Posted by Captain Zarcal (CO) in Back in the saddle

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Todd Nyman (XO) in Back in the saddle

Posted by Captain Zarcal (CO) in Back in the saddle
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
He was too old for this sh-BOOM

A violent explosion rocked the shuttle as he approached his new home, the Leviathan, a dreadnaught outfitted with scientific equipment only dreamed of by most research vessles. It loomed large in his viewscreen, or rather it had before the static overtook the panel as he was thrown about the cabin. The yellowish tint of the fluorine gas in which he sat caused a sickening orange glow to fill the shuttle as the lights went out.

He got to his feet, reached for the panel and tapped it wildly, “This is Captain Zarcal of the shuttlecraft Fargo to the USS Leviathan, Todd, are you there? Something’s happened I’m trying to figure that out. I–” He said before a klaxon whirred to life and the computer said, “Warning. Atmospheric leak detected.”

His protege, Todd Nyman, a man more than he appeared. A man he had been working with, had just been offered a promotion and when he heard of it, Zarcal was delighted. He had just been brought back into active service and demanded that rather than a transfer as Star Fleet had so imagined, he be allowed to stay on the ship and serve as his Executive Officer. If he didn’t work quickly though, Todd would be reporting to another captain quickly.

~Zarcal, CO~

Commander Nyman was at the Conn. The ship’s viewscreen and sensors focused on Fargo. His eyes darted across the screen, taking in the data. Searching for some sort of cause, or anything else they might need to avoid.

=^= Captain Zarcal, message received. =^= he replied, =^= We’re gonna be trying our best here to get you aboard. =^=

He fidgeted slightly, rhythmic and focused.

“Lieutenant Wilde, get us in closer,” he ordered, “Daniels, put a tractor beam around the Fargo. What’s her condition looking like?”

As Wilde glided the Leviathan into position. A graceful ship for her size. 20,000 km away from the shuttle, within tractor range.

NE Daniels activated the tractor beam. The hull of the shuttle creaked gently as it was tugged in closer to the Leviathan. Daniel’s fingers rushed across the panel, and examined the sensor readings for an answer to the Commander’s request.

“I’m reading a minor breach in the hull near the life support system,” they reported,

“It’s leaking pressure into space, and the interior is filling with fluorine gas.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

The ship rocked back and forth as the tractor beam made connection and began to pull the damaged shuttle in. Zarcal put on his breathing apparatus and as the atmosphere vented. The interior of the shuttle started to get cold as the pressure dropped. He scanned quickly and found breaches in the plasma manifold which caused the initial rupture which then knocked out life support. “I’m going to shut down the warp core and the fusion reactor, I’ll be dead in the water and running on emergency but I’ll be safe to tow in. See you all in a few minutes Commander.”

~Zarcal, CO~

=^= Yes, sir. We’ll see you real soon.=^= he replied. You could hear the smile in his voice, which meant it was likely genuine.

He switched from hailing the shuttle to his combadge,

=^= Bridge to Medical, Captain Zarcal is expected in Shuttle Bay 1. There was a minor accident and we may need your assistance.=^=

=/\= “On my way,” =/\= Brad said.
Commander Nyman stood up from the chair, preparing to go meet Zarcal himself.

“Daniels, keep an eye on that shuttle. Let’s make sure nothing else…”

A thunk against the Levi’s shields interrupted him. Large enough to make the lights flicker slightly, as the shields pulled that little extra bit of power. But not much else.

“What was that?”

Daniel responded, “Something collided with our shields. Might’ve been a small field of debris. Sensors don’t show anything unusual. It probably hit us and vaporized on impact.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Dorian was already standing in the shuttle bay, the interior lighting reflecting off of the shiny armor plates of his hulking frame. He had been monitoring the internal pressure of the shuttle and set the shuttle bay to match it. Members of the flight crew and engineering were in the locker room getting on their vac-suits just in case.

• Dorian, CE/CA

The door opened and the heavy yellow gas poured out into the shuttle bay, quickly dissipating but causing some respiratory distress to those who would be closest but otherwise there would be no lingering effects. Zarcal stepped out and steadied himself on the side, he felt a little weak but nothing a few moments wouldn’t solve that he knew of. He turned to Todd and smiled beneath his mask, his outward appearance however not changing, “Lt. Commander Nyman, it is good to see you in person after all this time, tell me , any idea what happened there?” He asked as he turned to the hulking frame looking onward as he said, “And you must be my Chief Engineer, I’ve read all about you, I look forward to sitting down once I’m all settled in?” He said turning back to Todd, “Well fill me in, I didn’t come out of retirement for any old posting. Tell me all about the ship.”

~Zarcal, CO~

Dorian’s suited team rushed past the CO as he stepped out of the shuttle already taking scans and making diagnoses as well as getting the fire under control and the gas leak contained. Dorian followed moments after nodding at the CO’s greeting, the shuttles compromised structure groaning noticeably under his weight.

• Dorian, CE/CA

Brad made it into the room a minute later, medkit in one hand and a medical tricorder in the other. He jogged over to the officer who must be the new CO, beginning a diagnostic scan to ensure there were no unexpected conditions to deal with. As the scan ran, he set down and flipped open the kit, prepping the hypospray and grabbing the 2 medicines he expected to use, pending scan results. Brad did make an effort to be as unobtrusive as one can be while actively treating someone, not wanting to interrupt.

