Unexpected News

Posted on Fri Dec 12th, 2014 @ 9:09pm by Commodore Kathleen O'Shea & Lieutenant Commander Ritsu Tainaka & Master Chief Petty Officer Allison Wilshire
Edited on on Fri Dec 12th, 2014 @ 10:01pm

Mission: New Frontier

Lieutenant Commander Ritsu Tainaka sat in the command chair aboard the USS Tsugumi an old Sydney Class Transport Ship. Ritsu and 39 other Starfleet Personnel were on their way to their new assignment at Starbase 80. Being highest ranked she was in command of this transport vessel, it had taken nearly a week to get to the Starbase.

The ship dropped out of warp. The starbase in front of them was huge, its grand design looming over the small transport ship. "Ok, lets give them a call shall we" Ritsu said twiddling her thumbs. She just wanted to get off this old wreck and get her hands on some of the technology over on the base.
"This is the USS Tsugumi calling Starbase 80, come in Starbase 80"

"Approach Control to Tsugumi, we have you...stand by." The channel went silent for about ten seconds. "Sorry about that Tsugumi. We have you in system. Stand by for docking control transfer. Handshake in thirty seconds. You are number two behind the McClusky."

On the viewscreen, a Sabre Class Frigate moved quickly into their field of view, then turned suddenly to dart through the entrance to the internal docks. The little ship was obviously moving of it's own accord instead of being controlled from the station. It quickly disappeared out of sight as they moved through the entrance. The first thing they saw was a Nebula Class sitting in the closest drydock, a new POD being maneuvered into position on her. To the trained eyes of the Engineers watching, it was obvious that the work was being rushed faster than normal. Much faster.

"This looks strange" Ritsu said. "Everything seems to be rushed..." she added. The other engineers on the bridge nodded in agreement. "Prepare for docking" Ritsu ordered. "As soon as we're docked switch to external power and stay aboard the Tsugumi until I find the commander of the base"

The ship glided smoothly into it's docking berth, with only the faintest of vibrations to indicate that they had stopped and were locked in via the tethering fields. Immediately the crew started to work in conjunction with the stations crew to attach all of the necessary umbilicals and gangways. This was hurried as well...the teams had other pressing assignments to return to as soon as their tasks with the Tsugumi were completed. Meanwhile, those still on the Bridge were treated to an unusual sight on the main viewscreen. A monstrous vessel slowly slid by them, the deep hum of it's engines surprisingly audible to the crew. As she passed by, the name became visible; The Cailey Rose.

[Ten Minutes Later]

Ritsu stepped off the turbolift into Main Operations. She approached the nearest officer. "Excuse me, where is the base's commander?" she asked.

Not looking away from his display, the officer pointed behind him towards a station that sat on an elevated platform. A woman with long, red hair was lost in whatever was displayed on the screens, oblivious to everything occurring around her.

"Erm, thanks" Ritsu said. She walked over to the console and leaned against it. "Captain?" she asked simply wondering if the woman was taking any notice of her surroundings.

The woman turned from the screens that she had been studying, and spent a long moment taking in Ritsu, her blue eyes almost boring into the young woman. "You are correct. And you are..." Kathleen was existing on minimal sleep these days, and her normal cheery demeanor was somewhat dulled. It wasn't that she was in any way rude. Just direct and to the point.

"Lieutenant Commander Ritsu Tainaka, currently commanding the USS Tsugumi full of Engineers, soon to be your new chief Engineer" Ritsu replied.

"Oh...yes. Hello." A soft chime sounded behind her as she spoke. A quick glance away let her know that it could wait. "My apologies. I must say, I am most happy to to have you and your team here. We could need your damage control expertise at any time. Things are escalating rather rapidly around here."

"Yes..." Ritsu said. "Whats exactly happening?" she asked.

Kathleen's features hardened a bit. "Sorry, I keep forgetting that most people have not been appraised of the current situation. We are currently engaged in operations on Taranok IV, which has been the victim of a large-scale terrorist attack with a WMD, and is now being aggressively occupied by an unknown force." She turned to one of the monitors and worked on it for a moment, then turned it for Ritsu to see. "The planet is here...about 2 hours travel time, depending on craft. So far we have established a small forward operations base that apparently is rapidly turning into a refugee camp."

Ritsu's face changed. She suddenly snapped into Engineering mode.
"Planetary defenses must have been compromised for this to happen. There will be a lot of repairs to oversee and conduct. Placing shield emitters around the refugee camp should protect the civilians. I can have my Engineers there in Two Hours Captain" Ritsu said.

