By: Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist
With excerpt from Ursa Sunder

*****Scene: The Shadow City *****************

The choice was before them. Every bone in Sunder's body said to take up the fight and rescue the captain and the missing members. But could he contribute to the further degradation of this planet's culture? He lived by his own ethics and kept the conscience of his own soul. He was going to go with the Yakuza, but who among the party was not willing to be a party to his own convictions?

" I need a moment with my crewmates. " He said to Tito.

" By all means. They are all here. " Tito said, finally standing. " I will leave you for a few moments and will return when your decision is made. " With a wave of his hand, Tito and the Yakuza shadow warriors melted back into the darkness just as silently as they had appeared. Sunder turned to face the gang of Starfleet officers.

" My mind is made up. I'm going. " He announced. " Who's going with me? "

" Count me in, Sir. " Adrianna said without hesitation.

Other members from the Crew quickly followed suit, adding there afirmatives to her's. It was a decision that could cost them all their career's, though there faces never showed it. The Starfleet training had made them too good at what they did, and their loyality to Captain Price and the Galaxy was apsolute.

***** Some time later- The tunnels below Papa Jacko's Fortress ************

Tito's voice was a dagger's whisper in the darkness as he began to speak.

"These tunnels are as close as we can safely get to Jocko..without a little help from technology. We of the Yakuza have developed a little something special that adds to our abilities."

Reaching into a pack he carried with him, he produced several small devices of darkened metal connected to black armbands. Handing them back to Adrianna and Sunder as he spoke. "Put these on...they are special devices that will allow us to penetrate Jocko's inner sanctum."

Adrianna and Sunder exchanged glances as they distributed the devices amongst the Starfleet crewman that had volunteered for the mission.

"What exactly do these things do?" Asked Ursa in a commanding tone.

Tito studied Ursa for a moment seeming to weigh his words before speaking. "There is no time to explain that now, prepare yourselves. What is coming is often a little disconcerting to those not use to the effect."

Pulling a somewhat larger device from the protected pack, Tito pushed several of its darkened buttons at once....

The effect was one that Adrianna would remember for the rest of her life. The slowly building stinging sensation in her arm was only the beginning. A billion needles plunging into every nerve in her body and a barely remembered scream was its end.

Seventeen Members of Tito's attack force, seven of them Starfleet officers vanished from the darkened tunnel in a wave of self imploding energy distortion. The night blue energy effect that surrounded each of them had lasted only an instant before the transport.

Vaporous effects rose from where each had been standing an instant before, rising in slow funnels before dispersing into the shadow filled tunnels....

"The game continues "
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

There was a flash of bright light while the Captain stood there on the thirteenth story of the concrete parking garage he'd just watched his pursuer's diesel truck plummet off of. A moment later Lee was once again standing in the middle of some kind of polo field. The Captain took a step backward while turning in a semi circle to take everything in. It was as before, except around the field, the audience had changed from the nameless, faceless post nuclear holocaust people Q had lining the playing field to faces he did recognize. Some were wearing finely detailed pin striped suits, their hair slicked back like the Cantinii gang. Others were darker skinned and wearing blue bandannas, tattoos and lots of jewelry like Jocko's gang. Still others looked like the truckers that had just chased the Captain, and bikers, and the Yakuza. All were hissing, and crying out in rage and anger.

Glancing up, Captain Price could see Q floating down in his seemingly weightless referee's chair. He was wearing red robes, a white judges wig, and a very serious expression.

"Q!" Lee called out in anger, but there was a hint of recognition to the Captain's tone as well. Deep in his subconscious, Price was glad to see the agent from the continuum.

Q hovered his chair down to the playing field, still holding his face in a scowl. "The ball will remain silent." With a wave of his hand, the howling crowd noise quieted down to silence.

"Like bloody hell I'll remain silent 'mate. I want to know what is going on. Why have you sent all of the Galaxy crew to this planet Q? Why are you subjecting us to this?" Captain Price demanded to know.

Lee half expected Q to grow angry or lash out at him for speaking his mind. He was tired, hungry, his muscles were sore, his face covered in a film of dirt that raccooned his eyes where his motorcycle goggles had once been, his hair was out of place and more of a light shade of gray rather than it's normal white color.

Q just smiled at the Captain while his chair seemed to glide down to the playing field and come to rest. "So many questions mon capitain." Q said smugly while reaching up and removing his judges wig. "You must admit, these underlings have created quite an interesting world for themselves Price." Q declared stepping off the referee's chair and stepping forward to face the Captain.

"They have duplicated every criminal organization from earth's past. Their entire culture is based on crime. It's amazing that they haven't wiped each other out already." Captain Price replied.

Q smiled wisely. "Yes, it is surprising isn't it?" Q took a step to his right and turned sideways motioning to the chair while holding the pristine wig of white curls out to Captain Price. "You look like you've had a hard day Price. Why don't you have a seat and relax for a spell?"

Lee's eyes narrowed, not following what Q was up to or why he was holding the judge's wig out for him to presumably take. Instinctively, the Captain took his hand and pushed it away. "I have no time for your games Q. I want answers 'mate. And I want them now."

Q let out a laugh. "What a presumptuous species. Tell me Price, what 'answers' are you actually looking for? And what makes you think I would tell them to you?"

Lee crossed his arms and glared back at Q. "Look 'mate, I assumed that one from the Q Continuum would know all the answers. I can see now that I must have been mistaken."

Q gave Captain Price a sharp stare while he snapped his fingers. In an instant, the Captain found himself sitting in the referee's chair holding the white wig in his hand. Lee's eyes focused on Q, who took a few steps towards the chair.

"Interesting sensation, wouldn't you agree Price?"

The Captain glanced at the wig and then at Q. "I don't understand what you are talking about Q."

"Oh come now Price, don't play ignorant with me. Admit it. Your people enjoy standing judge over inferior species as much as the next. So tell me," Q explained motioning his hand to the silent crowd of Ioshians that lined the playing field, "what will you do with them?"

"What are you talking about Q?" Lee asked in a confused tone.

"It seems that these underlings owe there entire society to you Price. 'You' of course meaning this Starfleet Federation you and your crew are a part of. Were it not for your predecessors 'playing god' as it were and tampering with the Ioshians, they would still have a balanced society. Granted a primitive one, but still, they wouldn't be on the verge of total annihilation." Q said with a glint of smugness in his eye.

A spark of realization lifted the Captain's brow. "Let me see if I got this straight 'mate. You are saying that the Ioshian's present problems are the result of Federation influence? And you think that Starfleet did this on purpose?"

Q smiled widely. "Not at all Price. Why a Q would be the last person in the continuum to equate an outcome on one's intentions. You must admit though it is frustrating. I mean, any time you tamper with the evolution of an inferior species, it sets into motion a chain of events. One minute they are nothing more than a pool of amino acids, and the next, they are mucking about the universe blindly tampering with things they do not understand." Q paused for a moment and then smiled back at Captain Price. "So tell me, what will you do with these people? Nothing as your prime directive states? Will you let them simply annihilate themselves in a rash of nuclear warfare?"

"That's not fair Q." Lee snapped back. "The Ioshian situation was not my fault."

"Maybe not directly Price, but even you must admit that had your Federation not interfered two hundred years ago, these people would not be on the path they currently are on. Nuclear destruction would not be a looming threat in..." Q pretends to check a make believe wrist watch, "what? Another 36 hours?"

"That still isn't fair Q. Back then the Federation didn't have the non-interference directive. If we would have been wise enough back then, this wouldn't be happening to the Ioshians today. We are not perfect Q, but we do learn from our mistakes."

"So you admit the Ioshians are facing their pending destruction because of a mistake your species made two hundred years earlier, isn't that correct?" Q asked pointedly.

Lee paused for a moment, then nodded. "Essentially, Yes. I can't deny that Q."

"And in admitting that mistake Price, what exactly are you going to do to correct it? Surely you do not intend to simply let them die and chalk it up to your species evolutionary 'learning curve'?" Q glanced around, and as if he had second thoughts added, "Then again, maybe that is exactly what you intend to do..."

Lee seemed to be growing angry at Q's accusations. "It's all a moot point anyway Q. I am presently in no position to do anything about it one way or the other. You've separated me from my ship and crew. The Ioshians are all after those of us that are on the planet, and the Galaxy is no where to be found."

Q smiled as if on the verge of laughing. "Oh fear not mon capitain. Your precious starship is not far and will be in orbit about the planet within the hour. I merely kept them at arms length long enough for you and members of your crew to get a first hand view of the conditions and society your Federation's earlier expeditions left this planet in. Now that you have seen, you are free to do as you wish."

"You are letting us go?" Captain Price asked.

"If leave is what you wish to do, I will not stop you." Q smiled, motioning to the Ioshians, "They might try to stop you, but I will do nothing further to impede your people Price. So the real question is, what will you do now? Tampering with the evolution of a species is a great responsibility. Believe me, no one knows this better than the Q. I'm curious to see if you come up with a better solution than we did for that whole Atlantis uprising."

"Atlantis?" Captain Price asked.

Q seemed to shrug it off. "So you've heard of it? A small continent that once existed on your earth. It started out so well. What a bunch of great minds they were, eager to learn much like the Ioshians. Teach them we did. Until they had learned enough to where they no longer listened to their continuum mentors. It never fails to amaze me how quickly you humans gain a little knowledge and then declare that you understand everything, when in actuality you know nothing at all."

"So your 'answer' was to destroy an entire continent 'mate?" Captain Price questioned, "That doesn't sound like a very effective solution."

"Oh contrare mon capitain. It was most effective. Sort of a surgical removal of a malignant portion of your human race. Giving that the only other option was to erase your entire existence all together, I think you should be thanking me." Q turned on his heal and smiled again. "But enough history for today Price. Now it is your turn to play God with the mess your Federation has created. Merry Christmas Price." Then in a flash, Q, the playing field, the Ioshians were all gone and Captain Price reappeared on the bridge of the USS Galaxy. A few meters behind him, a yelling Lieutenant' Mendenhall also appeared in a flash "Oh Joy of Joys!"

"Escape"
by Tebrianne Bancroft

***

Tebrianne sat on the bed of her cell, knees tucked up under her chin. Her arms were wrapped around her shins, pulling them in tight. Teb tried to make herself as small as possible. Tried to pull herself inside of herself. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was a pair of violet eyes watching her. She could see the pain in them. A pain of helplessness...a pain of hurt. It was a hurt that she'd caused when she stormed out of the party. It was a pain that she couldn't do anything about, and now she was who could tell how far from Benedict. She couldn't get him out of her mind. Every time she tried to think of something else, it all came back to his eyes watching her.

One of Mr. Johnson's people had knocked on the door a short time earlier telling her that the Doctor would be ready for her soon. Teb didn't know what was going to happen. Verner had said something about an operation to extract her thoughts.

Teb glanced around the darkness. A single shaft of light came from the ceiling, giving the room an eerie glow. Her eyes had adjusted to the low level of light, but it still made her flesh crawl.

Uncoiling herself, she stood up and walked toward the door. The tile floor was cold against her bare feet. She'd turned up the temperature in the room, but it still felt cold to her. The thin fabric of the dress Verner had given her didn't help retain the heat. To call it a dress was a joke. It was little more than a night dress, Teb thought. Except night dresses usually left more to the imagination.

Teb jumped slightly as the bolt in the door was thrown back. The room was bathed in harsh light as two men swung the door open and stepped through the doorway. They grabbed Tebrianne roughly by the arms as she tried to back away.

"Get your bloody hands off me, you oaf," she shouted.

"Calm yourself," the one on the left shouted, "or I'll forget to be nice with you."

"Go bugger yourself," Teb spat.

"I don't think that's very nice to say," the man on the right said calmly. He grabbed Tebrianne's ear and leaned in close. "If you're not nice, he may want to bugger you, missy." He leered at her when Teb shot him a worried glance. "Oh yeah," he said. "I know all that limey slang you use. And I'm sure you are one ripe little peach. Now, move before I decide that I won't be needing a trip to a whore tonight...if you get my meaning."

Teb stopped her struggling and let the two apes drag her out of the cell. The mere thought of sex with either of the two men holding her arms made Tebrianne's stomach turn.

The trip down the hall was fairly short. They hauled Teb into a large white room with a single silver table in the center. A bright white light shone down from somewhere above.

"Welcome to our humble medical facility, Miss Bancroft," a voice said from the darkness. "We are probably not as advanced as your Federation, but we are the best on the planet." A man with Asian features stepped into the light. "I am Dr. Akagi." He motioned to the table. "Place her on the table, gentlemen. And, Mr. Taylor, you may stop your salivating now.

She is an attractive young woman, but she is not for you." The doctor laughed a short weezy laugh and picked up a syringe from a silver tray.

The two men helped Teb onto the table and forced her to lie back. They attached silver cuffs to her wrists and ankles to keep her in place. The one named Taylor gave her one last lustful gaze before turning away and leaving the room with his partner. As they left the room, Teb could hear their laughter.

"Why are you doing this to me," Teb asked quietly.

"We seek knowledge," Akagi said. "Knowledge that you have, that we mean to possess. You see, we are involved in an ever-escalating war with the other factions of this world. Our business enterprises rest on the success of our ultimate victory against Jacko. We are hoping that your knowledge and experience will give us the upper hand we need."

"I don't know anything," Teb said. "I'm just a pilot. What I know isn't going to help you. Please, don't do this to me."

"I am sorry, Miss Bancroft," Akagi said. "But, I am afraid that I cannot stop now. We have invested too much in this project as it is, to pull out now would set us back months. I am afraid that we will have to see what we can get from your mind. I think you know more than you think you do."

"Please," Teb pleaded. She looked at the needle that the doctor held in his hand. "Please."

"I'm afraid there is nothing I can do now, my dear," he said. "Now, be a good girl and stay still while I administer this anesthetic. You will remain conscious during the procedure, but you will feel no pain from what we will be doing."

Teb felt the sharp prick of the needle piercing her flesh and a rush of warmth as the liquid from the syringe was injected into her bloodstream. Teb tried to cry out, but no sound would come. Her mouth was moving, but she couldn't make noise. She could see the doctor smiling down at her...an insane glint in his eye. Teb struggled against her bonds, but couldn't move. She tried to scream...

"A side effect of the drug," Akagi said. "You will be unable to speak for some time. And, you will be slightly disoriented." He checked a device on his wrist and nodded. "Just another minute and we will be able to begin, my dear. Just re--"

"I don't think so, Doctor Akagi," another voice said. Teb thought she recognized it as Verner's voice, but she couldn't be sure. "Unlock the restraints."

"You know I can't do that, Mr. Verner," the doctor said. "I will have to report this to Mr. Johnson, you realize."

"I realize that, Akagi," Verner said. "And, you'll do as I say or I'll kill you where you stand."

"Always resorting to violence, Mr. Verner," the doctor said, shaking his head. "So sad."

"That's the way you made me, Doc," Verner snapped. "The restraints. Now!"

"Very well, Mr. Verner," Akagi said, unlocking Teb's restraints. "Though the girl is in no condition to travel."

"Let me take care of that," Verner said. "Now, fill a syringe with the same stuff you gave her."

"Very well," the doctor said, picking up a second syringe and a small brown vial. He filled the syringe with the same reddish liquid he'd injected into Teb.

"Now," Verner said. "Inject yourself with that."

"But--"

"It's that or the bullets from my gun, Doc," Verner grinned. "Your choice."

The doctor stuck the needle into his leg and pushed the plunger, sending the liquid into his bloodstream. It was only a moment before the doctor collapsed onto the floor, his mouth moving soundlessly.

Verner quickly moved to Tebrianne's side. "Let me help you up," he said.

Teb managed to get herself into a sitting position with Verner's help. She tried to force a thank you to her lips, but the words wouldn't come.

"I understand," he said. "Now we need to move before they show up. It won't be long before they realize something has happened in here. Johnson is very big on monitoring his employees. Let's go."

As they started moving toward the door, Teb ruffled her dress at Verner. She wanted to tell him that she needed clothes. She couldn't escape in the frock he'd made her wear.

"No time," he said. "Just move quickly, and you'll be fine."

Teb mouthed her protest, but Verner pulled her forward.

"Down the hall," he snapped. "Move. I hear guards coming."

Teb quickly started toward the doors at the end of the hallway. Her bare feet slapped against the tiles as she and Verner ran toward the door. The sound of his heavy boots drowned out the noise of her own running. They passed through the door, locking it behind them, and ran down a flight of stares.

The dress Teb wore fluttered behind her as they ran, exposing more of her legs than she really wanted people to see. Not that it really mattered at the moment. Expose a little thigh, or have some crazed scientist put things in her head...there wasn't really much of a decision.

"That's an interesting tattoo," Verner said. "What is it?"

Teb tried to say something, but the words still weren't there. What the bloody hell was he talking about, she thought. Which tattoo is he talking about? From where he was at, he could probably see all three of her tattoos...including the one on her hip. Damn see-through bloody frock, Teb thought.

"Left up here," he said. Verner gave her a quick nudge through a side door and suddenly they were outside.

At first, Teb was fine and then the cold hit her. First, she felt it in her feet and then her chest. Then the rest of her body felt like it had been encased in ice.

"Oh crikey," she rasped.

"Good," Verner said. "You're getting your voice back. We need to keep moving or you're going to freeze."

"Too late," Teb said in a hoarse whisper. "Where are we going?"

"I know a place up this way," he said. "Come on."

He grabbed her hand and pulled Teb through the snow. People on the sides of the street stopped and looked at them funny as they ran along. Why wouldn't they look at them funny, Teb thought. Some guy in black leather dragging a half-naked woman in a billowing frock down the street? Perfectly normal for this place, Teb added. Like bloody hell it is.

They ran a few more blocks before Verner led them into the back door of a warehouse. Teb's feet were frozen--or they felt frozen anyway. Her entire body felt numb and cold and wet. The dress was clinging to her body, and she knew the fabric was probably even more sheer than before. Teb didn't even want to look. She took a glance at Verner and could tell by the expression on his face that her guess was correct.

"Please stop staring," she said.

"Oh," he said. "I'm sorry... I--I didn't mean...er, I--"

"Don't worry about it," she said. "Just stop staring, please."

"Right," Verner said. "It's just that...nevermind."

Teb could tell he wanted to say something else. "What is it, Verner?" she said.

"I was just wondering about..."

"This better not be about my hair color again," she said quickly.

"No," he said with a hesitant laugh. "I was wondering about your...about your... I don't even know how to say it."

"Just say it," Teb said.

"Typically when a woman is aroused, her--"

"Before you go any further," Teb said, putting up a hand. "I know where this is going and while that may be true on one hand, but the same kind of thing happens when it is really cold out. And, I don't know if you've noticed but it's freezing and I'm dressed for a summer on Pacifica."

"Where?"

"Nevermind," Teb said. "My nipples? It's because I'm freezing, okay? It's not because of you. You're a sweet guy and all, but I've already got a guy that I'm daft over. Now, how can we get me back to my people?"

Verner fixed Teb with a cold stare. Teb thought she saw something in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with his usual steely gaze. After a moment, he nodded. "Okay," he said. "If that's the way you want it. Fine, I'll get you back to your friends."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I break you out of there, risking my own neck in the process and you just want to get back to your people."

Teb's jaw dropped open in shock. "What? What did you expect? Did you think I was going to sleep with you to express my gratitude?"

"That's the way it usually happens, yes."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Teb said.

"I know," Verner snapped. "You've already said that. Now, you want to get back to your people. It's about ten miles down this street. Take a left on Capone Street and a right on Oxmyx Way. That should take you to the warehouse you were in. Your friends should be around there somewhere."

"That's it?" Teb said. "You're just pushing me out into the snow because I won't have sex with you?"

"I just threw my life away for you," Verner said quietly, his voice even and cold. "At this point, the less involvement the better."

"But if I were to jump into the sack with you, it'd all be different," she said. "I misjudged you, Verner. I thought you were an okay, bloke. But, you're not. You're just another crook...just like everyone else on this planet."

"Maybe I am," he said. "What's it to you? You don't care. You've got your Federation and your boyfriend to go back to. Why do you even care what happens to us? Get out of my warehouse, alien," Verner snapped. "Before I do something you'll regret."

Teb turned and ran for the door. She couldn't believe how quickly Verner had changed. She couldn't believe that he was the same as the rest of the inhabitants of this bloody messed up world. She thought he was different. She thought she found someone who had risen above the criminal lifestyle the Iotians had adopted. Why did she have to be wrong?

Teb paused for a moment at the door. She turned the handle and once more pushed out into the cold. She ran toward the edge of the building and peeked around the corner. The coast was clear. If she didn't freeze to death first. Teb darted around the corner and down the street into the cold once more.

***

In the loft of an abandoned warehouse, Michael Verner watched through the window as Tebrianne Bancroft ran down the street. He pressed his hands against the cold glass as she disappeared into the whiteness below. He turned away and pressed his back against the wall. Why did he do that? Why did he push her way like that? Why did he say the things he did?

Michael walked to the center of the room and sat down heavily into the old broken chair. He closed his eyes and in the darkness of his mind's eye, he could only see a pair of brown eyes staring back at him. She would never be his. Her heart belonged to another and Michael would never be able to win her love away. The eyes were still there in the darkness.

Michael glanced at the heavy pistol sitting on the table in front of him.

***

Teb had run three blocks when the silence was suddenly shattered by a gunshot. She only paused for a moment before she continued on into the eternal whiteness.

Lt. Tebrianne, USS Galaxy, Chief Helmsman
tebrianne@elsinore.net
UIN# 2172851

By Ensign Suder
Engineer
"Confusing Ends Or Beginnings? Part III"

Suder got up after his rest feeling better. He wasn't as tired as before, but he still ached a bit from his wounds. He found Rocko and Kelly sitting at a table in a large room. They both smiled as Suder approached them.

"So how are you feeling?" Kelly asked.

A lot better, thank you." he replied.

"Well, it's good to see your better, I take it your about to leave now?" Rocko asked.

"I am yes. I have to find my friends, get back to where I belong." Suder said straightening his jacket. "So I just wanted to say, thanks for all your help." he continued.

"Your not getting away that easy." Kelly said. "We're going to stay with you until you get back to your ship."

"You know about the Galaxy?" Suder asked.

"Yes. We also know that your Captain and a few other officers met Papa Jacko. You obviously weren't with them, otherwise you wouldn't be here." Rocko stated.

"Well, it's very nice of you to offer this, but-"

"But nothing, we're staying with you. There's no telling how many gangs are after you now, the moment you step out of this place, you become a target." Kelly shot at him.

"That'll be the end." Rocko said.

"Or will it?" Suder asked himself. "Well, I accept your offer." Suder said. Kelly smiled and stood up. Rocko followed and they left the small building within ten minutes. Their mission: Find the rest of the Galaxy crew.

"Tell me again, why did I choose this job?" part 2
Ltjg. Karyn Dallas, Chief Counselor
Lt. Leslie Wilson, Counselor

Michael Verner walked with a purpose. He knew exactly what he was going to do. He'd already gone over the plan several times since leaving their latest prisoner. What was her name-Tebrianne, that's right. Kinda cute and sassy, he definitely liked that. Soon they would be able to get lots of information from her. If she wasn't willing to cooperate... well, Mr. Johnson had ways of convincing those stupid enough to defy him to talk. Unfortunately Michael Verner was tired of waiting for the "big payoff" as Mr. Johnson called it. He was tired of being treated like a stupid thug who jumped every time his boss snapped his fingers, only to be slighted in the end. This had been his family and he felt a little guilty for what he was about to do, but the time to act was now.

Quickly and quietly he made his way to the ladder where he had found Tebrianne. She had said there had been more people up here. With any luck, he might be able to find someone and get the information he wanted. He could then use the technological information to find a way out, or he could sell it to the highest bidder. Either way, he would gain a fresh start, be his own boss. Somebody was going to regret screwing over Michael Verner.

*****

"I don't like this, something just isn't right. They should have been back by now." Karyn tried to keep the edge out of her voice. She was more frustrated than anything thing else. She wanted to be of more help to the situation. She had questioned Q's motives for bringing her here several times. She had decided it was simply to annoy her. Boredom was the best way to drive Karyn Dallas insane. She always needed to be doing something. She had learned to be productive with her life because you never knew when it could be taken away.

"We're assuming that they are still alive, Leslie commented, "from what I've seen we can't really no for sure what's happened to them."

"I don't think they'd have gone to all that trouble to get them if they were just going to kill them. They definitely want something. Although these do seem like irrational people and I think any-

"What?" said Leslie, confused as to why Karyn stopped in mid-thought. Karyn held up a hand which indicated Leslie should be silent.

"I hear something," whispered Karyn, " follow me."

Karyn jumped as suddenly the barrel of a gun was shoved in her face.

"Going somewhere?" said the dark clad thug. Karyn tried to regain her composure fast enough to answer.

"We were just about to get some food. You see, we're homeless and we just came in her to stay warm for a little while and-" the man's hand came up so fast Karyn barely had time to register what was happening before the blow struck her cheek. Leslie winced, knowing how much it must have hurt. To her credit, Karyn didn't bat an eye.

