Arrival at Qo'noS - Part II

Posted on Sun Aug 31st, 2025 @ 8:41pm by Captain Robert Burke & Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore & Lieutenant Marques Hunt & Lieutenant Juno Jones & Lieutenant Nelar & Lieutenant Ryssa Dari & Lieutenant JG Maël "Gideon" Beauregard & Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca

1,721 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: USS Hecate Bridge - Qo'noS Orbit
Timeline: MD036

::ON::

[And now the continuation ...]

Nelar then scanned the Bridge for the Captain. When it was apparent that he was on deck, she addressed who she assumed was the Conn officer on shift.

“Lieutenants Nelar and Beauregard reporting for duty. I believe we were both asked to report directly to Captain Burke.”

"The Captain is expecting you both in his ready room," Hunt spoke while pointing to the door.

Gideon gave Hunt a warm, grateful nod. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” he said with a courteous smile.

He glanced sidelong at Nelar, a gleam in his eyes. “You got your polite face on?” he whispered to her.

Nelar looked over at Beauregard as she turned in the direction that the Lieutenant had pointed. “I do not understand the question,” She replied with all seriousness as they walked toward the Ready Room Doors. “Are you implying there is something wrong with my facial expressions?”

Gideon chuckled quietly. It was loud enough to fill the short walk to the door, but quiet enough to not echo.

“I didn’t mean any offense, doc,” he said, his drawl returning. “You just have a… stoic face is all. It stays steady no matter if the ship’s on fire or if you just won the morning raktajino raffle.”

He shifted the strap to his duffel again, hooking his thumb into it to prevent it from slipping.

“Guess that’s a strength in your line o’ work,” he added, his green eyes soft and kind.

“No offense taken, Lieutenant, as I cannot be offended.” Her reply punctuated Beauregard’s point on her stoicism, and while it was not entirely true that she could not ever be offended, Maël’s comments were far from the sort of thing that would be offensive to the Vulcan. His presence was more akin to a loud insect that had found its way into a room when one was trying to study.

“Good to know,” Gideon said, nodding once. They had been standing in front of the ready room door for slightly longer than was necessary. “You plannin’ to hit that door chime, Freckles?”

A rather obnoxious insect. Nelar glared at the Lieutenant as she leaned forward and pressed the chime announcing their arrival.

Looking up from his work terminal, Burke slipped to his feet and padded over to the door. 'Please come in,' he said as he motioned to the two new officers. 'You must be our new recruits.' Indicating the sitting area around the low table in the corner, he motioned them over. 'Make yourselves comfortable.'

"Greetings, Captain." Nelar's head shifted slightly to the right as she spoke. She then dipped her forehead slightly in the direction of the sitting area before making her way there as directed, her hands clasped behind her back as she walked.

Gideon stepped into the ready room just behind Nelar, offering the Captain a warm nod as he passed. "Sir. Pleasure to be aboard." His voice carried a unique mix of an easy Southern lilt combined with a Gulf Coast drawl, typical of someone from Plaquemines Parish.

'A pleasure to meet you both, Lieutenants,' Burke replied with a warm smile as he settled himself into the overstuffed cushion of the sofa. He tapped a button on the arm interface, and the service door slid open, admitting a yeoman. 'Could I interest either of you to a drink? A coffee perhaps? I've been fortunate enough to be able to bring along my personal blend.' He looked to Nelar, 'or perhaps some mineral water?'

"Coffee sounds just fine, cap--whatever's strong enough to float a crawfish." His eyes twinkled, then flicked briefly to Nelar before returning to Captain Burke. "Either ya'll treat new officers real nice on Hecate, or you're softenin' us up for somethin' awful." His tone was playful but edged with respect and warmth.

"No thank you, Captain," Nelar replied with simple respect as she took a seat. She sat perched on the edge of the chair, her back straight and shoulders stiff. She looked out of place attempting to sit formally on a seat clearly structured for relaxed environments.

'Very well, two coffees,' Burke nodded to the Yeoman, who acknowledged and departed. 'Now I hope that your time aboard Pinnacle wasn't too trying, I suspect it could be a discomfiting experience being surrounded by former adversaries.' He leaned back in his chairs. 'From your quip, Lieutenant Beauregard, I assume you both know that you've been assigned as senior officers aboard the Hecate? Chief of Operations, and Chief Medical Officer, respectively.'

Gideon reached for the offered mug as the yeoman returned and passed it over with rehearsed efficiency. He cradled it in both hands, the ceramic still warm and the smell of bitter and full-bodied coffee rising up.

