"Alternatives Pt. 2"
by Lt. Jg. Ramone Pescadeiro
Assistant Chief Operations Officer Beta 2 Station

Inside they indeed found about 30 armed civilians. As soon as they saw the Starfleet officers, they commenced firing. The security teams dove for cover and began firing over the civilians heads. They also tried to get to cover. Soon, the only light was coming from the phasers and disrupters. Slowly, the fire from the civilians dwindled to a few hold-outs and the people in the shuttle. K'arta motioned to her team and they emerged and were able to stun the two people left out in the open. The team and one man in black advanced on the shuttle, and as they were half way there the shuttle doors started closed. The team broke into a run, but couldn't make it. The shuttle door were closed, with at least five people on board, and the team had no real way to get in to take them out.

Looking at the sealed shuttle for a moment, the man in black went to the front of the shuttle. Standing there, he could see the occupants, hustling about trying to power the shuttle up. Slowly, almost gingerly, the man reached into some hidden pocket of his outfit. He pulled out a small tube only about 8 inches in length and a small silver disk.

Ramone looked over at Lt. K'arta for a moment and motioned for her to join him for a moment. When she come over, he gripped her shoulder tightly, whispering in here ear. "Keep your people under control, you're gonna hear things and see things that aren't going to exist. Those people inside that shuttle are gonna come pouring out in about two minutes after I start. I don't want your people to do anything. I will take care of this."

Without wait for her to respond, he quickly attached the tube to the shuttles front window. Walking back to the door of the shuttle, he attached the silver disk. As soon as it was attached, it started to shimmer.....he sent his thoughts to it.

Apparitions started appearing and disappearing.....along with their accompanying sounds.......Ramone could hear the terrified thoughts of the people inside the shuttle.....he knew it was hard to concentrate for the people outside the shuttle.......but the inside was even worst......moments later, the door opened and the five remaining people stormed out, terrified.

Right away, Ramone fixed his thoughts on them.....He COMMANDED them to remain where they were. Each one stopped suddenly, almost as if they couldn't move. He glanced at Lt. K'arta. "They're all yours, disarm them and take them to the brig." Ramone watched silently as Lt. K'arta and her team disarmed the civilians and started to lead them away.

He tapped his comm badge.

"Pescadeiro to Ops"

[Ops here, report?]

"Shuttlebay 2 is Secured. One to transport to Ops"

He took his mask off just as the blue beam started to envelop him.

"Seles to Dr. Salvine. What do you think of using hypersonic waves to knock everyone unconscious on the Promenade?"

Salvine knew the answer to that question immediatley. "No way Lt. Different people react differently to hypersonic waves plus the frequencies would need to be set to various degress to knock out everyone on the Promenade. This plan could result in fatalities. I can't let you do it."

With that he went back to preparing for what was going to be a long day in sickbay, seconds later he heard a bfrantic call for him and as he rushed toward the sound of the scream he saw the disappearing form of the woman Ash.......

"Great! Sickbay to Security...we have just had a kidnapping....but I have no idea how it happened."

Before even waiting for an oppurtunity to get a response from security, Morris walked in with Electra and after placing her on a bio-bed both went to diagnose her, and Salvine understood why Morris did it.

"Old habits are hard to break." he said to her with a smile as she exited sickbay. Placing his attention back on Electra he looked at her with a smile.

"Well, Congratulations....you are two weeks pregnant."

Electra did not see surprised, almost as if she already know....

"So......."" but Salvine was interrupted by a hail.

Lt. Pescadeiro to Dr. Salvine."

[Salvine here.]

"Dr., please prepare 50 micro darts coated with Tamazine SL10, I'll be there shortly."

[Acknowledged.]

"Nurse.....can you get on that and get them to the Lt. when he arrivesd...I have more pressing matter to attend to...." he said turning his attention back to Electra.

"Get some rest, we can talk later." she nodded and he headed for his office to find a message from Dr.Rousseau about rescheduling their meeting....something the had to do........

Getting up from his desk he was met by the horrifyg looks on the medical personnel and his changed accordingly as he witnessed what was happening in OPS.

"Greetings! I am Sir Therio of The Void Cooperative. As you know your Commanding Officers have choosen not to join our alliance of ships and stations that have been sent here by the mysterious probe. I fear this choice could be detrimental to you. Captain Price and Captain Zahn's judgement have been clouded by their determination to get home. The simple fact is that there is no way home. I have lived in The Void for over ten years and know this. Without our resources you will not surrvive as long as I did in The Void. Therefore we are forcefully taking over the station and the Galaxy. This was our last option and has always been our last option. We do not want to harm anyone unless we have to. If you protest and do not decide to join us or you fight us and hinder our attempt to help you, we will kill you. We are determined to make this process as simple and smooth as possible. I want to demonstrate the seriousness of The Void Cooperative," Sir Therio said merrily.

Dee Dee DuBois stood in the Replimat and watched the holoprojection. Sir Therio held out his hand toward Captain Zahn. Slowly Joseph was lifted up by the force of Therio and pulled over to where he was standing. Dee Dee was in shock watching the event. "Oh no he didn't," she yelled across the meeting place.

Therio looked back at the camera and spoke, "This is Captain Joseph Zahn, probably the most determined man in this station. He does not accept the fact that there is no way home. He will never accept that fact and he will never allow his station or his crew or himself to be taken in by The Cooperative. Do you see a piece of your determination in him?"

Joseph cocked his head and looked directly into the sphere camera. He was kneeling beside Therio, somewhat still controled by their technology. But Joseph did now have some control of his face and mouth. But he chose to say nothing.

"I hope you do not. Because it is his type of determination that prevents the progress of The Void Cooperative. It is his type of determination that creates situations like these. He said his loyalty is in the people of Beta 2, but if that were true he would shallow his foolish pride. It is his determination that will kill him. If you see your determination in him, this is what will happen."

Sierra handed Therio a CoOp style phaser rifle. Sir Therio lifted the phaser to Captain Joseph Zahn's head. Joseph looked over at Ramone kneeling on the ground. "Tell Morris about Gamma Five," Zahn thought loudly hoping the Betazoid would hear him. It was a last hope. In the Infirmary, Electra was laying down in a biobed. Doctor Salvine had confirmed she was two weeks pregnant with Joseph's baby. The pregnancy was the reason for the anxiety attack in Club Spectrum during the riot. The pregnancy was news to Electra. Her eyes had teared while watching the monitor in the Infirmary. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"Welcome to The Void Cooperative," Therio said sharply as he pulled the trigger.

Captain Zahn screamed as he was vaporized by the shock from the phaser rifle. Streams of electrical energy consumed his skin, then skeletal structure, and soon his entire body. Within seconds he was gone. Within seconds he was nothing more than a carbon stain on the carpet in Ops. All of the crew in Ops and everyone aboard Station Beta Two watched in horrer as Joseph was killed. Electra wailed a gut-wrenching cry in Sickbay. Her unborn child's father was dead.

"Helplessness"
by Lt Ti Miran

Changing shifts really screwed with Miran's internal clock. She never had been able to sleep well but she tried to sleep during Beta shift until Deiran got moved to Alpha shift. It was then she started sleeping during Gamma and now she was going to have to change sleeping habits again, if she wanted any time with her fiancé. She laid awake thinking about what she wanted for the ceremony of their wedding.

Captain Price would probably be happy to perform the ceremony. She hoped to have Father Stephin there to give her away. If for some reason he and his family couldn't be here she had no clue as to who could give her away. Miran wanted a traditional Earth wedding. She didn't see the point of having a Bajoran wedding or even part Bajoran if she hadn't been on Bajor since she was a wee babe. K'arta was one of the few she had became friends with, perhaps she would be her maid of Honor. She and Deiran hadn't really discussed too much the day before.

She got up and went to her computer terminal. She wanted to see if she could find ideas for decorating and dresses. Miran hadn't been on long when the ship rocked and the red alert klaxon started blaring. Her immediate reaction was to dress and head to the bridge. She caught herself before getting too far. Ensign Shanika was going to be at helm. It wasn't really her responsibility any more- command of Gamma shift was.

She didn't know how to react. She always was at helm in an emergency unless she wasn't on the ship at the time. She stood there contemplating what to do as the ship rocked again. Fine, she would go to the bridge anyway. More than likely she would just be in the way but perhaps Captain Price would understand her need not to wait in her quarters and wait for whatever might happen.

She arrived on the bridge just in time to hear the captain order an Immelmann. Ensign Shanika called it an inverted loop but it wasn't. Inverted loop is a loop that is done with the belly of the ship is on the inside and you come out on the same bearing that you where on before.

Later, Miran was horrified to watch Captain Zahn's execution. It gave her a sick feeling. She started to chew on the knuckle of her thumb. She felt so utterly helpless. This whole situation was just terrible. She really wanted to be at helm. To tried to watch Deiran to keep her mind relaxed.

As the damage report came in, she found something that could keep her busy. She decided to go aid the rescue of trapped crewman. She had to make herself useful somehow.

Down to deck 22 Miran went, down to the worst of the damage. She hadn't got far down the corridor when the ship lurched violently and she fell. It would be better if she was sitting at helm, she would know what was happening. She through her lot in with a rescue party and began to work with them.

"Changes"
By CPO Jalal Dawner
Chief of Security Beta 2

"Damn!" Jalal growls smashing his fist down on to the console near him. "Therio this ain't over. We Will meet again, Freak." He vows out loud then leans over jerking his phaser off the floor.

[Jalal, there's a cooprative force heading for engineering, I'm on it but would appreciate reinforcments.]

"Reinforcments are on the way Kale." Jalal replies to his friend. Moving towards the Ops door he calls out. "Conner, your in charge of security forces in Ops." Pointing at one of the security sections he says. "You three come with me."

He quickly jogs to the lift followed by the three members of the section. Coming to the lift he taps his com-badge. "Ramos, unlock the ops lift for me."

[If you can tell me the code.] Ensign Ramos answers back.

"Jaltel-alpha-four." Jalal replies and sees the panel light go from red to green. Hitting the button calls the lift and as the doors open he steps in. After the section loads behind him he sends the lift to the engineering deck.

Tapping his com-badge again. "Mobile strike team Adonis there are Coop forces attacking engineering get there now. I'm on my way with more troops." Come on lift, let's go go go. Jalal thinks to himself impatiently for the lift to arrive. As the lift doors finally open he charges out in the direction of engineering. In the corridor ahead of him he hears the familiar sound of energy fire.

Easing forward he glances quickly around the corner. From where their aiming I would guess Kale's forces are over there. Another one of those damn devices. Stepping back he waves the section closer. He quickly whispers what he wants to happen next. "On my mark alright guys."

"Mark!" Jalal yells charging around the corner straight for the Coop forces. Two of his section fire into the backs of the enemy dropping two of them. With Jalal's longer legs he reaches them first. Firing point blank one vaporizes right before his eyes. From the coop group another Orexian leaps forward blocking Jalal's charge.

A blur of motion sents Jalal's phaser flying from his hand. Ducking the bladed swing of the Orexian, daggers appear in both of Jalal's hands. In a deadly dance both attack with their weapons. Where blades connect sparkes fly into the air. A bloodly gash suddenly shows on the other Orexian's arm causing his blade to fall to the floor. Jalal's leg sweep sents his foe crashing to the floor. With a ear splitting howl Jalal buries both daggers into the stunned Orexian's chest.

Leaving both daggers Jalal steps to the next coop alien. With one hand he grabs the attacker by the throat lifting him clear off the floor. In a calm cold voice Jalal says. "Surrender or die." As Jalal squeezes, the alien claws at Jalal's hand trying to get air.

"Chief, you're killing him! Let him go!" the security officer tries to reach Jalal.

Throwing his captive to the floor Jalal looks up to see the Romulan marines stopping the remaining Coop forces. With a deep breath Jalal walks to Kale. "Now I know where some of the Orexian pirates ended up." Then Jalal notices the long cut down the front of his thigh bleeding into his boot.

"Hold on, Ash. There's someone here who wants to talk to you before you beam over."

"Ash? Were the hell did you go? You scared the living crap out of the Doc and I. If your ok, we'll beam you back."

[we're ready, Captain]

"Morgath, beam them directly to the bridge."

In a moment, three beams of blue light appeared on the bridge, Ash standing in the middle of them. Russ runs up to her and gives her a hug. "The crew and I were worried about you, care to explain? And who are your friends?" Russ asks, indicating Ghost and her companion.

As Salvine watched in horror, the captain was killed and there was nothing he could do to save his life.....he had been vaporized and the entire crew was probably feeling the same way.

It was almost as if he was in a trance as he stood there staring at the screen, waiting for the captain to say it was some sort of trick.....but that didn't happen and the thing that awoke him from his trance was the gut wrenching scream of Electra.

Bolting to her side, Salvine knew that there was not much he could do and that she needed this time to pour her heart out, the hurt would be there for a long time but at this moment it was at it's pinnacle.....the initial separation.

"Promenade to Infirmary.......we need a medical team down here now...."

"What's the problem?"

"Ensign Haver fell from the upper tier and......."

"I'm on my way."

Grabbing a med-kit he bolts out of sickbay and towards the Promeade....hoping that Haver can hang on long enough.

Reaching the promenade....everything was a mess and the riot

had not been completely put down but medical attention was needed and the riot was not going to get in the way of Salvine doing his duty.

