Battle For Bajor

by Stephen Ratliff

Marrissa Story. written #2 Rewrite of "A Gul's Revenge" Marrissa assists in the defense of Deep Space Nine and Bajor. Replaced with To Go the Distance

Title: Battle For Bajor
Author: Stephen Ratliff
Series: TNG, Marrissa Stories #2
Part: REV2.1 1/1
Rating: [G]
Codes: n/a

Prologue

It had not been Gul Ducat's week. Everything had started
when he was assigned to attack Earth. The force had been ordered
to proceed across the border separately. They were suppose to
met in the graveyard of ships at Wolf 359. Of the 300 ships,
only 10 had made it and those were quickly defeated by a Star
Fleet Taskforce lead by the starship Hood.
Gul Ducat's Akane had the distinction of being the first of
those ships to be captured. The Akane had left a Miranda Class
starship drifting lifeless in its wake by the time it encountered
the Enterprise saucer section. It had looked like an easy
target. A saucer section crewed by a bunch of children. How
much could they do?
Plenty it had turned out. He still wasn't sure how they had
evaded fire and disabled first his engines, then his weapons, and
finally his shields. That wasn't what grated his soul an made
him cry out for revenge. It was the inscription the young girl
in command had carved with her phasers on the Akane's hull. An
inscription that no one could seem to remove.

"I was beaten by a bunch of kids."

Chapter One

Marrissa stood by the window in the Captain's Ready Room.
While she wasn't crying at the moment, she had been. Her parents
were dead. She was avoiding going to her quarters. There were
just too many memories haunting the place. Since the Ready Room
was her domain until Captain Picard returned with the stardrive,
the twelve year-old girl stayed there most of the time, next to
the bridge of the ship she was commanding. A ship that she had
been so proud to command that she had never said good-bye.
Marrissa didn't know what she'd do when Captain Picard
returned. With her parent's deaths she had lost everything, a
mother, a father, a home, the stars. She'd always dreamed of
commanding a starship. Now after obtaining that dream for a
short while, she had lost it all. Now she was destined to be
sent off the ship to some foster home. If she every go command
again it would be of a freighter, most likely. What was she
kidding herself, if she ever got IN a starship again it would be
as a passenger.

Captain's Log
Stardate 47576.71
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D stardrive
Captain Jean-Luc Picard recording.
The USS Enterprise is resuming its course to Deep Space Nine
after assisting a damaged Ferengi freighter. At DS9 we will pick
up the saucer section and await orders.

"Counselor at one time I thought I had everything," Captain
Picard said, standing by a window in a lounge on the stardrive, a
cup of earl grey in his hand. Counselor Troi was sitting on
a couch with her own herbal tea in had. "A career, a command, a
little excitement every once in a while, the stars..."
"But you want something more," Troi prompted after a
moment's silence.
"I once believed that this ship was my home, this crew, my
family," Picard stated.
"And now..."
"And now I'm not sure anymore. In the next five or so
years, I'll probably be forced into a promotion off the
Enterprise," Picard mused. "All I'll have are memories, no
legacy, no one to carry the Picard name on in the stars."
"What about your nephew Rene," Troi asked. "From what
you've told me, he's interested in Star Fleet."
"Rene, despite his current interest, will probably follow in
his father's footsteps," Picard dismissed. "Someone has to run
the vineyard. And it's much too early to tell what his baby
sister Theresa will do. Plus..."
"... Plus what?"
"Counselor, have you ever read James T. Kirk's logs?"
"I'm familiar with them."
"In one of them following the Genesis Incident, he states
that the Enterprise felt like a house with all the children
gone," Picard recalled. "Until this mission, I never realized
what an important part of the Enterprise children are..."

"Captain urgent hail from Deep Space Nine," Lieutenant Tasha
Yarr said.
"On screen," Captain Picard said. Commander Benjamin Sisko
appeared on the main view screen. "What can I do for you,
Commander?"
"We have detected a dozen Cardassian warships on coarse for
Bajor," Commander Sisko said. "Estimated time till arrival one
hour. You are the senior officer in the area."
"What ships are in the area and what condition are they
in?" Picard inquired.
"The Roanoke, our patrol ship this month, the Enterprise-C,
the Arizona, the Surak is due back from the Gamma Quadrant in
twenty minutes, your saucer section and three runabouts assigned
to the station." A PADD was handed to the Commander from off
screen. "I just have been informed that the United Federation of
Planets Congress had declared war on the Cardassian Empire after
attacks on Vulcan, Risa, Betazed and numerous starships."
"So it begins again," Picard commented. "Deploy the Roanoke
and the Enterprise-C to guard Bajor. I should arrive by then
time they arrive. Have my saucer section evacuate the non-
combatants."

