Catching up

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:39am by Commander Owen Nash & Captain Tobias Rao
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:56pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Carwennan Station
Timeline: Current

Owen was enjoying his time aboard Carwennan Station as he continued his leave from the USS Pandora and decided to take the chance to have a little "Nash" time on one of the holodecks made available to officers on board.

Once he had unpacked and gotten suitably changed for the programme he was using, Owen had made his way down to the nearest free Holodeck and typed in his authorisation code. "Computer, load program Nash Deathstalker One - Chapter Two please," he requested.

The computer beeped in recognition and Owen entered the deck to see a familiar sight before him. He'd walked into what many would call a medieval-looking setting with a large four-poster bed stood before him. Drapes and Banners of the title characters family crest stood adorned on stone walls all around the room, which was dominated by a large open wood-burning fire that trickled subtle warmth into the room. With a large window looking out across the fields of the land owned by the character he was portraying, sunlight poured in, giving the feeling of a cold sunny morning with the sounds of people working outside.

Owen recalled that he was playing the main character of Owen Deathstalker, a librarian and researcher of noble standing within the Empire, who was located on a lush backwater world known as Virimonde which was owned by his family. On the bed before him laid Cathy DeVries, Owen's mistress and servant of long-standing. Cathy was of average height and compact build, giving her an athletic stunning look with her long blonde hair. Wearing a silk number that left little to the imagination, Cathy walked over to him and pulled him to her.

Owen smiled as he held Cathy before him and they locked lips together. After climbing on the bed, the two of them became closer with Owen realising that Cathy's demeanour was slightly different as they lay on the bed together. She looked up for a moment, smiling wide at him.

"Is my master ready to enjoy another pleasurable session with his poor mistress?" she asked. Owen smiled as he responded back. "Of course my dear, men such as myself in this position can do nothing less than enjoy the pleasures that you bring to me." Having run this chapter before, Owen was prepared for what came next.

The first time he'd run this holonovel, he'd died because of enjoying Cathy DeVries attentions too much. In fact, he'd died another five times until going back and realising what he'd had to do next. Cathy rolled on top of him suddenly and pushed his hands down on the sheets. "In that case, I'll make sure this is my final and best performance," she said.

Owen was ready for the knife that she tried to drive into his chest and put both hands on hers, holding back the knife assault. As Cathy struggle atop of him, Owen then used his right knee to jab in her leg and forced Cathy back on the sheets. He rolled off the bed and looked for his sword and blaster, noticing them at the foot of the bed. Cathy screamed out loud as she leapt off the bed with a knife in hand to try and pursue her target.

"Is it something I said???" he asked as he rushed to get his pants on and then pull a top over his head. Owen managed to move to the side as Cathy thrust forth and caught the knife in the stone wall. He used a right hook to knock her out before moving to grab his weapons and effects. Once he was dressed and ready to go, Owen tied up Cathy to the bottom of the four-poster bed, making sure she was secure. Then he looked up.

"Ozy, what the hell is going on?" he asked to thin air. Remembering that the Castle he lived in was also an effective starship that hasn't seen space travel in decades, Owen recalled that the Castle had a built-in AI called Ozymandias. Ozy was similar to modern starship computers with the ability to transfer himself to other ships and also a communicator device on his wrist.

"Ah, well, that would be the Royal decree that's been announced around an hour ago... You're now wanted dead or alive, preferably dead, by order of The Galactic Empress," he explained in his usual dry tone. "There are Imperial Warships settling into orbit of the planet and there seems to have been a planetwide message sent out as well. There's a bounty of 25 million on your head."

"Oh, is that all?" Owen answered in mock surprise, just before ducking as the large oak door to the room suddenly exploded, with his Security Chief and several officers trying to make their way in. "Sir, please stop! You're under arrest! We have a warrant to terminate your life!" he called out as he tried to make his way into the room. Owen took a low aim and used his blaster on a stun setting to take out the Security Chief, before firing off a second shot and hitting one of the other officers.

As they tried to make their way through, Owen ran for a far wall, pressing his thumb against a specific stone and watching as a secret hatch opened up. He dicked for cover as a blast hit the wall just above him. Looking back to see how the security patrol had gotten in so quickly, he saw the half-naked Cathy with a blaster in hand, already trying to get it to recharge sooner. Admiring her form for a moment, Owen made his way into the passage and ran down the winding staircase.

He could feel his increased heartbeat as he ran and the thrill of the chase and suddenly he was reminded of why he'd enjoyed this holonovel series so much. The thrill of the chase, the on the hop thinking and the need to survive each chapter before going on to the next. It had been a good long while since he'd activated this and Owen was glad he'd decided to give this a go again.

