Embassy

"You cannot 'send in the army'," Data staid. His voice held more feeling behind it than he had thought capable of.

Data and Worf had just returned to the city. Considering that they were empty handed and two people short, the Embassy had decided to rally what was left of their armies (that is, those who were not busy fending off the Hagan or that had defected) and send them to attack the Hagan headquarters: the caves.

Data and Worf had immediately protested this, saying, "If you attack the caves, you may harm Commander Riker, Commander LaForge, and the Ambassadors." But it hadn't worked as well as they had wanted.

"Look, Commander, they are casualties of war. Your people are most likely dead or dying, either way it won't matter," Mika said, her voice harsh but her eyes telling a different story.

"We understand your position, but you must look at it from ours. If they keep the headquarters, we'll lose this civil war before it can even be classified as one. If they lose their headquarters, they hopefully will be thrown into chaos. We might have a chance then," Ic'to's voice was strong and his words reasonable. But Data somehow found his head shaking.

Worf glared dangerously at the man, but restrained himself. He understood what they had to do.

Data and Worf looked at each other, their expressions- to one that knew them- agreed with the assembly. Slowly, the android nodded.

"Very well," Lo'tec said. Then he turned to Ic'to and told him, "I will give the order."

Then the Banter, the Sub-Banter, and the other three filed out of the room. The two officers starred at the exit. They knew their friends were dead now if not already.

Sickbay

Deanna slowly inched her way into Sickbay. It was a painfully long journey while in pain.

Not long ago, her water had broken and Deanna could feel the steadily growing contractions as they began to get closer together. She took a deep breath as her feet crossed into Sickbay's threshold- it had not hurt this much when she had Ian.

Crusher walked out of her office just as the Betazoid hobbled into Sickbay. She hurried to her side and helped her to a biobed, in which she was forced to lay down on. Beverly's face was creased with worry and joy as she ran a tricorder over her friend.

"Unfortunately, I can't stop the labor. The good news, you're about to have a health baby girl," the doctor informed her with a smile. "How far apart are the contractions?"

"About one minute now."

"Alright, won't be long now." Beverly had the nurses quickly change Deanna into a gown. Another contraction came over Deanna and she winced in pain. "Just relax, Deanna. I'll try and see if Will can get back up here."

Deanna nodded and, just before Crusher could tap her communicator, Picard's voice started to talk through it. "Picard to Crusher. I need to see you now."

"I'm afraid I'm a little busy. Can this wait?"

"Unless it's extremely urgent, no."

"I definably think this qualifies."

Deanna gasped in pain as a second wave of renewed pain rushed through her. Picard heard for he asked, "Dr. Crusher, what's going on?"

"Deanna's in labor," Crusher said bluntly as she tried to calm her friend. "Is there any possible way to get Riker up here and soon?"

Picard paused for longer than Crusher liked before he said, "I'm afraid not. He's still on the planet and we can't reach him at this time. I'm sure he'll be back as soon as possible. I want to see you in my ready room as soon as you're free."

"Yes, sir."

Caves

Geordie was now shivering, yet his temperature was steadily climbing.

In the hours, he had vomited three times. He didn't want to eat the food Riker had tried to give him. His breathing had grown slower. None of which Riker thought was a good sign.

Both the Ambassadors had remained silent the entire time, so Riker had merely ignored them and stayed with Geordie. He could only comfort him; talk with him. But even as he did that, he kept a close eye on what was going on around him.

As Riker continued to watch, his eye caught a rather tall, lean man walk in. He was covered in a plain cloak that concealed his face. The man marched up to the same Hagan that had questioned Riker earlier and whispered something in his ear before leaving.

Riker's brow creased, pondering who it could have been. But he wasn't allowed much time to think before Geordie started heaving again.

A few minutes later, Riker heard hundreds of footsteps coming from the same entrance he and Geordie had entered.

At the same time, a large clamor started in the chamber. The only children- six or seven of them- were ushered into a small, added room while the adults found cover and armed themselves.

The guards then grabbed their prisoners, forcing them into the same room as the children.

Riker turned quickly but they had closed the heavy door. But not entire. He could still see outside the small creak.

Soldiers burst in; shots fired and echoed in the other room. And then the room was fully sealed.

Captain's Ready Room

Hours later, Crusher entered Picard's ready room.

The Captain turned away from Data and Worf, watching her as she came in. She was exhausted; he didn't want to know what Deanna looked like.

With a weak smile, Picard mentally reminded himself to check in on the two. But he knew that would have to wait. For now, there were other, important things.

"Doctor, Commanders Data and Worf have just finished briefing me on the status of the situation on Miko."

Crusher looked over at the two. Her mind was sluggish and for that moment all she wanted was a bath. But she realized suddenly the lack of half the away team.

"Commander Riker and Data were taken prisoner by the Hagan. And now the Mikolians are refusing to allow us to attempt another rescue mission. They are planning on attacking the caves."

Crusher took a sharp in take of air. She looked away and the other three allowed her a moment to process the news.

Not long after, though, Picard changed the subject, "How is Deanna and her daughter?"

Crusher's eyes darted to his and she stuttered for a moment. "Uh…they're both doing fine…

"Elizabeth Troi Riker, born at 2047 hours. Two point eight kilograms and twenty-one centimeters long. Luckily she is in no need for life support even with her technical month and a half premature birth. They're both resting now."

Caves

It had been nearly an hour.

For an hour they had been trapped in the small room.

For most of the time, Riker had been trying to calm the children. Lwaxana had greatly helped him, allowing him to keep an eye on Geordie.

But there was one child in particular that Riker had had his eye on. He was a fourteen year-old boy and the oldest of the children. The boy had been entertaining the children to keep their minds off of everything.

But, Riker noticed, that even he was beginning to become afraid. Although he wouldn't show it.

Noise in the compartment grew silent. They had heard the explosions and shots from the battle raging outside. But suddenly it had stopped.

Riker stood slowly as he saw the door open slowly. He swallowed hard when his eyes meet the horror of what stood before him.

The Ambassadors shielded the children, but the teenager had made it passed.

He stepped out into the main chamber, looking around blankly at the massacre of his home and family. Hundreds of bodies covered the ground, each covered in blood or spilling blood onto the floor. He looked around, finding that only the soldiers were the standing.

Just then, a warm hand was set on his shoulder. He looked up to see the kind man who he had shared the safety chamber with. The man was nice and funny and the boy was confused as to why his father had imprisoned him.

Then the man began to speak and told him, "You know, it's hard for anyone to see this. You can cry. You deserve to. You knew these people. You lived with them. You have the right to mourn and celebrate them."

The teen nodded but said nothing. Slowly he let the hot liquid spill from his eyes.

A tear fell landing on the ground. His eyes followed it, finding the eyes of his father. The boy looked back up at Riker, his face set in revenge.