Chapter 3: Good Tides and Fair Winds (part 4)

Chapter 3: Good Tides and Fair Winds (part 4)

Once back on the bridge, Doctor Cyl made his way to his station. He sat down and quickly unlocked his station to send his minor findings from the exams to the Captain; including the drinking problem of the pilot.

As the doctor exited, Captain Sterling tapped his combadge and contacted Commander Hartzer.

“Number One, Counselor Pasqual is researching the matter we spoke of earlier. You may want to make contact with him and find out how his investigation is proceeding. Sterling out.”

“Aye, suh,” Frazetti said. She stood, briefly, and moved away from the general bridge in order to carry on her conversation privately.

Sterling then went back to his seat to check on the status of all of the other departments. Once this investigation and the subsequent solutions were taken care of, they would need to depart immediately. They had delegates to receive and a summit looming ahead of them.

He could see that there were still department issues not complete. He activated his combadge again.

“Lieutenant Richards, while the final stages of sensors are being remodulated, could you have a team checking and preparing each of our probes and another team updating all computer and data systems? And how is the replacement power coupling coming along? Send me a confirmation message when these are complete. Sterling out.”

Engineering was the next department that hadn’t updated their status.

“Mister Hanson, have the power-up problems with the impulse pre-fire systems been resolved? I need to know the updated status of engineering as soon as possible. If you need additional hands down there, contact Lieutenant M’elena and have her send down some additional trained science personnel. We need all systems green a.s.a.p. Lieutenant. Sterling out.”

Captain Sterling then walked out of the Ready Room and headed back for the main bridge.

As he stepped onto the ship's command center, he could see his First officer creasing her brow under her peculiar hat as she looked at her armchair console, apparently talking to the security department over intraship comm channels.

Drake... Where had she heard that name?It slipped her mind...

''Dismissed,'' Frazetti ordered abruptly and moved to the turbolift, tapping her combadge.

"Hartzer t' Phelix."

"Phelix here."

She explained the situation to him on the ride down. He was appalled but determined to catch the guy. That was good.

"Where..." she asked, but she stopped as her PADD beeped at her.

She blinked and looked down, then swore.

"Mistuh Phelix, you seein' dis?"

"...You mean where our port nacelle..."

"Oxmy's teeth! Keep da fire's from spreadin' and hold anyone, ANYONE, dat looks hinky like dey oughtn't be dere. Computer stop; head back to the bridge!"

Falcar had finished the second check on the systems. It was a good thing too, as he missed a few things. He turned around to address the Captain.

"Captain, the Impulse pre-fire systems seem to have some problems. Also I think there's a problem with the warp core. I'm reading a loss of power output in the mains. But other than that, all other systems are green."

"What the hell? Is there ..." began the Captain, but the first officer's voice cut him off:

"Hartzer t' Mistuh Archer an' da Cap'n. Our port nacelle exhaust just exploded! Da saboteur struck again!"

She didn’t swear, even as she stepped back onto the bridge, golden curls flying under her wide hat as she hurried from the lift cabin to her command seat.

Oxmyx’s teeth!! Someone was mucking with the warp core! she realized alarmingly, unable to speak it out loud.

As the reaction rate in the core dropped, the now useless sensors did not report the problem to the assembled staff in main engineering. Heating rapidly, the plasma coolant reached a critical temperature and suddenly started venting. Abruptly, the manual sensors throughout main engineering, which John could not access, blared their warnings. Emergency shields started dropping into place around main engineering and the multitude of red lights started flashing throughout the ship along with the emergency voice warning.

''Warning! Warp core breach imminent!''

"That was not me." helmsman Falcar said.

Counselor Pasqual lifted his eyes from the data monitor he had been using on his bridge station console to review certain files and looked around with wide eyes.

''Don't look at me. I didn't touch anything either.''

And I have no clue who did. The disturbing thought laughed at him since he had checked all three suspects' psychoprofile. There was absolutely nothing there to pinpoint any one of them to sabotage intentions. All their records were spotless and any aggressive tendencies or propensity for violent action they had were typical of the standard profile of security and tactical officers throughout Starfleet.

There was nothing to find on a screen. Any indication could only come from direct contact.

If we survive the next few minutes that is, he mused bitterly.

When the alarms started screaming and the call from the first officer came, Brian Archer was sitting at the tactical console going over the internal sensor logs. He had been tracking the movements of all three potential suspects and only one had really been on the move... and Chief Drake had been quite busy. Now Brian knew why.

