Briefing the Backbone

Posted on 17 Dec 2023 @ 3:18pm by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Chief Petty Officer Afthinam Naime & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 1st Class T'Lin & Petty Officer 1st Class Ember Locksley & Petty Officer 2nd Class Donald Andrews & Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Inaros & Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeysa Zeror & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Petty Officer 3rd Class Helliun 'Hel' Inant & Petty Officer 3rd Class Raine Ni-ya & Master Chief Petty Officer Toren Vral
Edited on on 23 Dec 2023 @ 4:45pm

2,274 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 1, Conference Room
Timeline: MD01 - 1545hrs

[ON]

Toren stepped into the conference room, the silence of the empty space contrasting sharply with the turmoil that churned within him. The briefing he had just attended weighed heavily on his mind, painting a future so bleak it seemed like the stuff of nightmares. It was a lot to process, even for a seasoned veteran like him.

He set his PADD of hastily compiled notes on the conference table, his fingers lingering on the device as his mind, ever the tactician's, raced through the implications of their current predicament. They had been thrust forward in time, into a future where the Federation was a shadow of its once-mighty self. The weight of this knowledge pressed down on him but he bore it with an outward stoicism that belied the turmoil within.

As Toren glanced at the LCARS display, now frozen on a map that depicted a galaxy torn asunder by war, a fleeting thought of Zhen’tho and their children crossed his mind. Were they safe? Had they too been swept up in this tide of calamity? He pushed the worry to the back of his mind, knowing that dwelling on it wouldn't change their current situation. Right now, his duty was to the crew before him.

The doors hissed open, signaling the arrival of the first group of non-commissioned officers. Toren straightened up, a faint, wry smile playing on his lips despite the gravity of the situation. His stance was relaxed yet authoritative, a silent signal of assurance to the crew.

Having not left the conference room for more than a couple of minutes Jeysa was already in the room getting everything ready for the arrival of pretty much every one of the small ships non commissioned officers. "Here they come." She remarked when the door opened for the first time.

Raine Ni-ya had been somewhat surprised by being summoned by the Chief of Boat, but when she saw some other familiar faces she realised it was not just her. Good. She had kept her eye and ear out, the rumours travelling...interesting. But this would hopefully confirm or deny things, provided that they were actually told. She did not sit down, but stood against the wall, her gloved hands folded neatly in front of her as her eyes focused on the Andorian male she had not met yet.

Nurse Inaros followed a few seconds later, his Marine training allowing him to keep a neutral expression on his face. "Master Chief," he said in acknowledgement as he sat Vral, giving him a nod before taking a seat.

Gabriel and Ember arrived together, their heads bowed slightly so they were closer together, discussing something in a whisper. Whatever it was, it ended with Ember giving Gabriel's side a playful pinch before she nodded to Toren on her way to a seat.

"......You know this a really bad idea right?" The latter half of Donald's sentence was heard from the doorway as he entered the doorway alongside all the other engineering Nco's, right now the only engineer in engineering was Sera, all the rest were gathered here for this briefing..

"I'd be shocked if you ever found something that wasn't a bad idea," Hel said playfully, smiling as she walked in with Donald.

"See, you know Andrews, this is why your our most reliable engineer. No one can so consistently call out bad ideas." Naime and the other engineers in the repair party were ready to board the new Galileo but the chief had still impressed, with very strong words, on all her people that this was not something she wanted anyone missing. She hadn't had a chance to meet their oncoming chief of boat and she didn't want her team being the one looking bad on his first day.

Constantin Vansen kept his head down as he walked in, glancing around. He spotted Gabriel and smiled, moving over to him almost automatically.

Oliver was frowning as he entered, his eyes going to Vral before he moved to stand by the door, back straight. He had forced himself not to think. Not to dwell. He had learned his lesson though, in front of the officers. Keep his mouth shut.

T'Lin thought it was illogical to have her come to this as her specialty was xenobiology. However, she thought that perhaps something might be interesting. She entered and found a spot to take a seat.

Toren stood, his wary gaze sweeping over the faces of his fellow crew members. His demeanour was steady and reassuring, despite the weight of the information he was about to relay.

Clearing his throat, he began to speak in his characteristic, raspy tone.

“First off, I'm your new Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Toren Vral. I only came aboard evening last, so like many of you, I'm still finding my bearings in this... rather unique situation we find ourselves in," he began, his tone direct yet approachable. "From what I've gathered from the ship's logs and a more than a bit of scuttlebutt, the Galileo's a formidable vessel with a crew to match. And that's good, because we're going to need every bit of that strength."

Silence fell for a moment, allowing his introduction to settle in before delving into the heart of the matter.

"You've probably heard bits and bobs from your Department Heads about our current... predicament," Toren started, his voice tinged with a hint of dry humour despite the gravity of the situation. "Suffice to say we're not just in uncharted waters; we're in a whole new ocean, and it's a more than a bit choppy, to say the least."

He paused, giving a moment for his words to sink in, then continued, "As you've likely been told, we're no longer in the year 2392. We've been brought forward twenty five years to 2417, and the Federation – our Federation – is on the bitter edge of its back foot in a war with the Romulans and Klingons. Earth, Vulcan, and other core worlds are lost. What's left of Starfleet is making a stand at Tellar."

