“Commander Harris, you’re up next.”  He stood, PADD in hand, and stepped into the board room, facing a phalanx of upper command officers already seated.  

Taking the seat at the end of the table, he greeted the group, “Good morning.”  A scattered chorus of greetings rose in response.  He looked around the table, hoping to see a familiar face.  He found one in Captain Geronimo Fontana, who gave him a kind nod which he returned.

The Admiral at the head of the table spoke up, “Commander, you’re here under the auspices of a command-level review of your performance as commanding officer of the USS Edinburgh as well as the last nine months of your holding the rank of commander.”  He gestured to Ambrose, “We’ve sent you a copy of your report so you can follow along as we discuss.”

Harris tapped at his device and found the report.  The admiral began.  “As a commander, you’ve held command of two starships.  The USS Erigone and the USS Edinburgh.  Your actions in both commands have been exemplary.  Your continued holding up of the ideals of the Federation has been noted in both cases.  In multiple scenarios and situations, you’ve taken the no-win situation and done everything in your power and ability to turn it around as best as you could.”  He tapped at his own PADD, “Interviews with your command crew show a strong sense of loyalty to your command style and the relationships you’ve built with them.  Each of them spoke highly of your actions, your words, and you as a commanding officer.”  Another tap, “We interviewed a good portion of your crew and found a similar sentiment among them – that you are a strong command officer that models the manner in which you wish your crew to follow.”

Another admiral spoke up, “A review of your logs was completed and found you include good details and information to assist in understanding situations and the people involved.  There is some improvement needed in your regularity of logs.”  She looked to Captain Fontana.

He tapped at his PADD next, “I’m the only one here who’s actually worked with Commander Harris.  He served as my first officer in a unique set of circumstances, which is detailed in my report.”  Fontana looked at Harris and continued, “Despite the challenges present, he found a way to work with me and worked with the crew to ensure that the chain of command was followed as much as possible.  I was relieved in the end to return command to him as I believed he was more than capable of returning to the role.”

Another Admiral spoke up. “Let’s review your mission files.”  It took a good amount of time to go through each mission, and Harris was asked pointed questions as they went through the Erigone missions and the Edinburgh files.  There was some back and forth when it came time to talk about the loss of crew, but the discussions continued until they were up to the present in their review.  She looked to the CO, “It’s your turn to speak if you wish.”

Ambrose blinked a few times before realizing it was his turn to talk.  “Ah, thank you.  Admirals, Captains, and others…I appreciate you taking the time to offer this review of my time of service.  I would like to make sure I give due credit to my command crew and the crew of the Edinburgh and the Erigone before her – the role of commanding officer isn’t one I like to go it alone in…I firmly believe in the capabilities and talents of my command team and that they’ve been instrumental in getting us back home as safe as we could.”

The first admiral to speak gave a nod, “Your words are appreciated, Commander.  Can you excuse us for a moment?”  Harris stood and stepped outside the room and leaned against the wall.  The assistant sat at her desk, tapping away at her console as the crowds passed by outside.  He thought about the nine months of being a commander – the adventures, the challenge, the battles, the losses…it felt as if it had been longer.

“Commander, they’re ready for you again.”  He returned to the conference room and was about to take his seat when they let him know he could remain standing.

The first admiral stood and walked to stand near him at the front of the room, “We’ve done an extensive review of your work, your missions, and you, Commander Harris.  To that end and in recognition of your service to the Federation, your crews, and Starfleet – we hereby promote you to the rank of Captain with the rights and privileges within.”  He slipped out a silver case and opened it, the shiny gold rank pip sparkling at him.  

Captain Fontana came to the Admiral’s side and picked up the pip, and gently went about attaching it to Harris, “Congratulations, Captain Harris.”  He stepped back, and applause filled the newly promoted officer’s ears.

Harris felt his heart warm, and his throat tighten.  Much had been given by many so that he was able to stand in this moment.  The admiral had one more thing, “Captain Ambrose Harris, it is the decision of this group that you be returned to the assignment of your task force, but that you will need something else with which to stand against and with the various challenges that await you.  You and your command crew are hereby transferred to the USS Mackenzie, an Excelsior II class starship.”  The applause started again, and Harris felt his smile widen.  The Admiral handed him a PADD, “Your mission briefing, ship boarding instructions, and further details to review.  Congratulations, Captain.”

The handshakes and conversations lasted for a bit, and soon it was just Harris and Fontana in the room.  Geronimo smiled, “I’m happy for you.”

Ambrose studied the man for a moment, “I heard they took action against her…and managed to find a few friends who had helped her along the way.”

Fontana chuckled, “She’s been dealt with, Captain Harris.  You and Lieutenant Reid are safe.”  He shook the hand of his former XO, “Good luck, Captain.  I’ll see you out there.”  It was now just Harris alone in the room, his heart and mind swirling with the realization that he was a captain.

He’d made it.

“She’s a real beauty, sir.” Okada stood looking out the windows into the bay as the Excelsior II class USS Mackenzie glided into view as it headed to dock.  She glanced at him, “You’ve been quiet since you picked me up from my quarters.”

Harris kept his eyes forward but sighed in answer to her question.  Mackenzie was a big get, and he’d been alternating questioning and celebrating the promotion and assignment in his head since he’d walked out of the meeting earlier.  They had done incredible things as a crew, and there was truth in needing something bigger and heavier to do the work they would be called to do.  There was considerable work ahead of them. They were going from an overall crew of 200 to 500.  There was a lot of work that would need to be done.

The XO pressed up against the glass, “I will miss the Eddie.  You always miss your first engine room the most.  Least what they told us in the academy.”  She turned to her CO, “What about you, sir?”

Ambrose smiled at the memory of the USS Garrison.  “Seven years. From engineering officer to Chief.  USS Garrison.  Old bucket of a Miranda class, but she had guts and glory that flowed through her.  We worked on her all those seven years to keep her flying and fighting.  I keep photos of that crew on the wall in my ready room.  Lot of memories on that ship.  Learned how to be an engineer in those cramped corridors.”  He thought for a moment, “There are days I miss that old ship feel and smell, you know?  The way things were wired – the old pieces and parts that hadn’t been scraped out.”  He slipped out a wooden box, “Almost forgot, Chief.”  He turned to her and opened the box, revealing a third-rank pip.

Okada squealed and put her hands over her mouth, “Sorry.”  She glanced at the gold and back to her CO, “I’ve been fighting promotions most of my career…this time, I don’t feel that urge to refuse or make excuses.”  Harris slipped the rank pip into place and pinned it.

“You’ve earned it, Commander Katsumi.  You’ve made engineering a place people want to work…and inspired a creative and quirky group of engineers to commit to the tasks at hand fully.  That takes work and talent…both of which you excel at in many ways.”

She blushed and shook his hand that he had extended, “Thank you, sir.”  She turned back to stare at Mackenzie. “I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

Harris reminded her that she was expected onboard at 1100 for the task of handling transfer on and off the ship – some of the crew had been reassigned, some had applied, and others had decided to stay.  The entire former command crew had been required to report to the personnel office, leaving a great many questions as to what had happened to bring about the Edinburgh’s crew being assigned in bulk.

