U.S.S. Pathfinder — NCC-1774

MD 4.1115  ( SD: 22650805.1115)
Main Bridge — U.S.S. Pathfinder

Sitting in the center seat, Capt. Jonathan Hunter watched on the main viewer as his brother’s ship grew steadily smaller.

And then in an event that set the gases of the Hatteran Expanse to dancing, the U.S.S. Andúril disappeared into warp, dragging the shattered U.S.S. Albion with it.

Whereas the Andúril was heading back to Starbase Hatteras, the U.S.S. Pathfinder would point herself deeper into the uncertain depths of the Expanse.

Looking around his bridge, the Starfleet captain saw a lot of young faces as many junior officers now occupied chairs vacated by more seasoned officers either missing-in-action, injured … or gone from this world into the next.

“The war was suppose to be over,” Jonathan muttered under his breath as his first officer stepped up behind him.

“Sir?” Cmdr. Thalia Cyn asked.

The captain’s eyes swept the bridge as a quick gesture drew the other officer’s attention to chairs such as that formerly occupied by Adrian who was among those being shipped back to Hatteras with extensive injuries.

“We should be enjoying the peace following the war,” he said. “Licking our wounds and all that jazz.”

“Not chasing after kidnapped crew members and writing damned letters of condolence,” he continued.

<<Kevin?>>

Keeping his sigh refined to purely internal and mental, the Hunter straightened himself in the command chair and tugged at his uniform tunic.

The time for being melancholy had passed as now it was time to put on the brave front, rally the crew and do what needed to be done.

“Communications, open a channel to the entire ship,” he ordered.

When Jenkins indicated all was ready, Jonathan tapped the switch on the arm of his chair and spoke.

“Crew of the Pathfinder, we have brothers and sisters who were taken from us and that will not be allowed to stand,” he said.

“I am proud of all of you. Because of you, the Pathfinder remains, safe and sound, but I must ask more.”

“I ask all of you,” he continued. “Concentrate on your jobs, pray for those we seek and together we will find our enemy and bring our people home.”

When the channel closed, he looked to his Cyn who currently manned the science station.

“Commander, determine the best search pattern, feed it to the helm and lets get to it,” ordered Hunter.

Respectfully,

–Mike Tripp

aka.

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
CO, U.S.S. Pathfinder

- – - – - – - – - – NRPG – - – - – - – - – -

Kevin: I think it is time we made contact with the Shaggy Dog.

SD 22650930

MD 2.0450

USS Albion – Auxiliary bridge

Thalia Cyn sat in the center seat of the Albion’s auxiliary bridge and savored the moment. They had freed the Albion. The Marines just reported all decks under control and checked for hidden intruders. Now it was up to the Albions crew to regain control and find out what the pirates had taken. Thalia still hoped it was no essential technology but she also knew it was more than likely. Starfleet technology was sold at a high price at the black market. Sophisticated ship technology was at an even higher price.

She wondered why the pirates hadn’t taken the Albion but tried to trick the Pathfinder. From the reports she read she knew it had been fairly easy for the pirates to fake the emergency call and to cheat the Albion. It was not entirely clear how they boarded the ship so fast and without much resistance, if any.

Some of the reports indicated the pirates had access to the ships systems. This would only be possible if they got the command code before boarding.

If they indeed had access to it before and did not only know that it existed and how to change it, some frightening scenarios drew themselves.

Only ship commanders, XOs and a handful more people in Starfleet had access to the codes after all. It would mean that some high ranked officer switched sides.

If the pirates would have gotten more than the Albions command code, maybe even all command codes, it would explain why they knew so well what they planned on the Pathfinder. But why didn’t they use the codes and had to disable the Pathfinders defense systems in a fight?

Maybe not all command codes where correct. Or there was another solution.

Her communicator beeped. She drew it from her belt and opened it.

“Cyn here.”

[This is the Pathfinder. The Captain wants to talk to you here. Beam over as soon as you can.]

“Understood. Cyn out.”

She closed the communicator and left her thoughts hanging there.

Ensign Sturrn and Lieutenant Sunam were with her on the bridge along with some officers of the Albions crew. The acting commanding officer was still being treated in sickbay. Until he was released  cleared for duty Captain Hunter had decided that the Pathfinder crew would stay in command of the Albion.

This was another aspect of the situation that wondered her. Captain Hunter did not trust the Albions crew.