By the end of the chapter, Owen had managed to escape the castle and make his way to a secret landing platform underneath the massive lake that stood outside of the Deathstalker grounds. On the platform stood the characters personal starship: The Sunstrider.

Owen had a smile on his face as the programme ended. He happily watched as one of the screens before him in the pilot's position showed the shrinking visual of an Imperial Starfleet settled around Virimonde, having evaded them easily. "Hyperdrive engaged Owen," Ozymandias reported. The stars blurred through the massive acceleration of the ship to Hyperspace velocities.

"I never ever get bored of completing this chapter," said a familiar voice. Owen swung the command chair around and saw Captain Tobias Rao standing against the console on the rear bulkhead of the bridge. "I think it has something to do with the escaping of the castle, even though the castle is a starship... I never get past that one," he explained.

Owen smiled. "I'll take The Sunstrider over the Castle any day. It's faster, better armed and has some fantastic living space. I'm working on making a runabout out of this design one day. I need to find an Engineer as nuts as I am to work on this and build it."

Tobias smiled. "Oh, I may know a few of those," he offered. "Got a few minutes to talk?"

Owen smiled. "I'm on leave, I have plenty of time! What do you need? Have you not noticed that there isn't a certain Luna Class starship docked out there somewhere to the station?" he laughed as he walked over to the lounge area on the Sunstrider. Owen indicated to a seat and Tobias duly walked over and took it.

"What can I do you? and what can I get for you?" Owen asked as he walked over to the Replicator.

"Black coffee for me," Rao committed to. "The Palatine docked at the station around three days ago and this is the first time I've had a chance to take some leave from the ship. Its been busy and not a type of busy that I enjoy."

Owen walked over with the drinks and handed them out before he took a seat. "So what's on your mind?".

"When was the Pandora due in at the station? I know you're on leave, but I was curious as to when I would get a chance to catch up with Temple again. Its been a while since we had a chat and I know the Pandora was out in the Expanse a lot longer than Starfleet expected," Rao explained.

"I believe that she's due in to dock in the next eight hours, why?" Owen wondered.

"She's overdue on her last checkpoint... by 72 hours. The brass sent out the Palatine to check in and see if she was ok. We never received a response to our hails and longe range sensors never picked her up at all on the expected heading, which for Temple ...is bloody weird," explained Rao.

Owen took a sip of his drink. "That is very out of character... but Captain Temple doesn't do things without good reason. He's used to making decisions on the hop and having to act on the spur of the moment. God knows we've had to do that enough in the Expanse of late recently."

Tobias looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Owen, I'm not asking you to do anything that goes against your commission or your duty as a Starfleet officer, but... there have been some changes recently in the Admiralty, movements in the brass that doesn't seem right," he said.

"I've been in the service for over twenty years and this is the most uncomfortable I've ever felt about the upper brass in charge whilst I'm out there serving in the fleet. I'm just looking out for you and Temple and other Captains who I feel could be affected by some of the actions from the new decisions makers. I'm not a fan of this new Admiral Thac whose been installed. He's still too wet behind the ears for me."

"Very well, as a friend, I'll keep my ear to the ground in the interests of professional courtesy, "Owen agreed. "But that's as far as I'll take it if anyone asks questions. It is a different view from the ground level than it is in the Admirals office."

"Agreed, I appreciate you listening and hearing me out. Now, what plans do you have whilst you're onboard the station? Surely not staying in here for much longer?" asked Rao.

"Actually,I was considering chatting to the CO of that lovely looking Vesta Class starship and seeing if he would let me have a tour of the vessel... just in case there are any ideas that a former Chief Operations Officer can pass on to assist in making the ship run that little bit better..." Owen smiled as he saw the penny drop and Roa get the hint he was throwing at him.

"Now that sounds like a plan," said Rao. "I'll set up guest quarters on the Palatine and you can join us for dinner. Then we'll spend the next day on a tour of the ship. I'm sure that both Morgan and Raven will enjoy having you around, nitpicking on details. Hell, I'm pretty certain we could even set you up with Raven for a dinner date. shes taken with you."

Owen looked up. "Really? Aeryn Raven? the same Hard arse Raven that beat me in several Academy classes? no way? I am surprised by that," Owen admitted. Whilst he was still raw from his recent breakup from Janet, something he still wanted to do was spend time with friends. Raven and Owen went way back together and he now felt a small urge to catch up.

"I'll arrange the plans and let you know when to come over. We're staying here for at least another week, so its good to get some downtime."

"Perfect, now if you'll excuse me, I need to go freshen up and get back into some civvies. I'm due back in here for chapter two later tonight and that's when it gets interesting," Owen admitted.

"Ah yes, Hazel D'Ark... very interesting. Well, I'll leave you to it, and thanks for the drink," Tobias said. Both men made their way towards the exit, as Jack called out "Computer, save progress and end programme."