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Chapter 21 With the Cortez now safely docked at Star Base 202, Hawke looked at the faces of his gathered senior officers. They had the look of the living dead, and with good reason. The battle for Star Base 202 had been a struggle of monumental odds. In the end the victory had been by the slimmest of margins. Hawke stood up from behind his desk and tugged at his uniform before speaking. "I know you all have a lot of work to do people; I expect complete reports from all departments. The ship is in a terrible state and there are many wounded." Hawke pauses for a second before continuing, "you have all done your duty and I'm proud to be your Captain... " He looked to Neillya, "Mr. Neillya. I will expect you to have all reports from all departments complete and ready for my review by 0800hrs. I have a meeting with Admiral Kane and the Taskforce Commanders in 2 hours to discuss the current tactical situation and what our role will be. Once I have that I will meet you all for a staff brief at 0900hrs.... I know you could all use some rest. Insure that a work/rest plan is initiated for each department, to include Senior Staff. The last thing I need as one of you passing out while on duty..." He sat back in his chair, pauses, and then looks back at the officers with one eyebrow raised. "Dismissed." One Hour Later, Main Conference Room Star Base 202, it was a large well appointed room, with a number or large view ports giving a beautiful view of the planet below. The Ship Captains and senior officers had gathered for the meeting with Admiral Kane and his XO Commodore Phillips, as the senior officers walked in the Adjutant called the room to attention, "Attention on deck!" The gathered officers snapped to attention. "At ease people, and be seated. We have a lot to discuss and a short time to get things going. First of all I want to commend you all for the outstanding actions of each of your ships and crews. We wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for that. Now for some bad news, as some of you know the Deputy Commander in Chief of Federation has been killed in action at Helos IV while leading an attack against Romulan forces. I would like to observe a moment of silence for all the lives that have been lost," the gathered officers lower there heads in respect to their following comrades. "Very well, the Romulans suffered a major setback by not capturing this Star Base and coupled with the new offensive that was launched deep into Romulan territory by 150 Star Fleet vessels, we have been able to hamper the Romulan infrastructure and logistics support. It is time for us to use this momentum to recapture lost ground. Star Fleet Command will start sending reinforcements here to begin a major offensive to retake this sector. Our primary objective will be to liberate the planet Omninus. Captain Hawke, since your ship has been put in dry-dock for repair and refit, I plan on using your people to carry out phase 1 of the liberation operation, Codename: Underground... What followed was a three-hour discussion and operational orders on the mission to be undertaken by Star Fleet forces. At 0900hrs the following day, the Senior officers gathered in the Cortez Conference Room for the mission brief from their Captain and to give him their reports on the ship status. Hawke knew that they were all anxious to hear what would be the next mission for the crew of the Cortez... "I know you are all wondering what our status is as far as future missions, needless to say, just when I thought I had a good understanding of Star Fleet Command... They do something completely different. We are going to lead the first phase of Operation: Underground. Simply put, we will provide an insurgency team, which will consist of: Lieutenant Commander Jon Neillya, LtJg. Hughes and Ens Moses. Team one's mission will be to establish contact with a resistance group on Omninus know as the Omninus Freedom Front (OFF). The leader of OFF is a female known as Dax. Dax was a one-time member of the Ruling Council and surrendered the planet to the Romulans. Since that time she has been the leader of the underground resistance movement. Team one will leave Star Base 202 via the Runabout USS Amazon, destination the planet Wiau. There you will meet Maersk, Captain of a Barolian transport the Camyoco. He will smuggle you to Omninus. Your mission objective will be to establish contact and help to plan a joint strike conducted by the OFF group to assist the Invasion of Omninus by Star Fleet forces. Team 2 will consist of 50 Cortez crew to assume command and control of the USS Valiant, NX-91223. The senior staff will consist of the following: CO: Captain. Hawke, XO/SCI: LtJg. Blokpoel, Helm: Ens. Nemesian, TAC/SEC: Cdt Kahless, CMO: Dr. Bussard, CEO: Cdt Lucutis. The USS Valiant, is a Defiant class starship that was brought out of mothballs for the defence of Star Base 202. The basic missions will be reconnaissance, patrolling, and clandestine operations to help with the invasion coordination of Omninus. Finally, Team 3 will be the remaining crew of the Cortez. Lt. Sutherland you will assume command of the Cortez. Any new personnel that join the Cortez while it is in dry-dock will fall under your control. Simply put Mr. Sutherland you will be in charge of the refit of the Cortez. This should be a Chief Engineer's dream come true." Hawke looked around the room, "What are your questions for me at this time?" He waited patiently for any replies... It was more than an hour later that Suzanna walked into her office, stopping briefly at the replicator for another mug of tea before sitting down behind her desk. She had just finished the briefing with Captain Hawke. Maybe I should try Jon's 'coffee-Neillya' next time she thought. She did not like the taste of coffee, but it might just help