Chapter Text
[Enterprise-E bridge. Data at the navigation station, Jean-Luc Picard (JP) seated in the captain's chair, Will Riker (WR) seated to his right. Geordi LaForge (GL) is in the background, working on a panel of touch screens on the back wall. Tuvok (Tk) is in the background, working on a panel facing the main screen.]
WR: I’ve been thinking of taking some shore leave… On Earth.
JP: Oh, really? What’s the occasion?
WR No occasion. I just want to visit Deanna.
JP: Approved. Have a good time.
Data: Captain, we are being hailed by Admiral Paris.
JP: On screen.
OP: Good afternoon, Enterprise.
JP: Admiral Paris, what can we do for you?
OP: We need a Sovereign Class ship for an urgent mission, and The Enterprise’s recent upgrades make it the best ship for the job.
JP: Why Sovereign class?
OP: It has to be a ship capable of tractoring an Intrepid class ship, with a large cargo capacity, ample guest quarters, and an expanded medical team.
WR: Medical team?
OP: You’ll proceed to Starbase 2 for medical and morgue supplies.
JP: Why aren't you sending a medical ship?
OP: We want to send only one ship. An intrepid class ship has gone silent after sending a distress call. Your mission is to find the ship, gather escape pods and transport the crew or their remains. And if possible, determine what happened. It will take almost two weeks to reach their last known location.
JP: Which ship?
OP: The Valiant. I'm transmitting the relevant data now, including all crew logs and systems logs.
Data: Receiving now…
OP: The Valiant was conducting a survey near a remote section of The Rim. We’re planning to put a new science station near that section to make intergalactic astrometric and gravimtric observations. With Enterprise’s enhanced sensor range and comm system, you should be able to detect it sooner than most. Captain, feel free to give shore leave to non-essential crew.
JP: Acknowledged.
OP: Also, Counselor Troi will be permanently returning to the Enterprise. The Voyager psychological recovery project has completed its mission. She and her team did an exemplary job.
[WR smiles]
OP: If you find anyone alive, she’ll be invaluable.
JP: Of course.
OP: Prepare your VIP suite for Captain Janeway. She’ll be the lead investigator. She brings extensive knowledge of an Intrepid class starship. She’s also a brilliant scientist and she is familiar with the Enterprise’s new astrometrics lab. After all, it was copied from Voyager’s.
JP: Aye, sir.
Tk: The admiral is correct. Captain Janeway used Voyager’s astrometrics lab frequently. May I suggest adding Lieutenant Kim to the team? He designed the lab.
JP: Good idea.
OP: Good luck. Let’s hope this turns out to be a rescue mission, not a recovery mission.
JP: Thank you. Enterprise out. [screen goes dark]
[to Data] Data, set coordinates for Starbase 2 and proceed, warp six.
WR: [to JP] Wasn't Captain Janeway on extended leave?
JP: Yes. I'm surprised they assigned her to any mission, let alone this one. It’s eerily similar to the one that sent Voyager into the Delta Quadrant.
WR: [whispers] I think you'll find ways to keep her from worrying.
JP: Knowing her, she'll be buried in those logs and studying astrometric projections.
WR: But on the way back…
JP: Perhaps we'll spend some time on the holodeck.
WR: Not in your quarters?
JP: [whispers out the side of his mouth] None of your business. And by the way, I'm revoking your shore leave.
WR: [smirking] Aye, sir.