All hands look alive!

Posted on 03/19/2012 @ 5:58am by Captain Kheren & Captain Syntron & Commander Elliago Nasaro-Myth M.D. & Lieutenant JG Aguk Snow & Lieutenant JG Tyvya & Lieutenant JG Thankhuun Cheonghi & Lieutenant JG Valencia Irksos & Lieutenant JG Robert Baoule
Edited on on 03/24/2012 @ 2:40pm

Mission: Azimuth Horizon: Crusade - Chapter 4: Operation Horizon
Location: Starbase 10
Timeline: 87171.3

"Bridge to Captain Kheren!"

The high-pitched yet gravely voice of Chief of Ops Cheonghi could raise the dead. It had no problem catching the Andorian commanding officer even in deep concentration over the study of the apprehended enemy. His four oculars lifted sharply from the schematics of what was known of the Scimitar class Romulan dreadnought.

"Kheren here."

"Sir! The Romulans are on an attack vector towards Starbase 10! We have orders to intercept!"

In one smooth, lightning fast motion, Kheren stood and exited his ready room to almost crash through the next door leading to the bridge.

"Emergency launch!"

The voice of the Edoan then blared from bow to stern:

"Yellow Alert! All hands to launch stations! This is not a drill! This is not a drill!"

By the time Kheren took the five steps from the door to his command chair, the entire vessel was lighting up, engines roaring and systems firing up, the Artemis coming brutally alive like a dragon suddenly awake from its deceptive slumber. Already primed for imminent departure following the last meeting, it did not take long to bring merely a hundred crack officers to readiness.

On the bridge, the turbolift poured out moments later Doctor Nasaro-Myth, Lieutenant Irksos and chief engineer Baoule to join Tyvya and Snow already there with Cheonghi as they refined systems for the expected operation.

"What's the rush?" half-joked the Deltan CMO as he slid in the medical command chair to activate all biomonitors and communications to have the order confirmed and clear channels for departure.

Kheren just sat straight in his chair, looking from his armchair data monitor towards the main viewer, showing the starbase's huge spacedoors already opening before they had even disengaged moorings. Yellow alert blared accross the entire space station and inside the starship. On the lower corner of the screen, they could see the angular form of the Alsea also lighting up to full active mode.

"It's a Scimitar alright... and coming this way."

"Here?" exclaimed Aguk Snow without lifting his darting eyes or running fingers from his navigation board. "What about the anomaly?"

"They figured we're the most immediate threat," reasoned Valencia Irksos checking the sensor grid to full readiness.

"Or the easiest," grumbled Tyvya as she primed all tactical systems.

"All stations report ready for launch, Captain," the Edoan ops chief reported, all three hands almost a blur on his multitask console at the forefront of the bridge, just below the giant screen.

"Full power at your command, Sir," added Robert Baoule, turning from the Engineering station to address the Andorian in the center seat, who's voice then resonated a few seconds later throughout the entire four million tons frame of the ship.

"This is the Captain; a Romulan battleship is heading towards the starbase. Our orders are to intercept. Contact in twelve hours. All hands look alive! Time to show them what Starfleet's Finest can do."

Syntron was updating files and preparing for the upcoming mission only moments after leaving the officers’ briefing when the announcement blared throughout the science chief’s office and adjacent department rooms on deck 14.

He swiftly closed all files and headed out of the office and turbolift.

Arriving on the bridge, the activity had mushroomed during the brief amount of time from which he left into a contemporaneous flurry of procedures and cross-communications as the crew readied the ship for an immediate launch. Without delay Syntron stepped over to the main science stationed and relieved Lieutenant Irksos of her post.

He began engaging all science consoles into activity as he began to bring all sensors online.

Meanwhile, he turned to his assistant chief of science and commanded “Work with T’Val to get Astrometrics and Stellar Cartography fully operational and synchronized.”

He then turned toward the Andorian Captain who looked sternly around him and inquired “Orders Captain?”; knowing that he not only was inquiring in regards to his science chief obligations, but also now as the First Officer of the Artemis.

But the Andorian was already a step before him.

"Lieutenant," he said to the black-skinned woman before she made more than three steps away from the science station; "You will assume your science chief assistant duties on the bridge science station."

Then he looked up at the tall bearded Vulcan and pointed a thumb to the command seat at his right hand.

"I need you here, Lieutenant Commander."

Returning his silvery eyes towards the main viewer and the vista of stars beyond the now widely open spacedoors of the starbase, he then ordered:

"Take us out, Number One... and fast."

Although Syntron had been in charge of the Artemis as an acting commander during a previous mission, it was rather peculiar for him now to relinquish his post at the science station and officially assume the First Officer’s station. This entirely changed his role within the ship and on this mission.

“Acknowledged Captain” Syntron responded with a slightly raised brow as he stood and relinquished his spot back to Irksos who nodded with a smile as he maneuvered his way literally to the right side of Captain Kheren and sat down.

Noting the fully opened space doors on the viewscreen and having witnessed the skillful capabilities in previous missions of the chief flight control officer Lieutenant junior grade Aguk Snow positioned readily at the helm, Lieutenant Commander Syntron prepared to bring the Captain’s command of an immediate and fast launch to full execution.

Engaging a communication switch Syntron contacted the station master of Starbase 10.

“Starbase 10…This is first officer Lieutenant Commander Syntron of the Artemis requesting permission for an immediate launch.”

Within seconds a confirmation was received.

“Permission granted. You are clear for launch Artemis. Best wishes!”

And as the voice still seemed to linger in the airwaves Syntron immediately addressed the helm officer.

“Lieutentant Snow, full impulse… Now!” the new first officer ordered.

Then within the blink of an eye the Artemis shot out of spacedock like a bat out of hell; or as the Vulcan calculated… at 75,000km/sec.

As they zoomed into the vastness of space he then added “Helm, bearing 280 mark 15. Engage warp engines and bring us to warp 9.6 as swiftly as allowable.”

Anyone on the bridge who blinked missed the fearsome sight of the seemingly small rectangle of stars jump at them as the starship rushed out of dock. Anyone who did so from the starbase viewports or from any other ship would have sweared the largest vessel of Lotus Fleet just disappeared as it shot out at a quarter of the speed of light from its berth.

In his command chair, Kheren almost choked on the laugh he strongly repressed after a sudden brief shock of surprise hearing Syntron's order. They must have broken all docking rules in the book on this one... and sent Starfleet clercs rushing to write a score of others on the spot!

The Andorian should have known; after all, he was the one who ordered a Vulcan to get them out "fast!" And Vulcans were well known for their exactness...

"Er... we have cleared spacedock, Sir," confirmed helmsman Snow, unable to wipe out the wide grin from his coppery face.

He had been reprimanded once back at the Academy for having done exactly that on board a training shuttle once; but doing it outside of a simulator with a five hundred meters long, four million tons starship... that was something else! Must be some kind of record broken here...

"We are free and clear to navigate," he added after clearing his throat to recover some professional composure.

"I bet we are..." commented Kheren noncommitally.

"Full warp power at your discretion, Sir," then said acting chief engineer Baoule, his eyes and fingers recording all the data he could from the never before attempted brutal launch they had just gone through.

"Status on the Alsea?" then asked Kheren.

"Starbase 10 reports they've been alerted same as we did. They still have to launch though," reported Elliago from his comm panel at the right of his chair. the Deltan for one had no compulsion about chuckling over what they had done.

"The Prometheus class is much faster than even our souped up refit, Sir," said Tyvya then apparently very serious; unless you knew what sharply curving antennae meant for an Andorian. "They will eventually overtake us before our rendez-vous with the Romulans even if they move out up to two hours behind us."

This was enough to reassure the captain of the Artemis. Sitting back in his chair he then ordered with a confident voice:

"Warp speed."

The starship Artemis, having completed its majestic turn towards the given coordinates, suddenly jumped like a streak of colors into an exploding flash of light and was gone.

* * *

As the Artemis sped on her way to intercept the IRS Shavok, Syntron and Kheren began discussing basic functional necessities; including scheduling the duty shifts of the Artemis with a reduced crew. They determined that of the remaining crew, due to the nature of their species, 47 could easily go sleepless for more than 30 hours nonstop. This included the Andorian Captain and the Vulcan first officer.

To ensure that the entire crew was well-rested, alert and yet prepared for the upcoming confrontation with the Romulan ship, the first officer ordered the remaining 79 of 126 total crew members to rest for the next 7 full hours. While they were resting, he divided the crew within Engineering, Operations, Flight Control, Security, Science and Medical into three comparable shifts and spread the 47 crew requiring minimal sleep accordingly among each shift.

It was during this time that Kheren decided to confer privately in his ready room with his newly appointed first officer. They both had to make themselves as ready as their crew to face the critical situation they were rushing into and there was little time to do it... or even just to settle Syntron in his new command role.

Thinking like a scientist was hard enough; but now, the Vulcan would have to also think like a diplomat, a soldier, a technician and a humanitarian while keeping in mind the ethics of the Federation, the rules of Starfleet and their mission orders all at once, keeping a primary concern for a crew nevertheless sworn like him to give their lives for it all. Syntron would have now to think like a starship captain. It was a fine balancing act not many were ready to try... and even less able to do.

Although he knew well that Vulcans on duty were no more in need of "socialities" than Andorians, if not in fact even much less so, Kheren nevertheless offered him sustenance and refreshment considering the long hours of discussion they would share before the ship reached its designated coordinates. He replicated for himself a plate of crispy-cooked bacon, heavily salted, with a glass of Cardassian fish juice at room temperature, also salted, which he called his "Captain's Brew." Then, once Syntron had stated and obtained his own choices, the Andorian wasted no time in getting to the point.

"What are your thoughts about what lies ahead of us, Number One?"

After sipping for a moment on a cup of spiced Vulcan tea radiating at a scalding temperature, Syntron replied:

"In regards to the impending Romulan ship, their apparent attack of a Klingon outpost followed by their current heading toward Starbase 10 would indicate that we are evidently approaching an imminently dangerous confrontation Captain.”

"Now that you mention it... there is something odd about this," retorted Kheren between bites on one of his golden-hued strips of meat. "That a Romulan warship attacks a Klingon outpost, that I can understand. That a Romulan warship invades our space to take us out as the first step of their "final solution" for the anomaly, that I can understand also. What I can not quite understand is why the same warship would do both."

Before the typical Vulcan eyebrow could come up, the Andorian explained:

"Risking coming at us with howling Klingons at their heels is quite a foolish move... and I have yet to meet a foolish Romulan."

“Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness… as a respected terran noted many centuries ago.” Syntron replied before adding “Yet a wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.”

He took another sip of simmering tea and then asked “The question here then is… what useful information can we learn from these recent acts of aggression from this Romulan?’’

"My point exactly," agreed Kheren, munching a moment on the problem as much as on his meat. "Guess we will have to ask them then... if we are lucky enough and they are in the mood to talk."

He took a long sip of his pugent beverage before asking in turn:

"Now, let us assume for a moment that all this is planned... Attack a Klingon border outpost... sneak around cloaked for a week near the Neutral Zone, virtually circumventing the anomaly they are supposed to target as far away as they can within our space... then charge at us full throttle from the Paulson nebula... Why?"

“Possibly a decoy Captain? If I know my Romulan cousins at all… these blatant solo acts of aggression seem a bit too clumsy and obvious to be to be all that is in play here. We’ll need to keep our sensors in full detection mode for any deception that is quietly lurking in the shadows as our target approaches.”

"Now that would at least start to make sense," agreed Kheren. "See to it that your sonar-styled configuration is fully active and manned at all times; it might be the only thing able to locate a Scimitar class vessel through its alleged perfect cloak... or any friends or foes in its wake. I'll see to it that Starbase 10 and the Alsea are both made aware of this possibility."

Taking another swallow of fish juice, he then inquired;

"Anything else on your mind, Number One?"

Syntron finished the last vestiges of spiced tea before he inquired.

"Indeed Captain… I was wondering what our tactical and contingency plans would be in regards to addressing and possibly confronting this potentially treacherous adversary?”

"That would be telling," shot back the Andorian deadpan.

The unchanging expression of Syntron then had Kheren slap himself inwardly.

Yeah... an Andorian trying barely understood Human humor on a Vulcan...

Standing up, he motioned for his first officer to follow him. A short hop thought the secondary turbolift brought them to deck 8 and the forward part of the ship. Together they entered the main lounge affectionately called "The Bow" for its location and curving shape. It was uniquely decorated with authentic wood pannelings and furniture, with a sky-like holographic ceiling and grass-green carpeting. It was also decorated with animated holopictures of wildlife and hunting scenes from worlds all over the Alpha Quadrant.

"Of course, now started the captain as they entered, we will try to talk some sense into them. Hopefully, they will be in the mood to listen. But, if not... or if we fail to make them forget about their insane plan..."

Moving past the full-sized bronze reproduction of the eighteenth century sculpture "Diane Chasseresse" of the ancient Earth goddess that gave her name to the ship, Kheren went to a specific holovid that showed some sunlighted expanse of high herbs distantly profiled by a snow covered peak and tall gnarled trees. In the scene could be seen a couple of small wild pigs slumbering contentedly under the sun... and a massive, tan and black lion stalking them.

Turning halfway towards the Vulcan to let him observe the tridimensional scene unfolding, the Andorian then asked him:

"Let me rephrase your question this way, Mister Syntron; how can two small pigs ever manage to defeat a full-grown hungry lion hunting them?"

The holodisplay then showed them the answer. As the enormous predator pounced on the male pig, the small beast started squealing and running around in circles, the lion's fangs inches from its corckscrewed tail. Then, the female pig appeared right behind the lion, joining the circling chase... and suddenly took a savage bite in the cat's behind. Startled, the lion abruptly stopped and turned around to start chasing the female... only to be led into a new circling chase that ended when the male in turn attacked the predator from behind, forcing him to turn again on him and again expose its backside to the pursuing female... and so on, until, tired, bleeding and bewildered, the lion simply ran away.

"There are many ways to defeat a stronger opponent. But they all involve the same ingredients: a small dose of luck, a lot of courage and guile... but best of all: teamwork."

Thinking about the challenging concepts of humor that the first officer learned while in Starfleet Academy, Syntron inquired rather stoically in response the Andorian’s allegory:

“And which pig is it that were are to portray Captain … should the need arise?”

"Obviously the first, the big, fat one," said Kheren, oblivious to the humor in their exchange. "Let us hope that the Alsea will be the small fast one guarding our back."

“Interesting” Syntron affirmed as he gazed intently at the display. “And who will it be that will attempt to engage this lion through discourse into curtailing their predatory intentions?”

"Diplomatic talks are always the responsibility of the most senior representative of the United Federation of Planets present," quoted the captain of the Artemis. There was no doubt in his tone about who he was talking about.

With the slightest ascension of a brow, the first officer inquired as he turned to face toward the senior Andorian officer “Have you determined the method in which you will broach this topic with the Romulan commander?”

"Romulans are notoriously not as easy and straightforward to deal with as Klingons," immediately admitted Kheren as he looked far away at the stars streaking towards them through the immense transparencies looking beyond the prow of the ship. "One thing though; they always want to beleive, or at least make you beleive, that they are in the right, even when they know they are not. Openly caught violating our space with an armed warship on an attack vector will easily point out that they are not and doing so is the surest way to have them start talking; and talking is often a favored weapon of them. The real question is; do they want to talk? or will we be able to... convince them to?"

His four oculars still looking out at the streaking lights, he sighed.

"In truth, Mister Syntron, if they ever say anything, now that they have committed themselves to this course of action after all those failed diplomatic talks, I fear it will only be the words of Earth's Sieur de Frontenac: "je vous répondrai par la bouche de mes canons": my cannons will answer you..."

Kheren's voice then became as resolute as his silvery gaze lost in what laid before them.

"But we will try... and if words are not enough... we do have sticks and stones."

The first officer nodded in acquiescence to the despondent yet realistic postulations of the Captain.

“Whether they fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds they are cut with their own dust.” Syntron stated rhetorically.

He then pondered “And which of these five enemies of peace will they be carrying with them like concealed faux talismans of conquest as they travel in hast toward us: avarice, ambition, envy, anger, or pride? Or perhaps a deadly combination of all of these to justify their compulsive aspirations?”

Then looking out toward the stars the first officer noted “It will indeed be challenge to employ diplomacy under these conditions Captain. From the first word uttered they will likely initiate a parry of justifications on their part and level accusations toward the Federation in respect to their own self-serving actions and objectives whilst working to turn and use your own words against you.”

Kheren glanced sideways at Syntron with an expression that almost looked like a smirk.

"We have a saying on Andoria: as long as someone talks, he is not trying to kill you. I'll welcome and gyrate with any dance of words they will enjoy doing, as long as it deters them from attacking anyone... or anything. If this but allows the rest of the fleet to complete the operation before those Romulans have a chance to compromise it, we will have done our part."

His gaze now turned back to the stars and hardened as much as his tone of voice when he finished:

"but we will be ready if they stop talking."

