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“Abramowitz?”

“She’s our cultural specialist—also my roommate. She just got the latest recording of that fecal matter you call music by that Blee Luu person, and it’s been driving me insane.”

“Really?” Nog said. “Maybe we can help each other out.”

Kieran Duffy was rather pleased as he sat in the center seat of the bridge for the da Vinci’s gamma shift. Everything was going smoothly. The ten ships were taking up positions, with one ship on each of the six pylons and the remaining four evenly spaced around the docking ring. The Rio Grande was taking up position nearby, ready to lead the convoy to Deep Space 9. Some last-minute figures needed to be gone over, of course, but they were on schedule to start at the beginning of alpha shift.

Closer to home, the Abramowitz-Pattie difficulty had been settled thanks to their Ferengi visitor. Nog had apparently convinced Carol to let him have her new drad recording for the Sugihara’s captain in exchange for—something. When Fabe Stevens shared this bit of intelligence, the engineer had been unclear as to what the something was that Nog had promised to Carol, but Duffy was sure he’d find out soon enough.

The gamma shift tactical officer—a young ensign named Piotrowski—said, “Commander, we’re getting a priority-one distress call.” She looked up, and gave Duffy a stricken look. “Sir, it’s from Commander Gomez on Sarindar!”

Duffy felt a fist of ice clench his heart. Oh no, Sonnie . . .

It took him a moment to make his mouth work. “Confirm.”

“The distress call is definitely coming from Nalori space, and was sent two days ago, sir.”

“Engineering, this is Duffy. Are we back up to capacity yet?”

Nancy Conlon, the current duty officer, said, “Yes, sir, Commander. Can give you warp 9.7 for twelve hours, just like the specs say—longer if we have to. Why? I thought this trip was going to be at warp 4.”

“We may be taking a different trip. Duffy out.” He took another deep breath through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. “Captain Gold to the bridge.”

It hadn’t taken long for Nog to rearrange the convoy to accommodate the loss of the da Vinci. It simply meant that the three remaining ships on the docking ring would take up position halfway between each pylon.

Captain Gold was on the viewscreen as the da Vinci was preparing to warp away, apparently to respond to a distress call from the ship’s first officer.

“I’m sorry I won’t get to see the look on Colonel Kira’s face when we tow the station in,” Gold said. “And tell her I’m sorry I won’t get to see the station.”

“I will, sir.”

“You did good work here today, Lieutenant. Any chance I can convince you to transfer here? I get the feeling you’d fit right in.”

Standing next to Gold, Duffy added, “He’s right, Nog. I know we may not have seemed very hospitable at first, but—well, I was wrong to slap you down. I’m sorry for that. And I’d be honored if you’d join us.”

“I’m flattered by your offer, Captain—and I accept your apology, Commander—but I have to say no. I’m very happy where I am.”

“It’s our loss,” Gold said with a smile. “Good luck, son.”

“To you also, Captain.”

The image of the da Vinci bridge winked out. Nog stared out the runabout porthole and watched the Saber-class ship go into warp toward the far-off Nalori Republic. Nog didn’t know Commander Gomez, though he knew of her reputation after the trick she pulled on the Sentinel during the war. He hoped that Captain Gold and the others would get to her in time.

Nog activated P8 Blue’s tachyon communications network. “Nog to convoy. Engage tractor beams.”

Nine Starfleet ships emitted blue cones of light that tethered them to Empok Nor. Nog smiled.

“Prepare to go to warp on my mark.”

He was truly flattered by Gold’s offer. But in the S.C.E., he’d just be a cog in the wheel. On DS9, he was the chief.

“Engage.”

INVINCIBLE

David Mack

&

Keith R.A. DeCandido

First officer’s log, Commander Sonya Gomez, U.S.S. da Vinci, Stardate 53270.2

I’m leaving the da Vinci.

Luckily, it’s only a temporary assignment, to the planet Sarindar. Captain Scott