Jason Devron had only been an Ensign five days, and had spent all of that time aboard the huge orbiting complex know to everyone as Starbase Bravo.  He’d caught a brief glimpse of it when he’d first arrived in the star system, but nothing could prepare him the sheer size of the place.  Just the idea that he was now, way down in Mike Sector on deck 668 was honestly astonishing to him.

Eventually with the aid of his personal PADD he found himself at the right docking bay.  As Jason approached the open airlock door leading to the vessel he’d been assigned to only the previous day, he spotted the figure of someone he knew.

“Permission to come aboard sir.”  He saluted the female officer before him.

“Permission granted Ensign Devron.” She returned the salute. “Welcome aboard the USS Jaxartes.”

He’d only met the Bajoran Lieutenant, Bolka  a few times.  The first of which being when she’d helped him gain a tactical advantage during a holo-simulation being run by the Vulcan officer who was now captaining this ship.  As if on que the very man himself appeared behind the young Ensign have come along the main corridor from the opposite direction.

“Number one how many do we have on board so far?”

“With Mr Devron here, eleven.” Bolka replied. “Though Mr Bellbrooke isn’t best pleased at being roped in as your Chief Engineer.  Said is job was just to see the ships engines where in full working order after the refit. Not accompany her on the first mission.”

“You can reassure him that once everything checks out we’ll drop him off somewhere.” The Vulcan took the PADD the Lieutenant was holding and looked at the list of names on it. “Well we’ll have to make do with the EMH for now.  However this ship isn’t going anywhere without two officers to rotate at helm and we’ve just had one snatched from use!”  He used the index finger of his right hand to scroll the menu and add a cross by the name of then Ensign who had been reassigned.

“May I suggest Ensign Stuart, sir?  The Orion.”  Jason suggested.

The Vulcan looked thoughtfully at the PADD then back up to Jason. “Interesting choice Mr. Devron.  And a logical one.”  He walked over to a nearby terminal linking him with the stations systems. “Computer locate Ensign Stuart, Lyanne Jolel SE 301 – 429.”

_____

Somewhere along the aft section of a damaged Sutherland Class research vessel a Worker-Bee was making repairs to one of the ships maneuvering thrusters.  Whilst other Bee’s, a lone shuttle craft and a half dozen space-suited engineers busied themselves with their own tasks across the ship’s hull.  At the controls of the compact single seat repair ship, a young Orion female used its two robotic arms to move the thrusters’ outer casing back into position.

The onboard radio gave two bleeps indicating an incoming message. “Control to Tango X-ray One Zero Seven.” Came a females voice

“Zero Seven here.” Answered Lyanna.

“When you’re finished with that job; head back in.  You’ve been reassigned.”

“Confirmed; Control.  Just fixing in the casing now.  Zero Seven out.”

Lyanna Stuart pondered for a moment.  She’d volunteered to take this temporary assignment when the ship she was due to board; became delayed somewhere within the Delta Quadrant.  And whilst Lyanna had enjoyed the opportunity to fly one of these small Worker-bees and help out with hull repairs to this starship; the young Orion couldn’t wait to get her hands on the controls of something a little larger!

_____

Lieutenant-Commander Salan had spent the best part of an hour walking around his new command.  He had spoken to various members of the crew, including the slightly disgruntled Chief Engineer Bellbrooke who seemed unhappy about so many things, it was a little hard to keep track.  So he’d politely asked the man to fill out a full report that he promised to read later.

He now found himself in the aft observation lounge with its large windows, which for now only looked out on to the interior of the hanger. A small flat package sat on top of a large wooden table.  The note attached simple read, ‘To the new captain’.  Interested and slightly puzzle Salan carefully unwrapped the package.  Inside he found a painting of the USS Jaxartes flying past a bright blue-green nebula.  The Vulcan studied the painting for a while noticing the careful brush strokes and attention to detail.  In the bottom right had corner he spotted the painters signature ‘S. Ruslanovna’.

The crew of the USS Jaxartes had spent the last 36 hours getting everything ready for the corvettes launch.  Bringing in supplies and additional equipment the Captain felt they would need.  In that time the Engineering Room had been a hive of activity. Ensign Dinari along with another crew member who was a Betazoid by the name of Torf and several engineers from the space station itself where all being kept rather busy by the ever watchful BellBrooke.

With yells of ‘watch what the heck you’re doing man’ and ‘not like that you idiot’ echoing around the large two store compartment which was the heart of the ship.  It was a wonder that no one had taken a wrench to the back of this diminutive and slightly rotund man’s head and put pay to everyone’s misery.

Right now the young engineer was part way up a ladder with his head and upper body through an open access hatch where he was replacing a relay component.  Though what the difference between an AR1107-04 and an AR1107-06 was; when both looked identical and the first was apparently working perfectly was at present unclear to the Ensign.  However the Chief Engineer had some ‘bug’ about the 04’s and wanted any of them when found to be removed and replaced by the newer variant.

When the small man yelled up to him asking why Lyambo was taking so long he nearly cracked the back of his head on  a section of conduit.  Though he so wanted to yell back at the other man, he merely replied “Nearly done Chief” and offered up a prayer to any God that may be listening that everything would work perfectly and Bellbrooke would move on to another ship soon.

By the time Dinari had pulled his head out from the hatch; the other man was over the far side chewing someone else out over something or other!

_____

On the bridge Ensigns Devron and Stuart where both going through their final checks; whilst the captain watched on in silence.  At the back Lieutenant Bolka was setting up the Science Station, just the way she wanted.  Since first meeting the Bajoran; Jason had learned that Bolka was at the Academy on light duties whilst recovering from serious injury.   She’d spared him the gruesome details, other than a skiing accident had left her with a broken back, pelvis and leg; along with a cracked collar bone and three broken ribs.  Not to mention the punctured lung just for good measure, as she put it. This would be her first active assignment in over a year and it was clear to everyone else onboard that the lieutenant was extremely happy with this opportunity to get back to what she loved most.

Over the other side sat Ensign Cho.  Though born on one of Earth many well established colonies, it was clear she still retained much of her Korean family heritage.  She was very quiet and could often go unnoticed; which may have seemed a little odd for a communication officer.  But people had said she was good at her job.  When she spoke for only the second time whilst she’d been at her station in that afternoon she announced that the captain had an incoming message, which he elected to take in his Ready Room.

_____

He sat down in a large padded chair, turned the monitor screen on the table to face him and clicked a couple of buttons on the small keyboard lying next to it.  The image on the screen changed from the Starfleet logo to the face of Commodore Bale.

“I was wondering how long it would take you, Ison.”  The Vulcan used his friend and fellow officer’s first name.

“It’s not too late to change your mind you know.” Replied the Betazoid, “What happens when Ensign Devron discovers he’s supposed to be in command of that ship and you’ve been pulling strings?”

“It’s only a temporary while I search for information. Trust me”

“This is all very…” Bale started

“Un-Vulcan like?” The Vulcan interrupted. “I know my brother is still out there.  I just want to find him before our mother passes.”

“You already have my sympathies. Good look and stay safe.”

They spoke for a few more minutes, catching up on any resent events and exchanging their thoughts.  When the communication ended and the Starfleet logo reappeared on the screen.  Salan sat for a moment in silence, he knew this was a risk; but not in the way the Commodore thought.  Salan would never describe himself the superstitious sort. Yet events from long ago had left their mark and still lingered at the back off his mind.

It had been during his time as Ensign aboard the USS Farragut, and less than 3 months before they’d been tasked with helping rescue the crew of the crashed Enterprise D.   He’d been part of a five strong away team on the planet Elas delivering medical supplies to a settlement called Ridaar.  Where a deadly virus had broken out amongst the local population.

During their time there a woman had approached them predicting their futures with a simple touch of the hand her clues to the eventual fate of the Farragut seemed unerringly accurate when the reports of her lose had reached him whilst onboard the USS Fairfax roughly two years after the encounter.

He remembered clearly the words she’d spoke to him about his own death. ‘Let the river take you to the land of kings, and when two moons become three look to the mirror for the God of Death is beckoning you aboard for the last journey in this realm. Beyond these stars the forge of the Faceless ones awaits to create you anew. And you will become their destroyer’

_____

Ten minutes later after he’d gathered his thoughts; Salan was back in his captains’ chair on the bridge.  He pressed the communication button connecting him with Main Engineering. “Bridge to Engineering. Mr Bellbrooke are your engines ready?”  To which a confirmatory answer was given after a brief pause.

He turned to the communications officer behind and to his right. “Ensign Cho, contact Flight Control and request clearance to launch.”

“Aye captain.” She replied before making the request.  “We are cleared to leave dock captain.  Flight Control wishes use a safe journey.”

“Ensign Stuart. Take use out”

“Aye captain. All magnetic claps disengaged.  Maneuvering thrusters at 15%.”  Lyanna went through all the commands as she imputed them on her controls.  Nothing seemed to happen at first, then slowly the small corvette began to inch forward.  After a couple of minutes the USS Jaxartes final poked its nose out into the world once more.

