Recreation Area - Deck 9

Ulric heard the call from the Captain and tapped his Combadge to respond to her inquiry into the status of the children he was in charge of. Looking around the Recreation Area, the Commander could see that all the children had eaten and gone to bed, which was a pleasing site.

Cmdr Sladek: Sladek here, Captain! The children have eaten and gone to sleep. They shouldn't be a problem since it won't take us long to get to the Starbase, once we're out of here. Which, by the way, I can't wait till we're on our way there!

The XO kept the channel open with the Captain in case she wanted to inform Ulric of anything else. While waiting for Capt Bennet, Cmdr Sladek walked slowly around the bunk beds that were set up for the children to sleep in on their way to SB34. All the children were fed and sound asleep, which to Ulric, was a sign he had done well.
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Commander Ulric T. Sladek
Executive Officer, USS Eureka

Bridge - Deck 2

Claire nodded in agreement to what she heard from Cmdr Sladek, as the Captain too, felt things would be better once they left the Rakhari System and headed for SB34. Since the channel between Claire and the Commander was still open, there was no need for the Captain to tap her Combadge again.

Capt Bennet: I'm glad to hear the kids are asleep and have been fed. I understand your feelings, Commander. I, too, will be very happy to Warp out of here and head for our new home base in the Gamma Quadrant. The sooner we leave, the better we'll feel. Continue your watch on the children, Commander Sladek. Bennet out!

The CO looked over towards Ens Ramius wondering what was going on with Infiniti, and if it was now at a safe altitude so the Admiral could make use of the Genesis Device and they could all disembark the system and head for SB34 at maximum speed. Claire understood that if Marko heard anything from Adm Arayuss, he would've informed her immediately. But just to be certain, Capt Bennet spoke to her Chief Operations Officer.

Capt Bennet: Ensign Ramius, send a message to Admiral Arayuss and let him know Eureka is carrying a full load of refugees and is safely in an upper orbit. We're ready to leave for Starbase 34 upon his command.

With that being said, Claire patiently waited to hear the reply from Gamma Fleet's CinC. The Captain didn't know much about the Genesis Device, other than it creating a planet in 2285 that eventually broke apart and was destroyed. Since that was over a hundred years ago, Capt Bennet assumed whatever the defect was, it had been corrected by now.
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Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

Marko did as he was told and sent the message from Capt Bennet out to all the ships in orbit since the Ensign wasn't sure where the CinC was currently located. Before the Chief Ops Officer could respond to the Captain that the message was sent, a transmission came from the USS Explorer from Adm Arayuss.

Ens Ramius: Yes, Ma'am! Incoming message from Admiral Arayuss, aboard the USS Explorer!

The Ensign put the main audio on so the Captain could hear what the Admiral had to say.

Adm Arayuss: I am happy to hear the children that beamed up to Eureka are doing well. I will be setting the Genesis Device off shortly, so standby Captain. Arayuss out.

With the channel closed, Marko turned to the CO to see her reaction to hearing the Admiral's voice herself. Ens Ramius thought it was best for Capt Bennet to hear for herself what Adm Arayuss had to say to her, than the Ensign just telling the Captain what the Admiral had said. Marko hoped he made the right choice.
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Ensign Marko A. Ramius
Chief Operations Officer, USS Eureka

After hearing the voice of the Admiral over the Com Channel, Claire relaxed a little, but not completely. The Captain wouldn't feel safe until they were well on their way to SB34. The CO was pleased that Ens Ramius let her hear the message from Adm Arayuss instead of just informing her of it.

Capt Bennet: Thank you, Marko. I appreciate you letting me hear the message from Admiral Arayuss for myself. So it looks like we'll be standing by until the Admiral gives us the word that it's time to hightail it to Starbase 34.

Claire tried to relax as best she could in the CO's chair on the Bridge. The Captain hoped it wouldn't be long before they got word from Adm Arayuss that is was time to head to their new home in the Gamma Quadrant. The CO knew once they arrived there the children would be reunited with their families that were still on Bajor in the Alpha Quadrant. Claire also wondered how soon it would be before New Bajor could be resettled again and turned into another thriving colony. Time would surely tell...
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Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

As Marko monitored his station on Eureka's Bridge, he saw there was an incoming transmission from the Admiral, aboard the descending Explorer. Quickly, the Ensign put the communication on the main audio system for the Captain to hear, after Marko announced to Capt Bennet of the incoming message.

Ens Ramius: Captain Bennet, there's an incoming message from Admiral Arayuss! I'm putting it on main audio now!

Adm Arayuss: This is Admiral Arayuss, I'm heading down to a lower altitude here aboard Explorer to place the Genesis Device where the Xenomorphs cannot meddle with it. I've been looking for an isolated area where there is nothing around and I have located a few prospects. Since the Genesis Wave would be planet wide, I can even choose a location in the polar regions. Be that as it may, this is the news you've all been waiting for...make way for Starbase 34, best possible speed! Arayuss out.

The Ensign was happy to hear that it was time to get underway to their new home in the Gamma Quadrant. Marko knew it wouldn't take them long to get there and that the CO would definitely want to get out of the area immediately. Capt Bennet was no fan of the Xenomorphs, especially since the personal loss of a family member to them.
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Ensign Marko A. Ramius
Chief Operations Officer, USS Eureka

Claire smiled as she gripped the arms of the CO's chair as she gave the order to jump to Warp Speed on a direct heading for SB34, a place she had never been before. With a grin on the Captain's face she addressed Lt. Gutiérrez.

Capt Bennet: Alright, Mateo! Take us to Starbase 34, Warp Eight! Let's fly!

With the order given, Claire waited to see the stars on the Main Viewscreen turn to streaks of light as the jump to Warp 8 was engaged. Nothing would thrill her more than to see SB34 for the first time. Capt Bennet wondered if Eureka already had an assigned berth so the ship could dock inside where the Captain felt her vessel would be fairly safe.
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Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

While Lt. Gutiérrez was monitoring the Flight Control Station, the Lieutenant heard Capt Bennet speaking from behind him in the CO's chair. It was finally time to depart this planet of horrors. Since the course for SB34 had already been set, all Mateo needed to do was engage the Warp Drive.

Lt. Gutiérrez: Aye, Captain! Warp Eight! Here we go!

With a sudden rush of speed, Eureka burst forward turning the stars above New Bajor into streaks of light on the Main Viewscreen. The Lieutenant sighed with relief as they departed the system and made their way to open space. They shouldn't have to slow down until they reached the outer markers of SB34. From there it would be Full Impulse until the Starbase's Dock Traffic Control took over the Helm and brought Eureka to its new home inside.
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Lieutenant Mateo Gutiérrez
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Eureka

While Marko was monitoring New Bajor, he picked up an energy reading he had never seen before. It must be the Genesis Device building up to detonate, but the Ensign couldn't detect Explorer anywhere near the area at the polar ice cap where the energy reading was coming from. Marko felt it was time to let the Captain know of his findings.

Ens Ramius: Captain, I'm picking up an energy reading from New Bajor! I think it's the Genesis Device, but I'm not detecting Explorer in the vicinity. Could Admiral Arayuss have landed his ship in the polar region of the planet to deploy the device?

The Chief Operations Officer waited to hear back from Capt Bennet on what she knew of the Admiral's way of thinking. If Adm Arayuss did land Explorer at the polar ice cap, would he be safe from the Xenomorphs up there in the Great White North?
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Ensign Marko A. Ramius
Chief Operations Officer, USS Eureka