AQ/D01 - Bridge - Printable Version +- Federation Space (https://fed-space.com/forums) +-- Forum: Ships Of The Line (https://fed-space.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=8) +--- Forum: USS Aquila, NCC-76853 (https://fed-space.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=50) +--- Thread: AQ/D01 - Bridge (/showthread.php?tid=662)

AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 04-13-2026 ==SEE WIKI PAGE FOR BRIDGE LAYOUT== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 06-23-2026 ==TIMELINE ON DOCKING== As the Aquila came into space dock it seemed like a long time since they were here last and was a welcoming sight. At the helm was Lieutenant Junior Grade Timothy Southwell, he joined the Aquila when the crews were merged and had come across as a very competent officer. Even through he mainly kept himself to himself and served mostly on the late shift in the crew rotas which wasn't under heard of that these officers didn't really socialize as much as day officers. Daniel went and took the center chair but he wasn't really doing much just watching as the crew expertly place the Aquila into her dock, the docking clamps went on and the ship powered down. "How we doing this evening Lieutenant Southwell? he inquired in a friendly tone. "Good thank you Captain, I didn't expect to see you this evening." Daniel nodded, "You are very correct on that Mr Southwell. Sometimes it is good just to come and watch the procedure and make sure everything is done correctly which in this case it has." In the back of the Captains mind Southwell did deserve a promotion but for some reason he had rejected it twice. "Southwell, may I ask you a question, why won't you become a full Lieutenant?" The officer turned in his chair, "To be honest Sir, I am happy where I am, I don't want the extra workload or what ever else may come with the promotion, I prefer to do what I do and do it well." he replied. Brooks nodded in agreement, some officers had indeed stepped into roles and could see they were struggling and wish they hadn't. "That is very commendable and man needs to know his limitations and what he does best." replied Brooks with a smile, "But one day... you might just accept it." he sat forward in the center chair for a moment, "Recently I been feeling reflective on my career and who's come and gone, how life goes on without them, sometimes it can be difficult and other times like today we will be getting a new Middy joining us which is fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing how their career goes within the fleet. I know mine never went where I expected it to go." Southwell nodded and replied, "Yes, experiences do change you and that is one thing that can't be helped." Dan sat back in the chair and said, "Yes they certainly do." ==Tag anyone, inc Diaz to report in== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 06-24-2026 Quickly making it to the bridge there was only one place for her to be, at the Captain’s right. As she entered the turbo lift Beno made sure her uniform was on and correct. There had been a few things that happened since the end of the last mission, one that warranted a talk with the Captain. It’s a personal thing that she had no intention of hiding, especially from him.  As they were getting closer to the station, Beno gave a nod to Daniel before claiming her seat. For some reason it felt different today than before in more than one way. Beno quickly dismissed it as just state of mind. The mission took a lot out of her, it also gave her an insight to politics. Perhaps one day she could go toe to toe with the best of them, but for now she will take it as it came.  ==Tag Docking timeline== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 06-24-2026 Alex stepped off the turbolift only a few seconds after Beno had. He grinned at the fact that the senior officers all appeared to have the same habit. When leaving or arriving at a station or a major rendezvous on a mission, you tried to be there, just in case. Most of the time it was nothing, but in those rare instances when something unexpected happened, you wanted your top people on hand to help deal with it. Alex felt it was just a good professional habit, and it made him feel good that the CO and FO also felt that way, even though none of them had said anything to the others. He logged in to his station as they dropped out of warp and while they were under impulse power, coming in past the outer markers, he stole a glance at Beno, seated in her customary position next to the Captain. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something different about how she was sitting there today. He had barely started to think about it when he detected an open thought from her that explained it enough. A hint of a grin threatened to betray his own thoughts, so he looked away and pretended to be interested in his console while he composed himself once more. Alex realized that life on the ship would never be the same for him again...and he was good with that. == Tag Docking timeline == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 06-24-2026 ==Docking timeline == Getting on the Bridge Cologero noticed he was the fourth person there, the space station was insight on the viewer. Cologero wax happy to see it, he left the place as a green Officer returning as Chief of his station. Advancement of any kind was good, it will be a while before he would get another. Cologero went to the center of the room infront of CO and FO. "Acting Chief of  Tactical reporting in." Cologero knew he didn't need to report like that again, he just thought it would be nice. He was a new Department head making it it his first day again, reporting in seemed to be appropriate. After being acknowledged by the Commanding Officer Cologero took his place at weapons control. There were new options available to him now that were not before, the power cells of phasers were fully charged as all Torpedoes were accounted for. They had a few areas that required attention due to maintenance scheduling, it was best to keep ahead of these things. All systems were green making the lock down process easier, they were docking soon making it essential the weapons were locked down. When Ethan got there the helm was his, Cologero couldn't wait to see him report in. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 07-04-2026 == Docking Timeline == Ethan had barely slept the night before. This was it. Primary Operating Duty Shift. The first of many watches. This wasn't a theoretical exercise, a sim session, or an apprentice cruise. Today, it was the real thing--and with primary watch standers on the bridge, no less. The Man himself would be looking over his shoulder at some point. He was, to borrow a phrase from the Embarkation Officer, "in for it". Speaking of which, he wasn't the only junior officer up on the lists today. Nearly every midshipman that had come aboard alongside Ethan on the transfer run was either a few days into their new job or going on duty for the first time this evening. Whether they were a software technician, astrophysicist's assistant, or just a jarhead walking the lower decks with a hand phaser, they all had the jitters. Every junior officer had the same singular goal of proving themselves, and the same unthinkable fear of dropping the ball in front of their superiors. It gave them something to talk about, at least. Heading into a shift with only two or three hours of sleep under your belt was never advisable, but Ethan had made sure to compensate with a large meal of steak and eggs drowned in gravy and about a gallon of orange juice. The officers' mess was full of new arrivals sitting together at their designated end of table (where the lieutenants could keep a close eye on them). It was a fairly common occurrence during the first few weeks, from what Ethan understood. Open crew lounges were far less formal and were far more suited to the kind of socializing that came after serving with the same people for a few years. In that way, he supposed being in Starfleet wasn't too different from his first days of high school. All you had to do was find your people. No one mentioned it, of course, but Ethan could practically feel the raw nerves of his shipmates seated around him. However well-trained and capable officers may be, they were all still very, very anxious at this stage. "Watch your back, man. The ensigns can smell fear," a woman across from Ethan had warned. It reminded him of an old joke that was told to every new class at Starfleet Academy. The story went that on one occasion, an admiral was inspecting a ship's crew on duty, and when he came to the quarterdeck, he happened upon a recruit and a midshipman, both fresh out of training. Naturally, upon sighting the admiral, both came to the position of attention. The admiral looked to the recruit first and asked "Am I making you nervous, son?", to which the young man replied, "Yes, sir." The admiral addressed the midshipman next, and was displeased to find them trembling in apparent fear. "Am I making you nervous, midshipman?" Asked the admiral. "Very much so, admiral," answered the young officer. "Now, that won't do at all. This young recruit here is standing perfectly still. So why are you, a commissioned officer, shaking like a leaf?" Without missing a beat, the midshipman replied: "Sir, if I wasn't shaking, you wouldn't be able to tell us apart." It always got a laugh, but there was some truth to it. Ethan just hoped it wouldn't be true in his case. After finishing his meal, he began his first, fateful journey up to Deck 1. The pair of turbolifts that led the main bridge could only be directly accessed by a handful of individuals on the ship. Bridge Crew Clearance was a sacred thing, and the bridge of a starship was hallowed ground. Starfleet was the furnace, and the bridge was the mold. Being a fully-certified watch stander wasn't an easy milestone to reach, and it earned you a little more respect than the average officer. In other words, Ethan would have to be exceedingly careful. He was an officer, yes--but to the people up here, he was just a below-average graduate with a ring and a dream. He stepped inside, listened to the door hiss shut, and shot upward toward the next thirty years of his life. Here goes nothing. Twenty seconds later, the door hissed open, and Ethan emerged into a spacious, mostly empty room with dark flooring. He'd never set foot in here before, but after having studied a dozen different versions of this same layout, he recognized the place well enough. All was exactly where it usually was--including the helmsman's chair.  Right away, his eyes found the Captain and First Officer seated in the center of the room. Two thirds of the brass, in the flesh. He recognized Lieutenant Coppola at the main TC station as well. Looking over to his right, Ethan then saw what he presumed was the ship's science officer already at work. One or two more people would probably be joining them soon, but in the meantime. . .  