Hitching a ride
Posted on Fri Nov 5th, 2021 @ 10:05am by Captain Aviram Drell & Lieutenant Commander Cor Cordale & Commander Frank Kamar jr. & Petty Officer 3rd Class Mara Stavros
Mission:
Episode 05: "Deep Water"
Location: Shuttlecraft Azetbur
Timeline: Day 2 at 0600
ON: [[Shuttlecraft Azetbur, Mission Day 02, 0600 Hours]]
Commander Frank Kamar walked to the launchpad where the shuttle for Vesta sat, he stowed his small trunk of belongings and necessities before finding a seat. The Captain had told him to report early, so he made a point to be early. Frank was glad to be going to be back into space, and if he was honest with himself, he was relieved that he wouldn't be in the center chair, and somewhat excited about the challenge of running the operations department. He fiddled with a poker chip that he had the logo of the USS Pennsylvania on it, while waiting for take off.
The sound of rapid footsteps grew closer and closer, followed by the arrival of an ensign in Engineering colors. Well, engineering or operations... or security. Hard to tell, they all wore gold. He had a small pack for personal effects and a container of PaDDs under his other arm. He stowed them both, took a seat, and then took a big sign. "Phew, made it. Cordale would kill me if I was late." and then he noticed he wasn't alone.
"Oh, oh geez sorry sir. Didn't see you there. Ensign First Class Mortimer, sir. Cordale's sending me with the most recent readings from the drive, the results of the simulations, and our most up to date projection on times in and out of slipspace. He wants a copy off the ship so that if someone needs them, they're available a lot sooner then waiting for us to pop out."
"He wanted me to handle it personally. I mean, shame I won't be aboard the ship but, he said it was really important, and he trusted me to get the job done." Mortimer didn't sound very confident about his mission. Or rather, his capacity to perform the mission.
Toward the front of the shuttle, Stavros listened quietly as she ran through the usual pre-flight checks. There had been a time when she wouldn't have though twice about jumping in and joining the conversation. (She much preferred transporting people or flying for missions than simply carrying cargo.) But after a few years in the service, she'd also learned how to pay closer attention and to discern whether or not her passengers were really looking for that.
In this case, the one called Ensign Mortimer seemed to be more than happy to fill the open air. He sounded excited, enthusiastic, perhaps a little anxious. Meanwhile, the older man (Commander Kamar, according to the manifest she'd been given) had hardly said a word since coming aboard. She'd taken this to mean he wasn't so much interested in the chit-chat.
A chirp sounded, pulling her thoughts back to the task at hand. This was followed by the single flash of an indicator light telling her that the computer had taken over for the automated portions of the checklist.
Kamar listened to the Ensign chatter, he closed his eyes and imagined closing the talkative Ensign's mouth with his fist, but he just sat there and stared at the boxy insides of the shuttle. Ignoring the Ensign, he leaned forward to speak to the pilot, "Excuse me, what is the ETA to the Vesta?"
The ensign's talkative nature was due to nerves, but he wasn't completely oblivious. When Kamar asked a question to the pilot, the ensign clammed up on his own accord. Mostly because he was curious as well, but also because it would be rude. And no one wants to be the "Rude Ensign".
“Should be about twenty minutes or so, sir,” Stavros replied, “once we’ve been cleared for departure.”
"Thanks," Frank replied tersely before leaning back into his seat. He turned to the chatty Ensign, if he was going to be here for a bit waiting for clearance he might as well learn something. "Ensign, How long have you been aboard the Vesta?"
Mortimer gave the question some thought, "Oh geez, sir, sometimes it feels like years." he replied with a smile. Long time, but good times from the ensign's tone and enthusiasm. "I never worked under anyone like Mister Cordale though. He really brings a whole new energy to the department." he commented, "But in truth, not terribly long, compared to some of the others."
Frank wondered about this Mister Cordale, on one hand the Ensign says it was good, but on the other said it feels like years. He was uncertain yet on how to judge the man, but he decided he would wait until he had met him. "So you have a lot of Ensigns stuck in Engineering not getting promoted?" he asked slyly.
"Oh no, it's not him sir, it's... it's me. He offered me a promotion twice, well, I mean he never used the word Promotion but." he paused, "I didn't think I was ready, I didn't feel ready. The extra workload, the extra responsibility, I didn't think I was ready. So I told him that, and he said that it was alright. Maybe next time, he'd say, and then we'd have coffee or root beer and that was that."
"Truth is, sir, at this point I don't think I'd know how to work under any other chief. He's there when you need a chief, and he's always got your back. Bit of a drinker off duty though, not to ruffle feathers. I see him in the lounge off duty sometimes, around holidays or other big days, and he's got like three shots on his table but it's just him. I worry for the guy, but whoever is tending the bar says that it's normal and he'll be fine. Drinking with ghosts, they tell me, but everyone in Engineering who's known him longer says not to worry about it."
"But no, sir. He's not holding me back. I... I am."
Frank grunted with a slight Hrmumpf before speaking, "Well it's your career, if that's what you wanna do with it. If I were holding myself back I'd see a counselor or something. Just because a man has a drink doesn't mean he has a problem either, personally I drink whiskey whenever I can. When you've been out here there's things you see that can only be washed down with a good strong Bourbon. In fact I brought a couple of bottles with me and a poker set. I may have to visit the Chief once I get checked in."
Mortimer gave a nod, "O.. oh of course sir. I didn't mean anything by it." oh boy he was in trouble now. Now would be a really good time to clam up and just let the trip happen.
"Anything interesting happening on the Vesta, that a newcomer like myself should be aware of?" Frank asked changing the subject.
Mortimer seemed to welcome the change, "Yes sir. There's a supply fleet gathering to head out to the Delta Quadrant. I'm sure you've heard about the Catapult being taken offline for inspection..." obviously the Ensign didn't know the full story. "... so that leaves anyone in the Delta at the moment cut off. The Vesta's leading a, well I guess you could call it a wagon train, to the quadrant. We're going to be out of touch for a while, so it's pretty exciting." Mortimer used the word 'exciting' instead of 'scary'. He was both, though. Thrilled at the chance to see the cosmos, but terrified at the notion of how, or why.
"So, things are hopping. Oh man, I gotta learn to stop saying that."
Back to Delta, Frank thought to himself. The young officer would soon get all the excitement he could handle, things in Delta were just different, lots of new and unexplored places too.
OFF
Commander Frank Kamar Jr.
Chief Operations Officer
USS Vesta (NX-94200)
Ensign Mortimer
Engineering Officer
USS Vesta (NX-94200)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Mara Stavros
Auxiliary Craft Pilot
USS Vesta (NX-94200)
