Call of Duty (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on 27 May 2020 @ 3:19pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Ensign Mimi & Commander Andreus Kohl & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Senior Chief Petty Officer Goldie Brown & Petty Officer 2nd Class Donald Andrews & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday & Crewman Draia Thero
Edited on on 27 May 2020 @ 3:21pm

2,587 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: Latari System, Latari A III
Timeline: MD 04, 2300 hrs

Previously, on Cold Orders (Part 2)...

After Commander Kohl had given his orders, Diego looked around the bridge then moved to his station while trying to decipher the commotion. The eggheads seemed excited now - something involving a distant signal source. Possibly Federation? He wasn't sure. The security officer shook his head and refocused on his task, manipulating the LCARS display with his fingertips to interface with the PADD on his hip. "I'm uploading the new shield modulation frequencies," he announced.

As the data was uploaded, the computer ran the new shield modulations through the LCARS at Science I. Most of the routine calculations the computer auto-checked and verified. What was new was highlighted for Matt to review. Looking at the formula and then the algorithm used to determine how to modulate the shield grid everything looked to be in order. What was curious about this program was that it didn't randomly modulate the shield frequencies. It would adjust the shields every time they were hit by Tholian disruptors. Essentially, "tuning" themselves and creating a range. In theory, with enough hits, there would a point when the shield harmonics would start sending disrupter energy back along the same path. A process known as "sympathetic vibration". The Tholians would then be unable to fire their disruptors. It was a damn good idea. Matt said out loud, "Shield modulations are loaded into the shield harmonics array. We're ready."

"Good work," Kohl affirmed with a nod. He lowered himself into the command chair and took a glance at the shield modulations on the LCARS display to his side. Frowning at the realities they faced, Kohl remarked, "We're going to need it." He cleared his throat, he sat up straighter, and he called out orders to the bridge crew: "Let's recall all maintenance craft and request navigation coordinates from Lagrange. We can't leave those colonies, and our away team, to the Tholians ministrations. Let's go get 'em."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Approximately one hour later, the chronometer in the Nova-class' bridge now read 2300 - the assigned time of departure for the Federation task group. The three Starfleet vessels Galileo, Lagrange and Kali maintained a tight formation along the outskirts of the trinary star system while waiting for final orders to get underway with their assault.

Comm chatter started to come in through the mission ops station, demanding the attention of one of the crew to relay the most pertinent new information from command.

Goldie Brown had little to do but watch the growing tension on the bridge--which didn't make her feel very good. "Sir, incoming message from Lagrange. Audio only."

Sitting back in the Captain's chair, Commander Andreus Kohl had tilted his head on the down. His finger scrolled through sit-reports on his display, but it was only the chronometer that really held his gaze. Given the gravity of their mission, Kohl didn't have the capacity to maintain his insecurities about his reputation among this bridge crew. It hardly mattered now. It was all going to change anyway. His stomach was still in knots for what they were about to do. They were all going to hate him regardless.

Straightening up his posture in the chair, Kohl replied, "Put it through." He drew a circle in the air with his index finger to indicate the bridge's public comm system.

"Yes, sir." Goldie switched the call to active and put it on speaker. She'd heard little to recommend Kohl, and being on the bridge only verified what she heard. No wonder Mimi wanted to go back to Ops.

"Galileo and Kali, this is Lagrange," sounded the loud voice of Captain Rasmussen over the channel. "We're preparing to go to warp. Assume formation one and begin countdown. Thirty seconds."

Tilting his chin up at the order, Andreus Kohl cleared his throat and he took a breath. He locked his sapphire eyes on the viewscreen. "Chief Sylver," Kohl said, sparing a glance at the familiar CONN officer. Kohl gave the order: "Lay in a reciprocal course with the fleet, warp five."

Sylver nodded, taking a breath. "Yes Sir, synching the navigational data with the task group," he said, fingers moving over the controls, eyes reading the incoming data. "Assuming formation," he also announced, feeling the familiar drag of the controls as his fingers slid over the screen, putting the Galileo where it was needed to be.

