"The Washington"

Captain Shanto was in his ready room when his communicator chirped. The young Bajorian was one of the first to be given command of a Federation vessel.

"Shanto here. What is it ?" He asked.

"Ensign Bond sir." The operations officer stated from the Bridge. "There's a communication from Starfleet Command for you. Admiral Devore."

"Patch it through." Shanto requested.

[Captain Shanto.] Admiral Devore stated from his office on Earth. [How are your repairs going ?]

The USS Washington was currently undergoing some minor repairs at Deep Space Nine after encountering an ion storm. The Defiant class vessel had suffered a minor failure in the core and dropped out of warp unexpectedly, right in the middle of the storm. It had taken a few seconds for the crew to raise the shields and by then the damage had been done.

"We are ready to continue on our patrol ?" Shanto replied. "To what do I own the pleasure ?"

[I'm reassigning you.] Devore announced. [We've had a spot of trouble in the Gamma quadrant at Juno III. The base was attacked by a group of rogue Jem'Hadar who kidnapped two of the bases scientists. At the moment the USS Taurus is stationed in orbit above Juno III, but they cannot remain.]

"So you want us to go to Juno III and start to search for these rogue Dominion forces." Shanto enquired.

[No. I need you to travel to Gamma quadrant and rendezvous with the USS Sullivan at Texlax V. You are then to both travel to Juno III, where the crew of the Sullivan will re-establish the base whilst the Washington ensures that there are no further attacks by the Jem'Hadar. The Taurus is faster and better equipped to deal with a search, they will be assigned to recovering the scientists.] Devore ordered. [I'm sorry that I'm giving you guard duty, but there are no other Defiant class vessel in the area. We need to re-establish the base quickly and I need to make sure that the base remains intact. As soon as I have the available resources, I will relieve you of your task so you can continue your originally mission.]

"We will be ready to leave within two hours." Shanto replied.

[Excellent. Devore out.]

The console image changed back to the Starfleet Command insignia and Captain Shanto tapped his comm badge.

[Yes Captain.] Ensign Bond announced.

"Contact all the crew still on the station and inform them that the Washington will be leaving for the Gamma quadrant in two hours." Shanto ordered.

[Understood.] Bond replied.

Ensign Reegan Riggins Jr. was sat in Quark's drinking whilst he awaited the return of the USS Taurus from their supply run to Juno III. Ensign Riggins had just been assigned to the Taurus as an operations officer, but had arrived too late to join the crew at Starbase 375. So he had travelled to DS9 where the Taurus was scheduled to stop upon their return.

On the next table a young Bajorian Commander was sat on his own, with a rapidly cooling Raktajino. Reegan knew that it was a Raktajino because he had been standing at the bar when the Commander had ordered it. The Commander's comm badge chirped and he touched his chest.

[Commander Silko, we have been called back to the Washington.] The voice on the other end stated.

"Do we know why Ensign Bond ?" The Commander enquired.

[No sir. All I know is that we are getting ready to leave in two hours.] Ensign Bond replied.

"I'll be there in ten minutes. Silko out." The Commander closed. He then tapped his comm badge again and announced. "Silko to Captain Shanto."

[Shanto here, I guess you're wondering why we're getting ready to leave.] The Captain suggested.

"Actually yes." Silko replied.

[It appears that the Federation base at Juno III was attacked yesterday.] Shanto stated. [We're to rendezvous with a Nebula class vessel, the USS Sullivan and escort it to Juno III. The USS Taurus is already there and we will be relieving them as soon as we arrive. The Sullivan will re-establish the base whilst we defend it from further attacks. It's a four-day trip and we could be there for a few weeks, possibly over a month.]

"I'm on my way back now Captain. Silko out."

Reegan was quick to react to the conversation he had just overheard and stood up, stepping towards the Commander as he rose from his seat.

"Excuse me Commander, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." Reegan apologised for eavesdropping. "But did I here that you were to rendezvous with the Taurus at Juno III."

"What is it to you Ensign ?" Silko enquired.

"I was due to transfer to the Taurus when they returned from Juno III. If what I overheard is true then I could be here for weeks. I was wondering whether it would be possible to hitch a lift to Juno III."

The Commander looked the young Ensign up and down, deciding whether to believe him. "Where are your orders ?" He asked.

Reegan fumbled in his hold-all and pulled out a Padd that he handed to Commander Silko. The Commander looked over the Padd and handed it back to Reegan.

"Follow me." Silko announced. "If the Captain is agreeable, then I guess we can take you along."

"I very much appreciate it." Reegan replied.

Reegan picked up his hold-all and followed the Commander back to the Washington. Twenty minutes later he was stood in the Captain's ready room and an hour later arranging for his belonging to be transferred to the Washington. Half an hour later the Washington was leaving DS9 and heading towards the wormhole and the Gamma quadrant.