Chapter 2.1

Posted on Sun Oct 1st, 2023 @ 1:51pm by Commodore Loatha Targaryen & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Lieutenant R'elle & Ensign Ronan Elsher

1,510 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Dysfunctional You
Location: U.S.S. Pegasus
Timeline: 2481-05-31, 10:00

Sitting in the Captain's Chair on the Bridge of the U.S.S. Pegasus, Captain Albus Nechayev watched the viewscreen near mesmerized by the sight before him. Located in the Maelstrom Sector, New Vulcan was a ringed, Class-M world that shared many properties with Vulcan itself. A thick layer of clouds surrounded many parts of the planet, keeping the average surface temperature about 15 degrees cooler than temperatures in Vulcan's Forge, but the planet had vast deserts and little water to support it. In many ways it was the last place for a Federation colony, but President Gruzy himself had insisted on building a colony here so Starfleet cooperated.

The more impressive sight was Deep Space 12 itself. A Sol series starbase, Deep Space 12 was simply amazing to see. Sharing many of the same design stylings as the Spacedock series, DS12 was different due to the inclusion of secondary docking stations connecting to the central core of the superstructure. These specialized modules could take on multiple responsibilities and, aboard DS12 at least, they met specific needs of the station and sector population. It was a sight to behold as it hung above New Vulcan like a spider in a protective web.

And surrounding that spider were the Pegasus and the Enterprise. Nechayev couldn't help but see the humor as he looked at the Galaxy III Class starship because if it wasn't more the Enterprise his Pegasus wouldn't be here. While the Pegasus and her Sovereign II Class sisters were more tactically oriented, the resources needed for the Enterprise and her Galaxy III Class comrades led to the design being quickly phased out and replaced. Still, he wouldn't have minded being assigned there due to the history of the Enterprise.

"Captain?"

Albus came back to reality. Turning his chair toward the Ensign at the Communications Station, "Sorry, what is it?"

"The team from DS12 are ready to come aboard."

"Of course they are," he rose from his seat and tugged on his uniform jacket to get rid of the wrinkles. "Looks like I'm off to great my temporary crew." He looked around the Bridge, "Jenny take over here until I return."

Helm Officer Jenny Smithers turned and nodded, "Of course."

Walking toward the turbolift he stopped and looked back in at the Ensign, "Oh, where are they entering from?"

"Cargobay 7."

Albus nodded, "Got it. There's that many of them?"

"Seems that way, Sir."

Captain Nechayev sighed, "Joy."

Located in the stardrive section of the Pegasus, Captain Albus Nechayev entered the cavernous storage room and watched as his temporary crew came aboard.

Temporary Luzol had said, Hawkins mused stepping from the transporter, yet they'd packed personal effects - just how long was this assignment going to be? None less, it was nice to be back upon a starship again after the stagnant time of DS12 only peppered with the odd outing on the Enterprise or other smaller support vessel.

Commander Randall remained still, for a few seconds, after transport completed and then looked around the cargo bay. Transporter travel was becoming, more and more, disconcerting for the Tuansee Engineer and, lately a, down-right, itchy-twitchy, feeling process. Ash stepped off the transporter pad and shuddered, involuntarily, as the itchy-twitchy feeling, finally settled itself out. "I am beginning to NOT like transporter travel much." The little felinoid mused, quietly and, seeing Captain Nechayev near by, came to attention. "Commander Ash Randall. Permission to come aboard, sir." She stated.

Albus looked at the Tuansee Engineer as she stood before him, "Welcome back aboard the Pegasus, Commander Randall. I hope that she's as you remember her." Ages ago when the ship first launched under the command of Captain Karrak, Commander Randall had been selected to serve aboard the Pegasus as the ship's Executive Officer. She was now back aboard as the Chief Engineer. It was interesting to Albus to see someone from the history of the Pegasus back aboard, but of all the personnel returning he was most excited to see how Ash handled the new Pegasus, his Pegasus.

