A short trip,sooner then I expected.

Posted on Sat Sep 9th, 2017 @ 12:03am by

Mission: Mission 4 - Combustion
Location: shuttlebay
Timeline: MD -5 morning
1268 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Yesterday Braden had checked out the gardens and was impressed by the Trill he met there but the place could use some more efficient methods to produce more. After all with a crew this size and the lack of technology here food could become an issue. He had checked the numbers during the night and maybe a little help from engineering he could use a power amp to create more power without needing more from the ship. Some more irrigation, and plant beds needed some more nutrient rich soils. So He was back in the shuttle bay looking for Amelia. He spotted her and called "Hello. Say Amelia I was wanting to get some supplies for the garden? How would you feel about making the run with me and certifying me on one of your lovely boats?"

Amelia folded her arms and chuckled "Of course, mate! Got ideas about the garden, do ya?" She asked as she fastened her phaser to her hip, just in case while on the run. Tying her hair back quickly, she began to walk to one of her favorites "Lets take out Lucy, she a good gal and excellent for learning." She winked as she patted the side of the old ship. "We don't have a whole lot in the area, so where ever yo want to go, I'm perfectly fine with." She replied softly. She wasn't on shift and looking for something productive to do. Even if the task involved flying, she zero qualms. This was her passion in life, and if she could teach someone else, she was more than happy to do so.

"I found an freighter hauling agro-equipment to a colony. They agreed to sell me the materials I wanted, so we fly over and land in their bay, load, and return. If you want to test my pilot skills I figured we could add a couple hours to the flight and you can check out my skills?"

"Sounds like a plan to me, mate! Now, let's grab he food and head out." She smiled as she lugged a small cooler full of snacks "Always come prepared." She winked as she climbed the ladder into the cockpit "I'll put out into space and give ya some play time." She said as she stuck the cooler into one of the cabinets. "Rule one, always wear a seatbelt. Learned the hard way first day of fleet." She chuckled happily "I'm excited to see you can do, mate." She said softly as she strapped herself in "So, besides the yearn to fly, what other things interest you?" She asked as she ran a hand through her hair.

Braden took the co-pilot seat smiling. He buckled in as he had always done since the first trip he had ever made in a shuttle. It was good advice and he would never consider launching unbuckled. "I guess I like determining what things were used for? My parents were into uncovering dead civilizations, many of the items were unique. Trying to guess what they were used for was something my brother and I did often." Even as he said it he realized he felt no tightness in his chest, no pain. He was realizing returning to civilization was the right thing, he missed his brother still but he could think of him without feeling the lose like a hammer blow. Braden began a preflight check "So Amelia did you ever fly a fighter?"

"That's really cool, Braden. Man, the stories you must have. Do you still have some of the items from your discoveries? I'd love to see them sometime, if you're open to share." She smiled as she flicked a few switches like is was second nature. Grabbing the handles, she lowered them out of the hold and into space. "You have walked in the path of so many people. You fascinate me, Braden. You really do." She chuckled as she steered the course enough to finally let go of the handles. "A fighter? You bet your ass, I have, mate!" She replied excitedly as her eyes lit up with glory "Beat damned time of my life. Something happens when you're in the cockpit of a fighter; you realize that it's just you out there. Yeh, you've got your team, but you are the first line of defense. Time stops. You are one with the machine. You're one with space. The only thing that matters is killing as many of the damned bastard as you can and getting back home alive. Your focus is your next target. Your focus is justice." She smiled happily as she tilted her seat back "All right, mate...you're the captain of this ship. Tell her where to go..." she winked playfully.

Braden accepted the control of the shuttle smoothly as he listened to Amelia. He had never thought of it in those terms but if you did think about it that was fairly accurate, they were the first line of defense and often used as a diversionary attack force. The one on one sort of mentality was what drew him to the fighter command as well. He preferred lone combat even against the odds to units as well. Braden flew sedately out into space as he programmed a series of warp moves. "Warp in 3-2-1-warp speed. The shuttle went through a series of warp moves around several celestial bodies in the system, never too close to be affected by a gravity well but always close enough to be nerve wracking. The series of moves ended with them back almost exactly where they started from a couple of minutes later. Braden again flew with a steady hand of a seasoned pilot once back on impulse power. He wanted to prove his point but he was not so much of a show off to bounce people around. "So so I pass the test?"

"Aye, Mate." She laughed as she felt the edges of her chair with her fingertips. Shaking her head, she smirked. He definitely liked to show off. It wasn't the show boating that impressed her, it was how he carried himself; how he treated the ship."How about we be on our way?" She asked gently as she ensured her seatbelt was buckled properly "Once you can play chicken with someone else, then I'll be convinced with your skills." She winked playfully "But I am impressed; you handle the ship as if it's your own. You're owning it, love." She replied as she gave a simple smirk.

Braden bowed his head acknowledging her kind words. "We will be aboard the base loading dock shortly Amelia. I have the load ticket to pick up the purchase equipment. Depending on their availability we could be back on the Mary Rose within a couple hours." Braden glanced at her "is there anything you need or want to pick up while on the base?"

Irrigation piping and fixtures was most of the load but eight dwarf fruit trees and a few hundred seed packets were also included. A few hundred pounds of planting soil as well as plant food and pots. The power amplifier was the last thing loaded so would be the first item unloaded. Braden paid as soon as the load was secured from his own funds. He was not all that much concerned about money, even here.

The trip back was much more direct and he had some crew help unload the supplies to the deck near the present gardens.

OFF:

Braden MacCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose

Amelia Harkness
Shuttle Pilot
SS Mary Rose

 

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