Captain Cambil Bexa stood in her quarters, enveloped in stillness, taking a moment to reflect on the recent events that had transpired. She stood before a masterfully crafted Bajoran tapestry with her hands open wide, her eyes shut, and her head bowed in reverence. The room was dimly lit, with two candles illuminating either side of the tapestry, their gentle flickering casting warm shadows on the walls.

In a soft, almost inaudible voice, Cambil uttered a prayer as though speaking directly to the Bajoran Prophets. “Prophets, hear my plea. I implore you to guide the souls of those who perished in the Dominion’s incursion into the Deneb sector to the Celestial Temple. I pray especially for Captain Rio Canção. May she walk with you forever. She and those who gave their lives for us deserve the peace and tranquillity of your divine abode. Please, help them find their way to you.”

She remained motionless, allowing herself to listen for a response, feeling a deep sense of serenity wash over her. She knew that the Prophets had heard her prayer. She lingered there for a few more minutes, reflecting on the recent events and lost lives. She acknowledged that it was her responsibility to safeguard her crew and the Federation, but she also knew she could not do it alone. She needed the guidance and blessings of the Prophets to sustain her.

With a deep inhalation, Captain Cambil rose to her feet and extinguished the candles, one by one. As she walked away from the tapestry, she whispered to herself, “May the Prophets watch over us all.”

“Bridge to Captain Cambil,” interrupted her first officer, Commander Hunsen.

“Computer, lights,” Cambil ordered, automatically the room lit up in response before she reached for the combadge that was sat behind her on the small glass coffee table. After putting it back on her uniform jacket, she tapped it. “Go ahead, Tremt.”

“Ma’am, you have an incoming private hail; it’s Naprem.” Hunsen shared. 

Hearing her first officer mention her husband’s name surprised Cambil. She had written to him only last week about where the Themis was heading. Both knew they wouldn’t be able to see one another while she was back in the Alpha Quadrant. “Pipe him through down here, please, Tremt.”

A few seconds later and a holographic version of her husband appeared before her. Cambil Naprem had a rugged and masculine build. He had piercing blue eyes and a strong jawline, giving him a striking and charismatic look. Though Bexa liked her husband’s muscular figure and chiselled physique, that wasn’t the only thing she found attractive about him. His confidence and charm, along with his sense of humour, were other factors she loved about him. He had a full head of dark hair styled messy and tousled. 

“Naprem,” She said with a huge grin. “This is a lovely unexpected interruption.”  

Her husband nodded. “I hope I’m not catching you during a shift?”

“Not at all,” Cambil replied, shaking her hand and waving off his concern before placing her hands on her hips. “Is everything okay?”

“It is,” He confirmed with an extra nod. “I’m contacting you as I’ve got some news.” Naprem paused. “Bexa, the boys and I can’t do this anymore with you so far away. So the boys and I have been chatting.”

Her stomach flipped over several times as she said those words, and Bexa immediately felt some dread. “Chatting? Chatting about what?” She asked. 

Naprem’s expression changed to a smirk as he rubbed his stubbly chin. “Well, how’d you like to have some roommates on your big old starship?”

A bit confused at first, eventually Cambil realised what he was saying. “Are you serious?” She asked. “Starfleet ordered all civilians off the ships after we returned from the Delta Quadrant. How are you getting around it?”

“Haven’t you heard? That order has been rescinded. It’s almost like the Prophets are shining upon us, Bexa. So what do you say?”

Surprised and ecstatic, the captain nodded. “Absolutely! I’ll order them to expand our quarters, and once we’ve finished at Earth, I’ll have the Themis hot tail it all the way to Olbari to pick you all up!”

He chuckled. “Slow down, Captain Cambil.” Naprem raised his hands at her. “We’re already on our way to you. We should be on Earth in about six days.”

“I can’t wait!” She smirked. “That is the best news, Naprem. I’ll get us a good bottle of Spring Wine to enjoy!”

“The bottle of the seventy-one you’ve been hiding from me would be good!”

