Spacedock Ballet (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 03 Mar 2015 @ 6:43pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm & Verity Thorne & Ensign Jaana Voutilainen & Petty Officer 3rd Class Aeleni Loni & Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones & Petty Officer 1st Class Rebecca Williams & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Jonah Chaparral M.D.

3,104 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: Starbase 84 - Internal Docking Facility
Timeline: MD -03 - 0009 hrs

Previously, on Spacedock Ballet (Part 1)...

Moving into the security offices, Gabriel Stark had to pause for a moment, holding his breath and looking around with confusion. Had he heard singing? He shook his head gently, dismissing it as his imagination as he moved around the desk to log in his return. "12 o clock, and all's well," he declared to himself in a sing song voice of a town watchman with his first checks finished. After a good, long shoreleave, he was ready to get back into work, restless with it almost. At least if they were on the move, things were heading in the right direction.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

USS Galileo - Intelligence Office

Siren tried to concentrate on the computer screen, but her gaze drifted around the office as she rested her chin on her hand with a soft sigh. It was so odd not having Amynta around. Her frown deepened. And quiet. She tapped her nails restlessly on the desk, biting her bottom lip gently.

"Quiet, huh?" Verity Thorne moved around to her, shaking his head with a chuckle at seeing it easily enough. He was technically Support so had come to check in at the Intel Office during the departure at least.

Siren gave a quick nod, her smile conceding he was right as she sat back. She wondered if it was the same for the Chaplain when things were changed around. He always seemed to just take things in his stride. "But at least we're back home, right?"

Verity chuckled softly at the choice of words before nodding. "Indeed," he moved around the back of her, giving her shoulder a squeeze on his way past.


Astrometrics Lab

Jaana checked one final time if everything was ready for departure. They had closed any non essential project and a trajectory of the upcoming journey was prepared and showing on the main screen. She'd memorized it by head, not that she'd needed to but just because she was to much of a perfectionist not to. They were ready, she concluded after going over her to-do list in her head.


Bridge

Aelina turned towards the Captain. "All systems report ready for departure, ma'am."

Stace inhaled quickly and then blew the air through her cheeks, shifting her weight in her chair as she righted herself to get back into space. She leant forward a little and then connected to the intercom for the entire ship. "Bridge to all hands. Secure stations for departure. We're about to get underway."

Grayson tapped his comm badge, =^= Engineering reports green across the board, thrusters, impulse and warp all available at your command. =^=

She turned to Ops and nodded. "Release the umbilicals and notify the starbase of our thanks." She raised an eyebrow in a sarcastic gesture but then turned back to the conn. "Cadet, take us out. Thrusters only."

Wintrow turned back to face his station, his lean hands working the controls though they trembled slightly. He had never flown a starship before, and the task was daunting. "Thrusters aye," he echoed, feeling the ship tremble as she slowly started to move away from the docking bay. "Heading once we leave the dock ma'am?"

"Plot a course for the Chin'Da sector, Cadet, and once we've cleared the starbase, go to warp six." Stace now sat back in her chair a little more easily as the main viewer now opened up to the main docking door as it slowly moved open. The stars that appeared beyond the door blanketed the screen as two other ships were seen breaking into warp. Stace raised a smile and added, "Watch out for the traffic, Cadet."

"Course laid in," the teenager reported as he punched in the coordinates, "engaging warp as soon as we're clear." He smiled nervously, never once looking up from his readings. "I'll be careful," he promised as he eased the ship out of dock. His hands trembled as he worked, though his body was tense in his seat, the youth terrified of doing anything wrong.


Captain's Ready Room

Rebecca stood infront of the observation window as she watched the ship pull away from her berth and began her drift out to space. The yeoman still wasn't 100% certain what use she would be during the war games. The captains position would be on the bridge but she was sure she could help out somewhere. until then...departmental reports were still pouring in and needed sorting through.

---

Meanwhile, aboard USS Chronos...

Holliday had found it difficult to relax since stepping through the docking port of the Defiant-class starship he had been assigned to for the duration of this training exercise. Having been initially full of excitement and bravado at the idea of taking a fully-fledged warship into combat, his joy was quickly rained down upon by the realisation that the Chronos was full of cadets - and even worse than that, Red Squad cadets.

The Bridge was seemingly being swarmed by the offspring of the more privileged elements of Starfleet's admiralty and senior captains - pretty boys and cocksure girls that seemed to think it was almost their right to sit in the big chair. The Captain had detested them as a Cadet, loathed them as an Instructor, and now found himself surrounded by them as a CO. The one shining light in all of this however, was his ever-present CoB - who thankfully was on the Bridge to help Holliday keep the kindergarten he had been assigned in one semblence of order or another.

"Chief - how are we looking? Any chance we are going to get out of spacedock in one piece?"

