Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rovan Moor (Engineer/Pilot) in Runabout to Athena

Posted by Civilian Allison Fleet (Civilian) in Runabout to Athena
The trip to meet the Athena was excruciatingly long. Like waiting in the line for an exciting roller coaster, but stretched out over the course of several days. The excitement and anticipation were making each day take longer. It didn’t help that Allison didn’t really have a lot to do. Sure, she could interact with the other crew on their way to the Athena, but she found herself feeling antsy and unable to focus on any conversation for longer than a twenty minutes. She spent most of her time in the lounge with a sketchbook and pen, drawing the people and scenes that presented themselves to her.

Then finally, they arrived. The runabout came that was to take them from the station to the Athena, and she carried her small bag as she boarded the vessel. There wasn’t much in the bag. A few photographs in a paper folder, ready for replicated frames. An ancient uniform, somehow just as untouched by the ravages of time as her own body. A light green t-shirt with a Cavendish Tree Nursery logo embroidered above the heart. A Christmas mug that Aunt Mary had insisted she take with her. A pair of warm socks with mouse faces knitted into them. A small music player, complete with earbuds. And a small package wrapped in brown paper, containing a belated birthday present for one Rovan Moor.

The runabout was a little crowded, but she was able to find a seat. She pulled out her future-mp3-player and slipped the earbuds into her ears, starting up a track from an old musical from the early 2000s. Monte Cristo. It was a little dark, but the music was nice. With music in her ears, she settled in for the couple hours she assumed the runabout journey would take.

Allison Fleet

Only an hour into the journey, Allison and the other passengers would suddenly feel, and see by looking out of the view ports that the Runabout had dropped out of warp. Only half way to the Athena, and this wasn’t something that was on the itinerary.

A few moments would go by, and one of the crew, a young Trill Security Officer by the looks of his uniform suddenly did a double take as he walked past one of the view ports. “There’s another Runabout out there.” He said to the small group of new crew, “Not far away either.” Another new Science Officer, an Andorian, and a Human Engineer moved over to the young man and looked out the view port. Another, lonesome Runabout was visible a fair distance away, but none of the markings could be made out at this range.

Allison made her way to the view port, staring out the window along with everyone else who was confused by the turn of events. Her slight confusion and fascination with the strangeness of this situation soon turned to mild worry, however.

With a swoosh, the doors to the Runabouts small Bridge opened and the co-pilot walked out, holding a PaDD. Pausing just outside the door, the Lieutenant read the details on the PaDD and looked at the group of crew. “Ensign Allison Fleet?” She said, and looked up searching for the one who would respond. “I have new orders for you, you are to transfer to another Runabout immediately. Leave your kit, that will follow you later.”

Allison acknowledged the request for her response to her name, and listened to the words that followed. She took a few moments to fully absorb what the Lt. had said. Go to the other Runabout…? Alone? She stared at the woman, then grabbed her small bag from her seat and quietly shoved her mp3-player back into the front pocket, folding up the earbuds. “Well…” she looked at the other officers, smiling slightly. “Ah… it was nice to meet you all…”

Tilting the PaDD towards the back of the Runabout the Lieutenant began to walk. “You make take whatever you have on hand now Ensign, you’ll be filled in when you get to the other ship.” She reached the ships transporter and input a series of co-ordinates, then looked up and waited for Allisons acknowledgement.

Lt j.g. Rovan Moor
Engineering/Pilot

She followed the Lt. quietly, still flabbergasted and somewhat frightened by this whole situation. Why would they order her onto a different runabout? Why just her? Was she in trouble? She stepped onto the Transporter and hugged her bag close to her chest. The contents of this bag were her only possessions and she wasn’t going to go into the maw of mystery without them.

Allison nodded slightly at the co-pilot, closing her eyes and awaiting the sensation of her atoms being disassembled and reassembled. She always hated Transporters. She couldn’t really describe why that was so, but it might have something to do with growing up in the era when they were only used for Cargo and seeing some of the disasters that happened when people tried transporting live specimens…

Ens. Allison Fleet, Science