USS ALSEA: Mission Briefing

Captain's Log: The Alsea has gotten safely underway for our assigned mission with all crew present and accounted for. That includes the...interesting presence of Lieutenant Sorripto. From what I know of his exploits during the Azimuth Horizon operation he both saved lives and took lives and risks that Starfleet could not simply dismiss no matter how heroic some of his actions were. He has been assigned to this ship to demonstrate his willingness to perform in accordance with Starfleet regulations. He has eagerly volunteered to contribute to this mission by researching a way to keep the Alsea hidden while we traverse Klingon territory. If he succeeds it will make our mission that much safer. I am concerned that the lack of a shakedown for the crew will adversely affect their ability to gel as a unit. Normally Starfleet would assign a much more experienced crew to a mission like attempting to covertly aid a breakaway Romulan colony, but Starfleet is stretched much further than they would have anyone believe. Lotus Fleet has been asked to deploy all of its reserve vessels to various hot spots around the galaxy, I only hope that we can help these colonists before what's left of the Romulan Empire or worse, the Tal Shiar, does something rash. 

Jureth closed the terminal on his ready room desk and stepped from the small office back onto the bridge. Before Lieutenant Commander Sangliar could vacate the command chair Jureth held up a hand. 

"XO, summon all senior staff, and Mister Sorripto as well, to the main conference room for the mission briefing. I will be waiting."

Nodding to the Captain Sorripto hurried to transfer his work to the PADD at his station.

Oseno then proceeded past the command area to the main conference room adjacent to the bridge.

The Tellarite stood and spoke up as much as to the bridge crew as to the rest of the ship through his combadge.

"Now hear this; now hear this; all senior officers to the main conference room... or send your pips back. Relief bridge officers  to stations. Bridge out."

He looked over at Sorripto who was head down at his console.

"You heard the man, Lieutenant...you too. You will stand for engineering."

Nodding again Sorripto finished transferring the information to the PADD and followed towards the briefing room.

And as he spoke, he was already on the captain's heels.

Oseno stood in the Alsea's conference room, which small and spartan compared to the Horizon's extensive conference facilities, and looked out briefly at warp space as it streaked by the view port. The Bajoran knew that with each streak of light they drew closer to a confrontation with the Romulans. Even if they managed to avoid the Klingons there would no avoiding the Romulan starships that were likely already blockading the colony. Jureth didn't know that for a fact of course, but he knew how the Romulans operated. They would have been monitoring the colony's transmissions and the request for aid from the Federation was likely intercepted as soon as it was sent. Even an encrypted transmission wouldn't have fooled any monitoring Romulan vessel for long. He had faced down the Romulans once, including the intimidating Empress Sela, but Sela wouldn't be pulling the strings this time and he had no idea who he'd be dealing with. Still, Jureth was determined to negotiate with whomever was in charge and at least get them to allow the Alsea to offer relief supplies to the colony. If he could do that, and they could get a team on the surface, they would have to improvise from there.

Sangliar went straight to his chair by the right hand of the one at the head of the table and sat while looking at a PADD in his thick hand, frowning. But then again, he was always frowning. This time however he had reasons to. The Prometheus class his now responsible for, technically speaking, was probably the most complex starship design ever fielded out by Starfleet. This vessel went to the next level of seper operations; it was nothing less than three joined starships, able to function as a heavy battle cruiser when united as well as a tactical task force when separated. For months now Sangliar himself had supervized the repairs and refitting of the Alsea after her ordeals during Operation Horizon and the improvements he had provided for the composite starships would alleviate all the usual problems of such a design. But it had yet to be fully tested in actual service; which for this ship most probably meant combat situations.

He was not so much worried about the ship as about himself. In combat mode, he would have to take command of the secondary hull, the engineering section, while the captain would stay on the bridge of the primary hull and a third ranking officer, usually the XO of the ship, would lead the tertiary hull. But he was also XO, which means someone else would take over the third section. He was sure Captain Oseno would choose the best one for the job; what worried him was that he was an engineer and not much of a warrior. How he would fare in an actual conflict was an unknown number in the equation; and Marksus hated incomplete equations.

Hence why he was now busy building up a thorough holodeck training program so as to brush up on his starship combat skills. He was much afraid he would need them; worse, that his captain would count on them.

