"Into The Fold"
[Previous post: "When You Have Eliminated the Impossible…"]
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Under the protection of its cloaking device the HATHOR had easily
reached the border between the Cardassian Union and the United
Federation of Planets. The ship had been at red alert for the last few
hours, insuring that the crew and all of its personnel were at their
highest level of readiness.
"Tactical report," the captain demanded. Lt. Cmdr. Serenna had
requested such updates every 15 minutes, but being so close to the
border now had made her even antsier than she had been. Something had
happened deep inside Cardassian space and until they could find out
more about it the HATHOR's CO had not wanted to take any chances.
"No change in the status of the remaining two ships patrolling the
border," Uxtar replied. The Hirogen had not dare blink for the last
hour or so in case he would miss something, the last thing the Sec/Tac
officer wanted was for them to get a nasty surprise. "Both ships are
still on standard patrols and have their sensors aimed inward.
Whatever is out there has made them very nervous," Uxtar added, his instincts as a hunter making him wish that they could go and investigate what it was
that had caused such unrest in Cardassian space.
"We will be entering Cardassian territory in 4 minutes," the FCO
announced in a way that said that his Vulcan half had been in control.
Letting emotions, such as fear, take hold right now would not have been
good, for anyone onboard either Starfleet ships.
"Ens. Kea," the Captain said turning to look at the Ops Officer, "do we
have anything more from the Cardassians as to what they are dealing with?"
"Negative," Carft replied. As hard as Lt. Summers, Ens. Mei and
himself had worked, they had not been able to find out anything concrete. The
best they had was the theory made by the ANUBIS' ExO who had speculated
that the Cardassians had fallen under the attack of an unknown
adversary. Of course that had not served to ease anyone's mind and in
fact had made their situation worse.
"It looks like we'll have clear sailing all the way to SURIAL III," Lt. Dawson said. As the HATHOR's ExO it was his duty to present the crew with the positive aspect of their situation, that he himself believed it or not.
"The Cardassians would have to *know* we are here for them to be able
to pick either one of us on their sensors," Uxtar said sounding as if he
was expecting something to happen any time now.
"You sound nervous," Derek said from the helm, not wanting to pass up
the opportunity to shoot a playful stab at the Hirogen.
"I am not nervous. This is just too easy," the hunter replied in all seriousness.
"Hirogens are not known for appreciating the pleasures of doing something the easy way," the Cns said dryly, both her and the CMO having been standing at the back of the bridge waiting to see what would happen next.
"I kind of like it this way," the FCO added with a grin. "Easy works
for me."
An alarm indicating that they were about to cross the border ringed
which brought everyone's thoughts back to their tasks.
"Helm," the captain said as she slid to the edge of her seat. "Take us
in, nice and easy and keep an eye on those two patrol ships."
The bridge of the HATHOR suddenly became absolutely quiet as the ship
crossed over into Cardassian space without any incident.
"No reaction from the Cardassians," Uxtar reported. "I doubt they know
we are here."
"Very well, Ens. Kea please inform the ANUBIS that we are proceeding to
SURIAL III as planned," the CO ordered while sliding back into a more
comfortable position in her seat.
With apparently nothing standing in their way, the HATHOR continued on
its journey, the crew now more on edge than ever before knowing that
they would be spending the next several days inside enemy space while
the Cardassian dealt with a still unknown problem.
### 2006 post #030
Stardate: 60340.2100
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
Chief Security Officer
USS HATHOR