As soon as Commander Sisko cut off the channel to Captain
Picard he got up and enter Ops. Major Kira was by the Main Table
and Chief O'Brien and Lieutenant Dax were at their stations. Odo
had just arrived at Ops to deliver the daily security report.
Benjamin Sisko began, "Odo, began an orderly evacuation of the
civilian population to the Enterprise-D saucer section. Marrissa
Flores, who is in command there, will tell you who to coordinate
with. Chief O'Brien, what is the status of our runabouts?"
"The Ganges and Rio Grande are fine, but the Orinoco needs
its impulse engine replaced," Miles O'Brien said as Odo left Ops.
"I'm awaiting parts due in on the Enterprise-D stardrive."
"Kira, you will be piloting the Ganges, Dax the Rio Grande,"
Sisko said. "Open a channel to the Arizona's Captain Morris and
the Roanoke's Captain Szustakowski."
"Channel Open," Kira responded. Captain Melanie Morris
appeared in her ship's version of ten-forward dressed in an
evening gown. Behind her a large gathering of people seated in
rows and a grand piano could be seen. On the other side of the
screen Captain Matthew Szustakowski appeared in uniform. In
contrast to Captain Morris, the junior captain was seated on his
bridge.
"Captains, sorry to interrupt you, but we have Cardassians
on the way to attack Bajor and this station," Commander Sisko
said.
Chapter Two

Gul Ducat entered the War Room on the Command ship of the
expanded seventh order. A eleven fellow Gul's were gathered
there already. "I see everyone is here," Gul Ducat observed.
"Everyone here has a personal grudge against the planet Bajor.
That's part of the reason you all are here. Gul Dywer, I believe
you grudge is against a particular Bajoran Major who is now the
First Officer of Deep Space Nine. You will lead the assault on
the former and soon to be again Terok Nor, along with Gul Enchek.
Guls Renor, Ganor, Delnor, Gavek, and Darvek you will take
Bajor. The Rest of us will split up any spaceships resisting.
But I want to make one thing clear, MARRISSA FLORES and the
ENTERPRISE SAUCER are MINE ALONE."
Around the table there were nods, grins, and cheers of
approval for Gul Ducat's plan.

"Captain, are you leaving the little girl in command of the
saucer section?" Lieutenant Yar asked.
"Yes, I am leaving Marrissa in command of the saucer
section," Captain Jean-Luc Picardreplied. "Do you have any
objection to my decision?"
"I do," Lieutenant Tasha Yarr replied. "She is twelve years
old and that just by a couple days. Surely there is some one who
can do the job better. I admit that I don't know why you put
her in command in the first place but surely any such reasons are
no longer applicable since we are going into battle."
"Since you where not on board when Marrissa got command I
will inform you of the reasons for placing her in command,"
Captain Picard replied. "One personnel shortage, still
applicable since we need to staff the Galaxy. Two, Marrissa's
21:14 Kobayashi Maru time, always a good indicator as to how well
someone will do in a battle. Three, who else was I going
to put in command? I needed everyone I could get, I still do.
Marrissa and her Kid's crew should
do well where I assigned them. If you don't think so review her
two minute capture of a
Cardassian warship, Galor Class."
"Galor Class in two minutes!" Lieutenant Yarr exclaimed.
"Are you sure she couldn't help
us in a more active position, sir."
"Now approaching Deep Space Nine," Ensign Ro said from CONN.
"You have the bridge, Lieutenant Yarr," Picard said.
"Mister Data." The two left the battle bridge.

Captain Picard and Data materialized on the Main Bridge of
the Enterprise-D. "Captain, I didn't see the stardrive section
arrive," Marrissa said.
"You aren't suppose to and neither are the Cardassians,"
Captain Picard replied. "Has every one arrived?"
"Captains Szustakowski and Morris, and Commanders Riker and
Shelby have arrived,"
Marrissa stated. "Captain Selv and Commander Sisko are on their
way."
"When they arrive join us in the observation lounge,"
Captain Jean-Luc Picard said.

"I see everyone has arrived," Picard said as Ben Sisko,
Captain Selv and Marrissa arrived.
As they took a seat Captain Picard examined the people he had
called here. To his right was
Commander Riker who seemed to be in a good mood despite his fall
the previous day. Next to
him was Captain Matt Szustakowski of the Roanoke. Captain
Szustakowski was a 42 year old
man whose hair was graying at the temples. Next to him was
Commander Benjamin Sisko of
Deep Space Nine who seemed to be worried about
the situation. Next in line was Captain Selv of the Surak. No
longer able to play the elf he played
when Captain Picard and several other captains had played Santa
for a remote colony, he fit the
role of Santa now, minus the white beard of coarse. At the other
end of the table was Captain
Morris of the Arizona. Her hair was all done up as she had just
been pulled from another of her
piano consorts, just like every other time Captain Picard and her
were in the same sector. To
Captain Morris's right was Commander Shelby. Her long hair gave
evidence that the position of
First Officer afforded her allot more time. Next to her was
Marrissa. A 12 year old girl with
blond hair, who would have suspected that she had such good
command abilities. Between the
Girl Captain and Captain Picard was Commander Data who recently
turned down the job of first
officer on the Reliant.
"So Captain, what have you interrupted my piano consort for
this time?" Captain Morris
asked. "Last time you interrupted me it was to inform me my ship
had had a warp core breach on
my starship while I was playing and you thought it started when I
was playing Chopin's
Revolutionary Etude in the Star Base 127 consort hall."
"No this time it is because the Federation has declared war
on Cardassia again and a dozen
Cardassians are ninety minutes away from Bajor," Captain Picard
said. "I believe it started when
you where teaching Two Easy Pieces by Chopin to your Tactical
Officer."
"That said, I have a question Captain Picard," Captain Matt
Szustakowski of the Roanoke
interrupted.
"Yes, Captain?" Picard responded.
"Why is the little girl here?" Szustakowski asked.
"I wondered that as well," Captain Selv seconded.
"I will let your fellow officers answer why Marrissa is in
command of my saucer section,"
Picard replied. "One fact each. Commander Riker?"
"21 minute Kobayashi Maru time."
"Captain Morris."
"Captured one top of the line Cardassian warship."
"Commander Shelby."
"Which had disabled or destroyed 7 Federation starships."
"Commander Sisko."
"Without an single scratch on her command and I did look. I
even got suited up and
checked it with a magnifying glass"
"I believe that is enough from the Marrissa Admiration
Society," Captain Picard
concluded, as a laugh ran around the room. "In less you two are
still objecting?"
"No," Captains Selv and Szustakowski said in unison.
"Now are big advantage here is that the Cardassians will
underestimate the number of
ships here," Captain Picard began. "Perhaps by as many as 4
ships."
"How could they miss four starships," Szustakowski wanted to
know.
"Commander Riker will explain," Picard ordered.
"Besides the Enterprise-D stardrive which entered the system
cloaked," Commander Riker
explained. "The Cardassians also don't know about the Galaxy and
the Enterprise-C which entered
the system though by a coarse known as Bajor's Back door by the
former Bajoran Resistance
Movement. Due to sensor interference along this route Cardassia
is unable to scan it. As both the
Enterprise-C and the Galaxy immediately entered the Bajor Space
Orbiting Repair Dock,
otherwise known as BaSOR Dock, The Cardassians don't know they
are there."
"That's only three ships," Selv counted.
"True, but we will be separating the Galaxy saucer and
stardrive, since both Marrissa and
Commander Shelby have shown themselves to be able saucer
commanders in battle situations,"
Commander Riker replied.
"Surely the Cardassians will expect the Enterprise stardrive
section to arrive," Commander
Sisko pointed out.
"They will and thus their forces will spread out to cover
all the likely approaches," Captain
Picard replied. "Commander Data will now present our deployment
positions."
"First the Surak will go back to though the wormhole and
return at 0130 hours, 1 minute
2.678971 seconds into the attack," Data said. "Mean while the
Roanoke will move to guard Bajor
and the Arizona, Deep Space Nine and the wormhole. The saucer
section
of the Enterprise-D will handle the civilian evacuation of DS9.
The parts of the Galaxy will
emerge from BaSOR Dock at Captain Picard's or Captain
Szustakowski's order. The remaining
Enterprises will take out the perimeter guards, while cloaked if
possible."
"Commander Sisko any runabouts you can spare will aid in
your defense," Picard said.
"Commander Shelby, you will be in command of the Galaxy's saucer
section and Data you have
the stardrive of the Galaxy. Any comments or suggestions?"
"One thing, Captain," Commander Sisko asked. "What is our
chain of Command?"
"Myself, Captain Selv, Captain Morris, Captain Szustakowski,
Commander Riker,
Commander Sisko, Commander Shelby, Lieutenant Commander Data, and
last but no means least
Marrissa," Picard recited. "In the event that someone is put out
of commission your first officers
fit at the end of the list."
"So it is possible that Marrissa could end up in command of
this battle," Szustakowski
commented. "Wait until I tell my first officer. Mike will laugh
all the way to Bajor."
"Anything else?" Captain Picard queried.
As there was nothing else all present left for their
commands.
Chapter Three

Captain's Log
STARDATE 47576.91
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D saucer section
Marrissa Floras recording
Transport of civilians from Deep Space Nine has begun. I've
put Clara Sutter and Jay
Gordon in charge of seeing that everyone gets aboard.

