Shifts, Suggestions And Attacks...
'The time is now oh seven thirty. This is your scheduled wake up time' the computer repeated it several times before Jae was awake enough to cancel it out. Stretching out her arms and legs, she yawned and got out of bed before padding over to the sonic shower and letting it clean her skin and massage it at the same time. After she had dressed in her Operations gold uniform, she went out to the communal living room where she saw McKnight working on a PADD.
"Morning... Tess is on duty up on the Bridge if you were looking for her" she said.
"I just got up"
"I would never have guessed" and Jae shot her a dirty look before crossing over to the replicator.
"French toast, coffee, orange juice and a plate of toast" she ordered.
'Please state desired coffee temperature'
"Um, hot?" and the replicator hummed as it created Jae's breakfast.
"Forgot to to mention that these replicators are very fussy about the way you order food and drink" McKnight said. "I suppose that is what you get for being on the most advanced ship in the fleet. Of course, I wouldn't change it for a thing... I am surprised that I got to be on this ship at all"
"Why?" Jae asked as she attacked her breakfast.
"I graduated at the middle of my group, but I was told that I was to be assigned to the Enterprise at the request of Picard himself. From what he said to me, my results on the Kobayashi Maru test impressed him greatly. I kind of get the idea that the ship is crewed not by the best, but more along the lines of the ones who obey orders at all times but know when to break them and also to think outside the box. Did you take it?"
"I did, actually... I managed to get a draw"
"How the hell did you manage that?"
"I knew my warp core would work even in a overload, so I got the Cardassian ships to follow me, set the core to overload, dumped it and detonated the thing once I was clear. Went back for the freighter's crew and passengers before limping out of Cardassian space on impulse power only" Jae returned to her breakfast.
"Impressive - I only managed a glorious defeat. What I did was fire a token salvo of fire before surrendering to the Cardassians and offering myself as a prisoner if they allowed the crew to rescue the freighter"
"Some glorious defeat" Jae snorted. "I only did what I did because I do what needs to be done - at any cost"
"That's why you got here..." Pam told her. "Picard doesn't just want officers that follow the rules and be occasionally creative, he wants officers that do that and think outside the box and be willing to break the rules"
"Mmm..." Jae mulled this over in her mind. After finishing her breakfast, she picked up a few PADDs, checked her uniform and then headed off to Main Engineering. Privately, Jae preferred the older term of 'Engine Room'.
#
The Chief Engineer was, she decided, a little borderline insane. The moment she had reported to him, the man had been enthusiastic in his tour of the Engineering section from top to tail and showing her a few things that were not on the general specifications for a Galaxy class ship such as a bypass for the primary impulse reactors. If any of her instructors at the Academy had had it suggested, she was certain they would have exploding brains from the shock.
"Did you have any particular specialty in Engineering, Ensign?" Commander LaForge asked Jae. "Ensign?" he repeated when she didn't reply.
"Sorry, Sir... I was just thinking about how I managed to get on the flagship right out of the academy. I wouldn't say I had something I liked more than anything else, but I did enjoy scanning stuff and seeing why it wasn't working like it should do"
"I know that feeling well, Ensign" LaForge smiled in a way that reached his covered eyes. What had scored her bonus points in his view was that she had not had any shock when seeing his VISOR as most new recruits did when meeting him for the first time. Then he thought she had most likely seen more after the attack on Eagle. "I'll assign you to one of my diagnostic and repair teams for now and then we'll see how you go from there. I have to admit that its nice to see a smart person somebody who is personable and not somebody like Wesley Crusher"
"I've heard about him from Tess and Pam - neither of them seemed to like him. Would it be wrong to ask why?"
"He is the only son of the CMO and his dad was killed whilst on another ship commanded by Captain Picard. He didn't know that he was coming aboard and he really pissed him off - that kid is smart, sure, but he seriously needs to learn people skills"
"Worked the Helm, didn't he?"
"And just about everybody up the bloody wall... Now, about your skills"
"I did a bit of everything Sir, but I have honours in the sensory equipment and weapons" Jae glanced at the deck briefly.
"Alright, Ensign, I've got some work to do on the starboard midships sensor array - want to help?"
