Back On Course

Posted on Sun Sep 6, 2015 @ 10:14pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Samantha Raylen & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant AJ Taggart

999 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: All this has happened before...
Location: U.S.S. Victory
Timeline: 14 hours after resuming course to Abrao Colony

=/\= Captain's Ready Room =/\=

Since resuming course towards Abrao Colony, all attempts at raising the Civil Authority which oversaw colony operations, as well as the small Starfleet Operational Orbital Complex which had been established there to facilitate the transfer of supplies and building materials to the planet surface had failed.

Every 4 hours, an automated beacon signal was received but the beacon was nothing more than a navigational marker. It provided no information other than navigational data. The continued silence could be the result of many factors. Solar activity interfering with communication signals. Hardware failure and no spare components to make repairs. .

There could be any number of explanations for a 4 year old colony to have lost communications..

Especially here, on the very fringes of explored territory within the Delta Quadrant.

Picking up her cup of coffee, the Captain took a sip of the hot rich brew then set the mug down once again, studying the distress call which had been transmitted from Abrao. It too was just a standard beacon transmission, the signal had repeated itself for 9 hours before falling silent mid-transmission not to be detected again.

The Victory was still a day and a half away from the Colony system. In 4 hours the ship would be close enough to start taking a look at the colony system with their long range sensors.

They'd find out soon enough what was going on.

The Captain was very well aware of the dangers in this part of the quadrant, as she sat looking out at the stars she flexed her hand slightly - deep in thought. Her fingers moved over the controls, pulling up what information was available. Looking for something.. not finding it and not feeling any better that the sensor data did not find evidence of what she sought.

She pulled up the sensor data which Victory had taken of the unidentified alien ship they'd discovered some weeks back. No other ship's like it had been reported by other Federation ships in the region. It was unique, an unknown ... Another question to be answered.

Finishing up her coffee, the Captain rose and carried the mug to the recycler and after cleaning up, crossed to the hatch and exited her Ready Room to step out onto the bridge.


=/\= Bridge - 4 hours later =/\=

"Mr. Evans," the Captain said. "Has there been any response to our attempts at re-establishing contact with Abrao Colony Operations?"

"Negative Captain."

"Mr. Taggart," she asked. "Is the colony system within range of our long-range sensors yet?"

AJ ran a quick range check and swiveled to face the Captain. "No, ma'am. They should be visible on sensors in less than four hours. If we need to shorten the time, I recommend we launch a sensor buoy."

The Captain nodded thoughtfully, considering the options.

"What is our ETA to arriving at Abrao orbit?" the Captain questioned.

Penny tapped her boards quickly. "Nine hours," Penny said.

"Very well," Kennit answered. "Continue trying to get someone to answer our hails. Start running long-range scans of the system as we approach, and look at the surrounding sector as well. If there are other ships in this area...I want to know about them."

Then, looking back towards were Taggart was seated she said, "And lets fire a sensor buoy. There's almost 8,000 people on that world.. they sent a distress message and now aren't sending anything. Let's err on the side of caution ..."

AJ nodded. "Aye, ma'am. Prepping sensor buoy now." Tapping rapidly at his console, he quickly relayed instructions to the torpedo room to prepare and load a buoy into one of the forward tubes. Receiving confirmation that the buoy was ready and loaded, he fired, feeling a slight thump in the deckplates as the buoy was released. "Captain, the buoy is away. Course is set for Abrao System. We should begin receiving readings and basic communications in approximately 2 hours. I would also suggest leaving another buoy to relay long range scans of any vessels that pass through this area."

She nodded once, "See to it Mr. Taggart."

Then, she said "Bridge to Sickbay!"

"Anderson here. Go ahead, Captain," Nicole said.

"We are approximately 9 hours from entering orbit around a recently established Federation colony in the Abrao star system. A distress message was sent from the colony while we were occupied with the Bethesda. The message has fallen silent however we are as yet unable to raise anyone at Abrao Colony on the comm. There is no information at this time as to the nature of the emergency however, I want you to have Sickbay prepared and a medical team standing by should medical aid be necessary once we find out what is going on."

"Oh, Captain, I love it when you recap," Nicole said dryly. "I'll assemble teams as soon as the next shift comes in. Anderson out."

After signing off with Sickbay, the Captain walked to where the XO was working. "Alec, I need you to get an away team together and standing by. It's too early to know what we're facing but.. lets do what we can to get ready."

Alec looked up from his console as Rhea approached. He listened as she explained what she wanted. "Sure thing Rhea. I'm guessing you'd like it to be small and yet be able to handle anything they may come across. Say four, five members at the max?"

"I want two teams, 6 per team. Should I give the order, both teams are to maintain communications with the ship at all times." Kennit immediately replied.

If Alec was surprised by Rhea's statement he didn't show it. he sometimes speculated she change his recommendation on purpose just to keep him guessing. "Okay six per team. Any preference on how the teams are divided and who is staying on the ship with you?"

"I leave that to your discretion XO." she replied smoothly with a slight nod of her head.

"Why thank you captain. Your confidence is greatly appreciated." Alec volleyed back with equal smoothness.

 

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