Posted by Lieutenant Commander Kastarak (aCOFirst Officer / Navigation Officer) in Main Sim: The Bridge

Posted by Lieutenant Matthew Quigley (Chief of Operations) in Main Sim: The Bridge

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade John Forster (Chief Weapons Officer) in Main Sim: The Bridge
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
snip
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[Scene: USS Chernov, NCC-1790 – Main Bridge]

The Chernov cruised steadily along the Federation border, the hum of her engines carrying a reassuring rhythm through the deck plating. After the chaos of their last mission, routine patrol was a welcome reprieve — the steady quiet of starfield sweeping by, punctuated only by the occasional chirp of helm adjustments or the soft clicks from the science station.

Lieutenant Dawson leaned into his console at Communications, fingers dancing across glowing panels. A priority channel indicator flashed amber across his board, its coded trill cutting through the calm with an incoming transmission from Starfleet Command. Priority level two. It scrolled across his screen.

The viewscreen shifted from the starfield to the silver seal of the United Federation of Planets, crisp against a field of black. The LCARS overlay scrolled with headers in stark gold text:

✦ UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS

STARFLEET COMMAND – MISSION BRIEFING
Vessel: USS Chernov, NCC-1790
Class: Battlecruiser, Medium (Abramsverse) – Kurtzman-class
Mission Type: Scientific Reconnaissance / First Contact Contingency
Priority: Level 2 – Strategic Anomaly Investigation
Stardate: 8923.5
Authorized by: Vice Admiral Thalor Ren, Sector Operations Command – Fifth Fleet

MISSION TITLE:

Operation Luminous Verge

MISSION OBJECTIVE:

The Chernov is hereby ordered to chart, analyze, and assess the Veridian-73 Rift, a gravimetric subspace anomaly recently detected at the edge of Federation navigational charts. The Rift lies within a politically unstable border zone near the Valdari Expanse, adjacent to non-Federation territories with disputed claim histories and recent sensor-ghost contact.

KEY DETAILS:

Rift Coordinates: Grid 188-X, Sector Theta-14

Rift Designation: Veridian-73 (temporary classification)

Size & Structure: Spanning approximately 0.3 AU in diameter, fluctuating mass-density; inconsistent boundary cohesion

Initial Survey Markers: Federation Deep Listening Post Hekros-6 picked up high-level tachyon bursts, omega-range subspace eddies, and anomalous biosignatures unaligned with any known xeno-species or probe.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

1. Chart and Record the anomaly’s gravimetric and subspace dynamics using standard Class-9 sensor arrays and probe deployments.

2. Investigate Bio-Signatures: Determine origin, pattern, and risk level of anomalous life-signs. Prepare for potential First Contact protocols.

3. Collect and Contain exotic matter samples where safe. Avoid destabilizing field perimeters.

4. Monitor Tactical Environment: The anomaly borders non-Federation space. Maintain defensive readiness and stealth protocols if necessary.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

Scan for signs of artificial construction or extradimensional interference.

Attempt synchronized multi-spectral scans (gamma, gravimetric, and chronometric) to triangulate the anomaly’s internal topology.

Record any temporal phase variance for Starfleet Science Division.

RISK ASSESSMENT:

Environmental Hazards: Unpredictable gravimetric surges and subspace distortion pose extreme risk to ship integrity and sensor fidelity.

Xeno-Interaction Risk: Initial readings suggest biosignatures of unknown nature. Non-corporeal or non-linear entities may be present.

Political Sensitivity: Possible incursion by hostile or opportunistic powers (e.g., Vehlari Syndicate, neutral parties with territorial claims).

RECOMMENDED PROTOCOLS:

Initiate yellow alert on approach.

Maintain buffer zones of 0.12 AU around Rift perimeter unless cleared by Science Officer.

Use autonomous drones for initial matter retrieval.

All away missions to include temporal shielding and bio-neural dampening gear.

Prepare for subspace divergence events: crew must undergo gravimetric disorientation drills.

END TRANSMISSION
Stardate 8923.5

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

The viewscreen dimmed. Stars returned, silent and unchanged. But the bridge was not unchanged.

Captain Taggart was gone. Kastarak had not yet spoken the words aloud – not to the crew, not even to himself. He had read the order two hours ago, acknowledged receipt, followed procedural response with the fleet admiral. But internally, the event had not completed its shape. The fleet admiral had told Kastarak that a commanding officer would be appointed in due course, and that Kastarak would hold command until then. It was curious – and not in an intriguing way. Taggart had been Kastarak’s father in the metaphorical sense. He was the first father figure Kastarak had had since his own, real, father was murdered by Nero and the Nerada. Taggart allowed Kastarak to process, learn, and slowly take responsibility. Kastarak was accepted for who he was – even if other Vulcans would call Kastarak a failed traitorous Vulcan. A Vulcan who was too interested in emotions, who didn’t even know how to mind-meld.

