"Lieutenant Warran report to Captain T’Pina’s Office in 15minutes". Jen sat up suddenly, instantly regretting the action; she held her head until the room stopped spinning then looked at the chronometer 05.10hrs! What was going on? she wasn’t due on duty until 14.00hrs.
She got out of bed gingerly and made her way to the bathroom. “Computer activate sonic shower. Now Jen wasn’t a big lover of sonic showers she much preferred a long soak in the bathtub but she had to admit a shower was more refreshing after a heavy night and last night definitely came under that category.
General K’batlh and his bond mate K’bang had arrived on permanent attachment to the Star base so that had been a good excuse for a get together in b’Sels quarters. Everyone had gathered there instead of in the bar because b’Sels youngest child had injured her arm again. It never seemed to bother her and certainly didn’t stop her from joining in with her brothers in all their usual antics. Dr Strachan the chief medical officer on the station had been so concerned she was going to cause permanent damage that once he had repaired the broken arm he decided to use an old Terrain medical procedure. It involved encasing the arm in plaster of paris for a few weeks he hoped that it would allow the bones to knit together.
Commodore Jat was away on special ops so the General had brought K’Hqas with him. She tended to stay away from the station when the Commodore was there since she had threatened to ban her from the Station due to that time when she nearly caused a major political incident between the Bajorans and the Ferenge and of course recently promoted Commander Ke’reth had joined in. They had also brought along a large supply of blood wine and Romulan ale hence the reason why she was suffering now. Jen had never liked synthenol ever since her Great Aunt Martha had introduced her to Bushmills whisky, which she brought back from one her visits to Ireland. Trouble was she really shouldn’t try to keep up with Klingons.
She quickly dried herself and put on her uniform she held her pips in her hand and looked at them, she still hadn’t gotten used to her new promotion. To be honest she wasn’t sure she was ready for it she had very quickly gone up from Lt j.g to full lieutenant due to her performance in recent away missions. Very soon she was going to have to make a decision, for some time now she had been having doubts about following the Command path she felt she would be much happier as a science officer. However now wasn’t the time to be dwelling on it, the Captain was a stickler for punctuality and Jen needed to get a move on.
She was last to arrive at the Captains office, “So glad you were able to join us Lieutenant” Said Captain T’Pina icily.
Jen apologised and quickly sat down next to Major Madia Amme who leant over and whispered “Good morning Jen, how’s the head this morning.”
“Dreadful, how come you’re so cheerful?”
“I went onto synthenol after a couple of glasses of Romulan ale.”
“I wouldn’t have drunk so much if I’d known I was going to be summoned at 5am, What’s going on?”
“Lieutenant, now that you have finally joined us perhaps you could show me the courtesy of listening.”
“Yes Captain, I’m sorry.” From the corner of her eye Jen saw Amme smile sympathetically, the two of them had become friends since the Majors assignment to Starbase 410, which unfortunately quite often led to them, being pulled up by the Captain. Jen forced herself to listen to the Captains briefing whilst looking around the room to see who else had been summoned. It must be an important mission she mused to herself; the Captain had chosen most of the senior crew on the base. Laura Morris, Leigh, Mark and John Cole were here.
“The Romulans have captured the USS Prometheus which is an experimental prototype, they are currently heading for Romulan space. They have already disabled the USS Alaska, which tried to intercept. Our mission is to take the USS Rage and provide back up for the USS Vixon and Trafalgar, which are already on their way. Major Madia will be in command of the mission, any questions?”
“Captain, what about the crew of the Prometheus?” asked Laura.
“We have reason to believe that they have all been killed, the USS Alaska manage to scan the ship before it was disabled, they were unable to detect any life forms other than 27 Romulans.”
“Does Starfleet want us to take the USS Prometheus in one piece or are we to destroy it?” asked Jen.
“If possible Starfleet want the Prometheus intact, but it is a top secret highly sophisticated prototype and they do not want it falling into the Romulans hands. Any more questions?”
Everyone remained silent, “Very well, crew dismissed.”
“USS Rage you are clear for launch,” said John Borda on the view screen.
Major Madia nodded her head, “Acknowledged”
The atmosphere was very subdued on board the Rage, it never got any easier no matter how many times you heard of Starfleet Officers being killed.
