Commander's Log: Stardate 48014.2: As of this moment, I am no longer Lieutenant Richard Grayson, but now Commander Grayson. Admiral Wayne has just promoted me to Acting Commander of the USS Justice due to the need for an expert in Cardassian politics. I will admit that this is a big step for my Starfleet career and the task is enormous. I hope that I serve the Justice well in my capacity as Commander. That is, I hope, if the Captain and crew accept me. My next stop is to see this new vessel and it's CO, Captain Kaldur'ahm.

There she was. USS Justice, N.C.C 63616. Richard was an awe at the magnificent vessel before him. The Justice's distinct twin hull design and massive torpedo launcher stood out to the Commander. Never before had he seen an Akira Class Cruiser before now.

He could see the vessel just outside the window of the cargo bay. The bay itself was bustling with people and moving crates all being loaded on the magnificent ship. It was interesting to the Commander, honestly; a lot of the people in the room were tactical crewmen. Their dark grey uniforms and phaser rifles stood out to Dick. Likewise, the equipment being loaded aboard the Justice was crates full of food rations, photon torpedoes, phaser weapons, and what looked to be parts for a Argo Exploration Rover. The cargo bay honestly looked like the inside of the Minnehaha during the war with Cardassia

It concerned Dick that Starfleet was preparing for war again. Starfleet was supposed to be an organization devoted to exploration and discover, not war and violence. This went against everything he believed in, even if he was from Starfleet Intelligence.

Personnel started to board the Justice, and Richard followed close behind. The trip across the boarding tube was short, but it felt like an eternity behind the slow moving herd of crewmembers heading aboard. Dick couldn't contain his excitement at finally being on such a great vessel like the Justice.

Stepping off the boarding ramp, Dick instantly noticed the change in atmosphere and lighting. It was slightly darker than what he was used to on a Excelsior class like the Minnehaha. The actual design of the hall was reminiscent of Starfleet's new design philosophy. Angular hallways, grey floors and paneling, and fewer computer displays. Dick couldn't help but feel that the interior seemed more spartan.

The Commander carried himself further into the vessel and walked to where he thought the turbolift would be. Luckily he found a door that said 'Turbolift' on it. Dick waiting by the door allowing the computer to scan his presence. Eventually the turbolift came and the doors opened.

Inside a woman dressed in a yellow and grey uniform with long, blonde hair stood by holding a PADD. She looked up at Dick, curious as to why he was just standing there. "Well? Aren't you coming along?"

Dick nodded, "Yeah, sorry," Before boarding the lift. "Deck One."

"Already going there." The woman spoke before going back to her PADD. She seemed to find more interest in her work than the people she was with, Dick noted. He stood facing the door, beside the woman. He glanced over to her PADD and noticed that it had a full readout of the Justice; especially information on the warp matrix.

"What brings you to the bridge, Lieutenant?" The woman asked without taking her eyes off the device.

"Acting Commander, actually." Dick scratched the back of his head. "I was posted here by Admiral Wayne. I've come to help command the vessel."

"Admiral Wayne, huh?" The woman looked up for the first time. "Someone's been brushing elbows with the big brass. Conner won't like the sound of that."

"It's just just a temporary assignment," Dick replied. He noticed the two pips on her collar. "And you're heading to the bridge too Lieutenant-?"

"Crock, Artemis Crock." The woman replied with a cocky smile. "I'm the Chief Engineer. And Lieutenant Commander Conner Kent is our Chief Tactical Officer, miiiiight be best to avoid him." She went back to her PADD with an amused smile; almost as though she was picture the confrontation in her head.

"Okay, then. Thanks for the update." Dick replied as the doors opened up. The bridge of the Justice was still as grey and spartan as the hallways; but LCARS computers lined almost every inch of the bench around the ship. Crewmen in blues, yellows, and reds all were making preparations to get underway. Across the bridge an argument could be heard coming from the Captain's Ready Room.

"What was that?" Dick asked Artemis.

"Sounds like Conner and Kaldur," The Lieutenant chuckled, "Looks like you have your work cut out."

The blonde stepped off the lift shaking her head as she went to her station. Dick stepped off just behind her and looked to the Ready Room doors… where he needed to go.

"Great," He muttered under his breath, "First day aboard and I have to deal with this." The Commander strolled up to the doors before pressing a button on the control panel. A ring could be heard inside followed shortly by someone calling evenly, "Come."

The doors opened up to a one sided argument inside, "... And when Roy left I was told I would be promoted. I'm still a damn Lieutenant-Commander, Kaldur!"

The source of the argument came from the dark haired human who was currently leaning over the table. His uniform looked similar to the ones worn by the tactical teams in the cargo bay earlier. His complexion contrasted that of the blond haired Vulcan who was currently sitting in his chair listening to the argument.

"I understand your concern, Mr. Kent. Your formal complaint to Starfleet Command has been noted and sent. However, it is not my command to make to overstep the decisions that Admiral Wayne has partaken." Captain Kaldur'ahm's voice was even throughout the whole ordeal; as a Vulcan should carry himself.

The Captain turned to Dick who was currently in the door and greeted; "You must be Commander Grayson, correct?"

Dick nodded nervously, "Yes, sir. I've come to formally introduce myself."

"There will be time for that just before we set off." Kaldur rose from his seat and looked back to Conner, "Lieutenant- Commander, you are excused for now. I will take your concerns under advisement, however."

