Star Trek RPG - Mission #4: "Codex Aelyrr"

Adeev says, "We could make at least minimal repairs and resume our course to Yaavel, and they could send out a ship to tow us in or even help us make repairs in deep space. That would at least get us farther away from any likely Klingon patrols. But this is not my decision; let me discuss it with the High Priestess."

She does, over the intercom, and Alveron asks, "So there is no chance of making repairs here and being able to pursue the Klingons ourselves in this ship?"

"No, High Priestess," Adeev says respectfully. "Not anytime soon. The damage is too great."

Alveron thinks. "We must get the Codex back, and quickly, but we cannot abandon this ship...." She turns to the still-nude Sidonian. "Tell me, Lt. Onn, could we send someone with you to recover the artifact? Could your people help us with this great task?"

Graham nods respectfully. "Of course, it's our pleasure to help."

He steps outside the treatment area and types out a message to Nia. Sorry for delay. Aelyrr appears OK. Maybe stress/fainting in quarters during attack. Am available for assignment currently in infirmary.

Nia sees Booker's message and nods, about to respond but is distracted by Alveron's request. To Alveron, she replies: "I'll have to check with my captain, High Priestess. I know how important your Codex is. Please excuse me."

Not wanting to make the request in front of the Aelyrr, she leaves the room to find somewhere private. As she walks slowly, she taps out a message:

Onn to Singh and Vargas. Request permission to end coded discussions; with Klingons absent this precaution seems unnecessary. Meanwhile, ship is secured but unable to be fixed in time for Aelyrr to retrieve their artifact; their priestess requests our help in reclaiming stolen item from Klingons, with 1 representative from Aelyrr on board Yorktown. Please advise.

The reply soon comes back: Message received. Well done in averting core breach of Aelyrr vessel. Chief Engineer Cheverez wishes to beam over additional Engineering personnel to begin repairs and to study unusual Aelyrr systems. He will assume command of Yorktown personnel there. Return ASAP with original boarding party and your selection of Aelyrr guest(s) for further discussions. SINGH.

Nia's teeth tug at her lip as she types back:

Thank you, ma'am, but the credit goes entirely to Cheverez and Ferguson's acts of ingenuity. Will do as requested except for one problem: the Aelyrr don't transport--it's against their religion. Will ask but given the leader's strong opinions on faith, I can't imagine this sacred ship contains any nonbelievers. I might be able to pilot a shuttle over close enough for an EVA transfer--tricky but I've threaded smaller needles before.

She sends the message and in the interim contacts the boarding team: "Okay team. The six of us are being called home. I'm waiting for some further instructions, so let's just gather first. Find an Aelyrr and ask them to get you to the Auxiliary control room." After a second, she adds: "T'Var, if you're still dealing with any patients or otherwise assisting, you can finish up what you're doing--the ship's not going anywhere yet, and Cheverez is staying and bringing more engies on board.

"And Rangin, if Cheverez needs you to stay you can, but I think before I go back to the ship I'd better get my uniform, if you can drop it by? Scales aren't the fashion statement I want to make when meeting with the Captain or especially Vargas." The thought makes her smirk. On the other hand, that might be the only way to get Vargas's approval.

Continuing, she finishes: "See you soon. T'Var, Rangin, let me know if you need to stay."

Nia waits for any responses before returning to the control room.

Well, this was rather anticlimactic. Collins thinks after Onn calls the team to their location. I'm going to need a lot of cardio tonight.

T'Var says, "I am finishing up here, and will come to the Auxiliary Control Room shortly."

"On my way," Rawlings says.

After a few minutes, Onn gets another message. Interesting. Would rather not risk EVAs with our new friends; will ask Engineering to craft a docking adaptor for one of our shuttles and Aelyrr airlock or equivalent. Ask them to send specs. How many Aelyrr would you like to bring here? Please extend invitation(s). SINGH.

A response to the message from the Captain is easy enough for Nia. I'd imagine two Aelyrr would be ideal, just to make each other feel comfortable among such alien beings. But I'll ask the high priestess her opinion, and will get specs/location for docking adaptor. Excellent idea, ma'am, if I may say so. Should've thought of it myself. Blame 2 hours' sleep.

