Mission Day 01
1430HR
USS Atlantis – Main Bridge

“Come in,” Tikva Theodoras said in response to the door chime to her Ready Room. Her Ready Room. When she had command of the Haida the little ship had been to small to have much more then a Ready Closet. This space was palatial in comparison. Sure, she’d had the ship for coming on two weeks now but it was still amazing.

Lieutenant Commander Charles MacIntyre stepped through and stopped exactly far enough into the room to let the door sensor know he was clear and the doors could close, looking for his commanding officer whom he couldn’t see at first. This was resolved momentarily as she stepped out from around the corner where the replicator was hiding with a cup of hot chocolate.

“Want anything?” she asked of the man before he could start speaking.

“Uh, no ma’am. Just a couple of status updates for you,” he replied, offering a small PADD.

Accepting the device, she motioned for him to sit and walked around her own desk to her chair. Her desk. Her chair. Her ship. The smile crept back onto her face. “Any warnings Mac before I start reading this?”

“Admiral Cody’s office sent us the most up to date survey charts and cartography information they have on the Swallow Nebula and the Expanse, so I guess our exploration orders have been confirmed. I lot of the information is nearly as old as we are.”

“We’re talking Voyager old aren’t we?” She sat the steaming cup down and looked over the information on the PADD. It wasn’t the full info, just the headlines to inform her what to look for later in the ship’s computers. “Geez, you’re right. Some of this information is old.”

“There’s also a notification in there that Admiral Cody will call once they’ve all settled in at Delta-Bravo. Likely we’ll get a bit more information once the powers that be start sweet talking the Turei.”

“Just saw that. No point worrying about it, he’ll call when he’s ready. Likely the same thing I’ve heard from half a dozen other Captain’s since taking the center seat. ‘Call me if you need anything’ and ‘Be careful out there Captain’.”

MacIntyre’s eyebrows furrowed at that and he looked his Captain over. She was technically only a Commander and younger than him but here she was commanding the Atlantis. There was an element of professional jealousy but it was restrained by actually having read her file, what he was entitled to anyway.

He had read about her skill at the helm of a starship, loading herself down with course work at and beyond the Academy. Even the petitioning for her own command as a Lieutenant and getting a small patrol boat for a couple of years. All things he himself hadn’t done because he’d just ‘done the job’ instead of living it.

“You know Mac,” Tikva said as she sat the PADD down and retrieved the cup from her desk, “it’s also an element of right place, right time.”

“Ma’am?” he asked in response to her statement out of the blue, then shook his head as he remembered what else was on her profile. Half betazoid. “Sorry ma’am. Can’t help it. Three years younger than me, already had your own command. Feel like I’m missing something.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You’ve still got both your original legs,” she smiled back at him, sipped from her cup and then set it down again.

“Mac, just remember, I chose you as my XO. I also don’t intend for you to stay my XO forever either. Might be a bit of hard work but I think we can get you your own ship quickly enough. Oh!” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. “A quote from the great Captain Denevan. ‘I’d prefer you leave this boat because Starfleet has a far nobler purpose for you’.”

MacIntyre nodded in comprehension of the quote, then his nodding picked up in amplitude as it sunk in. “I think I can work with that Captain,” using the rarely used rank honorific for a ship’s commander despite their rank.

“Only took me two weeks!”

“Pardon?”

“To get you to call me Captain outside of the Bridge.” There was an infectious grin on her face as she leaned forward slightly. “Mac, loosen up a little bit, pick up a couple of command courses we can work on out here in the DQ and we’ll get you a ship of your own in no time.”

Mission Day 03
1115HR
USS Atlantis – Main Bridge

“Yes ma’am, an SOS. Krenim long range scout if these old drive signatures are anything to go by. Voyager only ever had one encounter with these people. Being harassed by a Hirogen vessel. More than enough information to confirm them.”

Turning in her chair to face her tactical officer, Tikva was smiling. “Keen to test those skills of yours Guns?”

“Always ma’am,” the young woman in Security yellow said. Another giant on the crew who towered over her.

“Right,” she turned back to face the Helm and Operations officers in front of her, both looking her way. “Best possible speed if you please Mr T’Van. Red Alert!”

“Aye aye,” came at least three officers and the thrumming from an active warp engine went up in pitch as the Atlantis accelerated from a paltry 1024 times the speed of light to over double that. “Interception in three minutes,” her helmsman piped up to answer the question that was just forming on her lips.

Her hands found the ends of her armrests and she sat forward in her chair as MacIntyre sat himself down in the empty seat to her left. He had the choice of left or right and had claimed the left-hand set on day one. “Little keen there Captain.”

“Just like being the good guy. Riding to someone’s rescue.”

“Then let’s go be good guys,” MacIntryre responded.

Mission Day 03
1145HR
USS Atlantis – Sickbay

Sickbay was full to bursting with Krenim spacers occupying all the biobeds, the walking wounded took up wall space and a few other stretchers were simply on the floor out of the walkways. A few yellow shouldered security personnel were present as well and Tikva had to pass a few more in the hallway outside just to enter the eminent domain Dr Terax. The situation must have been bad because she spotted the EMH tending to the walking wounded with the other two doctors while Terax was in the surgical bay, a forcefield having been erected for sterility and privacy, it’s shimmering blurring all taking place within from those without.

The Krenim ship hadn’t been destroyed, but it was so severely damaged that the offer to take the injured off the ship had been accepted without any qualms by the ship’s captain. From the scans her people had made he was just happy enough to get them off so his able crew could focus on their vessel without tripping over their own.

“Captain,” a man in the Krenim uniform said, approaching her with his left arm in a sling. She recognised him as the scout’s XO who had insisted on coming across to keep an eye on his own personnel. He looked like he had been about to say something but was stunned momentarily by Tikva’s lack of height versus his own.

One day, just one day she might have a word with the universe about that. Why couldn’t she have taken after her mother for height instead of her father? She’d have made a good Amazon.

“Commander Terk, pleasure to meet you. You and your people being treated alright?” She looked around the room and in a quick count confirmed that all the medical staff bar four where in Sickbay, but the forcefield to the surgical bay was obscuring a few indistinct masses. Likely the rest of the staff. Dr Terax, or one of the other doctors, had even activated the EMH so things must have been a bit dire.

“Yes, thank you. Not often strange vessels come out of nowhere to help in these parts. Or have the firepower to drive the Hirogen off either with little threat to themselves.”

“Not often I get to come to the rescue of a new friend,” she responded.

“I…I think you might be right there. And yes, your people are remarkable. I am led to believe you’ve even sent engineers over to assist in repairing the Tavorax.”

“That I have. In the entire Starfleet you’ll likely only find a handful of engineers better than Lieutenant Velan. We’ll do what we can to get your ship back to speed and your crew on their feet.”

“Can I ask what your ship is doing in these parts? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this Federation you speak of.”

Grinning, Tikva indicated towards the doctor’s unoccupied office to get the two of them out of the way of the medical staff and took one of the seats on the patient side of the desk for herself, indicating the other for Terk. “Same as you I gather. Exploring, learning about the universe. We were on our way to explore a nebula nearby and an area we were told was called the Expanse.”

“Ah…I see. Might I impress upon your generosity once more Captain?” Terk asked, caution in his voice.

“We’re also out here to meet new civilisations and learn about them Commander. I think we can escort your ship back home,” she replied, having got the jist of his request from his emotional state. His desire to very much get home in one piece and with his crew intact.

“I’m sure Captain Hallin will want to phrase it differently but I’m not to proud to admit we need the escort at this time Captain,” the man said with a genuine smile on his face. “Perhaps once the Tavorax is in a better shape and my crew doesn’t need me we can exchange tours and pleasantries properly?”

“That Commander Terk sounds like a plan.”

Mission Day 03
1630HR
USS Atlantis – Ready Room

“…and so outside of the frankly non-critical hull breach and the plasma fire they had raging in Engineering when we got here, the Tavorax is in pretty good shape for a ship we initially thought of as severely damaged,” Lieutenant Velan said in his report. The Efrosian Chief Engineer’s uniform was frankly in a dire state, with the black not hiding the stains of various solutions found within the Krenim scout ship, or the tear on his left sleeve where it clearly got caught on something.

“I’ve just swapped with Lieutenant Maxwell who is overseeing repairs to their warp core and drive systems. Would go faster but their Engineer is being a bit cagey about their engines. Confidential technology and the such,” he continued, a hand coming up to stroke his rather modest moustache.

“Anything we should worry about?” asked Mac before Tikva could herself.

It was just the three of them here, all seated, letting Velan brief them on his rather busy day aboard the currently limp vessel that was alongside the Atlantis. Tikva had insisted on the Engineer sitting in fact. ‘Before you fall over’ she had told him before shoving a cup of tea in his hands.

“Our initial scans, before they put a stop to that, I’d say they cap out at warp eight or so. Nothing we haven’t seen or couldn’t replicate without a bit of effort. I don’t think they’re aware of subspace wear that warp drive is capable of as we saw no signs of advanced field geometry equipment. Then again the general planiform of their ships dictates a warp field that sort of makes the need moot really.”

“Interesting,” Tikva commented as she leaned back in her chair, a cup of cocoa in her hands. A mental calculation put this at cup…three? Yah, it was only cup three. Keep telling yourself that Tikva. “Their Executive officer in Sickbay seems to be a pretty open fellow but I’ve spoken twice now with Captain Hallin and have to conclude with your statement Velan – these folks are being a bit cagey about something.”

“Working with them for most of the day Captain, I’d say it’s more the senior officers who are cagey. The rest of the crew seem…cautious perhaps, but I think we won more than a few over just by being here to save them from the Hirogen.” Velan shook his head side to side in thought for a second. “A few more perhaps just from being helpful with no expectations on them.”

“Okay Velan. So outside of your crew briefing and damage reports, anything else?” Tikva asked and continued on with Velan’s negative head shake. “In that case go clean up, get something to eat and sleep if you need to.”

“Right you are ma’am,” the Efrosian replied, took one more sip of his tea then stood, set cup down on the tray Tivka had on her desk and nodded before exiting the Ready Room.

“Any trouble from our friends in Sickbay or Four Forward Mac?” she asked.

“None. Perfect guests. Those being discharged from Sickbay are escorted straight to Four Forward and don’t seem to show any interest in running off elsewhere. Some of them are keeping to themselves, others are being sociable with our crew.” Mac was nursing a cup of coffee himself, half gone while listing to Velan speak. “Commander Terk seems quiet taken with us I think.”

“Just finding it odd Mac how some of them are open and others aren’t. Little suspicious to me.”

“Well ma’am,” he came back to her. “I wouldn’t worry. There’s twenty of them aboard ship, plus another fifteen on their own ship. We have a crew of two hundred and twelve. I would put any suspicious feelings you’re getting down to…mild xenophobia? They were just rescued from the Hirogen by a multi-racial crew from a polity they didn’t even know existed a day ago.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she conceded to her XO. “We’ll just keep an eye on them, politely of course. And make sure Maxwell has what he needs on the Tavorax to help them get back on their toes. Sooner we can stop beaming power to them, the happier I’ll be.”

“Don’t like being stuck like this?” he asked.

“Don’t mind escorting someone, just don’t like being stuck in one spot really. Once we’re free to manoeuvre I’ll be happier.”

To: Rear Admiral Matthew Cody, Commander, Station Delta-Bravo
From: Commander Tikva Theodoras, Captain, USS Atlantis
Subject: Second Contact with Krenium Imperium

Sir,

Atlantis is currently suspending our travel to the Swallow Nebula for principal survey duties as we have responded to a distress call from a Krenium Imperium scout ship, the IS Tavorax. Vessel was under attack by a Hirogen vessel matching Voyager records for a mid-range vessel.

We have managed to scare off the Hirogen for now and are assisting the Tavorax in making repairs before we will undertake an escort of the vessel to the nearest Krenium outpost. Once we have assisted Tavorax in returning to her people we will continue underway to the Swallow Nebula for assigned survey duties.

Please find attached all scans of the Hirogen vessel we made before it’s departure. Notably there are minor weapons and shielding upgrades since Voyager was last in the area and Atlantis proved to be more then a match for them at this time. I have also attached all Engineering scans of the Krenium ship we have been able to take at this time for reference.

In our limited interactions I believe we have had more contact with the Imperium then Voyager had. I will use our continued exposure to attempt to open a dialogue with the Imperium. I have already informed them of our desire to map the Swallow Nebula and am seeking permission to identify Delta-Bravo as our base of operations should they wish to undertake a more formal relationship with the UFP.

If Sir I do not hear back from you, I will continue on my outlined course of actions. If you have any concerns or a change in orders please respond.

Yours,

Commander Tikva Theodoras
Commanding Officer
USS Atlantis

Mission Day 04
1145HR
IS Tavorax – Main Engineering

“Right, try it now,” Velan shouted from inside equipment compartment, lying on his back under a series of circuits.

The Krenium officer who was standing over him reconnected two cable bundles and watched as all the computer monitors on the portside of Engineering sprang back to life. The handsome woman’s face actually broke out into a smile as she reached down to help Velan up to his feet. “Looks like it’s working. Your display panels seem to be compatible with our systems.”

“Well, once we told the panels how to talk to your computer, it was easy,” Velan responded as the panels kept flickering, cycling through display settings until settling down on a chosen layout. “Those you’re Engineering controls?”

“That’s it,” Commander Teneran responded. Velan watched her as she tapped a few controls, brought up displays and made a few queries of the computer to check the displays were working properly. The handsome woman had gone from being standoffish and suspicious yesterday to polite and tolerable today. Velan put it down to his Beta shift led by Lieutenant Maxwell exceeding expectations and assisting in getting Tavorax’s warp drive back online during the night.

“Lieutenant,” she said turning to face Velan. “I was unfair on you and your people yesterday. What your people have done is much appreciated.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he responded, “It’s what we do.”

Her eyes narrowed for a moment as she tried to get a read for Velan and then gave up. “Either you’re from a very different part of the galaxy or your people are very, very naive.”

Velan shrugged his shoulders. “Or a bit of both.”

Teneran chuckeled lightly at that comment. “Right, shall we go see what the kids are up to?”

“It’s your ship, I’m just the out of town repairman,” Velan responded as he fell in beside her.

