Captain’s Log stardate: 51789.04

The USS Denver’s first joint mission with the Romulans was a resounding success. The destruction of the shipyards in the Thelos sector was a major setback for the Dominion war effort. In addition; the away team that landed on the prisoner of war camp freed one-hundred and twenty-eight Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and dissident Cardassian prisoners. The latter will likely prove useful to Starfleet Intelligence. Starfleet Command is pleased with a job well done. Which is exactly why I invaded Dominion territory risking ship and life… to please Starfleet Command.

 

As for my Romulan counterpart, I find Commander Tommarrah an agreeable, competent, and intelligent commander. She is nothing like the general reputation that most Romulans have. Though to be completely honest this is my first meeting with a Romulan. Perhaps their reputation of arrogance and possessing a superiority complex is greatly exaggerated. 

Special commendations have been placed into the records and the ship logs for both away teams, especially for commanders Cheon and Jeter as well as Major Tovarik. I know the Major isn’t Starfleet, but he sacrificed himself for my crew and future crews that would have to return to destroy the shipyard. That deserves some recognition.

 

Commander Nalim is working to discover how much damage her Changeling doppelganger has inflicted. Hopefully limited as much of our intelligence has been deemed need to know and Denver needed to know very little. The disappearance of Doctor Malex is actually a larger concern. Commander Nalim is working intelligence channels on her as well. The thought of not one but two spies on my ship is a reflection of me and my failure as a commander. I will work with Kyo and Nalim to prevent this from happening again.

Ready room…

Rebecca stared down at the PADD in her hand and sighed.  Setting it down she poured herself a fresh cup of coffee and sat back in her chair letting the hot liquid to warm her soul.  The door chime interrupted her thoughts and she sat up and adjusted her uniform. “Enter.”

Ming had been thinking about the away mission on and off since even before the Xoval returned them back to the Denver.  There were a few slips here and there but the mission had resolved better than expected in the end.  The Rangers had done some mixed missions while he was with that flight, so this hadn’t been his first rodeo.  Pilots with some clandestine missions had filled a unique niche which he found to be an experience he felt worked out nicely in that circumstance.  Of course the Tucson was gone now and Ming with Abara were now the only surviving members of that unit after Betazed.  He didn’t plan on suggesting a repeat scenario on Denver but he did feel like it was worth discussing a few bits with the Captain.  He also had hoped to find out if ANY of the data rods collected had proved to be useful.  

He took a deep breath before activating the door chime at the Captain’s ready room door.  At her invite Ming entered the ready room and briefly came to attention in front of Rebecca Talon’s desk.  He relaxed almost immediately, though, and gave her a small smile.  He said, “Hopefully I am not interrupting anything critical, Captain.”  

“Not at the moment Mr. Ming,” Rebecca replied.  “Coffee? I broke down and got into my Columbian stash.  Usually this time of day I just settle for the replicated trash.”

Marcus gave the captain a genuine smile.  He said, “I’m glad. I’m not usually a coffee drinker but I’ll give it a go.  Hopefully it won’t be too sacrilegious if I ask for a bit of cream with that.  I’m glad to be able to have it, honestly.  That away mission with the Xoval had about a million things that could have gone wrong.  It was … and is… a happy surprise that it seemed to go amazingly well in most respects.”

“Very much so,” Rebecca said. “First time since the war began the Dominion has really gotten a black eye without giving one in return.” She picked up a clean cup from the tray and flipped it upright before filling it with coffee from the pot. She set the cup in front of Marcus before sliding a small bowl of cream and sugar packets in his direction.  “I keep the bowl around for guests. If you require different options feel free to use the replicator.”

The Denver’s flight leader thanked his captain before adding some cream to his coffee.  Less than he might have otherwise figuring this blend was better than the run of the mill.  As he returned the dish to where it was he said, “That mission is something I wanted to discuss actually.  One of two things which I expect won’t take up too much of your time.” 

Rebecca set her cup down and folded her hands in front of her, “Go ahead.”

“It was a successful mission without a doubt.  The Romulans…Or Rihansu as they call themselves…were a big part of that.  I’ve not heard from intel good the data was we acquired was but Thalor was key in collecting most of the data from the Cardassian computers.  While there might be some useful information in the handful of data rods I collected I’m fairly certain that anything on those will be incidental.  That’s Intel’s bag I realize however it’d be nice to know we did some good on that end.  As much as I hate to give the Tal Shiar credit for anything but Major Tovarik was the one who ultimately destroyed the facility at the cost of his own life.  I’d presume that’s on the record but if it isn’t already there it should be,” Ming reported. 

Marcus paused for a moment then added, “The Federation team did a first rate job too.  This was the third raid I’ve been a part of during this war.  I had been tapped for a couple on the Tucson….Something to be said about being a pilot involved in martial arts since childhood I suppose.”     

“Starfleet Intelligence isn’t going to give me any details, but they are pleased with the information collected,” Rebecca said wondering why Ming was really there.

Marcus paused and thought for a moment before he spoke again, his face a mask of thought.  Once that passed he continued, “There were a couple of points of the mission that I thought I feel I should bring up. The first part is partially my own fault.  I throat punched a Cardassian Gul on the way out.  His two companions were dead without a doubt.  I employed that punch for a reason.  While it is fatal from time to time it usually interrupts the breathing enough to knock out the target rather than kill.  That is most often the case with the Cardassions I’ve employed it with during my small handful of ground ops with the Tucson.  I should have shouted for the other team members to grab him.  Mr. Thalor and I were in the lead since it was our jobs to get the shuttle launched and homeward bound so I couldn’t spare the time.  As a Gul he might have had at least some useful intel however I should have called out for someone to grab him.  I was used to the Tucson’s raiders being used to that maneuver, so I blame myself on that oversight.  It won’t happen again should I be selected for another team,” Ming admitted with obvious self-loathing for the mistake.  

After a pause he added, “The other part…I think you should be made aware of before anything comes through diplomatic channels from the Romulans or some other roundabout way.  Our Tal Shiar team member, Major Tovarik, was lost when he broke away from the team and destroyed the base, as I am sure you are aware.  His departure stemmed after Mr. Collins broke discipline.    It was decided that we would go hand to hand to avoid our phasers setting off the alarms.  He fired when there could’ve been other options.  The Major ran off to execute the sabotage which destroyed the station but before he left he told us…” Ming organized his thoughts before quote, “Note that your Mr. Collins and his reckless use of a phaser has sealed my fate. If all goes well, neither the Empire nor Starfleet will have a need to send in ships.”  

“He prefaced that by stating that he had higher orders of some sort.  No clarification beyond it came from on high.  Lieutenant Collins did a very competent job otherwise.  I am unsure if his placement / perspective lead him to believe there were other option or if it was something else however I don’t wish to assume anything nor do I want it coming back at us….Any of us,” the Flight leader and occasional special operations officer said.  

Rebecca absorbed the information and drummer hee fingers on the desk for a moment.  Clearing her throat,  “Prisoners are a liability.  Especially in this case. I would prefer you all come back alive than risk dragging a Cardassian onto the shuttle.  No Mr. Ming that waa the best course of action,  and I expect in future cases where we do not have complete control of the situation you do not try to get prsoners.

“As for Mr. Collins I am aware of his mistakes. He has already submitted a report on the incident to me. I have forwarded it to his chain command and will let Mr. Conroy handle it.

“As for the Major I don’t know what his orders were or from whom they were from. We may be allies with the Empire,  but they aren’t sharing anything with me. The ship yard was destroyed.  And sans the Major everyone returned home.  That’s a wildly successful mission.  Take it as such Mr. Ming.”

