Casualty

Posted on Sat Mar 22nd, 2025 @ 6:41pm by Lieutenant (J.G.) Rrawran & Crewman Apprentice Viktoriya Nikolayenko & Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Commander Galatea & Lieutenant Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Chase Moore & Lieutenant Stacey Moore & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Administrator Kuzos

3,388 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Tosk
Location: Deck One, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-03-10, 15:00

Galatea moved around the table in the Enterprise's Executive Conference Room placing datapads at each place setting for the staff to use during the meeting. Normally located along the aft bulkhead of Deck One, on the Enterprise the Conference Room was located on the port side near the front of the level and gave an impressive view of the space ahead of the ship. Similar in design to the Executive Conference Room on each Enterprise since the Enterprise-D, the crescent shaped room featured a similarly styled table, and a large workstation built along the interior wall that displayed vast amounts of data. Two doors provided entry to the room, with the aft entry providing access to the corridor while the forward most door gave entry to the Wheelhouse Diplomatic Reception Room.

Stepping up to the windows, the hologram looked out at the stars that passed by the ship. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of space passing them by. The far distant stars of the Gamma Quadrant were something that few had seen, and they were a sight that Galatea shouldn't have been able to see. An Artificial Intelligence, Galatea and her kind were used to represent the will of the starship itself and she had been tested aboard this Enterprise's immediate predecessor. During the Battle of the Foundry the Enterprise-G was lost, but not before the Captain had her program uploaded to a positronic chip and evacuated with the Enterprise's crew. She had been given a second chance aboard the new Enterprise and she was not about to squander it. Not by a long shot.

"Commander?" Yeoman Viktoriya Nikolayenko interrupted.

Galatea turned, "Yes?" She looked quickly and noticed that the young Human had come in with the food that the Commodore had requested, "Ah, yes, Crewman, thank you for bringing the food the Captain ordered."

"No problem," she answered moving the anti-grav cart forward. "Did you want them setup on the wall for people to pick or just placed at the different place settings?"

"Place settings are fine," Galatea answered quickly as she approached. "I'll help you."

The Yeoman nodded as she started picking up the fruit salads that the Commodore had ordered for the Senior Staff meeting.

Picking up the bowl, Galatea couldn't help but smile as she looked at the contents. Commodore Targaryen had a habit of bringing food into his meetings for his participants and the new Enterprise didn't seem to be any different. As she looked down at the food though it brought back a hard memory, as the Enterprise prepared for combat at the Battle of the Foundry the Captain had provided the same option to the crew back then: a fruit salad.

True, this one was a little different, but it was hard not to go back there. The fruit salad on the Enterprise-G had been a traditional Earth summer recipe with bananas, blueberries, grapes, kiwi, oranges, pineapple, and strawberries. The option that the Commodore had selected was in honor of their mission to the Gamma Quadrant and consisted of fruits native to Bajor including alvas (similar to grapes), kava (like a banana), moba (similar to a strawberry), and tuwaly (like a blueberry), with a light jumja syrup and sprig grass. Her sensors suggested it smelled delicious, she only hoped that the Senior Staff agreed.

Placing the last bowl, Crewman Nikolayenko questioned, "Will there be anything else, Commander?"

"Not at this time," Galatea answered as she turned the bowl to increase the appearance.

"Are you sure? Do you need someone to take notes?" Viktoriya asked.

As the doors opened, Galatea answered, "Not at this time, Crewman, thank you."

"What isn't at this time?" Commodore Wilkan Targaryen asked as he walked toward the duo at the table.

Galatea was about to answer when the Crewman interrupted, "I was just asking if you needed someone to stay and take notes for the meeting, Commodore."

"Ah," Wilkan said with a knowing nod. "You know that's not a bad idea. Were you recommending yourself for that role?"

"I suppose I was," the young lady said glancing at Galatea then the Commodore. "I mean if it's not stepping on your toes, Commander..."

The hologram looked between the two, knowing how she wanted to answer and how the Commodore would like her to answer. "I am willing to defer at this time, Crewman."

Viktoriya smiled broadly, "Thank you, Commander! You won't regret it."

"Splendid," the Commodore said approaching his seat. "Are my guests enroute?"

"Yes, Commodore," Galatea answered as she handed a second datapad to the Enterprise's captain. "These are additional details on the Drai homeworld and their technology from the Starfleet Galactic Memory Bank."