"It is nice to meet all of you," he said to the gathered personnel. "You will have to excuse me for rushing each of you, but we are eager to get started with this mission." He motioned for Yeoman Martini, who was rushing around carrying an assortment of datapads in her hands that she began to hand out. The Captain of the Pegasus continued, "I hope you find your accommodations suitable; they were the best we could do on such limited notice from Admiral Luzol."

"Thank you, Captain. It has been a long time since I've been aboard. I dare say she's changed a great deal since the mis-adventure of her maiden voyage and slugging it out with the Cosmic Conspiracy." The engineer replied, with a little smile. Ash wasn't sure if Captain Nechayev knew the full history of the ship he now commanded or, with everything that happened in the intervening years, whether the events the Tuansee experienced aboard; the saboteur, the evolution of the ships AI into an artificial sentient...Ash was very fond of Peg and what was done to her by Starfleet Engineering still made the Commander angry. "She was a brawler, sir, and her accommodations were, comparatively, spartan back then." Ash added.

Nechayev got right to it with his answer, "They aren't much less spartan now, I'm afraid. Many of the accommodations are better appointed than most are used to, but those cabins weren't available. I'm sure that you will all understand." Reality was most of his Senior Staff were taking temporary appointments on DS12 for the duration of this assignment. He could have temporarily billeted the new personnel in their vacant rooms, but he found this more appealing. After all, those rooms did belong to his personnel.

He glanced at Fleet Captain Bishop, knowing that he was his boss for this mission and handed him his own datapad, "Admiral Luzol arranged your cabin, Sir. It's the VIP suite."

"With my own XO reassigned to DS12 for the duration of this assignment I am assigning Commander Hawkins as my interim XO," he handed the Operations Manager a PADD. "Ensign Elsher will fill in as Ops for this mission."

“Yes Captain.” Ronan said respectfully, as he took the PADD he was handed. He was ready to get to work.

Hawkins accepted the assignment with a wave of surprise having expected to step across into Ops unware Captain Nechayev's XO had been transferred over the station. "Understood Captain," he replied the sense of surprise sounding in his voice.

The next two PADDs went to Commander Ash and Ensign Solwick, "These detail your appointment to the Pegasus as Chief Engineer and Assistant Chief respectively. We may not have a Coaxial Drive, but I'm certain that you'll like our Slipstream Drive. It's one of the most advanced in the Quadrant."

Ash received the PADD and spent a second acknowledging her orders so the transfer was official. "Actually, slip stream is my preferred propulsion system. When I was last aboard we were using a Slipstream II MOD 3 with some, unofficial, advancements that, I believe, ended up being incorporated into Slipstream II MOD 5. My own ideas on Slipstream are too far outside the box for Starfleet Engineering to keep me in their development loop." She mused, with a glance to Ensign Solwick. "Should be fun." The small, Tuansee, asserted.

"Mister Blake will also help in Engineering. Commander Bishara will be overseeing our Helm during this mission, with Commander Snow helping out at Science," Nechayev continued, "Doctor Marner will be overseeing our Medical Department. Congratulations on your promotion, by the way," his records had indicated that Cyrus was a Lieutenant Commander.

Cyrus was feeling a little bit lost , however it was important to be here on this mission. He quickly got himself focused upon Nechayev. "Right, I'll be seeing to that as soon as possible. And thank you, Sir." giving a slight smile.

Blake nodded at the new assignment instructions happy that he was still to work alongside the ever so incredible and forward thinking Ash.

"Counselor, I have arranged cabins for you near the Medical Bay," he handed off the last PADD, noting Commander Refelian had been recalled. "My Security Chief will be remaining aboard due to the Admiral needing Commander Refelian for a mission with her on the station."

"Thank you Captain. That sound perfect. I look forward to seeing them!" R'elle said with a smile, her tail flicking gently back and forth.

"Are there any questions?" Their new Captain said looking around the group. When he saw that there were none, the Captain continued, "We anticipate that this mission will go smooth and by the numbers. All our intel is on your datapads, I want each of you to have reviewed that database by 17:00. We have seven hours until we get there. Let's get moving people." The Captain tapped his communicator, the device sending a message directly to the Bridge.

Seconds later the Pegasus could be felt disconnecting from Deep Space 12 and jumping to warp.

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