The Point of No Return "
By: Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Melissa Jarvis, Chief Security Officer, [RNPC]
Simon Zent, Chief Science Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58209.15 1917

==Bridge of the USS Zion==

"Sir," said Lieutenant Forrester looking up at the view screen, "We're two minutes from Federation space."

"Thank you Lieutenant," said Wight. "Notify the Captain."

"Yes Sir," she said turning to her attention to her station.

"Nothing on the long range sensors." replied the tactical officer.

Simon Zent, who had been monitoring the scanners turned and faced the Commander, "There are some energy signatures consistent with Federation communication buoys bearing zero-point-zero, mark 5."

"Helm set course zero-point-zero, mark 5. That is our gateway."

"Course laid in Sir," responded the helmsman.

"Shall I signal the away team now?" asked Zent.

"Send the signal at 30 seconds," said Wright.

"Yellow alert," ordered Wright.

Captain Hunter entered the bridge and hastily made his way to the command chair. "Status Number One?"

Wright stood up as the captain approached, "We are on course to enter Federation space Sir."

"Sir." said Zent standing attentively.

"Yes?"

"The away team has been signaled."

Hunter sat down and pressed on the ship-wide intercom.

"Attention all hands. We are entering the next phase of our mission. Rig for silent running. Captain out."

Almost immediately a hush fell over the bridge. Hunter turned to the science station, "Make one last long range scan and then switch to passive."

"Yes Sir," acknowledged Zent as he turned to execute the order.

Hunter turned toward Commander Wright, "Here we are Number One. The Point of no return."

"Yes Sir! It's show time."

Unused stations were shutdown while the lights dimmed, casting a dull slightly reddish hue.

Silvio's hands worked furiously across his bridge station console. He put together a subroutine that would start shutting down unused sections of the Zion. Executing his program he watched his display as one by one whole sections of the ship powered down. "Powering down vacant sections of the...hmmm." A confused expression crossed his face.

"Silvio?" Wright got up and walked over to stand next to the engineer. "Something wrong?"

"Deck six section 33A is refusing my command to drop life support Commander. It's supposed to be vacant crew quarters."

"Any indication as to why?"

"Yeah, there is a life form present."

"Mr. Zent please scan deck 6 section 33A"

Zent turned and configured an internal scanner, a moment later he was studying the results. "Confirmed Sir. One Life sign...cardassian."

"A what?"

He turned and looked looked at the Captain and Commander, "The readings are confusing, he could be using some sort of scanner inhibiting device to attempt to mask himself. But it does appear to be cardassian."

Hunter tapped his combadge, "Melissa."

"Yes Captain?"

"Intruder alert. We have at least one cardassian on deck 6 section 33a."

"I'm on my way," she replied.

Hunter sat back, "We're not even five minutes into Federation space," he said with a sigh.