Annoyed but not surprised he knew about her hidden stash of Bajoran Spring Wine, Bexa agreed and said goodbye to her husband. 

She couldn’t wait to see her husband and sons. She then looked around her quarters and realised so much needed to be done to make it big for them all to live in. 

Lieutenant Commander T’Rani sat on the biobed in the sickbay of the USS Themis, curious to hear what the doctor had to tell her as she awaited the results of the scan. Her partner, Lieutenant Commander Samris, sat beside her, offering a comforting presence as they both hoped for the best. The chief medical officer, Lieutenant Remi Forbes, thoroughly examined the four-month-old foetus growing within T’Rani’s womb with the utmost care and attention.

As a first-time mother, T’Rani was acutely aware of the potential risks associated with a Vulcan and Romulan pregnancy. She desired everything to be perfect, and the possibility of complications only added to the uncertainty. However, Forbes exuded a calm and reassuring presence, his expertise and professionalism offering hope.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Forbes looked up from the scanner and offered a warm smile to the couple. “Great news,” he said, his voice conveying a sense of joy. “The foetus is thriving, and there are no signs of any abnormalities. I expect Lieutenant Commander T’Rani to give birth in five months without complications.”

Relief washed over T’Rani, and Samris gently squeezed her hand, his own relief palpable. “Thank you, Remi,” he said, his gratitude evident. “Your expertise is much appreciated.”

Forbes nodded, his gaze gentle and reassuring. “I’m delighted to help,” he said. “It’s always a joy to witness a healthy pregnancy, and this will be the first child born on the Themis since we transferred from Odyssey, so it’s extra special.”

T’Rani sat up a little straighter, her mind racing with questions and concerns. “May I inquire if there are any specific actions we should take or avoid to ensure a healthy pregnancy?” she asked, her words measured and polite.

Forbes took a moment to reflect, his eyes scanning through the data on his monitor. “As I said to you last month, it’s essential to maintain a nutritious diet and get enough rest, as with any pregnancy,” he replied, his tone thoughtful. “Avoiding stress is equally crucial, although I understand it can be challenging on a starship. You’ve done well, even with everything we’ve endured recently, but let’s hope the Frontier Day celebrations give us all a break.”

T’Rani nodded, a sense of gratitude washing over her. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said, her words laced with sincerity. “We will do our utmost.”

Forbes offered a reassuring smile, his eyes kind and compassionate. “I am confident that you will,” he said. “Lieutenant Commander T’Rani, you are under the care of a capable team. I will continue to keep an eye on your progress to ensure that everything is on track.”

Appreciating his continued support, Samris and T’Rani left sickbay after thanking him and returning to their quarters. Walking down the corridors, the two of them remained quiet. The silence kept them calm, and even when they did arrive in their quarters, the only sound they made was ordering a drink from the replicator. After sitting down on the sofa together, side-by-side, it was Samris who interrupted the quietness.

“So, how are you feeling about becoming a parent?” He asked before taking a sip from his tea.

“I am,” T’Rani answered but paused. “Contempt with the issue.”

Samris rolled his eyes at the ever-so-Vulcan response she gave. “I can see that.”

Ignoring his sarcastic tone, T’Rani asked him a similar question.

“I think I can’t wait to have a little Samris or T’Rani running around here,” Samris answered honestly. “Getting to show them the galaxy will be such a great thing to do.”

“We should consider discussing parental leave,” T’Rani bluntly said. She turned to Samris. “I do not want my duties to suffer.”

“How will they suffer, T’Rani?” Samris asked with a slight chuckle. “Becoming a mother isn’t a disability or fighting off a battalion of Jem’Hadar!”

“Captain Cambil has placed a significant amount of trust into me as her second officer; I cannot afford to let her down,” T’Rani answered. “This is still an early phase in her captaincy of the Themis. It will not serve her or Starfleet well if I become absent from my duties.”

“Are you serious, T’Rani?” Samris challenged her.

“Very,” She answered. 

