USS-Daystrom Alpha mission

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Blackstar couldn't believe what hir commanding officer had just demanded. To just abandon a child was inconceivable to hir. Or anyone of hir species for that matter. "With all due respect Sir, I cannot abandon this child. She has no where to go."

"I don't care," said Rochey, "get rid of it!"

"Sir, you don't understand. I can't. I am responsible for her mother's death. I was careless and it got an innocent women killed. The least I can do is take care of her child. An order to abandon her is an order I must refuse. Abandoning her is the equivalent of murder."

"Are you disobeying my orders? You're willing to risk you career for that thing?"

Blackstar stare was unwavering, "Sir, I'd risk everything to protect her. Unless you retract your order I will be forced to disobey it. I have no choice in the matter. I couldn't abandon her anymore then the ensign here could tear off his own limb. I do have my own ship, and I will get her aboard one way or another and the Captain is sure to side with me once I do. I've been hunting smugglers and even smuggling myself on occasion since I was very young. Do you really think I can't get her past you? Are you really going to make me sacrifice my career for a harmless child? If you say yes, then you will lose all my respect for you and you will prove you don't deserve your rank. Will you recind or order, or force me to go behind your back?"

[Sionnach Glic]

A few minutes before the previous post:

"Lieutenant, I don't care whether you think I deserve my rank. The simple fact is that I am of superior rank to you, and for a damn good reason. And I am also giving you a direct order. As I already said; I don't care what you do with it. Just drop it off with the authorities at the spaceport and get them to look after it if you feel so strongly about it. As it stands, I've put up with more than enough of your disruption to this mission already, and I will not stand for any more."

Blackstar opened hir mouth to reply, but Rochey cut hir off.

"That child is merely a liability to us, and you in particular, or do you think you can still act perfectly as a scout with this thing in tow? Can you even give me a single reason as to why I should let you keep it, apart from 'I feel responsible'?"

[Minnsky]

Mich awoke on a medical bed and slowly sat up. His body fought him the hole way shooting pain through his legs and arms. However the pain in his stomach compelled him to move to the replicator. It was Mich's first time on a Starfleet vessel. Unfortunately the most he had seen was the quarantine room. The room as larger then any quarters he had had on a freighter and the accommodations were the best he had ever seen. If he wasn't so sick he would have been truly enjoying himself. Making it to the replicator he ordered a simple tomato soup and headed for the table in the corner. By the time he reached it he was exhausted. His mind turned to the happings over the past few days. He had crashed in to some containers on the Fitzbirg, that was the last thing remembered until he was awoken in 'sickbay'. The doctor told him that he had been infected by some unknown virus and it was unknown whether it was contages and Mich would have to stay in the room. Nurses and doctors would check on him. Some would come in the room with suits on and scan him, or give him medication. Once the doctor came in and asked him about Xene, there wasn't much for him to tell. Xene didn't talk much about his past. Miches thoughts were interrupted by the door opening.
"My name is Grr'lek."
Mich glanced over slowly, opened his mouth slowly and guttered, "Mich."
"Mich, this ship you came in on. What do you know about it?"
"I know some things, most of the time I didn't understand Xene."
"Xene." The alien seamed confused by the name.
"Yes Xene, Commander Xene, the captain of Wells." Mich was starting to go horse and had some of his soup.
"Yes right, Xene," Grr'lek pondered something for a moment and then "well what did you understand?" there was a long pause as Mich tried to speak, at last he was able to whisper.
"It is the greatest ship to ever be invented, capable of instant space travel and temporal passage." The words though whispered held much pride in them.
"Right now Wells is putting off a lot of energy."
Michs eyes widened, "Faze two, he said we were months off."
"Im sorry?"
"Faze two the hull changes, this is excellent," His voice seamed to return for just a moment in his excitement. "the hull is changing its molecular structure, Xene figured out how to do it. I don't understand how it works, but I do know that anything in side will die and if it if tampered with to much it will shut down."
"What kind of tampering?"
Mich eyed him, "Sir, Xene has put his hole life into this ship. I wont let anything stop his dream." Mich felt a sudden wave of sleepiness hit him. "I need to rest."
Grr'lek left.

