Chris AdairOne Little Ship in a Crowd

One Little Ship in a Crowd

///

"Captains personal log: We're on the line, the Noble and 2 other Saber class frigates will be running interference for the Endeavor, a Nebula class refit for the war. It's now classified as a Heavy Battle cruiser, god only knows how many classifications that ship's gone though, but then again versatility was what the designers were going for. Captain Sisko on board the Defiant has worked out the attack plan that will get back his station and Admiral Ross has given the plan his blessing. I had an interesting chat with the Admiral as we were transporting him to his ship from Starbase 375. He recently had his hands on a Dominion Attack ship that was used for a sortie behind enemy lines, he's already sent the tactical info about the ship to the fleets tactical officers. However hearing about the mission, minus names of course, was quite interesting.

I have never seen so many Starfleet ships together before, there are over 600 ships here, all different shapes and sizes ranging from fighters too Battleships. It's quite a beautiful sight, I'm wishing I had a holocam to hand right now. The fleet's moving on impulse, waiting for the Klingon fleet to arrive before the fleet moves into position to attack the station. I only hope the Klingons actually show up. I'm….."

"Bridge to Captain Matthews."

"Computer pause log entry. Go ahead Number 1."

"Sir, a Dominion Fleet has appeared on sensors and is moving to intercept us. Orders."

"Maintain our position relative to Endeavor and go to battle stations, wake alpha shift, I'm on my way up."

Captain Matthews, a well built if stouty middle-aged Brit, breathed out a sigh of relief, there is usually a large amount of pent up anxiety before any type of combat, whether it be on the ground or in space, and having heard the rumors about the possible size of the opposing fleet he was feeling pretty anxious. That however never stopped any Captain of a Starfleet ship from getting up and performing his duty. Matthews pushed away from his desk, stood up, pulled down his uniform that always seemed to ride up his chest a little, and walked out of his cabin towards the bridge. He almost immediately bumped into a crewman before even turning completely out of his quarters, in a way he found it comforting, his crew busy, going about their little ship getting her ready for the big fight. On such a little ship like Noble a captain could remember every ones name even the new people who have been rotated onto his ship to gain field experience, with a total crew of 60 with 15 permanent staff it's not really that hard. Today however he didn't remember that young mans name, and that sowed a seed of doubt in Matthews mind. The young man however just waved and shouted sorry over his shoulder. He didn't even say sir, he probably didn't know who he ran into, which is fine. It brought a smile back the captains face, and he decided to leave him be to go and man his duty station. Getting to the bridge from his quarters on deck 2 usually takes just a minute, and since he was in a rush this time the only thing that really slowed him down was the turbolift. He walked onto the bridge trying to look confident for his crew in an effort to convey the confidence he didn't really feel, but when he looked around he noticed that no one even paid him any attention, every ones eyes were fixed onto the forward view screen. He looked up there himself and instantly regretted it. A wall of purple and gold greeted his gaze.

"Martin….give me a count." asked Matthews, rather weakly.

Martin, a rather small half Vulcan, half human with a rounder figure considering he is a Vulcan, reported with his usual calm, which was quite reassuring.

"I'm detecting 1254 Dominion ships, ranging from Hideki class Cardassian attack ships to the newer Dominion Super Battleships."

Matthews moved to his command chair in the center of the bridge, his XO, a human male named Housen, with a very lean figure and a ridged posture which hide his blunt and self-righteous attitude, was sitting up ahead, to the captains right, at his console, ignoring the beeps from his board as the rest of the crew logged into stations around the rest of the ship.

"Housen, your board is beeping." Commented Matthews in an effort to bring his XO out of the seemingly hypnotic gaze he'd gotten himself stuck in.

"The computer can handle the crews logins." Answered Housen. Which annoyed Matthews no end.

"So, stop staring and man your station, that goes for the rest of you too." Snapped the Captain, maybe a bit too sternly since everyone started staring daggers at the XO briefly for getting them into trouble before concentrating on their boards as Matthews knew that they should be, however, the Captain did feel a bit guilty for his first officer since he would be getting it in the neck from the entire alpha shift bridge crew during their poker games, that Martin hosts for some reason.

