S1 - Mission 6 - Killer Cove

[Kirok]

[CO's Office]

"Understood." Stafford said. He was being voluntold what to do. It wasn't a feeling he was used to. And the fact that Kirok hadn't responded to him when he'd said the assignment was out of character troubled him. A great deal of this troubled him.

Normally, Stafford would extend the hospitality of the Columbus, but he had a feeling the admiral wouldn't be receptive to it.

"We have a lot to do here, admiral. I'm sure you do, as well. We'll keep this situation contained and deal with it." Stafford said, standing up straighter and indicating the office door. "I hope the next time we meet it is under more felicitous circumstances."

[CO's Office]

"Thank you, Luke.  For understanding.  And for your help with this matter.  Honestly, you are the only person I could trust to handle it" Kirok said.

"That is my hope as well.  Perhaps we could even attempt another outing at the mountain campsite" Kiork said as he stood and tapped his combadge.

=/\=One to beam out=/\= Kiork said.  Then he raised his right hand.  "Until then, Peace and Long Life" he said before beaming out. 

[Alexander Wu]

[Runabout Oceanic]

With a now familiar feeling in his gut, Alex stared out of the cockpit window, his gaze spanning across the rapidly diminishing distance between himself and his destination; Starbase Columbus, the stepping stone for all Starfleet personnel assigned to this sector. He had been on this particular behemoth many an occasion, always enroute to a new ship. Never before had it been his final stop. A career pilot, he didn't really have to worry about being landbound or attached to a starbase; regular rotations onboard several high-activity vessels had raised his seniority enough to ensure the choicest of postings, culminating with his previous stint as the Exec of Discovery. Coming up through the ranks, it had capped a long and interesting career path, one that he never thought would lead to his current situation.

Of course, all that action had probably also contributed to the reason why he was sitting in the righthand chair on this regular courier run from Starbase 173. Glancing left at the young ensign piloting the runabout, Alex found himself uncommonly restless. He ached to take the controls, feel the engines respond to his touch and command, hear the nearly imperceptible creaks from straining stembolts during high-stress maneuvers. He missed flying. It wasn't his job anymore though, a sore point which was only emphasized by the PADD buried within his carry-on duffel tucked beneath the console. If it wasn't for some quick shoptalk with the pilot, and the fact that his counselor's parting words hadn't quite reached earshot, Alex knew he would've been relegated with the other passengers stuck in the rear compartment. That, he reckoned, would've driven him even crazier.

I hope my office at least has a window, he mused while watching the stars disappear from view, blotted out by thousands of lights from multitudes of windows embedded into the station's monolithic grey exterior. Office. Over a decade on the bridge or in a cockpit, how the hell did I end up here? The only mitigating factor he could see was a reunion with the station's commander, albeit a small comfort when it came to having his wings clipped. Shaking himself from the depths of self-pity, Alex sat up straighter as they approached the gaping spacedock entrance. It's not like there's alot you can do now. That's what you get for not choosing retirement. May as well make the best of it. "I got it." Alex mentioned to the ensign while activating the comms.

"Columbus Control, this is the Runabout Oceanic, arriving from Starbase 173. Requesting approach clearance and docking instructions."=/\=

[Shani]

[Runabout Oceanic]

Officer transport wasn't a new thing for her. She did her runs as efficiently as possible whether it was cargo, people, or a practice run. But maybe she complained too little in comparison to her colleagues. It was certainly easier for them to brush all the 'micromanagement' off to the Andorian newcomer who was ferociously devoted to her duties.

Her latest transport was of little trouble, though a bit antsy. Shani's antennas would twitch ever so delicately every time he shifted in his seat. They twitched again when they reached the distance required for docking as the human bypassed her reaching for the comm system.

"I got it." Alex mentioned to the ensign while activating the comms.

"Columbus Control, this is the Runabout Oceanic, arriving from Starbase 173. Requesting approach clearance and docking instructions."=/\=

Request granted. Proceed to the Main Docking Bay. Welcome back, Oceanic.

Shani spared Wu a sidelong look before sending the ship through the opening bay doors.

After landing, Lieutenant Avi was waiting beside the cockpit after the post-flight checklist. "You turn into a man the last few minutes?" he teased as she climbed out.

"I am laughing." She wasn't. "Lieutenant Commander Wu wished to forward the comm. I didn't think it was a problem."

"Those cute little twitchy antenna of yours tell a different story," Avi gestured with a grin before turning to Wu. "Welcome back to the Columbus, Lieutenant Commander. I hope her hospitality made the flight enjoyable at least."

[Rosiuh Aviad]

[Medical Bay]

Rosiuh settled into his assigned station and logged into the computer. Things seemed to have settled down since those first hectic days of his arrival on the Starbase. The emotional turmoil that had accompanied the outbreak of rogue particles causing random time jumps for members of the crew had been, for the most part, resolved. At least in the immediate issue. Rosiuh knew there was collateral damage to the psyche of those who'd been affected. That was going to have to be dealt with at some point.

He wasn't sure how comfortable many of them would be in discussing such trauma with a cadet. However, until it impacted their work or the station he had no reason or grounds to approach his superiors about arranging therapy for them. Cautiously he opened himself to scan the general emotions within his ability range. Nothing was out of the ordinary as far as he could sense so he let it all drift into background noise.

Calling up his charts on the patients from the day before and Rosiuh began updating himself on any overnight changes to their conditions.

[Alexander Wu]

[Runabout Oceanic]

Officer transport wasn't a new thing for her. She did her runs as efficiently as possible whether it was cargo, people, or a practice run. But maybe she complained too little in comparison to her colleagues. It was certainly easier for them to brush all the 'micromanagement' off to the Andorian newcomer who was ferociously devoted to her duties.

Her latest transport was of little trouble, though a bit antsy. Shani's antennas would twitch ever so delicately every time he shifted in his seat. They twitched again when they reached the distance required for docking as the human bypassed her reaching for the comm system.

Request granted. Proceed to the Main Docking Bay. Welcome back, Oceanic.

Shani spared Wu a sidelong look before sending the ship through the opening bay doors.

[Runabout Oceanic]

It was at that moment Alex knew he had messed up. Although she had stayed silent, he could practically feel the unspoken reprimand over his breach of cockpit etiquette. Mistake a first year cadet wouldn't make. Well done, you knucklehead. Before he could formulate an apology for his faux pas, they had already touched down.

After landing, Lieutenant Avi was waiting beside the cockpit after the post-flight checklist. "You turn into a man the last few minutes?" he teased as she climbed out.

"I am laughing." She wasn't. "Lieutenant Commander Wu wished to forward the comm. I didn't think it was a problem."

"Those cute little twitchy antenna of yours tell a different story," Avi gestured with a grin before turning to Wu. "Welcome back to the Columbus, Lieutenant Commander. I hope her hospitality made the flight enjoyable at least."

Pulling his duffel out and slinging it over his shoulder, Alex was several paces behind from exiting the shuttle, eyes flickering over the expansive bay instinctively. "Thank you, Lieutenant." he replied politely, returning the smile. "I think I may have ruffled the ensign's feathers earlier, actually. Sorry about that, Ensign, I should have known better." He reached out, offering his hand in greeting first to the andorian officer, and then to her senior. "Alexander Wu. I've just been assigned to the station."

[Kirok]

[Medical Bay]

Rosiuh settled into his assigned station and logged into the computer. Things seemed to have settled down since those first hectic days of his arrival on the Starbase. The emotional turmoil that had accompanied the outbreak of rogue particles causing random time jumps for members of the crew had been, for the most part, resolved. At least in the immediate issue. Rosiuh knew there was collateral damage to the psyche of those who'd been affected. That was going to have to be dealt with at some point.

