Extreme Caution
Posted on Fri Oct 15th, 2021 @ 3:52am by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Commander Galatea & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Patton O'Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Zoey Parker & Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner
1,967 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
749148
Location: Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-09-09, 07:45
Starship Log, Stardate 107688.4:
Following the arrival of the Vol'Rala through the night, the Enterprise is now underway to Talos IV at high warp. Our mission is to investigate the distress call received by the Talosian Keeper and to reestablish contact with this quarantined race. I just hope that we are not venturing into a trap.
"Admiral on the Bridge," Galatea announced at Admiral Willian Targaryen stepped through the open portal onto the Bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
"As you were," he indicated as he walked toward his chair at the center of the vessel's command center. Late last night he and his crew had received a briefing from the President and the Admiral's wife regarding their mission. He had started the Night Watch early, but he had a feeling that they may have been a bit under utilized over the next few days.
Relieving Commander Tano, Willian sat in his chair and brought up the status screens as he customarily did each morning when he assumed command of his ship. While Starfleet One was designed to be heavily automated - operated by as few as a single person - it was strange to see his ship so empty. Only a quarter of their crew remained aboard, which had already shown some impacts in reaction times but not enough to be a risk yet. It was better this way as the fewer crew they had aboard the better off they would all be. It was less of a risk this way if the Talosians were laying a trap for them.
"Extreme Caution," he heard the main computer of the ship announce. "This sector has been quarantined by order of the United Federation of Planets. Further travel into this region is restricted and punishable by death. Your vessel is ordered to return to its previous coordinates immediately. There will be no further audio warning." It echoed throughout the corridors and rooms of the ship, perhaps an omen of the dangers yet to come.
It was an certainly an ominous announcement and a bit hard to believe. To be told that a region of space was restricted and unauthorized access punishable by death was extreme, if not hard to believe. He would love to see them try though. Despite being 20 years old, Starfleet One was still one of the most advanced vessels in the fleet thanks to its refits and enhancements. It would be a glorious fight if it came to it.
Almost as glorious as the one his wife would face back on New Vulcan. When Enterprise was assigned to this mission, the President ordered Luzol to travel to New Vulcan to replace them there on their resupply and repair mission. He loved his wife, but he was glad that he had the opportunity to be back on the road toward what lay beyond. She could play politics, he had a mission to figure out and that was what was important.
He had started the night watch a little early last night so many of the crew had already arrived on the Bridge. He himself had been awake since the Vol'Rala arrived in system a little after 04:00 hours. He knew that some of the crew never bothered to try to go to sleep because of the prospects of what was coming, though he oddly slept like a baby. He did not quite understand why but he had not been overly bothered by this mission. It was almost as if he were comfortable with what was to come, even though he had no idea what that was.
Crossing his legs as they moved further into restricted space, Willian watched the monitors as the rest of his crew arrived.
Zoey was on the bridge, when she heard the call come across the main viewer. The tone was a little amanous for her liking. Very eyry she thought to herself, as chills poured over body. She was still trying to get use to her new schedule, on the bridge rotation. Not that she minded, she got to see more of Patton. Her boyfriend. To bad they did not really get a chance to talk. They worked on opposite ends of the bridge.
Zoey had been monitoring starship movements. Nothing out of the ordinary. And most ships already had their flight path pre determined. For the moment, no immediate ships in their area. That would change as the day progressed. No other ship was foolish enough to attempt, what the Enterprise was attempting.
Patton had already been on alert, the closer they got, he waited for something to happen. The warning wasn't what he had expected but it didn't take long being a part of the Federation to learn that seldom did anything go as you expect them to.
His eyes were on his station, Patton glanced around at the others. He hadn't gotten much sleep. He was prone to be awake, his mind turning on the possibilities and preparation for the mission at hand. He still wondered what was really going on here.
Ash looked up from her work station for a few seconds as SF1 crossed into the exclusion zone and, physically, shrugged at the. no nonsense, message. The engineer was not concerned by the message and not even concerned by where they were headed. She was convinced it was a test and just as convinced that the nature of that test had to do with how they responded and whether they worked with, or against, others that responded to the call as well. There was no prize to be won here, in her estimation. There would only be a burden to be borne, by one or by many, that could only be carried with the help of others. The 'noise' in her head had receded with the passage of time and the fact that most civilians and 'non-essential' personnel were not aboard and Ash found it much less difficult to push the muted cacophony into the background. Ash looked to the Admiral for a few seconds and wondered if she should voice her, further, thoughts on the matter.
