S2E2 Lost and Found

[Dylan Torngate]

[Deck 2 - Junior Officer's Quarters]

The morning after drinking with Rayek, Lek woke up with the answer to a question he'd been mulling for several months. Once he was dressed, he checked himself in the mirror and smiled. His decision made, he tapped his commbadge as he walked to the turbolift.

"Lek to Captain Torngate, whenever you have time Sir, I would like to meet with you in private at your earliest convenience."

He rode to main engineering and stepped to the 'pool table' with a big smile as he began handing out assignments to the engineering staff.

[The Lounge]

Dylan smiled to himself as the Lieutenant's call came in. I'm in the Lounge, feel free to drop by whenever you want to he said, as he took another sip of his drink. He didn't know anything had happened on the Bridge, and so didn't change anything he did.

Unless this requires a more... professional attention? he asked into the comms loop, waiting to hear what the man would say.

[Lek]

[The Lounge]

Dylan smiled to himself as the Lieutenant's call came in. I'm in the Lounge, feel free to drop by whenever you want to he said, as he took another sip of his drink. He didn't know anything had happened on the Bridge, and so didn't change anything he did.

Unless this requires a more... professional attention? he asked into the comms loop, waiting to hear what the man would say.

[Engineering]

Lek was surprised the captain replied so quickly, but he was ready.

"This is a professional matter Sir, but I can meet you anywhere that's private."

[Dylan Torngate]

[Engineering]

Lek was surprised the captain replied so quickly, but he was ready.

"This is a professional matter Sir, but I can meet you anywhere that's private."

[Lounge]

Dylan frowned as the man replied saying it needed a professional and private touch. SCIF, deck 11. Be right there.   he said, before standing and leaving the room, heading to one of the few places on the ship he knew nobody would be listening. Plus, this one was out of the way and would be closer to the Lieutenant's workplace.

SCIF was short for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, a room on the ship free of all sensors, trackers, or anything else. It was a place where classified material could be discussed, or private off the record conversations could be had. The Lieutenant had indicated private, and that room would do.

[Deck 11]

Dylan approached the room, wondering what this all was about.

[Lek]

[Lounge]

Dylan frowned as the man replied saying it needed a professional and private touch. SCIF, deck 11. Be right there.   he said, before standing and leaving the room, heading to one of the few places on the ship he knew nobody would be listening. Plus, this one was out of the way and would be closer to the Lieutenant's workplace.

SCIF was short for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, a room on the ship free of all sensors, trackers, or anything else. It was a place where classified material could be discussed, or private off the record conversations could be had. The Lieutenant had indicated private, and that room would do.

[Deck 11]

Dylan approached the room, wondering what this all was about.

[Engineering]

Lek blinked at the captain's suggestion as he had only meant to speak to him alone, not in a secured compartment. Regardless, he couldn't back out now. He signaled to the third engineer to take over and headed to the turbolift. He arrived to find the captain waiting and followed him into the SCIF. He began to feel jitters, but again, it was too late for that. He took a deep breath and started to speak.

"Thank you for meeting  with me so quickly Sir. I hadn't meant this private, but here we are. Sir, I've been acting chief for months now and unless there is something classified that I don't know about, I believe it's fair to say Lieutenant Erix is not going to be returning. In addition, he knows nothing about the Trailblazer-Class. Based on this fact, I believe I have earned the right to be advanced to chief engineer."

Lek then paused and waited to see how the captain would react.

[Calandra Trilarck]

[ USS Challenger-A / Bridge ]
Day 1 - 0 4 3 0 hours...

As Calandra tapped her foot nervously against the floor of the bridge, she narrowed her eyes with the hopes to spot the Vulcan executive officer pour in with the rest of the bridge crew beginning their sub-duty shifts. Duty shifts were often grouped in eight hours, however, it was common for there to be overlaps in scheduling based on the vessel's mission directives and the never ending up-keep that a ship of this caliber demanded. Any shift extending into the another scheduled eight hours, was sometimes referred to as a sub-duty shift. Currently, Calandra was in her fourth hour of her scheduled  Bridge Gamma-4-Alpha shift, a 12 hour post that took her halfway into the Alpha shift. During the Alpha shift, the commanding officers would take the bridge after their well night's rest while she sulked at her chair like the grim reaper, waiting to be put out of her misery.