Haver was still andblood was trickling down his temples........running a tricorder over him gave resukts even worse then he looked but it was safe to transport him..

"Computer emergency transport to Sickbay."

"Unable to comply.....computer initiated quarantine of that area has been initiated."

~What! Now's not the time Verin~

"Then beam us to the Promenade Clinic."

Within seconds Salvine was with his patient in an unfamiliar working area, which could seriously hamper his ability....he had never gotten around to getting aquainted with the clinic........now was his chance.

USS Galaxy
Lt. Deiran Casey
"Phased"

Casey didn’t like the formation of the three Co-Op ships. He kept Ops sensors on them for any sign of attack. He knew that Price and Zahn would never join this stupid Cooperative. Casey didn’t like people who gave up anyway. He could be here for a whole century and Casey would still be working his butt off to find a way out of here. Besides, Starfleet officers had been through worse situations and always found a way to do the impossible.

Casey looked at the main viewer. It was Therio. He was treating Captain Zahn like a rag doll as he carried him across the room with his powers. Zahn was on his knees, still and quiet, his face was grimacing, he was trying to move. Something was stopping him.

Therio talked about the Void Cooperative and went on about how they were the only one’s who could save them. Casey knew that was crap. ‘I don’t think so,’ Casey thought to himself.

Then the unexpected happened, Therio shot Zahn. Casey watched in horror, completely stunned as Zahn disenigrated into nothingness. Casey’s anger swelled within him, but he controlled himself.

Soon after this, the CoOp ships attacked the Galaxy. As Casey transferred power to all primary ship systems he noticed a phase-modulation in the CoOp’s phasers. He mentioned this to the Captain and started to re-modulate the ship’s shields to counteract the effect.

Casey began the process. Switching power from the science labs, transferring secondary power from places all over the ship, except Life Support, and re-directed it to the shields to compensate for the phase-modulated shields. Now, to do damage, the CoOp ships would have to guess the correct modulation to the 1/10th of the field modulation of the Galaxy’s shields.

The Captain asked about the job, whether he was finished.

"Aye sir, I’m not sure if it will work until they fire at us again."

"Trial by fire, eh ‘mate?"

"Aye sir, the best I can do, I don’t even know how there modulating their phasers, but this will work sir."

The captain smiled. Casey could be in the middle of a battle and be completely and totally sure of his abilities and his idea’s, the Captain liked this under battle situations. He never had to second guess his Ops Manager. He had proven himself under dire conditions, he had been 87% correct in his ideas and hypothesis.

When the second ship fired at the Galaxy it did only minor damage to the ship, Casey’s plan worked. He started checking ship systems to give the Captain information on the ship and it’s crew.

Casey was busier than normal in a battle, usually he just compensated for power transferals and redirection of ships systems to key consoles on the ship and some minor computer interaction. But, he also had to make sure that the shield modulation held. If the computer was damaged in an attack, he’d have to modulate the shields manually. Talking about headaches.

The two attacking ships had been defeated and were heading back for their God forsaken fortress, which was ugly and would be a terrible place to spend the rest of his life. Casey wanted to show his anger. But, not during battle. The third ship was coming at them, like they wanted to challenge Price to a game of space chicken. Casey liked this. He knew Price pretty well. At the last minute, just as he thought would happen, Price moved out of the way, fired aft torps at the vessel, taking it out of the battle.

The ship started to move away from beta 2 and started on a course for the fortress. 3 up, 3 down.

"Damage report, Lt.Casey?" Price asked.

"14 presumed dead, possibly trapped. Deck 22 is hardest hit. Deck 31, 32 and 37 have plasma leaks and they have been temporarily sealed. All primary ship systems are operable, sir. We have 91% power distribution to those systems."

Casey sat in his chair, doing his job, his fingers moving as fast as possible over his console, to accommodate requests from all over the ship for power or other reasons. He sat there and thought about the dead on the Galaxy and Zahn. This Void Cooperative had to pay. He wanted the captain to load quantum torpedoes and head for the fortress and blow up the entire metal eye sore. But, he knew that would be the last resort.

The Void Cooperative had to pay in some way. Casey began to think of possible ways to take them out. And ways to get them all home.

He sat back, took a deep breath, and related the story.

Projected images of the six deaths he had caused, the feelings of helplessness as the entity fed on the negative emotions of him and the victims, and the final shuttle flight that resulted in his deafness and telepathy.

Chiron noticed Dev's discomfort, and apologised for the gory details. They then proceeded to communicate back and forth on how to channel his power and communicating better through his telepathy. He felt somehow comforted that he could actually share his experience in its entirety with someone else. Hutchcraft had let him communicate telepathically, but Dev seemed like the first person he could really trust.

Suddenly, the Betazoid glanced at the chronometer. --1500, I have another appointment... I'll come back when I have time, though.--

Chiron nodded, -+Farewell, Miss Salshyar, and thank you.+-

He then dressed in his uniform and went to Engineering. There was much work to be done.

Salvine had managed to save haver but he was not in the mood to revel in his success.....he could feel that his father had something to do with this quarantine....

"Salvine to Infirmary...what the hell is going on?

"Yhea here. We have no idea....the computer just initiated a quarantine......we can't seem to figure out why..."

"I'm in the Promenade clinic....I am going to get to work on it right now."

Salvine went into the on duty medical officer's office and sat at the desk.....

"Computer display records that led you to quarantine Sickbay as well as any records from the files of Dr.Kilan regarding that. Overide any security lockouts....chief medical officer's authorization...gamma-charlie-echo."

Two identical copies of the same thing appeared on the screen....but what came from his father's records had a little bit more information as you scrolled down.....

It read:

In case my son attempts tp stop any plans I have I am going to release this disease into the air filters of sickbay and kill everyone in it....except of course Verin....Trills as well as Romulans are immune to my little concotion...I hope he enjoys it."

Salvine hit his comm badge.....

"Salvine to Morris....we have a slight problem. My father has let loose some genetically engineerd disease into sickbay....it's been contained but it's deadly. I got out and I am working out of the Promenade clinic....don't worry Trills are immune to it so I won't be spreading it around...we can't even carry it. Romulans are immune as well."

"Healing Wounds"
Ensign Expok, Security Officer, USS Galaxy

Expok moved through the deck that had been hit the hardest. Bodies where scatterd sickbay was overflowing with wounded. Expok cleared his throat due to the smoke. Then he bent down and scoped up two human children. Then he carried them to sickbay. In sickbay an assistint came over and took the two kids. Expok exited and made his way back to the destroyed deck. "got to keep moving" Expok thought to himself. Lt.Paran passed Expok on his way to help. As Lt.Paran ran buy he said "good morning Ensign." Then Paran continued to run. Expok then picked up his pace.

It took another solid hour to get one corridor to empty of all injured and to sickbay. The holodecks had been turned into sickbays and where now serving as that. "Hold them steady." Expok shouted as they moved. These where the most wounded one had been so close to a computer terminal half of his face was burned to a crisp and god only knew if there was any hope to save him.

After helping out Expok went to his quarters took a quick shower and then reported for duty. Someone might take this as a perfect time to pull something and Expok wanted to make sure that did't happen. Lt.Paran handed out orders. "all of you keep your eyes sharp I don't want something to happen." "Yes sir" the security officers replied and hurried off to duty.

The rest of the day went by slow. After Gamma shift Expok went back to his quarters for some rest. He had a drink before he slept and then gave himself to darkness and hoped tomorrow would turn out to be a little better.

"Fallen Officers"
by Lieutenant Andrew Hutchcraft

Lieutenant Chiron walked into Main Engineering, to see the sight of Hutchcraft, and many of his engineers, rushing around the area frantically. The USS Galaxy was under attack, and already several decks had been damaged.

"DAMAGE REPORT" shouted Lieutenant Hutchcraft at a Bajoran Ensign sitting at a terminal, frantically rushing her fingers across the terminal.

"Engineering Support Labs have been badly hit, with some less damage to the Living Quarters on Decks 31 & 32, and Deck 37" replied the Ensign

Hutchcraft looked worried. Deck 37 was just below them. The Ensign continued "We have plasma leaks in those decks ..."

"Has Lieutenant Casey sealed off those decks?" asked Hutchcraft.

The Ensign replied "Aye, sir"

-- Hutchcraft, Ensign Harris, he was on Deck 22 ... -- appeared Chiron's thoughts inside of the Chief Engineer's head.

Andrew looked to the Tamarian. He had never lost a member of his department while he was in command. Sometimes it would be another departments, but never his own...

Tapping his hand on Chiron's shoulder, Hutchcraft symbolically ordered his Assistant to take command. He then nodded to the Bajoran near him, and both officers ran towards the turbo lift.

"Lieutenant, we can't go down there to help Ensign Harris!" argued the young Bajoran.

Hutchcraft sneered at him "No-one from my department has died while I'm on duty ..."

"Sir, officers die, it happens ..." replied the Ensign, trying to argue his chief our of what he was trying to do.

"NO!" shouted the Head Engineer roughly "I SAID NO ONE IS DYING AND I MEAN IT!"

The Ensign stared at him, not believing what he was saying "Sir, be rational. By trying to save Ensign Harris's life you are only risking yours, and my life. Don't add another to death-toll"

As the two officers entered the lift, and the lift doors closed, Hutchcraft recieved a hail...

[Captain Price to Lieutenant Hutchcraft.]

"Hutchcraft here sir, go ahead." came the Canadian's response. He looked at the Bajoran suspiciously

[Lieutenant, we need to get rescue teams and repair crews to the damaged decks. Get the injured to sickbay. I'll inform Doctor Rousseau to prepare for the wounded. We need to get any damaged primary and secondary systems repaired as quickly as possible. We are not through the worst of this yet I'm afraid.]

Hutchcraft looked at the Bajoran again. The Bajoran had now turned his attention elsewhere, looking to one side showing that he admitted he was wrong "Thank you sir, I'll get on it ..."

[Welcome to Engineering 'mate.] came the Captain's reply in his familiar semi-Australian accent. Hutchcraft grinned as he heard it - an accent certainly not appropriate for an Officer of his calibre.

"Thank you Captain. Hutchcraft out." concluded the Chief, and turned to his Bajoran Engineer. "Ensign..."

The Bajoran began to apologize "I'm sorry Lieutenant ... I ..."

"Save it, we've got a job to do!" shouted the Lieutenant. As he did so, he tapped his comm-badge.

[Ensign Tevak here]

"Tevak, tell Lt.Chiron gather some Engineers and send them to Deck 22, Captain Price has ordered me to sort out the situation here" ordered Hutchcraft.

[Aye sir, Tevak out]

As the conversation ended, Hutchcraft and the Bajoran Ensign entered the wreckage of Deck 22. The place was covered in damaged Engineering equipment - injured officers were everywhere, mostly from Hutchcraft's department.

As Hutchcraft and the Bajoran started helping officers, Chiron and his compliment of helpers appeared, as did a selection of Medical Officers. As Gold and Blue went around helping the officers in the area, Hutchcraft looked for Ensign Harris, one of his more senior officers.

"Sir!" shouted an Engineer "I've found Harris ..."

Hutchcraft looked over at him "Oh my god, his dying, quick ... Doctor!"

One of Rousseau's doctors rushed to Hutchcraft. He scanned the injured Harris, trying to assess how injured he was "No good ... by the time we'll get him out of here, he'll be dead ... sorry, Lieutenant"

Hutchcraft began to feel greatly upset. He turned to the rest of the crew, and continued to help with the rescue-mission. Whatever was going on outside was not having too much effect on the situation, for eithe better or worse.

Medics and Engineers rushed bodies back to Sickbay for extra care. Finally, Captain Price entered the Deck "What's your status, 'mate?"

"Death-tolls are increased, we've found at least 3 more dead from Casey's figures. There have been too many injured...." began Hutchcraft.

"... and the Damage?" inquired the Captain.

Hutchcraft quickly turned to view the selection of his department already attempting to repair the fallen labs "We should have most of it sorted soon, Captain. We've been hit pretty rough, but all things considered we can repair this job in no time"

"Good, I expect it done. Good work, 'mate!" replied the Captain enthusiastically.

Hutchcraft then turned to the team working on repairing the now corpse-free Deck, and began giving more direct orders on how the area was to be cleaned up.

James Donovan

by Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev)
(The New) Chief Counselor,
USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

Dev was nearly late for her appointment, when she sensed something terrible. She nearly fell over. She turned around and ran down the hallway to the next turbolift. "Deck 7," she called out. The turbolift reacted immediately. She flew down the hall, nearly running over a happless Ensign in the process, the lights were dimmed and it was a little hard to see. The ship lurched and rocked every now and then. Dev knew they were under attack, and she knew the extent of the damage was great. She also knew the casualty report. She had felt each one of them go.

That's what brought her to Section 4-Beta, Room 134. Dev pushed the button beside the door to ring the bell, but she knew no one was going to answer. She pushed the override, and the Computer chastised her severely. It wouldn't open the door. She tried again and the Computer gave her the same answers but with more detail. One of the large windows must have broken. There was a presurization loss in the room. The emergency forcefield grid didn't active because of power loss. Chief Couselor Chandler was dead. He couldn't have survived in there.

She double checked, "Computer, list the occupancy of the room."

"There are no crew member in that room." It returned, without emotion.

