Coming Aboard

Posted on Sun Aug 25th, 2019 @ 4:21pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Corbin Sullis & Lieutenant Vasily Andropov II
Edited on on Sun Aug 25th, 2019 @ 4:23pm

Mission: Episode 01: "Vestal Hearth"
Location: Type-9 Shuttle
Timeline: Day 1 at 0000

Vasily had his 72-hour bag slung over his shoulder, uniform neatly pressed and boots shined to a mirror finish. He was looking for a PO1 Sullis, the Vesta’s senior shuttle pilot. Stopping at the nearest board at the shuttle hangar he found the location of the shuttle and, hopefully, it’s pilot. Shifting the bag a little he made his way further in, eyes constantly scanning. He was almost hopeful for his new assignment, doing what it was he did best in the far fringes.

The approaching bootsteps took his attention off the open panel on the starboard nacelle, and PO1 Sullis wiped his hands clean to introduce himself, ¨Lt Andropov, Petty Officer Sullis. Welcome to the Vesta and her crew. Hope you like being as far away from civilized space as Starfleet can manage.¨
The enlisted man gestured for the officer to lead the way up the shuttle´s rear gangway, which allowed him the quick second Corbin needed to close up the open panel and finish his pre-flight inspection. But off-hand, Sullis also noted that his new passenger had one leg much stiffer than the other.
¨Traveling light, sir? We can beam in any bags or needed goods you might need. This old Type-9 might be just a ferry, but she´s got the room.¨

“I sent most of my bags ahead,” It hadn’t been much, a weapons crate and a pair of larger duffels. He wasn’t much for things, what he had was what he needed and not much beyond that, a lesson in practicality he had been taught since he was a boy, “As for the mission, I’m here the same as you, to serve the Federation.”

Corbin nodded at that simple answer and brought the shuttle to life with a ́humm ́ of the engines. ̈ ̈Straight answer from a straight-edge man. Tells me you ́ve been doing this awhile."
And as the shuttle Ob lifted off from its platform, the Petty Officer amended his thought, ¨...or you ́ve got nothing back at home to look forward to. If I had to guess", the enlisted man gestured toward his passenger ́s leg and nodded, "...I ́d even say a little of both.¨

Darkness replaced sunlit clouds as they broke free of atmosphere, Corbin locking in a straight course for where the starship Vesta was moored. ¨I don't suppose they read you into our next mission?¨

“Not much gets past you, as I would expect from an enlisted man,” Vasily took the seat next to him, hoping to get some refresh on the basics. His requal wasn’t due for another 6 months, but anything he could learn he would take, “I won’t know until we board. Not like my job would change anyways, be it exploring a nebula or negotiating peace this mission is always the same, keep everyone alive.”

Corbin nodded, adjusting the shuttle's heading and speed, "Wasn't always that way, had to get knocked around the galaxy for a while before I wound up here."
The Petty Officer smirked a bit at that, moments of various shenanigans and close calls coming to mind, "But one thing I learned quick; it's good to have a friend with a gun. Especially out there in the real unknown."

Noting that the Lt was watching his hands occasionally, Sullis slowed his hands, ensuring that the impulse engine output was precisely monitored and the deflector array was operating at its prime. "I hear the Vesta is carrying some experimental tech. Not like this old hauler, but some really top-notch stuff. Want me to qual you in the new shuttles once your cycle is up?"

“Please, I’ve never been one to fly,” It was true, only having getting qualified on shuttles because he had to, not because he wanted to. It was bad enough that he had to sit in the back of one during infiltration missions, “What have you heard of the Vesta?”

Corbin chuckled, "No worries, sir. I'll be your pickup, whenever you need."
As to the question of their shared ship, the pilot shrugged "Probably as much as you do, Lt. I've never seen or heard of a Vesta-class before. I think it's a more scienc-y kind. So you'll get to protect us against giant bugs, Eldritch horrors and the intergalactic boogeymen most likely."

Vas smiled at the comment, easing a little. He’d always felt more comfortable around enlisted. Whether it was his own background or their tendency to be more honest than their officer counterparts, “I believe the old saying was something about visiting new lands and killing interesting people. What is your story?

The shuttle pilot leaned back in his seat, eyes looking far beyond the nose of his craft. "Lots of interesting lands, not much in the way of killing people, thankfully. Though I did doba stint with the Orion Syndicate, long entto ensure I'll never commission."
Corbin shrugged, "Some folks got their fancy starships or one-man death machines, and that's fine for them. But me, I'm the guy who hauls the troops, who brings the food and the phasers, and who knows enough people in enough places to get what my friends need."

And from a water bottle, which hadn't held H2O for a long spell, the Petty Officer took a quick sip before handing the Alderberan vodka to his passenger. "And I'm ready for a fresh look at a new frontier, just like you."

“All types are needed,” Taking a whiff of the bottle told him at once it was what he had been suspecting what it was. With a slight smile he raised the bottle before taking a healthy swig, letting the liquor burn. Handing back the bottle he leaned back, “And we can’t get too far with beans and bullets. Not much enjoyment out of living off survival rations while you’re stuck in a jungle.”

Corbin laughed at that, setting his bottle back. "I imagine being stranded on a Klingon commerce station is even preferred over that. But some dilithium haulers are built cheap."

The shuttle took an easy turn around the gravity well of a gas giant. "Any family to go back home to once we get done doing...whatever it is we're doing?"

“No wife or kids,” That’s generally what people in his line of work meant by that statement, “Parents and siblings are still alive, I figure they will be once we return.”

"Hey, that's better than some folks got after the Jem'Hadar." the Petty Officer nodded. "I've ferried a lot of grunts into battle on shuttles like this, and it's always a lighter flight home. Hopefully the Vesta won't become another troop transport. You boys on Security detail are enough for me."

“I hate to disappoint you, my friend,” Vas nodded, the majestic lines of the Vesta finally coming into view, “If I know anything about long range explorers, there will be plenty of pine boxes to shuttle home.”