Quick Brief

Posted on Mon Dec 16th, 2024 @ 1:37pm by Captain Alexander Johnson & Commander Onofron Zuir & Lieutenant Colonel Savannah Sorrel & Lieutenant Commander Qual'tez Jones & Lieutenant Sayori Summers & Lieutenant Jade Celes-Johnson & Lieutenant JG Charlotte Soller M.D.

2,153 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: New Crew, New Mission
Location: Conference room

Alexander walked into the conference room, with news, that they wanted to ship the Iroquois out sooner than later, to test the new slipstream drive installed, before actually going to the conduit for a total inspection of the drive once again after the test. Some of the stations engineering crew were going to stay on the ship to maintain the controls of the drive before leaving.

"Water." Alexander ordered walking up to the replicator that was in the corner, then walked over to window. Taking a drink, turned to the seat at the end of the table, and sat down. Grabbing a pad, he started going over it.

Savannah had made sure her uniform was immaculate and all piercings and earrings had been removed before she entered the conference room and noticed that after the captain she was the first to arrive. "Good morning, sir." She said and then made her way over to the table to get something to drink before sitting down.

Jade was next through the door, given the advanced stage of her pregnancy she was wearing an appropriately coloured maternity dress rather than a uniform. Making her way across to the next seat around from Alexander she offered her husband a warm smile, before looking to Savannah. “Good Morning Colonel” she smiled warmly.

"Good to see you again, counsellor." Savannah said. She really hoped Zuir would not lay into the other woman for her dress.

The doors to the conference room hissed open, and Commander Onofron Zuir stepped in with a purposeful stride that made his presence unmistakable before he even spoke. His uniform was flawless, the lines sharp enough to cut duranium, and his midnight-blue eyes scanned the room with the intensity of someone measuring every detail for compliance with Starfleet standards. Without pausing or acknowledging the replicator, the window, or the conversations already underway, Ono moved directly to the table. He stopped just short of the nearest chair, his hands clasped neatly behind his back.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice crisp and neutral but carrying an edge of authority that implied he had better things to do than exchange pleasantries.

As his gaze flicked briefly to Savannah, he offered her a curt nod that carried no warmth but at least no immediate judgment. She didn't look homeless today, in any event.

His eyes then landed on Jade, taking in her maternity dress with a slight narrowing of his gaze. For a split second, it seemed as though he might say something about the lack of a uniform, but then he simply inclined his head with stiff politeness. “Counselor,” he said, his tone carefully neutral, though there was the faintest trace of something akin to grudging acknowledgment.

The door opened as Lieutenant Commander Qual'tez Jones entered the room. Towering over most onboard, the half Human/Klingon scanned the room before taking his seat.

Finally, Ono turned toward Alexander, his back straight as a bulkhead. “Captain,” he said with a crisp nod. “If we are to proceed with testing the slipstream drive ahead of schedule, I trust we will review every operational detail meticulously. I would suggest a preliminary readiness assessment for all departments, particularly Engineering, given the influx of temporary personnel.”

Without waiting for an invitation, Ono lowered himself into a chair like a coffin into the ground, aligning himself as though his posture alone could enforce order in the room. He placed his hands neatly on the table and waited, exuding the air of someone who believed the success of the meeting now depended entirely on his participation.

Jade almost breathed a sigh of relief as Zuir took his seat without comment. “Good Morning Commander.” With that she returned to looking at the PADD she’d brought to the meeting with her.

Sav also visibly relaxed when Zuir stayed civil, she had been ready to defend the counsellor against him if need be. So she gave him an equally brief nod back.

"Everything will be assessed right down to the last wire before we leave Commander." Alexander replied, he understood with the amount of temporary personnel still onboard. It wasn't his ideal time to do this, he would prefer to do it with a full crew compliment and at least his chief engineer. "We do have the slipstream engineers remaining onboard for the time being. They will be running around the clock diagnostics, before and during the test. Once the test complete, the ship will be inspected for any issues from our trip."

Jade looked towards Alexander. “What will happen if we’re called up to assist in anything whilst we’re on our shakedown? I’m sure Starfleet will say we wouldn’t be, but it’s happened before to other ships.”

"This is pretty much standard for most shakedowns," Qual'tez spoke up. "If any thing were to happen, we should have enough personnel on board to handle it."

"And such a scenario is precisely the reason why everyone must remain at optimal performance," Ono added. "It is better to be prepared and underutilized than to be called to action while unprepared."

"How many marines do you want on board?" Savannah asked. "Just to be on the safe side."

"Starfleet doesn't necessary want to head to the destination with a full marine compliment, in case it is viewed upon as a threat. However, given that we are heading over to uncharted territory, it is what we will be taking over. The Excaliber class is able to handle a full contingent, considering we won't be taking civilians over for obvious reasons, that number can be greatly added to." Alexander paused. A full contingent will be what we take." Turning to the chief counsellor. "If anything happens during shakedown. Our orders are to relay the information, unless its a priority one emergency. We will also have one of the largest security departments onboard as well as engineering when we leave." He turned to the Commander for a moment. "I agree with the Commander, this is exactly why everyone has to be on point. We know shit can happen. It has happened. Preparing for the journey through the conduit shouldn't be taken lightly. I have given the Commander permission for any surprise inspections that he deems necessary. Its not the time to relax."