As she left, Harris resumed his staring contest with Mackenzie.  Okada was right.  She was a real beauty.

The doors opened to the command center of the USS Mackenzie, and Ambrose Harris stepped out, his heart metaphorically bouncing around in his chest.  They had worked most of yesterday getting the crew roster sorted from those that were staying onboard to those that were transferring to leaving Starfleet service entirely.  Each of the department chiefs had a complete roster and had started this morning across the ship with staff meetings, schedule sorting, and duty organization.  Harris held in one hand a PADD with the briefing he’d just gotten out of and a thermos of coffee in the other.  It had been a recent development, but morning coffee had become part of his routine.  He wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but he was enjoying the various roast options programmed in the replicator.

“Captain on the bridge,” his XO called out as she stood from the center chair and gave him a quiet smile.  “Good morning, Captain.  The reports from the department heads.  Mine’s in there as well.  I’ve got an eye on an assistant chief and would love your eyes on him to see if I’m crazy.”

Harris accepted the PADD on top of his, “Thank you, Chief Okada.”  He glanced at the record, “You might be a little crazy. I’ll take a deeper dive. You are relieved.”

“I stand relieved, sir.”  She headed out the turbolift door as he made his way to the center chair.  The bridge of the Mackenzie (or Mack as they’d taken to calling her) was similar yet different from the Edinburgh in that it was still large, but the helm was lowered into the floor, and there were seats and consoles nearly to the viewscreen.  It would take some getting used to – starting with his chief helm officer, who now shared a space with the chief science officer.  Both liked each other well enough, but it would be an adjustment sitting next to each other.

Ambrose sat down in his chair, slightly elevated above the two guest chairs on either side of him.  He’d mentioned to Okada about installing a console to the side of each of those chairs, and she’d gone to work on figuring out how to do just that. He set his PADDS on the right side chair for now.  “Ensign Atega, advise Bravo we are ready for departure.  Lieutenant Prentice, plot us a course away from the station and then onto our objective.”

Both officers went to work, and Atega confirmed they were clear.  Prentice, at first, slowly went about the process of getting them unmoored from the station.  Once they were clear, he pushed the Excelsior II class to full impulse, and they were soon in open space.  William turned in his chair to face his captain, “Free and clear, sir.”

Harris turned to Atega, “Open a ship-wide channel, Ensign.”  She did, and the whistle sounded, and the CO spoke, “This is your captain speaking.  We met many of you yesterday.  There are five hundred of us onboard.  That means a lot of new faces and a lot of new getting to know the people you’re working with.  I wish there were more time to do just that.  We’ve been asked to assist in a trade escort mission near the Fenris system.  There’s been an unusual rise in attacks on transports in the area, and Starfleet feels it necessary to ensure safe passage.  You’ll receive a full briefing from your senior staff.  Captain Harris, out.”  He turned to Prentice, “Let’s get underway.”

Presley sat alone at the table, gripping her cup of iced green tea.  She’d been staring out the wide windows at the stars as they whipped past for the last half hour. The whirlwind of activity in the last forty-eight hours had been a lot, and there wasn’t much need for a communications chief on the bridge as they traveled to their destination.  The captain had suggested she check out the lounge for the bridge crew, and she’d found it soothing.

“Ensign Atega?” She glanced up and found Lieutenant Tir standing at her table with a mug of steaming green and lemon tea.  “May I join you?”

She blinked and then gestured to the opposite seat, “Su…Sure.  It’s pretty quiet in here anyway.”

Tir tittered, She’s nervous.  Wonder why?

Calog groused back Because she’s an ensign, and this is a very big ship with many people.  Let her prove herself first, Tir.  He accepted the offered seat and set his cup on the table, “Coming into an established crew is hard.  I didn’t think it’d be so…stressful.”

Atega gulped down her iced tea. “Mmmm.”  She had found the sheer size of the Excelsior II class ship to be her biggest struggle.  Twenty-four decks.  A battle bridge.   A massive sickbay.  And her own office with her own team of communications specialists.  The sudden reality of working and managing others had sent her skittering to the privacy of the bridge lounge.

The operations chief took another sip from his cup, “How have you found it?”

She swirled the dregs in her cup, “I’ve been working on being a part of a crew.  My previous ship…I was working….with a counselor.  To help make this, ” her hands pointed to the distance between them, “…better and less…awkward.”

Tir groused, “She’s an idiot.  Maybe an idiot savant, but she’s an idiot.  You need to stay far away from this one.  She’ll screw something up, and you’ll be standing by her while it all blows up around you.”

Calog felt his smile falter as his symbiont pushed against him, and he shook her loose.  Atega’s eyes watched him and grew wider at the odd behavior.  He hated explaining this bit, “Sorry.  I’m a joined Trill, and my symbiont…her name is Tir.  She’s very opinionated and outspoken – she doesn’t have much of a filter.”  He thought about it for a moment, “I guess I’m her filter.”

Presley searched his face.  She was faintly familiar with Trills and their relationship with their symbionts from her classes in the academy.  She was also wondering if he was putting her on or something.  The cruelty of others had been a theme in her early life.  “I…I am glad you can filter her.”  She attempted a weak smile.

He chuckled dryly, “So am I.  It would make social interactions and service in Starfleet downright impossible.”

Tir growled, “I can hear you, you know.”

He shot back, “Good, then maybe you’ll start listening one of these days.”

Atega looked up as the kitchen officer delivered her plate and took Calog’s order.  He eyed her plate curiously.  It was her turn to explain, “It’s Pancit. I’ve been missing home a little more lately, and this always helps me get my heart back on track.”  She felt his eyes continue to ask, and she remembered the detail she had left out, “It’s a Filipino dish.  There’s something about it that just…puts my world right again.”

A nod from him, “I’ve been a cook since they let me get my hands on the pots and pans.  I’m hoping to do some of my own cooking in my downtime.  Home is a funny thing when you’re across the stars with Starfleet.”

She wondered on that statement and agreed.  “They say home is where the heart is…I wonder if it’s actually where…your family is…be it blood related or crew.”  She thought about it for a moment longer, “Captain Harris told me this crew was woven tightly.  I think we’re the adopted kids.”  She blushed as she said it, but the operations chief smiled in recognition and held up his refilled cup.

“To being the adopted children of the Mackenzie.”

She lifted her glass, “I can toast to that.”

Harris entered the bridge from his ready room and gave a nod to his XO, and she returned to her engineering station on the left side of the bridge.  They had discussed her position as his second in command on the much bigger Mackenzie would require her on the bridge far more than before.  Her recommendation for assistant chief still needed an interview with both of them.  He took the center seat as the newly promoted chief helm officer announced they were entering the Fenris system and dropping from warp.  “Thank you, Mr. Prentice.  Chief Fowler, what do we see?”