her stay awake better. She tapped at her console and saw the long list of actions she still had to do today. A sigh escaped through the Vulcan control, it would be another long day. She closed her eyes for a moment and summoned calm composure from within. When she was sure her control was firmly back in place she looked at the list on the display again. "First things first", she said silently to herself. Her first priority had to be the USS Valiant now, and a number of the science department duties could be delegated to other members of her team. When she was done with that she got up, it was time to see the Valiant and get an update from its CEO. Fifteen minutes later, her team leaders had gathered in the main lab their meeting. She was feeling wary and it took an effort to try and keep that from her appearance. She had hardly slept since the Cortez had docked at the Starbase and now looking round the table it looked like the rest of the science team hadn't either. "All right people, there are a few things I want to discuss. First off all, I would like to say that you've all done an outstanding job in very difficult circumstances. It's an honour to be serving with you all." She looked around the table before continuing. "We have sustained a lot of damage and repairs will take a while." She handed a PADD to Ens Nemesian, "this PADD contains the damage report for the science department, it also contains a work/rest plan for *everybody* in this department. Tired people are prone to making mistakes and that is something we cannot afford to make in war. Mr Nemesian, I want you to make sure that *everybody* in this department will get the rest he or she's scheduled to have." She looked at her deputy, "and that includes you and me." Mr Nemesian blinked for a moment before replying, "Aye, Sir". "Next, I will recap the captain's briefing. The Cortez will provide an insurgency team." She quickly went on to summarise the details as provided by the Captain, then Suzanna looked round the table again before stopping at her deputy. "Mr Nemesian, Commander Neillya will contact you with regards to further details and briefing regarding your role in team one. Good luck." She looked at Ensign Johnson, "Mr Johnson, once team one and team two have left, you will be in charge of the science department, until either Mr Nemesian or I return. Any Questions?" She answered all the questions and then left for the Valiant there was much work to do. A few days later, Suzanna and Jon were having dinner together and a sigh escaped her as they got up from the table and walked over to the sitting area in her quarters. They had just finished dinner and she had been almost uncharacteristically quiet during the meal. It wasn't just the tiredness. Tomorrow morning she would leave with the USS Valiant and team one would take the Amazon on their mission a few hours later. She had the mission on her mind, and she suspected that so did Jon. They both had chosen for a life in Starfleet and with it had accepted that they could and would be assigned dangerous missions. The insurgency team ranked as a more than dangerous mission in her book. She looked at Jon, knowing that if anybody could make it a success, he would be that person. It was a clear case of 'The needs of the many..' This time though, logic did not bring her much comfort. Her Vulcan side was struggling to reinforce her mental shielding, but the lack of sleep over the past few days wasn't helping. It would not be logical to burden him with her more than illogical thoughts. Jon's mind had been on the mission, he left tomorrow, with out the Cortez, and leaving behind the majority of her crew. A prospect that sat heavily on his heart, but most of all, he would be leaving Suzy, and she was to go on her own mission with Hawke. Meeting on the planet Wiau, then going on to establish contact with the OFF, it all seemed so very different from what he was used to. The excitement of the mission, the strangeness, the small team, the importance. And it would be his first official action as XO of the Cortez. Part of her mind had still been thinking about her mission and all the things left to do before the Valliant's departure. The human half interrupted those thoughts. '*STOP IT* will you. Enough about work for now. You'll have plenty of time to think about that when you're on duty!!!! Spent what little time you have with him, like you're *supposed to*. Have some *FUN*.' The Vulcan didn't have the energy to argue, nor did it want to. Suzanna sat down on the couch, and looked at Jon as he walked over, a small smile was visible on her face. "And what is your excuse for being so quiet tonight?" she asked, her voice carrying a depth of feeling she was unable and unwilling to suppress. Jon sat down
next to Suzanna. "I'm tired, and a bit worried about the mission.
And, well I don't know when I will see you again after tonight." Jon laughed, and fought back, his size larger body meaning he got the upper hand. "Oh, yes, I'm always right." Then Suzanna threw him off her, and over the couch, Jon crashed to the floor, he got to his knees before Suzanna landed him back to the floor with a well-aimed pillow. "Okay, Okay, I'm not always right!" "I know that Jon, I'm glad you do now too". Suzanna said, a mischievous smile broke through the control and appeared on her face. Jon stood up, holding his pillow in front of him as defence, "That was a good shot Suzy." As he was speaking Jon pounced, he and Suzy ended up rolling across the floor, and banged against the bed. "Oh boy!" Suzanna grinned at Jon. They continued to fight over the pillow. She grabbed Jon's hand and tried get at the pillow. As she did so she could sense his mind. She stopped and looked in his gentle, smiling eyes, 'I'll miss you'. Then she leant forward and kissed him.
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