Backlog SD 241401.XX | "Take Flight" | CO, CONN | Capt Landon Neyes, LtCmdr Kerensky-Markell

Posted on Wed Jan 29th, 2014 @ 8:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Isaias Kerensky-Markell & Captain Landon Neyes

1,536 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: In the Dark
Location: Captain's RR
Timeline: Prior to leaving Stardock on Earth

=/\= Captain's Ready Room, USS Vindicator =/\=

Landon was already tired of the constant hubbub surrounding a space port. Earth Stardock was one of the busiest places in the sector, and in the wake of the attack on Earth itself, it was worse than usual. Twice he'd had to provide emergency accomodations for crews and staff of derelict ships coming into the system under tow. While he was thankful for the opportunity to do some good, the constant in and out of his office was beginning to wear down his well-established patience.

Now, with the first officer of one of those previously mentioned ships out of his hair, he needed to attend to a more pleasant issue. His new Chief Flight Control officer was on board. Landon snatched at his coffee, letting the last of his pent up frustration go... as he anticipated the man would arrive soon. The last thing he needed was to seem like the cagey and hot-tempered new Captain.

Isa nervously played with the wedding band on his ring finger; it was one of many ‘ticks’ he had developed over the years. It meant he had a certain level of anxiety. In this matter it was regarding his new position as Chief Flight Control Officer of the USS Vindicator.

The Vindicator was a beast, in relation to size and personnel. The largest ship Isa had piloted was a Galaxy Class vessel, which in itself was a larger class. As the doors swished open, revealing a limited view the large Bridge, Isa watched as a few passing officers walked by the doorway.

Still playing with the band, Isa did depart the lift. He took a moment to look around the control center, specifically staring at the CONN, he then made his way over to the Captain’s ready room. He knew the man was aware of his arrival, so he just tapped on the entry request indicator.

"Enter" Neyes said, taking a sip of his coffee.

Moving forward, Isa made his way over to Landon, maintaining a respectful distance from the desk. “Captain.” The man gave Landon a stiff nod as he stepped forward briefly to pass him a smaller sized PADD with his official transfer orders.

“Lieutenant Commander Isaias Kerensky-Markell, reporting in as your new Chief Flight Control Officer.” The man remained silent after his introduction.

Neyes didn't stand, but set down his drink and leaned forward. "Have a seat, Commander."

"Thank you." Isa offered the Captain another polite nod as he took a seat in front of him. His body posture remained at attention though.

Landon eyed the man over for a moment. The Lieutenant Commander was handsome, fit, well mannered so far. Those were qualities he picked up right from the start, but Neyes wanted to know what his skills were. A personnel file only filled in so much. Isaias was a talented officer, on paper, but it would take more than that to prove his piloting ability to Landon. You didn't live your entire life behind the controls of a starship to simple hand them over to just any old pilot. All his life the young Captain had worked as a pilot. Professionally, he wasn't better at anything else.

"Hopefully your trip wasn't too much of a hassle. I know the sector is completely in shambles at the moment." Neyes said, standing to move across the room.

Isa couldn't help but get lost in Landon's eyes for a moment, as he maintained eye contact with the man. The intensity of the blue hue in the Captain's eyes seemed to grab hold of Isa's very soul, if only for a moment. Landon's statement did process but it would be a moment before he responded.

"Sorry Captain. Yes.... The sector... Rather, the entire fleet is it panic mode at the moment it seems. Getting here was an interesting task with all of the change in orders for many of the vessels en route." The two were referring of course to the recent attack on earth.

Neyes nodded, "I'm sure it was rough. We've had our own share of troubles recently. It seems there's really no good place to be right now, if even Earth isn't safe..." He looked out the large curved windows, peering at the cleanup of destruction outside.

He turned to the Commander, a somber expression across his face. "I need to know whoever takes the helm on this ship can and will do their very best to guide this ship safely. You're telling me you're that man? You can do that for me?"

