Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga - Back in the Saddle
Rameses
(( Bridge, USS Chin’toka, twenty seven days after the wedding ))
With a subtle thump that was inaudible in the vacuum of space, several electromagnetic clamps holding the repair scaffolding to the exterior of the Akira class starship’s hull released, floating slowly away from the ship after firing tiny bursts of gas to put them in motion. Over the next few minutes, they’d spread further out, before being clamped onto by worker bees and pulled well away from the Chin’toka.
It had been an oddly primitive way to repair a starship. With the construction on the orbital repair outpost not even started yet due to priority remaining on housing and facilities for the colonists, they’d had to make due with what the three damaged starships and colony transports could do for each other. What they had was raw materials located throughout the Shemsh system, but what they needed were processed and refined alloys.
That’s why the decision had been made to sacrifice the Nairobi. The smallest of the colony transports had been stripped down for repair materials, makeshift scaffolding for workers to use while repairing the Chin’toka, Diligent, and Yanktonai’s outer hulls, and what was left over had been transported to the colony site for them to make use of. And now, finally, repairs had been finished, and ahead of schedule as well.
After so many months to usher forth a new area in the Expanse and an expansion to Federation space that continued to push the boundaries of what they knew and experienced, the Chin’toka was finally ready to get underway again.
Mei’konda: Mr. Peters, as soon as the scaffolding sections reach two hundred meters, engaage our thrusters and taake us out. Course at your discretiion, but get us out toward the outer solaar system in the next few hours, yes?
Raga: The eighth planet of the system is a Class H that has a few dozen moons. I had our CAG deploy some static targets there in case we wish to test the tactical systems.
Peters / Any: Responses
Mei’konda: Lieutenant Levinson, we’ve haad shuttles out scanning the system since we got here, but I thiink we need to start makiing sure the Chin’toka’s sensors are in good shape. Find me an interestiing stellar object in the system and begiin working on a long raange compositional analysis.
Levinson: Response
Toryn sat in Serala’s chair. It was the First Officer’s chair, so it was for whomever held that role but since he was only acting in her stead while she was partaking in the exchange program, to him it was his best friend’s chair.
Mei’konda: =/\= Bridge to Engineering. =/\=
Dabin: =/\= Response =/\=
Mei’konda: =/\= Commander Peters has us on course for the outer solar system. Are you still on taarget for warp drive being ready at 1700? =/\=
Dabin: =/\= Response =/\=
Mei’konda: =/\= Very well. Keep me updaated, Commander. Bridge out. =/\=
Dabin: =/\= Response =/\=
Their new Chief Engineer seemed to be taking to his role quickly. Toryn hadn’t had a chance to meet him yet, but he had heard the man was already throwing himself into his role.
Comm Officer: Sir, we have an incoming hail from Deep Space Twenty Six.
He noticed the Captain’s ears perked up slightly and he too looked towards the woman.
Mei’konda: On screen, Ensign.
As the Ensign sent the signal to the viewer, Mei turned his attention toward it and rose to his feet, arms folded behind his back. Toryn didn’t recognize the face immediately, though that was understandable. They’d not been to Deep Space Twenty Six in almost half a year.
T’Chek: =/\= Captain Mei’konda. I am Lieutenant Commander T’Chek, recently assigned as strategic operations officer of DS26. Is your vessel intact? =/\=
Ah, so that was why, a new addition.
Mei’konda: =/\= Welcome to the Expanse, Commander. We’ve fiinished our repairs, and as I speak, the Chin’toka is moviing into the outer solar system for systems tests. What can we do for you? =/\=
T’Chek: =/\= Captain, we’ve received a request from the USS Tycho Brahe, a Nova class vessel which has been surveying a system appproximately fifteen light years from your location, near the Federation border. =/\=
The Vulcan paused for a moment to call up some information on the terminal on his desk.
T’Chek: =/\= The Tycho Brahe has detected what they believe to be an abundant source of Reskari alloy in a dangerous area of space. They have contacted Starfleet Command to request a ship with heavier shielding so that a more in-depth analysis can be performed. =/\=
Raga: =/\= Reskari? Naturally formed? Lael is going to hate that she missed this. =/\=
Any: =/\= Responses =/\=
The Caitian considered, then glanced over his shoulder briefly toward Levinson, at her science station.
Mei’konda: =/\= The Chin’toka is ready for duty, Commander T’Chek. We also happen to have officers on board who haave extensiive experience workiing with the alloy. =/\=
Raga: =/\= We’re short one such person due to a honeymoon, but there’s more than a few here who would no doubt love to take a look for themselves. =/\=
Any: =/\= Responses =/\=
The Vulcan nodded calmly toward him.
T’Chek: =/\= I am aware, Captain. We will be sending your official orders via encrypted data packet momentarily. Oh - there was one more small matter to discuss. Commander Serala, your First Officer, has requested to extend her stay on New Romulus. There is only one Officer currently available to fill the vacancy, but she is highly qualified. =/\=
The small matter certainly caught his attention. She hadn’t mentioned wanting to stay longer when he messaged her about the Twibbles. Which didn’t mean anything, it might have been a decision she made after the fact. However that meant that he would be acting in her stead a bit longer.