She sends the message off and heads back to the ACR, where she nods in encouragement toward Collins and the others. "High Priestess, I'm glad to say that Captain Singh is willing to discuss the best way to assist you in retrieving your artifact. And, being respectful of your feelings about transporters, she'll have our engineers adapt one of our shuttles so that one or two of your representatives can be flown safely to our ship."

Nia smiles reassuringly. "I'll be handling the shuttle, and I promise it'll be safe. We'll just need to know the specs on where and how big we need to make the addition to our shuttle so it matches the Naradraen's hatch, or whatever you normally use to exit and enter the ship. Maybe the crew member who's working with Mr. Cheverez now will be the best person to ask. Of course, we leave it to you to decide who would like to come aboard the Yorktown. I was thinking maybe two Aelyrr would be best, so no one should feel too alone among all the strangers and different technology. Do you have ideas on who might volunteer to come aboard?"

Suddenly she remembers that she should let Alveron know about Cheverez's plans. "Oh--also, with your permission, Mr. Cheverez is hoping he'll be allowed to continue to work on fixing your ship--in fact, he'd like to send more of our engineers over to help him restore the Naradraen's damaged systems. Will that be all right with you?"

Collins feels herself getting antsy, but hopes feverishly that it doesn't show.

Rangin checks with Cheverez as to whether he needs to stay or not. Regardless he will head for the Auxiliary Control Centre to hand the uniform back to Lt. Onn.

Alveron says, "Yes, please have your engineer continue his work, and he is welcome to bring more of your people aboard to help. I will have Adeev send the technical information to your ship so that a shuttle may safely dock." She calls Adeev and issues the order, switches off and then says, "I would like to come meet your Captain myself, and I think I will bring" -- she thinks a moment -- "Eris with me. She is our sole surviving and unwounded warrior, and will probably be the best person from this ship to retrieve the Codex."

Collins appears calm and professional to all around her.

T'Var and then Rawlings arrive in the ACR. Rawlings quietly asks Collins, "What's new, Lieutenant?"

Cheverez says, "I understand the Captain wants the original boarding party to return, Mr. Rangin, so yes, you can go. Thank you again for your help." Rangin soon finds his way to the ACR, Onn's uniform in hand.

Onn has another response from the ship: Understandable; I'm sure you could all use a rest. Carry on, and see you soon. SINGH.

Nia thanks Alveron and adds that the Yorktown will be honored to have her and Eris. She then contacts Cheverez to let him know he can go ahead and send for extra help, and welcomes T'Var and Rawlings. With Double-T's arrival, Nia starts to find this small room a bit tight. She slips just outside to find Rangin.

"There you are. I really owe you for holding everything for me. Sorry about that--you're not my butler." She smiles and takes the uniform from him. Only now does she realize that her boots, underwear and stockings must be back in the corridor wherever she dropped them. Not a huge problem, though she'll look strange walking around barefoot. Once she slips the dress over her head, she exhales and relaxes, letting her scales recede everywhere but her torso--given the lack of underwear and the shortness of her skirt, she figures better safe than sorry.

Despite her relaxation, from the appearance of the skin on her hands--somewhat metallic, matching the walls--there's still enough nervous energy coursing through her to keep her instinctively camouflaged. That's weird. What am I anxious about? The fact that she hasn't heard from Booker in a while might be one reason, but she knows he must be on his way.

Things were awkward when she disagreed with him about tactics and gave him the orders to search the ship. It can't be because she's a woman, can it? Booker must be plenty used to women superior officers--hell, the Captain's female, and Collins... although he hasn't spent much time under their commands yet. Still. Is it just her? Considering she and Booker are... whatever they are?

With a shrug and mental decision to deal with that later, she asks the ensign beside her for her inhaler. "Thanks again, Rangin." Nia's smile turns rueful. "Y'know, I'm usually on a first-name basis with guys who help me into or out of my clothes. You mind if I call you Velir, when appropriate? And I'm Nia."

Collins looks up at Rawlings and smiles, "Same old, same old." she replies. "You?"

"Of course not ma'am, as appropriate," Rangin replies politely while holding out both the inhaler and the pair of boots that Lt. Onn had left behind. "I believe you will find your undergarments in them as well."

"It appears that our work here is done, for all that I did. At least I got to meet a new species and see the Sidonian Scaled Camouflage Response And Movement in the flesh, if you don't mind me saying ma'am as I've only seen vids of it before. So at least my time here wasn't a complete loss." Rangin sighs at the thought of what he was doing just before all this occurred. "I do hope the Captain isn't going to expect me to finish the shift where I started it. The Captain's chair is really not comfy enough to fall asleep in." he wonders half to himself and half to anyone else who might be listening in.

"Have we been given any new orders ma'am after we return." he enquires of Lt. Onn once she has finished dressing.

Nia is shocked, to put it mildly, to see Rangin produce her boots. Just where did this guy hold them all this time? Do Coridanites have pouches I don't know about?

She thanks him again and waits to answer his question as she slips on the boots. The stockings and underwear will wait; she might not be a hugely modest person, considering she's been running around naked for the past however-the-hell long it's been, but something feels wrong about slipping on her black silk underwear in front of the guy who's... apparently been hanging on to them steadfastly throughout a dangerous battle with Klingons. Okaaay.

She straightens and puts her hands on her hips, the undies and stockings bunched together in her left hand. "First of all, I understand and share your frustration. I personally accomplished basically nothing, except scaring off the Klingon with the Holy Grail and giving you all a peek at my scale-covered goodies. But you acquitted yourself well, Velir. You came up with good ideas and kept your wits about you. I was right to pick you, and I think some people..." I just don't see what Booker finds so sinister about this guy. Is my creep radar that off? "...I think some people underestimate your skills.

"Not that you're not valued," she adds quickly. "But between you, me, and no one else, after the way you've performed over the last two missions--or three, if you count the search for Ensign Kylah--if you were a bit more pushy, or maybe were in a more, um, lionized department like the one led by our First Officer, I think you'd have at least a dotted one of these," she says, pointing to her gold Lieutenant's stripe and, of course, referring to the same rank as Collins and, until recently, Delaney.

"Anyway, as for what follows, I'll tell this to the team in private once our party's finally reunited..." Nia looks over Rangin's shoulder somewhat impatiently, hoping Booker will show up soon. "But you might as well get first dibs on this. I have a suspicion either the Yorktown will be flying out to capture the Klingons or they'll be sending us off in a shuttle to take care of the hunt. If it's the former, your knowledge of that new sensor device may come in handy if the thieves are off hiding on some planetoid somewhere. If it's the latter and I'm asked to lead a team again, I'd still like you to be part of it... that is, if you don't mind working under someone who shot her phaser twice to no effect and then twiddled her thumbs for the rest of the mission." She smiles crookedly at him. "I promise I'm not normally this impotent."

Rangin settles back into a more formal stance, hands behind his back where he had been holding Lt. Onn's boots. No wonder she had looked surprised when he produced them.

"Ma'am, all the action I saw was from behind Lt. JG. Collins - twice - and then got to stay out of the way of Lt. Cmdr Cheverez as he stopped us being turned into a quantum smear in space. Hopefully next time, I will be more use than just pointing out where the Klingons are." His comment about tidying up after people goes unsaid. It was probably more useful than anything else he had done as part of the boarding party. "And it would at least give me a chance to converse with the Aelyrr some more, perhaps find out how close to the Caitians they actually are, whether an offshoot or perhaps two species that appeared independently. Although I have a feeling Dr T'Var will already have started looking into that."

Rangin shrugs. "As for my performance, I think Lt. Cmdr Roble has the same thoughts as you. We'll see what happens in the long run."

"If you would like me to serve under you, then I have no problems with that." Rangin brightens slightly, "I'll just have to find someone else to look after the sensor tests if it contends. Actually, with any luck, Dr Brold might have some decent readings from the test yesterday."

