Arrival at Rigel (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 28 Jan 2014 @ 5:22am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Luke Wyatt & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Ensign Matthew Plumeri

2,413 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Rigel System - Runabout Jermias
Timeline: MD 33 - 1210 hrs

[ON]

The small runabout USS Jermias dropped out of warp at the edge of the Rigel system, and a quick automated chirp sounded in Lirha's quarters to alert her that they had all arrived at their destination. Placing the PADD she was reading gently down on the bed and rising to her feet, she let out a soft yawn and pulled her hair back in a high ponytail before stepping out into the main cabin and moving to the cockpit. "I think we have arrived," she informed everyone who was nearby.

Delainey put aside her own PADD and stood to look out the viewport. She was excited to be at their destination, but also just a bit nervous too, more mindful of the potential for crime than she had previously considered.

Asahi nearly fell out of the bed he was in, having previously been sound asleep and dreaming of happy warp cores and pleasant deuterium particles. He grumbled sleepily, pulling a grey sweatshirt out of his bag and pulling it on, pausing only to slip on a pair of matching pants, before glancing out toward the planet.

She saw Wyatt sitting diligently at the controls and took a seat next to him. "Status?" she asked him as she checked their surroundings and the shuttle's systems.

Luke turned and saw Lirha standing behind him, "We're just coming up to Rigel soon, you should wake the kids." He smiled turning to the window and started to tap a way at the command console.

Thumbing the comm button, Lirha activated the runabout's internal speakers and a soft chirp sounded. "Please take a seat and prepare for atmospheric entry. We should be arriving at Rigel VII in ten minutes. It is possible we will be inspected before we land, so make sure all of your belongings are easily accessible."

"Hell, better start hiding all my stuff then....." Siren said lightly with a small smile of amusement, gathering her stuff up, even as she stretched out.

Matthew reclined on a couch and had his headphones on. He was oblivious to the Commodore's announcement and was listening to his music. Snapping his fingers and lightly singing along.

Asahi lazily glanced over at his own belongings to make sure both bags were in nearby locations. After smoothing out his hair, he promptly fell asleep on the floor again.

Moving swiftly through the cosmos, Jermias streaked at full impulse towards its destination then began to slow as it approached high orbit. Through the main view screen and side windows, the large and beautiful glow of the Orion homeworld came into view. Though not as blue as Earth due to a lesser amount of surface water, the world was nonetheless very lush with all types of green foliage, and large areas of arid and desert climates littered the landscape. Lirha smiled to herself and could feel her heart beating excitedly in her chest.

"Beautiful," Carlisle remarked breathlessly from where she sat, for the moment putting aside her apprehension.

"It is at that," Siren smiled widely as she stood next to Delainey to catch a look for herself. "It'll be nice to catch some heat."

As Lirha piloted the runabout closer to the planet, a series of beeps and chirps sounded from Wyatt's LCARS console causing her to look over and investigate.

Luke was looking at the main view screen when a chirp alerted him to his console, it took him two looks to be sure but two ships were on an intercept course to the runabout "Urm - Lirha we have two inbound ships on an intercept course their path indicates that they came from the far side of the planet." Luke applied some quick maths on the console and shook his head "Current speed and trajectory puts the at about fifty kilometres away heading 341 mark 221. Switching to Yellow alert" the light dimmed and then returned with a hint of yellow.

There was no doubt a decent amount of orbital traffic around the planet but the two craft which Wyatt had identified seemed to be focused in on the runabout. Their trajectory was displayed on Lirha's console as a lead intercept course, and her green fingers delicately tapped away at the controls while she brought up a sensor analysis of the two ships. "Hmm... Orion interceptors," she informed Wyatt after identifying their hull configuration. "Hail the lead vessel."

Luke tapped his console opening a hailing frequency "Lead vessel of the Orion interceptors on an intercept course, this is the Runabout Jermias please respond" Luke turned to Lirha and only hoped they were here to greet the commodore though he doubted it.

