A Gathering of Eagles

Posted on Thu Feb 16th, 2023 @ 4:40am by Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Consul Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Legate Imik S'Niohun [Lia Taylor] & Captain Addison 'Rico' Leyton & Lieutenant JG Jason Danvers [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Tarr Zell ( Barclay de Tolly )

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: Shuttlebay 1
Timeline: Current
3292 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Jason and Samaire were beamed into shuttle bay 1. "Looks like we're the first pilots here Samaire."

"Beaming gives one an advantage." The Ops officer replied with a smile that was forced.

=/\="Imik to shuttle bay 1, do you require me to remain on patrol or should I return to assist with further rescue attempts?"=/\=

Jason looked around and at Samaire before he replied to Imik. =^= Danvers to Imik. Come back inside so we can discuss the next step in our plans.=^=

=/\="I understand, please open the shuttle bay doors."=/\= Imik now turned her fighter towards the Elysium and the bay.

=^= Opening shuttle bay doors now. =^= Jason replied. =^= Enter when ready and when you have parked your fighter, please come join the discussion. =^=

Addison walked into the shuttlebay after stopping by the replicator to replicate a flightsuit for her. The last thing she wanted was to attend a pilot's briefing in her PJs. She also replicated a cup of coffee that she sipped as she approached the gathering group of pilots.

Malakai looked up from replicating coms to see pilots streaming into the shuttle bay. "Keep going Chief." He said to O'Keefe. He walked over to Samaire and Danvers. "Lieutenants, what is going on?"

"Sir, Captain Taylor ordered all pilots and crew with piloting experience to report here. It seems we've located a planet and the captain wants scouting teams to find a location for a base camp."

"I see. Very well." Malakai replied. We'll need to get you two and the others into shuttles and runabouts."

"Yes sir" Samaire said as she looked around.

The door opened and the Andorian from flight control came in. Her clothing was torn and dirty but she was in one piece. She looked around and spotted Eric and gave him a nod before heading towards the Commander. "Commander Starr, i was told to report here." Neri said.

"So what are we doing?" Addison asked, as she seemingly hadn't been noticed approaching the group.

Consul Andrinn Orin had beamed in mid-sentence of various conversations in the Main Shuttlebay. He wasn't sure what was going on in the various conversations, but he had been beamed in due to his willingness to help shuttle people between the ship and the planet that was nearby.

Orin walked over to a group of people that had been talking and said, "I'm Consul Orin. I've had some shuttle training and said I was willing to shuttle some people down. Where can I help out?"

Malakai looked at Addison and the Orin. "You can all help. We've located a P-class planet and we will be sending scouting teams to find a location for a base camp. Once we do and work has begun on the camp, we will begin to evac the crew to the planet."

“Class P?” O’Keefe muttered. “We’ll freeze our bollox off!”

Sean continued replicating. The pilots coming to the bay reminded O’Keefe of his childhood friend, who was also aboard. “Commander Starr,” O’Keefe shouted. “I know a damn goo’ pilot. Yuto Yamoshita. I ‘ear ‘e’s been grounded, but a bet’er pilot ye may nae fin’”

Malakai made a note of the name. "Once we know more, I'll look him up if he doesn[t show up here." Malakai replied to Sean, "Thanks for the name Chief."

"Oooh! Did I hear Class-P?" Addison's Weapons Officer, Lt. Talas asked?

"Yeah, only you would be excited about going to a Class P Planet, you cold blooded bitch," Addison said, chuckling.

Tala only smiled wider, her white teeth matching the whiteness of her white Andorian hair. "I'll bring some Sunscreen and a bikini."

Addison rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her coffee.

Malakai looked up at the banter. It was a welcomed sound that even in this situation, the crew could still find humor. "You heard right ladies. A P-class world. Where you won't have to go far to get ice cubes for your drinks." Even as he said it, his mind went to Kara and their unborn child. Were they alright? Once things calmed downed, he would go and look for her.

"Well, if this is a Class-P planet, doesn't that mean the warm blooded officers need to stay onboard some sort of ship to make sure that they don't freeze to death? Especially someone like the doctor, who I think needs it even warmer to be able to survive in our environment?" Orin said, listening into the conversation that was being had all around him. He had pulled out his tricorder and looked around the shuttle bay, making sure that all the shuttles and various other support craft weren't too badly damaged, assuming that everyone was taking rounds of taking people back and forth.

Malakai looked at him. "I'm sure when the times comes the Doctor will be in the medical shuttle where it will be significantly warmer, and I believe you mean cold blooded officers. Where their blood is heated by the temperature of the air around them."

Orin waved his hands gently as he replied, "Yeah, whatever that one is. My biology isn't up to snuff and it wasn't truly my strong point. But, how many people are like our dear doctor that are on the crew?"

Malakai stared at Orin and bit back a scathing comment and instead answered with, " As to how many are like the CMO, I don't have that number off the top of my head and even if I did it is irreverent as I don't know how many have died."

"Look" Samarie stated from where she was standing. "Its the only viable planet in range, We have no choice. Its not like we can just dial up Earth and say hey come and get us" She waved a hand towards the shuttles and runabouts. "Can we get on with this? We all have family and friends to save" She turned and headed for a shuttle.

Malakai watched Samaire turn and walk toward a shuttle before he turned back to the others. "What she said. So quit your complaining we have crew and a ship to save."

CPO Coco Hath, the Chief Of The Deck, stepped forward and gave the assorted officers an assessing look. "Right now we have five functioning type nines, 2 danube runabouts with general loadouts, a sovreign yacht and a tultrak class courier available on this deck. We don't have contact with the secondary bay on deck 25, but we hope there are still usable vessels. I'll need a team willing to be beamed down to check who are certified on arrow class runabouts. But first I need a pilot and co-pilot who aren't squeamish for our Medical danube. The chances are there will be nasty shit going on in back whilst your flying, so strong stomachs only. Any takers?"

Jason looked around at the other pilots and when no one spoke up, he did. "I'll fly the medical shuttle Chief. I have a strong stomach. Now, just get me a co-pilot. One who isn't squeamish. If you, please." He thought of asking Samaire but didn't want to force her into anything.


"Are we flying just these bricks in here?" Addison asked, referring to the shuttles and runabouts referring them to as 'bricks' due to their low maneuverability and flight responses compared to a Valkyrie or Gryphon. "We'll take one of the runabouts."

The NCO's look became even more deeply unimpressed. "Since you've already got flightsuits, you stick jockeys can go down to twenty-six and see if you can get the arrow classes up and running. Their lines are sleeker, won't offend your delicate sense of aesthetics so much.

"I'll go too." Anish stepped forward. With Miraj taking over he was surplus to requirements on the bridge.

"Alright then," Hath replied. "Anymore for braving the unknown or do I start volunteering people?"

Imik's fighter entered the bay, she turned the nose to face outward once again. Closing down her engines, she noted that despite her flight her fuel was still ok. Checking the read outs she nodded and eased herself out of the cockpit, she looked around at the milling crew. "So now what is to happen? Do I relaunch in my fighter and act as point defence, or am I required to pilot a shuttle?" Her comment was aimed at nobody and everybody.

"Helo Legate. I think it would only be proper if you remain with your fighter and give the shuttles and runabouts protection as they evac the crew to the planet. just in case something should come up requiring your skills. We'll get you a few more fighters to go with you. I know one team is already heading to deck twenty-six to check out the arrows." Malakai replied.

"Is Demon among those pilots? I have heard nothing of him since this situation began. I will make ready to launch, if needed. There is a small compartment behind my pilots position, sensor equipment or a small amount of medical supplies could be transported there." Imik was also wondering if any other Ojnas vessels could possibly be close by, her people had made it out this far in their travels. For now she would remain quiet on that subject, the Humans may not wish to be rescued by her kind.

"I'm sorry Legate, I don't have any information on Demon." Malakai answered. "I am sure we can use the space behind your seat, as every inch will be needed to transport supplies. Your fighter may even be need to supply sensor data to the helm of the Elysium." He added.

Lieutenant Yuto Yamoshita entered Shuttle Bay 1 walking gingerly on his left leg. He saw Commander Starr seeming to be in charge. This relieved Yamoshita, because Yuto had been getting introduced to Tactical by Starr.

