A/N: No readers yet? Oh well, here's another chapter anyway. I'm writing this for my own amusement until others start reading it too, so it'll be here if you want it!

Of course, if you're reading this one then you've seen the first chapter, so...

Ignore me. It's late and I'm tired. So I'm going to bed, and you can read this. I hope. If so, leave me a review? It helps!


Despite travelling at maximum warp, it still took a several hours to even get close to their destination - the Miranda-class ships were much older, and could never manage anything above warp five. That was positively pedestrian, when compared to the warp nine vessels of the modern age, especially now that quantum slipstream and transwarp drives were almost standard fixtures on modern ships.

Eventually they made it into Romulan space, taking care to go around the massive flotilla of ships that served as their current base of operations. As they neared the Acamar system, Lydana gave the order to drop out of warp, and approach under full impulse.

"I want a full sensor sweep of the entire area, T'Vrell," she told her Vulcan classmate and science officer. "If there's anything out there, I want to know about it."

"We certainly have something, sir, but I do not think it is what you want," she responded in her usual clipped tones, and Lydana began kneading her temple with a finger.

"What is it?" she asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer. When the answer did arrive, it came from the tactical station, not T'Vrell.

"Sir, Romulan warbird de-cloaking, forty degrees to port!"

Lydana swore viciously, her heart rate suddenly increasing as she felt another panic attack about to surface. She fought to keep calm, fought to stay collected, and she closed her eyes as she began taking deep, slow breaths.

"It's a Dhael-class," the Tactical officer updated, "it outguns us and is better armoured. We don't want to fight them, Lieutenant."

"Understood, Tactical," Lydana replied impatiently. "Shields up, go to yellow alert."

"They're hailing us," Elisa informed her from her position at Lydana's right - they'd always been close throughout their time at the academy, and Lydana trusted her friend's advice. Besides, she needed someone with tactical expertise at her side, and Flores had aced most of her tactical tests.

"Onscreen," Lydana commanded, still fighting to keep her voice calm and steady, and the main viewscreen lit with the face of a young Romulan woman. Her features were narrow and severe, her dark red hair longer than normal for her race and pulled into a short ponytail. Her grey eyes were fierce and determined, but Lydana also saw compassion in them, and she hoped this encounter would not go as badly as she feared.

"I am Centurion S'Vae of the Romulan Republic Warbird Leucosia," the woman announced. "State your intentions in this area, Starfleet."

"I am-" Lydana had to pause to clear her throat, trying not to stumble over her words as she stood to deliver the time-honoured greeting of Starfleet captains everywhere. "I am Lieutenant Kassai, of the Federation Starship Steadfast," she managed at last, "we are investigating the disappearance of one of our science vessels, which was last seen in this region. Would you happen to know anything about it?"

"Are you accusing us, Starfleet?!" the Romulan snapped, and Lydana hurriedly attempted to retract what she had said.

"N-no! Not at all, Centurion, and I apologise for the misunderstanding, I was simply enquiring if you had...if you had seen it, at all, during your routine patrols, or..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the impassive features of the Romulan captain, until eventually her lips quirked in a half-smile.

"I am no expert in humans," S'Vae began, "but aren't you a little young to be commanding a starship?"

Lydana's cheeks heated at the comment, and she looked down at the floor momentarily.

"It's...a long story, Centurion."

"No doubt," S'Vae answered with a soft chuckle. "I am sorry, I do not believe we have seen your ship, but-"

A comment off to S'Vae's side caused her to turn, and after a moment she turned her attention back to Lydana.

"My science officer tells me that she did detect something that might have been a Federation warp signature as we passed through the area, but it has decayed somewhat. I'll send you all the data she picked up on it, and you can follow it as you see fit."

Lydana heaved a sigh of relief, smiling at the Romulan officer.

"You have my thanks, Centurion, for your assistance," she offered, and she meant it - although, what she had truly meant was thank you for not blasting us into tiny pieces, but she didn't think that would give the right impression.

"Think nothing of it - it is my belief that my superiors are seeking an alliance with your people, so it would not do to begin such negotiations with an apology for destruction of an antique." S'Vae chuckled, a warm, pleasant sounds at odds with a stern appearance. "It has been a pleasure, Lieutenant Kassai. May we meet again some day, and I wish you luck in finding your missing ship."

