Cmdr. V'Len Kel - Going the distance

[Don K]

((OOC - No tags, just catching up.  More tomorrow))

((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))

Things in the Alpha Isles tended to be crisis enough let alone a need to know crisis.  They'd sped off to emergency situations before, but V'Len could not recall a time when they had sped off from shore leave.  It did not bode well in his mind.  

Kel: ::unenthusiastic::  Great. ::pause::  Pity for the crew.  I had hoped to see some of them awarded for their performance on the Ross-580 disaster.

Kessler: ::nodding:: Or at least letting them get a little more fresh air.

Nicolau: Or a few more cocktails...they mixed them strong down there...uh..sirs.

V'Len went to glance over Nicolau's shoulder.  

Kel:  Where are we headed?

Kessler: Any threat analysis I should be running Commander?

Madalain gestured towards the helm console and turned back to the assembled officers.  

Nicolau:  We're supposed to be intercepting a Starfleet vessel already in transit...the USS Goodall.  Apparently they've been pushing their engines for days...we're not even supposed to decelerate to meet up.

Raga: Correct. In fact, the Captain wants us to go to maximum warp the instant we break orbit.

Kel: ::shrugging his shoulders::  Not a vessel I'm familiar with.  

Kessler: Nor have I heard of it Commander. Seems like we have spooks coming to dinner.

Nicolau: Ghosts?  Like those candle ghost things?  After our last mission I really hoped we get something easier.  

Raga: Knowing our luck, Lieutenant, I imagine it’ll be more complicated, not less. But yes, the classified nature of things does lend credence to us having some guests from Intelligence.

V'Len moved to one of the peripheral LCARS stations.  

Kel:  Looks like we've got about 80% of the crew back aboard.  Still missing Commander Tucker.

Kessler: Offensive and defensive systems at your ready Commander. Back up systems are showing at peak readiness if needed from a Tactical point.

Nicolau: Impulse and warp drives are both standing ready sir. Impulse reactor 3 had some power fluctuations yesterday but engineering believes it was just a bad relay. Diagnostics read clear, sir.  

Raga: Understood. Thank you miss, Nicolau. As soon as the head count confirms the entire crew is accounted for, break orbit and take us to warp nine. ::he sat down in the center chair:: The ship is as ready as she’ll ever be from the sounds of it. ::he tapped =/\= Bridge to mister Tucker. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but we’re going to be needing to make a swift departure. The Captain wanted me to let you know we’ll be going to maximum warp the instant we break orbit. =/\=

Tucker: Response

Kessler: Agreed Commander.

Nicolau:  Just crossed ninety percent sir.  If you'd like we could leave early and give the last ten percent a little extra leave time?  

V'Len rose from his position and gave Toryn a quizzical look.  

Raga: And deprive them of the same trouble we’re about to have?

Kel: Seems unfair.

Kessler: Well, you know me. I sometimes just stumble into trouble.

V'Len hoped that Jack did not see the hard eye roll that automatically happened at the mention of Jack and trouble.  V'Len felt like Jack had a talent for finding trouble and he'd had to get him out of it of several occasions.  He didn't mind, but he sometimes wished Jack would look before he leapt.  

A high pitched sound from the helm station made V'Len look up.

Nicolau: Sorry sir...very...uh...dusty...at my station....

Raga: Oh, well then I’ll be sure to reprimand mister O’Connor when he gets back and have him retake remedial workspace cleanliness training upon his return.


Kel: Are you sure you're not coming down with something?  Maybe you could keep the trouble to a minimum on this one Jack.

Kessler: ::turning back to his console:: I always aim to misbehave if I can. I mean behave.

V'Len shook his head.

Nicolau: Are you ok Lieutenant? Like...in your face? I can get a medical team up here if you're smelling burnt toast.  

Now V'Len looked quizzically at Jack.  He seemed ok. V'Len headed toward where he know the medkit would be.

Raga: I don’t think that’ll be necessary, Lieutenant. After all, I’m sure there’s all manner of probes and diagnostic bits as the Captain might say, in the bridge medkit that Commander Kel can use to make sure the Chief is medically fit. Isn’t that right, V’Len?

Kel: ::nodding at Raga::  Yes sir.  ::looking at Jack::  We've not even left orbit yet and you need medical attention.  

