Surefoot 52: ...This Means War Pt. 01

T'Varik looked over at them now with a tight expression, announcing, "The expected particle density and frequency doesn't match-"

He looked to Neheru. "Raise the Triton!"

"Captain," the Kelpien protested, "The communications blackout-"

"The probe data is fake! They know we're coming! We don't know what we'll be facing! ALERT THE FLEET!"

*

Deck 1 Fore – Bridge

3 Minutes Until Armageddon:

"Lieutenant Hrelle!" Weynik snapped at the intercom, aware of everyone's attention on him, and not caring. "Respond, Sasha!" He had been examining the probe data sent from the Triton, didn't like what he saw, and now he couldn't reach the Triton, or any other ship, because of some subspace interference- clearly no coincidence. "Ensign Shanek, respond!" He punched the side of the station.

Beside him, Kohanim looked even more ashen than usual. "Their combadges have them both in the Science Lab. Shall I send someone to find out what's happened, Sir?"

"No, no time – we're plunging into the Apocalypse, I need all hands at their stations. You'll take over at Ops. Once we drop out of warp space, we can shift to normal space communication and coordinate with the rest of the Fleet, once we see exactly what we're facing!" Layers of fear enshrouded him: fear for what they were likely to encounter in Khavak, fear for what's happened to Sasha, fear for Naida and his father and Esek and his family and-

And he paused, forced down all the fears. Not today. There's no time to indulge.

He returned to the centre seat, his voice raised but confident. "Battle Stations!"

The klaxon sounded, the Bridge lighting strips glowed a deep apple red, and the crew snapped into action.

*

USS Triton, Deck 1 Fore – Bridge

Armageddon:

"Dropping out of warp," Tattok's First Officer reported. "Scanning- Mother of God..."

The Roylan Admiral glanced at him, quickly feeling the desire to join him in religious invocation as he saw the forces awaiting them.

Bloody Sweet Hemra...

TO BE CONTINUED