Lieutenant Commander Annabeth Chase.

Annabeth was slightly surprised when the door to their cell opened and Dax came marching in followed by two of their Captors. "Okay, new deal. We are helping our Captors protect their remaining people from slavers," she announced.

"When did this happen?" Annabeth asked.

"A few minutes ago. The Captain is talking with Commander Ramirez and having the entire expedition party redeploy to our position, including the Midsummer night. "For what it's worth, it looks like we might actually manage to make an ally."

"For what it's worth?" Isabel inquired.

"Yes, it turns out that as so often these people were a lot more scared of us then we of them," she explained.

"So slavers? Does the captain really think that it is wise to make enemies this earlier?" Annabeth asked.

"Apparently he does. But, I think that might be the point. De oppresso liber,"

"To Free the Oppressed," the blond translated. "Shadow Squads motto." The rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me Percy is doing some death and glory thing."

"Looks like it. Maybe you can talk some sense into him or find out what he is really up too," Dax suggested and helped Isabel to her feet.

"Everyone, file out. We have work to do!"

"Where is the Captain?" Annabeth asked.

"In the Command Center," Dax informed her. "Follow me."

Annabeth followed the Trill Officer through what looked like some sort of catacombs. To her surprise, she spotted only what appeared to be females. The natives had dead eyes and even the children just sat in the corners, blankly staring at the opposite wall.  "It looks like they've been through a lot," Isabel noticed.

Annabeth silently agreed but then snapped to attention the moment she spotted her captain standing at what looked like a Comment Table. "At ease, Ms. Chase," he ordered.

She and Dax joined Percy, who seemed to be lost in the sensor data. "What is the resolution on these scanners? Are these Cruisers or troop transports?" Perseus asked.

"Not the best. These used to be Navigational Safty Sensors on a cargo hauler. It would be best if we put everyone underground, especially your people. If those folks get even the slightest suspicion that we have new tech they'll Bio-Bomb the entire area."

Perseus sighed and Annabeth cleared her voice. "We brought some pretty serious firepower with us. We could ambush them in close quarters."

"We've already tried that. They'll just bombard the city from Orbit," the leader replied. "The Titan's are good at discouraging any form of major resistance."

"Can you put me through to my ship. I am sure a Dreadnought might be helpful," Perseus asked.

"We lost all our long-range Communications gear years ago," Juniper explained.

"Very well, I'll have Ms. Ramirez transmit all necessary data the moment she arrives."

"Very good. I also want Ms. Levesque and Mr. Zang back under Ms. Ramirez. They are her cadets after all. And give my thanks to Ms. Ramirez for borrowing them too me. They performed as well as can be asked of them," he announced.

"Will do."

Commander Piper Mclean

Piper sat in her Captain's chair, her annoyance growing by the hour. All earlier excitement about being in the chair had disappeared. They had received word of the situation with their expedition party and suddenly Piper was looking forward of ridding herself of Command as fast as possible. She wanted Perseus back in the chair she was currently occupying and both she and T'soni were now determined to under no circumstances allow him to leave the ship.

"T'soni, you have the bridge. I'll be down in Engineering," she announced and left the chair.

"Aye, Ma'am," T'soni replied, and Piper took the Turbo lift down to the engine room. When she entered a large portion of the crew ignored her.u

"Where is Beckendorf?" she inquired when she reached Thalia who was standing at a console in front of the warp core.

"Port nacelle. I am in charge of the Engine room for the moment," Thalia replied.

"So, how are things going?" she asked.

"Better than expected. T'soni's threat to help us with efficiency has been enough to motivate our people to work double and triple shifts.  We've been at it for thirteen hours non-stop now. If we are lucky, we'll be able to recharge the warp coils in the next try. If we aren't, it will take another few hours and another one or two attempts," Thalia explained.

"Good, how long until we start the first attempt?" she demanded.

"A few more minutes. We are currently finishing up a check of the fuses as a precaution," Thalia explained.

"In that case, I'll wait for you," she announced and leaned against the side of the console.

"So, I heard you are waiting for the Captain to return for the funeral?" Thalia asked.

"Yes, I thought about doing it but it should be your cousin."

"Ahh," Thalia said and pressed a few buttons.  "Ah damn! Hey, Crewman Shvan. Get your Andorian ass down to deck three, Jeffries Tube alpha, section three. I am getting power fluctuations close to the classroom. We've lost enough kids as it is, no need to add to that number thanks to some freak accident!" she yelled over her shoulder.

"Aye!" one of the young Andorian males yelled back and hurried out of the engine room.

Suddenly a communications Icon on the console screen started blinking and Thalia pressed her finger on it. "Beckendorf to Grace, do you read me?" the engineer asked.

"Reading you. The Commander is here with us!" Thalia reported.

"Good evening Commander. Both nacelles have been double and triple checked," the Chief engineer replied. "Open the plasma conduits three through seven and start charging the coils," Beckendorf ordered.

"Understood, you should get out of the nacells if you don't wish to be vaporized so here goes nothing!"

Thalia looked up to the rest of the engineering crew. "Listen up folks. Let's do this round one and make a good impression in front of the Number one!"

They waited for another few minutes until the Nacelles were evacuated

Thalia announced and opened an overlay of the plasma and EM conduits and disarmed the Valves."

"Good luck," she wished everyone and walked over to one of the wall screens monitored the Warp Drive. After a few seconds, Thalia joined her. Slowly the charge in the Warp coils started growing. The charging sped up quickly and within five minutes they were approaching the levels necessary. Piper quickly opened the feed of a rear-mounted camera that presented her with footage of the Nacelles. The field grilles that almost ran the entire length of the nacelle, that usually glowed a comforting blue were now glowing in a dull orange. The Bussardkollektors at the front of the nacelles were still dark.

The engine room main door opened and a dozen or so crew members entered, led by the tall, muscular, chief engineer. The man spotted them and made a B-line for them.

"How far are we?" the engineer asked.

Almost there," the Thalia announced.

"Not quite. There are fluctuations in the plasma stream on the left coil. We need to stabilize them. Adjust the magnetic field. Raise the magnetic charge on Coil B-nineteen by five percent. That might do it," he announced.

"Or it could destroy the coil!" Thalia complained.

"Nah, it'll work," he said and keyed in the adjustment. Sure enough, the plasma flow over the coils stabilized after a few seconds.

Piper glanced at the camera footage. The side of the nacelle where now glowing bright orange. "Here we go. Take it nice and slowly Grace."

"Aye, sir. I am cutting back on the plasma flow by two percent," she announced.

Suddenly the camera footage showed a bright flash of light and a moment later the sides of the nacelle were glowing bright blue. A moment later dozens of orange icons on the screen turned blue as all the subsystems came online. "Hey! It actually worked!" Thalia cried out and cheering erupted from the crew.

"Amazing work gentlemen. Are you clearing us for warp?" she asked.

"Yes, diagnostics are green across the board. She is all yours."

Piper beamed at him. "I am so making sure Silena will repay you for this."

She keyed the Starfleet insignia on her chest, opening a channel. "T'soni. Our Warp drive is back online. We are getting our captain back! Plot a heading. Maximum warp!"

"Aye Ma'am, plotting a course to Jump."

Piper turned to the engineers. "Amazing work crew. Now, everyone who isn't officially on shift, according to the crew roster is now off duty. Catch up on some sleep!" she ordered and was rewarded with more cheering.

"Well, I shall return to the bridge. We should be getting there in less than an hour," Piper announced. "...and I want Athena battle ready by that time."