Burdened With Purpose - Part I

Posted on Friday January 28th, 2022 @ 1:06pm by Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett & Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Miller & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware & Lieutenant Jordan Chase & Lieutenant JG Brolga & Lieutenant JG Talerian Maxx

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: USS Oberon Conference Room
Timeline: MD03 0900

::ON::

With the Oberon due to launch in a few hours, Bennett had opted to call a staff briefing. According to the reports sent from the Tenth Fleet Headquarters from the surface of Betazed his senior staff had all arrived by now. He interlaced his fingers and peered out of the viewport. The claw-like appendages of space dock enveloped his new command. A protective cocoon that shielded them from the dangers they would soon face, an umbilical that connected them to the wider universe, supplying the Oberon with the energy she needed to sustain herself, for now.

Bennett gripped his spectacles tighter in his hand as he ground his jaw together. It had been a fair few years since he had been in command of a vessel. And he had never been in command of one this large. Or on a mission with so many variables involved. Find the cause of Deep Space Three's disappearance. What connection does it have to the Shackleton Expanse? And all the other stuff too...

He slowly unfolded his glasses. It had been a long time since he had come to terms with the fact that modern medicine couldn't overcome every issue, like the degeneration of his eyes. Placing them on the Bridge of his nose, he noticed on the chronometer that it was almost time for the briefing to begin. Bennett looked down, adjusted his PADD just so in relation to the edge of the desk and his mug of raktajino with small, precise movements. He rested his chin in the palm of his hand and waited for the first arrival.

Jason had barely been on board an hour when he'd been notified of a mission briefing, he grabbed a coffee from the replicator and a pad and made his way too the briefing room, this wasn't his first meeting since arriving at Betazed but the fact he hadn't been able too do much beyond drop off his belongings, as he made his way through the corridors the mild headache from the concussion he sustained still lingered, while he had been cleared for duty the gaps in his memory were of concern too the doctors and he would need to be reassessed. As the doors parted he entered the room, "Lieutenant Jason Elliot intelligence reporting in."

Bennett got to his feet, holding out a hand to the taller man. 'Lieutenant Elliot, a pleasure. Commander Bennett. I hear you're our Chief of Intelligence on this mission?' He kept his tone warm and reassuring. Bennett knew that Elliot was having continuing issues from concussion and didn't want to appear stand-offish.

"Thank you sir." Shaking hands "The sector chief felt I would be of value."

'Of course. We're heading out into deep waters. Experienced hands are needed,' replied Bennett with another smile.

"I'll be ready sir." Jason said as he took a seat.

It had been a busy few weeks for Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Miller. The woman had been beaming back and forth between the Oberon and Betazed to ensure that the ship was ready for launch. However, she had spent the last few days taking in some last minute R&R in Iscadar City. She knew it would probably be the last chance she would have to relax for quite a while.

She turned the last corner of the corridor and entered the briefing room. Seeing the Captain and Lieutenant Elliot already sat around the table, she scolded herself for not being the first person in the room. As XO she needed to set standards. “Captain,” she nodded towards Bennett as she walked deeper into the large room, “Lieutenant.” She nodded again, this time in the direction of the intelligence officer. She took a seat next to the CO and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

'Commander Miller,' Bennett said quietly as he leaned in, 'I understand you're the one to thank that the Oberon has been so well-prepared and provisioned for our outward voyage.' He indicated the PADD in front of him. 'It seems that you're thoroughly prepared for your assignment here.'

Jennifer nodded confidently. “Thank you, Captain. I think I speak for us all when I say that we’d all much prefer launching fully prepared.” She looked away for a moment before returning her gaze to her CO, “I’ve been on ships in the past that have left space dock half-ready, and it hasn’t ended well.”

He nodded his understanding in reply. 'It's one of the few ways apart from our training we can be certain of prevailing out there. I'm sure the crew will be reassured to know of your diligence.'

“I don’t plan on letting that diligence slack anytime soon, sir.” Jennifer said almost sternly. “I know as XO there is a huge expectation on me to perform my duties to the best of my abilities, and that is what I plan to do.”