Once completely clear her impulse engines glowed into life. The

ship moved ever further away from the space station, Then when once well away and their course laid in; Ensign Stuart was ordered to engage the Warp Drive.  Then with a flash the point in space where the vessel had been became empty once more.

The first five days aboard the Jaxartes had gone relatively smoothly, they’d made contact with a convoy of three transport vessels under the watchful eye of one of her sister ships on the third day and exchanged news and information with them.  The following day they’d spotted a lone Orion Raider; but this ship had kept its distance and soon departed in the other direction at top speed.

So at breakfast around twenty minutes before he was due to commence his shift, Jason found himself sitting with both Dinari and Lyanna chatting about how their first patrol was going.

“How are you enjoying Engineering?” Asked the young Orion of her companion.  Jason having heard most of what was coming next tried not to choke on the piece of toast he’d just taken a bite out of, as he tried to give her a look that said ‘please no!’

“I’m thinking of transferring to the Klingon Defense Force.  I hear condition there are much more favorable!” came his reply.

“Oh.”  She began to wonder what she’d started, when the whole conversation was brought to an abrupt end.

The alarm sounded and light panels above the entrance door to the mess hall flashed yellow.  “All crews to their stations.” Came Cho’s voice over the speaker.   The three Ensigns jumped up and ran out, Jason still holding half a round of toast. “Typical.  Perfect timing!”

In less than a minute he and Lyanna where arriving on the bridge.  The captain was in his chair whilst Lieutenant Bolka sat at Tactical and an Ensign Harris was at the Conn.  The two groups quickly exchanged places and gave a brief account on the situation.

Only moments ago the Jaxartes had received a distress call from a Vanoban transport ship which was being chased by an Orion vessel.  The transport was much slower than the Raider in pursuit, so it wouldn’t be long before it came into range of its disrupters.

“The Orion will reach the Vanoban in three minutes, seven seconds.” Jason announced as he double checked the figures the Bajoran had just shown him.

“Intercept in two forty eight at warp six, captain.” Added  Stuart.

“This is going to be very close.” The Vulcan calm as always. “Got to red alert.”

The ship wide alarm sounded once more and the Yellow lights above the doors changed to red as they continued to blink on and off.

As the three vessels converged, Jason noticed a slight change in the Orion’s speed and direction. “Raider altering course to intercept use first.”

“Very well Ensign, Phasers and Torpedoes ready.” Came back the Vulcan’s voice.

“New intercept time is one minute!”

Seconds before the two warships met, the Salan simple said. “Now!” The two ships exchanged a brief volley of torpedo fire striking each other’s forward shields. But as Devron placed his fingers on the fire control instead of reddish beams of intense energy; nothing happened.  He franticly tried resetting the controls.  By then however the Raider had opened fire its disrupters and raced passed.  He was slightly relieved when having acquired the target the aft phasers did in fact fire.

_____

At the spit second Devron had gone to open fire, Lyambo heard an almighty bang to his right and smoke began drifting out in black curly from a nearby vent.  Torf grabbed himself an extinguisher from the wall and raced over to the vent.  The ship shook with the impacts of the first hits. Bellbrooke was soon contacted by the Bridge as the Captain asked what had just happened to their weapons.

“Energy surge, re-routing the power now sir,” He turned to Dinari. “Close relay Alpha 2 and re-route the power through junctions 4 and 9”

“Got you!”  Shouted back the young engineer as he darted over to the relevant control panel.

_____

Back on the bridge Ensign Stuart was doing her level best to dodge the Orion ship and its weapons fire, whilst trying to give Devron the opportunity to fire those Phasers that were currently working on the corvette along with her photon torpedoes.  In that respect though the other ship was not being very cooperative.  The Orion Raider had sensed right from the start something was amiss when the Federation vessel had not opened fire with its phasers until was heading away after his first attack run.  As he swung around for his fourth run keeping at an angle preventing the Jaxartes from being able to target the Orion with Torpedoes; he’d choose that moment to switch most of his shield power to the disrupters.  The Orion expected to render a devastating blow on this pass and leave his opponent crippled.  It was also at that same moment power was restored to the Jaxartes forward Phasers.

At point blank range Jason opened fire on the Raider, its forward shields flashing and collapsing in the blink of an eye.  The shocked and slightly wounded Orion made no attempt to alter her course giving the young Ensign a perfect shot at its retreating rear.  Like those at the front these deliberately weakened shields didn’t stand a chance either.  With no possible way of protecting itself the attacker made as rapid an exit as it was able.  Sections of the hull clearly showing some signs of damage.