He allowed a moment for a few murmurs to ripple through the room, then carried on.

"Now, I know this is like finding yourself in the middle of a tale where the ending's already been written, and it's not the one we'd hoped for. But here's the crux of it – we've been given a chance to rewrite that ending. To go back and prevent this future from ever happening."

He walked slowly around the room, his boots thudding softly on the deck, "Our mission, as it stands, is to figure out how to avert this war. It means breaking a few rules, bending a few regulations, and putting everything we know about Starfleet protocol to the test. And it's not going to be easy. Not by a long shot."

He moved slightly, his stance firm yet open. "This crew, the Galileo's crew, you're more than capable. We've got experience, resilience, and you are a crew that's weathered more than its fair share of maelstroms."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering but growing firmer, "Our commissioned officers, they'll be trying to work out what's what in this mess. It's up to us, the non-coms, to keep the heart of this ship beating. To look after them and each other. We're the backbone of the Galileo, and right now, that backbone needs to be stronger than ever."

He paused, then added in a softer tone, "I'll be around if you need anything – advice, a sounding board, or just someone to share a cup of whatever-we-can-find with. We're in this together, and together, we'll find our way back to our time and set things right. Remember, we're not just fighting for the Federation as it is, but for the Federation as it should be."

Straightening up, he concluded, "Now, before we get to work, are there any questions? Anything you need clarified or are concerned about?"

Nurse Inaros listened with a slight frown. He had no details on how they had gotten here. There hadn't been a medical briefing that he had attended and as such was without any details. He'd have to figure it out somehow. "Does the...other ship need medical personnel to assist?" he asked, a neutral question.

"Not as I understand it," Toren replied as he turned to face the nurse, "They took quite a beating bringing us here, and have requested help from our engineers," he glanced over at the team from that department, "in fixing up their deflector. Our science officers weren't convinced about the whole affair so they'll be going over there too." He paused for a moment, then continued, "I can only assume their own medical team were able to patch them up if they had any trouble. Be ready for anything in any case."

"While I can see there are things that we can help with, it seems illogical to me to have induced such a thing in the first place. Are we meddling with temporal problems that should be best left alone?" T'lin offered.

Toren regarded T'lin with an understanding nod, "Your point is well taken and, frankly, it's one that's crossed my mind too," he began in a measured tone. "We're treading in murky waters with this temporal business, no doubt about it. It's the kind of thing that'd make any member of Starfleet question the path forward. But here's the rub: we're already in the thick of it, whether we chose to be or not. Our primary goal is to prevent a future where the Federation we know and serve falls apart."

He looked around the room, making eye contact with everyone present, "It's a heavy burden, and if there are any among you who feel unable to proceed with any actions that might violate standing orders, I want you to come see me, one-on-one. We'll talk it through, find a way forward that sits right with your conscience. At the end of the day, we're Starfleet – we uphold principles, but we're also here to protect the future of the Federation. Sometimes, that means making hard choices. But no one has to make them alone."

Constantin frowned as he looked around, clearly thinking about it. He wasn't exactly the most moral compass, his parents had done whatever it took to survive. "I got a question," he said, his voice light. "If we do have moral objections...what happens then? Brig time? Exclusion? Or is it a 'let's talk about it, but you're still doing it' scenario?" he smiled, almost gently compared to the words. "Just curious, is all."

Toren met Constantin's question with a nod. "That's a fair enquiry," he replied, once again addressing the whole room, "Let me be clear: no one is getting sent to the brig or excluded for having moral objections. Not if I have anything to do with it. We're all here to do our duty, but we're also individuals with our own beliefs and principles."

He leaned slightly forward in order to emphasise his point, his antennae twitching. "If you have objections, you come to me. We'll talk it out and work to find a path forward. Ideally that path we find a path that respects the mission's demands and your personal ethical boundaries."

He took a deep breath, "Ultimately, its true, any objections might well need to go up to the captain, but my role here is to ensure that it doesn't escalate to punitive measures. We're a team, and I am of the opinion that every member of this crew has a voice that deserves to be heard. I will stand by you and we'll find a way to navigate these challenges without compromising our integrity or the mission. What's key is seeking out a balance and ensuring we all can stand behind our actions at the end of the day."

"I suspect some will find it easier than others," Raine Ni-ya said as she watched them all. She let out a soft breath. "Well, this has all been very enlightening. I suspect we will all be overworked and overtired before long, so let's enjoy the moral dilemma with the physical symptoms of exhaustion too." Not that it was much of a moral dilemma for her. She was decently sure she did not have many morals.

"You're not wrong there," Toren's antennae twitching slightly as he answered, "The next few days are as like to tax our minds as our bodies, but what's new." He took his place at the front of the group of officers once more, "I shall not keep you any longer. If you have any further immediate questions or concerns, catch me as you leave."

[OFF]

--

MCPO Toren Vral
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vala]

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

PO3 Raine Ni-ya
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

PO2 Leon Inaros
Nurse
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

CWO3 Oliver Sylver
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

PO3 Jeysa Zeror
Captain's Yeoman
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

PO2 Donald Andrews
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

PO1 T'Lin
Scientist Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Warraquim]

PO3 John Hollenday
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Allyndra]

CPO Afthinam Naime
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Ullswater]

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

Dr. Ember Locksley
Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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