178: Keeping a Weather Eye on the Horizon

By Commanders Blane and Salvek
80225.0
Following My Immortal

-=Bridge of the USS Serendipity=-

TC paced back and forth across the bridge, his hands firmly and securely positioned behind his back, his fingers interlaced. He gazed was transfixed on the forward view screen where he and the rest of the Sera bridge staff were watching the slow demise of the Executer.

They watched helplessly as the ship was slowly pulled towards the massive star behind it.

As depressing as the event was, it was made inconceivably worse by the fact that its commanding officer, one Admiral Vox, had resigned himself to go down with the ship. That decision had forced Captain Zanh to make a trip over to the dying ship to attempt to instill some rationality to the man, much to the chagrin of both her first and second officers.

[Bridge this is transporter room two. We have the Admiral and O’Sullivan but Ensign Cristiane and the Captain are still on board.]

TC’s pacing stopped and he turned back to exchange a knowing look with Commander Salvek.

“What was the problem with transporting them back?” Salvek asked calmly.

[We lost our lock on the ensign, who is apparently trapped at his current location. The Captain has not yet requested to be beamed back.] The transporter chief explained.

“She’s going after Dane.” TC surmised. Salvek nodded his agreement.

TC stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You have to beam her out of there.”

Salvek considered his words. Beaming the Captain back would certainly upset her, but he wasn't under any specific orders not to do so. Technically, she had nothing to hold against him, but he knew she would.

"What is the status of the Executor?" Salvek asked.

"She's got maybe five minutes left." Reece replied.

"I will give the Captain four more minutes, then beam her back."

"I said maybe five minutes, Salvek. She might have two seconds." Reece explained.

Blane rocked back on his heels, trying to urge Salvek on with his body language. Salvek took up the Command chair. "Bridge to transporter room."

[Transporter room here.]

"Keep a lock on Captain Zanh and energize as soon as you hear from her, or myself."

[Acknowledged.]

TC walked up beside Salvek and leaned a hand on the Command chair.

"How is she?" Salvek took note of the concern in his voice. TC no doubt was feeling guilt over the fact that Lair Kellyn had come close to dying under his command.

"I have faith in her ability to weather this event. She is a remarkable woman. You need not feel any responsibility for her injury."

“Hard not to.” TC commented.

He glanced back at the forward screen and sighed. “You know, pulling our good captain’s gluteus maximus out of the fire is a full-time job.”

He looked back to Salvek. “We’re running out of time. It’s not just the Captain’s situation. The Gauntlet will be back, it will not take long for Spec Ops to find out that they have a big hunk of scrap metal.” He glanced back at the screen and shifted his weight. “They’ll pull a big u-turn and be back here with a whole lotta attitude.”

“Best if we are not here when they get back.” He added.

"Agreed." Salvek raised his voice so that Ensign Ellison could hear him at the helm. "Plot a course for the nearest Federation facility. Maximum Warp." Salvek again lowered his voice once more to speak to Blane. "If Special Ops is going to attack us, they are going to have to do it in front of other Starfleet officers, not out here, where their misdeeds go unseen."

"Yeah, look how having the Executor here slowed them down." It sounded like sarcasm, but Blane was giving him a sincere warning.

"Perhaps, Commander Blane, a review of our weapon and defense systems are in order." Salvek replied, knowing soon enough they may need them.

---------------------------------
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer/Chief of Operations
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

Commander Salvek
Executive Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012