[snip]

The USS Merrimack was prepared.

If the Shiarain Dominion chose to test them, Thalos intended to make certain they would regret underestimating Starfleet—or its Chief of Security.

Captain Glen turned towards M’Mera, “placing damage control teams on standby is your Department. Maybe run some simulations. I’ve heard your role-plays in Security were very popular.”

The Captain asked Rana, “Let’s also check that everyone knows their up to date General Quarters auxiliary roles in the event of a battle. We’ve had a number of crew changes since we were last under attack. For efficiency, crew need to adopt their correct stations immediately that the Red Alert is heard.”

Finally Glen told Zavey, “The initial data gathered from the surveys is looking good. The cartographers are going to be pleased with that, I think? If there are no further questions, then I shall retire to my Quarters for a few hours.”

‘’I hope the science dept is doing its part and we need to contact bridge =/\= Sharp from security dept to bridge.....we have located a torpedo which seems very familiar to ours and the ship is stirring its way behind it ........someone please acknowledge ?=/\=.

=^= This is LT ch’Ravik, thank you for the information, this will be investigated=^=

“Aye, Sir.” Zavey called out to the Captain, acknowledging his departure from the bridge. As the message came through from the security department, she looked over her console again. She had not been alerted to the presence of the torpedo they spoke about. With a deft motion she ran a quick diagnostic on her equipment. When it was done, there was a notification of an empty torpedo casing outside of the Merri.

She looked over at the security chief. “Lt, I show one of our own unequipped torpedo casings, floating off the starboard bow. The casing was not cleared to be fired as the Captain didn’t want to waste them. Also, the ship isn’t following it, we are both just drifting in the same direction.” Waiting for the Andorian to respond, Elyss gave him a more thorough look. Interesting…

“I wasn’t aware that we had,” Thalos said, his tone even but edged with concern. “They specifically stated the shipment was sent without a torpedo casing.”

His fingers paused over the console as he reviewed the manifest again, eyes narrowing slightly. The data didn’t align—not with protocol, not with logistics, and certainly not with standard Starfleet procedure. His antennae angled forward, registering the subtle shift in ambient vibration as systems updated around him.

That shouldn’t be happening.

Thalos rerouted the feed, cross-checking cargo logs against internal sensors and security records. Every discrepancy, however minor, was flagged and isolated. The Imperial Guard instinct stirred—quiet, insistent—whispering that anomalies rarely occurred without reason.

“Requesting verification,” he said calmly, already opening a secure channel. “I want confirmation on origin, chain of custody, and transport authorization. If there’s a casing onboard that wasn’t declared, I need to know how it got here—and who signed off on it.”

Outwardly, he remained composed, posture relaxed at the tactical station. Internally, his focus sharpened.

Cargo discrepancies led to problems.
Problems led to casualties.

And Thalos had no intention of letting either slip past unnoticed aboard the USS Merrimack.

Dariusz was trying to cover Navigation and Helm as well as Comms, all at the same time. Personally, he thought it was poor decision to have sent the Communication Officer away to collect bric-a-brac and jumble at a serious time like this, but that was well above his pay grade.

“Sirs! If I may? It was Lt. Stella Gagnon and Lt. Hercules Kahuna who launched the first load of junk and clutter, Sirs! They were going to send it out in a torpedo casing at first, but then the Captain changed his mind and they confirmed that they had unpacked it,” said Dariusz. “it’s also possible that the sensors are on the fritz, Sirs!

A reply came back for the COS. =/\= Good Morning, Sir. Fleegman here! Sharp is repeating the sensor sweep scan cycle in case of spectrographic artifacts caused by the fluctuating power supply. If it’s real, he will triangulate the exact torpedo tube point of origin. =/\=

=^=Good morning Crewman , that would be helpful, thankyou , while I have you on the comms, please have teams situated in the shuttle bays and the torpedo bay, make sure they are armed and have the helmsman and comms officer sent back to the bridge=^=

He knew Guy was just a crewman but He and Sharp seemed to be very capable and he knew they could be trusted

=/\= Yes Sir, Understood =/\= replied Guy.

It was then that Stella finally showed back up on the bridge wearing a newly pressed and clean uniform. ” Sorry, y’all I had to stop on my way back to change into a clean uniform. Torpedo tubes it seems are a low level on the dust and clean menu.” She then sat down at her station and as was her routine she went through a total check of all systems remotely having to do with comms before she settled in to relax and listen.

About the time that Stella showed up, Kahuna replied to Cmdr. ch’Ravik. =/\= Kahuna to the Bridge. I can confirm that an empty torpedo casing has been launched from the Merrimack by accident. I’m still investigating how that was possible, but I take full responsibility and I offer my resignation as Weapons Officer, Sir! =/\=

Thalos let out a quiet sigh. To think one of their own had made such an error—it was regrettable, but not unforgivable.

