Home (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 22 Dec 2013 @ 3:48pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Ammar Fahad & Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov & Verity Thorne & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 1st Class Camibree Christoph & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Lieutenant JG Victoria Crawley & Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Olsam Mott & Commander Scarlet Blake

2,096 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: USS Galileo - Main Bridge, Various
Timeline: MD 01 - 1310 hrs

Previously, on Home (Part 1)...

The cool and calm female voice of Spacedock's controller promptly sounded through the comm in reply. "This is Spacedock control, we copy your request, Galileo. We are transferring you to Orbital Control, stand by and welcome home."

There was only a momentary pause in the comm system before a new male controller's voice sounded. "Galileo this is Earth Orbital Control, we have you on sensors. Your request to dock at San Francisco has been granted, proceed with atmospheric entry."

Thank all the gods and their wives. =^=Thank you, Orbital Control. Proceeding with atmospheric entry now.=^=

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Deck 4 - Sickbay

It was not her shift but Allyndra made an exception as she knew that today was the day to arrive back at Earth. The place was basically empty with the offloading of the Venture survivors and others.

She watched the big monitor as the ship dropped from warp. To many this was home, but there were many that this was just another alien world and she felt that every time. Oh, the blue of the Earth reminded her of home, but too much land and every time she saw the yellow of the sun, she always looked for a red one as well that was never there. Perhaps it was too close and yet different enough to cause that ache of homesickness.

She sighed. Lamar had been gracious enough to invite her to his home for awhile but she wondered if there would be time to go to her own home. It was distant but if enough time perhaps. There was much to discuss and much her sojourn had made her perspective different. Well, perhaps not different, she still thought that the past should be revealed but now her thinking was to support measured slow amounts.

Then there was a message that a new doctor would be coming aboard to replace her old position. A Bolian, by the name of Mott. She had always found Bolians to be mostly jovial people and she hoped this one would be no different.

Her mind drifted back again to Lamar's family. She wondered how they would react to her. She worried about the cultural differences but hopefully his family would be forgiving of her missteps. She had thought long and hard also on what to bring as gifts. Well she had a couple of things in mind and hoped they would work.

She broke out of reverie and then clapped her hands, "Alright everyone, let's get ready for transferring the last of the patients and making sure the lists of needed medical supplies are up to date. Thank you! Very good job everyone!"

Alexion Wylde dried his hands off as he moved to join her, a small smile on his lips. The joy in others to be 'home' made the ache for his lost home even stronger. At least they could transfer the patients in need of more advanced de-assimilation techniques to Starfleet Medical now. "That seemed one very long trip," he said lightly to Allyndra, arching an eyebrow to her before chuckling softly and shaking his head, taking the view in.

Delainey joined Alexion and Allyndra, taking what felt like the first deep breath in years. While she was grateful for shoreleave, a part of her was apprehensive about having so much time without work to occupy her. The notion only amplified the guilt she felt about not being able to do more for the Venture crew. It was irrational for her to expect to be able to do all things for all people, Delainey knew, but knowing that didn't stop her from feeling it. "A very long dream," she echoed wistfully. "You two doing ok?" It was perhaps a silly question after all they'd been through, but the mother hen in her couldn't help it.

Alexion nodded quietly, frowning as he let his hands drop. There had been a lot of surgery, a lot of work. His fatigue was deep, even with his species lesser need for sleep than humans. While Earth wasn't particularly special to him or his son, it would still be nice to get off the ship and just - be with him. "The crew still in need of deassimilation procedures can be helped now," he said quietly. "It will - bring it all to an end."

Allyndra smiled at Delany's question. "I am fine, it is just that it," she waved a hand toward the monitor, "reminds me of home and yet it is different enough. After all this time I still get homesick at times. Perhaps if there is enough time I might arrange for a visit."

Alexion glanced to Allyndra at the words, his chest tight and his two hearts beating faster. Arrange a trip. He'd give anything for that to be possible with his home. There were nights he'd lay awake thinking about it, staring at the ceiling in the dark. But it was too late now. His and his son's home was lost. He moved away silently from the view port to return to work.

Allyndra noted Alexion's reaction and then looked to Delainey with a surprised yet concerned look. She was very quiet whispering lightly, "I think I said something wrong?"

Delainey shook her head. "I think we're all just a bit pre-occupied. Don't worry, I'll speak to him."

The lights went Blue and Allyndra said in her most carrying voice, "Everyone secure for Planet Fall. She then went to check that remaining patients were secured and then double check that cabinets and such were also secured. Dampners and skill should make it easy, but one should prepare for anything especially bringing this big ship down.


Deck 1 - Bridge

Approaching Earth, Galileo passed several orbital complexes including Luna Shipyards and Lunaport, McKinley Station, and the massive Orbital Office Complex. Starbase 001, affectionately known as Earth Spacedock, came into view, and several other Starfleet vessels could be seen making their way inside of the massive Stardock Class space station. Earth was only a few thousand kilometers away, now, and Lirha decided it was time to begin the landing procedure.

