Unexpected Departure
Posted on 03/06/2020 @ 8:00pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG Salynn Oram & Lieutenant JG Jasmine Langtree & Lieutenant JG Marcus Giaus Aurilieus & Ensign Neteri Blackfeather
Edited on on 03/11/2020 @ 1:06pm
Mission:
S1E2: The Plomeek Soup Conundrum
Location: USS Crazy Horse - Ready Room, Security, Sickbay, and Bridge
Timeline: Day 5 at 0805
[Ready Room]
Comm channel closed, Sidonie forwarded the files to Security and to her First Officer then exited the Ready Room. One day wouldn't make too much difference to her ship but for the Blackwell, it would make all the difference. "Ysayne to Lae'Or."
"Lae'Or here... I just got some kind of compressed file from you, but I haven't had a chance to review it... What may I do for you, Captain?"
"I've sent you information on five prisoners currently on board the USS Blackwell who are destined for maximum security on Ventra IV. They were being transported," Sidonie said, "on the Blackwell but we've just received a distress call. Seems their systems are out and they want us to take possession of the prisoners."
"Thank you, Captain." The other woman's tone was subdued, yet respectful and professional. "I'll get cells ready, and be on the bridge promptly."
"Very good," Sidonie answered, her attention already moving on to the next step. "Ysayne out."
[Security Office]
"Thank you, Captain. I'll get cells ready."
Even as she said these words, Tahlin was tapping at her console, summoning Ensign Blackfeather. Mendyar was overseeing the recalibration of phaser rifles, and she needed someone competent to get cells ready. Calling up the information on the prisoners, she skimmed the basics, letting out a low whistle. "Chameloid, and highly unstable... Okay..."
Neteri turned the corner into the security office, "You wanted to see me, Chief?", she said.
"I did... We're taking on five prisoners from the USS Blackwell, which has sent us a distress call. I want five cells prepared, one with extra force fields around it. One of our arrivals is a Chamaloid shapeshifter, and potentially very unstable. I trust the Changeling protocols for force fields are still in the database?"
"Yes they are. I will prepare the four as per your orders and the fifth for our Chamaloid prisoner. They won't get loose on my watch sir", Neteri said
The Bajoran nodded. "Furthermore, I want security teams at all transporter rooms, around Sickbay, Engineering, and the bridge. The shuttlebay should also be guarded, but that's a lower priority. Coordinate with Ensign Mendyar... I'll be on the bridge if you need anything... Questions, comments, and any objections to what I'm asking you to do?"
"No objections so far but maybe we should also post guards in Environmental Control? I have been in situations where they go for the air supply first to disable by way of gas, the personal of the entire ship to make capture easier," Neteri explained. "I am not happy about having shapeshifters on the ship period", she added.
Tahlin thought a moment. "Do it, but your priorities are the areas I mentioned..." After a pause, she continued, "I'll be honest, Ensign, I don't like this situation. It makes me uncomfortable, transporting prisoners to a penal colony. I understand the need, and I don't like it, but I'm going to do the job I swore an oath to do... To defend the Federation and Starfleet... If you or any of our people have problems, tell them to come to me, or send me a message."
"Understood sir", Neteri said and headed to do her job.
Once Blackfeather had left, Tahlin hit her combadge. "Lae'Or to Voight."
[Sickbay]
"Voight here, go ahead." She answered from her office.
"I'm sure you've heard about our unexpected departure... Once we reach the Blackwell, I need two medical teams on standby, one in the brig in case we have prisoners who need treatment."
"Of course, I'll get some teams arranged. Did you have anyone specific in mind for the Brig team, or do you want anyone?" She asked.
"Whoever you think best, though I'd appreciate someone who can handle themselves if things don't go as planned. One of the arrivals is apparently very dangerous. Do you have any Vulcans or Tellarites on your staff?--I hate to rely on them, but they do have significant strength. I don't want to take any chances."