They had faced their first real enemy and come out on top, but things had so nearly been very different.  The source was found to be a single AR1107-04 whose charred remains Torf had eventual pulled free along with a few bits of wire and other control systems once the fire was out.  Someone had not replaced it during the engineers rush to complete all the work. The ships new and upgraded weapons system didn’t give the phasers any more energy and greater power when firing than in the past but simple allowed the required power to reach where it was needed at a faster rate.  The older piece of equipment had not been able to handle the faster flow of energy running through it, causing it to explode rather loudly.

Lyambo still didn’t much care for the attitude of the Chief Engineer, but after this almost disastrous event, he was starting to understand the older man’s views a little more clearly.  He also felt extremely glad it wouldn’t be him on the receiving end of the chiefs’ current anger.  No, some other poor guy would feel that full force later.  For now the throwing of a small handheld diagnostics device against one wall had been the other man’s main outlet.

The Jaxartes spent the next few days escorting the lone Vanoban transport further into a much safer area of Federation space.  Towards the end of the third day; they came across a pair of medium freighters both with mainly human crews.  Both ships where lightly armed with their own phaser turrets which at least offered them some degree of defense, but they welcomed the company of the corvette and the added protection she provided.

Twice during the following day an Orion vessel briefly popped into extreme sensor range, but at no point did it come any closer than that.  Though it was impossible to tell if it was either of the ships they’d previously uncounted or a different one entirely.

The following day the three friends where back together; having breakfast.  Dinari had received some news from home which he was sharing with his two colleagues.  “According to Oumas, my brother Charles just got his third pip or tiny silver moon as she calls them.”  Even though he’d hardly spoke to his family since joining the academy, his grandma would always keep him up to date with news and events.

“That the eldest?” Jason asked knowing that there was only nine minutes between two of the brothers being born.  “So he’s made Commander.  I thought he was a surgeon?”

“Yes, our oldest is Charles,” Dinari smiled. “And yes he’s a surgeon, but also going to be second office aboard one of those huge hospital ships.  Building a new one; the USS Chapel, I think she said they planned on calling it.”

The three of them managed to finish eating and chatting in piece.  Before heading off for their respective duties.

_____

Once in her seat and at the controls; captain Salan gave Ensign Stuart a new course heading and the Jaxartes parted company with the other ships once more.

It wasn’t all that long though before there scanners picked up indications of another vessel.  Something small, about the size of a medium shuttle.  It was heading away from them almost as if it had tried to avoid contact.

“Ensign lay in an intercept, and let us see what our little friend is up to.”

“Aye captain, bringing her about on heading 244 mark 028.”

Had the Federation ship stayed with the freighters even only another hour they would have never noticed the Ferengi sneaking about and this was making the Vulcan officer very suspicious.    That and the fact the shuttle appeared to have increased speed and altered course soon after they’d turned towards it.

“Ensign Cho.” Salan turned his head away from the main view screen. “Hail the Ferengi and order him to slow down”

It was at least two minutes before they got any response and when they did he ordered it up on to the screen.  The image of a large and slightly annoyed Ferengi appeared on the screen.  “What do you hu-mon want now?” He exclaimed leaning forward close to the camera at his end until nothing but his own head was visible. “Oh Vul-can even worse!”  Hr learned back again, folding his arms.

“I’m Lieutenant-Commander Salan of the USS Jaxartes.” Announced Salan. “We thought you might require an escort to wherever it is your going.”

“Going, going!  Why would I be going anywhere?”  With that the Ferengi abruptly cut communications.

“Captain he’s blocking or scans.” Lieutenant Bolka informed Salan.

“Ensign Stuart, get us in close.  If he wants to make a complaint later he can take the matter up with Starfleet.”

She confirmed the order he’d just given and adjusted the corvettes coarse appropriately.

It wasn’t long before the Jaxartes had closed to within two thousand meters of the Ferengi vessel. At which point the Ferengi reappeared on the view screen.  “This is harassment!”  He exclaimed. “I am an innocent law abiding citizen going about my legitimate and lawful business.”  The whole thing sounded well-rehearsed and practiced, as if this individual was in the habit of doing things he shouldn’t.

“I didn’t catch your name, by the way.”  The Vulcan officer asked politely

“I am DiaMon Talr if you must know and this.” He paused a moment to drag another Ferengi into view pressing the other males fat bulbous nose right up against the screen. “This is my useless pilot Norr.”  The face disappeared just as swiftly as it appeared.

