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Song and her officers reached the bridge practically at the same time. She was at the turbolift with Houity and they both arrived first. Lieutenant Setor, her chief science officer was already at his station. Since Ba'el had taken his nominal position, he was on duty now. Uriz welcomed the captain and turned to go back to Tactical 1, but at that moment Gaallash appeared at the door. The first officer took the post instead.

"Take Tactical 2 and report," Song indicated as the woman stopped in her tracks.

"The Romulans are in the bridge," Uriz informed. "There are five of them, all armed with disruptors. They are trying to take control of the ship, but Sloan's codes are still blocking their access, captain."

Song turned to her Vulcan science officer.

"They have not tried to break the code yet, captain, But I have readied a new encryption in case they do," he explained.

Song smiled satisfied as she made herself comfortable at the command chair; she did not expect less from him. She took a glance at First, who stayed close to her. The other two Jem'Hadar warriors were also still watching the bridge's activity.

"So the Tal Shiar doesn't know how to break a code, what a shame!" Houity commented with amusement as he quickly reviewed the data sent by his station.

Balanescu, the helmsman, chuckled. Uriz stiffened her own laugh. The usually stoic Gaallash hardly smiled. Song did, a cold thin smile that never reached her eyes; it hid well the fun his words actually caused and that she kept for herself.

Setor did not share the joke, though, and answered him seriously, "Logically, that is not what I said." The science officer turned to look at the engineer. "They have not tried yet. I calculate that in—"

This time, Balanescu laughed out loud, stilling him. She was pretty young; she had been assigned to the Numancia three years ago, freshly out of the academy, and the veterans' usual banter was the only thing that kept her from losing her mind during the hardest moments of the war.

Uriz was only one year older than her and she also had only served in the Defiant class ship, but command training had placed her in charge of the ship in too many occasions already and had hardened her. She did not even smile at Setor's reply this time; she was making her own calculations instead.

Setor, even if still very young for a Vulcan, was already a veteran Starfleet officer when the war started. He was serving in a science vessel when he was requested to accept the post of chief science officer in the Numancia; several officers have been killed and Starfleet needed the best people in the front. Setor, who considered himself first and foremost a man of science, and peace, doubted; but finally he could only make one decision, duty always came first. Those were his last days in the ship; he had been offered a promotion and a new assignment as chief science officer of the El-Nar, the admiral's flag ship.

The admiral that Song had expected to find at the command chair where she was seated now. She frowned and asked, "Uriz, did the admiral leave before you made the call?"

"Yes, ma'am," she answered. "She went to review lieutenant Ba'el's report a few minutes ago."

"A few minutes…?" inwardly, she mulled over the sentence aloud.

"Eight minutes, twenty six seconds, captain," Setor supplied, misunderstanding her doubt.

It was the report what intrigued her. Sometimes she had the impression the two officers spoke in code between them, and there was so much that was said between lines when the admiral talked with the Romulans. Besides, Saavik had been interested to stay in the bridge before; she had told her she was not tired and had not mentioned any report.

For another minute they all stayed at their stations ready for action, but nothing happened. Song was about to ask Setor what was the estimation he had left unsaid when she noticed her officers tense and Setor began to type in his console even faster than usually. Both her tactical officers joined him in support.

"They are trying to break our codification now, captain!" Gaallash announced her, confirming what she had already guessed. She drew herself tall and to herself she muttered, "Here we go."

The bridge door whooshed at that precise instant and Ba'el came in. She attempted to stand but Ba'el motioned her to remain at her post. She was alone.

"Good afternoon to all," she greeted, and even if her words were said lightly, she had a grim expression. "I see the Firebird crew has finally entered their bridge", she said as he neared the closest station, Tactical 1, and oversaw the displayed information. "It isn't our business any more. Admiral Saavik orders the ship to be returned to the Romulans. Intelligence confirms Koval had been already arrested." That was not entirely a lie; Ba'el reflected it was the kind of deceptive sentence Saavik would allow herself to say. D'Tan, who had backed Spock's words, was Intelligence, but he served in the Tal Shiar.

Song and her officers never suspected. Actually, Song was satisfied to realize what Ba'el's supposed report was about. "Very well," she said, "let's contact the Rhian'Urn."

The stern Romulan man who answered their communication was no one they knew. "Neither the admiral nor the commander are available now," he said with certain disregard. "What do you want from them?"

Scowling, Song answered harshly, "I want to speak to them. I have an important message from Admiral Saavik." At first, she had not minded to pass the message to whomever was in command at that moment, but given the officer's arrogance, she decided she was going to have him call them.

"Which message?" Raghnill's voice was heard from behind.

Song now felt disappointed that her little battle had ended before it could even be started. Ba'el did not seem to share her feelings and gladly greeted the Romulan higher ranking officer, "Commander Raghnill, Admiral Saavik wants to inform you that the arrest of Koval had been confirmed by our sources and therefore, we are turning the control of the Firebird over to you."

"Good," came her curt, almost harsh, reply.

She was coming into view along with her first officer, whom they were familiar with even if he had not come aboard with her.

"We're sending you the actual codification that blocks the bridge and allows us to control it. Commander Song will coordinate the operation from here."

At that moment, Raghnill's gaze swept over them; she was probably looking for Saavik. However, nothing in her expression revealed what she was thinking.

"Llhran, hold the Firebird with the tractor beam," she ordered, turning slightly to look at her subordinate. She waited until the vessel was safely under their lock and addressed the Starfleet officer, "Release yours."

Song realized displeased that the veteran Romulan commander was not about to coordinate anything with her; she was just too used to order her people around and being actually in command of three other vessels, apart from the flag ship, made her… a rear-admiral? Romulan ranks were difficult to translate, but Song knew for certain she was her superior, so she decided to comply.

"Do so, Gaallash." She used her best command tone to try to match the Romulan officer. "Setor, send the codes to them too."

She waited until both actions have been executed. "That would be all, thank you, Commander Song," Raghnill was dismissing her, "Lieutenant Ba'el, I'd like to speak with Admiral Saavik before parting, if it's possible. Transmit my desire to her."

"I will," she dutifully replied, and without further ado, the Romulan commander cut the communication.