Military Build-up.

Logan stepped off the turbolift and onto the Bridge. He looked around at the vacant consoles, where secondary staff would normally be sat. The Leviathan was undermanned, even with the addition of the Taurus crew. His arrival on the Bridge had not gone unnoticed and Lieutenant J'ross looked around at him. The Caitian was in the command chair, getting to know all the systems. Logan moved across to the primary Security console and checked it over.

Commander Rashad walked out of the Captain's ready room where she'd been reading and M'eko instinctively stood up to move across.

"Please Lieutenant remain seated." Rashad announced, taking the seat to M'eko's right. "What's out current status ?"

"We're approaching Elifia Prime, we should be at the edge of the system in about five minutes." M'eko reported.

"Captain, I'm picking up a vessel on an intercept course." Lieutenant Borealiou announced. "It's a Defiant class escort."

M'eko looked across at Commander Rashad, who nodded her approval.

"Any idea on it's identity ?" M'eko asked.

"It's not operating a transceiver." Marco replied. "We're being hailed, audio only."

"On screen." M'eko announced.

[This is the Starfleet vessel the USS Deliverance to unidentified vessel.] The message started. [Please identify yourself and explain your presence here.]

"This is Lieutenant M'eko J'ross, acting XO of the USS Leviathan-B." M'eko replied. "We are heading for Elifia Prime to transfer a Lieutenant Johnson back to the base."

[Stand-by.] The voice replied. [Leviathan, please drop out of warp and rendezvous with us at the following co-ordinates.]

"Captain, we're receiving co-ordinates." Marco stated.

"Pass them to the helm." M'eko ordered.

"Captain, these co-ordinates take us away from Elifia Prime." The Helm officer announced.

"Take us out of warp and head for the co-ordinates." M'eko ordered.

The Leviathan slowed down and moved slowly at full impulse to the designated co-ordinates. When they arrived, there was no-one there.

"I don't like this." M'eko stated. "Mister Borealiou, scan the area for any ships."

"Vessel de-cloaking two thousand kilometers to port." Marco suddenly announced. "It's a Defiant class, identified as the USS Deliverance."

"Open a channel." M'eko ordered.

The viewscreen changed and the image of the Bridge of the Deliverance appeared, with a Bajorian Captain.

"Deliverance, this is the Leviathan." M'eko stated. "I'm curious why all the security."

[You haven't heard.] The Captain announced. [The Dominion has just put al their forces on full alert. Starfleet has responded and we're building up our forces in the Gamma quadrant in case of a strike. We don't know all the details, but Elifia Prime has become the forward base for all our forces in the surrounding sectors.]

"What about our passenger ?" M'eko asked.

[You're cleared to proceed to Elifia Prime.] The Captain stated. [But keep your speed below warp six. We're experiencing a lot of sensor interference from the Dominion. They're using high energy scanning pulses to scan the area.]

"Thank you Deliverance." M'eko stated. "Helm, set a course for Elifia Prime, warp six."

Half an hour later, the Leviathan came close to Elifia Prime. As the crew observed the viewscreen, they saw dozens of vessels in orbit. Many of them were front-line fighting vessels, such as Sabre, Akira and Steamrunner classes, but there were also Nebula and Galaxy class vessels as well.

"Helm, take us into orbit, if you can." M'eko ordered. "Mister Borealiou see if you can contact someone on the surface and let them know we're here."

[This is Commodore Haj'k.] The Klingon who appeared on the screen announced. [What is your purpose here ?]

"This is the USS Leviathan." Lieutenant J'ross replied. "We're transporting a Lieutenant Johnson back to you from Mirisam V."

[Johnson.] The Commodore stated. [We expected him back three days ago. We assumed he had been lost in the attack.]

"Attack ?" M'eko said, somewhat surprised.

[You haven't heard.] Haj'k replied. [A group of Jem'Hadar vessels attacked one of our Federation bases close to the border. We've re-called all the vessels stationed in the Gamma quadrant to the border worlds. We've tried to contact the Alpha quadrant, but our signals are not getting through.]

"We are aware of the problem ourselves." M'eko responded. "Our information is that the relay station is being jammed."

[Jammed.] The Klingon announced. [Then this is not an isolated attack. We heard word of an attack on a hidden Dominion outpost in the demilitarized zone, but we have not had any confirmation.]

"Commodore, we are heading back to Deep Space Nine as soon as we leave. If you'd like to download all your data, we can transfer it and have it sent to Starfleet command." M'eko suggested.

[We will be grateful for any assistance.] The Klingon announced. [We could do with some reinforcements as well.]

"That would be up to Starfleet." M'eko suggested. "We're preparing to transport Johnson to you."

"Transport complete." Logan announced. "We're also receiving an upload from the surface."

[Captain, I wish you well on your journey home.] The Commodore announced. [Elifia Prime out.]

"Helm, set a course back to the Alpha quadrant." M'eko ordered. "Maximum warp."

The ship broke orbit once more and headed off to the wormhole. Lieutenant J'ross gave a sigh of relief as they entered warp once more.

"Well done." Commander Rashad said in a soft voice. "You handled that situation well, now I'd suggest you go and get something to eat and then rest. I'll take over."

Although her shift wasn't due to end for another hour, M'eko was relieved to be leaving the Bridge. She headed for the mess hall and then her quarters.