Crisis Conference
Posted on Fri Jan 7th, 2011 @ 10:26pm by Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Captain T'mpest Michaels
1,593 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Looking for the Future in all the Wrong Places
Location: Briefing Room, USS Archimedes
Timeline: Current
ON:
Elsie, Commander T’mpest and Captain Northcutt of the Fairfax beamed over to the small Archimedes directly into their small, but perfectly designed briefing room. Northcutt had rightly insisted that the meeting be held on this bigger, more powerful vessel, but Elsie had counter-argued that, since the entire mission pinned around the Nova Class, they should go to them and not the other way around.
As all three captains and T’mpest took their seats, Halliwell instinctively picked up her teacup, poured out the amber liquid and added a dash of milk. Taking a sip, she opened the briefing wearing the grave expression of a woman worried about the fate of not only her vessel, but the smaller one she was now tasked to protect.
“Captain,†she asked, looking towards the steely Vulcan, “the reports I have received from my own men inform me that you are pretty ship-shape here on the Archimedes. Are you ready to move when we decide our next course of action?â€
"Warp engines, sensors and main systems are online." T'alaal reported matter-of-factly. "Some of our secondary systems still aren't operational, but nothing that can't be done on the road."
Northcutt nodded. "Can I suggest that we move the more severe casualties from here to the Fairfax where they can receive more comprehensive care for their wounds?" he asked. He was the "senior" Captain, but since he was a relative new comer to the entire situation, he was rightfully deferring to Elise. "Also, I have some officers and crew that could come assist you if you needed it." he said, looking at the Vulcan Lieutenant. He privately wondered where Captain Kerr and Lieutenant Commander Bale were, but decided he would ask that after the meeting.
"I do believe the most pressing medical matters have been taken care of, mostly thanks to the timely arrival of the Ranger," T'alaal nodded to Halliwell, "but you are correct that some of my less fortunate crewmembers do need further treatment. I would be most appreciative if you could take them in your care."
Nortcutt nodded. "I'll have my Chief Medical Officer and my Transporter Chief see to it immediately following our meeting." he replied to them. That still didn't answer the question of possible additional staffing needs onboard the Archimedes.
"As for staffing, most of our senior staff have been hurt or... incapacitated," T'alaal didn't want to bring up specifically what happened to Captain Kerr, "I would find most useful a senior staff member to fill in our Science department while I oversee the operations on the ship. At least until the Captain and Commander Bale have recovered."
Elsie concurred. “You’re right, T’alaal,†she said, rather informally. “We need both the Archimedes and her crew to be solid and at full strength. I could offer my Assistant Chief Science officer, Lieutenant T’kaarch or you could choose from one of Captain Northcutt’s crew members.†She shot him a mischievous glance to ease the mounting tension. “And, I believe that my helmsman, Commander Zhukov, could serve as your second in command... temporarily, I might add. But, I must warn you, he’s a fly-boy by heart and would stop at nothing to get behind the controls of such an advanced ship, as little as she is.â€
Northcutt nodded. "If you do need anyone from the Fairfax, just let me know." he said to the group. "Now, if you are to have Lieutenant Commander Zhukov as your XO, then in order to keep the proper chain of command, I believe we should make you a Provisional Captain for the time being, T'alaal." he said as he looked at Halliwell.
Returning the loaded glance back to T’alaal, Halliwell simply nodded her consent. “Good,†Halliwell noted, marking down the first order of business pertaining to the mission specifics onto the data PaDD that was organised so to hand. “Now,†she added, reading through squinted eyes, “that’s ship and crew…†She levelled off her voice and looked decidedly at the other three officers in the room with her. “The QAR.†She turned to T’mpest and nodded. “We have to hit them… and we have to hit them hard. We need that artefact recovered, as well as their little Elasian trophy in the shape of Ms. Sonaata. The Commander,†she deferred, “has brought with is every piece of information we have collected on these sons of bitches so we need to organise a search pattern.â€
Northcutt nodded. He was not usually the vindictive type, as a matter of fact, he had learned to suppress those types of feelings while he was serving in Starfleet. But this situation felt different to him. He really did, as Elise had so eloquently stated, want to hammer those sons of bitches.
"The QAR prefer to bully and intimidate. They want power and they want to be feared. The best way to deal with them is to show overwhelming force. That's the only thing that may keep them from trying the same sort of thing again," T'mpest added. "From what I've learned they prefer to hide and blindside their victims. They are most likely in a nebula waiting to lure the Archimedes in. A triangular approach may be best."
"May I advise the Ranger and Archimedes to flank the Fairfax," T'alaal suggested, "as the both science vessels should have superior sensor range. Also, the Fairfax would be the best suited for a fight, if either of our ships would end up in trouble."
“I agree,†Halliwell concurred again. “The Fairfax should remain as equal distance as she can to assist should trouble – and there will be trouble, I can promise you that – arise.â€
Northcutt interjected. "That sounds like a good plan. However, remember that we will be scanning a large sector of space so that could put us as much as ten or fifteen minutes away should either of you," he said as he looked at the two commanding officers, "encounter anything like you did before." he said as he fixed his gaze on the Vulcan. "I'm not even sure if all of our ship firepower combined can fight this QAR ship, if she has the capabilities you say she does, T'alaal." Northcutt said to her.
“But,†Halliwell cut in, “as my former Chief Intelligence Officer has offered to us, we can limit our field of search by concentrating on nebulas to begin with. Otherwise we’re casting our little nets wide.â€
"While your logic is infallible, the artifact is clearly more important than all of our ships combined." T'alaal mentioned dryly.
“That very may well be the way Starfleet sees it, Captain,†Halliwell added, turning her full attention to T’alaal, “but I view things with a little more of a human emotion. No one is expendable. Not on my ship, or yours.!
"I do not wish to 'expend' the Archimedes," T'alaal explained, "but if we'd go by your human logic, we should get more ships. Just in case."
Halliwell shot a knowing look to Northcutt. “Unfortunately, Captain,†she said, now returning back to T’alaal, “this mission, due to what you were transporting, is coded as ‘Secret’. We are the only commanders who know of this; of yours and the artifact’s fate and existence.â€
Nortcutt nodded and added, "I've been arguing with Vice-Admiral Adams for weeks about this very same issue. She says there is no one else that can help us. She wanted the Fairfax to stay out of it altogether, but I managed to convince her to let us come help since you had located the Archimedes." he said with a nod to Captain Halliwell.
"I think this is pretty well settled then." Captain Northcutt said. "We will take the lead in a search pattern with the Ranger and the Archimedes on our flanks, respectively." he said as he picked up a PaDD and started tapping buttons. He transferred the PaDD screen to the bigger view screen in the room. "Now, Captain Halliwell, if you and your crew will examine this area here" he said pointing to the outskirts of a nearby nebula, "the Archimedes can scan here." he said circling an area near a cluster of stars. "I will take the Fairfax and search above the Nebula." he said as he looked at Elise and T'alaal. "Maximum power to sensors and keep your speed under 3/4 impulse power. If you go any faster than that, you could miss them entirely." he said.
T'alaal sighed inwardly, without anything betraying it on the outside. She would never truly understand 'human logic', but decided to drop it for now. "Very well."
"Understood," Halliwell chimed in with. "I should get back to the Ranger to order the preparations."
OFF:
Richard Northcutt,
Commanding Officer, USS Fairfax
Elsie Halliwell,
Commanding Officer, USS Ranger
T’alaal,
Commanding Officer, USS Archimedes
AND
T’mpest Michaels,
Chief Science Officer & Second Officer, USS Ranger
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