Shockwaves

Posted on Sun Jul 13th, 2025 @ 12:51am by Rear-Admiral Rutherford Collins & Captain Mac Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Jethro "Jet" Romanowski & Lieutenant Commander Kirak & Lieutenant Eve West & Lieutenant Lioren Daeval & Lieutenant JG H'mes & Doctor Kim Standish

Mission: Regula Gambit
Location: Main Bridge, USS Proxima
Summary:
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 1147

[USS Proxima]
[Main Bridge]
[Stardate 8293.5 - 1147 Hours]

Captain Marcus Sullivan stood behind the center command chair, his dark brown eyes scanning the information as it scrolled across the viewscreen, which was usually a field of stars but now displayed the latest reports from the Federation News Network. The headlines made for grim reading: "GENESIS PLANET DESTROYED IN PROTOMATTER CASCADE" and "SUBSPACE SHOCKWAVES DETECTED THROUGHOUT MUTARA SECTOR."

Thirty minutes ago, the Science Officer had detected enormous energy readings in the vicinity of the Genesis Planet, and now it seemed that what had started as Dr. Marcus's attempt to create life had ended in spectacular destruction.

Mac surveyed the bridge, its normal efficiency interrupted by this catastrophe. They had been on patrol for only three days, vigilantly patrolling the neutral zone with nothing of interest to report. Sullivan had almost allowed himself to believe that this patrol might pass without incident despite the Genesis revelation. Almost.

Lieutenant Lioren Daeval sauntered onto the Bridge with the effortless grace that came naturally to most Betazoid. His presence was neither intrusive nor passive; he didn’t disappear into the background, but he certainly didn’t command the room either. He simply was. Calm, composed, and quietly watchful. Word had filtered down about an incoming special bulletin from FNN. Something significant enough to ripple through the crew’s usual routines. Lio wasn’t the type to chase headlines, but as the ship’s counselor, he made it his business to stay aware of what might affect morale.

Rather than hover or linger awkwardly, Lio found a natural perch near the Communications station. He leaned casually against the nearest support strut, arms folding across his chest, adopting a posture that suggested curiosity without urgency. His uniform was sharp, he wore the regulation waistcoat over his departmental turtleneck, a layering choice that balanced professionalism with comfort.

His dark eyes scanned the room, quietly observing the rhythm of the bridge crew, reading the subtle cues of tension, anticipation, and routine. Whatever this bulletin was, it had people talking. And Lio, as always, wanted to be close enough to listen.

A single, questioning eyebrow rise indicated the internalized curiosity of the ship's First Officer and Chief Navigator. He sat with the postural precision of the Vulcan kind. His duties had largely been focused on his data. It was partially his job to sweep the Neutral Zone and adjacent space for traffic, spatial anomalies, subspace "weather." There was the usual civilian shipping traffic: a Gallamite freighter bound for Tarkalea... probably shipping tea. The ECS Prosperity was leaving the Orion Borderlands and was about to reach the colony on Ajilon Prime.

"Proto-matter..." Kirak stated evenly. "The questions becomes, did someone deploy a proto-matter weapon to destroy the planet, or was it used in the manufacture of the intended device?"

Mac glanced over toward his First Officer, a grim expression crossing his features. "Either answer is almost insane in how someone could rationalize using the substance in such a manner. I don't get the feeling that Command is going to let us know the full story anytime soon."

Kirak turned to profile and gave an agreeing nod, "It would be illogical to withhold such information from our mission profile. However, not an unexpected omission on their part based on precedent." Kirak raised an eyebrow and turned his attention to his station.

Jet stood towards the back of the bridge nearest the turbolift. He'd reported to the bridge when the first news had started filtering in and Captain Sullivan had invited those who wished to view the news to come up. His arms were folded across his chest as he stared at the viewscreen with a frown on his face. The Genesis planet had been all over the Federation news service since it's creation, and its destruction would certainly send ripples throughout the quadrant.

"Subspace shockwaves are going to make things bumpy throughout that sector," he said under his breath knowing that disruptions in subspace made warp travel more difficult.

"I feel for anyone trying to fly in that" Lieutenant Eve West, the Proxima's Chief Helmsman said, knowing damn well she'd be in the thick of it. It wasn't anything that she didn't think she could handle. She knew she could, but there was still the concern for others. The news of Genesis' destruction was also a major concern to her. Galactic Tensions would undoubted rise. She shook off the feeling. Eve needed to remain frosty and focused.

"The subspace shockwave has a variation of two point four percent bearing forty degrees off the galactic ecliptic. I have plotted a course with that variable in mind." Kirak's head tilted. "Curiously, that suggests an uneven collapse in the planet's gravitational and magnetic field."

From behind the Captain's left shoulder, Dr. Kim Standish stood, feet planted evenly as if the subspace shockwaves mentioned might hit the ship at any moment the way a rippling swell of water from a ship's wake would rock any other boats nearby. Her arms were crossed, one hand tucked under the crook of her elbow while her opposite hand wrapped her bicep. She had thoughts. So many thoughts. On the Genesis Planet. Proto-Matter. People who liked the idea of playing god with science. Heck. She had thoughts on when and where her next coffee would come from. She had a feeling she might need it. Still, the only utterance she offered was a quietly exhaled, "Well, shit."

Mac caught the doctor's quietly muttered assessment from earlier and allowed himself the ghost of a wry smile despite the circumstances. Standish's blunt summation had been more succinct than anything the FNN had managed, and probably more accurate too.

Lio couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth in response to the doctor’s quiet, unassuming words. There was something disarming in their simplicity. Her honesty was evident. He tilted his head slightly, dark eyes glinting with subtle amusement, not in mockery but in appreciation. Moments like these, unpolished and real, were the ones he valued most even in the face of uncertainty and even calamity.

Kirak raised a brow at the Doctor's colorful use of language. It soon eased down to his neutral position a she became more aware of the position of the Doctor and the Counselor in his periphery. He pinged the sensors of a small Gallamite freighter passing away from their position. And then he checked subspace weather which was, as Eve had stated, a bit of a mess. The pulsing eddies of disturbed gravitons highlighted the course of tachyons outward from the center of what was now the remnant of the Mutara system. With a fingering of the navigational deflector controls, Kirak increased the inertial dampeners and structural integrity fields. The key highlighted yellow, indicating a higher than usual use of the system.

Kirak then turned attention to his operational duties- monitoring sensor and resource uses by the various departments. He green-lit an engineering team wanting to recalibrate the lateral sensor array with the caveat: be prepared to resume function at any time.

"Captain," Ensign Grex called from the communications station, the Tellarite's gravelly voice carrying that particular urgency that meant serious trouble, "Priority transmission from Deep Space Station Lambda-2. It's Rear-Admiral Rutherford, sir, and he's issuing a Code One alert."

Mac felt his stomach tighten. Code One alerts were reserved for disasters that could reshape the quadrant—such as invasion, total system failure, or the outbreak of full-scale war. He'd never seen one issued during his entire career, "Let's have it, Mr. Grex."

The weathered face of Rear-Admiral Thomas Rutherford appeared on the viewscreen, his steely expression and clipped accent brooking no argument. "Captain Sullivan, we have a situation. Space Lab Regula One has transmitted an automated distress signal—unauthorized access to Genesis archives and complete communication failure with the security detail. We are forwarding to you the limited details we have."

Rutherford paused, grimacing, "Given the destruction of the Genesis Planet, the Enterprise incident, the sensitive nature of Genesis technology, and the fact that this situation has also severely strained relations with the Klingons, Starfleet Command is treating this as a Code One emergency. Proxima is the nearest vessel. You are ordered to investigate immediately." Rutherford paused, gravely serious, "Captain, you are to prevent all Project Genesis information from being divulged. You are authorized to use any means necessary short of violating Federation Law."

Mac moved to his command chair, mind already racing through tactical possibilities. Pirates bold enough to hit a Federation research station? Klingon raiders testing their resolve? Or something worse—someone actually mad enough to try stealing Genesis technology with the quadrant already on the brink of war.

"Understood, Admiral. USS Proxima responding to Code One alert," as the screen was once again replaced by the news feed, he glanced over to his Chief Engineer and tilted his head towards the turbolift, "Better get those engines ready, Mr. Romanowski."

"Aye sir," Jet said as he slapped his gloves against his thigh before turning towards the nearest turbolift. He paused as the doors opened to look back towards the command chair, "Captain, depending on the frequency and magnitude of the subspace shockwaves, we may not be able to transit the entire distance on Warp speed alone."

Mac nodded and was sure his Navigator was already plotting a best-speed course in his head, "Understood, on your way." Turning to his first officer, Mac's voice carried the calm authority that had gotten him through every crisis since the academy. "Commander Kirak, bring the ship to Yellow Alert and plot a direct course for Space Lab Regula One. Best possible speed."

The warning hymn of the ship shifting to yellow alert prompted the slow, cautious pulse of a yellow icon in the corner bezel of any a console. It was not the same urgency, the dire tension that red alert gave. But Kirak noted even this condition tended to straighten the backs of the officers and crew around him. If even temporarily. "All hands, we are now on Condition Yellow. Deck nine Auxiliary Control, go to active readiness." Kirak stated. His eyes had not risen. Instead he's reached between himself and (West) to reset the navigational deflector. He calculated the coordinates and the speed, and sent the data to (West) while he began to chart the minute course changes through subspace to optimize the route. "Course laid in."

