A/N: Disclaimer is as usual: STAR BLAZERS is owned lock, stock, and barrel, 2003 Voyager Entertainment, Inc.

Everything else is mine - if it's like anything real, it's still part of my imagination.

Chapter 5

Debriefing

Synopsis: Derek, Conroy and Hardy have discovered survivors from the ruined wreckage of the Scout Class ship, the DeSpritz. The survivors turn out to be old roommates of Nova.

"I knew it had to be someone like you two to send a message in old Morse Code," remarked Nova as she walked arm in arm with the twins off the flight deck.

"We weren't sure if those stingrays were still in the area or not," explained Colleen, hitching her helmet to side, letting go of Nova's arm in the process.

"We figured Morse Code would completely baffle them and, since the EDC doesn't use it anymore, we felt that it was best." Kathleen paused for a moment pulling Nova to a stop. She glanced over her shoulder at the flight deck.

Nova was puzzled and raised an eyebrow at Colleen before turning her head to see what the other twin was looking. Turning her gaze towards the door, Nova saw Hardy by his bird, surrounded by his crew and Conroy. Both heard the heavy, exasperated sigh from the young woman.

"Would you two excuse me? I'll catch up in a bit."

Nova considered the options and Colleen shook her head. "I don't think that should be a problem. Do you want us to wait?"

"Nope."

The other twin told her softly, "Remember, business before pleasure."

Nova giggled a little as Kathleen turned on them with a disgusted face. Raising her helmet by the chin strap, she waggled it at them. "Would the two of you get lost! I have a duty to do."

With faces full of mock innocence and surprise, Nova and Colleen faced Kathleen before breaking into wide grins.

"Grrr..," growled Kat taking a step towards them.

"Opps," said Colleen turning and taking Nova by the arm again, "I think we had better go." She wrinkled her nose up.

"But of course," noted Nova in a condescending tone, "we must let the officer do her job."

"Just get out of here." Kat pushed the two who, just to prove a point, went a few inches before strolling very slowly away from her. She rolled her eyes ceiling wards, whispering, "Why me?" Then, taking another hold on the helment, the twin headed back to the knot of personnel still on the flight deck.

"So, there we were," Conroy had his audience spellbound, "in the middle of this spooky ship when I suddenly -"

"-jumped outa your skin," finished Kat. The young man jumped then blushed while his friends laughed at him. No one had seen her come up and all had given a slight start when she spoke up.

"Now ya'll know how I felt when they showed up by my fighter," Hardy stating, grinning.

Kat smiled in returned and found a place to sit on a rolling tool box. Setting down the helmet, she told the group at large, "That's what our suits are designed for. So that we can get into an enemies base without being noticed."

"Those suits sure work good," admitted Hardy. He gestured at the sitting woman. "They done set up an ambush on this here rock on the other side. Well, there I was, circlin' 'round, slow like, when - bam - 'round the nose of that ship I spots something glintin' in the dark." The young man paused and glanced at everyone's ensnared faces. "So I park by bird on the spooky ship and jet over there. Cautiously, I made my way towards this thing and found it to be a life pod, all covered in black. Now, I'm not sure it's Earth type, so I hightail it back to my bird.

"No soon had I got into the pit, when, outa the black space, these two forms rushed me on either side -"

"And you gave up without a fight?" Interjected his crew chief.

"You do when you're lookin' down the barrel of a nasty laser carbine," the pilot answered with a easy style.

"Okay, that's a wrap boys." Kathleen stood up. "Now it's my duty to tell all of you that what you've been told is top secret and you are here by being informed that, any word of this gets out, I just may have to bring you up on charges." She held up a pad of paper. "I have your names listed here. Got it boys?"

A chorus of, "Aye, aye ma'am," rang out.

"Good." She nodded. "Now, Lieutenant, kindly show me the way to the sick bay."

"Yes ma'am. This way please," he bowed and stretched out his arm.

As they left the area, Kathleen overheard Conroy remark, "Do you get the feeling she means it?"

"Thanks," said Hardy once they were out of earshot of the group.

Kathleen shook her head, causing her earrings to clatter against the high collar of the suit. "Don't mention it. I hate to see someone get ribbed by his friends for something that wasn't his fault."

"Ah, they didn't mean it." Hardy opened the door. "It wasn't like it was the first time. Still, how did you keep outa my sight. I musta gone 'round that ship a dozen times and I never did see ya'll."

"Can't tell you exactly," admitted Kathleen. "Top Secret ya know. But, you almost caught us the first time you came around."

"Really?"

Kat snorted. "Yea. When you first pulled around near the bow, we were flat against the hull, frozen like statues."

The pilot chuckled. "You know Sandor would love - hey, what's wrong?"

