A Line in the Sand: A Star Trek: The Edge of Midnight Fan Work

Once again, I found myself emerging from the sparkle of a transporter beam upon the surface of New Jerusalem. Unable to stall the approach of the Tlhab I had ordered both the Aurora and the Resolute into geostationary orbit above the colony. As well I ordered Commander Glov Gronnahk to take the shuttles from both ships and begin setting up the transport inhibitors. I was going to have to stall both the Klingons and the colony, however. They needed as much time as possible to set up and I needed more information. I had left the Resolute once both ships were in orbit to get some answers.

“Captain!” a voice called from behind me, and I wheeled, trying to get my bearings. Commander Fane along with Lieutenant Risi and a squad of security officers were jogging across the square to meet me. Their distance gave me a moment to take in the colony again. I was in the same courtyard as I had initially beamed down into and while nothing had diminished the beauty of the place, there was now an undercurrent of menace provided by the black uniformed personnel of the local security forces. There was also a conspicuous absence of Starfleet personnel, though I suspected Commander Fane had a good reason for this. The team jogged up to me.

“Captain what the hell is happening?” Commander Fane said in a hushed voice. He was slightly out of breath, no doubt from running back from where he had set up his local command once I had informed him of my arrival. “The Klingons are coming here, and we can't fire a shot to stop them?”

“I’m afraid so, Marcus, but we’re working on an option. Commander Glov Gronnahk should be able to create a perimeter around the entire colony with transport inhibitors while I stall the Klingons. Whitman and Foro are also working on any options for how to deal with them in orbit. Any updates from down here?” I replied, filling both him and Lieutenant Risi in on the plan.

“Yes ma’am, we managed to secure that person you asked, she's waiting for you at Doctor Truong’s field hospital.” Good, that was progress. He continued. “The lieutenant has also deployed our security personnel to the Suliban district, for now we feel the colony can manage its own defenses.” I nodded to Lieutenant Risi, who simply gave a slow blink in acknowledgement.

“Well done the both of you. I need a no nonsense assessment. Let's say we suddenly have to hold this colony against four hundred plus Klingon Marines, what are our chances?” It was good to be back amongst my kind and I could already feel myself shifting out of the stiff vernacular of command and back into a familiar soldiers dialogue.

“It will be street fighting Ma’am. You know what that means.” Lieutenant Risi replied in his deep baritone. He was right, I did know what that meant. Brutal close quarter fighting, room clearances and every structure on a street turned into a fortress. It was the worst kind of war, and a type of carnage the Klingons excelled at. He continued.

“We have one advantage though Captain. Once the Suliban learned of the Klingons arrival, my patrols were inundated with individuals and small groups volunteering to protect the colony. We had turned them away for now, but if Klingon boots actually touch the ground here, I would estimate we could rally a large portion of the population to our aid.”

“That is good news, even if they don't have formal training we will need stretcher bearers, runners and other support.” I took a deep breath to focus. “Ok Lieutenant, work with the Aurora and let's get us any equipment we can down to the surface.” He nodded and I continued. “Any leads on where the distress call was sent from or who sent it?”

“Unfortunately, yes Captain, it was sent from the central administration building.” Commander Fane added.

“Ok,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “We don't have a lot of time and we have a lot to do. I need to speak to the Suliban directly, that's more important, but I need Rator to know I’m here to put the fear of his God back in him. Take me to Doctor Troung’s hospital, just let me do one thing first.” With that I turned from the group and began walking towards the central administration building, motioning for the group to follow as I might need the muscle of 6 armed Starfleet officers to make this threat heard. I spotted a group of local security, the Brotherhood if I correctly remembered this morning and put on my best parade ground voice. This called for a bit of shouting.

“Troopers halt!” I bellowed in the same voice I used for ordering ground attacks or calling a parade ground to attention. A gaggle of the black uniformed security troops stopped and turned to look at me, their faces plastered with shock and surprise. Good, I was happy I could still yell when I needed to. Not modulating my volume at all, I continued.

