JDL | "Wheels on the Buss..." | Diplomatic Away Team

Posted on Sat Nov 23rd, 2013 @ 3:39am by Lieutenant Te'shara R'heil & Captain Landon Neyes & Lieutenant Commander Mathew Caldwell & Ensign Markus Locke & Petty Officer 2nd Class John Capellupo

1,083 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: In the Dark
Location: Main Hangar Deck
Timeline: Just prior to arriving at Noturi

=/\= Main Hangar Deck, USS VINDICATOR =/\=

A Gryphon class runabout’s heavy weight sent a thunderous roar through the hangar deck as it decoupled and touched down in the loading zone. Its sleek curves and tight corners edged in contrast to the otherwise boring plating of the deck. Neyes smiled as he read the name of the runabout, “Horizon”. The Captain held the supply bag he was taking with him on the mission in one hand, while helping a crewman to carry a large cargo container with supplies for their expedition to Noturi.

Landon’s short sleeve shirt and uniform vest set the general mood of the away team. There was really no escaping the feeling that any away mission to a planet felt something like a field-trip with your school classmates. A short vacation if someone wanted to call it that, even. Knowing they were going to have their hands entrenched in mines or diplomacy for the next few days seemed to do little to dampen a rising sense of adventure the crew carried since the briefing.

At least that was how Landon saw it.

“Sir do you really think we’ll need all this?” Someone asked the Captain begrudgingly.

Between struggled grunts of effort, Landon replied, “We’re not coming back until we leave, crewman. Can’t forget anything.” Neyes didn’t enjoy over-packing, but there had been too many instances of panicked unpreparedness in his past missions. This time he wanted it all to go down smooth. They’d managed to load nearly a quarter of the runabout’s large hold in less than ten minutes.

“How’re the preparations coming for the security team, Mr. Caldwell?” Neyes asked as he lifted another cargo container into the runabout’s loading dock.

Matt nodded and smiled: "The preparations are complete, Captain. Te'shara and I are well-armed and contingency plans have been prepared in case the security detail is compromised. I know this is a peaceful mission, but we are ready in the event of hostility." He might have seemed overconfident, but they would never know just how many phasers he had concealed in his standard uniform.

Te'shara agreed with Caldwell, as she listened to him, she was all ready to go...

“Locke!” Neyes looked around for the young Ensign.

"Captain?" Markus answered politely, moving quietly and unobtrusively amid the hustle of the loading crew until he was within conversational distance of Neyes. His duty uniform was pressed and well-fitted, having been professionally tailored back on Earth before he arrived aboard the Vindicator. Replicators just didn't have the knack for properly groomed attire.

Upon seeing the well-groomed new officer, Landon raised his brow approvingly. In comparison, Locke was much more put-together looking than Neyes himself. "Prep the shuttle for launch. I'll take us down myself." His eyes beamed, "I've been looking forward to it, actually."

"Sir," Locke began without hesitation, "Perhaps it would be better for the duty pilot to assume the controls for the descent, so that you may focus on the mission ahead?" It was not exactly good protocol for the junior-most officer, only recently aboard, to question the CO's choices, but diplomacy favored the prepared mind and Locke could not fathom how flying a shuttle through an atmosphere could be anything but distracting.

Te`shara was listening to everyone speak.while she took notes on her padd.

"Yes, sir," Ensign Locke acceded and obeyed the order to begin the disembarkation checklist, ensuring they would have everything they needed once away.

Landon turned to Caldwell, "And since we're on the subject of prep... how are you on dilpomatic detail? I know it's been a little while since the last time you had to smile and nod a few hundred times. He hoisted another container up into the shuttle.

Matt frowned: "Captain, I am hoping to minimize all contact with the indigenous personnel on the planet. If I were distracted in some trivial conversation, it would inhibit my ability to effectively protect you and the rest of the away team. Is that acceptable, sir?"

Cody walked into the hangar bay, a small duffle on his shoulder. He was happy to get away from the ship for a while, and enjoyed that it would be one of his first away missions. Smiling, he walked over to where the captain was standing and said "I'm all set to leave Captain. What do you need me to do now sir?"

Landon nodded to both men. "Well I don't know about 'minimizing' our contact with the Noturans, Caldwell. It's best to keep an open mind. Who knows?! Maybe you'll get to take a load off for minute. This is a diplomatic mission afterall." He paused a moment, "You can never be too careful... but try to take it easy.

"And Cody, I need you to ensure our living situation is up to snuff once we arrive. Weather scans show the region we'll be staying in is deep in the center of their winter. Science tells me it's like a perma-snow boreal tundra most of the year anyway. I hope you packed warm. Or... you could stay in the shuttle."

Nodding, Cody replied "I'm on it sir. I do believe the computer has enough information to help me prepare for our...accomodations. And yes sir, I did pack an extra jacket."
<>

Landon could hardly contain his excitement as he sealed the shuttle's cargo hatch and entered the lock command. It was true, the area where the Noturans mainly habitated was the warmest of the few places capable of supporting life within any margin of comfort. Few and far between were his chances to 'play in the snow', and this was certainly going to be one of those times. Of course... there was also work to be done.

Sitting at the helm controls, Neyes entered the preflight commands for departure. The rest of the team filtered into either the stations or the seats at the rear of the cabin. The Gryphons were large and fast, with plenty of room to move around. "Okay preflight checklist complete. This is Neyes to Ivanova, you're team good to go?"

"All set sir, ready when you are." Rochelle replied from the second runabout.

"Good. Then let's get going. If you're not tied down I suggest we strap in." Landon said, a large grin plastered on his face.

The two runabouts lifted off and gracefully flew from the hangar deck toward the planet below.

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Vindicator Diplomatic Team

 

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