Put Down the Scalpel, Pick Up a Phaser

Posted on Wed Jul 29th, 2026 @ 2:22pm by Captain William Abernathy & Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD
Edited on on Wed Jul 29th, 2026 @ 2:24pm

1,119 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Blade of Deceit

Captain Bill Abernathy will have the Klingons exactly where he wanted them if his plan went well, the Arcadia would have the upper hand momentarily at least. A few well targeted shots would disable the battlecruiser's engines. They would prevent it from crossing the border, but it would only leave them a short period of time to retrieve Lieutenant Commander Walker. Bill knew that this would have to result in Klingon diplomacy - torpedoes, disruptors, phasers, and bat'leth. Blood would be spilt. There was only a marginal chance of Federation tactics of peaceful negotiations towards a resolution.

He also knew that as soon as they clipped the wings of the Klingon battlecruiser, the battle would commence. The Klingons would act like any wounded beast would, savage and aggressive. Klingons on the offensive were ruthless, but Klingons on the defensive made them far worse. Going to Sickbay, Bill Abernathy wasn't seeking anything to numb his headache or dull his irritability. He was preparing for a microscopic war with a Klingon that had a personal vendetta against him. He came to Sickbay to turn to the one person aboard who had actually fought the Klingons in war rather than these children that became officers towards the end of hostilities, and who's minds were molded into peace clay, as fragile as terracotta.

“…decision to travel in the third trimester is never a good idea, but we are monitoring closely and Dr Alexander is on standby,” Dr O’Connor was saying as she rounded off the update on their patients within the converted bay. “I assumed you would not be rushing to be in the delivery room.”

“Correct. All things considered, the passengers were fortunate,” Oscar noted as he countersigned the charts. Seeing a familiar figure heading their way, he nodded to Chloe, “can you go check on our med student, make sure they have taken a break and then assist them with follow ups?”

“On it,” Chloe nodded as she stood up, grabbing her crutches and making her way out.

“And remember physio,” Oscar called after her.

Chloe rolled her eyes but didn’t answer, instead nodding to Abernathy as they crossed paths. Grumbling under his breath about people refusing to listen, Oscar sighed as he stood, rounding his desk. “Captain, what can I do for you?”

"We are going to head off that Klingon battlecruiser, Oscar," Bill said. He knew it was best to just get straight to the point. "The Klingons will not not take kindly to what I have in store for them. We need to get Commander Walker back. We know they have him, and hell knows what they will do if they get him back across the border into Klingon space."

Bill Abernathy shook his head. "We fought that war. These kids... most of them were not there for it. We may be in a time of peace right now, but their abduction of Commander Walker is a clear violation of that. I'm going to stop them, Doctor. I am going to take that Klingon battlecruiser, and I am going to wound it before it can get to the border."

McDonald frowned, “abduction? The last rumours to hit these walls was that the commander was killed when the shuttle exploded…”

"He's alive," Abernathy replied. "Which is why we adjusted course. The Klingons snagged him."

Keeping medical updated with operational matters was never a priority on a starship - until it was. “Very well,” he sighed. “What do you need from me and my team? And how do we keep the civilians we just rescued safe if this does turn ugly.”

Abernathy scoffed. "It is going to get ugly, and ugly fast. We're taking Commander Walker back by force, Doctor. Your staff need to be ready for casualties, but I need you for a more delicate matter. I want you leading a boarding party. You are familiar with the Klingons in hand to hand combat, and you know your way through Klingon vessels."

“Sadly, I am familiar,” he conceded with a slight nod. Of agreement, of acknowledgment of his past experiences with a brutal enemy. “Though I am not as quick as I used to be. You are certain this is the best option?”

"We have a lot of young officers and crewmen aboard, capable, but the war was a blink and you miss it ordeal for many of them. Some were still going through the academy by the end. Lieutenant K'Var will be accompanying you, but her focus will be security. I need someone leading and coordinating, navigating them through that battlecruiser with precision... something surgical. Its the best option that keeps me in command of the Arcadia on the bridge. I could lead the boarding party, but I feel doing so would leave the Arcadia too vulnerable."

McDonald was silent for a long moment. He could appreciate the logic behind the request, the cold hard logic which emphasised the advantage of someone familiar with Klingons and their ships… yet removed the very emotional reality of how that experience was earned. It was not necessarily a bad thing for so many aboard to lack that first hand experience of unimaginable death and bloodshed. Until it was.

“Very well, Captain,” he sighed, nodding as much to himself than to Abernathy. “If anything which came out of that damned war can help us secure Walker’s safe return, then we should take full advantage.”

"I won't ask you to invalidate your oath of do no harm, Doctor," replied Bill. "But I know that you know, the Klingons will not make that easy for you. I expect you to use your best judgment. Keep our crew safe, and bring them back alive."

Oscar nodded slowly, knowing the captain spoke the truth. Klingons would never surrender - it was simply not in their nature. “Aye, Captain, understood,” he acknowledged, well aware it was a tall order. But, crucially, not impossible.


Captain Bill Abernathy had asked something of a physician, his Chief Medical Officer that he had never expected to ask of one, but MacDonald was atypical. This whole situation was. "It is unlikely that the Klingons are united in this. It does not appear to be the case. I suspect this was a defiant act under the orders of an old fool with a vendetta he has been holding since the war."

“We can only hope,” McDonald mused as he stood. “I will do what I can to ensure the commander and the rescue party returns safely. “

Abernathy nodded, a mutual understanding of what had to be done. "I'll be on the Bridge. We will try to make this rescue mission as precise as we can" stated Captain Abernathy before leaving.

 

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