Officers were doing their duties, tapping on their consoles, consulting with each department, and ensuring that the ship was operating in perfect condition. Sitting in the captain’s chair, Silina’s mind was somewhere else. The Dominion was doing hit runs at the borders and even boldly going deeper into Federation territory. Her eyes went slowly through the bridge with a PADD in her hand. She acted like she was doing her duty. Not many had seen conflict. To be realistic, before her trip to Delta Quadrant, she had not seen any real combat herself. 

The trials that her friends are constantly facing seem to have never stopped. Taking a deep breath, she gave a nod to Asipa’s report as Silina’s mind wandered off, thinking of the days of old. Life was much simpler, more defined, and with fewer worries about the aftermath of one deed. She had joined Sazra’s silly mission to get out of the dusty office and explore something unbelievable. Then she planned to go back and get a more serious job. Settle down on a starbase or something as their Chief Medical Officer. But she stuck around at Sazra’s side. Unknown what the future would bring, watching her friends take that extra step forward in the name of protection of the weak. In the name of silencing that hunger for exploring the unknown. 

Narrowing her eyes, Silina sometimes wondered if it was it justified to bring their idealism to other worlds? Sure, their intentions are well-meant. Explore the unknown, discover new life, and meet new species. It was not like she was against it. It was more that she started to question it after being on the Jaxartes, Damascus, and now the Mariner. Seeing the wonders of the Typhon Expanse, fighting a rogue Starfleet Captain, infiltrating the Romulans, and then facing the brutality of the Delta Quadrant. Starfleet idealism, in a nutshell, was so far the most dangerous experience that she ever had to experience. Silina shrugged at that but looked at the younger staff, smiling and excited about their mission. ‘Was I that naive also? To think the stars were cuddling objects always there to welcome us?’ Her focus was broken as she heard her name and looked toward the sound.

“Commanderrr?” K’Nala looked at her as some other officers looked at her also for not responding. “Are you okay sirrr?” 

Sitting up in the chair “Yea, sorry, my mind went off on something. What is wrong?” Silina recovered her posture and noticed the other officers going back to work. 

“We are arriving at Deep Space 9 within 15 minutes” K’Nala looked back at her console. “Actually, it is now 14 minutes” The young Caitian was not trying to be a smart ass. But she noticed the dozing off from her superior officer. Looking back at Silina, “I think the Captain wanted to be informed about it?” 

Giving K’Nala a nod in confirmation, “Yes, thank you for your heads-up. Lieutenant Asipa, please inform Captain Kobahl and Lieutenant Palema that we are arriving at Deep Space 9 on short notice. Their presence is required at the bridge as most likely the station will hail us soon at arrival” Silina leans back in her chair after seeing the acknowledgment of Asipa ‘On to our next mission of pure good will’ 

A few minutes later, Sazra was on the bridge with Lieutenant Palema, who was in her Romulan Republic uniform, at her side as the Mariner dropped out of warp close to Deep Space 9. Taking a deep breath, Sazra didn’t give off the vibe that she was concerned about what would come. But there were a few hurdles that they had to deal with. First to deceive Deep Space 9 to let them through into Gamma Quadrant. Fourth Fleet had made it clear that they give out the order and that would mean Starfleet Command was unknown of these orders and would make traveling to the Gamma Quadrant not logical. 

The second hurdle in this path was Opaka Outpost, the one that was the guardian at the other side of the Bajoran gate. Normally a journey through the gate wouldn’t make a challenge, but the Treaty of Bajor had restrained the Federation’s exploration details in the Gamma Quadrant. So flying straight out to Dominion borders was out of the question, as that would mean a full mobilization of Opaka ships to stop them. Mariner still had to return to Alpha Quadrant with the hopefully successful mission. 

There was also a third hurdle that Sazra had to face. She glared briefly at the bridge crew as the Mariner approached Deep Space 9. The crew didn’t know the full details of their mission. Only part of it was revealed to them and even the juniors didn’t understand what was happening. She noticed that her command staff was struggling with the details of this mission to keep it a secret. But lives depended on it. 

