A Crew Briefing - The Starburst Way
Posted on Mon Nov 24th, 2025 @ 12:32am by Treon Brevor & Rear Admiral Josua Frost
Edited on on Mon Nov 24th, 2025 @ 12:33am
1,109 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Second Light
Location: SS Starburst
=/\= Common Room, SS Starburst =/\=
The Starburst’s common room served as the heart of the ship — its main purpose was the cafeteria. The crew had a routine: lunch and dinner together, no matter the shift rotations. They ate, talked, sometimes argued, but never about anything that really mattered.
The same space doubled as a lounge for those who preferred company over solitude — and once a week, as a makeshift briefing room. That was when they went over ship news (if there was any) and discussed upcoming or ongoing shipping runs. These briefings were usually informal, and this time was no different.
Treon leaned against the edge of the long table, watching as the crew drifted in and settled down — each sitting down in their usual spot.
As much as this was different from a Starfleet briefing — with Jos standing beside her, the room almost felt like the Senior Officers’ meeting room back on the Destiny.
Jos had already met everyone, but Treon made the introductions anyway.
“Jaro Venn, our engineer,”
“Lerik Thavan, our navigator”
“Marken Holt, operations.”
“You’ve already met Josua Frost. He’s an old friend of mine and my former CO on the USS Destiny.”
The reaction was immediate but subtle. Treon saw it in the glances exchanged around the table — a tightening of posture, a quick flick of the eyes. Only Lerik leaned back, arms crossed, wearing the smug expression of someone who had suspected as much all along.
She caught Jos’s eye and gave a small nod — the kind they’d used countless times before.
“Our next mission is going to be different,” she said, voice steady but measured. “Jos will explain.”
And with that, she sat down and turned the meeting over to Jos.
Jos rose slowly, offering the crew a small, appreciative smile before stepping forward. He reached out to each of them in turn — not as a superior officer, not as someone assuming command, but simply as a man joining their table.
He shook Jaro Venn’s hand first. Up close, the Bajoran’s calm intensity was even more apparent — the steady gaze of someone who listened before he spoke. Jos acknowledged him with a respectful nod.
Lerik Thavan was next. Her antennae angled forward — curious, alert — even as her stance remained casual. She accepted his hand with a knowing look, as if she had pieced together far more about him than he’d said aloud.
Marken Holt followed — human, broad-shouldered, practical to the core. His handshake was steady, the kind that belonged to someone who kept ships running in the background while others talked up front.
When he stepped back, he glanced briefly at Treon — a soft flicker of shared history passing between them. Old command decks, old decisions, years of trust.
He turned back to the crew with a small, dry smile.
“Treon and I have known each other for… one or two days.”
Treon’s eyebrow rose by a single millimeter.
On her, that was practically laughter.
Jos let the moment settle before continuing — quieter now, but clear:
“I should explain why I’m here. And why I asked Treon to help.”
He tapped the inactive padd lightly.
“This isn’t an official Starfleet operation. But Starfleet did ask me to look into something — quietly, and without sending a ship or a uniformed team.”
He let his eyes rest on each crew member briefly.
“We’re looking for a former Starfleet officer — John Piper. He disappeared years ago. Recently, evidence surfaced that he’s alive on a pre-warp world.”
His voice softened, but the seriousness never left it.
“His presence there is the real danger. One man — especially one from a technologically advanced culture — can distort beliefs, power structures, even entire traditions without meaning to. We’re here to understand what’s happening before his presence reshapes that society in ways they can’t recover from.”
A slow breath.
“If Starfleet steps in openly, it signals something big is happening — and that alone could destabilize the culture even further. That’s why they asked me to go quietly. To assess. To prevent damage, not cause it.”
He rested his hand on the padd.
“I asked Treon because I trust her more than anyone. And because if this is going to stay discreet… it has to be with people she trusts.”
Once Jos finished his explanation, there was a long silence.
A long, long silence.
The three Starburst crewmembers exchanged looks but did not say a word.
Treon stood up. “So, if everybody’s on board with—”
“Fine,” Holt cut in. “If nobody else will speak, then I’m going to say it. Are you out of your mind?”
As a captain in Starfleet, Treon would never have allowed her crew to speak to her like that. And even now — years after she’d left Starfleet and never looked back — she had trouble accepting it.
“We’ve spent the last decade staying off Starfleet’s radar,” Holt continued. “Running relief runs they don’t approve of, helping people they abandoned.” His eyes flicked to Jos. “And now we’ve got a Starfleet officer aboard?”
Treon inhaled sharply, about to reply, but Holt kept going.
“They didn’t care when the border colonies were burning. They didn’t care when the evacuation routes collapsed. They didn’t care when we risked our necks hauling supplies into disaster zones they refused to acknowledge.” His voice sharpened. “But now—now—they want our help?”
He shook his head, disgusted.
“This isn’t what I signed up for.”
"Are you finished?” Treon asked, her voice cold and precise.
She didn't wait for him to reply. “This is not a Starfleet mission. We’re going to help an old friend — someone who saved my life more than once. I need to know who’s with me. And if you’re not—”
“I’m not.” Holt pushed his chair back, the legs scraping the deck. “I didn’t join this crew to do favors for the people who turned their backs on all of us — including you."
Nobody spoke as he strode out.
A moment later, Lerik rose and hurried after him.
“…Well,” Jaro said at last from the other side of the table. “I’m in.”
“Good,” Treon replied.
She hadn’t expected any differently — Venn had been the Starburst’s engineer even before she acquired the ship. He was almost part of the ship.
She looked back to Jos. “I’ll speak to Marken and Lerik. But as far as I’m concerned… we’re ready to go tomorrow morning.”
=/\=
Rear Admiral Josua Frost
Starfleet (Detached Service – Inactive)
&
Treon Brevor
SS Starburst
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