Mission Briefing - Predeparture Part 1

Posted on 13 Feb 2024 @ 8:53pm by Captain Ricardo (Rico) Montoya & Gunnery Sergeant James Wickman & Crewman Sizia Sh'velihr & EMH Mark IX "Nina" & Lieutenant Commander Aiden MacMahon & Lieutenant Jason Mitchell & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant JG Cleopatra McCaine PhD & Lieutenant Heather Fischer-Montoya
Edited on on 13 Feb 2024 @ 9:43pm

1,183 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M-18 The Past is Future
Location: Deck 1 - Conference Lounge
Timeline: MD -1: 10am

On:

The doors of the Conference Lounge opened and Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome walked in. She was met by a complete empty and silent room. The Trill stood there and stared around the room for a brief moment, then she started to get a little flustered as different thoughts started to run through her head. 'Crap! Did I miss the meeting? Wait, it was today right? Am I too early? This isn't a jump out and scare me prank right? Is it bad I'm the first here? Wait, did I get the right time... Oh no... What do I do? Do I sit down? Do I go out and wait outside for someone else to arrive first?'

Rico walked in expecting an empty room only to find his new science officer. She was just standing there apparently deep in thought. "Good morning, Lieutenant."

Urushi jumped. "Oh... Morning Captain..." she stuttered before giving him a smile.

Aiden followed shortly after "Morning Captain, Lieutenant," he greeted them and made to the replicator for coffee. "Can I replicate anything for anyone?" he asked.

Turning to see his XO he smiled and lifted his coffee cup, "I'm good. Thank you though." Moving past his science officer he sat, taking a sip of his coffee before setting it aside. "So did both of you get settled in?"

Urushi nodded as she also took a seat. "Yes sir. I've spent the majority of my time on board checking all the labs we have on board," she smiled.

Aiden turned and walked to his chair, coffee in hand. "I have settled in, but my luggage went to the USS Cartwright, a science vessel docked at port 4A. But I should get it today, or maybe not," he added with a grin.

Cleo walked through the doors, and went straight to the replicator, Good morning captain, Cappucino, skimmed milk, cinnamon on top please." She turned to the new CSO, "Everything to your satisfaction, I hope?"

Urushi nodded. She hadn't yet met all of the new senior staff on the ship.

As Rico listened the doors behind him opened and the Marine SNCO came into view as he moved around the by the portals, selecting the middle seat so he could see both entires to the room. Acknowledging all the officers before sitting, "Good morning Ma'am, ma'am, Captain, Commander."

Rico grinned and nodded to the Marine.

Following soon after the Marine, Heather came in with Yeoman Sh'velihr. Heather took a seat next to the XO and watched as the Yeoman handed a padd to her husband before taking standing out of the way behind him.

Rico reviewed the padd quietly as they all waited for the others to arrive.

Making sure the doors to the room fully opened before he stepped in this time, Jason walked in with a PADD, typing at rapidly. While it was clear he had changed uniforms for a fresh one, Jason's face had a couple red-black marks on it that could only be dried blood. "Apologies for the delay Captain, all." Picking an open chair, Jason sat down and put the padd in front of him, nodding to the everyone present, most he had yet to meet.

Now that everyone had arrived Rico took one last sip of his coffee and jumped right in. "Morning everyone. Before we get started... Computer, activate EMH."

The EMH materialized and looked about the room "Good Morning everyone. As I can see that there is no medical situation, I assume I was activated for another reason?"

"Correct Doctor. As we have yet to have a new Chief Medical Officer assigned, I activated you to ensure you are here with the senior officers for the mission briefing."

The hologram smiled as she took a seat, "Very considerate of you Captain, Thank you."  

Looking to the rest of his staff. "As you are all undoubtedly aware by now, the Cardassians have destroyed Deep Space 5. Details are still coming in but the there was heavy losses to the Klingon task force during the initial wave and that the station was a total loss. This ship was constructed and launched from DS5. As DS5 is ...was this ships homeport most of the crew was either gleaned from the stations crew or had spent considerable time on the station during the final stages of construction. Keep an eye on your personnel and if needs be, refer them to Lt. McCaine."

"Casualty lists are slow to come in," Cleo added. "But they'll be posted as soon as they do. And my office door is always open."


Aiden clenched his jaws tightly to contain his anger at the thought of the disaster. "Captain, Please. Tell us we are going to do something about it," he said.

To say he was mad was an understatement. Wickman had served under Col. Mean's and all of the Marines on the ship had been pulled from the station when the Phoenix was commissioned. The Gunny's had moved a hand below the conference table as the Captain spoke, it had been white knuckled and it actually ached as he opened it, looking to the XO and back to the Captain. "Why were we left out of this fight? This ship was made for combat we could have..."

Rico raised a hand towards the Marine. "We can't waste our time on what could have been. I said those same word to command when the task force was being assembled. We were left out to send a message to the Breen. Prior to the attack on the station, they hit the new dilithium mining and processing facility in the Teralis system. Fortunately, the Klingon fleet there beat them back. Even though most of our senior staff had been pulled for the operation to retake DS5, Starfleet command felt that leaving a Prometheus class starship out of the fight to keep an eye on their border would send a clear signal that they better not try anything again.

"Gunny, I know you and your Marines all came from the station. Keep them focused on their duties. It seem that the Cardassians struck while most of the Marines were on the planet for training maneuvers. With the fighting still going on on the planet the Marine casualties are probably going to be the last to come in."

With a calming breath Wickham acknowledged the information with a series of nods as looked down.

"Recovery operations are already underway, but with the stations destruction the Federation is in a bad position. To keep the Breen, or anyone else, from using the situation, the Phoenix, will be joining the Dakota, the Valiant, the Independence, and the Berlin in a more active show of force along the border." He paused looking down for a moment before looking back at those assembled. "This isn't what I wanted. If it were up to me, we would already be arriving at DS5 and taking out and remaining Cardassian forces. However, orders are orders. Fortunately, I have been reassured our exile to a patrol assignment won't last too long."


TBC...

 

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