The Brief

[Angel Ryder]

Romulan Refugee Colonies
(2 Days Before Synth Uprising on Mars)

Standing in a temporary command center, Captain Angelica Ryder stands before a group of COs and their crews in the middle of the clearing, shuttles and temporary housing containers were being dropped off around them.

"I won't sugar coat this people, when the Hobus star exploded, we've got an entire star empire that's in need of immediate refugee support. Many of the core worlds near Romulus and Remus are quickly becoming uninhabitable due to radiation and ecological collapse. We won't have much time and I'm pretty sure not all of us are going to be gathered like this again." She ran a hand through her long brown hair and sighed heavily. "We're all Starfleet can send for this and I know it's not enough, but... we're Starfleet. We eat bad odds for breakfast and overwhelming odds for lunch. I know this is going to be an upward battle, but this is what we've all trained for. And why you were chosen... all your ships are multivector. Each of your ships are at least 2 or three. I know the rumors that Starfleet is backing away from MVA ships are pretty solid but let's prove to them that MVA ships are the backbone of this fleet. I'll be on the Kitea coordinating, but I am also sure we're going to need to defend each other and the Romulan fleet remnant, scavengers are chomping at the bit to take what they can of the once mighty Romulan Star Empire. Let's at least let our old enemies have their dignity."

She turned to an elderly Romulan officer who walked with a limp and a mechanical leg. "Thank you Captain. I may not have the... influence I once had, but Starfleet can count the Romulans as friends from this point forward. Federation as a whole... " he smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Remain to be seen but I show loyalty and friendship to those who are actually working to help."

"Each of you will get your orders, which areas to support and your missions, by hand from me. You do not share the full details of your orders with any other ships, just your crew verbally. There are bad actors trying to take advantage of this crisis so be careful." Captain Ryder said and saluted those gathered. "Let's get this done. We'll reconvene over subspace in three days."

Among the crew of the USS Cerebus, the newly minted Captain and his crew looked at each other. "I'm not losing any of you on my first mission." he straightened his uniform and saluted his XO. "Number One, let's get our orders and get back onboard."

"Aye aye Captain Stone."

Approaching the tall, dark haired CO, Captain Ryder whispered. "Good looking crew Rick. So 'Stone' now huh?"

"Easier for the fresh start." he said simply and saluted her. "Captain. I'd have thought you'd be a Commodore by now."

"I was, took a temp demotion so I could help with this, they didn't want anyone close to a flag out here. We may have to bust some heads." Ryder said and handed him a padd. "Your orders. Be careful Rick. I'm not going to be able to pull your fat out of the fire again."

"I was taking care of myself long before I met you." Captain Stone said with a smile. "We get through this you're helping me with my... other mission."

"Let's get through this one first but... I did promise you support." Angel said and shook his hand. "Good to see you again." she nodded and headed off to the other ships' crews.

"Old girlfriend?" the tactical officer said with a smirk.

"Classmate." He replied. "Her brother helped me pass my physics exam. Let's get this ball rolling." tapping his comm badge he looked up. "Cerebus, beam us up."

[Rick Stone]

Captain Stone sighed as he looked at the conference room and shook his head. "Not quite my ready room."

"You did tell me you wanted the senior staff that wasn't on the surface with you assembled." T'Var said in his usual cool Vulcan calm.

"Right right... but I... nevermind." Stone shook his head. "Alright people, this isn't going to be a cake walk, our orders are to proceed to a Romulan starbase that is barely hanging on near the edge of their space, the radiation levels are dangerously high on board due to their power core failing and there is a lot of background radiation from the Hobus star, so we're on a time crunch. Everyone will need to be innoculated for radiation poisoning and monitored by sickbay. Think something akin to Cherynobl but in space. We also have to worry about Orion raiders and Naussicans. So everyone is to be armed. We go in, save as many as we can save and offload to the Cerebus and get the hell out. We'll get our rally and refugee landing point once we're done. This is a clusterfuck but let's try not to screw it up. I'm not losing any of you in this, we're Starfleet this is what we do. We save lives. Dismissed."

Once the senior staff filed out, he saw his Chief Science officer and oldest friend hanging back.

"Long way from Mars and yet here we are still dealing with radiation based problems." Commander Don Denny said with a smirk. "I still say you should have hooked up with that Admiral's daughter while you could still have kids."

"You know there's always only been on girl for me... besides, she's had more husbands than I've got guitars." Stone chuckled. "So you think we can beef up the anti radiation shielding so we don't sterilize the whole crew?"

"Already working on it, the Dots and the Bips are handling it as we speak. God I love those things." He held up a padd. "So first real mission on this bird... and we're on a time crunch, can't even savor the mission."

"I'm sure we'll have plenty of them Don." He patted his shoulder. "Now get your blue ass back to science."

"Yes sir Cap'n sir!" he said with a smirk and a salute.

"Wiseass."