Mission Start

Posted on 10 Jan 2024 @ 9:14pm by Captain Bane Plase

Mission: Enigma Variations
Location: Bridge, USS Cygnus

ON:

"Aye sir, that will not be a problem."

"Good. Hopefully a relatively routine assignment will help you reset, and will help your crew morale, too. We here at Starfleet Command know your last mission was a tough one. Good luck out there, Captain. See you in a few months." The screen changed to the Starfleet Delta, then faded to black.

Bane stood up from his chair, stretched, then walked to the door and out to the Bridge. He noted quickly that Commander Bast was not on duty yet; this was not surprising, as he wasn't due on duty for another ten minutes. The officer on watch was none other than Lieutenant Lisald.

Lisald stood immediately from the Captain's chair when the Captain entered. "Good morning sir."

Bane nodded at the young man. "Good morning, Lieutenant. Status?"

"The ship is secure," Lisald began. "All crew have returned from Shoreleave. We are on shore power, but Lieutenant Hartley and her staff are working now disconnecting and getting us ready to get under way."

Bane nodded, taking his seat. It was uncomfortably warm. Bane started to tell the Lieutenant that his butt was hot, but thought better of it, realizing as he opened his mouth how it would sound if he had said it without any further context. Instead, "Very well. Good job. Take your station.

"Ops," Bane continued, "Inform the station we are coming off shore power and will be departing. Helm, stand by for thrusters at station keeping. Once we are clear of the pylons, one-eighth impulse until we have cleared controlled space, then set your heading for," he paused and looked at his control display connected to the arm of his chair, "zero-eight-nine, mark zero-zero-three, warp three."

Ops and helm both confirmed their orders. Several minutes later, the lights flickered. "Sir, we are on internal power," the officer at Ops, Ensign Veenak, stated. "Power distribution network is five-by-five. Security reports all crew and civilians accounted for and all supplies stowed and secured. Medical reports they are green across the board."

"Thank you," Bane said, reviewing the information on his panel as she stated it.

"Sir, impulse engines operating at ninety-eight percent efficiency, warp engines at ninety-three percent. Engaging thrusters at station keeping. Port thrusters firing." A pause. "Speed forty-seven kph." A pause again. "Cleared the lower pylon. Engaging impulse engines," said the helm officer, Ensign Roberts, stated.

"Sensors are online. Scanning the area, sensor resolution at maximum. Captain, we are able to see up to a full light year in all directions," Lisald stated from behind the Captain.

"Thank you," Bane said, to both. He made a mental note to tell Bast how pleased he was with the efficiency of the engines, and to have him convey those feelings to the Chief Engineer.

Another minute went by. Plase knew the rest of Alpha Shift would be pouring into the bridge in just a moment, relieving Roberts, Veenak and Lisald. "Sir, we've cleared and are ready for warp at your command."

"Excellent. Previous orders stand. Kick it," the Captain said, ordering the ship to warp in his unique way.

Roberts tapped a few commands, the final one being the loudest and longest beep. On the viewscreen, the Denorios Belt vanished as the once unmoving stars turned into colorful streaks of light.

"What is our mission, sir," Veenak asked, swiveling around in her chair to face the Captain.

Bane looked at her. "A plain, simple, and altogether ordinary mission, Ensign. We are going to be mapping sector seven-four-four seven. It's never been done, so should allow us some exciting science. We will see what sort of paces we can put Spangler and Lisald through," he joked, a small grin tugging at his lips. The Romulan female smiled, and looked at Lisald, who looked positively nervous at the thought of being put back on the spot.


OFF


Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding