The First 48 Hours

[Chirakis 1]

The First 48 Hours

 

After hours of steady activity, the worker drones visible through the conference room viewport doused their lights and flocked into the bay like so many bees swarming at nightfall. But Sky Harbor Aegis had neither night nor day, only an artificial cycle produced for the comfort of certain species. For the crew, shift change marked time in the absence of a sun or suns of homeworlds, and in that change there came a lull – time enough for any adversary to drop out of warp and attack, with nothing but the station shields and weapons standing between them and total annihilation.

 

The view waned as the drones cut their lights and disappeared, leaving the station running lights to outline the hull that separated an oasis of life from the abyss. Interior lights cut a ghastly glow through viewports where crew and civilians alike went about their mundane routines, some working and some relaxing, many of them oblivious to the danger that surrounded them.

 

Kirel had laughed when Director Torak mentioned cross-training in conjunction with her assignment to Aegis. She imagined a quick in-and-out, an interim posting to assist the recently appointed Ferengi Commanding Officer. It seemed similar to her previous assignment – of no consequence.

 

She was not laughing now. During the last twelve hours she had walked the station to evaluate its vulnerability by taking an inventory of its strengths, weaknesses, and the demeanor of the crew. What she found was very close to Ambassador Drankum's assessment. "Pakleds could invade right now."

 

Permanent assignment as Executive Officer had placed the safety of the station and all aboard squarely on her shoulders. Never before had she been outwardly tasked with the survival of so many; never before had she doubted the outcome. The Terran term sitting ducks came to mind, along with other species' phrases that were much less flattering but just as appropriate.

 

She rubbed her arms against a warm tingle that worked its way from her back to her fingers. She would have to visit Dr. Lepage, sooner rather than later.

 

Behind her the conference room door cycled several times, indicating the department heads were gathering as she had requested. Keeping her back to them, she watched their reflections in the glass while contemplating her next move. The door and those gathered grew silent. Her thoughts in order, she turned to face them, taking a few minutes to gather her thoughts. She met their gaze evenly, one at a time:

 

Operations Manager and Tactical Officer Damian Porter. Starfleet Lieutenant j.g. Human. Young. Junior officer, but more than capable. He had proven himself many times during her temporary posting.

 

Chief Engineering Officer Centurion Tylus Petrinius Jorahl. Romulan. Expert in reverse technology. Known to Starfleet as The Reaper. Valuable to the station. Valuable to the Romulan Star Empire.

 

Security Chief Lieutenant Torate tr'Jeth Dabi. Rihannsu. Starfleet graduate. New. Bold – perhaps overly so. Intimidating. Untried in Kirel's experience.

 

Chief Medical Officer Commander Nicolas Lepage. Human. Highly experienced. Cautious, yet willing to take a chance when the occasion required.

 

Chief Science Officer Lieutenant Leilani Feretti. Telepathic Human-Betazoid. Young. Beautiful. Capable. Sometimes distracted by frivolity.

 

All comfortable. All attentive. Punctual.

 

Without moving from her position she began in a quiet, measured tone. "This meeting is informational. There will be no discussion at this time. I am Commander Chirakis Kirel, Starfleet Intelligence, Section Five. Some of you I have met, some have yet to come to know me. I anticipate that will change quickly in the coming days as the situation of this station unfolds. For the moment just know that I am now the Executive Officer of Sky Harbor Aegis. My primary duty is the administration and the defense of this station and its inhabitants."

 

A quick tap on the conference table activated a stellar cartography display behind her. "Our situation at present is precarious. We have one of the best designed and operated defense grids in the quadrant." Here she paused to nod acknowledgement to Jorahl. "However, station shields and defense grids are no match for what may come against us in our present position…. "

 

She stepped back to give full view of the cartographic display, subtly moving to a position at the back of the room to have a clear view of the display and of those at the table. As she spoke, areas of the chart with accompanying data alternately brightened onscreen then faded to the background.

 

"Our present location puts us approximately 112 light years[1] from Federation space, 128 from Canar, 96 from Cardassia Prime – though only 32 from the closest reaches of Cardassian space – and 64 from the Ferengi Alliance. Those are the closest; we are even farther from our Romulan and Klingon allies.

