Observational Integrity

Posted on Thu Sep 3rd, 2015 @ 4:23pm by

834 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: 45 Light Years from Bremer's Task Group
Timeline: MD2 1650 Hours

Daniel stood behind the current shift's Operations Officer. She was a Lieutenant Junior Grade by rank. Her name was Rannia Eflores. Young, he'd hand-picked her from the graduating Academy class 2 years ago. She was one of only seventeen graduates that year who graduated with a rank higher than ensign.

Zandusky turned to walk back to his seat and asked, "Have they detected us?" He'd asked this question twenty times since they started tailing the ship. He knew the answer. The cloaking device being used by the Gladiator was one of the most advanced in the galaxy. Under development for 15 years in its current incarnation. It could be considered to be the offspring of the Pegasus Phase Cloak tested in the 2350s.

The young woman at Ops smiled. The question and answer had become something of a game. Something to remind them that they weren't dead, yet. "Negative, sir. The ship is actively scanning, they have not detected us."

Aarik Loni, the Betazoid Tactical/Security Chief aboard the Gladiator spoke up, "Sir, I'm confused at your concern. Even if they detect us, there are few ships anywhere in the galaxy that pose the Gladiator any significant challenge."

Daniel smiled. Leave it to Lieutenant Commander Aarik Loni to pick up on his CO's concern. "It's not this ship that concerns me. It's the ship or ships that we're going to find at the end of this transwarp corridor."

Loni nodded, "I've been giving some thought to that as well. Though, I'm not entirely sure that the worry is warranted on either of our parts, sir. We could easily destroy or disable a Tactical Cube."

Without looking at the other man, Daniel said, "What if there are two?"

Some of the other officers on the bridge chuckled at the banter. Zandusky kept the bridge semi-informal. He encouraged his people to chat or engage in banter when they were tense. It was something he'd learned from Admiral Sevlek.

A console chirped, urgently, and Lieutenant S'rin, the Vulcan Helmsman spoke, "Captain, the Sphere is moving to exit the transwarp corridor."

Daniel sat down and spoke, "Alright people. Serious faces."

The Vulcan man raised a brow, "Sir, I do not believe anyone here is capable of switching their facial structures at will."

Everyone laughed. S'rin was an odd Vulcan. He actively grasped humor and engaged in its use to defuse situations. He would make a great command officer some day.

Daniel smiled, "Noted, Mr. S'rin." He entered some information on his chair arm's console, "Mr. S'rin, prepare to exit the corridor." He paused, and then added, "As smoothly as you piggybacked into it, please."

The Vulcan's hands flew over the console as the ship stayed precisely behind the Sphere during its exit into normal space. "We are clear of the corridor and the transwarp wake did not hint at our presence. We remain undetected." He entered more commands, "Captain, our coordinates are confirmed. We are 45 light years from Admiral Bremer's Task Group and 48 light years from Grenarisa III."

Daniel stood up, and turned to face the tactical station, "Full tactical sweep, Commander."

Aarik Loni nodded and started the sweep, "Sir, there are no ships, Borg or otherwise closer than 45 light years."

Daniel frowned, "What's that sphere doing?"

Rannia Elflores rapped her console as she entered commands and retrieved data, "Sir, it is transmitting some sort of signal to Granarisa III." A pause, "A highly compressed data-stream is being sent to and received from the planet. I have intercepted it and stored the signal in Science Labs I's computer databases. I've also sent instructions to disconnect the lab's computer systems from the rest of the ship."

Daniel nodded. "Understood." He turned back to Loni, "I want 3 security teams down there at all times. I want no chances taken. If the lab looks like it will become dangerous, sterilize it."

Loni was caught off-guard by the strength of the order, "Understood, sir."

Zandusky looked as his XO, "What do you think?"

The Trill woman frowned slightly, "Something doesn't feel right. It feels like the sphere is just watching what's going on. Collecting tactical data." She stood up, "What if this was a test of our reaction to news of a new Borg threat in our space?"

Zandusky sat down, "A collective that doesn't think one cube is enough to assimilate the Federation could be a little worrisome. If they are being more tactical..." He stopped mid-sentence, "Long range communications. Slipstream comms, send everything we have to Admiral Sevlek, make sure they also forward it to Admirals Bremer and T'Lar."

S'rin spoke, "Sir, the Sphere is moving to enter a transwarp corridor. Should I follow?"

Daniel nodded, "Yes." He looked at Ops, "Messages sent?"

Eflores nodded, "Messages away, sir."

"Take us in, Mr. S'rin." He turned to his XO, "Admiral Sevlek said to follow this sphere wherever it went, until it took us to its base of operations. We must maintain operational integrity. Do what you need to do to keep morale high."

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