Evan was standing on the ridge overlooking the lagoon the Valiant landed in. He'd been helping to recon the immediate area and luckily it didn't look like the locals inhabited this particular region. If it wasn't for the pre-warp locals it would actually make a pretty decent shore-leave locale. "Lougheed to Valiant, survey of the upper ridge is complete. No evidence of local humanoid activity,"

"Copy that Lieutenant, the remaining surveys are underway so you're free to return to the ship." Came the response from the ship.

"Aye, Lougheed out." He said with another tap on his combadge. He was glad he'd switched his standard duty uniform for the hot weather variant. He adjusted the sunglasses that were sliding down his nose.

He made his way back towards to the ship enjoying the sun despite their predicament.

Evan was seated at a corner table in the messhall, a large sandwich in front of him and several tablets. He had finished his debrief of the away team and was compiling a second report to SFI following his meeting with the Captain. The excrement had hit the fan so to speak with the higher ups, these Gulak had been an almost completely unknown to SFI, it was never a good day when that happened. He took another bite of the sandwich and washed it down with a mouthful of coffee before turning his attention back to the report.

Officers filed in and out for their meals, most all of them minding their own business, but then came along a peculiar woman in Operations yellow; she was a little on the short side, Asian facial characteristics, but the most striking detail about her was the pale green ocular implants, and her blind stare seemed to indicate that these implants were not working as intended. In her hand was cane to help her navigate and avoid bumping into tables and chairs, but she seemed to be able to avoid the other Officers without any issue. Then she found her way to the replicator and ordered a sandwich and a coffee, and with a hum the order appeared in the bin. The young woman took her order and made her way to an empty table and sat down, folding up her cane and stuffing it into the back of her belt once her meal was safely on the table.

Evan watched the woman navigate the messhall, visual impairments were rare for those in Starfleet, most could be treated or the latest–prosthetics were used. He grabbed another bite of his sandwich before leaving his table and approaching the woman "Lieutenant Song?"

Xiulan raised her head, but never quite looked at him. "Yeah? Who's asking?" she asked in return.

"Lieutenant Lougheed, Chief Intelligence Officer." He said, taking a seat across from her.

"Oh nice, I was gonna come looking for you after my lunch," Xiulan said with a grin. "Captain told me I should talk to you, maybe compare notes about Iconian history and the Gluak. I did a lot of cryptography for Intel out of DS11, Iconians were one of the many topics I had access to; there's lotta information, thought maybe we could find some reference to the Gluak and how they fit in in this sector." As she talked, she opened a bag of potato crisps and began shoving them into her sandwich. Once she was done, she closed the sandwich up and took a big crunchy bite.

"I admit I'm not over familiar with the Iconians, most of the time we focus on races still kicking around in my line of work. I'll let you finish your lunch, why don't we meet in my office in an hour and we can discuss what connections we might be able to find."

"Alright, where's your office?" Xiulan replied, still chewing on a bit of sandwich.

"Deck 2 Section 14." He said, "I'll meet you there when you're done." He said with a smile before grabbing his things and heading to his office to get squared away.

"Alright, I'll be there," Xiulan replied, then took another bite of her crunchy sandwich.

-----------------
Intelligence Office
45 Minutes Later


Evan was seated behind the desk, the small intelligence office for the ship was a modified cabin. It featured a main desk and a few wall stations, a small heavy duty computer core isolated from the main core was built into the main desk. A single PADD was on the desk and a large mug of coffee was sitting next as he finished couple more reports.

Xiulan hoped she was in the right place; her first time on a new ship was always awkward, lots of mistake were often made even when asking for directions, but she came bearing gifts this time, two lidded coffee cups stacked one on top of the other in her free hand, so she really hoped she hadn't rung the wrong door this time.

"Come." Evan said as the door opened and allowed the other officer entrance. "Have a seat Lieutenant. I'd offer to get you something but you seem to have come prepared."

Xiulan set the stacked cups on the desk, then set one in front of Evan. "Though you might like a fresh cup," Xiulan said, then she felt around for a chair and sat down. After she put away her cane away, she unzipped her duty jacket to pull out a strange looking PaDD and a data chip, offering him the data chip. "That's what I got regarding Iconians and activity for this sector."

Evan accepted the PADD, he put the data into the intel computer and crossed referenced it with the existing data. "It looks like this planet may have been an Iconian enemy strong hold. They seemed to avoid it by a large swath."

"Hey, just the data is yours, the PaDD's mine," Xiulan said, keeping hold of the PaDD with a lopsided grin. She touched it briefly to the screen he was working from to interface the PaDD as a connected device, then it activated with raised bumps instead of a visual display so she could follow along with her fingers what he was reading. "I did a cursory search for the Gluak, but nothing came up; it's possible they're not mentioned by name, so we would have to search for other cues, like maybe tactics or even reference to their physical characteristics."

"The vessel seemed to be buried in the planets, that's a pretty unusual tactic for a ship that size. Anything in your records on that? or long term hibernation of individuales." He asked.

"That's a pretty distinctive detail, I can work with that," Xiulan replied as she began searching. After a moment of frustrating failure, she sighed. "Nothing yet, but there's still some recovered Iconian text that requires translation, so I'll keep working at this. Not like we have to find the answers today, but it's a start."

"Good, my department is short staffed, as you can, not, see." He said stopping himself, "Anyway, you're more of an expert in this area so I'll let you work, copy me in on any breakthroughs and I'll tie you in on any other connections that crop up."

"Eh, not an expert, just a linguist," Xiulan said with a shrug. And his slip of the tongue didn't bother her, she was used to those kinds of things. "You mind if I come here to work when I'm not on the Bridge? The response times on my searches are fast, so you've got a dedicated computer, right? That'll help as I try to translate the Iconian text."

"More of an expert on the Iconians than I am. Sure, like I said we're not really fully staffed and unless I need to use the core for something it sits idle most of the time." Lougheed said, "I'm due on the bridge but feel free to stay here and work if you'd like."

"Awesome," Xiulan remarked with a grin. "I'll let you know if I find anything."

Lieutenant JG Lucius was running system diagnostics, bouncing from panel to panel, trying to get as much information as possible before they ran out of power again. They were completely running on auxiliary power and backup systems as the warp core was still offline. He was having a hard time determining what caused the problem in the first place, that knocked out their engines and sent the USS Valiant careening toward the nearest planet. If he could get a handle on what happened in the first place he might be able to get a handle on how to fix it, but for now they were dead in the water and likely to remain so.

What he needed was a sounding board and people who could help him track down what exactly had happened to their engines. There had been no enemy vessel on their sensors. There had been no spatial anomaly that had hit them, unless it had been invisible. He hadn't had a moment yet to go over the logs of the events before they were forced to land. Hopefully, once the Communications Officer joined him they could take a moment and figure it out.

Slowly, a short figure descended the ladder into the Engineering section. Once safely on the floor, and she had to double check that her foot was on solid ground before stepping off that last rung, the young woman stayed close to the wall, mostly because she knew she would get lost in here, but also because she didn't want to get into anyone's way.

"I'm looking for a Lieutenant Lucius," the woman said when she heard someone walking nearby.

"Over here, Lieutenant Song," Lucius replied. "I've got a station ready for you." He turned in his seat for a moment to get a better look at Lieutenant Song. He had to admit that she was cute, but he had too much on his mind to spend too much time there. "I've already pulled up all the logs from before to power outage to after it. We've got another problem too." His tone was serious and unamused.

In order to follow his voice and traverse the space, Xiulan retrieved her cane once more and snapped it open to find her way; it had been a long time since she had been truly blind, and she took for granted how much she relied on heat signatures to get around. "You're not the only one with more problems; whatever knocked out the power also shut off my eyes, so give me a hand here," Xiulan replied as she made her way closer to Lucius. Once she was closer, she could feel a touch, his hand on her arm to guide her to the console where she could safely sit down. "So, what news do you have that's about to screw us over?" she asked as she put her cane away and then pulled out her Braille PaDD to start reading the logs Lucius had downloaded.

Vita approached the pair of senior officers. "Sir, we've managed to access some of the last sensor data before the power failure. We're hoping to have emergency power back on shortly."

"Send it to this console, I'll give it a once over," Xiulan replied.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Stick around a moment. I'd like your input as well," Lucius invited, returning to his own seat and console. "So do you want the bad news or... well... right now there's only bad news. Emergency power aside we might run through our power supplies before we can get these repairs done and again, I still have no idea what knocked out our power in the first place. Honestly, I feel a little helpless," he admitted and made a sort of 'hopeless' gesture with his hands.

"Well, the fact that it knocked out the power in my eyes says something: it's not a result of tampering or any sort of networking since my eyes are obviously only connected to me," Xiulan pointed out. "It's not a dampening field because the emergency power reserves would be non-functional as well, and from the sounds of the warp core, the matter/anti-matter reaction has been suspended; whatever this is, it can suspend the reactions we use to generate power and warp fields, as well as the conversion of body heat to usable power in my implants. So the good news is we know more than we think we do, the bad news is we need to figure out what can suspend these reactions so we can get our power back."

"Did we get hit by any sort of pulse or disruptor? I didn't think that ships could fire from cloaked, but who knows. I'm just thinking out loud. Problem with disruptor cannon theory though, that doesn't last forever. It's a temporary effect. This obviously is not temporary. We didn't pick up any ships, or stations, or floating debris, or any of that. No phenomenon. It wasn't even like we were hit with anything, everything just shut down. Like someone flipped off the lightswitch. What about espionage?" Lucius looked at the two women.

"Nuh-uh, espionage don't account for my implants, you can't just remotely hack 'em and shut 'em down, interacting with them is very personal, I'd definitely notice something like that," Xiulan replied with a dubious shake of her head. "Anyway, I was on the Bridge so I know we did come across a spacial anomaly; it wasn't on sensors that long and we weren't tryna collect data, not yet anyway, but at the time we were simply altering course, and then everything went crazy. And who's to say the effect ain't temporary, maybe it's just taking longer than the known disruptor weaponry we're familiar with? Or maybe this anomaly left something behind that's interfering with power restoration? I don't know, I'm not a proper Engineer, I only know communications arrays, so maybe I'm just talkin' outta my ass."

"No, no..." Lucius said. "You make good points. I wasn't thinking about your eyes in that equation. It had to be the anomaly. Let's have a look at those sensor logs and see if we figure out what exactly it did to us."

"Since we don't know what we're looking for, this might take while," Xiulan said as her fingers began working over her Braille PaDD to read the logs. "You know, if this was a communications array, I'd start scanning for radiation, frequencies, trace particles, anything that could disrupt a clear signal; can you think of anything we could start scanning for that could disrupt power generation reactions? Like with disruptor weapons, what does it do? Is it radiation that halts power?"

"We've heard of subspace 'sandbars' that collapse warp fields and prevent ships from creating a warp field. What if there was some sort of 'sandbar' that prevented the energy conversion at all. Our teams have confirmed we still got fuel in the tanks, it's just that we can't start up the reaction. Chemical batteries are rapidly drained and the Lieutenant's eyes don't work. I have no idea what could do it but it's almost like someone pressed a pause button on energy conversions." Vita said.

"The 'sandbars' you're thinking of are subspace dead-zones; in areas where subspace has collapsed, subspace communications and warp fields aren't possible but it doesn't interrupt power," Xiulan remarked. "But... that does remind me of something...." Xiulan said, tapping her chin in thought. "Uhhh, there was an incident with the old NX Enterprise, uhhhh, something about polaric fields?" Xiulan worked on her PaDD to access computer records and find what she was looking for. "Nucleonic particles! Try scanning for nucleonic particles; according to this, they're highly magnetic and will attached to the hull of the ship, and in high enough concentration they can create a dia-magnetic field which can shut down all the ship's systems. We must have come across a small patch in the anomaly, enough to shut down the warp reaction but not enough to cripple us completely."

"Ugh! I should have thought of that. Scanning now." Lucius' fingers flew over the surface of the console and then he whistled. "You were right, Lieutenant Song. There are Nucleonic particles all over the hull. They're tiny, but they're there. We have cleared the field so they should disperse, although that doesn't seem to be happening with any sort of quickness. Ferric ions though, are susceptible to phase energy, so we might be able to clear off what is remaining with the ship's phase cannons." His fingers kept moving and his eyes were glued to the screen. "That would make sense as far as your eyes are concerned though. The nucleonic particles sort of act as a dampening field. So it would suppress those abilities as well."

"Yeah, the tech is sensitive, it wouldn't take as high a concentration of the field as the rest of the ship would need for a system-wide shut down," Xiulan agreed with a nod. "So we just need to get these nucleonic particles to disperse; any way we can hurry up the process?"

"What if we tie the main phase coils into the shield grid, in essence create a low level phaser spread across the hull, would that disperse the particles." Vita suggested, "Hopefully without burning out the entire shield grid in the process."

Lucius looked up at Vita and nodded, grinning. "Yes, exactly. I am concerned about using too much of the energy we have left, but I don't see that we have any choice and once they're clear we should be able to restore main power so, using up our reserves should be okay."

"And wouldn't we have to clear the particles from the warp core too?" Xiulan pointed out, although she didn't have the slightest notion as to how a warp core actually worked, so maybe she had no idea what she was really asking.

"Well... not the warp core directly, the particles could definitely affect the intake manifolds. If we were flooded with nucleonic particles it could cause a flare in the ship's plasma injectors. Although, now that we're talking about this, that might be exactly what happened. A flare in the plasma injectors would have caused a warp reactor shut down." He looked up at Vita. "Do you think you could run over the logs and see if there was any sort of event before we lost power with the warp core? It might have been just a tiny little fluctuation in temperature. It might not have even lasted long enough for us to catch it, like something easily overlooked."

"I'm on it," Vita said moving to a free console, and pulling up the logs and beginning to analyze them.

Lucius looked over at Lieutenant Song. "Do you think you could find out when we ran into the particles? I'd like to know how long we were in the cloud. That might tell us the density of the particles and how much energy we'll need to generate with the phaser cannons to remove them."

"On it," Xiulan replied, and started going through the logs from the Bridge documenting the anomaly and their course correction.

"Sir, I think I've got something," Vita said. "Look, 2 microsecond fluctuation in the plasma injector," she said putting the results up on the main terminal.

"Well shit..." Lucius exclaimed in response to Vita's information. "Even I missed it. 2 microseconds." He shook his head. "Alright, so we dipped into this nucleonic cloud and got ourselves covered in particles, the plasma injector overheated and shut down the warp core. We now know. I'll take these findings to the Captain and let her know of our solution. I don't want to just hit the ship with a random plasma burst or we run the risk of damaging our systems. We need a measurement and then we'll adjust the power of the phase cannon."

"Copy that, now that we know what we're looking for I'll go top side. If we scan the ship from the outside we should be able to gather some more information about the particles we picked up and then be able to calibrate a phaser pulse." Vita said.

Lucius nodded. "Good call. Thank you Lieutenant. I appreciate your help. Lieutenant Song? Do you have anything for me?" He turned his gaze to the Communications Officer.

"Yeah, I think so," Xiulan replied with a bit of a perplexed expression. "As best I can tell, we didn't come into contact with the anomaly on our sensors; the helm did a course correction, but we didn't give the anomaly a wide enough berth and these nucleonic particle things were attracted to all this nice magnetic hull plating. You know, if these clusters of nucleonic-rich polaric fields are going to be a reoccurring thing for this area, then once we get off this planet we should probably launch a buoy to warn all ships in the area to scan for nucleonic particles and to keep a safe distance."

Lucius nodded in agreement. "Alright, that sounds like a good idea. No point in making everyone crash land here." He chuckled. "I'll let the Captain know what's going on and what we've found and what we need to do about it. Our next step will be to figure how how hard to hit the ship with the plasma cannon." He stood up from his seat. "I'll be right back. Please continue." Lucius headed for what served as his "office" if you could call it that. It was pretty much a replicator with a closet around it and everyone used it. He tapped his comm badge. =/\=Captain this is Lieutenant Lucius. We have discovered what happened and have a solution.=/\=

Leigh finished changing into a dry uniform from her dip earlier. Sure, it had been a bit immature for a ship's commanding officer to dive off the ship and into the water but she needed something to ease the stress and that dive seemed to had done it. When her badge chirped to life, she tapped it in response. "I'll be there in a minute, Lieutenant," Jacobs replied as she exited her quarters.

Exactly a minute later, she entered Engineering at a brisk pace, feeling rejuvenated. "What have you got, Lieutenant?"

Lucius nodded, a little amazed at how fast the Captain had come to Engineering. "So we broke the ship," he joked with a little chuckle. "But seriously... We seem to have hit a cloud of Nucleonic particles. They are very magnetic. So we came along with the shiny ship and they just couldn't help themselves. The particles act like a dampening field, they also stick to the hull and caused the plasma injectors to overheat. When they overheated they shut us down and we had too many particles to get it started again." He paused for a breath. "There's more... normally they peel off the further we get away from their original cloud... but these didn't. They've clogged our manifolds and energy dampened everything. We think that it's possible... because our sensors didn't pick up the particles... that they might be in small enough clouds to not be detected." He crossed his arms over his chest and took a deep breath. "Phaser weapons can usually dislodge the particles... we're working on how to get that to happen using our own phaser cannons."

"I have a theory as to why the particles haven't dispersed on their own yet," Xiulan spoke up. "All previous incidents regarding these particles, the field from which they originate is quite large and exerts enough of a pull to draw the particles back once the ship in question has left the field, but the field we came across was quite small, so the particles remained stuck to us. Thankfully there's not enough of them to create a full-on dampening field or even our emergency power reserves would be useless."

Lucius gestured toward Lieutenant Song. "Well... at least it's not as bad as it could be. We should be able to restart the engines once we can get the particles off and clean the plasma injectors and the intake manifolds..." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We should be able to reverse the phaser cannon to remove the particles. Of course this is all theory. Lieutenant Song did, however, suggest that we might want to leave a warning buoy for other passing ships. Our sensors didn't even pick up the particles until it was too late."

"That's a good idea but let's work on cleaning these damn particles off the Valiant first. Could personal phaser rifles be enough to cleanse the particles or do we need more power?" Leigh asked.

"We'll have to do both. We need more power to clear the hull, but we might have to get up into the manifolds with phasers to make sure everything is cleared. The phaser rifles will work... but it will take like five times longer to do it that way," Lucius said.

"Then I'll follow your lead on the best plan of action, Lieutenant," Leigh replied. She had never been much of an engineer--she knew the basics that she learned at the Academy and in refresher courses but anything more than that was over her head. "How are the engines and power systems otherwise? Did we sustain any damage that you can tell from the crash?"

"It doesn't look like it ma'am," Vita said rejoining the group. "We've just had a team complete some inspections, once the particles are cleared power should be alright. We may have some damage to the ventral hull though."

Leigh thought about that for a moment. So far Deck Four seemed structurally sound but they wouldn't know until they got the main power back online. "Well between our XO's excellent piloting skills and the ablative armor, let's hope the damage isn't too extensive."

Lucius nodded in agreement. "I'll keep you informed as we go, Captain. Just in case there are surprises."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll leave you to your job and great work so far. If you need any help, I'll be around," Leigh said. It was kinda frustrating that she wasn't more of an engineer like many captains. She was one of few ship captains that came up through security and tactical and thus that was where her expertise lay. In situations like this, she was basically just a third wheel.

Lucius nodded again. "Thank you, Captain. We will do our best. Alright team..." he said turning to the other two. "Let's make this happen."

"I'll get to work clearing plasma manifolds," Vita said with a nod to the senior officers before heading towards the manifolds.

"And I'll get the plasma cannons reversed. Lieutenant Song?" Lucius turned to the Communications Officer. "Once we hit the ship with the plasma cannon it should bring your sight back. Although, I was thinking... I bet going outside of the ship would help too."

"Yeah it would," Xiulan replied thoughtfully. "It would also make it possible for me to set up a distress beacon so we can try to call for help until the ship is at full functionality again."

Lucius nodded in agreement. "Do it. Maybe by the time someone sees it we won't need them, but it would be nice to get a jump on a help request. Make sure to set it far enough away from the ship that we won't accidentally destroy it with the plasma cannons," he joked.

Lucius started trying to override all the safety protocol that said you shouldn't shoot your own ship with your own plasma cannons. It took quite a bit of coaxing. One thing he could say for the Defiant class, its systems were serious about security. It took him nearly an hour and constant calling back and forth to the Captain for access. He was certain she was tired of hearing from him. Finally, after much struggling, frustration and swearing, he got everything set up. He opened a shipwide comm as well as his personal comm for those that might be outside the ship. "This is Chief Engineer Lucius. We are going to be clearing particles from the hull with the plasma cannons. Please stand away from the hull for at least five minutes and at least three feet."

Vita had moved to the bridge to assist in the process, the manifolds had been cleared and once the hull was cleared main power 'should' be restored. "Zh'challiss to Lucius. We're ready to fire on your order. All personnel report clear of the outer hull."

Lucius nodded, even though they were talking on the comms. "Alright. Let's give it a go!" He set the plasma cannons, made sure everything was calibrated correctly. "And firing!"

"Phasers firing." Vita reported from the bridge. "Discharge is propagating across the hull. Energy dissipating. Residual charge dissipating. Charge is gone," the Andorian reported over an open comm channel. "Looks like particles are fully cleared, main power should be back online now."

There was a long pause. "Nothing's changed," Lucius reported. "We're still running on backup power. Checking... please..." There was another long pause. "Son of a... we're done. Unless there's dilithium around here. Lieutenant Song, that beacon is going to be necessary."

Leigh marched into engineering and wasn't too thrilled at the moment. "Lieutenant Lucius, what the hell happened? You mentioned something about dilithium?"

Lucius had half of himself shoved into a tight space in a conduit and half of him sticking out into Main Engineering. "The plasma cannon blew the crystal." He said into the conduit, trying to be loud enough for her to still hear him as he worked his way back out of the tight space with the tool he'd been using. He had, what looked like grease, smeared on the front of his uniform and across the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry Captain. I had no idea. There was no way to predict that was going to happen and of course we have the type of dilithium that can't be replicated. Lieutenant Song is putting out a distress beacon."

"So we have no way to recrystallize it?" Leigh asked. So far the Valiant's mission has been one bad incident after another.

Lucius crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, his face grim and serious. "Yeah, pretty much. We have to find another source or wait for help."

"If we can get one of the shuttles out of the ship we could use it to scout the planet, and system for dilithium," Vita said, coming up to the pair. "If we can find it in system we can hopefully mine and process enough to at least get main power online and get us back to base," the Andorian suggested.