He wasn't sure how comfortable many of them would be in discussing such trauma with a cadet. However, until it impacted their work or the station he had no reason or grounds to approach his superiors about arranging therapy for them. Cautiously he opened himself to scan the general emotions within his ability range. Nothing was out of the ordinary as far as he could sense so he let it all drift into background noise.

Calling up his charts on the patients from the day before and Rosiuh began updating himself on any overnight changes to their conditions.

[Medical Bay]

Zex walked into the room.  She had arrived back on the station late last night.  So, she was still just a bit sleepy.

"Good morning?" the Deltan said.  She went to her locker and retrieved her white coat.  "Did I miss anything while I was gone?" she asked while she slipped it on. 

[Shani]

Pulling his duffel out and slinging it over his shoulder, Alex was several paces behind from exiting the shuttle, eyes flickering over the expansive bay instinctively. "Thank you, Lieutenant." he replied politely, returning the smile. "I think I may have ruffled the ensign's feathers earlier, actually. Sorry about that, Ensign, I should have known better." He reached out, offering his hand in greeting first to the andorian officer, and then to her senior. "Alexander Wu. I've just been assigned to the station."

[Main Docking Bay]

There was a beat before Shani completed the greeting with a handshake. Human etiquette was still relatively new to her. "I don't have feathers," she said in mild alarm.

"It's a figure of speech, Ensign," Avi said warmly.

"A human one?" She tried not to sound petulant, but failed. "You do not have feathers."

Avi laughed. "Not that you can see right now." He laughed even louder at her incredulous expression and wiped the corner of his eye. "Oh, I love alien officers. It's a gem! So-" He busied himself with his PADD. "As for you, Lieutenant Commander, our job was transport. I'm sure the Captain will be expecting you with your new assignment. Ensign Shani?"

Shani's antennas twitched. She was still trying to figure out the feathers comment. "Sir?"

"Why don't you escort Wu to the Captain's office? And give him the daily report while you're at it." No doubt he wanted her out of his hair - or feathers, whatever. She had been dogging his steps earlier this morning about his lack of tact dealing with a couple of crewmen that were found napping in one of the shuttles.

Her lips pursed, but she did nothing more than tilt her head at Wu and gestured for the turbolift. Her curiosity got the better of her. "Are your feathers aerodynamic?"

[Rosiuh Aviad]

[Medical Bay]

Zex walked into the room.  She had arrived back on the station late last night.  So, she was still just a bit sleepy.

"Good morning?" the Deltan said.  She went to her locker and retrieved her white coat.  "Did I miss anything while I was gone?" she asked while she slipped it on.

Rosiuh looked up as an ensign entered. He smiled quietly at her amiable, if somewhat dozy, aura. "Possibly Ma'am. How long have you been off duty?" He replied politely, seeking clarification for the span of time she wished him to fill her in on.

[Kirok]

[Control Center]

EQ tapped away at the Ops Duty Station.  His transfer to the Columbus had been quick and mostly painless.  Luckily he had been allowed to skip the medical given that Dr. Cottle had done such through job just days ago.

[Daniel Howell]

Operations
Dan was standing in operations, overseeing the daily operations of the base. It had been an interesting few days, what with a number of the crew leaving for pastures new and indeed new crew members to take their place. One of Howell's nightmares when it came to command was crew transfers as you never really quite know what to expect.

Dan was in not so much as a trance, more a glazed focus thinking about various different things: His days in engineering, how he did miss being called when an engineer couldn't quite work something out. He chuckled to himself giving a small smile. Dan even came to thinking about what he was going to do when his shift finished, which quickly made him think Flippin' Heck, I must be more desperate to finish today than I thought

Overhearing the arrival of the shuttle carrying a new crew member and passengers from Starbase 173 brought him out of his glaze. The next couple of days were going to be busy, but then again when was it ever not.

