New Comrades, New Future

Jureth stood in front of one of the many observation ports on Starbase Lotus as he had done many times since the conclusion of Operation Horizon. This time was different however, for this time he was not gazing at the USS Alsea longing to be back on the bridge of the mighty warship. No, this time he was looking toward the future, and the future was the massive vessel undergoing repairs on the perimeter of the starbase, the USS Horizon. As he watched, work bees flitted back and forth between the ship and the starbase and engineers in environmental suits conducted extravehicular inspections of repairs. Jureth wasn't really looking at them though, he was thinking about his place on the Horizon and the job he was going to be entrusted with. 

From his understanding, the strategic operations position would be just as valuable to Captain Kheren, news had travelled quickly that the Andorian had been given command of the Horizon, as his executive officer or any other of the ship's senior staff. Not only that, but Fleet Captain Samji had informed him that he would also be given charge of Horizon's integrated escort, the USS Polaris. So, in a way he was being given another command, even if it was only situational. It was a great deal of responsibility, and part of the young Bajoran wished he would be standing at the tactical station instead yet he didn't shy away from the assignment when it was offered to him. As he looked out of the port at the ship again his thoughts were interrupted by a gruff voice with an accent that Jureth couldn't place.

"Ah excuse me Commander?"

Jureth turned to see five people standing behind him, three men, and two women; all of whom were dressed in olive green camouflage battle fatigues with the distinctive uniform patch of a Starfleet MACO detachment. The voice had come from the head of the group, a tall human with short jet black hair, and a neatly trimmed moustache, who's rank insignia was two gold oak leaves on his collar. Jureth struggled for a moment to remember his Marine ranks, but finally came up with a response.

"Yes Major..how can I help you?"

"Sir, are ye Commander Oseno?"

Jureth nodded "I am."

The man snapped to attention and saluted "Major Duncan MacGregor Sir, Third MACO Division, First Battalion, Second Platoon, Fire Team Echo reporting for duty."

Oseno returned the salute, an uncommon gesture within Starfleet at best, and then frowned at the Major.

"I wasn't expecting you Major, are you sure you aren't looking for security?"

"No Sir," MacGregor said "Our orders were to report to the Strategic Operations chief aboard USS Horizon, and since we can't board the bloody ship I used the computer to find ye."

"I see.." Jureth really had no answer for him, he couldn't recall Fleet Captain Samji telling him about a MACO team, but then perhaps he'd still been a little attached to the Alsea at the time.

"So Commander, is the ship really as big as they say?"

Jureth gestured to the observation port "see for yourself" he replied with a small smile.

"Och! She's huge!"

"Yes she is Major, but I have to ask again are you sure you aren't working for whomever the chief of security is"

"Commander," MacGregor said in a chiding tone "Security officers are a blunt inst'rament. We," he continued gesturing "Are a laser scalpel. We're troubleshooters, we handle the tough jobs." he finished with a wink

"You know I was a security officer Major."

MacGregor flushed slightly "I didn't mean nothin by it Sir, I was too...once."

Jureth smiled "It's okay Major, well, if you've been assigned to me I suppose I should get you quarters."

"Already done Sir," MacGregor said "the station MACO commander is a friend o' mine."

"I see, well I don't have anything for you Major, so you're free to relax until we can board the Horizon."

"It will be an honor to serve with you Sir," said one of the other men, a dark skinned human male who was standing behind MacGregor and bore the rank insignia of a Marine captain.

"Unwind Reese, or you'll give yourself a heart attack," MacGregor said jokingly

"Have to have a heart before you can have an attack," one of the female said softly

"That'll be enough," MacGregor said sharply "I'm sorry Commander," he said to Oseno "we're a wee bit testy, we've been cooped up on a transport for three days, they dinna even have a firin range Sir!"

"I can't imagine," Jureth said with a chuckle "I will see you later Major."

"Aye," MacGregor said "I expect ye will."