"Cut the crap. I know who you are and how much your worth. You either cooperate with me or risk getting your brains blown out. I can guarantee you these things aren't as fancy as your laser guns and you'll die a long lingering death and have lots of time to regret your resistance. Now MOVE!!"

It was clear there was no getting around it. For the time being they would have to cooperate with the lunati-, er, mentally disturbed individual. Besides, who could argue when a gun was pointed straight at you. There was something in this man's eyes that indicated he wasn't your typical criminal. He seemed programmed for violence, as if he couldn't control his responses anymore. Also she noticed a touch of sadness. If she could get him talking, maybe she could find out what was going on. She gave a slight nod to Leslie, indicating she should comply and follow him. They would just have to play this thing out for the time being....

*****

Man, these Federation chicks are hot, thought Michael. For a brief instant he thought about forgetting the whole idea and keeping the women for himself, he thought better of it as he realized pretty soon he was going to have enough money to buy as many women as he wanted. It was getting dark and they were going to need a place to stay the night. He remembered a place not too far from here, but far enough away from his "family" that he wouldn't be seen.

He pushed away pangs of fear as he envisioned his reward.... "Move," he said, waving the gun at Leslie, then at Karyn.

Leslie let her anger flare for a moment, but then she thought of Astrid and what one of those guns had done to her. Michael walked behind them, putting the gun against Leslie's back. "Walk."

The two counselors did so. Where they were going, it didn't matter, all Leslie knew was that she had a gun shoved into the small of her back, it hurt like crazy, and the thought of the gun going off scared her to death. Karyn whispered something to Leslie. "Stay calm. He can't risk hurting his hostages."

"Shutup, or I'll start shooting."

Karyn shut her mouth, and with fire burning in her eyes, continued to walk. Leslie tried to ignore the pain in her back, but couldn't bear it. Trying to shift her feet, the man only shoved the gun harder in her back.

"Don't try anything funny," he sneered, "or I'll shoot ya. You may have fancy laser guns, but I assure ya these things work fine."

After walking for what seemed like a lifetime, the man stopped. "Stop."

The two kidnapped counselors stopped, Michael proceeded to open up a hidden door in a wall, and he shoved the two women inside. Then, making sure no one had seen him, he stepped inside himself.

By: Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist

****** Scene: The Armory / Jacko's inner sanctum **********

Adrianna's scream ended as she felt herself falling to the ground. The metal floor of the carbon steel alloyed chamber felt as cold and unforgiving as the transport itself. An eternity passing in an instant.

It had felt as if every atom in her body had imploded,..then exploding outward at the last second to reform in this strange new location. No words could really describe the terror she had felt, or the sensation of how the effect had violated some private part of her...

Tito's voice cut through the darkness of the chamber. "We have arrived in Jacko's private Armory. Here we will find the weapon's we need." Suddenly Tito activated a hand-light, and his black suited form became visible. With typical Yakuza efficiency his dark eyes scanned the chamber, moving the light along the walls and over the neat rows of weapons revealed there.

Also revealed was that not all of there party were present in the armory, just Tito, Adrianna and Lieutenant Commander Sunder.

"Where are the other's?" Ursa asked in a stern tone.

"They have been taken by the Trans-Stortion Device to other crucial area's of Jacko's Fortress. Some are moving to secure his bunker missile control station, other's will seize control of the upper levels. Do not be concerned, your people are safe." Tito's voice was calm and calculating as he spoke.

Adrianna let her copper-red eyes fall on the neat racks of weapons and assorted equipment. There were what looked like at least a hundred old-style type II phaser's, as well as old style phaser rifles. Also in neat cubicles there were storage racks for energy clip's, belts, protective armor and an assortment of hand to hand weaponry. Glancing over at Ursa, she saw him doing the same thing, taking in the sight of so much firepower.

Adrianna turned to Ursa as she spoke. "Sir, how do we know that the other members of the crew are even hear? We could be further violating the prime- directive by involving ourselves if we are guessing wrong."

Ursa only nodded as he replied. "That's the chance we took going into this Ensign. But I understand your concern. We have to get our people back at all costs."

"How touching." Tito said as he took two of the phasers and inserted the energy clips. With a smile he handed one to each of the Federation crewman.

"On the other side of this armored door is the wood panel which conceals it. Behond that is Jacko's private office. Help me finish this, and I promise you a way to not only free your people but contact your ship as well." Tito smiled as he turned toward the console that opened the door.

"We already agreed to help. Lead the way." Ursa's voice was confident as he moved toward the door. Without further delay Tito keyed the controls and the vault access began to slide silently open.

Ursa and Tito stepped out firing short control bursts from there Phaser's. The weapons were crude and power hungry, and the stun settings were enough to drop a rhino. The two guards within Jacko's inner office were not expecting anyone to come out of the most secure area in the building. Taken off guard, they never saw what hit them.

"I could definitely learn to like these." Tito said looking down at the phaser.

"Let's hope you won't have that much of a need for them in the future." Adrianna replied.

The layout of the office was very plush, with an immense window looking out over the expanse of New Chicago. Tito moved quickly behind Jacko's desk and triggered a hidden button that was concealed there. Across the room another panel retracted back, revealing a large brightly illuminated monitor. The monitor was overlaid with a grid-map of the planet and glowing specks marked several locations in different colors. Beneath the monitor was an expansive computer control station.

Tito moved with the other's over to the monitor and its control array. Adrianna was intrigued at the level of sophistication that this kind of technology represented.

"These people are much more advanced than anyone ever thought" Her voice was tightly controlled as Ursa walked up next to her.

Tito only smiled as he walked up to the array. Pointing to the glowing points of light as he spoke. "These represent control stations for a series of missile defense platforms left over from our last war. It would appear that Jacko has went to considerable expense to reactivate a series of them. He is planning something massive. Whatever his plan, they cannot be fully controled from hear."

"He must have as secondary control point, somewhere secure." Said Sunder.

"How could we possibly find it." Replied Adrianna.

"Leave that part to me." Tito lifted his left hand toward his mouth and spoke into a hidden communicator woven into the fabric. "All Shadows report status." The reports began to flow in from his men as Sunder and Adrianna listened. Indeed they had secured the entire building.

"Begin level one information extraction." Tito smiled and winked at Adrianna as he gave the order. "We will know soon enough the location of his secondary base. With a man like Jacko, his own arrogance will be his undoing."

Adrianna couldn't help but study the computer before her. "I think the answer may be right in front of us. This system does more than just..monitor."

"What have you got?" Asked Sunder.

"I think I might be able to overload the entire satellite control grid." Smiling She moved closer to the controls. "With your permission Gentleman."

"Proceed Ensign." Ursa smiled he watche Adrianna work the controls of the Array. Soon, one after the other..the glowing specks of light went from whatever color they were..to red. After a few seconds, a sea of red dots danced across the display....

"Ho Ho House Coffee"
Ensign Lexana Ral
Security
Jacko's Intern

This had gone far enough.. Now someone was teaching her how to pour a cup of coffee ...sexily..

Lex watched the demo in mild boredom. When asked to, she stood up, poured a perfect cup of coffee, asked the guest if he wanted cream or sugar, smiled , and sat down.

She blinked at Madame D'Aglio, waiting to be yelled at for being sarcastic, then she raised a hand "Do I get paid for this?" She inquired

Later , bruised and burned, she sat in her quarters, it was getting late and she'd been let off for for the night. In other words she'd been locked into her room. She sat in her nightclothes idly brushing her hair,after sending a good hour trying every possible exit. She curled her feet up underneath her and rocked back and forth plotting something evil for each and every one of her captors..

"Path to sickbay" By security officer ensign Neil Bolitho

After warding off the swarm of concerned security officers that heeded his intruder call. Bolitho requested that the other security personal return to their posts. Bolitho began making my way to the sickbay complete with gause bandage taken from a medkit which a thoughtful security officer had brought along. Bolitho made a concerted effort not to bleed on the corridor carpeting as he made his way to sickbay.

Quite a few of his crewmates upon seeing the injured security officer approached Bolitho and asked if everything was alright and whether he needed any help, but Bolitho stoically shook his head (spraying a bit more blood )and said he was ok and on his way to sickbay.

After what seemed forever, Bolitho finally arrived at sickbay

=/\= "Where? The Warehouse!" =/\=
by Lt Matthew Albrecht

*** Abandoned warehouse ***

Satisfied with the message scribbled in Cardassian on the wall across from the safe on the ground floor of the abandoned warehouse, Matthew clapped his hands together as if brushing the dust from them. He nodded, and stuck the nearly dry marker in his inside coat pocket. He left the small room that contained the safe, and headed across the open floor where several bodies lay broken and bloody. It was still terribly cold, and his hands were numb, so he tucked them inside his coat under his armpits.

He stopped on the way to the exit to examine the bodies of the unknown gangsters, lying in their own sticky, cold blood. *These are definitely not Cantinii's men.* They were dark complected, and wore heavy gold jewelry. They wore dark eyewear, and had earrings very different from the Bajoran kind Matthew was more familiar with. But what struck him most was the manner in which they were killed. The attacker had torn them apart with some kind of edged weapon, or multi-edged weapon more likely. He remembered seeing Ursa wearing hunting claws once, when he had gone into a berserker rage on the holodeck. Could 'commander Sunder have somehow brought his claws along with him? Matthew dismissed the idea.

He was only a dozen feet from the doorway which no longer held any doors upon its hinges, when the sound of projectile weaponry broke the stillness of the pre-dawn morning. *What a way to start Christmas Eve!* he thought angrily.

The machine-gun noise kept up for several seconds, followed by the staccato clack clack of a semi-automatic pistol fired in return. The security officer was momentarily startled by the sounds, but he was more perturbed to see his cab speed away with a squeal of tires. Rajid had obviously been more alarmed than Matthew; He surely wouldn't return. Matthew's hands, already freed from beneath the coat and pistol gripped in one, slapped against his thighs and he heaved a loud sigh. *Damn!* he mentally cursed at his misfortune; Now how would he get back to the hospital?

He hurried across the warehouse floor to the stairs, so he could get to the roof and determine what the gunfire was about--but the stairs were laying dismembered upon the warehouse floor, looking as useless and abused as the bodies strewn about. There was an alternative route upward; A rusty metal ladder bolted to one wall led straight up to the roof forty feet above. The rungs appeared terribly cold, a light patina of frost decorated them. Looking at his bare fingers, unprotected against the ice, he momentarily gave up the idea of reaching the roof. However, renewed machine-gun sounds inspired him to seek high ground. So, spotting a pair of gloves doing no good on the hands of a dead man, he moved over to remove them from their former owner.

Soon he was ascending, and reached the top of the ladder. The ice cold of the ladder rungs bit through the gloves, though the air near the roof was moderately warmer than the air at the floor. He tugged and tugged at the lever holding the hatch shut, but it wouldn't budge! Unsure if he should retreat down the ladder or try something more drastic to open the hatch and gain access to the roof, he paused long enough to catch a noise from below. In the doorway below, with dawn's earliest rays of light spilling in around it, a figure moved into the building...

Gamma Shift Duty
by Lt Endris Gakor, Doctor, temporary CMO
Lt Commander Deiran Casey, temporary CO
and Captain Lee Price, returning from the Sigma Iotia

*** Bridge ***

Deiran looked around the bridge of the USS Galaxy. Officers were in short supply, so he was glad that Endris had taken some initiative and finish her CDO courses. It was good to see the remainder of the crew was cooperating to solve the curve ball Q had thrown them.

He decided to summon the Tellarite to the ready room to tell her she would be rotated into bridge duty for Gamma Shift.

=/\=Doctor Gakor, report to the Ready Room=/\=, the Commander summoned without providing a clue to what he wanted. The Iceman had a good poker face, especially when pitted against the odds.

*** Gakor's Quarters ***

Gakor had just began her rest interval when she heard her presence being requested in the ready room.

"Snacks!", the Doctor said. "Computer, Lights!", she commanded. Swiftly she dressed, replicating a med kit the summons was a result of an injury. Pausing only to rub the sleep from her eyes, the Tellarite shuffled down the hall to the turbo lift.

Within a couple minutes of receiving the message, Endris barged off the lift and discretely trotted into the Ready room.

Deiran sat at the Captain's wide desk, staring at a pile of PADDS and reports to keep the ship functioning efficiently.

"Ah, Doctor", he said as he heard the door whoosh open. "I see you've been busy on the holodeck. Congratulations, I would like to award you with bridge duty for Gamma shift."

At that minute, a bright flash of light heralded the return of the crew. Everyone turned, expecting to see Q pull one of his pranks. They were greeted by Captain Price's smiling face instead.

