Regula One (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 17 Nov 2021 @ 3:09pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Ensign Mimi & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kala Gorvel & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Laeon Wylde & Verity Thorne & Petra Varelli Ph.D.
Edited on on 17 Nov 2021 @ 3:12pm

2,854 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Remidia System, Regula I
Timeline: MD 01, 0956 hrs

Previously, on Regula One (Part 1)...

Blake gave a sharp nod of her head, looking back across the bridge with approval at the smoothness so far. "Proceed with the system shut downs for external support," she moved back to her chair to follow progress on the screen on the arm. After going through so much, the ship needed a little R&R as much as the crew did.

"Copy that, Ma'am." Ryan called out to the XO. With several key strokes, the computer sent out a series messages to the various departments, authorizing critical system shutdown. "Messages sent, awaiting final confirmations." Ryan called as waited for the systems to report secured and powered down.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

With not much required of her as a science officer in the intricate procedure of docking Ullswater had instead had plenty of time to gawk at the station as the approach was finalised. Who knows what wonders lie in those branching pods? What scientific discoveries were waiting to be made here and what place she might have in that? It was almost enough to make her forget about the horrors of the journey here. Now that the ship began the process of switching power grid though her attention had to be pulled away to ensure environmental and power stability had been maintained in the labs running more sensitive experiments. It only took a quick check with internal recordings to confirm the transition appeared to have been smooth. No crisis in botany today.

Rice looked at her station, sending the codes and signals to tell the ship to disable the weapons. She watched the lights shift, mentally ticking the commands off in her head. Then came the command for the shields...which while she didn't have control over per say, she certainly was able to tell the reading. "Shields deflector shields are off, with one generator on hot standby. Tactical shutdown confirmed."

"Life support, inertial dampers, SIF all running on external power, secondary generators are on standby, engineering reports warp core shut down in is progress." Mimi reported, she knew John and Donald would be happy the warp core had a chance to rest for a while.

Marisa was especially concerned about the power levels in the labs with the ongoing experiments--especially the ones with containment fields. Even a nanosecond of disruption could lead to the experiment failing, or a chain reaction. She noticed the brief bump in the backup generator before the labs switched to external power. Even though she expected a smooth transition, there was always the possibility of a problem. Fortunately, not today. She ran a diagnostic and reported that science was on standby. There would still be a few people on duty to keep an eye on things, or to check experiments, but for the most part, they were now on shore leave.

With the hard-dock confirmed, and confirmation by the other departments, Shizn deactivated stabilisation thrusters. He then began to quickly, yet methodically, and by the book, go through each navigation sub system. Finding no errors nor indicators, he activated the navigation shut down procedure, separating the nav system from sensor input and guidance control. This was only the second time he had the opportunity to do this particular procedure, except in training and simulation of course. With the shutdown completed Shizn reported, “Navigation at Blue Alert.”

Tris laid his hands in his lap and *sighed*, with his antenna both laying forward across his head and touching his forehead, as if exhausted in their own right.

Allyndra just stood quietly watching the crew interact. They were smooth and efficient. It seemed odd to be docked here. Though things had not really changed the ship being docked felt like being weighed down. To her it was not the most comfortable feeling. She knew that there should be a skeleton crew on board at all times and finally she turned her steps toward the ready room. The door was still open and she stood at the entrance way saying:

"Captain, I would like to volunteer for initial watch please."

Inside the captain's office, Lirha looked up from her LCARS terminal when she heard the doctor's voice. The request was a welcome one, for at least one senior officer would need to be present on the ship at all times. But she couldn't help wonder why Warraquim wanted to delay visiting the starbase. "Of course, doctor," she answered before blinking a couple times. "Will you be taking your leave tomorrow to join the rest of the crew on the station?" Her query was subtle.

Allyndra shook her head. "Not unless required." She sighed. "Tell you the truth, it is not just enclosed spaces though the station is bigger, I just do not handle lots of people." She shrugged with that odd rolling motion of the shoulders. "There is little I enjoy of the restaurants due to dietary restrictions," Lirha was familiar that Akkadians either had fruit juices or subsisted on blood, since the digestive tract was highly reduced. "And since we are basically not very many off planet, curiosity gets to be....well problematic. I hope you understand captain."

