"All we need is some tumbleweed"

Captain M'Kantu
Ensign Cartwright

*takes place before the attack

****

Kelly, fresh from his 16 ounce steak dinner crossed the sombre Galaxy bridge on his way to the captains ready room. He liked the look of it; soothing in an antique sort of way, a stark contrast to the cold metal bridges he was accustomed to. Passing by the tactical station he tipped his Stetson to the Security chief and ambled towards the ready room. Pressing the chime he turned to watch the activity as he waited.

"Enter."

Kelly turned as the unmistakable voice of M'Kantu granted him access. Walking inside he stopped and dipped his head to the Tanzanian born Captain. Removing his hat he placed it at his side and briefly examined the room.

Daren stood as the officer entered and then couldn't help but frown slightly. His ex wife had always called him old fashioned and maybe that was true. He didn't like that the man had chosen to report in wearing civilian clothes. "Have a seat."

Kelly dusted off the seat as if was covered in an inch of dirt. He plomped his backside in the chair and placed his hat on the desk. Leaned back slightly rolled his head in his shoulders.

"How are you finding the Galaxy?" M'Kantu asked politely.

"Other than the way it looks it seems fine Captain. Its a busy time to be getting to know the place at the moment" he grinned briefly though it left his face just as fast as it showed itself.

M'Kantu nodded thoughtfully. "One wonders what kind of impression you are hoping to give, Ensign Cartwright."

Kelly froze to the seat for a moment eyeing the captain. 'What did I do wrong'. He looked back to where he had walked in and was satisfied there was no toilet paper following him.'

"I'm not too sure what you mean Captain M'Kantu"

"Reporting for duty in civilian clothes for starters." The Captain said. "I'm wondering if you intend to start off on the wrong foot. You seem a bit mature to be acting out but it has been known to happen."

'What!? Ive never been so much as IN anything to try and act OUT of it' he though frowing and shaking his head. "I just came off duty Captain I didnt know there was a dress code when in the captain's company, I'll make not of it." he let that linger before he continued. "I was told this meeting was manditory and your schedule has been tied up for weeks. I'm not reporting for duty merely fulfilling the obligation"

"Then from now on, Ensign Cartwright, consider it obligatory to be in uniform for any future meetings." The Captain replied, hoping that those said meetings would be far and few. He didn't know why the man was irritating him so. Maybe the Breen were giving him more stress than he had admitted to himself. "Now, have you any questions for me?"

“None” Kelly felt sour having been chastised at his first meeting with the captain. Talk about making a first impression. It definitely would have been nice to find a captain he got on with for once. Still, there would be more captains. He glared at the Tanzanian.

M'Kantu noticed the look but shrugged it off. It wasnt the first time that he had been sneered at. As far as he was concerened he had asertained all that he needed to know about Cartwright's character. Probably one of the shortest meetings I've ever had, Daren thought.

Cartwright wasn't anything that he couldnt work with...for now. "Then you're dismissed, Ensign."

Kelly got up and saluted him sarcastically. Spinning on his heals he replaced the Stenton on his head and proceeded out the door.

"The one with shark bait"

Commander K. Jordan Elaithin,
Intel Liaison
and
Breen Babysitter
Commander Jerri Wolfson,
Chief Engineer and garbage (wo)man

USS Miranda
Engineering

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

This was not, particularly, a conversation that Jordan wanted to have, and for many reasons

First, she was exhausted, crabby, and had a head ache that would probably kill a male elephant.

Second, she probably would have done the same thing if in the same positions.

Third, Jerri was her best friend (with whom she was finally back on speaking terms after far too long) and one never wanted to rebuke a best friend for anything. Particularly if one would have done the same thing and was feeling shitty.

Fourth, and perhaps most of all though, Jordan didn't feel as though it was her place. The idea of being a position to rebuke Jerri was strange and foreign, but with nearly everyone off the ship and the Breen more or less in her care, that is what it had come down to.

She was quite sure it was the high frequency, computerized Breen voices that had contributed to her head ache. They would not leave her alone about the "breach in protocol" and the "abominable manner in which this altercation was delt." It was a mere "misunderstanding" the result of a "poor translation" and an all around "bad exercise in judgement with misinterpretation of bizarre human body language."

At least, that's what Jordan thought he was saying. For all the confidence she had in her own understanding of Breen, he could have told her that her underwear was showing. Which it wasn't. She'd checked.

"Jah, we need to twalk," Jordan mumbled, her voice heavy and tired and accented.

