Getting into Position
Posted on Thu Apr 18th, 2024 @ 8:03pm by Commander Roy Baker & Lieutenant JG April Collins & Captain Gabrielle Moretti & Lieutenant JG Autumn Cruise
Edited on on Thu Apr 18th, 2024 @ 8:03pm
Mission:
Lexington S2, E1: Conflict Arises
Location: USS Lexington in orbit of Lutari System
Timeline: MD001 1130 hrs
1850 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure
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Location USS Lexington in orbit of Lutari System
“Helm drop us out of a Warp and bring us into a stationary orbit.” Roy called out from the command chair, he had already contacted Gabby who was in The Ready room down on the lower decks. For the moment he was getting the USS Lexington in a high orbit over the Lutari system.
April simply inputted a new course for the helm station. Still fresh in her mind was the conversation the bridge crew were having a few hours back. She was very proud of Hunter for finally starting to open up, maybe this time around he wouldn't be overlooked for a promotion. “Bringing us into standard orbit sir.”
Roy just grinned over at April's general direction, he can see that the USS Lexington was establishing a high orbit.
“Should we do a long range scan, Commander” Autumn spoke up. “To see if we detect any signs of ships in the area?” She was feeling confident among this crew, their talk earlier had helped.
“Yes, we'll run continuous scans.” Roy suggested to Autumn. You did not want to be unprepared for any potential encounters.
“I have my engineers prepared for extra warp should we need it.” Hunter spoke up. “I can head there on a moment's notice, Commander.”
Roy being an engineer himself, wasn't very familiar with the term extra warp, maybe it was a new sling term that he wasn't familiar with. He hoped he meant that the ship would be ready to warp, if it was when he gave the order. “Thank you Mr Hunter.” Was all that Roy had to say in response.
“We need to make certain we don’t break any cultural rituals that they may have as well.” Autumn added. “What do we know?”
Roy walked over to the main viewer, and he imputed his code and a picture of the species came up. “Not a lot I am afraid, we know that there are warp capable species. The Federation has had some dealings with them in the past but they have denounced seeking Federation membership. Indicating to us that our philosophy and our ideologies leave vulnerable to attack by the Klingon Empire.”
“Let me get this straight they're afraid of the Klingon Empire so they won't join us cuz they're afraid they're going to get attacked by the Klingons so I'm about if they don't have any protection won't they still get attacked by the Klingons?” April asked, being a little dumbfounded by their level of intelligence, or better saying their lack of intelligence.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Hunter agreed with her. “However, it is possible that the Klingons have scared them into this scenario. Maybe it’s a type of extortion where they stay away from us, pay the Klingons off and are left alone.” It was a stretch, but the Klingons were cunning.
“There's another possibility here, they could be working in conjunction with one another.” Roy suggested to both of them.
“That is a good possibility.” Autumn nodded in agreement. “We need to find a way to study them without exposing ourselves.”
“I just want us to be prepared for any possible outcome, and I know how far-fetched that sounds given the fact that we don't know exactly their true intentions or motives. We don't know if they're working together or if they have separate agendas. I just want you guys to do the best you can to prepare for those scenarios, anything that happens we will deal with, as it happens.” Roy said, hoping that they address any concerns they might have.
“I think it is good to investigate all options.” Hunter spoke up. “We need to be as prepared as we can and part of that is looking at all possible scenarios.”
“Does anyone else have any far-fetched ideas or want to add to this one?” Roy ass is he looked around to his senior staff.
“I don’t.” Autumn spoke up. She liked that everyone spoke up. It showed their respect already for the first officer that they were willing to say what they thought, even if he didn’t agree with them.
Pretty much no one in the room said they had a farfetched idea, seeing that Roy smiled, and then went on to say. “Well then let's go with this idea and talk strategy.” Really suggested as it seems certified away with them coming up with a plan.
Autumn spoke up and they started to work out a plan . She already felt like they were coming along well, becoming solidified as a team.
One hour passed….
As the meeting ended Roy started to make his way back up to the ready room, and tapped on the intercom to Gabbi's ready room. He was ready to report to the captain their plan.
“Come in.” Gabbi called out. She looked up as Roy entered and smiled. “Hi.” She said with a smile as we walked towards the desk. “Just in time, I am finished with my paperwork.”
Roy returned a data pad, it was the plan that him and the senior staff had come up with. “For your review captain.” Roy said, trying to sound all professional like.
