The ISS Leviathan was hidden behind the third moon of the sixth planet of the system they had found themselves in. The system was nothing special, a red giant with eight planetary bodies, three small solid planets, baked by the sun and five gas giants. The system would have never have supported life, none of the eight planets coming anywhere close enough to being habitable.

The system was not the choice of Commander Oakenshield, but of the Ferengi Shia who had arranged the rendezvous. It was on the border between the Cardassian and Federation in this universe, but well within the Terran Empire in their own universe.

The crew of the ISS Leviathan had been here for the past two days, await the arrival of their contact. The only reason that they were still waiting around was because if what the message Daimon Shia has sent was true, then he had what Commander Oakenshield wanted most, a way home.

The crew had spent the past few months living ‘hand over fist’ trying to stay alive. With no backup from their Empire they had been alone, resorting to attacking bases and ships for supplies, plus making deals with the ‘scum’ of this universe. Each attack had gained them more resources with which to repair their vessel, but at a cost. Of the original two hundred plus surviving crew that had started out on this voyage, almost half had perished during battle or been killed by those who wished to advance.

The vessel had already been undermanned before being ‘dragged’ into our universe, most of the accommodation having originally been taken over by personnel travelling to the Delta quadrant, the vessels last mission. The vessel had also been carrying supplies and equipment to assist the Terran Empire’s allies in the Delta quadrant, in return for which the vessel had been loaded up with the high-grade Dilithium ore for the return journey.

Now almost a quarter of that ore was gone as well, traded for supplies or used in the mines that they had left behind at Sigma Twelve. Now even more of the precious ore, the key to the Terran Empire’s dormancy over the past ten years in their own galaxy would be traded to the Ferengi Shia, if he had come up with the goods. But if he did have the goods, then the sacrifice would have been worth it, because they would finally have the means to return home.

"Where are they ?" Ensign McCaffee remarked from the helm position. "They said they would be here two days ago."

"The Captain has ordered us to remain here until the Ferengi arrives." Commander Barker replied. "Or we are forced to flee."

"This doesn’t make sense Commander." Major Phahan said softly from the first officers’ chair beside Chu. "We should cut our losses and run. The Ferengi isn’t coming, you know that, I know that, hell everyone aboard knows it, except the Captain. She is so self-obsessed with getting home that she is being blinded to everything else that is going on. Commander, you could easily take command of this ship, the Marines would back you up, as would the majority of the crew. Most of them are tired of all this hiding, they just want to forget about going home and hide out for the rest of their natural lives."

"Major, now is not the time to take over command." Chu replied softly, but with a firm authority. "The Commander is still in a strong position with a lot of the crew. More than you would think, but if the Ferengi does not turn up and she fails in her promise to get the crew home, that will be the time to strike."

"A vessel has just dropped out of warp at the edge of the system Commander." ASHER announced from the tactical station on the Bridge. "Shall I inform the Captain ?"

"No I will do it." Chu replied, rising from his seat. "Any ideas on who it might be ?"

"The sensor readings match those of the Ferengi vessel we are supposed to meet." ASHER replied. "Our ‘friend’ would appear to be on his way, at last."

ASHER had been listening to the Commander and the Major’s little conversation. His cognitive sub-routines working overtime. On the one hand he could inform Commander Oakenshield of the two officers discussion, both of who would be dead within hours and ASHER promoted. On the other, he could keep quiet and aid Commander Barker should he decide to take over, again gaining a promotion in the process.

In his view this was a ‘win-win’ situation, either way he would gain a promotion. ASHER decided to keep his knowledge to himself for now and therefore keep his options open. He had no ‘love’ for Commander Oakenshield, especially the way she had ‘despatched’ Captain Devore and later his wife Commander Devore. However, he did have a good relationship with Commander Barker, almost to the point that he would regard him as a friend.

And Commander Barker was probably the only person on the ship who could defeat ASHER, should he try. Of course if Barker tried to shut ASHER down, ASHER would see to it that he wouldn’t go out without a fight, a fight he was sure he would win. Chu crossed the Bridge and entered the Captain’s ready room without hitting the door chimes.