"Aye-aye, Captain." replied Quinn, "Just as long as the kids can take orders and not scratch the paint." The CoB, now temp XO, was in his element being back aboard a Defiant-Class

The Defiant-class' comm station chirped signalling an incoming transmission, and Lirha's distinctive light voice sounded across the channel. " "All ships, this is Admiral Saalm. We are cleared for departure on my lead. Marching order is Atlas, Aventia, Nautilus, Galileo, then Chronos. Hold ten-kilometer separation until we have cleared the solar system's inner belt then assume standard formation."

Holliday was glad to hear the voice of his former Commanding Officer over the comm. Reaching down to the command console next to his chair, the Captain tapped on the comm control.

=^=Chronos to Atlas - understood Admiral - we'll try to keep up. Holliday out. =^=

"Helm - prepare to follow the task force as ordered. Bring impulse engines online and set course for the starbase doors."

The young redshirt on the helm was quick to look over her shoulder at the Martian sat in the command chair. She raised an eyebrow in response to his order.

"Is there a problem Cadet?" Holliday replied, perplexed as to why his ship was as yet to move from it's position against the starbase dock.

"Yes sir - Starfleet regulations require all vessels to manoeuvre within a starbase using thrusters only - impulse engines are strictly prohibited."

John formed a fist with his hand on the arm of the chair, widening his eyes and staring back at the blonde cadet who had called him out on regulations.

"Cadet - I won't ask you again. Engage impulse engines, or report to the Brig. And if you question my orders again you'll be getting sent back to the Starbase in an escape pod - do I make myself clear?"

The young blonde could hardly believe the words coming out of Holliday's mouth - she was a member of Red Squad, the elite, the best that the Academy had to offer and someone who was destined to sit in that very chair one day, and she had just been disciplined like a child.

"I...yes sir. Understood sir. Preparing to depart."

John looked back at the terminal beside his chair, confirming the power levels increasing in the impulse engines.

"Very good. Mr Quinn - if you would be so kind as to offer instruction to these cadets on correct Bridge etiquette following our departure?"

Quinn smiled gleefully. "Yes. sir. Happily. He continued to pace about the Bridge, a habit he formed as the CoB of the Galileo. He glanced over toward the engineering station and took note of the green light lights.

"Sir!" Sarah found herself wincing at how sharp the word had come out of her lips and how strained the word actually sounded. Trying a again, she tried to keep her nerves under better control, she was a Red Squad cadet for a reason, she deserved to be here, "Sir. Ops has confirmed delivery of the requested torpedoes and engineering reports that shields and phasers are ready to operate at optimum efficiency...Sir."

"Time and place cadet. I'll let you know when it's time to start shooting things. Although I appreciate the enthusiasm."

Holliday replied with a raised eyebrow and a glance towards Quinn. It was nice to have at least one of these children with a desire to blow things up.

Quinn smirked at Holliday and simply nodded. Luckily, the Engineering Cadet was minding his P's and Q's, and staying out of the way.


Sickbay

As the ship began getting under way, Tuula made her way down to sickbay. She had heard a little about the Chronos - that it was full of uptight, precocious Red Squad dweebs, and that its medical facilities were even more Spartan than on the Galileo, if that was possible. It was something she ordinarily wouldn't be looking forward to, were it not for the fact that the tiny sickbay would be hers and hers alone to manage, an amazing opportunity for her to show her leadership skills.

As she rolled through the doors, a blue-shirted Andorian cadet inside sickbay stood up and snapped to attention. Quickly spotting the woman in the wheeled contraption and focusing in on her rank pips, he identified her immediately as his superior for this exercise. He had heard that she was an odd duck, but wasn't expecting someone this odd. "Welcome to sickbay, ma'am," he said in a crisp tone.

"At ease, cadet," replied Tuula. "And no need for the formalities, I prefer to be on a first name basis with my staff. Please, call me Tuula."

"Starfleet regulations, Section 9, Article 23(a), clearly states that direct superiors are to be referred to as 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Furthermore, as a cadet, Section 37, Article 12(b), requires me to-"

"Don't!" interrupted Tuula, "...quote regulations at me." She offered the cadet a smile, apologizing for her interruption and the harshness of her tone. "You will find that out here, we don't necessarily have to follow every regulation to the letter."

"We do in Red Squad, ma'am."

Tuula just shook her head. While she didn't choose to specialize in proctology, she figured she should have enough medical training to remove the stick from his rectum. As she looked up at the uptight Andorian, she could see him staring down at her with a strange look on his face. "What?"

"Section 12, Article 14(b) of Starfleet Regulations on acceptable hair styles and colours clearly states that--"

"Enough!" exclaimed Tuula, knowing where this was headed. "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" she asked, in an effort to change the subject.

"Cadet first class Shras th'Karath. Red Squadron. I'm here because I'm the best of the best, ma'am."

Tuula sighed. It's going to be a long week.

When Jonah had been informed that he would be working with Tuula he was thrilled. She was a true professional who knew what she was doing. More importantly for a Starfleet officer she had a bit of a rebellious streak and he liked that. When he heard that he was going to be on another ship, he had been slightly less than thrilled, Yet, at the same time he hadn't been too upset about it. How much worse could it be than the Galileo? Now that he had arrived he'd learned it could be much worse.

