A Holo Hello

Posted on Wednesday, 27 May 2020 - 11:40am by Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant JG Surev & Lieutenant JG T'Amar

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | Deck 01 | Commanding Officer's Suite
Timeline: MD 13 2000

Barret Stillwater sat upright, stiff, and stern in the chair of his Ready Room. Lieutenant Commander Victrix had graciously insisted that the transfer of command go as smoothly as possible. Stillwater was still uncertain what to make of the woman he had recently met, and what was Starfleet up to that they thought it sage enough to place command of a Merian class starship under her command albeit temporarily and for what? To do what many had failed in doing for years. Some of the best tacticians had gotten close before, but nobody had made it as far as the soil of Prairie before. She had practically tracked him down and showed up with orders of reactivation on a PaDD right at his doorstep. Fox he thought to himself as he read over a PaDD, reflecting about DeVala Victrix. Yes, definitely a fox he deduced. He was contemplating the spirit guide that the woman probably had, but had never made an honest attempt at connecting with her guide.

The man was preparing for an interview of sorts though it was more accurately a conference. Victrix had chosen the candidates herself on his behalf prior to Stillwater coming aboard. He had given a thorough look through their personnel files and agreed with her choices. He reached down and retrieved his pocket watch and gave it a look. Five minutes and he would initiate the holographic communications system in his Ready Room. The two individuals would be projected in the chairs across from him whereas they would actually be in an equipped room aboard the Beta III Orbital station. Though Victrix had wanted to pass command over to him right then and there, Stillwater insisted she saw her mission until the end. That included reaching Beta III Orbital station to take on the additional crew. The compromise was she would be moved to guest quarters and Stillwater would take the Captain's suite.

Five minutes passed quickly and Stillwater activated the holo communications system. Soon, the two men would 'appear' in his Ready Room across from his desk and likewise, he would appear in the room in which they were aboard Beta III. When their signal had stabilized it was almost as if they were actually there. "Good evening, lieutenants. I am Commander Stillwater, Captain of the USS Fontana" he said addressing them. I am going to want to change that name he reminded himself at the moment. "My sincerest apologies for our human tardiness. We are on our way and will arrive at our earliest convenience. We are making efficient speed, that I do assure you."

Surev slanted his head slightly to one side as he listened. The words of formal greeting, T'nar pak sorat y'rani, rose to his lips but remained unspoken. "Reassurance is unnecessary, Captain. I am aware that punctuality is measured differently when a working Federation starship is involved."

A reasonable response from a Starfleet officer and an engineer thought Commander Stillwater. Nevertheless, he bowed his head slightly as a respectful sign of agreement and sculpted composure. "Yes, the Fontana has been preoccupied in the Triangle sector and delayed on taking on additional crew" the Commander replied. He left no mention that the reason the Fontana was in that sector or delayed was because they had been on a mission to locate him. "It was inadvisable to use the QSD from the Traiangle sector to Beta III Orbital Station, and frankly speaking the Fontana had used it once already in recent weeks. I am not comfortable yet using it again without a efficient engineering team having a look at it."

"Understood," Surev said and added the Quantum Slipstream Drive to his priority list. Merian Class ships were relatively small which meant that he would be less involved in administration and more involved in the actual work. "Do you have an estimated time of arrival, Captain?"

Stillwater nodded. "We have an estimated three days travel time before we reach the orbital station" replied the Commanding Officer. "As soon as we arrive, I would like to meet with you, both of you preferably. I will need my starship operating at peak performance for our next mission, the first with you both aboard" he noted. "Lieutenant Surev, you will be replacing Lieutenant Commander Mo'Bri as Chief Engineer who will be disembarking at Beta III Orbital Station.

"That was my understanding as well, Captain," Surev said, his rich tenor subdued into a properly neutral response.

"Lieutenant T'Amar, you will be in a more unique situation. Our current Acting Chief Operations Officer will be remaining on as your Assistant Chief. From the reports I have read by my XO, he has done an exceptional job and will be an asset to your department."

The Vulcan female's non-verbals were subdued. A simple tilt of the head, from experience, was enough to indicate attention and acknowledgement in addition to a verbal response "Familiarity with the ship systems and crew will be an additional benefit during this transition." Unique, the word had caught her attention. A perplexing term worth of further contemplation at a later time.

"Yes, I am still getting used to the starship myself" Stillwater admitted openly. "I have only just arrived aboard and assumed command. The starship as you are both are probably aware is a Merian class, and I have not had the honor of being aboard one yet. The technology is both familiar and yet foreign to me, but I am sure that all three of us will become acquainted with her in due time" Commander Stillwater offered. "The starship's previous Commanding Officer is presently still aboard. She's been working with the First Officer to get me up to speed on matters."

"I was provided with specifications, test results, and maintenance logs," Surevy said. He considered for a moment the idea of both knowing and not knowing at the same moment which led to a thought. "I know the ship, through my reading, without having been aboard or interacting with ship systems. I will be ready to assume my duties once you arrive."

"Excellent. I like the efficiency, Lieutenant" replied Stillwater. "Seeing as the two of you are already on the station together and will be working closely together when aboard, please confer with one another while you await our arrival."

"I do so daily," Surev said quietly.

T'Amar nodded in affirmation, "The situation report is most appreciated Captain. We will be anticipating arrival."

"Indeed, and I look forward to meeting you both in person. Stillwater out" he said before severing the transmission. There were some things best left done in person like further discussion of mission details.