A Rough Ride

Posted on Thu Dec 31st, 2020 @ 3:05pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Commander Hans Munich & Major John Kayhill & Lieutenant Lei Shan & Lieutenant Dwight McCabe & Lieutenant Bela Swain & 1st Lieutenant Johnathan Askard & Ensign Satt
Edited on on Sat Jan 2nd, 2021 @ 8:09am

1,426 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Eye of the Storm
Location: Shuttlebay - Planet
Timeline: MD 01

ON

Samantha entered the shuttle bay to see the shuttle off. Call it superstition, but she felt that if she didn't, something might go wrong. "Good luck," she said to the team.

Bela smiled at the Commodore, seeing that she was worried. She gave the Commodore a warm hug. "I'm sure that everything will be just fine."

"Commodore," John said with a nod. "We'll keep the team safe."

"I have every confidence in that," Sam replied.

Shan couldn't help but give the counselor a little bit of a sideways look. She had thought that the... hugging stuff... at the staff meeting had been an anomaly. But here it was again. Giving a little shake of her head, she turned her attention to York. "Any last minute change in priorities?" she asked

"The evidence indicates this isn't a natural storm. We don't know if it's caused by an outside force, or someone on the colony itself. As far as we know, you could be walking into a trap, or a hornet's nest. Either way, be careful and keep your eyes open. Let us know what you find."

"Da, will keep you as apprised as we can with the interference." Munich said.

Askard was off in a corner, having arrived a bit early double checking his gear and the gear of the men and women that would accompany them. Things weren't what they appeared, that was a feeling the Marine had deep in his gut. "Everyone remember their orbital drop training correct?"

Bela thought about it. Orbital drop training was a long way away from her present duties. She replied, "I might do with a refresher."

"A lot depends on what you find on the planet," Sam said. She turned to Kayhill. "I'll let you decide what's best for the team in that regard."

Askard turned and looked at the Councilor. "If that happens, you'll be attached to me. Most fleet don't go through orbital drops because when is Fleet going to get their hands dirty?" You could almost taste the scathing heat. "You'll be fine, just hook up with one of us if things go sideways."

The counselor smiled warmly at Askard. "I don't mind being hooked up with you at all. In fact, we can discuss your disdain for Starfleet officers after this is all done at your leisure." After a small pause, she cheerfully replied, "In fact, I look forward to it."

Shan really did roll her eyes now. Yeash. Talk about a chip on his shoulder... "Don't worry, Lieutenant. If you break the shuttle, I'll just fix it so you don't have go jumping out strapped to the counselor. Let me go make sure I have enough spare parts." She shook her head and nodded to York before heading to the shuttle. She glanced at Munich and managed not to sigh. This was not a great start.

Bela looked over at Shan, slightly confused as to her reaction. Bela made a mental note to ask Shan why she was trying to "protect Askard" from her.

The doctor frowned at them, hoping that Askard was joking about some orbital drop. He kept his silence and buckled up in his seat.

"Oh, I'm adding one member to your team. Because of the new information, I think you need someone from intel."

A half-Vulcan woman walked in, followed by a security officer. "Right on cue," she said, nodding to the others. "I'm Jayna. Hope you don't mind." She was dressed in a black jumpsuit. Only her pips and combadge identified her as Starfleet.

The security officer nodded.

Sam watched them board the shuttle and shook her head. She hoped they'd work things out on the way down. Otherwise, it was going to be an interesting trip.

When all were aboard, the commodore turned and headed back to the bridge.

"I think it is time to launch." Munich said. "Bridge Shuttle Bernard is requesting Clearances to depart."

=^= Flight control to Bernard. =^= The Flight Control Officer replied. =You have permission to launch. Safe Travels.=^=

"Hang on to your seats." Bojay said. "For rough flying always send the best Fighter Pilot you can to get them there safe. " He turned and winked. "And here we go folks."

Jayna hoped he was good enough to get them through the turbulence and down to the planet in one piece. She strapped in and watched out the viewport as the shuttled exited the ship.

As soon as they cleared the shields, they were buffeted by the storm.

John held on as they were buffeted by the storm. He decided to err on the side of caution and actually strapped in. He gave his second command a thumbs up and a nod.

Strapping himself in, Satt felt the shuttle bucking and jumping in the interference. He put an arm out, pressing a hand against the seat in front to better brace himself. After a particularly nasty bout of turbulence the bands across his head flashed a darker blue from nausea.

A shuttle is a bit more sluggish than a fighter ; yet at the moment the added weight and the larger 'Atmospheric drag was actually working in his favor as he used his senses and the attitude displays to get a feel for the decent. He was not taking a direct but more of a sweeping decent to ride a bit of the gravitational factors rather than fighting them.

Heading into the wind was the way he flew he just used the angular hull drag to help him keep a steadier course. If he went straight down they would be bounced and buffeted in so many directions that no one would have a stomach by landing.

"You know; this is not the worst ride I have taken, actually in comparison this is a bit of a joy ride considering you are out in a Ion STorm ridden atmosphere, the ride could be much worst. " HE grinned. But like I promised i am taking the best route odwn to keep the shuttle a bit more of an even keel than an aggressive dive for the surface."

The closer they got to the planet, the stronger the storm became. It wasn't until they entered the atmosphere that the storm began to abate.

As the shuttle steadied, Satt regained control of his breathing, calming and centring himself, I'm no good to the rest if I'm not in control, he admonished himself. Glancing out the window, he saw the atmosphere of the planet was tinged a deep purple by the ion storms above. It was an unnatural sight.'

Dwight held his breath through the rough ride and the shaking of his seat. The doctor let out a relief and didn't say a word, hoping that they get to the planet quickly with a safe feeling.

The shuttle ride was a little more fun that Bojay had in a bit of time behind the controls of a shuttle. The turbulence on the decent was a bit worst than most flights; only his steady hand upon the controls kept it from making his passengers be closer to hurling.

"You can be assured that Bojay Space lines has not lost a shuttle landing yet." He spoke as the altitude readings showed he had dropped the shuttle like a controlled rock and needed to increase the anti-gravity systems and the thrust controls. "And we have ..." Fairing with full thrust and maxing out the Anti-gravs he brought the nose up and put down with only a single bounce.

"Nice job," Jayna said. "Now, Commander, let's see what's out there."

Bela's stomach churned through the turbulence. Despite her not feeling well, she was more worried about how everyone else was feeling. After the bounce, she felt like she wanted to vomit. Despite turning a pale shade of green, she asked, "Is everyone alright? Anyone feeling that they need to get something off their chest?" Her stomach once again started to feel queasy, but she put on a happy face.

"Dah, I am fine." Munich said as he unfastened his belt and pat Bojay on the shoulder. "Keep the meter running until we get back.

"Right you are Commander." Bojay agreed as he put the shuttle into a stand-by readiness.

____
OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Commander Hans Munich
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant Lei Shan
Chief Operations Officer

Ensign Satt
Security/Tactical Officer
(NPC Aenar Torek)

Major John Kayhill
Marine CO

1st Lieutenant Jonathan Askard
Marine XO

Lieutenant Dwight McCabe
Chief Medical Officer

 

RSS Feed