Deliveries
Posted on Tue May 16, 2023 @ 12:20pm by Captain Richard Winchester & Cadet - Lieutenant April Winchester MD & Lieutenant Jules Mundy & Lieutenant Cuyu Reeza
1,030 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Season 1 - Prologue
Location: Enroute to Starbase Earhart Surface
Timeline: Mission Day 1
Winchester tapped the console in front of him, before turning his chair slightly to face his new Chief Helmsman. He noted how easily the Lieutenant had taken to flying the craft and to being in his presence despite having only meeting a few minutes earlier.
"I do apologise for making you play taxi driver Lieutenant. However, there is some cargo on the surface which can't be transported and I'd be grateful if you could bring back to the Columbia safely."
"Not a problem, sir. Happy to do it. I love piloting, so if a chance opens up, I grab it."
Winchester nodded in response to the Lieutenant and turned back to his own console. "What do you make of these new Type 6 shuttlecraft? They're a bit more plush that the Class C's I came up with."
"I don't concern myself with 'plush', sir. I only worry about how it handles. I don't plan on taking this on a long voyage anytime soon, sir." Mundy replied.
The shuttle descended rather gracefully through the calm atmosphere of the planet that 'Far Space Starbase Earhart' called home. Winchester pointed out the pilot side window as the settlement came into view in the distance. "There's our destination. We've permission to skip the spaceport and land on the service pad at the Starfleet compound."
"Aye aye, sir." Mundy made a wide sweeping turn and headed for the Starfleet compound. "ETA is 4 minutes, sir."
It was fairly unusual for such a large shuttlecraft to land on the roof of the Operations Centre. The landing pad was usually reserved for pods ferrying dignitaries backwards and forwards from the various embassy's on the planets surface, or from visiting capital ships in orbit.
It was even more unusual for so many personnel to be awaiting the arrival of a craft - some might even have described the landing pad as being cramped. A cadre of Starfleet officers from a plethora of divisions waited for the shuttle to touchdown. From the viewport, Captain Winchester could count 3 security officers, the Columbia's new Chief Medical Officer, a science officer, the Starbases Executive Officer and the familiar face of his daughter, Cadet-Lieutenant April Winchester. They formed a line around the permitter of the pad.
Mundy landed the shuttle softly and smoothly, just as it's described in the manuals. "Text book' they used to call it.
Mundy wasn't sure if he supposed to follow the captain out, he didn't know the protocol. "Captain. Do you want me to accompany you?"
"If you could oversee the loading of our cargo Lieutenant, I'd greatly appreciate it."
Cuyu Reeza, Chief Medical Officer and Bajoran, was-much to her dismay-there to greet their new arrival. She hated the pomp and circumstance of things like this; they seemed...well, frankly, pointless. However, she was senior staff, so here she was, red hair catching the sunshine and stupid blue tunic heating her otherwise-cold, leather-like skin to a comfortable temperature. Maybe she should come out more often.
Mundy walked over to where a pile of cargo had been setup. He started checking the manifest of the cargo, and asked some nearby workers to assist him in loading the cargo onto the shuttle.
"Lieutenant Cuyu" the Captain boomed as he crossed the window platform, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for agreeing to join the Columbia on its journey, and for escorting the artefact." As he closed the distance between them, he extended a friendly handshake.
Reeza's red head snapped up. "Sir. Good to meet you, too." She shook his hand. "It's my pleasure; the crew doesn't need me here right now, anyway. The other doctors can handle any emergencies." The Bajoran woman was certain of this.
"Yes, I understand the artefact has a great religious significance to your people. We'll gladly transport it to the Monastery at the Bohar Colony." he glanced over to a medium sized, unassuming wooden crate that looked ancient in nature. He moved towards it, pointing at it,
"It's very understated isn't it? I understand that is a reflection of your peoples spiritual codex." He gently touched the outside of the grate and noticed that it was sealed with an equally ancient looking locking device.
The cargo, with assistance from a few extra hands, was safely stowed in the shuttle.
"Mr Mundy, please see this item is securely stored for transport back to the ship and that the ex-oh is on hand to transfer it to the secure storage facility." The Captain said with a nod, before turning to one of the other officers standing on the deck.
"Right away, captain." Mundy responded.
Reeza moved closer to the pilot. "Lt. Cuyu Reeza, CMO. I guess we'll be traveling together this time." She said, with a smile.
"Pleasure to meet you, lieutenant. Lieutenant Jules Mundy, helm."
"April, it's good to see you again. I'm glad to see you've been assigned to the Columbia for your final cadet tour. I'm sure you'll excel under the C.M.Os leadership." The Captain embraced the young officer in a long familia hug.
"Oh, geez. Thanks Dad. Er, Sir. Glad to be here." She squirmed for a second and on her release smoothed out her tunic.
Reeza watched with interest. His daughter? Interesting turn of events. She wasn't surprised; families, sometimes generations thereof, often served the Fleet. Sure, it was more common for romantic couples or siblings, but parent/child examples weren't rare.
"Well," he announced looking at the other officials in attendance, "We better get back to the ship, we're due to depart in a number of hours and I would like use to ensure this ancient artefact is well secured before then."
Reeza smiled, and nodded. "Allow me to lead the way, then." Anything to get the hell back inside. The sun would do a number on her pale skin. She had enough sun spots and freckles, she didn't need more! She led the party towards the doors, saluting to the guards who let them in quickly, and then to the Turbolifts. "To the Commanding Officer's office, then?" She asked.
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