The routine is about to get interupted..

Posted on Wed Jan 29th, 2025 @ 8:24pm by Captain Jason Elliot & Commander Zera Tirado & Lieutenant Commander Jorel Torin II & Lieutenant Commander Bellona Juventus & Lieutenant Commander Johanna Lyngstad & Lieutenant Hamlyn Ambrose & Lieutenant Daniel Martin & Lieutenant Eira Cortez

1,730 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Into the unknown
Location: Observation lounge/Main bridge
Timeline: Day 1 0915 hrs

Ships log Stardate: 74073.32

Following a four week refit and additional two week shakedown we're currently on patrol along the boundary of the disputed zone with the Tholians doing routine patrols following the attack on the USS Jacksonville Starfleet decided to increase the patrols incase there is a renewed military threat. The crew has for the most part adapted too the changes and have largely embraced the system upgrades, there was some resistance too a couple of the new systems. While we have not encountered many ships in our patrol area the area is noted for being riddled with anomalies and phenomena that can become a navigation hazard. The additional hazards have added to tension levels, I find myself looking for a break from this personally as many of the crew are showing signs of fatigue from this high tension patrol.

---End log---

Jason found himself staring out into space through the observation lounge windows, after six weeks on patrol he was looking forward too an end too this patrol cycle. He was looking forward too a short resupply before they departed for their planned mission near the Iccobar system, his thoughts were interrupted by the hiss of the door opening.

"Keeping an eye out for Tholians?" Zera asked as she stood just inside the door. "You know I really hate spiders."

The door opposite to the commander hissed open as a yeoman walked in with a tray with two coffee posts and a tea pot, setting them next to the cups that were already there. "Our shadow from yesterday is now two heavy cruisers, so I had my breakfast interrupted, I wanted to get everyone up too speed soon as the day watch began, I have Raven and Grinder flying a recon mission closer to the boundary to see if there's more than the two ships," referring to Lieutenant Pranjic and his new wingman Ensign Mercer. "Hopefully they don't get jumped while taking a peek."

Tag

Johanna was on her shift at the moment, keeping an eye on the two patrol ships that were flying near the boundary. The last few weeks had reminded her of her time of the Wayans. Still she had to set a good example for the junior science officers under her leadership.

Having been summoned to the Observation Lounge, Hobb had cause to come to Deck One since meeting the Captain here on his first day. Stepping from the turbolift, he looked over the Odyssey-class vessel's Bridge, casting a critical eye over the systems he knew had been refurbished under his supervision. They seemed to be working well. Seeing Lyngstad was still at her station, he figured the meeting was yet to start, and headed to the Engineering console to quiz the duty officer for a moment.

Jorel had taken the turbolift up to the Bridge as he was summoned to the Observation Lounge. He was carrying a couple PADDs himself, as Jorel had been gathering as much intel from his sources on the Federation Council and elsewhere about what the Tholians might've been up to over the past two months or so since the Columbia herself had been docked for updates.

The doors to the Turbolift doors opened up and Jorel walked out of them and saw Hobb and Johanna working at their stations. Walking past them, Jorel walked through the few doors into the Observation Lounge and saw that Jason and Zera had already arrived. Smiling at both of them, Jorel said, "Well, it's good to see both of you again onboard the ship. I've got a few reports from the Tholian Ambassador that you guys wanted to see."

Jorel handed a PADD to both of them with the information he had from both the Tholian Ambassador to the Federation and the Federation Council.

"Is this as confusing as I suspect?" Jason said as he took the report, "After what happened to Jacksonville we don't need another regional conflict on the menu."

"Well, the Tholians are saying that they don't know anything about it and saying that if it was a Tholian vessel involved, they went rouge. So, lord only knows what's going on with them," Jorel replied with a shrug.

"I'm calling crap on that, we went from a frigate shadowing us for the first twenty too a pair of heavy cruisers? they're looking to add too their score card." Jason said then turned too Zera "Let's bump the alert level up."

"I agree," Zera replied. She crossed her arms. "Now is not the time to be caught unaware."

Eira walked onto the Observation Lounge and took a look at everyone who was there as she walked over to one of the nearest consoles and opened it with her access details. She'd only met the Captain and Lieutenant Ambrose so far, giving the latter a brief smile before continuing what she was doing.

Flashing Eira a corresponding grin, Hobb took a free seat at the Observation Lounge table. He gave a friendly nod to the others, nothing more. Knowing how these things went, it was likely this would be his seat for the duration. He picked accordingly, partway down the table, and not too high up the chain.