The MACO troops walked away and Jureth turned back toward the observation port. He pulled out a PADD and began going over the specifications of the Aquarius Class USS Polaris, the Horizon's integrated escort ship. For all intents the ship was nearly as powerful as the Alsea, at least until the Prometheus Class vessel engaged its multi-vector assault mode. The Aquarius had all the teeth of the Defiant Class, but none of its drawbacks. For Jureth it was a ship that he would be proud to command when the time came. He started to walk away from the observation port and a warm female voice behind him stopped him.

"Commander Oseno?"

Jureth turned to face the source of the voice and found himself looking into the emerald green eyes of a strikingly beautiful human woman wearing the uniform of a Strafleet science and medical officer bearing the rank pips of a Lieutenant Commander.

"Yes, I'm Commander Oseno."

She offered her hand "I am Lieutenant Commander Adira Yiral Sir, your diplomatic specialist."

Jureth took her hand and shook it, she had a firm grip that he would not have expected until he realized he was judging her on appearance alone. From what he had read of her record Yiral was El-Aurian, not human, and she was well respected in all of Starfleet's diplomatic circles both for her friendly disposition and her shrewd negotiating skills.

"Yes, Commander Yiral, welcome to Starbase Lotus," Jureth said with a smile "How was your trip from Bajor? Did my homeworld treat you well?"

"Very well," she replied with a warm smile "Kai Kira is a very easy woman to deal with."

Jureth laughed out loud, he knew that Kira Nerys was anything but easy to deal with. In fact, the former Bajoran militia officer and second in command of Deep Space Nine had a reputation for being stubborn, and tenacious.

"I don't think I've ever heard the Kai described in quite that matter Commander."

Yiral's smile widened "So you know her well."

"She sponsored my entrance into Starfleet Academy, she was still Colonel Kira then."

"Ah, so you have a personal connection to the Kai."

"She's been very good to my family," Jureth replied

"Well, then working with you should be equally as easy Sir, they tell me you were a security officer, and even a captain for a time."

"That's correct, I was in command of the Alsea."

"Prometheus Class," Yiral said recalling the specifications in her head "A very powerful ship."

"She is Commander, but our new home is equally as majestic."

"Indeed, when I was told I'd be serving aboard her I was quite excited, I haven't been on a starship in years."

"Well get ready Commander," Jureth replied with a smile "you're about to be aboard the largest ship in the Fleet."

"I suspect it will be...interesting." she said with a knowing expression on her face "When do we board?"

"I don't know, I haven't spoken with the Captain yet."

"Yes, Captain Kheren, the hero of Operation Horizon."

Jureth was surprised that a diplomatic specialist was so well informed, and he said as much "You're unusually well informed Commander Yiral."

She smiled again "I have my ways," she said cryptically "You don't do my job without knowing where to get information Sir. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some preparations of my own to make before we board, and please call me Adira."

Oseno nodded "Very well Adira, please take care of whatever you need."

She nodded and walked away and Jureth did as well in the other direction toward the nearest turbolift.

When the door opened, he came face to face with his new commanding officer, Captain Kheren.

" Commander Oseno. A privilege to meet you again... dwarfed only by that of being offered to serve with you soon. "

Hands behind his back, the athletic dark-skinned Andorian was looking at him with both his facial silvery eyes and the visual receptors in his antennae over his thick white mane darted straight at him. That is also where his auditory receptors were on his earless skull.

Jureth looked into the eyes of the Andorian captain and his new commanding officer, and felt the slightest twinge of both regret and guilt. Here in front of him was a man that had done perhaps the hardest thing for a captain to do, sacrificed his ship, and Jureth still felt as if he could, should have done more to save the Artemis.

" Captain Kheren, the privilege is mine Sir. I saw the inquiry recordings on the holonet Sir, they couldn't have possibly come to any other conclusion, and I'm glad to be serving under you. You know it was your security procedures I adopted when I arrived on the Lotus, and then carried with me to the Alsea...they ought to be teaching them at the Academy Sir."

" I'll keep that idea in mind if I ever end up on the wrong side of things if there is ever another such situation again," commented Kheren. If he was joking or serious, no one could ever tell with that inexpressive face of his. " In the meantime, rest assured those security procedures are to be part of the Horizon as well. "

The Andorian made room for the Bajoran to enter the lift.

