Shuttle Selene - Part I

Posted on Thursday, 21 May 2020 - 2:30pm by Lieutenant JG Yolen *

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Baker's World

{ON}

Yolen sat at the helm of Selene. The shuttle was a beauty and loaded with what they needed. He waited for the SCPO to join him and he was looking forward to going. In fact he was anxious to go. He'd dressed in civilian clothing, the kind that his people were known for. He wondered what the Baker's World would be like and who they were to meet. An adventure to be sure.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Muñiz looked over at the Denobulan that he had been paired with. "It's a pleasure to be accompanying you on this mission, Lieutenant" he said to the flight controller. "I'm glad that it's a Class M world. I was doing some research into the Baker's Dozen and Barker's World more specifically. They used to have printed currency in the early years, but have transitioned to a crypto currency."

"Indeed," the Denobulan smiled. "I am very much looking forward to it. I hear it is home to Orions and Ferengi and Humans. All interesting species." He grinned. "I do wonder though?"

"Ferengi are opportunistic" replied Álvaro Muñiz conversing with the Denobulan. "Baker's World is the hub of commerce in the sector. If anything, that attracts Ferengi businessmen. As for Orion's, we are relatively close to their space and the lack of laws against what would otherwise illegal activity is undoubtedly a small haven for Syndicate activities." The man looked at Yolen. "What do you wonder though?"

"I wonder what the journey will bring." He grinned. "I believe we are first on the flight path." He hit the coms, "Yolen to Shuttle bay control. We are ready. Open bay doors."

"Shuttle Selene you are cleared. Go for launch."

He hovered the shuttle a little and smoothly took her out. "Away we go..."

***

After a dozen hours of delightful conversation with everything from the arts to philosophy to history, some of which was about the planet in question, they were nearing the planet. Álvaro Muñiz handled the communications. "We've been given the approval to land on Baker's World...sending coordinates to you."

"Great!" He said. It had been an interesting shuttle ride. Yolen liked Muniz right away. "We'll be landing in five minutes. Are you ready for some fun?"

Alvaro nodded. "At least as much fun as we can have, Sir" replied the Senior Chief Petty Officer. "I know we are here to gather some intel if we can and hopefully help the others in our combined efforts to pinpoint Commander Stillwater's whereabouts. We may have to become a bit capitalistic while we are here, Lieutenant. We can afford to get rid of some of our things in exchange for the cryptocurrency" noted Alvaro. "How are you with card games or other casino games?"

"Not good." He responded. "And I am not comfortable with sir. Yolen. That's my name." He set the shuttle down lightly at the spot that was picked out. "This spot is out of the way and should be enough away no to be found. I hope you are ready for a bit of a hike."

"Sure, why not" replied Álvaro Muñiz. He prepared as Yolen set the shuttle down. "Just remember where we parked and make sure you put the security locks on. We don't want to get our shuttle stolen" teased Alvaro. "We should be able to get a meeting with a low ranking government official."

Yolen chuckled. "It seems like you are the diplomat of us two so I shall defer to your ways my friend." He locked everything down and they exited the shuttle after Yolen grabbed his pack. He made sure that he had his phaser hidden and out of the way and a few extra cells just in case. "You lead and I shall follow." He said over extending his grin.

This was a bit unexpected and Alvaro was not entirely sure wat to make of it. "Are you certain?" he asked the Denobulan. "You are the ranking officer, Lieutenant. Command of our mission falls on you, but if you want me to lead us around I will. I studied the planet fairly extensively, though mostly from a geological standpoint as that's where my strength lies" explained the science technician. "I don't want to step on any toes" he added.

He smiled, "I don't believe in rankings. We're on this mission, we are a team my friend. I drove you get us to the city." He smiled again.

"Very well then" Alvaro Muñiz replied as he took out a tricorder and set it to a topographic setting. "We're a little over a klick from urbanization, looks like we've sat the shuttle down on the outskirts of a medium sized city named Carnegie. It's an industrial city known for constructing parts for ships and materials for the spaceport, a 'blue color' sort of majority population, nicer portions of the city a bit more upscale for salarymen."

"Sounds good" Yolen strapped on the bag pack. "So if I remember correctly this world is full of Orions, Ferngi, and Wadi and other .... financially driven species."

"Predominantly Human still, followed by Orion or mixed. There are some Ferengi businesses here. I wouldn't really anticipate any Wadi. If anything, Lurians."

