Post 235: Daybreak

Stardate:70620.1530
Title: Daybreak
Author: Zanh Liis
Scene: Main Bridge
Time: Following "Truth or Consequences," and "The Longest Night" (Current time)

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The bridge of the Independence was eerily still.

Since the search and rescue teams had gone, the command crew had followed Zanh's example and not spoken aloud unless it was absolutely necessary. This carefully preserved silence, their way of honoring the souls who had perished on Bajor. As well as those left behind.

Security Chief N'Dura appeared and handed Zanh a padd of information, which needed her immediate attention and authorization. Liis read the brief report, sighed, and then signed it with her thumbprint.

"See to it, Chief." She whispered, her words seeming to echo through the soundless space around them at amplified volume. The Klingon nodded in acknowledgement of her orders and retreated into the lift.

It seemed as if they'd been in orbit of Bajor for an eternity. Liis had grown accustomed to measuring time in the distance between reports from Salvek. With each one he gave, she became more anxious to get her people together and bring them home.

She sat motionless in the Captain's chair at the center of the bridge, staring at the view screen. At predictable intervals the appearance of Bajor would change; one hemisphere succumbed to blackness as the other was washed in first light. From this distance her home world looked beautiful; so utterly serene. You would never know the severity of the blow it had just taken.

She couldn't stop thinking about the topography. Working with data collected by the Indy's sensors, Lt. T'Ana had constructed new maps of the planet's surface. The contrast between the way the Plains and coast had looked before and after the storm couldn't be more stark or shocking. Where there had been such vibrant signs of life, there was nothing now except floodwater and mud. The cold and scattered remains of lives once lived in innocence, by people unaware of what was about to happen.

She checked the time; it was coming up on 0800 hours. That meant that it was the morning of the fourth day since the away teams had disembarked. Overnight, fresh troops had begun to arrive from nearby Federation worlds with the largest group hailing from Trill. This was the sign they'd been waiting for.

Salvek was given new orders; first to bring the reinforcements up to speed. Then he was to turn over command of the recovery operations to his replacement, and reassemble Indy's teams into one for return to the ship.

Zanh rotated the ring she always wore on her right hand slowly, absent-mindedly. She watched the planet's appearance change once more from darkness into light. It reminded her of how her people had continually gone, it seemed, from one crisis to another. Especially over the course of the past century. Somehow they always managed to go on.

She was roused from her thoughts by the hushed voice of Ensign Tenney as she broke the silence.

"Commander Salvek is hailing, Captain."

"Thank you Sarah. Put him through." Zanh requested, rubbing her bloodshot eyes. She hadn't slept more than a few moments at a time since taking command. Neither had she ventured farther from the bridge than the ready room since the teams had deployed. She would not rest until every member of the crew under her watch was present and accounted for. "Report, Salvek?"

[Captain, the transfer protocols have been completed and our teams have been recalled for transport. We await your orders to return. . .] he paused, his voice hoarse and breaking up, [. . .home.]

"Begin transport. We'll be glad to have you back. Be sure that everyone understands the decontamination and debriefing processes thoroughly, please?"

[Aye, Captain. There is one additional matter. A doctor has arrived with the company from Trill. She says that she has been assigned to our crew. Do you know of this?]

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I forgot to mention it last time we spoke. Doctor," Liis looked at a padd she'd left sitting on the armrest beside her. "Dr. Ashlyn Trind. She'll be conducting the post-mission mental health evaluations since, ” Zanh paused, thinking of Admiral Morris and their still missing ship's counselor, K'Raye. "Tell her that I will extend my welcome when she gives me her first status report."

[Very well. I will report to the bridge as soon as I am back aboard to relieve you, Captain.]

Zanh shook her head in amazement. After everything he'd been through, he still intended to report for his regular duty shift.

"No. Let me know when you've arrived, but then get some sleep, Salvek. That's an order."

[Yes, Captain.] He was too exhausted to argue with her, and that concerned her more than anything else he could have said.

"Thank you." She felt a lump forming in her throat at the thought of all that the teams had experienced while fulfilling their role as first responders. Each would have to make peace with what they'd witnessed. Somehow. "Salvek? One last thing. Tell our people that I'm proud of them. I will thank each of them myself, very soon."

[Acknowledged. Salvek out.]

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Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791