Home Again "
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Kelly Forrester, Assistant Chief Operations Officer, [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Hardluck Harry , Ship Yard Operations Director , [NPC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58206.25 1300

Ensign Forrester looked up from her LCARS console and announced "we're approaching Qul Tuq."

Hunter nodded, "Westfall, deactivate the cloaking device and signal the station that we're home."

"Aye-Aye Captain." Westfall Acknowledged.

Qul Tuq Approach Control this is Tactical Officer Jeff Westfall of the USS Zion. Identification Zeta Two Two Four Seven Alpha Squared, Requesting clearance to dock.

"Qul Tuq to the Zion, you are cleared, Dock 4."

"Clearance to Dock has been received Captain--how do you like Dock Four?," Westfall said.

"Under the circumstances, any dock on Qul Tuq will do. Helm, bring us in easy does it."

"Aye-aye Sir."

"Captain, I have subspace call for you from "Hard Luck Harry."

Hunter smiled, "Put him through."

The image of Hardluck Harry, the Director of the Maquis Shipyards flickered onto the screen. "What have you done to your ship," he asked. "It was brand new when I gave it to you. Now, it looks just like the last ship you brought back to me."

Hunter arched his brow and smiled. He expected no less from Hardluck. He cleared his throat with a cough and stood up. "Good morning Harry," he said looking back momentarily at Wright. "It seems we had something of a scrape with a couple of Federation ships."

"A scrape," said Harry with mock disgust in his voice, "You have shields, did you forget to turn them on?" Harry appeared to squint at them, "Where is Silvio, I will have words with him too."

Wright tried to hide his smile, Harry, ran the shipyards the way he wanted to and nothing would ever change that, "Look at it this way Harry," said Wright, "It's job security for you."

"Bah," spat Harry, "You are cleared for docking bay 4."

"Thanks Harry, USS Zion out," said Hunter turning to face his bridge crew. "Well, you heard the man, take us in."

"Aye-aye," said the helmsman.

Hunter sat back down in the command chair and looked over at Wright, "Well, that went better than I thought it would."

The giant station loomed before them on the main view screen. The massive bay door was open giving the station the appearance of a burst bubble.

"Slowing to one quarter impulse power," announced the helmsman. He slowly and deliberately directed the Zion towards the shipyard docking bay. The station grew larger in the screen making the Zion appear to be small.

As they approached the doors, the helmsman cut the impulse engines and engaged the maneuvering thrusters. Slowly, ever so slowly the Zion floated into docking bay 4 and came to a stop.

Outside in the docking bay several docking clamps extended and latched onto the Zion. Once the Zion was secured several men in EVA suits floated into the work area to begin assessing the damage.

Hardluck surveyed the Zion from the operations center and shook his head, he and his men had a good deal of work to do on this ship. He touched a button on his console, "Station Flight operations, to Zion, we have you under our control, welcome home," he said, "NOW, get off my ship so I can get to work."

Hunter tapped the comstation, "This is the Captain, we've arrived home. Those of you who have shore leave are dismissed. Please check with ops for your temporary quarter assignments. Hunter out."

Hunter stood up and looked at Wright. "I'll catch up you you later at Quarks?"

"Yes sir," said Wright.

Silvio? please meet me in transporter room 1

"On my way Sir," came Silvio's reply.

***

==Transporter Room 1==

Hunter stepped on to the padd as Silvio entered. "We're on our way to meet with Hardluck. I'm sure he's reviewed your reports already." said Hunter with a quick nod for good luck.

Silvio tried to hide a smirk as he stepped onto the pad, "This should make for an interesting conversation," he said.

"Yeah," agreed Hunter. "It can't be as bad as when we limped in with the Hood," he he added.

Silvio shrugged, "I am sure he will hold that against us too," he said. "Let's get this over with Sir."

Hunter nodded at the transporter crewman, "Engergize."

The transporter operator energized the transporter and watched as the captain and Chief Engineer disappeared.