...I don't even have to aim.

Stardate 2365.05.16 - Impact minus 50:07
USS Peregrine, Bridge - 15:29

Megan held her breath as she awaited the Captain’s answer to her request. The span between her last words and his first was only seconds long but the impish ensign felt as if her lungs might burst before he replied.

=/=Very well, Ensign,=/= the Captain said, at last, sparing her from passing out, =/="Lay in a course to take us within half a million kilometers of 2365 C41A3 DN17, then proceed at one quarter impulse.  From there, you can make the necessary arrangements to conduct a survey flight.=/=

Ensign Owen’s spine stiffened, her eyes went wide, and a brilliant, excited smile spread across her lips. “Marvy… er… I mean… Aye, sir! Thank’ee , sir! I’ll be makin’ tha’ happen, right away.”

=/=Very well.  Drake out.=/=

It took every ounce of restraint she could muster to keep herself from bouncing out of the command chair. As an added measure, she grasped each arm of the seat with white-knuckled intensity as she grinned across the Bridge to where Elial stood at the Science Console. “Ya hear tha’, Mr Elial,” she beamed, “Looks as ef ye’ll be gettin’ yer wish, aye? Ye may be wantin’ ta coordinate wit’ Lt Ch’ronnoss.”

((OOC: Any response from Elial here… perhaps a cue for a convo between Essel and Elial?))

Her crystalline gaze flitted from the science officer to the tall, dark-skinned man who sat at the helm. “Chief Shabani,” she chirped, “Take us ta within a half-million kilometers o’ tha’ rock, ef ye’d be so kind. One quarter impulse.”

“Aye, sir,” CPO Shabani nodded, his fingers moving purposefully across the console before him, “Course laid in. Proceeding at one quarter impulse power.”

Megan’s smile brightened all the more as the Peregrine began to slide smoothly toward the asteroid and she bobbed her head in approval, setting the copper springs of her hair bouncing from her shoulders. She shoved herself deeper into the seat and let go of her death-grip on the chair’s one arm to stab a dainty finger at the comm button, again; “Ensign Owen ta Flight Ops.” 

=/=Flight Ops,=/= came the reply, =/=Senior Chief Matthews, here. What can I do for you, Ensign?=/=

“Afternoon, Rulana,” Megan grinned, “Th’ Cap’n’s authorized a survey flight fer Science ta gather up some samples from 2365 C41A3 DN17. I’ll be needin’ ye ta prep a shuttle ta support th’ mission, please. Also, coordinate with Engineerin’ on addin’ some EVA suits ta th’ loadout, an’ Sciences fer whatever else they may be needin’, aye?”

=/=Right away, Ensign,=/= SCPO Matthews returned, =/=We’ve got the Eights and Tens undergoing their maintenance cycles, at the moment, however. Will a Type-18 suffice?=/=

“I dinna know, Chief,” Megan answered, her smile fading a fraction, “the 18’s are a wee bit onna small side, I think. Perhaps ye might contact Commander Zai an’ see if he’d allow th’ use o’ th’ Angel?”

=/=Aye aye, sir. I’ll do just that.=/=

“Vera good, Chief Matthews,” Megan said, the smile brightening once more, “Keep me posted on th’ progress, ef ye will.”

=/=Affirmative. Matthews out.=/=

...errrr.... uhhhh....

I'm not sure that was "love" as much as it was "need," tbh... "Lust," perhaps... but... yeah...

I may not always sign in but I'm always lurking.

Had a stretch there where real-life concerns with my daughters sapped my creativity and "free-time," then, after "reuniting with Merideth," at a certain point, she and I spent a lot of time off-site working on a few novels together, so... Yeah... I guess that's where I've been.

In D&D terms, goblins are smaller and sneakier and typically greenish where skintone is concerned. Hobgoblins are larger and more aggressive and usually red (think red orcs with a fire allergy... kindasortainaway...)

Basically hobs are meaner and bigger and nastier...

I think... Don't mind me... I'm not really here!

Stardate 2365.05.16 - Impact minus 50:34

USS Peregrine, Bridge

"How very frustrating," he mused. "If only..."

