The Migrating Field

Posted on Thu Jul 14th, 2016 @ 5:38am by Captain Charybdis MacGregor & Captain Patrick O'Connor

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Taking Chances
Location: USS Bonne Chance, Deck One, the Bridge
Timeline: 2265

Patrick returned to the bridge, finding most of the senior officers at their stations. He needed additional information, and it was going to have to come from science. He walked over to Charybdis, who was dutifully at her station going over a plethora of readings.

"Lieutenant, you said that you were reading an asteroid field nearby. Is it inside Federation territory?"

The shapely scientist did not look up from her viewer but flipped a switch which changed the overhead viewing panel to a survey map of the asteroid field showing the borderline, with an updated overlay. "Interestingly enough Captain, it is the dividing line... during the original survey and establishment of the border between Federation and Kolari space, this asteroid field was actually within Kolari space. however, in the intervening years it has migrated, as these things do, and the current coordinates place the borderline coordinates through what would essentially be considered the middle of the field."

"So in answer to your question sir," She said, straightening up and brushing her shoulder against his chest, "yes and no."

He nodded his head. He was formulating a plan of attack. "And I am correct that there is an Orion space station less than a light year from the border in the Korradi system, yes?"

"Yes Captain, you are quite correct," she replied, toggling a few switches on her station to pull the map back, wherein a red dot indicated Falchion Depot.

"In addition sir, we have been sweeping the area for a number of hours, and I have managed to track plasma exhausts and ion trails throughout this sector to one region... here." An overlay came up onscreen with a few switches thrown, and they all converged in one specific point in the asteroid field.

"I have narrowed the source to within 200 kilometers, sir." The Chief Science Officer paused to rub her temples with her fingers, then continued. "The asteroids surrounding the area contain high concentrations of certain meteoric metallic elements which are hampering my scanning efforts, but should we close the distance I should be able to pinpoint the exact location of what I believe to be the Nausicaan base."

He knew it had to be killing her to admit to him that she couldn't pinpoint the base. "Very good lieutenant." He looked at her for a moment, then bent over and spoke softly, with concern, "Are you feeling alright? You don't look yourself."

"Just a headache Captain... I am fit for duty, sir." She smiled and made eye contact with him, even though she kept her tone professional. They were on the bridge and on duty and she had to show him professional respect here more than anywhere... but he could recognize pain in her eyes.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "See the doctor first chance you get." He stood up, looking professional and made his way back to his command chair. "Lieutenant Andurean, notify Lieutenant Celes I will need her for an away mission in the morning as well as yourself. XO, you as well. Shuttlecraft Odin, 0600 tomorrow." He stood up and made for his ready room. "Mister Ak'Ahar, you have the bridge."

 

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