Everyone returned to the Bruce and the ship left Starbase One to take Sisko to the location where his ship was mothballed. Sisko had to bring along several Starfleet crew members who would be helping him bring the ship back to Starbase One and then on the Deep Space 9.

Harry called Selene to his office and presented her the challenge. Her blinking, distracted look reminded him strongly of Luna at her most thoughtful. He let her get on with it.

Utopia Planetia had a storage facility. The ship that Sisko was picking up was smaller than even the Bruce. The Bruce was about 220 meters long – the USS Defiant was 170 Meters. When Sisko arrived, work was being completed to get the ship supplied with fuel and to get it minimally flight-worthy.

With Sisko inspecting the ship, Fergus from Griffon and Ensign Shareef from Bruce assisting, the two BSS ships were waiting. Krim was communicating with the head of the colony project to arrange permission for the Griffon's runabouts to begin loading immediately.

Harry decided to contact Janeway. "Okay, Bill. Get me Deep Space 9 on Mirror Relay."

"Aye, Cap'n," Bill drawled before making the connection.

Soon Harry had Major Kira on the main viewer. "Major Kira. How are things at the station?"

Kira have a small shrug, almost invisible. "You know how it is. It's quieter with traffic through the wormhole suspended for Federation missions. But we still have trading ships and visitors coming through."

Harry wanted to curse. Each visit opened up the opportunity for infiltration. But it wasn't his call. "I understand. I heard that Voyager was going to visit?"

Kira gave Harry a curious look. "She's already here. She's waiting for crew members to be delivered scheduled to arrive tomorrow."

"Can you put me through to Captain Janeway securely? I know her mission is confidential."

Kira smirked. "Give me a minute." Very soon the image on the screen changed. Janeway was in her ready room (apparently) with two officers in a meeting. Harry recognized one of them as her XO.

"Captain Potter. This is a surprise."

Harry replied, "King Charles has named me Commodore now that I run two ships. But that's neither here nor there." He paused. "How is the coffee urn?"

She smiled and picked up a cup. "Still providing Dobby's excellent coffee blend perfectly well."

"Good, good." Harry's face took on a slight annoyance. "I have a bone to pick with you."

"I'm sorry to hear that. What could I have done to offend you?" she asked curiously.

Harry said with a slight amusement, "You stole Tom Paris."

She checked her computer. Finally she said, "Okay. This is secure. What do you know of Mr. Paris and why he will be on my ship?" she asked without hint of anything. The two officers behind her had annoyed looks.

"I was briefed on your mission . I know he's going to help chase down some Maquis members."

Janeway nodded. "And you know where I retrieved him from?"

"Yes: In an Australian penal colony – I had plans to negotiate his release into my hire."

Janeway didn't look happy. "I know why I got his help. Of what possible use could a person with his record be to you?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I know what he was doing. I know why he was forced to leave Starfleet, and who he started working for. The fact is, Starfleet screwed up by making him resign. I know why he had to but you do realize that the only reason he was caught was because he confessed, after he had already gotten away with the false report which came from his initial panic?"

"I was aware," she said.

"Well, all that tells me is that he has a conscience, despite his personal charms and the ability to lie when under pressure. But he'll do the right thing, even if it takes a while, even if his personal position is damaged by doing so. If I were in charge of him during that whole thing, I would have busted him down to swabby and made him re-earn his place. But he's too good to waste. Starfleet screwing up led to him becaming damaged goods and not worth the time and effort for reputable employers. That made him ripe pickings for the Maquis. Well, he's worth my time and effort. I need people of his skill level. His personal sense of right and wrong is a bonus."

Janeway looked at Harry speculatively. "What if I convince him to stay in Starfleet?"

Harry smirked. "Starfleet regulations are too inflexible. Your loss will be my gain. And besides, I've read his records. He's an aficionado of twentieth century entertainment and technology. I've got an extremely large database of both unavailable from anyone else, and I'm from that time period. It won't be hard to convince him to come and work for me."

Janeway's face finally broke into a small smile. "You may have a point. I have to admit, despite his rough edges, I kind of like Mr. Paris. His father, a personal friend and former teacher, wasn't happy that I was getting his son released onto my ship. But I do what's needed to complete the mission."

