Lt JG Mareta Bianchi - Holes in Space

[Iain Turnbull]

((Town of Carinth, Raijalla Valley, Bajor))

They were booked onto the colony shuttle and now had nought to do but wait. She gave Liva's hand a squeeze as they both stood glazing around.

Nella put on a bit of an accent and Mareta glanced at her. 

Mareta: Very dutiful, Ensign.

Parvana:  We’ll have a lot more time to explore when we return than if we try to do so now.  We won’t feel so rushed either.

Parvana broke into a broad feline grin.

Parvana: And it seems we have a bit of walking we must do to get to where we shall board the next shuttle.

Noxwyn: ...and I assume you mean walking at your pace!

Nella also broke into a broad grin in response.

Mareta glanced at her companions. A brisk walk would be enjoyable, and depending upon the type of shuttle they boarded there would be a small replicator available for passenger use. And even then, failing that they were far from dying of thirst and could grab coffee or similar at the colony.

Mareta: Shall we?

Parvana gestured and they all followed, reaching a junction and taking a right. She glanced back to speak.

Parvana: I have to admit, it’s rather lovely to hear that Bajorans and Cardassians are living together peacefully.  The past isn’t forgotten, but the future looks bright.

Noxwyn: Y'know... it's good to remember it wasn't easy to make this peace. It cost a lot of lives to make this happen and it could take a lot less to tumble the whole house of cards. All I mean is, we should do our best to respect what it took these people to get here, and protect that. ::Nella paused a moment:: I guess I've read a lot of history files and I guess I've seen a lot a broken peace on my planet: what takes a generation to build gets torn up one day in a bar brawl; all of a sudden somebody gets whacked, and the bosses are right back to makin' hits on each-other. It's better now that the Iotians joined the Fed, but it still happens. Guess I just don't want to see it happen here.

Liva: For some it may never truly be peace.

She thought of her uncle, who had fought with the underground. And while he had respected his orders, turned over his weapons and returned to his maintenance job his scars ran too deep to ever forgive.

Mareta nodded slowly.

Mareta: Fortunately, the great majority are happy to rebuild and move forwards.

Noxwyn: :: jokingly hefting her backpack on her shoulders:: Gee, I wonder why I packed this wet blanket along ::with a chuckle at the seriousness of her previous statement:: let's see about gettin' you folks some springwine!

Mareta: Indeed. And let's get us all set to exploring the colony.

Parvana: ?

Noxwyn: Sure, I can live with that.

As they approached their embarkation point, one of the shuttle crew came into view as they checked boarding passes and ushered people aboard. This crew also seemed to want to be gone at record speed.

Mareta: At least the queue is moving swiftly.

Parvana: ?

To Mareta it felt like mere heartbeats from joining the line of passengers to finding herself at the very front and showing her PADD to the crewman.

Mareta: Bianchi. Party of four.

She motioned, indicating exactly who the group was before in turn being motioned towards the hatch.

Noxwyn: Well, “all aboard” as they say...

Mareta: Adventure awaits!

Noxwyn/Parvana: ?

As they bundled aboard and took their seats, Liva tugged at her collar slightly. She looked a little flushed.

Mareta: Are you alright?

Liva: I'm fine. ::A smile.:: Just a little warm is all.

Noxwyn/Parvana: ?

The last of the passengers boarded, pre-flight checks were completed and as the shuttle departed a couple of children down at the front cheered and clapped excitedly.

The starfield stretched out rapidly as they went to warp and Mareta beamed at her companions. They were off, and within minutes the shuttles interior was filled with the soft glow of the wormhole opening. Her eyes widened as she peered through the transparent panel that served as a window.

Mareta: Well would you look at that.... 

Noxwyn/Parvana: ?

--

Lieutenant JG Mareta Bianchi.

Provisional Lt-Commander.

Mission Specialist & Temporary Warden, USS Meili.

Nova-Class Science Vessel.

O239311AM0