The Palatine Arrives

Posted on Thu Jul 30th, 2020 @ 6:00am by Ignatius & Raven Mattel & Lieutenant Nicholas Boucher & Captain Tobias Rao & Petty Officer 2nd Class Zo & Terrekal

Mission: The Evils Within
Location: Hesiod Blue

ON:

It was night time again on Hesiod Blue, the slow lapping waves of the blue ocean caressed the sand banks around the Base Camp as a soft, warm breeze glided through the air. There was a quiet stillness in the evening that had followed a day of loud celebrations on the paradisal planet. The Valkyries had successfully repelled the Talarian attack against them, and though it was a day of high stress and worry, the Away Team were quick to celebrate the victory afterwards. Synthetic cocktails and fruity concoctions were the order of the day as Raven, resplendent in a palm frond dress made by Ignatius, played happy bartender to those able to partake in the festivities. The pilots, of course, were still on shift rotation, and some were busy repairing their crafts after the battle with the Talarians, but that hadn't stopped the civilians from living it up.

"It's morale boosting!" Raven had claimed multiple times throughout the day. Often followed by another drink. She seemed to be celebrating more than others.

Now, it was quiet again in their tropical paradise, as the few remaining revellers sat out on the sand and watched just the one star cross the sky. They listened to the quiet waves and soft wind, a sense of relief and appreciation for the serenity they enjoyed.

Ignatius still had his sunglasses on his face, and a straw in his mouth, as he laid back on the beach and wondered. "You know, there's a Talarian family out there grieving tonight." He commented solemnly. "But it could just as well have been a Federation family grieving."

"Hmmm." Raven nodded slowly, "War is a waste."

"There may be a Talarian family grieving out there, but just remember that they started the shooting first," Nick chimed in from where he was sitting, reclining back in what was certainly not a standard issue chair. Bless the civilians for providing some creature comforts. After an extended dogfight in a cramped cockpit, this was very welcome. "Not that I'm completely uncaring, but between the two of us, I'd rather it be them than my family."

"Spoken like a fighter." Ignatius commented, raising his glass with just a little bit of sass in his voice. "Better none than anyone, I say."

"It could well have been us." Raven said, her voice taking on the maudlin tone of last drinks, as one contemplates their choices and all the woes of the universe. "I thought it might have been."

"Speaking as someone who has lived and fought through a quadrant-wide war, I would tend to agree with you, Mr. Ignatius," Nick replied, sipping his drink. "Our enemies, however, don't tend to share your ideals. I'd rather no one too, but life isn't so black and white."

Zo sipped the frosty synthehol beverage Terrekal had prepared for him as he looked up into the starry night, sharing in his compatriots' pontificating. "On Ba'ku, there is no black and white. Everything about life is sacred and beautiful. Even the Son'a couldn't take that away from us. We never hated or despised them. Sure, we felt sorry for them, but no one sought revenge on them, or even Starfleet for their role in it. That incident changed nothing about our culture."

Zo took another sip and continued. "When I was at the Academy, everything made sense. Our simulations, tests, everything were all routine. Since then, the things I've seen on the Tornado, as well as here on the Pandora, have been nothing like what the Academy prepares you for. I never thought about incidents like this, where the stakes are your life or theirs. Being an engineer, your mission is to keep people alive. Fix this, maintain that, etc." He looked over at Boucher. "Today, your job required you to take lives. The thing that bothers me most is, I'm not sure it was wrong."

Nick shrugged. "I'm no philosopher. Nor do I particularly enjoy violence. If, however, my crew are threatened, I won't hesitate to act."

"I killed someone once." The voice was quiet, and hadn't been heard yet during this exchange. It was Terrekal who said it. His words seemed nonchalant, but there was a darkness, almost sadness as well, in them.

Raven sat bolt upright, staring at her friend with mouth agape. It was like she'd received a shock to her core to hear that this seemingly friendly man could have been responsible for ending someone else's life.

"That calls for another drink." Ignatius commented, refilling his glass as Raven slapped him on the arm for being so flippant.

"Terrekal, what happened?" Raven asked earnestly.

"A Tellarite raped and killed someone I cared about," Terrekal replied. "...and made me watch. It took a year of searching, but when I finally found him, I drove a knife through his throat. I thought the act would bring some satisfaction. It didn't. There's nothing satisfying about killing someone, no matter how evil they may be."

"Oh." Raven replied softly.

"Oh indeed." Ignatius added, feeling deflated. He still drank his cocktail though.

Without warning, Raven moved over and gave Terrekal a hug, folding her strong arms around the Fesarian and squeezing tightly, whether he liked it or not. "You did what you had to do." She whispered to his ear.

