The Source of the Problem and Oh, Hello
Posted on 15 Dec 2017 @ 12:03am by Captain Akio Tachibana & Commander Juan Zamora (Dec [CDO]-Jan 2389 - TRSNFR to Gorn Dip.) & Lieutenant Nimh Ahressa (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR, Bre'el Dip. Msn.)
Mission:
He ho'omaka hou 'ana - A New Beginning
Location: CiC
Timeline: Around 0800, 27 Dec 2388
Ahressa sat at the communications hub in the CiC, the message they had receieved from Bre'el running on a repeat cycle in front of her eyes. The message, the string of code, the communications relay the message was delivered through and the time between latest communications.
Both the operations person in her and even more so the spook in her was absolutely certain that something was off. But what was it? It was right there, in front of her, she was certain.
Sometimes the answers lay in a simple string of code, a simple set of numbers that identified...something. She'd gone through the time gaps between the communications. Nothing. Everything was within tolerable limits.
The last communication had been two weeks from the planned launch date of the Hawaii, all of which had been executed according to plan. Nothing but a standard confirmation came back, back then.
So, whatever had happened, it had happened in the past two weeks. Ahressa mused as she leaned back in the chair. That is a huge margin still.
The bajoran got up from her chair, bracing her hands against the small of her back as she paced, thinking. She caught a few confused looks from other officers in the CiC.
"What? It helps me think. Back to work," she shooed them away with her hands before they resumed their place on her back.
Okay, I need to see if I can narrow the margin somehow. Two weeks is a long time frame for things to happen. This thought caused her to sit back down and input a string of commands into the system, requesting access to the communications relay logs. Alright...when did you show up in the system, hmm?
"Interesting," Ahressa murmured, her fingers dancing across the console. "So, the time we got you is the time you appeared in the system."
Hm, a warning? A clue within a clue? But how would you know when exactly we'd be in range? Why now? Ahressa mused.
On a hunch, she input another series of commands. Trying to pinpoint the origin of the message. Maybe if she could figure out where it was sent from on the planet, or at least approximate coordinates, it would help give more volume to the mystery. The question of, why?
Just then a series of alarms started blaring and there was increased commotion in the CIC.
"Ma'am, you may want to take a look at this. We just detected the USS Potsdam, a Rhode Island-class vessel, and they are hailing us. The Bridge OPS console is also seeing this on their screens," an Ensign reported to Nimh.
Ahressa nodded, "put it up." She glanced sideways at the algorithm going through its motions in the background as she turned her attention to the small view screen they had set up in the CiC.
The Ensign pressed a button and on the screen appeared a Commander.
"This is Commander de Lucca of the USS Potsdam. We are on orders to initiate a crew transfer," the Commander said, somewhat confused as to who he was speaking to as the background was not the bridge of a starship.
Waiting just outside the screen's field of view Juan noted the confused looks from the other side. Deciding to act he strode purposefully into view and fixed the screen with his best Charming grin.
"Good day Hawaii, I am Lieutenant Juan Zamora, your Chief Diplomatic Officer. My department and I would like to apologize for our tardiness, it seems there was a bit of a mix-up with transportation, you see nobody told us you were going to be departing ahead of schedule.” He gave a small pause here, feigning nonchalance. “Now, with that out of the way, who might I be speaking to?" Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he looked through the screen to the crew on the other side, open, but expectant.
Ahressa fought down a surprised reaction, it wouldn't do to appear surprised and wonder what the hell a Diplomat was doing there. Personnel hadn't supplied Zamora's profile the last time she'd looked. Then again, since the Bre'el communication, she hasn't checked.
"Lieutenant Nimh, USS Hawaii Operations." She said firmly, nodding. "Pleasure to meet you, Commander de Lucca, Lieutenant Zamora." Ahressa said, "we are ready to accept you, Lieutenant, if you're ready to transport over?"
"My Operations and Flight Control Officers will coordinate with yours for a near-warp transport," de Lucca said.
“The department and I will be over momentarily, and I will be delighted to greet you in Person.” Juan trumpeted as he waived down the ensign sitting at comms and gave a quick nod to let them now to pass the message along to his subordinates that the transfer was going through. Turning back to the screen, he began again “I thank you for your understanding in this matter, we are all anxious to begin working straight away, and the last thing any of us needs...” at “us” he began gesturing a hand back and forth between the screen and himself. “...is another administrative struggle complicating things. No?”
Nimh nodded, "I need a moment to get to my transporter room, to oversee the transport. I will signal when ready." She said.
"Our people are standing by," de Lucca stated.
"Very well, Nimh out." She quickly grabbed a tricorder and set it to alert her when the source analysis was finished and tapped her commbadge, "Nimh to Tachibana. Sir, we have a late delivery via a near warp transport. I'm heading down to Transporter Room One to oversee it myself. We have a potential game changer with this delivery, sir." The unspoken 'so we may want to hold off for a moment with our plans', was clear in the silence that followed.
Akio was a bit struck off guard. Near-warp transports were rare.
"Copy, Lieutenant. Helm is standing by for your mark for deceleration. I hope you still remember the calculation tables from the Academy," Akio replied.
OFF:
Akio Tachibana, CDR, SF
Commanding Officer, USS Hawaii
Juan "JJ" Zamora, LT, SF
Chief Diplomatic Officer, USS Hawaii
Nimh Ahressa, LT, SF
Chief Operations Officer, USS Hawaii