Jerri turned from the console that she was studying to arch an eyebrow at her friend. Just judging from the expression on her friend's face, she could guess what she was here about. "Let me guess, it starts with a 'B' and ends with an 'N' and it has nothing to do with beans..."

"Jah..." She sighed and cleared her throat, rubbing her forehead right about the eyebrow. "Jerri, you cannot beam the Breen... guests," the word was difficult to say, really, "to the waste reclamation plant. You just can't. Even if they are the houseguests from hell. If only because they complain afterward and I'm the one who has to listen to it. I already had a monster headache, Jerri, add the screaching computerized voices and it's the size of Texas and then some."

"Well, I wouldn't of done that except for the fact that our 'houseguests' weren't house *trained.* They kinda left their escort behind when they wandered in here," she gestured around the expanse of the engineering bay with a brief wave of her hand, "*before* their scheduled arrival time. We hadn't declassified this area, and a number of items were compromised because of their unscheduled arrival. They refused to cooperate, and before they could do more damage I made a decision. Yeah, not the best diplomatic solution, but damnit Jordan I'm an engineer not a diplomat!"

"Trust me, I know that feeling, I am not a diplomat either..." Damnation, her headache was getting worse. At the moment, she had an overwhelming urge to run her head into the transparent aluminum dividers between the work stations and the warp core. It would 1) put her out of her misery 2) probably feel better. Jerri was sounding kinda screechy. And this was not going well. "Yeah, I know. I understand, and I appreciate the necessity of getting them out. That's not what I have the problem with. What I'm having... the biggest thing, at the moment, is the place in which you put them. I've managed to talk the Big Giant Head down to understanding the necessity of getting them out and even to admitting, although grudgingly and not entirely... believably, that it was not right for-- well. We've gotten that far, but they cannot get over the place, Jerri the place. You don't have to be a diplomat... even an engineer could appreciate that badness of that idea." Badness? Oi, the breen were making her stupider, she was sure.

Wolfson sighed and leaned against the console, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "I know, Jordan, I know. But it was the first place that came to mind when I hit that transporter button. Besides they weren't *in* the mess, just close enough to get a clue."

"Well, one of the idiots managed to get himself *into* the mess. Trust me, he tracked it into my office. The smell at least. My husband may not live through this..." Her voice trailed off. "Don't ever do it again, okay Jerri? Next time you have the urge, suppress it and beam them to ten forward or something. At least you didn't beam them into the shark tank, I guess, but if that happened, I wouldn't have to listen to and/or smell them." Jordan stared at her friend a minute, trying to think. "I lost my train of... oh. Well. I promised I'd talk to you. And I'm going to have to file a grievance on their behalf." She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure Jii'll pass over it. It's nothing, it's just... I have to make them shut up, you don't understand."

"Actually, I do understand. They're rather...insistent. Heaven knows they wouldn't stop demanding to see our systems unencumbered because of our 'agreement.' They wouldn't stop. I'm sorry you got drug into this mess, but they were *ahem* asking for it. If the escort was with them there wouldn't have been a problem. But...I'm just griping now."

"I don't know where that idiot Ensign went. But as soon as I find him he'd going to get a piece of my mind. Assuming of course he's not folded into a Jerffery's tube somewhere; wouldn't put it past them. Anyway. I'm stuck baby sitting them now. So..."

"Sucks to be you?" Jerri offered with a smile, fully expecting to be swatted by her best friend.

"Mm," Jordan agreed all too eagerly, leaning against the nearest wall, eyes closed, head rested against it. "We need a fast forward button on life. I'll be almost too happy when we finally get out of this madhouse."

At that minute, the red alert klaxons sounded and the ship shook. "Aw man, what the hell is that?" Jordan groaned loudly. "Stop blowing holes in my ship!" She and Jerri yelled it in unison as the Chief Engineer jumped to her feet and into action.

Jerri hurried out of the 'Chief Engineer's nook' to direct her people towards critical systems while she attended the master situation display. The flashing colors, and changing lights indicated system damages in bright technicolor. "Straight from the frying pan and into the fire..."

"I'm going to take a hypo, go to sleep, and wake up when there's a new mission," Jordan mumbled. "Don't let them blow up the ship and everything will be forgiven, Jerri, I promise."

"You have nothing to worry about, Jordan," Jerri turned from the situation monitor to smile encouragingly at her friend, "Take a nap. The ship'll still be here when you wake up. Jack! Take out a team. You've got the saucer section." She directed the last to her Assistant Chief.

