The following day Starfleet Security determined that there were no further threats to the Obsidian crew aboard the station. Macen granted liberty to a grateful crew. He and T'Kir took the opportunity to see Ro and the Loki off. Reyes, as expected, was there finishing up his farewells. When the Station CO moved off, Macen and T'Kir made their goodbyes.

Macen handed Ro a padd, "Transmit this to Elias."

"Why don't you transmit it yourself?" Ro asked.

"I have a feeling my flash traffic is being monitored." Macen admitted, "I don't want to alert whomever to the fact that I'm bringing Elias into this."

"All right." Ro conceded, "When are you shoving off?"

"Tomorrow." Macen revealed, "I'll give the crew one night of decadence and then it's mission time."

"You're all heart." Ro said sarcastically.

"Take care, Laren." Macen said, "May your voyage be brief and uneventful."

"And may you be swiftly reunited with your honey." T'Kir grinned.

"Thanks…both of you." Ro made her way aboard the ship and the airlock sealed behind her.

"Well, there she goes." T'Kir quipped.

"We'll see her again." Macen replied.

"There you go again!" T'Kir rattled off, "Tellin' the future. Maybe I don't wanna know if I'm gonna see her again. Ever think of that?"

"Nope." Macen replied.

"Maybe you should." T'Kir huffed.

"I'll keep it in mind." Macen promised.

"Good." T'Kir was mollified as they strolled away.


Pensively, Reyes returned to his office and commed Admiral Drake. Ambril intercepted the call and informed him that the admiral would return his call within the next hour. Reyes busied himself amongst reports and the comm chimed before he expected it to.

Drake's visage appeared on his screen, "Alfonso, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I've just received my orders." Reyes was angry, "I don't like them."

"The orders stand." Drake firmly replied, "If Captain Macen or the Obsidian request assistance from you while they are in the Meirkus Conglomeration they are to be denied."

"You want me to abandon them?" Reyes demanded.

"If holding to the designated border means abandoning them, then yes, I want you to abandon them." Drake held her position.

"I won't do it." Reyes declared.

"Captain," Drake stressed his rank, "If you disobey this order you will be court-martialled, understood?"

"Understood, Admiral!" Reyes spat out her rank as he terminated the connection.


Drake stared at the screen for a moment and regretted using Reyes in this fashion but what had to be done had to be done. She activated the intercom, "Ambril, inform Admiral Nechayev that Captain Reyes has taken the bait."


The day and evening went well for the Obsidian crew. When their departure call came though the next day they were well rested and prepared. Reyes came down to see them off but he was distracted and irritable. Macen and T'Kir were glad to be leaving by the time Reyes finished his last impassioned plea for them to abandon their plan.

Macen wished the Captain well and boarded the Obsidian. T'Kir imparted some last minute dating tips for dealing with Ro Laren and then followed her husband aboard ship. The security officers stationed at the lock sealed her up and the station's automatic relays triggered, cutting off the ship from the station. Reyes swore to himself and then dejectedly returned to his office.

An hour and a half later, the Obsidian was clear of DS3 and making her way down an approach vector for Mityr. It was a least time approach but that still put it in the heart of Federation traffic bound for the Conglomeration. This pleased Macen. The chances of a violent encounter before their arrival at Mityr were cut down. What their reception would be upon reaching Mityr was anyone's guess.

The ship seemed a little colder not having Kort aboard. He'd served with Macen since before there was a SID. Only T'Kir had been with the team that long.

Tessa was excited to be taking over but sad to see Kort go. Hearing news of the holoemitters being installed in every space, crawlspace, and broom closet made her excitement grow. Macen had never encountered a giddy hologram before.

Macen had hidden away in his Ready Room throughout the disembarking from the station and during the trip to the Conglomeration's border. When they passed by the border patrol with only routine questioning, he finally began to relax. He called Riker in to join him.

"Sit down, Tom." Macen offered a chair. Riker took the couch. Macen grinned, "Don't let T'Kir see you do that."

"Actually," Riker's eyes sparkled, "I was going to suggest that you call her in."

Macen's expression became conspiratorial. He moved back behind the desk and summoned T'Kir. She bounded in and made for the couch. She suddenly stopped and she looked very confused.

