Away Mission

Posted on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 @ 3:16pm by Lieutenant JG Kara Quinn-Chaim & Lieutenant Commander Briegel Foster & Lieutenant Tomer Chaim
Edited on on Tue Feb 11th, 2020 @ 2:03pm

1,461 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: Conference room

Lieutenant Commander Ziq Chura was finally settling into his new role as executive officer of Faltan Station. When he’d first been told of his new posting he found it quite daunting, however, he had seemed to slip into the role quite nicely. Now was his next big hurdle, sorting the away mission to Luna to meet with the mining colony as well getting the old shipyard facility up and running. Now he waited for the others he’d assigned to the away mission to arrive.

Kara had been surprised to find out that she'd been chosen to go with the away team, given that she was currently six months pregnant. Another month or two and she'd be going onto maternity leave, though in the case of her role as Counsellor that was merely to drop back her hours from full time to probably half that. She could still sit and listen to people talk after all. She wasn't sure how Tomer would feel about her going when he found out, no doubt she'd find out soon enough. Arriving at the meeting she smiled politely as she greeted Chura. "Hello Commander."

Ziq smiled at the Counselor as she walked. “Welcome. Please get yourself a drink if you’d like and take a seat.”

Kara nodded and smiled. She walked over to get herself a drink before making her way back to the conference table. She was just about to sit when Tomer entered the room.

Tomer arrived and saw his wife. He immediately cuddled her and asked, "Did you come to see me off, dear? How sweet!"

Kara smiled at her husband. "Actually, no I didn't, not that I wouldn't have!" She looked at Chura then back at Tomer. "I've been selected to go on the away mission."

"You've been what?!" Tomer exclaimed, displeased. He looked over at his new commander and asked the Bolian, "Commander, permission to speak freely?"

Kara had expected her husband's reaction, he was protective of her before she was pregnant but now he was even more protective. Though given the advanced stage of her pregnancy she was surprised to be chosen herself, not that she was complaining.

The Bolian nodded, “Of course, Lieutenant.”

"My wife is a counselor," he seethed in barely controlled words. "She's in her third trimester, if you might not have noticed. She should not be travelling. She should be safe here on the base. Surely you could pick anyone else to fulfill whatever role that you see for her."

Briegel arrived with her engineering team who were carrying all of the apparatus they would need for the away mission. She was pleased a few of her team from the Kumari had agreed to stay on Faltan - particularly Beckett and Mocanu. Turner was new to Briegel's team and the engineer was looking forward to working with him.

"Engineering reporting for duty" Briegel said.

Kara nodded politely to Briegel before taking the opportunity to sit down in her seat again. She had known Tomer wouldn't be amused with her going off station. "In all fairness to my husband Sir, I understand his concerns but if I can be of use I'd like to be." She looked at Tomer and gave him her 'We'll talk about it later' look before looking back at Chura.

“Welcome Commander Foster.” The Bolian said with a smile before turning his attention back to the security officer. “Mr Chaim, I can see you wife is pregnant, however, she’s still on the active duty list. This mission is hardly going to be testing for her. I mainly want her for the meeting with the mining company. I can have her sent back after that if you wish?”

Kara sighed she hated it when she was talked about like she wasn't there. "Gentlemen please!" She looked at Chura and then at Tomer. "Tomer I am still on active duty as the Commander said, if I can be of help then I'd like to go along. It's not like I'll be off station much once I do go onto maternity leave."

Tomer crossed his arms, quietly huffed and gave the Commander a curt, "Understood, Sir." He then gave his wife a sidelong glance that expressed his displeasure and hinted that a longer conversation would be taking place when they got back to their quarters.

Kara acknowledged her husband’s glance and mood, she didn’t feel good about going against his wishes but they were both Starfleet officers and as such they both had their jobs to do. Her smile and previously cheery disposition disappeared though as she sat at the conference table feeling guilty and unhappy.

Briegel stood back and watched as the discussion continued. She understood where Tomer was coming from but at the same time Kara was indeed still on the active service list for the time being.

“Ok, thank you all for coming.” Ziq said with a smile as he glanced around the room. “We’re going to be heading up to Luna, where Starfleet has a shipyard facility which was closed when Faltan Station was deemed no longer of value a few years ago. However, we returned earlier this year. From what I can gather the previous station Commander’s were unable to get the shipyard up and running for various different reasons. I on the other hand, with the agreement of Commander M’Mira, want to get it up and running again. We have many visiting vessels, either Starfleet, our allies or traders etc. Those that need help with their vessels and it’s stretching the Engineering department. If we get this facility up and running it should help reduce the stress on that department.” Chura explained. “There is also an independent mining company on Luna which we haven’t had any contact with since our return. Again, that’s something we feel needs to be changed. We’re neighbours so we need to get on.

“We shall be heading to the mining colony first, just to make them aware of our intentions and make some contact after so long. So, any questions?”

Kara put her feelings aside and looked up at Chura. “What do we know about the mining company Sir? Will they be willing to talk to us?”

Tomer looked back at his wife. He had little to add. His job was to follow instructions. Something he was very good at. However, he would protect his wife and his unborn child, as well.

Ziq sighed as he put his hands on his hips, “They've been quiet in the past. I’m sure they’ve been expecting us since Starfleet’s reactivation of the Station. As for willing to talk, I’m not sure. We’ll test the waters, if they want to be left alone that’s fine. But I would like to offer the hand of friendship, which is where you come into play, Counselor.”

Kara nodded. “I can certainly try Sir, the upside of being an empath is I can sense their emotions and go on what I’m getting. It gives me an edge of sorts.”

“Hence why I want you on this mission, Lieutenant.” Chura said with a smile.

Tomer looked back at his wife with a combination of pride and concern. All he knew was that this Bolian had better not put her in harm's way.

“Any others questions or queries?” The Bolian asked glancing around at the gathered officers.

"I only wish to know what other potential threats that might be on this mission. Does anyone have reason to expect any hostilities?" Tomer asked.

“I very much doubt hostilities but it could be a frosty encounter.” Chura replied.

"Frosty I can deal with" Kara smiled warmly. "Besides what threat could a pregnant woman be?"

"I'm not concerned about you being a threat, my dear," Tomer replied, still worried for his wife's safety. "I'm concerned about everything out there." He gestured towards the sky.

Kara nodded. “I know, but as long as I stay at your side then I will be perfectly safe.” She smiled warmly.

If there was something that Tomer could not resist, it was his wife's smile and her desire to be at his side. He puffed like a peacock and wrapped her in an arm. "You speak the truth." He then kissed her forehead.

“Very well then, if there’s no further questions?” Chura asked as he glanced around the room. “We shall meet on the Minotaur at 0800 hours tomorrow morning.”

Kara shook her head. "No more questions Sir."

Tomer kept his wife close to him and asked, "Are we dismissed, Sir?" There was a hint of disapproval in his voice.

The Bolian nodded and left before anyone could say anything further.

 

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