“You and you, come here, right now.” I point at two of them at random. They didn't move at first, but a bellowed “Now!” had them moving. I wasn't going to let up and give them a moment to think. “Form up here at attention.” I pointed directly to the ground in front of me. Both men were shorter than I was, and I wanted to look down on them to drive my point home. The two troopers came sloppily to attention in front of me.

“I have orders for both of you, and I expect them to be carried out immediately, am I understood?” I roared in their faces.

“Yes ma’am” they replied almost robotically. I continued, not wanting to give them a chance to realize I wasn't technically in their chain of command. Sometimes drill and discipline could be relied on over the logical part of a being's brain.

“Both of you are ordered to find Administrator Rator and tell them to assemble the entirety of the colony’s leadership in that building.” I pointed to the main administration complex. “In one hour if they have any interest in being the leader of this world when this is all over and not serving a life sentence for aiding and abetting slavery. Use those words exactly troopers. Do you understand me?” One of them frowned.

“I don't think you can actually give us orders… ma’am?” He replied to my bellows meekly, though I could hear a bit of steel at the end. He continued, his resolve building. “We are accountable to God and the church in that order, neither of which include you!” I had to nip this in the bud right now. I quickly read their nameplates.

“Listen here, troopers Astaire and Hasnawi.” I jabbed my finger into both of their nameplates as I read them. “It is about to get very dangerous down here. Our crews have a mandate to protect lives and that includes your sorry asses yet here you are making that harder for us! Tell you what, I find out you didn't follow this order or didn’t impress on Administrator Rator the severity of what I am saying, then the two of you can look forward to sharing a prison cell with them for obstructing. Do I make myself clear?”

A meek reply of “Yes ma’am.” was all I needed. With a bellowed “Dismissed” I turned on my heel and stalked off, Commander Fane and the rest falling into step behind me. Once we were out of earshot I heard Commander Fane laugh. He jogged to quickly close the distance between us so we could speak.

“Have you ever thought of a career in the FGF Captain?” I laughed as well. I am quite sure I had just embodied the hard nosed persona of a career sergeant in one of the Tellarite People's Volunteers regiments of the Federation Ground Forces. Sometimes leadership needed tact and other times a bit of shouting could get you what you want, and I said as much back to my first officer. He laughed again.

“I was worried one of them was going to piss themselves, hopefully you scared them enough for it to actually stick.”

“Good.” I replied “This colony's gutlessness is getting to me. If I have to use the stick, then so be it. Hopefully all the Suliban need is the carrot.”

We arrived at the field hospital a few moments later, which was already being put to good use. I had seen Starfleet Medical Auxiliary Support Hospitals many times before and I had always admired how fast and efficient Starfleet doctors could act in a crisis. Nestled between two large colony housing structures, it was at once easy to see the difference in the living situations between the official citizens of New Jerusalem and the Suliban. Across the street was a fenced in checkpoint leading to a collection of shanty buildings that stretched out far into the distance. Three of my security officers were working to dismantle it while a fourth cleared Suliban to come to the hospital and covered the other three simultaneously. I hated to see the deferential body language of the Suliban displayed towards my crew. Clearly, they had been brutalized by soldiers with phaser rifles. To them there were no differences between the crimson of my security personnel and the black of the colonial troops.

The hospital itself was built out of self-assembling semi rigid tents marked with the delta and cross of Starfleet Medical. My ship's medical staff had cleared the ground around it to support treating the less serious patients as well as to serve as a waiting space for the families of those who were being seen to. All around me I could see the faces of Suliban, many of them injured or sick but even more who were clearly the family and friends of those my crew were helping. I felt my chest swell with pride, this was a shining example of the good Starfleet actually does in the galaxy and why people like me enlisted and went into security so it could be protected. I decided right now that this would be my command post on the planet. Forget the luxury of the administration complex. This is what mattered the most and needed to be the most defended. I flagged down one of the nurses, Ensign Namkosse.

