At Dangers Edge

Posted on Wed Apr 22nd, 2026 @ 3:06pm by Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe & Captain William Abernathy & Lieutenant Commander Elyse White & Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD & Lieutenant K’Var & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

934 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: USS Arcadia | Deck 1 | Bridge

ON:

The bridge of the USS Arcadia was quiet in the way only a starship on the edge of danger could be. Ahead, the viewscreen shimmered with a distorted field of empty space. There was nothing visible to the naked eye, yet every officer present knew it was anything but empty. It was a mine field.

“Confirmed boundary,” the relief navigator reported. “We are at the outer edge of the minefield, Captain" they elaborated.

Captain Abernathy leaned forward slightly in his Captain's chair, eyes narrowing as he studied the subtle sensor distortions rippling across the display. Somewhere beyond that invisible veil lay the stranded transport and the lives of civilians depending on them.

“Hold position,” he ordered the relief helmsmen.

Off the port bow, the Klingon D7 battlecruiser shifted. Then, one by one, four compact craft detached from its hull. They were angular, aggressive, and unmistakably Klingon.

“Minn’hor-class shuttles,” noted Abernathy. He had encountered them before. Where the Federation had shuttles designed for exploration through asteroid fields, the Klingons had these. They were more combat driven than exploratory.

Captain Abernathy watched them surge forward, their movements sharp and deliberate. He had recognized the design immediately, less shuttle, more weapon. Armed. Fast. Built for attack runs, not rescue operations, and yet here they were being for just that. A faint, humorless smile touched his expression.

“Looks like our allies prefer to test the waters with their teeth today" commented Abernathy. "Commander White, give the order to the Shuttlebay. Launch our shuttles."

"Yes, sir," White agreed, "I'm keeping a close eye on their Comms too, captain. I don't trust them."

Abernathy smiled. He did not trust them either, but those above him clearly did, or were forced to make it appear as though they did. "Thank you, Commander White. I believe officially, we're monitoring Klingon communications to ensure efficient and precise collaboration in this rescue operation."

Glancing from the view screen to the available sensor data, K’Var was a little nervous. It was a dangerous mission and then you had the Klingons that might decide to turn on them at a moments notice. However K’Var had made preparations for increased ship wide security and a few action plans if they were fired upon.

Abernathy stood from his chair. "Lieutenant Poe, let's prepare some probes. We can go about traversing the perimeter."

"Aye, Sir. Commander Walker's micro probes are already transmitting data from the inside. We're getting a good picture of how the field looks. He's also marked the safe path for the shuttles. Entry point coordinates sending to navigation now."

"White, relay coordinates and flightpath to our shuttles, and to the Klingons" Captain Abernathy instructed.

Elyse nodded, "relaying everything now, Captain." She started to send everything through, keeping track of what was sent, still very uncertain about it all.

Bill pressed the panel on the arm rest of his Captain's chair, opening a channel to Sickbay "Bridge to Sickbay. Commander Walker's marked the path. Our shuttles are launching soon. We're getting the children out first, stand by for potential casualties within the hour."

From several decks below, the Chief Medical Officer finished ordering some last minute adjustments before he responded. “McDonald here, understood. We will be ready.”

"Counselor, are you prepared for the children after they are released from Sickbay?"

“About as ready as I’ll ever be Sir” Lanna added with a smile. “They’ll be well looked after.”

Bill could hear the professionalism in everyone's tone. "I have no doubt about that" replied Captain Abernathy.

Poe broke in. "Commander Walker has returned from the field the shuttles show launch and he's guiding the ships in. ETA for pick up and return is one hour and based on sensors it will take two to three trips to retrieve everyone. The Commander signals that he'll guide the ins and outs." Poe turned to the Captain. "Sir the sensor data is ... amazing. We're getting a lot but some of the mines are shielded from the scans and that makes me nervous."

"Understandable," Bill replied. "Can we do anything to disrupt that shielding?"

Poe looked to Thol who said. "Working on it, Sir."

Walker sent a coms. "Walker to Arcadia. We're heading in. It will be slow sir but we'll get everyone. My first run to the ship netted some information. Sending crew stats through now for Medical and counseling."

"We're reading you clearly, Walker. Let's take this slow. I want everyone home in one peace," Elyse confirmed. She looked around at the panels, ensuring all the data was coming through properly, passing it on as needed.

“Stats coming through now Sir” Lanna added in acknowledgment as she looked at what was coming through.

In Sickbay, McDonald stood with arms folded and brow furrowed as he examined the limited data. None of which was a substitute for his own eyes on actual patients. For his department it was a waiting game.

Back on the bridge Tholos felt as if he was back at the academy. Those probe shields were concerning and neither he, nor Poe, nor the rest of the engineers were having any luck getting them down. He’d even reached out to the Klingon engineers who were just as stumped. Either way the all around feeling was that something was off.

He didn’t let on but he was worried about the crews of the shuttles. When Elyse told the group, an hour later, that the shuttles were safe and loading the first group from the transport he sighed with relief. One small step down. They had a long way to go.

OFF:

 

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