A Run for the Money

Posted on Sun Dec 4, 2016 @ 1:42am by Lieutenant Vincent Kramer & Commodore Michael Aravan & Captain Madelina Weisz & Major James Mattis & Lieutenant Commander Arrda & Lieutenant Martha Cusack & Lieutenant Phen Caticasse & Lieutenant Krem & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Barnes & Vashkele & Lieutenant Akash Misra
Edited on on Sun Dec 4, 2016 @ 1:57am

Mission: An Orion to Die For
Location: Sappora System
Timeline: MD 3 || 1000 Hours

Captain Michael Aravan stood at the front of the elevated platform that the command seats were on and looked at the senior staff who were at their positions. He activated the microphone on his uniform that allowed his voice to reach everyone on the large bridge directly from their consoles.

"We're about to enter Orion space. The information provided by the Orion prisoner on Raimus places him somewhere in route to Invernia II between New Sydney and Stameris. Just so everyone knows, this is not Federation space and we're on our own. Is there any objections?"

Martha looked up from her station and shook her head. It was a situation that was potentially going to give her something to shoot at that would fire back. Blowing up the remains of the Zeus was fun but it was hardly a test of her tactical skills.

"You've got no objections from me Captain" Martha commented.

Maddy stood just off to the side of Michael with her hands clasped behind her back. She didn't need to verbalize that she didn't object since she'd already told him they needed to try to do this. This was going to be the first true test with their newer crewmembers, and she hoped they were up to the task.

Lt. Kramer was at the Engineering console. He was very new to the bridge officers and wasn't going to comment unless requested or there was a need. When the Captain did look his direction Vincent nodded his head slightly with confirmation.

From his place at the Security Station, Douglas watched the others react to the captain's words. The seasoned Starfleet officer and Enforcer was ready for whatever the universe had to throw. But some of these were young; he wanted to see what they were made of, and this situation would test even the best of the crew, even the most seasoned.

He did not like this situation; it screamed of a trap. Their encounter with the Zeus had only proven that point clearer. But like it or not, they had to do it; there was no one else to do it, and he would not have put someone else in this position in his place if he could have. So here they were.

The information, such as it had been, that he had gleaned from the Zeus' computer core had been given to the Command Team just after he and Lieutenant Cusack had finished blowing the remains of the smaller ship to cosmic bits. So now, all he could do was stand his post and wait.

"No objections, sir." he told the captain in calm, not quite neutral tones.

Tom looked up at the Captain from his station. "Negative, Captain." He never objected to exploring the unknown, as that was especially why he enlisted.

Alex had given the PADD containing the report on the files obtained from their infiltration mission to Commander Weisz as soon as he had entered the Bridge earlier. Since then, he had been sitting at the Intelligence console. When the Captain's voice came through, he replied, "No objections here, Captain."

"There should always be a voice of objection, Captain." Finn had been on the bridge, if only because of what they are about to do. He spoke from a position near the science consoles. "I'll be that voice this time, sounds like. On behalf of those who do object, at least." As much as his usual irreverence played through among the words, but he did have more than his usual contrarian words as part of his objection. What they were doing may have been necessary, unavoidable, but he felt that those crew members who disagreed deserved a voice on the Senior staff.

Michael turned his attention to the Chief Medical Officer after letting the man's words roll around in his head for a moment. "Lieutenant Caticasse, never ever object for the sake of being a voice that hasn't chosen to speak up. You either object or you do not. Which is it in your case?"

Finn shook his head. He disagreed with that statement to the core of his being. He was, though, from a different culture. For the sake of not making a point of it, he gave another shake of his head. "My objection stands, sir," He quickly added, "Not on the course of action. I agree with that, personally." He paused for a moment, "I hope I am being overly cautious - but I feel we're missing a piece of the puzzle. So I must object. Only because I wish we had more information before acting." He pushed off of the console he had been standing next to, and as often as he knew he came off as disrespectful, he hoped this wasn't one of those times. "But, sometimes, you do have to cut before you can find the infection's source. I realize that. So, I believe we have to go further in to find that piece."

