. The doors to the conference room slid open and Jamson walked in fuming.

" What the hell are you up to Commander?" He asked Coe as he yelled the words.

" Im sorry Commander, but I could not follow these orders...." The senior staff watched on in awe.

" Commander Coe, may I have a word with you outside." Jamson seemed to have calmed down a bit.

" Certainly Sir." The two officers left the room. And Coe began to explain.

" Im sorry I had to do this Commander but whilst you were in sick bay, an urgent message came through from Commander Harrison. # d'deridex class warbirds have violated the neutral zone and are heading for outpost station 53, I could not finish, the signal was being jammed by the romulans." Jamson listened to what Coe had to say and seemed to relax his body as the two officers faced each other in the hallway, the anger slowly disappearing off his face.

" Sir, the Galaxy is the only ship in this sector. I am not about to let thousands of people die, as well as one unborn child, knowing that I could have done something to help. And abortion, a practise that has been outlawed in the federation for years, the admiral is planning on permitting it on this vessel. I will not stand by whilst others get hurt commander, I am sure you feel the same way!"

" Come on!" Jamson snickered, " You really think the Romulans would risk all-out war with the Federation?"

" Commander, on this ship, we are carrying the plans for the most deadly weapon, this universe has ever seen! If the romulans were able to succeed in building this...weapon, the balance of power in this quadrant would be disastrous. The federation would cease to exist as the romulans reigned terror amoung the galaxy. Let me ask you, if you were are romulan, would you risk war over this?" Jamson looked thoughtful, obviously he could see Coe's point.

" You know Commander Coe, what we are about to do is against everything that starfleet has taught us."

" On the contrary sir, I believe what we are about to do supports EVERYTHING starfleet has taught us. If starfleet had wanted us to blatantly follow orders, where would the federation be?" Jamson patted Coe on the back.

" To implement this, we are going to have to have the entire support of the senior staff, especially security. Lets see who is with us." Just before walking back into the conference room, Jamson suddenly stopped.

" You know Commander...I just realised, what we are planning, is.....mutiny!" Coe looked thoughtful for a minute.

" Yes Sir, I suppose it is."

**** Main Brig ****

" OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!" Coe and Jamson stood at attention in front of the Captain, an invisible barrier between the three men. Coe tried to protest but it was useless.

" There will be NO mutiny on my ship mister, And that is an order!" Coe gave up, he was willing to defy the order of an Admiral, or the head of Starfleet himself,... but not Captain Price.

" Gentleman, now is when the Galaxy needs you both the most! It is imparative that you behave as Starfleet Officers would. What we are dealing with on this ship right now, requires that you lookout for what's best for the Federation, not each other, not yoursleves......Not me... Now please 'mates, return to the bridge and look after this baby, and her crew. " The Captain smiled and the officers left the brig. A new sense of energy in both.

Chris N
AKA: Lt. Johnathon Thomas Coe
Chief Tactical Officer USS Galaxy
NCC-70637
Indentification: Foxtrot delta 769

The automatic doors hissed open, Troy entered them before they could open completely. Once inside he glanced around sickbay, seeing his grandfather along with a number of security and medical personnel next to a biobed. Troy stormed over to the group.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!" Troy's voice boomed off the walls. William turned his head to look at Troy, astonishment filled his face.

"Relieving Captain Price of duty?" Troy continued

"Troy, please stand down." Admiral William Blair said in a calm, but agitated voice.

"Abandoning the Outpost in the face of danger!" Troy was steaming at this point.

"STAND DOWN Lieutenant! Don't make me have to have you thrown in the brig!" Admiral Blair's look changed from astonishment to fury.

"NO! I will NOT stand down!" Troy exclaimed through his teeth.

"Troy! Don't make me do this!"

"You have made the worst tactical decision in the history of Staefleet! You remove a Captain from his command, then runaway when the lives of other Starfleet personnel are in danger! Why.....Why have you done this?" Troy was confused.

"You leave me no choice son, Ensign throw Lieutenant Blair in the brig." the Admiral said in a low tone.

Ensign O'Lindey grabed Troy's arm trying to pull him out of sickbay. With his other arm Troy loosened O'Lindey's hold and threw him to the floor. He turned to the Ensign whispered "I'm sorry" then stormed back to his grandfather.

"I DEMAND to know why you relieved Captain Price!" Troy stood with clinched fist incase anyone else tried to drag him off.

The Admiral hesitated, then spoke "....Captain Price would not follow my orders"

"What orders?" Troy asked.

"One of N'Prng's demands before handing over the information is to have her pregnancy aborted. When I told Captain Price to have his medical staff prepare, he refused. So I relieved him of command."

A blank expression came over Troy's face. He turned to N'Prng, laying on the bed, looking at her in disgust.

"N'Prng if your going to live in the Federation, then you must live by the Federation way of life. And that doesn't include killing anyone for any reason." N'Prng smirked at Troy after his statement.

"Troy, we have the chance to save millions perhaps billions of lives with the information N'Prng is willing to provide. I think one verses a billion is quite acceptable." Admiral Blair retorted.

N'Prng added, "Besides, after this child is aborted the Empire will no longer have a claim over me."

Troy shook his head, "No ma'am, after this child is aborted your HUSBAND will no longer have a claim over you. But as far as the Empire is concerned, this is what they need to speed up production of their weapon and go to war with the Federation. In their eyes; you're a traitor and we're helping you escape."

N'Prng glared at Troy. It didn't bother him, because he wasn't finished. "How could you go along with this granddad? You know it goes against everything Starfleet stands for. You, an Admiral, should know this better than anyone else. Remember the story you told me about the Klingon boy you saved, when you were a Captain of your own ship? Despite the fact you were ordered not to go into Klingon space you did, because you were that childs only chance of survival. You risked everything, your career, your ship, even your crew, and you would have been court marshaled if the Klingons didn't consider it an honorable act, and commend you for it. And remember the lesson you said that story teaches? 'It's the duty of every Starfleet officer to save the lives of everyone who's in danger-even if they are your enemy' How do you expect me to live by that lesson, if I see my own grandfather going against it?"

Everyone stared silently at Troy. Admiral Blair looked at the floor, then at the ceiling. Troy continued....

"It's not too late to make things right. Cancel the order of the abortion; and reinstate Captain Price. You may have lost some friends here, but you'll still have your grandson."

The room grew silent, Troy stood still staring at his grandfather, so did everyone else. William Blair looked around, scratched the back of his head and breathed heavy. He stood silent for seconds, seconds that felt like years. William looked around again and spoke.....

"Doctor Rousseau........stand down your procedures for the abortion." He looked at Troy, waked over to a communications panel and pushed a few buttons. The computer chirped indicating a ship wide announcement.

"This is Admiral Blair to the crew of the USS Galaxy. After an enlightening discussion with my grandson, I've decided to reinstate Captain Price. Captain, the ship is all yours." he abruptly canceled the channel. He put his hand on Troy's shoulder and squeezed gently. "You're right son, what I did was wrong." He paused for a second, "Now if you'll excuse me I must render an apology to a certain Captain." Admiral Blair exited sickbay, heading towards the brig.

Troy stood there, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Troy?" It was Doctor Rousseau, "I just wanted to thank you from keeping me from destroying my career in Starfleet. There's no way that I could have performed that procedure."

Troy smiled and nodded his head at Rousseau. He exited sickbay, to make his way to the bridge.

Lieutenant JG Troy Blair
Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

The Admiral had finally come to his senses and the Galaxy was en route to Outpost 53 at warp 7, under red alert status, with Captain Price in command of the ship. At the ops console, Lt. T'Lein ran diags, once again, on all vital ship systems and instructed all departments and living areas to be in stand-by mode for a ship-wide evacuation to the saucer section or a full evacuation of the ship in case the three Romulan warbirds overtook the Galaxy.

Lt. Stovok T'Lein
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

"Lt. Casey, you have the conn. Tell Lt. Sterner to release Captain Price from the brig and reinstate him as the commander of this vessel." And with that command Mr. Coe disappeared into the Conference Room.

Casey stood to his feet and glanced at his Ops station for a second and then glanced at the Conn…the Captain’s chair, the Throne of the Galaxy. Casey’s heart started to pump, his adrenaline was traveling faster than the Galaxy. Casey walked over to the "Chair" paused for a second and then with a wide grin on his face sat in the "chair." It had taken him nineteen years, eleven months, sixteen days, eighteen hours and ten seconds to sit in a captain’s chair but he was there and would remember the experience for the rest of his life. It felt so exhilarating, he could go on this rush for the next year.

"Ensign Kopitz, what’s our ETA to Outpost 53?" Casey asked. The bridge crew could see that Casey was enjoying himself and in turn they were enjoying themselves and it all kind of eased the tension of the moment. The tension was considerable and the ease of it was welcomed with open arms. The entire mood changed from fear to imminent glory, not because of Casey being at the conn, but because of how Casey approached it and the crew could sense it. And they were all looking forward to kicking some Romulan butt!

"22 minutes sir." Ensign Kopitz replied, she had a smile on her face.

"Just enough time to get this ship ready for battle with God knows how many Warbirds," Casey said under his breath. Then he started thinking about Coe’s last command. It was mutiny, a clear violation of Captain Price’s orders.

"This is the Conn, Lt. Casey to Lt. Sterner," Casey was really enjoying this seat, it’s really comfortable.

[Sterner here.]

"Lieutenant, Coe has asked me to have you report to the brig and guard Captain Price and standby for orders." Casey felt weird giving a superior officer an order.

[Aye, on my way. Sterner out.]

Casey could not give Coe’s order and follow the Captain’s order, so he interpreted it as closely as possible. Knowing that the Commander would not concur with Lt.Commander Coe. Although, Casey respected Coe and agreed with letting the Captain out of the Brig, he couldn’t in good conscience give that order.

If Casey hadn’t spoken with the Captain, he would’ve gladly given that order and applauded Coe’s guts.

"Tac, load torpedoes and prepare for battle we have no idea how many warbirds are awaiting us at Outpost 53." Casey thought it best to speed the ship up.

"Ensign Kopitz, take us to warp 8."

"Aye, sir."

Man was that a lot of fun. His first real order on the Bridge. "Conn to Engineering," Casey had to prepare Engineering.

