A funny feeling

[Cptn_Giovanni 0]

"A funny feeling"

Log entry 41: 25 December, 2157

 

23 December, 2157

 

Like a bat out of hell, Challenger and her support fleet warped as far away from Romulan space as fast as their engines could take them. Sergio knew that they're uninvited intrusion into their space would definitely have riled up the higher ups in Romulan Command. The captain relaxed in his seat, relieved at the fact that the Challenger fleet managed to fend off six birds of prey to make their escape, and he knew that more were on their way.

 

Sergio grabbed his cup of coffee rested on his armrest and walked over to the Operations console. "Ensign" he asked of the young man at the station "What's the status of the rescued crew members of the Pathfinder?" He gave the man a few moments to check on his console. "I've received word from the Upholder and Hornet's Medical Staff; where 2/3 of the crew have been beamed to and they tell me that they have undergone treatment. They tell me at that most of them have suffered moderate to major injuries, but will recover fully"

 

"The remaining 1/3 on various corvettes and frigates are also doing fine as well" Sergio nodded. "Are they well enough to communicate? I know I'd like to know if they've seen the Romulans in person" the Captain added. "Some of them are. Captain Chapman of the Lotus says that he's going to talk with the Chief Science Officer of the Pathfinder. She is currently the highest ranking officer of the Pathfinder well enough to talk to him"

 

Sergio mulled at this a little bit. "Ensign, prepare a shuttle pod for me and contact Captain Chapman. I'd like to be there when he chats with the Science Officer" The Operations officer looked up at the captain and nodded. "Aye sir. Shuttle Pod 1 is ready for use, and Captain Chapman is now awaiting your arrival" he said one minute later. "Thank you" Sergio said and nodded back and walked off the bridge.

 

 

Ten minutes later.

 

Sergio and a few security and MACO officers boarded the shuttle pod. Its engines already at idle, Sergio settled into his seat as the pilot went through her preflight checks. Once they were done, she requested launch clearance. A few seconds later, it was granted. It was a short trip to the Iroquois, as the fleet was still flying together. Soon, Pod 1 was grabbed by Lotus' grappling hook and reeled inside.

 

Awaiting him was Captain Colin Chapman. A young man, not much older than Sergio. "Sergio! It's been too long. Welcome aboard the Lotus" Sergio smiled. "Thanks, Colin. Though I wish it was under better circumstances" Chapman nodded back. "Don't we all. Anyway, Pathfinder's Chief Science Officer, is resting in sickbay. She's still in serious condition, but she has agreed to speak with us about her stay at the Romulan outpost"

 

A few decks up, was the sickbay. Sergio and Chapman stepped off the left and entered. Aesthetically, Lotus' sickbay was similar to Challenger's albeit in a smaller scale. Inside, all of Lotus' biobeds were full of crewmen in various stages of conditions. All looked to be resting comfortably. In the far fight corner, was a bed occupied by a female Vulcan. Her face was bruised and had a bluish-green tint that looked pretty unnatural.

 

 

 

She was hooked up to a breathing apparatus, but her eyes were open and she looked alert. "Commander Polara, I assume?" asked Sergio tentatively. The Vulcan looked up at Sergio and nodded. "Yes sir. That is I. Might I take this opportunity to thank you and your crew for your role in our rescue on behalf of the rest of my crew" Sergio nodded humbly. "None needed. It's all part of our job. But I'm glad to see that so many of you are now safe and sound"

 

 

"Indeed. And those who weren't as lucky are undoubtedly now in a better place" Polara said blankly. "I'm sure of it" replied Sergio. "As am I. Now.. getting to business, the reason why we are here is to ask you about your stay with the Romulans" Captain Chapman said. Polara nodded and told them she would answer their questions to the best of her ability. "First of all" Chapman continued, "what kind of information did they try to get out of you?"

 

"They wanted to know why we violated their space As well as the UESN's activities at the Earth/Romulan space border. We were truthful and told them that we did not violate their space. In fact, they had violated our space themselves, as well as the fact that our activities along the border were routine space exploration and freight missions and posed no threat to the Romulan government, sadly they had chosen not to believe us"

 

"What did they sound like? Did you ever get a chance to see them in person?" asked Sergio curiously. Polara shifted in her bed. "We were not able to see their true faces. They were wearing grey uniforms and their heads were covered by a round helmet to prevent identification. Additionally, their voices sounded.. tinny.. as you humans put it. Their translation software seemed quite crude making it difficult to understand their questions"

 

"They also seemed to be very ... pushy... and harsh on the crew. Especially when they did not comply with their instructions" she added. "And did you manage to overhear anything from them that might be considered of value?" asked Chapman. "No... from what I can tell, the outpost we were in was considered too far off. Plus, the guards put us in sound proof cells, and overhearing their conversations were hard"

 

"Drat.." Chapman said quietly. "I wonder.." Chapman suddenly said. "What do you know about the Romulans? Does the Vulcan Government have any additional information on them that could be of benefit?" Polara answered quickly. "I'm afraid that I do not know much about the Romulans and the Vulcan Government about the same as yours does. The Romulans are just as mysterious to us, as they are to you"

 

Sergio listened quietly. Something didn't seem right inside him when Polara answered Chapman. But he didn't know what. He chose to remain quiet though and listened on. The interrogation went on for another half hour, before the doctors told her to rest. Polara seemed to feel more exhausted and was still weak and the doctors told them that she needed to sleep. Sergio and Chapman left Sickbay and Polara in peace to rest.

 

Outside of sickbay, Chapman escorted Sergio back to the shuttle bay. "Was it just me, or did you get a weird feeling inside you when Polara told you that her government knew nothing about the Romulans?" Chapman sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah. I wasn't just you, but I wouldn't be surprised really. I don't think the Vulcans still trust us completely even after all these years. I wouldn't hold it past them, really"

 

Sergio rolled his eyes in agreement. The two Captains stepped off the lift and Sergio soon stepped back into his pod. They said their goodbyes and soon Pod 1 started up and left the Lotus. On his way back to Challenger, Sergio got to thinking. Perhaps he's probably right about the Vulcans, Sergio thought to himself. The same uneasy feeling still lingered inside him; and so far, this funny feeling was never wrong.