Fighters at Intervals

Posted on 02 Jan 2019 @ 1:20am by Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn
Edited on on 07 Jan 2019 @ 1:42pm

1,489 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Astrometrics Lab/Lounge
Timeline: MD -65, 2030 hours

[ON]

The doors to the Astrometrics lab opened and outflowed about a dozen faces. The last to exit were Lt. Shizn and Lt. Sandoval.

Tris turned and walked down the passageway beside Marisa, “Wow! I think that down time was the most interesting of them all so far.” Shizn was referring to the activity of the fighters from the USS Kali, while the convoy was cruising at Impulse, which they did once every 7 days or so to let the ships Warp engines cool and run tests during that 30 or so minute period.

"You've given the science department something to play with," Marisa said, smiling at Tris.

“Play with?” The Andorian questioned her words. “I remember when that lab got so packed with people, you had to shew them out. I just think it’s the best way to watch the fighters when doing their tactical training.”

"It was, and it also gave the scientists in astrometrics a challenge as well. They were playing to the audience as much as the fighters were."

“You may be right there,” Tris agreed. “You may be right there.”

They soon turned into the lounge, got drinks from the replicator, and sat down at an open table, which they were very lucky to find. There were many officers still standing around chatting about the day.

"So what did the fighters think about being center stage during their training?" Marisa asked.

Tris smiled mischievously, “Well, I have never spoken to one of the pilots personally, but I hear . . that they seem to enjoy the attention.”

Marisa grinned. "I'm glad. It gave the crew in astrometrics good opportunities to play with the visuals and see how they worked with a full room. It's one thing when a bunch of scientists are testing the equipment for themselves, but when they had an audience, and fighters training, it made the whole operation more of a challenge. And more...entertaining."

“Ya know,” Tris began and leaned forward, “I wonder. I’ve never been on a Starship with a command and control deck, separate from the Bridge I mean. I understand they have holographic projectors all about the room so that the commander of the fleet can observe the battle in real time. Well, as close to it as possible.”

"Neither have I," Marisa said. "I've only seen the 3D images in astrometrics. That would be fascinating--and a little intimidating. I imagine you'd have to get used to it before you jumped at every ship coming in for an attack."

There was a slight lull in the conversation before Tris recollected, “I remember the first time we made that stop after a week at Warp speed. I was at the Helm. I think the Galileo was in a central position and the Kali was forward of us. I feel it was an amazing sight, seeing it for the first time. They launched two squadrons out the front and two squadrons out the back at the same time.” The Andorian smiled at his memory, “I wonder how nervous they were that first time.”

"You could ask them," Marisa said. "I personally have no idea." She gave Tris a conspiratorial smile. "I did enjoy watching the fighters. I had a chance to watch one of their training sessions while I checked the calibrations."

“Hmm,” Tris thought then explained, “I never tjought of asking them directly. I know that there is some intership beaming taking place, but mainly in priority situations. So, contacting them directly could be done I guess.” Tris looked to Marisa, “I guess i should think of an appropriate question.”

Marisa didn't want him to think she was telling him what he should do, or criticizing how he did things. "Sorry. I guess I'm used to more face-to-face contact in my department. So to me it seems more logical to ask them. But that's not how other departments function. It would be interesting to find out what the other ships thought of the practice. That, however, would be a little more difficult to ascertain."

Tris thought quietly for a second or two about her point. It did make more sense to communicate directly with crew from the other ship’s, but that didn’t happen that much. The Andorian then began to smile in recollection and explained, “Well, I don’t think it was too difficult to ‘ascertain’ what the crew of the Lagrange thought that one interval when all those shuttles launched from the Akira and landed on the hull of that MacPherson Class ship. I had heard a rumor that the two Captains were old time friends and it was some kind of practical joke played on the Captain of that cargo ship.”

Marisa grinned. "Really? Too bad I wasn't in the lab for that one." It would have been worth watching. She would have to go back through the vids and find it.

Tris didn’t want to make it sound like he was always there, especially since it wasn’t his department, so he tried to relate a similar situation. “Yes, I’ve been told there have been some other unusual intervals that I too had missed.” The Helmsman was quiet for a moment thinking of the details.

Marisa nodded. There was no way any one person could be there for everything. Not even Captain Saalm.

“The way I was told the story,” Tris began, “4 squadrons of fighters were launched. The fighters used targeting lasers, but this time it was against the USS Solaris. The fighters came from all directions and performed well. The way it was explained, it was almost like an acrobatic flight about the Steamrunner Class vessel.”

Tris noticed that Marisa left Omer a bit stunned, and continued with the explanation. “The Solaris actually put up its shields and armed phasers. Scuttlebutt was that the Junior officer in charge didn’t understand what was going on. He was following the appropriate defensive measures. He didn’t realize that the Captain of the Akira and the Steamrunner were old friends and rivals.”

Tris continued, “It wouldn’t have been so bad, but this junior officer was about to fire phasers full strength at these fighters. I heard that that could have been a very bad situation.”

"It could have been disastrous," she said. "Why didn't he verify who they were and where they were from first?"

“I’m really not sure,” Tris replied. “He had to have known that they were our fighters. Maybe they didn’t respond to the hail. Like I said, this is all 2nd and 3rd hand information.”

"True. Far too much gets lost that way." She smiled. "I for one appreciate the opportunity to work with the fighters. It was a lot of fun."

The Andorian nodded his head in agreement and understanding as he took another bite of food. After clearing his mouth he reminisced once more, to remember, “On a different interval, we watched the the Akira launch all 5 squadrons of fighters from both front and rear launch doors. This was soon followed by 14 or so shuttles and runabouts.” Tris cupped his chin as he replayed the memory in his mind, “The fighters formed a defensive perimeter about the convoy, while the shuttles flew over and docked on the other 4 vessels.” He looked back at Marisa, “I had to leave after that. I didn’t find out how that practice came out.”

"Was that the one where they decided at the last minute to use the shuttles as a hostile boarding party?”

Tris nodding in agreement, remembering something to that effect.

“I hear that some crews were caught off-guard by the stunt. At least on one ship. The team from the shuttles made it all the way to the bridge where the captain was so disgruntled at his crew's performance, that he surrendered to end the mock combat."

“Oh, Yes,” the Andorian exclaimed, tapping his hand on the table multiple times excitedly. “I do now recall reading about that incident. And I’m proud to say that the Galileo security was able to re-route the turbolift to foil their attempt to access the Bridge on this vessel.”

Marisa grinned. "Very clever of them. I heard Security was waiting when the door finally opened." Luke had definitely shown everyone how good his department was. "Well, while I have greatly enjoyed the conversation, and the company, I should get back to work. Thank you.”

Tris smiled in return as she got up. He quickly replied, “Same here,” before Marisa turned and walked away.

Tris took in a breath and let it out ease. It felt good to talk about his thoughts and feeling with others. It was a situation that didn’t occur very much for him. He knew he must try it again very soon.

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

RSS Feed