Sadie was on the right side of the front console, a position she still wasn’t comfortable with since everyone looked at her no matter what she was doing.  Prentice had been kind and encouraging when they’d entered the bridge and were given their station assignments.  It helped to have a friendly face.  She tapped at the console as the sensors and her science team began to feed her information and reports, “The planet Fenris is on long-range sensors.  We’re detecting no other ships in the sector.  Various warp trails are showing on sensors, but nothing recent.”  She tapped her console, “There is no sign of our intended escort, captain.”  She turned in her chair to face Harris, “I’m also having a hard time picking up any communication traffic, sir.”

Harris turned to the right as Ensign Atega worked on her console, her frown growing until she turned to meet the gaze of her CO, “Lieutenant Fowler is correct.  There is no trace of communications signals anywhere in this system.  There should be echoes, traces…or just chatter from the planet or something…but it’s reading dead silent.  The last survey recorded a handful of active signals and trace residuals.”

“How long ago was that?” Harris asked.

“One week ago, sir.  It is unusual.”

“Damned peculiar is what it is.  Chief Kondo, yellow alert.  I’m not taking chances this close to Romulan space.  I know the Fenris Rangers used to operate on the planet, but they’ve since left…what do we think?” The lights on the bridge faded into a dull yellow as a soft klaxon sounded throughout the ship.

He turned to his tactical chief, steeped in thought as he spoke, “We learned in the academy the Rangers were the good guys – they worked hard to fight pirates and the like.  They’re not our allies, but they appreciate a good gesture or two.  What that means for our escorted freighter, I could not begin to guess.  Nothing good happens this close to the border and in this much chaos.”

Harris stared at the screen, “Any of the warp signatures match our transport?”

Fowler was ahead of him, “We’ve checked three times.  Nothing similar or related.”

Another pause from the CO, “Ensign Atega, try and hail the transport.  See if you can reach her.”  The ensign turned to her station and began to work.  Harris glanced at his XO, “This feels like a trap or something…but nothing’s been sprung.”

Okada shared her captain’s concern, “Maybe they thought they were getting the Eddie?  Lady as big as The Mack shows up, they fill their metaphorical pants and run.”

There were a few light chuckles on the bridge, and Harris rewarded his XO with a quiet smile, “Thank you for that image, Commander.”

Atega held the earpiece closer, “Sir, I’m getting a faint distress call from the SS PostAlley – they are under attack and requesting immediate assistance.  Sending you the coordinates now.”

Harris checked the console in his chair, “We’re fifteen minutes away.  Helm, lock, load, and fire.”

15 minutes later…

The bridge had gone from yellow to red as the officers had shifted to their battle stations.  Fowler had traded her station with Kondo so he’d be working side by side with Prentice as they faced whatever it was, and she could do her science work from a full console.  Harris leaned forward in his chair as Prentice counted down their arrival.  Sadie interfaced her sensor readings with tactical and kept as much of an eye on each ship’s status as she could while also trying to see what the hell else was out there.  The countdown ended, and the scene before them was chaos.

The SS PostAlley was a large transport that was being swarmed by five smaller medium shuttles that were actively firing on the ship. Harris stood, “Atega, open a channel.  This is the Federation Starship Mackenzie…” as he spoke, three of the shuttles peeled off and started firing, impacting the shields of the ship.

Kondo reported, “No damage to shields.  Looks like they’re trying to distract us.”

Ambrose remained standing, “Then let’s get into the middle of it.  Prentice, get us between them and the PostAlley.  Kondo, give ’em some warning shots.”

The Mackenzie thundered forward, pushing past the three shuttles, and nearly ran over the other two as the ten phaser banks let loose across all five shuttles, scraping against their shields and giving them a start.  Within seconds, all five attackers were fleeing.  Harris shook his head, “Guess they’ve never seen an Excelsior II class in action.”

His XO spoke up, “The PostAlley is pretty badly hit – she’s lost main power and auxiliary is thready.  Request permission to take a team?”

He gave her a go and hit his commbadge, “Captain Harris to Chief Reid – you and a triage team will be needed in transporter room one – we’ve got injured.”  He returned his attention to the screen as he glanced back at Kondo, “You think they’re done with us yet?”

De La Fontaine wasn’t sure.  He’d only encountered a few pirates in his short career.  “The Expanse pirates were an entirely different breed, Captain.  They were ready to fight…they’d done the work to be ready for us.  Looking at the scans we got off these ships…these are ships sent to annoy, harass…and maybe steal one or two if they get lucky.  Maybe they’re the scouts…but it doesn’t feel like they’ve got a bigger ship just around the corner.”

Fowler spoke up from her station, “I was looking at their power profiles with Chief Okada…we nearly shorted out their shields when we shot across their bows – the power grid on those things must look like an old earth Christmas tree wired all over the place.”

Harris returned to his chair, “It’s possible because the Fenris Rangers aren’t as big as they used to be around here…the bad guys are trying to have a comeback?”

Prentice turned in his chair to face the captain, “What’s that old saying…’power abhors a vacuum’?  Pirates gotta pirate.”

Ambrose chewed on his bottom lip, “Thing is…we were sent here to do something about this kind of thing…so pirates are gonna pirate…but the Mack’s gonna, well…Mack.  Chief Fowler – get with your team and see what short and long-range sensors will give us.  There might be a few more players on the field that we haven’t met yet.  Stand us down from Red Alert, Chief Kondo – let’s be ready to fill our hands if someone comes our way.”

The transporter beam faded, and they were in hell.  Fires riddled the corridor where they had been placed, and screams echoed down the hall.  Reid had her medical tricorder in hand while she directed her triage and trauma team to spread out.  As they walked, they checked the bodies that littered the floor.  Some would be able to be saved, while others were marked to be transferred to the morgue on the Mackenzie.  Okada walked beside her, a hand resting on a phaser.  “I’m going to need to restore main power – if we lose auxiliary, we lose everything.”  Reid gave her a nod as her crew continued to check bodies.  Once they were marked as a possibility, they were transported to the Mackenie’s massive sickbay.  Reid was thankful that her assistant chief, Doctor Yoshiyuki, had stayed on in the transfer.  She imagined his calm demeanor and curt orders were keeping the place operating as it should.  They would be sending plenty of bodies to the ship.

Ensign Solo ran up to her, “Doctor Reid, we’ve hit the door to the bridge, and it won’t open.  Tried manual, tried pulling on the thing.  Readings suggest there are multiple souls alive.”  

Jordan tapped her commbadge, “Reid to Chief Okada – door to the bridge is pretty locked up.”

=^=Seeing that now.  Engine room is a fu…sorry, a disaster.  I’ve got my guys working on main power – estimating five minutes best case and ten minutes worst case.=^=

Reid asked, “How long until auxiliary is out?”

