The Time In Between

Posted on 26 Apr 2017 @ 6:11pm by Lieutenant JG Kyle Roberts & Ensign Axel Söderström
Edited on on 26 Apr 2017 @ 9:09pm

2,251 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Starbase 001 - Habitat Ring
Timeline: MD -33 - 1500 hours

[ON]

Kyle had been on the station for a couple of days and had occupied himself fairly well. The promenade had quite a bit to offer, not to mention sell. But he wasn’t there for trinkets. He was there waiting on his next assignment. Whether it would arrive or he had to go meet it didn’t matter to him. It was something he was looking forward to honestly. He had been on a Starbase right out of the Academy and then assigned to the Federation Embassy on Trill. That...that was something he was glad to get out of. No more VIP Security Detail for him.

He rounded the corner and walked back out onto the balcony overlooking the promenade below. He wasn’t so much taking in the personnel as he was the entrances and exits and various paths of least resistance. He would never get away from that. And that wasn’t a bad thing.

Axel was in a good mood, he had just spoken to his sister, Mina. She had departed the sol system in a hurry a couple of days prior to his arrive and Mina hadn't officially been able to say goodbye. The mission she was on for all intents and purposes wasn't something he had worried himself with but Axel was glad to finally speak to her, wish her luck and generally catch up. The talked for hours until she was called away to duty. The Söderström was a very close family and followed in the way of their ancestors, the Vikings. They lived in a close-knit community and all worked to better themselves. Whether It was through farming, smithing or most commonly fighting. The Söderström had a long line of warriors who joined Starfleet either as Marines or in his and his sister's case as security officers.

The promenade was partially busy today and the hustle and bustle of the shopping level frustrated him, however he couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like if all these people were trying to kill one another like back when his ancestors fought for lands and riches in vast armies all armed with swords, bows, shields and their families favorite axes. He guided himself through the crowd and found himself taking a short life journey to the upper level and found a place overlooking where he had just walked down, hoping he wasn't intruding the other man's peaceful gaze.

Kyle looked over at the man who had just joined him on the overlook. “Lot of people, isn’t it?” he said. “Has to be the busiest part of the day, I’d say.” He had no idea about that, but it was a possibility. “Name’s Kyle,” he said, extending his hand.

Axel turned his head to face the origin of the voice. He did a quick study of him and smiled taking the other man's hand. It was a strong shake, someone who obviously worked out which Axel could appreciate. Unlike Mina who was naturally fit and naturally agile Axel had to train hard to become the warrior he was. “Axel Söderström, nice to meet you” he replied politely his Scandinavian accent coming out strong, dropping the handshake and glancing back to the lower deck continued to speak “It does seem that way doesn't it? It does make you wonder what they must all do for a living, I swear I see the same people just doing loops of the stat base” he mused.

“Huh, they do look like they're walking around in loops. Odd, that's what that is.” He paused for a second and grinned. “Maybe that's what they do for a living, professional walkers.” Kyle laughed and turned to Axel. “Anyway, what do you get to do on this station?”

Axel couldn't help but chuckle at the comment, it was certainly odd. “Well actually I’m a little in Niflheim” He started to explain, the word escaping and went on correcting his use of Norse wording. “I think the word more commonly used is Limbo?” He said in an inquisitive tone. “I am waiting for the USS Galileo to return so I can start my new assignment, however, it seems to be missing,” He said, his voice uncertain. “I really don’t understand how a ship can go missing mind.” He shrugged, “Then again entire Viking raiding fleets disappeared so I guess one ship in space isn't so bad”

“Oh yeah, limbo, that’s the word,” said Kyle. The ship’s name that he was waiting on...it was the same as the one that Kyle was waiting on. He wondered… “I’d imagine it’s pretty hard to lose a ship, but I agree that one ship isn’t as bad a whole fleet would be. So, you said, the Galileo, right? That’s the one that’s missing and you’re waiting on?”

He nodded his head, yes. “Officially it’s just late reporting in, but being aboard a ship and having access to its Strategic Operations officers computer, it didn't take long to see that it went missing a few weeks ago after responding to a distress call around the Paulson Nebula,” Axel explained, the information he had managed to find. He was, at the time, still apart or the USS Asgard crew while he waited and that was where he had put together all of the pieces of the puzzle.

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good at all. But it seems like we’re both waiting on the same ship,” said Kyle. “My set of transfer orders is for the USS Galileo. I really hope they can find her or she comes back home soon. I suppose we could get onboard and find ourselves in a really interesting set of events.” Kyle turned around and leaned back against the railing with his hands resting on it.

Axel couldn’t agree more. “I don’t know any of the finer details so It's just all a guessing game from now but you’re right we could find ourselves in a whole world of crazy” He mused over the thoughts jumping around in this head. “What is your assignment exactly?”

“Oh yeah, I’m one of the new Security and Tactical officers,” said Kyle. “And to be quite honest, I’m looking forward to it. My last assignment was VIP Security Detail at the Federation Embassy on Trill. It’s about time I have something on a ship.”

“Me too,” He said happily “Well not the VIP security part, I was a Security Officer on the Agard before it had to go into major refurbishment after it was badly damaged during an Ion storm.” He shrugged. “But VIP Security I bet that was fun right?”

“Sorry to hear about the major work on the ship,” said Kyle. “I guess they all have to go through it once in a while. VIP Security had its fun times, that’s for sure. Especially in the Embassy arena. I mean, where else can you go to work and get some of the best things like non-replicated food and, heh, drinks. But guarding certain Ambassadors and their Aides… Let’s just say that there were a lot of requests for duty transfers. But other than that, being on Trill was just plain awesome.”

“Yeah it happens,” He said, nonchalant about the situation. The way he saw it, it gave him an opportunity to work on another ship and try different things. “Ah yeah I guess it has it’s downsides. My sister, Mina would hate a job like that she loves being in space” He chuckled. “Do you have any other relatives in starfleet?” He asked. It was rather common for families to serve each generation.

“You know, I do. My dad worked at the Applied Sciences Division of R&D in Bejing for a while when I was growing up. We then moved to a colony where he did some work and on to be Chief Engineer on a ship. It was shortly afterward, that I joined. The rest are what you might call civil servants,” said Kyle. “My brother, Shaun, is a medical doctor and Martta...hmm, I’m not sure what Martta is doing now to be honest. I haven’t heard from her in a while. So how about you. Starfleet family?”

“Of course” He said before following it up with an explanation, “My family always send their children to serve in Starfleet, while most are in Security some follow the teachings of Eir and some even Loki, Trickster of espionage and the like” He commented “But closest to my lineage is my Sister Mina, she is also a Security Officer, she just left on her new ship the Yamato”

“Wow, that’s a lot of family in Starfleet,” he said. “Sounds like you’re all pretty close, too. I mean, as a family. Is that part of your Norse background or culture? Did I even get that right? Norse? Or is Scandinavian the right word?” Based on the man’s name and his mention of Loki, Kyle was going out on a limb with his background. But he was also pretty sure that limb would hold him up.

“Norse is right” He smiled a little-excited someone knew of his culture. “A bit of both really our religion defines our culture” he started to explain obviously passionate about the subject. “Except we don't go around killing virgins as a sacrifice and raping and pillaging but most things we keep the same” Axel smiled again. “Not many people have heard of it really, it's as ancient as ancient”

Kyle laughed. “Glad to hear you don’t kill virgins and rape and pillage. I imagine Starfleet wouldn’t like that very much. Let alone the other cultures and species. But as far as me knowing about it, I only know a small bit for recognition, to be honest. See, I spent my formative years growing up in Bejing, China on Earth. I learned the culture, modern, old, and ancient, as well as the old language, Mandarin.” He paused a second and chuckled, “Not to mention plenty of slang. When my dad was assigned to a Galaxy class starship year later, I got back into studying that ancient culture. One thing that fascinated me was the writings of a Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu. That led me to touch on some of the other ancient, militaristic or warrior cultures. Norse came up.”

He nodded recognizing the name “If we had a leader like Sun Tzu I think we would have conquered England and our history would have been very different. We had several examples of great military leaders and through our service, we hope to honor them. I don't suppose you trained in ancient combat? I have yet to meet someone who can wield a sword or axe as well as me and my sister” He said almost sadly.

Kyle shook his head. “No, I haven’t. But I’m not beyond learning. Hell, train me to fight with a sword or axe and I might just start carrying one around the ship.” He laughed. “Can you just imagine the intimidation effect that would have? Starfleet Security now has standard issue broadswords. We’ll stun you, then lop your hand off one finger at a time.” Kyle really lets out a good belly laugh that time.

Axel let out a laugh, as he clutched his stomach he started to speak “That would be quite the recruitment add wouldn’t it, even the Borg would fear us” He composed himself before adding “If you’d really like to learn some of our fighting and even our customs I’d be happy to teach you. While my sister would just repeatedly kick your butt I'd like to think there would be an educational purpose behind my lessons.”

Kyle pictured that recruitment poster and laughed again. “Yeah, the Borg would definitely have a reason to fear us. And sure, I would seriously like some lessons. I mean, a phaser is a phaser, but training with ancient weapons would be beneficial as far as health and strength and stamina. And all of that is beside the obvious awesome factor. So yeah, when we get aboard and have some time. I’d like that. Thanks.”

Axel nodded as if to mentally acknowledge the idea. “I can't wait, don't think it’ll be easy though I started learning to fight as soon as I could hold an axe. But it will save your life and hell, I could do with the practice!” She smiled happily. He hadn’t even made it on the bridge and he was already making friends. “Well, I think I should get to doing some more wandering. Hopefully, the Galileo will be back soon and we can actually do our jobs” He sighed longing for work.

“Thanks, Axel. I’ll keep that in mind...add another workout to the regimen. So wandering, yeah, gotta pass the times somehow. I hope it gets here soon, too,” said Kyle. “Waiting between assignments drives me crazy. I’d rather be working.” He put his hand out for another shake. “Nice to meet you, Axel. I’ll see you around the Galileo.”

[OFF]

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Ensign Axel Söderström
Security Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Kyle Roberts
Security Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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