Refit Rondo Entrance

Posted on Mon Jan 30th, 2017 @ 10:45pm by Captain Enalia Telvan & Commander Mal Xustos & Lieutenant Commander Eneas Clio & Staff Warrant Officer Nexi

Mission: Refit Rondo
Location: Utopia Planitia Fleetyards

Enalia was sipping a mug of the strongest coffee she could find as she watched her ship undergo its refit from the observation deck of the spaceframe module the Hera was docked in. One of the nacelles was completely missing, as was the tactical pod, and the new starboard nacelle was currently being installed, the mating process going slower than expected from the reports. The Hera had missed a few prior refits, so that was easy enough to understand. The thing that gave the ship its most distinct visual change, however, was the new armor plating Starfleet Intelligence insisted on. It wasn't anything particularly special in terms of combat, but they'd be able to polarize it and hide from just about any known sensors out there. It was also somewhat reflectively neutral, though the blue energized panel lines here and there when they tested each new plate did look rather ominous. Overall, they should be able to fly right past a Jem'hadar fleet at warp 9.9 without them even noticing, if the reports held up. On top of that, the computer cores and half the engineering systems were flat out being replaced. Yes, this would still be a very interesting ship. She just hoped their first mission didn't go as poorly as so many others.

Farenia Meowlith, former Captain of the USS Katana, walked up with her own mug of coffee. she had been waiting on a new command for a couple weeks now and while there were a few she'd considered, none of them felt very appealing and she was considering taking a desk job back at command. Not normally her style, but after watching her last ship being scuttled, she felt rather stretched thin.

"Looks like it'll be another three days before the port nacelle gets here from Jupiter. The storms delayed the final production assembly." Enalia commented casually.

"I expected as much. I noticed the last few shipments from there were delayed." Farenia commented back.

"At least the new intel pod will be ready on schedule. Freakish thing has everything but a cloaking device. Seriously, why do we need to be able to project a hologram through a quantum tubule nine lightyears away?" Enalia turned to Farenia, the ridiculousness not lost on her.

"Who knows. I'd just hope it sort of worked and you could go to a meeting on a planet's surface remotely. That might be useful." Farenia replied with a grin.

Just then a series of tugs moved slowly into view, the massive ship they were towing narrowly clearing the space between two spaceframes. As the ship stretched into view, it dwarfed even the Hera like she was a small insect compared to it.

"So that's the new Excalibur class..." Enalia said with blatant awe. "The castles we build..."

"The USS Camelot - I was in consideration for command for her. I don't think I could take such a vessel though." Farenia replied, also in awe. The ship had crossed the halfway point across the observation bay window and the tail end of the nacelles were still out of view.

Enalia nodded. "I doubt there are many up to commanding such a massive ship. The Galaxy class, and to an extent the Nebula class... They were called cities in space. If the Hera is a city, that ship is a world. I heard she could evacuate half of just about any world in the Federation, if needed."

"She's an impressive beast of a ship," Farenia replied. They then watched in silence for several minutes as the massive ship glided out of the fleetyards. As soon as it cleared the last of the space frames, the engines lit up and she began moving under her own power. Soon she was clear of the local gravity and had gone to warp.

"She's cannons strapped to phasers strapped to torpedoes sitting on the biggest warp engine we've ever built. Makes the Defiant look like a toy." Clio wasn't quite sure what the conversation had been before the Camelot cruised by, she'd only just come onto the observation deck in time to see it glide past the windows and jump to warp. She watched the visible bits of the warp trail fizzle and dissipate for a moment, idly rubbing the lingering sore spot along her collarbone. "I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. I just can't figure out where I'm supposed to be or what I'm supposed to be doing."

"You have orders to become one of my senior staff aboard the Hera, if you're up for it." Enalia replied, resuming her observation of the attempts to marry a venture series nacelle to the Hera. "And if not, I'm sure 'Nia has some adventures she'll take you on.