"To doing what we have to do!" Ignatius cried out, lifting his drink in the air.

[Hesiod Space]

The USS Palatine had been travelling at Emergency Speed from her Quantum Slipstream drive per orders from Rear Admiral Milne. As the Vesta Class starship made her way into the Expanse, Captain Tobias Rao looked over at his Helm officer as he heard alarms start to call out from that particular station.

"Report, Lieutenant Mako," he called out as he sat forward. The Cardassian Helm officer ran a check on his console and looked back at Captain Rao.

"We've entered the Hesiod system, sir, and it seems that we've also detected some debris in the system," Mako reported.

"Very well, bring us out of slipstream and take us to full impulse," Rao ordered. As the Vesta Class starship moved from slipstream to impulse in the matter of what looked like a blur, Rao walked over to the Ops station.

"Commander Morgan, full sensor scan, let's see whats out there please, I also want to know about the debris that is within the system. According to Rear Admiral Milne, the Pandora is meant to be here somewhere and there will be hell to pay should any of that debris come from that Luna Class Vessel," he ordered.

Morgan nodded as he began the scans. Rao's XO joined him at the Ops station as they watched Morgan work. Commander Raven kept her voice low as she decided to confirm some details.

"When was the last time the Pandora was heard from?" she asked. Rao turned as he heard her question.

"Two weeks ago, radio silence ordered by Admiral Thac...but then why the hell a ranking Admiral would order a Federation Starship on a mission and then order radio silene is beyond me. If you send someone all the way out here, you also want to hear from them...which means there's something fishy going on," he answered.

"And when was the last time we heard from Commander Nash?" she asked.

"Again, two weeks...so whatever leads Owen is following, god hope that its provided some answers to the many questions that this has all created," Rao answered.

"Captain, I've completed the scans of the system," Morgan reported. "I'm picking up debris, Looks like Talarian hull fragments and... Starfleet fighter fragments. I agree with Mr Mako... there was some kind of tactical action here recently and its in orbit if Hesiod Blue."

Rao and Morgan returned to their seats. "Mako, adjust course to take it into orbit of Hesiod Blue, Morgan open a channel. Taloris, standby to have weapons hot and Shields ready to be raised," Rao said as he barked his orders.

"Channel open, Captain," replied Morgan.

"This is the Federation Starship Palatine calling to any Federation presence in the Hesiod system, Captain Rao calling, please respond," he said, waiting for an answer.

[Planet]

Nick just about fell out of the chair he'd been relaxing in when the transmission came through the loudspeaker they'd set up from the shuttle, so as to avoid having someone stuck in their all day. The Palatine hadn't been expected but was a very welcome arrival.

He was on his feet and inside the shuttle in short order, answering the hail. "This is Lieutenant Nicholas Boucher of the USS Pandora. Captain Rao, sir, we're transmitting our coordinates on Hesiod Blue now."

"Well there goes cocktail hour!" Ignatius declared as he watched Boucher running to the shuttle. He quickly swilled the last of his drink. "Trust the brass to break up a good time."

Raven groaned as she stood from her place in the sand, patting down her dress. "Perhaps they'll want a drink as well?" She commented, however uselessly it was to hope, "What do you think Terrekal?"

Terrekal practically jumped to his feet. "I think it's time to bust out the good stuff!"

Mattel giggled in response, but she began to wonder what kind of appearance they were going to portray to the Palatine if the three civilian caretakers were drunk off their asses, when they should have been looking after the camp. She wondered, 'Could get in trouble for this? Would Captain Temple face the blame for sending them on a mission with the fighter pilots? Starfleet can't court-marshal a civilian.... can they?' It made her head spin.

Ignatius tried to stand but promptly fell back onto the sand, spilling the remainder of his drink. "Oh no." He said softly. He was more disappointed at losing his cocktail than he was after hearing Terrekal killed someone.

"Come on, we must make ourselves look presentable." Raven insisted, holding out her largish hands as an offer to help Terrekal and Ignatius to their feet.

Terrekal grinned as he took her hand and stood up. "Looks like we're getting some more of that eye candy!" he said.

"Ooh." Raven cooed. "A change of scenery requires a change of attire. Iggy?!"

The clothier stumbled to his feet like a new-born foal standing on his own for the first time. Finally he was upright and fixed an accomplished grin to his face. "Yes, dear?"

"We must dress for the new arrivals." Raven declared with a girlish giggle. She looked at Terrekal, then Ignatius, then down to her own attire. "I'm thinking... matching outfits? To signify the civilian element amongst the team and... act as the official ambassadors of Hesiod Blue." She liked that title, quite a lot.

