Day of Trial 1: 2031 Ship’s Time

Orex sat at the head of the conference room table and listened to his executive officer give a retelling of the events that had happened while he slept. He sat there for a minute, digesting everything. It was indeed a lot. He then placed his hands on the table and pushed himself up to his feet. Still leaning forward on the table, he pointed his upper left hand at Commander Grkovic.

“Outstanding work, Commander Grkovic. Outstanding work all of you.”, Orex made eye contact with each of his senior staff.

Orex sat back down and crossed his two lower arms thoughtfully, “Any more contact with the stragglers?”

Lieutenant Mike Abercrombie, the ship’s operations officer, spoke, “No, sir. It’s been a bit, maybe five hours since we had partial contact with the freighter Krivak. We haven’t heard from any of the others.”

Orex gave a heavy sigh and his face turned contemplative, “These “screamers” of yours, they seem to be at least somewhat effective.”

“So far, sir.”, T’Prenn answered. “They are far from a perfect solution, yet as Commander Massaquoi so colorfully stated, ‘half an eye is better than none’.”

Orex smiled faintly at that, then turned serious once again.

“So we need to build more. That’s going to stretch Engineering thin.”

Grkovic and Massaquoi shared a look and Grkovic actually smirked, though only for a second.

“Well our chief engineer has an idea about that.”

Orex turned to Massaquoi expectantly and the engineer’s wide grin told Orex everything he needed to know. Orex held up a hand before Massaquoi even started speaking.

“You do realize there’s a large possibility they won’t like that,”, Orex said, “and I honestly have no cares about it. We are in this together and they can contribute to the hunt.”

Massaquoi nodded and said, “Thank you, sir.”

Orex continued, “Also, I have had a sudden thought. These screamers can be used for more than a half blind sensor net I believe.”

“Sir?”, T’Prenn queried

“There is an avian on my world that has developed a unique defense strategy for it’s flock. They set sentries some distance around the flock. Once they sense a predator they sound out a cry, but not so much as a warning for the flock, but to lead the predator away.”

T’Prenn cocked an eyebrow, “Decoys, sir?”

“Decoys, Lieutenant.”, Orex confirmed as he looked at his chief engineer.

“Easily done, Captain.”, Massaquoi assured, “Honestly a good idea.”

“How about the interference?”, Orex asked.

“Believe it or not, it’s slightly improved. We’re still blind and crippled, just not AS blind and crippled.”, Massaquoi’s smile returned, “Lieutenant Rivers and her science team have been working around the clock with both the screamers and trying to make sense of all this.”

Orex nodded thoughtfully and made a mental note to both visit the science labs to show his appreciation to the science team and to make sure to include the science division commander in future staff meetings. While not the norm, Orex was one to make use of every javelin in his pack.

Orex looked around the table, “We’ll get through this darkest of hunts. Just a little longer.”

A chorus of agreement sounded out and Orex dismissed the meeting.

“Stay a moment, XO.”, Orex said.

Commander Grkovic turned and nodded, “Of course, sir.”

As soon as the last officer filed out of the conference room, Orex gestured to the chair to the right of his, “Take a seat for a moment, please.”

Grkovic sat down, clasped her hands in front of her and waited for Orex to speak.

Orex leaned back in his chair, “It seems my trust was well placed.”

Grkovic tried her best not to puff up in pride at the praise but was only partially successful. She squared her shoulders and smoothed her face before continuing, “I know I didn’t do things quite the way you might have, sir.”

“Well, of course you didn’t.”, Orex said with a friendly chuckle.

“Sir?”, Grkovic blinked.

“What is your name, Commander?”

A little nonplussed, Grkovic replied, “Adrijana Grkovic.”

“Exactly, and I am Orex na Vorn. We might be walking the same path of command, but we are two very different people. For me to expect you to do everything exactly like me is the height of unfairness.”

Orex leaned forward slightly and continued, “Now if I happen to teach you something or provide a good example then I would be honored to know I helped you on your journey, but at the end of the hunt you are Adrijana Grkovic.”

Adriana nodded and said, “Thank you, sir. Thank you for your trust.”

Orex smiled again, “Just remember another little lesson, Commander. Just because you didn’t think of it, doesn’t mean it is a bad idea.”

Grkovic’s mind went back to her interaction with Ensign Ridenour, “I think I’m learning that one, sir.”

Orex stood, “Well then, I’m going to work and you are going to bed.”

Grkovic began to protest but was cut off by her captain.

“It is MY turn to be the bully this time and it’s far easier for me as I have the option of pulling rank.”, Orex spoke with a quiet cheerfulness.

Knowing when she’d been beaten, Grkovic responded, “Aye, aye, sir.”

Day of Trial II: 0024 Ship’s Time

Ping!

Orex quickly turned his head towards the ensign manning the tactical console.

“Ensign?”

