Captain’s log, stardate 24019.4.

Lakota is currently patrolling the eastern edge of the former demilitarised zone border, the crew taking a few days to relax following the crisis of recent days. A crisis that could have been averted had it not been for the Cardassians.

Cardassian betrayal is nothing new to the people of our quadrant, not even to those colleagues aboard my ship who hail from those parts, but even they cannot fathom the self-righteousness behind the Cardassian decision to close the Underspace network. We have ships stranded across the galaxy; families missing their loved ones.

One day those ships might return, but what will they find when they get here? What will be left? Cardassians and the Federation have been developing closer ties in recent years, for what? Self-interests to destroy everything both sides have struggled so hard to build.

Sounds just like the Cardassians of old, doesn’t it? So much for the lessons learned from conflict…

Having the freedom to patrol the bridge on a quiet day was one of the things Nazir loved most about her role as commanding officer. She had no reports to write, no crew appraisals to perform, and nowhere else to be right now, which meant she could take in the sights and sounds of her people, hard at work on whatever day-to-day duties they were involved with. Passing by tactical she heard a conversation between Lieutenant Mitchell and one of her security team leaders about his unit’s performance in a recent drill, with the Lieutenant offering valuable pointers. Whilst Henry would be loathed to admit it, and even though it was very hard to see someone else sitting in Or’uil’s seat, Lauren had settled in well since arriving before Underspace disaster. Thankfully she didn’t have to report to Henry, or care about her recommendation for her to stay with the ship on a more permanent basis.

Next on her rounds, she heard the continued analysis of the Underspace network between Teyahna and a number of her team. Listening, albeit briefly, Keziah would be the first to admit some of their ideas went far above her ancient head. She was just happy to have a competent team crunching numbers and analysing data so that they could present her with options.

She was heading down the ramp on the port side of the bridge when she caught a glimpse of Noli. Things hadn’t been right between them for weeks, and it was entirely her fault, not the XO’s. She’d tried her best to reassure the Bajoran that her health was improving and that things were on the up, but she could sense a cautiousness from the XO that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t like she was questioning orders or anything, but she was there, watching, listening, giving a final, unofficial seal of approval on things that normally she would never think twice about. Somehow, they had to fix this, but at the minute the Trill wasn’t sure what to say or do.

She didn’t have long to dwell on the matter though, as just as she rounded the bridge and passed behind Voran at Ops, the Vulcan’s station beeped and drew her attention to the front of the bridge again. “Lieutenant?” she enquired.

“A hail Captain,” the Vulcan’s dull, dreary voice reported, “from Deep Space Seventeen. Priority One.”

Priority One? That drew everyone’s attention in a way that it wasn’t meant to, but invariably did. As a ‘Captain’s Eyes Only’ type of message, the crew always wanted to know more than the Captain could tell them – at least initially. It was one of life’s great paradoxes.

“Put it through to the observation lounge,” Nazir patted the man on the shoulder, and headed up the steps in front of her chair. As she skipped past the XO, the two shared a look, one with two very different meanings; Nazir knew Noli would be waiting with baited breath, whilst Noli knew Nazir was trying her best to give her the reassurances she needed.

Fortunately, the Captain wasn’t gone very long, reappearing on the bridge less than a quarter of an hour later, looking a little more dishevelled than before though, but dishing out orders in a vain attempt to keep pretences under control.

“Henry; set a course for Eridanus, warp four. Teyahna; get me everything you can on the Eridanus system,” she instructed two of her most trusted colleagues. “Lieutenant Mitchell,” she turned to the younger of the Mitchell siblings, feeling too uncomfortable to call the newcomer by her first name just yet. “Get me a complete rundown of any and all New Maquis and True Way activity up to twenty lightyears from the planet. Both of you be prepared to debrief the staff in one hour.”

Eventually slouching into her chair and dropping a data PADD into her lap, the Trill let out a sigh and ran a hand through her long, brunette locks. All the while, the XO closely regarded her every facial gesture, her every hand movement. Hell, her every move.

After a few nervous minutes, the Bajoran leant forward in her chair slightly. “Everything alright, Captain?” she asked in a hushed manner, offering a smile once the Trill turned in her direction.

“Fine,” Nazir plastered the most sincere smile she could muster across her spotted face, “absolutely fine.”

Emerging from the observation lounge almost two hours later, the huddle of senior staff conversed in their small groups, making their way to stations around the bridge to go about their business. Mitchell Junior, the XO and Teyahna made their way for tactical, engrossed in a mini-mission briefing, whilst the rest of the senior staff engaged in less serious matters of conversation.

“Do you really think it could be the Maquis?” Mitchell Junior asked, slipping into the chair at tactical, spinning it so her focus remained on the two more senior officers with her. Teyahna perched on the edge of the security console, supporting her weight with her hands just behind her back, while Noli leant against the rail that separated the station from the rest of the bridge, arms folded across her chest.

Pursing her lips, the XO considered her answer carefully. “Honestly? I think they’re the far more likely of the two antagonists, given the planets position. But that doesn’t preclude the True Way from being involved in some capacity,” the Bajoran summoned her knowledge of the current political climate out there, in the former demilitarised zone. “All we know for certain is that Eridanus has gone quiet, and Starfleet is concerned,” she reminded the younger of the officers.

“Both sides have worked so hard,” the younger woman looked sad, resigned to yet another possible conflict on the horizon. She was right, of course. Colonies like Eridanus, where Federation and Cardassian alike had learnt to live in near-perfect harmony, were all at threat. Progress, sometimes decades of progress, sat on a knife edge. It was heartbreaking to think about.

“It might be nothing major,” the Orion scientist chipped in at last, her tone far more jovial than that of the XO. “Probably just a problem with their communications equipment, or it could be some sort of atmospheric anomaly or something. We always jump to the worst possible conclusion,” she shrugged, her brown hair bobbing freely, framing her blemish-free emerald skin.

“On the other hand it might be something catastrophic and we prepare for the worst,” a stern voice interrupted the three women, causing Noli and the Orion to turn, and the flustered, gold-clad Lieutenant to rise to her feet at the appearance of the Captain.

“Given the planet’s strategic importance and its history in the region, I’m inclined to believe in probable Maquis or True Way involvement and as such, we’ll go in ready for such an engagement,” the Trill warned them, her words used in such a way that she was almost chastising them. “Now, haven’t you all got work to do?” she frowned, then shook her head and made for the command chairs in the center of the bridge, leaving the Orion somewhat aghast, and the XO open mouthed.

Lauren took a deep breath and swiftly busied herself. Noli looked across at the scientist and jerked her head, intimating that the Commander should get back to work for now. Then, when she had steeled herself, the Number One took some steps towards the command area. “Captain,” she called out, “can I have a word please?”

Another word. These ‘chats’ were beginning to become an inconvenience, but she’d entertain her XO – for now.

Walking to the side of the bridge, the XO following very close behind, the Captain preempted her right hand’s line of questioning.

“Before you ask,” she put up a hand to silence the XO but spoke with a hushed tone despite the apparent confrontational manner she was exhibiting. “I’m absolutely fine. There’s nothing wrong, and we just need to get on with the task at hand.”

Stepping closer, the taller Bajoran bowed her head a little and gave a fake smile as she spoke, to at least give the rest of the staff the sense that everything was ok. “Forgive me, Captain, but you don’t seem fine. It would seem that you are anything but,” her words were out of concern, as they always were, for the ship and crew were always in a better position when their Captain was at her best. Only she didn’t seem to be at her best right now, despite her protestations.

“I’m not going through this again,” Nazir warned her subordinate. “I’ve told you I’m fine and that should be enough for you. I don’t want to hear about this again. Your focus needs to be on Eridanus, not me. Understood?” her chiding remarks were strong, but not as strong as the tone she used, leaving the XO under no illusions as to who was boss.

“Absolutely,” Noli frowned, watching as the now satisfied Captain brushed past and made her way to the command arena. Despite the Captain’s words, she didn’t feel the Trill had been entirely truthful.

And that worried her more than anything occurring on Eridanus possibly could.