Raga: oO Wait, did they say an officer available for the Vacancy? Oo
The Al-Leyan scowled unintentionally. They were sending someone to take Serala’s place? A complete stranger? They’d had many new additions to the crew over the years, so it was strange that he was so bothered by the thought of someone else coming in to steal his best friend’s position from her while she was gone, establishing good will and getting hopefully far from danger for a time.
Any: Responses
Mei’konda: =/\= …I see, Lieutenant Commander. If Commander Serala needs some time on liight duty, that is acceptable. My Second Officer is capable of filling in the position. We can make do perfectly well with a replaacement senior security officer as well. =/\=
The Vulcan on the screen lifted one brow slightly, as well as his head at an angle.
Toryn glanced at the Caitian. It was of significant importance that his Captain had flat out said ‘we don’t need a replacement, Toryn can handle this until Serala comes back. So just send someone to cover his spot in Security ’. Once a Chin’tokan always. The Al-Leyan’s chest swelled slightly.
T’Chek: =/\= My analysis of her personnel file has been extensive, Captain Mei’konda, Her skills will complement your own, and that of your crew. And in any case, she is already en route, and will be there tomorrow. =/\=
Of course they were. The decision was of course above either his or Mei’konda’s heads. Despite the vote of confidence in him, they’d both be having to train a new First Officer. That was incredibly inconvenient and frustrating. It had taken him half a century just to get Serala properly trained. He smirked slightly at the thought.
Raga: Looks like you’ll need to arrange quarters, Esa.
Any: Responses
Toryn had known a few Vulcans, but this one was quickly moving to the ‘dislike’ side of his list. Dangerously close to Perkins territory.
Mei’konda: =/\= We’ll be ready to receive her, Lieutenant Commander. =/\=
T’Chek: =/\= Very good, Captain. Her name is Commander Jaelyne Isa. That is all. Starbase Twenty Six out. =/\=
The image disappeared from the screen, and Mei exhaled a slow breath. He glanced toward the Ops console.
Mei’konda: Commander Kiax, before we leave orbiit, maake sure that… Commander Serala’s belongings are placed in secure storage on the colony, and reconfigure her quarters back to their basic configuration.
Kiax: Response
Toryn winced and wore a scowl upon hearing that. This was all part of being in Starfleet, but aside from a brief stint on the Juneau and the all of two weeks they’d been on the Athena after he graduated from the Academy, Toryn had been a part of the same crew his whole career. Though Atlantis and the Chin’toka are two vastly different ships, their heart was the crew that comprised them. Many had come and gone and come back, but it hadn’t been anyone so close to him since Valin was reassigned.
The Caitian raised his voice slightly.
Mei’konda: I know that we’re all fond of Commander Serala. If this is what she waants for now, then it’s our duty to make it as eaasy for her as possible - and to welcome our new First Officer waarmly. Is that understood?
Raga: oO Easier said than done. Oo Understood, sir.
Any: Responses
Mei’konda nodded slightly in response to his officers. Then, cleared his throat and raised his voice.
Mei’konda: =/\= Department heads and seniior security officers, report to the conference lounge for mission briefing. =/\=
((Conference Room, Deck 3, USS Chin’toka))
With the announcement to join in the conference room made he moved to the room adjoining the bridge and sat to the right of the head chair where he knew the Captain would be sitting.
He would have to speak to him in private later. Let him know just how much he appreciated what he’d said to T’Chek.
Raga: Would you like anything to drink before everyone gets here, sir?
Mei’konda: response
Toryn quickly stepped out and to the small break area off the bridge and retrieved several libations for the crew about to be assembled. Which he set on a small table off to the side of the larger one, then sat back down with his own Al-Leyan spice tea.
The doors parted and their new Mission Specialist walked in.
Kesex: ::inclines his head:: Captain. ::to Toryn:: Commander.
Raga: Mister Kesex. I hope you’ve gotten settled well?
Mei’konda: Response
Logan / McKnight / Any: Responses
Kesex / Kiax / Snow: Responses
Peters / Ganarvuss: Responses
Raga: Thank you all for being so prompt.
Mei’konda: Response
Logan / McKnight / Any: Responses
Kesex / Kiax / Snow: Responses
Peters / Ganarvuss: Responses
Raga: We’ve got a new mission, which I believe some of you are going to enjoy. And a change to the command staff that we’re all going to have to get used to.
There was just a hint of irritation in his voice that he just couldn’t get rid of.
Mei’konda: Response
Logan / McKnight / Any: Responses
Kesex / Kiax / Snow: Responses
Peters / Ganarvuss: Responses
=========================================
Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga
Second Officer/SOR Team Leader
USS Chin'toka NCC-97187
PodCast Team Member
Training Team Member
Chin'toka Staff Member
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga