Posted by Lieutenant Commander Paris Carisi (Chief of Security) in Taking a Break

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Paris Carisi (Chief of Security) in Taking a Break

Posted by Commander Mason Black (Executive Officer) in Taking a Break
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Snip

“Well since it is an unexplored planet I am not sure if there are brain-sucking animals or not but to be on the safe side how about I go check the weapons hmm,” she said in an upbeat tone.

“Good plan” Mason nodded to her, “brain suckers haven’t got anything on a good phaser. The landing site is coming up, let see what this paradise has to offer.”

Five minutes later the descent was complete and the shuttle’s door opened. The heat and humidity hit the pair like an oven. Paris tilted her head to the side, back and forth several times as if that would help ease the instant rush of heat coming up from her neck as the uniform added to the sweltering temperature. Paris was careful however not to start complaining already. While it was hot, it was not face of the sun hot as her father called it.

Mason moved from his seat after locking down the shuttle and took one of the Phasers from the locker, then stepped out beside Paris as he slid it into his holster. “Wow” he said as he looked around and shielded his eyes from the sun, “Didn’t they say in the briefing that this was their cool season?”

“Welcome, welcome, welcome,” a man in a dark suit met them at the end of the ramp with his hands spread. “I am Jaxon Smythe. I was told you were coming. We are so happy to have the Federation seeking to develop on our little corner of the universe,” he said. “Chellron Industries was pleased to have the Federation as a partner in their efforts to colonize. We supply the initial infrastructure and you the eager, intrepid and adventurous colonists.” As with any civilization, there was the symbiotic creatures that worked in conjuncture with another organism. There was also the parasitic ones and Chellron was the new breed of entrepreneurs. They found a planet and instead of colonizing it themselves they brought in anyone to provide the people. They provided the shops and businesses making a killing in profit. The Federation was not thrilled with such ventures but even less thrilled to have a real estate market that could allow Dominion or Romulan neighbors.

“Well we are just pleased as punch to know that you will try to make these colonists life the best they can be for a price,” Paris said in a snarky tone. While this was a formal delegation, Paris could not keep nice in check seeing the swarthy representative.

Lt. Commander Paris Carisi, COS

“Good morning, Mr Smythe” Mason said, after very obscurely giving Paris a slight elbow nudge and stepping forward. “I’m Commander Black of the Asimov, I’m sure you know, but we’re here to evaluate the progress the colonists and yourself have made in the last few months and send our report back to Federation headquarters.” He turned and indicated his away team, mostly engineers and scientists that specialized in the fields that they were here to check up on. “This is our Chief of Security, Lt Commander Carisi. She’s going to take a look at the colonies security measures and make sure that no shortcuts have been taken in protecting our colonists. How about we head into the compound?” Mason said looking back at the man in the suit and holding out his hand as if he actually lived on the planet and was inviting Smythe himself to accompany him.

Cmdr Black, XO

“Of course. Of course. I have refreshments and I can show you to your rooms. We saved the ambassadorial suite for you Sir and the rest of your crew also has the tops rooms but for you, nothing but the best Chellron has to offer.” The man had an oily quality to his voice. It was slippery as if nothing he said held true but sounded like something wonderful all the same. The group walked past a common area and past a series of what looked like governmental offices until they reached a set of tube-like elevators.

Mason stopped and looked over the doors to the elevator’s, not just any old door these seemed able to withstand something heavy or an immense amount of pressure, they looked thicker and more reinforced that the doors to a turbolift. “These certainly seem designed to keep something out” he observed quietly to Paris.

“I thought we were going to go to our rooms,” Paris asked as they stood in front of the military steel grade doors.

“Yes but you are not staying on the workers level. Come come,” he gestured for the group to enter as the doors slid open.

“You mean colonists,” Paris raised an eyebrow as she cast a side glance to Black.

Mason had heard about the Chellron types before, although never actually met any. He was aware of the more businesslike mindset of the company and the way in which they viewed everything, absolutely everything as a resource or an investment and stuck rigidly to long term and short term goals. On paper, they ran an impressive operation with numbers that always beat budget and time projections. In reality, they were regarded as ruthless and slimy operators who treated people like their pay grade. He knew that his fiery little wildcat wasn’t going to be able to keep her snark to herself for long, and if by miracle she did, he was going to hear all about it very soon. “Colonists, I think the correct and required term is, indeed, Mr Smythe” Mason said to the Suit, “especially as they are Federation Citizens.”

“Does the term really mean that much to you,” Smythe asked a bit annoyed.

“Yes. Yes it does. My daddy always said you can’t bull crap a bull crapper. Commander do you smell something,” Paris asked Mason. After all their time together, Mason would be able to tell his petite blonde was about ready to call a spade a spade.

Lt Commander Paris Carisi, COS

“It could be the Electro Plasma Grid running this lift” he said, narrowing his eyes at a nearby inspection panel, and quietly trying to deflect their diplomatic inspection from becoming a polite request to leave within 4 minutes and 30 seconds of their arrival. “Maybe they have used some substandard parts or purchased second hand goods from a Ferengi merchant” Mason said to nobody in particular as the doors opened and he stepped out to look around at their surroundings, finding that they were now high above the colony in one of the towers in what looked to be a reception hall with glass windows all around, short sets of stairs to the next level and what appeared to be the more ‘affluent’ suites.

“Note that down, Ms Carisi” Mason said to Paris as he looked at her with a very straight face, “The contract here was to provide a first class facility for the colonists, I’d hate to think that the Federation funding has been spent on anything less than that, and I am sure that Starfleet Command will want a report on anything out of place.” Not waiting for any kind of comment, Mason walked to the nearest window and looked out over the colony below. The entire planet seemed hot and arid and largely inhospitable. Altogether not a place one would think to settle but with terraforming technology the way it was these days, the forecast was that in 20 years these people would have a lush, green and beautiful world to call home.

“I understand that there is some kind of dinner or function this evening?” Mason said, still looking out the window, “I expect that the head Colonists and Engineers are going to be there to fill us in on their progress before we run our inspections tomorrow?.” His query, although it sounded like a question, Paris would recognize as being more a statement of expectation at what should be happening.

“Ms Carisi I’d like you in my room after you get yourself settled into your quarters, we have a few items on the agenda to discuss before the function and inspections and I know we were a little rushed for prep time before we departed the Asmov.” He threw Paris a sideways glance with a slight smirk that vanished almost instantly, and anybody watching wouldn’t have known that the smirk had even been there, certainly not one as oily and self absorbed as the Suit who had met them.

Cmdr Black, XO