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"The GAMMA ERADI Cluster"
[previous post was "Big Brother" by the always helpful Francois]
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 31199.0620

With the command staff now aware as to the details of the upgrades that had been brought to the USS BASTET, the crew could concentrate on what was to come.  Under the protection and secrecy of the their cloaking armor, the ANUBIS would provide escort to the ship for the duration of their journey to the GAMMA ERADI Cluster.

As the ILO, it had been Shar'El's responsibility to know all that there had been to know about the BASTET; its improved capabilities granted by the upgrades and new equipment, the way the crew would act and react to their new ship and the ship's new mission profile and objectives.

As the ExO, it had been her responsibility to insure that the ANUBIS and its crew were at their readiest to respond to the task that had been demanded of them; in this particular instance to provide escort to the BASTET.  In both cases Shar'El needed to be as knowledgeable as possible about one particular thing: the GAMMA ERADI Cluster.

"Maya," the ExO / ILO began as she approached the science station where the CSciO had been busy at. "Can you call up the data on the GAMMA ERADI Cluster? Might be nice for us to have a look at it before we actually get underway."

Without hesitation the CSciO complied and called up the most recent image of the cluster onto the main view screen.  The impressive multi-colored cloud filled the forward screen and instantly drew everyone fullest attention and even some admiration.

"The GAMMA ERADI Cluster," Shar'El read out loud from the operations station to which the data had been transferred to allowing the ExO / ILO to look at the image as she relayed the information. "A globular star cluster counting over 200 stars. What makes this cluster special is the odd electromagnetic and gravitational fields found within. Due to the relatively close proximity of older, decaying stars and the chaotic energy fields our sensors will be rendered pretty much useless."

"Sounds like a perfect location to do something that you don't want anyone else to know about," Jayson said as he continued to read the rest of the data displayed at his work station.  "High levels of solar plasma discharges, gravitational eddies capable of crushing shuttles or even small freighters and an electromagnetic field in constant flux, this place doesn't even register on the 'nice to visit' scale."

"If our sensors are going to be made to be so ineffective, we are going to have to get inside the cluster to insure that nothing is in there waiting for the BASTET or doing something that they are not supposed to be," Ya'Han said, already thinking ahead to insure the safety of both ships.

"With our luck we'll find a Ferengi Marauder in the middle of taking a leak," the redheaded engineer said in all seriousness.

Eve spun around like a top and glared at the CEO who simply shrugged her shoulders and offered a look of confusion in response to the non-verbal friendly attack.

"What?" Sonja began in defence of what she had said, "The Marauder Class cruisers have to go through a fuel waste venting to keep their engines working at the highest possible efficiency. I just figured that it would be a good place for them to do that without drawing anyone's attention."

Suspecting that this had not been what the CEO had originally meant, the Captain decided to just change the subject. "Given the high electromagnetic radiation and other rather nasty stuff inside that cluster I will head down to Sickbay and speak to Doctor Doyanne.  Commander, you have the bridge," Erik said as he stood from the command chair and made his way to the nearest turbolift.

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Tiffany Reeve

Lieutenant Commander Janeel
Intel Liaison Officer / Mission Specialist
USS BASTET

Lieutenant Commander Shar'El
Executive Officer / Intel Liaison Officer
USS ANUBIS