We're off to see the...

Posted on Thu Feb 13th, 2025 @ 2:20am by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Lieutenant Jock McCrudden & Commander Alec Hunter & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T'ghann-Dex. Doctor & Lieutenant Drevas

3,149 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Voices of the past
Location: USS Blackeagle, Bridge.
Timeline: Current.

Two hours had passed since Finchley had last looked at the chronometer. They should have been re-supplied by now and he was anxious to make sure they were ready to head out. He had to admit, he had a bad feeling about the upcoming mission, something didn't sit right with him.

Still, orders were orders and he was to take the ship out and try and find the USS Ranger, something that had eluded several ships and their searches before them. Heading out onto the bridge he made his way to the centre seat and sat down.

"Status report" he asked.

Alec was at the front of the bridge, standing beside flight control. He turned to face Finchley as he asked his question. We've been resupplied all departments and are ready to depart on your order sir."

Shon was on the bridge. “Medical reports ready Captain.” She replied smiling at him and nodding at Alec.

"Thank you Doctor" Finchley replied, smiling back at Shon, and turning to Alec said, "you as well Commander, take us out."

Stepping out onto the bridge PADD in hand, Isabelle walked across and took a seat. She had the latest update for Finchley to see, but she’d let their departure get sorted first.

"Aye sir," Alec turned to the officer at flight control. "Take us out Mr. Owens."

"Aye sir." came the reply and a slight bump was felt as the docking clamps were released, and the Blackeagle was free.

Shon watched as the ship slowly moved forward, despite her bulk the ship felt light and responsive. The stars hung still in space as Shon thought for a moment about the warmth of the bridge compared to the coldness outside which seemed to be only a few inches away. All in all she was glad to be here, back where she felt she should be. She smiled to herself and turned to leave.

Finchley stood up from the centre seat and started towards his Ready Room, feeling the moment was right for he was about do. He noticed Shon was about to leave the bridge so he called after her, "Oh Please wait one moment before you leave Lieutenant T'ghann-Dex, I'll be right back" and he walked across to his office.

Shon stopped and turned and, for a moment wondered what she had done wrong then realised she should stop thinking like that. she had every right to be a member of this crew. She watched as he entered his office.

Returning moments later with a Padd, Finchley walked back to the centre seat and stood there, clearing his throat.

"Right, attention everyone" he began, holding up the Padd so he could read. "Attention to orders, SFIHQ blah blah blah, the following has been awarded. As the new Second Officer of the USS Blackeagle, Lieutenant T'ghann-Dex is herby promoted to the rank Of Lieutenant Commander with all the rights and privileges that go with it. Congratulations Commander T'ghann-Dex, I wish you every success going forward in your new, and continuing, duty role."

Alec's face split into a wide smile, as he clapped loudly at Shon's promotion. "Congratulations Doctor. I know you will do a wonderful job in your new position."

Shon blushed and looked gratefully towards Alec then to the Captain. "Thank you Captain, this is most unexpected, I hope I live up to the faith you have in me." She looked round the bridge eyeballing everyone. "I can promise I will do my best for all, whether it be in sickbay or here on the bridge."

"I would certainly hope so Commander" Kilbane said, grinning at Shon, "a very well deserved promotion, wouldn't you say so Karadis?" he said, turning to the Klingon.

Karadis looked at Shon, "Well, I suppose so..." and she herself uncharacteristically broke out into a cheesy grin, "Of course you do, congratulations Commander, we'll hold you to what you just said."

Finchley looked around the bridge, "Ok everyone, announcements over, back to your duties."

He watched as the crew once again went back to their duties and he himself sat back in his seat.

Kilbane walked up to Shon, and glancing round seeing Finchley facing away from them, he took her hand in his, "Very well deserved" he said in a low voice, "shall we celebrate it later?"

She nodded discreetly smiling at him, it seemed to Shon she had not seen much of him in the last few days. she looked at Karadis, "thank you for your congratulations Commander, we should have a celebration fight!" she nearly laughed.

"Oooooh, someone's feeling brave!" Karadis answered, "but yes, we should actually get some gym time together, we haven't done so in a while."

"Ok, ok, breaktime's over" Finchley said, a smile on his face, "Oh, Kilbane, Karadis, I need to have a word with both of you as well, but we'll do it later."

Karadis and Kilbane glanced at each other, not knowing if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Looking round at Finchley they both said, "Aye Sir."

Finchley looked at the Helm Officer, "Mr Owens, set course for Sierra Sector, warp five."

"Aye Sir, Sierra Sector, warp five" Owens replied.

"It'll take us about ten hours to get there" Finchley said to Alec, "You have the CON Commander Hunter, Commander T'ghann-Dex will relieve you in six hours, meantime, I have to contact SFIHQ."

"Aye sir. I have the Conn." Alec repeated Finchley's order. As he moved to sit in the center seat.

Isabelle stood up from her seat. “Commodore, Before you go there’s more information for you.” She walked around to him.

Finchley stopped as Isabelle spoke. Turning to look at her he said, "I'm all ears Commander, please, carry on."

"From what I've managed to thin down, there were approximately 6 children left behind. Mostly boys with a couple of girls." She handed him the PADD. "Commander Hunter and I have been going over the records we're still waiting for further information to arrive. We used your name as you said, it seemed to open a few doors we wouldn't have opened otherwise."

Taking the PADD, Finchley looked over the information. It was quite scant on details as he'd been told, which made him wonder if there was something more to this than met the eye. "You both think they could have been put through the fostering system, but there could be a reason as to who it was who did that. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the history of the Second World War, but at the end, there was a great clamouring by the Germans soldiers to try and escape being caught and prosecuted for war crimes. They used what was called the 'Ratline', whereby they managed to get out of Germany and down to Spain or, again from Germany, to Rome and then to Genoa. They were given false names and papers and were smuggled to South America. What if an Augment managed to get these children false papers and have them 'fostered' by people sympathetic to Augments, that could be worth checking into, don't you think?"

“Commander Hunter already had that idea Sir, we’ve got searches ongoing as we speak.” Isabelle offered a smile. “As soon as we have definitive answers we’ll let you know.”

"Thank you Commander." Finchley replied. He turned and walked towards his Ready Room, he had a meeting with SFIHQ he wasn't particularly looking forward to having, but such were things in the life of a CO. Reaching his room, he entered, sealed the doors and turned of all recording devices, this was something private he didn't want known by anyone other than the people he would be talking to.

[Deck 4]

Meanwhile, holed up in his office together with a handful of Shr'Nesh's intelligence analysts, Drevas had spent the past four hours trawling for what little information there was to have on the Ranger. The search had, so far, yielded basically no results. Only when one of the analysts, a young Caitian woman, chucked her PADD on Drevas' desk with a frustrated mrowl did he order literally everyone to stop work and catch a breather, and come back to work later.

As his office emptied for the time being, Drevas let out a sigh and put his head on the table. Bureaucracy. Helpful in some ways, infinitely annoying in practically every other way. Looking for leads without at least four pips on one's collar was like searching for invisible needles in a mountainous haystack. His stomach growled, but somehow he could scarcely find in himself the mental energy to eat.

"Oh look, wood on wood" Karadis said from her stance leaning on the door frame to Drevas office, "I though I heard a hollow sound."

As heavy as his head felt, Drevas forced himself to look up from his desktop at her. He had no doubt that Shr'nesh was here to, well, 'encourage him' might've been a slightly off turn of phrase; hopefully that didn't involve a finger shoved into... well, that's best left unsaid for now. "Your analysts have been of great assistance. All three of them. I will find a way to thank them for tirelessly working with me on our search when all is said and done."

"Sadly, our search turns up little to nothing. Consistently. What we can find is locked behind the walls of bureaucracy." He added, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure they'll all find a way for you to thank them personally Drevas" Karadis replied, winking at him, "it's whether or not you can find the energy to do so...one after the other."

She walked over and sat down opposite him, "Bureaucracy, as you say, is like a locked door, you just have to find the right key to open it to make it work to your advantage. Now, who do you know who might be able to 'work their magic', 'pep you up a bit' and 'make things happen'....mmmmhhhh?"

Trust Shr'nesh to make innuendos in every single sentence. Drevas had no issues finding ways to personally compensate each of her analysts for the hours they'd spent in his office pouring over useless records and chasing leads that led to nowhere, but if said 'compensation' consisted of needing him to betray the relationship that they held, well, suffice to say that he had equally few issues drawing the line firmly in the sand.

"That person you speak of is currently seated across from me at my desk. I hope you don't mind that I'll have to eat and talk - we've not eaten much except for some light snacks for the past five hours." He waved at the small plastic bowls of assorted snacks that sat unfinished on his desk - all from the intelligence officers and the handful of his own crew who had any background in information gathering. "Your input is forever appreciated, my dear." Drevas smiled and walked up to the replicator to order lunch. Here he was thinking of something hot, comforting and preferably soupy. Noodles, perhaps. Mmm.

"You're correct" Karadis replied. "and feel free, no point in feeling hungry whilst you're working, it just adds to the annoyance and frustration you're having. Whilst we're on duty, the use of the term 'my dear' doesn't happen, it's either Sir or Commander, we still maintain discipline even if it's just the two of us. I'm happy to help, just tell me what you have found out and I'll see if I can get anything more."


"Understood. Commander." Drevas smiled thinly as he stood up to replicate lunch. Today's meal of choice: a warm, soupy bowl of noodles. He was secretly glad for the window of opportunity to enjoy a hot meal like this - yes, even with their oddly vague mission scope.

"All of what we've found so far is locked behind bureaucratic barriers. As you can imagine." Drevas added as he sat back down. "No one I've gotten to help me so far has the appropriate clearance."

"Ok, tell me what you have found out so far, and then we'll see what I can do to help you" Karadis replied.

"I need help getting past these walls of bureaucracy. 'Admirals' clearance or higher." Drevas reached over to his monitor and pulled up the list of files he and the analysts had stored up over the course of their search. "Your analysts think they might contain useful details, but no one is able to access them in order to verify that."