The small woman in the command chair piped up.  "Wha's tha' then, Ensign Eilal?" Ensign Owen asked. 

The Deltan science officer bobbed his head in deference.  "My apologies, Ensign Owen; I did not intend to disturb anyone.  I was simply musing..." he paused.

"Well, g'wan then!" she exclaimed. 

"Yes, sir," Eilal replied.  "The readings for 2365 C41A3 DN17 do not fully make sense, given the data that we have.  While I recognize that such knowledge is immaterial to the larger situation, my scientific curiosity is piqued here.  Unfortunately, I do not believe that I will be able to gather a more complete picture via sensor data alone.   If only there were some possibility to gather surface samples, I believe that we could unlock the mystery of the anomalous magnetic field that the asteroid possesses."

The bald alien wore a rueful expression.  "Again, I do understand that in the grand scheme of events, such purely academic concerns are of little general interest or importance.  Even so, I cannot apologize for my curiosity and desire here to know more."

“I dinna think apologies’re necessary, Ensign,” Megan answered, a contemplative look coming over her features as she considered the Science officer’s words, “In fact, I think ye may be on ta somethin’ there. Could be tha’ a physical sample’d give us some insight t’ward alternative solutions, aye?” 

She leaned forward in the chair a bit and, resting her elbows on her knees, folded her hands in front of her lips to mask the vaguely mischievous smirk that had begun to tug at them. Et may be tha’ ye’ve facilitated puttin’ a truly viable solution back inta play wi’out even knowin’ et, she mused, her eyes sparkling as she blinked in the direction of the Science station. “Carry on wi’ what yer doin’ Elial,” she suggested with a bob of her head as she reclined back into the depths of the Big Chair, “an’ I’ll run yer request by the Cap’n. See if we canna get approval for a wee away mission b’fore things get too barmy.”

The Deltan nodded.  "I will continue with my duties, sir." 

“Vera good,” Megan nodded, again, “Thank’ee, Elial.” She blinked at the viewscreen, toying with an errant coil of copper hair that had escaped her ponytail, and studied the slowly tumbling asteroid. Gotta be tactful in th’ way ye posit this ta Drake, Meg, she told herself, Et canna s’much as give off a whiff o’ tryin’ ta skirt his nixin’ o’ th’ Commander’s plan.

Following another minute or two of quiet deliberation, Megan reached out a dainty finger to tap a display built into the arm of the chair. “Ensign Owen ta Cap’n Drake,” she said after the comm-tone chirped.

((OOC: Assuming a reply ))

“Sorry ta bother ye, sir,” the elfin ensign lilted, “but Sciences’ve presented the idea tha’ physical samples o’ 2365 C41A3 DN17’d go a long way as ta unravellin’ some o’ the mysteries where her EM field’s concerned. I b’lieve, sir, tha’ the ideas go’ merit an’, at th’ vera least’d provide us wi’ some fair bit o’ referential data should we encounter similar situations in th’ future. If ye dinna mind, Cap’n, I’d like ta give Ensign Elial th’ go ahead on this. I’ll make the necessary arrangements wi’ Flight Control an’ OPS.”

((OOC: Don’t want to assume Drake’s agreement, so I’ll cut this here and wait for a reply before going on. ))

I'm working on a Megan post, as well... once these morning meetings are over, I may be able to focus a bit more and get something tacked up.

Edit: And posted! It's not a lot but it's not nothing.

...I was hoping to have a post for you all by now, unfortunately I didn't get as much free time this weekend as I had hoped for (go figure). Should have something ready to go by tonight or tomorrow morning.

No worries... I figured you were busy.

I'll take a look at your PM and get back to you ASAP. In a bit of a work flurry, myself, ATM.

...I know Meri's got something in the works (possibly all but finished) but I think it plays in a little bit later down the timeline.

I've got an idea for another Megan post but am waiting to hear back from Ragnar to get an idea of just where he might want to start with Elial's involvement. If I don't hear back from him soon, I'll just wing it and see what comes out in the wash.

*nudge*

*jostle*

*kick,kick,KICK*

A little scene from Flight Ops for ya... I've got an idea of where things might be going and have some ideas as to how to pull other characters in but I wanted to wait and see what/if anyone else had something to post before I barrelled head-long into anything.

