Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: Orders From On High
Lael Rosek
((Corridor, En Route to Holodeck 1, Deck 6, USS Atlantis, In orbit of Earth))
{{Time Index: Day 26 of Shoreleave}}
Maddy and Lael were walking toward the holodeck for a bit of a nature walk. The little girl was feeling a bit cooped up, but they wouldn’t be able to leave the ship until tomorrow. There were still a couple of things in Engineering. They had just rounded the corner to enter the holodeck when Commander Thoran’s voice came over the ship’s comms.
Thoran: =/\= Commander Thoran to all senior staff. Observation Lounge in one hour. Thoran out. =/\=
She didn’t need to look at her daughter’s face to know Maddy was disappointed. They’d both been looking forward to this all day. Pausing, she smiled at the little girl and held out her hand.
Rosek: How about a short one? 20 minutes?
Maddy beamed and took her hand, the pair approaching the holodeck control console. As she entered the commands to start the program, Lael pondered how much things had changed since she’d adopted Maddy. Before, she’d have reported back to her quarters immediately to begin preparations. But all of the reports from her team were compiled on a PADD along with a bulleted summary. That was enough.
She’d promised herself if she ever had children that she would always make time for them. It was important to Maddy that she get quality time with her mother and Lael would be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy those special moments, too.
Computer: ::chirps:: Program activated. Enter when ready.
The two stepped toward the holodeck doors, which opened when they sensed their presence, then closed behind them with a whoosh.
((Time Skip – One Hour Later))
((Observation Lounge, Deck 1, USS Atlantis, In orbit of Earth))
She arrived five minutes early dressed in a clean uniform with her hair pulled back in a hair tie. As she entered, she saw that another officer was present, one whom she recognized as the man she’d sparred alongside on the holodeck. Thalas was a solid fighter, someone she’d want at her back if it ever came down to it. Unfortunately, everything had been so busy that they hadn’t been able to meet up for another match.
The others arrived in short order and settled into their seats as Commander Thoran started to speak.
Thoran: Before we begin, please help yourself to the refreshments. ::He waited a moment before continuing. Thalas took the opportunity to grab a slice of Coffee and Walnut cake.:: I know you are all in the process of enjoying shoreleave so I won’t take up too much of your time.
Her thoughts went to her daughter, waiting in their quarters for her to return. She only hoped that whatever the Commander’s reason for calling this briefing, it wouldn’t mean more work for her. She had enough on her plate at the present moment.
Any: Response
Thoran: I am sure you are all wondering why the Atlantis had been recalled to Earth and sadly it was not for us to enjoy the sights. ::his eyes fell to the table:: The Atlantis is to remain here for the time being for a resupply and minor refit.
Her eyebrows shot up, wondering if the news had anything to do with rumors she’d heard from colleagues at the shipyards about an Akira-class undergoing an unusual amount of refitting. From her experience, Starfleet wasn’t in the habit of major work like that unless they were up to something big.
Looking around the table, she could see a myriad of emotions in the faces of the other senior staff. She’d been through enough transfers and decoms to know that uncertainty well. It seemed they suspected, as she did, that this wasn’t a temporary thing. Though she’d gotten a bit attached to the Atlantis already, she knew what she was feeling couldn’t compare to what those who called this place home were feeling.
Serala: Okay, a refit. That’s fine. Bit of stand-down time for most while the Engineers get to have a bunch of fun. How long are we planning to be here?
Any: Response
Thoran: A skeleton crew will remain with the ship whilst the majority of us return to the Par’tha Expanse.
That piece of information sealed it. The only way they could return is with a new ship. Given the rumors, it was likely the refitted Akira class they’d be taking out. She wasn’t overly fond of the Akira-class herself and had been looking forward to working on an Intrepid-class engine. But this was life in Starfleet. Unpredictable.
McKnight: I don't understand, sir. Return in what? The Atlantis is our ship? Are we all being reassigned?
Any: Response
Thoran rose from his chair and strode toward the wall display and tapped it twice, an MSD of an Akira-class appearing on the screen. She could tell by the blueprint that a good number of modifications had been made, including--
Rosek: ::eyes widen:: oO A Warp XV drive. Oo
Thoran: May I present the USS Chin’toka, an updated Akira class, first of its kind. And our new home.
Sure, she’d had an opportunity to run simulations to iron out the kinks for the new drive, but hadn’t yet had the fortune to work on one that was actually installed on a vessel. She grabbed her PADD and entered a series of commands to pull up the specs on the vessel.
It looked like the refits and upgrades had kicked the ship’s cruising speed up to warp 8 and the vessel’s max speed up to warp 12 for 12 hours. At that speed, they could make the trip from Earth to Alpha Centauri in less than a day--a trip that would have taken at least a few days with the old engines.
She had to admit that was pretty damn impressive. Just as she was about to delve into the deck-by-deck, Commander Thoran continued and she reluctantly set the PADD aside to listen.
