Wake Up Call

Posted on Thu Aug 19th, 2010 @ 1:12pm by Commander Acle Walex & Captain Vorn Krace

Mission: Shadows Fall
Location: CO and XO's quarters.
Timeline: MM2 MD27 2143hrs (Concurrently with Course Diversion)

Acle finished putting his uniform on, standing straight. Even though it had been less then 5 minutes since he had been awoken, he was fully alert. His uniform hung on his frame, crisp and orderly. Simply by looking at him, one would never have been able to tell that he had just recently been asleep.

Acle completed his check by clipping on his combadge and then depressing it.

==Walex to Krace.==

The response was a bit delayed. "Go ahead, Commander."

==Captain, I am on my way to your quarters. I have authorized a course change effective immediately.== Acle said, slipping his combat knife into his boot and then drawing his trouser leg over it, effectively concealing it from all, but, the most disciplined eye. Old habits die hard Acle mused.

"Copy that," Vorn replied groggily. He had just half an hour ago put his head down and drifted off to sleep, and being woken so soon seemed worse than being woken at two in the morning.

Acle walked through the hatch leading to the corridor outside. There were very few crew out in the corridor, as this area was primarily reserved for senior officer quarters. Acle allowed himself to stretch his neck slightly before beginning the short walk to the Captain's quarters.

During times of war, protocol called for a member of security to stand outside the Captain's quarters and sometimes the Executive Officer's personal quarters. However, during peace-time operations, one security guard was simply posted in the general area of both quarters. The Petty Officer Third Class nodded to the XO as he passed, then returned to his idle watch.

Acle stopped in front of the Captain's hatch and reached over to the side, pressing the chime.

"Come," Vorn called. He'd gotten dressed to the point that all he needed now was to put on his jacket and combadge, and was currently occupied with his new dog trying to get his attention and fuss. The small pet had been practically thrust on him by his mother during his visit whilst in orbit of Earth; one of the litter that her own dog had had, and he had felt too guilty to refuse.

Acle walked through the hatch, letting it slide shut behind him. He came to a precise stop four feet from the door, his body at a parade rest post even if he didn't move his arms. He looked at the dog and raised an eyebrow. "You never struck me as a dog person Captain..." He said, somewhat idly.

"Blame my mother," Vorn replied dryly. In truth, the pet hadn't yet been as troublesome as he had feared, but then it had only been a few weeks so far. "What have we got, then?" he asked, sitting up straight and reaching for his jacket.

"Commander Gunning has the conn right now." Acle began, alerting the Captain to who was currently in charge on the bridge. He looked down at the dog and then knelt, extending his hand to it. "A science vessel, the USS Marconi has requested our assistance in the Regula System. It has detected several anomalies and requests our assistance in identifying them." The dog hesitantly approached the offered hand and tentatively sniffed it. It paused for a moment more, and took a step towards Acle, allowing him to gently scratch its ear. "Commander Gunning notified me and under the circumstances, I felt it best to divert our present course. I don't know much about it, but, I do know that the Regula system is more then it appears to be. Security has the whole system clamped down."

The dog came closer yet to Acle, sitting on the floor, then promptly flopping down and rolling over, presenting its stomach for him to rub.

"Any signs this could be related to the 'soft returns' you notified me of last month?" So far their journey had been free of the sensor echoes that had come to be linked with possible sightings of cloaked ships. Vorn had hoped the rest of that journey would remain that way.

"I am unable to ascertain that without looking at the sensor logs and current sensor data. However... This doesn't seem like a Romulan plot. Normally they would not bother a science vessel." Acle wrinkled his face as he continued to rub the dog's belly. "Unless of course the science vessel in question was carrying something classified."

Vorn nodded, standing as he zipped up his jacket. "Agreed. Let's go."

Acle stood up as well, giving the dog one last friendly pat. "Aye aye Captain."

-------------------
Captain Vorn Krace
Commanding Officer

&

Commander Acle Walex
Executive Officer