Jordan sighed and levered herself up. "I bet those fucking Breen have something to do with this," she muttered. "They'll say they don't, but I bet my life on it." She wandered toward the exit, a hand on the wall to steady herself. "If they come looking for me? Shark tank, Jerri, shark tank. At the very least, they'll rust."

Jerri smiled slightly, "Where do you think the second place was that I was intending on sending them?"

"I figured," Jordan said, shaking her head as the ship was bombarded again. "Go do what you do. I"m going to pound my head into a wall and curse my husband's name. I should be down on the planet right now."

"Have fun with that," Jerri replied absently as she eyed the displays. "Don't pound the walls too hard...we need all the protection we can get."

"Right. Later, jer."

"Learning the Ship"

Ensign Adora Watkins

After finally getting settled into her quarters, and leaving a welcome note for her room-mate, Adora decided to take a walk around the Galaxy. She knew that most of the crew was dealing with Breen. She was new to the ship, and only an ensign, so she was hoping that it would keep her from getting sent there. She knew as a security officer, it would be a good idea to learn all the areas of the ship.

"Apologies"

(Backpost - Takes place not long after 'Off Guard or En Guardé', En-Route to the Breen homeworld)

Commander Navarre Shinta ~ Chief Counsellor

Lieutenant (JG) Ariss Edon ~ Security/Tactical Officer

Holodeck Four - USS Miranda

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the disastrous meeting with Edon and Mark. Shinta first took a little time for herself, to get her feelings straightened out again. Then she went looking for Edon, she had behaved very badly towards him and he was a good and dear friend.

The computer told her he was located on the holodeck. So she went there and entered. Catching her breath she immediately recognized the scenery of the Kendra Mountains and a little later Edon himself who was running in the hills. She decided to watch him and not interfere for now.

A little way up in the hills, Ariss puffed as he ran round the crests of the hills. Much better than the gym, more fun than the damn treadmill. Pausing at a crest, he looked at the scenery around him, ~ It’s been a long time ~ he thought ~ Since I saw this for real ~. Taking a few deep breaths, he did a few stretches to cool down, as he did, he saw down the hill, someone waiting. ~ Strange, there shouldn’t be anyone… ~ curious, he slid down the steep side of the slope, which got him near enough to recognize Shinta. Raising his hand in greeting, he checked his slide, and ambled over. "Afternoon." He said casually.

"I've come to apologise. My behavior was just inexcusable, I hope you will accept my apology and still be my friend and priest." She said simply.

Biting his lip, Ariss tried really hard, but after a moment, just couldn't help himself.

He laughed.

It didn't last long, and even as he did, he realised how bad it must look to Shinta. Seeing the look on her face he got himself under control. "Shinta," He said, "Wait, please," he asked, not wanting her to leave or be upset. "You came to apologise!" His shoulders still shaking slightly, he shook his head. "If anything Shinta, I should be the one apologising. I knew the direction the conversation was going, and I guessed you'd get upset, but I didn't call a stop to it. Wraiths, I helped it along. The idea was for you to see how easy you can loose control, and maybe just help you see you still need to talk."

"I should apologise to you, and ask you if 'I' can still be your friend. Mark and I just worry, that's all. If I was in the wrong then I'm the one who should ask forgiveness!"

Her first reaction was anger, then she checked herself and sat down. "You couple of bastards." She said defeated.

"I had to look that word up while I was on Earth. It's not accurate you know." Sitting down beside her, he looked out over the valley. "I understand the sentiment though." He admitted. "I guess you've every right to be upset, it's just… well, over the past months, I have gotten to know you Shinta, as a counselor, a Bajoran, and as a friend. I just share Mark's concern that you haven't let go of the past fully."

"You don't understand my explanation why I don't want to do it?" She asked softly.

"No, I don't understand, not fully anyway. Perhaps one day I will, or you'll explain it to me! But in the meantime I am sorry Shinta." Ariss said sincerely, "I hope this won't affect your decision to come to Bajor, and the Orb?"

"No it doesn't. In between missions seems the best moment for me to try to deal with it."

"Well, we can't exactly take off now, I think the Breen would get a little paranoid if we tried." He said with a chuckle, "I've contacted a friend on Bajor though, he's going to start making the arrangements. He's going to set it up so the Orb will arrive on Deep Space Nine if he can, that way I can be there with you."

"You are doing so much for me." She smiled. "It's amazing."

"Not really, I'm just being a typical meddlesome priest." He said with a smile. "I guess now would be a good time to ask if you have any questions about the Orbs, or what is going to happen?" He asked.

"Truthfully, I know very little. And as I said before I find it very scary, I have no idea what to expect."

"You don't have to be afraid Shinta. There is nothing to be scared about! I can't speak from personal experience here, I've never encountered an Orb personally. When I was ordained, there was only one left on Bajor. But it is a moment of peace and clarity, not only with yourself, but with the Prophets. Through the Orb, they will guide you to the moments in your past that still affect you and guide you now. They will help you to see the past with eyes that can see clearer. I imagine it’s a bit like what I went through a while back after the other me linked with me. Memories, good and bad. You don’t have to fear the bad though, they are only memories, vivid, but just memories."

"The Orb is a guide, to help you, remember what you need to remember."

She just listened.

"I think I have some texts on the Orbs, I’ll look them up for you later."

"They will not take away the pain, will they? I will still feel that."

"No. That is something you have to let go on your own. You of all people should know pain is something we carry until we let it go. The Prophets can guide you, and show you where it is coming from, and how it is affecting us, but we are the one's who have to act, to acknowledge it and let it pass. We can't forget, but we can learn how to cope with it and let out our frustrations."

"I know all that. I know where it is coming from, and I know how it is affecting me. Yet still I cannot let go." She said so frustrated.

"Forgive me if I’m out of line, but do you have any idea as to why not?" he asked curiously.

"Like I told you before, afraid of losing control. Not be able to work, not being able to look after my children properly. Other people seeing me like that, I'm afraid they would never trust me again."

~ Control, always about control? ~ Sitting quietly, Ariss squinted up at the sky. ~ If she goes into the Orb experience like this, the Prophets could perhaps show her too much? They could overwhelm her! Would that be good, or bad? ~

Aloud, "Let’s put this aside for now Shinta. The Prophets will be guiding us down that path soon enough, let’s put it aside ‘till then. For now, tell me a bit more about Gavin, and your other children?"

She smiled. "Gavin is such a wonderful person, so wise for his age. I have to be very careful that he doesn't do too much. The twins are at an age that they are just exploring everything around them. Jimmy is a little bit shy, Hope just the opposite. And Anna will start crawling soon." She rolled her eyes.

Thinking carefully, he decided to try something here. "You sound so proud of them. You have a lovely family, but, if I may ask, none of them have Bajoran names, did you and James decide on Human names together?"

"Only Anna Lynn is James' and she was named for his side of the family and the deceased wife of a good friend of mine. The others were born when I didn't want to have anything to do with Bajor. I wanted them to be normal human children."

Raising an eyebrow at that, ~ I had no idea… ~ "You really wanted to distance your self from Bajor then, what changed your mind?"

"My children, they are starting to ask questions. My friends, James Mitchell was actually the one that set it in motion." A melancholy smile.

"Mitchell! How so?"

"He made me face my past after many years."

~ Of course, when they met again here, it started... And then ended up with her hitting him... I think the term 'Unresolved Issues' really applies here. ~ Letting his mind drift a moment, he thought how best to answer that one, he didn't want to appear to be prying.

"What sort of questions are your children asking then?" he finally asked.

"All kinds of questions, everything." She said laughing. "You know what little children are like."

"Not really, I've never had the opportunity to spend much time with children. Maybe one day…" Shaking his head, "Well, if I can help answer any of their questions, feel free to let them ask, I'll do my best."

"I think those questions will be better when I finish your literature." She smiled.

"Well, if I can ever help, let me know…" Looking at the scenery around them, he sighed, "You know, I miss Bajor, especially the hills, I spent a lot of time here, even before I joined the resistance, it's always been one of my favourite places. It's always been peaceful here. Pity it's just an illusion…" Shaking his head, "I've been meaning to ask you something Shinta. You said your family died during the occupation, I assumed you meant your parents, brothers and sisters, but did you ever try and find out if you had any other relatives who might have survived?"

"Me too. They didn't realise that until I spent a few months in James' cottage a few years ago under an alias of course. I haven't really tried to find other relatives, didn't want to embarrass them."

