“We’re just glad we were able to help, captain.”  Wren stood on the bridge of her new command, speaking to the civilian ship captain.  The distress call had been sudden, and without the quick action of her crew, things would have been far worse.  The captain repeated his thanks, and the channel closed.  The bridge crew watched as the aging ship slid away and jumped to warp.  The CO turned to the bridge, “Let’s get those reports filled out and submitted.  I’ll…”

The communications officer spoke up, “Captain, we’re getting a priority message for your eyes only.”

Walton motioned to the XO, “We’ll take it to my ready room.  Mr. Kondo, you have the CONN.”  The two of them departed, and De La Fontaine shifted from his station to the center chair.

“Helm, keep us on course to our current destination.”  He felt the eyes of his fellow crewman and looked around at each of them, “Yes?”

Castillo at helm control spoke first, “I’ve heard the Breen is making noise again.”  She swallowed, “Priority messages aren’t for mission changes, sir.”

Reede whispered, “I heard it was a space monster.  Something’s eating up worlds and coming for us next.”

Kondo turned in the center chair, “Cadet Reede, you will keep those kinds of ideas confined to your quarters and far away from the bridge.”  He spoke to the chief helm officer, “As for the Breen – we don’t know what it is.  Whatever it ends up being…we’ll face it like we’ve faced everything else – together.”  The whispers and nervous conversation faded as Kondo gave each bridge officer a long look.  “Now, let’s get to work on what we have in front of us.”

Fifteen minutes later, the senior staff sat around the briefing room table as the Mackenzie flew madly towards Starbase 72.  Walton had finished the detailed briefing with, “What questions do we have?”

Kiazas Vol, the Trill operations chief, wondered, “Do we have any indication why news reports and the local task group seem to be less than…interested in the situation?”

Park answered, “It is odd.  There’s been some talk among Fourth Fleet captains about it – nobody’s sure what it means or if it’s best case accidental or worst case intentional.  We’ve been told to keep our eyes and ears out as a measure…and to be mindful of who and what we take care with how our trust is spread around.”

Okada sat up, “That sounds downright weird, commander.”

Wren agreed, “We’re still sifting through everything they’ve sent us, and most of this is very unclear…and to borrow your word – weird.  This is where you all come into the mix.  Fourth Fleet is going to be the big boys and girls on the line, and anything we can get our eyes, ears, and hands on to help sort out what is going on will be helpful.  The Mackenzie’s got it where it counts.”  She turned her attention to their new chief counselor, Mo Guowei.  “We’ve got some new crew in our ranks, Lieutenant.”

He tapped at his PADD, “I’ve got several lists going – we’re setting up social and activity groups according to their length of service on the ship.  We’ve had an uptick in requests to speak with someone just today – some before your announcement but many more since.”

Walton understood. The Dominion and the threats they brought to bear were unsettling, but nobody had seen them in a fight for twenty-five years.  “Keep me in the loop.  Each of you needs to meet with your departments with this briefing. Once we get to 72 – our speed won’t drop below warp for a long time.  Do what you need to do to prepare for an extended assignment.”  She looked around the table, “I trust each of you to do what needs to be done.  Dismissed.”

The room emptied, leaving the CO and the XO.  Park  looked at the door, “You really trust them, Wren?”

Walton replied, “Do you?”  She held eye contact with her friend, “We get one chance at this, Commander.  The fight ahead is gonna take all of us.”

Park pursed her lips, “I’ll get there, Wren.”

Her CO picked up her PADD and headed for the door, “You’re going need to move faster, Park.”