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Post by spacedaisy on May 27, 2022 19:37:22 GMT
A Joint Arc with USS Chiron <GD_Annie> Stardate 12205.27
<GD_Annie> Mission Summary: Chiron has been ordered to deliver supplies to Starbase 11. As we begin, the ship is just coming into orbit of the planet.
<GD_Annie> <<< Begin >>>
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::sits in her chair on the bridge, rapidly bouncing her foot on the deck::
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> CO: If I say it'll be okay, does that count as a jinx?
<GD_Annie> <aNAV Roode> ::maneuvering the ship expertly into orbit:: CO: Just bringing her into orbit now, Captain. I expect we'll be hearing from Starbase Ops soon enough...
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Hums to himself as he reviews some sensor logs from their previous mission, going over things he, Raqiin and their colleagues at Starfleet discussed.::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::takes a breath:: XO: I think 'jinx' implies that there was a chance for things to go well, and that's really not our MO.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> CO: Aaaaach... nonesense Cap'n. I think we're quite lucky. And we Klingons don't usually like luck.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> CO: A little positivity won't actually kill you. Though it might feel like it.
<GD_Annie> <aNAV Roode> ::grins:: TNOIP: Speak of the devil... ::taps at the console:: CO: Station Ops, right on cue. Viewscreen, Cap?
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::slowly looks over at Raqiin::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::stares at her a moment more before looking to Roode:: aNAV: Put 'em on.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::holds up her hands:: CO: I am JUST saying.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Smirks at Raq, thinking that look is remarkably similar to the one Cre'el gives him, right before he says something that will make her wanna kill him.::
<GD_Annie> <SB11 OPS> ::a very weary and rumpled looking young human woman appears on screen as Roode tosses it to the viewscreen:: *CO* Welcome Chiron, we've been expecting you.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::raises a hand:: *SB11*: Please, there will be plenty of time for autographs. For now, we're just here to deliver some goods, help out a bit, and talk to exactly one of your scientists.
<GD_Annie> <SB11 OPS> ::seems distracted, glancing back and forth between the viewscreen and her console, clearly multitasking as she speaks to them and missing out on Sumner's joke as a result:: *CO* That's what they tell me too, who's coordinating the supply delivery from your side?
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> ::stood in Engineering addressing the team leaders:: Engis: Right, I will be confirming what they need but I want teams Alpha through Delta ready and setup for anything that they might need. At which point I will let you know your assignments. Refer to your PADDs for informational schematics on Starbase 11.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::thumbs over at Raqiin:: *SB11*: That'll be Commander sh'Hruvek here. In exchange, I would you like you to send one Marika Lenali up at her earliest convenience to speak with me and Mr. Hamlet.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::gives a wave of her own:: *SB11*: Hi. You tell us where you want all the cargo, we'll get it where it needs, easy as cake. Pie? Cupcake? Easy as a baked good.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> *CSO* T to H. You there you crazy Klingon?
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Perks up.::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> *CEO*: Always lass, how can I help ya?
<GD_Annie> <SB11 OPS> ::nods disinterestedly:: *CO* We'll have her come along shortly. Commander, you can coordinate directly with our SCE. They'll help you coordinate from the engineering department since they know where they want stuff. If I try to do it, they'll just be dissatisfied with where it ends up. ::sighs and nods to Sumner:: I'm to tell your crew as well that you are welcome to come and visit our facilities. Sunset and Sunrise are particularly lovely, if that sort of thing interests you. Or you can just take in the chaos, if you rather. ::smiles for the first time::
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> *CEO*: Are we there yet? Have we even been given orders or anything? Stuck here with engineers getting antsy to fix something.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> *CEO*: Aye, Chief. We're there. Ya know ya can jus access the bridge feed at any time. You're a Lieutenant Commander now and the Chief Engineer. Ye have the command clearance. ::Chuckles.::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::deadpans:: *SB11*: Such a refreshing change of pace. That'll be all for now, thank you.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> CO: So... Am gettin' a visitor?
<GD_Annie> ACTION: The tired SB Operations officer nods and the communication cuts off, leaving an image of the planet and the starbase
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::sips of a Raktajino while reading update reports from Gamma team. Damning Bale to hell for taking a holiday while things fall to pieces. Just another Friday to be honest. Soon he will sign off, head planetside and hop into his reserved seat at the Happy Frog for a drink or seven::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::looks to Hamlet:: CSO: She might have questions that only you can answer, so I figured it'd be good for you to sit in on the meeting. Shouldn't take too long.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> *CSO*: That still feels weird when people say that. Excellent. You don't happen to know who I need to speak to?
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::stretches out for a second:: aOPS: Patch me through to the SCE directly then and we'll get this show on the road.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Sorta wobbles his head.:: CO: I'm sure it'll be no problem. I wonder what she wan's'ti'kno.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::hums a song as he picks up the next PADD. Not really in the mood for reports, but someone has to step in when brass get to chill on the beach on Risa::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> *CEO*: Ach, the clothes will fit in time, lass. Dont ya worry... But uh... I would guess either the Commander... or the Station OPS.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::slouches down in her chair::
<GD_Annie> <aNAV Roode> ::glances at the Captain:: CO: Looks like your visitor has beamed up, Siwara is sending her up from the Transporter room now.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> *CSO*: I will ask Raqiin, what sort of mood is she in today?
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::gets up from her seat quickly:: All: Just in time... ::swiftly makes her way into her ready room::
<GD_Annie> <aOPS> XO: Yes ma'am ::puts a call through to the starbase SCE for Raq::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> *CEO*: I dunni know what ya mean. The Commander is always a glowing bastion of sunshine. Ya know dunnae bite. ::Looks over to the captain.:: Now I got stuff ta do, lass, as have ye. You've go' this, whatever this is that we're referring to... ah yes repairing stuff. Hamlet out.::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> <ya know she>
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::enters the bridge and looks around a bit cautiously, not entirely sure what she is doing here::
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::the monitor on his...Bale's desk lights up, showing an incoming call from.....the Chiron?:: Self: Hah-hah Mac. Very funny.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::accepts the call:: *Chiron*: Hilarious Mac. Got me good...next time try to...::sees Raq:: ....... Hi.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Stands up, turning around in time to see the stranger on the bridge.:: Lenali: Ah, ye must be the visitor we were expecting. ::Gestures toward the ready room.:: I'm Lieutenant Commander Hamlet. The Captain is right this wa'.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::nods uncertainly to the big Klingon and follows along, feeling very, very small as she does:: CSO: Thanks
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> CSO: Are you over there saying lies and slander and nice things about me again? ::gets the call accepted and ohhhhhhhh boy oh. right. right right right this is the thing.:: *SCE*: ...Hi, Tony. Uh. .......Hi.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>*Chiron*: Uhm. Hi
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> Engis: Right, I'm gonna go up to the bridge. Don't take apart the ship while I'm up there. ::she says stepping into a turbolift:: Computer: Bridge Priority.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::smiles genuinely happy::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Takes a few steps forward, holding his hand out to shake her's, whilst he gestures to the blue lady in the command circle.:: Lenali: This is also our Executive Officer Commander sh'Hruvek.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::idly turns a prepared PADD in her hands::
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>*Chiron*: It's fantastic to see you, Blue....but...what are you doing here? Is the chiron here? At Eleven?
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::shakes his hand and casts a glance at the XO before looking back at the Klingon:: CSO: She seems a bit busy. I would like to know what I'm here about though...
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::looks like she's forgotten how smiles work and just kind of. frown smile grimace smiles:: *SCE*: ...So, we're here on a nice easy resupply mission. I was told you're to let us know where all the cargo goes! So. We should probably get all that squared away first, niceties after.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> XO: I only ever have nice things to say. ::Smiles at her before noting her change in tone, frowning. Raises his hand and nods at her taking a step back and reengaging with the Ensign.:: Lenali: As would I. ::Smiles again, leading her to the ready room and pushing the ringer.::
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>*Chiron*: I - uh. ::scratches his stubble and absentmindedly fixed up his collar:: Yes, ma'am. I erm. Wait. ::reaches for the keyboard and types in search queries:: Just a moment.
<GD_Annie> <aNAV Roode> ::looks curiously at Raq, wondering what the sudden awkwardness was all about::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> Lenali/CSO: Enter.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> *SCE*: Yeah, no problem. Take your time. I think maybe someone shoved this off on you for fun, but APPARENTLY you'd be dissatisfied with the results if someone else tried to tell us.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>*Chiron*: Alright so says here that the Chiron is able to dock at the upper pylon....well ofcourse upper, where else right? ::smiles awkwardly and pulls at his tunic:: She's too large for the lower ones. And uhm. Yeah, Section Seven. You have clearence to dock and unload straight to cargobay 55.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::Steps through, leading the Ensign to one of the pair of seats ahead of the Captain's desk; before plonking himself down, giving Sara a warm smile.::
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> ::arrives at the bridge and sees someone on the screen and slowly side steps out of view and to the side of the bridge::
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> :: has a brief moment of indecision then stands at attention after she enters::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> Lenali: Take a pew, lass. ::Grins.:: CO: Soooo... what's the story in Ballamoray?
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::runs a hand through his hair::*Chiron*: Is uh. Is that all, Commander?
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::does her best to offer a pleasant smile, motioning to the chairs on the other side of her desk:: Lenali: Ensign Lenali, welcome aboard. Please, have a seat.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> *SCE*: Sounds good. We'll get docked proper and start moving things out. And then... ::glances back toward the ready room for a moment before recentering:: I don't know how long exactly we're here for, but when everything's squared away, when I'm off shift--play catch up?
