USS Edinburgh – Bridge – 0600

The morning had come quickly for Commander Harris and he had a large cup of coffee in his hands as he stepped onto the bridge as the yellow lighting allowed his eyes to slowly adjust.  They had stepped down from red alert last night and he’d ordered them to break orbit and get into open space.  Starfleet had confirmed they were sending them a counseling team for permanent assignment.  The overnight crew reports had been his reading material as he’d rolled out of bed and started his morning.  He was just finishing the tail end of the report as he sat down in the center chair.  He read over the last few lines again and turned to the officer who was handling the science station, “Ensign Fowler…what do you make of the sensor results from this morning?”

Sadie tapped at the console and read the details, “They reported an inconsistent ion reading that was intermittent in nature…and that it was spread over a small area of a sector near us.”  Another moment of working the console, “They classified it as an ionic imbalance related to a recent energy storm in the area.”

Harris turned in his chair to face her, “What do you think?”  He took a sip from his coffee.”

She blinked and opened her mouth and then shut it again.  She faced the screen displaying the information and ran a few scenarios over the data.  She turned to him, frowning, “I think we’re looking at a minor ion leak from a ship or something.”  She considered the possibilities and settled on, “The reading is too high to be for the device we’re looking for…this has the look of a larger ship…cloaked.”  When she realized what she was hypothesizing she stared at the commander.

Ambrose pursed his lips, “That’s what I was wanting to check.  Where is this ion reading now?”  It took her a moment but ensign put the location on the view screen.

“An hour or so from us, sir.  You think this is intentional?  Trying to get us to move towards them?”

The CO stared at the screen, “I’ve known a lot of engineers in my time in Starfleet, Ensign Fowler.  Very few of them would let something like that happen beyond a few minutes…maybe an hour.  Letting that kind of leak spray out overnight?  Even the worst would at least lock that up.  Even a lazy engineer doesn’t want to die.”

The ensign at tactical spoke up, “I’m guessing there’s more than one ship waiting for us if we follow this trail.”

Harris turned and replied to Ensign Dalman, “You’d have a good chance of that guess winning the day.  We could probably hold our own against one Warbird but I think you’re right.  They’d overcompensate after the last group failed to knock us off the board.”

Dalman considered for a moment, “You said so yourself…we need to find the rest of our crew.  Whoever is on those ships would know.  How do we…level the field?”

Harris pushed himself out of his chair, “Good question.  Ensign Fowler – the planet where we found the Raven – the system it was in was notorious for causing problems with cloaking devices – probably why we detected them leaving when we arrived. What can you tell me about anything else around that might have some kind of kick like that…”

Sadie nodded along as she understood where he was going, “There are plenty of nebulas and anomalies around that could help us balance things a little more.”

“Get me a list.  Keep an eye on that ion leak.  Ensign Dalman, work with Ms. Fowler on figuring out the best place for us to craft a stand.”

USS Edinburgh – Ready Room – 0800

“So these are our top three suggestions.”  Fowler and Dalman stood before the command team having presented three areas in the surrounding sectors where they could give the Romulans a run for their money.

Harris sat at his desk and turned to the command team arrayed on the long couch, “Recommendations?”

Thasaz went first, “Whatever you do, it’ll have to be believable that we’re fleeing.  Given that these patrol groups often number up to three, that shouldn’t be too much trouble for us.  You’ll have to put us right up next to them so they can decloak and make their statement or move.  You may have to taunt them or do something further to pull them along.”  She examined the three choices, “Of the three, I’d recommend the Mosasbi Nebula Storm.  It’ll impact their shields and weapons intermittently – it’ll do the same to us so it’ll be balanced.  If it’s a place that causes only them harm, they won’t take the bait.”

Reid looked up from her PADD, “Sickbay is ready.  I’ve got all of them trained on triage.”  She looked to the other chief officers, “Appreciate you taking time with your assistants and crewmen as well in giving them the triage training.  I know it wasn’t easy given what other work we’re doing…but it’ll help us keep injuries to just that – injuries.”

Kondo was up next, “I’ll be at main tactical.  We’ve slotted Dalmen on the right tactical station and Webb on the left.  The extra eyes and hands on the stations should give us some extra help.”

Okada looked up as an awkward silence descended on the room, “Oh, yes.  Me.”  She scrolled through the PADD, “We’ve divided the engineering crews into damage control teams and repair teams.  We shifted a few science and helm officers into dispatch roles so they’ll handle organizing who goes where.  We’ve optimized everything we can when it comes to systems…but we’ve not really seen what she can do or take.”

Harris looked to each of them, “Thank you all for the reports.  This is the first time we’re taking this big of a risk with the Edinburgh.  I don’t intend to take unnecessary risks.  If things become untenable, I will get us out of here.”  He glanced at his chrono, “Let’s be ready to jump into action at 0830 – you’ve got fifteen minutes before we go live.  Dismissed.”

USS Edinburgh – The Castle – 0829

Prentice was back at the helm with Reid’s permission.  Harris sat forward in his chair, thinking of what more he could be doing.  They needed to draw them out.  And they needed answers.  “Mr, Prentice, lock in course and engage.”  The ship jumped forward.  Harris called for Red Alert and the bridge was bathed in a low ruby bath as the klaxons reminded everyone of the danger ahead.  Minutes passed as the officers kept their eyes to their stations, waiting…watching.

Soon, it was time.  Prentice announced, “Arriving at intercept point.  Dropping from warp…”  The New Orleans class slipped into regular space, the emptiness of the sector a stark reminder of the vastness of space.  It took thirty seconds for that to change.  It happened so fast.  Prentice announced, “Reading three power surges directly in front of us…”  Alerts and station klaxons were pinging across the bridge as the shadowy fade began to appear on the screen.

Kondo spoke quickly, “Sensors are picking up three Romulan Warbirds, D’deridex class.  All three are reading shields raised and weapons charged.”

Thasaz was last, “Sensors are not detecting the weapon in the area, Commander.  She glanced at her console, ”We are being hailed.”

Harris was surprised.  He had expected a lot more action and a little less conversation.  “Well.”  He stood and stared at the screen, “Let’s see what they have to say.  On-screen.”

An imposing Romulan officer filled the screen, the background the hazy bridge, “I am Colonel Rexin of The Praetor.  What is your purpose here?”

Harris held his face carefully.  First time talking to a Romulan face to face on his bridge.  The last time he’d tried talking to one they had opened fire on him.  “We are searching for our lost crewmen.  There was a Raven Class that crashed on a nearby planet and we were able to retrieve some survivors…but there are still three survivors we’re trying to locate.”  Keeping the man guessing was his only recourse.

“Interesting.  We are looking for one of our missing crew members as well. She was last seen on this planet you speak of as well.  She was assisting in a geological survey.”

Harris fought to control his face and won, for the moment.  It begat the question – what did this Rexin know about Saho?  He suspected where the officer intended for this conversation to go, and he needed to be ready.  “It seems we share a similar conundrum, Colonel Rexin.  We did not complete an exhaustive search of the planet…your crewmember may still be there.”

The Romulan openly laughed, “I very much doubt you left her alive, Commander.  I suspect you had a part in her disappearance and think you know exactly what happened to her.  His eyes searched his bridge and came to rest on Thasaz, his eyes widening, ”You have one of our officers in your ranks, Commander.  A Sub-Commander, no less.  Did you kidnap Thasaz as well?  What kind of abuse have you put our people through?”

Thasaz stood, indigent and furious.  Harris snapped his head and met her gaze.  They shared a silent moment and she hesitantly sat down, aiming all her rage at the man on the screen.  He tried to stay measured, “I assure you, we have kidnapped no one.  Subcommander Thasaz is a willing participant onboard Edinburgh.  We can send you the scans of the planet as a show of good faith if it helps you locate your crewman.”

Rexin shifted in his stance, “You do not impress me, Commander Harris.  Not even a captain.  You will pay for what you’ve done to our people.  Enjoy death, human.” 

The channel closed and Harris quietly spoke to Prentice, “Move us, Mr. Prentice.”  The Edinburgh shot forward at full impulse and dove into a spiral as the three Warbirds opened fire into empty space.”  Prentice gasped as he pulled the ship out of the dive and sent them running away from the three aggressors.  He tapped in the course of the nebula and sent them into warp speed.  The three Warbirds sat, waiting…and then followed them.