Stardate: 62111:0100
Title: Lending a Hand
Author: Lt. JG. Yonatan Levi, Acting Chief of Operations
Time: Before/during "Self-Image"
Scene: Civilian Carrier SS Solar Wind


The cry of the battle had stopped as the Relly made her final round to face the debris of the Dominion war fleet. Between the wreckage floated the remains of the Relentless belonging to this universe. On the other side of the battlefield a large civilian transport drifted in space. The ship spun erratically. Her engines were severely damaged. Her hull was buckled and small red dots of internal fires decorated her, vanishing quickly after depleting the air.

On the bridge a relief spread around the crew as the ship tasted battle for the first time and emerged victorious without any significant damage to her major systems, nor any serious crew casualties.

"Lieutenant Levi, take an away team to investigate the civilian ship," the Captain spoke, his voice sharp and plain.

Yoni looked surprised for one moment back from his station, confused from the sudden attention he was given. During all the battle his participation was limited to a few internal reports and damage to the ship's systems, and now the Captain had given him an order that seemed out of place with his normal duties.

"Sir?" was all that Yoni was able to say.

The Captain turned toward him, starring at him like he was about to have him escorted back to the Ops office and have a replacement instead of him.

"Well, you are the Chief of Operations, aren't you?" he said in his cold, calm voice; without hesitation or giving Yoni a chance to respond, he proceeded, "Then I suggest you start acting like one. Assemble your team and board the ship and locate any survivors. Find out what kind of damage they have sustained and provide immediate medical care and minimal damage control in order to preserve the hull integrity and life support. Keep me informed."

Yoni composed himself and straightened his back. "Understood sir."

"Good. Carry on," the captain said.

Yoni stood from his console and strode toward the turbolift, tapping his combadge, "Ensign Adams, Counsellor Kerelai and Doctor Anderson, meet me at Transporter Room one. We are lending a hand."

Ensign Adams was the last one to walk into the transporter room. His arrival completed Yoni's team. Adams adjusted his phaser, setting it to stun and returning it to its holster as they took their place on the transporter pad.

"Expecting troubles, mate," Yoni asked, taking out his tricorder.

"Just making sure, sir," the security officer replied.

Yoni nodded, "Doctor, Counsellor, this ship just went under attack. Expect casualties, mentally and physically."

"Understood sir," the doctor said.

The Vulcan just nodded quietly.

"Energize!"

=^= SS Solar Wind =^=

"Sir! We have another ruptured power conduit on deck C! If the power continues to degrade, the structural integrity field will collapse within the hour," Came the cry from the Instruments station.

Captain Merdock tried his best to maintain balance as another panel blew out above him, sending a half-burnt crewmember to the deck. To his right, the two helmsmen fought the ship's uncontrolled spin, trying to regain her balance.

"Send an immediate distress call. Signal that we are a civilian carrier and we are loosing integrity! We have emergency supplies to deliver to Starbase 9 and we have been attacked," Merdock said the crew around him.

"Yes sir," said the radioman and turned back to his panel.

At that time, a bluish beam flashed through the bridge. The familiar sound of Federation transporter accompanied it, and when they were gone, a group of five men dressed in Starfleet uniforms materialized on the bridge.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Merdock stormed from his chair toward the invading party, not noticing at first they were Federation officers.

"Lieutenant Levi from the Relentless. We are here to help."

"The Relentless?" Merdock halted his approach and looked surprised, "It was destroyed during the battle! I saw her exploding to pieces myself!"

"It's... a little bit complicated, Captain. My commanding officer and our Ambassador will explain, once you and your crew are safe onboard."

Another explosion was heard as another power conduit ruptured behind them, burning another crewmember. Anderson rushed to him quickly, taking out his medical tricorder and started scanning the man that was down on the floor in pain.

"Third degree burns and severe damage to the nerve pathways to his arms," Cory stated, nodding to the person that rushed to him. The pair raised the injured man to his feet.

"Come, we better get to your sickbay," Cory finished. The injured crewmember was barely able to mourn, while the other person who helped Anderson nodded through the exit, "Come, this way doctor."

Yoni watched the ongoing and signalled Kerelai, "Counsellor, go with him. See what any assistance you can provide to any traumatized crew."

The Vulcan nodded quietly and followed them.

"Adams, sweep the ship, locate any crew members that are wandering around or need any assistance and start rounding them all together in safe areas. Those who need assistance get to sickbay. The rest, try to calm them down. Let them know they are safe now."

"Yes sir," the security officer said.

"Captain, what is your status?"

"I can't tell you yet," Merdock, still confused from what was going on, gave Yoni the same report he sent in the distress call.

Yoni then hit his combadge and opened a frequency to the Relentless.

"Relentless, this is Levi. We are beginning full evaluation of the situation and the condition of the crew and the ship. Our first priority will be to stabilize the power levels to ensure the safety of the ship and her crew. Further updates as we progress."

[Very well,] came Captain Khavok's voice through the comm, [Keep us posted. Long-range sensors have several Dominion task forces in the sector. Be prepared to evacuate the ship on my order.]

"Yes sir, Levi out," Yoni closed the comm link and sighed. Then he looked again at Merdock, "I will be in the engine room."


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Lieutenant JG. Yonatan Levi
Chief of Operations (Acting)
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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