Brushing her bang to the side in anger, her stark cyan blue eyes took in the second flight officer at the conn, Lt. JG Weir, and the Lieutenant Science officer, Jyur, who were beginning their sub-duty 3.5 Gamma shift. Neither of the two officers appeared Vulcan to her and the corners of her lips tugged in dissatisfaction. At the very least, Alieth had returned promptly after his scheduled respite and assumed his position at the helm. The counselor was glad to have a sound mind on the bridge with her, competent and capable enough to provide her with answers that didn't make her look like a fool in front of her new commanding officers. Chewing at the corner of the lip when the turbolift doors refused to open, she turned back to the helm.

Lt. Weir ordered the Type VIII probe into space into high warp and a chime at the Operation's console caused Calandra to whip her head around back to the Trill ensign, O'Neill, who lifted his head while reporting, "Probe has successfully gone into warp, counselor," he reported from the console, monitoring the progress of the probe in order to avert her penetrating stare. With his eyes fixate on the console's monitoring, Calandra peered over his shoulder with the hopes that turbolift doors would open and the Vulcan commander would appear. Nothing. "Probe is dropping out of warp, I'm diverting power from the probe's propulsion system to enhance communications and long range scanners. Would you like to hail them once again?"

"It's the first useful thing you've done today, ensign. Good work," The counselor took in his perplexed visage, not sure whether to accept the backhanded compliment. The Trill's nostril's flared but he remained silent while awaiting his next order. "Not yet. I'd like to have a little more information on our hands before I formulate what type of second message to send. See if you can determine the source of interference and try to clear up the hail." Calandra was amused when she sensed his emotional shift from defeated to confident, the Haliian figured O'Neill used her words as motivation to make a good impression. Mentally patting herself on the back, she stifled an amused smile with an impatient glare. Reverse psychology to the rescue.

The static filled hail replayed on the bridge once more, "This is the Scopulari. We have been... filament... there... not much time. We require your immediate assistance." The counselor jutted out her chin and shook her head slightly as if to question if that was all. The Trill continued to type furiously before lifting his shoulders in a resigned gesture. Clearly the ensign's best wasn't good enough.

"There seems to have been a recent distortion in subspace, most likely from the filament jamming the communication signal. I'm diverting any auxilliary power from the probe and boosting long range scanners to localize the source of the hail." The counselor ascended up the small staircase to the Operations console as she peered over his shoulder, her fingers resting at the edge of the console while the other hand remained poised at her hip. A few more tense moments began to pass, "Scanners have picked up an unidentified vessel, engines are off-line. Forwarding coordinates to flight now. Minimal weapons, heavy shielding, I'd say a recreational cruiser of sorts. The Scopulari is heavily damaged but still intact. Barely. I'm picking up several faint bio-signatures. Denobulan."

The counselor cursed underneath her breath before turning way from the Operation console and lifting a hand to her forehead as she attempted to calm herself down. Article Six of the Prime Directive demanded any request for emergency assistance made by Federation citizens a top priority and Denobulans were protected underneath the Federation banner. Dropping her hand, she watched as the Trill's fingers flew across his console while sending the Scopulari's coordinates to Alieth and Weir. Something about them made her blood run cold, "Run those coordinates through the cartography database, ensign." The Trill nodded in understanding and Calandra peered over shoulder before huffing when her suspicions were confirmed. "The Zavdel Expanse."

"I-I don't understand, Lieutenant."

"About a century ago, the Zavdel was a hazardous waste freighter that experienced a core breach during an encounter with a cosmic string, resulting in the ship's destruction. Over 500 million gallons of hazardous material combusted into this region of space and ever since, this pocket of the quadrant is avoided by the general populace as it is prone to all sorts of spatial and sub-spatial anomalies." The counselor sneered in contempt as she gathered her thoughts, picking her words carefully because she wanted to call the Scopulari's crew complete and utter idiots for putting the crew in this predicament. "A hundred years later, the Zevdal Expanse is primarily explored by thrill seekers. It's the equivalent of white water rafting in space."

"Counselor, the probe's scans are picking up heavy distortions in sub-space several light years from the Scopulari's location. I'd say it was another quantum filament but apparently you know better than I do they're almost impossible to detect." O'Neill resigned aloud as he shot her a sarcastic smile. "If it were a filament, based on the location of the distortion and the Federation's calculations of a filament's rate of speed, I'd say they have 14 hours until impact. Maybe less."