" As a matter of fact, I am on my way to tour the ship. Care to join me, Commander? With her size, it should take us a few hours... more than enough time to discuss about your new and very special responsibilities on board, if you are so willing. "

"I'd be happy to, Sir. lead the way." Jureth replied. He'd been itching to see the inside of Horizon since he first accepted the position, and it would give him a chance to find out what the captain expected of him and his people as well.

As they rode the turbolift towards the starbase's main transporter level, Kheren asked:

" Tell me, Commander; how do you envision your role aboard the ship? "

Jureth took the question and thought about it for a moment before replying.

"Truth be told Sir, I struggled with it for a little bit. The way I understand it Strategic Operations is supposed to be a resource for yourself and the XO. Our job is to provide information, and take action if directed. I've selected specialists from all over Starfleet Sir, officers who are consistently considered among the best in their fields, and apparently the MACO detachment will be at my disposal as well if need be. I met their commander a short time ago though I don't specifically remember Fleet Captain Samji mentioning them, but I had a lot on my mind after the Alsea returned from the operation."

" They were somewhat of a mild surprise to me as well. But considering both the nature of this vessel, the mission profile it is expected to fulfill and recent events in this galaxy of ours... I guess Starfleet wants to stand on the side of caution. And regardless of what we might think of Starfleet Marines, we must keep in mind that they are still Starfleet; they do serve the same values as we do... only maybe a bit more... forcefully. "

The lift stopped and they exited to walk towards the main transporter room of the starbase. As they did so, the Andorian looked at his new officer with an inquisitive stare.

" You will be called as well to act as the commanding officer of our integrated escort vessel, the USS Polaris. Any particular thought about that? "

"I've no problem with the Marines Sir, my...." Jureth paused momentarily thinking about he should refer to Catherine Steele, and the truth was he didn't know. He hadn't heard from her since she left aboard the USS Celestial so he used her official title "former assistant security chief from the Alsea was a Marine at one point. In regard to the Polaris Sir, I'm almost looking forward to it. I was disappointed to have to give up the Alsea, though I knew she was Captain Rivers ship. You yourself could probably see I was a little reluctant to take command at first Sir. I always thought of myself as a career security officer, my vision of command was the head of security on a major starbase. Operation Horizon changed that Sir, as I pointed out to Captain Syntron, it was Captain Kirk who said 'Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you. Don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship because while you're there, you can make a difference' and so to me Sir, in a way, having the Polaris will almost be like having my own command."

" Thank you for your candor, Commander. I do understand your feeling in this, not so far from my own actually. As for the Polaris, she might be attached to my ship, but she is not a mere overblown shuttlecraft.  She is a fully registered and commissionned starship, tasked with the same responsibilities and duties as were the USS McKenzie, to speak of another well known escort vessel. Even under my overall authority, you will effectively have your own command, as much as I have one  myself in relation to Starbase Lotus. Once out there, you will be alone with your ship and your crew... and you will be called to make the decisions that will spell success or failure, life or death. I am confident that you will, once again, show yourself up to the challenge. Frankly, I do not think of anyone better. "

As they spoke, they reached the main transporter room of the base, in fact a series of transporter chambers arayed in a semicircle within one vast control center. Kheren lead Oseno to the chief station.

" Now, let us check if our security level is also up to spar. "

He addressed the transporter chief, a female Bolian Lieutenant, with all the formality and crispness he was known for.

" Kheren, Captain, USS Horizon. Please transport us to the ship. "

" I am sorry, Sir. Security protocols on the flagship requires that any transport must be authorized and made by the ship's own transporter system only. I will contact them for you. "

The Bolian opened a channel.

" USS Horizon, this is Starbase Lotus. Request transport for one Kheren, Captain and one accompanying officer, Commander rank, bajoran male. "

A curt, yet soft and clear female voice answered.

