Reporting to Starfleet

Posted on 24 May 2023 @ 9:45pm by Captain Erik Larsen

1,277 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Cygnus
Timeline: Immediately after "Reporting In"

Commander Larsen waited for the subspace communication relay link, first through AR-558 in the Chin'Toka system, then to Relay Station 047 in the Ipai Sector, to Epsilon IX station in the Risan sector before finally making it to Starfleet Command on Earth. The whole process took about two minutes. Considering how far away from Earth they were, it was incredibly fast.

Despite this, Erik drummed his fingers on the Captain's desk impatiently, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, his place should be on the Bridge of the ship while there was an Away Team on a planet that was not part of the Federation. Even though he was in an office directly off the Bridge, he still felt like he wasn't where he was supposed to be. Second, he was in the Captain's Ready Room. Sure, he had permission to be here, and was allowed in here at any time when he was in command of the ship, but still, it wasn't his office; it was the Captain's, and he respected that more than even he cared to admit. Finally, and one that he would never admit to anyone, least of all himself, he was being impatient.

Finally, the Starfleet delta appeared on the screen. He straightened up just in the nick of time, for Rear Admiral Brexx, a Bolian, had appeared on the screen. ~Strange,~ thought Erik, ~I thought he was a Vice Admiral?~ Pushing the thought from his mind, he greeted the Admiral. "Hello Admiral. I am Lieutenant Commander Erik Larsen of the U.S.S. Cygnus. We are currently conducting First Contact in the Antioch System, specifically on Antioch III." He said his part, then waited for the Admiral to respond.

"Yes, Commander. I am familiar with the duty assigned to the Cygnus," he said kindly. "I am surprised to be hearing from you, and not from Captain Bane. I trust he is ok?"

Erik's eyes went wide for just a moment in surprise, before going back to neutral. He mentally kicked himself. Of course it would be odd to hear from the Executive Officer of a ship to Starfleet Command, and not the Commanding Officer. He should have prefaced his greeting. "Oh, I beg your pardon, sir. Yes, he and the Away Team are just fine. He is on the planet conducting First Contact and helping the Tashi prepare her population for the reality of being a part of a greater galactic community."

"I see," he said, inferring that 'Tashi' was the populations title of world leader. "Go on with your report, Commander."

"Thank you. As I mentioned, we have made First Contact. It is going very well. The Captain and First Contact team have integrated very well with the world leader and the ruling council. There are preparations well underway for the announcement to the population at large. We have welcomed part of their ruling council to the Cygnus, where each of them have been assigned to a member of the Senior Staff for personalized welcoming. They have been asking amazing and intelligent questions and have marveled at the technological level of this ship.

"They are quite tall," Larsen continued, "almost a full meter taller than us, and are clearly masters at communication. In fact, that reason alone is why Captain Bane wished for me to report in before First Contact was complete."

Brexx shifted in his chair and leaned forward, clearly more interested in the report. "Go on."

"Yes sir. According to the report Captain Bane gave, the leadership on Antioch III have known they are not alone in the universe for several of their years."

Brexx didn't miss a beat. "We were not their First Contact, then? Who beat us to it? The Cardassians?"

Erik shook his head. "No sir. The Borg did."

The Rear Admiral shot back in his seat like he had just been sucker punched. "The Borg?! Are you certain of this?"

Erik held up his hand, unknowingly a great deal like Admiral Janeway did often. "I am certain, but hear me out. They intercepted a transmission from the Borg from almost a thousand lightyears away. According to Captain Bane, it was a standard transmission from the Borg. You know, 'We are the Borg. Resistance is futile," he said in his best Borg voice.

"Yes, I know what the Borg say and how they sound Commander," the Admiral said, annoyance in his voice. "So the Borg did or did not make contact with the Antiocians?"

"They did not, at least, not officially. Like I said, the Antiocians are masters at communications, which is why this transmission is encrypted. They have the ability to pick up subspace messages at this stage in their development. It just so happened they had their receiver on and pointed in the right direction and at the exact right time that the broadcast from the Borg passed through this system."

"I see," Admiral Brexx stated, visibly relaxing. "Good job to you, the Captain and the crew then. Keep up the good work. I expect a complete and detailed report once First Contact is complete. Once we have analyzed that, we will likely send a California-class starship out there to do Second Contact, and set up an embassy of some sort there."

"Aye sir," Erik stated. "I will be sure to pass on the message and your praise to the crew."

Brexx nodded, then grabbed a PADD sitting on his desk that had been out of view. "I was going to wait and tell Captain Bane this, but since I have you here now, and it concerns you, I will go ahead and let you know."

It was Erik's turn to shift in his seat and move closer to the computer, interested at this turn of events. "Uh, ok," he managed.

"Commander, you are being reassigned once this mission is over."

"Reassigned," Erik exclaimed, surprise, shock and disbelief all over his face, and in his voice. "How come?!"

"Starfleet needs you elsewhere, Lieutehant Commander. Captain Bane gave you a glowing review after your last assignment, and frankly, we need your experience and expertise. You are being assigned to Zeta Omega IX colony as Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer."

Erik blinked for several moments, unbelieving. It also took time for him to understand exactly where it was he was going. "Sir, that is an extremely remote colony, far beyond Federation borders. Surely I could stay here. I like it here."

Brexx nodded, compassion on his face and in his voice. "I know, Commander. Captain Bane likes you there too, but Starfleet needs you at Zeta Omega IX. The commanding officer there, Commander Alberts, well, he needs help. Your experience in the sciences, and your exeptional service to the Cygnus makes you the ideal candidate." He paused for a moment, then continued, this time with the authority in his voice that was commanded by his rank and position. "Commander, upon completion of your mission to the Antioch system, the Cygnus is to report to Deep Space Nine where you will catch a transport to Zeta Omega IX."

Commander Larsen blinked only once, his face going neutral, belying his internal feelings and thoughts on the matter. "Aye aye, Admiral."

"Good. You have done well. Continue this trend on Zeta Omega IX, and your promotion to Commander is assured. Starfleet Command out." The screen immediately shifted from the face of the blue Admiral to the Starfleet delta before shutting off completely.

"Well, shit," Erik said, allowing himself to fall backwards into the chair.


OFF

Lieutenant Commander Erik Larsen
Executive Officer
USS Cygnus

 

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