A Break in the Action
Posted on Tue Apr 21st, 2026 @ 6:28pm by Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Captain Erik Norsgaard & Lieutenant Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Tatiana Dragos & Lieutenant Patrick Ryan M.D. & Lieutenant Stormy Knight & Lieutenant Daltom Vesper & Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae
2,043 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Friends and Traitors
Location: Starbase 310, Alpha Quadrant
Relen Zelar's transfer from the Thunderbird to the Ocett went swiftly enough with the Gul himself ensuring that his son came to no further harm while in Federation hands. Explanations were made and Norsgaard did his best to convey his sincerest apologies which did not go over well. Father and son, sharing a similarly hard gaze, disappeared in a transporter haze and left an unspoken promise hanging in the air between them. Norsgaard met their look with one of his own, an acceptance of the bad blood between them, his Viking blood stirring in the depths of his gray-blue gaze. Warrior to warrior. Both nodded, almost imperceptibly, and then they were gone.
Well, Erik thought, that could have gone better. A killer that changes shape. One of my own crew committing attempted murder and then killing herself rather than face charges. My First Officer resigning to go follow his former captain. Yes, this is going to go over so well with Scofield. He sighed and headed back to the Bridge; once there he dropped into his chair and ordered, "Set course for Starbase 310."
[Some Time Later]
As Starbase 310 came into view, Erik leaned forward slightly in his seat. "Notify the Starbase of our approach and prepare for docking maneuvers."
"Aye, Sir," the helm officer answered quietly. Following the captain's orders, Helm positioned the ship, now moving on thrusters, into alignment on the docking ring. And once connection had been made and the umbilical was attached to the Thunderbird's hull, she smiled inwardly. "Docking complete, Sir. We are connected to the base's energy grid."
"Very good," Erik said. "I'll be visiting with Admiral Schofield. Notify the department heads that shore leave is authorized for off-duty personnel."
Tyler looked up from his station rather surprised at the authorization. "Aye sir. I will notify the crew. Enjoy your visit sir."
[Elsewhere On the Ship]
Shore leave being announced, Tatiana wasn't sure just what she was going to do, well she will find something to do. She had gone up to the observation deck to watch as the ship made its way to the station.
[Later in Admiral Schofield's Office]
Having sent the reports on before him, Erik carried a second set with him because he knew the Admiralty and Schofield in particular. Rather than sit while he waited, he stood over by the window taking it all in. Part of what he intended to do with his time off was overnight outdoors, something he did whenever he could, to ground and restore himself. Someone had once told him that 'a cranky captain was a lonely captain and its hard enough to make connections among the crew'. He'd taken that advice to heart and done what he could to maintain a certain equilibrium. Unflappable some said. Course finding a place, now, that could be difficult.
[Elsewhere On the Ship]
While there was more than enough to learn to keep her on the ship for the entire time, Lieutenant MacRae knew she needed to use this opportunity to do something she never really enjoyed - shopping. Even her old quarters had felt empty and way too grey, which had been fine when she expected her time aboard to be brief. Those plans had changed and now she had more space and more shades of grey to deal with.
For what she hoped would be a short trip, she opted for her more comfortable civilian clothes. Plus, she knew Schofield was on the station - hopefully far far away from where she was going - and she wanted to stay well off his radar. As she headed out, she made a detour, seeking out Tatiana.
“Hey, do you feel like helping a girl avoid bad choices on the promise of some drinks to reward you for putting up with me?” She asked as she found the Intel Chief. “Of if you have plans, we can just meet up on the station later for the drinks part?”
Tatiana had been lost in thought staring at the planet side starbase, 318. She'd not been there for years, and now here she was. Who will she run into, who will recognize her?
Caitlyn's voice brought Tatiana out of her reverie, turning around to see MaCrae she smiled.
"I don't have any plans right now. I am in some aspect stepping into my past." Tatiana responded with a wry expression. "I might end up running into some ghosts."
Caitlyn offered a reassuring smile, “sometimes looking at the past is tougher than facing the future. I’ll be drowning in shopping for a while so if you do end up needing or wanting some company, I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.”
[Elsewhere]
Dr. Patrick Ryan lingered in Sickbay after docking with Starbase 310, though the urgency that had filled the room earlier was gone. Relen Zelar had already been transferred off-ship—no longer his patient, no longer his responsibility. The other biobed sat empty. Clean. Reset. As if nothing had happened.
Ryan stood at the diagnostic console anyway, scrolling through reports that no longer strictly required his attention. “Full tox analysis pending with Starbase labs,” he noted aloud, more habit than necessity. “Good. Someone else can lose sleep over it.”
Around him, Sickbay had quieted. Crew rotated out. Shore leave had been authorized. Laughter and lighter conversation filtered faintly through the corridor outside. Ryan didn’t move toward it. Instead, he tapped another control, pulling up the last of the medical logs—reviewing, dissecting, second-guessing. “What did you take…” he murmured under his breath. “And why did it work.”
A beat.