Clara Sutter beamed up the first people from Deep Space
Nine. Among them was Keiko
and Molly O'Brien, and Jake Sisko. "Mrs. O'Brien, Jake can you
assist me?" Clara asked.
"What can we do?" Keiko asked.
"Do you know how to operate a transporter?" Clara inquired.
"Yes, you don't have an engineer for a husband without
learning something," Keiko
replied.
"Then you can beam people aboard and Jake can assign them
quarters," Clara ordered.
"I've got to check on the docking port. When you are done, let
Jake take Molly to your quarters,
you got your old ones, and report to the bridge. Marrissa wants
to see you."

In the Captain's Ready Room on the Roanoke, Captain
Szustakowski and his daughter
Katherine, a cadet on leave from Star Fleet Academy and an
excellent helmsman, where talking
about the young girl who was in command of the Enterprise saucer.
Or rather the Captain was
talking and Katherine was listening.
"You should of heard the list of accomplishments this girl
has," the Captain of the
Roanoke said. "Officer after officer gave accomplishment after
accomplishment. This little girl
has managed to do and most of them within the week she has had in
command. She broke the
twenty-minute barrier on the Kobayashi Maru by a good minute and
fourteen seconds."
"I hope I can last half as long," Katherine replied.
"That, my daughter, is a very realistic goal," Captain
Szustakowski told his oldest of seven
daughters. "If you succeed you will have beaten both mine and
your mothers time."
"Mom will tell me I should aim higher," Katherine replied,
"when I visit her and my
younger sisters on the Brittain next week."
"That reminds me, Kathy, my CONN officer has caught some
kind of Bajor version of the
flu," Captain Szustakowski asked his daughter. "Would you care
to take CONN until he returns."
"Aye, Aye, Captain Dad," Katherine said with a sparkle in
her eye.

"Marrissa," Jay Gordon said, to his commanding officer from
the traditional seat of the
first officer on the bridge. "With the exception of three
Ferengi, all civilians are aboard.
Permission to take an away team to retrieve them?"
"Permission granted," Marrissa said. "Have Jake Sisko
assist if possible."
"Alexander," Jay said as he left his seat. The two boys
entered the aft turbolift.

Jay Gordon entered the transporter room with Alexander.
"Jake how would you like to
help me retrieve three Ferengi," Jay asked.
"Sure," Jake replied.
"Alex, give Jake a communicator and three extras," Jay said.
"And issue us phasers, not
that I'm planing on using them, but it may help them take us more
seriously." The three stepped
up on to transporter disks and Jay continued, "Beam us to
Quarks."
As the three boys disappeared Keiko muttered to Molly, "I
knew Quark would cause a
problem."

"Quark you where supposed to leave here an hour ago," Odo
said. As this did not move
the Ferengi he continued. "The Enterprise is waiting for you,
Quark."
"Let them go, I'm staying here," Quark said.
Jake Sisko, Jay Gordon and Alexander beamed into Quark's.
"How can we help you,
Odo?" Jay asked.
"Mr. Quark and his family don't want to leave," Odo said.
"I don't see that he has any choice," Jay Gordon said. He
motioned for Jake to go around
the Ferengi and tapped his communicator lightly. Jake moved
around and behind the Ferengi.
"Quark apparently disagrees," Odo said. "Not that it would
help him."
"Help him," Rom said. All eye were on Jay, Odo, and
Alexander who was standing
between the two.
"The way I see it you either go with these gentlemen, or
...," Odo said.
"The gentlemen stun you," Alexander said as he and Jay drew
their phasers, "and beam
you abroad.
Meanwhile Jake had attached all three communicators and now
signaled Jay.
"See you later Odo," Jay said tapping his communicator.
"Six to beam up Mrs. O'Brien."

Chapter Four

Jay Gordon, Jake Sisko, Alexander, Quark, Rom, and Nog
materialized on the transporter
platform. "Jake see to our guests," Jay said. "Mrs. O'Brien,
Alexander, I believe we are wanted
on the bridge." Keiko handed Molly to Jake. The aforementioned
threesome left for the bridge.
Quark called after them, "I'm reporting this." The
threesome entered the turbolift as Quark
stood angrily at the door of the transporter room.
"To who Quark?" Jake asked. "Odo certainly isn't going to
do anything."
"To this ship's chief of security," Quark replied.
"The Klingon kid is the security chief," Jay said.
"The Commanding officer then."
"Who do you think told them to beam down to get you. Come
on Quark, your quarters are
this way."