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::takes the seat indicated, settling a bit stiffly into it:: CO: Thank you, Captain.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> ::walks up to nav at the front out of view of the viewscreen:: aNAV: Who is she talking to and why is she suddenly so.... shy is it?
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::smiles:: *Chiron*: You got it, Blue. I'll give you the grand tour. There's this great Polish quarter with the best BBQ and bars.....Happy to see you, Chiron. Welcome to Starbase 11.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::draws a breath:: Lenali: Before we begin, I need to inform you that the subject of this conversation is classified, and the data you're about to receive is for your eyes only. It's not to be shared with anyone without clearance from Starfleet Intelligence. Understood?
<GD_Annie> <aNAV> ::shrugs and answers quietly:: CEO: Starbase Engineering I think, and I don't know. It's weirding me out though.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::smiles much more genuinely:: *SCE*: Okay. ...Sounds good. See you later then, Chiron out.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> ::His good humour sours somewhat.:: Aloud: Acccchhhhh, feck n craaap and also some shite.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::smiles awkwardly and cuts the channel::
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::her shoulders slump a bit at this:: CO: Ah, I see now. ::nods:: Yes, I understand, unfortunately.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::smile fades and he bumps his forehead against the desk:: Self: Stupid.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> CO: She's only an Ensign... what the crap is this'ere about? ::Raises an eyebrow.::
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::leans back with a groan, face in hands:: Self: Auuuuuugh....uuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, okay. ::sits back up:: aNAV: Okay, dock us at section seven, we'll get all this underway. And then-- CEO: Oh. Hi. Hhhhhow long have you been standing there?
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::furrows her brow:: CSO: It's not a surprise to -you-, Hamlet. ::looks to Lenali and hands over the PADD:: Lenali: These are detailed scans of an interdimensional drive we recently disassembled, as well as our scans about a phenomenon caused by the drive's use - one that came fairly close to destroying the universe. Mr. Hamlet here will know more about the technical details.
<GD_Annie> <aNAV> ::ducks his head, not wanting to be caught whispering about the situation. He goes to work taking the ship in to dock as instructed::
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> CO: Ooooh.... that. ::Gives her a sorry look, then gives the same one to the Ensign.:: CO: So where does she come into it? Some expertise in the field?
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::grabs his communicator and types a quick text to Mac
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>*Mac*: You are not going to believe this. You are going to want to shower.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::scoots forward in her seat, ready to receive the information. Then glancing between the Captain and Science Officer:: CO/CSO: A phenomenon? What kind of phenomenon?
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> XO: Long enough. LOOOONG Enough.
<GD_Annie> <aNAV> ::docks with the starbase and waits until the airlocks clamp and pressurize:: XO: looks like we are good to go, boss.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::looks to Hamlet for that one:: CSO: Something like a potential second big bang, right?
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> CEO: If I was rude and pulling rank, I'd say you're going to meet up with Com--what's his rank anymore anyway, Lieutenant? With Mister Adalberto and chat engineering. Actually, you might end up having to talk to him anyway. ...You might want to keep Oleg away from him. Ugh. Might have to talk to him. Cool, great, cool.
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> Lenali: After some heated debate with some members of the Science Council... we ultimately interpreted the results as a... Rosen-Einstein bridge of some kind, however where it were leading had fundamentally different physical properties of our universe... something more primordial, potentially pre-inflationary. However, the effect it generated was a... spatial tear facilitating true vacuum decay.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::her eyes widen a bit at this:: CSO: And the drive caused this? ::she shook her head, muttering under her breath sarcastically:: This just keeps getting better and better.
<CO_Capt_Sumner> Lenali: Well, multiple drives, concentrated in one region of space.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::nods at Roode:: aNAV: Very good. aOPS: Give a shoutout down to the cargo bays that we're about ready to roll out here to bay 55. I'll make sure all the inventory matches up between lists and deal with any discrepencies, hopefully it's all good.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> XO: Of course. I think it would be easier if I went to talk to him. Oleg I think might be staying here I haven't asked him honestly.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::Leans back in his seat and takes a deep breath:: Self: Shit shit shit. Tony take it easy....she doesnt hate you.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> ::sighs:: CO: Rel. So extensive use causes subspace damage is what I'm hearing. Hardly surprisingly. I can't believe they've used it so recklessly.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> CEO: He'll do good work, just. There might still be some bad feelings, I don't know--this whole thing's going to be awkward as it is. ANYWAY. ::slaps hands down on the arms of the chair to signal MOVING RIGHT ALONG:: Anyway! Yeah, get in touch with the engineers and get a feel what needs done. I'm sure having the help of a Starfleet chief engineer will be welcome.
<SCE_Lt_Adalberto> <SB11 SCE>::absentmindedly rubs his mechanical leg, thinking of the Chiron:: Self: Fuck. Im gonna have to see Sara.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> XO: I can ask him though. *Oleg*: Tallush to Oleg. You wanting to come with me to S11 or staying here?
<CSO_LtCmdr_Hamlet> Lenali: Aye. I have a theory that the specific dimension or reality they were using as the... mediator, to shortcut through our universe... because of our solution, may be locked off to them now. Because, I believe it caused an inflationary event. However, that wunni help us much, since there are an infinite number of such realms they could use as a mediator.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> CSO: At least it will slow them down, that gives me time, if nothing else.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> ::looks a little alarmed at just popping on the comm but then shuts her mouth::
<CO_Capt_Sumner> ::shrugs:: Lenali: My guess is it was intentional. They're losing, so they're desperate.
<GD_Annie> <Ens Lenali> CO: They aren't the only ones getting desperate, unfortunately.
<XO_Cmdr_shHruvek> <ENG_Lt_Dimitriou> *CEO*: Depends on if you need my team on to do repairs, ma'am. Wouldn't mind stretching my legs, though.
<CEO_LtCmdr_Tallush> *Dimitriou*: Yeah, teams from Alpha through to Delta are asked to prepare so yeah. Come join me, might as well drag you along to suffer this with me.
<<< Pause >>>
The Chiron sat peacefully docked with the starbase in orbit around M-11 as though they hadn’t just narrowly averted annihilation of the entire universe. The workbees around the orbital station and various shuttles traveling between it and the planetside facilities carefully navigated around the Intrepid class ship. If their presence was an inconvenience, you couldn’t tell. There was always a flurry of activity, what was one more ship? In the Chiron cargo hold, Ensign Siwara looked over the supply transport list as a couple crewmen entered with another hover cart heavy under the weight of the crates with which it was loaded. “Three more to transport,” the stocky older man commented as they began unloading the crates onto the cargo transport pad. “Did we double check these are intended for the planet facilities?” “Would I be breaking my back to put them on the transporter if not? Trust me, these last three are all headed planetside,” the man grunted as he hefted a hefty crate. It landed with a loud clang on the metal of the pad surface. “Hey, easy there. I want to check out the facilities while we’re here, so don’t go breaking anything and giving me more work to do!” “Ah, relax, darling. These pads can handle more abuse than you’d think.” Siwara’s lips tightened in irritation. “You aren’t the one who has to maintain them, so if it’s all the same to you, I’d appreciate you treating my equipment a bit more respectfully. And I’m not your darling. Ensign Siwara will do just fine.” The younger, gangly blonde crewman snickered at his cohort getting told off by a girl more than half his age and Siwara’s dark eyes flicked angrily at him. The snicker died on his lips and he ducked his head to avoid meeting her gaze. “Whatever you say, Ensign.” She could practically hear him rolling his eyes as he left. She hated dealing with him. He was so patronizing in how he spoke to her and it made her want to break something, usually his nose. Sometimes being mostly isolated in the transporter room was a blessing. It meant less annoying people to deal with. She started checking over the list before transport. Seemed like they were bringing so many crates to Starbase 11, and all full of general supplies. She wondered who they had pissed off to get assigned to this basic supply run. It was so close to Earth, it could have been done by any ship in the fleet, it just seemed like a waste to send the Chiron. “Ah well,” she thought to herself, resigned to the drudgery of these transports, “they don’t pay me to make the important decisions anyway.” As she logged the cargo list she just consoled herself that soon her work would be done and she could join the rest of the crew who had already gotten to go and check out the facilities. Maybe she could even lend a hand to the transport engineers on the base, like some of her colleagues were opting to do. She loved being on the Chiron, but everyone can use a change of scenery once in a while. Manipulating the console, Siwara watched with the smallest of smiles as the cargo shimmered out of existence, disassembled at the smallest level only to reassimilate itself on the planet’s surface in an equally sparkly display. She really did enjoy her job.
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Post by Einar on May 30, 2022 9:50:00 GMT
Tony AdalbertoTony leant back in the seat that belonged to Verix Bale, the SCE Chief in charge of the refit operations of Starbase 11. Normally he would be elbow deep in machinery down on deck 38 with the rest of his team, but Bale someone had to step in to keep the operation running while Bale took in the sun on Risa. Of all the days in the universe, Tony had to be in this office today. "Idiot" He pushed the chair off the desk and stood up, mentally berating himself for that ridicilous display over the comm. He did not have many friends on that ship, not anymore. And he was lucky that Raq seemed to have forgiven him for his...actions while with SFI. She had always had his back. Unlike her Captain. He shook his head and shoulders, letting go of the stress and despair that threatened to wash over him. "What do you mean shave my legs? Who do you think I am? The queen of Xahea? Chief, I am literally awash in grease"Tony brought the communicator to his lips and let out a deep sigh "The Chiron is here....they just docked. Mac...I - uh" "Oh""Yeah.."
