TBD
Posted on Fri Apr 22nd, 2022 @ 2:03pm by Lieutenant Cyrus Halsey & Lieutenant Kaira Chandraskata
Mission: Federation News Network Coverage
The redhead's intense gaze looked into the camera that was pointed at her, no trace of a smile on her face as the producer next to the cameraman listened carefully to the voice in his ear gave him the signal he'd been waiting for. "Ten seconds." He informed the reporter and her guest, "Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four.." He stopped speaking, holding up three fingers, then two, then one and finally pointed at the reporter.
"This is special reporter Raine Dash of the Federation News Network, reporting to you from deep in the heart of Texas. If you haven't heard yet, there was a malfunction with the Graviton Catapult built by Starfleet to explore the Delta Quadrant since the return of USS Voyager seventeen years ago. Unfortunately, this malfunction occurred while a Federation starship, USS Tyche, a Nebula-class starship, was due to transit to the Delta Quadrant. Tyche has been lost and presumed destroyed, which is all we have heard out of Starfleet." She gestured to the older man standing next to her, "I have here with me retired Master Chief Cain Halsey, father of Tyche's Tactical Officer Cyrus Halsey. Master Chief, you have my condolences on the loss of your sun. How do you feel about the response of the Fleet in regards to the loss of USS Tyche?"
The grizzled, retired Master Chief looked at the red head before answering, "How do I feel? I feel numb. My son is missing I don't want to believe he is dead. I don't know the full extent of their response. We were visited by a Counselor and told the news, then we heard the Catapult was shutdown. I think my son is still out there and they're not doing a damn thing to help him get home."
Cain took a deep breath,"I'm sorry ma'am, as our Counselor said, my wife and I are in the early grief stages. I will do my best not to outburst."
“It’s perfectly understandable, sir, this loss is a hard hit for the Federation as a whole, we can only imagine how you and the other families are handling the situation. But you said that the Fleet isn’t doing anything to try to find the ship or if it was destroyed like they’re claiming, the wreckage to at least give you any closure? Nothing at all?”
"You're the reporter, you tell me what they're doing, cuz they're not telling us anyth8ng. This is hurting entire families. My son was about to propose to his Girfriend Emily Mims. She was pregnant and he didn't know yet because she wanted to surprise him. Do you not realize how devastating this is for us?" He choked back tears for a moment before continuing; "I hope against all rationale that they are alive and well, but" Cain paused a moment, "I can't say it out loud." His shoulders lowered in defeat as if the reality was settling in, "If he is gone, I'd like to bury him," he said barely above a whisper.
Raine was nothing if persistent as a reporter, but even she knew when to leave off a line of questioning. "We at FNN are very sorry for your loss and those of the rest of the families of the crew of the Tyche, While as you've pointed out, there does remain a chance for the survival of at least part of the crew, given the uncertainty. If you had to send a message to your son and his crewmates, what would you say?"
"I would tell CJ to remember his mother and I love him so much, and to never forget to make today better than yesterday. We aren't giving up hope that he will return home," Cain said resolutely. "If anyone can survive this he can."
“No doubt, sir.” Raine turned back tot he camera, “You’ve heard it straight from one of the families of the lost ship Tyche. If anyone can survive, it’ll be them. This has been a live report, I’m Raine Dash, Federation News Network.”
Cain hung his head as the interview ended, The emotions crashing in on him, He disconnected the video call and wrapped his arms around his wife as they attempted to comfort and console each other.
#TheEnd