"Maintain course, Helm," the Admiral ordered confirming that they would proceed forward.
[TAG: Bishara]
"Commander Snow," the Admiral turned toward the Science Station, "begin preapproach scans of the area. I want to be prepared for anything. If this is a test by the Talosians there is a distinct possibility that we will emerge in the midst of a black hole or some other form of destruction."
"Already have sir." Snow stated. "I'm scanning with all possible equipment."
As his orders were carried out the Captain resumed watching the screen, awaiting his reports.
Despite the foreboding announcement as they crossed the threshold into forbidden space Commander Hawkins felt his lips twitch at the Admirals comment. Beside him still looking distinctly on edge Lieutenant Blake lent closer and whispered: "He was joking, right?"
"Given the circumstances I wouldn't be so sure," Hawkins replied softly consulting the sensor net. "The Talosians have been far from welcoming in the past, anything is possible."
Patton was on full alert as they crossed over. He mentally shook himself as he realized he instinctively tensed as if waiting for something to happen. "Which puts us all on guard. A good thing in my book."
The next few minutes passed by very quickly as the Bridge Crew engaged in idle chit chat and banter. Many of the crew arrived on the Bridge, some switched over to head to their traditional assignments, but for the Admiral wild horses would not be enough to pull him away from his Bridge at this moment. He watched closely as the navicomputer updated the course on his panel, showing him that they were only seconds from their destination.
"Look sharp everyone. Things can get real dicey real quick."
The starfield around them shimmered back to a sublight view as the Enterprise rejoined the rest of the galaxy in normal space. Where everyone had expected the worst from their voyage, so far it had little more than routine. They were in stable orbit over Talos and there was no evidence that there were any illusions at work.
"So far so good. Anything on sensors?"
"I don't see anything at the moment." Snow reported.
Zoey wondered if they were being deceived. Could they trust their instruments. What she knew about this race. Anything was possible. They had a way with manipulating our minds.
Willian nodded at the information as the alien world zoomed in on their viewscreen from their approach. It was an eerily beautiful world, but beneath the surface lay something else. It was a strange sensation, almost as if he were being watched. With the power of the Talosians that was certainly possible, but he did not think it was them this time. There was something else at work here. Something truly alien.
"Standard orbit," he ordered from his chair as he rose. "Take us to navigational point one over their primary settlement."
He tugged on his crimson red uniform as he studied his command center, "I will be transporting down to the surface of this planet with an away team consisting of myself, Commander O'Sullivan, Commander Snow, and Doctor Marner. Galatea will remain in command of the Bridge until my return. Does anyone have anything before we go?"
Patton didn't have anything to report. He was ready to go and moved over to wait for the others. There was a feeling of unease running through him but he couldn't pinpoint it. Maybe it was the emotional unease of dealing with the Talosians and their history.
Marner raised an eyebrow at this, he wasn't against going. "I'm ready as I'll ever be." he responded, walking over to where William was. " Times a wasting" he added.
Ash stared at the Admiral for a few seconds and then went back to working at her engineering station. If the chief engineer had any thoughts on the matter she was keeping them to herself.
Snow turned and looked at the Admiral with a cocked eyebrow. She was surprised that others where not protesting his joining the mission. She would, like last time, but he ignore her protests. "I have reviewed everything there is about this world. Sadly to say, there is very little, except the crew of the Enterprise left Fleet Captain Christopher Pike here."
"I hope it will help some how," Hawkins heard himself reply as he glanced toward Bishop to gauge his response of Galatea being left in command. Since the incident aboard the Preserver Juggernaut the Commander was weary of the AI and her capabilities, however given how the history with the Talosians the choice had some logic behind it. She could continue to function should the crew become incapacitated. "Though for the record I am objecting to your presence on the away party Admiral."
"The objection is noted, Commander," Willian confirmed as he moved away from his chair. "I wish that there were another option, but my presence is better served on the surface meeting with the Talosians and trying to ascertain what exactly did happen down there."
"I would have thrown a protest in as well." Patton spoke up, his eyes on the captain. "But I believe if you can't beat them, join them. Expect me to be watching your back." He looked around. "All of you."
He walked toward the turbolift, "Keep a firm lock on all of us and be ready to pull us out if things go south."
Zoey walked over to the tactical station on the bridge. With Patton going on the mission, she knew tactical needed to filled for the moment. She wish she could go and meet the Talosians. She was very curious about them. She planned on asking Patton how their encounter went, later on tonight.
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