Marrissa was sitting in the Command Chair of the
Enterprise's bridge, when Jay and
Alexander returned the bridge with Mrs. O'Brien. Patterson
Supra was sitting at CONN and Ro
Nyres was at Ops. "I've got a job for you, Mrs. O'Brien,"
Marrissa said. "Ever since they came on
board my passengers have been bothering me. I have to admit the
a twelve year-old's voice and
certainly presence is not easy for adults to obey."
"So you want me to be your Liaison Officer to your
passengers," Keiko concluded.
"Exactly," Marrissa said. "You can use one of the aft
science stations. Jay since you have
returned to the Bridge, can I assume everyone is aboard?"
"You can," Jay replied.
"Alex, request clearance from Deep Space Nine's Ops Center
for departure," Marrissa
ordered.
"Request granted," Alexander Rozhenko replied.
"CONN, undock from the station and pilot us clear," Marrissa
ordered.

Meanwhile the dozen Cardassian vessels had entered the
system. Gul Ducat was on the
Bridge of the Cardassian command ship. There scans could not
located the Enterprise-D stardrive
section. Gul Ducat wondered, "Where is the Enterprise
stardrive?" After puzzling over this for a
moment he continued, "Divert the Group that was to take Bajor to
watch the most likely routes in
the system while the rest of us take care of the Starships in
system."

"Captain, the Cardassian vessels are entering the system,"
Lieutenant Yarr informed
Captain Picard.
"Estimated deployment?" Picard asked.
"Five of them are moving to cover the most likely entry
points into the system," Yarr
reported. "The remaining seven are splitting up to cover each
ship. Two are on course to the
Arizona, two to Deep Space Nine, one to the Saucer Section, and
two to the Roanoke."
"Ensign Ro, set a coarse for the far left Cardassian."

"Now clear of Deep Space Nine," Patterson Supra said from
CONN on the Bridge of the
USS Enterprise-D saucer.
"Set a coarse for Bajor, full impulse," Marrissa ordered.
"Keep an eye on those
Cardassians, Alex I don't want them sneaking up behind us."
"Aye, sir," Alexander replied. After a minute Alexander had
more information for
Marrissa. "The Cardassians have opened up on DS9 and the
Arizona."

Deep Space Nine was shaking under Cardassian assault.
"Status, Mister O'Brien,"
Commander Sisko prompted.
"We've taken several hits to the docking ring," O'Brien
reported. "And one hit to the
Promenade near Quarks. The ship the Ganges is after has damaged
weapons and impulse drive.
The Rio Grande's target is unharmed."
"Major Kira seems to be doing well," Sisko stated. "Ask Dax
to lure her target closer to
the wormhole, it's just about time for our little surprise."

Two Cardassians were circling the Arizona. "Shields at
40%," Lt. Small said.
"Fire phasers and torpedoes," Captain Morris said as another
wave of torpedoes impacted
the Arizona. Several people fell out of their seats.
"Captain, I don't understand this," Lt. Small said. "One of
the Cardassians just exploded.
The torpedoes came from nowhere."
"Send my thanks to Captain Picard," Captain Melanie Morris
said. "But tell him we can
handle it from here. Ensign La Motte bear down on the remaining
Cardassian."

Meanwhile the Roanoke was in trouble. "Captain aft shields
are down," Chief Engineer
Lockhard said on the smoky bridge.
"Kathy keep those Cardassians off our tail," Captain
Szustakowski said. "Lt. Grubb
contact the Galaxy and see if they can speed up their arrival."
As Captain Szustakowski turned back toward the main
viewscreen, a panel behind him
blew up. The explosion knocked the Captain to the deck and
implanted several pieces of jagged
metal in his back. "Medical Emergence on the Bridge," Lieutenant
Commander Mike Walsky, the
first officer said.
"I'm all right Mike," Captain Szustakowski said as he lay on
the deck.
"Respectfully Captain, you have several pieces of metal in
your back," Walsky replied.
"You are bleeding badly. You will go to sickbay."
"When they take me off the Bridge you have conn,"
Szustakowski replied. "However, they
will have to fix either the turbolifts or transporter before
doing so. Therefore, Kathy hard about Lt.
Muldino fire phasers."
The Nebula Class Starship Roanoke turned into one of it's
opponents and tore into it with
relish. The Cardassian retreated quickly but it's companion
moved in on the other side.
Chapter Five

The Enterprise-D saucer section was halfway to Bajor when
Alexander announced,
"Captain, we have a tail."
"We do," Marrissa replied, "put them on screen." Marrissa
looked closely at the ship.
"Magnify, centering on the port blade, 10 times. I want to see
if this is who I think it is." The
inscription 'I lost to a bunch of kids' was clearly visible.
"Fire Torpedoes, Alex. Patterson, begin
torpedo defense plan Alpha Four A. Nyres, go to evasive pattern
Mozart Symphony number 3.
Clara give us all the speed you have. We've got civilians to get
out of harms way." The Bridge of
the Enterprise erupted in activity.

Gul Ducat was attempting to close in on the saucer section.
"Faster helmsman," he
ordered, moving towards the helm.
"We can't go any faster," the Helmsman replied.
"Do you want to die, Helmsman?" the Gul asked, placing his
face up against the
helmsman's ear. The Helms man indicated that he did not. "Then
you better go faster."
"Gul," the weapons officer interrupted. "the enemy saucer
section has opened fire on us.
They are launching torpedoes."
"Return fire with torpedoes," Gul Ducat replied as the view
of the Enterprise saucer grew
larger on the Cardassian's main view screen

The wormhole opened up and the Nebula Class starship Surak
emerged. The less
damaged of the two Cardassians attacking Deep Space Nine began to
turn toward it. It didn't
complete the movement as the Surak opened fire, red beams of
phaser fire lancing out of the ships
ventral and dorsal phaser arrays and red bursts of torpedoes
launched themselves toward the
Cardassian ship. It trembled and shook under the force of the
Nebula Class starship's fire. Then
suddenly it exploded.
"Commander, the ship the Rio Grande was after has been
destroyed," O'Brien said. "The
remaining ship is trying to retreat. The Surak, the Ganges and
the Rio Grande are pursuing."
The screen focused on the remaining Cardassian. It was
twisting and turning trying to
evade the fire of the two runabouts and the Nebula class starship
Surak. The Surak was attacking
them in a proven, by the book pattern. Normally the Cardassians
would have been able to employ
counter-measures, but not this time as the runabouts Ganges and
Rio Grande provided additional
fire in not so logical patterns. It's shields were down in short
order and the remaining systems
were not far behind.
"The remaining Cardassian has been destroyed," O'Brien
announced. "Informing the
Enterprise-D stardrive."

"Captain, updates coming in now," Lt. Yarr said. "The
Arizona, Deep Space Nine, and the
Surak are free of opposition. The Enterprise-C reports 2 kills.
The Roanoke is requesting
additional assistance. The Galaxy stardrive and saucer are on
their way to assist the Roanoke,
which still has two opponents. Our saucer section reports that
its opponent is down to 5% shields
and they remain untouched."
"Set a course for the Roanoke," Picard said. "Calculate for
warp arrival. Send the Arizona
and the Surak to clear the 3 remaining Cardassians in the 2nd
wave. Send the Enterprise-C to help
our saucer section. I don't believe that information. Decloak
and engage." The Enterprise
NCC-1701-D stardrive shimmered into existence and went into warp.

Meanwhile back on the saucer section of the Enterprise-D
things where going well.
Torpedoes would leave the Cardassian ship at full speed, trying
to target the Galaxy class saucer.
However about halfway they encountered a mysterious resistance
and began slowed until they ran
out of fuel. At which time they drifted back into the Cardassian
warship.
Chapter Six

On the Roanoke Captain Szustakowski was still giving orders,
even though a doctor had
arrived. "Kathy hard to port," He rasped. "Fire phasers." The
Nebula Class starship moved in on
the portside Cardassian forcing it to retreat some distance or
risk destruction.
"Captain, Message form Captain Picard," Lt.j.g.. Grubb said
with a puzzled look. "He
wants us to sit back and watch the movie."
Suddenly the Enterprise-D stardrive appeared on the portside
its id flashing by.
Meanwhile on the starboard side the Galaxy stardrive arrived.
Moments later the saucer section of
the Galaxy came from above its id passing slowly by NCC-70637.
The Starships opened fire on
the now greatly out numbered Cardassians.
"Kathy let the others have clear shots," Captain
Szustakowski wheezed. "Course down on
the z axis. We did our best."
Just as the last Cardassian ship was destroyed Captain
Matthew James Szustakowski's
eyes closed and the Doctor announced, "He's dead Mike." The
Cadet at the Helm's eyes filled
with tears.

On Gul Ducat's ship, Gul Ducat requested, "Status."
"Their are only six ships out of our dozen remaining, our
shields are down," the weapons
officer said.
"Weapons are damaged and the impulse engines are off-line,"
the Engineering Officer
said.
"I suggest we withdraw," the first officer suggested.
"Inform the rest of the fleet that they may withdraw, but we
will leave after we destroy this
bunch of kids," Gul Ducat sneered.

