Chapter four. Remember way back in chapter two how Capt. Jackson and Com. Hewett seemed to have some common past? Well, part of it gets explained in this chapter. That and some of the characters personalities should come out some more. Hope you enjoy. I have updated this chapter along with the others to change the stardates to later times.

I do not own Star Trek or anything related to it.

"Captain's log stardate 40291.3. We are en route to rendezvous with two Excelsior class starships to test our weapon systems and combat maneuverability. War games are to commence in three days. This crew has performed above what I had originally expected."

Captain Jackson left his quarters on deck 7. He started for the turbo lift. He had been walking about his ship one deck at a time to get a general bearing on where everything was. The saucer section, like most starships, housed the majority of the quarters. The entire senior staff, excluding Lt. Com. D'Kut, was on deck 7 along with the captain. D'Kut thought it was more logical for him to be closer to Main Engineering.

The captain waited for a short time in front of the turbo lift doors before they slid open. As he entered, he noticed a small child along with one of the officers. The child was a boy no more than six perhaps seven years old with short red hair and the brightest blue eyes Jackson had ever seen.

"Deck 14," Jackson said as the doors closed behind him. The child seemed to have taken a hiding position behind his presumed father in the turbo lift. "What's your name young sir?" Jackson said as he bent down.

The young boy seemed frightened by the captain of the ship addressing him as sir, but the officer just smiled.

"Jimmy Thompson," the boy answered timidly. He didn't quite know what to think at the moment.

"Do you know who I am Jimmy?" Jackson asked.

"You're the captain."

"That's right. Do you like being on the Australian?" Jackson was curious how children were faring on the ship as well as his crew.

"Yes. I get to fly around in space." Jimmy answered coming out of his hiding spot from behind his father. "Daddy didn't want to leave me an' mommy behind. So he asked for a big ship. And we came along too."

The turbo lift stopped and the doors parted at deck 12. Jackson stood up and straightened his uniform.

"Thank you sir," Ensign Thompson said with a full smile.

"No problem Ensign. I'm concerned about everyone's well being. Jimmy, you listen to your daddy ok." Jackson stepped back allowing them to leave.

"I will Captain." Jimmy called out as he smiled and stepped out of the turbo lift with his father.

The doors closed and Jackson let out a sigh. 'Kids are so innocent,' he thought as the lift approached deck 14. It was comforting to know that his crew with family didn't have to leave them behind on deployments like the militaries centuries ago. Especially with missions lasting for years, it helped keep morale up.

Captain Jackson walked off of the turbo lift on deck 14 and headed for the holodeck. Thinking of starting on a program for himself he began to lose himself in thought. As he approached the doors for the chamber, he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, or the fact that someone else was currently using the holodeck. He realized that when the doors opened and he was hit in the face with a brightly colored object and fell to the deck.

Com. Barbara Hewett and Lt. Silver Stryfe were on the holodeck using the program to simulate the Alps Ski resorts. They had spent about three hours enjoying a ski trip and they had almost forgot that they were aboard the Australian.

They were both wearing thick brightly colored winter coats and black ski pants. Com. Hewett's coat was light blue with black and red accents and Lt. Stryfe's coat was white with yellow and green accents. Both had orange tinted goggles on.

"This is amazing Commander!" Lt. Stryfe exclaimed after a run down an intermediate slope.

"Silver, we're not on duty. Call me Barbara. And yes, it is amazing." Com. Hewett responded.

"Computer, current time." Silver stated to the fresh snow falling.

"Current time is 1718 hours." The female computer voice responded.

"Rats," Silver slightly frowned at having to leave the skiing.

"What is it?" Barbara asked.

"I have the night watch tonight. I should get a couple hours rest before navigating the ship. Thanks for going skiing with me Barbara. I had a great time."

"I guess I'll go to. Skiing alone is no fun. Computer save and end program." Barbara removed her boots and picked up her skis and started for the exit as the slopes and white snow formed into the familiar yellow lines and black tiles. Silver tied her boots together and slung them over her shoulder. She then hoisted her skis on her shoulder mimicking Barbara's movements and placing them horizontally to carry them out. As Barbara exited the doors and turned, her skis came into contact with another person. The bright yellow designs on the skis flashed as they fell to the deck long with whoever was hit by them. As Silver ran out to help, she noticed that it was the Captain who was hit in the head.

