Marshal (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 12 Jun 2022 @ 6:46pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Ensign Mimi & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Petty Officer 1st Class T'Lin & Cadet Senior Grade Jemima de la Coeur
Edited on on 12 Jun 2022 @ 6:48pm

2,823 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Alcyone Sector, USS Galileo-A
Timeline: MD 10, 1229 hrs

Previously, on Marshal (Part 1)...

The secondary deflector array embedded at the fore of USS Galileo's saucer section began to glow with increasing luminescence. Within a matter of seconds, the charging gravitic sensor pulse reached full dispersion power then fired, releasing an omnidirectional burst of invisible yet highly-charged particles out across the surrounding area of space.

"Pulse is away captain. Monitoring spread with reflection and or absorption." T'Lin concentrated on the readings.

The tension was building within the bridge while the officers and NCOs awaited the results. Seconds started to feel like minutes and Tarin's fingertips silently drummed against the top of her kneecaps. A distinctive computer chirp suddenly sounded and pierced the quiet.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

"Captain I am getting an absorption where sensors indicate there are currently no other spatial objects in the asteroid field. A moment...bearing 005 mark 317."

"Range?" asked Tarin.

T'Lin made a quick set of movements. "Captain, my readings indicate zero-point-four-nine-five Earth astronomical units or seventy-four million, fifty-thousand nine-hundred and forty-five kilometers as an approximate range."

Morgan mentally calculated the position relayed by the Vulcan science officer then watched it appear on the main viewscreen's chart plot. Its location was denoted by a pulsing gray circle which appeared along the periphery of the asteroid field's southern border. "It's close to the cold station," she commented to Rice with concern. "Too close."

Aria nodded, frowning slightly. They'd have to act now, to change the situation. She found herself straightening in her seat, taking a slow inhale of air.

"Helm, plot an intercept course down that bearing," Tarin swiftly ordered. "Full impulse, engage." She then addressed her XO while her hazel eyes remained on the viewscreen. "We should prepare for contact."

Aria nodded, taking a deeper breath. "Yellow alert," she announced, looking briefly at Tarin, seeing her profile, before her eyes went forward as well.

Alert klaxons and bulkhead strobe lighting activated throughout the starship, bathing the corridors and various compartments in pulsing yellow hues. Defensive deflector shield power came online and charged to full capacity while the phaser arrays, torpedo launchers and targeting scanners were brought to standby. Automatic level 4 and 5 diagnostics commenced on all primary systems to ensure operational readiness in the event of an escalation to red alert.

"Full impulse," Sylver announced, manoeuvring the Galileo at the new speed, focused on what he was doing. The change in situation gave a welcomed pulse of adrenaline through him, sharpening his senses as he focused.

Vigorously tapping the Ops console Mimi cleared the schedule board, rearranging everything down the priority list, the Yellow alert took priority over almost everything else. Most of the power transferring was handled automatically but there were still certain functions that needed personal interaction.

T'Lin started concentrating sensors on trajectory and linking the feed into tactical just in case.

The Nova-class' impulse engine glowed and cast a bright crimson hue over the starship's engineering hull. Galileo swiftly came about then accelerated to one-fifth the speed of light, on course to its nearby destination with haste. The short journey lasted for only a minute at high velocity and covered the approximate distance between Earth and Mercury. Within the bridge, the crew monitored their flight path on the main viewscreen and various LCARS consoles.

"Helm, full stop once we're within fifty-thousand kilometers of the absorption anomaly," instructed Tarin.

Sylver let out a soft breath, keeping an eye on their coordinates. The moment the Galileo was within fifty-thousand kilometers of the absorption anomaly, he brought the ship to a full stop. It was a calculation in itself. He liked being on point so had timed it as perfectly as he could as a human being. "Full stop, Captain."

Galileo was now holding in space at the outer edge of weapons range; close enough to perform sensor observations yet far enough away to allow an avenue of maneuver and escape if needed. Morgan anxiously looked out into space through the viewscreen then down to her console. "Science, tell me what's out there."

T'Lin did another sweep of the area but concentrated where they had pinpointed before. "There is no readings captain."

The red-collared commander creased her brow then inhaled with annoyance. She shook her head and extended her arm towards the science alcove. "How can there be no readings? We're almost right on top of the position you identified." Her dry inflection tinged with an aura of annoyance.

T'Lin tightened her mouth just a little at the emotion of the captain. Emotional species could be problematic. "Captain, just because we had a faint reading before does not mean that it was absolutely precise. Secondly, might I remind that indeed if there is a ship out there that is cloaked then it could be drifting or I believe the term is running silent."

Exhaling and crossing her arms across her chest, Tarin leaned back in her seat and bit the bottom of her lip in private thought. The petty officer's assessment wasn't wrong - in fact, if there was a vessel operating some variation of a cloak, it was entirely feasible that it could have detected the Nova-class' initial gravitic pulse and vacated the local sub-sector prior to their arrival. Or, as the Vulcan had hypothesized, it had cut all emissions in an attempt to avoid detection.