He nods sagely. "Something else to look forward to."

Cheverez says, "Thank you, Mr. Onn. I'll beam over an Engineering team shortly."

Rawlings shrugs and says to Collins, "Beats digging a ditch. It was interesting to get to look over this ship a bit - been a long time since I've been on a First Contact mission."

It takes about half an hour for the Yorktown's artificers to craft a docking adaptor. Alveron and Eris lead the boarding party to a starboard airlock as the Starfleet shuttle approaches.

Graham rendezvous with the rest of the team by the control room.*


*Assuming that's where they still are

Collins giggles a little at Rawlings' ditch comment. 'Yeah, but the good stuff was over before it started" she adds quietly so the others don't hear. Then in a normal voice says "A couple of them are coming with, so there's still a chance to learn more from them."

Nia can hear the touch of frustration in Rangin's otherwise mild tone. She can't blame him; a xenobiologist and skilled scientist having no opportunities on such a mission--a first contact with a new alien species--well, she'd be pissed off too. Of course in her position she can't complain openly to a subordinate, but she looks as sympathetic and supportive as she possibly can.

Booker's arrival is late, and he says nothing to her, doesn't even seem to look at her. Nia is beginning to worry about him.

Then the final nail in the coffin of this mission occurs when, instead of being beamed back to the ship separately before the Aelyrr... either for a debriefing, or a chance for Rangin and T'Var to privately update Roble about the new aliens' biology and any needs they might have before stepping into a foreign environment, or a pep-talk with her own team, or--what Nia was personally most looking forward to--a chance to fly the shuttle with its new addition and help Alveron and Eris on board, as she'd promised... she and her team are forced to sit on their heels for a half-hour, underutilized. Again.

Damn it, I was hoping to fly the Naradraen, and now I can't even get a shuttle.

She pushes away her personal disappointment and considers the very real issues caused by this decision. I need to suggest some better procedures to the captain in cases like this. Respectfully, of course, but she needs to hear them. We shouldn't have first-contact aliens on board without making certain there's no biohazard to them or our crew. Not to mention any, uh, social hazards related to their religion. Heck, I'd've liked to be consulted about what accommodations the ship can make so our guests will be comfortable--they don't use chairs, after all.

Nia remembers when she first entered a Starfleet vessel back on Sidonia, she was vetted and kept in quarantine for some time before being allowed onto the ship; she also had extensive discussions with the ship's xenosociologist and captain so that she understood the ship's culture--and her own.

Of course she had vastly different medical requirements, given the unusual atmospheric conditions on Sidonia versus M-Class environments, but even so. Make a note to follow up, 'cause first contacts are incredibly delicate. And who knows that better than someone who's been on the other side of this sorta thing?

When they enter the shuttle, Nia is curious to see how the Aelyrr will react. She looks to see who's flying this bird, and will congratulate him or her for his achievement. Somewhat enviously, admittedly, but good piloting is good piloting.

Graham has joined up with his shipmates.

Onn can see the shuttle through an outer-hull viewport as it approaches the last few meters - it is the Steinmetz. The pilot brings the shuttle up very gently to the Naradraen's flank, and the jury-rigged docking adaptor smoothly mates with the Aelyrr airlock. Alveron seems quite interested in the process. Eris is monitoring the airlock controls and, after a minute or so, says, "An airtight seal is established. I am opening the inner hatch now." There is only enough room in the airlock for three at a time to pass through.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Proteus_Steinmetz

Graham has no interest in making small talk with Rangin, or in his company,

But as the shuttle approaches he sees that Onn is observing it through a viewport. He approaches close, just over her shoulder. "I see you've, ah...re-briefed, ma'am," he says quietly. "Everything all right?" he asks, equally quietly, a mix of respect for a solid mission commander, concern for someone (however skilled) thrown into a different context--pilot versus hand-to-hand combatant--and solicitude for a...lover...

Feeling the warmth of Booker's body close to hers, and then hearing his murmured voice... Nia exhales and closes her eyes briefly, at last reminded of how it felt to lie in his arms. It's a lengthy process, turning off the exterior facade that she wears as a team leader--much slower to ebb away than just her scales.

