Long Road Out of Eden

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 4:40am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:28pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 1 - Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: After "The Little Things Give You Away"

ON:

It was a new day on the Pandora and the Captain was preparing to head back to Paradise Outpost to meet with Chief Katya. They needed to find the information Starfleet required soon, but matters on the ship kept interrupting. Thankfully, today it was a good interruption as the Pandora was due to receive a new Chief Medical Officer. The crew had been without a permanent head of the Medical department for some time, so Nyx was very happy that Lieutenant Alves had been sent to them. Having received word that the new CMO had safely arrived onboard, Nyx sent word for Doctor Alves to come see him in his Ready Room as soon as she was available.

After being cramped inside a tiny, two-person shuttle with a pilot and her eight-year-old daughter, who was either moaning or acting outraged during the whole trip, it was a relief for Alexandra to finally arrive on board. She very well understood Veronica's feelings. It was the eternal misfortune of 'Starfleet brats': when your folks moved to a new assignment, you had to leave all your friends and everything else behind. It's gonna be hard for her daughter to adapt to these sudden changes, she thought, but she also knew it won't take as much time as the girl now believes. And she's gonna get all the support from her mother, that's for sure.

Leaving Veronica in their new quarters - she asked her if she could start unpacking and familiarize herself with their new living environment, but she knew the girl will probably spent the next hour looking at a wall, in silent protest -, she headed out to find the Captain's Ready Room, to where she was summoned to. On the way, she tried to straighten her uniform a bit, making it look at least a bit less untidy. First impression, girl, first impression...

"Doctor Alexandra Alves reporting for duty, sir.", she said on a formal voice, as she walked in to the Ready Room, and stopped in front of her superior's desk.

Captain Temple stood as the Doctor entered and extended his hand out to shake with Alves, "Welcome, Doctor, we're so very glad to have you onboard. I hope the trip wasn't too unpleasant?"

"Thank you, sir." the doctor replied, and shook the Captain's hand. Alex knew she's a very bad liar, and didn't know how to respond to her superior's inquiry about the trip. "Well... It was fine...", she murmurred after a few seconds of hesitation.

Nyx indicated for the Doctor to sit down and he too resumed his position in his chair, leaning casually back as he did, "You came in the corvette, didn't you?" He couldn't help but show a smile. "I've only travelled in those glorified capsules once and I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. The cramp, the high speed. No, thank you."

The doctor nodded, and took the seat the Captain indicated. She was glad that the man broke the ice, and switched to a more relaxed, less formal mode herself. "Now imagine, sir, being stuck in that capsule with an eight-year-old, who's furious because her mother got a new assignment, meaning she has to move to a new ship, a new school, and everything."

"Yikes." Nyx replied, sucking air through his teeth. "I went through something similar with my daughter, Katrine, when I was given the Pandora. Thankfully she's a couple years younger but it wasn't easy. It is still a sacrifice for them to make so we may pursue our careers and passion." He gave a nonchalant glance at the screen of his computer, quickly looking at Alves' profile. "Your daughter's name is... Veronica?"

"Exactly." Alexandra agreed, "My daughter was four when we moved to the Benecia." she almost added, when she and her husband got divorced, "We had been living there ever since. It's quite a big change for her now.", she explained, "Yes. Veronica."

"Doesn't get easier, I'm afraid." Nyx said with a wry smile. "Still, on the Pandora, she might be a little more entertained. Here we have an extensive Recreation area on deck five. Shops, cafe, restaurant, gym, old-fashioned arcade, plenty of holodecks. As this is a deep-space mission, we've been fitted out to give crew and passengers as much resources to relax and have fun as possible. She'll never be short of something to do."

"That sounds lovely." she said with honest admiration. "If there's a soccer field, I'm pretty sure, we'll never be able to get Veronica out of there. Not even if we open a candy store next door to it." she added with a grin.

Nyx laughed, "Not quite in the plans, I'm afraid. But you both have a weekly holodeck time allowance to create one."

A Ferengi vessel flew past in the distance, on its way to dock with Paradise. Nyx looked out the window with a quiet pause, reminded that they were on mission. Talk of recreation time and holodecks would have to wait. He shifted forward in his chair again and clasped his hands together. "Onto more serious matters. As I'm sure you're aware, we're currently docked on Paradise Outpost. It is a local trade, supply, and hospitality station for the Inconnu Expanse. We've come here under the pretence of fulfilling a diplomatic mission with a nearby planet who require medical assistance. But, that's not the whole story."

Alexandra switched back to a more formal and more serious mode, when the Captain diverted the conversation to official matters. She went through some basic details of the current mission before embarking her journey to the Pandora, but she was still in the dark regarding most details. "I see.", she nodded, curious to hear the rest of the story.

"The combined governments of the Breen, Tzenkethi, and Talarians, the three major powers in this region, have formed together in a coalition know as The Alrakis Pact. Their first move was to claim complete, unilateral sovereignty over the Inconnu Expanse." Nyx continued, his tone grave, "The Pact had given all Federation vessels three months to depart from the Expanse, under threat of attack from their forces. The Pandora was ordered to evacuate as well, but during a previous mission, we found information that may indicate the Breen have been using Paradise Outpost as a meeting place with the Ravagers, a particularly violent race of pirates and terrorists. The Pandora has been sent to find out anything we can about a possible connection between the Alrakis Pact and the Ravagers, and make it back to Federation territory before the time limit expires."

The doctor listened through the Captain's explanation, and slightly nodded. Alright, girl, you're right in the middle of it. The Breen, the Tzenkethi and the Talarians weren't exactly the easiest folks to deal with even on their own, but combined and working with a savage race of pirates, they're definately able to provide one with quite a hard time. "I understand, sir.", she said, "Not exactly the easiest situation, I believe."

"Unfortunately not." Nyx sighed slowly. Even hearing it back in his own voice sounded somehow heavier. But these were the challenges facing every officer in Starfleet in this time, there was no such thing as an easy voyage any more. "Thankfully we've completed the first stage of our mission. We've made a good impression with the station's Chief and organised the medical aid as per our cover story. We're now fulfilling the next stage, which is exploring Paradise and finding out everything we can from station crew, local traders, and visitors. We're also employing some covert means as well through our Engineering department. We don't have long left before we need to start making the long journey back to Federation space."

Alex again nodded, as she listened to the rest of the story. "Do you need the my department to provide assistance in the medical aid?", she then asked, "Or rather concentrate on the unofficial part of our mission?"

"Yes, definitely the former." The Captain replied with a sharp nod, "Our Chief Diplomatic Officer, Lieutenant Sandoval, has been making the arrangements with the Irokari. They are the recipients of the aid. Apart helping our cover story, they actually are in need of help and we're doing a very positive thing by providing supplies to help them after a long period of war. Your role will be to oversee the medical supplies, ensure inventory is correct, and presenting any guides on administering the aid." He cleared his throat a little. "Should anyone ask, you were brought to the Pandora specifically for that reason. The aid is our only mission and our priority. Allow Lieutenant Sandoval to take the lead should the Irokari, or anyone else you meet, wish to discuss the Alrakis Pact. He will try to gleam any information we can get, but it's best if you remain focused solely on ensuring the aid supplies are correctly and quickly delivered."

"Understood, sir.", she replied with a formal nod, signaling that she understood the orders given, and will try her best to adhere them. "I'll contact Lieutenant Sandoval and make the necessary arrangements.", she added. She knew the 'other part' of the mission is probably much more exciting, but her job was providing aid to those in need, and that was above everything else in importance.

“Thank you,” Nyx said appreciatively, “I know I’m throwing you in the deep end here. Usually you’d have time to establish your office and get settled in but we’re on a tight schedule. Doctor Ashshy was caretaking Medical while we were waiting for a new CMO and he has done an excellent job of maintaining the department. There are a couple of on-going medical issues you should be briefed on as well. When you get time, of course.” He gave a short laugh, wondering if he hadn’t scared the Lieutenant from taking the post.

Ah, yess... Just what Alexandra feared. Right. Not enough that she was thrown in to a new job, her first assignment as CMO, she didn't even have the necessary time to adjust to it, she has to take care of all these shenanigans instantly. Well, part of the job, she guessed, and shrugged.

"I get on the assignment immediately, sir." she said, trying to sound highly competent, then, with a slight smile, added, "It seems life isn't exactly boring on board the Pandora."

Nyx gave a knowing look, “It’s never dull around here, that’s correct. Hopefully we’ll have more time for the usual work once we’re en route to the Carnwennan Corridor.” He leaned back again and took in a deep breath. “So, this has been a lot of information to process, but do you have any questions?”

The doctor was sure she'd have at least a dozen questions to ask, but currently, she was preoccupied with all the information she was given regarding this mission that she decided to let that sink in for now. "No, sir, thank you." she replied, "I'll get in touch with Lieutenant Sandoval, and I read through every available information on this mission. And get the medical department ready." she was now back in 'official mode', "Is there anything else I need to know, sir?"

“I believe so,” Nyx replied with a shrug. But then he remembered something, “Oh! My wife, Emilie, is the Pandora’s education administrator. Please go see her on deck five if you’d like to enrol Veronica. There are plenty of other kids onboard, it’s becoming quite the family ship. And I believe there’s a few around her age too, hopefully that’ll help with the adjustment.”

"Definitely." Alex nodded, "I'd be grateful for any help. Hopefully, some friends of her age would help Veronica adjust." she elaborated with a smile, "Thank you, sir."

Nyx stood out of his chair and extended his hand once more, "I won't delay you any further, Doctor. Again, welcome to the Pandora."

Alexandra stood up, and once again, shook the Captain's hand. "Thank you, sir.", she said, "Please, just call me, if you have any further orders."

OFF