[4thdimension]

The tubolift doors opened on a shuttle bay that was hosting a sight that most star fleet officers would find very alien. Not so for the Captain of the flag ship of the fleet. Star Fleet Marines had become a matter of survival in the post Dominion War Federation yet very few could confirm their existence. A dozen men and woman dressed in hard black battle armor were sitting on the fins of the Dela Flyer class shuttle that was the center piece of the bay. Tom Paris's design had so impressed the Star Fleet Corps of Engineers that they had patitioned Star Fleet to produce it in mass. This particular shuttle was obsidian black, fitted with a clocking device, and sported a full compliment of transphasic torpedoes.

As Geordy entered the room the Marines snapped to attention, the light gleaming off of the silver star fleet insignia brazened on the chest of each marine. Geordy was never really comfortable in their presence, and though he would never say it to the admiralty, he disliked having them on his ship. He found himself pining more and more for the days of simple space exploration. A time of a more innocent Star Fleet. Now though, as he prepared to send these men into battle, he was glad that hostile away missions were no longer conducted by Officers of any rank.
"Good afternoon men. Your orders are simple. Locate Admiral Picard." Laforge raised a small triangular device to eye level. "Place this on him and activate it." He paused to let it set in. Not that he thought that these men and woman were less than intellegent, but because he needed them to understand how important this was to him. "Once Picard's transponder is activated, all of yours will be activated too, and we'll beam you all out."
Laforge stopped talking, the Maurine's formed up, saluted in unison, and filed into the shuttle.
"God speed." Laforge said to their backs. Once the hatch was sealed Laforge turned toward the door to find Elizabeth Shelby watching him with a look that said she disagreed with his choice of action. Laforge held her gauge for long enough to cause her to shift her gaze, then walked through the shuttle bay doors. This was hard enough as it was, Laforge reasoned, he couldn't afford to second guess himself. He didn't get far down the corridor before Shelby was on him again.
"Geordy, you just sent those men to their deaths." It was a statement of fact, not an acusation. Laforge put his fingers to his temples, felt the small scars that marked where his visual impulse translators used to be implanted on either side, and turned, letting his fatigue and worry show to Elizabeth. His guard was down, and Elizabeth realized that he wasn't making any hasty decisions here. "I'm sorry Geordy. It's just. It's just you know the odds. These Marines are outnumbered, damn, atleast a thousand to one." Laforge scoffed, walked past Elizabeth toward the shuttle bay doors and came back before replying.
"You know what Elizabeth? Actually, with the size of those things it's probably two thousand to 1!" He was upset, flaying his hands around in ways that made Elizabeth worry. "How long can we sit here in orbit, hoping for that atmospheric disturbance to clear up with those two ships out there?" Elizabeth took a step back, shook her head and looked down. "Look, Elizabeth, I'm sorry, but Admiral Picard, Jean Luc Picard is down there." He jabbed in the general direction of the Hirogen vessels beyond the bulkhead. "He may be a superior officer to you, and under these circumstances the loss of one officer may be acceptable to Star Fleet to avoid a conflict on official first contact, but not to me." Laforge paused, turned toward the shuttlebay doors. "He's family."

Elizabeth walked over to Laforge, placed a supporting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Geordi. He means allot to all of us." Here she paused and placed herself between Laforge and the bulkhead, staring him directly in the eyes. "But Star Fleet can't afford another full scale war."

"I won't leave him behind Captain Shelby." The bitter cold of his voice shattered any hope she had of this not becoming personal. She stared after Laforge as he made his way to the turbolift. 'Alright Laforge', she thought, 'we do it your way for now'