Gravitic Anomaly

Posted on Tue Nov 7th, 2023 @ 5:40pm by Commander Kevin Lance

Mission: The Q Effect
Location: Romulan Space
Timeline: Current

:on
{Aboard a Klingon ship}

Kevin stood with Lieutenant Walker and a Strategic Operations Ensign considering the information on the tactical console monitors. The Strategic Operations division had been able to crack into the Romulan communications network to allow the crew to listen in to civilian and unsecured military traffic. It was initially confusing as the words were being translated into Klingon from Romulan but a communications technician was finally reprogram the Bird of Pray’s computer to translate directly to Federation Standard, making the effort to interpret the data much less difficult.

There wasn’t any chatter about a shipwreck on any of the civilian channels and the few military channels that were available were similarly mute on the subject. That supported the supposition that the wreck was in the system with the L-Class planet that the ship was currently enroute to. The computer was still searching for references to a shipwreck but with each passing hour, Kevin was more assured of their conclusion.

“Sensors from the S’Tokkr system” the Strategic Operations Ensign reported using the proper Romulan name for the system with the Class-L planet, “indicate a gravitic anomaly entered recently. It is captured in the star’s gravity field and will be eventually slingshoted out on an elliptical orbit. However, it did pass close to S’Tokkr Alpha Three.”

“Close enough for a crew to make planetfall,” Kevin asked.

“Outside of known transporter range,” the officer explained, “but potentially within escape pod range. Unfortunately, those Romulan sensors are not intended to track something as small as an escape pod.”

“And the Romulan’s response?” Trace queried.

“They haven’t taken any official measures,” the Ensign replied, “at least according to the communications channels that we have access to.”

“They probably assume that it is a rogue asteroid,” Kevin opined.

“That is my assessment as well. The anomaly has not exhibited any internally generated motion and is falling towards the star in an expected manner. It doesn’t represent a threat so I expect that the Romulans are ignoring it.”

“As would we,” Kevin concluded, “had…our sweetie-pie…not alerted us to the possibility of it being a ship.”

There was a flash and the female Q appeared between Kevin and Trace with her arms draped over the should of both. “You’ve given me a pet name!” she exclaimed, “How sweet! I shall have to think of one for you!”

Kevin reflexively raised a hand to rub his eyes. “Oh, dear Cochrane,” he muttered to himself.

off:

Lieutenant Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris