Complications

Posted on Sat Mar 7th, 2026 @ 5:07am by Commodore Samantha York & Commander Joren Tal & Lieutenant Crisanto Venchi & Lieutenant Aenar Torek & Lieutenant Bela Swain & Lieutenant JG Vincent Shaw

1,869 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Lost Horizons
Location: Various

They were three days from the Pellana system where they were to examine what appeared to be ancient ruins when a call came in from Starfleet. In Sam's experience, getting a message after receiving orders was rarely a good thing.

Vincent watched as the stars streamed by, musing about the past events that had happened. Finding out about his ex-wife’s true race--Centaur--which made him wonder just who she truly was. The alert sounding upon the console in front of him brought Vincent's attention to a message coming in.

It was from Admiral Burke.

"Commodore, we have an incoming message from Admiral Burke." Vincent preparing to activate the message when Samantha gave her order.

Aenar's ears perked up from where he was sat at the Science console. He snuck a glance over his shoulder to the well where the senior command staff were sat, wondering what this could be about.

"Please do," Sam said to Vincent. A message from Starfleet was rare enough, but the admiral herself usually meant something was amiss. "On screen."

The image of Admiral Burke appeared on the viewscreen. "We just received news about the ship that reported the ruins on the fourth planet in the Pellana system," she began. "It never reached its destination. At the time, it was believed the merchant stopped somewhere else first, but there has been no word from him and he is over a week late." Burke paused. "We have nothing to indicate where the ship went, or if it even left the system. In addition to having a look at the ruins to see if they're worth sending out an archaeological team, see if you can determine what happened to the merchant--or at least rule out that he crashed on one of the planets."

Sam wondered why it took this long to alert Starfleet, but she and her crew could definitely look at the other planets while they were there. In fact, she already planned to do so. "Send us everything you know about the ship and the merchant. We'll see if we can find anything in the system," Sam said. Although she wasn't sure if they would. The ship could be almost anywhere by now.

"Thank you. Now that this has come to our attention, reports are emerging that other ships have gone missing in the past," Burke added. "So be careful. We don't want to lose another ship. Report when you arrive in system, and then send me a report every day. Headquarters is a little hesitant about sending a starship." After another pause, The admiral added, "Be careful, Sam. Burke out."

"Well," Sam said. "That is definitely interesting. "Vincent, send anything the admiral forwarded to me and science. We still have a few days and I'd like to have an idea as to what we may be flying into."

"This did just turn from an archeological dig site into a potential rescue mission." Joren commented. "I assume, Commodore, that finding the merchant ship takes precedence over scientific research?"

"Yes--unless we find something to tie the two together." Sam couldn't completely agree without more information. But a rescue was more urgent than exploring a ruin.

Bela had to agree with the Commodore's assessment. A ruin could be returned to. Leads on ship disappearances could go cold quickly. Nonetheless, her cheery voice piped up, "Why would one particular area randomly have ships disappear? That seems rather improbable statistically, wouldn't it? Do we know the time frame that the other ships went missing? Was it over hundreds of years or the last dozen? Also, where did that ship stop between here and its disappearance? That would be useful information...."

His brow furrowing in perplexion as to the news about the merchant ship disappearing. Vincent's uncle was a merchant. What if he had disappeared like that ship. He sent the needed information towards Sam, turning slightly he remarked once the Admiral had signed off.

"I really hope nothing horrible happened to them." Vincent then turning towards the console.

"So do I," Sam replied to Vincent.

Then she replied to Bela. "We'll see what information the admiral forwards and go from there. This isn't a well-traveled part of space, so I doubt many ships come this way." She paused. "I'll ask if Starfleet knows why the ship was even out here."

"That seems like a good idea," Bela agreed. "And if there are few ships that come out this way and a lot disappearing in this area, that could be a high percentage, and makes me wonder why it was not investigated before."

"Indeed." Sam turned to her chief science officer. "I want you to see what you can learn about this system. I'll get the official reports, but I'd like you to look for anything that hasn't been reported to Starfleet."

'That occurred to me too,' Aenar scratched his cheek thoughtfully, then said, 'Calypso's long-range sensors might pick up something even a freighter at closer range may not have. And anyone who's logged a sensor scan via Federation channels in the last century or so should have an entry in our archive.'

"Yes, they should. See what you can find," Sam asked.

Then she turned to Alex. "And I would like you to see what you can find through your channels. If there is anything going on in this area, I'd like to know about it before we arrive."

Bela volunteered, "I could help Lieutenant Torek, if you would like, Commodore. It might make the work go faster."

Sam nodded, trying not to smile. "You have my permission, but you should also ask him."

Surprised, Aenar broke out into a smile. No-one ever really volunteered to do these sorts of data-gathering exercises outside of his subordinates. 'A fresh pair of eyes might help - it can be tedious though.'

"All the more reason for a second set of eyes," Bela answered happily.

'Sounds like a ... plant,' Aenar replied warmly. 'Permission to leave the Bridge and head to the Science Labs Captain?'

"Granted. Let me know if you find anything."

"Me too?" Bela asked, just to clarify.

''Of course," Aenar replied as he rose as swiftly as was seemly from his Bridge station. "A second pair of eyes is better from the beginning than shoehorned in at the end as my grandfather said." He beckoned to her as he headed for the lift, "C'mon, let's go get some answers." The Bajoran cared little how people would interpret his eagerness.

Bela giggled, "I think that the Commodore has to give me permission to leave with you. That is why I asked."

"You have permission. just...see that you do get some work done," Sam added with a smile.

Bela answered, "Commodore! ! I find it hard to believe that you would believe that I would not work hard for the crew."

She then turned to Aenar and said, "Show me to your documents. Answers shall be forthcoming!"

"I know you work hard for the crew," Sam replied, not bothering to elucidate.

"Thank you, Commodore!" Bela enthused, as she practically skipped to Aenar and the turbolift.

Sam watched them go, wondering if the chief science officer had any idea what he was in for.

Joren kept silent, but made a mental note to check on them later. He didn't mind - whatever was going on between them - as long as it didn't distract too much from the actual work expected of them, as missing vital pieces could endanger the Calypso or its crew.

As per Sam's request, Vincent received the information, along with it there was another packet with it.

"Commodore, along with the information the Admiral is sending, It appears that a new doctor is arriving. All information has been sent to your Ready Room." Vincent announced.

"A new doctor?" That was a quick turnaround. "If the doctor shows up, send them to my ready room. Until then, I'll go see what the admiral sent."

She stood and looked at her first officer. "Joren, you have the bridge."

"Yes, Commodore." Joren nodded, almost an automatism at this point. As Sam walked off, Joren took her place, hoping they'd be able to find and rescue the souls on the lost merchant ship.

Wait thought Lieutenant Venchi, his half-Napean empathy emoting non-verbally before he realized he had not said it aloud. Perhaps, Commodore York had sensed him before she left the bridge, maybe not. Either way, Crisanto knew he had to speak up or else, hold his silence. "Wait" he said, he focused on Commander Tal. "I need use of one of holo simulator rooms and permission to use Stellar Cartography" he stated.

Lieutenant Crisanto Venchi had a tendency to only speak up when he felt he could truly contribute. Now was one of these times. "I can help. I know I can we have a missing merchant ship, its physics and mathematics, Sir. If they can provide us with enough information, I can calculate the speed and distance, through examining star charts, I can find potential navigational hazards. With enough time, I can at the very least give us a search grid to work with."

"Granted." Joren answered. "But coordinate your efforts with Lieutenant Torek, in case some of the work overlaps."

Crisanto nodded. "Of course, Commander. I understand" replied the Chief Flight Control Officer. He was utilizing an arm of the sciences, the least he could do was to yield to its department head. "I will coordinate with the lieutenant."

[Sam's Ready Room]

Sam replicated a raspberry cream pastry and sat at her desk to review the information Admiral Burke sent.

Most of it contained records of ships that had been through the system in the past 50 years, but some of it contained stellar data. Half a dozen of them scanned the six planets, but only in passing. Only one noticed anything of interest.

Then she noticed that Admiral Hunter had included some classified data about the system. That said there were three ships that had gone missing.

Only the one, the SS Sea Urchin, captained by Billy Kyle, noticed anything unusual. Those vague images and readings were included.

One week later, The Sea Urchin failed to pick up cargo from a colony on Gilani IV.

She sat back and closed her eyes as she mentally processed the information. The images were definitely enough to warrant a visit, but there were only two planets in the system that could possibly colonized. The one M-class and a K-class. They would both need to be checked.

Sam sent the unclassified data to Aenar and Joran, then filed the rest for now while she mentally processed the data. There would be time tomorrow to start making lists of what they needed to do.

She had to admit, at least to herself, that it was good to get back to science. Or mostly science.

A Post by

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Aenar Torek
Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Crisanto Venchi
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant JG Vincent Shaw
Chief Operations Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Joren Tal
Executive Officer
USS Calypso

 

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