Hello Helm

Posted on 10 Jun 2019 @ 2:53pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Mitchell Graham

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Captain's ready room
Timeline: MD5 15:00
1006 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Jon was pleasantly surprised to hear the bridge inform him one of his senior crew he was waiting on had arrived. And it was another of the ones he had personally requested. Having been sent this chaps file from an "acquaintance" and a personal recommendation from a personal friend of the family, Jon had a very good feeling he was the "right guy" to fly the Andromeda, so he had snapped him up the moment he could.

"Have him brought up to my ready room Bridge, I want to meet him immediately," he ordered.

Mitchell Graham was in his quarters belowdecks. He had just walked in and was getting his first impression of the place when a verbal summon called out to him from a comm panel on the wall. "Lieutenant Graham, report to the captain's ready room."

Graham dropped his duffel bag on the floor. "Well, that was quick," he muttered. Was he in trouble already? He tapped his commbadge as he walked back out the door. "On my way."

A few minutes later he was standing at attention before the captain. "Lieutenant Graham reporting as ordered, sir."

"Excellent," Jon said reaching his hand out to shake the other mans. "Happy to have a decent pilot. How was your trip over here?"

"Oh, just fine, sir," the helmsman replied, the captain's friendly demeanor setting him at ease. "Lots of down time, but you know how that goes." He had flown one of the Andromeda's new shuttles here, but had mostly watched the instrument panel while it flew itself. The wonders of modern technology.

"Oh I most definitely do," Jon nodded indicating the chair opposite his desk. "So we have someone in common. Well someone who knows your parents, knows my mother. Frederik Rozek, geologist. Worked some projects with your folks. Looked at my mothers old relics and told her what they are a few years back. They hit it off as friends." He explained. Actually Jon and his siblings had been hoping they would hit it off in other ways but no he wasn't the new step father they had acquired.

"Last time I was home, he was singing your praises," he smiled. "So do you know a bit about terraforming and rocks?" he asked curiously. The guys bio said he was from Sigma Draconis, he had to have picked up something. He had lived it.

"Only from what I picked up from my parents," Graham said with a smile. "And from Dr. Rozek. I haven't seen him in years. But I'm afraid the sum total of my terraforming knowledge doesn't amount to much. My job is Starfleet."

"That's a shame," Jon said. "We had a little excitement yesterday. Bit of a mystery terrorist group wrecked an official event. Bomb went of. Thanks to our chief engineer two other devices didn't thank the goddesses. Somewhere out in the Beta quadrant. So'Na who left Ba'Ku and never reunified have to have a base or terroformed world. I was hoping to give you a it of a side mission if you knew what to look for on the terraforming. Now I'm going to have to go down to Stella Cartography. I confess I don't enjoy that. My ex wife works there."

He shuddered, then smiled. "Well Dr Rozek remembers you."

Graham furrowed his brow. "Sir, I may be no expert at my parents' profession, but I'm a quick study. If you need an extra hand for that mission, then I'll be glad to tag along." The corner of his lip twisted into a half smile. "I'll also be happy to go talk to the Stellar Cartographer, if you'd rather avoid it."

Jon cracked out laughing at his offer to go to stellar cartography. "Good man," he grinned, "If I do need back up I will call you. And yes you will be in on that mission. Every one is. We are conducting our own investigation alongside our official orders. We are going to find out who this group are and what they want. But you have a far more important job. Fly my ship and keep it flying. I don't think I have any concerns there.

We will be embarking tomorrow of course and our first official act is to go place a communications beacon. And look at something Starfleet have spotted but have no clue what it is. A proper staff meeting is in the works. But until then your welcome to take some time to settle in."

Graham nodded. "Thank you, sir, I still have to unpack. So no clue what they've spotted, huh? Has anyone ventured a guess?"

"Oh people have guessed, but no one knows for sure. Looks to me like a rectangular mini monolith. Its not moving ort showing any signs of power. People don't seem convinced its a weapon but … you never know do you? Your welcome to have a look. I have cleared the files for the senior crew. We can't get any scans on it yet - too far away and its not pinging anything in our long range ones. Some are wondering if its an alien communications relay itself as its such a good area to put on. Starfleet have ordered us too after all," Jon chuckled. "Might turn out to be an advert for an alien restaurant round the corner for all we know! But we get to go try find out."

Graham contemplated what the captain was describing, but his guess was as good as anybody's. "I guess we need to get out there quickly then. It's the only way to know for sure. I'll get to plotting the best navigational course right away."

"Excellent," Jon said. "Right well I will see you bright and early at our first senior staff meeting in the morning. Welcome aboard and dismissed Lieutenant."

"Aye, Captain."

OFF:

●● Lieutenant Mitchell Graham
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Andromeda

●●● Commander Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Andromeda