“Commander,” Yamoshita seemed to plead, “I know I’ve been grounded, but I know I can help.”

O’Keefe heard the familiar voice and turned to see Yamoshita. That hadn’t spoken since the Yamoshita’s arrest. Sean seemed to believe Yuto’s father may have had something to do with his father’s death. He knew Yuto wasn’t involved at the time, as both he and Sean were young.

As Sean walked toward Commander Starr and Yamoshita, Yuto noticed him. Yamoshita nodded and said, “Hello, Sean!”

O’Keefe begrudgingly said, “‘Ello!” If Starr wasn’t there he may have punched Yamoshita. Sean realized he had to walk a fine line. Taylor’s orders. However, it was hard to believe Yuto didn’t know who may have killed his Da.

“We have much to catch up on,” Yamoshita insisted. “After all this is done, that is.”

“Yer damn right,” O’Keefe replied. If the effects of the whiskey were still upon him, it wouldn’t have mattered if Commander Starr was standing there.

Malakai heard and saw both the tone in O'Keefe's voice and the look in his eyes. "Is there a problem here Chief? If so table, it. We have work to do."

“It be tabled,” O’Keefe replied.

“Which shuttle can I copilot?” Yamoshita inquired from Commander Starr. “A twelve hour flight is best done with a copilot.”

Malakai looked at the newcomer, "I don't know yet, still getting names to know who we have. What's yours? He inquired.

Orin watched as everything was unfolding in front of him. He had one of his DPT personnel transport him down to the main shuttlebay as soon as the diplomatic transporters were back up and running. Orin walked over to Jason and whispered in his ear, "Still looking for a co-pilot?"

Jason turned and looked at Orin as he made his statement. "Sure am, are you volunteering?"

Orin replied, "I sure am. Better to have a co-pilot because I wouldn't want to accidently crash anything on a planet or elsewhere. You up for have me as a co-pilot?"

"Sure am. You don't have any issues I need to know about like being afraid of heights." Jason asked and the stuck out his hand, "Jason Danvers at your service."

Orin took the other man's hand in his own and shook it as he replied, "Consul Andrinn Orin, Chief of Diplomatic Operations onboard the ship. But, don't let the title fool you into thinking that I don't know what I'm doing. As for heights, I'm not worried about them. Shuttles on the other hand....just kidding!"

Orin just winked and smiled as he teased the other man, wanting to see what he could get out of Jason.

Jason smiled, "Good you have a sense of humor. Might come in handy with the job we have before us."

Hath saw the Trill volunteer to ride shotgun with Danvers and nodded. "Okay, Ensign Talan, You and Lieutenants Addison and Tala go with lieutenant Danvers. He can use Lethe's transporters to beam you down to Shuttle Bay Two."

Jason turned the trio, "If you will all follow me, I'll beam you to Shuttle Bay Two and I thank you for using the Danvers transport system. Please come again and recommend us to all your friends." He finished with a smile.

Addison and Talas looked at each other and grinned, shaking their heads slightly as they began to follow Jason.

Orin just shook his head as the members of Jason's party started to walk behind him. As they began to walk, Orin said, "Well, this is going to be an interesting trip, isn't it? Should I be worried now about those heights?"

"You have no idea. As for the heights not yet Though you may have to worry about a fall." As Jason led them to the Lethe's transporter pads. Captain, Lieutenant if you'll get on the pads, I'll beam you both to Shuttle Bay Two where you can look over the arrows you want to use."

"Sure thing," Addison said as she and Talas stepped onto the transporter pad. "Let's go."

Jason nodded. "Alright ladies, next stop Shuttle Bay Two. Have a pleasant trip and thank you for using Danvers transport services." He said with a smile.

Turning to Malakai, Imik responded. "A wise thought Commander, but another thought occurred me while I scouted the damage on our vessel. There could be a small chance that an Ojnas colony could be close by, if that were the case. They maybe willing to assist us, but I am at a loss as to how to contact any colony if it were to exist."

"An interesting a potentially helpful situation Legate. "Let us table the idea for now then once we get the crew to the planet, we can bring to the Captain and Commodore and get their opinions as well." Malakai answered, "Thank you for bringing this possibility to me Legate."

Nerinath climbed into the type 9 shuttle named Charlie. She brought the power on line and slowly navigated it out of the shuttlebay. She brought up the scopes and plotted the course she needed to start scoping out a landing zone.

Samaire followed Nerinath's shuttle out of the bay in Delta and brought it along side. "Neri" she said into the comm.

"Yeah Sam?"

"That P Class... what do you think ... do you think we will find a place there?"

"P class, like my home, we will probably find caves, a big enough cave system and we can get everyone down." Neri replied.

The two shuttles took their headings and headed for the planet.

Soon enough they were in the upper atmosphere and Neri brought up her scanners. "Well she is cold down there" she hit broadcast on her com to all other shuttles and runabouts. "Northern Hemisphere, close to the equator, there is a tone of mountains."

"Commander Starr, since the shuttles are now being launched. Do you require me to do escort duty? Or are we allowing them to fly unescorted?" Imik watched as another shuttle launched, she pondered on why the Humans called them bricks. *Strange creatures Humans* she decided.

"Escort please Legate. This is unknown space for us, I don't want the shuttles flying into trouble. You and the other fighters form an escort for the shuttles and if we have enough fighters take two to escort the Elysium." Malakai replied.

"I will launch and carry out escort duties forthwith Commander, and I will also scan for Ojnas life signs." She turned and walked back to fighter, thoughts tumbled through her mind. Was there an Ojnas colony out this far? Did her people even care that one of their own was in danger? So many thoughts, once back in the cockpit Imik launched her fighter and quickly caught up the shuttles. She settled of their starboard side and watch for anything to appear.

Jess spoke. "Just like Snowball Earth. I recommend we look for mountain ranges with Vulcanic activity. Some of the volcanic tunnels may give us a geothermal power source on planet's like these."

As Orin was waiting for Jason to beam everyone to where they needed to, he was listening to the various conversations around him and he said, "Do Class P planets have a lot of volcanic mountain ranges? I've never really studied the phenomenon really well, so that's why I'm curious."

Lieutenant Yamoshita boarded a shuttle as co-pilot. He began going through the checks to begin flight while awaiting ops and engineering personnel.

O’Keefe called to security, requesting a security detail to the shuttle bay. He realized that some panicking individuals may try to get aboard a flight earlier than they were assigned. He would have to limit this flight to on Operations and Engineering.

==When all shuttles were launched and surveying the Planet==

Neri’s shuttle glided low across an ice plateau and her scanner pinged. She smiled. “Attention all pilots. We have a massive ridge of mountains in the northwestern quadrant of the massive Landmass in the northern hemisphere. My readings indicate a cave system,”

She sent the scans to the fighters and shuttles “And there is an area in front of it for us to use as a landing pad”

Samaire looked at the scans. “Looks good. Some should land, explore while others go back and get the stuff to start setting up a base camp.”

"Better inform the Marines and Security. We don't know what's down there," Addison replied from the Type 11 Shuttle Charon. Currently she missed her Gryphon Attack fighter as her Weapons Officer, Talas sat in the Co-pilot seat next to her.

Orin sat in the cockpit of the Medical Runabout that he agreed to help pilot down to the planet with Jason. He was a bit nervous as he watched Jason working on his controls, gently guiding the runabout towards the planet and following the other pilots.

As Orin glided his hand over the console, helping to guide the Runabout towards the planet, he looked over at Jason and asked, "Are we going to be able to get into any sort of cavern system that this planet may have?"

Jason swung his head to look at Orin. "Sure. If the ceiling is high enough and wide enough for us to maneuver in. It really doesn't have to be wide as we could back out, but it is easier when you can turn around.

Neri's shuttle angled down as she let it hover in front of what looked to be an opening. "Scans show it goes back at least 2 kilometres and is about 20 meters in height."

When no response was incoming, she made the decision herself. "Ok, someone head back and tell the Command team we found a place. The rest of you begin detailed scans of the planet. We need to make sure it is secure for the security and engineering teams."

OFF