"There is a bit of organizing to do first...we are putting together a package to send that direction, including a strong fighter escort. I have a requisition list being pulled and packed by Logistics as we speak, but it will take a bit for them to have it all ready." Kathleen shut down the screen. "Your idea of placing shield emitters around the camp is a good one. What would you need?"

"Half a dozen shield emitters, power cells and some tritanium casings" Ritsu said straight off her head. "Oh and a few wires here and there" she added.

"Shouldn't be a problem. Make me a complete list and..." Kathleen was interrupted by the comm watch officer. "Commodore O'Shea, I have Commander Masters on discrete for you." Kathleen acknowledged the call and cleared the channel. "I probably should take that. I'll be back in a minute." She turned and headed into her small office located there. Several minutes passed as Ritsu waited for her return. Once she though she heard something strange, but the rooms soundproofing did not allow for anything other than conjecture.

After another few minutes the door opened, but the person that exited the room bore little resemblance to the person that she had been speaking to before. Kathleen looked...worn out. Her features were a mixture of pain and despair, and it was obvious that the woman had been crying. She stood outside the door for a moment, trying to gather herself a bit. When she made her way back to where Ritsu stood, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. How odd...

"I...I apologize. It would appear that we need to make our way to Taranok immediately. If you would...I need you to gather a few of your people familiar with starship engineering operations and report to the McClusky. Complete your list of needs and forward it to Logistics with my name attached." Kathleen wobbled unsteadily for a moment, then sat in one of the chairs located at the workstation.

"Yes sir" Ritsu said. She was already reaching into her Engineering jacket and suddenly crouched down behind the console. "Did no one here notice that this console was leaking coolant?" she asked as popped open a grill and literally climbed inside. After a few minutes of several clanks, clunks and ratchet sounds Ritsu emerged again, a little bit of blue coolant on her left cheek and a dab of grease on the other.

"Well that was close. The last thing we all needed right now was for a console to overheat and explode" she explained.

But Kathleen was a million miles away. In the past ten minutes, her world had crumbled. Unnoticed by her, a thin layer of frost had appeared where her hand was in contact with the console's surface, causing the screen to fog over.

Allison had walked up behind Ritsu as she was closing up the panel, and leaned in closer to see what the young woman had been working on. "Strong work, sir. That could have been a problem."

Ritsu looked up at Allison. "Erm thanks I guess. Just doing my job, I should probably get back to what I was ordered to do..." then she caught site of Kathleen. "Sir... Erm sir?" she asked.

She noticed the fog on the console and the layer of frost.
"Oh, well that's new..." she said as she placed a few fingers on the cold surface. She tapped a few times to cause the console to flash and beep loudly, hopefully that would get Kathleen's attention back.

It was at that moment that Allison saw Kathleen. 'What in the name of...' "Kathleen...what's wrong?"

Kathleen looked up at Allison, the back to Ritsu. "I apologize again. There has been an...incident on Taranok. We must get there as quickly as possible." She did not realize that she was essentially repeating herself. "Are you up to speed on the Sabre Class propulsion system?"

"Class Eight warp drive, capable of a maximum speed of Warp 9.5. Although I reckon if you let me at her I can get her up to 9.8 or better" Ritsu said. "The nacelles are largely like the Defiant's, although much larger. Did you know they generate a warp field quite close to the actual hull? It allows for better subspace...." then she stopped. "Oh sorry, I'm rambling on..."

Kathleen reached up and placed a hand on Ritsu's arm...it was ice cold. "That is quite alright. And please...get every last bit of speed out of her that you can."

Ritsu let out a small grin and her eyes seemed to light up. "I'll tell my engineers on the Tsugumi to stay put. Just let me at those engines" she replied. "I bet you I can get her up to Warp 9.9 within an few hours of flight..."

"Well it's only about a two hour flight, but I need every minute shaved off as you can." She released Ritsu's arm and stood. "Go and gather your whatever you need." Kathleen handed her a mini-PADD. "My authority...whatever you need."

An evil smile emerged on Ritsu's face. "Yes Commodore. I'll have everything on the ship within the next five minutes, from my best Engineers to several chocolate cakes and flasks of fresh tea" she explained as she took the PADD and spun around on a heel heading for the nearest turbolift.

As Ritsu exited, Kathleen stood and moved back toward the office, indicating that Allison should follow. "We need to talk...now." As the two exited into the office, every head in the operations area turned and followed them. None of them had any idea as to what was wrong, but they all knew one thing just based on observing Kathleen.

Something was terribly wrong.

-------------------

Commodore Kathleen O'Shea
Commanding Officer
Starbase 80

MCPO Allison Wilshire
Chief of the Boat
Starbase 80

Lieutenant Commander Ritsu Tainaka
Chief Engineering Officer
Starbase 80