Faith was next to arrive on the Bridge, directly from the Conference Room, with a PADD from the Captain to Cross, informing her of everything being discussed, keeping her right up to date, and keeping her totally in the loop. Faith was still fuming from what she had heard with her own ears in the Conference Room.

Cara wished her a “Good Morning” though she didn’t really know Faith all that well. The face she got in return made her wish she hadn’t bothered. Cara did actually have some minor problems at picking up on some more nuanced human emotions that were shown with facial muscles and body language. This was true, but it was not so bad a problem, and she couldn’t understand why everyone she met was in such a foul mood today.

Faith went straight to Doctor Cross and handed her the PADD from the Captain. “Sign there, please!” she asked Cross.

At first Cross thought that darn doctor was back but was surprised to see Faith ‘’Faith! long time no see ‘’ she was glad to see her friend and did not think twice to hug her.
Then she saw the Padd and took it ,Cross demeanor changed as she scrolled down what was written.It was like a thick black veil had descended on her ‘’Oh my God Faith,is this for real ? This is not only unethical and inhumane but go against what the Federation stand for ‘’.

Faith nodded her head in agreement. “Whatever nightmares my future holds, they are just dreams compared what these ascended have planned for that planet!”

The doctor nodded in agreement ‘’ I couldn’t have said it better then you ‘’.

Before the CMO sighed she took out her cell phone =/\= Captain permission to leave bridge and head to the conference room =/\= .

=/\= And a very good morning to you too, Lieutenant. There is some delicate diplomacy going on down here. I’ve sent Faith to you with the details, so that you wouldn’t feel left out, but what I can’t allow is your special brand of brash risk-taking and lack of tact to upset this delicate situation here. You will have to trust me on this one and let me do my job. =/\=

=/\= How thoughtful of you Sir to even bother to think of me =/\= Cross replied ,Glen could her her cough to clear her voice =/\= I do sincerely hope that its not a one way diplomacy and your main priority is about those inhabitants and not the Dilithium.....good day Sir =/\= .

She looked at the Padd in her hand and for an instance got the urge to throw it across the bridge but that would only prove exactly what the Captain had just said.
Since he had send it to her just to know what has been going on and not whether she agreed or not Cross reluctantly signed it .If it wasn’t for the fact that Glen was Faith’s uncle the doctor would have told her what she thought of him , instead smiled ‘’Hope to see you again soon and catch up on our trials and tribulations ‘’
At this point the CMO handed back the Padd to Faith.

“Yes,” replied Faith, then a little more wistfully, “I miss the old times!”.

‘’So do I…any new novel you’re working on ?’’ Cross asked as she had always enjoyed reading them, helping her to forget for a period of time about her miserable life and she sure needed it with the current situation Cross found herself in.

“No!” Faith replied. “I never finished editing the book I asked you to read through… I just lost the enthusiasm somehow.”

By this time the crew who Cross had sent for their breaks had returned taking their position back on the bridge ,she stood by the Captain’s chair hoping he and the Cmdr would soon join them.

The first to return was the Navigator, Dariusz Pokorski. He took his position and saw that the settings were exactly as he had left them, with the ship locked into a standard orbit of the planet.

While Cross and Hopkins had been talking, Hercules Kahuna had also returned to the Bridge from his comfort break. Like Doctor Cross, Hercules Kahuna had also taken the Starfleet Bridge Officer and Command exams.

He took up the position, just to one side of the Captain’s chair, that had been so favoured by the one of the previous Merrimack XOs, Commander Kord, that he had almost worn away a patch on the floor.

Cross followed him with her eyes and the way Lt Kahuna stood brought back memories of Kord who Cross remembered so well, she believed Glen still felt the loss of his long time first officer .

“I can take over the Conn now, Doctor?” he told Cross, “If you wished to join all the other senior officers in the Conference Room with the Ascended?”

Cross observed his uniform ‘’ Be my guest Lt ‘’ she whispered feeling drained both physical and emotional .Shaking her head from side to side the CMO replied
‘’The Captain made it clear that he does not want me there ‘’ after a slight pause she went on ‘’Maybe he knows me all too well or at least he thinks he does ‘’.

Kahuna paused, smiled and said, “That’s never stopped you before!”

• Kahuna, Weapons