Bad News

Lt. Harris had helped Ensign Hansen restore normal warp power and fix the transporters. Harris was a little of everything needed on a starship. It was late in the day and Harris had the Bridge. He was doing the normal reports he had to do before he went off duty when a young, good-looking petty officer approached him and handed him a PADD, "Sir here is the Casualty list for the *Blake*, sir."

Harris looked at it and saw two names he knew making him disinterested in looking at anymore of the list. "Lt. Toran take this to the Captain. As of now, I am off duty," He said in a choked-up voice. He got up and walked to the turbo lift. "Forward lounge."

Toran stopped the petty officer and instructed her to give it to him. He would deliver it to the Captain after first he looked at it. Immediately, he noticed the last name that Harris looked at and thought the Captain should see it. He walked to the door and waited for the Captain to say enter.

"Enter."

Toran walked in and placed the PADD on the Captain's desk. "Sir, here is the casualty list from the *Blake*. Sir, I think you need to look at line 123 and 145."

The Captain picked up the PADD with a confused look and read out the two names, "Lieutenant Jane Harris and daughter Katie Harris. Okay ? What's so important about those two names ?" Devore asked.

"Sir, Lieutenant Harris left the Bridge immediately after reading those two names. I think there may be a connection."

Devore seemed a little more interested now.

"Computer. Display Lt. Jane Harris's record. Last known assignment the *USS Blake*."

<Working! Lieutenant Jane Harris. 29. Human. Starfleet class of 2353. Chief science officer aboard the *USS Hood*. Transferred to the *Blake* as Assistant Science officer. Married Lieutenant JG Grant Harris until 2358. Two Daughters Katie and Hanna. Presently assigned to *USS Blake*.>

Devore stood up and walked out of his ready room to the Bridge and looked at Toran, "Ensign open a com channel to the whole ship," Devore ordered. "All hands this is the Captain. At 09:30 hours we will have memorial service in Shuttle Bay one for those killed in the attack against the Borg. All present duties will be suspended in hopes that all will attend. Devore out."

Devore then walked over to the turbo lift and on his way out, "You have the Bridge Lt. Toran."

Devore found Harris sitting alone at a table near the window showing the planet they were orbiting. He was drink some type of drink that was purple.

Devore sat down in front of him and looked at Harris. Noticing the Harris barely acknowledged his presence he waited a moment till he said anything. "Grant I'm sorry about your family."

Harris put his drink down and leaned back in his chair. "I have lost all my loved ones to the Borg. I fight the Dominion, Borg, Cardassian,and a god knows who else and all I get is a scratch or two and medals, but what really do I have to show for it ? You know I screwed up with Jane. She wanted me to take a position as Chief of Ops on a hospital ship during the war, but I took a job as a member of the away team for an enemy planet. When I came home, she left me. Then after the court marshal she said I had changed for the worst and took my daughters because they were better off not knowing the monster I became." Harris wiped a tear drop that formed in his eyes.

Devore felt bad for Harris and felt genuine concern. "Where is your other daughter ?"

"On Earth with her grandparents."

Devore could only imagine how the young first officer felt but wondered why he didn't mention this before. "Listen Grant. I know how war affects a man. It makes them do unspeakable things that those who weren't there wouldn't understand, but it has made them stronger then any other event in their life. I want you to take tomorrow off and take it easy. Give yourself time to mourn. That is an order." Devore got up and patted Harris on the shoulder then walked off leaving Harris alone.