Reporting to the Captain

Posted on Sunday 31 March 2019 @ 12:36 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Captain Melody Jones

Mission: The New Collective
Location: Transporter Room 1 / Marine gym 1
Timeline: Current
1614 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody and Cale materialized back onboard the Merlin. They were both out the door and on their way to see the Captain before the transporter chief could even blink.

Cale said, "We have to find the Captain fast, Mel. Computer, what's the location of Captain Barstow?"

"Captain Barstow is in Marine Gym 1, Commander," the computer replied and the two of them made their way out of the transporter room..

They exited the turbo lift walked briskly down the corridor. Entering the gym, the stood at the side of the track and waited for the Captain to come over to them. Melody half turned and whispered to Cale."That research station has a lot of classified material in it. I'm sure the last thing Starfleet wants is for it to go boom."

Cale was just as put off by the thought of the research station 'going boom' as the second officer put it. "I agree wholeheartedly, Mel. We need to take action and we need to do so now."

John was running laps in the Marine gym after everything that had happened. He was trying to clear his mind as well as spend a little time with Sierra, whom he'd felt like he just neglected for days. The little red haired girl was jogging along side her father dressed in a pair of shorts and a dark t-shirt while Barstow just had a pair of shorts with no shirt. As the 2 came around the track for the tenth time the Captain spotted his command team walk through the door. Sierra took off at full tilt toward the 2 and almost bowled through them with a smile, "Cale, Melody!" she greeted excitedly as John ran up behind them.

"We have something to discuss with you about the research station, Captain," Cale said after giving Sierra and hug and a pat on the head.

Melody smiled down at the Captains daughter. "Have you met Sansa yet? I'm sure she......." She stopped as she remembered that her daughter now looked 18 rather than 13. ".... She would love to meet you." She managed to finish before addressing Barstow.

"Captain, it appears that there was an unauthorized access to the station computer. The person in question was dressed like a Starfleet officer and had the correct security codes so, his presence was not questioned. He added an unknown program to the main computer. We have no idea as to what it does. Lieutenant Rejal is still over there trying to figure out what we're dealing with here. This program has bypassed all safety subroutines. It has the potential to reduce the station to a could of dust"

Cale listened to Melody's description about what our so-called puppet master had done (or whomever had done) to the station's reactor and computer core and shuddered. How is it that he gained access to a highly sensitive and classified research base and planted a virus in there was beyond him. He was still in awe of its resourcefulness. After they caught him/her, Cale would like to work his way through his memory somehow and gain access to all that he had done. Cale was truly intrigued by this person's ability to infiltrate Starfleet installations an wreak havok on them without being caught. What was he...a ghost or some other form being that was able to move silently and without form or substance... Cale was truly in awe of this person,

Sierra nodded her head in response to Meldy but kept quiet and stepped back as the two officers started talking.

Apollo rubbed his face with a towel and wiped away the sweat as he listened, "are you sure it was a 'him' that gained access?" he asked as he mulled over everything else that had been said, making mental notes about what he needed to know, "and did they come from this ship or another one?"

"Actually, Captain, we're not completely sure but the 'officer' came to this station without any orders nor rank and from a freighter," Cale started. "Also, I believe the base commander is in on it. He felt quite anxious when questioned about it. And when I got to the base, I felt the same emotional trace resonance, for lack of a better term, when I arrived on the station, sir."

Melody added “Well I’d feel anxious too if I’d let someone tinker with the main computer without checking that they were legitimate. It’s a major breach in security.”

"This whole business with the Puppet Master is bloody well ridiculous! Yes, you're right, Mel. I suggest we investigate Dr. Delaney as well and make sure he's even qualified to be in charge of the station. If he let the Puppet Master on the station, he could have been in collusion with him. I mean who lets a stranger on their ship or base without checking him out first?" Cale stated quite emphatically.

Apollo threw the towel over his shoulder and reached over to pick up his nearby t-shirt, "someone in security who could create a false background check and delete it," John offered, wanting to voice other possibilities as well, "any staff over there have cybernetic implants?"

"No, sir" Cale spoke up. "I ran a full security check on all personnel on the base. Though, the base commander was quite agitated the entire time we were over there. I sensed he was hiding something from me but what that was, I have no idea. Mel, did you experience anything out of the ordinary while you were on the station?"

“Out of the ordinary?” Melody echoed. She shivered as She quickly tried to push the weird image of the face in the console from her mind. She shook her head. “No. Apart from that unknown program the main computer looked normal.”

"Are you absolutely sure, Mel? Remember, I'm an empath. You're not telling the truth here. Tell me what's going on...please," Cale said. He said what he said because of what he felt on the base and that was a presence...an evil presence.

Melody shifted uncomfortably. "It's nothing really, just while I was accessing the main computer I caught a glimpse of a face reflected in the monitor, watching me. When I turned around, there was no one there. I guess it was just my imagination but, it made me feel....... uneasy."

She rubbed her shoulders to dispel the chill that ran through her body.

"Why didn't you tell about that when we were on the surface?! I asked you if you found anything out of the ordinary? Mel, that was something out of the ordinary. Bloody hell! Why doesn't anyone on this ship seem to tell the truth when they're asked a direct question?" Cale exclaimed.

Melody's cheeks burned red and she had to bite her tongue to stop herself snapping back at the XO. He was right, she should have reported it. It just sounded so silly to her.

She took a deep breath before fixing her eyes on Cale.

"As you know I've not had the best experience with the Borg and with them being around tends to put me on edge. So as what I saw seemed to be a figment of my imagination, I thought best not to bring it up as it hardly seemed the appropriate behavior of a seasoned Starfleet officer. I was going to mention it to Counselor Miller later. However, if you think it was necessary to mention, I apologize."

"You're right, I do know that but still, Mel. Counselor Miller have know you better but Commander Miller doesn't empathy because I sensed your reticence when you answered him on the base and also got the fact that you were not being honest with me. I knew all along that you were holding something back on the base. Mel, next time just be honest with me. I'm here to help you and every member of my crew. They and you are my starting and final responsibility," Cale said, not talking down to her by trying to be honest with her.

Melody nodded. “Aye Sir.” She then continued “It just seemed trivial and as I say, not something a trained Starfleet Officer should be seeing.”

"I understand that but we all have our off moments. And, it's those moments that we should be open and transparent with a superior officer Now, we need to turn this over to Captain Barstow to learn what he wants to do from here," Cale said.

"Easy, Commanders,' John said in a firm but gentle tone, "alright, Merlin needs to head out...I'm bringing the USS Turing in to give the entire computer system an run through and the USS Aurther will be conducting a command review of the station," he replied and threw the towel around his neck, "Cale, send the comms, both ships should be less than five hours away."

"Sorry for that, Captain. OK, that sounds like a plan and I will issue the orders as is my responsibility as Strategic Operations and Executive Officers. And I will make sure we are under way in 3 hours, sir," Cale said with a salute which he hoped Barstow would enjoy.

Barstow smiled and returned the salute, "alright, get to it...Melody, let us know if anything like that happens again, now that we know we need to keep track."

Melody nodded. "Sounds good. I'll contact Lieutenant Regal and get him back onboard."


OFF:

Captain John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Task Group Commanding Officer
Task Group 47-A

Commander Melody Jones
CSTO / Second officer
USS Merlin

Commander Cale Llewellyn, DSci
Executive/Strategic Operations Officers
USS Merlin