33

The Fallen Few

Alexandria quarter's door chimes, a quick swipe of the biometric panel and the doors part.

"Telsia," greets Munro.

"Alex," regards Telsia.

"Please come in," with a wide sweep into her abode.

Telsia reciprocates with a smile and enters. She looks around and notices the living quarters are small and quaint.

"Comfy," remarks Telisa.

"Small and quaint," replies Munro.

"Literally what I was thinking," smiles Murphy.

Alexandria and Telsia share a chuckle.

"Drink?" asks Munro.

"God, do I ever now!" exclaims Murphy.

"Wow!" exclaims Munro.

Alexandria takes a couple of drinking glasses out of a metal cupboard. She drops a few ice cubes in each glass and pours a generous amount of liquid spirit into both. She hands a glass to Telsia and then takes a facing seat. Telsia forces a smile but her eyes begin to sheen.

"What's wrong?" asks Munro, reaching out to her friend.

Telsia shakes her head in pain and then takes a deep breath.

"Alex, Jurot and Chang died two days ago."

"What!" Shooting up from her seat in shock.

"I'm really sorry, Alex,"

"How?!"

"Is that important right at this moment?"

Alexandria nods her head. Telsia then takes a generous sip of her drink.

"When the Hazard team was disbanded, Chang and Jurot were reassigned to the Phoenix,"

"I heard," remarks Munro.

"And since it was a new ship, new crew, I guess they just felt they had a connection together from the old days. They became close, very close."

"Really? Jurot and Chang, they hated each other," quips Munro.

"Fooled us both, Alex. I kept up communication with them, and about six months ago Jurot contacted me and told me that they got married."

"What?"

"I know. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. Juliet Jurot and Austin Chang, husband and wife."

Tears begin to follow from Telsia's eyes.

"After all we had been through, I never thought any of us would find happiness. Alex, they did. In fact, they resigned their commissions and settled on Theros 7. That's probably why you didn't hear from them. They were planning to start a family. They were… so happy Alex, so happy."

Alexandria looks Telsia in the eyes.

"There is something else you're not telling me," says Munro.

Telsia stands up, turns her back to Munro, takes another generous sip and swallows hard.

"Jurot…" Telsia trails off.

Alexandria stands up.

"What about her?"

"She was…,"

"What?"

"Pregnant, Alex."

A solemn silence falls over both of them.

"How did they die?"

"Same old Alex."

"How? Telsia."

"The Breen, Alex, the Breen. They killed them all. They destroyed the entire planet."

Alexandria eyes redden in rage: "Is that why you are here?"

"Unofficially, yes."

"Revenge isn't your strong suit."

"It is now, Alex."

Alexandria looks into Telsia's eyes and recognizes that, look. It was the same look Munro had once, of unwavering conviction.

"Officially, Commander Tuvok wants to reassemble the team."

Munro scoffs and takes a generous sip of her drink.

"I heard Janeway made Admiral," remarks Munro.

"You heard right," Telsia replies with a slight awkwardness.

"She never really believed in the Hazard team."

Telsia rolls her eyes and takes a generous sip of her drink, knowing where the conversation is going.

"Things were different then, Alex. Voyager was one ship. I was Maquis. You, were… you. Janeway couldn't take the risks you wanted too," Murphy reminisces. "Today is different. The situation has changed. The stakes have changed. Commander Tuvok is now under Admiral Picard's command and we are at war," Murphy reminds her friend. "Tuvok still remembers what you did to save us."

Munro shakes her head to the suggestion.

"Really, I just get the feeling they forgot all that," retorts Munro. "Not to mention the thank you I received with a demotion to ensign."

"Things got crazy, and you – really got crazy," Murphy reminds Munro.

"I did what I had to."

"I know," agrees Telsia. "But you went one-woman army at the end."

"Fatalism is one of my strong suits."

Munro then notices Murphy's uniform dons three pins on her shoulder and realizes her once subordinate is now a superior, holding the rank of commander.

"So, commander," looking back up to meet Telsis's eyes. "Is this your outfit?"

Telsia blows out a breath.

"Yes," with an uncomfortably sigh. "Is this going to be a problem?"

"Maybe."

Telsia scoffs and follows it with yet another generous gulp of the strong spirit.

"Yes Alex, this is my unit, but you are the first name on my list and I won't take no for an answer."

"Tell me what's really going on?"

"I can't. Not yet."

"Then I'll think about it."

"Alex!" Murphy shrieks in frustration.

"What's going on Telsia?" pries Munro.

"Starfleet..." Telsia throws her hands up in frustration. "The whole Federation is on the verge of collapse."

"What's new?"

Telsia looks Alexandria into her eyes.

"It is more serious than you know Alex. Hundreds of supplies routes have been hit by the Breen. They've cut off vital planets that have vital resources; food, water, minerals, anything important to the Federation is being stifled by the Breen. It is becoming a war of attrition and we are on the losing end."

"Look we may not have beef, but Starfleet isn't losing. We defeated the Borg goodness sake!"

"I thought that too at first. From the reports I've seen, the real – reports – Alex, the Federation is in real trouble. It's not an imminent danger; it is more insidious than that and harder to believe. But the threat is real. Starfleet is great at major offensives but this is different. The Breen are slowly killing the Federation, bit by bit."

"So why us? Why the Hazard team?"

"Like I said, it's the battles we're losing that is causing us to lose the war."

"Tuvok understood this when he originally formed the Hazard team by bringing together specialists in combat to execute specific objectives. An aggregate of small victories could be the key to turning this war around."

"Chell and I have already transferred to the Enterprise. I just need to know you're in."

"You know I'm not going to be quiet."

"Alexandria – Elizabeth – Munro – say YES before I sober up and change my mind."

Telsia forcefully extends her hand towards Alexandria, Alexandria takes it, grasping it firmly.

"Telsia, you do realize you've just used up your best friend for life card."

"Don't I know you won't let me forget, Alex."

"It's that bad?"

"Worse, Alex. Worse."