Character: Shras/NPC Chief Sestik
Location: Bridge/Flight Deck

"Yes Please commander a tactical analysis would be excellent. I am going to head down to the flight deck and have a word with the Chief of the Boat to see what he may have available, when you are done comm me or join us their. Thank you"

~Very efficient for a war vet. Maybe they are not as out of practice as I thought~

“Carry on.”

::Shras turned on his heals and headed to the turbo lift::

“Flight Deck”

::The turbo lift doors opened up onto the Flight Deck of The USS Churchill. At first Shras was a little taken back. He had never been down here before, and had never been on a Starfleet vessel with a through flight deck let alone one so big. Before him taking up two decks in height was an expansive runway, which set him in mind of the old 20th century earth aircraft carriers. In parts of the bay sections of deck had been cut away to bring up shuttles and fighters from the repair shops below on hydraulic lifts the service of which would then make up part of the decking. Several deck crews were clustered around small crafts spread across the deck each looked like organised chaos as the scrambled over them with various tools and equipment. Above him Flight control, pilot briefing rooms, offices and equipment stores rooms looked down onto the hanger through large windows. Shras scanned the scene trying to find the Chief of the boat for the Agamemnon (~and most of the other shuttles in this bay~) the runabout he had decided to acquisition for the task at hand. After asking a crewman the location of the chief he headed over to the Agamemnon, which was sitting on one of the quieter sections of the loading bay. Walking up to the ship he spotted a pair of legs sticking out from under the left warp engine::

“Chief Sestik?”

::He enquired to the pair of legs::

“who’s asking?”

::replied the pair of legs with a deep Texan accent::

“Commander Shras”

::Their was a bang and a short shout from the beneath the ship. The Chief quickly scrambled out from underneath. Shras had to admit to himself he had been expecting a male doing this sort of work not the human female standing in front of him with a combination of grime and embarrassment on her face::

“Chief we may be needing this vessel for a scouting missions what is the efficiency of her sensor range?”

“Almost a hundred percent sir”

“Hmmm could we increase the sensor range of the Agamemnon?”

“Its do able sir we could add another sensor pod or two to the outer frame what range do you need?”

“As long as you can make it chief I want to be as far away from that planet as possible when making my scans.”

“No problem commander”

::The chief replied::

Character: Lt Vranek
Location: Engineering

"Engineering"

The turbolift began its descent, and Vranek leaned back against the wall. It was just another routine part of the job, but even so, he couldn't help but feel some excitement at having been in his first senior staff briefing. It had gone smmothly enough, but Vranek was undecided about the wisdom of a counsellor going on and undercover away mission alone. His upbringing had taught him that an individual should be used where their skills and talents would most benefit the group as a whole, and Vranek wasn't sure whether using a counsellor was an inspired or a foolish choice. Still, the Captain wouldn't have agreed if he'd had any doubts about the chance of success.

The turbolift drew to a halt, and Vranek made his way towards engineering. As before, it was mostly empty - most of the duty personnell were attending to the many glitches throughout the ship.

"Harris, how long until the transporter diagnostic is complete?"

"One hour twenty three minutes sir. E team also reports secondary ionisation nodes in the impulse drive are now operating at normal efficiency."

"Very good lieutenant. Instruct Alpha shift to stand down - they've been active far too long."

"But sir, we won't have enough time to fix everything before we arrive." There was a look of genuine confusion on the junior lieutenant's face.

"I'm aware of that. Priorities have been altered."

"Yes sir." Harris still didn't fully understand.

Vranek retrieved a blank padd from storage locker. "Inform me the moment the transporter diagnostic is complete. I'll be in cargo bay 2 with the Commander, preparing the relief supplies for Veltrad III."

Vranek went back to the turbolift. He was sorry he had to leave his assistant in the dark, but it wasn't necessary to pass on details.

"Cargo bay 2."

CHARACTER: Baden Judd
LOCATION: Personal Quarters
TIME: 10:50

Lieutenant Baden Judd emerged from the shadows a changed man. The computer had woken him at precisely 1050 and now a dark Cardassian in Star trek uniform presented himself to the full length mirror. The deep ridges at his neck seemed like twisted wounds in the low light as he moved his neck from side to side.

