Keeping the home fires burning - Part 1

Posted on Tuesday 23 April 2019 @ 15:54 by Commander Caroline Miller & Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Lieutenant Michael Ki MD & Lieutenant Marbim Rejal & Lieutenant JG Artis Lomar

Mission: The New Collective
Location: Bridge
Timeline: Current
1331 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Caroline was beginning to get a little concerned as Commander Llewellyn had gone into the Ready room but was yet to resurface. She walked up behind Sav and said, “Commander you have the conn for a moment. I’m just going to go check on the Commander.”

Sav nodded as she responded, "Yes Ma'am, I have the Conn." She stayed seated, though, as there wasn't someone to relieve her from helm and take the actual 'Conn'.

The ready room was empty. Caroline checked the private washroom. That was empty too. There was only one way in or out and he hadn’t returned to the bridge. She was beginning to get very concerned.

She touched her comm. Badge. =^=Miller to Llewellyn. Sir where are you?=^=

No response came back. It didn’t even sound like it connected.

“Computer, where is Commander Llewellyn?” she asked outloud.

“Commander Llewellyn is not onboard the Merlin,”

Caroline winced. She was not expecting this turn of events.

She returned to the bridge and went back to Sav lowering her voice discreetly.

“The XO is not in the ready room nor responding to his comm. Badge,”

Sav turned to look at Caroline, confusion on her face, and then she replied, "Understood, Ma'am." She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them, saying, "I am not finding him with standard inward sensors Ma'am. You'll need more pinpoint accuracy." Sav returned to flying the Merlin, trying to keep the ship as a non-threat to allow the most success for the mission.

“Lieutenant Rejal, Please run a full scan looking for Commander Llewellyn's bio-signs,” she ordered.

"Yes, mam." Marbim while wanting to look towards the Ready Room, instead stares intently at his computer screens. "Mam, the computer shows that the Commander entered the Ready Room, then all trace of him just vanished. There is no evidence of energy surges, such as a transporter being used," looking up with a guilty chagrin he adds, "there may be races' technology we don't know about, but you are correct, Commander Llewellyn is no longer with us, he just vanished."

Caroline exchanged a look with Dr Ki who she could tell was rapidly formulating his own theories.

There was nothing for it. The XO had vanished and it seemed that they had an old fashioned mystery on their hands. What made matters worse is that the Captain has decided to go off on some revenge mission. Michael sighed as he was deep in thought. Within moments he noticed that Carloline had been looking in his direction. He walked over to her and whispered "There is any number of things that could have happened to the XO. However you are the senior ranked officer on the bridge. So the bridge is yours as is the crown of command. You need to show it." He squared himself. "Any orders for Sick Bay ma'am?"

"Just to be ready in case," she stated already knowing this wasn't an issue as she had the up most confidence in him having sickbay shipshape at all times. "But I know it goes without saying," she said with a small smile.

Caroline nodded. The doctor was right. She had to show some strong leadership and confidence with the rest of the bridge at present.

“Everyone I need your attention for a moment. I’m assuming command until either Commander Llewellyn is found or Captain Bairstow and Commander Jones returns. We need to be keeping a very close eye on them in case we are needed. Keep weapons on standby and warp drive primed.

In fact I want O’Hara up here,” she made a snap decision. She struggled with woman personally but respected her professionally and that meant she needed the best engineer.

Touching her comm.. badge again she requested =^=Bridge to sickbay. Have Lieutenant O’Hara released and tell her to come to the bridge immediately.

There is no need for a marine escort,” she added removing that obstacle that she was aware was irritating the Irish woman. “And I will be observing for counseling.=^=

The coordinates for the fighter launch were reached and Sav called out, "Conn, Helm, Fighter away, no issues detected."

It would be about three minutes later when O'Hara would arrive at the bridge, still very much out of uniform in jeans and a loose fitting tank top that didn't quite reach her bellybutton in the front, but was long in the back. She at least with the good sense to be wearing her comm badge. She surveyed the bridge until her eyes rested on Caroline in the center chair. It was going to take her a minute to adjust to this new paradigm. She took a deep breath, steeled herself and said "Reportin' f'r duty. I assume we're in th' fryin' pan again?" She asked. "Or did we jus' skip th' pan all together an' go straight t' th' fire?"

Caroline decided not to comment on the uniform situation. In fact going back previous conversations it was quite conservative really for O'Hara. "The Captain and the second officer have gone in a fighter craft to attach a tracker to the borg vessel. The XO assumed command and then disappeared out of the ready room. So now I am acting CO," she brought her up to speed.

"Well, that was bloody reckless o' them. I'm pissed I didn't get t' go." Stephanie smirked.

"I want you on the engineering console coordinating all systems in case we need to make a hasty retreat or worse we end up engaging them. Make sure we have plenty of juice to shields and weaons. And if theres anything we haven't done that you think might locate Commander Llewellyn, I would value that input," she told her.

"Too easy. 'Twould ya like fries wit' that?" A grin spread across Stephanie's face as she took her spot behind the Engineering station. She continued before Caroline could favor her with a disapproving look... or worse. "When we first started this mission, I made a set o' modifications t' th' shields that'd keep th' Borg out indefinitely. Uses th' shield grid in a constantly changin' geometry an' ionically charged particles t' create a barrier tha' they can' beam through or lock on with a tractor beam. Th' problem is tha' if we drop every last joule of power on th' ship, we'll only be able t' keep it up f'r about three an' a half minutes, then we're dead in space, an' it'll reduce overall shield strength by ten t' fifteen percent. Tha's why Starfleet never implemented variable geometry shieldin'. Th' power consumption is off th' graph. But it's there if ya wan' it."

Caroline considered things. Clearly letting the uniform go had translated to O'Hara that she could bulldoze stupidly on as normal and she was not willing to have her sass at her or disrespect while she was in command. This was a serious situation. If it had been anyone else, she would have walked over lowered her voice and discreetly done this. However O'Hara it seemed still wasn't learning.

"No I don't want fries with that Lieutenant," Caroline stated when she finally got a word in, "but carry on and I WILL leave you a tip. Spoilers it has the words insubordination and court marshal in it. Or perhaps I should re-evaluate my decision that you were okay to return to work. I fear I may have jumped the gun there if your still going to carry on in this manner. Shall I call the marines to come return you back to sickbay?" she stated firmly not believing she had given the woman a chance and she was already squandering it.

TBC

Commander Save'ena Tillatix
CFCO/Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

LTjg Marbim Rejal
Chief of Operations
USS Merlin

LTjg Artis Lomar
Chief Science Officer
USS Merlin

Commander Caroline Miller
Acting CO
Uss Merlin

LTjg Stephanie O'Hara
Chief Engineer
USS Merlin

Lt Michael Ki MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin