To Salvage A Starship (Part 2)

Posted on Fri Jan 16th, 2026 @ 3:36am by Captain Patricia Cooke & Lieutenant Charlotte E. "Charlie" Yeager & Commander Katrina Chance & Lieutenant Commander Andrew Star & Lieutenant Commander Lahki Bakshi Dr & Lieutenant Akira Kogami & Lieutenant Alice Penrose
Edited on on Fri Jan 16th, 2026 @ 3:36am

1,320 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Ghost Starship
Location: Briefing Room - Deck 1
Timeline: After 'To Salvage A Starship (Part 1)

Previously, on Star Trek: Missouri:

"Right, Jones..." Patricia said. "Anyhow, Mister Jones here is an independent scientist not affiliated with any scientific institution. He was out here in the Mutara sector studying celestial phenomena in the region when he came across this:"

Lahki raised an eyebrow, but didn't speak yet. Civilian scientists usually went one of two ways-either they came in, tried to take over and thought they knew everything, OR they were helpful but mostly kept to themselves. Lahki had worked alongside a few different civilians, but she knew that prudence and keeping an open mind was the best course of action. Until they made a fool of themselves, and then-that's what airlocks are for-she hid a small smile of glee. She would NEVER but the thought was funny anyway.

And now, the continuation:

Patricia pressed a button on the table, and up on the viewscreen displayed Dave's original photograph: It was a grainy image, but the outline of the floating object that was the subject of the image was unmistakable to anyone who knew anything about Starships as a Galaxy class starship.

The Chief Engineer was gawking at the grimy still image. A Galaxy Class! He was well versed in the starship, the dreams of a modern-day Constitution Class... It really did live up to that. The majority of the ships were lost in space, fresh off the production line, like many of the Constitution Classes. The reason why the Sovereign class was rushed into service during the Dominion Cold War, the Galaxy class was powerful but badly designed. Now? They're all in scrapyards. "Do we know anything else about it?" Andrew asked, knowing it wasn't crunch time yet.

Late, he was late to the meeting and breathed through the anxiety trying to take hold of him. When the doors swooshed open, Mezan sought out the Captain's eyes. "My apologies, Sir. I was in surgery where a minor complication turned into a two hour ordeal. In the future I will make sure to do better."

He gave her a slight head nod in deference to her position and then found an empty chair and sat down. This was his first opportunity to see the command crew all together and representing their departments.

Seeing the counselor, Mezan gave her a half smile before his eyes found the officer he was curious about. LtCmdr Andrew Star. He looked like a boy! How was he running the engineering department and how were his officers treating him?

"Glad you could make it, Doctor." Patricia responded flatly before proceeding to answer Andrew's question: "What Mister Jones here has told me is that the ship appears to be a derelict. It had no lights and failed to respond to hails. Most unusual for any kind of Starfleet ship, let alone a Galaxy class. Right now, we're cross-referencing Starfleet's records of Galaxy class starships that might be missing or abandoned."

Andrew wasn't aware of the change of Chief Doctor; he probably missed the announcement when he was busying himself reforming the engineering department, but he gave a boyish smile to the Doctor. 'It had no lights' sparked his curiosity. "No lights? What prospecter would steal lights? Oh!" He said as if he solved global world hunger. "Gold Tooth!" Realizing he spoke out loud, he elaborated on what he meant. "He's known for taking common things like lights and chairs off of derelict ships and making a fortune! Apparently, he bought himself a golden smile." He smiled, but the smile quickly disappeared, for the Curse of the Onlie reared its ugly head. Andrew couldn't remember anything else: who told him about Golden Tooth, or if he had met Golden Tooth.

Alice's green eyes narrowed slightly as she took in what little detail could be deciphered from the picture. She wondered briefly why it was such bad quality, but it seemed rather beside the point. She also didn't ask if any shuttles or escape pods had been located in the vicinity, because if there had, they'd have an idea which ship they were looking at. "And...we are to be the rescue party?" she asked instead.

"Until we get a better idea of what's happening on that ship, we are to assume this is a rescue mission." Patricia explained. "If the ship really is a derelict with no one on board, then our mission shifts to one of salvage."

Lahki sighed, but nodded. "I'll send a probe over, make sure it's safe to board if that proves necessary," she said, making a note. "Is there any other debris noted that I could bring aboard and investigate?"

Stepping closer to the Captain's side, Katrina took in the image of the derelict. The Galaxy class had been a true workhorse for Starfleet for many years. It was rare that a starship such as that was abandoned, and she wasn't sure what was more surprising. The fact that this one seemed to be unoccupied, or the fact that it had been found in the middle of nowhere. She listened to the officers around her, mulling over the various permutations of this potential mission. Hope for the best, expect the worst. It was logic that hadn't failed her, and it was the worst she had trained for. Though she had many questions, thoughts, and suggestions, Katrina would at least allow the man to share his findings before she started probing.

"There is also a ticking clock here:" Patricia added, the view changing to a simulated graphic. "At the current estimated rate of drift, it's estimated that the ship might soon become a navigational hazard to vessels passing through the area. As such, Starfleet has given us forty eight hours to get the ship taken under tow. If we cannot get it under tow by then, our orders are to scuttle the vessel to prevent it becoming a navigational hazard. Due to the time-sensitive nature of this assignment, I want all departments to be ready to fly within the next three hours."

Lahki nodded. "No debris field?" She asked. That would've been helpful. Even just to probe.

Katrina listened attentively and nodded, signaling her comprehension of the unfortunately ticking clock in this case. Forty-eight hours to get a starship that was decades old under impulse power, without having been aboard or even having had time to assess its condition, was an immense ask. But she was Starfleet, and if there was one thing Starfleet somehow excelled in, it was pulling off things that the universe itself says should be impossible. She began to turn over the mission profile in her head, mentally outlining who might be the best fit to assist in an operation like this. Kat wanted to do her very best to prepare, and a key part of that was knowing about timelines. So she finally asked, "What is our eta to the provided coordinates?"

"The coordinates Mister Jones has supplied have been handed off to I-402, who is currently calculating possible actual coordinates based on the observed rate of drift." Patricia explained. "She expects to have her calculations complete before we're ready to fly. Any other questions?"

Lhaki shook her head in the 'no' motion. "Nothing from Science," she said.

Alice shook head head also, her features as calm as ever as she sat back with measured movements. "I shall prepare for treatment, in hopes of good news," she assured.

"Then you all have your orders." Patricia declared. "Three hours to be ship shape and ready for launch. Dismissed."

A mission post by

Captain Patricia Cooke
Commanding Officer
USS Missouri

Commander Katrina Chance
Executive Officer
USS Missouri

Lieutenant Akira Kogami
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Missouri

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Star
Chief Engineer
USS Missouri

Lieutenant Commander Lahki Bakshi
Chief Science Officer
USS Missouri

Lieutenant Alice Penrose
Chief Counselor
USS Missouri

Lieutenant Mezan Boone
Chief Medical Officer
USS Missouri

Captain Jacob Rye
Marine Commander
USS Missouri

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