"Ummmmm..." Isa bit his inner lip for a moment, he was expecting to be grilled in some sense, especially given Landon's own record. Figuring his initial response was not very 'convincing', the pilot gave a stiff nod. "I am.. I can.."

"Then come with me." Landon said, moving towards the door.

"Yes Sir." He quickly rose from the seat he was in and walked over by his Commanding Officer. Landon stood slightly taller than Isa.

"After you Sir." Isa began to play with the wedding band on his ring finger once more.

Neyes grinned. He strode past the lobby, which separated his office from the rest of the bridge, and the two made their way down the small corridor to the impressive bridge. There was a small crew on staff, as the ship was mostly on stand down. Landon was about to change that, however. The Captain quickly crossed the distance to the helm station and tapped the young woman at the controls on the shoulder.

"You're relieved. I need this man to show me what he's made of." Neyes said, a glint in his blue eyes. The edge of his mouth curved into a satisfied grin. Turning to Isaiah, "Take us out of the system, Commander. We're due to shakedown after our repairs and I have a crew anxious for our next assignment."

Markell followed Neyes closely. As they approached his main station, Isa couldn't help but get a sense of flight in his stomach 'butterflies' is a term many would use. Once the woman moved out of the way, Isa jumped right into her place. Taking a deep breath he quickly gazed over the controls in front of him before looking up at Neyes.

"Yes Sir. Plotting course out of SOL system now." Isa moved his hands over the controls, briefly he would pause for a moment here and there as he got more familiar with the layout. It did seem natural to him overall however.

"Course plotted. Pre-flight checklist verified and confirmed." The Lieutenant Commander looked at his CO once more, waiting for the final order.

Neyes, for all his efforts to be the noble and separate Captain he knew the crew would need him to be, he loved this part of his job. He stepped up to his chair at the center of the bridge and sat, coffee in hand, and a satisfied smile on his face. They were once again able to operate a smoothe ship under their own power. Lightheartedly, he tapped on his personal console, bringing up some light reading consisting of suty rosters and reports. He looked forward to a long shakedown with no requests for supplies or staff.

"Take us out, Commander." Neyes ordered. "Ops. Let the starbase know we'll be back in six hours to retrieve the crew still on the station."

"Yes Sir." Hitting the engagement control, the console chirped in response. The ship would swing itself around, under thruster controls pre-impulse startup. The man made a few quick adjustments as he got a 'feel' for the size of the ship. It was after all the biggest vessel he piloted to date.

The edges of the starbase slid along the image on the massive viewscreen. Other ships were knowing enough to give the immense USS Vindicator some breathing room. If something were to be unfortunate enough to be in their way... all 34 decks would be hard pressed to stop in time. Her newly reinforced and refurbished hull shone brightly, turning outward into space, and away from the battered starbase.

Neyes timed and criticised the helmsman's skills in his head, relatively impressed with how quickly and effectively he managed to bring them away from the station. Landon caught himself whispering course corrections and thruster commands. He chuckled lightly as he watched.

Satisfied with the angle, Markell initiated startup of impulse engines and correlated speed increases/decreases with the course he had plotted out of the system.

"All crew prepare for shakedown cruise. Engage at warp nine once we're outside the system. Helm, ensure the intertial damnpeners are calibrated correctly. They were a little shakey on our return trip."

"Yes Sir." Working his way through the controls, Markell implemented the speed and course on standby while working with engineering to confirm calibration on the inertial dampeners. His duties often required simultaneous communications with various departments aboard. A few chirps from his console confirmed calibration for Isa.

"Course plotted. Speed set. Intertial dampener calibration confirmed." The man looked back at Landon slightly, awaiting command.

Neyes grinned. "Alrighty then, ...Engage."

=/\= END JOINT LOG =/\=

Captain Landon Neyes
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Lt Commander Kerensky Markell
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS VINDICATOR

 

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