If the Scopulari had barely survived one filament, they would never survive another. Pushing off from the console's edge, she descended down the small stair case and stood in front of the counselor's chair flanking the center seat. "Open a channel, ensign." The counselor waited patiently for several seconds as she closed her eyes and steadied her breath. Her eyes fluttered open and she called out, "This is Lieutenant Calandra Trilarck of the USS Challenger to the Scopulari. We have received your hail. Help is on the way," It pained her to say those words, but she knew it was demanded of her.

The counselor stiffened her neck and lengthened her spine, adopting a more regal posture and stance. She raised the pitch of her voice to carry across the room. The commander's 'momentarily' had expired and time was of the essence. "Ensign Alieth, Lt. Weir. I need you to be prepared to jump to maximum warp at the commander's word." Turning to face the El-Aurian science officer, she called out, "Lieutenant, if this is a filament, the probe's sensors won't be able to detect it until it's too late. I don't want the Challenger to suffer the same fate once we enter the Expanse, any suggestions?"

While she let Jyur mull over her questions, she peered up at O'Neill, "Transfer all of the probe's findings over to Commander Solluk," O'Neill informed her the probe's findings were uploaded to the Commander's PADD before she tapped at the combadge on her chest =A= Commander Solluk, based on the probe's findings, I don't believe an interrogative reply will be necessary, sir. Never the less, a second reply was sent per your orders. Flight is standing by and prepared to go to maximum warp and the bridge is prepared to call a Yellow Alert at your command. =A=

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek
[The Lounge - 00:07]

[Ship's Lounge]

Lek nodded at Rayek's offer and when the second drink arrived, he tossed it back and parroted.

"To those no longer with us."

He sighed and spoke softly, with a sadness Rayek had never heard before.

"Your toast strikes very close to home for me. During that Omega farce, all five members of damage control team four died while trying to keep the phasers online. I can't say they were my friend, but they were the team I led when I was first assigned to the Challenger, and despite the lack of friendship, I knew them very well and their loss had hurt me to the core.

"The saddest part of their loss was that as they were working in one of the outer edges of the hull, when the compartment they were in was hit, they were all vented into space. There was nothing left to find. I can only hope that one of the photon explosions consumed them rather than leaving them floating alone in the dark for eternity. No one deserves that, regardless of your faith, the dead deserve to be put to rest in whatever manner your beliefs require.

"While you were recovering, I had no one to talk to, so I took my survivors leave in the bottom of a vodka bottle. It was a close run thing whether I'd have ever climbed out if not for a night in the brig to 'sleep it off' as the security officer put it. I met an old spacer that had lived in a bottle for a long time and he told me words that I will never forget. He said, 'Young Feller, you got too much living to do to be where I live. Only truth I discovered trying to drown my problems is the gorram big ones know how to gorram swim. Go face whatever it is that got you here and go live your life. The bottle is not the answer.'"

Lek looked up at Rayek with a tear in his eye as he continued.

"How a broken Hyoomon drunk could know something so profound is still beyond me, but there was so much wisdom in those words that once they let me out of the brig. I haven't had a drink since as the old man was right, there was nothing in the bottom of a bottle but trouble. I came here tonight, not to wallow in grief, but to celebrate life again. The amount of irony in you wanting to toast to those who were no longer with us defies logic, but it needed to be said, and it needed to be said specifically by me. Thank you my friend, I believe tonight was a breakthrough for me and I think you for being friend enough to listen tonight. I hope one day I can return the favor for you."

Rayek drank back the vodka shot honoring those lost during the Omega mission.  He'd missed the memorial service during his time in the Starbase's hospital and had waited until Lek could be here with him to remember them.  Too many had died during that mission; yet the price could have been much higher.

When Lek opened up about damage control team four, Rayek listened - not to gain information which quite honestly was his usual reason for being attentive - but rather to support his friend.  He listened as Lek admitted to turning to alcohol - to vodka.. the same drink they just toasted with and for a moment Rayek regretted his purchase of the drinks.  But he needn't have worried, Lek continued on with his story mentioning the wisdom of some human drunkard who managed to get through to him.   When Lek wrapped up his explanation with a thank you to him, Rayek was a little unprepared.  How did one respond to something like that?

'You're welcome', would sound insincere... and assuring Lek that he would get a similar opportunity, was likely a lie - since Rayek by nature and experience was a very secretive person.  He just didn't open up to people... or rather he didn't before.  Things had been slowly changing for him aboard the Challenger.

