Onward "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Chief Intel Officer, [PST]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Kelly Forrester, Acting Operations Manager, [RNPC]
Pierre D'Aubigne, Flight Control Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58208.15 1300

Captain Hunter stepped out on to the deck. There was a sense of urgency in his stride as he walked toward the command chair. "Status Number One?"

Wright stood up and relinquished the seat. "All systems are ready Sir. Station ops has been advised of our departure."

"Crew status?"

Ensign Forrester was seated at the OPs station, "All personnel are on board and accounted for."

Hunter nodded and turned toward Silvio, "Engineering report?"

Silvio stood at the engineering station. It had become his custom to man the bridge station during launched from QulTuq. "Engineering report's ready to co Captain."

Hunter surveyed the rest of the Bridge crew, the new Vulcan science officer sat attentively, as did the tactical officer.

He tapped the shipwide intercom, "All hands, this is the Captain, prepare for departure."

He watched the forward viewer for a moment. Qul Tuq hovered below.

"Alright Mr. D'Aubigne, lay in a course for 038 mark 6, warp 7.

Pierre responded, "Aye captain. Course mark 038, Warp 7." He maneuvered the ship from Qul Tuq primarily using impulse power to get away from the station. As soon as he was satisfied, he engaged the warp engines and the ship started to accelerate rapidly. And the sight that Pierre loved the most, the star blur appeared.

Hunter settled back in the chair and waited a few minutes and then tapped the comm button Warrant Officer Northrop please report to my ready room.

Alyssa pressed the comm button on the corner of her desk as Hunter's voice came over the comm. "Aye Sir....on my way."

As she stood and headed out of empty Intelligence Section Office for the nearest Turbolift, she wondered what exactly the Captain wanted with her. She'd already passed on the latest intel they had. What more could he want?

He stood up, "Silvio, you have the bridge."

"Aye Sir," replied Silvio. He turned his station over to another engineering officer and made his way to the command chair. Silvio slowly eased himself into the chair. It was not very often that he was even on the bridge let alone in command of it. It felt good.

"Commander Wright, please join me."

The two men entered the Ready room where a man was already seated. "I believe you remember Matt Mason."

"I do Sir," said Wright. "I was under the impression that Mister Mason was going to be staying on at QulTuq."

"He was," replied Hunter with a nod.

It wasn't long before Dr. Northrop was standing outside Hunter's ready room. She pressed the chime and waited a moment for permission to enter.

"Enter." said Hunter.

Alyssa stepped through the door as it opened, seeing the Captain and Commander Wright inside. There was a third man....whom she remembered from the several times she'd questioned him.

"Good, you are here," said Hunter, "I was just re-introducing Mr. Mason."

"Yes, Sir....Mr. Mason and I are quite familiar with each other," she replied moving out of the doorway so that it could close behind her. Northrop didn't take a seat....since there were none at the desk. Hunter would direct her to sit down if he wanted her too. "May I ask what this is about, Sir?"

"There have been some updates to your mission specifications," said Hunter handing her a PADD, "Mr Mason is one of them."

She took the PADD and scrolled through it quickly. "Why the changes sir? I'm confident that I could have completed the mission myself."

In and of itself, the fact that her mission had been changed and the fact that she'd been assigned a partner. Northrop was still relatively new to the whole Secret Agent, Intelligence game. But Mason? Why him?

"I have no doubts about that Northrup. Fact is Mason here knows all the logistic routines of the Federation and had been designated a resource for this mission."

Hunter paused. He knew from the expression on her face that there would be no convincing her at this point.

"...anyway," continued Hunter, "Your mission has been stepped up. You will need to assemble your team for a briefing at 1400 hours."

"So...Mr. Mason will be back here then," Alyssa said, "Or is there anyone else I'm going to have to baby sit?"

Hunter snapped a sharp glance toward Northrop. Her comment more than bordered on insubordination.

He stepped close to her and stared into her eyes the way a laser bore focuses on a mineral quarry. "Chief Warrant Officer Northrop, If you can not for a minute take this mission seriously, I will find someone else to lead it. The gravity of this situation can not afford that kind of attitude. There is too much at stake. You have been assigned the team leader you are expected to be one, not some...lone ranger."

Hunter paused, "Are we clear?"

"Crystal....Sir," Alyssa replied. Her tone was even and belied no emotion. She had always worked best by herself. The evidence was all over her track record. But..appparently that meant nothing in this man's starfleet. She came to attention and waited to be dismissed....knowing that somehow all this would still rest squarely on her shoulders when it came down to it.

Hunter nodded and said quietly, "dismissed,"