And now Kastarak was alone. Taggart had been taken from him. Still alive, yes, removed from captaincy, effective immediately. There was no explanation, nor any provisional detail. There was no transfer of command ceremony and no final address. Just—absence. The bots had already started packing up Taggart’s belongings. He had apparently not had time to take them with him.

Taggart had been present on the bridge less than three hours ago, discussing fluidic scaffolding in the port nacelle with characteristic irreverence. His coffee cup was still on the armrest of the captain’s chair. Lukewarm still.

Now Kastarak had taken a seat alone in that place, an empty seat and an unopened question behind him, and he refused to remove the coffee cup just now. It could wait until the end of the shift.

He had not expected to feel anything. That assumption, too, had been incorrect. There was no grief. But there was… displacement – as though the narrative of events had fractured mid-paragraph and left the text blank. In the absence of meaning, his body responded first. His chest felt constricted, as if in compression. The gut did its usual physiological upset. The same physiological sequence had accompanied the sudden departure of T’Aria. Those on the ship he was close to were the ones he could never keep. T’Aria, Taggart… and Pawl. The ironic pain of Pawl being acutely present but even more untouchable…

In the midst of this all, suddenly the transmission had come. Operation Luminous Verge.

Temporal instability and unknown lifeforms. The line: “Non-corporeal or non-linear entities may be present”. It was not what Kastarak needed.

It would be difficult to explain to the others that the anomaly concerned him less than the timing. The incongruity. The narrative dissonance of losing a captain and gaining a rift. Events unaligned with cause. How would the crew reconcile this? The crew’s ultimate welfare was his reluctant duty now. He had never sought this. All he had wanted was to be a good doctor, but circumstances brought him to command, away from therapy rooms and biobeds.

He had been First Officer for no more than nineteen months. He had been training with some of these officers. He had counselled most of them, treated them in Sickbay too. He had always been adjacent to command, never of it. Until now.

After several moments, he touched his communicator.

“Acting commanding officer Kastarak to senior staff. Briefing in fifteen minutes. Bridge.” He enunciated the first three words as a message to all that the captain was no longer with them, but that Kastarak was in charge, reluctantly. With this message, it sounded like the purpose of the meeting was to discuss why Kastarak was in acting command. That was not actually it.

He paused.

“Full mission outline will be available en route. We have been given new orders.”

He closed the channel. The chime that followed felt louder than it should.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, and First Officer and Navigations Officer

Dawson was running on autopilot. He still remembered how it felt when Taggart had gotten the orders. When he left. Dawson just sort of, shut down. Taggert had given him his first command position as head of security. Had trusted him with that responsibility. He follow him into Klingon space to try and rescue his lost sister. Had been the only one to even think there was a chance of rescue. Was there for him after his 3 month disappearance. Kept him in the senior staff. Now he was gone.

Dawson wanted to be happy for Kas. First promoted to first officer and now in command of the ship. This was good for him. But it was hard to feel much of anything at the moment. Dawson still hadn’t been sleeping well. He’d hit a wall on his disappearance and still was no closer to explaining it. He hadn’t been keeping up with his training and let shaving go, allowing a thing scraggly shadow form upon his face.

He was at his station, mindlessly functioning, when the message came through. He put it on the viewscreen and read along with the others. A new mission. Suddenly it all seemed more real. The Captain wasn’t off on holiday. Wasn’t away from the chair. He was gone. And just a few hours after, Starfleet was forcing them to abandon him. Dawson felt a twitch in his eye, a pulsing in his temple. He turned to Kastarak as he addressed the ship and thought he could hear the pained way in which he did so. While Kas was more expressive than most Vulcans, he was still hard to read. But Dawson had served with him for some time now, and felt he had a little bit of insight into him. And Dawson felt that this was hurting him too. Any animosity that may have been building in Dawson seemed to melt at that. He swallowed and turned back to his console.