"Captain, the Defiant has transmitted the attack plan." Said Martin, breaking the uneasy silence that follows when a Captain lays down the law to other officers.

"Put it on my display."

"Aye sir."

Matthews turned to the right to look at the small multifunctional display standing next to his command chair.

"Captain Sisko is going to send waves of our fighters at the Cardassian ships in an effort to annoy them and get them to break off and pursue the fighters. All ships are then too make best speed though the hole created and we're not to stop until we reach DS9."

"I take it we're not running interference for Endeavor anymore." Asked Housen.

"No." Answered the Captain.

"I don't like the last bit of that plan. What's to stop the Dominion fleet from turning around and squashing us against DS9?" Commented Housen.

"Nothing about that has been mentioned. I think this could be a desperate idea to combat desperate odds and preserve the mine field." Answered the Captain, and he saw the bridge crew around him shrink.

"This is our job people. We fight the enemy and we get to DS9. We follow orders." Peter at the helm and Jolaw at the engineering station seemed to perk up a bit, Peter was an orphan, his human but raised on Andor, and Jolaw is from Andor. Two people raised in a warrior culture, it was expected that they'd relish a chance to die in battle against over whelming odds. However, as usual the XO had to throw in his comments.

"We're not to follow orders blindly, and this plan sounds like a disorganised melee."

"And turning our backs on this enemy would be suicide for the entire fleet. We're in this now, so we'll fight, and every effort has to be made in order to stop the mine field protecting this quadrant from falling." Answered the captain.

"Wait a minute, how did Alpha shift get up here before me?" Commented the captain in an effort to break the ever-increasing tension.

"We took over from Charlie a few hours ago. I wanted Alpha awake and alert for this." Answered Housen seriously, oblivious to the fact that Matthews was trying to lighten the mood for the younger officers.

"The first wave of fighters is moving in on the enemy." Interrupted Martin.

"Put it on screen." Said Matthews with a sigh.

The image on the Forward view screen changed from the imposing image of the Dominion fleet, to the attacking Starfleet fighters that were flying towards the enemy. They broke into small groups of 5 and made strafing runs against the Cardassian ships. They fired off a few shots and broke formation running in every direction that didn't take them towards more Dominion ships. As the surviving fighters ran towards the relative safety of the Federation fleet, small pockets of speeding debris bounced off of the shields of the Cardassian ships that were moments ago being fired upon.

"The surviving fighters of the first wave have made it back to our lines. The second wave is moving into position, with 2 more waves holding position behind them." Said Martin.

"How many waves do you think he'll throw at them?" Asked Housen.

"As many as it takes to get our hole in their line." Answered Matthews.

///

"The surviving fighters of the eighth wave have made it back to our lines. The ninth wave is moving into position."

"Martin, please stop giving us a running commentary of how we're wasting resources." Asked Housen.

"Sorry sir."

"He's just doing his job number 1."

"I know, but it's starting to get on my nerves."

"The ninth wave has…."

"Martin. Please…"

"….has pulled Cardassian ships out of position."

"All hands stand ready." Order the captain.

"We've received the go order."

"Pete. Full impulse. Engage."

Every small ship that made up parts of the federation fleet surged forward first with the bigger, slower ships coming in second and the Defiant taking the lead. From afar the federation fleet looked like an angry tornado, slamming into a planet whose surface was an odd colour of purple and gold.

Closer in, the carnage that human beings usually associate with war was eerily quiet. The only hint that there was death all-round was the orange, purple, and yellow beams of light that danced across space between ships, and the balls of light that signified the end of one of the great beasts involved in the conflict.

Onboard the Noble, Matthews was wondering why in gods name they were still alive. His ship had been one of the first to engage the enemy, but they were being left alone. Not that Matthews minded mind you, but he was very curious as to where all the Dominions firepower was going.

"Martin, report." Asked the captain.

"Phasers are firing in concentrated strikes against threat vessels, as yet I haven't launched any torpedoes."