Wilkan picked up the PADD and studied it quickly, "Wish we had something a bit newer." He glanced up and saw the Crewman standing nearby. "You can have a seat and wait, if you like."

"Thank you, Captain," she sat down.

Wilkan returned his attention to the PADD as he waited on the others to arrive.

Lt. Cmdr. Randall entered the Conference Room and, with a feeling of dread she couldn't, quite, put a finger on the source of, quietly made her way to a seat to wait for others to join them.

From the head of the table, Wilkan looked up to see his Chief Engineer had arrived. Motioning Galatea away, the Commodore spoke to Ash, "Has our passenger settled in, Commander?"

Ash looked to the Commodore at his question and spent, half a second, to consider how she would frame her answer without sounding as though she was hedging or uncertain and opted for a, full on, direct answer. "He appears to have settled in, sir but I do not believe he trusts us enough to not run and hide at the first opportunity to do so." The stated, in a quiet, precise tone of voice.

"Indeed," the Commodore answered, knowing full well what he was about to reveal would not be taken kindly.

Commander zh'Roothi paused upon the threshold taken back by the presence of the room occupants. Randell, had been quick on her feet and arrived first she noted with a slight smirk. Not only an excellent Engineer Ash had an unusual ability to be in the right place at the right time it seemed. The XO's gaze shifted to the seated Yeomen close-by and contemplated her presence in the meeting before her eyes settled on the ships AI: Galatea.

The concept was familiar to the Andorian but for the AI to be granted a physical form, prescribed a rank and senior position in the Command structure didn't sit well with her. Zhora couldn't really put a finger on why she begrudged Galatea in such a manner and quickly cast aside the thought noting how she was still stationary in the doorway longer than intended.

Rounded the table zh'Roothi sat in her usual seat and inspected the fruit selection on the place mat with curiosity and bewilderment.

"It's a Bajoran fruit salad, Commander," Galatea said to the Andorian First Officer of the Enterprise. "The Commodore asked for something refreshing for his first official briefing."

The Commanders gaze again shifted to Galatea and the two women studied one another for a moment. "I see," zh'Roothi replied and her attention returned to the bowl once more. "I wasn't aware mission briefings were to be accompanied with a meal otherwise I would have fasted."

"It's one of the Commodore's policies. He's El-Aurian, so they believe that food and drink unite."

Nodding her head in acknowledgement zh'Roothi made a mental note of this unusual accustom Targaryen held for future staff meetings.

Chase entered the briefing room and quickly took a seat. He had come straight from his department. He looked at his plate and smiled. He was a bit hungry.

Once the Senior Staff had arrived within the Briefing Room, Commodore Targaryen rose from his seat at the head of the table to address his team. He didn't sugarcoat what he was about to reveal, but did start a bit more friendly than what he was going to share was.

"Welcome to our first official meeting after beginning our mission," Enterprise's captain explained. "We're going to spend a lot of time together during this five-year mission and I actually think it's quite important for our ship's officers to get together every so often to share some food and conversation. Normally we'll have these get-togethers in my dining room on the opposite side of the deck, but I felt our first briefing would be a good time to get this tradition started." He motioned toward the Yeoman, "The galley has prepared a Bajoran fruit salad for the group to snack on while we talk." He glanced at Galatea, who had just explained this to the First Officer.

"Happy to help," the young Yeoman interjected, to Galatea's glare.

Wilkan nodded, "So, as we start this briefing, let me get right to point. Starfleet has reviewed the petition of the Tosk requesting political asylum within the Federation." He looked at the Vorta observer before returning his attention to the full group, "To prevent a diplomatic crisis with our newfound allies in the Dominion, Starfleet decided that the petition will be denied. Enterprise's first mission will be to return the Tosk to his home world. What happens to him after that is out of our hands."

The captain had a feeling that wouldn't be a popular announcement. It wasn't exactly popular with him either. Starfleet Command and the Federation Council had made the Enterprise's mission a priority and they would not let anything happen to challenge the safety of the new treaty. It was unfortunate that this poor Tosk's life hung in the balance of politics, but his protest had been ignored with a reminder that the Dominion War had devastated the entire Alpha Quadrant. They didn't want a repeat.

"I don't suppose we could just set him loose." The Chief Engineer posited, quietly.

Chase wasn't happy with the decision. He felt they would be partially responsible for what happened to him. "I know I am not the only one who isn't comfortable with this mission." His eyes met the captain's, "It feels wrong on so many levels."