Samris was somewhat surprised, a little bit shocked, but then, on the other hand, he knew he should have expected something like this from T’Rani. “Do you hear yourself, T’Rani? Do you honestly believe the captain will be annoyed at you for becoming a mother? You do know she is one herself, right?”

“I do, I am concerned, and yes, I do know that,” T’Rani replied to each question individually. “Furthermore, we should discuss the status of our relationship.”

Sitting up straight, Samris looked at her. “Hold yourself there, commander,” He pointed at her. “Let’s take a step back and discuss the issue of you and your duties. Firstly, Captain Cambil is your mentor, someone who you’ve told me on multiple occasions you admire. I know she feels the same for you. She will understand that you will need to focus on your newborn baby; not only does she get it, but she is forced to follow Starfleet regulations regarding parental leave. And if that means for a bit of a while that others, like Cline, Trev, Decter or Abbej, have to pick up the slack while you are not around, then that will have to be it.”

Realising she could not dispute his logic, T’Rani nodded her head. “Very well, however, back to my previous point. We need to discuss our relationship’s status.”

“Why?” Samris asked her. “We’re happy where we are, aren’t we?”

“I am satisfied with our relationship, so I suggest we move it forward and we get engaged, followed by a swift marriage. If you are in agreement, then we can go forward in discussing the matter with parents who are visiting tomorrow.”

Further shock and surprise overwhelmed Samris, and the Romulan counsellor was speechless.

Seeing as he had nothing to say, T’Rani continued her statement. “I have also invited your parents to join us while we are at Earth.”

Samris then dropped his mug on the floor upon hearing that news.

Lieutenant Commander Cline Lenjir sat back in his chair, savouring the rich flavour of his raktajino. The warmth of the drink spread through his body, and he felt himself relax in the company of his colleagues. The Ten Forward lounge was a pleasant place on the USS Themis where crew members could relax and hang out. The lounge had big windows with great views of stars and galaxies. There were comfy seats for groups to chat, and the decor was modern and cosy, with calm lighting and artwork. The bar had a lot of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and many snacks and meals were on the replicator menu. The holographic waiters were always on standby to offer a service with a smile. Enjoying a moment to relax while the ship moved slowly through the Sol System towards Earth Station McKinley, the Tiburonian chief security and tactical officer was enjoying a catch-up with Lieutenant Commander Abbej and Lieutenant Decter Jines when the captain had changed the duty roster to give them all a bit more time off to prepare for the upcoming Frontier Day celebrations. 

With a curious glint in his eye, Lenjir turned to his friend, Abbej, and asked, “How did you manage to patch things up with Tierra after all this time?”

Abbej’s face lit up with a gentle smile, and the Boslic chief science officer replied, “It wasn’t easy, but we both realised that we still loved each other and wanted to make it work.”

Jines leaned forward, eager to hear more. “What made you realise that you still loved each other?” he inquired. The Rutian chief operations officer had picked up his coffee and swirled the hot black contents around in his mug. 

Abbej paused, considering her answer. “It was a combination of things, really. We had both grown and changed since we were last together, but when we talked, we realised that the things we loved about each other were still there. We were able to reminisce about our past without any resentment or anger, and that made us realise how much we meant to each other.” Abbej picked up her cup of tea, and she spoke more before taking a sip from it. “All that and an invading Dominion fleet made us realise that our lives were too short of throwing away our marriage.”

Lenjir nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “I always knew you two were meant to be together.”

Jines raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What gave you that impression?”

Lenjir shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know; call it intuition. But whenever they talked about each other, there was always this spark in your eyes. Captain Cambil has had it for her husband, and I’ve seen Samris display the same thing for T’Rani.”

Abbej chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Well, I’m glad someone believed in us.”

Jines smiled warmly. “I’m happy for you. It’s not easy finding someone you can truly connect with.”

“Sounds like someone is becoming soppy in their old age,” Abbej teased.

“Hey, I’m still the young eye candy on the senior staff!” Jines said with a smirk. “Unlike you two oldies!”

