Distress Call

[Cmdr Ba'alyo 0]

The following takes place before Challenger received the distress call at the end of last week's sim...

The long-range sensors of Starbase 19 spanned a largely-empty, twenty-light year swath of Federation territory between major space lanes. Traffic heading to and from the Klingon border tended to continue unstopped, leaving the region to largely local concerns. The starbase administered a few fledgling colonies and science outposts, but also dealt with multiple non-aligned species - the Xarantine, the Yridian, far-flung Acamarian colonies, and other Prime Directive protectorates - within its influence. This left a great deal of the sector open to exploration and quiet observation.

Onboard the spaceborne element of Starbase 19, Ensign Cerus was responsible for monitoring interstellar traffic and navigation across the entire sector. Despite his low rank, it was a position for which he was ideally suited and kept constant vigil.

 

His living quarters, although they kept him physically isolated from the rest of the crew, encompassed three levels of the orbiting station. His "workstation" was no less than a direct interface with the facility's subspace and sensor network. Over the last two years of his assignment, Cerus had methodically compiled a significantly detailed cartographic map of the adjoining systems, including nuances of stellar drift and unique gravimetric interaction. He had applied his sublime intellect toward noting even minor ripples in the surrounding subspace - all the better to track the expansion of Regulan trade and the unwanted growth of illicit Yridian smuggling.

 

The appearance of the unknown ship might otherwise have escaped notice.

 

It had emerged between system without showing a clearly traceable warp signature. In fact, the method of its conveyance didn't match any known method of propulsion. Using his non-corporeal energies, Cerus had engaged the station sensors. The ship bore life, although from this distance it could not be resolved into number or type. It emitted no Federation or standard transponder. Although there was a brief burst of communication, the translator could not identify the language. There was no protocol to suggest whether the ship was requesting aid.

 

And yet he knew they were in distress.

 

Were there subtle details in the sensor that somehow invoked a subconscious resolution of their danger? Had the beings aboard stirred some sensitive aspect of his Medusan physiology? Or was he simply yielding to an unwarranted conclusion, a softening compassionate for unknown life?

 

Cerus summoned the communications chief, already assessing fleet records for the availability of responding ships. The Thufir-class Ushaan was in drydock, but undergoing warp core refurbishment. The Constellation-class Pleides was on an interdiction mission on the other end of the sector. The USS Goddard was conducting observation of a nearby Prime Directive civilization, but the Oberth-class scout had limited crew and could take more than a day to divert.

 

Cerus expanded his search, immediately hitting on a candidate. The starship Challenger was a full sector away and on shore leave, but as an Excelsior-class, would be able to cover the distance in far less time.

 

But should he classify the observation as a ship in distress? Truth be told, he had little more than intuition to go on.

 

His consideration took only a few seconds. He forwarded the designation as a distress call. It was a judgment call, he admitted, but he felt much clearer about a career risk than the lives he would risk by failing.