A pause. =^=Seven minutes.  Let me see if I can get you a generator for that section.  Gimme a sec.=^=  Reid turned to the ensign, “Get in touch with Chief Okada and let her know where to send it.  We’re going to clear the hall, and we’ll catch up.”  A nod and the young officer was off in a flash.  She continued down the hallway with her group as they cataloged fatalities and injured.

“Reid, I don’t think this was a capture mission.”  Her fellow physician, Doctor Harold Benson, worked with her in tagging bodies for transfer, “More of these people would have survived if they’d just wanted to scare them.”  Benson was 60 years old and spry – he’d kept up an incredible exercise regiment most of his life.  “I think they were going to be made an example for others.”

Reid closed a young boy’s eyes, her stomach churning with simmering rage at the loss.  She waited until the boy had been transported before she contemplated what he was saying, “And we interrupted before…what?”

Benson injected pain relief into a survivor and gave the young woman some words of comfort and explanation before the transporter whisked her away, “I don’t think any of these people were supposed to survive, Reid.”  They had covered lots of ground and had made it to the bridge’s door. A generator sat on the floor, and Ensign Solo was finishing up interfacing the unit with the door power system.  “I would be grateful to be wrong…but the manner of the injuries…some of this was done in person.”

Reid turned to face him and held up her hand at Solo, “You mean…we’ve still probably got combatants on board?”

Harry shrugged and slipped out his phaser, “We hit the ground running…I haven’t seen anyone that looks drastically different from each other…but we don’t know what these pirates look like either.”

Jordan tapped her badge, “Reid to Doc Yosh – you may need security in sickbay to check on who is who.”  There was no response and she blinked a few times and tapped it again, “Chief Reid to Assistant Chief Yosh.”  Nothing.  A third tap, “Chief Reid to Captain Harris – I’m not getting a response from sickbay.”  There was no pause this time.

=^= Harris here, Doc. Looks like our pirates mixed in with our survivors. The good news is that they’ve been held to deck six.  Our assistant chief engineer made sure everything was closed and locked tight.  The bad news is that they are using Doctor Yoshiyuki as their negotiator.=^=

Reid groaned, and Solo gave her a look.  He had been a recent addition and had barely met the crew.  Jordan explained, “Muramoto is old school in every sense of the word.  He grew up in a very traditional family and community in Japan – so dedicated to the old ways they’ve made a name for themselves, along with a few other communities across the country.  The point is that Muramoto is not going to cooperate.  He’s more likely to fight back or find ways to take that sickbay back under control.  He’ll sacrifice himself to take any pirates out to give someone a chance at either getting out or getting in.”  She returned her attention to her captain, “Sir, we’re going to breach the bridge over here – we’re armed and can handle ourselves.  Keep us in the loop.”  The channel closed, and she turned to Solo, “Let’s do this.”

The door yawned open with a grinding squeak.  The bridge was a wreck as smoke billowed over burning consoles, sprawled bodies, and debris covering the floor.  The team stepped carefully through the door, phasers raised.  No one stood or jumped out to try and take them on.  It became clear that everyone on the bridge was dead.  Benson shouted from across the room, disproving that theory, “Doc Reid – someone alive over here.”  

Reid moved quickly with her kit and found a human splayed across the floor, a trembling blood-soaked blade in one hand and a spent disrupter in the other.  A body lay motionless next to him, dark red smeared across the floor.  “Can you talk?  What happened here?”  She went to work as quickly as possible, but Benson handed her the readings from his medical tricorder.  He wasn’t going to make it.  Jordan began the work of making him comfortable as she tried to ask him again.  

His eyes flitted open and found hers, a gentle smile tugging at his lips, “They were mad that we’d made it back here with our cargo.  They told us to stay away next time if we couldn’t pay.  Nobody can pay…so we decided to take a chance.”  He coughed, his eyes wet with pain, “We took our chance.  Thank you for coming.”  He took a breath.  Then two.  Then none.  Reid sighed, “Time of death 1721.  Goddamn it.”  She stood and glanced around the room, tapping her badge, “Reid to Chief Okada – we good?”

As if to answer her question, the lights powered on, and a few working bridge consoles flickered into action. =^=We have main power…but only for about twenty minutes.  I can’t save her, Doc.  We’ve tagged the cargo, and Captain Harris says we’ll take it the rest of the way.  Did I hear him right that we’ve got pirates trying to take the ship?=^=

Reid shook her head, “Trying is the key word.  We’ll check the other decks and head back to the Mack.  Reid out.”  She turned to Benson and Solo, “We’ve got fifteen minutes to clean up the house before the lights go out.  Let’s get to work.”

“They seem to believe they can force their way off the ship.  They are mistaken.”  Kondo sat at the security and tactical station on the bridge, “Our options are limited - attempting to use methods to knock them out would have unintended impacts on the injured - never mind the staff working to save them.”

Harris had rotated his command chair to face him, “How many of them are in there?”

“Five.  Sensors and video surveillance confirms five pirates.  They are armed with energy weapons."

“I remember reading about our sickbay being protected from transporters with an additional auxiliary shield.”

Kondo gave a nod, “Yes, and the pirates activated it.  It is an optional system used to prevent the reverse situation presenting itself - having someone from another ship try and take a hostage or a prisoner from sickbay.”

Ambrose chuckled dryly, “There was clearly not an engineer assigned to that piece of the process.  Options?”

De La Fontaine had a few, “Incursion with our response team, all weapons on stun.  Wait them out.  Attempt to override the shield system.  Each comes with a challenging list of pros and cons.”

The CO contemplated in the center chair, “Based on what we've seen and had reported from the away team these pirates are not going to go quietly.  They're rowdy on purpose.  Could we target their disrupters specifically?  Overload them?”

A few taps on his console and Kondo had a thinking look, “It's not impossible.  We'd need specific sensor details and an engineer to tune the field we would use on them.”  Another round of console checking, “It would take us fifteen minutes to get it all ready.”

“Get to work, Chief Kondo.”

Fifteen minutes later…

“Right, so this…and this…are the approximated frequencies that we've managed to extrapolate from the scans of the devices.”  Lieutenant Greer Moore sat at the engineering station as she walked the CO through what they had worked on with Chief Fowler at science.  “Once we activate the field and send it through sickbay, security will breach the door and take the bad guys down.”

Harris leaned against the wall, “What are the chances of success?”

Moore tapped the console, “That's…uh…the fun part?  We've narrowed it down to an 80% chance of success.”

The CO gave the assistant chief engineer a look, “80%?”  He glanced at Kondo, who shrugged.

“We asked the computer to see if we had more time and if it would improve the odds of success.  It wasn't much - a few percentage points.”

Ambrose chewed on it for a moment.  He was a former Chief Engineer, and he was trying to figure out another method to subdue the pirates.  “It's the best we've got…and we need to get sickbay back under our control. Chief Reid will be less than thrilled if we don't.”  Kondo headed for the turbolift, followed by the newly promoted Moore.  “Good luck,” he said to them as the doors closed.  He returned to the center chair and turned halfway to face his communications chief, “Status of our away team, Ensign Atega?”

