Time jump was a nice touch to move the story forward, I liked it, even if it jarred me for just a moment. Sandhurst's gaffe was priceless though. On his very first first contact mission no less. I wonder if the Diplomatic Corps will have some choice words with him about that.
I think you handled the time interval quite well. You gave a hint of what transpired throughout the long voyage without going too much into depth. Interesting that Donald met with the Counselor on a couple of occasions - a smart move on his part. I had to laugh at Donald's faux pas. Old habits are hard to break. Good thing Juneau hit the mute button - that could have created some confusion at the other end. Speaking of which, you have really piqued my curiosity. Considering what has transpired, I would imagine that Sandhurst and the Europa might be viewed with both fear and suspicion. Here's hoping they can gain some valuable intel without getting into a fire-fight.
I think you meant to say, "... before getting into a fire-fight." You can't fool us: you want to see what kinda punch Europa can throw just as much as the rest of us.
Well, the embarrassing part got out, though. Didn't Sandhurst say "shit!" while he still had a hot mic? Reminds me of this...just keep listening and you can hear what accidentally got broadcast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDqmAHGHokQ
Wow! Nice digs! Lots of leg-room, seats for the XO and Counselor and what's that smell? Mmmm. Leather. Shiny!
Tee-hee! Kudos on a good chapter. T'Ser's doing a good job as XO. (I still think the T' name is silly, but whatever.)
Thank you everyone for the phenomenal commentary! Oh, and yes, Nerys, the 'mike' was still hot when Donald put his foot in his mouth.
TFV - Operation Vanguard (Chapter 4 continued) “Captain’s Personal Log, supplemental: We’re continuing on course for the commercial space station that we’ve come to learn is called In’Drahn. Europa is traveling at what in most circumstances would be considered a leisurely pace. Due to the ongoing calibration of our new warp drive, Ashok and I have elected not to push the ship beyond Warp 6. Thus far the drive is working flawlessly, and is producing nearly twenty percent more power than if we’d installed the Akira-class unit we were provided as a backup. Informational updates on Operation Vanguard are now flowing into Commander Pell’s Taskforce Operations Center, and the news is mixed. As we’ve been at high-warp for nearly a month longer than most of the other intercept groups, we’re presently playing catch up with the others in regards to getting our bearings and making inroads with the local cultures. Intercept Group 4 has taken losses in trying to slow or divert the Kothlis’Ka armada that remains on its inexorable path towards the Alpha Quadrant. If they maintain their present course, the Kothlis’Ka will skirt the edge of the Tholian Assembly and drive straight into the heart of the Romulan Star Empire. All attempts at communication with the Kothlis’Ka by IG-4 have met with failure. The group’s lead ship, Narcissus, was destroyed by an unknown weapon while deploying a quantum minefield in the path of their fleet, despite being some three and a half light-years ahead of the alien formation. The starship K’mpec was crippled while attempting to reach the remains of Narcissus to search for survivors, and is limping back to rendezvous with her warp-sled and the other IG-4 vessels to effect repairs. IG-2 has fared better, successfully making first contact with the sloth-like Bunati. Despite the frustrations on IG-2's part in communicating with as slow and contemplative a race as theirs, the Bunati have been open to our diplomatic overtures. It is hoped further contact with the Bunati will elicit information on the other species that comprise theirs and successive nomadic waves. As for the rest of our Intercept Group 3, Galaxy and Gallant are making progress in pinpointing the exact heading of the next incoming wave of ships transiting our present sector. Sitak fell behind our group some months ago when her sled experienced a warp-field imbalance, and she’s now proceeding under her own power. However, Sitak’s being diverted to join IG-4 to reinforce their numbers, and will arrive on station in approximately four weeks. Giacobini, the final ship in IG-3, is presently laying comms-buoys that will link-up with the subspace repeaters our warp-sleds manufactured and dropped behind us on our outbound journey. Once these comms-links are established, the time delay for subspace radio from Starbase Bastion will be only eight days, rather than the three weeks it takes us now to receive updated orders. Project Pathfinder is still attempting to locate a local subspace anomaly that they might use as a shortcut to provide TFV with real-time communications with Starfleet Command. The experimental ship Xu Fu was supposed to have arrived at our coordinates by now to take the place of Sitak, but Bastion reports that once she engaged her new slipstream drive, she vanished only to reappear far off-course. Xu Fu emerged from its faster-than-warp slipstream corridor in a disastrous incident that killed the entire leadership contingent of the Serrasa, a previously un-contacted species. At last report, Captain Nara and her crew were trying to make peace with the understandably enraged Serrasa, but they’ve failed to report in since, and no other TFV vessels are close enough to engage in a search for them. In my opinion, that entire crew was sacrificed to S.C.E.’s hubris and the haste of our present emergency status. I fear something similar might have happened to us had I pursued Ra-Havrii’s engine design. Back home there are reports of scattered alien ships that have entered the Alpha Quadrant ahead of the larger formations originally detected by the Hubble Array. Some of these craft have blundered into Federation and Klingon territory, exacerbating an already tense political situation brought about by the Federation finally revealing the existence of the oncoming alien fleets to the other AQ powers. There is intel chatter about mystery ships interfering with trade routes (no doubt giving the Border Service fits) and still others infecting whole planets with plague-like viral outbreaks. Such an event happened with the alien incursion in the N'Skatiee system, and that tragedy alone resulted in millions of deaths. I find myself ashamed to admit relief that IG-3 was re-routed and will no longer be backstopping IG-4’s efforts to destroy or divert the Kothlis’Ka. I know it’s terrible to say, let alone think it, but it’s nice to have somebody else thrown into the lion’s den for a change. Things being what they are, however, I’m sure it’ll be our turn before too long. End log entry.” ***** Though Sandhurst had adapted to the wide, brightly lid corridors of the Luna-class some months ago, T’Ser had spent that same period in cryo-sleep, and was still getting used to the space and comfort afforded by the brand new ship. She and the captain walked abreast down the corridor, following the rest of her away team as they approached the transporter room. T’Ser shot Sandhurst a skeptical look. “You’re sure you don’t want to lead this team?” It was the third time she’d asked him, but his patience remained intact. “Away teams are your responsibility, Exec.” “But it’s a First Contact, sir, our first face-to-face encounter with the Habertaem.” They rounded a corner and Sandhurst offered the merest hint of a smirk. “I already made First Contact with the Habertaem via subspace, Commander, when I introduced them to their first sample of Alpha Quadrant profanity.” She chuckled, “Yeah, there was that.” The rest of the officers entered the transport room as Sandhurst motioned for T’Ser and Pell to hold back a moment. He directed a serious expression towards the two women. “Aside from the regular diplomatic niceties, I’d like you to enquire discretely as to who built this station. Based on the ships the Habertaem are using, their technology is at least a good two centuries behind construction of as formidable an outpost as this.” “Understood, sir,” T’Ser affirmed. Pell merely nodded fractionally. “Additionally, any intelligence they’re willing to share with us about the refugee fleets that have passed this way would be appreciated.” Pell inquired, “Are there any limits on how forthcoming we’re to be with them about our purpose out here?” “No,” Sandhurst said. “Full disclosure is authorized. Let them know where we’re from, why we’re here, and what we hope to gain by making contact with them. The fact that their giant battle-station is being used as a commercial port leads me to believe the Habertaem might value a future trading relationship with the Federation. Their cooperation might help to assure there’s a Federation left for them to trade with in the future.” Pell answered, “Yes, sir.” Sandhurst inclined his head. “Good luck, Commanders.” *****
I've always loved your crew interaction Gibraltar, and this is a great example of it yet again. Its also nice to see just what things are like for the other task forces as well, and that its not all plain sailing. More please!
Sandhurst is placing a lot of responsibility on T'Ser's shoulders here. I don't think the Border Service and her assignment on Bluefin has given her the background to carry out first contact missions. But hey, she's a quick study and so far she's excelled at her new post. I'm curious to see how she handles this. Also, good to get an update on what's happening in the rest of the galaxy. Really gives us an impression of the scope of this calamity that has befallen the Alpha Quadrant.
Yeah, I can see why T'Ser is a little leery about taking the lead on a diplomatic mission. Border Dogs tend to conduct diplomacy by phaser rifle point than open arms. However, T'Ser has always risen to the tasks set before her and is a strong officer with lots of untapped potential. Potential that she might not have gotten to achieve if she had remained in the Dogs alone, especially given her expressed excitement about the Vanguard mission. Still, from the size of the ship (much larger and roomier than she's ever had the comfort to be on) to the scope of the mission and the importance of being diplomatic and getting it right, there's a lot for T'Ser to get a handle on. The scope of the mission ahead was brilliantly conveyed too in the log of Sandhurst. The fates - successes and failures - of the different taskforce groups as well as how various other parties are faring back in the AQ show that there is a lot happening and the fallout from this could be massive on a galactic scale. I'm just not entirely sure what the picture will be when this is all over.
No, indeed... the waters are rough for Starfleet so far. Thanks for the comments! Though this is a first for T'Ser, she's got Pell Ojana with her, who's a veteran of numerous First Contact missions. Additionally, Sandhurst isn't any more experienced with FC's than his XO, aside from that unfortunate business with the Bajora-Tava. And lastly, risking the captain's safety on a meet-n-greet right as TFV's got underway would be frowned upon. Much obliged for the feedback! Thank you for your response! Yes, a lot has happened while Europa and the rest of TFV have been outbound towards their destinations. Whatever the ultimate outcome of this mass-migration, the Alpha Quadrant will never be the same... as to whether that applies to our characters... that remains to be seen.
You can't stop there! After you've made us so curious about the mystery space station! I liked both new installments a lot, especially all the little details you worked in. I'm also glad to see that Sandhurst has been talking to the new councelor. Shocking news about some of the other Starfleet crews, though.
It was also a real gamble giving away the fate of the Xu Fu while BrotherBenny is still working on it. I'm curious on your thought processes there. Was that a joint decision you two made?
Frankly, I'm not a fan of telling so much in the overlong Captain's Log, and it's not just because of what Brother Benny is working on. This story is about Europa and the Gibraltar crew. They should remain the focus, but essentially briefing the audience on what's happening all over the fleet takes some of that focus away. It also establishes a bunch of UT:TFV canon, which is counterproductive. Since the point of this concept is to allow a bunch of UT'ers to contribute to the same story arc, you've just set several limits on where they can take their stories. I'm not saying they've got nowhere to go, but you did create a half-dozen gated communities.