Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

Posted on Sun May 29th, 2022 @ 12:58pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Commander Peter Horn & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida & Lieutenant JG Sher'ra Verona & Lieutenant JG Alena Alessa & Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru & Lieutenant Commander Junjie Han & Glin Slorir Varin
Edited on on Sun May 29th, 2022 @ 1:00pm

2,735 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Central Core - Operations
Timeline: Mission Day -584,947 @ 1032 Hours

ON

Junjie sat at the science station in Ops, His task to scan in thirty degree arcs around the station to the maximum range of the sensors and provide the command staff with a picture of what is out there and to see if there were any threats to the station that could be identified. And if there were, what could they do to protect themselves and plan for it if they could.

The Cerberus mission was the same task that he had been assigned, except to go beyond the maximum range of the stations sensors and see what or who is out there. If what they encountered was friendly, then study them and make first contact if possible. However if the contact was hostile, learn as much as they could and collect data on the threat and report back all information to the command team.

The Cerberus was traveling through the arc that Junjie was currently scanning at a half a million kilometers away from the Styx Station and Junjie was hand was hovering over the communications channel button and wish them well and a safe voyage. What transpired next happened very quickly. The Cerberus fired into a black starless void and the phaser beam seemed to be sucked into it and disappear. There was a flash of bright white light with high and unusual energy readings, and when the light faded, The Cerberus was nowhere to be seen. Junjie ran several scans of the area with the results being the same each time.

Junjie knew that Captain Haistro was in a meeting in the ward room but this matter couldn't wait. =^= Lieutenant Han to Captain Haistro. I'm sorry to disturb your meeting Captain, But the Cerberus has vanished without a trace. The Cerberus was a half million kilometers from the station and fired into a black void, a few seconds later there was a brilliant flash of white light with a strange neutron radiation reading. When the light faded the Cerberus had vanished, There is no debris of any kind Captain. This occured less then a minute ago. "

"Acknowledged Lieutenant, Commander Holt and I will be there presently. Haistro out".

Hearing Junjie’s report, Sher’ra looked over to the acting CO for orders. A starship suddenly disappearing was never a good thing and without them the station’s scanning radius just got a lot smaller. “What do you want done sir”

Junjie looked at the viewscreen to where the ship was only a few moments before. " Launch a class two probe on remote control, we'll send it out and get detailed scans of the area and bring it back to the station and study the results. I don't want to send a shuttle craft out there just in case whatever made the Cerberus disappear is still in effect. "

Giving a nod, Sher’ra quickly got to work. Having a starship suddenly disappear without a trace was never a good thing, Especially so close to a station. After a few moments, the two probes launched, “done, telemetry coming in”

The turbolift rose into ops, the car filled with the T'Kon deligates, the Captain, Commander's Holt and Horn and Ensign Alessa.

"Report Lieutenant!"

" Captain, We've just launched a class two probe to do a detailed scan of the area, The probe is just arriving on scene. " Stated Junjie as he continued to study the readouts. " I choose not to send a shuttle so as not to risk any lives and have a missing shuttle as well. As I stated from my initial report, there is no debris of any type at all Sir. One moment the Cerberus was there and the next moment it was gone after a brief and bright flash of white light and a strange neutron radiation reading.... What the heck is that? " Junjie asked himself softly. " Captain Haistro, could you and perhaps your guest step over here please? " As he continued to stare at the console screen. " It's very faint, but this looks like a sub space contrail leading away from the area. It matches nothing in our library computer, Perhaps our esteemed guest have seen this before? " Junjie asked.

"Neutron radiation?" Peter asked, "as in... from a cloaked ship?"

" That's what I believe. " Said Junjie. " But it would have to a rather large ship to swallow up a ship the size of the Cerberus. Now the main question is, what species have a ship that big and why would they want to kidnap the Cerberus and her crew? For what purpose? Are they trying to use us to start a war? I certainly hope not, as we got enough problems of our own to have that added to the plate. "

Alena looked from one person to the next. This was a nightmare. Cerberus had to be found. She sincerely hoped that the ship would be found soon. As Junjie said, there were enough problems as it was. Hopefully they wouldn't find themselves annihilated. She sent a quiet prayer to whoever were listening, that they would make it out of this alive. She wasn't particularly religious, but still. Hope was all they had right now.

The T'Kon female rolled her eyes. "That Iconian ship exiting a gateway. Probably on its way to destroy your little ship."

"Iconian?" Hiro had been listening the whole time, but the mention of this ancient race was reason enough for him to speak up. "They build gateways in space too?"

“With that kind of thing, no wonder they took over the Galaxy in their time” Sher’ra said, remembering the stories she’d heard about the iconians

" Captain Haistro, There are only two options that I can think of right now, Both of them require getting the Iconians attention. The first I don't recommend, which would be to attack the ship. That would most likely result in our deaths shortly followed by the crew of the Cerberus. So the only real option we have is to hail them and see if they will negotiate with us and hope we can reason with them, it is also our best option for survival. Shall I open a hail to the Iconian ship Captain? "

"No Lieutenant... I would rather keep the stations presence unknown... as best we can. Contact Hiro and have him prepare Copernicus for launch!" the need to protect the station foremost in his mind. Copernicus however, despite his feelings towards the vessel, was entirely expandable.

Cardassian Glin Slorir Varin took this moment to join the rest of the crew in Operations. The Cardassian Liaison Officer had been mostly quiet, contented to stay aboard his small Cardassian vessel for the comforts of home. He was, however, unable to contain his interest in the fate of the Cerebrus and its crew. When his ship's sensors detected - well whatever the Hell that was - he could not contain himself from a quick trip to the Operations Center. If only this were still a Cardassian Station perhaps things would have been better. Instead it just seemed the Federation were mucking things up as always.

"What did I miss?" He asked smugly as he entered the Operations Complex.

The Fariq'awal looked the new alien up and down. He had an aura of distrust about him.

"You cannot reason with an Iconian Captain," she informed the man. "Luckily for you our warship can obliterate them if needed. And yes they build some gateways. Pretty useful if you know how to hack them."

"Are you going to show us how to?" Peter challenged mildly as he moved, almost on auto-pilot, to one of the tactical stations.

"By your own admission, you have us believe you are from the future and cannot tell us anything in case it changes the outcome of history. How can we show you how to use Iconian gateways? If we did and you are telling the truth and do get back to your time you may have an advantage over the rest if the gateways survived," the Fariq'awal said sharply. "To do so could also alter the outcome of history."

Junjie stepped away from the science console, but stayed close enough to monitor the situation outside." Fariq'awl, if I may?" He looked at the T'kon commander and showed her the respect she deserved. " As for us going back to the future and taking advantage over others of our time period will not happen, of that I can assure you. We have what is called the prime directive, we do not interfere with the development of a pre warp civilization. Should we encounter a warp capable species we make first contact and we learn about them and they learn about us. If they desire further contact with us we send diplomats, not soldiers. If we are told to go away and never return, then that is what we do. Has it happened before? Yes it has. We are disappointed of course. I'm sure your ships scanners detected that we have a large and wide variety of species onboard this station and that we all peacefully co exist. That gentleman over there is a klingon, they are a proud and noble people. But the federation and klingon empire were at war with each other for a long while, but the situation changed and we are now allies with them. And the gentleman who has just joined us is a member of the Cardassian Union, A short while ago we were at war with them. But yet again the situation changed and our former enemy is now a friend and ally. We would rather have peaceful co existence with others and a network of co operation and learning, forcing others only breeds contempt and hatred, and that goes against what we believe in." Junjie pointed to the view screen, but kept his tone compassionate and respectful. " The people aboard the Cerberus out there, they are our friends, brothers and sisters and have been captured and a space station is not designed for pursuit, So any advice or aid that you may offer would be appreciated. " He said humbly.

The Fariq-awal sighed. She was torn between annoyed and intrigued at his passionate plea. “They can appear just on your station once they are aware of its existence they can put warriors on this station before you blink an eye. Give my people access to your systems.

We might be able to use these crude systems to prevent them from using their technology to come onboard. I make it clear that this is my only offer of aid. I will not rescue you in my vessel if you choose not to trust me now. Do not confuse my mercy for weakness.”

Alena looked from one person to the other. The Fariq'awal was clearly their only hope to save the Cerberus. While she knew it was risky to let another, unknown species access their systems, it seemed like they had no choice. She wanted to speak up, but wasn't sure it was a good idea. She knew that it was important to express gratitude towards Fariq'awal. She looked at the Captain, and then at the others. While she had never been religious, she did say a prayer now and then for good luck. Her mother had always said, "Even if you don't believe in one certain religion, doesn't mean you can't respect them, or pray for them"

Tia had been granted limited access to the bridge. Captain Haistro and Tia had yet to have their own conversation about what she was doing there, how she got there etc, and how she might be of use. The T'kon were as arrogant in their superiority as she had been told by her educators.

Her people had limited contact with them in the past and even though they were known of, the information from that time was fragmented and much had became hearsay and speculation. The archives of El Auria were only entered by the most devout and esteemed of the Grand Council, not something she would ever had access to.

Still, she was interested to see how the crew of the station would react, how the Captain would proceed in being asked to give access to his station. Trust was earned, not demanded. Tia's empathetic senses were in overdrive as tension did nothing but rise in Ops.

To Hiro this started to sound as a do or die moment. Not something he was that fond of going through. But you get thrown in such situations, you usually didn't choose to be in one. If he was the Captain then he already knew what he would do. But he wasn't the Captain.

Junjie stepped aside from the science console allowing access to the panel." Thank you Fariq'awal, In my eyes mercy and kindness is the true definition of strength. I am a scientist, and I believe that knowledge is power. But it only becomes a true power when you share it with others and help lift them up as well. From what little we know of the T'kon, we have been able to determine that they loved science, arts, culture and excelled in many other endeavors as well. I hope one day that I will be able to know and appreciate the T'kon culture. "

Keiben had been listening to the exchange, weighing options and considering. As intrigued as he was about the Iconian technology he had to agree with the Fariq'awal's train of thought. As much as he and his crew were unable to contaminate the timeline the same could be said in reverse.

"I agree that we should be kept away from that technology and how it works to protect you and your people as much as we have to protect our time... That being said, we do need your help if you are willing?"

"Then give me access to your systems," she demanded.

"As a show of good will you can access our systems but not the database" he returned in a light tone.
"I will command Copernicus, Glin Varin, would you be amenable to join us in your own ship?" his attention turned to his would be allied enemy.

"If I knew more about what was going on, Captain, I may be able to answer that question," the Cardassian answered smugly, being limited only to what the sensors of his older patrol craft were telling him. He was, secretly, not certain how much help his ship could possibly offer. It was a patrol vessel with limited offensive abilities. If they wanted him to hurl insults at the enemy he would be more than capable, sending over a well placed disruptor pulse would be a little more unlikely. Not that he'd ever admit it openly.

"Your ship is faster and more manoeuvrable than Copernicus or even the Warship... We may have need of that!" looking directly at his allied enemy
"Tam, launch the runabouts, crews of two and have them keep formation with us, the Fariq'awal's Warship as the lead craft. As a show of goodwill would you allow Commander Horn to accompany you as our liaison?" his attention turning back to the T'Kon guests

Peter turned his head sharply at this suggestion but he could see the wisdom in this. "I will go," he conseded, keeping his expression carefully neutral. Part of him didn't like this idea, but the other part of him actually welcomed the adventure.

Tyrion's words rang in Hiro's head when he heard the Captain was planning to take the Copernicus out in a possible dangerous situation. He'd not been able yet to talk to the Captain to tell him about his concerns about ship's current limitations. He made a mental note to do that before they would board the Copernicus. If possible he would very much like to return to the station in one piece.

The alien women was rapidly inputting alien code into what she could recognise as useful. Bouncing signals and creating false ones. Ones she knew could fool the Iconian pigs. Hitting the final upload her lips cracked the slightest of smiles. "You are no longer on their sensors. Although if they spotted ours before we engaged the programming they could retaliate," she stated.

"Thank you... Let's go!" the burly Betazoid started across Ops towards the turbolift, he paused a moment, looking at Mel. "You have Ops, remain at Yellow Alert!"

END

 

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