Lunar Discovery

Posted on 08/08/2020 @ 2:57pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG Larissa Syndel & Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD & Master Chief Petty Officer Henri Boudreaux
Edited on on 08/08/2020 @ 3:37pm

Mission: S2E1: The Skunil Incident
Location: Bridge, USS Crazy Horse
Timeline: Day 39 at 1310

As the ion storm cleared, it became possible to comply with the Captain's order to scan both the planet and Skunil's two moons. Cian, still in the center chair, spent his time reviewing recent intelligence reports while he waited for the scan to finish.

"Results for the first moon are coming in now Sir." Larissa called from the Ops station. "It registers as class L, carbon dioxide levels are extremely high down there. No life si..... wait, there are signs of high power generation on a northern continent.... There's a facility of some sort."

"Life signs," Cian asked at once. If one wanted to watch Skunil and not get caught by a group of low-tech settlers, then the moon would provide a good vantage point.

Larissa rechecked the sensor data and shook her head slightly "The sensors can't pick up any in the base, there is a shield around it that's distorting the scans."

He turned toward his first officer, a subtle shift in position, as he met the Trill's gaze. "Assemble your team, Lieutenant. Its in a good position to watch the planet without detection; occupied or not, that base may hold answers we need."

Lieutenant Joral nodded as stood from his seat. "Well, if being on Skunil was not eery enough, the thought of us having been watched the entire time is unnerving, Captain," he said his Commanding Officer. "Wish me luck" he added before he started towards the turbo lift.

"I would have said tactical rather than unnerving," Cian answered. "They watched that world. Planned their strategy from a base the settlers couldn't hope to find. Find me some answers, Number One."

J.J. shot a look at the Operations Officer. "Syndel, if you would be so kind as to inform my away team: Counselor Richards, Lieutenant Cash, and Master Chief Boudreaux. Please have them report for away team duty" the First Officer directed before disappearing into the lift. J.J. took a deep breath. He had done an alright job on Skunil at least he thought he did. Skunil was void of life signs and full of clues, this moon base; however, was a complete unknown. They could not get a clear reading as to life signs or not.

"Aye Sir." Larissa responed before tapping the comm button on the Ops console. "Lieutenants Richards and Cash, Chief Boudreaux. Report to shuttle bay 1 for away team."

=/\= On my way. =/\= Reported Siobhan.

"Boudreaux here, Bridge. On my way to the shuttlebay." Henri closed the connection and headed straight for the armory to retrieve a phaser and a good tricorder; he moved quickly, not fast enough to knock someone down, but fast enough that the enlisted were quick to step back. That whole on time or earlier thing was deeply ingrained in him. He retrieved what he needed and then headed for the Shuttlebay. The investigator in him was more than a little curious to see what was there and how it related to the tragedy on Skunil.

=/\= This is Cash, will be there is 3. =/\=

[Shuttlebay, Deck 12]

Henri was first to arrive in the Shuttlebay; a shuttle was being prepped for departure and he walked over. After a quick discussion with the deck hand, he took over the part of the checklist that dealt with supplies on board. It was routine but necessary and something he'd done many times before. Sitting and doing nothing was his personal version of torture and so, humming softly to himself, he got to work.

Siobhan entered the shuttle bay with her usual, confident walk, though her face wasn't reflecting that confidence so well. It was her first away mission since a while and the first so deep into the unknown space. Did she feel nervous? A bit, but most of all, she felt excited. She assessed the shuttle and then moved her eyes to Boudreaux. "Master Chief." She greeted him. "Should I armed myself?"

"Haven't heard, Sir," Henri responded, the warmth of his Cajun roots infused into his voice, as he shrugged slightly. "Being security, I'm always armed. Whether there's need or not." He gave the gear a final once over, nodded firmly, and then walked to the opening. "We're good here," he said. The deck hand nodded his thanks and Henri turned back toward the Lieutenant. "Sorry about that Sir, just helping out with the checklist."

"Ma'am. I do prefer ma'am." Siobhan pointed out. Well, either way, it wasn't that helpful either. "I'll pick myself then a phaser. Just in case. Carry on, master chief."

Cash stepped onto the shuttle. "Hi gang, anyone miss me?" He asked. "Okay, I see the ship is prepped. Pre-flight checklist....Lets get it on." He said sitting in the cockpit.

"Unless you are planning on leading the mission yourself, you'll need me, Lieutenant Cash" said J.J. who had entered the shuttle to catch the engineer's remarks. The First Officer had a phaser holstered to his side as he carried a nondescript case. "Cash, I'll need you to work on calibrating these bio-dampeners, they will be our ticket into the fortress" J.J. said almost teasingly about the moon base.

Cash turned to look at J.J. "Me, leading this mission? You know my first order would be a double vodka martini, right?" He said smiling moving to the proper station. "Hey Lt, is that a phaser in you're holster, or are you just happy to see me?" He asked starting to work on the bio dampeners.

J.J. shot a look at the Master Chief. He gave the man a nod, "Chief, did my request for environmental suits get across to shuttlebay personnel?" he asked, seeking to ensure the environmental suits had indeed made it aboard.

"Yes, Sir," Henri said as his dark gaze traveled reflexively to the locker where the suits were already stored, his mind going back over the checklist he'd just completed. "Inspected and ready to go."

"Thank you, Chief," J.J. replied to the Master Chief before he redirected his focus on the engineer. "May the stars help us if I ever get so desperate, Lieutenant Cash," he said to the man in response to the phaser comment. "I can assure you, it brings me no so substantial happiness to see you, but nevertheless, I appreciate the reminder that you are still working on finding a balance between your low brow humor and potentially unobtainable professionalism. I can always depend on you to be yourself."

"Why Lt., I do believe that was the nicest thing you have ever said to me. gives me a lump right in my.......no, sorry. That was just indigestion." Cash said while working on the bio-dampeners. "May not be the most professional engineer in the fleet, but you just might be hard pressed to find better sir. Oh, and don't knock it till you've tried it." He said smiling in response to J.J.'s response on the phaser comment.

The First Officer took a breath before responding. He had little patience when it came to Cash. "If you were as irreplaceable as you dream yourself to be, Acting Chief Engineer Cash, I do not believe you would be assigned to this posting. I may be hard pressed to find someone on short notice, bit given enough time I feel confident that I could" he countered.

"Now, I have work to do so if you have to whip out your phaser and measure it, please do so elsewhere, and if your ego gets bruised a bit I am sure the Counselor can provide you a quick therapy session before we arrive on the moon."

Siobhan listened to the exchange from her seat. Quiet, curious, her blue eyes moved from person to person. She didn't know anyone of the men with her. She met briefly the XO and from what little interaction they had, the current behavior seemed to fit in nicely. The last part though made her pause and she glanced at the XO raising her eyebrow remaining quiet.

Cash just smiled and went back to work knowing full well that the last comment made could apply to anybody. Including the XO. Besides, he had no time to measure phaser size as the XO put it so bluntly. He had a job to do.

Lieutenant Joral took a seat and sent a message to trigger the shuttlebay to be cleared out and the bay doors to begin to open. The shuttle's destination was close by, the moon of Skunil, and there they would find the base. J.J. could not help but feel a bit nervous, it was another mission albeit a continuation of Skunil, but yet again into the unknown.

With everyone turning to their duties, Siobhan had little else to do that to patiently wait and observe how the situation would develop.

A Post by:

Commander Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant Jodon Joral
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Alexander Cash
Acting Chief Engineering Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Larissa Syndel
Chief Operations Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

MCPO Henri Boudreaux
Security Investigations Officer
USS Crazy Horse