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[D'Mysus Ramson 0]

On Starbase 405 Commander Ramson stood by the operations station in the command center. As the aft turbo lift doors opened he knew before turning around it was his wife. He smiled at Sara as she stepped down towards him.

 

"I'm beaming down to the ranch."

 

"Okay. My shift is up in a little bit."

 

Giving him a kiss, "See you at home. Um, have you heard from Kallah lately?"

 

"No. She's probably busy. You know how she gets wrapped up in things."

 

Saraina's face took on a worried thoughtful look. "I guess."

 

"Don't worry. I have a holo-conference with her Thursday about the latest test flights. I'll remind her to call home."

 

.....................

 

The screen was blank except for the one blinking line of text, "Unable to connect."

 

Commander Ramson glanced at the engineer he'd drug in to make sure nothing was broken. The man shook his head with a shrug. D'Mysus turned back towards the blank screen.

 

"Unable to connect" blinked on with ominous urgency.

 

.....................

 

"Computer, engage security seal." The viewport glass shaded to completely black, lights dimmed, and a faint hum resonated from the door as the office went into lockdown. Ramson turned around to the large status monitor behind his desk. He inserted a quick series of commands into the comm panel.

 

After a few moments Commodore Ellis appeared on the screen. "Damn you telepaths, I was just about to contact you."

 

"Would it have anything to do with the Gamma Quadrant."

 

He peered at the Minaran for a few moments. "How much do you know?"

 

"That my daughter missed a holo-meeting which she never does. That I can't make contact with anything past DS9. That I'm watching right now starships passing through the edge of this sector all enroute towards Bajor."

 

"Then let me fill you in on the rest."

 

.....................

 

Commander Ramson exited the office after a brief meeting with the Captain and moved quickly to the OPS station. "How many Epoch class destroyers have we in dock?"

 

The Ops manager looked up, "Four. Anno Domini, Deluge, Gregorian, and Meiji."

 

"How many can get underway right now?"

 

Briefly puzzled, "Um, the Deluge just docked less than an hour ago. Anno Domini hasn't entered drydock yet but it doesn't have a crew. Gregorian and Meiji are in the middle of their refits."

 

"Recall the Deluge's crew and man the Anno Domini with station personnel, I'll take command of her." Glancing over to the Tactical station's status board. "Have Blue Squad scramble, we leave in 20 minutes!"

 

"Leaving to where?"

 

"Bajor."

 

"Oh hell, what now...."

Edited July 29, 2006 by D'Mysus Ramson