" Final Approach "
Con't from: "Not Everyone Comes Back"
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Stardate: 60298.1345 Setting: USS ANUBIS, Serenna's Quarters
Aimlessly looking at the ceiling of her bedroom the Romulan/Terran hybrid carefully thought about everything that had happened so far during this mission, outward and inward alike. The CO had ordered everyone to rest but keeping her physical activities to an absolute minimum had been the best the COO could do, a reaction that Serenna suspected had been shared by many if not all of the senior staff.
Forcing her body into a state of rest had not been effortless but had proven easier than imposing the same restrictions on her thoughts, something that would have normally displeased the COO, the Romulan/Terran hybrid considering herself as having a very disciplined and focussed mind. There had been just too much to think about and too many things to consider for her to actually not think of anything.
Losing an operative was not something uncommon within the ranks of SFI or any other Intel organization, such occurrences being an integral part of that field, so why had the predicament of Ensign Summers troubles the COO? It wasn't like the CMO had endeared herself to anyone on the ANUBIS; in fact she had done quite the opposite by attacking the XO and by her general attitude. Thinking of the myriad of fates that could have befallen the SFI agent sent to retrieve the Mind Stone, the Romulan/Terran hybrid found herself at a loss to explain why none of the gruesome images she had conjured had failed to make her feel any better. For some reason the obnoxious woman had somehow found her way onto the team of the NEW ALEXANDIRA and that had apparently been enough for Serenna to want to see the CMO rescued safe and sound.
Jumping onto the next line of thought, the Romulan/Terran hybrid reviewed what she had been told about the findings of the CSciO who had discovered that the Mind Stone had not been as unique as some might have thought it to be. It made sense that in a universe as large and varied as this one that some artefacts and their legends shared some level of similarities, but to see a grand total of 21 such similarities had been pushing the odds. Disclaiming two or three such parallels would have been easy, but doing so to the number that the Shilian had presented them with had been next to impossible. Someone or something had been responsible for these artefacts having appeared in the mythology of these races, but why? Had the creators of these artefacts wanted to help these underdeveloped societies or had the powerful items meant to destroy them to allow the world to be later conquered without any large military intervention? Even if the Mind Stone was to be retrieved and Ensign Summers rescued, the COO doubted that they would get the answer to those questions anytime soon.
Forgetting about the actions and reasons of the past, the Romulan/Terran hybrid decided to once again change the focus of her thoughts, this time looking at the present. Following the same course as the two shuttles, the Hirogen Venatic-Class Tracker had added a new element of uncertainty to the mission. Rumors as to the reason for their having been there and on the course that they were on ran rampant throughout the ANUBIS but the fact remained that until they reached their destination or that the Hirogens made some sort of a move other than the quiet shadowing that they had been doing, the only thing the COO and the rest of the senior staff had were speculations.
The unknown nature of the Hirogen's involvement in this affair only made the COO return her thoughts to the missing SFI agent and the item that she had been sent after, completing the vicious circle. Solving this puzzle would require the Intelligence Operations trained officer, as well as the rest of the crew of the USS ANUBIS, more information and time, things that they unfortunately had in short supply.
Jumping out of her bed like a racehorse out of the starting gate, the Romulan/Terran hybrid had reached the door to her quarters even before the announcement had been completed. =/\=All senior staff members are to report to the bridge immediately.=/\=
The calmness in the Captain's voice hinted that nothing had changed in regards to the Hirogens or the shuttles, but his presence on the bridge and the announcement he had just made meant that the wait and rest imposed on the senior officers had finally come to an end. The time for debates and speculations had passed giving way for action, be them defensive or offensive ones.
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Stardate: 60298.1355
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Rushing back to their respective stations, the members of the senior staff stormed onto the bridge in waves, each one looking more ready than the next to tackle what would happen next. Lt. Seth was the first to report on their situation, glad to see that nothing had really changed since the last time he had looked down at his instruments. "The FOOL'S GOLD and TROJIAN HORSE are still on course and on the far edge of our forward sensors. The Hirogen ship is still following coming in and out of our sensor range."
Looking back at the Sec/Tac officer who had just finish his report, the Romulan/Terran hybrid waited to see if he would add the suggestion that her training and experience as Chief of Security had made her think about. After a few second, the COO was ready to speak up but was interrupted by the comment made by the CSciO. "Captain, it might be an idea to reduce the distance between us and the shuttles so as to permit us to scan the system and the planets before they actually arrive. Right now we won't be able to scan TOLAR IV before they land since we have kept the shuttles on the outer range of our sensors."
Jumping in with the only notable problem with this plan, Rawyvin added, "If we increase speed to move closer to the shuttles we will lose track of the Hirogen ship. If they change course or even just arm weapons we won't know until they get back into our sensor range."
Quickly considering the Sec/Tac's words, the CO nodded his understanding before standing from his chair and approaching the FCO and Ops stations at the front of the bridge. "The Hirogens have been behaving up until now, so I will gamble that they won't do anything until the shuttles are on the planet and their crew out. If they had wanted to act, they would have already done so. Helm, increase speed and give us at least a good three minutes of scanning time. Will that be enough?"
The question had been directed to the CSciO who smiled, her fingers already franticly working her station in preparation for the planetary scan she would have to perform as soon as the ANUBIS was in range.
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Serenna
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
