Captain Taybar arrived on the Bridge of the Leviathan, ready to leave once more in search of the mirror vessel that had caused them so much trouble. The ship had been at DS9 for over a week whilst repairs were underway, the most difficult had been the replacement parts for the quantum slipstream drive.

"Report." Aki requested.

"All systems are operational." Ensign Tony Omega announced from the operations station. "We are ready to depart."

"Sensors are online and full operational." Lt. Commander Barker stated from the science station. "The new deflector array needs some adjustments, but we can perform those once we are underway."

"Weapons are secure." Lieutenant Dukal reported from the tactical station.

"Helm is ready to move off." Ensign Jarick MacTaggert announced.

Bridge to Engineering, status report." Aki requested.

[All power systems are online Captain. We can move out when ready.] Lt. Commander Taline replied.

"What about the slipstream drive ?" Aki enquired. "Is it ready to be used ?"

[The drive if fully functional, the new crystal is providing about a five percent increase in power.] Taline replied. [But we need to calibrate it with the deflector array and the only way to do that is by using it for real.]

"Understood, Bridge out." Aki replied. "Give me shipwide."

"Shipwide channel open." Ensign Omega announced.

"Attention all crew of the Leviathan. We are now ready to depart, secure all stations." The Captain stated. "Helm, take us out."

"All docking ports have been retracted." Ensign Omega reported. "Docking clamps have been released."

"Docking thrusters engaged." MacTaggert stated. "We have cleared the docking ring."

"Take us away, one quarter impulse." Aki ordered.

The Leviathan slowly moved away from DS9 and back into open space.

"We are ten thousand kilometres from DS9 Captain." MacTaggert announced. "What course should I set."

"Mister Barker, I think that’s your area." Aki suggested, turning to her chief science officer and friend.

"We’re still calibrating the sensors, but we may have a trace in sector Zulu Seven Nine Gamma." Chu replied. "That’s Ferengi space."

"Anything else." Aki asked.

"Nothing Captain." Chu stated.

"Then it’s Zulu Seven Nine. Helm set course." Aki ordered. "Bridge to Engineering, we are ready to test the slipstream drive."

[Understood.] Taline replied. [We’ll try and calibrate the drive from here.]

"Taline, I am at the slipstream station." Chu announced. "I’ll concentrate on the calibrating the main deflector."

[That would be a big help Commander. Engineering out.] Taline closed.

"Slipstream drive is coming online." MacTaggert announced.

"Take us into the stream Ensign." Aki ordered.

Ahead of the Leviathan the now familiar sight of a quantum slipstream vortex appeared on the screen that pulled the Akira class vessel in as it became full formed.

"We are at warp twelve point two." MacTaggert announced. "Slipstream drive is running at ninety percent."

[Beginning to detect quantum variations in the slipstream.] Taline announced from Engineering. [Adjusting now.]

"Adjusting deflector control to compensate." Chu stated.

"Quantum slipstream is stable." MacTaggert announced.

"Increase power to ninety five percent." Aki ordered.

"Understood." MacTaggert replied. "We are accelerating to warp fourteen."

The ship began to shake violently.

"Deflector array is offline, attempting to re-initialise." Chu announced.

"Increase power to the structural integrity fields." Aki ordered. "Helm reduce power to the drive, take us back to ninety percent."

The shaking began to fade as Jarick reduced the power going through the QSD and the SIF grabbed hold of the ship once more.

"Deflector back online." Chu announced. "The main processors couldn’t handle the data feed rates. It looks like they were damaged when the deflector was damaged as well. A routine diagnostic wouldn’t have picked this up."

"Do we need to return to DS9." Aki enquired.

"No Captain. We can bypass the damaged systems and replace them in flight." Chu announced. "I’ll inform Lt. Commander Taline. For now, I’d suggest remaining at this speed."

"Good." Aki said, relieved that the ship had held together and didn’t need to return once more for repair. "Helm, how long till we reach our destination ?"

"Six hours." MacTaggert announced.

"Fine. I’ll be in my ready room. Commander Barker, you have the Bridge." Aki stated, rising from her chair and heading off the Bridge.