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Post by Nola on May 31, 2022 8:42:34 GMT
Captain Sara Sumner
Sara sat in her Ready Room, soaking in silence. Well, not complete silence - the neurons in her brain were firing quite fiercely, which led to this internal, interminable buzzing in her skull. It was a sort of paralysis; she would've put on some music, or otherwise done something to distract herself, but this new creature with in her flesh had a way of insisting on silence. The flash of a disruptor pistol. The cold smile of an all-too-sane Cardassian interrogator. Casualty reports. Her husband's scars. Her daughter's occasional whining, and the sense of helpless dread it poured into her chest. The end of everything, and not knowing whether she was more bothered by how close they'd come, or that they didn't get close enough. Sara closed her eyes, more tears spilling down her cheeks. She was tired of crying, and feeling overwhelmed. She was tired of pretending like any part of her was still okay, and the face she had to put on for her crew's sake. The Chiron's Captain, ever empathetic and perceptive (much to her chagrin), saw how this could easily lead to a certain resentment of one's crew. A subconscious indignation at the idea that they could afford to have problems, but she could not. This was bullshit, of course, just one of those things that an ailing mind would fabricate. Of course she could have problems. No, she wasn't alone. She had her family, and she had her crew, both of whom had lifted her up time and again. It didn't matter that each blow kept her on the ground for just a bit longer - someone would always come to pick her back up. In a roundabout fashion, this brought her to Tony, and the long, meandering internal argument about whether she'd done enough for him, whether she owed him anything, and whether it was even possible for her to feel like she hadn't failed him somehow. Suffice to say she didn't take people leaving her very well, regardless of the context, so there was this wall of family issues obscuring the matter. In the end, there was nothing for it - she'd call him eventually, so why not now? Sara brought her terminal to life and wiped at her eyes. After a heavy, clearing sniffle, she spoke to her magical computer friend. "Chief Engineer Adalberto's office, please," she bade, and then waited for the connection to go through.
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Post by glassbreaks on May 31, 2022 15:09:21 GMT
Lt Henrike Herschel
“I will never understand how you managed to condense 200 unedited pages down to just 100. Or how you managed to write that much in the first place, good god Rike.” “You know perfectly well Captain, that I am very… wordy.” Henrike Herschel crossed her arms as she watched the man flip through the rather hefty physical copy of Exploration of Microbial Methanogenic Life on Schatzmond. “Perhaps it will be a more entertaining read than you thought! I also made sure to include pictures, just for your sake,” she joked, winking at the captain of the Yosemite, who was now more than willing to push a few buttons himself to transport her down to Starbase 11. “Now don’t give me that look, you know you’ll miss me.” The Captain sighed, “Yeah, unfortunately you’re right. Like what D said last night we’ll all miss you here, but onto newer pastures eh? Forced newer pastures, that is. Oh, do you know where you are going once you’re down there?” “It comes with the territory, you know that more than I. And no, I do not.” Rike turned to step on the transporter pad, then gave a nod, “ Auf Wiederschauen.” The Captain pursed his lips as Rike energized away then looked at the transporter operator, “She is definitely going to get lost, isn’t she?” “Yup.”
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Post by Shawna on Jun 1, 2022 17:14:48 GMT
Raqiin did not necessarily need to oversee every single little aspect of something as small as making sure all the cargo got where it needed to be. But she used it as a distraction. Or tried to. It was smooth sailing, and nothing missing or misplaced or concerning as far as she could see on the cargo manifests. So. That was a bust. It mostly made her anxious, even as she left the bridge to good hands and headed to the cargo bay, and mostly paced around checking on things and, you guessed it, being more distracted.
It was almost a blessing to overhear the minor cajoling of crewmen. Siwara seemed to handle herself well, thankfully, and apart from annoyance and momentary frustration, it didn't seem to be a big deal. Still. Something to do.
"Gentlemen," she greeted to the crewmen as they towed the empty cart back out.
The blonde snapped straight so fast it was a miracle his spine didn't snap. The older fellow followed suit. "Commander."
"Is there a problem here?"
"No, ma'am."
"Ma'am?" she echoed as though surprised, and she folded her hands calmly behind her back, fingertips tapping on the cargo manifest in one hand. "So I don't warrant a darling, but Ensign Siwara does? I don't know if I should be thankful or feel left out."
The blonde rightfully kept his mouth firmly shut. The elder swallowed audibly. "There wasn't anything meant by it, ma'am. Just having a laugh."
"I don't recall hearing anyone laughing."
"Just got too casual. That's all."
"You seem to also be getting too casual with the merchandise. I believe the old saying is, you break it you bought it?" She gave a short sigh and shook her head. "Give each officer the respect they're due. If I have to hear about any kind of incident with you two, or with you and anyone else, we'll be having words." The Chiron was known for many things, and a somewhat more lax structure was one of them. But only because so many of them were well and truly friends, family. Time and a place for everything. Just because Raqiin was sure she was seen as the softer in command, the lesser of two evils as it were, didn't mean she couldn't enact some discipline if necessary. "Am I clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She leveled a look at the blonde. "Crystal, ma'am."
"Good. Carry on."
They hurried off. And Raqiin relaxed. A momentary distraction, but a distraction nevertheless. And now she was back to square one in pretending to be busy. There weren't all that many crates left as it was. Was she putting off seeing Tony? It was always awkward, but whenever they got a chance to talk to each other, they seemed to slip back into more familiar patterns. And it wasn't like she wanted to be mad at him. Things happened. Things always happen. And she didn't bear a grudge. Easy to forgive, or at least, easy to let bygones be. She suspected it was another difference between herself and Sara, who held so much anger inside with nowhere to put it all.
Okay. Don't be a coward, then. Finish up here. And then go right to--he'd said a Polish place? Should be an easy enough sector to find on a map. She didn't change out of uniform, but left her jacket open and her hair down. Ready to jump back 'on duty' at a moment's notice. Was she starting to get paranoid? Surely the chances of something going wrong were slim. And yet, wherever Chiron went, disaster was sure to follow in her wake.
Hopefully that didn't mean disaster for two old friends catching up.
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Post by Einar on Jun 2, 2022 7:28:27 GMT
Captain Sara Sumner and Tony Adalberto"We have a Lieutenant Adalberto, Delta Team leader? Will that do?" a young Bolian responded on Sara´s comm. Sara briefly frowned "... That will do, but who do you have at CEO, out of curiosity?" she answered. The Bolian smiled condescendingly before answering "Things work a bit different on a station this big Captain Sumner. We have over 300 SCE personnel assigned to the refit efforts at the moment, and..." The Bolian glanced off camera, probably at a second monitor "Varex Bale is head of the Corps. He is on leave" Sara valiantly fought the urge to make a wanking motion. "Put me through to Adalberto," she said, a small sigh in her voice. "Yes Ma´am. Patching you through. SB11 out". The spinning UFP logo appeared on the screen where the Bolian's big blue head had been. It seemed to take forever, possibly due to repairs on the comm system, or Tony's reluctance to answer. Finally the screen switched back to the office of SCE chief, showing a disarray of PADDs behind a very apprehensive looking man. It was a bit weird how seeing that someone else was nervous could lead to feeling less nervous. Something about letting you know you're on even footing, perhaps. Sara put on a small smile, her shoulders subtly relaxing. "Hey Tony," she greeted. "How've you been?" "Sara" he put on a cordial smile, "I'm well thanks. How is my ship doing? I heard you are bringing us much needed supplies" Sara gave a small shrug. "The ship itself is fine," she answered. "Dropping off supplies and stealing a bit of R&R. How's the renovation going?" Tony seemed to glance at someone out of view before responding "One step forward, six steps back. But we have good people here, we'll get there eventually" "So-uh...just clearing the air here..I know you went to her, and that she fucked you up quite badly. I am sorry for that" Sara's smile turned just slightly rueful. "It's fine," she murmured. "At this point, I'm sure she feels like she got the worst of it." Tony held up a hand "I don't want to know...I don't know who she is anymore, and to be honest I'd rather not. I've moved on from all that....from everything" "I'm just an Engineer now" Sara drew a deep breath, but nodded in understanding. "Okay," she answered. "Then is there anything we can do to help out around here?" "Well, if you have Engineers to spare, we can take 'em off your hands while the redshirts do R&R" Tony looked absentmindedly at a PADD, then at a hidden figure offscreen and nodded "Ore processing could use a team to run diagnostics...perhaps some tools. I will send you a list" "Can I uh - how is my old crew doing? And is uh, is Raq doing well?" Sara nodded. "She's doing well enough, I think. Migonna's in charge of Engineering, now. Hamlet just saved the universe, so he's probably pretty stoked." Tony rolled his eyes. At which part Sara could only guess "Well tell them they are welcome to step over, take a breather. We can show them the best spots....there's this great sausage maker in our Polish sector" "You can also come ofcourse" Sara's smile grew just a little. The thought of just hanging out, not going over all the awful shit in life, was deeply appealing at this exact moment. "I'd like that." "Yeah...I think I might also" "Send me a time that works best for you, yeah? I'll get things sorted up here in the meantime." "Tonight? 8pm, should give me enough time to finish up here...I will send you the coordinates planetside. ..see you there"
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Post by Einar on Jun 2, 2022 12:17:35 GMT
Tony Adalberto"..." "...??" Tony shrugged. "Really?" she exclaimed. "You´ve been in a bitchy mood for years and now you are inviting her for a fucking barbeque? And I swear. Chief, if you so much as mention these fucking sausages I will end you" Tony turned the chair to face Mac who had been hiding behind the monitor, shying away from her former CO. "We have to move on Mac" "Easy for you to say. What if Migonna shows up? Should I just move on?" "Just maybe, yeah. You are too strong to be afraid of a small Orion....and she´s no longer the same kid, they would not make her Chief otherwise" Mac pulled at her sleeves while examining her scuffed boots. "Fine, but I´m gonna get drunk. Drunker than you" "Very reckless" he said, standing up and crossing the distance between them and pulling her into a much needed bear hug.