"Do I have a choice?" and LaForge blinked several times before bursting into laughter.
"Ensign, I think you are going to do just fine here - let's get going" and they collected tools and some spare parts before leaving Engineering.
#
The work ended up lasting the entire duty shift and Jae returned all of the equipment to the stores before heading for a turbolift. So caught up in her thoughts was she that the new officer ran straight into another person.
"Are you injured, Ensign...?" the voice stopped.
"Jae - Ensign Tracee Jae, Commander"
"Greetings, Ensign Jae" the imposing figure of Lieutenant Commander Data stood over Jae as she rubbed her head.
"Hello, Sir. I seem to be alright. I think the only thing I damaged was my pride".
"I would suggest going to Sickbay, but my human friends tell me there is no cure for an injured pride" Data said.
"Klingons believe you restore it by running into a great battle" Jae replied.
"If you subscribe to that theory, Ensign, I can certainly speak to the Captain for you"
"Er, no thank you, Sir" Jae stammered. "Do you know where I can get a drink around here?"
"The replicators can be programed to provide you with a wide range of beverages" Data replied.
"I meant an alcoholic drink, Sir. I swore an oath to an old friend that I would have a real beer when I did my first ever duty shift"
"That is a strange oath, Ensign... Ten-Forward is the answer you seek. If I may" he added, "What was the basis of the oath?"
"My best friend died in my arms on the Eagle, Sir, and before they died I promised I would drink a real beer after my first duty shift in their honour"
"Interesting" Data said. "I must be about my duties, good day Ensign" and Data walked off.
"Interesting man" Jae thought. She watched him as he went around the corner before she went to the nearest turbolift.
#
Ten-Forward was, Jae thought, better than what she had expected. Crewmembers mingled between ranks and with civilians and it seemed to be run by a woman wearing a hat large enough to take a small shuttlecraft.
"New face I see" the woman in the massive hat spoke softly to her. Jae got the sudden impression this was a woman she could trust every secret she had with.
"Graduated from the Academy two months ago" Jae replied. "I had a month of leave and then hitchhiked on transports and starships just to get here. I'm Ensign Tracee Jae - I'm assigned to Engineering and Security"
"I'm Guinan... I tend bar and I listen"
"Pleased to meet you, Ma'am. Could I have a real alcoholic beer if you have one?"
"Coming right up" Guinan told her. "And you don't have to call me Ma'am... We don't tend to use ranks around here and I am not really part of the crew - well, Starfleet crew anyway"
"I thought the ship was manned by Starfleet crewmembers – except those civilian specialists and some families"
"When the Captain found there was going to be a crew lounge, he got an exception for me to come aboard and run it"
"You know Captain Picard?" Jae asked in wonderment.
"Oh yes" Guinan smiled to herself fondly, "But that is a story for another time. For now, though, tell me all about yourself" and Jae found herself telling Guinan everything about the attack on the Eagle, how she managed to save the crippled ship and bring it back under its own power and helm.
"It took a direct order and a sedative to get me to leave the Bridge" Jae finished her tale.
"That's like Picard" Guinan said. "When he lost the Stargazer, he had to be prised from his command chair because he didn't want to leave his ship unmanned when there was a chance they could be rescued. From what he told me, he was the last to get off before she drifted off"
"I saw her in the fleet museum" Jae said. "I was part of the repair and refit crew in exchange for extra credit at the Academy. I thought Eagle was bad, but how the hell Stargazer was operational after all the fire damage and half destroyed decks, I will never know"
"It is something I wonder myself, Ensign" Picard's voice made Jae jump to her feet, but the Captain waved her back to her seat. "At ease… I'm off duty and came here for a quiet drink, but if I am disturbing you…?"
"No, Sir. I was talking to Guinan. I have only known her since I walked in here, but its like I have known her all my life"
"I know what you mean" Picard smiled in a way that told Jae there was a good story behind the comment. "A pint of the usual, please, Guinan"
"Already here, Captain" the other woman placed a foamed topped beer on a coaster in front of Picard.
"So, Ensign, how did you find your first duty shift?"