"Computer, locate Cheif Counselor Chandler," she knew the answer, she had sensed the whole thing. But she just had to check, the Captain would wish it so.

"Chief Councellor Chandler is not aboard the Galaxy."

"Damn!" She cursed. Secretly she had wished it not to be so, but it was, and she had to

deal with it. She tapped her communicator, "Counselor Salshyar to Captain Price."

"Go ahead Counselor." He said.

"Captain, Chief Counselor Chandler is dead. His quarters have experienced an explosive decompression (she payed attention in Academy Pyshics). The Computer has sealed off the room." She sighed.

"Very well Counselor." Price said, she could tell he was having a tough time. "You are the new Cheif. Congratulations. Price out."

"But, Captain, wait..." It was too late, he was obviously busy. She could sense how stressed he was. Things on the bridge must be wild. She decided that it would be best if she just went back to her quarters and waited, if she was needed, she would be contacted.

That's just what she did. When she arrived in her room, she sat down to her little terminal and had the Computer pipe in all relavent ship data. She watched and read the rest of the encounter.

In a moment, three beams of blue light appeared on the bridge, Ash standing in the middle of them. Russ runs up to her and gives her a hug. "The crew and I were worried about you, care to explain? And who are your friends?" Russ asks, indicating Ghost and her companion.

All three women start laughing their heads off. "What? What's so funny?" Russ demanded.

The woman who Russ thought was Ash points to the woman on her right and giggles "Hi my name's Ephany. That's Ash."

Everyone on the bridge began roaring with laughter, leaving Russ double taking. Ash controls her laughter, "Russ this is my twin sister Ephany, and another one of my friends Sarah. Morgath could you please show them to the guest quarters?"

"Absolutely disappearing woman." Morgath showed Ash's mirror image and Ghost to the quarters.

* * * * * * * * Later in the Mess Hall Of the SS Invincible * * * * * * * *

"Basically I was hit with a poison dart, when into a coma, came out of the coma, was transported to the void fortress, found my sister, and came back. I feel fine."

"Are you sure your ok?" Russ's voice was full of concern.

"I'm fine." Ash continued to sip her coffee.

"So…."

"So…" Ash repeated, "I heard you got yourself into a bit of trouble chasing after me?"

Russ grinned, "Yeah."

"Thank you." Ash breached the distance between and hugged him tightly. She drew back slightly and was only inches from his face.

"A Moving Experience"
by Commander Kra'lana Morris
Commanding Officer, Station Beta Two

"Morris to Lt. Seles" said the Commander.

"Seles here" came the reply.

"Lieutenant, I need you in Ops right away" she said.

"I'm on my way.Seles out." And the communication ended.

Kra'lana stuck her head out of her office door. "Matthew, when Lt. Cmdr. Hanson and Lt. Seles arrive, I would like to see the three of you in my office." The Lieutenant looked stressed, but then so did everybody.

"Lt. Clay, open a channel to the USS Galaxy, in my office. I need to speak with Captain Price." she said.

"Aye Sir!" came the reply.

On the screen of her viewer, the Captain's face appeared. "Hello Commander, how are you?" Kra'lana smiled. The Captain was in his ready room.

"Captain, to say that I wasn't overwhelmed by all of this would be a lie. Six month's ago I was a Chief Medical Officer, happily ignorant of the Command side of Starfleet. Now I'm in charge of a Space station in a Void. Under attack inside and out and I just lost one of my best friends and Commanding officer. Other than that, I'm doing fine." she said with a sigh.

Captain Price chuckled and shook his head. "Kra'lana, if you can make it through this, you'll survive anything."

"Thanks Captain. I don't know if you knew this, but Joseph's girlfriend is two weeks pregnant with his child. It shouldn't hurt more because there is a child involved, but it does." she said sadly. "Well, that isn't the reason I've called. I found out what Gamma Five is and I think I have an idea."

The two spoke together for about 10 minutes when her office door chimed. She said good bye to the Captain and said, "Enter."

In the door way stood Lt. Cmdr. Hanson, Lt. Seles, and Lt. Cohen. It didn't look like that there had been five hours of sleep between the three of them. Lt. Seles had a cut on her cheek and Lt. Cmdr. Hanson smell faintly of plasma smoke.

She stood up and said, "Please be seated." As they quickly took their seats she walked out from behind her desk. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. I want to tell you all that you have all been wonderful during this crisis. Tom, your work in Engineering has kept us in control and you are indispensable there. Matthew, your strategies and foresight have helped us more than you know. But, since for the time being I am in command of the Station, I need a new Executive Officer. Katarina, please stand. Due to your time on the Station, your excellent work not just during this, but in previous, situations, I am hereby promoting you to Lieutenant Commander and Executive Officer." All three officers looked at her with their mouths open. Cmdr. Morris reached over and added the correct pips to Lt. Cmdr. Seles' collar. Lt. Cmdr. Hanson was the next to move. He stood up and said, "Congradulations!" Lt. Cmdr. Seles just stood there.

"Now, " said the Commander, " Tom, I need your help. Both the we and the Galaxy are damaged. We need a little more time. I doubt the Void Collective have too many ships at their disposal because they have probably had to scavenger as much as possible just to survive. The bad part is that just three ships almost destroyed us. We need to put some distance between us and the Void Collective."

Lt. Cohen spoke up and said, "Commander, how do you propose that we move a space station?"

"I'm glad you asked. We are going to set sail." she said matter of factly.

The three of them just stared.

"Captain Zahn's last words were "Tell Morris about Gamma Five." Well I found out what it is. This station is equipped and designed with sails. Designed to move the station through gravitational and solar forces that exist in the vacuum of space. Captain Price's science team has found that there is a gravitation well not too far from here that will pull us away from the Collective." She handed each of the still stunned officers a PADD. "Here are the locations of the three release mechanisms that will release the sails. They need to be released at the same time or the station will be put into a wild spin. Tom, your job will be to coordinate the release and maintenance of the sails. Katarina, your job will be to get everyone to their quarters, even non-essential Starfleet personnel. Tell them to tie down everything possible including themselves. That should get them to return to their quarters and/or the emergency shelters. Matthew, I want you setup the best defense we can manage. The sky's the limit. I don't want even one more Federation death due to these *zzluna*. Captain Price will provide rear support while their science team tries to get us back home."

The three officers didn't even say a word. They stood as one and exited. Kra'lana returned to her seat and put her head in her hands and sighed.

Her comm badge chirruped.

"Salvine to Morris....we have a slight problem. My father has let loose some genetically engineered disease into sickbay....it's been contained but it's deadly. I got out and I am working out of the Promenade clinic....don't worry Trills are immune to it so I won't be spreading it around...we can't even carry it. Romulans are immune as well."

Kra'lana sat up and said, "Override the system and get him. Can you find an antidote to the disease?"

"I think so, but it will take some time. I will need some help." he said honestly.

"I'll be there in a minute. Morris out." she said. Then hitting her comm badge again she said, "Commander Morris to Ambassador tr'Herrian."

"I'm here Commander, how can I be of service to you?" he said as 'sweetly' as ever.

"Ambassador, we have an emergency in sickbay. One of our doctors has released a disease into sickbay that is deadly to everyone except for Trills and Romulans. Could we have the assistance of your physician and maybe even one of your security officers?" she said.

"But of course Commander. I'll send him to join Dr. Salvine in the Promenade Clinic." he cut the communication.

'How did he know Verin was there?' she thought. She headed for the clinic to get a bio suit and to get to work.

"Aftermath Part II"
by CPO Jalal Dawner
Chief of Security Beta Two

"Adonis, you three secure that Coop equipment and take it to Lt. Commander Hanson. Stay with it until I tell you otherwise." Jalal tells his mobile section leader. His attention returns to the ambassador as Kale says.

"I see you've taken a prisoner."

"Chief we've got a couple of lives ones." one of Jalal's officers informs both of them.

"more then one. I stand corrected." Kale says with a slight smile.

"Yes, hopefully they will have something useful to tell us." Jalal pauses to stare darkly at the Orexian traitor as he passes by. "If we were on Tilan, I could Extract it much faster."

"Well, as it happens I may have some information myself." Kale says giving Jalal a knowing look.

"How about you tell me on the way to the promenade infirmary? It seems we could both use their services." Jalal says heading with a slight limb to the turbolift and the promenade deck.

++++++++++

As both of them walk out of the lift Jalal is saying. "With that information, I think we have a plan to bring to Commander Morris. Normally I wouldn't think the Federation would do this type of plan. But with the Captain's death who knows now. After we get patched up lets go find...Captain Morris." Limping into the promenade infirmary Jalal carefully sits down on one of the biobeds. "Doctor, it seems I've been hurt." Pointing down at his black blood stained leg.

"Emergency Medical Team"
by Dr. (Lt.jg.) Scott F. MacGregor

Eventhough it wasn't his shift to work, Scott went down to sickbay. Upon entering and saying his usual hello's, Scott entered his office. After checking his messages, Scott walked up to the sickbay's replicator and ordered, "One bowl of strawberries and two cups of coffee, one with cream and sugar and one black." The replicator whined and produced what he ordered.

Picking up the bowl of strawberries in one hand and the two cups of coffee by the handles in his other hand, Scott proceeded down to his boss's office. Popping his head in through the door, Scott said "Mornin' Jacqueline." Hiding the bowl of strawberries behind his back, Scott placed one of the coffees on Dr. Rousseau's desk. Confirming his order, he asked, "No cream, no sugar, just black right?"

Taking her eyes of her console, Dr. Rousseau raised her head and smiled at Dr. MacGregor. "That's right. Thanks, Scott." Taking a sip from the cup, Jacqueline looked up at Scott again and asked, "So, how are your sisters doing?"

"You should know," replied Scott. "What were you like when you we thirteen years old? Try multiplying that by three, no actually, put it to the power of three and that's how their doing. In fact, just this morning, the girls were at each other's throats simply over some clothes and some boots."

Smiling and nodding to herself, Jacqueline got out of her chair and checked the console on her office wall, "Yep, I remember when I was thirteen..." As Jacqueline was busy talking over her shoulder, Scott put his own coffee down on Jacqueline's desk and stepped back to the entrance of Jacqueline's office. There, he brought out the bowl of strawberries from behind his back and started to eat one. Suddenly noticing the delicate scent of strawberries, Jacqueline turned her her head and looked at Scott. Glaring at him, she stated point-blank, "YOU got strawberries and didn't bother to offer me one?"

Smiling jokingly at Dr. Rousseau, Scott said, "Actually, I got them for you. I only wanted one or two." Rushing from out behind her desk, Jacqueline grabbed the bowl from Scott and said, "That one or two too much for you." With that, she deliciously bit into one of the strawberries. As she chewed and savored the strawberries, she questioned Scott, "You're not up for a promotion are you?"

Holding up his hands defensively, Scott said, "No, no, that is unless you're offering to promote me. Actually, that's payment for parenting advice. Since you're the only woman that I know pretty well on the Galaxy, I'm gonna need some help on how to deal with the girls."

In mid-chew, Dr. Rousseau replied, "And you came to me for advice? Well, I'm honored, but isn't this something that you shouldn't you talk about this with Counselor Salshyar?"

"Well I figured that we would go to Couselor Salshyar for group therapy, but for day-to-day advice, I figured that you would be a better choice," answered Scott.

Suddenly, on Dr. Rousseau wall console, the image of Sir Therio appeared on the screen.

[Insert Sir Therio's conversation and subsequent killing of Captain Zahn.]

"Oh my God," exclaimed Jacqueline as she brought her hand up to her mouth. "I can't believe he killed Captain Zahn."

Adding in his own comments, Scott said, "And they expect us to join them after that? What kind of people run this Cooperative?"

Suddenly the ship was rocked by an external attack. As the red alert lights and sirens when up, Scott helped Jacqueline off of her office floor. Looking at her, he nodded a silent confirmation. Stepping out of Jacqueline's office, Dr. MacGregor stepped into the main area of sickbay. Picking of a medical kit, Scott slung it over his shoulders and checked one of the consoles. Reading that there was heavy damage in the Engineering Support Labs, Scott thought to himself, *Guess that's where I'm going.* Singling out several technicians and nurses, Scott said, "Fisher, Smith, McKenzie, and Opel, you're with me."

Getting the reply of "Yes, Doctor" the Emergency Medical Team headed down to deck 22.

********

There was smoke and debris everywhere on deck 22. As they made their way through they checked each body that was there. From somewhere in the smoke, Scott heard somebody say, "Sir! I've found Harris..." Immediately after this, Scott was able to see one of the Engineering crew crouch down over a body. Suddenly the person yelled, "Oh my god, his dying, quick ... Doctor!"

Approaching the body, Scott opened up his tricorder and scanned the body. Taking a side glance at the Engineer, Scott noticed that it was Lieutenant Hutchcraft, the Chief Engineering Officer. Looking back at his tricorder, Scott attempted another scan to confirm. It was amazing that the guy hadn't died yet. Turning to the Lt. Hutchcraft, Scott said, "No good ... by the time we'll get him out of here, he'll be dead ... sorry, Lieutenant."

Passing his hand over the near-dead engineer's face, Scott closed the engineer's eyes. Moving on to the next body, Scott continued at his job. Shaking his head, Scott thought to himself, *Damn, it doesn't have to be this way!* Assessing the condition of every person in the Engineering Support Labs, Scott and his team started to transport the living injured back to sickbay.