"Ahhhhhhh! Damnit! Ahhhhhhh! What the hell?!" Captain Jackson cursed as he lay on the deck holding his right hand over his right eye and forehead. Com. Hewett had dropped her skis and dropped to his side to look over the injuries.

"I'm so sorry Captain. I should get you to Sickbay." Com. Hewett offered as she ran her ungloved hand over his bruise that was now forming.

"Babz? What hit me?" Jackson began to stager out as he tried to shake off the hit he took.

"I think you have a concussion. Silver help me get him to sickbay." Barbara said as she lifted the captain off of the floor and tried to support him over her shoulder. Silver mirrored Barbara by getting under the captain's left arm and they all started for sickbay.

As Captain Jackson opened his eyes, he found himself in sickbay. The last thing he remembered was being hit in the head. Lt. Stryfe and Com. Hewett were standing next to the bio-bed he was on. As his vision returned, he noticed that the doctor and the operations officer were in what appeared to be thick winter wear. 'I must have gotten hit harder than I thought. I'm seeing things.' He thought as he shook his head trying to avoid the headache he now had.

"Captain, are you alright?" Lt. Stryfe was the first to speak up as his vision came around the room and focused on her and Com. Hewett. 'That wasn't the brightest thing to ask Silver. He was just hit in the head with a set of skis. Of course he's not alright.' Lt Stryfe thought to herself feeling a bit odd now that she had asked that question.

"Perfectly. I just have a splitting headache. What hit me?" Jackson replied with no hold on his sarcasm.

"My skis captain." Com. Hewett spoke up. "You caught the broadside of them as I was heading out of the holodeck.

"Oh.... I think I'm going to sleep this off." Jackson slowly got off the bio-bed.

"I'll walk you to your quarters." Com Hewett offered.

"Huh? Why? I believe I can walk myself." Jackson retorted.

"You have a head injury. Besides, I need to apologize."

"Fine. I suppose I won't get out of this one."

As Capt. Jackson and Com. Hewett entered his quarters, Com. Hewett noticed the personal effects he had with him. Against one wall was a wooden cabinet with a glass door that had a frosted whitetail deer on the lower part. In it was a small collection of what appeared to be weapons of some sort, old weapons at that. Her gaze was captured by the antique quality that it had. The next thing that she noticed was a dark colored, wood coffee table that had PADs scattered on it along with pieces of paper that looked like design drawings of the ship.

"Thanks Barbara. I'm sure I'm fine." Capt. Jackson broke her out of the trance she was in.

"You called me Babz." She whispered.

"What?" Jackson was still trying to get the headache to go away. He never took any type of medication. He learned that he had a high tolerance for the stuff and that it usually never helped.

"Josh, I said that you called me Babz in the corridor outside of the holodeck." She repeated firmly. "You haven't called me that since the early days at the academy."

"That was before you met Steve. Then we parted ways and now we have ended up on the same ship. Besides, whatever happened to Steve?"

"He was aboard the Enterprise-C when it went to Narendra III." Barbara slowly lowered her head as the fate of the Enterprise came rushing to her mind.

"I'm sorry. I remember he meant a lot to you back then." Josh had moved closer to her.

"He never asked me to marry him if that's what you wanted to know. He said he wanted to make sure his career was in order before starting a personal life. I hated him for leaving." She started to let a few small tears fall from her eyes.

"I should have kept in touch." He felt bad that he let so many friends fall out of touch. He usually blamed it on the distance that space covered and that they would never get the same assignments. He had not seen any of his friends, save Barbara, since the academy.

"So," Barbara started again sniffling a bit. "What have you been up to for the last 11 years?"

"One ship to another. Always focused on the career and advancing. I guess not much. Haven't really done much recreational traveling." He said as he stood up and walked over to the replicator. "Want anything Doctor?" He smirked a bit at the last comment noting what she had achieved in Starfleet.

"Hot chocolate." She replied. "And in this atmosphere just call me Barbara, Captain."

"Computer two hot chocolates. I guess I deserved that. Enjoying the position as Chief Medical Officer?" He wanted to change the subject from the past to the present.

"It's hectic. You're changing the subject."

"I hate dwelling in the past. Too many could have, would have, should have situations. Doesn't do any good. Here." He finished by handing her the glass of dark liquid.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." She sipped the drink. "I better go so you can rest. I have to change out of my ski clothes anyway."

"Next time, keep your skis vertical. Or you could invite me along so I know you have those weapons." He added with a slight laugh.

