Crisis Adverted

Posted on Wed Mar 19th, 2025 by Captain James Cohen & Lieutenant Shral ch'Vyrhor & Lieutenant JG Zotras Lazol & Ensign Narvo Tohl

1,318 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Bridge, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

James sat comfortably in the center chair of his bridge reading a short situation report sent out to the different Captain's throughout Starfleet. It was at least something to distract him from the fact that his daughter, his only child, was currently visiting the planet while he was still on the ship. Perhaps Choyi was right? Perhaps I need to let her have some independence sometimes. He thought to himself recalling the brief conversation they had after he agreed to let Paige go to Logan City with her friends.

"Captain," Shral said from the tactical station suddenly and with urgence in his voice, "We've lost contact with the away team."

James felt his heart sank, "Which away team?" He nearly jumped out of his seat in order to rush down to the transporter room, but something made him hesitate.

Shral had forgotten that James had his daughter on the planet, "Sorry Captain, I still have a location on the girls and Counselor Choyi. I should have been more specific, I'm talking about Commander Preston's team."

James breathed a sigh of relief, I'm not letting my daughter out of my sight again. He swore to himself before relaxing his jaw muscles slightly. "Is something interfering with sensors in that location?" He asked nobody in particular while adjusting in the center chair. He still had concerns, but they were no longer his fatherly instincts kicking in.

Zotras began reviewing his readings to confirm what they were telling him from the operations station. "I'm not sure what is causing a disruption to our communications and sensors around the ruins, however, I'm detecting a massive build up in the EM spectrum." He looked up from his console, "It could be what's causing the disruption."

James began tapping his chin with his index finger, "Is it a power spike?"

Zotras shrugged, "I'm uncertain Captain."

"Um," Narvo started to say just before the alarms on the bridge began wailing all around them, "We are now on a collision course with an asteroid." He said and turned around to face the Captain and the rest of the bridge.

James groaned and stared down the bridge of his nose, "Red alert." He ordered and the ship's klaxons began to sound, "What can you tell me about the asteroid?"

It was Shral that answered from his station, "There's not much to tell Captain, at about the time of the sudden power spike something made the asteroid move out of its present location and start speeding toward the planet. The Hooke is in its path, and expected impact is in less than twenty minutes."

"The EM spike signature from the ruins match the signal to the power spike coming from the asteroid. Whatever happened down in the ruins must have sent a signal to the asteroid." Zotras added.

"Great," James said, "I'm going out on a limb here, but guessing from what we already know, the asteroid is probably projected to hit in relatively the same location as where the signal is coming from." He said and looked toward Shral for confirmation of his guess.

Shral took this as a hint to begin reading his sensor layout, "That is correct Captain."

James looked forward toward Narvo, "Ensign set course for the asteroid full impulse." He continued to look at the viewer, "Raise shields and scan the asteroid."

Narvo nodded, "Aye sir," He increased speed to the impulse engines sending the ship hurtling toward the asteroid. Narvo felt some relief knowing the girls on the planet were okay, he had sensed the Captain's immediate panic when the mention of the away team had occurred.

Shral raised the shields and began scanning for anything on the asteroid that could help them out. "Captain I'm detecting the source of the power spike. There are multiple thrusters on the surface of the asteroid, though I cannot say for certain what the original purpose may have been. The signal from the ruins must have activated them and now it's on a direct course for the planet."

"Can we disable it in any way?" James asked.

Shral frowned, "Not before it makes impact. However, if we can find a fissure or something on the surface of the asteroid a series of quantum torpedoes will be enough to shatter it."

James was now standing in the middle of his bridge looking in the direction of Zotras, "Lieutenant?"

"Stand by," Zotras replied and began analyzing every part of the surface. It took him less than a minute to find something promising, "There are several large fissures on the surface. I can run a quick simulation to see if it'll work or not Captain?"

"Less than ten minutes to impact," Shral said.

James shook his head, "We don't have time for a simulation, send the coordinates to Lieutenant ch'Vyrhor," He then looked at the Lieutenant, "Fire as soon as you have target lock."

"Aye sir," Zotras responded and sent the coordinates.

Shral fired a full spread of torpedoes into the face of the asteroid along the edges of the fissures. It was enough to do exactly as promised splitting the asteroid into multiple smaller pieces. It had the added effect of killing the power to the thrusters and stopping the asteroid in its tracks. "Some of the asteroid will get caught up in the atmosphere, but they'll burn up before they reach the surface."

"We're also being hailed," Zotras added. "From the planet."

James nodded and turned around, "On screen." He saw the wrinkled old man on the viewer and he seemed to have a sense of relief on his face.

=/\="Captain Cohen I'm glad to see you are all right up there. Our sensors indicated an impact trajectory from an asteroid. From what we saw it looked like your vessel was right in the middle of it."=/\=

James recognized the man as Governor Sam Stevens and allowed himself to smile warmly as he sat down in his chair on the bridge once more. "We're not quite sure what happened just yet, however, there was a power spike on the planet near the ruins at the time of the asteroid moving toward the planet. We're still unable to contact our away team, but we're going to investigate the asteroid field."

=/\="I'm assuming by your calm demeanor Captain, that you've dealt with the asteroid?"=/\=

"Yes Governor Stevens we were able to destroy the asteroid. Though, you may have some debris striking your atmosphere here in the next few minutes. It should all burn up before it gets all the way to the surface." James told the Governor, "We'll update you just as soon as we-"

"Sir," Shral said, "The power spike on the surface has dissipated I'm able to contact the away team once more." He looked up from his console, "Also, I think I can triangulate where the asteroid was before it began its departure vector toward the planet's surface."

James was looking at the Lieutenant and smiled warmly at the update, "Thanks Lieutenant." He turned toward the Governor once more, "As soon as we know what happened we'll be able to update you."

=/\="I look forward to it Captain, and thank you for your swift response. Governor Stevens out."=/\=

"You're welcome Governor," James responded just before the feed cut out. "Ensign Tohl bring us to the coordinates provided by Lieutenant ch'Vyrhor." He commanded.

"Aye sir," Narvo answered and set the course while speaking. He adjusted the thrusters slightly, "The location is deep in the asteroid field. There also may be some interference with our sensors while we're in there."

"I can adjust for that," Zotras added.

James nodded, "Understood," He leaned back in his chair, "It would probably also be wise to have Lieutenant Bennett come up here to the bridge." He said out loud before hitting his communicator, "Lieutenant Bennett to the bridge."

 

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