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- Utopia Planita Shipyards – Three months after COs training -

After being reassigned upon the heels of the USS Invincible being put into Dry dock, Major Jasmine Somers stands in the waiting area looking at the Invincible as it is given a long over needed maintenance, She then looks over to the other side and sees her new Command the Akira Class USS Tomcat, she could only admit to herself that she was edgy about her first command.

Upon receiving confirmation of her new Command Major Somers decides that a short shake down cruise is in order, as it will allow for some minor adjustments for the crew. Along the way a Distress Call is received from a Federation Freighter, which had been attacked by a Romulan Warbird, arriving at the location which was just inside the Federation border to the Neutral Zone, as they arrive a familiar shape decloaks.

“Major Somers”

Jasmine turned around at the voice and saw a Fleet Ensign.

“Yes Ensign?”

“The Tomcat is ready for you Sir, plus a basic Sitrep on your assigned area of space is in your ready room, your new XO will arrive shortly, Commodore St. Cloud will be your immediate superior, your patrol path is the Gauntlet” He said and paused.

“Gauntlet?”

“Ahem… Sorry Major the Gravarian corridor, a section of unclaimed space between the Cardassian and Romulan Empires, it is nicknamed the Gauntlet” The Ensign added.

Looking at the Ensign. “Thank you Ensign, is my pod ready?” She asked.

The young man cleared his throat. “Yes Sir”

“Good man lead the way” She said picking up her kitbag and following the young Ensign.

- Hour Later – USS Tomcat -

Jasmine dumps her kitbag in her quarters then heads to the ready room, upon entering she sees the information the Ensign mentioned on two Padds.

“Right then, lets see what I have gotten myself into” She said to herself and began reading.

Sometime Later she gets the call from Space dock that she is cleared to leave, placing down her Padd Jasmine leaves her Ready room and enters the bridge.

Sitting down “Switch to internal power, initialize the SIF and detach umbilicals” She instructed as the ship shifted to internal power and the stations umbilical’s retract.

“All systems fully operational Captain” The Helm Officer responded.

“Okay take us out three-quarters thrusters” She said as the ship began moving forward, then opening the ships Communications. =/\= Bridge to all departments, sound off =/\= She responded.

oO Well, this should prove to be quite interesting Oo Gabriel, thought. It was her first department head position. She often wondered in these past few weeks just what her former superior had been thinking in recommending her to this position. She doubted she was ready for this responsibility, but obviously he thought differently. That was immaterial now, she supposed.

Gabriel picked up another datapadd and kicked her feet up on her desk, she continued looking through the crew's medical records.

She had just been reviewing one of her assistant’s files when the Comm came to life, startling her enough to almost fall out of her chair.

"What the h.... oh... ummm..." She tapped her Commbadge =^= Sickbay, uh.. We’re ready down here, Captain. =^=

The Ensign that was standing in the door to her office gave her a strange look. "What are you looking at Ensign?" She glared and took the report out of his hands, shooing him out of the office and shutting the door behind him.

She sighed as she sat back down, opening the Padd to the next file.

oO Today is going to be a long day. Oo

=/\= Security green =/\=

=/\= Tactical all green =/\=

Sofee was pacing Engineering. It was strange, out of the entire crew of the Tomcat; everyone else had left except for her. The only one left, her friends all gone. She knew, of course, that this would be how things would usually go, and as a Vulcan she quickly came to terms with this. Suddenly over the intercom, she heard.

=/\= Bridge to all departments, sound off =/\=

=/\= Engineering, everything is working fine.=/\= 

After her friends had all left, it was now about time the next part of her journey started. True, no one here would be the same as Sileth, Kath, Vloc, or any of the other crew she came to know, but there would be a few that she knew

Then the last response came in.

“Okay Helm take us out” She ordered as the ship began to taxi out of space dock.

After the Tomcat had successfully cleared the orbital the last systems were checked, on the bridge of the Tomcat.

“Set heading for Deep Space 10 Maximum warp” Jasmine ordered.

A Moment later the ships was in warp and heading to its new assigned patrol area. While en-route they received a Distress Call.

=/\= SS Emissary to any federation ship, we have been attacked by a Ro… *screech*=/\=

The distress call cut out.

“Helm change heading and get us to that Freighter, best speed” She ordered.

Looking at her Comms Officer “was that last word Romulan?” She asked.

“It would indicate that, but as the communication was cut out suddenly we will find out when we get there” The Comms Officer said.

“Yellow Alert” She said.

Federation Border – 5 miles in Federation Territory

The Tomcat arrives at the location and sees a drifting freighter.

“Scan for life signs and initiate a broad Tachyon scan of the area” Jasmine ordered.

“Yes Sir” Came multiple responses.

- 5 Miles inside Federation Territory at Neutral Zone border -

All was progressing smoothly, when a D’Deredex Warbird de-cloaked “Red Alert” Jasmine announced.

“Major we are being hailed” The Comms Officer responded.

“Onscreen”

A gruff looking Romulan appeared on the screen.

“I am Vice Admiral D’Tela of the Romulan Warbird Vengeance, what are you doing here?” He asked.

Jasmine just looked at him in disbelief “Major Jasmine Somers Commander of the USS Tomcat and I have every right to be here Admiral, you are Five miles inside the Federation border and your presence here could be interpreted as an Act of war” Jasmine said.

The Admiral looked confused “This is Romulan territory” He said with conviction.

Jasmine looked at him and actually saw hidden grey and upon a closer look, there was a heavily wrinkled face, indicating to freeze the transmission on her side, she looked at a Medical Officer who was sitting at Life Sciences station as he was scanning the Romulan.

“Is it me or does he seem to be losing it?” She asked.

Finishing the Scan “Captain, the Vice Admiral is just this side of 200 and has Bendii syndrome and he is the only one on the ship” The Medical Officer responded.

Thinking deeply

“Comms get me Starfleet HQ and put it through to my ready room” She said leaving the bridge and entering her ready room.

- Captain’s Ready Room -

=/\= Got Starfleet on line one Sir =/\= The Comms Officer said.

While she was waiting Jasmine remembered something, activating the ships Communications.

=/\= Lieutenant Tsmel take a medical team and three guards over to the Romulan Warbird, tend to the Romulan Admiral, it appears he has Bendii Syndrome, thank you Lieutenant =/\=

=/\= Yes, Ma'am. =/\=

Someone with Bendii Syndrome was not something she was interested into coming in contact with it, but she was ordered by the Captain to do so. She had already once had to deal with an emotionally disturbed Vulcan hybrid, and it had caused her to become emotionally unstable for a few days, and it was a few weeks before she had become completely in control of her emotions again. Now there was a chance it might happen again. She wasn't going to argue, but she wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

=/\= Good, Somers out =/\= She said closing one link and opening another. =/\= Lieutenant McCallister, take a two man Engineering team and two Marine guards and take a look at the ships engines and one how a mentally ill Romulan Admiral could program the ship to fly on auto pilot to this location. Also record as much as you can information on such a Romulan ship is too good to pass up. Take nothing, just record and find out how =/\=

oO Is she kidding? Oo Gabriel thought as she replied. =/\= Yes, Captain =/\= Sighing and gathering up her medical gear, she instructed two of her subordinates to prep for the mission as well.

He turned to his Staff

"Get your stuff together, take a couple hypo sprays of 5ccs Improvoline each, should calm him down. Both of you stay back if he starts to get emotional, we have no clue what stage of the disease he may be at." Muttering under her breath, she added, "Speaking of no clue, why would she be sending me...'

The Captain then came over the comm.

=/\= Thank you Lieutenant, Somers out =/\=

In the short span she was waiting for an Admiral to answer Jasmine remembered her error.

=/\= Somers to Tsmel my error, go find out how the Romulan slaved all departments to the Bridge, record only and return with findings, same amount of Security, but Engineering team instead=/\=

=/\= Yes, Ma'am. =/\=

Sofee took a deep breath, and headed down to the transporter room to beam to the ship.

- Warbird -

Sofee immediately headed to the bridge. She knew that she probably couldn't find what she was looking for in Engineering. Sitting at the Engineer's console she started to look around.

=/\= Somers to Tsmel, report on ships engines and have you found out how he managed to slave all areas to the bridge? =/\= She asked.

=/\= Engines are currently not working. Have yet to see what the problem is. As for the second question. I have not found much, but I am starting to get more information. I do not have anything worth sharing just yet. =/\=

=/\= Good, keep it up, get as much information as you can, while you can Lieutenant. =/\=

=/\= Yes, Ma'am. =/\=

=/\= Thank you Lieutenant, Somers out =/\=

Looking back down, Sofee tried to find an answer before her Captain asked for an update.

=/\= Thank you Lieutenant, Somers out =/\= She said before closing one link and opening another =/\=Somers to McCallister =/\=

With a short sigh she tapped her Commbadge, =/\=Yes Captain? We're almost ready to transport over.=/\=

=/\= I was in error, take a Medical team and same number of guards and check on the Romulan Admiral, I want it confirmed, whether or not he has Bendii Syndrome =/\= Jasmine amended.

=/\=Affirmative, Captain. We're on our way=/\=

She gathered a sample and culture kit from a storage locker and put them in her medical bag along with her other instruments. "You two got everything? Good. Lets get over there." As the two exited the medical lab, she pulled a tiny flask out of her bag, taking a quick sip of the scentless liquid and shuddering before pushing it back inside.

=/\= Thank you Lieutenant, Somers out =/\= She said and closed the link.

It was just in time too as a Vulcan Admiral appeared on her screen.

Continued in the Incidental Missions Section

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