"Bloody hell, I've had enough of this," Brian muttered as he rose from the tactical console. He entered the bridge turbolift

"Deck 9."

Once the lift was moving, Brian tapped his combadge.

"Archer to security, security teams respond and secure all primary system spaces."

"Strider here, we're already moving."

"Cassie, Let the alpha shift supervisor handle the containment. I want you, and Thran to meet me at the armory with a security team, we have another issue to deal with."

"Aye, Strider out."

Brian exited the lift and continued moving on deck 9 but walked past the security office and to the ship's armory. As he did so, Cassie came from the other side of the corridor followed by Thran and a security team. Brian looked at the armory officer.

"Compression phaser rifles for everyone."

"Aye, Sir."

Archer then addressed his assembled people.

"We're going after our saboteur." Then he looked at the security team."We are going after one of our own. We will bring him in alive, do you understand me?"

A chorus of "yes Sir" came back at him and Brian accepted the phaser rifle offered to him from the armorer. He checked the charge and then tapped his combadge.

Brian accessed the console in the armory and the internal sensors told him that Chief Drake was still near the boarding umbilical. Knowing that his security codes were among the highest aboard short of only Commander Hartzer and the Captain, the security chief quickly enacted security force fields around the area of the boarding umbilical. Now, with the ship about to be getting underway under emergency protocols for danger of a core breach, Drake would be trapped on that deck. Brian also took a moment and revoked Drake’s security access so that he could no longer cause any more trouble in the computer.

Brian looked at the group again

"Cassie, take half the team and use the other turbolift. We will converge on him from both directions. Set your weapons for highest stun. This man is dangerous and I’m willing to bet he’s armed. Let’s go get this son of a targ."

“Archer to Sterling. Sir, I’ve trapped our man near the boarding umbilical. We’re heading there now.”

“Acknowledged Lieutenant Commander.” The Captain responded. “Keep me posted on how this apprehension transpires. Sterling out.”

Archer then led his half of the security team, including Cadet Thran, to the turbolift. The lift ride was done in silence, and when the doors opened, the chief of security raised his phaser rifle and out of the lift. He saw the saboteur in clear view attempting to regain access to the ship’s computer.

"Drake, hold it! Don't move!"

The security team fanned out in defensive positions as Cassie's team entered the other side and Drake turned to face Archer.

"Well, Commander Archer, what can I do for you, Sir?" the question dripped with sarcasm and Brian ignored it.

"Put your hands on your head and walk toward me...slowly."

Drake made no motion to comply, standing as if he was contemplating his options. Brian had seen desperation before and knew that Drake may be contemplating a number of things including suicide.

“There’s no way out Drake. This is over. Get your hands up and walk toward me.”

“This isn’t over by a long shot, Commander. You may have your ship, but there will never be peace between the Empire and your pathetic Federation.”

“I’m tired of listening to this.”

Brian fired a single shot from his phaser rifle and Drake crumpled to the deck. The two security teams converged on the fallen saboteur and Brian noted the unconscious form to a pair of his other security officers. He looked over at Cassie.

“Cassie, scan him with a tricorder and then remove everything he’s got on him.”

Cassie nodded and went to work. The chief of security detailed one of the other officers to see to the two fallen men before contacting the bridge.

All the while, the computer blared its warning as the red alert horn screamed from one end to the ship to the other, freezing everyone with surprise and fear from the shuttle bay to the bridge.

Ray Quinn Pasqual was familiar with this reaction; and as he was an expert in dealing with a crisis for others, so was he for himself. After all, he had piled enough years of service to Captain a ship himself... just not enough desire and discipline to ever earn it.

But he knew what to do.

As the Captain was about to contact Chief of Engineering Hanson and Security Chief Archer, Counselor Pasqual rushed over to him. He was the first to shake himself off the mesmerizing spell of impending doom to shout in a voice strengthened by fear and controlled by experience

''Captain! We can't eject the core in a starbase! Blowing up here will be devastating! We must launch and warp out! Now!''

He talked to the Captain... but he looked straight at helmsman Falcar.

Captain Sterling acknowledged the Counselor’s quick sensible reaction with a nod, sat back in his chair and turned slightly to his Romulan exchange helm officer Sub lieutenant Janus Falcar sitting almost directly ahead and slightly below the center seat to order emphatically:
“Ready thrusters, Mister Falcar!”

The Romulan turned to the front and quickly tapped his console. He tapped away so quickly, you wouldn't have even guessed he had a few drinks earlier. The thrusters were ready to go, he just needed to hear the order from the Captain.

Sterling then turned slightly to his left.

“Commander Hartzer, please confirm spacedock clearance from the station master and then ensure the unlocking and releasing of all mooring connections.”

Even on the bridge, they could hear and feel the vibrations of the spacedock umbilical being released, liberating the starship like a bird of prey having a restricting tether removed from its talons.

After receiving the message from the First officer of the Icarus, the message from the Station master could then be heard reverberating over the bridge intercom:

“USS Icarus… you are free to depart Starbase 39, emergency clearance confirmed. Good luck!”

Sterling then exclaimed with forcefulness and a dramatic inflection in his projected voice:

“Take us out of here, Commander!”

He listened as Hartzer impatiently barked out orders to Falcar to engage thrusters and then the impulse engines.

Falcar tapped the console again, commanding the ship to move forward and then out of spacedock.

Once they were clear of the spacedoors, she bellowed with zeal to the helm officer sitting next to her to engage full impulse power. A bit dramatic, but Sterling was not going to squelch her abounding intensity under the circumstances.

Janus then engaged the impulse engines. He had kept in mind however that there was a problem with the pre-fire systems.

"As I said earlier, the impulse pre-firing system is defective. I'm attempting to make a work around."

Falcar tapped away on his console, and managed to bypass the damaged circuits.

"Done, but we'll only have half impulse."

He then immediately confirmed their heading and coordinates.

“Full ahead Mister Falcar… away from Starbase 39 as quickly as possible! The Captain interjected with extreme concern.

"Yes, Captain."

Falcar tapped to go to half impulse, because of the issue with the impulse engines. He would have wanted to attempt to try and fix the issues, but sadly, it was the job of the engineering department. His was to fly it away as fast as possible.

The Excelsior class cruiser streaked away from the Starbase at an eighth of the speed of light towards empty space.

They would have either at least several minutes left to try to contain the system failure before a breach occurred... or hopefully away far enough from any inhabitable area if they failed to prevent their powerful matter-antimatter reaction ending up in a devastating explosion over a zone of several million kilometers radius.

Their own fate was in their hands now.

''Captain! All personnel not affected into restoring our power failure or the bridge should report immediately to escape pods and be ready to evacuate,'' reminded Counselor Pasqual, fingers ready to send the evacuation order through intraship channels. ''I have already ordered all diplomats and civilians to our shuttles and they will be ready to launch at the same instant you order it, Sir.''

Sterling nodded in affirmation as he stood up.

“Thank you, Counselor. See to it that all non-essential personnel are prepared to launch escape pods immediately on my command. I will be… “

“Archer to Sterling, Sir, I’ve just subdued our man near the boarding umbilical and revoked his access to the computer. You will need to use your command codes to restore computer control of the main systems though. I’ll contact you again when we have him.''

He quickly sat back down in the command chair.

“Acknowledged, Mister Archer” he answered as he immediately reached over and entered his command codes into the terminal in his arm rest and restored computer control of the main systems back to the bridge and the chief of engineering, science, tactical and his helm officer.

“Computer controls are back in our hands again” he announced and then looked over to Commander Hartzer.

“Number One, meet up with Chief Engineer Hanson in the engineering department to assess any damage existing and then assist them in any manner possible to contain this situation; or if need be… in preparing to eject the warp core.”

Sterling thought for a moment and then added:

“Contact Starbase 39 on your way down to Engineering and apprise Admiral Kelek of our current situation and status”

“Aye, Boss, on it.” then came the reply of the First officer of the Icarus as she rushed off the bridge.

He then turned his attention back to Archer and said emphatically over the comm:

“Bridge to Security; be sure not to extensively injure this saboteur, Mister Archer. We’ll need to conduct a thorough interrogation of this prisoner and any of his cohorts on this ship.”

“Archer to bridge; Captain, we have him now in hand, and we’re about to move him to the brig, Archer out.”

“Well done Lieutenant Commander!” Captain Sterling responded with an equal measure of pride, respect and relief thanks to his security chief’s expert handling of saboteur situation; with no additional damage done to the ship or even the prisoner. “See that he is escorted to the brig with a full complement of security officers and held in there with several armed detachments posted outside at all times. We’ll follow-up on this situation pronto! Sterling out.”