Stardate 2365.05.16 - Impact minus 51:20
USS Peregrine- Deck 4; Flight Operations - 14:32

Her chair squeaked. A tiny frown molded itself onto her lips as she moved and the bolts holding the chair under her let out another long mew of protest. Everyone in the room was looking at her and it only further pushed her nerves toward the edge. Clearing her throat Ensign Owen pushed out of the chair, trying to hide the wince as it groaned even louder and came to her feet. 

The eyes in the room, belonging to the entire Flight Crew save for Chief Shabani who was manning the helm, and Commander Zai of course, followed her up. Giving another froggy cough she forced the frown off her face. 

“Afternoon everyone…” she began. The PADD in her hands felt heavy and ready to slip through her sweaty fingers, but she clutched it tightly and began to pull up the new duty schedule she’d gotten Tochi to help her configure. “As most of ye may be aware by now,” she said, her eyes lifting from the display to pan across the faces gathered around the table, “Commander Zai has been put on limited duty. His launch privileges have been revoked and, as yet, I’m no’ even certain tha’ he’ll be takin’ shifts at helm.”

A murmur of incredulity rose from around the table and, in some places, rose into the beginnings of questions or protests. Megan laid the PADD on the table before her and held up a hand to silence the drone. “I know ye’ve all got questions an’ comments,” she said, her lips tight across her teeth, “an’ I’ll be more’n glad ta address ‘em all after I’ve had my say, aye?” She bobbed her head as the susurrations abated and raised a slender brow as her gaze drifted from face to face. “Fer the duration o’ the Commander’s suspension, I’ll be headin’ up Flight Control - barmy as tha’ may sound - but dinnae think that’ll be changin’ the way we do things. I’ll be runnin’ this department jus’ as Tochi would an’ I expect the same outta the lot o’ you…”

A chorus of ‘Aye, sirs’ went up and, once more, she gave a faint nod of satisfaction, the mass of her ponytail thudding against her spine.

“...Now, then,” she continued, pacing a few steps away from her seat and clasping her tiny hands behind her back in an unconscious affectation of the Trill’s mannerisms, “as ye c’n imagine, Commander Zai bein’ grounded’s gonna call fer some shufflin’ o’ the duty roster.” She tipped her head to where the PADD lay abandoned at the table’s edge. “Those changes’ve been affected an’ sent ta each o’ ye for review. Ye’ll see tha’ many o’ us’ve picked up an extra shift er two an’, in some cases, duties beyond what ye may be used to. If ye’d all give the updated schedule a look an’ let me know if there’re any issues with th’ proposed changes, within reason I’ll see wha’ I can do fer ye. But…” she added, her eyes surveying her fellow crewmates, “I sae within reason, an I mean it. Commander Zai will be comin’ back an’ he won’t wanna hear dat any’o ye tried a take advantage o’ the situation.” 

It was, surprisingly to Owen, CPO Yasuo who rose his hand and inched up out of his seat a little as he addressed her directly, “Sir, I think the roster looks fine and all. However, if you don’t mind me asking, I’m just wondering what the Captain’s plan is with that asteroid, the rumor-mill is running like mad right now and I just really would like some answers, especially with the Commander being pulled.” 

“I canna say, Yas,” Megan frowned, her steps bringing her back to the empty chair, “I’ve heard th’ scuttlebutt, same as th’ rest o’ ye, an’ I’ve been privy tae overhearin’ a plan put forth by Lt Reid that Tochi himself seemed ta back…” She let go of a sigh and folded her arms across the back of the seat, “...Strange as et seems ta say, I dinna think th’ Cap’n saw eye ta eye, though, an’ likely et were th’ mention o’ tha’ plan tha’ got Commander Zai in his current predicament.”

“Would this plan of the Commander’s have anything to do with all the activity around that shuttle of his, lately,” SCPO Matthews probed, one sharp brow lifting higher on her forehead.

