S1 - Mission 6 - Killer Cove

[Alexander Wu]

[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."

[Turbolift]

Well, guess I shouldn't pry then. Alex shrugged, respecting her privacy even while her guarded response raised more questions than answered. Shifting his bag to a more comfortable position, he glanced over as she breached the silence with another comment. "I'd like to see what kind of bed you sleep in if you think this material's fit for sheets." Alex quipped, deadpan. Don't tease someone who doesn't understand humour, you nut. "Seriously though, you'd be surprised at how durable they are. And comfort is something you want during long duty hours, or those occasions where changing clothes isn't an option."

[Deck 4]

Once again allowing the ensign to take the lead as the lift stopped at their requested deck, Alex fell into step at her side. "Have you had much interaction with Captain Stafford?" He asked, curious as to how his old friend and colleague had adapted to becoming 'the man'.

[Shani]

[Turbolift]

Well, guess I shouldn't pry then. Alex shrugged, respecting her privacy even while her guarded response raised more questions than answered. Shifting his bag to a more comfortable position, he glanced over as she breached the silence with another comment. "I'd like to see what kind of bed you sleep in if you think this material's fit for sheets." Alex quipped, deadpan. Don't tease someone who doesn't understand humour, you nut. "Seriously though, you'd be surprised at how durable they are. And comfort is something you want during long duty hours, or those occasions where changing clothes isn't an option."

[Turbolift]

"If you make a bed too comfortable, you invite the desire to remain in it," she explained succinctly. "An Imperial Guard must remain ever vigilant for attack - even while sleeping." The lack of restriction in uniform, especially around her chest area, was almost distracting for her. The tailor on site had tried to accommodate her demands for a tighter support system but, save for some kind of weird contraption called a 'corset', did the best she could. It wasn't enough.

This was usually something she would address to her superior, but humans were fickle creatures. Some had varying shades of hesitance and their own personal compass for appropriateness. Avi for instance had just abruptly turned away from her question and almost hit his head on the overhead when she accosted him during shuttle maintenance.

[Deck 4]

Once again allowing the ensign to take the lead as the lift stopped at their requested deck, Alex fell into step at her side. "Have you had much interaction with Captain Stafford?" He asked, curious as to how his old friend and colleague had adapted to becoming 'the man'.

[Deck 4]

"He is a well-balanced individual and capable of manning a starbase. I have no problem with him." Maybe this was his way of making small talk, but questions like these typically meant an evaluation. Evaluation could mean aggression. It was only a short amount of time Shani was aboard this station, but Andorians had a natural proclivity to fiercely protect their commanding officers. Captain Stafford, in a special case, was also crippled in a sense. That also spurred a guarded instinct from her. Why he didn't favor some kind of medical therapy to fix it was beyond her understanding.

And knowledge. It was his secret, much like it was hers, to do the things they do.

[CO's Office - Exterior]

When they reached his office, Shani pressed the buzzer on the side of the door. "Captain, Lieutenant Commander Wu is here."

[Alexander Wu]

[Turbolift]

"If you make a bed too comfortable, you invite the desire to remain in it," she explained succinctly. "An Imperial Guard must remain ever vigilant for attack - even while sleeping." The lack of restriction in uniform, especially around her chest area, was almost distracting for her. The tailor on site had tried to accommodate her demands for a tighter support system but, save for some kind of weird contraption called a 'corset', did the best she could. It wasn't enough.

This was usually something she would address to her superior, but humans were fickle creatures. Some had varying shades of hesitance and their own personal compass for appropriateness. Avi for instance had just abruptly turned away from her question and almost hit his head on the overhead when she accosted him during shuttle maintenance.

[Deck 4]

"I highly doubt you'll be unexpectedly attacked while asleep on this Starbase, Ensign." Alex replied, chuckling. About to point out that she wasn't a member of the Guard anymore either was on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly realized it probably wouldn't have been a healthy idea. "Don't quote me on that though...with my luck, we'll be swarmed by Breen pirates next week."

[Deck 4]

"He is a well-balanced individual and capable of manning a starbase. I have no problem with him." Maybe this was his way of making small talk, but questions like these typically meant an evaluation. Evaluation could mean aggression. It was only a short amount of time Shani was aboard this station, but Andorians had a natural proclivity to fiercely protect their commanding officers. Captain Stafford, in a special case, was also crippled in a sense. That also spurred a guarded instinct from her. Why he didn't favor some kind of medical therapy to fix it was beyond her understanding.

