From:		Xavyre
Date:		21 June 1996 03:51
To:		U.S.S. Lafayette
Subject:		Arrival of Straylar

<Lieutenant Straylar traveling to the Lafayette>

Enter: 
"Lieutenant Straylar"

	Lieutenant Straylar programs the Maquis Peregrine strike craft to autopilot and settles back for the long trip to Slater's Planet and the Lafayette.  As he adjusts the command chair to ease back a little he can't help thinking about the recent events in his life.

<O.O.C.  "Beware!!!"  Entering dream sequence>

	It all started about six months ago when word came down from the higher-ups that he was being sent on a covert mission to the badlands.  Straylar was briefed as to his objective which concerned infiltrating the Maquis within the Badlands and gaining their trust.  All this because apparently the Cardassians had, unbeknownst to them, killed the last plant that Star Fleet had set up.  So after a slow start Straylar managed to gain the confidence of one of the lesser Maquis resistance cells and managed to be included in the mission briefs from time to time.  

	He was told that he would be notified as to when he would be used in a strategic manner.  Finally the day he had been waiting for, six months to late of course, but never the less it was finally here.  Straylar was contacted by a mischievous little Ferengi black market trader who passed on his orders straight from Star Fleet head quarters.  But instead of decisively completing his mission, he was ordered to report directly to the USS Lafayette inside the Slater sector.  Lieutenant Straylar was used to receiving strange orders that sometimes took quite a while to understand, sometimes he never knew why he was ordered to complete one objective over another.  Hopefully this one would not be the same.

	Straylar was brought back to reality by the computer saying that they were approaching Sector 231 (Slaters).  So he decided to read over the current mission log that had been stored on the Perigrine's database.  He stopped for a second and wondered how the stolen Perigrine would have this mission file stored in it, but then shook his head.  "Sometimes Star Fleet Intelligence scares even me, and I'm one of them."

	Looking over the mission, Lieutenant Straylar had to look twice at the mission objectives.  A medical mission?  Why was his supiors sending him to a ship that was on a medical mission.  Their must be something up with this mission or they wouldn't be sending me here.  Straylar shrugs and goes back to reading the mission objectives.

	Within a few moments the bridge crew sees the Peregrine enter the sector.  Ensign Michaels on Tactical notifies the Captain.

	"Captain, I'm picking up a Peregrine class courier vessel approaching our sector at warp seven sir.  The ship is hailing us and is transmitting relayed orders from Star Fleet head quarters."  Shall I patch them through sir?"

	The Captain sits up in his chair and registers an affirmative to the Ensign's request.

	Ensign Michaels patches it through to the main screen.  The image of Admiral Walker from Star Fleet Personnel Command appears on the screen.  The obvious recording greets the Commander and begins to relate the situation.  

	"I know you don't deserve getting new crew members like this Max, but we needed to send this security specialist to the Lafayette to help you control the expected plague riots.  Hopefully you won't need Lieutenant Straylar in this capacity.  But just in case we thought we would send him your way since he just became free of other mission obligations.  Well I wish you luck with this shape changer plague Max, it has more significance than you realize right now.  But all will become clear in due time.  Admiral Walker out."  With that closure the United Federation of Planets symbol is proudly displayed in the place of the aging Admiral's face.

	The Captain rubs his chin in deep thought momentarily until the annoying Ensign Michaels blurts out.  "That's the end of the message sir.  Would you like me to replay it?"  The captain shakes his head and says no to the anctious crewman.

	Seconds later Michaels alerts the Captain to another incoming hail.  "Captain the pilot of the Peregrine is asking permission to come aboard sir."

	The Captain now back to his thoughts on Admiral Walker's words barks out the order to let the new crewmember onboard.

	Moments later inside the Peregrine Lieutenant Straylar sets the vessel to return to Star Fleet Intelligence's Starbase Oracle and he gathers up his bag and steps on the transporter pad.  With a tap to his com badge the Lieutenant is beamed over to the Lafayette's transporter room and is greeted by the red bearded burly transporter chief.  

	"How was your trip sir?"  The chief says to Straylar.

	"Just fine Chief, just fine. How are things going onboard and with the mission?"

	"Good sir, as well as can be expected."  The chief motions towards all the crates of medical supplies still being stored in his work area. "And it will be even better once we get all of these dad blasted band-aids down to the planet."

	Straylar chuckles and waves "later" to the chief and exits the room.

	Walking through the cramped hallways passing several people along the way.  Some who majored in Galactic Biology seemed to not recognize Straylar's Delta Quadrant origins.  Who could blame them.  He was sure that they had never seen and Alsaurian before.  Because he had sure not seen a human before ending up in the Alpha Quadrant.  Straylar shrugged his shoulders and pressed on.  As he was walking he spoke out to the computer.  

	"Computer show me the way to the bridge"

	A small light appeared on the side panels of the wall that was meant for Straylar to follow.