The Unknown Ship

Posted on Friday, 15 May 2020 - 12:48pm by Commander Soral & Commander DeVala Victrix Ph.D & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | Main Bidge
Timeline: 2393 MD 04

{ON:}

Soral sat on the bridge next to Victrix lost in thought. Some of the sensor glitches and repairs were done, enough to scan the region. Alex was working behind the consoles and he was glad of that. She would do a good sweep to ensure that things were well. There had been no further telepathic contact and he was glad of it. He'd had time to rest his mind.

"How are the scans coming Lieutenant?"

Absorbed in her task, examining the data coming through from the newly repaired sensors. The question caught her attention, although she never looked away, instead making adjustments from her station. “Clear skies so far,” the Science Officer reported. “We still have a variance on the lateral sensors but the algorithm the engineering team put in place seems to be compensating. For the most part.”

"Keep scanning."

Lieutenant Vadoma, relief at the tactical station eased herself into the conversation. "I will continue scanning from my station as well on a more tactically tuned sweep" the dark haired woman reported. "I won't interfere with science" she added looking over at Lieutenant Kingsley.

Out amongst the sea of stars a cloaked ship sat watching the Fontana. At its helm Cassia-Ren sat brooding. Gaylen was awake and he would be released later today. She didn't want to eave the area until he gave the order. She could, technically make the decision herself, but he was their leader. Despite being her husband he was her Captain first.

The tactical officer shifted her posture a bit at her station. Something was clearly occurring by the sounds her console was making. The sound of her fingers tapping at the controls with a series of beeps and dings. "Lieutenant Kingsley, adjust your scans for tachyon emissions to the coordinates I am sending to you now" said the tactical officer. She was detecting something but her hypothesis needing confirmation.

“I see it,” Kingsley replied a heartbeat later, adjusting the sensors, bypassing the algorithm to give her more scope to manually adjust the range and frequencies. “The readings are stationary and constant. High chance this could be a cloaked ship but mapping now so we can get an inverse image. In the meantime, assume the worst and hope for the best always seemed a good philosophy. Sirs?”

She would leave it to tactical and their commanding officers to decide on what to do while she worked.

Soral stood. "How can we ensure we're dealing with a cloaked ship. Is there something non threatening to make her visible?"

“We could emit an anti tachyon pulse,” Alex told him, “if it is a ship, it should disrupt the cloaking device almost instantly.”

The Junior Grade Lieutenant at tactical appreciated the Chief Science Officer's quick wit and thinking on her feet. She has the makings of a tactical officer thought the woman amused by the scientist. "You're correct and most prudent" she fired back approvingly at Kingsley. "A tachyon pulse would do the trick to most known cloaking technology, especially if we already are detecting tachyon emissions. Though ship or not, we should have our answer. We are traversing through what was Romulan space...I would not be completely surprised if they had a few mine fields lying around" noted the woman.

Lieutenant Commander Victrix looked over at Soral. "I'm not sure I was comforted by that report, Commander" she said almost playfully. "Cloaked ship or cloaked minefield. I am not sure I like either of those options."

"Either way it will be a battle field." He raised an eyebrow. "Let's get the pulse ready. On your mark Ma'am."

Victrix nodded. "Science stand ready to scan the area" she instructed before giving the order. "Tactical, engage pulse" she added quickly.

Lieutenant Vadoma nodded "Aye Captain" she replied. She immediately looked towards the Science station.

“Ready,” Alex confirmed.

Laviana Vadoma let out a small whistle. "Well, hello there my pretty" she said tasking at her station. "It's a ship, Commander" she reported. Her fingers idling over the controls.

“Transferring a visual to the view screen,” Alex reported before adding, “the resolution isn’t perfect but engineering is working on it. I’ll clear it up as much as possible.”

The small ship looked like a freighter but she was armed to the teeth. Granted the Fontana was armed better. Soral stood. "Shields, can we hail them?"

“They are powering up their own shields and weapons systems,” Alex observed, noting the power output increasing.

Lieutenant Vadoma immediately raised their shields. "Shields are up, Commander. We can try to hail them, though I do not know if they will respond" the tactical officer reported. She stood ready for whatever was to come. "Channel open" she added, waiting for either the Commanding Officer or First Officer to make the move.

DeVala Victrix gave a small nod to Soral. The brief exchange said I'll take this one and with that, she proceeded to. "This is the Federation starship USS Fontana to the unidentified vessel. Let's avoid making a scene here today, and power down your weapons. There's no need for weapons to be fired. You see us just as well as we see you now" she said trying to be diplomatic.

There was a brief silence and then the screen lit up. The small bridge was well staffed and glaring back at them was a tall lithe red head. Her long hair was piled on her head and her Vulcan and Romulan features were obvious. "Starfleet doesn't want a scene? That is new."

