Seek and Hide

[Cptn d'Ka 0]

Seek and Hide

Cptn Jerit d’Ka

 

Lt Col Victor Anastis focused on the observation monitor in USS Missouri’s Special Operations holodeck, following the progress of his reconnaissance team as they navigated a starship boarding program. Standing next to him, Cdr Mark Grigori watched his extraction team expertly slip toward a target deep within the same starship. Using body language and quick, clear hand signals, both teams maneuvered silently toward their goals.

 

USS Missouri had been tracking an alien ship as it slipped just as silently through a nebula, then stopped just shy of Aegis space. As the Joint Special Operations element attached to USS Missouri, the two officers' duty was to prepare for anything—including boarding that ship, which presented a problem. They lacked basic information.

 

The alien ship was essentially unreadable, which meant that they had no intelligence on the internal specifications of the ship. Their training programs were no more than educated guesses, pieced together from external observation. With that in mind, the program constantly changed to reflect updates from the ship’s tactical assessment team that focused on targeting the most likely location of strategic areas: bridge, weapons control, engineering, and communications—not necessarily in that order. Still, if the teams came out with nothing else, they gained a lot of training in rapidly shifting scenarios.

 

“Okay,” mused Anastis, his gaze dropping from the team progress monitor to the latest report from Missouri’s engineers. “I’m going with their suggestion to push the engineering section farther forward, amidships.” He gestured at the on-screen diagram. “It’s not common, but we’re not dealing with ‘common’ anymore. There’re signs of exhaust here...” his laser pointer circled an area, “...intake here. And the way they’re maneuvering, I’d say we should go with that.”

 

“Um.” Gregori pursed his lips to chew on that while he watched one team approach the alien bridge and take a knee. “All teams, hold position,” he said over the team com, then turned to Anastis. “Okay, but I’m still not good with the communications area, especially if we move engineering there. What’s your take?”

 

“Operations says that most of the signals they’ve picked up originate here,” again the laser, “making it their transmission site, not necessarily the point of origin. But if we take that out, we still have a leg up. Let’s move the bridge here.” A finger flick relocated the bridge. “That actually makes sense. We'll put the com area here, engineering control here...” he dropped them in, “...and leave weapons where it is.”

 

Grigori thought for a moment, then nodded. “Reconfigure the bulkheads, ingress, egress, alarms, and security, and we’ll go with it. While you’re at it, throw in a few booby traps.”

Anastis reset the program. Grigori engaged the com. “All teams, fall back to infil. Expect a reconfiguration. Report ready and stand by.”

 

 

* * * * *

 

Though USS Missouri’s stop at Aegis was brief, Captain d’Ka’s meeting with Lt Cdr Pavilion, Officer in Command, not only gave him the opportunity to calm her nerves, it gave him the opportunity to watch her work and sense her ease with command. He had no doubt she was capable; his only concern was her confidence.

 

“Commander Lei’ri, take us out,” he said, striding smoothly from Missouri’s command lift onto the bridge. Has there been any change in the alien’s position?”

 

“No, Captain; they’re still holding,” Lei’ri replied.

 

“Very well. As soon as we are clear of Aegis, take a standard vector toward Valaria. Prepare for a course change beyond the nebula to reestablish our watch position.”

 

“Mr. Doland,” Lei’ri said to the helmsman, “you know the drill.”

 

After a crisp, “Aye, sir,” docking disengaged, station tenders backed off, and the Akira Class Battlecruiser eased away from Aegis, pivoted, and entered the standard corridor for departure, making it appear that it was resuming sector patrol.

 

“Lt Cdr Pavilion is doing well, Captain?” said Lei’ri, as concerned about her as d’Ka.

 

“Yes, ‘Ri,” he replied, settling into the command chair. “She knows that the Toronto will stay in the area, and that Iowa will arrive soon. She was glad to know that we were close, and monitoring the ship. She can definitely hold her own.” A satisfied nod to the Qr’var executive officer, and he moved on, tapping a small device on his belt. “My priority alert went off while on station.”

 

“Yes, Captain,” Lei’ri replied. “It was not flagged, so I ordered it to your console.”

 

Nodding, d’Ka pulled it close and scanned through, but within seconds he stopped abruptly and blanked the screen.

 

“Commander, the conference room, now. Mr. Tan,” d’Ka stood, speaking to the operations officer, “call Colonel Anastis and Commander Grigori to the conference room immediately. Mr. Doland, wait for my order on the course change. Mr. Tan, you have the conn.”

 

A series of “Aye, sir,” followed the officers as they left the bridge, the door to the conference room closing swiftly behind them.