Gabbi took the pad and looked it over for a few minutes and then she set it down and looked at Roy. “That sounds like a really sound plan.” She smiled. “Please, sit down.” She waited for him to do so. “They worked well together?”
“At this early stage, yes, but I believe that they can work well together. From what I've noticed they have pretty good chemistry.” Really suggested, he knew that someone came together from other ships; this crew was a byproduct of several different ships' crew shuffling around their senior staff.
“That is important for our upcoming missions.” Gabbi said quietly. “One of the things Captain DeLeon said to me before we parted to head to new commands was to make certain I have no bad apples in my orchard.”
“I don't believe you have any bad apples, but I'll definitely keep a look out.” Roy suggested to Gabbi. He loved how serious he was taking her assignment. She also took her last assignment pretty seriously too.
“I haven’t seen any either.” Gabbi smiled. “I believe it was more a warning to not assume all crew members are here for the same reason we are.”
Roy wondered what Starfleet had told her, why would she make a comment just out of left field like that? You assume she had a reason for keeping it to herself or maybe she was under orders. “I'll have our team fully armed.” Roy suggested to her.
“Understood.” Gabbi smiled at him. “Is there anything you want to add or to talk to me about?” She looked at Roy. “Either on or off the clock, so to speak.”
“Nothing in relation to my duties as your first officer, the only thing in my mind right now is getting the crew situated. The other thing is dinner tonight.” Roy hinted at her with a smirk.
Gabbi smiled back at him. “It sounds like you have the crew coming together well. If there are any issues, I know you can handle it.” Her eyes met hers. “What did you have in mind for dinner?”
“Just you and me, no senior staff.” Roy said with a big grin on his face. I've been wanting to have dinner with her, but the past few weeks have been kind of chaotic.
“That sounds wonderful to me.” Gabbi said with a big smile. “I have been wanting to spend an evening alone. Just the two of us , away from all that is going on around.”
“We need to take advantage of these moments, before too long I'm going to have my own command.” Roy pointed out to her. So you wanted to make sure every opportunity is good, that he made the most of it.
“That is a good point.” Gabbi said with a grin. “I doubt it will be a very long time at all. We may want to watch our crew and see who we feel might possibly look like a candidate.” She didn’t want him to go but she knew his career was important to him.
“I've been known to have my moments, I've had the captain to look up to, two times.” Roy suggested to Gabbi with a big grin on his face.
Gabbi smiled at him. “You have a lot of good moments. I am so glad we were able to have more time serving together.”
“Now look at you getting all soft on me Captain.* Roy suggested with a big smirk on his face. He really appreciated her warm-hearted and sincere comment.
“Soft?” Gabbi said with a smile. “Now don’t you go telling the crew that little secret.” Her eyes were filled with humor. “I will never live it down.”
“Or maybe you'll convince some of them that sometimes it's okay being soft, doesn't mean that you're weak.” Roy suggested to her, as another way of looking at it.
“Hmmm.” Gabbi thought about it for a moment. “Most crews look for strength in command officers but it could be a balance of both.”
“That's how I prefer to see it.” Roy suggested to her. He believed a captain needed to be well balanced.
“It makes sense.” Gabbi continued as she thought about what he had said to her. “Crews want their captain to be real and not some image they make up and want them to perceive. It makes them look like they are being dishonest or covering something up. That would bring the confidence level down.”
“The good news is, this is a pretty new crew. So, at least you don't have to live in a legacy of the previous captain of this vessel.” Roy said, hoping that made sense. That felt jumbled and a little out of context, but he helped her understand his meaning.
“That is a good point.” Gabbi smiled and relaxed. “You have a good feel for them, much more than I do. I need to get out on the bridge and stop looking like I am hiding in my office.” She didn’t mean to do it but she wanted that damn paperwork behind her.
“We will mold them into a cohesive unit.” Roy suggested to Gabbi. He believed in their leadership skills.
“That we will.” Gabbi said with confidence. She had learned from the best and with Roy as her first officer, their crew would gain a lot of useful tools for the future and work together seamlessly. “I am done here, shall we go see how they are doing at the moment?”
“Agreed captain.” Roy said teasingly, but he totally agreed with her, as the scene started to fade away.
Gabbi stood and came around the desk. They headed out the door and walked side by side onto the bridge. She looked at her crew and felt proud that she would be serving among them.
