Prelude into Darkness

Posted on Thu Jan 14th, 2021 @ 9:21pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Lieutenant Commander Nathan Octavian
Edited on on Thu Jan 14th, 2021 @ 9:21pm

Mission: New Beginnings

The sixty-four year old Nausicaan sat relaxed in the bowels of his Ready Room. His chin rested on his chest as deep snores reverirated from his lips. He did not sleep often, his species merely slept here and there. His sleeping patterns had gathered him the nickname ‘kitten’ during his Academy years, as he was a notorious catnapper, even during lecture. This was a nickname he loathed, and as a result only the foolish would call him to his face. The nickname in itself was an oxymoron given his appearance. Nothing about him radiated cute and cuddly. At first appearance, Adren Bahrat Noth seems like a brute. Many of his features were dark and rigid. He was a tall and broad humanoid, well surpassed two meters in height. When he stood a shadow was casted. His face was ashen in color and distinguished by a prominent bone structure with sharp tusks protruded at either side of his mouth. Unlike many other Nausicaans, Adren had four horns which ran vertically down his forehead - a sign of honour and wisdom among his people. Bahrat also had dark wavy hair which he kept cut just above his shoulders.

The Commodore let out a snarl as the chime of his combadge awoke him from his slumber.

“Yes! What is it?” Bahrat bellowed.

“We have established the connection. It appears we will be able to stabilize the micro wormhole for twenty or thirty minutes. I suggest we connect you now Commodore,” his Engineer responded.

“Very well. Connect me with her,” Bahrat ordered as he lowered his feet from his desk and reached to brush his hair from his eyes. He readjusted his shoulders which straightened his uniform. He stared at his display screen as the Starfleet emblem faded to reveal the face of Abigail. “Greetings Captain Laurens, I am Commodore Adren Bahrat Noth hailing you from the Delta Quadrant. Our communication is being routed through the Mutara Interdimensional Deep Space Array System, who have created a micro-wormhole to vehicle the data transfer - there may be some delay, my apologies. How are you Captain?” he asked as he flicked his tongue against his fangs.

The scene in Abigail’s ready room was something of chaos, at least to anyone that was in the room. A smattering of half empty mugs were across her desk, surrounded by mountains of PaDD’s and other devices that seemed to be requiring her attention. The amount of work required to prepare a ship and crew of this size for launch was proving to be phenomenal, especially in the time frame they were working with.

Recalls for crew had been made and the preparations were well under way, yet every moment that passed seemed to bring more that required her attention.

“Captain Laurens, we have a Commodore Noth on comms requesting to speak to you immediately.” The voice came over the ship's internal comms.

Abigail paused, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “Very well, put him through to my terminal, I’ll take it here. Thank you Ensign Jefferies."

Moments later, the console on her desk next to her flickered, the standard Starfleet insignia disappearing.

The appearance of the Nausicaan on the screen took her by surprise for a moment, surprise that was quickly covered with a friendly smile. “Of course Commodore,” she replied politely. “I am,” she paused momentarily, contemplating how to answer. “I’m as well as can be under the circumstances, thank you for asking. How can I help?”

Bahrat smiled back, his fangs more exposed, “You are undoubtedly extremely busy, christening a new ship. I know how it is. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, I sat where you are now, claws deep in red tape, ready to command the Equinox, and fly her into the heart of the Delta Quadrant - the last final frontier. You must be proud of your new ship. The Odyssey is a beautiful vessel, an engineering marvel. I look forward to seeing her.” The Nausicaan’s eyes narrowed, “Don’t shoot the messenger, though if you do make your first shot count.” A small laugh escaped the Nausicaans lips before his seriousness returned, “Laurens, you won’t be seeing the Milky Way for a while. You are being reassigned to the Delta Quadrant. We have a mission for you, it involves the Dalacari and the Pathstone Project. Are you familiar with either?”

Abigail paused for a moment before responding. “I am familiar with both," she finally said quietly. “As it was a Ts’usugi vessel that rescued us after…” her voice broke off and she averted her gaze toward the window momentarily. “We were returned to Earth via the Pathstone system. It is rather incredible. Command had indicated that we would be looking at a temporary Delta Quadrant assignment, given the new ship and her capabilities, they just failed to provide sufficient information on what we would actually be doing.”

“I am sending a data packet now, it will provide you with all the details. But, you are absolutely right about the Pathstone Project. We hope in time, and by applying your negotiation skills - we will be able to secure more access to the Project. I understand your First Officer, Gail is a Ts'Usugi. She attended the Dalacari Stellar College, so she will certainly be an asset.” The Commodore paused, as he pointed the claw of his index finger toward her, “Speaking of assets, I am not one to force a transfer onto a captain - look at it as a temporary Mission Advisor assignment should you accept. But, I’d like you to consider welcoming Lt. Commander Octavian aboard your ship. He has served with me onboard the Equinox here in the Delta Quadrant these past few years. I trust him, he has recent experience here in these parts and he might be helpful as you ready your ship for the mission ahead. He was more than willing to transfer, it seems like the two of you know each other?”

“Octavian?” There was a moment of confusion evident on Abigail's face as the data packet came through. As soon as it arrived, she jumped straight to the addendum, the mission advisor transfer. “Nathan!” she exclaimed, surprised to see the ID image on his file, a smile quirking at the corners of her mouth. “Yes, I do know him, though it's been many years.”

Bahrat narrowed his eyes in response to her reaction, “USS Gettysberg wasn’t it? Lockwood’s old ship? In any case, I assume you accept the transfer then?” The Nausciaan leaned back in his seat, he reached to readjust his uniform again.

USS Gettysberg. That was a name she hadn't planned on reminiscing about any time soon. “Yes, of course Commodore,” she said quietly. “Will he be joining us here in the Alpha Quadrant or will he be coming aboard once we arrive in the Delta Quadrant?” Abigail watched the screen carefully, leaning back in her own chair and resting her hands across the flat of her stomach.

“Octavian will join you there. I thought he could be useful as you all get back on your legs.” Bahrat nodded as if to cement the transfer, “Good. Well there you have it, a new assignment and a new Mission Advisor. I have no doubt you will be met with success upon your arrival here. But, as I don’t know you Captain, I’ll give you the same bit of advice that I give every Captain I order out here - come to the Delta Quadrant with your eyes wide open. Always be the anchor for your crew; but, never be afraid to lean on each one of them. Out here our friends are few, out here we have little more than each other. Don’t forget that. A Starfleet vessel isn’t always around the next star. We have to recognize that every day won’t be sunny, and when you find yourself lost in the darkness, remember it’s only in the black of night you can see the stars. And those stars, no matter how distant, will always lead you back home…” The alien smiled again, his fangs exposed once more, “The Delta Quadrant welcomes you Captain Laurens. I hope we can meet soon. Noth out.”

The screen flickered and the StarFleet insignia reappeared, leaving Abigail leaning back in her seat, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the entire conversation. "Well then," she finally said quietly, to nobody in particular. "I guess it's official."