The VOID

Posted on Wed Apr 29th, 2020 @ 6:05pm by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Turak & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Ensign Kara Hoffman & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Nevada McKay & Lieutenant Casper Thornhill & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]
Edited on on Mon May 11th, 2020 @ 2:01pm

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD4 0530
1514 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

0530 on the dot, Phoenix exited the turbolift and walked onto the bridge. A glance showed her that people were in place. It was early and for some this was in the middle of their rest cycle but she needed the bridge team complete.

Stepping forward she moved to the Helm console and Ensign Derani, sitting there. "Ensign, hold us 10 million km from the entrance to the Void please."

Still half asleep, Miraj made the requested maneouvres from sheer muscle memory, too busy yawning to look at the controls and a moment or so later, Elysium came to a gentle stop exactly where the Captain Requested.

"We've at least lost our Cardassian 'Escorts' for good I hope, Captain." Gallia said as she walked onto the bridge and took her seat, "I got kinda tired o lookin' at them warships and I'd hate for 'em te pop up again is all."

Part wondering if she would need to have a conversation with Norris about the possibility that she could be considered racist, as the likely hood of people with Cardassian roots on board were pretty likely as more Bajorans joined Starfleet, Phoenix turned towards Science. "Commander Salannis an Vantar, please prepare probes and one class 3 beacon."

Arri prepared the probes and launched them.

Alicia stifled a yawn as she stepped out of the turbolift and made her way across to her seat. She wasn’t used to this early a start but at least she’d slept well cuddled up with Savar all night long. She smiled politely as she looked towards Lalor, “Good Morning Captain.”

"Morning Lieutenant." Phoenix smiled.

Anje walked onto the bridge next, taking her place du jour at communications, something else she hadn't done since Bozeman, and then only for a week while the Chief Communications officer, Cdr. Terry, recovered from her injuries on a previous away mission. Running a quick scan on the systems showed everything working as it was supposed to, encouraging Anje greatly, "Comms shows ready, Captain."

Gary sat in his chair and listened as the various stations that lined the Elysium's bridge checked in. He was pleased that all systems showed green. Data streamed into his console and it confirmed what the others said. "So far, so good Captain."

Nodding in response to the officers comments Phoenix hit her comm, "Lieutenant Thornhill, is Intelligence ready?"

Casper stood at one of the consoles within the Intelligence Blister pouring over all the sensor data that was coming in and what factions they knew of the area, "CDID is manned and awaiting what may come Ma'am," he just hoped his understaffed department could handle what came.

When the Captain entered from the turbolift, Turak looked up from his station and waited for her to be settled into her position. Once she was seated, he said, "Good morning Captain, all tactical systems are functioning and on standby."

Kara was confused. "What... uh." She stumbled down another hallway towards the nearest Turbolift, with her head down reading the duty roster the captain had sent out. "Engineering, Hoffman. Does that mean I'm in main engineering, or on the bridge engineering station..." She quickly hopped into the Turbolift. "I'll ask. No wait, I can't do that I'm a senior officer, I'm supposed to know where i'm damn well supposed to be, right?" As the Turbolift ascended towards the bridge, three junior officers behind Kara all stifled laughter as they looked at each other.

The Turbolift arrived onto the bridge and Kara stepped out. The other three junior officers, quickly tapped the turbolift controls and the doors closed before anyone knew they were there. "Captain." She said, moving to the bridge engineering station with confidence. ~So long as I do, whatever it is I'm doing, with confidence, then it'll be alright. Now is not the time to be second guessing myself~ She thought. "Engineering reports no problems. The new sensor boosting modifications have been completed successfully. we'll have a much larger scanning resolution and a larger range to boot." She mentioned.

"Launch the probes and Beacon please Arri" Phoenix called out. "And can you and Lieutenant McKay monitor the probe as it hits the edge of the void."

Arri checked the readings. 'He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.' Arri quoted. "Neiztche..... I feel uneasy about the existence of such a place."

