Buried History - Chapter 3 - A Great Burden Befalls
Chapter 3
The Bridge of the Accipiter
From the command chair Dagon Axon Ghanganorr growled, “What happened?”
Caitlyn Ryan coolly answered, “It appears a moon in the Gedasada system exploded.”
Dagon, the ship’s head of security, though not entirely enamoured with the ship’s head of science, admired her calm and collected nature. After himself, she was the first back on her feet after the ship had been cruelly swiped at by a massive shock wave.
He addressed her across the darkened bridge. “Exploded. How?”
Strobing red alert lights bathed her face. She waited a moment before her LCARS came back online again. Power once more feeding to it just as new lights started to come up as the ship slowly regained control of its systems. The computers behind her spat out a fountain of angry sparks but she ignored the outburst and fed Dagon his answers.
“Records show several moons of the outer planets are used extensively in mining. In particular, there is extensive dilithium mining on Tavo IV. It is the likely epicentre of the blast and over mining a possible cause.” She hated conjecture but with no sensors, she had no answers.
“What of the damage to the system? The home planet is the only m-class correct?”
Caitlyn inwardly approved of Dagon’s methodical approach. She was surprised at his concern for the persons in the system rather than the welfare of the crew. She had not expected him to prioritise so. However, she would have expected him to know some of this information already. She was, as always, quick to find fault in the command of others.
“Correct. However, there are a number of colonies on the various planets. Until we have sensors up and running again there is no way to tell how badly they have been hit. But with the population density of the homeworld there will be significant damage and high casualty rates.”
Significant was an underestimate. They both knew the clinical terms did not serve the disaster that awaited them.
Dagon then turned to Roan Cutter at Ops and asked for the ship’s status. It
had been his primary concern but seeing that Lt Commander Ryan was on her on her feet and prepared to give an initial report he had asked her some pertinent questions first.
Cutter began his report. “Overall, the news is good. Lt Hayes quickly turned the ship into the shockwave helping to deflect much of the force. So damage to ship systems was fairly limited. There are many bumps and bruises reported; many minor burns too from exploding systems. I haven’t a full brief from Engineering but there have been numerous overloads in localised areas throughout the ship. The turbolifts are out of action. In addition, replicators and transporters, some severely damaged, are offline and unless required in an emergency I’d advise they remain offline to conserve power. The signs from Engineering regards warp drive are not good. As reported by Lt Commander Ryan the ability to scan is presently hindered and communications are also impossible. The biggest concern is that the warp core is non-operational.”
Dagon made contact with Sanjeev Keresh in Main Engineering. He in return answered in his deep tones,
“The core has been damaged. We are currently ascertaining the degree and extent of the damage. All being well we can be up and running again within the hour but if it is something more serious, which I believe it might be, we could be here for a number of hours yet.”
“I understand Keresh. Make the core your top priority but I need teams to repair the communication systems. We need to raise Gedasada Minor and make contact with Starfleet.”
“I’ll put a team onto it right away. The chief is on her way and is issuing orders on the foot to the entire engineering department.”
Dagon cut the link curtly with no pleasantries as he saw no need to prolong the conversation with immediate work to be completed.
“Mr Cutter, the Doctor will need assistance in preparation for the medical emergencies we will meet at Gedasada Minor. Coordinate efforts please in the hangars and cargo bays. Major Raleigh and Commander Harrison should report to the bridge too in order that we can organise relief measures.”
“Yessir.”
“Mr Hayes...” Gareth Hayes looked backed expectantly, wincing as he strained his injured back. “You did well.”
“Eh ... thank you sir.”
“You will now go to the medical bay with the other injured.”
He protested. “I’m perfectly fine.”
“You are injured Lieutenant. Have it treated or you will serve no useful purpose for the rescue operations we have ahead of us.”
Reluctantly and not willing to argue with the forceful Trammealean Hayes stood unsteadily holding his arm. “Ok then.”
****
After ten minutes Commander Forrest and Moira Nikochevski entered the bridge their progress slowed by the turbolifts temporarily put out of action. Dagon proceeded to bring him up to date. In the meantime, patchy contact with Starfleet had been made and impulse engines were operational for now.
“We are currently at full impulse en route to Gedasada.”
Nathan nodded his approval, then to Caitlyn operating the station through which the communication had been received he asked, “What response have we received from Starfleet?”
“They are mobilising aid relief with the
Carling Paul Linnaeus hospital ship being prepped and en route. Luckily, it was nearby on its way towards the war front. Command also reports that it will send another vessel for support.”
“That is a good thing since our progress is hampered. What is the status in the medical bay?”
“Dr Fichtner had not reported yet but there was an influx of bumps and bruises mostly. A few possible broken limbs reported by Nurse Stone. I am sure the doctor will update.”
