:ON: Commander Lance Bass sat quietly and gazed at the stars that sat twinkling in front of the Runabout Aden. Behind him he heard the phasing his friend, lover and confidant. "James, do be a dear and sit down, your going to wear a hole in the deck." "They are late Lance, and this is not exactly a spot I want to be spending any amount of time in. Personally, Lance couldn't have agreed more with Jim. Holding station in a deserted system just out side of Spaculan space was not his idea of a good time. Still he wasn't about to tell his lover that. Spinning around to face Jim, "Don't worry love. When Lukas gives his word he keeps it. If he says he will meet us here, he will." Squatting down to take his Lance's hands into his, Jim replied, "Lance, you know as well as I do that this information cant fall into enemy hands and you, better then anyone else knows what Gladiam would do for information." For a moment Lance's eyes glossed over with the memory of being tortured by Gladiam. "Yes love I do know, but I also have trust in Commodore Fyrstk. If he says he is going to be here..." Lance was cut off by an alarm coming from the communication's panel. Jim let got of Lance's hands and the young first officer spun back around to see what was going on now. "Looks like we are receiving a distress signal." Moving to take a seat next to Lance in the copilot's seat, he brought it up on his screen. "I see it but it looks like it's very weak. It's coming in on a lower bandwidth then I am used to seeing. Its not specifying what type of distress they are in either." Nodding Lance attempted to trace the signal back to its source. "Looks like its coming from the Opki system. 4.5 light years away or about 2 hours away at warp 4." "I hate to say this but maybe we should let someone else take this one Lance. This could be a trap and this cargo is too important to risk." Setting a course for the Opki system, "We can't do that Jim, I know the cargo is important but look at how weak that signal is, We are probably the only Federation ship receiving it." Offering a small smile to his love and friend, "Your right my dear, we have to help. I will drop a log buoy just incase the Eagle arrives while we are away." A few seconds both men felt a slight jolt as one of the Aden's log buoys dropped down and away from the ship. "Take us out." TBC: Commander Lance Bass Executive Officer (Currently Runabout pilot) USS Eagle, NCC-9561 Lieutenant Commander James "Jim" Gibson Beta shift science officer Starbase 196 (NPC by Lance Bass)