He'd been challenged twice by Security Cadets, because he wasn't wearing a Starfleet uniform and was therefore automatically not only suspect, but undoubtedly a Romulan spy who had been surgically altered.

He's survived their questions, interrogations in his mind and now found himself in Sickbay.

"Good morning Tuula." he said to the only friendly face in the room.

"Jonah?" asked Tuula, surprised to see another doctor to share the tiny sickbay -- if one could call a broom closet equipped with a couple of biobeds a sickbay -- with her.

From the corner where he was working on checking the calibrations on the biobeds for the eighth time today, cadet th'Karath cleared his throat loudly.

"Sorry, Doctor Chaparral," added Tuula, rolling her eyes. "Apparently being on a first name basis with each other isn't how they do things in Red Squadron," she added sarcastically.

Jonah turned towards the Andorian cadet with the faintest hint of a smile on his face. "Oh that's alright Doctor Voutilainen. I don't mind being formal if it keeps our friend over there happy. After all, I always did have a thing for blue guys."

"What are you doing after you get off. Would you like to come by for a physical?"

"A physical?" asked Tuula, raising an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I'm up to date... unless 'physical' is a euphemism for something recreational." She looked over at the Andorian. "Cadet, what deck is the holodeck on?"

"We don't have a holodeck, ma'am," replied Shras, clearly unimpressed with Tuula's cavalier attitude towards duty and recreation.

"No holodeck?" asked Tuula, surprised. "I take it we don't have a sauna either?"

"This is a ship of war," said Shras. "We do not have the resources for such... frivolities."

Tuula sighed. What kind of naval architect would design a ship without sauna facilities? A very poor one, no doubt. And, even more troubling, what kind of person would consider a sauna a frivolity? "Well, perhaps one of these Red Squad dweebs knows how to hack into environmental controls and jury-rig us a sauna in one of our quarters. Shras, you're invited too. You need to loosen up. What do you say?"

"That would be a violation of Starfleet Regulations, Section--"

"Shut up! That's an order!"

Jonah looked at his fellow doctor and then at the Andorian Cadet, "Oh, I know you're up to date," he said, "but I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to what's his name. That's why I said I had a thing for blue guys."

"Ah," replied Tuula, blushing at her confusion. "Me too, kind of," she added, recalling her conversation with Rebecca about Dr. Mott.

A look of horror appeared on the cadet's face. For years, it had been his goal to become a Starfleet officer. But was this what Starfleet was? Broken regulations, an obsession with recreational facilities, bizarre officers, and now such a casual attitude towards romance? This was not what he signed up for. Not at all.

Seeing the expression the poor cadet was having Jonah turned back to Tuula. "Well you have your blue man, whoever he is, I have mine. Maybe we could double date sometime."

Then he turned to the hapless Andorian, trying to maintain a straight face. "So how about it cadet, would you like that idea?"

Panicked, Shras backed slowly towards the door. "This is... really... against regulations," he managed to stutter before the door opened behind him and he took the opportunity to rush out. He had to talk to his squad leader as soon as possible.

"I guess it's just the two of us then," commented Tuula.

"I guess it is, I think between the two of us we've taught the young man a lesson, or gotten him pissed off and the shit is about to hit the fan. Either way it should be fun."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Atlas

Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Commanding Officer's Yeoman
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Chronos

Cadet Sarah Gardiner
Security Officer
Red Squad Cadet
USS Chronos
[NPC'ed by McCarthy]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Nautilus

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Executive Officer
USS Nautilus

MWO Alexion Wylde
Doctor
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

PO1 Siren Hex Saalm
Intelligence
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Laeon Wylde
Civilian Crew Family/Sickbay Volunteer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

PO1 Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

MWO Amon Mormont
Sec/Tac
USS Nautilus
[PNPC Markos]

Lt. Commander Amynta Markos
Commanding Officer
USS Aventia

Ensign Mieko Argyris
Flight Control
USS Nautilus
[NPC Markos]

Major Gerard Evans
Marine CO
USS Nautilus
[NPC Markos]

Ensign Annikafiore Szerda
Chief Operations Officer
USS Nautilus
[NPC Kohl]

Lieutenant JG Richard Holmes
Flight Control
USS Aventia
[NPC Markos]

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Operations Officer
USS Aventia

Lieutenant j.g. Naois Mercy
Medical Officer
USS Nautilus
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
CONN Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartograher
USS Galileo

PO3 Aeleni Loni
Operations Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Jaana]

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

Lt. Min Nicholas
Chief of Operations
USS Galileo

Jonah Chaparral
Civilian Doctor
PNPC Jared Nicholas
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Executive Officer
USS Atlas

Lt. Prudence Devin
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Avery Harlowe
Science Officer
USS Aventia
[NPC Devin]

Lieutenant JG Aria Rice
Security Officer
USS Aventia
[NPC Devin]

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Engineer's Mate
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Norvi Stace
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin
Executive Officer
USS Aventia

Chief Petty Officer Pax-Inyo
Master-at-Arms
USS Galileo

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Acing XO
USS Gallileo

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Gallileo

 

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