To watch, and to wait

Posted on Sat Jun 1, 2013 @ 12:11am by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Samantha Raylen

1,074 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Refit and Reorganization
Location: U.S.S. Victory - Bridge
Timeline: 62495.352 {Mon, 19 Nov 2384 15:19:48 GMT}
Tags: Lt. Commander Hunter

[Bridge]

Sitting in the Captain's chair on the bridge as he'd been left in command while the Captain and XO were both off the ship, Lt. JG Villa found his thoughts wandering. After all, there wasn't that much going on at the moment to do from the Bridge. The freighter remained in position as ordered, and there wasn't that much for him to do other than wait for additional orders beyond continuing to monitor the Ithurian ship's moving about on the far side of the system, as yet still unaware of the Federation warship or the civilian freighter stopped on the far-side of their home system.

At least.. to best they could tell the Ithurians were unaware. For all he knew the aliens out there knew full well that the two ships were here and were just as busy watching THEM as they were watching them!

He blinked.. even his private thoughts sometimes got a little convoluted and confusing...

"Lieutenant.. incoming transmission from the Valkryie flight.. Commander Hunter is asking to speak with the Captain.." Davenport said from the helm.

"I'll take it.." Villa answered. "Commander Hunter, this is Lt. Villa. The Captain is currently unavailable, I'm holding down the fort."

Hunter's reply was immediate. "What the hell kind of answer is that? Unavailable!? In case you haven't noticed, I'm the XO of this ship. Where is she LIEUTENANT?" He questioned, saying each letter one at a time.

On the Bridge, Villa arched one eyebrow at the XO's tone. In a very flat tone of voice, he answered "We have intercepted a Federation flagged freighter which was on approach to the Ithurian home world. At this time, following a conference with the freighter's commanding officer, while he remains aboard the Victory the Captain has taken an away team to the civilian freighter to sweep it's holds for contraband." he answered, adding a belated "Sir."

Alec caught the belated '' Sir." to this he replied, "Do you need a lesson in the chain of command Lieutenant? Never mind. I'll deal with you later. I'll contact the Captain aboard the freighter."

"Aye sir.." Villa answered. "Sending you the comm marker for the away team.."

"Why thanks so ever much." Alec replied sarcastically as the comm marker came through. Swinging his fighter around he soon came across the Federation freighter. "Hunter to Captain Kennit, come in please."

[Aboard the Freighter]

Hearing the incoming hail from her XO, Kennit answered "Kennit here. Go ahead Commander."

"Just checking in, I knew you'd be worried sick if I didn't. So your on a freighter looking for contraband? Had any luck so far?"

"We only just got here Commander.. it's a big ship with lots of space to cover.." Kennit answered.

"Uh huh." Alec answered before continuing, "Well for what it's worth, I'm underneath the freighter but I don't see anything unusual here. No extra storage bays or unexplained bulges in the hull."

"I have a feeling if they're behind this they haven't been trading components, they've been trading data and information.. which can be carried on a computer chip tucked into a shirt pocket.." Kennit answered him. "Did you notice anything interesting while you were out on your flight?"

"You'd be surprised at what I noticed now if it was interesting I don't know. What's interesting to one person may nor be interesting to another." He bantered.

"I need information XO.." she reminded him.

Alec knew that tone, it was time to stop being cute and get down to business. "Understood Captain. Are you somewhere where you can listen without being interrupted?"

"One moment.." she answered. Stepping away from the others in the away team and away from the scowling, dark expressions of the freighter's crew she said then, "Go ahead.."

"While I was on my sight seeing tour, I noticed lots of traffic between the ship we um have questions about and the planet. In addition and perhaps more importantly lots and lots of com traffic about increasing production on heavy weapons as well as hand held weapons and......... here's the kicker, they've got a dry dock out here and their building another starship."

"Really.." Kennit answered, her tone of voice interested. "Our scans didn't pick up anything like that.. how far along are they construction wise.. and does it look like the other ships we've recorded them using or is it something else.." she asked him.

"Nope they wouldn't. The dry dock is on the far side of the planet and it's shielded. Pretty advanced technology out her Rhea. Not up to our level but huge steps for this world considering where they were." He paused for a moment before going on. "As far as the ship their constructing, looks like a NX class but bigger, stockier......... a warship." He let the last hang in the air.

"That is.. worrisome.. tell me you've got scans of that ship for analysis.." Katrijn said.

"Tell me about it." Alec's voice came through her combadge. "Oh, I am hurt. To even ask if I have scans. What a slur. The answer is ........ yes I do."

She closed her eyes for a moment, mentally counted to ten and then said, "Good to know Number One. Get back here as soon as you can safely do so and get the data analyzed."

Alec chuckled. "You know, dead air tells a lot. Like I know you were counting to ten. Though for the life of me I don't know why." He bantered. "As far as getting back, I already am. I'm underneath the freighter as we speak."

She smiled at that, "All right well.. return to the Victory and get the data you collected to Operations for analysis.."

"Captain this is Torres. Mr. Yarin might have found something and is requesting to return to the Victory for further analysis."

"Granted.." she answered. "What have you got.. give me a quick report.."

5/20: Tags Torres

While listening, she didn't notice that the crew of the freighter were shifting position, cutting her off from the door to the passageway..and the other members of the away team...

"Sure will as soon as you do Captain. Not leaving anyone behind, the data I have isn't going anywhere." Alec answered, all traces of bantering gone.

"XO the sooner that data is aboard the sooner we get some answers.. I'm going to be here a bit longer to complete the search." the Captain answered.

 

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