Mission: Need a ride?

[Deleted]

While sitting in his ready room, Zoarial was looking over his briefing. They were going to deliver some supplies to a nearby planet. A mission that wouldn't take over a week, back and forth. He wondered why they wouldn't send a cargo ship out, but on the other hand he understood that they wouldn't send a new captain such as himself away on missions of more relevance.

Zoarial looked over the various status reports that he had received. They hadn't been able to leave the damaged starbase unharmed themselves. The sensor readings that they uploaded from the base's computers showed that the ships that had assaulted the starbase were hiding in meteor storms not very far away. It was only because of Hannah's quick decision to abort the mission and fly back to the conqueror at full warp, or they would have suffered far more damage.

Perhaps that was the reason? That he and Hannah couldn't even handle such a simple mission as checking out a distress call and starfleet didn't trust important missions to them anymore?

However, now was the time to brief the rest of the crew about the mission and Zoarial wondered how well they would take it. He knew that the Hope's crew was one that needed excitement while he could have simply sent them on shore leave and summon a cargo ship to do the cargo-trip.

=^=This is Captain Zoarial=^= he paused for a moment, not really liking the sound of this combination. =^= Please be ready for the mission briefing in ten forward at 1400 =^=

And with a sigh, Zoarial picked up his padd and walked to the replicator to get a mug of Raktajino. It was only 11 o' clock now, but he already sat ready in ten forward, shifting through some business on his padd.

<<Tag All. Let's get this mission started!>>

[hannah]

Hannah was sat in her office filling in her mission report for starfleet command. As she did she ran over every decision in her mind, seeing if she could have done anything different.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the report by the captain that there was going to a mission briefing at 14.00 hours. Hannah decided to leave the mission report as it was just frustrating her and deciding to head to see how the loading of supplies was going.

The large doors slide open to reveal the cargo bay. It was busy with supplies being moved of anti-grav units into there storage space, the transporter was being manned as more supplies were beamed onboard as well as being moved though the airlock.

Hannah moved over to the ensign who was co-ordinating things for this shift.

“How is it going? Are all the supplies nearly onboard?” she asked.

“Most of the supplies are nearly on board, we are just missing a few cargo containers which should be delivered this afternoon,” the officer informed her pointing out the information on the pad he was holding which contained a manifest of all the supplies coming onboard.

Hannah nodded.

“Carry on then,” she said and exited the room heading for the bridge.

She spent the next couple of hours on the bridge until her stomach started to rumble and she decided to get some food in the messhall before the briefing.

Hannah arrived at the messhall a few minutes later and proceeded straight for the replicator on arrival, ordering herself a toasted sandwich, some salad and a glass of lemonade. She then looked around the room for a table to sit at.

[Deleted]

Kuragh spent most of the morning on the holodeck and after a quick bite to eat he made his way to the conn. There wasnt a lot to do whilst the ship was in dock.

He spent his time idly reviewing the latest protocols.

[Deleted]

Joanne had spent the day on the Starbase shopping and soaking in the atmosphere of the myriad of races present, some of whom she had never seen before. Wearying she decided to return to the Hope, the recall order had been given and although she still had a few hours spare, she preferred to eat aboard the Hope where the Chef knew her tastes.

Stopping off at her quarters to drop of her things she quickly changed in to her duty uniform and went to the mess hall. Not everyone was back from leave and so it wasnt a busy as usual. She got herself some hasparatm, a taste she had picked up some years ago ona visit to the bajoran sector and looked for a place to sit. Spying commander Stevenson on her own she approached,

"Mind if I join you" she asked

[Deleted]

Shris was on the bridge awaiting the next mission

[Deleted]

When his chronometer displayed 1345, Kuragh headed down to Ten Forward for the mission briefing. He idly wondered why it was being held in such a public place, rather than in the observation lounge, but who was he to argue with the commanding officer afterall? Once there he ordered a drink and sat down at the large table that Zoarial was sat at. He observed the fellow klingon for a while, wondering what his story was.. all klingons in starfleet had SOME story.

Taking a big gulp of the drink he had got, he thumped it down on the table in front of him, satisfied with the feel of the cool juices running down his throat.

"Captain." He acknowledged with a nod.

OOC: Shris, if you're only going to post that, save us the laughter and don't post anything, its worthless.