"Surveying the damage"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price exited the turbolift on deck 22. The Engineering support labs were the heaviest hit in the attack by the Void Cooperative. The emergency lights provided the only illumination in the smoke filled corridors. Lee could see teams of Hutchcraft's men working frantically to open the emergency bulk heads, freeing the men trapped behind the various compartments. Walking across the deck, he could see debris from the ceiling and walls scattered about where it had fallen in the attack. Occasionally, a body would be found, pinned under the scrap metal, obviously deceased. Lee bent down and felt the pulse of one man. He was gone. Reaching around, he turns his head and notices it

is Ensign Luke Miller, the young helmsman that just transferred onto the Galaxy a few weeks ago. Gently, Captain Price sets Miller's head back down on the floor, reaching with his hand to close the officer's eyes.

"Damn shame." Lee sighs. "Rest easy 'mate."

Hearing a rush of activity further down the corridor, Captain Price goes to check it out. He sees Doctor MacGregor along with Lieutenant Hutchcraft and a few of his men treating a wounded officer.

"It's no good. We need to get him to sickbay now!" Scott practically shouted. He was obviously getting upset at seeing so many dying officers.

"He's too close to the ODN line, it's causing electronic interference. We have to get him out of here to get a solid transporter lock." Hutchcraft explains.

"Very well. Help me move this beam then..." Doctor MacGregor says as he places his tricorder down and puts his shoulder against the beam.

Hutchcraft was surprised that the Doctor was so willing to "get his hands dirty" by offering to move the obstruction. Many medical personnel the engineer had met wouldn't have been so willing to help. Lending his muscles to the chore, Andrew grasps the beam.

"It's too heavy..." Hutchcraft gasps. Muscles flexing and shaking slightly.

Captain Price walks over and helps out also. "Turner, Hicks, come give us a hand with this 'mates."

Hutchcraft and Doctor MacGregor glance back at the Captain. Both are surprised to see him down in the lower decks of the ship. Lee gives them a nod as the five of them are finally able to move the beam and free the trapped crewman.

"That should do it." Scott says as the beam is placed to the side with a thud. Grabbing his tricorder he immediately scans the engineer for signs of serious spinal injury, determining if it's safe to move him. Clapping his tricorder closed, Scott turns and faces Captain Price, Lieutenant Hutchcraft and the other engineers.

"He's going to be okay. Some internal bleeding, but we should be able to move him to get him to sickbay."

Lee nodded. "Great. Turner, Hicks, help the doctor move the crewman. Hutchcraft, how does it look mate?"

Andrew watched as his engineers helped move the crewman out into the corridor so Doctor MacGregor could have him transported to sickbay. Turning, he looked at the Captain.

"Not so bad as it looks here. We lost several good men, but for the most part, the damage was not too bad. The ships fire suppression systems contained the majority of the plasma fire, but we still have several sealed bulkheads to check out as well."

"What about the damage to decks 31, 32 and 37?" Price asked

"Mostly ruptured power conduits. I have teams working on them now. We were pretty luck the Cooperative didn't hit us in more vital areas sir. If they come again, we will be ready for them." The Lieutenant said with a hint of confidence in his tone.

"Good enough Lieutenant. I'll leave things down here in your capable hands. Let me know if you run into any problems."

"Aye Captain."

Captain Price turned and exited the deck while Hicks and Turner returned to help the Chief Engineer continue searching for the injured and repair the damage done to the engineering labs.

*********

Captain Price returned to the bridge. His duty jacket was slightly soiled from his excursion on deck 22, but the crew didn't seem to mind.

"Status report Commander Coe?" The Captain asked.

"Sir. We are not presently detecting any approaching ships from the Fortress, however long range scanners are detecting a power buildup in and about it. Lieutenant Casey thinks that may be from the Cooperative readying ships for a full out assault."

Lee nods. "Safe bet. Vyrissla didn't seem too happy about not getting the Galaxy and Station Beta Two for her Cooperative."

Captain Price walked over to the Science station. He was surprised to see Ensign Mai Vo sitting at Science station one.

"Ensign, where is Lieutenant Mitchell and `Commander Reix?"

Shyly, Ensign Vo answered. "Captain, they went to deck 12 along with Lieutenant Morris."

"I see. What are they working on Ensign?"

"Lieutenant Mitchell thinks he knows what is causing the gravitational field, as well as the tremors the Galaxy has been experiencing Sir."

A questioning look forms on Lee's face. "Tremors? What tremors?"

Almost exactly on que, the entire ship began to shake as a shock wave washes over the hull of the Starship. Captain Price, and the rest of the bridge crew struggle to maintain their balance as the floor vibrates slightly. It quickly passes.

"Those tremors Sir." Mai says with a sheepish grin as she lower her head slightly.

"I see. Well, carry on then 'mate. I'll have to find out what's going on from the Senior science officers then."

Captain walked back over to the command chair and took his seat. Commander Coe was standing by, and had over heard the conversation.

"Captain, if you like, I can go and check on Lieutenant Mitchell's progress. Get a report for you?"

Lee nodded. "That sounds like a plan. Find out what he and `Commander Reix know about the gravitational field and these tremors and then let me know 'mate."

"Will do Captain!" JT said with a grin before exiting the bridge.

Captain Price glanced out of the view screen at Station Beta Two. He noticed they had begun to implement this "Gamma five" protocol that Joseph Zahn had relayed to Kra'lana in his dying thoughts. "I hope these tremors don't pose any problems to Station Beta Two." Lee thought.

As Ash and Russ leaned closer, Russ's comm badge beeped. "Morgath to Russ. Sir, there has been a disaster."

With an annoyed look on his face, Russ replys, "What is it, Morgath?"

"Well, sir, actually, two things have happened. I learned this through sources of mine on the Station. First, the Galaxy has been attacked by the Void Cooperative. And second, there is a disease that has been spread in the station. The only people immune to it are Romulans and Trills."

Russ gets a worried look on his face. "THe Galaxy, attacked? We'll be right up." Russ turns and heads to the turbolift with Ash in tow.

"Morgath, open a channel to the Galaxy. "

"Aye, sir." Morgath pushes some buttons. "Channel open."

"This is Captain Russ Falkand of the ISS Invincible. We have learned of the attack on you, Galaxy. Do you need assistance? I have some highly qualified engineers over here that might help." Russ waits for a reply.

V: "A Moving Experience - Part 2"

Lt. Seles rushed into Ops with her assault rifle ready and quickly assessed the situation. Ensign Connor's team had secured Ops and the engineers were repairing the hull breach. Katarina safed her weapon and put it away before heading to Cmdr. Morris' office. On the way she passed by Captain Zahn's remains. She was still in shock about the incident when Cmdr. Morris gave her a field promotion to Lt. Commander and Executive Officer.

Katarina couldn't believe it. This was the second time she had been field promoted on this station because of the death of a commanding officer. She had originally been assigned to the station as a lowly ops officer and now she was the first officer? Unbelievable.

After Cmdr. Morris had given them their orders, Katarina walked back out to Ops and automatically headed to the OPS station. Halfway there, she realized that it was no longer her station and she turned and headed for the Command terminal. Not knowing any better, she reconfigured the panel to a simplified OPS/Comm layout.

"Seles to Chief Dawner. We need to move the station and we need to have everyone in their quarters. If you can spare any personnel to help clear the Promenade it would be appreciated."

Seles looked over to Ramone at OPS. "Start coordinating with Security and Ops personnel in getting everyone to their quarters. Make sure all the shuttles are secured and allow any ships currently docked to leave." No use dragging them along with us.

Katarina was worried about the plans to move the station. This wasn't a starship and it wasn't built to withstand the rigors of space travel. And she didn't like the sound of that gravitational well...

Suddenly the station was rocked by the same tremors the Galaxy was experiencing. "Shields up!" Katarina looked over to the new Science officer and asked for a report.

Lt. Cmdr. Seles, XO Station Beta Two

"Deck 22"
by Lt Ti Miran

Miran kneeled down by the first person she came to. He had been crushed under debris. The was no pulse. He was dead. She continued down the hall. She came to a man with half of his body under metal girders. He was bleeding profusely from a head wound.

She tried to remove some of the debris but had not the strength to move it. She tore her sleeve to use to try and stop the bleeding. She held the bandage firmly. She used soothing words to try and calm the man. She found out that he work in the engineering department and was recently new to the ship. The two talked until a medical technician could come over. With the help of other engineers and helpers the girders were removed.

"Lt, are you all right?" a technician asked as she stood up. She was confused why she would ask until she looked down and saw that she was covered in blood.

"It is not mine. I am fine," she answered indicating to the blood. She continued to help where she could. Soon everyone had been evacuated off the deck except for the repair crews.

She left the deck and went back to her own deck. She entered her quarters. It was then that she realized it had been a while since the ship had rocked. The Galaxy must gotten done with the fighting. She slipped out of the bloodied uniform and threw it away.

Well, she should be able to get a few hours of sleep, to say the least. Helping out Deck 22 exhusted her mentally and physically. She slid between the covers of her bed, had the computer lower the lights, and slept.

"Moving Right Along"
By Lt. Matthew Cohen
Strat Ops Officer, Beta Two

"Shields up!" Lt. Commander Seles wasn't wasting any time settling into her new role as XO of the station, more out of necessity than out of anything else. And Cohen didn't begrudge her the promotion - she was the officer with seniority. Besides, when this was all over....

"Damn!" His hands again slipped on the shaking console, keeping him from keying in the sequences. His fingers yanked off the gloves, sending them flying, before stabbing down at the console, ignoring the pain from raw nerves. The board lit up, shields gaining strength.

"Commander, I can get you about 65% on the shields, but not much beyond that if you want me to be able to run any kind of extra power to the SIF generators." He was frowning darkly at the numbers himself. Defense of the station was near impossible if the Voiders decided to attack now, while the station was starting to move. He had phasers, but not enough. Torps, but not enough. He had half a mind to give the Admiralty on Earth some of his, if they all survived this...

His attention diverted to the side monitors, as he began to program in defensive moves for the station, praying they wouldn't be needed, including last resorts....

"Aftermath"
By Ambassador Kale tr'Herrian

Kale pulled him self up from the floor, the fighting was over, the timly arrivel of the federation strike froce and Jalals amazing charge at what appeared to be a member of his own specise had broken the void assault.

Jalal walked over to him, "Now I know were some of those Orexian pirates ended up" he seemed to pause for a second as if finally noticing the large gash down his left thigh. Kale did a similar double take he felt a slight trickle of blood from a cut in his forhead, by slient consent they both checked there respective forces before continuing there conversation, there appeared to be no fatalitys, mainly minor wounds caused by secondry sharpnal from near miss shots, this was not as surprising as it seemed given the lousy tactical position of the void forces, stuck in an open corridor with there backs against a force field I gusse they dont get out much kale mused. There mutual assements complete the two turned to face each other.

"I see you've taken a prisoner."

"Chief we got a couple of live ones" one of the federation officer called "more than one" Kale corrected himself.

"Yes hopefully they will have somthing usefull to tell us."

Jalal gave the passing Orexian prisinor a dark look as he was moved off Well as it happens I may have some information my self..........

"Moving Experience - Part 3"
by Cmdr. Kra'lana Morris
Commanding Officer, Beta Station Two

Kra'lana took a deep drink of water and then splashed the remainder on her face and neck. She made sure to moisten her gills and her secondary eyelids. It wasn't enough but it would have to do.

She was putting on her Biosuit when the gravitational wave hit the station. Kra'lana was thrown into the wall. "Morris to Ops" she said tapping her comm badge. "Cohen here."

"Did Tom find the sails already?" the Commader said.

"No. We were just hit by a gravitational pulse. We're talking with the USS Galaxy. They may have found the way home." said Lt. Cohen.

"Keep on it and keep me appraised of the situation. I'm meeting up with Dr. Salvine to address the bio hazard in sickbay. Tell Dawner to have Dr. Kilan thrown in the brig as soon as he is found. If anybody dies I may jettison him!!" she said tersely.

Cohen said, "Aye,Sir. Ops out."

Kra'lana went over to pick up her medical kit when the next wave hit. Her balance off due to the biosuit, she slipped and fell. On the way to the ground she hit her head on the counter. She was unconscious and bleeding within seconds.

"Moving Time"
By CPO Jalal Dawner
Chief of Security Beta Two

"Thanks Doc." Jalal says standing up from the Biobed. After taking a few steps he turns back to look at Salvine. "Good as new. You ready Kale?"

Before the Ambassador can answer Jalal's com-badge comes to life. [Seles to Chief Dawner. We need to move the station and need to have everyone in their quarters. If you can spare any personnel to help clear the Promenade it would be appreciated.]

"Clearing the Promenade wouldn't be a problem. I'll get security personnel on it right away." Moving the station? I didn't know we Could move it. Jalal wonders to himself walking over to the Ambassador. Signaling for Kale to walk with him Jalal steps out into the Promenade deck.

"I need to go by security to start the clearing of the Promenade. Then we'll both go talk with Kra'lana about our plan." With that both walk the short distance to main security. Walking in Jalal stops as the front desk.

"Ramos, we need the Promenade cleared of everyone for their safety. Run an annoucement asking everyone to go to their quarters. Then send the three Promenade security sections to make sure."

