The Return (Part Two of Two)

Previously…

"This is Captain Devore to all senior staff. There will be a meeting in one hour in the main briefing room." The Captain announced.

Now…An hour later.

All the senior crew still aboard the Leviathan arrived and took their seats around the briefing table. Only the Captain was absent, arriving five minutes late.

"My apologies for being late, but I have good news and bad." Devore announced as he took his seat at the head of the table. "First the bad."

A sigh was let out throughout the room. They had heard the Captain say things like this before.

"The Leviathan is still not even close to being operational again. That’s going to take at least another month." Devore stated.

"So what’s the good news Captain." Commander Rashad asked.

"We have finally found a trace of the mirror Leviathan. They appear to have attacked a Romulan outpost close to the neutral zone." Devore replied. "Probably looking for equipment and supplies to make repairs."

"That’s great, but as you’ve just said we’re in no fit state to go chasing after them." Rashad replied. "And you know that Starfleet has specifically denied us another vessel with which to seek out the mirror vessel."

"That’s true Commander, but I have another piece of good news." The Captain announced, tapping his comm badge. "Devore to Barker, we’re ready. Everybody, take a look out of the window."

Everyone turned to look out of the window. At first all they saw were the scaffold structure around the vessel, plus the odd worker bee flying past the windows. Then suddenly out of thin air a familiar shape appeared outside the window.

"The Hellcat." Everyone announced almost in unison.

"Not just the Hellcat, but a revised Hellcat." Devore replied. "Mister Barker you can come aboard now."

The familiar sound of a transporter beam filled the briefing room and four figures appeared at the far side.

Along with Lieutennat Commander Barker were Ensign ASHER and the two mirror ‘visitors’ both dressed in Starfleet standard grey jumpsuits. Commander Rashad took a deep breath, trying to hold in her rage and anger. Seeing the much more Romulan 'mirror self' had been an almost traumatic experience and it was taking all of her Vulcan training to maintain her self-control.

Dukal just nodded at this counterpart.

"Barker to Hellcat. We’ve arrived ASHER, take the Hellcat into the shuttlebay." Chu said.

<Understood. Hellcat out.>

"Welcome back." Devore said. "I’ll let you explain about the Hellcat."

"The Hellcat has been totally re-built from the ground up. The warp core has been replaced by a prototype combined warp\slipstream drive and the entire hull has been replaced with parametallic alloys. The shield system has been revised to operate using rotating modulations and as you may have already noticed, she is now equipped with a Federation cloaking device, as well as retaining the refractive shielding. All the weapons systems have been replaced with more powerful versions and we now have an additional two phaser cannons, plus a rear firing torpedo launcher. Many of these modifications and upgrades have been as a direct result of information provided by our ‘visitors’." Chu explained.

"Which brings me to our new orders." Devore announced. "Lieutenant Shale, Lieutenant Dukal, Lieutenant Katts, you are all reassigned to the Hellcat, along with Lieutenant Commander Barker, Ensign ASHER and Ensign Oakenshield." Devore continued. "I received new orders this morning that you’re to go and investigate the reports about the attack on the Romulan outpost.

"Myself, Commander Rashad and Lieutenant Commander Taline will remain aboard and ensure that the repairs to the Leviathan are completed quickly, hopefully we can make this ship better than ever. Also, we’ll have a full crew by the end of July, including a slipstream specialist."

"Understood." Rashad replied.

"Mister Barker, the orders state that you are to attempt to find the mirror vessel, gather as much information about its operational status and report back. You are not authorised to engage in combat, unless absolutely necessary. To assist you, Officer i-T'Kul t'Rashad with be with you. Her knowledge of the mirror vessel and its strengths and weaknesses Starfleet hopes will be of value."

Commander Rashad was visibly shocked at hearing the Captain address her 'mirror self' as Officer t’Rashad. Then she realised something else, the Captain hadn’t said anything about the mirror Dukal. The Captain, noticing the mood of his first officer turned towards her and continued to speak.

"I apologise Commander. Mister Dukal will be remaining aboard the Leviathan with us as an adviser. He has detailed knowledge about the mirror vessel and has tactical data about their vessels. Starfleet thinks that he’ll be able to enhance our weapons and shields against an attack from the vessel." Devore stated. "He’s already been instrumental in working on the Hellcat. Remember, we’re all on the same side here."

The room was silent for a moment, taking in the news that they were finally going to seek out the mirror vessel. No one wanted to say what was all on their minds.

"I think we’ve covered everything. Barker, Rashad please remain, the rest of you, dismissed."

Everyone but the Captain, Lieutenant Commander Barker and Commander Rashad left the room. Most wanted to talk to the two new arrivals, get news about what had happened and about the capabilities of the new Hellcat.

"Captain ?" Rashad remarked.

"Starfleet orders. They really do think that these two ‘visitors’ could be an asset to us at the moment. From one point of view I agree, they know the other vessel and the general circumstances far better than we do. On the other hand, we only have their word about the mirror universe and their part in it. I’d suggest that we keep a close eye on our Mister Dukal, I know Lieutenant Dukal will be keeping a close eye on t’Rashad aboard the Hellcat." Devore replied.

"But why leave me here ?" Rashad asked, her Romulan emotions breaking through her Vulcan control. "Babysitting."

"Because I don’t want you and t’Rashad together, I saw the way you reacted when we first found her in the Brig and I saw your reaction to her when she came aboard just now. Her mere presence around you is making you lose your self-control. The less you are around her, the better." Devore stated. "In a months time, we’ll hopefully have found the mirror vessel and her services will no-longer be required. We can send her back to Starfleet and let them work out what to do about her."

"But what about the Cardassian ?" Rashad asked.

"From what Mister Barker has told me, he’s not that different from our Dukal. He was a slave in the Terran Empire for over ten years before t’Rashad ‘rescued’ him. He seems very loyal to her, maybe because she helped him escape, maybe because they are friends." Devore said.

A shiver went down Rashad’s back. The very thought of the two of them being friends was repulsive to her. Having Lieutenant Dukal aboard had been a nightmare for her, but slowly she was beginning to appreciate that despite being Cardassian, he was a fine Starfleet officer. Now she was going to have to get used to having another Cardassian aboard, one that looked like the Lieutenant, but was totally different.

"He’s been most helpful Commander." Chu added.

Rashad just gave a sigh.

"Where are Sierra and Brayden ?" Devore asked. "Did they come back with you on the Hellcat ?"

"I’m afraid not." Chu replied. "They had left Earth before the Hellcat was launched, I think they’re coming via another vessel. From their last communication, they should arrive sometime early tomorrow. They were both fine the last time I saw them and Brayden was most excited at being able to take the first year Starfleet exams."

"I know," Devore replied. "He was worried that he’d have to take the exams aboard the Leviathan and then have them submitted to the Academy for grading and ratification when we returned to the Alpha quadrant."

"If that’s all Captain, I’d like to get to my quarters and pack a few things." Chu requested.

"Of course, you’re both dismissed."

With that both officers left the briefing room.

Outside, Chu stopped Rashad from walking away.

"Commander, please walk with me, there’s something you should know before tomorrow." Chu said quietly.