Against All Regulation
Posted on Fri May 15th, 2026 @ 5:15am by Captain Violet Bluegarden & Commander Eila Juutilainen 'Illu'
879 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Preparations
Location: USS Ermiana and USS Little Rock
Timeline: After the meeting
Now that the Ermiana was underway towards the Argus Array, Eila had turned over control of the bridge to junior officers and returned to her office to cross-reference the sensor readings from the morning, in case there was something Misaka might have missed. However, as she studied the data, a nagging feeling kept creeping into Eila's thoughts. Why was Starfleet so insistent on the Ermiana handling everything alone? They may both start with an E, but the Ermiana was not the Enterprise.
Eila set down the PADD she had spent the last several minutes studying and let out a long sigh. She knew she would more than likely be facing a court martial for this, but all other channels she had tried were blocked. So, it was time for her to break ranks to help recover the weapons:
"Computer, secure office." Eila ordered.
Beeping in acknowledgement, the doors to the office clicked shut, and the view of the stars zooming past was replaced by an opaque black panel.
"Open a secure communications line to Captain Violet Bluegarden of the USS Little Rock." Eila ordered once the office was secured.
The viewscreen rose from Eila's desk, displaying the Federation symbol as Eila waited for the answer on the other end. There was no turning back now. After waiting for what felt like a small eternity, the Federation symbol was replaced by a view into the Little Rock's ready room, facing Captain Violet Bluegarden.
"Commander Juutilainen." Bluegarden greeted. "This is... Unexpected. Is everything alright?"
"I'm afraid not, Captain." Eila interlocked her fingers. "We have ourselves a, uh... spoonhead situation. One that both my Captain and Starfleet vehemently insist that we handle alone. I think you and I both know that it's better to have a friend by your side when Cardassians are nearby."
"With all due respect, Commander; we'd only get in the way." Violet explained. "Your Galaxy class' sensors are far more powerful than anything the Little Rock has. Plus, you seem to know as well as I that disobeying direct orders is the fast track to a court martial."
"I know, it's just..." Eila sighed, attempting to find the term to describe it.
"It feels wrong." Violet put the words in Eila's mouth. "You'll learn that what feels wrong in the moment will turn out to be the right call in hindsight."
"Maybe so, but if there's a way to make the right call even better...." Eila argued. "And when was it ever in character for The Big Bruise to decline a fight with the Cardassians?"
"It's not that I don't want to fight," Violet replied. "It's about choosing when to fight, and..."
Violet abruptly trailed off, suddenly contemplating what Eila was insinuating. Without Eila directly describing the Ermiana's situation, she had gotten the gears turning in Violet's head on what was likely coming.
"Something wrong, Captain?" Eila asked, maintaining her calm demeanor.
"Just Commander Redcorn, dear." Violet lied. Eila didn't hear anybody else during the period of silence. "Now, where was I?"
"Choosing when to fight?" Eila gave a reminder.
"Ah, that!" Violet said. "Where do you need the Little Rock?"
Eila had done it. She'd convinced Violet to see reason in her logic.
"Rendezvous with us at the Argus Array, Captain." Eila instructed. "Deep shadow conditions. Understood?"
There was a pause.
"We can be there in four hours." Violet stated.
"You have three." Eila said. "Juutilainen out."
[USS Little Rock]
When the connection was severed, and Eila was replaced by the Federation symbol once again, Violet leaned back in her chair and sighed. Like Eila, Violet knew that diverting the Little Rock's course would lead to her being placed under investigation as well, not to mention the obvious upset to the fragile peace with the Cardassians. Peace she had spent the last decade fighting to secure.
But at the same time, what other option was on the table? True, they could have very easily continued on with their mission to Bajor, and when asked about the Ermiana, say they heard nothing, but those questions could also very easily be about the Ermiana being missing. Both ships had left Starbase 375 at around the same time. If the Little Rock completed it's mission while the Ermiana was missing, there would no doubt be scrutiny into why this was the case.
If a battle was indeed coming, like Commander Juutilainen was suggesting, the Cardassians had absolutely no qualms about not fighting on the Federation's terms. A New Orleans class starship on hand would give the Federation a much-needed leg up, given the class' service record during the border war.
Peeling back her right glove slightly to allow the lights of the ready room to gleam off her metallic wrist for a moment, Violet quickly shoved the glove back into place before rising from her desk and returning to the bridge.
"Helm, divert our course to the Argus Array." Violet ordered as she stepped out onto the bridge and over to the command pit.
"Is everything alright, Captain?" Commander Redcorn asked.
"We're about to find out..." Violet remarked as she assumed her seat.
A Mission post by
Commander Eila Juutilainen
Executive Officer
USS Ermiana
Captain Violet Bluegarden
Commanding Officer
USS Little Rock
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