Border No More

Posted on Thu Oct 22nd, 2026 @ 5:19pm by Captain Bayre Lockwood & Commander Kelaris Seldon

1,260 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Silence of Archanis
Location: Commodore Haldane's Office | Starbase 12
Timeline: 1/21/2267- 1400

"From what I hear they're still trying to sort out our Chief Engineer," Bayre said to his First Officer as he neatly sidestepped a harried crewman who wasn't at all looking where they were going. He wondered why starbase personnel tended to be just that much more frantic than his own crew. The crewman scurried along his path, completely unaware, as Bayre shook his head lightly. "Ever notice how much faster everyone moves on a starbase," he asked. He gestured toward the commodore's office at one end of the Command Center and her diminutive gatekeeper, Chief Petty Officer Lark Denali, who was watching them approach. "I think we're on time. There's no smoke bellowing out of Denali's ears."

Kelaris walked with Captain Lockwood and listened. "Ideally we will get that positioned filled before departure, but we may have to be prepared to fill it in the interim with someone within the department that has the aptitude for leadership" stated the First Officer. "I believe things move at a faster pace on a starbase because of the pressure cooker environment. Starships are... I dare not say relaxing."

"Dare not," Bayre said, grinning at his First Officer. "That's tempting fate. One of my instructors at the Academy said that life on a starship was long bouts of boredom punctuated by moments of mind-numbing terror." He leaned closer in a conspiratorial manner. "He was trying to frighten us but I took it more as a challenge."

The First Officer nodded. "From a science viewpoint, your instructor was not wrong. There is a lot out here that we just cannot be prepared for. Space is an endless frontier filled with strange new worlds and perplexing phenomena," stated Kelaris. "Some rocks are simply that, rocks. Others? A rock could be a sentient and misunderstood life form. It is a gamble. Always."

"And that's the fun of it," Bayre said, "though you do sound a bit like a recruitment poster. You ever thought of creating one? You'd be a natural."

Kelaris shook his head. The idea was unappealing. "I have what most Humans would say are unattractive features. I have had more than five experiences where humans have looked at me as if to say 'what are you' and that does not make for good recruitment posters."

"I didn't say 'star' in one, Commander," Bayre said with a chuckle. "I was talking about writing for one."

Denali nodded to them both as they approached. "Captain, Commander. You can go right in. The Commodore is waiting for you."

"Now, Chief," Bayre said, pulling a small, highly polished stone from his pocket, "you know we're not late. For your collection."

Denali, who was trying her best to look as stern as the situation warranted, smiled nevertheless. "Is that ..."

"Alpha Centauri as promised," Bayre said with a conspiratorial grin. "Told you I knew a guy."

"Thank you, Captain," Denali answered. "My nephew is going to be over the moon about this."

"My pleasure," Bayre answered as he turned toward his First Officer with a decided twinkle in his storm gray eyes, he added, "Well, what are you waiting for ... let's not keep the Commodore waiting, shall we?"

"You," Kelaris said simply. "I am waiting for you to enter first. You have a more receptive face" teased Commander Seldon. "My ugly mug may need something for an opening act. I'll follow your lead."

"Okay," Bayre said. "Let's do this then." With a slight bow to Chief Petty Officer Lark Denali, he headed into the Commodore's office where he found Margaret Haldane seated at her desk. Her time in command of Starbase 12 had not softened her, that much was evident at once. A front-line officer, once in command of the USS Endeavour, for close to twenty years, she had retained the unflappable calm that was present in just about everyone who had held the center chair.

Commodore Haldane gestured for them to have a seat and wasted no time getting down to business. "Your time on border patrol is over," she said. "You've done a good job, more than good, which is why you'll be joining Enterprise and a few other ships on a long-term assignment. To prepare Veritas for this assignment, you'll be receiving supplies over the next twenty-four hours to allow Veritas to remain an extended time away from home. Your first job is to look into matter for me on Archanis IV."

Commander Kelaris Seldon was intrigued. His facial expression undoubtedly showed that the very moment that Archanis IV was mentioned. He looked at Bayre and then back at the Commodore.

"Six months ago, a science survey team located significant ruins on the northern continent. Their findings indicated that the planet had not been inhabited for something like 40,000 years. So, we sent a team to investigate. At first, they reported regularly. Said that there was evidence of an advanced civilization and they were going to investigate. This was their last message." She keyed up a recording and a male voice, hard to hear over the interference, said:

"The city isn't abandoned. It's waiting."

"That was the last we've heard from them and now, they're overdue. So, I'm sending Veritas out to investigate. Find out what's happening. Make sure they're okay."

The Chief Science Officer received the information and made an non-verbal response. It was a noise that gave away his intrigue, and a bit of pleasure not to be pirate hunting. "I recall reading some of the initial reports from the survey team. I was waiting to see what they would uncover over the next few months. I suppose I now know why there haven't been any recent reports."

Getting off border patrol was a reprieve though Lockwood had a well-practiced neutral expression that he employed now; he figured he'd save the fist pumps and cheering for later. "Odd for a last message," he said. "I'm assuming the interference is a factor in that?"

"Yes," Haldane answered with a slight nod. "This was the only bit that came through and nothing since. I'll give you forty-eight hours to finish personnel transfers and loading supplies but after that, I want you underway for Archanis. Any questions?"

"No, Ma'am," Lockwood said. "Well, one. I'm assuming you're going to send all the relevant data to the ship?"

"Already on its way," Haldane said. "Study the data, find our people ... and keep me informed. Dismissed."

"Ma'am." Lockwood rose smoothly to his feet and headed toward the door; one thing he'd always appreciated about Commodore Haldane was the brevity of meetings with her. Get in. Get out. Loved that about her. Once outside, he turned toward his First Officer. "Looks like border patrol's a thing of the past, eh?"

"For now," replied Kelaris. "It sounds like we've earned ourselves a mystery to solve. Where are the scientists and why haven't we heard from them. Speaking as a science officer, that is never good, Bayre. We don't go silent for no reason."

"Course," Bayre countered as they walked out of the Command Center, "the reasons for going silent are sometimes only understood by other scientists. Like the time security went running down to the lab to make sure everyone was alright and it turned out they were deep into an experiment. Still, you have a point. It's worrisome that they aren't checking in and definitely worth a look. We need to expedite the on-boarding of crew members and supplies."

---

Captain Bayre Lockwood
Commanding Officer
USS Veritas

and

Commander Kelaris Seldon
First Officer/Chief Science Officer
USS Veritas

 

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