From TTy99@aol.com Mon Jun 29 11:56:22 1998 Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 18:11:53 -0600 From: TTy99@aol.com To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: [INDIGO] [USS PROMETHEUS]: A friendly greeting ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 20:08:10 EDT From: Subject: [INDIGO] [USS PROMETHEUS]: A friendly greeting SD 100626.0100 GMT Scene: Bridge, USS PROMETHEUS FMD 8.0950 "Captain on the bridge." The time-honored words were, as almost always, redundant. No one could possible fail to notice the presence of Sovak as he walked stiffly out of the turbolift on to the bridge, his eyes fixed on the screen from the very first moment of his arrival. At each duty station, crewmen and officers straightened up a little and tried to look even more intent on their duties, although for all the apparent attention the Vulcan CO paid, they may as well have been stone statues. As he strode down to his accustomed center spot, Sovak's eyes flicked over briefly to where Lt Commander Rand Talon stood and tersely demanded: "Report." "Long-range scanners have picked up a ship approaching, Captain," the XO replied quickly. "It appears to be a Federation vessel, but the Commodore has ordered all ships to red alert in case it is a false reading, or the Dalriada are chasing it." "That is a logical precaution," Sovak remarked with a slight nod. Rand noticed that the Vulcan seemed more at ease now, and wondered if he, like most of the crew, had managed to snatch a few hours of sleep. Even Sovak had pronounced himself "as satisfied as I can be under the conditions" at 0045 hours last night, and finally decreed an end to the non-stop repairs that had consumed all their efforts and energy ever since the PROMETHEUS had limped into OMEGA a few short days ago. So together with Lt. Modix, Rand had worked out a rotation schedule allowing the crew to get some badly needed rest while maintaining a high alert status. Everyone aboard had been too tired to greet the news with anything more than dull-eyed relief as they stumbled off to their quarters and collapsed for a few hours. As for Sovak, he could feel the tight binding on his ribs that their new CMO Dr. Mpondo insisted was absolutely necessary to ensure they healed properly, but compared to the intense pain he had been feeling, he hardly noticed it. Except when he tried to breathe. Or move at more than a slow crawl. He could swear that the big doctor enjoyed taping him up in such a binding fashion, and lecturing him about the importance of it afterwards, as well as the necessity to have it checked frequently. Sovak was grateful, of course, but still escaped Sickbay as quickly as he could to avoid even more of Mpondo's not-so-gentle ministrations. And now, he told himself, it begins again. The PROMETHEUS had indeed been fortunate to gain such a badly needed respite before once again engaging in battle with their all-too-familiar opponents. "Mr. Defors," Sovak said, turning toward the science station, "estimated time of arrival for approaching ship." "About ten...... I mean approximately eleven minutes, forty-five seconds, Captain," the Science officer quickly corrected himself. He, like everyone else, was getting used to their Captain's insistence on precision in all their answers. "Have you managed to determine their identity yet?" "I won't be able to give you a definite answer until they drop out of warp, sir," Defors responded. "That does not answer the question I asked, Lieutenant," Sovak stated. "Think of this as a sensor exercise, and match what you can determine of her characteristics with known profiles in INDIGO fleet." "Aye, aye, sir," Defors acknowledged, fingers flying over the console as he tried to comply. "And keep scanning for Dalriadan ships behind them," the Vulcan reminded Defors unnecessarily. A curt nod from the now-busy Science officer was his only response. There was an air of slowly rising tension on the bridge as they all waited for the Science officer's report. No doubt their actions and uncertainly were being mirrored on every ship of BATRON 9, but none of the others felt the anticipation or anxiety as keenly as the crew of the PROMETHEUS, who had now engaged the Dalriadans on three separate occasions, and come off as losers twice. Although they were well-trained and dedicated, no one aboard, with the possible exception of Kyran, their Klingon Security officer, relished the thought of another encounter. They had all seen enough death and destruction to last them a long time. Silence descended over the bridge like a shroud. Any conversations were conducted in whispers, and everyone tried to move quietly without really even being aware of it themselves as the minutes dragged by. Though no one voiced their concern, all of them dreaded the possible call to action which would alert them that whatever ship was out there, it was fleeing the Dalriadan fleet...... and leading the enemy right to them. "Got it!" came a triumphant call from Defors as everyone's attention suddenly became riveted on the Science station. "It's the YAMATO, sir," announced Defors with a smile, turning around to face his Captain. "I'm almost certain." "Almost?" returned Sovak with a raised eyebrow. Defors shrugged expressively. "As long as they're in warp, sir, the best I can do is make an educated guess." "Then it will have to suffice," stated Sovak, turning his attention back to the screen. "Keep scanning for Dalriadan ships." "Aye, aye, sir," nodded Defors, turning back to his Science console. They all relaxed a little now, and even a few quiet smiles were exchanged as they began to realize that if the Dalriadans were in hot pursuit, surely the sensors would have detected them by now. "They're slowing down, Captain," Defors announced a few moments later. "They have obviously detected us, and are dropping out of warp." "Stay alert, Mr. Defors," Sovak told him. On the screen in front of them, a single starship suddenly seemed to materialize out of nowhere as the YAMATO joined BATRON 9 in normal space. "The AGINCOURT is hailing them, sir," Pascal contributed from Tactical. "Of course," muttered Rand. "Old leadbottom Farthington's got to get his two cents' worth in." "It appears, Mr. Talon," Sovak commented, ignoring his