The Admiral's Command

Posted on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 12:49pm by Captain Rovak & Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Doctor Intharia T'Zor & SubCommander Saa & Lieutenant Commander Atna & Senior Chief Petty Officer Gaz & Vice Admiral Lucas Gali
Edited on on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 12:54pm

2,309 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Masters of the Stars [2]
Location: Conference Room, DS13
Timeline: 0945 - MD01 (After 'The Admiral's Arrival')

DS13's senior staff (with a couple of exceptions who were busy elsewhere) noticed that they were met by Admiral Gali's own senior staff from the Challenger, a relatively unremarkable but very efficient-looking team of Federation member baseline humanoids. His Yeoman stood behind him at a distance, orbiting like a moon.

Once everyone was seated or hovering in place, Admiral Gali stood and addressed those present from the lectern of the large, dark conference room. "I hope nobody's too upset that we don't have time for dress uniforms and champagne, but I like to get things done with a minimum of pageantry. Feel free to find time for it later if you think it necessary. Otherwise, I'd like the Chief of Science to please brief me on what we've learned since the Challenger's pre-departure briefing." Admiral Gali said, squinting at a padd his yeoman had passed him.

“With the sensors aboard the Excalibur and those of the station, we are confident that we can now predict the rate at which the anomaly skips between realities.” The newly minted Lieutenant Commander Atna announced to the gathered staff in the large conference room.

“We believed that the first change we observed was when we first activated the rainbow bridge protocol when faced with the post-entropy anti-universe in our third week of operations. We now believe that the first change was earlier that day, when a freighter was destroyed by pirates in interplanetary space. While the first reality we encountered was the aforementioned anti-universe, the second and third were unremarkable connections to points in space distant from anything we nearby. We suspect in both that the connection was established within the intergalactic void.” Atna explained, as holographics detailed the situation and concepts she described.

“After the rainbow bridge, the first unprompted jump came six days, 12 hours and eighteen minutes later. The next came an equal distance of time later. All signs suggest that the next jump will occur in another six days, one hour and three minutes from now. If not, we will reconsider our theory, but if so we are confident that this is the expected duration of connection to each new reality. This knowledge should allow us to begin expeditions into the space we find ourselves connected with.” Atna said.

"Good news. We can start sending more than probes." Gali observed.

"Indeed." Rovak said, though the information was not news to him. "Any other updates?"

Saa volunteered next, from her hovering position at the opposite end of the conference table. “Engineering has made significant progress on an interphasic scanner capable of distinguishing objects and entities by their universe of origin,” she reported, in the sharp, precise tones she was accustomed to, honed in a thousand design meetings. “The principle is straightforward enough: every universe’s quantum field can be expected to leave a discreet but measurable signature on objects that pass through it. But the subquantum resolution required to detect it is beyond the capabilities of most sensors. It's taken us some time, but with Romulan assistance, we've managed to put together something that should work."

She focused a tightly coded packet of sonar at the wall panel, directing it to display an interior of view of Alpha Dock, where a sleek Arrow-class runabout was having its nose cone reassembled. "We’re fitting the full-size version into the sensor array of a runabout," she explained, "And have started fabricating the shorter-range version as a tricorder attachment. In theory, the data they collect will allow us to start building a ‘quantum catalogue’ of known or visited universes. Although the challenge of designing a filing system for an infinite number of entries is a unique one in my experience. For the time being, we've designated Universe 'Asari,' Universe 'Gallifrey,' and—with credit to Chief Yan on this one—Universe 'Vanilla,' our current, home universe.”

“Of course,” the dolphin hedged after deactivating the screen, “These devices are all relatively untested, given the limited amount of extrauniversal material we have to work with. I would caution against over-reliance until we’ve logged a significant number of samples.” She glanced unconsciously in the direction of T’Zor as she concluded. So far, those ‘samples’ had been limited to the Asari scientist, some objects in her possession, and the broken-off plunger of what Saa had been told was a ‘Dalek.’

Admiral Gali made a face that seemed to suggest he was quietly impressed. "Good luck topping that, Captain." He gave up the lectern to Rovak taking his seat at the table.

Gaz double-checked what was available on his padd. They'd done good work.

Rovak quickly replaced him. "Fascinating SubCommander, thank you." Rovak said, clearing his throat away from the microphone before continuing.

"The crew you have brought are surplus to our expectations, we are grateful to have them, sir." Rovak told the Admiral. "We are preparing to begin our first expedition upon the next reset of the anomaly to a new location. With that in mind, several positions on the senior staff remain unfilled." He said.

"Lieutenant Thul," Rovak asked suddenly, having not yet had time for a more tactful discussion about it in the Admiral's haste. "Would you be willing to also assume the responsibility of tactical chief until our next arrival of new staff? Lieutenant T'Vath is capable, but he lacks command experience in ways that are unfortunately reflecting in duty reports." Rovak found it disagreeable to be speaking ill of his fellow officer and Vulcan, but he had a feeling giving the Admiral the opportunity to see how the sausage of command was made might go some way towards easing his overall level of concern.

"That shouldn't be a problem, Captain," Rune strung the rank title out a little with a smirk behind it. "I will have to meet with you and Commander Flynn about some temporary measures I have used in the past for Tactical, where I did manage both departments. I am happy to assist Lieutenant T'Vath with some training if that is something you'd like me to do, sir?" Rune didn't like leaving officers behind, especially when he could help them get better.

"That was one of the things we were planning to ask about. I'll have Slar pencil something in." Flynn said, making a note on the notepad she'd brought in with her.

"I do not believe there are any other matters for the senior staff to discuss at this time, sir. Assignments and schedules are already established. Unless anyone has anything?" Rovak put it to the group.

