Come for a Visit

Posted on 16 Jan 2013 @ 12:21am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Scott Rowe

2,278 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Landing Site
Timeline: MD 11 - 1010 hrs

[ON]

Lirha had been sitting in her quarters when the call came in around 0830. According to the flag staff at Starfleet Command, someone had been very impressed with the Orion's recent ability to perform her duties, especially regarding a certain classified mission that had been shrouded in much scrutiny and secrecy. Effective immediately, Galileo had been transferred from Task Group 72-C to 72-A, and Lirha was now the new task group commanding officer. It was quite a substantial position promotion, one which now required her to supervise and maintain a group of six other vessels. Of course, Lirha knew that with new responsibility came more paperwork and more hours spent in meetings with Starfleet Command, however she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at what she and her tiny Nova Class had recently accomplished, seemingly against all odds.

Once the reality of her new position sank in, the captain made her first priority to contact the rest of the task group. It was a diverse mix of ships and captains, including a Vikrant Class carrier, Intrepid Class explorer, Prometheus Class heavy escort, and even an old Miranda Class light cruiser. As was the case with most task groups, Starfleet had arranged the group's composition such that each ship complimented each other and were able to operate efficiently as a single unit. But before such preparations for a joint-venture could begin, Lirha needed to find a task group executive officer, more specifically Task Group 72-A's Senior Ship Commanding Officer. As she flipped through the various captains' resume's of her new task group, she found herself re-reading and contemplating one of the captains' bio and service record. His name was Scott Rowe and he was the CO of USS Forseti, a large carrier that could double as a command cruiser. Upon first glance, the man's accolades and command history stood out. He was definitely the most experienced out of the bunch, and Lirha was anxious to know more about him. And fortunately as it so happened, his ship was also on shore leave in the nearby Sol system.

Typing up a brief message on her PADD, Lirha submitted her request for Captain Rowe to travel to Vega and meet her. She knew it was on rather short notice, but hoped that he wouldn't be too caught up in his leisure to make time for the new TGCO.


---- Meanwhile Sol System USS Forseti...

Captain Scott Rowe had just approved all of his Shoreleave Requests when his Desk Panel began to activate. He placed down his PADD and pressed the button to read the message. "Hmm, so it is true, we do have a new Task Group Commander, and it seems I'm being summoned." He said to himself, somewhat surprised at the expediance of the request. He was notified, not long ago that the previous Task Group Commander, had decided to take early retirement. ~Hmm retirement, I recall what that was like...short...too short~ He thought to himself.

"Wellll, lets take a look at this Captain Lirha Saalm." He said to himself as he accessed her Personnel File. "Jesus I'm old." He said as he looked at her personnel file and realized that he was the Captain of the Vikrant Carrier - USS Sizemore while Captain Saalm was graduating from the Academy. But looking at her Service Record he realized that Starfleet must see something very promising in this young Captain to give her so much responsibility and he smiled as he was fully interested in meeting his new boss. He sent Captain Saalm his reply and made preparations to depart Earth and head to one of the Federations busiest posts, the Vega Colony.


----Back on USS Galileo...

Lirha's PADD chirped to signal an incoming message. Still in her quarters, she wandered over to the replicator as she browsed through the contents of the transmission. It was a reply from Captain Rowe, one which, to Lirha's approval, had come rather quickly and without delay. It seemed that the good captain was happy to comply with the Orion's request, and was on his way to Vega.

Tapping a few buttons on the replicator, Lirha summoned a hot chocolate and watched as the large steaming mug materialized in front of her hand. She reached down and gripped it tightly between her fingers, savoring the warmth and confectious smell of milky drink. As she sank back into her desk's chair, she realized that it wouldn't be long before her guest arrived, and began to make the appropriate preparations.

---- Meanwhile back on the Forseti...

As Rowe began to pack lightly for his short trip to the Vega System a thought hit him....why not fly out himself? He went back to his desk and activated the console to see which of the birds were under repair and was elated to find out that his personal fighter was not on the list.

=^= Rowe to Chief Wilson =^= He said with a light tap on his commbadge as he sat back down in his seat.

=^=Wilson here sir, what can I do for you?=^= Came the reply over the Comm

=^= How soon can you have my bird ready for Flight? I have an errand to run and figured this would be a good time to spread my wings. =^= Rowe said with a bit of excitement. It has been several weeks since his last chance to take his Raptor Fighter out for a "night on the town"

=^= Well Sir, she was checked off on this morning, but I will begin her Preflight workup and will be here to do the walkthough with you whenever you are ready to go. =^=

=^= Just as soon as notify Spears and Commander Salway, I put on my suit and be on my way. Rowe, out =^= He said ending the communication. Captain Rowe was very thankful that the Vega System was not far at all, he would have hated to have to take a Transport to and from. He sent the message of his departure to his Executive Officer and Yeoman. Even though the Forseti is on Shoreleave, he thought it important to notify members of his Senior Crew of his location and plans.

----25 minutes later Forseti Fighter Bay 2

Captain Rowe arrived at Fighter Bay 2, wearing his Flight Suit with his helmet under his left arm. "Captain on Deck!" He heard as he approached his Fighter Craft. He has always been proud of the sense of honor and duty his Starfighter Corps has maintained and it took him back to some of his earlier days as a Pilot himself.

"Chief, it has been awhile." Rowe said as he approached with his hand extended to shake the hand of of his Chief of Fighter Maintaince.