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

It was a little overstimulating for everything to be happening all at once. Nyman paused, taking a deep breath. Afterwards he seemed chipper as ever as he addressed the new Captain,

“Captain Zarcal, welcome aboard. Yes we were looking into what caused all this…” he explained, gesturing toward the ship that Dorian and his team were now swarming, “Didn’t find anything unusual on our end, so I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

The Commander tilted his head slightly to get a good look at Zarcal. He never met a Zaranite in person. One thing that stood out was that, due to his mask and visor, the Captain’s facial expressions were quite hidden. He’d have to be more alert to other forms of expression.

“First off, Captain, if I do say so myself the Leviathan is one of the most interesting ships in the fleet. You are fortunate to have her. Sure, from a technical perspective she is a standard Mjolnir-class, impressive enough on its own. But-“ he paused for effect, held up one finger as a sly grin passed his lips,

“All is not what it appears to be.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Bump?

(I second that bump!)

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

OOC: All the bumps!

Zarcal stood and smiled under his mask, “It’s good to see you in person finally” he said warmly, his voice deep and low as he spoke before taking a look around. “I’m very interested to see your take Commander.” He strode around his shuttle, inspecting visually for damage but knowing he wasn’t the best to diagnose anything mechanical. “I know only what command has deemed important about this vessel and it’s purpose, I was told that you would fill me in the rest of the way?” He said as he nodded slightly towards the door, “Shall we?” He asked as he started to walk towards the corridor without waiting for a reply.

~Zarcal, CO~

Commander Nyman stuck by his new Captain as they exited.
Having to slow himself down, not just because of his longer stride. He was excited.

“Well, I’m assuming then you are already familiar with the basics of the mission of the ARU. The Levi’s mission focuses on both discovery and containment of objects or individuals classified as ‘anomalies’. Anything more specific is on a need-to-know basis.”

He smiled, the kind you can notice in someone’s eyes,

“Up until my promotion, I didn’t even know half of what was going on. But of course as Captain you are afforded the highest level of clearance. So if you wanted to…”

He leaned in even closer and almost whispered the suggestion,

“We could start with containment.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

“I am indeed familiar with the ARU’s mission and the specific mission of the vessel but as you mentioned to, it’s usually a need-to-know basis and command was rather reluctant to send information on exactly what was contained here onboard.” He said as he smiled under his mask, “Commander I was a Diplomat, a retired one at that, before I got the call back to active service here. I’d love to start at Containment. After you?” He said, holding a hand out gesturing for Nyman to take the lead.

~Zarcal, CO~

“Of course, sir. Right away.”

Commander Nyman led their new Captain down the halls and onto one of the lifts that allowed direct access to that ever so clandestine section of the ship.

“Containment,” he ordered “Access Code 18-02-Theta”

“Access code accepted,” replied the computer. He was absolutely beaming at the response.

“So, I did hear that you were, they call it retired?” He spoke as if he didn’t quite understand the word. As a Vendorian, it was literally an alien concept that he still couldn’t quite grasp.

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|

Bump - Ava

Zarcal smiled under his mask and took a deep breath in as he followed the enthusiastic young man, knowing full well that his ‘true’ nature was one far more alien than even his own. He didn’t bat an eye as he nodded slowly, “Commander for my species I’m an old man, 307 to be exact. Retirement for us is a given as our biological processes slow down, and we’re unable to perform at the same levels as we could when we were younger. Now to be fully truthful I never did actually retire, I accepted a diplomatic posting to Janus VI and have spent the last few decades there service the Federation as their envoy with the Horta. My own son is a Horta, adopted mind you, and he has his eye on the academy when he’s older. I hit my prime about 175 years ago and since taking the post on Janus, I was a captain and a diplomat, however as I grew older I felt less confident in my command, apparently that was simply my own thoughts though as they have seen fit to name me to this fine ship.”

~Zarcal, CO~

Nyman stifled a shutter. 307 years? Like Federation Standard years? No wonder they had the time to retire.

“If that’s the case, I know for certain I wouldn’t be able to retire either, sir,” he said with a quick smile, “It’s admirable that you stepped up to the responsibility.”

The turbo lift doors opened to a hallway on the containment deck. The Commander stepped off the lift, and guided the Captain’s attention to a large door, guarded on either side by security personnel. Each stood at attention recognizing Commander Nyman.

“Officers, this our new Commanding Officer Captain Zarcal. I’ll be showing him around some of the more sensitive areas of the ship. I am sure his clearances are in order.”

“Yes, sir,” they said, stepping aside to allow the Commander to access the door and put in his security code. As the Captain passed through, one of the officers let out a very formal, “Welcome aboard, sir.”

This room seemed to be dedicated to mostly ‘inanimate’ objects. Newton class anomalies with Blue or Green designations. Each sitting containment units that lined either side of the room. Most had view ports at eye level, though some where sealed, an marked with warnings about visible contact. Some where unsettlingly familiar. A cup, a combadge, a pile of laundry. Others were more obscure in form but recognizable, pottery or figurines or obsolete technology. And for good measure, a few were simply formless pieces of undulating energy and matter.

“Now most of these are harmless on their own, Captain,” Nyman explained, “Usually requiring some kind of interaction, or ‘special phrase’ to become activated. Or overall have a mostly harmless effect.”

|Lt. Cmdr. Nyman, XO|