((Bridge, Blythe))

The call came in from the Farragut at 0637h. The pimply faced 3rd year cadet, who was manning the opscomm station while the actual watchstander was on a ‘rak break’, creaked in his high pitched off key voice.

\”Sir! Priority one comm coming in from the Farragut…\” the 18 year olds eyes grew wide with anxiety before he continued.

\”The USS Salvation has spotted a Tholian force massing in the Rhontaka system. We’re ordered to got to red alert and head directly for a set of coordinates near Rhontaka B…sir\”

\”Transfer the coordinates to the helm Cadet. Trigarr, set course maximum speed. Computer set the ship to red a-mutha-kirking-lert and get the big fish up to the bridge.\” Mee IH squeeked emphatically. The computer easily translated his odd verbiage into actual commands and activsted the red alert system and contacted the senior staff automatically.

As the dolphin floated around the railing behind the captains chair, his tail flipperd began to wag in a sign of obvious excitement.

\’Holy Spock! We’re going to war! Yay, its my first one in oh, lemme think…4 Kirking months….flippin Starfleet, always sending us little peons of tonoick a fight for our morality or ‘territorial integrity’….facism it is, strsight fascism\’ Meeh IH thought to himself as his tail still flapped.

The Operations watchstander, the goof Chief Ford had returned to his station. After reviewing the comm, he had a similar wide eyed expression as the cadet.

\”Uh, ok…\” in addition to being a jerk, he also wasn\’t that skilled as a watchstanding. Having only taken the course to get a promotion and avoiding ever serving a watch as often as possible thereafter. He continued \”All he ship of the flotilla have acknowledged and are enroute.\”

Trigarr piped in from the helm console \”We’ll arrive in 2 hours sir. About a minute and a half behind the the CC sir.\”

Mee IH used his nose to tap his comm badge as hebhkvered in the middle of the bridge while the senior staff began arriving.

\”Bridge to Lt. Tesa…heeeeey, sup girl, yo, are we still good to rock and roll at warp 8.2 for short period if neccesary?\”

Tesa replied ovee the comm, sounded a bit out of breath having rushed to engineering from her quarters, \”Prophets yes! Dont be threatening a girl with a good time if you don\’t mean it Commander Mee IH\”

Sounding cool calm and collected Mee IH replied \”Thanks girl, alright talk to ya later when you come by for a swim…if we’re all not dead that is, kk, byeee…Trigarr you heard the lady, punch it up to 8.2. FORD! Hail the Culver City, inform them tobwatch out on their left, we intend to overtake.\”

Tyler and Wong had been watching Mee IH in action, and only now came in to assume their position. Mee IH smiled brightly for some odd reason as he relinquished command to Tyler and hovered back over to his pool opening in the corner of the bridge next to Trigarrs station.

((USS Culver City))

It was around an hour and a half before they were scheduled to be on duty when the intercom roused Lieutenant Klev and Ensign Lotharys as a voice suddenly called “Bridge to the captain”

Klev sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Klev here, what is it?” he asked, trying to blink back the vestiges of sleep.

“Priority One message from the Farragut, sir Salvations picked up a Tholian fleet headed for the border. All ships have been ordered to join Salvation at best speed”

Klev and Lotharys exchanged looks as they both got up, duty now ending the impromptu sleepover between the two friends. Acknowledge to Farragut, and inform Salvation we’re coming at warp 8, then get us moving. Then call alpha shift to stations. Ill be up soon.” Klev out.

After the channel closed, Klev looked to Lotharys apologetically.  She waved a hand with a smile. “See ya soon okay!  See you on the bridge, Var.” With a hug – that lingered a moment or so longer than normal – she left his quarters, running to grab a fresh uniform before heading up.

Klev dressed quickly, dressed being a loose term, as his undershirt was untucked and his uniform tunic in hand as he headed for the turbolift. The short ride gave him a chance to at least tuck the undershirt in and pull on his tunic, though it remained open as he stepped out onto the bridge and took the conn.

Stars streaked by on the viewscreen, and inside the bridge the shift change was well underway; Chief Bong and Ensign Phillips had both already reported, and the next turbolift car carried Ensigns Lotharys – now in her uniform instead of pajamas – and sh’Livo, along with a petty officer from Engineering. Klev looked to Bong.  “Report” he said.

“We’re heading to join the  Salvation, underway at warp 8 per your orders, sir,” Chief Bong replied. “All stations reporting manned.” Phillips followed up; “We should reach Salvation within two hours,” they added.

“Very good,” Klev said then turned to Lotharys. “Any surprises along the route?” He asked, trying to hide the smile that wanted to lift the corners of his mouth.

She shook her head. “Nothing on sensors.”

His gaze now landed on Ensign shLivo. “Weapons and shields? Â How many torpedoes do we have left?”

“Ready to go, she answered, a little nervously. “Were down to 34 torpedoes.”

Klev nodded. “Take us to Red Alert; I dont want to be caught unready.”  As the ships Red Alert lighting kicked in, he shifted his gaze to the petty officer at engineering, but before he could speak Chief Bong interrupted.  “Incoming message from the Blythe, sir; they mean to try and overtake us. On the left”

The right side of Klevs mouth curled upward into a bit of a half-smile as he got a thought to try and join the race, but a quick glance at his armrest console suggested caution; sprinting at warp 8 as she was, Culver Citys engines were running hot, and she probably couldnt give much more without risking serious damage to the warp coils and plasma injectors. Blythe was also starting from behind Culver City, so to overtake her sister she would have to force her engines. “Tell them theyre welcome to try.  And advise Captain Tyler to keep a close eye on his coils and injectors; Id hate it if he won, only to need a tow home because they melted down.”

As Chief Bong sent the message, Klev now addressed the petty officer at engineering. Keep that warp field stable, and a close eye on our engines and core; we need to get there, yes, but we need to be useful when we do, too.”

With the message now sent, Klev returned his gaze to Bong. See if we can free up any non-essential personnel to support damage control and sickbay; if this turns into a fight, we’ll need both.” The chief nodded in reply.

Ready for action – or as ready as she could be – Culver City sprinted through space, racing for the Tholian border and an unfolding crisis.

((Blythe Bridge))

\”Lasalle as we draw even with the CC ease us back to warp 8. We will enter the Rhontaka system together.\”

\”Coulda beat em sir.\” Mee IH squeeked jokingly from his pool in the corner while wearing his cute new holo headset.

\”Winning isn’t everything Commander. But I appreciate your sense of urgency.\” Tyler said from the big chair.