"Yes Ma'am, High intensity Sensor suite has the Probe Locked in," Nevada Said as she shifted to face the captain. She was nervous, her face told it all, anxiety and distress. She'd never admit it out loud, but this was her first tenure as bridge staff in her long career with Star Fleet.

tag All.

"Ensign Derani, once the first probe has entered the Void, full impulse after it."

"Aye, aye, captain. Standbye." Miraj sent a ping to the science station, requesting the data st4ream from the probes. A moment later the data began to stream past and she could pick out the course from hefty chunks of so far absolutely nothing. No stars, no asteroids or exo planets, but also no anomalies or blackholes. "Here we go." And she began to slowly accelerate towards the border.

"Avalon, open coms to all decks and crew."

"Yes Captain."

"Attention Crew of the Elysium. Welcome to the Void. We will have just over 7 days in the pitch black of the Void. We will be going at full impulse for the duration. The ship will be on external lock down. No EVA's. No Shuttles, no Star Fighters will be exiting this vessel. At every 6 hours, Science and Engineering will launch class 4 sensor probes. All Crew are to remember that there will be no light other than that which the Elysium produces. Counseling and Medical are on call for any concerns you may have. Stay calm, go about your tasks, and in 7 days we will be able to go back to normal. Thank you for your time." She cut the comm with a nod at Avalon.

Phoenix was not looking forward to this little trip, but she had to put the best face on it. She turned to the Lieutenant at the Transporter Controls. "Lieutenant Holt. Lock down all transporter Padds across the ship. Commander Taylor and Holmes will give their access codes to assist."

William Holt sighed, tapping his console. =A= Aye Captain.=A= He said, his hands whizzing over the transporter control station. "What if I didn't huh? I wonder what would happen. Now's not the time man..." He said aloud to himself. ~Now's not the time... I must be patient.~

Holt quickly responded. =A= All transporter stations locked down Captain, Holt out =A=

Gary answered without hesitation, "Beta 1 Gamma 1, Omega 1."

Lia glanced at the Captain, "Alpha 1, Beta 1, Lima 3".

"Commander Brett, lock the external Shuttle bay doors, and the drop bay doors."

"Yes, Captain." Anje replied, securing the doors in question, "And the house is now.... locked."

"Ensign, distance to entrance of the Void?"

"Three million Kilometres. We'll hit the point of no return in thirty seconds."

Phoenix nodded. "Take us in Ensign." she said softly.

Miraj had been expecting to continue so moved her hand away from the full stop, letting the huge ship sail serenely over the boundary. "We're of the map now," she whispered to herself. "Here be dragons."

As the Elysium glided into the darkness, Phoenix looked up above her as the stars vanished from view. It didn't take long, and soon they were enveloped in the darkness of the void.

Stepping back to the Centre Chair, Phoenix looked at the two science officers. "I want reports every 6 hours around those probes, and if anything strange happens, informed me immediately. Co-ordinate with Engineering and if things are of a temporal nature, drag Varis from his office for it."

Arri gave a slight smirk. "Understood Captain. Consider him dragged if I do detect temporal anomalies." She said calmly.

Lieutenant McKay Shifted at her station a clear look of discomfort on her face as she divided her attention between her console and the view screen. "Time travel and an all consuming void..." She muttered. "Does anyone miss the days when Star Fleet wasn't Trying to redefine the laws of physics?"

Phoenix nodded and sat down. "Attention all hands, resume normal duties. Set condition green."

The ship may have been set condition green but there was a definite air of uncertainty and fear amongst the crew. Alicia wished she could ramp up her mental shields but her mind was as shielded as she could get it herself without artificial intervention. She shivered as a chill ran down her spine, she had a feeling that the Counseling department would be kept bus

Using the sensors, Lia now commenced a full 360 degree sweep out to 500,000 miles. Nothing, not even a ping of space dust. "Full sweep underway Captain, nothing so far".

"Thank you commander." Phoenix said. "Lets all pray to whoever you pray to, that this is a quiet seven days."