"Aye Sir, though he won't be getting to the brig on his own power, I'll have Sickbay send someone down, Archer out."

Brian looked at his team and then back at the three fallen forms on the floor. They were clearly going to need medical attention and security officers were only trained in basic first aid and first response. Archer tapped his combadge

"Archer to Sickbay, I'm sure that you’re busy up there Doctor Cyl, but I could use you or one of your people down here near the boarding umbilical. I have three unconscious humans. One from a phaser shot, and the other two I'm not sure about."

Chief medical officer Jayvin Cyl, his job and record no longer at risk from a bully of a counselor, whistled a quiet happy tune as he organized his staff for the evacuation. He had to make sure that nurses and doctors were evenly sorted, just in case there were injuries.

Though honestly, Jayvin didn't really feel in danger. He had faith in Starfleet officers and their training; even those that he didn't like.

On the bridge, bathed in red alert light, Sterling then turned his attention back to the counselor.

”Mister Pasqual, when all personnel are secured in the escape pods, immediately head to the brig and work with Security Chief Archer to see what you can uncover about our saboteur; especially in regards to any other acts of sabotage and perhaps remedies to these as well.”

Sterling then added knowingly:

”I am certain that he will not easily ‘volunteer’ much information Counselor… and so this is where your many unique skills and level of perception will most likely be in demand. Keep me posted on your progress as well.”

The Orion hybrid went agape when the Captain asked him to rush to conduct an interrogation while they were on the verge of a general evacuation and a warp core breach.

He's panicking, Ray realized then. He never faced such a crisis before and having to be responsible for all the decisions alone. He's thinking out of synch with events.

He also became aware that, if anyone else realized it also, then they were all doomed.

Do your job, counselor! He ordered himself then.

He stood up from the comm console but kept his ear monitor as he went right behind the command chair to lean over it on one elbow.

''Evac undergoing, Sir. Sir, respectfully request to remain on the bridge until the breach is contained or evacuation is ordered and completed.''

Then he whispered into his ear:

''Priorities, Sir; first the crew, then the ship... then we will have more than enough time after that either to play twenty questions... or some harp with the angels.''

Even in a crisis, humor can be a powerful ally. As Captain Sterling had suspected, this counselor was going to worth more than his weight in gold-pressed latinum… even to a Terran Captain.

“No time for angels yet, Counselor, we have too many responsibilities ahead” Sterling responded with a strained smirk.

He then leaned back and whispered:

“Mister Pasqual, it is the crew and the ship that I am immediately concerned about. Given that there have already been two incidents of sabotage unveiled… I want to determine if there are any other pending disasters awaiting us. The only known source to directly answer this possibility is currently on the way to the brig. Although Lieutenant Commander Archer is a very dedicated and skilled security officer, he may not possess your knack for peeling away the layers of deception and distraction from our newly acquired captive. Doctor Cyl and Commander Hartzer will assist and address personnel in the evacuation process and the engineering and science teams will be dealing with the potential warp core breach while sub-lieutenant Falcar is handling helm and navigation. I need answers from this saboteur immediately!” Sterling emphasized. “I was hoping that you would be the one to help expedite this process… regardless of the pending disasters we’re currently facing.”

The Orion looked at him as if he had suddenly sprouted wings.

''You expect me to get a confession between now and a core breach?'' he whispered more forcefully. ''Sir, even if I run there now, by the time I get down to the brig, we will be floating in escape pods or as a cloud of debris... if we're lucky!''

A warp core breach was the worst situation to face aboard a starship. Failure of containment caused antimatter to get in contact with matter, leading to a disastrous explosion. Since emergency shutdown had already failed, ejection of the core was the last resort if the breach started its unstoppable cascade failure. It was already quite an optimistic assumption that there was even enough time left to try the emergency shutdown or finally eject the core in the first place, let alone evacuate... and even that the remaining time could be exactly determined. Moreover, the breach could even be stimulated by the vibrations during the ejection itself or their very flight to a deserted area of space...

It's worse than I thought, Ray told himself silently with growing concern; he's losing all proper notions of time and events.
''Sir... he whispered again, looking straight at him with unblinking eyes and a very calm and yet forceful voice, we have barely minutes, maybe seconds left. ''

Come on Captain Sir, he told only with his eyes, snap out of it!

Helmsman Falcar then turned, after tapping his console a few more times.

"Captain, due to the injector problem, we are unable to engage warp. Half impulse is our top speed."