"All hands, this is the Captain. Set condition blue across the ship and secure all stations. Prepare for atmospheric entry." she called out, her light voice echoing throughout the interior of the ship through the comm system.

Rhodes confirmed with sensors that their flight path was free of traffic and brought shields to full for the descent into the atmosphere, he reported, "Shields at maximum Captain."

Victoria braced herself on the console and checked sensors to make sure all was clear. She held her breath for landing, anxious to be home.

The bridge's ambient lighting dimmed and the blue alert lights began to pulse methodically. "What is the weather like over San Francisco?" the captain asked, wondering what type of turbulence and atmospheric conditions they might encounter during the landing sequence.

Stace's fingers danced lightly over the flashing console as the information began to trill down the screen in front of her. She glanced to the viewscreen and then placed her optical sensor data on the screen for the entire bridge to see. "Blue skies, calm waters and nothing but a wind-kissed breeze standing between us and touch-down, Captain," she said, smiling as the image of the midday sun coldly glared through the metallic frame of the familiar Golden Gate bridge on the viewer. She left it there for a moment and then took the image down, replacing it with their current descent. "Temperature, a brisk seven degrees Celsius."

"Nice and steady Helm - we don't want to worry the natives." The XO replied, watching the descent vector appear on the command console. The descent into San Francisco Fleet Yards was one of the easier docking procedures, especially in a ship the size of Galileo, but it was still one that took a good degree of concentration.

"Mr. Quinn - as soon as we touch down cut power to all engines and take the warp core offline. - we won't be doing much in the way of FTL in San Francisco I would hope. "

Quinn smiled as he watched the readouts scroll across the MSD. "Aye, aye, XO."

The XO nodded in reply before turning his attention to Tactical. "Mr. Rhodes, have a security team report to the airlocks - people will need disembarking, but I want it in a controlled manner - equally nobody comes on board without authorization."

Rhodes glanced back at the Commander, "Yes Sir, already in the works." He then turned back to the console and to watch their descent on the view screen.

Dea piloted Galileo on the appropriate vector for a descent into San Francisco Fleet yards. As a skilled pilot she made the docking look effortless.


San Francisco

Min had just stepped out of an exam and was walking across the courtyard at the Academy when she saw a smaller spacecraft, Nova class from the looks of the lines, approach the fleet yards using her thrusters. She knew some of the newer classes had atmospheric capabilities but to see one in full landing was fascinating. Apparently she wasn't alone as several people stopped to watch the vessel on it's final approach.

Dr. Olsam Mott and most of the rest of the Odyssey medical staff broke their chatter and turned to look out the window of the Federation's premier medical facility at the sight of the Galileo breaking into the troposphere toward San Francisco Fleet Yards. It was a rare enough sight to command a few moments of silence at the debriefing.

The lieutenant commander to his left finally spoke up. "What ship is that?"

The Vulcan captain at the head of the table, clearly impatient at the interruption, grumbled a reply. "Galileo. Command report this morning gave the alert she's come in for repair and refit after that business at Setisar VI. Dr. Mott, I believe you were telling us about the telomere abnormalities on KT-5573?"

Olsam reluctantly pulled his attention away from the landing ship and back to the debriefing. Who wanted to talk about telomere abnormalities of barely sentient lifeforms on planetoid KT-5573 when you could watch a starship landing? Boring old Vulcans, apparently.

The Nova Class adjusted its course and heading as it passed over Golden Gate Bridge and circled about towards the shipyards. Its altitude slowly descended in a controlled manner until it flattened out on final approach. Now hovering delicately above its designated dock with the wake of its powerful landing thrusters blowing dust and debris out of the way on the tarmac, lined itself up perfectly with the moorings and delicately touched down on the planet.

As the craft finished it's final touchdown, Min saw a familiar face in the crowd of people. "Shen!" She embraced her sister-in-law. "Out for a walk?"

Shen smiled, "Yu Zhen said your new ship was coming in and I figured I'd walk over and watch the landing from here. He's got Isha for the afternoon so we're free if you wanted to wander around San Francisco."

Min motioned to a seat nearby. "You want to sit for a bit? That's quite the walk from the condo to here."

"I'm fine. I normally walk this every morning after you've left. Doctor says the exercise is good for me anyways." Shen chuckled. "And speak for yourself girl. You're just as pregnant as I am and you walk the same distance every day."

"Point taken."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Jr. Grade Asahi Kita
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

CPO Luke Wyatt
Secuirty/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Junior Grade Norvi Stace
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

LT Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Chief Counselor/Doctor
USS Galileo

Lt. Cmdr. Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor/2XO
USS Galileo

WO Alexion Wylde
Doctor
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

PO2 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

PO2 Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Command Master Chief Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

...and others

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