[Okuda here, is that Casey?]

"Aye, Ensign. We are returning to Outpost 53 to assist them, they’ve been attacked by Romulan Warbirds. You must prepare the ships systems, power up all back-up conduits Okuda because we WILL be OUTNUMBERED! We’re going to need all the power we can muster. Have your station standing by and you might want to get some reserve engineers pronto."

[Understood and acknowledged sir. Okuda out.]

Casey would normally warn sickbay, but thought it best to keep them in the dark because Casey knew that’s where the Admiral was. Casey knew this because Jamson just spoke with Coe before Mr. Coe went to the Conference Room.

Casey then reviewed all his training procedurals in his mind. Prepare engineering done. Prepare sickbay can’t do that at this time. Tactical prepare torpedoes and weapon systems done. ETA is known. Ahhh! Science.

"Mitch, can you give me anything on the status of Outpost 53?"

"Yes, sir, their shields seem to be holding but long range sensors can barely pick up any definite readings," Lt. Mitchell replied.

"How many Warbirds can you detect?" Casey asked Mitchell.

"I have 3 ships on my scanner readings and 2 more residual readings that could be cloaked vessels just minutes from the Station."

"Keep me posted Mitch." Casey shifted gears, it was amazing how his training just kicked in and he was acting on impulse and habit.

"Tac, weapons status?" Casey asked, he wasn’t sure who the tactical officer was, but liked the nickname Tac anyway, no matter who was stationed there. Troy was in sickbay and Coe was in the Conference Room.

"Primary weapons systems at full power, all back-up power is on-line and at our disposal, sir."

"Good work. Look alive people and let’s kick some Romulan rear!" Casey would not swear no matter what, he was an educated man and there was no need to use expletives even in the heat of life-or-death situations.

The energy on the Bridge was surging and strong, morale was high and the crew was ready. Casey was having so much fun! He was born for this, he lived for it!

Joerg was just writing his report about the Admiral and the Captain, when his communicator came to life.

[Mulich to Lieutenant Sterner.]

"Sterner here."

[Sir, we have just caught Lieutenant Chiron. He was trying to kill the Admiral. We are on our way to the brig with him.]

"And what about the Admiral and the VIP?" Joerg asked cautiously.

[They are both well. O'Lindey and Franklin are just on their way to sickbay.]

"Well done Ensign. I'll meet you in the brig. Sterner out."

After that he stood up and directly went to the holding cells. Ensign Enquist was standing guard in front of the Captain's cell.

"Sir, you'll soon have some company." Joerg addressed the Captain to cheer him up a bit.

"How's that 'mate?" the Captain asked.

"Lieutenant Chiron tried to attack the Admiral and our guest. But my security team was able to capture him before he could do so." Joerg explained.

Soon after he had finished his sentence, Mulich entered, carrying the unconscious Lieutenant.

"Put him in holding cell 4." Joerg told the Ensign.

Mulich did as ordered and Joerg closed the cell after the Ensign came out again.

"Any idea why he did that?" Joerg asked Mulich.

"He almost looked like he was out of mind. I checked with sickbay and found out, that he had some nightmares lately and was to be observed there, when he suddenly disappeared from sickbay." he replied.

"Good job Ensign. I think I'll contact the Counselor. Perhaps he can explain some things here." Joerg said and pressed his communicator.

"Sterner to Counselor Shivok."

[Shivok here.]

"We have just arrested Lieutenant Chiron. He just tried to kill the Admiral. Would you please come down to the brig. Perhaps you find out what happened to him and why."

[Certainly, I'm on my way. Shivok out.]

After that Joerg looked at the two security officers and told them to keep an eye on Chiron and to help the Counselor in any way they could. Then he returned to his office to conclude the first report about the Admiral - Captain conflict and then to write another about the strange behavior of Lieutenant Chiron.

***************

Joerg was just about the end the second report, when his comm badge chirped again.

[This is the Conn, Lieutenant Casey to Lieutenant Sterner.]

"Sterner here."

[Lieutenant, Coe has asked me to have you report to the brig and guard Captain Price and standby for orders.]

"Aye, on my way. Sterner out."

Joerg found it strange, not being contacted by Lieutenant Commander Coe himself, but an order was an order and so he returned to the brig and the Captain. After a short while Commander Jamson and Lieutenant Commander Coe entered the brig and talked to the Captain about a mutiny. But Price utterly forbid his officers to start a mutiny aboard his ship. After a short discussion the two officers left the brig again, without giving Joerg another order. He was just about to contact one of them to request new orders, when he heard a familiar voice.

"This is Admiral Blair to the crew of the USS Galaxy. After an enlightening discussion with my grandson, I've decided to reinstate Captain Price. Captain, the ship is all yours."

Joerg and Lee looked at each other. Joerg smiled at the Captain and quickly released the force field in front of the cell.

"Those are orders I like to follow." Joerg added with a smile on his face.

The Captain thanked him and left the brig to go directly to the bridge.

Joerg on the other hand returned to his office to rewrite his report about the Admiral - Captain conflict. He thought that the report may never be finished at all.

Lieutenant Joerg Sterner
Chief of Security - USS Galaxy NCC-70637

Quall stopped and rubbed his temples. This was his first stressful situation as Assistant Chief of Security.

And to top it all off, Captain Price, the captain of the USS Galaxy was sitting in the brig! Now if that isnt nerve racking!

Ryan finally finished the duty assignments, just as the officers came in to report for duty. He told them all their respective assignments. Most of them somehow involved the Romulan in the sickbay. Others he had assigned to guard some vital areas of the ship... as a precaution of course.

Quall decided to check in on the Captain, and he walked to the brig. Price was lying down awake, starring at the ceiling.

"Excuse me, sir"

Price looked over, "Yes Quall?"

"I just wanted to check to see if you needed anything."

"No. No thank you." Price responded, and he returned his gaze to the ceiling.

Quall stood there for a second, verifying the integrety of the containment field, as per Starfleet regulations, and then excused himself from the Brig.

Lt jg Quall
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galaxy

"Have you found anything that could have caused the malfunctions yet?" K'arta asked him.

"No, I just started checking the isolinear chips though." Lon answered her.

"It seemed that almost all the accidents happened to security personnel. Could there be a program specifically initiated by the use of a security training holoprogram? Or maybe the presence of security personnel?" K'arta asked him after some thought.

"It's possible, but it would have had to be installed at a starbase," the engineer answered her.

"Could we search the program database to find it?" K'arta posed another question.

"It probably wouldn't be that easy. If someone wrote a program specifically to turn off the safety protocols during security training, they may have hidden it so it wouldn't be easy to find." the Bajoran answered.

"Right. So it couldn't be found as sabotage or tampering. It would be a program running with the training programs. So, why did someone else get hurt? Lt. Morris wasn't using a security training program when she was hurt." K'arta was trying to put all the pieces together.

"There could be a glitch in the program. Somehow it disabled safety protocols in other programs." Lon explained.

"Then why didn't the protocols become disabled whenever I used the holodeck with a different program?"

"Which holodeck did you use?" Lon asked.

"Holodeck 3. Lt. Ti set up the program, I made a few minor changes. Then Lt. Morris used the same holodeck. That's the only connection." She told him.

"Perhaps the changes you made partially enabled the disabling program then the next use of the holodeck caused the safety protocols to be turned off, and someone else to get hurt." Lon pieced together.

"Then our next move should be to find the program and remove it from the system." K'arta said.

"Exactly. Let's get to work." Ensign Lon alerted the engineering personnel working on holodeck 3 to their plan then the began their search. Lon and K'arta took opposite sides of the arch in the holodeck and called up all programs that had any remote connection to the holodeck. Discarding all programs that had been loaded since the launching of the Galaxy from the search, the two officers concentrated on the programs that had been installed initially. After nearly two hours of searching the programs K'arta was beginning to get angry and frustrated, it looked as if Lon felt the same. A few moments later, their search paid off. Both found the program almost simultaneously. Grinning at their accomplishment Lon quickly began working to remove the program from the holodeck system as K'arta watched.

"I'm glad this is over." K'arta said with a sigh.

"Me, too. Do you want a copy of this to analize and include in a report?" Lon asked the security officer.

"Sure, if you can put it on a PADD for me," she said smiling.

"No problem," he returned.

No sooner than Lon handed her the PADD, K'arta's communicator beeped.

[Lt. Morris to Ensign K'arta.]

"K'arta here"

[Do you want to meet me for dinner at Ten Forward?] Ronni sounded hopeful.

"I would love to." K'arta answered her.

[Great. I'll see you there. Morris out.]

K'arta tapped her communicator again and smiled. She thanked Lon for the PADD and headed for security to start her report. She was also looking forward to dinner with Ronni.

"Thank you sir." he replied. Hutchcraft had never actually met a Bajoran properly. He had some encounters with them at the Academy, and remembered being told to shut up by one in the Yosemite, but neither counted as a real meeting.

"Ensign Paran, I've yet to really meet you, do you want to do some holodeck training after the Gamma shift?" he asked the Ensign.

"I'd like that sir. But first, who is this guest we are to escort? Can we be told anything? As to the Holodeck, yes sir. I'm best with the phaser sir, but any missile I can turn my hand to. I'm not too good at melee combat sir." Ensign Paran replied.

Ensign Paran then turned back to his duty station, talking to Ensign Taylor about their shift about to start in a few hours.

Steven
AKA Ensign Paran Chanor USS GALAXY
AKA Ensign Peter Osman USS RANGER

[Good, the Vulcan can help us.]

{How? He has control of his feelings.}

[Yes, but his telepathic powers are of use to us.]

The Tamarian sat up, and started to sing... anything to avoid the voices in his head. The song was his favorite one from childhood, with beautiful harmonies and odd little syncopations that would only be possible on the hexatonic scale that his people used. He sang as loud as he could without sacrificing the clarity and beauty of the song, yet the voice persisted.

[Stop that noise!]

'Takla on the Hillside, Takla and Mirba!'

[Stop this instant!]

Chiron stopped, all of a sudden, his mind was frozen again, and he couldn't think on his own anymore.

[That's better. You cannot silence me, not with song, and not with your mind alone. You are weak without me.]