Harry laughed. "Well, take care of him. I'm going to ask Major Kira on the Station to deliver a care package from me. In fact, I'll get two delivered: One for you and one for him. Just give it to him when it's convenient but before he leaves your ship."

Janeway shook her head. "I'll do that. You'll owe me though."

Harry chuckled. "I've already given you unlimited coffee and a way to collect deuterium more efficiently. What else could I owe you for such a small favor?"

Janeway almost rolled her eyes. "I'll think of something. Janeway, Off."

Harry contacted Major Kira and authorized her to put together data device which contained music and movies and Harry's holo-programs for twentieth century cars. Harry's were British and he assumed Paris would change them to North American standard but that was fine.

He also sent a packet of spices and teas for Janeway to try. His additions to the replicator database were present on Voyager. He had checked that when he was briefly on the ship. As payment for doing him the favor, Harry transferred some Bajoran currency to Kira, useful at Quarks or on Bajor.

Harry went out to his bridge. "Any word on how long until Defiant is ready?"

Dawkins looked up from his handheld screen. "Not yet, Cap'n. But Krim has given permission to use the large-scale replicators on Griffon to make some components the ship is missing. For a few hours work and transport, Fergus O'Brien can work almost continuously during the weeks it will take Defiant to get to Deep Space 9."

Harry replied, "That's fine." He paused. "Get me Sisko on the line. I need to ask him a question."

Soon the connection was made. "What can I do for you, Commodore Potter?"

Harry looked at Sisko and his uniform. It showed that he was actively working on systems. But Harry had an idea. "What were the issues that your ship there had before it was mothballed?"

Sisko considered the question and finally said, "Her shakedown cruise showed her overpowered and over-gunned for her size. My efforts were to make a fast, flexible, and lethal ship. Unfortunately, the required systems created great stresses. Mr O'Brien is attempting to create modifications, but he is also helping to get the ship launched, which requires specific steps."

Harry nodded to himself. "Would a warp theorist help?" At Sisko's look of interest Harry added, "Selene Lovegwood, my researcher, is calculating the requirements for an active map on Starbase One. But her original training and her technical skills involve warp engine design. She was the one who figured out how to get two warp engines working in sync on Griffon."

Sisko's eye lit up. "A warp theorist could do much for the Defiant. When could she contact us?"

"I have to talk to her about the possibility of a map on Starbase One. I'll ask her about helping Defiant and see what she says."

"Thank you."

Harry made his way to his researcher's office and, carefully, got a report on the idea of mapping Starbase One.

In her almost distracted style Selene reported, "It can be done but it will take creating 29 anchors. These can be created by our isolated replicator. The ward stone, however, must be at least 13 cubic feet in volume. With granite being 76 kilos per cubic foot, the ward stone has to be one metric tonne or larger. I will have a list of the runes for someone to engrave. It doesn't have to be done magically, but you will have to help make a charging stone and then activate the connection."

"So we'll need stone carvers."

"Yes they will." They meant Starfleet.

"Okay. Thank you for your work. I do have an important project which could use your expertise immediately."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Do you know how hard it will be to stop this and then start again?"

"It's up to you. This is to help figure out why power and warp systems on a prototype are having troubles when the ship reaches full power. You can say no."

Selene looked at her boss for a long moment. "That isn't nice. You are using my desires against me."

"Not against you, Selene. But I do know how much you love perfecting warp fields. This will help protect against attack at the wormhole in Bajoran space."

"What do I get for doing this job?"

"What do you want?"

She considered it. "I want full authority to study and improve the reactors on Deep Space 9. They are unfamiliar technology and I want to play."

Harry said, "I'll get Ben Sisko on the line and we can get his permission. The warp field is for his ship, so he can be convinced to say yet."

Selene grinned. "Yay!"

Harry smiled and started making arrangements to get Selene in touch with Sisko. He then contacted Gardner through on a subspace channel to modify the requirements for the stone.

With the time limitations as they were, Sisko quickly agreed to Selene's request, provided she was successful in diagnosing at least 50 percent of the causes for Defiant's power/warp issues.

With the security requirements in place, Selene received the schematics and accompanying documentation for Defiant.

Harry had allowed her access to the limited holographic systems on the Bruce. She quickly entered in all of the information and then started inspecting the holographic representations before she even looked at the calculations.