Ethan made his way smartly over to the command station, stopping on the left side, assuming the position of attention, and turning sharply on his right heel to face Captain Brooks. "Good evening, sir. Midshipman Diaz, reporting as ordered." == Open Tag. Sorry for the delay everyone. == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 07-07-2026 Brooks was busy checking his terminal on the command chair as he eyes came up to see a young Midshipman arriving to attention. "Good evening, sir. Midshipman Diaz, reporting as ordered." said the officer at attention. "Good evening Midshipman Diaz, I have been expecting you." he replied with a smile, "I'm Captain Brooks... Daniel Brooks and this is my First Officer Commander Velaul. Welcome aboard the Aquila Mr Diaz." Brooks then added, "You can relax now Diaz." indicating with his hand to relax out of being stood to attention. "I'm sure Mr Coppola will have something for you to do while we finish our docking manovers ." ==Tag Diaz and everyone else== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 07-07-2026 Ethan relaxed and gave the pair of them a nod. "Thank you, sir." Should he say something else? No, better not make things awkward. This was just another day at the office for the rest of the bridge crew. Just behave normally and focus on your work, Ethan told himself. He knew from his divisional briefing packet that the ship would be docking today, possibly to take on supplies or additional crew. That meant standard operations up here--nothing he hadn't been trained to handle. The pause would also give him time to go over the specifics of his control interface too.  "I'm sure Mr. Coppola will have something for you to do while we finish our docking maneuvers," the Captain added.  "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Ethan answered. His mouth was dry, and he'd left his stomach at the bottom of the turbolift, but once he turned to look out at the glittering void filling up the main viewscreen, he could feel some of his anxiety ebb away. He'd finally made it. That was a win. He just needed an hour or two to settle in, and then he'd be fine.  Ethan only needed a second to gather himself before stepping smartly over to his station and sitting down. Yes--he'd been through all this. Different systems, different scenarios, but the processes were the same. He scanned the helm control panel, taking note of his current system readouts.  Standard Approach Guidance locked, one-quarter impulse. Output control settings are pretty fluid, but those can always be adjusted. Easy tie-ins to Engineering and Maneuvering subsystems management. We're all good, he thought to himself.  The navigational mainframe was running a closed autopilot function; that was normal when docking a ship this size. Basically all you had to do was set the ship's computer to receive a bundled IFF/Exterior Scan signal from the station, and then its Space Traffic Control algorithm did the rest. Manual docking was also an option of course, but such maneuvers were typically performed at the Commanding Officer's discretion. For now, all Ethan had to do was sit back, relax, and wait for orders. == Open Tag == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 07-11-2026 Happy to see Ethan report in was like how he did for the first time, he was nervous to go through it for the first time. Cologero was almost done locking his station he was watching the ship dock. It really put the last mission behind them with the next one coming, what that was going to be was a mystery.  Going up to the helm Cologero took a knee beside Ethan. "Welcome to the Bridge." Cologero started. "I have entered information into the system that can help, what we can do before structure failure and how to shore up sections to prevent it from happening." He had entered a lot into the system with more to come, all in an effort to prevent the ship from falling apart. "We should go over a few things later, when it hits the fan we really need to flow together." It was something they needed to work on before it hits the fan, if they did their job right Tactical would be the shielding umbrella.  "If you wasn't we can talk about these things in a few hours?" They can do the meeting in quarters later, right now was about enjoying the moment. "Anything you want to go over now?" He was new so there could be a lot. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 07-11-2026 Fortunately, there was little needed for Science to do as they docked. Talion's presence on the Bridge was purely formality and something he simply tried to do as part of his professional habits. He was composed once again and the moment was close to boring and routine until his gaze fell upon the FO again. Alex's heart nearly skipped a beat and he actually had to make a deliberate effort to break his train of thought. He had worked closely with his first wife, but it had not been as distracting as this felt. He could now understand the precautions that were often taken to avoid such situations. He took a deep breath and used one of the mental disciplines he had been taught long ago. It helped him to clear his mind, though part of him didn't want to. A grin slid onto his face at the inner conflict. It was a good thing to have to wrestle with. Of all the things that could task a man to keep his mind on work, the affections of a beautiful woman had to be one of the better ones to pick. He would simply have to take strong precautions as then moved forward. It would not be acceptable for him to compromise either of their positions regarding their obligations and professional duties. == Just staying in the loop == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Kalli Thorn - 07-11-2026 It was a rare moment that Kalli came onto the Bridge these days. Her duties kept her busy with the rest of the ship, but like the rest, she often liked to be there for the docking. She preferred being in Engineering for launches, most of the time, just in case, but Docking allowed her to get in a last minute word with the CO, knowing he would be there and a captive audience. She quietly walked over near the Captain and gave the CO and FO both a look and a nod, "Captain...Commander..." Then addressed the CO, "Sir, I've not seen anything come across my desk about anything requiring their dock crews to be on our ship, but it never hurts to ask. Is there anything I should be aware of that might have them sneaking in and trying to get in some updates or anything? I really hate those kind of surprises and our scheduled maintenance roster is looking very good right now." == Tag Bridge Crew == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 07-18-2026 Try as he might, Ethan couldn't bring himself to just ride the autopilot all the way to the dock, so he leaned forward and went over his panel again, delving back into his memories of the Basic Flight and Navigation Course. Now that he was actually on the bridge of a real starship, most of the lessons were coming back to him pretty quickly. Being a new exploratory platform, the Ross-class brought a few changes to certain interface systems, but for the most part, the EMCs resembled those of most ships that had been built over the past 15 years or so. Ethan was so lost in all of it that he almost didn't notice Lieutenant Coppola rise from his seat to approach him. "Welcome to the Bridge," he said, dropping down to one knee. "I have entered information into the system that can help, what we can do before structure failure and how to shore up sections to prevent it from happening." "Thank you sir, I appreciate that," Ethan replied. The corner of his mouth curled upward in a nervous smile as he tried to find his next words. "I saw those direct input links for the emergency seals and damage control subroutines and whatnot. I'm guessing that was you. It's a good setup." "We should go over a few things later, when it hits the fan we really need to flow together," Coppola continued. "I'm with you there, sir." "If you wasn't we can talk about these things in a few hours?" Ethan considered it for a moment before nodding slowly. "I'm always open to instruction sir. Just let me know the time and place and I'll work it in to my schedule." The offer made sense. Even though it was his first day on the job, it was important for a ship's Conning Team (the Officer of the Deck, the helmsman, and the navigator) to establish a solid rapport so they could anticipate and react to each other within seconds. The three of them would set the pace for the entire bridge crew, and when they all worked together and did everything by the book, they would operate like a well-oiled machine. "Anything you want to go over now?" The Lieutenant added. "Nothing comes to mind at the moment, sir. The system seems pretty intuitive. I should be ready to open up manual control once we're on the outbound run." == Open Tag == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 07-21-2026 Nodding in agreement about the changes he made, Ethan picked up on them right away. There were patterns that were meant for a last stand situation. If these manuvers were used it wax a desperate situation, they were designed to change will die to might.  "Yes there is one manuver I would love to talk about." Cologero pulled up a small display of the manuver. "This one I call drop the acher where the back end swings out like a drift, depending on the situation we might engage the warp drive to get out of the situation." If this manuver was done correctly they can make a quick exit. "When you had a chance to be better situated I would love to go over how we can work in sync, we will only have verbal communication at times. Shorthand talk might be preferred, fractions of seconds count." Cologero wanted to know him better too for a better understanding, they need something that was only theirs. Eventually they would get to the point both will be able to detect what the other is doing without talking, that would be a solid dynamic. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 07-23-2026 ==Docking timeline== Commander Velaul took her seat next to him to his right but they only really exchanged a few words as the ship came into dock, on the travel back, Brooks had mainly been held up in his Ready Room or his quarters trying to sort out all the political complications from their last mission even through Command were contemplating sending a full on envoy over to see if they could assist in ways only Brooks dared to think. In fact it all had been a lot of mental dealings and it taken it toll a bit. It would be nice to get on a little relax and then maybe head out into another mission a lot less complicated then the last one. He kind of admired Velaul in how she handled herself, it was then his mind went onto something else, about what ever was going on between her and Commander Talion, he knew there would be a moment when Beno would want to explain things to him but now wasn't the time. Lieutenant Thorn arrived on the Bridge and took his mind off the stuff that he didn't really need to be thinking about right now, Captain...Commander..." Then addressed the CO, "Sir, I've not seen anything come across my desk about anything requiring their dock crews to be on our ship, but it never hurts to ask. Is there anything I should be aware of that might have them sneaking in and trying to get in some updates or anything? I really hate those kind of surprises and our scheduled maintenance roster is looking very good right now." Brooks nodded, "I haven't heard anything either in anything coming from Command, just do your usual checks with a skeleton crew as always, I know they said there was a couple of upgrades to be done but we can do them, nothing that exciting this time." he replied with a smile. "You might be able to enjoy your time off this shore leave and make the most of it Lieutenant." he added Turning to Beno he said, "I believe my usual medical is due, if you can see if anyone else is up for their annual review it would be good and try get the Doc to book them in just as we leave base rather then disturbing their break as I think everyone deserves one." ==Tag Thorn & Velaul== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 07-23-2026 One of the best views Beno had was the ship docking, it always felt like a bit of a release. She also agreed that it was time for her physical as well, there would need to parts of the test that needs to be omitted. Beno could feel something different with Velaul, it wasn't dangerous to her at all.  "Under the circumstances I believe it's time." The atmosphere of the planet could have come with unintended side effects, much like a bug bite. To her it could mean the difference between life, and being a memory for the next host. Soon Beno heard Cologero talk about a meeting with his Midshipman, it wasn't a bad idea. "That sounds like a great idea Lieutenant I would like a meeting with you as well, just so we can sync up as well." Beno enjoyed a close relationship with his predecessor, it would take some time to develop that kind of relationship. Eventually she was going to have a one on one with all department heads, then one more with them all.  ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 07-24-2026 Hearing the First Officer expressing an interest in a meeting Cologero had a small panic attack, until he realized her purpose was the same as his. "Just tell me the where and when, I will be there Commander. There are a few things I want to talk to you about as well, if we are going to work closer together." She knew the rest of it so he didn't have to get into it. Cologero wanted to make sure they were going to make a great team, he had heard stories about her. The fact she was well balanced out, both professional and personal. Even in the rare times she needed to discipline it wax in order to build them up. Cologero never believed in tearing people down, neither did she. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 07-26-2026 Beno got a little laugh in from his response, it was also a reminder that she needed the big meeting first. There were a few things she needed to say, one of them more important than the other. “Captain.” Her voice was trying to get back to normal. “There are a couple sensitive items we should talk about soon, one I am aware that has already come to your attention.” Beno was sure that even the barber knew about it too.  “Daniel.” Beno has never used his first name like that before, it meant that something personal. “Anytime at your leisure.” Beno had no way of knowing if he had important business to attend to, the upside was the same as the downside. More time to think about what to say, these were three things she never seen herself talking about with anyone.  ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 07-27-2026 Alex felt the shift in Beno's approach with the CO, though it didn't take a telepath to notice that. The change in her voice, the use of the first name only and then there was her body language as well. She was still preparing to talk to him. Alex wasn't sure if he would be there for the conversation or not, but was prepared to pivot either direction with it. He had to let her handle this in her own way, respecting her enough to trust in her ability to handle it all appropriately. It was a new experience for him, having someone that he felt so much more of an equal with. For the moment, Alex would continue to stand at his station and observe them coming in. The docking process was certainly nothing very exciting, but he valued routine at times like this. There were some things that he liked to be predictable and almost boring. It gave a feeling of security in the foundational practices they often tried so hard to teach the crew. The turn of events had permanently altered how he viewed Beno. He had worried about Reyna and how they would get along, but it turned out he needn't have worried at all. Not only was Reyna not clashing with this new woman in his life, but they had bonded unlike anything he could have anticipated. Beno turned out to be quite a maternal sort at heart and had a way with Reyna that was quite disarming. It was no secret that his daughter was far smarter than she should be, but Beno simply sidestepped that and focused on the emotional and personal aspects, thus instantly leveling the field and showing a wisdom he envied. He supposed it had something to do with Velaul's previous experiences combined with her own, but it could not be denied that it worked very well. Not wanting to give too much away, he resisted giving her a wink, but couldn't resist just a little more hint of a grin than his usual stoic self. == Tag == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 07-27-2026 “Captain.” said the FO as her voice was trying to get back to normal. “There are a couple sensitive items we should talk about soon, one I am aware that has already come to your attention.” Daniel looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Daniel.” Beno has never used his first name like that before, it meant that something personal. “Anytime at your leisure.” Dan gave a small nod, "We can do once we are in dock, have a chat in the Ready Room?" he replied knowing that sometimes ship gossip could be wrong or get something out of context so it would be far better hearing it from the person involved. Life went on regardless of the latest gossip and Daniel knew that these things could be difficult to come and talk to the Captain about as he had it himself in the past but he liked the way him and Beno's friendship had grown, along with how she had grown since the first time he met her when he was on another ship. Whatever she was going to confirmed to him it wouldn't really change his view point of her. ==Tag Velaul== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 07-28-2026 "When you had a chance to be better situated, I would love to go over how we can work in sync, we will only have verbal communication at times. Shorthand talk might be preferred, fractions of seconds count."  "No problem, sir," Ethan assured his superior. "As I said, I'm always open to instruction."  He turned back to his console, watching the thrust levels on the impulse engines start to drop as the autopilot slowed the ship for final approach. A docking clearance ping came through, and the guidance lock kicked in. He kept one ear open as the brass spoke behind him. The entire bridge crew was present now. Once the Aquila was safely docked, the rest of the hands would likely be standing down for a more relaxed work schedule, unless the captain had something different in mind. He'd heard rumors about a new mission coming up soon, new orders from Fleet Expeditionary Command and whatnot, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. People were always jawing about the next mission. Of course, being on the bridge, one tended to have much more accurate information, being so close to the captain and all. It was one of the many advantages of working up here. One thing at a time, Ethan reminded himself. Even if there was another job right around the corner, a ship like this couldn't go rushing off half-cocked.  == Tag == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 07-28-2026 Going back to his station Cologero had a part to do as well, the docking clamps were almost aligned before they were engaged. The rest of the procedure was straight forward, the ship was safe and secure. "Captain the docking procedure has been completed." There was a small shift in the ship suggesting the docking clamps were engaged. "Everything is secure now we should be able to walk off the ship shortly." It was nice to lock down his station again, now they were free to move about. It seemed like there were going to be a few meetings going on. Cologero thought it was a really good idea to do, from the tone of the First Officer combined with the briefest of glances of the Chief Science Officer. Cologero could guess it involved him, if true he was happy for them both. "Midshipman good job the final task is to lock your station." The final thing to wait for was an official dismissal,it was just good policy. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 08-03-2026 The whole docking process took maybe five minutes. Ethan sat back and watched as the Aquila continued to glide serenely along her preset course. The station loomed larger and larger on the viewscreen, the sides of the docking slip aligned perfectly with the approaching vessel. Every tiny variation that was required to keep her level was handled by the computer. The docking clamps were opened, then there was the last-second burst from the maneuvering thrusters to slow them down for final approach. At about 100 meters or so, the impulse engines were shut off completely, and inertia did the rest. A heavy metallic creak that echoed throughout the superstructure signaled that the docking clamps had been engaged. Finally, a system alert appeared on the main helm interface: "ALL STOP - SECURE FROM DOCKING CYCLE". At this point, it was safe for Ethan to leave his station. The only way the ship could come lose now was with a "shove-off" safety lock signal that could only be sent one-way from STC and had to be confirmed on the Captain's panel. Technically, the proper procedure was to wait until the Captain dismissed them, but on most ships that was just a formality. Ethan turned to look over his shoulder and saw that some of the senior officers were already on their way out. Then, with perfect timing, Lieutenant Coppola told him to lock his station. The midshipman nodded and did so with practiced ease. "Aye, sir." While he waited for Captain Brooks to address them, Ethan wondered how he ought to spend his first couple hours of off-time. Some of the other new officers he'd been dining with in the wardroom had arranged to do some stuff on the holodeck, which was tempting, but perhaps it would be better to squeeze in some last-minute coursework. Cross-training with Maneuvering Section down in Engineering was always an option too, assuming he wasn't assigned to a Non-Duty Watch up here. Or maybe he'd just get some more sleep. In any event, Ethan was relieved there'd been nothing for him to screw up. For his first shift, things had been perfectly uneventful. == Tag == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - GM-Braggins - 08-19-2026 ==At some point following the Aquila's previous mission== While docked, a skeleton crew manned the Bridge, mostly junior officers or enlisted not quite on the fast track to command, but considered capable enough to be left to their own devices. It was during one such shift that an emergency message was delivered, priority one. The signal came from a Supply Ship, the USS Lowry, and was as succinct as it was alarming. [FROM: Commanding Officer, USS Lowry TO: Any Federation Starship in range Starbase 214 blockaded by Cardassian escort squadron. Cardassian invasion fleet crossing border. Fleet comprises three Escorts, three Battlecruisers, one Dreadnought. Lowry withdrawing. USS Yeager remains on-station. Current status, unknown. Immediate reinforcement requested.] With trembling hands, the duty officer downloaded the message to a PADD, requested relief from the next senior officer available, and bolted to get the Captain. RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-19-2026 ==Temp NPC Lieutenant Junior Grade Timothy Southwell Tactical== Timothy had been with the Aquila since it's launch but had very little ambition to go any higher in the ranks. He had found his niches and he didn't really get along with people, he liked to keep himself to himself, within this he usually volunteered to be on the skeleton crew. This was until a priority one message came over, he downloaded it to the PADD as he knew the Captain would be in his quarters. Turning to Ensign Barry Keaton from Science who was on the Bridge helping with the Science sections upgrade he said, "I'm going to the Captain, I leave you in charge of the Bridge." Timothy said as he rushed to the aft turbolift. Barry didn't have chance to respond and felt kind of perplexed by it all. >>>CO Quarters>>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-19-2026 <<<CO Quarters<<< The turbolift ride was quiet between Brooks and Southwell, as the doors opened onto the Bridge, Brooks stepped out and headed straight down to the command centre. Pressing a button on the command chair he said, "Aquila to all crew, urgent recall, recall to all stations within twenty minutes. Brooks out." Closing the channel, Brooks then sat down in the centre chair, he hated the waiting but it had to be done to get everyone back on board. It also made him feel sightly nervous as this will be the first time the Aquila could be tested in a combat situation. ==Tag all== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 08-19-2026 <<<<FO Quarters.<<< There was a little more time to enjoy some Family time together, it was nice to unwind for a little longer than expected leaving Beno with an unusual glow. Beno felt happier than she has in a long time, when the call came for a crew recall. Beno was quick to get dressed heading to the Bridge, Beno had no way of knowing what to expect just that it was urgent. Beno was the second to arrive on the Bridge recognizing the Captain was the first. "Exciting isn't it Captain?" Beno had some enthusiasm in her voice. "I never know what to expect when sent out, just that we are needed." Beno was waiting on the rest of the Bridge crew to come shortly, she wanted to see their new department heads in action. ==Tag== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-19-2026 His First Officer was the first to arrive after the call, "Exciting, isn't it Captain?" she said before adding, "I never know what to expect when sent out, just that we are needed." Daniel face didn't show any ethusiasm as Beno had in fact it remained poker face, to Brooks this was going to test the ship and the crew and in any rate he didn't really know what they will be flying into. "Yes, well Number One, take a seat." he said, once she had he said, "I need to know once all stations are green as we need a very quick departure." Turning over to the officer sat at comms, "Contact the station and let them know we expect a quick undocking sequence as we are responsing to a priority one call." he said before tapping a few commands into the centre chair. "Number one, I will brief everyone once we have left space dock and today isn't the day to be too excited." ==Tag Velual and anyone else who wants to arrive== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 08-20-2026 Cologero was the next to arrive on the Bridge, seeing how the call wasn't that long ago it made him happy to be the first three people there. He went directly to his station starting to unlock the systems before running a full systems diagnostics, it was standard procedure before leaving the Space station. "Captain." He said as a friendly greeting. "Commander." He wasn't sure if they were going to do a ship wide announcement, or was this going to be a senior staff meeting.  "Tactical systems are ready for action." The weapons and navigation were both offline still, it was just a glimpse into the systems. It was then that he noticed something different about both the Captain and the First Officer, or it could even be just him seeing them with rested eyes. It was a good leave getting to know people on a more personable basis, truly a double edged sword, when their presences is felt it is celebrated with great delight, when they are gone it is greatly missed or worse grieved. For Science he wasn't sure who was going to be there, just happy to see either of them. Security he looked forward to seeing Jez again, he would have no issue following her lead again.  ==tag Captain and or Commander== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 08-20-2026 Knowing exactly what Daniel was speaking of Beno did try to curve her enthusiasm, she enjoyed her down time a lot now it was time to do her duties. It was a little difficult to do for her, Daniel knew exactly why and this was her first chance to keep to her promise.  "I will keep it in mind Captain, I ill make sure to maintain an appropriate level." She was waiting for the rest of the crew to get there, the next was their new Chief Tactical. He went right to business as expected, he gave a nice greeting and report about the readiness of Tactical.  She was looking forward to hearing what they were about to do, Daniel had these things well in hand. She just hoped that he had a chance to relax as well, do something he enjoys.  "Thank you for your report Lieutenant." He looked a little more relaxed as well, Beno was equally happy for him and Carley all the same.  ==Tags== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-21-2026 Alex finally appeared on the Bridge. He wasn't the type to snap to attention, but had a certain casual professionalism to him that was still respectful. "Captain, Science is all accounted for and all facilities and experiments have been secured for launch." He then shifted his gaze to Beno and grinned, "Commander..." Alex's expression turned more serious as he then returned his attention to the Captain, "That look on your face tells me that whatever this is, you don't like it, so that can't be a good thing. Any special instructions on the way out of the barn, or are you going to save it all for the briefing?" == Tags to the Bridge Crew == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-21-2026 Brooks responded to Coppola's greeting with a nod, he watched as the new acting Chief Tactical went about his business as Velaul said, "I will keep it in mind Captain, I ill make sure to maintain an appropriate level." Daniel looked at Beno for a moment, "Don't worry, I'm just a bit more concerned with what we are going thats all, I shouldn't have dampened your spirit." "Tactical systems are ready for action." said Coppola, "Thank you for your report Lieutenant." replied Beno as then the Chief Science Officer appeared, they still not had their 'talk' about what was going on between the FO and the CSO but Dan gleened alot from other areas. "Captain, Science is all accounted for and all facilities and experiments have been secured for launch." Talion then shifted his gaze to Beno and grinned, "Commander..." Alex's expression turned more serious as he then returned his attention to the Captain, "That look on your face tells me that whatever this is, you don't like it, so that can't be a good thing. Any special instructions on the way out of the barn, or are you going to save it all for the briefing?" Daniel rested his head in his left hand as he said, "All information will be given in due course, my main prority right now is getting us out of dock and on way." He turned towards Coppola, "Mr Coppola, as soon as all departments report in, I want us to be moving off, no delay. This is an urgent request of assistance and can't we afford to be slow. I am sending you the cordinates now." Brooks tapped a few commands into the arm rest. As he did so the other departments across the ship started to report in, "Comms, tell space dock we want to leave." "Aye sir." said the officer at comms before adding, "we have a green light Sir." "Mr Coppola, bring us back on aft thrusters and then bank us out and to starboard." he said before looking at Velaul, "We going to see what our ship can do." he said to her as he opened a channel to all over the ship. "Crew this is your Captain, we have been requested at urgency to go and assist the USS Lowry and USS Yeager on the Cardassian boarder. Information at this time is starbase 214 is being blockaded by Cardassian escort squadron. Cardassian invasion fleet crossing border. Fleet comprises three Escorts, three Battlecruisers, one Dreadnought. Lowry withdrawing. USS Yeager remains on-station. Current status, unknown and need immediate assistance. We being fairly close and able have accepted this task, I'm sure I can trust each one of you to perform to your best ablities under this high pressure. Captain Brooks out." He closed the channel then said, "Mr Coppola, let me know when we are free of space dock and able to engage warp." Turning to Talion he said, "I want you to assist in finding any weakness in that dreadnought class ship we can use or any of the others, I want to be able to fly in there and surprise the hell out of them." ==Tag All== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-21-2026 Without hesitation, Alex responded to the CO, "Of course sir. I have to ask though, if we're going into combat, do you want to evacuate the civilians?" Talion also turned to Tactical, "Tactical, I'll start trying to dig up anything extra I can find on that ship. Let me know if you need any specialized scans for your analysis and assisting in target acquisitions. I'll also have a crew begin prepping a couple of stealth probes for reconfiguration, just in case." == Tags to Bridge Crew == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-22-2026 Daniel looked back at Talion, being the first ship he had served on with having families aboard he hadn't really taken it all in that they might need evacuting before hand. "Yes Commander Talion, let me know how long that will take, we need them off as soon as we can, find out what ever way to help speed them to get off." He then said, "Mr Coppola, how long will it take to get to the destination of where the Lowry and the Yeager are at warp nine?" ==Tag Talion and Coppola in addition to the tag above== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-22-2026 After quick consideration, the CO gave his order to have the civilians evacuated. "Aye, sir. I'll initiate the evacuation order immediately. Our drills have done it in roughly ten minutes, but I'll estimate 15, just to be sure we've also completed an internal sweep to get the last of them off the ship and onto the station." Alex moved to his console and within seconds there was an announcement by the computer broadcast across the entire ship: [Attention...Attention...Attention...This is not a drill...All civilian and non-essential personnel are to evacuate immediately. If you are not an active duty member of the crew, you are to report to an evacuation point immediately. Please follow the flashing arrows and proceed in an orderly manner. If you require assistance, simply say in a clear voice that assistance is required and the computer will direct crew to assist you in evacuating. This is not a drill.] The message repeated a couple of times, but the sound of it was not as loud on the Bridge. Alex approached Beno and simply said, "Excuse me, but I have to ask...Beno, do you want Jason to go with Reyna? He will be quite safe either way, but I have plans in place for such things for Reyna." He hesitated before adding, "They would be picked up from the station by the Valkyrie and taken to a safe location." == Tag Beno == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 08-22-2026 "Mr Coppola, as soon as all departments report in, I want us to be moving off, no delay. This is an urgent request of assistance and can't we afford to be slow. I am sending you the cordinates now." Brooks tapped a few commands into the arm rest. Waiting for word that all departments checked in Cologero seen that they were coming in. "Captain all departments report ready."  "Comms, tell space dock we want to leave." "Aye sir." said the officer at comms before adding, "we have a green light Sir." "Mr Coppola, bring us back on aft thrusters and then bank us out and to starboard." Getting the ship out of space dock Cologero had a smile, rest was nice plus the activities made it better. Now it was time to do what he was really here for. The motions of the ship were smooth as silk, "We going to see what our ship can do." he said to her as he opened a channel to all over the ship. "Crew this is your Captain, we have been requested at urgency to go and assist the USS Lowry and USS Yeager on the Cardassian boarder. Information at this time is starbase 214 is being blockaded by Cardassian escort squadron. Cardassian invasion fleet crossing border. Fleet comprises three Escorts, three Battlecruisers, one Dreadnought. Lowry withdrawing. USS Yeager remains on-station. Current status, unknown and need immediate assistance. We being fairly close and able have accepted this task, I'm sure I can trust each one of you to perform to your best ablities under this high pressure. Captain Brooks out." He closed the channel then said. At this point Cologero didn't know how to feel he just kept a smile all the same, they were going to assist another ship that could mean they would need some extraordinary plays for their book. One that could go between the Cardassian invader with the Federation ship, people were going to be lost along the way there was no stopping that.  "Mr Coppola, let me know when we are free of space dock and able to engage warp." Clearing of the space dock didn't take a long time at all, soon the hum of the warp engines filled the bridge before warp was achieved. Cologero started off with warp seven, a fast enough pace to get there really fast without taxing the engins too much. "I want you to assist in finding any weakness in that dreadnought class ship we can use or any of the others, I want to be able to fly in there and surprise the hell out of them." With every force out there their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness, Cardassians were also known to be highly arrogant meaning they have no respect for their enemy. It is in this disrespect they never prepare for what the other is capable of, bottom line it could be the battle of the ego.  "Mr Coppola, how long will it take to get to the destination of where the Lowry and the Yeager are at warp nine?" Changing the speed part way in, Cologero entered the information how far they were going at that speed.  "Checking for you Captain." He wasn't sure off the top of his head, he was good with numbers just not that good. ==Tag GM input how long would it take?== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 08-22-2026 Beno understood where Daniel was coming from, it was just one of those things that come with the chair. She just didn't want to give him anymore grief than he already had. "Don't worry Captain I understand." She was happy to see Alex join them on the Bridge, they exchanged glances. Beno had a smile while greeting him back. "Commander." It wasn't a smile any different than she would have for the rest of the crew. Both Alex and her knew Daniel enough to know when he was under pressure, both didn't want to add to the pressure. His briefing for the crew really did put it into perspective for her. They were going into a battle situation meaning Jason was going to have to leave the ship, it was a risk both were well aware of. "Alex I believe both of us would feel better if both were together, it would give all of us peace in mind knowing they are looking out for each other." It was unusual for Beno to talk about anything personal on the Bridge, this one was the most understandable. Reyna would be able to help Jason understand these things, she had been through it before where Jason hasn't. Jason would also have the natural instinct to stick close to Reyna, just for the sake of making sure she was ok. Even if there was a couple of ways that Beno would need to form an away mission, Beno knew the top two names that were going to be needed was Mala and Thorn. They might have to go onto another ship for some kind of rescue, or evacuation. In her mind it was just a few plans of action ready to put into action, it was when they get there she will know what one to put into place. Sickbay was going to have to be ready for high amounts of traffic, Beno was going to make sure they had the level of help they needed. The only true upside right now was the fact they had a lot of time to prepare, Beno had plans not to waste a single minute of it. ==Tags== ==PS I hope to have previous post deleted, I have no idea why it posted.== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-23-2026 Talion had reported that all civilians were evacuated and they were clear for launch. It had gone smoothly and there had barely been any delay at all. Beno got a message from Reyna. She knew she couldn't bother her with a voice message at a time like this, but did send a text message to her: [Mom, Jason and I are fine. We'll be in a safe place and I'll take good care of him. You and dad focus on what you need to do and come back to us. Thank you so much for everything. We love you. Reyna.] Beno briefly questioned how Reyna was able to get a direct message to her on her official system, but then remembered the family she was part of now. Alex was at his console, reviewing the latest intelligence data on the Cardassian ships. There were some cross references to which ships were suspected to be in the fleet they were going to encounter. For the first time in a long while, he was nervous as they headed toward what was very likely to be a shooting match. He was glad the kids were safe, but he couldn't help but worry about Beno now. In his head, he knew that he shouldn't think differently about her, but his heart still never forgave him for letting Kristina go on her last mission. He knew then and he still let her go. It was a foolish thing to beat himself up over, but it was a flaw he lived with. He was drawn to women who were strong and professional. Beno was that and then some. There was no turning away from this and he knew that the best thing he could do to keep them both alive was to contribute in every way possible to give the crew good information to work with. == Tag Beno and Bridge Crew == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Jez Mala - 08-23-2026 Once Jez made sure that all non-essential personnel had been evacuated, she made her way to the Bridge. When she entered, it was buzzing with activity. Clearly, something was brewing. “Sorry, I’m late. I had to finish the evacuation of the civilians. A little girl lost her kitten,” Jez announced. “However, Captain, all non-essential personnel have been safely evacuated,” said Jez. The mood on the Bridge was tense. You could feel the tension in the air, but it wasn’t the kind of tension born from fear. It was more of a “let’s get this mission underway and do what must be done” type of tension. Jez quickly took her station and began running the pre-flight security checks. She spotted Commander Talion and Commander Velaul talking, but thanks to Jez being half-Vulcan, she had excellent hearing. She heard Commander Velaul say, “Alex, I believe both of us would feel better if they were together. It would give all of us peace of mind knowing they are looking out for each other.” Jez knew Beno had to be talking about Talion’s adorable but precocious little Reyna, and Jez assumed Beno was talking about  her son Jason. Yes, Alex had his holographic maidens, but she wasn’t sure if they were allowed to operate off the Aquila. Jez secured her station briefly and made her way within earshot of Alex and Beno. She considered them more than friends because Alex was more than a friend, and she really liked and admired Commander Velaul, especially after Beno had praised Jez’s performance during the recent holodeck evaluations. “Excuse me. I couldn’t help but overhear your concerns,” said Jez, pushing her hair back over her ears, as if to say, " Yeah, I’m half-Vulcan. Not much gets by me. “If you want, I can ask Ted... I mean, Mike, to keep an eye on Reyna and Jason, if you wish. I’m sure he will be happy to offer any assistance you require, especially after all the wonderful things you two have done for me,” stated Jez, her tone friendly and respectful. Jez couldn’t help but get the feeling that Alex didn’t like Mike very much, maybe because the two were both stubborn as Targs and saw their own worst qualities in each other. But Jez saw two men who were gallant and noble, handsome and intelligent, and fiercely loyal—like two Cane Corsos from Earth. Jez knew that breed of men and dogs very well. The more Jez thought about it, the more perfect sense it made. Both Alex and Mike had an unmistakable presence about them. They were protective and watchful by nature, the kind of men who instinctively kept an eye on the people they loved and took their responsibility for family and home very seriously. They carried themselves with confidence and a certain assertiveness that could sometimes come across as dominant or even intimidating, especially when they felt challenged. Yet with the people they considered their own, that tough exterior could disappear almost completely. They could be deeply affectionate, surprisingly gentle, and almost “Velcro-like,” always wanting to be close to the people they trusted. They were intelligent men who learned quickly, read a room exceptionally well, and needed something to challenge their minds. Without purpose or stimulation, that considerable energy could become restless. Around strangers, however, they tended to be reserved and observant rather than immediately friendly, carefully sizing people up before deciding whether they were worthy of their trust. That explains a lot, Jez thought. Alex and Mike—fierce guardians without a doubt. Jez knew that in men who possessed these Cane Corso-like qualities particularly strongly, there was often an even greater sense of physical and social dominance. They tended to occupy space without trying, their size, confidence, and presence making them difficult to overlook. They could be more territorial about the people and places they considered theirs, and they might instinctively test boundaries to determine who was actually in charge. That didn’t necessarily make them aggressive; rather, it meant they required a strong sense of direction, clear boundaries, and someone they respected enough to follow. Beneath all that muscle, confidence, and intimidating presence, though, could be an incredibly loyal and affectionate man who simply wanted to know that his people were safe. Once he had decided that you were one of his people, he might stay remarkably close to you, watching over you with the quiet devotion of a very large, very powerful dog who had decided you belonged to him. Jez stood waiting for the commanders to reply to her offer. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Alex. Great, Jez. You have two hyper-protective alpha males in your life; what more could a girl ask for? Jez could just picture Alex and Mike destroying Devyyn, but she could also picture both of them rocking a baby to sleep and making goofy noises, saying things like, “Who’s a widdle baby? Yes you are! Yes you are!” Or, “Goo-goo, ga-ga! Who’s my handsome little baby?” Devyyn Ukinix will get his, thought Jez, but for now, you have a mission to focus on. As she waited, Jez couldn’t help but wonder what this new mission was. It certainly must be dangerous if all the civilians had to be removed, unless it was a rescue mission and they needed room for refugees. Jez tried to recall if there were any Security Bulletins about political hotspots that might have erupted into an aggressive situation. == Tag Talion & Velaul. == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-23-2026 It wasn't long before every civilian had been evacuated but still it was enough to put Brooks on edge, every minute wasted here could mean diaster for the Yeager and the Lowry even through the latter had retreated to a safe position, "Mr Coppola, locate the Lowry and put us on course and heading towards her location. Warp nine, Engage." he said "Number one, I want you and tactical to look at any recent intelegence recieved from Cardassian boarder and find out if there is any possible way we can surprise them if the Yeager is under attack." he ordered "Commander Talion work with engineering to see if we can produce anything that will be capable of cribbling the dreadnought when we come across it, if not at least we can possibly stop a few of the ships with it." "Mala, I want secuirty teams ready to go if we need to send teams aboard these Cardassian ships." Brooks was trying to think of every possible scenerio they maybe coming across in the next few hours and how to be ready for it, all they knew was the Yeager was facing down a Cardassian blockade on its own. ==Tag All== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-23-2026 Alex turned to Jez, his expression softening a bit, "Hey Jez!" He took a deep breath and let it out, clearing his mind a bit as he cleared his lungs. "I appreciate the offer, but we have a set plan in place for such moments. In this case, my plans include Thor escorting and piloting them, if needed, and linking up with the Valkyries. Once in their hands, the kids will be in the safest place they could possibly be. I hadn't figured Mike into the equation. Sorry about that. Mike seemed like a good guy. He cares a great deal about you." The Captain began giving orders to the Bridge Crew and Alex said to Jez, "I need to go. Duty calls. Be careful Jez, this could get sticky." Alex then returned his attention to Beno, "I'll send over the material I was already going over from Intel about force strength, ship names and crew speculations. I have my people working on possible reconfigurations for stealth probes, but will get with Engineering to see if we can give us an edge in possible engagements. I'll send someone up here to cover Bridge." Just then, Carley Young showed up on the Bridge. "Ah, perfect timing. Take over the Science station. I need to talk with Engineering." They exchanged a nod and got to work. Alex headed for the Turbolift. >>> Main Engineering >>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Ethan Diaz - 08-23-2026 <<< Wardroom 3, Officers' Quarters <<< Luckily for Ethan, the passageways of the upper decks were still mostly empty; much of the crew was disembarked and would now be rushing to get back. The only ones still aboard were those assigned to Port Watch Duty and anyone that didn't feel like spending their off hours on the station. It took Ethan less than five minutes to make it back to his quarters. While he raced to change into his uniform, his comm badge pinged with another all-hands call, but this time, it went out over the ship's PA system. [Crew this is your Captain, we have been requested at urgency to go and assist the USS Lowry and USS Yeager on the Cardassian border. Information at this time is Starbase 214 is being blockaded by Cardassian escort squadron. Cardassian invasion fleet crossing border. Fleet comprises three escorts, three battle cruisers, one dreadnought. Lowry withdrawing. USS Yeager remains on-station. Current status, unknown and need immediate assistance. We being fairly close and able have accepted this task, I'm sure I can trust each one of you to perform to your best abilities under this high pressure. Captain Brooks out.] There were many kinds of 1MC calls that could make your blood run cold. This was definitely one of them. Ethan swore profusely under his breath as he pulled on his Class B jacket, and felt an ominous chill crawl up his spine. This was no emergency. An incursion like this represented something else entirely--billions upon billions upon billions of lives, balanced on the edge of a knife. As Ethan had been taught time and again at the academy, the number of those bold enough and brutal enough to challenge the might of the Federation was low, but never zero. The Cardassians were among those few. All at once, memories of his uncle Jason came rushing back. Hospital visits, quiet evenings on the back porch, shaking hands at the Veterans' Center. Ethan had just turned 12 when his uncle told him about the accident. Decades ago, he'd found himself in precisely the same position: Cardassian ships crossing the border, nothing but a small Starfleet flotilla standing between them and the target-rich environments beyond, with fear and panic threatening to take hold. Uncle Jason's ship took some bad hits--hull breaches, fires, the works. Unable to reach his station, he helped to rescue the wounded, and an exploding bulkhead nearly destroyed him. Apparently the aftermath of the surgeries had been quite painful. According to Ethan's mother, the doctors said that Jason Doheny never should have survived past the battle. Third-degree burns, bones shattered into dust. Near-total facial reconstruction. The Federation had ultimately won that day, but not without price. Uncle Jason was just one of 18 Purple Heart recipients aboard his ship, with dozens more issued to other crews in the following days, not to mention a handful of posthumous Medals of Honor. Such things had happened before, Ethan's professors had warned, and they would happen again. He'd been too young to hate the Cardassians then. He wasn't even certain he hated them now. What Ethan Diaz did know for certain is this: if it came to war, the taking of Cardassian lives would not affect him. Invasion invites retaliation. When dealing with Cardassians, the more quickly you retaliated, the better. Ethan ran as hard as he could for the bridge. Every second counted. Lives were now officially on the line, and adrenaline was the only thing keeping him from freezing up. His thoughts were interrupted by the computer's Automated Warning Cycle kicking in. It's calm, emotionless delivery, usually calming, now somehow came across as eerie. [Attention. . . attention. . . attention. This is not a drill. All civilian and non-essential personnel are to evacuate immediately. If you are not an active-duty member of the crew, you are to report to an evacuation point immediately. Please follow the flashing arrows and proceed in an orderly manner. If you require assistance, simply say in a clear voice that assistance is required and the computer will direct crew to assist you in evacuating. This is not a drill.] [Attention. . . attention. . . attention. . .] Ethan kept running. The message would probably continue broadcasting right up until cast-off. The wall panels on either side of the passageway lit up with emergency routing lights. More crew members were beginning to arrive. He dodged a pair of security guards rushing by and finally reached the turbolift. "Bridge," he gasped. "Crew Clearance: Diaz, Ethan K., Tactical Two, confirm voiceprint." "Voiceprint confirmed," the computer answered, and the turbolift instantly shot upward. The ride up to Deck 1 seemed to take far longer than it should, but at least it gave him time to catch his breath. When the doors opened again, Ethan was met with a scene of controlled chaos. Right away, he saw that Lieutenant Coppola had taken the helmsman's chair. It made sense in this scenario. Ethan had barely any flight experience compared to him, let alone combat experience. He would be much more useful as navigator. He rushed down past Captain Brooks and Commander Velaul, flung himself down into his seat started bringing the navigational systems online. "Mr. Coppola, as soon as all departments report in, I want us to be moving off, no delay," he heard Captain Brooks say. "This is an urgent request of assistance and we can't afford to be slow. I am sending you the coordinates now. Comms, tell space dock we want to leave." "Aye sir. We have a green light sir." "Comms, confirm STC emergency cast-off clearance," Ethan called over his shoulder. "Confirmed. STC reports the lane is clear." Captain Brooks spoke up again. "Mr. Coppola, bring us back on aft thrusters and then bank us out to starboard. We're going to see what our ship can do." Ethan heard a creaking throughout the superstructure as the docking clamps released and felt the familiar faint vibrations beneath his feet as the ship's engines came to life. When he finished activating his panel, he turned to address the skipper. "Captain, Tac 2 is Green. Navigational mainframe is good to go. Standing by for coordinates, sir." == Tag Captain Brooks == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Jez Mala - 08-24-2026 Jez smiled at Alex when he said, "I appreciate the offer, but we have a set plan in place for such moments. In this case, my plans include Thor escorting and piloting them, if needed, and linking up with the Valkyries. Once in their hands, the kids will be in the safest place they could possibly be. I hadn't figured Mike into the equation. Sorry about that. Mike seemed like a good guy. He cares a great deal about you." Jez was relieved that Alex said that he thought that Mike seemed like a good guy; he didn’t say Mike was a lazy bum, or that he had reservations about Mike.  Jez was convinced that if Mike and Alex spent some time together, they would become fast friends “Oh, no, I wasn’t expecting you to include Mike. I’m pretty sure he is probably on the Star Base's Holodeck running the Battle of Brunanburh, or playing Blackjack in the Casino." Said Jez.  The Captain began giving orders to the Bridge Crew, and Alex said to Jez, "I need to go. Duty calls. Be careful Jez; this could get sticky." Jez could hear something in the Captain’s voice. She couldn't place, it was just different somehow. "Mala, I want security teams ready to go if we need to send teams aboard these Cardassian ships." “Aye, Captain, right away.” Replied Jez. Jez was a bit surprised by the Captain's mood. No, that wasn’t it; it wasn’t his mood, it was his boat language. He seemed rigid, as opposed to his more casual presence, at least to Jez, but Jez knew that the Captain was the epitome of British stoicism. The British military officers were known for hiding strong emotions and staying calm during hard times. Keeping a stiff upper lip and all that. No, this was something else. Maybe the Captain had a nasty run-in with the Cardassians at some point. Maybe he is facing demons from his past? Jez grabbed Alex by the arm and said, “You be careful as well. I'll hold you to buying me a drink when this is all over.” Smiled Jez. Jez knew how dangerous the Cardassians could be; anyone who had dealt with them knew they could be arrogant, Authoritarian, Manipulative, and controlling. Militaristic, Nationalistic, Xenophobic, Suspicious, Paranoid, Ruthless, vengeful, and the list was endless. Jez quickly searched the computer and told it to  create a Psychological profile of the Cardassians; within moments, the information flashed on her screen [ Security Psychological Brief: Cardassian Behavioral Profile Classification: Security Personnel Use Species: Cardassian Subject: General Psychological and Behavioral Assessment Purpose: Threat Assessment and Security Planning Executive Assessment Cardassians should not be considered inherently hostile. However, personnel interacting with Cardassian individuals should be aware of cultural and psychological