Toggling a communications contact on the LCARS panel to his side, an electronic Boatswain's whistle sounded out across all decks. Andreus Kohl's voice was carried out through every companel in every compartment. "All hands, this is the Captain speaking..." Kohl said, and he took another breath. "Our people, our colonists, have been invaded and assaulted in their own homes. All of our homes face an equal risk today. What we do today, we do for the security of the entire Federation. Red Alert. All hands to battlestations!"

Goldie almost did a double-take. She did not like the sound of that at all, but she had nothing more than a gut feeling to tell her that this was going to be bad.

Jemima stopped bouncing at her console and looked around the bridge, then focused on the console and its readings because she didn't like the way the bridge felt right then.

Matt had stayed quiet; he had been trained to follow orders. He had worked hard to get here, the bridge of a Federation starship.

~What am I doing? Why am I here? I have to decide what I'm going to do.~, he thought to himself. He looked at Callin and Jemima, it would fall to them. They would be put in this position if Matt bailed. He lifted his eyes and looked around the bridge. Were they really going to let this happen?

Sylver's face was grim as he focused on his work. Orders were orders and he shed the emotions and worries he felt inside in favour of doing his job...and staying alive. Battlestations and red alert meant battle and he had a lot of souls in his hands where he was sitting. It was his duty to keep them alive as long as possible. Once this all kicked off, that was what it was about.

Finishing in the head Mimi returned to a bridge bustling with activity, she'd heard Kohl's message and while she had an air of confidence she didn't like the odds much. Heading back to the Ops console she set to work clearing all non essential demands and routing power to the tactical systems.

Matt was feeling the adrenaline now. But there was nothing to act on...yet. He continued his scans and still he wrestled with all that was happening.

Quickly strolling onto the bridge Luke took a sweeping glance from one side to the other. He noted the nervous faces, the wrinkled frowns and glazed over expressions of each crew member before taking his position next to Kohl. It was all going to come down to this and it was definitely going to be 'one of those days'

In the Captain's chair, Andreus Kohl turned his head towards Luke, but he couldn't quite face him head-on. Kohl kept one eye on the viewscreen. He nodded at Luke, but he couldn't quite forget what he had been told happened when Captain Saalm had faced the Tholians with Lieutenant Commander Wyatt by her side. He couldn't help but wonder if history might repeat itself.


Deck 3, Sickbay

As the red alert went off Allyndra sighed. This was it, the group was going into the system. She hoped that it was to try to straighten things out but then again it not be. Either way, things could go very badly considering the last encounter with the Tholians.

"Alright everyone," she said aloud, "let us prepare for incoming. Hopefully nothing more than some bumps and bruises." She tried to make it sound hopeful but she was pretty sure the rest of the staff knew exactly what might occur.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Lake ir-Llantrisant slowly approached Allyndra. He stood by her side, as he took up a medikit from a shelf and slung its strap over his shoulder. In a sotto voice, Lake asked, "Is it every only bumps and bruises?" There was a wryness to his question, but a sad resignation as well.

"No, but by the Twins we can only hope," she sighed as he got the kit.

"There is that," Lake acknowledged, his voice taking an uptick in energy. "There is hope," he affirmed. A mischievous grin crossed his lips, as he looked down at his medical tricorder, running a quick auto-diagnostic on the handheld device. "Might we have the medical authority to order every crew-member be strapped into a chair before we jump to warp?" Lake suggested, only half-serious, but still seriously too.

Allyndra smiled slightly at the observation. "I wish, the fact of the matter is I do not think we have much authority at all. If medical had much input we would not be heading off like we are. There are missed opportunities here. I put it in my medical log that I think that command is reacting rather than listening to anything." She looked at Lake and shaking her head slightly.

"I do not come from a Federation world. We have observed the Federation and while the ideals expressed seem noble, I cannot help that actions like this defeat that nobility." She then recited the opening of the charter: '"We the lifeforms of the United Federation of Planets determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and to reaffirm faith in the fundamental rights of sentient beings, in the dignity and worth of all lifeforms, in the equal rights of members of planetary systems large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of interstellar law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of living on all worlds, and for these ends, to practice toleration and live together in peace with one another, and to unite our strength to maintain interstellar peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institutions of methods, that weapons of destruction shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ interstellar resources for the promotion for the welfare of all.'

Waving a hand she said, "This does not feel or look like we are doing almost anything of that. As an independent world then, who do we look to if the Federation itself violates its own principles?"

Shaking his head slowly, Lake affirmed, "I wasn't raised within the influence of Earth either. I was taught to believe the Federation's principles are a glove that hides a fist. They don't mean anything, other than to serve as a misdirection. We can all only listen to our own hearts."

Allyndra shook her head in agreement but asked, "Then how do we follow our hearts then when we know what is possibly wrong and yet within our duty?"

Alexion glanced across to the conversation as his hands moved across equipment in a well practiced, all too familiar order. He, too, hadn't grown up in the Federation. There were things he found just as strange, but he wasn't sure they were all the same things. "Maybe...when people like us bring a different view point, it makes it stronger in the end?" he said quietly. "Or, they can tell us they are not interested in our opinion and to follow orders," he shrugged, looking down at his preparation.

"Perhaps," Allyndra turned as Alexion chimed in. "If they only listened as well as they profess to other view points. There is no doubt, at least to my viewpoint, that the Federation has had to become more hard. The Borg, the Klingons, the Romulan problems it has all become more of a policeman than something bent on diplomacy and exploration." She waved a hand. "Here something new and yet rather than study and diplomacy it seems to be more of action designed as....well as what I have heard as 'sweeping the problem under the rug.'"


Deck 7, Engineering

Hollenday groaned as the red alert sounded. "Idiots trying to push a half patched ship back into conflict." He made a voice that sounded a bit deeper and with a boom. "Where's my warp speed, where's my weapon systems, I need those sensors back online right now!"

His voice went back to normal as he made a gesture toward the rough direction of the bridge, "Yeah right and I need my magic wand." He glared then snorted. "Alright let's try to make the magic happen again."

Scurrying out of a jefferies tube, Crewman Draia Thero was carrying an armful of burned-out components and she dragged an engineering kit behind her. "The EPS tap to the passive neutrino imaging scanner has been reassembled," Draia reported. "Power can be restored to that tap."

"Alright," John nodded, "thanks. Just a'wonderin' if I should have the replicator make up some bubble gum and duct tape?" It was supposed to be a joke but it did not feel like one.

"I meaaaaannnnnnnnn...." Draia started to reply, breathlessly, as she dumped the destroyed components to be dematerialized through an industrial replicator. "It couldn't hurt?" she added. Running at full-tilt across the cavernous engineering compartment, Draia Thero took up her post at the LCARS panel currently dedicated to the warp propulsion system fuel supply. Making contact with the biometric sensors, she logged into the panel. Nervously, Draia rambled, "In a pinch, bubble gum makes for a suitable patch in the gulium fluoride inner liner of the impulse reaction chamber for up to one-hundred minutes."

John looked at Draia puzzled and then said, "I did not know that. Well knew it was good for something." He turned and went to a panel to monitor the warp chamber shaking his head. "We go above warp 6 for more than half an hour we are going to loose those conduits. Where is a real engineering officer to tell the higher ups the bad news when you need one."

"We'll need more than gum and duct tape if those Tholian ships decide to focus on us." Donald called out hearing John and Draia's chat. "Hopefully the other ships can keep them occupied."

"If the Tholians turn their beady eyes on us," Draia chimed in, "We'll run." --Desperately, she looked left and she looked right-- "It'll be time to run, right?"

"We'll have to wait and see and listen for the 'oh shit, engineering give us full speed command' Draia." Donald replied. "For now lets get the core up to full power and run a few level 3 diagnostics, power transfer conduits and shield systems first."

John just grumbled. "Well your the head honcho down here Donald, best to let the captain know before the 'oh shit' moment." He started the diagnostics but pretty well knew what they would say. This was a ship patched up and functional but it needed more going over at a yard or more time with a bigger engineering crew.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

All Crew, USS Galileo-A

CAPT Rasmussen
Commanding Officer
USS Lagrange
[PNPC Saalm]

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