A couple of days later I was moving at warp seven point five back towards the Mesoan colony so we could report our successful mission.
We wouldn't go all the way back, just far enough that their com system could pick us up.
I miss the Alpha Quadrant, com relays everywhere. And everyone else has higher power transmitters.
Unfortunately, we didn't find any survivors.
Not that I would have expected any from an antimatter detonation.
"Any signals yet, Star?" Captain Mason asked, leaning back in the center chair, thumbing through his PADD.
"Not yet, Sir," I answered, my holographic avatar shrugging. "We should be in range at any moment though. I'll keep trying."
"Please let me know as soon as we are. I want to get this over with."
"Yes sir."
He wasn't the only one.
When the war against the Romulans was over, I had hoped I would never need to fight again. I knew it would never be like that.
Sometimes you needed to fight. To protect yourself. To protect others. That didn't mean I actually liked it.
Actually, that's not true.
I liked fighting. Simulated and during training. To match my skill and abilities against somebody else's.
What I disliked was killing.
I hated that. But I hated pirates, slavers and seeing good innocent people get hurt even more.
So if I had to vaporize some idiots with more greed and weapons than brains, then so be it. Starfleet might not strictly be the military arm of the Federation, but we were the closest thing it had.
We were the shield and sword.
We explored... we investigated. We made sure that everyone could sleep easy, safe from the horrors hidden in the dark.
My kind was just more effective at it than everyone else. Which meant I had to carry more of the responsibility of it.
It was just something I wished wasn't needed.
But if killing some pirates was what it took to keep my people, my crew, safe?
Then that's what I did.
"Captain, I have a signal from the Mesoan. Opening channel now."
It didn't take long before Elder Laest was on screen.
"We can't thank you and your crew enough, Captain Mason. I can't believe you were able to eliminate the pirate menace. It is no wonder your people were able to fight back The Dominion."
The Captain smiled, "Glad we could be of assistance, Elder. However, it was only the base and two of the pirate ships that were eliminated. According to the data we were able to salvage, there are seven more out there."
"We are aware, captain. But without a safe port to resupply, things should become much safer around here. Our fleet should be able to handle them from here."
Or things might become more dangerous. If the pirates don't have another base, they might just as easily become desperate and go for more damaging raids for supplies rather than pull back and spend time to make a new base.
XXXXXXXXXXX
I did a quick check on T'Ro where she was in one of my Jefferies tubes, "Do you think you will be able to finish before the end of your shift?" I asked her, "Or do you think you will be delayed?"
She looked up from the isolinear chip she was repairing, raising a eyebrow, "I should finish in time. Do you have something in planned?"
"Actually, I do. I traded a bit for extra holodeck time... I have a full twelve hours booked."
"A new program?" she asked, fusing a pathway on the chip.
"Mmm. Earth, around the year two thousand. Well, not exactly, I have taken a copy of a historical program and been modifying it until it matches what I remember from the sim. I want to take you out on a date, let you see what kind of place I grew up in," I explained. "It's not perfect, but I think it's as close as I will be able to get it."
T'Ro put the tool down for that, "..I think I would like that. Should I wear period accurate clothes? What activities do you have in mind?""
I mentally grinned, "Well, dinner and a movie is a classic. So I was thinking that and a walk before retiring to a hotel for the night. I'll have a dress replicated for you by the time you get off duty."
I had been looking for a opportunity to get her into a short and tight one.
"I'm looking forward to it," T'Ro said before picking the tool back up and going back to work.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Honor to you and your family, Captain Mason. We are in your debt," Elder Laset said and bowed at the screen, "And safe travels."
"Honor to you and your family as well, Elder," Mason answered with a nod before signaling me to cut the channel.
"I hope they manage to handle the rest of the pirates," I said with a small sigh.
Commander Janeway nodded, "They should now when the base is gone. The pirates will no longer have anywhere to run and hide."
Mason nodded, "Agreed. So let's get back to what we actually want to be doing. Exploring where no man has gone before."
"Course, sir?" I asked and couldn't quite keep a smile off my holographic face.
Time to head out into the unknown again. What wonders and dangers would be out there?
I could have sworn my nacelles tingled at the idea.
He leaned back in his chair and then pointed forward, "That way."
"Aye, sir. Course set."
"Activate."
AN// Many thanks to Avernus and Old Soul for betaing this section.
This is the last we see of Star for a while. No worries, I have ideas for a sequel already. Now however, I believe it's time we return to Making Connections. In fact, as this if Friday, I declare it to be Double Feature Friday so you get the continuation of that tonight instead of tomorrow! As it will be a continuation and not a sequel, it will continue in the old thread.
If you have not read that story line yet, it can be found here:
http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/that-first-step-si.5342/
The latest part in the series can be found here:
http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/making-connections.15835/