NX Mission: The First Casualty

[Jada]

[Mess Hall]

Only amused by D'Vid's outburst, d'Jada shook her jar of remaining fresh live slugs at the chef, the little things plopping against the sides. 'Are you going to wash my slugs?' she asked, then quickly reconsidered 'Maybe don't answer that.'

After chewing thoughtfully for a moment, he swallowed the bite and washed it down with a drink of water.   "I do believe that is quite possibly the most vile thing I have ever tasted."  He laughed.  "But I appreciate the experience.   My name is Bota.  Bota M'Bala.  I don't think we've met."  He held out his hand to shake hers.

She turned her attention back to M'Bala, allowing him to take one of the prepared salad slugs, one of the dead ones, the coward. Watching him eat, she waited for his disgusted reaction, then grinned madly at his expense. 'We call them an acquired taste...'

She looked quizzically at his outstretched hand, forgetting the human custom from long ago in orientation. Matching him, she put her empty hand in the air like his, guessing this was some kind of greeting. Most alien greeting gestures were variations on showing one was unarmed, but Orions never assumed nor trusted this. 'No, I'm sure I would have remembered.' she murmured. Bota was tall, strong, and had a gleaming dome that reminded her of Orion men. Good-looking Orion men. 'I'm d'Jada Nozama, exchange officer from the Orion Space Navy. But you can call me d'Jada, or just Jada.'

Then, with a burring buzz, one of the wing-slugs rose off her plate, bobbing lazily through the air for freedom. 'Excuse me.' d'Jada tracked it for a few seconds, then lunged, snatching the slug out of the air with her mouth. 'I need to eat these quick. Is this seat claimed?' she gestured to an empty chair.

[Catrin Maddux]

[Mess hall...]

Pulling his head back into his kitchen. His peripheral saw something move in the corner of his kitchen. He swung his head to the individual. Red hair! Red was here to get her coffee.

"Hey Flame!" D'Vid voice was loud but not to a yell. It was a nick name he placed on her. It was cause of her hair color. "I see you gett-" D'Vid got cut off.

"Hey, Chef what's you hiding in there?" a pale, ensign male poked his head in the window. "Oh!" He saw the high rank officer and quickly pulled his head back. The Ensign had started to pre-plan to butter up to the cook on the coffee. Funny, the Ensign was going to bark up the wrong tree.

D'Vid tossed the dirty rag at the Ensign and he hit the kid square in the face. The Ensign quickly took the rag off and tossed it back at the Chef. The Chef caught it with his right hand.

"So, how's the coffee?" he asked. He had figured the coffee beans was getting stronger and stronger as the stock was getting low. "I hope its good." He was little nerved up cause she walked in his kitchen. He had decided to hold his grudge cause who she was and he was lucky to call her flame head.

May the creators of starships they come up a better resources for food. Possible replicators, but the real taste and flavors will be missing. He would be out of work. Nope! Rather beat a replicator over a being Chef! Cooking is a better way to live and the replicator is...well...not the best.

[Mess Hall]

"So long as the coffee flows, life continues, Chef D'vid. I'll clean up after myself and be outta your hair soon. I apologize for the restless natives."

Rho pointed a thumb in the direction of the crew. She didn't mind the nickname he'd given her, she'd been called worse. But she figured it was in the best interests of everyone if the cook was kept calm. If only to insure he didn't poison everyone's next serving of tomato surprise.

She moved around the kitchen with an air of expertise, and made good on her word to the temperamental cook, doing one better and cleaning up some of the tomato flambe.

[D'Vid]

D'Vid stood there watching her walk about his kitchen.  There was a bit nervous as upper commanding rank goes about your kitchen.  Though he had to admit she showed better respect in his small work station.

"Thank you for your kind respect," he replied. "I do have a little special dash hidden," he added. He whispered, "Care for a shot of orange juice" he shared.  He figured that she was being respectful. He had to share this. Sharing was a little medicine to make him better.

[Alexander Wu]

Kaeti was somewhat taken back by the chef, she turned from her window seat to she could see him.

"Would you believe there was an entire module in my degree about altering rank pins?" She smiled. "Who'd of imagined that? And anyway, I'm waiting for the Sarge."

[Mess Hall]

Strolling through the doors into the unusually busy mess hall, it only took a second for Thomas to spot Kaiti sitting at a table, her grey uniform sticking out like a sore thumb amongst all the blue. Stopping at the beverage dispenser for a mug of coffee, he glanced at the offered lunch options only momentarily before going to her table.