"And I wish your people luck in finding a new homeworld," Lydana replied. "Steadfast, out."

The transmission ended, the viewscreen showing the starlit void beyond the hull once more, and the pale green form of the Leucosia veered away before cloaking again.

"Stand down yellow alert," Lydana ordered, her voice quivering slightly as she walked back to her chair, fighting to stop her hands from shaking.

"We have their sensor data, sir," T'Vrell stated. "The warp signature does seem to match the profile for an older ship such as the DaVinci."

"Where does it lead?"

"Towards the Jouret system, sir."

"Helm, lay in a course," Lydana commanded, still trying to slow her hammering pulse and fighting the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I'll be in the cap-" That was becoming a bad habit, she knew. Sooner or later she was going to have to realise this was her ship now, her crew. "I'll be in my ready room," she corrected herself, heading for the door that led from the bridge.


"...so that's where we're at so far, Admiral," Lydana finished, after she'd updated Admiral Quinn on their progress. "We're heading to Jouret now, to see if this warp signature leads to anything."

"Good work, Lieutenant," the stone-faced admiral told her. "I trust the Romulans didn't give you too much hassle?"

"No sir, the patrol we encountered was quite pleasant, in fact."

"Good. I'd hate to have to report any misdeeds when we're trying to form an alliance with them," Quinn replied, and Lydana nodded.

"Yes sir, Centurion S'Vae mentioned something to the same effect."

"S'Vae?" The admiral frowned, and Lydana's confusion caused her to match the expression.

"Yes sir, do you know her?"

"Only by reputation. Her name has crossed my desk once or twice, moreso the desk of Starfleet Intelligence. She's apparently made a name for herself very quickly within the Republic Navy, she'll be one to keep an eye on if this alliance does go ahead." He paused for a moment, looking away from the screen in thought, before he brought his attention back to Lydana. "Anyway, you seem to have everything well in hand at the moment, so I'll let you get back to it. Update me when you have any further information. Quinn, out."

Lydana groaned as the screen blanked, dropping her head to the desk and wondering how she ended up in this position. Before her thoughts could become too depressing, however, the door chime sounded, and Lydana sat upright again, attempting to look busy.

"Come," she called, and a moment later Elisa sauntered into the ready room.

"Oh, it's you Lise," Lydana muttered, dropping her head back to the desk.

"Hello to you too," Elisa replied drily, before frowning in concern for her friend. "You okay, Lyddie?"

"No," Lydana announced, sitting upright again and running her hands through her hair. "How am I meant to do this, Lise? I'm not a captain! I wasn't even really First Officer, I was just Acting First Officer! Acting. A stupid little girl playing pretend, just like my father always said."

Elisa recognised this mood. She had seen it often over the four years they'd spent at the academy together, and it always surfaced when Lydana was feeling low. Given the situation, she couldn't fault Lydana for feeling that way now.

Elisa walked behind the desk, behind Lydana's chair and rested her hands on her friend's shoulders, beginning a gentle massage to ease Lydana's tension.

"You're here because several high-ranking officers have faith in you," Elisa explained. "Captain Taggart, Captains Yim and Vo'Lok, even Admiral Quinn - you wouldn't be here if he didn't believe you were capable."

"But-"

"And if you won't believe that, then maybe you're here because the Prophets placed you here?"

Low blow, Lise, Lydana thought, enjoying the massage too much to actually voice the objection. Using my faith to boost my morale.

"I hate it when you make sense," Lydana mumbled, and Elisa patted her shoulders.

"Call it a gift. When was the last time you slept?"

Lydana scoffed.

"Right, because I'm going to sleep so well in these circumstances," she replied scathingly. "I have reports from every department to go through, I have a crew to manage and a ship to ensure doesn't get vapourised. Sleep is something of a luxury, one I can't afford."

"Sleep is a necessity, especially as ship's captain," Elisa corrected. "Have something to eat, then go get some rest. We won't hit Jouret for a good seven hours, at least, you owe it to your crew to approach any problems with a clear and rested mind."

"There you go again," Lydana said with a weary smile. "Fine, I'll eat something in a minute."

Elisa made a small sound that might have been disbelief, and crossed to the ready room's replicator. Being an old ship, the ready room wasn't particularly large, but it served its purpose well enough.