Savannah nodded. "I am on bridge rotation." She said looking at the commander to see if he had a problem with that. "I am cleared for it."

“I’ll be popping on and off the bridge” Jade offered a smile. “I like to be on the bridge when my schedule allows.”

The doors of the room opened and a young woman scurried in. She was clearly out of breath. "I'm... I'm...." she was holding her chest as she leant over forward slightly. "Sorry... I was... With a.... patient...." she finally managed to say.

"Your patients are priority Dr. Please have a seat." Alexander replied,"take a glass of water if you need."

Lotte nodded as she flopped down into a chair and tried to recover from literally running all the way from Sickbay.

Jade offered Lotte a warm smile, they were both medical professionals and she understood what it was like to be tied up with a patient.

Moments later the conference room door opened again and a woman in Engineering Gold with hair a vibrant purple skipped inside, humming to herself in between sips of the coffee she carried. "Gomen nesai, Captain. The new drive was being finicky this morning. Finicky!" She grinned to the others and waved to them as she took a seat. "I saw your message that we're launching ahead of schedule, and I can do it, but I'll need some more bodies. Living ones if possible but I know you don't like it when I'm picky."

Then the purple haired one realized she didn't know everyone. "Right. Hi people I haven't met yet! I'm Sayori Summers, Chief Engineer!"

Ono’s jaw tightened incrementally as the meeting descended into what he could only describe as chaotic irreverence. His midnight-blue eyes darted from one speaker to the next like a man counting violations of decorum faster than his internal tally could keep pace. First, the Marine colonel, casually asserting her presence on the bridge as though it were her personal gymnasium. Then the counselor—pregnant, no less—mentioning her fondness for "popping in" on the bridge as though it were a coffee lounge.

And now... this.

The young doctor rushing in, breathless, with no regard for the gravity of the meeting. And the engineer—dear god, the engineer!—skipping into the room, humming, coffee in hand, and speaking in riddles about "living bodies."

Ono gripped the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles whitened, the only outward sign of the internal volcano threatening to erupt. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, exhaling sharply as he attempted to wrest control of his simmering outrage. His Zelonite discipline was formidable, but even it had limits.

"People you haven't met yet," Ono muttered under his breath, his words barely audible but heavy with restrained disdain. "All the best clowns assembled for this starship circus. We are, without doubt, doomed."

Straightening his posture with a military snap, Ono addressed the room, his tone deliberately neutral but clipped enough to slice through the air. "I trust that everyone here understands the gravity of our mission. While enthusiasm and individual expertise are, of course, appreciated, I would remind all present that discipline and adherence to protocol are what separate Starfleet from... lesser organizations." His eyes flicked briefly toward Sayori and her coffee cup before snapping back to the captain.

"Captain Johnson, if I may," he said, his voice carefully modulated but undeniably firm, "I recommend we distribute a briefing for each shift to ensure all departments are operating with full awareness of our mission parameters and expectations. Clarity of purpose will be critical as we prepare for launch, particularly given the accelerated timetable." In other words, bypass department heads altogether since they were clownish bottlenecks of incompetence, but Ono knew not to say so out loud.

Pausing a moment before answering the Commander, he already knew of the Commanders concerns about the former crew that was in charge of seeing this ship get out of space dock. It was something he had seen, after his initial meeting with the Commander, he had walked the ship, and focused on the crew that was assigned to work on the ship, and had indeed noticed, that not all were following protocol, some were more relaxed, others were nonchalant about the work, and he had on two occasions relieved workers for drinking, not drunk, but drinking while working. However these people present at the table in front of them. They had just arrived onboard the ship.

"It is something we can look into, however those briefings will be handled by the Chief of said department, if or when that needs to be changed, we will discuss it." Alexander replied as he started going down the list of articles to bring up. "Lt Summers, I would like you to run diagnostics on both the slipstream and warp drives. Make sure they are running above normal parameters. Given the slipstream hasn't been field tested yet. I want to make sure everything is running as it should. I am sure Commander Zuir would like to observe you at your work."

"Absolutely I would," Ono briskly confirmed. He would ensure the ship wasn't left stranded on the drift, even if he had to rebuild the damn MAM reaction chambers himself. Not that he had the expertise to do so.

Sayori nodded excitedly. “Aye, Captain!” She looked to the tense Zelonite. “Glad to have you in the engine room with us, Shiki-kan!”

Savannah had been following the proceedings with some amusement, though it did not show on her face. She could see the commander was close to erupting but in fact didn't. "You will find nothing wrong with my marines." She stated. "I run a tight ship for those on duty." Indeed the funny thing was that she was known as a stern taskmaster.

"The same can be said with my security," Qual'tez spoke up. The Klingon turned his attention to the Commander. "Commander you will find that my people know firsthand that slacking off is not an option."

Jade smiled as she looked around the “If there are any problems the Counselling department will be on hand, my door is always open.”

"See, we are already one big happy family." Alexander replied putting a padd down.

Jade offered her husband a wry look, she had no doubt Zuir didn’t see anyone in the room as family, and very definitely not a happy family.

"Heehee! Yay family!" Sayori cheered.

"I think that covers everything... if anyone wants to discuss anything imparticular... you know where to find me. Dismissed."

 

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