Leviathan Shuttle Bay

Julia was seated at the tactical console on the Hellcat looking at its weapons and shields.

"Sir, This is supposed to be a match against an Akira class vessel ?. I mean even with its weaknesses." She said looked over at Chu.

"No, our mission is just to find it. If we need firepower, well, that's what the Romulans are for." he replied as the rest of the crew filed in.

Shale came in first and sat at the helm, followed by ASHER who took the his seat at Ops. Katts, Dukal, and t'Rashad all came in and went to different positions.

"U.S.S. Hellcat to Leviathan and Federation base. Permission to depart?" Chu tapped to get permission.

[Granted]

"Mr.Shale take us out."

The Hellcat glided slowly passed the open bay doors into the starbase then through it's doors into space itself. It flashed upto warp three towards the agreed meeting point with the Romulans.

Julia motioned to Chu. "Sir, they appear to have discovered our probe. We just lost contact. Our last received signal was a distress call from a Romulan scout fleet."

Chu sat thinking for a moment, there was only one option.

"Mr Shale, bring the slipstream drive online and prepare to enter slipstream. Set a course for the Romulan distress signal." Chu shot back with a look of worry, the drive although not untried had never been pushed to it's operational limits. The Hellcat shook as its tiny slipstream drive shuddered to life.

"Our ETA has been reduced from four days to two." Shale announced.

"Steady as she goes, keep an eye on the slipstream." Chu announced.
Two Days Later….

"Five minutes to rendezvous sir," said Shale.

"Sir, I'm reading three Romulan vessels instead of one !. I'm reading one Warbird, plus a Romulan scout an there's also a Snipe P frigate." Julia motioned to Barker to come over.

As he did, ASHER announced that the warbird was hailing.

"On screen." Chu announced to ASHER.

[Mr. Barker isn't it ?] The Romulan officer announced. [I hope you do not mind but this was unexpected to have three of us here. One of our patrol squadrons met your mirror ship. The frigate here rendered its assistance allowing one to escape. We are helping them repair. You don't mind if they accompany us do you?]

"Just a moment," Chu replied to buy time.

ASHER cut the audio signal.

"Options?" he asked the crew.

"They don't appear to be hostile and at any rate they appear to be telling the truth. The scout and frigate are damaged." intoned Julia.

"I agree." Chu replied, nodding towards ASHER to re-establish audio.

"Of course we won't mind. As a matter of fact your ships there are the reason we're early." Chu told the Romulans. "We picked up their distress signal and increased speed."

[Then I suggest we get going. It will be about an hour before our unexpected guests are ready to move. In the meantime we offer you use of our ship, as it must be cramped in that little metal boat of yours.]

" Metal boat ? Hardly. We can offer you medical assistance if you require, we have a medical lab aboard. As for your offer to use your ship, we have all we need here, but if there is room in your cargo bay or shuttle bay we would be happy to join you all for a briefing after your charges are cared for." Chu replied.

[We could use the medical help. Cargo bay 3 is open.]

Shale guided them in.
Two hours later….

The crew left the Hellcat and stepped into the cargo bay. "Dakul, remain here and keep an eye on the ship."

The doors to the cargo bay opened and two Romulans came into the bay.

"Mr. Barker welcome to our vessel. Please follow me. This is my first officer Kreull." The Romulan Commander said motioning to Kreull.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Tribune Kanlid, Ante-Tribune Kreull. This is my tactical officer Julia Oakenshield. My helm Rick Shale, Mirror adviser t'Kul t'Rashad and our jack-of-all-trades ASHER." Chu said.

The Tribune led them into the briefing room/dining hall. Three Ensigns served them dinner and handed t'Rashad some controls.

"As you all know we are going to attempt to locate the ISS Leviathan," t'Rashad said rather coldly as if she'd rather not. "Our mission is to tag and trace it. Not to engage it."

"If we are attacked, we will protect ourselves and any Romulan vessels, our two governments have agreed to co-operate and we will protect you tiny vessel if required." The Tribune said.

"Hopefully, it won't come to a fight, but if it does, the ISS Leviathan has a few weakpoints." t'Rashad continued. "Their shields prevent them from seeing us if we keep to just within our sensor range. Also in the event of an engagement their shields are strong, but they regenerate slower than flowing molasses. They also lack ablative armour and remember they have sustained damage," t'Rashad finished.