[snip]

”..I got a mission for you that I think is right up your ally. I’d like to task the Merrimack with following some bread crumbs of echoed radio and possible warp signature pulses we’ve picked up near to the region you explored in the Beta Quadrant this past year. Follow up surveys and probe scans indicate a possible newly warp capable species out that way but the inhabited systems we’ve pinged as targets come up empty.” She said showing a display on the wall of space highlighting several ID’d systems. They formed a conical funnel like shape oddly enough with the point leading further into unexplored space.

”..The radio transmissions show to be at least 10 years old, translations are still crude but take a listen does anything sound familiar to you from your bout out in space a few months back?” She asked cuing up an audio log. =/\= This is unknown words. We of the planet unknown word wish to convey our unknown words, we hope that to the listeners of the Great Void unknown words....to one day concentrate together =/\= The computerized female like voice said. Glen unfortunately didn’t recognize it off hand, though depending how versed he was in dialect he might detect an almost serene like tone quality to it.

After his reply Delany nodded, “..While I can’t order you off on this bread trail Captain. I would hope the prospect of a First Contact might whet your appetite to get back out there sooner then your R&R might provide. So what do you say?” She asked with a creased smile.

“I’m certainly curious,” Captain Glen replied, “That’s our mission directive, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before. It is exactly what my crew signed up for, rather than babysitting dignitaries, policing borders, or the administration of law and politics. So, after a few more days on this space station I’m sure I can get them to leave, but what about the Merrimack’s refit? I was under the impression that would take rather longer… and I’ve already had one of that refit team bellyaching that I have been amiss at following the Merrimack’s servicing schedule since I took command.”

”..You refit of course will have to be completed, I figure a week should suffice by the estimates I asked for earlier. As for the complaining well, that’s what all engineers do don’t they when you bang up ‘their’ ships. During this week your crew will of course get the R&R they deserve..” She said

“With all due respect Commodore, Starfleet needs some more joined-up thinking,” added Glen.

”…You speak of me too highly of me Captain! I’m merely a Commander not Commodore.” She said with a faint grin.

Once Glen finished and accepted the mission, Commander Delany smiled again. “..Glad to get the help from you Captain. I’ll forward you all information we gathered so far. If you want you can even assign your teams to examining it themselves. But given they’re due R&R I’d make it optional, but its up to you..” She said. Then offering over a stack of 10 PADDs for Glen in a carry bundle.

Glen managed to pick up and balance the stacked bundle of PADDs. There had to be some way to reduce the physical size of memory storage.

“I’ll review the information with my team,” said Glen, “but I want to allow them some time off first. Thanks, this is the kind of mission that makes serving worthwhile.”

-Glen, CO

”..Much appreciated Captain. Do take care once you’re out there, who knows where those bread crumbs will lead!” She said.

GM CockRoach