"Commander Casey, I'll be needing my chair back shortly, mate.", the Captain piped. Lee turned to see Doctor Gakor and said "And I think Dr Kahn will be glad to reclaim her office, Endris."

"I will see to it immediately, Sir", the Tellarite said and started to turn for the door, but then heard Deiran speak up. "Captain, several things happened while you were away. I was just congratulating the Doctor, who passed the Command Duty Exam while you were down planet side."

"Bonzer job, Lieutenant", the captain added. "With the recent squabbles I've witnessed down on Sigma Iotia, there may be a need for you shortly on the bridge", he said calmly.

Endris was heading downward in the turbo shaft to return to Sick Bay when she realized the Captain had not promised anything for certain. And he seemed quite diplomatic in the process. And although she did not specialize in counseling, medical courses did brush on it at the academy. It was clear something was troubling the General, but Gakor didn't know what it could be. Knowing Q, there had probably been some type of disturbance on the planet.

Lee had said Gakor might be needed shortly on the bridge. Did that mean injuries were possible? A pending confrontation of some sort? A whole menu of possibilities dangled in Endris's vivid imagination. Only time would tell what would happen.....

"Acting Second Officer Part II"
by Lt K'Eytyanna Samara & Lt Cmdr Deiran Casey>br> reviewed by Cpt Price

An hour later after her outburst with vases....

K'Eytyanna walked out of Engineering after leaving Lt Jg T'Zaq in charge while she was gone.

Waiting till the turbolift doors closed, she spoke "Bridge.. no, wait.. Ten Forward."

{I'd better get a drink to calm down or I'm liable to be up for assault on a senior officer.}

Getting a glass of Terran lemonade, she sat down an empty table. At the next table, two off-duty ensigns from Medical were chatting.

'Did you hear that Doctor Gakor just completed the last test for Command duty? When Tommy asked her, she said she got an 80.5%.'

'Wow. Just glad I didn't have to do it. It is supposed to be very hard.'

Neither of them heard K'Eytyanna drop her glass before bolting out of Ten Forward.

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

Stepping off the turbolift onto the bridge, K'Eytyanna looked around for Deiran. Moving to the command chair, she spoke crisply,

"Commander, I need to speak to you about someting. In private, Sir."

Deiran nodded, "Okay. Follow me."

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

Entering the Ready Room behind Deiran, she stopped at attention, just short of what would have followed with a salute had Starfleet been in the 1990's.

Deiran smiled at her pose and spoke, "Lieutenant, what do you want to speak about? You can speak freely and stop that pose before you snap."

K'Eytyanna gave a small scowl before speaking, "I don't have time for damn Gamma Shift bridge duty, I've got no command experience whatsoever and I recently heard that in Ten Forward before coming here that Lt Endris Gakor has passed the final test for Command Duty Officer training while I haven't even thought about doing it."

Deiran leant back in the chair and smiled, "So??"

K'Eytyanna grabbed the desk so she wouldn't react like she felt like doing and snapped,

"I have more important things to do in Engineering then nurse-maid some Gamma Shift ensigns. Gakor can do that better then I can. She's a doctor - they are supposed to have some sort of bedside manner unlike part Klingon engineers with a reputation for belting up machines, according to what I've heard. If you really want to see who would be better, I'll take that stupid damn test and you can compare results."

Deiran watched as Kay stormed out of the Ready Room. He let out a laugh. She was so hilarious when she was mad.

'How could anyone choose to pass up command duty on the Bridge? What is she insane?' Casey thought better of telling her his thoughts.

Lt K'Eytyanna Samara USS Galaxy Engineer/Shuttle Pilot
D'Akana T'Mok (NPC) USS Galaxy Targ

"Power Play - Again"
by Lt. Commander Ronni Morris

Ronni quickly climbed up the little ladder out of the resevoir and got dressed. She felt like she could breathe again. As soon as she was dressed, she climbed down her tower and climbed back up the radio tower.

Lt. Sullax was holding a cable with a prong on it. "Commander, I don't know where this goes. It looks like a power coupling, but I can't seem to locate the other end."

Cocking her head to the side, she had to agree with him. There seemed to be no female connection for it. The Romulan pointed to an indicator light and said, "It seems to be losing power. I would say that we have about 15 minutes left of power."

She wrinkled her nose and started to search the area. As she was looking around, she heard a loud noise from a opened sided building near them. Vehicles seemed to be parked inside the building. From the building she could see a motorcycle being chased my at least one vehicle. The noises was horrific. Ronni though, had better things to focus on.

A yellow and blue bird flew past the tower and circled up to the top. There it landed on the tower's warning light. Ronni realized that the light would need a power source and most likely a backup power source. With a laugh, she climbed up the tower and found what she was looking for. A battery. She disconnected the battery. It had a connection port for the transmitter.

With a "Whoop!", Ronni quickly rejoined Ryak and the two officers attached the transmitter and begin transmitting. Unfortunately, there was no receiver on the tower, but they decided to stay and transmit as long as they could.

Ronni told Ryak, "Go ahead and join up with the others. I'll stay here as long as I can and join you when I can." Ryak nodded and climbed down the ladder. Ronni watched him climb into the vehicle that they had stolen and smiled to herself. "Of course he would start the car easier than I did. I'll bet he's a better driver too . . . . "

With that, she continued signalling for the Galaxy.

By: Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist

Scene: Jacko's Penthouse Office / New Chicago

Tito watched with a veiled smile as the final stations went red on the control array. Lifting his arm to speak into his hidden glove communicator, he let the smile leak out even more. "All teams report status."

"Team one reporting. Sub-levels are clear. Information extraction indicates a distant control station on the third continent. Request Orders?"

"Team one stand by. Team Two report." Tito's voice was all business as the Lieutenant Commander and Adrianna watched.

"Team two reporting. With the assistance of the Federation people we have secured all primary levels. The Entrance lobby is now controlled by our support people. We have admitted reinforcements from our street level contacts."

"Excellent. Maintain positions and report any disturbance. Treat all imbounds to the building as hostile's if not displaying the proper codes." Tito's voice was unwavering.

"Understood. Team two out."

"Your people certainly know their jobs." Ursa commented.

"As do yours it would appear. This level of training was necessary if we were to suceed,..on both sides." Tito looked at Adrianna as he said the last. "Due to your technical expertise we have also denied Papa Jacko his master plan. No doubt it would have caused us all considerable harm." Tito allowed another quick smile before turning toward the panoramic window Jacko had installed.

"New Chicago, perhaps the entire world owes you both a dept of gratitude." Tito gestured toward the lights of the city as he spoke.

Lieutenant Commander Sunder's face became icy hard. "You said something about us being able to contact our ship. That you knew of a way. I would like that explanation now if you don't mind." Ursa was resolute as he moved a step closer to Tito.

"Patience is the sign of a strong mind Mr. Sunder." Tito unslung the bag that he had carried with him. Reaching inside he pulled forth another small device. It's look was unmistakable, that of an old style federation communicator.

"Something your people left behind a long time ago, never the less..." Tito let his voice trail off as he held the device.

Adrianna's eyes locked on the device and she began to smile. "The original communicator, the one Doctor McKoy left behind from the Enterprise!"

"Exactly." It has been taken apart many times, but is quite functional regardless. You may need to retune it to the correct frequency, but I don't think that would be a problem for your engineer after what I have seen today." Smiling he offered the device to Adrianna.

Speachless, she slowly reached out and took it from him. It seemed heavy in her hand, yet held a comforting feel.

"Make the necessary adjustments Ensign." Ursa's voice was without the usual command edge as he gave the order. "Lets get our people out of here."

"Yes sir." She said in a low tone. It was all she could manage as she flipped open the lid and began making adjustments to the small control nobs.

After a moment she spoke again. "Its ready Sir".

"Do the honor's Ensign. Tito, we owe you a debt of gratitude as well." Ursa looked toward him and smiled for the first time that day.

"Debts have a way of repaying themselves." Was Tito's only reply.

"Perhaps." Ursa moved a few steps closer to Adrianna.

Flipping open the lid of the communicator again, Adrianna smiled. "This is Ensign Adrianna to the Galaxy, come in please."

"This is the Galaxy. Are you ok down their?" The response came with an expected level of static from the old communicator.

"We are fine...for the most part. Lock onto this communicator, we have two to beam up." Adrianna couldn't help smiling again as she said the last, holding the communicator cupped in her small hands.

"Understood. Stand by." The communications officer's voice was full of excitement at having received the contact.

After a moment the sound of the transporter effect began, not unlike the soft music of chimes. A second later, a billion motes of golden light surrounding both of them as they vanished....

"The night before Christmas"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

"Captain!" declared a surprised but gladdened Lieutenant' Taurean.

Captain Price looked like hell off wheels. He was still wearing the 'screaming eagle' biker's jacket, soiled hair and a raccoon's strip of clean flesh about his 'goggle line'. "Aye Lieutenant'. Good to be back home for a change. What's our present situation 'mate?"

The Benzite shifted slightly in her chair. "The Galaxy seems to be held in place by some sort of unknown force. Everything appears to be functioning properly sir, but we simply are not moving."

Lee nodded and glanced over to an apparently winded Lieutenant' Mendenhall who took a few steps forward to stand next to the Captain. He too was sent back to the Galaxy in the flash of light that Q used to return the Captain. With a silent nod, Lee looked back at Numa. "Why don't you check your instruments again Lieutenant'? Q said he was releasing the ship. I have a hunch things will suddenly begin functioning normally now."

Lieutenant' Taurean walked over to the helm and leant over the back of Ensign M'aerikh's shoulder to see what the console said.

"Ahead one quarter impulse sir." V'ehlma replied to Lieutenant' Taurean.

The Benzite placed her hands on her hips in a show of disbelief. "You appear to be correct Captain. Instrument show we are moving towards the planet again."

Lee nodded. "Very good Lieutenant'. Where is 'Commander Casey?"

"He ordered an senior staff meeting to try and free the Galaxy from whatever was holding us Captain. I believe he and several officers are below decks in engineering and the shuttle bay putting together a small task force to try and tow the ship to Sigma Iosha 2."

"I see. Notify the Commander that Q has released the ship. Assume standard planetary orbit about Sigma Iosha 2 and begin scanning for our people." Captain Price ordered in a direct tone.

"Aye Captain. How shall we locate our crew members sir? Q left everyone's communicators on the ship when he took them sir." Numa asked the Captain.

"Aye. That will make it difficult, especially for the humans. Start out by scanning for the non-terran life forms. Scan for Romulan, Betazoid, Delphinian, Vulcan, etcetera. Hopefully, most of our people will have stayed together." The Captain explained, "I am going to my quarters to change into a clean uniform. I can be reached there if I'm needed before returning to the Bridge."

"Very good Captain." Lieutenant' Taurean acknowledge as the Captain turned to exit the bridge.

"Sir." Lieutenant' Mendenhall greeted in a slightly winded tone having just ran up thirteen flights of the concrete garage to get to the Captain' location before Q whisked them back to the ship. "I saw the truck follow you up that structure...." Anthony panted, "I followed as fast as I could by foot sir. Then there was a flash of light..."

"At ease Lieutenant'. You look like a change of clothes and a sonic shower would do you right as well 'mate." The Captain pointed out.

"Yes sir," Mendenhall smiled, "or a month on Risa sipping Canar on a warm beach."

"You go get cleaned up and then report to Engineering. With any luck, we should have most of our people back on board within the hour." Lee explained.

"And then what sir?" Anthony asked in a serious tone knowing what Jocko had in store for New Chicago if the Captain didn't agree to turn over the Galaxy to his gang.

Lee paused for a moment before answering, "And then the really hard decisions will have to be made 'mate. When you get to engineering, have Lieutenant' Samara or whoever is in charge of Engineering at the moment, start searching the data banks for information on atomic warheads and orbital launch platforms from around the twentieth century."

"I understand Captain." Anthony responded.

With a nod, both Captain Price and Lieutenant' Mendenhall stepped into the turbolift, exiting the bridge.

"'Commander Casey, This is Lieutenant' Taurean on the bridge sir. Captain Price and Lieutenant' Mendenhall are back aboard the ship. Q apparently let them and the ship go. We are presently preparing to assume orbit about the planet sir."

["The Captain's back? That's great news. Let me talk to him Lieutenant'."] Deiran ordered over the comm channel.

"You just missed him sir. He and the Lieutenant' went to their quarters to change into their uniforms." Numa explained.

["Of course. They probably assumed native outfits to better blend in. Okay. I'm on my way back up to the bridge. I should be there shortly. Maybe this whole ordeal Q has put us through is nearly over. Just in time for Christmas."] 'Commander Casey said with a smile.

