Calling in the Big Guns

Posted on Tue Jun 17th, 2025 @ 10:56am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen

630 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Masimal
Location: Ready Room

Captain Kaylen Rhenora stretched her arms high above her head, releasing the tension stored in her upper back with a series of cracks and pops. She sighed, releasing the posture and relishing the temporary relief it had offered. Ronson had appeared some time earlier, depositing a pot of coffee and a light meal, knowing she would be working late.

The black screen was filled with text from her interim mission report, about to be sent to command with the series of log entries she had already recorded over the last few days. She sipped the coffee, reahing for whatever morsel Ronson had left for her. Simple sandwich would do until she could get back tonher quarters and grab something decent.

Dr Tarsis had sent a favourable progress report from the medical lab, having made a number of substantial wins in the effort to create both a vaccine and an antidote. Both Dean and Aurora were still mostly winning their battle against the pathogen and were aiding Dr Tarsis wherever they could. Dr Wilson however was deteriorating rapidly as the pathogen leached the energy from her body in ways one could barely image. Rhenora's gut clenched at the thought of losing her dear long term friend. They needed a miracle.

As the team on the ship were working on a treatment and a vaccine, every shuttle and spaceworthy vessel was being utilised to screen and relocate 'clean' citizens of the planet. They were essentially creating a green zone with those not yet infected and would target their efforts there in the short term. What they needed though, was more help

"Captain Kaylen, I have Admiral Beechworth for you" Ops announced through the comm system.

"Put her through here" Rhenora replied, and tucked in a preparatory breath to focus herself. She was bone tired but this was important.

"Captain Kaylen, unusual for you to request a meeting via subspace" Beechworth started, causing Kaylen to bristle. She was known as a lone agent, someone who got things done in her own way with only the resources of her ship. Calling for aid was rare.

"We're in the Masimal system, and there's a pathogenic plague decimating the local population. We need medical ships, and anything else within 5 light years that can fly if we have a chance of beating this" Rhenora let fly with both barrels.

"And if we have no ships to send you on a whim?" Beechworth challenged. It was time to dance.

"Millions die. I can't beat this alone, we need help, specialists, transports, engineers..." Rhenora kept her tone neural, stating the facts. They had done this dance more than once before.

Beechworth seemed to look off screen. "You had submitted your reports and your current situational analysis. You must be desperate" there was a note of cynicism.

"We need ships, we're trying to save lives and we're losing the battle of sheer numbers." Rhenora kept herself calm. "I've given you everything you need to inform your decision and to justify my request."

There was another pause. "I can send you the Tanjin, and the Juniper. They're the closest" Beechworth continued.

"The Tanjin is a clapped out transport nearly spaceworthy, and the Juniper is only a small medical ship. Do better" the dance shifted tone to a battle of wills.

"I told you that's all I have" Beechworth stated, her skin tone flushing.

"The Nightingale is in the Proximal system. She can be here in two days" the two step continued.

"The Nightingale is on a priority one mission" Block, then reassess.

"So is this. The fate of the planet is in your hands." Move around, replan, step again.

"Damnit Rhen." The Admiral sighed then tapped something off screen. "You owe me" the screen went black and the battle was won.

 

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