[Captain's Log] And so it begins...

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Captain's Log, Stardate 43289.1: While en route to a Federation planet half a lightyear from the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise has agreed to bring a relief crew and needed supplies to the scientific outpost on Alemar III, where scientists have been readying geothermal fields for drilling. If successful, they could potentially deliver enough clean energy to power the entire planet...

Captain Picard takes his seat on the bridge, while the rest of the crew see to their stations.


[ooc: This isn't an arrivals log, so no tags please. For authorized Enterprise crew only, thanks. :)]

Comments

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"No, Number One," Picard says, holding out his hand. He's even smiling as he says it. Ah, yes, that is very much like Q, to turn the argument around on them. Call Starfleet the villains, so that he may impress them with his elaborate plans. "As a matter of fact, we are on an important mission delivering supplies and relief crew to a planet in sore need of them."

It is, perhaps, an overstatement.

[trial_never_ends]

How… dull.

Disappointingly so, even if it’s not that surprising. They spend a lot of time shuffling things from one place to another.

“I’m sure they’ll be most grateful for your arrival,” he says. “Just as I’m sure you’ll be grateful when you get there, won’t you? Appointments to keep, maybe tea with other insignificant lifeforms.”

He says it with some affection, of course.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"I'll be grateful when this is over, yes, quite so," he says, ignoring the barbs for the time being. His interest is in Q's reactions. "What's the matter, Q? Have you decided you no longer wish to be one of the crew?"

The bridge crew exchange glances as Picard continues. "Oh, yes. The last time we saw you, you were rather insistent. But no longer, perhaps, now that you see how dull our missions can be for someone like you. Is that what this is about?"

[trial_never_ends]

“You’re missing the point, Captain.”

He smiles, maybe a little irritatingly. It’s a gift he has.

“You don’t get the destination without the journey--and with this dullness, maybe you lose sight of that. Spend your time thinking about this planet, this mission, this… intergalactic Pony Express. You need to enjoy the moment. In fact… I know exactly what you need.”

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Worf turns to the officer beside him, voice pitched low.

"What is a Pony Express?"

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Worf does not get his answer.

"I highly doubt that," Picard says immediately.

It's starting to grate on him that Q is still in his chair. All this talk of enjoying the journey misses its mark; as far as Picard is concerned, they are merely squandering precious time. The only reason he hasn't yet tried to eject Q from his ship is because no lives are currently at stake.

[trial_never_ends]

“You underestimate me,” he says. “But you’ll see I’m right. I generally am.”

Fine, he can have his chair back; he’s leaving anyway. He stands, stretching lazily.

“Best put some tea on, Captain. If you won’t drink it with me, maybe someone else is more to your liking.”

And with that, he is gone.

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Q leaves the crew puzzled and silenced, glancing about warily.

"What was that all about?"

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard purses his lips, deep in thought. It seems clear to him that Q has invited them into yet another one of his maddening schemes. It is only a matter of time before circumstance reveals what it is.

"I don't know, Number One," he says after some time. "But I have a feeling we're about to—"

The insistent beep of comms opening cuts him off. Guinan's voice can be heard throughout the room.

"Captain? I think you might want to come see this."

Picard taps the comm badge on his lapel. "What is it, Guinan?"

But there is no answer.

[ten_fwd_npcs]

Commander Riker stands at the ready.

"Should I go see what's happening?"

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"No, Number One," he sighs. "Take the bridge. Computer, locate Guinan."

The computer chirps, and a feminine—but clearly computerized—voice cuts through the room. "Guinan is located on Deck Ten, Section One."

Ten Forward. Very well, Picard thinks. "Lieutenant Worf, you and your people follow me. You have the bridge, Number One."

[ten_fwd_npcs]

"Captain," Data interjects, before he can leave. "There seems to be another problem. While the force field the Q employ has been lifted, the ship is not responding to commands."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"What the devil are you talking about?"

He is quickly losing patience.

[mr_laforge]

Another beep. This time, it's Engineering hailing the bridge.

"Captain, something is wrong with the warp core," comes Geordi's voice. "Everything is off-line. Nothing I've tried so far has gotten the engines back on-line."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard does what any captain would do in his position.

He facepalms.

[ten_fwd_npcs]

"Go," Riker says, not without some amusement. "See what's going on in Ten Forward. I'll handle this new problem."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"Thank you, Number One," he sighs, entering the turbolift.

As the doors close, shepherding both he and the security detail to Ten Forward, Picard is overcome with a feeling of dread. Clearly whatever is going on is only just beginning.