Lt. Q Dawson
Communications

Pawl barely made it to the bridge level. As his mind spun around him violently, barely catching the wall on the side of the turbo lift car as the lift stopped, A bit rougher than he was accustomed to. As the doors opened with a loud slamming noise. As he walked out onto the bridge as he held the side of the wall as he made his way to his station before plopping down hard in his seat. Pawl had a blank look on his face for a minute as he closed his eyes and attempted to refocus his mind. Pawl finally spoke as he opened his eyes. “Apologies…I will look over the turbo lift momentarily.” Pawl was still trying to comprehend all that had happened recently. Pawl looked over the displays at his station. All was fine, all looked fine according to the readings there, but that did not count for his vertigo that came on to him while in the lift. “What’s going on?” Pawl said flatly as he saw Kastarak in the center seat. Not really addressing anyone in particular at that moment.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

Ararhiq stepped onto the bridge as Lt. Batario posed the question that had teased her thoughts since Cmdr. Kastarak’s orders came over the comms.

Though she had not spent enough time with the crew to justify assumptions, she suspected there were few people too callous or too insensitive to notice how their captain’s departure wounded them. She hadn’t been there. She hadn’t experienced the depths of their bonds. But, she could see that his leadership left a profound mark on them. It would take time to heal, she knew, and she hoped they were the type of community to lean on each other for support as they navigated their loss.

Ararhiq took in a soft breath and found her way to the science station, sat and turned toward the center of the bridge in anticipation of their orders.

— Ajhilaa sh’Ararhiq, Science Officer

John saw the way the CE entered the bridge “something was not right with him. He never acted that way so he got up from his chair and took me next to him and said to him “pawl what’s wrong. You got me worried is everything OK with you” he put hand on his shoulder “ it will make me feel better if we go see the doctor OK”

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

“I’m not sure, I’m not feeling myself, and there is something off about everything.” Pawl stopped for a moment. “Of course, sir, that is a good idea?” Pawl said calmly to the officer. “Do you wish to accompany me to sickbay?” Pawl asked the officer as his relief took their position at the engineering station. Pawl did not explain to the replacement on what was going on. But he knew that they knew their job, and they had done well for a long time. He waited a moment before moving back towards the lift, feeling a bit uneasy about getting into the questionable lift.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

Kastarak looked at Batario with concern. On one hand, he sought to assess the nature of Pawl’s medical state. Sickbay seemed like the reasonable situation. But now Kastarak was risking losing two senior officers to go to Sickbay.

Command did not suit Kastarak. He did not see himself as a leader. He still wished to go back to Sickbay and work the rounds there. But his trajectory took him elsewhere. Leading was his duty.

Kastarak addressed them all.

“Officers, crewmen, shipmates,

“I have assumed acting command of this ship. Our previous commanding officer, Captain Taggart, was suddenly recalled. I have no other information than that Starfleet Command will update on command later on. Starfleet Command has a priority message for us, perhaps unrelated to Taggart’s recall, perhaps not. I have as much information as you do. The priority briefing will be any minute now.

“In the meantime, all senior officers should remain on Bridge until otherwise ordered or relieved.”

“As you were.”

Kastarak walked up to Pawl and discretely and softly whispered to him.

“Pawl – what’s the matter? How are you?”

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

While Commander Kastarak was speaking quietly to Pawl, the communications panel pinged with incoming briefing packets for each department. Ready to be distributed to each DH.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

“I will be alright.” Pawl said calmly. Pawl let the formality slide a bit. “I guess this shift of everything got to me more than I realized. Pawl stopped a moment longer. “Shall I wait to go to sickbay, or shall I go after the meeting?” Pawl asked. Noticing the arrival of the briefing packets. “I believe I will be fine. But its up to you, sir?” Pawl said, reverting to formality.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

Kastarak looked at Pawl, assessed him quickly.

“If you can stay for the briefing, that would be preferable. If you cannot, I will meet with you later.”

Kastarak looked around, seeing the communication panel pinging. Data had arrived. Next to the panel, a deck of pads (more secure than the usual ones). He handed out the pads to his officers.

He took up his own pad, and began reading.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

On his own padd Kastarak would see an addendum notice from Vice Admiral Thalor Ren to the Captain and himself.

Command Directives:

All Federation First Contact protocols are to be observed if intelligent non-Federation life is encountered.

Under no circumstance is advanced alien technology to be activated without Engineering and Science Division clearance.

Tactical engagement is authorized only in defense of the Ardent Venture, Federation personnel, or mission-critical assets.

All scientific data collected is classified at LEVEL 7 or higher pending Starfleet Science.

All scientific data collected is classified at LEVEL 7 or higher pending Starfleet Science.

