Ready, Steady, Go

Posted on Thu Aug 21st, 2014 @ 3:34pm by Captain Enalia Telvan & Lieutenant Commander Charon Edomar & Commander Angelica Fairchild & Lieutenant JG Rhett Beaumont

Mission: Something Amiss
Location: USS Hera Bridge
Timeline: MD2 - 0900

Everything seemed as ready as possible and the last crew and cargo had been beamed aboard just minutes ago. Enalia was on the bridge in her customized chair and she had had the engine room prepped and ready to go an hour ago. This was it though. Once more they were heading underway into an unknown path. "Helm, take us out. Set course for heading 327-mark-215 at warp 6. Engage when ready and plot in the course correction to the Romulan prison colony for 15 minutes from now at warp 9."

Turning to her First Officer, Enalia sized him up once more. She was already noticing severe signs of stress in him and was starting to worry that he would be able to handle this first mission. If this didn't break him he'd make a fine XO. Would it be too much for him, though? She had already discovered his outright refusal to use his telepathic powers so she was looking through the rest of the crew manifest for another possible candidate should she require the use of telepathy in the future.

"Number One, what's the status of the rescue team's training?" Enalia asked simply, the concern in her eyes obvious to anyone.

Charon had been standing close to the OPS console, talking in a quiet voice to the Ensign manning it. When the Captain addressed him his head turned and his body followed. He made his way towards the captains chair and stood next to it, clenching his jaw muscles in an effort to ease the pressure he could feel growing in his head. Knowing all too well, that it would do nothing to ease his migraine.

Ensign Rhett Beaumont had quietly snuck onto the Bridge though his presence had probably not gone unnoticed. He had Spinelli down in Engineering taking charge and ensuring that everything was running efficiently. Rhett had exited the lift, and slithered around some bridge and support personnel and found himself plopping down at the empty aft Environmental station.

Charon raised his PADD and started giving his assessment. “Their physical checks out. And we did the best we could in the time we had. With Stanson and Fairchild on the team I believe we do have a chance of pulling this of. Both are very well trained.” Charon said and covered one half of the away team. “As for Ensign Beaumont I am not sure but I think he will manage. While he is pretty young his engineering qualification might serve as an asset.” He could not help but smile at the slight irony of a half-Orion being protect by the two women. After all Orion culture was matriarchal. His eyes darted to the Ensign for a second. “If the Lieutenant and the Commander manage to keep him alive.” The smile on his face did not last too long though when he moved on to the fourth and last member of the away team. “I don't know how to asses the wild card we have to deal with. That Nexy woman, what do we know about her?” Charon asked.

The young Chief Engineer soured his facial expressions as the First Officer made some comments about him that did not sit well with the Ensign. I'm safer with them than I would be with you though Rhett rolling his eyes.

Right in that moment a thought crossed his mind. It was vile and evil. He had to struggle to not act upon it. He could taste acid spreading over the back of his tounge. He had to swallow hard to get rid of it. Charon turned away from the Captain and fixed his eyes on the main viewer. He couldn't look at her now. Not after what he had just thought about doing.

Motioning to the chair on her right that her XO seemed reluctant to sit in, Enalia spoke a bit quieter. "Why don't you sit down so I don't have to yell? Nexi is a sort of bounty hunter for the Ferengi and she's agreed to help us as an infiltration specialist. I've offered to pay her so as long as she doesn't think we'll stiff her on the bill, I trust her for the most part. Beyond that, Commander Stanson is keeping a close eye on her."

Rhett wanted to hear what the two were saying. However, he only caught small bit of the whole. It was about this Nexi woman and payment for services. They were watching her. I wonder if they watch me too? the Chief Engineer pondered.

When Telvan spoke again Charon twitched. He closed his eyes and reigned himself in. This was not the time to loose it. And he had sworn to himself that he wouldn't. After turning around he slowly made his way towards the chair next to the Captain which was going to be his from now on. After he sat down didn't seem to comfortable. Indeed he had trouble finding a position that was not somehow awkward. He would definitely have to get someone from engineering to fix this damn thing. “Who is with Starfleet Intelligence.” Charon almost spat out. It was the reason why he had not yet met with the woman. He had a deeply seated hatred for people in her line of work. “I only hope Fairchild has a healthy scepticism.” He still feared that there was more to this mission than they had been told about. And when engaging in business with agents from any secret service that was usually the case. He believed Stanson to be no different. He wondered if he should talk to Beaumont and Fairchild again before they left on the refitted runabout with the two other members of the away team.

Angelica had been minding her own business and pretending not to hear their conversation... until Charon commented on his hope for her skepticism. Hearing that, she frowned slightly and paused in her setup of her console behind them, leaning forward over it and lowering her voice. "All due respect, sir, but perhaps it would be better to discuss crew members in a location where we can't overhear what's being said."

Charon turned his head and looked Fairchild dead in the eye. “Did you think about the possibility that you were indeed meant to hear this?” He asked with a quizzical look on his face. Personally he thought that this bunch of people that had so recently been put on a starship together weren't even remotely close to ready for a mission like this. They lacked in trust and familiarity. Both took time to develop and build. So his doubts, he thought, were justified. “The mind is a peculiar thing, Lieutenant. Sometimes the strangest comment can get people thinking.” He said and smiled a knowing smile.

