Part of USS Tokyo: M2: Infection and Bravo Fleet: We Are the Borg

1) Problematic endeavors

USS Tokyo - Ready Room
June 2401
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The room was dimmed in lights, and the panel interface reflected on the glass table with various PADDs on it. The Captain's jacket hangs on the chair as the stars pass the window in the Ready Room. The door opened as Yoon-Jung Ko walked into it, scratching her head, followed by Towalr and Sujian Deem. “Pass the transmission already into my office, Lieutenant Alavidze" Ko spoke into the bridge as the door closed. She sat down in her chair and faced the direction of the holographic interface.

As a figure appeared, the lights started to turn on at the holographic device. The figure is soon recognizable as Captain Ryoko Takato, the Task Force Commanding Officer of Task Force 86. She had her hands on her back and looked into the room. “Captain Yoon-Jung, Commanders Towalr and Deem.” Giving in a nod in their direction “Sorry for the sudden call.”

Ko shrugged a bit. “That is okay, Captain. It sounded urgent, so I gathered my First Officer and Chief Security Officer for this as you stated it had something to do with a security matter?" She crossed her arms slowly as she looked at the Captain before her. 

“Indeed it does, Captain” Ryoko confirmed. “Directive four has been initiated.”

“Directive Four?” Towalr looked puzzled at both Captains, not knowing what it meant. “I have not heard of this mandate?” 

A silence dropped when Towalr asked that, and a bit of awkwardness was felt. “It is the primary directive of the Fourth Fleet functioning. To react to any Borg presence that threatens the Federation's safety,” Sujian spoke, trying to hold his pose of standing at attention and trying not to roll his eyes. 

“Right, good to see some people know their fleet mission.” Ryoko nodded to Sujian and looked back at Ko. “Fourth Fleet Intelligence Office has been receiving disturbing reports in Beta Quadrant and more so in Delta Quadrant of Borg sightings. We do not know their goal before you ask what it is. But we like to be prepared for the Borg in any way possible. Learn from their behavior, be ready for anything, and if possible, prevent any aggression if they show it.” Ryoko shrugged a bit, knowing that the Borg was at their doorstep.

“The B-Borg?” Towalr manages to get out as with some fear in his voice. “Enterprise dealt with them! They shouldn't be a treat anymore?” 

Giving a slight nod, “We thought so as well. However, the reports are flooding in state something else. As I said, we do not know what their end goal is, why they suddenly start to cross their borders into the Gradin Belt or appear in Beta Quadrant. All we know is that we no longer can ignore it” Ryoko looked at Towalr and disliked the sight she was seeing, the coward without a spine. 

“So what do you want us to do?” Ko resumed and ignored the muttering Towalr who was cussing about upcoming dooms for themselves.

Ryoko looked back at Ko. “Well, I need to the Tokyo to move to Delta Quadrant as soon as possible. I know you guys started your job in the Deneb region, but this takes priority due to the nature of your ship function.” Ryoko took a  deep breath. “We need you to head to Delta-408, its a known graveyard in Delta Quadrant that has something you need to be able to continue your mission.” 

“And why would we enter such an area? What do we need to find at a graveyard?” Sujian asked, curious about the nature of their mission.

“The area is known to house Borg wrecked ships influenced by the neurolytic pathogen. The area is….a treasure cove for savager. So when you go in there, be on your guard, as we do not know how the Borg reacts or if the people present there have ill intentions.” Ryoko shrugged again, knowing she hadn't explained the mission clearly. "I need Tokyo to go in there and grab a sample of the neurologic pathogen."

“What! Are you crazy!” Towalr flared up against Captain Takato “You want to send us to certain death?!?"

“Contain your emotions, Commander. I do not appreciate your tone against me” Ryoko calmly stated. “Remember that this is not about Tokyo. This is not about you. This is about the lives at stake in the whole universe.” Ryoko defended her point “It is our duty to investigate the Borg's appearance and be prepared. Tokyo will get that element so that we are prepared.” 

The room got quiet as everyone knew what was at stake. Towalr looked in panic at everyone. “You've got to be joking right now?! Do you agree with such a setting of a mission? This is suicide! We are going into a hostile area to grab a sample?! Sending a Sovereign or Galaxy class! They are equipped for this!” 

Shrugging at Towalr's behavior, Sujian nods slowly. “It is not favorable for us to do this kind of mission, which can cause certain death for the crew.” He had difficulty backing Towalr up.

Rolling her eyes at that, Ryoko took a deep breath. “We are dealing with the shortage in personnel, equipment, and ships of the century. Yet you want me to send this mission to a ship that I do not have, that is more armed into a graveyard that could trigger gunfire or, even worse, signal for Borg backup?” 

“You need to look at the bigger picture. The Tokyo is well versed in armed weaponry to fend off some scavenger and fast enough to get out if shit hits the fan.” Ko looked at Towalr and Sujian. “Plus, it is our core duty to react to any Borg threats.”

“Exactly” Ryoko added, giving a stern nod toward Ko. “So, like it or not, Tokyo will move towards Delta Quadrant and have its gate open in a week. Get information from Starbase 38 and the DEI to get up to date with the current conditions and status in Delta Quadrant. Good luck. Takato out.” The hologram disappeared as the three stood there.

“You got to be kidding me…we will die if we enter that graveyard!" Towalr felt furious about the lack of common sense present in the room. But primarily disappointed in Starfleet, they would even dare to set up such a mission in the first place and left the room. “Madness!” He yelled while leaving.

Sujian shrugged, looking at the dramatic leaving of Towalr and wondering if it was an excellent choice to back him up against the Captains. He still had his little sister to consider in all this. “Well, I better get my Borg knowledge up to speed and training scheduled for the security team on how to deal with drones and such.” He looked at Ko. “Do you have any other orders?” 

She shook her head as she was still amazed by the dramatic exit of Towalr. “Please prepare everyone, check the armory, and get the weaponry tuned to potential Borg interactions. I will soon get a senior staff briefing ready for everyone to attend,” Ko said, taking a deep breath. “Dismissed.” As Sujian left the room, she tapped her comm. “Lieutenant Padgok, please plot an intercept course to Starbase 38 on the highest warp speed” 

“Aye, Captain.” A brief response came before the channel closed. So saw the star's direction change when the ship changed its course. “The Borg….why does it have to be the Borg” Ko shrugged and laid back in her chair. 

Comments

  • I am really enjoying the style of this opening, particularly Towalr's response, I imagine there's more than one officer echoing that through the fleet. the tone from command was a nice touch aswell, almost 'we both know you're not the first choice'. I'm interested to see how the crew handle the news, particularly since they aren't hugely confident with the new captain. Could we be heading for some problems? Looking forward to finding out!

    October 27, 2023
  • The a-ship-receives-orders post is not usually a thriller, in its own right, but the dialogue in this post absolutely made it one. You remind us of the inexperience of some of these officers in Towalr's obliviousness towards Directive Four, and then you show how the very thought of the Borg, especially in light of everything that's happened recently, is going to impact the crew. Will they rise above their fears for, as Ryoko reminds us, "the lives at stake in the whole universe", or will they cower in horror of the danger that lies ahead? Great job laying the groundwork, not just in terms of the mission's parameters, but also in terms of the very human challenge that the crew will face as they head into the darkest depths of the Delta Quadrant.

    October 28, 2023
  • First time reading anything regarding the Tokyo and its very clear they are not happy with their orders; honestly I can't blame anyone that has misgivings about entering a graveyard of wreaked Borg vessels, regardless of what might be at stake. There are just certain places in the universe you just don't go; and your sending the crew right into the heart of one of them. You've got me very interesting in what's to come.

    October 28, 2023
  • Definitely an interesting start here, both with the orders to go literally into the valley of death there, and with the minefield of emotions the orders have created. I’m interested to see how the new captain will deal with both situations. Great work, looking forward to reading more!

    October 29, 2023
  • Amazing! What an intense and suspenseful scene! The dimmed lighting and the holographic interface on the glass table immersed me in the story right off the bat. Captain Ko's sense of duty and the urgency of their mission are apparent, and the crew's reactions to the mission add a layer of tension that keeps me on the edge of my seat. The exchange between both Captains is well-written, conveying the gravity of the situation and the challenges they face. “The Borg….why does it have to be the Borg” Made me laugh very loud! I can't wait to see how the crew of the Tokyo will handle the Borg as a looming threat. Thank you for sharing this incredibly thrilling start!

    October 30, 2023
  • It's nice to see some COs that aren't quite in sync with orders from SFC. In the shows, and even in most writing, you don't see a lot of misgivings from COs when they're told to literally go stare down something incredibly dangerous. They way you've set that up, and foreshadowed the issues in the grave yard is excellent! I can't wait to see more from this storyline!

    October 30, 2023
  • It's nice to see some COs that aren't quite in sync with orders from SFC. In the shows, and even in most writing, you don't see a lot of misgivings from COs when they're told to literally go stare down something incredibly dangerous. They way you've set that up, and foreshadowed the issues in the grave yard is excellent! I can't wait to see more from this storyline!

    October 30, 2023
  • I know I'm not the first to say this, but I'll echo some other comments anyway: I really enjoyed reading the pushback from some of the ship's officers against Starfleet. It is rarely seen on-screen. Usually we get the CO in a private meeting, who expresses some mild concern with a scowl, and then they just go on with their business. Also, this was great to see actual concern in the crew's eyes. Again, on-screen, it's rare to see an officer afraid of an upcoming mission, so this was a nice human touch. Looking forward to reading more about this mission! Great setup!

    November 5, 2023
  • Ha, first of all, I love Takato’s “we don’t know their goal SO DON’T EVEN ASK”. She’s clearly thrilled to be dealing with this. And though Towalr is quavering, he’s doing a useful job in the narrative of showing just how DONE everyone in Starfleet is with the Borg and how comforting it must have been to think they’d finally been dealt with. And though he’s going overboard in his reaction, I appreciate that the security-minded Sujian also has his doubts. It’s a great intro that sets up the fear of being outgunned that permeates the story.

    November 11, 2023