"Peter, begin evasive maneuvers, Martin where are the dominion concentrating their fire power?"

"On our heavy capital ships. However along other stretches of the hole the dominion are firing upon ships of all classes."

"Glad we're not there." Commented Housen.

"Peter, find us a Galaxy to make friends with." Ordered Matthews.

"I got one, she's being fired upon by 2 Galors, one of them has faltering shields and the Galaxy is concentrating on the other, however sensors read that both Galors have full weapons on-line." Answered Peter.

"Get us there. Martin, target the weakened Galors closest nacelle and try to make a hole in their armour."

"Aye sir."

The Noble swooped around and headed toward the Galor, as they approached 3 torpedoes flew away from the Noble, followed shortly after by a pair of phaser blasts. The phasers reached the Galor first and took down what was left of their shields and then the torpedoes hit creating a large explosion that was only eclipsed by the dosens of similar explosions that where taking place all over the combat zone.

"Sir, the armour plating around the nacelle housing has buckled, we have access to their power couplings." reported Martin.

"Peter bring us around. Martin send a torpedo into their power systems."

"Aye sir." Said Peter and Martin at the same time.

The Noble once again came around to assist their massive gray friend. 1 orange ball of light launched from the Nobles nose and flew towards the scar in their equally massive golden enemy. As the torpedo hit and the explosion died down secondary explosions rippled across the Galors body until the ship was just a mass of charred brown mettle.

"The threat vessel has been destroyed and the Galaxy Class ship is just finishing off the other." Reported Martin.

"Good. Peter next ship in a unfair fight if you…."

At that moment the ship shuddered violently.

"I think the dominion has taken notice of us." Said Housen.

"3 Jem'hadar attack ships are coming at us from behind closing fast." Said Martin.

"Our aft shields are holding, but they will not stay that way for long." Said Housen.

"Peter, find us one of those dominion super battleships please. Martin, load and fire aft torpedoes at the attack ships." Ordered Matthews. His orders were immediately followed by a string of Aye sirs that came from all over the bridge.

"Jolaw, bring the auxiliary shield generators on-line and pipe the power aft." Ordered Housen.

"Aye sir."

"There are only 2 DSBs this close to the front." Said Peter.

"Pick the nearest and get us there." Ordered Matthews.

"Aye." Came the immediate response.

"Martin, get the lead attack ships shields down, and power up the tractor beam. Peter on my order dorsal role us at full impulse. Jolaw dump auxiliary power into the structural integrity field." Ordered Matthews.

"What are you planning?" asked Housen.

"I'd rather not say in front of Jolaw." Whispered Matthews.

"Fair enough." Was the answer Housen whispered back.

"We're ready sir." Said Martin as the incoming fire from the 3 attack ships once again shook the Noble.

"The lead vessels shields are down." Reported Martin.

"Good, lock on the tractor beam and engage when were within 200 kms from the DSB." Replied Matthews.

"Peter, follow this course and begin the role on my order." Said Matthews as he typed data into his console and sent the data to the helm.

"Aye, sir. Adjusting course." Replied Peter after a taking a quick glance at his console read out.

"200kms."

"We're in position!"

"Activate tractor beam. Begin role." shouted Matthews as more fire rained down on Noble. The Noble withstood the fire and grabbed hold of the lead Jem`hadar ship. The Noble then pivoted on her lateral axis, and as she pulled on the warship, Matthews heard Noble strain as she pulled the attack ship underneath her and into the port nacelle of the giant monster that was destroying ships that looked like specks flying all around it.

"Their venting warp plasma and the nacelle strut is compromised. I'm also detecting vibration damage along their entire infrastructure." Reported Martin.

"Get every ship that is near that DSB and tell them to open fire on that nacelle strut." Ordered Matthews.

"We can't, communications are being jammed." Commented Housen. "We don't need to anyway. The other ships appear to be taking the advantage we just gave them."

The DSB was taking an unbelievable amount of weapons fire on the port strut, and as it finally exploded and drifted away from the DSB, Noble fired a few torpedoes into gapping hole. The explosion that followed was massive, as the warp core of the mammoth was breached and the shock wave ripped the vessel apart from the inside out. Dominion ships that were trying to protect it were smashed to pieces as lumps of debris flew towards them like giant torpedoes.

"Sir, the DSB has been destroyed." Reported Martin.

"I don't suppose you have any more tricks like that up your sleeve." Said Housen.

"If you do, please keep them to yourself. Noble isn't designed to pull ships with 3 times her power output. We're only lucky they didn't react in time." Commented Jolaw

"Very well. Peter continue evasive maneuvers. Martin, fire on anyone that isn't flying Starfleet colours, and keep me apprised. Jolaw, make sure they have the power they need to keep us moving and firing." Ordered Matthews.

All around him came a refreshing assault of Aye Sirs.

///

The battle had been raging for what seemed like days, and Matthews was feeling the strain as he watched yet another friendly vessel die before his eyes. The fleet had been fighting valiantly, but the kill ratio for either side was about the same. Which meant that when the battle was over half the Dominion fleet would still be around to torment the Federation. Noble herself wasn't exactly the pretty picture she was when the battle began either. All 3 phaser arrays were off-line and only the forward photon torpedo tube was still attached to the ship. The aft one having been blown off during repairs to it and a torpedo exploded leaving a gaping hole. Matthews hadn't had time to see the rest of the ship but if it looked like the bridge he didn't want to. A falling support beam, that just missed Martin, had crushed one of the junior officers and Jolaw had a piece of mettle sticking though his arm pinning it to his chair. Unfortunately there were no medical personal available to fix his arm since they were all drafted by Jolaw to keep the ship together. The bridge itself was littered with debris from both consoles and crewmembers, and the air filtration system was failing leaving a thick cloud of smoke that made seeing his bridge crew difficult.

"Jolaw, weapons?"

"The 2 dorsal arrays are scrap. I've got a team on the ventral array and they say they may be able to get it on-line again. It will not be of any use though until the power systems in that area of the ship are repaired. We still have the forward launcher."

"Martin, shields?"

"They're at 24%."

"Housen, crew?"

"19 dead. 12 wounded."

"Sir, I'm detecting a large tacyon serge about 200,000 kms away." Reported Martin.

"Unless it's a nice big fleet of friendly warships. I don't really care." Answered Matthews.

"Well have a care. Their Klingon!" Said Housen.

"Martin, Confirm that!" Said Matthews as a surge of hope ripped though his tired body.

"Confirmed."

"They look like their going to make up for lost time too."

The fleet of Klingon ships tore into the melee already in progress and fire exploded from dosens of Dominion ships as they were blown to pieces by the Klingon assault.

"Sir, I've located the Defiant, a pair of Klingon Birds of Prey have taken up escort positions and providing cover, but their heading towards a DSB. Those 3 ships are pretty far out there. There's no one to provide support." Reported Martin.

Matthew sat in his chair and considered what he should do. Noble was only 1 ship with practically no weapons, and minimal shields. If the situation were different he would have considered rushing to the Defiants aid, but he saw no reason to risk his ship and crew on a risky if brave act to save a ship that only carried 30 people, and there were other ships to save. Ones that carried hundreds. Matthews was about to issue an order to move towards the Federation lines when a bright light passed before his eyes and he found himself standing, in the middle of nowhere. He looked around, and nothing changed. It looked as if he was standing in a glowing room, but he couldn't see anything that could be producing the glow. The glowing white room, if it was a room was incredible white. It hurt Matthews eyes and he found himself squinting.

"Hello! Can anyone hear me? Is anyone there?" Called Matthews but he heard no answer. Matthews reached and pressed his combadge, but the small device didn't even utter a single sound. Meaning that the badge was either completely drained of power, which only happens after the badge has been removed from the ship for several years, or the device was being jammed. Which considering the situation he was just in seemed more likely.

"I will not tell you anything! ANYTHING! The moment I see your ugly faces I'm going to find a wall and smash your face into it!" Shouted Matthews, thinking that he had been beamed aboard one of the Dominion ships.

