Nosy Neighbors
Posted on Fri Jan 5th, 2024 @ 5:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale
Mission:
The Avenger
Location: Rolar Nebula
Timeline: Current
on:
{Bridge}
As soon as Lieutenant Walker in shuttle Sierra-03 linked the Cardassian hail directly to the USS Chuck Norris, Kevin called the Captain and the Executive Officer to the bridge.
Before either could respond, the Cardassian voice once again insisted, “This is the Cardassian Science Ministry ship Binpatt Ore to USS Chuck Norris.”
Kevin ordered the communications tech to open a channel to the Cardassian ship, “This is Lieutenant Lance, duty officer, aboard USS Chuck Norris.”
The viewscreen shimmered into the image of a Cardassian woman with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. “I am Gul Naleeim, commander of this vessel. I wish to speak with your Captain.”
Mira had just been about to get into a shuttle when she was summoned to the bridge. “Good Afternoon, Gul Naleeim. The Captain is busy at the moment. Do you require assistance?”
“No,” the Gul replied, “I was about to make the same offer to you. What are you doing in this part of space?”
“Following orders from star fleet command to map the Rolor Nebula. What are you doing here?” Mira added in the same tone, but same had switched to Cardassian.
“Scientific research,” Naleeim replied, evidently unimpressed by Mira addressing her in her native tongue, “Free transit of space for non-military purposes is one of the conventions from the Federation Cardassian treaty of 2370.”
Kevin was dubious at the Gul’s claim. Despite demilitarization of the Cardassian government at the end of the Dominion War, the military still held great sway.
There was a chuckle. “Is this the captain of the USS Chuck Norris?”
“Commander Mira Rodale, by any chance, is Legate Broc Ghanrak around? If so, let him know I am still waiting on the 3 bottles of Kanar he promised me.”
Mira smirked at her name dropping. She did, in fact, know Broc Ghanrak, but he had been a captain back then, and he still did own her 3 bottles of Kanar.
Gul Naleeim smiled blandly and nodded, “I see, I will pass that message along.”
"I am curious, however, about your reasoning for being here," the Gul continued, "I would have thought that the Federation would have mapped this region decades ago. And your aggressive use of probes and shuttles would indicate that you are looking for something."
Kevin shifted uneasily in his chair. The methods employed in the search pattern were a little obvious but in his defense they hadn't expected to meet anyone out here.
Mira's smile never slipped. They were in a cat and mouse game. She gently took a seat in the command chair as if she had all the time in the world.
"Well, to tell the truth, our last review wasn't up to Starfleet Command's standards. Hence, we got assigned this mission. At the same time, we got a lot of new crew members. One of my officers, " she waved a hand to Kevin,"thought this would be a great training opportunity and is running them through the paces with new equipment." She looked down at her hand. "And if this updated map of the nebula isn't above standards, they will answer to me." She smiled.
"Never send a male to do a female's job," the Gul smirked, "Very well. I wish you good fortune in training your crew. Should you want assistance, contact me. Binpatt Ore out." Her image dissolved from the viewscreen.
Mira sighed in relief. "Well, that bought us some time. Let's make it count."
Zimia turns around. "I didn't know. We got a low review."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "We didn't, but it sounded good." Mira gave a little shrug.
"You lied?" Zimia put her hand over her mouth in surprise.
Mira states, "It's OK to lie to Cardassians. My uncle told me so." With that answer, Zimia turned around.
Mira made her way to Kevin, then wispered, "She worries me a lot." Then, Mira smiled. "Thank you for the flowers they are beautiful."
Kevin kept his head down and smiled as he whispered back, "I'm glad that you liked them." He was about to reach for her hand when an alert rang out from his console.
"Commander, one of the probes is picking up a larger anomaly," he announced in a louder, more official voice.
"Is it another ship?"
"Negative," he replied, "too small to be anything other than a shuttle and there are no power emissions." He tapped at his console for a moment, "Appears to be too large to bring into the ship. We will need to perform a detailed scan at short range."
"The Worker Bees aren't equipped for that," Mira stated, "Are there any Eighteens available?"
"Roger," Kevin answered, "Sierra-02 is finishing flight prep and isn't due on the sensor line for another ten minutes. I can send 02 out to investigate and extend 04's time on station."
Mira nodded, she had been about to get in that shuttle but they must of gotten another pilot. "Make it so" she smiled
:off
Lieutenant Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris
and
Commander Mira Rodale
XO
USS Chuck Norris
