Bridge - Deck 1

LtCol Carrera used his console to show the distance the SS Mariquita and the squadron of SA-43X Hammerheads were from each other along with the ETA on the Main Viewscreen so the XO had a clear vision of how long it would take for the Wildcards to arrive.

Lt. Colonel Carrera: They're looking at about 2 hours travel time, Commander.

As Rafo watched the 58th Squadron's slow progress towards the Mariquita along with the speed of Sutherland rapidly approaching the abandoned vessel on the Main Viewer, he wondered what the Captain was thinking in leaving them so far behind. LtCol Carrera wanted to say something earlier but felt it wasn't his place to second guess Capt Marino's motives.
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Lt. Colonel Rafael L. Carrera
Marine Detachment Wing Commander, USS Whitestar

When Lou saw the distance between the SS Mariquita, Sutherland and the Wildcards on the Main Viewer, he immediately had second thoughts about his decision to head for the abandoned vessel without them.

Capt Marino: Mr. Thomas, stop the ship! Let the Wildcards land in the Shuttlebay, then once they have landed proceed to the Mariquita at full Impulse.

The Captain quickly gave instructions to LtCol Carrera regarding the 58th Squadron's situation.

Capt Marino: Colonel, have the Wildcards land as quickly as possible. We will take them to the Mariquita with us, once we arrive we'll have them launch again when needed. Have them remain ready to go.

The CO looked over toward Cmdr Kee and nodded in acknowledgement that he made a mistake leaving them behind. He had not realized the top speed of the SA-43X was nowhere near the speed of the Impulse Engines of a Starship at full capacity. This was an error in judgement he would never make again.

Dylan was happy to follow the Captain's order to bring the ship to a halt for the Wildcards to catch up. Using his console, the Lieutenant cut the Impulse drive and used the maneuvering thrusters to bring the ship to a full and complete stop.

Lt. Thomas: All stop, Sir.

With Sutherland now at a standstill, it wouldn't be long before the 58th Squadron would catch up to them and land in the Secondary Shuttlebay. Dylan was very happy they stopped to wait for the Marines to join them, he thought leaving them behind was a very bad idea. The Lieutenant was very glad Capt Marino saw this as an error and corrected it.
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Lieutenant Dylan S. Thomas
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Whitestar

Rafo smiled as he replied to Capt Marino before addressing the Wildcards and informing them of the plan.

Lt. Colonel Carrera: Understood, Captain!

The Lieutenant Colonel tapped the Comlink on his console and informed MCpt Vansen of the situation.

Lt. Colonel Carrera: Queen 6 to Queen of Diamonds, Sutherland is at a full stop awaiting you to catch up! Once you land in the Secondary Shuttlebay, stay ready! You'll be launched again when we reach the Mariquita!

The Detachment Wing Commander was very pleased Capt Marino had changed his mind about leaving the Hammerheads behind. Rafo left the images of the 58th Squadron on the Main Viewscreen showing that they were slowly catching up to Sutherland and would be landing in the Shuttlebay in about 15 minutes. That was a lot better than having to wait 2 hours for the SA-43X's to catch up had they continued to the SS Mariquita without them.
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Lt. Colonel Rafael L. Carrera
Marine Detachment Wing Commander, USS Whitestar

58th Squadron - Space

When Shane heard the sound of LtCol Carrera's voice in her helmet, she was relieved. She immediately acknowledged and passed the message onto the other Marine pilots.

MCpt Vansen: Queen of Diamonds to Queen 6, acknowledged!

With a smile on her face, she told the rest of the Wildcards the good news.

MCpt Vansen: Looks like the good Captain has decided to wait for us after all! Let's punch it all the way, close the gap ASAP! We'll be landing in our Shuttlebay and remaining on standby!

Together they remained in formation and eventually saw Sutherland in the distance growing larger as they approached. It wasn't long before they could see the door to the Secondary Shuttlebay opening for them. Each of SA-43X Hammerheads landed in turn, with Shane following last. Once they were secured inside by the flight crew, she called up to LtCol Carrera to let him know they arrived.

MCpt Vansen: Queen of Diamonds to Queen 6, we're in the Shuttlebay! All secured! We'll remain ready to launch on your word!

After Shane's call to the Bridge, the flight crew maneuvered the Hammerheads to face the closing Shuttlebay door so they would be facing the right direction to launch quickly back out into space so they could secure the area around the SS Mariquita. They were now ready to continue on...
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Marine Captain Shane A. Vansen
Deputy Detachment Wing Commander, USS Whitestar

Bridge - Deck 1

As soon as Lou overheard MCpt Vansen report to LtCol Carrera that they had landed in the Secondary Shuttlebay and were secured, the Captain gave the following orders...

Capt Marino: Mr. Thomas, lay a course in for the SS Mariquita, full Impulse power.

In a short amount of time they covered the distance between where they stopped to retrieve the Wildcards and where the abandoned vessel was. When they dropped down to a stop within 20km of the Mariquita, Lou gave LtCmdr Boffi his orders.

Capt Marino: Mr. Boffi, scan this ship for life signs since the Life Support System on this one is engaged.

