It's Time... part 4
Posted on Tue Nov 21st, 2023 @ 2:31pm by Lieutenant Commander Jaal Jaxom & Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Kell Asaa Dr & Lieutenant T'Lira Sh'Karra & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis
Edited on on Sat Dec 9th, 2023 @ 12:57am
1,207 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: USS Blackeagle
Timeline: current
[Main bridge]
Karadis looked at Isabelle and Jaal, “With Kilbane injured, we need another acting Captain. You’re two are the most Senior Officers left…”
Jaal knew his disciplinary record would keep him from command in any normal circumstances. He knew little of Lieutenant Savette, they'd had no opportunity for social interactions. The same went for everyone else on the Blackeagle's crew for that matter.
While Jaal had no problem taking command, and no doubt in his abilities, he was still the newest member of the senior staff. He didn't want to automatically assume command when there were others of equal rank still capable. "Warrant Officer Karadis," Jaal addressed her officially, "Let me ask you, who do you think Commander Kilbane would pick of the two of us?"
“It’s Chief Warrant Officer, Lieutenant Jaxom” Karadis replied, “and as for who Commander Kilbane would choose, I honestly don’t know.”
"Noted," Jaal replied.
Lieutenant T'Lira Sh'Karra stepped onto the bridge and went to her post at Science 1. She heard the two lieutenants arguing over who would take command. She scanned the area for hostiles and got a tactical read-out. She noticed that the Berions were starting to affect the ship's systems.
"Gentlemen, I believe I can adjust the shield harmonics to repel the Berions.
T'Lira fed the adjustments into the ship's computers and adjusted the shield harmonics.
"We should have normal functionality now," T'Lira said.
T'Lira turned to the two bickering officers.
"Gentlemen, since Jaal is the Chief Operations officer, it would be logical for him to take command," T'Lira Stated
“Just because Lieutenant Jaxom is Chief Operations Officer, it doesn’t automatically follow that he’s the logical choice that he assumes Command Lieutenant Sh’Karra,” Karadis said, “Seniority, bridge experience, Command experience if any, all need to be taken into account,” she added.
“However, if you and Lieutenant Savette were to rule yourselves out from taking temporary Command, then Lieutenant Jaxom would be the logical choice” she finished.
"She's right. The only thing on that list I don't have is seniority on this ship." Jaal stated evenly. "I can do the job. I don't want to step on anyone else's toes. Like the rest of you, I want to get Captain Finchley back safe and sound and with everyone and the ship in tact."
Isabelle didn’t know what to say, but she eventually spoke up. “I’m a Counsellor, I may be a senior officer but I haven’t commanded a ship before. If you can do it Lieutenant...” she looked at Jaal, “then do it. I’ll take dibs on First Officer.”
“The temporary Captain appoints their temporary Executive Officer Lieutenant” Karadis replied to Isabelle, a perplexed look on her face, “There’s no calling dibs on the position.”
"The Chief Operation with starship operations officer has more experience with starship operations. Unless there is a command grade officer present then I suggest Jaal take command," T'Lira advised.
Jaal listened closely to the deliberations. He stood from the operations console looking around the room. "All right, Chief Warrant Officer Karadis, can you run a tactical console?"
“Certainly Acting Captain Jaxom” Karadis replied with same sarcasm Jaal had used when she mentioned her ‘actual’ rank, rather than the one he’d used with her.
"Great, take the tactical station please." Then he looked to the other two women, "Lieutenant Savette, Lieutenant Sh'Karra, can either of you pilot?"
Isabelle offered a wry smile. “A shuttle sure! I’ve never been called up to pilot a starship before.”
Jaal decided he wanted someone a little more confident in their own skills to pilot. If the need arose however, he'd talk her through it. "All right, Lieutenant Sh'Karra, how's your piloting skills?" the Trill asked science officer.
Sh'Karra said nothing.
"All right, take the science console. Savette, you're up. It's just like a shuttle but a whole lot larger."
Next he opened a channel to main engineering, "Lieutenant McCrudden, this is Lieutenant Jaxom, I'm in temporary command until Commander Kilbane gets back on his feet. Status of Blackeagle's main systems please." He could have easily gotten that from the operations console, but he didn't want to leave McCrudden in the dark to what was going on topside.
“As I reported earlier Sir, engines are back online, all main systems appear to be running properly, however, I can’t say with absolute certainty that there’s going to be no after effects” McCrudden replied, “We’ll keep running diagnostics and if we spot anything we’ll let you know, McCrudden out.”
Blackeagle was flying just outside the berion cloud. Jaal wanted to use passives sensors to get a threat assessment of the local area before doing anything else.
Kell nodded at Jaal as she passed with Kilbane on a backboard one of her staff had brought up with him. "I'll keep you updated..."
"That would be appreciated. Thank you." Jaal told her.
At the Operations console, Karadis settled in. The stricken Keldon ship was still on sensors, but stationary. She, like everyone else, was still wondering if any backup ships were on the way.
“Sir, Operations station ready” she reported.
"Beautiful," Jaxom replied. "Let's do a passive sensor sweep of the area. We need to know if any other Cardassian ships are coming to our friend's rescue. Also, scan all comm frequencies. If they're talking, we need to know what they're saying, especially if they mention Dukat or Captain Finchley."
“Aye Captain, initiating passive sensor sweep” Karadis replied.
He wanted to know how badly that Keldon class was damaged but using any active sensors would give them away. Jaal had to just settle for finding that out later.
“I can tell you what they’re thinking over there” Isabelle looked at Jaal. “I’m not your a-typical Betazoid, I’m trained by Betazed Intelligence. I can get into their heads.”
Use all assets Jaal could hear the words of Captain Drex from the six months he'd spent as an exchange officer on a Klingon ship. He told Savette, "Take a mental look around. See what you can find out."
Karadis scanned the screen, something wasn’t adding up. Passive sensors at first showed nothing, then there was an echo, then nothing, then another echo. She tried narrowing the sensor bandwidth, and the echo’s lasted microseconds longer according to the readout.
“Sir, we have a possible echo on passive sensors, but it fades in and out. Passive sensors aren’t strong enough, nor are they able to find out what we’re tracking. I know it may not be what you want, but I believe a full sensor sweep would reveal what’s there” Karadis said to Jaal.
Jaal chuckled. As someone specifically trained in operations he surmised what was going on. "They're doing the same thing we are... using passive scans trying to keep their exact location from us," he explained. "Let's do a full sweep, all sensors, only one pass then shut them back down, let's see what we can find."
"Helm, keep us on the edge of the Berion cloud, once the full sweep is finished, increase to half impulse for thirty seconds, then slow to station keeping for the time being."
TBC...
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