The Tamarian sat in the lonely cell, silent, feeling his eyes turn to that deadly shade of crimson once again. The Vulcan would soon arrive.

Eric Hanson, "The Schizoid Man"
Lt. JG Chiron, Assistant Cheif Engineer, USS Galaxy [E-Mail]
Lt. Cmdr. Varin Reix, Cheif Science Officer, Station Beta 2 [E-Mail]
Lt. JG Tal Breno, Assistant Cheif Science, USS Horizon [E-Mail, IRC]

Ensign Emilia Kolrami sat at her computer console, eyes focused upon nothing. Dreamy Andorian blues was playing in the background, and seemed to lull her into a trance, oblivious to the report before her. After some time, she blinked and frowned. She would have to learn to concentrate better on the matter at hand, she thought to herself. Speculation about long past tactics and battles could wait until her work was finished. It was not as if she had that much to write about, now in her first off week on board the Galaxy.

And that was another discouraging thought. Several weeks aboard a new ship, and she hadn't said more than two words to anyone. Admittedly, the Galaxy was so much larger than the Excalibur, the last ship she had served on, and she had had a few years to get to know people. Regardless, she knew that building such relationships required effort, and as yet she hadn't expended any.

Emilia finished her report, and began to ponder whether to try to find ten forward. Just then a musical tone made her jump. "You have new mail" the computer notified her. Scanning the message, she smiled. Some one had beaten her to it.

TO: ENSN Kolrami
FROM: ENSN S. HELMS
SUB: HOLODECK PROGRAM

MESSAGE FOLLOWS:

HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED INTO HOLODECK MEMORY AN (I BELIEVE) VERY GOOD PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE OF 1990'S ERA EARTH ATMOSPHERIC AIRCRAFT. IT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH PROGRAM HELMS 001

HOSTING A PARTY THIS EVENING FOR NEW AND OLD MEMBERS OF THE GALAXY HELM DEPT. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE POST GAMMA SHIFT. PLEASE RSVP

YOURS,

Ensign Sherman Helms

Without pause, she began to draft a reply.

TO: ENSN S. HELMS
FROM: ENSN E. KOLRAMI
SUB: HOLODECK PROGRAM AND RSVP

MESSAGE FOLLOWS:

THANK YOU FOR INVITATION TO PARTY. AM OFF DUTY AND WOULD BE GLAD TO COME. ALSO, AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH LATE TWENTIETH FLYING CRAFT OR TACTICS THEREOF. I TRAINED IN FEDERATION CRAFT OF LAST TWO CENTURIES. SHOULD YOU NOT MIND A BEGINNER, I WOULD ENJOY LEARNING.

YOURS ALSO,

Ensign Kolrami

That would do for now, she smiled, and relaxed again to the music playing in her quaters.

Ensign Kolrami had now received two updates from Ensign Helms about a party, but it was the second that interested her most. What in space was this about the holodecks not working? She decided that she was going to find out about this...

It was an interesting walk for the young ensign. She had never actually strolled down the entire primary hull, and she decided to do it the long way, to get her barings better. Sure, she had read all the updates, and could recite all the pertinent areas of the ship, level by level, but it was one thing to know the room numbers and grid locations, and another entirely to see them.

She smiled to herself. After a few years even a ship as large as the Excalibur had grown familiar. It would probably take longer with a ship of this size.

Finally, after a few half deliberate wrong turns, in which she discovered the school, transporter room 2 and a computer core, she found herself outside Holodeck 3.

She took a look at the computer console, and a glance told her it was running an auto-diagnostic at level 2. The computer calmly informed her that the holodeck was formally off-line until further notice. She frowned.

"Computer, is anyone currently investigating the cause of the holodeck shutdown?"

"Affirmative."

Normally this would be enough to send someone on their way. No doubt engineering had people looking into the problem and it would all be fixed soon. But Ensign Kolrami's curiosity was piqued. It had been some time that the holodecks were down, and she was curious at the efficiency of this new ship's engineers.

"Computer, what is the location of the investigative team working on the holodecks?"

"There is one person currently working on the holodecks, and they are in holodeck three."

Curiouser and curiouser, thought Emilia. Obviously not a high priority. I wonder if they would accept an offer of help.

She pressed the access pad, and the doorway opened.

[What exactly have you found?] came the Captain's voice.

"A computer error or virus, I can't be more specific at the current time, forcibly inhibits the safety program when a fatal injury could occur. It doesn't seem to affect small thing, like falling overboard on a ship, but more in the handling of weapons. Whatever it is, it looks deliberate." Said the person in the room.

[I'll try and be there as soon as I can. If not, I'll send someone else. Price out.] The Captain's voice again.

Ensign Emilia Kolrami gulped. There in amoungst cables and open panels, lost in his own thought was the Cheif Engineer. After a few moments, he looked up, surprised to see an unfamiliar face.

"Yes? Can I help you?" He said while carefully putting aside some of the cables and tools.

Ensign Kolrami looked a little dumbstruck, but finally came arround. "Um... Excuse me sir... I was just looking in to see what was happening with the holodecks, and .... I didn't mean to intrude... but I couldn't help but overhear your converstion with the captain... Is there anything I can do?"

Captain Price was relieved when he heard the Admiral's voice broadcast over the ship wide hail. He had been reinstated as Captain of the Galaxy, and while that gladdened his heart, he knew he had work to do. The security officer on duty smiled as he heard the Admiral's speech, happily deactivating the force field to the Captain's cell. Price nodded at the officer before heading quickly to the nearest turbolift. On his way, he taps his Comm badge.

"Price to Bridge. Status report."

["Jamson here Captain. We are heading back to Outpost 53 Sir. The Outpost station is under attack by three D'deridex Class Warbirds. So far Commander Harrison reports they are holding up, but they don't know how much longer their shields will last."]

"What is our present speed Commander?"

Jamson looks over to the helm station and half yells, "What is our present speed Helmsman?"

Ensign Kolrami replies instantly, remembering what Lieutenant Casey had ordered minutes before. "Warp 8 Sir. ETA to Outpost 53 in approximately ten minutes Commander."

["Warp 8 Captain. We are still ten full minutes away from the Outpost station."] Commander Jamson knew the Captain wasn't going to like that.

He was right, Captain Price winced as he stepped onto the Turbolift.

"Bridge." He commanded, before adding, "Standby Commander." Tapping his comm badge again, the Captain hailed engineering.

["Lieutenant Kane here Sir."]

"Lieutenant, we need more power from the Warp engines. I'm taking the ship to maximum warp. Try to hold her together for the next ten minutes or so."

Kane glanced at his engineering team, they had already begun scrambling to get into their positions. ["Aye Sir. We'll see just how far above 100% output these babies will go."]

"That's the spirit 'mate! Price out." As Lee was reaching to go and tap his badge again, the Turbolift arrived on the Bridge. As the doors swished open, the Bridge crew all looked over at him. Smiles managed to creep onto the faces of many of his ship mates.

"Captain." Jamson said with a smile and a nod as he stood up.

"Commander, take the ship to Maximum warp. Lieutenant Kane says he'll personally keep the warp drives together."

"Yes sir Captain." Jamson says as he turns to the Helmsman. "You heard the Captain's order. Maximum warp Ensign Kolrami."

Kolrami adjusted the controls. The surging of the warp engines could be heard as the ship increases speed. "Controls set to wide open Captain. Speed increasing steadily. New ETA, three minutes, twenty five seconds Sir."

"Good work Ensign." Captain Price sat in the command chair and swiveled to face Lieutenant Commander Coe at the tactical arch. "Weapons status?"

"Phaser banks fully charged Captain. All torpedo tubes loaded with photon torpedoes. Shields at 100 percent strength."

As Coe was running down the ship's armaments, the turbolift doors opened again as Admiral Blair and the Romulan woman, ri'nanov N'Prng, stepped out. Two additional security officers accompanied them. Making a total of four security officers on the bridge.

Everyone glanced over at the Admiral and the Romulan woman, then back at Captain Price. The Captain just gave the Admiral a look, then nodded to the security officers before returning his attention to the task at hand.

"Sound red alert Commander. Let's look sharp 'mates. Outpost 53 is counting on us."

*********

***Romulan Warbird B'Yton***

Commander G'Hal sits at his command station, some what bored at the partial bombardment of the helpless Outpost station. His boredom is broken by Centurion Jhadd.

"Commander. Long range sensors have detected a Galaxy class Starship closing at incredible speed."

"Is it the Galaxy?" G'Hal practically barks.

"It is Commander. NCC-70637." Jhadd replies in his soft spoken Romulan voice.

"I told you they'd return. Ha! These Humans are so predictable. A Romulan would never have returned." Commander G'Hal looks around at his command crew. After slowly glancing at each officer directly in the eyes, he orders, "Break off the attack of the Federation Outpost station. Prepare to activate the cloaking device. Hnaeu!"

Within moments the attacking Romulan ships ceased firing upon Outpost station 53. They then disappeared as their cloaking devices activated.

"Prepare to with draw the Warbirds Ra'Kholh and S'Harien through the Neutral zone."

Before carrying out G'Hal's orders, sub-commander Fewso approached his superior officer quietly. "Commander, you may not wish to do that. There is something about the S'Harien you need to know..."

*********

***Federation Outpost Station 53***

"Commander! They've broken off their attack! Their retreating sir!" Ensign Ho was ecstatic. He thought for sure they were all going to die.

"Aye Ensign, they've stopped attacking all right..." Commander Harrison was adjusting the Operations panel as he spoke. "But it doesn't look like they are retreating. It looks more like an ambush. They are cloaking and laying in wait for the Galaxy to arrive."

The Ensign's expression grew more concerned. "We have to contact them Sir! let them know."

"I'm trying Ensign, but it appears the Romulans are jamming our comm traffic. Hopefully Price will figure it out before it's too late."

*********

"Captain, the Romulan Warbirds have broken off their attack of the outpost station. They're cloaking sir." Coe's report was direct and to the point.

"Commander G'Hal will soon have your ship Captain. You should have ran like the Admiral had originally planned." N'Prng said in a defiantly bitter tone.

"That remains to be seen." Price replies, then adds, "I don't believe it is my ship the Commander is after mam."

