A Beginging's Rest

Posted on Sun Jul 17th, 2011 @ 12:07am by

1,469 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 76 - Home comings
Location: USS Laffey
Timeline: Current

Airlock 9
One Hour Later

Winter arrived with his staff at the airlock, Captain Harrison had people stationed at every starship airlock as a precaution since the days of the Dominion War. A DNA hand scanner was present on the booth with two security guards to verify the identity of each person.

Winter slid his hand under the scanner first. The Computer quickly verified his identity and in quick succession his entire crew had been granted clearance to arrive on the Laffey.

He had paused and witnessed Pike doing the exact same thing in the next airlock over for the Saratoga which instead of Starfleet Security the Marines were there in the place of Security Officers.

Winter stepped aboard Laffey was immediately struck by her compact differences. The Corridor was cramped and limited to maybe three or four people at a time in the corridors. There were no obvious signs of any sort of similar to civilians and Winter was glad about that.

This ship was strictly bred for war, for battle.

When he saw Pike board the Saratoga he didn't feel any remorse but stepping aboard Laffey he felt something quite different.

Thorin was awaiting for him at a turbolift he had found. "Sir?"

"Just getting to know the girl." Winter said with a smile. "What do you think Mr. Thorin?"

"She has it where it counts Sir." The Andorian said matter-of-factly. "Bridge, that she does. How goes the load-out?"

"All crew safely accounted for and gear stowed away."

"Fifteen minutes ahead of our departure time, outstanding." He said as the doors opened to reveal the bridge.

The Bridge itself was compact, there was a single command chair flanked by panels on either side. The Forward section of the bridge had a single station instead of the traditional two for ops and Helm, they both had been combined into one, which Brandy Regan, his helm officer would have to get adjusted to, hence she had been practicing last night on the holodeck learning how to expertly handle a Defiant Class escort.

The rest of the bridge had the familiar consoles of science, engineering, tactical I and Tactical II as well as communications. At the rear of the bridge was somewhat of a tactical table, a small briefing area for the senior staff to hold planning sessions or briefing. There was only one turbolift access the other door led directly to Winter's ready room/quarters on board the Laffey, the rest of the crew would have to share quarters or bunks.

The whole layout made Winter kind of reminded of ancient earth military naval vessels such as submarines. Winter made his way to his ready room closely followed by Thorin.

"So what do we got?"

"Our orders officially." He said as he touched a panel on the desk bringing up his personal monitor. As he walked around and sat down Thorin sat across from him in the tiny ready room. "Security?"

"The Admiral is concerned about potential trouble as am I. Pirates in the triangle have excellent sources of intelligence even for black market operations. I know that the legend of Talos IV has spread far beyond the confines of Starfleet Command. Colonel Pike would like us to run any interference in the mission since we're providing escort for the party." Winter said as he leaned backwards in his chair.

"The Talosians have yet to clarify their reasons for allowing us to retrieve our lost hero?" Thorin asked. The Laffey's new Captain shook his head. "That's what even I'm scratching my head about. General Order Number Seven if I recall my history courses Thorin was put in place precisely because of what the Talosians are capable of."

Thorin's antennae twitched "What do you think is going to happen?"

"I wish I knew." James explained with a sigh. "There are many theories as to why they are suddenly opening up a dialogue with us with asking us to honor the late commodore's final wishes."

"Nothing concrete?"

"In five minutes David and K'wor will be presenting me with their reports on what could be happening, I'd rather let them say than any of the pundits on Earth." Winter meant any of the politicians on the Presidential Staff.


While the Laffey's Captain and First Officer began discussing the necessity of the mission and its ramifications Ensign Regan arrived on the bridge to familiarize herself and set up the forward helm station the way she wanted it.

"Getting acquainted?" She turned to see Nick, the combined OPS and CEO.

"Yeah, Training for it is one thing, seeing it is another." She said with a smile.

Shaking his head Archer replied, "She'll handle like a runabout only better."

She looked at the forward view screen it showed the interior of the station. Talos IV was pretty far out and it would take a few extra days to get there but it would be well worth it.

Lee was reading over a PADD when he walked in on the bridge. "Morning." He said cheerfully. Brandy smiled back at the Intelligence Officer.

She heard the door to the ready room come open and Lee entered. Archer ribbed Brandy, "You like him."

"I do not, I was simply being polite."

"Right." Archer snorted as he was at the engineering station. K'Wor also arrived. Brandy saw the Tactical officer in a different light. He seemed more at home aboard a ship who's primary purpose was battle. She was taken aback by his bearing, his demeanor was one of quiet warmth.

He was the son of an Admiral who probably had lofty yet high goals for his son.

It was him she liked and if destiny helped she knew she belonged with him.

"Earth to Regan?" Archer said. "You awake?"

She shook herself out of her reverie. "Uh, Yeah."


Commander Winter leaned forward. "Okay David what do we got?"

David began his brief. "As you both know Starfleet has a strict quarantine of the area since 2254. Mostly the quarantine had been monitored by Starbase Eleven. Several races have attempted to breach the zone but starships from Starbase Eleven have always arrested them and their crews charged and their ship seized. The last time a Federation vessel breached the quarantine was by the Original Enterprise under forged orders in order to deliver Commodore Pike to the planet as a last request to live out his days free of a confined space."

There was an image of Commodore Pike confined to a wheelchair unable to speak.

He had been badly burned and injured by Delta Rays when a Baffle plate near the warp core manifold blew during an inspection tour on a Saladin-Class Freighter.

"Since then Ensign?"

"Starbase 11 has routinely sent probes to monitor the area without resorting to sending starships to violate the standing order sir."

Winter reviewed the packet. It was very telling. Thorin spoke first. "What's this other star group in the constellation?"

"The Sirius Star Group." Lee explained. "It has nine planets with six of them habitable the largest population of the primary planet, Sirius II has approximately 20 Million life forms. Their technological level is early 23rd century Sir, limited warp and military applications similar to that of mid twenty second century. No reason for us to be concerned sir."

"Maybe so, but let's keep an eye on it for the time being. Mr. K'Wor?"

"Neither the Talos Star Group or this Group poses no strategic asset for us sir, despite the Star Group has approximately thirteen planets in the system. Many are Class M however only Talos IV is for certain to have any sentient life."


"Very well, I thank you both for your input, Mr. Lee, contact Starbase Eleven and ask for any recent updates from anything they've got monitoring the Talos System." Turning to the admiral's son he said, "Contact the Endeavor see if Commander Coleman has already begun long range scans of the system, see if they got Colonel Pike's instructions to await a rendezvous."

"Yes sir." Both men said and without any further ado the two men dismissed themselves from the small ready room and headed out.

"My Orders?" Thorin said.

"You have the bridge, begin preparations for departure I'll be right there when we're ready to leave."


Fifteen Minutes Later the task group was ready to get underway.

Commander Winter stepped forward from the ready room/quarters of his on-board and strode confidently to the Command chair. Seating himself he posed the question. "Ready to Get underway?"

"Yes sir." Thorin said as he took his chair at communications. "All Hands, this is the Captain,standby for departure maneuvers. Ensign Ragan, Follow Saratoga out, Thorin contact Endeavor and inform them we're on our way for the rendezvous."

"Aye sir."

They were waiting as Saratoga was a head of them in the departure list.

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