Posted by Lieutenant Commander Magnús Pétursson (First Officer) in Main Sim: Genesis Bridge

Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in Main Sim: Genesis Bridge

Posted by Lieutenant David Michaels (CSO) in Main Sim: Genesis Bridge
Posted by… suppressed (40) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Everyone from the planet surface suddenly found themselves on the bridge of the Genesis. If that was not shocking enough, the person sitting at the conn was not who Calvin had left in charge. In their place was Lt. Zachary Dean. Dean was sitting in the chair reading a PaDD while everyone on the bridge seemed to have accepted his take over of command without question.

GM Kate

The light of the transporter faded, and the familiar hum of the bridge replaced the world he had just left. Edelu’s boots met the deck with a subtle shift of weight, knees flexing against the residual disorientation.

He took in the space without moving his head—peripheral vision sweeping over the stations, the crew, the conn. It was not the officer he expected there, but the way the rest of the bridge accepted it spoke louder than any explanation could.

The recycled air tasted different here—cooler, steadier—yet beneath it, he caught the faint tang of tension. His hands remained gripping his rifle, posture composed, but his gaze lingered on Dean a fraction too long, committing every detail to memory before he allowed his eyes to move on.

The deck plates vibrated faintly under his feet, a reminder that no matter the strangeness of their arrival, the ship was still in motion. Edelu let his breathing settle into that rhythm, silent and observant, waiting for the next move to reveal itself.

Lt. Cmdr. Edelu, M.D. ○●●
Chief Medical Officer
U.S.S. Genesis

“You!” Thomas exclaimed. “How did you get away from being eaten by the Volians?”

COS

“My rakish good looks,” Dean said standing up now that he saw the gang was all back.

More of a question in Dagen’s mind was how they even beamed up what with the mineral on the planet inhibiting transport at all which was their principle issue through this entire diplomatic fiasco. He moved to the engineering station =^= Thor to transporter room. Did you transport us? If so, how? =^=
- Dagen, CE

Calvin’s patience was at his limit. Seeing Dean relaxing in his seat was about to push him over the edge. “I think you are in my seat Lieutenant.”

“No Sir I did,” he addressed Dagen. “It helped that the Harvest was over and the orbital platforms came on line with all the chaos going on down there now. As to how your transporter chief got a lock I am not sure but I was the one that gave the order. Now before I relinquish command to the XO or the Captain, I would suggest everyone move into his ready room. I have a communique coming through for Starfleet HQ.”

GM Kate

They weren’t online before? Still, Dagen wondered at the means of transport. It would be a huge step forward for transporter tech to have solved the problem with that element. Inwardly he shrugged at the notice about the communique but waited to follow the senior officers in. Glancing at the world below in the viewscreen he shook his head. What a mess of a planet! He glanced at his rather disheveled and dirty dress uniform. What a mess I am! And that coming from an inherent ‘messy’.
Dagen, CE

Edelu did not move when Dean stood. The rifle in his hands remained angled low, fingers resting but not tense on its frame.

His eyes followed the exchange between Dean, McGregor, and Thor with the same steady weight he gave a patient’s vitals—watching, measuring, noting what was said and what was not.

The offer to “move into the ready room” hung in the air, but Edelu’s boots stayed rooted where the transporter had set him down. He was a physician by trade, but Starfleet had drilled the same lesson into him as any other officer: the bridge was not a place to act on assumptions. Orders came from the captain. Or failing that, the first officer.

So he held his place, posture even, presence quiet but unyielding, his silence saying more than interruption ever could: he would not move without instruction.

Lt. Cmdr. Edelu, M.D. ○●●
Chief Medical Officer
U.S.S. Genesis

“Before you relinquish command,” Calvin said in a warning tone. Nothing about this mission had gone as planned and so far every time it went sideways, Dean was there in the background.

Moving into his ready room, Calvin took a seat at the head of the table. “I suggest you begin to explain your part in this mission. You have been showing up like a bad penny for the last twenty four hours.

Calvin Marius

Edelu shifted when the captain moved, falling into step a respectful pace behind. The rifle stayed angled down, his grip loose but steady as he crossed from the bridge into the smaller confines of the ready room.

The change in space was immediate—the hum of the bridge dimmed, replaced by the quieter, more controlled atmosphere of the captain’s domain. He let the door close behind him before moving to the side of the table.

Without a word, he seated himself, posture straight but unassuming, his gaze resting on Dean only briefly before settling forward. He was present, listening, his silence carrying the weight of attention rather than absence.

Lt. Cmdr. Edelu, M.D. ○●●
Chief Medical Officer
U.S.S. Genesis

Dagen could feel the tension and heat increase as the moments passed and was relieved when the Captain and others moved to the ready room. He followed, taking a seat close to the back where he could observe. There were answers forthcoming but what they could be Dagen had no idea. This had moved from an odd diplomatic venture to obtain cloaking technology in some return for Federation membership and and sunk - literally - to an underground tunnel system before their rescue and face off with not just the denizens of the world but the Gorn involved. How did Kirk navigate these kinds of twists?
- Dagen, CE

Magnus stood just behind the Captain, not sitting down. HIs expression was completely blank, things had not gone according to plan. Mentally he was doing the math on the consequences of tossing the man out an airlock, he wasn’t sure if his career could survive yet another court martial but it might be worth it.

XO

Thomas positioned himself nearest to Dean, ready at a moment’s notice to take him down and hope he resisted.

COS

Dean walked in with a well crafted swagger of someone who was not worried about a thing in the world. Taking the seat opposite from Calvin, he looked at everyone in the room before beginning. “This is going to be a very unpopular opinion Sir but Starfleet is not always a turn the other cheek organization. Sometimes it is the sucker punch a guy to get what we need. Need is the key word boys and girls.” Dean spoke with a casualness that usually was reserved for friends or people far higher in rank than his neck was supporting.

“We need those shields. If you haven’t noticed, the Gorn are proving to be a larger threat than most people know. They are vicious, lethal, and have zero compunction in taking living beings as their hosts for their young. We have no real defenses against them and no one knows anything about them. I mean really knows.”

Dean paused before continuing his speech. “Eighteen months ago, I was assigned to the USS Hammer. They were the first ship to begin negotiations with the Beltran monarchy. Unfortunately they were late to the reception and the entire command crew was devoured by the Volians. Starfleet covered up this misstep by saying the ship crashed in that turbulent soup of an atmosphere. The crew bought the story and was promptly sent on a deep space mission. Next came the USS Farmington a year later. Unlike you, their Captain took shelter with King Casper and witnessed the horror through the safety of view screens. The CO had a crisis of conscious and took a tone with Casper. The Admiralty of Starfleet told the CO to close the deal but our temperamental King refused to work with him so enter you and your crew.”

Lt. Dean / GM Kate

“Need can be a subjective term Lieutenant,” Calvin bluntly reminded the man about his junior rank. “Besides last time I checked we were not at war with the Gorn.” Tapping his fingers on the table, Calvin posed a question. “So you have been here since the start of this bloodbath?”

Calvin Marius

“Yes and I tried to warn you,” he glared at Vanessa. “I told you when you arrived at the reception that you were to keep everyone in that palace.” His anger was apparent to everyone in the room. “After everything we went through why can’t you ever do what you are told.”

GM Kate

“Excuse me,” Calvin stated, not immediately sure if this man just attempted to dress him down.

“He is talking about me Sir,” Vanessa clarified. Dean might think he was all that and a bag of chips but Calvin was the Captain. He could crush him into crumbs and toss the bag over his shoulder and into the brig without breaking a sweat.

Vanessa held up a hand. This got awkward fast. Announcing that Dean was once a client of hers at the VA technically would not break confidentiality since she didn’t come out and report to everyone in the room she had treated him for PTSD; however, it was in bad form. Although she had to do something. The way the comment was phrased it sounded like their was a possible far more intimate history between the two. Everyone around the table was exceedingly smart. If someone else came to the conclusion that Dean was at minimum a security officer and most probably an intelligence officer then she did not technically break any code of conduct. “Well first off,” she took a more humorous tone to try and alter the tone of confrontation. “I do not report to you but him,” she pointed to Calvin before hooking a thumb at the XO, “and him.” Pausing she nodded her head then to McGregor, “sometimes him also.” Lifting her hand she kept her palm facing down but over her head. “They are here in the command chain compared to me.” Moving it to the middle of her body she stated, “Then comes Dagen, Edelu, and Mirai, and Michaels mainly because they all out rank me. Something you should think about fixing Sir,” she side glanced Calvin. “Anyway then there is the crew,” she lowered her hand, “the non comms,” she lowered her hand again but this time out of sight, “and then you.” She let her voice stop and hoped that someone noticed she labeled everyone on the crew by department except intelligence officers and blatantly ignored Dean’s rank which as a subtle nod to intelligence officers avoiding rank in missions or taking a different one based on the cover of the assignment.

“Besides he asked you a question. Why are you even talking to me?”

