Preparing to go down to the Twilight zone...

Posted on 17 Jun 2026 @ 5:11pm by Commander Suzanna Batenburg

681 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: USS-Arawyn

//// Bridge ////

Suzanna had been summoned to the bridge by the Captain following the latest developments within the Sherman Oaks fragment. The situation had become increasingly curious, and increasingly concerning. The sun had simply stopped moving across the sky. Predictably, the inhabitants had noticed. Reports from passive monitoring indicated growing confusion and alarm as the expected progression of day and night failed to occur.

The Captain had requested a review of the criteria for escalation to Level Two intervention. In truth, Suzanna had already reached a preliminary conclusion. The question was no longer whether escalation would occur, but whether there remained any logical justification for delaying it.

The Escalation Criteria from level 1 to level 2 were: Significant loss of life directly attributable to instability within the anomaly. Evidence that non-intervention will result in large-scale casualties. Rapid degradation of distortion field integrity. Discovery of an external actor influencing conditions within the envelope.

Level 2 permits measures intended to preserve life without revealing Starfleet's presence. Authorized actions include remote stabilization of the distortion phenomenon, covert mitigation of environmental hazards, suppression of secondary disasters resulting from anomaly effects, and preparation of contingency rescue measures.

When the situation changed again and multiple subspace tears appeared, and two opposing warbirds appeared, it took all of her control to not show surprise. Batenburg’s expression remained controlled, but her gaze sharpened.

“That is chronologically inconsistent with the settlement below,” she said. It was stating the obvious, the warbirds were from the mid to late 23rd century. The fragment was from 1984.

They listened to the call that was intercepted, the mention of just a boy in the cul-de-sac was an interesting lead.

Corbin turned to Batenburg. “Commander, assemble a full away team.”

Batenburg met her eyes. “The cul-de-sac?”

“The cul-de-sac,” Corbin confirmed. “That is where the reports began, where the sun stopped, where the civilians are seeing our best lead, and where this Helen believes the answer is standing in the street.”

She looked toward Tactical. “Coordinate with Commander McKinney for threat updates before transport. If those ships turn their attention downward, I want the away team pulled immediately.”

Then to Jung. “Ops, isolate that call, map Helen’s house, and identify the boy’s last known position from visual and comm indicators. Feed everything to Commander Batenburg’s team.”

Suzanna considered the composition of the away team. A larger team would cover more ground and process information more rapidly. At the same time, every additional person increased the risk of attracting attention. If they were dealing with a displaced section of twentieth-century Earth, discretion would be essential. Reaching a decision on her immediate priorities, she tapped her comm badge.

“Batenburg to Amberlyn. I am assembling an away team for a surface deployment. I will require medical support, and I need an assessment of any immunizations, inoculations, or other medical considerations we should address before transport.” She released the channel before adding, “There will be a short briefing in Briefing Room Five prior to departure.”

Medical readiness was the logical first consideration. There were still questions regarding equipment, team composition, and perhaps most importantly, how they would present themselves once on the surface.

Suzanna tapped her comm badge again. “Batenburg to Collingway, Flammia, and Remmington. Please report to Briefing Room Five in ten minutes. We will be deploying to the surface.” Briefing Room Five had been selected deliberately. Its proximity to the transporter room would minimize delays once final preparations were complete.

She turned toward the operations station. “Mr. Jung, please arrange period-appropriate civilian attire for five personnel and have it delivered to Briefing Room Five. We will be operating in a populated area of Earth, circa 1984. I prefer that we avoid attracting unnecessary attention.”

With the initial arrangements in motion, Suzanna headed for the briefing room. The evidence increasingly suggested that a third party was interfering with the fragment. If they intended to identify who was responsible, blending in with the local population would likely prove more valuable than any piece of advanced technology they could carry.

Cmdr Suzanna Batenburg
XO USS Arawyn
"Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!"

 

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