 

“They have found the crew of USS Vladivostok,” d’Ka began as he rounded the conference table and tapped its top to engage the wall screen. Lei’ri’s expression lit up; he joined d’Ka at the screen, arms crossed to listen. “One of their crew escaped and delivered a datacrystal to Rendezvous October.”

 

“October?” Lei’ri raised a brow. “Who on Vladivostok has October clearance?”

 

“No one,” d’Ka replied. “According to the report, Captain Belton gave the crystal to their operations officer, Lieutenant Madelyn Logan. She stole an alien craft, entered the coordinates the captain gave her, and left, not knowing where she was going or what was on the crystal. She was bound for Sky Harbor Aegis when her vessel lost all power, and…” he paused to consider the next few words, “...was rescued by Captain Chirakis, who was flying in the opposite direction.”

 

Lei’ri’s arms dropped to his sides as he regarded his commanding officer. “Captain,” he began, eyes slightly narrowed, “what are the odds that Captain Chirakis would be in the exact same area of space at the exact same time?”

 

A slight knowing smile broke into the Sindar’s expression. “You are my ever-vigilant watchdog, ‘Ri—as well you should be. I did not break the Sindar code, I just… bent it a little. It’s wasn’t exactly a connection; it was more of a nudge, and I am fully aware of the consequences.”

 

“Colonel, Commander.” D’Ka and Lei’ri turned to the opening conference room door. “Join us. We are going to put aside our boarding plans for the moment; we have an urgent mission.”

 

The captain’s swipe along the tabletop opened several screens to show a remote area of space, images of several spacecraft, small and large, some in flight and some berthed, and a closeup of a species no one recognized, not even the computer.

 

“The crew of USS Vladivostok has been located on a remote nebular planetoid, here.” One screen zoomed in. "It is reported to be cold, but not uninhabitable, composed mostly of granite with little to no vegetation. We are presently en route to Valaria, but will change course within the hour and run silent at best speed for extraction.

 

"The aliens..." another screen took precedence, "...are believed to be humanoid. Head and face are always covered, reason unknown. We have no idea who they are, and nothing of their capabilities or purpose, but we do know what they are technologically advanced and hostile.

 

"Their ships..." images of various craft filled all screens, "...are similar to the one we have been watching. However, the presence of older Federation craft, Romulan warbirds, and customized small craft are noted here, and here. Where these images were taken is unknown, so we will expect at least some craft to be on planet unless we hear otherwise in the next few hours.

 

“Colonel Anastis, your Nightmares will conduct planetary reconnaissance. Commander Grigori, your Banshees will move in to rescue. The nebula is dense and will not allow transporter use, so it will be a shuttle recovery. Missouri’s Crusaders will provide cover. Missouri will stay within weapons range. Questions so far?"

 

The two officers studied the screens, then gave a collective, “No, sir.”

 

“Vladivostok’s crew numbered 128. Some are known to be dead, and some are severely injured. Pull all your medical personnel into the operation. Missouri’s medical will assist—from Peacekeepers if need be—but your teams should be prepared to carry the injured out. Get with your teams, formulate your plan, and coordinate with the squadron commander. Questions?”

 

“Yes, Captain,” said Grigori, manipulating the planetary screen. “Do we have any more information on the planet, itself? Gravity, tectonic stability?”

 

“What information we have on the planet and the crew’s exact location has been uploaded to your personal slates, but we will not rely on it. When we are in range, Cdr Stevenson in science will give us a more comprehensive assessment.”

 

“Armaments? Ships in orbit?” asked Anastis. “Do we know where these images came from?”

 

“In answer to your first, we know of no ships in orbit, but we will know when we arrive. As for the images, Vladivostok’s commanding officer, Captain Belton, furnished them.” Belton's image appeared onscreen. “They were in a file delivered by an escapee. Starfleet Intelligence has examined them and determined them to be genuine. As for armaments and orbital protection, we will learn more when we arrive.”

 

“How long have they been there, Captain?” Grigori’s frown deepened as he read through the information on his slate.

 

“Vladivostok entered that nebula for exploration over three weeks ago. And no,” d’Ka interjected, anticipating his question, “we do not know if they are even alive, but until we have proof that they are dead, they are alive.”

 

After a few moments of checking the screen and referring to their slates, the officers seemed satisfied.

 

“ETA to the planetoid is five hours. You will be informed as soon as updates arrive. If there is nothing else, carry on.”

 

A few minutes after the officers left found the Sindar captain and his Qr’var first officer staring at the closed conference room door. They remained there for several minutes more. Finally, Lei’ri broke the silence.

 

“Are they alive, Captain?”

 

“Yes, ‘Ri,” he replied, his eyes a deep purple. “They are. But they may not be for long.”