Next Stop: Nowhere

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:30am by Captain Nycolas Temple
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:54pm

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Deck 1 - Ready Room

ON:

With Commander Nash taking extended leave on Carnwennan Station, Nyx was as keen as ever to get the Pandora back to Federation space and the station so that he, and the rest of the crew, could spend some time not being Starfleet Officers. He was looking forward to not wearing a uniform, or having to worry about the 300-or-so people onboard the ship. He knew the crew were keen for some genuine R and R too, and he'd heard from multiple people already about what they planned to do with their shore leave. It was the light at the end of their very dark tunnel.

As the Captain readied his reports and schedule for the day, destiny came calling in the form a subspace transmission from Earth. It was 'High Security' and from the very top of the Task Force, causing Nyx's stomach to churn. Nyx straightened out his uniform and patted down a wayward strand of hair back behind his ear before accepting the transmission. On screen, sitting in his office in San Francisco, was the stoic face of an unfamiliar Admiral. He looked young for his rank, his uniform clearly not quite fitting. The pips were too shiny, obviously brand new and Nyx noticed his office was still filled with packing crates, like he'd only just arrived. He had wavy, blonde hair and green eyes, with the complexion of a man that had rarely seen combat.

"Captain Temple." The Admiral stated, trying to hide his unfamiliarity with Nyx.

"Yes?" Nyx replied stiffly.

"Apologies for the sudden call. My name is Admiral Thac, the new commanding officer of your Task Force." He said formally.

With his hands out of sight from the Admiral, Nyx subtly started tapping on a PADD laying on the desk, trying to quickly find what he could about this person. He was indeed quite young, early 40's, of Human decent. Thac had previously been a CO of a ship in the 8th Task Force, under the current CO of the Fleet. There was a photo of the two standing together at an event recently in Paris, a clear sign of the close friendship of the two. Indeed, wherever the Fleet CO had gone, so too had Thac, his protege.

"Oh?" Nyx managed to hold down a scoff, looking back up at the screen. "I was unaware of a change in leadership... or that the position had even been available?"

Clearly a lot had changed while the Pandora had been on Paradise. The previous TFCO had been suddenly removed and Admiral Thac was apparently immediately put into the role, though no further information had been made public as to why the leadership had changed and why Thac was the choice to take-over. All Nyx could think about was that photo of the Fleet CO and Thac standing next to each other, smiling proudly.

"It's all happened quite quickly." Thac answered, his tone conveying his deep desire not to go into detail. "Suffice to say, the Fleet's CO has chosen me for the role."

Nyx saw the defensiveness in his face and it only raised more questions. He contemplated whether it was worth prodding further, given how priggish the young Admiral appeared to be on the subject. Instead, Nyx offered a demure smile, "Well, congratulations, I guess."

"Thank you." Thac nodded, not smiling, "I know you were close to the last TFCO but I hope we can work together. This news may disappoint you, but I hope I can count on your support as I start the lead the group."

"Of course." Nyx said immediately, hoping the emptiness of the sentiment wouldn't be too obvious. "How can the Pandora help?"

Thac nodded, "I know you were scheduled to dock with the Carwen... Carrowen... Carnanan. - "

"Carnwennan." Nyx assisted.

"Yes, that station." That sighed, "But we've received an urgent distress call and we need you to investigate."

"Of course, Admiral," Nyx nodded, "Please send the transmission location and we'll proceed right there."

"But It's top secret!" Thac suddenly said. "No one can know where you're going."

Nyx leaned into the screen, "Then how will we get there?" He whispered.

"Oh." Thac thought about it. "Well, I'll tell you, of course. But the mission is highly confidential and all reports on your progress will go straight to me. Nothing is to be broadcast on regular subspace."

This struck Nyx as odd, of course, as the Pandora was automatically programmed to send location data, ship information, and department reports to various sources, so that Starfleet could know where they were and how they were doing. It was unusual for the the TFCO to request such secrecy.

