USS Elysion – The Red Expanse – Part 5
Command Briefing Room | Deck 1 | USS Elysion – Docked at DS17
08:20 Zulu
What had previously been designated the ‘bridge conference room’ was now the ‘command briefing room’.
John McBride generally didn’t hold much stock with conferences or debates. He gathered the information required from the subject matter experts around him, then he spoke to anyone else that he felt had a better grasp of the given situation than he himself did, and then finally he decided on the correct course of action. He regarded having his senior officers lounging in upholstered swivel chairs around a long table as a complete waste of time. If he needed the opinion on a scientific subject, he would consult his senior science officer; an engineering matter, his chief engineer; a tactical matter, his tactical officer. As far as he was concerned, there was absolutely no benefit to having everyone sat around the table, tossing in their two-cents worth on matters that most of them were singularly unqualified to have an opinion on.
The long, curved conference table with the concealed surface lighting had been removed by the engineering team late the previous evening, as had the upholstered swivel chairs which McBride despised so much. Replacing them was a tall, rectangular table – a ‘stand-up table’ McBride called it. The lack of chairs or stools meant that everyone at the briefing now had to stand around the table rather than sit – and that meant that briefings tended to be shorter and to the point. He’d done the same when he’d taken command of Thunderer, prompting his XO to comment “John McBride. The man who put the ‘brief’ into ‘briefing’” – although he’d never dared make the comment in McBride’s presence.
The introductions between the newcomers and Elysion’s existing senior officers had all been made, and the pleasantries had been exchanged. He glanced around the room – nine pairs of eyes looked back at him expectantly. Vos – his new XO, Borden the former XO and Elysion’s new second officer, Hof – the new COB, Colia – the Deltan conn officer, Rayas – the Bolian operations officer, Tanner – the chief engineer he had brought with him from Thunderer, Dr Valentine – his old friend and Elysion’s CMO, the Vulcan science officer Talak and finally Caspian – the tactical and security officer who glowered at him from the far end of the table, her face impassive, but her eyes bright with anger.
“Alright,” McBride spoke briskly as he looked round at the assembled senior officers once more. “We have been ordered to secure from liberty and proceed with all possible speed along the coreward edge of Federation space. USS Kelley was cataloguing electromagnetic anomalies which have recently appeared in the Cerne Nebula. Lieutenant Commander Talak.”
The Vulcan science officer touched a control before him and a holographic image appeared above the centre of the briefing table.
“Thank you Captain. This is the Cerne Nebula – also known colloquially as ‘The Red Expanse’. The nebula has been the focus of seventeen separate Starfleet scientific missions since it was first discovered on stardate 18196.8.”
The holographic image showed the scarlet-coloured nebula, pulsating slowly. As the officers watched, the nebula began to expand, its red tendrils beginning to reach out in every direction. Colia, the Deltan conn officer involuntarily moved backwards away from it.
“As you can see from the holographic representation,” Talak continued, “the nebula has the ability to expand – and then contract at unpredictable times.”
“How is that possible?” Bella asked with a frown.
“Unknown,” replied Talak. “It has been suggested however that what is named the ‘Cerne Nebula’ is in fact just a portion of a much larger nebula, estimated to be in the region of seventy-five light years across.”
“And seventeen scientific missions have been unable to discover how or why this happens periodically,” added McBride.
“Correct,” Talak nodded.
“Kelley entered the nebula as per her orders to catalogue the electromagnetic anomalies I mentioned earlier,” McBride continued. “These anomalies have been named ‘Red Spikes’ by Kelley’s chief science officer,” – the expression on his face clearly showed his opinion of the frivolous name – “and Kelley had been conducting her surveys for twenty-three days before she missed her regularly scheduled report back to DS17.”
He clasped his hands together, reached into the holographic image and drew them apart to enlarge a portion of the nebula. A tiny green representation of a Nova-class starship sprang into view, along with what appeared to be a Federation space station. He continued once more.
“Kelley was due to enter the nebula for closer examination of one of these… Red Spikes… eight hours before her next communication. And that communication never came. And this…” he pointed to the space station “is Deep Space One-One-Eight – also known as Cerne Station – sixty-two thousand kilometres away from Kelley’s projected entry point into the nebula. Commander Tanner.”
The chief engineer cleared his throat. “Cerne Station was constructed to monitor the unusual expansions and contractions of the nebula some twenty-five years ago. It’s large enough to accommodate a standing crew of around one-hundred thirty or so, but for most of its operational life, operated with a crew of twenty-four on a rotating watch basis. The station was mothballed after Frontier Day and her crew recalled. It shouldn’t be too much of a challenge to bring ‘er back online again and see what the station’s sensors might have picked up.”
McBride grunted in assent and looked round at his officers.
“So, we’re going to find Kelley. No more, no less. Questions?”
There were none. “Good,” he nodded. “Departure stations if you please. Dismissed. Borden, Caspian – a moment please.”
He waited as the others left the room, speaking only when the briefing room door had closed behind them. The expressions on the faces of the two women were a mixture of trepidation and anticipation.
“Lieutenant Caspian,” he began quietly. “Lieutenant Commander Borden has brought it to my attention that my attitude and behaviour towards you yesterday was perhaps…” he glanced at Borden. “Inappropriate… and that my actions may have been negatively influenced by our… rather acrimonious history together.”
Caspian glanced quickly at Bella before turning her attention back to the captain.
“So, with all that being said,” McBride continued, “I offer my wholehearted apologies for my behaviour, and I hope that we can agree to wipe the slate clean and start anew.”
Caspian was clearly shocked by the man’s contriteness, glancing once more at her friend before replying.
“Er, yes. Thank you sir. I’m sure we can.”
McBride nodded, with a surprising look of relief. “Good. I’m pleased.” He cleared his throat. “Borden also tells me that she regards you as an excellent officer and a vital member of Elysion’s senior staff.”
“Yes sir,” said Caspian.
McBride chuckled. “Caspian… are you just acknowledging what I’m saying, or are you agreeing with Borden’s assessment of you?”
“Both sir,” said Caspian without hesitation.
McBride chuckled again. “Then at least you’re both in agreement. You might be an excellent officer, Lieutenant Caspian – but are you an excellent tactical officer?”
“I am sir,”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Because I need an excellent tactical officer. Not just a good one, or one who’s better than average – but an excellent one.” He paused, as if considering his next question. “So, what’s your ‘party piece’, Caspian?”
“Sir?”
“Your party piece. What’s the one thing that you can do better than anyone else?”
“I can fight the ship better than anyone I know,” she replied, her voice sounded controlled, almost emotionless, but her eyes were blazing.
“Is that right?” he asked rhetorically. “Well, I’ll look forward to seeing that at some point, eh?” he paused, placing both hands on the table before him as if reflecting on the conversation. “Alright, thank you both. Departure stations please. Dismissed.”
Both Borden and Caspian nodded in response and headed towards the doors.
“Borden?” McBride spoke quietly just as the doors opened and Caspian left the room. Bella stopped short, turning to face the captain.
“Happy?” he asked.
Bella nodded. “Yes sir. Thank you sir.”
Main Bridge | Deck 1 | USS Elysion – Departing DS17
08:30 Zulu
The bridge was filled with the reassuringly familiar starship sounds and the subdued conversations of experienced, well-trained people doing their jobs as Elysion prepared to depart. Bella had been directed to take the seat to McBride’s left, with Commander Vos, the new XO taking what had previously been her seat to his right. Command Chief Petty Officer Hof stood at the Chief of the Watch station directly behind and slightly above the command seats, efficiently checking off the departmental readiness reports. Finally, she touched a control and a green light glowed on the left arm of each of the three command seats. McBride nodded to Vos.
“Chief of the Boat,” said Vos, his voice clear and confident. “Have all departments reported ready to get underway?”
“Aye sir,” replied Hof without pause. “All departments report ready.”
“Very well. Lieutenant Rayas, clear all lines.”
“Clearing all lines,” said Rayas from her position at the operations console. “All lines cleared. Dockmaster confirms our departure.”
“Lieutenant Colia, thrusters ahead. Take us out,”
“Aye sir,“ said Colia from her position to the right of Rayas. “Thrusters ahead.”
Bella had to admit that she was impressed with Vos. Even though he had only been aboard for twenty-four hours, he could already remember the names of Elysion’s senior officers. He appeared calm and confident in his orders – acting as if he had taken this ship, this crew, out into space on hundreds of occasions. Plus, she reminded herself, he was so incredibly beautiful. The full XO package. She wished that she could despise him for stealing her job, but she couldn’t. Along with the rest of the bridge crew, her eyes were fixed on the forward viewer as the edges of DS17’s docking doors slipped past out of view on either side of the screen.
“We have cleared the station,” Colia reported.
“Steady as she goes,” replied Vos. “Meet her.”
“Meet her, aye,”
“Ahead full impulse. On the 1MC – underway, shift the watch,” ordered Vos.
“Underway, shift the watch,” Chief Hof’s voice repeated the words over the ship-wide comm system.
“Ahead full impulse,” said Vos. “Set new course zero-four-seven mark six. Warp eight. Engage.”
“Aye sir, new course zero-four-seven mark six. Warp eight.”
The stars on the viewscreen transformed into streaks of light as Elysion accelerated, shifting effortlessly to warp speed.
McBride brushed both hands along his uniform trousers and nodded his satisfaction to Vos.
“Very good, Number One. Conn – time to the Cerne Nebula?”
“Sixteen point two hours sir,” replied Colia immediately.
McBride nodded again. “I’ll be in my quarters. Number One, you have the bridge.”
He stood slowly, casting his eyes around the bridge stations in turn, almost as if he were about to address them all. Finally, he nodded once more to Vos and slowly crossed the bridge to the starboard turbolift.
Behind him, Commander Vos settled himself in the commanding officer’s seat as officer of the watch. Caspian caught Bella’s eye and gave her a reassuring smile. Bella smiled back to reassure her friend that it was all ok. She felt fine.
But she didn’t feel fine. Not at all.
