New Orders (even for an Admiral)

Posted on Fri Jul 31st, 2026 @ 3:13pm by Vice-Admiral J.T Carlson & Fleet Admiral Lance Cartwright

813 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: 1x01 - Homecoming
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: Post Ark Royal 1x04

Stardate 8985.2 Ship’s Log USS Tigerfish-Alpha. J.T. Carlson, Commanding. We’re enroute back from Sector 262, carrying the fallen and reports from the Ark Royal to Starfleet Headquarters. The Drenkul situation troubles me, the distress call of the Massacre troubles me. While I commend the quick thinking of the Ark Royal’s crew, specifically Captain T’kal and Commander McEntyre for preventing Starfleet from being party to it, it troubles me that these desperate times call for allying ourselves with people who would commit such atrocities against their own peoples. Meanwhile, Tigerfish herself continues to perform well beyond expectations for a new Excelsior Class Starship.
J.T sat down the PADD slate he was recording his log with, pinching the bridge of his nose. It had been a very long three months out of port. Tigerfish had done well, so far. A brand new Excelsior Class starship fresh off the line of the San Fransisco Shipyards and second ship to bare the name Tigerfish after the venerable Lancaster Class Tigerfish was decommissioned and placed in the Starfleet Fleet Museum near Athen Prime.
J.T had pushed for this new Tigerfish to be his flagship and he was largely successful in bringing the crew that had served him for 25 years together to crew this new ship. Alice Zuburg had been especially eager to be XO and his CMO. Though to be truthful, she should had been in command of a Hospital Ship but she was glad and eager to stand with him. Daphene Crenshaw too as his chief of security. J.T had come to depend on her and most of his crew.
He had begun to pick up another PADD with status reports when the shirll pierce of a boatswain whistle filled the room.
“Communications to Admiral Carlson? Sir, commpic from Starfleet Headquarters, the Commander, Starfleet.”
Lance Cartwright. A good man, steady.
“Pipe it down, Ensign” J.T replied as he set down the PADD and turned in his chair just slightly to face the small desk screen as the image of Cartwright came on.
“Sir.” J.T greeted professionally.
“So what just exactly happen there, J.T” Cartwright was straight to the point as always. One of the most respected Admirals in Starfleet, he had lead the fleet through the Whale Probe Crisis and still managed to come out of it mostly unscaved.
“It was a cluster, Sir. The Drenkul committed a masacure as soon as Ark Royal departed despite protest from Ark Royal and her crew.” J.T began as he pulled over the PADD with Captain T’kal’s report The distress call from the civilian population was particually disturbing. “They have requested that the transmission included in Captain T’kal’s report be played for the Foreign Relations Commitiee and I’ve agreed to share it with them.”
Cartwright nodded in thought, his brow furrowed in deep comtemplation. He was a man of few words but what he did say, always spoke volumes.
“Send it to us, we’ll make sure to address it in the next council session.” Cartwright finally spoke after a tense moment of thought.
“What of the subspace weapons tests?”
“We’re still analyzing what the Delta line stations picked up. My concern is that more are coming and that we may be forced on the back foot if push come to shove. I am distubed by these new weapons. My science officer reports that these weapons can tear holes in the fabric of subspace which is equally disturbing due to the potential for planetary and space-time effects it could have.” J.T continued, looking at a different PADD of notes and reports.
“We share similar concerns. Another test was detected near Sector 813.”
J.T’s brow perked up. 813 was his old stomping grounds. Deep Space K-9, now Trading Post K-9 was once his home aboard the previous Tigerfish. He was the one who brought the two dominant governments of the sector into the Federation, the Eifie and the Rhyusians.
“What have the Eifie and Rhuysians said?” J.T inquired.
“They’ve lodged official requests for Starfleet to deploy ships into the region. Specifically, they’ve requested you personally.”
“Say no more, I’m altering course now.” There was trust there, with the Eifie and Rhuysians. They felt comfortable dealing with him. When J.T took command of the Algonquin Fleet Yards after handing K-9 over to their control, it had become a central hub for activites in the sector.
“Good, keep me apprised, Cartwright out!” The screen went black before displaying the Federation roundral on the screen. J.T let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and leaned back into his chair.
Things were moving faster than he had thought.
———
Vice Admiral J.T. Carlson
USS Tigerfish-A, Commanding
Starfleet Command

Fleet Admiral Lance Cartwright
Commander, Starfleet
Starfleet Command

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