"It was… interesting, Sir. I felt intimidated by some of the other crew members, but I guess that's just because I'm the new person on the block"
"I remember my first ever shift on a ship called the Cassandra. It was a small research vessel that seemed to be always in demand for one thing or another… The first time I took the Conn, the entire navigational system went down – I was frightened that I had done something wrong" Picard swigged his beer. "Turned out there was an error in the master navigation controls. From what I was told at the investigation afterwards, if I had waited for orders instead of doing what I did and reversing the engines to come to a stop, we'd have flown into the local sun – following my instincts and going against orders saved the ship. Oddly, after that, I was never scared again"
"I'm scared of blowing up the ship" Jae confessed.
"One newly qualified Ensign blowing up the flagship?" Picard chuckled. "I don't think that is going to happen"
"Two words, Captain" Guinan said, "Wesley Crusher" and Picard frowned at her before finishing his drink.
"If there is one piece of advice, Ensign, that I can give you, it is this" Picard said as he stood, "Stand to your duty, trust your instincts, trust your shipmates and, above all, trust yourself to do the right thing" he gave a curt nod and left Ten-Forward.
"Is he always like that?" Jae asked.
"He has the heart of an explorer and the soul of a poet" the other woman replied. "Now, would you like another…?"
#
Months passed and Jae quickly became a respected member of the crew with citations in her record for intelligence and quick thinking. One day, she was working on the aft stations monitoring sensor readings and relaying it down to the science labs as they did examinations of radioactivity put out by debris of a long ago destroyed planet. Although it was a science mission, she'd been assigned to monitor the whole thing from the bridge and make adjustments in the sensor arrays as much as possible. The primary work load for the sensors was more to do with mapping the area than anything else. Jae was just about to transfer to another grid when something caught her attention and she cancelled the automatic transfer and focused on a small section of asteroid debris. It seemed to be a series of beeps and pulses in the style of an old fashioned distress call.
"Ship in distress… Distress call bearing 211 mark 61!" Jae called out loudly as per Picard's standing orders. "Picking up a distress call bearing 211 mark 61. Vessel appears to be without power and is stationary" Picard and Commander Riker walked around the horseshoe console and over to her position to look at her readings.
"Report, Ensign Jae" Riker said curtly.
"Sir, I was monitoring the efforts of the science teams mapping this area of space, transferring power and sensors when needed. I was doing a little bit of a review of the incoming data out of interest when I noticed a strange signal"
"Why didn't you alert us then?"
"Due to the radiation coming from the planetary debris and the pulsar in the next sector, I was uncertain and wanted to be sure before calling out" Jae replied. "You may remember, Commander, that that is the Captain's standing orders"
"You have done well, Ensign" Picard said kindly. "Transfer your data to the Helm and Ops but continue to monitor the situation until your relief gets here"
"Aye" and, with a pleased smile on her face, Jae turned back to her station and continued to work until her shift relief arrived. She was just about to walk inside the aft port turbolift when Riker called to her.
"Ensign, make a full report about what you discovered… It may not be much, but it will certainly help us"
"Aye, Commander" and she stepped inside.
#
"… so I shouted it out" Jae told her two cabin mates and best friends.
"It can't be too big of an emergency as there hasn't been an announcement yet" Tess told her. "Could you tell who sent it?"
"No" Jae shook her head as she sipped her drink. "I ran it through the translator, but nothing seemed to be match what was in the database" and was about to say more when the lights flickered off and then back on again several times before an alarm sounded.
RED ALERT – ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS!
"In the middle of a debris field?" Pamela groaned as she zipped up her uniform jacket and lead the way out into the corridor. The trio were just about to enter a turbolift when a forcefield snapped into place and the computer gave a warning of radiation in their section and that they should evacuate.
"How can we do that when you just put up a forcefield?" Jae asked.
"Let's get to a Jefferies Tube" McKnight said as she started to jog down the corridor.
"Does this place even have anything that could cause radiation?" Allenby looked at other crewmembers who seemed to have trouble getting off their deck. "We're going to try a crawlspace to go up one level" she said helpfully and Jae suddenly found herself in the lead of seven crewmen, four officers and a sort of ginger cat carrying a knitted mouse in its mouth.
"This is going to take forever" she declared.