" Starbase, this is the Horizon. Please send us pattern signal and ID confirmation. "

The transporter chief invited Kheren and Oseno to step onto the transporter pad directly in front of her. Once there she activated the pre-transport sequence and both biometrics and combadge data were sent to the target ship.

" Starbase Lotus, we are ready to effect transport, then came back the feminine voice over the comm a scant seconds later.

" Energize, " ordered Kheren.

The familiar shimmering of light and cristalline sounds brought them both from the headquarters of Lotus Fleet to the main transporter room of the Lotus class vessel, a two-pad room of a yet unheard size for any vessel, the control console manned by an Ensign Human male and flanked by a towering giantess with blue skin and wobbling antennae over her long, dense and straight while hair. Her deep blue eyes fell on both arriving officers with the intensity of a starship weapon sensor lock.

" Welcome aboard, Captain. Commander Oseno, I am glad that we can finally meet. "

Jureth was pleased with the response from the Lotus transporter team and security forces, no one was going to beam unverified onto their ship if they could help it. His eyes turned to the gigantic Andorian woman and as she spoke recognition entered his eyes.

"Lieutenant Commander Tyvya is it not? I believe we met albeit briefly during Operation Horizon."

"Good answer, Commander. Indeed we did. Looking forward to work with you on amore regular basis. "

"You're not checking me out with a trick question, Lieutenant? 2 asked Kheren with antennae curved inward in amusement.

Tyvya just pointed to the ring around her left antenna, identical to the one on Kheren's left hand. She didn,t had to say anything else but for the Bajoran's benefit, she explained anyway.

"There is a telepathic bond between Andorian mates that transcends the mere physical and mental,  space and consciousness. And ours was forged in a time of life and death and in a triad union unheard of in any species, even our own. Not even Undine alteration could ever duplicate this unique contact between us and Lieutenant Commander Lyrya. Had the Captain been anyone else but himself, I would have known instantly... "

She didn't finish but it was clear that what would have happened next would not have been pretty.

"Keep up the good work," said the commanding officer of the Horizon. " The Commander and I are going to inspect the Polaris. "

"Boys and toys, " she said in obvious jest. " Understood, Sir. "

With an inviting hand, Kheren guided Oseno outside of the overlarge transporter room towards the nearest turbolift where they rode down the huge ship until they reached the lowest decks of the stardrive section, aft.  As the door parted, they came upon a docking area where they could see, resting like a sleeping stingray, the Aquarius class USS Polaris.

Jureth took in the sight of his new command, the Polaris rested peacefully until called upon to perform her prescribed duties. She was just as capable of exploring an unknown nebula as she was baring her teeth and defending a ship in distress or her mother ship the Horizon. Jureth approached the ship and put his hands on her hull plates:

"Aquarius Class," he commented "the latest in Starfleet escort technology. Newly revamped pulse phaser cannons, quantum torpedoes, and shields and armor that absorb more punishment than her Defiant Class predecessors. I expect we'll need to have security sweep her if they haven't done so already Sir. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do, Polaris is a Terran reference isn't it?"

" The Pole Star, the North Star... the brightest star of the Alpha Ursae Minoris constellation that, as viewed from Sol III, shines almost directly above the planet's north pole. Humans had used it as a guiding light since the dawn of their species. Even today, as a type II Cepheid-type variable star group, this trinary system is used as a galactic candle to estimate extragalactic distances as well as positionning with the galactic center, globular clusters and galaxies. "

Kheren's personal education in cosmology was showing. But he brought his speech back to the subject soon enough.

" This ship will be our guiding light over the Horizon as well. Beyond scouting missions, it speaks of her firepower; so easy to misuse but unfortunately necessary in regrettable events that might occur despite our best efforts... If and when this happens, her name will remind us not to forget our own guiding values even when things get at their worst; remind us that we strive to be ourselves the guiding light for a better life, a better future for us and everyone else. "

The Andorian looked at the Bajoran's reflection and his own in the access port's transparency. That single image of a blue-skinned, antenna sporting ghelnoid from a passionnate violent race side by side with a pale-skinned, nose-ridged humanoid from a deeply spiritual people, both in a Human-designed uniform, sumrized that hope as much as it factual possibility.

