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Chirakis

Into the Storm

Into the Storm
Chirakis Kirel, Captain, SI-5

 

Peace is a lie.

The great deception draws a veil of fantasy over reality, a construct fashioned by the naiveté of those who would live in comfort and prosperity, either oblivious to the constant threat of war or choosing to ignore it.  

Whoever believed that we would have peace after the disappearance of the Breen lived in a Utopian fantasy world, for it is the nature of all beasts that when the dominant is removed, another rises to take its place.  

The peace that supposedly surrounds Sky Harbor Aegis could soon be shattered by a Breen successor. In turn, when that successor disappears—if it ever does—yet another will rise to power… and on it goes.

*   *   *   *   *

Kirel stared blankly at her tactical computer screen, processing every possible danger that a starship crew could encounter during this mission. Commander Coleridge was more than capable of command. He would choose his crew carefully.  He would be cautious and thorough.  She should not be overly concerned, but she was….

"Good afternoon, Captain. My apology for the delay.  Our briefing was not exactly brief."  Admiral Mullins, Director of Federation Security, forced a smile. 

"Good afternoon, Admiral." Kirel gave a respectful nod, settled behind her desk, and swiveled her screen into view.

The admiral's image came through subspace clearly, outlining every wrinkle and every well-earned scar.  His silver hair glistened as he thumbed through the document before him. As Director of Federation Security, he had been keeping a close watch on the Alien Alliance since they mysteriously appeared on An-Ward, Drakel’a, and a few other bases that had not been revealed.  According to the viewscreen’s background setting, he was calling from Rendezvous October.  That in itself spoke of ongoing threats.

“Tell me, Captain. What... exactly... are you proposing?” he asked, his brow furrowed, more questioning than concerned as he relaxed at his console.

“A scientific research mission, Admiral,” Kirel replied casually. “To explore the restricted area of space that caused our ships to lose power, and to assure that the electromagnetic waves do not pose a threat outside the restricted zone.”

Mullins hesitated.  His fingers drummed on the desk, then tapped lightly on his tablet, his lips pursed.

“Is there something I should know, Admiral?,” asked Kirel.  “Have you new information?”

“Umm…” he mused into a slow exhale.  “Not exactly new, but perhaps some things of which you are unaware and a few things you asked us to investigate. 

"Regarding the modified use of a Breen dampening weapon, we have come up with nothing. However, the Breen transporter system has been verified.  Several incidents have pointed in that direction.  Specialists are working on countermeasures, but they haven't been successful.

“Now, regarding your proposed mission," he continued, pulling his tablet close to thumb through it again.

"Nebula 259b—the area you would be investigating—is not far from 236a and An-Ward.  Our operatives haven’t reported anything out of the ordinary in 259b.  That area has been fairly quiet except for the electromagnetic energy waves.  

“Concerning your request, it did not have a distinct reason for investigation.  But now that you have explained, it seems to be a mission for Starfleet, not Aegis.”  He leaned forward.  “I know you too well, Captain.  You have more in mind than a scientific investigation.”

“Do I?” she replied after a pause, her expression neutral.

“Of course you do,”  he continued with a cautionary tone, “and you know better than to keep it to yourself.  To enter and investigate that nebula or anything around it, you will need expertise and backup. Regarding the expertise, Aegis has its share.  However, the backup?”  The admiral put the tablet aside and clasped his hands, waiting.

Kirel considered that a moment, then stood to illustrate via the tactical screen.  

“As you know—and according to Starfleet records—the electromagnetic energy waves emanating from the star… here... have been predictable, regular, and not very powerful since their discovery. Recently, those waves have wavered from docile to hostile.  They have magnified exponentially, and the planetoid that was the home of Dr Brubaker for ten years was quickly devoured by a series of unusually powerful waves. 

“Three vessels were caught in the waves.” A ‘before' and 'after’ display of the ships appeared on screen.  “Shuttle Nei’rrh and RSE freighter Argos II barely escaped the catastrophe and are still under repair.  Shuttle Warren, however, was pulled into the planetoid’s gravity well, and burned along with the planetoid.”

“And, according to our operatives, the star itself has remained constant,” Mullins interjected, then relaxed in thought.  “What do you expect to find in your investigation other than a star that sends out electromagnetic waves that have changed suddenly?”

“Something that is not natural.”

Mullins seemed satisfied. “And who will be commanding the mission?”

“Commander Coleridge.”

His thoughts seem to wander for a moment before nodding. 

“Very well.  Mission approved.  Inform Commander Coleridge—and no one else—that if there is a problem, there will be a standby team tailing them.  You know the code and the protocol concerning the code.  If the connection to your investigating vessel is terminated, inform the standby team.  If the standby team does not respond, inform us immediately.  Any questions?”

“No questions, Admiral.”

“Very well, good hunting.”

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