N'Prng lets out a "Humf" before crossing her arms and turning sideways. Trying to look indifferent, N'Prng can't help but think of what the Romulans will do to her if she is taken back to Romulus. For her actions, she would surely be put to death. After the eri'hfirch of Fvillha H'Rid was born.

"Captain, we will be within weapons range in twenty seconds."

"Thanks Ensign Kolrami. Raise shields Lieutenant Commander." The Captain ordered. Coe instantly replied.

"Shields raised Captain."

"Take us out of Warp Ensign."

"Aye Sir. Warp engines disengaging now." Kolrami adjusted her console and the ship slowed to impulse speeds as it approached Outpost Station 53.

"Commander Coe, Hail the Romulan Warbird B'Yton."

"Frequencies open Captain."

Price stood up from his chair. Taking a step forward, he stood there, gazing at the view screen and the image of Outpost station 53.

"G'Hal. You will have your ships return to Romulan space immediately. Your presence here is an act of War and in direct violation of the Romulan Federation treaties that govern this sector of space."

**********

***Romulan Warbird B'Yton***

Commander G'Hal clenches his fists. He's sitting on three, fully armed and powered Warbirds, all cloaked and in position to annihilate this Galaxy class Starship. But his orders are clear. His objective, not to destroy her, but recover the woman defector. Still he lunges forward. Only his Sub-commander is able to stop him.

"No Commander. You must use the S'Harien. The time is now Commander, when they are not expecting it."

G'Hal sits back in his chair. He gives Fewso a dirty look for having placed his hand on his shoulder. "Mnek'nra." G'Hal finally agrees. "Use the S'Harien then. This had better work Fewso..."

**********

"Captain, I have a Romulan Warbird decloaking directly in front of us." Coe relayed while monitoring his station.

"Is it the B'Yton?"

"Negative Captain, it's the Warbird S'Harien."

"Are they powering up their weapons?"

"No Captain, not yet anyway. They are just... They are hailing us sir."

"On screen." Captain Price waited for the view screen to snap on.

"Sir. The hail is for the Romulan Woman, ri'nanov N'Prng." Coe sounded as surprised as everyone on the Bridge. Including N'Prng herself.

"On screen Commander." Turning to Admiral Blair and N'Prng, the Captain added, "Admiral, if you'll help our guest down the ramp?"

Admiral Blair nodded, then helped the pregnant N'Prng down the access ramp and into the area just in front of the command chairs. As they stood there, the screen snapped on. N'Prng was surprised at what she saw. It was her husband, Fvillha H'Rid.

Ensign Kolrami had heard the signal for Yellow alert while still in holodeck three, and excused herself immediately from the chief engineer. She had half ran along the corridors to her standby room. She had checked the time. Half an hour till her shift. What ever the problem causing the alert, she thought she would probably miss it. This had both relieved and disappointed her. Her first situation aboard the Galaxy and she was off duty. Typical.

Her mind was still reeling from what she overheard in holodeck three. Sabotage! On a Federation ship. It was almost impossible to believe. And such peculiar sabotage, to claim security personnel in particular, but few other vital ship positions. What could possibly be the motive?

Some time had passed, which she spent in contemplation and speculation.

Shaking her head, she abruptly notices the time. 2 minutes to shift change. And the Yellow alert still holds. Very faintly, she feel more than hears a change in the engines. They are moving up in speed. She ponders over the significance of that as she moved to the door to the bridge. Checking the computer as she goes she notes that the ship has done an about face. Interesting.

She moves out of the standby room with the other staff for Gamma shift, and notes the two security officers on the bridge, and sees that Lieutenant Casey has the bridge. Kolrami puzzles over that. What are the captain and commander doing? She moves over to the helm and relieves the officer there. Checking speed and heading, she is abruptly told to change speed to warp eight, and complies. Whatever is going on the ship is sure in a hurry. She reads the situation update from the console and her eyes widen in surprise. Captain relieved of duty. Ship to return to Earth. Outpost 53 comes under attack. Captain returned to duty. Ship about faces. She blinks. An eventful shift. She begins analysing the situation.

Commander Jameson comes to the bridge and relieves lieutenant Casey. Ensign Kolrami checks the situation logs again. Three Warbirds in the area. Against one Galaxy class starship. Tactical suicide. She smiles at the courage of these humans, while shaking her head slightly as she ponders possible courses of action. The most appropriate response given that the adversary is Romulans is to delay action, in an attempt to make them make the first move. She smiles again. Romulans hate that. They much prefer the strategy of the counter punch. It will be /very/ interesting to watch how the leaders of the Galaxy handle this.

[Price to Bridge. Status report.]

"Jamson here Captain. We are heading back to Outpost 53 Sir. The Outpost station is under attack by three D'deridex Class Warbirds. So far Commander Harrison reports they are holding up, but they don't know how much longer their shields will last."

[What is our present speed Commander?]

Jamson looks over to Ensign Kolrami at the helm station and half yells, "What is our present speed Helmsman?"

Ensign Kolrami replies instantly, remembering what Lieutenant Casey had ordered minutes before. "Warp 8 Sir. ETA to Outpost 53 in approximately ten minutes Commander." She checked the logs again as the commander relayed this information to the Captain. That was an awfully long time for the outpost to survive, unless the Romulans were not shooting to kill, and merely attempting to draw a response.

She checks the communication logs. The latter seemed to be the more likely. The Romulans would never be so sloppy as to allow an emergency broadcast from a station they intended to destroy.

The doors to the bridge swish open, and the Captain is there suddenly. Kolrami watches as smiles creep onto the faces of many of the bridge crew. She smiles herself. A well loved captain, by the crew's response.

"Captain." Jamson says with a smile and a nod as he stood up.

"Commander, take the ship to Maximum warp. Lieutenant Kane says he'll personally keep the warp drives together."

"Yes sir Captain." Jamson says as he turns to the helm. "You heard the Captain's order. Maximum warp Ensign Kolrami."

Kolrami adjusts the controls. The surging of the warp engines can be heard as the ship increases speed. "Controls set to wide open Captain. Speed increasing steadily. New ETA, three minutes, twenty five seconds, Sir." The ship was handling well.

"Good work Ensign." Ensign Kolrami smiles tightly. So far so good. Her nerves are holding, and her analysis indicates that given the Romulan's current position they have a tactical chance, dependant on the Captain. And she was beginning to see that he is a good person to have trust in. Captain Price sits in the command chair and swivels to face Lieutenant Commander Coe at the tactical arch. "Weapons status?"

"Phaser banks fully charged Captain. All torpedo tubes loaded with photon torpedoes. Shields at 100 percent strength."

As Coe was running down the ship's armaments, the turbolift doors opened again as Admiral Blair and the Romulan woman, ri'nanov N'Prng, stepped out. Two additional security officers accompanied them. Making a total of four security officers on the bridge.

Ensign Kolrami glances over at the Admiral and the Romulan woman, then back at Captain Price. The Captain just gives the Admiral a look, then nodded to the security officers before returning his attention to the task at hand. /Very/ interresting...

"Sound red alert Commander. Let's look sharp 'mates. Outpost 53 is counting on us."

A few moments pass. Then, "Captain, the Romulan Warbirds have broken off their attack of the outpost station. They're cloaking sir." Coe's report was direct and to the point. Ensign Kolrami nodded. As expected. It is an attempt to draw the Galaxy in.

"Commander G'Hal will soon have your ship Captain. You should have ran like the Admiral had originally planned." N'Prng said in a defiantly bitter tone.

"That remains to be seen." Price replies, then adds, "I don't believe it is my ship the Commander is after ma'am."

N'Prng lets out a "Humf" before crossing her arms and turning sideways. Ensign Kolrami notes the Captains analysis and smiles again confidence in the Capain growing, as she worked hard at the console before her. She checked ETA, and reported immediately. "Captain, we will be within weapons range in twenty seconds."

"Thanks Ensign Kolrami. Raise shields Lieutenant Commander." The Captain ordered. Coe instantly replied.

"Shields raised Captain."

"Take us out of Warp Ensign."

"Aye Sir. Warp engines disengaging now." Kolrami adjusted her console and the ship slowed to impulse speeds as it approached Outpost Station 53. Tense and alert, Kolrami fed in angles of approach and potential course changes as the situation at the station became more apparent.

"Commander Coe, Hail the Romulan Warbird B'Yton."

"Frequencies open Captain."

Price stood up from his chair. Taking a step forward, he stood there, gazing at the view screen and the image of Outpost station 53.

"G'Hal. You will have your ships return to Romulan space immediately. Your presence here is an act of War and in direct violation of the Romulan Federation treaties that govern this sector of space."

"Captain, I have a Romulan Warbird decloaking directly in front of us." Coe relayed while monitoring his station. Ensign Kolrami rapidly altered possible courses of action as the position of the Warbird becomes known.

"Is it the B'Yton?"

"Negative Captain, it's the Warbird S'Harien." Kolrami alters her assessment and standby courses to accommodate at least one other cloaked vessel. She shakes her head. The outpost is a mess, and the Romulans have most of the tactical cards. If this comes to a fight, the Galaxy would be hard pressed to survive, let alone hold its own. Just in case, she decides to bring up a few extreme contingency plans, and put them on standby as well.

"Are they powering up their weapons?" The Captain asks.

"No Captain, not yet anyway. They are just... They are hailing us sir."

"On screen." Captain Price waited for the view screen to snap on.

"Sir. The hail is for the Romulan Woman, ri'nanov N'Prng." Coe sounded as surprised as Kolrami felt.

"On screen Commander." Turning to Admiral Blair and N'Prng, the Captain added, "Admiral, if you'll help our guest down the ramp?"

Admiral Blair nodded, then helped the pregnant N'Prng down the access ramp and into the area just in front of the command chairs. As they stood there, the screen snapped on. N'Prng Looked surprised at the image of the Romulan on the screen.

Ensign Kolrami watches carefully as the fate of the ship and outpost 53 hang in the balanced of the meeting.

"Hi! I'm sorry I was late, I hate leaving my lab a mess, even in the middle of a project." Ronni said.

"I just got here myself. What are you working on, or is it top secret like everything else around here lately." K'arta smiled.