Lucius nodded in agreement, looking between the Captain and Vita. "That."

"Two problems however," Leigh began. "The shuttle bay doors are submerged beneath the ship with not enough room for a shuttle to launch. Second, we don't have the power to transport a shuttle outside."

Doctor Samar, whom had been doing background health and radiation scans during this conversation, piped up as she scanned. "You don't need energy to find it at all. There's enough raw dilithium crystal on that girl in sickbay to power a Nebula class starship." Snapping her tricorder closed, she turned to the group. "No radiation leaks right now, but I'm still picking up signs of residual radiation near the port antimatter injectors. Anyone doing maintenance on them in the future will need an inoculation to be safe."

Vita turned, "Why is this girl carrying dilithium, we've seen no signs that they have matter-antimatter reactor tech."

"She's wearing it as jewelry. Even cavemen like pretty rocks," Alara replied with a slight scoff. "I'm no engineer but if there's enough for a girl like her to be using it as jewelry, it's bound to be common enough to get some choice pieces nearby."

"We have a pair of UAV drones in the cargo bay," Vita said. "They're designed for recon, but I bet with some tweaking we could modify one to search for dilithium near the surface in the immediate area. It would certainly beat tricorder and foot patrols to try to find it."

Leigh nodded. "Do it. There has to be a mine or large source that these dilithium crystals are coming from."

Lucius nodded. "I can help with the UAV drones, if you like, Lieutenant," he offered. "Once we find it, it will take a little bit to get it from its raw state to what we need. So the sooner the better. Although, I am concerned that we're going to piss off the natives if we just go get it. We might want to ask first."

"Let's locate a source and then seek out solutions to obtain it--preferably without being seen if possible. If not," Leigh let out a long sigh. "Then the woman in Sickbay may be our best hope of getting some." Leigh knew that went against the Prime Directive but at the moment, they were stuck on a primitive planet and the longer they stayed, the more likely they would be discovered.

Vita nodded to the Chief and pulled up the specs on the computer she was working on. "We may want Lieutenant Lougheed's help, the UAVs are designed for Intel work."

Lucius nodded in agreement. "Sounds good. I would welcome any help at this point." He shifted his gaze between the Captain and Vita. "We can probably rig the UAVs with the tricoders. Do they have seperate power supplies?" he asked. "I know they already have video... but is that video hooked through the ship's view screens or do we need to modify a PaDD too?"

"I'm sure the Lieutenant would be able to help us sort that out," Vita said.

Colt continued in his mission to meet all of the department heads on the Valiant before they set off on their first patrol. He tapped his commbadge.

"Senior Chief Xan to Lieutenant...Me'Shlaht," he said, proud of himself for a) remembering that he was no longer a Master Chief, and b) managing to come pretty close to what he thought was the correct pronunciation of the Ferasan officer's name.

Me'Shlaht paused in her self-assigned inventory of the Valiant's weapons, tapping her combadge to respond. "Me'Shlaht here. What can I help you with, Senior Chief?"

"I was wondering if we could chat for a moment," Colt replied. "I'm going around and meeting all of the department heads. I can meet you somewhere if you'd like."

"I am in the primary armory checking our energy weapon inventory. We can meet here, perhaps? Or I could come to you. I am not particular." Marking her progress in a PaDD, Me'Shlaht closed the locker she was currently looking into.

"I'll meet you in the Armory," Colt said. He arrived at Armory One shortly thereafter. "Lieutenant Me'Shlaht? Senior Chief Xan. Nice to meet you, ma'am."

Colt refrained at the last minute from saying 'my, what big teeth you have'.

"Calling me 'ma'am' is not necessary. Me'Shlaht will do just fine." She may have chosen the officer track, but Me'Shlaht wasn't one to enforce any sort of silly rule about superiority in rank. "Or lieutenant, if you insist."

"Me'Shlaht then," Colt said. "And you can call me 'Colt'. Am I pronouncing your name correctly?"

"Yes, you are. I am impressed... most take at least a few tries to get it right." Not that Me'Shlaht judged anyone for it. She had trouble with some non-Ferasan names.

"People from all over came to visit my clan to learn about the advances in hydroponics being made on our farms," Colt said. "I was always meeting people with strange sounding names and my parents taught me early on that the best way to make a good impression on someone was to pronounce their name correctly. You need an extra set of hands? I know my way around small arms."

"I would appreciate the help. I have several people in my department, but most are not familiar with these types of weapons." Me'Shlaht looked forward to teaching her people about these weapons and their practical uses, but for now she preferred only those familiar with the equipment be messing with it.

"Works for me," Colt said. "Where would you like me to start?"

Me'Shlaht thought about that for a moment then picked up a PaDD to hand to Colt. "I know how many TR-116-B rifles we're carrying, but I have not done the inventory on the ammunition stocks. Or the documentation that was supposed to be delivered... the files that contain the replicator override codes so I can make more."

Colt took the PaDD.

"I'll start counting magazines," he said. "I'll double check that they are full up on replicator matter. I'm assuming we have some empties along with the fully loaded mags."

"We should, or I'll be filing a complaint." There was a hint - maybe more than a hint - of growl to Me'Shlaht's voice. Getting the rifles at all had taken some doing; she'd had to enlist help from Commander Jacobs to get the rifles on board.

Colt began counting magazines as he said he would, making sure to keep the full ones separate. The work was monotonous and boring, but had to be done.

"So," he said. "There aren't really a lot of Ferasans in Starfleet are there? How'd you end up in the fleet?"

"It is a complicated story and one most people have difficulty believing." Me'Shlaht chuckled a bit, but it was a somewhat hollow sound. "My parents were magnesite miners. I don't know the name of the colony, but it was owned by a Ferengi. He wouldn't sell to the Klingons, who came to take it by force. So... he blew it up." Her ears twitched angrily. "Most of the adults were killed, and I lost the rest of my litter. If it weren't for some rather adventurous Trill missionaries, I would be dead too."

"I'm very sorry that happened to you and your family, Lieutenant," Colt said. "And I'm sorry to bring up bad memories. If you wish to talk about something else, we can."

"No, it's quite all right. I was adopted by a Trill couple. They're my family now." Me'Shlaht's posture softened slightly.

"Did you grow up on the Trill homeworld then?" Colt asked.

"I did, on the southern continent. My parents... are interesting people. And by interesting, I mean they're the sort that most other people find to be crazy." Me'Shlaht grinned a little, knowing full well a Trill would have to be crazy in order to adopt a Ferasan cub.

"Those are the best kind," Colt replied, also grinning. "I mean, look at us. We're Starfleet. We run towards things most people with any common sense run away from. So, how, exactly, were your parents crazy?"

"They are what some people call 'preppers'. I'm not sure if that word will mean anything to you... but they prepare for possible disasters by stockpiling food and weapons. They also trapped and tamed wild animals." Me'Shlaht's tail swished as she tried not to laugh. "They took me on as a challenge."

Colt raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds...interesting?" he said. "So, did you join the fleet because you wanted to live more in the here and now, rather than prep for a disaster that might not happen?"

"That might have been part of it. But more to get away. Life in the outback is rough, even for someone like me." Me'Shlaht didn't talk about herself much, but she didn't mind sharing either.

"I joined for similar reasons, I guess," Colt said. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I liked growing up where I did, but the Cardassian Border Wars were raging and I wanted to do my part. I didn't really think much past that. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to spend some of those earlier years in the fleet on the exploration side of things, but really I'm pretty satisfied with how things have gone up til now. You know, the whole punching out that Marine officer and getting demoted thing, but I'm confident that will work itself out in time."

"You... punched an officer?" Me'Shlaht's eyes twinkled, and her ears twitched in a manner that suggested she was trying not to laugh at such an idea. "Now why would you want to do a thing like that?"

"Well," Colt said. "There was this little matter of the Second Battle of Chintoka during the Dominion War, where said officer, when he evacuated the base, not only neglected to tell command that me and my team were still down there and fighting, but actually told them we were all dead. We got stuck there fighting a guerrilla war against the Breen and the Jem'Hadar until after the war. A lot of good people died, from combat, from disease, and from starvation. I tried to let it go. Then I ran into him at a bar and heard him bragging about his war record. That tipped me over the edge and punched him. He was so drunk that he hit his head on the bar and knocked himself out. JAG disapproved and I was demoted."

"Ah. I would say he deserved it, but Starfleet would probably demote me too." Me'Shlaht grinned a bit wider, however. She'd had the inkling to punch - or scratch - fellow officers before. If it weren't for those things called 'rules' she wouldn't be above biting those who deserved such treatment either. "JAG's priorities are often backward."

Colt shrugged.

"I was upset at first, but I'm pretty much over it," he said. "I'm young yet and it's only one rank. Pretty sure I can earn in back in due time. I've got a few hundred more years in me. Plenty of time to earn that rank back, maybe go Warrant when I feel the time is right...maybe even get myself a real live commission. I'm not worried. And, like you said, he really, really deserved it."

"Commissioning just means more paperwork and more responsibility. The work itself... not so different." Perhaps commissioned officers had a touch more authority, but Me'Shlaht had never been one to prescribe fully to Starfleet's idea of authority anyway. "Especially out here. An officer who fails to listen to their NCOs or warrants is asking for trouble."

"Well," Colt said. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, I guess. Well, this seems mostly sorted out. Okay if I head out?"

"Oh, of course. I can finish up here... you've been a lot of help. Thank you." Ferasans, like Caitians, could not produce the friendly/thankful smile of humanoid species. Instead, Me'Shlaht purred, much like a housecat with a deeper voice. "Feel free to come by whenever you'd like."

"Thank you, Ma'am, I will," Colt said. He left the Armory and set off to tackle the next item on his list.

Colt was dressed in an unmarked uniform colored in tones that would help him blend into the local terrain. He was wearing a tactical vest and had a compression phaser pistol in a holster on the vest's left breast. The trigger had a sensor that was currently keyed to both Colt's and Evan's biometrics. Only the two of them could activate it. If one of the locals somehow came into possession of it, it wouldn't work for them. Colt had chosen for forgo carrying a rifle or a carbine. He had a canteen, some ration bars, and a knife as well, a small medkit and a tricorder. Most likely, they'd only be going on a short walk, but he was prepared if they needed to go further afield. When Arturo had come to him and changed his orders from accounting for all of the crew to assisting Lieutenant Lougheed in reconnoitering the area, Colt had been pleased. It gave him a chance to keep his skills sharp.

"Ready when you are Lieutenant," Colt said.

Evan nodded to the Senior Chief, "We've cleared the initial LZ of the ship, but there's a ridge line about 5 clicks from the ship to the east. It's possible that someone along the ridge could find us. The Captain wants us to make sure there aren't any prying eyes."

-----------

Valywen peered through the foliage. Her ears picked up strange voices nearby. She knelt next to a tree and seemed to hold her breath as she continued to listen. She had been right--the object had been an alien spaceship of some type. She withdrew a small notebook from her dress pocket as she began to take notes on the sounds she was hearing. She swallowed as she crept forward. A moment later, she came to the site of the crashed ship. She let a gasp of shock escape her mouth before quickly covering it and ducking lower in response. The ship was huge and scary looking! She quickly began to make a sketch of the ship in her notebook.

-----------

The two men had closed on the ridge and were moving at a good pace, the bright sun was lower in the sky and the temperature had dropped a few degrees from it's afternoon high. "I've got a life sign." Evan said, "600 meters. Looks to be humanoid."

"Well," Colt said. "If we stayed along those rocks over there, we could probably get a closer look at whoever is checking us out."

Evan nodded and the two moved in near silence along the ridge. They circled behind the lifesign who appeared to be on a small vantage observing the ship below.

Valywen looked on in interest at the ship--she had even spotted a blue alien with what appeared to be antennae protruding from it's head! It appeared to be a variety of aliens, not just a single species! Valywen could barely contain her excitement as she sketched what she saw as fast as she could. The fluttering of birds nearby caught her attention as she froze, listening to the silence minus the distant strange voices of the aliens. Then she heard it--a slow crunch from behind. Her eyes went wide with fear as she leapt to her feet and sprinted into the forest, following the ridge line.

Evan and Colt moved into the clearing the Lieutenant had his phaser raised. "The Captain is not going to like to this." The said to the Senior Chief.

Valywen sprinted as fast as she could. She had to make it back to the town to warn the others. She suddenly felt a painful sensation as her vision blacked out before she hit the ground hard.

Colt trotted over to the downed local. He took out his tricorder and scanned her.

"Huh," he said when he got a good look at her. "She kinda looks like an elf. Well, we can't just leave her here. She's going to wake up and just start running, or maybe just stumbling at first, but basically running back to her people and start telling crazy stories about spaceships and people from outer space. I guess we have to take her back with us. She's fine, by the way. The phaser stun didn't hurt her...as far as I can tell. Doctor Samar could say more definitively than me. We going to beam back with her or do you want me to carry her?"

"It's bit of a ways, let's see if the transporters are up yet. If not we'll have to." Evan said. =/\= Lougheed to Vailant, what's the status of transporters? =/\=

There was a short pause. =/\=Transporters and main power are still offline, Lieutenant," came Jacobs' reply. "What's going on?"

"Guess we're hiking back." Lougheed said to Colt. "We've come across a local inhabitant who had found us out. She's been stunned. We're proceeding back to the ship with the local. She appears to have been documenting us and the ship." He said picking up the notebook the girl had been using. "I'm not seeing anything that looks like a communication device so I don't think she's informed anyone else of us, unless she told someone before coming here, it's a bit of a ways from the nearest settlement."

"Get her to sickbay. I'll have Security meet up with you and I'll meet with you in Sickbay. Jacobs, out."

Colt knelt down and picked up the elf woman in his arms, then stood up. His Vulcanoid strength meant that the woman was a very light load to him. He started walking back towards the ship.

"We'd best not keep Commander Jacobs waiting," he said to Lougheed as he passed the lieutenant.

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

<>

Jacobs arrived in sickbay as Colt and Lougheed brought the native woman in. As she was laid down on the biobed, she placed her hands on her hip, looking at the woman as Doctor Samar joined them. "Where did you find her?"


"A rise about three clicks from the ship." Lougheed said handing the woman's notebook to the Captain, "Looks like she was recording observations about the ship, her detail is quite meticulous, but the lack of equipment with her leads me to suspect that she's not some sort of government official or researcher. I think we're pretty safe assuming that she's here on her own and that our existence hasn't become known to the general public of this world."

Jacobs looked through the notebook--the woman was a good artist. "Well that still leaves us the issue of what the hell to do with her." She couldn't kill her and she couldn't allow her to return to her people with her knowledge...at least until they understood the views of the people on this planet in regards to space travel. She could be disregarded as many people on ancient Earth who claimed to be abducted by aliens. She turned to Doctor Samar. "How is she, Doctor?"

Alara had been scanning the woman and monitoring her on the biobed readouts while they talked. "Malnourished and suffering from quite a few old injuries. I'd say she's likely a starving artist of some sort. Her short term memory is similar enough to ours that I'm fairly confidant that I can erase it all. What you do with her after that is up to you."

Leigh tapped the notebook absently in her hand as she thought. "Keep her sedated until we get transporters and main power back online then erase her memory and transport her to a secluded area just outside the closest village. Jacobs sighed--what she wouldn't give for a cloaking device right now. "Let's hope we don't have anymore visitors. Keep up patrols."

"Aye, aye, Ma'am," Colt said. "If you'd like, I can let Lieutenant Me'Shlaht know about our guest. Her people will likely tell her, but I don't want her to feel like we did an end run on her."

Leigh nodded. "Do it, and I want a security guard posted at Sickbay just for safety."

"I'll let her know," Colt said. He walked away so his conversation with the security chief wouldn't disturb the captain and Lougheed. "Xan to Me'Shlaht."

"Me'Shlaht here. What can I do for you, Chief?" Though distinctly predatory as always, Me'Shlaht sounded cheerful. Even friendly. It was like she knew there some sort of interesting security issue already.

"We have an uninvited guest," Colt replied. "The Captain wants a security detail posted in Sickbay to keep an eye on her."

"I will be there to evaluate our guest and assign security detail momentarily. Thank you, Chief." Sure, Me'Shlaht could just send someone. But she liked to personally evaluate a threat before picking out her detail teams. She didn't want to underestimate their guest... or make them feel too threatened either.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Colt replied to the security chief. He then turned to the Captain. "Excuse me, Captain. Lieutenant Me'Shlaht says she's on her way here to set up security for our elf."

Jacobs smiled at the elf comment. "Alright, thank you, Chief."

"Sure thing, Skipper," Colt replied.

Day One
Hey Braith, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let him into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

On his way back from the evening shift, Lucius stopped at replicator in Engineering and used some of his resource allotment to replicate a small bouquet of flowers. There were several thousand species, colors and varieties available to him, but Lucius chose from a list of wildflowers from his home planet of Angel One. He felt a little strange about what he was doing and tried his best to hide it from anyone who might be looking. He wasn't totally successful, but no one said anything. He'd spent way too much time yelling at these people for anyone to ask him what he was doing or who he was giving flowers to. He slid out of Engineering quickly, before the blush could color his cheeks and headed straight to the quarters he shared with his brother.

At the Academy Lucius had gotten quite the reputation for more than his fair share of partners. It wasn't without merit, but in all of that he had never really had a relationship. Not a real one that went past the bedroom and breakfast. Funny how even when rumors were correct they still weren't completely accurate. He never gave anyone flowers. He never took anyone to dinner. No dancing. Of course he met people doing those things, but he always started them alone. When faced with something that might be longer than a sleepover he really didn't know what to do. He'd heard what to do, but he'd never tried any of it. He thought he would start simple. With flowers.

Now that he was standing in front of their door he was having a hard time functioning. It was something that he hardly ever felt anymore. He was nervous. He raised his hand several times to hit the code and open the door and still hadn't managed to do it. His mouth was dry and his face hot. After several seconds of this he stomped his foot in frustration and opened the door to step inside and stand awkwardly in the doorway with the flowers behind his back.

Braith was standing in the room with a PaDD in his hand doing some light reading when the door behind him opened. That could only mean Lucius was back. He turned around to greet his brother who looked a tad peculiar, hands behind his back concealing something. "Unless you've decided to change things up with a new cologne or something or you've brought me something with a nice scent," the younger twin said with a bit of a smile.

It was not something Braith was used to. Lucius only ever brought gifts when it was a holiday or a special occasion. It definitely was not their birthdays and he could not think of any holidays from Angel I that would have been taking place. "You look guilty and nervous. I like it," added Braith who had set the PaDD down. "Did you break something of mine?" asked Braith cautiously suspicious.

"No! I didn't break anything... but... well... these are for you," Lucius stammered, producing the bouquet of flowers from behind his back. "I... I thought you might like them..." He was blushing again. It was sort of infuriating to him that this was so hard when he knew Braith so well. There was a part of him that was giddy as well, almost an elated feeling, making it hard for him to get a deep breath. "So yeah, I stopped and got them on the way back. Of... of course they're replicated, but... I mean... I think it did a pretty good job."

Braith nodded. "Actually, for once, you did," replied the younger of the two with a teasing smirk. "Perhaps if you were more considerate and thoughtful in your previous relationships or lack of relationships, they would have flourished," offered Braith. The two young men were able to trade jabs back and forth and at the end of the day no feelings getting hurt spoke highly of their connection.

"Thank you," Braith finally managed. He had wanted to add a nice zinger to it like 'Jerkface,' but thought it best he just let a simple thank you slide on through. "Replicated or not, the thought and feelings behind them are real," added Braith.

"Yeah. Yeah I wanted to... I... I love you." He continued to hold out the bouquet of flowers.

How could he not accept that? It was practically what he had desired to hear for such a long time. Ensign Braith looked at his brother and reached out to take the flowers. The bouquet was quite lovely. "I love you too, Lucius," replied Braith.

Lucius smiled warmly, his eyes on Braith. It felt good. In that moment he didn't care what anyone thought. They weren't hurting anyone.


Day Two
Hey Braith, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get him
The minute you let him under your skin
Then you begin to make it better

Lucius looked across the lunch table at his brother. They had been quiet for some time, just eating and absorbed in their PaDDs. "You know... I was thinking. Once you stopped talking to me at Academy, I really missed our game nights. I know, I know don't know what you've got until it's gone... but I didn't know then what I know now and I'm sorry. I didn't intend to hurt you. I really didn't... Anyway... before you say anything... I was thinking that maybe we could have a game night again?" He shrugged a little, tipping his head to one side and grinning. "Or a date night?"

Braith was having a simple tossed salad with one of his mixed fruit juices, his 'Braith Juice number 9' in this case. It was a dark blue liquid with the sweetest aroma. He listened to what Lucius was saying, though said nothing until it appeared his brother was finished. Braith reached across the table and placed his hand atop on Lucius' which was resting atop the table. "Even when it was just a game night to you, Lucius, it was a date night for me," said Braith softly.

"Well, I wish you would have clued me in at some point. Then I wouldn't have had to have all those pointless relationships." Lucius turned his hand over and squeezed Braith's hand. "It's not exactly fair to hold it over me and act all put upon when I didn't even know. Instead of doing what you did... I did other things to deal... okay? And plus, you didn't even answer my question..."

Braith smiled warmly at Lucius. "I do not know if I would say your past relationships were entirely pointless. Maybe in some way you needed those relationships to grow as a person. I am not sure if Lucius several years ago would have brought anyone flowers or ask them to have a game night and or date night with him," assessed the younger of the two. "And you should know the answer is yes," added Braith.

Lucius smiled a little. "Good. I'd really like to do that. Can we do that again? What night would you like to do that?" Lucius seemed pretty eager. He didn't want to just admit that losing game night while they were at Academy was one of the worst things that had ever happened to him.

"You are the Chief Engineer and I'm the Head... only Nurse," replied Braith shaking his head. "I imagine our work schedules will be all over the place. Perhaps it is wisest that we do not try to commit to a specific single day of the week. We will just say... hmmm. How about we just make sure that we do it at least once a week, whichever night we both are in our quarters and aren't covering a shift?" suggested Braith.

Lucius wiggled his eyebrows at Braith and pulled his hand a little towards himself, being a little rough. "We better be doing it more then once a week," he said suggestively. "But yeah... I agree. We'll just work it out as it works out. Not that there's much to do on this ship. Not even a bar to go to."

Braith nodded.