Her aim, whenever she's led a mission, is to keep her attitude efficient but not cold, businesslike but not humorless, and tough but not callous. With Booker nearby, she's tempted to lean against him and relieve herself of the responsibility; just being glad they're all safe, but aware that she's failed in so many ways.

Of course, she can't do that yet. She does shift her eyes briefly away from the shuttle she wishes she could be flying, and aims her gaze at Booker. "Could be better. Too many were lost, including our quarry. At least we've got some of the enemy to question." Can't wait to see their ugly faces in a cell. She swallows and lifts a shoulder in a kind of shrug, not wanting to dwell. "So I'll take this, for now."

Nia can't help noticing that due to all the action they've seen, strands of his dark hair are hanging in his face. Every instinct urges her to brush them tenderly backward. Instead she gives him a small, private smile, somewhat questioning. "You okay?"

Graham's jaw clenches slightly, then he puts a hand on Nia's shoulder and squeezes firmly but gently.

"Yeah..."

"Nothing wrong with being pissed about bad guys who got away..." He exhales. "Or these...poor Aelyrr bastards who we didn't get to fast enough. But everyone who came aboard is going home safe. That's something dealing with Klingons, ma-."

He pauses a moment. "Nia. Believe me, I know."

He releases her shoulder somewhat regretfully, letting the gesture stand as one any comrades-in-arms might make, rather than something more intimate.

Thanking Booker with her eyes and a silent nod, Nia turns back--accidentally-but-not-really letting her shoulder brush against his--to hear Eris's announcement. Reluctantly she moves away from the strong man beside her and toward the pair of Aelyrr. "High Priestess, Eris, and..." Nia's eyes scan the group. "Lt. Collins," she concludes, deciding on rank. "You're welcome to board the shuttle whenever you're ready."

She looks at the rest. "Next will be just two of you, Rawlings and Rangin. As usual, Double-T, you require special accommodations fitting into tight places." Nia lets her eyes sparkle mischievously at her friend and ex before returning to the final two. As far as she's concerned, a team leader's duty is to be the first into the fray and the last into safety. Not that the ship is dangerous any longer, but she's not going to deviate from habit now. "That'll leave T'Var, Graham and finally me for the last trio."

Before she forgets, she opens her communicator. "Mr. Cheverez, the original boarding party is about to enter the shuttle. Thanks to your assistance, we're leaving the Naradraen in better condition than we found her. Team command is in your hands, sir."

Seeing Graham approaching Lt Onn, Rangin moves away from her and heads across to Rawlings and Collins. He is pondering the results that Dr Brold and his assistants are likely to gain from the test when something occurs to him.

"Ma'am, Mr Rawlings" he greets the pair of them, "so how was first contact for both of you? For me, normally its a little more interesting, we hardly seem to have got to know them. Just out of curiousity ma'am, I take it your going to be in charge of keeping them safe, chaperoning them if you will as it is quite important the right person is doing that" Rangin shuffles slightly, "I only ask as I would like to get to know them further, purely from a xenobiological and scientific point of view, of course."

Hearing Lt Onn give out the orders for embarking on the shuttle, Rangin nods towards Rawlings, "I'm still waiting for someone to make a little and large joke," he dryly says.

"Chaperone, yes," Collins says, "they'll be our guest for a time. I have no problem with you talking to them to learn all you can, but you'll have to go at their pace." she smiles a bit "Alveron is their spiritual leader. I'd speak to her first about what you can and cannot ask of the others."

"As for first contact, well, it wasn't ideal, for sure. My idea of first contact is to observe a people for a while first, find out what makes them tick, then approach carefully, but friendly." She thinks for a moment. "But I think we did okay."

She hears Eris' announcement and Onn's directive, "I'll see you on the shuttle." she says to both men, then heads for the airlock. She'll let the two Aelyrr go through the door first before she steps in herself.

Cheverez responds via communicator, "Acknowledged, Mr. Onn, and thanks again. Have a good - and short - trip back."

