[Begin Act 1] JP - Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie and Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti - Resolution's Heritage
Addison MacKenzie
(( Station Operations - Deck 6, Deep Space 224 ))
(( Timeframe: Immediately following MacKenzie’s Departure from the Elysium ))
The red-headed commanding officer of the Artemis did have an appointment that necessitated her leaving the awards ceremony rather abruptly. Earlier that day, she’d received a message from the station’s CO, Fleet Captain Cascadia Rainier, about a mission specialist arriving at the station to brief them on their next mission in person. If there was one thing MacKenzie had learned about Starfleet, it was that any time they sent a specialist to brief on a mission in person, particularly as far out as the Borderlands, it was never a good sign.
When they didn’t give you advance warning of who it was, it was even worse.
As MacKenzie made her way through the station’s command center and up the stairs toward Rainier’s office, she racked her brain trying to come up with various scenarios about what the latest crisis might be, especially one that necessitated the assignment of a mission specialist to brief her. When she reached the top of the stairs she took a deep breath and reminded herself of that which she told her crew so often: there was no point living in speculation. There was no point in trying to anticipate a problem that might or might not exist.
Speculation, as it were, might have been their only ally this go around. Anticipation of the problems - yes, multiple - might be their only method of success given the circumstances. As the flag officer sat, her eyes on the door and in strangely poignant juxtaposition to the platinum blonde fleet captain next to her, one might have considered the task almost too much. Then again, that was what Starfleet did - tackled the ‘too much’. And with this particular group of officers…
When Addison pressed the call button, nothing could have prepared her for the person waiting for her in the office. When the doors swished open, a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
MacKenzie: Commodore Nicholotti.
An equally impish grin appeared on the raven-haired commodore. Addision looked older than when she had left the woman to command, but time, and space had a way of doing that.
Nicholotti: Captain MacKenzie.
In a rare show of informality, MacKenzie opened her arms and met Kalianna in a hug. When the women broke their embrace, the gravity of the situation set in. This wasn’t just any mission specialist, this was someone who outranked MacKenzie, and the reality was that the reassignment of a flag officer, especially in a district where one was already present, was a big deal.
And likely, trouble.
But they’d get to that, no doubt.
MacKenzie: Does my Chief Medical Officer know you’re in town?
The previous conversation she’d just had with him in the Elysium suggested he had no idea.
Kali’s smile softened a bit. While there was business to be had, she’d be lying if she told herself that the chance to be around and work with Genkos again hadn’t helped seal her decision to be a part of this particular mission, even if Starfleet hadn’t all but ordered her.
Nicholotti: Not yet. But I’m sure it won’t take long to rectify that.
Addison nodded slowly.
MacKenzie: I’d heard you were recently reassigned to the Eagle, I wasn’t expecting to see you in this neck of the woods so soon…
And there it was; the reason for her presence was not something to keep from the woman for long. In fact, the faster they worked, perhaps the more damage control they would all have to do.
Time would be the judge of that.
Nicholotti: No rest for the wicked as they say - nor for those who would uncover it. It seems we have a problem in the Borderlands.
MacKenzie took a slow breath in and out through her nose before nodding.
MacKenzie: In that case, we’d better walk while you bring me up to speed…
(( Docking Ring - Deck 322, Deep Space 224 ))
The pair of flag officers had navigated the large station until they finally found themselves on one of the decks composing the station’s large docking ring. In their trek, the ranking flag officer took the opportunity to bring MacKenzie up to speed on the situation and the [unsurprising] lack of details.
MacKenzie: Let me make sure I’ve got this right… The Da’al have encountered a Klingon science team on the Genesis planet that was created when the Resolution was destroyed…
Kali had clasped her hands loosely behind her back as they walked, nodding at the woman’s summary of what little details she’d offered.
Nicholotti: Yep.
Addison’s eyes narrowed, and she offered Kali a skeptical side-eyed glance as they walked.
MacKenzie: The planet that we specifically designated a no-fly zone…
Nicholotti: Also yes.
MacKenzie turned her head completely this time, the expression on her face leaving little open for interpretation.
MacKenzie: Klingon. Science team…
At that, and the expression on her former first officers’ face, Kali grinned almost knowingly.
Nicholotti: Indeed. At least that is what the intel says.
And also probably why Kali was here in this moment. Command didn’t have the luxury of not believing certain bits of intel because the sense was lacking.
She rolled her eyes - the facial expression was one that was undoubtedly familiar to Commodore Nicholotti, but this time, the eye roll was meant to express annoyance at the irony of the situation… As opposed to MacKenzie’s annoyance usually prompted by the shenanigans committed by any member of her crew at any given time.
MacKenzie: You realize how ridiculous this sounds…
The commodore nodded slowly.
Nicholotti: I do. But I must say, you are taking it far better than I did. I think I laughed at the admiral when they mentioned it.
Addison raised a finger, her eyebrows raising in the same direction as her index finger now pointed.
MacKenzie: Let me guess, Starfleet wants us to get in there and sort it all out…
Nicholotti: Indeed. No crew like the ones who had the misfortune of watching the place be created.
The commanding officer pursed her lips and shook her head. Kali couldn’t blame her and felt the same.
MacKenzie: ::purposefully repeating her previous comment:: …You realize how ridiculous this all sounds…
Now Kali chuckled, probably far more controlled than she had at the admiral who had gifted her these orders. Still, she couldn’t help but agree on this simple fact.
Nicholotti: Which is why neither of us believe what they’ve said.
She smirked slightly at the comment and nodded in agreement. The pair slowed as they approached the designated airlock. Using her thumb in a hitchhiking motion, Addison gestured to the airlock door.
MacKenzie: You wanna come along for the ride?
It was Kali’s turn to smirk, looking onwards to the ship that had been home for the majority of her crew following her reassignment to the Tholian border.
Nicholotti: I thought you’d never ask.
Addison smiled and nodded her head slightly, as she gestured toward the airlock with her arm.
MacKenzie: Commodore Nicholotti, welcome to the Artemis.
With a nod of thanks and appreciation, the commodore followed her friend aboard. What was coming was equal parts worrisome and ridiculous, but if there was one thing they both could count on, it was that the truth was coming out.
Whether they liked that truth or not was yet to be seen.
TBC…
(OOC: I'm delighted to share that Commodore Nicholotti, AKA Marissa, will be joining us on this mission!!)
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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
Captains Council Member at Large
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Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti
Commanding Officer
USS Eagle
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