The Search Begins

Posted on Tue Jan 3rd, 2023 @ 5:53am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: Planet of the Dinosaurs
Location: USS Botany Bay
Timeline: Current

Captain Rhi Morselles sat back in her command chair, her ship - the USS Botany Bay was on its way back from a research mission in the Coridan system and her crew were looking forward to a well deserved break before their next mission.

"Captain, I'm receiving a transmission from Starfleet Command, Priority message" The Ops officer announced unexpectedly from the station at the rear of the bridge.

Rhi raised her eyebrows, a priority message from Command wasn't unheard of, but she knew instantly that their shore leave and resupply was going to have to wait.

"On Screen"

The face of Lt Commander Collette filled the screen, the flags of the Federation and Starfleet draped behind him in an official manner. " Apologies for the urgency Captain, but you have been given a priority mission" The officer from Command started, sending another data packet with the latest information he had uncovered.

"Oh really? You realise we've been out here for 6 months?" The Captain challenged, her ire wearing thin already. " My crew are exhausted"

" I can empathise Captain, but you are the only ship available for this tasking, and the only ship within range. The USS Sunfire has gone missing" Collette let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "They were due at Cardassia two days ago and failed to arrive. Their transponder isn't showing on long range sensors either. I've sent you their last known location"

Rhi rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath. They were tired, bone weary tired and a search for a missing starship could take weeks. Still, a ship was missing and they would do their darndest to find it.

" Helm, change course, heading 158 mark 4, maximum warp" The Captain ordered before taking one last look at Collette on the screen. "We'll find them, shore leave can wait - Botany Bay out"

The research vessel jumped into warp, her weary crew pulling themselves together for a search for one of their own.

An hour later the senior officers met in the briefing room, the last known location, along with Cardassia highlighted on a star chart.

"This was the last known location - and this was their destination. We'll start along their probable route and expand as we need to" Morselles annouced, bringing nods from around the table. " A standard search should take us 5 days - we can re-assess after that". A chorus of "Yes Ma'am" and "Aye Captain" echoed in the room.

"Alright team, let's find them and bring them home" The Captain said firmly, making eye contact with each and every one of her officers. Inwardly she hoped they would find them alive and be able to follow through on that promise.