Landfall
Posted on Sat Mar 6th, 2021 @ 11:17pm by Captain Tobias Bach & Commander Ayda Muldowney & Lieutenant Rosk & Lieutenant Commander Timo Schaefer & Ensign Kevin Ibanez & Lieutenant Commander Peg Davies & Lieutenant Yousef Syed
Mission:
The Relics of Isonzo
Location: Isonzo IV Orbit; Shuttlecraft Tennessee Williams
Summary: Finally ready to begin their mission on the moon of Isonzo IV, Ulysses preps its shuttle launch to coordinate with the Zheng He's. Lieutenant Commander Schaeffer is left in command.
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 1745
"This really isn't necessary, Davies," Tobias Bach objected to his Chief of Security. The old man rolled his azure eyes, running fingers through thin white hair with thinly veneered impatience. He harrumphed as a Yeoman helped fit him into a tactical vest. On either side of him, two security staff had fallen into line. And worst of all, Ayda Muldowney- who had already been outfitted in a tactical vest- looked on in bemusement. Bach scowled at the two women.
"Which General Order is it again, Peg?" Ayda mused with a crystal glance of her own blue eyes at the woman, "No command officer will go into a hazardous situation without armed escort?"
Peg smirked in the XO's direction and nodded, "It's a classic, and I always try to keep things simple. Unfortunately, the Captain disagrees with my interpretation of the word, hazardous."
Bach rolled his eyes again, shifting his weight. He finally had had enough and slapped the Yeoman's hand from his strappings, "Oh get off, it's not a corset," Bach complained. He reached and fiddled his own snaps on his shoulder. Then he reached back and his aides threaded onto his arms a white thermal coat with a fur-lined hood. He was long, passing in parka-like fashion past his hips. "What's going to savage me down there anyway? The FNN's spoon sharp wit?"
Ayda chuckled as she too donned one of the white thermal jackets, zipping it up over her armor. She took in her hand an air filtration mask. "Don't believe a word he's saying, he's loving every minute of this."
Tobias grunted, pulling on gloves that looked to be scaled gold thermal wear. The barest hint of a smirk teased a corner of his mouth. "Yeah yeah."
Ayda chuckled, "I'm going to go see Rosk, he should be getting preflight trajectory from the Bridge about now. And you know how much he loves filing a flight plan." She pushed her own gloves into her pocket and strolled toward the Tennessee Williams, the Class B shuttlecraft accented in yellow.
Tobias grunted again, "Ugh, please don't get him started. He hasn't shut up since he left quarantine. I caught him singing in his shower today when I dropped by," Bach remarked, swinging first his head and then his body around to address the retreating Commander. "Have you ever heard a Groethan try and three-part harmonize Andorian opera to himself?" he was speaking to Davies and Ibanez, "That'll peel paint.... Where's Schaeffer? Polishing his resume?" Tobias frowned to himself.
"Er... yes, sir," Kevin said in reply to the comment about Rosk, paying only half attention to what the Captain was saying as he helped Yousef into his thermal jacket. "You look all cozy in this," he said quietly to the engineer as he looked him up and down, then flashed him a smile. "Which is good, seeing as you won't have me to keep you warm down there."
While the Captain and crew enjoyed their banter with his soon-to-be ex-boss, Yousef pulled the pilot towards the shuttle's open door at the rear.
"...and, Schaeffer, is on the open comm line to the Bridge. Isn't that right, Timo? Did you know he's off to the Farragut? Don't worry if he hasn't told you, he will." Davies did not attempt to hide her eye-roll regarding the ship's soon-to-be ex-Chief Engineer.
The clearing of Timo's throat was the first they heard over the open channel, before it was replaced by the Chief Engineer, some of his usual confidence diminished. "Yes, I'm here, Captain. The Zheng He reports they are preparing to launch their shuttle. We are to follow them down. Are you sure you want to leave me up here, Captain? I'd be happy to field the media's questions on the surface so you wouldn't have to."
Tobias sighed, "Yeah there must've been a crossed wire with my Yeoman, Schaeffer. But seeing as you're already up there, I'll skip the dramatic pause. You're in charge. Designate your Second in Command. When your teams are done laying down the relays, check-in. And stay out of zh'Vari's hair. She's handling the press. God help them. We should have our base camp built by the time you get back." Bach eyed the gold-accented shuttle that was the Tennessee Wiliams with a headshake.
"Very good, Captain." The Engineer said over the comm, "Oh, and Captain, I thought I should mention, Commodore zh'Vari seems to have taken ill. Nothing serious, but she has therefore delegated the media to you until she is recovered. Have a safe trip down, Bridge out." The comm closed before Bach could reply.
Bach balked at that, first rocking back on heels and then beginning to speak up to the Engineer. The channel closed before he could. Bach pursed his lips with a head shake, "Oh that man's flying to the Farragut in a probe chassis..." the old man muttered. He ventured within, footfalls echoing on the metal ramp, "Ayda, new plan!"
"Hey," Yousef whispered, ostensibly brushing a piece of lint from Ibanez's shoulder, giving a squeeze to the other's bicep. "I know we've only been seeing each other for a couple of weeks, but hypothetically if my roommate was ok with rooming with your roommate, would you be interested in maybe, you know, sharing quarters with me?"
Kevin was slightly speechless for a moment, not having expected this, but a broad grin spread across his face. They'd been spending a lot of time together recently, and much of it in Yousuf's quarters, so it even made sense practically. "I'd like that, yeah," he replied, beaming. "And Daria and Jen get along well, so I don't think she'd say no."
A look of relief passed across the Engineer's face as he relaxed, "Oh good, because if you said no, then Jen would have had had to move back in when she gets back from the planet." Syed grinning, winking at Kevin, "She put her stuff in storage so you can move in while I'm planetside. Now, you better get to the Bridge before Commander Schaeffer notices you aren't at your station. I'll try to comm you tonight if we have some downtime."
Kevin laughed out loud, quickly putting his hand over his mouth not to attract attention. "I should've known you'd do something like this. You're always full of surprises," he replied. "I'll start packing my things and get settled in. I look forward to being your roommate." He winked back at Yousef as they started to walk away from each other. "Take care, Lieutenant. I'll be waiting."
"Talk to you later, Ensign, try not to wreck the ship while I'm gone," Yoused teased the Helmsman's use of his rank, adding a wink. "Not that there seems to be anything to worry about in this system," seeing it was time to go, he gave Kevin's arm a final squeeze and headed back into the craft to find his seat. He shook the thoughts of his Pilot from his mind and double-checked he had everything he would need. Though, he wasn't too worried about missing something. After all, he could just have something beamed down if required.