Lioren had barely a moment to collect his thoughts before the bridge came alive with movement. Orders were being issued, consoles lit up with fresh data, and the crew shifted seamlessly into high gear. From his position near the rear of the command center, the Counselor watched intently, his dark eyes moving from officer to officer, quietly observing. There was a kind of choreography to it all, an unspoken rhythm born of training, experience, and trust. Each officer moved with confidence, clearly suited to the role they filled aboard the Proxima. It impressed him, even if he wouldn’t say it aloud just yet.

Lioren made a conscious effort to remain unobtrusive, keeping to the periphery as the flurry of activity unfolded around him. He wasn’t here to interfere, only to understand, to learn the shape of the crew’s dynamic. Watching them now, it was clear: this was a ship that knew how to move forward when the moment demanded it.

Mac's gaze shifted to the helm station where Lieutenant Eve West waited with that perfect balance of readiness and patience that marked an exceptional helmsman. Whatever they were about to face at Regula One, they'd need every advantage speed and skill could provide. "West, as soon as we have our course laid in, take us to maximum warp. I want to be at Regula One yesterday."

"Aye sir" the blonde woman said before tapping a few buttons on her helm console. "Ready for maximum warp."

"Lieutenant West," Mac said, his voice carrying across the bridge with quiet authority and that hint of pilot's precision that never quite left his tone, "Let's be about it."

As the bridge crew sprang into action around him, Mac allowed himself one moment to appreciate the smooth efficiency of his officers. There were still concerns; they were a new crew with little to no real experience working together. He hoped they would all be up to the task and that he could lead them into becoming the cohesive group they needed to be. Then his thoughts turned to what they might find at the research station and whether they were already too late to prevent whatever catastrophe was brewing in the wake of the Genesis event.

Lieutenant H'Mes was at his station, very interested in the going on around him. He knew that all these "Genesis" talk was way above his clearance, but he went where Starfleet sent him with joy. "Regula one, eh? Sounds interesting." He said

Mac caught the Caitian's comment and managed a tight smile despite the circumstances. "Let's hope it's the good kind of interesting, Lieutenant." His attempt at levity was cut short by another urgent transmission.

"Captain, follow-up from Lambda-2," Grex announced, his gravelly voice even more somber than before. "Long-range telemetry confirms that the Starship Enterprise and Science Vessel Grissom have both been destroyed."

Mac felt the words hit him like a physical blow. The Enterprise—Kirk's old ship, the vessel that had saved his home colony all those years ago. And the Grissom—a science vessel full of researchers who had probably volunteered for what they thought was a once-in-a-lifetime mission. The scope of this crisis was becoming horrifyingly clear.

"Acknowledged," Mac managed, his voice steady despite the churning in his stomach. Two starships destroyed, Genesis technology potentially stolen, and tensions with the Klingons at breaking point. He had a feeling that whatever was happening at Regula One was not going to be the good kind of interesting.

"Mr. Kirak, what's our ETA to Regula One?" Sullivan inquired.

The Vulcan half-turned, his profile in view of the center chair. "At present speed, assuming no further course corrections and continued disruption of tachyon flow from the Mutara sector? Nineteen hours, forty-one minutes."

"Very well," Mac nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "Have all department heads review what information we have available and submit preliminary assessments to you. Let's convene at 2100 hours to coordinate our approach."

Easing out of her position, Standish stepped forward until she was practically looming over Sullivan's shoulder. "Even if it's not the Klingons," she offered, pitching her voice so that it was, mostly, only for the Captain's ears, "there's no saying what bits of Genesis from the explosion they might already be encountering. It would be great if we could say for sure that no protomatter survived the planet's destruction, but... it's something we might want to be prepared to encounter. Even if it's a low likelihood."

Mac turned slightly in his command chair to better hear Standish's quiet counsel, appreciating both her foresight and her discretion in keeping the observation between them. The doctor's scientific mind was already working through scenarios that might not have occurred to him—exactly the kind of thinking he needed from his senior staff.

"Good point, Doctor," he said in an equally low voice, his dark eyes reflecting the weight of her suggestion. "I want you to work with Science and Engineering on protocols for detecting and handling any protomatter we might encounter. Better to have contingencies we don't need than to be caught unprepared."

"As one of my instructors said " H'mes began. "It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it "

A Post By:

Rear-Admiral Rutherford Collins
Sector Commander

Captain Mac Sullivan
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Kirak
First Officer/Chief Navigator

Lieutenant Commander Jet Romanowski
Chief Engineer

Doctor Kim Standish
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Eve West
Chief Helmsman

Lieutenant Lioren Daeval
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant JG H'Mes
Chief of Security