[Mikey]

Grr'lek walked out of the guest quarters thoughtfully, then tapped his comm badge. "Gunny? Clear bay 2 - nobody is to go near the Wells until my further direction. Set up a constant passive scan on all available bands, and keep the bridge tie-in going. Patch it to Science 1." Touching his badge again, he said, "Commander Teaos? You're going to want to see these feeds from the recently-recovered shuttle..."

*****************************

Heading back to the holding area, Mikey found the pen enclosing the remnants of Munro's party. After having the Tholian guard admit him, Mikey shouted, "Step aside, pinkskin scum!" to remind his crewman not to affect much joy at their reunion. "You! Come here," Mikey said, pointing at Minnsky.

"What can I do for you?" replied Minnsky, not quite looking at the Andorian. The Martian seemed preoccupied.

More quietly, Mikey continued, "You're supposed to have ears on the ground here - what have they heard, and from whom?"

"Not much," answered Minnsky. "There may be a rumor about that Fed types are around, but nobody's connected it with us. I haven't yet encountered any of my former contacts."

"Very well. I expect your discretion if and when you do, Mr. Minnsky." Mikey tripped, and lurched onto Minnsky for balance. "Guard! Let me out. The Breen will return shortly to continue his business."

Striding towards the runabout, Mikey began to recite his litany of information without even looking up. "I'll prepare a full incident report, Commander; that Breen has-" Mikey stopped abruptly. "Why is Blackstar holding a baby?"

"Shi won't, for long," growled Rochey.

Blackstar began, "I was in an alley..."

"Don't, please." said Mikey. "Don't tell me. I really don't want to know. I'm just going to close my eyes and pretend I never saw it." To Rochey, he said, "The Breen really did frag one of our men. I'll prepare an incident report shortly. However, Minnsky lied to me about with whom he'd spoken. I recovered this from him -" Mikey held up the transponder he'd handed out - "and will have it downloaded."

Entering the ship, Mikey sat down to download the contents of the transponder when he saw a Romulan woman in Starfleet medical blues. "Ensign Talora Retaal. Pleased to meet you, commander," she said, in a formal Romulan tone. Mikey opened his mouth to speak, but "Of course" was all he could manage. As the Romulan walked out of the hatch, he connected the transponder to a tricorder, set it to translate the contents into Tholian, and began to bang his head against his console.[/i]

[Reliant121]

As Talora emerged from the ship, she noticed Blackstar and A Tholian clad in a Starfleet Issue environment suit. She had heard something about a Tholian on board the Daystrome. Judging by his tone, he had a rank higher than Lieutenant. This may not be a good thing.
As she approached, she heard little bits of the argument. Something concerning the baby. Neither of them looked happy. The Tholian glanced in Talora's direction, Interrupting the argument.
"Who are you?" he said, his voice sounding as if it was a forced attempt to appear both deep and threatening yet High pitched and annoyed. It started like a low hum and then reached its Crescendo at the end of the sentence. It wasn't pleasant. She put on her best Formal, official tone.
"Ensign Talora Retaal, Starship Sydney, Sir," She replied. He eyed her up and down. Apparently satisfied, he spoke in a grating deep tone.
"Why are you on the planet?"
"The Sydney was attacked by a small raiding party. A woeful assault of 3 fighters and a shuttle. We easily destroyed the Fighters but the Shutte got away. One of our shuttles and a combat team, including me, was despatched to follow the Shuttle. We came to the planet following the Warp trail. But when we landed, Someone or something, attacked us. I only escaped because I managed to scuttle away. By the time i had passed all the weapons fire, everyone else was already dead.
I had noticed this camp on our way down. So I headed in this direction. And here I am."
"Hmmm. Considering we have no Medic, you shall now be assigned under me and my team." Rochey turned to Blackstar. "You are to get rid of it." He looked at the fading sun."You wont get the thing to the spaceport before dark. I suppose you can keep the baby until dawn. But after that, I want it gone! As for you Ensign, help Blackstar with the baby, give it any attention it may require. Then you can check up with the rest of the team." With that, he turned and walked off.
"Inhumane pig." Blackstar said after the conversation."Anyway. I'm Blackstar. I had to birth the baby Prematurely. I scanned her and nothing seemed to be wrong."
"Being a premature baby, she's more susceptable to viruses or fevers." Talora picked up her Tricorder and began scanning. Nothing out of the ordinary other than a slight spike in the temperature gage.
"I think she has a slight fever." She picked up a medkit, selected a vial of yellow liquid, and injected the serum into the baby with her hypospray. The spike began to waver.
"Who was the Andorian I noticed?"
"Our chief Ops officer M'karn W'trisk. We all call him Mikey. Nice enough. Generally very friendly although I think don't think he is Mate Material."
Talora, stopped and stared at Blackstar. In Romulan culture, it was almost unheard of for someone to talk this openly when they had just met another. She had never gotten fully used to it.
"What?"
"I'm just used to a more...reserved culture."
"Oh...we shall soon change that" Blackstar replied with a Rueful smile on her lips.