“Decter, there is literally one year between us,” Lenjir reminded his friend. “And I’m certain Remi is younger than you by two years.”

“No way, I thought I was younger than him!” Jines said in a defeated tone. “Damn!”

Abbej chuckled as she finished the last sip from her tea. “Well, gentlemen, while I leave you to evaluate your youthfulness, I have some packing to finish before I see my former wife.” She stood up. “I’ll see you boys in seven days.”

“Seven days? I thought the captain gave us only five days of leave?” Lenjir asked, almost protesting at hearing that from Abbej.

“The chief science officer isn’t needed for those two days to run through security and operational checks,” She blew them a friendly kiss, “Have a great few days off!”

Both men chuckled as they watched Abbej leave.

“So, seriously, Cline, do you think I look much older than Remi?” Jines asked in an anxious tone. 

Lenjir looked to his friend and shook his head before taking a large gulp from his raktajino. He couldn’t be bothered to stroke Jines’ ego at that point.

Standing tall and resolute on the bridge of the Themis, Commander Tremt Hunsen gazed out into the vast expanse of space before him, his eyes scanning the horizon with a keen and watchful gaze. He was overseeing the ship’s arrival at Earth Station McKinley, and he could feel the excitement and anticipation bubbling up inside of him.

Near him at the engineering station, Lieutenant Commander Trev Brashlend was hard at work monitoring the ship’s power systems, his fingers dancing across the control panel as he made subtle adjustments and tweaks to ensure everything was functioning at optimal capacity. The Tellarite chief engineer was overseeing the last matters that needed to be sorted so they could all enjoy a few days of rest when they handed control over the ship to the teams at McKinley. As they worked, the two men fell into a conversation that was both easy and relaxed, their voices low and steady as they discussed their personal lives and the challenges they faced as members of the fleet.

“You know, I miss Tellar Prime,” Trev said wistfully, his brow furrowing as he thought of his distant homeworld. “I can’t wait to get back there and see my family. It’s been too long.”

Hunsen nodded sympathetically, his expression one of understanding and empathy. “I know what you mean. I miss Betazed terribly. But at least we’ll get a few days off here on Earth, right? It will be a nice change of pace. No more Dominion ships to deal with.”

Trev grinned, his mood lightening at the thought of some well-deserved downtime. “Yeah, I plan to take just a few days off, but I don’t want to be away from the ship for too long. It’s good to have a balance.”

Hunsen chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I hear you. I’m planning to take Counsellor Horin to Paris for a surprise romantic break. It’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to relax together. We need to recharge our batteries.”

As the ship finally docked with the station, both men felt a sense of relief and satisfaction wash over them. The docking procedure had gone without a hitch, a testament to the crew’s skill and professionalism, and they could now take some time to rest and recharge. Tapping the intercom button on the captain’s chair, Hunsen opened a ship-wide channel. “All hands, we are home.”

The safe harbour of Earth Station wrapped its arms around the Ross-class ship like a tight hug. 

For now, the Themis was safe.

Captain Cambil’s countenance was aglow with delight as she gracefully placed yet another exquisite piece of tableware on the already impeccable table. Her private dining room was a sight to behold, with breathtaking surroundings that were sure to enrapture her esteemed guests. Every detail had been meticulously arranged with utmost care and precision, from the elegant table setting to the overall ambience, perfectly suited for an intimate and unforgettable gathering. Clearly, Captain Cambil had spared no effort in ensuring that her guests would be treated to an experience of unparalleled extravagance and refinement.

She checked her reflection in the nearby long-standing mirror and was pleased with her outfit. It was noticeable that she had opted for a change in attire. Instead of her typical Starfleet uniform, she donned a lengthy, deep blue gown that flowed elegantly. She wanted tonight’s gathering to be unrelated to work, as she planned to host a celebratory meal for her senior staff.

