Not Soon Enough

Posted on Sat Nov 20th, 2010 @ 5:35am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Christopher McNeil

Mission: Episode 1.3 - "The Time of Trial"
Location: Ready Room, USS Pandora
Timeline: Mission Day 07, 0817 hours

ON: [[Ready Room, USS Pandora, Mission Day 07, 0756]]

Straightening his uniform jacket one last time, McNeil steeled himself to give his CO the latest round of bad news. While the Inquiry had turned out better than it could have, it was still worse than he, and many others had hoped. And now there was this piece of news. At least, McNeil mused, he knew what it was that had been keeping Starfleet Intelligence from giving him straight answers about anything for the past few days. Reaching down, he tapped the door chime and waited.

Having only just reactivated his desktop display, Iluvar wondered who else might be wanting to speak with him already. He debated turning the display off again and eventually decided against it. Instead, he glanced over toward the doorway and called out, "Enter."

McNeil stepped into the ready room and stopped just a few feet inside, allowing the door to close behind him before saying anything, as was his habit. "Captain," he said, "I'm afraid I have some news that I don't believe you're going to like."

For a brief moment, Iluvar studied the man standing just inside the doorway of his ready room. Most of the news he had been receiving in the past twenty-four hours had been less than desirable and he could only imagine what it was that the commander had in store for him now. "What is it, commander," he asked.

"Starbase 386 was attacked by an Elyshan fleet, Captain. This time the Sovereign in command of the fleet did not back down, believing that Captain Lange was bluffing, as he was last time." McNeil cleared his throat. "A distress signal went out from the base 6 days ago, sir. We would have found out about this sooner, but it seems that Intelligence was working to keep this news from the entire crew."

Iluvar frowned. The commander had been correct in stating that this was not the kind of news he wanted to hear. "Any word as to the status of the station," he asked.

"Intact, but heavily damaged," McNeil answered, taking a seat as he did so. "I'm afraid I haven't been able to get any information I'd consider accurate about casualties. Certainly, the station is not going to be in any shape for another battle for awhile, but if we're very lucky the Elyshans will see sense."

"One can only hope," Iluvar mused aloud. He leaned back in his own chair and folded his hands before himself, thinking. This was the second time in the last hour that he had learned of Starfleet Command interfering with the operation of his ship in ways that he had not experienced previously. Withholding sensitive information beyond his clearance level was one thing, but he would hardly deem the report McNeil was presenting him as falling into that particular category. "Any idea as to why they tried to keep this from us," he asked, curious as to whether the commander had any theories on the matter.

"I would have to believe that it was due to the Inquiry," McNeil answered honestly. "Hardly what I would consider a good reason, but perhaps someone believed that such news reaching us might cause issues with the proceedings, beyond that issues that the proceedings themselves caused."

Nodding slowly to show that he agreed with the assessment, Iluvar still wasn't pleased about the fact that they had been kept in the dark. The delay meant that, were they to respond, the Pandora would not arrive at the station until nearly three weeks after the attack. It was hardly what Iluvar would call a "timely response".

"The good news is, the Elyshan force was all but destroyed in the attack," McNeil added. "Unfortunately, this hasn't helped the already strained relations between Starfleet and the local colonists, and with the damage to 386, Starfleet's going to have to station a decent number of ships in the system for awhile to take over the defensive role."

Iluvar considered the information for a moment. He had yet to hear anything from Starfleet Command regarding the Pandora's next assignment. Given what he had just heard in the past hour, it was surprising that an assignment was the one thing Starfleet hadn't given them yet. "Starfleet has not yet informed me of our orders," he told the commander.

"I may be able to help with that, sir," McNeil said with a smile. "I was just speaking with Admirals Tavez and Meyer by subspace... Admiral Meyer was up uncharacteristically early today, which means he probably hasn't been sleeping well recently..."

"Given what you've just told me, I would imagine not," Iluvar remarked, wondering what all had transpired while the Pandora had been cut off by the proceedings of the inquiry.

McNeil produced a PADD and set it on the desk. "We're to proceed to the Aldani System to assist with the defense of the colony and shipyard there. We're also going to be carrying some supplies for 386 to help with their repairs."

"Small favors," Iluvar muttered to himself as he picked up the PADD that McNeil had just given him. The orders were quite clear and, despite the delay in their arrival or the fact that they had not come to him directly, he was somewhat relieved to learn that they would be participating in the relief effort. "How soon can we be underway," he asked.

"Within a few hours, if we can get the cargo loaded quickly," McNeil answered.

"Coordinate with Commander Fala," Iluvar said, "see to it that any necessary arrangements are made as expediently as possible. I do not want to delay our departure any longer than necessary."

"Aye, sir," McNeil replied. "I'm somewhat anxious to get back to 386 myself. I have some belongings there that I want to check on."

"Very well, commander," Iluvar said, "You are dismissed." He watched as the man disappeared out onto the bridge. Once the doors slid closed again, his gaze lowered to the PADD that was still in his hand. How much had this delay cost them? Iluvar had a feeling that they weren't going to have to wait long to find out.

OFF

A JP by:

Captain Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora

and

Commander Christopher McNeil
Mission Advisor/Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Pandora