Incidit in Scyllam cupiēns vītāre Charybdem (MISSION START)

Posted on Sun Jul 3rd, 2022 @ 5:44pm by Commodore Jacob Kane

Mission: Scylla and Charybdis
Location: USS Athena - Ready Room
Timeline: MD-01
456 words - 0.9 OF Standard Post Measure

It felt like blessed relief to be back on board the ship, ready to get back among the stars again. Kane wasn't one to 'enjoy' shore leave so much as 'endure' it. This time hadn't been bad, in places, and by all accounts the crew seemed to have appreciated it. A happy crew was an efficient crew, he hoped. Rested and ready to go. He assumed he was, too, though his had felt a little less like recuperation lately.

He was disturbed from thoughts of recent times by the inbound message tone and the Starfleet Headquarters flag flashing on his screen. It was unusual for orders to come through 'live' and not through a standard package, so he found himself sitting more upright and attentive as an older looking Admiral appeared on his viewer.

"Captain Kane." He didn't recognise her, but that wasn't necessarily unusual. "Admiral Jameson. Please authenticate code magenta clearance." He was surprised by that. Not only was the authentication a little unnecessary and old-fashioned, but he was aware of the significance of using it; only highly-classified conversations began with this level of security.

"Magenta, seven-seven-seven-delta," he spoke back, having taken just a fraction to pluck it from memory. "What's this about, Admiral?" he asked, already frowning.

"We have a broken arrow situation, Captain. A highly sensitive situation involving a missing starship in potentially dangerous territory." Jameson didn't break stride. "The USS Avalon, under Captain V'Lonn, has disappeared in the Titania system. The Avalon was operating under a code magenta assignment testing experimental and highly sensitive Starfleet technology."

"What kind of technology?" he asked.

"They were operating a new deep-space sensor monitoring suite. Highly advanced resolution, potentially next-generation cloaking detection," she explained. "Their mission was to a sector extremely close to the Romulan and Kzinti border regions. They've missed two check-ins, which is highly unlikely for Captain V'Lonn; his orders were to immediately withdraw if anything was to happen."

"You think he was caught spying on one or both?" he asked, drawing a conclusion of his own.

"Possible, but we don't know for sure. It's a long way out." Jameson paused. "I want to make it clear that this technology must not fall into hostile hands under any circumstances, Captain. Use whatever measures are required, even if the prototypes are completely destroyed. Is that understood?"

"Completely, Admiral." He nodded. "We'll find them."

"Report in every 48 hours, Captain. Jameson out."

The image disappeared, and Kane looked at a dim reflection of himself in the black glass. A missing ship, potentially hostile combatants in the region. This was going to be a lot more interesting than shore leave.

"Kane to bridge. Set course for the Titania system. Engage Quantum Slipstream when ready."