Day Three
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Braith, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder

Lucius stepped through the door of the med bay with two, very large cups of coffee in his hands. He looked around for his brother and smiled a little at the other staff that were working around. A really adorable red-headed nurse smiled warmly at Lucius and Lucius returned the smile with a nod, but immedately went back to scanning the room for his brother like the nurse didn't even exist. Lucius had always had a wandering eye, but that seemed to have changed recently. Now a days he only had one person on his mind and that was Braith.

Nurse Braith was holding down the med bay while the Chief Medical Officer was responding to a 'house call' involving one of the crew. Apparently one of the anti-grav units had a brief power failure in the cargo bay as a crewmen was moving a medium sized crate. Fortunately, the crewmen was able to clear out of the way in time, with the exception of his foot. It sounded like he was in a lot of pain and probably had a fracture if not a downright break.

Braith looked up when the doors to the med bay opened. The aroma of coffee started to spread and disperse across the room. To be honest, the coffee was a much needed relief. Braith needed something to wake him up after pulling a double shift. He extended his arm, reaching out for the coffee that his brother was carrying. "You are a Godsend," said Braith.

He was practically swooning though whether it was because of Lucius or because of the coffee? His nostrils flared as he took in the aroma. "Oh yes yes yes," said Braith, practically mimicking the tone of voice only used in the privacy of their quarters. "That's a... oh yeah... Delavian double, dark chocolate, café mocha with Tahitian vanilla whipped topping and Saigon cinnamon with synthetic soy extra sweet," commented Braith identifying the beverage to be more than just a simple coffee.

Lucius was blushing and feeling a little awkward about Braith's reaction, but he was also elated that the coffee had made his brother so happy. "Did... did I get it right? You always had the craziest coffee orders." He had worried the whole way to the medical bay that he had forgotten some key ingredient. "I asked for extra sweet..." His eyes were on Braith and not anywhere else.

Braith nodded and could not help but let out a slight giggle. "Yeah, don't worry, you did well. You did very well," replied Braith. "My coffee orders are not crazy, they just are complicated and sophisticated... a lot like me actually," teased Braith. "And you know I tend to be extra sweet," he added.

Lucius rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well, enjoy your Braith juice... I gotta go to work. Have a good day, love you." He smiled a little and turned to head for the door again.

"I love you too, Lucius. Don't hurt any of your engineers too badly," teased Braith. "I'll make sure to have a biobed cleared just in case," he added.

Lucius flipped Braith off on his way out of the med bay.


Day Four
Hey Braith, don't let me down
You have found him, now go and get him
Remember to let him into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

When Braith awoke Lucius was already gone for his shift, but there was breakfast laid out for the nurse on the small table they shared. Next to it was an actual sheet of paper with writing on it. Lucius had folded it in half, but when opened it read:

You have changed me already. I am a fireball
That is hurtling towards the sky to where you are
You can choose not to look up but I am a giant orange ball
That is throwing sparks upon your face
Oh look at them shake
Upon you like a great planet that has been murdered by change
O too this is so dramatic this shaking
Of my great planet that is bigger than you thought it would be
So you ran and hid
Under a large tree. She was graceful, I think
That tree although soon she will wither
Into ten black snakes upon your throat
And when she does I will be wandering as I always am
A graceful lady that is part museum
Of the voices of the universe everyone else forgets
I will hold your voice in a little box
And when you come upon me I won’t look back at you
You will feel a hand upon your heart while I place your voice back
Into the heart from where it came from
And I will not cry also
Although you will expect me to
I was wiser too than you had expected
For I knew all along you were mine*

The poem wasn't signed, but it was in Lucius' handwriting.

When Braith awoke to find the handwritten poem, he read it and his heart and body did some peculiar things. The sensation that swept over him was something that could not be described by words. He let out a shaky exhale and felt a warmth race to his cheeks. Lucius was someone he admired and adored, but these sweet gestures were foreign. He had never known his brother to ever make anyone breakfast nor leave them such sweet poems. He was more of a William Carlos Williams kind of guy, this is just to say I ate the plums and they were delicious. That was Lucius' style.

Who are you and what have you done with my brother? thought Braith with a smile. This was less William Carlos Williams and more George Gordon, the great Lord Byron. Yes, it was making sense now. His brother was extremely arrogant, rebellious, standoffish... and romantic. He was Byronic.


Day Five
So let it out and let it in, hey Braith, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Braith, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder

Lucius looked up from his PaDD and across the table at his brother, Braith. "Hey..." he said softly. "How are you doing? Are you okay?"

Braith looked up and looked away. He did not really know what to say. He had been having trouble looking into his brother's eyes and maintaining that eye contact. "You left me a poem the other day," said Braith. "It was incredibly deep and thought provoking. Not in that it had much of a philosophical stimulant behind it, but rather the fact that you made breakfast for me and left me a poem. It caused me to realize that I spent years of my life growing up with you, sharing the same room, going to Academy together, and I had all of these preconceived notions about you. They were right. They had always been right, but then you did that and I feel like it was all wrong," he said shaking his head.

Lucius was trying to get Braith to look at him, while he spoke. He wasn't successful, but he did reach out for Braith's hand. "Nobody ever asked me what I thought..." he said softly. "People just... assumed. Sometimes I would get in arguments with Dad because when I would try to explain myself it was like he didn't want to even hear it. It was like all I did was bad stuff to hurt the family in his opinion. After awhile I just stopped telling people what I thought or felt. It felt like it didn't matter to anyone anyway."

"It matters," replied Braith simply. "It should always matter. What you think and what you feel is important, Lucius. You are important. Maybe Angel I was not the right place for you and maybe it was not even the right place for me after all, but that does not make what you feel or think any less important. I never thought you to be the sort of person to put anyone before yourself, to be this sweet and considerate. I never thought I would see the day that you left poetry for someone you loved because I admit, I never thought you would allow yourself to love anyone."

"I only ever really loved one person. Everyone else was just... some sort of sad attempt. I'm glad it matters. I don't feel that way anymore, but it was how I felt for a really long time. It didn't just apply to family though. I treated everyone that way. Which is why I never really developed relationships I'm sure. I mean, who would want that? It would be like... well... dating a Vulcan," Lucius explained, his hand still out.

Braith nodded fully understanding the words of Lucius. "Love in the romantic sense has eluded me for years. I have never really experienced it, or at least I caught sight of it changing in front of me, teasing me when I was trying to study," said Braith shaking his head. "It was within my reach, but I just couldn't quite grasp it until recently," he added with a small smile. "Dating a Vulcan has its benefits I'm sure," he said defending the Vulcans. "However, I cannot say that it's really my thing. I need the emotions," he explained.

"Yeah.. recently..." Lucius repeated, nodding. "I just... it's hard for me to express what I'm feeling, so I also have a hard time trusting people to tell me what they're thinking. So everything like that gets really awkward and then I get mad and then they go away. I just... I dunno. I wish I could have started all this the way I wanted it to go, but I guess it's just the way things work... huh?"

The younger of the two smiled briefly. He crossed his arms and took a deep breath. "Well, that is the thing," he said rather simply, thinking how best to express his words of Braith wisdom. "If all of this had come to a head sooner and it was all out in the open then maybe things would have gone smoother and faster, and we would have had more time together," said Braith.

"But we do not know that for certain," he added swiftly. "There's a journey from point A to point B, Lucius. Sometimes the time in between is needed. We both had a lot of hardships and turmoil. We also both had a lot of self discovery to do. So, you may just be right that this is just how things worked out. There's no need to focus on what could have been. We can just focus on the here and now," explained Braith.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe, I just have too many regrets." He shrugged and pulled his hand back, picking up his drink instead and taking a long drink. "I'm glad we've worked it out now. There is at least that."

"I am glad too, Jerkface," replied Braith teasingly.


Day Six
Hey Braith, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let him under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh

Lucius waited for Braith to come home. He didn't want to take his present for his brother to his work station and risk the potential of embarrassing Braith. Instead, he decided to keep the present until Braith came home and give it to him in the privacy of their quarters. He'd been practicing how to give it to him. It was sort of complicated and he wasn't sure how he wanted to explain it.

It had been a bit of a long day in the piss poor excuse for a Sickbay. When Braith arrived at his quarters, he was worn out and about ready to collapse. He needed someone or something to cheer him up. Not too long ago, he would have never thought that his brother would be that person. However, Lucius was now more than ever, the person who could and did do that for Braith. When the doors to their shared quarters slid open and Braith saw Lucius, he smiled and swooned. "You're home," he said with delight. "I am really glad to see you," he added without explanation. No explanation was needed.

Lucius beamed and rocked forward on his toes, his hands behind his back. "I'm really glad you're home. Although, I didn't do anything about dinner. So, mess hall replicator food, I'm afraid. You look worn out. Was it a long day?" he asked. Normally, he would have hugged and kissed Braith by now, but he hadn't moved and his hands remained firmly behind his back.

"Woohoo," replied Braith teasingly. He smiled at Lucius and sighed. "Don't worry about not having dinner made and ready for me when I get home. Some night that might be nice, but we both work long tiring shifts. I don't expect to be wined and dined every night. So, scrumptiously prepared synthetic food that tastes mildly disappointing will be just fine with me. All I care about is that I have you to come home to and enjoy... well, tolerate a meal with together."

"So I got you something," Lucius blurted out. "Well... I got us something. I wanted one of those things you know... like the locket, key thing. You know the pieces that fit together and I couldn't really find anything I like. They're all really stupid and I didn't think we'd wear them if they were stupid so I found this..." He produced a flat jewelry box and held it out to Braith.

Braith snorted and smiled. "Well, I think most of those touchy feely things would probably embarrass you. They are not really your thing," explained Braith. "However, you have me intrigued what you did end up getting us," added the younger of the two as he reached out and took the flat jewelry box.

Lucius watched as Braith opened the box. Inside was a chain with a ring attached at each end of it, a small green and silver padlock and a key on a silver chain that matched the lock. "So... see... you put the chain on me and lock it around my neck with the lock... and then you wear the key. See? And only you can take it off. It... it has to do with me belonging to you and all that."

Lucius' brother looked at him with wide eyes with a slight smirk forming, tugging at the corner of his mouth that just screamed mischief. "I quite like this idea of holding your key," commented Braith. "A nice physical representation that someone I love is close to me and that I have what is necessary to unlock his love, even when he comes home all moody from a long shift at work," teased Braith. "This is a clever little gift," added Braith.

Lucius grinned broadly, proud of himself for figuring out something good. "Will you put it on me?"

Braith snorted as he reached for his brother's bangs and gave him a good sturdy pull. "Oh I'll put your collar on you," replied Braith with a smirk. "My guy," he added as he started to fidget with the chain.

Lucius growled playfully. "Oh... so you want to get rough tonight?" he asked with a smirk, holding still so Braith could collar him.



Day Seven
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Braith
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Braith
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Braith
Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Braith

If he could have slammed the door to their quarters he would have. He kicked the plant stand that was by the door and sent it flying. Fortunately, it didn't have a plant in it. He wanted to scream, but he knew if he did it would rattle the entire ship and probably make people come running and that was the last thing he wanted. Instead he angrily tore off his uniform and threw himself into his own bunk to scream into the pillow and flail angrily.

Braith had been staring at himself in the mirror when Lucius came in, storming in like rolling thunder. Oh great. He's grumpy...nope he's pissed, thought the younger of the two as he observed the punting of the plant stand. "Well, shit. There goes my Vulcan forge rose with its personal cloaking device," teased Braith.

"Sometimes I hate everything!" Lucius said loudly into the pillow. Of course his face was also smashed into the pillow and he was currently holding it forcibly around his own head. "HATE!" It wasn't very loud, but it was was very punctuated.

"Did you get demoted?" asked Braith. "I hope you didn't get demoted. I quite like you being the Chief Engineer. It gives me hope," added the younger of the two.

Lucius lay there for several moments in silence then he turned his head and looked at his brother. "No. I didn't get freaking demoted," he said angrily. His eyes were red, possibly from crying. He turned his face back into the pillow. "Everything makes me angry."

Braith approached cautiously, but he was not really afraid of his brother. Maybe if it had been anyone else, he would have been concerned for his safety. However, after spending several years as children sharing a room... you get fairly used to seeing your sibling upset and even pissed at something. "Not everything," commented Braith as he placed his hand gently on his brother's left leg and moved upward and inward on Lucius' thigh. "I can think of something that doesn't anger you."

Lucius turned suddenly and launched himself at Braith, wrapping his arms around his brother tightly and squeezing him hard enough he was sure Braith would have difficulties breathing. "Everything..." Lucius muttered into his shoulder. "Even... even you..." he sniffled.

"I anger you? I upset you? I've been trying really hard not to. I have been going to sleep at normal times, I make sure that I don't record logs while you try to sleep. I don't turn any lights on after hours," replied Braith.

"It's not that," Lucius eased up on the hug. "I get so mad that you never told me... that I did all that stupid shit. That I messed it all up for us. Yes. It makes me mad." He was quiet for a moment, just laying against his brother. "I don't know what to do to stop feeling this way all the time... every day this happens to me. At least once... sometimes more then once..." He tipped his head back and forth just enough that Braith could feel him doing it. "Sometimes I'm mad all day..."

Braith placed a hand on Lucius' shoulder. "I was mad too. I was mad almost every day and when I wasn't mad I was depressed to the point that I would have done anything to make it stop. I tried to make it stop more times than I care to think back upon," admitted the younger of the two. "I would not have been able to make it this far on my own. I had to get help, but I refused to until one time my attempt to make it all go away failed and I ended up being appointed one of those Starfleet Counselors. She helped me through a lot, Lucius."

Lucius frowned and was silent for a moment. "Do you think I need help? I don't know, Braith... maybe?" He tipped his head back a little so he could see Braith's face, his nose wrinkled. He seemed to search Braith's face then he sighed. "I need help..." he said softly.

"That's the first step in getting help... admitting that you need it," said Braith. "At least that's what the brochures say," added the younger of the two teasingly. "I would love to help you myself if I could, but I'm not sure if I am part of the cure or am I part of the disease?" he said with a sigh. "Regardless, I think I am too messed up in my own right to help you or anyone beyond suggesting vitamins, supplements, and exercise."

Lucius took a deep breath. "You're definitely not part of the problem. I feel better about most stuff then I have in a while and that's because of you... and anyone suggesting otherwise is gonna get punched in the nose."

"Maybe later," teased Braith. "Valiant does not really have much going for it in the sense of Medical personnel. Though the Chief Medical Officer can and does look over mental care for the crew, don't be afraid to do something through subspace or making appointments when you can. There's plenty of Psychologists and Psychiatrists out there as well in case you want someone more specialized in something."

Lucius nodded. "Maybe I can find someone through subspace. Will you help me?"

"Of course," replied Braith with a smile. He took Lucius' hand. "I will always help you if you ask me to."



*Poem to an Unnameable Man By Dorothea Lasky

Evan stood in front of the large crate in the cargo bay. The top had been removed and the UAV was exposed. The Lieutenant was in the process of removing it from the crate as the door opened and the two yellow collared engineers entered. "Vita let me know you wanted to borrow my toys," the spook said they approached.

Lucius chuckled. "Yeah, we were thinking that a playdate might be good for the kids, since we keep 'em locked up in here all the time," he joked. "We need some dilithium and we're thinking that your drones might be able to help us accomplish that faster. If we can figure out how to fit them with sensors that can find the dilithium for us. They're concerned about bothering the natives too much."

"These are designed for recon, so it shouldn't be too hard to reconfigure them." Lougheed said pulling the drone out and then opening the main dorsal hatch. We can pull the subspace antenna since they won't be going far, and if you two want to work on reconfiguring the main sensor pallet to scan for dilithium, you two can probably do that faster than I can."

Lucius nodded. "Yeah, I think I have some ideas as to how I want to set that up." He already had a little toolkit tucked up under one arm. "What does it usually recon? Just areas? Or does it already look for stuff, like people?" He took several steps toward one of the drones before looking up at Evan.

"These are typically used for tracking lifesigns, or recon general areas. They're low observability, not cloaked but pretty close, so I'm not too worried about the locals seeing them," Evan replied.

Lucius knelt next to the open panel and began to muble parts to himself as he pointed at them, like he was trying to familiarize himself with where things were inside the drone. He looked up at Evan again. "So when it does recon... are the images sent back to your PaDD? Sorry, I've never used one of these." He chuckled and rubbed his head with one hand.

"These ones link directly into the intelligence computer core, from there the data can be directed to the bridge or analyzed in the intelligence office. They can be controlled from the office or remotely with a tablet if used away from the ship," the spook added, as the two engineers began working on changing out internal components.

Lucius pulled several parts out, mostly isolinear chips, responsible for the drone's memory. He replaced them with chips that he had brought with him. "So, what I'm going to do is tell the drone what I want it to look for. Instead of heat signatures..." he plugged his PaDD into the drone. "... I'm explaining to it the elements I want it to find. I'm hoping that it will make the switch back from living things to nonliving things. Dilithium doesn't really have a heat signature. Some rock does... and we could have done a simple fix if it had... but it doesn't. It usually holds the temperature of whatever is around it. So we're going to tell the drone to look for the chemical compounds that make up dilithium."

"Sounds good, once we get the sensor reconfigured I'd recommend we take it up top side. Launch it from here and then we can have it grid search the immediate area. Hopefully, we can find a source relatively close to the surface and not near the locals," Evan said.

"Agreed. Has the Captain said anything about what we do if we do disturb the locals?" Lucius stood. "I think that's got it, but we'll need to test it first. I don't want it to get too far away before we know if it works at all." He grinned. "Should we carry them out?"

"Not directly, but we already ran into one, so I think the general try to not break the prime directive any more than we have," Evan said. "Sure, let's get it up and test it over the lagoon before we begin scouting. Vita do you want to head to the bridge and we'll patch the controls through to there?" The Andorian woman nodded as the two lugged the drone up to the dorsal escape hatch that had been opened and served as one of the main exgresses for the ship.

Lucius helped haul the drone up and out of the ship. Once they were out he squinted in the sunlight. "Wow... I forget how bright it is planetside... It's been a minute since I've really been planetside." He looked at Evan. "Where are you from Lieutenant?"

"Earth, Vancouver specifically," he replied as they set the drone down on a flat panel of hull and begun the last checks before activating it. "Yourself?"

"Angel I, born and raised. I never visited Earth until I was at the Academy." He watched Evan begin the last checks on the drone. "Our parents thought it would be a good idea. I think they were hoping that it would be more of a punishment. I've always been a little contrary compared to the other males on my planet. I think it was a punishment for Braith."

The Intelligence officer smirked, "Parents," he said before tapping his combadge. =/\= Lougheed to Zh'challiss, are you getting the feed on the bridge? =/\=

=/\= Vita here, we've got the data coming in loud and clear, all readings look good and we have five-by-five on our signals. Drone is receiving command information as well. =/\=

=/\= Sounds good, we'll get this thing in the air and join you, =/\= Lougheed said turning to Lucius. "Care to do the honours?"

Lucius' face lit up. "Oh yeah?" he asked with excitement. He held out his hands for the remote.

"Just don't crash it. I'd hate to have to go through all of this again on the back up," Lougheed replied.

Lucius pulled his hands back abruptly. "Maybe... maybe you should do it. I honestly haven't flown a lot of hand operated things. I'm more about taking them apart and putting them back together." He grinned a little sheepishly at Lougheed.

The Lieutenant smirked, and pressed the launch button on the PaDD. The craft shot up and quickly rose to 8000 meters. =/\= Vita how's the telemetry look?=/\=

=/\= Looks good, readings are strong and I'm beginning the pre-planned grid search, =/\= came the reply from the Andorian engineer.

=/\= Good, I'll be up to the bridge in a moment, =/\= Lougheed said closing the channel. "Good work Lieutenant." He said the to Engineer as checked the readings on the PADD once more.

Lucius tried to follow the path of the drone with his eyes, but it was daylight and bright outside. He smiled at Lougheed. "I'm starting to get my hopes up that we can solve our problems and get off this planet," he said softly.

"I hope so too." Lougheed said, "I had a date lined up when we got back to the base." The Lieutenant smirked.

Lucius laughed. "Oh did you now? You got a someone you're sweet on?" Subconsciously, Lucius touched the chain around his own neck. He was staring up at the sky in the direction of the drone and lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, squinting. "I really hope we can get off this planet... How far out can the drone go? Does its remote have a distance limit?"

"They've got a range of a several thousand clicks, they're designed to be used from orbit anywhere on a planet," Lougheed replied.

"Oh... well then we don't really have to worry about losing them, I guess. I really hope I set that deep enough. I sort of guessed. Dilithium is one of those things that's... not consistent... I guess is the best thing to say." He shrugged, still looking up at the sky, even though the drone was long gone from view. "It's not like... well..." he looked at Lougheed. "Say... coal. Most coal is found like 213 meters to 305 meters... It's pretty consistent. Dilithium is one of those things that sort of opportunistic. It grows where it can, with the right mineral combinations around it, but predicting where or how deep or near what is almost impossible." Lucius realized that he'd been rambling about Dilithium and shook his head. "Sorry..."

The Lieutenant smirked, "Thanks for the help, I'll let you get back to the engine room and I'll head to the bridge to analyze the incoming readings."

Lucius nodded. "Sure. Although, I'm not sure what good I'm going to do in the engine room right now." He chuckled. "I'm sure there's something."

"All officers to the conference room forthwith," came the call over the intercom. Arturo didn't need to hear the announcement, as he was making it per Commander Jacobs' request. She'd sent him ahead. Work had been done, information had been gathered, and it was time now to compare notes and decide how to proceed. Arturo sat patiently in his seat at the table, absentmindedly tapping his claws on the table.

Colt wasn't an officer, but in his role representing the enlisted personnel on the Valiant, and as the highest ranking non-commissioned officer aboard, he attended these types of meetings. He entered the conference room and took a seat on the opposite side of the table from Arturo.

"Commander," he said, suppressing a grin. He had a hard time not at least smiling whenever he encountered the diminutive Catian. He was just so... cute and cuddly looking. If Colt's interests leaned that way, he might be jealous of Lieutenant Song.

"Welcome, Chief!" Arturo said. He hoped people would arrive soon. The sooner they got their act together and got off of this planet, the better. As it was, they were sitting ducks, easy prey for any bandits, brigands, or road agents that might happen along!

Jacobs entered much too small briefing room. "Commander. Chief," she greeted.

"Captain," Arturo replied.

