Destroyer: Star Empire Hunter

Helping the U.S.S. Chimera

Commander Stone rested his chin on his hand, staring at the viewscreen. He sighed, thinking of how the Leviathan's last mission could have gone differently – how perhaps he could have done something to save his captain. "I failed you, sir," he whispered to himself.

The tactical officer, Crystal Rose looked up as Captain Jackson entered the bridge accompanied by a female Romulan officer. "Attention," he said. "This is our new XO sub commander Faye she is from the Romulan republic ."

"I won't let you down captain," the slender but sturdy Romulan said, standing at attention.

Stone quickly shoved his gloominess aside, standing to greet her. "Welcome aboard," he chuckled.

"Welcome..." Alexa began.

Jason glanced over at her. "Technically, I am, but I'm only in command due to extreme circumstances. All I require is your dedication to your duty, as Captain Jackson would expect of you."

"You've got it, sir," Faye answered.

"Good," Demi smiled. "Take your post, please."

Faye walked over to the science station and began running a diagnostic.

Rocky walked up to her. "It's your ship isn't it?" he asked.

"Mhm..." she replied, a bit puzzled. "Why do you want to know?"

"I've never known a Starfleet vessel to have a secondary hull that's mostly a ship from a different faction."

She blushed. "Is...is the bird still there?."

"Hell yeah the Phoenix painting is proudly on the underside of the second hull and lower pylons."

This elicited a grin from her. "I like her," Rocky whispered to Jason in approval.

Jason shook his head. "Always the go-getter."

Rocky winked. "That's just how I roll." With that, he returned to his station.

"Oh, cap'n, since I'm not filling in at tactical anymore, where do you want me?" Stone asked after lingering for a moment.

"You said before you could handle ops?" Jackson asked. "I take it you have experience then."

"Some."

"Alright, take your station."

Stone nodded and took a seat at the empty ops station.

"Sir, we are entering the Pollux system," Crystal reported.

"Drop out of warp," Jackson ordered.

"Reducing speed to impulse."

"The Chimera is twenty kilometers dead ahead, sir," Stone added.

"They are hailing us, sir," Alexa reported from her station.

Jackson nodded. "On screen."

Captain Nog, a Ferengi, appeared on the viewscreen. "Captain... er?" he asked, puzzled at why the young officer was sitting in the captain's chair.

"I'm Demi Jackson captain of U.S.S. Fletcher."

"I see." Nog raised an eyebrow. "Well, we've been caught in a subspace rift, and our engines are down. Can you assist us?"

"We'll do what we can, sir."

"Hail coming in from the Resolute, sir," Alex said.

"On screen, ensign."

Captain Ryder appeared on the screen. "Lieutenant, we have run a preliminary scan of the unusual rifts in this system, but I would like you to investigate more thoroughly while we assist the Chimera."

"Yes, sir," Jackson answered.

"Very good. Rydek out."

The channel closed.

"Scan the nearest anomaly," Jackson ordered, gesturing at the anomaly with his hand.

"Scan complete. It's definitely a rift in space... but how it got here or what's causing it..." Faye shook her head. "It would be little more than conjecture at this point."

"I don't want speculations, Faye. I want answers."

Faye sighed. "Well, I'll certainly try to get you some... sir."