Ming studied the Denver’s CO for a moment as he mulled over her words.  After a brief moment of thought he nodded, “I do, Captain.  Point in fact I feel similarly with my flight and did with this away mission regarding bringing everyone home after a mission.    It was…difficult not being able to bring more of the Rangers home along with the Knights despite them being my old flight.  All of the unit, except the XO who came in after I left, were pilots I flew with prior to me becoming the Knight’s CO.  We got two of their pilots back which is something given the situation at Betazed.”   

He paused to suppress grief which he still felt but continued after a very brief pause, “Unfortunately one had similar injuries to Erikson as the barrage of Dominion torpedoes exploded between their fighters which overwhelmed their shields and irradiated Ranger 4 as well as Knight 5.  Starfleet Medical still has their prognosis listed as good although there is no expectation of there will or not be two full recoveries.  A nearly full recovery is a win give the alternatives though.  And the other Ranger, who I flew with previously, has taken over as Knight 5 and as my wingman.”

After a breath he added, “I would be interested in assisting in any further away missions that take place where the fighter flight won’t likely be needed.   My first duty to the Denver is to command the Knights which where I think I am best suited.  That said, with my raider experience and martial arts background, I continue to believe I can be of use in the future in that role when the opportunity arises…If circumstances dictate and Mr. Collins will have me in that role of course.”   

“Skilled pilots are always needed in situations like that.  I will keep you in mind should another covert mission come across my desk.” 

“I’d appreciate it if you would, Captain.  I hope the next mission’s extraction is a bit less rushed.   It’d have been nice to get a bit more intel.  ‘You can’t have enough intelligence information,’ my Uncle Vic often used to say after wrapping up the occasional redacted tale about his time in Starfleet Intel.  I almost chose that as a career path however I was too drawn to piloting to choose anything else.  Maybe someday my career will allow for other avenues to explore…Right now I feel I am right where I need to be however,” Ming said with a slight smile and good humor all but showing in his violet eyes.

“It’s interesting how life has a tendency to deviate from its planned course,” Rebecca mused. 

Marcus nodded in agreement and said, “So it is.  With the recent confirmation of the Quantum Laws and the knowledge of the reality of the multiverse it’s also fascinating to think that in some near parallel universe or three I might be in Commander Nalam’s role and her in mine.  It can be a bit mind bending if you think about it too much I suspect.”  

Ming smiled with that last.  He sobered up a bit and then said, “Seems like things are turning around for the good guys finally.  DS9’s been recaptured, the Xoval mission was a success and we’ve had some solid victories among the setbacks.  Hopefully things keep going more in our favor.  Knock on wood and all.”

The pilot gently tapped his knuckles against his head two times in lieu of actually knocking on wood.  He allowed himself to be silly around a select few.  He hoped the Denver’s captain recognized that last gesture as such.

“These are the dangerous times,” Rebecca said.  “We have some victories and the Dominion has pulled back to Cardassia. They are pushed up against the wall. Sure we won some battles,  but we haven’t won the war. Don’t forget that. Hopefully this is a turning point and we can put this whole affair to bed soon, but time will only tell.”

Ming nodded and said, “I’m not quite popping the cork of the sparkling wine yet, Captain.  When the time comes, however, I aim to be first in line to do so.  We’ve lost so many good people…Family, friends and colleagues.   Wondering what it’ll be like to rebuild our lives with the gaping holes and deep wounds once the chips are finally down.  We’ll do our damnedest but beyond that is just conjecture.”  

He looked out the porthole for a moment admiring the view as he thought.  After a moment he said, “Someone quite special to me recently asked me to survive this hellish war and to live the best life I can afterwards.  Almost sage like advice we all could use I think  ….  Anyway, I suspect I’ve taken up enough of your time.  You know where to find me if I am needed, Captain.  Just keep me posted.” The commanding officer of the Knights gave Rebecca Talon a genuine smile as he finished that last thought.  His tone was lighter than it might have been otherwise making it more of an honest affirmation more than anything else.  

