Times Like These

Posted on Sat Oct 17th, 2026 @ 3:23am by Captain Mhiess Hru’da & Commander Alec Hunter & Lieutenant Commander Lin Yue & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D'BrooNi- Haistro & Lieutenant Lilolette Cleminson & Lieutenant Zhi'rev & Lieutenant Liarra Xan

3,030 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Bloodline
Location: U.S.S. Saratoga
Timeline: 2439-08-13, 08:45

The drop from Warp 8.5 to Impulse was a smooth, heavy deceleration as the Saratoga glided silently into position along the boundary grid. Across the forward viewscreen, the vast, empty expanse of the Neutral Zone stretched out like a dark, unyielding canvas before them.

Captain Mhiess Hru’da sat in the starboard command chair of the central well, his posture tall, rigid, and imposing. His hands rested flat beside the LCARS console. The cold precision of his Romulan heritage and the fierce, unyielding discipline of his Klingon training were fixed intently on the main viewscreen. Every muscle in his body was primed, tracking the distant, anomalous telemetry that marked their final destination. Through the quiet hum of the Bridge and the rhythmic chime of the Tactical Arch, Mhiess maintained a vigilant watch. Ahead, magnified on the viewscreen, lay their target: a decaying Romulan listening post, its structural hull venting localized plasma while a low-frequency distress loop echoed through the void.

"Keep passive sweeps active," Mhiess commanded, his deep voice carrying absolute authority through the Bridge. "Do not give any cloaked vessels an active target. Helm, maintain approach vector. Lieutenant Commander Lin, hold us at Yellow Alert."

The quiet focus of the Bridge was suddenly broken by the heavy, rhythmic hiss of the turbolift doors.

Rear Admiral Wazeiya stepped out onto the deck and strode purposefully down into the command well where the Captain waited. The Rigelian flag officer carried an air of unyielding impatience, stepping directly into Mhiess's line of sight and interrupting the Captain's focus.

"We're wasting time, Captain Hru'da," Wazeiya declared, his voice cutting cleanly through the ambient LCARS chimes. He brought a hand down near the central console, leaning in slightly. "The automated signal is degrading, and those radiation signatures mean the station's data core will be vaporized if we hesitate. Order the Helm to cross the Neutral Zone immediately and prepare to beam over an extraction team."

Mhiess didn't flinch, nor did he break his stoic posture. He slowly turned his head, locking eyes with the Admiral with cold, unblinking calculation.

"Crossing the grid while anomalous signatures linger on our flank risks walking directly into a Romulan crossfire, Admiral," Mhiess stated calmly, his baritone voice low and steady. "We secure the perimeter first, then we execute the rescue."

"Starfleet Intelligence didn't send us here to play border patrol, Captain," Wazeiya countered smoothly, flexing his flag rank without hesitation. "The order stands. Take us in."

from his XO chair, Alec heard the conversation between Captain Mhiess and Admiral Wazelya and wondered (1) If the Admiral had a death wish and (2) What was the underlying reason he was hell bent on throwing caution to the win and risk a shooting war with the Romulan Free State.

Zhi found himself holding his breath as he observed what seemed to be a standoff. He considered the admiral to be invasive and disrespectful towards the captain, who clearly was putting crew safety first. "Scans on passive sweep captain," he announced, ignoring the admiral by looking directly at the hybrid captain. "It may take a minute to receive data." The Vulcan paused, glancing back at his monitor. "No cloaked vessels detected but that doesn't mean they're not there. I recommend caution and maintain my recommendation to use a shuttle rather than the ship to cross."

Listening intently to her colleagues, Lilolette looked down at her console. Like Alec, Zhi, she did not appreciate the Admiral's undermining presence. Wazeiya seemed extremely nervous, on edge. Agitated. It was almost like he had something to hide. Why else would his behaviour, especially for an Admiral, be so erratic? "Awaiting your orders, Captain." said Lilolette, she too choosing to ignore Wazeiya. As far as she was concerned, Mhiess gave the orders on this Bridge.

Captain Hru’da stayed steady, every refined instinct forged from his Romulan blood and honed in the unforgiving fires of his Klingon training cataloged the growing tension in the room. He sensed the restless energy flowing across the Bridge and he absorbed their implicit trust without acknowledging it directly; a commander did not require overt expressions of loyalty when a single line of fire lay before them.

Keeping his attention fixed squarely on Rear Admiral Wazeiya, Mhiess let the silence stretch, allowing the weight of his command presence to press against the flag officer's overt impatience. "Your urgency is noted, Admiral," Mhiess finally said, his deep voice cutting through the hum of the LCARS interfaces, "however, we don't cross into hostile space on a whim: we operate on passive scans, process the sensor feed, and maintain our defensive posture."

"We secure the perimeter, Admiral," Mhiess added as he slowly folded his hands over the armrest of the center chair, leaning in just enough to anchor his stance, "and we will do so without handing the Romulan Free State a pretext for war. So, stand down and let my crew do their jobs."

Wazeiya’s jaw tightened, a vein pulsing beneath his dark, Rigelian skin as the Captain’s firm refusal reverberated across the Bridge. He felt the cold, unified wall of silence from the Bridge crew, an unspoken mutiny of loyalty that only fueled his simmering desperation. Time was bleeding away, and every second they lingered on this side of the boundary grid increased the risk of the intelligence core collapsing into slag.

"I am not giving you a suggestion, Captain," Wazeiya snapped, stepping closer until he towered directly over Mhiess’s console, his voice dropping to a harsh, lethal whisper. "You are hiding behind tactical conservatism while an asset of vital galactic security disintegrates. I am relieving you of your hesitation, Hru'da. Cross the grid under my authority now, or I will officially relieve you of command and order your First Officer to lay in the intercept vector."

This all but confirmed Lilolette's growing suspicions about Wazeiya. He was up to something. He reeked of desperation. "Good luck with that." uttered Lilolette. "You can't relieve all of us." She knew full well if Wazeiya relieved Mhiess, Alec would take the same, measured course of action. As would every other officer on Saratoga's bridge. None of them were naive enough to think crossing the Neutral Zone would be without serious, far-reaching consequences.

Alec was now totally convinced that Wazelya was hiding something and this bold aggressive front was just a front for what he was hiding. A thought came to him, was there something, some information the admiral didn't anyone to find out about?

"Careful, Admiral," Captain Hru'da said softly from the center seat. He kept eye contact with the Admiral, but his ultimatum hung heavy over the Bridge. His Romulan heritage gave him an absolute, unreadable calmness, even as the lethal discipline of his Klingon training calculated every tactical variable unfolding across the room. "Commander Hunter knows the Standing Orders regarding border security as well as I do. You're asking this starship to commit an act of war on an unverified sensor sweep. Not only that, but now you're threatening to relieve a Starfleet Captain without a verifiable justification. That's a breach of Starfleet Protocol, and one that will require a full tribunal once we return to base."

"So," he slowly inclined his head toward his First Officer, "if you're intending to take command of the Saratoga, state your legal operational authority for the record... or step back from my console."

"You want legal authority, Captain?" Wazeiya's voice rang out, no longer a whisper, but a razor-sharp directive aimed straight at the entire command crew. "The data core on that post contains intelligence that, if recovered by rogue elements or destroyed improperly, could cost millions of lives across three sectors. That is your justification, Hru'da. It's logged, encrypted, and filed under my flag clearance." He turned his piercing gaze toward Alec Hunter, testing the First Officer’s resolve with a ruthless glare, "Commander Hunter... lay in the intercept course for that base, that is a direct order."

Alec looked at the captain and then to Wazelya. His face unreadable. Which for a human was pretty damn impressive. He was now firmly convinced that the admiral was hiding something and it was on data core inside the Romulan listening post. Alec straighten himself up and slowly and as distinctly as possible replied. "No sir. I will not obey that order. Your asking or wanting to start a war. The Saratoga will not be a party to that."

The First Officer’s refusal had drawn a hard, immutable line across the deck and the Captain stifled a smile. Instead, he slowly rose from the center chair, his eyes fixed on Wazeiya, cold and unblinking. "You have your answer, Admiral," Mhiess said, his baritone voice quiet, smooth, and entirely lethal in its clarity. "Citing blanket directives will not compel my officers to commit an illegal border crossing," he said as he took a single, deliberate step forward.

"Until we complete passive reconnaissance and secure this perimeter, you are an observer on this ship, and your presence is no longer needed on the Bridge," Mhiess stated flatly. "Return to your quarters, or I'll order your immediate confinement under Starfleet Regulation 12, Section 4."

"This isn't over, Hru'da," Wazeiya spat, his voice trembling with an volatile mixture of rage and terror. For two suffocating seconds, the flag officer looked as though he might physically strike the hybrid captain, his jaw working silently against the sheer, agonizing humiliation of his shattered authority. "You and every officer on this Bridge will answer to Starfleet Command for this insubordination." Without another word, the Admiral spun on his heel and marched toward the Turbolift, the heavy doors hissing shut behind him with absolute finality.

Mhiess didn't watch the Turbolift doors close, his focus shifting back to the main viewscreen with cold, calculating efficiency the moment the hiss faded.

"Commander Hunter," Mhiess said, his baritone steady and low as he settled back into the starboard command seat. "Detail a security team to escort the Admiral to his quarters and post a guard outside. Ensure they understand their duty is to monitor his movements quietly, not to provoke him."

"At once sir." Alec replied crisply as he tapped his combadge, arranged for a security detail to be posted outside the admiral's quarters and he stressed they were to monitor his movements not provoke him. That done he addressed Mhiess. "Security detail knows their orders and are taking up positions outside the admiral's quarters."

He turned his head slightly toward the Science console. "Mr. Zhi'rev, maintain your passive sweeps. Prep a shuttle with encrypted telemetry links and radiation shielding. If the perimeter remains clear, we will proceed with your recommendation to launch a discreet flight across the grid rather than risking the Saratoga."

The Vulcan breathed an audible sigh of relief when the upstart admiral left the bridge. "Aye captain," he acknowledged, "maintaining sensor sweep. I'll be down in the shuttle bay, I'll let you know when the shuttle is ready to depart. He stood and vacated his station to his bridge relief and after a brief instruction, left the bridge.

Looking over at the Flight Control station, Mhiess anchored his gaze on Lilolette. "Lieutenant Cleminson, hold our position precisely along the boundary line. Keep us on RCS thrusters, ready to move the moment sensor data confirms our vector."

"Yes, Captain." responded Lilolette, typing in the necessary commands. She too, was pleased to see the back of Wazeiya.

Finally, he looked toward Tactical. "Lieutenant Commander Lin, keep us at Yellow Alert and maintain a passive lock on any potential cloaking signatures along our flanks. Let us find out what is on that listening post that has an Admiral so thoroughly terrified."

Lin acknowledged the order with a measured nod, her attention fixed on the tactical display.

“Aye, Captain,” she replied calmly. “Passive lock maintained. I’ll have Tactical flag any tachyon distortions, anomalous power fluctuations, or cloaking signatures immediately.”

Her fingers moved across the console, refining the passive detection parameters without activating an active scan.

“If something is waiting out there, we’ll know the moment it gives us a reason to look twice.”

Captain Hru’da turned slightly in his chair, acknowledging the response from Tactical with a brief, single nod. His dark eyes remained fixed on the main viewscreen, observing the drifting, vented plasma trails of the decaying station. "Keep targeted sensor locks off their hull, but watch for tachyon distortions or power fluctuations in the surrounding sector. If there is a Romulan Warbird waiting in the shadow of that outpost, they will be watching to see if we take the bait."

He leaned back slightly into the starboard seat, folding his hands over his knee with cold, unruffled patience.

"Commander Hunter," Mhiess added without breaking his gaze from the screen, "once the shuttle is prepped, you and Mr. Zhi'rev will lead the away team. Secure the station's core, assess any remaining life support, and recover whatever intelligence Admiral Wazeiya was willing to risk a war over. Until then, we maintain current posture."

"Understood sir." Alec replied crisply. "We'll get right on it."

The newest Counsellor onboard stepped onto the bridge she hoped her new CO wouldn’t have any qualms with her presence on the bridge it was somewhere she liked to be, and she could offer her viewpoint, or support when needed. She gave Alec a smile as she saw him surprised to see him here, before looking towards Hru’da. “Captain, with your permission I’d like to be on the bridge?”

