An hour after the briefing aboard the ISS Leviathan, Chu, ASHER and Major Phanan all stood in the hanger bay awaiting the arrival of the Ferengi vessels. Two large shuttles came into the bay and settled on the deck. The cargo bay doors of the shuttles opened and the Ferengi crew started to unload the cargo they had brought. Chu motioned ASHER and the Major to go and check the cargo as it was off-loaded. When all the cargo was unloaded, one of the Ferengi approached Chu.

"I am DaiMon Leggett. Thirty-two gravimetric mines as promised." The Ferengi stated "Where is my payment ?"

Chu looked across at ASHER and Phanan who nodded their approval at the cargo, confirming that it was both genuine and intact.

"One isotonne of unrefined high-grade dilithium." Chu replied, pointing at the cargo boxes stacked against the far wall. "DaiMon Leggett, we would like to extend our business with you. I have a list of various materials we could use. If you can bring us all these, then I am authorised to offer you another half an isotonne of ore."

"I would need to see the list." Leggett replied.

Chu passed a data PADD across to the Ferengi who looked quickly through the list.

"I should be able to get most of what you require." The DaiMon replied. "How soon would you need it ?"

"Within a week." Chu replied.

"That could be difficult." Leggett replied slowly. "My supplier may not have the amounts of material on hand you are asking for. I may need to look for another supplier."

Chu smiled and said "You will have another half an isotonne of ore if you can deliver within seven days."

"Agreed." Leggett replied.
"You'll also get the details about how to refine the ore effectively when we get our materials." Chu remarked.

"What." Leggett remarked. "You promised us the information on delivery of the mines. I went through a great deal of hardship to gain those mines." Leggett objected. "Start loading the cargo back onto the shuttles." He ordered his crew.

The DaiMon turned around to see all his crew surrounded by armed officers, pointing rifles at his crew.

"I would suggest you leave with your payment." Chu stated. "When you bring us the materials we have requested you'll get your information."

The Ferengi looked back at Chu, then his crew and realised he'd been duped.

"Load up the ore and let's get out of here." He announced.

Ten minutes later, the Ferengi were gone.

"I hate those trolls." Chu remarked. "If I had my way I'd have wiped out the lot of them years ago."

"They do however have their uses." ASHER remarked. "I will get on with the task of modifying the mines."

"Modifying the mines ?" Chu enquired.

"The Commander wants all the mines enhanced with the Dilithium ore. By my calculations, the ore will double their explosive yield." ASHER replied. "It might take all night, but they should be ready to be deployed my morning."

"Understood. I will inform the Commander." Chu remarked as he and the Major left the hanger.
Next Morning

Chu and Ensign McCaffee walked into the hanger bay and looked around. Lieutenant Commander Taline noticed their arrival and walked across the deck from where he'd been working on the 'Maru'.

"The ship's all ready to go Commander." He announced. "But try not to go beyond warp two, the containment field around the core is none too stable. How those rebels ever managed to keep such an old vessel going I don't know, but one thing I can say whoever did the repairs was a creative engineer."

"Have all the modified mines been loaded aboard ?" Chu enquired.

"Yes Commander. ASHER finished the upgrading of the warheads about an hour ago." Taline reported. "When they go off, there's going to be one all-mighty bang."

Ensign let's get going, the longer we delay the more chance there is that the enemy will attack us." Chu remarked.

The two crew stepped aboard the aged vessel and headed for the cockpit area, Chu taking the co-pilots seat whilst Brayden took the pilots seat. Normally it would have been the senior officer who would have been in the pilots seat, but the laying of the mines was more important and easier to perform from the co-pilots position.

"OK Brayden, take us out nice and slow." Chu ordered. He'd always had a liking for the young Ensign. When Lieutenant Sierra Devore had first revealed to Chu that Brayden was infact her son, Chu had been shocked. Sierra had been forced to 'hide' the facts from even her own husband and even now no-one else knew the true parentage of Ensign Brayden McCaffee. He was a lot like his father had been, brave, bold and fearless but he lacked the experience his father had gained.

Brayden slowly started the transports systems and the vessel slowly lifted off the hanger deck and pushed itself forward out into space.

"Set a course for the asteroid belt." Chu ordered. "Warp One."

"Course laid in, warp one." Brayden replied.

It only took the vessel ten minutes to reach the inner border of the asteroid belt.

"Slow to one quarter impulse and prepare to follow this course." Chu ordered, pressing a few buttons on the console in front of him.
Brayden complied with the Commanders orders and slowly the 'Maru' weaved through the asteroid field. One by one Chu deployed the mines until they reached the other side.

"Take us to these co-ordinates." Chu ordered, punching in another set of instructions.

Again Brayden complied and within the hour they had completed their allotted task.

"Take us home boy." Chu said. "But there's no need to rush."

Brayden understood the Commander's order. He never really got much of a chance to be at the helm of a vessel, the only time he was at the helm of the Leviathan was during the graveyard shift or when Lieutenant Shale was unavailable. Brayden liked to fly and the Commander was giving him a chance to do just that.

It took the 'Maru' five hours to get back and when Brayden finally landed the transport on the hanger deck, Commander Oakenshield was waiting.

"Thank you Commander." Brayden said as he powered down the 'Maru'.

The two of them left the ship and were confronted by Commander Oakenshield.

"You took a long time." She remarked.

"We had a few problems with the transporters. There was some interference from the mines that meant we had to come to a complete stop before transport." Chu reported. "It took us twice as long as we estimated to deploy each mine. But they are now all in place and ready to be activated on your command."

Although the statement he'd just made wasn't entirely true, the Commander bought it. Infact Chu had encountered a problem with transporting the mines, but had solved the problem almost immediately.

"Very well." Commander Oakenshield remarked. "Get back to the Bridge."

Chu and Brayden left the hanger deck and headed for the Bridge.