Posted by Commander Oliver Loughty (Executive Officer) in Departing for Algeron IV [Tag Commander Loughty, Ensign Saoir]

Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Departing for Algeron IV [Tag Commander Loughty, Ensign Saoir]

Posted by Commander Oliver Loughty (Executive Officer) in Departing for Algeron IV [Tag Commander Loughty, Ensign Saoir]
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
- Chief Counselor’s Log:
The ship is currently en route to Starbase Hades. The crew appears to be in overall a better state, as the promise of a five-day shore leave is a welcome one for most. Meanwhile, Commander Oliver Loughty and I have been invited to participate in a special diplomatic training course on Algeron IV, courtesy of the Star Fleet Diplomatic Corps. It is my hope that this additional training will help me develop the needed skills to be an effective Chief Counselor and be better prepared to advise the command staff when dealing with diplomatic issues. Our shuttle is scheduled to depart at 14:00 hours. -

Nyman waited in the shuttle bay for the others to arrive, luggage in tow. As usual, he packed an entire bag to the point of almost busting the zippers for what was supposed to only be a three-day trip. To pass the time, he had the computer generate a word search for him to complete on his PaDD. His Vulcan was a little rusty, but it was better than doing nothing while waiting for the others.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“Hazel, we won’t be gone long,” Oliver reassured his daughter, crouching down beside her with a duffle bag at his side. His hand rested gently on her shoulder as he spoke. “Think of it like a long sleepover with Ensign Niamh. She’s been given very strict instructions to give you a bowl of ice cream every night with hundreds and thousands, just like we discussed and agreed. You drive a hard bargain.” He pulled her into a hug. “Promise you’ll be good?”

Hazel nodded, returning the hug with enthusiasm. “Okay, Dad! But you better come back soon, otherwise I’ll eat the whole ship’s ice cream supply!” she exclaimed with a giggle.

“Don’t worry, Commander. I’ll look after her while you’re gone,” Niamh chimed in, smiling warmly at Oliver. “Hazel and I have grown quite close in our science sessions. She’s rather smart.”

“Thank you, Niamh. I really appreciate you volunteering to look after Hazel,” Oliver replied gratefully, straightening up. “We’ll be contactable until we leave the system. After that, I’ll schedule a call from the planet.”

He watched as Hazel and Niamh left before turning his attention to the runabout and the counselor already waiting. Taking note of the size of his own duffle bag compared to Nyman’s, he couldn’t help but joke, “Looking to settle on Algeron?” Oliver was dressed down for the trip.

Behind them, NE Josephine Monroe and NE Jonas Michaels entered the runabout docking bay, focused on stowing their gear and not acknowledging the two officers.

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

Lieutenant Nyman looked down at his own overstuffed bag and let out a small laugh,

“You know, I never quite got the hang of how many clothes I should bring with me,” he explained.

The reason why would have been more obvious the the Commander, Vendorians typically only wore clothes when in a form that required it. Sometimes not even then, choosing instead to replicate the appearance of it. But all of Nyman’s clothes were real, a habit he formed back on Earth. Wearing the same outfit everyday stood out a lot more back then, before he had to wear a uniform.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“As a rule of thumb, I always pack one set of uniform and one set of civilian clothes for the journey,” Oliver explained, adjusting his duffle bag. “I can always replicate clothes when I get to wherever I arrive. The rest of my duffle is taken up by an overnight bag with essentials like toothpaste, a toothbrush, washing paraphernalia, and of course, a picture of Hazel.” He smiled fondly. “It looks like the others are arriving. Shall we get settled in?”

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

“After you, Commander,” Nyman said, extending his arm in a way of showing deference to his superior officer. He followed, boarding the shuttle, finding an appropriate spot to stow his bag, and settled into a seat.

“Thank you,” he replied, adjusting the strap of his duffle bag over his shoulder as he entered the shuttle. After stowing his belongings, he found a seat and settled in, aiming to blend into the background. The flight officers, Monroe and Michaels, had already boarded earlier, so Oliver took the chance to catch up on the latest news within Starfleet. Perhaps he’d even send out some correspondence to old friends.

[OOC: Spot for the Commander to give the word and Saoir to offer any comments before launch also]

In moments, the shuttle bay was cleared. The doors opened to reveal nothing but open, starlit space ahead. The shuttle departed with little difficulty, and soon made its way out into open space.

As they flew further out, Nyman seemed fixated on the image of the Leviathan growing smaller and smaller in the distance. Suddenly aware of how small the ship was compared to everything else. It made him uneasy to think how this shuttle was even smaller. A small, confined space. With a small shiver, he tried to shake himself out of it, before attempting to get distracted by the word search again.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

Oliver scrolled through the news articles, scanning the headlines for any updates of interest. As he skimmed through the various reports, one headline caught his eye: “OED V Colony Takes Steps Towards Peaceful Coexistence with the Vren.” Intrigued, he tapped on the article to read further.

The report detailed recent efforts by the OED V colony and the neighbouring Vren to resolve longstanding disputes and tensions. Through diplomatic negotiations and collaborative initiatives, both sides have made significant strides towards fostering understanding and cooperation. Measures such as joint resource management and cultural exchange programs were being implemented, signalling a positive shift towards peaceful coexistence.

Oliver felt a glimmer of hope as he read about these efforts, recognizing the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving conflicts. He made a mental note to stay updated on the progress of these initiatives, hopeful that they would pave the way for a more harmonious relationship between the two neighbouring communities.

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

After a few hours of warp fight, a small ping lit up the flight console. Nyman looked up at the sound, concerned.

“It’s an old warning buoey, sir,” Michaels explained,

“Old Neutral Zone border marker. Shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

Lieutenant Nyman tried to get settled back into his puzzle, moving around in the seat in search of some comfort. Eventually, he just had to set it aside. Choosing instead to watch the forward displays while fidgeting with his fingers.

A few moments later, another ping. Then a proximity alert. And just as the Ensigns were figuring out what was going on, a Romulan warbird was decloaking off portside.

= Unidentified shuttlecraft, = they ordered, though the transmission was coming so rough and gravelly it was hard to make out,

= You are ordered to halt. Surrender your ship and prepare to be beamed aboard. =

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|