[Deleted]

It was a couple of minutes before the briefing time that the room started to fill up, and it was obvious that not only the senior officers were present.

"You might wonder why I called you all to ten forward," Zoarial started, "and you might wonder as well why there are so many junior officers here. Well, the first is caused by the latter. This many people wouldn't fit in our casual briefing room. The latter is because of the following fact. Our mission isn't going to be as exciting as usual, and since there isn't really a matter of importance I chose to let the junior officers get a small glimpse of what they can expect when they reach a higher rank."

Zoarial was relieved to see that everyone seemed content with the explanation, there wasn't a better one that he could give.

"We have aboard some supplies for this class M planet about a week's travel from here" Zoarial explained, and a planet popped up on a portable holographic transmitter on the centre of the table. "They've had a major power failure and they need the supplies to set up a new powerstation. We will not have to rebuild it for them though. It will just be a simple pick up and drop off mission."

Zoarial then turned to the first officer. "Commander Stevenson, I heard that we are still missing a couple of cargo containers with some on-board supplies in them?"

<<Hannah>>

"Starfleet told me not to wait for them, if we need anything we are to pick it up on a planet on route. It seems that they want us to get out of here as soon as possible." Zoarial said, regretting the fact that they couldn't simply wait another day.

"Are there any other questions?" Zoarial asked.

<<Tag Anyone>>

[Deleted]

will we need the guns at all, or am i likely to be unneeded? if you dont need me i could do something else. i was trained in engineering maybe they need me more?

shris waited for someone to answer him

[hannah]

Hannah noticed the captain reading though the reports at one of the tables. She considered going over but decided that she didn’t want to disturb him, so she took a seat at one of the empty tables.

Hannah looked up to see Joanne standing over her with a tray in her hand. She smiled and gestured for she to take a seat. She took another bite of her toasted sandwich.

The time passed quickly as they talked and ate. The other senior officers began to arrive and the meeting would be starting shortly. Hannah moved out of her seat followed by Joanne towards the larger table where the other senior staff was gathering ready for the briefing. She noticed the room was all filling up with junior officers occupying the surrounding smaller tables.

Zoarial explained there mission, which seemed like a fairly straight forward mission, that seemed more appropriate for a cargo ship than an Starfleet vessel, but Hannah wasn’t in the habit of questioning starfleet orders.

Zoarial’s attention turned to her and he asked about the missing cargo containers.

“Yes, they should be delivered this afternoon,” Hannah responded. She listened as Zoarial informed her that they wouldn’t be waiting for the supplies and they would pick up anything else on route.

The briefing finished minutes later and Hannah followed the other officers out heading for the bridge.

[Deleted]

"That's a good question," Zoarial said to Shris, "Perhaps you can help in engineering to get a better performance from our warp engines? My reports tell me that the engineers of the spacedock didn't have the time to adress and solve the problem that's causing them to be a bit... sluggish."

<<Shris>>

After all questions had been answered Zoarial dismissed the officers and headed for the bridge. Upon his arrival there he seated himself in the centre chair and waited for the officers to fill in.

"Mr Kuragh be ready to depart upon my command. Head for these coordinates at full warp. You'd better check with commander Shris what his advised maximum speed is." Zoarial said to the helm.

<<Kuragh>>

"Ms Merit, although this is going to be a simple pickup and dropoff mission I do want a full range scan for any vessel within 5 parasec and cloaked vessels within 2 parasec."

<<Joanne>>

Zoarial realised that this was not going to be a very interesting time for the CMO and decided to give him a little homework.

=^=This is Captain Zoarial for Ensign Williams. If you have nothing to do in sickbay at the moment, might I suggest taking a holodeck training or anything of the sort? Perhaps the program Medical 5 will be to your liking, it involves a moderate amount of casualties, but the injuries are quite different.=^= he said after opening a channel.

<<Jonathon>>

=^=As you wish. Zoarial out=^=

"Helm." Zoarial said, for the first time in his life, "Take us out."

[Deleted]

aye sir i'll report in as soon as the briefing is over. thank you sir.

when the briefing finished, he made his way down through the ship to engineering and started to look at the warp engine readings to see if he could figure out what was making it a bit sluggish.

[Deleted]

Joanne having eaten her dinner had returned to duty on the bridge. She was relived that it was going to be a simple mission.