Soral stood frozen. There she was the woman that had haunted his dreams now sat in the captain's chair.

"Ah commander Soral. I see you made it through. Once our Captain wakes up I'm sure he'll be happy to hear it."

Soral looked at Victrix. He did not want to overstep.

Alex shot a questioning look towards their XO before turning her attention back to the sensors. So many questions but this was not the time.

The woman addressing Soral by name and the look he gave Victrix showed clear familiarity. The Risan looked at the screen and stood swiftly from her seat. She may not have been tall, but standing provided her with the advantage of seeing taller than she was. "Excuse me, but I believe I was speaking to you, not my First Officer," she said to the woman. "Though by the look on his face and your blunt formality, I'll presume you are responsible for my First Officer's recent telepathic attack?"

"Not precisely. But he does have a strong mind. The more questions I asked the more he shut down. As for the recent unfortunate occurrence it was my captain. He's not a telepath nor is he patient. When I couldn't get through he tried to. Luckily he'll be fine as will you first officer. And before you ask the device was destroyed. I do have a question," She said looking at the Risian woman.

Victrix proceeded carefully and knowing she was dealing with a telepath, she did her best to keep her mental guards up as best she could. "I'm on a rather pressing mission, but I'll answer your question," she said to the woman. "What is it?"

"Will you defend your crew if need arose?"

"Crew or are you specifically asking about Chief Eyelaya?"

Cassia's eye narrowed. She looked at Soral a moment and then turned to Victrix. "Commander?"

Victrix did not care who or what this was about. What mattered was that it ended. "Don't arise the need and you will not have to find out" she said sternly. "Power down your weapons" she added looking straight into the view screen.

Cassia studied the woman. She smiled as she motioned to her weapons office. "Safe journey then" Another quick motion and the shields came down. The ship cloaked and moved away on full impulse. Once safe they went to warp.

Lieutenant Commander Victrix turned to look at Soral. "What the hell was that about?" She asked. That went far better than she was anticipating though she had no complaints.

Soral sighed. "I believe they are here for Chief Eyelaya. My investigations has turned up some...interesting facts."

"Are they gone or do you anticipate then making another appearance when we are more vulnerable?" the woman asked, seeking her First Officer's advice.

"I have not figured that out. I believe we are safe for the moment. I do not think they mean her harm."

Victrix looked to the two women. "Stay vigilant, lieutenants" she said to them both. "Continuous sweeps for tachyon readings. I don't want them getting that close again without us knowing" she added.

“Yes ma’am,” Alex replied, making the adjustments to their standard sensor sweeps. “I’ll speak with engineering to see if we can boost the range of the tachyon sweeps, just to be extra cautious.”

Lieutenant Commander Victrix nodded. "That sounds like a good idea" she said to Alex. She looked over to The Ship's Psychologist who had been at an auxiliary station. Victrix had not relied on her in the heat of the moment as to 'protect' her asset.

Victrix liked to keep her cards close, only showing them when necessary. The round was over. It was time to lie the cards down. "Lieutenant Vali, I gather you listened to and observed all of that. Care to take a crack at profiling that one?"

T’Lanna turned to look at Victrix. “She’s very self assured, plus I got the sense that there’s more between herself and their Captain. I’d go so far as to say we definitely haven’t seen the last of her. From what I could tell she didn’t try to read you, she wouldn’t have gotten into your mind without some effort anyway. She wanted to see what kind of Commanding Officer she was up against and now she knows.” She looked at Soral. “What you said about Chief Eyelaya definitely struck a nerve, it’s definitely Eyelaya that she’s interested in.” T’Lanna looked back at Victrix. “She didn’t pay me any attention but she definitely knew I was here, she made a point of making a passing scan of those on the bridge probably to see how many telepaths were here.”

Soral sat in his chair. He just looked at the screen. So far things had been rather interesting. He agreed with Vali's assessment that they wouldn't see the last of her. "Lieutenant what do you mean by more between herself and the Captain?" He asked.

“Her own Captain ... it was more of a feeling when she spoke about him.” T’Lanna paused. “I picked up a sense of there being more than a professional relationship going on.”

"Interesting." He simply said.

"Interesting indeed, Commander" she added. The woman made her way towards her suite. "I'll be in my Ready Room if needed. Soral, you have the bridge."

“Commander” T’Lanna looked at Soral. “If and when that ship comes back, we’re going to need to be on our guard. I wouldn’t put anything past that woman.”

"Wise decision. She is a Romulan warrior. They can be most unexpected."

"You can say the same about us" the tactical officer chimed in. "If you are in a betting mood, Commander, I would place your riches on Lieutenant Kingsley and I. If she comes back, we'll be ready for her."

He stood facing the woman. "Of that I have no doubt." He sat back down. "Let us be on our guard. Everyone ahead we go. At the first sign of the ship I want to know."

{OFF:}