Bright Horizon Briefing

Posted on Tue Feb 24th, 2026 @ 3:02am by Captain William Abernathy & Lieutenant Commander Elyse White & Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker & Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD & Lieutenant K’Var & Lieutenant Malcom Hunt & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander & Ensign Karri

2,866 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: USS Arcadian | Deck 14 | New Briefing Room

Arcadia's new 'Briefing Room' situation on deck fourteen still smelled faintly of fresh sealant and warmed circuitry, its clean lines and peculiarly shaped table was reminiscent of the Constitution class design philosophy: It was meant to be efficient, built for decisions that carried weight. There were not view ports in this briefing room, just screens, chairs, and the table itself.

Captain Abernathy sat at the end of the table where it it ended a bit further with a console for him. His hands folded over, studying the officers gathered before him:

Doctor Oscar McDonald, Lieutenant K’Var, Lieutenant Hunt, Lieutenant Alexander, and Ensign Karri. Rounding out those requested were Lieutenant Commander Sebastian Walker and Arcadia's newest crewmember, Lieutenant Commander Elyse White.

Abernathy let the quiet stretch a moment longer. This was his first true operational briefing aboard Arcadia as Commanding Officer of the Constitution class starship.

“Starbase 1 has intercepted a distress call,” he began evenly, tapping away at the console beside him. An image of an Antares-type transport flickered to life on a mounted screen. “Federation transport vessel, Bright Horizon. It is sitting is damaged, disabled, and if reports are accurate, wounded aboard. They have basic medical supplies but she's adrift with families aboard... children. If that wasn't bad enough, it's how the Bright Horizon got into the shape its in.”

Bill Abernathy changed the image from the Bright Horizon to a star chart with a flashing yellow dot. "That's there last reported location. Not a damn thing out there. Or so we thought..."

Sabastian had arrived with the other officers. He purposefully avoided the XO's seat, he was, after all, not the XO for the moment and if he didn't get his position back then he'd made up his mind to leave the Arcadia. They took away the one thing that was a strong link to Zai from him. He could still recall how happy Zai had been when he'd been made XO and now. He shook his head. Focus on the mission he told himself. Counselor T'Prel had suggested he talk to his CO. That was not going to happen. Right now he didn't trust him or Alexander, he'd avoided sitting next to her as well choosing a seat by the new Coms officer and K'Var.

"Engineering will be ready to assist any way we can." He said. He was already running scenarios in his head.

"Comms are ready to go," Elyse nodded in agreement, "shall I continue relaying that 'help is on the way'? It may help calm people and increase their chances of survival. Especially children."

"Encrypt it," replied Abernathy. "Too many piranha out there. We can transmit it with a Federation encryption. They are wounded and an Antares class transport has minimal defense capabilities. Its blood in the water, and we don't need the Gorn showing up for appetizers" Bill said firmly. He was delicate with his phrasing. A thinly veiled analogy or the children being Hors d'oeuvres for unwanted guests.

Elyse nodded in response, making a mental note to ensure everything was encrypted.

Bill fired a look at K'Var and Sabatian. "We will need our own defenses up to snuff. That goes for Shielding, phasers, torpedo armament, and if need be, our engines primmed to get us the hell out of there. I'll be very transparent with all of you. It will be a cold day in hell when I turn my back to civilians in need, especially children. I've never run away from a fight, and I'm not starting now."

"Shields upgrades are online fully and stronger then before. The phasers need calibration and a few more upgrades." Sabastian made a few notes to change a few duty rosters.

K'Var was taking mental notes of everything being spoken. “I will see it is done with time to spare, sir.”

"Which brings me to Lieutenant Hunt. Your job is perhaps going to be the hardest," prefaced Abernathy. "This goes far beyond avoiding direct hits. You navigational expertise and piloting is the only way we're coming home in one piece" he added.

Lieutenant Hunt looked towards the image on display as he mentally mapped out the location. "I'll come up with the best path without drawing any or too much attention."

"Operations and supply fully prepared, Captain." Karri said

“The Counselling department will be ready to support those coming our way Captain.” Lanna said looking towards Abernathy.

"Thank you," replied Abernathy. Then, Bill circled back to Karri. "Ensign, I want you overseeing transporter operations. The transport is small, but we will need to pull off the evacuation smoothly and synchronized. It needs technical and planning expertise, I cannot afford to pull away from engineering or navigation."

Karri looked towards Abernathy. "Yes sir, I'll do my best. I know some tricks for m my youth, sir. Engineering or navigation won't be hindered."

