"Thank you for your reports, ladies and gentlemen. If there is nothing further here, we shall dismiss for the day," proclaimed Council Member Terrance Channing to the group of Starfleet officers assembled before the Intelligence Oversight Committee.

Lieutenant Nicot practically jumped up. "With all due respect, sir, I don't think you understand the magnitude of the threat here. We must take action now or else the Dravic are going to roll right over us."

Channing sighed. "Lieutenant, we've read your reports and heard your testimony. We've reviewed all the data you retrieved. I disagree with your assessment."

Lieutenant Commander Dade Rojc glanced at Nicot from where he was sitting before standing up himself. "Council Member, I respect your judgments, but I also respect those of my officers. Clearly some kind of action needs to be taken to safeguard the Federation."

Channing shook his head and massaged his temples. "These Dravic...their ships are obviously no match compared to our own. Their primary observation and staging post has been destroyed. The Talarians and Tzenkathi have been alerted to the threat and are patrolling their deep space frontiers. I think you are looking for a threat that doesn't exist."

"And what about the years from now?" asked Nicot angrily, "What about when they restore their abilities to infiltrate anywhere within the Federation?"

"Nicot--tone it down," said Rojc coolly.

"What we've seen is only a small demonstration of their capabilities. When the Dravic make their next attempt, they're going to come at us full force," Nicot finished.

"And I believe when that day comes they'll regret ever bothering the Federation," declared Channing, "The information we have indicates that the Dravic have nowhere near the naval or military means to wage a war against the Federation, let alone against the Federation and its allies. Lieutenant Nicot, Commander Rojc--you've made your recommendations and argued for them."

"But sir, you're missing the point. The Dravic--"

"Are not a threat to the security of the Federation," finished Channing, interrupting Nicot. "I don't believe there's anything here that merits further discussion. It is the opinion of this Committee that the Dravic have been contained and there is no reason to take further action against them."

"But--"

"That is all, Lieutenant." Channing swung the gavel. "This hereby concludes the Intelligence Oversight Committee's inquiry into case number 9367. All are dismissed." The Council members stood up and filed out of the room, as did everyone else.

"I can't believe they wouldn't listen," alleged Nicot, "Traditional methods of waging war are not applicable here!"

The members of Omega Team glanced at one another apprehensively.

"Don't you think that just maybe Channing was right--that you're blowing this whole thing out of proportion?" asked Lieutenant Commander Shalis Ykinati hesitantly.

Nicot whirled around to face her. "No! The Dravic are insidious--they play the game by a whole different set of rules."

"Nicot, I think you need to take some time to cool down," said Rojc. "Sometimes the Council listens, other times they don't. There's nothing we can do at this point."

Nicot gnashed his teeth and glared at Rojc before abruptly storming off.

"He's not going to let this go," uttered Lieutenant Melina Iv'Oor.

"I know, I know," replied Rojc. "Just let him get it out of his system. If he's not going to calm down and listen to us, then he's just going to have to learn the hard way."

A solemn Omega Team continued once again down the hallway.

Late afternoon the next day, Rojc sat in his office on Starbase 7 with the rest of his team, excepting Nicot.

"Well, now that things will be returning to normal, we come back to our original problem: the seventh team member," announced Rojc.

"With the war ending, won't that free up personnel? Give us a wider base to work with?" inquired Lieutenant Adan Estrun.

"In theory, yes," replied Ykinati, "But with all the destruction and political change wrought during the war, things could turn out to be just the opposite."

"Rebuilding Cardassia is going to be no easy task," added Iv'Oor.

"Word from the top is that Cardassia isn't a worry. They know they either work with us or the Romulans get their chance," began Rojc. "The Klingons aren't considered a worry either--they're not a whole lot better off than the Cardassians."

"Worse, I'd say." Ykinati shook her head. "I just hope Martok's reforms don't set off another Klingon civil war."

