Soriedem entered the conference room, walked over to his seat at the head of the conference room, and

sat down. He was silent for several moments as he collected his thoughts and prepared to give his bridge crew the bad news.

The officers onboard the Debris Cloud watched their Captain in anticipation. He seemed apprehensive and concerned. It was a look that they were unaccustomed to seeing in their Commanding Officer. As the silence drew out, their nervousness increased exponentially. They shot glances at each other, as if prompting each other to say something.

Audria finally took the initiative to find out what is troubling her mate. Soriedem, what is going on? What orders did Starfleet Command have for us?

Soriedem looked up and felt the worry on Audrias face. He cleared his throat, and said, Alright. Starfleet has ordered us back to Earth.

The room erupted in a quiet murmur. Getting called back to Earth for any reason was never a good thing. The low din quieted down, when Soriedem continued. We are to report to Starfleet Academy to pick up a fresh batch of cadets.

Cadets! Rymor cried out as he slammed his fist on the table.

Coujoyquu leaned back in his seat and sighed heavily.

Shmullus held his hand up to his face and shook his head.

Fausto rose from the table, walked to a nearby wall, and stopped. He stood there mumbling to himself.

Drem bowed her head and whispered a prayer to the prophets.

I can see that youre concerned about these orders. I am too. Soriedem looked down at the Padd lying on the table. Were slated to pick up four cadets. Command assured me that the incident with the last batch of Cadets was a fluke and would not happen again. They have taken steps to prevent it from happening again.

Audria looked around to the other officers in the room. She didnt understand their reaction. Whats going on? On Tobarrus, the addition of new cadets to the crew is an exciting time.

I remember those days. I got excited about taking on cadets as well. Soriedem looked away and fought back the emotions that welled up within him. He turned back to his mate.

Fausto returned to his chair at the conference table.

She read the story in the lines of his face, and Soriedem began to describe the events that led to the crew and his dour attitudes.

A few weeks before we rescued you from the Borg, we had received our orders to take on a fresh group of Cadets. We had already studied their Academy records and determined them to be raw and malleable; just the way we like them. We had assigned their duties and were already planning and plotting their initiation.

A smile crossed Soriedems face at the thought of the initiation prank that they had planned for the cadets. The initiation prank was a Tobarri tradition that Soriedem carried over when he joined Starfleet. It provided an opportunity for the crew and cadet to create lasting bonds with one another. Then, the smile was gone and a great sadness fell.

When we reached Earth, I took a shuttle down to the Academy to inspect the cadets personally. We were picking up a Bolian, two Humans, and a Caitain. They stood at attention outside Building Two. With my hands clasped behind my back, I slowly paced back and forth as I scrutinized them, and gave them my welcome aboard speech.

Audria laughed, The same one youve told to every cadet that joined your crew for the last 20 years?

Soriedem nodded and continued with the story. Cadet Rotbar, the Bolian, was relaxed and I had to remind him what standing at attention meant. Cadets Linda and Bill Stempson were a pair of fraternal Human twins that came from a long line of Starfleet Officers. Shraz, the Caitain, was so stiff that even his tail was stood at attention. I shook my head and had to tell him to relax before he sprang something and had to spend the rest of the voyage in sickbay.

I turned away from the cadets to speak with Commander Achloo, their former CO. We chatted quietly for a few minutes about nothing, while the cadets stood motionless behind us. I looked over my shoulder, dismissed them, and told them to report to my shuttle in one hour. I turned back to Achloo to continue our small talk, when I heard Rotbar begin a futile attempt to apologize. I swiftly raised a hand, cutting him off, and told him that he was dismissed. Achloo and I walked away to have a drink at the 602 Club.

Soriedem swallowed the lump in his throat to no avail. His gaze sought the faces of his crew. He could tell that the story was difficult for them to sit there silently listening. He considered dismissing them for the time being, but decided against it. It was important. We needed to remember the cadets and the crewmen that we lost.

He continued. When I returned to the shuttle, the cadets were lounging around the shuttle awaiting my return. They snapped to attention when they saw me draw closer. I ordered them to stand down. Cadet Linda Stimpson took the helm and began piloting the shuttle towards the Debris Cloud in orbit. Her sibling, Bill, took the second seat. Shraz manned the science station, while Rotbar took tactical. I stood at the doorway to the aft compartment and observed the crew of hopeful cadets perform their duties with enthusiasm and vigor. After a few minutes, the Debris Cloud was coming into view through the shuttles panoramic window.

I contacted the shuttle bay and ordered them to disable the automatic docking procedures. I wanted Linda to fly the bird on manual control. She expertly lined up the shuttle bay doors through the shuttles window. As the blast doors opened, she reduced speed and adjusted her angle of approach. The shuttle glided into the shuttle bay. She reversed thrusters, coming to a complete stop, and gingerly set the small craft down on the deck in one of the smoothest landings I have ever experienced.

We disembarked the shuttle craft, where a few of my officers were waiting for us. I approached Lt. Commander Vox, a Ferengi Officer, and ordered him to give the cadets a tour of the ship and show them to their quarters. Vox nodded and led the Cadets away. Standing with the rest of my officers, I watched them leave. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see any of them alive.

We still dont fully understand what happened. But from internal sensor logs and eye witness reports, we have an idea of what had occurred. Soriedem looked down at his hands and released his white knuckled grip on the Padd. He had not realized that he even picked it up.

Concern distorted the sweet features of Audrias face, as she prodded him for more information. Sori, tell me what happened to them?

Vox led the cadets on the tour of the ship. They started in the lower decks of the ship and made their way towards the bridge. They had stopped by Engineering and sickbay. Drem had her hands full taking inventory of the new medical equipment that was being installed and postponed their crew physicals.

Soriedem looked over his doctor. I know you still blame yourself for what happened. I know how you feel, but you shouldnt blame yourself.

Drem objected to my words of reassurance, If only I had followed protocol and gave them their physicals right then and there, those cadets and 20 members of our crew would still be alive. Instead, I was fiddling with a new toy rather than doing my job.

Soriedem cut her off. Theres nothing you or anyone could have done. Besides, ultimately, it was my responsibility.

An expression of shock and disbelief warped Audrias face. 20 crewmen and the cadets died? Why havent you told me this before? What happened next?

Turning back to his mate, I still havent fully come to terms with it. It was too difficult to remember, Soriedem replied softly.

He cleared his throat and continued with the story. Vox took them to the mess hall. At that particular time, it was crowded with off-duty crewman. Thats when Rotbar stepped towards the center of the room, spoke the words DaHjaj jIH Hegh tlhej quv vaD tlhIngan wo in Klingon, and detonated a high yield explosive that had been implanted within him. Rymor translated the phrase as Today, I die with honor for the Empire

Rotbar had been one of several Klingon agents that had been surgically altered to infiltrate Starfleet Academy. Luckily, he was the only one that was able to complete his mission. After the incident, all cadets were rescreened, and dozens of Klingon agents were apprehended. Apparently, it was an attempt by the Klingon High Council to create chaos within the Federation by casting doubt on the Academys ability to resupply our ships with crew while striking at the heart of our fleets.

The Debris Cloud spent the next three weeks in space dock undergoing repairs. Once, they had been completed, you had notified me through the tO that the Borg vessel you were assigned to had entered the Alpha Quadrant and was en route to Cestus.

Audria didnt say a word. She rose from her seat, approached her husband, and softly touched his hand. Soriedem stared at her hand on his. He took a deep breath, and looked back to his officers. Alright. Were getting five of the Academys best and brightest. Any ideas for their initiation?