Valren Arelwynn, XFY CO
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ON:
Arelwynn: *inhaling the pungent smell of his drink* Indeed I did, Lieutenant. We have a bit of a situation we need to attend to, and you'll be needing to do it.
He sat and motioned for Reid to do the same which he did indeed, just managing to stave off a yawn and distinctly ignoring whatever the hell it was the Admiral was drinking.
Reid: I don't know if anyone told you that my taking command of the Karlskrona was just a one-off, sir. I don't deal with situations outside of my lab.
Arelwynn: *making his tone more serious* I am afraid I am sending you on a similar mission to that and I wouldn't think you the most suitable person for this sort of job, except for one note at the end of your record.
He picked up a PADD.
Arelwynn: *reading* "Dr. Peter Reid served in an excellent capacity commanding the Karlkrona on a search and rescue mission for the USS Cochrane. I would recommend him for any such similar mission at anytime," it is signed Lieutenant Commander David C. Jackson.
Reid: We had a short trip out from Xavier and then came back. It wasn't as if it was any sort of test, sir. Commander Jackson is being far, FAR too kind.
He wore a thin, humourless smile which suggested he was making a mental note about just what he'd do to Jackson if he had the chance.
Arelwynn: That may well be, however, Lieutenant, there is no one else for the job. One of the ships in mothballs here, in fact a former Dominion ship, has gone missing. I've kept this quiet as I am sure there are some adventurers visiting the station that might want to *pausing* "help" us recover it. During this tournament Medical, Diplomatic and Security command officers cannot be spared. Commander Jackson is away on training. Commander Lasanthai and I are needed to be the faces of the tournament. Commander Toralon has left the command track. Lieutenant Hartson is competing. You're it. Leave as soon as possible, and do it very, very quietly.
Reid blinked, evidently not understanding the situation in the slightest.
Reid: You want... *me* to hunt down a missing ship? There has to be some mistake. I'm a scientist, sir, I'm not a detective. It's completely outside of my area of expertise.
Arelwynn: *standing, trying to suggest the coversation was over* Who else do you suggest Doctor? Regulations require I put an office of a certain grade in command. That is you. I am not asking you to search, I am asking you to direct your crew to search. That said, you'd be more qualified than most to analyze the sensor data, and, as I said, there is no one else. *motioning towards the door* Dismissed, doctor.
Reid stood unhappily.
Reid: I assume I shall be taking the Karlskrona again, then? And perhaps there is more information available as to the disappearance of the ship?
Arelwynn: Indeed. I'd let you take the Cochrane but it is still under repair from the incident with the Gorn. Besides, the Karlskrona would attract less attention. As for the Shanghai, that is its name, it seems to have been taken during the confusion. The DMO was moving a number of ships around to make room for the incoming ships, someone must have taken it. It is unclear how they could it's command systems unlocked.
Reid: Well, I'm not sure leaving immediately is the best idea. I'd like to take a look at matters here first before shooting out on what may be a wild goose chase. After all, if this is an investigation, then there has to be a hunt for clues and hints and all that jazz?
Arelwynn: It would be quite wise to do such an investigation, but likely the best would be to take the ship out and sniff around for some engine trail. There is too much traffic close to the base to detect anything, but the Dominion engines would leave a very distinct mark, go out on a wide orbit, find a trail and find it. The longer we wait, the more that trail will dissipate.
Reid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, fatigue having now completely fled from him in the face of this new mission he disliked.
Reid: And my crew?
Arelwynn: They're already being assigned and beamed aboard.
Reid: And I was the last one to be told about this trip? *sighs again* Very well, sir. If I must, I'll depart immediately.
Arelwynn: Lieutenant, stop. First, I don't appreciate your attitude. Second, I was just woken up, it was standard procedure for Ops to begin to staff a rescue , it is may job to give it the go ahead and assign a commander. Understood?
Reid: Aye, sir. And I'm not one who's about to disobey orders. But you seem to have taken Commander Jackson's words to heart. We'll see if he's right, I suppose.
Arelwynn: I don't take any one man's words to heart, especially when I've only just met him. But, those words merely bolster the fact that there is no one else for the job. If you didn't want to be called upon to do your duty, you shouldn't have joined the fleet. Good luck.
Reid: Thank you, sir. I think.
He blinked, declining from bringing forward his own thoughts when it came to definitions of 'duty', and turned to go, having been dismissed minutes before.
OFF:
JP Arelwynn & Reid
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Pages: 1
The adventures of an unhappy scientist (Read 897 times)