[Monroe]

Munro arrived at the ship after the sun finished setting with the deceased crewman across his back. "Corpse recovered." He muttered setting the body onto the ground. Crewman Forester's chest had been blasted apart and skin up to his face had been peeled away. Figuring he had to get the meeting with Rochey over with as soon as possible he walked towards the spidery creature.

As Munro approached he noticed a Romulan and a baby talking with the multisexual creature and the Commander. The Breen's gaze followed the Romulan not trusting one here, and in a Starfleet uniform(?). "Sir reporting for duty." He stood at attention and saluted. He hoped the Tholian would understand his reasons for slaying the crewman.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Blackstar's jaw dropped at the sight of Monroe having a clearly dead crewman with him. Shi figured that if nothing else, Mikey would straiten things out. Right now shi had other things to worry about.

Blackstar was getting to know the knew crew member while taking care of the cub after she...relived herself. With everything going on shi barely caught Talora's question, "Why is him letting you keep her his big mistake?"

"Well, all Chakats are empathic to some degree. I'm a fairly powerful empath myself and since she'll be sharing my warmth while we're sleeping and that's when my empathic abilities are uncontrolled and would create an unbreakable empathic bond. It's why we're so close to our companions, mates, or anyone we sleep with," explained Blackstar.

"That's good to know," said Talora. "Just how strong is the bond?"

"Well, typically if she's or anyone with this bond were within close range, like anywhere on a ship I can sense their emotions. Stronger links can let me sense them anywhere on a planetary scale, and in really strong cases, like with life mates or a child on a solar system scale. If I had ever tried training it I could sense them on an unknown scale. But for now, absolute range is questionable." Blackstar grinned, "tonight the bond only gets stronger. The commander will have no chance of separating me and my child."

"Your child? Sounds like you've adopted her as a full daughter already," said Talora.

"That may have been caused when I was breastfeeding her," said Blackstar.

The medic shook her head, "how do you happen to be producing breast milk? That's usually something only brought on by having a baby of your own. And how do you know it's safe for her?"

"Just milkwater. This fluid is actually a modified form of their normal milk, but it is low in solids and fats and has a higher concentration of sugars and vitamins, etcetera. It is a natural "power drink" that allows a chakat to go without eating for a while when under heavy exertion. It also considered to be a healthy tonic for persons who are ill; a sort of natural alternative to the classic chicken soup! This fluid reserve, which we call milkwater, is available to others by the obvious method in case of need: e.g. a thirsty cub who can't store as much as an adult. I forgot to download the pattern for mother's milk in the runabout's replicator, but I have some back on the ship since I won't be able to find another Chakat to help stimulate the flow. Of coarse I'll have it tested to make sure it's okay for her and which one is better for her."

"And you're willing to risk everything for her?" asked Talora

"Yep. The Commander is wrong about making me get rid of her. Remember, no matter how high ranked anyone is, they still put their pants on one leg at a time just like us," said Blackstar.

"But you don't wear any pants," pointed out the Romulan.

Blackstar looked over hir lower body, "huh, I guess so. Well, let's see anyone else get away with that."

The child began mewing in hunger, a fact Blackstar sensed immediately, and without a second though, brought out hir breasts for another feeding. Seeing Talora stare in surprise shi decided to give her one more shock. "You want the other one?"

Talora view went up to Blackstar's face. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare." Cautiously she asked, "were you serious?"

