Flight Control - We are more than 'We fly the ship' these days

Posted on Wed Oct 21st, 2026 @ 8:06am by Lieutenant Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Elias Hale & Lieutenant Jason Danvers [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Kial Jona [Shepard]

Mission: Season 6 - Episode 8- The Price of Home
Location: Flight Control Briefing Room, USS Elysium
Timeline: 11 August 2398
879 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Nerinath stood at the head of the briefing table, one hand resting against the edge as the last of the department filed in and found seats. Behind her, the main display showed Zyphera Prime and the dense network of civilian, commercial and diplomatic traffic surrounding it. She waited until the room had settled. “Alright. We have two problems.”

She tapped the display. “This is the first.” The image expanded, showing approach corridors, station traffic, civilian lanes and a constant stream of vessel movements around Zyphera Prime. “Local operations here are going to be considerably busier than Seelak. Zypheran Traffic Control has primary navigational authority inside the designated approach zones, so while we are here, we fly by their rules.”

Neri glanced across the room. “That means no creative interpretations of assigned corridors.” A faint smile. “No matter how much faster yours looks.” She changed the display, highlighting several areas of heavier traffic. “Our responsibilities are straightforward enough. Elysium’s station-keeping. Shuttle movements. Diplomatic transport. Emergency extraction planning. Navigation coordination. Traffic-control liaison. Keeping our charts current.” She folded her arms. “But I don’t want us simply reacting to traffic as it happens.” Her eyes moved around the table. “I want to know where the problems are before they become problems.”

Jason looked at the display before the assembled group. "A lot to take in Neri but it isn't insurmountable. Just going to take some planning and coordinating all the traffic going on."

Jona Kial studied the specs. Toggling his hearing device, he read the PADD at the lines of text. Over time, he slowly understood the speaker and calculated his responses. Listening to the briefing, he added, "We can do this though. Just follow the process. Any issues we see, we can tackle it one at a time."

Neri nodded at both officers. "Exactly. The traffic itself isn't the problem. It's what happens when six people assume somebody else is coordinating it." She gestured towards the busiest approach corridor on the display. "Jona, I'd like you to look at the current traffic-control procedures and identify where we're most likely to encounter delays or conflicting instructions. Particularly anything involving diplomatic vessels. They tend to believe their schedules are considerably more important than everyone else's." A faint smile crossed her face.
"Jason, I want you looking at our contingency options. If Zypheran Traffic Control closes one of these corridors without warning, how quickly can we redirect our shuttles without creating another problem somewhere else?" She looked between them. "And if either of you finds something that doesn't make sense, bring it to me. I'd rather ask the Zypherans an embarrassing question now than explain a collision later."

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The display shifted to show shuttle allocations and expected diplomatic movements. “We are also likely to be moving delegates and support personnel back and forth regularly.” Neri studied the schedule for a moment. “If we leave that to individual requests, we will eventually have three delegations expecting transport, two serviceable shuttles and somebody wondering where the third one went.” She looked up. “So I want this coordinated. Preferred routes. Alternate routes. Holding patterns. Secure landing points. Extraction routes.” She nodded toward the assembled pilots. “Someone take it.”

Jason eyed the display again what Neri was talking about what chaos, "You said the magic word Neri. All this needs to be scheduled with routes, available shuttles and times. It all needs to be funneled into a central location where it can be handled efficiently."

"Are you volunteering?" Neri asked with a smile.

"I'm considering the work and effort involved." Jason replied with a rueful smile.

Neri raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously like a yes trying very hard to disguise itself as a maybe." She grinned before turning back to the display. "You're right, though. It needs to be centralised. One schedule, one point of coordination, and nobody taking a shuttle because they happen to know someone with access to the hangar."

She highlighted the shuttle allocations. "I'll retain overall responsibility, but I need someone managing the day-to-day transport schedule. You won't be expected to personally fly every diplomat around the system." Her expression turned mischievous.

"Unless you particularly enjoy making polite conversation with ambassadors." She folded her arms. "Put together a proposed schedule, Jason. Include shuttle availability, crew rotations, maintenance windows and a reserve for emergencies. Coordinate with Operations so we're not promising anyone a shuttle that's already committed elsewhere." She paused. "And don't forget that every delegation will insist its journey is urgent. I'd suggest developing a definition of urgent that doesn't include being late for dinner." She looked at him expectantly. "Think you can manage that?"

Jason sat and listened to Neri as she outlined the particulars of the assignment. From what he could tell the hardest part of the job would be dealing with the diplomats, the pseudo diplomats and friends of the diplomats all with their own egos to be stroked and tended to. He met her look, "I can handle it." No brag just quiet confidence. "When do we get started?"

"Now" Neri said calmy. "We are going to be short on time so the quicker we move the better."

"Truer words were never spoken. Can't afford to waste any time." Jason replied already moving.

OFF