Rebecca dug into her desk and pulled out a cloth bag the size of a fist and tossed it to Ming, “We can’t have our lead pilot drinking that replicated swill can we?”

Ming accepted the bag and looked at it.  A smile dawned on his face as he did so.  He said simply but sincerely, “Thank you, Captain Talon.”

She smiled, “You are dismissed Mr. Ming.”

Sickbay

“Of course I’m a bloody Doctor, go help someone who needs it.” Lavender shoo’d a junior Doctor away and with the view of a mirror starting fixing the various small injuries and bruises, mostly around her face and arms. Her wrecked uniform jacket and undershirt sat discarded on the side, from the waist up she was dressed only in a suitably modest sports bra so she could see everything and fix everything. She was dirty as hell and probably stank but the medical staff could just deal with it. Fix first, then sonic shower. Slowly the purple marks faded, the scars and wounds were gone. Prisoner 3436 was dying, Lavender was starting to come back. Images flashed through her mind of how she got each scratch, bruise and cut as each was remedied by her expert hand.

“Best to go easy on the doctor, you should have a full workover anyways after that ordeal,” Riandri said from one of the beds nearby. 

Lavender stopped what she was doing long enough to peer over at the Blonde. The LtCmdr pips on Riandri’s neck curbed Lavender’s tongue. Slightly. “There are plenty of people who need a Doctor’s attention in here Commander,” she said as she resumed her work, laden with matter-of-fact, “I am not one of them.” She stopped again, and looked over, again, this time with a less testy look on her now bruise-free face. “I’d see to you myself if I weren’t in need of four concurrent sonic showers. What are you in here for?”

Cheon stood in the doorway to sickbay for a moment before he cleared his throat and looked directly at the doc. 

“It’s getting a little crowded around here,” Dr. Lorsa observed. The Bajoran doctor looked Cheon up and down. “What seems to be your problem?” She turned her attention back to Lavender,  “You were in a POW camp only the Prophets know how long. You stay right there. I don’t care if you are a doctor or outrank me. I am the physician on duty at the moment and that means this is my sickbay.”

“Alright, alright.” Lavender held up her hands in submission. The tool was placed on the side by her uniform and she hopped up onto an adjacent bio bed.

Riandri looked over at the XO and smiled before her faced turned down, “Commander, I wanted to say thank you for coming to rescue me but no one knew I was even gone. I am sorry, some intelligence officer I am getting replaced like that.”

The com chirped, “Commander Cheon,” the voice of the duty officer said, “Doctor Kyo is on subspace for you.”

“I got this Commander,” Efe said. “Go talk to your wife.”  She didn’t wait for his response and turned to Lavender, but she heard the twin hisses of the opening and closing of the sickbay door. “Now for you.” Efe consulted her tricorder. “You seem fine,  but I expect you know what I’m going to say.”

“No wrestling Klingons for forty eight hours? Well it’ll be tough…” Lavender joked. While she seemed calm on the outside Lavender was anything but. Being incarcerated had done a number on her mentally. It wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle but it was going to take some time to work through everything that had happened. For now it was all jokes, sarcasm and deflection, i.e. a normal day for Lavender Haigh. The M’talan gave Efe a big toothy grin to show the two missing teeth along her top left gum.

“Could you fab me some replacements for these? My smile is one of my most attractive features,” she drawled, intending Efe to be in on the joke.

Efe leaned in to examine the missing teeth in detail, “I am an orthopedic surgeon not a dentist. But how hard can it be?” She quipped.  

“Release me from this invalid bed and I’ll do it myself…” Lavender suggested mischievously. Her attention was drawn by the X.O. who spoke up.

“Doctor, am I free to leave? It has been a rather trying day and I have a lot to get caught up on,” Riandri said.

“Take it easy for the next few days,” Efe said to Riandri,  but other than that you are free.”