Mission Day 04
1200HR
USS Atlantis – Ready Room

Tikva sat back in her chair, head back and rubbed at the bridge of her nose, fingers then moving upwards to her eyebrows and then forehead, attempting to rub away the slowly building pain that was there. She knew this pain would eventually come to roost as she had quit coffee and tea a few days ago.

She’d become to reliant on caffeine again and so it was time to detox. Which inevitably meant a caffeine withdrawal.

Looking back at her monitor she saw the time and made the executive decision that now was a good time for lunch. She stopped however as her eyes glanced over a picture frame on her desk, positioned so that every time she left her chair she’d catch it in her vision.

Four individuals made up the group in the frame. Four Ensigns, their uniforms pristine and rank pips so beautifully shiny. The Bay Bridge hung in the background and the blue of a San Francisco afternoon dominated the background. Those four people were invincible each and every one of them.

“Computer,” she said as she grabbed the frame and got to her feet. This felt like a time to pace gently around her office. “Begin recording a message for distribution list Fantastic Four.” The computer took a moment to respond with its familiar little chirp.

“Hey guys, Tikva here. Captain Tikva as I’m sure you’ve all heard by now. So, guess who just made second contact in the DQ? So, here’s the deal…”

Mission Day 06
1321HR
USS Atlantis – Main Bridge

“Report!” Tikva shouted as she stepped onto the bridge from her Ready Room, the ship shaking violently once more as the red alert klaxon bellowed all around.

“Hirogen attack ship just came out of the asteroid field!” came a shouted response from Lieutenant Adelinde Gantzmann at Tactical. Her hands were busy directing the Atlantis’ weapons in their not so subtle response.

“T’Val, get us clear of the asteroids! Someone tell the Tavorax to break for the Krenim outpost, we’ll cover them.” Tikva threw herself into the command chair in the middle of the bridge just as the ship rocked once more under sustained weapons fire.

“Shields at eighty percent!”

That got Tikva’s attention. Their last assault has been rather one sided with the Hirogen, but this ship was packing way more of a punch, having taken a decent chunk of the shields in a few hits. “Guns, quantum torpedoes!”

“Aye ma’am!” With that the familiar ‘thump, thump, thump’ of the aft torpedo launchers firing in rapid succession was reassuring, more so then the view screen of rocks in front of the Atlantis as T’Val, the ship’s Vulcan helmswoman was throwing the ship through a series of energetic motions. By the beams that lanced out past the Atlantis and into the rocks around them, those same motions seemed to be working.

“Solid hits on the hirogen vessel. Shields holding for now.”

Well that was less then stellar. “T’Val, dead ahead, skim that large asteroid. Guns, drop a couple of torps into it as we pass. See if we can’t foul them up for a second.” She turned her head to her XO was who was in the process of throwing himself into his own seat, his uniform not quiet regulation in his rush clearly to get to the bridge. “Get the deck chief to launch whatever standby shuttles she’s got ready.”

“Zulu alpha?” MacIntyre asked, took Tikva’s focus away from him as all the acknowledgement he needed and keyed his own comm, getting onto the task he’d been left to handle. “Brie, Zulu Alpha. Get birds in flight now.”

As the Atlantis barrelled towards one of the asteroids in front of it the ship pitched up slightly and flew along the surface of the nickel-iron rock a scant ten meters above it before a series of orange-red orbs launched from the ship not directed at its pursuer but the asteroid itself. Antimatter explosions ripped the space-cold rock to shreds, the energy unable to be conducted across its mass quickly enough and resulting in plumes of molten metal and interstellar dust launching into space and directly into the path of the hirogen attack ship.

The vessel pushed through that maelstrom of death with the failing flicker of orange shields, the hull smouldering in places from where molten mass had overwhelmed the shields and taken fury out on worked metals. As if angered by this however the vessel fired once more on the Atlantis, orange-yellow beams lancing across the void and withering away the ship’s aft shields.

“Get us out of the field now T’Val, but find us something to hide behind for a few seconds,” Tikva said, hands gripping onto her command chair’s arms rather tightly. “Mac, tell me good news.”

“Waimak and Buller are good to go.”

“T’Val!”

“One moment Captain,” the Vulcan responded without a single hint of annoyance in her voice. Battle was just another factor to complicate her flying, nothing more, nothing less.

The ship rolled to avoid another set of beams, rocked with another hit, pitched upwards and for a few moments was free of fire before launching back into view of the hirogen ship who had Atlantis dead in it’s sights.

“Shields down to twenty percent!” came the call from Gantzmann as she gave the hirogen another response.

Atlantis burst out of the asteroid field and into open space with no more space terrain to hide behind or utilize. But that ultimately played both ways. The hirogen vessel continued on its own path but was now being pursued by two Starfleet shuttles, firing phaser beams from the vessel’s less defended rear arc.

“T’Val, bring us around. Guns, fire at will. See an opening, throw a torp in there.”

Soon the shuttles were joined by their mothership turning around, no longer running but fighting. The two larger ships traded shots and punched at each other, shields starting to falter on the Atlantis and the hirogen’s larger mass affording it more staying power in this fight.

It was the shuttle named Buller that got the lucky shot in. A micro-torpedo launched from the shuttle that would later be called a golden BB. It slipped in somewhere past the physical armour of the hirogen ship and impacted something vital. Something that regulated antimatter as the ship disappeared in a bright white flash of annihilation.

“Lieutenant Shven and Ensign Carmichael, please, sit.”

Tikva had to admit to herself the didn’t know these two flight offers as well as she’d have liked to. Knew their names and faces, but that was about it. She had been to busy reading in-depth bios of her senior staff, then all the archive data they had on their assigned exploration sector, then had started with the next tier down of officers and Flight Ops wasn’t her domain after all. It was her XOs.

The two men both sat down in the chairs opposite her desk and looked a little uncomfortable. They didn’t really know their captain either and couldn’t figure out why they’d both been called to the Ready Room upon return to the ship.

“So, who was flying Buller?” she asked, to which Carmichael raised his hand. The young man’s mousy brown hair was a bit of a mess. It looked uncontrollable to her eye.

“Well, good shooting there Carmichael,” she followed up, leaning back in her chair and smiling. “I just called you both up here as I wanted to personally thank you. Taking combat shuttles out there wasn’t an easy task.”

“It’s what we’re trained for ma’am,” Shven said. “Evasive flying and combat tactics. It is why the XO sought us out for the Atlantis.”

“And I’ll thank him for his good decision making. I’m thanking you both for your skill and expertise out there. I’m also noting my personal thanks on your records for any future captains to read over.”

Both men looked at her in a different light. Carmichael looked ready to crack into a smile while Shven looked confused.

“So, gentlemen, thank you,” she said, this time with more emotion in her voice. “And please, on my orders, have the rest of the day off.”

Mission Day 06
1530HR
USS Atlantis – Engineering

“Okay Lieutenant, how much trouble am I in?” Tikva asked as she stepped into Engineering upon her presence being requested by her chief engineer. “Though, I should remind you, I didn’t take us into this fight. They jumped us.” As she walked through Engineering she was thankful for staff getting out of her way and again thought that she must of somehow recruited a ship of giants.

Am I really the shortest person on this ship? She asked herself.

“None ma’am, just wanted to show you why that ship hit as hard as it did,” Velan said from his work station. The Efrosian turned on his chair to face his commanding officer with a smile before turning back to the console and bringing up a frequency analysis diagram alongside the ship’s general damage report chart.

“Notice anything?” he asked as gave room for Tikva to look at the chart in depth.

It took her a moment, of looking at the pretty graph, then reading the axis and the legend to see just what was on the screen. “Wait…are you saying they were firing just off our shield frequencies?”

“Looks like. Not quiet a close match but close enough to drain them pretty quickly. I’m going to recommend we fight the hirogen like the Borg ma’am. Rotate shields and weapons regularly, keep changing tactics. Oh, and more of that dirty fighting you got us doing. That asteroid thing was neat.”

“Learned that one from the Gorn,” she said off handed while her eyes drifted to the damaged report screen. “Wait…did they break my warp drive?”

“I think you’ll find it’s my warp drive ma’am,” Velan said, stroking his white-grey beard. “But no, just some microfractures in the hull on the starboard nacelle. Work crew is out there fixing it right now. Right as rain in a few hours.”

She nodded in understanding, then stood up straight. “Right, keep on it then and let the bridge know when we’re good to go again. Tavorax has made it to the Krenim station and I’ve had a few words with their station commander but I get the feeling he wants us gone before we attract any more trouble for him.”

“Will do ma’am.”

Mission Day 55
1300HR
USS Atlantis – Bridge

Over the last fifty or so days of high warp interstellar travel, the crew of the Atlantis had found a decent enough groove that in Tikva’s last transmission back to Command she had expressed her satisfaction in the crew’s performance and cohesion. It was this more relaxed but no less professional bridge that Tikva walked out onto from her ready room, cup in hand and a padd in the other.

“Captain on the bridge,” Adelinde said as she stood up from the center seat where she had been in the process of doing some of her own paperwork. A simple wave from Tikva and she was sitting back down in the seat, perching herself on the edge like she had seen her shorter command officer do more than a few times.

“Mac still running drills?” Tikva asked as she walked over to the Science station and dropped the padd in hand off to the officer there, one of the junior science officers who was pulling bridge duty in the relatively uneventful journey.

“Yes ma’am. Holodeck two. Borg boarding simulations. Lieutenant Ch’tkk’va is playing judge for the simulations and they are intending to present suggestions to me at the conclusion of this round. Speaking of ma’am, when will we have you participate?”

“What times have you got left?” Tikva asked as she approached the trio of seats in the middle of her bridge and once more waved Adelinde from standing, opting to not sit in her XO’s seat but in what she internally referred to as the Guest Chair. Drink in hand was sat down on the small platform to her left.

“Morning and afternoon for the next two days. The Commander and I do want everyone to have done the simulation before we get to the Swallow Nebula ma’am.”

“Tomorrow morning then.”

“In that case,” Adelinde responded, producing a padd from beside her, “could I please have you approve a modification to the duty roster for tomorrow? Commander MacIntrye is set for Beta shift, but I would prefer to judge your run ma’am and request that Lieutenant Ch’tkk’va be given my bridge duty.”

The look on Tikva’s face as she was presented the padd conveyed her own internal feelings, one’s which she immediately admonished herself over. Concern, worry, distrust – all off them boiled up under the surface and then her more rational side, honed by years of command and Command training slapped her in the face. Yes, Ch’tkk’va was a Xindi insectoid and yes, their service record was exemplary. But there was something deeply primitive about her own aversion to the Lieutenant.

It rattled her that her own primate brain could still override the more evolved sensibilities of a 24th century human. But evolution was a slow thing and it had taken much, much longer than the last few centuries of interstellar cosmopolitan interactions to develop humans to survive on their own dangerous world.

Tasteless thoughts put aside, a determination to speak with the ship’s counsellor made, Tikva looked over the padd and then pressed her thumb to the Commit button that was present, making the changes to the ship’s duty roster with her fingerprint verification. “I trust you’ll give Ch’tkk’va the same warning I’ve given you and Mac about my chair?”

“Ch’tkk’va doesn’t use chairs,” Adelinde responded as she checked the padd, then set it aside between herself and the chair’s arm. “Everyone better just get used to their hovering around and checking on everyone’s work.”

“Well, that’s some good news,” Tikva responded, rising to her feet and collecting her drink. “Right, I’m going go check on Engineering and I think…geophysics today? See if they’re ready for some survey work once we arrive.”

Mission Day 58
1230HR
USS Atlantis – Conference Room

“With Camargo’s assistance, we have finished mapping their planetary satellite network,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr rumbled along, the words starting clearly at his core and moving with a steady near-tectonic pace, brining with them a reassuring depth. “We have not identified any outward facing camera satellites. Our probes are in higher orbits then anything they have and were stealth coated before launch. All of their drives have fuel remaining to assist in collection when ready to depart.”

Nodding in understanding, Tikva then turned to face Lieutenant Gabrielle Camargo without a word. She had to mentally slap herself once again, as she did most times whenever she looked at Gabrielle.

No! She’s part of your crew. A junior part of your crew!

Yes, but she’s gorgeous. Just look at her.

No! Be professional.

Fine.

She just hoped that the poker face she had worked on so hard at the Academy and at Captain Denevan’s poker table still held true. Giving mixed signals to her crew would not be helpful out here, nearly two months removed from the rest of Starfleet, let alone the Federation.

“Oh, right, my turn,” Gabrielle Camargo started, her voice a velvety contralto. Tucking a stray strand of auburn hair behind an ear, she picked up her padd, jabbed a quick command and then stood as the main display in the briefing room came to life with her quick presentation. “It’s true all of our probes are above their satellites, but it looks like someone down there has greater aspirations.”

The display image shifted from the planet and it’s smattering of artificial satellites and instead focused on the larger, closer of the natural satellites, three objects in orbit of it being highlighted. One object was in a polar orbit around the natural body, the other two objects much lower and nearly identical in their orbits save for a closing divergence.

“One of these objects is showing life signs, but both are powered. Initial scan indicates this one,” she said, pointing at the object in the lead, “to be a reusable lander of some description. Big sucker too. I’m guessing enough fuel on board for four or five descents and ascents. The other object looks like a simple space capsule and service body.”

“They’re going to land on their moon,” Tikva said, as she stood and approached the screen, looking over the telemetry that was scrolling down the sides, then just straight at the image. “What is their tech level like?”

“Pre-Eugenics War Earth ma’am.”

“That’s a big window there Gab,” MacIntyre spoke up. “We talking Apollo or STS? These guys just getting to their moon or we likely to see their version of the Botany Bay go floating past us?”

“I..uh…” Gabrielle paused, clearly unprepared for the question of specifics that had just been thrown at her. Her cheeks started to flush and she went for her padd to review the data it contained, hoping for a quick answer.

“Something a bit better than Apollo,” came an answering voice. Tarush Velan was busy stroking his moustache and beard with one hand, the other manipulating a padd on the conference room table in front of him. “More like late Apollo. That lander looks heavy and would have been a pain to launch, but it’s reusable locally. I’d bet they have a plan for refuelling every once and awhile. Saves them launching a lander each time they want to visit.”

