R/R much?
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Chapter 4
The Titan arrived on the scene two hours later.
Picard addressed the bridge. "Alright, everyone knows the drill. Obey Admiral Hayes's orders and let me know how it goes." Hayes smiled. "Admiral, you have the bridge." He pressed his communicator. "Energize."
After he de-materialized, Hayes sat down in his chair. "Ensign, set a course for Earth. Maximum warp."
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Later that evening, Hayes retired to her quarters. Spot jumped onto her bed and woke her up.
"Spot! I'm trying to sleep!" Hayes ran her fingers over the kitty as she curled up into a ball next to her. "I bet you miss Data too." Hayes settled back down and put her hand on the cat as she fell back asleep.
Her communicator activated. "Admiral, we need you on the bridge."
She threw her covers off. "On my way." She quickly picked up her Federation jacket and brought it with her to the bridge. "What is it, Commander Worf?"
"Admiral, an unidentified shuttlecraft is on its way towards us."
Hayes zipped up her jacket before she sat down. "On screen." A small vessel appeared.
Worf looked down at his board. "The ship appears to be of Romulan origin."
Hayes gripped her armrests. "They shouldn't bother us. Continue our course, Ensign."
Worf grabbed his board. "Photon torpedoes! Brace for impact!"
Hayes fell out of her chair from the jolt, as did others on the deck. "Report!"
The Ensign in Data's chair spoke. "They hit our shields and life support, Admiral." He looked back at his board. "Shields at 30 percent."
Hayes touched her communicator. "Hayes to Engineering."
Geordi responded. "La Forge here."
"Geordi, damage report."
"It's not good, Admiral. The shields will come back, but our life support is damaged and so is secondary power. We need time to repair them."
Hayes sat back down. "What is our position, Commander Worf?"
"We are in a star system 1 light-year away from Romulus."
"Ensign, set a course for the nearest planet." Hayes touched her communicator again. "Geordi, we're going to the nearest planet. Can you repair the ship from there?"
"It'll be difficult, but I think we can do it."
Hayes smiled. "That's what I like to hear."
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The Bridge crew gathered in the observation lounge to discuss their situation.
Geordi spoke first. "Shields and secondary power is being restored as we speak, but the life support will not repair itself. I've isolated the problem, and I think we can repair it. However, the planet's atmosphere is making our tricorders not function well enough to fix the problem."
"What do you suggest we do, Commander?" Hayes asked.
"The nearest planet, Aquari, is inhabited by a primitive race, but the ship's computer has picked up traces of small electronic devices on the planet's surface."
Hayes tapped the table. "Will they repair the ship, Commander?"
He shrugged. "It's hard to say. I don't really know. They could, but then again, they couldn't."
"Well, I'm sure that you will repair it as quickly as you can, regardless."
Hayes slowly looked at everyone there: Geordi, Madden, Counselor Sorenson, Dr. Crusher and Worf. The Enterprise seemed empty and lonely without all of Her old crew there.
"You're dismissed." She got up to look out the window and heard everyone leave.
"You look distressed," Counselor Sorenson said timidly.
Hayes didn't turn around. "While I value your help, I was ship's counselor for six years. I think I can handle this."
"Admiral, I didn't stay to counsel you. I need to ask your permission to leave the ship."
Hayes turned around. "Leave? What ever for?"
"Before I was assigned to the Enterprise, I became engaged. When I told my fiancé that we were going to Earth, he asked me to resign and stay there with him."
"Why didn't you ask Captain Picard?"
"I was too afraid that he would think I was deserting him. He and Counselor Troi have put so much faith in me and I didn't want to let them down."
Hayes smiled. "I think that Captain Picard will understand."
Sorenson returned Hayes smile. "Thank you, Admiral."
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An hour later, the Enterprise came into view of the planet, Aquari.
"Ensign, put it on screen." The beautiful green planet came into view and Hayes was taken aback by it's alien beauty. "Commander Worf, get an away team together. All senior personnel, and a few Ensigns."
"Right away, Admiral." He left the bridge to get it done.
After the team was given appropriate clothing for the planet, they met at the Observation Lounge and then walked to the transporter room. Hayes put a phaser into her pocket as she and the rest of the away team walked down the corridor. "Alright everyone, you know the drill." Hayes didn't need to say anything, but she was nervous and her mouth was running away. "Remember the prime directive and all that jazz. So don't go talking to a pretty girl about how much you know about quantum physics." This last sentence she directed to the Ensigns. The group reached the transporter room and they all stood in their spots. "Energize." The lights flashed and the group was instantly transported to the planet's surface.