Captain Shawn Thornburg sat calmly in his ready room pondering the words of William Wordsworth when his first officer Chester Crowe burst through the door, completely bypassing the obligatory door chime.

"Captain! I need to talk to you."

"Chuck, I don't think I need to remind you of the terrible breach of protocol you've just—"

"Not that again, Shawn, this is more important than protocol."

"What could possibly be so important?"

"I'm pregnant."

The Captain looked surprised, and was obviously holding in a laugh. He knew Chester was half Credosian, a species whose males give birth, but it still sounded strange. He jumped up to congratulate his friend nonetheless. "That's great news, Chuck!"

Chester gave the captain a cross look. "It's not funny, Shawn."

"No, no, of course it isn't! It just caught me off guard. I thought for sure you'd get your wife pregnant first."

"So did I. When I went to Doctor Yerian before Zotia and I married, she told me my Credosian womb wouldn't support a child, and my human reproductive organs would get in the way anyway."

"Have you told her yet?"

"Who, the doctor or Zotia?"

"Zotia."

"She was the first one to find out. We think that somehow she's the one who impregnated me."

"And Lynn?"

"Doctor Yerian? I'm on my way to sickbay right now. I just had to let you know immediately. You're the second one to know."

"Thanks, Chuck. Now go see Lynn and tell her I want a report on my desk ASAP. I really want to know how a human female can impregnate a Credosian male."

"Aye, Captain. I'd love to know as well." Chester darted out of the room and went straight to the turbolift. The Captain sat for a few minutes in his ready room before putting his PADD on his desk and standing to stretch. He strolled out to the bridge, where the graveyard shift was just getting under way.

"Captain on deck!" hollered a brand new ensign out of nervousness. Everyone stood at quick attention out of reflex, but started laughing when they realized what had happened. The Captain walked over to the ensign, who was the only one still saluting.

"At ease, ensign. What's your name?"

The ensign relaxed and said, "Ensign Michael Santos, sir."

"Michael, you were posted here just a few days ago, right? From Starbase 379? Michael, there are some things we need to discuss about my ship. I was going to do this in another few days, after you had settled into your routine, but now I think I should do it tomorrow. Are you scheduled for the entire graveyard shift?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Alright, then meet me in my ready room just when your shift ends. Right now I'm tired, and I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, Michael."

"Aye—um, goodnight, Captain?"

The Captain strolled to the turbolift with a snicker on his face. He loved being reassured that his ship was still the closest-knit ship in the protocol-obsessed Federation.

The next morning, the young ensign walked into the ready room and stood stiff in front of the Captain's desk, staring at the wall.

"At ease, Michael. Take a seat," said the Captain. Ensign Santos quickly seated himself in one of the chairs, avoiding eye contact with his superior officer.

"Do you mind if I call you Michael?"

"No, Captain."

"Do you prefer to be called anything else?"

". . . My friends call me Mick, Captain."

"May I call you Mick? Answer honestly."

"Honestly, yes, Captain."

"Speak freely, Mick. You were at the Academy before you were stationed at Starbase 379, right?"

Michael relaxed. "Yes, sir."

"Don't talk so much, Mick, you'll wear out your vocal chords."

"Sorry, Captain."

"It was sarcasm. You're barely talking. Tell me more about yourself. Just go for it."

He began uneasily, ". . . I was born in Brazil, where I studied to become an engineer. When I went to Starfleet Academy, I combined engineering with my love of weapons and created brand new lethal and non-lethal weapons. My non-lethal weapons proved to be even more effective and efficient than my lethal ones and I was commended for ingenuity. I requested a post on the Tomcat and it was granted, so I was sent to Starbase 379 to await clearance. Which brings us here, Captain."

"That's why I granted the posting, Mick. I need your prodigious knowledge of weapons to augment the Tomcat's current array. There's a new threat on the horizon that only a few ships and Starfleet's top brass are privy to, and the kinds of weapons you've produced could ensure victory. Here's the file." He handed Michael a PADD. "Study this when you wake up. Right now, go get some sleep. You look like you're about to fall over."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Oh, and Mick, I want you to speak like this the entire time you're on the ship, no matter whom you're talking to. I run a close-knit group of friends, not an uptight group of nervous wrecks. That fact alone has kept my crews on top through all of my command posts."

