Lieutenant Commander Dade Rojc leaned back in his chair in his office on Starbase 7. In front of him, Lieutenant j.g. Melina Iv'Oor sat reading reports from a PADD.

"Based on assessments from our last mission, it doesn't look like Holmes is going to work out for the team," Iv'Oor finished.

Rojc rubbed his forehead and sighed. "We were supposed to have the team together and functioning as a unit by now."

"Correctionóyou were supposed to have the team together and functioning as a unit. I'm just a lowly junior officer." Melina grinned.

Rojc chuckled. "The glamour of command."

"So now what?"

"We find a replacement for Holmes. And don't remind me how difficult that is going to be."

Melina smiled. "Alright. I've already gone ahead and made up a list of possible replacements." She handed him the PADD.

Rojc gave her a funny look and took the PADD. He read through the list of names. "Commander Bjorn Fallow? He's not going to want to take a Weapons Officer positionóhe's being considered for a Team Leader position. Ensign Sto'cha? When did she become qualified for this position?"

"Well, I was thinking move me to Weapons Officer, Nicot to Mission Coordinator, and her to Technical Expert. Besides, she likes you."

"Remember the last time you tried to set me up?"

Iv'Oor winced. "Okay, you've made your point. So what about Lieutenant Icarii?"

"I don't like working with Deltans."

"Ensign Linara Doll?"

"Not a joined Trill, but scheduled to become one. Could present conflicts in the future."

"Lieutenant Commander Selak?"

"Bad medical history."

Iv'Oor was exasperated. "Well, then I hope you have some candidates."

Rojc was about to answer when the door chime to his office rang. "Enter."

The door slid open and a tall Human man entered, bearing the rank of Captain. Rojc and Iv'Oor stood and saluted.

"At ease." The Captain saluted back. "Captain Xanthus Knight," he said, extending a hand.

"Sir," replied Rojc, hesitating momentarily before shaking Knight's hand.

"Lieutenant Melina Iv'Oor." Iv'Oor shook Knight's hand excitedly. "It's a real honor, sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Could you excuse us? I need to talk to Commander Rojc in private."

"Certainly, sir." Iv'Oor put her PADD on Rojc's desk and turned to leave. After she walked out the door, Knight held up a PADD of his own.

"New orders, Commander."

Rojc took the PADD and read its contents. "I stand relieved."

Knight shook his head. "No, no, no, Commander Rojc. I'm here to take command of your unit, not to displace you. You'll be staying on."

"Negative, sir."

"I don't understand," replied Knight.

"I won't be accepting the mission."

"Excuse me?"

"I won't be accepting the mission," repeated Rojc. "Starfleet Intelligence policy, page 54, paragraph 3."

"You haven't even been briefed on the mission yet, Commander. How can you refuse to accept?"

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"By all means."

"I refuse to serve under your command. I find it insulting to be replaced by someone of yourÖcharacter."

Knight clasped his hands behind his back. "So you don't like me. Get over it. And you know for a fact that you can't turn down a mission until you've been briefed on the parameters."

"Then I'll turn it down at that time."

"Did I offend you in some way, Commander Rojc?"

"Your presence in that uniform is offensive."

Knight scowled. "Let me guess. This is about my Maquis connections?"

"Yes sir. If it weren't for this war, you'd be in a prison."

"That may be, Commander, but you still have a job to do. And you are aware of the brief that Intelligence givesópersonal matters are not grounds for not accepting a mission. I'll expect you at the training session tomorrow morning at 0600. Good day, Lieutenant Commander." Knight turned around and walked out the door.

Rojc slumped back into his chair and banged his fists against the desk.

Later that afternoon, Rojc sat in Vice-Admiral Michael Bates' office on Starbase 7. Bates himself was a member of Intelligence Command and was an old friend of both Rojc and the deceased Captain Whitman.

"I'm sorry, Dade. There's nothing I can do," said Bates. "You will have to remain with the team until you are briefed."

"Mike--you don't understand. I don't want to be within 10 parsecs of that man."

Bates sighed. "My hands are tied." He folded his hands. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Starfleet Intelligence will be disappointed if you turn down this mission."

"Well why did he have to pick my team?"

"Perhaps that's something you should discuss with him. And I recommend you get over your dislike for him as well. You step down from your team, and its likely you won't receive another Team Leader position for awhile, Dade."

Rojc frowned. "That's not fair, Mike."