"Embarrass them!" ~ Prophets! ~ "Shinta, why don’t you let them decide that. Find out! See if you have relatives, an Aunt or Uncle, Grandparents. As I said before, just because some idiot turned away from you, doesn’t mean everyone will. Wraiths, ‘I’ didn’t, and I’m sure there are a lot of other people who wouldn’t. Now, if you don’t check, ‘I’ will, and you know I will." He said with a smile," Not only for you, but for your children. I’m sure they’ll ask one day, if they haven’t already about family on Bajor. And for the love of the Prophets, next time you go to Bajor, use your own name, be ‘proud’ of who you are. Because if you can’t be proud of yourself, it’s going to affect how other people see you. Believe me, I know." Pausing for breath, Ariss wondered, would she do it.

She grumbled a little. "I just told them they are all dead."

"And what if one day one of them posts a search request to the Bajoran Archives." Shaking his head, "Shinta, if they're curious now, believe me, they will find out. Best you get there first don't you think, and tell them? If they don't want anything to do with you, well, you'll be no worse off than you are right now, and at least you can you’re your children the truth, if you have surviving family and they want to get to know you, despite your concerns, then accept it as a blessing from the Prophets."

"We'll be going to Bajor one day soon, how about we look into it before then. Perhaps if you have family who want to meet you, you can meet them on Deep Space Nine while we're there." He said brightly, "What do you say?"

"I don't even know for sure if there's anybody still alive. They haven't tried to find me, and nobody was willing to take me in as a teenager. Why would they be different now?"

"Perhaps like you, they didn't know you were alive, many records were lost or disorganised after the occupation, the orphanage may not have been able to track anyone down. Not that it sounds like they really tried. Records have been repaired and re filed now, perhaps you would have some success now. Think about it, perhaps when we get to Bajor you'd consider doing a search?" ~ Or I could just meddle again! ~ Ariss thought, ~ Hmm, now, there's an idea… ~

"I don't know yet." She said honestly. "I think about it."

"Fair enough," he replied, "Until Bajor then. In the meantime…" Pausing, "When did we switch places Shinta? Me helping you?" He asked with a gentle smile, "It’s giving whole new meanings to being a Security officer you know."

"From the beginning it was to be two-way, that's why I didn't want to be your therapist. I can promise you that when we have me sorted, it will be your turn." She smiled.

"Fair enough," he repeated. "Another day then. Until then, give some thought to what we’ve talked about, you never know until you try." Standing up, he looked around, "And while I’m thinking about it, if you’re interested, feel free to use this program whenever you’d like, it’s got a complete and accurate recreation of the Kal’hana Monastery in it, have a wander round. It’s a great place to spend a few quiet hours thinking."

"Thank you. If Mitchell and I were still friendly I would offer you the cottage program in return." She smiled.

"Do you think there's a chance the two of you will ever become friends again?"

She snorted. "Not really."

"I don't think I've ever actually met him, so I don't know him. What's he like?"

"You shouldn't ask me. My opinion is pretty biased, and I guess that's not fair. You should form your own opinion. He and I have a long and difficult past."

"Perhaps one day I might," he muttered. "Anyway," he said a little louder, "Faith, Shinta. You never know, the Prophets ways are without a doubt unusual. There may come a day when the two of you might resolve your differences. It may just happen!" he said with sincerity.

"Like you said you have never met Mitchell." She chuckled.

Nodding in agreement, "True, true." Falling silent, Ariss looked out over the scenery again. To be honest, until Shinta experienced the Orb, ~ What can I say? ~ He wondered. ~ Frell! ~

"Come and talk to me when you do, and remember to keep an open mind. Your boss loves him after all whatever she says."

"Sure, if the opportunity arises. I'll see where the Prophets take me."

"I trust you will, my friend. You are truly a good priest." She smiled.

"You're only saying that because you haven't met many Ranjens lately." He said with a smile

"I've seen enough priests during my lifetime." She said giving him another hug.

"Thanks" he said returning the hug.

"If I grow up, I want to be an engineer"

by
Turan Telar,
juvenile Quentite "ambassador" and student of star ship design
and
Lt. (jg) Dhanita Eshe,
engineering

For about several minutes, the red alert klaxon sounded through the Galaxy's hallways. Turan wondered if there was any crew men or civilian passenger who wasn't yet informed about the attack threatening the ship.

If the nerve-tearing noise didn't work, probably the impact of the enemy's weapon did.

Turan ran down the hallway to reach the nearest shelter as expected from the vessel's civilians ... another junction, right then left at the end of that corridor ...