"I know" Allenby said. "For a start, that cat can't climb the ladder"
#
"You took your time, Ensign" LaForge spoke as Jae hurried into Engineering.
"Sorry, Sir – the computer detected a radiation surge on my deck and blocked off the turbolifts. We did try raising other decks, but all we could get was the Bridge"
"Fair enough" the engineer was not about to argue the point when he had other things to worry about. "I want you to join the team running tests on the warp and impulse drives. We tried to get away from this, but none of the engines seemed to provide any propulsion – just increased the radiation We've also discovered whatever is holding us here is draining all of our power"
"How long do we have?" Jae asked as she grabbed a nearby toolkit.
"Three hours with the engines idling, maybe another half an hour with battery systems and then the radiation will get fatal in 23 minutes. Start with the team looking over the impulse manifolds"
"Aye, Si–" Jae broke off. Something was coming to her mind from a half remembered combination of science lessons and piloting.
"Ensign?"
"You said that nothing worked when the engines were pushed to maximum, right?"
"Yeah"
"So why not do the opposite? Imagine a ball at the top of a hill – all you have to do is push it gently and it rolls down and picks up speed as it goes" and Jae watched as LaForge blinked several times and thought it over.
"DeSalle, you are in charge until I get back – Ensign, with me" and the Chief Engineer dragged a startled Jae behind him.
# # # # #
"… but it is all we have to work with, Captain. I could run holodeck simulations for an hour or two but even then we might not do it fully"
"How did you come up with this, Ensign?" Picard asked. Most of the senior officers were on the Bridge – darkened to save power. Through the darkness, she could see Tess Allenby sitting at Helm.
"When Commander LaForge said that red lining the engines didn't work, I remember a little trick we used at the Academy – use the minimum you can do"
"That would seem to be a contradiction" Data spoke from the back of the group.
"But a sensible idea" Worf offered his opinion.
"Indeed" Picard agreed. "Worf, Is there any indication of a weakness in a specific part of the field?"
"Checking" the Klingon turned to his console and played with the controls. "Nothing substantial, Captain"
"So there is something?"
"Well, there is a point-one percent dip in the strength of the radiation field at 21 mark 8 by 42 mark 0"
"Then that is where we will go" Picard decided. "Geordi, I want you to fire all of the power through the impulse engines for a brief second. Ensign Jae, you will assist him"
"Aye, Captain"
"Sir" Jae nodded. Inside her mind, the woman was hoping her plan would work. After all that she had been through, she'd rather not be the one to kill them all with increased radiation. Ideally, she would not die at all, but she knew such risks came with being a member of Starfleet.
"Sir, if you would like me to do it, I could assume piloting controls" Data spoke as he returned to his station. "As you know, I can make adjustments faster than any human"
"That will not be necessary, Mister Data"
"With all due respect" Allenby spoke quietly, "I am this ship's Helmsman and only I control its destiny right now"
"Prepare to fire the engines in one burst" Picard ordered. "Ensign Allenby, set a course of 21 mark 8 and prepare to engage manoeuvring thrusters"
"Aye, Sir, course plotted and laid in" Allenby said.
"We're ready up here, Captain. As soon as we disengage the impulse drive, we'll transfer its power output to the shields" LaForge said.
WARNING – RADIATION EXPOSURE… FATAL LEVELS IN SEVEN MINUTES
"Computer, mute voice warnings" Riker ordered.
"Engage" and Tess tapped her controls and started the Enterprise moving into the asteroid field.
"Impulse engines are shut down, Captain. Speed is one hundred and fifty mph" she reported.
"No increase in radiation levels or energy drain" Data said.
"Shields draining, but at the same rate" Worf said.
"Transferring impulse reactor power to the shields" LaForge said.
"We've lost the port power conduits – attempting to get to secondary systems" Jae reported as a cautionary alarm sounded at her station. "Bypass is ineffective"
"Ensign Allenby, can you continue to move?" Picard turned to look at the woman seated at Helm as she moved them away from bits and pieces.
