"Yes Sentinel the most recent battle was two days ago, honestly I'm not surprised your still confused as to what day it is"
"Sentinel have you been fighting practically every day?"
"No Captain I haven't...though I have fought in most of the battles"
Just then a person in robes comes over having heard the last two sentences
"That's because I've been sedating you on occasion, when that happens sir the Ensign takes over per her orders, but hey at least he knows to occasionally rest"
"I'm the only one who really knows both Republic and Starfleet procedures"
"But not at the expense of your health Sentinel, especially seeing as how you're still healing from the most recent battle"
"But healer V'ron"
"No buts Sentinel, or do you want to bring Master Skywalker into it again?"
"You don't understand healer V'ron I still need to..."
"You need to do nothing but give me a written report and get more rest apparently Sentinel Portland and that's an order"
"Yes Captain Picard"
The healer really looks at the newcomer this time and recognizes the uniform and also the pip rank which he made sure to learn back when the Texas first arrived almost two years beforehand
"Ah, finally someone who can pull rank besides the Chancellor and occasionally Master Skywalker"
"Wait she doesn't listen to Master Skywalker?"
"While he's the head of the Jedi Order and can give her missions as a Knight she doesn't have to listen to anyone once she starts the mission, and seeing as how it was decided that her mission would be to prepare the Republic to help take back the Federation and the rebuilding process they can't give her specific orders except when it comes to the safety of others and her own health. Even then she's been very good at hiding her true condition"
"Well she'll listen to me as a Captain so I can help you out in regards to that, is that understood Sophomore Portland?"
"Yes sir, but sir I'm not a Sophomore, I'm just a Freshman"
"Actually Portland I decided to give you a field promotion two days ago for your actions in helping save the Federation"
"But sir I only came here because of my orders from my old Captain"
"Yes, but you've taken to training the young Ensign from what I have heard and have helped the Republic to get ready for a war unlike anything they've done so far"
With those words he removes the Purple star and puts on a Red one signifying that she had been promoted a rank
"Now then you are to go back to the healers and get some real rest and listen to them so that you can heal fast"
"Yes sir with a healing trance I should be good to go within a few days"
"Only in regards to your injuries, the exhaustion will take actual rest time"
"Once she can leave the healing ward I expect you to tell me"
"What for Captain?"
"So that you can report to my ship Sentinel, Commander Noland actually needs your Ensign considering he's an engineer and he's lost a few shortly before we came here"
"No problem, tell him that it's orders and he'll obey"
"Fine, by the way I will be needing full reports from the two of you when you can"
"Very well sir give him those orders as well"
Several days later both were actually on the Enterprise for debriefing when suddenly they went to Red Alert and were told of incoming torpedoes
"Sentinel Portland can stop them like she did last time"
"Only if you want to kill us faster Ensign"
"But Sentinel..."
"Ensign, I don't know how but when I detonated those torpedoes several months ago they managed to hack my authorization code and turn it against us. I can't use that code anymore unless you want to die that much faster"
"And you haven't been able to change your code because you haven't been on a Federation ship with someone the rank of Captain or above"
"Exactly Captain, and I also haven't quite had time to change it since you got here"
"So if our authorization codes are useless what's the plan?"
"Take it easy number one, we'll think of something"
"I might have a plan but we have two problems with it"
"What is your plan Sentinel?"
"Well the plan is I take a shuttle and make it a lovely target via my authorization codes but the two problems are the plan might not work and since I've been in the Republic I haven't really gotten meditation time even with everyone doing their best to give me that time, seeing as how they understand the Federation has mandatory meditation requirements for Jedi"
"Which means your emotional control is practically shot isn't it?"
"Yes Commander it is, there have been several times where I have come very close to Force chocking someone but I manage to stop myself before I do"
"Then I am ordering you not to pursue this plan until you've had several proper meditation sessions and there will be no compromise in this Sophomore Sentinel Portland we don't want a repeat of the Academy now do we?"
Portland knew that with her full rank said Picard was serious about his order
"Yes sir I understand"
"In the meantime launch torpedoes to destroy the other ones"
They quickly destroy the other torpedoes and then the Ensign makes a pretty valid comment
"You know, you've been promoted pretty quickly within these almost two years"
"She continually meets the requirements for promotion but I will recommend in your file that you don't have anymore promotions for at least three years Portland, you need time to actually adapt to your rank the Ensign does have a point there"
"No problem Captain, I haven't said anything because it's not my place to question my superiors but I also have been feeling like I've been promoted a bit quickly"
"For now let's just allow you some meditation time and if you still like the plan then we will allow you to go through with it, but I have a feeling this plan was made with frayed emotions"
"In the meantime number one we have a training session"
"By the way, when will you guys start fighting back?"
"Soon Sentinel, but the Republic is the one requesting at least another month of training to be sure that we are working well together"
"Understood Captain, understood, well I'm going to my quarters for some meditation, by the way did you get my reports?"
"Yes, you've done good work preparing them for our procedures, the main reason they want another month of training is the maneuvering aspect of their wing fighters against our ships and occasionally shuttle crafts"
"Makes sense I guess"
Several days later Sentinel was on the bridge at tactical for a training exercise when she suddenly cried out in pain and grabbed her head