He was thus quite absorbed as the other officers took their seat at the long table.

Sorripto entered the conference room and took a seat two away from the first officer. This seat was usually reserved for chief engineers, a position Sorripto hoped to one day hold again. Sorripto readied the PADD before him which had the preliminary outlines for the simulations he was working on.

Oseno had heard both officers enter and now turned toward the conference table away from the view port. As he did Lieutenants Steel and Sirus entered the room with the security officer seating herself on the opposite side of the table from Sorripto and Sirus followed suit though he noted the Orion woman sat near to no one. Oseno suspected there was reason for that, though he hadn't had a chance to read her complete file. As they waited for Doctor Carter to join them Jureth activated the display on the bulkhead and pulled up an image of the colony that was their ultimate destination. On his PADD he pulled up the official copy of their orders which he intended to read aloud to his officers. It was an old Earth tradition he had recently read about and was planning to use it for effect so that the reality of the mission they were undertaking would sink in for each person of the room. 

"We will a few more moments for the doctor to join us, I imagine Sick Bay likely need some reorganization.  Please feel free to talk among yourselves."

Sangliar shifted in his seat with a grunt.

"He's probably throwing everything around to rebuilt it the way his chidlhood chemistry set was. I know doctors; they just hate to change things."

Not particularly interested in any reply to his off comment, he turned his black snout towards the Cardassian working on his PADD with obvious concentration.

"Found any new good way to sabotage the ship yet?"

The jibe was truly barbed. Everyone knew the old cliche about the Cardassian saboteur; but everyone also knew that Sorripto was just out of a penal colony. He had endangered Operation Horizon, and thus the whole universe, not to mention his own ship and crewmates and caused the loss of life of hundreds of people because he had acted on his own volition while discarding Starfleet rules, orders and plain wisdom to fulfill a personal agenda à la Obsidian Order. The resulting side effect of the dismantlement of the infamous and shameful Section 31 was irrelevant; two wrongs never made a right, at least in Sangliar's book. But this demoted Lieutenant Sorripto was also one of the most determining individuals in the survival and success of the Alpha Quadrant when faced with the final Borg invasion. Before the incident that threw him in jail as a prime example of what a Starfleet officer should never be, he had been the prime example of what the best Starfleet officer should be. But now he was an officer in disgrace; maybe not because of his demotion and sentence, but in the eyes of one who measured efficiency and competence by the success of dealing with problems the right way with the right tools in the correct fashion. And if one Starfleet officer could learn to do just that, it was this one-of-a-kind Cardassian Starfleet officer.

Tellarites threw out insults not only as a national sport, but more importantly to estimate one's caracter. Doubling as captain of engineering on this most complex three-in-one starship bound on a vital and risky mission in the heart of hostile territory, he wanted to know for sure and right now who in this unique fellow officer he had to assit him; the loose cannon of Operation Horizon, or the steadfast, inspired, and especially reliable, hero of the Borg War.

"Don't need any new ways, Commander. The old ones still work fine," Sorripto said with a wink.

"Hmph... I knew your reputation as an inventive technician was overrated," Sangliar shot back with a grunt and without openly acknowledging the Cardassian's wink. "Just make sure to read the perfect-little-saboteur manual this time. You do know how to read now, don't you? You're not just looking at the pretty pictures?"

He still did not look at him but he was obviously again refering to the PADD Sorripto was holding.

"Oh I can read, Commander, like I am reading these logs about you that I just found. Punching a man on the transporter because he touched your beard during a decon scan. I hope I don't ever have to scan you, you would break your knuckles on this chin." Sorripto paused thumbing through his PADD only to tap on his chin slightly.

"Striking a fellow officer is a court martial offense... but you know all about that. don't you?" the Tellarite retorted with anger visibly mounting in his voice and in his eyes.

And then, he obviously realized that the Cardassian was playing him the same way he was trying to play him. That defused his anger as quickly as it had flared up. He was just as obviously straining to refrain a laugh when he spoke again.

"I'll make sure you are demoted again, down to below Ensign this time, before I toughen my knuckles... Just make sure you scan me with your tricorder, not with these bony paws of yours."

Again he didn't look at Sorripto; but the expression on his dark. hairy face showed how satisfied he was with this bout with his assistant.