"For administrative and personal reasons, I wish to make the declaration that Dr Intharia T'Zor and I have begun a romantic relationship. I do not believe there are any ethical or professional concerns as she is not a member of starfleet, despite her voluntary service aboard. If there are, we are both willing to accept any necessary onboard reassignment to eliminate the conflict of interest." Atna announced.

"I do not foresee any concerns, I believe you are correct in your observation that her civilian status precludes any administrative issues." Rovak said, deferring to Flynn.

"I agree with the Com - with the Captain. No concerns, I'll enter it into the log." Flynn caught herself mid-sentence. She was happy for both of them, but on some level she was starting to feel like the only one who wasn't getting any. Even Gali had his wife with him.

"Congratulations." Rune said with a smirk. He turned to each of the other officers in turn. "My husband has been asking me to relay to you all that his establishment, Supremacy Inc's famous restaurant chain: The Spot, is about to open in the next week or so. It would be great to have you all be there for the opening, consider this your advanced invitations." Rune smiled.

"What's he serving?" Flynn asked Thul. Promenade business was something she'd been able to make the problem of the diplomatic detachment.

"The Spot caters to many tastes and cultures, so ask and if it is within his power he will provide, otherwise he'd will recommend an alternative." Rune said, as he had rehearsed so many times over the years.

"Ambassador Velt had mentioned that it could be soon. Once a date and time are confirmed I would encourage him to reach out to Yeoman Ayol. We will do what we can to ensure as many can be present as possible." Rovak explained, not wanting to over-promise with a potential launch coming soon. "Admiral, will you be present to join us?"

"That all depends on how the next few hours go." Admiral Gali said, standing and returning to the lecturn, prompting Rovak to return to his seat. "Before the end of shift today I'd like all your departments to hold a session with the departments from the Challenger and any relevant newcomer staff. Go through everything we've learned in our time here and every operational change or accommodation we're making. We've got to make sure everyone is on top of everything, even if it means repeating ourselves. If anyone's got anything to say about that, the time is now."

Rovak was quiet, but arched an eyebrow silently. He looked out among the mixed staff to see if anyone intended to respond.

"With all due respect to your people Admiral, would it not be more efficient for all involved for them to figure that out from our logs?" Flynn asked. She felt the gazes of the Challenger staff narrow upon her.

"We're going to be working alongside you here for I don't know how long, I want my people as up to speed as possible. Besides, logs can't answer questions. It'll be a couple of hours at most, they're none of them hired because I think they're good-looking." Gali responded. "Anyone else?"

"Admiral. Perhaps the logs can handle the basics, then for questions and discussions meetings can be arranged that do not interfere with both Challenger's and Deep Space 13's personnel duty assignments. I would hate for either crew to be negligent in their daily duties by playing 20 questions when they have work to do." Rune began, "it is possible these discussions could go longer then a couple of hours. As you said, both you and the Challenger crew will be here for how long, so we have time to work out a stable flow of information for all who need it in a timely manner that can be memorised effectively."

He gestured at the Admiral. "I would like to suggest that these meetings be held at levels, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and down the chain of command. Like anything, rushing all the information may cause confusion and delay if delivered all at once."

“It seems you've misunderstood me, Lieutenant. While I appreciate your notes, it's apparent that Captain Rovak encourages a more collegial style of Command than I’m accustomed to. When I ask if you have thoughts, while I might accept a single polite suggestion for an alternative, I mean more broadly your thoughts on how you’re going to do what I say. Starfleet didn’t put me in command of the 21st fleet because I sometimes know what I’m talking about.” While he’d been even-mannered responding to Flynn, his tone slowly became colder and louder.

“Obviously I expect you to continue running your departments, which I’m confident can be done by a skeleton crew on a mostly-empty station in the ass end of nowhere.” Gali finished, looking elsewhere. “Anything further?” He asked the crowd.

"That would be an interesting theory to test Admiral." Rune said though clearly the Admiral wasn't having any of it and continued as if Rune hadn't spoken at all.

"No? Alright. Thank you all for your time. Challenger crew, with me." The Admiral said. In a moment he was gone, and his team quickly followed.

Once he was sure they were all gone, Rovak spoke. "Admiral Gali, everybody." Rovak said, almost like an emcee in the wake of a performer's sudden departure. "If there is nothing further, you are all dismissed. Please coordinate with your Challenger counterparts at your earliest convenience. Believe me when I say Admiral Gali will direct any questions about a failure to do so to you before he does to me." Rovak warned those remaining.

Atna nodded to Rovak and stood, Thari followed her lead. Together they left swiftly to see to the arrangements.

"Yes, sir," Rune replied and stood. "Though I would like to officially request his disregard for your command especially after he just promoted you be entered into the log as uncalled for and rather unbecoming of a flag officer, who should be elevating those under their command then..." He said annoyance in his tone.

"If he does it we can log it. Until then, probably best not to give him a reason to do it." Flynn said, feeling like she'd dodged a bullet by getting her suggestion out first. She unclicked her pen. She wasn't leaving, she planned to have a smoke in here once everyone was gone.

Rune inclined his head at Flynn and smiled. "Aye Commander. I do have a few questions about what has happened since the station went online so I would like to request to have the schedule which I believe you, Commander, are putting together for this information exchange?"

"That makes two of us." Gaz said in response to the security chief.

"Uh-uh. Ayol and Grey Horse handling the scheduling. I'm busying myself elsewhere. Ayol will sort you both out." Alex told them.

"I'm going to get started. I'll be in the CIC if anyone needs me." Gaz pushed out from his seat and began to shuffle towards the exit, reading the padd as he went.

"Catch ya later," Rune called out after Gaz.

Soon everyone had gone, leaving Flynn to her vice.

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