Sabastian's mind shunted into work mode. He was not XO but for the moment, the length of this mission and until he decided his future he was the Chief Engineer. "I'll have Engineering outfit one of the secondary bays as a place where everyone can fit and we can get medical and counseling there to assist. I am guessing that most of those we rescue will need to stay together for Psychological safety and comfort. We can assess them there an ease them into things." He paused. "There is the possibility that the Gorn have already intercepted the distress call and have already gotten there. I would suggest we send out probes ahead of us to not go in blind."

From where he sat at the opposite end of the table, McDonald silenced his initial biting retort. It was... difficult. "Do we have confirmation of the number of passengers and crew aboard?" he queried, his question directed at Abernathy.

"I am waiting on an updated manifest, but we do not have one yet. Best we know, 37 children, parents, and about a dozen crew. All together, best estimate about 125 souls" replied Abernathy.

McDonald nodded, "then, with all due respect to Commander Walker, I will follow our standard triage protocols and my department is already working on that assumption. It is standard practice and it is effective. We have triage kits being prepared which we can relocate to whatever space you can give us. We assess as patients as they are beamed aboard and the more serious patients will be treated in the medical bay. Attempting to treat everyone in one location may sound ideal, but it is not practical and may cost lives."

He braced himself for any retort from Commander Walker, after all the pair of them rarely saw eye to eye in these meetings. Only know Baciami was not there to either save him from a grenade or add fuel to the fire. He was long enough in the tough to survive on his own. And Abernathy wanted truth.

Sabastian shrugged. "The space will be set aside and prepared should you require it. My engineers will be on standby for anything that needs fixing in your department if this is a more complex situation. Sickbay systems, as always will be a priority." Sabastian turned back to the engineering reports that were coming in on his terminal and reports from his staff on upgrades.

"Sir, having served on a freighter before joining starfleet." Karri began. "Plus also having been a supply officer. I may have some ideas on how to best prioritize systems."

Captain Bill Abernathy looked at Karri and nodded. The Caitian's expertise and experience on freighters would be useful. Bill looked at Sabastian to see what his Chief Engineer thought.

Sabastian's eyes flashed. "Just as the good Doctor does not wish to be told how to do his job I do not wish to be told how to do mine." He didn't raise his tone in any way. "As Chief Engineer of this ship, at least for now, I know how to do my job Ensign Karri. I will direct my Engineers as to what systems are critical and what systems are not and how and when they shall focus on fixing them." He paused and then added. "Your input officer is appreciated if I require it I will call on you." He was well aware of being a bit of a grouch but the Captain and Counselor left a bad taste in his mouth and his trust was stretched thin.

"Understood, sir " Karri replied. "Curse of being lower decks." She thought to herself.

Sabastian could hear Zai's voice in his head and he sighed. "But that does not mean that I am perfect. I am older you are younger and as you said you worked on a freighter so you have most probably have learned some tricks. Perhaps you could put a report together for me about your suggestions I am sure I could use them to make things more efficient." He would not let the those who stole something deeply important to him make him treat others this way. "Thank you ahead of time for taking the time to do this."

A good First Officer knows when to be assertive, but also when to be receptive and open to ideas. They need to know when to delegate tasks and make use of the expertise of the crew thought Abernathy. He was still assessing Sabastian.

"Yes sir, I get it." Karri began. "The last thing I want to do is step on toes. As for the report I'll get on that right away. I'll help in any way I can "

Bill took a deep breath "People, we have more problems to consider than just a disabled Federation freighter with wounded. It's the how it got disabled in the first place. From what we were able to ascertain from their distress signal, they were not attacked. They ran amok into some sort of minefield, problem is it's not charted. Their route was supposed to be a safe some. Clearly, that's not the case. We don't know where the hell those mines came from or how many there are. Even if the Bright Horizon can get their engines restored and come about, they damn well may be in the thick of a mine field they cannot safely traverse out of. Evacuating everyone aboard is priority, but charting that mine field is secondary until it came be properly disposed of."

"We may not be able to take the ship in," Sabastian said. "I would suggest we prepare a couple of shuttles and enhance them for safety. This may need to be a manual pull since we do not know the scope. The ship the crew was on is not very big so we need something smaller. 2-3 shuttles with top notch pilots and as we go we drop, what people would say breadcrumbs to find our way back but also to scan and warn us if the field shifts or has any...questionable properties."

Malcom wasn't really for the bad attitude, but very much agreed with Walker with using the shuttles. "I concur with the shuttles over taking in the Arcadia into a possible minefield. Experience says that if there is one, then you can expect another. Are these mines cloaked or just somehow hidden well?"