“Yes…late Apollo,” Gabrielle agreed, rather forcefully to try and refocus attention back to her and her presentation. “But these people aren’t the only visitors.” The screen shifted, spinning the celestial body around and identifying a spot on the surface that would be bathed in sunlight and situated near the middle of a rather large crater. “Looks like an outpost here. Scans show three life signs. Probe 3 was able to grab visuals for us. This outpost and the orbiting space craft look like they belong to different nation states.”

Tikva let out a deep breath as she walked towards the conference room window and looked out across the forward expanse of her ship’s hull. She had always been used to looking out backwards in a conference room, this experience was still novel to her. “Well, we won’t be able to do indepth surveys of their planet, or that moon. When are they expected to land?”

“Communications indicate another day or so,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr intoned. “Likely time to dock and do systems checks before crew transfer to the lander for their excursion.”

“Okay,” Tikva turned around and sat herself down on the window sill, back against the thick reinforced window. “Continue the surveys of the outer planets for now. We’ll keep grabbing all the communication and broadcast information we can for xenoanthropology to dig over. I want to listen and watch this landing.”

“Kindred spirits ma’am?” Gantzmann said, her first words this whole meeting.

“Most certainly! Throwing themselves into the void just to go turn over rocks and see what’s out there. And these people are making early steps. Its kinda heartening to know maybe in a hundred years or so these folks will be out exploring the cosmos themselves.”

She looked over her senior officers and then smiled. “Right, get out of here. Go do some work.” As they filed out, Tikva waved lightly to get Gabrielle’s attention and waved her over. “Camargo, a moment please.”

As the others filed out, she could watch as Gabrielle deflated, then stood up straight and regathered herself as the door closed. “Ma’am,” she said, her voice laced with a slight tremble.

“Good presentation, very impressed.”

“Ma’am?” came the confused follow up. Gabrielle had clearly been mentally preparing for some sort of tear down and to get a compliment set her off guard.

“Good presentation, very impressed. You were still taking scans up until about five minutes before we started right?” Tika pushed off from the window sill and walked over to the replicator in the room. “Two peppermint teas, one teaspoon of sugar, eighty degrees,” she ordered of the device, returning momentarily to offer one cup to her senior science officer.

“Thank you ma’am, but I wasn’t prepared for Commander MacIntryre’s question. I should have been.” The taller, dark skinned woman accepted the cup and sipped at it experimentally, finding the temperature just right for slightly larger sips then what pipping hot tea would allow.

“Nonsense. Mac was curious, but I don’t expect my people to have all the answers all the time. Especially when I call a snap briefing with barely any prep time. Word of advice though,” she paused long enough to take a sip of her own tea, “if you don’t know, say so. Tell me you’ll get me an answer and then keep going.”

“I…thank you ma’am.”

“First deep space assignment, right?”

“Yes ma’am. I was previously junior science officer on the USS Marbeck.” Another sip of tea. “I saw the posting for the Atlantis and applied, if just to have the interview experience.”

“Well Gabrielle, we’ll try and keep things interesting, but not to interesting. In the meantime, I want you to finish that cup of tea, take a few moments to catch your breath and then return to your post. Understood?”

“Yes ma’am,” Gabrielle said, back straightening with a bit more confidence.

“Very good,” Tikva said, offering a smile, a gentle salute with her own cup and then headed for the door.

Mission Day 07
URAF Peranon
In orbit of the moon Telrin, approaching URAF Lander Trudger 01

“Peranon, Melwin, we are approaching Trudger, 2 meters per second.”

“Understood Peranon, we confirm 2 meters per second.”

“Thirty meters.”

“Understood Peranon.”

“Melwin, Peranon actual here. Grent says he can see an object outside of window one. Unable to tell distance but can see a glint of light. Are we expecting any visitors from the Monarchy?”

“Roger that sighting Peranon. We’re confirming with tracking if they’re seeing anything, but we don’t think so. One moment…Linrin, I’ve got an Air Force General here confirming there shouldn’t be any Monarchy vessels in your vicinity at the moment. In fact, they’ve got nothing in space at all.”

An almighty clang filled the radio channels momentarily.

“Contact with Trudger. Soft seal confirmed.”

“Roger Peranon.”

“Hard seal confirmed…and locked. Melwin, we have confirmed hard dock with Trudger. We’ll reconfirm all indicators and proceed with hatch opening.”

“Understood Peranon. We’re reviewing all your telemetry data right now gentlemen and now we’ve got Trudger we’ll review its systems as well. We’ll check in for go, no go at 1630. “

“Melwin, Grent here, can we get another confirmation on this object I’m seeing. Linrin and Helpt have both seen it now. It’s pretty radiant, sitting just above the ecliptic I’d wager and I’m looking at it just over the limb of Telrin but I can’t tell how far away. I’ve aimed Peranon’s tracking radar at it but I’m getting no response.”

“Must be a problem with your tracking radar Grent. I’ll get the boys from Grwen Engineering on it straight away. They built it, they can fix it.”

“Negative Melwin. Tracking radar is working just fine. Was working all the way up till we docked with Trudger and I haven’t turned it off. Could you perhaps see if the URAF Deep Space Array could do a sweep around Telrin? That array is orders more powerful than our dinky little get up.”

“I’ll talk with the boys in green Grent. I’ll let you know when we talk again for go no go.”

“Roger that Melwin. Peranon out.”

Mission Day 58
1317HR
USS Atlantis – Bridge

“Were they talking about us?” Tikva asked from her chair, looking over in the direction of Camargo and Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr who were both collaborating at the Science officer’s station. She didn’t like the way the conversation they had been spying on had developed there at the end of it.

“Can’t be us,” MacIntryre responded. “Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr retuned the shields to absorb radar and we should be to far away for them to spot us.” He looked just as confused as his captain did as they considered what was going on.

“Actually,” Camargo finally spoke up after a couple of head nods between her and Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr and whispered words finally agreeing with each other. “I think we forgot that we’re painted the next best thing to white. T’Val, could you please put the visual sensor from probe six on the main viewer?”

As the main view shifted from the tracking diagram to a visual input, it revealed a sliver of a moon on one side and a single bright blip near the celestial body, moving slowly out of frame. But right there in the middle of the frame was a single white luminous dot, only slightly brighter than the background stars but still enough to stand out.

“And if I do this,” Camargo announced, inputting a command, “we can clearly see,” she continued as the image zoomed in three steps, the multiplier in the bottom right corner, “what looks like a Federation Argonaut class starship.”

“Well damn…” Tikva said, trailing off as she sank back into her chair. “Guess that means we’ve worn out our welcome then.”

“Bug out?” Mac asked beside her.

“Yah, or at least it is for Atlantis. Camargo, work with Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr and revise the flight plans for the probes. I want them all on system escape trajectories. You can use them and play with them until their fuel levels hit that requirement, then launch them away. We’ll collect them later, but we need them away from the planet at end of life.”

“Aye ma’am.”

“T’Val, start backing us off slowly and take us back to the fourth planet. I want us to just slowly fade away visually. We’ll be an interesting little quirk and scientific mystery for the ages. Nothing to fancy or fast, understood.”

“Understood ma’am,” the Vulcan said as she started her calculations and executing manoeuvres.

“Mac, can I see you in my ready room?” Tikva asked as she stood and headed for her personal office. She waited just long enough for her XO to step inside and the door to close before she sighed. “Seriously, we both forgot the ship has a high albedo?”

Mac shrugged and was actually smiling as he stepped through the office for the pitcher of water that sat near permanently on a plinth and poured both of them a glass of water. “Hey, not just us, but everyone. I bet Velan didn’t forget, just didn’t think of it. Seriously, these Tarelites are just as much using their sensors as their own eyeballs for space travel at the moment. No one on this ship has been in a society actually dependant on looking out a window for target identification what…centuries?”

“Geez…our own technological frame of reference just gave us away,” she said, accepting the water with a slight salute of the glass and a sip.

“Yah, I’d think so. Starfleet is so used to running into warp capable civilisations or those far more primitive then the Tarelites out there. We caught these people in that wonderful post-Industrial, pre-warp era. Most civilizations tend to only last a few centuries in this window so our experience is…not often enough to ingrain a culture of awareness.”

“Ingrain a culture of awareness?” Tikva asked as she circled her desk and sat down. “You really have been reading those command course work guides haven’t you.”

“I’m seven years your senior and a rank below you Cap. If I want a promotion and my own ship, I better get a move on. No offense ma’am, but I do want my own command and you’ve broken me out of that unhelpful cycle I was in.”

“Good!” she said setting aside the glass. “Then you can manage expediating our retreat and relocation. We’ll keep watching the locals for awhile with the probes. I’m not going to authorise a second wave, so you can also break the news to Camargo and Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr.”

“They’ll be gutted.”

“I know. So am I really, but I don’t think we can risk it. One accident and we’ve handed over Federation technology and then either we walk away or definitely give the game up in trying to recover our tech.”

“Right you are Cap. I’ll let them know. Think I’ll get T’Val to park us in the umbra as well and manage our aspect ratio on the way out to minimise our light signature.”

“Nice. Hadn’t though of that. Right, be about it Mac and I’ll come out in few minutes. I’ll get started on the inevitable report about this brush with the Prime Directive for Command.”

“Don’t envy that report,” he said, setting the glass into the replicator for cleansing and then exited back out on the bridge.

“Computer,” she said, turning her chair to look out the window in her ready room, “being recording for distribution list Fantastic Four.” She waited for the confirmation chirp and then continued. “Hey guys, Tikva here again. Heard from all of you and so glad to hear everyone’s doing good. Rachel, babe, I am so jealous of your new assignment. XO on an Odyessey class…Wellington is a lucky ship to have you! And about time you got such a posting as well! So, reason I’m writing…we’re out here in the DQ and we’ve been watching a pre-warp civilization for about a day and we’ve already underestimated them…”

Mission Day 58
1357HR
USS Atlantis – Main Bridge

“Captain to the bridge” was the preceding refrain, followed shortly by the classic response of “Report!”

“Minor trouble from the natives ma’am,” Adelinde said as she rose from the center seat and stepped aside. “One group started sweeping with high end radar and it apparently caught the attention of the otherside. We’ve detected three large scale planetary radar sources and the outpost on the moon has also swept our general vicinity until the moon’s rotation took the base over the horizon.”

“We figured that would happen,” Tikva said, approaching her Security chief, but not taking the centre seat, instead allowing the woman to explain. Perhaps, just perhaps she’d be able to return to her office and continue with this report with minimal interruption.

Dear Command, we kinda dented the Prime Directive. Turns out all our ships are painted a highly reflective colour in space. Perhaps we should add that to the First Contact refresher courses. Yours, Tikva.

Well, it’s was a bit more then that, but that was a decent enough summary.

“Yes ma’am. We didn’t however count on two of the satellites in orbit having some sort of gyro spin system we didn’t account for. We’re pretty sure both of the space capable nation-states have seen us as their ground-based radar is sweeping us pretty constantly now.”

“Shields?”

“Still absorbing radar ma’am. They can see us visually, but radar is telling them we’re not here.”

Both of Tikva’s hands came up to cup her face, fingers rubbed at her brow for a couple of moments and then she swept her hands back, brushing any stray hair back behind her ears. “Right. T’Val, set course for the fourth planet, one quarter impulse and engage when ready. I was hoping we could just back off and fade away but if they’ve seen us, we need to get away before they get a good look at us. Oh and bring up all the navigation lights on the hull. Maximum brightness. We’ll flood their cameras and just be a bright blob of light hopefully. Once we’re a light minute or so away from the planet kill all external lights. Should be to far for them to spot anything useful.”

“Aye ma’am. What about our probes?” Adelinde asked.

“Camargo?” Tikva asked instead, looking to her Science Chief and essentially passing the question on.

“None of them have reported any radar sweeps so far. So far no one has spotted them. Likely due to their size and the stealth coatings on them.”

“Okay. Keep the probes in place for now Gabrielle. I want you to monitor military and space communications. I want to know what they know or think they know. We’ll get an idea of how bad we’ve upset the apple cart here and then recall our probes and vacate the system I think.”

“Aya ma’am,” Adelinde responded.

“Right, carry on all,” Tikva offered once more and headed back for her ready room.

What was supposed to be an afternoon of watching space pioneers undertaking a moon landing was turning into a nightmare. She’d inadvertently taken the ship to close and been spotted by a single eagle eyed astronaut and now it seemed everyone on the planet who could was busy looking for UFOs

Hey, don’t worry, you’re not the first captain to do this and you won’t be the last.

Yah, not helping.

You’re on the frontier, these things happen. Besides, you see Adelinde? Those strong arms…

As the door to her ready room closed behind her she sighed. “I need a couple of days off…”

Mission Day 59 

0800HRS 

USS Atlantis – Main Bridge

“Morning all,” Tikva announced rather loudly as she stepped through the door from the rampway leading up from Deck 2. No one flinched at least, but respectful head nods came her way. She’d had to actually order Gantzmann to stop announcing her arrival, but this morning she wasn’t greeted by her fair haired pseudo-valkyrie but the green and purple tinted chitin of Lieutenant Ch’tkk’va.

In absolute years the Xindi-Insectoid was astoundingly young to even be on a starship, but amongst their own kind was old enough to serve, even possibly command if their path had been like Tikva’s – dedicated to getting a center seat as quickly as possible. But instead of serving on a Xindi vessel, Ch’tkk’va had opted to join Starfleet. Oh, to have been in the course planner’s office that day, trying to accommodate the accelerated nature of their learning.

No, Ch’tkk’va was a Security and Tactical officer through and through.

Ah! Mandibles! Compound eyes!

He’s one of your best. Breathe. Deep breath. Respect for them.

Giant. Frigging. Bug.

Highly intelligent sentient being who demolished everyone in the talent contest last month. And you had that deep philosophical discussion with remember. Just sip your coffee and let Rational Tikva beat up on Primate-Brain Tikva for a bit.

As she did her customary tour of the bridge first thing, she stopped at Science and looked the young man who was sitting there over. Stanislaw? Stanford? Stan? The crew wasn’t that big, how could she not recall his name? He nodded as she offered a smile and resolved to look over the manifest once more.

As she had done several times in regards to the man.

His name just refused to stick in her memory. Much like that Engineering officer who was permanently on Delta shift that Velan was always complaining about. Gary? Gavin? Wasn’t Gertrude was it?

