[Dentari]

(The Fire in Which We Burn: Part I can be viewed here)


The Fire in Which We Burn: Part II.
The Raising of Lazarus

Repairs were finally complete. She's a tough old ship, he thought to himself. Captain Charles Blake, former first officer of the USS Audacious stood outside the bridge now as the commanding officer. The losses of Operation Return were heavy and the damage to the Audacious was critical. The saucer section had been breached in several places and the port nacelle was damaged beyond repair which led to its complete replacement. If not for the seemingly perpetual war with the Dominion, Blake had no doubt that she would have been decommissioned without a second thought, the irony of this situation was not lost on him.

After a moment of reflection, Captain Blake strode silently onto the bridge and into the presence of the newly appointed bridge officers. He took a deep breath and began."This war that leaves so few untouched and which tests the moral compass of the Federation is the cause of this ship's new lease of life. It is a heavy toll, one which we must live with and be conscious of for the rest of our lives. We will strive to repay this cost tenfold, and honour the memory of those who have served and led with distinction aboard this fine vessel", Captain Blake began, the eyes of the crew, his crew, fixed upon him.

He shifted his weight away from his prosthetic leg, summoned the might of his resolve, and continued in solemn tones."Our duty as Starfleet Officers requires us to defend the Federation, our duty as the crew of this ship is to keep her afloat come what may, and to continue the legacy of those who so valiantly lost their lives in the line of duty. Defending those values which we all as Federation citizens continue to enjoy, Captain Larrenson made the most valiant of sacrifices to ensure the success of our mission. I am by comparison a poor substitute, but I.. but all of us, shall follow in her example and continue the fight, our just cause, for the right to maintain our individual freedoms in the face of an overwhelmingly vicious assault, the likes of which the Alpha Quadrant has never seen before". Silence continued to engulf the room, the atmosphere was charged and emotional with new and old crew members alike completely engrossed in the moment.

"Helm. Take us to half impulse", the Captain of the Audacious ordered.

Recovering from their thoughts of friends lost and of uncertain futures, the crew obediently took to their duties. The audible hum of the impulse engines grew and the Audacious, carrying her crew and the hopes of a better tomorrow, began to glide, slowly at first, from her berth and out once more into the vast and unpredictable sea of stars.

To be continued...