"There are still worries about the Romulans, but the new broadening of relationships makes them considerably less worrisome." Rojc paused. "Everything I'm hearing says that Channing and Intelligence Authority are pointing to those not involved in the Dominion War as the current threats."

"Tholians. Tzenkathi. Talarians." Ensign Samantha Einhorn shook her head.

"And a host of smaller groups," added Estrun, understanding.

Rojc nodded his head. "Civilizations held in check by the Federation for years. With Starfleet scrapping the Frankenstein fleets, our forces are going to be spread thin."

There was a moment of contemplative silence.

Rojc looked up at his team and cleared his throat. "Okay, I think we've gotten far enough off topic. Getting back to the issue at hand--Weapons Officer."

"What if we stayed at six members?" questioned Estrun. "Yeah it's more work for the rest of us, but it solves the problem of introducing a new team member."

Iv'Oor nodded thoughtfully. "Saves us time and trouble in the short run. Other units run on as little as four team members."

Rojc made a face. "Strength in numbers. Not that I'm ruling out dropping the idea of a seventh body, but I'd really prefer to keep our numbers strong."

"Grabbing someone out of the Academy or Intelligence's Tactical training program is probably the only option," answered Ykinati, "It'll be easier for them to adjust to the way things work in the team."

"Breaking in rookies is a pain," complained Estrun, "They adjust easier, yes, but they don't have the experience."

Einhorn glared at him.

"What?"

Rojc sighed and shook his head. "Then shall I assume you have a list of candidates prepared?"

"Right here." Estrun handed his PADD to Rojc.

Rojc leaned back in his chair and scrolled through the list of names. "No. No. No. No. Linara Doll again? No." Rojc looked up tiredly at his team. "I appreciate the effort people, but it looks like I'm going to have to decide this one on my own terms."

"So the team is back on Inactive status?" asked Einhorn apprehensively.

"No," answered Rojc, "We performed well enough in the field during the last mission--for now I'll just flag the team."

"So where is Nicot anyway?" inquired Iv'Oor after a pause in conversation.

"He's not letting this thing with the Dravic go--I think he's trying to set up a meeting with the Starfleet Command Council or some such nonsense," replied Rojc. "Don't worry about him--I'm keeping an eye on him so he can't get himself into too much trouble."

Iv'Oor smiled. "Good luck."

Rojc paused for a moment of thought before dismissing the team. "I'm going to go back to the Phantom for a few days, see what I can get figured out there. In the meantime, the rest of you are free to do whatever."

"That reminds me--exactly what is the problem with the Phantom?" questioned Ykinati.

Rojc snorted. "Bureaucracy, of course. All of the shipyards are trying to push their latest designs--Antares is not faring well." He paused briefly. "I guess that's all. Dismissed."

Captain Xanthus Knight was also still on Starbase 7. Ever since his return from Dravic space he had almost constantly gone from meeting to meeting with various Starfleet advisors and admirals. This one was no different.

Knight stepped through the door to Vice Admiral Michael Bates' office and saluted.

"Good--Knight, just the man I wanted to see. At ease. Please, sit."

Knight relaxed and took a seat across from the Admiral.

"Captain, now that the war with the Dominion has ended, the Federation has several matters to sort out." Bates looked directly at Knight. "The few remaining Maquis, for one."

"With all due respect, sir, I think an officer with my credentials is too important to let sit while he goes to trial."

"Oh, I agree, Captain, I agree. There won't be a trial," returned Bates.

"I'm not sure I follow..."

"As of 1500 hours tomorrow, the President is issuing a full pardon for any Maquis who helped in the war effort against the Dominion. That includes you."

Knight grinned. "I can't tell you how great that news is."

"I'm glad you found that news to your liking," said Bates, smirking, "Because now this is the part where I give you your next assignment." Bates paused to gauge Knight's reaction before continuing. "I'm placing you in command of the USS Phantom--effective as soon as my orders get the official stamp from Starfleet Command. Antares and the Institute tell me they have all the bugs worked out, so I want that ship back out."

"Admiral--what about Lieutenant Commander Rojc?"

"What about him?"

"He and I didn't exactly get along well--and he's stationed on the Phantom," replied Knight uneasily.

"I'm promoting him and reassigning him elsewhere," Bates finished. "Lieutenant Nicot will be given the option of promotion to Lieutenant Commander and taking over as the Phantom's Tactical officer or following Rojc."

"Why the sudden push to return the Phantom to active duty? I heard Rojc go on and on about the re-commissioning."

"The Phantom was Doctor Invinoori's last completed work," replied Bates quietly, "In his memory, I at least owe him to push the class through the bureaucracy."

"But is the ship worth it?" asked Knight poignantly.

Bates shrugged. "A little expensive and maintenance intensive, but its the most well-rounded design out there; everything else is either meant to be a warship or doesn't meet up to the multi-tasking standards of Starfleet's previous generations of vessels. Make no mistake, Captain, the Phantom may've not had the most stellar first mission, but there's a lot more to her. You'll also have a fine and seasoned crew--Rojc and Whitman did a good job shaping them."

Knight nodded, understandingly. "So under what kind of mission parameters will the Phantom fall under?"

"Its not an Intelligence ship, but a lot of its missions will come straight from Starfleet Intelligence. I expect you'll be picking up where you left off with the Orion Syndicate."

"Not a mission directive I'll enjoy, but I will enjoy seeing the end of the Syndicate," responded Knight.

"Glad to hear it, Captain. Your confidence is reassuring." Bates smiled lightly. "The paperwork is in for the official stamp now, so it'll be a couple days until this all falls into place. In the meantime, relax."

"Understood, sir. Thank you." Knight extended his hand.

Bates nodded and shook his hand. "You're welcome, Captain. Dismissed."

Rojc materialized in Transporter Room I to unexpectedly find himself alone--not even a transporter chief was on duty. Rojc stepped down from the transporter pad and frowned. "Computer, location of Commander Senishra?"

"Commander Senishra is not aboard the Phantom."

"Location of Commander Guitarrez?"

"Lieutenant Commander Lucia Guitarrez is in Main Engineering on deck 20, section four."

Rojc grunted and stepped into the adjoining corridor. He noted the open access panels to the power conduits and the scattered components before continuing onto Main Engineering.

Minutes later, Rojc strode into the Chief's office in Main Engineering, finding Guitarrez hard at work.

"Hi Chief. Busy?"

Guitarrez jumped, startled. "Oh. Hi Rojc."

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Rojc replied, amused.

"I'm fine. I just didn't expect for anyone to be around right now," Guitarrez relaxed and sat her desk. "We needed to run one final calibration of the ship's systems, primarily to get those damned security protocols of yours working; Senishra had all personnel leave for the time being."

"Then that murmur I here about the Phantom finally being ready is true?" asked Rojc.

"That's the way I here it. The Yard supervisor said he was told to get the final checkouts finished," responded Guitarrez, "Though I don't have any details other than that. But how did you get onboard? The ship isn't supposed to respond to beam-in requests."

"Hey--it's me," said Rojc with a chuckle.

"Oh, right! That whole level 15 security clearance." Guitarrez paused as she reviewed the data on her terminal screen. "So to what do I owe this visit?"

"Just checking in on the Phantom's status," he answered, "I'm getting sick of sitting on Starbase 7, waiting for an assignment."

"Can't say I blame you--starbase duty usually is pretty tedious."

"Yeah..." Rojc nodded. "Well, I should probably be leaving so you can focus on your work. Know where Senishra is at, by chance?"

"Nope," answered Guitarrez, "All she told me is that there's a message for you on the Shipyard's database system--she couldn't get through to you at Starbase 7."

"Latest mission--long story. Thanks, Chief."