Aris had arrived back on the Auckland a short while ago. After being cleared through Ensign Shan’s enhanced security protocols, he made a beeline for the bridge.

“Captain Suin to Commander Fenway.” he called over the comm.

“Welcome back Captain.” Gin replied. “We have ideas. I’ll fill you in when you get to the Bridge.”

“Sound’s intriguing, Commander.” Aris said with a grin. “I’ll be there shortly.”

“Acknowledged.” Gin replied as she cut the channel.

Entering the nearest turbolift he made his request. “Deck 2, Main Bridge.”

Taking the short trip to its destination, Aris kept his eyes glued to his padd as he began to go over the updated reports from the Depot. Surely all this information would give them an advantage.

The soft hiss of the turbolift door sliding open bought Aris back to the present. “What have you got for me Commander?” he asked as he entered the bridge.

“Well, I think it might be best to let the experts enlighten you.” Gin replied. “Your ready-room? 5 minutes?”

“Very well.” Aris replied trusting his Executive Officer wasn’t going to waste his time. “Tick tock.” he said with a smile as he turned in the direction of his ready-room. As the door to the ready room closed, Gin turned to face Emma. “Have Ensign Malra and Shan report to the bridge, we all have a meeting to attend.”

“Yes, Commander.” Emma replied concealing her excitement. The work she had been completing with Joci and Shan had tested her but she believed they had been able to formulate a workable plan, or at least the start of a plan.

“Bridge to Ensign Malra and Ensign Shan.”

“Go ahead, Ensign.” Joci replied from her office.

“This is Shan.” Taylor replied from where had been overseeing some screening of cargo flowing between the Auckland and the station. Knowing the Captain had returned, he had a feeling this was in relation to the work he had been undertaking with the other junior officers.”

“Please report to the Bridge.” Emma replied. “Commander Fenway is requiring a status update in person, five minutes please.”

“Acknowledged.” Joci replied closing her channel

“On my way.” Taylor responded, likewise closing the channel and heading to the nearest turbolift. While navigating the corridors, Taylor cast his thoughts back to earlier in the day.

Taylor and Emma had been poring over data from the Astrometrics Lab going over severy possible inch of the Yadev System calculating trajectories, angles, fields of view and possible gaps the Dominon could utilise to surprise them. They had been working diligently for a few hours when the door opened behind them.

“Oh, i’m sorry.” Joci muttered, not realising the lab was currently occupied. “I’ll come….back.”

Joci had caught sight of what Taylor and Emma were going over. “Is that a current map of the system?” she asked motioning to the holographic display covered in overlays and calculations lighting up the room.

“That it would.” Emma replied, her eyes still glued to the terminal in front of her. “We have been analysing the region to determine possible escape routes, optimal positioning of the reactivated ships, and any incursion points we need to monitor.”

Joci’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant, do you mind if I join you? The Captain wants us to deploy a rudimentary sensor net around the system as wide as possible and as long range as possible using some recycled and repurposed probes.”

This was something Emma and Taylor could work with. Real-time advanced notice would prove to be an advantage, and any advantage put them closer to mounting a viable defense. Over the course of the next couple of hours, the dynamic trio of junior officers had come up with a viable yet rudimentary sensor net using automated probes throughout the system. The probes would be linked into the subspace network to allow real-time data and maneuverability if the mission demanded it.

In a matter of moments, the two officers met each other outside the Bridge. “You ready for this?” Taylor asked, nudging Joci in the shoulder.

“Game face on, please.” Joci replied with a smile. “Best not to keep the Commander waiting.”

“After you, Ensign.” Shan indicated the door in front of them.

Following Joci into the bridge, the pair caught sight of Commander Fenway waiting for them near the helm console. “Right on time, you two. Ensign Swain if you’ll join us too, the Captain is waiting.”Emma got to her feet as a bridge officer instantly filled her now vacant seat and joined Joci and Taylor. Following Gin to the ready room the filed in behind her and made themselves comfortable.