And knowledge. It was his secret, much like it was hers, to do the things they do.

[CO's Office - Exterior]

When they reached his office, Shani pressed the buzzer on the side of the door. "Captain, Lieutenant Commander Wu is here."

[CO's Office - Exterior]

"Luke's a good man." He stated simply, thinking back to their days on the Gibson. "I probably wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for him. I know it's not easy, being on a station of this size with the number of staff onboard, but ask him about his past someday, if he's willing. The Captain's been around for a long time, he has alot of experience to share."

"Speaking of..." Alex mumbled to himself, pausing a few paces behind to unzip his pack. Shifting one item to the forefront while rummaging, he extracted the PADD with his transfer orders, before securing the slide and standing back next to Shani. Despite what he had just told her, Alex felt some uneasiness with seeing Stafford again. They had crossed paths multiple times before, but this was different. While he had fallen off the command path with some discomfiture, the former nurse had continued rocketing upwards, handily earning his forth pip. Having learnt long ago that captaincy changes people, he found himself wondering how it had affected Luke as they waited for acceptance to enter.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[CO's Office - Exterior]

When they reached his office, Shani pressed the buzzer on the side of the door. "Captain, Lieutenant Commander Wu is here."

[CO's Office]

Lieutenant Commander Wu. It was an odd phrase to his ears. Shani wouldn't have been aware that it struck him as so strange. For as long as Stafford remembered, Wu had been a petty officer, then an officer, then an executive officer. His sudden change of career paths was going to take some getting used to.

"Enter." The captain gathered himself and palmed his cane, and stood. "Hello, Alex."

Stafford had a decidedly skeletal appearance in the face, and his body was meager, far from the young and vital man that he had been when he'd first met Wu. Something, some experience or some hardship, had sucked all of the meat from his bones. He did not look unhealthy, just drained. He appeared twenty tears older than he was. His hands and gaze were still strong and steady, but from the way he stood and walked with his cane over to the entrance of his office bespoke of an aged man, not one in the prime of his life and career.

"Thank you, ensign." His voice had been unaffected, though. It was still the small town earth accent. Listening to it took one back in time and to another place, to the woods and coal country of Pennsylvania. "Would you mind giving the commander and I a chance to catch up?"

[Shani]

"Thank you, ensign." His voice had been unaffected, though. It was still the small town earth accent. Listening to it took one back in time and to another place, to the woods and coal country of Pennsylvania. "Would you mind giving the commander and I a chance to catch up?"

[CO's Office]

Since she was only here to escort Wu and fulfill Avi's request, Shani did nothing more than incline her head and set the PADD off to the side for him to peruse later. "Your flight report, Captain," she reminded him and then inclined her head to Wu in her departure. "Lieutenant Commander."

[Alexander Wu]

[CO's Office]

"Enter." The captain gathered himself and palmed his cane, and stood. "Hello, Alex."

Stafford had a decidedly skeletal appearance in the face, and his body was meager, far from the young and vital man that he had been when he'd first met Wu. Something, some experience or some hardship, had sucked all of the meat from his bones. He did not look unhealthy, just drained. He appeared twenty tears older than he was. His hands and gaze were still strong and steady, but from the way he stood and walked with his cane over to the entrance of his office bespoke of an aged man, not one in the prime of his life and career.

"Thank you, ensign." His voice had been unaffected, though. It was still the small town earth accent. Listening to it took one back in time and to another place, to the woods and coal country of Pennsylvania. "Would you mind giving the commander and I a chance to catch up?"

Since she was only here to escort Wu and fulfill Avi's request, Shani did nothing more than incline her head and set the PADD off to the side for him to peruse later. "Your flight report, Captain," she reminded him and then inclined her head to Wu in her departure. "Lieutenant Commander."

[CO's Office]

Holy crap. Alex hoped he had managed to keep the shock off his face as he took in the figure coming to greet him. Where was the mammoth of a man who would regularly clean out the galley? "Luke, good to see you again." He replied, nodding at Shani. "Thanks for the company, Ensign."