The Captain looked over at Kestra and asked her if she had any insight with her Betazoid empathic abilities.

Capt Marino: Counselor Elbrun, can you detect any life signs on board?

The CO brought up the manifest on the arm of his chair to see who might be on board this vessel. That way if either LtCmdr Boffi or the Counselor detected anyone, Lou might have an idea who it was that was over there.

Since they just came to a full stop, their course to the SS Mariquita wasn't altered so there was no need to lay a course for the abandoned vessel again. Dylan just engaged the Impulse power at full and they swiftly approached the Mariquita and within 20 km, he brought Sutherland to a stop again.

Lt. Thomas: We're here, Captain!

The Lieutenant waited to hear what both LtCmdr Boffi and Counselor Elbrun had to say about the results of their scans. Since the Life Support System was still functioning on Mariquita, there was a good chance they would find a survivor aboard. If there was someone there, they would most likely be hiding and an Away Team may be necessary to recover them.
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Lieutenant Dylan S. Thomas
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Whitestar

Since they were much closer to the SS Mariquita, Michaelangelo ran an invasive scan for life signs of the abandoned vessel and was able to locate one! According to his sensors, the person was the only one aboard and in the Engineering section of the ship.

Lt. Commander Boffi: I found one, Captain! They're in the Engineering section of the ship. There doesn't appear to be anyone else aboard the Mariquita.

As the Lieutenant Commander waited to hear what Kestra had to say, Michaelangelo wondered if her insight would be able to tell more about the person he detected using Sutherland's sensor array directly on the abandoned vessel.
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Lt. Commander Michaelangelo A. Boffi
Chief Operations Officer, USS Oriskany

The Counselor closed her eyes and concentrated on the ship in the distance in front of them and could sense the fear and loathing of the person in Engineering. Kestra couldn't sense anyone else aboard the ship, and wondered if it would be easier to just beam the person aboard instead of sending an Away Team over there just to beam back with the survivor.

Lt. Commander Elbrun: I can sense the survivor in Engineering, it's another young female. She's scared and very angry at what happened aboard her vessel. We can probably just beam her directly to Sickbay like we did with Tootie and not bother sending an Away Team over there just to bring her back here.

Kestra smiled at Capt Marino and hoped he would consider her suggestion about sending an Away Team over to the Mariquita to bring over the only survivor. The girl would be able to inform them if anyone had robbed the abandoned vessel of any of it's cargo. So the Counselor felt sending the Away Team was unnecessary and thought her suggestion was sound.
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Lt. Commander Kestra Elbrun
Counselor, USS Infiniti

The Captain did NOT like the Counselor's suggestion and thought she was just being too lazy not wanting to go over to the SS Mariquita. If this is how the Away Team felt, then perhaps he would go over to the abandoned vessel to retrieve the scared little girl on his own.

Capt Marino: Well if you just don't want to go there to rescue the poor little girl, I'll do it myself! Commander Kee, you have the Bridge!

Lou got up from the center chair on the Bridge and walked to the starboard Turbolift and took it to Transporter Room 1 on Deck 6. He entered and demanded a weapon and was handed a Modified Phaser Assault Rifle before standing on the Transporter Pad.

Capt Marino: Get the coordinates from Mr. Boffi and beam me directly into the Engine Room of the Mariquita. Energize!

As the Captain dematerialized from the Transporter Room on Sutherland, he rematerialized in the Engine Room exactly where he anticipated. Once the Transportation Cycle was complete, he called out to the youngster.

Capt Marino: I am Captain Louis Marino of the Starship Sutherland, I'm here to rescue you!

Lou heard some shuffling from behind stack of food crates and out came a pleasantly plump girl around 12 years of age. She took one look at him and immediately got agitated.

Alana Thompson: Where the hell have you been all this time? I've been out here starving to death with nothing to do for weeks! I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten anything in over an hour so I want some food right now! I don't want to hear anything about me being overweight, you're not my Dad! By the look of you, I'm sure you've eaten your share of delicious foods too! Let's beam back to your ship and get something to eat, like I said, I'm starving...so feed me!

The CO thought she was so charming and adorable that he immediately tapped his Combadge and called for Sutherland to beam them back to the safety of the Starship.

Capt Marino: Marino to Sutherland, two to beam back directly to Sickbay!

Lou looked over at the child with loving eyes, she reminded him so much of his daughter Lulu. Many called her a tyrannical brat, but he loved her with all his heart no matter how badly she spoke to him. As they dematerialized from the Mariquita and reappeared in Sickbay aboard Sutherland, the Captain immediately got the attention of Dr. Jovic.

Capt Marino: Dr. Jovic, I brought you another survivor to check over for malnutrition and possible exhaustion. See to her immediately! She's been through a lot and could use something to eat.

As the Captain waited on Dr. Jovic to do her duty and cater to the new arrival's medical needs, he remained in Sickbay to look after her himself. Lou figured they could get something to eat after the Doctor cleared her after a full medical exam. He wasn't really needed on the Bridge right now so Cmdr Kee could handle whatever came up.