Author's Notes: I apologize it took so long to update. I had a lot I was going through on top of dealing with a major writer's block so it took me a while to get back into the swing of writing, but here it is. The long awaited Chapter 10.

Chapter 10

Nicole walked into the Mess Hall. She saw Brerrok sitting at the bar. A few Starfleet officers were trying to pick a fight. Nicole waltzed right up to them, glaring. They instantly backed away. They went over to a table as far from away from her as they could.

Nicole turned her attention back to the Cardassian. "I thought I would find you here."

Brerrok stayed silent. He passed his drink to Nicole. She took a sip from it. The burn of alcohol hit the back of her throat.

"We need to save them, Nikki." Brerrok said after some time.

"And we will, my friend. I was able to talk to Autumn without being detected. She's on our side. She's willing to take us to get them back." Nicole said.

"How long?"

"Four hours."

As Nicole could have guessed, Brerrok was unhappy. He slammed his fist down on the bar, startling the bartender.

"They may not have four hours!" Brerrok said, raising his voice.

"Do you think I know that already!? River is missing as well!" Nicole exclaimed.

"We need to find them." Brerrok said quietly.

Nicole placed a hand on Brerrok's shoulder. She leaned to whisper in his ear. "I have a plan."

Brerrok turned to Nicole. Nicole smiled wickedly. Brerrok smiled back. They didn't need words to communicate. He already knew what she had planned. He finished the rest of the drink before following his commanding officer out of the Mess Hall.

"Commander Riker, we have an unscheduled launch in progress." The security chief said, tapping his fingers against the console.

"Who is it?" Commander Riker asked.

The security chief didn't say anything. He just looked up with a shocked expression.

"It's your daughter, sir. Nicole and the Cardassian."

Commander Riker asked for the tractor beam, but they quickly realized that it was disabled. Along with most of their weapons and engines.

"Hail them!" Commander Riker ordered. His temper flaring.

Nicole's smirking face appeared on the screen.

"You bring that shuttle back. NOW!"

"I'm sorry, Enterprise, I can't. I can't sit around while Michael destroys everything I worked so hard to build." Nicole said.

"What about Captain Picard?" Commander Riker asked.

"I am sorry, Commander. He isn't my captain anymore. I wish you all luck." Nicole said, cutting communications.

Commander Riker grinded his teeth as the stolen shuttle jumped to warp. He didn't know how she was able to steal the shuttle out from under their noses. Nicole was more dangerous than they thought.

"Good luck, my dear." Data said quietly. He hoped no one heard him.

A battle cruiser decloaked as the Federation shuttle dropped out of warp.

"Hello Nikki." It was the woman with the two children that Nicole rescued.

Her name was Autumn. She had short dark hair and blue-gray eyes. Michael made her captain of one of many battlecruisers he stole. From Nicole nonetheless.

"Autumn, open the shuttle bay doors." Nicole ordered.

Nicole was thankful that Autumn was on her side. Autumn didn't like how cold Michael was towards her two young kids. Nicole was different. She actually cared about them. She made sure they were cared for.

"We were able to locate them, ma'am." Autumn said as Nicole walked onto the bridge with Brerook close in tow. "Michael took over a Cardassian transport ship. One of ours."

"Which one?" Nicole asked.

"Armora." Autumn said.

Nicole looked at Brerrok. He was ready to kill someone.

"What could Michael possibly want with my brother?" Brerrok asked.

"I don't know, but he seems to be targeting you, sir." Autumn said.

"Why?" Brerrok asked.

"To get to me." Nicole confessed.

Nicole had Autumn contact the other ships who were on their side. They were going after the Armora. She was sitting at a table in the quarters that Autumn gave her. She had a pile of pads in front of her. It had tons of information about how Michael was trying to get followers. Some were already on his side. Ones that didn't like how Nicole ran things.

There was a chime on the door.

"Come in." Nicole said.

Autumn walked in with Brerrok and her first officer. He was a Betazoid refugee named Akras Grase.

"Hey Akras." Nicole hugged her friend.

"Hello Nikki." Akras hugged her back.

They hadn't seen one another since they were young. They went to the same school together.

"Why would Michael be going after you?" Autumn asked once they let go.

"Michael and Regen are cousins." Nicole confessed.

"Regen's been obsessed with her since we were school kids." Akras said.

"So Michael's living on Regen's legacy to get to you." Autumn said.

Nicole nodded her head. "Yes."

"What do you suggest we do, Nikki?" Brerrok asked.

"Well first things first we find the Armora. If I know your brother. He will be on our side. He never did like Regen." Nicole said.

"Well that is why we are here." Autumn smiled. "We found it. And River too."

Nicole's expression changed to excitement.

Nicole was on the bridge. She let Autumn take the reins since this was her ship. Nicole was only there since she was technically the queen. Her memories were brought to the few times an Admiral was on the bridge of the Enterprise while Captain Picard commanded his crew. Her thoughts then drifted to Mark.

She held back the tears. She missed him so much! Adam too. How would they feel knowing what she was doing? Would they be proud? Disappointed since she left Starfleet. Nicole shook off the thought.

"I suggest we attack the same way we do with the Apocalypse." Nicole said.

"I have to agree. This ship isn't as maneuverable, but we could do some damage if we decloak and attack then recloak." Brerrok said.

"We'll have to give ourselves enough time to recloak without getting destroyed since our shields will be down." Autumn said.

"I can do it." Autumn's pilot said.

Nicole nodded to the pilot. She nodded back to her.

"Nicole, I suggest you lead my crew. You know this better than I. I can help with whatever I need to." Autumn said.

"Very well. Activate the cloak." Nicole said, sitting in Autumn's chair.

The Enterprise dropped out of warp. They were able to get their engines and weapons online. They saw a badly damaged battle cruiser fighting a Cardassian Transport ship.

"Nikki is on the battle cruiser, Commander." Data said.

"Let's see if we can help. Target the Cardassian's weapons and fire." Commander Riker ordered.

It took a bit, but they were able to disable the weapons.

"We're being hailed." The security chief said.

"On screen." Commander Riker said.

Nicole came into view. Her dark hair was falling out of the tight braid she had. And her face was slightly scratched up. She didn't seem too happy to see the Enterprise there.

"We can argue about this later. Just tell us what we need to do." Commander Riker said.

"We need to get over there." Nicole said.

"Understood." Commander Riker said.