Release and Repair

Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2024 @ 11:40pm by Lieutenant Commander Gulati & Captain Tyler Driskill

1,898 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 3 - Discord of the Mind

Recently released from Sickbay along with Lieutenant Tyler Rehman, Gulati was pissed at what had put her there. She got bested by their prey, the changeling had done what it did best, deceived them with its ability to take shape. In this case the shape of their Klingon security guard. It nearly killed both her and Rehman, then for added measure set a phaser on overload.

The Benzite walked into Ten Forward with a PaDD in hand after consulting the ship's computer. It had informed her that Captain Driskill was presently there and after ordering herself a drink, she found the table he was seated at, alone. She plopped down in the seat across from him. "When I find that oversized piece of Gamma Quadrant goo..."

"Glad to see you up and about" Tyler said with a slight smile on his face. "How's Lieutenant Rehman doing" he felt bad he hadn't had much time to visit them in sick bay.

Gulati smiled "Oh he saved my blue ass and I owe him. So, he's doing just fine. Bruised rib or something minor, but he's already back to doing what he does best." Lieutenant Tyler Rehman was a brilliant minded officer and a good scientist.

"We need to get out of this quadrant, get back home and bring this changeling to Federation custody" commented Gulati. It was easier said than done. Their transwarp drive was severely damaged and it was a long way home.

"Well that's going to be easier said than done" Tyler looked at her with a raised brow while taking a sip of his beverage. "Luckily there was only minor damage from your goo's" Tyler made air quotes "little stunt." He looked out at the stars for a second and then back at Gulati "which is good we surely didn't need any more damage done to this ship."

Lieutenant Gulati nodded and sipped from her steaming mug then slid a PaDD across the table towards Tyler Driskill. "Our longe range sesnors have yielded some interesting scans. I consultee with our stellar cartography lab and there appears to be a dense asteroid field several light years away."

She looked at the Captain. "Minerals, alloys, and few things that will likely be useful for us in repairs and other matters. Could be debris from a moon, maybe a long since deceased planet."

Tyler's eyes lit up as he reviewed the list of things found in this asteroid field "such high levels." The Captain looked up from the PaDD at his Executive Officer "we aren't hurting for supplies right this moment but if we keep having to make extensive repairs we will be glad we had a reserve of some of these materials."

"We may not be hurting for certain materials," she replied "However, we do have an transwarp drive that is damaged. You may be surprised the things you can find in an asteroid field."

She reached across the table and touched the PaDD. "Tritanium" Gulati said. "At least I suspect so. The indicators are there, but we are too far away to know for sure."

After sipping from his beverage Tyler smiled "perhaps the explorers should explore this asteroid field."

"I was hoping you would say something like that, Captain," Gulati said with a smile. "Seeing as I'm your First Officer now. I would have to say this would be a good opportunity for us. We do have to be careful though. We still have our goo problem aboard, and it is continuing to kill off our crew. "

"We will take every precaution" he sighed "hell we still don't know what we might run into out there" he gestured toward the window where you could see space. "I'm tired of losing good people on this mission" Tyler shook his head and kept his eyes closed for a moment. "Suggestions on what to do about the goo?"

Gulati knew what they may have found out there. The high concentration of a Tritanium alloy could mean a few things, but it was not something typically found in an average asteroid field. It would have had to been from a facility or vessel, in that amount, something had collided with the asteroids.

What she had neglected to discuss was the likelihood of it being a Borg vessel of some sort, but the Federation also used it heavily in their own ship designs. "Goo...Ah yes, Our murderous friend. We need to keep on high alert, additional security in vital areas. Nobody goes anywhere except quarters alone, and I'd recommend regular blood screenings. Everyone needs to be ready."

Tyler shook his head as he and Gulati were on the same page "a second increase in security might help." He thought about her other proposals for a moment "let's get your security measures active immediately."

"I suppose if we are making this promotion to First Officer a reality I'll need to start dressing the part" commented the Benzite. She was sill wearing a black tunic as part of her uniform. No longer a mission specialist, she would be the executive officer. "The rank thing may be a bit awkward as a Lieutenant" she added.

“Well that would be preferred” he replied to her question concerning her uniform. The Captain stood from his desk and started toward the replicator “well let’s make this official shall we?” He tapped a few commands into the replicators command console and like always the requested item materialized. A small wood box with gold accents. “Lieutenant Gulati” he opened the box to reveal a rank emblem for her collar “I officially promote you to First Officer and I’m granting a field promotion to the rank of Commander.” There was a big smile on his face as he pinned the new rank on her collar “congratulations Gulati.”

