Sunny Days, Sweeping The Clouds Away

Posted on 06 Oct 2024 @ 8:08am by Lieutenant Commander Stovek

1,043 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Stranded
Location: USS Goddard
Timeline: Immediately following "Contact Lost"

Captain. Erik. Larsen.

The reality of that title was still sinking in; just over four months ago, Erik had left behind the friendships and professional relationships had cultivated on the Cygnus and had been promoted and placed in a command chair.

His assignment to the Science Outpost on Zeta Omega IX was supposed to be the vehicle that propelled Erik Larsen into the Captain's chair; he had been slotted to take over the dual role of Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer. Most considered Zeta Omega IX to be a minor outpost, a small research center in the middle of basically nowhere. Most persons, Starfleet officers included, were unaware of the cutting edge quantum theory work that occurred at the facility. Such research had made possible weapons such as the Quantum torpedo and the portal device that did so much damage to Titan during last year's Frontier Day festivities.

The journey had begun just a day after departing the Cygnus. Erik had boarded a civilian transport at Deep Space Nine, which over the course of a week and a half had taken him to the beautiful world of Minos Korva. Next, the USS Shenandoah took him to the Bak'u sector. After hopping on two more transports, Erik made his way to the USS Billings on the final leg of the trip; although he was in transit between assignments, Erik of course offered to assist with several scientific analyses. The Billings was attacked by one of the heaviest and most powerful starships in known space...a Breen Dreadnought. Erik had been forced to take command of the Billings upon the death of the Captain and XO; by order of Starfleet Command, he had commanded the ship back to Copernicus Fleet Yards in Lunar orbit around Earth. Following that, Command had placed Erik in the center seat of the USS Goddard and promoted to Captain.

And now here he was, Captain Erik Larsen, just a few hours out from Deep Space Nine. The ship had completed a successful test of the slipstream burst drive, a technology that allowed a short burst of travel at warp factor 9.99998477 for up to thirty minutes. Unfortunately, the drive required both a lengthy power up and cool down sequence; the slipstream drive would be offline for at least the next eleven hours. The crew was performing well, despite their relative youth and inexperience; because the Goddard was a small Reliant Class vessel, she was not considered a choice assignment. Most officers preferred larger vessels with more amenities and more room for advancement.

"Captain, we are being hailed by DS9," said the relentlessly cheerful voice of Lieutenant JG Amber Ross from the Ops station.

Odd, thought Larsen. We don't have a scheduled check in with them until tomorrow morning.

"Put them through," said the Captain. Larsen assumed that he would be speaking to Captain Kira Nerys, the storied Bajoran officer that has taken over the Federation outpost upon the disappearance of Ben Sisko, who had been promoted to Captain when Bajor had officially joined the UFP shortly after the Dominion War. To serve with such a formidable presence was both humbling and intimidating simultaneously.

Instead of Kira Nerys the Goddard bridge crew was greeted by the smiling face of Commander Gia Strogaia, the Executive Officer of DS9. Erik knew a little about her from personal interaction, but most of what he knew of her was by reputation only. “Gia,” said Larsen warmly. Even though his rank and title superseded hers, she was almost always carrying out the orders of Captain Kira so he showed her due deference. “Good morning. How are things on DS9 today?”

“Things are good, for the most part,” said Strogaia with a small smile. Although she was a petite woman that stood only 1.55 meters tall, the warmth of her presence filled a room. Or in this case, a view screen. “We do have something that we would like you to check out for us though.”

“Of course,” said Erik. “We are finished with the slipstream trials for now, so we are just doing drive and coil maintenance. So the Goddard is at your disposal. What do you have?””

“Thank you. You don’t know how many Starfleet Captains are unwilling to accept orders from somebody they outrank unless they take the time to verify them with Command first. It’s really irritating.”

“We’re all on the same team.”

“Absolutely,” said Strogaia. She paused, letting a long breath out through her nostrils. “It could be nothing, maybe something as simple as a communications blind spot that hasn’t been documented before. Anyway…as you know, DS9 monitors a number of vessels attached to it as a matter of protocol. One of them was investigating a civilian freighter in distress near your location, but now we have lost our data link. We have had no automated status updates from their computer for hours.”

“We would be happy to check on them,” said Larsen. “Just send us their last known coordinates.”

“Sending that to you now.”

“Confirmed,” said Regradnisdrek, a young Ktarian Ensign stationed at the helm. “128 mark 244. That’s nearly two days away at warp seven, sir.”

“I think this might be a tad more urgent than two days of travel, Mister Regradnisdrek,” said Larsen. “Set a course, warp nine.”

“Aye, Sir.”

“It might interest you to know that vessel in question is the Cygnus, Captain Larsen,” said Strogaia. “Please contact the station when you have relevant information. DS9 out.”

The channel closed, leaving the holographic viewer empty except for the image of deep space immediately in front of the transparent aluminum window. Gia Strogaia knew that Larsen had served previously on the Cygnus, and her welfare held a special place in Larsen’s heart. Whatever was wrong, Erik would see to it that his family was protected.

“Slight change of plans, Mister Regradnisdrek. Maximum warp, if you please. Let’s put the pedal to the metal.”


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Captain Erik Larsen
Commanding Officer
USS Goddard, NCC-90225


As written by:
Lieutenant Commander Stovek
Chief of Operations/2XO
USS Cygnus

 

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