Cloud Ship

Posted on Fri Sep 11th, 2015 @ 4:44pm by Ensign Corrine Steiner
Edited on on Fri Sep 11th, 2015 @ 4:51pm

Mission: Blooming Friendships
Location: SB332 - Dock 24
Timeline: Midshift

[ON]

=/Ensign Steiner, please report to Dock 24.\=

"What's up, Ops?"

=/Ma'am, Cloudship is inbound.\=

Corrine abandoned current activities and rushed out, "On my way! Have their requisition released and moved to twenty four, PDQ."

=/Roger.\=

She arrived at the same time as a quarantine hover cart. "Status?"

A technician studied his tricorder readout, "Looks good, Chief."

She nervously stared out through the large ablative atmospheric containment field in to space. "Steiner to Harbor Control, we have an inbound Zephyr ship. I need you to clear traffic and give it whatever approach lane it takes."

=/We're on it. Sensors haven't picked it up, yet. Wait one... we're picking up a gaseous anomaly moving into high orbit.\=

"That's it, Control."

A shifting, glowing haze reminiscent of Aurora Borealis glided towards the starbase. The technician with Corrine shook his head, "A space vehicle with no solid structure... I can't believe it."

She smiled with admiration, "Few people have seen them."

"What's it doing here?"

"In transit, needs energy to refuel... if that's the right word to use." The condensed, shimmering field bathed the dock in a glow of colors. "Control, ask the Kyanfa if they need a vacuum." Her answer came as the ghostly fields passed through the atmo-containment. "Never mind, Control. We're good."

"It's a very long way from home."

"New home, Riley. Klingons found a way past the Kyanfa Nexus briar patch and have invaded. The Federation found a new compatible zone for them."

"And we're doing this why? Weren't the Kyanfa part of a conspiracy to wipe out Vulcan?"

"We don't punish an entire race for the crimes of a few. If we don't help them migrate, then they face extinction."

The Zephyr ship settled nearby. What looked like hazy fields coalesced into vague humanoid forms.

Corrine Steiner stepped forward, pressed her palms together, and offered a bow of the head, "Welcome to Starbase 332."

Quiet vocalizations enveloped them, "We are grateful for your help."

"Our starbase is open for visitation, if you would like to stay."

"No. The migration is too important."

"I understand." She gestured toward the hover cart, "Your phasic presium. I'm afraid that I don't know how to unpack or handle it."

"That won't be necessary, thank you."

Corrie watched as the aliens manipulated ghostly hand devices. The quarantine container opened, releasing a bright green light. Her protective tech glasses darkened to balance against the intensity. The brilliant sphere diffused and then disappeared into the cloud ship.

"We are ready to depart, now."

She returned a nod, "Understood. Harbor Control, the Zephyr ship is departing."

=/Copy. Lanes are clear.\=

The visitors diffused into haze and merged with the ship. Moments later, the entire phenomenon lifted off and passed outward into space.

Riley shook his head, "Wow..."

She smiled, "Yeah, wow."

They watched other merchant ships departing out into space lanes. The tech soberly commented, "Look at all those transports. They're leaving like rats escaping a sinking ship."

"I don't blame them. This sector is getting pretty hot."

"You think war is imminent?"

She shook her head, "No idea. I'm not in the loop."

"Ignorance isn't bliss. I wish they'd come out and tell us."

Corrine turned to him, "You want cutting edge news? Ask Ferengi. They seem to hear about things before everybody else."

[OFF]

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Ens. Corrine Steiner
Kyanfa Guests
Cargo Handler

Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet