Served On A Platter
Posted on Fri May 31st, 2024 @ 7:00am by Lieutenant Commander Annalise Faulkner & Lieutenant Commander Lyra Cassiel & Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov & Lieutenant Sovas Nyseth & Ensign Maya Price
Mission:
S1 Episode 8: Resolutions
Location: Bridge, ISS Vengeance
Timeline: Date 2371-12-25 at 1200
1655 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure
Since Annalise took command of Vengeance a month and a half ago, it had no longer been rare to see the CO and XO's chairs filled during Alpha shift. Even though both Andrei and Annalise often departed to their office or to make the rounds, they tended to be there together most days for a few hours. Sometimes, they would even converse, but it was fairly clear they weren't close, and neither wanted to be.
"The daily report has supply requests from Engineering, Ops, Security, Flight, and Sickbay. Most of the lists are small, so it's better than I expected," Andrei said, turning his head just enough toward her that his eye could detect her underneath the patch. However, it wouldn't look like he was glancing at her at all.
“Good. We’ll also see if anything is interesting for them at this trading post.” She smiled and turned to look at him, leaning in a bit. “Are you looking forward to your trip with Kit?”
Over the past month, Annalise tried with Andrei, but he was as stubborn as Stagg had been. Still, she was confident that a continued gentle, supportive hand - not a permissive one like he had been receiving - would see him accept the situation and embrace his role as XO under her to the fullest. It had worked before.
“Well, it’s an opportunity for us to pursue leads on a cure, and that’s very important.” He said, placing a finger between his lips as he considered the question. But it will also be an opportunity for us to learn some vital information about this quadrant's technologies. Who knows, Kit might find something in her studies that helps us use the Sikarian Trajector or some other form of propulsion. It was very smart of you to have us go.”
Of course, it hadn’t been her idea at all. He knew that and so did she. But Andrei decided to give her credit for approving his plan.
Annalise just chuckled and shook her head slightly. “You found it, Andrei. I just said yes.”
“Helm, what is our ETA to the trading post?”
The stunning caramel-skinned woman at the helm snapped from her latest distraction at the sound of the Captain’s voice. Few things were as dull for a pilot as flying in a straight line, and even though she was Acting CFCO, there was nothing to do. All of her paperwork had been completed, and all the shuttles had been checked. She licked her full lips and looked back, her blonde dreadlocks dancing with the motion of her head.
“Our ETA is 27 hours, 17 minutes, Captain,” Maya answered.
"Very good, Ensign," Annalise replied, crossing her legs as she picked up the PADD that had been sitting next to her and began reading it.
"Captain," Sovas's deep, even tone broke the gentle background hum of the bridge as he glanced up from his console. "Long-range sensors have picked up a fleet of ships roughly five light years out from our current position. Sensor readings indicate several large warp signatures; they currently appear to be maintaining a cruising speed of Warp 5."
Annalise lowered the PADD from her hand and frowned slightly. "Commander Cassiel, can you identify them?"
Lyra's hands moved deftly over the console, and when she saw the readings, her eyes widened just slightly. "It is a convoy of twelve Vidiian ships." As the readings from the targeted sensors filled in, she frowned. "Six warships, three destroyers, and three ships of the same model that we do not have records of."
"Helm, adjust course to keep us out of their sensor range," Annalise ordered immediately.
Maya nodded and immediately went to comply with the Captain’s order. She had served under Annalise as her department head, and they always got along well. She understood that Andrei was upset about the loss of his family; her boyfriend was left on Gamma Eridine II along with the friends of many others. At the end of the day, it was important to her that they followed Captain Petrov’s final orders and avoided danger to the Fleet. She ran her hands over the course controls, altering their warp field to keep them away from the Vidian Convoy.
“I’m altering our course by 40 degrees. That should help us steer clear of them.”
Andrei frowned as the direction the stars were streaming in altered with their course change. Why the hell were they turning away from a Vidian Convoy that could likely have the information they were looking for?