XO's less-than- respectful aside, " that Captain Stern has not brought the Dalriadan fleet with him. Stand down from yellow alert, but maintain maximum vigilance." "Aye, aye, sir," acknowledged the Dalriadan First officer with a slight smile. "I will be in my ready room," the Vulcan CO informed him, moving toward the door. "But, sir," ventured Rand carefully, "didn't Captain Stern used to serve with you on this vessel?" "Yes," confirmed Sovak shortly, pausing with one hand on the railing as he looked back down at his XO. "What is your point?" "Well, aren't you going to talk to him?" "To what purpose?" responded Sovak flatly. "He is reporting to the acting Commodore, as regulations require. Then he will proceed to starbase OMEGA, where he will undoubtedly be making a much more detailed report to Admiral Brooks. In a war alert situation, extraneous ship-to-ship communication is illogical, unnecessary and undesirable." "Sir," cut in Ensign Pascal quietly, a sly smile coming across his features. "We are being hailed by the YAMATO." Rand did his best to look innocent and try to keep a smug expression from his face, but was only partially successful. Subdued grins were erupting around the bridge, despite the tense situation, as they all noticed their Captain hesitate for a split-second, then stride back down to stand with hands clasped behind him facing the viewscreen. After a stiff nod that told Pascal he was ready, the viewscreen resolved itself into the smiling visage of the PROMETHEUS' first Executive officer, Isaac Stern, now Captain of the YAMATO. [Sovak!] he exclaimed with a wide grin. [I was surprised to find you out here with the welcoming committee.] "Captain Stern," replied Sovak with a formal nod, "Despite your perceptions to the contrary, we are not a 'welcoming committee.' We are patrolling this portion of the system in an effort to detect the Dalriada as soon as possible if they attack SB OMEGA." [It's nice to see command hasn't changed you a bit. Sorry to hear about Captain Slick, though. He was a damned fine officer and a good friend.] "Your condolences are appreciated, Captain," Sovak acknowledged shortly. [I heard about the battle, brief as it was] Isaac continued, [Based on what I've seen the Dalriada have fire power to spare.] "Their ships do seem to be highly optimized for combat," Sovak conceded. Isaac's tone sobered and he leaned forward slightly.. [You be sure to bring her back in one piece, Captain. She's a good ship.] "She is indeed," responded Sovak. Isaac paused, debating internally for a moment. [Sovak, we were at Burrakis.] The Vulcan was surprised, but the only outward expression was a raised eyebrow. "I would think the system would be heavily defended, Captain Stern." [It was, how shall I put this, a target rich environment. To be honest, Captain, if I could have found a way to destroy Burrakis and keep the Dalriada from mining the bursite, I would have.] "That would have been an irrational act," the Vulcan CO noted. "Our conflict is not with the long dead Burrakans, and destroying the planet would have kept us from their archaeological legacy forever." [I understand how you feel, Sovak, and I couldn't think of a way to do it anyway.] "CAPT Stern, I don't feel anything. I was merely..." Isaac held up his hand to cut Sovak off, [Sorry, Captain, but we have to get back to OMEGA and get the YAMATO repaired. I just wanted to congratulate you, and let you know that if I find you messing up my old ship again, I'd come back and kick your butt.] "Not only would such behavior be undignified and disrespectful, sir," the Vulcan told him, "but it is inappropriate for a Federation officer, especially the commander of a starship." Stern chuckled again, shook his head and commented: [Someday, Sovak, you're going to learn not to take everything so literally. It's too bad I won't be around to see it.] "Serving aboard a starship crewed almost exclusively with illogical beings, Captain," the PROMETHEUS' CO said. "it seems I have little choice but to try and understand their idiosyncrasies as best I may. However, I do hope that I will not come to emulate their behavior." [On that I agree. You'd make a terrible human.] "Thank you, Captain," responded Sovak dryly. Isaac nodded. [Good luck and good hunting, Captain Sovak. You take care of that ship and my old crew.] "I will accept your good wishes, illogical though they might be," Sovak acknowledged, raising his hand in the Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper, Captain Stern." [Why, thank you, Sovak] Stern answered, genuine surprise on his face. [YAMATO out.] The screen dissolved back into the starfield just in time to see the light cruiser blur, then vanish abruptly as it went into warp, intent on getting back to OMEGA as quickly as possible. "So that was Slick's XO, eh?" commented Talon, smiling at the memory of the exchange. "I assume that was a rhetorical question, Commander," Sovak replied, walking swiftly back toward his ready room, "since his identity was well-established from the conversation." "Oh, indubitably, sir," murmured the Dalriadan XO. That earned him a sharp look from the Captain, but Rand suddenly found something to keep him very busy as he leaned over Ensign Phoenix's shoulder at the Navigation station. With a slight shake of his head, Sovak strode through the opening doors into his ready room, intent on resuming his research on Burrakis and spending every spare moment he could on it before the inevitable enemy onslaught made that impossible. Which could, he reminded himself, happen any moment now........ *************************************************************** [NRPG] Many thanks to Alton, our old XO (and the first one on this ship when it started), now in command of the YAMATO, as you see. His post will somewhat duplicate this one, from his ship's point of view. Are we having fun or what? Sorry to burden everyone with so much so quickly, folks, but I sent out the last two posts to different players for review within the last few days and they both came back at the same time. Tant pis pour vous..... FMD 8.0950 YAMATO meets PROMETHEUS Tim/Alton Respectfully submitted, Tim Tyson Captain Sovak USS PROMETHEUS tty99@aol.com ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---