New Endings and New Beginnings

Posted on 29 Apr 2018 @ 4:58pm by Fleet Admiral Sho'Thor & Rear Admiral Azura Ashcart
Edited on on 04 Jul 2018 @ 12:52am

1,000 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Redemption
Timeline: ED 9: 2100

ON:

Azura looked over the reports on his desk as the Redemption moved at sub-light to depart the Hadronus system and head back home. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as his eyes blurred slightly at the small print on the screen of the PADD. The intermittent communications jamming had kept him from contacting Admiral West about the new addition to the ship, and that bothered him. It had also stopped him from getting updates from SFHQ as he wanted. He felt the soft jerk of the ship going into warp and knew they must have reached the edge of the Hadronus system. The lights dimmed as day shift ended and the night shift took over. He stood and headed to the replicator to get a cup of tea as his mind worked over what they knew. During the few instances of communications ability during their stay in Hadronus he had gotten routine updates on fleet movements. It had been over four days since their last update and he wondered what would have changed between now and then. As the ship sped towards Earth and cleared the jamming field he knew the ship would send a ping to HQ letting them know they were on their way back to Earth. In turn the automated relay system would send all the accumulated data to the ship now that it was out of the communications blackout. He waited for the familiar ping of the comms channel to notify him that they were back in communications with Star Fleet. He picked up his cup of tea and began moving back to his desk when the incessant pining of an over attached ex echoed through the office.

“Computer, silence communications notifications, show communiques and sort oldest to newest. Begin with highest priority.” he said as he tilted his head slightly at the sounds. The computer beeped it's acknowledgment and the notifications ended. His computer screen shifted from black to a listing of oldest communications at the top. He tapped the first one and looked at the fleet deployments noticing the location of the USS Archer and his friend Captain Franklin, he noticed several other ships with captains or crew he was familiar with and moved to the next communication.

This was a breakdown of the suspected deployments of the Sixth Fleet, Bajoran Separatist, and the Confederacy of the Underdark. He looked over the information and made a mental note the continued to the next dispatch. He kept at this for thirty minutes before a female voice interrupted his study.

“Captain, we have a Priority One communique from Fleet Admrial Sho'Thor for you sir.” the voice of Lieutenant Commander Vlarian said piercing the silence of his thoughts. He straightened his tunic out of instinct and nodded to the fleet deployments before him and spoke.

“Very well, patch him through.” as he said that the deployments disappeared and was replaced by a Star Fleet symbol on a black background, then it disappeared and the stoic features of his uncle appeared.

“Captain, I see the Redemption is headed back to Earth. The ship has new orders, forty-six children of various star fleet officers and federation civilians have been kidnapped from Earth. The Redemption is tasked with tracking down and retrieving the children as well as capturing the individual or individuals responsible for their kidnapping. I am transmitting the last known coordinates of the ship and the projected flight path taken. I'm also sending what sensor scans we could get of the ship, we haven't seen anything like it.” Azura looked down at a separate screen and pulled up the scans of the ship in question.

“Admiral, we have, just recently a ship of similar make and sensor scrambling ability was tracking a personnel shuttle dispatched to drop off new crew to the ship. We have been under a communications blackout due to a jamming field in the Hadronus system otherwise we would have forwarded our scans to HQ. They should be in the current packet that was sent as soon as we got out into the clear.”
Thor nodded “I will make sure that the proper individuals get the information, the Redemption's priority is the safe return of those children. Get the ship's course set and head off that ship before it can reach the Sixth Fleet's armada.” Thor looked down at his desk “Also there should be a shuttle intercepting the Redemption within the hour, the Redemption's new CO will be on it. You are to hand over command of the ship to him and be on that shuttle when it leaves to head back to Earth. It is not how I envisioned it but you have been promoted to Rear Admiral and given SFI to command. Vice Admiral West has been stricken with an unknown malady and his return to active duty is unsure. Keep your objections to yourself Admiral, we will discuss them when your on Earth. You have an hour to get everything ready, I suggest you get to work. Captain Barron will be there shortly. Thor out.” with that the image of Fleet Admiral Thor winked off and the screen was replaced by the Star Fleet emblem. Azura sat there looking at the screen for several seconds.

“PALLAS, please inform all senior officers that a new commanding officer will be embarking in an hour. Also prepare a briefing the for the new captain to include my notes from the previous mission and any incidentals that you deem necessary.” he paused then continued “Don't inform Major Afton, I will do that myself.” he rubbed his temples “That is going to be interesting to say the least, she's not going to take this very well.” He pushed himself up and headed out of his ready room to his quarters to pack and have the worst conversation possible with his wife.

OFF

Sho'Thor
Fleet Admiral
Chief of Star Fleet Operations
Star Fleet Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth

&

Azura Ashcart
Rear Admiral
Commanding Officer
USS Redmeption

 

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