Cmdr. Shayne: It's The Little Things That Mount

[Quinn Friedl]

((Deck 1, Bridge, USS Arrow)) 

Alvarez: Didn't Lieutenant Serinus say shields would only last seconds against their main armament?  The way I see it, our only real protection is them not wanting to start a war.  Why don't we transport them?  We might as well do them a favor and pick up the "Carbon Blight."

 

He was looking at the big picture, a necessary evil given what was at stake. Yes, they wouldn’t last long against the Sheliak monstrosity that now approached them like a cat licking its paw after an embarrassing stumble off a table, but there was more to it than that. All of what the Sheliak had done so far could be interpreted as hostile and even grounds for war, but the Federation would bend over backwards to avoid that eventuality, probably to the point where its collective head would be firmly wedged in its metaphorical rear. But there could be no excusing the wanton destruction of a Federation craft, no matter the circumstances. If the Sheliak cut through the Arrow, and then, as was likely, proceeded to scorch the planet’s surface, the entire weight of the Federation would be cast upon the Corporate’s neck, and even if the Sheliak could withstand the dozen or so wars they’d started in their expansionist phase, there was no way they could take on all of that adversary at once. Thus, either they’d be relatively safe, or he’d just made the most erroneous gamble of his entire life. 

 

Shayne: We can’t pick them all up at once- there’s thousands down there. 

 

And he was not about to start picking lots. 

 

Waters: It is as if they want us to see them approaching. My readings indicate they are traveling at only fifteen percent their capable impulse speed.

So they were going slowly- why? To assert dominance? Or indicate a different intent?

 

Alvarez: And now they're starting to beam up some of the cultists...  Aren't the Sheliak known for "sterilizing" planets?  Not that I want them to do that.

 

Shayne’s blood went cold at Alvarez’s statement. What could possibly motivate the Sheliak to beam aboard colonists? They wouldn’t make themselves or their vessels filthy with the flesh of humanoids. There had to be more to it. Whatever their goals were, they were treating the colonists like a commodity. Why?

 

Alvarez: They wouldn't take people unless they needed leverage for something they want.  Too much work otherwise.  Don't we have one of their shuttles still in our hanger?

 

Wilde: There is communication between the ship on the surface and the Codex. It's not guarded in the standard way. You should be able to patch in…

 

Shayne nearly broke his own head off with the insistent nods that he engaged in. 

Shayne: Yes, please! Immediately. 

 

Alvarez: Response

 

His officers played a little dance of sorts on their consoles, performing acts of delegation and machination that he was sure would confuse him unless he were back behind the console properly. And then… 

Grettze: =/\= Make them at ease as much as possible. After they are aboard, we will transfer them to the Arrow if they want to go or take them to neutral base.=/\=

 

Ascended Codex: =/\= As your orders.=/\=

 

Shayne scowled, almost unable to believe his ears. What would possess the Sheliak to perform such an act? 

Grettze: =/\= When we are finished here, we will attempt to recover the shuttle craft, hopefully aboard the Arrow. =/\=

 

And then it all made sense; whatever Gretzze had gotten up to on the surface was likely of great consequences to the Corporate, and if nothing else, Gretzze probably wanted to cover his own rear. 

 

Grettze:=/\=Starting transport.=/\=

 

They digested for a second, realizing that the danger, at least for the moment, was over. Except it wasn’t, because even if the Sheliak were out of commission, there were still abundant threats to consider. But even as he watched the readings from the planet surface, he could see no sign of rampaging energy, no evidence of tachyon surges or ground-shattering explosions. 

 

Shayne: Ensign Alvarez, lower shields. Begin transport of any wounded to Sickbay. Lieutenant Waters, keep us in orbit of the planet. Let’s play nice.

 

Avalrez/Waters: Response

 

He turned to the beleaguered security officer. 

 

Shayne: Mr. Wilde, do you believe we could render assistance to a salvage effort on the surface? 

 

Wilde: If it means stopping the hostility and finally being able to get into a nice hot bath, I'll fly the damn thing over to them myself.

 

They were all so damned tired. He just wanted to fall asleep, and here was this tortured officer offering to go back onto that planet and perform a courtesy for the creatures that had tried to kill them. 

 

Shayne: I doubt that will be necessary, but the offer might go a long way. 

 

Alvarez/Waters: Response

 

The console beside him chirped. He moved to answer it. 

 

Collins:=/\=Collins to Bridge, I am reading the Gate signatures inert down here, can you confirm?=/\=

 

Wilde: Actually, I don't think I'll get into a body of water again for quite a while. I'll stick to the sonic showers.

 

Shayne shot a knowing glance at Wilde before speaking into the grill. 

 

Alvarez/Waters: Response

Shayne: =/\= Shayne here. We’re reading no new power emanations from the gateway; background radiation is dissipating. Far be it from me to jinx a good ending, but… it looks disabled.=/\=

 

Collins: =/\=Fantastic, Bridge. Best news I've heard all day. Glad to be home...=/\=

 

Shayne smiled smally, the corner of his lip smirking upwards. 

 

Shayne: =/\= Good to have you back, XO. And all of you. Get some rest. =/\=

 

The channel closed, and Shayne could barely stay standing. He started to move toward his chair, looking forward to collapsing into it, but before he could, a peculiar tone began to ring out through the bridge. Not an alarm, so much as a resonating whine that sounded like an insistent tuning fork. 

 

He looked about in confusion for a moment, before his craggy features broke into a proper smile. He moved over to the currently vacant communications station (among the smallest on the bridge) and quickly examined it. 

 

They were receiving something, alright- a signal, not through conventional channels, but something faster, broader, more obvious. It was a coded tachyon surge, and in an instant, he was breaking down the cipher. 

 

Shayne: “From! Starbase…” oh, it’s gotta be 821… yup, there it is…

 

He squinted as the words slowly manifested themselves in his head and on the screen. 

 

Shayne: “Tentative agreement reached between Sheliak Corporate and Federation. Hostilities ceased.” 

 

He looked back at the bridge crew, almost confused. 

 

Shayne: “Peace”. 

 

Bridge Crew: Response 

 

He could have cackled, or wept, or screamed bloody murder. But he settled, in that moment, with voices all around him, for a long-awaited seat. He trundled toward his chair, and could already imagine its soft curves cushioning his rear end in just the right way… 

 

...and then he stopped, stared, and hollered with three month’s worth of rage. 

 

Shayne: WHO THE HELL STOOD ON MY CHAIR?! 

 

Any: Response 

 

TBC/END

 

Commander Randal Shayne
Commanding Officer
USS Arrow
NCC 69829
G239202RS0