The Leviathan dropped out of the quantum slipstream and back into normal space. Ahead of them was Memkeron, the only planet orbiting a red giant and ‘hovering’ in front of the planet was Starbase 132.

"Contact the Starbase." Captain Taybar ordered.

"Starbase 132, Captain." Oakenshield replied.

[Starbase 132 to USS Leviathan. Good to see you.] A voice announced over the intercomm.

"Starbase, has their been any word from Major Phanan and his Marines ?" Aki enquired.

[Apart from relaying your messages no.] The voice replied. [Would you like us to contact the Marine post ?]

"No we’ll do that ourselves. Leviathan out." Aki replied.

The Marine post was on the surface of Memkeron, which was an ideal planet for the Marines. The planet’s proximity to the sun meant that the day-side was close to the temperature of a planet like Vulcan and the night-side was colder than Jupiter’s moon Titan. The official classification for the planet was class L, but it also had a large ocean at its northern pole. All in all the planet made an idea training ground for the Federation Marines.

"Contact the Marine post." Aki ordered.

"I have the Marine post Captain." Oakenshield replied.

[Marine post 492 to USS Leviathan. We have Major Phanan here.] The voice stated.

"Thank you Marine post. Major, how are you and your men ?" Aki enquired.

[Ready to leave.] The voice of Major Phanan replied. [What is your ETA ?]

"We should be in orbit in about five minutes." Commander Rashad replied.

[Good to hear your voice Commander.] Phanan replied. [We’ll be ready to leave as soon as you arrive.]

"One more thing before you go Major." Rashad said. "We took a delivery of some items you ordered. They’re awaiting your inspection as soon as you arrive."

[Excellent.] The Major replied. [We’ve been training with a lot of the equipment at the base and I think the new equipment will make our job a lot easier. Phanan out.]

An hour later all the Marines from the surface had arrived aboard the Leviathan. Major Phanan had first taken a look at the two Marine transports and their cargo, before examining the Valkyrie fighters of the Talon squadron.

"Impressive fighters these Valkyrie." He remarked. "I wonder how they would fair against the MF 3550 Yellowjackets."

"The Yellowjacket is a fine tactical fighter if a little over-gunned, but against a Valkyrie you’d be out manoeuvred." A voice announced from behind the Major.

"And what makes you think that." Phanan replied turning around and coming face to chin with a large Klingon in a Starfleet uniform. "And you are…. ?"

"Lieutenant Ka’Leth Major." The Klingon replied. "Talon squadron leader. And you would be Major John Phanan, it is an honour to meet you."

Ka’Leth reached out his hand and the Major returned the gesture, the two warriors shaking hands.

"So how come you know so much about the Yellowjackets ?" Major Phanan enquired.

"I’ve flown them at Titan 4." Ka’Leth replied. "The Marines wanted know how well it stood up against the new Valkyrie fighter and Starfleet wanted to know how the Valkyrie stood up against the Yellowjacket."

"You were stationed at Titan 4." The Major enquired, suddenly gaining respect for this Klingon. "You were part of the joint Starfleet\Marines operation there."

"Yes Major, I was one of the flight instructors, which made me one of the best people to fly the Yellowjacket against the Valkyrie. My opposite number was the senior Marine test pilot, Major Charles Yeager. He flew the Valkyrie and I flew the Yellowjacket. "Ka’Leth explained. "I think that I won seven of the ten ‘war games’."

"Only seven." The Major remarked.

"The Valkyrie was never designed to fight ‘one on one’ Major, their strength lies in numbers and the union shielding system. The more Valkyrie there are, the stronger the shield. All three of the ‘games’ I lose were due to the weakness of the Valkyrie’s individual shields." Ka’Leth continued. "I may have lost a few battles, but I won the war."

"Lieutenant, you are the strangest Klingon I have ever met." Phanan commented. "You have a warriors heart, but a tacticians brain."

Just then, Lieutenant Commander Barker arrived in the shuttlebay.

"Hello Commander." The Major remarked.

"Major, Lieutenant." Chu replied. "If we’re finished here, the Captain would like to meet you."

"Lead the way." Phanan replied, following Chu out of the shuttlebay and into the turbolift.

Ten minutes later, they were outside the Captain’s ready room.

"Captain Taybar, I’d like you to meet Major John Phanan." Chu announced as they entered the room.

"It’s a pleasure to finally meet you Major, I’ve ready your service jacket and Admiral Devore has told me one or two things." Aki replied.

"Nothing bad I hope." The Major replied.

"Not at all Major, the Admiral has had nothing but praise for you and you’re Marines." Aki said. "I doubt the Leviathan would still be here if it hadn’t been for the sacrifice of your men."

"The ship also lost a lot of Starfleet crew." The Major replied, not really wishing to dwell too long on the Leviathan’s past. "So we’re going after the mirror vessel ?"

"Unfortunately not." Aki remarked. "We’ve been assigned to Deep Space 4 until the conflict against the Mullurians is resolved. At the moment that is Starfleet’s priority, because Supply Base 901 is an important asset."

"Any idea how long we’ll be ‘stuck’ at Deep Space 4 ?" The Major enquired.

"We received the latest reports from Admiral Devore about an hour ago. Although they show that the Mullurians have caused major damage, they are not at the moment overwhelming the Starfleet forces. We could be there a week or six months, I just don’t know." Captain Taybar replied.

"Well If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to check out the new quarters and see how the Marines are settling in." The Major replied.