Carpathia V: Episode 10 - Departure Day
Sick Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer
After a long week of preparation, the time finally came for the Shadowdancer to depart for her first mission. With the flurry of activity going on all around her, one might easily imagine that Captain Tyler was the most busy of all. In truth, she was the least. Since she became a captain a year ago, she worked very hard to hone an efficient team, a team that knew their jobs and, just as importantly, did not leave obvious deficiencies unremarked because it wasn't their job.
Over the last week, she encouraged open communication lines across all departments. The crew cohered on their new ship quickly and quickly dogpiled onto issues before she even knew about them. Over the days, Teren's reports became more about problems fixed than problems pending. This left Ivy and Teren free to give the Shadowdancer one last tour before her departure. Their next stop, sick bay.
Dr. Raad: There you are! I remind you that I'm still here.
Not so much as a howdy do from Dr. Raad, which was entirely normal.
Ivy: The good news is that I have a great candidate for Chief Medical. Are you familiar with Dr. Tiamat Araslan? She was one of the doctors on Polaris Deep.
Dr. Raad ruffled his snout, sending his whiskers bouncing up and down.
Dr. Raad: Araslan... Araslan... Ah, yes, she's the demon. Very competent. No tolerance for bullshit. She's on Tokkastra now, right?
Ivy: That's right. I've already contacted her and extended the offer. She'd like to think about it.
Dr. Raad: Can't say I blame her. Let's see how adventurous she is.
Ivy looked over Dr. Raad's shoulder, noticing Noctus strolling up behind him.
Noctus: Good morning, Captain. Come to check on our status?
Ivy: Among other things, yes. Dr. Raad and I were just finishing up.
Noctus: If he hadn't told you, sick bay is fully stocked and functional. We're ready for anything.
Ivy: That's good. Any issues up to now?
Dr. Raad: Only the usual nonsense when there's maintenance. Damned fools don't pay attention to what they're doing and end up nearly mangling themselves. You should put a warning on the access panels. "Do not bang on forehead."
Ivy: I will keep that in mind.
Teren, who had been dutifully standing nearby taking notes on his pad, finally spoke.
Teren: Captain, I have a message from Kau. The last shuttle will be departing in 5 minutes.
Ivy: Tell him to notify everyone who is not going to Tokkastra that they have five minutes to get to the shuttle bay.
Teren returned to his tablet, tapping out the message.
Teren: Done. We should head to the bridge.
Ivy: Agreed. Don't worry, Dr. Raad. We'll have you back to retirement soon.
Ivy and Teren both turned to leave, but Dr. Raad just had to have one final parting shot.
Dr. Raad: You'd better! That shuffleboard ain't gonna play itself!
Corridor, NCCS Shadowdancer
Ivy and Teren made no haste on the way to the lift to the bridge. Departure was more of a suggestion than a hard limit, as they only had to arrive at Tokkastra on time and, with regards to the engines, Q8 wasn't much different than Q8.1. As they strolled, Ivy took the time to bring up one more issue.
Ivy: Hopefully the chief medical position will be sorted soon, but that still leaves us with a need for a tactical officer and head of security.
Teren nodded.
Teren: Tactical is one of the most highly specialized positions on the ship and always the hardest to fill. I looked through our current roster and I can't find anyone with the right credentials to lead that station. As for security...
Teren's voice trailed off, and Ivy knew why.
Ivy: We have no pool to draw from, and not just us. Security all over the fleet was decimated during the war. Teren, I hate to ask, but as a former security chief yourself...
Teren: You will want me to look for promising officers to train up in a hurry? I was thinking the same thing.
Ivy: Yes, I'm afraid so. I hope you can squeeze that into your busy workload, but we don't have a choice. Put together a list of candidates and we'll go through them together. No rush about it. I don't think we'll have any big concerns on our way to Tokkastra.
Arriving at the lift doors, Teren gave the up button a poke.
Teren: I will have a list for you as soon as I can.
The doors slid open and both stepped in. When they closed again, Teren called out their destination.
Teren: Deck one.
Ivy allowed herself a little chortle before pushing the One button on the panel while Teren buried his entire face into his prodigious paw.
Ivy: Shadowdancer doesn't have voice commands, you know.
Still with his paw in his face, Teren answered while the lift got underway.
Teren: Yes, yes. I forgot.
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer
On the bridge, calm prevailed, with most running diagnostics on their systems, or, at least, pretending to, since every diagnostic at this point was a double-check on top of a double-check. The reality was that they were just waiting for departure clearance. All departments already called in ready. The quantum core was active. The Shadowdancer itself strained at the leash.
And then, the word finally came.
Kau: Captain, communication from Admiral Yoshida himself. We are cleared to depart and we've been given departure vectors.
Ivy sat up straight in her chair. This was the moment she was waiting for.
Ivy: Send acknowledgement and transfer vectors to the helm.
Kau: Yes, Captain.
Ivy: Activate running lights and power up the deflector.
Sena: Running lights active. Charging deflector.
Just then, Riku turned in his chair with a puzzled look on his face.
Riku: Captain? Our departure vectors have us slingshotting Andrast.
From straight in her chair, now leaning forward, Ivy was intrigued.
Ivy: Is that so? On viewer.
Moments later, Andrast appeared on the viewer with the course following, circling around the equator before heading out into space. Ivy watched the image on the viewer unfold with a smile.
Ivy: Now I see why Admiral Yoshida himself sent the vectors. He wants us to have a little fun. Riku, keep the dorsal side facing the planet as we go around.
Riku: With pleasure!
After flashing a grin, Riku twirled himself around, back to facing his console and got all his fingers and feet in their correct places.
Riku: Course laid in. Ready when you are, Captain.
Ivy leaned to the side, toward her first officer.
Ivy: Teren, this was once your ship. We would be pleased if you would do the honors.
With a nod, Teren stood and gave a tug to straighten his uniform.
Teren: Riku, take us out. One quarter induction.
There was a pause on the bridge and Riku turned his head just enough to see the corner of his left eye.
Riku: Just to confirm, Commander, did you say one quarter induction?
Teren: Yes I did, Ensign. Proceed.
Riku turned back to his console and fiddled with his controls, perhaps, most thought, to correct the speed he'd anticipated.
Riku: Resetting at one quarter induction, Commander.
Ivy: I didn't peg you as a hot-rodder, Teren.
Teren: Just seeing what she can do.
Ivy responded with a smile and a playful tone.
Ivy: You know that speed is against regulations near a planetary body.
Teren: I am aware.
Riku: New parameters set. Ready for command.
Teren: Engage.
Riku threw the throttle lever and the Shadowdancer rocketed away, gently rotating to ensure the dorsal side faced the planet. Anyone on the bridge or in the atrium would have a beautiful, albeit speedy, view of the planet as the ship blew by. Just enough time to spot the major cities before the next one came into view, both breathtaking and exhilarating at the same time.
After one orbit around the equator, Riku straightened the ship out and soared away, leaving Andrast behind them, diminishing into little more than a small speck within seconds.
Commissioned art in Carpathia from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
Nalaxa Art