All to often recently missions had been of dire importance or of life threatening consequence. For once she relished the thought of simply doing her job, no pressure no worries.

Taking her seat at ops she listened as the Captain issued orders. She called up her console and prepared the long range sensors,

"Ready when you are Captain" she stated,

TAG Captain

[hannah]

Hannah had been sat for the last few hours as the ship spread at high warp to it’s destination.

“Long range sensors have picked up a ship on intercept course towards us,” Joanne informed Hannah.

“Hail them,” Hannah said.

“They are already hailing us,” Joanne informed Hannah.

“Put then on screen,” Hannah responded.

A grey face appeared on screen, he was bald with what look like an elephant’s truck coming from the back of his head and resting on his shoulder. From what he was wearing Hannah could tell he was not from a military vessel.

“I am J’arak of the cargo vessel B’irra,” the man introduced.

“I am Commander Hannah Stevenson of the Federation starship U.S.S. Hope,” Hannah responded, “Why are you on an intercept course?”

“We have a Federation citizen onboard and he has requested to be transfer to a federation vessel as soon as possible and you are the only federation vessel in the area,” J’arak explained.

Hannah nodded, “We will transport him aboard as soon as you are in range.”

Hannah then signalled to Joanne to cut the communications channel. Then turned her attention to Kuragh.

“Plot an intercept course with a cargo vessel,” Hannah ordered, turning her attention quickly back to Joanne.

“Could you please inform the captain about our guest,” Hannah ordered.

Then looked toward Shris.

“Take a security team to the transporter room to meet our guest then take him to sickbay for a medical examination,” Hannah ordered.

[Deleted]

Zoarial was curious about the hitchhiker. He had been notified of the sudden guest, and after the medical exams had all been positive, the klingon captain went to the guest's quarters.

"Welcome aboard the USS Hope!" Zoarial said, "I am Zoarial, the proud captain of this vessel. What prompted you to ask for a transfer to our ship?"

"Ai matey, tis not me own choice tha' I be aboard da vessel back there. I prefer te be somewhere I know that I be safe." the answer came.

"Well there's no safer place to be than aboard my ship." Zoarial said and beamed. "What was your name again?" He hinted.

"Ahh sorry captain matey. Me name be Arrrrg." Arrrrg said.

"Well that's an unusual name, no offence meant." Zoarial said raising an eyebrow.

"No offence taken, me real name be Reagan, but I usually shorten it down to Arrrrrg. Where are you heading?" Reagan asked.

"A planet about 3 days of travel from here." Zoarial replied. "I am afraid that is the only planet on route."

"That be fine." Reagan said. "Anywhere to get some solid ground under me feet."

Zoarial excused himself and headed back to the bridge.

"Continue your previous course mr Kuragh" Zoarial ordered and sat down in his chair. "Thank you for handling this situation for me ms Stevenson. I had some rather urgent matters I had to attend to."

<<Hannah>>

"We'll just continue our mission and see what we can do after that." Zoarial said.

<<Hannah>>

But before Zoarial could continue the conversation the ship shook heavily.

"Ms Merit, report." Zoarial said and sat upright.

"We've been shot at by a ship that has just uncloaked at 50.250" The response came.

"Shris. Get our shields up." Zoarial ordered.

"I can't sir, the shot seemed to have jammed them." Shris replied.

"Sir?" Joanne interrupted. "They have a transporter lock on our ship."

"What area?" Zoarial asked.

"Let me check... the guest quarters. They have initiated transportation now." the answer came.

"In which direction is the transport?" Zoarial inquired.

"Two ways, someone's beamed off our ship and a large group is transported here, it's going to be crowded inthere." Joanne said rather worried.

"Arrrrg." Zoarial said.

<<Hannah>>

"No ms Stevenson, I don't have descend from pirates, it's our guest, he's called Reagan, Arrrrg for short. Take two security teams to his quarters now. You will recieve further orders when the area is cleared. Sorry commander Shris, I need you here at the tactical console. Scan the area for any hostile vessels and order engineering to get the shields up. Commander Merit, I need to know where our guest was beamed to. Please scan his transporter trail. Lieutenant Kuragh, prepare yourself for battle and evasive maneouvres.

<<Tag all>>