Vanessa Slade

“To which I am still waiting for a reply,” Calvin said.

Calvin Marius

“You are infuriating,” Dean snapped before looking back at Calvin. “Yes and I was there the whole time and luckily your little excursion allowed me to appropriate the shield technology so we don’t need the Beltran’s help anymore.” Yes it might technically be stealing but stealing was such an ugly word. Dean settled back in his seat waiting for the first Genesis officer to start the lecture on ethics and morality.

Lt. Zachary Dean.

Dagen’s head perked up. Sorry, what? He had been taking in the atmosphere of the room and the general disdain that Dean was showing along with the rapid decline of civility when his brain cells clicked. Wait. What? He ‘appropriated’ it? They say, or some say on Terra, that all’s fair in love and war but there didn’t seem to be much of either happening at the moment. Espionage was another thing but that was not their department, but to be a party to aid and abet? He frowned. Dean looked to be awaiting the challenge. Disgusted at being made a pawn he let out a loud breath and turned to the viewscreen rather than at the Lieutenant. If he was a lieutenant and not a ranking intelligence officer who was about to suddenly pull rank and mission.
Dagen, CE

“Mr. Thor,” Dean stated seeing the man’s reaction. “I see some trepidation in your face.” Dean knew the crew would not understand the stakes.

Looking around the space, he clasp his hands and leaned forward. “While you all might not like the way we got them, the fun fact is we need them. They could be a game changer in our dealings with the Gorn unless you would prefer losing lives as we spend the next few years trying to come up with the tech on our own.”

GM Kate

“Pardon me, Lt. Must be indigestion,” he said flatly. “I know I have my nose in technical manuals and such a lot but I must have missed the back page news that we are at war with the Gorn.”
- Dagen, CE

Dean frowned hearing his rank stated in the comment. Dagen outranked him by several steps. The use of it was a polite way to put him back in his place. Zach however had an almost radical view of the Federation. He lived and died for Starfleet at the cost of everything and everyone in his life. His devotion to Starfleet should have been inspiring but instead lowered the temperature in the room several degrees. “Because waiting around until we are at war would be a better idea,” Dean snapped back quickly. “The Gorn are not a threat we can ignore. They swarm, take down planets, ships,” his tone increased. “Maybe you should get hip deep in those manuals instead of just your nose and find us ways to eliminate them.”

GM Kate

True it wasn’t like Kirk didn’t exhibit some measure of subterfuge to gain access to a Romulan cloaking device against an enemy. But they didn’t play their own people for fools and using them as a distracting prop to gain something from a potential ally who would have shared that technology freely. It was that sort of get the toy at any cost that could very well cost more lives. “And war is that inevitable? The last I saw they had limited systems. The Klingons could wipe the floor with them and would gladly join with us if it came to a conflict. And, if I might add,” Dagen said icily, “The Federation does not eliminate anyone. There was a time when the Klingons pushed up to swarm and take over planets. They are allies now. It would have been a shame to have simply eliminated them and lost that.”
- Dagen, CE

“Lucky I don’t have the luxury of sitting behind a console and day dreaming of what could be in a universe of lollipops and rainbows,” Dean shot back. “The Gorn are not allies,” the venom in his voice was clear. “Just remember that when they gut you and shove an embryo down your gullet that will devour you from the inside out.”

GM Kate

Dagen was about to cooly mention that he had well over a century of pespective thanks to three previous lifetimes of knowledge and experience, especially the first who lived in the ‘wild west’ era of Starfleet. However, the Captain spoke up before he managed to speak, turning his head to look outside to the stars. What was this man’s experience that he took this so personally? That would be for the counselor, or a counselor, for he was hardly a member of the crew for these resources to be applied.
Dagen, CE

“Lieutenant,” Calvin’s voice thundered out not in volume but intensity. It cut through Dean’s words like a hot knife through butter. Few things spiked Calvin’s ire. He was an adult and an officer like everyone else in the room. There was no reason to pull rank unless some other officer forgot the rules of etiquette. Pressing a button on the console, he paused for a moment before reply. “You are not senior staff nor part of this crew.” The doors slide open and a security officer appeared in the doorway. “I am going to suggest you go take a shower and cool off in the guest quarters. Mr. Cross, please escort our guest so he does not get lost.” Calvin had a list of insubordination charges he could level at Dean but this was not the time or place to do so. Everyone was running hot, including himself, based on the events dirtside. It was best to remove the powder keg for the moment since whatever damage had been done.