"Chief, we actually have more sections on the promenade. The Galaxy sent over reinforcing sections. Do you want to use them to?" ensign Ramos asks.

"I had forgotten Sterner was going to do that. That's fine. Have all the sections be nice about this, but get it done." Jalal pauses looking at a box sitting on the front desk. Reaching into it he picks up a large silver looking bracelet. "What's this stuff?"

"Oh, personal belongings from those prisoners. Each one had a one of those bracelets on them. In fact, that one came off the Orexian fellow. Friendly guy that one."

With a strange look on his face, Jalal walks into the Brig area still holding the bracelet. Kale having seen that look before follows his large friend thinking to himself. Something has he's attention, I wonder what. Kale stops a few feet back from where Jalal stops in front of the cell holding the Orexian.

Jalal reaches up, turning off the forcefield and steps into the cell. Turning the forcefield back on he steps close to the Orexian pirate. Holding up the bracelet he says. "What is this? Answer quickly I Don't have time to mess with you." The pirate ignores Jalal pointingly staring at the floor.

Suddenly Jalal drops the bracelet and grabs the Orexian. Jerking him off the bunk Jalal shakes him hard once. Shoving him hard back down on the bunk Jalal picks the bracelet up. "I will ask nicely, Once more. What is the Bracelet for?" Shoving the bracelet into the Orexian's chest Jalal waits for an answer.

"They left us here. I don't Owe them anything." the pirate says out loud and looks up at Jalal. "The bracelets protect us from the muscle locking device. Without them, their own teams would be affected."

Turning from the prisoner Jalal opens the forcefield and leaves the cell. After closing the forcefield he noctices Kale looking at him with a questioning look. Walking back into the front office Jalal tells him. "Orexians rarely wear jewelery and never on our arms. It's seriously time for that talk with Kra'lana now. Let's find her."

Tapping his com-badge. "Commander Morris, Jalal. Some information has come to me about the Coop. We Need to talk."

[I'll meet you outside of sickbay. Morris out.]

"Shall we Kale?"

"Plans"
Lieutenant Troy Blair
Chief Tactical Officer, USS Galaxy

"As you know, Lieutenant Casey has detected a large power surge near the coop fortress. It's believed to be an armada preparing for a second assault." Troy made eye contact with each of his tactical officers.

"Do we know how many ships? sir." Ensign Reyes questioned

"No we don't, but judging by the size of the readings it's probably a large number" replied Blair

" 'ell looks as if they mean business. Bloody coop." Lieutenant Groom grumbled

"That; they do Winston."

"What are your plans sir?" once again Reyes spoke up

"Glad you asked Michael. First off I want you guys to arm yourselves with hand phasers......" Troy started

Ensign Kamin voiced her opinion on the matter, "Sir, internal safety is the responsibility of security, not tactical."

Troy looked at the officer "Yes I know that, but it's the duty of every crew member to defend this ship in time of battle. After watching the Coop board Beta 2, isn't it logical to assume that they may try to board the Galaxy?"

"I see your point Lieutenant." Kamin answered

Troy smiled at the female Vulcan, then continued.. "Moving along...Reyes, Kamin, and Roth, I'll be sending you three to security so Lieutenant Sterner can have some extra help, if he needs it. If not, then I want you guys to stay here and only leave if a boarding party has been detected. Winston, you will be with me on the bridge, incase at some point I am unable to perform my duties."

"aw come on lad, talkin' like that 'ell get ye no where." The Scot replied

"Don't get me wrong, I don't plan on dying, it's just a precaution." he spouted back.

"Good ta hear it."

"Thanks... Now if we are boarded, then the first thing we must fire at is the equipment the coop will probably be carrying with them. No doubt we've all seen some of their technology in action," the other officers nodded, "After their equipment is knocked out, then you'll need to concentrate on the soldiers. Is that clear?" after four different replies Troy ended the meeting.

"Reyes, one more thing before you go." Troy handed the Ensign a PADD with a brief message typed on it. "Give this to Lieutenant Sterner as soon as you make it to Security."

"Aye sir." Reyes replied then looked at the PADD. The message on it red:

Lieutenant Sterner, I trust that you've heard about the anticipated second strike. For that reason, I am sending you these three officers for extra help. Should you decide to use them, feel free to assign them anywhere on the ship. Lieutenant Blair

The Ensign gripped the PADD firmly, then walked out of the office. Troy and Winston followed shortly after, making their way to the bridge.

"A moving experience part 4"
by Lt. Jg Ramone Pescadeiro
Assistant Chief Opperations Officer Beta 2 Station

Ramone had finally been relieved after a sixteen hour shift. He was really really tired, but had to get a few more things done. He was on his way to his quarters, when he felt a sharp pain in his head....he searched with his mind to find the source of the pain....within a few moments, he'd located it.

He tapped his comm badge. "Pescadeiro to Cmdr Morris." He waited for a response. None came. "Computer, Locate Cmdr Morris."

[Commander Morris is in her quarters.]

He was only two decks below her quarters. He ordered the turbolift to stop and go back up two decks. Stepping out, he quickly traversed the few steps to her quarters. Stopping, he pressed the door chime. After waiting for a few seconds, and hearing nothing, "Computer, scan Cmdr Morris's quarters, is she still inside?"

[Affimative.] Came the computer's response.

"Computer, Emergency Operational Override on door, authorization delta-delta-2-7-3-omega"

The door hissed open. Ramone could see Cmdr Morris, sprawled on the floor. Quickly stepping over to her, he picked up her med-tricorder and scanned her. Assessing the reading's was one thing, but he wasn't familiar with delphian anatomy so there wasn't much he could do.

Standing, he tapped his comm badge,

"Pescadeiro to Salvine"

[Salvine here.]

Dr. I've just found Cmdr Morris unconscious in her quarter's. I've scanned her with a med-tricorder, but am no Dr. Please advise me how to proceed."

"To each their own"
by Lt. (jg) K'arta
Assistant Security Chief USS Galaxy

K'arta and her team watched in amazement as the images flashed before them. Soon, just as the man dressed all in black assured, the people in the shuttle emerged. Her team quickly disarmed them and led them away. As they walked out the shuttlebay doors, K'arta looked back at the ninja in wonder. She didn't know what to think about the man who had snuck into the bay from above to do a job that she and her team could very well have handled on their own. She glanced to her right to find Cadet Campbell also with a curious look on his face. They looked at each other and shrugged.

"To each their own." Campbell said.

"I'd have to agree with you there." K'arta responded.

They delivered the civilians to the security office then tried to get a few moments rest. K'arta wandered the promenade looking at the damage. She and Ronni still hadn't spent an evening on the station together. She hoped the entire situation would be cleared up soon.

V: "Bugs"

***Main Operations***

Lt. Cmdr. Seles was looking at the Science scans when another shock wave hit the station. "Lt. Cohen!"

"Commander, I can get you about 65% on the shields, but not much beyond that if you want me to be able to run any kind of extra power to the SIFgenerators."

"Divert power from non-essential systems to the shields. Use the backup power generators as well."

Katarina turned back to the scans. If the tremors got worse when they 'set sail' they were going to be flying out of control. "Is there anyway to maneuver the station once we have set sail or to avoid these shock waves," she asked the Science officer.

Another shock wave hit the station this time with more intensity. "Damage report!"

[Engineering to Ops. We have a broken EPS conduit on Deck 40. We are going to lose the quarantine field around Sickbay!]

Katarina looked over to the Strat Ops officer. "It's time to use those emergency environmental protocols..."

Lt. Cmdr. Seles, XO Station Beta Two

Katoc Malron Kenit
"Dreams, part 1"

He walked the corridors of the ship, his parents ship, in a dream he supposed. He had gone to sleep on the station, in the horrid void and waken up on this ship. He could not find any sign of his parents onboard, and the ship seemed to be on it's last leg, as if it had been running since the last time he had seen it with no repair stops or mateniance.

From the vibration of the deck plates the warp drive was at about warp 3 and failing. He checked the status of different systems on the console in the cockpit and noticed that shields were just about out as well and that impulse was worse than the warp engines...

Then he looked up... And noticed that the stars were still gone... He and this ship were in the void.

"Computer, put a starfeild simulation up on the main screen, I can't stand to look at that any longer", he snapped in his native tong. The computer complied but he could still since the wrongness of all of this.

Katoc noticed that there was a large mass nearby registering on one of the monitors. "Computer, set course to a position near this mass and put it onscreen, stars or none."

The mass appeared on the screen and took Katoc's breath away. It was huge. Katoc instructed the computer to magnify it and he relised that it was many smaller, but still quite large, stations and ships, all gathered, or connected somehow, together in one large mass.

*I wonder....", he thought, *Might this be the Void Cooperative they speek of?* Katoc set course for the mass, or station, or whatever it was. The ship began to move towards it but them suddenly stopped, not sharply, with a jolt, as if it had his a field of some kind, it just.... stopped. The engines were still powered up and the ship shoud have been moving, the sensors registered no feild or force of any kind.

*Well, it's a dream, anything can happen I supose*, he reasoned. Katoc started a through sensor sweep of the station, or whatever it was.

Then Katoc noticed something else, he could feel.... Other beings, like him, on the station. They were in pain, agony, he could not tell why and he couldn't seem to be able to contact them telepathically. But then, his telepathic communication skills always had left much

to be desired, no mater how hard he worked on them.

Katoc tried to send a message to the station, to the people like him, but it wouldn't go though.

Then he awoke, suddenly, and wasn't tired any more. But unlike most dreams he could remember every detail of it, down to the settings of every control on the control panel of the ship, the feel of the minds like his, the sight of that station.

*I shall have to see about acquiring a visual of the station when the Galaxy returns, although, I highly dought they would let me get one....*

Katoc climed out of bed and asked the computer the time. "It is 0430 hours." The computer replyed.

Katoc groaned and walked over to the replicator, "Computer, Kenit recipie 004, warm." The warm, bitter drink appered with a shimmer and whine of replicator energy and Katoc picked it up and sipped. "Mmmmmm....." *Now, how to handle this getting a video of the station....* Katoc decided to contact Captian Zahn and ask for a vid-clip. He would go straight for the top, if Zhan didn't havetime then he could send Katoc to someone who did.

Katoc picked up his padd and wrote out a message to Zhan.

**********
TO: Captian Joseph Zahn
FROM: Katoc Malron Kenit
SUBJECT: Video of Void Cooperative Station

Dear Sir:

Greetings. I am Katoc Malron Kenit, an independant trader and shipper, and inhabitant on your station as of a couple of months ago. I would like to acquire a video clip of the Void Cooperative Station for... A personal investigation of sorts.

This evening I had a disturbing dream in which I saw what I took to be the Cooperative station. I also... Heard, telepathicaly, what seemed to be some of my people.

My race, from the Beta Quadrant, is long dead, or long lost. Untill the death of my parents we were the only three of my race remaining. Now it is I alone.

This dream could be... A telepathic communication from some of my people, on the Void station, or it could have been brought on by the memories brought to surface by a small flute I bought in a shop on the promenade.

I need to see a video of the station to conferm if what I dreamed about was... Really the Void station or not. If it was, well then, some of my people are over there, on that station, and I would request... Well, I'll get to that when the time comes.

Sir, I request that you seriously concider my request. It may hold the answer to many questions I have. Prehaps even one about our current situation.

Thank you for your time sir, I apperciate it imencilly.

Respectifuly,

Katoc Malron Kenit

**********

Ktoc sent the message and finnished his drink. He set the glass in the replicator and it dissapered in the same mannor that it appered. Katoc got back in bed and went to sleep.

**********

Katoc was sitting in his quarters with nothing to do but play his flute. With the promenade closed off and the turbolifts locked down there was not much to do. And Katoc saw no need to put himself in dnager anyway.

Suddenly his monitor activated and a video image appered on it.

["Greetings! I am Sir Therio of The Void Cooperative. As you know your Commanding Officers have chosen not to join our alliance of ships and stations that have been sent here by the mysterious probe. I fear this choice could be detrimental to you. Captain Price and Captain Zahn's judgment have been clouded by their determination to get home. The simple fact is that there is no way home. I have lived in The Void for over ten years and know this. Without our resources you will not survive as long as I did in The Void. Therefore we are forcefully taking over the station and the Galaxy. This was our last option and has always been our last option. We do not want to harm anyone unless we have to. If you protest and do not decide to join us or you fight us and hinder our attempt to help you, we will kill you. We are determined to make this process as simple and smooth as possible. I want to demonstrate the seriousness of The Void Cooperative."]

Katoc watched, if the dream had been true he had no desire to join the cooperative.

Sir Therio held out his hand toward Captain Zahn. Slowly Joseph was lifted up by the force of Therio and pulled over to where he was standing.

Therio looked back at the view screen and spoke, ["This is Captain Joseph Zahn, probably the most determined man in this station. He does not accept the fact that there is no way home. He will never accept that fact and he will never allow his station or his crew or himself to be taken in by The Cooperative. Do you see a piece of your determination in him?"]

Katoc jumped as Zahn was lifted intothe air and pulledto this Therio person.

["I hope you do not. Because it is his type of determination that prevents the progress of The Void Cooperative. It is his type of determination that creates situations like these. He said his loyalty is in the people of Beta 2, but if that were true he would shallow his foolish pride. It is his determination that will kill him. If you see your determination in him, this is what will happen."]

