And So We Go

Posted on Thu Jun 3rd, 2021 @ 3:32pm by Captain Björn Kodak & Commander Satoru Takomi & Lieutenant Nir Giorgiou & Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai & Lieutenant JG Irynya & Lieutenant Chaali & Lieutenant Sovaan

Mission: The Place of Skulls
Location: USS Sojourner, Bridge
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 1301

[The Bridge]
[USS Sojourner]

The senior staff had assembled at 1300 hours as the Captain had ordered, having had the morning to beam up, settle into quarters, and familiarize themselves with their new stations. Unlike the Adelphi, which had only had a couple of consoles upgraded to modern standards, the Sojourner's Bridge was fully kitted out with the holographic touch interfaces that came default on ships-of-the-line circa 2399. This made the control nexus of the ship a beautiful well full of glowing wire-frame models, buttons, sliders, and levers. For Kodak, who'd just stepped out of his Ready Room and looked across the Bridge from person to person, the experience was rather like standing amidst a light show of sorts.

"Well," the Chameloid began with the customary warmth he was known for, "we've certainly had quite the vacation. It's hard to leave a place as beautiful as Risa," he said, the planet slowly spinning on the viewscreen at the fore of the Bridge, "but leave we must. And I have a bit of an update before we set out," Kodak said. "I know we'd envisioned heading back for the Delta Quadrant right away but Starfleet has a different mission for us. And selfishly," the Captain shrugged lightly, "I'm a bit biased towards completing it."

Addressing his senior staff, Kodak held up a palm-sized orb coated in an onyx-black, glossy shell studded with tiny knobs and levers. "Some of you may recognize this. It was on my Ready Room desk for months when I took over for Captain Harrison on the Adelphi. When I was found as a baby on the very planet we orbit now, this orb was found with me. And thanks to Mr. Timmoz I finally understood this to be a puzzle box of sorts. I tried for months to figure out how to open it but it previously had no controls or buttons to manipulate."

"During our stay on Risa, Doctor t'Nai and I visited the beach I was found on. And in the sunlight of that beach," Kodak slowly explained, this time bowing his head to Emni at an auxiliary station, "the puzzle box finally manifested its controls. Turns out the thing was programmed to only supply them on that beach and only after I'd reached adulthood. Of course, that particular moment was 22 years ago," he smirked, "but better late than never, I suppose. In any event, I was able to figure out how to get the box open and contained inside were coordinates."

The Captain knew he'd already been talking at length but these were important details to share. "My people are somewhat mythical to most. Aside from me, Chameloids haven't been regularly seen in hundreds of years. But this orb," he held up the sphere, emphasizing with it, "gave me the coordinates to begin a search for them. The coordinates lead to a jungle world in Klingon space and Starfleet has obtained permission for us to travel there and begin the hunt for the lost Chameloids. I don't know what we will find there but," he puffed out his chest, "I know I've got the best damned crew to achieve our aims."

"Thank you in advance for helping me to potentially find my people," Kodak said sincerely. "Before we set out, what questions of thoughts might you wish to voice?"

Sovaan raised his hand. "You said you don't know what we will find on the planet itself, but you also mentioned that it was in Klingon space. Do you have any idea of what we might expect along the way? I cannot imagine that many others besides us know about this mission, but the more I can prepare my security personnel, the more comfortable I will be."

Commander Takomi had been quietly observing the bridge and its crew until the moment the Captain had come out, at which point he had settled into a comfortable and attentive stance. But when the question was asked, he took a single step forward and adopted a stiffer posture as he spoke. "You will, each of you, find a request for a very comprehensive check of your department's readiness waiting for you on your desks at this meeting's conclusion. Along with that, drills are being ordered ship-wide for a variety of scenarios. As the Captain will surely explain, much about this mission is shrouded and unknown. So the expectation will be to expect the unexpected." Despite the formality laden within his response, Satoru cracked the smallest of smiles as he concluded, a tiny flicker of amusement nearly lost in the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth.

The Romulan doctor felt mildly out of her element on the bridge, situated at an auxiliary station for the briefing. The general overtone of the crew surrounding her and those in adjacent areas of the ship was that of expectation--an indrawn breath awaiting the first forward motion of exhalation. Amidst that emotion rose and fell the various pockets of anxiety and joy, grief and relief, boredom and excitement. It had been a while since she had been in such close proximity to so many with the intent to actively allow the wash of emotions to flow through her rather than rush up against the fortified defenses she had so heavily developed over their shore leave.

"Assuming we do find the Chameloids you are searching for, sir," Emni began after a moment of quiet permeated the group, "what protocol are we intending to follow? Are we treating any engagement like a first contact or have your messages given reason to believe that this may be a mission of mercy? Naturally, sickbay will be on call, but if there are any specific medical concerns we should be thinking of, I would like to be prepared in advance." She didn't have to include the obvious--that Starfleet Medical knew very little about Chameloids, to begin with.

"To be honest, Doctor," Kodak turned from Takomi -- who he'd given a thankful nod to for fielding Sovaan's question -- and looked then to t'Nai, "I'm not sure what we'll find. How we proceed will obviously depend on that a great deal. But I can say that if my people are alive, the fact that they're so deeply in hiding means they're very concerned about exposure. Ideally, I'd like to assure them we present no threat and possibly bring them under the Federation's protection somehow. But again," Kodak shrugged, "there's just so much we don't know. It could be thirty Chameloids. Perhaps three hundred? Or maybe," he subtly gulped, "none at all. Though I hope that isn't the case, I'm cognizant that we're following recordings are that over 40 years old now."

