Meeting the Captain

Posted on Wed Sep 30th, 2020 @ 10:27am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 239409.06

Sheena was trying to think where she had heard of the captain's name. "Sterling....hm......Sterling......now where do I know that name?" talking out loud as she walked. Several crew stopped to look at her as she passed them muttering to herself. Turning the corner she happened on the captain's office without realizing it. Tapping the door chime, she waited, still wondering about the name Sterling.

"Enter*

Maia was behind her desk enjoying a cup of ginger tea, It had been a long tedious day. She was tired and was about ready to call it a night.

Sheena walked in, "Commander Sterling?" she said. "I am Lt. Cmdr. Sheena Toran, your Executive officer. Pleasure to meet you" she said studying her face still trying to place her.

"Really you don't remember me? We served on the starship Tecumseh together about 14 yeas ago. Do come in Mr. Toran."

Maia smiled.

"Would you like something to drink tea perhaps?" Maia asked.

"Oh My God! You were the Science ensign.......14 years....for the life of me I couldn't place the name. Maia Sterling! Good grief I was the young security officer fresh out of the Academy, " Sheena said laughing, as she sad down. "Earl Grey hot, please. You should remember that was my favorite tea.," she added. "You had something to do with me being here I bet. But.....how on earth did you end up with your own command?" she queried.

"I went up through the ranks smartly geologist to assistant chief science officer transferred to the USS Tomcat to chief science officer to 2nd officer to Executive officer of the Tomcat for 10 years. Some say I'm over due. So I took the command college course and was Chosen for the Leto. It was the only way to develop my character. A lots happened since i last saw you. Tell me about your career, Sheena".

"Wow Maia, that's some climb. Congratulations are in order then," Sheena said smiling at her long time friend. "After the Tecumseh, I was transferred to the USS Sojourn where I too rose through the ranks from Ensign and Assist. Security chief to Chief Security and a final rank of Lt. Cmdr. During the last 5 years on the Sojourn, I met a man who quite literally took my heart away. We saw each other when the Sojourn put in at SB 50 and it became serious enough for it to be boyfriend, girlfriend. Never thought about marriage though, but we are serious about each other. His name is Ryan Blake, and come to find out, I almost ran him down earlier today," she said. Sipping on her tea, Sheena wondered how Maia was going to take the news.

"Lieutenant Ryan Blake? The one assigned to Star Base 50? Looks like you're going to be his boss. He accepted a position as our new strategic operations officer". Maia said.

"The very same. I wound up on my ass looking up at him with an open mouth. I was so shocked to see him here, at first I couldn't talk right," Sheena said. "Maia, did you have a hand in getting me posted here? Vice Admiral Socoum and Colonel Henderson cornered me on SB 325 and ordered me here. I was like, how the hell did they feel I could be a good XO?" Sheena was really wondering about that conversation back on the Starbase.

"Yes I requested you by name. I'd gone through about a hundred applicants. Then available officers. I wanted someone with a security background. I know you haven't finished your XOAL course yet. But I know you will finish it by correspondence. Can't get promoted without it. We've worked well together in the past and I wanted someone I know I could trust." Maia said.

Sheena could hardly believe her ears. So then it was true, "Maia, thank you, but how on earth did you remember that I was security? Its been years and I lost track while on the Sojourn. Wow, I am honored," she added. "I guess Socoum and Henderson pulled a fast one on me," she said laughing. "Well it is great that you still trust me, and yes I am due to retake my XOAL very soon. This is so cool!" she chuckled finishing her tea.

"Sheena you know what I've been doing besides putting this ship back together for the last three weeks? I've been going through personnel files. Hundreds of then, till I found a few that stood out. Every Lieutenant Commander in the sector. 312 of them. It was a mind numbing painstaking thorough investigation of the best and brightest. That's how I did it." Maia replied.

"Well, you got me here to assist you. So, tell me about this conundrum we are going to undertake? I heard about it but never really got a chance to look into it," Sheena said. "I do know the Orions had their dirty hands in it up to their elbows. Were they captured finally, or did they get away?" Sheena added.

"At the time we thought the Orion pirates were using Thorion-4 as a base of operations. We were completely wrong. It turned out that the leader of Thorion 4 was an Orion Bashar named Jola'n. A bashar is roughly equivalent to a full Colonel. He was personally responsible for driving the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar out of Thorion space. He was such an effective leader that he was made Prelate. A prelate is the equivalent of a Baron. As leader of both the defense forces and the civilian government he began instituting reforms such as the abolishment of slavery and education of both males and females. Needless to say this upset the Orion Syndicate to know end.To this day they are still trying to overthrow him. Eleven months ago the Starship Tomcat and a responding to a border crisis caused by massive pirating destroyed an armada of pirate ships led by pirate Captain Arwella. She however escaped. She has not been heard or seen since then. The conundrum is that Pergium has been discovered on Thorion 3. Every miner and excavator in the sector is looking to get rich quick. It will be difficult to tell the honest ones from the crooks. The Orion syndicate has come back in to cause more mischief."

"Hm......pergium has a high black market price on it. I wonder if maybe the syndicate is offering a ridiculously high price to get their mits on it," Sheena said. "It is a valuable item, almost as good as gold back in the 20th century," she added.

"One of the reasons I chose you to be my XO was because of your security background, I like the way you think. I tend to think in the same way, though my background is in science. I tend to be a good investigator for the same reason I am a good scientist, I am able to peel back the evidence until I am left with a pure fact. I believe you are the same way Sheena. I believe that the value of Thorion 4 just went up a thousand fold for not only the syndicate but also the Orion Government, which would love to reabsorb the Thorions."

"I wouldn't put it past them. Pergium is basically used in environmental air scrubbing. It is so important to not only Starfleet but every fleet, transport, and anything that flies including starbases and stations. What I can't figure out is how it leaked out that Thorion 4 was rich in Pergium?" Sheena said, rubbing her chin, thinking. "Why didn't the Thorion government put a lid on it before it got out?"

"Actually the Pergium was discovered on Thorion 3. It was no doubt leaked by the Orion Syndicate", Maia said.

"Ah, I stand corrected. Ok so we have pergium on Thorion 3, leaked out by the Syndicate, I wonder if this didn't have something to do with the Tomcat's brush with the Orion's 11 months ago," Sheena said. I rember that there was something said about kidnapping. What was that all about? Kidnapped who and why?" Sheena queried.

"I am certain of it Commander, because of the Tomcats incursions into Orion space to deal with the pirates and clean out the adjoining systems the Thorion system has petitioned the Federation for an embassy to start formal relations, if the Thorion system does join the Federation, the balance of power shifts in this sector. I'm sure the Orion's and the Orion syndicate will either lose business or be greatly affected by our presence and laws here." Maia said

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about, Commander?" Maia asked.

"Nothing except that as long as I am here, you will not be going on away missions by yourself. The ship needs her captain, I am the expendable one here," Sheena said laughing.

"No one is truly expendable, nor will I casually throw away anyone's life. Commander. Not my style." Maia said.

"Maia, it was meant as a small joke. If I could have my way, no one would be expendable. Life it too precious to just waste. I will look into the Orion mission from the Tomcat and see what I can find. Maybe someone over looked something," Sheena said grinning.

"Its possible I am combing through our Intel as well." Maia replied.

Maia smiled taking an instant liking to her new exec.

"If that is all, I'm sure that you have other duties to attend too Commander." Maia said.

[Off]

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A post by

Commander Maia A. Sterling
USS Leto NCC-80916
Commanding Officer

&

Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran
USS Leto NCC-80916
Executive Officer