“I’m here to see the XO, as directed,” Aryanna said to the Lieutenant sitting in front of her at a console.

“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll let him know that you are waiting” The lieutenant hit the internal comms button on the console.

“Captain. Commander Rigras of the Dragon is here to see you as per your message.”

“Send her in”

The lieutenant nodded toward the door on the right as the conversation ended. “He is waiting for you, ma’am”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

Entering the room the first thing that she saw was the viewing panels facing out from the station showing her the uptick in traffic as Deep Space 47 was becoming a known commodity within the Expanse.

“Sorry to have called on you so late Aryanna, but I feel I have your next set of orders and these will require the departure of the Dragon to move up. Grab yourself something to drink and take a seat.”

Aryanna nodded toward the caitian sitting behind the desk, grabbing a glass of water and taking a seat in front of the desk.

Kr’Antren reaches for a PADD on a stack of PADDS and looks at it.

“So first things first.”

Aryanna raised an eyebrow.

“We have a vested interest in a particular system in the belt. I have not heard anything from them in a while but the last thing I heard was that they were seeing an increased presence from the Devore in the region. Therefore, I would like for you and the squadron to go take a look.”

“So you want us to go check in on them? Like some sort of babysitter. Keep them safe from the neighborhood bullies.” Aryanna looked at him over the glass “I read the reports from the Blood Dilithium operation, and I can understand your need to make sure what you did during the operation does not blow back on them.”

Kr’Antren chuckled “In a way, yes for the most part.”

Kr’Antren then held up his hand knowing that she was going to say something else. “I know, I know the Dragon is not a babysitter, I get it. But we have another area of concern.” he handed her the PADD. “As you can see…”

Aryanna took the PADD and started to read, “You have got to be kidding me, why didn’t you lead with this.”

“Because we needed a reason. The Delta Quadrant is not exactly our area of concern, as you know.

“Sir. Lieutenants Mathisson and Rockholdt are here.”

“Send them in”

The two officers in red of command entered the Task Force Executive officer office.”

“You wanted to see us, sir, oh hello Aryanna,” Eric said as they entered the office.

Aryanna stood and offered a hand to the two officers “Eric, Austin, nice to see you guys again.”

The two officers shook her hand and took a seat in the remaining chairs in front of the desk.

“So this can’t be good, the whole squadron in one place?”

“We were just getting to that, ” Aryanna said as she retook her seat and looked at Kr’Antren.

Kr’Antren looked over at Aryanna and then towards the two other officers.

“Yes, we were.” as he hands Eric a PADD.

Aryanna looked over at the two of them, “Hope you packed your bags, it’s going to be a long trip.”

Eric read the PADD letting out a low whistle.

“How much do you trust this, sir?”

“About as much as one can, I guess. That’s what we were just getting ready to discuss.”

“Sir, going off of the first part, going to Osiris D-2 doesn’t exactly require two ships,” Aryanna said as she read.

“You’re right it doesn’t that’s why the Aztec will continue with that mission. Moreover, Eric has been there; he knows the area and its people. You will be dealing with what is on there.” he pointed at the PADD in her hand

“So I get to deal with Rhazpaz?”

Kr’Antrn chuckled “Yes and no. I do not expect that part of the mission to take very long. But as you know the wormhole only opens once every thirty days sooo.”

“You’ll get to chase ghosts with me,” Aryanna said

“I wouldn’t call them ghosts Aryanna “

“Sir, according to this we just have scant intelligence on these possible hits. Nobody knows for sure and nobody has seen them.”

“That we know of, they aren’t known for leaving anyone behind now are they.”

“No, they’re not. So what are we supposed to do? Just run around and hope we find something?”

“Aryanna, the Dragon was requested.”

“I see that, but what I’m not seeing is why we were requested. All it says is that upon arrival at the Markonian outpost, we are to report to Commander Eenya Lighia to be briefed on our mission.

Kr’antren ran a hand through his beard “Don’t like it much myself, Aryanna. Nevertheless, orders are orders and these come from higher than me. For whatever reason the Dragon was requested, therefore the Dragon goes. I did what I could; calling in a couple favors I might add, by getting the Aztec into the Belt to be there if you need them.”

“Sir, have I ever told you that I hate surprises?”

