<Lt. Cmdr. Max Mortimer, Briefing Room>

As everybody dashes off to their respective areas, Mortimer holds his swimming head in his hands. 

What was that I said in to the new crew about Off-duty starfleet officers still being starfleet officers. Time I started listening to myself. How can I work like this.....

"Computer. Locate Jack Rhine."

"Petty Officer Rhine is in the Starbase 336 Lounge"

Never around when you need him. Oh well, everybody knows what to do - looks like I can take a few minutes to get myself together.

"First Officer's Log. Stardate 48968.5"
[O.O.C. - I know this isn't an 'up to date' stardate, but it's a short time after the date our new crew members came aboard. we can always 'catch up' after the mission]
"Starbase 336 has just been informed that an antimatter bomb has been planted somewhere, and will be detonated if any of the ships here leave or try to transfer crew to the base.
The Starbase commander has requested our help in finding the bomb. Lt. Cmdr. Kindle is working on a way to get some personnel across. Captain Storm is already on the base along with some crew who were on shore leave at the time."

"First Officer's Personal Log. Stardate 48968.5
(sigh) I'm convinced that we have to get over to the Starbase. Starbase security are usually just a bunch of trained gorillas, rejected for starship duty, not cut out for handling delicate situations like this. Our crew are picked from the best the academy has to offer, and should be able to deal with this bomb threat easily. Luckily the captain is already over there with some of the crew, but unfortunately our Security and Engineering chiefs, the two people trained to deal with this sort of thing, are stuck here. 
Luckily, the bomb is little more than a nuisance at the moment. As long as nobody does anything, we're safe. I just hope that everything stays calm long enough for us to find and defuse the bomb."

"Mortimer, this is the bridge. We just received a Priority One Communication from Captain Decker, of the USS Tintagel. Transmitting message to your present location. We are awaiting further instructions. Beata out."

What now?

The desktop viewer on the table in the briefing room displays a blurry image. Mortimer rubs his eyes, thinking that it is the effect of his drinking, but the message still looks like a jumble of random characters. A few moments later, he notices that the message is actually incomplete.

To all Fed§%$& craft

This is Cap%&$/ Decker of the $%&&%. T&%tagel. We have enc$%§&$red an uidenti$%$d vessel of unknown ori%&$ near the Kling%& border. The alien $§/& has severly dam%&$d the Repulse, which &% were about to reli$%. Only few surv&%ors. The%& whole command %$§& is de$%. The alien $%&p has open%& fi$% on the Tinta&§$. We had to leave some of %&$ cre$ behind on %&$ Re&%l$%. Ou& wa%&-driv% fail&% in fli&%t. Mass&%e deceler&tion-trauma occur%&. Our bri&%$ is des&%&%ed, many de%& and w&%&ded.
If you sh&%$ encoun%$% a black vess%&, 2065m in s/&%, try to esc%&e.

Deck&%, Jon&%&%$ D.
Captain, U%$&% Tintag$l"

I'm supposed to be able to read this?

"Computer. Enhance message"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message enhanced. Error probability is 5%.

To all Federation craft

This is Captain Decker of the USS Tintagel We have encountered an unidentified vessel of unknown origin near the Klingon border. The alien ship has severly damaged the Repulse, which we were about to relieve. Only few survivors. Their whole command crew is dead. The alien ship has opened fire on the Tintagel. We had to leave some of ??? [POSSIBLE: the, our] crew behind on the Repulse. Our warp-drive failed in flight. Massive deceleration-trauma occured. Our bridge is de?????ed [POSSIBLE: devistated, deserted, destroyed], many dead and wounded.
If you ship encounters a black vessel, 2065m in size, try to escape.

Decker, Jonathan D.
Captain, USS Tintagel"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mortimer reads through the message.

Jonathan's in trouble.

"Mortimer to Captain Storm. We've just received a distress call from the Tintagel - they're in trouble at the Klingon Border. This is the nearest base, but there's no way any ships can leave to assist them. A stealth shuttle may be able to get away without being noticed, but it wouldn't be fast enough to get there in time, or powerful enough to help once it did."

So this is how we get paid back for taking a couple of weeks shore leave - everything goes wrong at once.

"Mortimer to Beata. This is the nearest base to the Klingon border, and the Tintagel will be expecting assistance from here soon. You'd better inform them of the situation here. Plot an intercept course for their current position, so we're ready to help."

"First Officer's Log. Stardate 48968.6
The situation just got worse. The USS Tintagel is in trouble near the Klingon border, and we're stuck here. As this is the nearest starbase, anybody else availiable to help them is stuck here as well. I just hope that another vessel is patrolling the area and can go to their assistance."

"Mortimer, this is Kindle. I think I know of a way to get a small team off the Lafayette...." 

Maybe things are starting to get better.

"Mortimer here. Talk to me"

==============================================================================

[O.O.C.]
Yes, that message really was from the Tintagel. Pity we couldn't respond, it would have made an interesting cross-ship scenario.