"Taking a shuttle or two in is a wiss course of action," prefaced Abernathy. "Saves us from damaging the Arcadia. No need being a bull in a China shop. Lieutenant Hunt, we won't know what we are dealing with until we are there. We haven't received any specifics on the mines in question."

Lanna sat simply taking in everything that was being said, being a mother herself she was concerned for the families and children they were rushing to help. “I’d suggest caution once we reach the ship, with families onboard emotions will be running high, and people may try and scramble to get priority no matter who gets in the way.”

Sabastian looked over at the CO. "Agreed. We'll need to have a plan. I would suggest the Medical and Counseling department work together to best find the order of removal. I mean they all need to be safe but we need order there will be chaos." He mentally kicked himself. You're not their damned XO stop making suggestions stick to your hobbit hole. he reminded himself.

"Agreed. The best way to avoid chaos is a plan for safety." Karri chimed in

Sabastian smiled at Karri. "Indeed Ensign."

"I suggest perhaps we add it to the encrypted message. The captain, or assumed in charge may want a specific order. For example, injured civilians first or families who feel stress more first-- someone who can read emotions, for instance, may be better getting off first, than someone who is just scared," Elyse contributed.

“That’s a very good suggestion” Lanna nodded to Elyse. “Anyone who’s empathic would find it torture being amongst overwhelming emotions.”

Sabastian looked over. "That brings up a good point counselor. There are empaths on the ship. This is your field of expertise how do we protect them?"

“We find them and we get them out of there as quickly as we can.” Lanna added. “Either that or we find a way to get inhibitors or suppressors to them. An unprotected empath, especially one without proper training can become totally catatonic if the situation is severe enough. Imagine the emotions of everyone aboard this ship crashing down on you, overwhelming your mind and not being able to turn it off. It can quite literally drive you insane.”

He gave a nod. "From an engineering perspective I can have inhibitors ready for the doctor and yourself to review this way each team has them on the ready."

“Thank you Commander, I appreciate it” Lanna offered a smile and a polite nod of her head. “As much as I hate them I might need one for myself as well, mainly to dull down the input.”

He made notes. "I'll have my engineers work with you and the doctor to fix yours so it can let you sense but not enough to overwhelm."

Lanna nodded. “Thank you.”

Captain Abernathy looked around the room. I missed this he thought to himself. He was new to this starship, new to this crew, but being in the Captain's chair of a starship with such a capable crew bouncing ideas around in collaboration was a rewarding feeling. "Excellent work, everyone. I have one additional factor we need to prepare for. This became a joint operation right before I stepped through those doors. A Klingon vessel will be accompanying us, and rendering assistance."

Sabastian's face twitched but he said nothing. He made a note to up the security around engineering.

Elyse seemed to reflect Sabastian's reaction, "not to sound disrespectful, but why?"

Abernathy took a deep breath. There was no love lost between him and the Klingons. He had seen their atrocities first hand during the war, and in the years leading up to it. "Peace times bring out strange bedfellows, Commander. This may be an opportunity for a lasting relationship with them, or this could simply be a one night stand. Even if that is the case, we're supposed to be working towards not slaughtering one another. Apparently, the Klingons intercepted the distress call. They claim to have Intel pertinent to this mission, but were unwilling to transmit it to us directly."

Lanna looked towards Abernathy. “It seems more than a little suspicious, since when do the Klingons share Intel on anything?”

"Never freely," Abernathy replied. "So, lets be ready. I do not know what they want, but its certainly not out of the goodness of either of their two hearts."

"I recommend everyone have their phasers while they are in our company." Said Sabastian.

Captain Abernathy looked at the Caitian Security Chief. "Lieutenant K'Var, thats a task for you. I do not plan on having Klingons aboard the Arcadia, but should thet insist I want to be ready. Yes, we are supposed to be expressing peaceful intentions, but Klingons are always armed. They should expect no less from us."

Lieutenant K’Var gave a nod “I agree and I don’t think the Klingons would expect anything less. I’ll have security increase their presence in key areas but not to act on anything unless ordered.”

Sabastian spoke up again. "I would also suggest Engineering be locked down while they are shuttling next to us."

"I suggest Comms be limited to just needed Comms too. The last thing we need is an interception of something," Elyse commented.

“I’ll do my best to keep a sense on their emotions, Klingons are pretty full on but I should be able to sense if they’re gearing up for a fight.” Lanna offered.


Captain Abernathy gave one last nod. "Lieutenant Alexander has been kind enough to throw together a little soiree tonight in our new holodeck. If you all would be so kind as to make an appearance, mingle a little. I know the mission ahead of us is a serious one, but we all deserve this opportunity to socialize, especially new faces in this room. Dismissed."

 

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