"Then maybe you'll understand how much Intelligence wants you on this mission. I'd hate to see you damage your career that way. I know how accustomed you've become to your privileges of Team Leader status."

"Whitman would have never tolerated this."

"Captain Whitman would have gotten over his personal feelings, Dade. Don't try to guilt trip me with Dan's memory. You're used to free reign around here, Dade, I know. It's not going to be tolerated this time around. And I can't protect you like Whitman did."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both. I've seen the briefing for this mission--Knight is going to need you. Your team is going to need you. Trust me on this one; its only one mission. And I've already told you the alternative."

Rojc scowled and slammed a fist onto Bates' desk.

"Easy, Dade. I understand you're a man of principles. You'll just have to bend them for awhile."

"Fine. Just as long as its one and only one mission." Rojc stood up to leave.

Admiral Bates sighed and leaned back. "And I advise you to drop the attitude while you're around your teamóIntelligence isn't going to appreciate a mutiny. I'm sorry I can't do more for you, Dade."

Rojc muttered something under his breath and left the Admiral's office. Bates shook his head and turned back to his work.

"I still do not understand your problem, Dade," said Senishra quizzically, as she set down her glass.

"Senishra, the man is a traitor."

"I gathered that. My lack of understanding comes from your reaction to it. You were able to work side by side with Vallera, as I recall. You also seemed to patch things up with Neeron." She frowned. "I have never seen you get so upset over something asÖtrivial as this. You said that Admiral Bates said the replacement was not permanent. Besides, what has Captain Knight ever done that has personally affected you adversely?"

Dade sighed. "Stop. Stop right now."

"What?"

"You know what I mean. You always could out argue me."

Senishra stealthily smirked. "Glad to see I'm getting through to you."

"Is that my hint to drop it?" Rojc took a sip of his drink.

"Perhaps."

Rojc sighed and leaned an elbow on the table. "I'm sorry I haven't been more pleasant dining company. As you can tell, I'm really upset."

"It is alright, Dade. Now then, we have another matter to discuss."

"Oh?"

"Admiral Vallera."

Rojc winced. "What about her?"

"You do not lie convincingly. I heard disturbing speculation among the crew of the Phantom awhile ago."

Rojc stared at his drink. "She came to me."

"We've been over this before Dade. You can't keep acquiescing to her every whim."

"Yeah, well. I wasn't exactly clear-headed at the time."

"Dade, I'm just trying to help you out. I know you think you have feelings for her. Chances are she'll just use your feelings and trust against you when it suits her. Remember Mosb IX?"

"Yeah..." Rojc's voice trailed off.

Senishra noted the look of anguish on Rojc's face. "I think you have been depressed enough for tonight. Perhaps we should go to the station's holodecks."

Rojc looked at the timepiece on a nearby wall. "I really can't, but thank you anyway. I have to be back to Starbase 7 early tomorrow." He got up to leave.

"Good night, Dade." She extended two fingers in a gesture of Vulcan intimacy

Rojc was slightly taken aback, but returned the gesture accordingly. "Good night, Senishra." He withdrew his hand and walked out of Senishra's quarters.

It was early the next morning when Rojc's team stood assembled in Starbase 7's Training Facility III. All were present and accounted for, except for Captain Knight.

"Computer--time?"

"The time is 0610."

Rojc scowled. "Location of Captain Xanthus Knight?"

"Captain Knight is on Deck 92, Section Delta, Corridor A."

At that moment, Knight entered the room. "Good morning everyone, I apologize for my tardiness."

Rojc's team excitedly returned the greeting to the Captain. Rojc, however, did not. "Still not used to being on a regular schedule yet, sir?"

Knight scowled at Rojc but did not respond. He cleared his throat and addressed the team as a whole. "Fall in!"

Rojc and his team stood at full attention.

"All right. I have read Commander Rojc's reports and am aware of the team's difficulties thus far. Accordingly, I've decided to do a little reorganization. Mr. Ykinati, you will serve as leader of the Reconnaissance unit. Mr. Estrun and Mr. Einhorn, you will also serve in the Reconnaissance unit." Knight paused for a moment and looked at Rojc. "Mr. Rojc, you will serve as my second-in-command and Mission Coordinator. Mr. Iv'Oor, you will be our Weapons Officer. Mr. Nicot, you will retain your position as Technical Expert. Any questions?"

Rojc was frowning, but other than that, the team remained quiet.

"Good. We'll conduct a few exercises today to see how much training we'll have ahead of us."