The Saratoga was now in a completely new area, far away from the security of Federation space. They very well were in the middle of nowhere, with species that they never encountered before out there. Deza was in The Ranch which happened to be a lounge specifically for the senior officers to come to, to be able to just get away from everyone for a while. 

There was a small area near the corner of the room near the window, which was seemingly away from every other table in the room. This was for anyone who still wanted to come and still have some privacy while still being able to see others. She sat there quietly drinking her hot chocolate while looking out the window, lost in thought. She couldn’t help but think of the current crisis that was happening within the Delta Quadrant, what might be ahead of them, and as well as leaving fellow crewmembers behind, especially her two closest friends Teila and Jeesa.

She usually came here during this time of day as it was pretty quiet with hardly anyone around, while everyone else was still working. This gave her the quiet that she sometimes needed in stressful situations that were not in her control. Taking another sip of her drink she let out a sigh, just before she heard the doors to the lounge open which caused Deza to turn towards the door to look to see who it was.

Chon’al walked in and began to walk towards the bar before noticing Deza off towards the corner of the room, grabbing a drink before he made his way over to where she was sitting. “May I?” Chon’al asked looking at her, to which she nodded. Sitting down he took a drink, “Pretty quiet in here,” he commented after breaking the silence that had filled the room for a few more minutes after he sat down.

Deza just nodded in agreement, “I prefer it that way sometimes,” Deza said as she raised her class before taking a drink. She went back to looking out the window, she wasn’t as talkative as usually was so she remained quiet.

Noticing a change in his friend and colleague he broke the silence, “is everything alright Deza?” Chon’al asked tilting his head to the side a bit as he could tell something was bothering her.

“I am fine,” Deza replied as she stared out the window. “I just came here to clear my head and relax for a while,” she added before he had the chance to respond to her first response.

“Same, plus my eyes needed a break from reading all the information that was coming in,” Chon’al replied taking a sip of his drink before continuing. “I had to move to strategic operations in the command and control center just to be able to view multiple things at once compared to what I can do on the bridge,” Chon’al replied.

Deza nodded as she looked back over to him, “it’s a nice thing to have on the ship.” She replied with a short smile before taking a drink and looking back outside again.

Chon’al nodded as silence filled the room again as it seemed Deza wasn’t all that interested in talking. Sitting there staring at his coffee for a few moments before letting out a sigh and getting up from his chair. “Well it was nice chatting with you,” he said with a smile before he headed towards the door as his break was over.

Deza just nodded as she turned to see him leave and just shrugged before getting up herself, she began to walk towards the exit after discarding her cup. She had been in a weird mood ever since they arrived in the Delta Quadrant, part of her just wanted to be home. She didn’t want to be somewhere strange and really without much support if we were to run into trouble.

Just as she was walking out of the lounge she ran into Jheria as she was about to enter, “sorry Commander.” Deza replied as she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going as her thoughts were elsewhere.

“That’s alright,” Jheria said with a smile before she entered the lounge.

Jheria could almost sense that something was bothering Deza, though she felt that she would just leave her alone for the time being. It seemed that everyone had been a bit off lately since they arrived in a new area of space, so she just figured it was because of that.

Jheria walked up to the bar to grab something to drink before walking over to a table, Ritru and Odan were due to arrive soon to join her for a little downtime they had. Just as she sat down the doors opened to reveal both Ritru and Odan, “over here.” She replied as she waved her hand while smiling.

They walked over after grabbing their drinks, “what is up with Deza?” Odan asked looking at Jheria.

“She looking kinda off today,” Ritru added as they sat down.

Jheria just shrugged, “I kinda wondered that myself after we nearly collided as she was leaving.” Jheria said as she took a sip of her drink, “though come to think of it, she isn’t the only one on board that I have come across today that seemed to be in an off mood.” She added with another shrug.

“What do you all think about the current crisis?” Jheria asked as she decided to change the subject.

“I think it’s crazy how something like a shockwave could have caused a bunch of dilithium to form on planets and places where there have never been before.” Odan said, “and not your average dilithium either.” He finished speaking while looking at Ritru taking a drink.

“Will see what happens though my real concern is the Devore,” Odan replied.

The two nodded in agreement, they were a cause for concern for sure. “Do you think we will come in conflict with them?” Jheria asked though she probably already knew the answer to that silly question, she had been running on a few hours of sleep these last couple of days.

“I am sure of it,” Ritru said as the others looked at her with raised eyebrows. She looked at them, “what we are headed towards their area of space, we are bound to run into them at some point.” Ritru said with a raise of her hand.

“True,” Odan replied.

The three of them continued to chat for a while longer before they realized they were due back on duty in five minutes. They all stood up and headed out of the lounge after discarding their drinks. They began to walk down the corridor towards the turbolift while they continued to chat along the way.

Azras had been sitting in her ready room for the last couple of hours, as she began to filter through the information that had come in overnight. A short time later the sound of her commbadge went off breaking the silence that had filled the room.

“Captain Dex to the bridge,” Ritru said over the channel.

Raising an eyebrow, “on my way.” Azras replied as she stood up from her chair and began to make her way out onto the bridge. After a few moments, she arrived looking at Ritru, “what is it, Commander?” Azras asked as she walked over to her.

“We have picked up a distress signal,” Ritru replied as she looked over at Azras. “They seem to be a distant Monean colony, they are requesting assistance as the Devore are trying to take their home,” Ritru said as that was all she could make out from the message.

“Does it give the location?” Azras asked.

“I am having a hard time pinpointing the exact location,” Ritru said before looking over at Dazra. “Do you think you can?” She asked.

Dazra began to work to see if she could trace where the signal was coming from, after a few moments of work she looked back up at the two. “It might not be the exact location though it seems to be close,” Dazra replied as she sent the location to flight control.

“Coordinates are laid in sir,” came Deza’s reply as she looked back at Azras who just gave a nod of her head and the ship began to change course, heading to where the distress call might have originated in hopes they would arrive in time.

Azras turned around and began to make her way toward her chair, “ETA?” Azras asked looking at Deza.

“We should arrive within a couple of hours at maximum warp,” Airje replied.

She sighed for a moment before taking a seat, she hoped they would get there in time. She had a feeling that there will be a battle with them protecting these people, “T’Prel I would like you to head down to strategic operations and get with Chon’al, I want all information you can find on these Moneans.” Azras said as she looked at her first officer.

“Understood sir,” T’Prel said as she stood up from her chair heading towards the turbolift that would take her down to where Chon’al was currently located.

She turned to Dazra, “keep an eye out for Devore ships.” Azras said looking over to where Dazra was.

“Aye sir,” Dazra replied.

Getting up from her chair she walked over to where the replicator was located, she ordered herself a stronger cup of coffee as she felt that she was going to need it. She had a feeling that things were about to go sideways within the next few hours. The only difference here is they did not have any backup if things went badly for them. Walking back over to her chair and sitting down, taking a sip of her coffee she thought here goes nothing.