Subject: Grail: "Unexplored Spaces"- `A Cry in the Night'
<<NRPG: This post is approximately 10 days into our relative future.
From my notes and messages, these storylines need resolution:
DeMontignys Arrest [move your butt Kurt], Lt. J'hon Roak's
resuscitation. I am not blowing past these very important events, but I
want to insure that I don't exhaust the patience of others. The problem
with you guys is: You're all too damned good. You squeeze more action
into a single day than most sims see in a month. Allow this post to
prompt some characters and set-up others. Thanks for all your superior
efforts.>>
<<Stardate: 47307.29- 15:40>>
<<Main Bridge>>
Epic sat quietly considering the past ten days. The General
Quarters order was tough on everyone, and he was `sensitive' enough to
feel it. Things were going to bust soon. It was time to offer what his
new Counselor Mirkas Tzavaras had suggested. A healthy dose of hope.
"Lt. Fionn. Open a shipwide channel, please.", he stood for no
reason.
"Channel open.", Fionn sighed. Aside from the duldrum of routine
shifts while sailing through empty space, all anyone had to look forward
to was just another day of `house arrest'. Even his Senior officers.
Even Epic himself. Because of his constant exposure to those who had
been infected, even though he currently showed no symptoms, he had
avoided extremely long contacts with Kaje and Kaede. It was hard on
everyone.
"To all residents of the Grail:
"We are only a day away from the star cluster known as `the Great
Brightness'. Beyond that, another day to traverse that spectacular
expanse. But, effective 18:00 today, the General Quarters order will be
cancelled so that we might prepare for our arrival at the Kerestia
system and our much needed cure of this heinous Romulan virus.
"I know it doesn't mean much in the face of the incarceration I
have forced upon you, but I am genuiny sorry it had to be this way. In
order to make it up to you, for your outstanding cooperation and
patience, once the virus has been contained, I will insure that we
remain in the Kerestian system long enough for any who desire it to
visit the planet that Ambassador Kyp Firespray has dubbed `the Shopping
Mall of the Beta Quadrant'.
"Thank you again. Captain Terrakian out."
Epic could already feel the ambient mood of the Grail change. It
felt wonderful. He wished he could do things like that all the time. The
emotional blossom was its own reward. But, like a father of too many
children, sometimes the only way to protect them was to punish them.
Well, the punishment would soon be over.
Epic tapped his commbadge. "Terrakian to Hargen. Commander. I want
your report on that probe I requisitioned by 16:00. I hope I'm not
demanding too much."
=^=We'll see, won't we?=^=, she replied, but the strain in her
voice might have been a product of something else. Perhaps the
isolation.
Sitting down at the Big Chair, he sent a message to the attention
of:
To: Lt. Major Brinn, Lt. Comm. Hunt
cc: Lt. Logan Castle, Ambassador Kyp Firespray, Yoeman Vincent Rogers,
Counselor Mirkas Tzavaras, Lt. Kaitlyn Brennan, Lt. Eve Mallory, Dr.
William Ramius, Lt. Arda Kaje, Lt. Fionn.
Tomorrow, 47307.30-10:00, report to observation Lounge for discussion of
Away Team responsibilities for First Contact with Kerestia.
After sending that message right out, Epic composed another.
To: Lt. Alison Donucci
cc: Lt. jg. Francois DeMontigny, Ambassador Kyp Firespray
Report to Observation Lounge, 47307.30-09:00. I want a report on our
proposed flight path before an Away Team meeting scheduled for one hour
later.
Epic sent that message also. He took a deep breath and exhaled
slowly. It felt good to set events in motion. With something to do, the
lethal lethargy that had been settling over the Grail might finally be
relieved.
Suddenly, Fionn called from Tactical. "Captain. I am picking up a
distress signal from a shuttle of unknown origin. It is 2 light years
distant. The signal is weak with the distance. I cannot determine the
nature of the emergency. When we are closer perhaps."
"Best ETA, Lt.?", Epic turned to face him.
"At our current speed of warp 9....", he did some computations.
"... 7 hours."
Epic nodded with a grimace. "Respond to the signal. Inform them of
our ETA."
"Yes, sir.", Fionn replied. "It is automated."
Epic continued to nod. Things were about to get exciting again.