An Unexpected Addition

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 3:44am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Lieutenant Katniss Wakefield
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 6:51am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Bridge / Ready Room
Timeline: Before "Sail Away"

Katniss was still clutching the padd containing her orders that the Admiral said were for Commander Temple’s eyes only. Nerves were creeping in again as the Admiral’s words echoed in her mind “He’s not expecting you.” Why hadn’t they informed him, she agreed this was the perfect research opportunity, but the ship was already equipped with a CSO and a capable crew who would also be carrying out their own research, but they would have other tasks and assignments to do as well, so it made perfect sense to have a dedicated Research Chief, that way Katniss could concentrate on nothing but her fellowship and concentrate purely on the expanse and nothing else, unless of course ordered to or asked to, she just hoped the Captain would see the logic and that the CSO and CMO wouldn’t ‘t think she was stepping on their toes. After all, she was going to be working very closely with them. Then suddenly from the shuttle cockpit, she heard her pilot shout.

“That’s right, I know you’re not expecting us, but I’ve told you. I’m requesting permission to dock, I’m bringing a new crewmember aboard.” Then a slight pause before more shouting “I know you’re not expecting anyone…No…No, don’t put me on…”

Silence fell as she slowly made her way up front “Problems?” she asked smiling as she sat next to the young Ensign.

The Ensign turned to her and a slight smile came across his face, he stared into her bright piercing green eyes. “No Sir, I was simply requesting permission to dock, but it seems they are not expecting you.”

Katniss smiled at the Ensign “Please, don’t call me sir.”

“Ma’am?” he nervously said

“Lieutenant or Doctor will suffice, but my friends call me Katniss” her soft gentle voice replied as she gave him a wink as she watched the Ensign turn a bright shade of red.

“I...I….”

With that, the response from the USS Pandora disturbed the silence.

On board the Pandora's Bridge, Owen was monitoring the comings and goings from the Operations station and noticed he issues that one of his team members was having with a Shuttle trying to dock that wasn't expected.

"Whats the issue here, Ensign Malone?" Owen asked him.

"We have a shuttle requesting permission to dock...but they're not on the list expected for today.." he answered.

Owen moved over to the Ops station and relived the Ensign to deal with this. "This is Commander Nash, Chief of Operations on the USS Pandora...Shuttle, you are not expected to dock with us and we have no record on our timetable of your drop off to the ship, please state your intentions..."

Katniss placed her hand on the Ensign's shoulder "I'll deal with this." she said coughing to clear her throat.

"This is Lieutenant Wakefield, I have orders direct from Starfleet that are for the Captain's eyes only, you can allow me to dock or you can be ordered to allow me to dock from what would be an unimpressed Admiral." she said in a commanding voice.

After her statement came over the comm channel Owen responded. "Shuttle standby please," and with out Owen pressed the hold button on the comm panel.

Nyx had just returned from his visit to the USS Palatine and walked onto the Bridge, deciding to make an impromptu visit to see how the boarding operations were progressing. He quickly realised that he had come at the right time.

"Captain on the bridge," A staff officer called out and Temple gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder in reply.

"Is there a bogey in the reeves, Mr Nash?" Temple asked, moving to his side.

Owen looked across at Nyx and smiled at his timing. "Funnily enough Captain, we do," he started as the Captain joined him at Operations. "We've got a shuttle with a Lieutenant Wakefield requesting permission to dock...however she's not on my list of expected vessels today sir," Owen explained.

"She also seems quite insistent that she come aboard...with permission from the Admiralty." He added.

Nyx laughed, as it seemed whenever a new ship is due to launch, various Admirals would always try to get their protégés a place onboard. He knew that's part of the reason how he got the top job.

"Well we must recieve our special guest, as she insists," Temple replied, looking at the Ops station. "But I can see you have a schedule organised here, timed to the minute. I love your efficiency, Mr Nash." He shrugged, "In that case, beam our special guest directly to the ship and I'll meet her in my Ready room."

Temple moved to walk to his office, then smiled back at the Ops Chief, "Anywhere in the ship, Mr Nash. Nothing wrong with giving our new colleague a tour of the Pandora."

Owen smiled as he had a thought for a second after the Captain's comments. He ran a quick scan of the shuttle and could see that they didn't have their shields raised. He pressed the comm button and re-opened the frequency to the Shuttle.

"Pandora to Lieutenant Wakefield, standby for today's course to be followed for docking with the Pandora," Owen announced before locking on to her and her belongings with the Transporter and beaming the officer to Cargo Bay Two. Owen tried to hide his smile as the Transport sequence completed...

Katniss shook her head for a moment, before realising what had happened. She muttered at the rudeness under her breath, that was no way to treat a lady. Still, she pulled at her uniform and looked around, it was certainly a cargo bay, but she wasn't that familiar with the layout of the ship yet.