"Aye, Captain. I'll keep it in mind." Ensign Santos left the ready room and walked straight to the turbolift to get a good day's rest. Soon, the door chimed.

"Come in," said the Captain. Chester Crowe walked through the door, his head hung low. "What is it, Chuck?"

"Shawn, I have bad news and good news. Here's Lynn's report." He handed the Captain a PADD, which the Captain started looking over immediately.

"Chuck, this looks like great news. Your pregnancy is going just fine."

"That's the good news."

"What's the bad?"

"The attack has begun."

"The Suundel?"

"Yes. Five planets have just been attacked simultaneously."

The Captain's face grew solemn out of concern for the Federation. "Where?"

Chester hesitated. "In the Aurora System."

The Captain's face grew even more solemn—out of concern for Catherine. "Which planets? There are fifteen planets in the Aurora system."

"Syrora, Jonal, Dinora, Cherkon, and . . ."

"What planet? Chuck, what planet? Tell me."

"Aurora Center."

The Captain closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Catherine . . ." he whispered to himself. "Why those five?"

"Those are the only five habitable planets in the system. There are only small research stations on or above the other ten."

Captain Thornburg rose quickly from his seat and marched past Chester onto the bridge. "Helm, set course for Aurora Center, maximum warp! Engage!"

Chester stood behind him. "Captain, don't you think that's just a bit brash?"

"Number One, we—" He cut himself off to calm his voice. "We need to gather more information on the attacks of the Suundel if we are to find and track them. Aurora Center seems like the best place to start. There may be survivors."

"Captain—"

"Those are my orders, Chuck. Go tell Lynn to prepare for injured passengers." Chester stared at the Captain. "Go, Chuck. Now."

"Aye, Captain." Chester made his way to sickbay and began helping Dr. Yerian prepare for emergency passengers. The Captain took his seat on the bridge. "What do we have on long range sensors?"

Chief Security Officer Jeffrey Debbs replied, "I'm reading minimal life signs on Aurora Center, Captain. Weapon traces are minimal and unrecognizable. I'm reading high amounts of residual radiation."

"Residual from what?"

"It looks like it's from within the planet itself. The core is . . . heating up."

"The core of the planet? How long do we have until the planet is uninhabitable?"

"It's hard to tell, Captain, but a safe estimate is three hours."

"Three hours! Helm, what's our arrival time?"

"We will arrive at Aurora Center in twenty minutes."

"Increase to emergency speed. Lieutenant Commander Johnson, what could cause the planet's core to heat up that fast?"

Science Officer Jordan Johnson gave the Captain a measured response. "In light of the Suundel incursion, the logical assumption would be—"

The Captain interrupted, "I don't need your assumptions and Vulcan logic, Jordan, I need your ideas."

Jordan's Bajoran side came out slightly. "Captain, I guess it's related to the Suundel attack."

"You're a lot of help. Helm, what's our ETA now?"

"Ten minutes, Captain."

"Are any of the other planets being affected in the same way, Jeff?"

"Affirmative, Captain." A tone sounded on Jeffrey's security station. "Captain, we're being hailed."

"On screen." The viewscreen switched from its steady stream of stars to the visage of Admiral Rudgard Uhrlaub. The Captain stood and smiled.

The Admiral spoke, "Captain Thornburg, it's good to see you again."

"The feeling's mutual, Admiral."

"Shawn, I am informing you that I will be meeting you at Aurora Center in fifteen minutes. I have the Suundel officers from the scout ship, and they have some knowledge that will be extremely helpful. Lieutenant Burgan is also with me, and we are going to reverse the damage done by the Suundel weapons."

"It was the Suundel weapons that did this?"

"Affirmative, but fortunately we know how to counter it now. Proceed with your rescue and we will be there shortly. Catherine is dear to me as well and I want to see her alive as much as you do."

"Thank you, Rudy."

"Admiral Uhrlaub out." The screen flickered back to its stream of stars. Captain Thornburg felt relieved and took his seat again. Soon they would arrive at Aurora Center and find Catherine at all costs, whatever her condition.