“Nurse Namkosse, a moment.” I called after her. She turned and her eyes went wide, clearly not expecting to be face to face with her Captain, XO and a squad of ships security. I realized I probably looked like a storm rolling towards her. I hadn't been able to shake my anger at all since beaming down, and my dustup with the local troopers had certainly done nothing to improve it.

“Yes Captain?” She closed the scanner flap on her tricorder, her eyes quickly darting between the six of us. I tried to break the tension for her sake.

“How's the situation on the ground here Ensign?” I stepped closer to her, one hand raised to halt Commander Fane and our entourage.

“Lots of physical injuries ma’am, plus malnourishment and exposure casualties. We’re burning through supplies, but it's for a good cause.”

“How are the Suliban?” I asked. I would need a baseline if I was going to ask them for help, and a review of their mental state would help me with that.

“Resilient ma’am, they remind me of a few stories from old Earth.” I cocked my head at this and motioned for her to elaborate. Earth history, while a required class, was never my forte but my earlier discussion with Commander Foro was bringing back memories, none of them pleasant. She continued.

“My world's history is full of displaced peoples who banded together and lifted each other up to keep their traditions and culture alive and I can see that same desire in the Suliban. These people are nothing like the Suliban from President Archer's mission reports, and I fear that history has tainted the Federation's opinion of them. They really are lovely people, already we’ve had the family members of those we’ve treated bring us food and gifts and opening their homes to us, which is more than I can say for the colony.”

“Thank you, Nurse, is Doctor Truong in there?” I motioned to the large S.M.A.S.H tent behind her. She nodded and I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Great work down here, I mean it and just because the Klingons are here doesn't mean it's going to stop. I’m not going to let them, or their Orion lackeys take anyone.” I removed my hand and motioned for the rest of my officers to follow me into the tent.

I am intimately familiar with Starfleet field hospitals, having spent many hours assembling, defending and unfortunately recovering in them over my years of service. This one was identical to every other one I had ever seen, rows upon rows of portable bio beds, crash carts alongside wall racks of plasma, hypospray’s and medical instruments. Currently all of the bio beds were occupied by Suliban, with teams of doctors and nurses moving between them. With a quick series of hand motions, I ordered Lieutenant Risi and the other security officers to assume station by the entrance out of the way, while I surveyed the crowd for Doctor Truong. Not seeing him in the press of bodies I called out his name.

“In his office ma’am” came the response from a masked orderly I couldn't identify, shouldering an injured Suliban off of a bed. With Commander Fane in tow, I stepped through the press of bodies and opened the door to the small office off the back of the tent. These S.M.A.S.H. hospitals came stock with an office for the commanding physician to take calls and a set of attached bunks that could be used for the staff to rest if afforded the time, though during the war those beds were just as likely to be filled with a wounded FGF trooper instead. Dipping my head I stepped through and into the room. Doctor Truong was seated at a desk, a stack of PADD’s filling most of the available space and from this angle I couldn't see what was being displayed on them. The doctor was clearly engrossed in whatever said PADD’s contained as he didn't look up as we entered. He wasn't alone in this space either, a crate of dermal regenerators had been upended as was currently being used as a chair by a female Suliban. She looked up at us as we filed in, the four of us and the small desk consuming nearly all available space in the small office.

“Captain.” Doctor Truong said, not looking up from his PAADs. “Meet Sala. Sala, meet Captain Zh'kaarrin.” She stood up from the crate and extended a hand, which I took. I was immediately struck by her appearance. Shorter than what I guessed from the holo projection I had seen earlier, she had to tilt her head up to meet my eyes as we shook. Her skin was the mottled greens and blacks her species was known for, though there was a subtle shimmer of a bluish silver around her eyes. Her eyes themselves were a striking amber. She wore no ornamentation or uniform that would show her as one of the speakers for her people and I would have been hard pressed to pick her out of a crowd.