Riandri nodded in thanks, “Appreciate it Doc. I best get back to it, reviewing all my imposter’s work on the PADD is not very productive.” With that, she swung her legs off the bed stood up and made her way to the door out of sickbay.

The doors shut and the X.O. gone Lavender peered at Efe with her commonly used accusatory narrow-eyed pout.

“You are released Doctor,” the Bajoran said. “I would like a follow-up in a few days if you are still on the ship. In the meantime if you want me to replace those missing teeth we can do it at that time, or you could see if the ship’s dentist is available.” 

Lavender nodded, and grabbed the remnants of her old uniform. She wasn’t going to put that back on for any amount of latinum. “Four sonic showers and sleep for a week, then!” She exclaimed. And if anyone wakes me, oh they will be dead.” She continued to speak to nobody in particular with accompanying animated hand gestures as she left sickbay and headed off down the corridor. “I know that medically speaking someone is either dead or not dead but really, anyone who wakes me well actually be three or four kinds of dead all at the same time…”

Armory…

Collins sat at his desk, trying to write his report for the captain. It was not going well. He jeopardized the mission and the team. Out of instinct, he killed two Jem’hadar soldiers. It was supposed to be a covert mission, but his actions endangered the mission and the team. 

He wrote up the report the best he can, and included a transfer request, and failing that, his resignation.

He finished the report, and sent it to the captain’s computer. Then, he waited.

Lounge…

Cezear sat at the bar swirling what was left in his glass. “Where did we mess up? That should have been a quick in and out mission.” he muttered to him self as he took another sip and looked around the lounge.

“You didn’t mess up. Shit goes sideways,” Jeter said from behind Cezear as he put his hand on the younger officers shoulder. “Reflect on what happened but don’t blame yourself for it.”

Collins left the armory and entered the lounge, where he saw Cezear and Jeter sitting at the bar. He turned and headed to a table near the back of the bar, hoping to be out of sight.

Ensign Aoife McKenzie saw the clustering of Cezear and Collins and approached. “Gentlemen,” She greeted.

“Ensign,” Jeter said with a nod. “How are you doing?”

“Can’t complain,” Aoife said. She laughed, “My dad would add, ‘No one would listen anyway’.”

“Ensign” as he put his now empty glass down on the bar top. “Guess your right, Jeter. “

“So, what’s the occasion? Celebrating or commiserating?” Aoife asked as she slid into an empty seat.

Cezear turned to let ok at Aoife. “The later, but Jeter here helped put it into perspective for me.”

She frowned, “Sorry to hear that sir.”

Collins ordered a drink from a passing waiter, and some food. He saw the others at the bar, talking and laughing…he wasn’t in the mood for either.

“Mr. Collins,” Aoife shouted seeing the man enter and sit alone. “Join us and help us drown our misery.”

Collins stood up from his table, picked up his drink and walked over to the others. He looked at the waiter, “Another please.” then sat down. “Not much to celebrate concerning our last mission.” He was still sure he was going to be transferred or cashed out of the service.

Jeter cocked an eyebrow at that, “Really? I would think the rescue of Federation, Klingon and Romulan personnel along with Cardassian whom the Dominion deemed as enemies was a win, not to mention the destruction of a large shipyard. Commander Nalam is still getting back on her feet but I am sure she will find some interesting intel on the files we retrieved.” He paused to take a drink, “It was a tough mission and I do wish it had gone differently at points but it was a success for sure.”

Collins took a sip of his drink. “When I killed those two Jem Hadar put the mission as well as the team in jeopardy! We easily could have been overrun by the Jem Hadar!” He downed the remainder of his drink. “Another drink!”

“Mistakes happen,” Aoife observed.  “They don’t call war chaos for nothing.”

“Well,” Collins drained his drink, “mistakes get you killed.”

“Mistakes also create growth,” Aoife said.