Hello everybody, well here it is chapter 4, it took a little long to get his one up, one thing is I wanted to write a longer chapter, I noticed long my chapters got when I reached chapter 3, so I decided to make them longer, so here it is a longer chapter.

Now like to thank acosta perez jose ramiro for reviewing, and I hope you continue to enjoy this story.

I also like to thank Hellerick Ferlibay for your reviewing, so many questions, please be patient with me, most of your questions will be answered in time as the story continues, and also one thing I like to bring to mind, and it's strictly my opinion, wiether anyone agrees is up to them, but when your dealing with stories that are set in laters years or alternate universes, there is a little more freedom in character devolpment, because of affects time has on people, simply put a person can change dramticlly or slowly over a given period of time.

Well without further delay I bring you chapter 4

"Hey Arnold"

A New Frontier

Chapter 4

Admiral Wartz put the PADD on the table after reading the reports and gathered information about the Irkens. "Okay, I've seen enough. Captain Mileson you'll join beta fleet to intercept this invasion and alpha fleet will be on standby, oh also the U.S.S. McKinley has finished their refit after their four year mission in the beta quadrant so they'll be joining the fleet as well, I'll be on the U.S.S. Lexington commanding the fleet. Do you understand?" Arnold simply nodded. "Very good, oh and before I forget, a supply shuttle will be dropping off some new torpedoes, but remember these new torpedoes are only to be used as a last resort, do you understand." Arnold nodded, "Yes Admiral, we'll depart as soon as the fleet is ready." The admiral stood up from his seat, "Very good, the fleet will be assembled in a few minutes" Said Wartz as he left the briefing room, and as he left he looked to Helga. "Well since you're here for a while would you like to on tactical?" Asked Arnold knowing Helga loved the feel of power at her finger tips, "Sure thing football head, besides I would like to teach those Irkens a lesson or two." Arnold smiled lightly, she hadn't really changed since the academy, always being the one who swung a punch at anyone who messed with her, and luckily, she never got kicked out of Starfleet. "What are you smiling at?" Said Helga with a scowl, "It's just you never changed, you were always the fighting type." Helga had smirk on her face, "And you always tying to find diplomatic solutions." Arnold hung his head low, "Well not during the Dominion war." Helga suddenly remembered that war and how many casualties the Federation took.

Helga's thought was interrupted by a chirp from the com. "Bridge to Captain Mileson." Arnold tapped his badge. "Mileson here, go ahead." "Captain the fleet is ready, and the new torpedoes have been installed." "That's good, join up with the fleet and send the coordinates to the Admiral." "Aye captain, Johanssen out." Arnold signaled Helga to join him on the bridge, "Ah Captain Pataki, would Commander Heyerdahl like to take the Ops Station?" Helga thought a moment. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind, I'll have her come up here right away." Arnold nodded and took his seat in the captains chair. "Miss. Pataki would you like to take tactical?" He said trying to stay formal. "Yes, captain, I'd be honored." Said Helga as she went to the tactical station as the other person simply left to go to another station. When Helga took her station she tapped her badge. Pataki to Heyerdahl, please report to the bridge." The was a short silence, "On my way captain, Heyerdahl out." Arnold turned his attention to the forward screen. As he stared at the screen he realized what was about to happen, another war, and again he'll be fighting for the safety of Federation and maybe even more.

Gerald noticed a look of uncertainty on Arnold, so he leaned in a little. "What's wrong Arnold?" he said low enough for only Arnold to hear. "Its nothing, it's mostly going into battle so soon after finishing up with another one, for once I would just like to explore the galaxy and not fight." Gerald nodded. "I see what you mean Arnold, but you know that old paradox, If you want peace, then prepare for war." Arnold let out a sigh. "Yeah your right Gerald, you know I've been thinking about civilian life lately and-" he was cut off, "Are you thinking about retiring already? You just barely got command of starship and already you want to quit?" Arnold shifted slightly. "No it's not like that Gerald, but it's just after the dominion war, part of me just wants to go back home." Gerald thought a moment. "Maybe your right, home does seem nice, and no holodeck could ever replace the real thing." Arnold nodded in agreement, but before Arnold could say anything, a voice came from behind him, "Sir, we are being hailed by the Lexington." Phoebe's voice rang out across the bridge. "On screen." She tapped a few keys and the screen changed to bridge of the other ship, and standing in the center was Admiral Wartz. "Captain Mileson, the fleet has been assembled and we are about to head out, have the new torpedoes been installed?" Arnold turned to Helga at the tactical station, she simply nodded yes. So Arnold turned back to the screen. "Yes sir." Wartz straightened his stance. "Very good, we will rendezvous at the following coordinates, and travel at warp 9." Ensign Pierce nodded to Arnold signaling the coordinates were received, Wartz continued, "Standby on my mark. Wartz out." The screen switched to the previous view.

A series of chirps could be heard from the Ops station, to which Phoebe tapped a couple keys. Then Wartz's voice came over the com. "All ships prepare for warp 9," Pierce entered the commands. "Engage." Immediately all the ships went into warp at warp 9 to where the invaders were known to be, they determined their location from readings taken from long range sensors. Arnold and the rest of the crew it would take several hours to reach their destination, so they went to and fro like normal until they were close enough. The bridge was mostly empty except for Gerald, Phoebe and a few other crew members. Gerald stood up from his chair, maybe he would get to talk to Phoebe for once. All the while Phoebe was starring at the console as she tapped in commands. "Commander Heyerdahl," She looked up from the console. "Yes sir." Gerald became focused on her looks, it had been years since he saw he last. "Ah, so Phoebe, how have you been?" He asked casually. "I've been fine Commander, although it's good to see you again." Gerald smiled lightly. "As it is to finally see you after all these years, ah Phoebe would you like to…have a drink at the mess hall, maybe some tea?" Asked Gerald, despite the fact he never really liked tea, but he figured at most that she would she would like tea. "Not now, I have to go over these readings and prepare for when we engage the Irkens." Gerald shifted his stance. "Yeah your right, besides I have some reports to go over. Later, perhaps?" He said a little hopeful. "That sounds good Gerald, I look forward to it." He smiled briefly but it wore off before anyone could see his grin as he walked back to his chair to go over some of the reports.

Captains Log Stardate: 57075.11: We are currently in route to intercept these invaders traveling at warp 9, there are 10 ships forming the beta fleet, the U.S.S. Hawkeye galaxy class, U.S.S. Carolina, prometheus class, U.S.S. Athena defiant class, U.S.S. Venture defiant class, U.S.S. Phoenix akira class, U.S.S. Rode Island excelsior class, U.S.S. Sierra saber class, U.S.S. Prokofiev Excelsior-class, and then the U.S.S. McKinley intrepid class, and the U.S.S. Lexington nebula class. The fleet should arrive at 06:30 hours, from there the fleet will be deployed to counter this new threat. On a more personal note, I just prey that all the ships and their crews return home safe, although that maybe wishful thinking, as I had often encountered during the Dominion war. Well as for the rest of the crew, they seem confident that we will return home.

A chirp came from the door to Arnold's ready room, he was sitting at his desk finishing up his log entry. "Come in." He said as he stood up to look through at the stars flying by. Gerald stepped through as the doors wisped open, h saw Arnold starring out into space, and this time literally. "Hey Arnold," Arnold glanced from where he was standing. "Hello Gerald, so did you talk to Phoebe?" Gerald lowered his head and rubbed his neck. "Yeah I did, but she was too busy." Arnold turned and walked over to Gerald. "Well Gerald, I sure do wish you luck." A smile crept up on Gerald's face. "Thanks Arnold." "Yeah well-" he was interrupted by the signal from his badge, "Bridge to Captain Mileson." It was Helga's voice on the com, but it carried a sense urgency. "Go ahead." "We will arrive in 1 minute captain." "Thanks, I'll be right there." He looked at Gerald, "Well my friend, once more into the breach we go." Gerald didn't say a word except for a simple nod, and they both left the ready room onto the bridge.

As the door opened, Arnold could see everyone at their station awaiting orders on what to do next. He turned his attention to Helga at the tactical station. "Miss Pataki, do you know anything that will help us against the Irkens?" She tapped a few keys. "Yes, I have modified the phaser's modulation so hopefully it will do a little more damage to their shields and any torpedoes will be armed to a higher yield. It's my experience that in our previous attack, the torpedoes didn't have enough effect on their shields. And I have notified Admiral Wartz of these modifications and each ship is doing the same thing." Arnold nodded. "Good work." He said then he turned to the face the helm. He could see they were coming out of warp. "We have arrived as well as the rest of the fleet sir." Said Ensign Pierce. "Good, all stations go to red alert, secure all systems, set repair priority to hull integrity and warp drive." He could see the fleet was forming up and ahead of them were the Irken invaders, there was one main ship which was made of modules the top front was the largest which curved back and over to the back of the ship, then below was connected a round cone shaped module, then behind it was a few more which appeared to make up it's engineering and propulsion systems, and the entire ship and all of the small support craft were painted a maroon color. He could also see four small cruisers with two on each side of the main ship, then surrounding them were dozens upon dozens of small attack fighters.

Helga recognized the main ship it was the one that destroyed her ship, she felt anger and hate rising up, but against her instincts she repressed them, because she had to keep her anger under control or risk the lives of the entire crew, Helga took a deep breath and exhaled as she readied herself for what was to happen. "Sir were receiving a transmission from the Lexington, audio only." Said Phoebe, Arnold nodded in her direction for her to play the transmission over the main speakers. "This is Admiral Wartz, all ships form up, attack pattern Delta 2-5-8, engage targets on my command." The tension was thick in the air as everyone felt like every second was like an eternity. "Engage." Then suddenly all the ships in the small fleet went off at half impulse to engage the invaders. Arnold spoke softly to himself. "In peace there's nothing so becomes a man, as modest stillness and humility; but when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood…"

So we are on the eve of a battle, but is this the end of it? or is it just the beginning of something much bigger, stay tuned and find out, oh and please leave a review, just try not to be to mean.