Uninvited Guests

Posted on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 10:01am by Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris & Ensign Sophie Bishop

2,179 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Prologue: Centre Predominate
Location: USS Moore - Bridge
Timeline: MD 12: 1042 hrs

Lieutenant Stewart tapped the controls to move the USS Moore back into position ahead of the convoy of nine civilian transport vehicles and three cargo freighters. She reduced her speed back to warp seven so they wouldn’t lose anyone. In the five days since they started this escort, it was the most excitement any of the crew would experience, changing positions along the convoy every five hours.

Commander Greco was right, it was proving to be a dull and tedious assignment. After the briefing in the War Room days prior though, she understood both the necessity of the mission and keeping her mouth shut and leading an example.

Keishara began to let out a quiet yawn. It wasn't that she was tired, she'd just seen an Ensign at another console do it and it infected her body to mimic it. Scanning this system, the surrounding areas on long range sensors had been tediously boring at best, but there was not much to do when you're told to babysit.

Sophie had her eyes fixed on her console, almost as if she was scared to look up and miss anything. This was her first posting and she was still nervous about her performance, the 'am I good enough' feeling she'd felt since leaving the academy. Truth is she was but it had been such a boys club for her year and she felt she had to be perfect to look the part.

Stewart saw the intensity of Bishop’s stare at her console. Despite never serving on a starship herself, Evelyn understood how Starfleet worked as well as any lieutenant who served as long as she had. Unlike the yeoman, Bishop wasn’t eager to the point of being obnoxious.

Secretly, Evelyn suspected that Greco started out much the same way as Bishop is now. There was no way in hell she was going to let the Ops officer turn out like him.

A quick glance around the bridge and Stewart turned her attention to the younger woman. “Ensign, you can blink. Nothing is going to happen on that console, I promise you. It’s fine. ” She said in an overly exaggerated “hushed” voice to Sophie across the bridge to hint at her to loose up.

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am." Sophie said as she purposefully blinked a few times. "It's my first bridge shift." she tried to offer reason for her nerves and inexperience. "I'll blink more."

The XO chuckled with a few of the crew at the response. His eyes drifted down to Stewart for a moment and he realized what she was trying to do and appreciated it.

Looking over at the young ensign he grinned. “I believe what the lieutenant is trying to say, Ensign is relax. No one is going to fault you for being yourself when there is nothing going on.” He said with a reassuring smile.

Amarok entered the bridge, he'd been checking on all the labs and the equipment stores for science equipment. All the while he'd noticed a few hard glances and whisperings when he'd asked for reports.

He went to the science station at the back of the bridge and began preparing for a wide spread sensor sweep.

"Morning Lieutenant." Sophie welcomed the Romulan onto the bridge with a soft warm smile. It was quiet enough that he would hear it but not a shout across the bridge. She didn't understand the prejudices of some, but she always took people as they came.

Amarok turned towards the voice, it was the operations officer, she seemed nice. He returned the smile and called back. "Morning, did you have a good night?" He asked.

"Yes sir, thank you." she watched as he moved to his station.

Evelyn turned back to her console when she heard an alarm beeping. She made a face when she saw the cause. “Captain, I have a ship approaching. Bearing six-two-five mark three-seven, moving at half impulse. They are heading directly for us.”

Stryvek had been sitting not really doing much of anything. The ship and its crew most of the time ran itself. So, he was lost in deep thought. That is until the sound of his helmsman brought him into the present. "Tactical full analysis. This is the Captain, sound yellow alert throughout the ship. Lieutenant Stewart, maintain course and speed. Time for them to intercept?"

Stewart nodded her acknowledgment of the orders as she focused on the console. “Three minutes.” She called out. “They are on a direct intercept course.”

Greco stood from his chair and took a few steps towards Ops. “Ensign, signal the convoy. Have their captains prepare to change course for emergency rendezvous Beta.” He ordered. If they needed to fight, it was best the civilian transports were out of harms way.

"Yes, Commander. Of course." Sophie answered and she signalled the convoy to prepare for a course change on the off chance they needed to.

"Civilian vessel. Minimal shielding and hardly any threatening weapons. By all accounts it looked like it has stepped out of the early 2300's in terms of technology." Kei spoke with disappointment, she'd hoped for something exciting. "I have tried hailing the vessel but so far they have not responded. There is no indication they have received us at all."

"Confirmed Captain." Sophie spoke. "Their systems appear to be quite antiquated."

"I just said that." Keishara looked towards the young ensign. There was an audible gulp from Sophie and she just put her head back down to face the console. Kei looked over to the Captain, "All indications point to a non threat in a tactical sense. However, given their lack of answer to hails we do not know their intent."

“Life signs, Lieutenant?” Greco asked turning to the science station.

The sensors returned the odd 2 lifesigns to Amarok’s scan program. “2 Captain, Ktarian and a Benzite.” He replied, there should be more people aboard he wondered considering the quarters he could see on the ship’s scan.

