Knowledge and Wisdom

Posted on Fri Sep 11th, 2020 @ 3:27pm by Commodore Loatha Targaryen & Commander Nathan Hawkins
Edited on on Sat Sep 12th, 2020 @ 3:26am

1,018 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Exodus
Location: Crew Cabins, USS Spock
Timeline: 2430-01-10, 12:15

Nathan's pace faltered as he drew closer to the cabin Admiral Luzol and her family had been assigned. He was reconsidering the decision to speak to her, though her wisdom was sorely needed she was a guest now caught up in the middle just like the other VIP's and it was inappropriate to involve her in this situation.

Despite that, he'd already heard reports of her desire to do such a thing including flying up to the bridge and throwing her weight around. Nathan still expected her to brandish him incompetent and take over Command. Selfishly he wished she would to save him the tough decisions and allow him to rest a little more comfortably.

That would also end his career for sure, as scarred as it already was.

Standing within touching distance of their cabin Nathan paused again, debating one last time if he should involve the Fleet Admiral in the new situation surrounding their tail. He was already bracing himself for ticking off guessing she'd properly be pissed he hadn't spoken to her sooner or given her a running update on the ships condition. Asking her to assist was like asking parents for advice despite being fully grown yourself, pride was a very hard pill to swallow, however this wasn't about just pride the're lives at steak here. The time for beating a bought the bush were over.

The jabbed the chime - no going back now.

It wasn't the Admiral who answered. Instead a toddler ran up to the door and pressed the release. "Who you?"

There wasn't an opportunity to reply. Admiral Luzol came from a corner, "Semmaj that's not how we act." She looked at the Captain, "Sorry about that. How may I help you, Captain?" She asked while escorting her child back to the bunks where his brother and grandmother sat watching a video on a PADD.

Watching the tot waddle back towards his older sibling with a prang of guilt he'd intruded on their private time Nathan spoke softly. "Pardon the intrusion Ma'am. I came to update you on our situation and seek some advice. Perhaps we should talk outside?"

"Oh I have Alpha Two Clearance," the other woman answered.

Luzol nodded begrudgingly, "that she does. The retired Admiral Beatrix maintains her former credentials."

Wondering if he was about to dive headlong into the fire Hawkins felt himself nod at the comment masking his surprise at the information and began to retell they'll plight from the beginning. "No doubt you know the initial attack has left us in a very precarious position, many of them major ship functions are still not operational and most likely will not be without a prolonged spell in dock." He explained confident this much the two women already knew.

"Even with the assistance of Lady Luck we're still approximately thirty light years away from Earth, though safely in Federation Space I'm deeply concerned for our safety," Hawkins continued. "Chomei has detected another vessel following us; a Klingon Bird of Prey. At current we have no ideas of its intentions, however if they'll hostile neither our self or the freighter are in a position to put up much of a fight."

Beatrix smiled, "Ok. I may want to rescind my clearances."

"Don't tempt me," her Daughter in Law answered. She was back to business, "Alright then. I assume from your initial report communications are still down. Starfleet probably has an investigation team looking for us, but the Klingon ship may be a concern." She paused, "What do you think we should do? This is your ship. Your crew."

Glancing sideways at the two children checking they we still obvious to the drama Hawkins returned his gaze to Luzol as she drove home the weight of his responsibility: "I've already instructed repair teams to switch focus in an attempt to fortify the ship should the worst happen. Though wounded our defences still outstrip the Lady Luck, I'm reluctant to abandon the Spock in favour of fleeing, where we'd likely to be caught anyway."

It was the former Admiral Beatrix who interrupted this time, "Did you ever think of a diversion?"

"Asks the Medical Officer? What are you on about?" Luzol asked as she stood next to the Spock's Captain.

"Exactly as I suggested. This ship has a shuttle. You could always launch it, send it on another course, and see what happens. We have a diplomatic transponder aboard. Move it over to there, launch the shuttle, and see if they pursue it." She went back to playing with the holorecording on the PADD with the children.

Hawkins lips twitched slightly; this was why he come here to speak to them - to sound ideas and hatch a plan. His skeleton crew had enough to worry about right now, and Haynes was too wrapped up in her assignment of securing the President she'd always put him first.

The idea was simple enough, move the transponder, plot in a course, fake some life-signs and send it away. It might buy them time should the Klingon vessel follow, perhaps enough to escape. If not, well they'd cross that bridge later.

"That would certainly help identify they'll intentions," Nathan nodded.

"Plus the diplomatic transponder, if it has power, will light up like a Christmas tree. If a Starfleet ship picks it up they'll know where to come looking," Luzol, begrudgingly, admitted.

"Like leaving a breadcrumb trail," the Captain agreed. "Thank you for suggestion, Ma'am."

The El-Aurian shrugged, "I'm just a stowaway. No need for thanks."

Luzol moved on, "When can you implement it? If that's the route you're going."

"As soon as possible," Hawkins replied. "Once we've been able to strengthen our defences as best as possible, just in case they don't pursue the shuttle."

Now was the moment that she decided to pull rank. The Admiral looked at her children then back at the Captain of the Spock, "Let's have this completed within the next two hours, Captain. Every moment we're out here we're more at risk and we have a very critical cargo aboard."

"I agree," he nodded. "Two hours."

RSS Feed