Lt Jovenan – Ride on the Magic School Shuttle!

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Jovenan

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Apr 8, 2024, 4:46:36 AMApr 8

to USS Artemis-A – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG

((Main Shuttlebay, Deck 11, USS Artemis))

Jovenan: Good morning, everyone! I’m Lieutenant Jovenan, and I’ll be your training officer for the day. Today, we’ll learn and refresh our skills on how to gather, analyse and record data using a tricorder in the field. I’ll let you know of the exact scenario as we get on our way, but we’ll be heading to the rural Rakantha Province on Bajor. We’ll have quite a lot of walking ahead of us, so did everyone remember to get good shoes and a water bottle?

Jovenan looked at each of the trainees present. She had had the honour to meet them before, although some of them only in brief. Not only was this training session a great learning opportunity, but she was also looking forward to getting to know them better, and who knew, maybe they might make new friends of each other as well. It had worked for Jovenan.

Savel: I believe I'm sufficiently prepared.

Gnai: Aye sir!

Chevalier: Aye, ma’am. Prepared and ready.

Keeping a smile on her face, she looked at the equipment each trainee had packed with them. Ensign Gnai, thanks to its robotic suit, probably didn’t need shoes or extra water, but she didn’t know what else to ask of it, so she trusted it had prepared properly. Meanwhile, the others had taken a phaser with them. At least in Ensign Savel’s case, she couldn’t judge him. Their previous excursion might have gone differently had they been properly armed. However, they were heading to Bajor, a Federation world, so they shouldn’t be any need for them. Surely.

Jovenan: Okay. There’s a replicator in the shuttle if anyone realises they need something. We’re still missing a person, so let’s wait for a few more minutes before boarding the shuttle.

The agreed meeting time had lapsed, yet their last participant was still absent. Besides being worried something might have happened, Jovenan noticed minor irritation within her. Being late was against the orders, and being against the orders was being against the law…

Savel: Which shuttle will we be taking, Lieutenant?

Having remembered how cramped she and the other ensigns had been with their backpacks when hiking on Meranuge, Jovenan had taken the liberty to reserve something bigger than the shuttlepod they had used. Having a full pip more than back then helped to get one too.

But regardless of the size of the vessel, there was something Jovenan wouldn’t do: pilot it herself. She was likely the worst pilot of the team despite her nominal seniority.

Jovenan: I got us the Kerynitis, you can drop your stuff in there already if you want. Any volunteers to pilot it?

Savel walked to the rear of the shuttle and exchanged looks with Chevalier. Jovenan expected either to volunteer, but she didn’t clearly know about any insider considerations or non-verbal communication methods the two seemed to have developed already.

Chevalier: Are you sure, Mr. Savel? If I remember correctly, the last shuttle you piloted disintegrated under your hands and ended up as a convertible after crashlanding…

Savel: I volunteer for the task; however, I would understand hesitation from others given how my last flight ended. In which case, I have no issue with conceding piloting duties to another.

Chevalier: Just try not to kill us this time. Please.

Jovenan raised her eyebrows. Was she sensing tension between the two? Stuff happened during the mission, and she was aware of them at least to the extent that wasn’t above her security rating, but if things in the past (literally decades ago) could affect the team’s morale, they were in for a bad time. Jovenan hoped this exercise would allow them to clear the air between them, if needed, although she began to reconsider the pairs she had assigned.

Meanwhile, their last teammate walked through the shuttlebay towards them. A bit late, sure, but not too much. Besides, after Jovenan had briefly seen her a few missions ago, covered in blood and demanding Jovenan to get rid of one her trusted subordinates, she had wanted to give the crewman a chance to get more involved with the officers. And the crewman’s supervisor had been more than eager to allow her the experience.

Renirs: Response

Jovenan: Oh, hello! Here’s your tricorder, others are getting ready to leave so let’s not waste time!

Since the full team was now gathered, Jovenan boarded the shuttle with the others. She placed the extra tricorders and her personal equipment on the side before inspecting the shuttle’s equipment visually. The medkits were there, as were the emergency rations, not to mention the replicator which seemed to be in good condition.

Savel: Lieutenant, how long do you anticipate this training exercise will keep us on Bajor?

Jovenan: Um, some hours probably. Plus the travel time. We’ll have lunch on the surface, but we’ll be back on the Artemis before dinner time.

