Narchi looked out the window at the TSMDVx-2 when three from the shuttle came onto the bridge. Rose said, "Lieutenant Commander Moderaan, you are relieved of duty." Narchi snapped a salute to her and sagged visibly. Rose came over and looked out the window. Narchi said, "You're welcome to it! I was thinking how we avoided death on the TSMDVx-1. It cost you your command. Thank you for believing in me." Rose crossed her arms, as Neblae sat down in the secondary power engineering seat. Rose said, "Narchi...you showed me the figures and you and Neblae walked Slicey-Dicey through the math. Math doesn't lie. If we had flown on TSMDVx-1, we would have all died. Just like the hundred and two people on that flight. You did all you could to save them. Fleet made the decision. Those people died. Let it go. We need you sharp." Amma said after the two of them moved away from the window, "They put turrets on it. So it can pace us to Tartessos, you think?" Narchi turned and saw Neblae. He said, "Our engines are completely uncalibrated. We could pop out 100 million kilometers short, or even run right into Tartessos without a calibration run to set the Time-Space-Matrix-Distortion engines. TSMDVx-2 is only slightly larger than the shuttle you folks came in on. It wouldn't last two seconds against that Asuran Battleship. We'd last a couple of minutes, at least." Zeelob said from the aft Engineering station, "Transmission from Captain Maxim on the TSMDVx-2!" Rose said, "Put him through here." A holographic image of the young captain of the experimental craft appeared. He snapped a salute, and rose returned it. He said, "Commander Rose? You have a time-table for departure yet?" She nodded. "Yes. We are finishing or last sim of FTL insertion into hyper-space. Captain Tkarro is dealing with a problem and will address you later. The Asuran Battleship is dead in space two light minutes away. Their estimated repair time is two hours. We have acquired a new Chief Medical officer, Doctor Aldus Panchetta." Narchi and some others looked shocked at that pronouncement. Rose continued, "We have more crew enroute, ETA within fifteen minutes. We should be ready to break orbit within thirty minutes, barring no further problems. Will you be ready to pace us to the Asuran Ship within that time-frame?" He nodded. "Yes. We're ready to go right now." She said sharply, "Remember--your crew is MilSciDev department engineers and scientists, NOT Fleet. When we arrive, hang back. Our strategies and tactics are...unorthodox. That is why we survived against superior weapons and numbers where others have not." Captain Maxim nodded and grinned broadly. He said, "Absolutely! I prefer to fight alongside winners, not against them! Maxim ,out." His image faded out. Rose turned to Neblae and said, "Captain Tkarro may need you back on the shuttle. Toxic was unable to rejoin with her body. 518, Malbess, Kriff Reisien and 'Chalchilaloq' will be arriving inside of fifteen minutes. I'd like you to be there when they come on-board. Malbess told me that she does NOT trust the 'Chalchilaloq' possessing Neon. I won't say WHY, just watch and give me your impressions. You have clear perceptions, Neblae. Both TWL and Neon have said this to me more than once." Neblae looked at Narchi's sad eyes. He turned away in pain, and she said, "Alright. I'll do everything I can to get Toxic back into her original body and out of your daughter's." Neblae paused and asked a question she dreaded the answer to,"Rose? How did the hearing go?" Rose walked across the deck and took the Captain's station at the aft of the bridge. Rose said, "Like I thought. The Consensus took my son, Omega.It was the rational decision." Neblae stopped at the door out and said, "Rational? We can talk later, when we have time." Rose nodded. --TO BE CONTINUED!--