The less you know, the better for all concerned. Tochi’s own words to her on the matter rang through Megan’s thoughts and she very nearly found herself repeating them to the half-Romulan woman across the table. Rather than deflecting the question with such an ambiguous reply, though, Megan pursed her lips and offered a short nod in acknowledgement. “Aye, I believe et does,” she said, “er did, at any rate. I’d share th’ details with ye ef I thought et mattered but, seein’ as the Cap’n’s shut th’ thing down, I fear it’d be nought but a waste o’ our time an’ energy. We’ve all got other more pressin’ concerns ta tend, so let’s keep our focus where et belongs, aye?”

As the chorus of dutiful acknowledgements went up around the table, Ensign Owen couldn’t help but allow a small smile play on her lips. For all of her trepidation, this meeting had gone better than she had expected it would. It was a small step, sure, but her confidence in being able to manage a department of her own someday was bolstered by it all the same. “Marvy,” she chirped, pulling her arms off the seat-back and clasping her hands behind her back again, “Let’s get to it, then, shall we? Ye’ve all got jobs ta do an’ places ta be. Dismissed.”

Good stuff, Alverstar!

But.... but...

Yeah... Okay.

...I blame the excitement of actually posting, again, and also thinking it was Monday.

To be perfectly honest, I hadn't considered the fact that Tochi running around the ship would leave the Big Chair empty (or I had the days confused, at least). My fault for just jumping back into story telling as opposed to looking at the schedule and determining where he should be, I suppose.

That said, I also figure that, since the ship is basically just sitting there, there may not be anyone sitting in the chair in a literal sense. The Captain is in his Ready Room, Zai is running around the ship in pursuit of solutions and such... I presume that the next (most senior) officer would have been left with oversight... Or, as efficient as he is, Ferrero may have come on shift early and took the CONN.

You should be able to find the duty schedule on page 1 of this QA thread, Alverstar.

Crazy, isn't it?

Welcome back!

We're not doing anything out of the ordinary! Y'know, comparing tattoos, playing connect-the-spots, makin' peanut butter and nanner sammiches... that kinda thing.

I was hoping for MORE players, not fewer! What about arresting Tochi and throwing him in the brig? What about catching him and Kennedy nekkid on the Angel and being ooged out by it? Who's gonna do that?

P.S. Going to try and get a Megan post going after the telecon, this morning. Hopefully that'll make some room to pull Elial in and get some tension going.

A wild Ragnar appears! Yay for players! 

Stardate 2365.05.16 - Impact minus 51:32
USS Peregrine, Ensign Owen’s Quarters - 14:20

=/=Drake to Ensign Owen.=/=

Given that Megan had no duty shifts scheduled for the day, the Captain’s hail caught her off guard and she let out a surprised little squeak as she fumbled the PADD which currently displayed her Fractal Calculus lesson. “Oh, tha’ canna be good,” she frowned, recovering the PADD and reaching for her commbadge where it sat on the side table.

She pushed a heavy spill of copper curls from her face and tapped the badge in acknowledgement. “Owen, here.”

 =/=Ensign Owen,=/= the Captain’s flat voice intoned, =/=Commander Zai is temporarily incapacitated. Until further notice, you will be responsible for all flight operations. Please adjust the Flight Control schedule to compensate accordingly.=/=

“Incapacitated?” Megan blinked rapidly, Wha’ in th’ bloody hell’s that mean? Is he injured? Has his lack of sleepin’ finally caught up with him and landed him in sick bay? All sorts of scenarios chased through her mind in that moment, each worse than the last. It was only when she realized that she hadn’t yet replied to Captain Drake’s orders that she freed herself from those morbid musings.

She tapped the badge, again, swallowed the lump in her throat and responded; “Aye, Captain.”

=/=Very good. Drake out.=/=

“Fooksake,” she grimaced, unfurling her legs from beneath her and sliding off the couch as she dismissed her Calculus lesson and brought up the Flight Control schedule, “How’s he go an’ get himself incapacitated when the bloody ship’s jus’ sittin’ still?” She skittered from the living area into her bedroom, tossing the PADD onto the bed before retrieving her uniform from the closet. The thought continued to nag at her while she stripped out of her comfortable leisure wear and got herself into her reds. As she wrestled the mass of her curls into a ponytail, though, another more terrifying realization dawned on her.