"How's the weather, Atwood?" He asked, taking a seat across from her while eyeing her meal. "Huh, so I wasn't imagining things. Good thing we're heading home, otherwise we'd have to break out those rat packs by next week."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Hydroponics - E Deck]

'I don't get that one either.' d'Jada agreed to Mahak as she followed Moore into Hydroponics. The Orion woman was an exchange officer of the Orion Space Navy, the (alleged) fleet of the Orion Colonies, serving as an advisor on those sectors the OSN claimed to be familiar with and on Orion pirate activity the OSN claimed not to be associated with. She wore the Earth Starfleet uniform and had a nominal rank of ensign, though her official rank in the OSN was rumoured to be closer to crewman. Somehow the OSN had managed to cheat Starfleet even on an officer exchange program, but d'Jada had never been anything less than diligent and helpful. As one of the few aliens on the ship, she shared the Vulcan's bemusement at human habits. 'Yet they never tell me my thumbs are green.' She glanced at her green hands, shrugged, and crossed the room.

In one corner, she kept a barrel, which she cracked open to reveal a seething and stinking mass of Orion wing-slugs. The vermin devoured the plant waste from hydroponics and bred, and kept the Orion woman fed in protein and essential nutrients. They didn't half smell though. As she stirred the heap, some of the slugs tried to fly out, and d'Jada caught them in a jar. 'Humans seem to have a weird fixation on body parts.'

[Hydroponics - E Deck]

"Indeed." Mahak agreed. Jada was an officer, and also not human like the rest of these people. The Vulcan was grateful that this particular ship had more aliens aboard it than prior NX class vessels. She may not have been a Vulcan, but there was someone who understood the issues these people constantly seemed to be causing.

[Hydroponics]

Leaving Mahak to his work, d'Jada lidded her jar of wing-slugs and sealed the barrel, taking a moment to make sure that none of the fat, slow-flying gastropods had escaped. After all, they could easily devour the tomato crops and infest the ship. And leaving Earth with a plague of wing-slugs would win the Orion Colonies no favours with the humans. ''Good hunting.' she told Mahak and departed for the Mess Hall.

[Hydroponics - E Deck]

Noticing the other officer leave, Mahak realized that the tomatoes would not benefit from more attention. They were fairly inoffensive as far as human food goes, but some on the ship craved spicier options. Something called chili peppers. Mahak very nearly shuddered, but kept himself under control.

He was relieved by a science officer, a botanist fresh out of the Academy.

"Tomato crop is coming along," The ensign mentioned casually as he began to tap away at the hydrponics computer.

"It is." Mahak said, a touch wearily. He was not accustomed to all of this socializing. "I will be in my quarters meditating. Please alert myself or Ensign Jettis if you need anything."

[Solluk]

[Mess Hall]

Watching him eat, she waited for his disgusted reaction, then grinned madly at his expense. 'We call them an acquired taste...'

She looked quizzically at his outstretched hand, forgetting the human custom from long ago in orientation. Matching him, she put her empty hand in the air like his, guessing this was some kind of greeting. Most alien greeting gestures were variations on showing one was unarmed, but Orions never assumed nor trusted this. 'No, I'm sure I would have remembered.' she murmured. Bota was tall, strong, and had a gleaming dome that reminded her of Orion men. Good-looking Orion men. 'I'm d'Jada Nozama, exchange officer from the Orion Space Navy. But you can call me d'Jada, or just Jada.'

Then, with a burring buzz, one of the wing-slugs rose off her plate, bobbing lazily through the air for freedom. 'Excuse me.' d'Jada tracked it for a few seconds, then lunged, snatching the slug out of the air with her mouth. 'I need to eat these quick. Is this seat claimed?' she gestured to an empty chair.

[Mess Hall]

Bota seized her hand, shook it, and released it. 

"d'Jada Nozama," he repeated, "it almost sounds African.  Please, allow me to introduce Commander Grace Renehan, our Chief of Engineering.   She's a lifelong spacer, and was living at warp while I was still attending secondary school."  He gestured to his boss.

"Oh," he added, "and we would be most pleased for you to join us, I'm sure."  He nodded in regards to the chair.

"Orion Space Navy," he remarked, taking a pause to enjoy one of the Chef's delectable fried green tomatoes.  It helped to cleanse his palette after the unfortunate slug.  "I'm afraid I don't know much about that service.   Have your people been in space long, or are they neophytes like ourselves?" 

Zephram Cochrane, the father of Earth's warp program, had made his first experimental warp flight only a hundred years prior.  It took Earth another 79 years to break Warp 2 during Commander Robinson's famous flight on the NX Alpha.  After that, speed records had broken with startling regularity as human scientists and engineers began to truly grasp the nature of warp travel and subspace physics.  They'd gone from Warp 2 to Warp 5 in just 9 years.  It was as though, once the idea of warp barriers had been dispelled, the minds of the human race had been freed to race ahead into boundless advancements.

But still, there were species whose experience with interstellar travel far exceeded their own.  There was much to learn if one was willing to listen.  With this in mind, Bota gave his full attention to the Orion woman.  Who knew what engineering principles her people might have unlocked in their own space race?  Principles that just might help him to further advance human science.

