Statecraft (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on 22 Mar 2015 @ 7:53pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Andreus Kohl & Ensign Annikafiore Szerda & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Lieutenant Aria Rice

1,879 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: Sector 053 "Chi'Dan" - Task Force 21.5
Timeline: MD 01 - 0840 hrs

Previously, on Spacedock Ballet (Part 3)...

"All vessels, this is Saalm, we are cleared to warp to the Chi'Dan sector. Set course and engage at warp six in five, four, three, two, one..."

Right in synch, each of the starships' nacelles began to glow bright white as their warp fields powered up. With successive flashes from their engines, the ships elongated and snapped into high warp in short succession, leaving nothing but tiny trails of stardust in their wakes as they began their journey to the 10th annual NIMBUS games.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

At the heart of sector 053 several tens of light years from the planet Nimbus, five bright and sudden flashes of light signaled the arrival of the Federation task group at their destination. The starships dropped out of warp with a blur in the cosmos before snapping back to sub-light speeds, and their light-gray metallic hulls brightly shone and reflected the pink ambient light of a nearby Emission nebula complete with its own magnificent H II region.

On the bridge of the Sovereign-class flagship USS Atlas, Lirha watched the Starfleet vessels form up on her chair's tactical display while casually sipping from her mug of warm and frothy hot chocolate. She lightly stretched her neck from side to side and suppressed an early-morning yawn, then slowly rose from the captain's seat and walked to the front of the bridge closer to the viewscreen.

"Report," she said, waiting to get a status update on the situation.

Now cheerily acclimated to the bridge and his PADD's readings, Asahi was happy to respond with the great news. "Ma'am, we've arrived at Chi'Dan sector-right on time, despite delays."

Giving a silent nod of acknowledgement, the Orion admiral walked over behind the Ops station and peered over Lieutanant Zhao's shoulder to inspect some of her sensor readings. "It appears we have company," she mused to herself while staring at the large signature of a Negh'Var-class warship lingering in the nearby vicinity. No doubt there was more than just one KDF vessel nearby, but it was usually standard practice for Klingon warships to remain under cloak while outside of their own territory.

Zhao's console began to suddenly chirp with an indication of an incoming hail, and Lirha instructed her to put it on audio. Holliday's distinctive voice sounded through the channel.

=^=USS Atlas this is Captain Holliday aboard the Chronos - your orders Admiral Saalm?=^=

Lirha quickly readjusted the frequency to re-broadcast to all the assembled Federation ships. "All vessels, this is Saalm. We've spotted one Negh'Var-class dreadnought and there may be more Klingon starships nearby. Maintain standard formation and current position, and stay at green alert," she instructed. The last thing she wanted was for her group to take a threatening posture against the KDF group before they'd even got a chance to say hello.

---

USS Nautilus

Moments earlier, on the Bridge of the Miranda-class starship, the distorted streaks of starlight pinwheeled on the viewscreen one last time. The image resolved into a static view of the local starscape. Stepping out from behind his LCARS console, Andreus Kohl strode down into the forward operations well. He moved to stand beside the flight control console, but he kept his eyes on the view. "Look at that, Ensign Argyris," Kohl remarked. "You fly very well. Just as you said."

"I keep my promises, Sir," Argyris said and winked at Kohl, biting her lip for a moment. "She flies well, my girl...can't beat down a classy madam."

Kohl stroked the housing of the flight control console. "No," Kohl chimed in; "You most certainly can't."

The mood of growing anticipation on Bridge was matched by the palpable vibration of anticipation in Sickbay.

Feeling a change in the tremor of the deck plates, Naois stood listening for a moment, knowing the ship had dropped out of warp. His eyes traveled to the pot of dirt that stood onto his desk, as if it would shift with the change of speed. For now, it was just that, a pot of dirt, but he knew that soon it would sprout....something.

Up on the Bridge, Lieutenant Commander Kohl was crossing ahead of the flight control station and rounded to stand beside Ensign Szerda at Operations. He perched one foot on the downward sloping edge of the housing for the Operations console. Keeping his eyes on the viewscreen, Kohl said, "Ensign Szerda, do you think we're alone out here?"

Seated at Operations, Annikafiore Szerda didn't answer the question right away. She manipulated her LCARS interface, and the only response that came was the feedback tones that sounded at each touch. Only after she had the computer double-check her interpretation of the sensor readings did Annikafiore report, "Commander, I'm reading a Negh'Var-class warship in the sector."

Kohl nodded, and then he turned his gaze upon Annikafiore. "Do you believe the Klingon Empire would greet us with one, solitary starship?" Kohl asked. "We're marvellous, aren't we?"

Annikafiore had started to answer quietly, when Kohl's line of questioning took a turn for the rhetorical. Rather than yes-sir-and-no-sir-ing, Annikafiore Szerda took her cue from Kohl's relaxed approach. "Commander, I could conduct a metaphasic sweep with our sensor array," Annikafiore suggested, "and the deflector systems can generate an antiproton beam to conduct a search for cloaked vessels."