“Well Lieutenant,” she started, stepping up behind him to look over his shoulder at the data on screen, “What’s the overnight developments down there on Tarela?”

“They sent us a message ma’am, but the Commander said it could wait till morning seeing as we’re unlikely to respond.”

“Sent us a message?”

“Well, broadcast it omnidirectionally at least ma’am. The United Republics started and then the Monarchy of Krem did about an hour later. Both have been sent to your office.”

She nodded and noted that two of the probes were on system escape trajectories already and that two of the ship’s shuttles were chasing after them. “So, six more probes? All the close in ones I’m guessing?”

“Yes ma’am. Their orbits are stable so they can station keep rather easily. We’ll have to pull them out before the end of the week though as the batteries will start winding down.” He pulled up the probe stats, showing fuel and battery levels, all within the green for now.

“Good good. And the lander?”

“Trudger 01 has confirmed landing and all systems green for orbital return. They’re about an hour out from undertaking an excursion. Apparently, they’re doing some construction prep work. We also caught another rocket launch from the surface during the night. Monstrous thing too,” the man said, bringing up the visual of a rocket launching from the night side of the planet, smack in the middle of a vast dark patch, far removed from the lights of civilization.

“Was that sea launched?” Tikva asked as she looked at the scans of the rocket.

It was a true beast of a machine for the average technological capability the planet had presented to date. It was just a few meters short of half the length of Atlantis herself, two stages and had lofted a grand total of four hundred and twelve metric tons onto a Trans-Telrin trajectory.

“Good spotting ma’am. Certainly was. We were looking over their continents for a launch facility and this thing was floating out in the ocean. I’ve spent most of the shift checking sensor records of the area and can’t see it. Can see a rather large fleet of ships in the area, but no rocket. Must have been underwater.”

“Right…keep digging and let me know will you Stanley,” she said, smiling as her subconscious had just handed her a name, then realising it might not have been right.

“Will do ma’am,” the man, Stanley, answered without a beat. So, the name was right? Excellent.

Next she wrapped around the back of the bridge and Ch’tkk’va who was busy manning the Security console. “Anything new?” she asked with the calm and control of a starship Captain perfectly in command of themselves, their ship and the situation.

A series of clicks and chirps started before the Universal Translator took over. “No new contacts on short- or long-range scanners. A message from Starfleet Command arrived via the relays. Apparently there has been a command restructure and we are now part of a new hive unit,” they said not even turning away from monitoring all of the displays at their command.

Then again, Tikva recalled, they had an excellent field of vision. She was likely nowhere near the edge of Ch’tkk’va’s vision.

“Hive unit?”

“My apologies, task force. They are different words. The translator is…precise in its translations, failing in nuance. I will endeavour not to make the same mistake again Captain.”

“Lieutenant, that little mistake has given me more insight into the Xindi-Insectoid mindset. It was no mistake; it was a way of thinking. Perhaps something to discuss next time we share a meal?”

Ch’tkk’va at that did turn their head, primary collectors turning to face her and she drew in a slight breath to manage herself, knowing full well they probably picked up on it. “I would appreciate that Captain. Your particular mindset is…interesting as well.”

“Excellent. I’ll sort out a time later then perhaps. Oh, and I hear Mac has new playing cards so you can’t see through them anymore.” She smiled as mandibles flex on their face, the equivalent of a predatory smile. “I didn’t tell him by the way, your secret was safe with me.”

Then her footfalls carried her over to Operations. Lieutenant Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr eschewed the use of any furniture on the Bridge, but that mainly came down to the fact that their silicon-based physiology put them at an extreme weight difference likely to crush standard seats. In the conference room everyone left the one single red chair free for Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr. “No change ma’am,” they said, voice rumbling from deep within their form and spilling out.

There was a certain reassuring quality to Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr’s voice. That solid, strong, fundamental aspect that was confident in its own existence. Or, at least that’s how Tikva heard it. The voice of a Titan who, having read their service record, refused to break.

Just like her.

“Excellent. Keep me appraised.”

“Will do ma’am.”

She didn’t do a cursory visit at the helm though, so much as a stop and review all the displays, check the readings and quietly reach over Ensign Carmichael’s shoulder to tap at a screen to get the young man’s attention to the notification present. As she did so she heard the gentle chuckle rumbling away inside Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr at her actions.

“Oh, sorry ma’am,” the young Carmichael said as he rapidly opened the notification, processed it and made a slightly adjustment to the Atlantis’ course, lofting the ship slightly higher in it’s orbit of the barren magenta world below.

“Keep an eye on that Carmichael. If you hadn’t corrected it, we’d have fallen out of orbit in say a year or so.” When she saw the confused look on the Ensign’s face, she smiled slightly. “I’m joking. You’re doing fine. I know your experience is mostly with small craft, but T’Val and I think you’re up for the task of getting some big ship helm experience.”

“Well ma’am, if the saviour of the Jutland thinks I’m up for it, I’ll take the praise.”

Oof. Hero.

I was no damn hero, just lucky and skilled.

Mostly lucky…you didn’t bleed out.

Shut up!

“Less hero worship, more eyes on your controls.” As Carmichael snapped upwards in his seat a bit and returned his eyes to his console, she looked to Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr. “I blame you you know.”

“Rain upon a mountain,” they responded.

Shaking her head she headed for her ready room, intent on watching these two broadcasts from the planet and seeing just how much trouble she was in via these people’s own testament to their being present. She was just about to the door, it sliding open when Ch’tkk’va spoke.

“New contact from the planet. On screen.”

The main viewer was showing a feed from one of the probes in the planetary orbit, its camera focused just past the terminator on the day side. It must have just been past dawn where the camera was pointing but she could see what got Ch’tkk’va’s attention.

Another rocket, much like the scan that Stanley had shown her was rising from the middle of the ocean. She could see it just punching through the cloud deck, the plume from its exhaust indicating the immense power behind this machine. Half the length of Atlantis, wider than a Danube-class runabout was long and defying the universal law of gravity in the single most primitive and defiant method possible.

“Anyone on that thing?” she asked quietly after watching the main viewer in rapt attention for nearly a minute, much like most of the bridge crew.

“Three life signs. Same location as the previous launch. Timed for I’m guessing a brief stint in orbit and then a burn to Telrin within a few hours,” Stanley said from the Science console after having turned to check his readings.

Then the engine plume stopped, explosive bolts rippled halfway along the rocket’s length and ullage motors separated the two halves as they rode momentum upwards. Then with much violence the top half accelerated once more, the bottom half having drifted out of the exhaust plume and starting its slow descent back to the waters below.

“Anything major, let me know. And Stanley, get me the best scans of that thing you can. I want enough to recreate it in the holodeck if possible,” Tikva said as she turned and crossed finally into her ready room.

“I am Secretary General Cas Torrin of the United Republics of West Lorim, speaking to the visitors to our humble star system. After your long and no doubt arduous journey across the depths of space, both in space and time, we welcome you in a spirit of good will and comradery. We welcome you to make contact with us, to share your wisdom and stories with us so that we may know our galactic neighbours better. While we might not be as technologically advanced as your people, we hope that our humble world can provide some respite from your long trek.”

“On behalf of the Monarchy of Krem, her peoples and his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Tovan, seventh of his name, Defender of the Throne, Keeper of the Faith, Guiding Light of the People and rightful ruler of all of Tarela, we offer this warning to the alien ship visiting our star system – do not approach our world. Do not attempt to interfere in the affairs of this planet or in any of the activities undertaken by the Monarchy. If you attempt to approach our world once more, we will be forced to respond with deadly effect.

Mission Day 59
0830HRS
Ready Room

“Well, that was a contrast in messages,” Tikva said to herself as she sat back after viewing the two messages that had been left in her inbox. They had been flagged with a priority just under the recently received missive from Starfleet about changes in organisational structure, still unread.

She leaned back in her chair, eyes turning towards the ceiling. The Prime Directive was pretty direct here – no contact with pre-warp civilisations. She’d already broken the bit about not even being seen, but that was always based more on known or thought to be known technical capabilities after all.

Not the good old fashion evolutionary based eyeball. Or your local biological equivalent.

“Computer, is there enough of a message from the Secretary General to make a composite message?”

“Insufficient data. Content of message would need to be provided.”

She sighed at that response. It wasn’t unexpected. Rapidly on her feet she approached her window and looked out on the desolate planet below. It was as lifeless and arid as Mars was when the first settlers had arrived – as it mostly was today after events over a decade ago. But it was heavier and had retained a thicker atmosphere. Geosciences gave it a favourable rating for eventual terraforming to M class, with a hefty investment however.

Something the Tarelains would have to look forward too – being a mutliplanet species.

“Computer, I want to compose a message using the video footage from Secretary General Torrin, chopping it up to deliver the message. I don’t want it smoothed out; I want it intentionally rough. The message is: To the peoples of Tarela, we bring you greetings and well wishes. Unfortunately, our own laws prevent us from directly interacting with societies below a certain technological barrier, in order to allow them to grow and develop without outside interference. Our detection was not intended. You are well on your way down the road that so many others have already walked. We await your eventual arrival on the galactic stage and wish your people a bold, prosperous and peaceful future, for through cooperation and mutual understanding you can and will achieve great things.”

There was a momentary wait, then the computer chimed. “Message compiled. Would you like to preview it?”

“Certainly. Native language mode too please.” She didn’t understand a word of the local language, doubted she ever would, but it gave her a feeling for how the message played back. It was as she intended it – choppy, broken and distorted. The computer had sliced phonemes from across the original message and simply stitched them together as required. The visual imagery jumping slightly from sound to sound added to the distraction of the bad sound and would help sell the alien angle.

“Save message and secure it with my command codes. I don’t want this sending without my approval.”

“Understood.”

Did she send the message and let them know without a doubt that an intelligence was watching them? Did she not and just let them worry and panic about otherworldly visitors? The balancing act was further thrown around when she considered what Command might think or do when they read her reports, her only saving grace right now being a week one way for subspace comms and nearly two months one way for the Atlantis at high warp.

Reprimands perhaps. A long speech she’d have to listen to. Recall? Unlikely.

She threw herself into her chair once more and pulled up the missive from Command. Official business distraction might help.

“Doable?”

Lieutenant Commander Ra-tesh’mi Velan looked over the padd in his hand and nodded in the affirmative. “Shouldn’t be too difficult. Are you sure about being this radar reflective though?”

“I want them to find it eventually. We’re dumping it out in the Oort cloud, sort of as a calling card.”

“On the grounds that they’ll probably only get out there if they’re warp capable?”

“Well, if they get out there in fusion torch powered ships after spending months under acceleration to get there, then don’t you think they also deserve it?”

Velan stopped to stroke his beard momentarily in thought before smiling. “Fair enough. One hunk of radar reflective duranium, etches included, coming right up.” He went to stand but stopped when Tikva raised a hand gently in protest.

“No duranium Ra. Local materials only. We’re just giving them the Federation’s location and the name of who visited, no metallurgical breakthroughs.”

“Steel it is then. Should last…oh, forever?”

“They’ll put your handiwork in a museum. Isn’t that what all artists want really?”

“My handiwork, your name on it,” he chuckled and stood. “I’ll have it ready by morning Captain.”

“Thanks Ra. Oh, and tell Stanley to begin recalling all the probes. I know it’s early but we’ll collect up all our stuff, drop off the calling card and then get underway again. Leave these people to their business.”

“Aye ma’am. Oh, and poker tonight if you’re interested. XO can’t make it, thought you might like to join us.”

“You know what Ra, I think I will. As long as we are using Mac’s newly replicated cards. I heard that Ch’tkk’va had kept his ability to see mostly through the cards secret until recently.”

Velan smiled and actually laughed as he stepped towards the door. “Most certainly. 2000HRS, my quarters.” And with that the Efrosian engineer stepped out on to the bridge.

Mission Day 60
1230HRS
Main Bridge

“Waimak has landed ma’am and Flight Ops reports bay 2 is secure,” came a ran of the mill report from Lieutenant Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr. “Package has been left on the planetoid as you requested.”

“Thanks Rrr,” Tikva said as she turned in her seat to look towards Mac, who was over at the Science console, consulting with Gabrielle. “Mac, how we looking?”

“Looking good,” he said, as Gabrielle gave a head nod and pointed to an indicator on one of her screens. “Main deflector should be able to broadcast your message loud enough for folks to pick it up and with enough collimation for them to know where it was transmitted from as well.”

She’d spent nearly an hour discussing this course of action with her XO, explaining her reasoning, listening to his counter arguments and working with him. Mac wasn’t completely opposed, so much as wanted to play devil’s advocate to make sure this was what Tikva wanted to actually do. That and, he admitted, he was looking out for his future career.

“Well then. T’Val, please bring us onto a bearing of 285 mark 3. Mac, Gabrielle, you may transmit when ready.”

The starscape on the main viewer shifted as Atlantis spun about her Z axis and only lifted her nose ever so slightly in order to aim the ship at where the planet of Tarela would be in space in four hours’ time. There was no fanfare, no sound of charging equipment, just the chirps from consoles on the bridge, people going about their jobs as Atlantis transmitted the message crafted by Tikva towards the planet they’d been studying for a few days.

When Mac approached and sat himself down in his seat he broke Tikva out of her thoughtfulness. “Message away Cap. We’re good to go.”

“Excellent. T’Val, set course 010 mark 76, warp seven. At your discretion please.”

“Aye ma’am, Bearing 010 mark 76, warp seven. There is a K class main sequence star on our bearing ma’am, five days away at requested speed.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant, that’s our next destination.”

“Understood ma’am,” the Vulcan said before she programmed in the ship’s speed and then set them on their way.

“Lieutenant Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr, please make a note in the ship’s log that stellar catalogue VOY2373-54215 is to be renamed the Lauren system as per the local inhabitant’s own designation for their star system. Flag as pre-warp and worthy followup.”

“Aye ma’am. I’ll have the catalogue updated shortly. I’ll forward the linkage code to all departments to add to any reports written about the system.”

“Oh, yes please,” responded Gabrielle as she looked at her Gaen colleague. “We’ve got at least a dozen reports and a few papers to attach.”

“Computer core is only so big Gabrielle,” Tikva joked, a smile naturally coming to her face. “And please consider I have to read at least the reports. The journal papers I’ll leave to you.”

“Wait, you read the reports?” Mac said, feigning shock. “I better go rewrite a few of mine then.”

Mission Day 60
1815HRS
Holodeck two

The dirt of the training ground stuck to the side of Tikva’s face as she pushed herself back up, collected the spear in her right hand and used it help get back to her feet. The back of her free hand came up to brush some of the dirt away from around her mouth but just had the effect of smearing sweat and dirt around her lower face.

At least most of it will disappear when we leave.

Whatever the computer hasn’t replicated in the meantime.

It was warm and sunny, nary a cloud in the perfect blue Mediterranean sky. A gentle breeze carried with it the sounds of the ocean nearby and what was clearly atmospheric sounds of people going about their business beyond ring of seating surrounding the grounds.

This whole program was Ancient Greek-esqe, but it was one of Tikva’s favourites. A reasonable sized town, by the sea, with sailing as an option, relaxing, some nice walking trails that reminded her of home, fight training, philosophers to argue with in the agora.

A fun little diversion. When she wasn’t being beaten up on that is.

“Your form is a little sloppy,” Adelinde Gantzmann said, her German accent coming through a bit thicker now as she twirled her own spear in hand, bringing it into a guard position. “But otherwise, is technically sound.”

“Where did you learn to fight with a spear?” Tikva asked, drawing in a breath, exhaling, then adopting a guard and slowly opening the distance to draw Adelinde away from the wall and into the center of the grounds.

“Academy. Non-powered and improvised weapons training. Our instructor even had us marching in the parade grounds as a phalanx.”

Tikva took the chance then to lunge forward, a feint to the left then a purposeful dive to the right, a roll around her own spear to keep it parallel to the ground and she came to her feet swung it in an arc to try and collect the back of Adelinde’s bare legs.

Both women had ditched uniforms for loose shorts and tops. Adelinde in an Academy singlet, Tikva in a grey top with Atlantis in silhouette on the left breast, the ship’s name underneath it. Outside of this training ground their clothes would have stood out sharply, not that the inhabitants of the simulation would ever register it.

Adelinde however hadn’t stayed still, a jump away had opened the distance and a swirl of her own, a low swing of spear tip had resulted in a clash of wooden hafts. Then Adelinde drove the tip down into the ground and used the spear as a make shift pole-vault to launch herself upwards in an arc, releasing the spear to fall to the ground as she came down at her commanding officer with a driving knee.

Rolling away caused Tikva to leave her own spear as well, not wishing to take the hit in any shape or form and by the time she came to her feet, Adelinde was on her own as well, though now armed with Tikva’s dropped spear. A fast lunge resulted in spear tip going straight for her stomach, then dissolving in holographic trickery, the tip reforming behind her where it would have protruded should it have been real.

“Damn woman,” Tikva said, exasperated as she offered a hand to help Adelinde recover from the lunge. “You are fast. I think I might have to join your fitness classes.”

“Not fast, just better trained Captain.” The taller woman accepted the offer, the spear dropped and fading to nothingness before it even hit the ground. Standing up however she had pulled on Tikva slightly and come up to her full height a little inside Tikva’s personal bubble.

Gods.

Or at least a scion of one.

Those arms…

Said that already Primitive Tikva.

Fine…those legs.

Yah…

“You’re always welcome to join us Captain,” Adelinde said, a slightly smile on her face. “Of course, the rule for my classes is no ranks, no special dispensations unless Terax says so.”

No ranks.

Shut up!

“Tikva. When we’re training,” she said, offering a wave of her hand to indicate more specifically this training program, “just call me Tikva.”

“Tikva,” Adelinde said, experimenting with it as she mimed saying it a few more times, obviously running it through her head, just not saying it out loud. “I can do that.”

“Excellent. Right…again?”

A swipe with one dagger, a swipe with another and then a dodge to the left to avoid Adelinde’s sword swing. They’d changed up weapons and that had given Tikva some advantage. She wielded two bronze daggers, gleaming in the early afternoon sunlight, but had to contend with Adelinde’s choice of shield and sword. More then a few times she’d had to jump away to avoid the sword, or only managed to add a few new dings to the battered looking shield.

She didn’t even think about it, acting on instinct as her left arm came up, dagger catching a thrown sword to deflect it away, but then she herself got caught with the body blow of Adelinde’s shield charge. One step, two steps and then she was slammed into the wooden wall.

When had she gotten so close? It didn’t matter. She was armed, Adelinde had finally come in close. But before she could raise a weapon, her stunned brain still trying to process just what had happened, both of her wrist had been grabbed and pinned to the wall above her head.

“Yield,” the security officer demanded of her Captain.

A nod, a shake of head in a ‘okay, fine’ fashion and Tikva dropped the daggers, hearing them clatter to the ground. “Yield.” She sighed and then looked Adelinde straight in the eyes. “You fight dirty.”

You wish.

Shut up.

“It’s my job,” Adelinde said, not releasing Tikva but maintaining the eye lock. “If someone fights dirty, I’ll fight back.”

Tikva struggled slightly, then realised the futility of it and just cocked her head to the side. “You going to let me go?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“Thinking about it?”

“Yes…I’ve been watching you and have to say, you’re not as subtle as you think.”

Whoops.

“Look, Lieutenant, I…” Tikva wasn’t able to finish the sentence as she was interrupted by Adelinde’s oh so gentle kiss. It was the surprise of it that stopped her, but also just how gentle it was. More a brushing of lips then anything.

Dainty.

“Uhh…Adelinde…”

“My quarters or yours?” she asked.

I’m going to get in so much trouble. So, so much trouble!

“Mine.”

Mission Day 61
0800HRS
Bridge

It was the morning after the night before when Lieutenant Adelinde Gantzmann stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge. She was later then her normal for change of shift, but still earlier then others as she walked around the bridge to meet the ship’s XO who looked like he was ready for his day to be over.

While some sympathy was there, she was well aware of who designed the rosters aboard ship, including the rotation of command officers on a regular basis to work with the different shifts aboard ship. She didn’t complain to much, she had the morning shift for the next two weeks, which had lined up rather beautifully all things considered over the last twelve hours.

“Ah, Lieutenant, morning,” Commander MacIntyre said as he spotted her and stood from the center seat, dropping the padd he had in hand in the chair behind him. “You wouldn’t mind taking over early would you?”

“No sir,” she replied, head tilting slight to the side in a non-verbal question.

“Excellent. Minor emergency on deck six I need to handle.”

“Anything you need some help with sir?”

“No no Lieutenant, nothing like that. Forget I said anything, that’s an order.” And with that he made his way for the lift she’d just vacated. “Lieutenant, you have the conn.”

“I have the conn,” she replied in habit as she collected the padd from the seat before sitting herself down. It was filled with shift reports filed by the crew and automated status reports compiled by the ship’s computer. A quick glance and nothing jumped out at her.

Nothing should, as the Atlantis was still days away from her next destination.

Over the next ten minutes more and more people arrived on the bridge, spoke with their colleagues and then relieved them of duty. The shift change was completed on time and Adelinde found herself in the quiet of a well-functioning bridge.

An hour later the turbolift swished open and in the quiet Adelinde found herself looking without conscious thought at the source of the sound, as did a few others not focusing on their work. Standing at tactical with one of her junior officers, she’d been highlighting the finer points and balancing act that was manual versus automatic targeting, but the conversation, all the conversations really, stopped as the ship’s captain steeped out.

“As you were people,” Captain Theodoras said, not even looking up from the padd she was reading and navigating expertly to towards her ready room. “Lieutenant Gantzmann, when you’re free, can you come and see me please?” she asked just in time for the doors to the ready room to swish open.

“Finish this later ma’am?” Lieutenant JG Kurtwell asked, looking sorry for his boss. When you’re free was commonly understood as a polite form of Now, at least as understood by junior officers.

“No, no, Mr Kurtwell. We’ll finish this before I head in.”

True to her word, Adelinde hadn’t left the Lieutenant until she had finished her lesson for the young man. His initial answers had been on point and Academy rote, but she had been more working to pry a more nuanced response from him. While proficient and nothing she could fault with his performance, he had the makings of a mediocre tactical officer unfortunately. As a security officer though he held more promise and she would have to speak with Ch’tkk’va about his abilities there.

It had only taken her twenty minutes before she tapped the call button on the door and stepped in upon receiving the perfunctory response from the room’s sole occupant.

“You know Lieutenant, you’re in a rather small club as far as I’m concerned. Not many people actually take me at my word when I say ‘when you’re free,” Thoedoras said, reaching forward to deactivate the screen on her computer. “Sit down please.”

“Ma’am, if this is about…last night…” Adelinde started as she stepped forward, but pointedly didn’t sit down just yet, instead resting a hand on the back of the chair.

She saw the Captain’s cheeks flush, just slightly, the smile form on her lips and then professional decorum get the smile at least under control. So, that’s telling.

“That Lieutenant I think we can discuss when we’re both off duty, yes?” the Captain asked, then indicated the seat once more. “No, this I assure you is a professional matter. I’ve been reviewing your department figures I wanted to get your opinion on a couple of your junior officers and perhaps enrolling them in some distance courses while we’re out here in the DQ.”

“Who do you have in mind?” she asked, satisfied that this was going to be professional and took the seat she’d been offered finally.

Mission Day 61
1800HRS
Four Forward

“Mind if I join you?” The question asked of her was innocent enough and Adelinde looked up from her reading to see her Captain standing there.

Four Forward was the largest social space on the ship, but with the current roster tended to be a little quieter at this hour. By unspoken contract, if one was here, then one wanted to be social after all. If one had wanted privacy or to be left alone, the sanctity of one’s quarters made a decent retreat.

“Actually, I’d insist if I could,” Adelinde replied as she set the padd down. “I apologise for leaving so quickly this morning.”

“You had to be on duty, I know. I helped make those rosters after all,” Tikva said. “I…was hoping we could talk. Uh, strictly off duty.”

Ah, so that’s the difference between professional and non-professional Tikva Theodoras, Adelinde thought to herself, noticing the slight changes in posture, facial expressions and that something special in Tikva’s eyes.

She nodded, reached up and removed her commbadge, setting it down on the table before her. The ritual was mirrored by Tikva as she sat down opposite her and she could see the nervous energy in the ever so slightly older woman. By a couple of years at most, she chided herself.

“I’m not going to deny that we had fun, in fact…just…wow,” Tikva said, keeping her voice to a conspiratorially low level so that the one other couple on the far side of Four Forward wouldn’t hear them. “But it’s not exactly professional, having a relationship with a subordinate.”

“Or making the boss scream,” Adelinde threw out with a cheeky grin upon her lips, growing in mirth as she saw Tikva’s face shift a few shades closer to the shoulders of her uniform. “And while I agree with you…Tikva,” stumbling over the name instead of a habit of ma’am, “there is plenty of precedent for such dalliances.”

“Dalliance? Is that what happened?”

“Well, I’m not adverse to exploring this if you’re willing. Though, as a responsible officer, I feel we should rightly inform Commander MacIntyre and Doctor Terax. As well as Counselor Hu, yes?”

“Oh damn,” Tikva said as she buried her face in her palms. “I forgot about Counselor Hu.”

Reaching over, Adelinde took both of Tikva’s wrists in her hands and gently pulled them away so she could look the other woman in the face. “Tomorrow problem. Would you perhaps be interested in joining me for a night time walk along the Danube?”

“Yah….” Tikva answered slowly, then nodding in self agreement with the spoken answer. “Yah, that would be nice Adelinde.”

Mission Day 92
1217 HRS
Main Bridge

“New contact, bearing 010 mark 001, distance five light years,” announced Lieutenant Ch’tkk’va from the tactical station a mere moment after the sensors had beeped at them, having done their valiant duty to spot new warp signatures.

“Five light years?” Mac said from the command chair, not even looking up from the padd in his hand. He had the watch and was making good use of boring transit time by actually getting ahead of his chunk of the performance reviews that had needing doing. On the other side of a door just off to the right of the bridge he knew the Captain was working away on her share of the reports. “That’s what, over a day away at warp nine?”

“One day, four hours, forty-eight minutes,” came a helpful clarification from the conn.

“Thank you Lieutenant T’Val,” he stated. “So, this new contact, why didn’t it show up earlier?”

“They weren’t at warp,” Ch’tkk’va stated. “I would suspect we appeared on their sensors and they have gone to warp in response to that. They’re currently on an intercept course if we maintain course and speed, based on their current speed of warp four in just over twenty four hours. No communication attempts so far.”

“Right…send them a hail Ch’tkk’va, standard greetings and such. T’Val, maintain course and speed for now. Uh, Ensign Parkins,” he dragged the name out as he looked to the young, fresh faced man at Operations, checking his own memory the name was correct. “Update the ships log with this contact.”

“Yes sir,” the young man said as he swivelled back around and went about his duties.

“Right, that settled, Ch’tkk’va, you have the conn. I’ll be in the conference room if you need me.” Standing, Mac tucked the padd under his arm then tapped at his comm badge as he headed for the door to the conference room.

“Lieutenant Gantzmann, please report to the conference room when able,” he said just after crossing the threshold and the door closing behind him.

It was barely ten minutes later when Adelinde walked into the conference rom from the door that led to the rest of the ship, not the bridge door. As always, Mac had to admit, she had deportment down to an art and entered into the room before stopping and clasping both hands behind her back.

“You wished to see me Commander?” she asked.

“Sit,” he said, indicating the seat opposite his. She’d be afforded a view of the stars streaking towards Atlantis as they speed through space, something Mac preferred at his back while he was doing paperwork, least he loose time while just staring into the rapidly speeding past void. “Just wanted to talk to you about a few things,” he indicated as he waved his padd gently in the air.

“Performance reviews sir? I submitted all of mine yesterday for you to look over.”

“Ah, not your team Lieutenant, but yours.” He set the padd down and collected the cup of warm water he’d replicated when he first had come in here. It had been hot then, but thermodynamics was not to be denied. “I feel bad about basically giving you the same report as last month, but we’ve been in transit the whole time. You’re keeping your department numbers up, you’ve improved departmental cross training, especially with Engineering which I totally appreciate by the way. But, well, nothing truly stands out.”

“As you say Commander, we’ve been in transit for the last twenty-eight days as we move along the Krenim border territories. There hasn’t exactly many opportunities to, demonstrate my skill sets. I have however been spending time working with my junior officers as I feel Lieutenant Ch’ttk’va is capable of running the department while I undertake tutoring work,” Adelinde said. “I just didn’t feel it necessary to state such in my own reports as my focus was on my staff, not myself.”

Mac sighed, a few things suddenly clicking. Junior officers lifting their performance metrics, field training courses being completed, extra training being undertaken. All the signs of a department head actually getting their underlings to do the self-improvement they were supposed to be doing.

“Okay, so, my bad then,” he said with another sigh and shake of his head. “Next time, perhaps let me know you’re doing such work? It helps with my reporting.” He rose a hand to stop her responding for a moment. “Yes, it’s about your staff. For me it’s about my staff and that’s you.”

“I see your point Commander,” she admitted. “Is that all then?”

“Actually, no. There is another matter I’ve been ignoring for over a month and it’s not really been an issue at all, but I want to make sure it isn’t.”

“And that would be sir?” she asked.

He had to give it to her, she could feign ignorance with the best of them. There wasn’t any realisation on her face, no signs that she had any inkling of what he was about to ask her, which was only scuttlebutt amongst the crew at the moment.

“You and the Captain.”

“Oh, that,” she responded. There was what, the faintest blush to her cheeks? Or was he imagining that?

“That. Look, Lieutenant, it’s not the first time officers have had relationships, not the last either, but Captains tend to be in a bracket of their own. I need to know if this is going to be a problem all the way out there in the DQ.”

“It’s…not going to be a problem Commander.”

“Whoa, wait up there a moment Gantzmann, I don’t mean break it off just…be careful, will you?” Last thing he needed was a breakup because of his meddling making absolutely everything uncomfortable for all this far out in the DQ. They’d spent nearly two months just getting out this far in the first place. “And…look, I’m going to speak to the Captain about this as well shortly. Honestly, you two have discretion down pat. I’m going to insist however you both speak with Counsellor Hu.”

“I wasn’t going to break anything off with the Captain, Commander. I was in fact going to insist we do what you’ve just insisted,” she replied, looking at him with a deadpan expression. “If you don’t mind sir, could I be dismissed in order to go and arrange that matter now?”

“Your dismissed Lieutenant,” he said. “And look…I wish you both the best, but just remember, she’s the Captain.”

“And I’m the Chief of Security. It’s my job to keep everyone on this ship safe Sir.”

Mission Day 92
1845 HRS
Captain’s Quarters

“Do we have to?” asked Tikva over dinner. It was oddly convenient that Wednesday night, tonight, had become date night. Her XO confronting her about her relationship with a department head, the ship’s counsellor doing the same even. All on date night. Like they knew.

Conspirators. Mutineers! Keel haul them!

Shut up you. They’re just doing their jobs. Besides, we should have seen Hu weeks back anyway. This far out, not like Command can really step in anyway and break things up.

Boo! A keel hauling would improve morale!

“Yes,” Adelinde said as she cut into her lasagne some more, preparing it into bite sized chunks. “I’ve already booked an appointment for tomorrow evening. If that’s okay with you?”

“Guess it more depends on these new comers coming at us. Mac says they’ve still not responded to hails. Apparently, there’s no subspace communications coming from them at all. Hopefully nothing important enough to mess up our booking.”

“Let’s hope not.”

“Well, that aside, what’s on the plans for tonight?” Tikva asked just before taking a bite out of the lasagne herself, offering a happy little noise at the taste as it hit her.

“Gym is free if you wanted to practise that spear sweep I taught you,” the larger woman said as her gaze dropped to her own dinner “Or could watch a movie if you wanted.”

“I was thinking wrestling, or knot tying,” Tikva nodded and for once was glad it wasn’t her that was blushing.

FTL Missile SL-52
Timestamp 5214.25.06 14:36

Unidentified Superluminal transit signature detected…

Drive signature does not comply with IFF protocols…

Targeting solution has been provided by Fire Control Bravo…

Fuel status is 44%…sufficient…

Fusion reactor startup initialising…confirmed…internal power systems online. Umbilical has been removed…

Superluminal drive systems start up initiated…maximum speed authorised…

Cleared launch tubes…orientating for interception…drive systems online…

Interception in 100224 litseg at present closing velocities…

Warhead armed…

Korvan System Defence Station Zeta-3
Timestamp 5214.25.06 14:37

SL-52 launch confirmed…

Two missiles remaining in inventory…

Communications attempt #52145123 with Command…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145123 with Zeta-1…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145123 with Logistics…Failed…

Resuming independent operations…

Tracking anomalous superluminal signature #14214…

Mission Day 93
1500 HRS
Main Bridge

“Still no response to hails Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr?” Tikva asked as she walked out of her ready room. She knew the Gaen was on bridge duty but she was taken aback by him not being at the Ops station next to the helm. She stopped, staring at the empty chair for a moment before a gravelly voice caught her attention from just outside her peripheral vision.

“None yet ma’am,” they said.

She turned to see them at Mission Ops and decided to go and see why for herself. Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr was there with Gabrielle Camargo and both were examining more detailed scans of the ship coming towards them now. “We just got these,” the young woman said when he noticed Tikva approaching.

“No living spaces, no life support. Using a fusion powered warp drive. Though this is concerning,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr said, pointing out a device nestled just fore of the needle like ship’s midsection.

She recognised the general gist of instrumentation at the front of the vessel as early designed navigation deflector setups, sensors and the such. A block of likely computing hardware was behind those, likely providing the brains of the ship, but what Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr was pointing to looked like a large sphere just smaller than the diameter of the vessel.

“What is that?” she asked.

“Sensors have identified it as a magnetic containment bottle. Holding nearly five kilograms of antimatter.”

“Any interesting scans of the system this came from?”

“Nothing Captain,” Gabrielle replied, bringing up long range scans of the system. Half a dozen rocky worlds, an equal number of gas giants. Nothing to really garner any attention. “No M class worlds, no interesting phenomena. Middle range G class star with elevated sunspots currently. Perfectly normal boring star system from this far away.”

“Sensor lock,” announced Adelinde from Tactical. “Alien ship has just locked sensors on us and made minor course corrections.”

Tikva just turned and stared at Adelinde for a moment, blinked once, twice, then realised just what was coming there way. “Helm, evasive! Take us to maximum warp right now! Shields up!” She was throwing herself into her seat with three large steps, timed just as the lights dimmed and yellow alert klaxons started to blare throughout the ship.

FTL Missile SL-52
Timestamp 5214.25.07 10:64

Approaching interception timestamp…

Engaging targeting sensors…

Target identified…

Terminal manoeuvres engaged…

Target is engaging in evasive manoeuvres…

Unable to match target speed…

Interception failed. Self-destruct initiated…

Mission Day 93
1502 HRS
Main Bridge

“Target just self-destructed Captain,” Adelinde reported. “It tried to follow us but we’re just to fast for it. Likely to nimble as well.”

“Okay, so, lobbing an antimatter missile at warp speeds it just not polite,” Tikva huffed as she settled into the seat more comfortably now. “Maintain yellow alert but bring the phasers up to standby. Ensign Carmichael, lay in a course for that star system and take us in at full speed. I want to know who’s being so impolite in these parts.”

“Aye aye ma’am.”

Korvan System Defence Station Zeta-3
Timestamp 5214.25.07 10:66

SL-52 failed to intercept target…

Target is faster at superluminal speeds then interception weaponry…

Success of second launch…0.01%…Unacceptable…

Halting second launch sequence. Warming up CIWS platforms. Time for particle beam emitters…1 seg, 10 dar…

Communications attempt #52145129 with Command…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145129 with Zeta-1…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145129 with Logistics…Failed…

Resuming independent operations…

Tracking anomalous superluminal signature #14214…

Mission Day 93
1637 HRS
Main Bridge

“System outer orbit in fifteen seconds,” T’Val announced from the helm with her normal stoicism, especially in light of entering a star system from which someone had just recently lobbed an antimatter missile at the Atlantis at warp speeds. “Disengaging warp drives,” she further announced as the streaking stars gave way to pinpricks of light on the main viewscreen, one dot in the middle slightly brighter than the others at this distance.

“Carmargo, get me a spread of probes out there, will you? I want eyes on those distant gas giants and their moons just in case,” Tikva said as she turned her chair to look towards the tactical station. “Maintain yellow alert, but standby phasers. If someone or something fires on us and you can shoot down whatever they launch, you have permission to fire straight away.”

“Aye ma’am,” Adelinde said as she turned her attention from her fellows on the bridge to her instruments, teasing the tactical sensors to tell her everything they could possible about what surrounded the Atlantis.

“Right T’Val, take us in half impulse. Let’s be nice and slow about this.”

Korvan System Defence Station Zeta-3
Timestamp 5214.25.07 11:69

Anomalous superluminal signature #14214 has ceased superluminal travel and violated Korvan Outer Perimeter…

Communications attempt #52145135 with Command…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145135 with Zeta-1…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145135 with Logistics…Failed…

CIWS platforms fully charged and operational in zones 1, 3 & 4. Zone 2 at 60% due to platform damage.

Warning! Unknown energy field detected around target #14214. Purpose unknown.

Target currently outside optimal firing range. Awaiting optimal targeting solution.

“Well, it does look like planet number three was once habitable,” Carmargo offered from her station, speaking loudly enough for all to hear. “I’m seeing signs of civilization on the surface, but the atmosphere is rather badly irradiated and the planet has snowballed. Geez…it’s a nuclear winter.”

Tikva shook her head at that assessment. Disappointment and sorrow drove that physical display as she considered the ramifications. Earth, in fact a good number of Federation members had barely survived their own nuclear adolescence, with Vulcan and Earth both having toyed with nuclear obliteration in their own pasts. But here before them was a monument to some race that had failed to survive that particular Great Filter.

“Okay, so if that’s a nuclear graveyard down there, then who’s shooting at us?” Mac asked as he looked to Tikva, puzzlement on his face. “Ah dammit, we’re looking at runaway computers again, aren’t we?”

“Bingo,” said Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr with a chuckle.

Tikva narrowed her eyes as she glared at the back of her Ops Chief’s head, trying intently to burn a hole through their head with sheer will power at their ‘Bingo’ statement before turning to Mac. “No evidence one way or another, but we’ll…”

Her sentence was interrupted by a rocking of the Atlantis and the blare of klaxons as yellow gave way to red on all the alert panels. The rocking wasn’t severe, no one was thrown to their feet but Tikva could hear one of Adelinde’s feet moving on the carpet in order to remain standing.

“We’re under fire from an asteroid bearign 285 mark 036, distance eight hundred fifty thousand kilometers. Shields…stable. No damage,” came the report directly from Adelinde. “I have targeting solutions on the emitters.”

“Fire to disable only please Guns,” Tikva dictated.

As the faint blue curve of the Atlantis’ shields faded, orange beams burst forth across the void, sent forth from one tiny speck in the infinite vastness to another spec. Precision instruments and impeccable skill combined as four beams found their marks, burning out ancient and worn emitter heads before they could be retracted into their housings.

Circuits overloaded, sympathetic detonations followed and the entirety of the asteroid mounted weapon platform’s power system exploded, gouts of plasma bursting out through the weapon mounts, through structural weak points and in some cases through the rock where pressure finally overwhelmed the iron-nickel crust.

Just as this was happening blue-white beams lashed out from another asteroid, covering the same incredibly vast distances and impacting across the shields of the Atlantis, the particle beam energy washing harmlessly over the advanced shields of the Argonaut class starship. And again, a targeted and restrained response followed suit, gutting the second weapons platform of its teeth and soon enough its entire armament.

A third platform would have fired, but instead of doing so something critical failed at just the wrong moment. As emitters drew power from their capacitors to lash out a coupling failed. Power was dumped back into the main power systems, not designed for such a situation. Fail safes thousands of years past their last maintenance inspection failed. The overload quickly overwhelmed the degraded platform’s power grid and the entire asteroid went up in a fusion flare as the containment grid of ancient fusion reactors failed and the artificial star at the heart of the weapon’s platform unleashed its short-lived fury.

“Carmargo, eyes on that last platform,” Mac said, standing from his seat to go over to the science station, hovering over the young woman’s shoulder.

Tikva took note of that, filing it away as something to speak to her XO about.

Give the order, then let them do their job.

Yah, but you know you want to just throw T’Val out of her chair and fly the ship yourself.

But I don’t, I trust her to do her job.

Fine, fine!

“No more active weapons signatures ma’am,” Adelinde said. “However, I am detecting five active sensor platforms in the system, all watching us intently. I’d say whatever is here is no longer trying to be subtle but is either toothless or realised their weapons can’t do us much harm.”

“Unless one of those warp missiles jumps on us at short range,” Tikva commented back as she thought for a moment more, trying to come up with a plan.

“We’d be less worried about the antimatter charge and more the warp kinetic impact math,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr said. “That first missile was more deadly as a kinetic strike weapon. Antimatter is just an icing if it had hit us head on at warp.”

Raising a hand to quieten everyone, Tikva thought for a moment more then slowly stood. “Launch a probe towards the nearest sensor platform Rrr. Full decoy emitters and everything. Let’s see if we can’t parse out what type of automated systems we’re looking at. Adelinde, prepare two shuttles with security personnel and talk with Ra about engineers looking for a puzzle. And yes, he can go if he wants. Transporters are our first bet, but let’s get some shuttles standing by. Carmargo, anything?”

“Looks like from the sensors that were watching at the time that their fusion bottle failed. Let go and must have detonated weapons reserves onboard. Then it went up from there.”

“Okay. More detailed scans of the other platforms as well. Let’s see what we’re looking at. T’Val, maintain position but keep the engines hot. Staff meeting in thirty minutes and we’ll go from there.”

Korvan System Defence Station Zeta-3
Timestamp 5214.25.07 11:83

Target #14214 appears undamaged from particle beam attacks.

CIWS platforms in Zone 1 completely destroyed. Platform #3 suffered unspecified power failure.

Zone 3 & 4 platforms are still outside optimal firing solutions. Zone 2 platform #2 has suffered unspecified power failure and shut down. Repair drones dispatched.

