Stardate: 70716:1035
Title: New Civilisations (Part 1)
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: Current
Scene: USS Horizon, Bridge
Contacting the next of kin for those lost during a mission, particularly during
peacetime, was a task no Starfleet Captain ever wanted. But with the big chair
came more serious responsibilities...
Luckily for Scott the crew of the Horizon was as professional as they came, and
whilst the losses might impact the performance a little, he was sure that their
newest additions and the recent elation over promotions would more than
compensate for this.
~
With the USS Exeter and the evacuees heading back to Starbase 9, Captain
Deadilus and the crew of the Horizon had finally set about their new mission.
Playing the data padd over in his hands, Scott reviewed what little information
was available...
Deep space scans from the Mitra Deep Space Array had detected possible subspace
distortions, indicating the presence of a warp-capable race only a few days
travel off their planned exploration path. As an experienced 'First Contact'
crew, the Horizon had been ordered to investigate, observe and (if deemed
friendly and possible) make contact with this new civilisation on the Federation
borders.
As Ensign Cochran had laid in the course for their new destination, the warp
drive gently propelling the starship through space at a steady warp 5, the crew
had relaxed slightly. With Brodarn behind them and only a few star systems
between them and the unknown alien race, Captain Deadilus couldn't blame
everyone for taking one of the few opportunities offered to them this far to
either wind down or simply catch up on lost time.
Little did they know that the 'quiet time' afforded to them would be shorter
than any of them could have anticipated...
=/\= A few hours later =/\=
"Sir, we're picking up a distress beacon from the nearby star system. It's weak,
but definitely Federation in origin," Ensign Cochran reported.
"Change course to intercept and increase speed to warp 9," Deadilus ordered.
"Operations, Security - ready an away team. Tactical, standby on shields and
weapons just in case."
The Captain pressed a few buttons on his chair arm before continuing.
"Unknown vessel, this is the USS Horizon. We are en-route to your position.
Please state the nature of your emergency."
Nothing but silence permeated the bridge for a few seconds as everyone waited.
"Entering visual range now, Sir," Benjamin reported.
"Onscreen."
The viewscreen changed to show the blackness of space, a tiny dot of a starship
visible in the centre, severe battle damage evident across the majority of its
surface, although the ship itself appeared to be intact and with power.
"Computer, magnify image to maximum."
As the image zoomed in, there could be no doubt that the ship in distress was
indeed a Federation vessel; a Nova-class vessel similar to their own.
"Reading sub-channel data now," Cochran stated, looking puzzled as he turned
around to the Commanding Officer. "Sir... it's the Horizon."
=================
Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================