["Welcome to The Void Cooperative."] Therio said sharply as he pulled the trigger.

Captain Zahn screamed as he was vaporized by the shock from the phaser rifle. Streams of electrical energy consumed his skin, then skeletal structure, and soon his entire body. Within seconds he was gone.

The monitor shut off and Katoc sat, shocked by what he had just seen on the monitor. *If my people are on that station I must rescue them. These people must be stoped. But how.....*

Katoc was also shocked by another thing that had occured durring the video-cast. He had... heard, mentaly, Captiah Zahn say somthing, "Tell Morris about Gamma Five." *He must have had a small bit of telepathic experience, or my own telepathic ability is returning again.*

Katoc got up and paced the room, not sure what to do next. Then he forwarded his message about the Void station to Commander Morris, the second in command of the station, who would now be in charge.

Web page - HTTP://members.tripod.com/~nickgosey
E-mail - nickg@bellsouth.net
Alt. e-mail - dr-bashir@juno.com

"Sad times"
by Lieutenant Joerg Sterner
Chief of Security, USS Galaxy

After the meeting with his fellow officers about the safety of both the Galaxy and Beta 2, Joerg returned to his office. There were plenty of PADDs with reports on his desk.

Suddenly red alert was sounded and Joerg quickly checked with the possible threat. There were three ships of unknown configuration heading from the station and the Galaxy. He contacted his security officers to deploy them to the vital areas of the ship.

He just finished his last orders, when the Galaxy received a hit from one of the attacking vessels. The fight continued for some time, but they were no match for the tactical skills of the bridge crew. Joerg was about to redirect his team to help with the damage done to several decks, when the image of Sir Therio appeared on every monitor on the whole ship.

He explained his plans and reasons to everyone, and demonstrated his determination with the cold blooded and unprovoked murder of Captain Zahn of Beta 2. Joerg was unable to do anything for, what seemed to him were minutes.

Some time later, however words about the successful capture of the Void Cooperative terrorists reached him. Partly relieved but still the shock imprinted on his face, he contacted his security personal to help find survivors on the decks.

"Sterner to Mulich."

[Mulich here sir.]

"Ensign, form search and rescue teams and check out the decks 31, 32 and 37 for survivors."

[Yes, sir. We are on our way. Mulich out.]

Joerg sat down at his desk and took one of the PADDs. It was a report from Ensign Expok about the stolen phaser rifle. He was able to find and arrest the thief, who was currently in one of the holding cells.

'Perhaps Chief Dawner knows something about this guy.' he thought and forwarded the description of the thief to him.

Before he could read one of the other reports, three Ensigns entered his office. They all saluted as Joerg looked up from his PADD and one of them started to talk.

"Sir, Lieutenant Blair sent us as reinforcement for security." Ensign Reyes said, while handing him yet another PADD.

The message on it read:

Lieutenant Sterner, I trust that you've heard about the anticipated second strike. For that reason, I am sending you these three officers for extra help. Should you decide to use them, feel free to assign them anywhere on the ship.

Lieutenant Blair

After he finished reading the PADD he turned to the Ensigns, who were still waiting for his orders.

"I agree with Lieutenant Blair's idea and appreciate it, but right now we need all hands for the search of survivors. However, since the second strike could begin any moment, I want you to get a phaser each from Ensign Mohler, who is currently at weapon's storage. Should there be other wave of enemy ships approaching this ship, I want you to report to Ensign Mohler immediately. He will be in charge of securing Main Engineering." Joerg explained them the situation.

"You three go to deck 31 now." he said and checked his terminal. "Ensign Chandler is there at the moment. He will be in charge of coordinating your search efforts. Good luck."

"Aye, aye sir." they all replied, saluted and left his office for the weapon's storage.

'I only hope that there is way out of this Void after all.' Joerg just thought before continuing with his reports.

F`Sala Gratan was aware of only one feeling: hunger. The pain of malnutrition had made her stomach expand disproportionally, making her look like one of the starving Bosnian children from 20th century Earth. She could not remember the last time she had gotten enough to eat. The Void Cooperative fed her only the minimal ammount needed to survive, and she and the others were kept out of sight of visitors whenever they came for their first tour of the station. She had been extremely lucky to be able to sneak out of her holding cell and make her way onto this ship. She'd heard rumors of a rival Fortress that had just arrived, one that might possibly be able to find a way out of the Void. She hoped that this ship would be able to take her there. But in her heart, she knew it was hopeless. The Void Cooperative would never let such important new people and technology escape. F`Sala's best option seemed to be a quick death at the hands of the people on this ship who would see her as an intruder or a spy from the Void Cooperative.

She had to find a way out of this Jeffrey's Tube. It would be no good to escape from the Void Fortress only to die of starvation on an unfamiliar ship. She crawled through the tubes, trying to ignore her hunger and exhaustion. She had no idea which parts of the ship would be busy and which would be deserted. She did not even know which part of the ship she was on, because she could not read the strange markings on the walls. Finally she decided that she would exit at the next door she came to. Just then, someone opened an access panel and began to climb into the Jeffrey's Tube.

The Ensign noticed her suddenly and did a double-take. He stared at her open-mouthed for several seconds, unsure as of what to do. Then his Starfleet Academy training kicked in, and he tapped his combadge. "Intruder alert, Jeffrey's Tube 270146-C. Emergency transport to the Brig." F`Sala was instantly engulfed in a blue light, and the next thing she knew, she was standing in a holding cell very similar to the one she had lived in on the Void Fortress for several months. Except, this one had better lighting. And one of the walls was replaced with a crackling force-field. And it seemed much cleaner. And she was the only one in it. And there was a cot to sleep on, instead of the floor. Actually, this seemed to F`Sala to be a very nice room. She wouldn't mind living here for quite a while. Compared to her cell in the Void Fortress, this was luxury. Now if only she could get some food . . .

A security guard walked over to the cell to examine the new addition to his little menagerie.

"Hello," F`Sala called weakly to him. "I'm very hungry. Do you think I could get some food somewhere? Just a little . . . some bread would be fine. Just something. I'm very hungry."

The security guard saw her cringe as if she expected to be hit. He tapped his combadge. "Ensign Starling to Dr. Rousseau. We have an unknown alien species here, and she seems to be malnourished. I need to know what type of food I can give her without making her sick."

[Acknowledged, Ensign] the Doctor's voice came through the com system. [I'll be there as soon as I can.]

by Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev)
Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

Finally, after a long and difficult battle, the Galaxy ceased it's rocking. Dev turned off her terminal and decided that it was time she did something to help.

She stood and called out into the air, "Computer, please summon Counselors Poitier, Semanka, T'Leira and Taryn to my quarters." She breathed. "It's time the counselors get to work. After only a few minutes they arrived, one by one. Dev sat them down in the small living area in her quarters.

"Where is Chief Counselor Chandler?" One of them asked.

"He was killed only a short time ago. I have been named the new Chief Counselor." She waited for their responses, there were none. She detected a little bit of animosity from Semanka, but that was to be expected. Human males don't like there authority subverted, and he'd been posted to the Galaxy long before Dev. "I'm sure by now you have all figured out that the Galaxy is damaged, to what extent, I don't know." She paused. "But, that is no matter. It is not our job to worry about that. Our job is to take care of the crew." She breathed. "I want you each to take a section of the ship and just walk it. Helping where you can. I don't necesarily mean that you need to be Counselling, but just help."

She continued when no one spoke again, "Poitier, you take the upper half, from the main sickbay, up. T'Leira, you work the rest of the saucer. Taryn, you handle the neck and top of the Stardrive. You are dismissed." With that they began to stand, "Semanka, you stay behind."

After the other left, Devlynn spoke, "Lieutenant, I know that you have been hear a dozen times longer than I have, and I know that you feel that you should be the one to head the Counselors, but, on Captain's orders I have been named Chief Counselor, and he would have his reasons I assume. If you don't wish to work under me, you may transfer, but you are a strong person, and I think that we should see ourselves lucky to have you aboard the Galaxy." She paused, waiting for a retort. There was none, "okay then. I want you to come with me, we're going to Engineering. I sense that we will be of best use there."

With that the two of them left her quarters and headed for a turbolift.

As soon as Morris cut the channel he went to prepare two bio suits....even though Trills are supposedly immune...you can never be too careful. But then as he got to thinking about the disease, the question of his father came to mind. Some how he had escaped the brig and was currently hiding somewhere on the station.

"Computer location of Dr.Kilan."

"Dr.Kilan is not on the station." The computer replied in the cold monotone voice but Salvine was enraged and perplexed at the same time, where had that man gone but his thoughts were interrrupted by the hail of Ramone.

"Pescadeiro to Salvine"

"Salvine here."

"Dr. I've just found Cmdr Morris unconscious in her quarter's. I've scanned her with a med-tricorder, but am no Dr. Please advise me how to proceed."

This was not the time for this to happen and there was not time to teach an operations officer a field medic course so the only choice of action would be to get Krall'anna there.

"Standby Ramone, I am going to have her beamed to the Promenade clinic."

"Acknowledged."

"Computer, transport Commander Morris to the clinic."

Within seconds her body materilazed on one of the bio-beds and Salvine took out his tricorder. She had a slight concousion but nothing too serious, the wound was superficial and she would wake up any moment.

Dressing the wound took a mere seconds, and he decided that the best course of action would be to wake her up. She was a better doctor then he was as well as the station's commanding officer and they needed her. Three minutes more of unconciousness would do nothing for her, although when she woke up she would have a headache.

Injecting her with a hypo, she woke up slowly and as soon as her eyes opened they went to her head.

"What happened?"

"You fell and hit your head. Nothing serious....a superficial wound and a slight concousion. My prognosis is a full recovery."

He said to her with a smile on his face, although he could see the pain she was in. It would be best to let her get herself together before springing it on her that Kilan was no longer on the station, or at the very least he was fooling the sensors.

Devlynn was walking with Lt. Semanka, they were just about to Engineering, when Devlynn sensed the approach of the Void. She could sense the Captain tense up. She had to get up there.

She told the Lieutenant where she was going and she turned around and ran to the turbolift. "Bridge," she said and it took off.

She arrived at the bridge in time to hear the end of the conversation. "I'm counting 30 now Captain... No, 40... My god, they just keep coming and coming Captain." Blair explains as he stares at his tactical display with amazement.

"Another shock wave Captain." Casey reports just as the Galaxy and Station Beta Two begin to shake violently for several seconds.

"Shields are steady and holding Captain." Troy explains.

The Captain calls Mitchell and Reix and Rr'lonii Morris and himself disappear inside the ready room doors.

Devlynn stands on the Bridge for a moment, concentrating on the moods of the people present. But soon her concentration is broken when someone speaks, "Can I help you Counselor?" Commander Coe asks.

"No, Commander," she replies. She senses that he wants more of an answer, but he doesn't ask. Devlynn walks down the ramp and around the horseshoe to the command chairs. She sit down.

"I'm just here as an observer." She offers finally. Coe nods. He knows about Chandler already, she thinks. The Captain's had time to relay such information? She is mildly surprised.

Her attention turns to the viewscreen, where Station Beta 2 glides slowly through empty space.

Lt. Devlynn Salshyar (Dev)
Chief Counselor, USS Galaxy - NCC-70637

"Good news, bad news and really bad news"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price watched while Station Beta Two sprouted sail like wings and began to slowly move away from the Void Cooperative.

"It's simply amazing how something that large can move with nothing other than the sails the Yridians built." Captain Price remarked.

"Yes sir." Ensign Vo answered from the science station. "The sails gain their energy from the subatomic particles that flow through real-space."

"It's a beautiful sight Ensign. Though right now, I wish we could just warp out of here and put as much distance between us and that Fortress as possible." Lee commented.

"Aye sir. I know what you mean." As Ensign Vo finished her sentence, another shock wake rumbles through the ship. This one more violent than the previous one.

"Is it just me, or are these 'tremors' getting more intense?"

"No sir. They are increasing in intensity and frequency."

"I don't like the sound of that 'mate."

"Me either sir." Vo says in a concerned tone.

Captain Price's comm badge chips with a hail.

["Captain, Commander Coe here."]

"Go ahead 'mate." Lee responds as he activates the channel.

["Captain, I'm afraid the science department has discovered some good news and some bad news."]

"Give me the good news first 'mate."

["Lieutenant Commander Reix and Lieutenant Mitchell are reasonably certain they know exactly were we are sir."]

"That's great Commander. Where are we?" the Captain asked.

["They believe we are in our own universe, back before it was created. That gravitational stream we discovered, leads to a gigantic space mass of matter, roughly in the core of the universe."]

"You're saying we traveled through time Commander?"

["Aye sir. To the beginning of time as our universe knows it."]

Captain Price's expression grew dim. "You're not going to tell me that the bad news is we can't get home Commander?"

["No sir. The bad news is, those tremors we have been experiencing are shock waves from the space mass. Near as we can tell, it's about to explode, creating our universe Captain."]

"The 'Big Bang'?" Lee asks. "That doesn't sound like something we want to stick around for."

["No sir it doesn't. But of course the really bad news is, we can't figure out a way to get to our own time."]

A long pause takes place as Lee thinks about what can be done. "I don't suppose we could prevent the space mass from exploding?"

