Losing Command

Captain Taybar sat in the briefing room next to the operation centre. The room was empty apart from her and she was looking out of the viewport at her ship. The Taurus had been back at Deep Space Nine for twelve hours and so far very little had been done. Several Engineering crews had gone onboard, first to assess the damage and then to repair what they could. The transwarp systems were totally destroyed and would need replacing, something that could only be done back at Utopia Planitia. The hull was heavily damaged, as was the port nacelle, but both were being 'patched' up.

Aki had no idea what would happen next, would the crew be transferred to other ships, breaking it up. Most of the crew were however still in the Gamma quadrant, either onboard the USS Leviathan-B or still on Mirisam V. By now the Leviathan should have reached the away team and Aki hoped that they had been able to survive.

What worried Aki most however was the fact that there was still a Dominion Dreadnought docked to the station. She hadn't seen any Dominion forces on the station, so surmised that they must have remained onboard their vessel. But she couldn't dismiss the feeling deep in her stomach that something was very wrong. She'd not been able to find out anything about why the large vessel was here.

The door opened and several Starfleet and Bajorian Military officers came into the room. Bringing up the rear were Commander Worf, Lieutenant Colonel Kira and a Vorta.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Captain." Colonel Kira stated, taking the seat at the head of the table. "But as you may have realised things between the Federation and the New Dominion are very fragile at the moment."

"Why is this woman here ?" The Vorta asked.

"Captain Taybar is here at the request of Admiral Devore." Colonel Kira replied. "As you are well aware, she has recently returned from taking care of your rogue Jem'Hadar problem. She also recovered safely the two Federation scientist, the rogue Jem'Hadar kidnapped."

"We would like to speak to these scientists as soon as possible." The Vorta demanded. "They may have vital information on these rogue Jem'Hadar."

"At the moment, that won't be possible." Aki stated for the first time. "They are currently still in the Gamma quadrant, onboard another vessel. I thought it wise to place them on the vessel best suited to protect them. Your rogue Jem'Hadar managed to severely damaged my vessel."

"Where are they heading ?" The Vorta demanded to know.

"That information is currently classified." Kira stated. "But we have received word that they should be back here in four to five days."

The Vorta looked at Colonel Kira and then Captain Taybar with a stare that could have killed. He then stood up and walked out of the room, heading back to his vessel. There was a deadly silence in the briefing room until Aki spoke.

"Colonel, exactly what is going on here ?" She asked.

"The Dominion are trying to put down the information you brought back with you." Kira stated. "They are trying to make out that the rogue Jem'Hadar are a small group, whereas the information you managed to bring back from their base shows the problem is far larger. We've estimated that over three million Jem'Hadar and over three hundred Vorta are either actively supporting these rogues or are sympathetic to their cause. In effect the Dominion is looking at a Civil War."

"But where do I come in ?" Aki asked.

"They want the information you brought back." Worf stated. "Plus any prisoners you may have captured."

Aki had not even told Colonel Kira about the Jem'Hadar they had recovered from the base, nor the bodies that had been experimented on. The Federation scientists were still safe on the Leviathan, as well as the twelve Jem'Hadar prisoners, so for the moment Aki had kept quiet. The bodies of those Jem'Hadar that had been experimented on we're currently in the morgue of the Taurus.

"Do you have any news on what will happen to the Taurus and my crew." Aki enquired.

"The Taurus has been assessed to be unfit to continue." Kira announced. "As of now, you are officially relieved of command for the Taurus. An Engineering crew is heading for DS9 to take over command and transfer it back to Utopia Planitia."

Aki looked a little shocked, although she had been half expecting the statement.

"However, I also have some new orders for you, direct from Admiral Devore." Kira continued. "As soon as the USS Leviathan-B arrives back at DS9, you are to take command and await further orders. In the meantime, I have received word that there are three new crewmembers for the Leviathan. They are currently heading for DS9 and should arrive in a few hours."

Kira passed a data Padd across to Aki, who switched it on and looked over the information contained within. *A new Chief Helm Officer and a Slipstream expert.* Aki noticed. *Also another Intelligence officer.*

"I'll ensure that are greeted upon their arrival." Aki replied, switching off the Padd. "Have they been assigned temporary quarters yet ?"

"They will have within the hour." Worf announced. "We will let you know."

Everyone in the room rose and headed out of the room, leaving Aki to look over the information once more. She sat reading the details carefully before rising from her seat and heading back to her temporary quarters.

She tapped her comm badge as she walked.

"Captain Taybar to Lieutenant Dare." She announced.

[Dare here Captain.] The voice of Zack Dare came back. [Is there something I can help you with Captain.]

"I need you to meet a new crewmember." Aki explained. "Her name is Lily Barker and she should be transferring from the USS Eclipse in about an hour and a half."

[Yes Ma'am.] Zack replied, closing the link.

*One down two to go.* Aki thought.

The new Intelligence officer wasn't due at DS9 for another day, so only the new Slipstream expert was of urgency. She stepped across to a computer interface and activated the controls. She typed in the details of the second new crewmember and was surprised to learn that Stelv N'akae was already onboard DS9 and in Quarks. The transport vessel he'd travelled on had arrived six hours earlier than expected. Aki was curious that a Starfleet officer had travelled on a privateer transport.

She turned and headed to Quarks. As she stepped in she quickly looked around the room. She soon picked out the Andorian in a Starfleet uniform sat at a corner table with his back to her. As she approached, the Andorian turned around. Aki introduced herself and Aki ordered another round of drinks, before beginning to talk.