“=^= Bridge here. It will be for the Captain or the XO to determine any disciplinary action. =^=” His voice remained level, neither harsh nor indulgent. “=^= That said, I do acknowledge—and respect—that you are willing to take responsibility. =^=”

He closed the channel and straightened slightly at his station, antennae settling back into a neutral position. Errors happened. What mattered was accountability, correction, and ensuring the mistake was never repeated.

The Imperial Guard in him would have demanded immediate consequence.

Starfleet required something more measured.

Thalos accepted that distinction—logically, deliberately—and returned his full attention to the tactical display.

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Rana let loose a long sigh at the news. The entire operation had been his idea. He had thought it to be simple enough. But somehow someone had gotten a portion of the original plan confused with the final draft. He had not been clear enough when he issued the final orders. After all the results of any operation should start and end with the officer who gave the orders. Rana checked around the bridge and thought for a moment. He was quite sure that Kahuna had nothing to do with things. He was just a good man accepting the blame for something that had taken place in his area.

Lieutenant Thalos. ” Rana began. ” If you would tell Kahuna that all will be forgiven and that will stand him a drink if he can find and secure the warhead that went with that empty casing.” Rana had every belief in Thalos . He would no doubt find the real culprit. ” In the meantime, everyone keeps out an eye out for more oddities. “

Rana Singh Number One

“Permission to leave the bridge and proceed to the torpedo handling deck, sir. It would be more appropriate to address this matter in person rather than over open comms.”

Thalos kept his tone even and deferential, though internally his antennae twitched almost imperceptibly. The XO’s response thus far struck him as… lenient. Not incorrect—simply lighter than his Imperial Guard instincts would have preferred.

That assessment, however, remained firmly unspoken.

Command decisions were not his to second-guess aloud, and “rocking the boat,” as humans phrased it, served no tactical or professional purpose. The expression itself still struck him as illogical—Andorians did not destabilize their own footing unless there was clear advantage in doing so.

Until directed otherwise, discipline meant restraint.

He waited, composed and motionless at his station, for the XO’s reply.

Rana noticed the hint of Thalos’ dissatisfaction. It was all in the antennae. Rana looked away from Thalos for a moment and then spoke saying, ” You may indeed go to speak with Kahuna Lieutenant. He is your man. But I ask you to consider. Mister Kahuna without thought or hesitation fell on his sword to protect what we’ll probably find out is a very new and very nervous young ensign or crewman. This sort of behavior may or may not be valued in your culture . I must confess my ignorance. But consider you are in a bad spot . The heat of battle or a situation when you want a rock solid fellow to guard your back. ” Rana paused for a moment before turning back to look at Thalos and said simply. ” I know a man like Kahuna is the sort of man I would want at my side. As for the real person who did this. Well we can’t very well throw them off the ship. But you can do with him as you will. My only request is that this person is given very strenuous weapons safety and handling protocols training. Go ahead Lieutenant get things straightened up down there. “

Rana Singh Number One

“Of course, sir. I have no intention of making matters worse than necessary. I hold great respect for any officer who acts without hesitation to protect another.”

The words were sincere, not merely polite. Loyalty—earned, tested, and upheld under pressure—was a concept Thalos understood deeply, long before Starfleet had given it a name and a uniform.

With a sharp nod, he turned and left the bridge.

As the turbolift doors slid shut behind him, the faint hum of the ship enveloped him, and for a fleeting moment the old Imperial Guard reflex stirred—an instinct to resolve the problem swiftly, decisively, and without ambiguity. His fingers curled once at his side before he consciously relaxed them, forcing the impulse back down where it belonged.

This was not the Guard.
This was Starfleet.

By the time the lift announced “Torpedo Control”, his expression was once again calm, professional, and unreadable—blue skin smooth, antennae held steady—as he stepped out, already preparing to assess Kahuna face to face.

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack

Rana was quite happy with the way things were going. Ince again he marveled at how comfortable the captain’s chair was. He slowly looked from one side of the bridge to the other and saw that everything with the exception of the mix up with the torpedo tube everything seemed to be running smoothly. The science station was busy collecting data and mapping the area they were in, and Their Comms officer seemed to be very content listening to only she knew what in her headset. Things seemed to be running too smoothly. He wondered for a minute if he could have someone grab him a strong cup of coffee.

Rana Singh Number One

By sheer coincidence, Captain Glen asked, =/\= Please deliver a coffee to my Ready Room, strong and black. Thank you. =/\=

• Clen, CO