Lieutenant Shew, as a Bajoran, had a history with the Dominion. Lieutenant T’Path would use her logic against this mission and most likely give it a 15% succession rate, which was not a bad number, to begin with. Doctor Th’shrithel would have given her a straight-to-the-face answer on how suicidal this mission would be. But in the end, if she had ordered them to follow, they would without question. So was lying against them really the best course of action? Fourth Fleet was clear in their statement, more was going on than meets the eye. 

“Captain, your worry is starting to show through. Just relax and smile” 

A whisper came from her left side, seeing that Palema’s facial expression was warming, but she was not looking at Sazra. Sazra gave a nod fixing her posture. Her new diplomatic officer was right, the worries got to her and she broke her image.

“Captain Deep Space 9 is hailing us” Asipa spoke up while looking at her console.

“Here we go…” Sazra mutters “On screen Ensign” Within a few seconds the display changed to the Deep Space 9 operation center. 

“Captain Kobahl, an unexpected arrival of the USS Mariner here” A lieutenant spoke. By the looks of it human with some scars here and there. Calmly he continued “Are you here to resupply before going back to the Barzan Wormhole?”

Ah yes, the original mission of the Mariner was to travel back to the Delta Quadrant and not to the Gamma Quadrant. They would continue the exploration of the Delta Quadrant, even after the traumatic experience the Damascus crew had to endure. Starfleet Command wanted their best scientist out there to keep pushing the unknown. Sazra gave a soft smile. “Not quite Lieutenant. I am here to travel to the Gamma Quadrant per a collaboration with the Romulan Republic” She gestures to Palema. 

“A collaboration with the Romulan Republic?” The Lieutenant looked at a fellow officer, lifted their shoulders, and looked back. “Is that not a pet project from Task Force 17? Nothing personal ma’am” He directed at Palema “So far I know is that you guys are assigned to Task Force 86, the border defense joint” 

“We might be assigned to Task Force 86, but it doesn’t always mean that we are doing their primary mission Lieutenant” Sazra pointed out bluntly.

“Plus Lieutenant, if I might be so bold to say. The Captain has started her career in Task Force 17 and has a close relationship with the Romulans from back in her days when she was a Captain in the Raven Program” Palema stated with a smile on her face. “This collaboration is in honor of that” 

Sazra glared at Palema as she was peaking. She knew her history and was better prepared for this than Sazra had expected. Looking back at the screen to a stunned Lieutenant “This joint operation is by administration rights not yet processed by Task Force 17. As you might understand with some chaotic timing that Starfleet is going through now” It was no lie, that the Lost Fleet conflict was delaying the fake orders in administration. 

“Chaotic timing?” The Lieutenant narrowed his eyes in confusion and then slapped his side. “Oh, you mean because of preparation for Frontier Day?” He then nods. “Alright, I let you off the hook. Go on and get through the gate. Report to Opaka Outpost of your mission and safe travels Captain” With that, the screen returned to the DS9 in space view.

A sign of relief came from Sazra who nodded to Palema and then looked at her helmsman. “Get us through the gate K’Nala.” Sitting back in her chair looking at the screen.

“Yes, Captain” K’Nala moved her paws over her console moving the Mariner to the gate. 

“One hurdle did”  Silina leaned to Sazra “One to go” 

“The joint operation was an excellent idea, Captain. It makes sense that you requested me to be in my old uniform. But do you want me to have this uniform on the trip?” Palema looked at Sazra.

Giving a slight nod “We must hold up this ruse as long as possible, not just for Starfleet Command, but also for the crew” She whispers so that only Palema and Silina can hear it. The Bajoran Wormhole opens up as the Mariner moves into it. 

The light blue of the wormhole reflects in Palema eyes. “It will be a challenge to convince them upon our return home. Are we to succeed, we might be challenged by the fake orders that were given” She pointed out.