Presley had been working to ensure the latest transports of bodies and injured had been through a security check.  Lieutenant Tir had headed down to handle it in person with the help of a few select security officers.  She faced him, “Doctor Reid, Chief Okada, and the rest of the team are returning as we speak, sir.  The PostAlley is being declared a total loss, sir - we've been cleared to scuttle the ship from a distance.”

He drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair, “Always tough having to kill a ship.  Lock phasers and standard torpedoes on the target to assist in the complete breakup of the ship.  Mr. Prentice, full reverse.”

Soon they were a distance away, and his XO had returned to her station on the bridge.  He glanced at the report she had filed on his PADD.  “Chief, you think this is an attempt at establishing dominance?”

Katsumi rotated in her chair, “Pirates usually do their enforcement bit to remind people to pay or that they need to stay away and clear.  This was a statement of what they could do to someone if they got all bothered and angry.  We're still not sure how many pirate operations there are in the sector and who's got the bigger guns.  These guys have lots of guts, but we outclassed them.  Who else is around that they're resorting to this kind of operating?”

Harris had been quietly wondering the same thing, “We're the interference signal in the sector - getting into the middle of a fight we didn't know was happening.”  He turned to Atega, “Any progress on the communication signal issue?”

Presley tapped the console, “There's something going on with the planet - we detected it when we were closer.  The interference originally just looked like the noise you'd have in space.  The team took another run at it and found that it was far more electromagnetic than naturally occurring - and it had a pattern of behavior which suggests….”

Ambrose nodded along, “Something is in place powering the interference.  But that doesn't…oh.”

The Communications Chief picked up where he'd left off, “The communications loss extends beyond Fenris into the sector and a little beyond.  Someone's trying to restrict or cover something up.  It wouldn't take much - a couple of transmitters and repeaters scattered throughout the area…but you'd have to have someone connected and operating the system to ensure it keeps the sector quiet.”  She tapped at the console one last time, “It is interesting - our communications systems are unaffected - I was able to reach Starfleet Command on various channels and touch base with several Federation and non-Federation vessels in the area and beyond.  Our working theory is that the block or whatever it is - it's designed for smaller craft with lower-powered communications systems which would extend to most if not all of the cargo ships that would come through this section of space.”

“We were able to hear the PostAlley,” Harris positioned.

Atega pointed out, “Our systems have an extraordinary range - especially with this class of ship, sir.  Our communications system alone is damn…sorry, is a work of communications masterwork.  Multiple levels of powering the short and long-range systems together with multiple layers of shielding, encryption - They'd have to work hard to affect a ship this size.”

Prentice had turned in his seat, taking in the conversation, “So we have to find out who's operating this…thing and shut it down?”

The CO agreed, at least in part, “That's the gist of it, yes…but there's a lot we don't know.  If whoever is operating these interference stations isn't in the same group as the ones who attacked the PostAlley - we're not going to know the limits of their capability.”

The XO shrugged, “I think we just have to go and knock on the door, sir.  Reid and the team are back on board.  Sickbay reports all clear.  No fatalities, and our pirates are secured in the brig.”

Ambrose stared at the screen and the faraway view of the planet Fenris.  There were only so many ways to develop a theory until you tested it.  “Thank heavens for all that.  And…you make an excellent point, Commander.  Prentice, take us into orbit.  Yellow Alert…just in case.”

The Mackenzie rumbled forward.

They'd entered orbit of Fenris, and Fowler was working at the console at the front of the room as the sensors and her science team sent her information, “Captain, we're detecting similar ranges of interference from the planet - not enough to prevent us from communicating but the power behind it is slightly higher than what we found earlier.”

Harris puzzled, “Ensign Atega - responses to our healing frequencies?”

“No, sir.  We're showing it is transmitting to the colony and outlying areas, but we're unable to confirm whether it is being received.  The interference is at least fulfilling that part of its job.”  She worked at her console, “There is an unusual signal ringback coming back off the planet.”

The CO turned his chair to face her, “Purpose?”

Presley examined the data as it came back and was evaluated by both her and the computer, “In smaller ships, it might be considered a carrier wave or a piggyback signal designed to get into a ship's computer or systems.  The Mackenzie's systems are significantly more protected against something like that.”

He returned his attention to Fowler, “Can we safely transport down?”

Sadie checked the console, “The planet is habitable.  The communications interference would not interact with our transporters, sir.”

He tapped the console on his chair, “Harris to Chief Okada - prepare a medical, security, and engineering away team to the surface.  Chief Kondo will be joining you.”  The channel closed, and Harris turned to Kondo, “Find out what's getting in the way - and quickly.”  Kondo nodded and headed inside the turbolift.

Fenris - 1800

Okada looked around.  The world was arid, but it wasn't a dust bowl.  Plants and trees littered the rocky terrain as they approached the crumbling settlement.  Kondo walked at her side with his phaser rifle drawn and braced at hip level. Two triage and trauma officers who were joined by the Assistant Chief Medical Officer, Ensign Yoshiyuki, were behind the Chief Engineer, with two engineers mixed in with them, and behind them were the three security officers bringing up the rear.  Okada glanced at her tricorder, “Picking up life signs, but they're scattered around the area.  There's more concentration in the mountains that way and the canyons that way than there are here in this place.”

They all continued to search the surroundings as they entered the settlement and continued to find nothing.  Kondo nodded ahead, “Looks like a town square up ahead.  Let's tread carefully.”  The group scattered as they inched forward against the walls, checking every corner or shade-sheltered area for movement.  There was none.  It took them fifteen minutes, but they cleared the entire square and came together in the center of the area.  Ensign Webb from security walked the entirety of the square with a tricorder and returned to the group, “There's nothing residual coming up on the scans.  There's nothing here that would have driven everyone out that I can see.”

Kondo glanced at the readings from Thomasina's tricorder and wondered, "What makes an entire settlement flee to the mountains and the canyons?"

Suddenly a fireball erupted from a rooftop and headed their way.  Everyone scrambled and ran to cover positions as it impacted the ground they had been formerly standing on.  Kondo reached for his badge but held as he stared at the ground.  “What in the hell?”

His security officer, Ensign Palmiotto, spoke up from beside him, “There's no burn mark.  That's…weird.”

Yoshiyuki was a few yards away and glanced over the edge of the rock he was hiding behind, “It could be some kind of holographic…thing.”  He shrugged when Ensign Ramirez glanced at him, “I can tell you what part of you is broken.  I'm a doctor, not an engineer.”

Okada was a few yards farther down and chuckled, “I am thankful you are not our engineer, Doctor.”  She stood and carefully walked out to the center of the square once more, “I do not imagine you would be willing to do this.”  

The ACMO nodded vehemently in agreement and lowered behind the rock cover, just in case.  “I'll get my burn kit ready, Commander.”

Another fireball erupted from the rooftop and headed straight for the executive officer.  She stood defiantly staring it down, and it engulfed her a second later.  The smoke cleared, and Okada stood unharmed.  “I had a feeling.  Holographic.”

