Second Officer’s Log, Supplemental

My third night shift with the conn has been rather sedate thus far. Several members of the command staff are enjoying some off-duty entertainment in Holodeck Two; I believe it has something to do with a peculiar form of Terran mythology from the 20th century known as “super heroics.” The captain seemed amused by my tactical suggestions for the event, particularly regarding the inefficiency of capes in close combat situations.

“All decks have reported in,” Ensign Chen said from the Operations station. “We’re ready to begin the system maintenance sweep at your command.” Second Officer Stoln nodded from the center chair while calling up a display to monitor the procedure. “Very well, Ensign. Begin the procedure, starting with deck 30.” The young Vulcan officer studied the holographic readout emitted from the command chair’s armrest and frowned slightly as he spotted a discrepancy.

“Bridge to Hangar Bay Two,” Stoln said, his baritone calm and even in tone. “Lieutenant Vrisst, I’m reading a flow rate of .18 percent below regulation parameters. Please make the appropriate adjustments.” As the Caitian hangar deck officer signaled her compliance with his order, the second officer of the U.S.S. Decatur took a moment to regard the main viewscreen, the image of stars streaking past the ship as it hurtled through the cosmos at Warp 4. An Ambassador-class vessel, she was classified as a Support Cruiser by Starfleet Command. Decatur had received a significant number of retrofits and modifications since the later days of the Iconian War; she had been selected to test a new series of battle-readiness systems while on system patrol in the Beta Quadrant near the Klingon border. Stoln found the systems satisfactory… after a number of efficiency adjustments of his design were implemented.

“Sir,” Ensign Chen turned to Stoln from her station, a look of concern upon her face. “I’m receiving a priority communication from Sector Command, priority Alpha.”

“Onscreen, Ensign.” Stoln replied. The craggy visage of Admiral Edison Douglas replaced the stars on the main viewscreen. He was not in a good humor.

“Commander Stoln,” the admiral said gruffly before the Vulcan could speak. “I don’t have all day to bark at you, so I’ll make this quick. You’re to divert course immediately to the Donatu sector at maximum warp. There, you’ll rendezvous with a number of Alliance vessels. You’ll be part of a de-facto Task Force assigned to repel a number of Borg vessels operating within the sector. Additional tac-intel will be arriving shortly. Clear?”

“Eminently so, Admiral.”

“Then good luck and godspeed, Commander. Douglas, out.”

“Red alert,” Stoln said calmly. “All hands, report to battle stations. This is not a drill.” So much for the sedate night shift, he thought to himself as the crew efficiently moved the Decatur to a state of battle readiness.