In addition to her unadorned yet tasteful attire, she had taken the time to alter her coiffure. Cambil had artfully fashioned her locks into refined curls that delicately encircled her countenance with a sense of refinement and sophistication. Her customary updo or simple straight ponytail was deemed unnecessary for the occasion. Tonight was special; they would celebrate Frontier Day Eve (as Counsellor Samris had named it) and use the time to continue to build bridges among each other. 

Though their time in the Delta Quadrant had forged good working relationships, there was still some teambuilding effort that Cambil could sense, especially after the Lost Fleet incursion into the Deneb Sector had put them onto a war footing. She knew she may have been rushing things to get her crew to work more closely together. Still, she wanted to show them off in tomorrow’s fleet formation as one of the finest crews in Starfleet. If she was to admit it, she wanted the Themis crew to be just like it was on the Odyssey after the crew had found their feet and started working better together. To that end, she remembered how often Captain McCallister had organised events for the senior staff to ‘mingle’—from dinners to late-night poker games to celebrating the Bajoran Gratitude Festival together. It took a lot of effort on his side, but it built the foundations for the crew to work better together. Not that she had any concerns over how they worked together; fortunately, most of her senior staff had come from the Odyssey, but she wanted it to be so much more. Tonight was the first step.

“Computer, play some Bajoran music, something soft by Tor Jolan,” Cambil ordered, and the music came to life over the speakers. People began arriving shortly after. Instead of holograms serving, Cambil decided to personally prepare each dish and offer a variety of drinks for everyone’s pleasure. Her senior staff only needed to help themselves from the buffet-style set-up.

“everyone’s”“’‘tomorrow’stonight’sCaptain, all of this looks so delicious. Thank you for organising this,” Abbej said as she helped herself to some Hasperate soufflé. Abbej looked stunning in her choice of attire, donning a stylish and chic sleeveless black dress that perfectly complemented her luscious deep purple tresses. Her outfit exuded an air of sophistication, and it was clear that she had put much thought into it for the occasion.

Raising her glass of Spring wine, Cambil bowed her head to her Boslic chief science officer. “Thank you, Abbej, and I am glad you could make it tonight. I know you’ve been spending the last few days with Tierra.” Cambil said with a friendly smile. “How are things going?”

Abbej mimicked the captain’s smile. “So much better, thank you, captain, and don’t worry, Tierra was eager to get back to the Odyssey to see what the engineers had done to her before they launched ahead of the Enterprise tomorrow.”  

 “Well, we can’t have the Odyssey breaking down as it goes through Spacedock’s doors!” Cambil commented. 

“What’s that about the Odyssey breaking down?” asked Tremt Hunsen as he walked over to where Cambil and Abbej stood. 

Hunsen, the Odyssey’s previous chief engineer, still took great pride in his former position and the work he accomplished while there. As a result, Cambil explained her hope again that the Odyssey wouldn’t have a mechanical mishap before it left Spacedock. 

Hunsen chuckled after hearing it. “Well, if not, we would just have to tow her out!”

“That’s not quite the pomp and circumstance that Starfleet is looking for, Tremt.” Cambil reminded her first officer.

Across the room, Doctor Forbes was talking with Lieutenant Jines. Both men were dressed in their civilian attire. Forbes was attired in a modest yet elegant maroon shirt, complemented by a pair of tastefully understated grey trousers. On the other hand, Jines chose to don an open white collared shirt that exuded an air of casual sophistication, which he expertly paired with a sleek and refined navy blue trouser ensemble. 

“So, how was the trip to Terra Nova?” Jines asked while sipping on a Saurian brandy. 

Forbes acknowledged with a smile, “I got to catch up with my family, my sister, and my brother-in-law during my brief visit. They just welcomed their third child. My mother teased me about not finding ‘the one’ yet.”

Jines had a little laugh and remarked, “And I thought my parents were the only ones who did that to me.”

Shaking his head, Forbes explained how much his parents had always compared his love life to his sister’s. “It’s been a running joke for several family reunions, and they wonder why I’m rarely home for them.” He sipped on his own glass of Andorian ale. “Did you get a chance to speak to your dad while we’ve been back?”