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Go ahead"
"Hold on to your ass!" and she fired the thrusters harder and aimed at the biggest piece of former planet she could see. Just as they were about to hit, she flipped the stern of the Enterprise up, followed by the saucer in a complete loop over the top and they were out of the field. "We hope you enjoyed Enterprise Airlines and we hope you had a pleasant flight. Please keep seated until the starship comes to a complete halt"
"Geordi, I want you to run a complete check of our systems" Picard rose from his chair and stared at the debris field. "Data, is there any way we could get the Promellian vessel out?"
"No, Sir" Data spoke softly. "The radiation and power drain is causing too much of an affect – sending in another starship would be hazardous"
"That's what I thought" said Picard. "Mr Worf, arm the forward torpedo bays and set for a high yield impact"
"Aye" a few beeps followed. "Torpedoes are armed and ready for launch, Sir"
"Understood… Attention on deck!" and the crew on the Bridge snapped to attention – barring Allenby who was bringing the ship around and into position. Without a word, Worf fired a full spread of torpedoes that destroyed the Promellian ship and the surrounding planetary asteroid debris.
"Ensign, set course for Starbase 12" Riker ordered after checking a chart.
"Course plotted"
"Warp 3, engage" Picard made his customary shooting action.
"Sorry, Captain, but the best I can manage is Warp 1 until the drive has been cleared" Allenby replied.
"Make best possible speed then" Picard ordered. "And… And get the shift that should have been here to take over"
# # # # #
It took them four days before they reached the Starbase where the Captain gave the entire crew some short leave whilst repairs and a small refit was carried out. Jae, Tess and Pamela had booked time in the local spa followed by a weekend looking around the planet and buying a few trinkets for their shared quarters.
"I wonder where we'll be working next" said Jae.
"Space battles" said Tess as she sipped the cocktail on her beach chair.
"Oh, I'd much rather we do some nice and quiet cargo runs" Pamela replied from Jae's other side.
"I just want to get back into space" Jae told them.
"You've been on the flagship of the federation for nearly a year now… Haven't you come off the high?" Tess giggled.
"Nope" Jae replied. "After we get back out there, I'm going to do a few shifts at the Ops console every now and again"
"Well you are assigned to the Operations division" Pamela said as she picked up a book and started to read it. Unlike most people, McKnight was of the opinion that you could not relax and read a book on a beach if it was on a PADD – it had to be a paper copy.
"Imagine if things went really wrong and there was a disaster that meant we had to control the ship"
"God would never allow that to happen" Tess said. Although not as devout as some, she had permission from Picard to wear a small Catholic cross under her uniform jacket as a symbol of her faith. In her formal application, she'd noted that Picard had allowed such things to be worn on duty such as Worf's Klingon sash, Vulcan earrings and Councillor Troi's dresses.
"Enterprise to shore leave parties. There has been a general order given for the evacuation of Starbase 12. By order of Captain Picard, all leave has been cancelled and crewmembers are ordered to return to the ship" the call came over their comm badges.
"Are they serious?" Jae groaned as she reached down to her towel where the badge lay. "This is Ensign Jae – confirm orders, Enterprise"
"Orders confirmed"
"Acknowledged, out" she tapped the badge to close the link. "Looks like we're getting out of here"
"I wonder what is going on" McKnight said as she rose from her chair and began to gather her things.
"I don't know, but it seems to me as if the universe really hates us" Allenby replied. "I wonder where we will go because we're due some mandatory rest leave"
"Picard to Ensign Allenby"
"Go ahead"
"Ensign, are you able to be beamed aboard at this time?" Picard's voice came over her own badge.
"I'm not in uniform, Captain, but I can beam aboard in ten seconds" Tess quickly pulled on a pair of loose trousers over her swimsuit. "Ensigns Jae and McKnight are with me"
"Prepare to beam aboard. Picard, out" and, ten seconds later, the trio were beamed directly to the Bridge. "Tess, take the Helm, Set a course of 123 mark 32 and engage at Warp 7" and Allenby blinked for a second at the use of her first name, nodded and sat at the helm and carried out the orders.
"Ensign Jae. Ensign McKnight. Take the aft stations and scan the vessel directly in front of us. I want to know what its status is, how many are aboard and most likely heading" Picard gave them both instructions as Allenby took the Enterprise into warp. "Given the circumstances, I'll overlook the fact you are all out of uniform" he gestured at the three of them but especially McKnight who was still in her old style bikini. "If you'd like, you can put whatever else you have in your bag on in my ready room"
"Thank you, Sir" and McKnight hurried away.