[Alexander Wu]

[Main Docking Bay]

There was a beat before Shani completed the greeting with a handshake. Human etiquette was still relatively new to her. "I don't have feathers," she said in mild alarm.

"It's a figure of speech, Ensign," Avi said warmly.

"A human one?" She tried not to sound petulant, but failed. "You do not have feathers."

Avi laughed. "Not that you can see right now." He laughed even louder at her incredulous expression and wiped the corner of his eye. "Oh, I love alien officers. It's a gem! So-" He busied himself with his PADD. "As for you, Lieutenant Commander, our job was transport. I'm sure the Captain will be expecting you with your new assignment. Ensign Shani?"

Shani's antennas twitched. She was still trying to figure out the feathers comment. "Sir?"

"Why don't you escort Wu to the Captain's office? And give him the daily report while you're at it." No doubt he wanted her out of his hair - or feathers, whatever. She had been dogging his steps earlier this morning about his lack of tact dealing with a couple of crewmen that were found napping in one of the shuttles.

Her lips pursed, but she did nothing more than tilt her head at Wu and gestured for the turbolift. Her curiosity got the better of her. "Are your feathers aerodynamic?"

[Turbolifts]

Chuckling, Alex shook his head, following Shani to the turbolift shafts. "Humans don't have feathers, Ensign. Just hair, like you. 'Ruffling feathers' is a figure of speech, as your lieutenant said. It sort of implies...causing affront, or offense." The line waiting for available lifts wasn't long as they joined in behind. He continued to explain. "There are alot of phrases like that which delves from Earth English, where you can't take what's said in the literal sense...I may have picked up a few bad habits while back there."

With several lifts operating in conjunction, the queue moved swiftly forward. Glancing at his guide, Alex smiled inwardly at her previous question, albeit mildly surprised. I don't think I was ever that innocent. Since Shani was an ensign, he reckoned she had spent at least four years at the Academy, generally more than enough time to become accustomed to human customs. Most even picked up bad habits of their own. How she had managed to stay insulated from all that hubris would be a mystery for later. "I daresay you'll have more than fair opportunity to learn about other races and cultures, being assigned to Columbus. Is this your first posting?"

[Shani]

[Turbolifts]

Chuckling, Alex shook his head, following Shani to the turbolift shafts. "Humans don't have feathers, Ensign. Just hair, like you. 'Ruffling feathers' is a figure of speech, as your lieutenant said. It sort of implies...causing affront, or offense." The line waiting for available lifts wasn't long as they joined in behind. He continued to explain. "There are alot of phrases like that which delves from Earth English, where you can't take what's said in the literal sense...I may have picked up a few bad habits while back there."

With several lifts operating in conjunction, the queue moved swiftly forward. Glancing at his guide, Alex smiled inwardly at her previous question, albeit mildly surprised. I don't think I was ever that innocent. Since Shani was an ensign, he reckoned she had spent at least four years at the Academy, generally more than enough time to become accustomed to human customs. Most even picked up bad habits of their own. How she had managed to stay insulated from all that hubris would be a mystery for later. "I daresay you'll have more than fair opportunity to learn about other races and cultures, being assigned to Columbus. Is this your first posting?"

[Turbolift]

She hit the button on the turbolift. "How unremarkable."

His explanation was very unsatisfactory. No feathers, no special trait that defined why they were one of the galactic powers in the quadrant. Just smooth heads and witty tongues. Was it really humor that brought them to the forefront?

Wu's question made her antenna still with caution. "I've lived in Andor for most of my life." There were occasional human dignitaries that visited the capitals, though Shani's personally never met one. Human history was a very quiet blurb in traditional Andorian schooling, the most prominent being the P'Jem incident.

He would not be the first, nor the last to puzzle over her ineptitude for aliens more than runabouts. "As most if not all of my coursework and training in the Imperial Guard mirrors that of Starfleet, my time in the Academy was limited to one month in San Francisco. So yes, the Columbus would be my first true interaction with humans."