Blackstar shrugged, "I doubt this little one will drink more then the contents of one breast before she's full, even when she gets older. Chakat cubs can barely empty one breast when they start getting weened. So in other words, if you want to, go ahead." Shi giggled a little as the Romulan's mind reeled a bit from the offer. Blackstar didn't know if it was from revulsion, temptation, or just pure culture shock. Shi gently pushed a calming feeling towards the Romulan with hir empathic abilities. Had shi bothered training, it would've been a cinch, but the Romulan was still calmed by Blackstar's efforts. "Are you okay?"

[Deepcrush]

Subspace Message transmitted via Sol Sector, North American relay station.
Primary message deployed to Jack 'Metalhead' Ryson & Andyeskovene Rocheineskina 'Rochey'

Dear Crew of the USS Daystrom
My Brother was lost in the line of duty some time ago. As his wishes to be buried on earth were not followed we would like to have his personal items returned to us. Also please correct the final physical report as the tattoo was not in fact on his right wrist but his left. We believe it was a small error in the picture sent home but it is enough of a matter for our mother. I'm sorry to ask such things as I am sure your duties keep you busy. It wouldn't normally matter but our mother believes that Starfleet maintains perfect records and doesn't believe that such mistakes could be made of one of her sons. If you could and would please look into this as soon as possible. My brother spoke highly of you both and we would be grateful.

*Training Cell Hallway - Mars complex*
Guard 'A' - He's been in there for some time now. How much longer are they going to keep putting him through this?
Guard 'B' - How should I know? Its not like they expected him to last this long.
Guard 'A' - So what do you think they're doing?
Guard 'B' - I don't know and by the way that he screams I don't think I want too!
Guard 'A' - Why didn't he die when we shot him? Its not possible for a man to live! Six phasers on max stun! MAX!
Guard 'B' - Just be happy that it worked since the next setting would have been a kill setting.

*Training Cell 016*
Deepcrush lays in a pool of his own blood. The tortures of the day having long since broken his body. The implants that have so far be placed within his body have helped him to heal. Though in truth, he wished that he could have just died. He had managed to rip out some of them but his jailers gave him 72 hours on non-stop torture in reply. It wasn't pretty. Deepcrush to this point has been burned, boiled, cut, torn, ripped, beaten, whipped, drown then revieved to suffer the same over, shocked and crushed. One of his jailers enjoyed using a large hammer on Deepcrush's digits. Another jailer liked to shoot him with large spikes time after time. It was about once a week that Deep was nailed to a wall or the floor where they would leave him for a few hours before starting up again. Deep did have some say as he managed to kill two guards about a week ago. They came in and hadn't noticed that Deep had ripped out the spikes holding him to the floor. Deep moved on them and they reacted almost in slow motion. Deep landed a punch on one that snapped his neck clean in half. Deep lifted the other up in the air and choked the life out of him. Then some how threw him four meters across the room. As payment for the latest error, the guards shot Deep six times with their phasers. "They should have used a higher stun setting. It felt like they were just playing with me again."

[Minnsky]

Minnsky watched the Andorian leave. He held back the urge to call out and tell the man he had a plan. If he had had more time he would have told him, gotten himself out of the Breens path as well. Moving to the back of the cage he automatically took inventory. He couldn't find his transponder, he turned to look at the floor were the alien had bumped him and a flourish of motion came into view. A squad of Tholians came toward his cage in there midst was the bases commander.
"Aside!" It bellowed as it reached the door. The guards all but fainted away. The Tholian entered the cage and pointed at Metler. "You! Your name!"
"I'm Metler third pilot for the late S.S. Hemptry." He spat it out in a rush. The tholain eyed him. Then turned to one of the away teams companions. "And you, how many decks on the Hemptry." The officer stuttered faining fright. Minnsky looked at him hard and blinked five times. "Well?" the Tholian ordered.
"Ten."
Once again the Tholian eyed some one, it turned to the next contestant. "Her captains name?" This time he had no way to help, the officer pulled through thou. Again Metler found the Tholian staring at him. "Metler of Hemptry, who is that man?" Its finger extended out to one of the security guards. They were at a loss. No one had bothered to introduce them selfs and Minnsky had been so busy as to not have taken the time himself. Metler did the math. If he guessed and got it wrong then he would be called Xene and taken way, the others would be questioned further. His trust in their ability to answer questions about the Hemptry was small at best. If he guessed right then the thing would go away for a short time. But that was only if the man was looking for Xene. Why had he asked the two others about the Hemptry. The only answer was that he was looking for Starfleet operatives as well. If the mission was to succeed the away team had to be hidden. He took a more strong stance then spoke.
"You have trapped me, I'm Vale Grutam of Starfleet Security." The eyes of the others opened wide. Then the one that had looked at him with the empty eyes sprang into action.
"You Starfleet ba..!" His words were cut off as he lunged forward and was recovered. "you could have saved us, you could ha.." he was quieted by one of his companions. The display was effective, the Tholian glanced back and forth then back at Metler. "Why are you here?"
"To find Xene."
"For his sake let us hope that you find him first." He grabbed the marsman by the shirt and threw him out of the cage. "Go, go find your lost 'engineer'," he turned to the away team, "As for you, the Hemprty had a great crew, you will make perfect slaves. As long as you remember not to lie for some one before you know them." The alien exited the cage and came up to Metler as he was getting to his feet. "You had best be fast finding passage off this base Starfleet, I don't have control over all my men or slaves. If one were to say "
"I got the idea." Metler turned away, he was free of the been now, but had jumped in to the fire. He had to find some way to get in touch with the Andorian.

[Mikey]

Mikey sighed again as he finished writing his incident report. He actually appreciated the Breen's direct and pragmatic attitude, but thoughtlessness and deliberate ignorance of the responsibilities of an officer were not to be overlooked.

There seemed to be a lot of that thoughtlessness and ignorance going around lately. Mikey sighed again, straightened his breastplate - the lack of gems on it made him self-conscious, but that would be too ostentatious for the cover they were in - and marched out of the hatch to salute Rochey. Conveniently, Munro was approaching with Forester's body. "Commander!" snapped Mikey, "Here is the report detailing my findings concerning the corpse which Lt. Munro is bringing." As the Breen swung its visor towards Mikey, the Andorian continued, "I believe the incident was an error in judgement, rather than a maliciously criminal act, and I hope you will regard it as such. You will also find attached the lieutenant's rather detailed intel regarding the station's traffic." Mikey handed the first officer a PADD as the Breen inclined its head slightly - Mikey couldn't tell if it was in appreciation or confusion.

"Thank you, Mr. W'trisk," replied Rochey. As he accepted the PADD, Mikey leaned close to the Tholian.

"I've also downloaded the bug I planted on Minnsky," whispered Mikey. "There's definitely something he's not telling us, and there's at least one other person planetside who knows it - but he's definitely no friend of the slavers. I'm going back to speak with him further."

"Very well," said Rochey, and added with what Mikey assumed was Tholian sarcasm, "One or two straight answers would be refreshing." Rochey gestured at the motley assortment grouped around the entrance to the runabout.

"Of course, sir." Mikey then turned to Blackstar. "Lieutenant - I asked you to find some information, and you instead returned with a Caitian infant. I hope that child is in some way connected with the intel which you were instructed to acquire..." Mikey turned slightly again, to address the newest face in the group. "Romulan..."

"Ensign Talora Retaal, sir," offered the Romulan with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes, Retaal," Mikey dipped an antenna in recognition. "My name is Lt. Cmdr. M'karn W'trisk, of Clan Trisk. I am the XO of this away mission, Cmdr. Rocheineskina is the CO. Welcome to the Daystrom. I pray to the Great Hearth for the sanity of all concerned that your reason for being here is actually as simple and straightforward as you claim."

Mikey spun around once more. "Lt. Munro. Your work thus far has been excellent. However, the war is over. You joined Starfleet. Stop killing your crewmates. Is that understood?" The Breen stiffened and saluted, but said nothing. "Commander?" Mikey finished, "I'd just like a few minutes before I return to the market."

"Of course," replied the Tholian, somewhat amused by the Andorian's quick dissection and dismissal of some of the problems that had gathered.

As Mikey stretched out on the floor of the Danube, Blackstar approached. "What about her?" shi asked, gesturing toward the sleeping infant.

"Yes, what about her?" replied Mikey. "Didn't Rochey give you orders in that regard?"

"Nonsensical ones, ones that I can't follow."

"From my point of view, those are still orders from MY superior officer. Do you want me to rescind them? I can't. Do you want me to somehow absolve you from defying your CO? I can't do that, either."