(tags)

[Jada]

[Mess Hall]

Bota seized her hand, shook it, and released it.  "d'Jada Nozama," he repeated, "it almost sounds African."

'Thiratin Kolari.' d'Jada explained, glancing down at the hand-shaking gesture in understanding. She returned it, with a surprising strength in her grip, an overcompensating level of shaking, and a lingering grasp.

"Please, allow me to introduce Commander Grace Renehan, our Chief of Engineering.   She's a lifelong spacer, and was living at warp while I was still attending secondary school."  He gestured to his boss.

'Greetings.' d'Jada attempted to grab Grace's hand and repeat the hand-shake/unintended physical assault. Grace was rather cute too, she thought. That was the attraction of humans: they came in a range of colours and were often so good-looking.

"Orion Space Navy," he remarked, taking a pause to enjoy one of the Chef's delectable fried green tomatoes.  It helped to cleanse his palette after the unfortunate slug.  "I'm afraid I don't know much about that service.   Have your people been in space long, or are they neophytes like ourselves?"

Jada sat and began to herd slugs around her plate, helping them to eat more of the tomato, and sprinkled on chilli flakes for some bite. 'Oh, not long.' d'Jada answered breezily, and tried to convert the Orion calendar to the Earth one. 'Eighteen thousand Earth years, give or take. But the OSN was only formed around twenty-two centuries ago.'

While they processed that, namely that her service was older than, say, Christianity, d'Jada swallowed her nutrient and cyanide pills, grimacing at the taste before she washed them down with a glass of water. The things she had to do to survive on an alien diet.

Putting the glass down, she smirked at the pair, teasing 'I understand you humans are space virgins?'

[Ser Conley]

[Bridge]

Matt let out a loud grunt when he was disturbed by the pilots coughs. "Yes, dust on the most advanced space ship in the fleet," Matt groaned sarcastically, wishing he had something to throw at Morris.

[Bridge]

The Ensign sat at the Science station, keeping his eyes peeled for anything on the scanners, debris or ships. But so far, his shift had been every word except for 'exciting' or 'eventful'. So his job consisted only of watching the amazing view, and fiddling with the ring on his finger in boredom.

The only thing that disturbed him was when someone coughed loudly. Smirking slightly, Jettis quirked his brow in amusement, sitting back to watch the two.

"Jettis back me up.  Dust is mainly made up of Dandor or skin flakes in the air.  I know that Lexington's air purifiers are top notch.  But there not going to get everything."  He looked at his console.  The road ahead look clear.

[James H. Hawk]

"Jettis back me up.  Dust is mainly made up of Dandor or skin flakes in the air.  I know that Lexington's air purifiers are top notch.  But there not going to get everything."  He looked at his console.  The road ahead look clear.

[Mess]

He stood up and walked over to the wall. He pressed the button. [Captain to Lieutenant Harmon] he said into the voicebox. If the man responded, he'd continue. [Meet me in my mess, at your earliest convenience.]

[Bridge]

Matt opened his mouth to make some smart ass comment but was interrupted by summons from the captain. "Saved by the bell, Morris," the Security Chief said in his Australian accent as he dragged himself out of his chair and headed to the the turbolift.

[Mess Hall]

Matt walked casually into the mess wondering what the captain would want to talk to him about. It wasn't until he saw 'Major Tom' sitting with the captain that he got an idea of what he was being summoned for. "Well this is going to be interesting..." he muttered under his breath as he stepped towards the captains chair. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

[Dylan Torngate]

[Mess Hall]

Matt walked casually into the mess wondering what the captain would want to talk to him about. It wasn't until he saw 'Major Tom' sitting with the captain that he got an idea of what he was being summoned for. "Well this is going to be interesting..." he muttered under his breath as he stepped towards the captains chair. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

[Captain's mess]

"Mister Harmon. Welcome." the Captain said, smiling and standing. "The good major here has an idea that I think should be worked out between the two of you before either of you come to me. I'm here to moderate and keep you separate and at least have a semblance of decorum." he said, sitting and leaning back. "So talk. Major, what was your idea?"

[Solluk]

[Mess Hall]

Jada sat and began to herd slugs around her plate, helping them to eat more of the tomato, and sprinkled on chilli flakes for some bite. 'Oh, not long.' d'Jada answered breezily, and tried to convert the Orion calendar to the Earth one. 'Eighteen thousand Earth years, give or take. But the OSN was only formed around twenty-two centuries ago.'

While they processed that, namely that her service was older than, say, Christianity, d'Jada swallowed her nutrient and cyanide pills, grimacing at the taste before she washed them down with a glass of water. The things she had to do to survive on an alien diet.