End Addendum

John spoke up “I will feel better is pawl saw the doctor first. The last time I saw someone like that was when a classmate blowout his eardrums and we can keep everyone at there best But above all I see him as a friend and I’m worried”

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

”Thank you, Mr Forster. I trust that Mr Batario will make the right decision. If he needs to go to Sickbay, crewman Ricky, whom I see here on the bridge with you, will escort him.”

Kastarak looked around, catching Ricky’s eye. He then grabbed a pad and handed it to Forster.

“Now, will you take this pad and read your briefing?”

He also made a mental note to remind Forster to use proper decorum on the Bridge, such as calling Mr Batario just that. Now was not the time.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

On the Chief Weapons Officer’s padd were these mission orders:

Security Operations:

Maintain high alert status for potential hostile actors (non-Federation factions have shown interest in Rift activity).

Conduct secure boarding of alien derelicts.

Protect research teams from environmental and tactical threats within the Rift.

Rescue & Salvage Operations:

Investigate intermittent distress signals emanating from the Rift interior.

Locate and secure any derelict vessels, ensuring proper hazard containment protocols.

Recover and document alien technology and biological samples for Starfleet Science Division.

End Mission Orders

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

The turbolift doors parted with their characteristic hiss, and Captain Maddox stepped onto the bridge. The air carried that faint, unspoken weight—the absence of Captain Taggart felt like a void between the consoles, heavier than any silence. Maddox paused just long enough to let his gaze sweep the room, acknowledging the crew not as strangers, but as people carrying that weight together.

He drew in a quiet breath before speaking, his voice warm but steady, carrying the timbre of someone who knew words mattered now.

“Officers, crew… I am Captain Rafe Maddox, appointed commanding officer. I won’t pretend this transition is easy. The sudden recall of Captain Taggart has left us all disoriented. He was more than a commanding officer—he was a great man, and he meant something profound to this ship and to each of you. His leadership will not be forgotten.”

He let that linger, then shook his head slightly, a small gesture of humility.

“I am not here to fill his shoes. No one can. In time, we will come to know one another, learn how we move and work together. But for now, duty calls. And in moments like this, when the ground feels uncertain, we fall back on what we trust—our training, our discipline, and each other.”

He moved toward the command chair but did not immediately sit, his attention instead turning to the viewscreen with its waiting stars.

“I’ve been briefed on our new mission. Operation Luminous Verge is now before us. The Veridian-73 Rift demands our attention, and Starfleet has trusted the Chernov to chart it, analyze it, and—if need be—stand ready for what may come from within it.”

“Helm, lay in a course for the Rift. Once plotted, report our estimated time of arrival.”

He allowed his eyes to settle back on the crew, a steady presence in the storm of change.

“For Captain Taggart, for the Chernov, let’s see this done.”

Captain Maddox ●●●●
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Chernov

OCC: I am lost now. I posted a reply here, and it was misinterpreted or ignored?
(so I am pulling myself out of the post and put in a new post in medical since everyone assumed i left)(then again I am not sure what to do)
(LOST)

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

(I did reply to your post, but Ok crewman Ricky can escort pawl to sickbay— make a post in sickbay and tag Symar)

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

OOC: Do you want to take your Engineering data packet with you, Pawl? If you post accepting it and reading it, I’ll post what’s on it. I check the sickbay post if you’d prefer to read it there.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Walk walks off heading to the lift as he heads off to medical. Not saying anything more, feelings were more in flux than he had anticipated. He entered the lift calmly as he turned to face the bridge area for a moment, and as the doors closed. “Sickbay!” Pawl said, quickly falling silent again. Pawl felt kicked out of the area as the lift continued on course to sickbay. A short time later the lift stopped as the door opened to the level where sickbay was post to be. As he moved down the corridor.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

And Ricky was waiting for you on the level he saw you heading towards sick Bay and hurried over to you “sir Lt. Forster told me to keep eyes out for you and to help you if you need any help” he said with general concern

Crewman Ricky (Security)

“Thank you, crewman.” Pawl said calmly to the man. as he moved slowly along with the crewman. As he placed the padd near his side. “I will have to remember to thank Lt foster for his help and concern.” Pawl did not recall crewman Ricky before. “How long have you been aboard crewman?” Pawl asked softly.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

Crewman Ricky noticed that Mr. Batario the chief engineer was trying to place his face. “I am new on board this vessel.” he said. “ I got transferred here to finish up my time as a crew man before I get my rank.”