Wilkan listened to the crew and their concerns as they shared them, not disagreeing with them in the slightest about what they were saying either. Truthfully, he'd love to let the Tosk go, but he also knew that he couldn't just do that either. If he did it would be an unwarranted gamble that could just lead to devastation. They had to respect the law of the land.

"We're guests out here," he looked at Administrator Kuzos, "and we don't want to disrespect our benefactors in the process." Continuing to look around at his senior team, "Starfleet is committed to following the law and the law states that the Tosk wasn't allowed to travel to the Alpha Quadrant. He broke their laws and dragged us into the middle of it, so we need to take steps to mitigate the damage that he caused us."

Alongside him Commander zh'Roothi remained silent as the Commodore explained the decision that was made above him based on fear of retributions decades old. The frightened Tosk she'd seen in the Transporter Room didn't deserve to be victim of politics when he pleaded for aid in escaping from a life of being preyed upon. Everyone at this table (though perhaps not Kuzos zh'Roothi added) had battled on a personal level to be better than then the rest to be on this ship, and throughout the academy because they wanted a new life for themselves. Yet, when that same plea came to their door they were forced to decline with their limbs tied and mouths controlled by higher forces like puppeteers.

The XO scowled with displeasure as the shape of their mission was beginning to take form without any input from themselves. Outside influences were going to govern how these years flowed not by the actions of the crew she noted bitterly.

Kuzos remained silent as the commanding officer of the Enterprise spoke of being guests, it was good to hear that the Federation remembered their place and they were indeed guests of the good will Dominion.

"Bridge to the Captain."

Knowing that he had asked for the Senior Staff not to be disturbed, Wilkan knew this was something of concern. Tapping the comm button, "Go ahead."

"Sensors have picked up three ships on an intercept course."

The antenna of his XO twitched uncomfortably with concern at the new development.

The Commodore looked at his crew, "Take us to Yellow Alert, Lieutenant, we're on our way. Targaryen out." He closed the channel and addressed the Senior Staff, "We'll have to table to rest of our discussion for now. Stations, please." He rose from his chair himself as he issued the order.

As one the occupants of the table rose and exited swiftly to their respective positions.

A couple of paces behind Targaryen Commander zh'Roothi continued to scowl as they moved towards the bridge preparing for potential trouble flying directly towards them.

Ash exited the meeting room along with everyone else and resumed her post at the engineering station. She had a hunch that the 3 inbound vessels were Drai Hunters and life was about to become, exceedingly, complicated for everyone on board.

Lieutenant Rrawran turned toward the Senior Officers as they returned to the Bridge, "Captain on Deck!"

"As you were," Commodore Targaryen ordered as he rounded the Tactical railing toward his chair, "Report."

"Three ships are inbound, Commodore. Sensor scans have picked up ionized "L"-band emissions that match those of the Drai," the Rorworr explained as he joined the Security Chief at the Tactical console.

Wilkan took his seat, "Let's see it. Picture please."

The viewscreen magnified to show the three large incoming vessels that were barely perceptible within the darkness of space due to their muted coloring. The ships looked menacing in many ways, like they were willing and ready for a fight. The problem was Wilkan wanted to give them the fight, but knew that he couldn't.

"I suppose we need to make the first gesture. Open a," the Commodore was interrupted by a bright light sweeping through the Bridge. "What is that?"

Blinking away the bright light zh'Roothi responded having consulted her station: "A modulated particle beam," she replied stiffly realising these were most likely the hunters searching for their Tosk passenger. "We appear to have been scanned."

Chase was at his station when the scan went through the ship. Chase currently had them at yellow alert but was poised to go to red if necessary and it appeared it may be.

"That was like fingernails on a chalk board." The Chief Engineer commented, quietly. "I see a high likelihood they'll transport directly to where Tosk is." She added, while she worked on a counter measure for further scans.

The Enterprise's Captain lifted his hands in a somewhat defeated gesture, "Shields up."

Lieutenant Rrawran nodded in agreement and carried out the directive.

"Back us off, Lieutenant, nice and slow," Wilkan directed to the Helm.

"Reversing course now." Stacy simply said, she backed the Enterprise up nice and slow. He wondered what the captain was going to do next?

"They were nice enough to scan us," Targaryen added, "might as well return the favor."

At the Science Station, Lieutenant Anzai Sulu brought up the sensor monitors and began scanning the three vessels. Typing on the console quickly, a wireframe analysis of the lead ship appeared on her console. "It's confirmed, Commodore, the incoming vessels are Drai warships. I'm reading Polaron Beam cannons, Quantum Torpedoes, and a high-capacity shield grid. Sir, I'm reading an energy buildup in their deflector dish."

On the viewscreen the triangular shaped enemy vessel's deflector dish starts to glow brighter and brighter. A pulse emanates from it, directly toward the Enterprise.

"Evasive maneuvers, all ahead full," Targaryen directed at maximum impulse.

"Adjusting our course, I'll have to break orbit." Stacey called out, after hearing no objections she started to adjust their course away from the planet to get out of its gravity well and to give them better maneuverability.

Chase had raised the shields and they were now at red alert. He was concerned about the pulse that was headed towards them. "Shields are raised, I am unsure they will hold against it!" He called out.

"Given the intensity of that radiation pulse our shields wouldn't sustain any more than one or two hits before failing," zh'Roothi reported. "We need to come up with another strategy aside from avoiding their shots - soon or later we're going to be caught in the cross hairs."

Wilkan turned toward the Vorta Ambassador, "I'd appreciate any recommendations regarding dealing with the Drai vessel."

Kuzos nodded and stepped further onto the bridge. "You could start by opening your hailing frequencies and allowing them to see this bridge and me."

Beside the helm station zh'Roothi grimaced at the close shave Moore had avoided. "Will certainly get their attention," the XO muttered before opening a channel to the advancing vessels. "Channel open Administrator."

"Thank you so much Commander Zh'Roothi." Kuzos purred before addressing the Drai ship. "This is Kuzos." He said bluntly. He knew they would know the name. "Is there a problem here?"

The Enterprise's Commanding Officer looked first at the XO, but said nothing as he looked back at the Vorta Ambassador. Silently, the Commodore crossed his arms and watched as the events unfolded on his Bridge.

"They are not responding," Galatea announced from the Mission Operations console.

Wilkan turned, repeating the order his XO had previously given, "Open all channels. This is Commodore Wilkan Targaryen of the United Federation of Planets, with Administrator Kuzos of the Dominion. Disengage or we will..."

A series of alarms rang throughout the Bridge as the Drai ships flooded the Enterprise with their beams. On the viewscreen the shields crackled and then flashed, disappearing into nothingness.

"Shields are still up." Ash announced, quietly while she tapped away at her console. "However, they have been inverted. They'll block an outbound attack and be, completely, transparent to inbound an inbound attack. That would include transporter beams." The Chief Engineer announced.

Sulu turned from the Science Station, "I'm picking up transporter targeting locks. The Drai are beaming aboard a team."

"Localize," Targaryen ordered from his chair.

"Deck 15," Sulu informed, "Looks like the Security Section Infirmary."

"Commodore." Chase spoke up. "Tosk is there!"

The Commodore looked at his Tactical Officer, "See if you can raise your people and get them down there. Commander, you have the Bridge. I want our shields back online and operating under normal parameters before I get back up here. Chase, Ash with me please."

"Yes Commodore," Chase replied, as he turned his station over to one of his officers. He joined the captain and Ash as they headed off the bridge."

zh'Roothi bit back a sigh as she rose from the forward station at the Commodore's order. Her actions may have contributed to their situation but in her opinion it was inevitable.

Stacey was a little concerned for the safety of the commanding officer and more importantly of Chase her husband. She knew both officers were capable, and that they should be able to get through this situation unscathed.

Ash turned over her engineering station to an auxiliary officer and bounded across the bridge to catch up with the Captain and Lt. Chase. "Power cycle the shield emitters one at a time, fore to aft, to wick away the residual radiation." She suggested to zh'Roothi as she crossed the bridge. "It is a little late but Shamber, chapter 4, shield harmonics." She added, quickly, as she exited the bridge. The second suggestion a reference to a 2nd year academy text book that, almost, nobody ever bothered to read.

"Thanks for the suggestion," the Andorian nodded as they two women crossed paths.

Wilkan looked at the Vorta Administrator, "We could use a hand."

Kuzos sighed, "Yes, I was afraid you would."

Chase was listening but his mind was more on what lay ahead. They were being boarded and he was giving orders to his security officers, intent on protecting the crew.

Captain Targaryen stepped into the Turbolift with his ream, ready for whatever was coming next.

 

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