In Route to Hunter III

Posted on Mon Jan 19th, 2015 @ 4:29pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Lieutenant Nick Archer & Colonel Danny Lennox & Captain L'Verrem & Major General Thomas Jackson & Commander Jonathan Coleman & Captain Jack Solomon & Lieutenant Ariel Gilmore & Master Warrant Officer Gaius Aquila & Lieutenant Catherine Mclintock & Lieutenant JG Dye Heron & Lieutenant JG Thy'kor Shrok & Ensign Brandy Ragen & Ensign Manuel Vega & Chief Warrant Officer Xelonul Blackthorne & Sergeant Major Jo Ann Worth & Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey & Gunnery Sergeant Agtx & Sergeant George Ann Worth

2,682 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Mission 87 - Disaster
Location: Various, Relief Force Ships
Timeline: MD1, 1530hrs, Following 'Getting Underway'

ON:

USS Venator

On the bridge of the USS Venator, all was quiet or so Lt Commander Torilla Yamaguchi thought to herself as she allowed her thoughts to drift away from what she was doing or rather the lack of anything at all, she was sitting in her command chair as she sighed softly.

The small task force was speeding through interstellar space towards Hunter Three as she looked at the warped effect on the viewscreen before her, there was a soft humming sound that she could hear through the deck plates and bulkheads of her ship but other then that there was silence.

Blissfull, golden silence as she thought of her youngest child who was once again remaining behind on the starbase, Torilla suddenly felt a wave of guilt. 'This is not fair' she thought to herself, knowing that all others involved would agree with her.

Yamaguchi looked around at the personnel assigned to the various stations on her bridge and while nobody was talking, they were all busy with their assigned tasks as her Exec was busy checking on the rest of the ship and seeing to the various department heads needs, that was what he had said to her in the last half hour that he had been gone from the bridge.

Yamaguchi in truth did not mind the silence as she found it helped her to think, about the two unborn that slept within her as she gently placed a hand on her abdomen, knowing that it was only a matter of time now.

At Ops, Archer was looking over all of the Venator's systems, checking power flows and allocation, while making minor adjustments here and there. He wanted to help ensure the ship was battle ready when they arrived at Hunster II and the Krazzle border. Even if the Admiral didn't think the Krazzle would try anything, he didn't want to take any chances. Archer glanced over at Yamaguchi for a moment, then focused back on his station.


USS Ark Royal, Main Bridge

Coleman was sitting in the command chair onboard the Ark Royal's Main Bridge. The fleet was getting underway for the mission that would lead the group to Hunter III. He knew that their actions, or inaction, could lead them to helping to save the planet from total annihilation or towards it. That prospect scared him to death, but he was also very prepared to take whatever action was necessary to help save as many of the colonist that he could and that wanted it.

However, he also knew that letting his mind drift in the hours and days before the mission even truly began was counterproductive. Thus, he walked over to his XO for the mission and saw him reading over fleet reports.

Coleman tapped him on the shoulder before taking a seat next to him at the Ops station. "How's the fleet coming along? Nothing out of the ordinary as we get underway?"

Jack looked up from the reports being sent in from the fleet and has a cautious smile on his face. "Actually, for my first time in years of serving as XO again, I can happily report that the fleet is proceeding on course and at its best speed to Hunster III, sir," Jack explained. "Quan and Wooldridge have been working hard with Engineering teams to prepare the transporters with backups and extra power just in case we need to become a lifeboat for the population."

Coleman thought about all the information that he got from his first officer. "Alright, Number One. Keep up the good work and let me know if there's any new developments in the case of Hunter III and send all the information that you have to the science teams throughout the fleets. Have the coordinate their efforts with Captain L'Verrem."

"Aye sir, I've already given Captain L'Verrem and his department priority over the sensor arrays whilst we are en-route and also once we arrive...they'll know anything as soon as it happens," Jack explained before pausing. "Sir, with your permission, I'd like to make a small change to the crew... Lt Quan normally outranks myself and seeing as I'm being kept busy running Ops and co-ordinating the fleet, I'd like him to takeover as Chief Engineer, with Wooldridge as his assistant," Jack requested quietly.

Coleman nodded and said, "Agreed. Make the switch over in the logs when you get a chance and let Quan know, so that he can prepare before reaching Hunter III."

Jack nodded and made the changes in the log before he got up to leave the Ops Station, headed for Engineering to inform Lieutenant Quan.

Coleman smiled and got up. He decided to make his way around the Ark Royal Bridge. He saw Wooldridge sitting at the Engineering Station and decided to check up on the young Assistant Chief Engineer. Coleman looked at the information rolling across his screen and asked, "What's that you're working on Mr. Wooldridge?"

Jack jumped off his seat and wheeled round to face the Commander. "Well sir......i've been working on those new transporter power settings me and Mr Solomon have been talking about and setting up some routines for my squad for some training for when we beam down. Gotta get all the practice we can sir".

After his talk with Wooldridge, he continued his rounds until he finally ended up with Captain L'Verrem at the Science Station. He found the Captain working on various science projects relating to the Hunter III mission.

Coleman took the empty seat next to him and asked, "So, how bad is it looking Captain? What should we be expecting when we get there?"

L'Verrem was concentrating on the sensor data on his displays as Coleman sat down beside him. At first, the only recognition came from an ear pricked in his direction. L'Verrem then turned from his display to face Coleman.
"The colony just experienced another severe earthquake, Commander Jonathan Coleman. This one registered seven point three on the Richter Scale. This quake was soon followed by another at a fault line off the continental shelf not far away from the first," L'Verrem said with a purr in his voice. The Caitian pointed to a map of Hunter III on his display, then gestured to zoom in on the area near the colony site. The map jumped to center on the colony and two bright dots appeared not far from it- one on shore in the nearby mountain range and another in the ocean.
"This second quake is expected to produce a tsunami, which will devastate any unprotected structures. The science team is perusing a theory that there may be a dark, high mass object near the system that is the cause of the seismic activity. We can expect more such quakes of increasing intensity and frequency. We do not yet have enough data to predict when it will subside," L'Verrem continued.

Coleman reached into his science background and remembered all his training on Dark Matter objects, such as Dark Matter comets and the like. He turned to the Caitian and asked, "Could a Dark Matter impact really cause this much devastation to a planet the size of Hunter III?"

"Dense dark matter objects are known to exist, but not massive enough to cause these continuing seismic events. Our strongest theory is that Hunter III's sun has a dark companion object orbiting around it. When it gets close enough, its gravity begins to cause mechanical stresses in the planet's crust, inducing seismic disturbances and other anomalies, such as irregular tides. We have ruled out a small black hole or naked singularity as we have not detected Hawking radiation or gamma rays. The science team hypothesizes it may composed of stranglets. It is one of only types of exotic matter that could have sufficient mass to create gravitational disturbances and yet remain undetected. A strangelet object produces no electromagnetic radiation, but will produce gravity waves. If this is the case, only a few have ever been discovered. This would provide a significant opportunity to study such an object close up" L'Verrem explained. "However, Commander Jonathan Coleman, prevent it from causing more destruction is a matter we do not have a firm grasp on," the Caitian added.

Coleman looked at the Caitian and asked, "At the rate it's going at now L'Verrem, is destruction of the planet in the foreseeable future? Are the colonist in danger?" Coleman tried not to let his emotions show in that instance, but he also knew if the answer was yes, he had to start thinking of a plan and fast.

"The colony is certainly in danger from the present situation. Until we arrive and determine what the cause is, we cannot determine how long this will continue or how much worse it will become," L'Verrem replied. "If our theory turns out to be correct, the degree of danger ranges from periodic calamities such as what is occurring now to..." L'Verrem's voice trailed off as he contemplated his trail of thought. The Caitian blinked slowly and his tail whipped back and forth once. He then looked back at Coleman and said "If the dark companion is indeed a strangelet object and its orbit is unstable, it could eventually gravitate into Hunter III's sun. If it does that, it will settle in its core and convert the sun's matter into strange matter. If that occurs, then the colony, and the planet, are truly doomed."

Coleman didn't like how the Captain was putting it. He leaned in, so that no one would hear, and he asked, "In your opinion, what do you think we should do about the colonists, if the planet were to start to break up?"

"We should make contingency plans now to evacuate the colonists. In the event your scenario comes to pass, evacuation is the only option and we would need to start as soon as possible. I believe we will have time to assess the situation and determine if our theory of a dark companion is correct, but we will need to act as soon as possible after the assessment is compete," L'Verrem replied quietly. He thought for a few moments, then added "We may be able to make rudimentary life rafts by hollowing out several asteroids in Hunter III's belt. We could replicate and install rudimentary life support systems and then tractor the asteroids back to Starbase 400. It would be uncomfortable, but survivable."