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Post by spacedaisy on Jun 26, 2022 0:57:29 GMT
Helping Hand Location: Planetside Facilities, Science Lab of Ens Lenali A joint post with Pezzley as Lt Cmdr Hamlet and Ensign Lenali
As Mari left the meeting in the Captain’s ready room on the Chiron, her thoughts were still whirring around all that they had to share about the drive. And now with the knowledge that use of the drive had damaging effects to the fabric of space, the stakes had never been higher. She stopped short and turned to look at the Klingon science officer (whose name she couldn’t recall at the moment) exiting the room after her.
“With my project being classified, I don’t have any other scientists to discuss it with. But you clearly have clearance, I mean, they can’t exactly take away your clearance to information you yourself have discovered. How would you like to visit my lab, see where I’m at currently. Who knows, maybe you will see something I don’t.”
“Aye, that would be splendid, lass. I like a good lab.” The old Klingon smiled down at her. “An’ you can requisition any of my teams to help work on this, for the time tha’ we’re here. Most of them already know about this; they’ve been draggin’ me out fer the last few nights, to drink to the Universe still bein’ intact.” He grinned.
“Lead the way.” He gestured toward the turbolift.
Mari stepped on the lift, a small frown on her face, “As nice as it would be to work with a team, the fewer people know I’m working on this the better. So it’ll have to stay between you, me, and the Captain.” She figured it went without mentioning the brass who might have assigned her to the project.
She scrolled quickly through the padd with the schematics and information gathered from the engineering and science teams who dismantled the drive. “This makes a huge difference for me. The last few months have been a slog trying to fit pieces back together and glean information from a destroyed ship. Now that I’ve got a whole schematic, I can move on to the next problem.”
“I understand; although I dunnae like it.” He hummed to himself in thought. “I don’ like keepin’ things from ma people. But I can understand the need to stay anonymous, ‘specially when we dunno if there’s some thurtee-one operative hiding around the corner, skulkin’ in th’shadows.”
“Soooo, tell me about yerself, Ensign Lenali? Am no’ familiar with yer species.” He smiled down at her.
“I wish Section 31 were my only concern, but frankly they are miles ahead of me on this technology and I’m just playing catch up right now.” The lift came to a stop and she walked toward the transporter room. “And I’m not surprised you’re not familiar with my species, those that are still free tend to keep to themself. Their interactions with other species have historically not gone well.”
Ensign Siwara looked up as the pair walked in. She smiled at the guest, “Where to?” “Planetside facilities, please. Science labs, if possible.”
Siwara nodded, “I can do that. Step on up to the pad.”
Mari explained to Hamlet with a bit of a grin, “The engineers are always rushing around and they get grouchy if you get in their way.”
Manipulating the controls, Siwara whisked them away to the planetside facilities of the base. They materialized in the small transporter room located in the corridor with the science labs. Mari gave a nod of greeting to the transporter operator in the room.
“There are so many personnel here, I can’t recall nearly any names. My lab’s this way,” She motioned vaguely down the corridor and led the way.
“Yeah… that happens a lot, I’m afraid. Like anyone who historically encountered my people, or the Romulans or the Cardassians. The Federation is ‘sposed to be the bulwark against that kinda thing, y’know, the lawman’s town amidst the wild west.” He sighed somberly. “But happier thoughts. We’ll have those bastards eventually.”
He followed alongside her, looking around the corridors as they went. “Aye, it does seem very busy ‘round ‘ere. Clearly an important station.” He smiled again. “Now in charge of some very important research.” Seems to gleam, the closer they get to the lab. “I dunnae spend nearly enough time down in Chiron's lab. Runnin’ too many people, having to be up on the bridge for all the big stuff goin’ d’wn.”
“A’ve go’ Tkon research I’d like t’be doin, but I cannae just find the time these days…” He chuckled down at her. “I’m sure y’know what it’s like. Having alo’ on yer plate, and never gettin’ t’the thing ya wanna do.”
Mari finally really looked at the burly Klingon who was so different from any Klingon she’d met before in her life. Gray eyes studied him curiously, wondering why that was. She considered his words, what did she actually want to do? “I don’t think I’ve ever had a choice of what I want to do since I joined Starfleet. At first, I didn’t mind, I had a purpose. But then I got yanked here. I’d rather be on a ship, fighting Teffies. But I think they’re hiding me here, honestly. And it’s hard not being able to discuss my work with anyone, not really even the few friends I have made here.”
The old Klingon furrowed his brow. “Tha’s a shame, lass. I’m sure that an avenue of research will come by, that ya just can’t no’ do. The Tkon stuff has been on the back burner fer me, since this bledy civil war started; and before this stuff with the blink drive happened, my big contribution to Starfleet was developing a type of quantum-tricobalt hybrid torpedo. I developed it to close a particular type of spatial rupture, but we had to employ it in our brief war with the Tzenkethi; and it was prominently distributed amongst the fleet.” He let out a half sigh, half chuckle as he continued. “No’ a crownin’ achievement ta be honest, and the nickname fer them belayed how bledy dangerous they were… Cuties.”
“So tell me, why would they wanna hide you away here?” He asked curiously. She seemed very intelligent, well mannered and eager to serve; generally what they’re looking for in a shipborne officer. “Seems like a waste o’ good talent.”
Mari led him into her lab and crossed to the center console where she did most of her. work. She set the padd down, initiating a link to her console to transfer its contents. “I have a background in space-time research,” she answered his question without looking up.
It wasn’t that she cared about hiding her background from him. After all, if SFI knew, anyone she’d be worried about finding out probably already knew too. She just didn’t want to revisit too many memories from the past. There were too many ghosts there.
The console beeped to let her know the transfer was complete and she looked at him, “I think they want to be sure that I don’t get captured because my expertise could be an advantage in figuring out this … what did you call it?”
“The Blink drive.” He replied. “Somethin’ simple, I thought; that drives home it’s effect.”
She nodded thoughtfully, and gave him an approving grin, “I like that. I think formally they’ve been calling it the dimensional drive. Doesn’t have quite the ring to it though, does it?”
“No, it dunnae. Ah’ve had some arguments with command about it, some pushback from my naming choice. Am glad someone else likes it.” He chuckled. “Now I just have to name the anomaly that this blink drive’s use can cause.”
“Speaking of…” Mari tapped at her console and a holographic image of the spacial anomaly sprang up, projecting from the center of the table. She leaned in to look closer. “I haven’t seen anything like it before. Have you cross checked the readings against the database already to see if there are any other known instances of it?”
“Aye.” He nodded slowly. “All the individual things about it have been detected or… at the least theorised before.” He cleared his throat before continuing.
“The ability to jump around like it does is similar to a method we know the Tholians to use on occasion; there was a device known as the Inverter that Picard’s Enterprise had to deal with once that, popped people anywhere they wanted using a higher dimensional region but like this one, slowly killed the users; and the whole universe thing I’ve theorised, showed similar signs to an anomaly once detected on Deep Space Nine.”
“Honestly… if this drive didn’t kill the users over time, and didn’t also rip a hole in the fabric of spacetime, it could be a useful device; for military and emergency applications.”
“Yeah, useful indeed. I’m pretty sure that is what SFI and the Teffies are thinking. Probably the Cardassians now as well. This is a nightmare, if you ask me. Remember Earth history, when Russia and the United States both held each other over the barrel with the threat of nuclear weapons? This tech could be such a threat in the hands of one government, I can’t imagine anyone else would let them develop it.”
She sighed, “Guess this might be my own version of your Cuties.”
“Well, let’s hope not, eh?” The old Klingon patted Lenali on the shoulder. “And that anythin’ you come up with outta this is much less destructive.” He grinned at her. “Maybe we’ll discover that it can ne’er be safe, and that’ll sink the concept entirely.”
“It doesn’t seem to have stopped the True Federation. They’re using these pirates and civilian dissidents as lab rats. They don’t have the courage to use it themselves, because they know that it’s killing them,” the outrage she was feeling was evident in her eyes and voice as she spoke.
“Did you see the medical report on Gaudin and the rest of her crew from the Ibis?” Mari tapped again at her console and their medical files scrolled onto the screen. File after file of medical reports on the crew from the Ibis began scrolling along, all showing the devastating effects of the drive on humanoid physiology.
“The cellular degradation was faster and more significant than we have encountered before. And it’s irreversible. They died horrible, painful deaths and for what? So that the Teffies could manipulate them into dividing our forces on both our borders! They were nothing more than sacrificial lambs for them!” She slammed her fist on the console, seething in anger now.
Hamlet remained cool and calm throughout Lenali’s outburst, pleasantly smiling and nodding along as she raged. He let the air sit for a moment, before finally speaking again. “D’ya feel better fer that now, lass?”
“I am familiar with the crew of the Ibis; the Chiron were the ones tha’ brought ‘em in.” He continued to nod, his brow furrowing momentarily as he recalled the incident. “And it's tragic, but it’s a tragedy tha's being repeated across who bledy knows how many other ships. So, we need a c’nsistent an’ reliable way of locatin’ every last one of them, so we can shut ‘em down fer good.”
