—- USS Luna, Briefing Room 1 —-

The Obena-class USS Washington could be seen outside the windows matching the USS Luna’s speed though it was scheduled to depart in just under and hour. The assembled senior crew and the two guests ignored it, they’d already noticed how it looked and had commented on what life aboard must be like. The guests of course had come from the USS Washington, transported from the larger ship to the USS Luna which would take them to and from their final destination.

“The planet in question,“ a slender Vulcan continued, “lays within the no man’s land between Federation and Cardassian space. The Cardassian’s had a garrison there up until the defeat of their alliance with the Dominion and then abandoned it until recently.”

”Why would the Federation allow them to rearm a garrison in territory that’s under Starfleet control?” Captain Cruz asked.

The other mission advisor a tall human in a suit jacket nodded, “We were not aware of their intention to rearm it until now. However they have, and the local Federation population on the world has been upset by it. Hence the attacks by the New Maquis.”

”The problem being is there is also a population of Janinar people on the world,” the Vulcan said, “and while no Cardassians were hurt, six Janinar were killed. The Janinar pre-date both Federation and Cardassian interest in the world, and have allowed both peoples to settle it.”

”And build military bases,” Cruz noted.

”Indeed. The Janinar are unique in that they are a telepathic species, but unlike any we’ve encountered save perhaps the Borg,” the Vulcan said, adding, “They do not see a species as individuals but rather as a collective, for example they call all humans ‘Commander Maddison’ based on the officer they first encountered years ago. They see themselves very much as one organism. The Cardassians are holding six human farmers who are possibly not responsible for the attack, and the Janinar do not see them being different from any six humans including the Maquis.”

”Meaning the Cardassians will transport the farmers to jail, if we do not prove their innocence,” the human Matthis Bernard said.

Cruz sighed, “And add to that we’re not allowed weapons.”

”Correct the Janinar are not allowing humans with weapons on their world. In fact the USS Luna will have to wait and we will travel to the world on your Captain’s Skiff,” the Vulcan Slaj said.

Cruz nodded, “Commander Carrillo you’ll lead the mission. Take Mister Bernard and Slaj in the skiff. Take also Lieutenant Acharya and Lieutenant Kolem. Add three security personnel and two pilots or your choice.”

Carrillo nodded, “I’d like to take Constable as well, we will want an engineering eye on the attack site.”

”Very good,” Cruz nodded, “Let’s try to free those farmers. Send everything you can back to us, we’ll have to use the Luna to track down the Maquis if we want to give the Cardassians someone else.”

—- VIP Dinning Room —-

Matthis Bernard sipped the wine and nodded, “A good vintage, this is from your own personal winery?”

Captain Adriana Cruz nodded, “I inherited one from a father I never knew. Now my brother that I never knew runs it. I just get the wine sent to Starbase 86.”

“That is a fortunate turn of fate for you,” Slaj the Vulcan said.

Nervous Commander Carrillo changed the subject, “So you are both lawyers?”

”We are. We are outside of Starfleet, so we don’t do JAG stuff, but this is a civilian trial, sort of,” Bernard said.

”The Cardassian military isn’t going to want us poking around,” Carrillo noted.

”Illogical, the Cardassian military stands to benefit from capturing the real perpetrators and not innocent farmers. The New Maquis are much more of a threat,” Slaj said.

Bernard nodded, “They won’t love us poking around, but they set this military base up in secret and only the Janinar are preventing Starfleet from closing it down. If anything they find the attention annoying, as they’re hoping Starfleet gets more involved with the Klingons and Romulans and ignores them.”

”Why do they allow Cardassians to be armed on the world?” Cruz asked.

”The Cardassians have not killed Janinar, humans have,” Slaj said, “The Janinar have the space they require and are not interested in our dealings with each other, unless it affects them. All we know for sure is that the perpetrators of the attack are human, and not Cardassian and that is due to the Janinar.”

”How long until we’re there,“ Bernard asked.

”Three days on the Luna,” Commander Carrillo said, “and then two days on the skiff.”

”Well at least there is wine,” he joked. Slaj said nothing but the two female Starfleet officers chuckled to appear appreciative of his humor.

—- USS Luna, Captain’s Skiff —-

Lieutenant Lambert stashed his bag beneath the lowest bunk. The crew quarters on the Captain’s Skiff was more in line with what he remembered on the old Reliant-class ships. Shared bunks, shared bathrooms. Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas Winfield chucked his bag on the bunk on top and stretched.

”Four days on this thing. I’m going to miss Sone,” the Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer said.

Despite being a pilot as well Lambert had, at least initially, been sorted into the Stellar Cartography department as there were no ‘Navigator’ positions on Starfleet ships any longer. He knew from working with her that Winfield as referencing Lieutenant Akane Sone, the Assistant Chief Stellar Cartographer.