"We can handle it, sir." Nyx nodded, "I came from SI, I can handle missions of this nature."

"You were?" The Admiral was surprised by this, looking down at his own PADD that had clearly been used to research Nyx. "So you have. Very good. Then you are to proceed to the Hesiod system immediately. But not so fast that the Alrakis Pact suspect something should they see you."

"Hesiod system?" Nyx repeated, "But there's nothing there, Admiral. It's dead space."

"Not quite, Captain." Thac replied, reading his PADD, "Starfleet intelligence and Sciences established a Research Facility on a planet called Hesiod Blue several months ago. It's purpose and crew are only known to those with the highest clearance. That excludes the Pandora. However, we received an urgent distress call from them and we need you to investigate."

"Have we been in contact with them?" Nyx asked, brow furrowed, "Do we know why they're seeking assistance?"

"Classified." Thac replied with a shrug.

"So, let me get this straight." Nyx gritted his teeth, "You can't tell me where exactly we're going, or who we're going to investigate, or even why? And we're also not supposed to tell anyone, or raise any suspicions?"

"That is the gist of this mission." Thac said with a matter of fact tone. "You can handle missions of this nature, correct?"

"Of course." Nyx replied quickly. "But I am concerned about the lack of information that I require to perform my duties."

"I will pass on your concerns to the Fleet CO." Thac said as a way of answering the query without really answering. "I'm seeing him tonight at the awards ceremony."

Nyx didn't respond straight away; his mind on the task they had just been given. He was trying to hide his contempt for this junior Admiral and his uninformative information, while being gravely concerned about what they might find once they reach their top secret destination. Plus, if no one knew where the Pandora was, how were they supposed to get help if they needed it? Something was wrong about this mission, and it was causing his stomach to churn once more.

Finally he snapped out of it and answered vaguely, "Uh, awards?"

"Yes, the BFCC has seen fit to award Task Force CO's with the Starfleet Medal of Commendation." The Admiral said proudly.

"How wonderful." Nyx replied as a way of congratulating without really congratulating. But then he was struck by a confusing thought. "Wait, Isn't the BFCC made-up of the Task Force COs. So they're just... awarding themselves?"

Thac tilted his head a little and thought about it for a moment, then gave a nonplussed shrug, "Yes. I guess who else is better to judge how hard we work than ourselves, right?"

"Right." Nyx replied, unconvinced.

"I will send you what details I can, but we'll need you to adjust course immediately." Thac continued with the briefing, "Once you've made contact, please only send a confirmation to me. No one else. You will need to assess the situation and determine if evacuation is necessary."

"We'll get our people back." Nyx said hopefully, then added, "Whoever they are."

"See that you do." Thac answered seriously. "Admiral out."

The screen went blank again, displaying the Starfleet insignia, and leaving Nyx with a clear view of his own bewildered yet annoyed expression in the screen's reflection. He sat for a moment before giving the Bridge their new destination coordinates. The request was met with baited silence, before finally a confirmation from the officers. It told him everything he needed to know about how the news would be received. Nyx decided he would address the ship as well, as the crew would no-doubt notice the sudden change in course.

The Captain sighed as he tapped his badge for a ship-wide announcement, =/\= "This is Captain Temple speaking. I know we've all been looking forward to returning to Federation space, but we've just received orders to answer an urgent distress call in the Hesiod system." He paused, then a look of commitment passed over his face, "Starfleet Command won't tell us what we're going to find, or who we're even looking for. It's a top secret mission and we will be going deeper into the Expanse than ever before. We will need to avoid Alrakis Pact detection to get there. I know this is a crew of deeply dedicated and capable officers, and we are up to the challenge. I know we will perform our duties with integrity and haste, which is why I have no doubt Starfleet has entrusted us to this task. Remember that. Temple out."

Nyx shook his head, wondering just what the crew's reaction would be to the news, but he couldn't dwell on that now. The Pandora had a new mission and it was his job to see it through. Despite how unnerving this whole situation seemed.

OFF