"Ok," she said while standing up. "Good night, Josh."

"Good night Barbara. Oh and thanks for talking I was meaning to meet you earlier."

"I know. You got busy with the ship. See you on duty tomorrow." She exited the dull gray doors.

As she left Josh simply went to his bed and collapsed.

"Computer, turn the damn lights off." As the room fell dark he slowly drifted off to sleep.

Lt. Nicholas Evergreen was sitting in Ten Forward sipping the scotch whiskey he had ordered. He was still in his yellow uniform after his duty hours. He always sat alone. Of the 400 officers and crew on the ship, he still had yet to make a few friends. Although being the Chief of Security, he lacked the courage to approach people in a manner other than in the line of duty. He was shy.

As he sipped down the remaining contents of his glass, he noticed the doors slide apart. He noticed one of the Ensigns that he had worked with last week enter. She was apparently off duty because she was wearing a flowing red satin dress. The front shaped her body perfectly and as she turned, he noticed that the back of the dress dropped down to the middle of her back revealing her perfect skin. Her long brunet hair was curled. Nicholas Evergreen's gaze was completely transfixed on his fellow officer and how she was affecting everyone around her. She ordered a drink from the bar and then walked to an empty table and sat down.

After watching her for fifteen minutes, Nicholas built up enough courage to walk over to her table. He did not know what to say.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked. He was not sure what to expect.

"I guess." She replied with a short sigh. As Nicholas sat down she continued. "That Lieutenant J.G. stood me up"

Nicholas was a bit shocked at her last comment. He recovered the only way he thought was possible. "Nicholas Evergreen. What's your name?"

"Millie Trinitron." She replied turning her attention to Nicholas. Her brown eyes focused on the new lieutenant with her.

Nicholas wasn't sure where to go next. He usually avoided people, but she had just grabbed his attention and never let go.

"I work in Stellar Cartography." She said after the silence. She was trying to get him to say something.

"I'm the Chief of Security. I seen you last week on Deck 4." Nicholas responded. He was slowly becoming more comfortable with himself.

"Have you been stalking me?" She asked with a playful gesture.

"I would have to arrest myself if I was. Why you all dressed up?"

"Some Lieutenant J.G. from Engineering was supposed to meet me. But he stood me up. His loss." She started to swirl the contents of her glass before drinking the last of it.

At that moment, a man entered and started to frantically look around. He looked towards Millie and Nicholas. His rage started to build up as he started across the deck to their table.

Nicholas was always aware of his surroundings. He could sense when someone was headed for him. 'Not now.' He began to think frantically. 'I just started to get to know her.' He threw a glance back and noticed a dressed up man stomping towards him. He could tell that this was the Lieutenant that Millie was supposed to be dating.

He approached them and started yelling. "I'm a couple of seconds late and you already picked someone else! How could you be so quick to dismiss me?" Everyone in Ten Forward turned to see what was going on.

"You are twenty minutes late Lieutenant J.G. Bell. I consider that as being stood up on a starship." Millie responded.

Nicholas went from trying to enjoy himself to being the Chief of Security. "Lieutenant, I think you just need to calm down."

"Shut up," Bell was being blinded by his emotions in the matter. He stood almost as high as Lt. Nicholas Evergreen, but his build was smaller. "I don't need you to be cutting in on my time."

"Your time? Am I just a prize to be won to you?" Millie started to lose her self-control a bit.

"Just turn around and walk off Lieutenant," Evergreen was preparing for the worst at this point. He always prepared for the worst.

"You just need to take this!" Lt. Bell said as he threw an angered punch at Lt. Evergreen.

With that the brief fight started and ended. Evergreen caught Bell's arm, twisted it around, and threw him to the deck. He then placed one knee in the small of Bell's back and held his arms.

Evergreen taped his com-badge. "Security to Ten Forward." His dark green eyes narrowed and became ice cold. Within a few seconds, two male security personnel entered. "Gentlemen, take Lieutenant J.G. Bell to his quarters and detain him there." Evergreen stood and handed Bell to the security. They escorted him out. As the doors closed on them, Bell had shouted something, but the two security guards were the only ones to hear it.

Evergreen turned his attention back to Millie. She stood wide-eyed at what had just happened.

"I'm sorry about that. Can I walk you to your quarters?" He asked.

"Yes, of course," She took his arm and they both exited Ten Forward.