"I'm thinking desert fatigues with a blue motif." Ignatius nodded firmly, striding ahead. He may been inebriated, but his mind was already working at full steam. "Light yellows, dusty gold, turquoise accents."

Whatever they had done, whatever they had gone through, nothing could daunt their ability to find the fun again, Raven thought to herself. She didn't know if their adventures on Hesiod Blue were coming to an end, but she was damn glad to have come there.

[USS Palatine]

"Its good to hear your voice, Lieutenant," Rao replied over the channel. "We're entering orbit of Hesiod Blue within the new few minutes, make sure that anyone in your party stands by for Transport, should you need further support, we can dispatch Runabouts and Shuttles where needed."

Inwardly, Tobias was relieved that they had made contact with someone from the Pandora crew, however, the fact that they hadn't come across the Pandora herself still left him concerned.

"We have a temporary staging ground set up planetside, sir," Nick replied. "Request permission for myself to come aboard to debrief you on our situation. I am ready for transport as soon as you are in range."

Rao looked over at Morgan at Ops and nodded. "Very well, Lieutenant, I'm having you beamed direct to my Ready Room, I'll meet you there," Rao said as he watched Morgan work the Transporter controls. Once the sequence was complete, Tobias made his way to his Ready Room where Lieutenant Boucher was waiting.

"Welcome aboard the Palatine once again Lieutenant," Tobias said after entering the room. "Bring me up to speed on what's happening and then I'll bring you up to speed on my orders..."

"Hello again, sir," Boucher replied. "I didn't think we'd be seeing each other again so soon. The Pandora is investigating a distress signal from Hesiod Green. We were assigned the mission by the Admiralty. Alpha Squadron and a mixed Starfleet/civilian element has set up a temporary staging ground on Hesiod Blue, awaiting Commander Nash's arrival in the system, as a way to bring him up to speed on the situation. A force of Talarians entered the system and unfortunately engaged Alpha Squadron as we tried to divert them from Hesiod Green. We have had no contact from the Pandora since they entered the planetary atmosphere. I think that broadly covers our current situation."

Tobias nodded as he took on board everything that was explained by Lt Boucher. He decided to pause for a moment before replying.

"Well that explains a lot, Lieutenant, thank you for bringing me up to speed." he began.

"We're back in the area under orders from Rear Admiral Milne. She's concerned about the recent radio silence that was ordered after the Pandora was assigned to this system by Admiral Thac and feels that two weeks silence is two weeks too long. She's also concerned that Commander Nash has not reported in since we lent him a Runabout at Carwennan Station."

At this point, Tobias walked over to the window, with Hesiod Blue dominating the view outside. "We need to make contact with Captain Temple on Hesiod Blue and make sure he knows that there is friendly support in the area, but someone also needs to be here for Commander Nash," Rao explained. "Tell me what you need and also what repairs or replacements you require and we'll make sure you're ready to go."

"Last we saw of her, Pandora was descending into the atmosphere of Hesiod Green, intending to land," Nick replied. "With shields on full and some nifty flying, Alpha Squadron *might* be able to make it through, but I don't know if that's a risk we need to take if there are other options. We can hold down the fort well enough and wait for the Commander here, sir, if you're able to spare a few Security personnel in case the Talarians return and make it to the camp. That frees up the Palatine to make contact with Pandora."

Tobias nodded as he understood the pros and cons of the situation. "Very well, Lieutenant, I'll assign a security team from the Palatine to help out with the temporary staging ground and I'll also assign several fighters to back up those you have already. The security team will be in their own Runabout so you'll have plenty of ships on the ground should they be needed," he explained.

Rao returned to his desk as he continued his train of thought. "I'll take the Palatine to Hesiod Green and make sure that Captain Temple knows he has support in the area, whilst you remain here and wait for Commander Nash to arrive on the scene. Either way, we need to make sure that the Pandora and her entire crew leave here in one piece and return to Federation space as soon as... Rear Admiral Milne's orders are to be followed to the letter... however, these things can sometimes take longer than planned?" Rao offered with a smile.

He was well aware from his time in the Expanse that missions rarely went according to plan and often when the Pandora was involved...they rarely went according to plan.

Nick smiled. "There's an old Earth saying, sir: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

He shrugged. "The best we can do is work with what we're given. The circumstances aren't ideal, but with the support you and the Palatine are providing, we're in a much better situation than we were an hour ago, sir."

Tobias smiled as he recognised the saying. "Very good, I won't hold you up any longer, Lieutenant. We'll have everything you require sent down within the next hour...oh and give Commander Nash my best when he returns."

OFF