Coming Home

The stars whisked by as Devore looked at the viewscreen pondering the events of the last few weeks. The loss of his first ship, his first command, the USS Leviathan seemed to play a toll on him. If the loss of the ship wasn't enough, the loss of over half of his crew, including the insertion team on the lone planet of Limerus IX played an even greater part in the downward spiral that Devore felt inward. His own wife had been in sickbay for days, unconscious to the outside world. Now the realisation that Brayden McCaffee was his and Sierra's son also contributed. The son the they never knew they had, all of sudden now appear after sixteen years appearing in their life. The once unknown, is now here. It in itself could drive a normal man mad, but the battle weary, head strong captain is trying to absorb the influx of information that now is swirling in his head. But then to top the situation, Brayden now lay in sickbay comatose.

"Captain." Lieutenant Savage said from the conn. "ETA in thirty minutes."

"Very well. Drop to impulse," Devore said. "When we are fifteen minutes out. Notify me. I am going down to see Counsellor Devore." Devore rose from his chair and executed a flawless Picard tuck and went to the down ladders.

Devore followed the hallways around to Section 1 weaving in and out of the numerous crewmembers who had taken shelter along the hallways. The small Hellcat was over-booked. Maximum crew for the small ship was only seventy-five but they had more than tripled it since the destruction of the Leviathan. As he turned another corner he finally came to his destination, he quarters where Sierra, he knew was. He walked in to find Sierra lying in bed covered kind of groggy from the medication the Ensign Katts had been administering to her.

"Sierra. Why didn't you ever tell me about him." Said the Captain as he sat down on the side of the bed. Devore unzipped his tunic and tried to relax. Sierra shrugged off her grogginess and looked up at her husband.

"Marc, I am sorry. I didn't even know exactly what had happened to him or even where he was, but when I started to talking to Admiral McCaffee and seen, something. Something that I couldn't explain till now in young McCaffee's eyes. When I looked in Brayen's eyes for the first time and I see now for longest time, I felt a motherly, harbouring feeling, or instinct. That is why I was so quick to accept McCaffee's offer to take him on board with us."

"Well I guess I can understand that," Said Captain Devore. "Why couldn't you have told me a little bit sooner about the motherly instinct. It was quite a shock to me finding out that I even had a son- Brayden no less."

"Marc. I didn't even know." Said Sierra.

"So what are we going to do now ?"

"Well we have to tell Admiral McCaffee."

"We will. As a matter of fact," Devore said as he stood up. He walked into the main area and turned on the con screen to him. "Open a comchannel to Starfleet Command person-to-person to Admiral Kyrie McCaffee." It took a few seconds then a the distinguishable Starfleet Command logo came up. A few moment later, Admiral McCaffee appeared.

[Captain Devore. I am so glad to see you. I am relieved that all is good. So how is Brayden ?] McCaffee said with a fake smile.

Captain Devore returned the fake smile. "Well, he seems to be doing better. Still comatose, but he is more responsive then what he was. I think that these are good signs and that he is on his way out of it."

[So do I Captain. So do I.]

"Admiral..." Devore said after an uncomfortable silence. "..ma'am, we need to talk. Would you mind coming to DS9."

[Actually Captain. I am en route with Admiral Ross now. My ETA is six hours. I will end up meeting you there.]

"Good. It is very important."

[I will be there. Don't worry Captain. I want to make sure that Brayden is fine. I have with me the best doctors in Starfleet Medical.]

"Ma'am. I am sure that he will be just fine."

[I am not taking any chances. Okay Captain. We will meet in six hours. McCaffee out.]

The familiar logo appeared on the screen then there was darkness.

[Bridge to Captain.]

Devore reached up and tapped his combadge. "Devore here. Go ahead."

[Captain.] Said Lieutenant Savage. [Fifteen minutes to DS9]

"Thank you. I am on my way." He said as he zipped up his tunic.

Devore left his room after giving Sierra a quick kiss and hurried to the bridge. On the Bridge he sat down in his chair and smiled. "Lieutenant. Shaka. Drop to 1/3 impulse."

"1/3, Aye."

