A Dangerous Journey

Posted on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 - 1:30pm by Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: Taurus shipyards
Timeline: Current

{ON:}

Soral waited in one of the shipyard bays for the small two man pod to return. It had been out taking staff to the ship and back during the refit and he'd booked a couple of hours on it to do a fly-over to ensure that all the T's were crossed and the I's were dotted. It wasn't uncommon for the XOs to do these fly-overs. It was a proud tradition since the days of Captain Pike. He wondered briefly who the pilot would be. Standing at the docking window he watched the rounded shuttle pod as it backed into the docking area. A heavy hiss followed by a burst of thick white gas told him that the pod was secured.

Keeping his hands firmly clasped behind his back Soral stood at the entrance as the doors shimmered and disappeared. He had to hide his surprise at the occupant who stood there. He watched a smile spread across her face and her arms waving as if she were trying to get his attention from a distance away when in reality she only stood a few feet in front of him.

"Hello Commander!"

"Chief."

"Welcome! I'm so glad you've come to see things. The Fontana....she's so beautiful!"

"Indeed." He studied her.

"Well come on! I can't wait to show you. You're going to love the tour of the outside, everyone is working so hard and she's so..."

He held up a hand, "Chief," he began firmly. "We should commence the fly-over."

"Oh yeah. Sure!" She motioned him inside the two person pod and took her seat at helm.

Soral entered having to bend slightly to accommodate for the low ceiling. He folded himself gracefully into the seat and noticed that once again the chief had opted to remove her shoes. He wondered why she did that but would not ask for fear of it leading to a conversation that could possibly stretch for hours. "Launch when ready."

He watched as the chief's hands flew over the consoles with grace and ease. There was a slight shudder as the pod detached from the station and began its journey. They were several levels down so it would take some time. Suddenly the shuttle pod lurched to a halt.

"Wait! We can't go like this."

Soral raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?" He watched puzzled as the Chief struggled in the small space and removed her uniform jacket. Before he could react she tossed it over his head.

"It has to be a surprise. The first fly-over, I mean."

Soral was struck temporarily speechless, an uncomfortable condition for a Vulcan. As he inhaled to say something he was struck by the subtle and fresh scent of her uniform. If he was right she favoured Vulcan soap. An herbal one that he too was fond of but in a stronger scent.

He must have stayed quiet for long because she raised the end of the jacket and peaked in, her blue eyes looking upon him with concern. "Are you alright there?"

He raised an eyebrow. "If you take Commander Victrix out I suggest you do not attempt to suffocate her in a similar manner."

Eyelaya bit her lip. "I'm so sorry! I just want it to be a surprise."

He saw a slight sheen to her eyes and sighed. "Proceed then."

She smiled and dropped the jacket back over his face.

It was several moments before he felt her clasp the end of the jacket and pull. He closed his eyes lest the zipper of the jacket attempt to inflict pain on them. When he felt the last of the jacket glide off he opened his eyes. The sight was breathtaking. The ship was breathtaking. The bright grey was lit by stadium lighting contrasting it to the blackness of the ocean of space and its diamond stars. He perhaps appreciated the young Chief's unorthodox method of presentation just a little at that moment.

Soral turned to see her staring at him. "Chief?"

She bit her lip. "Um..."

He noted her line of sight and turned to the window that gave him a bit of a reflection back. His hair, a tad longer then it should be, was sticking out at all angles. He sighed and used his hands to tame it deciding then and there that it would be cut upon their return to the shipyards.

"Sorry sir."

He turned back to her, "Let us begin the fly-over in detail."

He watched as the chief's hands moved again over the console and then as she reached down and pulled out a travel mug. "Would you like some coffee sir?"

"No Chief." He began examining the starboard thrusters as he spoke, "You do realize that regulation does not allow drinks on pods of this size."

"I know... but I can't fly without coffee...at least it's not advisable cause I get grumpy."

Soral was almost scientifically curious at what a 'grumpy chief' would be like.

Eyelaya placed the hot liquid on the console between them and continued to maneuver. "If you will look to your right sir we'll be coming up a new plating sensor that is being installed."

He looked over, "That should be fascinating to read about. How is the tuning going with sensors in general?"

"My understanding is that we're having issues with calibration but the Chief Engineer, I'm told is taking care of it... I haven't actually worked on things inside. Been helping with flying people from the yards to the ship and vice versa."

He briefly wondered as she spoke if she'd attempted to suffocate any of them with her jacket.

Just as she finished speaking the pod jolted slightly before the lights flickered and the little pod shook again, this time more violently.

Soral bit the inside of his cheek to keep from yelling out as the hot contents of the coffee spilled over his chest and thighs. His Vulcan discipline helped him cope with the pain.

As he was recovering he was jolted again, this time by something ice cold.

Eyelaya had seen the accident just before it occurred. As the port thrusters failed the ship was jolted and her coffee went flying...right onto the commander! She gasped and reached under her seat for the ice cold water she kept there. Using her thumb to remove the lid she meant to send it over the places where the coffee had spilled but the pod jolted again and it went flying all over the commanders face and head. "I'm so sorry!!!"

Soral held up a hand. Ignoring the water dripping into his eyes and the burning pain of the coffee that had seared his skin. His hands flew over the consoles. "Port thrusters are offline, there is a misalignment. Attempting to compensate."

Eyelaya turned back to her console wondering if she'd get thrown out an airlock. "I'm re-routing some power. Let's get back to the shipyard docking area."

"Negative, we're closer to the Fontana bay." He opened a com link. "Observer pod to Fontana we are requesting an emergency landing in bay one."

=/\=Observer Pod this is Fontana we read you. Cut your thrusters and we'll tow you in.=/\=

"Affirmative." He said powering down an instant before the pod shook under the tractor beam.

"I'm so sorry commander!" Eyelaya grabbed her jacket once again tossing it over his head and attempting to dry is hair roughly.

Soral's Vulcan resistance was tested to the extreme. Lightening fast he twisted and grabbed the Chief's hands. "Enough!" His voice rose slightly. "Sit."

Eyelaya sat unable to meet his eyes. "Chief, this is an order. Just sit in your seat until they bring us into the shuttle bay. Then you will stay seated so that I may at least attempt to leave the pod alive." He removed her jacket off his head and tossed it to her.

The rest of the ride was silent. This had started out as a fly-over but had turned into a dangerous journey indeed. Within minutes they were in the pressurized bay and he was striding away as fast as Vulcan dignity would allow.

{OFF:}

Lieutenant Commander Soral
Executive Officer

&

Chief Petty Officer Eyelaya
Engineering Officer