Blackstar scowled. "I really expected a little more sympathy. What would you have done if it was YOUR foundling?"

Mikey sat up and looked squarely at the Chakat. "I wouldn't have one. I'm an officer and a crewman. Of course saving the child's life was the right thing to do... but bringing it here wasn't. Even if your duties allowed time for raising a child, the Daystrom, or wherever you end up, isn't the place for it."

"Don't you have any paternal instinct at all?" asked Blackstar desperately.

"I hardly had a good example to follow while I was growing up..." Mikey's voice gew distant for a second, then came back. "Besides, I'm only 41 years old. I'd love to have kids, maybe when I'm 60 or so."

Blackstar looked away. "I guess I had different conceptions about you."

"Well, I wouldn't expect you to know too much about me, or about Andorians in general. You could always learn a lot by asking. However, I wonder what kind of conceptions that Romulan has?"

[Reliant121]

The Earth Phrase 'May we live in interesting times' was certainly fitting. Talora had been through emotions, pains and sorrows that most people that she had known had never dreamed of. Never even comprehended. And even those feelings had never been equal to what she felt now.
Blackstar had, inadvertently turned Talora's world upside down. Talora had been used to and confortable with Romulan reserved nature I.E not revealing anything, Having very particular etiquette, never displaying emotions in extreme ways. Blackstar's open ways and, to use another earth phrase, even 'Hippy' like attitude was completely alien to Talora. And what really got her, was that She Envied Blackstar.
Talora wished she could be like Blackstar. Yet every time she made an effort to do so, she either offended somone or...offended herself. She had a Subconscious barrier that she couldn't traverse.
She could only hope that time and exposure to Blackstar's...trusting ways would cure Talora's preconditioned nature...

Her new colleagues where certainly...interesting. She had never seen such an Ecclectic mix of people all in one alliegence. Some of which she certainly wasn't sure about. Most of all the Andorian. She had heard of them. Aggressive, Impulsive and confrontational. He would never accept her either. She knew he would stereotype her. A Suspicious and back-stabbing women, he would think...She would show him

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Night had fallen and the others were busy or asleep. Blackstar was alone with Talora in the Runabout's cockpit. Shi was deep in thought. I wonder just how long lived Andorians are. He said he was considering kids when he was 60. By then most Chakats usually have a few cubs. I wonder how Silvertail will react. Given hir medical expertese shi'll be great with helping raise the cub, but what will it mean for our relationship? Well, shi'll probably be okay, I'm just overreacting because of Mikey. I mean the Lt. Cmd. I need to stop thinking and start talking. I haven't said anything for about two minutes. Blackstar looked to Talora, "watch this."

"You're routing the messege to your personal vessel, then routing it through a local array, then to a Bajoran station, then to a federation databank while scrambling it with codes of different races at each point. You may act open and friendly but you are very sneaky. Why are you doing this again?"

"You'd be surprised at what you can learn from watching ancient entertainment programs. As for why, it's simple," said Blackstar, "by sending in this adoption application, Rochey can no longer order me to get rid of her according to Starfleet regulations, or Federation law. Of coarse we won't be able to pull it up until we get back to the ship. I just need to make sure the kid stays with us that long. Do you think that you can make up a medical reason?"

Talora who was no stranger to deception said, "well, with her fevor last night and being born prematurely she should be monitered. Felines are also rare on this planet, and felines would be best for caring for felines. I doubt we could find a female feline capable of breastfeeding and caring for a child on such short notice. And it would be against Starfleet regulations to condem someone to death, escpecially a child. I don't think we have a choice." Blackstar felt that sounded convincing enough for Rochey to buy.

"Great!" said Blackstar. "Now we just need to get the surviving team members recovered, avoid being captured and return to the Daystrom without getting caught and killed. No worries." Blackstar grinned, broadcasting reassurance, via empathy.

"Do you have a back up plan in case Rochey doesn't listen to me?" asked Talora.

Blackstar shrugged, "I always have a back up plan. A few possibilities actually. I got friends on this planet that may help, or I know a few smuggling techniques that could work. If all else fails, I know a technique that would make me her official surragate mother, and make it impossible for Rochey to get rid of her in the eyes of any court of law."