Mari sighed, usually it annoyed her when people treated her like a young person, but coming from this character, it didn’t seem patronizing. She dropped into a seat, “No, I don’t feel better. And yes, we need a way to shut them down so we don’t make the technology worth anything to anyone. Preferably before we find a way to make it work, because if there is anything you can count on, it’s that no one is going to just give this technology up without trying to make it useful.”
“Well, we’ve slowed things down fer now at least, and that’ll give us some time. Although I am completely unsure what’s gonna happen if they try to use the blink drive, to traverse through a universe during its inflationary epoch. I would imagine them eventually being part of the microwave background radiation. Which is, I think, a step up from slowly dying from radiation.” He paused and scratched at his chin.
“I appear to have lost my train of thought… What was I sayin’ again?” He shrugged. “ I swear I had a point I was gonna make…”
“Well, before we assume we know how it travels, why don’t we use the schematics your engineering team got and we can build a simulation. Let’s see for ourselves what it does. We can use the holodeck facilities, if you’re up for it?”
“Absolutely, lass.” He grinned excitedly. “Am always up fer that. Lead the way.”
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Post by Shawna on Aug 16, 2022 14:51:10 GMT
Tony Adalberto and Raqiin sh'Hruvek
Polish quarter, good drink, excellent barbecue. That’s what Tony had suggested. Thankfully she isn’t a vegetarian. And after much hemming and hawing and trying to distract herself, she finally found the cargo transferred and stowed with little to no problem and an invitation in her figurative lap to come join up, get a tour, catch up. Their letters had become few and far between, unfortunately. And while of course she still had an attachment to a former crewmate who had meant quite a lot to her, there was also that blanket of awkwardness to everything. Between the things he’d done and the distance that needed kept.
And then there was Sara…but Raqiin had no plans to broach that subject first, and should he ask, she also had no plans to say much more than surface level observations. Those two needed to talk without her own influence or interference.
Okay. Don’t get worked up. Treat it like it is: a casual meetup with an old friend. Putting it in that kind of mindset helped her to relax more. No need to make it any weirder with nerves. Just wait up for an old friend. She could do that without looking like the kind of awkward wreck Tallush could make fun of.
—
Okay stop being weird. You two planned this get together…meeting? Work function?
Ugh. Tony pulled at his uniform jacket once more, thinking he should have switched into a more casual attire, but part of him wanted her to see that he was just a dirty greasemonkey again, scuff and oilstains and all.
Tony glanced through the window again, seeing her sitting at the old barrel which served as a table and quickly ducked out of view again. She had let her hair down. It suited her, he hadn't seen her off duty in years.
He hadn't even seen her in years. Man that hurt.
Come on, do it. She came. She wants to see you. Just put on that smile and go.
Any minute now.
“Screw it”
Tony pulled his jacket completely open and stepped into the establishment, waving to the restaurant owner as he glided over to where Raq was sitting “Hey blue. This seat taken?”
She knew he would come. He wasn’t the type to make plans and then just abandon them. At least, he hadn’t been before. That there was ever any worry that he might not show seemed ridiculous. And in spite of the nerves and awkwardness, the second he appeared and was so very him in an instant, she couldn’t help but grin.
“Strangely enough, it isn’t. Looks like you’re going to have to fix that so I’m not here all by my lonesome.” She ushered him to take said seat. “How are you, how’s things, how’s Mac? How’s the job treating you? How’s–” She took a breath, laughed. “Let’s start with ‘how are you’ and go from there.”
Tony smiled as he grabbed the stool and moved to sit down opposite her “I am good. Doing well…to be honest, I’m doing really well here”. Funny how the right people got the truth out of him so easily. “I am very happy to see you, sorry I haven’t written in a while….how…are you?” he took a breath to replace the one he lost. Damn he needed a drink, and no later than now. He waved the owner over. “Large house beer, and for the lady a….”
“Hmmm, the lady will have a strawberry daiquiri, on this gentleman here.” Gotta go for a mixed drink. She gave a short laugh. “And I’m glad. You look like you’re good, but you saying you’re good and you being good aren’t always aligned with one another. Bet this place has enough to keep you busy and out of trouble…”
The less said about his kind of trouble, previously, the better. She tapped her fingers on the table (barrel?) top, pursing her lips to figure out how she is, in comparison. “I could be better. I’m okay, I’m definitely okay, but there’s ups and downs. And sometimes the downs feel like they’re deeper than the ups are tall.” Should she say? Maybe she should say. “Oleg and I are on a break. My choice. I needed…still need to figure some things out. But on the plus side, we recently saved the universe from an inevitable collapse, and Hamlet got to name some new science stuff, shooting lasers into holes in reality to gum up the works. With the help of Cardassians. So,” with a little flick of her hand, “you know how well that went.” Given the general dislike of Cardassians for various reasons. And the distrust and paranoia on both sides.
Tony only wanted to ask about her and Oleg, but thought better of it. “I can never keep a secret from you I think. I am good” he smiled at that as the waiter walked away to get their drinks. “Never a dull moment on my ship huh?”
“Honestly, this little break with a supply run is good. I think some of the crew see it as almost a punishment, but hey, I’ll take this after almost being first in line to the eventual catastrophic end of everything one galaxy at a time. There’s only so much drama we can take. So, naturally, we’re all waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Tony smiled at that, he wasn’t even sure what she was referring to but it sounded intense from what she had let slip so far “I won’t be dropping my shoes, so you can take it easy here…you’re safe here, you get that right?”he added, very sincerely
“Oh, yeah, no, we’re safe, I know that.” As safe as can be what with all the repairs and all going on the base. “But you remember how it is. That every time we think something’s going to be safe and quick and easy, something eventually happens? I keep having to ask if I’m jinxing us anytime I open my mouth. But here’s hoping someone else can take care of whatever new crisis pops up this time.”
All you gotta do is ask” Tony said as two drinks were placed in front of them
“I think so long as a promenade doesn’t fall on me again, this trip will be just fine.” Tony remembered getting the news, and how scared he had been. She gave her drink a little stir with the straw and picked up the glass. “Hey. To old friends, yeah?”
Tony raised his glass and gently tapped it against her, getting some drips of frozen strawberry goo on the rim of his glass. "To old and current friends"
A clink and a drink. She had no plans on getting drunk, unsure when exactly they might be done and might get new orders, but she imagined that others of the crew were going to take full advantage of the facilities and being not dead. “I’m sorry for not writing more often. That I let it get away from me.”
"We both have a lot to catch up on then" he grinned and took a long sip of his beer, letting some of his nerves fade away. "So how is the ExOh life treating you? Is Sara behaving herself?"
“Does Sara ever behave herself?” And frankly, Raqiin wouldn’t want it any other way. They balance each other out. “It’s going okay. Honestly, I’m glad I can still put my nerd cred to the test and help out the science geeks now and then, but it’s good where I am. What about here? Anything exciting go on around here for you to sink your teeth into?”
“You were always good at that, '' he added, smiling over the rim of his glass. “Here? This place is a shithole, but you know what….I’ve never been happier” he took a sip and placed the glass down between them, moving it slightly to the side so as not to knock it over with his gesturing hands. “See, there are no cosmic strings or sudden wormholes or attacking Cardies, there’s just a work rota and task lists, and we are never ever in danger of body swaps” 2 “And the best part. I never have to wear red if I just stay here with the Corps, doing what I do best. And no one is going to make me do their dirty work again.”
It sounded, comparatively, so boring. For as harrowing as life on the ship was, for as terrible as things could be, would Raqiin trade it for anything? A life as an exobiologist on a stationary…station? She’d tried a life like that, if more mobile, before. And it only led her to Starfleet. But she’d also been young and trying to find herself.
And Tony sounded genuinely happy to be here. “Only dirty in the sense that I can imagine you covered head to toe in dust and dirt and grease,” she commented with a wrinkle of her nose. “Sounds like you’re much less liable to run into trouble or trouble running into you, that’s for sure. I hope you don’t miss any of it, how it used to be.”
Tony took a faux whiff off his loose collar "not that dirty" he smiled and winked at his old friend. "I miss the Chiron…I miss the sound of her warp core, I miss my old engineering crew…I missed you"
He pulled his arms close "uhm, that came out less cool than I had imagined. Not imagined. Not like I have been practicing or anything. What I mean" he ugh'd and took a sip of his beer. " do you wanna take a shot?"
She wrinkled her nose and tried very hard not to laugh. “Do I want to take a shot of alcohol, or do I want to take a shot at tripping over my words and embarrassing myself? Because I’ll pass either way.” Sara might get hammered, maybe Hamlet. She never cared to get too wild with her alcohol, and especially since they were probably expected to be collectively back on duty in more or less short order. And she certainly didn’t want to trip on herself the way Tony did. Poor bastard.
“And for the record, I don’t think you’ve ever been as cool as you thought you were. Which isn’t actually a bad thing. If you were, I’d be all intimidated all over again like back when I was a baby ensign.”
“I was a bit of a dick back then, especially to you. I am glad you saw through that” Tony took a swig of his beer and asked the barkeep for another round. “And I am preferential to this grown up boss lady." He said with a characteristic smirk, before adding a more genuine "I´m very proud of you”
“Sometimes I don’t feel so grown up. Which I think I’ll also attribute to Sara. We’ve got a good crew. We work hard, and we play hard. It’s nice not having to feel…I don’t know, the need to be on alert and at attention at all times. The way it felt with Captain Griffiths sometimes.” She shook her head, huffing out a puff of air. “Now there’s someone I haven’t thought about in a while.” And it made her desire to drink increase just a hair.
