Grata Necatus

Posted on Sun Dec 8th, 2024 @ 12:49pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Kaelen Voss

1,228 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Firebird

[ON]

Lieutenant Kaelen Voss stood in the center of the turbolift, toolkit slung over one shoulder. He had already met Captain Malcom Llwyedd earlier that day under less-than-ideal circumstances: a chaotic emergency repair session in Engineering where things had nearly spiraled out of control.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as the turbolift ascended, the hum of the ship’s systems a familiar, comforting background noise. Voss wasn’t exactly the model officer when it came to protocol. He followed regulations when it mattered, but he had little patience for formality when there was real work to be done. Still, a summons from the Captain himself wasn’t something he’d brush off, even if it did feel like a formality he could do without.

The turbolift finally slowed to a stop, and Voss took a breath. He adjusted his uniform, brushing off imaginary dust, and tried to look presentable—or as presentable as an engineer covered in some lingering grime and a slight deodorant boost from earlier.

The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the bridge of the USS Firebird, a hive of controlled activity with officers stationed at their posts.

Voss stepped out of the turbolift.

Kipp looked up from his console, taking in the presence of the engineering officer who emerged. He stood up and walked over to greet him.

"Lieutenant Voss, welcome to the bridge. The Captain is expecting you in his Ready Room," Kipp said and motioned towards a doorway on the far side of the bridge. "Feel free to go right in. He's reviewing some reports that I put together for him on crew readiness and fatigue."

Voss nodded, offering a quick, grateful smile to Kipp. “Thanks,” he replied, his voice carrying a note of mild apprehension. He took a moment to take in the bridge, a space that felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It was always strange stepping out of Engineering and into the command center of the ship, where a different kind of energy flowed.

He made his way across the bridge, the steady hum of consoles and soft chatter of officers at work providing a sense of calm to an otherwise bustling environment. Voss couldn’t help but notice how each station was operated with a kind of organized precision, a stark contrast to the unpredictable chaos he often faced in Engineering where he thrived.

When he reached the Captain’s Ready Room door, he straightened his uniform again, more out of habit than necessity. He tapped the door chime, his hand hovering just a moment longer than necessary.

“Enter,” came the Captain’s voice, calm but authoritative.

The door slid open, and Voss stepped inside. The Ready Room was bathed in soft lighting, with a viewport showcasing the endless expanse of space. The Captain sat behind his desk, a data pad in hand, his expression thoughtful as he skimmed through the latest reports.

Malcom finished reading the PADD, a torturous report from Lieutenant Woodhouse, and then looked up.

“Lieutenant Voss, please sit,” Malcom said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “How have the repairs to the shuttlebay gone?”

Voss stepped forward, setting his toolkit carefully on the floor before easing into the chair. His posture was relaxed but respectful, a mix of his casual demeanor and an innate awareness of the gravity of speaking to the Captain.

“The shuttlebay’s coming along, sir,” Voss replied, his voice steady. “We’ve managed to stabilize the damage and reinforce the force field emitters. Took a bit of creative rerouting, but the systems are operational. The only thing left is replacing some of the deck plating, which should be finished by tomorrow.”

Malcom nodded. He was pleased to know that the shuttlebay was almost operational. "Good work, Lieutenant. Having the shuttlebay operational will allow us to speed up our delivery and intake of materials. I'm sure you've noticed that we have a small fleet of ships washing up on our shores. I'd be happier about that if they were all fighting ships instead of science vessels and merchantmen."

Voss allowed himself a small smile. “Yes, sir. Engineering’s been buzzing nonstop trying to keep up with the influx. Patch jobs, system recalibrations, you name it. Seems like every ship limping in is held together with duct tape and good intentions.”

"At least we have an endless supply of duct tape. It's the good intentions that I'm worried about. As I mentioned during our last meeting, the Firebird just doesn't have enough crew to handle everything. I have transferred a few officers to the ship to help out and I am inclined to do the same with you. We suffered some damage to the ship when we entered the system weeks ago and it hasn't been a high priority. However, I am getting reports of a smattering of things that are making me twitch. I want you to come aboard and work with Commander Siora to make sure this ship is ready for combat. We're a unique type of ship, only two in all of Starfleet, and I want you to get up to speed on what she can do. Or could do better."

Voss sat up a little straighter, absorbing the weight of the Captain’s words. The Firebird was no ordinary ship—being one of only two of its class in Starfleet made it something of an engineering marvel. The opportunity to dig into its systems was equal parts exciting and daunting.

“Aye, sir,” Voss replied, his tone thoughtful. “I’ll need to review the schematics and technical manuals to get a full understanding of her capabilities. If she’s anything like her reputation, I imagine there’s a lot of untapped potential.”

Malcom grinned. "She's a dream, Lieutenant Voss. I wouldn't take any other ship in the fleet over the Firebird. Get yourself settled and let me know if you need anything," he said.

Voss stood, gathering his toolkit with practiced ease, but paused before leaving.

“Captain, if the Firebird’s systems are as marvelous as you say, I might need to requisition a couch for Engineering. I get the feeling I’ll be spending more nights there than in my quarters.” Voss said with a chuckle and closed with “I do hear cores hum at excellent acoustics for bedtime tunes.”

Malcom stood up as well. "Couch approved," he said. "But don't forget to take care of yourself. It's easy to wear yourself out trying to fix everything at once." He extended his hand. "Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Voss."

Voss shook the Captain’s hand firmly, appreciating the gesture. “Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best to keep both the ship and myself in one piece.” Voss quipped, giving a light-hearted salute before exiting the room, toolkit in hand. As the doors slid shut behind him, he let out a breath, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

The Firebird was going to keep him busy, but for Voss, that was exactly where he thrived. Now, it was onward to see Commander Siora.

[OFF]

Captain Malcom Llwyedd
Commanding Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Lieutenant Kaelen Voss
Damage Control Specialist
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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