Lieutenant JG Lucius wasn't far behind Commander Jacobs. He took the first open seat at the table and dropped the PaDD he was carrying on the surface. He looked tired and felt much the same. He didn't really even know what time it was, much less what day.

"Welcome, Lieutenant Lucius," Arturo said.

"Thank you, Commander S'Rohass," Lucius said softly.

When Xiulan Song entered the room, it was with a sour expression; it had been her responsibility to set up a communication beacon outside the ship, but that also meant walking around in the swamp, and for much of that she was utterly blind. The Security detail assigned to assist her had been less than helpful, but the beacon was up and running so she did her best to write the whole experience off, but nothing could erase the smell of swamp water from her hair, apparently even after a run through the sonic shower.

"Hey," Xiulan said simply to whoever might already be gathered at the table. She found a chair, and with the hope that she wasn't about to sit in someone'e lap, she pulled the chair out; she was glad to find that the chair moved with little resistance meaning it was empty, so she promptly parked her perky posterior in the chair and tried not to scowl.

Lougheed had been on the bridge monitoring the feed from the drone, so far they had found trace but evenly spread levels of di-lith, it was promising hopefully they could find large deposits and get off this planet soon. He nodded to the XO and took his seat at the table.

"Xiulan," Arturo said, glad that she couldn't see his nose wrinkle at her current scent. He didn't say anything. It was much less noticeable than it was earlier when she first came back inside. Besides, Arturo had no intention of sleeping in the corridor tonight. "Lieutenant Lougheed."

"Good work on getting the beacon set up, Lieutenant Song," Jacobs replied with a slight grin as they waited for the rest of the staff to arrive.

"Yeah, anytime..." Xiulan replied dryly; why did she get the feeling that everyone was grinning at her expense? "Next time I gotta go out, can I take Arturo with me? He's less likely to let me fall into the swamp, and if he does it anyway then I'm taking him with me, because you know, misery loves company and all."

"Of course you can," Arturo said. "I, of course, would gladly fall into a swamp for you!"

"Before anyone else goes into the swamp, I'll need to check those that have for insect borne pathogens first," Doctor Alara Samar commented as she entered. Taking one of the empty seats, she set her coffee mug in front of her, the freshly brewed drink steaming deliciously. "Sorry if I'm late - I forgot how long it takes to boil water to make coffee the old fashioned way."

"As long as you are here, Doctor, that's all that matters at this point," Arturo said. "Shall we begin? Captain? Would you like to start, or shall I?"

Jacobs remained standing and paced. "Alright, here is where we're at thus far. As you're all aware, we're still stranded, having found out that the spacial anomaly that we hit, managed to not only knock out our main power grid but also fry out dilithium crystals. We can't recrystallize them but there seems to be a nearby source of dilithium being mined with the natives using the crystals as jewelry. We need a way into the mine without being spotted. Lieutenant Song has deployed a distress beacon nearby but we are unable to determine if anyone is even receiving it. So, does anyone have any ideas on how to proceed? In my opinion, I'm tempted to wake up our guest and see if she is willing to help us. And I know that idea goes against the Prime Directive but if we're discovered, we will have made an even greater breach of the Directive."

"Starfleet medical officers have had some success chemically erasing memories from the minds of certain subjects when the Prime Directive has been violated," Arturo said. "Could we do something like that here, Doctor?"

"We can, however the more I have to erase, the more risk I run of damaging the poor girl's mind completely. Her physiology isn't too far off of our own that I can erase a few hours easily enough. Maybe a day. Anything more than that..." Alara shook her head and held her hands up. "Without better facilities, it's guesswork."

Me'Shlaht was late coming in, having stopped to ensure their guest was still safely secured. Her nose twitched upon entering, but she didn't comment on the swampy scent in the room. Nor did she care where it was coming from. Whoever it was would not want the additional attention. Finding an empty chair, she sat down at the table and let her tail curl into her lap.

"There are also many cases where Starfleet Captains have breached the prime directive to save their crew, there is the possibility that this young woman would help us and then never tell anyway. If the exposure is limited to her, and to be blunt, who would believe her if she told them. From what we've seen this race is very primitive," Lougheed chimed in.

Arturo turned to Leigh. "Then perhaps you and I should approach our guest and secure her assistance," Arturo said. "Without much data on the locals, if we don't gather intelligence from our elvish friend, we risk greater violations of the Prime Directive. Mister Lougheed and Chief Xan should also be present. If she's fit to leave Sickbay, perhaps this conference room might be a more appropriate place for such a conversation?"

"We could lie to her," Xiulan chimed in with a shrug. "Maybe we could wake her away from the ship, and if we're dressed like locals we could say we're from a neighboring tribe and that we're lost?"

Leigh thought about the idea for a moment. "We don't yet know enough about these people to put together an effective lie. Let's wake her up. Commander S'Rohass, Lieutenant Lougheed, Doctor Samar, and Chief Xan will also be present. But do not overwhelm her... and Commander," she looked at Arturo. "It may be best to let me introduce you--a talking feline may be a bit much for her," she grinned.

"Of course, Captain," Arturo replied. "If there is nothing else, perhaps we should adjourn until after we've met with our guest?"

Jacobs nodded. "If no one has any questions, you're dismissed."

Valywen blinked several times at strange lights. She soon realized she was laying down as she heard strange noises. No, not noises--a language that was not familiar to her. Her eyes went wide as she bolted upright. She saw several strange aliens staring at her. She had been abducted! "Segta! Tu menor ka?"

Commander Jacobs held up her hands. "It's ok. You are safe here." She then turned to the others. "I suppose the more we talk the quicker the universal communicator will be able to translate her language."

Arturo opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, remembering that the captain has asked him to let her introduce him.

"She'll likely be confused for some time even after the anesthesia wears off." Turning to the native, Alara smiled and motioned to herself then to the girl and tried to prompt her to talk more so the Universal Translator had more to work with. "I'm Alara. What's your name?"

Lougheed stood near the back of the group, he had set the internal security monitors to record the entire exchange. Hopefully, once they were able to understand each other, the young woman would be willing to help them.

Jacobs pointed to herself. "I am Commander Leigh Jacobs. What is your name?"

Valywen looked confused she understood some of the alien's words. How was that possible? Valywen copied the gesture as curiosity took over. "Tu ja Valywen."

Jacobs nodded. "Your name is Valywen. This is Commander S'Rohass, Doctor Samar, Lieutenant Lougheed, and Senior Chief Xan," she gestured to each officer as she introduced them.

Valywen was now bewildered as she understood nearly every word of the alien. How did they learn her language so fast? "Why did you attack and kidnap me? How can you speak my language? Why are you here? Are you here as invaders? Annnd why do you have a feline dressed in clothes?" she looked down at Arturo.

Alara couldn't help but smirk. "I think the translation matrix is about finished." She then offered a hand to Valwyn to help her off the biobed. "You could say we're using magic so we can understand each other. We're sorry for earlier. We're here by accident and we like our privacy. As a Doctor, I assure you, no further harm will come to you."

"In fact, if we had access to some of those crystals." Lougheed said gesturing to the crystal on her necklace. "We could leave you and your people in peace."

Valywen looked down at her necklace, touching the crystals as she slowly took Doctor Samar's hand. "I...don't understand. How do these crystals help you leave? There is nothing special about them."

"The crystals are actually used to help regulate the power to our engines. Without it, we can't leave your planet," Jacobs explained. Taking off would still be difficult despite having the crystals, she thought to herself. "And as for Commander S'Rohass, he is not a pet feline but rather a member of species that are feline in nature called Caitians."

Valywen seemed even more interested. "That is so fascinating."

"We've also located a nearby source of these crystals and were wondering if you would be willing to help us acquire some without being noticed," Jacobs continued.

"You mean the Deterra Mine? That will be hard. During the days, it's busy with workers and at night, they have a few guards assigned there," Valywen replied.

"Well," Arturo said. "I am certain Mister Lougheed and Chief Xan here can get themselves past a few guards. I'm not bad at sneaking about, either, but I might be harder to explain if they do see me. I'm betting some other members of the crew could handle that kind of work. Miss Valywen, can you tell us where the mined crystals are stored? Is it possible we could break in and take some? We wouldn't need too many. Normally, we would trade, but our rules prevent us from directly interacting with species below a certain level of technology. Your people haven't encountered any off-worlders yet, and your technology level is so far below ours that to interact with us would likely be detrimental to your society. If we had more data about your society, we would alter some of our crew to look like your people and attempt to trade items appropriate to your people's level of technology, but we just don't know enough to pull that off believably. That leaves us with the distasteful option of stealing the crystals. We would very much like to be on our way. The longer we remain here, the more likely we are to be discovered, which would be bad for both our peoples. Will you help us?"

Valywen nodded, feeling a bit insulted by Arturo's words at basically being called primitive. Would her people ever travel among the stars as these people did? "Yes, I will help you." She thought for a moment. "You are better off with the mine. The alternative would be to take from the depository which is near the center of my village has several guards at all times with the crystals stored in a vault until they are either bought by a neighboring village or used in making jewelry. I could possibly escort a few of you into town and you could claim to be travelers from Gethsa."

Jacobs nodded thoughtfully. "Valywen, if we had an example of your currency, we may be able to duplicate it in order to purchase the crystals rather than take them."

Valywen held out a silver coin with a engraving of a horse-like creature on it. "Here. This is 5 Shills."

Jacobs looked at the coin and handed it to Lougheed. "Get this replicated. Use what power we have to do it. Lougheed, you, Chief Xan, and Lieutenant Lucius will go with Valywen to try and purchase the dilithium. Commader S'Rohass, I want you to assemble a standby team to take the crystals if needed."

"Aye Ma'am." Lougheed said with a nod.

"Well," Colt said. "My ears are already pointed, so it shouldn't take too much work to make me look like one of Valywen. I'll meet you in the transporter room. Permission to leave, Captain?"

"Permission granted. The rest of the team, see Dr. Samar to be altered cosmetically," Jacobs replied.

Colt stopped and turned back to the Captain.

"I think we both need more sleep," he said. "I guess I'll stay here until the doc gets a chance to stretch my ears."

"Sleep is for the weak," Jacobs joked with a grin.

Colt chuckled.

"Sure it is," he said. "Whenever you're ready, Doc."

"Hopefully whatever you do to us you can undo to us after Doc." Lougheed said to Samar.

"Altered cosmetically... What do they think this is? A proper sickbay?" Muttered Alara as she headed off to try and figure out how she was going to pull off this miracle of surgery with medkits, ration packs, and an ER grade replicator on emergency power. Maye if she replicated some fleshy bits and used a dermal re-joiner like they did before the days of Starfleet for theater... Then she'd only need the protein resequencer and some pigment...

Colt shook his head. His new ears felt funny. He was used to his ears having points, but these points were now extended about eight centimeters to match Janosian ears. Doctor Samar had somehow managed, with her limited resources, to make them look pretty believable. They didn't sag too far to the side or wobble much more than Valywen's seemed to. He resisted the urge to scratch his face where the temporary tattoos had been inked on to simulate Janosian facial markings. As with the ears, Doctor Samar's resources were a little thin on materials for disguises and the temporary tattoos were a bit crude. Still, the doctor said they'd last and Colt took her at her word...even if they did itch a little. Colt had already made a mental note to himself to scrounge up some proper disguise tech. For giggles, Colt had checked to see if Jacobs had even requisitioned it and found a notation that she had. However, it looked like it was diverted to another ship at the very last minute, too late to acquire more. Colt suspected that Admiral Robertson had made a vague suggestion to the Chief Quartermaster at SB336, implying that it would be in said NCO's best interests if they caused problems for Jacobs and the Valiant. When they were back and SB336, Colt intended to have a conversation with the Chief Quartermaster and see if he could make the QMC see the light...the light being that Robertson was a vindictive prick of the first order and, one Chief to another, maybe they could work something out. In the meantime, Colt leaned against the hull of the ship as he stood outside and took in the fresh air while he waited for Lougheed and Valywen.

Valywen was escorted by one of the Valiant's Security Officers as she approached Xan. Her attention was instantly drawn to Xan's disguise as she got close to the man. "Amazing job! Physically, you look just like my people," she remarked with awe.

Lougheed joined the two, "Well as long as your people buy it we should be good." The spook said, the ears itched like crazy but he was sure that one of them coming off mid mission would not be wise. "Based on what you explained about your currency this should be adequate to purchase enough dilithium." He said holding out a large canvas bag filled with coins. "We took care to make sure they were in varying levels of use and what we discerned to be some sort of serial number is changed for each one." He added pulling a few out for Valywen to inspect.

Valywen took one of the coins. "Yes, that should be good enough to pass as currency," she said handling a coin. The shill replica was impressive to Valywen. There was actually technology that could create something so perfect? She placed the coin back in the bag and handed it back to Lougheed. "We should set off before it gets dark. The depository closes after the sun sets."

"Lead the way, lovely lady," Colt said. "Whither thou goest, I will follow!"

Valywen grinned as she led the two men through the woods and towards her village.

Colt followed behind Valywen, keeping his eyes and ears open, ready for danger, and taking in the scenery...including the scenery directly in front of him...discretely, of course.

<>

Valywen and her entourage finally arrived at the outskirts of her town. "There she is!" came the voice of a man standing in the street near one of the shops.

"Shit. It's Gregor--that can't be good," she said as she darted off to a side alley at a brisk pace.

Colt frowned and banked immediately to follow Valywen.

"Is he going to be a problem?" he asked when he caught up to her.

"Well, he's the sheriff and very old fashioned in his way of thinking. He thinks what I do is sinful to the gods...as do alot of people in my town."

"Let me guess," Colt said. "The penalty for what you do is going to be more than a night of incarceration? By the way, what is it you do that has him so worked up?"

"I study the stars. I suggested in a recent publication that the stars and planets do not orbit us, but rather we orbit them. Pissed off a lot of people with that one. As for the punishment? To insult or challenge our religion is the cause for death by fire."

Evan's eyes danced around the settlement, there were quite a few people staring at the woman as she arrived. They seemed to recognize her and not for a good reason, and the present of her with two unknown males did not seem to be increasing their opinion of her.

"You two get to the depository. I will see if I can lose the neanderthals," Valywen commented as she darted off again.

The Sheriff ran off after the woman, Evan wanted to help her, but from what she said he fate was in her own hands. It was almost sad often the first people in a society to suggest the truth were often killed for being right. "Let's get moving Senior. The depository is just ahead. The sooner we're off this planet the better." Lougheed said, if they were killing to burn their own for being right about relatively basic science he hated to think what they may do to a ship full of aliens.

Valywen ducked into a shed as she heard footsteps run by. She let out a breath. This day had been very eventful from being abducted by aliens, helping them, and now dodging Gregor and his posse. It was time for her to leave the town.

"What a gal," Colt said. He turned and followed Evan. "You prepared to haggle with these guys, Lieutenant?"

"I think I can manage." The officer said with a smirk. The pair entered the depository there were a number of a large crystals on display in case on the back wall. Small crystals were in counter displays. Lougheed turned as if he was looking at the crystals on offer, "Those two large ones, upper left corner. Should do the trick?"

"If I remember the briefing Lucius gave us correctly, yes, those two should do," Colt said. "Maybe we should grab some extras, in case the geeks wreck those two trying to get the engines restarted?"

"Hello gentleman." Said the universal translator version of the shopkeeper. Evan was glad the translation for the locals was holding. "How can service be provided."

"Those crystals." Evan replied, gesturing to three in the corner. "We'd like to purchase them. We've traveled quite a ways as we have heard your crystals are the best in the region.

The man smiled, "Ah we do carry the best, best in the continent I say!" He retrieved the crystals gestured to and set them down. Another clerk moving closer, likely incase the two tried anything. "These are some of my best, I'm afraid I can't let them go for less than a thousand shills."

"Ah, Even for these, I don't think I can do more than 750." Evan replied, he moved his jacket slightly, enough that an obvious jingle of coins provided he was bargaining in good faith.

"900."

"825." Evan replied firmly, settling his hands on the counter.

"850 and not a shilling shill less." The shop keeper replied.

Evan nodded removed the bag of coins and dropped it on the counter. The shopper keeper handed the bag to his associate who quickly weighted the coins on a scale and nodded. The keeper smiled, "Grace to you." He replied and quickly wrapped the crystals in sheets of thin brown fabric before placing them in a bag and handing it to the Lieutenant. "I hope we do business again."

Evan smiled and nodded, handing the bag to the Senior Chief as they turned and exited the store.

Colt took a minute to put the crystals in his backpack, then followed Loughheed out of the depository.

I wonder where Vaylwen got to? Well, she's a tough kid. I'm sure she can take care of herself...at least I hope she can. We've already had an accidental breach of the Prime Directive. It's not going to do me and Jacobs any good if we go and intentionally break it. Too bad, really. She was cute.

"Gotcha!" came Gregor's voice with cheers from the mob as Gregor handcuffed Valywen, roughly leading her towards the town jail. "You're going to roast for your obnoxious ideas! You even got my son questioning our place before the Gods!" He shoved her hard, pushing her to the ground before snatching her up again.

"Uh oh, Lieutenant," Colt said, an unpleasant look on his face when he saw Valywen being roughly handled. "She stuck her neck out for us. We can't really just let them lynch her. If you can take these back to the ship, I can stay here and see what I can do without violating the Prime Directive anymore than we have already. Maybe you can convince the Captain to mount a rescue?"

The Lieutenant paused and took in the scene, "Prime Directive dictates we don't interfere, it's not our place to question the beliefs of a pre-warp civilization, despite how inaccurate they maybe. If I recall both our peoples had periods not overly dissimilar to this."

"But..." Colt said. He gave Valywen one last look. "Alright. Fine. I'll go back to the ship...for now."

The Lieutenant understood the Senior Chief's feelings, but the Federation had the Prime Directive for a reason. The pair quietly slipped out of town and headed back to the ship.

Leigh stood outside the ship with her arms crossed, looking up at the stars in the dark sky. They had only been here for just over 24 hours and a part of her wondered if they would ever get off this planet. Admiral Robertson would surely have a field day once he read the after action report that she would have to submit. Rapidly approaching footsteps caught her attention, as well as that of several guards, who drew their phasers as a precaution. Two figures emerged from the nearby foliage--minus a woman. She could sense that something was wrong. "What happened? Where is Valywen?" she asked, uncrossing her arms and approaching the two.

Colt seriously considered throwing Lougheed under the bus, but he figured he'd be fair and bank the favor for later.

"It's a good news, bad news situation, Captain," Colt said, handing the bag of crystals to a master-at-arms and telling them to run them to engineering. "The good news is that we got the crystals, as you can see. The bad news is that Valywen was grabbed up by what looked to me like a lynch mob just as we were making our exit. We considered going after them, we both really wanted to, but Lieutenant Lougheed wisely counseled caution due to Prime Directive concerns. If we can work out the PD snaggle, we'd both like to go and get her. She helped us when she didn't have to. We owe her one."

Okay, so Colt threw Evan under the bus just a little, but not enough to make him look too bad. Colt figured Jacobs would like that the lieutenant had kept his head in a tough situation.

Jacobs was silent for a minute, placing her hands on her hips. The Prime Directive strictly forbade anyone from interfering with a pre-warp civilization in any capacity. Therefore, the Prime Directive would state that Valywen should be left to her fate at the hands of the mob while Colt was right. The woman had helped her team with the crystals. "Call a staff meeting on the Bridge in ten minutes," Jacobs ordered as she turned and headed for the airlock.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Colt said. Colt tapped his commbadge. "Xan to the Bridge."

"Go ahead, Senior," a voice replied.

"The Captain would like to see the available senior staff on the Bridge in ten mike," Colt said.

"Acknowledged. We'll put out the call."


<>

Jacobs stood behind her chair with her hands placed on the back as she waited for the senior staff to gather.

Arturo arrived on the Bridge followed by Chief Xan.

"Captain," Arturo said. "I understand from Chief Xan that our friend Valywen has become a bit of a damsel in distress!"

Colt shook his head and smiled.

"Captain," he said. "I swear by the Prime Number that I absolutely did not use the term 'damsel' to describe Valywen."

"Don't read anything into it, that's just how he talks," Xiulan said as she walked in from the Bridge. Once she found an empty seat, she folded up her cane and settled in. "So if everyone is back, does this mean we at least have the crystals we need to leave the planet?" she asked.

"Yes. Engineering is installing them as we speak," Jacobs replied. She then looked at Colt. "One more remark like that, Mister and you'll be wearing a dress as punishment," she smirked.

Lougheed was leaning against the bulkhead, glad that most of his disguise had been removed and his ears finally had stopped itching. "From what we saw in the town, Valywen was arrested, although I use that term loosely, for her general lack of belief or respect in the predominant religious beliefs of this species. Her arrest, was not related to her role in helping us, but rather her previous actions. The PD would therefore bar intervening, the unfortunate truth is that we don't have the right to police the beliefs of other races, and especially not a prewarp civilization."

Doctor Alara Samar couldn't help but overhear as she made her grand entrance with a paper cup of steaming coffee. "I'm forced to agree, though that does explain her lifelong injuries, lack of multiple STDs and STIs, and her willingness to help us. She handled meeting us all too well, in fact." Sipping at her coffee, she motioned to the rest of the officers assembled. "And we still have the problem of me not having wiped her memory. If she's tortured and she tells them where we are before we're able to leave and they come looking..." Alara calmly sipped at her coffee a bit more. "Either way, She's likely to be put to death for being a heretic in this planet's system. Especially after what she's seen. That might wrap up the initial Prime Directive violation..."

Jacobs sighed. The thought of Valywen being tortured and killed for her beliefs sickened her. Yet, the Prime Directive as well as Starfleet General Order 34 forbid her from interfering. Yet, she was never one to leave someone behind--one who had helped her crew. Doctor Samar was also right in that Valywen could tell her people about the Valiant if tortured. "Well, I'm informing you all that I intend to violate the Prime Directive by transporting her safely aboard the Valiant as soon as we restore main power. Then once we reach orbit, we can find a safe place to beam her down to."

"If we beam her out we run the risk of that being seen, the effects of our transporters could definitely be construed as magic, especially if she is being held in a jail of some sort." The Intelligence Chief remarked.

"Well," Colt said. "If that leaves us with an old fashioned jail break, I'm on board for that. I'm sure Commander S'Rohass would be on board for that, too, but the last thing we need is to avoid the magical disappearing act by transporter only to replace it with sightings of a were-feline prowling the town."

Arturo chuckled.