The stranger-to-most at the back of the Bridge leaned against Tactical's console. Nir had changed into a fresher one-piece jumpsuit, still giving off his mechanic vibe as he studied those that spoke. His immediate concern was trying to pin down names- which in this setting of familiar exchange with each other, was difficult. He observed the one in white- ears. Romulan or Vulcan. Hard to tell. He'd met a few of the latter, none to his knowledge of the former. He cursorily connected her to the T'Nai the Captain spoke of. A Risian sat at the Helm. A Bolian, at Ops occasionally glanced up and was wearing some kind of strange... wig?... on her head. And there was a Timmoz...? Another Vulcanoid in yellow- though he, strictly speaking, didn't look like a typical Vulcan either.

Nir waited for his formal introduction before he'd wade into the pool.

The Risian sitting at the helm felt unusually out of place. She was second string, not first string. This was Lieutenant Timmoz's place. And yet she couldn't help an ember of pride that burned in her chest as she listened to the Captain's briefing. She felt like she should have a question, some evidence of her right to occupy the chair in which she sat, but her mind remained blank. And so she remained quiet taking it all in and waiting to see if someone else might speak up.

Emni appreciated the frankness of the Captain's response. "I'll be sure our team reviews what records we do have, sir," she replied, her voice cool and calm as she did so. It was spare information at best, but they did have one advantage that so many others did not -- a living Chameloid on their vessel. She made a mental note to review the Captain's medical record again personally.

"Thank you, Doctor," Kodak nodded slowly. "And now...another announcement. Looking around the Bridge, you may notice that the senior staff looks a bit...different," the Captain conceded. "Very early this morning, I received a special leave request from Lieutenant Nico Oliveria, our Chief Engineer. The details of leaves are always personal and confidential but I can tell you that it didn't necessarily sound permanent. The same is true for Lieutenant Timmoz, who's now officially on loan to Starfleet Security to aid them in an ongoing operation with the Orions. We hope to have the both of them back as soon as possible but, for now, we've got some different faces on the senior staff team."

Gesturing to Nir, Kodak said, "Lieutenant Nir Giorgiou will be serving as our temporary Chief Engineer. He's come from another nearby ship to help us out while Mr. Oliveria is on leave. The Lieutenant has had exactly," he glanced down at a PADD in his right hand, "thirty-two minutes to beam aboard, check in with Engineering, and then join us up here. Mr. Giorgiou," the Captain's eyes were warm, all trace of their earlier displeasure towards the engineer gone, "welcome about the Sojourner. We're delighted to have you," he welcomed.

Mechanic Vibe leaning against Tactical in the rolled-up sleeves and one-piece jumpsuit nodded respectfully at the Captain, tapping forehead, then his chin and finally gesturing at the Captain in thanks. In the interest of brevity, Nir didn't say more. There would be time for that.

Nodding, Kodak turned from Nir to Irynya at the helm. "With Mr. Timmoz on assignment elsewhere, Lieutenant Irynya has become our new acting Chief Flight Controller. Starfleet may yet send us a new temporary Chief but, until that happens -- if it even does -- we can ask for no better hands to be in. I'm sorry, though," the Captain smirked to the Risian, "that room assignments have already been made. You'll still be bunking with three others, Lieutenant. And I hear Parsons is among them?" With a smirk, he shook his head and said, "Best of luck there, God love him."

A grin lit Irynya's face followed by a small, slightly unprofessional, snort at the mention of Parsons. The Captain's words had sent fingers of nervousness coiled in pride running up her back and she found herself sitting forward a bit at her post. "It's an honor to stand in as the Acting Chief, sir," she said the smile still dancing at the corners of her eyes.

"Very well, then!" Kodak smiled wide, gesturing about the Bridge. "You all have your stations. And the good Commander here," he momentarily looked to Satoru, "will be making the rounds to assess departmental readiness and meet all of you a little more personally. For now, though," the Captain turned to stare out at Risa through the view screen, "let's set a course. Lieutenant Irynya, you have the coordinates in your databanks. Warp six." Swiveling back, he moved to his chair and lowered into it, watching Takomi do the same.

"Well Commander," the Chameloid grinned at his old friend, his face softening with good humor, "if you're ready for some adventure out there, by all means...give the command and get us on the road, hmm?" He gestured towards Irynya with his head to make his meaning abundantly clear, then sat back in his chair to watch the new XO take charge.

Takomi had originally settled rather stiffly and professionally into the chair beside the Captain's own. So it was that he was stiff backed, with eyes on the forward view screen when the Captain handed him the reins. The suggestion actually took the XO by surprise, the reaction evident and written across his wrinkled forehead as both brows climbed and crushed the deep set lines together. After a moment though, his features broke and a broad smile lit the whole of his face. It was an expression suffused with warmth and eagerness, one that transformed the whole of him. Shoulders eased, his posture leaned forward, one arm rested on his knee while the other settled on the nearby armrest. It took years off of him. "A journey begins, an uncertain future calls, one willingly met. Engage."

Reorienting in space, the USS Sojourner pulled up and away from Risa, leaving the planet to fall behind. Once the ship had reached a safe distance, its warp nacelles flashed and the Sojourner's front half stretched forward, reaching for distant stars. The ship's back half then snapped forward as well, catching up like a rubber band that had been stretched and then released to fly across the room. The Sojo plumbed the depths of space, headed for parts unknown.


=/\= A joint-post by... =/\=

Captain Björn Kodak
Commanding Officer
USS Sojourner

and

Commander Satoru Takomi
Executive Officer
USS Sojourner

and

Lieutenant Nir Giorgiou
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Sojourner

and

Lieutenant Emni t'Nai
Chief Medical Officer
USS Sojourner

and

Lieutenant JG Irynya
Acting Chief Flight Controller
USS Sojourner

and

Lieutenant JG Chaali
Chief of Operations
USS Sojourner

and

Lieutenant JG Sovaan
Chief Tactical and Security Officer
USS Sojourner