 |
Forgot my password.
COMMAND
STAFF
SIM
LISTING
SiM
REPS
RULES &
REGS
AWARDS
UNIFORMS
TRIBUTE
SP LINKS
ALIEN RACES
SP Awards
JOIN SP
CHAT
Message Boards
RIHANNSU
DICTIONARY
You are visitor #
Our Message Boards
Level 4
Message #:2117
Time to look for the author...*** "New Intelligence" |
Captain Rayne McCloud and Vice Admiral Quenton Mallory followed Captain Lukas Fyrstk away from the transporter room, down a corridor toward an office. Rayne could not help but observe how utilitarian the corridor looked. It did not have the calm tones on the walls, as most starbases did. The sound of their footfalls echoed down the corridor, as there was no carpeting.
Lukas stopped in front of one of the doors, and rang the chime. The door slid open, and the three men entered.
Sitting behind the desk was Admiral Cassandra Armstrong. Her hair was now fully grey, and she bore a tired look, but there was still some fire in those eyes of hers.
"Lukas," she greeted Captain Fyrstk. Her eyes went to Rayne and a hint of recognition passed through them. She was visibly shaken when her gaze went to Mallory. "Quenton," she said, softly.
"Not quite the 'Quenton,' you might have known," Mallory said to her, easily, "but, yes. It is always a pleasure to see you, Cass."
Cassandra recovered quickly, but there was still... something held in her eyes for the other admiral. "She looked back to Lukas. "Congratulations on that rescue. I know you were concerned about your father and mother."
"Ah was," Fyrstk agreed, "aind Ah really have to pass credit onto Captain McCloud and his tahmely arrahval."
Armstrong glanced back to Rayne, and he noticed she couldn't help but give Quenton another quick glance. "That was a timely rescue. How fortunate you happened upon our universe's Eagle." She sounded a bit skeptical.
"We did not just happen upon them, Admiral," McCloud informed her. "We were out at Pasteur Station, and my OPS officer was bouncing beams off different comms buoys, when she received Captain Fyrstk's call for help."
Cass narrowed her eyes. "Pasteur Station, you say?" She shook her head. "There is no way you could have made it from Pasteur in any kind of time to assist. At maximum warp it would take almost a week."
"Quite true," McCloud allowed, "but, well, let's just say we have another method of travel."
"Do tell, Captain," Armstrong said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'll save the captain of any dangers of violating the Prime Directive," Mallory spoke up. "It's quantum slip stream, Cass. In our universe, we have successfully developed it, and it is in most of our starships now."
"That was the energy mah scahence officer detected just before y'all arrahved on the scene," Fyrstk commented.
Rayne nodded. "That was us."
"Are you willing to share?" Armstrong asked, looking between McCloud and Mallory.
"I find it hard to believe you don't already have schematics, Cass," Mallory said.
She narrowed her eyes. "Research and development have not, exactly been our strong suit as of late."
"It seems any tahme we get a chance to work on some new development, the Tahphon Pact gets wind of it, and destroys whatever we are working on," Fyrstk informed them. "So trahying to build anything new has been almost impossible."
"They do not even give us time to think, sometimes," Armstrong said a bit wistfully. Then focus came back to her eyes. She looked, again, between McCloud and Mallory. "Why are you in this universe?"
"We're searching for the Endeavor of our universe," Mallory answered.
"Captain Hunter's ship," Armstrong said thoughtfully. "I don't know if it was yours, or ours, but it was lost in the battle for Earth."
"We can certainly scan the debris," Mallory commented.
Armstrong nodded. "Now, about those schematics?" She offered up a sly smile.
"You are a Starfleet admiral," McCloud said. "You could order us to turn over the data. It would be in the interest of the Federation."
"Or what we are trying to rebuild as the Federation," Armstrong let out. "You would follow my orders, Captain McCloud?"
"To as far as my conscience would allow me, Admiral," McCloud answered honestly.
Cass nodded. "I can accept that, Captain," she said. She looked down, holding a pensive expression.
"Cass?" Mallory questioned. "What are you holding back? We may not be from the same universe, but I still recognize that look in your eyes."
The admiral lifted her head. She exchanged a look with Quenton, then gave a subtle nod. "I've just received intelligence. There's a base, in Tholian territory. They're holding at least three starships, and their crews."
"Cass," Fyrstk said softly. "We're in no condition to mount any offensive against a Pact base."
Rayne and Quenton exchanged a look. The captain then looked to Armstrong. "Is there a possibility the Endeavor could be there?"
Cassandra looked between Rayne and Quenton. She sighed. "I'd honestly like to say, 'yes, a definite possibility,' but... I don't know. I don't even know if there is a base. This could all be a trap to lure whatever forces we can muster, get them all in one place and finally do us in."
Rayne offered a small smile. "I might have the answer to that, Admiral."
###