Several long and anxious moments passed while Lirha waited for the ship to respond to their hail. She wasn't entirely sure of their intentions, but hoped it was nothing too serious which would pose a danger to herself or her colleagues. Finally, a crackle sounded across the comm and a reply came through.

"Federation vessel, you have entered Orion Empire space," said a loud and deep male voice. "Power down your craft and submit to inspection. Prepare to be boarded." The comm channel closed abruptly and the two green interceptors moved swiftly towards the runabout then took up formation on either side of the large shuttle.

Just as well, Lirha supposed. Orions always had been rather diligent people, and they were more than capable of defending their own borders. "It would be best for us to cooperate," she informed Wyatt. "Stand down from yellow alert and set our primary systems to standby, then head to be aft cabin and let everyone know we're about to have visitors."

Luke stood down yellow alert immediately and set the runabouts systems into standby "I'll go tell them the good news" He said standing up and walking towards the aft cabin. In the runabout it didn't take long for him to reach his destination as he entered he could see some confused faces "Sorry guys it seems that the Orion's want to inspect us they'll be boarding shortly so don't freak"

Delainey offered a weak smile and a quick nod. They weren't aboard the Galileo and they weren't about to be boarded by Klingons or the Borg, but it was just a reality that she would never consider being boarded innocuous again.

Sensing that the runabout had slowed, Matthew opened his eyes to see Luke standing there. He pulled off the headphones and asked, "Are we there yet boss?"

"Sort of, we have two Orion interceptors currently escorting us through their space. They wish to inspect the ship and crew" He repeated for the new ensign. "Just remain calm and vigalent and if you haven't taken your sprays I'll do so soon"

By this time, Asahi had managed to finally rustle himself out of slumber, and had been eying the view when Luke popped in. "Shouldn't be too bad then, unless anyone's got anything weird on 'em."

"Aw, don't talk about Wyatt like that, he can't help the way his face is made," Siren joked with a casual voice, but cast a smile towards Wyatt. The way she saw it, she and Wyatt had boarded a Borg cube together in the same team and come out of the fire alive; that had earnt them the right to make fun of each other forever more.

Luke laughed "Oh please if its anyone there going to suspect of looking suspicious its definitely you perhaps we can just stop the hassle by giving you over now" He said now moving towards the front of the runabout where Lirha was but slowly enough to catch any reply. "Mind you they'll probably beg for us to take your annoying ass back"

Delainey heard what sounded like playful banter and took a deep breath. It was impossible to be nervous when others were laughing, wasn't it?

Matt leaned over to Delainey and said, "Hey...no worries OK? It's just routine. They're just taking a peak. Right? These are her people. We'll be fine. It's going to be fun!"

Carlisle turned to face Matt and offered and embarrassed smile. She hadn't realized she had telegraphed her feelings so readily. "Sorry, not trying to be a buzz kill. Just a little gun shy still." Of course, he already knew that from their conversation earlier. She had to admit, she enjoyed talking to someone who wasn't looking to her for guidance.

"No worries...nothing to apologize about...it's all good doc.", Matt said.

Three green transporter swirls shimmered in the aft cabin and suddenly a small group of Orion security officers materialized. Each of them was tall and well-built, and dressed in traditional Orion body armor with disruptors on their hips. They quickly took in their surroundings before moving forward to address the crew.

"I am inspector Harron. Each of you will show me your identification and declare any items you are transporting," the lead one said while the other two proceeded to pull scanning devices from their belts and began to wander around the runabout collecting data. "We do not get a lot of Starfleet visitors on our world...why are you here?" he inquired of the group.

Luke produced forth his documents and smiled at the first inspecting Orion officer "It is unusual yes but we are on shore leave here looking for no more than sun, sea and fun times!" He fidgeted slightly "As for goods you should find the usual holiday goers things. Clothes, entertainment perhaps some more exotic items of no consequence. "

Asahi was quick to hand his own documents over, brushing a hand through his hair. "Just on a little vacation." Even if he had nothing to hide, he was intimidated by the officers. "The bags are full of clothing mostly, sunglasses, a pack of playing cards... but again, mostly clothes." He packed relatively light, assuming the planet would have plenty to offer in terms of entertainment.

Delainey offered her identification and consciously forced her shoulders to relax. The last boarders she'd encountered certainly hadn't asked for ID, she joked internally, consciously telling her brain to attend to the details which contradicted her fear response. Carlisle had heard enough stories from the crew she'd counseled to be secondarily traumatized. It was all the more reason to seek relaxation, she reminded herself. "I've brought mostly clothes and a few things to read," the doctor explained. "I'm here for a vacation."

"Here you go. I believe you'll find everything in order there?" Matt offered his ID and said in a flattering way - but not too flattering, "How did such an interesting, and clearly professional customs and security transport guys like yourselves end up pulling the welcome wagon for the out-of-towners?"

Inspector Harron proceeded to process each of the identifications he was handed, making sure to diligently scan them with his hand-held device and input the identities into the Orion database for record-keeping. His head swiveled around and he kept a close eye on his other two security members as they moved methodically through the runabout's different cabins and scanned various containers and devices. The blond, short-haired Human's voice interrupted his thoughts causing him to look down at Plumeri.

"Ah yes, the Human 'sense of humor'," he chuckled loudly. "I have heard stories of your unique and colorful idioms." He handed back the IDs to Luke, Asahi, Delainey, and Matthew. "Customs enforcement is very important to the colony. Without people like us, who knows who -- or what -- you might encounter during your 'vacation' on the surface. Besides...we are adequately compensated for our work," he explained.

Matthew nodded sensing the dulled barb from the Orion. These guys were sharp. "I have no doubt. Well, then we and other like minded tourists have you to thank for safe passage and a welcome stay. Any advice for the thrill and pleasure seekers among us?"

Harron continued to eye the curious Human then smirked. "Make sure you do not have too much fun... Or else you might never leave!" he laughed again with a deep and mischievous chuckle.

Lirha moved to the rear cabin to join the rest of her crew and give Harron her ID. When the inspector saw both her and Nesh, he nodded politely and processed their identifications. "My apologies for the disturbance, mistresses. This is simply standard procedure. We'll be gone in a matter of minutes," he informed them in their native tongue, then started up some small-talk. "An Orion in Starfleet...you must be very accomplished.. We could certainly use someone with your talents directing our main space port operations."

Giving the large bald man a small smile, Lirha lightly shook her head, her dark hair bobbing lightly across her shoulders. "Thanks, but I'd probably get bored. I like to travel and explore...Starfleet was and still is the best opportunity for that. I appreciate the offer, though."

Siren tilted her head when he moved on to her, offering her padd across with a small smile and a quirk of an eyebrow. "Nothing of interest here, I'm really very dull, just on a break like the others," she said lightly.

When the inspectors had finally left Matt turned to his friends and said, "Well...the planet awaits?"

Lirha was back at the helm console and already preparing the runabout for its descent pattern into the lower atmosphere. With Wyatt sitting next to her handling the communications protocols, the two of them contacted the appropriate traffic controllers and got clearance to land.

"Hold on, we are entering the atmosphere," she informed the group, then pitched the runabout's nose down at an acceptable angle for entry. Outside of the cockpit window, bright and glowing red flames licked the forward shields as the atmospheric friction built up on the hull within tolerable levels. The craft's inertial dampers were online and provided a relatively smooth ride, but there were a few bumps and sways along the way.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Ensign Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
Guest from USS Nimitz

LT Asahi Kita
Ass. Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galielo

CPO Luke Wyatt
Security Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Counselor/Medical Officer
USS Galileo

PO2 Siren Hex
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Blake]

Inspector Harron
Customs Patrol
Rigel VII
[NPC - Saalm]

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