He opened the hatch with his command code and invited Oseno to step in first.

" After you, Acting Captain. This is your ship. Of course we have been thorough... but we will never be infaillible. So, if you feel that more security is required to satisfy you, feel free to do so. Shall we go in? "

"Thank you Sir," Oseno replied stepping through the access port, and then through the inner door and into a dimly lit corridor. It appeared the ship was on minimal power, either her own or siphoning from the Horizon's power grid. Jureth decided to see if the ship's computer had been programmed correctly.

"Computer, recognize Oseno Jureth, Commander, authorization code Oseno Six One Bravo Juliet."

"Authorization recognized, Oseno Jureth, Commanding Officer USS Polaris."

Jureth nodded pleased and then continued "Computer, raise interior lighting to normal levels."

The computer beeped in compliance and almost immediately the lights in the corridor came up to normal visibility.

"Computer, status of USS Polaris." Jureth then demanded

"All ship systems in standby status, warp core offline, weapon systems offline, transporters offline, deflector systems offline, sensors offline."

"Computer state the source of shipboard power."

"Docking umbilicals connected in the forward and aft sections."

Jureth nodded again and turned to Kheren as the Andorian came aboard.

"According to the computer all ship's systems are in standby Sir. I wonder how long it takes to cold start her warp core...if we have to launch quickly have her cold all the time will cause a delay."

" I agree. Moreover, having her warp core active will provide the Horizon with an emergency warp power supply in case of dire emergencies as long as she will be berthed in here. "

The captain tapped his combadge.

" Kheren to engineering. "

" Baoule here, Captain. "

" Mister Baoule... is Mister Scott in yet? "

" Negative, Captain. He hasn't reported in yet. "

The Andorian made a small grunt that nevertheless showed his annoyance to the attentive Bajoran despite the eveness of his deep calm voice.

" Well since you are the highest ranking engineer on board then, please report to the Polaris. We need to activate her warp core properly. "

" On my way, Captain. "

Jureth nodded in approval at the response "I'm sure Mister Baoule will get things squared away. I selected two engineering specialists for my staff, but I've met neither yet. I'd like to take a look at the bridge if you don't mind Sir."

" I am curious myself. I have not been aboard yet myself. "

The ship had only five decks and wasnot even two hundred meters long. It did not took them long to reach the bow and the command center of the small escort vessel, which looked for all intent and purposes much like the bridge it,s famous predecessor, the Defiant class; compact, spartan and all about efficiency, with all stations arrayed along the walls all around the recessed command chair, standing alone before a strategic briefing area set up behind it and between both turbolift access and ready room door.

" Welcome to the Polaris, Commander," said Kheren upon letting him enter first his bridge.

"Thank you Sir," Jureth replied as he gazed around the small bridge. It was by far the smallest bridge he'd been on in his career, and he glanced around the space noting the positions for helm, tactical, science as well as engineering along with the auxiliary consoles that could be used by whichever officer needed them at the time. His gaze finally settled on the command chair, it was much like the Alsea's, with numerous controls on the arms. He contemplated for a moment going to try it out, but stopped himself "No, not yet..." he thought silently, he wanted to wait until the first time they launched the Polaris, and he had another thought which he spoke aloud.

"Sir, do you know if the Horizon is carrying the personal inertial dampeners that were developed by the Artemis crew? If so I'd like to requisition some for the crew of the Polaris. You and I are both aware of what happens when starships enter combat and get tossed around like a old Terran baseball."

"Affirmative, Commander. In fact, the PIDs are supposed to be standard issue in Lotus Fleet now. Each ship locker and seating has one ready to be strapped on at a moment's notice for every person on board. Your command chair and the infirmary's biobeds even have them integrated right into their frame."

Then, a call came from the starbase and, after a quick exchange with the base's transporter room and then with the ship's main transporter chamber, Kheren turned again towards the Bajoran.

" Seems our Chief Engineer is about to join us after all. "