"Captain, We are ready to detonate the charges." Major Phanan announced from the second tactical console.

"Do it." Captain Taybar replied.

Moments later the viewscreen was filled with several explosions as the remaining mines exploded into harmless debris. Then one final large explosion as the Ferengi Marauder, already crippled by the minefield was ripped apart by the demolition explosives placed by the Marines.

"All mines have been destroyed." Chu reported. "The vessel has also been destroyed."

"Open ships log." Aki announced. "This is Captain Aki Taybar, commanding officer of the USS Leviathan-A. We tracked down a Ferengi vessel belonging to a Daimon Leggett. The vessel was heavily damaged and after a thorough investigation, one casualty was recovered. A minefield of unknown origin was the primary cause of the damage to the vessel. To avoid any further damage and preventing the vessel and minefield becoming a hazard to shipping or be used for salvage, both have been destroyed. Warning buoys have also been placed to prevent further damage to vessels coming to the area and prevent damage from any undiscovered mines. End log."

<Log entry updated.> The computer announced.

"Time to go." Aki remarked. "Helm set a course for Deep Space Nine, maximum speed."

"Course laid in." Cadet Brayden announced, replacing Shale at the Helm controls.

"Enter the stream." Aki ordered.

The Leviathan accelerated to maximum impulse before the slipstream drive came online and the vessel was pulled into the quantum slipstream.

September 22, 2384

Four days had passed since the Leviathan had left Sigma Twelve. To avoid detection or giving their plans away, no contact with DS9 had been made. Flying within a quantum slipstream always caused problems with long-distance sub-space communications anyway. The Captain had kept in contact with the Hudson, although it had been two days now since their last contact. By now they should have reached Earth and transferred the Ferengi prisoner. Hopefully they will have contacted DS9 with an update and once the Leviathan arrived that message would be passed on. Even at maximum warp however, it would still take the Hudson close to a week to reach DS9.

On the Bridge, Commander Rashad was in the Captain’s chair. Beside her sat Lieutenant Commander Chu Barker. At the Helm was Cadet Brayden McCaffee, operation the controls as If he’d been doing it for years.

"Ten minutes until we leave the slipstream Commander Rashad." Brayden announced.

"Understood, Ensign." The Commander replied. "Bridge to Captain Taybar."

<Taybar here.> The Captain replied.

"We’re approaching DS9 Captain." Rashad stated. "We should be exiting the stream in a few minutes."

<Good.> Aki announced. <I’m still in the officersmess, I should be with you in about fifteen minutes.>

"We will see you then Captain. Bridge out." Rashad finished.

Ten minutes later, Brayden took the Leviathan out of the slipstream and back into normal space.

"Deep Space Nine, dead ahead." Brayden remarked.

"Full impulse." Rashad ordered.

"Commander, we’re receiving a message from the station." Ensign Jones announced from the operations console.

"On screen." Rashad announce. "Leviathan to DS9, Commander Rashad in command."

<Commander.> The young Starfleet officer announced. <We have been expecting your arrival. Where is Captain Taybar ?>

"Right here." Aki announced from the turbolift she was just stepping out of. "Is there a problem ?"

<The vessel you were asking about returned earlier than we expected.> The Lieutenant announced. <They claimed that they had complete their negotiations early.>

"How long ago ?" Aki asked, stepping down to the centre of the Bridge. Chu rose from his seat next to the Commander, who in turn also rose. Aki signalled for them both to sit back down, whilst she moved forward to sat in front of the viewscreen.

<Seventeen hours.> The officer replied.

"Then they could be anywhere." Aki announced. "You can’t have been able to keep track of them for all that time. Plus you could have give the game away by attempting to track them over such a large distance."

<We didn’t have to.> The Lieutenant replied. <We started to track the vessel, but luck was on our side. About an hour after the Ferengi Marauder returned a second vessel also returned from the Gamma quadrant.>

"The Ferengi has already shook off one set of monitors." Aki announced. " What makes you think they won’t shake off this vessel."

<The vessel in question was a Romulan warbird.> The Lieutenant explained. <And as soon as we made the request and explained that it involved the mirror vessel they offered their assistance.>

"The Romulans were heavily affected by the ISS Leviathan, many of their supply bases were attacked by the vessel." Chu remarked. "If there’s one thing the Romulans hate, it’s losing a fight on their ‘home’ turf. Let’s just hope the Warbirds commander doesn’t do anything rash."

<Their last message was just over an hour ago.> The Lieutenant announced. <They are traversing along the Cardassian-Federation border towards the demilitarised zone.>

"Do you have their last co-ordinates and their projected course ?" Aki enquired.

<Transferring them now.> The officer announced. <You should have them now.>

"We’ve got them." Ensign Jones announced. "Transferring them to the helm."

"Lieutenant. Has there been any word from Earth about the USS Hudson ?" Aki enquired.

<No Captain.> The Lieutenant announced. <The last message we recievd from Earth was that they were still awaiting their arrival.>

"When was that ?" Aki asked.

<Yesterday, in the daily despatch.> The officer replied.

"That’s odd." Aki remarked. "They should have arrived over a day ago, we should have heard something from Earth by now. Lieutenant, could you check with Earth about the Hudson and get back to us. We’ll set course to rendezvous with the warbird and check back with you later."

<Understood Captain Taybar. DS9 out.> The Lieutenant stated.

"Leviathan out." Aki announced. "Helm set course for the warbird’s last know position."