At Szerda's suggestion, Kohl turned to face the Captain's chair. He offered Blake a shrug that said, why not?

Blake nodded in agreement to Kohl before giving a brisk nod and a small, half smile to Szerda, keen to encourage the initiative shown. "Go ahead, no harm in keeping an eye on what's out there."

Annikafiore had started to input commands into the sensor controls, when her console started to chime. "Captain," Annikafiore interjected. Her voice expressed as much urgency as the chiming from her console. "We're being hailed by the Atlas."

"Put it through," Blake nodded, pushing herself up to stand, folding her arms as she half turned to the other officers on the bridge.

The sound of an incoming communique from the Miranda-class' Operations console quickly preceded a message from the admiral. "All vessels, this is Saalm. We've spotted one Negh'Var-class dreadnought and there may be more Klingon starships nearby. Maintain standard formation and current position, and stay at green alert," she instructed.

Blake let out a soft breath as she looked back to the viewport, tapping a finger against her upper arm. "Ops, send our reply that the message is received and understood," she glanced around the bridge as she wandered what they all had in store. "You heard our orders...maintain position, and take things nice and easy."

"Affirmative, Captain," replied Annikafiore. She swiped one hand across her interface to hail the Atlas, and deliver the message.

Kohl took a step back, and rounded towards the aft of the Bridge. He spoke out to the communication system, when he said, "Bridge to Sickbay and Engineering. We've arrived in the Chi'dan Sector. I hope you're ready. What's your status?"

"Sickbay ready," Naois replied, "all staff at their post or ready to move out if required."

=^= Sharpe here, we're A-Okay down in Engineering, and ready to keep it that way, =^= Heather assured with her usual firm tone.

Evans smiled as he looked over at Kohl and Blake, finding himself pleased with how they were handling the ship. Like a well oiled machine so far.

---

USS Aventia

Dea directed her attention to Markos. So far it had been a quiet trip but she knew that would last with the exercise about to start. Watching as they came out of warp at their designated location. "All systems are operational."

"All systems operational," T'Vanna echoed, not necessarily intentional. "Ready to move once the games begin ma'am."

"We're good here," Rice said and smiled, patting the console. "And ready to have some fun with these games.

"Good," Markos said where she sat, a small smile on her lips as she watched the bridge. The journey had been a good one, the crew worked well. She couldn't complain.

T'vanna's console suddenly began to chirp, signifying an incoming message from USS Atlas. "All vessels, this is Saalm. We've spotted one Negh'Var-class dreadnought and there may be more Klingon starships nearby. Maintain standard formation and current position, and stay at green alert," she instructed as her voice came through the comm.

T"Vanna shrugged at the news. "Should I repeat that shipwide ma'am?" she asked.

"Yes, do it," Markos said and smiled, looking around at the people on the bridge. "Well looks like we have our orders," she commented and stood, stretching, her shoulders rolling as she smiled. "Also, send a message to the Atlas, saying we copy. Might as well let them know we are in this all the way."

Aria chuckled softly, looking over at Markos before shaking her head. "Better lay out the red carpet, get the food sorted. Chicken nuggets, right?"

Dea continued to monitor the situation until her attention was diverted to the incoming message. Turning to look at Markos. "This is going to be one interesting ride."

T'Vanna arched an eyebrow at Aria. "Nuggets?" she queried.

"It's like...protein bits that have been deep fried," Aria said and smiled, shrugging. "My Dad cooked real ones when he was back from leave, when I was little. The replicated ones are way too healthy for my liking. Meat that usually is replicated is the terran chicken."

"Thanks for that," Harlowe said, shaking his head at the science station of the ship, his tall body leaning slightly over so his hands could rest on the console. "Now I am hungry."

"I am sure we can get some food in," Markos said lightly, arching an eyebrow with a small smile. "Have a bit of a party. Afterwords. We will treat the Klingons decent, on our own terms."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Atlas

General JataQ
Task Group Commander
Hghach Assault Group
Klingon Defense Force
[PNPC Saalm]

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Acting XO
USS Galileo

Hod Valkris Daughter of Ondagh
Captain
KDF HarqSIj
[PNPC Allyndra]

Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Chief Engineering Officer / Acting Executive Officer
USS Galileo / USS Atlas

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Chronos

Lieutenant Commander Norvi Stace
Commanding Officer / Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Cadet Sarah Gardiner
Security Officer
USS Chronos

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Engineer's Mate
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Olsam Mott, M.D.
Acting Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Executive Officer
USS Nautilus

Ensign Annikafiore Szerda
Chief Operations Officer
USS Nautilus
[PNPC Kohl]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Nautilus

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Operations Officer
USS Aventia

Lieutenant j.g. Naois Mercy
Chief Medical Officer
USS Nautilus
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Helmsman
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

 

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