The New Mission

Posted on Wed Oct 6th, 2021 @ 5:40pm by Captain Calypso Skyie & Lieutenant Commander Tyler Driskill

Mission: The Dexic Negotiations
Location: Starbase 614, Commodore's Office

Cally and Tyler walked up to the desk that led the way to the Commanding Officer's office just outside the Operations center, where the brain of the starbase's operations was located. She glanced over at her Exec, then to the Master Chief Petty Officer behind the desk, "Commanders Skyie and Driskell to see the Commodore." She announced to the NCO.

For their part, the NCO didn't even glance down at his screen, instead minutely inspecting each officer for defects and finding none that would preclude them from seeing the flag officer, nodded and pressed a key on his console to let the door slide open, "She's expecting you, Commanders. Go on in."

Another glance to Tyler and Calypso led the way through the door until they came to rest at attention in front of the desk, watched the whole time by the dark-haired woman in the chair behind the desk. "So you're the new ship that was sent our way by Admiral Reginald Towers." The woman said in a tart voice. "I was sent a briefing by the Admiral and let me say it wasn't that impressive. He says that you're a washed up has-been." She pointed at Tyler with a finger, then switched it to Calypso, "And you are a disrespectful Marine that doesn't know when it's time to step back and let the real Fleet take charge. What do you two have to say about that?"

Cally resisted the urge to look at Tyler, "Ma'am, I'm just here to serve the people of the Federation in the best capacity I can. I believe I'm in the right place at the right time with the right ship." Okay, that was almost a falsehood. It would depend on the crew that was just about to come aboard right now.

Tyler literally had to bite his tongue to not tell the woman to piss off, he might have been a little old for his position but there was no reason to talk to them the way she was.

Commodore Erica Everly's eyes went from one to the other, then back again as she stood to her height of five foot three, but didn't comment on their responses, "Reginald tends to send me those officers and ships that incur his displeasure. Captain Watson of the Duluth bungled a maneuver during a War Games five years ago, causing Reginald's proposed tactics to fail." She took one step to the side, "Captain Lassiter of the Attila was Reginald's flag captain in the Tactical Maneuvers three years ago when another set of his ideas failed and he was removed from consideration of Eighth Fleet command and put into the Office of Personnel."

Throughout that time, no expression was on her face, "And now I've got you." She stared at them for another moment before a shrug and walked to the sideboard where a few bottles were, "Can I interest either of you in a drink? I've got whiskey, gin, brandy and I could scare up a beer if you want." She began to fix herself something even as she looked over her shoulder with a smile, "Oh, relax the two of you, you're among friends here."

Again, just like the myth of 'convenience' in regards to a flag officer, one didn't refuse a drink from one when offered, "I'll take a whiskey on ice, much ice, please, ma'am." Cally managed to get out through the lump in her throat.

"Whiskey on the rocks would be appreciated ma'am" Tyler added and looked over at Cally for a second as the Commodore looked away.

The Commodore herself made the drinks and brought them over, placing them in the Commanders' hands before fetching her own and waving to a couch, "Sit, sit." She laughed as she made her way to a chair by the couch, "Jesus that's fun to do, prerogatives of an old lady. Besides, Reggie thought he was a ladies man when we were at the Academy together, but I never fell for that with him and he's never forgiven me. So, he 'punishes' me by giving me the people he things are screwups. Lassiter has been wonderful out here and Watson's off cleaning up a mess rather nicely as well. In fact, I'm glad you made it here with over a week to spare on your timetable."

She took a drink of her brandy with a single cube of ice in it, "Reggie did have a conniption fit and I am required to reprimand you for your actions." She waved a finger at the two of them, "He even sent me a picture of that target asteroid so I'd know what you'd done, but I'd have hoped you wouldn't have had the temerity to actually sign your work Calypso, still... I've had a framed portrait of it made up and you can pick it up from Chief Patterson on your way out, my compliments."

That caught Cally short and she almost choked on her drink, "He admitted it?" She got out.

"How couldn't he?" The Commodore replied, "The asteroid, of course, was reclaimed almost immediately, couldn't have it out there in front of God and Federation, could he?" She waved it away, "Of course, listen to the old lady talk, I know, being a Commodore has its perks, but I'm honestly glad to have you both and Chimera here. A Luna-class, which means that I can send you off to do what we're actually SUPPOSED to do out here, find new things to investigate."

"I agree ma'am" Tyler gave a slight smile as he took a sip of his beverage. "However the Chimera is still in need of repairs, supplies and personnel" he was almost being forward to try and get what they needed.

