" Morning "
(Previous Post was Jessica's "Deciphering Cardassian Encryptions Can Prove To Be A Challenging Task")
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Observation Lounge
Stardate: 60325.0245
The young woman sat at the end of the large table, her eyes bouncing
from 1 senior officer to the next. Some, like the CMO and CNS looked ready to
head back to their quarters and forget about the meeting the CO had called
until the clock displayed a more normal hour. Others, like the CEO and
CSciO, looked like that had been up all night and were ready to keep going for
several more. The ILO and ExO on the other hand each appeared as they
had always did… calm… collect… serious… and ready for action.
"Sorry for calling you all here at this hour, but since time is of the essence and we had a major breakthrough, I thought it best to jump right away." The CO explained as she glanced over to the CSciO and gave her the okay to take over and explain to the others as to the reason for this meeting.
"We are not certain why but the Cardassians used a highly sophisticated encryption system to encode the information in their computer… that is why it took us so long to decipher the data and obtain the information that we had been searching for. Even after having discovered the basic method used to encode the data it took Lt. Cmdr. Enaii and her staff over an hour to process the information and turn it into something coherent. Once this had been accomplished it was relatively easy to scan through the impressive amount of information to find what we had been searching all along." The CSciO explained in far more words than everyone had cared for although no one had dared to say so. Being a Lt. Commander meant that the woman deserved respect from those around her… but it had been very difficult for those present to not tell the Shillian to get to the point if there had actually been one.
"We found the location of the MERCURY's crew… they are on SURIAL III, deep inside Cardassian space." The ILO interjected with having had more than enough of the CSciO's ramblings which had already cost them more time than required.
"Thanks to Lt. Cmdr. Maya, Lt. Cmdr. Enaii and the IGC staff we now have a location… what I need from the rest of you is our readiness status." The CO moved ahead with, silently thankful for her life-mate's intervention against the longwinded explanations of their CSciO.
"Tactical is fully ready… all weapons have been tested and are ready for action." Ensign Doratheva, the ANUBIS' Sec/Tac officer reported sounding almost overly enthusiastic about the news that they would be going into action.
"Sickbay is in no shape to receive additional people… that run-in with the Cardassian Destroyer sent a lot of people my way and I had to convert many of the basic beds for more long-term usage. I know that this is not at all important at the moment, but there is no way that I can have Sickbay cleared and ready in time… some of the crew members down there are going to need *weeks* of recuperation time." The CMO stated sounding truly apologetic for the report that she had been forced to give. As the head of the Medical Department it was her duty to be ready to take care of any and all injuries, but the events of the last several hours had left Ens. Summers with little options.
"Cargo Bays 5 through 8 on Deck 9 could be emptied and refitted to act as an emergency medical facility." The ANUBIS' Avatar and currently acting Ops Officer offered in a calm tone indicating that the specifics of the suggested plan had already been figured out.
"There is no way that I can spare anyone to help with that… I have every available engineer and everyone in Operations and Security that has any sort of engineering background helping in the repairs to the outer hull." The CEO grumbled, not at all liking the idea that he would have to add transforming 4 cargo bays into makeshift medical facilities above and beyond everything else that had been on his 'to do' list.
"All we would require is a single officer with engineering knowledge to help coordinate the work… the actual labour could easily be performed by those crewmembers not currently busy with the repairs." The ExO announced, glancing in the direction of the giant FCO hinting by the action that the Oltharian had been her choice to led the work on the refitting of the cargo bays.
"David… how long would you need before we can be underway?" The CO inquired, curious to see just how much time the CEO and his people would need to bring the ANUBIS back to its normal working self.
"We can get underway now… the problem is that big gapping hole in the side of the ship. It is going to take *weeks* before the ship even looks like it's in shape and it will take several other weeks before all of the bugs are worked out of the field repairs." David explained, setting a rather gloomy picture of the state of the ANUBIS.
"Alright… lets try this from another angle… how long would it take to get those cargo bays ready to receive the crew of the MERCURY?" The redheaded woman asked, this time looking at the imposing Oltharian who had been volunteered for the task. It was easy to see that Elan had no objections in being placed in charge of this task, not that the young woman had expected him to say anything negative as that was not in his nature.
"Without pushing the crew too hard and taking on the larger and more physical jobs on my own… we should be able to have all 4 cargo bays ready within 4 hours, maybe 3 if we can get more muscles involved." Lt. Fairborn offered obviously keeping the estimate for the time required for the work within a safe margin while maintaining the need for urgency.
"Lt. Pravat… do you think we could enlist your troops to help in this matter?" The young woman inquired already certain of the reply that the MCO would give.
"It would be our pleasure and honour to help Sir." The Marine promptly said confirming what the CO had expected. Rikar smile, unable to hide her pleasure and delight at having such a dedicated crew under her command, allowing her to rely on anyone and everyone to see to the completion of tasks regardless of their requirements.
"Then it is settled… we will head out in 3 hours. Lt. Dawson, do you best in that time to get use ready for action… I have complete confidence in your abilities. Ens. Doratheva, please work on tactical preparations to account for our unique situation. Try to reinforce the shields in that area of the ship without of course adding more work to our Engineering Department. Lt. Fairborn… you and Ens. Summers get started on the refitting of those cargo bays. Let's get to work people." The CO said as she stood from her chair and dismissed the senior staff to their respective tasks. As the officers filled out of the Observation Lounge the redheaded woman motioned for the CNS to remain behind which Ens. Mei did.
"Is there something that I can do for you Captain?" The CNS asked after everyone had left the room, leaving the 2 women alone.
"Given all that has happened… I wanted your professional opinion on the state of the crew and on how you believe they will respond to my order for us to continue with out mission? I can think of several COs who would not hesitate to turn back and return to base given the state of the ship and the number of injuries that we have… but I also know a few other COs, like James, who would not think twice about pressing on. I guess I am somewhat nervous about what the crew will think. Will they think that I am unrealistic to think that we might still have a chance to fulfil our mission objective?" The redheaded woman inquired as she moved towards 1 of the large windows and gazed outside onto the gently dancing clouds beyond.
"Each crew responds differently to any given situation… part of this response is dictated by the attitude of the personnel… the other part of the response is instilled by the ship itself. I know that the crew would follow you without question, but if this was a freighter with limited armament the crew would more than likely voice some level of objection." Susan explained as she came to stand next to the redheaded woman whose gaze had remained fixated on the nebula in which the ANUBIS had been hiding in.
"But this ship is no freighter and we are far from having a limited armament." The CO countered with, already seeing the point that the CNS had been about to make.
"Exactly… even with our outer hull damaged as it is, the ANUBIS is a force to be reckoned with, and I am sure that by the time we reach SURIAL III, we will be in even better shape to take care of business and bring the crew of the MERCURY back home… safe and sound." The CNS said in as a reassuring tone as she could.
"Thank you Counsellor…" Rikar acknowledged, dismissing the CNS with a nod of her head before returning her attention to the clouds beyond the window.
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Sabrina Jones {sabrina_sweet@hotmail.com}
Captain Sabrina Rikar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
"We are Grey, we stand between the Candle and the Star, between the
Darkness and the Light" 2005 post #321
-Entilza Delenn, Babylon 5