"Sure," he said. "Take from me the opportunity to become one of this planet's legends! See if I care!"

Colt laughed in response to the little Caitian's attempt at humor.

"Just doing my part, Commander," he said. Colt turned to Jacobs. "In all seriousness, Captain, this is the kind of thing I was trained for. If we're going to snatch Valywen from the slammer, I'm in."

"Very well. Make it quick and once you're away from the town, we'll hopefully have power restored and transport you aboard. Take Lougheed with you," Jacobs said.

The Lougheed nodded, "I take it this means I'm getting my ears back?"

Colt laughed.

"Could be worse, Lieutenant," he said. "Valywen's people could have had both long ears AND long noses! Can you imagine trying to peer covertly through bushes and around corners with a nose that's a foot long? Anyway, see you in Sickbay, sir. With your permission, Captain, I'm going to go get started."

Even though he was travelling in the fastest mode of transportation the planet had to offer, Deacon clung to the bow ropes of gondola, willing the dirigible to go faster. Glancing down at the countryside as it drifted by feeling the bite of the wind on his cheeks the Rigellian couldn’t help but feel his heart beat in his chest in anticipation.

“Father!?!?” a voice from behind him bellowed, “Come in from there now!”

Deacon turned to look at Captain Sisaa Thartaller, his step daughter, wearing her wool lined aviator’s jacket, and tortoiseshell goggles protecting her hazel eyes from the worst of the gale, her long hair peeking out through the edge of her skullcap, “Apologies, daughter of mine!” he yelled back, making his way back over the railing to the safety gantry “Excuse the impatience of an old man!”

Sissaa shook her head and smiled at the ‘old man’ who despite his years, still looked no older than herself, “Our Holy Lord Mother would not appreciate it if I splattered her Great Engineer across the countryside.”

“Your mother was the ‘Great engineer,’ Sissaa” Deacon shot back, referring to the Airship's Captain’s actual mother, not the Holy Cea, Mother of the Holy Bastion Church. “Marytra was the true engineer,” his eyes narrowed and teared thinking of his now dead wife , “I was always her humble assistant.”

“Liar.” Sissaa replied, gripping her father’s cold hands, her eyes tearing up as well. Well, maybe not a liar exactly, he was just the one who helped bring her mother’s idea’s to life and had so many ideas of his own that he refuse to take credit for. “So will ‘Jonah’ catch his ‘White Whale’ this time?” she asked.

“Ahab.” He corrected her, “If I’ll be paying for that slip of the tongue,” he laughed looking back to the horizon, “along with a few other things. Please at least get the name’s right.”

“They’re both ‘Whale’ stories dad.” She chided him, trying to get him back to the here and now. Even after all this time, the man remained a mystery to her. A deformed laborer that plucked her mother from the river after her failed attempt at flight. As a little girl she remembered being frightened of him as he poked around her workshop, while her mother was sleeping that first night. He went from unfinished project to unfinished project laughing and shaking his head.

You are absolutely brilliant! she remembered him whispering to her mother on that night long ago. Centuries ahead of your time

An absolute failure, her mother had replied, as she nursed a broken leg and several broken ribs, her normally beautiful face mared by cuts and a blackened eye.

Theories sound, you just need some better materials to work with, he had assured her in his horrible accent, then with a wink he added, I think I can help you there.

Two years later they flew off Sliabh Liag, one of the highest cliffs along the coast, gliding side by side together. Then he helped her perfect her water pumps, steam engines, her aqualung which he insisted calling Skoo’Bah for some unintelligible reason, and finally he helped her final vision come to life, this ship, her ship. Many other lands had lighter than air ships, but none were larger or faster. All possible by the madman looking off in the distance, still trying to find his way back to lands with ‘whales’, that had been extinct for millennia, until they were not. They were just some of the characters in his stories he told in his fantastical tales to her when she was a child and retold to his grandchildren while bouncing them on his knee. “Father, just promise me when this turns out to be nothing, You’ll give up this foolishness once and for all.”

Deacon looked at his step-daughter sadly, and wondered if he was ready to finally give up trying to find a way off of Janos III, his home and prison for the past eighteen years. He had carved life for himself, after a fashion. Found love, a family, friends, on this primitive alien world. But that was it, wasn’t it, it was still an alien world. The oceans and beaches would never be that of Rigel V, the sunsets not quite right. Maybe if Marytra was still with him, he could have stayed and forgotten about his other life. Maybe if she hadn’t died of melanoma. “The Wasting” as they called it, a disease that was so curable he would if laughed, if it wasn’t for all the tears he shed at her grave.

“Every day you remind me more and more of your mother.” He said smiling shyly, “And yes Sissaa, daughter of mine, if this proves to be a wild goose chase then I will finally give up my silly quest and retire to our country estate, making wine, getting drunk and spinning more true tall-tales for all my children and grandchildren. Filling their hearts and minds with the impossible and daring them to dream.” Then he signed eyeing her knowingly, “And you must promise, not to come looking for me if I disappear into the Nam’lran Coast. The zealots up there could spark a war between us and the Mendrovians if you took this ship up there, or any sizeable force.”

She nodded worried, though smiling, thinking she had won some great victory. Deacon smiled too, but it was bitter sweet. Whatever had come down two days ago was not a meteorite. Whatever it was had slowed down making course changes, he was sure of it. It was a ship, possibly out of control, but a ship none the less. The real question was who was flying it. Someone who could help him escape, or someone who he’d have to kill to protect those he’d come to love. “Come walk with your father, Sissa, I want to take a final look at our great airship before we dock at Ouslanc in the morning.”

Lougheed stood with the rescue team a few hundred meters from the edge of town. They had managed to produce a few replicated weapons that matched what they had seen local carrying. The crude firearms would hopefully be unneeded, and the Lieutenant had a type II phaser strapped discretely to his back should they need a little more firepower. "Senior have you located our friend?"

Colt had just returned from scouting the town. He drew a map in the dirt.

"She's in this small building here," he said. "It's basically a box, and a small one at that. The cells are in the back, here. There's Gregor, the sheriff, and he's got a couple of deputies. They don't appear to be the sharpest tools in the shed, if you get my meaning. One of them is hanging out in a chair next to the main entrance. Gregor stepped out, but I don't know when he'll be back. The other deputy is off duty or otherwise shacked up somewhere. Lots of angry folks hanging around out front, though. Going in that way would be messy. There's a back entrance. I checked and when I saw it there was no one guarding it as far as I could tell. I got close enough to determine that it's locked, but I can pick it easy enough. Best bet is you cause a disturbance big enough to draw out the deputy, while I creep in the back and grab Valywen."

"Petty Officer do you feel like orchestrating a distraction for us." Evan said turning to one of the Security Crew. "I can cover Colt and we will extract Valywen, with any luck we can get out without being spotted. We'll leave the cell and the building open and with any luck it will look like she escaped on her own. The sheriffs may even cover it up instead having the public know they let her escaped."

"I can arrange a distraction, sure. How much time do you think you'll need?" Already, Petty Officer Jones was working out scenarios. "Once I have their attention, I don't know how long I can keep it."

"Just long enough," Colt replied with a grin. "I work fast."

*************************************
Down at the town dock, a figure stepped off the small boat who potentially could either help or hinder Valywen's rescue. The figure simply stood there on the dock ignorant of the part he was to play. He looked around the small port town with open disdain, not that he truly felt any animosity for the town or its people, but an image had to be projected from the get go. Shouldering his load he made his way into up the main street. Walking past the port-office he couldn't help but notice the nervous harbor master dispatching some lackey up the road, most likely to find someone in authority to deal with the unusual guest. Deacon pretended not to notice as he walked to a coffee-house and sat down at one of the outside tables. He was polite to the waitress, smiling and nodding in such a way that projected confidence, with just a slightly threatening undercurrent. Within minutes a steaming cup of cava was placed in front of him along with a small plate of sweet breads he hadn't ordered.

The Rigeian knew anyone's appearance in the town wouldn't go unnoticed so he decided to be 'conspicuously inconspicuous.' Almost on que, the coffee-houses owner made his was over, nervously rubbing his hands on a towel half tucked into his pants, "Is everything to your liking, sir? Is there anything I can get you?" he asked eyeing the expensive cut of Deacon's overcoat or the brass repeating rifle strapped to the top of his bag.

"Your cava es excellent, as are your breads," Deacon responded feigning the clipped accent of Sogn og Fjordane, more precisely that of Ouslanc its capital, marking him as someone from the political center of the country, "If you would be so kind as to bring me a second cava, it would be appreciated."

"Are you expecting someone else sir?" the owner asked sweat appearing on his brow as he glanced over Deacon's head.

Deacon actually smelled the unwashed body combined with the aroma of draft animal before he heard the boots scrape along the wooden floorboards of the porch, the sound of one dragged slightly indicating some weakness or old injury. "I believe this is him now," he said to the owner in a tone that told the nervous man that it was in his best interests to get the second glass of cava quickly. Deacon stood up to face his new visitor. He looked old, his eye squinting beneath heavy brows, though the tough life could have aged him prematurely. On his vest he wore a bronze badge of some type indicating that he was the local law enforcement.

"Good afternoon, Sheriff." Deacon said glancing down at his silver pocket watch, "Less than 15 minutes, quite impressive." The sheriff however looked less than impressed at Deacon as he quietly stared trying to get a read on the newcomer. Deacon calmly reached into his longcoat, producing as stack of forged identity papers along which was the gold medallion of the Teşkilât Mahsusa, the special police branch of the country's ruling counsel. I am Leftenant Deh'Kyan Kyiane, would you join me for a cup of cava?"

Gregor took the papers, glancing them over. 'Great, just what I need--a clean-nosed government agent from the capital," McGregor thought before handing the papers back. "What brings you so far from the capital?" he asked before taking a seat across from the other man.

Deacon flashed the Sheriff a knowing smile, "My business is actually further up the coast," he assured McGregor, as the waitress placed a second cup of cava in front of the grizzled lawman. "however some rumors of some 'queer goings on' have come to my attention. Have you heard of anything that might be concern to the Central Committee? Unrest? Unchecked Heresy? Corruption?" Deacon knew it was a broad list, but he also knew inevitably people felt guilty about something. Judging by the way the shop owner paused in cleaning spotless counter, color draining from his face, one of his comments struck home. Hopefully everyone would be running around, covering their own track to give him the freedom he needed.

Gregor studied the other man a moment. The last thing he needed was to be talking with a sympathizer--those who believed Janosians should lean more on science than religion. "We've had some trouble with a local heritic that I will deal with in the morning," Gregor replied. "I have her detained until then. I assure you she will not be spreading her lies after tomorrow."

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

The sheriff glanced over to the jailhouse. Valywen sat slumped against the far wall of her cell. Her clothes were torn in several places from where Gregor had rough handled her. Despite the perilous predicament, which she knew she would likely be killed, her thoughts were on the aliens she had met. Had they already left? Had anyone else seen them? 'No...the aliens were too smart for that," Valywen thought.

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

Meanwhile back at the coffee-house Deacon panicked FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen he thought, knowing he just totally screwed the pooch. Some sodding bastard was already caught up with these narrow-minded screwheads. He was just hoping cause panic not state sanctioned homicide. While the victim in this case might have been heading for whatever creative form of death these mother humping piles of dhaphaṛa prefered, his asinine comments just sealed their fate. Well, time for damage control

Leaning forward and pinching the bridge of his nose, Deacon sighed, "Ah yes, I forgot it's spring, 'Witch burning season,'" looking up at the Sheriff with a weary, sympathetic eyes, "Apologies sir," he said in a respectful tone, "Similar circumstances are the reasons I'm traveling further north." sighing he shrugged and 'explained' himself "While the counsel knows we can't tolerate any form of heresy, they fear so much,,,,'public spectacle' simply emboldens the wrong thinking individuals. My benefactor has sent me out here, to the hinterlands, to quietly deal with these malcontents." then Deacon was quiet for a moment as if he were weighing some options, "Let me interview your prisoner, to see if i can come up with a reason to take them off your hands quietly." As the sheriff seemed to consider his options, Deacon decided to press "As an officer of the Teşkilât Mahsusa, I could insist, but I prefer to be able to say how cooperative you were when I report to the Counsel." Deacon added hoping his bluff would pay off.

Gregor sat back in his chair, letting out a hearty chuckle. He hated dealing with government agents--especially those from the capital. However, the agent was offering to take Valywen off his hands and deal with her himself, then that would be alot of weight off of his shoulders, although there were a good number of people in town that wanted to see Valywen executed. Most of those people were the elders in the community, along with everyone in his department. "Sure, you can interview her, but taking her away could cause some unrest among the townspeople. Many want to see her burn," his smile turned wicked.

Deacon felt some relief behind his steeled gaze as he took in the sheriff's reaction. The lawman was not a 'true believer' or at least not a foaming-at-the-mouth zealot. He was political, well aware that his power rested not in a law book, but the will of the mob. Still it gave Deacon some advantage, politicians being so morally,,,,,plyable. Standing up Deacon placed silver stiterci along a few coppers on the table from his money pouch, pointedly allowing the sheriff ample opportunity to glance inside. "Well I suppose we should get over to your jail," he said leaving the small bag of coins on the table, "After I get situated, I would take it as a personal favor if you could find and convince the town fathers how it's in their best interest to allow the Counsel to deal with this problem." as he left the coffee house the RIgellian never glanced back to see if the pouch was gone.

Even though the pouch continued more money that the lawman would see in five years, Deacon knew he'd probably have to give him more coin for the sheriff's 'expenses.' Deacon didn't mind paying the graft but as in any negotiation with this carrot, a sick needed to be a least shown, "I'm sure a man such as yourself can quell any unrest." he said narrowing his eyes to the man next to him, "I would hate to recommend that the Council needs to have a permanent presence in the region."

Gregor took the pouch and stood following the agent--his smile now replaced with a scowl. He did not take kindly to threats whether they came from another lawman or not. "If you decide to take her, it would be best to not linger too long away from the capital--the border regions can be quite dangerous to lone travelers."

"Who said I was alone?" Deaon bluffed with a smile on his face as they made their way to the jailhouse, "Don't worry Sheriff, I assure you by morning both myself and your annoying problem will be gone, with more than ample compensation left behind to ease the lapse in your security."

Gregor remained silent as the two headed for the jailhouse. The building was easy to spot as it was shorter and stouter than most buildings in town, built of brick and mortar, its small windows covered with thick iron bars. Outside the building a crowd lingered some carrying torches. In front of the crowd, an older man in a black cassock preached to the crowd. He spoke of of truth and salvation and how the righteous and the God fearing people of the town would finally have the 'harlot-bitch, 'the deceiver's messenger' purged and the stain removed from the town of Clarrion, despite the 'False Words bound in leather'

Here was a True Believer Deacon thought seeing the wide-eyed look of joy or was it maliciousness in the preacher's face. Then there was a noise, just on the edge of his hearing, high pitched and building. "Tzao Gao," he cursed as he turned away from the sound and covered his eyes.

A moment later, a series of small explosions echoed outside, followed by some non-descript shouting and another louder boom. Petty Officer Jones had gotten some spare phasers together and overloaded them, a display of a lot of noise and light without damaging too much of the town's infrastructure.

Colt and Evan were already behind the Sheriff's Office when the explosions went off. He winced. The CoB didn't want to think about what Jones had used to cause them. If he did think about that, he'd realize that Jones had overloaded phasers (Colt had recognized the sound and was working on convincing himself that he hadn't), which could leave little bits of high tech debris everywhere. Instead of thinking about that problem, he focused on the lock on the back door. He'd cased the door earlier. The lock was sturdy, but picking locks, even old ones, was part of his training. He managed to get the lock open and quietly opened it.

"Cover me," he whispered to Evan and sneaked inside.

Phasers Deacon thought, Someone just overloaded at least two goram phasers outside of town! Looking at the sheriff he shrugged handing him another pouch full of coins. "Like I said, not alone." Looking down the smoke filled street, sounds of the beef dalgos could be heard breaking out of their corral, soon they'd be stampeding if they weren't calmed quickly, "You may want to attend to that." He added turning back toward the jailhouse.

As he crept around the building Deacon felt his heart pound. Overloaded phasers, he thought, that meant not the Breen, not the Klingons and not the Romulans. Of course their was a chance the explosion was not related to the prisoner but the marooned Rigellian doubted it. Then he stopped dead in his tracks, and smiled Especially not with that stench, It was a smell that hadn't assaulted his nose in years. An earthy, mineral smell, rust,, human. Pausing at the corner of the jailhouse, he glanced around the corner seeing a huddled figure who quickly spun around, bringing a weapon to bear, "Starfleet Intelligence," he hissed raising his hands, "NOC agent identifier Zulu Zulu 365"

"Seriously?" Colt said, shooting the man in the chest with his phaser set to stun. "Like I memorize the agent identifier code of every secret squirrel in SFI's stable. Sit. Stay. I'll deal with you in a minute."

Colt put his phaser away and pulled out his lockpicks as he walked over and knelt down in front of the door of the cell Valywen was in.

"Hang on, I'll have you out in a flash...just another second...there!"

There was a click and the door popped open. Colt grinned. He opened the door all the way and then went to pick up the man who claimed he worked for Starfleet Intelligence. The guy was carrying some extra weight...something heavy in his pockets? Body armor? Was he still awake?

Whatever. I don't see what he has to complain about. I'm the one who has to carry him back to the rendezvous point.

"Time to leave, my lady," he said, hefting the other man's weight over his shoulder. "And don't worry about him. That beam just knocked him unconscious. He claims he works for us. I figure I'll bring him back with us, toss him in the brig, and we can sort this out later. Come on. Lieutenant Lougheed is waiting outside. We need to get out of town."

Valywen recognized two of the men. The other, she did not, but she had no choice but to put her trust in the aliens' hands.

Lougheed had his weapon drawn and noticed a few of the locals starting to come their way. "Senior I suggest we expedite our departure."

"By the gods, are you trying to destroy the town?" Valywen remarked at the explosions as she rushed out of the jail with the aliens.

Jacobs dropped into the command chair as main power came back online. 'Engineering did it!' she thought with relief. "Lieutenant Song, get a lock onto the rescue team and transport them aboard.

Without a word, Xiulan was focused on her task as she checked that all systems were operational before initiating the pattern lock and transport of the Away Team. "Transport complete; Away Team plus the local and the hitchhiker are aboard, Captain," Xiulan reported, then quickly set about to restoring order to the ship now that they had power.

The news of another person on this planet who was not a part of her crew troubled Leigh as she sighed. "Lieutenant Me'Shlaht, have security officers meet our newcomer and escort him to the brig as a precaution until I can meet with him and have him verified."

"Yes, ma'am. They are on their way, and I will meet them in the brig," Me'Shlaht's unmistakable voice purred over communications.

"Commander S'Rohass," Jacobs called to her XO and helmsman. "Blue Alert. Get us off of this rock. All available power."

"At once, Captain!" Arturo said, taking his seat at the helm and working the controls. "I am turning off all of the running lights. I can't keep the noise down, though, so we shall have to resign ourselves to being a UFO legend on this planet. And...we're off."

There was a brief moment of disorientation and pressure as the inertial dampeners struggled to adjust to Arturo's swift lift off and steep ascent, then everything was normal.

"At our current rate of speed, we'll be out of the atmosphere soon," Arturo said. "Where would you like to go once we get there?"

"Put us into high geosynchronous orbit until our guest, Valywen gets on the bridge," Jacobs said.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Arturo replied as his fingers flew over his console.


[Transporter Room]

Lougheed stepped off the transporter pad happy to be back aboard the ship. He nodded to the Security Chief who was standing by, "Valywen please come with me to the Bridge." He said to the guest while Security addressed the unconscious man who claimed to be SFI. The Lieutenant would speak with him once he was awake, regardless of who he claimed to be the presence of a non-native humanoid on a pre-warp planet was a cause of concern.

"Um, ok," Valywen said as she nervously followed the alien. "What kind of magic did you use to get aboard your ship?"

"Not magic just technology." The Intelligence chief said as he lead the visitor out of the transporter room and towards the bridge.

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

Colt lay the presumed to be unconscious SFI operative, if that's what he was, on the deck. He took a minute and felt up the man's coat.

"That's what I thought," he said. "Body armor...Gorn, maybe? Not sure, but probably enough to absorb some of that phaser stun."

Colt stepped back from the supposed spy and let the masters-at-arms put the man in wrist restraints.

"You awake, friend?" Colt said. "It would be truly inconsiderate to make these kids carry you all the way to the brig if you're awake enough to walk."

Deacon smiled weakly, "Sorry force of habit, be amazed what people say when they think you're out." Painfully he got to his feet, rubbling his chest, seeing the phaser burn on his coat he sighed, calf skin made by some of the finest leather workers in Castan, "My step daughter gave me this last year," Looking back at Colt he nodded, "Gorn, at least the interior mesh and plates are. She hated the old shell," he added fairly sure he could buff out the worst of it, "Truth be told it had seen better days."

Looking at Colt closely Deacon narrowed his eyes for a moment and laughed, "Well It's been a while 'Farmer' not playing with Marines anymore?" He asked, "MSOT, 2nd Battalion, you were the medic, I think." nodding he clicked his teeth, "You stabilized my asset. Fuck'en A, small universe."

"Kane?!?," Colt replied. "Deacon Kane? Prime Number, it's been what? Over twenty years, at least. I heard you disappeared not long after we parted ways. What were you doing on that planet? Hang on."

Deacon looked at the senior chief wondering where to start, finally he smiled knowing the debrief he was in for, "Mixing concrete and smoking pot." With a slightly maniacal laugh he shrugged as Colt turned to the masters-at-arms.

"No need for the restraints," he said. "I'll take the heat from from your boss. I think we can trust Deacon here not to do anything dumb. Go ahead and take him to the brig, though, just in case. Get his biometrics, retina scan, prints, DNA, etc. Oh, and make sure to tell your boss that we'll meet her in Security. Sorry, Deake, but you've been missing for almost twenty years. A lot can happen in twenty years. Pretty sure the Captain is going to want to talk to you and we need to check your details with SFI and see what they want us to do. Nothing personal. Besides, the brig on this boat is almost more comfortable than the crew quarters."

"Well 'Farmer,' at least you know it's not the first cell i've slept in," Deacon replied, not believing he was actually going to be free finally of Janos III. His eyes suddenly took on somber tone as he thought of Sisaa, Rialan, the grandkids, friends,,,enemies. Sighing he looked at security, "Shall we go?"