"Glad that you met that old spacer then." Rayek commented deflecting the conversation away from himself or Lek's offer to listen to his feelings of survivor-guilt.

Prior to his entrance into Starfleet, he'd never heard of the term 'survivor-guilt'. Emotional counseling had not been a popular practice on Romulus.  To suggest that someone else could understand and help guide another through the highs and lows of their emotional journey was considered not just laughable but unwise.

Starfleet however had demanded it of him as a condition of his acceptance into the program, because of the loss of his family and homeworld, they claimed.  Rayek thought it as just another means of them keeping tabs on him.

"Shall we have one more round then to 'celebrate life'?"

[Lek]

SCPO Rayek
[The Lounge - 00:07]

Rayek drank back the vodka shot honoring those lost during the Omega mission.  He'd missed the memorial service during his time in the Starbase's hospital and had waited until Lek could be here with him to remember them.  Too many had died during that mission; yet the price could have been much higher.

When Lek opened up about damage control team four, Rayek listened - not to gain information which quite honestly was his usual reason for being attentive - but rather to support his friend.  He listened as Lek admitted to turning to alcohol - to vodka.. the same drink they just toasted with and for a moment Rayek regretted his purchase of the drinks.  But he needn't have worried, Lek continued on with his story mentioning the wisdom of some human drunkard who managed to get through to him.   When Lek wrapped up his explanation with a thank you to him, Rayek was a little unprepared.  How did one respond to something like that?

'You're welcome', would sound insincere... and assuring Lek that he would get a similar opportunity, was likely a lie - since Rayek by nature and experience was a very secretive person.  He just didn't open up to people... or rather he didn't before.  Things had been slowly changing for him aboard the Challenger.

"Glad that you met that old spacer then." Rayek commented deflecting the conversation away from himself or Lek's offer to listen to his feelings of survivor-guilt.

Prior to his entrance into Starfleet, he'd never heard of the term 'survivor-guilt'. Emotional counseling had not been a popular practice on Romulus.  To suggest that someone else could understand and help guide another through the highs and lows of their emotional journey was considered not just laughable but unwise.

Starfleet however had demanded it of him as a condition of his acceptance into the program, because of the loss of his family and homeworld, they claimed.  Rayek thought it as just another means of them keeping tabs on him.

"Shall we have one more round then to 'celebrate life'?"

[Ship's Lounge]

Lek wiped his eye and nodded to Rayek.

"One more to celebrate life sounds like a splendid idea, but just one more, no need to tempt fate."

Lek signaled the server and stood when the drinks were delivered. He raised his glass toward Rayek and said.

"To celebrate life."

[Jettis Jyur]

Turning to face the El-Aurian science officer, she called out, "Lieutenant, if this is a filament, the probe's sensors won't be able to detect it until it's too late. I don't want the Challenger to suffer the same fate once we enter the Expanse, any suggestions?"

[Bridge]

Jettis quickly turned to his station, mulling over a few options. "I suggest we try our best to enhance the tools we already have. Perhaps Engineering could rewire our sensors to have a stronger signal. In addition, I recommend a probe specially designed with advanced sensors be sent ahead of the ship by an hour of travel. Best case scenario, we can get a detailed map of where this supposed filement lies. Worst case? Well, better a probe than the ship."

His eyes trained on the Counselor as he spoke, before turning back towards his console. "I recommend the Captain be notified immediately, due to the danger it poses to the ship and crew." He finished his statement, glancing around at the current Bridge crew, before awaiting counselor Trilarock's response.

[Rayek trLhoell]

SCPO Rayek
[Lounge - 00:10]

[Ship's Lounge]

Lek wiped his eye and nodded to Rayek.

"One more to celebrate life sounds like a splendid idea, but just one more, no need to tempt fate."

Lek signaled the server and stood when the drinks were delivered. He raised his glass toward Rayek and said.

"To celebrate life."

Rayek rose to his feet following Lek's lead and raised his glass towards his Ferengi friend. "To celebrate life!" he affirmed and drank back the straight vodka shot - his third in under 15 minutes.  As he let the warmth of the alcohol wash down his throat he wondered what it was about the beverage that made it Lek's preferred Terran drink.

"So why straight vodka? It seems rather bland - especially compared to Romulan spirits... like it's a drink best with a mix. Are strong flavors not your thing?"