“JaysusJosephan’Mary,” she gasped, her hands frozen to the back of her head, her eyes wide and unblinking as she gawked at her terrified reflection, “Tha’ means I’m in charge o’ th’ whole bloody department! Shyte…” Her tiny hands were trembling all of the sudden but she managed enough control of them to finish securing the ponytail before clasping them together and wringing them anxiously… “Shyte an’ bugger all!”

Her heart fluttered in her chest as she blinked at the schedule displayed on the PADD. None of the names and figures on the chart made the least bit of sense at the moment. “Calm yerself, Meg,” she breathed, forcing her fingers apart and busying them with the task of affixing her commbadge to her blouse, “Don’cha go havin’ a case o’ th’ vapors, lass… Ye c’n do this… Oh, bother!” 

She snatched the PADD from the mattress, tucked it under her arm and started for the door. Before the hatch could slide open ahead of her, though, she stopped, chewed her lower lip in nervous introspection and, finally, tapped two dainty fingertips to the Starfleet insignia on her chest; “Umm… Owen ta Commander Zai.”

The reply didn’t come as quickly as was typical for Tochi. There was a long moment of silence which only made Megan worry that her imaginings of him injured or sedated in Sick Bay were spot on. When her hail was, at last, acknowledged though, the relief she felt escaped her in a rush of breath that seemed too large for her lungs to have been holding.

=/=What can we do for you, Meg?=/= Zai’s voice was tight, far from the affable and almost casual timbre he usually affected. He sounded angry.

“Well, sir,” she began on the tail end of her relieved sigh, “I dunno that ye c’n necessarily do anythin’, sir. I… uh… I jus’ heard from Cap’n Drake that ye were incapcitated an’ it had me flummoxed so I wanted ta make sure ye were okay an’...”

=/=Incapacitated?=/= Zai’s voice came back in a derisive snort, =/=Is that what he’s calling it?=/=

Megan blinked, almost winced, at the clatter of noise in the background of Tochi’s transmission. Was he so angry that he was throwing things? That didn’t seem on par for the tranquil demeanor the XO usually presented. “Yessir. Incapacitated. Thatwastheexactwordheused,sir,” she answered, “ToldmeIwasresponsibleferFlightOpsan’taadjustthescheduleuntilfurthernotice.I’mnotsureI’mreadyferallo’that,sir... an’IdinnawannabotheryewithanyofetefyewereinjurederunwellbutIhadtaknowifyewerealrightan’…”

=/=Take a breath, Megan. I’m fine. I am by no means ‘incapacitated,’=/= he scoffed the word, =/=save by our Captain’s own orders, at any rate. I’ve been frillin’ grounded!=/=

“Grounded? You?!” The elfin woman’s mouth fell open and her ice-blue eyes went as wide as saucers. She was having a hard time getting her head around even the concept of such a thing. “Fergive me fer sayin’ so aloud, sir, but what in th’ actual fook?! Ye’ve been relieved o’ duty, then?”

=/=In all but the most fundamental aspects, yes,=/= he answered, chuckling a little at the indignance and disbelief in her tone, =/=We’ve been forbidden from sitting at the helm of so much as a work bee until further notice and I am prohibited from leaving the ship without the Captain’s express permission. There were also threats of a psych-hold and/or confinement to the brig in order to ensure my compliance.=/=

“Mary’s knickers,” Megan gasped after a long moment of her mouth working open and closed like a fish out of water, “Whatinnahelldidyado?”

Another soft snicker preceded his reply. =/=We presented a solution to a problem that was less than well received.=/=

“Well, that’s jus’ clear as mud, then, innit,” she frowned, “Would tha’ I could use that sort o’ ambiguity as answers on the exams for all o’ these bloomin’ classes ya got me toilin’ over!”

=/=The less you know, the better for all concerned, Mr Owen,=/= Zai returned, trying not to laugh.