Back on the saucer section of the Enterprise-D, Marrissa was
receiving much better news
than that of the crew of the Roanoke. "Marrissa, the enemy ship
has lost impulse engines and all
weapons systems," Alexander reported.
"End firing and cut repulsing tractor beam field," Marrissa
ordered. "Alex see if you can
add the word twice to that inscription we made a week ago."
"Aye, aye, sir," the Klingon Kid smiled.

The Enterprise saucer section hovered near the powerless
Cardassian Galor class warship.
A thin phaser beam shot out to the inscription 'I was beaten by a
bunch of kids.' It changed the
period to a comma and then added the word 'twice'. With that
addition, the saucer section moved
off, leaving the Cardassian warship drifting.

Meanwhile on the Bridge of Gul Ducat's powerless ship, the
weapons officer announced.
"The saucer section has added to the inscription."
"What did they add?" Gul Ducat said frustrated.
"The computer has translated the new part of the inscription
to mean a second time," the
weapons officer replied. That was the last straw for Gul Ducat.
He went mad. The Gul picked up
his rather hefty command chair and hurled it toward the weapons
officer. Then he pulled his
weapon a began shooting up all the consoles and view screens
around the bridge. Finally
someone managed to restrain the enraged Cardassian, or rather
they stunned him and took him to
Sickbay.

Medical Log
Cardassian Seventh Order
Chief Medical Officer of said Order recording
Gul Ducat has been restrained in Sick bay following a
rampage on the Bridge during
which he killed his weapons officer and injured several of the
other members of the bridge crew. I
am relieving him of command due to insanity making Gul Renor the
acting commander of the
remainder of this Order.
I recommend that Gul Ducat be committed. He shows signs of
paranoia and delusions.
For instance he believes that a blond haired human named Marrissa
is following his every move
and lives only to torment him. In fact while I was talking to
him he reported seeing her behind me
and became very terrified. While I have discovered that his last
two, (and only) defeats were
delivered by a human girl named Marrissa, and other than this I
can find no logical reason for his
behavior.
End Recording

Chapter Seven

Captain's Log
STARDATE 47577.75
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D stardrive
Captain Jean-Luc Picard Recording

The Cardassians have withdraw for the time being. The
Arizona and Surak are paroling
the border now. The Enterprise-D stardrive will be under repair
and upgrade until STARDATE
47615. The saucer section was undamaged, however it cannot
reattach due to docking latch
damage on the stardrive side. The Roanoke will also be under
repair until STARDATE 47752.
We will be conducting a funeral for Captain Matthew James
Szustakowski, the Floreses
who died on our last mission and the 69 others who died under the
Cardassian attack. The funeral
is scheduled for 0800 hours tomorrow in the main shuttle bay of
the saucer section of the
Enterprise-D.
I have just returned from the saucer section where I along
with Captain Selv (Surak),
Captain Morris (Arizona), Commander Sisko (DS9), Cadet Katherine
Szustakowski (Roanoke),
and young Marrissa Flores. set down the proposed regulations for
the Kid's crew. They have been
approved as regulation 214.

At that moment Marrissa (finally) was handing command over
to Lieutenant Commander
Data.
"Marrissa to all Kid's Crew members," She said. "I am proud
of your work for the past
week. I hope that it was as enjoyable for you as it was for me.
Captain Picard sends his
congratulations on a job well done and hopes that Star Fleet will
be able to use you in the future.
You will be relieved in the next hour by crew returning from the
Enterprise-C. Mr. Data you have
conn."
"Thank you Marrissa," Data replied. "I add my
congratulations to Captain Picard's. Any
time you need help feel to call me."
"In that case, can you do a couple Kobayashi Maru
evaluations next week?" Marrissa
asked. "Alexander's and Clara's are up for renewal."

