Limping Home.

The Taurus finally dropped out of transwarp as their one remaining transwarp coil gave out. They had managed to escape the Jem'Hadar vessel, but at great cost. The total number of dead countered at thirty-two. The ship was also heavily damaged, with virtually no shields and most of the weapons systems damaged or destroyed. Their propulsion system was also heavily damaged and the port nacelle was still venting plasma.

[Engineering to Bridge.] Ensign Luwall's voice announced.

"Bridge here." Aki replied. "What's our status ?"

[We've lost all warp power, it will be at least an hour before we can repair the damage. The coil overloaded some of the warp drive systems, we're going to have to replace them.]

"What will be our maximum speed ?" Aki asked.

[About warp seven point five, maybe eight if we're lucky.] Rachel replied.

"That will get us to Deep Space nine in about three days." Zack reported, having checked his console.

"Keep on it." Aki said.

[Sickbay to Bridge.] An unfamiliar voice announced. It was the voice of Private Eliza Dyson, the Marine medic that had come onboard as part of Major Phanan's group. She was looking after the Jem'Hadar the crew had found in the medical lab on the rogue Jem'Hadar base.

"What can I do for you Private Dyson ?" Aki asked.

[I just thought you'd like to know that all the Jem'Hadar that we recovered and brought to sickbay have died.] Eliza replied. [There was nothing I could really do for them, most were too far-gone. What would you like me to do with the bodies ?]

"Put them into stasis for the moment." Aki suggested. "Starfleet Medical may want to examine them."

[Understood. I've got several wounded down here, but nothing life threatening, we can cope. Sickbay out.] Eliza stated, closing the channel.

"Captain, I'm picking up a strange sub-space reading about fifty thousand kilometres astern." Lana announced from her station. "It looks like a large vessel is approaching, should I raise shields ?"

"No, open a channel." Aki suggested.

[Captain Taybar, what is your status ?] The voice of Commander Rashad requested.

"Commander, we've suffered heavy damage and will need to undergo severe repairs. Warp drive is currently offline for about an hour, weapons are mostly damaged and shields are minimal." Aki reported.

[It's good to see you again Captain.] Rashad announced unexpectedly.

"Not half as good as it is to see you Commander." Aki replied. "And thank you."

[Just doing my job.] Rashad replied. [We'll escort you back to DS9 and get you repaired.]

"No I'd like you to follow the Hellcat and go to Mirisam V." Aki halted Rashad. "The away team maybe in grave danger now, as will the colonists."

[But Captain, logic would dictate that your vessel is in no state to make the journey without some form of protection. There maybe other Jem'Hadar vessels with loyalty to these rogues. I can't allow you to make the journey back to DS9 without support.] Rashad protested.

[She won't Commander.] A third voice announced.

"Lieutenant Commander Barker." Aki stated annoyingly. "I thought I gave you an order to go to Mirisam V and pick up the away team."

[Yes Captain, but we've kept an eye on your progress.] Chu replied. [And when we picked up the arrival of the Leviathan, we thought that maybe it would be wiser to make a rendezvous.]

"Commander Barker, I suggest you dock with the Leviathan and then I'd like a few words with you." Aki said, still annoyed. "Commander Rashad, I'll beam over to you and we'll talk."

Ten minutes later, Captain Taybar, Commander Rashad and Lieutenant Commander Barker were all in the briefing room of the USS Leviathan-B.

"Welcome onboard the Leviathan Captain." T'Kul announced. "It's good to see you again." Although Rashad wouldn't admit it, she had created a bond with her Captain and valued her friendship.

"Thank you Commander." Aki replied. "Now here's what I suggest we do. Commander Rashad, I want to transfer all the non-essential crew across to the Leviathan and then you'll continue onto Mirisam V where you'll pick up the away team and evacuate the colonists."

"We could do with the extra crew." Rashad commented. "We left Earth with just the crew that was already onboard."

"I'll take the Taurus back to DS9 with a skeleton crew, mainly the Engineering staff and the remaining senior Bridge crew. We should reach DS9 in about three days." Aki continued.

"What about me ?" Chu enquired.

"Chu, my friend will be the Taurus's guardian angel." Aki stated. "You'll fly ahead of us in the Hellcat, cloaked and alert us to any enemy presence."

"Yes Captain." Chu replied. "I'll get the ship ready to leave now."

Chu rose from his seat and headed out of the door, leaving the Captain and Commander Rashad in the room.

"Commander, we have some Jem'Hadar prisoners and the two Federation scientists we were sent to recover, I'd like you to keep both secure."

"Both Captain." T'Kul enquired.

"Yes." Aki replied. "Give them as little access to the ship as possible. I've got a feeling that these two scientists are not telling us the whole story. We've got over a dozen corpses in our sickbay that have been used as lab rats. The scientists claim that they knew nothing of this and were coerced into helping, but I'm not sure."

"It will be done." Rashad replied. "I'll start organising the transfer of the crew and assigning them quarters. We should be able to leave in about two hours and reach Mirisam V in two and a half days. We'll be back at DS9 within a week."

"I look forward to seeing you again Commander." Aki replied, rising from her chair.

"So do I." Captain. "I hope the prophets are looking over you and the Taurus this day and will protect you on you hard journey home."

"Thank you Commander." Aki stated. "I hope so too."

Captain Taybar headed back to the transporter room and then back to the Taurus, whilst Commander Rashad headed for the Bridge.