"Are you really reading old, dull stories or working on our problems?"

Holding back a smile after having just been in a sarcastic battle of wits Sorripto responded.

"I have been working on our problems. Those simulations you asked about are done, well at least a few thousand possible combinations. You said it would take days, I had it done before dinner."

Jureth listened to the tit for tat between the two officers, it was much like the conversation that he and Sangliar had in Captian Samji's office though the Bajoran CO sensed there might a little more two it, from both men, lurking just below the surface. He didn't think it was anything ominous, but it was there nonetheless. Sorripto's report that he had finished acquiring the initially requested data made Jureth raise an eyebrow. That was efficient, Vulcan like some would say, and he was truly impressed. At that moment the conference room doors opened admitting Doctor Carter to the room. 

"Ah Doctor, good of you to join us." 

Carter sat down in a huff "I apologize Sir, Sickbay is...disorganized."

"That can happen in a hasty departure," Oseno replied "Very well...with everyone present let's get started." Oseno moved to stand at the head of the table and began to read their orders aloud. " To Commanding Officer USS Alsea From Lotus Fleet Command, Starbase Lotus. A request from assistance has been received from the colony world designated Unroth IV. You are hereby directed to proceed at best speed on a course of your discretion to the colony and offer said assistance on behalf of the United Federation of Planets. Unroth IV was last known to be under the control of the Romulan Star Empire, but current leadership is unknown. Any unnecessary confrontation with the remnants of the Romulan Star Empire should be avoided if possible. These orders are binding upon receipt. Signed Rear Admiral Kotari, Commanding Officer Hromi Sector, and Fleet Captain Samji, Commanding Officer, Lotus Fleet."

Jureth paused a moment to let the men and women in the room digest what he had said looking to each one of them in turn and then pulled up the same display Fleet Captain Samji had shown him with Unroth IV highlighted inside Romulan space.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, as I just informed you the colony we have been ordered to assist is Unroth IV on the Romulan side of the Neutral Zone. Our mission goes a little further than that as well. Unroth IV has petitioned the Federation for admittance, and we are duty bound to process that request with due diligence. A mission like this should be carried out by a small fleet of ships, with a full diplomatic envoy, but Starfleet can't spare those resources and so it falls to us. We will enter Romulan space from Starbase 23 in the Onais sector and will proceed to the colony at our best speed. Once there we will assess the disposition of the colony itself as well as any Romulan military assets in the area. We are NOT going out there to start a war with what's left of the Romulan Empire, and we will not start shooting unless they do.  We are currently on course to Starbase 23 which will take us through Klingon Empire space. Lieutenant Commander Sangliar has implemented a navigational plan that will hopefully keep the Klingons from raising an objection until it's too late. Questions? Thoughts?"

"Just so you all know, I am the appointed ambassador," Sangliar said with such a serious expression that everyone knew that he wasn't at all.

But the jibe conveyed nevertheless a serious meaning; if they went out there and acted just like he had done with Sorripto a moment earlier, they would simply fail and most probably never come back alive. This was a mission were they'd better keep their heads on their shoulders and their tongues in their mouths, both turning seven times before doing anything.

"Captain, if I may" Sorripto said

Entering some information in his PADD Sorripto sent an image to the display screen in the briefing room. It was a local map showing the Alsea and a circle around her.

"While aboard the McKenzie I developed an upgrade for sensors that increased their capacity. I installed the upgrades on the McKenzie and then on dozens of Starfleet ships that came through Mars while I was there. The upgrades only work on certain type of sensor configurations, and the Alsea fits."

Tapping on his PADD the circle around the Alsea became more oblong shaped and grew by nearly 20%.

"With the right modifications we should be able to detect any Klingon ship at long ranges, before the standard Klingon sensor sweep would detect us. We should be able to move their space and minimize if not avoid contact all together."

Pausing slightly Sorripto continued.

"I am not suggesting espionage by any means sir, but if avoiding hostilities with the Klingons is our primary objective for the moment it may just help to avoid the Klingons all together".