“Major I have the Prometheus on long range scan, I’m also picking up 3 Romulan War Birds as well as the USS Vixon and Trafalgar” Reported Jen.
“How long to intercept Captain Brown?”
“2 minutes, Major.”
“Red Alert.”
“The Romulans are firing phasers.” Called out Laura.
“Return fire.”
“Major, the Prometheus just disabled the Trafalgar with a photon torpedo”
“Try to disable the Prometheus weapon banks without destroying the ship.”
Suddenly the Rage shuddered and those crewmembers not sitting found themselves thrown to the floor.
“Report” Barked Madia.
“Direct hit by one of the Romulan War Birds, shields down to 60%”
“Return fire”
“Major the Prometheus is splitting into 3.”
“On screen”
All the bridge crew took a moment to stare at the screen, “No wonder Starfleet want it back.” Said Jen.
“Get ready to target one of them.” Said Madia.
“They’re firing on the Romulans, perhaps they didn’t kill all the crew after all.” Said Laura.
“Major the Romulans are in retreat and Captain Stewart of the Vixon is hailing us.”
“Put him on screen.”
“Major, thank you for your help, what is your status?”
Madia looked at her monitor.
“Shields are down to 60% but we sustained very little damage.”
“The Trafalgar has taken heavy damage and we have transferred most of their crew to the Vixon, we have boarded the Prometheus and taken control of the vessel.”
“Had some of the crew survived?”
“Unfortunately no,”
“Then who fired on the Romulan ships?”
“Apparently the EMH from the Prometheus along with the EMH from the Starship Voyager.”
“Voyagers EMH, how?”
“I don’t know the full details, the EMH is requesting to talk to Starfleet command.”
Madia looked at Jen, “Captain, permission to take the EMH on board?”
Captain Stewart looked at her strangely, “I suppose that would be ok, we do need to get back to base promptly with the wounded from the Trafalgar, I’ll beam him over.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Well Lieutenant, you’d better get down to the transporter room and welcome our guest.”
“Yes Major, and thank you.”
Jen rushed into the transporter room just as the Dr was materialising.
“Dr, I’m Lieutenant Warran welcome aboard the USS Rage.”
“Thank you, but I need to speak with Headquarters as soon as possible so that I can get back to Voyager.”
“We thought Voyager had been destroyed in the badlands.”
“I really can’t say anything until I’ve spoken to Starfleet.”
“This way Dr, Major Madia is contacting Starfleet now ”
“Dr, please can you tell me if everyone on Voyager is all right.”
The Dr stopped and turned to look at Jen. “Lieutenant, I sense the feeling that you have more than a casual interest in Voyager”
“My Aunt was aboard Voyager.”
“Very well I’ll fill you in whilst we make our way to the bridge.”
“Welcome aboard Dr, I have a secured line through to Starfleet headquarters, you can take it in the ready room.”
“Thank you Major.”
“Are you all right Jen, asked Madia quietly?”
“I’m fine, my Aunt is alive, is it ok if I write her a short message the Dr said he will give it to her when he returns.”
“Go ahead.”
“Jen the Drs ready to go back to Voyager.”
Jen touched her communicator; “I’ll meet him in the transporter room”
“Here it is Dr I can’t thank you enough.” Said Jen handing the padd to the Dr.
“I’m glad to have been of help, hopefully it won’t be long before you see your Aunt again.”
He stepped onto the transporter padd. “I’m ready.”
Jen watched as the Dr disappeared; well she thought the day had definitely ended better than it had started.
“Captain there is something else I need to tell you.”
The Captain, Commander Chakotay and Tuvok stopped in their tracks. “Dr, I thought you had finished your report?”
“It’s of a somewhat personal nature.”
Janeway nodded at the others, “I’ll meet you in my ready room in ½ an hour.”
“Go ahead Dr, what’s on your mind.”
“Whilst I was on board the USS Rage I met a Lieutenant Warran, she asked me to pass this message on.”
Janeway took the padd from the EMH, “Thank you Dr.”
“Computer deactivate the EMH,”
Janeway smiled gratefully as the Dr disappeared and she started to read the padd.
“Dear Aunt Kathryn………”
.