[Lek]

SCPO Rayek
[Lounge - 00:10]

Rayek rose to his feet following Lek's lead and raised his glass towards his Ferengi friend. "To celebrate life!" he affirmed and drank back the straight vodka shot - his third in under 15 minutes.  As he let the warmth of the alcohol wash down his throat he wondered what it was about the beverage that made it Lek's preferred Terran drink.

"So why straight vodka? It seems rather bland - especially compared to Romulan spirits... like it's a drink best with a mix. Are strong flavors not your thing?"

[Ship's Lounge]

Lek considered his answer before he replied as it wasn't complicate, at least the way it was explained to him it wasn't.

"Cadet Kuznetsov said that only spineless posers mix vodka. It was meant to be savored neat, and anything else is apostasy. As neat was the way it was introduced and I figured a Russian would know the best way to consume his own national liquor, I could not find a reason to do otherwise. Thus I drink it as he did. Yevgenny was a good sort, I considered him a friend. He went flight and we fell out of touch. I should reach out to him, my brush with death has given me a new appreciation of friendships. I know that for Romulans trust is hard, but you too have a new life, perhaps it can be a new beginning for you as well.

"In any case, three is now my limit and I now have a message to compose to Yevgenny. I will look forward to speaking to you again my friend. Good eve."

Lek then made for the door, patting Rayek on the shoulder in a friendly manner as he passed him.

[Solluk]

Bridge

The Counselor's voice filled the turbolift with her latest update, and he checked his PADD, accessing the data coming in from the probe.

Fascinating.   And dire.

The doors opened, and Solluk stepped out onto the bridge.  Nodding to Trilarck, "Excellent work, Counselor.  You have provided a thorough picture of our situation.  Conn, initiate an intercept course at our maximum sustainable speed.   Tactical and Science, I would like half of our torpedo complement re-equipped as Class VIII probes."   The Class 8 probe used a standard torpedo casing, with the internals replaced to serve as a data-collection device rather than a weapon.   It was a simple process to swap warheads for sensor pallets, but converting so much of their arsenal would take time and manpower.

"I relieve you," he said to the Counselor, "I'd like you to collect all data on the occupants of the Denobulan vessel, and run some preliminary psychological profiles on them based on any health records on file in the Federation database.   Before this is over, we may need cooperation from the crew, and we should be prepared to identify potential trouble-spots in order to prevent panic or erratic behavior."

Rather than take the center chair, Solluk moved to the XO seat.  "Take us to Yellow Alert,"  he ordered, then tapped his badge, Commander Solluk to Captain Torngate and Chief Engineer Erix.  We have received a request for aid, and are responding to a Denobulan craft which is suspected to have endured an encounter with a quantum filament or cosmic string phenomenon.  I have ordered a quantity of our torpedo stock to be converted to sensor probes and taken us to Yellow Alert.  We are proceeding at best sustainable speed.  Chief, I recommend making all possible preparations for a collision event.  While I am sure we do not intend to collide with an anomaly, I feel we should take all steps in case that should occur.  I am transmitting all data for your review on the vessel and its predicament.

As he spoke, he forwarded all available information to the Captain and the Chief Engineer, so that they would have the fullest picture possible.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

CMO's Quarters - 0415

Lizzie had been tossing and turning for the past few hours, not really able to sleep. Giving up, she had st up in bed and started reading a book when she heard the familiar grizzle of Alys waking up.

Getting out of bed, she went over to her Daughters crib and picked the little girl up. After making sure she was changed and fed, she lay her Daughter back down.

Alys however, having no idea that it was too early to be up and about, decided to sit up and play with her teddy.

Shaking her head, Lizzie decided to get an early start to the day. After taking a shower and dressing, she replicated some breakfast for them both. After they were both finished, Lizzie dressed her Daughter and carrying both Alys and the bag, headed to Sickbay.

Sickbay

Lizzie entered Sickbay and saw it was thankfully free of patients. The only personnel present was the duty Nurse and the two duty Techs. All three looked surprised to see their boss there at this early hour, but Lizzie motioned to her Daughter and went straight into her office.

CMO's Office

Lizzie entered her office and set Alys down in the playpen in the corner. She then replicated herself a cup of tea and sat behind her desk to get to work on the never ending paperwork that came with being both CMO and 2nd Officer.

Bridge

The Counselor's voice filled the turbolift with her latest update, and he checked his PADD, accessing the data coming in from the probe.

Fascinating.   And dire.

The doors opened, and Solluk stepped out onto the bridge.  Nodding to Trilarck, "Excellent work, Counselor.  You have provided a thorough picture of our situation.  Conn, initiate an intercept course at our maximum sustainable speed.   Tactical and Science, I would like half of our torpedo complement re-equipped as Class VIII probes."   The Class 8 probe used a standard torpedo casing, with the internals replaced to serve as a data-collection device rather than a weapon.   It was a simple process to swap warheads for sensor pallets, but converting so much of their arsenal would take time and manpower.

"I relieve you," he said to the Counselor, "I'd like you to collect all data on the occupants of the Denobulan vessel, and run some preliminary psychological profiles on them based on any health records on file in the Federation database.   Before this is over, we may need cooperation from the crew, and we should be prepared to identify potential trouble-spots in order to prevent panic or erratic behavior."

Rather than take the center chair, Solluk moved to the XO seat.  "Take us to Yellow Alert,"  he ordered, then tapped his badge, Commander Solluk to Captain Torngate and Chief Engineer Erix.  We have received a request for aid, and are responding to a Denobulan craft which is suspected to have endured an encounter with a quantum filament or cosmic string phenomenon.  I have ordered a quantity of our torpedo stock to be converted to sensor probes and taken us to Yellow Alert.  We are proceeding at best sustainable speed.  Chief, I recommend making all possible preparations for a collision event.  While I am sure we do not intend to collide with an anomaly, I feel we should take all steps in case that should occur.  I am transmitting all data for your review on the vessel and its predicament.

As he spoke, he forwarded all available information to the Captain and the Chief Engineer, so that they would have the fullest picture possible.

She had no sooner sat down than the yellow alert signal sounded. Activating her console, she was that they were responding to a distress signal. Since She had not been contacted directly, she assumed there was nothing medically needed at the moment, but would prepare in any case. She stepped out of her office.

Sickbay

Waving the duty Nurse over she gave the woman a smile.

"When the alert staff arrive, begin preparations to receive casualties. I don't know any more details yet, but I will update you once I do."

"Yes Doctor." The Nurse replied, heading back over to begin to carry out the orders.

Lizzie stepped back into her office, hoping that she would be briefed soon.

[Alieth]

[USS Challenger- Bridge]

Despite what was going on around him, he found his thoughts elsewhere for a split second. In the back of his mind he recalled that SCPO Rayek had sent him an email. It had asked Alieth to help him train in mental control. He hadn't replied yet; such things required careful meditation and reflection. He'd been scorned previously for his offer and Rayek was a Romulan. Still... prejudice clouds the mind and to surrender to such petty emotions would do nought for him but destroy himself. Thus, careful considerations must be made. However, now was not a time for such thoughts.

The Vulcan nodded as Lt. Weir made her appearance.

"Welcome Lieutenant Weir, I am Alieth; one of the junior flight officers on this new vessel. It is acceptable to make your acquaintance." He said almost robotically. He had a way of making even casual conversations sound more like a "description of a situation" than a true bit of sentient dialogue.

Alieth was tickled by Calandra's comment to Ensign O'Neil. While far from the most efficient method of leadership, it was befitting.

He listened; he knew enough about what a quantum filament was to know it was a dangerous astrophysical hazzard but he wasn't particularly training on them. This was a limit of his area of expertise and why he knew he'd struggle a bit to fit in with a standard crew complement. It was advantageous, however, that Lt. Weir had appeared when she had; the chief flight control officer was better suited to this than he was.

Alieth would have seconded Lt. Jyur's recommendation to notify the Captain but it seemed redundant; an inefficient use of the room's attention. Besides, then the XO arrived. Alieth wasn't sure what to make of Commander Solluk yet; he was a Vulcan to be sure but not all lived up to the noble status of his homeworld. He seemed an acceptable officer but the rest remained to be seen.

"Aye." He replied stoically, making adjustments to prepare them for warp. Turning to the chief flight control officer he mentioned, "If you wish, the helm is yours Lieutenant. The setting are locked in." He intoned, as was proper. He was happy to take the navigation station as his specialty was largely in shuttles.

"The journey of the righteous is fraught with peril;
Perils of truth,
Perils of conscience,
Perils of the katra."

