Crossed Purposes [✱3]

Posted on Tue Sep 30th, 2025 @ 11:13am by Captain Rovak & Lieutenant Commander S'Lace & Lieutenant Commander Raul Saez & Lieutenant Akaar Zuul & Master Chief Petty Officer Gaz
Edited on on Wed Oct 1st, 2025 @ 2:19pm

673 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: CIC, Deep Space 13
Timeline: 1600 - MD02

“Captain, we’ve just received a distress call. It’s the Praxis’ Claw. Co-ordinates received.” The Ferengi Commander Frak announced at communications.

The ship’s relative position appeared on a map of the local sector. She was in interstellar space, there was very little matter nearby for days unless one went faster than warp 2.

Oddly, they were more than five times the distance away they should have been using conventional warp drive. “Navigation, project the maximum distance the Praxis’ Claw should have covered since its departure yesterday under maximum conventional warp factors matching the upper end of Starfleet’s own.” Rovak asked as the strangeness struck him.

Saez brought up the requested display on the main viewer, and found himself looking at it slightly askew in the hopes it would start to make more sense. "They shouldn't be anywhere near that far out." Raul noted.

The projection fell well short of the coordinates the signal came from. “Warp 9.95 would have them less than a quarter of the way.” Rovak thought aloud.

“Tactical, refer this data to Director Raaku and Ambassador Velt for their urgent attention.” Rovak instructed.

"Aye," Akaar made a LCARS message and labelled it Urgent before dispatching it to Velt and Raaku. He wondered what was going on.

“They say the bridge is destroyed and the senior staff dead. It must be an unusual level of distress for the Klingons to announce such vulnerabilities. Or a panicked junior officer sent the call.” Frak hypothesised.

“Instruct the Dock Crew to prepare the Hercules for launch.” Rovak instructed.

“Oh, and, sir, we’re also receiving a transmission from the surface of Dreizhen III. It’s a transmission from the Order. They say the power generator and several other systems we provided their colony with have failed.” Frak added.

“Did this request come through their attache in the diplomatic corps?” Rovak asked.

“No, sir. Direct broadcast to the CIC.” Frak confirmed.

“Very well. Rovak to Gaz.” He tapped in a connection to the Chief of Ops on his armrest. “Chief, it seems the new colony has had issues with their settlement infrastructure. Please assemble a team to assist them."

"Understood sir, will do." Gaz said from within a jeffries tube, after removing the tool he'd been holding between his teeth for want pf a free hand while he made repairs.

“CIC to S’Lace,” Rovak started, and continued once he had her affirmation, “Doctor, in the event you are not otherwise engaged in work you would classify as critical, I would like you to command a rescue mission aboard the Hercules to a Klingon vessel that reports its bridge destroyed and command staff dead.”

Did 'paperwork' constitute 'critical work'? S'Lace thought.

Most certainly not. Setting down the padd in its proper stack, the replied, "Understood, Captain." She stood and considered the unusual request: she was going to lead a rescue mission. Well, perhaps everyone else was busy...

"Captain, should I ping the other vessels that departed around the same time as the Praxis’ Claw for their status?" Akaar inquired, he hoped that they were doing better.

"Do it." Rovak agreed with the suggestion.

"Sir," Akaar replied and programmed a ping communiqué to the vessels on their docking manifest from when the Praxis' Claw left. Akaar included a small message that requested status.

"Captain, permission to take the helm on the Hercules." Saez asked the Captain, standing suddenly from his position. He was almost eye-to-eye level with the sitting Captain in his large central chair. He knew he wasn't the most qualified slipstream pilot aboard, but early bird, worm, and all that.

"Granted, Mr Saez." Rovak told the navigator. "Mr Zuul, please join him at tactical."

"Aye," Akaar stood and nodded to a relief officer who took his place, the 'Violanari' male went to follow Saez. "Still waiting on responses from the other ships Captain," he reported.

"We will keep an eye on it." Rovak said, realising that if any of them did report anything the most they could send to assist was a runabout.

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