Putting the glass down, she smirked at the pair, teasing 'I understand you humans are space virgins?'

[Mess Hall]

Bota nearly choked on his tomato as she reeled off a figure in the thousands of years.  By the Gods!  These people had been active in interstellar affairs for longer than the Vulcans!

Composing himself, he managed to croak, "Eighteen-thousand years!  Your technological achievements must dwarf ours into insignificance." 

It was a wonder that such an advanced people would even care to have an officer exchange with Earth's Star Fleet.  Given what he'd just been told, it seemed like a 21st century Destroyer Officer having an Exchange with a Canoe owned by a South-American tribesman.

Before he could fully recover from that revelation, she added the bit about 'space virgins,' and he nearly coughed again.

"Well," he finally responded, "we could certainly benefit from your experience."   He smiled, "Sometimes I forget how far we still have to go.  Our thrust into the unknown is just the tip of the depths you've doubtless achieved."

After he'd spoken, he considered his phrasing and decided that his attempts to remain unaffected by her pheremonic influence were meeting with mixed results.

Trying to steer the topic away from the rocks and shoals of sexual innuendo, he said, "Is there anything you can tell me about the propulsion systems of Orion ships?  Do they use the same principles of warp that we do, or have your people devised some entirely new means of faster-than-light travel?"

(tag)

[Ser Conley]

[Bridge]

Matt opened his mouth to make some smart ass comment but was interrupted by summons from the captain. "Saved by the bell, Morris," the Security Chief said in his Australian accent as he dragged himself out of his chair and headed to the the turbolift.

Morris watched the Lieutenant exit the bridge. 

"Ding ding." He said the moment the doors closed.  "He's luck, I keep him awake for the captains call.  Lazy S.O.B."

He turned to look at his console then look up abruptly around the bridge then at Jettis.   

"Who has the bridge?" He asked.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

Morris watched the Lieutenant exit the bridge. 

"Ding ding." He said the moment the doors closed.  "He's luck, I keep him awake for the captains call.  Lazy S.O.B."

He turned to look at his console then look up abruptly around the bridge then at Jettis.   

"Who has the bridge?" He asked.

[Bridge]

"I believe that would be me, ensign," Subcommander Mahak said, who had entered soundlessly a moment before.

He reflected upon the remarks of the young officer as he sat in the CO's chair. It was quite common for humans to remark upon the alleged failings of their superiors when they believed no one else was around. Briefly, Mahak wondered what they all said about him.

"Ensigns Chestnut and Jyur, I can presume by the banter taking place on duty that you have both completed your duty assignments." Mahak said bluntly. "Your reports?"

[Ser Conley]

[Bridge]

"I believe that would be me, ensign," Subcommander Mahak said, who had entered soundlessly a moment before.

He reflected upon the remarks of the young officer as he sat in the CO's chair. It was quite common for humans to remark upon the alleged failings of their superiors when they believed no one else was around. Briefly, Mahak wondered what they all said about him.

"Ensigns Chestnut and Jyur, I can presume by the banter taking place on duty that you have both completed your duty assignments." Mahak said bluntly. "Your reports?"

.

Morris didn't jump I his seat, when the Mahak entered.  But he did whip around and straighten up.  He hoped the Subcommander didn't hear his comments.   

"We on course to earth base 83 at a speed of warp factor 3.2, we should arrive in approximately two days five hours 20 minutes.  I've pick up a couple of freighters now and again, otherwise  traffic has been light."

[Leonard T. Scott]

[Bridge]

Matt opened his mouth to make some smart ass comment but was interrupted by summons from the captain. "Saved by the bell, Morris," the Security Chief said in his Australian accent as he dragged himself out of his chair and headed to the the turbolift.

[Mess Hall]

Matt walked casually into the mess wondering what the captain would want to talk to him about. It wasn't until he saw 'Major Tom' sitting with the captain that he got an idea of what he was being summoned for. "Well this is going to be interesting..." he muttered under his breath as he stepped towards the captain's chair. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

[Captain's mess]

"Mister Harmon. Welcome." the Captain said, smiling and standing. "The good major here has an idea that I think should be worked out between the two of you before either of you come to me. I'm here to moderate and keep you separate and at least have a semblance of decorum." he said, sitting and leaning back. "So talk. Major, what was your idea?"

[Captain's mess]

"Hey, handsome," Tom started with a smile as a way to keep Harmon off balance. "I think cross training your guys in our department would be good in case my boys need deployed with an away team."

He always enjoyed playing a mind game every now and again. It helped determine weaknesses and see what button to push to get certain reactions. He used this particular tactic against men because he took pleasure in confusing them.

"As I was telling the captain, if the Nausicaans‎ decide they want to have a go at us, we'll need more than just my boys. God forbid if the Klingons decide to wage war with us."

He let that last part trail off a bit.