No one takes issue with Onn's order as to entry of the shuttle, of course.

Alveron, Eris and Collins pass through the airlock. Pressure equalizes and soon, with a hiss, the shuttle's outer door opens. They go inside. Collins sees that the only person in the Steinmetz, now rising from the controls, is its pilot, Ens. Ben Cooper. He bows slightly to the Aelyrr. "Welcome aboard, honored guests," he says, shooting her a sidelong wink that they can't see.

Rawlings replies to Rangin, "I was just saying, I liked having the chance to look over the alien ship. Very interesting. I wouldn't have minded stunning more Klingons, too, but I'll take what I can get." He smiles. "And I leave the big-and-little jokes to others; Lord knows I've heard enough of them over the years."

Collins smiles when she sees who the shuttle pilot is. She returns the wink then sees to it that the Aelyrr are comfortable. She stand at a point within the shuttle that gives her line of sight and easy access to the whole vessel. Once everyone else is aboard, she'll slip into the copilot's seat and stay there, unless someone else gets there first.

Once Collins and the Aelyrr are through, Rangin will head through with Rawlings and take a seat near them and all the better to make sure that Ens Graham can't be seated near himself.

"I hope that we are able to assist you recovering the Codex during your time on board, as well as learn more about each other's races. I would hope we have a lot to offer each other." Rangin says politely to them, trying to engage them in conversation and make it as pleasant as possible.

On the Steinmetz, as with most Class F shuttlecraft, from the bow proceeding aft, there are two seats set side by side at the forward control console (either one of which may be occupied by the pilot), followed by the door entry area on the port side with one seat against the starboard bulkhead, then two seats, and then another two seats - seven in all. A small technical-access bay and even smaller bathroom are at the stern.

Thus:

S1 S2
___S3
S4 S5
S6 S7

The aliens take seats 4 and 5, looking about them with great interest. Rawlings and Rangin pass through the airlock with no problems and are also given a friendly greeting by Cooper. Rawlings, who seems to make the shuttle's interior smaller simply by being there, remains standing near the door.

T'Var says to Onn and Graham, as the airlock cycles through again, "Shall we...?"

A reminder of the Class F shuttlecraft of the TOS era: http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Class_F_shuttlecraft.

Graham nods and gestures, inviting T'Var and Onn to proceed. "After you, ladies. Uh--sirs."

Rangin sits in S3 next to the Aelyrr, all the better to engage in conversation and answer any questions they may have. It also gets him away from Graham and none of the rest of the group are exactly chatty, well apart from Lt Onn.

With Collins and Rawlings both standing there is enough room for everyone else to sit down, but he keeps an eye towards the door to see anyone of a higher rank would like to take the seat to speak to the Aelyrr.

Nia steps inside and, seeing Collins and Rawlings so close to the door, takes a look around the shuttle. She does a bit of a double-take at the fact that the Aelyrr are seated--Wonder why they have no seats on their own ship, they seem perfectly comfortable now--and then starts to consider whom she'll order to stand.

And that's when her eyes widen...and she begins to laugh. Starfleet's best and brightest, folks.

"I don't believe we did this," she murmurs to herself, shaking her head. Then, to the others: "Team, we've all been in a haze. Not you two, of course," she adds to the Aelyrr. To the rest: "Do you realize we've been standing around like statues waiting for the shuttle for the past half-hour, when most of us could've just beamed back? We only need one person to escort our honored guests--or two, me and a security officer. And now look, we've got too many for the shuttle."

Amused, she steps further in and lifts a thumb in the direction of the Yorktown. "Okay. Two of you are beaming back--actually, everyone can beam back as far as I'm concerned, except for me and... oh, let's say Rangin, because you look as if you're dying to get a chance to talk to the High Priestess and Eris... and I'll need one security person, just because. It's probably a good idea for as many of us to beam back as possible, it'll allow you to get refreshed for our debriefing. And I expect Lt. Collins, Mr. Graham and Mr. Rawlings will want to arm-wrestle for the chance to interrogate the Klingons."