"Probably won't be the last one, either," Colt said. "But I'll do what I can to make this a short stay. Well, let's get going."

Colt indicated that the MAs should escort Deacon out ahead of him. If Kane had gone bad in the last twenty odd years, Colt didn't want the man behind him.

-------------------
[Bridge]

One of the perks of a Defiant class was how quickly you could get to just about any location. Entering the bridge Lougheed was very happy to see that the view screen showed the atmosphere already thinning as the vessel quickly rose from the planet. "Captain, we were successful in our recovery." Indicating to Valywen.

Leigh nodded. "Good work, lieutenant." Leigh then looked at Valywen. "You are quite the local troublemaker aren't you?"

Valywen shrugged. "I believe what I believe. I will not be told to believe something just because some hag tells me I should believe something different because religion demands it. I am my own person."

Leigh couldn't help but grin--she admired the woman. "Is there anywhere on the planet that you would like for us to transport you? Someplace where you will be safer?"

Valywen shook her head sadly. "No. Individuals like me are sought out, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed for their beliefs. No place is safe." She then ran towards the view screen at seeing Janos III. "Are...are we above the heavens? Among the stars?"

"Yes," Leigh nodded, attempting to imagine what it would be like to see space for the first time. Space had, for as long as she remembered, second nature to her--no different than stepping outside from a house. She then thought to her Academy Terran History Class, recalling a period in Earth's history similar to what Valywen's planet was going through called an Inquisition. She could not in good judgement send Valywen back to almost certain death, even Doctor Samar had stated that with the amount of time a mind wipe would be risky and either leave some memories in tact or wipe too many and endangering her more if she returned. She placed her hands on her hips and let out a long sigh, knowing what she asked next would jeopardize her career. "Valywen, would you care to stay aboard?"

Valywen turned and looked at Leigh in shock. She had no real friends on her planet due to her beliefs and here, she could learn so much more! "Yes! I would love to stay aboard your ship!"

"Alright. I'll see if we can assign you some quarters. Welcome aboard the USS Valiant," Leigh replied.

"Valiant...I like the ship's name," Valywen smiled.

"I'm glad I'm not the one filling the paper work out for that." Lougheed said to the CO with a smirk as he moved to take his station.

=/\= "Engineering to Bridge, Lieutenant Zh'challis here. We've got warp drive online, but the best we can do is about warp 3 at least for the first bit. We've got quite a bit of structural damage on the ventral side as well, so if we can keep the acrobatics to a minimum it would be advise." =/\=

"You did help rescue her," Leigh grinned, watching her CIO take his station. She then tapped her comm badge. "Understood Engineering. Commander Jacobs, out." She then turned to Arturo. "Set a course for Starbase 239. Warp 3."

"At once, Captain," Arturo replied. His fingers flew over his console and the Valiant responded by breaking orbit and going to warp. "Warp One, Warp One Point Five, Warp Two, Warp Two Point Five...Warp Three and holding Captain, course set for Starbase 239 as ordered."

"I'll track down some temporary quarters for Miss Valywen here." Lougheed said rising from his station as the ship accelerated to warp, definitely not as smoothly as it normally did.

"Thank you, lieutenant," Leigh said as she watched Valywen hesitantly follow Lougheed off of the bridge.

The Lieutenant checked with the roster, there was a single cabin currently unoccupied, so he lead her there. Opening the door he moved to let Valywen enter. "It's not much this class of ship is very short on space, but it will be all yours. Unfortunately we can't give you access to our records system, but if you press this blue button." He said gesturing to a comm panel "and ask to speak to me Evan Lougheed, I can arrange for anything you need."

"Thank you." Valywen said with a grin before turning and looking at the small room.

Deacon took off his belt and boots without being asked. He emptied his pockets into the box and finally, reverently removed a small package wrapped in linen from the small of his back. One of the security regarded the package curiously, with nod from Deacon she unwrapped the package revealing three kar'kethet blades, gleaming even in the low light of the brig. The urs'ga rakch hilts were buried with the cremated remains of three old friends he once betrayed, but had also redeemed in the orbit of Jolon III all those years ago. They were good blades, one of which had a storied history with its house. Entering the cell, he sat down on the rack that was too narrow, with a mattress that was too thin. As the force field engaged he glanced up at the camera and waved. In another room, several of the crew looked at the feed wondering what to do with their new passenger.

"Well," Colt said was saying to the officers present. "He looks and sounds like the Deacon Kane I knew, but that was over twenty years ago, back when I was with the Raiders...not long after I graduated from the SAARC pipeline. According to the rumor mill, he dropped off the sensor grid shortly after that and I can't speak to what he's been up to all of that time."

"According to Starfleet Intelligence," Arturo said. "They also have no knowledge of where he has been. They confirmed the NOC agent identifier code Mister Kane gave the Senior Chief. As I understand it SFI also confirmed the DNA match, retinal scans, and finger prints."

Evan entered the Brig with a nod to those present. "Well now that we have subspace back I've run through some channels, Deacon Kane was officially listed MIA, presumed deceased by SFI. As the XO said, however I spoke with Major General Ce'Kurren at headquarters who had apparently served with mister Kane here many years ago. She said if we had in fact located Mister Kane he would be a benefit to Starfleet."

Leigh entered the Brig as she considered Lougheed's statement. "I'm Commander Jacobs, commanding officer of the USS Valiant, Mr. Kane. How did you come to end up on Janos Three?"

"Well, you know my name so that's a start." Deacon replied not looking away from the wall. Glancing at the officer he shrugged his shoulders he snorted a laugh, "Well, I arrived on the surface via a broken down klingon transporter after beating espionage charges," He shook his head, regretting the snarky comment, standing up he unfolded his arms and came to his best approximation of 'parade rest,' "Apologies Skipper, the last person wearing pips like those sent me here."

"Ok, the events as best as I remember them." the Rigellian said staring off into the distance, "In late October of '73 my handler, Mr. Green tasked me with a flyby of Janos III, on my way to the Gradin Confederation. Starfleet survey used to ask us to this all the time, especially for any system with 'listed material' like dilthium" Deacon explained, "Now usually we get a sensor package to tie into ship's systems, scans for 'crop circles and strip mining,' but I didn't get one for that run. Should have tipped me off, but Green and I weren't actually pals at this point so..." Deacon bit his tongue at this point, he couldn't prove anything, so what was the point?

"Anyway I arrived in system, and ran into a cloaked mine right in my flight path. I wake up in the cargo hold an old Klingon Raider to find myself in a 'kangaroo court' with an old 'friend' Ujok of House Theshtadh prosecuting me on three charges of crimes against the Klingon state. Not knowing what they have for evidence, and the fact I was guilty as hell, I demanded trial by jury which everyone found..... laughable. At least until three volunteers emerged demanding their right as the state's champions." Deacon was silent for a moment, rubbing his thumbs against his fingers, "Sorry Commander, I digress. I won each of my trials, proving my innocence in 'The Blood of the Honored Dead.' The court had no choice but to release me, but seeing how my ship was destroyed they chose to beam me down to Janos III, not 15 kicks from a population center with three Klingon bodies." leaning back on the bunk Deacon folded his arms and looked at Leigh, "No if you don't mind me asking Commander, where the hell guy been for the past twenty odd years?"

Me'Shlaht had listened quietly, her ears twitching back and forth as the story continued. She found most of it unbelievable, but she decided not to comment on it. Not yet. There would be time for that later. For now, she would simply listen.

Lougheed made a few notes on a PADD, "According to SFI records the file on you was closed. I did some digging and it looks like a recovery mission was never ordered. The records of your mission indicate the explosion that I would assume was the mine was considered to a failure in vessel's engine. A Starfleet vessel did a scan to look for survivors and came up empty, as the planet was pre-warp no ground survey was conducted. You were listed as MIA."

"That's a hell of a story, Mister Kane. However, Chief Xan seems to know and trust you and I have learned to trust him. Chief, are you sure this is the man you knew?"

"Let's look at this, I can't believe I'm using this word, it's really an affront to my heritage, but let's look at this logically," Colt said. "He looks and sounds like the Deacon Kane I knew, sure. Of course, that was more than twenty years have passed since then and he apparently went MIA shortly after we parted ways. Our scans and tests show that he's not a Dominion Changling, a Chameloid, an android or clone of any type we've encountered before. He appears to be Vulcanoid Rigelian, inside and out, but our equipment here on the Valiant isn't as sophisticated as what you'd find on a larger vessel or starbase, so we could have missed something. If he's telling the truth, he's been trapped on Janos III for over twenty years. It's a pre-warp civilization, we know that, so he really wouldn't have been able to contact SFI or get off the planet. If I was to go by what evidence we have plus my gut instinct...I'd say we can trust him...unless or until he proves we can't. He could prove very useful while he's with us, if SFI will let us hang on to him. I'm guessing they will, because Deacon appears to have gone MIA under some very suspicious circumstances, doing something that might have been way off the books and maybe even not in service of the Federation. Deacon's reappearance is a gigantic shit sandwich and no one is going to want to touch him with a ten foot pole for a while for fear of getting his stink on them. Out here with us, out of sight but not out of mind, they can figure out what happened without triggering an inquiry. I could be wrong, but that's my read."

Deacon grinned ever so slightly at Colt's assessment, wondering how much bicarb was being delivered to select offices of the SFI. Glancing over at Lougheed the Rigellian wondered how much he'd appreciate inheriting the 'cow patty special.' Judging by what the intel officer said when he first appeared in the brig 'Major General Ce'Kurren' was in his corner, whoever the hell she was. Ms. White maybe? Either way the idea of being mobile with starfleet regulars at his back did carry some appeal. "For what it's worth, Ma'am, the Chief's right. I can be of use aboard ship, and I'm sure SFI wouldn't mind you being the one keeping tabs on me."

"Given that my department is understaffed at the moment anyway, and with any lucky we'll at least have a little bit of downtime at the starbase before our next mission, I don't think we need to keep him in the brig." Lougheed added.

Leigh looked Lieutenant Me'Shlaht and nodded. "Lieutenant, let him out."

"Let him out?" Me'Shlaht somehow kept from growling, though her ears did lay back flat on her head. As far as she was concerned, they didn't know enough about the man to do such a thing. But Leigh's gaze did not falter, and Me'Shlaht's tail lashed back and forth in frustration as she was forced to relent. "Yes... Commander." Though it was clear that she did not like the idea, Me'Shlaht went to the brig cell controls and lowered the force field to let Deacon out of his cell.

"We'll get assigned some quarters, Mr. Kane," Leigh continued. "Until further notice, you'll be working with Lieutenant Lougheed. Do you have any questions?"

"No Ma'am." Deacon answered, "And if I didn't say so before, thank you for having me aboard."

"Don't thank me yet," Leigh replied, holding up a finger. She then turned to Arturo. "I'll be on the bridge." She then looked at Me'Shlaht before turning to leave. She could understand Me'Shlaht's hesitancy to let him go but everything with Kane had checked out but it didn't mean she would turn a blind eye to the man.

ON:

Leigh leaned back in her chair in her small ready room. The recent mission had basically been a disaster, following a disastrous first contact mission with a species known as the Gluak. To say the Valiant had a rough start was an understatement. The door chime to her office sounded. "Enter," she called, sitting forward in her chair.

As the door opened, a 'tap tap tap' could be heard from Xiulan's cane, then she stepped over the lip of the door and entered. "Hey Captain, I got a preliminary status report of ship systems. The Valiant took some pretty hefty damage from the interruption of power, not to mention the rough planetary landing, but it's nothing we can't handle," the blind Communications Officer said casually as she made her way to the desk and set a PaDD on the surface. "I know it's not exactly my job, but no one else was doing this and it needed to get done. Anyway, I'm coordinating with Engineering and the repair crews to make sure we hit the most important repairs so we can make it to Starbase 239."

"Have a seat, lieutenant," Leigh replied, picking up the PaDD and glancing at it. "I've been meaning to speak with you."

"Oh... okay," Xiulan replied, then her hands found the chair and she sat down in it as she folded her cane. "If this is about my eyes going out in the dampening field, I managed to adapt just fine; I know I need some accommodations even when they are working, but I do my job really well, Captain," she tried to defend herself, assuming this talk meant she was about to get transferred off.

Leigh grinned. "I'm not going to criticize you, lieutenant. You did just fine during the mission...exceptionally well to be honest. I admire the fact you went out and placed a beacon and thus far your help had been invaluable. I actually wanted to see if you wanted to become the ship's Chief of Operations."

Xiulan sat there for a moment blinking in disbelief, then she had the nerve to stick a finger in her ear as though to dislodge some sort of clog that might be distorting her hearing. "You want me to what now?"

Leigh let out a chuckle. "I'm appointing you as the Valiant's new Chief of Operations. You have proven your worth in the last mission and I believe you have the skills and knowledge for the position."

"I'm not exactly an Engineer; I mean, I know my way around a Communications relay, but..." Xiulan replied, still having trouble believing that Jacobs was asking her to take this role, and it was true that this role was often filled by Engineers, but because of the overlap with Sciences and even Security, it wasn't unheard of to have the role filled by Officers from those fields as well! "I guess that's what delegation is for," she mused aloud, then gave the matter some serious thought. "If you this much faith in me, guess now it's my job to prove you right," she finally said with resolve, nodding in acceptance of this role.

"Good," Leigh said, smiling. "I know you'll do great. Do you have any questions or requests?"

"Uhh, just if we can the Bridge refit with tactile displays while we're docked at Starbase 239 for repairs?" Xiulan asked. "It might extend our repairs by a few hours, but it'll make it easier for me to work from anywhere on the Bridge."

"I'll put in the request," Jacobs replied. "If there is nothing else, you are dismissed."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Xiulan replied, then rose to leave, still somewhat dumbfounded; what just happened?!

END

Deacon rested his chin on his arms as he looked at the three dimensional display. It was amazing how far the technology had advanced in the past twenty odd years. It was also amazing that the LCARS, in many ways, was just an overlay on top of an archaic operating system, one that he could convince to give up a password or two with the right amount of prompting.

Smiling he brushed his fingers through the tiny figures running around the open field, disrupting them momentarily. Little Andal and Renna were playing futbol with their friends. Io, their dad, jumping up and down on the sidelines under uneven glow of the incandescent lights. Deacon's mouth broke into a melancholy smile watching them play. Renna's ball handling had improved so much in the past year, she was racing past the other players, still remembering to pass the ball back, so her little brother could try for the goal. "Shot...score!!!" Deacon could almost hear the announcer over the grainy image. He'd hacked the ships tertiary sensor. According to the logs it hadn't even been online in months, he knew he could've gotten a better picture with the other sensors, but even he wasn't crazy enough to blind the ship that just rescued him.

He heard the hatch open behind him. Twenty-three minutes, not bad he thought. "Don't suppose you'd believe I was just brushing up on some old skills?" he asked not wanting to take his eyes off the image.

"Eh?" came the confused reply, then was shortly followed by a 'tap tap tap' that drew closer. Then the petite Asian woman in Operation yellow was standing beside him, holding what looked to be a white cane. "Oh, you must be the hitchhiker we picked up," Xiulan said with a lopsided grin as she stared blindly ahead. She took a strange looking PADD out of her duty jacket then placed it on the console. It had no visual output, but rather a raised surface, and after taking a moment to run her fingers over the textured surface, she then entered a few commands onto the LCARS display and suddenly Deacon had full access to the long range sensors. "Just wondering what was going on down here; carry on and make sure you secure the station once you're done," Xiulan said as she retrieved her strange looking PADD.

Deacon snorted slightly at being called a 'hitchhiker.' The title was as good as anything else. "Thank-you Miss." Deacon replied warmly, and genuinely surprised at the officer's reaction to his presence. Whoever she was, Deacon saw that she was a good half-a-head shorter than himself. She appeared to be young, even by human standards, with a genuine calming smile that seemed to emit from her air of self confidence as much as her face. "Just scanning Janos III, making some recordings of a personal nature." he admitted not wanting to repay kindness with deception, "I'll leave a copy in the log for your review. I'm Deacon, Deacon Kane, by the way."

"Yeah, I know who you are," Xiulan replied with a wry chuckle as she returned her strange PADD to the pocket inside her jacket. As she turned to address him, he could clearly see that her eyes were not normal, a far paler green than was typically natural for humans along with mechanical components, and she never looked right at him, her gaze was always off. "Lieutenant Xiulan Song; I was in Communications and Linguistics, but I was recently promoted to Chief of Operation," she introduced herself. "So I was familiarizing myself with all the Valiant's systems, noticed your activity and thought I should come check it out. Ain't no harm in what you're doing, so just ask next time."

"Anata no yasashi-sa wa anata no ōmu o tataemasu, Your kindness honors your parrot " Deacon replied to the linguist, "Sorry about commandeering sensor array, was afraid we'd be too far out by the time I had permission. Be assured I will ask next time." sighing he shrugged, "I'm a bit of a 'Bull in a China shop.' as you human's say." he added looking at Xiulan's eyes an glancing down at her cane. "Though why a large animal is more clumsy in China than a shop anywhere else in your world, I'll never understand. Must be an Earth thing I guess."

Xiulan snickered at his poor translation but made no attempt to correct him. "Yeah, 'bull in a china shop' actually ain't true; back in the early 21st century a few guys built a make-shift shop with cheap china in a bull pen and released a bull, and it was surprisingly agile and careful; the only breakage they experienced was because the shelves weren't built that well and the swaying knocked a few things over," Xiulan offered in return. "And don't worry about the sensors; there's no harm done and I can retroactively file an approved request for you so you don't get into any trouble."

Deacon smiled shyly, thinking he embarrassed her which made her kindness all the more endearing. "Well I stand corrected on a human idiom, Lieutenant," he nodded and suddenly wondered about the woman's curious eyes. "If you don't mind me asking Ms. Song, I noticed you have ocular implants, fairly advance ones from my perspective. Have they not come back online yet?"

"Oh no, they're working," Xiulan affirmed with a candid nod. She wasn't embarrassed, hell, she didn't even think she was being 'kind'; Xiulan had always done things her own way, and letting him have some time on the sensors just happened to fall into that nebulous 'way'. "The problem's in my brain; when I was a cadet a training console exploded, the overload arced to my implants and caused massive damage to the visual center of my brain. At the time I got new implants, but it was too risky to attempt to repair the brain damage; now it's possible, I just never had it done. I can process heat signatures and a few other non-visual signals, and this helps me to get around easily, but in Communications and Linguists my ears were far more important, and I can use my hands to pick up the slack just fine where my eyes fail me, and so far my superiors have been okay working around my condition, so truth be told I'm happy how I am."

"You're lucky then, Ms. Song," Deacon replied sincerely, as he recorded various places around Janos III, "Very lucky indeed, to be happy as you are. I thought I found that sort of happiness," he added settling the sensor sweep in a grave that was lovingly tended, "But turned out just to be a very fortunate weigh station." Sighing he logged out of the station, "Sorry waxing metaphysically while you're talking corporeal. 'Apples and Oranges' as someone wiser than me pointed out. Anyway, I owe you one for letting me get some high definition motion capture. Makes it easier to close out this chapter for now." Then the reptilian part of his mind assessed the woman in front of him. "You know very few people would ever take you for starfleet..."

"Ain't the first time I heard that," she remarked with a smirk. "And I don't believe in luck, at least not for anything like happiness," Xiulan said in her usual blunt tone as she folded her hands over the hand of her cane. "Happiness is a choice; everyone around me always bemoaned the fact that I was born blind, treating me like I needed to be protected, but I chose to embrace my condition and live my life on my terms. Now you, you can sit around and dwell on shitty circumstances, or you do something about it; if you were happy on Janos III, you could choose to retire and stay there, or you could find a way to bring that happiness with you, or you could choose to find something new that makes you happy. It really all depends on you and what you want."

Deacon laughed, laughed hard until tears fell for his eyes, "Please, please don't take offence Lieutenant, I'm not laughing at you." he insisted wiping the tears from his eye, "In fact that is sage advice, and I'm amaze to find it in one so young, which brings me to a not so simple observation. You're easily underestimated, a rare and wondrous quality in my line of work. But I'll get back to that momentarily," the Rigellian assured her, "As to happiness, I agree, It's a choice."

"Didn't mean to sound so maudilan." he shrugged, "Saying goodbye to the family that adopted me, and that I helped raise, little sad. I was happy there, and could have stayed, but after I buried my wife it became... alien for me again. Felt restless, wanted to feel gravplating under my feet, I guess." Part of Deacon wondered why he was justifying himself to this stranger, until he realize he was more explaining it to himself, "So I'm taking what I can with me, which you were very helpful and again I thank-you. Happiness will be found along the journey as it tends to be with my people. We love the surprises and the unexpected the universe invariably serves up. Which brings me back to you," he added fixing the human with a critical eye.

"You've iron in you, and don't suffer fools." he said reassessing the young woman, "I'd expect you'd smack me upside my head with a hyper-spanner if I gave you cause." Deacon narrowed his eyes, "I misread you, Lieutenant Xiulan Song; Communications and Linguistics expert, recently promoted to Chief of Operation, and I don't often do that."

"Now why the hell would I risk breaking a perfectly good hyperspanner over your head when I can do more damage with my feet?" Xiulan countered with a laugh. "I grew up in a Hung Gar temple, I know how to kick someone's ass. And don't feel bad about misreading me or underestimating me, you ain't the only one; to be honest, I kinda like it that way..." She offered him one last lopsided grin, then tapped her cane to the ground once as she adjusted her hold on it. "Well, I've got things to do. I'll be around if you need anything."

"Catch you later, Lieutenant." Deacon replied to the retreating figure. As Song disappeared down the companionway he made a mental note to pitch for her being assigned to the next clandestine insanity they came up with. A blind super ninja that nobody would give a second thought to had it's advantages.

There had been a lot of running around to do to fix the ship and get it operational again so the crew could get the Valiant back into space and out of orbit, especially for Engineering and Operations. Operations a small department and everyone in it had been scrambling, so he hadn't seen much of Xiulan, and they really hadn't had much time to sit and enjoy a meal together and just talk. So when he entered the Mess Hall and saw Xiulan alone there, getting herself a something to eat, he crept up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.

"It's me!" he said softly but quickly in her ear so she wouldn't kung fu his furry ass into the middle of next week. Of course, it didn't help that she was preoccupied...

"FUCKING HELL!" Xiulan shouted in surprise as she dropped the tray she'd just pulled from the replicator. She quickly ripped her earpiece from her ear was was currently reading out progress reports on the repairs, then she turned to face Arturo. "Arturo, wha-" she stammered, her heart still racing from the sudden surprise. "New rule, no 'surprise, it's me' when I'm listening to stuff."

