Station Post # 12 " Missing Moments Part 1 "

Posted on Fri Jan 3rd, 2025 @ 1:45pm by Lieutenant JG Nic Covenant & Captain Shauna Callaghan & Lieutenant Salem

Mission: THE LAST CRY FOR HELP
Location: Starbase M-69
Timeline: Concurrent

On

Lt Salem had picked a lot of extra shifts. One because he was bored the other in the odd chance of seeing Captain Shauna Callaghan. He had shown her smiles and tried to get her attention but the role of command clearly got in the way.

Learning recently of Captain Rivers death and knowing they were more than friends Salem backed off. But tonight he was going to take a chance.

With lots of comm traffic coming in Salem had reason to report to Captain Callaghan.

[ Operations to Captain Callaghan. We have a distress signal coming in near sector M-69. ] Salem hailed.

Shauna was in her office when the call came through. [ On my way Lieutenant.] heading out into Ops she gave Salem a curious look. “Let's hear it Lieutenant.”

" It's a automated distress call coming from an Admiral Elliott. The problem is....Admiral Elliott has been dead since 2170." Salem replied.

“He’s what!?” Shauna gave Salem a confused look. “In that case someone is either impersonating him, or he’s not as dead as he’s believed to be.”

" There are temporal eddies that can mess with radio waves. In those days the subspace radio was still new. They used relay stations and transmitter buoys. Messages took weeks.Shall I play the message?" Salem asked

“Please” Shauna nodded.

[ This is Admiral James Elliott commander of Messier 69 star port...we are under attack by Romulan ships. Their trajectory appears to be from the Romulan side of the Sagitarrius Arm.]

“Is it possible this is a time delayed message?” She gave Salem a curious look not sure entirely what to make of it.

" I would think so . It is an old carrier wave message. " Salem replied.

[ Vessels looking like giant birds are attacking the port. Please send assistance.] Elliott begged.

Salem looked back at Callaghan.

" Records of that era do not show any message ever being received by Earth Captain. The base was over run by the Romulans prior to the treaty of Cheron." Salem reported

“Is it possible this could be from some alternate version of events? Though I don’t see how that could be.” Shauna sighed.

Salem shined at having an answer.
"The collapsed hearts of dead stars, known as neutron stars, generate extremely strong magnetic fields that trap electrons, making them emit radio waves. Given that area is surrounded by new stars and dying stars it is possible these radio messages were prevented from reaching Earth. Now that I have this signal I can tighten the band width. I have established a temporal frequency.Technically Captain you could return Admiral Elliotts message." Salem added.

“I could? I have no idea what to say. What do you say to a time echo?” Shauna gave Salem a curious look.

" I suppose we could ignore it and just record the hails for posterity sake. A similar experience occurred on Earth during the World War 2 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A message was sent but ignored resulting in the sneak attack." Nic Covenant added as he listened to their conversation.

“I can’t just leave them with no answer and no hope, even if it’s a lie.” Shauna paused. “Open hailing frequencies.”

The familiar signal sounded as Salem replied " Hailing frequency open Captain."

It was a gamble that the signal would work but the odds were in their favor this time as confirmation of the connection was confirmed.

“Messier 69, this is Commander Callaghan of the Federation...” She paused not wanting to say too much. “We’ve received your distress call, and will relay it onward for you. Hang in there Admiral.” Shauna gave a nod of her head to close the channel. “I wish we could have done something, but at least that might give them some peace in their last moments.”

Salem monitored the message as in this day and time it was possible to do so. Salem paused and then turned back to Captain Callaghan.

" Captain another response is coming. Patching it to speakers."

[ Commander Callaghan your response was very clear.Did you say Federation? Is this a United Earth Probe organization? Are you by chance near to this sector? I am aboard the Bonaventure and we are about to engage the Romulans. We could sure use some help] Admiral Hames Elliott replied.

" Holy Crap...." junior Lieutenant Nic Covenant gulped.

“How am I supposed to answer that?” Shauna paused uncertain what to say. Even if they could go, there was no way she could risk altering anything in the past.

Lt Salem then made a second report.
" Captain sensors are detecting an anomalous reading coming from that Ion storm that passed us a few days ago. The USS Peel science officer found it and It would appear to be opening a temporal rift. "

“Get Commodore Sureth, and Captain O’Connell up here, I think they need to hear this, and open a channel.” She sighed before she chose her words carefully. “Admiral, I can’t promise anything but I’ll speak to my superiors, Callaghan out.”

Tbc