“Captain, it’s very possible one or more of those ships could have the information we’re looking for: either the cure to the virus on Gamma Eridine II or information on the location of Dr. Pel,” Andrei said calmly. “I recommend we set a course for them and ask some questions.”
"It is true that they may, and if we were looking at a lesser fleet I might agree with you. However, the Vidiian fleet has an overwhelming firepower advantage to our own fleet and our encounters with them have not exactly been friendly. I won't risk our entire fleet on a maybe, Commander." Annalise replied patiently and looked at Andrei with a bit of sympathy in her eyes.
"I'm sure you will find the information at the conference you will attend with Lieutenant Urso."
"Well, I'm not sure, Captain. And we should obviously take every opportunity to find the information we're seeking." Andrei responded. His tone was still overtly respectful, and he was clearly trying to remain calm. "If we approach the convoy with a friendly posture, there's no reason to expect there would be serious trouble."
“Except for the fact they are fully aware that we commandeered one of their ships, enslaved their crew, and killed hundreds of their people in the attack at the nebula.” Annalise pointed out, patient and unmoving. “We are not going to risk a confrontation where we are outnumbered and fully outgunned.”
"We've destroyed a Fleet of Vidian ships, among others. We've laid waste to planets." Andrei said, his tone bordering on frustration. "Are you honestly telling me that you want to draw the line at asking a question?"
She took a slow breath and responded calmly. “And how many people have been lost in those incidents, Commander? How many more Terran lives will you lose on a maybe?”
"Why the hell should we be so timid in the face of this alien rabble? Those lives were lost because we played things safe and tried to stay in our lane. We should have been showing this quadrant what their betters look like, and those lives were lost because we didn't bring our inferiors to heel soon enough." Andrei said his jaw setting. "Even now, we cower and think about safety. There is NOTHING Terran about that, Captain."
"So you propose I risk the lives of every soul left in this fleet on the chance that this convoy might not attack us despite our aggression toward their species in the past?" She challenged him.
"I propose that you grow a fucking backbone and act like a Terran Captain!" he declared, raising his voice now. "We can approach under a peace banner and request their flagship meet Vengeance alone. We could offer them something in return for information. We could fucking do anything, and it would be better than cowering with our dick between our legs."
"Commander Petrov, you're relieved." She stood and gestured toward the turbolift door. "We will discuss this later. For now, remove yourself from the bridge."
Andrei stood up, too, towering over Annalise and not backing down at first. For a moment, it wasn't clear if he was going to step off the Bridge or pull his dagger and plunge it into her belly. He scowled at her, then briefly turned his eyes toward Lyra in the silence before turning and stepping up to the second level, heading for the turbolift without another word.
Sovas quietly watched the exchange between Andrei and Annalise, the air tense as he watched the Terran man standing there. As he watched, the half-Vulcan could see the potential for violence building before it broke weakly like a way wave onto shore after rushing in from the sea. He couldn't argue with Andrei's assessment; there were viable alternatives, and while they weren't exactly the apex predators here, they had options and he felt that their new captain was being overly cautious, perhaps from her time aboard the Gladius, though she had managed to keep the tiny Terran vessel functioning and mostly intact with her approach, he knew the Vidiian medical sciences were much more highly advanced than that of the Terrans, so it made sense to approach them for assistance.
He frowned as he watched Andrei moving towards the turbolift for a moment, but his attention returned to his station, and he kept silent, given that he felt conflicted. After all, it was his duty to support the captain and maintain the chain of command. Hadn't he drawn his weapon on Ivan's daughter in support of that very chain during the Vidiian assault on their ship?
As his fingers moved over his console, Sovas glanced up toward Lyra to see her reaction.
Lyra had watched the exchange in silence from her station and had only returned Andrei's glance when he looked at her and looked at him once again as he passed by her station. Past that, she didn't react at all, but she was acutely aware of Annalise glancing back at her, Sovas looking at her, and the less than subtle looks many of the others on the bridge were giving her. She gave no reaction or indication of her feelings and simply continued to work.
"Helm, maintain course away from the Vidiians." Annalise ordered.
They weren't going to die today.
END
