Capt. Shayne: Where We Don't Belong
Randal Shayne
((Deck 1, Conference Room, USS Khitomer))
Randal Shayne was the first person into the meeting room because he couldn’t imagine not being.
This was not the sort of occasion you turned up to fashionably late, or with a small bucket of scones under your arm. It would be cruel to give such a positive impression, just before slapping everyone in the face.
Nearly an hour before the established time, Shayne found himself reviewing the orders again and again. He thought about confirming personally with Admiral Tyrel, but there was no point- if these codes and these procedures were compromised, anything could be. Was she out to get them? It didn’t seem likely- her record and Shayne’s limited experience with her did not indicate a vindictive individual. And yet how else could their instructions be explained?
And so, as the crew sidled in one by one, smiling, bright eyed, ready for anything, Shayne couldn’t even manage to meet their eyes, opting instead to keep his forehead in his hand as if suffering from a hangover. Not even Semara’s infectious charm could roust him from his ruminating. Tautly, he waited until a minute after the official starting time to rise from his seat, and appraise his officers, old and new alike.
Shayne: We’re going back.
Any: Response
Shayne’s tongue worked in his mouth, his scowl a predicament unto itself.
Shayne: DS33’s deep space telescopes have detected trace emissions of Sencha radiation from the Lagoon Nebula. I have assured the admiralty that the probe that was launched was disabled thoroughly- ::he cast a wandering eye towards El’Heem:: -so the conclusion they’ve drawn is that it must be a new source, and given our experiences with the Lattice Alliance, it’s been made our top priority.
The silence rankled.
Shayne: I will refrain from putting too fine a point on it, but anyone aboard for the last mission has more experience with the perils of this nebula than I do. I will be relying on each of you for your expertise. Mr. Korras, you’ll set a course for the Lagoon Nebula, Warp 9.
Korras: Response
The CO now focused on the science cohort- Semara, El’Heem, Blue Matthews.
Shayne: What progress have you made on insulating our gel packs from the phenomenon? And I know we just got off shore leave, so if the answer is “none”, I understand.
Semara/El’Heem/Matthews: Response
Plentiful precautions were already in place, but he had no intention on bringing the Khitomer to a listless state again.
Shayne: Very well. I insisted on a, frankly, vast surplus of gel packs, so experimentation is authorized. And speaking of insulating-
Shayne flipped his eyes towards Ohnari and Harford, and moved no other part of himself, like a statue viewing the field he felt safest in.
Shayne: Most of the ship has been inoculated- would a double dose be beneficial in any way? Or should Mr. Korras and myself make our way to Sickbay for a hypo?
Ohnari/Harford: Response
The gold-collared part of the table beckoned. Shayne leaned towards them.
Shayne: Commander Dewitt, Lieutenant Michaels, Ensign Banks, I want this ship ready for anything. Sencha, fighting, hell, the Big Bang. I want to be able to get out of any situation we find ourselves in with speed, durability, and an embarrassing amount of firepower.
Dewitt/Michaels/Banks: Response
And speaking of firepower…
Shayne: Mr. Zerva, Mr. Matthews, preparations aside, there’s been little to nothing to suggest concentrated Alliance movements in the nebula. Still. Schedule tactical simulations and security drills on all shifts until we get to our destination.
Zerva/Matthews: Response
Finally, the onslaught of delegation was coming to a close.
Shayne: Mr. Hobart, you and Lieutenant Dewitt will review mission logs, recent Alliance movements, any information that might shed some light on what we’re heading towards.
The thought of assigning Semara occurred, but it would be best to keep her activities restrained for the time being, until they were closer to their planned goal. Besides, she’d been part of the original cadre that had discovered the connection between Sencha and the gel packs.
Hobart/Ayemet: Response
Shayne: We’ve got a fair few hours before we get there, even at Warp 9. Let’s make every second count. Dismissed. Tag/TBC... Captain Randal Shayne Commanding Officer USS Khitomer NCC 62400 G239202RS0