Big Brother is watching... "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Chief Intel Officer, [PST]

Stardate: 58206.28 2000

Alyssa stood in her new office aboard Qul Tuq and stared out the window. The Bajoran System had become much busier since this war began than it had been since the Cardassians pulled out. Shuttles zipped this way and that....and the orbital ship yards remained busy as they struggled to get new ships built to send against the Alliance.

Behind her on the desk, several PADDs laid open detailing the intelligence reports on Federation ship movements...as well as some of her own research on both Garrett and Gordon Birkoff. That little pissant had made a serious mistake when he's pissed her off.

However, her fuse was cut short by the sound of the door opening. In the reflection of the window she saw a familiar form. She smiled, "ROBBY!"

Whirling around, she vaulted over the desk and nearly tackled her big brother as he stood in the doorway.

"Lys....calm down!" He yelped as she latched onto him.

She hugged him as tightly as she could....and did nothing but smile. "I haven't heard from you in ages, Rob.....have you been ignoring me?"

It was a slight jab from sister to brother, but nothing that would go anywhere. The elder Northrop smiled, "Well...so far as I knew a certain little sister of mine was still digging around in the dirt. Imagine my surprise when I find out that she's enlisted and has been posted to the Maquis Flagship."

While Alyssa wasn't exactly short, her brother was what you'd call tall. Standing a little more than 2 meters in height (6 plus feet), she had to look up at him. "When I heard about Junior...and Mom and Dad....I had to do something. This was the only way I could do that.....so I enlisted. Thankfully they took note of my background and put me in Intel. Though at first they were just going to turn me away....no call for Archeologists in the Fleet, they said."

Robert nodded, "This is true. But I have to say that I don't exactly like having you in the middle of a war, Lys...."

She cut him off, "It's sweet that you're worried about me...but I've done much more dangerous things looking for artifacts than crusing around on a plus starship reading and analyzing reports."

Alyssa neglected to mention her little trip down to Pacifica. But she should have known that Robert would already know about it.

"That's not what I hear, Lys. Don't forget who you talking to." He gave her that look, "I know all about your visit to Pacifica. They gave you a medal for Gods Sake, Lys.....did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

Pulling away from her brother, she moved back towards the window, her arms wrapped around her. "So is that why you're here, Robert? To talk me into quitting and leaving Mom and Dad and Junior back on Earth?"

"What are you talking about, Lys?" her brother said, confused.

"I joined so I could get them out, Rob. One of these days the Zion is going to get sent to Earth...and I'm going to be there to get them out. No matter what."

Lt. Commander Northrop knew that when his sister had her mind set on something....she would be like a Targ with a piece of meat until she did whatever it was. All he could do was support her...like he always had. Moving across the room, he put his arms around her, "I know you will. But that's not why I came."

"It's not?"

"No....I came to see you. The Perseus is here for repairs. We took some damage during our last skirmish with the Alliance. We just got in a few hours ago...and this was the first chance I had to come find you." Turning her around, "So how about we get some dinner? And you can tell me about all the new girls in your life."

She punched him in the shoulder, "You're never going to let me live that down are you? I take one girlfriend away from you and I'm forever cursed, is that it?"

Her brother laughed out loud, "Yes...you took Julie from me.....but no...that's not what I was talking about! I just hear that the Zion's CMO is a hot little number...and I thought maybe you'd put the moves on her."

It never failed to embarrass her when her brother started to talk about women like that. Yes...she was a lesbian....but still. "Yes...Doctor Dane is quite lovely....I um....well...."

Robert laughed again and started moving them towards the office door. "It's ok Lys....you don't have to tell me about her. Though I do want you to meet someone."

Alyssa slumped, "Robby...you're not trying to set me up again are you?"

Her mind flashed back to that dowdy little Science Officer he'd tried to set her up with while she'd been at Yale doing her Masters. "You remember what happened the last time!"

"No...no....this one's mine, Baby Sister. You keep your hands off!" He smiled at her. "This maybe 'oh-so-military' of me, as you used to say, but I met her during manuevers. She's the Astrometrics Chief aboard the Stallings....and it just so happens that the Stallings is here at the moment."

"That's great! It's about time you found someone. Is it serious?" she asked, starting to get a little crick in her neck from looking up at her brother.

"Yeah...I think it might be." He smirked, "But if we get married...you have to wear a dress to the ceremony....without that old raggedy jacket of yours."

Northrop scowled at him, "Oh give me a break, Robby....you really think I have no sense of style?"

"I'm just saying.....you showed up to Mom and Dad's anniversary party wearing that thing...."

"I'd just gotten back from a dig!" she exclaimed. "I was lucky that I even made it. I'm sorry but I didn't have time to change clothing." She pouted a little.

"Oh...don't pout, Lys." They turned the corner onto the prominade.

"So...do I at least get to know her name before I meet her?"

"Oh...yeah." He flushed, embarrassed. "Her name is Heather. Lieutenant Heather Katayama."

As they walked into the replimat, he pointed her out to his sister.....and watched with a little glint in his eye as Alyssa's jaw dropped. "She...she's gorgeous, Robby.....nice job," she whispered....giving him another good natured punch to the shoulder.

((tbc))