Thoran: Starfleet Command has been following the evolving situation in the Expanse and is assigning the Chin’toka as the Federation’s flagship for the region. It is hoped that such a move will cement the Federation’s place in the region and reassure it’s allies of the commitment. Questions?
She hadn’t been out there long enough to really have an idea of the state of affairs between the Federation and the species within the Expanse. But from what she gathered of Thoran’s explanation, it wasn’t good. Having read the reports, she knew there were at least a couple of species that had seemed less than pleased with the Federation presence there.
She supposed the move made sense from a command perspective. The Brass wanted to show that they meant business. It wasn’t all that uncommon for the Uppers to assert dominance in a region where the Federation was disliked or disregarded. Enemy ships were less likely to pick on a formidable vessel and from what she’d seen of the Atlantis’s AARs, they’d been picked on quite a lot.
th’Koro: After the Atlantis’ refit, will it join us again in the Expanse?
Serala: I have a ton of questions, but for now I will just settle with, what is the time table here?
Her gaze flickered to the Romulan first officer, recalling that Serala was one of those who had spent her entire career aboard the Atlantis. If she was remembering correctly, so had Toryn. Lael herself had attended Brell’s promotion to Captain two and a half years ago.
Raga: The entire crew is being reassigned? That explains the mystery. I..::He looked to Serala, then to the Captain. She had already asked the question on his mind::
She sympathized with Toryn. Reassignment, whether from a decom or unexpected transfer orders, was never an easy thing. She wondered how many of her Engineering crew would be going with her to the new ship and who would be staying behind. She’d come to rely on Ravesa, Brandie, and Ensign Lephi to keep things running smooth when she wasn’t on duty.
Any: Response
th’Koro: After the Atlantis’ refit, will it join us again in the Expanse?
That was a good question. It would make sense to increase the Federation presence there, which would logically mean that the Atlantis would be added to the ships exploring the region. But from her experience, the Uppers tended to spread the fleet out a bit more than that. From her understanding, Blackwell was still patrolling the region, which would give them some form of back up if they really needed it.
Thoran: Response
Any: Response
Thoran: The engineers would like to begin work on the Atlantis as soon as possible. As such we will be moving to the Chin’toka within the week, so start packing. To celebrate the commissioning of the Chin’toka, a party is being held tomorrow evening on board the Chin’toka. A number of senior officers are expected to be in attendance so attire will be dress whites.
Serala: By your command, rekkhai.
Romulan for “sir”. She recognized the word from the list she’d been working to perfect. Ever since the conversation in the Poseidon Lounge, she’d gone back to refresh her Romulan. Lord knew if she’d ever need it. But she figured it was handy to have just in case.
Raga: Yes, sir. I imagine a lot of the crew, myself included, are going to have a difficult time leaving the ship. This...is our home. Winds know, she’s seen us through a lot, and a lot of good Atlanteans memories will always be a part of her. Those…::He took on a somber tone:: who never left and can never leave her.
She almost felt like she was intruding on a private moment as he spoke. As much as she’d dug into the Atlantis’s history and records, she knew there were still things she couldn’t relate to. The closest she’d come would be the Montreal and the Astraeus. They’d been a family until unexpected transfer orders had scattered them to various corners of the galaxy.
She still missed and thought of each crewmember every day. As sad as she’d been to step down as first officer, it had been the right choice. It had allowed her the chance to seek healing on Vulcan and to move on from Lenik’s forced entry into her mind and what she’d almost given him that day. Had she not been able to shove him from her mind at the last possible moment, he’d have gotten the final piece of the command code to commandeer the Montreal. With a Starfleet ship at his disposal, so many more lives would have been lost.
Any: Response
Raga: ::smiles softly:: Once and Atlantean…::He stated stoically::
McKnight: Always, my friend. ::He pats Raga on the back.::
She felt a slight tightening in her chest and forced down the slight jealousy at their closeness. Even after having been aboard nearly four weeks, she still felt like something of an outsider here. Time would change that, but those who had been here before her had a bond brought on by both victories and defeats. What the crew of the Atlantis had been through gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “battle-tested crew”.
Any: response
Rosek: ::clears her throat softly:: Will there be a christening ceremony, sir, or has that already been taken care of?
Thoran: Response
Rosek: ::pauses:: There’s somewhat of a tradition from what I’ve read where on some new ships her Chief Engineer christens the engine room prior to the maiden voyage. With your permission, sir, I’d like to do something similar for my team. It might boost morale and make the transition a little bit easier. Keep the focus on the positive things.
Thoran: Response
Any: Response
Rosek: ::nods:: I agree. ::glances at the others:: I know some of you have been with the Atlantis for a long time. I’ve been through enough reassignments to have an idea of what you’re feeling. I believe the more we do to build this into a celebration, the less focus there will be on leaving the Atlantis behind.
Thoran: Response
Any: Response