"Status, Commander?" Freeman inquired as he rejoined Yilaan and Ivanovna on the bridge of the Bristol.
"Recall nearly complete, Captain," Yilaan informed him, relinquishing the command chair to Freeman as he entered.
"Nearly? Step it along, won't you? Time is of the essence. Inform the crew this isn't a drill for goodness' sake," he snapped. Approaching the helm, Freeman laid one hand on the console, leaning over Lieutenant Hathaway, and tapping buttons with his other hand. "Lieutenant, once the crew is recalled and we're away from the base, engage at maximum warp to these coordinates," Freeman ordered, then walked over to his command chair and sat down, tapping buttons on a small screen attached to his chair.
There was a pause before Lieutenant Hathaway swivelled about in his chair to face Freeman and Yilaan. "Captain, these coordinates are right on the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone," Hathaway reported.
"I know where the coordinates are, Lieutenant, thank you," Freeman replied. Freeman then glanced to his right as a disheveled and somewhat damp Ensign Todd jogged onto the bridge and sat himself heavily down at the Navigations console, clearly out of breath. "Nice of you to join us, Ensign," Freeman greeted him irritably.
"Everyone is aboard now, Captain," Yilaan reported, looking up from her console.
"Lieutenant Hathaway, follow my previous orders," Freeman told him. Hathaway complied and the Bristol detached itself from Starbase 38. Once it was a safe distance away, the ship jumped into maximum warp.
"Warp nine point eight achieved, Captain," Chief Engineer Perriman reported from his position at the bridge's Engineering console.
"Thank you, Commander," Freeman replied without turning, his eyes trained on the viewscreen ahead. Yilaan, meanwhile, looked expectantly at Freeman, waiting for an explanation for his unusual behavior. After a few moments Freeman noticed her and glanced over, almost allowing himself to smile at her before murmuring, "Patience, Commander," and returning his attention forward. Yilaan said nothing, and returned her attention to her console. She could sense Freeman's agitated state, but said nothing about it.
After ten minutes of travel at high warp, the call Freeman was expecting finally came. "Captain, I'm getting a Priority One message from Starfleet Command," Ivanovna informed him.
"In my Ready Room, Lieutenant," Freeman ordered, jumping up and walking quickly.
The Bridge crew waited pensively for the captain to return, all wondering what was going on. After what seemed like an eternity, the doors to the Ready Room opened and Freeman glanced out, a grim look about him. "Commander, assemble the senior staff in the Observation Lounge," he ordered. "I'll be there shortly." Yilaan nodded at his order, and summoned replacement personnel for those bridge officers who would be in the meeting.
Minutes later, Freeman entered the Observation Lounge. The chair at the end of the table was empty and waiting for him. Along the left side of the table, Yilaan, Ivanovna, and Hathaway looked on patiently, while on the right, Perriman and Doctor T�Paya glanced over as Freeman came in.
"Thank you for your patience in this matter," Freeman started, by way of an apology for his agitated behavior. "We've received new information, partially confirmed by Starfleet, of a potential problem and threat within the Neutral Zone itself." With that, Freeman, who'd opted not to sit, engaged the room's viewing screen and began to show illustrations commensurate with his monologue.
"The message pad I received on the starbase was one part of a series of clues that have been received by high-ranking Starfleet officers over the last several days. It seems to indicate there is a new source of some sort of super-dilithium, if you will, in an asteroid in the Neutral Zone. The amount of power it is theoretically able to channel is supposed to be enormous and would radically change the balance of power in the quadrant," Freeman informed them, pausing to let that sink in.
"For some reason, bits and pieces of information are being passed our way of this item's supposed existence, and a potential Romulan interest. Obviously someone is trying very hard to make sure we get these crystals before the Romulans do. Starfleet has decided to oblige them," Freeman continued.
"You don't sound very convinced of the existence of these crystals, Captain," Yilaan observed.
Freeman smiled at her, "I'm not, Commander. I'm simply obeying orders. However, I would agree that with the circumstantial evidence that is mounting, it is at least worth a look."
"Captain," Ivanovna inserted, "has Starfleet considered the possibility this could be a trap? A set of false clues laid by the Romulans themselves to get us to violate the Neutral Zone?"