Arturo's ears went back and he looked like an apologetic tabby cat.

"Apologies, my love," he said, a bit sheepishly. "I didn't see the ear bud. It...probably won't happen again! Here, let me recycle your lunch and reorder it for you. Go. sit. I shall wait on you hand and foot...and hopefully join you for lunch?"

"Yeah yeah, that's fine," Xiulan said with a distracted wave of her hand; she didn't mean to be dismissive, but she had a lot on her mind. Arturo helped her step around the spilled meal so she could get to a table, and she found a seat. With a deep breath, she was feeling calmer, and she finally shut off her earpiece and put it in her pocket. Shit, what a day...

After a moment, Xiulan noticed the familiar heat signature of her love, then heard the tray sliding in front of her. "Thanks," she said once her fingers touched the tray. She felt a little embarrassed about the little mishap, but such was the way of life sometimes, she guessed.

"Bowl in the center," Arturo said. "Napkin on the left with the chopsticks. Drink at one o'clock with the rice below it. I'll be back in a moment."

Arturo quickly went back an ordered his only lunch. Turkey salad with cranberries in it, no celery, no bread. Arturo hated celery and grains weren't really his thing, so his turkey salad (turkey done up like chicken salad) was just served as a scoop in a bowl. He had some avocado slices on the side as well. He came back and sat across from Xiulan.

"I have returned!" he said as he sat down. He knew she could tell it was him from his heat signature by now, but he was always respectful of her blindness. "So, how are you? Other than sleep...and some other activities conducted hastily in the middle of the night due to time constraints, we have not had much time to catch up."

"Everything has been so crazy; I thought the amount of administrative work an XO does is crazy, but I had no idea how much worse it was for a department head. Not that I think being XO is by any means easier... but I feel like I'm getting snowed over here," Xiulan remarked as she started on her meal, some sort of mini hot-pot with rice and tea. "By the way, you don't have to tell me how my tray is arranged anymore; I know how the replicator presents my meals, and I've gotten used to how you put things together, and even if something's not in the right place, it doesn't bother me to search a little," she said around a mouthful of some kind of meat in a savory sauce.

"Of course," Arturo said, sticking a forkful of his turkey salad in his mouth and chewing. It was probably best that Xiulan couldn't see. Feline chewing was not very appetizing. "So, other than the workload, which won't always be overwhelming and which I am certain you will get used to, do you like it here? It's smaller than our last assignment, but...it almost reminds me of when we first met on the Beifong. When you rescued me from certain, if slow and agonizing, death."

When we first met, you thought I was an annoying weirdo. Then you thought I would be a good drive by nocturnal encounter. Then I suppose I grew on you.

"Yeah, it does remind me of the Beifong," Xiulan replied with a grin. Even without sight, Xiulan deftly maneuvered her chopsticks through her rice to work it together so she get it to her mouth without a mess. "Our last assignment was nice, but I kinda missed the Beifong; there was something really... cozy about life there, so it's nice to be back on a Defiant-class. Although I don't miss being XO, I'm glad that's you and not me with that job now."

"Yes," Arturo said with a grin. "I suppose it is rather nice to be back in close quarters. Being XO...actually, on this ship, it's a lot like being Second Officer, since I'm doing two jobs here. Like you, I've got four people in my department, including me. I'm able to divide up the work enough to give me time to do my work as XO. I do wish I could have joined them for that rescue mission, but with Senior Chief Xan there, the mission was in good hands. Did I ever tell you I met him once before this assignment?"

"No, I don't think so," Xiulan replied, then took a sip of her tea. "When did you do work for Intel?" she asked.

"Colt was only ever really on detached duty to Intel," Arturo said. "He was a medic with the Marine Raider Regiment. Marine Corps Special Operations Command. MARSOC. They sometimes supply Marine Special Operations Teams to SFI for dark ops. But I didn't actually meet him professionally. Not really. I met him in a bar. I wasn't even in Starfleet at the time. I was with the Nyberite Alliance. This was after the Halsey Incident and before I was reinstated. I was drinking in a bar on a frontier world, wondering what I was doing with my life. It just so happened that the SpecOps ship that Colt was the CoB of had stopped in for leave there. Colt was in the same bar, trying to drink by himself. Only while the patrons of this despicable establishment were willing to ignore an angry looking Rigelian, they had no qualms about harassing me. Things got physical and Colt, being the gentleman he is, stepped into help. We emptied the bar, and then Shore Patrol came calling. We ran, of course. I didn't want to be picked up by Starfleet Security, especially since I'd cut several of my attackers and I wasn't sure they were going to make it, and Colt couldn't really afford to be, either. We were going to part ways, but Colt realized he'd lost his communicator in the scuffle. I was flying a courier run, so I had a small ship of my own in a nearby hanger. I sneaked him aboard and flew him into orbit where we beamed him over to his ship, and we went our separate ways. We've stayed in touch on and off over the years, but we haven't seen each other in person since that night."

"Oh wow, funny how you both ended up on the same ship years later," Xiulan remarked with a grin. "Did he know you were former Starfleet at that time or were you a complete stranger he just happened to help?"

"I'm pretty sure he knew exactly who I was," Arturo said. "My face was all over the newsvids when the Halsey Incident happened. But he was too polite to mention it. He never made a big deal out of it later, either, except to send me a message congratulating me on being reinstated. That was a bad time for me, and that was a particularly bad night. Not only was I looking for salvation at the bottom of a bottle of rotgut, I was also almost ready to just let the Nausicaans kill me. Once he jumped into the fight, I couldn't exactly let him fight them all by themselves, so I set aside my self-pity for the night and jumped in with both feet."

"Oh... I didn't know it had gotten that bad for you," Xiulan said sympathetically. But she could relate, she had hit some really low points before she accepted the way things were for her. "So, have you two had a chance to catch up since coming aboard?"

"Not really," Arturo said. "I am going to try to share some coffee with him later today or tomorrow. He's got another reunion happening at the moment. Speaking of which, have you had a chance to meet our hitchhiker, who is apparently now a member of the crew?"

"Hitchhiker? Funny I called him the same thing," Xiulan replied with a snicker. Her meal was finished, more or less, and so she started on her dessert, a steamed bun filled with a red bean paste. "I found him in the long range sensor suit capturing some footage of some kids; I took a gamble that he wasn't a pedophile and gave him full access to the sensors so he could get some mementos before we were out of range of Janos III. He's an interesting character."

"Interesting," Arturo said. "Yes. He is definitely interesting! I wish we knew why he was sent to Janos III and abandoned! He's got that in common with Colt and in a way, with me. Colt was left behind with some Raiders, Andorian Defense Force, Klingon Defense Force, and Romulan forces at the Second Battle of Chintoka. Worse, it was done purposefully. The Marine officer in charge of the bug out from the planet abandoned them to save his own skin. It could be argued that he was saving those he could save, but then he lied and told Allied Command that Colt and all of the others had been overrun and killed, and then doctored comm records."

Arturo chuckled.

"You shall like this part," he said. "I've had enough of a conversation with Colt to know that he ran into that Marine officer recently and broke the man's jaw. That is what earned him the demotion to Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman."

"That's what the asshat gets for abandoning his men," Xiulan remarked with a sharp nod. "What's the marine thing, 'Leave no man behind'? After all that, I'da done worse to him!"

Arturo smiled.

"Yes, I know you would, and that's one of the things I love about you," he said. Then he chuckled. "Did you know that he refers to us as The Blind Lieutenant and her Seeing Eye Cat?"

Xiulan laughed. "Get out of here! Really?" she replied, still laughing. She finished with her dessert, then pushed the plate towards Arturo, offering him the leftovers; she knew he couldn't eat bread, but sometimes he indulged, and if nothing else she knew he liked the red bean paste. "It does seem rather appropriate, don'tcha think? Especially the way you tell me how my meal trays are laid out," she teased.

"I would put myself between you and any danger!" Arturo said. "Even if that danger is only you sticking your hand in the mashed potatoes!"

Arturo had some of the bean paste. When he was finished, he put down his spoon and washed everything down with the last of his iced tea. Then he took both of Xiulan's hands in his.

"So," he said. "I think I can get done with work in time to have dinner and actually make it back to our quarters well before I'm dead on my feet. How about you? Feel like taking advantage of your 'Seeing Eye Cat' while we're both more than half awake? Or...if you're in a hurry, we do have the mess hall to ourselves..."

"Yeah, you remember the last time we took advantage of an empty mess hall? Did not end well," Xiulan replied with a laugh and a shake of her head. "Don't worry, things are crazy for now, but they won't be forever. Maybe we can schedule some R&R once we're docked at Starbase 239," she suggested in return.

Arturo sighed.

"Alright," he said. "But once we get to SB239 you're mine. I'll see you tonight. If I get there first and fall asleep, please wake me up when you get in."

"Will do," Xiulan replied with a grin. "Just make sure you wake me if I'm the one that falls asleep first. Either way, you're cooking."

"Your wish, my command," Arturo said. "Can I escort you to wherever you're going next?"

"I'm headed back to Engineering, so knock yourself out, boss," Xiulan replied teasingly, then let go of his hands so she could pick up her tray to run it back through the replicator.

Arturo disposed of his tray and then offered her his left arm.

"On your right...which of course you know from the Caitian-shaped green blob you see there," he said. "Sorry, I know that my attempts to be...chivalrous sometimes annoy you. In my defense, I have only the best of intentions."

"I know, but I've adapted without that kind of help and... I dunno, sometimes it makes me feel like you don't think I can handle doing things on my own, which I know you don't think that way, but that's just how I feel," Xiulan confessed as she held his arm and walked with him. "I know when I need help and when I don't; think you can trust that I'll ask for help when I need it?"

Arturo nodded.

"Absolutely," he said. "For example, I have no intention of warning you about that banana peel you're about to step on...MEOOW! I was just kidding! That hurt!"

Arturo grinned and turned to Xiulan and kissed her on the cheek.

"Just for that," he said. "I might just have to call you Graceful Orchid in front of your subordinates!"

"Do that and I might just have to tell everyone that you like being the Damsel in Distress during our little games," Xiulan countered.

Arturo laughed.

"Only when I am extremely intoxicated even then only when you offer to do that thing with your..."

Colt strode purposefully through the corridors of the Valiant until he got to the hatch of the quarters assigned to Deacon Kane. The quarters on the Valiant were extremely cramped. Bunks recessed into the walls and not much else, and most of them were shared. Only the Captain had solo quarters that could be referred to as 'nice' in anyway. The XO was shacked up with Lieutenant Song, so they got assigned to the only 'nice' two person quarters. Nice meant that the Captain, and the Blind Lieutenant and her Seeing Eye Cat (as Colt liked to think of Arturo and Xiulan) lived in shoe boxes slightly larger than the rest of the crew, and shared with fewer people. The computer said that Deacon Kane was in his quarters. Knowing Deake was a well trained operative, Colt had the computer search for Kane's specific bio signature, which the senior NCO had from the in depth (okay, as in depth as the Valiant's Sick Bay could manage) scans they'd taken of the recently returned from the cold spy when they were verifying his identity. Deake could probably fake that, but Colt figured the spy didn't have a reason to, so he probably wouldn't bother. If Deacon was masking his bio signature, then he had a reason to do so, a reason that probably meant that Colt shouldn't have told the Captain that the spy was trustworthy. Arriving at the quarters assigned to Kane, Colt banged on the hatch.

"Drop your cock and pick up your socks, Deake!" he shouted. "You've got company!"

Deacon reached into his coat as if reaching for a weapon but instead of a gun, pulled out a flask. Pitching to to the chief, he laughed, "Smoother the last bit of rotgut we shared." he said, looking at how his friend had aged, "You're look like shit Farmer, good but still like shit. Must have been a war or two I missed during my forced R&R."

Colt easily snatched the flask out of the air. He opened it, took a sniff and grimaced. Then he shrugged and took a sip. Whatever it was, it was strong. Colt didn't gag or spit it out or even cough when the harsh liquor hit his throat, but he'd wanted to.

"Deacon," Colt said. "You and I have very different interpretations of the word 'smooth'. As for wars...well, let's see. You were still in play during the Federation-Klingon War back in '72, so you know that was short but rather nasty. You seem to have disappeared right before we transitioned from a Cold War with the Dominion to a hot and brutal open war. That lasted about two years and cost us a lot of personnel and material. I got seriously screwed over during a battle dubbed the Second Battle of Chin'toka. I'm sure you can figure out how it got that name. I helped take the planet in the first battle, and we held it until the Breen came along and blew the allied fleet out of orbit. They had some kind of energy dampening weapons on their ships and they disabled all of Starfleet, Romulan Navy, and Andorian Defense Force ships in orbit, which left only the Klingon Defense Force vessels to hold the line and they were completely outnumbered. The Breen weapon didn't seem to work on the Klingon ships. I was helping to cover the bug out on the planet when the Marine officer commanding the rear guard unassed the area and left a bunch of us behind. We fought a guerrilla action until well after the treaties were signed, because we had to wait until allied command got around to relieving the Breen, Cardassian, and Dominion forces there. See, the bastard who left us behind told everyone we were dead, so command had no idea we were there. After the war, I volunteered to join the Raider units working the Cardassian Reconstruction efforts. The Cardassians had been trying to straighten themselves out before Gul Dukat invited in the Dominion. I figured, like the rest of the eggheads and the brass, that if someone didn't help them get their act together, they'd just go to war with us again when they finally got themselves sorted out. We did some good work there. Then I got assigned to work with Starfleet Intelligence for a while. I made Master Chief and had a good command NCO position. Then I ran into that Marine officer who left us behind and I broke his jaw. That earned me a demotion and an assignment here. I'm not too concerned. I'm half-Vulcanoid Rigelian, and long lifespans run on both the VR and Human sides of my family. I've got time to earn it back."

Colt took another swig of the rotgut, closed the flask and tossed it back to Deacon.

"So," the senior NCO said. "What did you up to on Janos III? You were stuck there long enough to make connections, friends, maybe even family. That couldn't have been easy to leave behind."

Deacon accepted the flask and took a long pull, causing his eyes to water, “Hard to know how to answer that.” He said studying the flask. “Hell Farmer, Hard to know where to start. For the first couple years I tried to keep a low profile. Picked up the language slowly, moved from one place to another. Always hoping my damned comm unit would flicker to life, telling me someone had finally come looking.” Shrugging, he looked Colt in the eyes, “Well we both know that never happened.”

“Anyway, first real significant things happened about three years later. I was traveling along this old road. Like most roads around the area it was badly in need of repair. Most of the locals had removed bits and pieces of the stone work for their own homes or walls or whatever.” Deacon smiled remembering that day, “Then I saw the most interesting thing. Someone flying. Well they weren’t flying, more of a falling with style. Something glider-ish flew overhead and into a river. Heard a scream, crying. Saw them float right by all tangled up in the wreckage.”

“I know, I know, don’t say it ‘Prime Directive’, but technically I’m ok that was a distress call from a ship in peril.” The Rigellian laughed knowing it was a crap justification, “Anyway, I cut the pilot loose, she was all busted up. Leg broken, couple ribs cracked, nose smashed in. Get her to shore, next thing I know these kids come running out from the direction the glider came from. All screaming and crying, I mean come on Farmer, what would you have done? Well took the pilot and the kids back to this old beat up home in a nearly deserted city that look like it seen better days. I patched her up best I could. Stuck around helping out while she mended.”

“Her name was Marytra. Locals called her ,,,, well let's just say `a crackpot’ to be polite.” Deacon shook his head remember those early days, poking around the woman's workshop. “She was brilliant, Farmer. I mean fucking Archimedes, Da Vinci, Galileo with a little Ludwig the Mad thrown in for good measure. Had ideas about,,,well everything; flight, mechanics, engineering, anatomy, art. Pressurized gas cylinders you could use to breathe underwater, water pumps, engines, and she was spot on for the most part. Even a mechanical man that would do wonders if I slapped a CPU and a proper power source into it. Spent a week nosing around. All these incredibly, impossible, machines years ahead of her time. But hey Prime Directive, right? What could I do anyway, not like I had piles gold in my pockets.”

“Now before you give me that look, all I did for her was rebuilt a wall.” Sighing Deacon eyes focused somewhere beyond the bulkhead, “As it turns out that was enough. A wall in the courtyard of her home had fallen apart. I figured ‘Okay, no problem, quick fix.’ I slap together a couple forms, a little sand some, volcanic ash and I’m telling you they just had piles and piles of seashells in their garbage dump just waiting to be cooked down into lime. I made myself some concrete. Built a wall. Simple right?” The Rigellian shook his head. “Well next thing I know everyone in town is looking at my wall. I mean they’re LOOKING at it. Couldn’t figure it out, I mean I saw plenty of concrete around that city alone. How was I to know that those pieces of concrete were hundreds of years old.” Deacon pinched his noses, shook his head and laughed and laughed, “They had forgotten how to make concrete!”

“Next thing I know, I’m in the construction business. Fixing walls, docks, new construction. Money’s pouring in. Marytra starts bringing her dreams to reality. She perfects her aqualung. The town uses it and pre-formed concrete slabs to rebuild the harbor, Marytra’s idea not mine. Merchants returned, some looking for a safe harbor, some to meet the great engineer ‘Marytra of Venolin’ which brings patronage, more money, apprentices.” Deacon rolled his eyes, “New artisans, inventors, dreamers move into the town. Opportunities. Ideas. A synergy. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I fell in love and married the ‘Great Engineer’ herself.”

“It was good, really good, for those years. It really was.” Deacon insisted, “Helped raise Marytra’s kids. Never could have any of our own, not from lack of trying. Still ended up with a house full of urchins somehow. Walked more than one stepdaughter down the aisle. Saw stepsons marry. Held over ten grandchildren in my arms, corrupting them with tales of the ‘Rigellian Knights,’ and ‘Captain LoTran, scourge of the Main’. Not all peaches and cream though. Lost children, friends to war, a damn religious war. One side thought their imaginary friends was better than the other sides imaginary friend. Didn’t end well, if it ever really ended at all. Then there was losing Marytra herself. Melanoma, ‘the Wasting’ they called it. Saw my wife die my inches, by a disease we consider an inconvenience. All I could do was make her comfortable. That’s when my eyes started turned back to the stars, after everything around me just reminded me of her. Of course, there’s a lot more to it. Most of which will have to be explained in front of a board of inquiry at some point, I’m sure.”

“Now tell about this ship,” Deacon asked trying to get away from old ghosts, “This is not ‘Starfleet Standard’ cookie cutter ‘let’s have a saucer section and a couple of outboard nacelles’ design. You have short ceilings, reinforced structural members and a sickbay with tear out walls that could expand bed space about three-fold. And if that diagram on the wall is any indication of size, the powerplant thrumming behind that bulkhead is way overpowered, for just a warp core. Not to mention an understaffed intel department on a ship that probably has a crew of, what, 40 tops. This is a battlewagon, not a scout, in an area that the Federation planned to have expanded into over ten years ago, but I’m starting to suspect is still very much a frontier.”

"I'm sorry, Deacon," Colt said. "Truly. Maryta sounds like she was a good person, and it sounds like you made each other very happy. As for this ship...it is a battle wagon. The Defiant Class was originally designed to fight the Borg. You probably remember them. But it had a lot of problems so the program was suspended. They gave the prototype to Captain, then Commander, Benjamin Sisko. He was commander of Deep Space Nine in orbit over Bajor. You were still around when the wormhole suddenly opened near Bajor, and you were around when we first encountered the Dominion, so you probably remember a little about them. Starfleet gave Sisko the Defiant and Chief Miles O'Brien managed to get her functional. Starfleet used O'Brien's work to get more Defiant Class ships up and running and they saw a lot of service in the Dominion War. They're mostly used as escorts or for short patrols. The Captain, well, she had a sort of dust up with an admiral, the ultimate result of which was that even though she finally got a command again, it's this ship, and we've been given a patrol route and mission scope better suited to a larger starship. When I got demoted, some thought this would be a great assignment to teach me a lesson or maybe even convince me to leave Starfleet. That admiral has set Commander Jacobs up to fail. I intend to see that she succeeds. Anyway, this is a tough little ship. Pulse phaser cannons, 360 degree phaser coverage through dorsal and ventral arrays, quantum torpedo launchers, ablative armor, powerful engines. We actually have a crew of about fifty, at least that's what we're rated for. Most of those are enlisted specialists. As you can tell, we're in close quarters here, and crew quarters are cramped and spartan. The Captain tries to keep our patrols reasonably short so we can get some breathing room regularly. There's an exercise facility to stay in shape, but it's small, so I suggest you reserve some time in advance. We also offer some classes in the shuttle bay. It's small, too, but our XO has started offering some fencing and knifefighting classes in there. The styles are from Italy and Sicily on Earth. Some of it is nasty stuff. I might be offering some Wudang Quan classes in there. We live close but we find ways to make it manageable."

Colt smiled and smacked Deacon on the shoulder.

"The good news is that you're not the only one in the dog house on this ship," Colt said. "Like I said, me and the skipper are in there with you!"

"Good to know, Farm....Well I guess I should make that 'Master Chief' shouldn't I?" Deacon replied., "It was mighty decent of her just to let me on board, let along write me into the ship's compliment. And thanks for speaking up for me, if I didn't say so. Was weird seeing a friendly face." Deacon's hand went to the support strut, feeling its weight, coldness., concentrating on the vibrations he felt almost for reassurance, "It's going to take some getting use to," he admitted, letting Colt see the disbelief and almost giddy relief he hid behind his bravado, "I mean this is real. I'm on a starship. Warping away from Janos at light speed. Sorry, must sound a little unhinged."

Colt laughed.

"I think you missed the part where I said I'd been DEMOTED for punching out a Marine general officer," he said. "I'm only a Senior Chief for now. But like I said, I'll get it back. And don't worry about feeling disoriented. You haven't been on a starship in over twenty years---"

If you're telling the truth.

"---so no one expects you to just fall right back into the swing of things," Colt continued. "It'll all come back to you in time. In the meanwhile, don't be embarrassed to ask for help if you forget how to use the replicator or get lightheaded in a corridor. All of my people have been instructed, on pain of me kicking them so hard they'll be wearing their asses for hats, to keep an eye out for you and help you when they can. There's only three decks, so we usually travel on ladders between decks, and that's not very technological You won't be getting stuck in a turbolift and you'll be spared that little bit of humiliation. And since I never got to say this before: Welcome home, Deacon Kane. It's about damned time."

