?What?!?

?We?ve found a group of rebels, remnants of the Cardassian Dominion. Starfleet wants to attack them now before they get a chance to flee. We know they?re secreted in an asteroid base near here. The Indefatigable is the nearest Starfleet ship. I?ll only be gone a couple of weeks.?

?Yes, into a WAR ZONE! ?

Tom snorted, ?Chakotay, A base with maybe two or three decrepit old fighters does not constitute as a War Zone. Intelligence says they?re very badly armed. But we have to get them now before they rectify that situation. Think of it as a simple spring cleaning.?

?Tom-? Tom kissed him, softly, slowly. Chakotay sighed, putting his arms around Tom. ?I just don?t like the thought of you going into danger without me around to watch your back. Maybe I shouldn?t?ve resigned my commission.?

?Don?t say that. This is your dream. I wouldn?t want you to sacrifice it. I?ll be fine. Remember, this is me, the one as ?must be a cat, considering the number of times he should?ve died.?

?Yeah, well you?re running out of those nine lives love. It?s going to catch up to you eventually.?

?No it?s not. Now,? He bat his eyes teasingly at Chakotay, ?I think you?d better see to it that I get a proper farewell.?

Chakotay knew he wasn?t going to get anywhere with Tom. ?Hmm. I hope you took the night off. If this is going to take quite a while.?

Tom leaned forward seductively, pressing his hips to Chakotay?s. ?Feels like you?re up to it to me.?

?Indefatigable to Starfleet. Approaching Asteroid field. Intending to wait for- Gods! What is that?!?

[Screams, crashing and static] Frantic cry, ?It?s a trap!? [static]

?Starfleet to Indefatigable, please clarify.?

[silence]

?Starfleet to Indefatigable, please respond.? The Ensign looked up at his superior, ?They?re not responding sir, I can?t raise them on any channel.?

?What?s the nearest Starfleet vessel to Indefatigable?s last coordinates??

?The U.S.S. Justiciar is 3 light years away.?

?Send them to check on the Indefatigable. Tell them to stay at battle alert at all times.?

?Yes sir.?

?Justiciar to Starfleet.?

?Starfleet here, did you find the Indefatigable??

?What?s left of her. She?s been destroyed. But the debris matches her signature.?

[pause]

?Thank you Justiciar. Bring in as much of the debris as you can. I?ll inform Admiral Niska.?

Chapter 5