“As Captain Kobahl would always say, we will see that hurdle when it comes” Silina winks at Palema. The two returned to their comfortable seats as the Mariner was traveling through the Bajoran Wormhole. Then after a few minutes arrived at the other side. “Welcome to the Gamma Quadrant” Silina spoke with some relief.

“Opaka Outpost is hailing us” Asipa confirmed.

Sazra give a nod in the direction to Asipa as she looked back at the screen seen a Bajoran officer appearing on the screen. “Good day, I am Captain Kobahl of the USS Mariner. We are here on terms of a joint operation with the Romulan Republic to explore the Gamma Quadrant nebulas.” 

The officer looked at the bridge crew before focusing on Sazra. “We were not informed of any joint operations. Do you have clarification from Starfleet Command that you can send?” 

“Sadly no, because of the preparation for Frontier Day, the administration work of us lending from one task force to another is such a pain these days” Sazra smiled a bit awkwardly. “But we shall keep regular contact with you regarding our mission parameters” 

A brief pause came from the Bajoran side as he looked at some data and nodded. “I want to see a report every 24 hours from you guys. I will wait on the orders from Deep Space 9 and if something is wrong expect a call from me” He spoke.

Rising her hands slightly to give a sign of surrender “Totally understandable. Thank you for your leeway in this matter. I don’t want our Romulan Republic friends to be waiting on the data we promised them” Sazra felt slightly relieved when the channel closed. “Get us to a nearby nebula, we need to plan this carefully. Lieutenant T’ path gives them brief updates every 24 hours on this joint operation” 

“But Captain, the joint operation is a ruse is it not? Do you require me to lie towards Opaka Outpost?” T’ Path asked calmly but there was firmness in her voice.

Looking back at her Chief Science “Yes” Was the brief response “I know it is against your nature, but I need you to lie against Starfleet Command about this operation. We need time to get our allies sorted out” Sazra shrugged as she didn’t like lying to her good friend. But she couldn’t take risks in this mission. 

T’Path shrugged and nodded to her Captain. “As you command Captain. I shall….make something up as you would say. I will make it believable and acceptable for both Starfleet Command and the Romulan Republic that this is an authentic report”

“Good” Sazra turned her attention to Palema. “Lieutenant get ready for your part of this mission. I need you fully up to date as far as you potentially can get with the…” Sazra pauses for a moment “…situation in Gamma Quadrant. Use the latest details from Opaka Outpost to help with that”  

“Understood Captain. I will start immediately with the new parameter data on the species known to Starfleet Command. Thought it might be challenging all-in-all.” Palema would not beat the bush about giving her Captain a deceiving answer in the given situation. She nodded to the command team and stood up to make her leave to get prepared for their encounter with the Dominion. 

Everyone resumed their duties as expected of them. This was quite a hurdle for the Mariner to overcome, but convincing the Dominion to give them what they needed was another bigger problem they would have to face at the end of the day. Sazra felt the sudden weight of this mission getting on her shoulder as she felt a hand on hers that makes her look to her right seeing Silina looking at her.

“It will be okay…”  Silina gave those comforting words to Sazra that she needed to hear right now. 

“I know, but still with everything that is going on, I wonder what other challenges they will throw at us in this mission” Sazra spoke out her concern and noticed the other bridge members looking at her. “But I am sure that we will manage it. I got the finest crew in the galaxy that is up for some challenges” She saw a few smiles appear and gave her smile, a fake smile but a smile nonetheless. 

Silina could see the fake smile of Sazra and kept her hand on hers for a moment before pulling it back. They needed to keep their focus and show these distractions might work against everything they were trying to hold. Keeping up a fake smile might be the best solution for now. They would have to deal with the aftermath after this mission. Silina could only understand a fraction of the weight on Sazra’s shoulders. “Lieutenant K’Nala keep me up to date on the trajectory of our course. I don’t want any surprises”