Nathan winced. “The doctor was badly knocked on the head. Laura was helping to transport her to medical.” For a fleeting second Forrest looked to Caitlyn as if to implore her to fill the void. But he knew better than to ask it of the former doctor. “I’m sure all will be ok. Just make sure that all of the necessary preparations for the medical emergency on Gedasada are being made.”
Nathan then sat in the command chair and with a push of several buttons opened a ship wide comlink. “This is Commander Forrest. We have survived the blast of an exploding moon. We have minor injuries but the people of Gedasada will not have been so fortunate. So people we need to prepare for the emergency situation we are likely to find there. Your department heads will assign duties in preparation for our relief mission. In the meantime, we also have need to affect repairs to the ship systems. Work hard and work together for the people of the planet need us. I have every faith in your ability. That is all.” He cut the link.
He nodded to himself satisfied to his speech. He hoped and believed it would help to alleviate worries among the crew and without explicitly drawing attention to the fact coming from him it pointed out the absence of the Captain. Dagon deigned not to grunt at the completion of the speech, feeling there was no need for the communication. The crew were expected to work and were compelled to do so. They did not require a motivational speech.
Similarly, Caitlyn whilst she appreciated the motives and the manner in which Forrest worked she too did not find the whole speech necessary.
Harrison and Raleigh entered the bridge and Forrest stood by way of welcoming them before turning to those assembled. “Ok senior officers in the conference room with the exception of the Doctor and we can get updates from Laura in Engineering.”
Nathan then marched with feigned confidence into the conference room. However, he did not dare to look back in case they did not follow him. It seemed a totally ridiculous notion. They were all professional officers but somehow faced with command in an emergency that did not rely on his using his security or tactical knowledge he felt suddenly adrift. He was used to being there for Vaughan, either as a sounding board or an ideas man. To have the burden now placed firmly on his shoulders put him in an unenviable position. Nathan came to realise the true significance of his role and the duty he had to the people of this ship and the planet they limped slowly to in rescue.
The conference room filled quickly alleviating Nathan’s unwarranted secret fears of a moment ago. As each person took up his or her department’s responsibilities and necessary course of action Nathan felt comforted in having a skilled and hard working crew. It made the job much easier and he simply had to facilitate each member of the senior team to take his or her turn in talking.
He addressed Huyio Ferria, his one time Academy bunk mate and friend since, who was the head of flight control.
“Ok Huyio, work it out with Major Raleigh and the medical bay. Each relief runabout will need to carry troops to help set up the relief and triage centres, the necessary equipment and supplies and medical personnel at least until the Carling Paul arrives. Commander Harrison we’ll need your pilots to fill in too on the runabouts.”
Harrison nodded in the direction of the chief of Flight Control. “We can sort it en route to the flight deck.”
Huyio assented than looked to Nathan for the permission to be about their business. “Very good.”
Caitlyn Ryan snapped her fingers drawing their attention. Huyio almost laughed at the gesture’s supreme arrogance. Harrison narrowed his eyes at being beckoned like some bell hop or waiter. If her gesture was one of habitual instinct, her thoughts were more carefully chosen. “Before they go Commander, might I suggest we launch a runabout? With warp capability and sensors it will be able to relay pertinent information and allow us to co-ordinate our relief measures. We are still dealing with many unknown quantities.”
Nathan frowned in thought and in consternation for having not thought of such a course of action. “Very well. Ok Huyio you heard Lt Commander Ryan’s suggestion. Have the runabout ready at the earliest possible moment. We will need someone from your scientific teams to be attached to the runabout.”
Caitlyn nodded as she expected this to be so. Nathan released Harrison and Huyio to their tasks. The two men then stood and walked away promptly, with Harrison tapping his combadge as he went through the door calling his pilots and flight deck engineer to duty.
Swivelling to the conference room viewscreen, Nathan looked at the distracted face of Keresh concentrating on another matter down in engineering. He appeared to be giving an ensign an order, once he was finished, Nathan addressed him. “Sanjeev, we need the transporters online by the time we get there. Will that be possible? Otherwise we will be wholly dependent on shuttles and runabouts.”
Nathan was thinking that not only would it be time-consuming in ferrying much needed supplies, equipment and personnel down to the surface. It also meant that any emergency cases needing attention in the medical bay would either face a delay getting to the ship or the prospect of treatment on the surface where depending on what conditions they discovered could be less than adequate.
“All I can say is that it is one of our top priorities. Transporter room 1 is most definitely out of action. It was the main centre of a power overload. It needs an overhaul we won’t be getting to today. We’re working on transporter 2 and focusing on repairing it before the team works on another. That way you get one up and going.”
Laura then came into view over Keresh’s shoulder,
“Nathan, I’ve just assigned two technicians to work on the cargo transporters. They weren’t as badly affected because we were about to service them after we took on supplies at the Tyopmia space port. We’ll have one solely for transporting down relief and supplies. The other can be prepped to take personnel but we will hold off on that in case we manage to get Transporter room 2 up and going.”