Talora, being a medic, had some idea of what Blackstar was suggesting, "That's crazy. You'd put your body at an unknown number of risks. Your species must have evolved very strong instincts to protect the young."

"Well...Talora, at some point we need to have a longer conversation about my species orgins at some point. I'm sorry, I've been talking about my schemes and plans all night. Tell me something about you Tally. Is it alright if I call you Tally, as a nickname?" asked Blackstar.

[Monroe]

Munro watched the thing and the Romulan talked about the spawnling with distaste. Deciding shooting the baby would probably not be his next order he left the room to find the Andorian, "Sir, I believe tomorrow the slave auction begins, should we attempt the rescue of the seventeen humans tonight or at sunrise? Or should we simply buy them? I can retrieve our seven crewmen locked up tonight but the other humans I don't believe I can get to yet."

Mikey nodded, his antenna lowering somewhat, "Go ahead and retrieve our crew. But before you do see what kind of securty they have over the other humans and try to find out if they indeed are from the missing Starfleet vessels." As the Breen saluted and turned to leave Mikey added, "And don't kill any of them."

"Yes sir... would you like to come along?" Munro offered holding his hand out towards the door, "If you trust a Breen to watch your back it might be fun." He said in an attempt at humor, hoping it didn't backfire. The Andorian had landed on his good side for not wanting to execute him for his slaying of Crewman Forester, he figured he'd return the favor.

[Reliant121]

"call me what you wish, Blackstar. As for me. I have had a troubled past," Talora said, staring at the baby. She recalled memories from all so long ago.
"Why? What Happened?" Blackstar asked. Talora looked up at Blackstar. She knew that Blackstar had probably sensed her discomfort.
"to understand that I have to go back to my first posting. I worked for the no longer existant Tal'Preax, or roughly translated to mean the Imperial Guard, As a clerk roughly equivalent to the rank Sub-commander. I filed any incidents and security risks that were posed apon my commanding officers 'charge'. Nothing remarkable happened for two years. Then something very much remarkable happened.
The Tal'shiar (Secret Police) began poking their nose into the Business of the Tal'preax. You see, the Tal'shiar have limitless power. The are permitted to do WHATEVER they like to serve the empire.
They Uncovered a plot by the Senior members of the Tal'preax. A plot to assassinate the Praetor, at the Time a young Hiren, and to take over the Romulan senate. The Tal'shiar began systematically eliminating the higher members of the Tal'preax. Everyone under the Rank of Commander was safe. Just including me. But i was Ostracized by society. And a dear...friend of mine informed me that the Tal'shair was having second thoughts about letting people like me go. So I left. I'll never forget him. He died for telling me the plans of the Tal'shiar.
I left and came to the Federation, went through Starfleet and was then assigned to the Sydney."
"I'm sorry. For you and your friend," Blackstar said. She had detected evidence that this 'friend' was something more than that. But she said nothing more of it. "Thank you for sharing that."
"thank you for listening. I...needed to tell someone about it. You are the first person I have shared it with for a...Long, Long time."
And, Blackstar's surprise, Talora turned and hugged her. She then got up and went to search for Commander Rochey. It would be an interesting conversation. Blackstar got up, still cradling the baby, and began to follow Talora into the Night.

[Sionnach Glic]

Sunrise, the next morning

"Lieutenant. Wake up."

"Wha-?"

"I said wake up, Lieutenant." Rochey hissed quietly, prodding the sleeping Blackstar with a foot and being quite careful not to touch the child.

"I'm up, I'm up..." Blackstar groaned, getting up from where shi had been sleeping in the cramped shuttle.

"Come with me, Lieutenant, I wish to speak with you. Privately." He said quietly, walking out of the shuttle. He waited for a moment for the Chakat to get hir bearings and follow him out into the crisp morning air, still holding the child shi had found.
They were the only two awake at this point. The two ensigns and the Romulan, whatever it's name was, were still sleeping in the shuttle. And Munro and W'trisk had both gone to find the rest of the team. The Commander had taken watch for a while, relieving the ensign who had been given that task initialy.

"Yes?" Blackstar asked as shi joined the Commander outside. Although shi was pretty sure shi knew what he wanted hir for. Rochey had allowed hir to keep the child with hir until the next morning. And now, it was the next morning.
What the Commander actualy said threw hir completely.