The rest of them broke from cover slowly and joined her in the middle of the town square.  Yoshiyuki gave her a look, “You are crazy, you know?”  

She gave him an impish grin, “I'm an engineer, not a psychologist.”

Kondo spun as fireballs erupted from the roof all around them and bombarded them with faux fire.  Most of them flinched and jumped for cover out of instinct, but it soon became apparent this fire was no different than the other.  It wasn't real.  It sounded and smelled like fire…but it didn't singe the hair on their heads.  The Chief Security Officer opined, “Well, I think we know part of the answer as to why the people fled.  They didn't think about whether it was real fire…or not.”

A voice boomed out across the settlement, “THIS TOWN IS CURSED BY THE FIRES AND DOOM OF THE GOD FENRIS.  YOU MUST DEPART OR FACE THE FATE OF THOSE WHO DARE TO CHALLENGE ME.”  

Okada walked around looking for and then, after having to look closer and closer, found hidden speakers that littered the rooftops, “Someone went to a lot of trouble to make the appearance of something that isn't.  Namely a God.”  She wandered back to the group, “The theory from science was that someone would have to run this system of interference to make it work and respond to ships that showed up.  I think we're looking for the group running this…operation.”

“YOU WILL NOT REMAIN!  YOU MUST DEPART!  I WILL STRIKE YOUR SHIP DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS!”

Okada chuckled, “That'll be the day.  Team - let's spread out and see what we can find.”

Okada and Kondo took point as they searched the grounds.  They picked up a signal that led them to the settlement administration building and quickly climbed the steps and forced their way through the main doors.  The silence echoed through the cavernous hallways of the stone building.  There was a buzz of energy somewhere, and they both tapped at their tricorders to trace what they could hear with what they couldn’t see.

Kondo glanced at the walls as they walked, “They left all this art on the walls when they fled.  The people of Fenris have talent.”  He pointed to the various large gorgeous pieces of canvas that littered the halls, “The colors are…dare I say exquisite.”

Katsumi gave him a look, “Never figured you for the artsy-fartsy type, Chief Kondo.  Struck me as more a punchy-kicky type.”

A snort from the chief security officer, “Humanity sometimes ignores the layers present within ourselves – we are complex beings with passions and dreams.  We are not the sum of the surface that others see.”

There was more to Chief Kondo than his weapons. “Fair enough.  That sound…it’s getting stronger.”  They moved through the halls, down a corridor, and into a lobby where two massive and ornate doors remained closed.  Bright lights shone through the clouded glass.  The chief engineer tried the door.  It wouldn’t budge.  “Well, it’s secured somehow.  I’ll see if I can find an override.”

Kondo scanned and glanced around until he spotted two cameras set in the far corners of the room.  They were moving and appearing to zoom in on him and the XO.  “Commander…we’re being watched.”  

She glanced up and followed as he pointed them out, “Well, now that’s interesting.”

“YOU WILL LEAVE.  I WILL UNLEASH HELL ON YOU AND YOUR SHIP.”

Katsumi cracked open the panel and went to work, ignoring the voice.  A moment later, her communications badge chirped.

=^=Harris to XO.  We’re seeing holographic representations of the Borg, Hirogen, and Gorn out here.=^=

She grunted as she pulled the override and the massive doors rumbled open, “Roger that, Captain.  Whoever is doing this relies heavily on subterfuge with some good old-fashioned smoke and mirrors.  I should have an answer here in a few.”

Kondo shifted to stand with his rifle drawn as the door shuddered open, revealing an open administrative court area, a large screen strapped to the judge’s chair.  Okada followed him slowly in, her phaser out as she examined the room.  The screen flickered to life, a disembodied head appearing, glaring at them from the front of the room.

“HOW DARE YOU COME INTO MY INNER SANCTUM.”

The security chief sighed and walked the room, checking for anything that could jump out at them. The eyes on the screen followed his every move, grumbling and growling as he completed his search and returned to stand by the XO, “It’s clear.”  He nodded to the grousing image on the screen, “We just need to figure out where he is.”

The chief engineer slipped out her tricorder once more and began to scan around the screen as the figure protested, yelled, shouted, threatened, and flustered about them and what they were doing.  Okada found herself at the door to the judge’s chambers and turned to Kondo, “Wanna smash a door?”

He did.  It took him thirty seconds to crash through the wood and bash the door open.  Debris and dust hung in the air as he stepped through the door, phaser rifle up and sweeping.  Okada followed him in and found herself staring at a sputtering and rotund man in an electronic chair, his eyes wildly going from one Starfleet officer to the other.  “You…you cannot be in here.  You must leave!  This is…is my town!”

Kondo holstered his rifle on his back and walked up to the man, and began disconnecting the various cords and wires, “This isn’t and wasn’t yours.  You took it and made a show so everyone would leave.”  He checked to make sure he’d gotten it all.  He roughly lifted the squealing man into the air and set him standing, applying cuffs to his hands behind his back with little effort.  The man still huffed and puffed but stopped talking.

Okada tapped her communications badge and reported to the Mackenzie what they had found.  She was amused as Harris chuckled, =^=That’s a callback to an old Earth story.  The Wizard of Oz.  The Great and Powerful Oz was the man behind the curtain.  As much as things change…they remain the same.  Get back together with your away team – start dissembling the equipment across the settlement.  We’ll send a security team to take custody of your prisoner and start the interrogation process.  Harris out.=^=

Okada looked at the man whose bravado had deflated as reality had sunk in.  He mumbled, “I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you, Stupid Starfleet.”

The XO corrected him, “Smart Starfleet, thank you very much.”

=^=We’ve done a deep scan of the entire planet, just to be sure.  All traces of him are clear.  The equipment we’ve managed to repurpose for the settlement’s communications needs.  Most everyone’s returned from the mountains and the canyons – still a few holdouts.  Mostly elderly folks who refuse to believe the god is dead.  You find all the transmitters, sir?”  Okada had spent just under a week dismantling everything and working with a large science and engineering team to help upgrade the settlement infrastructure.  In that time, Captain Harris and the Mackenzie had been searching the sector for the transmitters that were responsible for the communications blackout.  It had been easy at first, but the challenges became apparent as some of the equipment had been programmed to run on lower power until signaled.

Fowler had figured out how to send a signal and light up the sector, and they’d been off to the races.  They’d finally cleared out the last late last night, and it was the primary reason Harris was cradling a coffee cup in his hands.  He took a sip, then spoke, “We’re clear on this side.  Grab your gear and our people – we’re coming to pick you up.”  The channel closed, “Prentice, get us in orbit and bring our people home.”  The chief helm officer gave a nod, and the Mackenzie thundered on its way.

Earth – Starbase 1 – 10.28.2400 @ 0800

“Docking locked.  We are secure for departure.”  Prentice turned to his CO, “Your orders sir?”