"Actually, if you would like to come see it some time, that would be great. I always like to get objective view. But enough shop talk, I want some food, some drinks, and a LOT of laughs." Ronni laughed.

The server came up and they ordered their dinners. K'arta ordered baked red snapper with mixed vegetables and iced tea to drink. Ronni ordered stuffed crab with Broiled Kelp Florentine and a Rysa Sunrise. K'arta looked over at the blue skinned woman with a look of puzzlement.

"A Rysa Sunrise? You know that's an invitation for trouble. Every rutting male on the ship will be over here before long!!" she whispered.

Ronni got an evil smile on her face and said "I know!"

They both looked at each other and laughed. Dinner and their drinks arrived. They sat and talked about everything from horses to history to Klingon Opera.

On Ronni's second Rysa Sunrise and on K'arta's first, the men in Ten-Forward started to notice the two single women eating dinner together. A particularly brave Ensign came up to the table. He snagged a chair with his foot from another table and smoothly slid it under him as he sat down.

"Hello ladies, and how are you this fine evening?" he said in his most debonair fashion.

Ronni pretended to blush and K'arta fluttered her eyelashes. Ronni almost chocked. Klingon flirting usually involved biting and scratching. The Ensign was eating it up.

"What's it like being the most beautiful woman in the galaxy?" he said.

"What's it like being the biggest liar in the galaxy?" K'arta said with a smile.

Ronni chuckled and he looked over at her. "Haven't I seen you some place before?"

"Yes, that's why I don't go there anymore." Ronni said ever so bashfully.

Unabashed, he looked at the two women and said sagely, "I know how to please a woman."

"Oh good," said K'arta, "then please leave us alone."

Grabbing his heart with both hands like he had been mortally wounded, he smiled sadly as he got up. "But ladies, " he said "I want to give myself to you."

Ronni smiled sweetly and said, "Sorry, but we can't accept cheap gifts."

And the evening only got better............

[Captain, the Romulan Warbirds have broken off their attack of the outpost station. They're cloaking sir.] Coe's report was direct and to the point.

[Commander G'Hal will soon have your ship Captain. You should have ran like the Admiral had originally planned.] N'Prng said in a defiantly bitter tone.

At this last statement, Chanor realised that this Romulan woman might be right. The ship might be boarded and he would be forced to defend himself. No, he though, the Captain first, then himself. He hadn't been on board very long, but he knew where his loyalty's lay. If boarded, he would ensure that the Romulans would pay dearly for the ship. He started to think back to his days on Bajor and his mothers death when the Cardassians raided his village when he was only 12. They were looking for resistance members and had launched a surprise attack on the village. They massacred 92 people that day and only got one member of the resistance. The village wasn't a hiding place for the members of his cell. They stored everything in a cave system several miles away and where constantly shifting this location to keep the Cardassians from getting to the store.

He had cried all that day and the next. His father tried to comfort him, but he could never get over it. After that, he kept requesting to go on mission after mission to attack the Cardassians, make them pay for what they had done to his family. He knew now that he was burning up with rage after that day and wanted to make the Cardassians pay for the death of his mother. Had he not fled two years later, he would also certainly have come to his death sooner or later. He'd gained quiet a name for himself over the next two years, always wanting to attack, never let the Cardassians rest. That's what led him to flee in the end. The Cardassians were finally closing in on his cell and he had to get out. He'd wanted to stay, but his father said he'd only needed to be gone for a few months at the most, then he could return. He'd never been back since and his father, well, he was killed a few months later when his cell attacked a troop transport that was too much for them. He hadn't found this out till he was 17 and the occupation was coming to an end. His hatred of the Cardassians........

Chanor was jolted out by a thought, 'don't dwell on that now! I've got to be ready!'

He realised he'd gone off again and hoped no-one had noticed his vacant eyes for the last few minutes. He turned back to listen to the conversations again....

Ensign Paran USS Galaxy

In reality, Ryan had nothing to do. It wasn't his shift, and he wasn't in command... yet. Quall gave the late Hutchcraft another five minutes before took over Hutchcraft's shift. He didn't know if he could take the looks of the obviously bored Ensigns much longer! It was very unusual for the other Assistant Cheif of Security to be so late for duty.

Fortunitly, the security doors whoosed open, and in came Lt. Hutchcraft. Quall noticed that he didn't look that well... a bit greenish.

Hutchcraft walked over to him to get the situation breifing.

"Are you ok?", Quall asked.

Hutchcraft smiled warrily, "Yah. I drank something I shouldn't have. Thanks."

Ryan grinned. "Ok. Glad you're fine. Now I don't have to take care of this mess." He motioned to the Ensigns, still waiting. Quall filled Hutchcraft in on the events that had occured. Ryan watched Hutchcraft as he commanded the security officers.

Lt. jg Quall, officially off duty, headed towards Ten Forward. He needed to relax.

Lt jg Quall
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galaxy

She exited her quarters and headed for a remote deck that didn't see much traffic. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to see her tearing around like a mad woman.

Morgan set an easy pace and tried to sort out her thoughts. She felt isolated and very inexperienced here. She didn't know anyone on board. She had excepted that invitation to a party from ensign Helms and now the holodecks were malfunctioning and shut down.

Feeling angry at herself Morgan increased her pace. Part of her mind taunted her saying that if she didn't have any friends it was because she didn't try to make any. The other half of her mind said that it wasn't her fault that people she trusted had let her down and it was better not to trust anyone that much again.

Her feet pounding the deck, Morgan tried to outrun all the negative feelings running through her brain. Why, she didn't know, they always caught up with her when she least expected it anyway. She conciously slowed her pace and her breathing. Time to look at things from a new angle. Friends, that was easier said than done but she would start going somplace new each day until she met someone.

But what about the memories of G117 that still haunted her thoughts? Maybe she should go to see the counselor, maybe just telling someone the things she had never told anyone else before might help put it behind her. Well she would check that out too.

Rounding the corner she came upon the turbo lift and entered. Reaching her deck she walked to her quarters and checked her computer for any mail. Nothing, well she'd send some then.

"Computer, record message."

"Recording"

"Message as follows..."

[To Counselor Shivok]
[From Ensign Kalriesen]
[I would like to make an appointment with you to discuss some uh problems please notify me of any available time slots you have.]

"Computer, send message."

James sat at his station, analyzing the Romulan transmissions. He didn't want any surprises when the ship arrived at the station. In between continuous tachyon bursts at the Neutral Zone and worrying about a possible battle, he thought about what Commander Harrison must be going through. "I hope they're alright. That damn Admiral Blair, " he thought, "I hope this sits on his conscious. The death of an entire outpost, for nothing else but his personal agenda. He's probably looking for a promotion. I hope everything he deserves comes to him." As James finished his thought, Admiral Blair came on the comm system and announced the recommission of Captain Price at the behest of his grand-son, Lt. Blair.

"This must be tough for Troy. Man, I'm glad I'm not in his shoes! Having an Admiral breathing down my back would put a lot of weight on my shoulders. I wouldn't like the special attention, that's for sure."

Turning back to his duties at hand, Captain Price hailed the bridge. After being updated by the just returned Commander Jamson, the Captain informed the crew that he was returning to the bridge. A collective sigh of relief swept the bridge crew and a lot of the tension was washed away as they realized that the odds of the ship getting out of this with minimum casualties just got better.

Several minutes later, the Captain strode onto the bridge. Smiles that just couldn't be held back crept onto the faces of every member of the bridge. Price stood there at the railing and took in a deep breath. Commander Jamson rose out of the Co chair and gratefully released it to the Captain. Captain Price srode down to the seat and snapped out requests for updates. We were still 5 minutes from the station when the turbolift doors hushed open. In the rush to give the Captain the status of the ship no one noticed who had walked in. James looked up from the sensors and grimaced as he saw who had entered. "What now?" He thought. "Just because he released him doesn't give him the right to stand guard over Price's actions." Admiral Blair had strode onto the bridge like he owned the place. Smiling, he turned around and gestured into the lift. The Romulan woman followed, holding her bloated stomach like it was about to fall off. A security guard offered assistance, but she glared at him and pushed him away. Captain Price heard the commotion and looked over. His expression showed both curiosity and scorn. As all cadets learn in the Academy and especially Command School, when a Commanding Officer is faced with a potentially dangerous situation, any distraction can be hazardous. Especially when the distraction has direct bearing on the events at hand. Protocol also states that in alert situations such as this, no one who is not authorized to be on the bridge is not allowed to be there, but when it comes to Admirals, all Captains have their hands tied. Captain Price obviously didn't want them to be on the bridge but he had no choice.

Captain Price just glared at the Admiral and after a few moments he called a Red alert and sounded general quarters. Just as he turned back to the viewscreen, the Romulan female began to get cocky, but Captain Price put her in her place. She scowled and then shut up. As the ship drew closer to the Outpost, Lt. Coe reported that the Warbirds had broken off the attack and were retreating. Closing within a few thousand kilometers of the station, Captain Price ordered standard defensive procedures and Lt. Coe disengaged the Warp engines. Everyone on the Bridge hesitated to look at the viewscreen except Captain Price. A romulan warbird had decloaked in front of the ship when the Galaxy stopeed and Coe opened a hailing frequency. As the two enemy captains spoke with each other, trying to gain an edge, James scanned the outpost. There was heavy damage to the shields and casulties were high, but how come the station wasn't destroyed? Three warbirds against one station? It was only a listening post and no one expected an attack after peace had been maintained for years. Who wanted to start another war? It would most likely destroy or at least severely deplete each sides forces so much so that the Klingons or any other race(even the Ferengi!), could come in and sweep up the remains without so much as a struggle! The stations overall power was down to minimal and life support was about to fail. There were fluctuations in its power core, but it seemed that the stations engineers were keeping it under control, barely. He scanned fires flaring throughout the station. The Romulans knew where to strike to attract a ships attention.

"Commander Jamson!" James whispered to the First Officer, after tapping his commbadge. He didn't want to disturb the Conversation between the two captains.

"Yes, Lt.?" The XO replied, rather angrily.

James thought nothing of it. He understood why the XO would be angry; tension was mounting and no one wanted to be remembered as the instigators of a war as devastating as one would be with the Romulan Empire.

James gave him the rundown on the condition of the Outpost and Jamson walked up the ramp and to his station.

