Arrival

Posted on Friday 13 July 2018 @ 23:09 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Lieutenant Colonel Kachiko Bayushi

Mission: Lost Souls
Location: =/\= USS Merlin, Bridge =/\=
Timeline: MD4, 1400
2277 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Commander John Barstow stepped on to the Bridge with a little red haired girl in his arms. Sierra had wanted to come with him and, with things how they were, he didn't see the harm. Father and daughter had been apart way to long and neither wanted to let the other out of their site. He crossed the Bridge and sat her in the Counselors chair before turning, "report," he asked as he came to stand to the side of the command chair.

Sav was sitting at the helm and fully enjoying herself. She was lightly immersed with Merlin, feeling the flow of space around the warp bubble hugging the ship. The only person to fully know her special psi ability of cyberapathy was Melody, but Melody had disappeared with the rest of the crew. David, as in David Scarlet, knew she had some ability, but not exactly or to the extent of it. She 'saw' in her spatial mind the approaching boundary of the system StarBase 306 was residing and knew they would be there in about three minutes. She called out to Con, "Approaching StarBase 306 boundary system now, optimal approach path, time for leaving warp in three minutes, six seconds, estimated time to starbase docking in eight minutes, 33 seconds, mark, Sir."

"Very well, helm," Kachiko remarked before opening the 1MC, "All Hands, dropping out of warp in three minutes, brace for potential turbulence."

Closing the shipwide channel, Kachiko looked up before rising to let Apollo take the center seat, "Afternoon, Captain and you too, little one." Kachiko smiled at the adorable little redheaded girl, a pale little hand reaching out and gently ruffling the girl's strawberry tresses. "My daughter will be happy to find other kids aboard. I will be sure she comes and visits with you after she's arrived."

Sierra perked up a little hearing there would be more children soon, especially another little girl, "really, you have a daughter?" she asked excitedly.

Sav was gently churring to herself. She really wanted to go check on Sierra and see how she was doing, but piloting the Merlin to dock was more important, especially as there was no emergency and they could catch up after she docked the very large vessel. She internally tracked the time down to exit warp while following her golden thread path within her spatial sense.

John nodded and just stood in front of the command chair rather than sitting, "alright, drop us from warp and bring us in, helm."

Sav called out from Helm, "Aye Aye, Sir. Dropping from warp in 2 minutes, 42 seconds, mark."

Kachiko reached out and touched a panel, "Senior Staff to the bridge for arrival at Three Oh Six."

Cale entered the bridge after a stop off to the TIC as he needed to make sure his systems were operational; and luckily they had not been damaged in the 'crash'. He wasn't sure where to sit so he hovered behind the command area of the bridge not wanting to be in the way. Definitely not in the way of the CO and his child or the XO. Being a Marine, he wasn't too sure of her...at least not yet. He also wanted to stay away from the CFCO not wanting to dredge up old issues since he felt her apprehension about his being back on board. He began to question his decision to rejoin the crew since all of his 'friends' had left.

"Good afternoon, Commanders Barstow and Bayushi," he said after he had completed his ruminations. "I trust you two have had good evenings."

"Afternoon, Mister Llewellyn," Kachiko smiled. She gestured to the First Officer's seat next to the Captain's chair, "Feel free. I'm a bit too antsy to stay on my butt right now."

"I appreciate the offer but I too am antsy. And besides this is your seat. I wouldn't feel right about occupying it while you're on duty," Cale said with a half smile from being tired or something else he couldn't discern. So he simply stood behind the captain's chair hovering as he did so well.

Kachiko shrugged, "As you will, Mister Llewellyn."

"Me three," Apollo said and looked back with a chuckle, "I've been dirt side so long waiting to get back into space is like waiting for Christmas as a kid," he said and smiled as Sierra saw Cale and climbed off the chair to go hug him, happy to see another familiar face in the sea of new officers.

"Well hello there, Sierra. And how are you feeling; better I take i? I'm pleased to see you up and around," Cale said happy that Sierra felt this comfortable around him.

Sav's ears were tracking the movements and talk behind her. She knew that with a skeleton crew and trying to keep the Merlin running after a long slumber at the bottom of an ocean had meant downtime and small talk was at a premium, if even found. She would give Sierra a hug after they had docked at the starbase. For now, she called out, "Dropping out of warp in 30 seconds. Please have crew ready for just in case."

Sav didn't feel anything amiss with her link to the Merlin, but then again, she also felt like she was flying a 75% there Merlin as well. Not all internal sensor systems were online, as well as long range sensors were at 50% functioning. They were relying on the Grissom for if anything was inbound. Right now, the important sensors were medium, short, and proximity, which were all there.

Sav now counted down, "5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. Sublight speed." The ship was now on impulse and up ahead was Starbase 306.. along with good memories for Sav in that now she was free to pursue her own life once more.

As the word was already given, she called out her status for heading towards the starbase, "Course laid, best possible speed, maneuvering without scarin' te' starbase too much, ayuh." Sav maneuvered the not fully woken up Merlin towards the starbase at 3/4 impulse, the best she could manage without straining the ship, well, according to the internal sensors that were online anyways.

The comm channel lit up with a missive from the starbase. =/\= USS Merlin, Starbase 306, you are cleared for approach to lower repair bay. Swing down 346 degrees at bearing 327 mark, then at your discretion.=/\=

Since there was a skeleton crew, and she was already under orders to bring the ship in to dock, Sav answered the comm. =/\=Starbase 306, USS Merlin CFCO at helm, I am bringing her in, extend locking docks to 2ft mark and shift control to Merlin helm.=/\=

=/\= Roger that, Merlin. Remember, Commander Barstow doesn't like his paint being scratched. Let's see what you got. Starbase 306 out.=/\=

Sav churred as controls lit up across her console as she swept in towards the starbase main opening, and then to get the Merlin down to the lower repair bay through traffic.

The Merlin approached the opening at the nav bearing having been earlier given. Sav came through the opening at 1/5th impulse, then went to lowest speed as she shifted the Merlin into a 90 degree port roll to get between a ship upper port and a ship lower starboard. The large exploration vessel now dropped down towards the repair cradle, its forwards speed slowing even as its drop speed increased.

The aft section of the bridge had a separate viewscreen than what the Helm did, given the unusual bridge layout on the Merlin. On the aft bridge section's viewscreen, Kachiko opened a subwindow with a camera view of a large porthole on the Starbase. Several dozen officers and civilians, including children, were lined up at the porthole window, gaping at the passing Excalibur class starship.

Kachiko grinned, "That never gets old. Look sharp, folks. The kids are watching."

Sav churred even as she line dropped the ship on its 'side', as it were, and replied, "Thrill for the kids, Aye Aye, Sir."

Cale simply laughed at Tillatix's comment. Now, she's just showing off.

Barstow chuckled and just watched from his position. Given his command team was freshly put together he'd decided to stand back and watch how they interacted and how his new exec handled the transition from a tighter command to one that allowed for a little bit more freedom. So far he was liking what he was seeing and couldn't help but grin seeing Sierra go to Cale.

The Merlin's rate of decent slowed even as all forward momentum was stopped. The maneuvering thrusters were firing as the ship began rolling from 90 vertical port and back towards 0 horizontal. The repair clamps could be seen on the viewscreen as Sav shifted through views of their approach to show what she was doing to the rest of the bridge

The port side was now down in line with the docking clamps while the starboard side was continuing to roll to become horizontal. As though a scene from a space opera holovid, the great ship's roll slowed and stopped, exactly in line with the clamps as those were already moving out to gently catch the now very stationary Merlin. There was nary a shudder or even a proximity alarm as the clamps fully engaged. The docking status lights turned green as the thrusters were now off while impulse was heard thrumming down.

