The Wolves are Circling

Posted on 31 Oct 2019 @ 1:31am by Commander Rhyan & Lieutenant JG Aeryn Zal

1,121 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Empty Creche
Location: USS Nova (Wolf-359 System)
Timeline: ED1 2130

The walk from the Nova’s transporter room to the bridge was only interrupted once as a non-com officer ran up to Rhyan and Aeryn with freshly replicated uniform tunics and boots. A few of the Nova’s crew, some of whom would have remembered Rhyan from his short stint as their commanding officer, stared in confusion at the Vulcan and Trill as they indiscreetly changed out of their grubby clothes in the middle of the deck four corridor. Rhyan threw his discarded clothes back at the non-com and accompanied Lieutenant Commander Li to the turbolift.

As the three Starfleet officers stepped into the turbolift, the ship shook violently once again. Rhyan put his hand up against the bulkhead to stop himself from being thrown to the floor. It appeared that the Andorians were not clearly not giving up their pursuit of the Redemption science officers. He didn’t expect any less from Shrell.

“They really aren’t going to give up without a fight,” Lieutenant Commander Li said, looking worriedly at Rhyan. Before he could get a response, the security officer commanded the turbolift to take them to the bridge.

“Shrell has more than one reason to see me dead,” replied the Vulcan, dryly. He thought about filling the Bajoran in on the full story but knew that he did not have enough time to do it justice. Maybe once they were safely out of the Wolf system, and far away from the Andorians, he could fill Tomin in. For now, he would keep the commander in suspense.

The short journey from deck four to the bridge only took a moment, as the turbolift doors opened before anyone else in the turbolift could speak. The turbolift deposited them to the rear of the bridge, which appeared as a hive of activity as the Nova was locked into battle with Shrell’s Confederacy vessel. The Nova shook once more before the officers could exit the turbolift onto the bridge.

“Status of that vessel?” Barked a voice familiar to Rhyan. In the single seat located at the centre of the bridge was Commander Ferguson, the commanding officer of the Nova. Rhyan sensed that the human male was aware of his arrival but held back from acknowledging it until the current situation with the Andorian ship was resolved.

“Sir,” the tactical officer called back, “their shields are holding against our weapons fire. They are showing no immediate signs of retreat.”

“They really aren’t giving up, are they?” Ferguson said, rhetorically. The commander glanced briefly at Rhyan and then returned his steely gaze to the viewscreen. “Arm the quantum torpedo launchers and fire everything we have at them. We need to hold them off until the rest of the task force arrives.”

“Aye Sir,” replied the tactical officer.

“Commander Li,” Ferguson then announced, acknowledging the arrival of his chief of security, “take over at the tactical station and give those Andorians hell.”

“Aye Sir,” Li said, nodding to Rhyan and moving to relieve the officer who had been manning the tactical station. He input a series of commands into the console and then Rhyan saw the familiar blue hue of quantum torpedoes light up the viewscreen and collide with the shields of the Confederacy vessel. “Direct hit, Commander. Their shields are down to seventy-three percent.”

“Good job Tomin,” Ferguson said, before redirecting his attention. “Communications, can you contact the USS Dallas and ask what is taking them so long to get here?”

“Aye Sir,” responded another officer from the rear of the bridge.

“Incoming weapons fire,” Li shouted just before the Nova suffered its most violent barrage of weapons fire from the Confederacy vessel. Rhyan just about managed to stay on his feet, but Lieutenant Tigan was thrown immediately to the deck. Around them EPS conduits exploded as they surged from the impact of the weapons fire on the Nova’s shields; one unlucky officer was thrown clear across the bridge from one of the explosions.

Rhyan cautiously stepped from the back of the bridge towards the command station, all the while trying to stay upright when the deck beneath him threatened to throw him off his feet. “Ferguson,” the Vulcan said as he reached the command station and placed a hand on the back of the commander’s chair to steady himself, “we need to get out of here, now, and set an immediate course for Earth.”

The Nova’s commanding officer didn’t even look at Rhyan as he responded. Their history was complicated, and neither officer particularly liked the other. “I can’t risk taking this ship into warp until the threat from the Andorians has been neutralised.”

“I understand that, Commander,” Rhyan said respectfully, despite his dislike of the man who had locked him up in the brig only a few short months ago. “However, I am on a mission of utmost importance to the Federation and need to get to Earth. Now.”

“Now is not the time, Rhyan,” Ferguson said coldly, not once diverting his attention from the battle that was raging on the viewscreen in front of him. Rhyan could feel his blood starting to boil over, as the memory of Ferguson’s previous treatment of him came flooding back. He used all his Vulcan training to bury the emotion. There was a time when he would have simply just lashed out at officers like Ferguson.

“Commander,” Li Tomin announced from the tactical station, “The Dallas and the Surak are dropping out of warp. The Crazy Horse and Intrepid will arrive in the next few minutes.”

“That’s good news, Commander. Helm, switch to evasive pattern Delta-Four and as soon as the Dallas and Surak are in range, bring us into a position behind them.”

“Yes, Commander,” responded the female Vulcan helm officer.

“Sir,” Li said abruptly. “The Andorians have seen the Surak and Dallas. They are breaking off their attack and retreating. They,” he paused for a moment and then continued, “have just gone to warp.”

“Excellent news Tomin. Reduce the ship’s status to yellow alert and bring us alongside the Dallas. Once we are certain the Andorians are gone, set a course for Earth at maximum warp. Tell the rest of the task force to escort us.” Ferguson took the opportunity to stand up from the command station and face Rhyan properly for the first time. His face gave almost nothing away to the Vulcan. “Tomin, you have the bridge.”

“Aye Sir.”

“Commander Rhyan, Lieutenant Tigan, would you please join me in my ready room. I feel like we have some urgent things to discuss.”

OOC: Trying to get back into this story! Need to tie things up with Rhyan and Tigan on Earth!

 

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