characteristics that may affect threat assessment, interrogation, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Cardassian behavior is frequently influenced by pride, hierarchy, loyalty, control, suspicion, and sensitivity to perceived disrespect. These characteristics can make Cardassian subjects difficult to read and potentially dangerous when they believe their authority, reputation, family, or national interests are threatened. Primary Security Concerns Authoritarian Behavior: Cardassians accustomed to hierarchical institutions may expect obedience and respond negatively when their authority is challenged. Attempts to establish control over a situation should be anticipated. Suspicion and Paranoia: Cardassians may assume that unfamiliar individuals have concealed motives. Security personnel should expect questioning, observation, and attempts to determine their intentions before cooperation is offered. Manipulation: Cardassians may use conversation, negotiation, favors, threats, or carefully controlled information to influence personnel. Officers should avoid providing unnecessary information during interviews or negotiations. Pride and Sensitivity to Humiliation: Public embarrassment can significantly escalate a Cardassian confrontation. Personnel should avoid unnecessary insults, ridicule, or challenges to personal competence. Vindictiveness: Some Cardassians may retain grievances for extended periods. A subject who appears to have accepted a resolution may nevertheless continue to regard the incident as unresolved. Nationalism: Cardassian subjects may place national or institutional interests above individual concerns. Appeals based solely on personal welfare may therefore have limited effectiveness. Emotional Repression: Visible emotional responses may not accurately indicate the subject's internal state. A calm Cardassian should not automatically be considered a cooperative or non-threatening Cardassian. Resistance to Admitting Failure: When questioned about misconduct or mistakes, some Cardassians may deny responsibility, redirect blame, or construct alternative explanations rather than acknowledge failure. Control-Seeking: Cardassians may attempt to control the physical environment, flow of information, conversation, or chain of command. Loss of control may increase hostility or defensive behavior. Political Opportunism: Cardassian subjects may rapidly reassess their position when circumstances change. Apparent loyalty should therefore be evaluated through demonstrated behavior rather than verbal assurances. Security Indicators Personnel should pay particular attention when a Cardassian: Becomes unusually quiet following an insult or challenge. Begins asking detailed questions about security procedures. Attempts to identify personnel with decision-making authority. Requests information unrelated to the stated purpose of an encounter. Repeatedly references personal, family, or national honor. Attempts to establish a superior-subordinate relationship. Becomes increasingly concerned with controlling the conversation. Avoids directly answering questions while providing extensive explanations. Displays excessive interest in security personnel, facilities, or procedures. Suddenly changes from confrontational behavior to excessive politeness. Attempts to exploit disagreements between members of a security team. Demonstrates unusual interest in an officer's personal weaknesses or relationships. Recommended Security Protocol When dealing with a potentially hostile Cardassian, personnel should: Remain professional and emotionally controlled. Avoid unnecessary humiliation or personal insults. Maintain clear authority and chain of command. Provide only information necessary for the situation. Verify claims independently whenever possible. Avoid allowing the subject to isolate individual security personnel. Monitor behavioral changes rather than relying solely on verbal statements. Document threats, grievances, and stated motivations. Do not assume apparent cooperation indicates genuine compliance. Use de-escalation whenever possible, while maintaining appropriate security precautions. Threat Assessment Baseline Threat: Moderate Potential Threat When Provoked: High Primary Risk: Manipulation, political coercion, retaliation, intelligence gathering, and escalation following perceived humiliation or loss of authority. Final Assessment The principal security concern presented by Cardassian psychology is not uncontrolled aggression but calculated behavior combined with intense emotional investment in authority, reputation, and loyalty. A Cardassian may remain outwardly calm while reassessing the situation, identifying vulnerabilities, and determining the most advantageous response. Security personnel should therefore remember: Do not confuse composure with cooperation, politeness with trust, or silence with acceptance. Cardassian subjects should be treated with respect, monitored carefully, and assessed according to demonstrated behavior rather than cultural stereotypes alone.] Jez forwarded the information to her Officers in the Security Complex, with orders that everyone review it immediately. [ Sovak: The Captain wants security teams ready to go if we need to send teams aboard the Cardassian ships. I want Security to read the above Data immediately.] Jez hit Send. Jez turned her attention to Commander Velaul. “Commander, might I suggest everyone review the information I have retrieved on the Cardassians? I have ordered my Officers to review the information I have prepared, as a just in case. I could broadcast it over the communications system while we are en route?” Suggest Jez. == Tag Talion, Brooks and Velaul.== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 08-24-2026 Beno did take extra comfort knowing they were together Jason would put on a brave front while Reyna guided him, both would give each other company. Now that she had that established they had to go to the back of her mind, her focus couldn't be anywhere around them at this time. The invasion fleet was after something, her question now would be what that was? The Yeager was already there giving her some nostalgia, she heard Peter Jensen was her successor as First Officer,  they are in very good hands with him and Jennifer.  This time when the ship was leaving the station Beno felt differently then the ones previous, she couldn't be certain if it was because of present company or past. Either way she was happy to help them out, Cardassians could be brutal in their tactics when they don't hire others to do it for them.  Beno had a number of scenarios in her head until she heard orders. "Number one, I want you and tactical to look at any recent intelligence received from Cardassian boarder and find out if there is any possible way we can surprise them if the Yeager is under attack." he ordered. "Aye Sir." Beno said while thinking about previous encounters, its been a while since Cardassia invaded anywhere now they were on their door step. She went to the tactical station where they both were. "Gentlemen." Beno received the information reading it carefully, it made sense to have this information reviewed by all. The more you know about the problem, the closer you are to having a solution. "Good idea Lieutenant we should all take this under advisement, the more we know about the problem the better we can plan." Beno thought it was a great idea to review this, Mala had her full support. "Gentlemen lets look into every avenue we have in intelligence, starting with anything we have about why this might have started. What is it that drove them out of brumation?" Was there a driving force behind it? or was this something of their own? The last question Beno could think of at this time, was what did they want on the Federation side that they can't get anywhere else. "I think the odds are slim they are doing this to remind us of their presence, now they are out there flexing their muscle our focus should be on that." At this time any theory was good as any, until its proven or not. What was in the ships database about the Cardassian fleet? "Anyone have any tricks that might catch them off guard?" Beno asked while the computer was looking up information she requested. ==GM input any information about what started this? any information about the fleet?== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-24-2026 Brooks watched as the crew went into action as Ensign Diaz asked him about coordinates, "They should be already with you Ensign." he replied before turning to comms, "Try and raise the Lowry, I want to know anything more they may have." ==GM Input: Can we make contact with the Lowry and get more information on what has been going on?== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 08-24-2026 Happy to see Ethan on the Bridge, Cologero was making the adjustments on the helm. He made the most efficient rout possible, it just didn't show him how long it would take for an answer. For right now Cologero was reading the new information coming in from their Chief of Security, the part he loved the most gave him the biggest idea of all. Brumation was the perfect word to describe the situation, while others in the animal kingdom hibernate snakes don't. Snakes are semi alert during this time allowing time to eat and drink, for Cardassians it was a time to develop new technologies. "Commander  Dreadnought ships are known in three areas, they have bigger guns, better armor and faster engines. This means it needs one heck of a system for recoil dampening system, if we were to disable this they could in theory shake their ship apart. The places I would target include internal and external dampening systems. If they can't keep their weapons steady they cant aim, it also has the potential to shake their ship apart." If you watch old battle ships at sea when they fire their massive weapons, the guns recoil make the ship tilt in the opposite direction of the shells they fire. The bigger the shell the more the ship will shift, the water helps with some of the recoil but not all of it. In space the same ship would spin like a wheel, there was no ocean to handle the extra recoil action.  Cologero wanted to present more than one option for consideration, they might need all of them all. "Their engines are going to generate a lot of heat, eventually the heat will make it fail if we take care of proper ventilation. They will over heat and fail, after this Cardassians will loose their heat. They function well in the heat while in the cold." Cologero made a face." There was one more thing that Cologero wanted to point out. He was about to talk to Commander Talion when he exited the Bridge, but Carley was in his place. They could give him a better idea of the harmonics needed, if they were to do it enough the ship could fall apart while making the crew uncomfortable. Shifting the yield of the torpedoes one way or another would heighten the odds of success, there was another idea that he had. "Commander one other idea I have includes using their own ego against them, the more they underestimate us the better." There were ways to do it they just needed to make it believable, how they could achieve this was going to be another matter. "Diaz I would love to hear any ideas you might have." He could have an idea that takes them in a different direction, or it could go with the one that Cologero was looking into. Two heads were better than one, that meant technically they had four working with them, Velaul would be the fourth some memory filed somewhere might give them the final touch. ==Tags - Same GM input plus any information about this Dreadnought.== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-25-2026 <<< Main Engineering <<< After several minutes, Alex stepped off the turbolift and back onto the Bridge. They were well underway and he strode with purpose to face the CO once more. "Sir, we might have something to offer that is...unconventional. Do you want me to brief you here, or would you prefer to take this into a Staff Meeting? Tactical is going to need to be in on this in either case." == Tag CO == RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Carley Young - 08-25-2026 Carley entered the Bridge going directly to her station, Alex was there already until work took him into another direction. Looking in the direction of the Command section, Carley had the friendly smile. "Commander and Captain." It was a different greeting but that was just how she did things, it was also a small comfort that non essential people were taken off the ship, didn't need to risk their lives either. She received the information that was sent be Tactical, she was happy to see Cologero even in the professional setting. She was going to have to keep it that way herself, at this point she would love the opportunity to work with K'Vada. She had a brilliant mind that helped fill in the blanks before, now they were going into this situation Carley could really use the help. Carley used the science computers to run all scenarios, what kind of payload, detonation, spread and every other thing that could cause the desired effect. Alex came back and Carley wasn't clear about how long had gone by, but he had something in the works. By the sounds of of his plan being unconventional made it even better, this crew specialized in unconventional. ==GM input on theoretical yields needed to do the job== RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Daniel Brooks - 08-26-2026 There had been a little while in their journey when Commander Tailon re-entered the Bridge and walked over to where he was with purpose. "Sir, we might have something to offer that is...unconventional. Do you want me to brief you here, or would you prefer to take this into a Staff Meeting? Tactical is going to need to be in on this in either case." Daniel nodded, "Let's have a meeting rather than on the Bridge if it is unconventional, Velaul, Coppola and Mala, all to the obs lounge, Mr Diaz you have the Bridge but don't get too comfortable." Brooks stood up and headed to the door that lead to the Observation Lounge. ==Tag== >>>Observation Lounge>>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Beno Velaul - 08-26-2026 The ideas they were working on had promise, it just needed something. This would have to be one part of the bigger plan for it to work, whatever the over all plan was it had to be crazy. The plan would have to be something crazy, the crazier the better. Beno had to think of something then have the team work on it together, soon Beno heard that perfect word... Unconventional.  Soon Beno was being summoned to the Observation Lounge, Cologero was also summoned giving her a lot more interest. As a Science Officer Beno believed they had one thing in common, they were one lab accident away from being a super villain. "Enjoy the chair while you can." Beno said to Diaz. "Coppola this should be interesting." Beno went to the Observation lounge more curios than ever before, Beno has been noted for her off the cuff thinking. This had promise because Beno knew exactly where the plan came from, she has a brilliant mind.  >>>Observation Lounge>>>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Alexander Talion - 08-26-2026 Alex smiled and gave a nod, following the CO into the Observation Lounge. He whispered to Beno, "There is also an idea that has been used before, but I would really rather not have to use it. Such drastic measures have been used in the past, but I fear that such measures go too far. We can talk about that privately, but it relates to our first real conversation, back when you gave me that kiss on the cheek. What I'm going to discuss now is hopefully a special arrow in our quiver is all." Then they were in the meeting... >>> Observation Lounge >>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Jez Mala - 08-27-2026 Jez wasn’t sure what the Cardassians had planned here. Jez had checked the Federation Diplomatic database in an attempt to figure out what the Cardassians' plans might be regarding blockading Starbase 214,  Starbase 214 wasn’t anything spectacular; it was a Federation Starbase in the Alpha Quadrant. Its most noted distinction was in 2368, when the Enterprise-D arrested and brought a so-called "time traveler" there, after it was revealed the man was a scam artist. Jez typed: The database query returned a single subject: [ Cardassian Union. Jez ignored the rest of the information on the screen and opened the Cardassian diplomatic profile. Unlike a simple list of treaties and agreements, the database organized the Union's relationships according to their current strategic classification. The first entry was the United Federation of Planets. [ Relationship: HOSTILE. Hmmm, not unusual there, they are still licking their wounds from the Dominion War, no doubt. Thought Jez. Jez paused briefly before moving on. Whatever diplomatic channels remained open between the Federation and Cardassian Union, the database made it clear that the two powers were not considered friendly powers. The Romulan Free State was different. Relationship: NEUTRAL. Jez made a mental note. Despite their own complicated histories, the Cardassians and Romulans were not presently classified as enemies. The Klingon Empire was another matter. Relationship: HOSTILE. Jez continued down the list. The Patriarchy was classified as UNKNOWN. There was insufficient intelligence to establish a reliable assessment of the relationship between the two powers. The Gorn Confederation was listed as HOSTILE. The Tzenkethi Coalition was likewise HOSTILE. The Tholian Assembly was HOSTILE. The Breen Confederacy was also HOSTILE. The Ferengi Alliance was the exception. Relationship: NEUTRAL. Jez stopped there for a moment. Of all the major powers in the database, the Ferengi were among the few with whom the Cardassians maintained a neutral relationship. Then came the Dominion. The classification was unexpected. Relationship: UNKNOWN. Jez frowned at the screen. Given the Dominion's importance and the potential strategic implications of any Cardassian-Dominion relationship, an unknown classification was almost as concerning as an openly hostile one. Finally, the analyst opened the last entry. Borg Contingency. The classification appeared immediately. HOSTILE. Jez leaned back and studied the completed profile. Of the major powers tracked by the database, the Cardassian Union maintained neutral relations with only two: the Romulan Free State and the Ferengi Alliance. Its relationship with the Patriarchy remained uncertain, as did its relationship with the Dominion. Everyone else was classified as hostile. Federation. Klingon. Gorn. Tzenkethi. Tholian. Breen. Borg. Jez stared at the list for several seconds. The Cardassian Union was not merely surrounded by potential adversaries. It appeared to be operating in a political environment where hostility had become the norm and neutrality the exception. Jez saw one final note in the database: Strategic Assessment: Cardassian Union maintains hostile relations with the majority of surveyed major powers. Diplomatic isolation is significant. Neutral relations with the Romulan Free State and Ferengi Alliance represent the Union's principal stable external relationships. Unknown status regarding the Patriarchy and Dominion requires continued intelligence monitoring. The Borg relationship remains explicitly hostile. Jez saved the report. She noticed that someone had entered a note, almost as an afterthought; they added one final line: Conclusion: The Cardassian Union has very few friends.] Jez stared at the report; nothing the Cardassians were doing seemed to make sense, unless there was someone else working in concert with Cardassians, but clearly it wasn’t any of the Galaxy’s major powers. There was the possibility that there was a new player in town, or the Cardassians had rekindled their relationship with the Dominion, but Jez was under the impression that the Founders were at peace, that the former Chief of Security of Deep Space Nine,  a Changeling named Odo, had merged or infused with the other Founders in the Gamma Quadrant. The official story was that the Dominion remained in the Gamma Quadrant, the Federation remained in the Alpha Quadrant, and neither side had an interest in restarting the war, but who's to say that there wasn’t a rogue element within the Dominion, or the Cardassian Union, that didn’t want to restart the war, get payback. Jez sent an encrypted message to the Chief of Security at Deep Space Nine: [ To: Security Chief, DS9 From: Chief of Security, USS Aquila Subject: Worm Hole Traffic. Chief, Requesting information  on Cardassian Ships entering the Worm Hole, as well as any Dominion ships exiting the worm hole. Thank You] Jez knew that the chances were remote that it would reveal anything useful, but one never knew, but if they could find out the reason behind the Cardassians aggressive moves, maybe, just maybe they could end it. The Captain ordered the Department Heads into the observation lounge. Jez secured her station and made her way into the observation lounge.  == GM Input: Does Jez get an answer from the Security Chief of DS9 that would indicate any increased traffic, that might suggest a renewed Dominion Cardassian relationship/ Alliance? == >> Observation lounge.>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Cologero Coppola - 08-27-2026 They didn't have time to work out much for detail, just they needed a meeting. From the sounds of things he was going to have a lot to think about, whatever it was Science came up with could work together with. Cologero didn't waste time with much chat, he just got up and followed Beno to the Observation lounge.  "Lead the way Commander." He followed close behind wondering what he was walking into. >>Observation Lounge.>> RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - GM-CD - 08-28-2026 ==Brooks== The Lowry was not responding to hails. Either it had returned to silent running following the message, or it had been run down and destroyed by the Cardassian fleet. ==Coppola== The Tactical information of known Cardassian Dreadnoughts scrolled up his screen. The data was a good decade or so old, as Cardassian Dreadnoughts rarely, if ever left the core Cardassian systems. [Hutet-class Dreadnought Crew: 2,500 Velocity: Warp 6 (Cruise), Warp 8.5 (Flank) Weapons: 2 Sextuple Spiral Wave Disruptor Batteries, 14x Heavy Spiral Wave Disruptor Arrays, 18x Heavy Torpedo Launchers Payload: 2,000 Photon, 1,000 Plasma, 150 Gravimetric Torpedoes Shielding: Primary and Secondary Regenerative Shields Secondary Craft: 6 Hideki-class Escorts, 30x Assault Shuttles] ==Young== Against a Dreadnought, the yields required would be far beyond what the Aquila herself could generate. A fleet would be required, and even then, raw firepower would likely decide the outcome before cleverness. ==Mala== There was no increase in traffic indicated by the communications from Deep Space Nine. RE: AQ/D01 - Bridge - Kalli Thorn - 08-28-2026 Kalli stepped onto the Bridge and looked around with a puzzled look on her face. They had a new guy manning the Bridge and no brass in sight. She gave a sigh and without a word headed to the Observation Lounge. >>> Observation Lounge >>>