ST: Battlefront "Ambassador's Blues"

[[ Episode 1.2 ]

Captains Log, Stardate 87684.2: The thirty-six hour shore leave I’ve given the crew has been extended to two weeks while the New Orleans undergoes an extensive refit. My own shore leave is over, however, having been consumed by the debriefing by Admiral Quinn, preparing for the arrival of the crew and attempting to find qualified candidates to serve on the bridge. The debriefing with Quinn was mixed, however I left his office with the official rank of lieutenant as well as formal command of the New Orleans. I have accepted Ensign Solek’s transfer request and have assigned him as my first officer, given that under the present crew, he is the only other presently assigned crewman with Bridge Officer certification. As the crew returns, our primary focus will be assisting Earth Spacedock with repairs to the ship. with my lack of seniority it is doubtful I will have a full crew anywhere including the bridge for about a month. Aside from that we await orders from Admiral Quinn regarding other transfers and tasks.

“Computer, end log.” Edgar threw a PADD across the desk and sighed heavily. "...Well isn't this a load of crap.”

“Unable to process inquiry. Please restate.”

“Oh shut up.”

“Silent mode activated.” Edgar slammed his head into the desk at his frustration. The desk system brought up a voice to text message translation, requesting Edgar’s response. “Damn fuzzy logic subroutines...”

He tapped the console and the message appeared. ‘Captain Calvin, we have an incoming transmission from Admiral Quinn.’ Edgar sat back up and composed himself.

“Computer, return audio to previous settings. Accept transmission.” Admiral Quinn’s face appeared on the monitor next to him. “Admiral, how are you today?”

“I’m well thanks. What’s the status on the repairs of the New Orleans?” Quinn seemed a bit more cheerful today, Edgar smiled.

“The Spacedock repair teams reported that the ship needs a new port nacelle; there are bio-neural packs all over the ship that need replacements, which I have to agree; many redundant plasma conduits are fried, including a lot of the backup isolinear chips; and lastly, all the bridge consoles were damaged beyond repair. Reports indicate repairs are on schedule and we should be ready for inspection in two days.” Edgar reported.

“Excellent news, I’m sure the inspection will be fine. When the New Orleans is back up and running, lieutenant, we have a diplomatic mission for you.”

“I’m listening...” Edgar did as the admiral detailed the specifics of the mission. Shortly after the meeting with Admiral Quinn, Solek reported the first crewmen were returning from leave. Edgar sent out crew announcements and other various instructions.

Captain’s Log stardate 87723.5: The New Orleans has passed the repair inspection and has been cleared for duty. Ambassador Sokketh is onboard, along with the original crew now supplemented with crewmen recently graduated from the Acadmey as well as some that are completing their final courses. As soon as Spacedock traffic control clears us for departure, we will be on our way to the P’Jem system. On an unrelated note, I’ve been able to acquire a chief engineer. He’s is an Enhasan, but he was the best person for the job given my options. I can only hope he is up for the task when he arrives. Until my senior staff is assigned, I’m scheduling routine Bridge Officer certifications for all ensigns.

“Helm, have we been cleared to undock?” Edgar asked as he exited the ready room and took his seat at the captain’s chair. Solek watched him, noting it was the first time he sat in the chair with the official command title. Edgar seemed not to realize the significance. A glance to Solek proved otherwise.

“Aye sir, awaiting heading instructions from you, sir.” The crewman at the help informed.

Edgar blinked slowly at the remark. “Set course for the P’Jem system, crewman...Engage.”

The bridge crew watched cautiously as the helm activated the warp drive and the ship flew out of the Sol System. “How long before we reach P’Jem, helmsman?”

“At our current speed, it should take us about fourteen hours.” Edgar stood, moving towards the ready room. “Solek you have the bridge, report in when we reach—”

“Captain, I’m picking up a distress call from a federation cargo ship. It’s the Azura, sir. She claims to have a severe plasma leak that’s left her dead in the water.”

Edgar spun on his heels to look at the woman reporting at tactical. “...Helm, intercept course; engage.”

“Aye, sir.”

“OPS, notify Starfleet of the situation and inform me of any response. Bridge to Ambassador Sokketh...Ambassador, we’re picking up a distress call from a cargo ship nearby; we’re plotting a course to intercept now. I wanted to inform you that our arrival at P’Jem will be delayed.”

“Captain,” Sokketh’s voice began over the comm. “I must protest such a decision.”

Edgar muttered under his breath, “here we go...” Solek turned and looked to Edgar, checking if he needed to intercept. Edgar motioned him down and listened further.

“I am an ambassador from Vulan and it is only logical that I am treated with a higher priority than a cargo ship in distress. The artifacts I have as well as the risks undertaken by coming to aid a ship in distress—”

“Ambassador, if you are questioning my logic then I suggest you find your way to my ready room to discuss this in private. We’re going to assist the ship.” Edgar stated, crossing his hand across his neck to ops to kill the communication.

It was within five minutes Ambassador Sokketh appeared at the bridge and demanded a word with Edgar. The two entered the ready room calmly and almost instantly Sokketh began throwing attacks at the captain. “I demand that you ignore this distress call and let another ship answer it. The security of these artifacts and myself are your top priority...lieutenant."

Edgar sat down and now looked up carefully at the ambassador. His green eyes flared at the inflections. “If you are insinuating that I should ignore the call for aid from another Federation ship just to give you special treatment I would throw your own logic into question...ambassador. We’ve already changed course and you have not given me any argument to agree with you.”

Sokketh’s eyes narrowed. “So you do not find security of a Federation Ambassador to be important? It’s clear to me now that your inability to understand logic—”

“Excuse me ambassador, but what inability are you claiming I have?” Edgar’s hands palmed the top of his desk, ready to propel him to his feet.

“I know what you are, Romulan. It’s so very clear you embrace your emotions and run from logic.” The ambassador scolded. Edgar shot to his feet. His face was cold and adamant.

“We’re done here. It is Starfleet regulation to answer any ship in distress no matter what the current mission states. There is no logic to your actions or opinions, Vulcan or otherwise. And furthermore, if you dare insinuate that my Romulan or Human heritage is any grounds for intolerance, I’ll be happy to remind you that such a stance is rooted only in an emotional hatred. Get out.”

The ambassador spun on his heels and exited the room, leaving Edgar a moment to collect himself. The crewman at ops chimed over the intercom and informed him Admiral Quinn was on a subspace channel. Edgar took the call in the ready room and sat back down. “Admiral, I take it you received our update?”

“Yes we have. I’m sure the ambassador will protest but you’re the closest ship to intercept. His safety is still your priority but if you can respond to the Azura please do so.”

“Understood, admiral.”

“Oh before you go, your chief of engineering has arrived at Earth.”

“Thank you admiral. Is that all?”

“For now, we’ll see you when you get back; Quinn Out.”

Edgar sat a few moments at his desk before returning to the bridge. As he sat down, Solek looked at Edgar watching what he was about to do. Edgar sat, watching the stars stream by on the view screen, then he turned to Solek with a suspicious grin on his face. “Admiral Quinn advised that we should still ensure the security of Ambassador Sokketh while we aid the Azura...”

Solek examined Edgar’s facial expressions carefully. “Captain... what are you thinking?”

“Well I would feel deeply incompetent if it was due to a lack of security measures that caused a Federation ambassador to be harmed during an attempt to aid a simple cargo ship...”

Solek caught onto what Edgar was implicating, “It would be a shame if such an accident were to occur. Perhaps we should increase his security detail.”

“What an excellent idea, Solek! Security place extra guards at the ambassador’s quarters, make sure he doesn’t leave for his protection.” Edgar was almost laughing at the command. Solek almost smiled himself; definitely feeling pleased with how his commanding officer handled the situation. Within the hour, the ship had reached the Azura, clearly being attacked by Orions. “Red Alert! All hands: battle stations. Helm come about on the lead ship let’s take some fire off of the Azura. Tactical Analasys”

“Three Orion vessels are attacking the Azura. The Orions have full shields and weapons capability, but the Azura’s shields are down and have lost propulsion. She’s dead in the water.”

“She’ll be a lot more dead than just in the water if we don’t get them off her back; full torpedo spread I want all of them firing at us.”

“Aye sir.” The blonde at tactical responded. Tactical sent phaser beams to all three ships, focusing once again on the lead ship. The Orions flanked the New Orleans as the lead ship stared her in the nose. “Tachyon beam, Mr. Solek! All beams and high torpedo yield: Fire!”

The tachyon beam impacted the fore shields and the phaser beams dropped them, exposing the hull for the photons to make direct hits, hitting major subsystems. “Evasive maneuvers; let’s come about and do that again.”

The New Orleans spun around and began chasing the lead ship this time. The once flanking Orion ships were desperately trying to face the federation ship. “How soon until we can fire another tachyon beam?”

“Two minutes, Captain, the emitter almost overloaded on that last shot.” Solek replied, managing a console.

“Fire phasers, let’s take down their aft shields if we can.” Tactical followed orders well and hit multiple points on the shields, wearing them thin. Without warning the ship lurched forward, launching Edgar into the helmsman. Most of the bridge crew was thrown around their stations, some completely out of their seats. “Is everyone OK?”

Solek darted forward to check the captain with a medical tricorder, but Edgar brushed him away. “Helmsman...”

He nodded. “I’m fine, sir.” Edgar looked a bit puzzled but just nodded his head.

“Good. What’s our damage report?”

“Direct hit to our stern. Warp drive is offline, impulse at fifty percent. Weapons and holding. Aft shields are down to twenty percent.”

“Let’s get the aft shields up at least fifty percent; helm, continue to come about. Tactical, target the flanking frigate and open fire at will.”

“Firing phasers.” The blonde woman at the tactical station stated as she launched a number of phaser blasts at the port side of the starboard flanking frigate. The blast was enough to take the shields down on that side, and a high yield torpedo spread decimated the ship.

“Excellent shot, crewman...two more to go.”

“Sir, the lead frigate’s shields are down and in range.”

“Fire what you can, crewman.” The young woman at tactical fired the one torpedo that was ready and the view screen tracked the torpedo as it impacted on the lead ship. The explosion destroyed the attitude control. “Disable them.”

Another blast from the phaser array set the frigate adrift, leaving the final frigate to the New Orleans. The frigate was now crossing her path, and Edgar once again called for the tachyon beam and the phaser blasts. Within seconds the frigate’s starboard shields had dropped allowing for a high yield torpedo spread to finalize its destruction. “Fire a singular warning shot on the disabled vessel, and jam her communications. Hail the Azura.”

“This is Captain Calvin of the Federation starship New Orleans to command Azura. Is everything all right?”

“This is Captain Brott of the Azura. Thanks for coming to our aid! We’re suffering plasma and radiation leaks across engineering. Can you help us?”

“We’ll send a team over in moments. Stand by.” Edgar stated as the transmission ended.

“What life signs do you detect on her?”

“External sensors were damaged with the blast to our stern, I can only tell you where they are, but not how many or of what type.” The crewman at tactical responded.

“Calivn to Engineering – Is there anyone down there that is well versed in repairing plasma leaks?”

“This is Crewman Getty – no sir, everyone in engineering is on their internship. We’ve not dealt with that technology before on an older vessel.” Edgar looked around at the bridge crew that stared back at him.

“Continue work on repairs. More Orion ships may be out of sensor range waiting to pounce...Well then...tactical, helm, Mr. Solek...follow me to transporter 1. Hopefully we’ll be enough.” Edgar commented as he walked to the turbolift. The staff followed him onto the turbolift and waited for the doors to open near the transporter room. Edgar turned to both of the tactical officers. “What are your names again?”

“Crewman Summer Guyton, sir.”

“Crewman Desmond Troi...sir.”

“Troi? Like, Deanna Troi?” Edgar pressed. “You’re a Betazoid.”

“Yes sir, and yes sir. She’s my mother’s cousin.” Desmond looked up at him

“Why are you just a crewman, then?” Edgar pressed, Summer glanced between them nervously. “Why aren’t you ensign?”

“Um sir? I...I still have a year left at the academy...” Desmond commented feeling Summer’s own nerves mixed with the overwhelming imposition from Edgar was almost overwhelming. Edgar smiled, and the shift threw Desmond just as strongly. “Sir?”

“Crewman Guyton, do you also have a year left at the academy?”

“Yes, sir.” Summer said a bit eagerly. Desmond wanted to hang his head in shame for her. Edgar’s eyes shifted between the two crewmen and caught a glimpse of a raised eyebrow from Solek.

“Captain, I do not recommend you board the Azura.”

“Mr. Solek, we’re short-staffed on able engineers. Do you know how to resolve a plasma leak?”

“No sir.”

“Then I request you not quote regulation to me at this time.”

“Understood, Sir,” Solek retreated slightly. Dez could sense Solek felt he offended the captain deeply, but chose to say nothing. Edgar looked between the two crewmen.

“The two of you have done a superb job given the circumstances. I want both of you to take the bridge officer training as soon as possible. Thank you both for staying cool during that battle. You two ready for this?”