Conner took a deep breath and nodded, "Of course, sir. Thank you." The Tactical Officer placed his hands behind his back and walked back out onto the bridge.

Kaldur sat back down in his chair and looked to Dick, "Come sit down, please." The Captain gestured to a seat in front of him.

Dick toon the hint and made his way over to sit. He placed the PADD, he still had in his hand, down onto the table before getting comfortable.

"So," Kaldur began, "I assume you understand what this assignment is about?"

"Yes, Captain Kaldur'ahm." Dick nodded.

The Captain raised an eyebrow, "Please, Mr. Grayson, call me Kaldur. It's much easier to pronounce."

"Yes, Captain Kaldur." Dick began again, "I wasn't aware that Vulcans had preferred nicknames."

The Captain was unfazed by the comment, "I was raised by my mother who was a V'tosh ka'tur; a Vulcan without Logic. She chose my name from my father. I prefer to use a shorter name."

Dick nodded, "I understand."

"To continue, I'm sure you were briefed by Admiral Wayne on the situation?" Captain Kaldur asked.

"Yeah, it was… brief," The Commander cringed at the unintentionally pun, "I was informed of a new faction in the DMZ, the Maquis."

Kaldur sighed for a moment, "Yes, the Maquis. They are Federation citizens that have taken arms against us; as I'm sure you already know."

Dick nodded and looked at the desk in front of him, "I heard the York was severely damaged. The report said that 24 crew members perished."

"That's not all." Kaldur announced as he got up and walked to a fish tank in the corner of his office, "Deep Space Nine has conducted a full report of the Maquis after a Cardassian vessel was destroyed at the station. The Maquis are arming themselves. Shuttles and small ships armed with military grade weapons, phaser rifles, photon grenades, everything; they are arming for a fight."

Dick looked up at Kaldur and leaned his head back into his seat. "With those kinds of weapons, they pose a great threat to anything near the region. Especially with the discovery of the wormhole at Bajor."

"The trade routes, yes." Kaldur replied solemnly. "Ideally, the Maquis will have to focus hit and run attacks on small convoys and single vessels." He moved back to his desk and pressed a button activating an old style holographic map of the Cardassian DMZ and part of the Badlands. Red markers indicated attacks by the terrorists and blue dots represented old Federation colonies. "I took the liberty to download the logs of each vessel attacked and lay them on a star map like this. What do you see?"

Dick studied the image for a while. The attacks looked like they were mostly secluded to one area of the trade route with several being closer to some older Federation colonies. Something did catch his attention, "Why are all the attacks occurring away from planets?"

Kaldur had a ghost of a amused looked, but still seemed expressionless, "A very good observation. I was wondering the same. I personally believe that they are rendezvousing at different locations and launching coordinated attacks from about four or five different locations."

"How do you figure that?" Dick asked upon hearing such a number.

"Simple really, look at the 'random' attack; the ones not on the coordinated routes." Kaldur zoomed the map closer to view the red dots and nearby star systems. "They are still relatively concentrated but come to five different sets of attacks. These types of attacks are mostly rare, however, and usually consist of attacking food and medical convoys. They are attacks out of desperation. Furthermore these attacks are still far away from former colonies…"

"Which means they had to make these attacks on short notice, closer to their territory than they like." Dick continued the thought.

The map expanded out again and shaded five different portions of the map a light green hue. "Look," Kaldur pointed out, "These areas are were we believe the Maquis has possible base, there might be a few here." The map zoomed into an area of space with a blistering amount of plasma storms'.

"The Badlands." Dick blurted out.

"You are familiar with the Badlands?" Kaldur asked.

The Commander nodded, "Yeah, they were used by the Federation to hide several ships during the border war. As I remember a lot of Federation ships staged attacks against the Cardassians from there."

"An astute observation." Kaldur closed the map and went back to sit in his chair. The captain sat back and contemplated his next sentence. "Mr. Grayson, what I'm about to tell you must stay here."

"Of course, sir." Dick affirmed, "What is it?"

"Starfleet is worried that several officers from the Cardassian War are defecting to the Maquis." Kaldur let the words hang in the air.

"Sir, that-that's…"

"Surprising? Yes." Kaldur finished his sentence, "However, it would make sense if the Maquis are using the Badlands as a jumping off point. The officers stationed there would know the layout of that region of space. If we find a base there, that would confirm our suspicions."

"I understand, sir." Dick replied, "Where do we start?"

Kaldur got up and tugged his uniform down to straighten it, "The Justice will be assigned to provide escort to those trade routes near the Badlands. The Cardassian Central Command has authorized the Justice to pursue any Maquis vessels into the DMZ. Our orders are to search, apprehend, and disable any Maquis ships. We are also armed with a complement of shuttles, runabouts, and a squadron of Peregrine Fighters to aid in this venture."

"I understand sir." Dick got up, "I'll prepare right away!"

"Mr. Grayson." Dick was about to move when he heard Kaldur call his name.

Kaldur clasped his hands behind his back, "First, I must introduce you to the rest of my bridge officers. They are in the conference lounge. Will you join me?"

Dick smirked, "Of course, sir."

"Excellent," Kaldur spoke with all the happiness a Vulcan could muster, "There may be a few familiar faces you recognize."

/Sorry is took so long guys! Third chapter is up, and I think you may like it! Next up, we see the crew of the USS Justice.