From: rneces@mastnet.net (Lynnaea AelCaymarth)
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 21:57:27 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Sister to Icarus
SD 90712.0300
MD 10.2225
Scene: CSO's Quarters
_______________________
"What kind of mission are you on?" asked Aurora Keyrin over the commlink.
"It's a diplomatic negotiation and mediation type thing. There's a dispute
over some territory." Aelyria shrugged. "I can't see it getting too hot
and heavy -- probably a good thing while I'm still getting my feet wet."
"You seem to be adjusting well. Last time we talked you looked a lot more
stressed."
"Well, my crewmates are kind of calming down, and I have a lot more to do
that I know *how* to do. After we first launched my aCSO was making me feel
totally incompetent and everyone on the ship, including me, was on the verge
of a nervous breakdown."
Mrs. Keyrin smiled. "Well, honey, you know why things have ironed
themselves out."
"No, I'm not sure I do. But I'm not complaining."
Aurora chuckled. "Simple, dearheart. You've always hated waiting, and new
situations. You like the old comfortable familiar things, and you like to
do exactly what you know how to do, and do well. You've just been
adjusting, that's all."
Aelyria snorted. "Try telling that to the Counselor."
"Oh, dear." The older woman bit her lip. "You still don't do well with
those, do you?"
"Guess not," the CSO replied in an acrid tone. She sighed. "She's an okay
woman, mom, it's just that she's very... well, she ... " She paused. "I
guess I just don't like anyone telling me that there's something wrong with
me."
"There's something wrong with all of us," Aurora murmured.
Aelyria cut a sharp sideways glance at her mother. It wasn't like her to
wax philosophical. "So how's Theresa these days? The big business still
booming?"
"Well, she got promoted to CEO shortly after your last call. She seems to
be handling things well."
"Theresa has always done so."
"True, but there's been quite a flap lately."
"Oh?" Aelyria arched an eyebrow.
"Well, it seems her predecessor met a nasty death and the police have been
investigating InterStellar's ... ah... not so well-known business ties." A
note of worry laced her mother's tone, and Aelyria uncrossed her legs and
sat forward in her chair.
"Mom. Is there something you're not telling me?"
"I'm worried about her, Lyr. I think she may have flown too close to the
sun this time."
Their eyes locked for a long moment, and Aelyria nodded. "Keep me informed?"
"Always, sweetie."
Aelyria sighed. *How could she? Why?*
MD 13.1410
Scene: SECCEN
______________
The ship had been a locus of activity since it assumed orbit; the
atmosphere was one of tense anticipation.
SECCEN was, unbeknownst to the Security staff, an odd echo of events on the
bridge. "Sir, sensors report the mining ship is scanning us *again.*"
"Acknowledged, Ensign," was the CSO's calm reply.
Damien Martiljohni was growing increasingly annoyed with every sweep on the
CHESAPEAKE. "You know, if the delegates are *this* anal-retentive,
negotiations are really gonna be a pain in the ass."
"Like they're ever *not*," snorted Cassandra.
"You mean the delegates or negotiations in general?" cracked CPO Mayberry.
Aelyria studied their own readouts on the ship. Mining vessels were rarely
well-kept, but this one looked like it had just about seen the end of its
days. Either ShipOres, Inc. wasn't too interested in positive first
impressions, or they were struggling to keep their facilities well-equipped.
Possibly both...
As for the repeated scannings, well, she supposed they were justified, if
not exactly discreet. They should be ready to --
<<Ensign Keyrin, Counselor Tats-Marush, please report to Transporter Room
Two to greet the ShipOres delegates. Brennan out.>>
"Guess that's me." Aelyria stood and grinned at her staff, flicking her
fingers through her hair. "So, how do I look?"
Damien visibly bit his tongue.
John Mayberry swiveled from his console and flashed her a lopsided grin.
"I'd say you have a date with destiny, but the way their ship looks, I'm not
sure you'd want to date anything off of _that_."
The CSO laughed, and strode from the room. Cassandra and John grinned at
each other. "Hot damn," John said. "Pray this is a permanent mood
adjustment."
She hit the call key for the Deck 4 turbolift. It arrived within seconds,
the doors parting to reveal LT jg Tats-Marush. Normally the Counselor would
have given her pause, but Aelyria was in high spirits and stepped briskly
onto the lift.
Stavay's tone was on the warmer side of polite. "So how are things?"
"Better."
"That's always good to hear."
The lift stopped, and they stepped out onto Deck 5. "And you?"
"I'm well. Things are pretty much the same as usual..."
Transporter Room Two was less than fifty meters from the lift. Stavay and
Aelyria entered the room and found themselves alone. While interaction with
the Counselor was not usually the CSO's idea of a good time, she decided to
make the best of it.
After a cursory nod at Kerrick, the transporter chief, she turned back to
Stavay. "Have you tried any of the holodeck programs?"
"No, not yet. All I've used the decks for so far are training exercises."
She found herself fidgeting with her hands, making unnecessary gestures and
staring at them during pauses. In frustration, she hid them behind her
back. *Why do Counselors always _do_ this to me?!!*
<<James, take it away...>>
Commander Brennan entered the room with his customary dignity and poise.
"Ensign, Counselor," he nodded to them in greeting. *The man is a born
diplomat,* Aelyria thought with a touch of envy. She could pull off the
same grace as the XO only with great effort. She usually told herself she
didn't need it, but sometimes she wondered how much easier life in command
was with his quiet competence and efficiency.
"Sir," she nodded.
[from Takako's post]
The doors to the Transporter Room hissed open and Captain Bell arrived. She
stood in front of them for a moment. "Good. All here."
She flicked one glance at the Counselor, then moved to Brennan's right. To
his left stood Keyrin, then Tats-Marush, as they all faced the transporter
pad. Bell turned to Brennan and gave him a quick nod. He spoke to the man
behind the console without turning.
"Chief Kerrick, do you have their coordinates?"
"Yes, sir," replied the Warrant. "Ready when you are, sir."
"Thank you," he nodded. "Energize."
With her eyes fixed upon the deck in anticipation, Aelyria waited.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynnaea AelCaymarth
ENS Aelyria Keyrin, CSO
USS CHESAPEAKE
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