“What the hell happened?”
Captain Akinola had headed out for the bridge the moment he had spotted the bright flash from a window in his quarters and he had reached his destination before his first officer even had a chance to summon him.
“We just experienced some kind of total sensor failure, systems are coming back online now.” McBride vacated the center seat.
“What’s the source of the failure?”
The Vulcan operations officer replied. “Sensor logs show a minor spatial disruption, 0.2 seconds before the sensors were overloaded. If I had to guess I’d say that it was a localized phenomenon within a proximity of 2,500 meters.”
“That’s a pretty good guess,” Akinola said.
She shot him a small smile. “Well it is a well educated one.”
“Anything else?”
“You can paint me green and call me crazy. Skipper.” Solly Brin, Bluefin’s Orion Chief of the Boat and tactical expert glanced at his captain. “But this looks like somebody detonated a Mark-22 right in our backyard. I’m getting all the familiar hallmarks of being sucker punched, including that tingling sensation in my gut.”
“Besides your gut, Chief, what makes you say that?”
“Well for once our sensors have been effected just the way a Mark-22 would.” The red skinned Orion re-checked his console. “Also there is a slight disruption in subspace which is going to make it a challenge for us to use warp drive.”
“They used our own weapons against us.” McBride looked at the captain. “Who would do that?”
“Sir.” T’Ser interrupted with urgency. “Sensors are coming back on-line. The freighter is gone.”
“Gone?” Akinola couldn’t quite believe it. “Gone where?”
“I’m trying to find out now, sir.” She focused on her instruments again.
“Captain, we’re being hailed by the Heracles,” said the first officer.
“Let’s hope our esteem colleges have some answers. Put it on screen.”
If Akinola had hoped that his counterpart was going to shed some light on recent events, it was a short-lived expectation. The man looked even more puzzled. Out of his mind would have been a better description. “Captain, what happened and where is my freighter?”
The veteran captain had to take a deep breath. It was all he could do to avoid losing his temper at the boisterous manner his colleague was putting on display. “I’m afraid, Captain, I know about as much as you do. Our sensors went down and we’re just now recuperating from this failure. I was hoping that your vessel’s advanced sensors would be able to provide us with more information.”
Akinola’s aim had been spot on and the younger captain momentarily recoiled by the subtle implication. “I’m afraid not,” he said. “Our sensors are more sensitive and have taken extensive damage by whatever it was that has been detonated. My crew is assessing it as we speak.”
“I see.” Akinola fought to keep a smirk off his face. “Perhaps in that case you could ask the Sacajawea for assistance?”
Schwarzkopf squirmed uncomfortably. “We haven’t been able to contact Captain Star or her first officer.” He almost mumbled his words. “I’m having that looked into as well.”
Akinola turned away from the screen to look over at McBride who had not managed to keep a large grin off his face as if to say, “˜so much for the glorious regular fleet’.
The skipper moved a hand in front of his mouth to hide his own growing smile. He quickly managed to wipe it off his lips again before facing Schwarzkopf once more. “It seems to me, Captain, that the disappearance of your freighter is linked to the problems locating your officers.”
Schwarzkopf’s face reddened but he didn’t speak.
“Do you think it would be at all possible that somebody under your command decided to take this mission into their own hands?” Akinola managed to keep his voice perfectly devoid of any accusations. He wouldn’t be petty about this, he had decided.
The man quickly shook his head. “I don’t see how that is possible. Besides all my crew are accounted for. Whatever happen did not originate on the Heracles.”
It was a weak point and even Schwarzkopf knew it, judging by the lack of conviction in his tone. He had taken complete command of this mission and whatever had transpired, in one way or another, it had happened under his watch.
“Captain,” interrupted the Vulcan operations officer. “Sensors are now detecting a recent warp trail. It matches the signature of the freighter.”
“Can you extrapolate which heading it took?” asked McBride.
The Bluefin crew as well as Schwarzkopf fell quiet while T’Ser worked her instruments. It only took her a few seconds to calculate the requested information. “The freighter’s heading was 3-2-1 mark 2-9 with a margin of error of 2.1 percent.”
“That’s straight for the Eteron system.” McBride looked at Akinola and him nodding in agreement.
“What’s the status of your warp drive?” asked Schwarzkopf.
Akinola indicated for McBride to report. The first officer checked a status display. “Engineering reports that the warp drive is offline. Gralt’s initial estimate puts the repair time to just under one hour.”
And just like that Melvin Schwarzkopf’s confidence visibly returned. “Fortunately our warp core has not been affected.” He spoke with a little bit too much assertiveness. “I will not sit here and wait for these people to sabotage this mission. You will remain here and keep an eye out for the Sacajawea while I go after the freighter.”
“I suggest you reconsider. According to our intel Eteron is swarming with Orion vessels with orders to shoot on sight anyone who might interfere with their meeting. You are more than likely to get dragged into an ugly fire fight if you rush into Eteron now.”
“What do you suggest I do, Captain?” he shot back angrily. “Letting them get away with whatever devious intentions they have planned? Considering the nature of this mission, it is clear to me now that the enemies we were trying to track down where in our midst all along and I’m not willing to let them get away with this.”
Akinola kept his stern expression focused on the younger man on screen. “What I suggest is that we come up with a plan of engagement which is most likely to produce results with a minimum amount of collateral damage.”
But Schwarzkopf shook his head. “I don’t have time for subtleties. And a couple of antiquated Orion ships are not going to stop the Heracles. Now you have your orders Captain and I expect-”
Akinola stood suddenly and shortened his distance to the screen with two fast steps. “Captain, I am willing to dismiss the lack of respect you have shown me thus far as a consequence of the stress incurred by this unforeseen development. But let me be perfectly clear. I do not appreciate your tone and I am quite certain that it is not the appropriate manner to address a fellow commanding officer.” Akinola's voice remained firm as steel with every syllable that came over his lips.
If they had stood on a field, it would have been the sound of chirping crickets surrounding them. In this instance it was the gentle humming of the machines and equipment that became deafeningly prominent during the few moments nobody dared to speak. It felt like half an eternity.
Schwarzkopf cleared his throat. “I apologize if you felt I have been disrespectful. I assure you that was not my intention.”
Akinola nodded and walked back to his seat. “Think nothing more of it, Captain.” He shot McBride a grin which remained hidden from Schwarzkopf. “Now, you are certain I cannot change your mind about what you want to do?”
The suddenness of change in the older captain’s demeanor had thrown off Melvin Schwarzkopf and his voice cracked slightly. “It is the correct course of action. Please remain here and ensure that no other members of the Sacajawea will attempt to interfere. Schwarzkopf out.”
His image vanished from the screen.
McBride grinned. “I’ve never seen a man trying to get off a com-line this quickly before.”
“And I’ve never seen a man with his head stuck that far up his ass,” mumbled Solly Brin.
The bridge officers chuckled and Akinola couldn’t quite keep a grin in check himself. But the seriousness of the situation quickly sobered him up once more. “Bridge to Engineering.”
“This is Gralt,” came the clipped reply from the Tellarite chief engineer.
“I need those engines, Gralt, and I need you to do a lot better than what you have estimated.”
“Sure thing, Captain, and can I also interest you in the secrets of life and peace in the galaxy? It’s my fraking miracle week.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Gralt. Stick to insults, you’re much better at it,” Akinola replied. “Bridge out.”
Dale McBride threw the captain a look. “Expecting trouble?”
Akinola glanced at the screen just in time to see the massive Galaxy-class starship jump to warp. “Always, Commander. Always.”