Captain on the Bridge

Posted on Sat Feb 5th, 2022 @ 10:24pm by Willian Targaryen & Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tlotz & Ensign Golric Zar & Ensign Sotto zh'Tanik & Ensign Fraok glasch Tuhlargh & Ensign Yed Quegg

756 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: When They Come for Me
Location: Main Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 0000-00-63, 21:15

"Captain on the Bridge," Cardassian Ensign Golric Zar announced from the Helm as Captain Willian Targaryen stepped through the open portal on the side of the Bridge and into the command center for Starfleet One.

"As you were," the Captain answered as he walked toward the Center Seat on the Bridge. Kelpien Lieutenant Tlotz rose to full height as the Commanding Officer approached the command dais. "Report," he demanded as he came upon his chair.

Tlotz nodded, "Science Officer Quegg, please place the scans on screen."

On the viewscreen the holographic overlay of nearby space appeared with the Enterprise in the center and Svian II in the upper corner. They were hiding not far away in the system's Oort Cloud among the other flotsam that made up the icy ring surrounding the system in the distance. That was not the interesting part. A small area of space near Svian had garnered attention. Sensors had detected the telltale evidence of a cloaking device, but the scans were not inconclusive.

"Looks like we have an uninvited guest," Willian commented from his chair.

The Kelpien corrected, "We are the uninvited guest, Admiral," he stopped after having said it, "I am sorry, Captain. This may be the Emerald Chain proving themselves to be the dominant party over this starsystem. The scans are fairly inconclusive, but the particles that we are detecting do appear to indicate the presence of a vessel.

"They may not yet know we know about them," the Bolian Science Officer interrupted from the wall mounted workstation. "I have no indications that their weapons are powered."

"Or they cannot have weapons powered while their cloaking shields are engaged," Sotto zh'Tanik suggested from Ops. "I am having trouble pinpointing our away team at this distance. There is a lot of interference on the surface colony. It could be from this anomaly in orbit."

Willian looked at the tactical display, "If we engage a normal scan we're going to reveal our position to them if it is a vessel."

"Precisely," Tlotz confirmed from the Engineering console.

"This is probably the vessel that they intend to have the Admiral transferred to," the Captain commented considering the entire scenario from an objective standpoint. "It would make sense that such a high profile prisoner would be escorted by a capital ship. I have to admit that I would probably have ordered the same type of escort in the past. How long would it take us to reach the planet if we had to?"

The Cardassian Ensign checked the readouts on the workstation, "Including the full restart of our systems it would take us about seven minutes to get there, Captain."

"What is the minimum power level we can operate on without them detecting us?" Willian asked looking at the Kelpien Engineer.

"It would be impossible to determine that, Sir. Our knowledge of the chain is significantly limited compared to the races of our era. It is possible that they are detecting us even now and just not reacting," Tlotz informed with a touch of melancholy in his words.

"So we may have," Willian looked around the Bridge, "and may not have already given up our position?"

The Bolian spoke up, "They could also be trying to lull us into a false sense of security, Sir. Waiting to strike."

"Have we had any contact with the away team?" The Captain questioned looking at the Ops Officer.

"Nothing since their report earlier this evening. They had received intelligence that the transfer was to occur at midnight," the Andorian Ops Officer reminded.

Glancing at the chronometer, "that's only a little off from now. Maintain status for now, but let's standby to restore the ship to full operation. If we need to we'll intercept." He rose from his chair, "I want to review all of the data we have on the Emerald Chain vessel we encountered at Cold Station 12. Ops, transfer the information to my Ready Room."

The Andorian Ops Officer nodded, "Already done."

"I'm going to be doing my research. Lieutenant R'relle is in command until I return," the El-Aurian Captain informed as he approached his Ready Room, "Call the Counselor to the Bridge, but maintain external radio silence. Not that we have anyone to talk to anyway," he mumbled.

"Aye Sir," Tuhlargh said from the Security Console.

Glancing at the viewer a final time, Willian could not help but focus on the massive Emerald Chain starship looming like a predator closing on its prey. Whatever happened next could decide the fate for the entire galaxy.

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