The klaxon rang her awake, and Captain Wren Walton scrambled for the console on the end table as she shook the sleep from her mind.  “Report.”

The voice of her XO, Commander Park, was unusually unsettled.  “Captain – we’re getting emergency reports from Four Fleet ships that the Cardassians are stepping up their activities against the apertures.  Admiral Beckett has sent out a priority one order to all ships within Underspace to evacuate immediately.”

Wren was awake now, “Status of the Douglas?”

“Our last report had them investigating their end of the Gamma Quadrant, but that was weeks ago.”

“Distance to the Bajoran Wormhole?”  Wren was putting together what needed to be done.

“Fifteen minutes.”

“Get us there and to the position of the aperture we located.”  She closed the channel and checked her clock—three in the morning.  The Douglas was a competent ship with a competent crew.  The question was where they’d have to go to get out of the ass end of the Gamma Quadrant.  If the apertures were closing, they’d have few options to use to get back home.  And one of those options led straight back into the arms of the Devore.  Walton headed for the shower.  The clock had started.

Wren stepped onto the bridge fifteen minutes later as her XO called, “Captain on the bridge.”  She handed the CO a PADD, “We’re first in line for the wormhole – reports are coming in, and it is not good.  Worse than we thought.”  Park slipped into her chair to the right of the command chair.

Wren took her place in the center chair, reading the updates. The wormhole opened up, and they made their way into and through it.  Most of the senior staff was awake and at stations.  The reports were not subtle.  All hell was breaking loose, and it was moving at a pace that was causing panic and alarm among usually calm voices.  “Thasaz, get ready to give me viability on the aperture.”  The bridge was abuzz with energy but silent with a determined focus.

The Romulan Science Chief replied, “Sensors are ready.  Approaching the end of the wormhole…now.”  The Draongfly burst from within the beautiful opening and shifted course away to make room for the next ship.  Thasaz tapped at her console, “Reading the aperture as still open, but there’s a minor destabilization going on – computer estimates this aperture will shut down in one hour.”

Walton drummed her hands on the arms of her chair.  “Anything from Douglas?” Thasaz shook her head.

Ensign Oscar Reede at communications reported, “Nothing – I’m attempting to boost our signal and systems…but we need to be closer.”

The CO turned to her bridge crew, “I’m open to suggestions.”

Rogers at the operations console cleared his throat, “We…we should go to them, sir.  If there’s any chance that we can help them get home…we can’t ignore that…sir.”

Wren looked to the rest of the crew, “Anyone else?”

Sitting next to Thasaz was Science Cadet Lita Morrison, who glanced at her chief and then at the captain, who waved her on.  She began, “Do we know there’s a way out of there to where we need to go?”  She winced as Thasaz’s gaze swiveled to her and cursed her courage.

The CO replied, “We don’t, Cadet Morrison.  We know an aperture there leads to the Delta Quadrant, albeit into the mouth of the Devore Imperium.  The running theory is that if we get to Douglas, we can use the aperture to slide to the Delta…and then get to the outpost by the end of the month…and all go home.”  She pointed out, “I am open to other suggestions.”

Lita replied, “No suggestions…just guidance, sir. It’s going to be a rougher ride.  Underspace will have its fair share of turbulence as the apertures are manually and forcefully destroyed.  We’ll need to adjust shield harmonics on the fly.  The concern will be Douglas, sir.  We will need to have as much calculated for her as possible so she can make the adjustments before she takes the ride with us.”

Wren’s smile was small, but it was a smile.  “Get a team together and get to work.  You want to play on the bridge, be ready to turn your ideas into something we can use.”  She turned back to the bridge crew, “Last call.”

Lieutenant Kondo De La Fontaine spoke evenly at tactical, “Let’s get our friends home, captain.”  The rest of the crew around the bridge muttered agreement, nodding as he spoke.

Wren didn’t hesitate, “Helm – intercept course on the aperture and take us through.”  She sat back in her chair.  They were going to find a way to bring Douglas home.