Oseno nodded "Starfleet doesn't want us to engage the Klingons any more than they do the Romulans. Besides entering their space without their permission amounts to espionage in their eyes anyway so we might as well give ourselves an advantage if we can. Proceed Lieutenant and please keep the XO appraised of your progress. Also, if need be appraise Lieutenant Sirus of anything she may need to know to operate the sensor pallet with the new modifications, and while we are on the subject of modifications how are your nanite experiments coming?"

"I'd like to also note, this will more than likely be a humanitarian mission as well" Carter said. "Intel from Starfleet Medical indicates a failing medical infrastructure. My experience with the Romulans, since their collapse basic needs being met has alwasys been about those in power" Carter looked around the table. "I was late arriving because I was personally taking possession of extra medical supplies in cargo bay 4."

Carter used his PADD to bring up the ships medical sensors. "The Romulans are known for treachery so the moment we enter their space I will be activating the ship wide health assessment sensors." 

Carter made adjustments on his PADD resulting in the screen zooming in to the area of the ship with the conference room with a blinking red dot. The screen split and next to the ship schematic was his vital signs.

"We don't have the medical capabilities of the USS Horizon, but I refused to let us leave space dock without at least the internal medical sensors." Carter stated "Anywhere on the ship I can monitor the vital signs of every crew member aboard. The Romulans have been able to infiltrate our ships in the past, and I hope I'm not the only one who remembers how that ended on the Nahelem". Carter took a short pause. "I won't allow it his time, so I'm counting on each department head to be my eyes as well. Keep an eye on your crew and alert me to anyone not acting themselves."

"My my, what have we here? A doctor who is not allergic to modern technology?" shot Sangliar with his now familiar gruffiness. "Has Humanity finally evolved while I wasn't looking?"

Catherine Steele, the security officer, stifled a laugh at the XO's comment but recovered quickly "The Alsea's security protocols are specifically designed to prevent infiltration. It would take a deep cover agent embedded in Starfleet for years and accepted as a member of the crew to do so now with the bio scans and verbal challenges implemented on boarding. Captain Kheren and Lieutenant Tyvya wrote those protocols, mostly based on the Undine, but they will work for anyone. The bio scans don't match and you're detained, you can't answer the questions properly and you're detained."

Jureth nodded in agreement "True, but extra precautions can't hurt, well done Doctor. Yes, the Romulan infrastructure is failing throughout their space, we don't know what we will find, but I suspect before we get a chance we will have to talk any Romulan vessels in the area into standing down and this time we won't the luxury of having Admiral Tomalak aboard." 

"Andorian security protocols," grumbled Sangliar behind his cup. "Better watch out, people; they include scan and removal of any potential threatening item in transit. I seem to recall an officer from the Spectre was beamed down nude on the starbase... Andorians have no clue about decency and no taboo at all about nudity you know."

Now it was Oseno's turn to push back a smile "That was a very early version of the system. I think Starfleet engineers have taken care of some of the program's..quirks, though we all know nothing is perfect." 

The captain of the Alsea then turned serious again "Anything else to report? Any other ideas that might help us complete our mission? I know we are moving fast, but both the mission and Starfleet's current demand of resources demand that we do."

"We could try to conquer the Romulan empire," grumbled Sangliar. "Would nullify all this cloak and dagger stuff and bring about the same rough and tumble as we will assuredly face regardless... Buuut since there are not enough Tellarites on board to pull this off, I guess our current plan is our best option left... Sir."

This was his peculiar way of saying that he had nothing else to add but was ready to proceed.

Oseno smiled at his XO and said with mock surprise in his voice "You mean you couldn't take them on all by yourself XO? I'm stunned," and then he faced the rest of his officers "alright folks, we'll be entering Klingon territory soon enough. Stay alert, and notify me of any issues immediately. Dismissed."

Steele and Sirus both rose immediately and head back to their bridge stations. The former of the two women was proud of her friend, she had known that Oseno would make a good captain after the way he had taken charge during the Operation Horizon. He didn't want the job then, but there was something different about him now. The security officer was still there, ever alert for any surprise, but something more had developed as well. It was a presence, both commanding, and calm that she had never seen when they were at the academy. Cat knew that he would take them through this mission just as he had Operation Horizon. 

Sangliar nodded to his commanding officer, as much as to acknowledge the order as the quality of the jibe, then turned towards his assistant.

"Alright Sorripto, you got the recipe; let's both get down to engineering and do some cooking."