Calvin Marius CO

Magnus had been feeling the urge to pace the more Dean spoke, something in him told him it was a potential mistake to send the fool away, but he didn’t voice his disapproval. He put a hand under Dean’s upper arm “Please get up” He said in a calm voice” He held the man so that McGregor had both hands free.

XO

Dean shot Magnus a look of contempt. “I am not requiring assistance but if you leave your hand there any longer you might need the CMO.”

As Calvin opened his mouth to speak a message from the bridge announced a call from Starfleet waiting.

GM Kate

“Put it through to the ready room,” Calvin ordered. No one mentioned if it were private or not. If so he would dismiss his staff. If not he would let them listen in. Everyone wanted answers right now.

Calvin Marius CO

On the screen the Starfleet logo spun for several seconds before Admiral Perkins’ face filled the space. “Captain Marius, I am pleased to see you and your crew are all well after your ordeal. I heard it was a bit of an anxiety riddle mission.”

“Admiral Perkins,” Calvin acknowledged the man and nothing else. Perkin’s reputation was one of the worst in Starfleet. The man had a history of climbing both over people and up the nepotism ladder.

“How long until you can get to the coordinates 003.649.2?” Perkin’s tone and physical features reminded most officers of the grim reaper. It might be his thin frame with skin pulled taunt or even the white wisps of hair that seemed unable to be tamed. Perkin’s eyes were hollow giving the impression he was looking through you than at you.

“I am not sure at this very second,” Calvin did not add to the conversation but only answered the question posed. Admirals like Perkins would try to hang every failure of theirs on someone else’s words.

The coordinates given were not to any planet or space station. The were in the middle of deep space indicating that they probably were going to rendez vous with a ship or transport of some sort.

GM Kate

Calvin Marius CO

Magnus frowned. He didn’t know Perkins personally, but the man had tried to have his cousin court martialed for espionage and sedition not so long ago, alongside the entire senior staff of his ship. He didn’t react outwardly; he was already not the favourite of the Admiralty, a fact made more apparent by his rank of Lieutenant Commander. He glanced at the Captain, pleased that he wasn’t reacting to the situation, not that he’d expected anything else.

XO

Dagen frowned and his face gave the statement of ‘this is just getting better and better’. He also thought that the timing here was either the most coincidental moment or it was intended. Either way he was out of the conversation but the room was still, to use his mothers’ terms, simmering to a boil. While keeping a respectful stance he moved closer to where the XO was having some issues with their favorite junior officer.
Dagen

“Are you in command or is someone else,” Perkin’s voice dripped of disdain and sarcasm. He hated having to deal with the plebians at this level. Captain’s in particular irked him. They acted as if they had any real power but to Perkins they were essentially uber operators of Starfleet. Pausing for a moment, Perkins glared at the crew assembled in the room.

Calvin did not want to address the man. His comment was meant to demean and insult every member of his team sitting around the table. Still even with all the rank in the universe, someone in Star-fleet always outranked you. That was the curse at times of a military life. He paused staring at him as if he was confused about the admiral’s confusion as long as he could without obviously been defiant. “I did not want to interrupt you and your kind words of encouragement for the success of our mission.” The Admiral was a putz and nothing was appealing about him.

“You look familiar,” Perkin’s voice carried the sensation one felt when a wet towel impacted soft tiles. It was unnerving in the way sound made you feel revulsion on some level but had no reason why. “Do I know you?”

Magnus gave the Admiral his best smile “We might have crossed paths back at Command when I was instructing at the Academy, maybe ten or so years ago” He was fairly certain that they hadn’t met, but it was a fairly innocent lie. Better than the familial semblance to his cousin.

“Oh yes yes Magnus,” Perkins addressed the man nodding. He had no clue who he was but there was something about him that nagged at the back of his mind. The fact the man was smiling at him puffed up the Admiral’s ego. At least this member of the senior staff had the good sense to address him with the respect he was due. Perkins would nuture this relationship. He was after all an Admiral. Who wouldn’t want to claim that they were aligned with him and his stance on the Federation. If this went south, it would be good to have a man on his side. Especially as an XO, if the Captain appeared to be too trying and difficult to deal with. “I remember hearing nothing but good things from the academy about your tenure here.”

Perkin’s had a smile curl the edges of his mouth reminding anyone of the lips of a python right before its mouth opened to swallow its prey whole. The smile was not genuine but more the inner machinations of his imagination how the Captain had no idea the luck that had just been bestowed upon him. Now Perkin’s had his toe in the door which was all he needed to drive a wedge between the CO and XO if it ever came to it. He had no idea who this Magnus was but every other officer in the room would feel the awkwardness of not being called out for their dedication to Starfleet.