Alec looked at the latest arrival to the bridge. Liarra! She was supposed to be in her office what was she doing here? Though he was pleasantly surprised to see her again so soon after their first meeting. As it was he offered a smile as way of a reply.

"Zhi'rev to bridge," came over the speakers, "the shuttle is ready to depart."

Mel smiled at the new counselor. The poor woman didn't know how heated and tense things had just been. The Admiral was seething for sure but agreed that the Captain had done right. And was impressed Hru'da had stood up for his crew earlier.

Liarra offered a polite nod of her head and a smile in response, she’d take the time to get to know everyone as she settled in.

Seeing the captain hadn't answered and the counselor was just standing there, Alec spoke up. "Permission granted Lieutenant and welcome to the bridge."

“Thank you Commander” Liarra smiled warmly at Alec. Seeing the Mission Ops station was currently available she moved to take a seat pausing to look back. “Commander. She looked towards Alec. “From the emotions i sensed when I got here I’m guessing I missed something pretty important, may I ask what?”

Alec met her look. "A small away team is taking a shuttle to a Romulan listening post to retrieve a message that may contain important information."

Liarra nodded. “That would certainly stir up a lot of emotions. Thank you Sir.”

"You are welcome Lieutenant. That's what we thought as well." Alec smiled.

“I’m half Romulan Commander, and I doubt that would go far with helping with anything, but my Betazoid senses maybe of some use if needed.” Liarra added.

Alec knew full well she was half Romulan. "We'll take any edge we can get. Consider yourself part of the away team." Alec replied.

Liarra smiled and nodded. “Aye Sir, I just hope I’ll be of some use to you.”

Alec nodded. "I'm sure you will be Lieutenant."

"I am awaiting your arrival so we can depart," Zhi called up, rather cheerfully. "Shuttle is ready to go."

"We're on our way." Alec replied. "Lieutenant this way if you please."

Liarra nodded and followed Alec. She just hoped she’d be of use now she’d volunteered herself.

Captain Mhiess Hru’da turned his focus back toward the command well, his stoic, unreadable gaze sweeping across the Bridge before settling on his officers. The situation demanded a well-rounded away team—tactical precision, superior piloting, and ground support to secure whatever volatile secrets lay inside that derelict post.

"Lieutenant Commander Lin, Lieutenants Cleminson and Thompson," Mhiess commanded, "you are with him. Secure the station's core, evaluate any surviving life support, and retrieve the intelligence before that reactor degrades further." He paused, giving each of them a calculated, single nod of expectation, "You have your orders. Report to Shuttlebay 1."

Lin straightened slightly at the Captain’s order, acknowledging it with a crisp nod. “Aye, Captain.” Her expression remained composed, though her attention had already begun shifting towards the mission ahead. Crossing into Romulan territory, even aboard a shuttle, was hardly a routine assignment, and the possibility of a concealed Warbird made caution essential. She trusted Hru’da’s judgement in keeping the Saratoga out of harm’s way, but she had no intention of underestimating what might await them at the station.

As she stepped away from Tactical, Lin took a final glance at the sensor readings on her console. There was still too much they didn’t know about the listening post, and whatever intelligence lay within its failing systems had clearly attracted considerable interest. She adjusted her uniform and headed for the turbolift, mentally preparing herself for the operation ahead. Whatever they found, she intended to ensure the away team returned to the Saratoga safely.

"Yes, Captain." responded Lilolette. She immediately rose from her seat. After a brief exchange of words with the relief pilot, Lilolette made her way towards the turbolift. As she always did before an away mission, she made a mental note to let Felicity know before she departed.

Watching as Commander Hunter, Lieutenant Commander Lin Yue, Lieutenant Lilolette Cleminson, and Lieutenant Chase Thompson turned and departed toward the turbolift, Mhiess settled fully back into the starboard command seat. He anchored his eyes on the primary viewscreen, tracking the drifting, vented plasma trails of the decaying station.

"Maintain continuous sensor logs on the away team's telemetry channel," Mhiess instructed Ops quietly. "If the listening post's automated defenses or localized radiation anomalies present any hazard during their approach, flag it instantly. Keep this ship holding steady at Yellow Alert."

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