No One's POV

*Few Days Later – Stardate 11-7-22360.55*

Madison rubbed her forehead lightly, staring at the reports in front of her knowing full well that Khan and Spock were going to be pissed at her for doing what they thought was "pushing" herself.

Now a week and a half out of Sick Bay, technically, by CMO Henderson's orders, she was still on light duty though allowed to progress into full duty the coming week, but pressing issues had her ignoring her CMO's orders and jumping the gun; no rest for the wicked or the well-being of her base after all.

She was fine though, honestly. The bond with Spock was equalized, she had no adverse reactions with Spock now close and the initial meld with him shortly after being released from Sick Bay, and her headaches were completely gone. She didn't understand what all the fuss was about, Khan and Spock were just over protective.

Emily appreciated it, at least in some ways she did. They were just being protective and trying to show they cared. And she knows they truly did.

But with chaos slightly still reigning since her health crisis, plus the fallout from the Augment insurgence and the increase of the energy anomalies that had the science department up in arms, she didn't have time for their overbearing alpha mate instincts to try and keep her secluded.

What she really needed was to do her job and focus, not try and balance her two posturing mates who wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap constantly while also try and run a black-ops Starfleet base.

Muttering some more to herself and tapping her stylus against her desk, Emily finally groans, shoving her chair away from her desk to stretch before turning around to look out her window.

"Ma'am, urgent incoming call from Captain Dalton, USS Leviathan." Jarvis informs primly.

"On screen, J. Privacy screens." Madison immediately commands, standing up into a parade stand.

"Captain." Madison greets formally.

"Admiral." Captain Dalton greets. "We're at the energy output site with the patrol. You're going to want to see this."

"What's going on Captain? Report." Madison nearly barks out, but manages to refrain, making her tone even.

"When we got there, Admiral, the sensors were reading like the other sensors we took. But there was a- a ship." Dalton hesitates.

"A ship." Madison repeats.

"A ship. Yes." Dalton answers, the view screen suddenly splitting to show the front window view of the USS Leviathan by which a ship, smaller, circular, certainly alien, was several hundreds of meters away.

Madison blinks, staring at the ship and then back at her lead Captain.

"Has it made any hostile moves yet, Captain?"

"None."

"Have you attempted to hail?"

"Yes. Several times." Dalton informs.

"I see." Madison nods thoughtfully. "And the science teams?"

"Readings are similar if not consistent." Dalton informs, his face indicating there was more to tell.

"There's more isn't there?" Madison says almost a flat tone to her voice.

"Yes… There was- another energy surge… Another ship came through. Almost like a- a void or something. It closed right afterwards." Dalton informed.

"Why can I not see the other ship?"

"Commander Grant?" Dalton orders, the screen immediately moving. "The USS Commander has a better angle. The second ship when it came through moved to the first ship's flank. Almost in a formation of sorts… Almost-"

"Almost like it's preparing for something." Madison cuts off.

"Yes. I- I thought so too." Dalton concurs as well.

"I don't know what they are waiting for, if that is the case." Dalton admits, trailing off, but leaving words for imagination.

"Another ship, Captain. We patrol in three's." Madison points out, finishing Dalton's unsaid words.

"Well, shit." Dalton mutters.

Madison rolls her eyes slightly.

"Should I send another patrol?" Madison asks, holding up a hand to gesture for Jarvis.

"Perhaps." Dalton considers.

"Captain!" Commander Grant calls. "Another ship just came through."

"Shit!" Dalton mutters under his breathe, his focus switching to the front as Madison watches both screens, the view screen of the Leviathan and the one Dalton was previously communicating with her on.

"They're firing, sir." Commander Grant informs.

"Engage invisibility shields. Let's vanish. Defensive maneuvers. Fire phasers at will. We'll try and confuse them."

"Activate War Council protocol. Captain Ward, Captain Everett." Dalton calls up, holo screens flaring in front of him.

"Ward, Everett." Dalton greets his fellow Captains while simultaneously firing off other orders.

Madison had chosen her Captains and Senior Officers well, she was proud of them and knew under fire, metaphorically or not, they would perform above and beyond, calm and unyielding and absolute.

Mutterings are heard across screen as Madison watches the fire fight, the alien ships far too indestructible against her own warships who are armed with the best technology the Federation has designed.

In short, Madison was watching her patrol have their asses handed to them.

It was a helpless and powerless feeling she felt, to know that she was unable to physically be there to aid her patrol and some of her Senior Command team in their time of need, the roar of fierce protectiveness and need to do something washing over her.

This was her team, her forces, her base. What was power if she could not use it?

"Captain, do I need to activate a red alert?" Madison asks firmly, nearly on the verge of doing so anyways, even without her lead Captain's input.

"No- don't if we can't beat these guys with just three ships, then- then we can't hope to ever beat more of them with an entire fleet." Dalton reasons.

Madison waivers, understanding his reasoning but hesitant to agree, not wanting to risk any lives.

"I understand, Captain. But I am unwilling to risk lives, of anyone." Madison argues.

"Ah- fuck!" Dalton mutters, focus shifting to his screen and panels. "Fuckers just fucking shot our invisibility sensor out!"

"Admiral, as I was saying, I understand. But now is not time to argue with me. Don't-" Dalton shifts back to Madison, only for the feed suddenly to cut off.

"Captain? Dalton?" Madison says, feeling fear chill down her spin. "Fuck, this is my-"

"Jarvis!?" Madison demands.

"I apologize, ma'am. I cannot- my access to the USS Leviathan has been shorted." Jarvis replies.

"This is my fault." Madison says, pain crossing her features before she composes herself. "Jarvis, call Khan in here. Right now."

"Admiral, you called?" Khan answers, walking into Madison's office barely a moment later.

"Yes, Khan-" Madison says, anxiously wondering if Dalton and his patrol were okay.

"Ma'am, incoming call from Captain Everett." Jarvis informs.

"On screen, J." Madison nearly snaps.

"Admiral." Captain Everett says, looking a little worse for wear.

"Report, Captain. What happened to the patrol? How's Dalton? His screen cut out." Madison says.

"Yes, Dalton's ship seemed to take the worse hits. Patrol got hit pretty bad. We're on our way back. The three hostiles are pretty much blown to smithereens. But it took much effort, I would say. Our ships need repair-"

"Did anyone get hurt, Everett?" Madison interrupts solemnly.

"Quite a few. Like I said, the ships took some pretty big hits. But nothing that Sick Bay won't be able to fix." Everett says. "But- the ships. They weren't here, Admiral… For anything but to attack. It was an intent to harm, to kill. We got lucky, this time."

"I see. Have save travels back, Everett. I'll see you in debrief." Madison says, the link finally ending.

Silence fell in Madison's office, Khan standing almost unsure of what to do.

"Gather the Senior Command, Khan. There's something coming. We need to prepare." Madison finally orders.

"Yes, Admiral." Khan answers.

"I also need all the reports of the energy readings. I need the lead Science Officer that has been working on it present at the meeting as well." Madison orders.

"Of course, Admiral. If that is all?" Khan asks.

"That is all." Madison nods.

Khan nods, excusing himself with a salute before exiting to do what his Admiral had ordered, understanding that it was no time to fuss about his mate's health and certainly no time to question her authority.

Madison takes a shaky, settling breathe, knowing she needed to calm herself and present a confident and authoritative front, turning to look out over the base she has overseen for four years now.

Something had come. More was coming, she could feel it. Feel it like a tangible taste on her tongue and touch on her skin and brush in the air.

And Alpha X Delta would be ready.

A war was coming.