Sav called out, "Sir, Merlin docked at eight minutes, thirty two point eight seconds, Mark. Request permission to secure the helm."

"Impressive flying, Commander Tillatix. I've never seen anyone pilot a broken starship with such finesse before in my life. Don't you agree, Commanders?" Llewellyn commented. He was well and truly impressed by Sav's technique. Though, he himself was no pilot, he knew the basics and she had command of the basics, intermediates as well as the advanced. He was glad he accepted Barstow's offer to return. Though he was alone, he was certain that he wouldn't be for long.

"Very good, Miss Tillatix, secure the helm," Kachiko exhaled with relief. Another mission completed. Tapping the panel next to her, she activated the 1MC again, "All Hands, mooring. Secure all systems and prepare to disembark all personnel."

Sav passed her hands over the helm to disengage from the ship, then locked it down with proper command passcodes. She called out, "XO, Helm, Helm secured. Request Helm watch dismissal."

Kachiko smiled down at Sierra, as she noted that Tactical was secured. "Very well, Helm. All hands: The Captain and I are very proud of you for the excellent work you have done getting the Merlin back in the black and here. Enjoy your leave."

Now relieved of duty, Sav got up and came over to Sierra, kneeling before the 6 year old girl. She smiled, churred, and said, "See, Ah promised we would find yer daddy, ana we did. Yah doin' good, Sierra? Ready tah shop fer dresses and toys with yer dad? Ah think he would like that, I think he surely would."

The little red haired girl just nodded and smiled brightly, "yep," she said, bringing a smile to Johns face.

"Ship reports all systems secured, Commander. Everyone is prepped to disembark as well," said Cale to Kachiko from the Ops position laughing to himself at the circle being complete. He remembered this is how it all started; with him at Ops when the Merlin took off from starbase in the beginning. He then looked over to Barstow and smiled at his CO.

"Thank you, Mister Llewellyn. Enjoy shore leave," Kachiko offered the man a tight smile

"Security to Commander Bayushi," came a comm, before the white haired Executive Officer could turn to leave the bridge. "Ma'am, Port-side Deck Five boarding hatch. There's a young girl here with a Staff Sergeant. The girl says that she's your daughter?"

Kachiko's eyes shifted to Sav, "I will be right down. Keep your post." Comm closed, Kachiko asked Save'ena, "Care to join me, Miss Tillatix?"

Sav gave Sierra a hug and then scooched her towards Apollo. She stood up and turned to Kachiko, replying, "Ah would love to, Ma'am. Let's go collect yer kitling."

"Commander Llewellyn, all current crew are free for shoreleave but are not to leave Starbase for longer than seventy-two hours," the CO called, "and I'd like you and Commander Bayushi to start meeting new crew as come in, except the Counselor, I'd like to greet them myself," he added before Bayushi left the Bridge, "until then ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the time off," he said happily.

"Ten-Four, Captain," Kachiko drawled. "The bridge is yours, Captain Barstow."

"Aye, Commander. I'll get right on that," Cale said with a smile. "Sir, it's good to be back. Thank you for everything."

Sav called out to Apollo, "Thank you, Sir, I will, definitely Ah will." Then as she passed near Cale, she smiled to him with a small churr and said, "Commander Llewellyn, thank you for your earlier praise. I did the best Ah could given t'e circumstances... just.. thanks." With a small curtsy to him, she finished following Kachiko into the turbolift to go meet ReiRei.

"You're most welcome. It was well-earned," Cale replied. Could this be the beginning of a new start for him and Tillatix? He hoped beyond all hope that it was. He had the feeling that this time around he would be needing all the friends he could get.

TAG Everyone

OFF:

Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Commander, Task Group 47-A "Musketeers
Task Force 47

Lt. Commander Save'ena Amilia Tillatix
Chief Flight Control Officer
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Commander Cale Jason Llewellyn, DSci
Strategic Operations Officer
Second Officer
USS Merlin

Commander Bayushi Kachiko
Executive Officer, USS Merlin