"Could you hold this for me for a second?" Kristin asked. "I'm not sure what
happened to Elan," she muttered.

Nicole Montgomery looked up from the book she'd been reading to find Kristin
looking at her expectantly, "Me?"

Kristin leaned to the side to look behind her squadmate, "Actually, I was
talking to that Leprechaun over there, but you'll do." She smiled when Nikki
turned bright red as she set the book aside.

"Sorry, I was kinda absorbed I guess."

"Just kinda," Kristin agreed. She handed Nikki a pair of safety glasses.

"Here?" Nikki asked, taking ahold of the hunk of metal Kristin was holding in
place on Morris's frame.

"Yep, and your other hand here. Okay, just hold it tight against that other
piece so I can weld them together."

Nikki closed her eyes against the bright sparks as Kristin began welding.

"Okay, I think that's good, you can let go now."

Nikki let go and pulled the large, tinted glasses from her face. She watched
as Kristin ran her hand over the line where she'd joined the two pieces.

"Perfect, I'll be done in no time. Thanks for the help."

"Sure, any time."

Nikki moved back to where she'd been sitting reading her book and picked it
up from the floor.

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable reading in your quarters?"

Nikki looked up to see Elan Morin Tedronai standing behind her leaning over
the top of the crate she'd been sitting against.

"Probably," she replied honestly, "but I didn't feel like being alone."

"Any particular reason?"

She shrugged and sighed, "Do you ever get tired of it? All we do is sit
around all day and wait."

"Well, some of us have work to do," Kristin joked.

"I know, but it's just so monotonous. Sure every once in a while we get to go
fight some pirates, but I'm getting so tired of looking at the inside of this
tin can all day."

"Somebody has cabin fever," Kristin said succinctly.

"I do; I'll admit it. It's just been so boring these last few weeks. I'm
going stir crazy on this ship!"

"Well, it can't stay boring forever," Elan offered encouragingly.

"O'Connor, could I speak to you for a minute?"

"Of course Commander."

Elan and Nikki watched them go, then looked at each other and shrugged.



"Sir, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?" He hadn't said a word
during the walk from the hangar bay to his office.

"I have a mission for you," he said simply.

"For me?" her confusion was evident.

"You and whoever you chose to take with you. Lt. Hiatt's sending two of her
people from Engineering and Dr. Rhodes is sending two from medical. The
Captain wanted eight people, the last four being frame pilots, so you can
choose three others from Gamma to go with you."

"Where, exactly, are we going?"

"There was a pirate attack on a freighter headed out from Venus. They took
heavy damage to Engineering and all but one of their medical officers was
killed. The pirates also tried to take out their e-frames; and the launch
deck with them. That's why I'm sending you. They need to know what's
salvageable and what's scrap metal. Unfortunately, the way the Fleet sees it,
the people are replaceable, but they can't get them new frames right away;
and there's talk of going after the pirates...soon. If and when that happens,
we're going to need the extra ship and they're going to need those e-frames.
If there's any hope for them, the captain's asked that you stay as long as
necessary to perform the required repairs."

"So why are they sending four frames if they only want me."

"In case the pirates come back," Hobbes said tersely. "They'll need all the
help they can get with repairs, of course. But there's no way they'd survive
another attack without operative e-frames...not with the damage to their
ship."

"Why me?" Hobbes raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you or O'Muirdaugh going as
the superior officer?"

"If the admiral decides to go after the pirates before you return, we'll be
needed here."

"So will the rest of the squad," Kristin muttered.

"True, but those were Captain Henry's orders."

Kristin nodded in understanding, "When do we leave?"

"First thing in the morning, I'll have Lt. Hiatt and Dr. Rhodes send their
officers down in two hours and Xanatos will go over the mission with all of
you. I'll see about getting a shuttle ready to go with everything you'll
need. Any idea who you'd like to take with you?"

"Elan," she answered without hesitation. "If their ship is as badly damaged
as it sounds, his frame's sensors may be the only thing that could pick up
the pirates before they boarded...if they come back that is. Vouriot, since
he has medical experience that could come in useful." She thought for a
moment, "And Montgomery."

Hobbes nodded slightly, "No particular reason?"

Kristin shrugged, "She's a good pilot."

Hobbes nodded, "Alright. Make sure you're all in the briefing room in two
hours."

"Yes, Sir."

"Dismissed Lieutenant."

Kristin stood and exited his office, heading back down to the launch deck to
continue her repairs to Morris's frame and inform her fellow squad members of
their coming mission.



"Are there any questions?" Commander Xanatos asked, having finished his
explanation of their assignment.

When no one spoke, he continued, "Alright then, you leave first thing
tomorrow. The shuttle's being readied as we speak. Anything you'd like to
add?" He looked toward Lt. Amy Hiatt and Dr. Karen Rhodes. Both women shook
their heads in response.

"Commander Hobbes?"

"No, Sir."

Xanatos nodded, "Alright then. Good luck to you all and be careful." He
offered and encouraging smile, "Dismissed."

The assembled troops and officers dispersed, exiting the briefing room. Nikki
sighed loudly as she walked out the door.

"I thought you wanted some action. You've been moping around for the last
week and now you don't wanna go?"

Nikki smiled, "I don't know....moping!? I was not..." the look on her best
friend's face stopped her, "Okay, maybe I was. This just doesn't seem right,
I dunno."

"Why not?"

Nikki shrugged, "I'm not sure. I'm probably just being paranoid. Don't worry
about it."

"I worry about you. Be careful out there."

"I always am."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Nicole?" a voice from behind Nikki interrupted them.

"I gotta go." She gave her friend a quick hug, "I'll see you when I get
back."

"Take care," Amy muttered, offering her friend a smile.

"You, too," Nikki said with a smile as she turned to go.