Crewman Ricky (Security)

“Forgive me, crewman. Welcome aboard the Chernov. I hope you are finding your time here a productive experience.” Pawl said sincerely to him as they walked along the corridor.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

Dawson was monitoring the exchange between Kastarak and Pawl when his station dinged with his mission briefing. He then directed himself to its contents until the new Captain came aboard. He then held his attention to him. With his arrival came a certain finality to Taggert’s absence. At the Captain’s orders, he turned back to his briefing packet, trying to make sure he grasped the material. He knew his mental state was likely not at peak, and he needed to be able to show his competence to the new captain, lest he risk his position on the ship.

Lt. Q Dawson
Communications

Communications Division Brief

Officer Assignment: Communications Officer
Mission: Operation Luminous Verge

⸻

Role

Maintain reliable communications during Rift operations, analyze alien signals, and prepare for potential first contact scenarios.

⸻

Priorities
1. Subspace Stability
• Counter Rift interference to keep secure channels with Starfleet and away teams active.
2. Alien Signal Analysis
• Investigate the derelict’s repeating transmission.
• Cross-reference with translator archives for possible distress or AI-origin signals.
3. First Contact Protocols
• Develop linguistic frameworks for possible interaction.
• All transmissions must remain neutral and encrypted.
4. Away Team Support
• Maintain encrypted comms between Chernov and boarding parties.
• Provide real-time linguistic support with alien consoles.
5. Security Coordination
• Watch for hostile jamming, AI comms reactivation, or deceptive transmissions.
• Lock down channels if alien systems attempt override.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

OOC: Just bringing this back forward so we don’t lose it. Captain, the crew awaits your orders. DH’s there are still a few of you who have not posted to the bridge to receive your mission brief. If you could post I will give you your briefs so everyone is on the same page. I have only given out Comms, Security and Command briefs. That leaves Medical, Science and Engineering heads.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

After the new commanding officer had taken command, Kastarak felt in his gut a mix of relief but also regret. He had no relationship whatsoever with the new captain. He had been here for five minutes. In those minutes, however, the new captain had honoured Taggart’s legacy. Once this mission was over, Kastarak vowed to visit Taggart wherever he was.

This whole mission seemed dangerous and secretive though. What were the risks? He tried to assess in his mind. At the same time, his job now was to support the commanding officer in the duties.

Helm plotted the course. Kastarak received the info on his padd. As navigations officer, he had to check. It all looked good. He turned to his captain in the centre seat.

“With optimal output of our engines, sir, estimated time of arrival will be at 15:10 hours. Course is locked.”

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
First Officer and Navigations Officer

William stepped onto the Bridge, giving Kastarak a brief but familiar nod, one of the last of the old guard, before finding his station.

CSO, 2O

OOC: Welcome back, Trin! I am going to give your character their Science Brief. You can read up to see the official brief above. Also on the MOTD are links to two other mood setter posts to set things up for the sim.

IC:
An NE Yeoman stepped forward with a datapad on which Ajhilaa sh’Ararhiq’s Science Brief was on it. He handed the padd to the 20.
“Here you are, sir. Your mission brief is on it.” Once Ajhilaa tabbed open the padd the brief was as follows:
‘1. Scientific Survey:
Conduct comprehensive mapping of the Veridian-73 Rift anomaly.

Deploy sensor buoys to monitor gravimetric and subspace activity.

Collect and analyze quantum filament and exotic particle data.

Investigate faint biosignatures suggesting non-corporeal or energy-based entities.’

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Kastarak had not seen Mr Grey’s name in the roster – which caused Kastarak to register Mr Grey’s arrival with extra curiosity. A lot had happened the few hours – things were in flux, and people were leaving and coming – most traumatically, captain Travis himself. Mr Grey’s arriving at bridge was a welcome return to some sense of normalcy, even if things still needed to be clarified by the new commanding officer: who was now second in command? who was chief science officer?

“Mr Grey, welcome back to the Bridge,” Kastarak said, rising from his seat in respect.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
First Officer and Navigations Officer

John was back at his tactical console he was sending message to his security teams to prepare for their part of the missions and to come up with a list of equipment and they will need for their part of the mission. He didn’t feel comfortable with or walking through the remains of derelict vessels. What if he saw his mother‘s vessel out there it is Starfleet. He needs to accept the unexpected.

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

Matthew can on and took his post at his station. Going through all the data that came in through the prompter. “So much already!’ He sits in a low voice to himself while reading to make the proper calls soon.

Matthew Quigley, COO

Course is locked, Kastarak had said. And Maddox did not respond. Kastarak stood near the helm, not returning to his seat. He waited, as one waits for the second half of a sentence. But the Captain remained still. Not contemplative, but immobile.