Stepping forwards to meet Luke, he listened for the hiss of a closing door behind him. Once it had clicked shut, Alex reached into his pack, extracting an amber bottle. "Straight from Ireland, circa 2374." He reached out his hand in greeting, bottle in the other. "How've you been?"

[Kirok]

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.

[Sickbay]

Zex looked around for a woman older than she.  Finding none she figured the Cadet was replying to her.  "About 24 days, give or take" the Deltan said.

"I'm Zex.  They transferred me out the Temptest for a while.  Just got back last night" she added after walking over to Rosiuh.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[CO's Office]

Holy crap. Alex hoped he had managed to keep the shock off his face as he took in the figure coming to greet him. Where was the mammoth of a man who would regularly clean out the galley? "Luke, good to see you again." He replied, nodding at Shani. "Thanks for the company, Ensign."

Stepping forwards to meet Luke, he listened for the hiss of a closing door behind him. Once it had clicked shut, Alex reached into his pack, extracting an amber bottle. "Straight from Ireland, circa 2374." He reached out his hand in greeting, bottle in the other. "How've you been?"

[CO's Office]

At the sight of the bottle Stafford laughed. The light in the office glinted off his shaved head. He still knew how to smile, it seemed. The lines in his face made him look like some little girl's favorite uncle.

"I'm afraid I can't. Grab a seat." He took his own advice and sat on the edge of his desk. "You just missed Kirok. Good news, as always. Here, take a look at this."

He handed Wu the PADD that the admiral have given him.

"He wants us to go to Killer Cove. I'm sure a man with your varied and seasoned experience has heard of it." He sighed. "I'm afraid that's all I can tell you. But we're taking the Gibson there. Your first assignment is going to be a doozy. Give me a moment, you can meet our XO."

"=/\=Stafford to Howell. Can you come up to my office, Dan?"

[Rosiuh Aviad]

[Sickbay]

Zex looked around for a woman older than she.  Finding none she figured the Cadet was replying to her.  "About 24 days, give or take" the Deltan said.

"I'm Zex.  They transferred me out the Temptest for a while.  Just got back last night" she added after walking over to Rosiuh.

Rosiuh stood up, offering his hand with a smile. "I'm Cadet Rosiuh Aviad. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ensign Zex. I came aboard while you were away. If you're looking for Dr. McConnell, she transferred to the Shran recently." He offered in explanation of why the former head of the medical department was now absent. " Dr. Bardakci is now in charge if you need to report your return."

[Alexander Wu]

[CO's Office]

At the sight of the bottle Stafford laughed. The light in the office glinted off his shaved head. He still knew how to smile, it seemed. The lines in his face made him look like some little girl's favorite uncle.

"I'm afraid I can't. Grab a seat." He took his own advice and sat on the edge of his desk. "You just missed Kirok. Good news, as always. Here, take a look at this."

He handed Wu the PADD that the admiral have given him.

"He wants us to go to Killer Cove. I'm sure a man with your varied and seasoned experience has heard of it." He sighed. "I'm afraid that's all I can tell you. But we're taking the Gibson there. Your first assignment is going to be a doozy. Give me a moment, you can meet our XO."

"=/\=Stafford to Howell. Can you come up to my office, Dan?"

[CO's Office]

"It's a gift, you oaf." Alex retorted, placing the bottle on the table anyways. "I don't need to charge my Captain with dereliction of duty on my first bloody day. Drink it later." He took the offered seat in a guest chair, although with Luke's choice of furniture and his current perch on the table's edge, it felt alarmingly like a flashback to Alex's youth days spent in the principal's office. "That's too bad about the Admiral, I would've liked to say hi."

"Killer Cove...well, I've heard it's a lovely place this time of year. Risa for the Orions." He chuckled at the mention of Gibson while scrolling through the PADD, his amusement faded rapidly with the sparse details. "That's it? Starfleet's sending us out with just a name and meet-up location? This seems more like a job the spooks would enjoy."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[CO's Office]

"It's a gift, you oaf." Alex retorted, placing the bottle on the table anyways. "I don't need to charge my Captain with dereliction of duty on my first bloody day. Drink it later." He took the offered seat in a guest chair, although with Luke's choice of furniture and his current perch on the table's edge, it felt alarmingly like a flashback to Alex's youth days spent in the principal's office. "That's too bad about the Admiral, I would've liked to say hi."

