So it begins

Posted on Wed Dec 9th, 2020 @ 9:11am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Lieutenant Victor Barclay de Tolly & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Lieutenant Tonya King ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG Louis Bordeaux ( Magnus ) & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Joral Bin. ( Barclay de Tolly )

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Near Klingon Border
Timeline: After Senior Staff Meeting
2229 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure

On: Bridge


Gary sat in the center seat, Phoenix was on light duty and he had no intention of bothering her this close to her due date. The Elysium was nearing the convoy to begin escort duty and relieve The USS Crazy Horse.

"Miraj, take us out of warp and go to full impulse." He glanced over to Lia standing at the tactical console. "Lia, hail the Crazy Horse, let them know we've got the ball they can go home. Once we're in position hail the lead convoy ship so we know who we're dealing with."

He swung in the seat to address Alicia, "Alicia, I want you to pay close attention to the conversation I have with the convoy leader. See if you can determine his state of mind, mood"

He tapped the com that opened a channel to Sickbay, "Doc. We're nearing the convoy. Just wanted to prepare you in case there's any cases that need your services."

He tapped the com again to open a channel in Engineering, "Victor, we're nearing the convoy and dropping to impulse. But I want you to keep the engines ready for a quick jump to warp if we need it."

"Yes Sir," Victor replied in Engineering as he had several engineers including Lt. Tonya King, Lt. JG. Joral Bin, Ensign Louis Bordeaux and Ensign Napoleon Bond were at their posts. Each were checking everything from shields to computer core. Victor's plan for Napoleon was to work with Operations with the server.

"Victor," Napoleon asks, "Who is the Assistant Chief of Engineering."

"Three shifts," Victor answers, "Alpha Shift is Tonya, Beta Shift is Joral and last shift is Lt. Junior Grade Pauley LaRourke."

"Good to know," Napoleon replies.

"Lieutenant," Tonya says from the Engineering console on the bridge, "All systems are running at one hundred percent."

"Thank you Lieutenant," Victor says demonstrating his professionalism.

"Joral," Victor says as everything was checked, "See you with Beta Shift."

"Yes Sir," Joral nodded.

Alicia had nodded as Gary looked at her and gave his instructions. She had to put on her ‘game face’ as she called it while in view when Gary contacted the lead ship. She didn’t want to be giving away that she was an empath.

Miraj brought the Elysium out of warp. They appeared close over the top of four ships, like a mother hen covering its chicks, easily keeping pace with the convoy as it trudged through the void between stars.

Alicia was amazed at the sight, in the modern era it was almost impossible to imagine trudging through the stars at such a pace. She could only imagine what the people of the convoy must think of ships like the Elysium.

"Roger Commander". Lia hailed the Crazy Horse and let them know they stood relieved, after a curt good bye the Crazy Horse turned about and left. *Must be the company*, she thought. =^="This is the Elysium, to convoy leader, can I talk to your leader?"=^= A silence fell as she heard only static, clearly their communication devices were as old as the ships. Then came a faint but distinct reply, =^="My name is Avonaco Quispe, I am in charge until I pass or we arrive at our destination"=^=. *Friendly lot*, she decided.

Gary was listening to Lia's conversation with the convoy leader and he opened the channel so he could talk to this Quispe. "This is Commander Taylor of the USS Elysium. We're your escort until you reach your destination. Do you have any needs that need to be addressed at the moment?"

Alicia was listening in, she could only go from voice transmission rather than visual which made her job that little bit harder.

Static floated around the bridge until the reply came, "Our needs are few, but we require you only remain at your station. If you have an arrival time we would be grateful, and a visit from your Doctor to check our children is necessary". Once again silence and static followed, "I trust your Doctor is male?"

"Your trust isn't misplaced, our Doctor is indeed a male." Gary answered without elaborating further.

Arrianna raised her eyebrows. Apparently sexisim was still a thing. She didn't quite understand this group. She then spoke under her breath. 'Unenlightened fools.'

" Ssso I'm going to have to check on the kidsss of a bunch of sssexist relgiousss nuttersss?" came Sthilgs voice over the command staff private channel.

“Commander” Ariana looked at Gary. “Going from the tone of voice and the general ‘feel’ I’m getting I’d say they’re wary of us, they’re used to small antiquated ships and here we are a massive technological monster! They don’t understand us and probably don’t really want to. I can’t give any more information than that without direct contact.”

"That may be true Arri but whether they like it or not, they are stuck with us, so they will just have to get use to it." Gary answered

Gallia had taken her seat at ops and prepared for the long mission, hoping that the sitting duck nature of the escort didn't tempt the Klingons, or the Romulans, or worse than that the Breen, "Jus' wot we needs the damn Breen." She cursed.

Arri responded. "I doubt the Breen would be interested in this group. Pretty much they have nothing to offer. The ships are simple impulse, and they're using an antiquated subspace array."

"Well, thot makes me feel better, doncha know?" Gallia laughed.

"What the hell are we doing here? They sound as if we're disturbing the universe just being here". Lia spoke in general terms, not to anyone in particular.

"Because they are still Federation Citizens, and this is Federation Space, whether we like it or not." Arrianna mentioned.

In her office in Marine Country, Naxea sat behind her desk, listening to the communications between the Elysium and the Generation vessel. Pressing the comm button, she sighed at the man's voice on the other ship "I volunteer to go over and kick their sexist barbarian asses into the Twenty-Fourth Century.

"You cannot force someone to enlightenment, Major." Arrianna noted.

Naxea smirked and leaned forward on her desk. "That sounds like a challenge."