"Are you sure, Mitchell? How long do they have?" Jamson's anger disappeared and was replaced by worry and seriousness.

James turned around in his chair and faced the Commander. It was at this time that Admiral Blair was helping the Romulan woman down the ramp and respond to a communicaton request.

"Not very long, sir. It depends on the engineers there and if they can keep their power core in line. I'd say they only have an hour or two. The fires appear to be spreading and the repression controls are off line. There are breaches along the outer hull of the station, preventing the people inside from going anywhere within. I'm sorry, sir, but they're trapped inside, wherever they are." James looked over Jamson's shoulder to see a different Romulan on the screen talking to the Romulan female. She looked shocked but he couldn't make out what they were saying, for they were speaking Romulan.

"Damn! We are going to have to beam them out of there!" Suddenly, there was a commotion going in front. Jamson spun around to see what was happening only to see the Romulan female doubled over, screaming in agony as the Admiral looking over her, appearing stunned. The Romulan on the screen was impassionate.

As the turbolift doors opened, Troy stepped out onto the bridge. All eyes turned on him, a few people smiled, while others nodded their heads as if they were saying "Good Job". He didn't have to wonder why people were showing signs of appreciation, he knew the reason. As he made his way to Tactical Troy noticed N'Prng talking to another Romulan on the viewscreen, who it was he didn't know. Troy then took his place at tactical next to Lieutenant Commander Coe.

"Welcome back to Tactical" Coe whispered.

"Thanks, it's great to be back" Troy replied.

"Heard you got the Admiral to change his orders. Your probably the first Lieutenant in the history of Starfleet to do that."

"Ya, but being related to the Admiral helps" Troy stated.

"True, but I also heard he was about to have you thrown in the brig, so it couldn't have helped that much."

Troy nodded. Coe was right. Troy glanced around the bridge and saw his grandfather standing to the left of N'Prng. The conversation she was having with the other Romulan was intense, N'Prng was on the verge of tears. While the other Romulan used a harsh tone, along with a little sympathy. Troy continued to watch the conversation, then a thought crossed his mind. He looked at his grandfather, then at N'Prng, and finally the other Romulan. It didn't occur to Troy before that it was possible he prevented a war between the Romulans, and the Federation.

He felt a little better about the confrontation in sickbay.

Lieutenant JG Troy Blair
Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

"Jolan'tru ri'nanov N'Prng" the Romulan gentleman said through the main view screen. "It is time to come home."

ri'nanov N'Prng collapsed to her knees, screaming in agony at the sight of her husband, Fvillha H'Rid. Admiral Blair didn't understand the Romulan's motives for wanting to defect to the Federation until that very moment. The sheer terror in her eyes at the sight of this man affected everyone on the bridge.

"No I will not go with you. Never, never..." N'Prng began to sob as she sat there on the floor.

For a moment, the Romulan woman's despair caused Captain Price to feel sympathy for her. What she must have gone through to be so terrified of this man.

Fvillha H'Rid looked on dispassionately. "Enough N'Prng. These humans might fall for your trickery, but I know you too well. Come now and return to the Empire with me. The Prateor may show you mercy for your unborn eri'hfirch."

N'Prng glanced up, tears streaming down her angular cheek bones. "The Prateor will show no mercy H'Rid. He will wait until the eri'hfirch of Fvillha H'Rid is born and then have me executed for treason."

"No ri'nanov, you are wrong. I stand before you as proof of this. The Prateor has agreed to show you mercy if you return with me right now. You will be spared. I swear it."

N'Prng stopped crying as she looked at her husband. It was an evaluatory look, she was trying to figure out if he was sincere or not. "Why would the Prateor agree to that?"

"I convinced him ri'nanov. My work is important, yes that is true. But my world is nothing without you by my side. I want to hold you, embrace you. I want to share my life with you and our eri'hfirch. Please ri'nanov, say you will stay with me. I need you my love." Fvillha's voice quivered slightly as he pleaded with his wife.

She wiped her face with her hand. "I can not Fvillha. I can not live with a man that creates such horrible weapons that start wars."

"I will stop ri'nanov. There are other areas of research. Come home with me and we can discuss them. Please, ri'nanov. Don't force Commander G'Hal into destroying this Starship. If you do, you will be responsible for the start of this war you are so desperately trying to avoid."

Captain Price watched in silence along with the rest of the bridge crew. It appeared Fvillha H'Rid was breaking down his wife. She was listening to his words, and they made sense. N'Prng reached up with her hand. Admiral William Blair took it and carefully helped the pregnant Romulan woman to her feet.

"I understand Fvillha. I will go with you." N'Prng spoke in a steady, mono-tone voice. Almost as if she were in some distant place.

Admiral Blair's expression showed mild disappointment. But given the way the rest of this mission had turned out, he was content to let bygones be bygones.v "Marvelous! Oh ri'nanov, you don't know how happy that makes me to hear you say that. I will await your arrival." Fvillha H'Rid crossed both arms across his chest in a gesture resembling a hug as he bowed slightly.

"Jolan'tru ri'nanov N'Prng."

"Jolan'tru Fvillha H'Rid." She replied, also crossing her arms. The view screen then went blank.

After a long couple of seconds, Lieutenant Commander Coe broke the silence. "Captain, I am receiving a hail from the B'Yton."

"On screen 'mate." Captain Price said, as Admiral Blair had already started escorting the Romulan woman off the bridge.

The screen snapped on with the image of Commander G'Hal. He grins deviously.

"So once again the Federation manages to remain out of battle with the Romulan Star Empire. Pity. I was looking forward to the altercation General." G'Hal had formed a sort of double spider with his two hands as they rested before him. He pressed and relaxed his fingers, making the imaginary object pulsate as he talked.

Captain Price looked back at the Romulan Commander with an expressionless face. "Another time perhaps Commander. N'Prng is being escorted to her shuttle craft as we speak. You will withdraw from Federation space immediately. Is that understood Commander?"

G'Hal just glared back at the Captain of the Galaxy. After a long pause, and with an evil grin, he replied. "Perfectly understood Captain. Jolan'tru."

"Goodbye." Price said sharply. Coe quickly closed the channel. The Captain glanced around the bridge at the crew. He then turned to Commander Jamson.

"Commander, let's stay on alert until the Romulan woman is back in Romulan space and the Warbirds have left."

"Agreed Captain. You don't think they'll try anything once she's on board their ship sir?" The Commander expressed a valid concern.

Captain Price just stared out the view screen. After a long moment, he replied, "I don't think so Commander. The Romulans talk a good fight, but when it comes right down to it, the thought of War frightens them as much as it does us. I don't think they are going to start one right this minute if they can avoid it." After a pause, he adds, "But be ready just in case."

Jamson grins. "I see Sir." he says as he sits back down in his chair.

*********

**** Main Shuttle Bay ****

Silently Admiral Blair, the security detachment and ri'nanov N'Prng walk across the flight deck to her awaiting shuttle.

"Are you sure about this N'Prng? Do you really want to go back to Romulus?"

They stopped walking as she turned to face the Admiral. She looked up into his eyes for a long moment before speaking.

"I have no choice in this. I must return."

The Admiral shook his head. "No, you can stay. They can not force you to return. We will fight them if we have to!" The Admiral was pleading.

N'Prng raised a single finger and rested it upon the Admiral's lips.

"Hush. I have no choice in this Admiral. I carry the eri'hfirch of Fvillha H'Rid. My people will never stop until I am returned. If you fight them, you will be destroyed. I will not be a part to that."

A puzzled look settles on the Admiral's brow. "Then you really don't want to return? You are doing this for... us?"

"No Admiral. I am doing this for me. Fvillha H'Rid, my husband, lied when he said the Prateor would show me mercy. It is not our way. Once the eri'hfirch of Fvillha H'Rid has been born, I will be killed."

A look of shock over whelmed the Admiral. "Then why are you going with them when you know you will be killed?"

"We are not like you Admiral. Romulans and humans. We are creatures of duty. I have but one last duty to perform. I don't expect you to understand." N'Prng slowly reached into her pocket and removed the isolinear chips. She then placed them silently in Admiral Blair's hands.

The Admiral glanced down at them, then looked back at N'Prng. He didn't know what to say.

"Jolan'tru Admiral William Blair." She bowed slightly, then turned and began walking up the shuttle craft ramp.

"N'Prng." The Admiral beckoned as she reached the top of the ramp. "What about the encryption codes?"

N'Prng stopped and turned to face the Admiral. "There are no codes."

Admiral Blair looks at the chips, then back at N'Prng. "You mean you lied?"

N'Prng smiled down at Blair just as she activated the shuttle craft door. "I am a Romulan."

Admiral Blair stood there and watched in amazement as the lower ramp of the shuttle craft closed up. With a shake of his head, and a smile, he placed the chips in his own coat pocket, and then exited the shuttle bay for the ship's departure.

K'arta reported to Lt. Quall for her shift. He quickly assigned her to guard engineering. She was jumpy because she didn't know what to expect with the red alert and the VIP aboard. She and her partner entered engineering quietly and took up a post so they could see the door and most of the rooms.

"Can I help you , Ensign K'arta?" Ensign Lon asked her. She whirled around startled.

"I was ordered to guard engineering." She stated simply, her eyes darting to and fro.

"I see. Well, I have work to do." Lon walked away leaving her a bundle of nerves.

K'arta wanted to know what was going on. She hoped what ever situation they were in would be resolved soon.

Ensign K'arta--USS Galaxy

"LT. Kane I'd like you to take a look at this". his voices sounded hollow in the warp core shaft.

"What is it Ens?", he said as he looked over Lon's shoulder.

"In the virus's code there are Calls to hardware Subroutines that aren't in are system. May be the Holodeck hardware have been tampered with". Lon said.

"Yes but I checked them. and so did you, There wasn't anything out of the ordinary."

"But what if a nano probe was planted in the Computer some where? Anywhere?".

"Yes it could have been done. It would have to be planted by some one who knew what they were doing", Kane replied.

"I'll go to the Holodeck and check the computer cores" Lon said.

Ensign Lon Tarnel
Engineer -- USS Galaxy NCC-70637
E-Mail: Anthonylp@geocities.com

"What happened?" Hutchcraft asked. The nurse smiled, before looking towards the Bartender...