She faces Cooper, belatedly acknowledging him with a warm glance. "I'm sorry, I've been rude. Good evening--or rather, good morning, Mr. Cooper. Smooth bit of flying there. Now, if you'd be so kind...?" She nods toward the pilot's chair. "I promised the High Priestess that I would personally fly the ship. And as you know, my word is my bond." Nia smiles sweetly while she gestures for him to stand up. "Thanks for keeping the seat warm for me."

She turns to the rest of the team. "So? Who'd like to beam back and take advantage of the extra time to grab some coffee or refresh yourselves?"

At the offer of coffee, Collins says "I'll beam." She hopes Cooper will also volunteer since he's been usurped anyway.

Cooper smiles graciously. "The ship is yours, ma'am. If you'd like a copilot, I'd be glad to stay; otherwise I'm willing to beam back."

"Likewise," Rawlings says, turning towards the door. "Mr. Graham, want to stay?"

"I will return with you, Mr. Rawlings," says Dr. T'Var.

The Aelyrr look at each other. Alveron says to Onn, her tail twitching a little, "Whatever you decide, I am eager to meet your Captain and recover the Codex."

Nia thanks Cooper and, with a playful glance at Collins, says, "Oh, I think for such a short trip we won't need a co-pilot. Go back and enjoy the extra time."

She'll take her seat at the controls once it's free, and reassures the Aelyrr that they'll be on their way ASAP.

"With your permission, Sir?" Collins moves towards the airlock.

"Sure, Lieutenant," Nia says, "all ashore who's going ashore. But we can do this the easy way." She pulls out her communicator and adds with a sparkling look at Graham, "Since I want one security officer with us, looks like you're it, Mr. Graham. That's what you get for letting Collins and Rawlings beat you to the punch."

Next she speaks into her communicator. "Onn to Transporter Room 1. Please lock on Lt. Collins, Lt. Cooper, Dr. T'Var and Ensign Rawlings, and beam them back to the Yorktown." Then we can get this show started, she thinks with a happy grin. She's never more at ease than when she's at the helm in command of her own ship, big or small.

Collins, Cooper (an ensign, not a lieutenant), T'Var and Rawlings are soon beamed back to the ship. Mr. Nguyen, behind the transporter console on the Yorktown, says after they have rematerialized, "The Captain asks you to report to Conference Room 1 in ten minutes."

Onn sees that Cooper left the shuttle's engines on but disengaged, as is permitted under Starfleet regs for short-term docking. All systems appear normal.

Graham and Rangin both take their seats.

"Thank you, Chief." Collins says. "I'll see you there," she says to Rawlings and T'Var. She can't imagine why Cooper would need to be debriefed, so to him she says "Lunch, 1300?" After he answers, she will head to the mess for a cuppa to go, and a fried egg with Swiss cheese on a roll, which she'll eat on her way to the conference room.

Nia sighs contentedly and, in a gesture she can complete with her eyes closed, shuts the shuttle's outer door and tells the passengers that they're ready to go.

However, before she disengages the docking attachment, she asks over her shoulder: "Excuse me, Eris. Will the Naradraen's airlock hatch re-stabilize and close automatically? Since you were the one to handle the controls earlier, and I didn't see any other Aelyrr nearby...?"

If Eris gives her this reassurance, Nia will then safely retract the docking adapter. The rest of the departure sequence, she knows, should all be rote: initiating the impulse engine; raising the shields--usually not essential for such a short hop, but Nia's not taking any chances; engaging the thrusters at a very low power, considering the distance is minimal; and finally, using the manual flight controls to aim and turn the shuttle's nose smoothly toward the Yorktown. Of course, she'll also contact the starship to let them know the Steinmetz is on its way home.

Rangin sits back down near to the Aelyrr and engages them in conversation again, willing to answer their questions as best he can and find out a little more about them and their species.

There are only a few minutes he will have before they dock again with the Yorktown, so he decides not to waste the time.

Graham tries to get a look at Nia working the shuttle's controls. In her element, he thinks.

Of course, he's seen her at her station on Yorktown's bridge--but that's different.