Lieutenant Maxx was getting a fresh cup of Betazed coffee from a vendor as his PADD beeped to notify him he was running late to his meeting with the CO and Staff. He muttered to himself, "Aww crap. This is going to be a long day." Then he smiled at the Betazed barista girl who was giggling at him since she knew what he was thinking since his mind was an open book to her. She replied, "If you come back in this part of space, look me up." Lieutenant Maxx blushed as he smiled at her and nodded.

It was obvious he was a day late for that opportunity since duty called. So he quickly made his way to the shuttle that was going to take him to the Oberon. After sitting down he found he could relax and enjoy his coffee as the shuttle lifted off to take him to his destination. Once he arrived he made his way to the office on his PADD and entered it. He saw Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett, Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Miller and Lieutenant JG Jason Elliot in the middle of a discussion. Lieutenant Maxx raised his cup of coffee to the three of them as he noticed he was not the last one in. This was a good thing since he could relax now. Then Lieutenant Maxx put his PADD down by the chair he was going to sit on as he said, "Lieutenant JG Talerian Maxx reporting for duty."

Bennett got to his feet as he spotted the new arrival, not that the Briefing Room was cavernous. Like everything else on a Luna-class vessel it was just big enough to accommodate everyone without being excessive. 'Lieutenant Maxx - our new Chief Science Officer, yes?'

Lieutenant Maxx smiled as he greeted Bennett with a handshake and replied, "Yes sir. I hope my commission last longer than it did on DS3." Then Maxx sipped his coffee to give a pause for Bennett to react to his silly remark.

'That remains to be seen, as you'll learn shortly,' replied Bennett with a thin smile. 'Take a seat Lieutenant and get yourself comfortable.'

Lieutenant Maxx nodded at Bennett as he took a seat and sipped his coffee. He inhaled the aroma of the coffee and slowly popped his neck to help himself relax a bit. He had a feeling it was going to be a long meeting so he needed to be comfortable but not too comfy in case he got sleepy. As he gently sipped his hot coffee he wondered if he was ever going to see that nice Betazoid woman from the gardens.

Edgeware hoped he would not be late. The new sickbay layout had taken him by surprise. But a photographic memory soon helped him get up to date with things. There were still a few things that needed to be sorted. But his place at the moment was in this meeting. He arrived and went up to the Captain.

“Hello hope I am not late,” he said as he extended his hand.

'Not at all Doctor - we're still waiting for one or two,' replied Bennett with another smile. He pulled off his glasses and gestured with them, 'please make yourself comfortable and take a seat. We'll be starting shortly I'm sure.'

“Thank you Captain.” Steven ordered a cup of coffee and took a seat.

He considered Bennett’s glasses. For some reason his eye condition alluded modern medicine. There was no danger of Bennett going blind. So Steven had no worries for now. Plus the replicators had a pattern should the Captain break them and need a new pair. Looking around he considered the other members of the crew. Making mental notes in his head as to who was due for a physical or not.

Lieutenant Chase was not always the last one to meetings, but when she was she was not happy with herself about it. She'd been preoccupied with her office and reviewing her staff's reports and their files so that she had a better understanding of who she was going to be in charge of. Thoughts of the announced briefing slipped her mind. As she slipped into the briefing room, she gave those gathered a curt nod and fell into an empty seat, pulling her PAAD across the table with her arm closer to herself. "Apologies," she murmured with a glance around, jealous at not having the foresight to have grabbed a cup of coffee on her way when she saw those that had theirs.

Catching site of the violet trim of the Lieutenant's uniform, Bennett nodded and indicated a free seat. 'Please yourself a drink Lieutenant Chase.' He smiled slightly. 'We're still waiting for our Chief of Security and Chief Engineer. I take it you and your canine companion have had a good journey?'

[To Be Continued ...]

::OFF::

Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett
Commanding Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Miller
Executive Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Ahksu Trennsu
Chief Security & Tactical Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Steven Edgeware
Chief Medical Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Jordan Chase
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant (JG) Brolga
Chief Engineer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant (JG) Talerian Maxx
Chief Science Officer
USS Oberon

Lieuetnant (JG) Jason Elliot
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Sakaan
Mission Adviser
USS Oberon
[PNPC Lt. Cmdr Curzon Bennett]

Eiban Destrek
Federation Ambassador
USS Oberon
[PNPC Lt Ahksu Trennsu]