Monitor and Merrimack

Posted on Sun Jan 9th, 2022 @ 12:02am by Lieutenant (J.G.) Rrawran & Commander Galatea & Captain Ryan Walsh & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Zoey Parker & Captain Nathan Bishop

872 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: 749148
Location: Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-09-09, 11:00

Having just spoken with Fleet Admiral Luzol Targaryen over subspace, Galatea was filling more rejected and despondent than ever. What felt like a millennia ago she had been designed and built to serve as a Task Group in herself. The Allegiance Class was intended for power projection against a wide range of strategic, operational, and tactical targets in all conditions; gaining and maintaining control of regions on behalf of the Federation and monitoring regions to develop a comprehensive operational picture of the environment. Instead, she'd become an shadow of her former self on a permanent peacetime presence mission, supporting Federation diplomatic efforts through cooperation with allied forces.

How did she possibly face the crew of the Enterprise knowing full well that she had ordered them away from their comrades. She wasn't thrilled with herself either. Actually she was angry, or as close to it as her subroutines could allow her to believe. Approaching the center seat she looked at it a moment debating whether to stand or sit. She was in operational control over the mission by order of the Admiral, but morale was at an all time low. The order she wanted to give she could not, but how she longed to. She sighed as she sat down.

"Helm, slow us back to impulse and maintain position," the hologram ordered from the big chair. "Begin scans to monitor Talos IV and the unidentified vessel." She wondered who would be the first to comment.

You didn't need to a keen observer to tell Galatea's conversation with the Admiral hadn't been pleasant. Hawkins imagined Luzol wasn't impress that the AI had been placed in Command nor to learn how her husband had been left behind on the planet surface. He tried to imagine what he would have done if he'd been in Galatea's position: she had a difficult choice to make one for which he did not envy and hoped for everyone's sake it had been the right one. The atmosphere on the bridge was downbeat and tense the prospect of leaving the others behind sat heavily upon their conscious. Nathan felt conflicted himself: he wanted to speak out of term, voice his displeasure of their actions and suggest they return to Talos immediately but he wasn't a young and foolhardy Ensign anymore. His experience had taught him sometimes retreat was the best policy especially if they were facing some terrible odds or heavy armed opposition in this case. "Aye ma'am," he wisely allowed himself to reply to the order withholding his personal opinions.

"Excellent," the hologram answered. Then she moved on to the next point, "Who is up for an away mission?"

"I am ready and willing." Ryan spoke up. He would do whatever they needed him to help out.

"Count me in as well." Bishop replied. His reply coming scant seconds after Walsh's.

The hologram brought up another holo, "The Galileo is being fueled as we speak. I plan to deploy a team to return to Talos, locate the away team, and return them to this vessel. This is an unauthorized, unsanctioned mission; however, it will be the only way to retrieve the away team."

The corner of Hawkins' lips twitched into a grin: it was amusing to see despite her protocols and parameters Galatea was willing and able to bend the rules slightly to save their personnel. With both Ryan and Bishop already voicing their interest Nathan considered his position: "I'll stay here," he nodded. "And be ready to save your bacon if necessary."

"I will go along to help," the Rorworr Officer announced as he approached the center seat. "Starfleet Regulations demand a Senior Officer be accompanied by a Security Officer."

"I would feel more comfortable if you took a security escort." Zoey as she spoke up. Typically she remained silent. She though, that she needed to back up Rorworr.

"I have experience in security as well." Ryan spoke up. "If needed to help out while we are gone."

The hologram crossed her arms, "All right team we are only going to have one shot at this so we'll have to make this quick." The alien vessel appeared between them, "This is the unidentified craft that we encountered and believe may be involved in what transpired on Talos. It is currently in orbit over Talos and will pass behind the world in 12 minutes. That will be our shot. We will have approximately seven minutes while their sensors are obstructed. That should be more than ample time to arrive in orbit and rescue the away team. Are you ready to go?"

"Good luck everyone." Zoey said, as she saw the away team prepare to head down to the surface. She hoped the shuttle was able to slip pass the ship. She wondered though, if the ship was even real. She had heard about the abilities of the Talosians.

“We can and will do this.” Ryan said with determination. There was no room for failure the team was counting on them.

As the team filed out Hawkins bid them good fortunes also, with this being an unauthorized mission should something happen to Galileo they'd be some very difficult questions to answer later along with the wellbeing of the stranded crew members.

 

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