"What !" Commander Oakenshield shouted as the door closed behind Barker.

"A vessel has just dropped out of warp at the edge of the system." Chu replied. "The Ferengi are on their way."

"Good." Julia replied. "I will be with you in a moment."

Chu left the Captain behind her desk. She switched off the console in front of her and stood up from her seat.

*Something will have to be done.* She thought to herself. She always knew that she would have to watch her back now that she was Captain, but she had never envisaged that her closest ally and lover would be her downfall.

She slowly walked across the room and back onto the Bridge. The Major was gone, most likely back to the Marine decks, possibly to the shuttlebay in readiness for the transfer of the package that Shai was bringing. Chu was now manning the science station, leaving the command seat empty.

"Report." She announced firmly, sitting down in her chair and relaxing.

"The vessel is on a final approach towards us." ASHER reported. "Sensors have confirmed that the vessel is the Ferengi Marauder of Daimon Shia. We’ve had no radio contact with the vessel, which is what we requested. Once they are within range, we’ll set-up a laser communication link."

"Good." Julia replied. "Anything else ?"

"Long range sensors picked up some strange readings from the edge of the system a few minutes ago." Chu remarked. "They appeared about five minutes after the Ferengi arrived, but we lost them. It is probably nothing, maybe some kind of warp shadow from the Ferengi’s arrival. All sensors are showing nothing now."

"Keep on it. We don’t want any surprises." Julia announced. "Bridge to Lieutenant Taline."

[Taline here Captain.] The voice of the Chief engineer stated nervously from the speakers. [What can I do for you ?]

"What is the status of the quantum generator ?" Julia asked.

[We have completed all the necessary repairs, but without a quantum crystal, we can’t go any further.] Taline replied. [Once we get a suitable crystal, then we could be doing tests within a couple of days.]

"We may have the crystal within the hour." Julia reported. "I want you to give this top priority, so we can get the generator operational as soon as possible. Bridge out."

"The vessel is within laser communications range." ASHER announced. "Setting up the laser link now."

Although laser communication was an ancient method of communications, it was a very secure one. For a start, the only way to eavesdrop on a conversation, you would have to be in a direct line with the laser and with advanced encryption systems a message would be totally unintelligible.

"ISS Leviathan to Daimon Shia." Julia announced.

The viewscreen showed only white noise and the speakers crackled with the static. Then a distorted voice came through, followed a few seconds later by the viewscreen coming into life. At first the image was fuzzy and the speech unintelligible, but as ASHER worked on the link, the image cleared up.

[ISS Leviathan. Can you hear us ?] The Ferengi asked. [We are having trouble matching your laser frequency. Ah there you are.]

"Greetings." Julia announced. "Do you have the crystal ?"

[Greetings Captain.] The Ferengi replied. [Do you have the payment ?]

"As agreed." Julia stated. "So long as the crystal is what we want, then payment will be made. By the way, where is Daimon Shia ?"

[The Daimon is unavailable.] The Ferengi replied. [I am Sub-Daimon Kil-oh, first officer of this Marauder and right hand to Daimon Shia. I have full authority to make the trade.]

"No doubt you do." Julia announced. "But I would still prefer to deal with the organ grinder and not his monkey."

The insult was lost on the Ferengi, not knowing what a monkey was let along an organ grinder.

[The Daimon sends his apologies for not being here to talk to you personally, but he has a strong dislike of humans and especially human females.] Kil-oh replied. [He also apologies for our late arrival, we ran into one or two problems whilst returning with the crystal. Nothing we couldn’t handle.]

"He doesn’t know what he is missing ?" Julia announced. "We will make the trade on your vessel in half an hour."

[Understood.] The Ferengi replied. [Kil-oh out.]

"Commander Barker, you’re with me." Julia announced. "ASHER, you have the Bridge."

"The Major is preparing the shuttle as we speak." Chu reported. "By the time we reach the shuttlebay, the ore should be loaded and we can leave."

"Good." Julia replied as the two of them left the Bridge and entered the turbolift.