“Hello Captain,” She spoke as we shook, my universal translator not removing the accent from her speech. “Thank you for what your crew has done for us. We are used to not being treated well wherever we put down roots and your crew's assistance feels unfamiliar.”

“I can only imagine what your people have been through to get here today ma’am” I replied, withdrawing my hand.

“Oh, Sala is fine Captain. Just because I am representing my people doesn't mean I need to be afforded any special privilege.” I liked her already. My rank might be needed for the chain of command to work, but everything just worked better when we could address each other as equals.

“I need to have a word with my doctor first Sala, I imagine you’d like to talk somewhere a bit less cramped than here.” She laughed

“I was a warp field technician before coming here, the office is downright spacious compared to a Mazarite plasma manifold. I’m fine waiting here.” She sat back down on the crate of dermal regenerators. I turned to my doctor.

“I spoke with Ensign Namkosse before, and she gave me a fine rundown of the situation Doctor. Anything you might need or have to report?” He finally looked up from the PADDs he was reviewing and leaned back in his chair to meet my gaze.

“Nothing in particular, we’re burning through supplies, especially ones we will need if, you know.” He mimed a gun firing with his fingers as he said this. “The local security has been a bit of a problem, but once it became clear we had people who would back up their threats, colonial security backed down. Starfleet security officers are a lot more frightening when you can tell they’ve actually tangled with the Klingons. I’ll pass the specifics on to Marcus here.” He was sparing me from having to deal with the logistics of the situation so I could focus on the issues facing the Suliban and for this I was grateful.

“Carry on then Doctor, Sala, will you walk with me?” She stood and followed me out of the office, Commander Fane hopping up on the now vacant crate. We passed through the rows of beds on our way out, briefly pausing so Sala could share a few words with a heavily bandaged Suliban in one of the bio beds.

“There was a fire.” She said quietly, returning to my side. “One of our housing blocks. The colony says it was improperly stored fuel and badly maintained cooking elements, but I just don't believe it. We lost 38 people, Captain. Families! They took us into their hospitals, but they just don't have the knowledge to help. We have doctors but they won't let them practice, saying they have to requalify to Federation standards.” She trailed off. “Sorry Captain, I shouldn't be throwing this at you all at once.” We stepped through the door, and I instructed my security escort to remain behind. I caught Sala eyeing their rifles and body armor warily, no doubt the black of Federation battledress reminding her of the local security forces. I wanted her to feel as safe as possible with me so she could be honest.

“It's alright, this is actually what I want to hear.” I replied once we were past them. “Despite everything with the Klingons, I actually want to get to the bottom of what's happening here. If your people have been mistreated or not had their rights respected, I want to know, it will help me build whatever case I can and advocate on your behalf.” Surprisingly she linked her arm in mine and pulled me closer.

“Thank you, for believing me, for believing us.” I looked down at her, unable to hide the nervous flitting of my antennae. She was staring straight ahead as we walked and that was a look I was familiar with. The tired, nearly automatic walk of someone who just realized they might actually wake up from a living nightmare. I had seen it plenty of times on the faces of FGF troops we were replacing in combat zones and on the faces of refugees fleeing from Klingon conquest. I led her to a pair of benches under a small stand of trees and helped her to take a seat in the shade. I sat facing her. Again, I noticed she couldn’t take her eyes off of my security personnel manning the checkpoint and I decided to ask about it.

“I can't help but notice how you look at Starfleet security personnel, has something happened?” I asked gently.

“What? no, nothing with your people.” She replied, still not taking her eyes off them. “I just, well it's hard to see the difference sometimes. We’ve been treated badly by soldiers in black with phaser rifles, and I can see that yours are different from the way they stand and the way they speak with us, but that doesn't make it just go away.” I moved slightly to interpose myself between her and the checkpoint and was, in retrospect, very happy I had chosen to forego body armor.

“I’d like to discuss a plan to protect your people from the Klingons, but I’d also like to get some information on what's been happening here from someone who's lived through it. Do you feel up to doing either of those right now?” I asked, hopefully. This could form the basis for whatever case I could build on her people's behalf. She took a moment, clearly deciding.

“I think so, Captain. I imagine you will be speaking with the colony's administration about all of this at some point if you haven't yet.”

“I haven’t in any detail yet.” I replied. “When I briefly spoke with them earlier today, they were primarily concerned with controlling the narrative around events. I don't trust anyone who would do that. So I want to speak with you first.”

“Alright, then I’d like to try to fill you in on what happened here first then.” She added after taking a moment to compose herself. I unhooked my communicator from my belt and sat it on the bench next to me after toggling it to record mode and turned to give Sala my full attention.

“Sala, this might be hard, but can you run me through what's happened here since 2259?” I recited in my best neutral tone. I wanted this recording to be as professional as possible. Identify who I’m speaking to, lay out exactly why we’re speaking and what about in case it has to be used as evidence in court.

“I’ve set my communicator to record, and we can stop at any time, but it will help if I can get firsthand accounts. Don't worry about the details, that's not important now, just high level. Once everything’s resolved with the Klingons, we can conduct interviews and gather any other evidence.” She swallowed heavily and began her story. The initial events didn't surprise me, the trials and tribulations of displaced peoples often share many common events, but as she got to the last few months of life on the colony her voice became strained, and I could tell this was getting harder and harder for her to share.

“It's ok if we stop, I don't want you to have to relive all of this if you don't want to in one sitting.” I said quietly. The last thing I wanted to do was press her, especially because of what I might have to ask her and her people to do if the Klingons landed and the shooting started.

“No, no it's alright, it's important someone knows.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “So, like I said relations were never good, but when that document leaked, that said they might sell us to the Klingons, well everything just spun out of control. We were so scared Captain, the Federation was supposed to protect us. We know it isn't perfect, but we figured at least they wouldn't just abandon us!” She put her head in her hands for a moment before continuing.

“Plus, instead of going and confronting the colony administration about it, we turned on ourselves out of fear. Half the population wanted to rise up and seize the colony and demand the Federation send help. The other half wanted to run again. More than anything else, this broke us, Captain. This brought us back to petty infighting, people acting out of fear, violence even. I’m sure they told you about the riots and everything, well those happened and I’m not proud of that. Everything they did after that leak, we provoked, we did not meet with them, we chose violence and conflict. We deserved what happened.” Her voice was barely a whisper at the end. I was furious, not with her, but that she could think that. I could tell that she was spiraling as sweat began to bead on her brow and she unconsciously gripped at the hem of her top. I needed to do something right now to snap her out of it.

“Sala, nothing about this is your peoples fault.” I replied, standing up from my bench and joining her. She looked at me, her eyes glassy and unfocused and moved to reply, but I held up a hand to stop her.

“Please let me finish. Look around us for a moment, look at everything this colony has built.” I pointed to the buildings, gardens and fountains that surrounded us. “They have all of this, along with the full backing of the Federation, Starfleet and every civilian agency in the quadrant but when you needed them, they closed their doors to you. I checked, they barely reached out for aid when you arrived, and made no effort to engage with FEDAC or Starfleet if they couldn't support you. Can I touch you?” She nodded and I took her hand so I could have her full attention while I continued.

“It's clear they didn't care what happened to your people, they didn't want you to be part of their lives and willfully ignored your suffering. You say you deserve what happened?” I swept my free arm over the colony before us. “Your people are fleeing enslavement and death, and they closed their doors and their hearts to you. Anything you did is both understandable and inevitable. A human leader once said that a riot is the language of the unheard, and that is exactly what happened here.” I let go of her hand and took a moment to collect myself. I was kicking myself for trying to push this with her while the threat to her people was currently looming over us. “We will continue this later, after the Klingons have been dealt with. I promise.” I stated, adding a note of finality to the statement. I looked her over, hoping my words of encouragement had actually helped, but I found her expression unreadable.

