"And now, we wait..."

Posted on Tue Dec 17th, 2024 @ 4:27am by Lieutenant Commander Sonak

1,038 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Atlantic Trouble
Location: Main Bridge, Deck One
Timeline: Concurrent with "Take Her To Sea"

"And now, we wait..."
Lieutenant Commander Sonak, Chief Science Officer
*****
"Science Officers Log, Lieutenant Commander Sonak recording. The Ermiana has arrived in the Zeta Galen system, where we have been assigned to survey a class seventeen nebula. Ermiana is scheduled to conduct the survey, estimated to take four point two seven days. The nebula did not appear on the previous survey of the Zeta Galen system. This survey, conducted and recorded on Stardate 11428, was conducted by probes only, with now crewed expedition taking place. Such a nebula being missed from the initial survey is an unlikely occurrence, and therefore presents a mystery to us. We have every intention of resolving.

After discussions with the Captain, the Science Department has been deemed to be sufficiently equipped to handle this task, and therefore many ships personnel have been reassigned to other projects. Given the nature of this assignment, many of the crew have been presented with the opportunity for some much needed rest and relaxation time.

Including the Captain..."

*****

As a younger man, 'Commander Sonak did not understand the need for collaborative off duty activities. Now, well into middle aged by Vulcan standards, he had come to realise the benefits to morale, and camaraderie by having such shared experiences. Even in fantasy and play, such experiences could represent rare opportunities for a crew to come together. It was this, Sonak believed, that lead to the Captain to embark on such an activity on the holodeck. For Sonak himself, he had little need of such things.

Several of the ships holodecks had been networked together, to allow for a much greater participation of ships crew, as the capacity of a single holodeck could not accommodate the numbers that had taken the Captain up on this opportunity to interact. Participants in any of the three holodecks currently sharing the same program would appear in all iterations of the program, allowing for crewmembers to interact with those not necessarily in the same holodeck. Sonak himself was impressed at the innovation from the engineering and operations teams in allowing this cross-party participation.

Sitting in the Captain's chair, having the bridge watch, Sonak reviewed the logs from the probes. The data seemed to suggest a routine survey, with nothing significant of note. Class seventeen nebula’s did not appear from insignificance in a mere thirty-seven point three five years.

"'Commander," the Ensign at the helm called out, turning in the chair to face the Vulcan, "we've entered the Zeta Galen system."

"Thank you, Ensign," Sonak replied, nodding. "Set course for checkpoint alpha, full impulse." Checkpoint alpha was the coordinates where Ermiana would begin it's survey. They had mapped out a precise plan to survey the nebula, with eleven points of interest plotted for investigation. Sonak pushed the communications panel on the command chair’s armrest, "Bridge to Holodeck one," he called out, intending to reach the Captain.

After several moments, a voice answered. =A= Bridge =A=

From the Ermiana's bridge, the Vulcan 'Commander thought it odd that the holodeck had responded in such a way, however he assumed that this was the Holodeck's method of interacting with the communication without breaking through the environment. "I require a connection to Captain Misaka."

=A=Copy,=A= the crewman answered. Sonak could hear the voice continue, although the sound was muffled, as if the individual speaking was not talking into the input device. =A= Captain, incoming communication, requesting to speak to you.=A=

After several moments, a familiar voice echoed around the Ermiana's bridge. =A= This is the Captain =A=, came the voice of Ermiana's Commander.

"Good day, Captain," Sonak began, "Apologies for disturbing your personal time." Sonak was genuine in his apology. He didn't want to disturb anyone's personal time, however not everyone was the Commanding Officer of a Federation starship. To keep this brief, he decided to get straight to the point. "Ermiana has now arrived at Zeta Galen, Captain. Our survey will commence in three point two hours."

=A= Understood 'Commander. Thank you for the update. If you need anything from us down here, let us know. 'Commander Lurath has some 'friends' aboard, but should be able to assist with non-urgent matters,=A= Misaka replied.

"Acknowledged," Sonak answered, although this likely wasn't necessary. Releasing his thumb from the comm. panel, he stood up out of the Captain's chair, and headed for the starboard science stations. To none of the officers in particular, he ordered, "full sensors while we are in system. Zeta Galen has not been surveyed recently, so let us take this opportunity to amend the records..."

*****
Three hours and twelve minutes later…

"Arriving at checkpoint alpha, 'Commander," the helmsman offered.

Sonak nodded, looking up from the data on his padd. "All stop, Ensign," he ordered. "Hold station relative to the nebula. We'll remain here while conducting survey alpha." The assigned bridge crew had been briefed on the schedule, of course, but for Sonak he felt it proper to relay the orders at each step. Standing up, Sonak headed out of the command area, up the ramp, and assumed the position at science station four, at the aft section of the bridge.

"Deploy the class II and class IV probes as assigned," he instructed. Using two types of probes as part of this survey would provide two different data sets, enabling a more detailed interior scan of the nebula, before proceeding to checkpoint beta. The class II and the class IV probes working in unison would complement each other, with minimal overlap in collected data.

"Probes away," reported the Ensign standing behind him at Tactical, although Sonak did not require this confirmation. Sonak typed out several sequences on the panel in front of him, now reporting that he was "commencing multi-spectral scans."

Standing up, he now came to stand alongside the Tactical Officer. "Ensign," he began, "display tactical map on the main viewer, and display the probe positions."

"Aye sir," the Ensign replied, carrying out Sonak's order. The screen changed, showing the probes now moving into position.

Sonak watched the probes settle into their positions. In his peripheral vision, he could already see displayed at Science Stations two and three that the telemetry was already returning data to the ship. "And now, we wait…"

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