Scrolling through the holographic display, she found something which caused her immediate concern. Quickly she called up the schematics and saw the same thing which she had seen on the holographic recreation.

After shaking her head in disbelief, she started working on the required calculations.

Sisko was going over the final list of immediate repairs before the ship launched when a chirp sounded. Absently he called, "Come."

Glancing up he saw that into his small ready room walked Harry Potter, a woman he knew to be Selene Lovegwood, and Fergus O'Brien. He sat back and said, "How can I help you, Commodore?"

Harry replied, "It's how Selene here can help you." Potter stepped to the side and the woman took the item she was carrying and put it on his desk.

"I've been reviewing your schematics and found that this needs to be installed on your ship."

He glanced down and asked, "Why do I need to install a plasma manifold on my ship?"

Selene said, "When your ship was designed, someone took the plasma distribution elements from an Ambassador-class ship because they wanted more power. Unfortunately, the Defiant is much, much smaller and pushing so much plasma throughout the ship creates excess pressure and excess heat, causing you to lose plasma conduits by the tens if you try for full power. In addition, different systems are overtaxed.

"This is a manifold for a Miranda-class. I tried one designed for the Intrepid-class but that would require too many legs to be capped off. The Nova class doesn't push as much plasma as needed for the weapons requirements for Defiant. The Miranda class had the perfectly sized manifold to allow the extra plasma to be distributed to the weapons and impulse engines if required but your life support and computer systems will get what they need and no more."

Sisko's eyes had widened slightly. "Can I see the calculations?"

Selene told him how to access them and Fergus looked over his shoulder as he looked them over. Sisko looked up. "What do you think?"

Fergus nodded. "I was going recommend installing a whole slew of plasma flow regulators but this actually takes care of the majority of the problems with the smallest modification. I'll still need to add regulators, but it will only be about ten percent as many as I had envisioned."

Sisko's eyes gleamed. "So if I needed to install another high-energy device, I still can do so?"

"Oh, yes. There'll still be power to spare," Fergus answered.

"How long to replace the manifold?"

Fergus considered. "With the needed modifications and still in the yard for parts as needed," He did mental math. "Eight hours give or take? I'll need some more hands for the regulators as well or I can install those en route."

"Get to it." Sisko looked at Selene. "You delivered as promised. I will ensure you have full access to the Deep Space 9 systems and authority to modify, as long as they get signed off by Mr. Miles O'Brien."

Selene smiled happily. "Thank you, Commander."

Harry was giving his researcher a fond smile. "Okay, Selene. Please go back to the map calculations. If we can resolve it quickly, that would be wonderful."

"Of course, Harry." Selene flounced out of the room.

Sisko looked at Harry. "That's a particularly different look for you. You're fond of her."

Harry smiled widely. "In many ways, Selene Lovegwood is very similar to Luna Lovegood, a good and faithful friend. When she gives that happy smile and skips off, the similarity becomes even more obvious."

Sisko smiled at that. "There are people who just make the universe better by their presence."

"Yes, there are."

Harry returned to the Bruce and less than twelve hours later, he was observing as the formerly mothballed Defiant was launched. Harry had to admit that she was a mean looking little ship. He liked his Bruce, but if he was in a fight, the Defiant would be a beast.

All of the ships returned to Earth orbit. Griffon was given permission to enter orbit without a Harbor Pilot as she wouldn't be landing and the runabouts weren't large enough to require one.

Defiant was sent off by Starfleet and the small warship turned and moved toward the Romulan Empire. Harry had been told why, but he wasn't saying anything. He checked in a few times as Krim oversaw the first 3000 colonists being put on his ship along with supplies that were to be delivered with them.

Selene Lovegwood had also simplified the runic arrays needed to get a Marauder's Map operating. Starbase One didn't get the magical protections that Griffon and Bruce had but the interactive map became possible. It also didn't need to be unplottable. On the final day of Griffon's loading, Harry Potter followed Selene's instructions.

It would take a week for the wards to charge enough but within a week the active map would be up and running. He could have poured his magic into the large ward stone and sped that up by 30 to 70 percent, but matters weren't that critical. And so he had opted to let the ward stone charge without additional effort.

And with no need to do anything more himself, Harry could link up with the Griffon to go pick up the next batch of colonists.