"That's possible," Tarin conceded before adjusting her train of thought. "But whatever we detected earlier didn't just randomly position itself near this asteroid field. Galileo has the most advanced sensors in the fleet and I don't think we're alone here. Find me something...that's an order."

"Yes, ma'am," Jemima said. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack without benefit of a strong magnet, but she'd keep looking. At least the commander didn't specify what she wanted them to find. She made a few adjustments and began another search.

"Cadet see if you can pick up any tachyon emissions. It is what caught our attention in the first place." T'Lin was looking at the window. All the asteroids out there moving around. "I have an idea. The ship has mass, no technology know can hide mass. I am going to look at odd gravity waves if you can start scanning the smaller asteroids. They could be affected by the presence of a silent cloaked ship."

Jemima nodded. "There would definitely be evidence of some mass affecting the trajectory of the asteroids." She had been searching for increased tachyon levels before the commander ordered her to do something else. She clearly didn't understand science. Jemima sighed and once again changed what she was doing to go back to the sensors. On the first sweep, the sensors got nothing. The second time there was a slight elevation. She focused on that area and used the long-range sensors to get more information. "There's a condensed pocket of tachyon particles 100,000 kilometers aft."

T'Lin was not expecting that. "Interesting. There appears to be a disturbance in the way several of the smaller asteroids are moving." T'Lin put up a heads-up display on the main view screen. "There Commander Tarin, note how some of smaller rocks are moving and the cadet has picked up a spike in tachyons located in the same area." On the view screen there were small lines showing projected courses of some of the smaller rocks and how they veered toward something that supposedly was not there. At the same time a target appeared overlaid across the blank spot showing the spot increased tachyons had appeared.

Closely observing the new sensor readings, Tarin narrowed her eyes and rubbed her chin. The tachyon particle signatures were a welcome yet unsettling development. They served as proof that their current detour hadn't been in vain, but also confirmed the unpleasant scenario in which Galileo was not unilaterally operating in the cold station's AO. The longer she stared at the various asteroids on the viewscreen, the less she should discern whether or not such a detection method was accurate.

"Helm, come about to..." Morgan glanced down at the console between she and Rice to get a proper bearing, "189 mark 30. One-quarter impulse and engage. Put us right on top of that contact. Science, prepare to initiate active scans on all frequencies to detect tachyon emissions and antiproton particles. Hold for my command and keep monitoring passive detections."

Blue eyes narrowed at the order, and Sylver let his hands go over the controls, adjusting to 189 mark 30. One quarter impulse wasn't much, but he was still focused on what he did as the ship responded to the controls. "189 mark 30, engaging at one quarter impulse," he called out, echoing her orders back to her. It was a habit, of sort, a way of doing things that not everyone did at the CONN. But Sylver supposed he was an old man by comparison to a lot of people currently serving.

T'Lin left the scan for tachyons to de la Coeur and concentrated on the gravitational anomolies. "Cadet look for tachyons, I will concentrate on gravitmetric readings." She paused a moment. "Concentrating readings captain on the indicated target and direction."

"Aye, aye," Jemima said. She was happy to focus on one thing and spread the love so she could avoid too much attention. Keeping track of the tachyon particles was fine with her. While the ship maneuvered, she kept a close eye on the scans.

The Galileo moved through the cold vacuum of space with silent grace, rather than the burst of pure power when going to warp. The seconds ticked silently by, despite the general conversations on the bridge. She responded well to her controls, reaching the new position, and whatever may be there with them.

"Reached position," Sylver said, his voice firm and steady. Inside, he was hoping, praying that the next words on the bridge wouldn't be contact, bogey or firing.

T'Lin was puzzled for a moment and then realized things had changed. "Captain new readings to the starboard side."

"Picking up more tachyon particles 50,000 kilometers away," Jemima said as the new readings came in from the passive sensors.

Commander Tarin leaned forward with her wrists resting atop her kneecaps. Her attention was now fully focused on the main viewscreen's chart plot overlay. "Helm, mark those coordinates and plot another intercept. One-eighth impulse. Engage," she ordered with urgency. "We're getting close..."

"Aye aye, Captain," Sylver said, frowning as he put in the new coordinates. The Galileo changed course, following the newly laid coordinates as she slid through space.

The gravity analysis would not be fine enough but T'Lin could use the tachyon and updated information. She updated the heads up display on the main screen along with the feed to tactical. "Updating now captain, feed to tactical."

Morgan looked across the command well to Aria who sat directly to her left. "We've got company out here. Man the tactical station. Just in case."

"Yes Captain," Aria said and stood, walking over to the tactical station. She moved her hands easily over the familiar buttons, her eyes narrowing. "Ready for engagement, if necessary."