Syntron turned his gaze from the stars back to the focused and resolute Andorian Captain.

“It has been generally stated Captain that in warfare you defeat the enemy’s will to fight rather than his ability to fight… but in this upcoming probable altercation, it would seem best to somehow accomplish both with the Romulans… if conflict arises.”

Looking back toward the stars again he pondered “A worthy challenge it seems would be in determining how specifically we would be able to accomplish such a proposition.”

"Mister Syntron, there are basically only nine ways to strike with a knife; but you will know how to counter it only when it will come out of the sheath. The easy part is to prepare for each and all of them; the hard part is to choose the right one when the blow comes."

The Andorian raised his silver eyes to tthe darker ones of the taller Vulcan to say:

"You will get my answer in a little less than twelve hours, Number One."

Syntron turned back toward the commanding officer of the Artemis. He could readily detect that behind those cool silvery eyes and the apparent calm exterior lurked a warrior preparing for battle; be it with words, weapons or both.

As first officer now, Syntron knew that he had to be there by the Captain’s side; and if the conditions presented themselves, to react and respond instantaneously without even a word spoken.

He then thought back to an axiom that he had heard long ago; even before the academy. Man does not enter battle to fight, but for victory. He does everything that he can to avoid the first and obtain the second. They were now traveling at warp speed to confront such a destiny.

He then affirmed “Indeed Captain. We shall continue this straightforward aspect of our mission with decisive preparation at the forefront of our efforts until the moment arrives when we encounter our adversary.”

He then added “We will be prepared sir… for whatever is ultimately unsheathed.”

"A... logical assumption, Mister Syntron."

The first officer nodded slightly in respect to the commander’s comment.

“Any other orders at this time Captain?” Syntron inquired as he stood determinedly before him.

For a moment, it looked as if Kheren hadn't heard. Then, finally, as if speaking to himself, he said almost in a whisper:

"There is still something odd about this whole thing I can not put my finger on. They are not intent on stopping us but on simply blasting out the anomaly, so... why target Starbase 10? Why not any one of those they already passed by, Starbase 23, Starbase 157, or Starbase 284? Those are the ones in this sector guarding the Neutral Zone; any one of them out of commission would open a wide gap for their forces to go through...But then, we would intercept them... as we are doing now... And going through all this convoluted flightpattern they did to avoid violating the Neutral Zone, only to attack and end up starting a war anyway, would serve no purpose..."

He stopped and turned upward his four eyes towards the taller Vulcan.

"Mister Syntron; work with Mister Cheonghi and Mister Baoule on effective countermeasures against jamming. I want our eyes and ears fully open when we will meet them; whatever happens, we need to stay in contact with the Alsea and Starbase 10."

His gaze went back to the streaking stars and the darkness from which they came.

"They're hiding something..."

“Acknowledged." Syntron responded.

"We will ensure that all long-range and proximity sensors are fully operational and finely tuned.”

He then added “In addition, we will prepare multiple custom Class-V medium-range reconnaissance probes with enhanced spatial echosensors to detect any cloaked vessels or signal jamming devices in approximation to our vicinity as we head toward our coordinates.”

Thinking strategically he noted “When launched, these could theoretically compensate for any endeavors implemented by our adversaries to deceive, deafen or blind us as we approach the Romulan ship… and any other potential cohorts.”

"Make it practical then," agreed the captain of the Artemis.

“Yes Sir” the science chief responded. Overseeing the preparation of the sensors and the subsequent probes would be where his science duties would temporarily supersede his first officer responsibilities; even though they were relatively connected in this instance.

Syntron excused himself from the commanding officer of the Artemis and headed back toward the turbolift.

Descending to deck fourteen, he walked out of the lift and moments later into the Astrometrics lab. Afterward, he began discussing his plans with Lieutenant T’Val. She along with second assistant science chief Baoule, the only human in the science department still awake and working during this shift would put their team together and begin work on preparing the custom Class-V medium-range reconnaissance probes after all of the ship’s sensors and enhanced spatial echosensors were thoroughly tested and recalibrated… if needed.

They estimated that these operations would be completed in approximately 3.14 hours. This should allow plenty of time to have the probes loaded and ready for launch long before the Romulan ship arrived.

After Syntron had left, Kheren stayed a while longer in the Bow, looking at the stars, unmoving. Then, after a time of introspection, he glanced once more at the holodisplay of the smart wild pigs before heading out of the main lounge to the nearest holosuite. The holosuite was smaller than the holodecks they had on his large starship, but since he was to be alone, it would serve his purpose just as well.

"Computer; from the latest intelligence reports and data we have on the IRW Shavok and her crew and command staff and estimated goals, adding astrometric data of the expected rendez-vous point, establish a diplomatic simulation and two tactical simulations, one with the USS Alsea and the other without it, based on current USS Artemis capabilities, available resources and crew complement."

"Computed," answered barely a few seconds later the disembodied feminine voice of the ship's computer.

"Set up a bridge simulation along those parameters and run diplomatic simulation first."

"Program complete. Enter when ready."

The door wooshed open and Kheren stepped in. He knew a simulation would not garantee success by any long shot; but it would at least help avoiding any obvious failure. The next hours would not be wasted.

While work was progressing flawlessly on the reconnaissance probes, Syntron took a sojourn to the Arboretum. As he entered the lush botanical environment, he heard a voice emanating from behind a collection of tall green plants.

“Well… our infamous science chief and now new first officer is honoring us with his presence,” she almost whispered as he walked in.

Syntron looked somewhat bewildered at first seeing no other crew members present as he gazed around, until he realized she was mere talking to the plants surrounding her.

“Greetings Ensign Muller,”Syntron responded to the head of his Xenology and biology department just as she stepped down and began brushing soil off of her hands and smock.

“I thought that you were resting during this shift Ensign?” the first officer questioned.

She just sighed as she approached him “I was resting for a while, but then I became too restless just laying there. So I got up and I thought I’d spend the last part of my resting time here working with my babies… it is quite relaxing… you know?

Seeing that her question was rather rhetorical, he ignored it and continued walking.

“Ah…” she said as if an epiphany had just enlightened her. “You are here to check on the progress of your Vulcan plantings.”

With a wide sincere smile she stated “Well then… come along,” as she reached over and took him by the arm and guided him toward the vegetation that they had acquired as seedlings. They started growing these plants in the botany section of the biolab and then transplanted them during the beginning of their previous mission into the Arboretum after they had germinated and grown.

The amount of growth that occurred during the time that he last saw this vegetation was quite startling; except perhaps to a Vulcan.

Ensign Muller just beamed with pride standing beside the lush growth of vegetation.

“It is like having a living piece of Vulcan here with you isn’t it Lieutenant Commander?” she inquired passionately.

Before he could respond, she noted enthusiastically “You see here, you have some of these snap beans, peppers, and lettuce already to pick. The fruits, broccoli, and onions are almost ready as well,” she stated as she showed him the ripening specimens.

“Would you like to take some of these now?” she inquired excitedly. I can get you a basket and we can fill this up in no time…”

Somewhat awkwardly Syntron responded “Well… Ensign… I am still on duty now. It would be quite inappropriate to for me be walking throughout the ship with a basket of vegetation as I am…

“Nonsense” she interrupted as she released his arm and scurried over to snatch an old fashioned wooden basket lurking behind some plants nearby.

Before he could respond, Ensign Muller was already scrutinizing the available crop, seizing the prime specimens and then adding them into the basket without haste. Within a few moments she had filled the basket with a selection of fresh Vulcan vegetables.

She proudly handed the basket to the first officer who hesitantly accepted it as if it were some type of questionable biohazard.

Knowing the expected human response, he merely stated “Thank you Ensign. I will endeavor to make use of these items.”

With a smile and a laugh she responded “All you need to do is eat them Lieutenant Commander… just eat them.”

And with that, she merely gave him a slight nudge toward the turbolift and he was on his way… straight to his quarters before he needed to explain to anyone why he was walking around with a basket of vegetation; a conversation he would prefer to avoid.

---

At the end of the 7 hours, all remaining crew members were ordered to rest for between 3-4 hours thus allowing this remaining crew to be alert and active one hour prior to the interception point. Ironically, everyone was cooperative and complied but the Captain and First officer themselves. They each rationalized, procrastinated and resisted any need for their resting time until the chief medical officer Doctor Nasaro-Myth became aware of this and threatened to relieve them both of their duty if they did not comply with their own damn order. Begrudgingly, after several heated yet civil confrontations with the doctor, they agreed to at least retire to their quarters for the duration of this time.

 

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