Lunar Shielding (Part 1)

Posted on 08/23/2020 @ 4:28pm by Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD

Mission: S2E1: The Skunil Incident
Location: Class-L Moon in Orbit Over Skunil
Timeline: Day 39 at 1415

As Lieutenant Jodon Joral and Doctor Richard headed off towards the source of the immense power readings that were emanating somewhat nearby, the other two members of the away team set off to gather clues and collect information about who used this moon base and for what purposes. Though clearly it had given them a tactical vantage point of Skunil and the Federation colony that was rooted there. Were these the people responsible for the deaths, for uprooting the colony? It was all too likely.

J.J. was focused on navigating them with his tricorder through the foreign base. It was not a Federation design. Essentially, he was using his tricorder and the general scans as a map. The energy readings that were unusually high were the goal, where they needed to get to. His suspicion was that it was the generator for the shielding, possibly a control area for it as well. "So...Doctor," he began trying to make some 'small talk' with the Counselor. "Cash," he added with a shaking of his head. "What's your professional assessment of him if you do not mind my asking?"

Siobhan was following the XO with the tricorder in her hand. She was moving quietly and gracefully like a cat, about half step behind the other officer. She was interested mostly in lifeforms..., but she couldn't locate any. As they moved deeper through the unfamiliar corridors, she focused on the architecture. It wasn't anything Siobahn had seen before. It suggested perhaps an unknown race, or at least one that didn't have a lot in common with the Federation, as the tricorder couldn't identify it.

When the XO spoke to her Siobhan turned her eyes on him. Did he really asked about professional assessment after less than two days on board of the ship?

"It is too early for that, Lieutenant. He is keeping a facade, likely to cover something else, as in my experience, there are very few people who are naturally the way he is acting. But please treat that as a guess not a professional assessment."

J.J. blushed a bit as he broached the next thing that came to his mind. "What about his general behavior and honesty? The stupid things he blurts out or jokes about. They are not very professional...but do you think there is any truth to them? Like when he 'flirted' with me? Not that I would ever date him or anything."

Siobhan noticed the blush and the question seemed to give another context to his earlier one.
"Why not?" She simply asked looking at the Lieutenant curiously.

Why not he was not expecting that as a response, she was countering his question with a question. "I..." he began to respond yet stumbled to find the appropriate thing to say. "I could not see myself in a relationship with Lieutenant Cash because he does not check off the criteria of who I would want to be stuck in a jefferies tube with let alone in a relationship with. I do not mean that rudely, but his cavalier attitude and arrogance holds no interest to me. There are better options."

Siobhan was watching the XO responding and she didn't answer immediately. She wanted him to realize what he said exactly before she was going to comment on it.
"From what you are saying I have quite different impression, that he actually holds a lot of interest to you." She said that firmly but without any judgement or particular emotion. "As for better options... name one." She added. She wanted to know what he considered a better option, or if he even considered one.

"Literally, the entire crew," replied J.J. with a chuckle. "This does not leave us," quipped the First Officer. "I do not know who or what I am interested in, Dr. Richards. Being joined to my symbiont changed everything...the way I perceive things. I came home once after being joined and my feelings were scattered."

"Maybe that's the issue." Siobhan pointed out. "You don't know what you want. Maybe Lieutenant Cash somehow is rubbing that part in one way or the other." She suggested looking at the XO. "As the executive officer, of the entire crew, you picked Lieutenant Cash for this conversation. That for me is suggesting something."

"Maybe I chose to discuss Cash because the Captain doesn't approach me and say is 'Is that a phaser or are you happy to see me'" J.J. replied paraphrasing what Lieutenant Cash had done before they arrived. "Nobody else does that, and yes I am uncertain. The Joral symbiont's previous host was female. You try being joined and coming home for a holiday meal with your family and sit there thinking 'why is my brother attractive because I can assure you you'll lose sleep over that."

"Maybe then we are having here a more complex matter than you try to frame it, Lieutenant," Siobhan said. "On one hand we have Lieutenant Cash, whose attitude apparently rubs you the wrong way. On the other, it seems that you are questioning your sexuality. Both clash, and since there is not a similarly... vivid personality around, you connect both into one. Or is it too much of an assumption on my part?"

The two were getting closer to the source and the tricorder was chittering up a storm. "Sexuality is complicated, especially when you are me... joined and such" J.J. replied with a slight sigh. "What would you say if I said I felt something for Lieutenant Nachtgeist or uh the Captain?"

Siobhan aligned her own tricorder which also chirped with new information.
"Sexuality is quite simple, Lieutenant. Our civilized brain makes it complicated. You ask what I would say on your attraction? Nothing. I don't see them as anything unusual." She gave him a reassuring smile. Siobhan did PhD on sexuality among others. She was guessing that the Lieutenant knew about it, hence the subject. But it could be also something that he genuinely wanted to talk about. "Do you feel somehow wrong with your feelings toward them?"

"Oh no. Well, yes, but not because of that," he replied shaking his head. "The Captain is my Commanding Officer and is decently older than I am, well not my symbiont. Nachtgeist is just pleasant and I really enjoy his company" J.J. explained. "I just am having a hard time
making heads or tails of it...like if it weren't for being joined with Joral, would I still have those feelings about them?"

"As I understand, since you are joined, you are a new person, so to say. A merger. Your preferences are somewhat a resultant of your host and symbiont. Does it matter which one contributes to which preference?" Siobhan asked looking at J.J. calmly. "Does what you feel makes you uncomfortable because it goes opposite to how you felt before?"

"Not opposite," he said in a quieted tone. They arrived at a bit if a barrier. A doorway of sort that did not simply open. Lieutenant Jodon Joral examined it. There was a panel nearby. "This isn't going to open for us, Doctor. We need to get to the other side" he stated.

Jodon took a few steps back and gestured for the counselor to likewise follow his lead. "Together," he said as he retrieved his phaser. "Take aim at that control panel. We're going to blast our way in. Short circuit it ideally."

Siobhan put away the tricorder and pulled the phaser. Taking a position as indicated, she aimed the phaser. Short circuit. No problem.
"Ready." She said and as they fired, sparks burst out of the control panel but nothing happened. "I am not an engineer but I don't think that short-circuiting is..." With a terrible screech, the doors opened. "...easy." She finished and sighed.


A Post By:

Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant Jodon Joral
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse