Unexpected Addition
Posted on Mon Oct 1st, 2012 @ 1:24pm by Captain Vorn Krace & Commander Jordan Gunning & Chief Warrant Officer K'Vaal Th'raas & Lieutenant JG William Biggins
Mission:
Heart of an Explorer
Location: USS Iapetus
Timeline: MD41 1230hrs (Ship time)
As Commander Walex led the Prefect off towards the mess hall, Krace turned towards Gunning, but was interrupted before he could say anything.
"Bridge to Commander Gunning. Sir, the shuttlecraft has returned from its investigation, and will be docking in the next few minutes."
"Acknowledged," Gunning replied, registering the away team's arrival and dispatching a security team to their disembarkation location, "what's their report?"
"They report that they recovered a Starfleet escape pod from the Mjolnir."
Krace frowned at that, interrupting the conversation between the two. "The Mjolnir's assignment is in the Beta Quadrant. There's no way an escape pod from her could make it out this far," he said to his security chief. Tapping his badge to add himself to the comm. line, he spoke with the bridge. "Bridge, any occupants?"
"One sir. Xindii Ensign. They're coming into the shuttlebay now."
In a brief unspoken decision between the two, Krace and Gunning both nodded at each other and headed towards the turbolift.
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Main Shuttlebay
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Krace and Gunning entered the expansive hangar just as the Type-11 shuttlecraft was touching down on the decking, and its egress door started to open. It took a few seconds for the shuttle's occupants to finish locking down the ship's systems and make their way to the exit and come into the captain's view.
Gunning shook a palm at the waiting security team who held their Compression Rifles ready to fire. He glanced across at Krace as the Captain's eye fell on the heavily armed response unit who only he, Walex and Gunning were authorised to deploy. Gunning spoke sheepishly by way of investigation. "I sent them here before we got the report."
Giving a silent nod to Gunning, Krace held his hand out and gestured in a downwards motion for the security officers to lower their rifles. He didn't want so many barrels to be pointing at a Starfleet officer who'd just been pulled out of an escape pod, even if he was in the wrong quadrant.
Starfleet or not, Thryskal felt a little out of place. It had taken him some time before he had been finally accepted by the crew of the Mjolnir. It didn't take an empath to feel the wariness that emanated from some of the personnel outside the shuttle. Unsurprisingly, there was a certain reputation that followed it wherever the ensign went. It had no idea if it was going to be staying aboard the Iapetus or if it was eventually going to move on with its career elsewhere. That wasn't up to the Insectoid. There was no doubt that Starfleet would want to debrief him on the destruction of the Mjolnir in due time. Although right now, there were people out in the shuttlebay who were waiting to welcome it aboard.
Cautiously, the Xindi exited the rear of the shuttlecraft. By now it had replaced its Starfleet commbadge on the left breast of its protective vest. It looked from side to side at the wide array of security officers who were present. To Thryskal, it was obvious that they didn't trust it. It was understandable. It was Xindi. Nontheless, Thryskal pressed on and approached the two officers that stood out amongst the others. This was all part of its journey in Starfleet. It was time to prove to others now that it was as capable as anyone else.
Following closely out of the shuttle was Biggins, who looked genuinely surprised at the security detail there to meet them, though not overly phased by it. He had afterall been serving alongside Commander Gunning for a number of years now, and knew that it should never be a surprise if he overcompensated on security arrangements.
K'Vaal, stepped off of the shuttle towards Krace and Gunning, and also taking note of the security officers present, simply nodded. "Ensign, looks like you've got yourself a nice welcoming committee!" he said softly as they stepped off the shuttle.
K'Vaal stood aside to present the Ensign, an Insectoid for Captain Krace, and Commander Gunning, who were making their way over to them. "This here is Ensign Thryskal, formerly of the USS Mjolnir." he said.
"Ensign," Krace said, moving up towards the group as they exited the shuttle. "I am Captain Krace, commander of the Iapetus."
The Insectoid took a moment or two to inspect the man before it. It's mandibles moved nervously. It didn't really know how the other officer would react to being face to face with a Xindi. So far it seemed encouraging. <"Captain..."> it said in its native tongue. <"My rescue is much appreciated. Your officers performed their task admirably.">
"I'm glad to hear it," Krace responded. "But I was wondering if you could help us answer a few questions. You said that your assignment was on the Mjolnir?"
Thryskal nodded. <"That is correct. I was its pilot."> It knew there would be questions asked about how it came to be here now. In the Delta Quadrant. As aggressive as Insectoids usually were, the Ensign felt no need to resist the barrage of inquiries that was no doubt going to happen over the next several days. Maybe even weeks.
"I understand the lieutenant has explained to you where you are now," Krace continued, having briefly been able to read the transcript of the communique between the incoming shuttle and the ship on his way down to the shuttlebay. "What do you remember about when you had to launch your escape pod? Anything unusual or strange happen to it as you left the Mjolnir?"
The Insectoid could remember those moments well. While secluded in its escape pod, there was plenty of time to reflect on everything that had happened. <"If you are wondering how I came to be in the Delta Quadrant, unfortunately I can't say. The ship was oddly affected by a spatial phenomena we'd discovered."> Thryskal ran one of its fingers along its mandible. <"The last thing I recall was the ship partially engulfed within the anomaly and then there was a bright flash. I can only surmise that the explosion of the Mjolnir so close to it must have somehow launched my pod to this quadrant.">
Krace nodded at the explanation. It seemed reasonable enough, and the escape pods sensors were far too basic to have been much help in determining what had happened to the miniature crash. "I'd like you to report to sickbay for a full check-up. Our mission doesn't plan for us to be any closer to Federation territory for a long while, so you'll have to stay aboard the Iapetus for now."
<"Of course Captain."> Thryskal bowed its head slightly but then straightened its posture to address the man further. <"With request... as my loyalties no longer lie with my former vessel, should you require my expertise... I am at your service."> Although it wasn't trying to sound too Vulcan, it was the logical thing to suggest. For all intents and purpose, Thryskal's 'colony' or crewmates were now gone.
"I'll keep your offer in mind," Krace responded, with a slight encouraging smile. Turning towards the security officer who had been with the shuttle crew, he said "Chief, would you show the ensign to sickbay?"
As the others headed off, and the security team in the shuttlebay began to disperse, Krace turned towards his second officer. "Our priority at the moment is the Maldorrans, but I want us to find out what happened to the Mjolnir. See if you can make a connection with Starfleet through the relays we dropped and find any news on it."
"Aye, Captain." The Commander looked around at the Insectoid leaving the bay. "The Mjolnir lost with all hands and one survior? Seems a bit suspicious, if you ask me."
"Perhaps," Krace responded, before heading off towards a turbolift in the opposite direction, so that the two journeys didn't impede each other. "But there's nothing that we can do about that from here. My more immediate concern is how he ended up here."
"I'll find out, sir." Gunning said as the doors of the turbolift closed in front of them. "Don't you worry about that."
Captain Vorn Krace
Commanding Officer
Commander Jordan Gunning
Chief of Security
Ensign Thryskal
Chief Helmsman
CWO K'Vaal Th'raas
Tactical Officer
USS Iapetus