“At least she’s in the same century as you,” the time displaced Lambert said.

Winfield nodded, “Sorry man. It’s a raw hand you got dealt. I’d freak out if I woke up and was suddenly, what are you like two hundred years old?”

”Something like that,” Lambert said, sorry he’d brought it up. He didn’t want to talk about it much.

“At least you’re getting eyes from the Commander,” Winfield said.

”Getting eyes?” Lambert said, “Like those visors that some people have to wear to see?”

”No like, she likes you,” Winfield said rolling his eyes, “Commander Carrillo, why do you think she put you on this trip? Honestly you’re not who I’d go with if I needed a pilot, no offense but you’ve never flown anything in the modern area and this ain’t a Reliant-class.”

Lambert did not answer, he had wondered that. He knew he had to start doing Starfleet assignments, and he figured that the two pilots would switch on and off, but he really did not know much about flying a small craft like this. He imagined that much of it would carry over, but was not really sure. Was it possible that Carrillo liked him liked him?

”Well if it isn’t my pilot boys,” a male voice said as Assistant Chief of Security William Hume entered and tossed a bag on a bed, “welcome to Cardassian space. Anyone explain to Lambert about the Dominion War?”

”I’ve read about it a bit,” Lambert said.

”Well read more, we kicked Cardy butt across the quadrant,” Hume who had lost his father fighting in the war said.

”You weren’t there, you father was,” Winfield pointed out, “and we barely won and only because the Cardassians revolted against the Dominion. So, enough being macho.”

Hume shrugged, “We fought them and drove them back. They thought they’d be winning with their squishy faced allies and instead we beat them back through the worm hole.”

Sesi Oari entered, the Bajoran and other security team member did not share Hume’s bravado. Though she had only known life after the occupation of her homeland, she was not going to pretend the Cardassians were not a threat and not dangerous. 

”Zip it Hume, we’re guests and besides we aren’t armed,” she pointed out, “No time for triumphalism.”

“Big words,” Hume said, despite being ranked lower on the Luna his position was actually higher than Oari as Assistant Chief of Security.

”You’re a Bajoran right?” Lambert asked.

”That’s right,” Oari answered gesturing to her nose and religious earring.

”I don’t think I’ve met one before,” Lambert said, adding, “I’m from the past.”

”I heard. That’s okay we’re not sharks, you can keep us as pets,” Oari grinned teasing him.

”What’s a shark, I don’t think I’ve met them yet,” Lambert said.

”Like on earth. Sharks, the fish,” Winfield said.

”Ah yes I’ve seen sharks at the aquarium sorry I thought that might be a species I hadn’t met yet,” Lambert said.

”I’ve read about them, and saw one of the great big white ones in an aquarium on Earth when I was at the Academy,” Oari said.

”We should go through the pre-flight check list,” Winfield said, nodding at Lambert his alternate pilot for the journey.

”Oh right, yeah,” Lambert nodded, “I hope I don’t crash into a sun.”

When nobody laughed he shrugged, “That was a joke. I’m actually a good pilot.”

—- Captain’s Skiff —-

The main room was mostly dark after dinner with only the pilot’s console lit up after the rest of the crew had retreated to bed. Lambert had shown that he could successfully fly the ship, and was alone on the controls as the rest of the team slept. The Commander and two mission specialists getting large rooms while the rest of the crew shared bunks. Though not all beds were full with Lieutenant Kolem and Lieutenant Acharya taking a room between them.

He heard footsteps and Commander Carrillo sat in the chair next to him on the right hand side. She stretched and yawned, clearly tired.

”Commander,” he nodded.

”Lieutenant,” she nodded back, “Just came to keep you company.”

“Can I ask a question ma’am,” Lambert said.

”Of course,” Carrillo said.

”Did you pick me for this mission because you like like me,” he asked.

Carrillo laughed, “Oh, wow. Okay, umm, no. Look you weren’t the obvious choice but you need to get into a role on the Luna. You can’t forever be ’past guy’. So yes I threw you feet first into the briar patch, but I knew you could swim to mix the metaphors.”

”So not because of anything else?” Lambert said.

”Yes, look. I’m new on the ship and so are you. We’re friends, I think. I like you and I know you, and I need someone I know for my first long term away mission,” Carrillo said, “The Captain made Kolem the Second Officer because the trusts and likes Kolem even though other people outrank her. In command you go with the best, but also who you know has your back and I thought you’d have my back.”

Lambert nodded, “Okay, I get it. You’re right I have your back.”

“Now Lieutenant feel better?” she asked.

”Yes ma’am,” he said.

Carrillo smiled, “Good, now let’s try not to drive into a sun tonight.”