"Of course, and I'm sure we can fit you in for an overhaul in the near future, before we send you out. In fact, I've got a little problem I'm going to need you to help with before I send you into the deep dark." Erica Everly looked a bit stressed for once, "I would like to extend my regrets over Captain Taylor, Calypso, I never had the opportunity to meet her, but her reputation with dealing with pirates, as well as that of Perseus, was of the top quality. Can I presume you were a good part of the planning on those operations?"

"Yes, ma'am." Cally confirmed, "She was a good teacher, why, are you having a pirate problem?"

"I am... A pirate squadron has moved into the area, a sneaky bunch they are and I'm definitely going to need your help with them, but not yet. I want to free up a couple other ships in our sector before we tackle them. I've got Rapier and Allegient harrassing them right now whenever they get the chance, but they're primarily escorting convoys and can't stand up to them in an all-up fight. But there's another situation that's come up that's got a higher priority at the moment. How much do you know about the sector?"

"Mostly just the background brief, ma'am, we got the full download and I spent a fair amount of time going over it, but this is my first time in this operations area and reports can only tell us so much." Cally admitted, "Tyler, what about you?"

"Unfortunately I am on the same page as Commander Skyie, ma'am" Tyler was hoping they would be given more information.

"Not a problem, I can arrange for Intelligence to get you the entire sector broken down into bite sized pieces. In fact, I know we've even got an Intelligence officer that's due to report for Chimera, so he can handle anything you require." Everly nodded, "But for now... There's a world about three days at high warp from here called Dexic, home to a native species. The entire world is run by two massive corporations who took over smaller ones until it was just the two. The CEOs have both stated that they desire to join the federation, however both want to head the government. At this moment, they're at an impasse in their negotiations, so one of them had a great idea that they should bring in an envoy to clear up the problems they're disagreeing with. In fact, the one that didn't have that idea had the other idea that if they did that, they'd follow whatever that envoy decided, no questions asked."

Erica swirled her own drink, it was a wine, then took a sip from her glass, "So I am going to hijack your ship for a taxi. Take Ambassador O'Connor to Dexic, stay in orbit while you get your crew settled into their duties and the Ambassador does his thing, bring the Ambassador back and you're done. One week, ten days tops. I should have Verity out of the internal dockyard by then and we'll get Chimera in for her overhaul. Sound good?"

Cally nodded slowly, "Nice and easy... Sounds that way at least, think we're up to it, Commander?" She asked Tyler.

Tyler gave a nod to Cally "Shouldn't be a problem."

"Good, it's settled." Erica tapped a button on her comm, "Ronald? Get O'Connor on the horn, tell him his taxi's at docking bay three. He's got the rest of the day to get on board, they leave tomorrow morning." A confirmation came back and she nodded, "Right. Commander Driskell, Tyler, I mean, you were saying that you needed repairs, supplies and personnel. Repairs are going to be started in just under two weeks. Can you survive for call it fourteen days with the supplies you've got?"

Tyler thought for a few seconds and then looked at Erica "I think we can make it, it may be a little tight" he smiled "but we are Starfleet Officers."

"We'll get you topped off while we're doing your refit. So that just leaves people. I know that you're onloading a lot of enlisted and junior officers levied from various ships and assignments, but where are you needing the most help?" Everly looked at him over her wineglass.

"Operations and engineering are where our greatest need's are" he looked over at Cally and back at the Commodore "at least in my opinion."

"Science as well." Calypso added in, "But I agree that Operation and especially Engineering." She grimaced, "In fact, I need to let you know I'm requesting a court martial be convened for Lieutenant Jay Gee Laura Davenport for negligence and willful disobedience. She nearly got two promising young officers killed because of her laziness."

"I see... You know what this will do to her career if you have the evidence?" Erica looked and saw the nod from the Commander, "So be it. Who's your ranking engineer at this point?"

Cally couldn't help but laugh, it was either laugh or cry, "I've got a couple Petty Officers down there, but my ranking 'officer' is a Cadet Fourth Class named Jenna Jade. No actual officers down there, unless there are some coming on board."

The Commodore looked between Cally and Tyler, obviously checking to see if they were pulling her leg. "And she's been in charge since you relieved Davenport?"

Calypso nodded again, "Before that, even. I'd had reports of her past inactions and I put the Cadet as her observer to keep her in line. She's actually the reason we're here, she performed a miracle with dilithium crystals and got it to work."

The Commodore thought for a moment, "You're getting four Ensigns, but that was the officer complement for your engineering levies... Tell you what, I'll loan you my Assistant Engineer. Until I can find you someone to replace him, then I'll need him back."

