[Galaxy] 2161.08.07 - DL, Starship Challenger - Capt Spearling - "Outta Here!"

[Anna H.]

  //  Challenger, Bridge.  Near the Klingon Neutral Zone  \\
It was totally anti-climactic.  Alex put the ship through its paces, switching courses and milking the most out of the ship's speed, but there was no pursuit.  Long-range scans had shown two warships patrolling the Klingon side of the Neutral Zone, but neither had paid the Challenger any attention whatsoever as she had approached, and then crossed, the border.  Chris had picked up some chatter from the ships as they'd streaked across the Neutral Zone and then crossed over into Coalition space, but neither had followed.  Sasha was puzzled and worried.  
"Long-range sensor sweeps show no Klingon vessels crossing the Neutral Zone, Captain," Lars said from SCI.
"Vic? Anything from the Tactical side of things?" Sasha asked, looking from the main viewscreen to the 2nd Officer.
Nothing from TAC either.  All scans were clear.
Sasha's fingernails made a staccato sound as they tapped lightly on the captain's chair arm console.  It was unthinkable that they'd just 'get away' like that.  They'd barely received a scratch! As the minutes ticked by and nothing /continued/ to happen, the tension on the Bridge began to dissipate.  "Well," Sasha said.  Everyone looked at everyone else.  Sasha shrugged.  
The bridge door opened to reveal Yuki Masahiro, newly changed into a spotless uniform and carrying a tray full of cups.  The yeoman made his rounds, delivering what he knew to be the crew's favorite drink of choice, and then ended up at the captain's chair, handing Sasha a cup of coffee.  "Quiet up here, ma'am," he murmured as she took the mug.
"Yes.  We were just remarking on that.  It seems incredible, but we appear to have made our escape."  She took a sip of coffee and then grinned up at Yuki.  
"Captain ... you should get your wounds looked at," he said.
"Huh? Oh ... oh, yes."  Sasha was almost afraid to look at her finger.  "Well, I'll take care of that in a few minutes.  I have a report to file first."
"Yes, ma'am.  There's a new uniform in your ready room."
"Thanks, Yuki," Sasha said as she stood up.  She gave orders for continued long-range sensor scans to their aft, told Alex to set course for Earth, and then looked at Vic.  "Commander Hanley -- you have the conn.  I'll be in my ready room if needed." 
//  Captain's Ready Room  \\
The Star Fleet logo lit up the screen.  Sasha, still wearing her left glove but having discarded her armor and freshly clad in a new uniform, sat down at her desk.  She had also cleaned up a little, removing the dried blood that had coated her neck and upper chest.  There was nothing to be done about the bruises and abrasions visible on her face.  
She tapped on the console and went through several secrecy protocols before beginning her report.  Sasha gave a thorough rendering of the mission to Qo'noS, accompanied by the sensor files and recordings taken while moving about in the Klinzhai or K'thar System, all the maps and readings taken while on Qo'noS, and her own interpretations of the Klingons.  Finishing up, she said, "... although the diplomatic group was not able to speak directly to the Chancellor, his will was made known to us through the Chancellor's Hand -- General Ko'dan of House Morug.  The Klingons have /no/ interest in joining the Coalition, and in fact should still be considered hostiles in the galactic community.  After the timely yet mysterious beam-out -- as was mentioned earlier in this report -- we were forced to evacuate Klingon space in haste.  Resistance to our departure was shown at first, but ceased after we dropped some torpedoes on Praxis and went to warp.  No followers evident as of this report, an unlikely occurence which is still under investigation.  We are on course for Earth at warp 5.  Captain Sasha Spearling, out." Leaning back, Sasha thought it over, added several things to her report -- such as the three Klingons who were onboard the ship, one in Sickbay and two in the brig -- and then closed the report, filed a copy, then sent it off to HQ.  She looked down at her left hand.  The finger that had been slashed in her battle with Han was numb, and she didn't want to take off the glove and see that a piece of it had been left behind.  She sighed loudly.  Time to go to Sickbay, have Liza look at it.  She couldn't wear the blood-soaked glove forever.  She also wanted to check on Rick McDonald -- and all the others who had been injured during this mission. After visiting Sickbay, she knew, she'd have to go to the brig.  It was time for Han'Zek, of House Morug, to be debriefed.  The mixed messages he'd sent during their time on Qo'noS had secured him a spot in the brig -- at least until they arrived at Earth.  Wait -- the devices in the Secondary Research lab ... where they still operating? T'Lara hadn't returned to the Bridge, was that where she was? Sasha hoped so.  She didn't like foreign objects in her ship.  Han would have to answer for those as well, because he was the obvious culprit.  To be on the safe side, she sent an order to T'Lara on her datapad, telling her to check out the objects carefully. Sasha walked out of her Ready Room and waved a hand at Vic when he began to rise from the Captain's chair.  "Stay put, Vic," Sasha said.  "I'm going to Sickbay.  Anybody needs me, that's where I'll be.  After that, I'm heading for the brig.  Contact Commander Nelson-Samad and let her know that I'd like her to accompany me for that visit.  Have her meet me in Sickbay." She walked to the bridge door and opened it, stepped onto the 'lift that waited there.  She looked to where Lt Sattal had once again relieved Chris at COMMs.  "Keep me advised.  Anything changes, I want to know yesterday."  The door slid shut.  Captain Sasha SpearlingCommanding OfficerFCL-04 Challenger 		 	   		  
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