Captain Picard was going over the repair lists for the
stardrive and saucer sections. Some
damage on the docking system on the stardrive section was
preventing the reunification of the
Enterprise. The saucer was reporting stressed aft shields, no
wonder there, and puzzling to
Captain Picard a rear tractor beam unit burnt out. The door
chimed. "Come."
Counselor Troi entered, carrying a PADD.
"What can I do for you, Counselor?" Picard asked.
"Captain, I was looking at the Flores' will," Troi began.
"Are you aware that you've been
named Marrissa's guardian?"
"Yes," Picard replied quite serenely.
"That means you are now responsible for her," Troi responded
at her Captain's reaction.
"Counselor, I've run starships for almost 30 years, faced
Klingon, Cardassians,
Romulans, and Borg. I hardly think one twelve year old girl
could be much more trouble."
"Captain, I think you better revise that. Marrissa is a
young girl who has suddenly lost
both of her parents. She has no living relatives she knows of.
She's scared. She doesn't know
what is going to happen to her."
"Have you been to see her yet?"
"No, I prefer to know as much as possible about the
situation before going in. I've talked
to her friends Jay and Clara."
"And what did they say?" Picard asked. Troi looked at
Picard with a question in her eyes.
"If I'm going to adopt Marrissa, I better know what I'm getting
into."
"Pardon me, but what have you done with my Captain?" Troi
asked.
"Have I finally managed to surprise you?" Picard inquired.
"Yes, Captain," Troi responded. "I've seen nothing to
indicate that you would do this."
"Counselor, ever since I came on board you've been trying to
ease my discomfort with
children. You've asked me to give tours, had that 'Captain
Picard Day', and even maneuvered me
into taking Marrissa's Class on a field trip. And don't tell me
about 'Commander Riker's so-
called injury.' I know all about it from Doctor Crusher. Well
you've succeed. I now enjoy my
time with them. That's why I decided to become a mentor."
"Why did you choose Marrissa to mentor?" Troi asked.
"She asked me," Picard said simply. "Afer her help back
when I was trapped in the
turbolift, she apparently started working on her proposal. Then
after that archeology field trip she
presented it to me. And by the way if it hadn't been for the
fact the field trip was an archeology
one, you might have gotten away with it. In any case, it was an
opportunity I didn't think I could
pass up. Not many young ladies, especially ones as shy as
Marrissa, get up the courage to ask a
Star Fleet Captain anything."

After the funeral, Captain Picard stopped by Marrissa's
Quarters. He rang the doorbell.
"Go Away," Marrissa yelled.
"Your aren't Going to let your captain in?" Picard asked.
"Come in then, unless Counselor Troi is with you," Marrissa
said.
Captain Picard entered the quarters. He went over and sat on
the sofa by Marrissa.
Marrissa was sitting curled up in a blanket looking at a picture
of her parents. She appeared to
have been crying.
"You aren't going to sit here all day looking at that
picture are you?" Picard queried.
Marrissa kept silent. "Jay Gordon says you aren't even receiving
his reports." She remained quiet.
"The computer says you haven't eaten since STARDATE 47576.8. If
you don't start eating or
receiving visitors Counselor Troi will be down here."
"Anything but Counselor Troi," Marrissa said as she got up
and went over to the
replicator. "Turkey Sandwich number four and 12oz glass of
strawberry juice."
"What have you got against Troi," Captain Picard asked.
"Would you like something?" Marrissa asked, avoiding the
question.
"Tea, Earl Gray, hot," Picard said as he joined her at the
replicator. They picked up their
food and sat down at the table.
After a moment of silence Marrissa answer Captain Picard's
question, "I pushed
Commander Riker off on of the crossways on the upper level of the
promenade when he informed
me of my parents deaths. I am not looking forward to what Troi
has to say about that."
"Commander Riker informed me of your reaction," the Captain
replied. "We decided not
to inform the Counselor. So unless Quark told her she doesn't
know. Plus I think she is going out
with Worf now. Are you aware of your parents will?"
"Yes," Marrissa said, "I am hoping SOMEONE on this ship will
adopt me."
"Would you like me to do so?" Picard inquired.
"Like, Love would be more like it," Marrissa said
brightening. Then with a mischievous
glimmer in her eyes she continued, "Especially if you let me on
the bridge every once in a while."
"Let you on the Bridge!" Captain Picard replied, "Marrissa,
after this last week I'd leave
you in command of the bridge."

Gul Ducat in the Meantime was pacing in confinement.
'Someday they will have to let me
out and when they do I will hunt down that little girl. Marrissa
Flores will wish she was never
born.' he thought. 'She will be crushed like the vole she is.'
Epilogue

Marrissa and Captain Picard were in a shuttle craft on its
way to Lavar, France. "What I
want to know is why Admiral McGuire was so nice during our
debriefing," the Captain asked. "I
have never heard her use such polite language."
"Maybe she realized that 50% of the Commanders of the
Enterprise ended their careers as
Commanding Admiral, Star Fleet," Marrissa said. "Or Maybe she has
a maternal instinct after all."
"Admiral Mc Guire a Maternal instinct," Captain Picard
laughed. he noticed that they
were nearing the Picard family vineyard. "Where should we land?"
"How about the front lawn?" Marrissa suggested.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard spent the next month at the Picard
Family Vineyards with his
newly adopted daughter Marrissa Amber Picard. At the end of that
month he hosted a Cadet
Cruise on the Maine before returning to the Enterprise ... but
that is another story.