"Killer Cove...well, I've heard it's a lovely place this time of year. Risa for the Orions." He chuckled at the mention of Gibson while scrolling through the PADD, his amusement faded rapidly with the sparse details. "That's it? Starfleet's sending us out with just a name and meet-up location? This seems more like a job the spooks would enjoy."

[CO's Office]

"Funny you should say that." Stafford accepted the bottle and put it on the desk for a more appropriate time. "My suspicion the spooks are the ones involved. There's been some irregular activities with Section 31 lately. If their activities can ever be said to be regular."

"I'm afraid I can't say anymore." The fact was he didn't have much more to say anyway. "When did you find the time to go to law school, anyway? Last time I saw you was behind the helm of the Gibson under old captain Soreka."

[Alexander Wu]

[CO's Office]

"Funny you should say that." Stafford accepted the bottle and put it on the desk for a more appropriate time. "My suspicion the spooks are the ones involved. There's been some irregular activities with Section 31 lately. If their activities can ever be said to be regular."

"I'm afraid I can't say anymore." The fact was he didn't have much more to say anyway. "When did you find the time to go to law school, anyway? Last time I saw you was behind the helm of the Gibson under old captain Soreka."

[CO's Office]

"Section 31 seems to be following in the footsteps of the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar...whatever happened to the good old days where they just stuck to the shadows?" Alex mused, putting the PADD down. "Well, if Kirok brought it to you, I'm sure he considers it important."

Chuckling, he leaned back. "Found time? I took some elective courses years ago when I went back to the Academy for the EPC and OTC...And after I left Discovery, they didn't give me much of a choice but to finish it. Was either this, or out." Alex paused, shaking his head. It's not like I had anywhere else to go to. "How about you? Last I heard, you were on Athena, practically running the place."

[Hust Kinun]

[JAG Offices-> Promenade]

Hust had finished for now, and his stomach had decided that it was time for lunch. He clocked out of the office and wandered down to the restaurants and other cafes, wandering around. Unlike last time he had been here, he was wearing his uniform and wasn't skulking around trying to be unseen. How he simply walked around normally, and entered a small cafe where he got some hot, plain tomato soup. That was one of over fourteen varieties... how complicated could it get?

He sat back and ate it quietly, enjoying the vocal noise... but not as much the mental noise that he was still not used to again. The cafe had a good window view of space, and he watched some of the ships arriving and departing. How strange it was, hundreds of years ago a spaceship launching would be an occasion for celebration and hero-crowning, but now it was so commonplace that nobody batted an eye.

He continued to think about that, as more ships exited and entered warp, a constant stream of traffic to this zombie-free, alien-attack-free, danger-freeâ„¢ corner of space. It was a rather relaxing sight to behold.

[Kirok]

[Operations]

EQ continued working quietly.  It wasn't engineering where he got to work mostly with his hands.  But operations was ok given that he was mostly working with computers, instead of other living beings. 

Sure, he was aware that the XO was in the same room.  But the man had yet to issue any orders or speak to anyone.  So, EQ simply assumed that the man was here to check on him.

[Daniel Howell]

[CO's Office]

At the sight of the bottle Stafford laughed. The light in the office glinted off his shaved head. He still knew how to smile, it seemed. The lines in his face made him look like some little girl's favorite uncle.

"I'm afraid I can't. Grab a seat." He took his own advice and sat on the edge of his desk. "You just missed Kirok. Good news, as always. Here, take a look at this."

He handed Wu the PADD that the admiral have given him.

"He wants us to go to Killer Cove. I'm sure a man with your varied and seasoned experience has heard of it." He sighed. "I'm afraid that's all I can tell you. But we're taking the Gibson there. Your first assignment is going to be a doozy. Give me a moment, you can meet our XO."

"=/\=Stafford to Howell. Can you come up to my office, Dan?"

Operations
Standing in operations, Howell was merely continuing to observe the operations. Just then, an all to familiar voice came through that of the Comm system, it being Captain Stafford. Tapping his combadge, Dan replied Aye Sir, I'm on my way. and with that closed the channel.

Outside CO's Office
Howell arrived outside the CO's office and pressed the door chime, awaiting a response to enter. Briefly Howell reflected back on how he used to be petrified going to the CO's office and how now it seems such a normal part of daily life as a Starfleet officer.