Harris pushed off his chair, “I wish I knew.  Priority message to get us back to Earth and stand by.  I’ve got an appointment planet side.”  He tapped the console on his chair, and a message went out to all crew. “For the moment, we are off duty.  They’ve got some work orders, upgrades, and other assorted items to take care of.  You’re expected back on the 31st at 0800.  We’ll know more by then.  Dismissed.”  

The bridge emptied slowly until it was just him and his XO, Okada.  She leaned on the railing, “Captain….”

“They’ll be hearing about it once they get over to the station.  Delta Quandrant’s gone crazy.  Something’s exploded a new kind of Dilithium there, and the rush kicked off a month ago when the wormhole opened up.  Now things are going sideways.  Delta Quadrant isn’t safe, and it’s disconnected for a month at a time.  There’s a lotta players over there, and not many of them are friendly to anyone but themselves.  I don’t have our official orders, but most, if not all, of the Fourth Fleet is being recalled to various stations.  The whispers between some of us are that we’re going to get thrown into the mix.”

Okada gave him a brief side look, “You talk to other people besides us, Captain?”

Harris chuckled, “I do have other friends, Chief Okada.”

She relented on the teasing for now, “You think we’re ready for something like this?”

Ambrose shook his head, “Honestly – it’s going to be a test.  For those who came with us from the Eddie, it’ll be old hat…but there’s only 150 or so of them who made the jump.  That leaves a lot of ensigns, crewmen, and a smattering of cadets.  We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”

The XO pushed off the railing, “I’ll take today off…but I’ll be back here tomorrow working on our rosters, shifts, and assignments.  I’ll see if I can swing some senior crew out of the personnel wormhole.”

Harris smiled, “I’ll be back tomorrow morning as well – we can sort out what’s what together.  See you in the morning.”  He headed off the bridge and to the transporter room.  He’d wondered why his mother had called him from the Harris Transport offices.  He snagged his bag with a change of clothes and overnight kit and headed for the transporter pad.

Earth – Opheim, MT – Harris Transport – 10.28.2400 @ 0845

The transporter’s light faded from his eyes as he gave a nod to the transport operator.  He walked off the pad and headed through the sprawling facility that had become the headquarters for his family’s company, Harris Transport.  They’d made the move to the spaceport that had sat on the remnants of the Opheim Air Force Base that had become a Boeing testing ground, then a growing spaceport, and now the base of operations.  His aunt and uncle currently ran the company and the entire family, in some way, had jobs in the company.  He smiled and waved at a few familiar faces as he made his way across the campus to the operations offices.  It took him a moment, but he made it to the CEO’s office without too much trouble.  He stepped through the door and found his mother talking quietly with Patricia and Lawrence ‘Larry” Harris.  They all turned and excitedly welcomed him back. Hugs, kisses, and stories were exchanged as coffee and tea were offered, replicated, and placed on end tables.  The small talk waned until Ambrose seized the moment.  He noticed his mother was not in uniform.  “So, not a family visit?”

Rachel smiled wanly and shook her head, “It’s about Rafael and Julian.”  She looked to the parents of said children.

Patty cradled her cup as she sat in her chair, her eyes searching the floor for answers before she spoke, “They heard about the new dilithium.  They’d been spoilin’ to get out of here for a few months – said it was like a prison, and they wanted to see the universe.”

Ambrose resisted the urge to frown.  Rafael was 21 now, but he had been struggling to adapt to life with the company.  Julian was 25 and had been fighting with his parents since he’d turned 18. In the latest letters from home, it had mentioned there was a chance they’d both be fired before the year ended if it kept up.  “What did they do?” She handed him a company PADD with a report, and he exclaimed as he read, “They stole a Sydney and Aerie class transport?  The hell?”

Rachel sighed quietly, “They…requisitioned them through dubious means from the company.  Somehow they convinced a full crew to join them.  They made all kinds of promises.  If Pat or Larry had known what they were going to do…well, they’d have stopped them.  It’s been almost a month, and we’ve heard nothing.”

He shook his head, “The wormhole only opens once a month.  If they’d wanted to be found, they’d have found a way to let you know.  Bastards.  Sorry, Aunt Pat…Uncle Lar.”  They both nodded.  He kept reading. A cold shiver ran across his heart as he read the rest, “They roped Natalie into this?”  Natalie Harris was his sister and had recently graduated from high school.  She’d applied to Starfleet Academy and had been waiting on word.

Rachel grimaced visibly, “Nat’s the adventurous one.  You’re the logical and rational one.  She told me she was going to take a trip with friends to Mars.  And yes, I believed her.  Only after we started digging into the requisitions database did we find out what they had done.”

Ambrose shook his head, frustrated at his stupid cousins.  They’d pulled stunts before, but nothing to this scale.  “What’s Starfleet’s position?”

Captain Rachel Harris shifted her posture, “You’ll get your orders in two days.  It’ll be standard search, investigate, examine, discover, rescue, and whatever else comes your way.  The theft is something Harris Transport will sort out when we get them back.  They’re not technically missing since the wormhole only opens every thirty days.”

The Mackenzie CO knew where this was going, “Once the wormhole opens, and a message is sent, and we don’t hear back directly…they can be declared missing.”  

His mother nodded. “It’s dangerous out there.  All we ask is that you find a way to bring them home.”

Ambrose let out the breath he’d been holding, “Well, I’ll add to the list.  You need to give me everything you have on those two ships, Rafael, Julian…and Natalie.  Background, psyche profiles, the works.  If we’re going to be looking out for them as we feel our way through the Delta Quadrant, I need to know as much as I can.”

Larry stood from his chair, “I’ll get right on it, ‘Brose.”  He moved to his computer but turned to face his nephew, “I’m really sorry they got Natalie mixed up in this.”

Ambrose shook his head, “You’re not the one that needs to apologize, Lar.  Those two wayward sons are going to have a helluva lot to answer for when I find them.”  He stood from his chair, “I’ll let Jordan know she can come down in a few.  The horses ready for us?”

Pat pushed off her chair, “They are – walk with me, and I’ll show you the new additions.”  The two left the room, and Rachel Harris turned her stare on her brother, Larry, who was tapping away at his console but was unable to ignore the stare of the Starfleet Captain.

“I wish I could make it better, Rach.  I wish I could just get them home with a snap of my fingers.”

Rachel remained silent, her eyes bubbling with fury.  She walked up to the desk where he was working and leaned down to put her face just inches from his, “You will make it better.  Those boys will not work here or be allowed back on this property when they come home.  They will face charges for theft, endangerment, and whatever the hell else I can find in every single goddamn book I will throw at them.  And I will make the case for you and your wife to be removed from your positions…even if that means I have to retire.”  She leaned back away from him and spat, “Goddamn you, Lawrence.  My daughter should be home.  Not lost in space with your dumbass sons.”  She stared at him a moment longer before leaving out the door.

Lawrence stared at the door she had left and then returned his attention to the console as he force his hands to stop trembling.  He’d learned long ago that tangling with his sister was dangerous.  

She hit for distance.  

She hit for pain.  

And she never missed.

