Corrigere Praeterita (Part V)

Posted on Thu Mar 20, 2025 @ 6:33am by Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril & Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon & Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Edited on on Thu Mar 20, 2025 @ 6:34am

1,472 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Tergum In Tempus
Location: Deep Space 5
Timeline: Two Days Before Attack

[MAIN OPERATIONS]

P’ril had beamed in a couple decks away from her target and had made her way purposefully, but unhurriedly, to the main operations area of the station. Once there, she simply walked confidently through the doors and glanced around as if she belonged there.

In reality, she was as jumpy as a frog in a rainstorm. Her nerves were all standing to attention and every last noise screamed in her ears that she was about to be caught.

She did, of course, have a story prepared for if someone noticed and questioned her. It was simple- she had arrived early and decided to come help out even though she was not due to report for duty for a few days yet. They could scan her combadge and see that she was, indeed, Starfleet personnel. Then all she had to do was hope that they wouldn’t look into it farther than seeing she was due to report next week.

For now, though, she had an important job to do. She found a free console and logged in. Unsurprisingly, her codes had already been added to the station’s computers. Good. That was good. Without a word, she set a full systems diagnostic to run in the background, then quickly logged out. The diagnostic would alert anybody assigned to station operations of anything it found. If they got lucky, it would find the sabotage and report it.

But, she didn’t think it would really be that easy.

Satisfied that she had done what she could, she turned to leave. There was nothing more she could do here. Now she had to find the others and see if they needed help.

Ace Cannon walked in just as P'ril was walking out. Who is this pleasant drink of water? He inspected the woman and noticed she was a Lieutenant. She's a higher rank than me, eh? Well, she can feel free to be on top of me any day. "You must be the new Chief Engineer?" he told her more than asked. "My name is Cannon. Ace Cannon. How may I be of assistance to you?"

Though inside, P’ril’s mind was screaming warnings, outwardly, she was the pinnacle of calm. The only betrayal of what was going on inside her mind was a single startled blink. “That would be me, yes,” she answered calmly. “Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril. I arrived earlier than expected and rather than sit around for several days, decided to see if I could help in any way.”

Oh, I'm quite sure that you could help me in many ways, Ace thought to himself. "Very thoughtful of you, Lieutenant." Now, how do I do this with me having to work with Geral? "There are some irregularities that have been popping off on the docking ring on level 16 if you would like to check those out."

That caught P’ril’s attention and caused her to forget what she was about to do. “Irregularities?” she repeated, brow wrinkling ever so slightly. “What sort of irregularities?”

"I don't expect anything major. However, for a few seconds earlier today, there were some power fluctuations. Everything returned to normal shortly thereafter. It could be that one of the resistors is starting to go bad or there is something that was impeding the flow of energy."

It could be nothing, of course. But, it could be related to whatever happened to the station. Whatever will happen. Or however this worked. Still, it couldn’t hurt to check it out. “Do we have readings of the anomaly?” she asked.

Upon a closed circuit directly to P'ril, there was a quiet beep. "P'ril this is Matilda, one of your people. I am going to need your help to look for a possible code in the Optical Data Network via the Micron Junction Link. If someone put something in the system, that might be the place to look."

She couldn’t exactly reply to that, but her brain offered her a solution. “I was just about to check the Optical Data Network, specifically where it intersects the Micron Junction link. Do you suppose the power fluctuations could be related?” But even as she said it, she knew it sounded ridiculous. “No of course not,” she answered herself. “Perhaps showing up early was not as good of an idea as I had supposed.”

This chick is crazy, Cannon concluded. His thoughts then rapidly coalesced again, But crazy is extremely good between, above, and below the sheets. He gave P'ril an amused grin. "What do you mean showing up early? I never had you coming here in the first place."

“I was not due to report until next week,” she offered. “So, I am early. Although, perhaps I should have used that time to rest. I am not accustomed to making such ridiculous connections as I just did.”

Ace felt that something was off with this engineer, but he could not firmly put a finger on it. "Perhaps you need a rest, as it is." He started looking up the duty roster to see if the engineer's name appeared there.

“Perhaps that would be wise,” she replied. “I shall return to my quarters at once.”

Definitely something is wrong with this engineer. No woman has ever been so anxious to get to her quarters, unless.... He raised his eyebrows. She wants me to come back with her! Lucky, lucky Ace! "I think I should accompany you there, given the circumstances," he concluded. "I would not want to be responsible for a tired engineer falling on her way back to slumberville."

“I believe I am capable of making the trip on my own,” said P’ril just a little too quickly. But there was no time to say anything else.

Matilda sent one more message, "When you are ready, P'ril, I will be waiting for you. Matilda out." Then the com beeped once more. "Second thought I will be joining you in Operations."

There was a sound then a red head came out from the hatch which led into the Jefferies. She was dusty and had spots of perspiration on her back. "Oh, who are you?" looking at Ace. Raising an eyebrow towards him.

Ace looked at the ensign who joined them. "And just who do you think that you are, ensign?" he asked in a pedantic tone. "I'm the Assistant Chief Operations Officer, Lieutenant Ace Cannon." He looked over the youngster and a sly smile formed. I wonder if the carpet matches the drapes. True redheads are always spicy. Maybe I can offer her a little milk.

Tilting her head to one side, she gave him a bit of an impish smile. "Well now, I am Ensign Matilda Cromwell. However, before we get into exchanging pleasantries, we've got something happening with the station that needs to be worked on." She glanced over towards P'ril then back to Ace. "Times a wasting, I detected something going on with the Optical Data Network, specifically where it intersects the Micron Junction link, and I had sent a message to P'ril. Since you are here as well. Let's get a move on. Chop chop." She laughed. "Honestly, we do need to work together, and this little problem is making me just a wee bit nervous so, I may be just a wee bit bossy, right now." Matilda gave an apologetic smile.

Ace looked skeptically at Matilda, "Now, Ensign, I certainly don't mind when a young woman wants to take charge, but there's a time and place for it and this is not it. We can talk about it after hours, if you would like." He paused and then continued lazily, "Now, I appreciate your nervousness, but if you want me to order something to be done, then you had better give me something more than there's something going on." because anything going on will be after hours and a lot more interesting than this conversation.

“Never mind,” said P’ril, taking hold of Matilda’s arm. “We have it under control. Come, Ensign Cromwell. Let us leave the Lieutenant to his tasks.”

"I don't believe you do," Ace responded to P'ril before she had a chance to leave. "There's something going on here and I do not like it. You, P’ril, I've never seen before and are mucking about my department. You say you're tired and now you're ready to work. And you, Ensign, just who put you up to this nonsense? I know I did not call for you."

(To be continued...)


Lieutenant Bronwyn P'ril
Chief Engineer
Deep Space 5

Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
Deep Space 5

Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Operations Officer
Deep Space 5

 

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