"I can't get you Admirals clearance" Karadis replied, "However, the Commodore may be able to help in that respect, he may be able to pull in a favour or two, I'll ask him."

[Bridge]

Six hours later after a shower and much coffee Shon entered the bridge for her shift. she looked around for Karadis and Kevin and was gratified not to see them there. moving over to Alec. "Commander I have arrived for my shift, anything I should be aware of?"

"Hello Shon," Alec replied pleasantly. "Nothing to report. Nice and quiet. We are on course at warp five. So, steady as she goes." He answered as he rose, exiting the centre seat and allowing Shon to sit down.

"Thank you Commander, "Shon replied however she did not sit but walked around each station asking what was happening and if there were any problems. There were non so she returned to the chair and sat down. Pressing the console she asked "any problems in engineering Lieutenant McCrudden?"

"Everything's fine down here bridge" McCrudden replied.

Finchley entered the bridge from the turbolift and walked towards the centre seat, "Report Commander T'ghann-Dex" he said to Shon.

Shon stood, " Sir, All departments report in with no problems. We are currently at warp five."

"Helm, time to Sierra Sector?" Finchley asked.

"We'll arrive there in twenty five minutes Commodore" the officer at Helm replied.

At that point the turbolift doors opened again and out came Karadis, followed by Kilbane. Red eyed and looking dishevelled, he walked over to the Tactical console and stood beside it. Karadis walked over to the centre seat and glared at Shon, though said nothing.

Shon noted how he looked and her heart went out to him.

"Is there something you need Commander?" Finchley asked her.

Karadis turned to face Finchley, "Oh, I just wondered if there was anything our new Second Officer needed to say to me, something she wanted to report, you know, as I'm your 'special assistant', Commodore" Karadis answered.

Shon turned to look at her, “Nothing currently Commander“ and looked away.

"Mhhhhmmmmm" Karadis replied, "no bumps in the road, nothing out the unusual happening, that's very good, everything's as it should be then" she added.

Finchley knew exactly what Karadis was driving at, "Commander Karadis, Commander T'ghann-Dex just said there was nothing, so unless you have anything specific in mind you need to ask, return to your duties."

"Ah yes, doing ones duty, that's a fine thing wouldn't you say Commodore?" Karadis asked.

Finchley was trying not to show his impatience, "You're skating on thin ice Commander Karadis, is there something you need or not?"

"No...no, just wanted to see if everything was 'hunky dory' as humans would say" Karadis replied.

A snort of derision came from Kilbane who still stood at the Tactical console.

Finchley looked over, "You have something to say Commander Kilbane?"

"Who me....nooooo Commodore, oh, except that I don't think everything's as it should be, things have changed here on the bridge. The parameters of certain ships situations I mean."

"Are we really going to do this now?" Finchley asked.

"I don't know what you're referring to Sir when you say that, I was just saying things have changed here on the bridge" Kilbane answered.

Finchley clucked his tongue and stepped over to where Kilbane was. Looking at him he said, "Then perhaps we should discuss in private what you believe has changed so that I can answer."

"Oh no Commodore, I wouldn't want you to go out your way to explain any changes that may have happened, I've already seen what it is" Kilbane replied.

Finchley gave a wry half smile, "Just see to it that you do your job Commander."

"You'll be the consummate expert on 'doing things' Sir" Kilbane replied, now staring daggers at Shon.

Karadis moved from where she was and on passing Shon, she said out of the corner of her mouth, "He's not wrong, is he?" and kept walking. She stood beside Finchley and looked at Kilbane, "How about we check on the information you have on how to possibly track what may have happened to the Ranger Kilbane."

"Good idea, it's a little 'stale' here on the bridge" Kilbane answered. Both Karadis and Kilbane walked towards the turbolift, and as they reached it, Karadis turned back and looked at Shon, "We'll be updating you personally of what's going on Commander, you know, following the Chain of Command and all that" then she and Kilbane stepped through the now open 'lift doors.

Shon looked at Finchley then at the closed door of the turbolift then went to look out of the view screen and then to each console inwardly seething. This cannot go on, she thought.

Alec was still on the bridge he had moved to the rear of it once Shon had relieved him. He had just witnessed Karadis and Kilbane come on to the bridge and the strange dynamics and conversation they had with Finchley and Shon. Something was definitely going on between all of them and he could sense it was something that could cause problems if not addressed.

Shon turned to Alec, "Commander I am sorry you had to witness that." She turned away and walked to the main view screen her hands behind her back looking at the warp field created by the 'Eagle' as she moved through space. All Shon wanted to do was hide in sickbay or, better still her quarters but she knew she had to stay there. The ship was under her watch and the crew along with it. However she fought back tears wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Alec nodded and then walked to where Shon stood. He stood beside her as if he too was looking at the warp field. "Commander, a word if you please." He said quietly and then plunged forward, "I don't know what is going on. It isn't my business but I do know you are upset and that is my business as XO. I want you to know I am here for you if you wish to talk, or you just want to vent. I am an excellent listener as well. Point is I am here for you."

 

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