Mission 35: Sleepers
May 29, 2022 15:41:42 GMT
Post by Carl Torek on May 29, 2022 15:41:42 GMT
"Range to vessel, one million kilometres, Admiral," T'Seng reported, "She's communicating with us... A standardised message warning us to leave this sector ...... They're priming weapons, Sir," she confirmed.
"Let's not 'antagonise' anyone, keep she shields down and weapons off0-line," Carl ordered, making his Exec glance at him surreptitiously.
"..... Wait... they're changing course, heading for the Jalkoth system."
"They're going to tow General Qo'mAh's vessel," Andae observed, "Do we reverse course and try to stop them, Admiral, or keep ourselves out of it? If there are three Federation citizens on that bulb any intervention we make would be legal."
For a moment Carl sat in thought. The Jalkoth System was so far beyond Klingon borders that 'any' claim that it was their territory would be dismissed, same with the practically destroyed Fortress. His issue was the former Ambassadors and their possible unexpected arrival in the System. If they were involved, he could presumably ask for them to beam to the Raven for questioning, not that he believed for a second that even if they agreed to come aboard, they would answer any questions put to them. He had always disagreed with the fact that Ambassadors retained their rank and privileges even when retired, it pretty much gave the cartΓ© blanchΓ© to go where they liked and do what they liked. The vast majority didn't avail themselves of their former position, choosing to slip graciously into retirement and attending the odd function now and then.
"Do we have any reason to question the current whereabouts of the aforementioned Ambassadors?" he asked.
"..... No ....." Calli replied.
"Are there any directives posted for the Ambassadors to be detained on location?"
"..... No ....." Calli again confirmed.
"Then we have no reason to be concerned with them from here on in?"
"..... None whatsoever," the Intelligence Officer said with a shrug.
"OK ..... Once repairs to our warp drive are complete we can get out of here," Carl said.
"Repairs...?" the confused Chief Engineer repeated, looking from the Exec to the Admiral and back, seeing Andae's eyebrows raise, "... Oh ..... Ermmm ..... Three hours minimum," he said, completely in the dark.
"Lysia, can we still see what's going on on the Fortress?" Torek asked.
"We would have more sensor data if we could use the for'ard array,"
"Helm..." Carl said, seeing the stars move left to right on the viewscreen as the massive Sovereign Class rotated on her axis, "... Put every sensor we have on the fortress, constant scan. I want to know the moment something out of the ordinary happens," Carl said, standing. He was heading towards his Ready Room when T'Seng stopped him.
"Admiral, the ship that challenged us, they are firing on both the Fortress 'AND' the Bulb Section of the D7!" Torek spun, returning to the centre seat.
"Maybe they are ensuring there's nothing left to investigate?" Calli suggested.
"Did they have time to transport everyone off the Bulb before firing?" Andae asked.
"The Vor'cha Class is fast..." Lysia said, checking her readings before continuing, "... Given their approach speed, yes, barely,"
"So we could assume that the General has transferred her flag?" Andae speculated.
"I imagine so... I doubt she would have allowed any unfriendly vessel to approach unchallenged. What is the Vor'cha doing now?" Carl asked.
"They are still in close proximity to the destroyed fortress. They know we're here, so maybe they are waiting for us to leave before their next move?" T'Seng suggested.
"Then we'll give it the three hours our Chief Engineer requires to complete the nonexistent repairs, if they haven't given us reason to remain by then, we'll leave ....." Carl said, rising before heading for his Ready Room ..........
"Let's not 'antagonise' anyone, keep she shields down and weapons off0-line," Carl ordered, making his Exec glance at him surreptitiously.
"..... Wait... they're changing course, heading for the Jalkoth system."
"They're going to tow General Qo'mAh's vessel," Andae observed, "Do we reverse course and try to stop them, Admiral, or keep ourselves out of it? If there are three Federation citizens on that bulb any intervention we make would be legal."
For a moment Carl sat in thought. The Jalkoth System was so far beyond Klingon borders that 'any' claim that it was their territory would be dismissed, same with the practically destroyed Fortress. His issue was the former Ambassadors and their possible unexpected arrival in the System. If they were involved, he could presumably ask for them to beam to the Raven for questioning, not that he believed for a second that even if they agreed to come aboard, they would answer any questions put to them. He had always disagreed with the fact that Ambassadors retained their rank and privileges even when retired, it pretty much gave the cartΓ© blanchΓ© to go where they liked and do what they liked. The vast majority didn't avail themselves of their former position, choosing to slip graciously into retirement and attending the odd function now and then.
"Do we have any reason to question the current whereabouts of the aforementioned Ambassadors?" he asked.
"..... No ....." Calli replied.
"Are there any directives posted for the Ambassadors to be detained on location?"
"..... No ....." Calli again confirmed.
"Then we have no reason to be concerned with them from here on in?"
"..... None whatsoever," the Intelligence Officer said with a shrug.
"OK ..... Once repairs to our warp drive are complete we can get out of here," Carl said.
"Repairs...?" the confused Chief Engineer repeated, looking from the Exec to the Admiral and back, seeing Andae's eyebrows raise, "... Oh ..... Ermmm ..... Three hours minimum," he said, completely in the dark.
"Lysia, can we still see what's going on on the Fortress?" Torek asked.
"We would have more sensor data if we could use the for'ard array,"
"Helm..." Carl said, seeing the stars move left to right on the viewscreen as the massive Sovereign Class rotated on her axis, "... Put every sensor we have on the fortress, constant scan. I want to know the moment something out of the ordinary happens," Carl said, standing. He was heading towards his Ready Room when T'Seng stopped him.
"Admiral, the ship that challenged us, they are firing on both the Fortress 'AND' the Bulb Section of the D7!" Torek spun, returning to the centre seat.
"Maybe they are ensuring there's nothing left to investigate?" Calli suggested.
"Did they have time to transport everyone off the Bulb before firing?" Andae asked.
"The Vor'cha Class is fast..." Lysia said, checking her readings before continuing, "... Given their approach speed, yes, barely,"
"So we could assume that the General has transferred her flag?" Andae speculated.
"I imagine so... I doubt she would have allowed any unfriendly vessel to approach unchallenged. What is the Vor'cha doing now?" Carl asked.
"They are still in close proximity to the destroyed fortress. They know we're here, so maybe they are waiting for us to leave before their next move?" T'Seng suggested.
"Then we'll give it the three hours our Chief Engineer requires to complete the nonexistent repairs, if they haven't given us reason to remain by then, we'll leave ....." Carl said, rising before heading for his Ready Room ..........