It was hard to determine what the Nova-class might face in the coming minutes. They'd successfully tracked an unknown signature deep within the outskirts of Federation territory which was an accomplishment in itself. Yet, Galileo's small stature and scientific nature left it ill-equipped to deal with most hostile forces currently known to the Federation. It was a grave concern of which Tarin was acutely aware, and why she privately resented this temporary command.

"Ensign Mimi, hailing frequencies on all channels," Tarin ordered.

Mimi tapped at the ops console. "Channel open Captain."

Morgan rose to her feet from the captain's chair then walked to the center of the bridge. "Unidentified vessel, this is Commander Morgan Tarin of the Federation starship Galileo. We've detected your ship's location in this area and are tracking your position." She paused, but only briefly. "Your presence here is a direct violation of the United Federation of Planet's territorial rights. Reveal yourself, so we can establish a dialogue."

Shaking her head slightly Mimi looked over to Morgan. "Nothing, if they are out there they do not want to talk."

Tarin placed one hand on her hip then gave a circular motion with the index finger of her free hand. "Keep trying. Repeat my transmission every sixty seconds." The comms silence unfortunately didn't surprise her. Whatever they were pursuing seemed to be devoting time and effort into remaining hidden. Why risk compromising their stealth if they didn't deem it necessary? Besides, the Nova-class wasn't exactly the most intimidating starship in Starfleet's repertoire.

"Aye Sir." Mimi replied though she doubted they'd respond.


18 Minutes Later...

"Ensign Mimi. Anything?" asked Tarin. The commander had returned to the captain's seat and was now picking at her fingernails with a mixture of boredom, impatience and annoyance. They were wasting time. Or more likely, their time was being wasted. Possibly on purpose for an unknown reason.

Mimi's ears twitched, her sensitive hearing try to pick out even the smallest hint of a response from their illusive potential foe. "Still nothing." She said after trying to mask a sigh.

Rolling her eyes, Tarin exhaled an irritated breath and looked over her shoulder to her yellow-collared XO standing at the auxiliary/tactical station. "I'm getting tired of this."

Aria looked at her and raised an eyebrow before she nodded in agreement. "We'll be at this for the next year at this rate," she said, an exaggeration, yet she felt it in her heart.

"It's time to take the initiative," Tarin decided without a trace of hesitation. Once again she rose from the captain's chair, this time with her hands clasped behind her back. "Science...on my mark, initiate active scans through both the primary and secondary deflector arrays. All frequencies and spectrums. Optimize our lateral arrays to triangulate return signals from tachyon and antiproton particles."

"Captain if I may." T'Lin turned in her chair. "Since the presumed vessel wishes not to be known, then might I suggest we act as if it is not there. There are several asteroids between us and the location that have interesting compositions. Perhaps, we do a bit of prospecting. That is we tractor an asteroid of appropriate size. The vessel that is out there has little room to maneuver if the scans are correct. An asteroid of sufficient size will most likely then hit the indicated vessel's shielding causing a flare. At least temporarily we will know what we are dealing with."

"No," came the commander's firm reply. "We've spent too much time tracking this signature and maneuvering to isolate it. This is our chance, right here and now. I won't risk a detour to retrieve an asteroid and possibly lose this contact." Under most other circumstances, the idea sounded promising. Innocent enough with a dose of subterfuge attached. But they currently had a small window of opportunity which Tarin refused to abandon. There was a sense of urgency present in her voice.

"Prepare to transmit active scans," Morgan repeated before looking back towards Mimi and Rice's stations. "Ops, allocate as much power as you can to the tractor beam emitters. XO, stand by with targeting scanners."

"Aye Captain." T'Lin turned back again to handle the readings on her end. "I will take active, Cadet would you take lateral arrays."

Jemima nodded and switched her display to prepare the lateral arrays to detect tachyon and antiproton particles. She wasn't sure what was going on, but it didn't look good.

'Power for the sensor grid and tractor emitters' Mimi's delicate fingers moved across the Ops panels moving the ship's lifeblood around the ship to wherever the Captain wanted it. "Ready Captain."

"Standing by," Rice called, giving a small nod towards the Captain, before back at what she was doing. "Targeting scanners ready on your command."

The trap was set and ready to be sprung. What Galileo would soon discover was a mystery to even Commander Tarin. The heart of deep space was cold and uninviting at the best of times - and outright perilous under the current circumstances. The Nova-class' crew was alone, isolated and operating on a hunch. Only a Klingon warrior destined for Sto-vo-kor could derive enjoyment from such unknowns.

"Petty Officer T'Lin...transmit."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

Lt. Aria Rice
Acting XO/Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

Cadet Senior Grade Jemima de la Coeur
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Sandoval]

Ensign Mimi
Deputy Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

PO1 T'Lin
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Warraquim]

CWO2 Oliver Sylver
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

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