“Captain.” She trailed off.

“You don't have to use my rank, my name is Niah.” I replied

“Niah,” she replied after a moment. “I’m sure you're getting sick of hearing it but thank you again. It's so easy to feel after everything goes wrong for so long that somehow, it's your fault.” I certainly did know that feeling. She continued.

“Thank you for being understanding.” She moved quickly and wrapped me in a hug. I flushed a bright blue and my antennae flattened back into my hair. I am not great with physical affection, especially when I am surprised with it, but after an awkward second, I returned her hug. We held it for a moment before breaking apart. In my embarrassment at the unexpected affection I found myself unable to meet her eyes. Flustered, I decided to say something to break the tension.

“Don't worry about the thank yous, this is why people join Starfleet right?” I joked, “The posters all say it's for exploration and adventure, but I think the gratitude from the people you help beats all of that.” I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck with my right hand. She laughed.

“Oh, do you get a lot of hugs from women you’ve just met while serving in Starfleet?” I flushed again and she kept at me. “Do you just cruise around the galaxy swooping in with the right thing to say all the time?” Her laughter returned and she looked right at me for the first time in a while.

“No, this isn’t exactly what I would call a regular occurrence.” I managed to finally make eye contact with her again. On some level I was happy that she had returned to a happier version of herself despite it coming at my expense. Seizing on my returning confidence I continued.

“I had my staff look up Vaanek and yourself once we discovered what had happened here. I read both of your files.” A confused expression crossed her face, perhaps she was unaware of the information that could be made available to Starfleet about individual Federation citizens. Or perhaps there was something in hers she was cornered about me knowing, even though neither I nor Commander Foro had noticed anything that would warrant that reaction.

“Don't worry, it's standard procedure to check files on local dignitaries, government officials and VIP’s.” She smiled and chuckled at this.

I’ve never been called a VIP before, I like it!” Good, this was helping to pull her out of her previous spiral.

“The reason I bring it up is I wanted you to know that I understand how much work it took for you to be sitting here, speaking with me to me today. I saw that you were from Bregat correct?” She nodded so I continued.

“Some of my crew served on Task Force Dynamo, I spoke with one of them about what the response to that was like. What your people have faced is a uniquely harrowing experience and nothing I can say or do can fix that. I can promise however, that we will put a stop to what is happening here and make sure that you and your people have a safe home. Whether that's here or another world is going to be dependent on how much of what you’ve told me is true, but I promise you, it will be somewhere.” I smiled down at her, genuinely proud of my little speech.

“So, Captain, are you all pep talks, or do you have an actual plan?” I had completely forgotten I had wanted to discuss the actual defense of the Suliban with her as well.

“I do, firstly I want to see about getting Vaanek out of prison, I want your people to be properly represented in anything that may happen. Once that's done, we’re going to brief your people of the transport inhibitors we’re setting up to protect them, what they look like, where they will be etc. Lastly, we’re going to need volunteers if this actually escalates to a shooting conflict. Just stretcher bearers and runners and the like, I’m not asking your people to stand on the line or anything.” She was quiet for a moment, and I started to worry that I had said something she disagreed with or was offended by.

“What if my people want to stand on the line?” This was not at all the question I expected, and I scrabbled for an answer.

“I’m not saying I would necessarily deny anyone who had the proper experience and training, I just wouldn't want you to feel like it's being expected of you. The Federation failed you and this is a chance for my crew to start making it right.” She went to reply but the whine of a shuttle's engines overhead drowned out any words. It was the Savitskya, the shuttle my chief engineer was using. If he was landing here that could only mean that my engineers had finished deploying the transport inhibitors. This was a good sign. I pulled away from Sala reflexively and stood up to meet the shuttle. The sudden noise had become an object of interest for both my crew and the Suliban in the surrounding area and soon the square began to fill with those who had nothing better to do.

