Order of Things

[Cptn Neptune 0]

“It is satisfactory to see you are feeling better Captain,” the smooth, flat voice of Vulcan Fleet Commander Soral said.

 

Looking across the empty desk Neptune smiled slightly, “Thanks.”

 

“I have been informed that repairs on Challenger are proceeding with out incident?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

The Vulcan steeped his fingers and leaned back in his chair. From the otherside of his chair Neptune studied the Vulcan carefully. His face was stoic and emotionless, which of course was to be expected. He estimated Soral to be middle aged. Vulcans were notoriously hard to read, but his time with them had given him the ability to glean some information from their exterior.

 

“I’d like to lead an expedition back to Seti Lo to see if there are any survivors…”

 

Lifting a brow, Soral shook his head. “Unfortunately, Captain that will not be possible.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“We can not endanger our resources.”

 

Biting at his lips Neptune held back his instinctive first response. “So we are abandoning those people?”

 

“It is an unfortunate reality.”

 

“Challenger could go on her own, we wouldn’t be endangering any one else that way,” Neptune said holding back his frustrations.

 

“Allied Command has already decided on the matter.” Soral’s voice remained impassive. The humanitarian side of him agreed with Captain, however logic dictated that Allies could not afford to lose anymore ships on what was essentially a non-strategic location.

 

Neptune sighed. He knew that it wasn’t worth wasting any more of his breath on. Allied Command had obviously given the order, and while he might have been able to convince a human commander to approve of the mission, there would be no such luck with a Vulcan. Such was the order of things in war.

 

“I haven’t had a chance to check the net, do we know how the rest of the evacuations have gone?”

 

Soral nodded, relieved that the Captain had decided to move on. “We’ve received word from most of the missions. So far the evacuations have been mostly successful. The Romulans engaged only a handful of the convoys.”

 

“And have they made any other moves on our positions?”

 

Soral nodded once more. “They’ve attacked four more Allied outposts”

 

“Hit and run?”

 

“That would be accurate, yes.”

 

“It doesn’t make much sense…why not occupy the territory they’ve taken?”

 

“There any number of reasons for their actions,” Soral pointed out. “However, at this time, I am not able to ascertain their intentions either.”

 

When the Vulcans were stumped, Neptune worried. “I assume if you’ve been in contact with Allied Command you have new orders for Challenger?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Opening a drawer Soral removed a datapad and slid it across the desk. “My Fleet will shortly be leaving as we attempt to establish our defensive perimeter.”

 

Neptune hadn’t started reading the information into much detail, instinctively he looked up. “And Challenger will or won’t be joining you?”

 

“Won’t.” Soral said quickly. “Instead, as soon as Challenger is fully repaired you will be embarking on a mission to repair a damaged communications relay in the Kamoris Belt.”

 

That was a relief. Neptune had little interest in going directly to the front lines. “What do we know about that communications relay?”

 

“Further information is contained on that datapad,” Soral said. “It serves as a relay between the Vulcan, Andoria and Rigel.”

 

“Ion storm…” Neptune said with out looking up from the datapad he’d returned to reading.

 

“That is what is believed to have happened to it…however, no one has actually examined it. It could be something else.”

 

“Will we be going alone?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Well,” Neptune said standing. “I should head back to my ship.”

 

“Peace and long life Captain.” Soral said giving the Vulcan salute.

 

“Good luck Fleet Commander.”