Posted by Lieutenant Maximilien Mullins (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim -Briefing at the ready room

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Cara Meow (Xenoanthropologist and Sociologist) in Main Sim -Briefing at the ready room
[snip]

Lance had been listening and doodling Venus fly traps on his note pad. He had a lot of respect for those who left their comfortable worlds in order to follow a dream or a calling and say up fledgling colonies.

=/\=Commodore, what do we know of the flora and fawner of this planet, their sudden radio silence could be down to some zoonotic bacteria or parasite which may have wiped the colony out. It isn’t an unknown thing, there have been plenty of examples of microorganisms mutating into something capable of decimating entire populations. =/\=

Cross entered back in the room just in time to hear the Commodore ......

=/\= Given the origins from the original colonists much of the local fauna currently are crossbred Earth based plant life with the local types. Given the colony has been there without issues for so long we don’t think any sudden mutations occurred. But equally given the lack of formal contact and information we do get is second or third hand we can’t rule it out either. The simple fact is that’s why we’re sending you out to check in, it could just be they have an equipment malfunction, or maybe the current colony leaders choose to fully cut off any and all contact, or some other natural or threat occurred. Investigation upon arrival to the system will tell you much on then how to proceed. Respect the Prime Directive obviously and your own safety but reach out to the colony if you can, then report back. Any other questions?=/\= He said.

“Nothing from me…” the COS said.

The CMO looked at the others, then back at the monitor ‘’No more questions Sir we shall depart now ‘’.

Now she turned to those present ‘’ Now we all know what our next mission is ,please inform the crew that fall under your dept ‘’ with some humor on her side Cross went on ‘’Lets hope we find them in good health ,happy and dancing and tell us to mind our own business ‘’ she picked up her Padd and was ready to exit the room along with the others ‘’Oh ..em guys forgot to tell you we have a new Cmdr ‘’ the doctor looked around ‘’ She was making her way here …where the hell did she go! ‘’ .

Layanna sighed “I’m back here.” She said as she tried to navigate the crowed room to where the CMO was standing.

‘’Ops sorry Cmdr did not see you as we are packed like sardines in here ‘’ Cross then took the opportunity to introduce her to the others.

McDuff didn’t bother to speculate. He didn’t see the point. He would wait and see what the situation was when they arrived and base he reactions on the findings.

On hearing Cameron Cross took a couple of steps backwards ‘’Lt , guess I don’t really have to tell you but security might play a big part once we get down since we don’t know what the team will find’’ the CMO was quite aware that they may face hostility ‘’ I have a gut feeling we won’t be welcomed with open arms ‘’.

Max was excited about the next mission but it would likely not include engineering. This will give Max time to better to know his crew and they can run drills and tests on things on the ship. There were a number of items he wanted to improve but had just not had the time yet. He waited for the dismissal request before getting up and heading out.

‘’Lt Max , if you need to rest we could leave to our destination later on? ‘’

She herself could do with some sleep ‘’I’m heading to sickbay first to check on the Captain and guess we have to decide who’s going to take the bridge ‘’ Cross waited for the CE’s answer …the CMO held him in high regard .

Cara was still standing by the door as there had been no room inside for her. As people began to file out, she had to stand aside to let them past. She wasn’t too impressed with the “briefing”. There had been much speculation, but little real intelligence. All heat and no light! she thought. It was a case of “wait until you get there and find out!” and naturally, many people were concerned and unhappy about that. But it was more than that, her empathic powers told her that there was a very sombre mood aboard the Merrimack at the moment, and it wasn’t just because of this mission. She hadn’t felt this kind of negativity since she had come aboard. She had no idea what was up with the Captain, but it didn’t help that he had disappeared either. It seemed that it was a secret that some crew knew about and some didn’t, and that was a seed that could sprout other divisions within a crew. Someone needed to pull the whole crew together, and right now, she couldn’t see who that would be - this new XO had barely spoken at the briefing, no one knew anything about her, and she hadn’t made that kind of positive and stirring speech that was required to inspire and motivate this crew and get them all out of their dither and funk! Maybe that was harsh - Layanna had only just stepped aboard - her feet hardly touched the deck - and this crew was usually very close knit; a hard nut to crack if you weren’t already a member of it.

On the other hand, Cara was personally upbeat about the mission. Any opportunity to study an isolated human culture, cut off from the Federation rang all the right bells for her professionally. This was why she had joined the Merrimack. On which other ship could she get the chance to do that, which was why those questions from the Captain about why the Merrimack was being sent rather than a gunship or hospital ship had been strange. Of course the Merrimack would be sent. Who else would you send? she thought.

She realised that while she had been so deep in her own thoughts, the room had almost emptied. “Ah! Back to work then,” she thought.

• Cara, Xenoanthropologist and Sociologist

Max looked around and no one else was saying anything so he thought he would say something, “I am not in need of rest at this time. We can leave whenever the ship is ready to head to the location of the next mission. I can always sleep later. Is there anything else that is needed or are we free to go?” He was hoping everyone would be dismissed due to the crowding of the ready room. It was starting to bother Max. He was not the biggest people person. He rather enjoyed working with machines and not dealing with people. He went ahead and stopped leaning on the wall and stood straight waiting to hear the response from the Lt.

Lt. Mullins
Chief Engineer

’’ Since the briefing is over we might as well leave now ‘’ Cross replied without any hesitation, picking up her Padd wondering why she had brought it with her in the first place. The first thing she was going to do was to check on the Captain in sickbay.

Cross CMO