Waiting

Posted on Fri Jul 31st, 2020 @ 3:16am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Cadet Junior Grade Triston Montgomery [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Ensign Kara Hoffman & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Nevada McKay & Lieutenant JG Devin xi'Indrai & Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Lieutenant M'Tuuri Sh'iss [S'hib] & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Staff Warrant Officer Reo'thanra Sandtail & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Private 1st Class Durak

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Bridge/various
Timeline: MD 9 - 07h00
2307 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix entered the bridge in silence after the main away team had beamed down to the planet's surface.

Now all they had to do was wait. She moved to the center chair and glanced around. The crew were slowly taking their seats. Some were junior officers, who needed the experience.

Alicia had been going over reports in her office trying to act like it was just another day, with Lunara reassigned the department was down a counsellor so the workload had to be split between herself, Tate, Savar and Madeleine. She was grateful that the ship had a descent number of Counsellor’s. Picking up one PADD containing her report for Phoenix, and another containing some files she needed to review she made her way to the bridge. As she walked she jumped a mile as she came around a corner and almost bumped into a crewman, she’d done her best to convince Savar and herself that she was coping without her senses but truth be told she wasn’t.

Arriving at the bridge a short while later Alicia exited the turbolift and made her way over to Phoenix. “Good Morning Captain” she held out one of the PADDs. “My report for the counselling department.” She gazed around the bridge noticing for the first time how strange it seemed not sensing those around her.

"Thank you Counselor" Phoenix took the report and placed it beside her on the Center Chair.

Jess walked onto the bridge with a PADD for Lt. Hoffman. "Hello, Lieutenant. I've been keeping my pilot trainees busy fixing the minor EPS systems so your people can focus on the major stuff right now. This is what we've got back on line right now, and if I let these kids sit around don't nothing, they might actually think they're something special." The Squadron Commander noted. "And I could use other things to fix, as I intend to keep the pilots toiling for ten hour shifts each." A slight smirk appeared on her.

Kara smiled as Jess approached her, she reached out to take the PADD. "Fantastic work. I knew I could count on you. There are still some minor problems with the environmental systems on decks 12-13. I haven't had a chance to personally see to them yet, I'm sure I can count on you and the trainees once more to save the day?" She was aware she was asking alot of other departments right now, but so far everyone had performed above and beyond in helping her team get the ship back up to scratch.

At Helm, Ensign zh'Rhilror checked their station holding.

"Away team beamed down" Called out Lieutenant Morgan from Operations.

Alicia sat nervously rubbing her hands together, she felt totally out of place without her senses. Humans had to live their lives without senses as did plenty of other species like her Trill half but she had no idea how to cope without her empathic half.

Man'darr hated manning the Tactical Station--he was and would likely always be a more hands on kind of officer. Preferring to be in the field. Hell, he was a Marine and yet he was taking a Fleeter's job. 'I am surely cursed,' he thought as he looked over the sensor scans and not noticing anything abnormal.

Nevada McKay shifted uneasily at her console the near sensory overload of information the ships sensors were providing her almost Lost on her. While she'd never slouched at the academy all those many Many Years ago, But she'd never truly felt comfortable as a Sensors officer. It certainly didn't help that her Whole focus with the Fleet originally had been Medical care and Research, a field that, while useful and necessary, had little to no parallels with the unique complexities of Science sensors. Regardless of her Unease of being on the bridge She nodded with a Genuine smile to the captain. "Good morning ma'am" she said without a hint of worry in her practiced voice.

Gary sat at his normal place, the XO's station. he was silent as his eyes swept the bridge and the officers that manned it's stations. Not the normal bridge crew to be sure but he had no doubt the officers manning the various stations were up to the job. he looked over to Phoenix and gave a slight nod of approval.

Devin was beyond confused at her assignment for bridge duty at the Communications center. She was trained for infiltration and investigation but she had never been put on communication duty. She had been taught that you don't allow your voice to be recorded over communication channels except for mission necessity. This was a whole new ball game as far as she was concerned. She knew what the controls were but she wasn't certain what exactly was expected from her. She listened to the chatter for the moment and she would hopefully not mess up too badly.

"You look like a fisssh out'a waterrrr." M'Tuuri purred as she padded silently up behind Devin, her lips already sipping from a large white mug she held on both of her fluffy hands.

Devin looked up at M'Tuuri her expression surprised, "Yeah maybe." She kept her voice low but she as certain that the Caitian heard her, "Everything caught up in the office or are you just here to tease me with your drink?" She figured if nothing else M'Tuuri might help her avoid mistakes but maybe the Caitian was only there to watch her goof up.

***

Meanwhile, in Tate Sullivan's quarters, the counselor was just putting the finishing touches on her uniform in case she were called to the Bridge or to The infirmary in case of emergency. Normally, Tate would have been sleeping, since her usual Beta shift didn't start for several more hours, but since the away team would be launching early, Tate wanted to be prepared for anything. She prayed they would not inadvertently do anything to compromise the timeline or get hurt.

***

In Sickbay Heather was enjoying her first full time shift, now her leg was healed and better she was able to get back to work. She picked up a PADD and started off with checking the status of the ship’s medical supplies, making a note of what needed topping up out of the stores in the cargo bay and what would need restocking next time the ship docked up.

Maddy walked into sickbay. she was looking for Mrs. De La Rosa, who was in need of a counseling follow up. She stopped a pretty redheaded Marine and asked for assistance, "Excuse me, Sergeant, do you know where I can find Heather De La Rosa?" Maddy asked warmly.

“I certainly can” Heather smiled warmly. “That would be me. What can I do for you?”

"Actually, it's what I can do for you." Maddy smiled, "I was told you were in need of a counseling follow-up after some recent health and trauma issues. So, is there somewhere we can talk?"

