New Orders

Posted on Sat Nov 14th, 2020 @ 5:24pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Commander Ichiko Gail & Lieutenant Bianca Lee
Edited on on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 3:28pm

Mission: Enforced Intermission

Bianca stretched as she looked over the routine message traffic while she sipped a cup of coffee, her empty plate with just a handful of crumbs remaining from the toast she'd had with her omelet. Mostly it was just routine intelligence information, ship movement orders and enemy appreciations, at least potential enemies. Just the trappings of her job on board Astraea, like every day. And she smiled as she began to put together her normal morning briefing document that she'd forward to the Captain and XO.

It wasn't really all that different from the briefing she'd sent the day before, but that wasn't too surprising. It would have been far more surprising if something major had happened without an emergency alert waking her in the middle of the night. She finished up with the information she'd already come across, then another new message blinked at her from her message queue, at the very end, one she'd not noticed before. The sender was Starfleet Office Of Personnel. Curiously, she opened it and after the first line, her eyes went wide.

It was several minutes later, after she'd re-read the message three times, then taking many deep breathes before standing and all but bouncing to the turbolift to the bridge, where the Captain and XO would be on duty already. She composed herself as the lift door opened and she stepped out onto the deck, three PADDS in hand, making her way over to the two senior officers as usual and handing them the morning briefs, "Ah'm sorry about the slight delay, but umm... Ma'am, Captain, ma'am, Ah was wonderin' if you had a couple minutes? Ah got a message in todays comm traffic and Ah think you'll want to know about it if you don't already."

Ichiko turned her attention from the PaDD to look at Bianca, "I don't recall hearing anything through the comms array today. Wasn't aware you were into browsing through the scatter chatter, as the Dalacari call it." she put on a soft smirk.

"Why not tell us again, imagine we haven't heard it." she offered the floor to Bianca.

"Well, ma'am, Ah've first off Ah did the normal briefing review, but this one was directed t' me and Ah'm sure ya'll would have gotten it at the same time." Bianca was rambling and she didn't ramble this way, "But Ah've just gotten new orders to the Bonaventure, ma'ams, as her Executive Officer!" She fought to hold back the smile that crossed her face, not succeeding very well.

Ichiko gave a nod, a soft smile crossed her face as she looked away from the PaDD to give Bianca her full attention, "That's an excellent opportunity, and orders or not I think you should take the chance. While the particulars are going to be between yourself, the Captain, and the Captain of the Bonaventure, I think this will work wonders to expand your horizons."

She stood, to be more at eye level with Bianca, "Becoming the Astraea's executive officer has only broadened my perspectives, and helped me become more than I thought I could. The memories I made here I welcome, and while I'm not a fan of goodbyes I'm confident we'll be hearing of your progress. That, and you'll keep in touch."

"Ah know this is somethin' Ah've been lookin' forward to this." Bianca grinned widely.

Returning to the bridge from her ready room, just in time to hear the last of the exchange, Abigail smiled warmly. "Congratulations Lieutenant," she said genuinely. "I just received the news, I'm sure you're even more excited now to get back to Earth and start your new adventure?"

Ichiko just gave a soft smile at the moment. She remembered when she was picked to be a Ship's Second. "Let me know if you have any questions. Everyone's looking forward to advancement, but knowing a bit of what to expect is always a good tactic. We can chat about your next Captain over tea sometime." she offered.

"Earth can't come really soon enough, Captain." Bianca agreed, her thought was that absolutely nothing would ruin her day, her week, hell, even her year! "And Ah'm sure Ah'll take you up on that tea, Commander, once Ah settle down from the news a bit, Ah'm sure Ah'll have about a million and a half questions."

Ichiko gave a soft smile, "Anything I can offer to ease the transition or to put you at calm for your task, just ask." there was a touch of protocol there. The offer was genuine, but from their culture it might have been expected.

"Thank you, ma'am, Ah'll try to make sure you don't regret it!" Bianca beamed, but tried to get back to business, "Also, if either of you have and questions about the briefing document, ask and Ah'll explain any of it that you need me to."

"Any update on the series of glitches and malfunctions running throughout the ship? We've got several hundred replicators flagged as unaffected at the moment, and that's where we're getting most of our supplies and perishables. We need to keep those units unaffected." Ichiko stressed.

"So far, so good, ma'am, but Ah believe another twenty or so have been infected with whatever's goin' on." Bianca shook her head morosely, "Ma'am, Ah know that it's mostly affectin' non-essential systems, but what happens if it gets into one of the more essential systems, like communications or propulsion?"

"I trust our team can track the issue before it gets to that point. Though if it comes to that, we tend to work better under adversity." Ichiko stated, taking pride in her crew.

"Ah'm sure we can, ma'am." Bianca agreed, "But just in case, Ah'm goin' to do another update of ship locations throughout the sector and for our route home." She waggled an eyebrow up and down once, "Ah doubt we'll need any assistance, but Ah'd far rather have a backup plan ready t' go."

Abigail picked up a PaDD and handed it across to Bianca with a shake of her head. "You may want to liaise with Operations and Engineering. We seem to be developing glitches and issues now faster than we can isolate them. Primary systems are already being affected"

"Yes, ma'am." Bianca agreed, "Ah'll get right on that as well. Don't worry, ma'am, Ah'm sure we'll keep her in one piece until we can get her back home."

Ichiko gave a nod, "Please do. I believe the saying is, I don't want to have to get out and push."