"Erm, you mixed some bad drinks. I should of noticed, but I really wasn't paying attention Andrew. Sorry..." Liam looked sorry, before quickly sneezing ...

"I think I got a slight cold too, got to go Andy ..." Liam walked out of the room quickly.

Andrew was let out of sickbay quickly, though was cautioned by the nurse to not go around mixing such drinks again. Hutchcraft grinned.

"Of course, nurse, I will *never* do it again ..." Hutchcraft spoke sarcastically, but in a tone that only a betazoid could tell. The Nurse simply motioned the Officer to make his way to Security.

--------------

Security was in a state. Hutchcraft was 15 minutes late, and the four officers that he was in command of were not in the mood. A special assignment had come up - guarding a 'special' guest.

The Lieutenant thought that this would be an interesting assignment. He then realised that even his thoughts spoke sarcastically. He looked at the officers.

"Okay, Ensign Sobra and Ensign Sanchez, your on guard for the first four hours, Ensign Taylor and Ensign Chanor, you have the second shift" the order made sure that no one felt left out.

It also made sure that the Lieutenant himself didn't end up doing the dull sounding job.

The Ensigns quickly went about their duties. Ensign Sobra, before attending his, quickly pointed out something to the Lieutenant...

"Sir, Ensign Paran is bajoran ..." Sobra spoke the obvious, but was trying to subtlely make a point.

"I can see that Ensign Sobra. You are a Klingon ... see I can tell you strange creatures apart!" The Lieutenant smiled at the Half-Klingon.

"That's not what I meant. You dont say Ensign Chanor, it's like saying Ensign Andrew. They have their surname first ..." Sobra continued.

"Oh. Well, erm, thanks Ensign Sobra. I'll try and avoid further embarassment" Hutchcraft smiled as Sobra walked away. 'That's Lieutenant Andrew' he thought to himself ...

Hutchcraft had yet to meet Ensign Paran. Hutchcraft remembered being the most recent recruit on the USS Galaxy, not knowing anyone at all. He felt that he would make Ensign Paran feel a little more at home.

His first comment wasn't exactly appropriate.

"Hey Ensign Paran, your people make brilliant coffee, you know that?" Hutchcraft decided that he really did not know how to introduce himself to someone. The Ensign simply smiled quietly.

"Thank you" he replied. Hutchcraft had never actually met a bajoran properly. He had some encounters with them at the Academy, and remembered being told to shut up by one in the Yosemite, but neither counted as a real meeting.

"Ensign Paran, I've yet to really meet you, do you want to do some holodeck training after the Gamma shift?" he asked the Ensign.

Dead Clare,
aka Ensign Leslie, Special Borg Security Agent, Outpost 77
aka Lt.Jg Andrew Hutchcraft, Assist. Security, USS Galaxy
aka Va'nane Acetone, Civilian Engineer, Station Beta 2

The ship was on red alert and charging into battle with a squad of Romulan warbirds. Once Shtik had confirmed that Lt. Mitchell was on the bridge he began to coordinate the readyment of the science labs.

Rumor around the ship had come around that these events were centered around a defecting, pregnant Romulan woman who had requested an abortion. Shtik did not understand the human emotional reaction to abortion. Although he also didn't understand the logic in initiating an unwanted pregnancy, he was aware that more passionate races, like humans, weren't always as disciplined as vulcans. Modern technology, however, had made up for this by reducing unwanted pregnancies to practically none. The current situation, however, was more of a political move. So was abortion wrong?

Humans had a strong emotional response to the situation. For the most part they looked at the fetis as a baby. However, looking at it from a purely logical point of view, it could just as easily be considered a parasite. A life form feeding off it's host. Even with modern scientific techniques there was no way of proving that the fetis was a seporate sentient being, even vulcan mind probes become confused by the mind of the mother until they are physically separated. There was no way to prove that the fetis had it's own katra or soul.

Shtik knew that legaly and logically there was nothing less moral to abortion than to killing a mosquito feeding off you. But being able to prove the existence of the katra of a fetis didn't mean it could be disproved either, and he did not want to see the romulan pregnancy aborted. He had considered offering to secretly adopt the child so they could tell the romulans it would be dead without actually following through on the action.

Shtik wondered how D'tarna would feel about adopting a romulan baby...D'tarna. Once again his thoughts had strayed back to her...

Movement out of the closet made the room dance about. Between the dizziness and throb of her head, she thought that her stomach was going to rebel. Ti just laid there with her head down. There was no way she could get to the bridge. She couldn't hold her head up little alone stand. Anyway, she knew her helmsman were more than capable of taking care of the ship.

"Ti to Kalriesen. Cover Alpha Shift and have Helms cover for you. Out." Ti laid there listening to her heartbeat trying to overcome the sickness. She reached out to the one person that had gotten to her. The one she found herself starting to fall for.

"Ti to Casey. Help Me."

Ensign Thomas Enquist was relieved. Not only had the next shift stepped in, but the business of guarding the Brig, with the Captain as a prisoner, was not a nice assignment. Now Beta shift will take over the security, and the Captain was reinstated. And the Romulan lady was off the ship too! Things were looking up! I wonder why she was taken onboard in the first place?

Well, it was not for me to understand. I remember the old saying: ‘It is not for us to reason why, it is just for us to do or die’

That and being bossed around by not much older Bridge Lieutenant juniors.

Thomas went back to his quarters, 8 hours of tension makes you know you’re alive. A quick shower, and some chow, then it’s time for target practice. This time with phasers, no surprises there!

Thomas, having freshened up, went to ten forward, to get some food, and possibly, to find out more about the whole business with the Romulans. Here’s the best place for underground information. Maybe the Barkeep got anything to tell a worn out security officer. We will see...

Lieutenant Commander Teshir Bajoul, Chief Counselor, USS Sovereign
Lieutenant Svetlana Andropova, Chief Counselor, USS Crusader
Lieutenant JG Jack Straker, Computer Engineer, Station Beta 2
Ensign Thomas Enquist, Security Officer, USS Galaxy

{I do not believ so, but the mission seems to be succeeding... You have lost.}

[NO! I will not lose, either!]

{Do not make.....}

'Computer, disable brig power systems, authorization Chiron Alpha 7 9.' Surprisingly, the brig fields obeyed his commands... no one had even wondered how he got out of the restraining fields in Sick Bay, so his codes were still valid. Chiron left the prison area, and as he crossed the door's threshold, he stopped.

[You have no need for this.]

His hand went to his chest, and removed his comm badge. The puppeteer within his mind lead him through the corridors to engineering.

{For the deception to work, you must at least partially remove you hold on me, or someone may notice my eyes.}

[Very clever, Tamarian, but you have unique telepathic abilites. They will see grey eyes, not red.]

Chiron proceeded to engineering, and went to the auxiliary weapons control station.

Only one thing remained to be accomplished.

Eric Hanson, "The Schizoid Man"
Lt. JG Chiron, Assistant Cheif Engineer, USS Galaxy [E-Mail]
Lt. Cmdr. Varin Reix, Cheif Science Officer, Station Beta 2 [E-Mail]
Lt. JG Tal Breno, Assistant Cheif Science, USS Horizon [E-Mail, IRC]

Lt. T'Lein felt relieved after the tesion with the Romulans started to decrease and the Galaxy began to return to a more calmer state. At current, the captain still had the ship's sensors locked on the awaiting Romulans Warbirds and the Admiral had escorted the Romulan woman N'Prng to the shuttle bay for departure. Lt. T'Lein still had no idea of why the Romulan wanted to defect and what her purpose was in coming to the Federation. He had spent a reasonable amount of time cross referencing searches on N'Prng identity with all valid information the Federation had on the Romulan Empire. But, the Lt. didn't really find anything that would give him the lead way in forming a logical analysis of the situation.

Lt. T'Lein continued to monitor all the reports coming in to the Ops console and payed close attention to the readings on the 3 Romulan Warbirds only kilometers away.

Lt. Stovok T'Lein
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galaxy NCC-70637

Liam Sketcher Ten-Forward

It had been a long day, a long shift and it was time for Casey to get some rest. Now that he thought about it, being in the Captain’s chair wasn’t that big of a deal, just another day’s work. Casey was quite embarrassed that he’d acted so childish in such a critical moment. But it was in the past and that’s where he’d keep it. He’d never allow the crew of the Galaxy or any crew for that matter see that side of him again.

He dressed into his sleeping attire, commanded the computer to turn down the lights. He never turned them off completely. He laid in bed and thought about the abortion that almost was. It is absolutely ludicrous that some life-forms have the pea-sized brain to believe that just because something’s young it isn’t alive, just because it doesn’t walk on two legs, or can’t speak that it is not alive. Casey asked himself another question. He knew from science that a fetus is fully developed at 9 weeks, a heart, a brain, blood veins with blood coursing through those veins, but people still believed it was nothing more than a parasite, a fetus to be cast away. At least that’s how the ancient humans thought of the subject. Life is precious in any form, no matter how young, if it is innocent and true that life must remain. Casey believed in defending that life at the risk of losing his own. He shrugged the thoughts away and tried to get some sleep.

An hour later he heard Miran calling for him. Seconds later he realized it was his comm badge.

"Miran, I’m on my way! Hold on, I’ll be there!" Casey didn’t even think twice about changing into his uniform, Miran sounded scared and hurt. He asked the computer to double check that she was in her quarters. The computer verified the fact.

Casey ran through the halls, to the turbolift and to Miran’s room. He was there pretty quick considering how far he was from her quarters. He bypassed the lock and entered a darkened room. "Computer turn up the lights." The lights came on but he couldn’t find Miran.

"Miran where are you?" Casey asked.

"In the closet," came a muffled voice, he barely heard her.

He walked to her closet and found Miran propped up against the wall. "Help me Deiran, the room is spinning, I can’t stand." Casey could see her pain and discomfort. He took her up in his arms and started for sickbay.

When he arrived at sickbay, he was met by strange glances. Everyone knew that Casey never entered sickbay. "Dr. Rousseau, I’m not sure what’s wrong with Miran but she couldn’t stand up. She said the walls and ceilings were spinning."

