Drama and Regrets - Part Eleven

Posted on Fri Sep 30th, 2022 @ 5:15am by Captain Jordal Hunt & Lieutenant JG Jong-suk "Athena" Lee

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Heart of the Tiger / Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1400Hrs - December 3rd, 2393

Lieutenant Jong-suk "Athena" Lee was rushing to her destination. Lee hated rushing as she was sure to forget something, she hated forgetting things as it left her in a state of discombobulation. Lee hated disorder. 'Athena', you hate many things. Stop worrying about it.' she thought to herself while she passed several viewports that looked out over Utgarde IV.

Lee knew that the USS Heart of the Tiger was still docked just up ahead at the nearby airlock. Her orders had called for her to drop what she was doing and head to this assignment as quickly as possible. What was worse was that Lee knew there would be problems with this assignment. She had never served on a Starship of the line before and she had also never flown a starship before. This was going to be an issue she would need to contend with.

Lee approached her destination as she pulled out the PADD which contained her orders. "Permission to go aboard guys?" she asked of the two security guards looking after the airlock.

"Could we see your orders ma'am?" the Ensign asked while the other man with him gave Lee the quick once over, for the security checks which Lee knew were now a mainstay of the fleet and had been since the end of the war with the Dominion.

Lee nodded while she handed the PADD over. He gave it the once over before he handed it back to her. "Thank you, ma'am."

"She's clean sir." the petty officer gave the Ensign a thumbs up.

"Thanks, ma'am." the Ensign addressed her while he handed Lee her PADD back.

Lee knew she had a few stops to make before she could report for duty. Stop one was the quartermaster's office which she visited first. She quickly obtained the keys to her new home before going to drop off her gear and then take a moment to freshen up before she would report in.

Lee walked out of her new home before she made her way up to the bridge. She took a moment to look around before she walked over to the ready room door and tapped the buzzer once.

"Enter," Hunt said, his voice dropped into a rough growl that hinted at the type of day he'd had, as he retrieved a cup of coffee from the replicator. He crossed through the seating area and down two steps and had just reached his desk when the door opened. Someone new. Presumably the pilot they had scrounged up to replace Lieutenant Yamaguchi-Cullen.

Jong-suk "Athena" Lee entered the room, she moved to the front of his desk. PADD in hand. "Lieutenant Jong-suk Lee, reporting for duty sir," she explained quietly. "My orders, sir." as she placed her PADD onto the desk before him and her.

"Have a seat, Lieutenant," Hunt said as he leaned forward to pick up the PADD. He took a moment to read over her orders and then looked up at her over the edge of the device. "You're to replace Lieutenant Yamaguchi-Cullen. I understand you served and flew with her several times. She spoke very highly of you and thus I decided to go with her recommendation that you succeed her on this assignment."

Lee relaxed instantly before she pulled back the chair and then she slid her lithe form into it. She raised an eyebrow with the revelation that she was replacing someone else. "That explains a great many things, Captain," she responded in a gentle tone of voice. "Rachael is an exceptional pilot and a good friend. I will endeavour to succeed in her stead," she commented. "Do you got orders for me?"

"Other than make sure that Conn is ready for departure in nine days from now." Hut commented. "You will need to take a look at you're certifications and see what you need to deal with to make sure you are qualified for the assignment at hand."

"Yessir. I'll take care of matters of state." Lee answered with a nod of her head. "Starting as soon as I leave here," she explained. "When we leave the dock. I will make sure I am qualified and ready to drive this beast anywhere she needs to fly."

"That's good to hear," Hunt said. "I prefer an experienced Chief in Conn. We're heading into a relatively hostile area of space. Thanks to the Tholians. I don't want someone there who won't be able to cope when things get difficult."

"I won't let you down sir. I'll be ready and I'll make sure my guys are likewise." Lee answered.

"Well, then, before I let you get to work," Hunt said. "Do you have any questions for me?"

"No sir." Walking Bear answered quietly. "I need to track down a holodeck and get started. If any issues come up. I will let you know." Lee explained her next move in one sentence.

"I'll let you get to work then," Hunt said as he rose to his feet, signalling the end of their meeting. "Well then, welcome aboard the Heart of the Tiger, Lieutenant."

Lee rose to her feet as well, she had a lot to do and not a lot of time left to get it all done. "It's time for me to go to work, sir," she answered before she nodded to him. She then did a quick about-face before she marched out of the office. A woman on a mission.