"Duly noted, Lieutenant," Michael said before he looked at the Ferengi Chief of Science and the Marine Major to see what they had to say.

"No disagreement whatsoever from me sir", Mattis said looking at him

Lieutenant Krem had spent a good portion of his youth on the wrong side of everyone, Orions included, and really couldn't say that anything of the like was overly new to him. With an apathetic shrug the Ferengi announced, "I can see no profit in objecting to something that doesn't seem horrible in the first place."

"Lay in a course for the Sappora System, Mister Misra. Warp eight," Michael said as he headed back to his chair.

"Aye, Captain," Akash said. "Course laid in. Warp eight." With that, the massive Odyssey class leaped to warp.

Lt Kramer watched the display before him show a dynamic display of the multiple functions associated with the warp core and nacelles as the Triumphant went to warp speed and increased velocity.

"Lieutenant Mallory, I want you to coordinate with Lieutenant Cusack and Major Mattis for any possible boarders that we may face," Michael said. "Our presence is going to be noted by every slaver, pirate and brigand within ten light years as soon as they pick us up on their sensors."

Martha nodded. "Yes Captain."

Pleased that she'd been given a collaborative assignment Martha made arrangements for a replacement Tactical Officer to come up to the bridge and take her place at the Tactical station.

Douglas was in full agreement with this concept of the three departments collaborating. For one thing, all three were, each in some way, responsible for the security and safety of the crew. And for another thing, three was the perfect number of leaders -- there were not so many that they would get bogged down in decision-making, but they were not so few as to either give one man too much power or deadlock and be unable to make decisions. This was the way things had been done on Marai for millennia, and it had worked splendidly for them.

"Aye, Captain." Douglas acknowledged, summoning a replacement to the bridge and, when she arrived, following Martha off the bridge.

"Estimated time to Sappora system is six hours, Captain," Lieutenant Misra reported.

Michael nodded. "Okay, everyone. We don't know what we're going to encounter when we get there, so make plans with your departments in the meantime."

Lt. Kramer thought about the Captain's instructions, considering the activities in Engineering and across the power grid during the next 6 hours. The Chief Engineer activated the comm to Engineering, "Kramer to Gefel."

=^= Gefel here. Yes Lieutenant? =^=

Kramer began to explain, "Lieutenant, we have a 6 hour window before we arrive at our destination. If there is any maintenance or system shutdowns planned, they need them all to be concluded by 1400 hours."

The Bolian in Engineering replied, =^= Aye Sir. I see we have 4 minor system checks planned. We will get those done and fully functional by 1400. =^=

That was the same information that Kramer had in front of him, but glad he checked, irregardless. "Very good Lieutenant. Bridge out."

Michael looked at Commander Weisz. "You have the bridge, Commander," he told her. "I'm going to see if we have any more intel on Raimus or this area we're going into."

"Yes, Captain," the redhead Commander said, moving to take a seat in the center chair. It wasn't the first time she'd settled herself in that particular spot, and it was unlikely it would be the last time.

Looking at the Captain, Mattis said, "Permission to leave the Bridge sir, i'm going to go check with MARCOM and see if they have any additional info to throw our way."

The Captain turned his attention to the Marine. "Do you need your hearing checked, Major?" He asked. "I could have sworn that I told you to coordinate with Lieutenants Mallory and Cusack just a few minutes ago."

"No, sir I was going to do both things at once."

"No," Michael said slowly. "You're going with Lieutenant Mallory and Lieutenant Cusack to coordinate. You have other officers who are in charge of getting information. They can relay it to you."

"Understood sir", Mattis said.

Kramer had remained at the Engineering console, and could not have helped but hear the conversation between Mattie and the Captain. It was hard to not make some conclusions and judgements about them, but it wasn't his place to disagree nor interrupt. He had his own responsibilities and focused on them.

The Chief took another quick check on all warp systems and everything seemed to be running smoothly. A small wave of confidence washed over him, but he didn't want that to control him either.

"Commander Weisz, you have the bridge," Michael said. "If anything shows up on sensors, contact me immediately." He gave the senior staff one last look, then headed for his ready room.