“Optical message from Cougar 1.” said Tim “They are going to red alert now and we should be prepared for anything.”
“Very well Tim.” said Delilah “Ken is the Dillingham doing?”
“Her running lights are on,” replied Ken “she is doing active scanning in the forward direction, she is trying not to do an all around scan. If she does that we could be located.”
“Don ETA to the new guys out there?” asked Delilah
“At current course and speed, less than seven hours.” said Lieutenant Don Bartlow.
Delilah pressed a button on her station and said “All hands this is Captain speaking, get into your suits, we are going to red alert now. All hands report when ready.” She then turned off the button. She then turned her attention to Ken and asked “Are you sure Dillingham’s running lights are still on?”
“Let me check, “ said Ken “yes it is still on.”
“Tim any new messages?” asked Delilah
“Just the one from the Cougar 2 Captain.” replied Tim
Delilah checked the screen display of the message from the Dole. She re-read the message, she could not remember from the top of her head what Directive Three Nine Eight Seven was all about.
“Captain” said Ken “I checked the computer about what Directive Three Nine Eight Seven is all about.”
“Do not keep us in the dark about it Ken.” said Delilah.
“It says that we need to check with our passengers.” said Ken
“It actually said that?” asked Delilah
“Yes it did.” said Ken.
Delilah went to the intercom and said “Mister McPike and Mister Aiuppo report to the bridge immediately.” It did not take long for Lester McPike and Vincent Aiuppo to come on the bridge.
“You wanted to see us Captain?” asked Lester
“Which one of you is Casey?” asked Delilah
“Excuse me Captain?” asked Lester
“We just received a fleet wide order that deals with our upcoming group of unknowns, basically it said we should not engage with this contacts but it also said that Casey is first at bat and break a leg.” said Delilah while pointing to a display screen “we have a copy of the message on screen number 4 if you wish to inspect it.”
Vince and Lester looked at it. Vince then spoke up and said “I have something to give to you Captain.” Vince reached into his pocket and produced an external storage unit that the United Nations Space Fleet vessels use to exchange data on a physical media. “I was told to do this whenever the code word ‘Delta Com Link 3987’ appears” he then handed the external storage unit to Delilah. Delilah then handed to Ken. Ken placed it on his station. He tried to access it and then he said “It says that it is one of two units that need to be loaded.”
“Where is the second unit?” asked Delilah.
“I was only given one Captain.” replied Vince
“And I think I was given the second one.” said Lester. “I was never told when to produce it but I can only assume it is the one you seek.” Lester reached into his pocket and removed the external storage unit and gave it to Delilah. Delilah then looked at it, she did not see anything special about the unit. She gave it to Ken. Ken then placed the unit on his station. He tried to access it and something come up on his display screen. he read it and then said “Captain I think you need to see this.”
Delilah came over to his display station she read it and it said:
To: Lieutenant Commander Karen H. Baxter
UNRV Dillingham, NCC-874
From: Rear Admiral Kirk T. Jameson
UNSF Second Assistant Chief of Operations
Subj: Primary mission for UNRV Dillingham
The outer marker network detected a fleet of forty starships entering the Sol system. The number of these ships and the unknown nature of the intention of this fleet have the UNSF to enact directive 3987. Under this directive your primary mission is approach the Saturn planetary system under silent running conditions, avoid detection and capture from this fleet and to await developments on this situation. You are also under orders not to directly engage in combat with this fleet or any units from this fleet as they have the numerical advantage over you and the rest of the UNSF.
Should the government of Earth change hands your primary mission will then be to prepare for a counter strike using the resources available to you. The order to either launch this counter strike or to recall you back to Earth will come from civilian communication channels so monitoring them is of vital importance.
Do not break communications silence and avoid detection from units from this incoming fleet and other UNSF units.
Good luck and good hunting.
“I can not believe this.” said Delilah who then pointed to Lester and Vince and said “You two you know anything about this?”
Vince and Lester read the order and their reaction was with Lester saying “No Captain, I had no idea about this but this is directed to the Dillingham not the Woodlawn.”
“I know, this is strange.” said Delilah
“Should we forward this to the Dillingham?” asked Ken
“No that mean we would be breaking communications silence. I think someone screwed up and it is up to us to fill in the gaps.” said Delilah. “Don, Nancy get ready to go to Saturn but let the Dillingham have a bigger lead and then we breakaway.”
Posted by Helen at November 24, 2002 10:07 PM