"Lieutenant, I wish to apologise for my actions yesterday."

"Uh...sir?" Shi asked. Shi was sure shi had misheard him.

"I said I wish to apologise for my actions yesterday." He repeated. "I realise that you have grown quite fond of the child, and severely underestimated the bond between you two. I understand now that I was asking you to do something you simply could not, despite whatever effects it had on the mission. I was placing you in a position that you could not resolve, and I apologise for that."

"Oh, well, apology accepted, Sir." Replied the Chakat, still confused. They had just been arguing about this last night, and he had been dead-set on getting rid of the baby. What had made him change his mind?

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I will not ask you to do something you moraly cannot do. Nor will I force you to make the decision between your career and the infant." He paused, staring at the child for a moment, and then looked back at hir, his voice took on a more official tone. "With that out of the way, I have a mission for you."

"Sir?"

"When I was in the slaver camp, I believe I overheard talk about a secondary instalation not far from here. Supposedly, it's sensor shielded, which explains why we have not detected it. I would like you to check it out. It's about an hour walk east of here." He added, pointing at a string of small mountains in the opposite direction of the slaver camp. "My initial reaction was to give this mission to Lieutenant Munro, but then I remembered you claimed to be an excelent scout. I want you to go there, check the area out, then report back. You are not to be spotted. You are not to speak with any of the locals. You are to remain under radio silence. If you are engaged, you are to retreat and report back. And," He mentaly braced himself for the next order. "you are to leave the child here. The risk of her giving your position away is too great." Blackstar was glaring at him suspiciously.

"And how do I know you wont-" Shi began.

"Lieutenant, I give you my word that I wont hurt the child while you're gone." Rochey said, sighing wearily. "You can leave the child in the care of Ensign-" He paused, trying to remember the Romulan's name, then gave up. "you can leave it in the care of your Romulan friend. I believe she has already helped you with her?"

"Yes, she has."

"Good. I'm sure that she'll look out for the child while you're gone. And I have already given you my word that it wont be hurt. Happy?"

"I suppose so." Replied Blackstar grudgingly. Shi wasn't sure she valued the Tholian's word very highly, but he had apologised, and Tally would look after her. Also, shi wasn't sure shi could survive any more confrontations with the Commander.

"Perfect. It would be best if you left immediately. Go wake the Romulan ensign and give her the child. While you're at it, wake the other two, as well. They've had more than enough sleep, and I have a job for them later on, too."

Blackstar wandered back to the shuttle, woke Talora and explained the situation to her, and gave her the child with a warning to let hir know if anything happened, woke the two security ensigns, and headed back out into the morning air. About an hour east. Shi thought. He couldn't have been more vague if he'd tried. Still, shi had a job to do. So shi got her bearings, found east, and struck out towards hir objective.

Rochey watched as shi jogged out of sight, quite pleased with himself. What was the human phrase again? Oh, yes, 'hook, line, and sinker'. Or something to that effect. He wasn't sure how long it would take the Chakat to find the non-existant base, or rather, not find it. Shi could run faster than a human or Tholian, that much he knew. But how long it would take hir to get to where he had specified, he didn't know. He'd give it ten minutes for hir to get far enough away from the shuttle, that should be more than enough time.
He turned as the two security ensigns exited the shuttle, stretching. He would much rather have W'trisk or Munro for this. W'trisk would still follow the orders, even if he was unhappy about them. And Munro wouldn't give a damn about what he had to do. The Commander wasn't sure how much he could trust the two ensigns, but as long as they followed his orders he was happy. He hadn't exactly lied to the Chakat. He wasn't going to hurt the child. Nor was he going to order anyone else to. He'd simply get the ensigns to hand it into the officials at the outpost, then the officials there would find something to do with it. He had been telling the truth completely when he had said he wouldn't force Blackstar to choose between it's career and the child. He would choose for it. Blackstar wouldn't be happy, but what it seemed to be forgetting is that he was in command of this mission, so it could do nothing about it. He pulled his pistol out of it's holster and made sure it was loaded and ready to fire. He wasn't going to take any nonsense from the Romulan. She could protest, but she could hardly do anything against the senior officer on the mission and two security guards, all armed. He checked his watch.
Eight minutes. Then he'd get rid of this problem once and for all.