Did he want to make sure no one was turned around or brain washed to support the pirates? Or did he have the same thoughts and considerations she had?

Shaking her head she withdrew from her dark thoughts and said aloud

“Lieutenant Sunam, you take over command. You know the current drill.”

Sunam nodded knowingly and replied “Aye, aye, ma’am.”

All Pathfinder crew members aboard the Albion had been informed about the risks and were escoreted by at least one guard aboard the ship to avoid any trouble.

*****

Thalia Cyn had changed her uniform to a clean one before she walked to the Captains quarter. She rang the bell and waited until the door opened in front of her.

The cabin was only lightly lit and the Captain was nowhere seen. She immediately smelled some kind of alcoholic beverage. Frowning she slowly entered the room and left the sensor area of the door to allow it to close. She didn’t want the crew to find the Captains cabin smelling like a cheap pub on the lower levels of a starbase.

“Captain?”

“Right here.”

She walked in the direction of the voice and saw the Captain sitting at his desk with a glass in front of him. She also saw where the stinging smell of alcohol came from. The remains of a bottle bathed in a large puddle of brown liquid at the wall.

“This wasn’t a cheap one, was it?” she asked.

Hunter shook his head.

“What happened?”

<< Tag Mike: Captain, oh, Captain, tell about the cruel events. >>

Respectfully submitted
Kevin Richter

Playing

Commandter Thalia Cyn
XO, USS Pathfinder

— NRPG —

This has been written a while ago, but I didn’t get to reread it again.

Anyone who needs a hook, drop me a note or a comment and I’ll set something up for you. Let’s write again!

Captain’s Log: U.S.S. Pathfinder

Stardate: 22650805.1100 (MD: 4.1100)

For over two days, the U.S.S. Pathfinder has remained on station with the U.S.S. Andúril at the location where we first engaged the U.S.S. Albion and reclaimed it from the pirates who held it.

During this time, we have been effecting what repairs we can with a lot of aid coming in the form of engineering and medical teams from the U.S.S. Andúril which is under the command of my brother, Capt. Jack Hunter.

I freely admit that he and I have had our differences these past many years but those differences have been set aside for the greater good.

To affect repairs, we have cannibalized much of the needed materials and equipment from the Albion to patch up the Pathfinder to the point that shields, weapons and other such systems are back online and ready to go.

Likewise, we have transferred surviving crew members from the Albion’s compliment (those ready for duty at any rate) to our ship to bolster our own losses.

The injured and dead from both the Pathfinder and Albion have been transferred to the U.S.S. Andúril which departs for Starbase Hatteras in about ten minutes with the shattered hull of the U.S.S. Albion in tow.

As for the Pathfinder and her crew, we have members of our compliment that remain in the custody of the pirates and that remains unacceptable.

Too many people were lost during the recent war and so we of the Pathfinder refuse to leave our shipmates behind.

We will sniff out the pirate’s den and we will bring home our people.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder, NCC-1774

aka.
–Mike Tripp

- – - – - – - – - – NRPG – - – - – - – - – -

ALL: This moves things forward enough to give our writers a fresh starting point where we can move forward and regroup.

MD 2.0245  (22650803.0245)

U.S.S. Andúril — Transporter Room 1

Tugging at the bottom heam, Capt. Jack Hunter straightened the gold tunic of his uniform and gave his utility belt a quick adjustment before stepping up onto the transporter platform.

The ship’s commanding officer turned around, steeled himself and gave a quick nod to the transporter chief.

“Energize,” he ordered.

In the flare of transporter effect, one transporter room faded away as another took shape.

Both appeared to be the same, only those present were different and among the new faces was one that looked remarkably like his own.

“Hello brother,” Jack said to his twin.

Jonathan led the way to the door.

“Gym is on this level,” said Jonathan as he turned towards the door. “It’s closer.”

Without a word, Jack followed, gingerly touching his nose and the blood flowing from it those

Capt. Jonathan Hunter stepped up onto the transporter platform with deliberate steps and promptly punched his brother square in the nose.

Blood sprayed from nostrils as Jack staggered back.

“Why the hell did you leave her like that????” Jonathan asked.

Jack gingerly touched his nose.

“Did you have to break it?” he asked.

“You broke her heart, didn’t you?” Jonathan countered.

Jack would have shaken his head but knew his nose would hurt too much.

“You broke it first,” Jack countered.

“It wasn’t my fault,” said Jonathan.

