On Our Way In Code

Posted on Mon Apr 27, 2020 @ 2:38pm by Lieutenant Commander James Holbridge & Major Victor Crowe

579 words; about a 3 minute read

GUNABOUT USS WASHITA
14 HOURS FROM PLANET TECCAPUS

The stars streaked by as the Washita streaked through space at Warp 5, a leisurely cruise for her two-man crew. LCDR Holbridge, recently reinstated to Starfleet Intelligence after several weeks with a covert Starfleet Task force in the Gamma Quadrant, was leaned back in his chair casually watching the telemetry. After 15 years in the Starfighter Corps, Jim had been transferred to Intelligence after a successful escape from a Dominion prison camp, bringing a prototype Cardassian warship and several POW’s with him. Holbridge then went to the Delta Quadrant, covered as a rogue arms trader looking to establish a new market space. Three months into his assignment, he unwittingly assisted the crew of the Victory in breaking an HVI out of a detention facility, thus earning himself a place on the ship.

After two months aboard, Jim and his friend and commander of the Victory’s Marine detachment were tapped by Intelligence to locate and destroy an HVT in the Gamma quadrant. After several months of no contact and missed opportunities, Intelligence recalled the duo and sent them back to the Delta Quadrant. Captain Kennitt had sent the duo a coded message to meet them on planet Teccapus.

The trip was boring, and Jim wished there were some bandits attacking so he and Vic could cut loose. The previous assignment had been filled with a lot of hiding and sneaking around, and Jim just wanted a straight-up fight.

“Computer, establish data link with subspace relay 1-3-1-1-6-5.” Jim ordered.

=/\= Link established=/\=

“Begin secure download of tactical data on Planet Teccapus. Emphasis on population and settled areas on the planet.”

=/\=Working=/\= Jim watched as the unclassified information cascaded onto the screen.

“What the hell are you doing?” Vic demanded; his voice sleepy as he entered the cockpit.

“Checking out the planet we’re going to. Getting a feel for it’s population and all that good shit.”

“What you worried about, man?”

Jim shook his head. “I dunno, just nervous after that slimy planet in the Gamma Quadrant.”

“I hear ya, buddy. We sure came through it without a scratch.”

“Yeah.” Jim nodded. “Got a main settlement here, a lot of what looks like evaporators strung through what looks to be desert climate.” The screen beeped and Jim hit a control. “Posit update from Victory. Crew’s up near a main settlement, ship’s in concealed orbit.” Jim turned to face Vic. “I think we better take Washita down to the surface and land.”

“All depends on what’s going on, we may need to help with an escape.” Vic nodded. “We can go in covered or Fleet, it’s your call.”

“Let’s go in as us. We’ll scan for com signals, then put down close to the away team.”

Vic nodded and went back to the berth area, grateful for another several hours of sleep. Jim, his mind always on his work, typed out a coded message for the captain. Your favorite idiots are en route to your location, bringing a loaded Arrow just in case. Coms on arrival. Over-n-out

Jim uploaded the message and set it for a repeat-three broadcast., then got up and stretched. Vic would relieve him in a couple hours, and then he’d get some shut eye. In the meantime, he synthed a gyro, with extra sauce and resumed his watch.

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