["I don't think so sir. And if we could, should we? I mean, our own galaxy might not be created if we interfere with what is supposed to happen."]

"I guess you're right. Was just hoping we could delay it or something..."

["Unlikely sir. The probe that gathered this data was destroyed while approaching the space mass. Crushed by the gravitational fields it's generating. Both Mitchell and Reix are fascinated by the data they have gathered on the phenomenon..."]

"Well, make sure they keep their priorities straight Commander. Have they estimated how long before the space mass will explode?"

["They are unsure Captain. Mitchell is saying less than twelve hours. Reix thinks it will be sooner than that."]

Lee sunk back into his chair. Glancing around he noticed the rest of the bridge crew listening in on the conversation and looking at him. "Understood Commander. Tell the scientists I want to know our options as soon as possible. There must be some way out of here. We were sent here after all."

["Yes Captain. I will pass on the message. Commander Coe out."]

Lee glanced at Ensign Shanika as she sat at the helm.

"Steady as she goes Ensign. Lets stick close to the Station for now."

**********

Captain's log: Stardate 49706.11

Three hours have past since these tremors started rocking the USS Galaxy. Now being experienced every four to five minutes, they are increasing in intensity to where only our shields are protecting us.

Station Beta Two is taking an enormous beating. It's space sails are amplifying the effects of the shock waves, and I fear they will soon have to withdraw the sails in order to 'weather' the storm.

We now know that the cause of these tremors is the space mass at the center of the universe. It is getting ready to explode, giving us witness to the birth of all the known galaxies known to exist and more. I am told there is a remote chance that we may survive this 'Big Bang'. But when looking at the 17 digit number, 'slim' doesn't seem to give our chances the correct perspective.

*********

"Captain!" Exclaimed a tired Lieutenant Blair.

"Yes Lieutenant? What is it?" Lee asked the tactical officer.

"Long range scanners are detecting a ship coming from the Void Cooperative."

"Just one ship?" Price asked while Troy made some adjustments.

Across the bridge, Deiran Casey commented, "I have them on sensors now Captain. No it's not just one ship. They are flying in close formation like they did before to hide their numbers... but I can tell there are multiple warp signatures."

"Warp? They are using warp engines? Must want us pretty bad then." Captain Price comments.

"Aye sir. Trying to get an estimate on the number of craft now..." Casey replies.

"Confirmed Captain." Troy acknowledges. "I can see the multiple echoes now. That's a lot of ships Captain..."

"How many 'mate?" Lee inquired.

"More than 20. I'm detecting more ships the nearer they get."

"Lieutenant Ti, how long before the Cooperative ships reach the Station?"

Miran adjusts the helm, having just relieved Ensign Shanika at that position earlier. "Less than twenty minutes at their present speed Sir."

"I'm counting 30 now Captain... No, 40... My god, they just keep coming and coming Captain." Blair explains as he stares at his tactical display with amazement.

"Another shock wave Captain." Casey reports just as the Galaxy and Station Beta Two begin to shake violently for several seconds.

"Shields are steady and holding Captain." Troy explains.

The tremor passes. Lee looks around the bridge. He notices Ensign Vo looking strangely at her station.

"Something the matter Ensign?" Captain Price asks.

"I'm detecting some strange energy readings off the lateral sensor array Captain. I was just trying to figure out what it is. It could be a malfunction caused by the shock wave."

"Well, you'd better check it out. I'll get Lieutenant Mitchell and `Commander Reix back up here as well. I'm still waiting on their report.

"Yes sir. I'll run a level 3 diagnostic at once."

Lee nodded before punching the comm button on his chair. "Lieutenant Mitchell, Lieutenant Commander Reix, please report to the bridge at once." Captain Price closed the channel and waited patiently for Mitchell and Reix to arrive. A few minutes later, Lieutenant Ronni Morris came walking onto the bridge.

"Lieutenant?" Captain Price greeted in a surprised tone. "Where's Mitchell and Reix?"

"They are on their way sir. They sent me ahead to brief you before they arrive."

Lee nodded. "Very well, lets go into my ready room Lieutenant Morris." The Captain glanced over to JT. "Commander Coe, you have the Conn."

Captain Price and Assistant chief science officer Rr'lonii Morris stepped into his ready room. The door swooshed shut behind them.

"Shuttle Escape"
Ensign Expok, Security Officer,USS Galaxy

The ship was rocked for about for a few seconds as another tremor happend. Ensign Expok and Ensign Taylor where running at the time heading for there post as orderd. When the tremor hit Taylor was lost his balance and went crashing into the floor. He made this weird noise as he hit the ground then he groand. "Here" Expok said and reached out his hand. Taylor grabbed it and pulled himself to his feet. Then they started for there posts again.

As the two Ensigns neared a turbolift that would split them up. Taylor went into the turbolift while Expok remained on the deck he was on. "See you later," Taylor called just before the lift doors hissed shut. The young Ensign moved along the empty corridor approching shuttlebay two. This was the part of the ship he was to guard. Expok walked in just as a man ran towards a shuttle. "Stop!" Expok shouted. The man looked up at the security officer and then climbed into a shuttle. Expok ran across the floor. The shuttle was powering up now and lifting off the ground. The shuttlebay door opend and all there was was the Void. Expok moved to the tractor beam control as the shuttle started to move forward. Expok's hands flew around the board and then the tractor beam activated. The beam lashed out and caught the ship. Expok lowerd the shuttle to the ground and moved to the door.

The person inside the shuttle was a Human. There was a phaser on the ground. Rather then being caught he had shot himself in the face on stun. But at close range it killed him instantly. Expok stayed with the dead man. Slowly he tapped his commbadge and reported the incident.

V: "Can Things Get Worse?"

***Operations***

Lt. Cmdr. Seles closed the communication channel with Lt. Cmdr. Reix on the USS Galaxy. The only good part of the conversation was that they knew where they were. The station had traveled back in time to the eve of the Big Bang. Katarina briefly wondered if Q had anything to do with this. The only way they were going to get out of this mess was if that transporter probe showed up again or if a magical temporal anomaly appeared in front of them. Well, they had a few hours before the Big Bang so she turned her attention back to the matters at hand.

"Lt. Cohen. Have you contained the airborne virus yet?"

She looked down at her console and noticed that forcefields had been set up on Deck 40 and environmental systems had been reconfigured to recycle the air on that deck. Hopefully the doctors could come up with a cure...

"We have incoming ships," yelled Lt. Cohen. "Sensors show multiple ships heading our way...Make that forty Void Coop ships!"

"Give me some tactical solutions," she replied as calmly as she could. Katarina didn't think that there were too many possible outcomes besides being blown to smithereens.

Aren't the Void Cooperative worried about the Big Bang? Or do they know about it? It didn't really matter since all they probably wanted was the station and the Galaxy. And that would be over her dead body.

Katarina looked at her console again. They didn't have enough power to keep the station sailing and fire weapons and maintain shields at the same time. Her Klingon instincts told her to stop the station and to turn and fight. Better to die in battle than in the Big Bang. She pressed the comm button on her panel.

"Seles to Commander Morris. We have forty Void ships pursuing us. Permission to retract the sails and to prepare for defense of the station."

Lt. Cmdr. Seles, XO Station Beta Two

"Give me some tactical solutions," she replied as calmly as she could. Katarina didn't think that there were too many possible outcomes besides being blown to smithereens. And, had she but known, Matthew for once was agreeing with her.

"Right, " muttered Cohen under his breath, accessing the tactical database. "And the Libyans stood any chance in 2005 if there is anything I can come up with." His fingers danced over the keys, bringing up possibility after possibility, discounting them almost as quickly. Somewhere in the back of his head, he registered the order to withdraw the sails, and prepare for combat... that would help. And then he had it.

"Emergency power diverted to shields as ordered, as well as SIF energy." The lack of sails wouldn't hinder the station from continuing at its current velocity, but would preclude any course changes. As such, the shields again became the priority. "Shield generators to 105% of rating, and rising. I cannot guarentee much more than that." Weapons were a different matter, a constant in the equation that he just didn't have the power to change. If only he could keep the Void ships at bay and therefore in the targeting arcs...

A bolt of inspiration hit him, and he grinned behind the console. It was stupid enough that it just might work, and he began channeling some energy into the IDF generators.

"Commander Seles." He barely waited for his rival to look towards him. "If the Ops officer could be so kind as to randomly activate thrusters when our friends attack..." And then he grinned the wicked grin again. "Let us see if our guests are as capable of latching onto an erratic target as they are a stationary one..."

"French Vanilla, hot."

The replicator produced a beep indicating it was done. David carefully grasped the glass making sure not to spill. He walked over to his desk and eased into his chair. He placed the tea on the desk and picked up his PADD. It contained the last briefing from Lt. Hutchcraft. David was assigned the Beta shift, which after realizing the time, started in a couple of minutes. David suddenly seemed a but nervous, for this would be his first shift in what he hoped to be a long and prosperous career.

"Computer, Personal Log, Stardate 49706.07, Ensign Mercury."

"Reminder: Contact Lt. Chandler about setting up a weekly counseling session. [I feel that a little counseling couldn't hurt, might even make me feel a little at home.] Gather prior counseling data to create progress report for Lt. Chandler. Ready for first shift of work, excited to get started but a little nervous nun the less. END LOG."

As David got out of his chair, he took a long look at the picture of his parents on top of his desk and walk out of his quarters.

'Things get slightly better?"
By Ambassador Kale tr'Herrian

Jalal and Kale stood expectently near were salvine stood treating the commander for her head injury, attempting to find the approriate break to in whitch propose there assault plan. Morris seemed to recover quickly enough, and Kale stepped foward then.....

"Seles to Commander Morris. We have forty Void ships pursuing us. Permission to retract the sails and to prepare for defense of the station."

Kale stepped back and looked at his friend "so much for taking the fight to them" He'd missed the commanders reply and turned to see her looking expectantly at him "What do you want Ambassador, Chief?"

" I have information that could be off great use fighting the Cooprative force"

"Then I suggest you take it to ops, As I have patients to treat" Morris's tone was that of an individuel who had experienced the full impact of what humans called Murphys law repeatedly and consistently, and given what had happened Kale sympathised.

He gave a short bow "Very well, thank you commander"

They left swiftly.

"Do you want me to present the plans Kale? Seles is first officer now and Cohen is tactical officer neither of them are particulaly fond of you."

Kale sighed,"I assure you the feeling is mutual, but even if you gave it to them they would ask were the data came from, were as if I offer it they will hopefully assume it came from some deviouse Rhiannsu treachery and leave it at that" Kale gave a tired smile.

They strode through the door in to main OPs Seles looked up from her consol and did a slight double take when she saw who accompanied the security chief "Ambassador what do you want?" her tone was hostile suggessting what ever Kale said better be good. "I've come to help of course", there was a sarcastic sounding snort from one of the bridge crew.

Seles seemed to bite back a reply and asked "How?"

"By giving you this, he held out the data chip " It contains shield frequecy, weapons frequency and structural data on the Void ships."

He placed the chip down in front of Seles and smiled.

"Tremors"
by Lt jg Jania Fowler
SD 49706.12

Jania watched as the Cdr gave the order to set sail. She had temporarily taken the Science station in Ops while the others were away, Reix being on the Galaxy. Ramone was still there after Zahn's death. He gave her a small wink across the room. She smiled back at him.

The station began to tremble. Jania couldn't tell if it was because of the gravity well that had been determined as the eve of the Big Bang or if it was the sails taking hold of particles that surrounded them.

She ran a few diagnostics of what was going on outside. Nothing everyone didn't already know. The Cdr had left, headed down to the prominade to help with a virus of some sort. Everything started happening after she left.

The station had stopped trembling after the sails had extended fully. The gravity pulses from the center of the universe had begun to increase. Fowler took a few readings of what was about to happen. As much as she'd like to witness it, any scientist would, their chance of survival was extremely small.

Then reports came pouring in that the Void was launching another attack. The last number reported was 40 ships.

The station was hit with a gravity wave larger than the "Big Kahuna" on Earth. Everyone was thrown to the floor. If this kept up, they would be torn apart.

Minor cuts, bumps, and bruises plagued the people in Ops. Everyone took to their terminals again. Kral'lana paged Cdr Morris and requested permission to stop and defend the station from the incoming ships. Jania sensed everyone hold their breath and wait for the Cdr's answer.

"Plans"
by Lt. (Jg.) Ronni Morris

Ronni stood next to the display at the end of the table. She always hated presenting ideas to superior officers. She felt like they were dissecting her with their eyes.

" . . . so, as I was saying. From everything that we have discovered, it looks like the beginning of the Universe. The gravitational well is pulling in all matter at a phenomenal rate. Within about 10 hours, we too will be pulled into the well. Our atoms used to help make everything. The paradox of it all is quite fascinating. I've been trying to record as much of it as possible for future research . .. . "

The Captain cut her off, "Thank you Lieutenant." Turning to Lt. Mitchell, he said, "So do you see any way for us to escape before we are turned into space dust?"

As Lt. Mitchell was beginning to speak, the Captain's badge chirruped. "Coe to Captain Lee"

"Lee here 'mate."

"Captain, we are getting readings of approximately 40 Coop ships headed our way. They are about four hours out. Our shields are at 88%. The good news is that Beta Station Two is transmitting the shield frequencies, weapons frequencies, and quite a number of ship specifications." said the Commander.

