Away Mission Part 1
Posted on Fri Jan 8th, 2021 @ 1:47am by Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Lieutenant Victor Barclay de Tolly & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Ensign Olivia (Carter) Voight & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Lieutenant JG Ryan Kade III & Ensign Andrew Carey & Ensign Ethal Luen & Private Christian Laknema & Gunnery Sergeant Luxa Gami [Naxea]
Mission:
Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Captain's Yacht
Timeline: MD5 11h00
1894 words - 3.8 OF Standard Post Measure
The hatch to the Captain's Yacht was open. Several operations officers finished loading crates and supplies into the cargo bay area of the craft along with the numerous ordinances that had been requested by Security and the Marines.
They all seemed to disperse as the Away team gathered at the hatch.
Glancing at the crates, Lt. Victor Barclay de Tolly made sure everything he knew had to be there, it was there.
Olivia had stopped by her quarters to get a couple items that she thought she might need on the away mission and then headed over to Sickbay to get a few extra supplies that she wanted to have on hand just in case they were needed. After the last mission the crew had been on, Olivia wanted to make sure that they were better stocked on a few items this time around just to be on the safe side. The bulk of the medical items had already been sent down ahead of time.
Andy went over the crates one more time, they had been requested even before the briefing, and had him curious about the reason. Now he knew. Everything was there, they were all calibrated correctly.
"Commander S'hib... all crates and weapons required for the surface is accounted for." He replied as he handed him the padd which detailed all weapons that would be sent down.
"Thank you, Ensign." S'hib nodded, taking the PADD from Andy.
It had been some time since Tate had been part of an away team, and she had to admit she felt a mixture of anticipation and nervous energy. She was happy to have the opportunity, however, recognizing it was both an opportunity for a change of scenery as well as an opportunity to maintain critical skills for any Starfleet officer.
Approaching Olivia, Sullivan offered, " is there anything I can assist you with?"
Olivia looked up to see that Sullivan had approached her from another direction, for she had been busy with double checking a few things. "I could use a little help on double checking to make sure that we have all the needed medical supplies," Olivia replied. "I ordered a few extra items in hopes that we don't come up short handed on things medical wise like the last time."
"Good thinking," Tate replied. "If you have a list, I'll look it over for you and make sure everything's here. A second pair of eyes can't hurt, right?" In the meantime, Sullivan begin scanning with her eyes, making a mental list of everything present.
Naxea, along with SSgt. Gami, Pvt. Laknema and seven other Marines, all dressed out in their combat armor entered Captain's Yacht. Staff Sergeant, Private Laknema, and Marines go ahead and get strapped into the shuttle.
Christian nodded and followed with the rest of the Marines into the Shuttle. Before entering he noted the Counselor and was a bit surprised to see her but didn't show anything towards it. He sat down and started to figgit a bit. This was his first major away mission as a Marine since Boot, nervous was a bit of an understatement.
Naxea made her way over to Olivia and Sullivan. "How is the loading going?"
Olivia looked up at the Major. "Going good so far," Olivia replied. "Was just double checking the medical supplies as they got loaded to make sure that we didn't forget anything. Don't want us being short handed if at all possible on supplies this time around."
"Everything looks good from my end," Sullivan confirmed. "Lieutenant Voight did a great job of gathering the things we could need."
"Good job," Naxea commented with a grin. "Carry on."
Arrianna entered the Yacht with a duffel full of some equipment. "Alright.... Listen up." She mentioned. "Our mission, may end up being pointless. Even if we were to scout out this planet. They may not be so inclined as to accept our help in building their colony. I recently had an opportunity to establish... an understanding per say with this group."
"They probably feel like we are overbearing, they did get this far without us after all... then again, they could just be stubborn." S'hib snorted, as he entered the Yacht behind Arri, his phase staff clinking as he rested it against his hoof.
Christian looked at the staff that S'hib was carrying and shuddered while at the same time gave it a dirty look at least this time it wouldn't be used on him... he hoped.
"It will be an adventure," Victor says in his positive voice.
"Its only twelve minutes away, at warp 4" Miraj agreed. "The least we can do is make sure its all okay down there before they ditch. Maybe find them somewhere with a nice view, easy weather. Its hard to get used to a planet when you've lived you're whole life in space," something she knew from experience. "Somewhere pretty can help with that."
Ethal arrived at the shuttle all kitted up and ready for the away mission. She had a bag with her that was rushed being put together full of various pieces of equipment useful for the task at hand. The main difference from her to when she was in the briefing room was her footwear, instead of the pristine uniform boots she was wearing, they were traded for more aged well-worn boots that definitely looked like they had been on more than one expedition.
