[Mission End] Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Extraction

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Makeshift Command Operations Building – Kobyar Capital, Galaris IV ))   

Captain Grexl: General Kexxin!

 

Kexxin: Response

 

Oolwi: ::pleased:: Captain Meera! You cut it rather close, didn’t you?

Meera: ::salutes Oowli:: Major, I’m here to extract you.

 

Oolwi: ::surprised, but not pleasantly:: Where to, exactly?
Meera: KDS Headquarters. The brass are in a hurry to take your deposition regarding the accusations you’ve laid out against Vef-Lai.  

 

As she stood to take stock of the room around her, much of it, like the previous government building that had been allocated for this work, was now damaged. However, with the appearance of Captains Grexl and Meera, along with the other commandos communicated that they were safe from any remaining insurgents, much to MacKenzie’s gratitude.

 

MacKenzie: Captain, am I glad to see you. Your timing leaves a little to be desired, but we can work on that.

 

She hoped the comment would lighten the mood. Imril stood, putting his phaser back in his belt. Now, it was Dr. Bancroft who looked as though he might lose his lunch.

 

Bancroft: ::dryly:: Honestly, I don’t think you could’ve timed that entrance better if it had been scripted. 

 

Richards: ::Looking around the room at no one in particular.:: That would be weird.

 

Oolwi: ::to Meera:: I can’t leave yet, Captain. The Artemis left orbit for Moric to investigate a distress call. Until it comes back, we have to assume this away team is a target for reciprocal attacks. We need to assure their safety until they can be extracted.

 

MacKenzie nodded, appreciating the Major’s commitment to see to the protection of the Starfleet personnel. In the time they’d spent together, she’d earned a high degree of respect from the Starfleet flag officer, and she also seemed to be respected by her troops. Captain Meera moved alongside Oolwi, no doubt meant to serve as the woman’s bodyguard.

 

With the news that the commandos were prepared to extract General Kexxin and Major Oolwi, there remained the issue of their own extraction. The Artemis hadn’t been heard from – likely still dealing with the Orions.

 

MacKenzie: Are we able to get a transmission to the Artemis?

 

Imril raised his PADD.

 

Imril: This room’s command consoles are junked, but we still have control of the planetary satellite network. The bigger ones in higher orbit have a… ::pausing to find a word kinder than ‘primitive’ … viable form of subspace transmitters. So does the local space telescope. I just have to point them towards Galaris VI. Major, permission to do so?
Oolwi: Granted. And don't anybody bother asking my permission for anything else. The answer will be ‘yes.’ 

 

MacKenzie offered a slight smile and nod at the Major’s generosity – and trust.

 

Bancroft: Dr. Richards – planetary science is your wheelhouse, right? Maybe you could help Imril optimize the transmission path to the Artemis. Satellite orbital periods, gravitational lensing, maybe any local interference from solar activity or gas dispersion in the upper atmosphere? ::beat, voice lighter:: Basically, anything that increases the odds we don’t end up beaming our distress call into a rock.

 

Richards: Yeah. ::Grabbing her PADD:: I should be able to do something helpful.

 

MacKenzie: Very well. Assist Mr. Imril.

Kexxin: Response

 

As the engineer worked out the communication issue, the Major spoke more with Meera.

 

Oolwi: General Kexxin says that fighters all over the Grunden territories are standing down. Is that happening here?
Meera: ::nodding:: That’s what dispatch says. I can’t believe the war is actually ending.

 

Oolwi peered outside the door.

 

Oolwi: There’s work ahead of us, yet, before we will truly know peace. But this is a step in the right direction.

 

Bancroft: ::softly:: There’s a version of your tomorrow that doesn’t look like this. I hope you can make it a reality.

 

Richards: ::Looking up from her PADD:: We all have that hope for all of Kydon. 

 

She gave a heartfelt smile before turning her focus back down.

 

MacKenzie: It’s why we’re here, after all.

 

Kexxin: Response

 

Imril addressed MacKenzie.

 

Imril: Satellites aimed and ready to transmit, Captain.

 

Bancroft: ::very quietly, to himself:: Please work. Please work. I want to go back to the ship. I want a shower. I want a uniform that isn’t held together by sweat and Richards’ many nutritional crimes. I want to not be shot at anymore.

 

Something caught Samantha’s attention. After further analysis, she called over to Imril.

 

Richards: Imril, there seems to be some kind of… explosion on Moric, that might affect some of the signals. If it doesn’t get through them we might need to do some adjustments. The debris and resulting electromagnetic and gravimetric flux might interfere with our communication. Can you compensate?

MacKenzie raised an eyebrow. An explosion? She wondered if it might have something to do with the Orions or the Artemis.

 

MacKenzie: And are you able to determine the cause of the explosion from here?

 

Kexxin: Response

 

Oolwi moved closer to MacKenzie.

 

Oolwi: If there’s anything I can do to help, the answer will also be ‘yes.’ 

 

MacKenzie’s gaze fell on Imril and Richards as they continued to work together to get answers to their current situation. After a moment, her attention was caught by Dr. Bancroft, who seemed to be… choking?

 

Bancroft: ::voice strangled, eyes watering, to no one in particular:: Pardon. Wow. That’s a fun new symptom.