“Not that I can recall.”

“Well, I have now.” as she puts her glass down on the side table beside her. “Gentlemen looks like we have some work to do if we are going to make the next opening.” she looked over at the two other officers.

“The Aztec is ready to go now, just have to recall our folks that are on pass.”

“Fine, Aztec leaves as soon as possible. The Dragon will catch up and meet you at the Guardian outpost.” As the two officers rise and exit the office. He motioned for Aryanna to stay seated for a moment more. “Speaking of which, how goes the transfer? Aryanna, and how are the Angels taking it?”

“They had just started when you called for me sir. Commander Thornton says he is ok but I think deep down inside he hates losing the fighters but knows this was the right call. Guess the switch was inevitable with the mission of the Dragon and all, fighters and bombers did not make much sense. It’s going to be cramped in that bay though.”

Kr’antren nods. “They said that it was always the plan for the squadron to be more of a mission-dictated piece versus having one mission and that being at odds with the primary mission of the Dragon.”

“Looks like you will need to find some new homes for the fighter jocks; Thornton said he was only going to keep those that he felt had earned it and then only what was needed for the new squadron configuration.”

“Operations are already getting the requests.”

“Aryanna, if those reports turn out to be true…”

“I know I know…”

———————————————–

Aryanna looked up from the PADD she was reading as she heard the chime for her ready room door.

“Enter”

Meadow entered the room as she looked at a PADD in her hands.”

“Looks like we should be completed with the angel’s transfer in the next two to three hours, Then we should be ready to depart in roughly ten hours.”

Aryanna nodded.

“Did you get a chance to look over the notes I sent you on our next mission?”

“I did, and if Commander Lighia is behind this request then things are not going as they had planned.”

“How so?”

“Last I heard she is a team lead for the diplomatic office for the Markonian outpost. Therefore, if they requested us, and by doing so requested me, then something is going on that they cannot handle within their purview and they needed someone they could trust. Something is going on in the Belt, something that they do not want others to know about hence why they left out the details in the orders.”

“Something besides the Borg possibly moving within their borders.” Aryanna pulled at her chin. “That’s it, something else is going on. Something that they do not want made public”

Meadow rereads the PADD that Aryanna handed her. “It does seem like that part is intentionally placed in these orders, doesn’t it?”

“Only one way to find out. Let us prepare to depart as soon as possible. ” Aryanna takes the PADD back.

Meadow looked at her and then back at the PADD in her hands. “I’ll get the crew on it.”

“I’m going to schedule a meeting as soon as we depart DS47 with Scamandrius, Skagath, Zolitia, yourself, and me. I want to know everything we have on the Borg, I want to know what we could be dealing with, and I don’t want to be caught with our pants down if we run into them. Oh, and get with Scamandrius before we depart. I want to be updated on everything going on in the Gradin Belt for the last couple of months and I want to make sure we have the latest Intel on the region.

“Yes, ma’am”

“Commander Lighia, I’m Captain Rigras of the USS Dragon and this is my Executive Officer Lieutenant Bearsong.” they entered the commander’s office.

“Ahh yes, we have been waiting for your arrival.” the commander said as she pulled a PADD from the top of the pile on her desk.

“Lieutenant Bearsong, how nice to see you again.” she gave a nod towards Meadow.

“Commander” was the simple greeting Meadow gave as she looked over the women standing in front of her, remembering their time working together on Starbase Bravo before the commander was sent here. “How are things going in the Delta Quadrant and why request the Dragon when you have ships assigned here that could do the job? “

“Full of intrigue and quite busy. We are still trying to clean up the last of this Blood dilithium mess. Lots of animosity toward the federation in how that was handled. Though I think we have most of it cleaned up.” She looked over at Meadow, ignoring the second question and the tone that it was asked.

Meadow nodded as she looked over at her captain with a raised eyebrow.

“So commander, what do you have for us?” Aryanna asked as she took a seat, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.

“Ahhh yes, we have a matter of critical importance for you to look into.”

The commander looked at the two of them with a raised eyebrow before tapping on her console. “Commander T’lin, the dragon is here in my office.”

“Bring them to room 3-India-Charlie-Alpha-1.”

“Very well.”

“Due to the nature of the information we have decided to move this briefing to another location. Please follow me.” she picked up the PADD and made her way towards the room’s door.

Several minutes later they entered a room that overlooked a rather busy operations center. The room faced a large display of the Gradin Belt with various pieces of information displayed. As they entered they saw that already seated in the room was another commander in a red tunic.

“Commander T’lin this is Captain Rigras of the Dragon and her executive officer Lieutenant Bearsong.” Commander Lighia made the introductions as they entered the room.

“Captain, Lieutenant” A middle-aged Vulcan shook their hands as they entered. “Please have a seat.” he pulled up the console for where he sat at the table. “Computer, security delta lockdown room 3-India-Charlie-Alpha-1. T’lin-Alpha-Mike-Mike-Three-Zulu-Delta” the lights went from a warm coloration to a blue.

Aryanna raised an eyebrow at hearing this particular security protocol being enacted. “Interesting.” she sat back in her chair and motioned for them to continue.

“Captain, we have a mission of vital importance for you. It would seem that we are getting some reports of possible Borg movements within the Belt.”

“Say that again?”

Commander T’lin looked at Captain Rigras and steeped his fingers. “We have reports of Borg ship movements within the Gradin belt, so far these reports have been mostly focused in our northern region with some along the chaotic space region. Mind you most of these reports seem to come from long-range sensor data which can be intermittent at best with chaotic space acting as a buffer between us and that area of the Gradin belt.

Commander T’lin typed something on the console as a holo map of the Gradin Belt came to be over the middle of the table. “According to the data we have, these areas are the ones in question.”

“So what do you need from us? Do you expect us to go look for them or to go see what they were so interested in?”

“Captain, logic would dictate that before such a mission were to be thought of we would need more information. That is where you come in, captain. We would like for you to see if you could secure us more data from local powers within the Belt. There are many places that we are blind to and they are not, maybe their sensors have picked up on more. We need that information Captain; we need to know if the Borg are on the move. As for the second question, that is something for another ship to worry about.”

“Commander, may I recommend the Aztec” I’m sure you will find her Captain and crew a good fit for this type of mission.”

Commander Lighia sat forward in her chair. “I will take it under advisement, Captain. Nonetheless, we need to focus on your mission for the moment. We have highlighted several entities from around the belt that we think could have the type of sensor data that we need to make any further plans. You are to approach them and do what you can to gain access to their sensor data. We of course will share whatever data we have with them to fill in any gaps they may have.”

“I guess that is where I come in, though I am curious to know why me. There are plenty of negotiators in the fleet, why me? And why request the Dragon?” Meadow said from her chair.

The two commanders looked at each other with raised eyebrows. “Well for the second part of your question, we requested you due to your profound experience of not taking no for an answer. It just so happens that the Dragon has the type of abilities needed for just such a mission such as this, and the addition of your squadron mate ties up another loose end making it so we do not have to pull valuable resources from their current missions.” 

Meadow looked from them to her PADD as she focused on the details of the orders and what was being requested of them. “You have got to be kidding me, Do you think the Devore Imperium will be willing to share their data with us? The other three are understandable but the Imperium is not exactly known as being one who plays well with others, especially after the latest happenings in this region.”

“Yes, that one might be a bit of a stretch, but with our data pointing towards the northern reaches of the belt they are a prime candidate to have the type of information we would need. If there was going to be a problem area, it would be with that particular entity. But we are hoping with the possibility of the Borg being active in that region of space that they just may put their differences to the side for just this matter. After all, the Borg would be just as much of a threat to them.

Aryanna chuckled. “From what I know of the Devore Imperium, which is only what I have read in reports. I doubt they will be putting out the welcome mat for anyone.”

Commander T’lin took a drink from the glass that was in front of him as he considered what he was hearing from the two officers in front of him.

“Be that as it may. This is what we have to go off of for now. The Dragon is to negotiate with those powers on your list for the information that we need. That information is of vital importance that we find out if the Borg are on the move and if they are we need to figure out why.”

Aryanna stood and walked over to her executive officer and whispered something in her ear which she nodded at. She then looked up at the two other officers “Is that all? If so then it would seem that we have what we need.”

“That is all, for now.” the commander hit a button on the console and the lights flickered from a bluish tint to their normal warm glow to signal that the security parameters had been lifted.