“Need that change of clothes…” he muttered. But it wasn’t just his outward appearance that had changed, a bitter resentment that had been festering deep in his belly was making him feel uneasy. One person had reached out to grab his consciousness and threatened this new opportunity, this chance to be part of a crew.

Admiral T’Lara had been largely instrumental in his rehabilitation from the Uol’van Cult decades previously and at times had called upon him for additional Federation duties. Espionage was part of his heritage, whether Baden liked it or not, and the Admiral knew it to be so. But she had acknowledged that Baden had been less and less keen to carry out her little missions and that he was now dedicated to a life of diplomacy and his councillor duties. Baden hadn’t been called upon for many years ….until this morning that is.

Moments before leaving for the briefing at 0800 Baden had received a secure com message from the Admiral. She had given him the story that he had so mechanically fed the rest of the crew and been told to wait for further orders at 1100 hours in his quarters.

The despondent councillor sat down at his desk and pushed a pad to release the monitor, which flipped up before him. No messages as yet. All he could think about was having to lie to the crew already. But it was a direct order and as far as he could tell this should be the last time, well that’s how she sold it to him in any case.

Should he believe the Vulcan? Well of course she was a Vulcan after all.

CHARACTER: Captain Walsh
LOCATION: Captain's Readyroom
TIME: 10:52

Anthony sat looking through the reports from the department heads. Padds were piled on his desk and his computer screen showed a detailed overview of the ships energy distribution network. He tossed the weapons system diagnostic padd onto the pile. Bill definitely had that sorted. In fact so far everything seemed to be running smoothly, maybe not at full spec but at least there had been no problems. The preparations were heading along at full pace with Shras and Vranek working closely on the supply schedule.

~Seems like they make a good team.~

Baden was ready for his entry into the Veltrad community, though his eagerness to conduct covert away missions worried him slightly. In order to keep him under control, and out of trouble, he needed to select a security officer to accompany him on his mission. He tapped at his computer and sent a message to Lt. Cmdr Lynch's station requesting a volunteer for assignment to Baden's mission. Preferably one that had some covert experience or previous dealings with cardassians. He also sent a message to Doctor San to prepare another set of prosthetics.

He looked at the time on his computer.

~Nearly time.~

"Computer, how long until we arrive in Veltrad system?"

"Nineteen minutes and 37 seconds."

Anthony stood and paced to the window, the stars streamed past in that settling way they did at high warp. He stared for a moment into the void, drawing himself together for the task to come. He would have to be strong and stand in the face of cardassian arrogance. He would have to keep control of this new crew, learn their strengths and weaknesses. Even learning how to talk to each of them would take great practice.

~Hold your tongue. Remember the Cardassians are our allies now.~

He stepped from the window back to his desk and tapped the communicator panel.

COM "Walsh to Shras, please finish up with Lt. Vranek and meet me in my ready room."

CHARACTER: San Mikeal
LOCATION: Medical Bay
TIME: 11:00

~ More prosthetics. I guess this is some kind of punishment for missing the earlier briefing. ~

Chief Medical Officer San Mikeal sat in his office with the lights dimmed. He had once again been interrupted from exploring the interesting possibilities presented by the sheer processing power of the ships main computer.

Mikeal’s primary interest had always been medical research, however, his beloved sponsor decided Mikeal was better suited to the back of beyond on this dreary starship. Since his arrival things had been relatively quiet. The odd accident stemming from a tight engineering schedule had kept the nurses busy, but Mikeal had managed to steer clear of most distractions. He had filled his time by downloading the majority of his personal research files into the medical bay computer system and in the process discovered an impressive array of analytical tools.

At approximately 8:30 the Ships Councillor, Baden Judd, had made an appearance with the curious request for a new appearance. Apparently there had been some meeting Mikeal had overlooked which would better explain the request but he proceeded without question. He had distracted the Councillor with some fictional representation of his home life to pass the time although he regretted even mentioning his idiot wife.

COM “Ensign Maddy Paden to my office”

A moment later and the Ensign appeared.

[Mikeal]

“You saw what I did last time didn’t you?”

[Maddy]

“Yes sir.”

[Mikeal]

“This time you’re on your own. Dismissed.”

[Maddy]

“Yes sir.”

~ Perhaps I’d better show my face to the Captain. He seemed a little curt. Maybe later. ~

CHARACTER: Baden Judd
LOCATION: Personal Quarters
TIME: 11:00:51

Whatever it was that Admiral T’Lara wanted him to do it had to important. Baden lent back in the leather chair trying hard to dig deep into his emotional reserves.

