Wrath

Lieutenant Ontavia Patterson's house
12:09 Standard Earth Time (SET)
2186

"We're so glad you could stay with us, Captain," Lieutenant Ontavia Patterson's mom greeted Mansel as the Captain Mansel and Lieutenant Patterson sat on the couch. For the first time, the crew of the Explorer was on leave, one year of exploring the unknown down with six more left to go. If the next six years promised to be anything like the first, Mansel knew they were in for a rough ride.

Mansel and Patterson had arrived at Patterson's house a few days ago; the starship captain barely had time to sit down before Mrs. Patterson was all over him asking questions, making suggestions, dropping hints that her little Ontavia was single and readily avaliable. It took the combined efforts of Patterson and her father, a former EDF soldier, to calm her down.

It was approaching the end of thier leave, and Mansel had had spent two days with Lieutenant Patterson and her parents. He had spent the rest of the leave with his own parents, who were glad too see that he had survived his first year as a starship captain. Now, with two days left before they went out again, Mansel's communicator beeped loudly and insistently until he fished it out his pocket and thumbed the talk button.

"Mansel."

"Mansel, this is Vaughn. We got a situation."

Without even looking up, he knew that the other six eyes in the room were looking at him. Mansel quickly excused himself and headed into the kitchen.

"What's up, Terry?" Mansel asked, leaning against the sink.

"Seems like there's been some trouble at the boarder. Some Imperial ships got through out outer defense and are wreaking havock on UNSF installations. The 4th fleet is being assembled to go and deal with a situation in the Omicron Nebula."

"Omicron Nebula?" Mansel repeated. "What's there?"

"Don't know, Chief. Guess we'll find out when we get there."

"I take it this means our leave is being cut short?" Mansel asked, already wondering in UNSF cut leaves short.

Mansel could almost picture Vaughn's shrug on his end of the conversation. "I guess so," he stated. "We're being called back to the Explorer now."

"Have you rounded up everyone?"

"You and Lieutenant Patterson are the last."

"Thanks for putting us last, TJ. I'll be there in a few hours. Mansel out."

He turned to see Lieutenant Patterson leaning against the doorway. "Important?"

The Captain nodded. "Very. Get packed. Leave ends now."

Mansel apologized to Patterson's parents that he couldn't stay any longer; there was a situation that required his immediate attention. He bade both parents farewell, and was out the door in a flash.

USS Explorer, NCC-2753
15:13 Standard Earth Time (SET)
2186

"Everybody on?" Mansel asked Vaughn as he stepped out of the shuttle that landed in the Explorer's shuttle bay.

Commander Vaughn nodded as they strode to the nearest turbolift. "You're the last."

"Comforting. We all set to go?"

"The 4th fleet is fully assembled and wating on Space Control's permission."

"Good." They hopped in the turbolift and headed for the bridge. In a ways, Mansel was not happy that their leave had been cut short, but he was glad to be back on his ship. His ship. It gave him a good feeling. "How was your leave?" Mansel asked Vaughn as they whizzed to the brain of the ship.

The Executive Officer shrugged. "Not too bad," he said. "Got to visit the folks in the Phillipines. Packed with women and--" there, he was forced to stop as the lift halted and the doors parted to reveal the bridge of the Excelsior-class ship.

"Captain on the bridge," announced Lieutenant Hardy, who was the first to see them.

"At ease, at ease," Mansel said, striding over to Lieutenant Hardy's post. "Word from Space Control?

"Not yet sir."