"Captain's log stardate 40298.1. The Australian has rendezvous with the starships Repulse and Okinawa. We will begin our war game within the hour."

Captain Jackson was on the bridge waiting for the signal to commence the war game. He had spent the last day preparing a few battle tactics to try out. Lt. Stryfe was practicing a few controls at her station. Com. Norland was overseeing the changes that would simulate damage and firing.

"Bridge to Torpedo room 1." Jackson called out after tapping a control on his chair.

"Torpedo room 1, Evergreen here sir. The practice casings are ready. We have five for each torpedo bay. The live torpedoes are secured. We are ready down here." Came the reply over the intercom.

"Good. Get back up here. I want you at tactical." Jackson stated as he turned to look at the rest of the bridge crew.

"Yes sir. Evergreen out." The intercom system shut off.

"Commander Norland, are we ready to commence?" Jackson asked his first officer.

"Yes sir. All systems are ready." She responded as she walked back to take her seat.

"Signal the Repulse to commence with war game. Lieutenant, take us to waypoint alpha half impulse." Jackson was eager to see what the ship could actually do.

"Repulse acknowledges. Game will begin when we reach waypoint alpha." Lt Stryfe called back. She noticed that Lt. Evergreen just entered the bridge and took his station at tactical.

The Australian approached its starting point in space as both Excelsior class ships turned to start an attack pattern on the newer ship. The Australian performed a snap turn and began a run on the starboard ship, the Okinawa. The forward phaser banks began to trace the tracks and merge to fire. The Australian's banks were unique in that they did not wrap the whole way around the saucer section. There was a forward and two side arrays on both the dorsal and ventral saucer. The beam fired and hit the Okinawa solidly on the port side. Her shields flashed in the familiar bubble.

"Direct hit on the Okinawa. Her shields are at 95 percent." Evergreen reported.

"Come about 315 mark 189. Target the Repulse. Fire all forward photon torpedo bays in pattern alpha." Captain Jackson ordered.

The Australian turned on the Repulse and the forward saucer section lit up as a torpedo exited each of the six forward bays. The torpedoes were fired from the bays, starting at the back, so that they formed a straight line as they flew. All six struck the Repulse on the ventral surface.

"Direct hits. The Repulse has suffered damage to decks 3 thru 7. Their shields are at 48 percent."

The Repulse returned fire. Several torpedoes and phaser shots sliced trough space, impacting on the Australian's port side. The Okinawa also fired on the dorsal surface of the Australian's saucer section.

The ship shook slightly. "We have taken several direct and indirect hits. Shields are holding at 92 percent. Minor damage reported to deck 18." Com. Norland stated.

"Make a run at the Okinawa. Fire phasers to fend off the Repulse and launch two volleys of torpedoes at the Okinawa. Helm evasive maneuvers. Attack run on the Okinawa." Jackson ordered.

"Aye sir." Lt. Stryfe responded as her small hands flew over the controls.

The Australian came about firing phasers from dorsal and ventral arrays. When it lined up with the Okinawa two torpedoes left each of the six forward bays. As they approached the Okinawa, both crews realized that there was a problem.

The Bridge of the Okinawa was hectic. Captain Edel was trying to keep his ship in order while testing this new Australian. He certainly didn't like to give away a win.

"Helm bring us around for another run on the Australian." He stood as he called the order.

"Sir!" The operations officer called out frantically. "The Australian fired a live set of torpedoes! Six in all!"

"What the hell is Jackson thinking? Full power to shields!" He screamed but it was too late.

The Okinawa shook violently as the torpedoes struck the shields. One shield collapsed as a torpedo slammed against the hull blasting into the duranium/tritanium alloy. The black mark spread in a circle twelve meters in radius. The ship lost power.

"Stand down all system! Take the weapons offline and prepare to transport medical teams to the Okinawa! Evergreen, What the hell just happened?" Captain Jackson had stood up and was trying to get a grasp on the situation.

"We apparently fire six live torpedoes along with the six practice torpedoes. Actual damage to the Okinawa coming in now, sir. Severe damage to Engineering, ship-wide power loss, casualties listed at 27." Evergreen reported solemnly.

"Signal both starships that we are beginning an investigation into what happened." Jackson said. He looked at each person on the bridge. He knew what the outcome would be if this wasn't figured out

Ship hasn't caught a break has it? Anyway thanks again to Julia and Tania for helping me to fix errors in my previous chapters. Since you have already read the whole thing, please review! It only takes a minute or so.