"Ultimately, the decision is yours," Farenia added, giving Clio a slight smile. She was still feeling the loss of the Katana pretty hard.

New orders? Clio didn't remember seeing any new orders among the myriad of demands and requests that she submit a report to Starfleet Intelligence detailing the Katana's untimely and unfortunate demise. She was also only now realizing that the person talking to Farenia was Enalia Telvan, who she'd met only briefly before and hadn't immediately recognized. "Join the Hera... the only ship with more dangerous and insane missions than the Katana. I'm not sure Starfleet thought that order through before they wrote it." She smiled just a little, then glanced over at Farenia. "And just where are you going?"

Farenia shook her head as she returned to looking at the Hera. "I've been offered a few assignments, but most seem to be desk jobs. Nothing really interesting."

"Desk jobs? How insulting." Clio shook her head slightly. To her, it seemed that Starfleet was blaming Farenia for the loss of the Katana, before the facts had even been compiled. "Nia, that isn't fair. They know damn well you didn't blow up your own ship."

"I know they don't," Farenia stated motioning towards where the USS Camelot had been. "I went up for a review board to captain that behemoth ship. As far as I know, she's still captainless." She then sighed and pulled a PaDD out of her cargo pocket. "The USS Metalica needs a new captain. Diplomatic and escort assignments are all she gets though."

"Better than flying a desk, but not anything you'd like doing. There must be something that actually interests you. Somewhere." Sadly, Clio knew that assignments could be slim pickings for officers like herself and Farenia, officers who flourished in more challenging and physical assignments. More and more, Starfleet was moving toward a more diplomatic stance, forcing its less diplomatic members to resign or take jobs they hated. "Or maybe it's just me. I can't do all that diplomatic crap."

"I'd have both of you on the Hera if I could but the way Starfleet is going we won't even be fighting pirates." Enalia interjected.

"There's an opening at Starfleet Intelligence as a Strategic Command Liaison. I'd at least be able to keep in touch with both of you that way." Farenia added, scrolling the data on her PaDD a bit. "It would be boring, but I'd at least be able to throw something fun your way now and then."

There was a clopping/clattering noise, the sound of half of a very large goat walking across the deck plating as Commander Mal Xustos entered the Observation Deck and walked over to where the other officers were standing. A Pomtoli satyr, he was dressed in a Starfleet uniform jacket with his O-5 pips on his collar. Instead of pants, Mal wore a utilikilt. This served as his official everyday Starfleet uniform. His Pan flute, not a part of his official everyday uniform, hung from his neck on a leather strap.

"A magnificent vessel, don't you think?" he said. Raising his flute to his lips, he began playing a haunting, beautiful, sensuous tune.

Enalia cleared her throat and grinned wickedly. "I'd like you both to meet my new Executive Officer, Commander Mal Xustos."

Nexi had been watching from the shadows in the back of the room, curious to see how this refit would affect the secret shuttle bay Enalia had assigned for her use. But then some weirdo, who Enalia said was now the XO, came in here and started playing a flute; who the fuck even does that?! She scoffed and rolled her eyes, finally melting out of the shadows to join the others by the great window. "You're kidding, right? Who'd you piss off to get assigned this piece of work?" Nexi said to Enalia.

"I chose him myself - he was the best candidate out of several dozen." Enalia replied, still grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"Of course you did..." Nexi said with a scowl. "Why the hell do I continue to hang out with you people?"

Mal lowered his flute and laughed.

"Does this mean you won't be attending my 'welcome aboard' party?" Mal asked. "Drat. I'm positively heartbroken. Are you sure I can't change your mind? They'll be plenty of music and dancing and drink and frolicking! You look like someone who likes a good frolic!"

"I don't frolic," Nexi said seriously, but she did drink, so it was possible that she might make an appearance, maybe...

"Hey, it could be worse. He could be a Medusan." Clio cracked a smile, making a mental note to attempt to avoid the frolicking. Drinking and music was fine, but large crowds were a no go. "I take it Commander Fairchild finally gave up and retired?"

"Yeah," Enalia said with a heavy sigh. "She and Sinek are off to raise their child in a more Vulcan atmosphere. I can't say I blame them, really."

"I'm not terribly surprised. Starfleet is a rough life, and she was looking a little ragged during our ill-fated resupply." Though she didn't have any children herself, Clio could see the appeal in leaving Starfleet to raise one's child on Vulcan, away from the stress and danger of a starship.

"I been thinking of taking Aewia away from here, maybe back to Betazed, but the truth is I don't think she'd be happy anywhere but here," Nexi chimed in, her expression softening at the mention of her sister.

"I think she'd be happy with you no matter where you two go," Enalia commented.

"Aewia... Larani? The Intel Officer?" Farenia asked, a look of consternation crossing her features. "If she's the same one, we were on a mission together years ago."

Nexi said cast the Vulcanoid-Rigellian a wary glance. "Well, years ago don't mean much now; now she's retired, recovering from the extensive damage of interrogation in a Romulan prison," Nexi informed her. "She has trouble remembering things from before she was rescued, so if you want to see her, don't be surprised if she don't remember you. Just be sure to bring cake and she'll like you just fine."

Farenia nodded. "I might do that, but it's probably best if we avoid each other. The mission went very poorly and if she does have memories of me, they're not good."

"Then bring ice cream and you'll be her best friend," Nexi replied with a wry grin.

Clio had been rather quiet during the discussion of Nexi's sister. Everyone in her field knew the name Aewia Larani; the woman had quite a reputation before her disappearance. She'd never actually met her though.

That's when Aewia decided to make her way to the observation deck as well, a milkshake in hand and one of her nurses from the Hera trailing behind her to make sure she found her way ok. Wrapping one arm around Nexi, her bright pink and white floral dress was a sharp contrast to Nexi's attire. "So that's what the new tubes look like."

Nexi didn't hesitate to lean over to her sister to steal a sip of her milkshake, grimacing at the taste that assaulted her tongue. "Ew, gross, you weirdo, what is that?" Nexi asked her sister, then looked over to Farenia, Clio, and Mal, pointing to each of them as she spoke. "Oh, by the way, that's the, um, CO of the dead ship Katana, you've met before, and this is Clio-something? She's Intel and I get to work with her, and then the goat-man is the new XO and I think he's weirder than you are," she added to bring Aewia up to speed.

"Kale, cinnamon, and Telerian brandy milkshake," Aewia replied with a grin and Nexi gagged in response. She then nodded to each person in turn. "It's good to meet all of you. I'm Aewia and this is my sister, Nexi."

Mal smiled warmly at Aewia.

"Hello," he said. "I'm Commander Mal Xustos. You can call me Mal. It's very nice to meet you, too."

"Eneas Clio." Clio left her rank out of it for now, not finding it terribly important at the moment.

"Farenia Meowlith," Nia responded after the others had introduced themselves.

Aewia gave the first two pleasant nods, but as soon as she caught sight of Farenia her eyes went wide and she moved so that Nexi was between her and Farenia. "I remember you. Yes, I definitely remember you. You left me to rot in that hellhole."

"And this is why I should have avoided you..." Farenia muttered, looking back out the window.

"AND she was the one that gave us the report and intel needed to rescue you," Enalia added.

"Ya know, you shoulda mentioned that bit, I could have prevented this meeting," Nexi said in a matter-of-fact tone to Farenia, then she looked back at Aewia. "Oi, she can't be all that bad, she sent the Intel that let us find you," she said, not one to hold a grudge. Who was she kidding, Nexi could totally hold a grudge, but in this instance she didn't think it was grudge-worthy because she knew sometimes missions just went sideways and everyone going in should know that these kinds of things do happened. "You know how these things go, kiddo, it ain't personal, the mission objective always comes first."

