U.S.S. Pathfinder — NCC-1774

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!