Johanna had had one of the Ensigns in the Science Department relieve her. She debriefed him and then headed to the Observation Lounge. Seeing Hobb there, she tried to place him. She had seen him before, but couldn't remember where. "Hey there, Hobb." She waved to Eira as well. She was new too.

'Lieutenant Lyngstad,' Hobb nodded his head politely as he took his seat. 'Still playing basketball?'

"Yeah, sure." She still couldn't place him. She had played basketball at the Academy...That's where! She had seen him jogging during her own morning jogs. He had mentioned he had played a sport...it was...rugby! "How about you and rugby?"

He shook his head, and smiled, 'nah, I've busted an ankle, my shoulder and my back playing it. Just weights for me now, I can cope with that. Looking for a non-contact sport though.'

"Try baseball." Johanna knew how to play baseball; she was much better at basketball.

'I'll be sure to look it up,' Hobb replied with a nod and a small smile, 'haven't played it since high school mind. Probably quite rusty.'

"Me too." added Johanna.

"Soon as Bellona gets here we'll get going...." Jason said

Right on cue, the Magna Romani made her presence known, striding through the door with measured, precise steps. As always, her bearing was painfully immaculate: nary a crease in her uniform, fiery hair falling down to her shoulders in neat waves and boots polished to a clean matte black. "I apologize for my tardiness. We just concluded a tactical exercise below decks." She stated, plainly, as she took her seat at the table.

Jason looked around the table, "Being on a high risk patrol such as this wasn't exactly my idea, but following the attack on the Jacksonville and the sudden and unexplained increase in military activity from the Tholians is concerning, add in we're in an area space that's noted historically with spatial anomalies I'd like to get out of this without any more than a few stories to tell junior crew at the bar, with that said, commander Torin has spoken with the Tholian authorities what they said and what we've seen..."

Jason was interrupted by the com system "Captain Elliot this is Wiseman on the bridge, I have Raven on subspace."

The next voice was Mario "Columbia actual this is the Raven, our sensors show two spider heavies on their side of the zone..." some crackling noises break up the message "...Count maybe two more frigates or destroyers at the extreme...repeat more players on the board...." the broken message filled the room with a visible chill.

"Raven this is Columbia actual," Jason paused. "Pull back, full after burn, repeat full burn," ordering a withdrawal of the recon pilots

Jason looked too his officers, "I don't want too get into a fire fight that we're outmatched in..." he looked to his first officer. "Get the standby crew too the Aquarius."

"Aye," Zera replied. The Aquarius was a fantastic resource for the Columbia, it provided a small escort vessels that was the equivalent of the ships own Defiant class style ship.

"Bellona I'll need you here, Lieutenant Cortez I want you at tactical two on the bridge." Jason spoke trying to formulate his plan on the fly, "Jorel get on subspace with the Kaga motivate them to get here in a hurry."

Jorel nodded and replied, "Right away. I think that the Yorktown and the Tokyo are in the area too. Should I put them on alert?"

"Yorktown is closer, but notify both." Jason said.

Grimacing, Hobb began a mental checklist to work through if the ship was likely to go in to combat. The drills they had run since leaving spacedock should help. Casting a quick glance in Eira's direction, he hoped against hope that it wouldn't come to blows.

Adding to the folley another person entered the bridge as Doctor Daniel Martin joined them.
" Captain Elliot, I am Doctor Daniel Martin, my friends call me Patch. I apologize for being late but I scuffed up my knee this morning."

"Ah yes, you met up with us a few days ago, we were discussing the situation with the Tholians that changed overnight." Jason said as he looked at the new doctor "This is one of those rare occasions where I'm glad we have a doctor but hope we won't be in need of your services..." he paused "to any great extent."

" Tholians? Boy you sure keep company with some rough crowds. I never trust people who wear masks or hoods." Martin replied.

"Sir, both the Yorktown and Tokyo are reporting incidents with the Tholians. Both are sending out sending out general distress calls," Jorel called out from the Comms station on the Bridge.

Jason started to stand tapping his commbadge in the process "Bridge, bring us about to the last known location of the Yorktown Warp nine!"

As Columbia began it's turn the ship shook violently as it became enveloped in an eerie grey green light arc's of what looked like lightening jumped along, Columbia shook violently as it was pushed though the strange phenomena.

TBC....

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