Beyond the Sea

Posted on Tue Sep 6th, 2022 @ 2:35am by Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD & Commodore Loatha Targaryen

1,236 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Admiral's Day Cabin, USS Vol'Rala
Timeline: 2430-10-01, 08:00

When Starfleet ordered the vessels of the Illustrious Class they never anticipated that they would create such a resource intensive craft in the process. Because of these limitations, Starfleet would soon order the development of a new class of ship that featured many of the same advances but on a more modest scale. From this edict the ships of the Pandora Class were born and none were as famous as the Starship Vol'Rala.

At its construction Starfleet had planned to christen the fifth member of the Pandora Class as the Starship Mjolnir; however, thanks in part to her new role as the Commander of Starfleet, Fleet Admiral Luzol Targaryen arranged for the ship to be named Vol'Rala. Not only did it honor the Andorian Empire and their members within the Federation and Starfleet, but it kept memories of her husband and his ship close at heart. As she sat in her Day Cabin aboard the Vol'Rala she couldn't help but glance at the photo of her and her family while visiting Earth. A smile briefly came before she pulled herself back to duty.

"Bridge to Admiral Luzol," the voice of her Benzite Attache interrupted her.

Tapping the control on her desktop monitor, "Go ahead, Vursiq."

"Commander Snow has arrived, Ma'am."

"Send her in," she approved of the Vol'Rala's XO as the Fleet Admiral shifted some PADDs around on her glass desktop. Moments later the doors slid open to allow Commander Snow entry, Luzol turning toward her, "Nice to see you, Commander, welcome aboard the Vol'Rala."

"Thank you sir." Snow said in her normally icy tone. "How can I help you today sir."

Luzol smiled, "We've known each other how long, Commander? You can drop the Sirs." She rose from her chair and motioned toward the sitting area opposite her chair, "Please, join me." She waited to see which chair the Science Officer selected, there was a couch or two lounge chairs to choose from.

"We only knew each other for a short time." Snow said without moving. She knew that this was a test upon the Admirals part. "Sir, is this a personal visit, or is this a professional one?" She asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Professional, Commander, professional," she motioned toward the options with a smile, "Now please sit down."

Snow doesn't move. "Then can I ask why I was requested?" She asked the Admiral.

The Fleet Admiral glanced at the Commander's ears, "Almost like talking with a Vulcan, except for no points on the ears." The Admiral was the first to sit, choosing to sit in the lounge chair that overlooked the starboard side windows of her Office. "I have an assignment for you, but I need to be certain that you are up for the challenge," she said while picking a datapad up from the table. Tapping at the interface, "So, you're aware of the situation impacting the Talosian survivors?"

Snow smirked a little as she cocked an eyebrow at the Admiral. "I believe that Admiral McCoy said the same thing to Commander Data on the Enterprise Delta." She stated. "Sadly not. Any request I have made about their well being, I get stone walled and told it is classified." She stated in her chilly tone.

"It is beyond classified. As you well know from your experience with the Talosians their telepathic abilities were among the most enhanced ever encountered by Federation science. We had to keep their continued existence - even in clone form - secret to prevent them from being further exploited. What little intelligence we have about the Interstellar Coalition indicates that they had targeted the Talosians specifically due to their telepathic abilities to show us how dangerous the Coalition can be."

She handed off the datapad, "Fleet Captain Pike has asked that the Federation come out and 'observe' the establishment of their new colony. I selected you to lead the research team. Now, will you please sit down so we can discuss it?"

Snow moved to take a seat. She slide her hands down the skirt she was wearing to sit down. "Why me sir? Isn't there anyone of higher rank that is more qualified?" She asked with a hint of her British accent bleeding through.

"Your experience," the Admiral answered succinctly, "not to mention your familiarity with the race." Luzol handed off the datapad, "Starfleet has dispatched two colony vessels to assist with the terraforming process of the world we've selected. It's not an ideal world, but it isn't too different from what we have experienced with Talos itself. As our Mission Specialist you would be in operational control over the project." She lifted a hand, "Don't worry about the Enterprise and DS12. We have a temporary replacement lined up who will oversee your responsibilities there."

Snow frowned at the reassignment. "I was expecting that the Enterprise was going to oversee this project." She said with a odd sadness in her voice.

"The Enterprise is being reassigned as the garrison ship for Deep Space 12. The President has expressed... concern regarding the vessel's safety with the growing risk of danger posed by the Interstellar Coalition," she answered honestly. "Actually, each of Starfleet's Illustrious Class vessels are being reassigned there."

"That is a lot of fire power being dispatched to this region." Snow said pondering the meaning of this move. "The Interstellar Coalition must have something to have made Starfleet brass worried to dispatch those class of ships, plus the Enterprise."

"Continuity of government," the Fleet Admiral answered not getting too into detail. "So, back to the Talosians. I'm assigning you temporary command of the Starship Copernicus to assist you with this mission. It's a Somerville Class science vessel, fully staffed with Science Specialists. It should meet your needs."

"Who is going to be our first officer." Snow asked as she was concerned.

Luzol shifted in her seat and crossed her legs at the question, knowing she should have expected it but somehow still being unprepared. "Lieutenant Commander Yeaca has been assigned as your First Officer and Chief Science Officer for this mission, Commander. You're replacing Captain Sirke Yel as CO of the Copernicus for the time being. Captain Sirke has been assigned to other responsibilities best left unmentioned."

Snow cocked an eyebrow ever so slightly, at the Admiral's movements and body language. "I understand, and I wasn't asking on where Captain Sirke was being assigned to. I am sure it is a mission of importance that requires his full attention." She stated knowing full well that it is most likely a Black Ops mission. "Besides my experience with the Talosians, my Command style is considered... Abrasive." She said in her cold tone. "Besides I want to get back to the Enterprise as soon as I can." She said as some colored appeared upon her cheeks and in her pure British accent.

"You would return when the mission concluded, Commander," the Admiral explained. "As the Federation is establishing New Talos in the Maelstrom it won't be too far from Enterprise's new operational theatre at Deep Space 12. You could always return at that time, provided that we do not choose to make your captaincy of the Copernicus permanent." The Admiral checked her chronometer, "So, Commander, if there's nothing else I'd like to get you on the road. Congratulations and Dismissed."

"Thank you sir." Snow said before she turned to head out. She was still trying to figure out what just happened.

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