April's Lament

Posted on Sun Dec 31st, 2023 @ 3:16am by Lieutenant Commander Kelly Kerrigan
Edited on on Sun Dec 31st, 2023 @ 3:26am

985 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Lacertae Mortis
Location: USS Arcadia

"He's requesting you take it in the Captain's office, Sir" the young ensign at the communication's station said near frantically. It was evident that the relief communications officer did not have as much seat time as some of the more seasoned officers. Lieutenant Commander Kelly Kerrigan had not used the Captain's office even with her off the starship. It was her office, not his even as the individual aboard temporarily in command in her absence. He barely liked sitting in the Captain's chair, but that was at least more normal for him as First Officer.

The he that Ensign Camden had been referring to was Fleet Admiral Robert April, a renowned and respected Starfleet officer, previously Captain of the USS Enterprise during its maiden voyage. Surely there were far less important people in the upper echelons of Starfleet brass that could be speaking to Commander Kerrigan. At least that was how Kelly felt standing from the Captain's chair and heading towards her office. "Then patch it through, Ensign Camden. I'll speak to him in private" added Kelly Kerrigan nervously. He had rubbed elbows with a Commodore or two in his day and the occasional Admiral was not entirely unfamiliar, but a Fleet Admiral was unsettling.

He did his best to compose himself in the Captain's office, making sure his uniform was wrinkle free and his hair wasn't too unruly. "Hello," he said calmly and a bit informally. "I mean rather to say Good...Morning, Sir?" he had not even checked the Arcadia's chronometer when summoned to the bridge by the skeletal crew manning it while moored at port. The screen showed the dark skin of Robert April and a thick patch of bristles that formed his facial hair. There was an intensity in his eyes that made Kerry quickly realize that this was anything but a quick check on the Arcadia. "Admiral?" Kelly asked with concern.

"Son, there's no easy way to be bearer of bad news" prefaced Fleet Admiral April. Robert looked solemnly and took a deep breath, noticeably so by Kelly's remote vantage point. "We've received some unsettling reports, transmissions from the USS Stardiver" explained the Admiral. It was clear that there was more to say but that April was a facts man and the facts simply were not there yet for him to share.

Kelly was unfamiliar with the name of the starship mentioned. "Stardiver, Sir?" he asked seeking some clarification from the man. "I'm sorry, Admiral. I'm not familiar with it, should I be?"

"It's a nondescript starship, a Federation surveyor that had been tasked with a routine charting mission when it was rerouted towards the Shandi system to investigate some peculiar coronal mass ejections" explained April.

It was something Kelly was familiar with to an extent. "Even the types of coronal mass ejections we're familiar with can wreck havoc on communications systems, Admiral. Do you need my technical expertise in communications systems to help pinpoint their whereabouts?"

"Commander, there's nothing left of the Stardiver for you to help locate. We've reviewed the last transmissions from the Stardiver. She was in distress and being viciously attacked. We fear there are no survivors."

That was a gut punch to Kelly. Clearly with Captain Morelli gone, the Admiral was entrusting Kelly to relay the information to her when she returned. Then it had hit him hard. The realization. Shandi system was not but a good stones throw from where Captain Morelli was heading. "Sir, Captain Morelli..."

April headed the young man off at the pass. "Was rendezvousing with the USS Cayuga not too far from there. We've been in touch with the Cayuga. They were making haste to Parnassus Beta immediately. It appears whatever attacked the Stardiver was beginning an assault on the colony."

"Have we heard word from Captain Morelli or Captain Batel of the Cayuga?"

"We have not, Commander Kerrigan. Not since their last report, but the Gorn have transmitted a message to Starfleet Command. It's a telling sign of what has occurred. It would appear as though the Gorn have convinced themselves they are stellar cartographer now. Parnassus Beta according to their transmissions now sits on the Gorn side of the border."

Kerry shook his head. "The Cayuga and the people of Parnassus Beta will have a lot to say about that" he said agitated by boldness of the Gorn. It was a Federation world, and well withing Federation space. At least it was as of a few hours ago. "What the hell is next, Sir? Cestus III?" quipped Kerry.

Fleet Admiral April looked off to the side staring at something with scrutiny. Kerry suspected a star chart of some sort. "We will not allow that to be the case Commander. Until we know anything further, continue overseeing the Arcadia's refitting. Expedite crew transfers at your discretion. I know you were waiting on Captain Morelli to sign off on those decisions, but I am granting approval to you to go ahead. Get the Arcadia ready, Commander. April out."

The transmission ended and Lieutenant Commander Kerrigan knew something was wrong. He knew that when it came to Robert April and Starfleet Brass there was more to tell than had been told.

Likewise, Fleet Admiral April let out a heavy sigh. His shoulders as tense as ever. There was always more to speak than could be spoken. That was certainly true when it came to a young Lieutenant Commander stepping into the Captain's chair. Kerry Kerrigan was a good officer, but everything right now was need to know, and Kerrigan did not need to know that the Cayuga was likely lost, that Parnassus Beta was likely crawling with Gorn, and that April did not have a damn idea of where Captain Morelli was. Maybe she had made it to the Cayuga, maybe she didn't, but he dud not have what he wanted most right now, answers.

 

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