After several hours of helping out around the ship where she could and looking over the damage. She was tired, and her mind when to the fact that soon, they would all be dead. She didn't care about herself. If she died, that was fine. But she had looked at those on this ship, several of them were so young . . . They didn't deserve to die. Taking a bit of a break, she had sat down and just out of curiosity, took a look at the masking system that the Arizona had been using, but had failed. As she looked at a report of the damage, her mind began to work . . . After all, she had been a science officer before becoming a diplomat . . . maybe . . . just maybe there was something she could do. She wasn't sure, but she wasn't willing just to give up . . . Not if there was something she could do to help save the lives on this ship. Immediately, ideas started forming in her mind. Instead of resting, like she had intended to do, she began transcribing notes to a PADD. After several hours, she had something she thought ould work, or at least give them a better chance of escaping the Jem'Hadar and saving them all.. Nodding to herself, she stood and made her way to Wallace's quarters. She sensed he was still awake and set off the sensor.
Wallace sat at the desk in his quarters, his arm bandaged crudely but effectively. He winced in pain as he turned to the door. "This had better be good news, whoever it is," he growled.
Kitty walked in and smiled gently. "I hope it could be, Captain," she said. "How are you feeling?" she asked, looking at his bandaged arm, remembering the injury happening on the bridge.
"It is what it is," Wallace said, meaning possibly either his arm or the news. Or both. Or neither. "What have you got, Commander?" he asked.
"Well, as you might know, I was a Science Officer before I was a Diplomat . . . Anyway, I was taking a look at the masking system and the damage to it, and I think I might have a way to fix it and enhance it . . . I'll need Commander Loran or someone familiar with the device from Engineering to help me. But this could give us the cover we need to get back to SB901 . . ." She offered Wallace the PADD with her notes to review.
"Hmmm..." Wallace thought as he looked over Mallory's schematics. "It almost looks as though you're making an old-fashioned Romulan cloaking device. Under ordinary conditions the Jem'Hadar could go right through it, considering how the Dominion managed to infiltrate the Romulan military. But if they aren't expecting it, and we keep comm silence, it just might work!" The captain smiled. "Garek's busy at the moment, but detail three Engineering crew. Oyama, Lobachevsky, and Baran are the best we've got left," he suggested.
"Thank you, Captain," she smiled softly. "You know, I think we both made errors in judgment with each for whatever reasons . . . I just hope we can disregard them now . . . I think we have seen what the other is all about . . ." She met his gaze hoping to communicate how sincere her feelings were.
Wallace sighed. "I look at people based upon what they can do, and how they can perform. Unfortunately most of the command staff-types don't do too well once they face actual combat situations. I've seen more than my share of them get people killed over the years. Please forgive my skepticism. IF this works, I can assure you that our dealings will be in a whole new light. If not, then it won't much matter, will it?"
"Point taken, sir . . . I'm going to do what I can to save these lives, just like I know you would do . . . And I know that being taken prisoner by the Jem'Hadar isn't an option. I was listening very closely to what you said about them . . . Plus, I have reviewed several files over the years . . . But I want this crew to live . . . If I can get this to work, we will make it back to SB901."
"Then I suggest you get to work, Commander," Wallace said, standing up from the desk and unconsciously using his bad arm to brace himself. He winced in pain as he got up.
She nodded. "I'll get straight on it," she replied, gazing at his hurt arm. "How's the pain?" she asked.
"It is what it is," Wallace said under his breath. "We haven't got much time. If we get out, I'll get this taken care of properly. Just make sure we can!"