Chapter 12
And so it came to pass, the Maquis were only too happy to inform Starfleet of the Spartan's whereabouts in exchange for their prisoner. The USS Excalibur had been dispatched from DS9 to tractor the Spartan along with her surviving crew back to Earth. The toll had been heavy, seven fatalities inflicted by the Cardassians. Each and every one gave their life in the line of duty and in defence of the Federation. Fortunately all of the senior staff had only minor injuries with exception of Kestra Vall, but the skill of Doctor Dayne had her on her way to a complete recovery.
The only official piece of business left was to draft a report and personally give it to Admiral Nechayev back on Earth. The only problem was where to start. As Christopher Lennon sat alone in his office amongst the rubble he couldn't help but stare out the window into the never-ending vastness of space and wonder how he would explain this whole mess to Starfleet Command.
He picked up a computer pad and began to compose what was surely the most important report in his career, but several times he threw it down again on the desk erasing all that was written. How could one put these events into writing? Any attempt to do so would only act as a shadow of the mission that they undertook.
The Spartan would need significant repairs in order to function properly and Lennon was left unsure what the future lay in-store for him. He thought the most probable outcome would see him reappointed as captain aboard his former ship the Aintree. That gloomy thought would seem like a step back in his career and he realised he may never again witness the ability and sheer determination the Spartan's crew possessed.
With this in mind he left his shattered ready room behind and ventured out onto the bridge in search of his crew. The cleanup operation upon the command centre was well underway, Ric Sara was central to this as he led a huge array of officers from engineering, science and security divisions including Atkar and Cumbrae in reconstructing the bridge. Lennon looked around to see his crew at work. Isaac Glatzer lay on his back underneath the helm, Ruth Donnachie sat at what appeared to be the only operating station at the bridge pouring over scans of Cardassian space and at the rear of the bridge, Lennon also noticed Doctor Dayne leaning over an injured colleague tending to a deep cut in his brow.
No one noticed the captain enter and for a few seconds he stared and felt eternally grateful for all the hard work done by everyone. Commander Sara turned around and spotted his standing outside his ready room.
" Captain on bridge." he shouted for all to hear as everyone threw down their tools and stood to attention awaiting some sort of speech from Lennon.
As he walked to the centre of his bridge nothing sprang to mind. Instead he paused and put his hand to his chest and began from the heart.
" Today we stood up for the Federation, today we stand side by side with our colleagues, Human and Vulcan, Ktarian and Betazoid. We stood firm for the freedoms which mean the Federation and risked our lives to uphold it's principals. There may be people who think this mission counted for nothing, that it was a setup from the start but I say this mission showed the resolve of the Federation that no foe can stand against her people."
The captain looked around and shared smiles with his whole crew, they were as keen and eager as he was himself and were just as sad to be leaving the Spartan after an incredible mission. However Lennon continued.
" We have each accomplished this today with our hard work and selflessness... Imagine what we can do tomorrow."
And so it came to pass, the Maquis were only too happy to inform Starfleet of the Spartan's whereabouts in exchange for their prisoner. The USS Excalibur had been dispatched from DS9 to tractor the Spartan along with her surviving crew back to Earth. The toll had been heavy, seven fatalities inflicted by the Cardassians. Each and every one gave their life in the line of duty and in defence of the Federation. Fortunately all of the senior staff had only minor injuries with exception of Kestra Vall, but the skill of Doctor Dayne had her on her way to a complete recovery.
The only official piece of business left was to draft a report and personally give it to Admiral Nechayev back on Earth. The only problem was where to start. As Christopher Lennon sat alone in his office amongst the rubble he couldn't help but stare out the window into the never-ending vastness of space and wonder how he would explain this whole mess to Starfleet Command.
He picked up a computer pad and began to compose what was surely the most important report in his career, but several times he threw it down again on the desk erasing all that was written. How could one put these events into writing? Any attempt to do so would only act as a shadow of the mission that they undertook.
The Spartan would need significant repairs in order to function properly and Lennon was left unsure what the future lay in-store for him. He thought the most probable outcome would see him reappointed as captain aboard his former ship the Aintree. That gloomy thought would seem like a step back in his career and he realised he may never again witness the ability and sheer determination the Spartan's crew possessed.
With this in mind he left his shattered ready room behind and ventured out onto the bridge in search of his crew. The cleanup operation upon the command centre was well underway, Ric Sara was central to this as he led a huge array of officers from engineering, science and security divisions including Atkar and Cumbrae in reconstructing the bridge. Lennon looked around to see his crew at work. Isaac Glatzer lay on his back underneath the helm, Ruth Donnachie sat at what appeared to be the only operating station at the bridge pouring over scans of Cardassian space and at the rear of the bridge, Lennon also noticed Doctor Dayne leaning over an injured colleague tending to a deep cut in his brow.
No one noticed the captain enter and for a few seconds he stared and felt eternally grateful for all the hard work done by everyone. Commander Sara turned around and spotted his standing outside his ready room.
" Captain on bridge." he shouted for all to hear as everyone threw down their tools and stood to attention awaiting some sort of speech from Lennon.
As he walked to the centre of his bridge nothing sprang to mind. Instead he paused and put his hand to his chest and began from the heart.
" Today we stood up for the Federation, today we stand side by side with our colleagues, Human and Vulcan, Ktarian and Betazoid. We stood firm for the freedoms which mean the Federation and risked our lives to uphold it's principals. There may be people who think this mission counted for nothing, that it was a setup from the start but I say this mission showed the resolve of the Federation that no foe can stand against her people."
The captain looked around and shared smiles with his whole crew, they were as keen and eager as he was himself and were just as sad to be leaving the Spartan after an incredible mission. However Lennon continued.
" We have each accomplished this today with our hard work and selflessness... Imagine what we can do tomorrow."