Sterling sighed in frustration and then looked directly at the Romulan helm officer and responded clearly:

“Just keeping working at it Mister Falcar… and give us everything she’s got!”

While this was going on, Frazetti Hartzer made her way to Engineering and stepped in. A beehive of yellow black and grey greeted her eyes. She paused for half a second in the door and assessed the situation. Then her eyes widened as she saw Chief Engineer Hanson lying prone on the ground.

Another, younger looking human stood over him, scanning him with a tricorder. She quickly moved to his side.

“What’s the situation?” she asked.

The younger human startled and blinked.

“Oh! C-Commander, uh... well; the Chief was by that panel over there when it blew,” he said, obviously shaken a bit.

He gestured to a smoking mess that used to be a wall panel. She winced.

“An’ you are? Sorry, but I ain’t had time t’ learn ev’rybody here,” she said with a smile.

He smiled tentatively back.

“Lieutenant Jeremy Mitchell, Ma’am. Assistant chief engineer.”

“Alright, Mistuh Mitchell, good t’meetcha. Now den… Mistuh Hanson is out but from my readings I think he’s gonna be ok, just whacked his head.”

She flagged down an ensign as she rose from the prone, unconscious engineer she had just probed with her fingers and her basic first-aid knowledge.

“You; call Sickbay an’ get dis guy fixed up. We got things down here.”

Mitchell gave her a quick, askance look, like a did-she-seriously-just-say-we-got-this? look.

Frazetti watched the ensign go and nodded to herself.

“Mistuh Mitchell, status report.”

He straightened.

“Well… We almost had a warp core breach. It’s not in right now this second immediate danger, but it’s not stable by any means, and I think that is where we ought to start. We’re also limited to half impulse and several EPS conduits are damaged or blown,” he said, relaxing a bit now that he was in his element.

He moved to where the warp core stood and a console nearby. She joined him.

“Rightyho den. You take da warp core an’ I’ll take da impulse engines,” she said, quickly breaking down the task into different parts to be resolved as fast as they could manage. “Have ya got a second?”

“Second? In command?” he asked, a bit surprised.

“You are da chief when da chief ain’t here, right? Well, he ain’t here, so dat makes you Chief.”

Mitchell’s eyes widened, whites showing like a panicky horse. Frazetti frowned and turned to give him her full attention.

“Mistuh Mitchell… Chill. Please. Ya can’t panic, not when you’re top dog of the pack. Just relax, an’ think clearly. Trust your gut but check it wit’ your head. You know more ‘bout dis system than I do, dat’s truth, but I was an engineer in da Academy and I am da Ops officer. I won’t letcha make a huge mistake, but dis is your area, not mine,” she finished.

Then she gave her that white flash of a smile and a wink and patted his shoulder.

“Come on, bucky, grow a spine an’ chill an’ let’s git movin, I ain’t got time t’ coddle ya all day,” she added. Her tone was cheerful like they were going to a movie, not harsh.

He gulped.

“Y-Yes ma’am,” he agreed.

He then took a breath.

“Ok, um… Rainer and Stevel, come over here!” he called through the bustle that surrounded them.

A Vulcan and a freckled Human girl trotted over.

“I need you two to get a team going to fix the EPS conduits,” he said. “Hurry.”

“Got it!” shot back the girl Rainer.

“We will begin work immediately, Lieutenant,” confirmed more soberly the thin Vulcan Stevel.

He nodded to them both and turned back to the console. From there, they went to work.

“I’m gonna bypass the secondary systems, Mistuh Mitchell, an’ reroute power from nonessential systems t’ impulse. Dunno if I’m gonna get enough though.”

“Try replicators and holodecks,” he said almost absently. “They’re not needed and take a lot of juice to run.”

“Dat’s da spirit. An’... Damn. I can’t get the...”

“See it, here, let me?” he asked, moving over. She let him work, and crossed her arms with a satisfied grin. He seemed to be over his jitters, which was good.

Like it’s not that he's never been in charge before. I don' blame 'im for bein' a little bit nervous. “

Got it!”

She nodded.

“Nicely done, Mistuh Mitchell. Now, the warp core.”

“Stabilizing. I have to… Shit! There’s a crack in the magnetic containment canister. I’ll have to replace it. In those engineering classes, did they teach you about the warp core?” he asked.

“Some,” she admitted honestly. “Whatcha need?”

