2nd Lt. Jacen Xaivis “Housewarming Gift”
Jacen Xaivis
“Housewarming Gift”
((Gator Deck - Quarter Deck, Deck Twelve, USS Octavia E. Butler))
Xaivis: As you say. I’m looking forward to not being useful.
Winters: Care to explain that statement Lieutenant?
Xaivis: ::Smiling:: I’m a Combat Rescue Officer…when we’re useful it usually means there’s a major problem.
She smiled and he returned the grin.
Winters: Ahhh, yes. Keep those skills sharpened but hope to never use them. (beat) I agree Lieutenant.
Jacen nodded in acknowledgement. He didn’t know much about Captain Winters but he agreed with her assessment. His primary role was rescue response but he was still a marine – he was a well trained combatant…and that was without…everything that had gone before.
Xaivis: I couldn’t agree more, Captain.
There was a slight pause in the conversation between the two – small talk was not always a marine forte and the feeling out process between the new arrival and the established veteran was still in its early stages. He wondered if she felt the same which was why she kept it business-like.
Or she just wondered what the new random boxes were in here operations area.
Winters: What’s in the crates?
Xaivis: I was brought up well…I was told never to turn up empty handed to the party.
Winters bent to examine the crates which bore a small plate with a snake emblem on it.
Xaivis: These are a new design…based on a very old idea…they’re ASPs…hence the snake. It stands for Arial Support Platform.
She looked up towards him.
Winters: Really, and how did you secure these?
Xaivis: I think it’s fair to say that it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement for their designer…::smiling:: and some fresh non-replicated Clavisoa berries did quite a lot of heavy lifting.
Winters came back to standing.
Xaivis: Would you care to give one a spin?
Winters: Response
Jacen began to unclip the box and took back the protective cover. The unit was approximately three feet long, with two small anti-gravity nacelles. It was a grey colour, the same as the ships hull. There were small rotors, almost like fans within the nacelles.
Xaivis: So…the concept dates back to the mid-nineteenth century…they used balloons to send bombs across to attack targets deep within enemy territory. The idea being you didn’t have to risk planes and, more importantly pilots.
Winters: Response
Xaivis: Exactly – long range scanners, long range weaponry, transporters. They’ve made these obsolete – unless they aren’t working…and then you’re in trouble…or you’re somewhere more remote.
Winters: Response
Xaivis: This is designed to fill that gap…and especially aid in search and rescue operations. The sensor package that can mount in that housing is slightly more powerful than a heavy tricorder.
Winters: Response
TBC
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2nd Lt. Jacen V. Xaivis
SFMC Officer