Hallways across the Al-Batani were filled with chatter, friends and colleagues stopping to discuss the science expedition on Nareen, the weather on Risa and even the football match on Ferenginar next month. In the mess, chatter accompanied by clatter from cutlery and culinary delights galore. Thunderous, guttural vocals of Klingon opera filled the ready room, helping the Tellarite captain to focus on his research, but all ceased the second the lights turned crimson and an all too familiar klaxon rang out across the ship, sending the crew scurrying for their duty stations.

Gor emerged from the ready room just seconds later, the light filters dimmed and doing an excellent job of shifting the mood of the officers on hand. By the time he approached the command chair, Tharia was already on her feet and delivering her report.

“Wasp has engaged the Draxan’s in the asteroid field at the edge of the system Captain,” the Andorian reported, stepping to her right in order to vacate the Captain’s chair.

“Sensors indicated the Draxan’s were hunting Wasp through the field until she turned and opened fire, making her escape,” the wrinkle nosed Commander at tactical reported, but then threw her hands up to pause the conversation. “Wasp and Mok’Tal are responding to an unknown distress call. They are breaking off from the pre-arranged meeting point and are in pursuit of a Draxan force,” Peri looked up from the display towards the diminutive Gor.

With hands on his hips, the Tellarite shook his head. “These… children… Starfleet puts in command these days. No gods damn discipline,” he growled, then looked towards his XO. “What do you think? Should we follow?” He asked the taller, blue-skinned woman.

“Display the system readout,” Tharia declared to no one in particular, then turned her attention to the main viewer. “Hypatia and Cardenas are here,” she pointed at the planet known as Nareen. She then waved her hand in the direction of the other members of their squadron, and then the Excelsior-class starship’s own location equidistant from both. “Wasp and her partner are here, headed in this direction. That’s two thirds of our tactical arm gone. If we go too, we weaken the assets at Nareen even further. Hypatia can defend herself and Cardenas could fight the Draxan’s off for a while, but without us, Nareen is a very tempting target.”

As ever, Tharia’s tactical analysis was spot on, and very convincing. That being said, there was no telling what the two escorts would be headed into beyond the system, and with warp drive not an option until they cleared the system, Al-Batani would be slow to respond to any distress call they sent, at least initially.

Whilst the two stared at the screen some more, hoping for the best solution to present itself, quite the opposite occurred. The Starfleet delta signposting the Sutherland-class research cruisers position began to move off, away from the planet the expedition had been focusing on, causing confusion among the command crew.

“Get me Captain Noli,” Gor commanded firmly, slipping into his chair.

“We’re already receiving a transmission from Hypatia,” Lieutenant Mitchell told in response, “but it’s from a Commander Vren, direct to you Captain. Text only.”

Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, the Captain signalled to his chair and had the transmission sent through. What he read angered him more than Wasp’s own movements. Sending the transmission to the XO’s chair, the Andorian let out a loud exhale and shook her head.

“We don’t have any other choice Captain,” she advised him matter of factly, “we have to support her on this one.”

Rising from his seat, the Tellarite angrily marched for the ready room and gestured for the Commander to follow. Ever the dutiful subordinate, Tharia pursued, but not before handing over the reigns to Commander Peri, for however long they were in the Captain’s private space.

Once the doors were closed, Tharia prepared herself for the customary Tellarite outburst that was surely to come, and Gor didn’t disappoint, smashing his fist upon the desk top, collapsing a mountain of data PADDs in the process. Watching from afar, sh’Elas simply waited for his signal.

Resting his palms on the desk, the Captain shook his head furiously. “I’m supposed to be leading this squadron and I’ve got two Captain’s going rogue. So-Mi is young, I can forgive that. At least she has gone with backup. But Noli,” he growled, bearing his teeth, “she should know better! She was trained better than that.”

“Is that what angers you the most?” Tharia finally spoke, stepping forward just one step closer. “That you trained her, and she’s not deferring to your command?”

“No,” Gor scoffed, turning around to vent towards his XO. “She’s a Starfleet officer, and her orders were to remain at Nareen and supervise the expedition. But what should I expect from someone who had Nazir as a role model?” He spat, hinting strongly at the Bajoran’s recent past.

“I think that is incredibly disingenuous to Noli,” Tharia shook her head, folding her arms across her chest in another act of defiance. “She’s no longer the officer we trained. She’s earned her position and she’s been through a hell of a lot to get there, just as we have. What happened on Lakota was a ridiculous situation no one could have foreseen, and she did what she thought was best,” the Andorian spoke from the heart as Gor scowled at her.

“Might I remind you this is the same woman we both praised for her handling of the defence of my homeworld just a matter of months ago?” She continued, referring back to the role Noli had played with Columbia Division during the Vaadwaur assault on the Andor system. “You might not agree with her decision, and you might feel put out that she didn’t discuss it with you first, but she has earned the benefit of doubt. If she has taken her ship from Nareen and left people behind, then we both know there is a reason why.”

In years gone by, Andorian and Tellerite conversing in such a manner would have been unthinkable, but this was a sign of how far both their peoples had come in the time since they had founded the Federation. One being the voice of reason for the other, forcing Gor to acknowledge that he was wrong, in this instance anyway, was quite the accomplishment. She was right, of course, not that he gave any acknowledgement of that fact. If Noli was going out on her own, there had to be a reason.

Exiting the ready room a short while later, Captain and XO crossed the bridge to the command area and resumed their positions in charge of the heavy cruiser. “Contact Hypatia,” the Captain requested while slipping into the comfortable chair, “inform the Captain that we will join them on their endeavour. Request all the information they have and set a course to rendezvous with them. Al-Batani is at Hypatia’s disposal.”