Riker burst out laughing. T'Kir studied him for a moment and then frowned, "One big laugh at my expense, huh? Well, I know your number." She wheeled on Macen, "And you, going along with this juvenile little prank… Me and you. Later today it's gonna be me and you. Now don't call me unless you need me. No more wasting my time. Got it?"

She stormed out and Riker completely fell apart laughing, "Girl's got attitude."

"You're just now discovering this?" Macen dryly asked.

"Hell, Brin, I didn't mean to get you in trouble." Riker began to compose himself.

"Yes, you did." Macen calmly remarked, "But T'Kir and I spat all the time. We'll survive this."

Riker ran a hand through his greying hair, "Now that we're not distracted what did you call me in here for?"

"I just wanted to know if you'd thought any more about the captaincy of the Indomitable. She needs a skipper and she needs the best. Tempted yet?"

"You know I am but that would mean over half the team leaving you." Riker pointed out, "Can you cope with those losses?"

"I have plans." Macen replied.

"I've heard you say that when the team breaks apart you'd retire." Riker reminded him, "Does that still hold?"

"Retirement from active duty is still a ways off." Macen grinned, "I have plans."

"So you keep saying." Riker frowned, "Any hints?"

"Any decision on the Indie?" Macen asked.

"Lees and I decided to make the move." Riker revealed, "Now, hint?"

"My plans remain secret for now." Macen smirked, "They will be revealed in the fruition of time."

"You can really be a pain in the…" Riker was interrupted by his comm badge. He swatted it, "Riker."

"Commander," Grace's voice lilted into the room, "you wanted to be informed when we dropped out of warp."

They'd been travelling at warp 6 for over five days. It was time for them to have reached Mityr's home system. The profusion of navigational hazards required that all incoming starships drop to impulse at the system boundary.

"I think I'll join you on the bridge." Macen said.

"Thanks, Hannah." Riker offered, "We'll be right out."


"All right, Enrick Gaston," Sindis said pleasantly to the watch officer, "Why have you summoned me?"

The Lantilian wasn't fazed by the use of his surname, "Lord Sindis, the outer marker buoys have detected a vessel matching the description of the ship you marked for observation."

"A Federation Nova-class science ship?" Sindis asked, "Registered to Outbound Ventures, Incorporated and bearing the name Obsidian?"

Gaston nodded, "Exactly as you specified."

Sindis' smile grew, "Watch her closely. Do not impede her or molest her but be on guard. If she reacts with any hostility, destroy her."

Gaston bowed his head, "As you say, My Lord."


Macen sat in the Captain's chair and felt like an intruder. He marvelled at how few of the bridge officers he knew. There was Riker of course. Grace sat at her usual place at the Helm. Danan manned the Sciences station. Tactical, OPS, and Engineering were manned by faces Macen vaguely recalled.

As the SID team specialised more and more the less time they spent in serving shipboard functions. T'Kir and Daggit were rarely seen on the bridge. Radil was relying more and more heavily upon Abby Collins. Even Dracas was seen less and less often in Engineering.

One familiar face on the bridge was the relief helm officer. Ceryx stood at the MSD display and patiently waited his turn at the controls. Macen knew that the Tyrokian spent these wayward times drifting in and out of sleep. He'd come to in an instant and only required one solid hour of sleep but the intermittent naps helped keep his brain cool.

Tyrokians had the highest mineral count of any humanoid species, outside of Omicrons, known in the galaxy. Ceryx was essentially a semi-silicon based crustacean. His brain could overheat from overusage and this would render him deaf, dumb, and illiterate. Ceryx functioned best in the cold and his quarters were refrigerated.

Sitting was difficult for Ceryx so he usually stood. To man the helm he knelt. His carapace was so leavened with minerals and stone he was effectively immune from low and medium phaser settings.

What Macen appreciated most about Ceryx was his attitude. Ceryx could be absolutely relied upon to fulfil his duties. He was a rock in body and being. His cool demeanour often influenced his more volatile crewmates. Macen knew that Ceryx would always be a welcome addition to his crew and possibly even the SID team.