If you think of yourself as a "pilot" something more direct, immediate, and under your solo control is probably where your heart is.

Rawlings says to Collins, "Right. See you soon." T'Var nods and moves off, too.

Cooper grins and says, "You're on, Jer. I don't think they need me for the debrief, but I'll double-check."

Eris says, "Yes, the airlock door will automatically close. I will make sure." She pulls out a communicator and calls the Naradraen's Auxiliary Control Room, and confirms it.

Onn finishes her quick preflight checklist, disengages the shuttle and turns it towards the Yorktown, which, she sees, is nicely silhouetted against the huge, purplish-red nebula nearby. It will take about ten minutes for the return trip. Shuttlebay Control acknowledges Onn's flight plan.

Alveron asks Rangin, "Have you met any other beings like us in your travels, Mr. Rangin?"

When she has a chance, Eris asks, "Tell me more about your Federation and Starfleet, please. Do you often fight Klingons?"

Graham can easily see and hear what's going on from his seat.

Graham overhears Eris' question and interjects. "Yes...well, we're not in open war with the Klingons at the moment, but they are a hostile power. Some of us...ah, well, I taught a class on how to fight them hand-to-hand at our Starfleet Academy. If we have time while you're on the Yorktown I'd be happy to show you a few things to...ah, hurt them more and better."

"Yes, we have met a couple of species very similar to yourselves, I think the closest would be the Caitians. I'm sure there are plenty of facts we can discover from each other." Rangin replies, "As to the Klingons, as Mr Graham alludes to, we indeed in an uneasy truce with them and the Empire they purport to rule."

"The Federation of Planets is made up of several like minded races who believe generally in co-operating and getting along for the betterment of all who join it. I believe you would be surprised by the variety of those who are members. Part of Starfleet's role is to seek out new life beyond it's borders and investigate the wonders that are out there. Hence, part of the reason why we are here."

"The Caitians?" Alveron says. "Tell me about them, please. How are they like us, and how are they different?"

Nia pipes up. "The Caitians share certain... physical similarities with you. Ensign Rangin will tell you more about that. And there's apparently a similarity in language, too."

She hesitates and adjusts the shuttle's speed slightly as it nears the Yorktown. The ship's tractor beam can be used to pull shuttles into the shuttlebay, but it's not necessary with a pilot of her caliber. She goes on:

"The only way we even heard and understood your distress message was due to one of our communications officers picking it up and using a technology you must have as well--we call it a universal translator." Nia shrugs with one shoulder. "I don't know all the details but I think your language, at least some of your words, resembles an old version of the Caitians'. Maybe you'll get a chance to talk with the officer who caught your message when we get to the ship, I'm sure she'd love that. Anyway, Mr. Rangin can talk more about the biological similarities."

She falls into silence but glances back at Booker, unable to contain the small smile on her lips or the amusement in her gaze before returning to watch the ship grow larger. It's hard not to find wry humor in the enforced diplomatic politeness between him and Rangin. If the Caitians weren't here they'd probably be at each other's throats by now. Instead, they're having a conversation--albeit by proxy, since neither is directly addressing the other.

He'll be grumpy for sure, Nia thinks, not entirely sure which he she means. Probably both, really. Lack of sleep won't help either. She smiles to herself, enjoying the flight, the success of the mission--even if it had almost literally nothing to do with anything she did--and the thought of a good breakfast and nap. Hopefully we'll be going after the Klingons in the meantime. Although... are we going to leave Cheverez behind? Hmm. Wonder how we'll work that... With another shrug she continues flying the shuttle and listening to the conversation behind her.

If it's in any way possible for Graham to feel grateful for Rangin's presence he gets as close to feeling that way as he can given the Aelyrr's question. Uh, you both look like big versions of cats, animals we kept as pets on Terra is about all he could have come up with were he on his own.

He's sure Rangin is feeling quite satisfied by the opportunity to act informed and urbane in front of an audience.

But he's sincerely grateful to see a quick smile thrown his way by Nia. This is the first time they've served on a mission together since...well since becoming whatever they are...and apparently I didn't fuck anything up or do anything to upset her.