V'Len stopped part way across the bridge.  He pointed two fingers at his own eyes and then at Jack.  He repeated the gesture twice more for emphasis.

Raga: Well, if you do start smelling burnt rhombuses let us know so we can make sure it’s not just the captain destroying the galley.

Kel:  Sometime I need to hear the story about the rhombuses.  I think I was away on the Chin'toka.

Raga: Very well. Are each of the departments reporting ready status?

Kel: ::looking at a console::  Science is accounted for.  Looks like Tucker is aboard and so is Rox.

Kessler: Offensive and defensive systems at your ready Commander. Back up systems are showing at peak readiness if needed from a Tactical point.

Nicolau: Impulse and warp drives are both standing ready sir. Impulse reactor 3 had some power fluctuations yesterday but engineering believes it was just a bad relay. Diagnostics read clear, sir.  

V'Len hurried to a station and then suddenly realized it was his own station.  Science.  He'd spent little to no time on the bridge as CMO and even as CSO he'd not spent much time on the bridge.  He was pleased to find there was a place for him.  

Raga: Understood. Thank you miss, Nicolau. As soon as the head count confirms the entire crew is accounted for, break orbit and take us to warp nine. ::he sat down in the center chair:: The ship is as ready as she’ll ever be from the sounds of it. ::he tapped =/\= Bridge to mister Tucker. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but we’re going to be needing to make a swift departure. The Captain wanted me to let you know we’ll be going to maximum warp the instant we break orbit. =/\=

Tucker: Response

Raga: Good. If you’d be so kind as to take us out of orbit Lieutenant?

V'Len watched as the viewer showed the Ronin swinging away from Lolagi IV.  Before them the blackness of space twinkled with bright stars.  These suddenly seemed to draw into long lines as the Ronin accelerated and entered warp speed.  

Kel: Smoothly done Lt. Nicolau.  

He'd be lying if he wasn’t a bit envious of the woman sitting at the helm.  The thought of his previous host were always toward piloting and Kel would be in extasy to be back behind the controls of a starship like the Ronin.  

Kessler/Nicolau/Any: Response

Raga: =/\= Bridge to the Captain. We’re breaking orbit and all departments have reported in. Despite miss Nicolau’s suggestion of letting the stragglers enjoy an extended leave without us we are all present and accounted for. And en route to the Goodall. =/\=

Kessler: ::in a lowered voice::  Audentes Fortuna iuvat

Niac: =/\= Very good Mr. Raga, I'll join you in just a moment. =/\=

Raga: Mister Kessler, if you’d be so kind as to inform the Goodall via secured subspace message that we’re departing? And will rendezvous with them….miss Nicolau, how long until we catch up to the Goodall?

Kessler: Aye sir ::tapping in a communication sequence into his console:: Sending encoded coms burst to the Goodall with departure time and intercept window now. ::beat:: Commander, intercept at current speed is two hours and three minutes.

V'Len was still sifting through data when a swishing sound and Jack announced the arrival of Karrod.

Kessler: Captain on the bridge.

V'Len rose, but then seated himself again as the Captain took the big chair, a chair that didn't seem quite so big after his time in it.  Karrod was all business and went immediately to addressing the crew.

Niac:  =/\=  Attention all hands this is the Captain.  I would apologize for our hasty departure from Lolagi IV but it seems like the Admiralty, in their infinite wisdom, have decided we've had more than enough recreation...or perhaps they've simply decided to cut us off after seeing the resorts invoices.  Either way the celebratory luau we had planned will have to be rescheduled for a later date.  We are on our way to intercept the USS Goodall and take aboard two specialists whom Starfleet Command have dispatched to supplement our crew for the purposes of this mission...I'm certain that once they're aboard and share details about our objectives you'll show them every courtesy and give them whatever support they require.  All of that said, we have a few hours before our intercept with the Goodall so I'd like to take this time to confer some awards that we didn't have time to down on the planet.  =/\=

V'Len noticed Toryn giving him an ethusiastic look and V'Len offered the first officer a satisfied grin.  He'd not gotten to know Toryn as well as he should have.  He made a mental note to remedy that as soon as possible.  