"He is adversarial, aggressive." Said a voice.

"Like so many of the others." Said another.

"None the less, he is the only one."

"Who are you? Show yourselves!"

In a flash he was standing at the bar on Jupiter Station. Matthews was posted to Jupiter Station on his second tour of duty. At that time he was a crewman assigned to security just before he transferred to command. He looked down at himself and saw his captains uniform. Needless to say, the Captain was confused, he should have been wearing his yellow security uniform not the modern gray and black captains uniform. He looked around and saw that the bar was as it was when he first saw it many years ago. Every surface seemed to glow slightly, as if light was emanating from it. Everything was here just as he remembered it.

"Very nice. I have a simulation of this bar myself. I prefer my program. Now, wear are you!" Called Matthews. Shouting the last 3 words.

Matthews was spinning in an attempt to be looking everywhere all at once and as he was spinning 3 of his long died friends appeared, also as he remembered them.

"This will NOT work! I know that these men are died and using their image to confuse me will not work."

"You are with us, and you will not be confused for long." Said one of his old friends.

"I'm not died am I." Asked Matthews. Worrying about his crew and ship.

"No, your journey has not ended. The Siskos journey will be, and fire will spread across the Galaxy. He must continue down the path." Said another of his friends that somehow appeared behind him while not moving.

"What?"

"No, your journey has not en…"

"Yes, I got that message, but what the hell are you talking about? Who are you?"

"We are the Prophets, you are with us, in the temple."

"What temple, this is Jupiter Station."

"You started on the path here."

"START MAKING SANSE!"

In a flash, Matthews was standing in Admiral Ross's office at Starfleet Command. Ross was sitting behind his desk facing the window. Matthews was summoned into this office after the second Borg attack. During the attack Matthews was First Officer onboard the Budapest and during the attack the ship was disabled and boarded. The Budapest's chief engineer had been toying with TR117's to see if solid projectiles could be effective against the Borg where energy weapons had failed, he had brought the idea to Matthews attention a month before the attack and he considered it a worthwhile plan and had a complement of 5 TR117's assigned to security. The standard TR's didn't phase the Borg in the slightest, having long ago adapted to projectiles, but the Chiefs tripped out one that was equipped with a mini transport proved very effective and the attachment was easily replicated and attached to the remaining weapons. These weapons where instrumental in driving off the Borg that weren't able to adapt to non-energy based weapons suddenly appearing inside their shielded, armoured flesh. After that the Budapest's engineer was offered a position in S.C.E. and Matthews was summoned to this office and was offered the Noble. Matthews still keeps TR117s onboard Noble, and he stays in touch with his old Chief Engineer, who has continued to improve the TR117 with improved sensors, and smarter HUD.

"OK. I don't have a simulation of this room."

"Your journey continued here. You are needed to safe guard the Sisko."

"What do you mean `my journey continued here`? This is where Ross gave me command of the Noble."

"We gave you this path. You are needed to safe guard the Sisko."

"Sisko. Do you mean Captain Sisko? What's he got to do with anything?"

"The Sisko is our Emissary to Bajor."

"Bajor? I don't know anything about the Bajoran sector, apart from it's where DS9 and the wormhole are located."

"Then let us teacher you."

///

"Sir?"

"Sir!"

"Matt, can you here me?"

Mathew found himself back onboard the Noble. He had almost forgotten about this ship and her crew. He was so absorbed by the Prophets teachings that he forgot about his previous life. So awe inspired by the feelings he now felt for the Prophets that he wanted nothing more than to listen to them and do their biding.

"Captain!"

"Yes."

"Sir, are you alright. You seemed to phase out there for a second." Asked a concerned first officer.

A second? Matthews could have been certain that he was away with the Prophets for a lifetime. How can everything still be as it was when they called to him?

Oh well. The Prophets work in mysterious, and wonderful ways. Who was Matthews to question their will?

"I'm fine errrr Housen. What's the status of the Defiant?"