-The Rigors of Truth
Verse 12,
T'Gol of Vulcan

[Rhymus Cleroux]

Bonnie's Quarters

Bonnie nodded in acknowledgement to his answer and made her way back, taking a sip of the cold water before placing the glass down onto the table. She retook her seat at the sofa, listening to closely to where he had been for the past month. "Fascinating." Bonnie said, taking another sip of the glass of water. Bonnie had always been interested in animals and this was no exception. Animals carried so much prowess which Bonnie had always lacked, they were so quiet and there was only a little margin of error. Bonnie was quite the opposite, usually mucking things up if she wasn't good at it and being straight up clumsy at times. In some ways, she very much envied them.

Bonnie raised her legs and placed them onto the sofa, pulling herself back and making herself comfortable before. She grabbed the glass of water after, taking a large gulp of the liquid and placing it back onto the table. She looked at Rhymus, giving an expression which suggested that her time aboard the ship hadn't been any better. "More comfortable maybe," She grinned slightly. "but my time has been consumed by setting things up and piles of paperwork. Today is one of the few days I have managed to get some time away from work without going to sleep as soon as I got off shift. It has been busy and I have barely had a break." She paused for a moment, lowering her head onto his shoulder. "Things are starting to slow down now, so it's probably good you got back now rather than earlier." She admitted.

[Junior Officer Quarters - Bonnie Moors's Room]

Rhymus smiled. "I'd rather do all of your paperwork than have to eat something freeze dried out of a box again. Willing to switch?"

He wrapped his arm around the woman, sighing. "You know, it's times like these one begins thinking about the end. Few more years, climb the latter a bit more, then just... go home. Retire. Find a nice quiet place I can settle down. Hang my pips up and be able to say 'Yes, that was me. I used to travel the stars'. Sure is a nice thought to have sometimes."

[Dylan Torngate]

[Engineering]

"Thank you for meeting with me so quickly Sir. I hadn't meant this private, but here we are. Sir, I've been acting chief for months now and unless there is something classified that I don't know about, I believe it's fair to say Lieutenant Erix is not going to be returning. In addition, he knows nothing about the Trailblazer-Class. Based on this fact, I believe I have earned the right to be advanced to chief engineer."

Lek then paused and waited to see how the captain would react.

[Deck 11]

Dylan kept his face impassive as he thought. The request made sense, to a point. "No problem at all, Lieutenant. I always have a few minutes," he said before he processed the rest of the man's request. Yes, Erix hadn't been with the ship since the incident on Betazed, but yes he was still on the roster. Why was beyond Dylan. "Well, Lieutenant, You've got guts, I'll give you that. However, I'll take your request under advisement. Can't promise anything at the moment, but I'll look over personnel dossiers and get back to you. Anything else I can do for you, Mister Lek?" he asked.

Bridge

Rather than take the center chair, Solluk moved to the XO seat.  "Take us to Yellow Alert,"  he ordered, then tapped his badge, Commander Solluk to Captain Torngate and Chief Engineer Erix.  We have received a request for aid, and are responding to a Denobulan craft which is suspected to have endured an encounter with a quantum filament or cosmic string phenomenon.  I have ordered a quantity of our torpedo stock to be converted to sensor probes and taken us to Yellow Alert.  We are proceeding at best sustainable speed.  Chief, I recommend making all possible preparations for a collision event.  While I am sure we do not intend to collide with an anomaly, I feel we should take all steps in case that should occur.  I am transmitting all data for your review on the vessel and its predicament.

As he spoke, he forwarded all available information to the Captain and the Chief Engineer, so that they would have the fullest picture possible.

Dylan frowned. He was not pleased. It didn't matter if a distress call was faked or genuine- Starfleet had to help no matter what the cause was. Starfleet should respond- immediately.

Why was I not informed immediately about a distress call? he said, his voice laced with displeasure. He didn't like his staff not following proper procedure, and he'd make that fact known.

Belay that conversion order. We have enough probes in storage, no need to sack our torpedo ordinance. he said, before storming to the turbolift, his uniform boots stomping down the corridor as he grumbled. He didn't even say goodbye to the Ferengi. However, it was pretty obvious that Dylan's mood had soured 180 degrees in the past thirty seconds. Especially since lives were on the line, potentially.

Set a direct course to the distress call, and engage at warp eight. Code One Alpha Zero, ship in distress. Red alert. Standby recovery stations, Engineering team stand by. he said, as he entered a turbolift.

"Bridge."

[Bridge]

Dylan walked out of the lift. "I have the Bridge," he said, his voice icy. "How much time has elapsed since we received the distress call?" he asked the Bridge at large, the subtext clear in his voice, that of 'too long'. Sickbay, Bridge. Have a medical team standing by in the transporter bay.