Tacking into the Wind

Posted on Mon May 20th, 2024 @ 6:37pm by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Lieutenant Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Chase Moore & Lieutenant Stacey Moore & Lieutenant Alexia Toryn & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi
Edited on on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 3:45am

1,510 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Pilot
Location: Main Bridge, USS Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-03-09, 05:15

Quickly exiting the Ready Room onto the Bridge of the Starship Enterprise, Captain Wilkan Targaryen walked toward the Captain's Chair in the center of the Bridge. The Enterprise was still docked at Starbase 419, the impressive inner workings of the Docking Garage filling the vessel's viewscreen. Half a dozen ships could be seen at the various piers throughout the massive enclosure while the Intrepid II Class Starship Pioneer passed by them toward the exit.

Wilkan rested his arm on the back of the chair as he looked around the Bridge at the gathered crew. They were the best of the best that Starfleet had to offer and now was the time to let them shine. "Since returning from the briefing I've been staring at the sensor feeds from DS47 and, thanks to Lieutenant Toryn, we've made a discovery." He gave the floor to the Science Officer.

Lex walked up to some controls and the holopresenter in the middle of the table activated. "Meet Sisko-Dax 1171" It's a quadinary star system. It consists of four stars orbiting a common Barycenter. Their gravity catching each other. A quite romantic evaluation would be two couples dancing around each other." She noted. "We think three of these stars have habitable zones, but there's quite a few gas giants in the system. One of them possibly is a Brown Dwarf." She noted.

Lt. Randall studied the Sisko-Dax 1171 system presented on the holo-display and nodded to herself. "That is one, very large, barycenter." The Chief Engineer observed.

Roothi observed the hologram mutely watching the planetnoids orbit sedately wondering how this system connected to their current mission.

Watching the holographic image hovering between his chair and the standalone Helm and Tactical stations, the Captain sat in his chair and looked at the replica star system. "Indeed it is, Engineer," the Captain said as he looked at the Chief Engineer. Turning back toward the Science Officer, "Though that's where things get interesting. Lieutenant, please continue."

"I'm interested in the forth planet of Sisko-Dax 1171 A. As well as the Second planet of SD 1171 C both planets are almost ready to begin their Cambrian periods. But I also insist on using envirosuits. Both worlds are entering critical periods in developing their ecosystems. But it's the Brown Dwarf I'm really interested in. It's orbital period is twelve thousand years, and during this, it passed through a large cloud of hydrogen and dust. I want to know if it's on the verge of solar fusion."

"Which," the Captain rose and walked toward the floating holograms, "we are curious if the Dominion are also pursuing. The course of the Jem'Hadar Attack Ship detected by DS47 would take it very close to this planet, if they did not deviate from the path they'd chosen." He looked at Lieutenant Moore, "Once we enter the Gamma Quadrant I'd like to set a course for this system at maximum warp."

Lt. Randall thought for a few seconds. "Maximum warp, out of the chute?" She asked, quietly. "What will be our pretense should our purpose be questioned?" Ash asked, thinking that the Jem'Hadar might not buy peaceful exploration at Warp 9.9.

"Simple, tell them we believe the Brown Dwarf to be on the verge of solar fusion. Science waits for no one, Ms. Randall." Lex smirked.

"It's a stretch," the Captain agreed, "but the reality is whatever the Dominion are after it's important. We need to try to get to it first."

Ash glanced at Lex and then looked to Captain Targaryen. "We can make a case for a rescue mission, I suppose. There are any number of ships and crews unaccounted for." She suggested.

"It doesn't matter what we say." Chase spoke up. "They won't believe it. We need to be prepared that even if they appear to accept our reason, they will be concentrating on us."

"Of course." Ash replied. "We pretend to have a good reason for being there and they pretend to believe us and we both have reason not to blast away at each other." She added, with a chuckle and looked to the Captain. 'We do have means to assure we get there first, if we want to demonstrate that capability." Ash added, helpfully.

"And to do that we have to leave this station and I think we've given people more than enough time to report aboard, so," the Captain took his chair and closed out the hologram before issuing his orders, "XO, get the dock master and request permission to depart."

The Andorian stiffened slightly at the order before nodding curtly: "Yes Captain," she turned away to raise the station. Their conversation was brief as the request had expected since the crew had left the briefing room. "We're clear to depart," she announced.

Looking toward the Security Officer at the right workstation ahead of his chair, "Seal the airlock and release boarding gangways."

"Yes Sir." Chase went to work immediately. He sealed the airlock went to work releasing the boarding gangways. When he was finished he called out. "Airlock is sealed and gangways are released as ordered."

"Helm," now to the officer at the freestanding console next to the Security Officer, "clear all moorings, port gates from this mark. Aft thrusters ahead one quarter, port and starboard to station keeping. Take us to the wormhole once we're clear."

"Aye sir." Stacey said yeah she started clear all mornings, releasing the gates. When she cleared the gates she started the engines slowly and proceeded at one quarter impulse power.. making sure to clear the gates on both sides for and starboard.

Looking at the Chief Engineer now, "Lieutenant, once clear of the station bring the Warp Core and associated systems to full power."

"Aye, Captain. Full power upon station egress." Ash confirmed.

"Science, bring primary sensor telescopes online and maintain monitoring of our course."

Lex nodded.

"Doctor," he said to the Officer at the Life Sciences Workstation, "Please notify all decks to prepare for transit through the wormhole."

Watching as the Doctor sent the notice, and having issued orders to his Senior Staff, the Captain gave a final command, "Andare."

Lex spoke as the ship transited through the wormhole. "I've heard some very strange stories about the Bajoran Wormhole. Some wilder than science. Some involving the so-called... Emissary of the Prophets. Hmph. Everyone needs their gods it seems."

Captain Targaryen nodded to the Chief Science Officer, "Captain Benjamin LaFayette Sisko. I met him a couple times during layovers on Deep Space Nine during the Dominion War. He was one of the finest Starfleet Officers that I ever met." He left out that Sisko had been the mission commander he'd served under on several battles during the Dominion War, including the Battle of Tyra. Not long after the Armistice was declared, Wilkan had been on DS9 and heard stories of Sisko having been killed on Bajor, but also that he'd ascended to join the Prophets themselves. There were a lot of stories and myths about the Emissary. The one that concerned Wilkan the most, right now at least, was the stories of what would happen if he returned to the mortal coil and what that would mean for the rest of the galaxy.

"Helm, take us through the wormhole. I'm ready to get the party started."

Lt. Randall looked to helm control, at the Captains' order to engage wormhole transit and then to the main display for a second. Ash had transited the wormhole several time and found the temporal distortions, mildly, disconcerting. "This'll be fun..." The Tuansee said, quietly.

Chase looked over to his wife for a moment. She was going to be flying them through this. He knew she could do it, Stacey was excellent at her job, it's why she was here.

"Aye sir, courses plotted proceeding impulse power." Stacey said that she started to navigate the course, making sure to keep an eye on anything unusual. She had heard rumors about this wormhole. If she wanted to make sure the ship would be on automation just in case they got stuck meeting the wormhole aliens.

Wilkan watched as the Enterprise gently traveled toward the entry to the wormhole, erupting suddenly out of the darkness of space. Layers upon layers of swirling gaseous clouds with a mushroom dome blossomed open before the Enterprise, revealing a tunnel pulsing with energy and rippling shock waves exploding from the aperture. Golden light, mixed with brilliant blue and purple hues, bathed the starship in a magnificent light as he ventured across the aperture.

"In all my years of service I've always wanted to travel back to the Gamma Quadrant," the Captain admitted. "I never forget that the Wormhole was so beautiful."

"Beautiful, yes." Ash agreed, quietly. "It is a miraculous, emergent, phenomena." She added, momentarily thinking back to her studies of it while at Daystrom. "Truly miraculous." She repeated.

As the Enterprise exited the Bajoran Wormhole and DS47 appeared off their port bow, the Captain looked at the Helm, "Set course for Sisko-Dax 1171, Warp 9. Andare."

The Enterprise turned on its axis to starboard and jumped to warp.

 

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