“It’s Screamer One, sir.”, the dark skinned Human ensign called out, “Trying to get us more information.”

Orex nodded and said, “Work quickly, ensign.”

“Aye, sir.”, the ensign quickly added, “I believe it’s one of our stragglers, Captain.”

“That’s relieving. Helm, make a course towar-”

Ping!

“Screamer One again, Captain!”, the ensign called excitedly.

“The transport again, ensign?”

The tactical ensign looked up grimly and slowly shook his head, “Not this time, sir. Signature partially matches the suspected hostile from earlier.”

Orex cursed inwardly as his mind churned. A suspected hostile ship of unknown capability stalking a freighter heading towards his promise of safety. He had his crew and the crews of several other ships to consider. However, to come all this way only to find death at salvation’s door….

I must do what I think is right, we are explorers and protectors.

“Red Alert! All hands to battlestations!”, Orex’s voice rang out with authority. The javelin has been cast. May his aim be true.

Day of Trial 2: 0040 Ship’s Time

“We will be in range in 52 seconds”, T’Prenn informed Orex.

“Acknowledged.”, came Orex’s terse reply.

“Captain. There is another contact, signature matching hostile vessel.”, T’Prenn’s voice was subtly strained.

Orex closed his eyes for the briefest of moments, forcing down the frustration and self recriminations until later.

Glancing back at the Vulcan tactical/security officer, “Also chasing the freighter?”

“Affirmative, sir.”

The turbo lift door hissed open and several officers poured out, including Commander Grkovic and, surprisingly, Counselor Carstairs.

“Where else would I be, Captain?”, Carstairs replied to Captain Orex’s momentary stare. Orex nodded curtly as the two officers took their seats to either side of him.

“In range, Captain.”, T’Prell called.

It begins, Orex thought grimly as he spoke aloud, “Mr. T’Prell, target closest hostile and fire.”

The San Diego’s first combat action of the crisis had begun.

Fiery orange beams lanced out at the sleek, deadly vessels from the San Diego, striking one of the vessels.

“Minor damage to hostile’s shields, sir.”, T’Prell reported.

“Well, we got their attention, Captain.”, Grkovic stated as the two ships rounded on the San Diego with felinoid grace.

“That was the idea, XO.”, Orex then turned to the tactical station and said with far more confidence than he felt, “Mr. T’Prenn, fire at your discretion and tell that freighter to hide until we can collect them after this. Mr. Ridenour, time for evasive action as if your life depends on it.”

“Aye, sir.”, the young ensign replied.

Because it does, Ridenour thought to himself.

The ship shuddered as the first round of return fire struck the San Diego’s shields.

“Polaron based weaponry, shields currently holding, sir.”, T’Prell reported then added, her voice as close to confusion as it was ever going to get, “Sir, these signatures are matching Vaadwaur patterns from our records.

“Vaadwaur? How?”, Grkovic grated out, “The Delta Quadrant isn’t exactly close.”

For his part, Orex had to wrack his brain to even remember who the Vaadwaur were. Then priorities asserted themselves and he spoke, “A question for another time, XO. Tactical and helm, attempt to disengage. We did what we needed to.”

“Aye, sir.”, T’Prell and Ridenour replied in unison.

The problem was, they couldn’t. Ridenour, for all his natural skill, was hard pressed to keep the California-class vessel out from both enemy vessel’s sights. For her part, T’Prell was able to sting the ships, but not hit with a decisive blow. The San Diego wasn’t built to fight, she was built to fix. Her armament, while not exactly negligible, wasn’t built for this kind of engagement.

The ship rocked particularly hard as a direct hit struck her full on.

“Hull breaches of Decks Five and Six, sir. Casualties reported, shields at forty-six percent.”, T’Prell reported, her voice monotone as she struggled to fight two ships who each outclassed her own.

Orex’s mind whirled as he struggled to find a solution. He felt both Grkovic’s and Carstairs’ eyes upon him. He took a breath and bolstered himself with thoughts of his culture. What would his parents suggest to him, his family. He heard his father’s voice in his mind.

We are hunters, my son. We are patient. We cast true. We lay-

“Traps.”, Orex spoke out loud suddenly, as an idea struck him like a thunderbolt. The ship shook hard again and sparks flew from the engineering station and with a cry the engineer manning it flew backwards burnt and bleeding.

Grkovic made to move towards the injured crewman but Counselor Carstairs waved her off, indicating he should help instead so she could concentrate on the situation at hand.

T’Prenn, her voice slightly roughened by the thin layer of smoke that now permeated the bridge, called out again.

“Shields at thirty seven percent, Captain.”

Orex stood and straightened his stance, calmly clasping his two lower hands behind his back.

“Helm, lay in a course to nebula RDC-1138Z as fast as this damned interference will let us.”, Orex’s gravelly voice was firm and clear.

Orex prayed to his ancestors this would work.