Communications attempt #52145136 with Command…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145136 with Zeta-1…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145136 with Logistics…Failed…

Warning! Anomalous superluminal signature detected. Signature #14215. Matches previously known signatures matching #14213, #14212, #14211.

Halting firing sequence of interceptor SL-53. Likelihood of mission success is 0% while target #14214 is in sensor range.

Warning! Situation is outside of programmed responses.

Communications attempt #52145137 with Command…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145137 with Zeta-1…Failed…

Communications attempt #52145137 with Logistics…Failed…

Warning! Situation is outside of programmed responses.

Royal Navy Starcruiser Talaru
Viewing Bridge

Captain Gareli Nularu struck a rather impressive figure as she stood near the window looking out across the front half of her starcruiser. Her uniform jacket was the deep rich purple of the navy, with the silver braiding on her right shoulder indicating her prestigious position as a ship’s captain. No matter your rank, if you were assigned as the commanding officer of a ship in the fleet you could wear that braid. She was equal in height to most of those on her ship, a genetic gift from her father, though she was far more thankful to take after her mother’s looks.

The viewing bridge was no right place to be in combat, but when the ship was undertaking normal operations, it offered no better viewing and right now they were still a day away from the star system the Navy had deemed Stella Incognito. Galiru Outpost had detected another ship entering the system that to date had eaten four other Royal Navy ships, but unlike those hapless bastards this unknown ship had survived more then an hour. This feat accomplished the Admiralty had decided to dispatch one more ship to investigate the system.

“Engineroom, Bridge,” her XO said from the stellar cartographer repeater on the bridge. “Can you give us more speed?”

“Negative Mr XO,” came a raspy reply over the whine of the ship’s engines already being pushed to their limits. “In fact, we might have to slow down if we want to make it at all. We’re looking at elevated plasma temperatures we can’t explain or get back down where they should be. We keep running this hot and we’ll burn out the plasma containment systems and loose the drive altogether.”

“What speed do you want to drop us to Chief?” the XO asked.

Gareli turned around slowly to look at her XO, waiting for the reply, but she didn’t move from her spot. There was really no need in the cramped nature of the viewing bridge.

“Hetch four if the Captain will let us. Four point five at the maximum,” came a reply after a few moments. Clearly the Engineer took a moment to consult his staff.

“Engineroom, this is the Captain,” Gareli spoke up, approaching the staion her XO was at to be better heard by the audio pickup there. “Slow us to Hetch Four Mr Faramah, but I’ll be wanting answers as to way we can’t maintain hetch six by end of watch.”

“Understood Captain, and thank you. We’ll get right on investigating it.” The line went dead.

The XO looked to Gareli, waited for a nod and then started barking orders. “Helm, set speed to hetch four. Navigation, recalculate arrival time. Mr Jaruti, ask the radio room to contact Galiru Outpost and ask them to confirm the unknown is still in the system.”

“Answering hetch four!” came the only immediate response that needed to be voiced for the bridge audio recordings.

“Dropping to hetch four likely means we’ll be adding a day to our travel time,” Gareli said to her XO as she examined the holographic display floating between her and her XO. It showed the Stella Incognito system and the Galiru with the plotted location of the Talaru between them. “Send the report from the engineroom to my day cabin when it arrives Jamin. Maintain speed though.”

“Aye ma’am,” Commander Jamin Chru said as he watched his captain exit the bridge, heading into the depths of the ship and her day cabin.

Mission Day 93
1700 HR
Conference Room

“So, what are we looking at?” Tikva said from her seat at the head of the table. Out of the window could be seen the dawning arc of gas giant, it’s banded clouds of deep purple and green just starting to become visible.

The Atlantis had fallen back to the outer system while probes had taken the more dangerous exploration for now and the system’s largest gas giant served as a decent enough anchor for now. Its moons had been thoroughly scanned and were found devoid of hidden weapons platforms, or at least as far as they could detect.

“No real data at the moment, but looks like an automated defence system I’d wager. Sensor platforms that aren’t mounting weapons, likely directing fire via tight beam communications. Pretty basic particle beam emitters, rudimentary warp drive on those missiles.” Ra-tesh’mi Velan stroked his fine white beard in thought. “Would love to take this thing apart. Never was allowed to take things apart in a museum before.”

“You’ll likely still get your wish Ra. Carmargo?” Tikva asked of her science officer.

“Weapons aren’t much better then pre-Federation United Earth. Those particle beams look like they’re a refinement or two off of true phasers. As for the planet of interest,” Gabrielle tapped a few keys on her padd and the large monitor occupying the wall opposite the windows came to life, showing a planet that probes were currently getting rather intimate with. “Looks like they got bombed back to the ice age nearly ten thousand years ago. We’re not detecting any life signs we’d find good conversationalist down there. Looks like the planet snow-balled after the bombardment. It’ll be a few million years at least before there’s likely to be a tipping point. Debris in the ice and atmosphere indicate that whoever hit the planet used antimatter charges as well.”

“Christ,” Mac said. “Someone wanted these people gone.”

“Could have done it to themselves,” Adelinde said. “We’ve spotted one platform in the system with ten of those antimatter warp missiles on board. Had capacity for nearly fifty of them at one point. We’ve also spotted a cloud of platforms, all no longer operational around the system, more then a dozen with empty magazines.” She indicated to Carmargo who brought up a system display and highlighted the live and dead platforms.

“The missile platform seems to be the command center for a handful of other platforms,” she continued. “Similar to those that already fired on us. It’s been trying to communicate with the planet, another similar platform to itself and an asteroid, but it’s received no response.”

“The other platform,” Tikva spoke up. “It’s offline, but what’s the difference between it and the one that’s watching us.”

“Some sort of command-and-control platform we’re guessing,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr said from this seat down the far end of the table. “It looks like it took a meteor hit a couple of centuries ago and stopped working. Emptied its inventory of missiles somewhere along the line. There is one more thing though Captain.”

“Oh yes?”

“Unidentified contact approaching at warp three point four eight. It was pulling five point oh two about twenty minutes ago, but slowed. We’ve tried hailing them but we’ve not gotten a response. They’re not on an intercept course, they’re just coming to this system. They’ll be here in about a day.”

“Geez. Okay, we need to find out who they are, but also stop them from being shot at. Any suggestions?” Tikva asked.

“We could go out and meet them, or we could disable the platform that could still fire on them,” Mac offered.

“I think we might be able to wait,” Adelinde suggested. “The platform does have subspace sensors; it has to have seen and fired on us. In that case it has to have seen the new ship coming in but it hasn’t fired for some reason. I suspect that reason is us. If we stay on station, it won’t fire and even if it did, we’ve already proven to ourselves we can outrun their munitions. Interception shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Hmm…okay. Adelinde, stand down the shuttles and away teams for now. We’ll stay on station and keep hailing this new ship, giving them as much of a warning as we possibly can. Mac, make sure we’ve got our best helmsmen on bridge duty for the next twenty-four hours. If we’ve got to chase down a doomsday missile, I want good people in that seat.”

“Right Captain.”

“As for everyone else, keep an eye on the sensors and call me if anything turns up. If I don’t answer, go straight to Mac. Dismissed.”

Mission Day 93
1830 HR
Counsellor Gavin Hu’s office

Being off duty afforded both Tikva and Adelinde the opportunity to be more comfortable and out of uniform when they attended their joint appointment with Counsellor Gavin Hu. For his own part, Counsellor Hu was rarely in uniform anyway, seeing to the mental wellbeing of an entire ship’s crew, he tended to prefer appointments and found being out of uniform helped calm people. The office itself was well decorated – a bookshelf full of books, knick-knacks and mementos all accompanied by a couple of very healthy-looking plants on either side, a very comfy looking couch separated from a very well lived in single seat separated by a low coffee table that maintained a vigil keeping a light grey shag rug pinned to the floor.

For a room in an internal compartment to the ship, it didn’t feel it. This was mostly due to the single wall that had a box frame that resembled a window sill taking up the majority of the wall and inside of that a single massive monitor displaying the most realistic and life like image of a garden somewhere. Green grass, a variety of plant life in some well maintained, but not harshly so, beds, with a timber fence on both sides, the back fence obscured by a shed and more plant life. The garden looked to be twice or maybe even three times the size of most holodecks.

This a recording or just a generated image?

If it’s generated it’s damn good! If it’s a recording, damn that’s a nice-looking garden.

“So,” Hu said as he lowered himself into his chair, having seen to Tikva and Adelinde’s needs by bringing a carafe of water and some glasses for all to the coffee table, “what can I do for you two?”

He knows, they all know! So why do they ask that question?

Because Reptile-Brain, they want us to voice it and therefore acknowledge it. Now shut up, Fore-Brain needs to do the thinking now.

“We’re here,” Adelinde started, “because we clearly need to establish some work and personal life boundaries.”

“We’re in a relationship,” Tikva blurted out, then winced, eyes closing before opening just one and looking at Adelinde for any disappointment at her sudden announcement. She was confused and that carried to her face when she didn’t see it but was instead greeted by a smile.

“That too,” the larger woman said as she returned her attention to Gavin, who was taking a few notes on a padd.

“Ah, rank imbalance, chain of command, Captain and officer situation. My my, were we trying to collect all the potentional sources of conflict?” Hu asked with mirth in his voice and a smile coming to his face. “I can see we’re going to have our work cut out for us, but there is no reason we can’t…establish some work and personal life boundaries. Couple’s counselling, individual sessions and you, Captain Theodoras, will have to actually set regular sessions with me I think.”

“Ugh, really?” Tikva asked, getting the answer in the form of a withering stare even her mother would have to respect. When she turned to Adelinde for any form of support she found the same stare.

Are they just handing these looks out now? Why wasn’t I issued a withering stare?

You got the center chair, a starship that violates classical physics and enough firepower to start and end numerous planetary wars in an afternoon. You don’t need a stare; you’ve got people for that.

Oh yah, I got people. Who are staring at me!

Okay, point, this could be a problem. Surrender might be the best option here.

“Okay, fine, I’ll set down a time for regular sessions. And I’ll even put them in my calendar as non-negotiables,” she relented, slumping a little in the couch before sitting up again. Being the shortest person in the room, then making herself ‘shorter’ by slouching just made her feel uncomfortable.

“And you Adelinde?” Hu asked, turning on the ship’s tactical officer.

“I’ve already sent you a request for appointment times, having compared my schedules with your free appointment slots, for you to confirm at your leisure.” Someone was clearly more…motivated? Well prepared? Tikva couldn’t quiet decide, but Hu’s look of surprise was pleasant as he pulled up info on his padd and confirmed Adelinde’s comment.

Gods she’s gorgeous when she’s organised.

She’s gorgeous. Fixed that statement for you.

Thanks Reptile-Brain, much appreciated.

Any time!

“Oh…okay. Not used to people chasing me up. I’ll get back to you by morning then on appointments.” He pushed a button on the padd, deactivating the screen and slide it between his leg and the chair arm. “Right, so, where would you like to start?”

“And how does that make you feel?” Hu asked.

“Terrified actually. I mean, ordering people into potentially deadly situations? I knew I was going to face that, heck I subjected myself to the Kobayashi Maru and the Rivaldi Paradox training scenarios after my injuries. But can I do it? Yah. I’ll be sick about it; I’ll question myself at every turn afterwards. But…I have done it. I’ve been that person ordered to do something dangerous, I’ve ordered others before. Never liked it, hated each time, but…well…some things have to be done. Greater good and all that.”

Hu nodded and noted down something on his padd. “And what if the best person for the job was Adelinde? You think you can still order her to undertake a dangerous, potentially life-threatening mission?”

“I…I don’t know. I’d like to think I could. I’d like to think I’d weigh up the options, be professionally detached and send the best person with a chance of success to do the job. But…I just don’t know. But isn’t that why commanders have XOs and senior staffs? To call them out, or spot the bad decision and challenge them?” Tikva responded, actually slumping back in to the couch this time. She looked to Adelinde and offered a smile. “I…” she started, then stopped. “You were right, we need to do this. We need to work on these boundaries and lines.”

“Your first date was a fight?” Hu asked, entering in something into his padd with a stylus and looking up as both women before him were smiling. Like school girls.

“It wasn’t a fight, it was combat training,” Adelinde corrected. “And I won.” She threw that last bit in because she knew she’d get a rise out of Tikva.

And on cue it happened. “Won? You fought dirty.” There was a definitive blush to Tikva’s cheeks as she glared at her girlfriend.

“I won.”

“Okay,” Hu said. “Let’s change subject.”

“Communication?” Hu asked of Adelinde.

“I’d like to think we’re pretty good at communicating. We have a no work policy when eating dinner together, so we actually do talk. And I insist on date nights,” Adelinde responded, looking over to Tivka, which rewarded her with a smile from the smaller woman. “We’ve had a few disagreements, but nothing major yet. Neither of us has stormed out, preferring to talk the problems out.”

“That’s actually pretty heartening to hear,” Hu said. “Never go to bed angry.” His padd chirped and he looked at it. “Right, I’m going to call it there,” he said, gently pushing to his feet. “I’ve got plenty, and I do mean plenty here to work with here. I’m going to find a spot for another session in three days. I want you to think about what was said here, leave it percolating in your brains for a bit. Okay?”

Royal Navy Starcruiser Talaru
Command Center

The Royal Navy starscruiser Talaru was rigged for combat as Captain Gareli Nularu sunk down into her command chair. She was, like the entire crew, kitted out in the best light pressure suits the Royal Navy had in inventory. The suit wasn’t rated for long term space use, but in the event of a catastrophic hull breach it would save your life hopefully long enough for someone to come and find you and rescue you from a fate of endlessly drifting in the void.

While the navy uniforms tended towards the darker colours, the pressure suits tended to white, the better to be seen with after all. It wasn’t as bulky or scary as the original pressure suits her people had used in their early space days, this barely being more cumbersome than her normal uniform. She could do without the helmet, but she’d ordered all helmet’s sealed just in case they took fire immediately upon disengaging the Hetch drive.

“Hetch drive shut down in one minute,” her helmsman said from his station to her forward left. No one was on the viewing bridge now, they were all here in the Command Center, in the middle of the ship, with armour plates and bulk of the ship between them and hostile intentions.

At the front end of the command center was a massive screen, displaying a visual feed from one camera in the middle, numerous other camera feeds along either side but which could swap with the central feed at the push of a button. Ship statistics were also displayed with a series of orthographics along the bottom to show ship status along all three axis.