“Sheep-shyte an’ boiled cabbage,” Megan shot back, her cheeks progressing through deepening shades of pink and red, “Ye’d’ve not said th’ same ta Vaela, Tochi Zai, so don’t ye dare try et with me, aye? I’m yer bloomin’ aCFCO, fer better er worse, an’ ye need ta start treatin’ me as such. I may not have th’ experience she had nor the relationship th’ two o’ ye shared but, ef I’m ta back yer plays an’ learn how ta actually run a department o’ me own, ye cannae go lockin’ me oota yer head!”

Silence.

It hadn’t occurred to her when the words were spilling from her but, in that all too pregnant pause, Megan realized with slow horror that she had just broken off a proverbial foot in the ass of her mentor and superior officer. Tensing, she bit down on her thumb and cringed as she awaited what was sure to be a blistering rebuke. When the response actually came, it was nothing like what she had prepared herself for.

=/=You’re right,=/= Tochi said, at last, the tone of his voice duly castigated, =/=I’m sorry, Megan. You’re not the green Petty Officer I took on all those tours ago, any longer, and you deserve better from me.=/= There was a lengthy, almost dejected sigh as punctuation, here. =/=We are… I am just frustrated and you had the unfortunate luck of being the first voice I heard following my meeting with Silas. We are taking out our frustration on you and you don’t deserve it.=/=

Wait… Megan blinked. Dared to let a satisfied smile start to tug at the Cupids Bow of her lips. Almost giggled and certainly blushed… What? Without thinking about it, she tugged the PADD from under her arm and hugged it to her chest as a curiously warm and empathetic sensation coursed through her. The last time she’d had the desire to wrap her arms this tightly around the Trill was when he’d informed her that she would be taking rotations at the CONN. “Tha’s okay, Toch,” she sighed once she found her voice, “I canna say I truly understand but… I get it,” she pulled her thumb from between her teeth and ran it over her lower lip, “Does… does this have anythin’ ta do with what I heard you an’ Lt Reid discussion’, by chance? Takin’ th’ Angel oot an’ forcin’ a core breach, I mean?”

=/=It does,=/= Tochi admitted. She could almost picture the sheepish smile that split his lips, now. =/=You’re quite a bit more observant than you’re given credit for, Ensign. We knew you had potential.=/=

Her cheeks warmed as they flushed a deep pink and she was glad that there was no one else in the room to see the goofy grin that spread across her features. “I’ve learned from the best Starfleet has ta offer, sir,” she demurred, “I’m truly sorry that Cap’n Drake shot ye down in such a fashion. From what I heard o’ et, et were a grand design.”

=/=Not grand enough that Silas was willing to let it fly, I’m afraid,=/= Zai returned, =/=He prefers that the focus of any potential courts martial be leveled at him alone. We’re beginning to think it might be some sort of fetish.=/=

“As ef there weren’t enough of those on this boat, a’ready,” she giggled softly, “What c’n I do, sir?”

=/=You can send me those schedules, Mr Owen,=/= the XO replied, =/=I’ll update them according to the Captain’s wishes, send them back for your review, and you can sign off. I’m good for little else at the moment it seems.=/=

“Aye, sir,” Megan said from behind a wan smile, “Thank’ee, sir. Anythin’ else?”

=/=You tell me,=/= Zai said, =/=It’s your department for the duration.=/=

Megan backed toward the sofa and sank into the cushions. “I were thinkin’ o’ callin’ a meetin’ in Flight Ops,” she said tentatively, “Lettin’ our people know th’ situation as much as ye’d like… From there, sir, I dunno.”

=/=You’ll figure it out, Megan,=/= he assured her, =/=I have every confidence. This is why we picked you, yes?=/=

“I appreciate that, sir,” she grinned, “Thank’ee. Where’re ya gonna be should I need ye?”

=/=Just a hail away,=/= he promised, =/=If I’m not in our quarters…=/=

“Ye’ll be in Bay 2 with Commander Kennedy,” she nodded, “Aye, sir.”

=/Precisely.=/= Zai smiled. =/=Fair winds and following seas, Ensign.=/=

“Same ta ye, Tochi,” Megan sighed, “Should I have any questions…”

=/=I’m here,=/= he finished for her, =/=Zai out.=/=

...angry Tochi is kinda fun, isn't he?