Wanderings
Posted on Sat Dec 28th, 2024 @ 3:22pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Ensign Konnibet S'ladaar [Baas] & Ensign Garath Of the House of Varal [Baas]
1,743 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
A New Beginning
Location: USS Valkyrie
As the ship continued it's preparations for launch Daegan took time to get to know his his ship and the members of his crew that he would encounter. Starting at the bottom of the ship he stopped at random locations just to see what was going on. The lower decks didn't have much going on especially with the ship docked and still pulling a lot of resources from the station itself.
After working his way up to Deck 16 he stopped into the auxiliary sickbay. Walking in he saw it was powered down all but the stasis field protecting the medical supplies should the bay ever be needed.
His wanderings continued and he made his way to the forward phaser cannons and torpedo bays then moving up to the next deck he worked his way aft. He popped into Stellar Cartography and spoke briefly with the officer on duty. His next stop was one of the stops he was anticipating and that was the Cetacean Ops facility. To one side he saw two Selkie crew members and several dolphins swimming together and while he acknowledged their recognition of his entry; it was the other part of the facility that he was primarily interested in. Stepping up to the large partition he looked into the the tank to see it occupant at a console.
Tapping the panel he activated the translator. "Greetings Ensign, I hope I'm not interrupting." As Daegan's words where translated into Aquatic the tanks occupant swam to the partition and replied.
A series of sounds not unlike whale song could be heard, even felt, to be followed by the translation. "Greetings Captain. Not at all. I was wondering when you might be stopping by."
"Well I couldn't very well ignore one of the engineers taking care of our slip stream drive. I must be honest though, I've never had a crewmember that was...was so confined."
"Captain, your concern in unnecessary. My species live a solitary life, for the most part, and I also get to interact with the others here and those who come to...visit."
The pause in the response told Daegan what he needed to know. "I see. Well I was afraid of that. The last things I want is for you, or any of the other, is be treated as a curiosity or feel that you are on display. You and the others are Starfleet officers and this isn't an aquarium of zoo. Feel free to opaque this," tapping the partition, "if needed, and if you every feel that there is an issue you can contact me directly."
"Thank you Captain."
"No that that's settled how is our slip stream drive?"
"Ready to be put to work sir."
Grinning Daegan bobbed his head. "Good. I will hold you to that. Good meeting you Ensign."
"And you Captain." Ensign watched the Trill leave before swimming back to her console.
Daegan continued his wanders and eventually made his way to the ship massive shuttlebay. The bay doors were open and he watched as one of his new runabouts was guided in through the forcefield and landed. The bay's crew was busy and while they acknowledge his presents, they kept to the tasks at hand. After a brief inspection on of the crew gave a thumbs up to the bays operations area and a tractor beam lifted the runabout slightly before pulling it into its berth.
Stepping further into the bay he turned taking in the bay as a whole. Berth lined the walls of the bay, at several decks, for runabouts, shuttles, and several that could be used for fighters but he had chosen to go with additional shuttles instead of a more aggressive loadout. He hoped that had been the right decision.
Stepping out onto the bays elevator platform he gestured to the bays operations window and the elevator began dropping in the lower section of the bay. Behind him were berths for the ship work pods and before him the rest of the lower bay containing more craft storage, workshops, the landing platform elevator and hanger as well as the door that acted as a secondary entrance.
Leaving from the lower bay he passed by the secondary computer core and made his way up to and strolled by main engineering. There to he saw people hard at work and paused momentarily as he spotted his new Chief Engineer reviewing a read out with several engineers both with the ship and from the station.
Moving on his next stop was to be security. Having gotten his start as a security officer he was envious of the layout and resources his officers had and his head shook ever so slightly as he approached the Center's reception officer, a friendly looking Petty Officer that had stood at his entrance. "At ease Petty Officer...".
"Reynolds sir."
"Reynolds...thank you. I'm looking for Ensign Garath."
The Petty Officer indicated the doors behind her. "Right through there sir."
Thanking the receptionist Daegan proceeded into what was the Security Center's command center. Consoles lined the walls of the oval room with a pool table in the center with a hologram of the ship being projected from it. On the opposite side of the holoprojection was the man he was looking for, Ensign Garath.
