The turbolift doors slid open and David stepped on to the bridge giving his tunic a "picard-tug" as he walked.
"Captain, no Jem H'adar activity detected in this region. Recommend moving to the next." annuonced the science officer.
"Make it so, helm, take us to grid 72, one quarter impulse." the captain said.
Dave took in the scene of the bridge before him as he walked to his station. The lights were dimmed and the blue "cloaking lights" were on. The young Helmsman saw Dave walk up and relinquished the console to him. Dave sat down heavily and began looking over the flight plan.
"No Jem H'adar activity captain" announced the science officer again.
"Helm, take us to grid 73" the captain ordered.
Dave's fingers danced across the console and the small vessel stealthily moved off to the next sector. Patrol duty wasn't to anyones liking, and the crew were visibly frustrated. They had been out on patrol for five days, and on a defiant class vessel, with no showers or recreational facilities, tempers were beginning to wear thin.
"Nothing here Captain."
"Helm, grid 74"
Dave once more moved the ship into the next sector. Five minutes on the bridge and he was already bored out of his mind. Dave brought up the log of the day. 57 sectors had been scanned already, 174 still remained before they could return to SB901 and relax for a day or two before doing it all over again.
"Nothing, Captain."
"Helm, grid 75."
Dave punched in the commands and the Valiant moved on again. It was tiems like this that he ever regretted leaving his position on the Rutledge. He may of been just a shuttle pilot, but the job wasn't so dull. Since moving to the Valiant, things hadn't been going exactly to his liking. He didn't seem to fit in, not only with the crew, but as a senior officer.
"Nothing in grid 75 Captain."
"Helm, take us to grid 76."
Dave sat staring at the view screen into the vastness of space. He wanted to leave, but didn't want to for the sake of Brex. They had been together since they were four years old. No one could be closer than those two were and they have always had the same assignments. He couldn't leave her behind.
"Nothing in grid 76 Captain."
"Helm, take us too..."
"Captain," interrupted the ops officer, I've just detected a large explosion on long range sensors, ten light years from our position."
"Can you tell what it is?"
"A Jem H'adar relay station sir." answered the ops officer.
"The USS Arizona was supposed to be taking that out." stated the executive officer. "Looks like they've completed their job."
"Not by these readings sir. The relay station is still for the most part, intact."
"Can you get any other readings Lieutenant?"
"Not from this distance sir."
The Captain pondered for a moment. "Helm, resume course for grid 77."
Dave, without thinking, entered the co-ordinates and the ship moved on again. He had completely switched himself off now from the world around him. He heard what was going on, but wasn't questioning it.. just carrying out the orders. Sounds all around him, just passed through his ears as though there were nothing between them.
"Captain, we must get there immediately, see why the Arizona hasn't finished the job, and finish it if necessary!"
"It's not our assignment Tony!" answered the Captain.
"No, but it's our duty to investigate!" snapped the first officer again.
"It's also our duty to carry out our orders!" said the Captain sitting back down in his chair.
"We can't ignore this sir! The Arizona may need our help! Whats more important. Taking out the Jem H'adars ability to communicate across the sector, or scannign empty space in the hope we might find a lone ship!?"
"We can always come back to patrolling once we have investigated!" stated another bridge officer.
"McAllister, set a course for the realy station!" said the first officer.
"Belay that Lieutenant" bellowed the Captain.
What is going on? thought Dave as he found himself realising what was happening around him.
"Captain, we must go and help!" yelled the first officer again.
"Our mission comes first!"
"The lives of fellow Starfleet officers comes first!"
Dave turned around in his seat, the Captain and the First officer were standing facing each other as if ready to attack each other, with the rest of the crew watching in amazement. The tense situatio was diffused with the violent rocking of the ship.
The crew immediately set their focus back on their stations. A Jam H'adar battle bug had come across them while on a patrol of its own.
"Jam H'adar sir!" yelled the security officer.
"Red Alert! shields up!" barked the Captain.
As the shields went up, three Jem H'adar appeared on the bridge, transported aboard just before the shiields went up. The first knifed the unsuspecting science officer in the back where he sat, the second shot the Captain in the chest at point blank range as he was in turn fired upon by the security officer who then fired and killed the first. The third came for Dave. Dave stood and knocked the weapon fromthe Jem H'adars hand, but the Jem H'adar kept coming and pinned Dave down across the Helm. He jabbed his hand onto Daves chest. Dave could feel his ribs being forced inward. He tried frantically to punch the Jem H'adar in the face, but the Jem H'adar didn't even flinch. Suddenly, the Jem H'adar went limp and fell over as he too was phasered in the back.
"Mr. Ravik, take out that battle bug! fire at will!" yelled the first officer, now in command.
It wasn't long before the atacking ship was destroyed, and the meidcal teams and damage repair crews were busying themselves about the ship.
"The Captain is dead, so are four others through out the ship." Began the medical officer. "Another thriteen are injured."
Commander Cogger sat down in the Captains chair, where only ten minutes before sat his predecessor that was read to forsake a Federation starship. "Mr. McAllister," he began. "Set a course for the Jem H'adar realy station."