Chapter 2.2

Posted on Wed May 17th, 2023 @ 2:55am by Lieutenant JG Anzai Sulu & Lieutenant Ilbis Ilkun MD & Lieutenant Commander J'Lena G'Rall House of Morlag & Lieutenant Elizabeth Reeves & Lieutenant Elysian "Elly" Clarke & Captain Ken Jamison & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara

1,833 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: No Sleep Tonight
Location: Observation Lounge, USS Valhalla
Timeline: 2431-05-30, 22:30

Anzai Sulu had never realized how bright the lights were on a Federation Starship until she was staring at one of them. With the challenges that they had experienced during the final moments of their patrol, the Security Chief of the Starship Enterprise had needed to unwind and relax when they arrived back at Deep Space 12. Immediately, like so many other members of the Fleet, she rushed to Quarks. That was her biggest mistake. Her second was answering her communicator.

Admiral Targaryen's Attache had contacted her directing that she report to the Federation Starship Valhalla on temporary assignment. The hologram had shared very little other details about why she was going aboard the Valhalla, aside from Rrawran would be filling in for her at Tactical. Now she was to report to the Observation Lounge to meet up with the rest of her squad for this assignment, whatever it was.

Sulu had been pretty interested in the Valhalla ever since it reported in at Deep Space 12. The Valhalla was a modified Galaxy Class Exploration vessel, heavily refitted to the United States subtype of the design. While it was outwardly styled on the traditional vessel, a large multi-mission pylon had been installed along the dorsal surface of the stardrive section. The pylon could be configured with a multi-mission pod that could take on a variety of mission profiles. From her understanding the Valhalla had been equipped with a Tactical Pod that enhanced its combat effectiveness, but that was merely a rumor.

Entering the conference room, Anzai was surprised to find that she was not the first to arrive there.

The blonde engineer was late. She was still getting the layout in her head. It was a bigger ship than her last-refuelers were small, dirty ships with not too many people and not too many places to get lost. A nice Counselor had showed her the way. "Hello. I apologize for my lateness; I got lost." She said. "What is the 411?" She asked. "Anyone want anything from the Replicator?" She was now standing in front of it, ordering up her...fourth?...coffee of the day.

"No thank you," The Enterprise's Security Chief answered. She probably could have used the coffee after drinking Quark's special. She felt like she'd just survived a Warp Core Breach or been assimilated by the Borg.

Captain Ken Jamison sat in his Ready Room still trying to get his head around the fact they were going to 'steal' a Cardassian Starship. He had discussed the fact with JJ and she had expressed grave doubts about the mission and said so. He countered with they had their orders and they would carry them out.

Jenna arrived with her mug of Ractijino and got a what they call a donut and sat down.

Lieutenant Sulu watched as the Captain and First Officer entered the Briefing Room. Shifting in her seat, the Security Chief of the Enterprise waited to hear what the Captain had to say.

Finally, someone had spoken, so she shrugged, and returned to her seat, clutching the coffee, and ready to go. Kind of. As ready as she'd ever be, considering that she'd down just one too many Springwines last night at Quarks before the damn comms button had called them all away. One of these days, she'd learn to leave it on the ship. That day wasn't yesterday, though. She clutched her PADD, and hoped that this coffee was the one that would make her feel...less bad about her life choices. She wished she was more like Andy-her twin brother-he was a PERFECT officer, perfect son, and otherwise perfect person. She was the feckless one, though it surprised people, because she was exactly two point five minutes older.

"Anyone know what's up?"

Anzai knew more than she would like to share. She knew that the Enterprise encountered a Cardassian flotilla that was intent on taking over as many of the former star systems as they could. Anzai knew that they were outfitted with the weaponry of the Interstellar Coalition. Anzai also knew that Enterprise on her way to go meet with them even as she sat in this conference room nursing a headache the size of Jupiter.

"We're going to fight the Cardassians aren't we?" Anzai got right to the point.

"That makes a lot of sense," Doctor Iblis Ilkun said from his seat near the center of the room. Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise, the Cherlon Doctor had been temporarily reassigned to the Valhalla at the start of this mission by order of the Admiral. He knew that the Enterprise was also on an assignment out this way, having seen it leave Spacedock a short while before the Valhalla did the same. They'd taken similar courses. As he looked around the room he could see how a crew for a heist could be built out of this group. Each one had a particular skill set that would be needed.

T'Lisha heard the last statement and nearly tripped. Sitting quickly, "Cardassians? After what we went through, fight them again?!?!?", she said.

Elly blinked. "Fight..the Cardassians?" She asked, incredulously. She looked at the woman. "Well. Sounds like...danger. Count me in." Elly was many things-a bit feckless, a motormouth, and a hell of a scientist, but she also had a sense of justice and a bit of a danger streak. She could be counted on to volunteer to climb into the outer nacelles to repair them, or jump out of shuttles to help a far-flung planet shore up their construction.

"Interesting to hear a Scientist want to willingly go to war," Lieutenant Sulu mused with a sigh. She was not as eager. In reality she was dreading the possibility of having to fight the Cardassians. What they did here today could lead to war, "What are our orders, Captain?"

"Not a "willingness," exactly. I am just interested in exploring whatever scientific advances the Cardassians have now. They're a much older civilization than my own." She said. "Plus, a close friend of mine is Bajoran. If we can find out something happened, and they can be brought to justice, that's a good thing, right?" Elly asked.

Ken, spoke, "Okay enough. "Quiet down. Here's our mission, we are going to steal or rather 'borrow' a Cardassian warship, so we and take a good long peek at this supposed new weapon they have." He said openly, waiting to hear any reactions from the crew, which he was sure would some.

Anzai smirked at the thought. Having been aboard Enterprise when she encountered the six ship armada that had threatened to destroy the flagship of the Federation the thought of turning the tables on them was a welcome one. She was about to speak when the doctor beat her to it.

"You can't be serious, Captain," the Chelon Medical Officer interrupted. "Proceeding on this mission, capturing another government's property, it's tantamount to our declaring war on them."

The Security Chief answered, "They've practically done that already, Doctor. In the last hours they've claimed two systems as their own and threatened to destroy one of our vessels patrolling the border, a vessel you were on at the time no less. Besides, you didn't seem too surprised when you came onboard. You yourself said fighting the Cardassians made sense."

"It may've made sense, but I never said it was right. A skirmish is a far cry from hijacking one of their ships," he continued.

"Well. Whatever I can do, I guess...I'll do it, science wise. Do we have any information to that end? Is it made from Dilithium, for example?" The blonde asked.

"Mainly Duranium," Anzai answered automatically before returning to the Doctor's comments. "But not without precedent," she countered. "Just look at the Dominion War for inspiration. Starfleet ordered that a Jem'Hadar ship outfitted with a Breen Energy Dampener be captured for study."

Iblis countered, "In that instance a member of the Cardassian resistance was responsible for the theft though. Not Starfleet."

Liz entered the room and noticed the meeting was already underway. She also noticed that everyone was now looking at her for arriving really late. "Sorry for my late arrival, I got held up." She said to the room in general. Great way to start a new mission, she thought to herself.

"Don't worry," the Doctor replied, "you're just in time to help us plan the Federation being locked in another war." The Chelon looked at the Captain as he finished his statement, knowing that it probably wouldn't go over well.

"Oh, that all," Liz muttered. "So just another day in space."

Doctor Ilkun sighed, "At least give me an idea of how many bodies I need to have my sickbay prepared for, Captain."

Ken kept his face neutral though inwardly he was seething at the question. "None Doctor." He said firmly. "Any other questions?"

Doctor Ilkun looked at the Captain. A million questions were going through the Chelon's mind as he looked at the Commanding Officer of the Valhalla. A million potential scenarios were going through his mind too. He brought up his side, he shared his concerns, but now he knew it was time to go to work. "No, Captain, I don't."

Anzai was looking at the mission brief on the PADD. The plan was relatively straightforward. The plan was to create a diversion that pulled the Hideki Class frigates away from the main group. The Valhalla would then hit the craft with fire from the Phaser Lance to cause damage to disable it. The away team would then beam in and capture the Bridge, isolating the rest of the ship via forcefield. It was direct and to the point. She just hoped it remained as to the point as it seemed.

"I don't have any questions either," Enterprise's Security Chief answered.

Duranium. She could handle that. Hopefully. Still, she shook her head. "No, sir, I don't," Elly replied. The science officer had her work cut out for her. At least she wasn't going to be bored.

Jenna G'Ral got up quietly and and headed for the observation lounge on the Valhalla. She had come up on dealing with the Cardassians.

Ken looked at the assembled group of officers. "You all know what is expected and I know you all are more than equal to the task, you are the best of the best. never forget that." He paused for a beat and continued, "On a personal note, I could not be prouder of all you. Now let's go and steal ourselves a Cardassian starship and when we get back drinks are on me."

Capt. Ken Jamison
Commanding Officer
USS Valhalla

Lt. Cmdr. Jenna G'Rall
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Valhalla

Lt. Cmdr. T'Lisha Bisara
Chief Flight Control Officer
Deep Space 12

Lt. Elizabeth Reeves
Chief Security Officer
USS Valhalla

Lt. Elysian "Elly" Clarke
Assistant Chief Science Officer
Deep Space 12

Lt. Anzai Sulu
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Enterprise

Lt. Iblis Ilkun, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Enterprise

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