Rescue

Posted on Fri Jun 12th, 2026 @ 8:03pm by Lieutenant Varkl Brukh & Captain Maddox Greene & Commander Saul Whitford & Lieutenant T'Vei & Lieutenant Jane Belanger Dr

1,506 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Lines in the Vacuum
Location: USS Frontier

[Bridge]

The doors to the turbolift opened as Captain Greene entered the bridge. He was in the middle of going over recent orders sent over from Starfleet Command when he was interrupted by the bridge about a possible attack by a civilian freighter. "Comm what do you have?"

"The transport Gatlin reports that they were attacked and chased by Nausicaan pirates. Once they crossed into sector 47, the pirates gave up on their pursuit. But they're dealing with issues to their engines and report several injuries."

"Whitford set a course for Five-Two-There-Seven mark, warp three, " Greene ordered.

'Course laid in, Captain,' Whitford replied, fingers rushing across the panel. Easing the ship to Warp Three as quickly as he felt the ship could take it, his hands returned to the flight controls, gently steering them at speed to their destination.

Sitting in the center chair, Maddox opened the comm. "Greene to engineering and sickbay. We're en route to assist a damaged civilian transport with injuries. Standby for arrival in twenty-five minutes."

[Engineering]

In engineering Brukh pressed the comm panel on the main engineering panel, "Engineering acknowledged, out."

"Marcus", Brukh barked. The Ensign manning the core temperature console stiffened in response, "you can continue watching the temperatures from over here at the main console. Keep everything stable at current levels, I'll be in my office."

"...Aye sir" Marcus replied wide eyed at the implied responsibility.

Brukh sat at the desk and quickly reviewed the engineering roster, he selected 3-person groups covering structural, EPS and engine systems as damage repair teams and sent alerts to report to main engineering immediately. When they arrived he informed them of the situation, gave team directions of what specifically they needed to check for upon arrival, and sent them to get supplies. He reported back to the bridge that everything was ready with 5 minutes to spare.

[Sickbay]

Sickbay was decent but not exactly extensive. Jane sprung on her feet after acknowledging the short brief from the Bridge and took in her surroundings. People had served, travelled and survived on that ship. She would extend every bit of medical aid needed.

Jane started to rearrange the place to fit the incoming situation. Emergency supplies at the ready, arranged in a neat row of boxes; a couple surgery trays... one more for safety, she decided, because there wasn't always time to sterilise instruments in between. She unfolded a couple chairs and found some room for them.

"A few casualties" wasn't much to go by but it was what she had. At least she had some 20 minutes to prepare. It wasn't always the case. Then a quick check informed her that half of that was gone already. She got a glass of water, with a quick mental check on when she last ate, because the stress and pressure would have her need to hydrate while there wouldn't be time, potentially affecting performance and decision time. It was often overlooked, even sneered at but she knew better. They may end up being light casualties but it was the thing... She would have to find out and triage on the go.

Looking around again, Jane nodded to herself. It was fine. She was as ready as she was going to be.

[Bridge]

The Captain turned his attention to the tactical station. "T'Vei keep an eye out for those Nausicaans. I find it hard to believe that they just took off."

"Yes, Captain," the Vulcan acknowledged, her eyes never leaving the scanners. Why had the Nausicaans broken off pursuit? Had they detected the Frontier and decided to avoid a fight? That didn't match the cultural profile. Was it because the Gatlin exited their territory? Or was this a trap for them?

"Captain, there is a nebula approximately two AU from the Gatlin's present position," she said. "I advise scanning before we lower our shields to send support teams to the freighter. It may not be a coincidence that the Gatlin's engines were damaged but not destroyed. They could be bait."

From what they were told, the Nausicaans stopped pursuing once the Gatling entered this system. But better safe than sorry. "Good suggestion. Keep an eye out, I find it weird that they stopped pursuing right as they entered this system."

"It is uncharacteristic," T'Vei acknowledged. "Science, I will require access to the long range sensors while we make our approach."

"Access to long range sensors are at your control," science reported.

'Nausicaans do love a good ambush,' Whitford replied as he looked through the viewer at the Gatlin. 'This wouldn't even be there most creative option for one either,' he said, as memories from his past clutched at him like an icy hand around his heart. 'Can we use a shuttlepod to head over to them while we work out where the Nausicaans are?'

"Not a bad idea at all," Maddox agreed. "Whitford you have the bridge." Tapping the comm, he called out. "Brukh and Belager meet me down in the shuttle bay in ten minutes."

"Captain," the science officer spoke. "Getting strange atmospheric readings from the planet below. I would advise avoiding any emergency landings on the surface."

"Any more details?"

"Going to have to resume further scans, once Lieutenant T'Vei completes her task with the sensors."

The Captain nodded in approval. "When you get a chance, investigate more into the atmosphere. Might as well do some exploring while we're out here. Whitford, she's all yours." The Captain then stepped into the turbolift.

[Engineering]

After hearing the page calling him to the shuttle bay, Brukh grumbled about the evident change of plans. "Wouldn't you know something would get fouled up. Marcus!" he shouted from the office.

The young officer appeared at the door seconds later, "Yes chief?"

"Sounds like I'll be heading over to the Gatlin early. You're in charge until I get back, don't break anything, and have the repair teams stand by." Brukh barked while putting his jacket on and shouldering a tool-kit and headed to the shuttle bay.

[Bridge]

Moving from the Helm controls to the center chair - a distance of a few steps but a world away in the weight that settled on his shoulders, Whitford nodded at the relief officer who took his place. The confines of the center chair were a familiar feeling to the officer, but it was always an exhilarating feeling to take command of a ship.

'Alright, we all heard Captain Greene,' Whitford said easily with a gleam in his eye, and a smile playing about his lips. 'T'Vei take us to Yellow Alert - either we'll need to pop over to the Gatlin sharpish if something goes wrong, or the Nausicaans make an appearance.'

Shifting around in the chair, Whitford leaned towards the Science officer on duty and offered them a full smile. 'As for you, could we scan the planet below for the anomalies while we keep an eye out for the Nausicaans?'

"I'm sure the lieutenant and I can find a way to share. I'll begin an analysis right away, sir," the ensign in teal assured Whitford, returning the grin.

The lights on the bridge changed hue and an alarm briefly sounded. "Yellow alert established," T'Vei reported dryly. "I have located the Nausicaan vessel. They remain in sector 48 and are presently moving away from our position. There are no antimatter signatures or notable particle disturbances in the nebula. It is clear."

"No sign of their tech on planet either," Riley reported from the science station. "It's like they don't want to fight us? Could they be coming back with reinforcements?"

"Unlikely. Their ship would remain at station to track our movements," T'Vei said.

'The Nausicaans are moving away?' Whitford said to himself, quietly puzzled. He nodded at T'Vei, 'alright then Lieutenant, keep an eye on them. When we have the scientific updates let me know.' Though impossible to relax entirely when in command of a ship, Whitford felt a small knot of tension unwind from between his shoulders at the news the Nausicaans were moving away.

"The surface of the planet is a mess," Riley reported. "Nitrogen, oxygen, and chloromethane atmosphere; it's a balmy 500 degrees down there, Commander."



"The Nausicaan vessel has stopped," T'Vei said. "Holding position in Sector 48."

"You jinxed it," Riley said. To the Vulcan's raised eyebrow they added. "You said they weren't holding position and now they are."

The Vulcan's eyes slightly narrowed in consideration. "My report had no bearing on their change of actions, Ensign."

"That's where you're wrong. You see--" the scanners beeped, cutting Riley off as they pressed several buttons and peered into the viewer. "Commander, I'm detecting a ship on the surface of the planet. Well, it was a ship, there are pieces across the surface."

=================
Captain Maddox Greene
Commanding Officer
Sentinel Station

Commander Saul Whitford
First Officer & Chief of Operations
Sentinel Station

Lieutenant T'Vei
Chief Armory Officer
Sentinel Station

Lt Varkl Brukh
Chief Engineer
Sentinel Station

Lt Jane Belanger, MD
CMO
Sentinel Station

 

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