“Very good.”
“Commander, if I might ask Caitlyn if she could have some from her department assist in the sensor repairs?” Nathan rarely heard the science officer called by any of the other senior officers by her first name. Perhaps by the Captain or the ever-informal Laura of course but not by any others. He supposed Sanjeev did have a prior working relationship with Caitlyn before on the
Quicksilver.
“I’ll have a team there in a minute.” She tapped her combadge and ticked off the personnel mentally as she called them off their current duties. As she did Nathan took the opportunity to quiz Laura about Dr Fichtner.
“She’s going to be fine. Or so I have finally come to realise. I think I went into the medical bay all guns blazing and forcing them to do every sort of test that I could think of. She should still be sedated but even I warned them to wake her in time before we get to Gedasada. Otherwise it won’t be worth our lives.”
"Ok thanks Laura. I’ll let you get back to your work.”
He turned to find himself in the conference room with just Caitlyn Ryan and Counsellor Kelly Brawn. He only realised now that Brawn had responded to his call for all senior officers and had not noted her presence before now.
Very remiss Nathan.
Nathan tried a jovial tone with the counsellor. “Not quite the first day you could hope for.”
She smiled soothingly and with a knowing look to Caitlyn, which Nathan could not work out, she said, “I understand you are busy Commander, but if you feel the need to talk let me know I am here. In the meantime, I’ll give whatever assistance I can in the medical bay.”
“Thank you ... Kelly.” Looking to Caitlyn, her arms folded, he queried her presence.
She waited until the demure counsellor had left the conference room. Caitlyn then locked eyes with Nathan. For a fraction of a second, he wanted to shudder as the cold calculating stare bore into him. There was no denying the woman was a brilliant scientist and all accounts told that in her former career she was a brilliant doctor. But her captivity in the hands of the Cardassians had changed that and the person that she was. There was something feral about her. She would take no prisoners and she would never allow herself to
ever be taken prisoner again. Hers was a pained history that she did not readily share with others. The cold of her eyes and the lack of empathy they once must have held as a doctor attested to the years she had endured. The pain she carried and the hatred she fostered.
Officious but solicitous she said, “With the Captain out of the picture and you in command, as the second officer that makes me your number one. Is there anything I can do for you? You might not want to go talk to the counsellor but you might want to discuss with me any ...concerns.”
Defensively he responded quickly without thought. “I think I’m fine thanks.” His reaction puzzled him until he remembered that to all extents and purposes Caitlyn had more command experience than he had. Her suggestion about the runabout only served to underline this fact. “I understand Ms Ryan that I was not the first choice for this ship’s XO and you may well have been the acting XO on the
Hawkins following its attack but I do think I know what I am about.”
His rebuke appeared to go over her head. “True Commander I do have more in the seat command experience than yourself. More importantly during my time in a Cardassian prison I had to step up to the mark to safeguarding and protecting those from my crew who were let down by an incompetent Captain and a cowardly XO!”
As she spoke, her voice grew heated but then she regained her composure and continued more calmly.
“However, my offer was not by way undermining your authority or ability. I am not insinuating anything Commander Forrest. I am only acting in my capacity as I have seen you.”
“Oh right thank you.” He coloured, feeling uncomfortably mollified. “No. I think the reality of the situation is far different from what I expected taking command would be. A mass relief emergency crisis, a damaged ship ...”
“... a missing Captain.”
“Yes and a missing Captain. Locating him will need to be a top priority. And not just simply because of his importance to this ship but he was with many of the top brass of the government at the time of the blast.”
“Yes sir. I will inform Ignatius to do so once we have sensors up and running again.”
Nathan looked up at her. His face frowning wondering why she was not going to be running her teams from the bridge station. She replied to his unspoken question. “The first officer always leads the away teams and the second officer normally accompanies. However in this instance you will need to remain aboard.” She caught his petulant look at such a prospect. “Until the Captain is found and returned that is.”
He smiled benevolently at her. “Thank you Caitlyn.”
“Also I shall be going with the runabout. I need to be able to see first hand the data and when we relay the sensor information back to you and the Carling Paul Linnaeus I will be able to do so with command suggestions.”
He mulled this over and reluctantly acquiesced.
She turned to take her leave but before she did, she uncharacteristically dropped her cold demeanour. “You’re doing ok Nathan by the way. Just thought you ought to know.”
“Thanks.” She left and he smiled again to himself. Considering the conditions she had found herself taking command in, he took her endorsement as a huge compliment. However, he was not deluded. The real work was yet to come. The real test of his burden.
On the other side of the door, Caitlyn Ryan also mused that the Commander’s real test was yet to present itself and if she found his ability lacking, she wondered what her course of action might be.
She would not forsake fools commanding her ever again. That was the promise she had made to herself when captured all those years ago by the Cardassians. That was why she had turned her back on Starfleet Medical to seek her own command.
To be continued ...
