Planning, Part Three

Posted on Fri Aug 5th, 2011 @ 1:20pm by Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Captain T'mpest Michaels & Commander Cailean Fox, M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Cedric Shepherd & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter & Anaia Viel (Halliwell) & Fleet Admiral Coltan Kerr & Captain Alexsa Kendrick

1,095 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Taylforth
Location: Halliwell's Ready Room
Timeline: Day One

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Shepherd's recognition of the possibility would've provided a tempting lead-in if Birsi hadn't already decided that the only person lending her factual concerns any consideration was Jimmy, her superior and senior-most science officer onboard. If his attempt to sell her perspective fell flat not two strides out the gate, then what the hell sense did it make for one of the enlisted help to keep trying?

[NEW]


Birsi slid her hands back to her neck. "I'm not totally against shuttling in a team, Captain. I just think there's more to address as far as making sure they aren't made by the natives before we do, especially since we're in open space, and can't account for the last decade of their history and development. But if the majority believe there's minimal risk. . .you don't have to appease my feelings. I'm just a neophyte Crewman trying to make a good first impression," she concluded with a mirthful bob of her head she didn't really feel into, but forced anyway. This wasn't the kind of attention she wanted, and while she had deep reservations, she wasn't raised to address them by flipping off the opposition and storming away. That's not to say she wasn't an unhappy camper with some frustrations to air. However, this was neither the time or place.

Cooper kept quiet. He appreciated the talkativeness of the Bajoran serving under him, as far as he was concerned you can never have enough opinions - As long as you'd work just as hard if a consensus has been met.

Elsie smiled and shot a comforting glance to Birsi, but continued on with the discussion, pouring out a solitary cup of tea before doing so. “I’m in agreement with you, Lieutenant,†she said, looking up from the pot as the amber liquid flowed into its china vessel. “I think that we should utilise the sensor outputs from the probe as well as boarding the station to see what the databanks can tell us. I’d like both you and Commander Michaels to head up the team.â€

T'mpest appreciated Birsi's enthusiasm, but also recognized that the crewman was still green around the gills so she refrained from commenting further. She addressed the Captain, "Yes, ma'am. May I recommend that Commander Zhukov fly the shuttle?"

Halliwell glanced at T'mpest with a loaded look, knowing now their history in full. "Naturally," she shot back as she flicked her eyes to the Russian. "See if you can locate the best part of the station to hold up against. There's no reason to take the shuttle into the station itself, and we have no idea if it could even accommodate the Baden-Powell. I suggest you beam in."

Zhukov nodded. "Aye, Captain." he replied.

Kendrick glanced at Zhukov thinking away to herself once more, Well at the very least they would have a competent pilot on the shuttle if they were insistent about using one, he did get the Ranger here in one piece after all.

Shepherd leaned forward and picked his PADD off the table. "Best guess on the possible compliment of this station is what, six?"

"Let me check." Jimmy skimmed through his own PADD for confirmation. "Somewhere between 4 and 6 comfortably, yeah. More would become crowded."

"Has it got life support?" Shepherd asked.

"It's pressurized and breathable, but whether that holds the scans do not say. Best to be safe then sorry." Jimmy answered.

"So it'll be close quarters in there anyway," said Shepherd, making notes and collating information on the PADD, "especially if we need emergency life support gear, which we should take in case the station's systems aren't up to par. Probably no need for more than three or four beaming aboard, then. We'll want a computer specialist," he added. "O'Neal from engineering's good. Do you want another scientist, Commander, or will you suffice?" he finished with a friendly smirk.

"That depends on Lieutenant Cooper." T'mpest looked to Jimmy. "Do you want to come along or man the scans here?" She was eager to see what the computers on the station offered by way of information. Surely they had a record of what happened to the planet. She would try very hard not to do O'Neal's job for her-- even though she probably knew more about archaic computer systems than she did.

"I'm confident that my division is able to run without me." Jimmy beamed to Birsi. "However, whether you need me is not my decision."

For all her emotional turbulence, Jimmy compelled a faint snicker from Birsi. Wry marginalization was one of her favorite forms of humor thanks to her adoptive mother, whom Jimmy closely channeled with his delivery.

"Then you're coming," T'mpest decided. She looked at the captain. "That's five, ma'am. I think it's enough, unless you want us to bring a medic."

“If we send another team member then we’re upping the numbers to the limit of what I’m comfortable with,†Elsie replied, beaming a little at the group’s own initiative. “Plus, this is a reconnaissance assignment. I see no obvious signs of danger. Academy training should suffice, I think.â€

"All right," T'mpest said with a nod. "Then we keep it to five. A probe to get geological data and a shuttle to investigate the station. Or would you like us to proceed another way, Captain?"

Elsie remained silent for a moment and shuffled her head from side to side in a blank, almost detached "No". She looked about the room and then settled on T'mpest. "Prepare the away team immediately, Commander," she said, nodding and returning her voice to the throng. "Assemble in the shuttlebay in two hours. The quicker we launch, the quicker we'll determine answers." T'mpest nodded and Halliwell flicked her attention to Cooper. "Ensure than your team is also ready to launch the probe as you depart."

There was no need for replies from her crew. Each had their assignments and each were trusted to the fullest to execute her orders to the letter. As they stood and began to file out of her ready room, Elsie smiled to herself, glowing in the confidence her team engendered.

OFF

Captain Elsie Halliwell
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger

Commander T'mpest Michaels
Executive Officer
USS Ranger

Lieutenant Commander Vladimir Zhukov
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ranger

Lieutenant Dylan Blake
Chief Operations Officer
USS Ranger

Lieutenant Cedric Shepard
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Ranger

Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper
Chief Science Officer
USS Ranger

Crewman First Class Sessan Birsi
Stellar Cartography
USS Ranger

Captain Alex Kendrick
Internal Affairs
USS Ranger

 

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