"That would be something 'Commander. I'll see you up here in a few then sir. Taurean out." The scientist responded before closing the channel and leaning back in the command chair awaiting Casey's arrival on the bridge.

"Steady as she goes V'ehlma." Numa called out evenly.

"We should be in orbit in six minutes sir." The half Andorian, half Klingon replied with confidence that her calculations were correct.

The USS Galaxy streaked through the Sigma Iosha system and approached Sigma Iosha 2, preparing to assume a standard orbit.

"Broken glass."
by Lieutenant Commander Greer Erikson, CSO

It was still the early hours of the morning by the time that Erikson returned to the warehouse where the Galaxy officers had been maintaining a low profile. The early morning air was made colder by the snow on the ground and a chilling breeze which swept across the the streets. Finally seeing the door to the warehouse, Greer walked more quickly to the entrance of the building, ignoring the small metal casings on the pavement from the fight which had occurred earlier in the day.

Pulling open the door, a series of small holes in the wood caught his eye, illuminated as the street lights shone through them. Inside, the presence of broken glass on the floor was finally evident and there was no sign of his fel

low officers. Captain Price, Commander Sterner, Ronni, AC, and everyone else stranded on the planet was gone. Scratching his head, Greer walked slowly around the room for an indication of what had occurred, the process lengthened without the assistance of a tricorder. Greer knelt down and tried to pull out up a deformed piece of metal as it was lodged in some brick. He recognized it as something from a Holodeck program and something which had injured both Captain Price and Doctor Rousseau more than a year ago. With no sign of danger or his fellow officers, the scientist could do nothing more in the cold streets of New Chicago, and huddled near the heating system.

After only a few hours sleep, the stunned Human got up from the floor and began to watch a shadow over the far sid of the warehouse. "Is that you 'Commander?" Greer turned around to see Lieutenant' Chen standing there, half covered by shadows created by the lack of light from inside the warehouse. "He's in here Commander." the security officer said as he stuck his head back through the doorway.

Greer began to walk over to where the security officer was standing, dusting off his cloths a little, only to see the ship's executive officer come through the door as Lieutenant' Chen monitored the safety of the warehouse location from the doorway.

"Your report please 'Commander Erikson." Sterner said as he finally saw the ship's Chief Science Officer.

"I believe that I manage to get a message out sir. There is no means for establishing a subspace link with the ship since the Iotians simply do not have the technology which is physically capable of doing so. I did, I believe, manage to incorporate an older style of communication by means of the satellite system which the sensors are capable of detecting."

"That sounds like good news."

"I hope so sir. I was able to use an auxiliary satellite relay which should be detectable by the Galaxy sensors, assuming they are using the sensors to scan ultra-high frequencies. The Iotians should not detect it and the Galaxy should find it if they are monitoring planetary communication systems."

Joerg rubbed his chin for a few moments. "Considering the speed of radio waves, I assume the Galaxy might not even pick it up for days or weeks. That is, assuming that they haven't been prevented from entering orbit."

"Aye sir." Erikson responded with a nod. "Commander, what actually happened here?" he said as he looked at the broken glass at his feet.

The Commander looked around the the shards of glass and broken wood on the floor. "You could say there was a run in with the locals but 'Commander Morris is all right." he said as he saw Erikson about to open his mouth. Erikson nodded in appreciation of the information.

"Back at the Warehouse..."
by Lieutenant (jg) James Chen
Security Officer

Chen sped down the street, the warehouse just in view, when he heard gunshots. Chen ducked in close as the bullets whizzed over his head. As he drove, he could hear the screech of tires closing in. Someone was heading to the warehouse. Chen pulled up just outside and ran in. He was sweating badly and his shoulder throbbed. At least his nose had stopped bleeding. Suddenly, he saw someone slide down a metal ladder and step down. Chen steeled himself for a fight until he saw Albrecht step into the light. He sighed. "Lieutenant. Thank God."

Then, he got a look at Chen. Sweating badly, shaking a little with a nose that was swelling and an arm which was obviously in bad shape. Chen stumbled forward and Albrecht helped him to the ground. "What happened?"

Chen shrugged. "I fell down. After getting stabbed with a poisoned knife."

"Poison?" repeated the worried lieutenant, "What about those gunshots?"

Chen shrugged again. "Got me. I was just getting here when I heard them."

Albrecht got up and ran up the ladder again and looked out a window near the top of the ladder. He saw several cars speeding down the street, each had one man on a running board, carrying a machine gun. Albrecht came back down. "Looks like Cantinii's gang is finally coming back to get us. Can you fight?"

Chen nodded and pushed to his feet. "Yeah, But we need weapons."

Albrecht nodded, realizing he only carried one pistol and no extra ammunition, then started looking among the rubble and bodies of Jacko's men. "Those are Jacko's men... What happened to them?" Chen asked.

Albrecht shrugged. "Got me. It looks like they were taken apart with a sharp weapon of some sort. Ah! I'll be damned if these don't look like old-style type-I phasers... Remind me to tell you about the USS Discovery..." Albrecht came back carrying two phasers. He handed one to Chen just as the cars pulled up. They both jogged to the doorway and Albrecht leaned behind some cover and fired. The phaser burst shot out and struck the car. He held down the button and suddenly, the car exploded even as men were still piling out. Bodies were thrown in different directions as the car went up.

Chen nodded and fired at one of the men rushing the warehouse. The man went down as the phaser struck him in the chest. The other men backed away, taking cover. Suddenly, they all started firing. Bullets flew into the warehouse and the two officers hit the ground, pressing themselves down as hard as they could as the projectiles flew over them. Albrecht crawled over. "We can't hold them off like this for long!"

Chen agreed. "What do you suggest?"

Albrecht smiled. Soon, the bullets stopped flying. There were several minutes that passed quietly as the gangsters waited for the officers to make their move. Finally, they tired of waiting. Of the ten men left, they picked three to check on the officers. When they stepped inside the darkened warehouse, they could make out the forms of several dead bodies. The first man came forward, warily approaching the closest body. He gripped the man's shoulder and turned him over. Albrecht allowed himself to be pulled over onto his back, his phaser hidden under his body. As he turned, he extended his hand and fired, striking the gangster in the chest at point-blank range. The man was knocked back as the burst struck him. Albrecht came up fast, firing at the closest man, Chen came up from his spot, taking the other one. Albrecht was on his feet in an instant, grabbing up the other phaser he had next to him. He twisted the power output level knobs on both phasers and was rewarded as he heard the whine of the overloading phaser. As Chen provided cover fire, he tossed both phasers outside, then dove to the ground. In a few seconds, the phasers went.

The explosion rocked the warehouse as the phasers exploded, blowing the other cars to kingdom-come. Both Albrecht and Chen stayed on the ground for several seconds after the blast, then stood and looked out the door. The cars had been decimated by the explosion, and the men were lying dead on the ground. Albrecht sighed. "Well, that's that."

Chen nodded and stumbled back against the wall. "Would you mind giving me hand," he asked.

"Sure, what?"

Chen presented his right arm to him. "Pop this back in. It's dislocated."

Albrecht nodded. "Okay. If that's what you want." He gripped Chen's arm in both hands and slowly extended the arm. Chen hissed in air. "Ready?" Albrecht asked. Chen nodded. Albrecht took a deep breath of his own, then forced the shoulder back in the socket. Chen yelped, then swallowed hard. He gently hugged the arm against his body.

"Thanks. How's Astrid?"

Albrecht sighed with a look of relief. "She's stable. Doctor Kahn's staying with her at the hospital. Where is everybody?"

"After you left, Jacko, another gang boss, had his boys attack. The others got out through the escape tunnel, but the captain, Commander Sterner, Lex and I were all captured. Jacko let us go, but he kept Lex as insurance. The others and I got separated, and they will probably show up here sometime. That's when this happened. I came across an assassin from the Yakuza." He noticed Albrecht's face when he mentioned the Yakuza. "Don't ask. Anyway, I've got to go get Lex."

Albrecht shook his head. "No, you don't. You have to get to a hospital. You're in bad shape, friend."

Chen shook his head. "I have to help Lex. I'm not going to leave her where those psychopaths are. I just can't. I left her behind once, I won't do it again."

"Then I'll go," stated Matthew, who was genuinely concerned about the welfare of his friend Ensign Ral.

"Sir, somebody has to apprise the others of the situation. Please, let me go and help her. Sir, I'm asking you. Let me help her." James' sincere concern for Lex, and the weight her situation was adding to his soul were apparent in his body language.

Albrecht considered that for an instant, "Let me see where you got hit by the poisoned knife," he ordered. For a moment Matthew examined the other officer's blackened wound, shaking his head and frowning at the small circle of ugly necrotic tissue. "I'm no doctor and I don't even have a tricorder to scan this wound, but from the symptoms it seems to be similar to a Tarlisian Bush Poison. The rate of spreading suggests your dose was small... Okay, go get her. But I want to see you at New Chicago General Hospital in one hour, so Cat can have a look at that leg. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, sir."

"Good luck, Lieutenant," he offered. Matthew held his pistol out to Chen, butt first. "You may need this."

Chen nodded. "Yes, sir." Chen trotted outside and found his motorcycle. It had been toppled over from the explosion, but luckily it had been undamaged other than a few dents and scratches. He got on and started it up, taking off down the street.

By Ensign Suder
Engineer
"Deep Joy"

Suder, Kelly and Rocko made their way down a street in silence. They came up to a building Kelly had said was the place to get information on the whereabouts of Suder's crewmates. They walked in and went straight upstairs. Kelly opened a door and stopped walking and almost jumped back on Suders feet in horror. She turned around and held Rocko as Suder made his way around her and looked around the room. There were at least seven bodies scattered around the room. All of them shot.

There were four women scattered on the floor, with expressions on their faces as if they were taken by surprise. Two men lay by the door with dry blood over their faces. Another man was sat at a desk, with several shot wounds in his chest.

"Looks like somebody beat us to the job." Rocko stated still holding Kelly as she weeped in his arms.

Suder took a stroll around the desk and saw a flashing glow from under the desk. He knelt over and looked at a small black device attached to the surface of the wood. He quickly ran over to Rocko and Kelly and pushed them out of the room.

"What's going on!" Kelly yelled.

"It's a trap!" Suder replied. Rocko led the way down the stairs and Kelly followed. Suder was about to follow when he heard a door being opened from the room oposite the room they had just come out of. He saw a shadown on the floor and grabbed the gun Rocko gave him earlier. As the man emerged from the room, Suder pulled back on the trigger and looked at it when nothing happened. He flicked the safety catch and pointed it at the man who by now, was stood two meters in front of Suder with a gun pointed at him.

"Drop it!" the man ordered. He was silenced by two shots from down bellow. He dropped his gun and fell face down on the floor. Suder ran down the stairs and thanks Rocko for his good timing.

They quickly left the building and ran out on to the street. Rocko led them around the side of the building and looked at Kelly. "Have they set it all up already?" he asked.

"They must have." Kelly replied a little out of breath. She retied her blonde hair and looked at Suder. We heard a little while ago that the leader of these parts was going to level this entire area to show how much power he had. They must have set it all up by now." she reported.

"Then we have to get out of her." Suder said. Rocko nodded and led the way out. As he emerged from the side of the building. The three of them were bombarded with bullets from guns of one description or another. Most of the shots recishaide off the wall and one was lucky enough to hit Rocko. He fell back. Suder caught him and dragged him back round the side of the building with Kelly behind him.

"Great, now what?" Kelly said.

Suder grabbed Rocko's gun and looked at Kelly. "Take care of him, I'll take care of the others. He then ran to the corner of the building and quickly looked round the corner. There were five men, all walking his way. He stepped out into the open slightly, revealing only his head, left arm and a bit of his left leg and fired at the gang. They all took cover behind garbage cans or lamp posts etc. and returned fire. Every now and then, Suder jumped out and took a couple of shots and random people who were shooting him. On his fourth attempt, he managed to hot someone directly in the middle of their forehead. They fell to the ground lifelessly. He checked his ammo. He was out in one gun, and still had half in the other. Kelly handed him her guns and then sat near Rocko determined to help him.

Suder took the shotgun and pistol and used up the ammo in the pistol before taking the next step of action. All in all, he had take down two men. He ran out into the open as fast as he could and dived behind a carbage can. Not the safest place, but certainly, it gave him a good advantage point over the gang. He rolled out to the left and fired his shotgun. It knocked another garbage can over and sent a man flying back until he hit the ground with a thud. Suder got up and ran to the side of another building opposite the one he had just ran out of. He fired at a lamp post and the bullet went straight threw it killing the man hiding behind it.