I swept my eyes over the growing crowd and was heartened to see the reaction among the Suliban. To my left a family was hefting a small child up so they could get a better view of the approaching ship. Past them a group of what I guessed were younger Suliban chattered excitedly while to our right a pair of injured adults leaned on each other so they could take in the sight. Scenes like this repeated all over the courtyard and the surrounding area showcasing the resilience of these people. With a roar of the retro boosters, the shuttle touched down in the middle of the plaza where we sat. The back ramp clanged down with a hiss of escaping air and a team of officers led by Commander Glov Gronnahk exited the shuttle in a loose mob. They were clearly exhausted, their red uniforms smeared with dirt and their shoulders sagging with fatigue. As the engines spooled down, I could finally speak again, and I turned to Sala.

“There's someone here I’d like you to meet.” I pointed to the Tellarite, who was having a stretch and giving the last few orders to his team. “This is Commander Glov Gronnahk, his teams are responsible for deploying the transport inhibitors around the colony.” I raised my voice to get his attention.

“Commander Glov Gronnahk, a moment of your time.” I shouted over the growing murmur of voices. He finished his stretch and sauntered over to me. Seeing him up close I could see just how tired he was. I knew this reflected how we all felt.

“Commander, this is Sala, one of the Suliban leaders.” I said, gesturing to her. He extended a hand.

“You can call me Bray ma’am.” he said to her, and she took his hand for a brief shake. I continued.

“Commander Glov Gronnahk is responsible for the plan to protect you with the transport inhibitors and their deployment. Commander, I need you to brief Sala and anyone else she thinks should know how they work, where they’ve been placed and anything else her people should know. I’m heading to the administration center.”

“Aye-aye ma’am.” He replied before turning to Sala “I’m all yours.” She smiled at him, and they set out back towards the tent and checkpoint beyond. I could hear them talking, but I couldn't make out anything they were saying over the noise the shuttle's arrival had generated. No doubt the Commander was launching into the technical details of our plan to protect the Suliban. I felt a pang of regret as I watched them leave. I wanted to meet more Suliban and hear their stories, and I also wanted to know the details of what my chief engineer had built. I trusted him to have done it correctly, but it never hurt to know the details. If I was being honest with myself, I was really enjoying speaking with Sala and I selfishly wanted to continue. I was frustrated that my confrontation with the colony’s administration took precedence. With a sigh I picked my communicator up from the bench I had left it on and thumbed the call button.

“Captain to Lieutenant Risi, please report to the Savitskya.” The communicator pulsed once as an affirmative and I stored it back on my belt. Taking a moment to collect myself I was hit with a wave of fatigue. I had already been on my feet for twelve hours today and my old leg injury was screaming. Well, there would be painkillers on the shuttle at least so I made my way there. I stopped just inside of the ramp and opened the emergency medical kit attached to the wall by the door release when I heard a sound from the cockpit. It was the pilot, checking who had just boarded his shuttle.

“Eyes front pilot.” I snapped. I hadn’t meant to be so harsh, I just didn't want him to see me using the med kit out of context. He spun back forward, and I pulled out the analgesic hypo, the cooling burst of the painkillers spreading up my leg. With a sigh I sank into one of the bench seats, grateful to have anything approaching a rest.

“Sorry about that.” I said after a moment. I hadn’t recognized the pilot when he had seen me, so I didn't know what to call him. “It was a bit of an emergency, and you just caught me by surprise.” He stayed facing forward but responded.

“Sorry ma’am, I had no idea you were coming aboard.” he replied flatly, his voice had the same cadence of a parade ground reply. Clearly, I had scared him. I stood up and walked to the front of the shuttle.

“I need to go to the central administration complex, once Lieutenant Risi boards.” I glanced down at his rank stripes. “Ensign?” I trailed off.

“Grant ma’am.” Ensign Grant replied.

“Good work Ensign Grant” I patted his shoulder, “sorry again for that.” I returned to the bench seat and stretched. This was going to be hard on all of us.