The Mysteries of Station Delta IV

Posted on Mon Jun 23rd, 2025 @ 12:55am by Captain T’Kal & Lieutenant Commander David Erickson & Lieutenant Commander Clay McEntyre & Lieutenant CASTIEL 'Cas' Johnson MD & Lieutenant Megosho Gehente & Lieutenant JG Annika Johnson
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 7:48pm

1,203 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X03: The Listening Post
Timeline: SD 8959.9 (7 August 2290, 06:30)

Captain's Log, Stardate 8959.9. We have arrived at Station Delta IV, one of the listening posts assigned to watch for possible Klingon incursions into Federation territory. It was this station which picked up the unusual signal of hyperphasic radiation from deep within Klingon territory. It is my hope that, once my crew can examine the raw data the station picked up, more about the nature of this signal -- and what it might mean for our mission -- can be uncovered.

It was early in the morning, before the start of the traditional alpha shift, but the Captain had ordered senior officers to their posts in time for them to come out of warp before the massive listening post, which filled the main viewscreen.

"All stop," T'Kal ordered helm.

"All stop, aye sir:" Jin-Woo responded as he brought the Ark Royal to a halt.

David took the opportunity to triangulate and recalibrate their position, then sat back and let out a breath.

"Ms. Megosho, hail the station." T'Kal got off her command chair and stood with her hands behind her back, ready to initiate conversation.

Annika was used to being up and about early, her duties as Counsellor had her up anytime of the night or day. She was curious just what they were going to find.

Her sleep cycle disrupted, Meg was still heavy-lidded at the Communications Station, and stifled a yawn as she nodded. How she could kill for the strongest coffee known to Starfleet. Maybe even some of that Klingon stuff she'd heard rumours of. 'Opening hailing frequencies now,' she said, lifting the Feinberg receiver to her ear automatically - a movement refined from years of routine. Instinctively her free hand went to adjust a frequency to even out an imbalance she could just about hear. 'Delta Four acknowledging, piping through to Main Viewer now.'

The image of the station disappeared, replaced with the face of an older human man with a darker complexion and grey at his temples. He wore an older Starfleet uniform, one not seen since the days of the V’Ger Incident, the Delta on the left breast replaced with the orange and grey assignment patch of Monitoring Station personnel.

“Ark Royal, this is Station Delta IV,” said the man in an accent resembling but distinct from Ensign Larose’s or the voices T’Kal knew from her days in France. “I am Commander Yvon Bernard. Welcome to the front line.”

“Thank you, Commander,” T’Kal replied. “I am Captain T’Kal. We will be beaming over momentarily to examine your data. Have a space for four of us as well as any of your staff necessary to assist us. As to the other matters on which you requested our assistance…”

“We will send diagnostic data on the damaged antenna,” said Commander Bernard. “We would also appreciate medical assistance. We haven’t been able to get it fixed because so many of our engineers have fallen ill. Our sickbay is overwhelmed.”

“Our Chief Medical Officer will beam aboard with us,” T’Kal assured him. “He will have authority to move some of your patients to our ship, if necessary and presuming quarantine measures permit it.”

“Thank you, Captain. We await your transporter signal. Delta IV out.” The image of the man was replaced with the image of the station.

“Any initial thoughts before we begin?” T’Kal asked the team.

"We need to determine this illness before hand Captain. If there are so many, a quarantine may be necessary, and until we figure out the transmission factor, any beam over to the ship of any patient, will pose a risk for the crew here. If it is airborne we will require suits when beaming over."

Annika looked towards T’Kal “The Commander didn’t say much about whatever the illness is that’s affecting his crew, given the circumstances it seems a little odd that there’s been no medical emergency declared.”

'Maybe they thought they had a handle on what was going on,' Meg replied, a little subdued. She really hoped it wasn't some kind of stomach bug. 'Or, they didn't want to broadcast the fact that they can't effect any repairs if other pieces of equipment were to fail or, you know, be sabotaged.'

“I believe that to be the case,” T’Kal said. “But Doctor, your point is very well taken. I would hope that Station Command would have informed us if there was a risk to us, but it is imprudent to assume. We will verify before we beam aboard that there is no airborne threat, and take precautions as appropriate.”

"Let's hope it's just the local flu spreading faster than normal," David said with a slight yawn.

She surveyed the room quickly before issuing her next orders. “Doctor, assemble a small team. Ms. Novotná, Ms. Megosho, you will be accompanying me to Station Ops. Mr. McEntyre, issue us a security officer. We will assemble in Transporter Room One in twenty minutes.” She looked to her First Officer. “Ms. Novis, you will lead a shuttle mission to conduct repairs on the station’s antenna. Mr. Erickson, Ms. Inda, join her.”

Cas nodded, and turned, bringing up a padd, and going over a list of supplies and equipment that he would need to beam over.

David snapped a salute and stood up, setting his station's controls to standard as his replacement slid in.

She returned to the security chief. “Commander McEntyre, you have the conn. Dismissed, everyone.”

"I'll have Ensign Elkovais meet you in the transporter room, Captain. I have the Conn," Clay nods as he walks over to take seat in the Captain's chair.

"Helm, Maintain Standard Orbit." He ordered as he taps the comm key on the side of the chair. "Ensign Elkovais, report to Transporter Room for Security Detail, full gear."

Getting to her feet, Meg nodded at her relief officer who was ready to slip into her boots on the Bridge. A vague susurration of excitement ran up and down her spine. Away Missions were always an opportunity to prove oneself. Some more than others she reminded herself darkly for a second, before pushing the notion away and focusing on the tasks to come.

As the crew left to prepare for their respective assignments, Captain T’Kal simply found herself wondering what they would find. Would they be able to assist?

And what would be worse: for the challenges facing Station Delta IV to be coincidental, a sign of neglect at the border? Or that there was some unifying cause, directly challenging Starfleet’s efforts to monitor the border?

Either way, the mysteries of Station Delta IV would need to be solved quickly.


END

Captain T’Kal
Commanding Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Commander David Erickson
Chief Navigator, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Commander Clay McEntyre
Chief Security Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Megosho Gehente
Chief Communications Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Castiel Johnson
Chief Medical Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant jg Sung Jin-Woo
Chief Helmsman, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant jg Annika Johnson
Counselor, USS Ark Royal

 

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