 

"Suffice to say, though we can depend on instantaneous response from our allies, we cannot depend on instantaneous presence by our allies should we come under attack. The distances are far too great. And, for reasons unknown, we are left surrounded without a standing defensive fleet." The sentence stuck in her craw. As much as she appreciated the stealth presence of Captain Halloway and the USS Yorktown, one Sovereign starship did not a defensive fleet make. Sitting ducks, indeed.

 

"To emphasize our need for protection, let us consider the present political situation in our little corner of space."

 

A pale area outlined on the right side of the screen came to the fore with names, trade routes, planets, and colonies labeled, all with a tactical overlay.

 

"The Tzenkethi Coalition. Their internal political woes seem to preclude the possibility of hostilities. However, should a powerful enough Autarch arise from the dregs of their Tzelnira, what better way to unite a disparate group than to rally them around a common enemy? What better common enemy to choose than the Federation, the Ferengi Alliance, or both? What better place to attack than an ill-defended joint alliance base far from its allies?"

 

Here she paused as sudden pain shot from her back down her arms. Though she tried to mask a sharp intake of breath, it escaped, but the pain subsided. Leaning one arm on the viewport sill, she continued in a more contemplative tone.

 

"The Rolor Nebula that separates us from Tzenkethi space presents another threat. The nebula may hide invasions from a greater foe: the Borg. Their use of the nebula to mask a transwarp conduit has always been suspected but, of course, has never been proven. Though the Borg have been dormant for a while, I would not trust them to remain so forever."

 

The nebula and Tzenkethi space faded to be replaced with a larger area, precariously close to the station.

 

"Then we have the Breen, from whom we have not heard in several months. Intelligence sources have no definitive answers as to why they have gone silent. We will not speculate on that matter, but we keep it in mind as a possible precursor to invasion, the lull before the storm, if you will. Perhaps a distraction, perhaps not." She shrugged. "Given our present state of readiness, should an attack occur I would give the station little chance of survival."

 

The screen darkened, room lighting returned to normal, and Kirel took a position at the head of the table. Arms crossed, she leveled her gaze to regain her composure. Clearly, she should not put off her visit to sick bay, but at the moment there were more pressing issues.

 

"If I paint too bleak a picture, I have no apology. I would rather we be prepared for the worst than to be met by the worst unprepared. And, like me, you probably wonder why Aegis is here. Many do. But why is not the issue. The issue is what we will do about the situation, how we will deal with a problem over which we seem to have little control.

 

"Therefore, instead of looking at what we do not have we will focus on what we have, beginning with the excellent defense grid and shielding already in place." She paused to acknowledge Jorahl. "Our second priority will be to petition our allies for a fighter squadron and possibly a rudimentary fleet that will support our station defenses and help defend the colony on TKR-117.

 

"Our most immediate priority, however, is to establish internal security. Allow me to introduce Chief of Security Lt. tr'Jeth Dabi, our coordinator, or trainer, and the one to whom we look for direction."

 

The Lieutenant gave a curt nod and Kirel pressed on.

 

"The Lieutenant's expertise notwithstanding, let one thing be very clear. Internal security is the responsibility of everyone… from the highest ranking officer in each of your departments to the lowest non-com. The more eyes and ears we have aboard the station the safer we will be.

 

"In the coming days, Lt. Dabi and I will be very visible. In your face, I believe is the proper term. Inspections and drills will be commonplace. They are not for the purpose of assigning blame. They are to find weak spots in our procedures and to fix them. The reactions of your departments during drills will become instinct. When we face an actual alert none of your crew will hesitate, none will pause to think. They will move, and that will save their lives."

 

Another twinge, and Kirel took a deep breath. Her voice dropped to just above a whisper, moving her words along.

 

"All communications during these drills will go through Station Operations in the Control Tower. Mr. Porter, Mr. Fisher, or Lt. Dabi will be there. Drills will be conducted at random. Drill reports will be due one standard hour after stand down. Your reports will be concise and precise, containing a list of problem areas and your recommendations for fixing them.

 

"Within the hour I will begin departmental visits to establish a working relationship. Then you may ask your questions – no holds barred. Hopefully I will have answers. If I do not, we will find them together."

 

Kirel's face paled and a sweat beaded on her forehead. "I will be in your office first, Dr. Lepage. We have much to discuss. You are dismissed."

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[1] The Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Home" set the distance between Vulcan and Earth at 16 light years. Using that as a thumbprint and Aegis stellar cartography as a guide, the distances calculated are approximate. Corrections are welcome. Bottom line: we are far from allied space.