[Alexander Wu]

[Turbolift]

She hit the button on the turbolift. "How unremarkable."

His explanation was very unsatisfactory. No feathers, no special trait that defined why they were one of the galactic powers in the quadrant. Just smooth heads and witty tongues. Was it really humor that brought them to the forefront?

Wu's question made her antenna still with caution. "I've lived in Andor for most of my life." There were occasional human dignitaries that visited the capitals, though Shani's personally never met one. Human history was a very quiet blurb in traditional Andorian schooling, the most prominent being the P'Jem incident.

He would not be the first, nor the last to puzzle over her ineptitude for aliens more than runabouts. "As most if not all of my coursework and training in the Imperial Guard mirrors that of Starfleet, my time in the Academy was limited to one month in San Francisco. So yes, the Columbus would be my first true interaction with humans."

[Turbolift]

"Unremarkable, maybe. Evolution always pushes for necessity, I suppose." He offered her a smile, raising his hands to his chest and wiggling his elbows. "Can't fly, no need for feathers. I was disappointed too."

Alex glanced at her inquisitively as the lift arrived. "After you." He gestured for Shani to go first, stepping in afterwards. Waiting until the doors had closed, he leaned back against the bulkhead. "I'll have to admit, my interactions with Andorians haven't been extensive either. Served with a few on other ships, and of course whenever I go back to the Academy, but seldom with members of the Imperial Guard. My understanding was that it's not so much of a career choice, as it is a life choice. If you don't mind me asking, what made you choose to join Starfleet instead?"

[Hust Kinun]

[JAG Offices]

Hust continued his work, finishing one more pile of work. Why was a Bolian trying to sue the Klingo... oh wait. That one.

Hust remembered the man, full of bluster and bravado trying to stand up for it. It seems the case had made it to court after all. Poor sod. Klingon courts were none to friendly to insults on their honor. He chose the file to look at, and sat back in his chair, leafing through the paper copy of the document. The Klingons had counterattacked for insults on their honor... and it appeared the man was now sentenced to six years at Rura Penthae. Hust sighed. He was obligated to submit a DDG-832 form to the Klingon Ambassador to the Federation, requesting the man be transferred to a Federation prison to serve his sentence, probably a place with better climate. It was very doubtful the request would go through, but he had to at least try.

He drafted the paperwork and sent it to the now-vacant desk of his superior, who should have been replaced by now. Maybe the man was busy, but who knew. It would require his approval to be sent off to Earth. He sighed, muttering to himself. "Damn fool..." as he returned to his work.

[Shani]

[Turbolift]

"Unremarkable, maybe. Evolution always pushes for necessity, I suppose." He offered her a smile, raising his hands to his chest and wiggling his elbows. "Can't fly, no need for feathers. I was disappointed too."

Alex glanced at her inquisitively as the lift arrived. "After you." He gestured for Shani to go first, stepping in afterwards. Waiting until the doors had closed, he leaned back against the bulkhead. "I'll have to admit, my interactions with Andorians haven't been extensive either. Served with a few on other ships, and of course whenever I go back to the Academy, but seldom with members of the Imperial Guard. My understanding was that it's not so much of a career choice, as it is a life choice. If you don't mind me asking, what made you choose to join Starfleet instead?"

[Turbolift]

"I mind," Shani told him stoically, her antenna rigid from the question. But while her choice in careers was something she absolutely did not share with those outside the circle, she wasn't completely unreasonable. "The Guard does not typically accept premature retirement. Only in astronomical circumstances." She gestured smoothly at herself. "And so here I am." Here she was looking uncomfortable in some kind of soft fabric of Starfleet instead of the taut leather of guard.

The turbolift continued its ascent.

"It's a wonder how you all manage to keep yourselves alive with these flimsy uniforms," she observed absently. "It is like wearing a bed sheet on duty."