The two crewmen nodded, unsure how to take their new captain and their first assignment. Edgar continued to lead the team to the transporter room. The four stood on the platform waiting for Edgar to command transport. When he promptly stated the typical ‘Energize,’ the away team soon stood in a small cargo hold on the Azura. As Ops had indicated, the ship was leaking plasma radiation everywhere. “Damn this is worse than I thought. Inoculate yourselves, quickly.”

Edgar proceeded to take point, keeping his phaser pistol charged and ready. “Sir I’m detecting a plasma leak a few meters ahead. I recommend we proceed with caution.”

“Thank you crewman, your concern is noted.” Edgar commented to Summer as he continued forward with caution. He turned a corner and found a console to override the plasma leak. “Crewmen take a look here. See what I’m doing?”

“Aye sir.” Desmond responded.

“You may need to know how to do this one day...could save a lot of lives.”

“Captain, I’m not sure this is the appropriate time for a lesson.” Solek commented, looking past the plasma fire.

“What do you see?”

“Orions, sir. They’ve boarded the ship.”

Edgar swore. “Is there a way around them?”

“Not at present. They are also suffering from the radiation, and may be easy to overtake.”

“Solek, I hope you’re right. Ready?”

The away team nodded as Edgar fired a carefully aimed shot at one of the Orions. The blast was indeed unexpected and knocked the Orion to the ground. The other two Orion males charged only to be met with slew of phaser blasts from the four officers. Solek scanned the area. “It appears they were the only intruders.”

“Good. Let’s get to engineering.” After a few more plasma leaks were sealed, the access doors to Engineering opened revealing the captain and a few surviving engineers. “Captain Brott?”

“At last! Help has arrived!”

“What’s the situation?”

“The warp core is on the verge of meltdown. When we dropped our shields to take it offline...the Orions attacked. We tried to keep the shields active but the core is failing.”

“New Orleans to Calvin, come in please.”

“What is it crewman?”

“Captain, more Orion ships have entered the system and are attempting to board the Azura. We have a minimal window for transport, but you’re in an area that’s flooded with plasma radiation and we can’t get a lock.”

Edgar’s eyes darted around the room, trying to decide the right course of action. The captain of the Azura spoke for him. “Go. Get what crew of mine you can to your ship. I’ll stay behind and attempt to delay the breach as long as possible.”

“You’re a brave woman. You heard the lady let’s go!”

“Not so fast, starfleet!” Edgar and Solek spun around to see a group of five Orions armed and aimed at them. “You’re going to surrender yourself, your crew, and your cargo to us right now.”

Edgar looked around and lowered his weapon. “Do what he says; no sense in dying for a lost cause.”

Solek and the crewmen lowered their weapons, leaving the Orions in control. “Move away from there.”

Edgar nodded and encouraged his team to move away, where Desmond inched closer to a console. Edgar watched him carefully from the corner of his eye, staying fixed on the lead Orion, now moving closer. “Your ship, captain; tell her to lower her shields.”

“What’s in it for me if I do?”

“Oh, I’ve given you no incentive, nor is there one to provide. You will simply do this for me.” The Orion seethed.

“That sounds fairly illogical. The moment that they hear me order the shields down, they’ll know I’m captured. Even if they do as I command, the internal security measures would be activated and cause massive casualties to your crew if they dare try to board her.”

“You’re bluffing. Federation ships don’t have such a feature.”

“Says who? How do you know the measures weren’t created and refitted to my ship? You only have my word that they exist; just like your word telling me what to do.” Edgar was bluffing, and didn’t care if he was caught. He had given Desmond enough time to reverse all of the bypasses Edgar had fabricated, launching an intense blast of plasma into the hallways. Edgar dropped to the ground, grabbed his pistol and fired a blast at the remaining Orion, disintegrating him. “Well that was messy. Dez, can you kill that reversal?”

“Already working on it, sir.” Almost instantly at his statement the plasma was drawn out of the hallways providing an escape path back to the extraction point. “Captain, let’s go!”

“Come with us, your ship won’t survive another five minutes.” Edgar said to the captain of the Azura. She shook her head.

“If I can get her to survive another six, I’ll save that many more lives. Go.” She said, pushing Edgar out of engineering. The surviving crew followed the Team from the New Orleans to the cargo bay. Some died along the way as plasma seals failed and vented the material into the hallway.

“Calvin to New Orleans get as many of us as you can at a time!” He ordered, finishing his sentence breaths before the transporter beamed the crew out of the hold, along with a handful of survivors shortly after. As he rematerialized on the other side, he looked at the transporter operator. “What life signs can you detect on the Azura?”

