The Morning After The Day Before

Posted on Mon Oct 16th, 2017 @ 6:57am by Lieutenant JG Sandra Garcia & Captain Michelle Bartlett & Lieutenant Kevin Barnaby & Lieutenant Cor Cordale & Lieutenant Talea Honn

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Main Bridge
Timeline: June 16, 2399 @ 0600

Michelle walked through the turbolift doors as did most of the oncoming Alpha Shift rotation. This was typically when the department heads would man the bridge, but the rotation now looked incredibly different. She had only seen a few of the faces around the ship, with the exception of the science and Engineering officer on duty. And of course the woman she was relieving. Her head was still reeling with what had taken place. Bowman had already worked 12 hours and it took a firm persuasion on Michelle's part to remind her that she not only commanded Beta Shift and Gamma Shift yesterday, but needed some rest and time to recover. Whether she did or not? That wasn't her problem. But the crew was not going to benefit from it's interim CO being exhausted.

"Good morning, Commander." Michelle said with a sigh as she prepared to take Captain Ross's regular watch.

"Good morning, ma'am." Meru asked. "Our status continues to be at Red Alert. Engineering has informed me that a mechanical assessment of the Captain's Yacht will be ready by 1030 hours and I have a department meeting with them at 0800. Sick Bay reports only a few minor sprains and headaches overnight... Operations and Engineering are working on restoring power relays but so far have had limited progress restoring weapons and warp functionality. Security and Marines remain on high alert and are guarding all essential points on the ship. Nothing reported by the Starfighters at this time. Also, Operations reports that a makeshift memorial outside Captain Ross's quarters is in the process of being constructed. Permission to be relieved, Ma'am?"

"I saw the start of it. It's lovely. Thank you, Commander. I relieve you" Michelle said.

Meru called out to the outgoing officers. "Delta shift, you are relieved. Commander Bartlett has the bridge." as the outgoing crew left their stations.

Michelle looked hesitant for a moment to assume the centre chair. It was Captain Ross's chair. Rather than do so, she took a seat at the First Officer's station. "Computer, begin Alpha Shift." she said as the lighting changed.

Copeland took his seat at the helm. Nothing about this felt right. It felt strange. And uncomfortable. This should be Julia's watch. Unlike Commander Bartlett, he didn't have the luxury of taking another seat.

"Still holding position, Commander." Copeland said.

"Continue monitoring for any activity from nearby ships." Michelle said to Ops and Tactical. The silence and dimness seemed almost unbearable.

"Aye, ma'am." Garcia said. "So far nothing in the area."

"Mr. Cordale" Michelle said, turning to the Engineering station... "How are the repairs coming?"

"We're on schedule, plus or minus a few hours." the Thux replied. "We've prioritized the more major systems, but put the bulk of our priority on defensive systems. We'll have full shields at around the time we're at seventy five percent phasors. Figured, ma'am, that full phasors won't help us much if we're vapor."

"No, really not." Michelle replied. "Lieutenant, do we have any further intelligence on the blockade?" she said, turning to face Barnaby at tactical.

"Only what we can see, I'm having my available staff trawl through the logs." Kevin said in response. "All Data they discover is being relayed to the Bridge in real time."

Once the response was given, Talea Honn walked out of the turbolift looking for the Commander. She had been Bartlett's assistant for years, and now would be running Diplomatic at least for the time being. "Commander. I was told I'd find you here." Honn said.

"I'm holding the watch down. Thank you for handling everything in my absence." Michelle said. "Ready for conference call?"

"I am." Talea replied. "I actually wanted to discuss something with you. It can be discussed here, though."

"What can I do?" Michelle asked.

"Commander, I'm requesting permission to shuttle down to the station and assist Commodore Myers with the negotiations. You've got too much on your plate as Exec and we need to make sure this is done right."

"I almost completely agree." Michelle said. "Minus the shuttling down part. Your request is denied."

"Ma'am?" Talea asked.

"Commander, it's barely been 24 hours and we don't know if other shuttles were also rigged to blow. Even the one I traveled back on. Also, until we know the extent of who did it, I don't feel comfortable exposing our allies to that kind of hazard. Mr. Cordale, is there an ETA on the transporters?"

"Tough to say." at least the Thux was honest. "We're prioritizing everything and transporters aren't in the top three, ma'am. Between assisting Security with the sweeps of the remaining shuttles, and getting us mobile, shielded, and able to defend ourselves, I couldn't give you an honest estimate." he paused, "Sorry about that."

"I think that answers it. We might not even be here by the time they're all fully functional and I'm not risking any more lives." Michelle said.

"Commander, I can ask the support craft team to check the shuttles." Copeland said. "If Commander Honn really wants to do this."

"No, Ensign." Michelle said. "I'm not chancing it period. Talea, if you wish to coordinate with Commodore Myers via comms, that's fine. But nobody's coming on or off this ship until we have a suspect in custody and know what's going on here."

"Understood, ma'am. Do you have any orders?" Talea asked.

"Keep after the Klingon Government about this. I've ordered Intel and Strategic Ops to continue working on finding the Organization angle, but they're coming up empty handed. There's nothing they can find."

"Maybe it wasn't the Organization." Talea asked.

"Then we've got bigger problems." Michelle said.

When Charles entered the bridge, he saw that Commander Bartlett was involved in a conversation with Commander Honn. The subject he wanted to speak to her about was the 'Fire Dust' they had discussed previously. He had originally intended to speak with Captain Ross about it but...well...events of the previous day precluded THAT happening, so until she was finished, he simply stopped and stood respectfully away from the command center, waiting for an opportunity to speak.

"I'll get right on talking to the Klingons. And after conference call, I'll brief Commodore Myers." Honn said.

"Thank you, Commander." Michelle said, observing that the science officer was waiting for her. "Can I help you, Lieutenant?" she asked.

"I hope so, Commander..." Charles said. "I'm just wondering if you have any idea when we will be able to get rid of that Fire Dust we're holding in the science lab? Lieutenant Walker has all of it safely in isolation containers but honestly I'll be glad to get it out of my department and off the ship."

"Fire Dust?" Michelle asked. "I do seem to recall Valeria mentioning that. Once we're out of Dalacari space, we'll jettison it somewhere safe. If it's as volatile as Lieutenant Mordin was telling me, I'd rather not give the Federation more of a black eye than we've already got."

"Excellent," Charles said. "Lieutenant Mordin is correct. According to Lieutenant Walker, who performed most of the tests on it, that stuff is much more volatile than nitroglycerine. She said it nearly destroyed the scanner she was using when it was subjected to a heat test."

Michelle thought back to the explosion yesterday... "Is that so..." she asked. "Lieutenant, I want you to also check to make sure that you still have exactly as many canisters of that stuff as you did yesterday morning. And keep it under guard."

"It is safely locked away in stasis," Charles answered. "Only Lieutenant Walker or myself are able to access it, but I will also request a guard from security for the chamber if you think it to be necessary."

"For now we should be fine." Michelle replied, not wanting to give too much more to Security at this point until she knew who or what had happened.
"I'll meet later with Commander Bowman to see what she wants to do." as if she was remotely looking forward to that meeting. "For now, I guess we just wait." she said, glancing at the vacant command chair.

Commander Michelle Bartlett
Acting Executive Officer/Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Commander Talea Honn
Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Commander Meru Alennis
Chief Engineer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Kevin Barnaby
Acting Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Charles Damian
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant (JG) Cor Cordale
Engineering Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant (JG) Sandra Garcia
Operations Officer
USS Wellington

Ensign Paul Copeland
Acting Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Wellington