The ragtag, battle weary USS Hellcat entered Bajoran Space. In high orbit was the epitome of courage, distinction, and defiance, Deep Space Nine. The federation space station that performed with distinction during the Dominion War was now the staging area for the small assembly of ships that represented the defence of Bajor. Devore sat in his chair looking our the view screen as DS9 came into visual range. Captain Devore sat remembering the years he had spent there just before the Dominion War and the then Captain Benjamin Sisko who had helped get to where he was today. Captain Sisko was no longer a Captain, but a Commodore, one of the few left in the Federation. It was figured that the rank of Commodore was redundant considering that Captain normally performed the same duties. Therefore as of 2372, the rank of Commodore was officially phased out and Captain Sisko was the absolute last to obtain the rank of Commodore.

The rank of Commodore was given to Sisko following his return from the simbatical he had away with the prophets. It was a time of pure ecstasy and joy, but what he could learn was finished. The rest was in the result of execution. He had learned so much, now it was time to unite Bajor. As the Starfleet officer in charge, Sisko was to learn to manage his time.

Captain Devore remembered the brilliant, outstanding officer and was pleased to return to see him. At some point, he would need to catch the commodore up on all that has happened since his appointment to the late Leviathan.

"Open a channel."

"Channel open."

"Deep Space Nine. This is USS Hellcat requesting permission to dock," Devore said formally.

[USS Hellcat. We don't recognise your transponder codes. Please submit authentication codes Zulu 1-2-Beta.] Said the unfamiliar voice.

"This is Captain Marcus Devore, commanding officer of the USS Leviathan. Code frequency 134.3444. The Hellcat is an auxiliary vessel attached to the USS Leviathan. I was created by the crew of ship, which is why the design is not recognised.."

[Very well Captain. But I still need authentication Zulu 1-2-Beta.]

*I can't believe this.* Devore thought. "Lieutenant Barker. Pull up the authentication from Starfleet database. Look under Alpha-Charlie."

"Aye sir. I have it. Authentication is 002-Delta 01."

"DS9. I authenticate 002-Delta 01."

[Authentication confirmed. Welcome to DS9 Hellcat. However we do not have any open pylons or docking ports. You may want to go ahead and dock upon the USS Leviathan-A]

"Understood. Thank you."

[Not a problem Captain Devore.] The voice this time Devore recognised, it was Commodore Sisko. [Oh and Marc. Once you get stationed and all, come and see me.]

"Understood Commodore."

[DS9 out.]

"Lieutenant Savage. Set a course for the Akira vessel at docking pylon three." Devore said smiling.

"Aye sir." Savage said smiling.

The Hellcat travelled toward the solemn ship. It's running lights were on and the hull was illuminated like a Christmas tree. As the smaller ship flew across the hull, Devore noticed something that brought a tear to his eye. The name USS Leviathan-A was lit up as if to beckon the ill-fated crew home. The entire Bridge crew from all decks looked through the portholes, viewscreen or whatever they could to get a glimpse of their new home. All looked in awe as the majesty of the Akira-class began the crew murmuring and commenting.

The overall length of the Leviathan-A was not much larger than his last ship, but immediately, Devore noticed the tandamarand which housed five of the seven torpedo launchers. The warp nacelles sat lower than the rest of the ship. The structural designers figured that would create a slimmer silhouette in case of an attack. The final thing that Devore noticed was the placement of the Bridge. Like the rest of the fleet, the Bridge was on deck 1, but side placements on the hull protected it from both sides, unfortunately the hull and the saucer section could not separate like most of the other ships.

"Captain." Lieutenant Savage interrupted the absorption of the new ship. "We have been cleared to land."

"Who is Lieutenant MacLeod ?"

[Captain Devore. I am Lieutenant MacLeod, your Operation Officer. I am in command till you come aboard.]

"Very well. Proceed."

The Hellcat travelled ever so slowly giving the crew the chance to take it all in. Finally Devore noticed the unusual feature of the Akira class and in particular the Leviathan was the hangar bay arrangements. He noticed that there were two large shuttle bays in the saucer section, one at the forward edge of the saucer section and one at the rear that seemed to be linked together through the centre of the ship. He figured that since the Akira class was a war time vessel, it allowed for large numbers of launch and landing operations to be handled simultaneously, but during peacetime this allows the Akira to evacuate large numbers of small survey craft or ferry evacuees on board at a high rate. *An ingenious design.*

"Captain we are aligned for docking procedures." Savage said.

"Okay then. Minimal thrusters, speed at fifty metres per second."

"Fifty metres per second. Aye."

The Hellcat slowly, but with purpose moved toward the large shuttlebay. Lieutenant Savage landed the shuttle in a open landing area.

"Shut down all engines. Re-route power to external connections. Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome home."