~Let this be the last time she calls upon me~

He looked up and saw the computer screen reading ‘incoming message’. Baden tapped it checking it was a secure message and saw the Vulcan’s austere face appear through the initial unexpected static.


T’Lara – “I’ll need to keep this brief Lieutenant as this mission goes to the highest levels and we are very conscious of problems with counterintelligence. I’m sending you through some data on the Vanden system,” Baden notice an aside flash up on the monitor, RECEIVED. “Your contact is a local Cardassian we have enlisted called Dalath Martum. You will find him in the indoor market of the Folian District. He will be selling Arson and Pilnayney fruit. When you see him recall your trip to the Northern Mountains.”

She paused and glanced sideways at something off screen, then resumed.

T’Lara – “He will take you to the escapee. You must go alone, remember this. The information you receive is of top priority, only you must hear what Gaila has to say.”

Judd – “Gaila? The Ferengi? What does he have to do with this?”

T’Lara – “He has word on the Breen.”

Judd –“The Breen! Ah yes I remember now, he was a weapons dealer who negotiated with the Breen, but I understood he was remanded?”

T’Lara – “He was until we heard of Breen activity in the Vanden system. We…how should I say…allowed Gaila to buy his freedom for this price. He would reinitiate his contact with the Breen and see if he could confirm the rumour. Now…now he is near death…a higher price than he had bargained for. You must hasten, there isn’t much time Baden Judd.”

Judd – “Yes, but admiral what is this about the Breen?”

T’Lara – “We cannot discuss it now. Await my message. Out.”

The screen became a black void once again. Baden put his head in his hands as the questions peppered the surface of his brain. The Breen loomed over them all, an ever terrorising presence he had himself encountered, an experience that he wished he could cast aside. What could they be up to? Why had she seemed so anxious? Why did he feel more uneasy about this than previous missions?

But he knew that he must carry out his orders and hope that this service might buy him treasured freedom rather than the release that Gaila would soon embrace.

CHARACTER: Commander Shras
Location: Bridge Captains Ready Room

::Shras walked onto the bridge and walked over to the captain’s ready room, he gave his commanders chair by the captains a quick glance while passing::

~Still have not had a chance to see if it fits yet~

::He waited for a moment outside the door waiting to be admitted, he then entered::

‘Sir reporting as ordered.”

CHARACTER: Captain Walsh
LOCATION: Captain's Ready Room
TIME: 11:05

The Andorian entered the room and sat opposite Anthony's desk. His body language was closed and rigid.

~He's still not comfortable around me. Oh, well now is not the time for shyness or caution.~

"Thank you for coming Commander. We're about to arrive in the Veltrad system. All departments have reported ready and I was hoping that you had seen to the supply arrangements."

At Shras' nod he continued.

"Excellent, I knew that job was safe in your capable hands. Look, I'm going to level with you. As I'm sure you're aware I was on the front lines in the Dominion Wars. What my record doesn't quite go into detail about is the raids I lead behind enemy lines. Raids in this area. I guess I was picked due to my knowledge of this region and its people, but it's really just another piece of dumn federation logic. I guess they want this ship to be the one to heal the wounds that were inflicted to this region. I realise this is a difficu=lt situation to drop you into, but I felt it pertinent to make you aware of that slice of my past."

He looked at the andorian, he still hadn't fully learnt how to read antennae twists and bends.

~What is he thinking? Terry always let me know how he felt.~

"I understand if you have any questions, or problems with this."

Character: Commander Shras
Location: Captains Ready Room.

::The commander looked at his superior officer briefly::

~Ah ha now that explains a lot, and why the captain obviously has some sort of personal emotion wrapped up. But it’s not my place to probe~

“Captain the supplies are ready for beaming, and we have a modified the sensors on a runabout for long range, it is on the pad ready to go. Is their anything else Captain?”

CHARACTER: Captain Walsh
LOCATION: Captain's Ready Room and Bridge
TIME: 11:12

As Anthony looked into the Andorian's eyes and watched the flicker of his antennae he appreciated his new commander's tact. His second-in-command could have questioned him, Anthony wouldn't have blamed him, but he'd decided to let it slide.