“May we come aboard?” Asked Salan, just to gauge the Diamon’s response.

“Oh why not.” Talr leaned back in his chair waving his arms around. “Bring the whole crew over if you must.”

“Thank you DiaMon Talr.  I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”

After breaking contact once more, Salan got up from his captain’s chair.  “Number one you have the bridge.  Ensign Devron with me.”

_____

Not long after the two Starfleet officers materialized onboard DiaMon Talrs’ ship.  Which to both their surprise, though it was impossible to tell on the face of the Vulcan; the Ferengi shuttle craft seemed remarkably empty.  Some might even go as far to say, too empty.  Talr seemed no more cordial in person than he had on the view screen and Norr had the look of an underling who’d basically been told to keep his mouth shut.  He sat there fidgeting, not sure what to do with his hands.

Jason tried his best to suppress a smile, as he and the Lieutenant-Commander made an inspection of the ship.

After twenty minutes they returned to the Jaxartes. As they stepped off the transporter pad, Salan turned to the young Ensign.  “What do you make of all that?”

“I’d say he was hiding something.  But as to what and where, I honestly haven’t a clue.”

“Indeed Mr. Devron, indeed.”

As they escorted the disgruntled Ferengi out of the area, the Vulcan captain convened a meeting; consisting of himself Lieutenant Bolka and Ensigns Devron and Stuart.   The four of them sat around the large table in the aft observation lounge.  Through one of the large windows Jason could clearly see the shuttle following them, lagging behind like a scalded child.  “Funny how the DaiMons’ ship can only manage warp 3 all of a sudden.” He mused.

“A remarkable piece of bad fortune.” Added the Vulcan making it rather clear he felt nothing of the sort. “I even offered him the services of out chief engineer.”

“Can’t we just drag him along with a Tractor-beam?” Lyanna enquired leaning back in her chair arms folded.

“We’d never hear the last of it, Salan replied. “The diplomatic repercussions of such an action would be rather server.  The fact he was willing enough to let us on board was because it was to his advantage. No we’re here to go over the data and see if we can figure out what he’s up to.”

Between them the four crew went over everything that had happened, sensor logs, the fact aft half of the shuttle was shielded and the discovery that it was almost totally empty when two of them had beamed over.  Another five or six minutes past with barely a whisper between them.  Then Lyanna spoke. “Oh you crafty little….” She enlarged a section of the image she’d been studying on a PADD and turned the device around so the other three could see what she’d just been looking at. “Right there; this second course change.  He almost comes to a stop.”

“Now why would he feel the need to do that?” Questioned Jason.

“Drop off his cargo before we could get near him, may be?” The Bajoran added.

“And just leave it floating there!” Devron pondered. “How does he get it back with use around watching him?”

As if on cue the answer was given to him.  “Bridge to captain, Ferengi D’Kora just dropped out of warp close to where intercepted the shuttle.”

“Thank you Ensign Harris.” Salan brought both his hands together on top of the table his long slender fingers touching at the tip. “I believe there we have our answer.  Whatever it was DaiMon Talr felt it necessary to dump is just getting collected by his friends.”

_____

When they were all back on the bridge a short while later the D’Kora started to move once more, this time on a pursuit course.  Travelling at just under warp 6, it hardly took any time at all for it to catch up the corvette and her small companion.

As the warship closed in. DaiMon Talt made contact with the Jaxartes. His large face appeared on the main view screen.  Looking very smug and happy with himself.  “I’m afraid I must leave you now.” He turned his head to the right, as if looking to another screen. “My ship is here.  Goodbye Federation.  It has been a pleasure.”  It was like he was taunting them.

Once his image had disappeared again, Ensign Devron turned to his captain.  “Permission to have a malfunction in the weapons system and fire a torpedo right up his smug backside!”

“Permission denied Mr Devron.”  The Vulcan replied in a flat tone, even though deep down he was thinking the same thing as the young officer seated in front of him. “He may have out maneuvered us this time.  But we’ll be ready next time.  Whatever money making scheme the DaiMon has lined up, is probably not over yet.”

They watched as the D’Kora came to a near stop, and the small Ferengi shuttle craft entered the larger ships main hanger bay.  No more than a couple of minutes after the shuttle had moved out of view than the warship departed at maximum warp.

“Ensign Stuart, set a course to get use back into our patrol area.  Warp 5.”

“Aye captain, course layed in.”

“Engage.”

Once more the USS Jaxartes was alone in the vast expanse of space with only the stars for company.