Checkpoint

Posted on 15 May 2024 @ 9:19pm by Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast & Lieutenant Commander Stovek & Lieutenant JG Lisald Vaat

1,183 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Enigma Variations
Location: Bixilfiz - Main Engineering
Timeline: Following The Best Toys

Commander Bast looked around the freighter Bixilfiz's engineering bay, where the Away Team had gathered to go over their recent discoveries. Doctor Winters was standing by on the comm line, her examination of the patients they'd rescued still in progress.

"To summarize," said Bast, looking at each of the offiers in turn, "we have a ship that feels like it was put together from a dozen various incompatible technologies, but somehow operating in some ways even better than our own Starfleet systems, carrying contraband materials. Commander Stovek, for those of us who might have skipped the latest scientific journals, would you mind enlightening us on isolinium?"

"Of course, Sir," said the Vulcan. He folded his hands behind his back, feeling as if he was again giving a lecture to vaguely interested Starfleet Cadets. "Isolinium is an extremely rare material, very difficult to come by and equally expensive to purchase. It is the fuel source for isolytic subspace weapons, a technology that was banned by the Second Khitomer Accords. Possession of even a minute quantity of isolinium is considered a Class A Felony, as it violates established interstellar law."

"Engineering team," said Bast, turning to the people in gold uniforms, "any word on when this ship might be able to get under way again? I think we should seriously consider impounding her and flying her back to Deep Space Nine for violating the Khitomer Accords."

Ensign Tremblay spoke up, her voice shaking from having to address the senior staff for what might be the first time in her career. "There's a lot of structural damage that we need to fix before that can happen. Maybe eight hours," she said.

"Sir," began Lieutenant junior grade Meda Jaco, the sole Gallemite officer aboard the Cygnus, in his customary slow drawl. As he continued to speak, the tempo sped up until it was relatively the same as everyone else's. "Before we get this ship moving, we will need to run a full security and safety check, per regulation."

Seitha shook his head, baring his teeth a little, not out of anger or maliciousness, just the way his face moved when disagreeing with something. "That will not be necessary," he said, a low purr barely perceptible under the voice. It was oddly soothing. "As you know, Lieutenant, the Commanders," Seitha stated, pointing to both Lieutenant Commander Bast and Lieutenant Commander Stovek, "Ordered sensor drones to search the Freighter as we arrived. Nothing was found.

The Gallemite nodded. "Aye sir. Please disregard then." He didn't want to say that, but having been challenged by his superior officer in front of Seitha's superiors had him lose all of his confidence.

Lieutenant Lisald spoke up. He had beamed over shortly after the isolinium had been discovered, at the request of the Executive Officer. With Spangler having been promoted and transferred, it was left to Lisald to step up to the department head role, again, and take him away from his labs, where he was, according to his considerably large opinion, better suited. "With as rickety as this ship is, Commander, the storage container pod housing the Isolinium is nearly state-of-the-art. If I had to guess, based on the readings my trusty tricorder tells me," he said, motioning to the device in his hand, "It is either Romulan or Katarian. Or better, a really well-done knock-off."

"All right," said Bast. "So this ship was ferrying weapons-grade isolinium from an unknown location, to another just-as-unknown destination, intended for delivery to an unknown person or persons, for yet another unknown purpose. The only lead we have is that it could be Romulan or Katarian or a facsimile, and a strong probability that it was headed for Son'a territory."

He took a breath and looked at the group of assembled officers. "I'd like to clear up a few of those 'unknowns'. And I'm guessing the Federation Security Council will be very interested in hearing the answers, and will be scrutinizing our reports very closely."

"Right," said Lieutenant Seitha. "With your permission, I'd like to try and work on brute-forcing their computer system. We might be able to access their systems with minimal effort, based on how thrown together this vessel is, I cannot imagine they would have sophisticated security measures."

Lieutenant Jaco nodded. "Thats right. According to the initial scans, they are using a Mk. II computer core, something the Federation was using a hundred and fifty years ago," he offered.

“Sir,” said Stovek. “I should note that the stage one EPS taps from the warp core were severed. The Cygnus has no means of repairing damage that extensive without dry dock facilities. If this vessel is going to DS9, it will need to be towed.”

"Uh," Lisald began, "Who knows what sort of power source it is using right now, and if it is tied into the ship systems. If that is the case, and at any time the ships power reserves fall below a certain level, the magnetic constrictors could fail, and all of our problems will be solved, permanently. Not to mention this region of space would be non-navigable for a hundred millennia."

"Wonderful," grumbled Bast, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "With all the structural challenges of this ship, towing it back to DS9 means a five-week trip at Warp Three."

He scrubbed his face with his hands, and squared his shoulders before turning back to the assembled officers. "All right. Let's concentrate our efforts on restoring structural integrity. Lieutenant Hartley, make preparations for the Cygnus to tow this ship back to Deep Space Nine. Security, prepare a level-three containment field for the isolinium, we'll secure it in the Cygnus's cargo hold for the return trip. Lieutenant Lisald, Commander Stovek, keep trying to find out where this thing came from and where it was going."

He gave the situation a moment of thought to make sure all bases were covered and that he hadn't left anything out. "Medical, please advise us the minute one of the survivors is ready for interrogation."

He looked at each of the assembled officers in turn, establishing firm eye contact to ensure they understood their orders.

"Any questions?"

Lisald looked around at his fellow officers, then back to his Executive Officer. "None from Science, sir."

Lieutenant Seitha merely nodded, and flicked his tail once. The Engineering detail also nodded, as Ensign Tremblay frantically took notes in her data PaDD.

“None,” said Stovek in his customary dull, flat tone. Although few of them gave outward signs, as a Vulcan he was capable of sensing their trepidation. Such is the nature of working with so many human like species, he thought.

Bast waited another few seconds, glancing around to make sure there were no questions. "Carry on," he said finally, letting the group disperse to carry out his orders.


* - * - * - * - * - * - *

Lieutenant, junior grade Lisald Vaat
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Cygnus

Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast
Executive Officer
USS Cygnus

Lieutenant Commander Stovek
Chief Operations Officer
USS Cygnus

And various NPC's

 

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