“Not your fault?” Jack pushed himself to his feet and put his face within inches of his brother’s. “You’re the ass that slept with her best friend!”

“And you’re the one that took her into his bed right after that!” Jonathan returned, one hand reaching to pull the sword from his belt, although neither yet thumbed the activation switch.

“Let’s have it out,” Jack said fuming. “Gymnasium or arboretum?” he asked.

“Gymnasium!” Jonathan spat. “It’s closer!”

Gripping the hilt of the still retracted Romulan honor blade, the Pathfinder’s CO turned to the door.

Following his brother’s wake, Jack gingerly touched his broken nose and the blood flowing from it.

The eyes of stunned crew members watched to shocked for words as the two Star Fleet captains left the room.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jack Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Andúril

and

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder

aka.
–Mike Tripp

———-NRPG———-

Ok … Let’s see if we can breathe some life back into the old girl.

MD 2.0107

USS Albion – Cargo Bay 1

Knit didn’t like to abandon this ship and he was glad that he was not in charge of this mission. Mekott would pay with his life for this failure. All his successes of the past would not help him a bit. For that it was obvious to Knit what awaited the Captain.

The pirate approached the cargo bay accompanied by two other Orion pirates. Mekott had ordered to bring the Federation Captain to him.

Knit knew the crew would probably try something to get free. He considered entering the bay the most dangerous part. Once they had the Captain it was unlikely that the Federation scum would attack them. So they would have to enter the room being very careful.

He waved to his followers to enter the cargo bay first. They drew their weapons and positioned themselves at the doors sides. Knit stood behind them in the corridor. The guard at the right door threw a small cap to trigger the opening mechanism of the door. With a slight hush the doors slid apart. Immediately a brown container flew through the gate passing the guards. Knit already regretted that he didn’t bring more of them. But with the others transferring as much Federation property to their ship, no one was available. Maybe it wasn’t so bad if the greedy Mekott was gone.

The guards dumped on the ground and rolled to the center of the gateway firing their blasters blind into the cargo bay.

“CEASE FIRE! WE SURRENDER!” someone shouted from the inside.

The guards stood and nodded to Knit. He walked into the bay and saw why they Federation scum had surrendered so fast. Several red shirted bodies lay in the front area of the large room. They didn’t move anymore. Some of them were covered by large brown cargo tons.

“Anyone else?” Knit asked dryly through clenched teeth pointing his weapon on a larger group.

As no one replied he started looking for the Captain. He couldn’t find her.

“Where is your Captain?” he barked.

After some whispers the group he had pointed his weapon at split up. The female human in her yellow shirt walked slowly but steady until she reached the front of the group.

“I am here.” Captain Maria Garcia said in a calm voice.

“You’ll be with us.”  Knit grunted, made the few steps to her and grabbed her arm tight.

At the door he pushed Captain Garcia in the hands of one of the guards. When catching her, the receiving guard laughed briskly and gave the Captain a tight hug. He tried to kiss her.

“Not here, you idiot!” Knit barked.

The guard threw him an angry glance, but let off the Captain.

Knit turned to the crew.

“For the rest of you, don’t follow us. And to make sure you don’t, here’s a present.” He grinned.

The other pirates left the bay with the Captain while Knit drew a small ball like device from his belt. He turned the upper and lower half to opposite directions. A white light on the top began to blink. He threw it on the ground of the cargo bay.

“You better don’t move.” He laughed hard leaving the bay.

The ball was still rolling in the room when security guards immediately set into motion to follow the pirates. Another guard raced to the ball when it puffed and the metal plating of its exterior was blown a few inches away. The energy of the small explosion let it turn until the blinking white light was on top of it. It now lay in the center of the cargo bay.

On the upper half the engineer saw two laser emitters racing over the ball.

Immediately he shouted

“FREEZE!”

The security officers stopped in motion and turned wondering.

The white light of the bombed turned red and one of the emitters shot a short red laser beam.

“This is a bomb. It scans it’s surrounding with invisible laser beams and remembers where it detects objects. In random time intervals it sends out a red laser beam to detect any movements. When one object moved only the slightest bit, it goes off.” the engineer explained.

The laser emitters raced of the upper surface of the ball pointing to another direction each time.

“Just great.” Ensign Marin said. “I can see the invisible beams and they hurt like hell. The navigator closed his tearing eyes.

<< to be continued >>

Respectfully submitted

Kevin Richter

— NRPG —

All: Sorry that it took me so long to get this out. The follow up will follow soon.