Reports covered T'Lessa's desk; a few of the PADDs lay on the very edge, about to topple off. She made no effort to hide her annoyance. She'd only been off duty for a week (Short medical leave, she mused), and it would take her at least three to catch back up on the paperwork. Frustrated, T'Lessa set down the report she was reading and got up, ignoring the PADDs that dove off of the desk. She limped over to the window and gazed out at the Dauntless. Repair crews had been working on the ship at all hours for an entire week, but she was in bad shape.
The door slid open behind her, and T'Lessa allowed herself the tiniest of smiles. She couldn't see her visitor, but only one had the privilege of entering without asking permission. "Somel."
Somel picked up the PADDs and placed them back on the desk before joining her at the window. He gave her a light kiss. "Aren't you supposed to be 'taking it easy'?"
"I'm not doing anything strenuous." She knew what he really meant; she was, after all, still in pain after Dauntless's last encounter with the Dominion.
"You know what I mean, T'Lessa. You shouldn't be standing; look how much you're leaning against the bulkhead. Despite the windows into Ops and both of them in uniform, Somel wrapped his arms around her.
With a gentle sigh, T'Lessa shifted her weight so that he supported her rather than the bulkhead. "You noticed from Ops?"
"I'm your Chief Science Officer, Captain. I noticed everything. Now quit staring at the Dauntless and sit down." He pushed her gently toward the desk. "I don't know why they put you back on duty when half the officers you took on that patrol are still in sickbay."
"I didn't, and still don't, understand Doctor Niana's decision either." T'Lessa let Somel ease her into the chair. "I didn't ask to get out this time."
Somel shrugged. "You're the captain. Maybe--"
T'Lessa's combadge chirped. She rolled her eyes as she tapped it. "T'Lessa. Go ahead."
"Captain, you have a priority one message from Admiral Ross."
"The CNC?" Somel whispered in surprise.
T'Lessa nodded at him, confused herself. "Channel it to the ready room. Out."
Seconds later the comm screen on the desk came to life, asking for T'Lessa's clearance code. Since Somel knew the code already, she didn't hesitate. "T'Lessa. Alpha-One-Bravo-Tango."
Knowing the code signified a secure call, Somel got up and exited quickly. Just as the door slid shut behind him, the comm unit flashed the Starfleet Command symbol and faded to Admiral Ross.
Aware of her slightly unprofessional appearance, T'Lessa brushed a stubborn lock of ragged hair out of her eyes, which unfortunately revealed the angry green scar above her right eye. She knew what she looked like and what the admiral was likely to think.
"Gracious, T'Lessa. What in the hell happened to you?"
T'Lessa winced slightly. "Does it really look that bad, sir?"
Damn right it does, Captain. Ross shook his head. "You look worse than you did when Interceptor limped into Earth orbit for the last time."
T'Lessa shrugged. "We surprised the Dominion while on border patrol. We're lucky Dauntless made it back."
Ross nodded. "I saw the report, but it didn't cover the casualties. That's what I'm calling about; Sagat refused to tell me."
T'Lessa's emotional screen slipped aside. "I have a lot of officers in sickbay. We've lost some of them...we had even before we got back to Starbase Republic."
"What about you? Are you all right?"
"Fine, sir. Or I will be."
"You're sure?"
"Positive." T'Lessa paused, suddenly suspicious. "Sir..."
"And Dauntless? Will she be sound?"
"She's a sturdy ship; Hornets usually are. What's going on, Admiral?"
"The Cerva," Ross answered grimly. "They've joined the Dominion.
T'Lessa paled slightly. "The Cerva? Are you absolutely certain, sir?"
"I'm afraid so, Captain. I hope your people are ready because there's no doubt Republic is high on their list."
"They soon will be. Is there anything else?"
Ross shook his head. "Good luck, Captain. Ross out."
The tiny screen went black, and T'Lessa exhaled slowly, leaning back into her chair. After a long pause, she tapped her badge. "Senior staff to the briefing room!"
She watched through the window as her staff called in their replacements and headed for the briefing room. Somel lingered just outside her door. She shook her head as she exited the office, sidestepping him as he reached to touch her. "Now's not the time, Somel."
Somel nodded and entered the briefing room. T'Lessa entered a few steps behind him and waved her crew back into their seats as they started to rise. "Carry one." She sat down at the head of the table, her hands folded. "It seems we have a problem."
Subcommander Sagat mirrored her position almost exactly, his Vulcan heritage at work despite the Romulan uniform he wore. "A serious one, it would seem."
T'Lessa nodded. "Lieutenant Commander Shaw. Dauntless?"
Leya shrugged. "The repair teams are doing their best, Captain, but it's a tough call."
"Keep me updated. Doctor Niana, the crew."
Zasora smiled grimly. "All recovering relatively well, most ready for duty." She eyed T'Lessa warily. "You're pale, Captain."
T'Lessa hushed her, whispering, "Later."
The Orion doctor nodded silently.
Somel leaned forward slightly. "Captain, if I may ask..."
So formal in meetings... "You may." T'Lessa found it worked better if her crew asked rather than having her tell them everything at once.
"What happened? You're tense."
T'Lessa inhaled deeply. "The Cerva who opposed the rebellion have joined another faction." She paused to let the idea hit. "The Dominion."
Gasps of surprise and short protests filled the briefing room. Sagat rose, his intent clear, and the room fell silent. He smiled briefly as he returned to his seat, nodding for T'Lessa to continue.
"I know we didn't expect this, but we should have. The Dominion saw an advantage and took it." T'Lessa looked around the table.
"They'll attack the station," Lieutenant Toran whispered, the bright blue of her complexion paling as her antennae twitched. "The Cerva will take us while the rest go after another target."
"Actually." T'Lessa slid a PADD to her Chief Intelligence Officer. "Take a good look at that, Lieutenant. I took it from the external sensors aboard Dauntless."
Toran looked it over, intrigue and dismay evident at once. "Two Jem'Hadar cruisers, three Cerva battlecruisers...a joint force. How did you miss that? Who was on Intelligence for this patrol?"
"Palmer," T'Lessa answered quietly. "He's one of the few who are still critical, first officer down. Cartwright lost the science sensors after the first hit, though she's unhurt."
"What about tactical?"
"Telerev," Zasora cut in. "Also, still critical."
T'Lessa leaned toward her crew, her hands resting on the table. "So now you know why Dauntless is so badly damaged. The Cerva know Hornet class starships well; it's all we've had assigned here. I'm going to discuss our findings with Admiral Ross, who undoubtedly will send us a second ship the Cerva are less familiar with."
Somel's brow furrowed. "How can you be certain, Captain?"
"Because," T'Lessa began, the mischief that set her apart from her husband sparkling in her eyes. "He's already officered."
Murmurs of assent filled the room despite the gloomy atmosphere.
T'Lessa rose slowly, her officers following suit. "You all have your duties. Dismissed."
They filed out silently, ready to tackle the problem before them.
