And so it begins

Posted on Mon Mar 14, 2022 @ 8:18pm by Lieutenant Commander Zachary Addams & Commander Cullen Walker & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Arashi Tanaka Mr. & Lieutenant JG Aergad Halvor & Lieutenant JG Ardal King & Lieutenant JG Sydney Friedman Jr & Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers & Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit
Edited on on Wed Mar 16, 2022 @ 12:22pm

2,319 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: We Will Take Care of You
Location: USS Victory

Bridge





Finally, the time had arrived. The last of the contractors and work crews had departed and Starbase Operations had sent over final authorizations and certifications clearly the USS Victory for departure.



Signing off the document, the Captain sent it back to be filed and with that, they were ready.



“Mr. Walker. Announce to all hands, prepare for departure.” She asked.



Walker sent out a text message to the Science Department which had sound Isolated projects, then opened up intraship comms, "Ladies, Gentlemen, Other species that don't identify in that manner. We are on our way."



“Lt. Naroot, if you would please disengage docking umbilical. As soon as the lines are clear and away, bring our maneuvering thrusters online and take us out. Once we’ve cleared the dock perimeter, bring the impulse drive online and get us clear of the station and then take us to warp. Let’s get out of here.” Kennit said.



"Aye, aye, Captain!" Penny said, grinning and playing on her console. "Docking clamps disengaged," she said a moment later as the loud ka-chunk echoed through the ship. A slight tremor shivered through the deck plates as the thrusters came online. "Reverse thrust," she said as they began to move away from the station core. They swung around in reverse, aiming for the large bay doors. "Quarter impulse," she said, sending them charging out of the bay and into open space. She brought them up to full impulse and once the station was far in their rear sights, the felt the ship leap into warp.



"Warp six, Captain," she said. "ETA to your coordinates, two hours, fourteen minutes," she said.



Glancing at the sensor display which told her that the Android vessel would arrive at the indicated coordinates 12 hours after the Victory did, the Captain closed the sensor screen then, in a mildly rebuking voice as the comm system lit up with annoyed commentary from the starbase operations control said “Lieutenant. I am quite sure I asked that you use thrusters to get us out of the dock, and to bring impulse online after we had cleared the dock facility, not while we were still inside.” She paused to listen to the ongoing outraged commentary over the comm system then said, “if we can’t actually see them shit their pants it isn’t nearly as much as fun. Send an apology and at least pretend to be contrite about it..”



Penny blushed but gave a small smile. "Aye, Captain. Attempting to sound contrite, Ma'am." She sent off a quick message to the dockmaster with an apology for her over-eagerness to get underway, then returned her focus to the stars ahead.



After a moment, the Captain stood up. “Maintain current heading. Keep an eye on our approaching guests, if anything changes call me. I have some business to attend to. Mr. Walker, you have the conn.”



Walker answered, "Yes Captain."



Crossing the bridge, the Captain entered the turbolift and exited.



A moment later, the turbolift opened again and Sydney stepped off, nodding to Walker and walking towards one of the life science stations on the far side of the bridge, taking a seat and turning to face the bridge, watching the others.



Penny turned in her chair, looking at Walker. "So...what exactly are we heading towards? I mean...I know it's a four-planet system around an otherwise boring yellow star...but what else? Did Starfleet find a civilization there? Or ruins of one? The system seems pretty drab overall."



From her post on the Bridge, Summers slightly smiled and looked at Penny. " No system is drab; suppose we find an flourishing society on one planet and dust and decay and ruined cities on another? Why is there an difference? That's part of research, to be sure the Federation chooses to flourish and *not* decay."



Penny tilted her head. "That was kind of my point," she said. "Did we they find something and we're going to investigate? If so, how have they not found it by now? This system isn't exactly on the fringe. It just seems odd to head for a place that, yesterday, no one cared about."



Walker looked at Penny, "I'm going to be honest. I don't have all the information yet. Ships like Enterprise and Victory are sent in to a lot of places blind because we can handle ourselves. Enterprise as the Flagship of the fleet gets sent in and requested on Diplomacy missions. I can tell you I've been on attached to Science Teams, as the guard detail. We ran across metals that when liquefied, cooled, and forged have amazing energy absorption properties. You never know what is out there."



"Or who," Sydney added. "Perhaps it's neutral ground for a meeting? Or an exchange? Maybe the neighbors need to borrow a cup of sugar."

Summers grinned and winked at Penny. " Well, I'll find it interesting to see what these 'folks' do with their 'sugar.'



Walker was reading an article spoke up without looking up , "Any usage of sugar not part of the biological caloric processes is not appropriate on the bridge for Starfleet Officer, Commissioned or otherwise." He addressed, Penny, "My understanding, we are meeting with a ship crewed by a synthetic majority. I don't know much beyond that. I will be glad as long as it isn't a Soong class. There is a 1 in 3 chance, a Soong class means bad day."



Penny turned around again slowly. "You mean...androids? There are androids in the Delta Quadrant?"



Continuing to read and flipping between articles, "I think I need an Engineer that speaks History Nerd. This is like my daughter trying to explain her 6th grade School Science Fair project. I thought I understood Science until that day. Why does Commander Data's later papers seem more human than Commander Maddox?" The names of those two individuals explained what he was reading. He rubbed his temples.

"If Soong-type androids are in the DQ, they must have a reason," Penny said to herself. Maybe something's in this system after all! she thought, excitedly. She'd met a soong-type android, as well as an Exo, and others, but she'd never thought she'd meet more. Now she was looking forward to the trip.



Reading aloud, "Criminal report filed under Androids and Synthetics. Well, I'm pretty sure, this guy is dead. Harcourt Fenton Mudd. Wow. He liked Brunettes dressed as Argellian serving girls."



*Among other things,* Penny though to herself, glad her hair covered anyone from seeing her slight blush and her look of disgust on her face as she focused on the Ops panel.



"There certainly are a lot of artificial life forms in our quadrant," Sydney said. "I recall reading another experience in history class. The original USS Enterprise encountered the remnants of a civilization of androids underground on....Exo III, I think. A Federation scientist had found them and was living with them, I think. They wound up attacking the crew, but I can't recall why."



The sound of the turbolift arriving and the doors opening heralded the Captain’s return to the Bridge. She entered, walking across the large space toward her seat on the raised level in the center of the space. “Number One,” she said while climbing the steps toward the command platform. “What is our status? Any changes in the estimated arrival of our approaching visitors?”



Checking the data himself, "No change in behavior, trajectory, or speed. Scheduled maintained."


“All right,” the Captain answered as she set her coffee down next to her seat. “Listen up.” She glanced over toward operations. “Put me on the 1MC please.”



"Aye, Captain," Penny said, activating the comm system, then nodding to the Captain before turning back to her work.



When the OPS officer nodded to indicate that the interior comm system had been activated and her voice could be heard throughout the ship, she said, “All hands: this is the Captain. I know you’re all likely wondering at the unusual speed with which we departed DQ8. We are facing unusual circumstances which warranted our actions to this point. I received a communique from Admiral Bratton at DQ1. A vessel declaring itself to be a peace delegation from Planet Mudd in the Alpha Quadrant is on its way here, with the specific statement that they wanted to meet with us, and with me.” She paused, allowing a small note of humor into her voice as she added, “Why they wish to speak with me is anyone’s guess..my talents do not lie in the diplomatic arena. But, be that as it may. They are on their way and expected to arrive at the rendezvous point in approximately 8 hours time.”



Penny's eyes were glued to her board and she didn't dare move. She swallowed hard and knew if she had a stomach it would have clenched. Her mind was racing with a million questions, but she was afraid to even try to attempt contact for fear of someone noticing.



“Due to the large number of civilian ships and personnel present at DQ8, it was deemed to be better for us to move here and meet them, rather than stay on location and let them come to us.” Kennit continued. “The exact intentions of this delegation are unknown, though we certainly hope they are peaceful have they have stated. At this moment, that is all the information we have. All stations to be held at combat readiness condition one. Let us hope we will not find ourselves in a hostile situation however, my orders were clear to be ready and to send a warning to DQ1 and DQ8 in the event the approaching delegation proves to be of hostile intent. This ship has the best crew here in the Delta Quadrant. I have full confidence that no matter what may come, we are ready for it. As the ship draws closer, data will be made available to all departments. That is all. Kennit out.”



Penny closed the channel smoothly, and kept her attention straight ahead.



Signing off the 1MC, the Captain said, “Mr. Walker, I need you to oversee departmental preparations and make sure all departments and sections are ready for any possibility.”



Walker got on comms and send out text for those in a sound proof experiment, "Department heads checkin with ready statu."



“Lt. Naroot, a word with you please? In my Ready Room?” Kennit then said, looking at the navigation officer as she spoke and taking a few quick steps toward the Ready Room.



Penny overrode the urge to take a deep breath and nodded up to the rear of the bridge for her replacement. As he slipped into the seat, she followed the Captain into her ready room.



King responded, "Labs Secured. Experiment completed."



Halvor responded, "Tactical Ops and Brig secured."



=/\=This is Engineering, we're all good down here. =/\=



Walker shrugged at that.



After a few minutes had passed, the door to the Ready Room opened and the Captain returned to the Bridge, followed by Lt Naroot. While Penny resumed her station, the Captain settled into her seat and pulled up the sensors on her small personal screen at her own station. Entering a series of commands, she studied the data scrolling across the display, quietly passing time waiting .. for now.



For a time, the only sounds on the Bridge were the soft sounds of the ship itself. The soft sounds of the air flowing from the ventilation system. Computerized chimes, indicating various status systems reporting data through the operations station. The ever present subtle thrum of power from the warp cores.



In other words.. Kinda.. boring.



The data which Kennit had been reviewing had provided her with some information about the region of space where they were currently holding position. The highest concentration of elements was enhanced helium, very little hydrogen, some traces of carbon, water and stellar dust.



Looking at the time, the Captain said “What’s the status on the in-bound ship? Are they still expected to arrive at our location in roughly 13 hours?”



"Aye, Captain," Penny said, checking Ops. "ETA twelve hours, fifty-three minutes."



“Very well. Keep an eye on them, let me know when they are one hour out.” The Captain said.



"Aye, Captain," Penny said.



Rising from her seat, she said, “I’m going to be in my Ready Room. If anything changes, notify me at once.”



Nodding, Walker answered, "Yes, Captain."



She walked to where Lt. Tanaka was manning his station. Pausing, she said in a soft voice “Mr. Tanaka. In the event there is an incident once our guests arrive, it may be prudent to be able to section off and secure parts of the ship. Including lock out of all computer systems and control access to those within the quarantined areas. Can you set that up in the next few hours?”



"Aye captain. I can do that. Will have it done within the next few hours." Arashi said.



She gave a little nod, “Get it done.”



"Right away captain." Arashi responded and got to work. He wasn't going to disappoint the captain, especially not now.



With that, the Captain walked across the bridge and entered the Ready Room.

 

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