Jines exhaled deeply. “I did, but it was short and sweet as he had to get back to work – the life of a Rutian constable is never-ending.” He paused before taking a bigger swig of his drink. “Well, that’s what he says.” He winced after swallowing such a large amount of the brandy.

“Ah, man, I’m sorry to hear that.” Forbes empathised with his friend. “How about after we’ve finished tomorrow’s celebration, you, me and Cline head down to Earth for one last crazy night?”

“That sounds like a great plan, my friend,” Jines agreed, just as Lenjir walked over. 

“I heard my name,” Lenjir said with curiosity. “What’s happening?”

“Us three hitting a few bars and clubs down on Earth? I know some perfect places in London. What do you think?” Forbes offered. 

Lenjir looked around the room before nodding. “Sure, the captain said we get the evening off after we’ve finished with all the display antics Command wants us to do.”

Sitting at one end of the table, T’Rani and Samris sat with Trev Brashlend, discussing their upcoming nuptials. He had been engrossed in what they had to say as they ate together.

“So, will it be a traditional Vulcan wedding, a Romulan one, or a mixture?” The Tellarite asked.

T’Rani answered. “After our parents met, it was agreed that it would be a combination of our heritages.”

“Though they had some ideas on what they would look like, we’ve told them we will plan it ourselves and share the details later,” Samris added.

Trev nodded in excitement, a mouth full of food. He quickly chopped down on what he was enjoying and swallowed it. “Will you do it before we head back to the Delta Quadrant?”

”We haven’t decided yet,” Samris answered.

“Hopefully, there is not another invasion to delay our mission,” T’Rani stated as she cut up carefully and gently her plate of pok tar. The Vulcan delicacy was her favourite, and she appreciated that Captain Cambil had made it for this evening. “That said, if it is favourable, then we would like to have the marriage here on the Themis.”

“The Themis?” Trev repeated. “Nothing gives off good marital vibes than under the hue of a warp drive!” 

“Or a Hirogen Hunting Party!” Samris said with a grin which neither Trev nor T’Rani appreciated.

Back where Captain Cambil was standing, Abbej had left her and Hunsen while she went to join in with Lenjir and the others. 

“This was a good idea, ma’am.” Hunsen complimented. 

“Thank you, Number One,” She replied with a smile. “How’s Louwanna doing?”

“She’s fine, just struggling to stand for too long. Doctor Slyvexs keeps teasing her that she has an entire Cadet Squadron in there. Her mother wishes to visit the Odyssey before we return to the Delta Quadrant,” Hunsen shared. 

“I take it you want a lot of work on the Themis that day?” Cambil asked with a smirk.

Hunsen nodded. “How could you tell?” 

Both laughed for a bit. 

“You never told me how your time with Naprem and the boys went while you were on Earth?” Hunsen asked.

Cambil smiled. “It was nice to have a catch-up. We spent a few days in Lake Garda in Italy. And I’m so pleased they’re joining me on the Themis.”

“You never told me. Did you find out who rescinded the order about us and the others not having civilians on board?” Hunsen said as he dashed his glass with Aldebaran whiskey and offered a top-up to Cambil with Bajoran spring wine. 

She held her glass out and watched as he poured the wine in. “I passed it onto James in the end, and he said he couldn’t get further with it, so he left it with Horatio to use his contacts among Starfleet Intelligence to discover who was looking out for us. We know it came from within the brass within the Fourth Fleet, but it didn’t have an admiral’s name attached to it. Just a standard confirmation code with it.”

“Well, at least the Themis and Odyssey will feel a bit more alive, plus once they’ve chosen a new captain for Triton, I suppose they’d appreciate having their civilian experts back on board,” Hunsen said. He finished pouring her drink and picked up his. “Talking of the Triton, I heard a rumour they’re considering Corella Banfield for the centre chair.”

“Really?” Cambil said as she lifted her glass to her lips. “She would certainly be a good choice.” 