Richards: Uhm… I’m not a doctor but, you don’t look so good.

 

MacKenzie’s eyes narrowed.

 

MacKenzie: No, he certainly doesn’t. Doctor Bancroft?

 

Kexxin/Imril/Oolwi: Response?

His jitters seemed to turn into near convulsions. Dr. Bancroft, however, didn’t seem to be worried about his current condition.

 

Bancroft: Nothing to be concerned about. Just a little biochemical whiplash. ::dryly:: My sympathetic nervous system threw a rave and now everyone’s hung over and pointing fingers. ::beat:: If anyone else is feeling something similar – shakes, nausea, soul-crushing fatigue – you’re not dying. It’s classic adrenaline crash. Steady on and it’ll be over before you know it.

Richards: I’m not nauseous… again… right now… ::beat:: But given all that’s happened, that could change.

 

Imril/Kexxin/Oolwi: Response

MacKenzie tried to keep her attention on Imril and Richards while they work, but she was once again distracted by Dr. Bancroft, who was now poking a broken console. The console responded in kind with sparks flying. MacKenzie closed her eyes and shook her head.

Bancroft: ::flatly, to the console:: Rude.

As if achieving a moment of clarity, Bancroft returned his attention to the team.

Bancroft: Any luck getting through to the Artemis?

Richards: Imril’s going to have more expertise here than I will, but what I can tell you is the signal isn’t being blocked by any orbital debris, CMEs, or unusual gravitational fields. ::Looking to MacKenzie:: Captain MacKenzie - would you test your commbadge?

 

MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to Artemis… =/\=

 

She was met with static. She shrugged.

 

Imril/Bancroft: Response

Kexxin/Oolwi: Response?

 

Richards: Any luck? I’m seeing several orbital and sub-orbital tracks here, identity unknown as yet. Analyzing now.

 

Imril/Bancroft: Response

 

Kexxin/Oolwi: Response?

 

Richards: Captain? Imril? Bancroft, for that matter. Any idea what I’m seeing here?

MacKenzie took the PADD Richards offered her. As she looked at the readings, she started to slowly nod her head.

 

MacKenzie: It looks like debris, but from what, I can’t tell… (beat) ::inputing commands into the PADD:: See what happens when you triangulate the signal through this series of satellites…

 

Imril/Richards/Bancroft: Response

Kexxin/Oolwi: Response?

She offered a smile and tapped her commbadge.

MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to Artemis. =/\=

 

Jovenan: =/\= Response =/\=

 

MacKenzie: =/\= What’s your status, Commander? =/\=

 

Jovenan: =/\= Response =/\=

 

She nodded to no one in particular.

 

MacKenzie: =/\= Very good, Commander. Standby to beam up the away team. MacKenzie out. =/\=

 

MacKenzie closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose. It seemed that they’d prevailed, both on the planet and in orbit. While surrounded by broken consoles and buildings, and no doubt a damaged ship, it was hard to think about it as any success, but the Artemis had defeated the Orions, and both General Kexxin and Major Oolwi managed to convince their people to stop their fighting and acknowledge the deceit and treachery to which they’d both fallen victim. It was only the beginning for them – there was, indeed, much work ahead of them – but MacKenzie had faith in the two leaders, now that Vef-Lai’s deception had been properly exposed.

 

She smiled and approached the two leaders.

 

MacKenzie: Today is a day of new beginnings for the Grunden and the Kobyar, a beginning steeped in trust that will bring lasting peace. I have no doubt that the two of you as leaders will be able to pave the way for mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration. The work you’ve done today has earned you a lot of good will toward the people on this planet.

 

Oolwi/Kexxin: Response

MacKenzie shook each of their respective appendages and bowed slightly to them.

 

MacKenzie: With the violence stopped, it seems that things are in your capable hands. Now, it’s time for me to tend to my ship, and get my crew back home. Starfleet will always be here if you need us. I’m looking forward to watching this new peace evolve between your people.

 

Oolwi/Kexxin: Response

 

She nodded to them, then turned to the Starfleet crew members.

 

MacKenzie: Time to head back to the Artemis. Gather your equipment.

 

Imril/Richards/Bancroft: Responses

 

When it looked like everyone was ready for extraction, she joined them in the center of the room. Dr. Bancroft seemed to still be… twitchy. At least he’d managed to keep his fingers out of the consoles for five minutes.

 

MacKenzie: Ms. Richards, you will accompany Dr. Bancroft to Sickbay when we arrive. See that your nausea gets properly treated as well. (beat) =/\= MacKenzie to Artemis. Four to beam up. =/\=

 

 

(OOC: And with this, we’ve reached the end of our mission and are now in shore leave. We’re going to be spending this shore leave on Deep Space 224, the Artemis home base, so you’ll find plenty of information on the wiki that’s already been established IC to get your creative juices flowing.  Give everyone else a few days to wrap up their scenes, and then go ahead and jump in. Remember that in shore leave, time isn’t linear, so you’ll be able to participate in writing multiple scenes at the same time without them needing to necessarily occur in chronological time in game. If you have any questions, reach out to your mentor!)

 

 

Tag, and End Mission for MacKenzie!

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D. Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
Captains Council Member at Large
V239601AM0