Regula I, Engage!

Posted on 26 Jul 2023 @ 5:59pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lieutenant JG Rafe Caradec & Ensign Amanda Turell & Petty Officer 1st Class T'Lin & Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeysa Zeror & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

1,635 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Pleiades Cluster, USS Galileo-A, IKS Praxis
Timeline: MD 11, 1415 hrs

[ON]

Galileo's main bridge entrance hissed open then closed as Commander Tarin entered the small vessel's command deck. A cursory glance around the cramped room yielded nothing out of the ordinary aside from some bulkhead scorching and exposed overhead power relays still remaining from the prior Ferengi engagement. She noticed only half of the normal bridge crew were present and accounted for; Mimi, Shizn, Rice and Ullswater were all currently 'unavailable'. A new helm officer, Mister Caradec, and the security officer Mister Turell were the newest additions. Without ceremony, the acting captain swiftly navigated the steps down to the command chairs then took her seat at her station. "Status report," she inquired from the various departments.

"Shields are back up to 100%, primary phaser banks are still offline." Amanda reported, She'd been surprised when she'd been asked to man the tactical position on the bridge again, especially with her arm still supported in a sling but knew that Stark needed a rest just as much as she did and someone needed to watch Ensign Mimi in the brig.

"Navigation has been repaired, although with some creative and temporary rerouting, and the warp engines just came back online. But we can only attain warp 4 at this point. We anticipate full cruise warp 5 capability in about 30 minutes, Commander.", Rafe reported. "All shuttles have been reloaded with their compliment of armaments and are flight ready, just in case. They may need some touch up paint still," Rafe grinned, "but I figured that could wait until the more pressing items could be addressed."

"Sensors are at seventy-eight point two percent captain. We are fine in that regard for travel but anything requiring more detailed analysis will not be available until further repairs." T'Lin added from the science station.

=^=Try not to send anyone else into sickbay or even more so the morgue=^= Allyndra added by comm.

"We're..." Vansen started, not used to being on the Bridge. Usually, this would be Mimi's bag. "Life support's good, we're not in the best shape across the board, but in a good position, Captain." Provided they didn't get knocked around again.

Blake took in the reports as they were called, and they all corresponded to the data scrolling on her screen. She gave a surreptitious glance to the tactical station. She felt naked without the chief of security on the bridge, considering how vulnerable the ship was.

"All the data concerning cold station 31 has been encrypted as you requested Captain, ships log is up to date." Jeysa reported from an auxiliary station.

"Set a course for Regula I. Warp four," ordered Tarin. The Nova-class wasn't in the best condition but she was still capable enough. "Prepare to engage on my mark. Ops, hail Praxis," she added.

Rafe's hands moved quickly over the console, setting in the course for Regula I. Warp 4 was set and he awaited the captain's command. It would be good to start getting the feel of Galileo under his hand. She was new to him and it was always exciting to him to fly another ship. C'mon baby, he thought to himself, let's see how you fly. "Course laid in, Captain. Ready on your mark."

Vansen opened the channel to the Praxis, giving Tarin a quick. "Channel open, Captain," he said, glad that the crew on the Klingon ship was quick to answer.

Tarin spoke with a firm cadence when the chirp of the open comms channel sounded from the operations station. "Praxis, this is Galileo. We're transmitting coordinates to Regula I and preparing to depart. Please acknowledge."


IKS Praxis

Within the Klingon battlecruiser's command bridge, Commander Kuran sat in his new prestigious post -- at the center of the bridge in the captain's chair. The hazy dimness and familiar thick smell of the chamber brought much pride to his senses. Finally, after years of serving under the insufferable old fool named KehG, he had now achieved his true place within the Empire as a warship captain. His new thoughts were quickly broken by an audible low-pitched chirp from the operations console indicating an incoming hail.

"Sir, the Starfleet vessel is contacting us and sending coordinates," informed the ops officer.

Kuran's large hands gripped the bare metallic armrests of his chair with satisfaction. "Initiate visual communications," he ordered. The viewscreen blinked then displayed the ugly freckled Human's face, the one named Tarin who he'd met at the previous 'diplomatic' dinner. He rose from his seat with confidence then stepped forward to the viewer's bulkhead in order to be seen in his entirety.