"Yes it has Sir" Wilson said, taking the hand of Captain Rowe, while still standing at attention.

"At ease Chief, is she ready?" Rowe asked as he started the physical walkaround of his craft. Even though the walkaround was more ceremonial at this point than it once was in the past, he still did it.

"She is ready to go sir, fully charged and her systems have been updated with the latest navigation data." He said following the Captain around the craft.

"Outstanding, I should not be gone long, just have a meeting at Vega Colony." He said opening a storage compartment and placing his gear inside of it. "Don't forget to take some time for yourself chief. It's been years since we've been home, don't waste it up here." He concluded as he climbed into his cockpit.

"I will sir, godspeed to you." Wilson said clearing around the craft, taking a step back as Rowe engaged the launch sequence. Wilson saluted as Captain Rowe and his Fighter began to move on the Fighter Lift toward the Aux. Launch Bay.

Rowe began and completed the launch procedures and notified Spacedock of his departure. ~Time to fly~ He thought to himself, as he launched his Fighter into a traffic pattern to leave Spacedock behind the New Orleans Class USS Rutledge he had always admired the raw punching power of the New Orleans Class with their burst torpedo launchers. He's seen more and more of them on fringe assignments with the destruction of Romulus, small ship big stick.

Rowe finally got clear of Spacedock and made his way to Vega Colony and the USS Galileo.

----Much later, Vega Colony

Captain Rowe jumped out of warp near Vega Colony and began to make approach to the USS Galileo. He decided to bring his Fighter down right next to the Galileo. He smiled as the Nova Class Starship came into view, as he began to circle down to it. He pressed a few buttons. =^= This is Captain Scott Rowe, contacting the USS Galileo, landing requesting to come aboard. =^=

It didn't take long before a female voice belonging to one of the Nova Class' flight crew crackled over the comm. "Captain Rowe, this is Galileo control, we have you on sensors. Please divert to landing area one-seven-alpha, starboard side. Captain Saalm is expecting you. Welcome aboard." came the reply.

"Outstanding" Was Rowe's reply as he deactivated his communication signal, and finalized his landing approach. The fighter came down and landed at the designated coordinates. He powered down his craft as the small plume of dirt and dust began to settle around his craft. Rowe began to climb out of his craft and as he touched the ground he removed his helmet and placed it under his left arm.

Upon being notified that Captain Rowe had arrived, Lirha pulled her dark hair back in a ponytail and promptly left her quarters to greet him. Due to the ongoing repairs and upgrades being conducted on her starship, the Nova Class' small shuttlebay was currently closed, which meant all arriving support craft were parked in nearby makeshift lots, and the only access to the ship was through the docking ramps on the port and starboard sides of the ship. Lirha swiftly made her way through the corridors to one of the ports, and exited through the airlock where she finally stood out in the open air of Vega IX, waiting for the fellow captain to make his way to her.

Captain Rowe was surprised by the amount of activity around the Nova Class vessel as he walked away from his fighter toward the nearest ramp. ~Looks like a welcoming party~ Rowe thought as he made it to the bottom of the ramp and began to make his way up.

Spotting someone who looked very similar to the man in the picture of Rowe's Starfleet file, Lirha held up her hand and waved to him as he moved up the ramp. "Captain Rowe? I'm Captain Saalm, Galileo's commanding officer." she said once he got close, and extended her green hand for him to shake. "Thank you for coming on short notice."

Captain Rowe continued up the ramp toward the Captain that he recalled from her personnel file. Extending his right hand to meet hers. "Captain Saalm, I thank you for taking the time to meet me. And it was not short notice at all, perfect timing as we'd just recently began to take shoreleave back at Earth." He finished finally firmly taking her hand.

"I hear Earth is very popular this time of year." she replied with a friendly smile. "I hope your travels went smoothly." she added, then turned around and waved her hand towards her ship's large silver hull and nearby engineering crews. "As you can see, Galileo had a rather rough landing recently."

Rowe turned and surveyed. "Captain it certainly does look like you had a bit of excitement, what happen?" He said turning back around. For a Nova Class ship, he would only expect this much commotion on a serious surveying mission.

"Well, I'm afraid that's classified, captain." she replied, giving him a small yet apologetic smile. Had she not been under orders from Starfleet Intelligence to keep quiet about Project Sienna and their previous mission, she would have happily shared stories with him. But as it was, there was no ambiguity in her orders to remain silent. "All I can tell you is that we ran into more problems than I could have expected. And luckily for us, we returned home in one piece."

"Understandable Captain, at least you came out on the other end." He said with a nod, surveying the activity again. For something to be so classified that it is outside of his purview was intriguing, but it made sense. Why else would they be taking to repairs here instead of one of the many Starfleet Repair Facilities that we are so close to?

"Yes, thank the spirits for that. I would have much preferred to not be destroyed during my ship's first mission." she replied with a wry grin. "Well, captain," Lirha continued after a long pause and a wave of her arm to invite him into her ship, "If you will follow me, you can have a tour of Starfleet's newest Nova Class. I'm quite proud of her..." she said, then stepped through the airlock and inside Galileo

"Yes Ma'am" Rowe said as he readjusted his helmet under his arm and started to walk into the ship behind her. First impressions are everything and so far his first impression of her is good...

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Scott Rowe
Commanding Officer
USS Forseti

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