“I think, too, that there’s this idea that maybe I’ll get my own ship someday. Could you imagine that? Being an actual grown up boss lady and a whole captain? I can’t.”
Tony just smiled at the thought as the waiter brought over a fresh drink. "Thank you" he said to the man but kept his eyes on Raq. "It's the sort of idea that would make me want to go back out there. I think you'd make a fantastic Captain"
“What–no, come on, you’re happy where you are. If I’m captaining a ship, it’ll all be very safe and boring. Or I would hope so. All that stress in life or death situations, I don’t know, I like to think I keep my head, but sometimes I think…” She trailed off, idly stirring her drink. “I love the ship and the crew and where I’m at in life. But sometimes I think maybe I should’ve just stayed pure science. Be on a research outpost somewhere documenting local flora and fauna. It’d certainly give my parents less to worry about.”
"Oh hey! If that’s the case, they have some pretty advanced science labs on the planet" he winked at her, his smile turning into a knowing grin "you were made for sitting on a bridge of a starship, always were. Don't sell yourself short. You're made for greatness, unlike this humble engineer"
“Look who’s selling who short.” She pointed a pointed finger. Pointily. “You’ve done amazing work, and it’s been through awful circumstances and worse luck that you aren’t, I don’t know, running the Corps of Engineers or something. You were made to do more than this.” But she lifted her hands. “If you want it. I believe you if you say you’re good here. No pressure.”
She wasn’t sure she could agree that she belonged, necessarily, on the bridge–in the XO or the CO seat. Science chief, sure, she could swing that. Missed it sometimes. And Sara never seemed to regret offering up the position, even if (or especially because of?) they butt heads from time to time.
“I feel like there’s a human term for this. About tinted lenses. That make things look nicer?”
"I have been known to wear those" he said with almost visible sadness. A few new lines of sorrow around his eyes for emphasis. "I am really good here. No chance of me getting caught in anything that doesn't concern me" he finally added, those lines smoothing themselves out as he smiled (a bit).
"If you ever do take the plunge, you can count on this old man to follow you around again." He took a swig of his drink, feeling suddenly very exposed. "Despite my past transgressions…I will always have your back"
“That…” She sucked in a breath and held it a moment. Nodded, let it go. “That means a lot to me, Tony. It does. If I ever get a ship under me, I’ll give you a call, put in a request.” She lifted her drink. “But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll take it day by day, because that’s all we can do now.”
“One day at a time then….Captain” he said with a smirk, a look he used to throw her way oh way back when. “This is nice. Seeing you, truly”
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Post by glassbreaks on Oct 23, 2022 19:05:55 GMT
Joint Log with Mads as Lt Rike Herschel Annie as Lt Olivia Benson
“Benson! The power coupling in junction 452 blew again! Get your ass down there and figure out what the hell the problem is that we can’t keep a coupling in there!” Olivia’s engineering team leader’s voice echoed loudly off the walls of the jefferies tube she was crammed into, running some scans on isolinear chips. She was pretty sure one was faulty, but there were hundreds to go through in this control panel alone. She sighed and muttered something about a fascist dictator under her breath and called back, “I’ll be there in a minute!” She slid the panel she was working on back inside and slammed the wall paneling back into place with a loud clang that rang through the tube.
“On the double Benson! Ops is breathing down my neck because it’s fucking with the long range sensors and they don’t like being blind.”
“I said I’m coming! Jesus Christ, Dave!” She crawled awkwardly back along the tube in the direction of the yelling.
“Dammit Benson, every minute you take, I get yelled at. And it’s ‘Sir’ to you, none of this ‘Dave’ bullshit. I’m not your fucking sorority sister!” He slammed the hatch to the jefferies tube, mostly for dramatic effect, and stormed off like a moody teenager. He was always pissed about something or other.
Olivia continued grumbling as she climbed out of the hatch and brushed off her knees, then leaned into the tube again to retrieve her toolbox. Latching the hatch, she headed off down the corridor in the direction of Junction 452. As she rounded a corner she ran smack into a small, older woman she didn’t recognize.
“Oh, my god! I’m so sorry! Are you ok?” Olivia looked the woman over to make sure she wasn’t actually bleeding or injured, she had hit her with the toolbox fairly hard. Not immediately seeing any injuries, she absent mindedly tucked away the strand of hair that had escaped from the tight bun on the back of her head while she was crawling around in the jefferies tube. “I should have been more careful where I was going,” she commented apologetically.
“Now I told you, you just don't splice random plants together! That's a recipe for potential total annihilation of humankind! Or in one case, hallucinating Andorians. Irregardless, you don't just- Jesus Christus, was zur gottverdammten Scheißhölle?! Sorry ensign, that was not for you. Herschel out.” Rike loosened her grip on the box of dirt in her hands and tapped her combadge to end communication with the science ensign.
The older Lieutenant looked at the engineer and sighed, “Honestly, I’m more worried about a heart attack from young sprightly people sneaking up on me than a toolbox to the face. The face can be fixed. Momentary panic trauma- eeeh.” She shook her sideways hand.
Olivia grinned, it was the first time she has been called a sprightly young person before and yet it seemed perfectly natural coming from this woman. “I promise I don’t generally storm around all that often, just when my team leader is being a horse’s ass and won’t stop getting on my last nerve,” she paused and considered what she had just said, “actually maybe I do storm around a lot after all.”
She eyes the box of dirt quizzically and asks, “did you just get reassigned here?”
To be fair, at 57 everyone else, or at least mostly everyone else in Starfleet seemed to be young and sprightly compared to Rike. She tilted her head at the term horse’s ass. A horse’s donkey? Wouldn't that be a mule? Mules are quite useful… That probably isn't what she is talking about. Storming around, however, was much more straightforward. “Ahhh. Well you know what they say… the turtle gets the worm. Wait no- that isn't it… Schildkröte schlägt den Hasen.” Rike squinted, “Err, slow and steady? Yes, that's it.”
“Anyway! Yes, I was just reassigned to the Chiron from the Yosemite.” Rike followed the other woman’s gaze. “Oh, this is special dirt that I formulated myself. I brought some with me from my prior ship just in case, yknow?”
“Oh! The Chiron, that’s the ship that just came in not long ago, right? So you aren’t stationed here. You know, if you wanted, I could set you up with a friend from the science department here who could show you what our sciency type people do around here. I’d offer to do it, but I don’t know the first thing about science stuff outside of engineering. I can talk mechanics all day long, but I’m useless otherwise. Plus, my team lead will probably have my head if I found an excuse not to fix that power coupling.”
“Y’know, I’ve always meant to learn more about engineering stuff but I never really had enough time. And by that, I mean I spend all of my time trying to make sure ensigns don’t accidentally propagate the wrong plants to another and end up with some sort of… I don’t know- murder plants?”
Rike shove the box of dirt under one arm and started gesturing with her right arm. “There’s a surprising number of plants that are pretty dangerous but don’t look like it. For example: rhubarb. The vegetable that people bake into pies. Yeah, eating the leaves can cause kidneys to shut down. Even though both the stalk and leaves contain oxalic acid, the leaves have a much high concentration. Too much of the oxalic acid in the human body can lead to a condition known as hyperoxaluria, which is when excess oxalate is excreted in the urine. However, since it is processed through the kidneys, it can lead to kidney stones and then kidney failure like I just mentioned. The symptoms aside from that are just… so lovely. Sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea… So if I were you, I would one-hundred percent avoid rhubarb leaves. Well, even the stalks are bitter as all heck so I personally don’t eat them in the first place… but anyway!”
Rike looked at Benson with a wide smile, adjusting the box to hold it with both hands again.
Olivia blinked, mouth agape in confusion about the hard left turn the conversation seemed to take. “I– I will be sure not to eat rhubarb stalks, I guess? And I’ll take that to mean you'd enjoy talking to this engineer over another science person.” Despite the weirdness of the situation, Olivia found this woman genuinely endearing. “I’ll tell you what, the Chiron is docked not far from where I am headed. How about we walk that way together?” She eyes the heavy looking box of soil in Rike’s hands, “Do you need a break from that box of dirt? I can trade, you take the toolbox for a bit and I’ll carry that instead.”
Oh wonderful! Another edition of Rikepedia didn't crash and burn. “Yes, of course we can keep going that way.” She then shifted, doing a mild grunt as she moved her large box of dirt to one hand. “I was raised on a farm, and my father did most of his equipment repairs himself. Guess who was the one who carried his toolbox around for him?” Rike’s smile shifted mainly to one corner, more winkles showing up around her eyes. “Heck I once insisted on pushing a replacement tractor wheel for him. Was that stupid? Maybe. Did my school’s wrestling coach want me on the team? Well, I said no, but that man was such a hardass that I took it as a complement.”
Olivia couldn’t keep herself from laughing at this latest stream of random information that came from this woman. Once she stopped laughing she offered an introduction, “I’m Olivia, one of the many engineering peons here at Starbase 11. I’d say I hate it, but truthfully, this place is a playground for engineers. Rebuilding this place practically from the ground up makes it worth being a nobody.” She grinned then asked, “What did you say your name is? Or should I just call you the Wrestler?”
“Actually, you can just call me-” Rike dropped into a squat, “The Machine!” She paused then stood back up laughing, which eventually slowed to a wheeze. “I am- I am so- I am so sorry!” She put her free hand on her waist and took a breath, “I just can’t help myself. The name is Rike Herschel. Nice to meet you, Olivia!” She gave a wide smile to the other woman. “Y’know, I have a hard time believing you’re a nobody. Isn't there a saying that goes something like, nobody’s a nobody. Or is it everyone’s somebody?”
“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about,” Olivia responded with a laugh. “So Machine, is this a requested transfer or did you get no choice in the matter? I don’t really know a lot about the Chiron, except they delivered supplies to us for some reason. Were you longing to see more action so you asked for a new post? Orrrrr, is this a promotion?” Olivia got excited about the last idea, ready to celebrate if the answer was yes.
Rike lightly bounced on the balls of her feet, “It is a promotion, ja! I actually discovered methane based life forms on a moon that I named Schatzmond. Then I wrote a 100 page peer reviewed article called Exploration of Microbial Methanogenic Life on Schatzmond. I suppose Starfleet thought it was worth a promotion to a bigger post as opposed to gingerly floating around on a tiny science ship, heh. I sure hope my first week goes smoothly! It's my first ship transfer so I'm nervous about that.”
Olivia waved her hand as if brushing away the concerns of a new posting like flies over food at the barbeque, “If they transferred you, they had good reason. I’m sure you’ll do fine. I’m more interested in these methane based life forms. Tell me something interesting about them, just remember…” she lifted the toolbox, “I’m better with tech than science, so dumb it down for me.” She really was interested too, maybe hanging out with a couple scientists all the time was rubbing off on her. Still, she preferred their company to that of the guys on her team. She had grown tired of hustling the boys out of their credits at Poker night.
Rike held her dirt box tightly, hugging it as she grew excited. “Oooh, you really don’t want me to get going. I could talk about this for two days straight and I mean without breaks or sleep, which is why the other scientists on the Yosemite called me Rambling Rikepedia. Buuuut, if I were to summarize it in about a minute… In region E of the moon, I found Acrylonitrile, which is a liquid organic compound that’s stable enough to be a basis for cell membranes in a methane atmosphere. There was also ice under the surface of the moon that contained methane, hydrogen, ammonia, and water. All of those compounds together can form amino acids and amino acids can combine to form proteins. I’m sure you know the saying that amino acids and proteins are the building blocks of life! Gotta love it!”
“So wait, we’re talking, like, single celled beings? Here I was thinking maybe it was a first contact situation or something.” Olivia chuckled at her own naivety. “My friend is a Xenobiologist, he’d be so ashamed of me for that assumption.” They rounded a corner and headed along another corridor in their trek towards where the Chiron was docked. “You must be really excited to have the resources available to an Intrepid class starship then. I mean, it’s not a dedicated science vessel, but I’m sure there is so much more you can do there.” Her gaze fell briefly on the box of dirt again, “And I have to ask, what is so special about the dirt?”
Rike laughed, “Heeeeck no, I wouldn’t have been the one in charge if it were a first contact situation. I primarily look at non-sentient beings. Plants mostly, but I do love some microorganisms! And well, as for an Intrepid starship, I hope this one has a plant biology science lab or I will lose my mind. Either way, this particular dirt I specifically formulated for ferns, since I am going to add a vertical wall garden of ferns in my quarters. I’m bringing this just as a backup in case well, there’s a versauen. I may or may not be very particular when it comes to my plants.”
“I dunno, personally, I think you’d be a lot of fun in a first contact situation.” She imagines Rike explaining some obscure fact to a very confused member of a species we know nothing about and can’t help but laugh at the idea.
“Oh pfft,” Rike waved her hand, “that is terrible. The first time I saw another species away from Earth, I accidentally ended up in a bar with a lot of Klingons and ended up drunk and on a table singing sailor songs. At least I didn't end up stabbed or uhh,” she paused to think of the worst thing that could happen, “decapitated. I absolutely shouldn't be trusted with first contact.”
Olivia’s eyes sparkled with mirth, “Now see, you sound exactly like the kind of person I want to get a drink with. The last time I went out, I ended up embarrassing my friend by dancing on a table. He has refused to go out with me ever since. And we weren’t even in danger of stabbing or decapitation! No one knows how to have any fun anymore.” She gave Rike a small wink at the idea of risk of stabbing or decapitation being part of the fun.
“Ooh, man. I nearly got into trouble so many times when I was younger. As an 18 year old I shouldn't have been trusted to go hitchhiking across the quadrant. I perhaps had too much… ‘fun’.” A loud smack accompanied Rike’s facepalm. “Hell, I somehow ended up staying on a pirate ship for two months because they liked my floral arrangements too much.”
“I never realized floral arrangements could be so persuasive. Were you just decorating the mess hall tables with them or what? Or were these special floral arrangements?” Olivia made air quotes as she said special, implying illicit substances of some sort or other.
“Look, they were very much lacking in the interior decor department. It was all doom and gloom, dark, grey, drab, bleh. It all needed brightening up.” Rike stopped walking for a moment and took a deep breath in, then nodded. “But yes. That- that too.” She cleared her throat and continued walking.
“I knew it!” Olivia cracked a sly grin and shook her head. “No pirate is that interested in just flowers. I wouldn’t be surprised if I learned you were actually the pirate queen.” She only half-joked. She’d only known her for a short walk but she already could believe nearly anything to be true about Rike.
Rike started laughing at the queen comment. “Oooh gosh.” She let out a final chuckle, “It's funny you say that because the thing is you aren't entirely wrong. Rike actually means ruler. Not even kidding.”
“Well then, m’lady,” Olivia feigned a deep curtsey to Rike while speaking with a truly awful impersonation of a British accent, “Allow me to discharge my most honorable duty of delivering you to your appointed airlock.” She laughed and waved an arm dramatically to their left, where an airlock stood open that would lead onto the Chiron.
Finding the awful British accent hilarious, Rike threw her head back and cackled. “Oh that’s great!” She involuntarily snorted, then promptly covered her mouth, after which she glanced away as she cleared her throat. “Thank you, you’re lovely.” She paused, “I mean, you have been lovely, not just straight up you’re lovely. Wait no- not in a bad way. I don’t mean that you aren’t lovely. You are actually very lovely. Gottverdammt. What I’m trying to say is… this interaction has been lovely.”
Olivia laughed, “I agree, it has been really lovely. I don’t know how long your ship is supposed to be here, but if you get bored, just give me a call. I can show you around the planetary facilities if you like too.” She lifted her toolbox with a wry grin, “Meanwhile, I’m off to fix a power coupling for the fifth time. You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.” As she turned and headed off down the corridor she called back to her new friend, “good luck with your new assignment your majesty!” She threw Rike a final joking wink and disappeared around the corner.
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Post by spacedaisy on Feb 9, 2024 3:29:26 GMT
SCI Marika Lenali with NAV Jeremiah Rome-Perez
Mari stepped into her quarters and shed the jacket almost immediately, tossing it onto the couch. She walked over to her dining area and grabbed a bottle off the shelf, along with a glass. The bottle of intaro had been a gift to her from the Lo’Ami colony. The mintark fields had recently produced their first harvest and they had made a batch of the spiced wine. As a thank you to her, they wanted her to have a couple bottles. Popping the cork, she poured a small amount into the glass and set the bottle down. Mari lifted the glass and inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet scent before taking a very small sip. She carried her drink over to the window overlooking the park and gazed out at the night sky. She may have lied to Jeremiah about the bench having the best view on the planet. She was pretty fond of the one from her viewport. Being an important part of studying highly desirable technology for SFI did come with its advantages. Even if it was a small consolation to her conscience.
She stood there for a while, watching people come and go from the event at the plaza. It was busier tonight than usual because of it. She had only stayed long enough to see her old crewmates get their honors before she left. She didn’t even recognize all of them anymore. There were so many new faces. It felt like everyone was moving on without her. It was a familiar feeling. A shuttle landed to pick up some dignitaries from the ceremony and she wondered if Jeremiah was piloting tonight.
“Computer, what is the location of Ensign Jeremiah Perez-Rome?”
“Ensign Perez-Rome is in the main cargo transport hub on the orbital facilities,” the computer responded in her usual chirpy voice.
She hadn’t spent much time on the orbital facilities, maybe it was time to check them out. After a quick change out of the rest of her dress uniform and into something more casual, Mari found her way to a transport pad and instructed the Cadet on duty to get her as close to the main cargo hub as he could. The Cadet shook his head at her ignorance of the orbital station layout and beamed her to a transporter room directly across from her desired location. It wasn’t until she reached the door to the main transport hub that the niggling doubt about this decision crept in. But by now, she had drunk just enough to ignore it and the doors slid open for her to step inside.
The doors opened to a large shuttlebay, filled with automatic load lifters, synths and Starfleet personnel working, offloading the cargo transports and larger shuttles for parts for the ongoing repair effort. Amongst the chaos there was one person slowly polishing the nacelle of a class V shuttle, ignoring the chatter and laughter around him.
Mari crossed the room, avoiding someone gliding by with a large pallet of containers. He gave her a weird look, clearly wondering why someone dressed like a civilian was in here. She just smiled and nodded to him, trying to act like she knew what she was doing. Finally reaching the shuttle where Jer was working, she commented, “I think you missed a spot.”
Jer, still crouched down, looked over his shoulder and smiled a genuine smile at the visitor "Mari.” He put the cloth in his pocket as he stood up and turned to face her, almost instinctively taking a step towards her but being unsure seemed to rock back and forth instead. "This is a nice surprise, what are you doing here?"
“It’s been a hell of a night, thought I could stand to see a friendly face.” She glanced around as she said that, “I suppose that interrupting you at work might not have been the wisest decision though, in hindsight. I guess I just get interrupted so often, I thought it was normal for everyone.” She laughed a bit self-consciously.
Jer smiled and tapped her gently on the shoulder, "It’s fine really. Come, I was just about to head back actually. This oaf bumped a hoversled into my shuttle and I just wanted to make sure she was okay.” The pushed a panel on the hull and the door slid open, "let's take a ride"
Mari grinned and ducked inside the shuttle, joking, “I wasn’t expecting an escort back to the surface. Now I know how the brass feels.” She settled into the seat, “but I think I annoyed the cadet in the transporter room, so this works out perfectly.”
Jer smiled as he walked behind her to the pilot seat, running an arm over the back of her blue padded seat. "This is a cargo shuttle, Mari. Be happy it has oxygen". He tapped a few controls, bringing the mains online. A loud hum reverberated through the hull "Transport hub alpha. This is shuttlecraft XB 0084, we are ready for takeoff. Requesting permission to depart".
“Way to rain on a girl’s parade, Jer. Here I thought I was getting special treatment.” She flashed him a playful grin and then leaned back against her head rest as she waited for them to get clearance and take off. “Do you stay here or planetside? I don’t think I ever asked before. I don’t have much occasion to be up here in the orbital facility, myself. I barely have much excuse to even leave my lab.”
Jer's hands flew expertly over the controls before them as he prepared the shuttle for takeoff. "Shuttle XB 0084, this is control. Permission to launch after 0075 and 0155. You are queued up. Safe voyage home. See you tomorrow".
“Roger, control. XB 0084 over and out.” Jer turned to flip a switch over their head “I think only essential personnel stay up here to be honest….us grunts are barracked up planetside, next to the highrises you blueshirts get” he smiles as he stretches his body past her, activating the deflectors. “What do you do anyway?....biology?”
“In that case, I’ll try not to rub it in that I lucked out in the personal quarters department. As far as what I do, I guess the best answer is whatever the brass tells me to do these days. But my area of specialty runs in the fields of physics, subspace quantum mechanics, and a little bit of temporal mechanics,” she gave a small, dismissive hand wave as she said it, implying it’s not an interesting topic of discussion. “All that mind-numbingly theoretical kind of stuff that bores everyone to tears.”
“I” he said, bringin the shuttle´s thrusters online, the vessel rising off the ground “Am already lost”. “I make ship go fast”.
He piloted the shuttle towards the big shimmering blue forcefield and slowed it to a halt “We are next”.
Mari laughed, “Well, I didn’t know the difference between a passenger shuttle and a cargo shuttle, so who is really lost here?” Jer smiled at her. “Want to give it a go?”. He tapped a series of symbols, bringing the console opposite her to life. “I take it you remember your pilot training?”
Her eyes widened at the suggestion and shot him a semi-panicked look as the console in front of her lit up, “Are you crazy? It’s been ages since I touched any flight controls! I’ll probably kill us both and take out part of the orbital station in the process!”
He chuckled at that "don't worry. While we leave the bay, we are in the station's guiding array, meaning that if we so much as stray more than 25 meters off our path in any direction about 17 different tractor beams will latch on and take over. So, don't worry…I'm right here"
Mari looked at him for a second, realizing he wasn’t going to let her out of this one. So she leaned forward in her seat, until she was sitting nearly on the edge of the chair. Her hands hovered over controls with trepidation as she tried to recall her pilot training in the academy. Finally she tapped the console and it gave an offended bleep making her cringe, “Wait, no…” she blushed a bit at her mistake and tried again, this time finding the thruster control and it jumped slightly as she gave it a little more than needed. “Sorry,” she apologized, shooting him a glance, half expecting to find him laughing. From there she did manage to take the shuttle out of the bay, even if it wasn’t the smoothest ride ever.
Jer tapped a control, bringing the controls back to his console and engaged the engines, diving the nose of the shuttle towards the planet below. “You did good”. He threw her a smile, then turned his attention to the attitude control and adjusted their approach vector. “But I will take it from here….so, where can I drop you off?”
She settled back into her seat a bit more comfortably now that he had taken back over the controls. Mari tried to ignore the little pang of disappointment she felt settling like a rock in her stomach. She wasn't sure what she had hoped for when she transported up to the hub, but it looked like it was going to be a short-lived distraction. “I don’t know, wherever is convenient for you, I guess.”
“Well….it’s landing pad A or B I’m afraid. But landing pad A is closer to the city?” he smiled, typing the coordinates into the main computer. “Let me buy you a drink?”
She considered the question for a minute. “How do you feel about wine?”
“Hey, I am up for anything”. Moments later he landed the shuttle at the designated pad and offloaded his passenger “you lead the way…exit to main street is through there” he indicated towards a large gate that led to a pedestrian street.
Mari clambered out of the shuttle and waited for Jer to join her and together they headed out into the pedestrian street, “I asked because I have some wine from home back at my quarters.” She paused here as she realized how it might look, “I don’t mean– I’m not trying to get you in bed or anything, I just don’t feel like dealing with people in a bar tonight.”
"That sounds perfect, I could use a little downtime".
It was a short walk to her building and up the lift to the third of five floors. Down a short hall from the lift were her quarters. As she stepped in she motioned to the living area where there was a couch and a couple chairs with end tables by the large window overlooking the park and plaza. “Feel free to sit anywhere.”
The room was comfortable, but didn’t seem overly personalized. She had no knick knacks to speak of and only one holo capture of Mari with a handful of other people. If the holo was initiated, it would play a short loop of the group laughing and joking. For the moment, however, the holo image sat frozen and silent on an end table next to a potted plant with one small flower that looked like it had only recently bloomed. Aside from these two items, the decor looked very much like Starfleet standard. There were no pictures of family or personal items to tell much about her life.
Jer looked around, passively, not wanting to give the impression that he was snooping, while consciously comparing her quarters to those he visited last on the Zorya. "It's nice. Clean". He tried to smile despite that sounding stupid. "I like it. I have 3 bunkmates"
Mari laughed, “It’s easy to keep clean since I don’t spend a lot of time here. Three bunkmates huh? I know whose quarters we’re not hanging out in then,” she joked as she grabbed a couple wine glasses and set them on the counter. She poured what might be an overzealous amount of the deep reddish-orange wine into each one. Then Mari set the bottle on the little coffee table before retrieving the glasses and offering one to Jeremiah.
"Thanks" he said, accepting the drink while looking around for a seat, then gingerly moving over to the sofa and sitting down. "It’s not from Orion is it?"
“No,” she chuckled at the suggestion, “It’s actually from a colony where my people have set up refuge. But the seeds of the plant were from home, so it’s as close to home I get. And it tastes a hell of a lot better than anything the Orions make. I think they must hate themselves judging by the things they eat and drink.” She sat on the other end of the sofa.
He held the glass tenderly, examining its contents "are you sure you want to waste something so rare on me…don't you want to keep this?"
Mari tipped her head a bit, thinking it was a curious thing to say. “Why would it be wasted on you?” She took a sip of the sweet wine and commented, “wine is always better enjoyed with someone else.”
"It's uh. I normally don't get invited to drink fancy wines with …people. I'm sorry. Thank you for sharing this with me"
“I don’t know about fancy…” she commented, looking at the liquid in her glass with a certain fondness. “Anyway, sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I seem to be doing a great job of pushing people away these days so it’s nice to have someone to share it with.”
"You too huh?" He smiled ruefully and raised his glass, making a silent toast before sipping gingerly of the orange wine, happily finding himself liking the tanginess. "I haven't really been with people much lately, outside of work. I'm sorry too."
“So if you haven’t been talking to people, what have you been up to?” Mari tipped her head, eyeing him curiously.
For some reason, he told the truth “after the…incident on the Zorya, I couldn’t fly. That is not like I used to. My scores went down fast and I was taken off the Bridge…I went here to get the lightyears, to train my fingers again. But it hasn’t really worked…I am not sure I will ever get to pilot a starship again. I feel like a failure, the prodigy that is stuck running supplies or repairing thrusters”
Mari looked into the swirling liquid in her glass, remembering a younger version of herself. One that didn’t know how to survive in this universe, so she hid away on a ship. She’d made so many mistakes since then. Mari took a sip, buying herself some time to collect her thoughts. “You’re still here,” she finally said, setting her glass on the coffee table. Mari leaned against the back of the couch, resting her head against her hand as she studied him. “Every day is a new opportunity to try again, which means we aren’t a failure. Not yet anyway. Not as long as there’s another day.”
She turned her gaze out the window, looking down into the plaza, with people milling about. Maybe this place was more like purgatory than she’d realized.
"I like that…thanks" he said, watching her. It was strange seeing her again after so long, and without the embarrassment of the past. "It's good, finding a friend" he finally added
Mari thought about what he said for a second. “You know, it’s weird, from the Academy through my previous posting on the Zorya and now here, I haven’t really held onto any friends. I feel like I haven’t stayed anywhere long enough, but maybe I just am not very good at letting people in.” She laughed, “which is a roundabout way of saying I agree with you. I don’t think I’ve had someone that I felt truly comfortable around in a long while.” Her eyes flicked towards the holo for a split second before she looked back at him with a smile.
"So, I think that settles it. We are friends" he raised his glass. "I mean it"
Some sort of emotion passed through her. Mari didn’t usually have trouble identifying her emotions, but she didn’t know quite what it was she was feeling and truthfully, wasn’t sure she wanted to. She gave him a small smile and lifted her own glass in response. “To friends,” she replied before quickly taking a drink.
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