"Sir, I have a ship bearing 120 mark 0" Jae reported, reaching into her bag with one hand and pulling out a civilian jacket to put around her. "I read it as a small vessel – Apollo class"
"Can you tell how many people are aboard?"
"No sir. They appear to be using some kind of magnetic shield"
"Very well" Picard said. "Ensign, you have had training on the tactical console from Lieutenant Commander Worf?"
"A little bit, Sir, but I was going to be fully taught after the refit and shore leave" Jae said as she did up the civilian jacket.
"Well we left in somewhat of a hurry" Picard replied, not turning to look at her. "We left most of the crew behind when we went chasing after whoever stole that ship. Ensign, tie in the sensors to the tactical console and work there"
"Where do you want me, Sir?" McKnight asked as she stepped out of Picard's ready room in a light purple swim cover.
"Assume the Ops station. I want you and Ensign Jae to work on finding a way to get around their shielding so we can find out what their numbers are"
"Aye, Sir"
"Picard to Security"
"Security – Lieutenant Foster"
"Form a boarding party and report to the transporter rooms"
"Aye"
"We're about to enter weapons range, Sir" Allenby reported.
"Slow us enough to put us slightly above them and astern"
"Aye"
"Ensign Jae, send a message on an open channel – order them to heave to and prepare to be boarded"
"I can't get through, Captain. The magnetic field around them is blocking communications"
"Then we'll do it the old fashioned way"
"Aye" and Jae powered the phasers, acquired a target and fired – several feet over their bow.
"Sir, they are attempting to evade" Tess spoke up.
"Stay with them, Ensign"
"Aye"
"Arm torpedoes and lock onto their warp drive"
"Getting target" Jae replied.
"Sir, I'm getting a message" McKnight reported.
"Open a channel" Picard ordered.
"Tetley to Enterprise"
"This is Captain Picard of the Enterprise. You are ordered to drop all shields and come to a complete halt"
"That is not really part of the exercise, Captain"
"What exercise? To who am I speaking?"
"Commander Rabb, Sir. We were given orders by Admiral Tolok to make it look like we had stolen something and were really terrorists. Radio silence was ordered, but we knew something was up when you locked torpedoes on us"
"Commander Rabb, we were never given orders to take part in any exercise. We were sent after you because we'd been informed you had placed a bomb on the Starbase and hijacked your vessel in order to get away"
"Captain, I swear on my honour as a Starfleet officer that I have done no such thing. Whatever is happening, it was not of my making"
"Sir!" McKnight shouted out.
"Yes, Ensign?" Picard looked over to her.
"I am reading a massive disturbance in the region around Starbase 12. Multiple distress calls, but nothing coming from the Starbase itself"
"Rabb, follow us back at your top speed. Ensign Allenby, set course back to the Starbase"
"Course plotted"
"Maximum warp speed – engage" Picard made the shooting motion he was well known for. "Ensign Jae, sound General Quarters. Bridge to Sickbay"
"Sickbay"
"Be ready to take on injured persons of unknown degrees"
"Aye"
"Ensign McKnight, see if you can raise Commander Riker. Once you have done that, get me Starfleet Command"
"Ay-" McKnight broke off as something started beeping on the console before her. "Incoming message on the emergency frequency – Code 47"
"Confirm that"
"Confirmed"
"I'll take it in my Ready Room. Ensign Allenby, maintain course and speed until we arrive and then start transferring the injured aboard. You have the Bridge" and Picard hurried into his room. He came back out a few minutes later looking confused, concerned and somewhat frightened. "Ensign, plot a course to Dytallix B – maximum velocity possible. Picard to Sickbay"
"Sickbay"
"Report to the transport rooms to beam down with your supplies. We have been called away to an urgent matter to be labelled top secret. Transport Chief, be ready to beam medical teams and supplies down and the remaining crew back up – Bridge out"
"Coming up to Starbase 12 in three minutes" Allenby said.
"Slow to impulse" Picard ordered as he took his seat and gazed deeply at the viewscreen. "And pray God it's not too late"