"I'll be right there. Lee out." Facing the three Science officers, "You have three and a half hours. Get us out of here." With that he walked out of the room.

All three officers looked dejected. Finally, Lt. Cmdr. Reix stood up and said, "Well, back to work."

"Bad Mood Rising"
by Cmdr. Kra'lana Morris CO, Beta Station Two

It took approximately two hour precious hours, that they didn't have to isolate Dr. Kilan's virus and create a cure. It had been based on a Cardassian malaria type virus, so there had been scant information. It took another hour to inoculate or stabilize everyone who had been exposed to the disease. Kra'lana labled and categorized the disease as "Kilan's Milaria".

The station was rocking violently, but the stabilizers were still working. 'Engineering must be hell right now.' Kra'lana thought. Her comm badge chirruped. "Fowler to Morris" it said.

"Morris here, go ahead"

"There are approximately 40 Coop ships headed our way. They are about 4 hours away. Permission to stop the Station and prepare to fire." said the Lieutenant.

"Lieutenant, keep the station moving. Follow Lt. Cohen's plan to keep the station tilting. I understand this will make it harder, but it also gives us the best hope for survival. The science team on the Galaxy is going to find a way home for us and we have to give them that time! Please coordinate all attack procedures with Lt. Cmdr. Seles and Lt. Cohen. I'll be back in Ops in about 30 minutes. Morris out." she said more harshly than she felt.

Dr. Kilan, was no longer on the Station. He probably went to join the Coop. Well, apparently somebody from the Coop had decided to join us. Tit for tat.

'Joseph,' she thought, 'why would you do this to me?' At that moment, her third patient in a row threw up an her (side effect of the antidote). Off to her left, Blla-Nora was still recovering from being attacked. Right after everyone returned from the Void Fortress, a female patient had disappeared from sickbay and nearly killed Blla-Nora by snapping her neck. If the Orexian had been human, she would have been dead or paralyzed. Fortunately Orexians have a remarkable regenerative ability that Kra'lana wanted to research. Blla-Nora went from a almost completely severed spinal cord to being expected to be completely recovered in another week. 'If we live that long.' she thought.

The station rocked again. She decided to take a quick shower and change into a clean uniform. He quarters were a mess. Almost all of her self carved crystal carving were shattered all around having fallen off of the shelves. She secured the three or four that were left and took her shower. She hadn't had a decent sleep in three days now and it was beginning to show.

Ops was bustling. Cohen was working fast and furious. Lt. Seles was discussing battle tactics with someone on the USS Galaxy. Lt. Fowler was under her console repairing the EPS conduit. Lovely.

"Commander, " said the Ambassador Kale, "it's so good to see you. What is our next step?"

V: "Spinning Like a Top"

"Commander Seles. If the Ops officer could be so kind as to randomly activate thrusters when our friends attack...Let us see if our guests are as capable of latching onto an erratic target as they are a stationary one..."

It was a crazy idea but they were running out of options. Engaging the thrusters while the station was sailing would most likely put it into an out of control spin. Katarina could visualize a 100 story building spinning like a top. Most likely the inertial dampeners would give out first turning everyone inside the station to mush.

"Ensign Miller. Fire thrusters on Lt. Cohen's command. Lt. Clay, inform the Galaxy of our planned maneuvers and tell their helmsman to stay clear of us." Katarina tapped at her comm panel. "Seles to Commander Hanson. Tom, we are going to need extra power to the IDF generators."

"Seles to Lt. Pescadeiro. Report to Ops immediately. I need you to get the redirective shields ready."

Katarina turned when she heard the turbolift doors whoosh open. She growled softly when she saw Ambassador tr'Herrian with Chief Dawner. "Ambassador what do you want," she snapped.

"I've come to help of course."

No doubt it was in the best interests of the Romulan Empire as well. Romulan snake. "How?"

"By giving you this, he held out the data chip " It contains shield frequecy, weapons frequency and structural data on the Void ships." He placed the chip down in front of Seles and smiled.

Katarina looked at the chip suspiciously. There was no point in asking him how he obtained the data. The Romulan petaQ was always snooping around the computer systems. Katarina picked up the chip and handed it to Lt. Cohen. "If it contains any useful information, please transmit it to the Galaxy as well."

Lt. Cmdr. Seles, XO Station Beta Two

"I hope this works"
By Lt. Jg Ramone Pescadeiro
Assistant Chief Operations Officer Beta 2 Station

Ramone felt as though his head had just hit the pillow, when his comm badge chirped him awake.

"Seles to Lt. Pescadeiro. Report to Ops immediately. I need you to get the redirective shields ready."

He tapped his badge, "On my way, Commander."

Quickly, he got into a clean uniform and rushed out. Five minutes later, he'd taken charge of the Ops station. He asked ensign Miller to stand by in Auxilary Operations, should something go wrong in main Ops. Looking chagrined at seeing the Romulan ambasador, lurking about in Ops, he got to work getting the redirective shields program set up. He fed all the pertinant information about the Coops shield frequencies and weapon frequencies into the program. When all was in readiness, he looked up at Cmdr Seles.

"Commander, redirective shields are ready to go online at your command." Looking over at Lt. Cohen, "Thrusters are on standby, ready on your command."

He glanced briefly at Jania sending her a quick thought....{I hope this works!}

"Back at Helm"
by Lt Ti Miran

Tremors woke Miran, well that and the terrible dreams that still plaqued her. Her first thoughts were that the ship was under attack again. She realized as she got dressed that they were not sporadic as the rocking blasts from another ship would be. Nor as often. Some force was making the ship rock.

Ti left her quarters to join the crew on the bridge. She decided that she could relieve the helmsman on duty. Nobody would mind... too much.

Senior staff still filled most of the stations. She relieved Ensign Shanika. Deiran gave her a weary smile as she sat down. She wanted some uninterrupted time with just him. Then Lt Blair detected more ships. Were they going to have to battle again? More lives could be lost. At least she had a feeling that she could help. She was finally back at her station.

"Lieutenant Ti, how long before the Cooperative ships reach the Station?" the Captain asked of her.

"Less than twenty minutes at their present speed, Sir," Miran answered adjusting the helm controls. Oh please oh please not another battle. Oh, what a night.

What was going to happen next? Would they get got of the Void and back home? Unanswered questions came and went.

*** KLM ***

Lt (jg) James Mitchell
Chief Science Officer - USS Galaxy

James had not even known what had hit him. Reix, Ronni, and himself had been going over the last of the data feed from the lost probe when the mass of Cooperative ships had attacked the Galaxy and Station Beta 2. Everything moved so fast, the next thing they knew, a feed from the Station had popped up onte viewscreen. This was his first look at the inhabitants of this "Void". But the trnasmission was not one of peace, but one filled with threats and violence. Captain Zahn had been annihilated with such ferocity and speed, it took the crew several moments to register the fact that the man was dead. It was simply to difficult to believe.

James looked over to his companion, Lt. Commander Reix. His face betrayed a pained expression of a loss of a friend and companion, and he heard a prayer escape his lips. Then the Trill looked to him and whispered a phrase that surprised him.

"We can't let them just take us. Especially after what they just did to the Captain. Got any bright Ideas? After all, it's almost always the Science staff who saves the day..." Varin let out a sarcastic laugh that made James shiver.

A tumult then broke out on the Station's Ops deck. The crew of the Galaxy bustled to their respective positions and the Captain barked out orders all around.

In the end, it wasn't the Science officers who saved the day, but the teamwork of the entire crew of both the Galaxy and Beta 2 that managed to stave off an almost certain Cooperative victory.

Hours later, after the station had gotten its sails underway, and the Science team had presented its report on the tremors affecting them, Reix, James and Ronni had retired to the Science Labs to iron out some details and hammer out a solution.

The three of them were dumbfounded as to what to do. The gravitational pull was getting stronger and the phases in between them was getting shorter. The debris field had condensed itself into a ball of mass that was getting progressively denser as it sped ever closer to the churning wake that generated the pull. Another tremor hit the ship and it shook the equipment off the shelves again. The floor was already riddled with various pieces and since the tremors were coming so fast now, they hadn't bothered picking them up. It was simply a waste of time.

"I still think we should try the shuttle thing again." James leaned back in his chair when the tremor faded away and stroked his bare chin. He was still in the habit even though it had been shaved away weeks ago.

Ronni shook her head vehemently. "No! It's too dangerous what with these gravitational pulls! The shuttle would only get torn apart!"

Reix spoke up. He'd been quiet the whole time, sitting in deep thought. "The problem we have here is, we only have 3 hours until the Big Bang anyways. If we sit here and do nothing, it won't really matter what we do. The probe we sent out earlier was lost. We need to guide it somehow....."

"We could always use Ronni's idea of the warp shell. It would phase us out of this space and it might serve to protect us somewhat from the pulls. It would be a good test of it. If it works, we could use it to protect us during the event."

"Wait a minute!" Ronni spoke out loud. "What if we generated a proton blanket over the shell? It might induce a wormhole and then we could take re

fuge in there."

"Might's and maybe's don't cut it. And the Wormhole's matrix might be effected by the enormous energy wave created by the event. We have no idea what kind of radiation will be emitted when it happens. Anything could happen. The odds of us coming out alive are too slim." Reix opposed.

"We don't have much time at any rate. Lets get out there and see what we can do. Ronni get those warp shell ideas ready and implement them on one of the shuttles in the Hangar. Reix and I will work out what the details will involve. I'd like you to stay here and make sure we come out of it okay." James got up. Reix said nary a word and followed his lead. Ronni rose from her seat as another tremor hit the ship. They all held on tight until it passed.

"One thing." Ronni said as they passed to the door. "I would suggest you take a Medical officer with you. You never know what getting close will do to each of you."

"Agreed." James said and they moved through the door with out another word.

LT. James Mitchell Chief Science Officer - USS Galaxy

"Pray?"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Another tremor shook the USS Galaxy and Station Beta Two. They were coming once every minute now, and lasting for several seconds each. Tension was definitely high.

"Status report!" Captain Price demanded.

Lieutenant Ti adjusted her console while she braced herself with one arm. "They have dropped out of warp Captain. The Cooperative ships are having as much trouble with these shock waves as we are. They are still closing however."

Lee glanced at Counselor Salshyar before looking over to Lieutenant Blair at Tactical. "How many ships are we reading now Lieutenant?"

"Holding at 96 vessels Captain, but they are still too distant and flying in close formation to be one hundred percent certain. There may be more." Troy said flatly. The outlook didn't look very bright.

"How long before they are within weapons range 'mate?"

"Since dropping out of warp, it will take them a while longer Captain. About 67 minutes at present speed. Assuming these tremors don't slow them down further."

Captain Price let out a sigh. The situation was beginning to look helpless. On one hand there was a fleet of nearly one hundred ships flying out to take the Station and the Galaxy by force. On the other, the explosion of the giant space mass that was to create the very galaxy the Federation exists in. While thinking on what to do, the Captain's communication badge chirped.

"Price here. What is it?"

["Lieutenant Mitchell Here Captain. `Commander Reix, myself and Doctor Andrews will be taking one of the shuttle craft out to get a close look at the space mass."]

A look of concern swept over Lee's face. "Isn't that rather dangerous Lieutenant? If you get caught too deeply in the gravitational pull from the space mass, you'll not be able to escape. You'll be pulled in and crushed like the probes were."

["There is that possibility Captain, but we are running out of time and we need answers now. We aren't going to find them here on the Galaxy."]

Lee thought for a moment. Normally he'd seek a safer, more scientific approach to gathering the data they needed. But in this case, with hostile ships approaching rapidly and an explosion waiting to create the universe and destroy everything in it's path, Mitchell was right. Corners needed to be cut.

"Very well Lieutenant. Good luck with your mission."

["Thank you Captain."] Mitchell replied.

"Lieutenant," Lee added, "while you are approaching the space mass, be sure to check out the energy readings Ensign Vo detected with the lateral sensor arrays. After running a full diagnostics on the array, it was discovered that they are in perfect working order. There may be something out there that needs to be checked out."

["Understood Captain. I'll get the coordinates from Ensign Vo and we'll check them out on our way. Mitchell out."]

The Captain sat there for a moment before asking, "What is the status of Station Beta Two?"

Commander Coe responded. "They have withdrawn the space sails because of the turbulence. They are preparing for the battle with the Void Cooperative. They've devised a strategy to help prevent the Cooperative from latching onto the Station and boarding her by force."

The Captain nodded. "What is that Commander?"

"I believe they are going to spin the station when the Cooperative approaches using the stabilization thrusters."

Price was impressed. "Excellent idea. It will make it harder for the Station to target the enemy ships, but it should prove to provide a challenging obstacle for the Cooperative to over come." After a pause, "Anything else Commander?"

"Things are some what chaotic over there Captain. The security forces are handling things, but the civilians are scared and restless. They are also dealing with a Bio-contaminant problem. But assure us that they have things under control. Ambassador tr'Herrian has released a data file on the Cooperatives ships. Heaven knows how he obtained it. We are studying it now sir."

"Very good Commander. All we can do now is prepare for the Cooperative and pray that Mitchell and Reix can discover something that will help us through the creation of the universe without destroying us."

"Aye sir." JT says with a nod just when another tremor shakes the shi