Repeat Repeat Repeat

Posted on Mon Oct 2nd, 2023 @ 8:19pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Commander William Gerhard & Lieutenant JG Calanthe 'Cal' Diaz & Chief Petty Officer Nish Karalo

Mission: Contagion
Location: Bridge
Timeline: Day 366
1613 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

A full day had elapsed since the receipt of the distress call, yet as their starship closed the gap to the still silent sector, an eerie hush still hung in the air. Officer-in-charge transitions of authority on the bridge were invariably formal affairs, even though Beth herself had spent the night overseeing the communication console to ensure that at least one member of the crew was well-versed in its operation and protocols.

With a knowing smile, Beth handed over the communication console to Calanthe. "Nothing noteworthy overnight, and O'Connery did not report any activity before then," she relayed, indicating the PADD that held more detailed information. Her eyes flitted toward the expectant faces of her fellow officers. "Did anyone think to bring me a cup of coffee?" she mused, her request punctuated by a touch of playful exasperation.

For a brief moment, Cal looked guiltily down at her own half-finished mug. Like much of the rest of the crew, the Communications Chief didn't look particularly rested, but there was a palpable sense of peace that had been missing from the Lieutenant's demeanour for the past few days. Anticipation had always riled Calanthe, which was an excellent motivator when it was something positive to look forward to, but quite a burden otherwise. When it came to dealing with the inevitable, Cal was definitely from the 'get it over with sooner rather than later' camp. "If it's any consolation," she referenced the tepid beverage in her hand, "it's pretty bitter this morning."

Nish had only taken over the helm moments before to start her own shift. She was still getting situated and calling up all of her personal preferences in regard to the layout. It was one of those rituals that made the station feel like it was really hers. "If you're going anyway, I could do with a cappuccino." When she realised who it was she just placed her order with Nish looked over her shoulder with a bit of a rebellious smirk. "Ma'am."

Beth's amusement danced in her eyes as she observed the woman placing her coffee order. With a sly grin, she playfully raised an eyebrow and met the woman's cheekiness with her own despite her tiredness from being on the bridge for 18 of the last 24 hours. "Oh, I'm quite certain someone might be willing to fetch your coffee, chief, but only if they think your cheekiness merits such a favour," Beth retorted smoothly, her quick wit evident in her response. It was easy to see which version was easier by the day, especially with being in close contact with Nish more so than Manishie as she was on the bridge replacing Samantha now.

Nish had never had an issue with the amount of cheekiness required to extort favours. Her work in the police force had made it so that she had trained her people skills well beyond what was the norm, especially in an environment like Earth Starfleet which attracted all sorts of quirky experts in their chosen fields. "Roger than, Captain."

William stepped off the turbolift, having made his way to the bridge after his morning inspection of the main armory and weapons bays. He wasn't surprised to see the captain still there from when he had last seen her. Before he had always had the evening or midnight bridge watch, but since his promotion he had taken the morning watch. Placed a hand on the railing that ran behind the captain's chair as he looked down at her. "I would say I'm surprised you are still here, but I knew you wouldn't stay away," he said giving her a slight grin.

Beth turned and looked at the man and shook her head. "Yet you still did not bring coffee," Beth commented grinning back at you. "Plus someone had to stay here. O'Connery needed sleep as did Diaz so..." Beth let the thought trail off as the armoury console beeped making Beth go over to it. She let William get in first before she looked at it all.

William heard the proximity warning tone from his console and stepped around the captain as he pulled his seat closer to the panel. He tapped a few buttons to bring sensor sweeps up onto the screen before he spoke, "We are in visual range of the coordinates from the message." As he spoke, he began inputting the commands for the viewscreen to show what the sensors had found.

"Put it on screen." Beth prompted knowing he would be half doing already. The view screen changed from the star steaks to a colossal tower comprised of multiple intricate layers, each meticulously designed and dedicated to specific purposes that Beth had no idea of. Glistening in the soft, radiant glow of the star it orbited, it possessed an ethereal quality, like a celestial jewel suspended in the vastness of space. The outermost layer, a webwork of shimmering force fields and defensive turrets from the shimmer that Beth could see hinted at the formidable security measures in place. The central core of the base looked like it served as the hub of command and coordination. A sprawling docking bay, capable of accommodating numerous starships, encircled the central core but right now there was nothing there.

Despite its immense size, its unparalleled silence truly set the base apart as the silence from the base continued. It was as if the entire starbase held its breath, waiting for something yet unseen. "It's beautiful but so silent."

Having pulled her headset into place, Calanthe sat at her station, head turned slightly to the side as if listening to something that wasn't quite discernible. Several adjustments took a while to fine-tune enough to make a difference, at which point she spoke up. "Captain, we're picking up what seems to be the initial emergency broadcast."

Beth indicated for her to play it and listened as the voice echoed through the bridge like it had the previous time. It made her shiver and looked around for her crew's reactions to the repeated pleading for help 24 hours on.

"At least it confirms we've got the right place," Diaz pointed out, her gaze directed at the impressive vista now that she'd done what she could to clear up the static.

Nish had been repeating the message in her head for the past 24 hours but the fact that it was now coming over the speakers added a new layer of eerie to the proceedings. She simply shook her head slowly as she wondered what had gotten them so desperate as to send out a plea like that. There was a ping on her console, a frown formed, a couple of taps on her controls followed. "Ehm. Captain. Ma'am. We've got docking clearance?" The indicator was flashing an exact docking port for them to connect to.

"Hold our distance," Beth ordered fully awake and alert now thinking through plans and procedures. "We can take one of the shuttles over first. Easier to control and manage, especially with no new communication." The urgency in Beth's voice conveyed the gravity of their situation. The crew had encountered an unexpected challenge in rendering help.

"The station seems to have some sort of shielding that's preventing me from scanning deeper inside," William reported before looking towards the captain, "I'd recommend sending a MACO team along with the first shuttle. For all we know, this is just an elaborate ruse to lure people here." Given their track record, William didn't want to leave anything to chance. For all they knew, this station was built by some species that engaged in less than reputable activities. The Releans hadn't mentioned encountering a station like this, but they were well outside of their territory by now.

Beth’s mind was already going through the motions of it all as well as thinking what would Morgan do in this situation. It had been a year but she still kept thinking what would Leah do? “Is Voznyuk‘s shoulder well enough?” Beth demanded and when she got a negative spot she sighed. “You will have to go with Casauk playing a double role and who ever else you pick for the team. Karalo, Diaz go as well and take Darru and Beckett as well as someone medically trained.” Beth said going through the motions of arranging an away mission.

Nish put the vessel in a holding pattern at what she felt was a safe distance. Though it was difficult to tell with species so advanced what the safe distance actually was. She then looked over her shoulder to make sure she was the one being referred to as Karalo, a quick nod from the Captain was enough for her to motion someone to relief her from the helm, quickly resetting the controls back to standard configuration. That was just good helm etiquette. "Looks like I'll get a chance at that coffee after all." She smiled as she passed the Captain in the direction of the turbolift.

William nodded and pressed the intercom switch at his panel, "Gerhard to Staff Sergeant Cusack, report to the launch bay with McKenzie and Roberts for an away mission." When he heard the acknowledgement, he stood and allowed the relief tactical officer to take his post. At the turbolift doors, he paused and looked back at the center chair. "Captain, I'd recommend polarizing the hull plating while we are off the ship," he offered.

Beth chuckled but nodded she had already been considering it. “Great minds Commander.” She called over her shoulder. “Please make sure Karalo gets some coffee as well.” She added as an after thought realising she was not going to be getting any sleep any time soon.