The tale of the girl and the humpback whale

Posted on Sunday 7 August 2022 @ 20:23 by Civilian Sansa Draxx-Jones & Lieutenant Nir’anyar

Mission: Revelations
Location: Deep Space 21
Timeline: MD1
912 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

This was the first time Sansa had been onboard a Federation-run Cardassian space station. She would be happier when she could get back on board the Merlin with Hamish and her parents as the beds were.... uncomfortable to say the least. Still, Mom had said that Commodore Haistro was interested in meeting her, something about a possible assignment which hopefully, after her break on Ba'Ku would keep her occupied until the Merlin was repaired.

The turbolift rose into operations and she stood off, carrying a PADD. She quickly glanced around not sure which one was the Commodore. A friendly-looking woman with red hair came over to her. "Can I help you?"

She smiled "Hi I'm Sansa Draxx-Jones. I'm here to see Commodore Haistro."

The woman returned the smile and held out her hand which Sansa took. "You must be Captain Jone's daughter. I'm Commander Carter, you can call me Lillian. Yes, I believe the Commodore is expecting you. His office is up there, I'll just let him know you're here." She tapped her comm badge "Ops to Haistro, Miss Draxx-Jones is here to see you."

"Thank you Commander. Bring her up if you would!"

"Go right in. It was nice meeting you."

"Thanks, It was nice to meet you too," Sansa replied as she headed up the stairs and entered the office.

"Good afternoon Commodore. I'm Sansa. I was told you wanted to meet me to discuss a possible mission?"

"Ms Jones... A pleasure to meet you, please" he indicated a seat across the large obsidian desk that curved around in front of the Commodore. "And I do have a planet that we will be establishing a colony on directly below us... We still have yet to find a Marine Specialist to complete a complete and very thorough survey of the aquatic life... I was hoping that you might be available to lead the oceanic science team?"
Keiben didn't beat about the bush and laid it all out in front of her as succinctly as he could.

Sansa sat down across from him and raised an eyebrow, very much as her mother did. This was more than she had been expecting. "Sounds intriguing. How long would this last?"

"We don't have a timescale on the project because the planet is entirely unexplored. It could be an extended project if you have the time. If not then at least the first few months to begin the cataloguing?" he asked tentatively.

Sansa thought for a moment. "Well, I have worked away from the Merlin before so that's not a problem. The first surveys would have to be done on the planet but once the initial surveying has been carried out, remote monitoring could be installed and I could send you reports from the Merlin enabling us to utilise the ship's resources. You do know my speciality is in Humpback whales?"

"I do and that puts you leagues ahead of the only other candidate in the area. He specialised in aquatic microbial life which we know is abundant on the surface but there are larger more complex lifeforms as well so he would be useless to us." he smiled as he handed the PADD from his desktop to Sansa, it contained the preliminary scan data from the low altitude shuttle. "Estimates are over seventeen billion species on the surface and nine billion of those are aquatic! Of course, the scan data is not completely accurate."

Sansa looked at the PADD intrigued. "It would certainly be a challenge." She smiled back at him "Sounds like fun. There's just..." Her thoughts turned to Hamish. She knew her Mom would be ok with her off the Merlin if needed but the last time Hamish had come with her. Could he come with her again?

She smiled. She would have plenty of time to ask him while they were on Ba'ku. "It's fine, I'd love to accept your proposal. I do have some shore leave book with my Family, I hope that's not a problem?"

"Not at all. You can join the team later once the preliminary facility is established... We will be discussing the mission in a briefing tomorrow... if you are still on the station and would like to attend?" he added hopefully.

Sansa smiled. "Oh yes, I'll be there. We're not leaving for Ba'Ku for another couple of days. Well, it certainly has been interesting being a Marine biologist and it's totally not what I imagined I'd end up doing."

"I started as a Scientist with aspirations of unearthing T'Kon history" he tapped the singular framed pip on his collar with a smile. "Funny how things turn out!"

Sansa smiled wistfully. "I allowed an alien to share my body and she gave me a gift, not only an insight into her race but the ability to better understand an unknown and mysterious animal."

"OK, so you win on that score then!" he joked, the smile lighting up his face. "Well, I had best let you get settled. If you need help finding the ward room in the morning just ask any of my officers!"

"I'm sure I'll find it," Sansa said as she stood. "It was a pleasure meeting you Commodore and thank you for this opportunity."

"You are welcome, and do try and enjoy your shore leave!" Keiben smiled as he walked the young woman to the door.

OFF:

Sansa Draxx-Jones
Marine Biologist
USS Merlin

Commodore Keiben Haistro
Commanding Officer
Deep Space 21