At the mention of Sandor's name, Kathleen had stopped, the blood draining from her tanned face. Looking at him earnestly, she reached out to grip his arm. "Sandor's on this ship?"

"Yep. He is a Lieutenant Commander. Why? Do ya'll know him?" Hardy was half baffled and concerned.

Kathleen nodded, almost to herself as she got a thoughtful look. "Yes, we do. Very well as a matter of fact."

"How do ya'll know him?" He was watching her face carefully.

"What?" She blinked, coming back down, "Oh, he dated my sister a few years ago. They had a falling out when she decided to join me in Intelligence."

"I see." Hardy was still baffled. "Capt'n, this may be none o' my business, but what happens when they find out 'bout the other?"

Kathleen's eyes flew open as she looked up at him and intoned, "Big time fireworks my friend, big time fireworks. Oh boy, I better get to Kit before he does or she hears."

"Sick bay is up one level from here," stated the young man. "I'll head up to the debriefing room and see ifn I can stall him."

"Right!" Suddenly Kathleen rose up on her tiptoes and kissed Hardy's check. "You're such a doll, Lieutenant."

Before Hardy had time to react, the young woman rushed down the corridor and disappeared. He stood stock still for a moment, relishing that brief kiss, then he sauntered down the corridor after her.

Derek had left the duffle bags in the sick bay and, when Kathleen arrived slightly out of breath, she found Colleen was all ready digging through hers. Nova was off to one side, talking to a short, squat, bald man whom Kathleen took to be Doctor Sane. An orange stripped cat came walking out from the back of the sick bay to wrap itself around his leg.

Nova looked at the young woman when she arrived almost out of breath. She frowned and got a weak grin in return.

IQ-9 rolled in about then and stopped dead in it's tracks. "Am I seeing double or are there two of you?"

"IQ-9," explained Nova coming up to the robot. "This is Captains Colleen and Kathleen O'Flanagon of the EDC Special Intelligence force."

"But -" started the robot.

"We're identical twins." Kathleen bent over to look at IQ's receptors. "So, yes, in a way you are seeing double."

"'Bout time you showed up," Colleen commented from her place by her bag. She pulled out a rumpled pair of pants. "Nova, where can I get these pressed?"

"I'll do them while you take a shower and Doctor Sane can check your sister out," the brunette told her.

"Shower?" Kathleen's face perked up.

Nova laughed. "You don't think I'd let the two of you face a bunch of sex starved maniacs smelling like you do." She pointed towards the back from where the cat came. "Besides, I can't stand the smell either."

"And after all we've been through, we need one."

"No kidding," Colleen added with a wicked grin, "I'm getting kind of tired of smelling her too."

"Oh, man! That's just not fair," Kat snarled.

"Now, let me check you over." Doctor Sane wobbled over to where Kathleen stood as Colleen made her way aft.

A few minutes later, Kathleen joined her sister who, by now was finished with getting out the suit. There were pieces laying on a table before the twin. Kat began to pick them up as she nervously asked, "Can we talk for a moment?

"After I stop smelling like the inside of a tank." Colleen pulled the last leg off and stood, stretching in a padded form fitting black uniform. Nova chose that moment to walk in and broke out in giggles.

"That reminds me of a child's sleeper. It looks ridiculous."

"Actually," Colleen was miffed. "It's very comfortable."

"Even if we resemble a couple of two year olds," commented Kathleen as she unfasten her suit.

Colleen huffed and grabbed her towel. "Mmuph."

When the twins had finished their showers and had gone through a physical exam by Doctor Sane, they put the last touches on their dress. Nova watched as Colleen pony tailed her hair, pinning it to the back of her head in a bun while Kathleen split her hair to braids.

"I see your taste in uniforms hasn't changed," the young woman told them drily nodding at their attire. Both wore black boots, camouflage trousers and red berets. Where they differed is that one twin wore a simple standard issue tan shirt with her captains bars on the collar while the other wore a long sleeve version and carried a replica World War II bombardier's jacket.

"Well," stated Kathleen pulling the coat on, "you know us."

"When we were onboard, our skipper didn't mind much." Colleen smiled. "But I do have to admit I really like the one piece suits."

"Only they get icky after a while." Kathleen made a face and pulled on the jacket..

Nova eyed the coat and asked cautiously, "Isn't that a little too much for being on a battleship?"

Colleen laughed. "Nova! I'm surprised at you. You've obviously forgotten that if there's a cold spot anywhere, she'll be the one to find it and freeze."

Nova grinned in response. "You're right, I had forgotten." She sobered up. "You two ready?"

"About as ready as we'll ever be," told her.

As they started out the door and walked down the corridor, Colleen asked Kathleen, "Kat? Just before I got into the shower, you said you had to talk to me. What about?"

For a moment Kat looked blank then she remembered, "Oh yes. It's about someone on this ship-"

"Hellooooo, ladies," came a deep male voice behind them, interrupting her. The threesome turned as one and found themselves facing a tall stocky man with black hair, dressed in a Space Marine uniform with Sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. He continued, "Nova. Who's your friends?"

"And who is this?" Countered Colleen stepping towards him. From one side she could see the corridor was filled with other Marines sprinkled with a few Star Force personnel. She walked around him while he placed his arms across his chest, looking very pleased with himself. Satisfied with her inspection, Colleen headed back to where Nova and her sister stood.

"Make a note in the ship's logs, ma'am, that this sergeant if restricted to his quarters for failing to salute a superior office for twenty-four hours."

Sergeant Knox's mouth dropped and he stepped forward. "Whaa...!"

Looking back at him, Colleen told him, "Check out the collar and the hat sergeant."

There was a moment of silence as Knox's eyes moved from one dark haired girl to the other then back to Nova as the realization began to hit home. He closed his eyes and slapped his forehead. "Oh boy."

Kathleen had to grin as her sister came past her and tugged at her arm. She offered him, "Better luck next time Sergeant."

Nova giggled. "Sergeant Knox, meet Captains Colleen and Kathleen O'Flanagon of Special Intelligence."

"Spook squad eh?" He tapped a finger against his lip. "Nice meetin' ya."

"Now that we're done with introductions, we really must be going." Colleen gathered Nova and Kathleen together, pulling them down the corridor. "Is that who you were going to tell me about?"

"Uh, no. Actually -" started Kathleen.

"Drop it," Nova told her. "We need to get to debriefing. The Deputy Captain doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Derek glanced up from a stack of reports as the threesome entered the room. The first thing he noticed was Nova. Her appearance seemed different. Her eyes were more pronounced and her cheeks were a little rosier than before. And just when it hit him that she might actually be wearing make-up, he saw the twins. To cover his momentary shock, the Deputy Captain began the introductions by pointing to a distinguished older man, with a bald head, white beard and mustache, "Ladies, this is Orion, our Chief Engineer."

A thin faced, nervous young man in tan and black was introduced as, "Homer, our Chief Communcations Officer."

The young man with glasses and dark hair. "Dash, he's in control of our Combat Group."

Derek indicated to the seat nearest him, "This is for my XO. He'll be along shortly. Captains, if you please, can we start?"

Kathleen grinned and promply sat down. "It's your turn sis."

Her sister glared for a moment before clearing her throat and beginning, "The DeSpritz was out on her maiden voyage from Moon Base. Five weeks into a ten week shake down run..."

On the DeSpritz

"It was the beginning of the first watch, five weeks out from Earth and the ship was on a 'silent run', with no communications to made, the sensors on passive, and the engine on a quiet setting. By now the new crew had just gotten use to the new equipment when I reported for duty. Standing on bridge was Captain O'Flanagon," Colleen indicated her twin.


"Reporting for duty." Colleen snaped a salute.

Studying the clipboard beside her, Kathleen checked her log. "You're cleared for duty Captain." She grinned and rose from her station. "Everythings okydoky. Not a peep from anything."

Colleen sighed and sat down in her sister's place. "Can't you report proper just once?"

"Not if it's you," quipped the twin on her way out. At the hatch she called out, "Have fun sis."

Colleen shook her head and turned her attention to her matters. The morning run was the usual dull stuff until...

"...we hit sector five. Here, a blip began to show on the long range scanners. Commander Brand came topside and ordered the DeSpritz to a halt and a recon ship sent out to boost the scanners.

"Two minutes after the plane left, we were attacked at o-ten hundered hours by unknown hostiles - stingray shaped ships. They caught us completely by surprise.

"The battle was brief. We were simply overrun and they boarded taking many of the crew as prisoner." Colleen stopped to get a breath. "The Captain and I were on the recon ship. We watched from a distance as the ship was turned into slag. We only returned to the 'Spritz when the hostiles were gone. That was two weeks ago.

"At that point, we did what we could to keep the recon working and then started searching the nearby planets, thinking that the enemy ships came from there. Based on what we found, we believe that there is a small forward base set up and that our crew mates are being held." Colleen straighten up. "I tactfully request assistance in effecting a rescue." She sat down, winded.

Derek stood and told her sadly, "I'm sorry, Captain, but I have to deny your request."

"What!" She jumped to her feet, her eyes snapping. "You just can't leave those people behind. You've -"

"Wildstar,"Sandor rushed in excited, "Have you seen those suits-"

At the sound of his voice, Colleen whirled around, crashing the chair. Sandor pulled to a stop, brown eyes meeting shocked green eyes. She choked and the blood drained from her face while she stepped back into the table, lifting a hand to her mouth while Sandor froze in place.