"What about the colonists that want to go down with the colony? I know a lot of people on various colonies that would do the same? Is personal love of a home more important than life? What do you think if they do not wish to be taken away from their home?"

L'Verrem let out a long purr in contemplation, then said "I suppose that decision would ultimately be left up to Admiral Bremer. Caitian philosophy reveres life. I would be moved to advise the Admiral to save the life of the colonists rather than let them decide to die."

Coleman thought over what had happened to his people. Many of the El-Aurians did not want to leave their home planet when it was being attacked by the Borg in the 23rd Century. So, Coleman understood completely how the Caitian science officer felt. He just hoped that the planet wouldn't break apart.

"Keep working on ways to possibly make sure that the planet does not break apart. That way, we won't have to think about saving or not saving the colonist." Coleman said, after letting out a long breath.


USS Saratoga

T'Lyn was sitting on the bridge going over reports as they were in route to Hunter III, "Colonel everything seems to be in order sir," T'Lyn stated looking at him.

"Thank you Major. I am going below for a walk through. You have the Bridge."

"Understood," T'Lyn stated as she arose from her seat and took the Colonel's seat.

Jax did not even bother using the turbolift at the start of his walk through. He took the stairs instead. He knew that when he started learning about starship operations in War College that he was eventually going to have to command a ship on a mission. He just did not know that this was going to take place so soon, at least soon in his mind. As he passed by the mixture of Marines and Starfleet crewmen, he confirmed to himself what he learned at the star base: that they can work together. He made it a point to greet his people that he encountered.

Meanwhile, Giaus took a break from studying the topography of the colony by sending a quick message to Holly. Life was shaping up pretty well for him. He was very happy where he was at.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the Saratoga, Captain Lennox was meeting with Gunnery Sergeants Agtx and Ermy.

"I wissh we were ssstill on the Sssation with the Krazzzle coming. I don't trussst them." Agtx said as the three were talking.

"So do I Gunny. I understand why we're being sent to Hunster, those people need help, a lot of it, but I'd also feel better being back on the Station." Lennox replied.

"Who else were they going to get to do the dirty work but the grunts?" Ermy remarked with a smile.

"Absolutely", Jackson said as he approached the trio during his rounds.


USS Venator

On the Bridge of the USS Venator, things were operating as normal, but then Commander Yamaguchi let out a painful sound as she grabbed her stomach and fell to the deck.

Archer jumped up from Ops and rushed to the Commander’s side as he tapped his commbadge, “Bridge to Sick Bay, medical emergency, it’s the Commander.”

After medical teams arrived, and took Yamaguchi to Sick Bay, several tense and stressful minutes passed before Doctor Rhodes, the ship’s ranking Medical Officer returned to the Bridge.

“Lieutenant, we need to get the Commander back to the Starbase. She’s suffering from complications with her pregnancy, and there’s very little I can do to assist her here.”

“We can’t turn the ship around.” Archer replied, not meaning it as cold as it sounded. “We’ll drop out of warp long enough for a shuttle to launch. A Type-IX is high warp capable, and can be back to the Station is a few hours. Would that be acceptable?”

The Doctor thought about it for a moment. He knew the relief mission was important, “Yes. Give me about twenty minutes. We’ll get one of the shuttles loaded and prepped. I’ll send Doctor L’Sol, she has the most experience in this area.”

Archer nodded in agreement, “I’ll send the Station a message and alert them. I’ll also let Commander Coleman know we’ll be dropping out of formation to launch the shuttle, then catch back up with the Task Force.”

The Doctor nodded and left the Bridge, as Archer looked at the empty Commander Chair. He’d never commanded a ship in action before, so his heart was racing and stomach turning. He took a deep breath, then looked over to Ensign Nechayve. “Ensign, alert the Ark Royal to our situation and advise them we’ll catch back up shortly. Mister LaBaron, slow us to impulse.”

Once the shuttle was launched and was on its way back to Starbase 400 at Warp Speed, Archer gave the order for the Venator to resume Warp and to catch back up with the rest of the Task Force. He eased himself into the Captain’s Chair, but felt completely uncomfortable.

Archer knew what needed to be done, even how to do it. As much time as he’d spent on the Bridge of the Pegasus and other ships before, as well as his time in Starbase 400’s Ops, he was prepared...but he was still nervous.

The group of ships were getting closer to the Hunter system, and would be there in only a few more hours...


TBC....

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