"Vibrations."

[FredM 0]

"Vibrations."

Captain's Log

Stardate 0305.30

U.S.S. T'Kumbra, NCC-73080

 

 

      The strain was getting worse. You didn't have to be an engineer to figure it out, just be a species with decent hearing. The rattling of the deck plates and groan of the hull reminded the Trill Captain during his third host's tour of duty aboard an earlier Excelsior Class vessel almost eighty-five years ago. Oh, those were indeed the good old days.

 

      "Faster damnit!", screamed the figure in the center seat of the circular bridge. By this point, alarms were blaring from almost every station of the Nebula Class starship. For his part, Ivan Tekers knew that most other ships in the taskforce were probably having it worse. "I'm attempting to increase to warp factor nine point nine-seven-nine, sir," screamed the Lieutenant at the navigator's station.

 

      As if in direct response, from behind the Captain came a plea. "Sir, engineering is reporting the warp core is beginning to overheat. Recommend we decrease speed immediately!", someone stated. The Trill only shook his head in reply, "Tell Mr. Jones I am fully aware we've been traveling at this speed for over two hours and that won't be changing anytime soon!"

 

      As Captain Tekers had suspected, all of the other ships in the task force the U.S.S. T'Kumbra was leading were suffering the same problems. What was worse might be the situation once they arrived at their destination. While capable of holding their own, a force made up of three Miranda Class starships, two Nebula Class starships, two Steamrunner Class starships and one Intrepid Class starship wouldn't exactly be able to take over an occupied system. However, these had been all the ships in the area who had completed their assigned task force escort duty moving Cardassian civilians to numerous bases and planets.

 

      "Entering extreme sensor range sir....attempting to scan," calmly stated the Bolian at the T'Kumbra's science station. Tekers turned and looks to his right, awaiting to hear what mess they were about to enter. Instead of a prompt report as the Captain had expected, the Lieutenant Commander kept entering commands into his station. With a puzzled look he looked towards the center of the bridge, "I have been able to complete a full sensor scan, sir. At least thirty-three orbital facilities are in orbit above different planets. However, I cannot confirm any lifesigns...nor the presence of any ships."

 

      The Trill stood up, using the railing to slowly move towards the science station. "The reports indicated the system had thousands of vessels inside and some type of sensor blocking field," he said about the time he reached the Bolian. The Lieutenant Commander nodded, again running a scan, "I know sir. However, all I'm detecting is...abandoned bases. Now entering extreme short range sensor ability...."

 

      Several seconds later, the ships of the task force slowly moved out of warp just at the edge of the Cardassian system. The deck plate vibrations had came to a halt and the groan of the hull subsided. Tekers, now standing in front of his chair, kept his attention to his right.

 

      "Detecting ion trails....hundreds....I can't count them," he said looking at his Trill superior. This prompted Ivan to slowly sit in his chair, "What the hell is going on here? Contact the fleet...tell them to prepare to engage any hostiles. Maybe they're cloaked." The Bolian tilted his head slightly, "It would explain many things, sir." Several seconds later, the task force slowly moved into the parameter of the Cardassian system.