"The Defiant? It's making a run for it. Trying to get past the Dominion Fleet."

"Get us there."

"Sir the Defiants run will take it right past a DSB. They will not survive, and if we try to help, nether will we."

"The Prophets need the Emissary. He must be saved."

"What?"

`Why are they reluctant to help? The Emissary can't end!`

"Computer, erect a force field around the command chair and lock out all voice commands and console inputs apart from commands from the command chair console."

"Acknowledged."

Just as the force field appeared around Matthews and his chair, every set of eyes on the bridge turned towards him in surprise and shock. Housen looked at him as if he'd grown another head.

"All hands this is the captain. Abandon ship, I repeat, abandon ship."

"Sir what the hell are you doing!"

"I was set on this path to save the Emissary."

"Commander, the captain has taken over helm control and we're heading towards the DSB near the Defiant."

"The captain has also armed all the remaining torpedoes."

"I cannot allow the Emissary to end. This is my holy mission from the Prophets."

"Everyone clear the Bridge and get to the escape pods." Ordered Housen.

"Computer, lower the force field around the command chair."

The computer didn't even answer Housens order, so he moved to the engineering station and tried to cut power to that section of the bridge and again the computer didn't acknowledge anything he did. As the last person left the bridge Housen turned to face his captain.

"Sir, why are you doing this?"

"The Emissary has to be saved or fire will spread across the Galaxy."

"What! I don't understand?"

Housen was standing before his captain shacking his head. He didn't understand. He didn't know the feeling of joy and happiness that engulfed Matthews since the Prophets had touched him. Matthews felt pity for his first officer and hoped that the Prophets would find and reassure his friend.

"Have faith Housen. The Emissary is still needed. Leave now."

Housen looked defeated, confused and saddened by the situation. He just stood there with a blank expression on his face. Completely overwhelmed by the sudden, and to him seemingly unexplainable change in his captain behavior.

Seconds passed and Housen still didn't move. So Matthews accessed the transporters and beamed him to an escape pod.

Matthews turned to his console and reviewed the data. The Noble was closing fast on the DSB and would beat the Defiant to it, but only by a few seconds. He removed the voice lockouts he put into effect by typing in his access codes into the command console.

"Computer, how many life signs are onboard?"

"2. Captain Matthews, and Commander…. Correction. 1 life sign detected. Captain Matthews."

"Computer, status of threat vessel at 359 mark 000?"

"Targeted vessels shields are at 87% and no internal or external damage is detected."

"Computer, how many torpedoes are still onboard?"

"23"

That should be enough. Matthews locked into the targeting computer the underside of the DSB, which would give him the best possible position to attack the DSB plasma flow network. If he could trigger an explosion in that network the DSB would be completely engulfed in the following chain reaction.

"Computer, confirm target lock."

"Confirmed. Warning, described firing pattern will exhaust torpedo complement."

"Understood. FIRE!"

As the Noble was streaking towards the DSBs underside torpedo after torpedo was flying out of the Nobles nose towards the underside of the DSB. Matthews watched as the monitor that was monitoring the DSBs shields dropped and kept dropping, and as the last torpedo hit the DSB the shields failed. No explosion. No chain reaction. One more torpedo. That was all that was needed. Just one.

"Computer divert all remaining weapons energy to the forward shields and override time dilation protocols."

"Confirmed."

"Full power to the impulse engines. Engage."

The Noble was already traveling at full impulse, but with the computer no longer limiting the speed that the ship can travel at outside a sub-space field, the ship surge forward at 3/4s of light speed. On the forward screen the battle seemed to slow down. Just as the first shot from the DSB reached the Noble. The shields took 2 hits and then failed. Matthews watched as bits of his ship were being blown off. The port nacelle spun away and ripped itself apart under the stress, hull plating, entire decks were being ripped apart and still the Noble charged towards her target on a course that didn't waver once. Matthews couldn't think of any greater act of defiance than what his ship was performing here today. He was proud. He will complete the mission he was sent on by the Prophets. Nothing could stop Noble from crashing into the DSB and saving the Emissary. Matthews laughed to himself at the thought of the Emissary skimming the DSB just as it exploded and leaping into empty space with fire trailing behind him.

He leaned back in his chair, happy. Felt the Prophets around him and found himself back in the glowing white room that he knew to be the Temple.

///

What the hell was he thinking! What had happened to him? Why is he doing this? These questions kept rolling around inside Housens head as he stared at his captain. He didn't know what to think. He felt the transport effect ensnare him and found himself standing in front of an escape pod. Housen shakily climbed into the craft and activated the launch sequence. As the tiny escape ship sped away from the Noble he couldn't help but stare at his once beloved little ship as his insane captain commanded her to her demise. Noble shot away like a bullet out of a gun, the impulse engines glowing an angry red. If Housen didn't know better, he would have thought that Noble was looking forward to grappling with the monster ahead of her. As mesmerised as Housen was, he just noticed that the ship was launching torpedo after torpedo at the DSB. After the last torpedo left the tube there seemed to be a lull. Then Noble started moving faster and faster. The DSB was firing now, having noticed the tiny ship that wouldn't have been a threat under normal circumstances. The port nacelle was blown away, explosions erupted all over Nobles hull as the hull started to buckle. Housen watched as his ship moved behind the DSB lower nacelle. Housen realised he was holding his breath and blow out. He was about to look away and try to get to one of the combat support tenders when a massive fireball exploded from the DSB and the whole ship seemed to pitch up under the force. The shockwave sheared off hull plating, external equipment like weapon ports and sensor arrays, and bent one of the nacelle struts. As Housen watched in awe as other explosions erupted from the DSBs hull. The shockwave finally reached him and his little escape pod and throw it off course. As he regained control he looked out the window again and caught the final explosion that seemed to light up the entire region. As the fire died away with no oxygen to sustain it he saw the Defiant escape into open space, and then into warp.

"Well, for whatever reason, you saved Captain Sisko. I hope he's worth it."

///

"Sir, the remaining Jem'hadar ships are retreating further into the Cardassian system."

"Pete, stay with the fleet, don't purse."

"Aye sir."

Housen, sitting in his command chair breathed out sigh of relief. He was relieved that the Dominion had turned tail and was running. Relieved that he and his crew could take a quick breath and take stock. Relieved that the Cardassian military had chosen to follow Damar instead of the founder and switched sides.

"Sir, the fleets been ordered to regroup."

"Has Ross sent coordinates?"

"Yes sir."

"Lay in a course. Martin, report."

"Shields are at 78%, we still have 15% of our torpedo compliment and the phasers are still active."

"Jolaw?"

"Minimal damage to outer hull. Some slight fluctuation in the shield matrix. She held up pretty dam well."

"We're on route to the rendesvous point."

"Very good."

Housen was feeling pretty dam proud of his ship and crew right now. The Virtue, an Akira class cruiser was his first command and they had only been flying together for a little under a year, and yet they had distinguished themselves well. After the Noble had been destroyed, Housen and the rest of the bridge crew had been ordered to attend an inquiry into what had happened aboard that ship. Housen had told the board what had happened and afterward he was told not to discuss the event with anyone. Housen never heard anymore about it. Needless to say this was very unusually behavior from command. He actually tried to find out what was going on, on his own, and was caught by Starfleet Intelligence after about 10 minutes, and they brought him before Admiral Ross. Housen then demanded to know what happened to his former captain. To Housens surprise the Admiral took a step back and completely agreed with Housen that he should know what happened to his captain. Ross told him about the Prophets, that is to say the wormhole aliens and what they meant to the Bajorian people and that publishing what had happened might cause problems along the road between Starfleet and the Bajorians. He also explained Captain Siskos relationship with the aliens.

Now, the war was almost over, Housen was commanding his own ship and Sisko had been instrumental to winning the war.

"Well Sisko, I guess you were worth it."

"Sir, the fleet has been ordered to circle the Cardassian home system and prepare for what will hopefully be the final battle."

"Move us into position."

"Yes sir."

"Yes, quite worth it."

To be continued.