Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Trek in this story but my own characters; all else belongs to the Great Bird of the Galaxy.

Author's Note: I forgot to mention this in my last installment but I had the chance to meet a former Star Trek writer at a friend's confirmation in early May. Michael Taylor is known for writing several DS9 and Voyager episodes including "The Visitor", "In the Pale Moonlight", "Collective", and "Blink of an Eye". He's currently writing for The Dead Zone right now and was not too fond of Enterprise (his exact comment to my opinion of Enterprise was "Yeah, I don't watch it either."). Very nice man and a very good writer who appreciates the fans a lot!

Chapter Eighteen: Secrets Kept

Anja Senecal laid in the dark, an arm draped over the still form of her daughter curled up in bed. A sliver of light shone through the cracked door, leaving a line on the wall but letting in just enough light so that any object in the room had a faint outline as not to be in complete darkness. Senecal watched her daughter silently, looking at the contours of her tiny face, her thin fingers clutching her doll, and the dried tear stains on her rosy cheeks.

Katja cried for two hours before sleep finally overtook her tired body. Senecal promised to stay by her side for the night and would do so for each night until Katja was comfortable again. She was already worn out by the point she spoke to Katja and was fresh out of tears to cry much more with Katja despite how much it broke her heart to tell the little girl her daddy was not coming home.

The door chime rang suddenly, its sound barely audible in the shadowy bedroom. Senecal leaned up, placing a soft kiss on Katja's forehead before going to the door. She pulled on her robe over her flannel pajamas before opening the door. Rilar stood outside solemnly and looked up to her as the door opened.

"I thought I would come and see how you two were doing when I finished my shift," he said. "Just concerned if you need anything."

Senecal managed a smile though it was forced and did not reach her eyes.

"Katja was very upset but she's sleeping for now," Senecal said quietly.

"How are you?" he asked, his eyes looking at her imploringly.

"I… I don't know right now," she said. "Oh, I'm sorry, would you care to come in for a while? It is terrible standing in the doorway talking."

They both stepped inside toward the living room and she went toward the replicator.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked.

"No, I am fine, thank you," said Rilar with a small smile before settling on the sofa.

"Hot chocolate," she instructed then retrieved her cup as it materialized.

Senecal settled on the sofa next to Rilar, cupping her hands around the warm mug.

"I would have gone with you to the Victoria but I was called away to other duties," Rilar explained. "It is not good to go alone."

"I appreciate it but no, I needed to do it on my own," she said, taking a sip from her mug. "I would not want him to be known as the way you saw him. It is better for Katja and others to remember him as he was."

"That is understandable," he said. "Do you know yet why he was on the transport to come here this soon?"

Senecal shook her head slowly, "I collected his belongings including his journal logs. He might explain his intentions there but I believe I know why he came this quickly."

"How so?"

"The Chief Medical Officer on the Victoria told me he was not joined," she told him. "He must have been rejected as a host."

"You will find out soon enough, I'm sure," he said.

"My brother is on his way on the Titus and will hopefully keep Katja's attention off of her father's death," Senecal mentioned. "Perhaps mine as well."

"It is best to have family here at a time like this," Rilar said. "You know I will be there for you if you need anything."

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

"I'll let you be for now, you need some rest," he said standing.

She walked him to the door and said their goodnights.

Serea sat alone in her quarters, contemplating her day. Reports and data from the attacks that day surrounded her on her bed. She had read through most of them but still did not understand why the renegade ships attacked the transport. Raleigh and Rilar had also been scouring through the data and scans but decided to continue in the morning after a refreshing night's rest. Ten people died from injuries sustained in the attacks on the Calamity and another four dozen were hurt in varying degrees. It was beginning to look like the attack may have simply been random to cause havoc rather than to try and take more Jetallans.

"Torres to Serea. Sir, we have a communication coming in for you from Starfleet Command."

"Put it through to my quarters," she responded though wondering why she would get a message so late.

Walking over to the wall display, Serea awaited the transmission and saw a familiar admiral appear, the one who had assigned her to DS13.

"Admiral Nettera, I did not expect to hear from you so soon," she said.

"Hello, Commander. I know but some things have come to my attention that you need to know," he said with a sigh. "Starfleet Intelligence has disclosed information to us concerning the attack on the S.S.Calamity transport near DS13 today because of 'chatter' they overheard. It seems whoever was behind the kidnappings are also involved in this latest assault. They were after non-Jetallans this time and it is a change in the way we were viewing this unfolding situation you have."

"Does Intel know who they were after or what the purpose of these kidnappings and attacks are?" Serea asked.

"No, not about the attacks but they were after at least three people specifically," he said, an eyebrow perking up. "One was a Viken Ralot, a Bolian chemist who was on his way to Ferenginar; the second was Lieutenant T'Rila, a Vulcan Starfleet science officer on her way to her next outpost on the Cardassian border; and the third I am sure will not surprise you."

"Lorias Brenal," she stated matter-of-factly. "They all are scientists of ranging fields. Lorias was an exo-biologist and exo-archaeologist. I remember the Bolian chemist, he survived but Lt. T'Rila did not. What was her field of study?"

"A cellular physiologist," Nettera informed her. "We noted the coincidences as well but there are no other connections between the three that we have discovered other than booking passage on the transport and being scientists."

"I will see what my crew can uncover in their investigations," she said with a nod. "It appears the attacking ships have become more bold in their assaults. We will be on Yellow Alert until more reinforcements arrive."

"Understandable," Nettera acknowledged. "Notify me if you discover anything. Nettera out."

Serea carefully jotted down the information the admiral had told her into a nearby padd. She would have to wait until morning to give the details to Raleigh and Rilar. For now, interviews would have to be made concerning the three people the Breen appeared to be after. However, whatever plans they may have had were changed since two of the people of interest were now dead. She knew that with this turn of events that the attentions of the Breen rebels or whoever was behind the attacks would move to someone else but they would not be so careless the next time.