Bryanna smiled to herself. "I do, and I have just the team in mind. I'll assemble the teams. Voight out." She said.
[Bridge]
Satisfied that her Chief of Security would be ready, she surged to her feet. Ready, more than ready, to do the work she was trained for, she walked with a purposeful stride out onto the Bridge and said, "Listen up. That was a distress call from the Blackwell," she said. "Prepare for immediate departure. Helm, locate the Blackwell and advise estimated time of arrival to their location."
Nothing could make an officer sit upright in their seat and send electric shocks through their extremities like the phrase 'distress call'. Salynn had been completing make-work at the console, since they were scheduled for station keeping for another day yet. That was quickly pushed aside as the Trill whipped her hands across the Helm console, the loose braids of her hair whipping about lazily as she moved her head rapidly back and forth as she worked. "I'll have that ETA and location shortly, sir. And departure procedures underway."
"Very good," Sidonie said as she sat down. Turning to her First Officer, she added, ""Number One, request readiness to depart from all departments."
"Aye, Captain," Alvar said, taking a deep breath. He went down the list of each department, hoping that he wasn't forgetting anyone.
"Lae'Or to Bridge. Cells are being prepared, and I alerted Dr. Voight in case there are casualties we have to direct beam to Sickbay... Or worse. I'm on my way to the bridge--my department is ready."
Jasmine was at her station which was to say science one. She had alerted her section and they were making preparations for departure, Finally her board went green.
"Science department reports green. Ready for departure, Captain". Lt. Langtree advised. "Shields and sensors fully operational, Sir!" Jasmine continued.
"Engineering reports green," Logan announced from the port side Engineering station. "The warp core is online. EPS outflow to the grid is at 84% and rising. Impulse speed is ready. Stand by for warp readiness."
During this time, Salynn had been plotting the location of the ship that had communicated with the captain. The Trill had a tentative course plotted, towards a relatively uncharted and dangerous region of space known as the Athegan Rift, and calculated a time to target. With a nod to Logan, the Trill spoke loud enough for the two commanding officers to hear her over the growing din. "Once we have full warp capabilities, I estimate 4 hours, 25 minutes to target at Warp 8. Course is laid in."
Tahlin entered the bridge at a fast, determined walk, giving a friendly smile to the chief engineer and Sal at the helm, then moving to her station. "Ready, Commanders," she told the two most senior officers.
"Sickbay to bridge, we're ready down here Captain, and I have medical teams standing by for your tasking." She answered.
“Counseling Department reports ready,” said Ilos. His staff was small, but ready to do their jobs, and the possibility that people were traumatized and needed their help was very realistic.
Marcus entered the bridge and moved to the alternate tactical station on the bridge's right. Quickly arranging the controls and transferred his systems to his station he turned to the Captain. "Intel ready, Ma'am.
Tahlin gave the Intel chief a look--it made sense that he be on the bridge, and at that station, but she still felt uneasy about him. Hell, this whole situation was making her uncomfortable; she knew that the Federation still operated some penal colonies, but she didn't like the thought of people being left behind high walls and force fields, some of them for life. She might be in Security, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a moral conscience. Isn't there an alternative to locking these people up? she thought. The Chameloid gave her pause, and she knew that there were unrepentant murderers, rapist, and of course terrorists and war criminals, but still...
Moral wool-gathering would do her no good. Giving herself a mental shake, the Bajoran focused on her readouts.
"Commander Ysayne," Alvar said, with a note of pride in his voice, "I do believe that this fine ship and this even finer crew are ready to depart."
"Very good," Sidonie said as she turned her attention forward. "Request clearance to depart."
"Starbase 614," the operations officer on duty said. Fresh out of the Academy and new to the position, there was a bit of a squeak to her voice as she spoke. "This is USS Crazy Horse requesting clearance to depart."
"USS Crazy Horse," came a deep southern bass voice over comms, "this is Starbase 614. You are cleared to depart on flight path Alpha 2. Safe travels."