"And if I hadn't gotten out when I did, the entire team would have been compromised," Added Farenia.

Aewia nodded and relaxed a bit but kept her eyes glued to Farenia. "Yeah... Yeah, I remember that too. That doesn't mean I have to like it though. And you look better without the Romulan ridges."

Clio looked between them all, feeling very confused and somewhat headache-y. All this was difficult to follow, and she wasn't sure whose 'side' she was supposed to be on. She knew the heartache of being left behind but also knew the pain having to leave someone else in danger to finish a mission.

Mal thought this might be a good time for a subject change. He turned to Aewia.

"Aewia," he said. "Your sister says that if I ply you with ice cream, you'll be my friend for life. Is that true? If so, would you like to go for ice cream with me sometime? You know us weird people have to stick together!"

Aewia nodded slowly, then shifted her gaze back to Mal with an 'ice cream' smile. "Yeah, ice cream is the best."

"It is indeed!" Mal replied. "I'll call on you soon and we'll see what exotic ice cream flavors we can discover! With your sister's permission, of course."

"Are you making a pass at my brain damaged sister?" Nexi asked in a cold tone. Then, just to make certain that Mal really considered his answer and respond truthfully, she made a show of drawing the short sword that was sheathed at the small of her back under her custom leather jacket designed to emulate the look of the Starfleet uniform, and held the sword in her clasped hands in front of her, a single finger tapping the blade as she awaited his answer. She had absolutely no qualms about threatening a Starfleet Officer in front of other Starfleet Officers, which happened to include two starship Captains.

Aewia wasn't going to have it though. She put her free hand on Nexi's wrists tenderly. "Don't threaten him, the goatyman is nice. I can feel it. Besides, ice cream is awesome and you can come too. You deserve ice cream too. It's ice cream. That's how it works."

Nexi wasn't overly fond of sweets, she had taken to stealing bites of Aewia's cake and ice cream simply to forestall being force-fed, not to mention that indulging along with Aewia made the younger Betazoid smile; so the offer for ice cream was not nearly as appealing to Nexi as some might believe. "For the ice cream," Nexi replied simply if for no other reason than she didn't want her sister to be upset, then she resheathed her blade without any hesitation. But Nexi felt she'd made her point anyway, so it was all good.

"Well," Mal said. "That was extreme. Thank you, Aewia, for not letting your sister skewer me. Perhaps we can find your sister some prune ice cream. It seems she might need it."

Nexi narrowed her black eyes at Mal for the prune comment; she would be watching him...

"Ice cream and protectiveness aside..." Enalia began with a meaningful look between all three. "Daln Hadren has accepted a posting aboard the SS Sanity's End as security chief. Nexi, I'm sure you'll have new security procedures to memorize soon."

"The Sanity's End? That's a rough assignment." Familiar with the ship through its reputation and Starfleet's past attempts to send her there for 'rehabilitation', Clio shuddered slightly.

"Excuse me," said Mal. "Sanity's End? I'm unfamiliar with that ship. What makes it such a rough assignment?"

"It's a ship for nutters, basically a mobile psyche ward," Nexi informed Mal, then looked at Enalia. "Why've I got to learn new security procedures? Ain't Clio an actual Officer, why don't she have to learn it?" Pointing fingers at her direct superior, great way to start a working relationship...

"She's the one that'll be implementing them," Enalia replied with a grin.

"Oh," Nexi replied, looking somewhat deflated. Like it wasn't enough that she was working her ass off learning Starfleet procedure so she could enlist, now she had to learn more stuff?! Dammit... "Guess I'll add it to the ever growing pile of shit I ain't got time to do," she grumbled.

"Might have time if you complained a little less," Clio said cheerfully. She hadn't looked at the new protocols yet, but she imagined they couldn't be too terrible to implement. Especially after learning how to handle non-Intelligence security issues on the fly so recently. "And if you think you've got it bad, you should see my desk. Y'know, once I have one for you to see."