Vulcans in a Dangerous Time

Posted on Mon Sep 14th, 2026 @ 8:07pm by Lieutenant Commander Savok & Lieutenant JG Sakkar & Petty Officer 1st Class Enam Nemec
Edited on on Mon Sep 14th, 2026 @ 8:46pm

1,312 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Maintenance and Recovery
Location: Turbolift, USS Astrea
Timeline: October 31st, 2389 (1 day after Red Alert, Part V)

The turbolift carried Lieutenant Commander Savok toward the bridge of Astrea the way every lift did: indifference. He stood alone, one hand resting against the strap of a small travel bag--a bag that contained very little. Inside was a change of uniform, a few personal effects, a volume containing the selected works of Surak, and a potted cutting he planned care for while he served here. His other hand held a data PADD which contained his transfer orders, signed by Rear Admiral Daro Rixx.

The orders were simply a guise to get Savok onto Astrea as a Liaison Officer. He was to report directly to Captain Remy Johansen and begin his duties without delay. His stated responsibilities concerned coordination between Starfleet Command and the vessel, procedural consultation, and advising Astrea's command staff of Starfleet Command's desires. The language was entirely conventional. The actual assignment was less so.

Savok understood why that was.

A ship could conceal much about itself in reports. Officers wrote what happened or what they believed had happened, and sometimes what they wished had happened. A simple report could be accurate and still fail to describe a crew. It could tell him that an order had been followed and yet neglect to tell him whether it had been followed willingly, resentfully, or with some other understanding that circumstances had made another course necessary. These were distinctions that mattered.

His purpose aboard Astrea was therefore to observe before he any judgment.

That was a principal which had seemed evident at the point it was formulated. He had learned through experience in the Audit & Professional Standards Division that these obvious principals were the ones more frequently abandoned.

Savok felt the turbolift slow.

He straightened his uniform jacket and silently recited one of Surak's Third Analects:

The body is flesh to which the mind gives meaning and into which the katra breathes life.

The turbolift halted gently and the doors opened.

The USS Astrea had only docked at Starbase 773 thirty-five minutes ago and as Savok stepped onto the bridge, he could see signs everywhere of recent events that were still heavy in the hearts and on the minds of her crew.

Officers showed fatigue, some sadness, and even some confusion. He knew why.

Savok had taken the time to study the preliminary reports concerning Astrea, forwarded to him via the Audit Division. It had taken him the better part of a week to reach the Barisa system and he had spent the majority of that time learning about the individuals who served aboard her. Second to that were current events: the assassination of Ambassador T'Varel, the discovery of a potential Romulan plot, and diplomatic blunders.

He paused for a moment to observe the bridge. He recognized none of the faces currently there. At least, not until he moved down toward the command well and took notice of a lean Vulcan male--young--occupying the Captain's Chair. It was Astrea's Chief Flight Control Officer.

Savok knew the face from the personnel summary he'd received via the information packet he had studied on the runabout.

Approaching him, he remained at ease.

"Lieutenant?" he inquired. "I am Lieutenant Commander Savok."

Sakkar sat ramrod straight in the Captain's chair, his posterior occupying only the front two inches of the seat. Because it was the most important chair on the bridge, and not his, he considered it inappropriate to get too comfortable. His head and eyes were lowered, reading a PADD which contained the current operations report from each department. Of particular concern were the damage repair efforts. He was aware someone had entered the bridge, but did not turn his full attention until the man addressed him. Seeing it was a senior officer, he stood respectfully.

"Commander Savok," he replied. "Welcome aboard the Astrea." He noted the man was still carrying his personal effects, having opted to come directly to the bridge instead of his guest quarters. "How may I be of assistance?"

"I am reporting for duty. Where may I find Captain Johansen?"

Petty Officer Nemec was standing at the Security Station behind Sakkar as the Commander approached Sakkar. He found it irreverant to come to the Bridge and demand to see the Captain while still carrying his bag. If the man was in such a hurry there were porters for that.

"The Captain and Commander Spello have gone ashore for post-mission debriefing," Sakkar said. "Commander Eirly is likewise unavailable." He nodded to the young ensign currently manning the Ops station. "However, if you wish to begin your duties immediately, Ops can log your assignment orders from here, which will grant you security codes and computer access."

Savok turned his head slightly to the right, eyes keeping the Ensign at Ops in his periphery.

"That won't be necessary, Lieutenant."

With his hands in front of him, clasped loosely, he continued. "Computer, make a note in the ship's official log that Lieutenant Commander Savok is hereby transferred aboard USS Astrea as per orders signed by Rear Admiral Daro Rixx."

Savok turned to face the Ensign at Operations. "Note the date and time."

Ops responded with a single nod. "Aye, sir."

Sakkar crossed his hands behind his back. "Shall I have a yeoman take your belongings to your quarters?" He said, gesturing to the bag at Savok's side.

"That will not be necessary, Lieutenant."

The new Liaison Officer took two steps toward the turbolift and paused, before turning back to Sakkar. While he had studied the helm officer's record before arriving, he felt it necessary to underscore a more personal connection the two shared.

"Mister Sakkar," he said with all the emotion of a brick, "I am content to see that your career has continued despite your accident."

That earned a raised eyebrow and a slight nod from the helmsman. Sakkar had not expected the new arrival to take any particular interest in him, much less offer words of support. He had never met Commander Savok before. The gesture of goodwill, however, was not unappreciated. "I am at your service, sir. When the Captain returns I will inform her immediately of your desire to meet."

Lieutenant Commander Savok nodded and exited into the turbolift. His task was clear: observe and log. Become familiar with the inner machinations of Astrea and when the audit is formally announced, his experience aboard the ship as a crewmember will become an advantage in the future.

Something was off about this Vulcan's arrival on Astrea. Enam wasn't sure what it was or why, but the lieutenant commander almost seemed to be trying to put Lieutenant Sakkar on his his back foot.

Sakkar also stood contemplating the exchange that had just happened. Like Savok he often kept old proverbs in mind, but the one he was thinking of now was not from Surak, but from an ancient Vulcan empress named Laihel who had lived a century prior. "Be like the sun; warm to everyone, even your enemies."

He looked over his shoulder at Nemec. "Send a message down to the Petty Officer of the Watch. Tell him to inform the bridge as soon as the Captain returns."

---

Lieutenant J.G. Sakkar
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea


Lt. Commander Savok
Liaison Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of JB Dorsainvil)


Petty Officer 1st Class Enam Nemec
Tactical Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Remy Johansen)

 

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