Chapter 1: Time – year 2377, stardate 55051.3
Location – Federation/Romulan Boarder edge, Hydrae Sector
"No change Commander." Mike Abney said from the operations console beside the helmsman, Sara Chen. Commander Wellington, seated in the center chair nodded to operations then frowned.
"Hold our patrolling patterns Ensign, Mike maintain sensor sweeps of the area, this might not be the only one out here." The Commander confidently ordered.
Ensign Chen nodded and kept the ship on course to their next patrolling checkpoint while Ensign Abney continued scanning for anything that resembles a cloaked ship.
Wellington sat back a little in to his chair, rubbing his temples. It has been 17 hours since they discovered this lone Warbird patrolling the area the Romulans were looking for something or just appeared to be. Wellington thought about any possible threat this Warbird can be, however he couldn't find any, they had just as much right to be here as they were.
The computer at helm beeped, Sara ran her fingers across her board and looked back at the Commander. Mike's console beeped similar and he too turned to look at the commander.
"Sir, the Warbird has cloaked." Wellington raised a brow then nodded he turned to Saavon at the science stations. "Full sensorsweep please Lieutenant." He ordered.
"Aye sir." The rigid cold voice from the Vulcan responded to the Commander's request.
The Eclipse cruised past her check point then turned to the left and proceeded to the next check point at half impulse, her movement were graceful even for a Nebula class ship, a massive nearly 500 meters in length. The saucer section sat on a stardrive section but with out the 'neck' part as to its Galaxy class counterparts.
The scan results came in. "I cannot detect any cloaked ships or distortions near the Warbird's last known location."
Wellington scratched his face and nodded. "That means they're cloaked and probably looking at us r – " A green mass decloaked far to the left on the main screen, its surprising appearance stunned even Wellington. "I wonder what they're up to." He said to no one in particular.
"They're cloaking again." Mike reported. "And decloaking again." Everyone on the bridge looked at one another with questions. Wellington frowned and slumped in the center chair. "Mike, what's with them?"
The Ensign tapped brought up a renewed sensor scan every time the Warbird cloaked and decloaked and placed them in a cross section on a side of the main viewer. "It appears that their singularity core is interfering with their Cloaking device."
"And how is that possible?" He looked around for answers but no one replied. "All right then, lets give them a few hours if they're really desperate for a Federation act now." Mike smirked at the comment and the rest give their affirmatives to the order. "And Mike, record how many times that Warbird cloaks and decloaks, I'm just curious." He grinned and the Ensign nodded.
Ensign Chen tapped and regulated the ship's course again then reported. "We just passed another check point we have 4 more left this should take about 10 minutes." Wellington nodded.
"Maintain course Ensign I'm going to set up a brief discussion. Saavon, you have the bridge." The Commander nodded to the bridge crew and walked into the Turbo Lift.
Lieutenant Saavon left her science console and stood by the center chair not sitting down. There was something on her mind and she was going to find out soon.
"Deck 4." Commander Wellington said to the computer then tapped upon his combadge. "Commander Wellington to holodeck 3, Captain are you there?"
A moment later a voice responded. "Oh hello Lewis, something on your mind?" Wellington scratched his face again.
"Yes sir, the Warbird we were monitoring 17 hours ago is undergoing some strange malfunctions with its cloaking device, its just cloaking and decloaking for no apparent reason. Oh, and sorry if I bothered you."
"Its quite all right Commander," The Captain's voice became more like a Captain in an instant. "I see our current situation, wake up Commander Barton and set up a meeting ASAP."
"Yes sir, meet you there in a minute." Wellington said and closed communications, the doors to the Turbo Lift opened and he stepped out.
At deck 8 holodeck 3, Captain Frank Sutherland sighed and looked up. "Computer save and end program. Save first." The computer beeped its confirmation then the facsimile of an old mystical space ship disappeared in a flash. He stepped out and walked towards the nearest turbo lift.
"Being on that old ship was really something." The middle-aged captain muttered after entering the turbo lift. "Deck 2." He said. He was sure that this could have waited for another hour or so but he was curious about the Romulan Warbird and his curiosity just couldn't wait. He never had close up encounters with Romulan battle ships before and he wasn't about to give up his chance.
The turbo lift opened with a light swoosh and the Captain stepped out and took a seat in the conference room.
Max Barton was snoring soundly oblivious to his surroundings not even the ship it self was in his mind now. All he could think of now was getting some rest. He deserved, after a week of political negotiations with several Ferengi businessmen he could finally relax and think about something better than tariffs, taxes and gold pressed Latium, like food. Max muttered something in his sleep then murmured, still oblivious to the world not even knowing that Commander Wellington has entered that now was staring at him in the face.
"Mom, more soup and potato salad please. Mmm that is delicious. Oh sure I would enjoy some of that." Wellington scratched his face again doing something to resist laughing. He gently tapped on his alarm clock panel and set it for one minute. He was being nice, considering the fact the meeting was going to happen in less than 4 minutes.
Tick tock tick tock. The time approached 1 minute then the panel rang a high-pitched ring. Max's eyes burst open and got up quickly, bumping his head into Wellington's in the process. Both of them staggered to find their vision then Wellington stumbled to the panel and turned the alarm off.
"Ouch," Wellington said silently. "Sorry about that Max." Commander Barton got out his uniform and rubbed his forehead rapidly. "Ouch indeed genius, so you broke into my quarters again. What's the excuse this time?" Wellington chuckled and pointed out the window. A massive green bulk appeared then disappeared.
"Well. We're near the Romulan neutral zone and that does look like a Warbird, and its cloaking and decloaking. That's what I woke you up for. Come on get dressed, the meeting is starting in 3 and a half minutes." Wellington grinned then walked out of the door.
Barton was faster than Wellington had estimated the second officer bolted out of his quarters and ran after Wellington and eventually catching up to him. "So we're dealing with Romulans now. Fun." He mused while putting on his shoes. The man ran with out shoes.
The two of them entered the turbo lift. "Deck 2."
"Ok people settle down, Wellington go ahead." The Captain spoke and the crowd at the table calmed. Chief Engineer Jack Stiles looked up then turned on the panel behind Wellington then nodded.
Wellington tapped on a control panel beside the display panel, the Romulan Warbird's appearing and disappearing act was shown, the recorded images of a few minutes ago. "As you can see, we have two possibilities here. Either the Romulans have finally gone insane or they're seriously malfunctioning."
Chief Medical Officer John Welch gave Wellington and smirking nod. "I bet my money on the first." He mused and the table laughed. Wellington went on. "Now, operations scanned and reported that their singularity core is – " An explosion rocked the ship and blinding light pierced the conference room's windows. The officers at the meeting held up their hands to shield their eyes from the light. It only lasted a few seconds then the light vanished along with Romulan Warbird. The light and the ship were replaced by a small shock wave that threw the Eclipse off her course.
The meeting was halted by this event while every one stumbled and collided with various objects, PADDS, table, display panels and the door.
"Brace for impact." The ship wide communications warned. John held on to the table and shook his head. "Are they always this late in reporting things?" Wellington smashed into the door and shook his head back. "No but this is the grave yard shift, no one expected this." The doctor nodded then shrugged.
The shock wave dissipated and The Eclipse returned to its normal bearings and course. The officers in the conference room got up and shook off the bumps and bruises they had. "To the bridge." Captain Sutherland ordered and the officers turned to the turbo lift.
"I've got remains sir!" Mike Abney reported as his new scan results were fed into his console. Lieutenant Saavon stood by the young ensign. "Have you confirmed that it is from the Warbird?" The Vulcan's voice never stirred, still as cold as it was 6 minutes ago.
Ensign Abney nodded. "Yes sir, composition and energy signature confirms it is from the RES S'Kiok no survivors." Saavon nodded. The turbo lift doors opened Captain Sutherland walked out first then Commander Wellington then Lieutenant Commander Barton, followed by Stiles and Welch.
"Report Lieutenant Saavon." He asked then stood by the operations console. Saavon turned and nodded. "We've detected a large explosion, highly energetic then a shock wave and followed by large amount of gamma emissions. However we sustained minimal damage from the result."
The Captain nodded then sat down at the center chair and tapped on the communications button. "This is the captain, secure all stations, secure all stations, all active personnel resume normal duties." He switched the communications off then looked up. "Well, what happened to our Romulan friends?"
Mike took a deep breath and looked back. "They're gone sir, all of them. No survivors." Sutherland nodded. "Ensign, patch us in to Starbase 174 get me Admiral Dayton." Mike Abney nodded and turned to work on his board.
Wellington looked suspicious. "Was that really them? Where are the debris?" Lieutenant Saavon returned to her station and reported her findings. "Standard D'deridex class Warbird, hull composition confirmed, it's the Warbird sir, the remains of it. The energy signature is consistent with a Singularity Core explosion."
"So, the Romulans did nothing to save them selves?" John Welch remarked. The Captain looked up and nodded. "Or they didn't have time."
Wellington pondered then suggested. "We need permission to analyze that debris field sir." Captain nodded.
"But would they let us, they probably won't Romulans never let any one take a look at their secrets even if as of now its just space junk." The Captain said.
Ensign Abney turned. "Admiral Dayton, Starbase 174 is responding to our hails sir."
"Ah, good, on screen Ensign." Mike placed the image on the main viewer.
"So what's this Romulan crisis you're dragging me out of bed for Frank?" A man of his mid 40's said through his hands while rubbing his eyelids.
"The Warbird exploded, a singularity core breach. We got pictures." The Captain smirked then nodded to Ensign Abney to transmit them. "They were cloaking on and off for no reason minutes ago and they seem to be patrolling around for 17 hours. I don't know what their true motives are since they just blown up."
The Admiral yawned. "I see, you dragged me out of bed for this, oh geeze, Captain," Admiral Dayton paused and thought about something. "Do not enter the neutral zone, stay put I have to get this up with sector jag officer to see what we should do with diplomatic relations with the Romulans. Good night." The screen fizzed then revered back to space.
"All right you heard him people, I want scans and lots of them I want proof that debris are from the Romulans. Commander Barton, flex your diplomacy muscles and gather up a good argument in case the Romulans point fingers at us. Saavon, work with engineering and Operations, determine how that Warbird's Core detonated on its own. I want a report by morning. Thank you all. And now I'm going to bed." The Captain sheepishly stood up and walked towards the turbo lift and entered the door swooshed behind him.
Wellington looked around noting the people are busy working he turned to Doctor Welch. "What do you think?"
Welch shrugged his tired arms. "I still think they're paranoid and crazy. But not to this extent where they just spontaneously combust." Wellington nodded and sat into the center chair looking at the debris forming a field on the main viewer.
"All right, so the game begins."