“Maybe one or two, the majority came over in the transport beam with you, sir.”

“Can you tell if any of them are the captain?”

“No sir, I can’t get a lock on any of the life signs.” The ship rocked in space as the inertial dampeners and attitude control put her back in the previous orientation. “Keep trying and inform me the second you have them.”

Edgar and the remaining officers walked onto the bridge moments later “Damage report.”

“Sir, three more Orion Frigates have appeared and the disabled frigate is fighting again as well.” Summer reported as she began scanning for tactical weaknesses in the ships.

“Here we go again... Evasive maneuvers!” Crewman Troi followed through and spun the ship to face the frigates as fast as possible. “Crewman Guyton, target the lead ship: fire all phasers.”

Summer launched a number of beams at the frigate, but the shields held strong. “Sir, we’re being hailed by the lead Orion ship. They’re asking for us to surrender.”

“Ignore it. Prepare a tachyon beam and fire it on the lead ship. How soon until the Azura’s warp core suffers meltdown?”

“Less than a minute, sir.”

“Crewman Guyton, try and get the frigates to chase us...drop the aft shields.”

“Sir, if we do that then we could expose the hull to a devastating hit.”

“Just try to make it ‘look’ like they’re down.” Edgar encouraged. “Crewman Troi, bring us close to the Azura, travel across her bow.”

“Aye Sir,” Edgar waited for the right moment. Solek watched him with a curiosity that almost bordered concern. Finally, Edgar heard from transporter ops that they had the captain. “Excellent. Evasive maneuvers; pull away from the Azura!”

“Sir, the Azura has entered a warp core breach.” Edgar said nothing as he watched the cargo ship explode, cascading to the three frigates that had followed him too closely.

“Inform him the remaining ship to get out of federation space now or to surrender and prepare to be boarded.” Edgar stated as he moved to sit back down.

“You will not win this dispute, Starfleet!” An Orion woman announced as she was brought onscreen.

“So you’re prepared to be boarded then? If you do not comply I will open fire.”

“You will not catch us, Starfleet. Your ship is damaged, and we will fight another day!” The Orion female goaded as her frigate launched into warp away from the system. Edgar sighed as he moved to his ready room.

“Get Admiral Quinn on subspace, and have the captain of the Azura meet me in my ready room when she’s mended. Solek, you have the bridge.”

Edgar spent almost an hour discussing the resulting trauma with Admiral Quinn, who was now ordering the New Orleans to return to Earth Spacedock immediately. As his transmission ended, the captain of the Azura entered. “How are you feeling?”

“A bit shaken up, but happy to be alive. Thank you captain; for saving myself and crew.”

Edgar smiled. “All in the day’s work of a Starfleet officer. We’re heading back to Earth Spacedock. I’m sure Admiral Quinn will want to speak to you about what you experienced.”

Captain Brott sighed as she sat down. “I understand, Captain.”

“Can you tell me why the Orions attacked?”

Brott shook her head. “I can only assume they thought us easy prey. When we dropped out of warp it was like they new we would be there.”

“We should be back at Earth in an hour. My condolences to your lost crew and ship...” Edgar said as he extended a hand to the captain.

“Thank you Captain. Don’t fret about me too much; I should have enough saved up to buy a new cargo ship soon. Then I can get back on my feet and back to shipping.”

Captain Brott exited casually and returned to her quarters. In his ready room, Edgar made one final call prior to the arrival at spacedock, “Captain Calvin to Ambassador Sokketh.”

“What do you want Lieutenant?” Sokketh inquired.

“I regret to inform you we have to return to Earth Spacedock, per Admiral Quinn’s orders. I’m terribly sorry for—”

“Do not apologize.” Sokketh said before disconnecting the intercom in his quarters.

“Well I’ve totally messed that up, haven’t I?” Edgar said to himself.

“Unable to process inquiry; please restate,” Edgar let out a groan at the computer’s commentary.

Captain’s Log, Supplemental: The New Orleans has arrived at Earth Spacedock and the survivors of the Azura have disembarked. Sokketh was given leave while the ship is under emergency repairs which should resolved within a day’s effort. So far the only notable event since we’ve docked has been the arrival of Aron-Mu, the Enhasan Chief of Engineering. I anticipate his arrival will finally expedite the repairs to a much needed level. I hear that Enhasans are...difficult...to cooperate with; I anticipate we’ll get along immediately or we’ll always be at odds.