[Vimyridge] SD941101.10 - Vilqa, Blake, Blake, Lox, Saladin, Garret, Wilkinson, Reed, Daephon

[Kylana ~]

"Good luck, rendezvous with Cho'lu on the surface and send comms as soon as
possible with your status. Blake and Saladin you two are taking the lead on
the surface so nobody leaves the established caves without informing them is
that understood?" Vilqa said from the door of the shuttle.

Marcus looked at Vilqa, "Understood Captain." He looked back to Blake and
the others, hid mind now remembering Federation protocol for landing in
unknown conditions, questions to ask, searches to make. It was going to take
a team effort and without a doubt would require every bit of skill each
officer had.

Cait nodded her understanding and looked over at Marcus with a grin. They
served together for a long time now, not counting the time he was off the
Vimy and she new he was someone she could trust to have her back no matter
what.

Marcus smiled back to Cait. They had not been able to catch up one on one
for a while, due to motherhood and the craziness of war. Perhaps the ride
there and back might serve such a purpose.

Barely able to sit still, Takis fumbled with his equipment in an attempt to
contain his excitement.  Only aboard the ship for a litte while, and already
swimming with quite a few officer types!  He didn't hold any expectations
that he'd be more than an information gatherer, but then again, he loved the
work, even in a dangerous environment.  "Anybody bring a magazine?" he
joked, to no one in particular.

Marcus quirked a brow at this old earth reference, "They would hardly be
appropriate for the mission at hand, and regardless exist only
electronically except for in the oldest museums." He smiled, "but if you are
interested I can certainly help you find some when we return to the Ridge."

"Nah, 'sokay," Takis chuckled.  "I was just hoping to pass the time,
otherwise I'll get nervous and jump out the viewport 'n swim back to the
ship."  He laughed heartily.

Toby shook his head and chuckled then looked at K`y, wondering if she was
wondering the same thing he was. How was it they always ended up with such
odd crew? At least most of the crew was tried and true and would look after
the new ones. That was one thing that seemed to be a standard tradition on
the Vimy Ridge, even back on the Audax.

The little doc settled in seat behind the pilot, pulling out a hypo and
injecting herself. "Anyone else get motion sickness?" If this pilot turned
out to be from the Justin school of insane piloting or if the trip go rough,
she really didn't want to be tossing her cookies.

Justin took hes seat next to the pilot "Shields online, weapons offline to
conserve power.  life support, gravity plating, secondary systems all report
nominal.  Ready to depart once everyone is onboard.  Just take is slow and
easy.. you don't want the Doc there decorating the inside of her EVA suit..
or yours."

Matthew nodded. "Understood" he said as he worked the controls to get
underway.

Vilqa tapped the door frame of the shuttle and jumped back, "Safe travels."
She then  backed up so the doors could be closed and the shuttle could
depart then spoke to Toby, "She will be fine," the Captain of course spoke
to Cait; "And will be back up here before you know it. I do hope the new
doctor clicks in well with everybody; away missions like this to an unknown
when being new is always a bit unnerving."

Kat took her seat not far from Cait, She fidgeted with her equipment for a
moment  trying to calm her nerves. Being aboard the shuttle made her think
back to the disastrous Tamco mission. She was relieved not to be in charge
of this one as it was left to the more experienced officers.  She'd observe
and learn more from them as she could building more self confidence. She
glanced at Nick and to the seat near her wondering if he'd take it so maybe
they might get a brief chance to talk. She wanted a chance to clear the air
between them and
admit her mistake and try to fix the strain on their friendship.

Toby stepped back and nodded to K`y, "Oh I know she will be. She does
alright on her own, and she's been showing signs of needing to go, to do, to
get some peace and quiet. Not that Rose is a troublesome child. Just typical
in wanting a lot of mommy and daddy time. And the new doctor will be
alright. She'll take care of him to." He chuckled, "She can mother him for a
while."

Nick took his own seat, his eyes moving toward the ramp that the everyone
was using to board.  Trying to mentally prepare himself for the mission, he
turned his head toward the pilot for a moment... despite his preparation,
his thoughts kept going to Cugino... and the O'Rourkes... damn, what he'd
give for an old earth vice... a simple cigarette sounded wonderful right
about now. He blew out a thin sigh, looking out the view screen, leaving his
thought, and whatever emotions that may or may not have been attached to
them, to himself.

