-snip-

Charlotte remained at her station, watching the Pathfinder’s telemetry stabilize across the tactical display as the tractor beam maintained its connection with the displaced vessel. The situation was still precarious, but for the first time since the operation began, the recovery effort was moving according to plan.

She turned toward Captain T’Nara.

“Captain, Pathfinder has acknowledged the extraction protocol and is holding position. Their engineering department is monitoring their temporal shielding and tractor interface, so at least we’re now working with a cooperative vessel rather than trying to pull an unwilling ship out of the anomaly.”

Charlotte glanced back toward the sensor display.

“I recommend we keep the tractor field at the lowest effective power necessary to maintain the connection. If the anomaly is already reacting to the field, increasing power unnecessarily could destabilize the temporal envelope around Pathfinder.”

Her attention shifted briefly toward the medical readouts.

“I’m also having Sickbay prepare for the possibility of temporal exposure. We don’t know what four hours inside Pathfinder’s frame of reference while one hundred and four years have passed externally has done to their crew biologically. Even if their shipboard environment appears normal, I don’t want anyone assuming that normal sensor readings mean normal physiology.”

Charlotte looked back to T’Nara.

“Once Pathfinder clears the anomaly, I want the crew kept aboard their ship initially unless there’s an immediate medical emergency. We’ll establish a medical scan protocol first, then determine whether anyone requires transfer to the Ark Angel.”

She paused before continuing.

“And Captain, I’d recommend we maintain the communications channel with Captain Hayes throughout the extraction. She’s understandably concerned about her crew and her ship. Giving her continuous status updates will help keep the Pathfinder bridge calm and prevent anyone from making an unnecessary move during the most dangerous portion of this operation.”

Charlotte’s expression became more focused as another fluctuation appeared on the temporal telemetry.

“We’ve got one chance to get them through this without making the situation worse. Engineering controls the tractor, Science monitors the anomaly, Operations manages the extraction profile, and Medical handles whatever happens to the crew afterward.”

She gave T’Nara a firm nod.

“Whatever PX-941 throws at us next, we’ll deal with it. Right now, Captain, our job is simple.”

Her eyes returned to the Pathfinder.

“Get them out alive.”

CMD. CHARLOTTE MACKENZIE KELLEY, M.D.
Executive Officer / Number One
USS Ark Angel NCC-98729
Command Division
Medical Officer Corps
Starfleet

“Noted. Let’s make sure we do. Let’s bring them home, and we’ll have a lot of explaining to do.” She replied.

Captain T’Nara
Commanding Officer
USS Ark Angel

” Of course Captain ” Charlotte replied

CMD. CHARLOTTE KELLEY, M.D.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

USS ARK ANGEL
NCC-98729

COMMAND DIVISION
MEDICAL OFFICER CORPS
STARFLEET

“Very well Commander.” She replied back as she nodded at her.

Captain T’Nara
Commanding Officer
USS Ark Angel