Editing Eric McDermott (section)

==Mission Three: [[To Skin a Cat]].==

McDermott was in the midst of learning how to control his new empathic and telepathic abilities with the help of Ships Counselor [[Cecilia Bruce]] when the Nimitz received new orders for her next mission.

On Stardate 2407.03.22 the Nimitz received orders from the Admiralty to conduct a snap raid on [[Cait]] Prime ([[Cait|Ferasa]]) with the objective of verifying the existence and destroying a Doenitz research facility believed to be developing biogenetically altered Caitains for use as Super-Soldiers. On this same day McDermott was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade by Captain [[Devan Sash]]. To McDermott's utter shock just a few days later on Stardate 2407.03.25 he was posted as the [[Second Officer]] by Captain Sash, when the Nimitz's First Officer Commander [[Jonas Lemar]] was forced to take an emergency leave of absence. 

After slipping through [[Cait]] orbital defenses, McDermott and his crewmates were able to make contact with the two Starfleet officers as well as a local resistance group, just outside the village of Chtarr. 

[[image:cait.jpg|thumb|left|'''Cait Prime''']]

Early the next morning the team struck a Caitain railway station and commandeered a train that supplied the research facility that was their main objective. McDermott executed a flawless ambush and the team was able to take down the defenders without raising an alarm and used the train as transportation to the underground warehouse of the research facility itself.

Once within the facility Captain Sash split the away team into two forces. The technical team comprised of mostly science and engineering officers whose responsibility was the retrieval of data and destruction of the facility itself. The Security team remained under Sash and McDermott and attacked the facilities security detail neutralizing it and taking control of the illicit research facility.

With his security collapsing around him Professor Colton, a Doenitz confidant turned to a tortured and twisted being which he identified as Delta-Seven-Five, which launched a devastating telepathic attack upon the away team.  

In the midst of the wild melee McDermott was able to break free of the fighting and reach the side of [[Cecilia Bruce]]. Bruce had been overwhelmed by the attack but for reasons unknown McDermott had remained unaffected. Bruce and McDermott linked their minds and attacked Delta-Seven. While ultimately unsuccessful in trying to kill or disable the being, they were able to force it to break off its attack on the Nimitz crew and it turned on and killed Colton before dying itself.
 
With the facility neutralized and Caitain Liberation Force in danger of being overwhelmed on the surface, Sash and his away team transported to the surface. Charging headlong into the battle, Captain Sash and McDermott were able to lead their crewmates to a hard fought victory, crushing the main garrison and its commander despite heavy losses to both the Caitain Liberation Force and the away team itself.

During the final battle the citizens of Cait, incensed and finally pushed too far by their oppressors rose up in mass and attacked the defending Doenitz garrison and thereby sealing its fate.

Upon return to the Nimitz McDermott was promoted to full Lieutenant and awarded the Combat Action Ribbon by Captain Sash.