Marcus nodded to Justin's verbal checklist as he adjusted his own seat, then
looked at Toby as the doors closed and the first officer stepped back in.
"Justin informs us that things are ready to go so Matthew can take off when
we're ready." He looked around him, wondered how K'ylana was really taking
it. She never liked being away from the action. Wondered what Nix would find
on the asteroids. Wondered if they could get clear communication from the
planet to the ship with all the radiation problems. Wondered, in short, a
great many things.

K`ylana nodded at Toby's comment then turned on her heels, "We've got our
own work to do. And if I know Nix as well as I think I do she is foaming at
the mouth to speak to use about her little side foray that she requested. I
am returning to the bridge, feel free to observe the shuttle depart before
joining me."

Toby gave K`y a smile of thanks, "I will be with you shortly after they
leave. Have to make sure the new guy can pilot out of the shuttle bay
without scraping the paint." He winked and turned his attention back to the
shuttle and it's last minute preparations.


[Bridge]

Vilqa entered past the sliding doors, "Any confirmation the shuttle has
departed? she asked the moment the Captain reached her chair. "No Ma'am.
They have not left yet and we have not received any notification of issues
either." the officer added before Vilqa could ask.

Clearing her throat Vilqa spoke directly to the shuttle's comms, "This is
Captain Vilqa any explanation for the delay?" Just because the bridge heard
of no issues did not mean none existed.

[Shuttle]

Toby frowned as he noticed that the shuttle wasn't taking off yet, he didn't
sense any problems from inside the shuttle and turned to look at the crewman
overseeing the forcefield controls for the shuttlebay, who shrugged in
response to the XO's questioning look.

Matthew pressed a control to answer the captain. "Sorry, ma'am. I had a
little
trouble with the starboard nacelle. We are all set to go" he said. He was
just
about finished. "Shuttle craft to bridge, request permission to disembark"

Marcus took a deep breath as they were cleared to go. There was always a
certain amount of nervous energy to try and contain before leaving for any
away mission. One of his Vulcan mentors at V'ron had taught him a few tips
to deal with it, and so now he remained quiet, his eyes closed, fingers tips
of each hand pressed firmly against the other, slowing his heart rate and
running continuing to run through the mission routine in his head. After
they departed he would probably have plenty to say.

Cait was quite the opposite of Marcus. Yes, her eyes were closed, well, more
like squeezed tightly shut. Her hands gripped the arms of her seat with a
vice like grip. Always she blamed it on that time in the stone place,
something fun to tease Justin about. Now it was a smoke screen to cover the
real issue. The terror laden fear of being shot down as the shuttle tried to
leave Katan'ka. She remembered the turbulance, felt the terror of her fellow
passangers, the shock of glancing hits on the shuttle. During that horrific
flight, she had kept her head and worked to try and calm the others. It was
something that had to be done and she did it. Maybe this was something she
should talk to Ivri about but maybe not. It wasn't like she refused to do
shuttle flights.

Takis smiled inwardly, and smirked outwardly when the Captain spoke about
Nix.  So  his first impression had been right; the Chief was the eager,
excitable sort.  Takis wasn't, but he'd always been good at going with the
flow, no matter how strong or fast the current.  He suddenly started itching
inside his suit and squirmed.  He'd never admit it, even to himself, but he
was much more a ground-pounder than a spacefarer.  He always carried a very
slight uneasiness with him whenever he left a planet's atmosphere, and he
wouldn't even be on this ship if not for his stupid drive to try new things;
a drive that often got him into trouble back home.  Probably wouldn't be any
different here.  He puffed his cheeks out and sighed.

Marcus looked up, "Ensign Garret, once we have left, how long shall it be
until arrival?"

"Well we are going to take things nice and slow, so probably shouldnt be
more
than thirty minutes, if we're lucky"

"Bridge to Shuttle MacDowell, you are clear for departure." came the
slightly
delayed reply.

<<TBC  Have fun on the surface!!>>
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