He exhaled, straightened slightly, and continued working. Outside, the crew went to relax. Inside, Patrick Ryan stayed exactly where he was.
[In Admiral Schofield's Office]
Having heard the summons, he entered and walked up to the admiral's desk. "Good morning, Sir," Norsgaard said as he set the PADD on the desk. "You said I should report back after the mission and," he gestured, his arms wide and encompassing, "here I am."
"Afternoon here," Schofield said, "but yes, I get your point. Have a seat, Captain." He reached for the PADD and looked up as his aide entered bearing a tray. "Aaah. Found a tea that you might enjoy." Well, come on. Serve it man." The aide, new to the position, scurried about, setting out a pot of freshly brewed tea which he personally viewed as a waste of time, and placing a cup and saucer in front of each of the officers. When he was done, he left, tray in hand, and sighed with relief once the door was closed. After two weeks in the admiral's service, he still felt as though he was walking onto a battle field. Every. Single. Time.
Norsgaard poured two cups of tea and then settled back, wrapping his large hands around the delicate cup and lifting it, so that he could inhale the aroma. "It didn't go well," he said after a moment. The Bajorans had some sort of shape-shifter on board who escaped but not until they'd killed one of my crew members. We didn't pursue since we were scheduled to return Relen Zelar to the Ocett and that's when we discovered our Counselor was a Maquis agent who committed suicide after trying to kill Relen while he slept."
"Not good is an understatement," the Admiral said as he looked up from the PADD he'd been skimming as he listened. "The Maquis are proving to be a problem that's difficult to solve. When it's our own that's involved, everyone is looking for a diplomatic solution, a way to come to terms, but the Maquis, well, they aren't quite so hampered. Admiral Stillwell's youngest was caught trying to leak intel." He shook his head slowly. "Sadly, some see friendship as more important than duty." He studied the Thunderbird' captain, measured him, "which is where you come in."
"You want me to go after the Maquis," Norsgaard asked as he set his teacup down.
"Intel has it that they're planning something big and that they have some sort of a base of staging area," Schofield said. "I want you to find the base and eliminate the threat. Hopefully, without killing anyone." He offered up a rueful smile. "There's got to be a solution that doesn't end in the deaths of Starfleet officers, however misguided they might be, but so far, no one's found one."
Norsgaard sighed as he shook his head. "I might have a lead or two," he muttered. "I'll do my best."
"I know you will," Schofield said. "Keep me informed."
"Always," Norsgaard said. "If that's all, I've got some thinking to do."
"That's enough," Schofield retorted, "you're dismissed. And ... Captain? Good hunting."
"Aye, Sir," Norsgaard said as he walked out of the office and headed out into the starbase.
[Aboard the Thunderbird]
Stormy needed a break. She made sure that everyone in the department had time off to visit the station--herself included. She sent Tyler a message, hoping they could spend the day together--or at least part of it. The past few days had been crazy and it would be nice to simply wander around with him.
Tyler made sure to pass on the messages as requested and secure his station. He was not sure what he would do now that leave was granted. The computer chirped at his console almost as if it had an answer for him. It was a message from Stormy. He replied that it would be great to see her and he would be there momentarily. With that he stepped off the bridge with a little bounce in his step.
Stormy had dressed in a casual pair of dark gray pants and a black shirt with a scoop neck and flared sleeves. It was comfortable and nice enough for a day out with Tyler. It was the first time they'd been off ship together and she was looking forward to it.
[Security]
In the Security office Daegan had passed the shore leave authorization to his people and those about to get off duty were in great mood, except for him. He stared at he padds with his 'active' cases. Pulling up the padd for the recent assault/suicide he re-reviewed the summary. closed the case and transferred the update to the ship's computer and whipped the padd.
Setting it aside he picked up the Bajoran case file. Without being able to even try to follow up there was little he could do. He hated having a cold case, not being able to bring to hold the guilty accountable or being able to bring justice to the victims, their families, and the Captain. He was about to similarly update the case and clear his desk but instead he set the padd back, placing it on the side of his desk...as a reminder.
Leaning back he tried to relax but what he relay wanted to do was get outside. Sitting back up to his desk he looked up information on the planet, found a few spots he liked, checked the weather, and made his choice. He even smiled wide as the idea for a nice suprice popped into his mind. Once he was done and things were set in motion he sent a message to Jules. Hey, found a nice secluded lake down on the surface. Wanna join me for a little fun? Swimming, warming ourselves by a fire...a night under the stars.
Jules, staring at reports about Maquis activity in the region, what little there was of it, checked the roster and was happy to see that her new boss had scheduled her for some down time. Sure, she sent back. How long?
Daegan's mood was improving already. We could take a shuttle down mid-day and come back the next morning at the least. Maybe longer if you like.
I like that. Like that a lot.
Captain Erik Norsgaard
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Julianna Raihan
Intelligence Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Caitlyn MacRae
Second Officer
USS Thunderbird
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief of Security
Lieutenant Stormy Knight
Chief Science Officer
USS Thunderbird
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