"Captain's Log--Supplemental. We are now docked at Starbase 7 where I've already debriefed with Admiral Bates. The damage to the Phantom has been extensive but Lieutenant Commander Guitarrez assures me repairs will take less than a week. Thankfully we took few casualties. Lieutenant Jack Hamilton, Ensign Marco Goodman, and Crewman Elizabeth Spencer gave their lives for the ship and I recommend each of them for commendation."

"On another note, Starfleet Command was both pleasantly surprised and pleased by the salvage of the Defiant. It appears Commander T'Senishra and her away team were able to successfully restore most of her systems, though there was some moderate damage sustained from battle with the Tholians. The Defiant is currently en route to Utopia Planetia for analysis."

"As for the Tholians, a Commander Nethrax turned over his commanding officer, Vrax for trial in exchange for the freedom of the Webspinners' crews. The Tholian Assembly has issued an official statement apologizing for their "over-zealous" patrol and as a sign of good faith did not contest Vrax's imprisonment and impending trial."

Admiral T'Lara looked up as three officers entered her office. "I have read your reports thoroughly and have ordered the JAG's inquiry into the incident canceled."

Captains Richard Fordall and Xanthus Knight and Commander Saria Kintain nodded their heads somberly, showing their gratitude.

T'Lara continued, addressing Kintain directly. "Your recent actions have led me to grant you command of your current posting, the Endeavour, as had been requested by Captain Sakkath. Congratulations on your promotion, Captain Kintain."

Kintain resisted the urge to smile, not wanting to insult the Admiral with a display of emotion. "Thank you Ma'am," she replied sincerely.

"Dismissed."

The three Captains filed out of the room and into the hall where they finally celebrated.

Fordall and Knight both congratulated Kintain and thanked her for the save.

"Thank you, both of you," Kintain said, though the smile she wore was intended for Knight. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go check in with Admiral Bates."

Knight and Fordall nodded and Kintain left. They were alone. Fordall and Knight stared at each other for a moment before Fordall finally broke the silence.

Fordall smiled. "Don't worry about it, the situation is forgiven and forgotten. I owe you for what you and your crew did for the Osbourne. If your officers hadn't found that information in the cores when they did, I doubt I'd be standing here now."

Knight echoed the smile. "I doubt either of us would be. I'd say I owe you one for drawing the Tholians off of us. That took balls."

Fordall nodded his head, "You're welcome." He paused. "You know, there is a way you can repay me."

"Medical supplies?" asked Knight humorously.

Fordall chuckled and shook his head. "I was thinking more in the way of a first officer. Lieutenant Perevoz seems like one hell of good choice."

Knight winced. "You're sure you wouldn't rather have those medical supplies?"

"Quite," replied Fordall.

"All right," capitulated Knight, "I'll have a transfer order ready for you in the hour."

Fordall held up the PADD he had been carrying with him. "No need, I already prepared one."

Doctor Arona Illysa smiled warmly as Bajoran Colonel Lee Jaden appeared on her desktop terminal. "Greetings, Illysa. It is good to see you well."

"Likewise," replied the Doctor.

"I'm afraid I can't talk long. I'll be departing on a mission momentarily."

"I just wanted you to know that I'll be on DS9 in a couple of weeks--the Phantom is stopping there before its next mission to Cardassia."

"I'm glad to hear that," Lee replied gladly. "I promise to do my best to clear my schedule so that we can spend some time with each other."

"Great, I'll be looking forward to it," Arona smiled. "I don't want to keep you any longer, so good luck on your mission."

Lee bowed his head at the sentiment. "Thank you, Illysa. I'll see you a couple of weeks then."

Arona smiled one last time before ending the transmission. She couldn't wait to see Jaden and for the first time in months finally had something to look forward to. She lingered a while longer in her office before finally standing up and returning to her duties.

Elsewhere on the Phantom, Nicot stood alone in the alpha core of the Phantom, trying to correct a glitch in the command system's recognition files. He had just started to make progress when an all-too-remembered transporter beam seized him.

Nicot grumbled to himself as he once again found himself in the dark, cavernous room he had been in days earlier. "Lights."

Again the obnoxious floodlights turned on, though this time Nicot's vision was less hampered by them. The familiar silhouette of the mystery woman again appeared. "Well, well, Commander Nicot. I take it you've had an exciting past couple of days."

Nicot scowled. "I was busy. Are you always this obnoxious?"

The woman chuckled, but chose not to respond to the question. "Have you made your decision yet, Commander?"

Nicot remained silent as he went over the arguments in his mind one last time. Despite how much had taken place with the disaster at the anomaly and the subsequent repairs, his thoughts had dwelt heavily on Section 31's offer. "I have to admit I'm tempted, but--"

"But you're content remaining in Commander Rojc's shadow and playing the good officer role," the woman finished harshly. "I understand."

"What did you say?" demanded Nicot.

"Only the plainly obvious, Lieutenant Commander," retorted the voice. "Too afraid to venture out on your own since you know that you'd get yourself into trouble without Rojc looking over your shoulder. Forgive me for thinking you were capable of something more than being a lackey. Good d--"

"Wait!" shouted Nicot furiously. The woman had attacked the one thing Nicot thought he was sure of, that being his career.

"Well?"

"Give me a damn minute to think!" Nicot snapped. The more he thought about it, the less Nicot realized that this was him. Ten years ago--hell, maybe even five years ago, Nicot would have never seen himself where he was today.

"Tick tock, Commander."

Nicot scowled at the woman but continued to think. He was happy, yes, but those nagging plans he had set out for himself years back were woefully incomplete. He had always been held back by those with less skill, less cunning, less resolve--all because his methods were "not in the spirit of Starfleet and the Federation." Screw that, Nicot thought to himself, becoming more and more incensed as he thought about the past.

"I'm afraid I don't have time to waste, Commander. If you're going to change your mind, I need to know and I need to know now."

"I'm in," Nicot finally announced quietly.

The woman smiled triumphantly, not that Nicot was able to see it. The psych reports had been right after all. "Good. I'll be in touch with your first assignment shortly, Nicot." With that, she beamed him back to his previous position inside the computer core. "Computer--dump holodeck memory and erase record of Lieutenant Commander Nicot's presence here."

The computer chirped its compliance and the darkness of the holodeck program shimmered out to the black and yellow grid.

Satisfied with her actions, the woman stepped out of the holodeck and into the light of the corridor, revealing her Starfleet uniform. As she progressed down the corridor, a passing enlisted officer politely greeted her as he passed. "Ma'am," he nodded.

"Crewman," she nodded back as she continued to the turbolift at the end of the corridor.