By TC Blane
100228.1330
Immediately after Lockdown: Part Two
-=Bridge – USS Serendipity=-
100228.1330
Immediately after Lockdown: Part Two
-=Bridge – USS Serendipity=-
TC stood on the silenced bridge as his mind raced over the dramatic events that had just unfolded within the last few minutes.
He could feel all of the eyes of his fellow ship-mates boring into him as he pondered what his, and therefore the entire crew's, next move would be.
He glanced down at Dane and Landry and took note of their collective reactions to the voice booming over the ships communications system. They knew the man that was addressing them and not just by his reputation: they knew him well enough to recognize and fear his voice.
TC tugged on his tunic to straighten out any wrinkles that may have worked their way onto his normally perfect uniform. He then turned and retook a seat in the Captain’s chair. It took a moment before he spoke, and when he did his voice was low and quiet but carried a chill within its tone that caused the hair to stand up on the back of Dane’s neck.
“First thing…” Blane looked at Landry. “…find out how they are tapping into our internal communications and stop it.”
Landry simply nodded at the order even though she had no clue exactly how to carry it out.
He then turned to Dane. “How many of their officers do we in fact have in the brig?”
Dane turned and attempted to pull up the information which took longer then normal considering the ships current state. He finally turned back to TC. “Seven, according to our last transporter log before the systems went offline.”
TC nodded and turned back to Landry. “Open a channel to the Poseidon.”
Landry nodded and did as she was told.
Within a second the larger than life and just as smug image of Tucker Brody filled the screen. He momentarily frowned at the sight of TC sitting in the center seat.
[Commander Blane, I presume. I thought the Vulcan would be contacting me.] He smiled an obviously fake smile; the kind of smile that one sees at a Poker table from a man who believes that he has the winning hand. [I assume that you are contacting us to let us know that you are preparing to comply with our demands.]
“Assumption is the mother of all f**k ups.” TC replied, in the same cold and even voice.
Brody looked for a split second taken off guard by TC’s blatant use of profanity. He had expected the usual Starfleet standard “How dare you” speech. He quickly covered it up and simply blinked.
TC continued. “I have no intention at this time to comply with any of your demands. You claim to have two officers from this ship as well as the director of your own agency as captives. But I have no way of knowing this to be true because as you know our ability to scan your ship is, for the time being, disabled.”
Brody opened his mouth to respond but TC cut him off by continuing to speak.
“When you have confirmed that you do indeed have those you claim to possess and that they are being well cared for, then we will discuss what the next step will be. Contact me, through the proper channel, when you are ready. Until that time my response to you and your demands is simply…nuts.” He gave the signal to cut the link and Landry closed the channel, sending the screen to black.
He sat back in the chair and stared at the blank screen for a long moment before Landry spoke up. “Commander, are you sure we are in the position to be making demands?”
TC abruptly stood, staring at Steele, then glanced over to Dane. “Yes we are. They would not have snatched us if they did not need us or at least those we hold in the brig for something. I think that they need to force us into cooperating with them.”
“Why?” Dane asked.
TC folded his arms across his chest. “Why contact us at all? We are sitting ducks. No weapons, shields, systems, or any other ways of defending ourselves. Why not just board us and take control.”
“Because they can’t.” Mellice answered.
TC turned and nodded to the newest crewmember. “They exposed that flaw in their tactics. You don’t hit someone with a kick ass weapon, abduct them, and then make demands. Why would you, you hold all of the cards. Unless you really don’t.”
Dane spoke up. “So you don’t think they are holding Keiran, I mean, our crew?” he asked hopefully.
“No I am sure that they do. I just wanted Brody to know that I knew that he did not have the winning hand, not yet at least.” He turned and walked to stand in front of the view screen. “So here is what we are going to do.”
He pointed at Dane and Landry. “You two are going to start spilling everything that you know about that ship and Tucker Brody.” His eyes flashed. “And I do mean everything. The inside knowledge you have just might be the ace up our sleeve.
"Also just because they have not boarded us does not mean they are not thinking about it. We need to be ready for that. Without our phasers and other fancy devices that will take some out of the box thinking and tactics.” He turned to Mellice. “Sounds like something that would be right up the alley of a former Bajorian Resistance fighter.”
Mellice nodded. “Yes sir.”
“Tell Engineering to start repairs to all major systems and to find out what hit us and how to stop it from happening again.” Blane ordered. “We also need to figure out why they have not boarded us. It might have something to do with this warp bubble. OK. Let’s get to work people.” He clapped his hands. “You two…” he pointed at Dane and Landry. “…ready room.”
They both simply nodded and stood up from their stations; their seats were quickly filled by other crewmembers.
Before heading to the ready room he leaned down next to Cem. “It would also be helpful if we could find a way to board their ship Mr. Mellice.” He patted the Bajoran on the back and continued on his way.
The door slid shut behind him and he strode over to stand in front of the Captain’s desk before turning towards Dane and Landry.
Dane spoke up first. “Sir, I have to ask…what does 'nuts' mean?” Landry’s eyes said that she was seeking the same answer.
TC lowered his head. “You two really need to study Earth history.” He turned and looked out of the window at the twinkling lights. “During the second worldwide war of the twentieth century, there was a battle outside of a town called Bastogne. Allied forces had been pushing the Germans back ever since they landed at Normandy and began to liberation of France and Europe. The Germans, in the middle of winter, made a surprise counter attack.”
He turned around and looked back at the two young officers. “They pushed the Allies back except for around the town of Bastogne. The soldiers there stopped the advance but became surrounded and cut off from any help. They had no winter gear, limited supplies, and the weather was horrible. The German commander Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitze, whose troops outnumbered and were better equipped they those holding the town and the surrounding area, sent an offer of surrender in hopes of taking the town, which he had been unable to do, with out any more loss of his troops.”
TC walked over and leaned against the desk. “General Anthony McAuliffee, who was the acting commander for the allied troops holding the town, sent a one word reply.
“Nuts?” Dane and Landry replied in unison as they both cracked a smile.
“It had to be explained to the German commander also. The allies held the town and eventually were relieved. It was Germany's last offensive of the war.”
TC finished his story and smiled that rare smile of his. “So…yeah…I say 'nuts'.”
= USS Poseidon =
Brody turned away from the suddenly dark screen, his face slightly flushed.
“Nuts?” He raised his hands up. “What in the Hell does that mean?”
Commander TC Blane
Acting Captain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Acting Captain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012