Suder heard the last man running. He stepped out into the open and saw a man running toward one of his falling friends. "Freeze!" Suder yelled. The man stopped and looked at Suder and pointed his gun at him.

"I think we can call this a stand-off." the man replied.

"I don't think so." Suder said.

"Why not?"

"Because if you had any ammo left in your gun, then you wouldn't be running for his." Suder said pointing to one of the dead men with his shotgun.

The man smiled and dropped his gun and then suddenly ran for his friends. Suder pulled back on the trigger, but nothing happened. He was out of ammo. He dropped the weapon and ran after the man. He caught up with him before he reached his friend and jumped at him knocking him over. Suder punched the man a couple of times and then rolled over and grabbed one of the gangsters weapons and pointed it at the only living gangster alive. The man pulled something out of his pocket and pointed it at Suder.

"Time for stage two!" the man said. He laughed and pressed a button on the device he had pulled out. Two buildings on the end of the street exploded. Brick, glass, wood, everything the building was made of crumbled to pieces and flew out into the street. The next few buildings exploded in sequence and Suder realized the buildings he were standing inbetween were about to explode to. He was about say something when he felt something around him. A slight tingling sensation filtered through his bodyand the surroundings disappeared for a brief moment before Suder found himself in a new place.

The gangster looked shocked as for the first time, he saw someone disappear into thin air. He screamed as the two buildings he was near, exploded and caught him in a crossfire.

Suder looked around. He was in a brightly lit room with a Starfleet officer standing behind some controls. "Welcome back Ensign." the officer said. "

Thanks for the assistance." Suder replied. He stepped off the transporter padd and left the transporter room. He had to get to Engineering and see if there were any survivors down on the planet where the street had exploded. "Deep joy..." Suder muttered as he entered a turbolift.

Releaved to have the crew back
By Ensign James Scott

Ensign scott was excited to hear the crew was returning. After the meeting was dismissed Scott head to the bridge to releaved Ensign Dorian at the security station. As he mad his way to the bridge he incountered several people out of uniform looking like they had been drug threw a not hole backwards. However it was good to see the corridors of the Galaxy filling up with people.

Stoping to try and talk to a couple of the Scott found they were not much in the mood for talking. Excpecially the one that wouldn't normaly leave the ship in less it was for shore leave or at starbase.

Upon entering the bridge Scott moved to the security station and in a low and formal voice releaved Dorian. Ensign scott then went to work monitoring the Security of the sihp.

Ensign James Scott USS Galaxy Security

Transporter Room One
Lt. (jg) Benedict T’Kal
Tactical Officer
USS Galaxy

Benedict sat across from Raoul. They were in a corner booth of Ten Forward and hunched over the table. Benedict had a glass of barely-touched whiskey rolling around between his hands. He was stone cold sober, and Raoul had been sitting with him for almost an hour now. It was getting close to midnight.

The place was almost empty. Most of the crew had family to go to – it was Christmas Eve after-all. Raoul and Benedict had been talking quietly for a while. Often lapsing into silences as they talked about Teb. Benedict found that Raoul was easy to talk to – and Benedict had perhaps talked more openly than he normally would have.

All he could do now was wait, and Raoul was determined to wait with him. Door had also offered to pray with him, but Benedict had felt that was just too personal. Besides – no matter how much he managed to put aside Door’s parentage, that simple act was almost blasphemy to him – he just couldn’t share prayer with a Cardassian.

He stared in silence at the amber liquid swirling about the crystal glass and sighed. Raoul sat back and threw his arms over the back of the sofa and laid his head back and stared at the ceiling. They were all tired.

Benedict had been awake since three this morning and had been working on Gamma and Alpha shifts. He’d had a hard day. Perhaps one of the worst days in a very long time. Frustration, anger, exhaustion, depression, fury, all these feelings had been rotating through him since Tebrianne had been abducted with the rest of the crew.

There were so many missing – but only one of them was important to Benedict right now. He felt a little guilty about that – but that was the way of it. He only loved one person, and that was the truth of it.

“T’amar to T’Kal.” The Tactical Officer’s voice cut through the near silence and Benedict responded to it as if he’d been slapped in the face.

“T’Kal.” He responded. Raoul had likewise sat bolt upright.

“The Captain is back Lieutenant. The Galaxy is free and moving to orbit. We have orders to scan for the crew and transport as soon as possible. I’d be in Transporter Room One Lieutenant if you want to greet the returning crew.”

Benedict was already on his feet and moving as he responded, “Thanks T’amar – understood. Is there anything they might need?”

“I don’t know sir – but it looks pretty cold down there. T’amar out.”

Benedict rushed out – leaving Raoul staring after him, and made his way directly to the Transporter Room. He met several medical personnel also gathering there with thermal blankets and medical kits.

Benedict stood to one side and watched. He thanked the Prophets that Teb was of Vulcan blood – she would be one of the first to be found and brought back.

"A Date"
by Lt. Thomas

** Prior to the captain's return **

Lt. Thomas returned to his quarters after completing his shift on the bridge. He was now in a foul mood and made sure that none approached him while he made his way back to his quarters. He didn't want anything to do with anyone at the moment, his mood was most certainly out of frustration with the ships inablitiy to move. He figured that if he provided the people who saw him enough reason to leave him alone they would.

Eventually he knew that someone would probably take note of his foul mood and inform a counselor or Lt. Commander Casey, he really could careless at the moment. Everyone was entitled to be in a bad mood once and a while as long as it didn't interfer in them perferoming their duty aboard the ship. Which was true enough, his mood while foul, he was able to place it aside while he was in charge of the bridge. Now he was off duty and not on the bridge, so he was less inclined to worry about his mood. He was very much aware that showing this side of his nature would probably come back to haunt him someday. He knew something else that was affecting his personality, he was lonely. He very much missed his wife, and he'd been though a lot in the past year, plus.

He passed two more people before reaching his quarters, with a sigh he entered the lonely room. His quarters seemed like a enourmous room, void of life and love, they were at times so derpressing. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to remain in these quarters, besides normally reserved for families or senior officers, the knowledge that his wife should be here, hurt. By Starfleet regulations he should be in smaller quarters or sharing them with someone, even now more so than every. The war with the Dominion, the losses, and everything else going on, has certainly taken its toll on life. He very much could feel the loss, the pain and sorrow that everyone would feel when they learned about family members who'd died.

His quarters now more than every didn't feel like home, they felt like a tomb or a place for him to rest and wait. Life was so unfair, the ambishions of those responsible for his wife death, were more interested in their objective and not the truth. They could have care less about those that died, his wife among them and only one thing would every satisfy him. He would make them be held accountable, no matter what he had to do to make that happen. Which meant he needed to make some decisions about how to proceed and what risk would be acceptable. His only concern would be to make sure that no one else got hurt by his actions, one to many people had paid for his choices.

Though he'd believed he'd put this decision behind him when he returned to the Galaxy after his vacation to Boreth and Vulcan. This wasn't true.

Lt. Thomas moved to his closet and retieved his batleth, perhaps he should ... no. If he wanted to commit sucide, it would be in glorious battle. He wouldn't do it himself, as not matter how much it pained him. At his core was the heart and beliefs of a Klingon warrior. He wouldn't end his life, because he first had to complete one finally mission, and that was to expose those responsible for his wife's death. Which left him a few options in life if he wanted to achieve his objective and remaing on the Galaxy just wouldn't get the job done. If he was going to achieve his objective there was only one place that he could do that from and that was in Starfleet Intelligence, which would mean leaving the Galaxy. He had the infomration to bring them to justice, but lack the power and resources to make it stick. They had thier own reputations and rank that provided them with protection. If he was going to succed in making them pay, he'd need to have support and a much higher rank. Status, rank and authority would be need if he was going to make them accountable.

"Tisk, tisk, why the sorry look Human?" Q asked, startling Chris.

"Who?' Chris said turing around.

"You don't know who I am? I am hurt." Q said.

Chris recongized him, as soon as he got his thoughts focused. "Q!"

"Ah you do recongize me." Q said, with a smile.

"What do you want, I don't want or have time for you Q!" Thomas barked.

"Ah yes, your wallowing in your own self pity about the lost of your wife, and the miserable existance that you're living right now." Q said.

"Leave Q, your presence isn't desired or needed." Chris said.

"You wound me, I only wish to help. Anything you desire, I will grant, but only one wish." Q said.

"Leave, I don't want or need your charity Q!" Chris said. He knew that eventually Q would get around to paying him a visit, but he'd already come up with his game plan. Unfortantely Q had chossen the wrong time to pay him a visit, because right now he wasn't in the mood for anything Q had to offer. He viewed Q as a door to door salesman aboard the Galaxy right now, and that wasn't good for Q.

"What and leave you feeling like you've got nothing to live for, oh phew. You're the most transparent of this crew I've visited yet Chris." Q said.

"Whatever, but I don't want your help, leave." Chris said.

"Who are you talking to dear?" Gwyen's voiced called out from another room.

"Just someone who stopped by and is now leaving." Chris said sternly to Q, and ushered him to the door. "Thanks for stopping by, but we have everything we need." Chris said, helping Q out the door.

Q exited the room, only because he was stunned by the voice and who it was coming from. He would need to observe what was happening in this room and between Thomas and this 'Gwyen' before making any decisions. Without a doubt further study would be required.

Christopher Patton

"Beginings" By:
Cadet- IV Rhys
Science Intern
U.S.S. Galaxy

Viara Rhys sat in the Stellar Cartography Lab, working on how exactly it was they could transcend the distance between their current location and the planet.

*Hmmm, maybe a multi-compound explosion would be enough to thrust us into orbit.* Thought Viara to herself. Viara stood up and did a few calculations.

"I think I've got it!" Said Viara walking out of the Stellar Cartography Lab.

As Viara walked down the corridor she asked: "Computer, who is the Acting Chief Science Officer?".

Sunder and Adrianna stepped down from the transporter platform, feeling a bit worse for wear. The primitive conditions of Iotia II had certainly taken their toll on Starfleet officers. Although he had been raised in a nomadic lifestyle on the Orion Clanworlds, Sunder had grown accustomed to the social comforts of Federation living.

Their 20th century Terran-style garb had evoked a double-take from the transporter officer. Concealing a smile, he welcomed them aboard.

" Thank you, Chief. " Sunder grumbled, suddenly self-conscious in the GALAXY's surroundings. " What's our status? "

" The captain and Lieutenant Mendenhall have been returned to the ship from the planet's surface. The GALAXY has been released from its stasis and presently en route to the planet to retrieve the remainder of the crew. "

" Any explanation for why all this happened? " Sunder asked. The transporter officer looked askance at him.

" Q, sir. Didn't you know? "

" Q? " Sunder looked puzzled. " Never heard of it. What is it? Some blight? "

" An extra-dimensional being with seemingly omnipotent powers. " Adrianna kindly filled in for him. " You've never heard of him? The ENTERPRISE first encountered him at Farpoint station about ten years ago. "

" Can't say I have. " Sunder replied. " Still, whatever his interest in the GALAXY, hopefully it's passed by now. The captain's on the bridge? " He asked the transporter officer.

" I believe so, Sir. " The chief replied. Sunder turned back to Adrianna.

" A change of clothing is probably in order, Ensign. Many thanks for your invaluable assistance on the planet. I need to get back to Security and catch up on just what has transpired in our absence. Recovering the rest of the stranded crew may need some detailed preparations - especially after what we experienced. " He started off down the corridor. Then, pausing, he turned back.

" Any time you need a kind word on a proficiency report, just let me know. Make sure you have your CO call me. "

Adrianna did her best to hide the smile that was surely growing on her face. Sunder turned back down the corridor before she saw the one that was taking shape on his own face...

"One problem at a time"
by Captain Robert Edward Lee Price

Captain Price leaned heavily against the shower wall letting the jet stream of sonic waves vibrate against the back of his head. The gentle humming tingled down his back which would normally relax his muscles, but not today. The Captain's thoughts were with the people of Sigma Iosha 2. In less than 36 hours, the gang leader Jocko planned to devastate the most populous continent of the planet, where New Chicago was the capitol, with a nuclear sub-orbital arsenal that the Ioshans had managed to create thanks to bits and pieces of information they'd acquired from the Federation over the years. This unless Captain Price agreed to turn over the USS Galaxy to the gangster leader so he and his men can bring their terror to other worlds in the Federation. Lee tightened one of his hands into a fist and pounded it against the shower wall in frustration. He was obviously not going to hand his ship over to that thug. But he couldn't exactly just stand by and watch all those millions of innocent people be wiped out either. Being a Starfleet Captain, Lee knew that the prime directive not only applied to this planet, but that Starfleet had issued a general order quarantine as well to prevent further contamination to the Ioshans shortly after the last Starship visited and was destroyed. By every regulation, he should just beam up the Galaxy crew members and get them and the Galaxy out of there. He'd already resolved in his mind that that would not be acceptable. That some attempt to avoid the nuclear onslaught would have to be made. Regulations or not, he wasn't going to stand by and watch Jocko murder millions trying to extort a Starship he had no hope of obtaining. That wasn't what was bothering the Captain. No, the Galaxy had the technological edge to disarm the sub-orbital warheads. But even if they were able to disarm this nuclear threat, what would that accomplish in the long term? The Ioshans already had the technology to create more bombs. It would only be a matter of time before some other hot headed mobster got delusions of grander and tried to take over the world or simply wipe out the competition like Jocko was trying to do now. Somehow, Lee needed to figure out a way to break that vicious cycle, and he only had 36 hours to figure out how.

Lee finished dressing and fastened his duty jacket, securing the slide while checking himself in the mirror. One again a Starfleet Captain looked back through the looking glass. The biker clothes long discarded in the corner. Lee turned and headed out of his quarters on the way to the bridge.

The turbolift doors opened and the Captain stepped out. Lieutenant Commander Casey was sitting in the command seat, having relieved Lieutenant' Numa Taurean. Deiran smiled widely.

"Glad to have you back aboard Captain." Casey greeted.

"Glad to be back 'Commander." Lee said evenly stepping down into the command well while glancing at the screen at Sigma Iosha 2. "What is our current status 'mate?"

"Well sir, now that we are free of the field Q was holding the ship in, we have assumed orbit around the planet. We've received a transmission from the local broadcast signals these people are using from Lieutenant Commander Erikson. Also, several members of the crew have been located and beamed up to the ship. Most notably Lieutenant Commander Sunder and Ensign Adrianna that managed to contact the ship with an old style communicator they found." Deiran explained.

"Any luck in locating Ensign Lexana Ral?" Lee asked in a concerned tone.

"Not yet Captain but we are still looking. Lexana is only part Betazoid, and the readings between humans and Betazoid are very similar. It's just a matter of time though. We will find her." 'Commander Casey explained.

"Aye. When you do locate her, let me know straight away. We need to make sure everything is set before we pull her out of there or Jocko is likely to do something stupid."

"Captain?" Deiran inquired.

"One of the gang leaders, a Mister Jocko, has control of some sub-orbital nuclear platforms about the planet. He's threatened to launch the warheads unless I concede to his demands and hand the USS Galaxy over to him and his gang."

"Right.. like that's going to happen in a million years." Deiran said shaking his head, "Is this guy an idiot or what? He must be bluffing. Doesn't he know if he launches nuclear weapons that he will be destroyed too?"

"Actually, he's not as mad as you might think 'mate. He and his men have plans to evacuate to another continent while New Chicago is ground zero to an onslaught that will most likely leave it inhospitable for the next 98 years."

"What are we going to do sir?" Deiran asked in a concerned tone. He was beginning to understand the problem now. A conflict between the prime directive and what is right.

"The first order of business is to locate our people and get them back on board the Galaxy." Lee said flatly.

"I meant after that sir." Deiran added.

"We pull Jocko's teeth 'mate." Lee explained. "Did you pull up the information on sub-orbital nuclear warheads as I asked?"

"Aye sir, Lieutenant' Taurean told me about the request. I have a report here."

"Good. Get that to Engineering and let them study it. We need to assemble a set of shuttle craft and EVA suits to locate and disarm all of the warheads in the next 36 hours before Mister Jocko plans on launching the weapons." Lee explained.

"We can do that sir. But isn't that just delaying the inevitable?" Deiran asked.

"Probably." Lee nodded. "But let's just deal with one problem at a time for now 'mate."

"I see sir." 'Commander Casey said lowering his head and tone slightly before adding, "Captain, you do realize that if we disarm these warheads, we are violating the prime directive?"

Captain Price nodded while looking at 'Commander Casey. "Aye. That's my problem 'mate. Let's deal with the more pressing problems first, and I can deal with the red tape at a later time. Fair dinkum?"

"Sounds fine to me sir. I'll get this down to Lieutenant Samara in Engineering. We were already working on a shuttle team solution to try and get the Galaxy unstuck from Q's holding field or whatever it was." Deiran explained.

"Sounds good 'Commander. Let's get moving on this. We only have 36 hours to get every one of the warheads disarmed."

"Will do Captain." Deiran said with a smile before turning and heading to the turbolift. Standing in the lift, he called out, "Main engineering" before the turbo-doors swooshed shut.

By: Ensign Adrianna
Engineering Specialist

Adrianna approached the doors to her quarters, feeling the exhaustion of her recent ordeal flowing through every bone in her body. As she entered the only thing on her mind was taking the longest sonic shower of her lifetime.

One thing had to be done before that though. Walking over to her replicator she paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before speaking.

"Computer, create a glass display cylinder eight inches in height. At the bottom of the cylinder create a display platform designed to hold and old style federation communicator, circa 2274. Make the color of the support base..umm.. black. Also inlayed in a small silver plaque at the bottom add the words, Where no man has gone before."

Within the replicator space a shimmering energy pattern formed into that of the glass display case. Removing it, she carried it over to a nearby shelf and set in a place of honor there. Lifting the lid, she settled the Communicator which had once belonged to a legendary hero of the Enterprise carefully within it.

"I'm only keeping you until I can contact your original owner." Adrianna said to herself in a low tone. Smiling, she took a moment to look at the device within its display.

********** Some time later/ Adrianna's Quarter's ******************

Reinvigorated by the long sonic shower and the fresh uniform, she felt like a new woman. *No rest for the wicked* she thought as she moved toward the door. As she entered the main room of her quarters, she felt something..different.

Looking toward the communicator within its display, she felt almost as if the device cast it's own aura throughout the room. In fact she was sure of it..it did.

Walking up to the display case, she looked at the silver device for a moment before speaking.

"Do you think that Commander Sunder really smiled at me back there in the corridor? I suppose I could have been imagining it, but..." Realizing that she was talking to the device, she quickly turned away. After a second, a slow smile began to form across her face. *Silly, I'm sure I was imagining it* She thought.

Adjusting her uniform one final time, she left her quarters in route to Engineering ....

"Ughh! Motion!" By:
Cadet-IV Rhys
Science Intern
U.S.S. Galaxy

Viara walked along the corridor and suddenly felt a small woozy motion come over her. She recognized the sensation, the ship was definitely moving. "Hmmm, so much for me saving the day." Said Viara to herself.

Viara began to change directions toward her room. Hali was just getting off her shift in Sickbay by now, perhaps they could go to Ten Forward. Thought Viara to herself as she entered the cramped room on Deck 2.

Viara saw the petite figure of Nurse Hali Munroe, her hair done up in a traditional African style. *She is so in tune with her African heritage. I think that must be the number one reason why we're so close.* Thought Viara as she sat at the vanity and brushed her hair. As Hali began her Sonic Shower. "Ready to go to Ten-Forward?" Asked Viara.

"You bet!! So, how was you're day 'V'?" Asked Hali from the sonic shower, as Viara wrapped herself in a towel and continued brushing her long brown hair.

"Alright, just charted the Nuwon Expanse. I thought I had found a way to move the ship, but I was too slow." Said Viara as she stretched her aching arms.

"That's alright. All I did today was work on a sprained wrist. Damn Lieutenant and his material arts program! This was his third visit this week alone!!" Said Hali as she exited the shower, with a towel around her and long braids hanging down.

"At least you had some action. I'm sooo bored! I guess it's a good thing I'm starting my training tomorrow." Said Viara as she entered the shower and removed her towel.

"Really? What's the first thing you have to train in?" Asked Hali as she slipped into a long teal dress and put her hair up in nice twist.

"Astrometric Data Processing. I'm to report to a Lieutenant Sullax." Said Viara as she started her sonic shower, putting her hair up into a tight bun, and letting the vibrations soothe her aching neck and arm muscles.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!" BLurted out Hali as she put on pair of high heels.

"Whats so funny?" Asked Viara as she stopped the shower and wrapped herself in her towel.

"You'll wish you were alone after a day with Sullax is all." Said Hali as put light make-up on her lips.

"How do you mean?" Asked Viara walking in and looking in the closet.

"Trust me, from what I've heard he's...different." Said Hali with a smirk as she put some light blush on.

"He can't be too bad, afterall Harin had to deal with a Commanding Officer that was known to make Vulcans cringe." Said Viara as she slid into a tight long black dress, with a slit up the left side.

"Yikes girl!!! How many spots are you gonna flaunt tonight, anyways?" Said Hali looking at Viara as she slide into some heels.

"As many as I can get away with!" Said Viara with wide smile and with a wicked tone.

"You know I'm glad you're as tall as I am. I used to always feel out of place...I'm kinda tall for a human, you know?" Said Hali straightening out her dress, along her long legs.

"No way! I'm pretty average as far as Trills go!" Said Viara standing at almost 6 feet tall with the heels on.

"Not humans, I'm one of the tallest woman know." Said Hali standing in her heels just below the 6 foot mark.

"Don't sweat it, most men love long legs." Said Viara with a smirk as she placed her Comm. Badge on her dress.

"Yeah, I guess. Oh thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot mine." Said Hali as she placed her Comm. Badge on her dress.

"We better get going. The Alpha's are gonna be piling into Ten Forward soon." Said Hali, as the pair left their room.

"Oh Yeah, you gotta love the Alpha guys. You know thats how they really decide who's on what shift. All of the cuties are on Alpha and the rest are pulling the rest! " Said Viara jokingly as the pair entered the turbolift.

"Deck ten." Ordered Viara.

"Girl, you're cruel! Besides, I happen to like a certain Lieutenant on the Gamma shift, if you don't mind." Said Hali with a grin on her face, teasing Viara.

"Oh really, perhaps Mr. Hewson should transfer to the Gamma then!" Teased Viara.

"WHAT!!! YOU KNOW...HOW DID YOU?!?!?" Said Hali, surprised Viara knew exactly what Lieutenant she was speaking of.

"Just a guess, I suppose." Said Viara as the turbolift stopped.

"Guess my butt!" Said Hali as the pair exited the turbolift and walked into ten forward.

"The (Bad) Rescue"
by Lieutenant (jg) James Chen and Ensign Lexana Ral
Security Officers

Chen slowly approached Jacko's building. There was an intensity in the air, like something was going on inside. Luckily, there was a man outside, smoking. Chen had left his motorcycle back a few blocks so as not to attract attention. He pressed himself closer to the building and came closer. He edged his way closer, then got behind the man. "Hey, got a light?" The guard turned to his voice and Chen connected with a solid left, since it was the only arm that didn't hurt like hell. He grabbed the man and pulled him into the shadows. He pulled the gun Albrecht had given him and pointed it at the man's face. "The woman you kept as insurance. Where is she?"

The man looked fearfully at the guard. "We took her to the Madame's place."

"Where's that?"

The man started grumbling off directions. Chen listened intently until he had it all down. Then, he slammed the butt of the gun against the man's temple. The man crumpled to the floor. Chen went through his pockets, found the man's wallet. Chen went through it and found what looked like some money. Chen pocketed the wallet and headed back to his bike. After taking a few steps. he was overcome by a wave of vertigo. He slapped a hand against a wall to steady himself. Whatever the poison was, it was getting worse. His hands were shaking slightly, and he was feeling weaker and weaker. He wiped sweat from his brow and headed back to the motorcycle.

It was getting later, and colder. Lex lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The lights had been turned off at 10pm sharp, and the room was lit only by the moon which broke fitfully through the clouds. She'd opened a window to let in the cold night air, a light breeze lifted the curtains and the occasional curl of auburn hair. Her cheeks felt cold and her eyes were watering. The cigarette burns on her arms stung bitterly even as the night cooled them. She'd already checked out the window, no escape possibilities there. 5th floor, even if she tied her bedsheets together she'd break her legs. She'd lain back in partial frustration and defeat. She was mad at herself for getting taken hostage and posing a problem for the captain. She was even more cross as she hadn't been able to get out of it until now. This totally "sucked ass" in the words of Kyle from one of her favorite historical comedy shows.

Chen pulled up to the house. It looked very odd. There were large, heart-shaped knockers on the door. Chen turned off the bike and walked to the door. He went inside. He looked around and saw the various paintings on the wall. He thought he knew what exactly the house was. "What do you want?"

Chen turned and faced a woman standing behind a nearby desk. She was in her forties with black hair and mean eyes. Chen smiled and decided to test his theory. "I'm looking for a woman."

The woman's brow raised. "A woman?"

Chen nodded and reached into his pocket and withdrew the guards wallet. He removed all the bills and fanned them out on the table. "Yeah. Can you help me out?"

The woman looked warily at Chen's face. "What happened to you?"

"I just got mugged. That type of thing makes me nervous. I need something to relieve that stress."

The woman nodded. "I think I can help."

Chen smiled. "I'm looking for a particular kind of woman, if you have someone fitting the description."

"What?"

"Oh, young, with pale skin and preferably with green eyes. Anybody like that here?"

"Why so particular?"

"I went to high school with a girl like that. She, uh, did me many favors. I kind of like to go back to those years."

The woman considered it for a moment, then stole a look at the money. Chen guessed that it must have been a lot. Finally she smiled. "I can get her for you." She scooped up the money and passed him a key. "Room 21. The woman will be joining you shortly." Chen smiled and went to the room.

Chen sat down on the bed and waited for Lex. Then, there was a knock on the door. Chen opened it up and was rewarded with a hard punch between the eyes. Chen fell back. He looked up and saw Lex there, getting slapped by the Madame for her behavior, the only reason she wasn't hitting back was because she was trying very hard NOT to stare at James in shock."If I hear any complaints from this client you will be sent to the infirmary for therapy. Do I make myself CLEAR?" she gave Lex a little shake. The confused Ensign gave a "mmmmm" and bit her tongue

The Madame looked at Chen. "I'm sorry. She has an attitude problem. Good day." She closed the door.

Lex looked at Chen. "James," she whispered and knelt down beside him. "What are you doing here?" she kissed his forehead where the glow from her punch was beginning to subside.

Chen sniffed. His nose had started bleeding again. "Well, I was here to have sex. What do you think I'm here for?"

Lex smiled and touched his nose. "Sorry." she handed him a cloth "Ya know.. normally I'd be only too happy to oblige. You didn't have to come to a Ho house."

Chen shook his head and rose shakily to his feet. "Not your fault. It was broken before I got here. And you're the one that's working in a 'Ho house'. Is it my fault I have to come here to find you?"

"You're so thoughtful." She helped him up and they sat on the bed, trying to stop his nose from bleeding "What happened?"

Chen shook his head. "Too complicated. I'll explain later. First, we got to get you out of here." He caught his breath as a wave of numbness passed over him

Lex looked at him. "You don't look so good." She stood up and wet the cloth in a washbowl. Then bathed his face gently wiping away blood and dirt. He was sweating yet he felt cold, not a good sign.

Chen shrugged. "Poison will do that to you."

Lex dropped the cloth "Poison? What the Fu.." she stopped as James put a finger to her lips

Chen paused as the room spun around him, then slowed. "Just met some guy that liked playing with knives. I've got an idea."

The Madame was standing by the door, waiting to see if the new woman acted up. If she gave her half a reason, she'd be punished. And the Madame would enjoy doing it to the woman. She was very irritating. And what was more, she seemed to enjoy being irritating. None of the punishments had seemed to have that much effect. The girl had just sat there and taken it, with a tried look upon her face. Then each time she'd made a comment about kicking someone's ass when the Galaxy got here. Suddenly, she heard screaming from inside the room. It sounded like the man. She cursed and went quickly into the room. The man was standing by the bed, pointing a gun at her. Before she could react, someone came behind her and shoved something in her mouth. It was a piece of the bedsheets Lex and Chen had torn up. As Lex finished gagging the Madame, the woman gave Chen the evil eye. Lex tied the woman's hands behind her back, then tied her ankles together, none too gently. Chen nodded and smiled. "Sorry, ma'am. But, we've got a ship to catch."

Lex stood in front of the Madame. "Told you you'd get your ass kicked?" Chen came over and pocketed his gun, carried the woman into the closet, then shut the door. They left the room, closing the door behind them. They walked down the hall, and headed out onto the fire escape when a loud voice boomed out. "Going someplace?"

Chen turned and faced a large man, wearing clothes similar to Jacko's gang. He was taller by at least a foot and his huge shoulders nearly brushed against each side of the hall. He charged forward, apparently, he was watching the room, also. They slammed the door shut and tried to brace it with something. When nothing was found, they backed down the fire escape. Chen drew the pistol and started to raise it when the guard rushed out of the door. The man kicked it out of his hands, and connected with a knee to Chen's stomach. The blow knocked Chen back several feet and both he and Lex tumbled down a couple of flights. The man walked down behind them calmly, the nails in his boots making an eerie sound on the cold metal. James hit the ground on his back. Lex moved a lot faster than Chen had, and she kicked the man right in the groin as he stepped onto their level The man's face went red, but he still swung at Lex, who ducked under the blow and chopped him in the throat. The man coughed, grabbed Lex's throat and pushed her down. Chen was on his feet again and the man attacked. The descended another few levels, ducking and sliding further until they reached the courtyard. The guard swung at James Chen dodged the punch, then landed one of his own. The man ignored it and threw a backhand at Chen. Chen ducked underneath the punch and stomped down on the man's knee. The man yelled, and connected a hard right to Chen's jaw, throwing him back against the wall. His head was throbbing as Lex attacked the man again, this time with a flurry of punches to keep the slower man confused. Chen tried to bring himself back up, but he couldn't move. His legs weren't working right and the courtyard wouldn't stop moving.

Finally, the man connected with a blow that sent Lex reeling. He was joined by another cronie who raced out into the snowy courtyard. The second man faced Chen, then nodded when he realized he wasn't going anywhere then he walked over, picked up the gun Chen had brought and pointed it at Chen's face. He cocked the hammer back and started to pull the trigger. He grinned at Chen, who tried to stare back, but couldn't focus his eyes. His breathing was labored, then everything went black. Lex heard the gunshot and froze, receiving a punch on the shoulder for her lapse. Her mind reeled, they couldn't shoot James, God Damnit. She looked up at her attacker, her eyes blazing. She reeled back from an uppercut and responded with a weak knife-hand to the throat. The man choked slightly but advanced again, looking rather more pissed off and determined than before. She knew she was going to lose now, the other man had diverted his attention from James and was waiting to pick up where the first one left out if Lex managed to take him out. She did intend to do a bit of damage, but wasn't sure how. She picked up the garbage can lid almost subconsciously, and used it to block a punch. It mad a resounding "WHAAANNNNNGGG" noise and then another as she reversed it and hit the thug in the head. He crumpled to the ground, the snowflakes falling lightly on his jacket. Then thug number two came in for a piece of the action. This time he didn't fool around. He merely cocked the gun and said "Drop it.. Now"

Lex gave him a withering look and threw it at him. He fended it off with the butt of the gun.

A voice screamed from the fire escape door on the 5th floor "Shoot her !! Shoot her!" Lex muttered "Damnit.. I knew we should have tied her mouth shut"

There was the sound of many feet upon the fire escape. Lex knew time was running out. She didn't exactly care what happened next. James was dead and her mind was still reeling trying to comprehend that. It wasn't doing a very good job of it. She felt a deep knot rising in her stomach, making her tremble and her eyes ached. "Well." She said to the thug "Where are you going to shoot me?"

He hefted the gun, walked up to her and put it against her head. "Sorry Hon," He said before reversing it and hitting her with the butt. Her world went black and she tumbled forward into the darkness.

He opened his eyes, still shaking and shivering as he felt the snow coming down on his face. He sat up, leaning against a brick wall. He was in an alley somewhere, surrounded by garbage cans and the like. He didn't know why he was still alive, but he was. He looked up at the sky, wondering how to get Lex back. He had already botched one attempt. His breathing was starting to get erratic again. His shoulder was wet and sticky.. the blood was slowly pulsing out of the wound. It seemed the poison had slowed his metabolism, otherwise he would have been dead by now.

His eyes started to unfocus and the shivering was getting worse. *It's time,* he thought. The poison was finally closing in on him. Then, he felt the cool, tingly feeling of being transported. He was being beamed somewhere. The dirty alley faded away and the familiar sight of the transporter room materialized. He was still in a sitting position when he solidified. Chen looked at the transporter chief. "Get a doctor," he said and pitched backwards. The officer looked surprised, then tapped his comm badge. "We need a medical team to transporter room 2 immediately!"

"24 - 7" By:
Nurse Munroe
Medical R.N.

Hali had just walked into ten forward with her roommate Cadet Viara Rhys, both looking ravishing. Suddenly a page came over the loud speaker. "Medical Emergency in Transporter Room 2. Medical Team requested."

"Damn! That's me, I'll see you later!" Said Hali as she sprinted for the door of ten forward. Viara looking at her head out the door.

"Wait!! Hali don't go!...Great all alone again." Said Viara as she watched Hali walk out.

*******A Few Minutes Later On Deck 6*******

Hali enters to see a Lieutenant Chen laying on the transporter pad, hurt badly.

"Chief, get me a Emergency Medical Kit, NOW!!" Said Hali as she pointed at the Chief. The Chief a little thrown off by Hali's apparel, raises an eyebrow, then complies.

"What happened here, Lieutenant Chen?" Asked Hali, looking at the Lieutenant.

"I was hit with a blunt object,hard...poisoned..." Replied Chen as the Chief handed Hali the Emergency Medical Kit.

"He needs to get to sickbay, I'll do what I can until someone arrives for transport." Said Hali scanning Chen, with the tricorder and filling a hypo-spray.

Hali quickly put the neurostabilizer and standard antigen into Chen. *I hope someone gets here soon, I'm not sure I can handle an alien toxin alone.* Thought Hali as she put the hypo back in the kit and began another scan.

Where's Everybody Hiding?
by Doctor Endris Gakor, acting CMO
reviewed by Captain Price

*** Sickbay ***

After the return of Captain Price, Q had released the ship, and it was now orbiting the planet. Several loads of crew had been located and beamed back aboard. But neither the Doctor Kahn or Cat had returned.

=/\=Doctor Gakor to Captain Price=/\=

The captain quickly answered.

=/\=Doctor, how can I help you mate?=/\= he asked. The human seemed a bit busy catching up on details from while he was away.

=/\=It appears the medical staff and the rest of the crew did not return at same time. Were there any injuries on the planet you were aware of?=/\=

=/\=Ensign Salt was hit by bullets in a 'drive by' shooting. She received severe cardio trauma, but Doctor Kahn was trying to get her to a hospital. I was in another group, but would presume the Doctors stayed near their patient. Lieutenant Commander Mercury, Lieutenant Albrecht and Ensign Marc were also with them.=/\= the Captain answered.

=/\=Thank you, Sir. I will ask the transporter room to scan for Catilian and Bajoran life signs, and prepare the cardio gear for their eventual return. Although human readings are close to the Ioshians, hopefully they will all be near each other. Gakor out.=/\=

"Shuttle Mission"
By Lt jg Aaron Sharp

Lt. Sharp stood in the main shuttle bay of the Galaxy, pondering the immobility of the shuttle craft located there. He'd personally gone over three of them himself, but had come up with the same results as everyone else. The shuttle's checked out okay, but the just weren't moving. Q, Aaron thought, only Q would do this. There was nothing else he could think of to do except wait. He wandered among the shuttle craft taking in their design, and thinking about improvements that could be made. To his left a door wisked open and a petty officer walked in.

"Sir," the man said, "The Captain has been returned to the Galaxy."

"Really? When?"

"Just a short time ago, sir. The first thing he did was order us into orbit around Sigma Iosha II to start retrieving the missing crew. I believe several have been picked up as we speak."

"Great. Thank you." That gave Aaron some ideas. As the Petty officer left, Aaron jumped into the nearest shuttle craft and fired up the engines. Everything checked out as it had before, but this time the craft lifted up off the deck. Aaron let out a whoop and turned the craft around in an on the spot 360, before settling it back down on the ground. Lt Sharp to bridge." He called as he slapped his com badge.

=/\= Price here Lieutenant. What's up, mate?=/\=

"Sir, the shuttle craft are back in action and ready to go. I'd like to put together a team of pilots to assist in locating and retrieving our people from the planet's surface."

=/\= Negative, Lieutenant, we'll pick them up by transporter. We don't want to violate the Prime Directive any more than we've already done. However, put the team together anyway, we're going to need the shuttles for another mission. . Preferably crew with EVA experience. Then stand by for further orders.=/\=

"Aye, sir. Sharp out." Aaron scratched his head. EVA experience? What was the captain planning? He guessed he'd find out soon enough. He tapped his com badge again.

"Lt Sharp to all shuttle pilots. I need volunteers with EVA experience to assemble in the main shuttle bay in ten minutes. Please respond if you are available." Now all he could do was wait for the team to arrive.

Lieutenant jg Aaron Sharp Acting Chief Helmsman