Looking up from his padd, he noticed his new arrivals. “Commander Fenway.” he nodded. “These must be the experts you mentioned on my return.”

“Present and accounted for.” Gin replied with soft smile. “These three have had their heads together going over escape routes, incursion points, and areas of weaknesses. Ensign Malra also bought to the table your request for any advanced warning system we could put together.”

Turning to face the young officers, Gin continued. “I believe they have come up with a serviceable yet rudimentary solution without unnecessarily draining ship resources.”

Settling back in his chair, Aris looked to the officers assembled in front of him. “You have my attention, Ensigns. Lay it on me.”

Between the three of them and the use of the holographic display in the ready-room, Emma, Joci and Taylor outlined their proposed solution. Recycled probes would be deployed as far and wide around the planetary system and depot as their range would allow. The probes would constantly emit long-range pulses transmitting the data in real-time back to the Auckland and the Depot.

Aris was impressed as the trio concluded their presentation. “Now tell me how this proposed course of action won’t put a drain on our resources.”

Joci took the lead on this one as she explained the probes would be self-propelled and would periodically ping the other probes in their vicinity to transmit information along with navigation updates to prevent stellar drift. The probes would utilise their own internal power source to transmit data updates.

Aris couldn’t help but smile as his most junior members of the senior staff worked together to overcome a shared obstacle. “You have my approval.” Aris smiled. “Nice job you three. Keep me appraised of your progress.”

There were various replies of thanks as the officers recognised the dismissal. A dismissal with a spring in their steps.

“Ensign Malra, a moment first please.” Aris caught his Bajoran Ops chief before she could make an exit.

Joci returned to her seat as soon as she heard the Captain requesting she stay. “Can I get you a refreshment before we begin?” Aris asked.

After taking care of the requested drinks, Aris returned to his desk. “I know a lot has been asked of you in the last 24 hours, are you holding up alright? No amount of reading really does the threat of the Dominion justice.”

Joci almost choked on her drink in surprise. It wasn’t often any of her previous Commanding Officers had personally checked in to check how she and the team were faring.

“Thank you, Captain.” Joci almost stammered. “It is a lot of pressure but I am finding the work rewarding. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up on the frontier of Federation space trying to fend off a Dominion squadron, but for whatever reason these are the cards that the fates have dealt. The Prophets are known to be a bit abstract but I firmly believe they are smiling down on me for the work I am doing.”

Taking a breath, she realised she had forgotten to pause as she answered the Captain’s concern. “Sorry for the soapbox moment, Sir.”

“Think nothing of it, Ensign.” Aris smiled. “We never are truly alone no matter what it feels like, the Prophets would be most understanding of the present situation and I do firmly believe they will see you through this, likewise I too draw on the experiences of Suin’s previous host for guidance during troubled times.”

Settling back in his chair again. “Do let me know if there is anything we can do, should the pressure start to get a bit much, this is a lot for an Ensign to cover.”

“Of course, Captain.” Joci nodded in thanks. But Aris wasn’t quite done yet.

“Now, with all the heavy stuff out of the way, how have those automation routines been coming along?”

Straying back into familiar territory, Joci updated Aris on her preliminary algorithms. It wasn’t much but it formed a foundation for the Auckland and the depot to expand on and implement.

“Impressive, Ensign.” Aris nodded in approval. “Transmit these to Administrator Avaya on the depot, we begin testing and integration tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.” Joci replied as she stood tall and retrieved her padd from the desk.

“And, Ensign?” Aris drew her attention back to him. “Do try to get some sleep tonight, I need you on top of the game tomorrow.”

“I will try, Captain, and thank you.” Joci replied as she left the office.

Once the door slid closed behind Joci, Gin took a vacant chair and got comfortable. “What do you think?” she asked, concern lightly colouring her tone. “Can we hold this system?”

Aris let out a brief sigh. “It won’t be easy, but if we fail, then we have just opened a massive corridor into Federation space for the Breen to overtake surrounding systems.”

Gin could do nothing but nod in silent agreement as the pair withdrew into a thoughtful silence.