"Interesting." He shrugged. "Well it aught to be interesting. I've brought some credits we can use. Let's...keep the fact we're Starfleet just between us for now though."

"Agreed" Muñiz replied as he lead the way to the city. "Credits should be good. I don't know what the current currency exchange rate is for cryptocurrency, but we can but some of needed. I say we don't downplay still being Federation citizens, but maybe we can get an appointment with a government official. Tell them we are considering moving here and wish to start a business, that a friend of ours told us it was a good idea. We can drop Stillwater's name and see if we get any nibbling on our bait."

"Agreed. But," the Denobulan said. "We must get our story straight." He grinned. "Are we partners in business, why move here? Things like that. How about we get that straight over some food."

Undercover reconnaissance and Intelligence work? What was this mission even deemed at this point. Not that Alvaro was complaining, but this was not the run of the mill shuttle mission. "You're right. We can't waltz in without a plan. We can grab lunch in the city and work out the details there. It's easiest to stick with what we know. You're a Helmsman and I'm Geologist. So, perhaps a business proposal that we'd be comfortable with. Making and selling surveyor drones might be worth considering."

Yolen touched his arm lightly. "Hold on. I hear something?"

Muñiz stopped immediately and let the Denobulan retake point. He was hoping Yolen for lack of structural formalities, was the more experienced with away missions. Álvaro Muñiz looked ahead as Yolen moved ahead a bit.

Yolen shucked his supplies, his hand resting on his phaser. He closed his eyes briefly and listened. Now the rustling was a little more pronounced. He looked over to a bush where the sound was coming from. The sound became loud and then the grass of the bushes parted to reveal a rabbit like creature with no ears. Yolen smiled. "Well, I guess someone was curious."

"So cute," replied Muñiz. "I don't think he's going to steal our shuttle, but I wouldn't mind if he stowaway before we left" Alvaro admitted. "Looks like it we continue on this path a bit we are going to end up near a Ferengi Grub Hub or an Antican place that looks to be equivalent to a sushi bar."

He smiled, "Indeed. Alright let's get settled and some food and weave our story." He looked at Muniz. "This is exciting." They, as the SCPO had predicted, wound up by a Ferengi Grub Hub. They settled in and ordered "Alright. So we're business partners, I fly, you like rocks, are we friends or is it a purely business relationship?"

"Business, but it's making us quick friends" offered Alvaro. "I believe in our ability to make this a believable performance" the science technician said. "I do like my rocks, but I also like agriculture and land formations. If we get boxed into a corner about land, pivot to me. If it's on the technical side, I'll lean on you."

"Indeed." He took a sip of his drink. "So....I noticed you at comedy night...if we can call that."

"Yes, that was an odd night" replied Álvaro Muñiz. "I am not sure we will be doing comedy night again any time soon, at least not until we find Stillwater."

"Indeed. The dynamics when we get back should be interesting but I mean the mooning you did over the doc. I have a feeling a crush is born." He shrugged. "Not that I blame you the doctor is quite a handsome man."

Mooning thought Alvaro confused, but he honestly did not remember much about the night. It was all foggy to him though he remembered the Captain's insult comedy which was a very divided reaction. He looked at the Denobulan "Uh...that's kind of you" replied the science technician, though he sought to keep them on track as their food arrived and Alvaro tried to treat the grubs he ordered like he did the coconut worms he had visiting his friend in Vietnam on Earth. "How comfortable are you feeling we can pull this meeting off convincingly?"

"We can do it. Let's finish our meal and then we'll find out fully."

Alvaro wiped out a small bottle of sauce and poured some on the grubs. "It needed a little something, a little kick and I can forget I'm eating insects."

He laughed. "Hot sauce? Really?"

Álvaro Muñiz nodded. "Have hot sauce, will travel" the man replied. "I like a bit of heat to my food and Ferengi cuisine is usually Earthy, slimy, slippery, and bland" he stated.

Yolen grinned. "Did you not notice page two of the menu. There was non Ferengi food."

Swallowing the last of the grubs he had splashed with hot sauce, Alvaro blushed. "No, I did not. I just assumed Ferengi restaurant that they'd stick to Ferengi food" he replied. "Oh well, no harm done. At least you get the memory of me putting hot sauce on tube grubs."

Yolen laughed. "Our secret." They finished the rest of their food and headed out. "Alright partner. I believe that beauty and brains go together so I shall let you do the talking. I shall be the intimidating muscle."

Alvaro laughed. "Yeah, I'm not the intimidating type."

{Off}