The Cavalry

Posted on Sun Dec 22nd, 2019 @ 9:19am by Lieutenant Commander Thy'lissa Shan & Commander Taeler Santu M.D.

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Airlock, USS Athena
Timeline: Right before departure
810 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

All that Santu could think of when she walked over to the airlock of the Athena was that it was a big ship. A modern one as well. She had been used to the limited comforts and cramped quarters of a Nova class vessel. This was something completely different. Her heart was beating in her chest as she approached the airlock, "Hello, Chief," she greeted the enlisted officer that was standing watch at the airlock and handed him her PADD with orders. She was supposed to report in with the Athena. Her first assignment as an Executive Officer about to begin.

The Chief looked over the PADD for a moment before looking up, "Welcome aboard Commander Taeler. Unfortunately, the Captain isn't in at the moment," he saw the surprised reaction from the Bajoran woman, "I'm sure he'll return soon." A modest, unconvincing smile followed.

Santu took the PADD back and gave a short nod. Why would the Captain of a vessel leave moments before the ship was supposed to go on its shakedown cruise? Something must've come up, "I'll just get settled in, in the meanwhile." She gave a warm smile back and stepped past the security chief.

Everything about this ship was larger than life. Even the flooring and the corridors. It was so much more spacious than she was used to. She couldn't believe that Starfleet Command entrusted her with such a large vessel on her first assignment as an XO. This was going to be a baptism by fire. She headed for the turbolift, first order of business was to see if she could find the highest-ranking officer on board and report in.

"I don't care what state the assembly coils are in!" Thy'lissa barked at the Ensign at Ops. "Tell those engineers to get me some warp power and clear our departure from docking control!" She rose from the central chair, about ready to take a swing at some unfortunate crewman foolish enough to cross her path.

Santu was a bit taken aback by the fierceness of the officer in the command well. It was clear that they were in command of the vessel. Slowly she ventured forward, not quite confident to announce her presence or draw attention from the Andorian officer standing in front of the central chair. As the rest of the bridge crew quieted down a bit she cleared her throat, "Ehm. Hello. I'm looking for whoever is in Command."

"Right now, you're looking at her. Is it important? I'm in the middle of trying to get this blasted ship out of dock with half a crew and an injector assembly in three pieces." The Andorian woman, in full flow, almost snapped.

"I guess it might be, I was assigned to the Athena as its First Officer," Santu put her hands behind her back, trying to come off as non-threatening to the fuming Andorian woman. She gave a crooked smile, in an effort to seem empathetic to the difficulties the blue-skinned officer was facing.

Thy'lissa caught herself as she clocked the statement and the rank. Her wrath momentarily subsided. "I wasn't...informed of your arrival." She shook her head, dismissing the notion that she had to know everything. "Excuse me, ma'am. We've received intelligence that Commander Kane and his party may be in imminent danger. It was my intention to deploy the ship to assist him."

"It was last minute, probably slipped your mind amidst all this," Santu waved her hand a bit at the organised chaos going on around them, "what is holding us up?"

"We're in the middle of a refit. A number of systems need to be brought back up. We can probably leave dock, but we might be a little below optimum if we come across any trouble," the Andorian explained. "As ranking officer, I believe it would be your call, ma'am."

"What will we be facing?" Santu knew all about facing opposition a little below optimum, it never stopped her before, "and will they know we'd be sub-optimal?" Sometimes all that was needed was a show of force, even if it was a bluff.

"Orions, probably? Seems like they have a pirate ring in the region. Possibly funded by Breen military elements." Thy'lissa glanced around the ship. "As for our status, impossible to know if they would have any idea. If they're smart they might see something wasn't quite right, but it's likely we'll have torn them to shreds before they realised it."

"Then what are we waiting for?" The element of surprise was a huge advantage and from the sound of it the resistance they were going to be facing was minimal, even with some small setbacks on the ship itself, "Let's go save the day."


:: OFF ::




Lt Commander Taeler Santu M.D.
Executive Officer
USS Athena


Lt Commander Thy'lissa Shan
Second Officer
USS Athena
(PNPC Kane)