Author's notes: These are compiled posts by multiple players for the
Earth Spacedock RP on the
Star Trek Online forums. My character was Elric (w Zeta). This continues from the last
ESD entry. Written in June/July 2017.
Earth Spacedock, Pages 122-124
Earth Spacedock - Operations
After not having much luck with the Engineers, Elric returned to the Operations section on Earth Spacedock. It was busy as usual, but he noticed a lack of Nats.
"Something is off here," he said to Zeta, who hibernated on his bicep. "I wonder where everyone is? There must be a mission going on."
Jim Dennison walked in, looking around, and then to Elric, then walked off to one of the communications officers. After speaking for a while, Jim walked over to Elric. "You have a ship?"
"Yeah," Elric replied inquisitively. "The
Marrakesh, a survivor and spotlessly clean as opposed to anything you may have heard elsewhere. But what's going on?"
"The Admiral is on a mission that's probably unbelievably dangerous," replied Jim. "Is she ready to fly?"
"Not yet, but it will be," Elric replied. "Any idea what the mission is?"
"He apparently brought out the U.S.S.
Sally,
Legacy, and the
Lexington, and presumably the
Mephiles," said Jim. "Apparently it's something big involving the Na'kuhl. Word has it he's amassing some kind of fleet we won't like."
Jim slowly walked onward, motioning Elric to follow. "The
Firestorm-F is stuck in spacedock, possibly indefinitely. I want to go out there, and I know a shuttle just won't cut it. Are you with us?"
Elric nodded. "I'm in."
"Barnes to Captain Elric," came the comm through air.
"The Marrakesh is good to go. Just be sure to choose your command codes before you board."
The Captain smirked. "Perfect, thanks Commander. I've got a very anxious Captain and a high priority mission. Elric out." Then he turned to Dennison. "I take it the situation is grim and the odds are against us? Sounds like fun."
"I am not anxious, only concerned," remarked Jim. "Yeah, it sounds like fun. We'll go meet the guys I called down to help and then let's go."
Jim walked out of operations, meeting 1 of 6, 3 of 5, 7 of 14, Harrison, and the EMEH. Jim turned to Elric. "They're all here."
"That was fast," remarked the Captain. "We can board my ship when you're ready. It's this way." Elric lead the group toward the internal shipyard.
---
U.S.S. Marrakesh, Bridge
The feeling of taking command of his own ship again was immeasurable. While the Bridge filled out, he took solace in the fact he felt at home now, despite his entire crew being holograms. "I'll have to work on that," he said to himself.
"Ship is ready to go, sir," came the report of a Rigelian tactical officer handing him a PADD.
Elric was taken aback. "Whoa!" Then he calmed himself. "Sorry, I'm not used to that whole face thing you've got going on. We'll have to reprogram you."
"The name is Gibbs, sir, and I'm not a hologram; one of a very few on this ship," he answered.
The Captain relaxed, hesitantly. "Well this is awkward. Also, what kind of holograms are everyone?"
"The program was carried over from the
Amaterasu, so the same that were there. They're not full fledged sentient holograms, but enough to follow orders and such."
Elric nodded. "Perfect. Take your station, Lieutenant Commander. We're about ready to exit the interior of Spacedock."
Jim sighed and sat in the guest seat. "You know, I brought a few officers for a reason. If you need any of them at tactical or science..."
Elric nodded. "Absolutely. Any stations they're willing to take is fine. Mr. Gibbs will take tactical. In the meantime, let's take us out."
1 of 6 took the security station, 3 of 5 went for the conn, and 7 of 14 headed for the science station. Jim slowly turned to Elric. "Do you have a first officer?"
"That would be you, if that's what you're alluding to," Elric smirked. "Though, you are a Captain, so I'm not entirely sure how that works."
As the
Noble-class U.S.S.
Marrakesh made its way out of the interior of Spacedock into the vast coldness of interstellar space, Elric kept a weather-eye forward before realizing he had no direction.
"Heading, Captain?"
Jim nodded to 3 of 5, who just shrugged. "What? I don't know the heading."
Jim sighed, walked over with the PADD he got earlier, then walked back and sat down in the first officer's chair. "Actually, having been the Admiral's first officer for a long while, I know that it works out. Just another rank, really."
3 of 5 entered the coordinates Jim had given him. "Ready."
"Maximum warp. Engage," Elric said, and the
Marrakesh jumped to warp.
While the ship sped through warp, the Captain took a breath.
"ETA?"
"3 minutes," replied 3 of 5.
"Sir, I'm detecting a lot of ships out there," reported 7 of 14. "Several configurations. The U.S.S.
Sally,
Mephiles,
Legacy,
Firestorm, the original, that is, and the
Lexington are all accounted for. There's a Krenim Battleship in formation with them..."
"...presumably the K.I.V.
Kyana, I believe," said Jim, motioning 7 to continue.
"A single
Vengeance-class dreadnought, a
Nova-class science vessel who's transponder indicates her as the
Equinox, and a large number of Terran Empire starships, several configurations, half of which are of 26th century designs. The I.S.S.
Enterprise-J and the I.S.S.
Sally are among them."
Jim slowly turned to Elric. "The comms officer I talked to said I wouldn't like it, but this is ridiculous!"
"There's also a small force of Krenim Coalition vessels heading for them at warp 7," reported 7 of 14.
"Curious. What are they all planning?" asked Jim, wondering.
"Seems a bit of an over-kill," Elric agreed as the ship dropped warp. "But if it's the Na'kuhl, then perhaps it's just right."
"U.S.S. Marrakesh, this is U.S.S. Sally," came an incoming transmission.
"State the nature of your presence, immediately."
Jim motioned for someone to open the responding channel. "Captain Dennison here. We've come out here with Captain Elric and his new ship to assist. Request Admiral Nat for reporting and further orders."
"Admiral Nat is not currently available," replied the
Sally.
"Commander Burt here," soon came a different voice from the same vessel. Jim seemed to relax a little.
"I'd suggest you beam over with Captain Elric."
Jim turned to Elric. Elric turned to Jim.
"Very well, Commander," Captain Elric replied. "We're on our way."
---
U.S.S. Sally, Bridge
Jim and Elric were directed to the Bridge and were then directed from there to the Ready Room where Captain 11 of 14 and Burt were waiting for them. 11, in the chair behind the desk, motioned Elric to the nearby couch.
"So, what's going on?" asked Jim to 11 and Burt.
"A group of rogue Na'kuhl have been trying to get at Scott for years, but only indirectly," said 11. "Asteroids, directing other enemy forces towards us, etc. etc. They started getting a lot more direct since yesterday. Their leader is a General Toros."
"Prala called in General Malin of the Klingon Defense Force, who has the location of the base, we hope," continued Burt, with 11 nodding in approval.
"Where's the Admiral? What are you all doing now?" asked Jim.
"We sent a team in a modified Delta Flyer equipped with temporal technology and a stealth module. Nat is officially sleeping in his quarters, but in reality, he's out there assisting aboard the timeship
Reality," replied 11. "He said something about temporal orders to me, but that's all."
"This only keeps getting better," remarked Jim. "Well, I and Elric came out here with a few of my senior staff and Elric's new ship, if you have any use for us here and now."
"Actually, that would be appreciated," said 11. "I've been busy running things here, so it would be wonderful... wait, where's the
Firestorm?"
"Spacedock, under serious repair," answered Jim.
"Well, you can take the
Mephiles then, since I'm evidently needed here for the moment," requested 11. "If you wouldn't mind, send over the admiral's senior staff when you get there, I take it yours can do the job."
"Sure thing," said Jim. "Although Elric did look a little short on crew..."
"We can probably send over some other officers," said 11.
"I'll be okay," Elric held his hand up, appreciatively. "I want to break in the holo-crew. As for the situation at hand, it seems we've amassed a large and powerful fleet. What's next?"
"Wait for the scouts to return," replied 11. "Until then, prepare your crew. Study Na'kuhl tactics."
---
U.S.S. Marrakesh, Main Engineering
Later, Erlic took some time to tour parts of his new ship. He visited the Arboretum, Auxiliary Control, and the Medical Bay until finally ending up in Engineering.
"Looking for the Chief Engineer?" said Jessie, stepping around a console to reveal herself.
Elric was taken aback by utter surprise. "You're alive??"
"As alive as a hologram can be, I guess," she shrugged. "While you were preparing to launch, Commander Batou was bringing me back online. Turns out he's a handy Engineer after all."
The Captain couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why didn't you contact me?"
"It was more fun this way," she smirked. "Anyway, I'm your Chief, and I say this vessel is in tip-top shape, as well as a used ship could be. I wonder what happened to its previous commander, Captain Alphonse?"
Elric shook his head. "Who cares, I'm just glad you're okay. It's my fault you and Claire nearly bit digital dust."
"Why don't we blame the Borg for that? Too much of negative attention on oneself could lead to feedback loops," she suggested.
Nodding, Captain Elric replied, "Good to have you back, Lieutenant Commander."
"It's nice to be 'good'."
---
Bridge
Elric returned to the Bridge to await the developing situation. He had a personal vendetta against the Na'khul, as it were they that attacked him when he lost his first crew. Elric's distracted mind wandered before the sounds of the back turbolift doors swooshing open pulled him back to reality.
"Look what I found, sir," reported Gibbs, pushing an apprehended Caitian man forward. "He was snooping around the ship."
The Captain stood from his chair to address him. "You're one of the men we captured."
"The name's Akzar," he replied. "Seline is my master. It is said you encountered her, so I was looking for clues as to where she may be."
Elric tilted his head. "Unfortunately, she betrayed us at Unimatrix 226 and, like her, you're supposed to answer for your crimes and be undergoing reverse-mind therapy."
"We're a resilient species, Captain. You can't just change our minds with therapy."
Crossing his arms, Elric replied, "She did mention you voluntarily had yourselves changed. But what's the point of all this? What does your master want the artifacts for?"
"Power. Lots of it," he answered. "You'll see."
Suddenly, Gibbs' console rang off. "Captain, I'm detecting a distress signal in the next Sector. It's coming from a small pod."
"Well, looks like your 'power' is going to have to wait, Akzar," Elric said, turning to the Helm. "Set a course. Gibbs, notify the other ships at our temporary situation."