Genesis16

As Mansel was wondering why he didn’t think of that, Lieutenant Commander Fleury called from Engineering. “Why did we come to a full stop?” he asked. “Are we there?”

“No,” responded Mansel in his chair. “Something unexpected just popped up.”

“Unexpected? Like what?”

“Like the fact that the warp signature has totally ended.”

“That’s weird,” commented Fleury from the communications post he was standing at in Engineering. “I’ve never heard of a signature ending like that. That makes no sense. What kind of ship can do that?”

“No ship that I know of,” said Mansel. “There’s some sort of explanation behind all this. We’ll figure it out.”

“I’m sure you will, Captain. Fleury out.”

As Mansel cut his communications with Fleury, he noticed that the bridge crew was staring at him, including Commander Vaughn. They were waiting for orders. From him. Mansel sighed; he decided that this whole Captain thing was suddenly not what he wanted to do for the next twenty years. It was too late now. He had to stick with it for seven years, at least.

“Commander Vaughn, Lieutenant Commander Broadaway, come with me to Stellarcartography. We’re going to do some plotting.”

As the three members of the bridge rose out of their seats to head towards the turbolift, Vaughn asked, “who’s going to be in control of the bridge?”

Mansel winced; another thing he’d forgotten. Taking a quick scan around the bridge, he said “Lieutenant Commander Lamb, you have control of the bridge until I get back.”

“Aye, sir.” Lamb left his own post at Tactical and sat in Mansel’s center seat, getting comfortable as the acting bridge commander for the moment. He hoped they’d be gone a long time so he could relax in Mansel’s soft plush chair.

At Stellarcartography, Mansel, Vaughn, and Broadaway stood in front of a large map of the current system they were in. In a red line, K’Tesh’s known route had been drawn with unerring accuracy, cut off at the very end, much like the actual warp signature.

“What could K’Tesh hope to gain from kidnapping an Ambassador?” Mansel asked, more to himself than to the other two men standing there.

Vaughn answered his question. “Bargaining chips. He’s in a position right now to demand a lot of stuff. With Ambassador Wilson in his possession, he has the upper hand. I’m sure that by now the UNSF knows. I’m just glad they haven’t gone public yet.”

“Do you think they’ll send someone to go get him?” Mansel asked, suddenly worried that they might be interfering with some Special Operations plan.

Commander Vaughn shrugged. “I’m not sure, sir. They’ve most likely noted our course change and have evaluated that we’re on the trail.”

Mansel nodded. “Good point.” He returned to looking at the map. “Computer, plot a possible trajectory that K’Tesh might’ve taken. Take into account his previous trajectory.”

After a few seconds of waiting the line designating K’Tesh’s course picked up where it had left off. It wove around planets and nebulas, flying through the simulated solar system. It came close to and passed a few different planets, then, to the surprise of the three men in the room, passed directly through a planet.

“Enhance grid nine-A,” ordered Commander Vaughn. The computer grid locked in on the appropriate grid and magnified it fifty times.

'What planet is that?” Lieutenant Commander Broadaway asked from behind the Captain and the executive officer.

“Ralgia Five,” said Mansel, looking at the screen. “Any particular reasons that K’Tesh would choose that planet?”

Vaughn shook his head. “No reason, sir. He has no ties to Ralgia Five, or any planet in the Ralgia System.” He glanced at Broadaway and looked at Mansel. “Maybe that’s why he chose it. Nobody would think to look there if he has no relation to the planet.”

Mansel looked at the planet enlarged on the screen. A moon that was almost as large as the planet itself eclipsed its green surface. It was a few kilometers off the tail end of a nebula, which would be easy for K’Tesh for hide in. Mansel narrowed his eyes as he considered the best approach for the Explorer.

“Thinking of a way to come without ringing the doorbell?” Vaughn asked.

Mansel nodded. “Yeah. We might could come in under the protection of the planet at this point here.” the Captain pointed to a spot on the gigantic map, looking at Vaughn for confirmation.

Mansel’s Executive Officer nodded. “That would be the best approach. Broadaway, what do you think? You fly this ship. What’s your approach to the situation?”

After staring at the screen for several seconds, Broadaway nodded and softly said, “I think that’s the best place to come in.”