Field Trip (Part 2 of 4)

Posted on 03 Nov 2017 @ 1:19pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant JG Edward Butler & Lieutenant JG Gideon Nicols PhD & Ensign Miraj Derani & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Cadet Sophomore Grade Bethany Armstrong
Edited on on 03 Nov 2017 @ 1:29pm

1,929 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth Orbit - Starbase 001, Dock 30
Timeline: MD 92, 0544 hrs

Previously, on Field Trip (Part 1)...

Allyndra felt nearly naked being back in uniform compared to the rather more complicated dress of her home. Still, she thought, eventually things would get to feel just as normal again. She had just about stumbled upon the cadets that had gathered and held back waiting for them. Everyone had to check in but there was no need to have a regular officer just pop into their midst.

Eventually things thinned down and she moved forward. "Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim, checking in." She handed Cameron the PaDD with the recall orders for the regular officers as well.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

USS Hathaway

Aboard the Constellation-class cruiser Hathaway, many former USS Galileo personnel were already joined by several unassigned officers and NCOs that'd been wandering around the HQ for the past few weeks. The command and utility stations all buzzed with crew members overseeing final checks and departure preparations, and for many, it was their first experience aboard one of Starfleet's legacy vessels.

But not for Miraj. The pink haired half-Boslic had grown up flying the more elderly classes and the Hathaway was not anything new. But she found herself fretting as she went through the pre-flight checks herself, before one of the cadets took over.. Hathaway was far from being the stateliest old lady she'd ever flown, but Constellations had their idiosyncrasies, and she'd have to surrender the helm to the flight equivalent of toddlers and she was nervous they'd hurt the venerable ship.

"You are worried about something are you not Miraj?" Mimi asked from a nearby console, she could see that Miraj was tense. On the other hand Mimi was glad to be back on a proper ship and an old cruiser of all things, to her it was new, she'd never been on a constellation before and was itching to explore every little bit of it.

Miraj looked a bit guilty. "I know I shouldn't. But the pilot cadet I've got, Jasper, was the year below me at the Academy. He's okay." Which merely meant that he hadn't managed to clock twenty thousand hours at a helm, which as far as Miraj was concerned was slacking. "But this is an old ship. She needs love and attention. I'm not good at trusting other people to do that."

"Be happy I am not taking the helm." Mimi said. "I passed the flight course..... barely." She chuckled a little as she remembered crashing so badly once during a simulation she caused the entire frigate to explode.

"I can always coach you if you want." Miraj offered. "I got a lot of people through Conn 101 in my time at the Academy."

"Maybe, I could do with a few pointers." Mimi said, she heard the bridge turbolift doors open and a young human or maybe Betazoid walk through and head towards the communication station.

Cadet Vear stepped onto the Bridge confidently, but only achieved a step or two before slowing to a halt as he took in the scene before him. To him it seemed 'magical'. This was the Bridge of a Constellation Class Starship. So much had been achieved in years past from this 'archaic' ship. He almost felt like he was stepping into the sanctum-sanctorum of their holy cathedral back home on Betazed. After a long second he dashed the stalling thoughts from his mind and quickly stepped over to the Communications Console. Sitting down he glanced over the ancient design and layout. He muttered to himself, "They don't do them this way anymore." Montah then quickly went through confirmation procedures, that all comm systems were functional and ready for service.

Thasiv'Rahn surveyed the bridge. He'd been preceded by another flight control cadet. He had prepared to pilot a Constellation class. Most cadets thought of these old ships as having less technological clout than modern ships. While that was certainly true in some instances, the biggest differences had come as a design choice.

The Andorian cadet listened in on the conversations around the bridge. He was good at flying ships, but it was merely a means to an end. He dreamed of command.

"Cadet Vear I believe?" Mimi said approaching the young man at the communication station.

Vear turned in his chair to see a cat-like person in uniform, an Ensign that is. He smiled real big and replied, "Yes Ma'am." He didn't quite recognize her species. Montah knew there were several feline species in the Federation, but not very versed on them. He cleared his throat and continued. "Yes that's correct. Is there something you needed?" He looked up at her dark hair flowing about her head and ears. Montah thought she had pretty eyes. He struggled for a second about lowering his personal blocks to get a peek, but resisted.

Mimi smiled back "I am Ensign Mimi the acting chief of operations, I will be keeping an eye on you during this cruise."

Montah knew that sometimes certain young officers took their position in Leadership a bit too far. He couldn't quite tell by her inflection, if she was being kind or sarcastic. And he wouldn't dare drop his barriers down to take just a peek. Yes, she was his superior, but she wasn't going to get away with bossing him around nor threatening him with over watching influence.

The Communications Cadet realized that she had not asked a question nor made a request, so no answer was actually expected. So, Cadet Vear just smiled and replied, "Okay." Then with just a touch of sarcasm added, "You might just learn something."

"Maybe." Mimi replied. Leaving it as that she turned and headed back to the ops console.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen watched the cadets with a weak smile. He was rarely on the bridge, but for meeting these cadets? Sure, he'd stand there as a warning for them never to mess with the enlisted. He kept back though, because it was the best way for the enlisted to be. Chances were rare he'd actually be on a bridge except when covering from someone. He had been discharged two days ago from Starfleet Medical with all his medication and a pat on the back. Oddly enough, he was missing Thorne. And even his counsellor and his doctor. He shrugged it off, hands behind his back as he took them all in. When it was silent he watched them all. He had raised his eyebrow at the Communications Cadet's words and looked over at the acting Chief...question on his face. He would be more than happy to rip a new one into the cadet. It was the Chief's call though...even if he missed it, it would be a shame. Messing with Cadets would be the only chance he'd ever have to mess with officer material.

Jennifer Armstrong stepped onto the bridge from the turbo lift awkwardly clutching a PADD in front of her. For this mission, she had been informed she would act as the Yeoman for Commander Ban. For her, a yeoman was simply a glorified gopher, fetching the Captain's drink orders and PADDs. As she timidly stepped deeper onto the bridge, she looked around unsure of where she was to stand. Instead, she just froze approximately four feet from the turbolift, waiting for someone to call on her.

Jasper Higgins hated turbolifts, especially when a bunch of people were in them. He truly didn't want to be here and really Starfleet was just a means to an end at this point. He was only doing this to satisfy his Starfleet parents who felt all their children needed to follow in their footsteps. He resented them for it, but they didn't give him a choice. All his choices were taken away it seemed. However, the compromise was that he would at least give it a good, honest go, and if he didn't like it after for years, he could resign. All he wanted to really do was fly, and own his own cargo hauler. He just wanted to be left alone, and have a small team of his own. He wasn't sure why he couldn't pursue that, but his parents didn't allow it... at least not yet.

He stepped fully onto the bridge and looked around and then he saw her. His blue eyes narrowed as he approached. What is SHE doing here? he thought to himself. "Cadet Jasper Higgins reporting for duty," he said in a flat voice to the gaudy bubble gum pink haired woman.

"Pleased to meet you, Jasper. And don't forget to say hello to Hathaway." She warned.

Pleased to meet you, Jasper. Jasper wasn't sure if the woman was messing with him or she didn't really remember him. He then surmised she was messing with him because he made an impression everywhere he went. Anyway, he would just let it go for now. "Oh, I'll be sure too," Jasper said. He would be glad to get his hands all over the CONN controls.

"Have you met Thasiv'Rahn?" She asked. She knew Jaspar, but she wasn't sure if he and the Andorian knew each other

For Jasper, he had only remembered the Andorian because he simply didn't know any other Andorrans. It was how things went sometimes. "I have," he replied simply, nodding.

Thasiv'Rahn nodded. "We've met, though briefly. I believe we've been in several of the same courses. Commander Gorinolochok's series on advanced flight maneuvers?" The Andorian cadet hadn't often interacted with other cadets in his courses except as required. He was, after all, competing against them.

Taking a moment, Jasper thought back to that course. He enjoyed it, however, he was not a fan of Commander Gorinolochok's. The man seemed hellbent on seeing Jasper fail, but the young cadet kept rising to the occasion. "That's the one," he replied, not sure what to say more on the matter. Everyone had a different Academy experience.

"It seems that I'm your relief for the time being, Jasper. Let me know if you need me to tag in." He didn't expect that to be happening, especially when it was probably his fellow cadet's first time actually navigating a Starfleet ship, however old.

Jasper wasn't entirely sure he would need a 'relief' except when he needed to personally relieve himself. However, the gesture was nice enough, he wasn't nervous or anything, but this was a much bigger deal. "Thanks, much appreciated," he said.

"We have more than one shift on this shift," Miraj reminded them, "And you can't stay awake twenty four hours a day. You'll both get b=plenty of shots at conn." And she wanted a shift s well. She needed to accrue official flight hours. She was behind where she wanted to be if she was ever going to get on the test pilot program for Project Dauntless. "But for now, Thasiv, can you join the warrant officer in the hangar bay to make sure we're all secure down there."

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Cadet Montah Vear
Acting Communications Officer
Starfleet Academy
[NPC Shizn]

Ensign Mimi
Operations Officer
USS Hathaway

Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Acting Operations Officer
USS Hathaway

Cadet Thasiv'Rahn
Flight Control Officer
Starfleet Academy
[PNPC Butler]

Cadet Jasper Higgins
Flight Control Officer
Starfleet Academy
[NPC Nicols]

Ensign Miraj Derani
Senior Conn Officer
USS Hathaway

CDT Jennifer Armstrong
Yeoman
Starfleet Academy
[PNPC Bauer]

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