*SMASH*

The head on collision sent Dhani tumbling to the floor. For a moment she sat there dazed hearing the footsteps in the adjacent corridors, yet none coming to her aid. Slowly she looked up wondering what the hell had hit her. And then her eyes fell on *him*.

Turan eyes fell on the female crew men lying there - the camouflaged female that once pretended to be his wife then beat the hell out of him. But now, she was lying there ... probably, she needed help? The Quentite giant bent down to her.

Dhani groaned some as she tried to work out which part of her anatomy took the burnt of the fall. Her hands were red from the impact, her elbows smarted. Her arse seemed to hurt the most. Slowly she shifted to lean against the wall, trying desperately not to yell.

"Are you okay? Do you need help?" asked Turan in almost perfect Starfleet standard.

Dhani looked at him. She had managed to stay out of his way for months, only to run into him here. Literally! She had so much to say to him after what she had done, but she couldn’t. Not just because the captain had told her not to discuss any of it but also because she just couldn’t find the words. Looking away she began to rub her hands against her trousers. “I’m fine.” She said wondering if he could still see through her white lies.

“Are you alright?” she asked, changing the subject matter from her to him as quickly as possible.

"Can't tell you. Probably, you should ask again when this is over." answered Turan, still bent down to the the female engineer. Then he reached out a hand."I'm on the way to the shelter. If you're not bound elsewhere you may like to accompany me?"

She looked at him it was funny to think that at one time he knew her so well, and now it was like a stranger talking, taking her replies at face value.“Turan you know me, always bound....” she stopped. Why did mouth always engage before brain when talking to ‘him’? Turan didn’t know her, not like this any way, he knew the old twisted Naut. But even her he forgot. And she didn’t really know him any more, the incident had changed him too. And now he had changed back to what he was before the incident.

“I am an engineer Turan. When the klaxon sounds I have to jump to duty. That’s how it works in Starfleet. All hands and all that.” she smiled slightly.

"Hmm ... ", replied the juvenile Quentite, still dressed in his boy scout uniform. "... my people expect me to become an engineer, too. Probably I should accompany you instead ..."

“I thought they wanted you to be a farmer?” Dhani replied yet again without thinking, as she stood up. She cursed herself silently.

Turan shook his head. "You're kidding me, aren't you? I went to college to study star ship design. My brothers will care for the farm." Turan didn't even realize that women knew facts he never told anybody on the Galaxy as nobody dare to ask before.

“Yeah, I know.” She replied, “But lets face it, you make a much better farmer.” Again her comments just seemed to role off her tongue, if she didn’t have a bruise from falling on her butt she would have one from kicking herself. Ah, well she thought, might as well keep digging, “I mean your ideas were good, but kinda primitive. The model you made?” she gave him a look of *are you serious?*

"primitive?" obviously, the camouflaged officer cut his nerve "Do you Starfleets think the Quentites are primitive species, good enough to be excellent farmers, but way to primitive to be engineers? Is it why they keep me away from any serious duty?"

“Hey, hey,” Dhani backed off. “I didn’t say that.” She shook her head. He really was a different Turan. “Do you always do that?” she asked, “Take a personal comment to mean your entire species? Now that’s just stupid. And they probably keep you from serious duty because of outbursts like that. Why don’t you just go back to kindergarten?

"Oh stop. You called me primitive. Who provided you that information? I had to come to the conclusion that was a prejudice against the Quentites" answered Turan.

“Turan what part of I used to be you wife in an alternate time line did you not understand the first time? I know you!” she replied with an aggravated sigh. “And at one time you used to know me.”

She raked her fingers through her hair. gee if the Captain could hear her still bleating on about the Quentin incident she would probably spend more than three days in the brig!

"You pretend to know me? And you don't think I could be able to be an engineer on a ship like this?"

“I don’t pretend to know you.” Dhani was beginning to get frustrated with him, “There’s no point talking to you. I don’t know why I even bother to explain. If you really want to be an engineer you should go to the academy and studied like the rest of us. Just because you a boy scout from Quentin doesn’t give you any special privileges.“

"And it doesn't give me the privilege to keep you from doing your duty. Excuse me, I have to do what they expect of a boy scout and visit a shelter."

Dhani rolled her eyes. She was being harsh, and he didn’t deserve it. But then she couldn’t spend her whole life apologizing for Nauts mistakes. “Fine by me.” She said and walked away.

At the end of the corridor she stopped and looked back at him, “Do you really want to be an engineer?” she asked.

Turan nodded. "I would love to. That's why I left Quentin"

She sighed, she knew that what she was about to do was, as always, against protocol, but with Michael McDowell gone they needed every hand they could get. “Come on then.”

Turan smiled and followed the camouflages engineer. At the junction where civilians used to turn left both took the right path.

Talking too much!

Major Joral Anton,
Acting Squadron Leader/Rogue Five
Pilot Cole Slaton,
Rogue Twelve
Major Veronique St. Melisande,
Acting One Flight Lead/Rogue Ten (PCC)

Rogue Squadron formed up and veered away from Miranda, heading towards the essentially unknown enemy. Calling up the Vanguard manifest, Joral's innards did a quick back-flip as he realized that he was the highest ranking officer in the skies at present. That meant he not only had to command one squadron in combat, but two.

Activating the comm, he keyed the Vanguard channel and the Rogue channel together. "All fighters, this is Rogue Leader," he opened, using the title that he would have preferred to avoid. "We aren't going to get more than one shot at this, so play it right. The T'Kith'kin appear to be veering for the Rogues; Vanguard Squadron, cut starboard to 075 mark 13. The Hydran ships are launching some kind of fighters. Try to draw them away from Miranda and Galaxy. Rogues, stick with the T'Kith'kin. Everyone knows the drill; don't leave your wingman behind, and keep your asses from getting fried. Good luck."

Cole was formed up in the tightly packed squadron of Rogue pilots, some of the best in Starfleet, and here he was one of them. "Finally..." he whispered with a grin getting the respect he deserved. He keyed up his weapon systems doing a last second check before the big push, he knew what was coming, he'd done it what seemed like thousands of times before. The calm before the storm.

Cole looked up and around him watching the stars as the other fighters rose up and around his own, his name wasn't even on the side of the fighter, he'd have to get that changed sharpish, that and naming the bird. It was not a good idea going into battle without even a name for your charriet. "Bob?" he asked himself shaking his head the instant he name crossed his lips. "George... Henry..." He started going through names unaware that the mic was on broadcasting to everyone around him, including back to the Miranda.

"Say again, Twelve?" responded Veronique as the enemy fighters approached.

His eyes grew wide looking down at the light signalling the mic was on. ~Fuck!~ he screamed in his mind, though his voice was calm when he replied. "Just thinking up names for my fighter... haven't had the time yet... you do know its bad look right? I don't want my ass shot of just for the simple reason I didn't name my fighter!" Anything was possible, a stray laser pulser, a torpedo off course slamming into his hull and, "hasta la vista". Not a pretty sight.

"Thinking up a name just before the fight is not a good time, Twelve," finished Veronique as she rolled the fighter as she pulled up from the flight.

He quickly took position behind his lead just slightly off to the right, he was wingman on this little outing, not his usual position, he was more a 'free-roller' but that wasn't what the 'powers-that-be' wanted. "You concentrate on what's in front of ya, I've got your back..." Cole said getting a confirmation from his lead pilot. ~Wasn't much for chatter then~ Cole thought with a shrug. Some were like that, too bust concentrating on what's in front of them, on the battle, their loved ones back home. Too many minds. It often was a big a killer as the enemy.

As soon as she was above the battle plane, Veronique yawed the fighter and wheeled back towards the T'Kith'kin. "Ok, Flight One - stay focused."

Solranth's voice came over the channel: "Here they come..."

Joral watched as the Vanguards peeled off, and his squadron gunned their afterburners. Within seconds, the T'Kith'kin were on them, and there was no more time to think.

Watching the consetellations of indicators makers filled the cockpit, each showing the location of the fighters in what was becoming a real furball, Veronique goosed the engines. Already the firing computer was predicting motions and giving firing solutions. Rolling the fighter, telling the computer to start ECM. She watched as her selected target flickered on her targetting sensors. Patching into the 'God's Eye,' she could view the tactical simulation from the Miranda and the Galaxy.

'Loading' a mini-torp, with out targetting info, she dead fired it, the sensor head set to come on line a few seconds after firing. Watching the torpedo head out, she watched with satisfaction as her target jinked as the head became active.

With satisfaction, she walked the fire of her phasers into the T'Kith'kin fighter as it went to avoid the missile. While her phasers had only damaged it, the torp she had fired impacted on the fighter and finished the job.

As the smile of satisfaction appeared on her face, the computer warned that her own fighter was being hit by targetting sensors. Rolling and spiralling the fighter, dropping the tiny ECM modules, she could almost feel the fire on the shields, but it was only for a split second and the shields had held fine.

<Rogue Squadron - Lets get those bad guys!>

Eshe/Suder/Trelar

"What are you waiting for, a drink?"

By
Turan Trelar,
juvenile Quentite "ambassador" and student of star ship design,

Lt. (Jg) Dhanishta Eshe,
Engineer
&
Lt Commander Ethan Suder
Chief of Engineering

(Set straight after "If I grow up I want to be an Engineer.")

The fumes from two of the burning consoles was not pleasant to say the least. The smell wasn't comforting, in fact, it was kind of disturbing. For so long, standard, non smelling air had been the atmosphere in Engineering.But not today, not now.

Ethan frowned at the burning consoles around him. Then looked back at the master display console.

"Ok folks, you know the drill. But I'll remind you in-case you've forgotten!" he said, voice raised. He turned and began strolling through Engineering. Several Engineers followed him.

"One, put out those fires! Two, someone get up there and keep an eye on the coolant levels!" he ordered pointing to the second level of Engineering. "Three, someone needs to be monitoring the damage reports that will be coming from all over the ship. Grey will dispatch repair teams based on the information. Four, let's try and keep primary systems up and running at all times!" He stopped and turned around at the group of Engineers. "Well let's get to work then shall we?" he asked through clenched teeth. He wished Michael was still around. Between him, McDowell and Grey, things would have been a walk through the park. His departure had had an impact on the Engineering crew to be sure, but still, all of the Engineers should have known the drill and procedure by now.

The doors to Engineering opened with the usual swish; it was funny that in a crisis the doors always sounded calm. Dhanishta came jogging in with an excited Turan behind her. Before Suder had a chance to bark orders at her she grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher and started blasting the nearest flame encapsulated console.

"Chief?" she called out over the increasing noise.

Suder casually strolled through a little smoke over to Dhani, still frowning. A raised eyebrow was his only response.

"Sir," she continued now that he was in ear shot, "this is Turan Trelar. He wants to be an Engineer." She said giving Turan a quick glance. His eagerness made her smile slightly.

"What do you think Sir?" she asked craning her neck to look at Suder. He didn't look pleased, but then he never did when someone was pounding the crap out of his pride and joy. She wondered if they had ever had a marriage ceremony! Mrs Galaxy Suder! Somehow she thought not.

Suder didnt even glance at the kid. He just continued to glare. "You're on repair duty. Make it happen." He ordered. For a fraction of a second, he glanced at the boy before turning and walking back into the smoke filled air.

Turan looked down at Dhanishtas senior officer.

"It's true, sir." he told him "I didn't come aboard to look out of my quarter's window nor did I expect to cower in the edge of a shelter while the Galaxy vessel is blasted to hell. I'm here because I enlisted to study star ship design. Starfleet offered the Quentite's to take selected students to have a close look on how a star ship work. All I was able to learn about was 10-4, the arboretum and ..." - Turan turned his head towards the camouflaged engineer - "sickbay."

Suder stopped in his tracks and slowly turned, with a sigh at that. His black eyes pierced the smoke and locked on to Dhani. The ship rocked again slightly, but not enough to knock anyone's balance. He walked up to Turan and looked up at the young folk. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Sir!" Dhani broke in, "He's a fast learner. With McDowell gone we could use all the help we can get, even if all he does is hold a flash light or pass tools." She put the fire extinguisher down and turned to face Suder fully. She knew he'd call her up on this later but right now she was sure that she had a point, and a good one at that. Engineering was so short handed at the moment, and maybe a new recruit would get his mind off loosing his best friend.

Suder turned and looked at Dhani. "So why are you both still here, talking about the finer points of what you want to do? I'm glad you want to be an Engineer, but this isn't really the best time for small talk." he said turning back to Turan. "Not to mention you're not enlisted. Now maybe when this mess is sorted, I'll show you around, buy you a drink and we'll have a good laugh, but until then, he glanced back at Dhani, "there are repairs waiting for you. Or are you waiting for me to buy you a drink now?" he asked.

"Well I'll have a pint of Qon'Oss finest." she replied with a sly smile. Picking up her tool kit she turned and passed it to Turan, "We'll need the tricorder and remodulator first." she told him as she headed for the door.

The giant Quentite watched the female Trill engineer leave. What did she expect of him? He looked at the toolkit in his hand. Suddenly he nodded "Oh yes of course". With just three or four steps, he reached her and left the smoke filled room.

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