Lieutenant Amelia Semara - Saving Ensign Matthews, Part 2

[Max]

(( OOC: I know with Ayemet's LOA the away team might get shuffled a little more, but I'm going to tag who's going for the moment. ))

(( Turbolift, USS Khitomer, Ceram Archipelago ))

So many calls to make, so little time.  Alone in the turbolift, Amelia took just a second to wrap her head around the task she'd just been given with a heavy breath before putting in her destination.  Richard needed her.  She could get there, just one hand hold and foot hold at a time.  But to do that, she'd have to leave behind the disastrous dinner with Ras she was still clinging to.

Semara: =/\= Semara to Ohnari. :: Beat :: The cap'n wants us on an away mission with Admiral Nicholotti and Lieutenant Torado.  Pack your medkit. =/\=

It was brutally lean on the details, but she already felt like she'd become a briefing machine today, and she'd rather give everyone the same information at the same time.

Ohnari: =/\= Loud and clear. I'll snag an away kit on my way to transport. The Admiral is here in Sickbay. =/\=

She smiled weirdly to herself.  It always amused her when people shared comms.

Semara: =/\= Hi Admiral.  :: Beat :: We'll meet in the shuttlebay in five minutes.  We're headed to the alien ship.  First contact protocols and a rescue mission.  I'm sendin' you what little we know momentarily, but we'll go over questions 'fore we leave. =/\=

Nicholotti / Ohnari: =/\= Response =/\=

Semara: =/\= Great.  See y'all soon.=/\=

She tapped the commbadge - two down, one to go.  She tapped it again.

Semara: =/\= Semara to Torado. :: Beat :: Would you kindly meet me in the shuttlebay for an away mission? =/\=

Torado: =/\= Response =/\=

Amelia smiled a little to herself.  She'd met the marine only informally, but still felt like she knew the woman through having read so many of her reports.  For some reason, she felt she could hear her voice coming out of the letters on the screen.

Semara: =/\= We're headed to the alien ship for diplomacy, so pack accordin'.  :: Beat, weighing the decision :: That said, you ain't by any chance familiar with the sayin' about a warrior in a garden? =/\=

Better to be that than a gardener in a war.  Amelia wasn't keen on walking totally helpless into a predator's den.  After training on the range with Morda, she wasn't entirely certain she wouldn't feel more comfortable heading over with a phaser in addition to her tricorder and PADD.

Torado: =/\= Response =/\=

Semara: =/\= I'll trust your judgement on what we take, Lieutenant.  :: Beat :: I'm sendin' what intel we got now.  I'll be briefin' details in five minutes, and then we head out.  See you soon. =/\=

Torado: =/\= Response =/\=

Amelia's hand tapped the badge one more time to cut the call, then she quickly put together a situation report and attached the meager sensor readings and information she had on the matriarchal species she had to the packet before sending off the message to the other three officers.

That left her a precious moment to just breathe and think.

The whole mission so far, they'd all been off-balance and scrambling.  Never really taking control of the situation.  Or was that just her?

She closed her eyes, brows furrowing, trying to piece together a narrative for the day that didn't make her feel like a foolish girl.  Then she smiled when she snagged on a little dangling thread from a few minutes ago.

No wonder she felt so naked going over to the ship.  Arriving at a new neighbor's house empty-handed was abhorrent.  And what were the aliens if not new neighbors?  Albeit esoteric ones.  Who knew?  Maybe the right snack would sate their appetite, and a little light hors d'oeuvres was all that was needed to trade for Matthews back.

She checked the clock.  There was just enough time. 

(( Five minutes later... ))

(( Shuttlebay, Deck 2, USS Khitomer, Ceram Archipelago ))

Ras might be annoyed that the fish meant for him had been re-warmed and re-appropriated as a gift for the aliens.  But the amount of effort put into it certainly was worthy of the diplomatic corps.  Besides, it was the only way it was getting eaten while still (mostly) fresh, and if the aliens wanted to learn more about them, what better way than an arrangement of various delicacies and snacks?  She even had a moment to pack up some of the snacks and desserts she's prepared.  For such an emergency, it turned out to be a heck of a welcome basket hanging in the crook of her elbow, even by Amelia's standards.

Everything else was ready to go, too.  She checked that all her gear was stored in a slim black bag slung over one shoulder.  She smiled a little as she looked back up to see the other three walking toward her where she stood behind Shuttlecraft 3.

Semara: Thanks for meetin' on such short notice.  :: Beat :: For the purpose a' this away mission, I'll be pretendin' to be first officer a' the Khitomer, seein' as this alien species won't treat with men. :: A weird little smile. :: We believe they're holdin' Ensign Matthews.  We're to retrieve him, and ascertain their intent by holdin' us in this nebula.  If they're willin' to help us make repairs and navigate the nebula, we'll take it.  If they ain't...  We'll figure it out.  They outpower us and outnumber us badly, so tactical options are bad options at the moment.  :: A slow breath. :: I know y'all only had a moment to review what I sent you earlier.  I'll answer what questions I can, but we gotta make contact again and head out momentarily.

Ohnari / Nicholotti / Torado: Response

Tag / TBC...

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Lieutenant Amelia Magnolia Semara

Intelligence Officer

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0