Heather nodded, “We can talk in the spare office it’s used as a nurse’s room when needed for private consultations.” She motioned Maddy towards the offices. Once inside she offered a seat as she sat down.

"Thank you, Sergeant." Maddy smiled as she sat, this was the first time she'd ever met a non-commissioned nurse, but Heather certainly seemed caring enough, a good quality for her profession, "I appreciate your willingness to see me, you'd be amazed how many people I have to chase for weeks to get these follow-ups done."

“I don’t have a problem with counselling” Heather smiled as she made herself comfortable. “Please call me Heather it saves the titles.”

"Okay, Heather, please, call me Maddy." Maddy asked, "And where would you like to start our discussions? We can go as far back as you'd like, even to your birth."

“There’s no need” Heather smiled. “It’s mainly my time as a slave that I was having counselling for. I still get nightmares every now and then but not as often as I did, especially now I have Fernando there for me.”

"That's good." Maddy smiled, "And how have you adjusted to married life? It has to have been a huge change for you, a few months ago you'd not even met this man, now you're married to him."

“Actually ... it’s not been that much of an adjustment.” Heather smiled. “Fernando saved me from my master, he brought me here and in doing so he saved my life. He’s been there for me every step of the way and somewhere along that way we fell in love.”

"That's beautiful." Maddy smiled warmly, her eyes getting a little misty, "My boyfriend came back from the dead for me, so I understand."

“Seriously?” Heather looked at Maddy in surprise. “I can only imagine how that must have felt.”

"Yeah, he was shot in the head when the Romulans boarded us a few months back." Maddy recalled, "But one of the nurses found a small, weak pulse and Dr. Hertz was able to stabilize him and then Dr. Strode, Tallia, was able to repair his brain so he should be finishing the academy here soon and get commissioned as a Marine officer, hopefully here, too."

“A marine officer?” Heather smiled. “I may yet get a chance to meet him then.”

"I hope not." Maddy shuddered, the idea of Mark being injured seriously again was too much for her to handle, "At least not in your capacity as a nurse."

“Heavens no!” Heather shook her head. “I simply meant as marines we’re bound to eventually meet.”

*** Transporter room 2- Deck 2

Holt was bent down on all fours, in the large empty transporter room. This was one of the rare occasions he was stationed somewhere other than the bowels of the ship. He moved the handheld degauzer across the transporter as he had been instructed to do. ~Well, it's not the bridge, but it's better than being chained to Lt. Hoffman constantly.~ He thought to himself.


=/\=BRIDGE

"an Vantar to Elysium. Captain are you there?"

"Lalor here. Report commander"

"Listen Carefully, Captain." Arri began to explain the situation in detail with Lt. Carlyle and Lt. Commander Westin. She then continued. "Captain, Lieutenant Carlyle has thus far upheld the prime directive to the best of her ability, but she became evasive when I asked her several questions concerning the status of Commander Westin. True she has upheld the prime directive, but if she has knowledge of Lt. Commander Westin's activities here, and fails to to come forward with that information if we determine Westin has violated the prime directive, I will have to place her under arrest for dereliction of duty, and an accessory to a violation of General Order One." She mentioned. "I am not certain she understands how serious the situation she's in, even the charge of Dereliction of Duty will destroy her starfleet career, considering the circumstances around it."

"Well we shall cross that bridge when it comes to it. I will start a search of their files and prepare more teams to beam down to assist with the search." Lalor stated. Phoenix cut the connection and stood. She thought for a moment.

"Avalon!" she summoned the AI.

the AI appeared. "contact the following officers, and get them to medical for cosmetic changes and wardrobe. There will be two teams. Team 1 will be, Commander Gary Taylor, Lieutenant Commander Turak, Lieutenant Alicia Kelea-Salik , Sergeant Heather De La Rosa and Civilian Malak Kavanagh. Team two will be Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen, Lieutenant Commander Jessica 'Valkyrie' Vaii, Lieutenant Olivia (Carter) Voight, Lieutenant Nevada McKay, Warrant Officer Timothy Rhodes Sr." She paused. "Savar will be in charge of that away team. Commander Taylor, bring up all records on a Lt. Commander James Westin and brief both teams on him and how to search without being caught out. We need to do this swiftly."

Avalon nodded and vanished.

Gary pulled the files on one Lt. Commander James Westin and read. Westin it seemed upon his acceptance to the Academy, he showed a prowess for history, ancient cultures along with temporal theories. He graduated in the upper quarter of his class.

After graduating he was posted to the Starship Salamis where spent two uneventful years as a junior science officer. He was promoted to Lt. jg. and transferred to the starship Jefferson. where he was a member of the science department. He served with distinction. Another promotion followed. Then he discovered the "Rosetta Stone" when he found the origins of an ancient civilization and was able to decipher their language and learn about their culture. He was promoted to Lt. Commander for his discovery.

In the 2394, he and a Lt. Carlyle were investigating the VOID when their shuttle disappeared. Now it seems they were stranded on Earth of the past. By all accounts Westin was a good man and officer but now it seemed he had gone off on a reckless tangent. He would have to be caught quickly and without fuss.

Alicia listened carefully as she was on Taylor’s away team this was information that would be important. “If Westin has been a good Officer up until now something drastic must have caused this change.”

Gary glanced at Alicia, "I agree Counselor but what? That's the key and making him realize the path he is on is wrong."

Alicia gazed at Taylor, realising for the first time that she hadn’t relied on her senses to still do her job in a positive way.

Phoenix paid no attention. She moved to Ops, gave a soft voiced order of increasing the scans and getting the other away team back as soon as possible. They were in real danger of messing with the timeline now.

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