"Real glad to be servin' under you again, Cap."

He took a sip--his eyebrows rising in pleasant surprise. The coffee was strong, all right. And fresh. He glanced sidelong at Nelar, who, despite every cushion's best attempt to welcome her, remained perched as though she were waiting for a verdict to be delivered.

Nelar gave the Captain a perfunctory nod. "Indeed, Captain. My orders contained information about both my position and ship assignment."

Gideon smiled broadly, glancing from the Vulcan doctor to Captain Burke. "Doc's got all the thrills of a regulation manual, but I'll be damned if she doesn't land her point like a shuttle on half-thrusters."

Nelar passed Maël an unamused glare before redirecting her gaze to the Captain.

Fondly remembering Gideon's ability for a good turn of phrase when the occasion warranted it, Burke chuckled, 'I would expect nothing less of Doctor Nelar. You were highly sought after, I'm glad that Command favoured us with you.' He nodded in Gideon's direction. 'With both of you. If you're comfortable with your orders, we can dispense with that briefing for now. To keep you updated, we'll be in orbit of Pinnacle for a few days more - we still have a Chief of Security to pick up. After that, we depart for the other side of Klingon space, and our primary mission, exploration. I hope you both brought your pith helmets.'

"Helmets, Captain?" Nelar asked. She sensed she might have missed another attempt at a joke.

Gideon leaned back, cupping the mug in both hands like the steam was about to tell him his future. "Pith helmet's a funny-lookin' sun hat, doc. Old Earth thing. Colonial types used to wear 'em trompin' through jungles they had no business in. Looked like someone slapped a turtle shell on their head and called it protection." He glanced over, his grin lazy and warm, like a porch swing in the sun. "Weren't much good for anything but keepin' the sun off and lettin' everyone know you were far from home."

'Precisely,' Burke replied with a nod and a smile. He looked at both his new subordinates, 'now, if there are no other questions?' He raised his eyebrows at them, conscious that he was keeping them.

As a solitary eyebrow raised during Maël's explanation, the muscles in Nelar's face created a curious arch in her brow, slightly contorting the severe straight lines of her Vulcan features. She turned to the Captain at his inquiry.

"None, Captain," she replied.

Gideon tipped his mug in a slow salute, the corners of his mouth bent in yet another easy grin. "No questions here, Cap. You point us toward the edge of the map, we'll keep the pencils sharp." He let the coffee settle back into his lap.

'Well, now that's cleared up then, I expect you'll both want to settle in. Hecate will stay in orbit a few days more if there's anything that went missing in your transfer. You'll both spend the time getting up to speed with your departments.' Getting to his feet, he broke into a grill. 'Don't let me detain you further - I just need to address the senior staff on the Bridge, if you'll indulge me.'

"Of course," Nelar responded as she followed the Captain by rising to her feet as well, eager to relieve herself from the impractical seating arrangements in the Captain's Ready Room.

Gideon glanced at Nelar with a mock wince. "Doc, next time they offer us a seat in here, remind me to stand. I reckon I'll be walkin' bow-legged clear to the mess hall after wrestlin' with that excuse for furniture."

TAG NELAR?

Stepping back to the Bridge, Burke gratefully took the PADD he was handed by his yeoman. He made his way to the railing around the central well, and cleared his throat. 'If I could have your attention for one moment.' Adjusting his glasses, he waited a moment for the hubbub of the Bridge to fade to a quiet background noise of the blips and beeps of a ship monitoring itself. 'Firstly, I'd like to extend my thanks to the crew, and the senior staff for getting us here in such good order.

'Secondly, I'd like to introduce the latest members of the crew, Chief of Operations Lieutenant Maël Beauregard, and Doctor Nelar, our new Chief Medical Officer. Please extend them the warmest welcome.' He consulted his PADD, then wiggled it. 'In the time we've been in the system, it seems our Klingon hosts have extended us an invitation to a banquet this evening in our honour. The High Chancellor herself has organised this in our honour. I expect all senior staff to be present, and in your dress best.'

Gideon let out a soft whistle through his teeth. "A banquet," he murmured low enough for only Nelar to catch. "Hope you got an appetite, doc. Something tells me tonight ain't gonna be replicated soup and a polite salad."

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Commander Vincent Salvatore
Executive & Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Marquis Hunt
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Juno Jones
Chief Engineer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Ryssa Dari
Chief Science Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Nelar
Chief Medical Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca
Chief Counsellor
USS Hecate

Lieutenant JG Maël "Gideon" Beauregard
Chief Operations Officer
USS Hecate

 

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