Hawke nodded at the Captain.

 

So far no one had noticed his little sojurn to DS9 and he hoped that they would be quite done with the whole business by the time anyone did.

 

He saw Breanna looking over at him and gave her a smile. She blushed and went back to studying her padd intensely so that the Captain wouldn't notice.

 

Heading to his station, he began looking over the Enterprise logs. They were quite detailed, and he had little trouble figuring out what he needed.

 

Everything was going absolutely swimmingly and as such it was with a certain amount of disappointment that he heard, "DS9 Security to Intrepid."

 

"Crap," Hawke muttered.

Everything from the staff meeting seemed pretty straight forward, so now it was time to get moving on the plan.  Breanna and Nick returned to engineering promptly to get everything started.  It didn't take long for them to inform the other engineers of what was going on and to get started, everyone was eager to start on something other than repairs.

 

"How does this look?" someone asked her an hour or two later.  "It looks pretty good... expcept you are going to have to adjust this variable right here..."  Other than the occasional question, everything was running fairly smoothly.  Simulations were made regularly to make sure they were on the right track. 

 

The had been working for quite some time when Keyes finally said, "Ok, everyone, we've all worked hard and put a honest days work in. So, thats why I am ordering you all to go back to your quarters to get some rest before we get under way. I want to make sure everyone is at their best to make sure things go smoothly. You are all dismissed."

 

After the meeting ended, Captain Venger watched as everyone else left the room.  One of the best features of the Conference Room was the view.  She often found herself there, thinking and staring out at whatever there was to behold.  Today was no different.  She wasn't sure whether it was her age or the fact that she had just come out of a coma about an hour ago that was putting her in a reflective mood...

 

However, she knew there was little time at the moment for that sort of things.  There were more important things to accomplish, so she finished up some paper work and then took her place at the bridge. 

 

"Captain, we are being contaced by DS9," said Erica Fields, who was at the ops station.

 

"Put them on"

 

=/\= DS9 Security to Intrepid

 

=/\= This is the Intrepid, what seems to be the problem?

 

=/\= It looks like one of your crewmembers fell asleep over here and missed the call to return to the ship before your recent security changes.  He is back on his way to the ship now and will be wanting to board in a few minutes.

 

=/\= Understood.  Is there anything else?

 

=/\= Nothing further, DS9 out. =/\=

The next day, Captain Venger was up early and on the Bridge.  She felt mostly caught up with everything that had happened while she was incapcitated in Sick Bay.  With any luck, they would be able to create the votex and return back to their time today.  Things had proceeded very well on the first day.

 

The only thing that had really seemed strange was Ensign Hawke.  He seemed a bit jumpy and on the edge.  With him, it was hard telling why.  So far he seemed normal as he reported in for his shift.

 

Keyes also arrived on the bridge soon after.  "How is everything progressing, Commander?"

 

<Keyes>

 

"That's good to hear.  Keep up the good work."

Breanna O'Malley was up and moving again about 5 hours after she had returned to her quarters.  For some reason, she couldn't sleep more than that.  It was probably the ship's current situation that prevented it and she was eager to get back to work. 

 

She wanted to make sure everything went perfectly and there were still things she needed to take care of.  By the time alpha shift started, she had made a good amount of progress and felt confident in the Intrepid's ability to return home.

 

"Ensign Colus, you're just the person I wanted to see.  We've gotten a lot of work done and I think we are ready to try some simulations in the holodeck.  Think you are up to it?"

 

<Nick>

 

"Good, I'll meet you there in 10 minutes."  Breanna went ahead of the others to the holodeck to set up the program and situation.  She figured trying it out in the holodeck would be the best way for the to anticipate any problems they could have while actually trying to create the vortex.

 

=/\= Petty Officer O'Malley to Ensign Hawke

 

<Hawke>

 

=/\= We are about to run a holodeck simulation of the vortex and I was wondering if you would also like to participate

 

<Hawke>

It was half way through alpha shift when Lt. Cmdr. Keyes turned to Captain Venger and said, "I've just heard back from Engineering, Captain.  They feel that everything has been worked out and that we are ready to proceed."

 

"Very well.  Ensign Rye, contact DS9 and inform them that we will be leaving. Helm, once they confirm, take us out."  It didn't take very long before the Intrepid left the dock at DS9 and made it's way back to Nooma to initiate the vortex.  The engineering crews of both DS9 and the Intrepid had done a good job with the repairs, as well as possible considering the circumstances.  Only a few things couldn't be completely repaired due to sensitivity issues.

 

Once they reached the proper coordinates, everyone on the Bridge fell silent, feeling the gravity of the situation.  Most felt pretty confident in the skill of those who had worked on this project but, on the other hand, you just never knew how it would really work out.  Would they end up in their own time, somewhere else, stay where they are, or even destroying themselves by attempting this?

 

Captain Venger opened up a ship wide communication =/\= Attention everyone, this is the Captain.  We are about to create the vortex and attempt to return to our own time.  Prepare yourselfs for what is about to occur.  Venger out.

 

She turned to Ensign Colus, who came onto the Bridge as the ship arrived, and told him to begin.  Nick nodded and initiated the vortex...  It only took them a minute or two to pass through it.  As soon as they did, everyone waited for the results of their work, whether they were back or not.

 

Ensign Rye was the first to speak up, "Captain, we did it.  We are back, for the most part.  It looks like we are a couple hours later from when we left, but we are back."

 

"Can anyone else confirm this?" she questioned.  Harper, who was at the science station, confirmed his findings.  "Alright, go ahead and contact Starfleet.  Tell them we will be continuing to the starbase as planned and that a detailed report will be forthecoming."  Captain Venger sat back and wondered what journeys lay ahead for them now.