Uhura stood by the window, watching the black planet below. She absently ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the necklace Spock had given her. She wanted nothing more to be down there with him, wherever he was, whatever he was doing. She would take danger and action any day over this. It was better than sitting around waiting.

The Enterprise had lost communications with the ground crew days ago, but  that still wasn't their biggest problem. Once the captain and the small crew beamed onto the surface, the planet's mysterious energy barrier transferred back a tremendous burst of power, frying the transporter's mechanics. The ship received a faint signal from the ground crews communicator beacons, indicating they had touched down on the planet's surface, before all communication was lost. Scotty and his crew had been busy at work repairing the transporter.

Sulu, who was currently acting as captain, forbid any sort of rescue mission until it was absolutely certain that the planet's natural energy barrier wouldn't interfere with any other mode of transportation. He couldn't risk anyone else becoming stranded. The plan was to take a shuttle modified with special shields onto the planet surface. Uhura was one of the first to volunteer to be part of the rescue crew.

She hated being alone within the safety of the ship when the man she loved more than anything in life was in danger and she couldn't do anything to help. Last time they were separated on Altamid, he had almost died when the swarm ship he was in crash-landed, badly injuring him. The large piece of metal imbedded in his side had just barely missed his heart. If it wasn't for Doctor McCoy being with him, he would have died there.

"Sulu," Uhura called after him as soon as he exited the lift. He was rushing down the hall, looking at a display yeoman Janice held out to him. He turned as Uhura approached.

"It's going to be at least another day," He told her. His eyes were red with dark bags beneath. He was exhausted. He had been doing several different jobs at once while organizing a rescue crew to land on the planet's surface. "We're still working on the shuttle's energy barriers. I'm sorry. I really wish I had better news."

"What about the transporter?"

"Scotty says the transporter should be up and running in a few hours. He made modifications but whether it can safely transmit past the energy barrier is still uncertain."

"But will there be a rescue crew beamed down?" Uhura asked.

Sulu studied the display in his hands, handing it back to Janice. "Bring this up to the bridge to have Chekov look over it," He instructed.

"Yes sir," She turned and headed to the elevator.

Sulu turned his attention back to Uhura. "No, it's still too dangerous. We can't risk it. You'll have to wait till they finish with the shuttle."

"But the transporter is working?"

Sulu stopped walking as another crew member came to him with display of readouts. "We're just going to have to wait a little longer. I can't risk endangering anyone else." He sighed. "I'm sorry Uhura," He said, following the crew member with the readouts.

Uhura stood in the hall, grinding her teeth together. She knew Sulu was only trying to protect the crew, but Spock and the Captain might not have another day to wait.