All weapons were reporting ready for action. CiC reported ship’s sensors were ready to spot targets and provide what targeting information they could. Engineering was reporting problems with the Hetch drive still, the source of their problem being mechanical failure outside of their current stocks to repair – they’d be limping home at Hetch Four if they survived where four other ships hadn’t.

“Still no response?” Nularu asked, her helmet’s mic relaying her spoke words to the entire bridge crew around her.

“No ma’am. Galiru Outpost confirms the target is still present, but they haven’t responded to our communication attempts, or those of Galiru Outpost either. They’ve moved within the star system though, but not by far,” Commander Jamin Chru confirmed. But he wasn’t on the bridge. He was safely ensconced in another chamber, similar but smaller, elsewhere in the ship, but he heard everything she said and his face was on a screen on the main viewer, picked up by a visual pickup somewhere on his chair, as she was for those in Secondary Command.

“Hetch Drive shut down,” the helm officer spoke and the ship once again resumed sub-luminal velocities. The streaks of stars disappeared to be replaced with pinpricks of light, unmoving but steady in their luminosity.

For the outside observer, the bulky form of the RNS Talaru was a gunmetal grey somewhat flattened and elongated ovaloid. A dark purple line ran around the ships’ mid line on the equator of the ovaloid. The dorsal side of the craft had a tower structure of harsh edges sticking out, with a smaller version of the structure on the ventral side of the craft. What could only be described as large turrets existed along the dorsal and ventral hulls, running down the long axis, two fore and one aft of the tower structures. Towards the rear of the craft two large nacelles were held away from the body of the craft on pylons, a dark blue glow emanating from grills on the outer surfaces.

Those grills however rapidly faded in colour as green vapour emitted from the rear of the nacelles and they began to retract towards the hull, even slipping inside as armour plates came down to enclose them and keep the ship’s drive nacelles safe from enemy fire.

A hatch opened towards the front point of the ship, not terribly large, and a cylinder the same width of the pipe but twice the height of a human shot out before the hatch closed. The cylinder coasted away from the ship before firing up an engine of its own and disappearing into the Stella Incognito system at a rapid pace.

“Probe away to last known location of Bogey Alpha,” came a response from Tracking. Nularu nodded acknowledgement in case one of the Tracking team was looking towards her, but if they weren’t doing their jobs and looking to their Captain for approval, then they’d be in trouble.

“Engineering reports Hetch drive is stowed and secured ma’am. Impulse engines are ready for manoeuvring. Turret Dorsal Charlie is reporting a powerloss in their number two barrel and drive motors. They’ll be slow in bringing weapons to bare until resolved.”

“Understood,” she said to this report. It demanded a verbal acknowledgement to let her Tactical team know she had heard the report. She wished her chief gunnery officer was with her, but he was in Secondary Command, as part of splitting the senior officers between both locations – just in case after all.

“Mr Gali, set a pursuit course after our probe and proceed at one quarter impulse if you please. Guns, keep an eye out for anyone that might be looking to shoot at us. Unlike everyone else, I intended to return home.”

“Aye aye ma’am,” came two sets of voices confirming her orders.

Mission Day 04
1600 HR
Main Bridge

“Still no response?” Mac asked from the XO’s seat, looking pretty confused while keeping his eyes on the main viewer. The image of the alien spaceship was a little blurry to say the least, seeing as the distance between Bogey 1 and Atlantis was the better part of five AU at the moment. They’d been trying to get a hold of the alien newcomers for a while, but they’d had no response since they’d dropped out of warp.

“None,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr said as he checked his instruments again. “Their probe’s engine has just burned out. But it’s maintaining a subspace field. Huh…it’s keeping it’s driver coil online to coast at high speeds. That coil shuts off and the mass side of the equation will slow them down. That’s…absurdly beautiful in its simplicity.”

“I think I see why we haven’t got a response yet,” Carmargo said. “Or, well, Lieutenant Jarro just figured it out and messaged me.”

“Spill,” Tikva said. She wasn’t seated, but had been pacing around in the space between the command chairs and helm and operations consoles. Now she was standing still and looking straight at her science officer, eager to hear the theory.

“We’re looking for, say a transmission, directed at us via subspace. They clearly have some subspace technology, but that doesn’t mean subspace radio. I’m likely going to pick up some actual radio chatter from the probe and the ship soon enough, but…” She stopped and threw up a subspace emissions spectrum from the alien ship on the main viewer.

“It looks like they’ve been pulsing their drive signature ever so slightly to communicate. Likely not efficient, or much bandwidth, but it’d work as long as someone can track subspace signatures. But since they stopped moving at warp, they’ve still been doing it, just not as loud since they’ve basically only got their warp core to beat the subspace drum, not the warp coils, so to speak.”

“Wait, what?” asked Mac, looking horribly confused. “They’ve been using their engines to try and communicate?”

“Jarro is calling it a hypothesis currently. You might be able to get some directionality with certain field modulations and such, but really only ahead or behind you, as well as omnidirectional if you’re not fussy on your recipient.”

“That’s absurd,” Mac said, shaking his head. “Seriously, who does that?”

“These folks do,” Tikva responded. “And don’t knock it. Maybe no one has held their hand like the Vulcans did for us or the Federation has for countless other species. Maybe everything they’ve done makes perfect sense to them. After all, if you’ve got a warp drive and tracking, but no radio, why not use the engine to tap out some morse code?”

“Uh, Captain, you might want to see this,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr said, dismissing Carmargo’s spectrum and returning the view screen to the alien ship.

The turrets were no longer sitting in straight lines, pointing in the direction of the ship’s travel, but turning to present barrels at a target. Before she could ask Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr had split the screen to show an asteroid in the outer system they’d failed to catalogue, but which was just an asteroid, spinning through the depths of space.

“Looks like our friends spotted a platform that’s just gone live and spotted them as well.”

“Looks like they’re about to fire cannons at it too. If they fire honest to goodness artillery at that platform, I’m going to officially call these people anachronistic and my new favourite species of the Delta Quadrant,” Mac said. “That’s a space battleship, come on, that’s kinda cool.”

Adelinde spoke up from her station. “I agree, that is kind of cool. I’m not detecting any shields coming online though.”

Tikva sighed, rolled her eyes and returned to watching as the twin barrelled turrets, six in total, bore down on the asteroid. The asteroid itself was now spinning against nature, its own guidance systems likely bringing its own weapons to bare. This was a race to see who could fire first.

The newcomers won.

There was no artillery as Mac and Adelinde had wanted, but searing blue beams of phaser fire screamed across the cosmos from the ship and slamming into the asteroid. The beams were immense monsters of firepower, making up for efficiency and accuracy, for technological design, by simply being immensely powerful and brutal. Where they slammed into the asteroid, they fused and melted rocks. They tore through material and into the heart of the platform there, destroying critical machinery and circuits, smashing power systems and killing a centuries old sentinel before it could carry out its orders.

“Okay…that was scary.”

Royal Navy Starcruiser Talaru
Command Center

“Ma’am, probe has a visual on the alien ship,” Ms Hitaru spoke up from Tracking. She was one of Nularu’s favourites, but that was more because she was the only other female on the command staff and they both came from the same province.

“On screen Ms Hitaru, if you please.”

Soon enough the smouldering remains of the asteroid they’d fired on disappeared and was replaced with a blurry image. It was the first image returned after all that was more then just a spec of light. The signal was delayed by the speed of light from the probe, but the camera onboard the probe was now significantly closer to the ship in question then the Talaru was.

The vessel was…odd. It bore no weapon turrets, or weapon blisters of any kind as far as she could see. The front of the vessel was an arrowhead that tapered and then drew out away from the arrow base to form the body of the ship. But instead of having their hetch nacelles on retractable pylons to keep them safe, this ship looked like they were permanently mounted in place on pylons held away from the bulk of the craft and underslung so that looking at the ship from head on you could see them hanging below the arrowhead.

They were woefully under armed and woefully unprepared for a fight if they weren’t prepared to defend and protect their hetch drive. It even looked active, which was just asking for someone to fire on it. The drive plasma would destabilise, react with the coils and permanently ruin the drive, limiting a ship to sublight. Everyone knew that and it was taught at the Tactics Academy to command and gunnery officers from the beginning.

Always flush drives before battle to protect the hetch drive.

The hull was a glistening grey-white with smatterings of red lines or grey patches along the hull with darker grey raised bumps that ran along segments of the hull. And there, along the upper surface of the arrow head on either side of raised portion that looked like a growth stunted version of her own conning towers where a series of numbers and letters, matching on either side.

NCC-81424
U.S.S. Atlantis

Mission Day 94
1615 HR
Main Bridge

“Hail them again,” Tikva said as she settled back into her seat, perched on the edge, hand settling on the arms. She was trying her best to give that calm, collected Captain vibe.

“No response on subspace,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr responded from Ops. “Attempting linguacode EM transmission from our survey probe orbiting Theta,” he continued. For lack of better names for now they’d agreed a few hours ago to just name all the planets in sequence after the Greek alphabet and sort it out later.

Theta was a cold gas giant in the far reaches of the system, but an EM transmission from the probe to the alien ship would only take five minutes one way versus the few hours from Atlantis’ current safe harbour.

“And now we wait. T’Val, plot an intercept course with that ship at one quarter impulse power and take us in. Guns,” Tikva said with a slight smile as she looked to Adelinde, “keep a sharp eye out for any other platforms we might not have spotted just yet. And bring the shields back up.”

“Aye ma’am, yellow alert,” Adelinde responded with calm, taping a series of commands on her console as the klaxon sounded throughout the ship just as they got underway.

Royal Navy Starcruiser Talaru
Command Center

“Aspect change on Bogey Alpha,” came a report and Nularu looked up from the damage assessment she’d been reading regarding Dorsal Charlie. Her tactical plot showed only limited, pertinent data, as decided by the women and men of CiC and right now it showed Talaru, the probe they’d launched and the target known currently as Bogey Alpha, but which they had an image of the ship’s name most likely.

A shame they couldn’t read the alien’s language or make much sense of it really. But they must have been proud of the name to stamp it so prominently on the outer hull for all to see.

“Confirm speed and acceleration curve,” she demanded of those around her, not having issues with the speed the ship was doing, a matching of her own fine ship’s speed, but the acceleration curve was ridiculous.

“Data is accurate ma’am. Bogey Alpha accelerated to its current speed four times faster then we could. We’re detecting a driver coil field around their ship that’s more powerful than our own.”

She sighed, scrunching her face in thought for a moment before turning to the visual pickup to Secondary Command. “Opinions Mr Chru?” she asked of her XO from his spot elsewhere in the ship.

“They’re aliens ma’am? I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re nine limbed water breathers. In fact…”

“New contact!” came a shout in both Command and Secondary. “One-nine-six mark zero-zero-five, distance five light minutes. We’re receiving a transmission!” The more informative declaration however came from Jaruti in Command. A man who knew that in this instance he didn’t need to wait for a command to put this transmission on the main viewer.

Instead of some alien signal they’d instantly understand, a face of some alien creature wishing to talk to them or any other collection of fictional concepts, what they got was displayed as pure static to start with. Then their own computers started to make sense of it and a trove of information started to appear on screen.

“Mr Jaruti…” Nularu started, but didn’t finish her question.

“Math ma’am. Lots of math. Base ten, running through common sequences.” The comms officer was busy at his own console, information displayed on a variety of screens that his attention kept bouncing between. “Atomic sequences, mathematical proofs. Looks like we’re now getting language packages relating to math. Give me and team in Signals a few hours and we might be able to make basic sense of this, but I think this is a…dictionary stepped through fundamental mathematics.”

“Huh. We have anything similar?” Chru piped up via comms.

“Sorry XO, no. We could transmit a message though. Maybe make it nice and long to give them some information. I can send them some basic mathematical notation alongside their own to show we understand, see if they can work it out?”

Nalaru thought for a moment before speaking. “Make is so. Helm, decrease speed by half as well. Let’s see if they’ll do the same. Give us some more time to make sense of their message. Mr Chru, please arrange for rotations through the mess for the crew while we’ve got time. I want everyone well fed in case we have to start fighting.”

Mission Day 94
1630 HR
Main Bridge

“We’re getting a message back from the probe,” Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr spoke up.

“On screen,” Mac said for his Captain who he’d just been idly chatting with to while the time away. They had detected the change in the alien ship’s speed and after a brief non-verbal deliberation Mac had ordered T’Val to match. Since then, they’d been discussing how Captains and XOs slowly built up that non-verbal repour.

An alien starship bridge appeared on screen and the first thought that came to Tikva’s mind was how ancient it looked. Like something she’d seen in a holonovel, or a documentary. It did look functional at least, spartan as well, designed clearly for a dedicated purpose. The entire crew looked to be wearing EV suits, slightly clunkier then the current generation fleet standard, but EV suits none the less.

Why are they all suited up?

Don’t know. We’ll have to ask them. Though, you know, in case of a hull breach, it’s not such a dumb idea.

We’ve got forcefields for that.

Oh yah. Dur.

The central figure could be seen speaking through their visor, words that made no sense for a few moments before the universal translator found it’s rhythm and caught up, the translation rapidly overlaid atop the native language.

“This is Captain Gareli Nalaru of the Royal Navy Starcruiser Talaru to unidentified alien starship. This star system is stella incognito and we advise you prepare any and all defensive and offensive systems at once. We cannot guarantee your safety at this time. Please state your intentions in this system and how you have managed to survive for so long in this star system. Message sent at twenty-seven twelve.”

The end of the message contained a half dozen careful displays of mathematical notations alongside those sent by Rrr’mmm’bal’rrr, a clear attempt to show ‘this is how we do maths’ before rapid fire screens of more complex math. Clearly meant for someone to go back and review a frame at a time.

“Did we just get warned to protect ourselves?”

“Sure seems like it. Can’t they see we’ve got shields up at least?” Mac asked in reply.

“You know what, this comms delay is getting annoying. Rrr, make the probe damn obvious and have it close with the Talaru will you please? We’ll communicate through it so as not to scare our new friends.”

“Aye ma’am.”

“Mean time, Mac, Adelinde and Carmargo, ready room please. Want to bounce some ideas.”