"Well, no, shore leave isn't required," Lirha shrugged with indifference. She'd never personally met a Starfleet officer who would turn down a chance at getting away from their duties for a while. But then again, the doctor was a unique individual of a rare species in the Federation. They'd served together aboard the ship for many years but there were still elements of each others' private lives and personalities which were still unknown to one another. "I don't fully understand," she admitted, "but do whatever pleases you the most. If that means staying on the ship, I won't stop you. Just be sure to get some rest and mental stimulation."

"The quietness will more than enough captain," Allyndra replied and then added before turning away, "thank you captain."

Back on the bridge and throughout the ship, the overhead bulkhead flood lights were engaged to give visual indication of their vessel's external power support status. Galileo was now hard-docked with several umbilicals attached and most of its primary systems powered down to station-keeping modes. There was little maintenance left for the crew to attend to which meant it was time for their shore leave to begin.

Blake stood, almost as if stretching ready for the shoreleave ahead as she requested a commlink to open across the ship. It hadn't been an easy ride to reach this point, not for anyone, and she hoped the station would provide a well needed change of scenery. "All hands, we are now docked and the gangway for Regula I is available on Deck 2. Enjoy your shoreleave, that's an order...if any crew deserves it, it's this one."

Allyndra waited for a few moments and told the second officer as she moved to take the seat, "Ma'am, the captain has granted me permission to take skeleton watch."

Blake nodded as she glanced around the bridge with a small smile, the lighting making it feel like it was settling for hibernation. "Perfect...and I have a little girl who has probably packed an adventure kit already..."

Allyndra smiled. "Enjoy commander. I have watch." She then moved into the command chair. She knew she would not have to be there the entire time but at least while the rest more or less vacated the ship. Everything else after that could be routed to her medical office or where ever she was. She smiled, well at least there would not be a lot of competition for the ship's holodecks. She then sighed, she should contact home and see what was transpiring there.


Starbase Regula I

The docking tunnel attaching Galileo and the starbase was well-illuminated. On the Regula I side, it led directly into one of the base's two docking/transporter modules located on Deck 16 at the tip of the tree branch hub. The docking bay was small and circular in layout, with two small transporter pads and their accompanying console directly in the middle of the room. Two gold-collared station personnel - an Operations officer and a Security Officer - stood waiting at the entrance to check in all new arrivals and assign them to temporary quarters.

Ryan stood at the small podium, being the operations representative, waiting for those to depart, going over the duty roster of who departing the ship for the next short awhile. He had triple checked all berthing assignments but still he wanted to make sure that he and the rest of his team hadn't missed anyone.

With Marisa taking the first shift to let the rest of science have shore leave, Petra was alone as she waited in line to check out--or check in, depending on how you looked at it. She planned to find a nice restaurant first, then do some shopping. Or window shopping. Maybe she'd look around and see what was available for recreation and just to get her mind off the past six months. It would take a long time to forget, but a little distraction right now would definitely help.

With duffle-bag in hand, Tris found himself a congested Deck 2. But the wait was not too bad with the line moving consistently. Lt. Shizn handed his PaDD to the Station Officer. After a quick check and data transfer, the PaDD was returned. "Welcome Lt. Shizn. Your station quarters have been uploaded. Level 16, Berth 16-378."

Accepting the PaDD back, Shizn replied, "Berth 16-378. Thanks." He walked on and past the Transporter Pads, preferring to walk about the station and take in the sites along the way.

Aria Rice smiled weakly as she offered her PADD to the security person it front of her. She waited a moment as the officer looked at her PADD and she shifted her weight. "So...I know that's an awful picture of me..." she stood on her toes, leaning a bit closer to look at it, upside down. "But it's me, I promise. Totally me! I mean...I suppose if I was an android replacement I wouldn't necessarily know, right?"

The man looked at her, his face neutral before he handed the PADD back. "Level 16, Berth 16-293," he said, waiting for her to take it. A bit desperate for her to take it and go actually.

Aria nodded and took her PADD back, standing there for a moment longer. "Okay...cool...stay safe..." she said and walked away, whistling to herself.

Ryan smiled to himself and shook his head slightly as he watched Aria depart the ship. He made a note into his own PADD. Shouldn’t be too long before my relief. He thought to himself as he checked off the next crewman that departed the ship.