"Thank you Starbase 614," the operations officer responded, one corner of her mouth quirking upward in a shy smile. "USS Crazy Horse out."
"Helm, retract umbilicals and set maneuvering thrusters to station keeping," Sidonie ordered.
Departing from a starbase under normal conditions could take several hours. It took time and logistics to ensure that Ops had all their cargo transferred in both directions, and that all personnel had been notified and given enough time to cross the umbilicals onto and off the ship. Tactical would check and confirm their weapons stores, Science would ensure that all active and ongoing laboratory work was secured for departure, Engineering would have time to ensure that fuel stores and dilithium crystals were fully accounted for, and so on and so on. Then, and only then, after these hours of preparation would Conn be ready to start the departure sequence. Salynn Oram had had 5 minutes.
All departments would have what they had, like it or not, and any remaining personnel moving off or on the ship would have to do so by transporters. Salynn expedited the umbilical disconnection sequence, severing the connections that let fuel, power, and people move from the station to the ship. She set the test sequence that would check the status of every maneuvering thruster on the Crazy Horse prior to final mooring castoff from the starbase; everything checked fine. With a flourish of balletic finger finesse, Sal made the final coordination with Station Ops and the Crazy Horse was free under her own control, no longer tethered to home base. "Sir, we are a go for launch," said the Trill with a satisfaction earned by hectic work done smoothly.
"One-quarter impulse until we're clear then take us to warp, Mr. Oram," Sidonie said.
Salynn couldn't help but throw a pleased glance over her shoulder at the command chairs, this was her first time flying the grand lady they called the Crazy Horse - the first she'd been flown outside of testing to transport, in fact. That fact made her very happy, happy in a way that a girl from Trill looking at the stars, all the way back to an old Trill who wanted to see his symbiont fly, could appreciate. She could swear that the captain's hair at the roots changed a subtle hue, and the first officer? Sal would need to work on deciphering that inscrutable felinoid face first. "Aye aye, captain!"
Alvar watched the viewscreen as the Crazy Horse left Starbase 614. He occasionally glanced around the bridge, watching the crew go about their respective tasks. A part of him wanted to jump up and run around and try out all the various stations himself, but he worked to control his enthusiasm. He still allowed himself to take everything in, and was reminded of what some of his human colleagues referred to as "that new ship smell" (there was another one of those interesting human sayings, since, to him at least, the ship smelled pretty much the same as every other Starfleet vessel he'd ever been on).
Tahlin focused on her readouts, keeping a hand near the icon for yellow alert in case either of the command team ordered it. She did take a few moments to watch the starbase recede as the graceful Luna-class starship moved away like a fish leaving the lea of an island shoal, first on thrusters, then at impulse speeds. The rumble of the deckplates under her feet as the ship traversed space was comforting to the Bajoran.
"Captain," the young Operations officer said, "Priority message coming in for you."
Sidonie nodded. "I'll take it in my Ready Room," she said.
"Aye, Captain," the Operations officer responded as she routed the incoming communication to the Captain's personal console. She stole a minute to watch the ship moving away from the starbase and smiled. She couldn't help it. Years in the Academy and it was finally, finally coming real.
Sidonie rose from her seat, reluctant to leave the view, to end the moment, and headed to the back of the Bridge, angling slightly to the right as she passed Lae'Or standing at the Security console, to reach the door to her Ready Room.
Tahlin gave the captain a look as the other woman passed her, half-concerned, half-still-in-awe at the Crazy Horse moving out.
A Post By:
Cmdr. Sidonie Ysayne
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lt. Commander Alvar Othram
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Bryanna Voight, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
LtJG Salynn Oram
Chief Helm Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lt (jg) Jasmine Langtree
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Archer Logan V
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Toran Ilos
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Marcus Aurelius
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Crazy Horse
and
Ens. Neteri Blackfeather
Security Officer
USS Crazy Horse