Dinner time, of course, was very culture dependent, but the timetables still stood; they’d have plenty free time in the evening after they returned.

Savel: Very well, I believe I am ready to depart whenever the rest of the team is sufficiently prepared.

Gnai: Ready sir, as well.

Chevalier: Ready too, lieutenant.

Renirs: Response

Jovenan smiled. The team seemed reasonably excited, and she was for certain. Science, outdoor air, nature, running, hopefully giving the ensigns and the crewman a chance to bond together, what else could she hope for!

Jovenan: Okay then, let’s get the ramp up and prepare for take-off! Seats, everyone!

After the shuttle door was sealed, Jovenan walked through the interior towards the cockpit. Before leaving the passenger/working area completely, she noticed that Ensigns Gnai and Chevalier were staying behind.

Gnai: It is good to meet you, this ::with a gesture to itself:: is Ensign Gnai, science officer. Your name is...?

Chevalier: Nice to meet you, Gnai, ensign and science officer. Welcome onboard. This ::mimics Gnai's gesture:: is Ensign Jaseb Chevalier, operations officer.

Gnai: Fantastic! It is good to meet you, apologies for not making contact sooner.

Chevalier: No issue here, Gnai. Perhaps you could leave a sticky note with a message next time. But don’t worry. To be fair, I could also leave a note along with a small welcome gift to make the space more inviting for you. So please remind me to give you that present when we return as I'm afraid it might have collected some dust already.

Chevalier turned towards her, and Jovenan realised they had noticed her listening to their conversation. Bashful, she moved quickly on to the cockpit, where she sat next to Savel by the co-pilot’s seat.

Savel/Gnai/Renirs: Response

As the shuttlebay personnel had promised, the shuttle was in top condition and ready for spaceflight. All pre-flight requirements were met, and in mere minutes, the ship’s shuttle flight control spoke them through the communications.

Flight control: =/\= Kerynitis, you’re cleared for take-off. =/\=

Jovenan: =/\= Acknowledged, Artemis. Have a nice day. Kerynitis out. =/\= ::to Savel:: Okay, let’s get off the bay and set course for Bajor.

Savel/Gnai/Renirs/Chevalier: Response

The shuttle cleared the shuttlebay’s perimeter, and the view out of their windows turned from the grey-ish white standard Starfleet ship interior colour to the everlasting darkness of space. Circling out of the forks of the arching pylons around Deep Space 9, the shuttle left the comfort of the protective hug of the station’s rings.

After some 10 minutes of flight, the course to the planet was open ahead of them. Jovenan felt comfortable to address the team without having to fear distracting them while piloting the busy lines around the DS9.

Jovenan: Okay, here’s what were going to be doing today. ::inhale:: Rakantha Province used to be one of Bajor’s top agricultural regions, however during the Occupation, the Cardassians poisoned the soil. After their departure, the Bajoran Government has used soil reclamators to restore the ground. The efforts have been delayed several times, and there are still large wilderness areas that are considered too toxic for farming. Scenario: Starfleet has ordered the Artemis to assist the Bajorans in detoxifying efforts. We’ve been sent to analyse the soil and water to see how bad the situation is.

Savel/Gnai/Renirs/Chevalier: Response

Jovenan: You will be working in pairs. Savel and Chevalier, your task is to take ground samples and analyse them in situ. Try to take as many readings as you can, but each sample have to be taken at least 250 metres from each other.

Savel/Chevalier: Response

Jovenan: Gnai, Renirs, you will be investigating the quality of the water in the local river. It’s a tributary to a larger river, where elevated levels of the toxins have been detected. It’s possible there’s a leaking toxin canister somewhere, so investigate any anomalies you might find.

She was particularly happy with this pairing. As a science officer, Gnai was likely the most qualified trainee of them, while the Crewman was the least, so Gnai could help her if needed. Besides, giving the new Ensign an opportunity for leadership experience early on was a major bonus.

Gnai/Renirs: Response

Jovenan: I’ll be monitoring your progress. I’ll try to spend time with both pairs, but if you need me, you can contact me at any time ::points at combadge:: Questions?

Savel/Gnai/Renirs/Chevalier: Response

((OOC: If you want to talk with Jovenan more during the flight, I’m open to it. Either way, feel free to move with the scene to the landing next time.))