Previously...
Jonathan and Rebecca walked into the headquarters of Starfleet and headed for the offices of Special Operations. As they reached the outer office of Commodore Alexander Banner, their CO they both worried why they had been recalled back to Earth. Both had thought that is was due to their last mission.
The mission to recover the science probe had been a success, but at a cost. Lieutenant Reed had survived the trip back to Starbase 92, but had died a few hours later whilst being operated on. Both Rebecca and Jonathan had been reprimanded by their superiors for crossing the border, but the recovery of the probe was the only thing that had stopped them being court-martialed. The data on both the Romulan and Klingon borders would prove useful and both Special Ops. Officer had suspected afterwards that the probe had been deliberately programmed to go off course.
"The Commodore will see you both now," the young officer behind the desk of the outer office announced.
Both officers, dressed in their Special Operations uniforms, rose from their seats and walked through the doors into the inner office where Commodore Banner sat.
"Jonathan, Rebecca," Alex stated. "It is good to see you both looking so well, how is Amy?" The Commodore was an old friend of the Franklins' and also their daughter's godfather. He had been their commanding officer during the Dominion war and Jonathan's best man at their wedding.
"Amy's fine," Rebecca replied, "although she's a little upset at us coming back to Earth without her. But I doubt you've brought us all the way back to Earth just to inquire on the health and well-being of your god-daughter."
"No," the Commodore replied. "With the death of Lieutenant Reed, you and Captain Dare are the only active members of Team Overlord. With immediate effect, I have been given orders to disband Overlord and re-assign those officers still active to other duties."
"What does this mean for us?" Jonathan asked.
"For you, Jonathan, it means a promotion and a team of your own," Alex replied. "With immediate effect you are re-assigned to Team Jaguar and promoted to the rank of Captain within Special Operations."
"Team Jaguar, never heard of it," Jonathan replied.
"That's because it's going to be a new team, headed by yourself," Alex stated. "Apart from your executive officer, you'll have complete authority about who is on the team."
"Then as my first act as Commander of Team Jaguar, I assign Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Franklin as the team's Helm officer," Jonathan stated.
For a moment, Alex looked at Jonathan, then he spoke in a clear voice, with a note of regret in his speech. "I'm afraid that won't be possible on two counts."
"You're splitting us up...," Jonathan protested. "...You can't. Alex, we've always been a team within a team. If Rebecca isn't in the team, then you can find yourself another Commander. I'll resign my commission and so will Rebecca."
"Thanks," Rebecca stated sarcastically, looking at her husband.
"Firstly, there is no Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Franklin working for Starfleet Special Operations and secondly, Rebecca has already been assigned to Team Jaguar," Alex replied.
It took a few seconds for the haze of confusion to clear, but then they both smiled.
"Captain Franklin, I'd like you to meet your new Executive Officer, Commander Rebecca Franklin," Alex said stressing the 'Commander'. "Still want to resign your commissions?"
"No," Jonathan replied. "This is what we've both worked towards for so long, our own team."
"So do you want to know where you're being re-assigned and why?" Alex inquired.
"Okay," Rebecca said. "Where are we heading?"
"You're being re-assigned to the planet Serenity in the Serenity system. The Federation has a strong presence there and we want to establish a base from which Special Operations can operate," Alex replied.
"Serenity, isn't that on the far side of the Briar Patch," Jonathan stated. "I've read some of the reports on the war that was fought against the Mullurans last year, but why establish a base there now?"
"That war has been re-started," the Commodore stated. "We received Intelligence that the Mullurans were planning an invasion of Ferengi space. That invasion started two weeks days ago."
"And you want Team Jaguar to go in?" Jonathan said.
"No. We have another mission for you. About three weeks ago, a distress signal was picked up by a squadron of fighters which were on training maneuvers close to the Cardassian DMZ. The signal was from the planet Lazon II, which during the Dominion war was a prison planet operated by the Cardassians," Alex reported. "When the Dominion-Cardassian alliance was defeated, we believed that the planet had been evacuated and all the prisoners repatriated to their various races. What we have learnt is that in fact only the high-ranking prisoners were released, the rest of the prison population was left to fend for themselves, the Cardassians abandoned the planet."
"Was a rescue mission attempted?" Rebecca asked.
"The squadron went to investigate, but their fighters were forced to land on the planet. They were eventually rescued and brought back at least one Starfleet officer," Alex explained. "However, with all the activity in Ferengi space, the Cardassians have started to move their forces towards their border with the Ferengi, giving us an opportunity. So for your first mission, we're sending Team Jaguar to Lazon II."
"What are our orders?" Jonathan asked.
"You are to go to Lazon II and evaluate the planet's population," Alex stated. "We've already recovered one Starfleet officer, who knows how many others might still be trapped on the planet."
"Why send in Special Operations?" Jonathan asked. "Surely Starfleet could send a rescue vessel to recover any survivors."
"You're forgetting that Lazon II is in the DMZ, any military vessel entering that zone will be fired on and destroyed. You'll be taking a specially-modified transport to Lazon II where you'll land and scout the planet. Once you've established that there are Federation personnel trapped there, we'll send in a full rescue team," Alex continued. "Hopefully, the rescue vessel can be in and out of the DMZ before the Cardassians realize it."
"We'll need at least two additional officers, a medic and a tactical officer," Jonathan stated.
"A medical advisor has already been assigned to the team and is already enroute to Serenity. The rescue vessel is also enroute to Serenity and they will pick up your Medic before heading for the DMZ where they'll rendezvous with you. As for a tactical officer I have a suggestion," Alex said, passing Jonathan a data Padd.
Jonathan activated the Padd and read the profile of the officer, passing it to Rebecca to read.
"You can't be serious!" Jonathan exclaimed. "This young woman is barely out of the Academy. You're suggesting that we take an inexperienced Ensign on a highly dangerous mission."
"Dawn Chase came top of her class at the Academy, she's an excellent Tactical officer and she specifically requested a posting to Special Operations upon her graduation. She's been moving from team to team and I think it's time she was assigned to a team permanently."
"Jonathan, her record is very good," Rebecca stated.
"Okay." Jonathan said reluctantly. "When do we leave?"
"The transport is in orbit as we speak," Alex explained "Ensign Chase is already onboard and is awaiting your arrival. Once onboard, you'll head for the Cardassian border. Once there, you'll rendezvous with the rescue vessel and pick up Lieutenant Foley, your Medical and Science Advisor. All the mission details and the team records are on the Padd. I've also included several other possible team members' files on the Padd, but as I said the team is yours to build."
Within an hour, Jonathan and Rebecca were on the transport, the SS Axel and heading for the Cardassian border. Before they had left, they had made arrangements for their belongings and their daughter Amy to be escorted to Serenity.
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