“Keep it from exploding by reinforcing and maintaining steady the magnetic bottle while I get down here and replace the can,” he said with a crooked grin.

“Oh, well, if dat’s all, sure. I thought you was gonna ask for somethin’ hard,” she shot back, even as she moved to take over and fingered the controls.

He moved fast but confidently as she kept the core balanced on a knife’s blade. It was touch and go for several minutes, enough so that she was very relieved when he finally spoke again.

“Ok, let her go.”

“Bringin’ her up an’ on…” Frazetti answered. “…It’s workin’! Very well done, Lieutenant!!”

He heaved a sigh of relief and closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them.

“Thanks, Commander.”

“Call da Boss and let ‘im know,” she said, stepping away from the console.

“But shouldn’t you...”

“He oughta hear it from da Chief,” she said. “And I gotta get back t’ da bridge.”

“Uh, yes ma’am,” he replied as, like her, he saw that Chief Engineer Hanson was getting back to his feet under the care of the medical team brought back by the ensign she had ordered to fetch it; but it was to her retreating back, as she left Engineering at a trot. She gave him a wave and vanished.

Back on the bridge where she was now headed, Captain Sterling was perplexed by the counselor’s continued resistance to do as requested, as if he alone standing on the bridge was going to resolve the breach... which was occurring many decks below. Couldn’t the counselor see and hear that they were already working on the known acts of sabotage; all of the necessary trained Starfleet personnel working diligently to resolve these issues? He was asking the counselor to do something in which he was skilled, but he has chosen instead to continue to point out that they were in a crisis; which was blatantly obvious and becoming rather insulting.

Just then a message came in from Engineering.

“Captain Sterling… Chief Hanson here” the assistant chief engineer of the Icarus breathlessly began. “Sir, we have found the problem with the containment field and have contained the Warp Core breach. In order to contain the breach, the magnetic constrictors on the warp core had to be re-calibrated, and then the matter-antimatter reaction has to be re-adjusted back from eight percent up to nine percent.” He stated as he continued to regain his composure. All engineering systems are now returning back to operational status, Captain,” he announced, with a combination of relief and pride emanating from his voice.

Just then, the emergency systems silenced, the flashing lights ceased, and a much needed level of calm pervaded throughout the ship, like a monumental exhale of a gasped, anxious breath.

"Thank you Lieutenant" the Captain responded; "I'll spread the good news!"

Sterling reached over and engaged the ship-wide communication switch.

“Attention crew of the Icarus...”

He waited for a moment for them to come to attention.

“Through the dedicated and diligent efforts of many of you and your departments, this crisis has been averted. We are however sustaining yellow alert, which translate to maintaining a ship-wide state of increased preparedness for any other possible crisis situation. All crew currently involved in the evacuation procedure, we are suspending this status effective immediately. All remaining crew, keep alert to any unusual situations or readings. Department heads… coordinate level five systems checks within your departments. Be prepared for a status meeting forthcoming. Sterling out.”

He then turned his attention back to the Pasqual and stated calmly.

“Well, Mister Pasqual, it would seem that you have a rendezvous with destiny after all. I’ll notify Mister Archer that you’ll be on your way momentarily.”

''Indeed, Sir; now is the proper time to start getting answers. On my way,’’ the Orion hybrid acknowledged.

His gaze however lingered for a good moment with genuine concern on the commanding officer of the Icarus, right until the very moment the turbolift door closed.

Unbelievable; we were seconds away from complete destruction and he still doesn't seem to realize that his order made no sense! How can he ignore all the emergency duties every officer is bound to in times of red alert... or that it takes hours, days and sometimes even weeks to get anything from an uncooperative prisoner, not seconds or minutes... and that is but a third of the whole job! And not a job appropriate under a warp core breach situation!

As the lift shot down towards the brig's deck level, he leaned against the cabin wall, eyes downcast and mood sunken.

There will be a board of inquiry about this incident... and it will look bad for everyone if someone at Starfleet Command peers too closely at the recorded bridge logs and starts doubting his judgment!

When the door slid open, he slowly rose from his slumped posture and walked with heavy leaden feet towards the security area.

It's a counselor's job to remind any officer, including the Captain, of his duties and advise him about the best course of action when he errs or hesitates... But if he does not listen...

First, an irresponsible doctor; then, ill-chosen ambassadors; and now, a disconnected commanding officer...

I knew there was a damn trick to that little known, seldom used reserve activation clause...

* * *