((Cockpit, USS Rhine, Outside the J-0922A System))
The
blackness of space finally appeared to deepen as the last trace of
blue glow where the Ronin and the Khitomer had vanished slowly faded
away. The charged, sky-blue particles had traced straight lines
towards sector Alpha 113, the signature of their desperate race to
reach Deep Space 33. A futile one, if Alieth was honest with
herself. The Vulcan's dark eyes lingered in the deep blackness of the
void for a few seconds more, almost as if her myopic sight could
pierce the blackness of the void and peer into the secrets that the Lattice Alliance hid beyond. Evidently, not even with as keen an eye
as she had had a year ago, she could have made it out, so she took a
seat at one of the rear consoles in the Rhine's cockpit and surveyed
her little group.
Lorana, the Caitian, whom she was
beginning to increasingly regard as her right-hand woman, occupied
the pilot's seat and kept the tiny runabout, with the engines on
minimum power, hidden in a huge piece of twisted, scorched metal that
had belonged to one of the frigates that had attacked them. To her
left, Raedai. Just looking at the well-trimmed back of the Romulan's
neck made her lips pursed faintly. She still didn't trust the man,
and Alidar seemed to enjoy that shady duplicity, which only unnerved
the Vulcan even more. Nevertheless, he had also proven to be
extremely useful during this mission, resolute and quick-witted, so
she had to make an effort to overlook his suspicious nature. At least
as far as the direct nature of the assignment was concerned. Lastly,
occupying another of the rear consoles was Syrex, a recent arrival
whom she barely knew but who had shown a willingness to volunteer and
who had in appearance all the best traits of a good doctor, albeit
with little field experience. Alieth stifled a humourless chuckle as
she considered this, which only resulted in a small twitch of one of
her slanted eyebrows. The Trill was going to learn on the fast track,
if things went as she expected.
Then there was her, of course. And knowing what her role entailed, she tapped softly at the science console in front of her, before she turned once more to her subordinates.
Alieth: Sencha radiation levels from the wreckage will begin to penetrate our shields in two minutes, we will need a tactical analysis of the surrounding space before we move :: Looking at the front seats of the Rhine:: are there hostile ships around us? Are we within range of the stations' passive scanners?
Lorana/ Raedai : Response
As the two senior officers worked, Alieth turned to the rookie.
Alieth: Ensign, as long as we are not in a medical emergency, I will need you to double me up with the secondary science console and the scanners. For now, use only the passive ones until we determine that we can work beyond that. Do you have any training on this?
Syrex: Response
Alieth: ::With a glint in her eye :: It will suffice. :: Turning to the other officers.:: Have you determined the route to approach the cloaked areas?
Lorana/ Raedai/Syrex : Response
The Vulcan listened attentively, her head slightly tilted on one shoulder.
Alieth: Neither seems like a good option, but we knew what we were up against. My main focus is to find out why the secondary area is so protected and what the structure it contains is for, but that high-density cloaking barrier may reveal our position too soon, or result in a poisoning like the one Miss Lorana and I suffered in Olindra. Which options do you suggest for or against it?
Lorana/ Raedai/Syrex : Response
Once again, the Vulcan remained silent for a while, before looking once more at the main viewport, at the distant, pale stars and the areas of pitch blackness that hinted at the cloaked areas.
Alieth: We will use that second option, take off carefully, approach vector using the wreckage while we have the chance.
Lorana/ Raedai/Syrex : Response
[[Tags! /TBC]]