A little while later, Temple was sitting in his office as the door chimed. With a bemused smile, he stood and called out for their guest to enter.

"Come in," He said with a cheery tone.

Katniss walked in, she had one of those unimpressed looks on her face, she didn't even crack a smile. "Lieutenant Katniss Wakefield, reporting as ordered... Sir" she said standing to attention and handing out the padd she had been clutching for past several hours.

Deep down she knew that the Commander was not expecting her, as the old saying went excrement falls downwards, and Katniss could be construed to be a big pile heading his way.

"As ordered by whom?" Nyx asked, receiving the PADD with a raised eyebrow, reading it intently. "Well Science Division sure kept this appointment to the last minute. They should share some tips with Starfleet Intel on how to keep a secret." He laughed, "Of course, I welcome any additions to our science departments."

Katniss nodded, she was a stickler for protocol and following orders, to people that didn't know her, at first she may seem cold, but once you get to know her, you would see the real her. She stood to attention allowing the Commander to process the information contained on the padd. She wasn't going to say anything about being beamed in half way down the ship, she was going to save that for the Chief Operations officer.

"The Chief Science Officer is a Lieutenant Brennan," Nyx replied, "Absolutely gifted scientist, too. She hasn't chosen an Assistant Chief as yet, but you are more than welcome to offer your service, if you'd like. Lieutenant Brennan will obviously be taking point on all scientific investigations and missions while inside the Inconnu Corridor."

"Thank you Sir, but I think my own research and experiments will keep my pretty busy. I appreciate and understand she is your CSO but my research will be independent and my results will go straight to Starfleet Science. Of course I will provide updates and reports as needed and am quite willing to help out on any mission or assignment where I can, plus I am a fully qualified medical doctor as well and I will be exploring what if any, the effects of the Inconnu Corridor may have on the crew, so no doubt I will be working closely with medical as well, but of course I can help out as a doctor in case of emergency or as needed." she said still not showing a smile, standing to attention.

Nyx shook his head some, "If you're going to be taking one of my research labs for yourself, your data must be shared with the ship. If you and Lieutenant Brennan coordinate your findings, we'll be able to more efficiently analyze what we find. That is the priority here."

"With all due respect sir, I have my orders direct from Starfleet, my research goes directly to them, if I find anything important or deem it relevant to share, I will share it, of course respect the chain of command and follow orders, but you have to understand I'm on a research scholarship by order of Starfleet Science."

The Captain shrugged, "If that's not to your liking, I can always have Mr. Nash return you to your transport. But here on the Pandora, we pull together to achieve our goals. I appreciate that you have your orders but the Pandora's mission must come first."

"Sir I follow orders given to me by Starfleet and then by my CO, I will respect both, but on occasion, I'm not going to be able to share my findings. Starfleet Science has given me experimental equipment and permission to requestion anything I deem I need, I know you were not expecting me and my position dumped on you at the last minute, but just think of me an an offical observer working on my own thing, but of course as the need of the ship comes first, I will be willing to help and assist where I can."

"Well I might still have a chat with Science about taking my lab space without giving us the benefits," Nyx replied with a sigh, "And I can assure you, Lieutenant, unless you're working on some experimental way to turn the Borg into cute little puppies, the needs of the Pandora will most definitely come first."

"Of course sir, I understand. I'm not here to be a thorn in your side, I look forward to getting to know everyone."

"Well, we better help you move in." Nyx shrugged, tapping his comm badge. "Lieutenant Commander Nash, could you join us in my Ready Room?"

Receiving the Captain's message, Owen made his way from Ops to the Captain's Ready Room and entered as requested. "Commander Nash reporting for duty sir," Owen said as he stood to attention.

"Mr Nash, please meet our special guest," Nyx began, rising from his chair, "Lieutenant Wakefield is heading up a specialised research investigation within the Pandora."

Katniss turned to Nash "Pleased to meet you Commander." she said holding out her hand.

Nyx remained smiling, "Lieutenant Commander, could you please organise crew quarters for Ms. Wakefield, something on decks eight or nine should suffice. And see that her lab equipment is delivered to the Science Deck."

Owen nodded as he took her hand offered to him. "A pleasure to meet you Lieuutenant...welcome aboard the Pandora," Owen said. As the Captain gave him his orders, Owen smiled. "I'm sure we can find some suitable quarters for you on board," he explained.

The captain turned back to Lt. Wakefield, "As to your research space, you will have to speak with Lieutenant Brennan. The science deck is her domain and she will allocate a lab space for you. If you ask very nicely, she may even give you one with a view."

Katniss nodded "Very well Sir."

"Welcome aboard the Pandora, Lieutenant," Nyx replied, standing up to shake Wakefield's hand. "I hope this is the beginning of a cooperative relationship."

Owen guided the way out of the Captains office. "If you'll follow me Lieutenant, I'll show you the way."

Temple watched the two depart with a bemused smile, before getting back into his workload.

OFF