Thanks for all the replies everyone. "How long have you known Joshua, Lt Commander Berring?" Zanna asked the tall Human. "I first met him when he beamed aboard the fast scout, USS Leif Ericsen, to take command. And please, call me Mark." "He was seventeen, right?" Xin asked, cutting in between the two. "That's right. The youngest commander of a Starfleet ship, ever. And he was good. Damned good. The man is a natural born leader, just like his great grandfather, James Kirk. And his grandfather and parents." "You speak of them like they're your heroes!" Zana chuckled. "James Tiberious Kirk is the hero of a lot of people in the Federation. He represented everything we strive to be. Same for Josh there, as well as the others," Berring smiled. "But he'll downplay it. He hates it when people make a big fuss about him." "They make a big fuss about him?" Xin asked him. "Hell yeah!" The tall Human blurted out. "He served five years before he was captured by the Dominion. And in that time he received every citation for valor the Federation has. He has three Medals of Honor, our highest citation. He has the highest awards from the Romulan and Klingon Empires as well. He's one brave son of a bitch, that's for sure." The Starfleet officer looked down at Xin and shook his head when he saw her blasters. "Kid, I see you prefer to use heavy weaponry!" Xin, who had been staring at Kirk suddenly spun about. "Don't fucking call me a kid!" She whispered harshly. "I'm nineteen! I'm a Mandalorian and I serve in the Republic Marines. I'm not a kid!" The girl stopped abruptly as she found her way blocked by Dr Denise Williamson, who was scanning her with her medical tricorder. After a few seconds she glanced over her shoulder at Joshua and nodded. Kirk shook his head and turned away. "What are you doing?" Xin demanded of the doctor. "I was taking a medical scan of you," Williamson told Xin "We've been noticing how increasingly irrational you've been getting around Joshua. So I took it upon myself to check something out. And it's now been confirmed," The short woman grinned at the bald Marine. "When you pulled that damn fool stunt at the hospital, you also were imprinted, just like Josh there." "Ah, is it wise to send her on this mission, Doc Williamson?" Berring asked, eyeing Xin suspiciously. "Yes. Just keep the two of them away from each other." "That will not be too hard," Xin told Williamson, a tone of disappontment in her voice. "I'm part of the group that will be going in with his cousin." "Just how dangerous is it down at ground level?" Ugly asked curiously. "Most parts are pretty rough," Zana explained. "But this particular zone is much worse. Or at least it was. There's word that a group has declared war on the gangs that run things down there. And that they're being led by some teenage girl with a badly scarred face. They she has those animals terrified." "Well, that's ok," Joshua told them as they met up with the rest of the rescue party. "We'll be setting up some shields to protect you from the locals, just in case. Now plug these in," Joshua passed out Starfleet commando communicators to Berring as well as Karyn, and Kaleena. "The comm gear Stefan and his group will be using is set to pick up our signals from these. And you've all been taught how to use them. Now, everybody hear me?" Everyone nodded their confirmation. "Good," Joshua thought to them. "We leave when Stefan is ready." "Then saddle up, kids!" Karyn thought back. "Stef says we are good to go. Let's find Zell." Bode Kern was standing on the balcony watching his partner, Tasha Milna getting dressed. They'd just spent the morning in bed. Not that this morning was any different than last night. Or yesterday. Bode smiled. He was glad the boss, Zakaria Cronda, had hired her. Life was definitely more fun. "So what did Boss Cronda have to say this morning?" She asked as she stepped onto the balcony and ran her hand over Bode's ass. "He said that he was successful in getting that Corellian boss to drop the bounty on Laro," He replied with a smile. "Probably told him about her partner, Kar'Alyn. He probably wet himself. Force knows that I would if someone told me she was coming after me." "Nothing like having the last Vernou assassin in your employ to keep rivals in line," Milna said as she reached around and slapped his muscular stomach. "That Twi is scary!" "She's only scary if you try to hurt her, or someone she cares about," He glanced back over his shoulder at the redhead. "Be good to her, and she'll be good to you," Looking down at her bare breasts, Bode grinned. "Be very good to her, and she'll be very good to you." "Well that's not going to happen," She said with a hint of distaste. "She just doesn't have the right kind of food I love to eat...if you know what I mean." When the woman opened her mouth to say more, a sudden loud rumbling roar shook the building. Milna stepped back and tripped, falling to the floor, while Bode threw his hands over his ears as three troop transports shot past, heading for the bottom of the canyon. "Shit!" The woman shouted. "Who the hell was that? That wasn't the police!" "It's Three Suns I think. Two went by a few hours ago." "They did?" The woman asked, as she jumped to her feet. "I didn't hear a thing." "You were sleeping." "Wow," She purred into his ear. "You must have really tired me out this morning." "Yeah, I'm just that good," He replied with a smug grin as he pulled out his comlink. "What's up Kern?" The deep voice of Zakaria Cronda came in over the device. "Boss, we have some action going on at the bottom of the canyon here in Tomo District," Bode told his boss. "At least five troop carriers from Three Suns are up to something down there. Two shot by about three hours ago. Three more tore through here just now." "Interesting," Cronda said, as if he were pondering something. "I'll see what's up down there. I heard that there's been some kind of fighting bottomside. Something about someone killing the gangs down there." "Well, they must be some damn good killers themselves," Bode spoke into the comlink. "Tomo's gangs are some of the worst on Coruscant. The big crime bosses like to hire them, so you know they're not going to like someone down there killing their thugs." "Yeah, right! There are plenty of scum like them to be found, they will not sweat it. Hell, they're probably trying to hire whoever it is doing the killing." "Yeah, you're probably right." "Of course I am!" Cronda said jokingly. "Now you two get ready. I have a job for your crew. It'll take you out to the Corporate Sector." "Good," Bode said. "I love those long haul jobs." "Face it Kern!" Zakaria said with a laugh. "You're a hyperspace junkie!"