Ashram: Lower Decks Revisited

On:

Bridge:
Ashram stood on the bridge, some of the pressure was off. Jacob and the Captain were back on board, tensions with the Romulans were at a point where he could keep an eye on things. The klaxons were off, but the red alert still was in effect.

Flight Deck:

Nicole Sterling was sitting watch on the flight deck. The bridge had called for the fighters to ready again, only to be cleared shortly after. The response time of the team was excellent, just as she expected, but the team however was starting to lose moral. They milled around their fighters making sure they were ready to go again. It was twice that they have been called to alert this mission without being unleashed. The old fable of the boy who cried wolf started to run in her head.

“If we weren’t in Romulan space I would call the Lieutenant to have us chase some asteroids or junk or something.” She said to the Bajoran on watch with her.

“Aye, I’m sick of being bottled up, I’m about to explode” replied Rez.

Nicole liked Joran. He reminded her of her deceased husband Oscar in a way, headstrong and direct. She was on watch when the scramble sounded and Joran was due on next. Not that it mattered at this point. With red alert still in effect, they were required to be at their duty stations. Eventually Syldra and Talas walked over to the duty station as Joran relived the chief of the duty watch.

If Nicole was going to stay at her post as required, she needed coffee. She walked over to the replicator and ordered her usual. “Coffee, double strong, double cream.” When the order arrived she tapped her access code on the panel. “Computer, any personal messages?”

“No messages at this time.” The cold computer voice responded.

She was disappointed, but really she didn’t expect any. This side of the Neutral Zone she doubted that any transmissions were coming in or off the ship. Still she missed hearing from her daughters. She thought about them as she took a sip of her coffee. When she walked back to the duty station, she could hear Syldra do what she does best, talk.

“....and the Captain is dead, and the Klingon ship that...” She stopped when she saw the Cheif walk by. Nicole grinned at the young Bolian girl.

“Don’t stop on my account.” Chief Sterling said.

Talas piped in, “There is no way the Captain is dead, Andorians are stronger than that.”
“Either way with the Lieutenant in command, who knows what is going to happen.” Joren added.

Cheif Sterling snapped her head to Joran. “What? Ash is in command?”

Joran looked down at the panel again. “That's what it says here. He just made a log entry, looks like a prisoner transfer of some sort.”

“That makes sense then,” Syldra said. “I hear that the Romulans captured Ambassador Spock, and we are here to rescue him. I wondered why we were here. Why else would we be on Romulus.”

The three other pilots rolled their eyes at the Bolian. Nicole wasn’t sure where Syldra got her information, or if she just made it up herself and spread it as gossip. The news that Ash was in command shook the Chief. She liked Ashram as an officer just fine, she did think he was brash and quick to decision though. That and like all 20 year olds he know, thought with other parts of his anatomy than he really should.

“We are getting fresh orders Chief.” Joran piped up over the chatter between Syldra and whomever would listen. “Looks like we are to ready two fighters, just in case.”

“Talas, get ready, Syldra, stay with Joran until you get new orders. Lets get moving.” Chief and Talas moved to their ships. Syldra and Joran stayed behind and got the deck ready. Nicole pushed all her doubt out of her mind, duty was calling.

BRIDGE:

“Flight deck reports ready sir.” An officer called out.

“K’boom is in position and standing by” Ensign Celes said, turning to Ashram. Her eyes were full of the tension of the moment. Ash could tell she was looking to him for support.

Ashram took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Prepare for transport...drop shields”