Takign his attention off the XO, Perkins let his icy gaze fall on Calvin. “I suggest you get to those coordinates ASAP. Since you are unable to tell me when you will arrive. I will do your job for you.” The Admiral’s papery lips moved invoking the image of something ancient and old holding onto power through sheer will and not from respect. His tongue appeared to almost slip between his lips as he spoke.

“My crew has informed me that you are two hours from the destination. I suggest you head their immediately unless your CE is not capable of getting the ships to warp nine?” His reptilian like eyes slithered over to Dagen pausing there as he spoke. “Maybe your delicate constitution from a less than normal away mission requires you to recuperate? If so I am sure I can send over one of my crew to replace him,” his eyes darted back to Calvin.

Admiral Perkins

“We are having some difficulty with the magnetic interference from Beltran. Will arrive within ETA,” Calvin commented and abruptly disconnected the communication. His temper was simmering and everyone around the table could feel his ire coming off in waves.

“Get us to those coordinates,” Calvin said slowly quietly, there no point in showing that he was aggravated by this Admiral. Standing up from the room, he was going to counter the Admiral’s disrespect by showing his crew that they had his implicit trust. “You know what to do.” he over his shoulder at the people in the room that they were dismissed.

Calvin Marius CO

“I am going to go to the brig to see if I can get anything out of our guest,” Vanessa said standing up.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“He stays in the brig. Don’t enter the cell and leave the cameras on,” Calvin ordered probably more sharply than needed. Counselors were trusting individuals by their nature and Vanessa tended to react more with emotion than tactical sense. Calvin didn’t trust this Dean if he was siding with that yutz of an Admiral. Given Vanessa’s past connection with Dean, Marius didn’t trust that the man might try to play on whatever relationship that had in the past to suit his own needs now.
.....

OOC: I am going to leave this up for comments for a day or so and then move to the meeting place. Please feel free to comment as you wish in this above part. I am making Perkins a real piece of work intentionally. Everyone has “that” boss work lol. ~ Kat

Magnus stayed behind as the senior staff left “Perkins is bad news” He clasped his hands behind his back as he addressed the Captain “My cousin’s the Intelligence officer on the Atlantis; he tried to have the entire senior staff court martialed on trumped-up charges just a few months back. I’m not certain that this is completely legitimate. I don’t like the idea of stealing from a potential ally, nor leaving things as they are dirtside”

XO

GM KAte

“Agreed,” Calvin responded to his XO. “Luckily I have not had the misfortune of meeting the man until today but his reputation is well known among the most senior of Starfleet. The word on the street is Perkins was involved in the debacle on Glantal V and the loss of several marine units over the years based on piss poor planning and lack of any tactical experience. I do not plan to be another one of that man’s casualties or a notch on his belt for some underhanded op. Get the ship to those coordinates but drag your feet. I would love to find a way to not give that man what he wants.”

Magnus smiled at his Captain, “Well, sir, that is something I can do” He said lightly “Maybe Slade can get something from our new guest, we won’t be able to make a proper plan until we meet with whomever we’re supposed to deliver the package. Do you have any contacts at Command? Perhaps we can circumvent Perkins to someone more palatable?”

OOC: I am going to use this moment to re-introduce David and have him crash the scene. Hope it works. LOL.

IC:

When the last officer stepped through the doorway, David caught the door before it closed completely and slipped inside.

He paused just inside the ready room, the quiet hum of the ship a steady reminder that he was really back aboard the Genesis. Two familiar figures stood in the room, mid-conversation. For a brief moment, David considered backing out and pretending he’d never interrupted—but subtlety had never been his strongest suit.

“Please tell me I haven’t already missed the exciting part,” he said, voice carrying a trace of amusement as he adjusted the strap of his duffel. “Transporter room barely had time to finish the materialization cycle, and I’m told I’m needed in the Ready Room. Guess some things never change.”

He gave a small, knowing smile before straightening his posture. The humor faded slightly as his tone softened.
“Sorry to barge in. I literally just arrived—was told the Genesis could use a hand. Figured I’d report straight to the source before unpacking.”

The words hung there a moment, casual but sincere. Being back on the ship felt heavier than he’d expected, and yet… oddly right.

-David Michels, CSO

Magns turned around to face the Science Officer and sighed, his smile fading, “There’s a time and a place, Lieutenant.” He reprimanded him lightly, then smiled slightly, “But welcome back Michels, We’ll need every parsec out of our long-range sensors”

XO

bump