Niac:  =/\= You all served Acting Captain Kel with the kind of skill and poise I've come to rely on...and due to that, you averted a disaster that would've had far reaching ramifications for this galaxy and, very possibly, many more.  To that end every member of this crew has been awarded both the Explorers Ribbon for your investigation of the anomaly and the Defense of Temporal Flow ribbon for preventing a disaster before it could begin. =/\=

Had they had their normal promotion ceremony V'Len might have taken to the opportunity to say a few words of thanks to the crew.  They had rallied around him to meet that challenging situation a Ross-580 and V'Len would be ever grateful for their support and creativity in dealing with the crisis.  It was more down to them than to him that a disaster had been prevented.  

Niac:  =/\= For those of you who interacted with...or were assaulted by...Tholian forces from the Lattice Alliance...namely Lieutenants Shortrith, Evinrude and Ensign Wren, along with Lieutenant Kessler here on the bridge...you have been awarded the Tholian Campaign ribbon.  While this is a recognition of your service in the defense of the Federation against an antagonist who is as persistent as they are...shrill, the exceptional performance of your duties was a highlight in the mission reports and debriefings I've reviewed since coming back aboard.  To that end...Chief Tucker & Lieutenant Shortrith...you have both been awarded the Leadership Excellence Ribbon for your composure and steady leadership during a crisis.  And for your particularly exceptional heroics in defense of others both Lieutenant Kessler and Lt. JG Evinrude have been awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor.  Well done to all of you...and my personal thanks.  I know the senior staff shares my opinion that your performed your duties with truly exceptional skill and bravery.  Oh and there's two more...small matters. =/\=

Kessler: ::softly, and placing a hand on his chest:: Thank you Captain.

Kel: ::softly::  Another one for your collection, Jack?

Niac:  =/\= While many of you know by now that Mr. Kel has been promoted to the rank of Commander, I want to take a moment to celebrate this enormous milestone...as he accomplished more in his first time in the big chair than some CO's do in their whole career.  I have no doubt that someday soon he will bring the skill, cleverness and composure he demonstrated in Ross-580 to his own command...but until then we continue to reap the benefit of his wisdom and his talent.  Once again V'Len...well done. =/\=

Raga: Agreed. Well done V’Len.

Kel: ::nodding his head::  You're too kind.  

Niac:  =/\= Lastly...Mr. Kel is not the only one who has continued to over-perform in their time aboard the Ronin and it gives me enormous pleasure to see another of our talented junior officers taking a step further along in their careers.  Since joining us as their very first posting, this officer has continually and repeatedly demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations while defending the lives of their crewmates and all those we are called to protect.  So to that end and with the full support of the senior staff I am proud to announce the promotion of Lt. Jg. T'Fearne Elaazni to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and responsibilities there of.  Congratulations Lieutenant...there's a pip waiting in my Ready Room for you. =/\=

V'Len was pleased.  T'Fearne had been indispensable during the crisis and it was good she was getting the deserved recognition.  

Niac: =/\= I'm reminded in this moment of the wisdom of some of our predecessors, from an era when the exploration of space meant dangerous journeys just to reach the world's nearest moon. I believe it was a human explorer who said 'I have two Outlooks and neither is working...' and I've always felt that was profoundly wise...when that early pioneer was confronted by the unknown, when his outlook was challenged by the unexpected, he recognized it and adapted. He grew. He rose to the challenge of his era just as you have risen to the challenges of yours. I have never served with a more competent group of officers than those among this crew so I know that, no matter what our forthcoming mission has in store for us, we will rise to the challenge as we always do. Ronin Strong. That is all. =/\=

Karrod finished his speech and sat back in the chair.  

Niac:  What'd you think?  Too much?  

Kessler: You sound much like my father sir. ::beat:: Well said.

Raga: I think we spent too much time with those admirals last mission. I think you’re slipping. ::he teased with a smirk:: Besides, you were rushed.

Kel: I felt like I was in the room with Jean Luc Picard.

Karrod smirked and shook his head.  

Niac: Everyone's a critic. Alright...time to get to work. Lieutenant Nicolau...hope you paid attention in your precision warp navigation courses...doing a ship to ship transport at these speeds is going to be...tricky.  

--

Commander V'Len Kel

Chief Science Officer/Second Officer

USS Ronin NCC-34523

T239811VK2

He/Him (player/character)