Captain Chakotay

The Dax symbiont was saved and now has a new host.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Ezri Dax.

*Chakotay answered.*

Defiant, we're on our way to rendezvous with you. We'll help with the refugees, and we have a special passenger...an old friend of Commander Sisko's.

*He nodded with a smile and turned his attention back to the rest of the bridge.*

Alright. If you need any help, just let me know.

That's understandable. I could prepare him mentally if you want me to.

Don't worry about it, though. I'm sure he'll accept you. He accepted Jadzia after Curzon's death.

He might be confused at first, but if you explain what happened, he might be fine, except, well, grieving for Jadzia.

How do you think Benjamin will react to seeing you?

Yes, through Curzon and Jadzia.

*He nodded.*

I understand. It's natural to worry about a close friend.

I will.

I know. Some are sticklers for procedure like Jellico.

Good work, Lieutenant.

It's fine. I like it when someone takes the initiative. It shows intelligence and capability.

They would be able to detect our presence but they wouldn't be able to *see* us.

Right. Mr. Paris, engage the cloak.

You're welcome.

*Chakotay smiled and nodded, trying to be as sympathetic to her as he was to the rest of his crew.*

Better than not coming at all.

*Chakotay blushed a little but chuckled.*

Well, you're more confident than you were when you first boarded.

No problem.

Thanks. That's one nice thing about modern starships. Better chairs than on, say, the Constitution class or the Excelsior class.

*He nodded then sat in his command chair.*

You can sit in my First Officer's chair for now, Lieutenant. She's off-duty at the moment.

That's what I'm hoping.

Anyway, we found the Defiant. It's going to take a while to get to Qo'NoS.

She doesn't say too much about it, but I've met her mother and got the whole story from her.

Her mother's House wanted her to follow Klingon tradition without questioning it. They even wanted her to join the KDF. She refused. When Miral backed her up, they were both declared disgraced.

I'm a little concerned, though, because B'Elanna *is* still in a state of disgrace.

I hope so. B'Elanna might be able to talk to him too.

We're on that already. They're still in the Qo'NoS system and still in one piece. I'm more worried about Captain Worf...being Klingon, he'd probably try something like sacrificing the ship.

Alright.