“I thought so, too,” Hunsen agreed as he looked at their crew. “If that happens, I reckon we may end up getting a transfer request from Abbej to return to the Odyssey.”

“You may be right,” Cambil sighed. “With her and Tierra working things out, she may want to be closer to her.”

“I’ll start looking for possible replacements,” Hunsen said quietly.

Cambil shook her head. “Leave it for now, Tremt. Let’s enjoy Frontier Day and cross that bridge if it comes to it.”

Carrying Trev over their shoulders, Captain Cambil with Doctor Forbes were trying to keep the Tellarite chief engineer alive for now. Holding her phaser out in front of her, Cambil was determined that she (and the rest of the senior staff) were to reach their safe fallback position. When Lenjir announced it was safe to move, Cambil ordered them off the turbolift and towards Sickbay. 

Proceeding across deck twelve, they came across more of their crew who the Borg had taken over. Moving off her bridge so quickly, the captain hadn’t had enough time to digest everything that had happened so far. Instead, Cambil was living in the moment. Her thoughts were rushing from one idea to another. As the others laid down phase fire, she worked with Samris to carry the injured Tellarite to the side junction they used as a defensive point. Leaving Forbes to deal with Trev, she joined the others in fighting off the horde of partially assimilated crew trying to kill them.

“This is ridiculous,”  Hunsen grumbled as he took out two officers from airponics. “By the grace of the Four Deities.”

Cambil couldn’t agree anymore with her Betazoid first officer. This was unbelievable. How were they meant to survive this? Before she could respond, T’Rani had spoken for her.

“There is no logic in this situation, commander,” The Vulcan pilot said as she took down an engineer. So far, they were winning—only three more to go before they could reach sickbay safely.

“My love, this is no time to begin debating logic. This is a new version of the Borg we are dealing with and not exactly the type we can be certain follow any logic,” Samris said. The Romulan counsellor was crouching down by his fiancée’s knees to get a different angle.

“Samris may be right,” Jines added as he took out a security officer – two left to go. The chief operations officer was nursing an impressive bruise under his left eye after he had tackled one of the junior officers on the bridge. His hand-to-hand combat effort had resulted in them punching him back before Hunsen had stunned them. “That said, I firmly believe that once a Borg, always a Borg!”

“Shit,” Forbes shouted in frustration as he threw his medical tricorder and the hypospray in his hands onto the floor.

Cambil turned around, as did Hunsen, to look at the doctor, just as Lenjir took out the last Borg. Both captain and first officer were surprised as Forbes looked at them with a sad expression. Trev had died in his arms. His injuries from a phaser set to a high setting in close proximity were too much for the doctor to treat without access to sickbay. They had just lost their chief engineer.

“Shit!” Forbes repeated as he pushed back the tears and stood up. He ripped off his dress uniform jacket and placed it over Trev’s face and body. 

Cambil looked at Hunsen. She may not have been able to read his mind, but she knew what he was thinking. The loss of their chief engineer was heart-wrenching. Standing up, she vowed not to let Trev’s death beat them. They would get through this. Whatever it took. She tapped on her combadge, “Cambil to anyone who is left. If you can get off the ship, then do it.” The captain closed the channel. “Alright, listen up; we must get off this deck before the Borg traces our location. Ideas?”

Jines, who had placed a comforting hand on Forbes’ shoulder to consolidate the loss of Tre, turned to his captain. “Let’s take Jefferies tube seventeen via sickbay, captain.”

“Why Jefferies tube seventeen, Decter?” Cambil asked her.

“It sits behind environmental controls,” Jines answers. “We pick up some neurozine canisters and then flood the entire ship.”

“The Borg had locked down environmental controls like most of the other primary command systems,” Lenjir added.

“Probably not the backup emergency systems,” Forbes stated as he composed himself. “Decter’s idea will work if we simulate a ship-wide biohazard, making the computer think there’s contamination on all decks.”

“Forcing the ventilation system to open,” Jines added. 

