Executive Officer Arriving

Posted on Tue Dec 10th, 2019 @ 5:48pm by Commander M'Mira & Lieutenant Commander Ziq Chura

1,367 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: Commanding Officer's Office

Ziq Chura watched out of the runabout window as Faltan III came into view. He was both excited and nervous about his new assignment as it came out of the blue. Overseeing the construction of the soon to be new Faltan Station which was going to sit on the edge of the system was one thing but being reassigned to the existing Faltan Station as he XO and Chief Engineer came as a shook. ’More than capable’ and ’excellent career prospects’ still rung in his ears about Admiral Banda had given him the assignment. Although Faltan wasn’t the most hospitable place to be at the moment there was definitely going to be something satisfying about taking this job.

The runabout headed into the atmosphere which gave the inhabitants a rougher ride but it only lasted for a few seconds before it broke through. Chura could hear the pilot communicating with Faltan flight control as they runabout flew closer to its destination. A few minutes later and the runabout touched down safely. The Bolian thanked the pilot of his hospitality before disembarking with his duffel bag over his shoulder.

The station was massive, most departments had its own hub but the biggest hub was the residential and commercial hubs. He couldn’t wait to explore this new place but first he needed to report in to the Station Commander. Chura followed the directions to the command hub and made his way up to Command and Control.

The C&C was busy, people everywhere going about their duties. The volume was quite noisy but not unbearable. He asked a crewman to be pointed to the direction of the Station Commander’s office. Once there he pressed the door chime and waited for permission to enter.

M'Mira had found a pleasant place on her desk to curl up for a cat nap. By the time the chime rang, her feet were sprawled on the arm of her chair and her neck was hanging at a near 70 degree angle from the rest of her body. The chime startled her and her feet pushed the chair out from under her. Her body fell to to the floor and she landed on her feet. She looked at the door and daring anyone that might be in the room to suggest that she didn't mean to land on her feet and do exactly as she did. The only issue was that nobody was in the room.

Certain that she had heard the chime, she straightened her uniform and called out, "Come in!"

Chura entered the office. He was expecting a pokey room like most station commanders but this was massive and very lavish. He couldn’t help but take in the size of the room and the excellent view from the window of the rest of the station. He finally focused on his new commanding officer and stopped in front of her desk. “Lieutenant Commander Ziq Chura, reporting as ordered.” He said after standing to attention.

As ordered? I don't remember ordering a Bolian. Hastily, the Caitian touched a few buttons on a PADD that had a bunch of Caitian hair on it and said, "Ah, yes! Lieutenant Commanderrr Ziq Churrra.... My new Executive Officerrr," M'Mira purred. Finally, someone to do the hard work while I get my well earned naps. She looked further on her PADD and asked, "Chief Engineerrring too? Do you like to be busy?"

“I love being busy, ma’am, hence why I’m an engineer. Never a dull moment.” He said with a chuckle. “I have to say, I was surprised as this change of assignment. I was quiet happy overseeing the construction of the new Faltan Station at the edge of the system, but Admiral Banda said you could use my help here.” He added with a shrug. “So, here I am.”

"The new Faltan Station," M'Mira growled darkly. "Let us get this strrraight, Commanderrrr, therrre will be no talk about a new Faltan. It is ourrr job to make sure that Starrrfleet sees this station as irrrrrrreplaceable. I put too much worrrk in getting this place functional to allow it to just be abandoned orrr handed to the Falteans." She bared her teeth in a scowl. Her hands went to her hips and her red nail polish was starkly visible on her long nails.

“Forgive me, ma’am, but the new station is happening. Once the station is complete this installation will transfer to the new space station.” Chura said with a frown. “Why are you so against it? From what I’ve read the Faltan’s don’t want us here and are posing a considerable threat to Starfleet.”

"They'rrre only as much of a thrrreat as we allow them to be. You have not met theirrr goverrrnorrr. He's a rrrat if ever therrre was one. And we have had prrroblems with ourrr own herrre. Have you been made awarrre of the Crrrrystal Frrruits attack on our last Chief Engineerrrr?"

Chura shook his head, “I’ve heard of crystal fruits but everything relating to them has been classified and is above my pay grade.” The Bolian smirked. “Is this rogue Starfleet group still a threat to the station?”

"I do not know," M'Mira admitted. "But, I want to make surrre that they arrre nowhere nearrr this station again. They werrre, frrrom what I gatherrr frrrom Mint's notes, doing some good worrrk, but werrre larrrgely un-monitorrred. I will not allow such wild carrrds herrre. If we arrre to get this station to stay put, we need to make surrre that everrrything and everrryone herrre functions apprrroprrriately. I will have Intelligence on the station take overrr theirrr function. Howeverrr, we will need to make surrre that they are able to handle the Falteans. Something rrrotten is going on with that Goverrrnorrr. I want to know what it is."

She paused and gave Chura a toothy grin. Flicks of her nails, evident by the red nail polish came into view. "So, tell me, what is it that you wish to do herrre, Commanderrr? How do you think you can help me?"

“Well, firstly, I want to keep everything working.” Chura replied with a grin of his own. “As from an executive officer stance, I’ll do what I can to support your command here and help with the Falteans as best as I can. I’d also like to get the shipyard up and running on Luna again. Could prove useful with how busy the station gets with various traffic which comes and goes in this sector.”

"Ambitious," M'Mira observed, her grin widening, showing more sparkling white, sharp teeth. "Therrre is the mining colony up therrre. I am cerrrtain that they would apprrreciate having an actual shipyarrrd again."

“So I’ve read. Have you had any dealings with them since the Station was reactivated?” Ziq asked curiously.

"Nothing of note," M'Mira told Ziq, her tail swishing from side to side as she debated her next words. After all, why should she talk to miners? It was not like the miners were under Starfleet control and they seemed happy doing their own thing. "They seem content with theirrr station on Luna."

“Perhaps we should make contact when we get up there? Let them know why the lights are back on in the shipyard?” Ziq asked, he was happy to do the initial contact.

"I think that is a fine idea. Perrrhaps in a day or two we shall do that. We arrre expecting some otherrrs to come and this can be yourrr firrrrst away mission."

“Thank you, ma’am.” Chura said with a polite nod. “Is there anything you wish for me to do beforehand?”

"Get yourrrself settled in. Meet some of the staff. Have a drink in the officerrr's lounge. You will find that something is always happening herrre. Best to enjoy what peace we have."

Chura nodded and smiled before remembering the armed security personnel stationed around the station. “Understood, ma’am. I look forward to working with you.”

"And I with you," M'Mira replied purring, feeling like she was finally going to get some well deserved cat naps.

 

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