And so it begins...

Posted on Thu May 9th, 2013 @ 6:26am by Lieutenant Kell Demar

Mission: Renewed Beginnings
Location: USS Klondike NCC-98784 [Volga Class Runabout]
Timeline: MD6 – 0645

The Volga Class Runabout, one of the newest runabouts in the fleet, silently glided towards its destination at Warp 5. The Proxima Maintenance Yards weren’t terribly far from Earth so a several hour journey on a Runabout was more than feasible; something Kell was grateful for. It gave him some quiet time ahead of whatever storm awaited him. Some quiet time anyway considering Lt. Kestrin was currently in the Runabout’s small eating area clattering about attempting to make himself some breakfast. Kell wasn’t sure way he was making such a racket; he was using a replicator, for the sake of the Gods.

“Varlen, what in the hell are you doing back there? Beating a chicken until the egg pops out?” Called out Kell as he swiveled around in one if the two chairs at the front of the runabout.

The only response Kell received was a single hand popping out from around the corner with a particular finger prominently stuck up into the air.

Kell rolled his eyes. “I’m Trill and your Bajoran. Crude Human gestures have little meaning to either one of us.”

Yet again a hand popped out only this time (badly) mimicking a foul Trill gesture. Kell rolled his eyes again as he spun back around to face the front of the runabout. He was a good officer; a little brash and a bit more inclined to use a more forceful route then Kell but still a good officer. The next few months would test the young Bajoran as he would be leading the Intelligence Team while Kell was on the Iaeptus. “I have no idea who taught you that but you failed pretty badly at getting that right.”

Varlen walked up to the front of the runabout; a plate full of scrambled eggs mixed with a concoction of other human meats. “It was when Kratz was on the team. “ He said as he sat down at the console opposite of Kells.

“She taught you wrong.”

The Bajoran shrugged before picking up the spare fork he had brought with him and offering it to Kell.

Kell grimaced and shook his head. “I have idea how Humans could make something that comes out of the posterior of another animal a staple of their diet and then mix with meat from 4 other animals and call it a meal.”

Varlen gave him a quizzical look as he swallowed what he had already stuffed in his mouth. “You mean to tell me that there are no bird eggs on Trill?”

“Of course there are. Tiny and rather adorable fluffy chicks hatch from them. We certainly don’t eat them.”

The Bajoran rolled his eyes. “This came out of a replicator, not another animal.”

Kell sighed. “It’s the principle. I’ll stick to my kemmel when it comes to breakfast.”

“You Trill and your fruit. Anyway did you look over the Iaeptus manifest yet? Anything stand out?”

Kell’s hands tapped at the console until the manifest popped up along with his notes. “Nothing too major stands out. The Chief Medical Officer is a Betazoid, which is a little annoying. At least this time the only thing that’s been altered on my record is my time at Intelligence so I don’t have to lie too much. Still I’d do best to avoid her if I can. However the Chief of Security could pose a bit of an issue.”

“Why?”

Kell slid the info over to Varlen’s console. “She used to work for Intelligence. Did some undercover work, some rather deep stuff it looks like, but it doesn’t look like she worked for one of the Units so our paths wouldn’t have crossed. I have no doubt she is trained as well as we’ve been and I bet her clearance level is as high as mine. She could see right through me.”

Varlen scrolled though the info. “Huh. Why would they send you in undercover if someone with her background is on the ship? Think Intelligence wants to investigate her?”

Kell shook his head. “No. They wouldn’t pull a Unit Commander out to snoop on some officer who doesn’t seem to carry a link to Intelligence anymore. They’d send one of the IA goons out if they thought something is up. The biggest issue is she could sniff me out. Other than that the entire senior staff seems fine. Nothing to indicate that one of them is the reason I’ve been plunked down here.”

Varlen sighed. “Well then I guess you get to enjoy a little break on the most advanced science ship in the fleet.”

“Yeah. Scanning random crap and lying to people that I’m supposed to work side by side with and trust with my life. Some break. ” Kell muttered as he tugged at his now teal collar that distinctly lacked his 3rd gold pip.

[MD6 – 1658]

“USS Klondike, this is Proxima docking control. Docking ports are full. Please beam over the transferring officer.”

“Acknowledged Proxima control. Klondike out.” Valen turned to Kell; who was standing up and slinging his bag over his arm. “Well, sir, this is it.”

“That it is Lieutenant.” They rarely used ranks and ‘sir’ with each other. They had worked together for years. They had celebrated together in the joyous times and comforted each other when the times to mourn came. He was the closest thing to a best friend Kell had had in a long time. Now though something about this seemed final. It sent a cold chill down the Trill’s back.
Kell turned and walked towards the small transporter pad but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and was engulfed in a hug from the Bajoran. Kell wasn’t one for closer forms of affections but he quickly reciprocated the hug. The two separated and Kell stepped on the pad.

“Take care of the team Lieutenant. I expect them in top shape when I return.” The words he spoke sounded like a lie. Deep down, deep in the gut his bosses told him to trust, he knew it was a lie.

“Aye, aye Commander.”

The world Kell Demar knew, the world Kell Demar would never return to, disappeared in a curtain of blue light.