Agreeing to the idea, Cambil smiled at them both. “I like it; let’s get to sickbay.” She ordered

“What about everyone else on the ship that isn’t with us and not a Borg?” Hunsen asked. 

“Unfortunately, they may have to be collateral damage once we release the gas,” Cambil said as they walked over the officers they had just stunned. Picking up their weapons, the group moved quickly through the corridor and eventually reached Sickbay. 

Moving in fast, they checked to ensure the area was clear. Once it was safe, Forbes got to work collecting the canisters. Everyone else secured sickbay by locking the doors before using their phasers to melt the doors together.

“Even if this works, surely the Borg on the other ships will notice their drones on here are not operational any more. What’s to stop them from attacking us and destroying us like they did to the Excelsior?” Samris asked aloud.

Realising he had a point, the group paused. Cambil knew he was right. With the Fleet Formation mode in effect, they could lose everything if they took the Borg out on their ship. 

It was a no-win scenario. 

Cambil would prefer to sacrifice the Themis instead of letting the Borg use it for whatever else they had planned. Then an idea hit her head.

“Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Holographic program,” Cambil said. 

“Welcome to Sickbay; please state the nature of the medical emergency,” spoke the EMH in her deep feminine voice. Stood before them was Themis’s holographic doctor, that had been updated just before they had left for the Delta Quadrant earlier in the year. Cambil had named her after the Bajoran doctor who delivered her as a baby. Korean was an average-height Bajoran woman with thick, curly brown hair and a broad, friendly smile. 

“Korena, am I right in saying you have the authorisation to modify the fetal transport unit?” Cambil asked the holographic Bajoran woman. 

Confused by the question, the EMH just nodded. “Yes, captain, myself and Doctor Forbes can both do that.”

“Then,” Cambil said as she shoved a spare phaser into Korena’s hand, “I need you to do it so you can beam all of us out of the Jefferies tube and then beam us to any of the shuttles or escape pods that remain.”

Still perplexed by what the captain was asking of her, Cambil quickly summarised what they were dealing with and planning to do. The EMH eventually nodded, and with some help from Hunsen, they modified the transporter to work on a larger group and not just a baby. Being a non-primary system, the Borg would have no access to it. 

Cambil then turned to them all. “Here’s the plan, we knock out the Borg, and then Doctor Korena will beam us to an escape vehicle. We’ll get off the Themis before the Borg realise what we’ve done and where we’ve gone.” Pausing, she looked at them all. “Let’s get moving,” She ordered her crew. 

They all nodded and knew this plan may work or may not. Either way, they would do some damage before trying to find a safe haven somewhere. With the fleet now attacking Spacedock, Cambil had wondered where they would go once they abandoned the ship. Perhaps Earth? Or New Berlin on the Luna colonies? Or would it be best if they went further? Maybe they should head to Alpha Centauri? Then it dawned on her, what if this Borg signal was being transmitted across the entire Federation? Had places like Vulcan, Andoria, and Tellar Prime fallen? Then she paused. What about Bajor? Had her homeworld been taken over? Had Deep Space Nine been lost? Who was protecting the Celestial Temple? Knowing she couldn’t answer any of these questions, the one final thought that had crossed her mind was knowing if her sons and husband were safe. They had organised accommodation on Earth. Would Earth survive the fleet’s attack once Spacedock fell? Probably not. Earth would most likely become like Mars. Burning in flames for years to come. Could she save her family now? She didn’t know. For that notion, she hated herself. Why didn’t she just remain on Olbari with them? At least they would have been together during this fiasco. 

As she entered the crawlspace, Cambil closed her eyes and prayed to the Prophets they would look after them all and show them the guidance they needed to succeed. To survive. An intervention by the Prophets would be a welcome one right now. Nevertheless, she made peace with herself, knowing that if she failed, she would be with her loved ones in the Celestial Temple soon. 

“Jia’kaja, tre’nu’tol’a rem. La’por i’lanu kos. L’nar tan’a’tali nor.” Cambil chanted as they moved through the tunnels. 

Hoping the Prophets were listening to her.