The Launch
Posted on Friday, 22 January 2021 - 1:29pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Commander Soral & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth & Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Lieutenant Raith Kolani & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie & Lieutenant JG Kay’la & Petty Officer 1st Class Siana Ilian
Mission:
Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: Various on USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 - MD 01
ON:
*****
Raith stood before the mirror in his quarters in a fresh uniform. Despite the fact that he'd been cleared for duty several days previous and had been working on various areas of the Standing Bear to get himself up to speed again, Raith had decided that when the time came to leave Jupiter Station, a new uniform would be best.
Once he was satisfied that he looked smart and felt confident to return to the Bridge, Raith made his way out of his quarters and headed to the nearest turbolift, taking his time to arrive promptly.
*****
T’Lanna was sitting in with Jayce when the call came across the comms to say the ship was leaving Jupiter. She was officially on maternity leave now, but she wanted to be on the bridge for departure. She wasn’t sure if Stillwater would send her straight back to her quarters or not. “Kay’la I’m going to the bridge for departure, will you call me if ...”
“If you’re needed” Kay’la nodded. “Of course I will T’Lanna. Don’t worry too much, Jayce is in good hands here.”
T’Lanna nodded and slowly rose from her seat. Smiling she blew a kiss to Jayce inside his protective chamber before heading out of Sickbay and making for the turbolift.
*****
Adrianna Baciami was on a final tour of the ship. It had become a habit: every voyage, she'd do a lap of the ship to view home. It wasn't the same as beforehand, this ship was the same as last time. The ship had become her home. She'd cried and laughed here, found love and true friendship.
Adrianna got the call in and started heading to the bridge. A new mission, new adventures. As her Earth chapter had closed, she now felt at peace about beginning her new one, wherever it may take her.
*****
Standing in front of the mirror, Petty Officer Ilian studied her reflection as she adjusted the collar before heading out of her quarters towards the turbolift. Officially returned to duty, she had spent the early hours of the morning studying reports, catching up on what she had missed in the days she had spent adjusting to becoming host to Ilian. "Bridge," she instructed as she stepped inside the lift, clasping her hands behind her back as the lift sped towards the command deck, noting the ride was not as smooth as it should be. She would look into that later.
Entering the Bridge she hesitated before stepping out. Here she had to be focused, ready for whatever was coming. Above all, though, she knew she was ready.
Crossing to Ops she began making initial checks of the systems so that, if Lieutenant Kolani was able to join them, he would find everything in order. Even when her department head arrived she wanted to stay and observe the ship's departure. It was something Ilian had enjoyed in the past and on this, Siana was happy to indulge her symbiote.
****
T’Lanna stepped out of the turbolift and made her way across to her usual seat, she knew she wasn’t expected but right now she needed the distraction from her worries about Jayce. She wondered if Raith would be fit enough to get back to duty or whether he’d be resting for long.
*****
Raith arrived on the Bridge and took a moment to take it all in again, having realised how much he'd missed the feeling of being up there once again. As he walked out and made his way over to the Ops station, he saw Petty Officer Ilian stood there and smiled. "Carry on, Petty Officer, I'll man the Auxiliary Operations station, you take the lead on this one," he said.
Soral sat in the Captain's chair waiting for Stillwater and his department heads to report ready. "Ops secure all docking doors. Transporters on standby."
“Secured, Commander,” Ilian reported, her voice laced with a little more confidence than weeks prior. “Transporters standing by.”
"Tactical and security report ship condition."
Lieutenant Talarn Zilth had just come from his office and took his console on the Bridge. "Tactical and security are standing by and ready..." he replied.
"Science report. All labs and equipment secure?"
Emerging from the turbolift at that exact moment, Lieutenant Kingsley crossed to her station. "All secure," she confirmed. She had made sure of it. Studying her sensor data for a moment she added, "all systems are ready."
Soral swiveled to Biacami. "All new equipment installed and ready?"
"Yes, Sir, and fully operational." The Italian looked up from her panel to Soral and gave a nod.
"Helm. Stand ready."
"Medical ready?"
Ryan was out in the main bay, double-checking everything when the call from the bridge came through. "Aye bridge, medical is green," he reported back.
T’Lanna remained quiet, she wasn’t officially on duty anyway, even though she’d still see any patients who were desperately in need of talking to her.
Soral looked over at T'Lanna. "You should be resting, nonetheless your presence is appreciated." He tapped his badge. "Captain to the bridge. All stations ready for leaving the dock." He stood and moved to the XO's chair.
The doors of the lift opened up. "I know," he replied aloud stepping off the turbo lift. "I'm the Captain. I can feel when my ship is purring and ready to roll on out," added Stillwater heading towards the Captain's chair and getting ready to take his seat.
"Helm," Stillwater said, his voice stern. "Take us out," the Captain ordered as he looked over the small display near him. "Take us a safe distance away from Jupiter station and plot a course to coordinates one four zero mark two zero five, warp factor eight."
The woman at the helm raised an eyebrow. "Sir... that will take us to the old neutral zone?"
"I am aware of that," replied Stillwater. "As you said 'old,'" noted the Captain who shifted a bit in his seat. "There is no Romulan Star Empire anymore, and thus no neutral zone, nothing to violate. This ship has been through there before, and now Starfleet Command is sending us back through again. We have orders to resume our mission of patrolling the Federation border."
“Then let’s hope we get a peaceful assignment with everything that’s happened lately.” T’Lanna looked at Barret and offered a hopeful smile.
Kingsley glanced over her shoulder towards T’Lanna, “on Earth they call that jinxing things.”
T’Lanna looked at Alex. “I certainly hope I didn’t jinx us then!” She offered a somewhat tired smile. In all honesty, she was tired but at least on the bridge, she had something to keep her mind occupied. Not that she planned on being away from Jayce for too long.
"Even if it does, at least you cannot say work is boring," Adrianna offered.
“Things on this ship are rarely boring,” Kingsley agreed.
"Surely that's part of the fun of being in Starfleet, weird is part of the job as Admiral Janeway once said if it's not weird or new then surely that's boring?" Raith asked as he enjoyed both being back on the Bridge and the Banter between the various senior officers.
Besides, it also felt good to him to be back on duty and also be back out there amongst the stars.
Soral stayed silent. Stillwater was right. There was no Romulan Star Empire... but there should be one, one that was united with Nivar. His hands fisted on the seat rests.
T'Lanna felt a change in Soral, she gazed around noticing his body language but didn't say anything aloud, she would talk to him later in private.
Helm turned back and she imputed the new coordinates. "Course laid in and set, Sir. Moorings released. Full impulse until we leave the system on your mark."
Stillwater watched and waited and gestured with his hand. His stern voice gave a commanding tone as he gave the word. "Engage," quick, simple, and to the point.
"Aye, Aye sir." The ship hummed to life easing out backward and slowly turning. One last glance towards Jupiter Station and then the new adventure that awaited them.
OFF:
