EXT. USS FORGER. DEEP SPACE. WARP.
CASTILLO (V.O.)
Navigation log, stardate 53033.6. Forger broke standard orbit around the Foggy Peak colony at 10:35 ship time. Cruising at warp 6, all systems normal.
INT. USS FORGER. BRIEFING ROOM.
Redress of the ready room set with seats arranged on bleachers. CASTILLO is at the front of the room. All the seats are empty except for CASEY and MURR. The display behind CASTILLO reads “INCIDENT 53033/2” showing a straight-in dotted line shuttle flight path in from the right of the screen to an off-kilter Forger.
CASTILLO (V.O.)
It’s a long cruise to our rendezvous with the supply ship SS Provider. Escort duty in peacetime? I guess Admiral Park wants us to keep our wartime skills sharp. Smart man. I’ve scheduled shuttle scramble drills for the cruise. Otherwise, everything is perfectly routine.
CASTILLO
This was supposed to be perfectly routine. It was a straight-in approach, but Forger turned at the last moment.
MURR
The automated collision avoidance—
CASTILLO (interrupting)
—Should have been disabled when you heard the shuttle call five thousand meters and confirmed again at two thousand. So the ship reacted to protect us. Thankfully the shuttle pilot knew not to chase the deck.
Close up on display screen; the Forger moves forward at its strange angle toward the top of the screen, the shuttle flightpath peels off in the opposite direction. A second, pale line draws from the shuttle’s position toward the ship, crashing in to the ship’s nacelle. The motion pauses (BEAT) then a text display showing the playback has ended.
CASTILLO
We’ve got a couple of days. (Turns to Casey) Ask Ops if we can have another round of practice. I know the shuttle crews won’t object, they’re starved for flight hours.
CASEY
Combat barrier patrol again?
CASTILLO
We just did that, make this one search & rescue at warp.
(Turns to Murr) Zh’ranni has the helm for Beta shift tomorrow. I want you there, swap the chairs after each wave and check each other’s shoulders. Full checklists every time, INCLUDING full handover briefings on every seat change. For now, go get lunch, then I suggest you spend some time reviewing procedures. Dismissed.
CASEY and MURR stand to leave, the camera follows them.
Off camera, comm badge sound.
CASTILLO
Commander Lahl from Ensign Castillo, I’m ready to make my report, sir.
Briefing room doors close, CASEY and MURR stop in the corridor.
CASEY
You okay?
MURR
Fairr punishment for a kitten’s mistake. I will corrrrect.
CASEY
Hey. You’re not being punished.
MURR grips the wall frame. His claws scratch into the metal.
MURR
(growling) Am I not. It is extrra duty.
CASEY
Murr, if Rick wanted to punish you, he’d keep you OUT of the helm chair.
A pause. MURR relaxes, then nods.
CASEY
Come on. Let’s get that lunch.
CASEY and MURR walk down the corridor away from the camera.