At helm, Miraj sighed. "I'd settle for some one installing a warp drive. How can they stand to go so slowly? Don't they get bored?"


Lt. Victor Barclay was bringing up the schematics of the ship's from the scan, he and his team studies to see if they might be able to make it on what they have.

Gary heard Miraj's question. "Probably not Miraj. This is all they have ever known. If we installed warp engines on those ships. It would scare them to death and likely cause a panic as well."

“Exactly” Alicia nodded. “We have to tread a very fine line with these people.”

"But its not as if they're new to warp. Humans have had warp for over two hundred years." Miraj pointed out. "No one on that ship is that old. I don't get it."

“It’s their way Miraj” Alicia smiled. “They obviously have their reasons, I’d imagine it mostly has to do with each generation being born in this convoy, it’s all they’ve ever known.”

Avalon appeared "Commander Taylor. Captain Lalor would like scans on those vessels every hour. She fears another explosion like the one that sent the Elysium to Andromeda."

"Indeed." Arrianna noted. She believed she would have to speak to the Captain about this, but not too soon.

Gary nodded at the AI, "Understood Avalon and will do."

The AI inclined her head. "She also wanted me to tell you that if we do end up in another galaxy, she is quitting." The AI vanished.

Gary looked around the bridge, " Well that puts everything in a different perspective. Nothing like a little pressure to let you know exactly where you stand."

On the bridge, Lt. Tonya King at the Engineering console on the bridge waited for the results of the scans.

Down in his sickbay, the gorn had finished gathering up all the tools and supplies he'd think he'd need. Tapping his comabdge he camly stated. " I have everything i need for basic medical inspectionsss. If i call sssaying one of the kidsss has red angel sssyndrome it meansss there holding me hostage." He half-joked as he headed for the transporter.

"Got it," Sullivan replied to the retreating CMO from a desk in the infirmary with a chuckle. She felt uneasy about the situation, but it was a good sign some of them could find the humor in it. After recent events, the counselor wasn't sure anyone would believe that was possible again after what they'd been through. She kept a line of communication to the bridge open just so she could be aware of what was going on. That, coupled with an internal video feed from a computer console in the medical facility i'm sure she was kept apprised of any developments in case she was needed. Tate trusted Alicia would reach out to her if she needed assistance. Given Alicia's pregnancy, Sullivan wasn't sure how that would affect future away team duty, but at least in this case, pregnancy didn't seem to be the biggest concern compared to their biological sex.

Unlike them on the bridge, Tate wasn't bothered by the apparent sexism within the convoy's passengers. Being a counselor meant accepting where people were and not judging them for it. Perhaps it meant things would be more difficult for them, but if Starfleet had taught her anything it was that circumstances often provided just the right lever to create a change in attitude. All any of them could do was wait and see how they would be received.

On the bridge Gary replied. "Understood Doctor. Prepare for beaming over to the lead colony ship." He tapped his combadge, "Mr. Quispe, our chief medical officer is ready to beam over, are you ready to receive?"

Whilst they were waiting for a response Alicia looked at Gary. “Commander Permission to join Doctor Sthilg on his rounds? I may be able to help settle nerves and smooth things over. I’m a married woman so I shouldn’t cause any offence to anyone.”

Avonaco sat on his bridge and heard the Federation Commander's request, "We await his arrival, please place him here on the bridge".

Lia had monitored the radio transmissions and had relayed the location to the Transport Chief, she now looked towards Gary. "Commander, do you think it wise to send a pregnant woman on an away mission?"

Arrianna walked up beside Gary and spoke quietly. 'I do not like this, Commander. If we're sending the doctor and the counselor, then I recommend sending security with them.'

Alicia looked at Gary. “If it’s going to cause logistical nightmares I’ll withdraw the request Sir.” She offered a disappointed smile knowing she’d soon be on maternity leave and unable to go off ship anyway.

"Everyone take a breath. First I haven't said Alicia can go. So whether it is wise or not is moot. Lets let them get use to seeing a six foot lizard. I will send one security officer with the Doc though." he across at Lia. "Lia, pick one of your officers to go with the Doc." That done Gary opened up the com channel again. "Mr. Quispe, we're sending our doctor over along with one security officer. Purely standard procedure." Gary fudged.

"Taylor to De La Rosa, meet the Doctor in transporter room 3. Your going on a house call with him, so stick close". She turned to Gary, "Security Officer picked and briefed Commander".

"As long as the Officer is male, there will be no problem. We do not want any of your females brought here, our women do not need polluted by their kind". Avonaco had set out his limits, the Star Fleet personnel would be male only.

Victor read the scans as he saw concerns. "I hope they have enough power because the inertia might cause them to come short. I see by their course, they might have a few obstacles like asteroids which could cause them to slow down."

Stepping into the transporter room with enough supplies to run a small colonial clinic for half a year the big doctor took his place on the transporter padd as he waited for his security escort.

On the bridge Alicia was keeping an empathic tag on the convoy lead ship. She tapped her comm badge. “Alicia to Sthilg ... I’m picking up a fair amount of nervous energy coming from the convoy, be careful over there.” She couldn’t help but feel concerned, Sthilg was her father now.

Fernando came into the transporter room, smiling at the doctor as he stepped onto the transporter pad. "Sorry for being late Doc had to say goodbye to Heather and fix her a tuna fish and pickle sandwich."

The gorn nodded at Fernado as he tapped his combadge. " I'll be fine my dear. I apologize in advance if i can't be back to read Conner a bedtime story."

Alicia smiled albeit concernedly “Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of time for more. Be safe”

With that, the Gorn looked over at the transporter operator and gave a polite "energize."