The Obsidian had flown through the outer system. She was coming up on the debris field that surrounded the inner system. The remains of the fourth planet were scattered amongst rubble of the starships and space stations. An outer boundary of debris also encircled Mityr. It was at this point that a traffic buoy challenged them.

"Mityr Traffic Control to starship Obsidian." A mechanical sounding organic voice rattled off, "Please state your business."

Riker began to speak but Macen waved him off, "This is Captain Brin Macen. Please inform Lord Sindis that our business is trade."

"What kind of trade?" The voice asked.

"Latinum for lives." Macen replied.


Sindis' smile became lupine, "I wonder if he truly means it? It is an offer I would consider."

Gaston looked askance, "Truly?"

"Of course!" Sindis laughed, "I am a businessman first and all offers must be honestly considered."

"As you say, Lord." Gaston bowed.

"Clear a lane for them." Sindis ordered, "I want to hear their proposal post haste."


"We are transmitting instructions." The voice informed the Obsidian staff, "Do not deviate from this vector."

A moment passed and then the OPS officer reported that the comm link had been broken. Riker commented, "You certainly got their attention."

Macen shrugged, "We'll see. I'll be in my Ready Room. Call me if we face a life threatening peril."

"Yes, Sahib." Riker chuckled.

T'Kir arrived on the bridge, stuck her tongue out at Riker, and proceeded directly to the Ready Room, "All right, Macen, I have only one thing to say to you."

Macen sat atop his desk, "Really?"

"I love you!" T'Kir gushed, "That apology letter made me to cry."

"Not what I intended but I'm glad that it moved you." Macen moved to his wife and wrapped her in his arms.

"Next time, don't be such an idiot." T'Kir ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." Macen murmured into her hair.

"D'you think…?" she started to ask.

"No time for that." Macen burst her bubble, "In case you hadn't noticed, we're there."

"I heard a rumour to that effect." T'Kir sighed, "By the way, Tessa forgives you as well."

"I wondered where you'd go with Hannah being occupied." Macen mused.

"Stop trying to figure out how I'll react." T'Kir warned, "It gets you into trouble."

"Yes, dear." Macen kissed her. It lengthened and grew in intensity. They parted and each sighed.

"That's a promise for later." Macen remarked.

"I'll hold you to that." T'Kir advised.

Macen's comm badge chirped, "Now what?"

"Riker here." Came the 1st Officer's voice, "We're slipping into orbit over Mityr. Sindis is on the line for you."

"Route it to my terminal." Macen requested.

"This should prove informative." T'Kir said as she curled into the couch.

"Won't it though." Macen murmured.


"Sorry Ceryx," Grace said as she rolled her chair back to make room for the Tyrokian, "I haven't left you much to do."

"That is fine Little One." Ceryx employed his pet name for her, "I shall content myself with identifying the other vessels surrounding us."

"Good luck with that." Grace laughed.


"So," Sindis purred, "We finally lay eyes upon one another."

"Close enough." Macen remarked.

"Why are you here, Captain?" Sindis cut to the chase, "Your reputation hardly lends itself to lightly travelling to such disreputable locales."

"Several days ago a pair of Miradorn raiders would have arrived here." Macen explained, "I can transmit their warp signatures to you. My desires are simple: I wish to apprehend the crews of these ships. The system they ravaged is offering a generous bounty in exchange for their capture. I've been contracted to take these sentients prisoner. I'm willing to offer you the bounty in exchange for their surrender."

"How generous is the bounty?" Sindis was intrigued.

"Fifty thousand bars." Macen revealed.

"That is generous." Sindis opined, "What provokes your generosity?"

"I'm being paid to bring them in by Starfleet." Macen admitted, "The bounty is surplus. Call it a means to conduct a fair trade."

Sindis pondered it for a moment, "Send me the warp signatures. I will locate the vessels and their crews. I will surrender them once they are all secured. In the meantime, why don't you and some of your officers dine with me tonight? Dinner will be served in three hours. Can you make it?"

"We'll be there." Macen promised.

"Excellent!" Sindis enthused, "This will be an evening to remember."

"It certainly will." Macen agreed and terminated the connection, "It will indeed."