Captains Log: 25^th August 2402

We have just concluded a brief stopover at the planet Vingjarnlegur.  A mere formality and a chance to show our faces and prove to the colonists here, that they haven’t been forgotten and Starfleet is both here to assist and protect them when the need arises.

Having avoided any unwanted attention from the Vaadwaur Supremacy during their recent invasion, the citizens of this planet are blissfully unaware of how hollow those promises feel.

We are a small ship and not fully crewed; but since becoming her Captain, I have got to know each of those under my command.  They are a capable and determined group of individuals.  A group I feel that I can trust in any situation.

<End Log>

Lieutenant-Commander Chance Vought gave a stretch, spreading his arms out in a wide arc, before bringing them back down on the table top and glancing around his Ready Room.  There wasn’t much about the room that said it was his; rather like his quarters.  He’d never really been one for collecting mementoes and knickknacks.  However his quarters did now have a pair of skis and poles propped against one wall, so that was a change.  He would certainly be doing that again in the future; though he certainly wouldn’t be taking Doctor de Havilland with him.  The man may be great at his job, and a good friend and companion; just not anywhere cold.

Chance stood up, walked over to the replicator and ordered himself a Raktajino; which was probably the finest none lethal thing to cross the Klingon boarder.  He looked at the dark blue mug holding the liquid, noting that it now carried the name of the ship under the Starfleet Delta, both in gold.  Evidently someone had found a few spare moments to make the small adjustment to the replicators’ settings.

He sat back down with the hot beverage and slid a half dozen Padd’s towards himself with his other arm. Going through reports and reviews was certainly not high up on his ‘to do’ list; but it never paid to put these sort of things off for long.  It was best to do it, whilst everything was quiet.

**********

Lieutenant Jason Devron occupied the Captains seat, he sat with his right foot resting on top of his left knee, his left hand gently and rhythmically tapping away on his right boot.  Everything on the Bridge was quiet and fairly relaxed.  Ensign Harris had just brought the ship up to warp 5 as they headed away from Vingjarnlegur and towards their next destination, the planet Skoni.

Ensign Skova Tholakath, the ships Cardassian Tactical Officer, was looking a little bored; it wasn’t that he enjoyed the ship being in danger; he just didn’t have all that much to do.  But if anyone had suggested he leave his post and go find something to occupy his time; he’d have flatly said ‘no’.  His duty lay here on the Bridge.  So here he sat, going through training simulations and diagnostic readings.

He’d noticed a fractional power reduction in the ships ventral phaser array, compared with the two dorsal positioned phasers.  It wasn’t anything to be concerned about just yet, but he would keep an eye out for any additional fall off in efficacy.

Ensign Cho was at her station monitoring signal traffic.  From shuttle craft to the massive cargo vessel that had warped away a few minutes ago; she could hear every word being broadcast across subspace, within the range of her equipment.   With a keen ear and sophisticated software, Cho was able to analyse everything and monitor for key words that might indicate distress, danger or dodgy goings on.

At present she was not picking up anything that would warrant closer scrutiny.  Someone complaining about docking fee’s and another individual with a refrigeration problem: did not require the ship to alter course and assist.

The Bridge science station was currently unoccupied, the ships Chief Science Officer, having headed off to his lair on Deck 5, in order to conduct a number of small experiments.

**********

It was not clear; to him at least why the Debaere family had chosen to name their only sun Rupert.  They liked old fashioned names that people rarely used.  As he progressed through life there were those with a degree of literature knowledge that would make fun of his name.

It was probably part of the reason why as a boy he’d often hide himself away reading.  Science was his favourite subject, despite none of his family ever having shown much interest in it.  Those that knew him now, generally referred to him as Bert.

Lieutenant Debaere, had just blown the Grus up; or at least the 3D representation of the Saber; that had been hovering in the centre of the room.  It was no easy task; these ships were rugged and tough little ships.  They’d been designed to handle situations other classes of this side, wouldn’t dare venture into, given a choice.

Frustrated he turned back to the console behind him and reset the parameters of the experiment.  “What number are we on?” Debaere asked the only other person in the room.

“That was attempt number seven.” Ensign C’Rren replied, studying the data regarding the demise of the computer generated ship.  “We got much deeper this time.”

“Yes, that’s very true.” The CSO agreed. “I’d just prefer it if we could fly back out again in one piece.”

The reason for these tests was a gas giant in the same star system as the planet Skoni, to which the USS Grus was now heading.  Little was known about the massive planet listed on the star chart as Beta-Encarta IV; which was almost the same size as the star it orbited, and could have easily become a star in its own right had its chemical composition been fractionally different creating the required elements and mass to start unclear fusion.

Scans made over the last 25 years had failed to penetrate beyond the planets upper atmosphere and probes had not survived long enough to send back any usable data either; and it was beginning to look like a Saber, wasn’t strong enough to withstand the pressure either.

“Shall be give it one more try?” Debaere turned to his Caitian assistant.

“Why not?” C’Rren smiled, happy to be keeping busy, with nothing much happening aboard ship.  “Would changing the angle of approach help?”

“You mean intersecting the atmosphere at a shallower angle.” The  CMO entered a string of commands and watched the computers response appear on the screen before him.  “I like you’re thinking.”

It was impossible to tell if the young Caitian ensign was blushing, his fur did a rather good job of hiding it; but he still hadn’t got used to been praised or complemented on his work or ideas.

Debaere entered the last two commands, before pressing ‘Activate’ on the touch screen panel.  May be attempt number eight would be the one that worked; then he could put forward the plan to the Captain, in the hope he’d agree to them doing it for real.