"Oh, I did think of that. But frankly, it's not a discussion you should have on the bridge. Comments like that delay the formation of good relationships among the crew." As she spoke, Angelica finished her station setup, dedicating nearly a quarter of the console to monitoring their two guests. "More to the point, if Commander Stanson hears that tone of dislike in your voice, you could permanently damage your working relationship with her."

“Your disagreement is noted.” Charon muttered but it didn't sound too much like he cared about what she had said. That was partially because the tingling behind his brow was intensifying. The crew was nervous. The anxiousness of more than seven hundred people was weighing down on his defences. Having spent much time away from any type of crowd this size it would take him some time to get used to this sort of constant background noise once again. “Captain, if you don't need me on the bridge there are a few things I still have to take care of.” He had not slept since meeting the captain the day before and being told about their dangerous mission. His much needed mental focus was beginning to slip. And maybe the Lieutenant was right. His comment earlier might not have been the best idea. But what the hell, Stanson might as well know about his feellings towards SI.
Charon stood up and looked at his pad. His schedule was full indeed. A quick visit to his quarters, taking a shower and a steaming cup of Ullian green leaf tea would allow him to stay on his feet for a while longer.

Enalia had monitored the exchange, feining disinterest while she kept her eyes on the main screen. They were finally at warp - the starlines on the huge monitor before her reflecting that. "Distaste aside, it's SI that's giving us our orders from now on. If you don't think you can handle that, let me know. For now, we have just under 2 days to build that camaraderie and trust before the first runabout launches. I want every effort made to see that it happens. That goes for every crewman aboard, as well as my senior officers. The 523 people on board are now family in my eyes." Turning to look Charon in the eyes, Enalia continued. "We're on the same side with hopefully the same overall goals, right Number One?" With a further nod of her head, her intent was hopefully clear that he was free to leave of his own free will. She wasn't trying to berate anyone or anything. She just wanted her position on the matter heard publically.

Charon got up and straightened his uniform with a discreet move. Instead of moving straight to the turbolift though he passed by the CONN and the OPS station. In a hush tone he gave orders the crew members manning the stations. He left after and made his way to his quarters.

Enalia didn't make any noticeable movements regarding her first officer's secretive orders to the helm and conn officers, instead she just busied herself with her status console. This crew was feeling more and more like she was going to have a mutiny on her hands at any time. It may have just been her building paranoia, but she couldn't help but feel like it was something more. Her senior staff were almost all disturbed and disturbing individuals with clashing personalities to say the least. At least the away team had some people she could trust. her intel officer and tactical officer may be hiding a lot, but she knew they would do what was best for the mission in the end. In fact, between those two and Nexi, she had to wonder if her chief engineer would even come back alive.

Checking the time, she sent the real coordinates to the helm. "Helm, change course to those coordinates, warp 9." watching her status readout, the ship came about as expected, almost doing a power slide at warp speed as the heading changed. Good - that would disrupt their warp trail just enough to disguise their actual path for a few minutes if someone was following them. She didn't like jumping into unknown situations at all, but when she didn't even have her full 780 assigned crew members, including the 25 marines she was promised, things looked bleak. She just had to put her faith in what crew she had and hope for the best.

Ensign Rhett Beaumont turned in his seat and stood up, descending the ramp down into the Command pit. "I know that I needn't remind you, Ma'am. However, with recent upgrades to our engines, the Hera can safely push Warp 9.6 for twelve hours if necessary" announced the Chief Engineer. "I would like to add that I may be able to get you warp 9.7 should we need to haul ass."

"Thank you Chief, we'll need that when we leave. For now warp 9 will do - especially since we'll be at this speed for close to 46 hours." Enalia didn't even look up from her console as she spoke. She was clearly still upset about last night the way her shoulders tensed, but she did her best to not show it on her face. Looking up at him, she continued. "Besides, if we get there early we'll spoil the surprise."

Hell no thought the Ensign nearly biting his bottom lip. "Captain, no offense intended... I just recently joined this crew. So, I know that I do not have much pull here yet but even with our recent upgrades... Warp 9 for almost two days straight. Ma'am we would blow out a nacelle after a day and that's if we somehow managed that much" countered the Chief Engineer. "Our safety limit it twelve hours at 9.6. Even at the decreased speed of Warp 9, you are asking for serious damage to our engines."

"You might be surprised then. You weren't here for them, but we did the equivalent of warp 9.1 with no noticeable increase in strain or temperature for 3 days during the engine tests. I'm pretty sure she can handle it, otherwise we would have left yesterday to get to the coordinates at the right time."Enalia explained patiently.

"Impressive...and terrifying" replied Rhett with a shake of his head. "I will keep my fingers crossed for good luck just in case."

Enalia couldn't help but smile a bit at that. "Thankfully we're actually going somewhere right now rather than trying to rip out of a spacedock testing frame. Much smoother 'ride' for sure."

Noticing a new alert on her console, Enalia frowned a bit. "If you'll excuse me... LT Fairchild, you have the bridge." She said as she headed towards the nearest turbolift.

"Yes, ma'am." She couldn't do that job from her console, so Angelica quietly transferred the tactical controls to the console beside the command chair instead, moving down to take Enalia's place with little fanfare.