The USS Mackenzie was flying through space on its way to the wormhole to the Delta Quadrant.  Orders had come as expected, Captain Harris had held his command-level team briefing two hours previous, and the department heads had been working with their teams to give the overview along with the specific parts they were going to play.  The nervous energy that he’d heard about when it came to moments like this was certainly being felt across the ship and in him as well.  He’d been walking the corridors for the better part of an hour, and he was thankful – it was helping him find his way around the massive ship.  He’d cleared the saucer section and was no working his down the secondary hull.  He passed a few officers in the hall and greeted each of them with a nod or warm smile.  Thirty percent of the faces were known to him and had been with him on the Eddie.  The other seventy percent had heard of him in passing but were still working to figure him out.  He could see it in their faces as they passed him, glancing at his rank pips and then to his face and then returning the greeting as they walked on to their destination.

“Captain!”  He turned to see his chief counselor bounding down the hallway, “Was going to come looking for you.  Everyone’s on the ledge a little about this, aren’t they?” His look must have been quizzical as she chuckled, “I mean to say that I’ve been talkin’ with some of our crew.  They’re all a bit uneven.  Not enough to turn back, but enough that I wanted to talk to you a little.”

He gestured to the corridor ahead, “Let’s walk and talk.  I’m trying to see the ship from one end to the other.”  As they walked, she spoke of the worry that the younger officers were expressing and the outright fear the cadets were confessing to having about what awaited them in the Delta Quadrant.  They came to a “T,” and he thought about what she had said, “How many counselors do we have?”  

“Twenty.  Ten of them double as orderlies and nurses for Doctor Ried when we’ve got an emergency situation.”

Ambrose glanced at his chrono, “We’re slated to arrive at the wormhole tomorrow morning.  I’m wondering if organizing some…something around departments later this afternoon into the evening?  Food, drink, music…games?  A way for folks to come together, break some bread, and have some time to be together.  I could even give an encouraging word or something.”

Woodward was tapping on her PADD, “I think that is pitch perfect, Captain.  I’ll get my people in motion.  Maybe we have folks gather in their departments first, and then all gather in the crew lounge?  It is big enough.  I checked.”

“Get to work, Lieutenant Woodward.  Let me know what you need from me.”  She squealed and went careening off down the opposite way.  Harris, with an amused look on his face, continued his walk.

Most of the crew had filtered into the main lounge, and the Chief Counselor had been right.  They all fit.  Further food and drink had been assembled while a band comprised of various officers from across the ship played on the stage in the middle of the room.  Harris stood behind the bar, slinging drinks as the need arose, drawing curious glances from more than one crewmember.  Reid stood, leaning on the bar sipping on a Shirley Temple.  The drinks were non-alcoholic by design, but the crew was starting to mingle across departments, with some finding friends from the academy and more.  “You know what you’re going to say?” she asked.

He shook a faux martini and poured it into the glass before answering her, “I’m hoping for courage and reality without too much fear.  Working out how to balance that out….that’ll be the delicate walk I get to make.”  He sighed, “Feels like the academy days were just a week ago…and I was getting my feet wet in engineering.”

She gave him a cross look, “You waxing poetic about the past, Captain?”

A shrug, “I’m trying to remember what it was like…to help me find the right words for them.  What would I have needed to hear if I was standing out there?”

Jordan down the rest of her drink and looked out among the gathered crew.  She had read most of their files as the chief medical officer.  There were stories of heartbreak, loss, victory, love, and pain.  Each of them carried with them something that defined them and directed them.  She reflected on the beauty of larger starships with larger crews.  There were more stories just around the corner to hear, learn, and welcome.  “I think I’d want to know we were doing the right thing…doing this.  That the risk was worth it.  That this what the Federation is about.  We aid, rescue, and protect those in need.”

Ambrose pointed at her, “I may steal some of that.”

She raised her glass as the Chief Counselor took the stage, “Steal it all, Captain.”

Juliet Woodward stood before the floating microphone, “Crew of the USS Mackenzie, thank you for coming tonight.  I know we’ve been feeling a lot of things and talking about a lot of things…we wanted tonight to be a chance to gather and grow together more as a crew.  Captain Harris would like to share a few words.”

Ambrose moved to pull off his apron but left it on as he stepped onto the stage and looked around the room.  The lights adjusted so he could see them all from where he stood.  The silence grew as he played with the washcloth he had taken with him.  Then he spoke, “You’ve been briefed by your commanding officers.  You’ve read the stories on the newswire, and you picked up on the talk on Bravo about what’s going on in the Delta Quadrant.”  He slowly turned so that each part of the room would see him talking to them, “Some of us come to you from the Eddie…well, the USS Edinburgh.”  Quiet chuckles broke out among the crowd.  “We’ve faced things as a part of that crew…things we didn’t expect or understand.  We came together as a crew from command to crewman to cadet…and we served the Federation’s promise and the ideals of Starfleet every step of the way.  We were not perfect…and I won’t expect that of any of you.  We’re one crew today – the crew of the USS Mackenzie…or the Mack as we’ve all started calling her.”  The entire crew rumbled with chuckles and a few whistles.  He took a sip of the water he had brought with him.

“We don’t sign up to be Starfleet officers for the glory or the praise.  We sign up because the universe is larger than we can fathom.  You’ve all been through the academy or are finishing up – you know what we are called to do in our service on these symbols of hope, freedom, and safety.  That the Federation lives up to its ideals.  That we hold tightly to it no matter the storms, no matter the risk, and no matter the fear.”  He gestured down to the apron, “I think of us as the person behind the bar.  We serve everyone who comes to our table.  We offer them whatever we can to help them in their time of need…from drink to food to conversation to a shoulder to a hand.”  He looked out to them and met as many eyes as he could.  There was less fear looking back at him now.  There was something greater filling the room and the hearts within.  “We take the risks because that is our job.  We do the unthinkable because it must be done.  We step forward into the unknown because someone must seek out new life and new civilizations.  You are each that someone.”  

He held up his glass to them, “A toast.” Glasses across the room lifted up to meet his, “To the crew of the USS Mackenzie – to the adventure, to the experience, to the journey…and to each of you as we work together towards facing the risks ahead with courage and strength. Cheers.”

Loud echoes of “Cheers” and the clinking of glasses filled the room before they subsided, and Ambrose held his glass, “Continue to break bread together and get to know each other tonight.  Thank you for all that you do.”  A round of applause broke out as he headed back to the bar, drowning the last of the water.  He slipped back around behind it and picked up the PADD with orders.  

Reid gave him an approving look, “You did good, Captain.”

He handed her another Shirley Temple, a quiet smile crossing his face before he returned to the orders at hand.  Reid turned to watch the gathering as it continued to mingle.  Tomorrow they were going to prepare to journey through the wormhole into the Delta Quadrant.  She had felt doubts, but as her boyfriend…and captain had spoken, she had felt some of those doubts fade away.

The Delta Quadrant was a day away.  And they were as ready as they were going to be.