"We have received your coordinates and will stand by for your command," Kuran smiled, somewhat deviously and with crooked teeth. "I look forward to seeing your starbase. And the bloodwine you promised to provide!"

Aria kept silent, but moved a little closer so she was in view of the others. She raised an eyebrow, the cut on her face scabbed over thanks to some Klingon TLC, yet no dermal regenerator yet.

From within the Nova-class, the Starfleet captain's attention suddenly shifted from Kuran to Rice on the viewscreen. An ever-so-subtle change in relief became present in Tarin's eyes when she saw Galileo's chief of security still alive....albeit scuffed. "Lieutenant," acknowledged Tarin with a curt nod. "I assume your new captain and his crew are treating you well?" she subtly inquired.

Blake watched the screen steadily, her body remaining carefully motionless. Outwardly, she seemed unchanged, unbothered by what she was seeing. Inside, her anger coiled tight at seeing the healing wound on Aria's face and she tucked the frustration away in a box and locked a firm lid on it.

Aria watched the viewscreen, lifting her chin a little. She wasn't sure what to say to that. "I am finding my spot here," she said, a neutral answer. One she thought that her Klingon Captain would appreciate. She knew that the away team were back, but no details. Whatever had happened on the Cold Station was outside of her knowledge.

Commander Tarin's face was stoic and almost devoid of emotion. Typical for the New Yorker born and raised on Earth's most prominent North American capital city. "Good. We'll see you back at Regula I in several days," she responded before addressing the larger man across the screen. "Commander Kuran, we're transmitting coordinates for Regula I. Prepare to receive and go to warp on my mark."

The tall Klingon commander standing next to Rice clenched his fists, the leathers creaking with anticipation of new future. The time had come. Finally the Federation had opened their arms to him. "Acknowledged!" Kuran gave a cut signal to the operations officer and the visual feed ceased between the two vessels. "Degh, vey he, Regula I," he ordered to his helm officer who instantly turned back from Kuran to his console to comply.

The captain then leaned down to position his head next to his Human first officer's ear. "Soon we will discover if your people will honor their word...and if the tales that the Federation can't be trusted are true..." There was something contentious yet honest in his tonality. A not-so-subtle indication of contempt for his long-time political rivals.

Aria turned her head to look at her Captain, meeting his eyes and holding them. "One thing you might learn, is that what the Federation will always do is surprise you," she said, her voice light. "Just like you do."


USS Galileo-A

"Helm," instructed Tarin after the diplomatic message cut off, "set a course for Regula I. Warp 5. Transmit and synchronize our navigational vectors to Praxis. Prepare for warp on my mark," she ordered.

"Captain, I just mentioned we won't have warp 5 un...", Rafe began but was interrupted by Engineering.

=^= Engineering to Lt. Caradec =^=.

"Caradec here, go ahead."

=^= Warp 5 now available. =^=

"Acknowledged, engineering." Rafe entered the course and speed into navigation, transmitted and synchronized the vectors with the Praxis and turned with a smile to the Captain. "Warp 5 as ordered, mam! Ready for your command."

Commander Tarin conducted one final check on her personal console before looking back to the main viewscreen. "Engage," was her single order.

"Aye, Captain." Rafe's fingers moved over the console and the familiar stream of stars played out on the view screen as Galileo quickly responded to his command. Oh, she was smooth, he thought. Even though the impulse response was sluggish, the warp capabilities engineering focused on restoring responded perfectly. Him and Galileo were going to get along just fine, just fine indeed.

In space, the tiny Nova-class starship slowly maneuvered in tandem with the large green-hulled Klingon battlecruiser. Both vessels orientated themselves to face their direction of travel, then Galileo's small silver hull elongated and snapped into warp, leaving only a light trail of cosmic dust in its wake. Less than a second later, Praxis' large nacelles glowed bright green then flared as the warship wisked away and also disappeared with a distant flare in the background.

[OFF]

--

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

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Jeysa Zeror
Yeoman
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

ENS Amanda Turell
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

LTJG Rafe Caradec
Conn Officer
Cold Station 31

CMDR Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

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

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

LT Aria Rice
First Officer
IKS Praxis

CMDR Kuran
Acting Commanding Officer
IKS Praxis
[PNPC Saalm]

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