"One plate of Hasperat, one glass of Kava juice," she told the machine, and it bleeped in quiet compliance before the food materialised.

"You'll eat now," Elisa ordered gently. "As your friend and First Officer, I have a responsibility to you as well as the crew. Eat, drink then sleep."

"Do I need to put down this mutiny before it happens?" Lydana asked with a chuckle, taking a bite of the Bajoran food. She was flattered that Elisa remembered her favourite dish, even if the replicators never made it spicy enough for her liking. She'd once been told that Hasperat was very similar to an Earth food called a burrito, but Lydana had tried those and she was convinced that Earth should give up trying to make Hasperat while it was still behind.

"Want a bit?" Lydana asked, offering the plate towards Elisa, who immediately waved it away.

"No chance! Remember when you first got me to try it? I was in the head so long I nearly missed my Tactical Training final!"

"Not my fault you have a weak stomach," Lydana said with a quiet chuckle, then looked at her friend and smiled. "Thanks for coming to see me, Lise. I feel a bit better now."

"What are friends for...Captain?" Elisa replied, giving her friend a wink as she chuckled at her own humour. "I'll let you know when we hit the Jouret system, but until then, make sure you rest!"

"Yes sir," Lydana answered with a mock salute, and Elisa finally took her leave.

If the Prophets truly existed, than Lydana was thankful to them - for giving her a friend like Elisa Flores. Without the bubbly redhead, Lydana doubted she would even have made it through the first week of Academy, let alone graduate with flying colours.

She finished her meal, downed the glass of Kava juice and recycled the plate and glass, then finally headed for the bridge turbolift, leaving orders with the duty officers to wake her if anything went happened.

She only hoped she would actually be able to sleep.


"Bridge to Lieutenant Kassai."

The sudden alert caused Lydana to wake up with a start, thumping her head on the low bulkhead above her bed. She swore at the cramped quarters of such an old ship, even in the captain's quarters, and rubbed her head as she replied.

"Go ahead," she told Elisa's disembodied voice, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

"We've arrived in the Jouret system, sir. T'Vrell's already detecting something that might be our missing ship."

"Have you hailed them?"

"Still just outside of hailing range, sir. Figured you might want to be on the bridge when we get there."

Lydana nodded, sliding out of bed and grabbing her uniform skirt.

"Alright Elisa, I'll be there momentarily. Keep scanning the area, I don't want any surprises."


Lydana made it to the bridge in record time, exiting the turbolift to be greeted with the image of a battered Oberth-class science vessel hanging silently in the void.

"Is that her?" she asked, moving around to the captain's chair but not taking it.

"Yes sir," T'Vrell answered flatly. "That is the science vessel DaVinci, but as of yet we have not determined what happened to it."

"Lifesigns?"

"None that we have been able to locate, sir."

Lydana shook her head as she stared at the stricken ship, lamenting the loss of the collective knowledge of its crew.

"By the Prophets, look at this," she said, pointing at an elongated wound along the edge of its saucer section. "It looks like something...cut into these decks, see?" Looking at the damaged sections, something suddenly occurred to her. "There's no emergency force-fields in place. Has it got any power?"

"Minimal, sir," another of the crew answered, a young Trill woman by the name of Yatsai. "They've got gravity, minimal life support, but that's it."

Lydana stared at the ship for a moment, thinking about various options. She wasn't experienced in this sort of situation, but they needed answers, so...

"Elisa, have Zarva report to transporter room one with an engineering team. T'Vrell, Yatsai, you're with me. We're going over there to find out what happened."

"Lyd-" Elisa caught herself just in time - it wouldn't do to seem overly familiar with the captain in front of the crew. "Lieutenant," she corrected, "are you sure that's a good idea? You are now the captain of the ship, and we have-"

"Elisa," Lydana interrupted, crossing back over to her friend, "you were always better at tactics than me. You wanted Tactical. If anything comes back to finish the DaVinci, or to start on us, I need someone here who knows how to fight. I'm science and medical - my place is over there, trying to figure out who - or what - destroyed that ship."

She patted Elisa's shoulder once, then walked back towards the turbolift. "We'll be back before you know it," she called over her shoulder, as Elisa settled uneasily into the captain's chair.