Behind the short security officer stood a much taller Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius. The conn officer had leapt at the opportunity to get off ship for the remainder of the week and now did his best to hide his fidgety fingers. Despite the lack of amenities on this small research starbase, anything was preferable to spending another month cooped up in his quarters on Galileo. Even if it meant spending time around a full compliment of civilian eggheads. His turn came up to head through the gangway and he proceeded with his away duffel slung over his shoulder. He stopped in front of Ensign Alexander and handed him his PADD. "Darius, Lamar. SS-267-8444," he announced himself.

Ryan thumbed through his PADD, annotating his leave from the ship as well granting him access to his short-term quarters on the station. "Temporary quarters are Level 16, Berth 16-299. Crew recreation are levels 15 thru 17. Details on accessing your berthing are on your PADD, have a good shore leave." Ryan said with a respectful nod and small smile.

Darius gave Alexander a mock salute then moved forward into the starbase to find his rack, dump his bag, then find the nearest mess hall for some flame-grilled hamburgers. He wasn't sure if that was a thing here, but ever since Galileo had ran out of fresh meat stores a few months ago, he was salivating for anything non-replicated. Synthesized protein could only take a man so far in life.

Dr Alexion Wylde wasn't far behind Lamar, the fair haired man glancing to his son as the Ensign checked his PADD. He nodded as they were assigned quarters, leading Laeon through with amusement at the look on the youth's face.

"Do you think they have an indoor market?" Laeon asked, not even realising he'd slipped into their language rather than standard. He grinned as he looked around, the excitement of getting off the ship for a bit all too clear in his eagerness.

"Nope," Alexion shook his head lightly, guiding him through an archway, his hand on his back.

"Amusement arcade?" Laeon tried, sliding a hand into his pocket, even if his arm remained angled to keep the bag up on his shoulder.

"Doubt it," Alexion gave a soft, gruff laugh, shaking his head as he looked to him with an arched eyebrow. "I don't think they are that kind of people..."

"Clothes shops?" the youth tried, but there was a hint of amusement in his own eyes too now.

"What do you want *more* clothes for?" Alexion tsked with disbelief, shaking his head absently. If he got anymore he'd have to request another set of quarters as a walk in wardrobe.

"Because...well it's been awhile and the new ones...might be out of... fashion by now..." the words came from Laeon a few at a time, as if that would stop his father rolling his eyes at him...which it didn't.

Oliver Sylver chuckled at the interaction as he stood behind Alexion and Laeon in the queue, even if he didn't know what they were saying. He looked over at Verity, touching his hand. "It'll be nice," he said softly as he met his eyes. "Shoreleave...we should do something nice."

"You deserve a break," Verity agreed with a gentle smile, lacing his fingers with Oliver's as he pulled in a little closer to him. "We should do something completely and utterly frivolous" he added with a grin.

Kala wasn't being assigned a room on the station, she was going to make trips back and forth for two reasons. Reason one - She wanted to make sure everything being done to the Galileo was to the standard the Galileo deserved and reason 2 - She'd grown accustomed to the weird native noises the ship made when she slept, on the floor, next to her bed. Sleeping on the floor was something she'd started doing at some point during the last few weeks, she couldn't remember when or really why at first but she just remembered being on the floor one night cuddled up in her duvet and it just felt... Safe and since then she'd done the same over and over even if it did get weird looks from her room mates, until they like many others finally were not there anymore. She showed her PaDD to the Operations personnel.

He looked at the PaDD then to Kala then back to the PaDD "Looks like there been an error in your room allocation" He started.

"No error" Kala said tiredly, "I chose to remain on the ship to help with repairs and go back and forth between my down time." She explained also showing she had nothing with her less for the PaDD. "I hope thats ok?"

He frowned, "Its not common practice but I can respect a work-a-holic." He handed the PaDD back. "I hope you enjoy your stay here" The operation officer looked at Kala's hair and smiled, "And we have several hair dresses on the station that would love to have at" He finished his sentence by pointing.

She laughed taking he PaDD back, "Its one of the very first things I have planned" She said her goodbye and stepped onto the station.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

Lt. jg Aria Rice
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Petra Varelli
Forensic Anthropologist
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Sandoval]

Commander Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

Ensign Mimi
Deputy Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

CWO3 Alexion Wylde
Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Ensign Ryan Alexander
Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

Lt. Jg. Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

CPO Kala Gorvel
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A

ENS Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

CH Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

CWO2 Oliver Sylver
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

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