Message in a Bottle "
By: Kelly Forrester, Assistant Chief Operations Officer, [RNPC]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.28 1835

"Captain, I have a message received from the away team on Pacifica, text only: It's composed on a PADD,silently, then burst transmitted as a compressed packet format, encrypted.

INCOMING MESSAGE Priority one point to point Encrypted Alpha-Zeta-Echo

Federation forces: 1 Sovereign Class USS Yamato, Cardassian forces: 8 cloaked Galor Class cruisers

Governor Deleplan and cabinet taken prisoner aboard the USS Yamato Hunter looked at Wright for a reaction, he looked back at Westfall, "are our scanners configured for accurate detection of those cardassians?"

"Affirmative, Sir. Mister Mason's information about their stealth technology was precisely accurate," said replied Westfall.

"Suggestions Number One," asked Hunter as he slouched to arm of the command chair.

Wright looked at Hunter, "First things first. We need to take care of those Cardassian ships. If there is a Sovereign there we will not want them in our way."

"It looks like Mason was on the level," added Hunter as he stared ahead at the view screen rubbing the whisker stubble on his face.

"Indeed it does," said Wright.

"Do we alert the IKS fleet or keep this to ourselves" asked Hunter.

"We should at least tell them what we know, so they know what we are up against," said Wright.

"Yeah," said Hunter turning toward Westfall over his shoulder, he nodded at Westfall, "discretely signal the IKS fleet and pass along our intel."

"Aye Aye Captain, sending to all ships of the Joint Armada." Westfall appropriately encrypted the information and sent it on to the other ships.

"A sovereign class...." muttered Hunter, "I was told we put the Federation back to the stoneages .... as far as building that class goes."

"Apparently they have gotten their act together," said Wright. "Admiral Stone will be excited to hear this news I am sure."

"Oh, yeah," smiled Hunter, "I don't think I'd want to tell him that in person."

"Well, their Sovereign can't be better than the Zion," said Wright with a grin, "Let's go get them."

Hunter settled back into his chair, "Helm, increase speed to warp 7."

"Acknowledged."

"ETA?"

"Just before 0900 Sir," replied the helm.

"Ok, steady as she goes," said Hunter.

For more than an hour Hunter and Wright discussed ideas about the upcoming confrontation.

"Captain, I have a priority one flash message from Pacifica. Packet burst, encrypted with the same signature key as the message about the Federation Fleet Composition. The enclosure is the encoding algorythm to encrypt/decrypt the Federation/Cardassian message traffic. Our own Enigma bomb." Hunter got up and went to Westfall's station, he looked over Westfall's shoulder as he worked on the program. "I've run the decryption algorythm against our intercepts, and they all decode to plain English, I'm sending the decrypts with the time-line to your station now, Sir;" Westfall said, as matter-of-factly as if he were reading the current weather forecast from a holodeck program. "This is a definate advantage," said Hunter as he returned to his seat. He sat down and began reading the messages. "Maxine Tappert was the right person to send on this mission," said Hunter commenting to Wright.

"Indeed," said Wright.

"Westfall, as soon as we are in range, begin monitoring Federation transmissions. Send the data to Jarvis as well. Advise her that if there is anything important to be sure to share it with the IKS tactical coordinator. "Aye-Aye, Sir."

"Ensign Forrester, notify Major Madriani, and Lieutenant Jarvis that there will be a briefing at 20:00 in the observation conference room."

"Aye-aye, Sir," responded