~Good, I'm glad he's willing to trust me on this.~

As he was about to respond the comm channel buzzed and Ensign Lagrange's voice echoed through the room.

COM"Captain, we are coming up on the Veltrad system, preparing to drop out of warp."

Anthony looked at Shras the two men standing almost as one. The captain headed to the door and Shras allowed him to leave first. They marched on to the bridge, the dark grey carpet still holding its week old pile.

[Lagrange]
"Captain, one minute to the Veltrad system."

[Walsh]
"Excellent Ensign, drop to half impulse when we arrive and lay in a course for the colony on the third planet."

[Lagrange]
"Aye captain."

Anthony tapped the comm panel on his chair and spoke to the entire ship.

[Walsh]
COM"This is the captain. We are about to arrive in the Veltrad system, all personnel prepare for the resupply tasks you have been assigned. All senior staff report to the bridge."

A few minutes passed as the bridge crew busily worked at the stations around the room.

[Lagrange]
"Captain we have arrived at Veltrad III"

[Walsh]
"On screen."

The large viewscreen was suddenly filled with the image of Veltrad III. The desert world spun slowly, several ships in orbit obviously already busy with the resupply effort. The settled areas of the world were clearly visible, as were the scars left from orbital bombardment. Lagrange spun in his seat.

[Lagrange]
"Sir, we're being hailed by the colony administration."

[Walsh]
"On screen ensign."

The image changed again and the screen was filled by a view of a busy office and the head and shoulders of a cardassian woman. She was clearly an elderly lady, with drawn features and wrinkled skin. She glared through the screen at the captain, disappointment etched across her features.

[Doril]
"I am Glinn Doril chief administrator for the Veltrad colony."

[Walsh]
"Greetings, I am Captain Anthony Walsh of the USS Churchill."

[Doril]
"I know who you are captain."

[Walsh]
"We have brought the supplies that the Federation promised to this colony."

[Doril]
"I suppose it's the least you can do. But where are my manners. My office will transmit the location for your delivery. Thank you on behalf of the Cardassian Union for the aid you have offered us. We hope your brief stay here will be comfortable. Doril out."

The screen flickered back to the image of the planet. Anthony turned to Shras.

"Well that went well. Let's get started."

Captain's Log - Supplemental - Stardate 53510.86

The Churchill has arrived at Veltrad III to what can only be called an icy reception. We have been given the coordinates for the resupply materials and the final preparations are being made. I've given Judd the go-ahead with his mission, but he's taking Ensign Gibbs along for support. I hope the security officer can keep the counselor in check, his mission could yield valuable information if conducted properly.

It seems that the crew are working well together, and since the resupply should only take a day or two I may take this opportunity to test my new commander and head off with Bill in a runabout to do a little scouting of the Lusoban system. I haven't decided yet, but I'm sure Shras is up to it. Either way I have to meet this Cardassian Liaison Officer before I go anywhere, this I have been dreading all the way here.

CHARACTER: Commander Shras
LOCATION: Bridge
TIME: 11:12

Shras looked at the Captain gave a nod.

COM: “All Stations begin cargo transfer.”

“Helm move us to the designated orbital coordinates”

The Churchill moved into position around the battered planet.

~It looks scared almost as though it was wounded, I wonder what the Captain is feeling. Can’t stay docile not long ago this place was a war zone.~

“Tactical keep an eye out on all incoming and out going traffic I don’t want anybody getting to close. Operations monitor the com traffic see if you spot anything unusual.”

“Captain I recommend we launch a couple of our birds just to keep an eye on the out skirts of the system. Just in case”

CHARACTER: Captain Walsh
LOCATION: Bridge, Captain's Ready Room

"Good idea,"

Anthony turned and nodded at Bill standing at his station.

"Commander I trust I can leave you to organise the resupply, I have some things to see to. I also need to meet with this new liaison officer."

He looked across at the andorian.

~This my new friend is your chance to impress me, don't let me down.~

"The bridge is yours, I'll be in my ready room if you need me."

Anthony paced across the bridge and into his ready room. He sat himself down in his chair and turned on his desk computer.

~Strange to be back here like this.~

He leaned forwards and brought up the schematics for the enhanced runabout.

~Maybe a tactical mission is just what I need?~

::The Commander got up immediately after the Captain and Walked after him into his ready room::

“Sir Simply put it is against regulations for you to go away on a mission under such circumstances”