The Security Chief had yet to report but the Ensign was issuing orders as if he was in command, even when he was far from the highest ranking officer in Security. "...see that every weapon is inspected. Make sure that hand phaser is charged and test fired before being stowed in the in the armory, weapons lockers, or issued out. There will be a lot officer and crew coming by in the next few days and I don't want to hear from any that their phaser has even so much as a smudge on the casing."
"I guess I might as well sign for mine while I'm here."
Looking through the hologram Garath spotted the Captain. "Captain! No one told me you where..."
"Just an unofficial visit Ensign. But while on the subject of phasers, the Bridge weapons?"
"Sir, each bridge station has a hand phaser in the console, and one in your command chair. There is also a weapon under the replication in your ready room."
Nodding at the report, "And our torpedo load out?"
"Both fore and aft torpedo inventories visually confirmed with 500 quantum and 8 transphasic torpedoes for the forward launchers and 200 quantum and 4 transphasic torpedoes for the aft launchers."
"Excellent." Nodding to the door behind him. "Walk with me Ensign." Daegan headed out even as he heard Garath complete his instruction was was joined by the young officer in the corridor.
"Ensign, I saw in your file that you've been with the ship since you graduated."
"Yes sir, I graduated the Academy and a short leave I reported to Utopia Planitia as security for the Valkyrie during the her final stage of construction."
"So it's safe to say that you know this ship better than most of the engineers that will be maintaining the ship once we're underway."
Not sure where the Captain was going with this Garath simply answered the questions as they came. "I wouldn't say that sir but..."
Daegan stopped crossing his arms over his chest looking knowingly at the Ensign. "So your telling me you didn't check this ship over to make sure every corridor and crawlspace matched the ship plans and report several... discrepancies to the yard master?"
Garath stood a bit taller. "I did."
Not taking his eyes off of him, "Why?"
"At first I just wanted to learn the ship. As the various engineering teams came and went it helped speed things up and help people from getting lost. But as I found a few areas that didn't match up I took it upon myself to find the rest. I modified a target drone and mapped every crawlspace, corridor, and alcove aboard ship. It wasn't that whole sections were off or parts of the ship were built incorrectly, but more likely that schematics weren't properly updated when a change was made."
"Never the less you discovered the error and saw that it was corrected. It may have been a simple error as you say, but it's the little mistakes that can become critical in a crisis. Such attention to detail allows me to rest easier knowing that the ship and Starfleet has a bright future with junior officers like yourself. I've spoken with the yard master and though his staff was embarrassed by the situation he has joined me in recommending you for a commendation."
Garath bowed his head, "Sir. You honor me."
Grinning Daegan. "Keep up the good work Ensign. Now tell me, "gesturing to all the technology around them, "what do you think of all of this?"
Garath looked around and huffed. "Hmmm, lots of tools and conveniences, but one shouldn't be too dependent on technology. This is all great as long as there is power to run it, but one needs to be able to function without it."
His grin took on a edge of satisfaction to it. "Good. We should take a leave together some time. I enjoy getting away from things from time to time and living off the land."
tilting his head questioningly, studying his Captain. "You sir?"
"Surprised?"
"Yes sir."
"Well between you, our doctor..."
"The doctor sir?"
"Oh yes, our Chief Medical Officer is a bladesmith in her spare time."
"Really?? And odd hobby for a medical officer."
"Agreed. You'd never guess from looking at her either."
Garath blood began pumping ~her?~ her thought to himself. He decided he need to stop by the medical center to see this woman.
Daegan suppressed a chuckle at the obvious curiosity in the Klingon's demeanor as he excused himself. "Well I've taken up enough of your time. Until next time Ensign."
"Good day Captain."
Resuming his trek though the ship he made a not to keep an eye on that officer, if he was anything like what he read about his father or his Houses Gin'tak he was going to be one to watch. Eventually he found his way back to the bridge crossing over to his ready room where he sat, ordered a sweet tea from the replicator and looked over the next set of senior staff candidates.
Captain Daegan Baas
CO
Ensigns Konnibet S'ladaar & Garath of the House of Varal
NPC's played by Baas
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