New Blood, Old Bones

Posted on Sun Jan 12th, 2025 @ 6:57am by Lieutenant Commander Jo'ohn el'Ataa & Captain Violet Bluegarden

1,382 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: 84 Years Young
Location: Algonquin Station
Timeline: MD 0 / 1300 hours (local)

As soon as the shuttle landed in the massive shuttlebay of the starbase, the hatch slid open, and the large, powerfully-built Avianoid, dressed in Operations gold, and wearing the rank pips of a Lieutenant Commander, stepped onto the shuttlebay's deck plating. Slung over his left shoulder, was a large duffel, a second one hanging from his closed right fist. As he approached the exit into the station, the deck officer intercepted him.

Once the large officer had given his name, the deck officer checked it against her PADD, then she nodded and, with a smile, she informed the Avianoid where his assigned quarters on the station, and also offered to have his belongings taken there.

After informing the young ensign that that would be acceptable, provided his belongings weren't sent through the transporter and weren't gone through. He then deposited both duffels at the ensign's feet. When she went to pick them up, she almost fell over. She then told him that she would have them taken to his quarters.

"Where is Captain Bluegarden?" He asked the young officer.

After looking over the information on her PADD, she gave him the senior officer's location.

Thanking her, the Avianoid strode powerfully out of the shuttlebay, his destination focused in his mind. In less than ten minutes, he was standing outside the temporary office for his new commanding officer. Reaching up, he pressed the door chime.

Naturally, the chime had caught Violet off guard. She had been busy reviewing applicants for various senior positions on the ship and hadn't expected to be disturbed so soon.

Setting the PADD down, Violet stood up as she had done countless times before. Though this office was only temporary, it was best to still use the same etiquette as a permanent ready room:

"Enter:" She called out.

Upon hearing her command,the computer unlocked and opened the door, the two panels sliding away into opposite sides of the doorframe, allowing the large officer standing outside to enter.

After the Avianoid entered, the doors slid shut with a quiet swishing sound. He stepped forward purposefully, and snapped to attention two paces in front of and centered on the front of Bluegarden's desk. "Lieutenant Commander Jo'ohn el'Ataa reporting for duty as your new Chief Security and Tactical Officer, Captain Bluegarden!" He then leaned forward, depositing a small crystal, which held his entire personnel file and transfer orders, on Bluegarden's desk, then resumed the position of attention. His small beak, which was positioned directly above the mouth he had been speaking with, clicked a couple times.

"Well, this is... Unexpected," Violet remarked, picking up the crystal. "I was told that you would be here within the week, not the same day."

Remaining at rigid attention, Jo'ohn replied. "My orders stated that I was to report in to you as soon as possible, Ma'am. I follow my orders to the letter."

"I see." Violet set the crystal down and noting her security officer was still at attention. "At ease, before you strain something."

The large Betalgeusian placed his hands back and relaxed slightly. He turned his yellow eyes to his commanding Officer's, as he waited for her to continue speaking.

"Well, as you are probably well aware by now, things with the Dominion have gone south quickly, and Starfleet finds itself in need of more tonnage for the war effort:" Violet explained. "We have been tasked with bringing back the Starship The Sullivans. She's an older ship, Excelsior class; and the last time she moved under her own power was well before you or I were even born. With a ship sitting that long in the reserve fleet, Starfleet wants to make sure she ain't gonna fall apart the moment we put tractor beams on her. And they've given me a 215-item checklist that we must complete before we can even tow the ship. Now, I was planning on dividing up the work by department, so as Chief of Security, you would be responsible for things pertaining to the armory and the ship's defensive systems. Simple things, like making sure her phaser mounts ain't been ripped off to repair another Excelsior."

Jo'ohn nodded thoughtfully, his eating beak clicking quietly a few times. "Do you know the current state of the offensive and defensive systems, Captain? Or, do you have a certain set of systems I should focus on first?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know shit about her:" Violet sighed. "Well, that ain't entirely true: I know my great grand mamaw was her captain when she was decommissioned, but that was a given. The only other thing I have to go off as far as what condition she's in is a bunch of engineers' notes, and that'll take time: What we really need to do is get eyes on her and see for ourselves."

Jo'ohn nodded thoughtfully. "Then I shall look over the entire tactical and security systems, and will have a repair report ready for you, by the end of the day, after we are aboard, of course."

"Well, then..." Violet remarked, picking up her PADD. "Since you're the first senior staff here, you'll have some time to kill: I'm looking to get aboard within one week to see what we're working with. In the meantime, I've secured a block of temporary quarters for senior staff. Do you have a PADD on you, by any chance?"

Jo'ohn shook his head regretfully. "No Ma'am. My PADD is packed away in my personal effects duffel. If you wish it, I will go and retrieve it, Captain."

"No worries:" Violet said. "I'll upload the location of your temporary quarters onto this crystal." She picked up the crystal once again and held it up to her PADD. "Once you get settled in, I'll send you the list of security and tactical related items off the checklist so you can start familiarizing yourself with what you need to look for."

The avianoid nodded respectfully as he replied. "Understood, Captain." He then asked the important question. "How are we looking for regular crew to full the various departments?"

"As of right now, just yourself and Commander Tiae, who will be coming aboard as our Chief of Science." Violet sighed. "It ain't much, but I'm sure we'll see more within the week. Starfleet's already calling upon reservists to return to duty."

Jo'ohn's eating beak clicked a few more times as he thought about this news. "We are going to need at least a few hundred crew, just to effect repairs. I hope Command is sending us more than just reservists." He paused a beat, then asked, "Will ours be the only ship in dry dock? We could get more done faster, if we had all the available help of the station personnel as well, Captain."

"Of course we ain't the only ship being reactivated, Commander:" Violet said. "There'll be plenty of activity across the yard. I'll be sure to mention it to the yard higher ups, but I see yard personnel being a hot commodity among all these different ships."

The large avianoid considered this, then nodded. "Of course, Captain. Please forgive my error. We will make due with what we are given, Ma'am." He seemed honestly embarrassed that he had misspoke like that to his new commanding officer. If he was to keep his place here, he knew he would have to do better.

"No need to apologize, Commander." Violet responded. "With any luck, we'll be able to knock that list out and we'll be out of here in record time."

Feeling a surge of relief from her reply, Jo'ohn seemed to reinflate some, and his speaking mouth smiled slightly. Nodding, he replied. "We'll bring her back to life, Ma'am! And then, the Jem'Hadar will learn that it was a grave error to kick our nest!"

"Indeed they shall." Violet nodded, offering the crystal back to Jo'ohn. "Dismissed."

The Betalgeusian officer took his data crystal back, stood, then snapped to attention. "Ma'am," he nodded respectfully. He then turned on his heel and made his way out of the Captain's temporary office smartly.

His next stop, was to find the ship's CMO, and get his inc9ming physical taken care of.

Posting by

Captain Rebecca Bluegarden
Commanding Officer

&

Lieutenant Commander Jo'ohn el'Ataa
Chief Tactical/Security Officer

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