The Somnium - Part Two

Posted on Sat Mar 21st, 2020 @ 4:27am by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Admiral Jake Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1115Hrs - September 10th, 2393

Fleet Admiral Heather Duval blinked as she found herself looking into the dark hazel eyes of Fleet Captain Edward Wayne. "Captain," she commented with a nod as she indicated her executive officer who was sitting next to her. "This is Admiral Jake Yamaguchi... Have you two met before?"

Wayne nodded his head. "Indeed. Admiral, its been a long time sir." he paused. "How've you been Slingshot?" he addressed Yamaguchi by his old callsign rather than his rank.

"Tell me about it, Batman," Yamaguchi answered in a rather jovial tone of voice. "Its good to see you again old friend."

"Aye... But..." Wayne paused a moment. "This isn't a social chat... As much as I'd like that." he nodded to Yamaguchi who nodded back.

Duval regarded the two men with a new sense of appreciation. She had not known that these two men had known each other before so she decided to press ahead with the matters before her and the meeting that was at hand. "How are your engine tests proceeding?" she inquired of Wayne.

"They are progressing at pace Admiral. We have had very few issues as of this time, however, I have concerns regarding the timing. I feel these tests are being rushed and I'd like more time between each test for more study of the strain and the like on the Cassini..." Wayne had left unsaid that he had made this request already.

"Have you made this request of Admiral Armstrong?" Yamaguchi inquired in a gentle tone of voice.

"I did. My science guys said that all was well but I've been wanting more time for the study anyway... Each jump does present a certain level of stress on the hull but nobody has been able to tell me if it's cumulative... What's more, is that my science guys are saying its well within norms... But I remain skeptical."
Wayne was finding it hard to tell if he was being paranoid but he had been asked for his opinion and thoughts on the matter, thus he would do so.

Yamaguchi narrowed his eyes, he had a feeling there was a little more to this then he was being told but he opted to not give voice to his concerns for now. "How bad is the strain on the hull?" he inquired.

"Its no more then if I was traveling fifty percent faster then slipstream one for eighteen hours... But its all in one go." Wayne paused. "Maybe I'm being paranoid but I am concerned after all." Wayne then shrugged his shoulders but not in a manner that indicated he didn't care but from what he felt was a position of helplessness. He knew what he was doing and saying was technically an act of insubordination as he had gone to Reeves and she had slapped him down about it and now he was mentioning it to her bosses, bosses boss.

"There is nothing wrong with being concerned Captain," Duval assured him. "But the fact that you mentioned this to others and were overruled is a concern. Should I speak with Admiral Armstrong about it?" Duval regarded him with a measured look from her grey eyes which shone with concern.

"No. It would cause more issues then it would resolve." Wayne answered. "Its also because I'm a bomber pilot. Everything from range ma'am." he addressed the handsome beauty that was Duval.

"Fair enough." Duval knew what it would cost him if she raised the concern with Armstrong and she also knew what it had cost him to bring it up with her now so she decided she would take care of matters via another route. "How is your supply situation?"

"For now, we're almost ready to regear and re-equip for the next series of tests, we will stop by Vanguard on the twentieth of September and I'll give my crew a week of leave to go planetside and forget about Starfleet and their issues for a while, they've earned it." Wayne paused. "I'll pick up my new personel at that time."

"That sounds good. I look forward to meeting you at that time." Duval answered with a gentle grin. "Thank you for your time Captain. I'll leave you to it. Duval out." and with that, she tapped the display once, it terminated the message, with the black screen reappearing with blue text which read as "TRANSMISSION TERMINATED." in block text.

Yamaguchi chuckled softly. "I think he likes you..." he commented.

"That was obvious," Duval answered with a soft grin on her lips. "He was undressing me with his eyes. I guess I still have the figure to go."

"You do," Yamaguchi answered bluntly. "Heather, you do maintain your figure and you carry yourself as if you were a woman who was much younger then your actual age..."

"Why thank you, Jake," Duval answered with a grin. "So, are you ready to talk about what's bothering you?"

Yamaguchi nodded his head. "Yes... I'll tell you what's bothering me." he then let out a long sigh. He knew that Duval was a lot more perceptive then she let on, she also cared a great deal and Jake had learned to not fight with her when she asked him leadin questions about his wellbeing.