"Very shrewd, Lieutenant," Freeman replied with a nod of his head. "The same had occurred to me. However, Starfleet has its reasons, as they always do. We will be proceeding one step at a time with this mission and it will be a very carefully considered decision if we end up entering the Neutral Zone. It is one that Starfleet has pre-approved, should it become necessary."
Freeman then glanced about the room, silently inquiring for further questions or commentary. When there weren't any, the captain deactivated the lounge's viewscreen and turned to face Ivanovna. "Lieutenant, please send an encoded message to Lieutenant Reiv's shuttle that we're going to be a little late reaching our rendezvous." Freeman then appraised everyone before saying simply, "Dismissed." The assembled officers all filed out of the room, save Yilaan who remained for a moment.
"Commander," Freeman acknowledged her, pausing on his way out the door and letting the door close in front of him. "Was there something more?"
"I was going to ask you the same question, sir," Commander Yilaan replied. "Your need for secrecy doesn't explain away the heightened agitation I've sensed from you lately."
Captain Freeman gave her a bland look for several moments, then walked slowly over to one of the lounge's many windows to look out upon the stars. "And you're wondering if it has anything to do with our dealing with the Romulans again after all that's happened, is that it?" he asked her almost accusingly, turning to face her as he did so; she nodded mutely. "I cannot deny some personal feelings in this matter; I'm sure the whole crew has some after what we've all been through. However, none of us can allow those feelings to influence our judgment, especially not the captain of the ship. Not me." Freeman paused, but Yilaan said nothing. "Now if you'll excuse me, Commander, several reports await my perusal in my Ready Room." With that, both Freeman and Yilaan exited onto the bridge; Freeman made a bee line for his Ready Room while Yilaan sat in the command chair and watched him go, wondering if the captain's speech had been more intended to convince her or himself.
Yilaan stared blankly at the viewscreen while the ship raced towards its Neutral Zone destination. The murmur of bridge crew attending to their duties was soon interrupted by a voice over the intercom. "Commander Yilaan, this is Doctor T�Paya in Sickbay."
Yilaan was snapped back to reality in an instant and she sat up somewhat in the command chair, "Yes, Doctor, go ahead."
"If your duties permit, may I see you in Sickbay for a few minutes?" T'Paya inquired.
Yilaan's face wore a puzzled expression, "I don't see why not. I'll be there momentarily. Yilaan out." Yilaan stood and glanced up at Lieutenant Ivanovna at tactical. "Lieutenant, you have the bridge," Yilaan informed her before making for the aft-port turbolift.
As promised, Commander Yilaan arrived in Sickbay without delay. "What is it Doctor? What's the matter?" Yilaan said as she entered the infirmary.
"In my office, please, Commander," T'Paya replied, motioning for Yilaan to follow. The first officer did so and took a seat once both were in the chief medical officer's office.
"What's the matter?" Yilaan repeated.
"Commander I do not know how to delicately broach the subject, but I was wondering what I should do with all of these," T'Paya replied, indicating an assortment of items on her desk which Yilaan then only truly noticed for the first time.
Yilaan cautiously picked up one of the trinkets, a clear plastic case containing a small lock of hair, labeled with a name and date. She smiled slightly as she turned the case over in her hand. "Giovanni's little treasures," she said half under her breath.
"I do not understand Commander," T'Paya said.
Yilaan sighed and replaced the container on the desk. "Our former Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Marisa Giovanni, had served aboard this ship since its maiden voyage. Over that period of time, she'd had the pleasure of overseeing the birth of several children aboard this ship and aboard the various starbases this crew has stayed within from time to time. Birth was of special importance for her, and she kept these," Yilaan said, pausing to gesture at the table, "mementos so that she wouldn't forget the people whose lives had touched hers in such a profound way. I'd forgotten these were still here," Yilaan finished somewhat sheepishly. "These should've been shipped back to her family with her personal belongings. I'll have someone get them out of your way." T'Paya nodded as Yilaan turned to leave, before the latter stopped herself. "Doctor, you could've just brought this up after the briefing," Yilaan noted a bit critically.
"It didn't seem as though it was appropriate to discuss it in public. I sensed these may have been of personal importance and thought it would be better handled in private. My apologies if I have acted inappropriately," T'Paya explained.
"You haven't," Yilaan said softly. With that, she left Sickbay.
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