With long conversation and hours of negotiations, the USS Morro Bay was being stretched thin with its resources in helping the people of the Drekar system.  Sylvester Mikhailov had been put into a unique position–one of becoming a sort of deputy. The Morro Bay was stationed nearby Drekar IV, and at certain hours dictated by Captain Dowe, anyone could visit in rotation for the aide they may need. Sylvester was very quickly overwhelmed with one specific request when people came, however. . . .

“They want us to go rescue their missing people?” Velau raised her brow as she, Mazev and Sraal were all inside Sylvesters quarters–which he was quite unhappy about having to use–and equally as confused.

“On the other inhabitable planets, there’s small pockets of land that can sustain life for only a certain amount of time.” Sylvester started, pacing as he spoke. “People who have claimed they want to die with honor to their home and family have started to abduct and forcefully displace others to die with them.”

“Yeeesh.” Mazev looked down at his PADD with a frown. “Commander, with all due respect, my leg prevents me from-”

“We understand that. You won’t be here for on foot work.” Sylvester smirked. “See, we’ve been thinking–perhaps its best to have someone always on standby for these types of missions.”

“These types? Sir, with all due respect, we don’t even fully know what we’re doing here.” Prias crossed her arms, leaning back into her chair. Commander Mikhailov turned to fully face all of them, hands neatly behind his back.

“Ensign Velau Prias, Ensign Ra’ann Mazev, Lieutenant R’iia Sraal–you all have been selected by discretion of the Captain to aide me in rescue missions in the Drekar system. Each of you have gone through the specific training courses in your academy, and we’re stretched thin as it is.”

“We’re becoming bounty hunters?” Sraal hissed, sitting upright. “You cannot be joking.”

“Not exactly.” Sylvester glanced to the cat. “Think of it more as this. We’re going to be rescuing and aiding kidnapped civilians in an operatives mission.”

“Surely there’s more than us.” Velau narrowed her eyes, studying Sylvesters expression. When she realized it was in fact, only them, she let out a scoff. “You cannot be serious.”

“I wouldn’t be coming to you three hat in hand if I knew we could have more people here with us. But we don’t. We wouldn’t be going after huge groups, but anyone who comes to us–or the Captain–to help will get our full response.” Sylvester grabbed his PADD off the table, typing some things into it. “Coordinates of a potential first mission are being sent to you now.”

The group of three grabbed their PADDs respectively and scrolled through, all with varying degrees of emotion. Velau seemed more enraged than anything–with Mazev wearing a frown and Sraal nearly unreadable.

“Commander, this is a huge ask.” The cat finally spoke up, side eyeing Sylvester. “What is the rest of the security detail doing at this time?”

“Quite literally everything else. The team is stretched thin with helping the Kaelthri, the people coming to the Morro Bay, and security detail for our ship.” Sylvester let out a heavy sigh and put his PADD back down, looking up at the group. “You’re completely allowed to back out of this. But these people need our help–and they need it badly. I’m not going to hold it against any of you if you wish to back out, but-”

“They’re going after children specifically?” Velau suddenly cried out, looking at her PADD in disbelief. “No, no, to hell with backing out. I’m in.” She stood upwards, sliding the tablet back to Sylvester. The commander let out a huge internal sigh of relief.

“Screw it.” Mazev slid his PADD over as well. “Not like I have anything else to be doing right now.”

All heads turned to the cat in the room.

“Commander.” Sraal finally spoke after some time, giving a look to Sylvester. “This is reckless. Potentially dangerous, and even downright lethal for us.”

“If you wish to step away, I understan-”

“I’m not finished.” Sraal held up a hand. “My family went through similar persecution. If there’s any chance to prevent that from happening to anyone else. . . .I’m in.” Sylvester’s worried expression turned into a smirk as he glanced around the table.

“I had a feeling you all would pull through. I know this is going to be tough–but until we can get reinforcements here, we’re all this system has.” He straightened his posture and turned his back to the three. “Starfleet isn’t thrilled we’re taking on so many missions already.”

“Why?” Prias sighed. “We’re helping people! Doing what we need to do!”

“The Morro Bay isn’t for combat.” Mazev muttered. “We’ve been fighting quite a lot. Surviving quite a lot. Perhaps they want us to have a break?”

“They want us to stay in our ”lane” and be weak.” Sraal hissed. “But there are people being persecuted and harmed. We have a moral obligation to help.”

“In the reality of it,” Sylvester glanced back at them. “They want us to wait. I’d half agree if we weren’t getting reports of confirmed active situations that are harming innocent people. So, we’ve been given the all clear to go.”

Sylvester fully turned to the group, glancing down at every single one of their faces. If he could, he’d do anything to ensure everyone gets out safely, and that no injuries come to any. But a small knot in his stomach told him this could go horribly wrong if he’s not careful enough; but people need their help, and they need it now.

“When are we deployed, Commander?” Velau stood up from her chair, looking like she was itching for a fight.

“Two days from now. So I highly suggest you all get some rest–we’ll have a long next few days ahead of us.”