Kastarak turned fully now. The captain’s posture was upright, yet without focus. His eyes were fixed not on the viewscreen, nor on the console readouts, but… nowhere. His respiration remained steady. No visible muscular tremor. But the stillness was unnatural, pathological in a way.

Kastarak examined the possibilities in his mind. Could it be cognitive seizure? A dissociative event? Sudden-onset catatonia? Or something more obscure?

Kastarak stepped forward. He moved with the quiet decisiveness of a doctor in triage. He reached to his hip, withdrew the slim grey shell of his medical tricorder. He carried it always, despite not having worked clinically for over a year and a half. He opened it in silence and began the scan. The results came in quickly: Prefrontal disruption, parietal disorganization, elevated synaptic latency in the basal ganglia, and brainwave desynchronization.

The readings were anomalous. They were not consistent with any known neurological pathology, nor were they indicative of stroke or seizure. There was no evidence of neurotoxin or vascular event. Kastarak needed not make a diagnosis, Sickbay could do those assessments. But what was clear what that Maddox was not a man fit to command.

Kastarak noticed his own heart rate had increased. He allowed the sensation to inform his clarity, not cloud it. The emotion was not fear. It was duty, and the cost of acting without precedent.

He looked at the Captain one final time, then spoke with precision.

“I hereby relieve Captain Rafe Maddox of duty for reasons of medical disability. Computer, enter this event into the ship’s log, effective immediately.”

The computer acknowledged in its neutral tone. The act was now written into the history of the vessel, to be saved into posterity.

Kastarak paused. He stood now not as a subordinate or physician, but once more as acting commanding officer. He weighed the ship’s needs. Pawl – oh Pawl… – was already in Sickbay. Dr Symar and Nurse Sutalo were on duty. Symar was capable, though Kastarak had his misgivings – Symar remained dysregulated, yet he remained a capable chief medical officer, for now.... Sutalo had served with him since his first day on the Chernov four years and three months ago. Sutalo could manage a crisis with limited resources.

Still, this went against Kastarak’s instinct. His place should be at Maddox’s side. The neurophysiological readings required analysis, immediate correlation with Sickbay systems. Kastarak’s fingers itched to calibrate a cortical probe. It could be psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, psychotic, schizophrenic – and Kastarak was the ship expert on these matters–––– Kastarak noticed his racing thoughts. He quietened them. He had already left the post of physician once. His return to it now, while the ship spun toward an anomaly of unknown scale, would constitute a failure. The crew had already lost one commanding officer. Now two, within the hour. The chaos required containment, not multiplication.

The greater ethical priority was containment of that chaos. Emotional contagion spreads faster than subspace interference. The crew needed a locus of order. His discomfort was irrelevant.

He pressed the communicator.

“Bridge to Sickbay. Emergency transport, one patient: Captain Maddox. Initiate neurostabilization protocol on receipt. Tricorder data transmitting now.”

The blue shimmer of the transport beam began to glow, and Maddox disappeared.

Kastarak stood still for one breath. Then he exhaled, turned to face the command chair, and sat down.

The seat was warm. Again.

“Helm, go into warp now.”

He looked down to the armrest. Taggart’s coffee cup remained there, half-drunk. Kastarak decided to keep it. He needed it there.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer; First Officer and Navigations Officer

Pawl took an extra minute to refocus his mind after the visit to the medical center to help alleviate people’s concerns about his problems. He calmly walked to the lift as the doors opened for him to enter an empty car. As he grabbed a handle and turned it. “Bridge, please.” Pawl commanded softly. Moments later, the lift started moving to the bridge level. He thought about what had happened to the captain. ~” He was one of the people who understood me, he thought to himself.”~ ( not trying to project his thought, but Kasarak might pick up on it, and others that might be telepathic.) As the lift changed directions as another car came by, and the lift started heading up now. Pawl did not think anything of it; the lift was doing as it should. Moments later, the lift stopped. Pawl sighed hard and shook off the odd thoughts as the doors opened to the bridge. “Captain, I have returned from sickbay. Can I resume my station?” Pawl asked, not realizing the new captain was not there. “My apologies, Sir. I did not realize the new captain was not here now.” Pawl said quickly. Pawl was feeling out of sorts again. ~” Are people appearing and disappearing going to be a regular thing???”~ Pawl was feeling worried.

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]

[[Lt ]] [[Pawl Batario]]
[[Chief_Engineer]] [[Uss_Chernov]]