Another Civilian Shuttle

Posted on Tue Apr 28th, 2015 @ 7:29pm by Ulani & Captain Enalia Telvan & Lieutenant Commander Ethan Chaparral MD & Lieutenant Dylan Santiago

Mission: The New Sydney Fiasco
Location: Near New Sydney
Timeline: Approaching New Sydney

As the Hera was approaching New Sydney, sensors picked up an approaching shuttle. It's heading showed it's destination was the Hera itself. Sensors picked up one life form aboard, not human.

Activity on the bridge was all a buzz as the shuttle approached. It was a Federation shuttle, called Aphrodite. As it neared communications officer Ensign Wes Grey notified Enalia, "Captain, we are being hailed."

"On screen," Enalia said as she looked up from her status readout built into her chair. Another shuttle inbound? Was Starfleet already ready to reintegrate them into the fleet? Not all the families of her crew had even been notified they were still alive...

The view screen awakened to activity. The person aboard the shuttle came into focus. She had auburn hair, flowing to below her shoulders. Her eyes were a piercing jade, which seemed to be able to transcend the screen.

A mischievous grin came to the lips of the woman. "Captain Telvan, we finally meet. Permission to dock in one of your shuttle bays."

More sensor readings on the shuttle revealed that although the shuttle was Federation issue, there was nothing linking it with Star Fleet. The registry stated that it was a personal shuttle, but did not state whose it was.

From his station at the back of the bridge, Dylan's mouth fell open as he saw who it was. What in the hell was she doing here?

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. " Enalia declared as she stood and took a few steps towards the viewscreen. "To whom do I have the pleasure?"

"Of course, Captain," the woman kept her grin. "I'm surprised the Intel Officer behind you hasn't filled you in." Her eyes moved to Dylan. "How are you doing, Sweetie?"

Shifting her attention back to the Captain, she introduced herself. "I am Ulani, Star Fleet retired. I believe my son is your CMO. Let's hope what happened to the previous four doesn't happen to him. It is important that I visit with Ethan."

Unable to help himself, Dylan groaned and then forced himself to say "Hello Mrs Chaparral...I'm fine. Captain, meet Doctor Chaparral's mother."

"Thank you for the introduction, Sweetie." Now Ulani's face turned serious as she looked back to Dylan. "I trust you are taking care of Ethan?"

Not waiting for Dylan to reply, Ulani again turned back to Captain Telvan. "Do I have your permission, Captain?"

Grinning mischievously, Enalia glanced to her Chief Intel officer before looking back at this most intriguing woman. "Families of crew members are always welcome to visit, Mrs. Chaparral. Please prepare to land in the main hangar deck. Lieutenant Santiago, I assume you'd like to see to her accommodations and welcome her aboard personally?"

"Yes Ma'am." Dylan heard himself say when inside his instinct was telling him to run as fast as he could. Ulani was a force of nature and there wasn't much in life that unsettled Dylan but his soon to be mother-in-law was one of them. "I'll meet you in the main hangar." he looked at Ulani and then back at Enalia and added "With your permission Ma'am...I'll get going."

"Thank you, Sweetie," Ulani exclaimed with a grin. "And thank you, Captain Telvan."

The shuttle maneuvered toward the shuttle bays and awaited a door to open. No sooner had it arrived, another ship came into sensor range. This was a Ferengi vessel and it too was hailing the Hera.

As the shuttle awaited the bay doors, Ulani took out a small transmitter box. She connected one fuse to another on the console. The mischievous grin returned to her face.

"Another shuttle? Busy today..." Enalia said, staying where she was. "On screen as well."

"Federation star ship," stated the Ferengi aboard his star ship. His anger was as sharp as his yellowed teeth. "My name is Squart! I believe you may be hoarding a fugitive that has pilfered from me. I demand you turn this swine over to me!"

"Mister Squart, I am Captain Enalia Telvan of the Hera. This is a serious accusation. Who on my ship are you making this accusation of?"

The Ferengi bared his teeth. "You are denying hiding that green-eyed swine of a fugitive? Her shuttle just came this way. Again, I demand that you surrender her to me! She stole a case of my Saurian Brandy! I demand justice!"

Returning to her chair, Enalia paused dramatically. "Lock weapons on that shuttle. Mr Squart, I pleasantly requested information about your claims. If you would prefer our discussion on the matter break down into mudslinging and hostilities, I will oblige with a full salvo of torpedoes. Now would you like to discuss the situation rationally?"

Realizing the predicament in which he had himself, Squart backed down. "Tell that sow that I will have revenge."

The Ferengi ship turned and headed the direction it came. As Ulani's shuttle entered the main hanger, she pushed the button on the transmitter. The Ferengi warp core exploded, leaving no survivors. Ulani threw the transmitter into a replicator, hit recycle and landed the shuttle nicely beside Nexi's.