Cally nodded, "I think that could work."

"Appreciated Commodore" they would need someone with some experience under their belt if they ran into trouble. Tyler was more then willing to help out but he was no engineer.

The Commodore smiled and reached out again to her comm, instead of buzzing her secretary, she typed in a different sequence, "Oliver? Pack up your cards and whatever you need for at least two weeks. I'm calling in my favor."

A voice came over the comm, "You are? Finally. But why and where?" It was rough sounding, but competent.

"You know that Luna that just got here? You're filling in until I find someone better for them." She waited while the voice on the other line cursed fluently, "You owe me, Oliver." She stated firmly.

"No, Erica, YOU owe ME now. Two bottles of the good stuff, payable now." It was a surly voice at this point, "You know I don't go out on starships."

"When you get back." She countered, "Take your cards, fleece their crew if you can." Erica grinned at the two officers on her couch, "Report to their engineering section in a couple hours, find..." She glanced back Cally, "What was her name again?"

"Cadet Jenna Jade." Cally said softly.

"Ensign Jade, Jenna Jade." Everly altered, "She'll be you second for now, no other Lieutenants at the moment. While you're on board, do a full survey, we're overhauling her once you guys get back. Have a good trip!" She cut the comm in mid-curse from Oliver. "All right, that takes care of Engineering temporarily... Science and Operations, you said?"

"Aye" Tyler said with a nod. "What's a Luna class with out a Chief Science Officer" he held eye contact with the Commodore "and I'm not Science Officer" his background was in security and tactical. "Operations we have a young Ensign that is filling in" he paused and smiled "actually Ensign Sheldon is quite capable of handling the station, but seems to lack confidence in her self and is rather green."

The Commodore perused her memory and her wine glass once more as she considered his words, "You are indeed correct... The good news is that this trip to Dexic you're about to go on won't require much in the way of scientific research and you say your Operations ensign can handle it? Let her keep it for now unless I can dig someone else up. You should have another Ensign or two coming to you in each of those sections, and a couple experienced petty officers for Ops. But, again, I'll try to find you people to fill those slots before you get back."

Taking a sip of his whiskey the Lieutenant Commander gave a nod. He had faith in Valerie, but they could use all the hands they could get on the Chimera.

"One more thing, Commodore..." Calypso hadn't forgotten, "I also need a counselor. The one I have, Faith Vianelli, isn't certified yet and we were supposed to have a second counselor for oversight in order for her to finish her qualifications. As such, she currently can't see patients and I think it's rather important."

Once again, the Commodore thought for a few moments, then nodded, "I don't have any Fleet counselors to spare, but I do have a solution to your particular problem. Currently on the station is a civilian 'roving' counselor that's usually called in to investigate chain of command problems, such as a counselor who relieves a commanding officer from their post or recommends it. They also audit counselors and their cases to ensure that they're consistent. They're certified by the Fleet and act as a 'Special Master' for court cases as well. This one wouldn't be anywhere in your chain of command, but they certainly could act as a mentor and supervisor for your counselor, Faith, it was?"

Cally nodded, "That would be much appreciated. I don't know how long we'd need them for, at least until we can get another counselor on board to mentor Faith, but any help would be.. Helpful."

"I hope that I've answered your most critical needs, at least for the short term. I'm not stocked up with science types here on the base and my operations types are typically specialists on starbase operations. " Erica tossed back the rest of her glass of wine, then put it down, "But for now, I think that's about the best I can do for you, until you get back." She smiled, "Let me let you both get back to what you need to do, all right?"

Cally nodded and placed her only partially emptied glass back on the table and stood before the Commodore could, "Thank you, ma'am, for your time and assistance. When we get back, we'll tackle your pirates." She smiled with a hint of aggression, "I don't like them."

"Most defiantly a pain for the sector and I appreciate all your help ma'am" Tyler said as he stood and finished off his whiskey.

As they left the Commodore's office, Cally did indeed stop and picked up the wrapped portrait from Chief Patterson, then stopped at the turbolift, "Tyler, I want you to take the rest of the day off. I'm going to get back to get a head start on the paperwork, but I want you to spend some time on here, get a feel for how it runs, anything we need to know about it. You up to it?"

"Always up for it" Tyler said in return and gave Cally a nod. He would get a good feel for the base and how things ran, if there were any areas to avoid and get a report back to Cally.

"Right, see you in the morning, come see me during my morning swim so we can discuss it before we leave?" She smiled, "And go have some fun, while you're at it."

"Yes ma'am" Tyler said with a smile.