"Oh the hell you do," Gulati ricocheted back and removed the pip, placing it back into the box. "Jumping from Lieutenant to Commander doesn't feel right. I have no command experience, Captain and only six years in Starfleet after graduating."

The Captain blinked a few times and then stared at the woman in front of him. He had never had anyone refuse a promotion before in all his years with Starfleet.

"From what we learned about Voyager, Captain Jane way gave some of the Maquis crew provisional ranks, commissions even in some cases. I'll go up to Lieutenant Commander provisionally to match Sledge."

"Very well" Tyler smiled "have your way, Lieutenant Commander Gulati."

She returned a smile. "It's practical, Captain. There are plenty of lieutenants aboard full pips and half pips that would normally spend over a decade in those ranks. Some of them haven't even reached a department head position yet. I was just here in a strictly advising capacity. For me to just skyrocket up to Commander is bad for morale."

"Circumstances are a little different for this crew" Tyler replied "sure if we were in the Alpha Quadrant but we are over seventy thousand light years from home." He had made it back to his desk by now "I trust you and value your opinion" he paused for a second "you were key in getting this mission off the ground so to speak."

Withholding the information about what possibly awaits them in the asteroid field was an option, but she knew sitting on it too long could put them all in potential danger. "Look, before we head to these coordinates, you should know there's a possibility we could find Borg there."

The mention of the Federations worst enemy had a way of becoming the focal point of any situation. "How" there was a pause as Tyler swallowed hard "how big of a possibility?"

"Won't know until we get closer" replied Gulati. "I am not expecting anything except for wreckage of some sort. There's no indication on long range sensors of transwarp signatures. If there is Borg there, they've been there a while."

"Well we will have to proceed with caution but we will proceed" Tyler looked at Gulati "but do we inform the crew" he didn't want to cause panic but didn't know if that was the type of surprise you sprung on people who might have lost friends or loved ones to.

"We can't not tell them, Captain," she said bluntly. "If we don't and we do encounter more of a Borg presence than I'm anticipating, they will be caught trousers down. I'd rather have them anxious and prepared."

"Point well taken" Tyler knew how formidable the Borg could be. "You'll brief the senior staff at fifteen hundred" it would be a good way for Tyler to make the announcement about the change in staff, regarding Sledge and Gulati.

"Understood, Captain. For now, best I get some rest and sleep with a phaser under my pillow."

“Yeah I’m not so sure I’ll be able to sleep” he smiled “so I’ll be in the bridge.”

Gulati could relate. "Sleep deprivation does not do either of us any good, Captain. It also does not good for the crew." Lieutenant Commander Gulati. She would get used to that. "That could be part of this things plan use fear to drive us to paranoia and insomnia."

"Well I'm a long way from insomnia and paranoia" Tyler shook his head "but I do want your plan implemented ASAP." Tyler took in a deep breath, he knew they were doing everything they could to catch the changeling "you and mister Rehman keep up the fine work. I know you are doing everything you can to find this thing. Might want to involve Lieutenant Wilde as she can help with implementing your plan."

Definitely thought Gulati. "I would want her involved on anything and everything related to the security of this starship and the safety of the crew aboard" replied Gulati. "I understand the apprehension initially at looping her and some of the other Senior Staff into the shapeshifting threat we have aboard, but that concern is null and void." The Benzite was to be First Officer going forward and that meant she would state her opinions and recommendations more firmly.

"Keeping her and the others in the dark just puts us at more risk" stated Gulati. "We've lost a handful of good people already, some of which were heads of crucial departments. If this thing wants information, it will get it regardless. It can take the form of anyone it damn well pleases and our security personnel can't do much if it decides to take on your face or mine. It may not have our command codes, but it can still do a lot of damage looking like either of us, Sledge, the Doctor, anyone."

The Benzite was frustrated. "We've played defense and we've shifted to being on the offensive. If anything, I think our offensive game has been more effective. We pissed it off, flushed it out of hiding, and made it make some mistakes. Perhaps its biggest mistake was sabotaging our experimental drive. It's done more than cut us off from the Federation out here. It cut itself off from its...kind" stated the Benzite. "There's a starship full of us and one of it."

"Then we keep up the offensive play" Tyler half smiled "let's stick to what is working."

Gulati was in full agreement. "A wise decision" she commented.

 

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