After the screen went dark, Enalia made a note in her log as the shuttle blew up. "As you never gave us her name before your untimely demise, I have no one to deliver your message to..." she muttered to herself.

The shuttle's ramp opened and Ulani exited. She was dressed in form-fitting black leather with black leather boots with heals up to her knees. An operations officer awaiting to check the shuttle in stood with his mouth gaping and a PaDD in his hand.

Ulani took the PaDD and teasingly said, "Thanks, Hon...is that a sausage stuffed in your pants or are you happy to see me?"

She pushed the buttons required to check in her shuttle and hand it back to the operations officer, who was now blushing. "The only thing in there of note is a case of brandy. Can you see it gets to my guest quarters?" She paused as he nodded in the affirmative and entered her shuttle.

"Such a handsome young man...too bad Ethan is taken; I'd have him check that one out..."

Ulani began to check out the shuttle next to hers. She was certain this belonged to the young woman of whom one of Ulani's contacts spoke. What was her name...Lexi...no Nexi. I'll keep her in mind if a joint task is needed.

Having overheard Ulani's words the moment he approached her, Dylan stood behind her and cleared his throat, "Mrs Chaparral...it's good to see you."

Ulani turned and exclaimed, "Hi Sweetie," with a smile and a voice that never revealed if a person was on the good list or the shitty one. "I would have thought you would have brought Ethan with you."

"He's meeting us here." Dylan explained, wondering why this woman made him feel so awkward all the time.

Ethan had been rearranging the CMO's office. His office. It was doubly strange doing so. In the first place he was fairly young and hadn't been expecting to be promoted to CMO for another year or two later. More importantly though he was cleaning out the office of a dead man. A man who had helped make him whole with a new arm.

When Dylan had contacted him and told him that his mother ha arrived Ethan had been relieved at the distraction. Relieved and shocked. In fact, at first he thought that Dylan was playing a joke on him. But when Dylan had insisted that he was telling the truth, what could Ethan do?

He was wearing a teal scrubs rather than an official uniform, it was more comfortable for him, especially just moving with no patients expected for the afternoon. Deciding not to bother changing, he ran to the nearest turbolift took it to the right level and then rushed into the shuttle bay and looked around for his mom.

"Over here!" Dylan called, relief flooding through him as he saw his fiance. Being alone with Ulani was definitely something he did not relish.

Hearing Ethan's voice, Ulani turned to see him. For the past four years, she thought she would never see him, let alone embrace her son. The moment overwhelmed Ulani. She had to hold back the tears because of the effect they would have on the men. It would be scandalous for her son's boyfriend to suddenly become enamored with her. Rushing over to Ethan, she pulled him to herself in an embrace.

Ethan, however being only half Elasian and a man, had no problems in expressing his emotions or crying. It had been so long since he had seen her and so much had happened to him. For him the four years had been mere days, but everything that led up to that point still effected him.

"Oh mom, I love you so much," he managed, "I'm so glad you're here."

Despite his own discomfort with Ulani, Dylan smiled as he watched mother and son reunited, genuinely happy for Ethan that he had family that he loved and trusted so much. More than could be said for his own.

"I love you too, Ethan." The temptation was there to use the nickname, but she didn't want anyone besides the three of them to know it. It was private; it was intimate.

"So how about a tour of the ship?" Ulani asked. "I'd like to start by meeting the fine pilot of this shuttle," she added pointing to Nexi's vessel. "Then, some private time," her face turned more dark and serious. "I have to catch you up on the past four years."

"Sure mom," he said, "but first you haven't really been properly introduced to my bo... fiance. Dylan, come say hello."

"Oh...uh...we kinda met." Dylan replied awkwardly, debating if he should tell Ulani to avoid Nexi like the plague, "But...uh...hi." he flashed her his most charming smile.

Ulani grinned. "It's nice to see you in person and not on a screen," then she laughed as she added, "Sweetie!"

Forcing himself not to wince at the sentiment, Dylan replied "Good to meet you too Ma'am." Then he looked over at Ethan with a 'help me' look in his eyes.


Ethan recognized the look and quickly moved between the two, "Hey mom, let me give you that tour of the ship you wanted. I think Dylan has to get back to his bridge duty."

"By all means," Ulani replied, "I wouldn't want to keep a man from his duty." The thought of what she had just said shot emotional pain through her system knowing what she had to share with Ethan. It had to wait for now. Wait for a private moment. But she would have to tell him.

Forcing a smile, Ulani said, "At least walk with us to the turbo lift, Dylan." She linked her elbow around both young men and followed along with them.