Naxea took her seat, stowing her phaser rifle in the weapons compartment next to her seat as she did so. Looking over, she saw the form of Staff Seargeant Gami sleeping. The sight caused her to chuckle. The woman could sleep through a barrage of anti ship fire.
Avalon appeared. "Commander? is your team ready for departure?" the AI asked.
Baeryn walked... well more like ran to the yacht. Had she not ventured in the wrong direction three times she would have arrived promptly. Luck just had not been on her side the last few days. Whavi stepped around the hologram and slipped into an empty seat with a quiet huff, she wouldn’t have been surprised had they left without her. She nodded to commander Arrianna and listened in.
Andy took one of the rifles, looked at it, and sat down in an available seat.
Glancing at the available humanoid sized seats S'hib simply opted that the floor would suffice, crossed his hooves and gently lowered himself to the carpet of the Yacht, huffed quietly to himself as he laid his staff down beside him.
After double checking the medical supplies and making sure that they got loaded up, Olivia headed into the Captain's Yacht to claim a seat. Looking around, Olivia found one and headed towards it.
Tate saw S'hib claim a space on the floor and she grew concerned. Of course, it didn't seem he had much choice, but given everything they had been through, she didn't want to take any chances. "Might we replicate a safety harness for Lieutenant Commander S'hib? No disrespect to anyone's abilities, I just want to be sure we're not taking any chances."
"If you put the jump seat by the door up, there's hard points for five point restraint around it." Miraj said over her shoulder from the pilots seat, the door between cabin and cockpit wide open. "You just need to fiddle the slides to the right height. Look for adjustable safety straps in the replicator, and tell it to reference Commander S'hib."
A long drawn out snort left his nostrils as everyone fussed about over him. “This is the Captains Yacht, not an escape pod... the floor will suffice.” He stubbornly said as though that was the end of the matter, adjusting his legs somewhat and getting into a more comfortable pose.
Ryan had patiently waited for most to enter the shuttle before he did, casually walking inside after them. He noticed S'hib and made way towards him. "Hey, there," he nodded, "mind if I join you?" Ryan asked, though he sat down, anyway. On the floor instead of in one of the seats, Ryan's arms rested on his knees.
"There is plenty of room..." S'hib replied, stretching his long neck and finally resting his hands cupped inside one another on the floor between his legs.
"Besides," Naxea began as a chuckle escaped her. "The commander is noted for having a hard head so I'd worry more about the yacht."
"Maybe, said Commander could come up with a plan to submit to the higher ups to have the yacht and a couple shuttles upgraded so that there would be proper seating for him and others that may come along down the road at some point," Olivia replied.
The AI reappeared. "Ensign, you are clear for launch." She informed Miraj.
Arri nodded. "I don't know about the rest of you. But I'm ready for a nice, calm survey mission where no one will be shooting at us. Maybe we replicate some sandwiches and set up a towel for this human thing called a 'picnic.'
Tate smiled but remained quiet. So much had happened to the crew of late, she had to admit she was more nervous about this excursion then excited. Of course, she couldn't overrule S'hib's stubbornness, but that didn't stop her from worrying about his safety. Turning her attention back to the group, she knew she would be better off focusing on what she could control.
Miraj turned back to the con, sealing and pressurising the yacht, "Next stop, the ever so excitingly named HIP 4096421 - 4. No one start any long movies, its only about thirteen minutes."
With that warning, she pushed forward on the helm, and the Captains Yacht glided out of the bay. She turned it in a wide arc to put some space between the kilometer long Elysium, and the ships that sheltered under her bulk. "I hope no-ones forgotten what warp feels like." And that was all the warning they got before she fired up the warp bubble, the core hummed to life, and the Yacht disappeared into a streak of light.
"So what is on the agenda for once we land planetside?," Olivia asked.
"Well for starters nobody is going off on there own, for any reason." S'hib huffed with his eyes firmly closed, the only movement from his body simply coming from his lungs expanding his chest.
"This planets biota could be dangerous, insects, parasites... even plantlife," He added with a slight twitch of an ear. "So I would suggest groups of three as a minimum... and don't worry, I won't be this boring once we land..."
"Damn," Naxea cursed with a grin as she watched S'hib on the deck of the shuttle. "And here I was hoping for a peaceful mission."
"Well, I guess that means you can't go off by yourself either then, Commander," Olivia replied with a bit of a smile. "Can't have you going off alone and getting hurt."
The corner of Baeryns lips perked up into a side smile. She admired the protectiveness the members of the team shared. It was nice to know they had each other’s backs. Whavi was used to a more tough love environment but she kept her sarcasm to herself. Her eyes shifted from the commander to the other crew mates before settling on her calloused palms.
TBC.. Part 2