Lieutenant Junior Grade Stirling Fightmaster winced in pain as the large, granite-like hand clamped down on his left shoulder. And winced again when Lieutenant Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr’s graveline voice rumbled in his ear. “Shouldn’t you still be in Sickbay, Mr Fightmaster?”

“Special dispensation from the good doctor,” Stirling answered. “And the captain hasn’t noticed me so far.” After only two renditions of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart with W’a’le’ki, he had been informed his arm would continue to heal just fine as long as he kept it in a sling for a day or two and was not-quiet pushed out of Sickbay by Doctor Terax.

The lesson he had learnt wasn’t that song could be used to annoy the good doctor, it was that W’a’le’ki was not averse to using torture to help him get what he wanted. His estimation of her would need to be reevaluated, likely for the continued betterment. And if their relationship continued as it was, he did need to sort some time out to call his parents.

His arrival on the bridge had been quiet, opting to check in with Samantha Michaels at Ops II first. He wanted to acquaint himself with the situation at hand before reporting to the captain after all and since Captain Theodoras was stalking the operations bay at the rear of the bridge, it bought him a chance to avoid her attention for just a moment more. It did not however allow him to avoid the hulking Operations Chief whom he hadn’t noticed, or heard approaching.

For a mountain of a person, Lieutenant Rrr’mm’bal’rrr was awfully, unnaturally stealthy.

“You should report to the captain,” Rrr said, keeping their tone low to avoid it carrying.

“I was just acquainting myself with the situation and was discussing with Lieutenant Michaels about how to communicate with the away team.” He used his free hand to tap Sam’s upper arm as she was working her console with its far more in-depth and detailed displays than the normal ops station at the front of the bridge by the helm.

“Stirling suggested we turn the main deflector into a giant strobe light,” Sam said, her reflection in some of the black surfaces showing her smile. “Well, strobe isn’t quite right. Signal lantern?”

“Indeed,” Stirling said as he looked to Rrr. “Commander Gantzmann studied ancient warfare at the Academy and I’m willing to wager it covered the use of heliographs and subsequently morse code. Unless the increased shields are somehow blocking incoming visible light across the whole spectrum, we should be able to send messages.”

“How much longer before you can send a message?” Rrr asked.

“Just making final adjustments now,” Sam answered. “What should send?”

Rrr didn’t answer, just turned their head towards the rear of the bridge, towards the operations bay. Stirling saw their face contort slightly in concentration and before he could ask what the Gaen was doing, he heard footsteps. Unmistakeable footsteps.

The captain’s appearance just behind the tactical arch was surprising, as was the look on her face before she rapidly made her way around and towards them, Commander Kendris in tow. “Stirling, you’re supposed to be in sickbay.”

“Aye ma’am,” he replied.

“Whatever trick you used to get out, tell me later,” she continued and offered him a slight wink.

His concerns about the captain resenting him for being injured and Commander Gantzmann going in his place were eased. For now, at least. “Aye ma’am,” he repeated.

“Now, Rrr, what is it?” the captain continued right away.

“Lieutenant Fightmaster has stumbled upon an idea for communicating with the away team. One way for now I fear.” Rrr paused momentarily for effect. “We’re preparing to use the main deflector as a signal lantern, hoping Commander Gantzmann might be familiar with Morse code?”

“She is, but do it slow,” the captain answered. “Let’s keep it simple too. Send,” the captain’s mouth pursed to one side in thought, then switched to the other. “Borg. Put it on repeat.”

“Borg?” Stirling found himself asking straight away at that revelation.

“Your intelligence network doesn’t descend to Sickbay?” the captain teased, and he noted Commander Kendris’ eyes narrowing on him, before relaxing and a smile when he caught her. “But yes, the Borg.”

“Borg, on repeat,” Sam spoke up as she finished entering in a series of commands and triggering the automation that would pulse the ship’s main deflector, bathing station CR-718 in light, pouring through all the windows facing Atlantis. “Assuming the Commander sees the lights, she’ll get the message.”

“Good, good,” the captain acknowledged. “If we get any sort of communications from the station, let me know. I’m going back to the Gabs and her folks.” She turned on Stirling, still smiling. “Get caught up, then come and find me, tell me whatever clever ideas come to mind.”

“Ma’am, you’ve already got the best minds on the ship working on the problem,” he replied instantly.

“Flatter,” Sam shot back straight away from where she sat.

“Lieutenant,” Rrr grumbled and Sam shrunk slightly in her seat.

“That may be so,” the captain answered, ignoring the exchange between her ops officers, “but the more minds the better.” Then she glared at Rrr. “And you, don’t do that again unless it’s an emergency.” And with that, she stalked off.

“What is she referring to?” Commander Kendris immediately asked.

“The captain is an empath,” Rrr answered. “She doesn’t read thoughts, but emotions. I just…focused and then…thought loudly.”

Kendris stared at Rrr for a moment, shook her head and then turned to follow in the captain’s wake. Rrr took only a moment before nodding at both Sam and Stirling, then resumed their position at the centre of the bridge as duty officer.

“Draw up a seat,” Sam said. “Let’s get you up to speed. But first, Nurse Friedman sent a message, you and W’a working on a new duet?”

“Aren’t there more important matters to focus on right now?” he asked.

“I’m sure, if we let the Collective know you and W’a were working on a new song, they’d be interested too.” Sam chuckled once, then waved it away. “Fine, fine, let’s go over everything we know so far.”