From Bizarre To Confusing

Posted on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 @ 8:32am by

935 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: What Stalks The Night
Location: Ready Room / Bridge
Timeline: Current

Will had been waiting for over 10 minutes now for his secure subspace connection to Starfleet Command to go through, long enough for him to get a beverage from the replicator and pace behind his desk more than a few times. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the odds not only started off against him but the game in play was constantly changing to counter him. Starting off with the deliberate sabotage to the Agincourt's hanger bay door to the message on his private terminal in his quarters, then to the disappearance of his away team and no sign, sight or word from them since they beamed down. It played on his mind constantly and it was not only distracting but a feeling that was hard to shake, growing harder by the passing hour.

Just as another hour was about to tick over the computer chirped that his communications link was being established but fate had in store another surprise. Will was hoping to speak to Admiral S'iraa, the Fleets Executive Officer but who he saw not only was not Caitian, or white furred, but a Vulcan. "Admiral." Will began as he sat down. "I was hoping to speak with Admiral S'iraa."

"Admiral S'iraa is currently disposed at the moment, I am Admiral Nu'Val." Will recognised that monotone voice. "Captain, your orders were to maintain communications silence, can you tell me why you have broken this directive?"

"Admiral, the mission has taken unforeseen developments including sabotage." Will wanted to lay that out on the line first.

"That's a very serious accusation Captain, what proof do you have of this?"

"Upon arrival at my destination I transported the cargo as directed, but we received no reciept message or signal. Considering the cargo, its only prudent to confirm it was received by someone instead of leaving it unattended since we detected no lifesigns from orbit. While we waited for confirmation one of my hanger doors was destroyed by an unexplained internal explosion. In my quarters earlier my display showed a single word, leave. In light of not receiving a confirmation of delivery I sent an away team down to the planet to ascertain the status of the cargo, I have since lost contact with them and all efforts to communicate with them have failed." Will explained, laying the facts as he knew and understood them to be before the Admiral.

"Your orders were to deliver the cargo and depart Captain." Nu'Val pointed out.

"I understand that Admiral, but considering the cargo in question, is it not prudent to confirm that delivery was received? That amount of Gel is not something just handed to someone without some notification that delivery arrived at its destination?" Will asked, as he saw it there was no harm in wanting to make sure that what he was tasked with delivering was indeed delivered to whom it was supposed to.

"And your away team?" Nu'Val asked.

"Small team. My First Officer, Chief Engineer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Security Officer and small detail. The senior members of that team all had clearance for the cargo. They went by shuttle to the surface due to security measures preventing beaming. We have not heard from them since they entered the compound and all attempts to contact them have failed." Will responded as he watched the Vulcan for any hint or sign of anything that might give something away.

"I see." The Vulcan seemed to think for a brief moment before speaking again but the communications link started to weaken.

"Admiral.....Admiral." Will spoke as he watched the link die.

=^= Captain to the Bridge. =^= Then a yellow alert sounded.

Will's shoulders dropped, things just seemed to keep getting 'better'.

Walking out onto the Bridge he saw the bridge crew seated at their posts. "Report." Will asked as he walked towards his chair.

Mark watched the Captain walk out of his Ready Room, boy did he have a report for him. "3 vessels just entered the system, no transponder codes, federation warp signatures. Long range communications have been jammed too."

Will sat in his seat as he took that in, he was not expecting support, nor was he told of any.

"Entering visual range." Mark reported.

"On screen." The holographic display activated before him presented an Akira class cruiser and two escorting Defiant class escorts. He was just about to hail them when he was told they were hailing him, a nod and the link was made. "I am Captain William Hood of the Dreadnought."

"Captain Hood, you are ordered to leave the system immediately."

Will noted several things, black uniforms, no comm badge. "To whom am I speaking?"

"Who I am is irrelevant. You are ordered to leave...now."

"Captain, I have three unmarked Federation starships before me, a Captain who will not identify himself, who is jamming my long range communications...I have no inclination to follow those orders in a situation those conditions present."

Mark had been keeping an eye on the three new arrivals since entered weapons range. "They have locked weapons on us."

"Captain, in case it has eluded you this is a Federation starship." Will was cut off by a phaser strike to his shields.

"That was a warning, leave....you have 30 seconds."

"I do not require one." Will closed the link. "Red Alert. I want all sensors to record everything that has just transpired and is about to happen. Commander....." The attack against the Dreadnought began. "Engines and weapons only."

"Aye." Mark replied, now he'd get to put to use all the advanced weaponry this Valkyrie class ship had at its disposal.

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