Two nurses quickly came and attended to Miran while the doctor used her tricorder to scan Miran’s body for any signs of what was wrong.

"I believe she has an inner ear infection. She should be fine. I’ll keep her here for observation overnight. You can go, I’ll give her something so she can sleep, she’ll be fine." Dr.Rousseau could see Deiran’s concern on his face.

"Are you sure Doctor?" Casey asked like her life was hanging in the balance.

"She’ll be fine, it’s the 24th century, inner ear infections are easily treated and never fatal. Go! Before I start running tests on you!"

Deiran didn’t say a thing and exited sickbay as quickly and calmly as he possibly could. When he reached his quarters and settled into bed he never even thought twice of why she was in the closet. He didn’t care, he was only concerned for her safety and health. He wouldn’t even bring it up again. Casey fell asleep as three Romulan warbirds centered on the Galaxy. He slept like a baby.

{You have won the battle, weakling, but I will win the war.}

Chiron lay on the floor of engineering, curled up in the fetal position, surrounded by a mess of confused crewmen. He looked up, and saw Kane clearing away the crowd.

'All right, everyone, get back to your stations, show's over.' He knelt down and touched the Tamarian's shoulder. 'Chiron... Hey man, you OK?'

Chiron looked up. 'Yes... for the moment, thank you.'

Kane stood the Tamarian to his feet. 'What happened?'

*Ready Room*

'Sir, you called for me?'

'Yes, Chiron. You know that attacking an admiral is a court-martial offense, right?'

'Yes sir, I know.'

'I assume you have a good reason?'

'I do, sir.'

There was a short silence.

'Well, what is it?'

'A non-corporeal lifeform who feeds telepathically on negative emotions has invaded my mind, and it seemed bent on destroying the mission with the Romulans. I do not believe that I have completely removed it from myself, but I have momentarily suppressed it.'
Eric Hanson, "The Schizoid Man"
Lt. JG Chiron, Assistant Cheif Engineer, USS Galaxy [E-Mail]
Lt. Cmdr. Varin Reix, Cheif Science Officer, Station Beta 2 [E-Mail]
Lt. JG Tal Breno, Assistant Cheif Science, USS Horizon [E-Mail, IRC]

"Help me, the room will not stop spinning." He gathered her up into his arms. She moaned with the motion. Why wouldn't the ship stop spinning? In Casey's arms she felt safe. Soon, it would be over and the pain would go away. She fought the sickness, trying to keep it at bay. The journey was over, they had arrived at sickbay.

She didn't try to focus on the words people were saying over her. She felt the press of a hypospray and drifted into sweet oblivion.

"I really need to learn poker before the tournament" she said to herself as she turned and noted it in her PADD.

She was in the auxiliary weapons control station running some preliminary tests and gathering additional information in preparation for Lt. Casey's test run. With permission, she had manually disconnected the weapons control from the main computer, "Why take unnecessary chances!".

The tests were going well and she had even found some ways to improve her model.

"Computer - Please play music, late 20th Century, Eagles."

As the music started to play she really go into the groove of what she was doing.

Tapping her comm badge "Lt. Morris to Ensign K'arta"

"K'arta here"

"K'arta, when you're done with your shift, please come by the auxiliary weapons control station. I'm doing some work here and could use the company!" Ronni said.

"Fine. See you then! K'arta out."

As Ronni went back to her work and was thoroughly engrossed in her work. She never heard Chiron enter.

Ronni ran out of the auxiliary weapons control station as the people gathered around Chiron. He had a semi-glazed look in his eyes and she recommended that he be taken to sickbay, but with all of the noise, she didn't know she had been heard.

She turned to one of the engineers and said "Things never slow down on this ship, do they?"

Ensign Thomas Enquist sipped his drink, took another look at the piece of paper, and ate it. It was not tasting well, and he downed it with the rest of the drink. He stood up and walked out of Ten Forward. Thomas thought it looked promising. A little mysterious, but the guy in the bar was known for his mysterious ways.

As he walked out the door, another customer walked out the door just after him.

Thomas went straight away to the holodeck. He has been here before, but he never tried this kind of a special program before. This time he did not know what to expect. He went to the controls, took a look around, and slotted the chip.

[Bleeep. Please input command codes.]

Thomas looked around before replying. Nothing.. "The Shadows see all"

[Holodeck three program is complete. You may enter when ready]

Thomas stepped in and heard the door shut behind him. The mists enveloped him as he strode in...

The mysterious shadow from the bar, saw him enter, and walked up to the holodeck panel.

Now what is going to happen.
Lieutenant Commander Teshir Bajoul, Chief Counselor, USS Sovereign
Lieutenant Svetlana Andropova, Chief Counselor, USS Crusader
Lieutenant JG Jack Straker, Computer Engineer, Station Beta 2
Ensign Thomas Enquist, Security Officer, USS Galaxy

"The shuttle craft has cleared the hangar bay Captain." Ensign Kolrami said over her shoulder from the Conn station.

"Understood Ensign. Let's keep a close eye on the ships until they are safely back in Romulan space." Price replied. The Captain exhaled in a sigh of relief. This potentially explosive confrontation had been defused. All that was left now was to see that Outpost 53 was all right, and return Admiral Blair back to earth.

"The Romulans are crossing the Neutral zone Captain." Lieutenant Commander Coe began, "They are now back in Romulan space."

"Thank you Commander." Price said to the Chief Tactical officer. He then turned to Commander Jamson. "Contact Outpost Station 53 and see if they require Medical attention. Also arrange for an Engineering team to transport over there to help effect repairs."

"Aye Captain" Jamson answered. "I'll get right on that."

Prince nodded at his First officer. He then looked back near the tactical station at Lieutenant Troy Blair who was standing quietly next to Lieutenant Commander Coe. "Lieutenant, can I see you in my ready room? Commander Jamson, you have the Conn."

Troy looked a little surprised, but nodded and accompanied Captain Price into his officer. The Captain walked over to his desk and sat on the corner as he turned and faced the young officer.

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Relax 'mate. I just wanted to say I appreciate your help with the Admiral. I don't know what you did or said to get him to change his mind, but whatever it was, thanks 'mate." Captain Price smiled widely as he tapped Troy on the arm.

"Thank you sir. In an odd way, I have my grand... er, the Admiral to thank for that. I just reminded him of what he taught me so long ago. He's really a good man sir. I hope there are no hard feelings between the two of you."

"I know that Lieutenant. He was under a lot of pressure from Starfleet Command. I hope he doesn't get in any trouble for not succeeding in getting N'Prng to defect."

"I don't think he will Captain. The Admiral has a lot of friends in Starfleet. Is there anything else sir?" Troy said with a grin.

"No 'mate. Just wanted to let you know how I felt. Job well done." Captain Price reached over and shook Troy's hand. The Lieutenant then turned and exited the Captain's ready room.

Activating the desktop Padd, Captain Price began recording a log entry.

"Captain's Log, Supplemental."

Lee sat there in silence for a long minute thinking about what had happened, and how he wanted to record it for Starfleet command. The Computer interrupted his thoughts.

["Continue recording?"]

Price focused on the computer monitor before him. "Yes computer. Resume recording."

Captain's Log, Supplemental:

Our rendezvous with the Romulan defector ri'nanov N'Prng was successful. Once on board, however, the Romulan made additional demands that were deemed unreasonable. The matters were complicated when three Romulan Warbirds arrived, demanding the return of the woman, claiming she was traveling in a stolen shuttle craft. Upon refusal to return the woman to Romulan custody because she requested asylum, the Romulans proceeded to attack Outpost station 53 in an attempt to lure the Galaxy back near the Romulan borders. Upon arriving, a conflict appeared unavoidable until the Romulan defector, having had no luck in renegotiating her terms of asylum, decided to return to Romulus with her kindred.

The Galaxy will remain in orbit of Outpost 53 for the next few days to effect repairs on damage took to that facility during the Romulan attack.

"Computer. Close log." The Captain sat back in his chair and looked out the observation window. Watching as the Galaxy orbited the slightly damaged Federation Outpost Station, he smiled to himself.

"A damn fine crew."

*** Ready Room ***

"Sir, you called for me?" Chiron asked.

"Yes Chiron. You know that attacking a superior officer is a court-martial offense, right?" Captain Price's tone was not pleasant.

"Yes sir, I know." Chiron answered curtly.

"I assume you have a good explanation?" Price said as he raised an eyebrow at the quiet Lieutenant.

"I do, sir." Chiron said meekly.

There was a short silence.

"Well, what is it 'mate?"

Chiron swallowed hard. He didn't know what to say to the Captain, so he just came out with the truth. "A non-corporeal life form who feeds telepathically on negative emotions has invaded my mind, and it seemed bent on destroying the mission with the Romulans. I do not believe that I have completely removed it from myself, but I have momentarily suppressed it... Sir." Chiron's head dropped slightly. He couldn't believe how ridiculous that sounded. But it was the truth.

Captain Price looked at the Tamarian officer who stood across from his desk. He could tell, that no matter how absurd Chiron's explanation was, Chiron believed it to be true.

"Effective immediately you are relieved of duty Lieutenant. I want you to report to sickbay for a full physical and mental evaluation. I will contact Doctor Rousseau and her staff so they will be expecting you. I am also going to ask Counselor Shivok to evaluate your present state of mind. Once we have the data from the examinations, and the Counselor's report we will decide how to proceed. Do you understand Lieutenant?" The Captain's voice was authoritative, but fair.

Chiron nods slightly. "Yes sir. I understand."

"Attacking a fellow crewman is a serious breach of discipline Lieutenant. And an Admiral yet! That is about as serious as it gets. You are a valued member of the crew Chiron, that's the only reason I am waiting on the test results before proceeding." Captain Price paused allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "Once we have the results from your tests, we will see what is to happen. I don't know if I will be able to shield you from this Chiron... The Admiral is pretty upset."

"Yes sir." Chiron said quietly.

"You are dismissed Lieutenant. Report to sickbay immediately."

"Yes Captain." Chiron turned and exited the Captain's ready room.

Captain Price sat there and watched as the Lieutenant exited, not knowing what to think. He decided he'd wait to hear what Doctor Rousseau and Counselor Shivok had to say before making and rash judgments on the Tamarian officer.