Colt was on one of his walks through the ship when he stopped by Engineering. The Defiant was a very small ship and it didn't take him long at all to walk around and stick his nose into various goings on around the ship. Somethings he corrected, somethings he asked questions about, some people the same. Sometimes he found people doing things that he either chose to ignore or to say something about. Like, just now he had to stop and tell two crewmen whose make out session in an alcove was about to go to the next level to go get a room...any room...anywhere, as long as it had a door and there was no one else in it. Then he stopped in Engineering. There were some NCOs and Crewmen working on things, and there was Lieutenant Song. He decided to stop off and chat with her for a moment. He'd always thought Arturo was a good guy and he thought it was great that he had someone.

"Excuse me," Colt said as he approached the lieutenant. "Lieutenant Song?"

"That's what they tell me," Xiulan replied as she studied with her fingers some powerful diagrams on a console. "Can I help you?"

"It's Senior Chief Xan," Colt said. "I don't know if Commander S'Rohass mentioned me, but we met a while ago and we've kept in touch since. He's mentioned you, of course, all good things. It's nice to meet you in person."

"Oh yeah, he did recently mention you," Xiulan replied with a nod, her fingers still moving over the textured surface of the console. "He mentioned that you got him out of a rough situation and then he returned the favor. I think it's neat how you two got assigned to the same ship after all these years."

"Yeah, life is funny like that," Colt said. "How do you like it here on this ship of fools? Present company excluded, of course."

"Honestly, it kinda feels like home," Xiulan answer with a grin. "I don't know if Arturo told you, but we spent a while running in a Defiant-Class ship trying to get away from saboteurs trying to stage a coup. It was pretty crazy, we were out-manned in the middle of nowhere, but we managed to survive. After all that, it was kinda hard to call any other ship home."

Colt laughed.

"Ha!" Colt said. "Yeah, he mentioned that. And something about having to listen to some Starfleet captain use nasty language until he just got sick of listening to her and shot her with a phaser set to stun. Sort of fits with him, trying to give a lady the chance to say her piece before he shoots her. He said something about you taking down a Lethean? Single-handed? That's pretty bad ass, if you ask me."

"Well, I turned out the lights, so I kinda had an advantage there," Xiulan said, snickering mischievously. "But in my defense, he was trying to that brain-frying mind-fuckery to me, so it was me or him."

"Brain-frying mind-fuckery is sort of the go to move for Letheans I've found," Colt said. "We'll have to all go out for a drink when we get to Starbase 239. Listen...what do you think of our hitchhiker? You know, Deacon Kane? I knew Kane years ago and he was a decent sort back then, and I hung out with him a little and shot the breeze about things since he's joined us and he seems okay to me but...he's been missing over 20 years. As plausible as his story is, if you're willing to accept the premise that someone at SFI was up to no good when they sent him on that mission he got lost on, 20 years is a long time. Anything could happen in twenty years."

"You know what's funny, Arturo called him a hitchhiker, and so did I!" Xiulan remarked with a laugh. "He seems to be alright, I guess. I ran into him the other day, we talked; well, mostly he talked, I listened, made a few remarks... I kinda got the feeling that he kept himself kinda isolated for a while. I mean, people can say one thing, but their voice can betray them, and I didn't hear any of that kind deception in his voice, and believe me, I can hear that shit."

Colt chuckled.

"I bet you can," he said. "Arturo is lucky that he's a basically honest guy. He'd make a terrible spy, but at least he doesn't have to worry about being caught by you in a lie! Something tells me he'd throw himself out an airlock rather than lie to you!"

"Heh, yeah, Arturo's pretty much an open book," Xiulan responded with an agreeing nod. "But not that Deacon guy... When we talked, it was like, I dunno, maybe he was unburdening himself? No, that's not quite right..." Xiulan took a breath and released it slowly. "He wanted to see some kids on Janos III, and I don't know what his connection to them was, but I didn't see any harm in it so I let him do it, and then we talked and it was like I was the first person he'd had a conversation with in ages. I could tell he was holding something back, but people are like that, you know; like me, got nothing to hide but I'm just a private person like that."

"Yeah," Colt said. "Thanks. Some kids, huh? Yeah, Deke mentioned that he met a woman there. She already had some kids and he made a life with her and those kids and watched them grow up and even have some kids of their own. The only reason he was even in that town and not with that new family of his was that she died of cancer. The kids were all grown, so he went back on the road and ended up in that town where I ran into him. Ha! I didn't recognize him at first and he must not have recognized me either because instead of telling me his name, he just spouted his identifier code! I don't know why spies do that. Maybe he thought I'd been sent there to retrieve him or something. I mean, that's the only way I would have known his code. Anyway, my phaser pistol was set to stun, so I just shot him and carried him to the rendezvous point and you beamed us back aboard. It wasn't until we were in the transporter room that we recognized each other. Anyway, thanks for that piece of information. It helps confirm his story...a little bit, anyway. He could have locked onto just some random kids and made the whole thing up. He's trained to do that. But it helps a little bit anyway."

"Well the kids were playing football, which I don't think is a thing on Janos III," Xiulan pointed out. "I do admit that it is hard to discern lies from spooks, but..." Xiulan shrugged. "I believe him. Not that he told me too much, but the kind of weight in his voice is hard to fake."

"I hear you," Colt said. "But if anyone could do it, Deke could. That's what makes him such a good spy. Of course, that's the problem with being a really good spy. You get a rep for convincing people something that's true, isn't, and vice versa. Then, when there's a question as to whether or not you're telling the truth, a lot of people don't trust you to tell the truth. I couldn't do what Deke does. Oh, I've done some SpecOps stuff in populated areas and moved through them dressed as locals. I can get by in a black ops situation. But that really deep cover Deke can do...I just don't see myself doing it, or at least not with the skill that Deke does it. The Deacon Kane I knew was a good guy. He shouldn't be penalized for being good at his job. So I'm giving him a cautious benefit of the doubt, but keeping an eye out for things that don't make sense."

"Well on the side of caution, I can keep watch on sensors and communications and alert you if anything suspicious pops up?" Xiulan offered.

"Sure," Colt said. "That would be great. Anyway, I'll let you get back to work. It was nice finally meeting you. Let's all three of us get that drink back at 239. Oh, and about Arturo being an open book...you know he's really into that sword and dagger rescue the damsel stuff. It's not a put on...usually. But I think sometimes he uses it to shield himself from things that really bother him. That's just my observation of course. He was in a really dark place when I first met him and for years after that. He seems much happier now, and I think you're probably a big part of that. Just...don't let all the noise he puts out distract you from really 'seeing' him, if you'll pardon the choice of words...from hearing him? Whatever. I think you know what I mean. Well, I'm off. If you need anything, including having me chew out some wiseassed petty officer who thinks he's smarter than you, don't hesitate to ask."

"Yeah... Yeah, he's really, really into that..." Xiulan said with a chuckle. "And I do really see him; and I appreciate him for really seeing me and not just some helpless damsel for him to rescue. But he really does like that damsel gig." She laughed with a shake of her head. "But thanks for stopping by, I'll give you a call if I need anything."

"Thanks again, Lieutenant," Colt said. "Well, I guess I'd better go see if I can catch anyone else slacking off or otherwise misbehaving. This is a pretty good crew so I actually don't find too many."

Colt waved to Xiulan and then to the other crewmen and petty officers in Engineering as he went on his way.

OOC: Ok, this short post begins our next mission. :) The details are in the mission notes and if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask! :)

ON:

Leigh stared at the man on the screen on her desk terminal. The man with a greying, receding hairline was nearly red-faced with anger. "Commander, have you lost your damn mind? You took someone from a pre-warp planet aboard your ship?!" A grin formed on the man's face. "I am already near Starbase 239, where I will see to it that you are removed from command and Starfleet! There is no room for commanders such as yourself! Don't even get me started on that disastrous first contact mission! I will see you when the Valiant docks. Admiral Robertson, out!"

Leigh slapped the power button on her terminal hard and leaned back in her chair, letting out a sigh. She would love nothing better to see that smug son of a bitch shoved out of a air lock...or eaten by a Gorn--that could be entertaining. "Asshole," she said bitterly. Ever since she had defied his order while in command of the Renown, Robertson had had it in for her. She knew she was in deep trouble and considered herself lucky she hadn't been removed from command yet.

On a small ship as the Valiant, she felt alone as she stared at the ceiling of her ready room. She wondered what her mother would have to say right now--she had been a Starfleet Officer in the Diplomatic Corps. She recalled her complaining to her father about other officers and ambassadors that gave her a hard time.

Soon her terminal beeped with a simple subspace text. "Not all is lost, Commander. Have faith-- V"

'V?' she thought in confusion as to who this V could be. A minute later it dawned on her, "Admiral Volkov?" She hoped so--Volkov was an experienced battlefield commander who served in the Dominion War and a true friend and mentor to her.

She continued to look at the message, knowing Volkov despised Robertson as much as she did. A grin formed on Jacob's face as she stood and exited her Ready Room, stepping onto the Bridge.

Deacon entered the IC (Intelligence Center) somewhat tentatively. It was small, but still a hell of a lot bigger that he'd expect in a ship this size. Seeing Loughheed, Deacon approached him, knuckling his brow in what he hoped would pass as a salute, "Lieutenant" he said to the human, "FIgured it was time we talked so you can see what you inherited."

Evan looked up from his terminal where he was compiling his after-action report on the mission for SFI. He was glad it fell to the Captain to explain why they had brought a person from a prewarp world home with them instead of him. "Ah, Mister Kane, grab a seat." He said gesturing to one of the empty chairs.

"Thank-you Sir. " Deacon replied as he sat down, "Both for the hospitality and the potential billet. Hope you didn't have to stretch you neck out on my behalf."

"Well until you're officially reactive in the service you're a 'civilian observer' as far as Starfleet Command is concerned. That being said where you observe from depends on the decision of myself and the Captain. Bureaucratic loophole" The Lieutenant replied.

Deacon smiled, it was good to find a practical officer, "Well Lieutenant, Loopholes tend to be the cornerstone of our craft, any particular thing you'd like me to apply my observational talents too?"

"At the moment no, we're en-route back to starbase to repair and hopefully give the crew a bit of down time. I've given you access to the computers, try not dig around in anything classified, even if we don't catch it right away we usually figure it out." Lougheed said, "Same for commandeering sensors, I know you've been on your own for quite some time but chances are if you need access to something myself or the Captain will give it to you. It will make our case for keeping you with us easier if you don't have an infraction sheet going by the time we reach starbase." He added with a smirk.

"No problems Lieutenant, Will ask before I do from now on." Deacon turned slightly green in embarrassment. Taking the authorization from the intel officer he added, "I'll drop this up to security, Need to check on those blades you guys confiscated, been carrying them for the past 20 odd years and wouldn't want to see them recycled." Biting his tongue between his teeth, Deacon cocked an eyebrow before continuing, "I do have one request, could you clear some time for me in the SSES (Ship's Signals Exploitation Space) just want to listen to the raw feed so I can get up to speed with what's going on in the territories."

Lougheed nodded, "It shouldn't be an issue."

"Well I thank you again Lieutenant," Deacon replied taking a measure of the officer as he knew Lougheed was taking his. So far the Rigellian was happy with what he saw. Too many Intel officers he met over the years tended to be good at mixing Martinis but little else. This human appeared to be one of the professionals. Picking up the authorizations he looked at Loughhhed and said, "I'll run these over to security with my biometrics so everyone's on the same page. Again thanks for you confidence, sir. It feels good to be an 'almost spook' again."

The Lieutenant smirked, "Just be glad you don't get stuck will all the paperwork." He said gesturing to a pile of padds in the proverbial 'In Box'.

"That is the privileges of rank, Lieutenant." Deacon replied, as he left for the security office"Speaking off which, I'll send you a report if I dredge up anything interesting from the SSSES"

"Thank you Mister Kane." Lougheed replied grabbing the next PADD off the pile that needed his attention.

Arturo adjusted his uniform one last time as he waited for his call to go through. He flicked off any dust he found and worried over anything that looked like a wrinkle. He wanted to look perfect for his subspace call, he wanted everything about this call to go perfectly. Just like he wanted what would come after this call to go perfectly.

Arturo had met Song Wei, Xiulan's father, AKA 'Song Sifu', a few times before, once in person on a visit to Earth. Arturo had the utmost respect for Song Wei, and believed (or maybe just hoped) that Song Wei had at least a modicum of respect for him as well. As much as he could have for a man who was sleeping with his daughter but hadn't married her though they'd been together for several years. Well, if all went well, that was going to change. Arturo was going to ask Xiulan to marry him, but, first, he wanted to ask Song Wei for her hand. Arturo loved Xiulan. He just hoped that Song Wei could see that.

"Commander S'Rohass," the computer said. "Your subspace call to Song Wei on Earth has connected."

"Er..." Arturo said, taking a moment to fight down a sudden attack of panic. "Yes. Thank you. Put it through."

Arturo got himself under control and took his seat at his desk. The face of Song Wei filled the screen on his desk console. Arturo placed his hands in front of him, palms together, and gave a little bow.

"Song Sifu," he said. "It is good to see you again. Thank you for taking my call."

"Oh, it's just you," Wei replied with disappointment. "If you're calling to let me know you dishonored my daughter by getting her pregnant, just know that I'm not afraid to go to a penal colony to avenge her."

Arturo stifled a sigh. This was not an auspicious beginning.

"No, Song Sifu," Arturo said. No, Song Wei, I didn't get your daughter pregnant because neither one of us is an idiot, but thank you for your vote of confidence. AND it's no fair attacking me. I can't fight back without losing Xiulan, you cantankerous son-of-a... "We have not...been blessed with children at this time. We aren't ready for that. First of all, there are no accommodations for children at our current assignment, and secondly, we of course use contraceptive medications." There. Think about that! I hope hearing your daughter mentioned in the same sentence as 'contraceptive' really sticks in your craw!

Arturo cleared his throat.

"Ahem..." he said. "It is a matter of honor that I wish to discuss with you in fact...love and honor..."

"Oh no," Wei replied, his face one of utter dread. "You want to marry her, don't you?"

Arturo betrayed a momentary surprise, before he decided that it didn't take a genius to figure out the subject of his call to Xiulan's father.

"Well," Arturo said. "Yes, yes I do. Song Sifu...Song Wei, I love and cherish your daughter above all others. When she smiles, I smile. When she laughs, I laugh with her, when she hurts or cries or worries, I go through those things with her. I love your daughter, Song Wei, and I want to be her husband, to start a family with her when the time is right, to raise that family with her, to grow old together, to play with our grandchildren together, to eventually leave this life knowing that I have spent most of it with the love of my life."

"Dear gods, I never thought you could get any sappier than you usually talk," Wei remarked, appearing thoroughly unimpressed. Then a thought occurred to him that made him chuckle. "I'll give you my approval, on one condition; that I am able to see with my own eyes the moment that you propose to her. A communication feed like this is sufficient."

Well THAT threw a wrench into Arturo's plans. But Arturo was brave and true of heart and so must always win...and Xiulan would just have to suck it up and deal.

I'm glad you find this so amusing! Just remember that I got several of your students interested in the liccasapuni when I went through a little dance with it, so interested that they ignored the fact that you were 'unimpressed'!

Arturo resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at Song Wei, in part because it would be childish...and in part because it really didn't have the same effect when a Caitian did it.

Well, I'll have to make sure she's dressed then, won't I? Or will I...eh, that would be as embarrassing for Xiulan as for Song Wei and I wouldn't do that to her.

"Alright," Arturo said, trying not to grit his teeth. Proposing was going to be difficult enough without being scored on it, but wanted to marry his Graceful Orchid and if he had to make a dog and pony show out of the proposal for her father to do that, so be it. "If you insist."

"Excellent," Wei replied with great amusement. "I do hope you'll wear a cup, because when Xiulan learns that you, a man, asked me, another man, for permission to make a life decision that involves her, she's going to do a cup check."

Arturo looked shocked for a moment, less at the joke, than at the fact that Song Wei had made the joke, then he chuckled.

"That she would," Arturo responded. "So maybe we can keep this between us? Because I didn't ask for her sake, or mine, father-in-law to be. I asked because I want no conflict between us as Xiulan and I start this next phase of our lives together. I wanted you to know that you have my respect, that I will never try to stand between you and your daughter."

"Boy, Xiulan has neither wanted nor needed my approval to do anything," Wei informed Arturo, still clearly amused. "If anything, I think it might amuse her more to marry you knowing I disapproved; I've never been able to stop that girl from doing anything she put her mind to do, what makes you think anything I say now will be any different?" The old Wushu Master gave Arturo a moment to let that information sink in before continuing. "But, she could do worse; at the very least you do show respect, so you have my approval, and with no need for me to see the proposal, just make sure one of you informs me of the verdict afterwards."

Arturo grinned.

"Of course," he said. "And thank you. Proposing marriage to your daughter is daunting enough without knowing her father is watching. Thank you. Now I just have to actually ask your daughter to marry me...I think I need a drink..."

Deacon approached the hatch to the Captain's ready room his sensitive ears couldn’t help but overhear someone giving Jacobs a dressing-down;

I will see to it that you are removed from command and Starfleet! There is no room for commanders such as yourself! Don't even get me started on that disastrous first contact mission! I will see you when the Valiant docks. Admiral Robertson, out!

it was followed by the sound of something hitting the captain’s desk very hard and Jacobs appropriately enough calling whoever ‘Admiral Robinson’ was an asshole. He sure sounded like one.

Deacon started rethinking this meeting with the captain, but something stopped him from turning around. Deacon knew the life of a Captain to be a lonely one. Intuition told him to press the chime on the hatches control. She may not say anything to him, but one thing he realized was that talking about things directly wasn't always necessary.

"Come in, Mr. Kane," Jacobs snapped as she stopped in her tracks on her way to the bridge. As the doors opened to reveal Kane, she sighed, realizing she allowed her empathic self take control. "My apologies, Mr. Kane. Sometimes I have a habit of letting my empathic abilities loose. What can I do for you?"

"Just came by to drop off my security clearance requests. Lt. Me'Shlaht suggested I bring them up to you personally." the Rigellian explained, wondering how he could help the woman that was a large part of his liberation, "And I guess I wanted to thank you again for the lift." Looking out the Captain's porthole at the stars steaming by he added, "Universe is a funny thing with what it throws at you, part of me never thought I'd see that again. Sometimes I wonder what kind of game it's playing with me." Smiling he turned his eyes back to the Commander sympathetically, "Then again games are suppose to have rules or the very least a point. Always toughest when you it seems the cards are stacked against you. Don't you think?"

"Have a seat," Leigh gestured to the empty chair near her desk. "I take it you were listening in on my conversation, Mr. Kane?"

"Now Commander Jacobs, you cut me to the quick," Deacon replied sitting down, "The melodic tones of Admiral Robertson's voice made it almost impossible not to hear. So I take it the asshole has it in for you? Now remember, I'm not starfleet," Deacon insisted, pointing at himself, "So I have the perfect right to call, an asshole, an asshole, Even if he's in the Admiralty, in your ready room, and it makes you laugh, just a little."

Leigh grinned. "That you do, and you are right...he is an asshole. One who is still pissed that I disobeyed his orders while in command of the USS Renown--that's why he hates me."

"Demoted after giving a lawful order on your own ship. Let me guess. Did you have the bad form of achieving your objectives, while getting fewer of your own hurt or killed?" Deacon sighed, "You know a drunk Nausican told me 'PIP' stood for Politics, Intrigue and Patronage. Always thought she was an idiot. So how much damage can Admiral Dingleberry cause you? Is he you direct superior or do you have anyone in your corner?"

"Not excatly," Leigh began. "He wanted me to take the Renown into a nebula to take out a Pirate Stronghold, yet the base was located in a dense nebulae littered with plasma storms and I refused. In regards to damage, he was responsible for getting me removed from command of the Renown...and now he wants me not only removed from the Valiant but out of Starfleet as well. As for having anyone in my corner, I do believe there is Admiral Volkov, who is a mentor to me and someone who despises Robertson. He helped me get command of the Valiant."

"If it's any consolation, I wouldn't have gone in there either," Like any smuggler worth their salt Deacon knew Nebulas played havoc with Federation ships, making their sensors, shields and weapons next to useless. He'd used more than one of the celestial bodies to shake a cutter or two. To bring a ship into a reinforced stronghold would have been suicide. "So Robertson attack against you, hurts his rival and Volkov would delight in making Robertson look the fool. 'Kings and Pawns,'" Deacon whispered wearily, almost to himself "Question is which are we?" Then looking at Jacobs, "Do you think this Volkov will help? If we're on our own, how do you want to play it?"

"Right now, I feel like a pawn...as for our move, it will have to wait until we reach Starbase 239. And knowing Volkov, yes, I believe he will will do all he can to aid me," Leigh admitted but couldn't help to feel the ping of doubt within her. Robertson was if anything, manipulative. "However, this has to do with me, not you or any of the crew."

"Sorry Skipper, taking liberties, it's your rice bowl after all." Deacon shrugged but still looked at the Commander unapologetically, "Bad habit of mine, sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. But this Robertson, he sounds like a bully and I hate bullies. And as for the crew, someone screwing with a CO who pulled their fat out of the fire, would be of great concern to them." Then Deacon's eyes softened looking at Leigh sympathetically, "But I can see why you'd want to protect them. But remember I'm not technically part of your crew and I owe you for getting me off that rock."

Leigh sighed as she looked at the man. "Very well, I will not stop you. However, do not take any direct actions," she warned.

"Understood Ma'am." Deacon grinned, hoping the twinkle in his eyes wasn't too obvious. Getting up from the seat, he turned to leave,then then almost as an afterthought looked back at Leigh and asked, " Commander do you play chess? It's been years since I played, would love to find someone to match wits with."

"I enjoy a game every now and then," Leigh admitted. "And I'd be happy to have a partner," she grinned.

It was a good smile, a strong, genuine one. The type of smile that Deacon couldn't help but smile back at, "Excellent. I have to log some time down in the SSES (Ship's Signals Exploitation Space) back in the intelligence center. Need to catch up on 'local gossip' and start knocking the scale of some old skills," the Rigellian explained, "I'll check back in when I hit a wall. If you're still around maybe you can show me what passes for strategic thought in the SF officer corps. But in case you're not around, Commander, have a good evening." Deacon added with a slight bow.