Stryvek raised an eyebrow. He did not see the logic in attacking a convoy armed with antiques. However, he would like to learn what logic these attackers had. "Open a channel to the convoy." When it was confirmed that the channel was opened he continued to speak. "This is Captain Stryvek of the USS Moore. All vessels are to change course for emergency rondevous beta. Signal your acknowledgement of the order and engage. Moore out." A chime closed the channel. "Helm bring us about to beiring one-three-zero-nine mark seven. I want to be facing them nose to nose. Once we are in position full stop. Lieutenant Davaris arm the phasers and load the torpedo tubes. Stand by to fire a warning shot on my command. Hail them one more time."

"Yes Captain." Kei replied as her eyes lit up as she looked across her tactical panel. Firing torpedoes was always a joy for her, she knew not why but it was. However she at the moment brought phasers to bare and instructed her staff down below to load up the torpedo tubes whilst she awaited what was going to happen next.

Stewart tapped the commands as she nodded. “Aye, Sir.” She made a face to herself at the Captain’s orders to prepare to fire a warning shot at such a small and pathetic freighter without any direct verbal warning to stop first but said nothing.

Steve moved to his own console and watched as the last ship in the convoy warped away. “The last freighter just jumped to warp towards the coordinates.” He confirmed for the captain.

After another moment Stewart looked at her console. “They are still approaching. Ten-thousand kilometers and closing…five-thousand...” She called out.

There was a beeping from the Ops station as their hail was finally answered.

"Captain, the ship is finally answering our hail." Sophie announced f5om the operations console.

When the channel was open Stryvek stood up. "Commander of unknown vessel. I am Captain Stryvek of the Federeation Starship Moore. You are being observed as hostile to a peaceful convoy on a mission of mercy. Slow to impulse and stand down your weapons or you will be fired upon. This is your only warning."

Evelyn read her controls. "They have come to a full stop, Captain."

When the ensign brought the viewscreen up a very young male Ktarian who looked worse for wear appeared on screen running around what looks like a cramped bridge that looked like it was falling apart. It would be an understatement to say the man looked frazzled.

"Captain, please, I mean no harm!" he said with clear fear in his voice. "Power down your weapons, I beg of you. I'm just a simple cargo vessel carrying mining equipment."

Steve as he glanced around the bridge officers. If the boy was putting up an act, he was doing a damn good job., he thought.

“It just seems odd,” Amarok commented aloud though looked around after he realised he’d said it, and blushed greenish.

Stewart watched the young alien do his best to focus on the captain while trying to deal with loud alerts from consoles. "The kid's in over his head." She said with wry amusement.

"Commander Davaris what is the status of their weapons and shields?" Stryvek asked. He was not about to stand down when there could be a potential ruse.

Kei looked at the smaller craft on sensors once again, she scrunched her nose at what she saw and looked over to Stryvek. "Their weapons systems are armed, however they don't appear to be targeting us. Their shields are also raised."

"Captain your weapons and sheilds are raised for combat. Lower them and we will tractor your vessel and render all assistance that we can." This was the moment that most Starship Captains have trained for. Stryvek knew that he had trained for this moment and would not hestitate to protect his ship and his mission.

The young entrepreneur rushed about his bridge and double checked the controls before tapping them, as if he was unsure of what he was doing. A moment later the ship’s weapons and shields were offline.

“Captain, please power down yours. You can see I am not threat to you.” He said to the Vulcan captain and his crew. His voice more than a little nervous at this point judging by the high pitch.

"Commander Davaris step down to yellow alert. Lower the shields and put weapons into standby. I want them ready in the event that we need them. Lieutenant s'Lovok prepare a tractor beam. Lieutenant Stewart bring us along side and once the tractor is engaged set a course to rondevouz with the convoy." Stryvek issued the orders then turned back to the viewscreen. "Captain we are going to tractor your vessel and beam you aboard. Do you have any injured?"

The Ktarian just shook his head. “No Sir. We are fine. We were just wanting to see if we could join your convoy for..fo.for protection.” He stammered out, clearly frightened by the encounter and situation. “We have almost no defenses and are on our wwwa-way to Deep Space Nine.”

"We will discuss that once you are aboard. Moore out." Stryvek ended the conversation with some finality. "Thoughts ladies and gentlemen?" Stryvek had his ideas and thoughts about what transpired. However, he had come to rely on his crew and actually desired their input.

As both spoke Kei lowered the shields, albeit begrudgingly. She didn't quite trust the kid on the viewscreen, there wax definitely more to him. Putting the weapons on standby she notified a security team to be ready to welcome guests on board.

Stewart spun around in her chair and faced the bridge, arms folded in front of her as she shrugged. “Like I said, the kid seems in over his head.” She commented “You see a lot of these would be privateers these days. They are young, get enough money to buy their own cargo freighter and take the first job they are offered without thinking it through. They cut corners and don’t realize a two week transport on a dying freighter is just as much work as any dilithium mine.”

Greco nodded in agreement. “The lieutenant is right, Sir. That ship is falling apart. I say we do a through review of the cargo manifest and detailed inspection with a background check on the crew, if it all checks out let them stay with the convoy until we part ways.”

The XO's suggestion was most logical. "See that it gets done Commander. Take as many people as you need to complete the task with all expidientcy. But first go meet our guests." Stryvek said as he leaned on his hand. Part of his mind was lost in thought.

Greco nodded at Stryvek. “Aye, sir. Davaris, you’re with me.” He said as he headed for the turbolift.

Keishara nodded and followed Greco into the lift, her team would meet them in the transporter room.

 

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